Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The History of Computing :: Free Essay Writer
The History of Computing The Computer - Manââ¬â¢s Greatest Achievment Computers are indeed approaching the status of the core operator of every electronic device or utility in the world today. Their ââ¬Å"logicâ⬠and process can produce results millions of times faster than that of the human brain. They are at the helm of everything from an old walk man to the systems that keep the Earthââ¬â¢s continents in constant communications. Theyââ¬â¢ll likely soon be the basis of communications between other civilizations in outer space. When the computer was first introduced, it was simply a device of convenience for use of the masses or huge corporations and universities. The incredible machines have now grown so much since their introduction, that the Worldââ¬â¢s economy desperately depends on them to function. But computers have not always been so royal. The first machine to be classified as a computer used no circuitry of any kind, but was consistent entirely of gears and rods that made simple calculations in mathematics. As compute rs progressed in complexity and became more modern, society utilized them in nearly every way possible. They now are incorporated into every aspect of human life, especially for recreation and general home usage. It remains second in complexity only to that of the human brain. And yet it they still progress towards perfection. The idea of what is now modern computing originates (more or less) in the late 1700ââ¬â¢s with the birth of computingââ¬â¢s conceptual father, Charles Babbage. He was born in London on December 26, 1791, the day after Christmas. He excelled in the area of mathematics (algebra for the most part), acting as his own instructor. He found himself to have been far in intellectual advance of his peers and ââ¬Å"mentorsâ⬠. Upon attending Trinity College, Cambridge in 1811, he still remained at incredible superiority to his tutors. After founding several societies (i.e. Analytical Society, Astronomical Society or Royal Astronomical Society), he became interested in mathematical calculation machines. This ultimately became his life interest. He pursued the invention of a machine that could compile mathematical tables. This gave way to the design of the ââ¬Å"Difference Engineâ⬠. It performed somewhat complex mathematical tasks using gears and belts, not quite the hard ware integrated in todays machines. He eventually conceived the design of an ââ¬Å"Analytical Engineâ⬠that would be able to make virtually any calculation (at least those considered in the time period) given the proper commands and instructions.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Capital One Case Study Essay
In consumer lending, every product is evolving in the same direction as credit cards-toward large, national-scale consolidators replacing local, face-to-face lending. That evolution has happened in credit cards. Itââ¬â¢s well under way in auto finance, mortgages, and home equity. Its coming more slowly in installment lending. So consumer lending, a major part of the asset side of banking, is all flowing toward national consolidators like Capital One. -RICHARD D. FAIRBANK, CEO AND CHAIRMAN, CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATIONââ¬â¢ United Kingdom, the Hfs Group, to strengthen its Global Financial services (GFS) subsidiary in the British market. As of April 2005, it possessed sufficient liquidity ($21 billion) and capital ($9.2 billion)4 to enable its famous brand to expand into new markets and seize the right opportunities for profitable growth. Although the companyââ¬â¢s acquisition of Hibernia in March 2005 provided it an opportunity to enter the fast-developing Texas markets of Houston and Dallas, it might face stiff competition from other large credit companies, such as Citigroup and J.P. Morgan. Capital One Financial Corporation is a diversified bank holding company, with a 2005 market value of $18.92 billion. It provides a gamut of financial services through its main subsidiaries-Capital One Bank, Capital One FS.B. (which offers consumer and commercial lending and consumer deposit products), and Capital One Auto Finance Inc (COAF). From a small local bankcard issuer in 1995, the company has transformed itself into one of the largest financial institutions in the United States by continuallyà introducing a steady stream of products. It features one of the most recognized brands in the industry, which it leverages along with its strategies of direct marketing, risk analysis, and information technology to grow and diversify into other businesses. Ranked 206th in the Fortune 500 list in 2005,2 the company has been gradually transforming itself from a credit card company to an institution that provides banking and other financial services to consumers. By January 2005, it was the 31st largest deposit institution in the United States with $25.6 billion3 in interest-bearing deposits. Capital One has been on the path of diversification from the late 1990s and has made three acquisitions between 2004 and 2005: Onyx Acceptance Corporation, eSmartloan, and Hibernia National Bank. It has also acquired a home equity brokerage company in theà Capital One is the fifth largest credit card provider in the United States5 and one of the largest issuers of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. It was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virginia-based Signet Bank when Richard D. Fairbank, CEO and chairman of Capital One, was invited by the bank to head its bankcard division. It began its operations in 1953, the same year MasterCard International was formed. Fairbank and the former vice chairman of Capital One, Nigel Morris, realized that traditional banks offered loans without focusing on the customers-like analyzing their risk characteristics. They decided that by using technology and data mining techniques in the decision- making process of providing credit, the bank could charge the appropriate interest rates more accurately and earn greater profits. In 1994, Capital One was spun off from Signet as a public credit card company and established itself in McLean, Virginia. It had an initial public offering of 7,125,000 shares of common stock in the United States and Canada, at a price of $16 per share,6 which was managed by J.P. Morgan Securities Ine., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Barney Ine. It is a part of the S&P 500 index, and also trades on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbol COF ~ This case was written by Susmita Nandi, under the direction of Sumit Kumar Chaudhuri, ICFAI Business School Case Development Centre. It is intended to be :;: used as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrateà either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. The case was compiled from 25 published sources. à © 2005, ICFAI Business School Case Development Centre. No part of this publication may be copied, stored, transmitted, reproduced, or à © distributed in any form or medium whatsoever without the permission of the copyright owner. Between 1994 and 2004, the company grew at an annual compound rate of 29 percent/ both in terms of its EPS and the number of customers. In 2004, its earnings were $1.5 billion, and the EPS was at $6.21.8 At the end of 2004, the company and its subsidiaries held 48.6 million accounts and $79.9 billion9 in managed loans outstanding, which grew by 12 percent ($8.6 billion) over the previous year (see Exhibit 1). It had 17,760 employees in March 2005. The bank offers 7,00010variations of its MasterCard and Visa cards, each one is customized to appeal to different customer preferences and needs by combining product features such as different backgrounds and colors, along with varied annual percentage rates, credit limits, fees, and rewards programs. Capital Oneââ¬â¢s pricing strategy is based on the risk level of its customers. It offers platinum and gold cards to its preferred customers with excellent credit history and a wide range of secured and unsecured cards to customers with limited or poor credit history. The company also provides a range of consumer products like auto finanCing, mortgage services, credit insurance, and home-equity loans. Customizations of credit cards at Capital One are made with the support of its Information-Based Strategy (IBS), which uses sophisticated data-mining techniques to match its credit cards (its combination of interest rates, fees, rewards, and other conditions) with targeted customers based on their credit scores, credit uses, and other parameters. IBS is the fusion of one of the worldââ¬â¢s largest databases, information systems, a well-trained team of analysts and statisticians, and advanced scoring models. The companyââ¬â¢s decision-making process is made efficient by bringing together marketing, credit, risk, and information technology. It selects its most profitable customers and the appropriate rate by using the rigorous testing of econometric and time series models. The credit ratings of customers is based on the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) scores, which are used to predict payment risk by looking at several variables, including credit history. Theà IBS system uses FICO scores to divide its customers into three groups of super-prime (with excellent credit history), prime (average credit history), and sub-prime (with poor or very little credit history). Through the use of IBS, the company has been able to locate a group of students who were not included in the mailing lists of other credit card companies because these students, mostly unemployed and little or no credit histories, were considered high risk. Capital Oneââ¬â¢s strategy of sending credit card applications, which were tailored to the needs of these students, proved effective, as 70 percent of the applications were filled and mailed back, thus creating a new market for the company. IBS has also helped Capital One avoid customers who do not pay interest charges on loans. The charge-off rate (for bad debt) of Capital One is the industryââ¬â¢s lowest, and for 2004 was at 4.37 percent, compared to 5.32 percent in the previous year. Capital Oneââ¬â¢s GFS segment offers a portfolio of diverse products to both domestic and international consumers. In the domestic market, the GFS segment includes installment lending, health care finance, mortgage lending services, and small business lending services. GFS has been on a growth curve and in 2004, it accounted for 27 percent of Capital Oneââ¬â¢s total managed loans, which are comprised of reported loans and off-balance sheet securitized loans. It also accounts for 14 percent of its earnings. Its international portfolio primarily consists of credit card business in the United Kingdom and Canada, valued at $8.2 billion and $2.4 billion,12 respectively. Capital One is the United Kingdomââ¬â¢s seventh largest credit card issuer, and among the top ten of the same in Canada. In January 2005, the company completed the formalities to acquire a British equity brokerage firm called Hfs Group to strengthen its position in the United Kingdom. Although Capital One had hold ings in France and South Africa, it exited these markets due to lack of growth opportunities. Capital One generated strong earnings and loan growth again in 2004, as it has each year since its initial public offering ten years ago. The company is well positioned for continued success in 2005 in both our Us. credit card and our growing and profitable diversification businesses. -RICHARD D. FAIRBANK, CHAIRMAN CAPITAL AND CEO, CORPORATIONâ⬠ONE FINANCIAL Capital One grew at 30 percent14 (see Exhibit 2, on page 68) between 1994 and 2004 by issuing credit cards at attractive interest rates. Most of its business is conducted via direct mail (junk-mail solicitations), although it also markets its products through television and Internet (http://www .capitalone.com). It expanded its credit card operations in Canada, Europe, and South Africa in the late 1990s. At the same time, the company also made strategic moves toward diversifying its portfolio by entering into financing of automobiles and other motor vehicles, mortgage and home equity loans, insurance, and other consumer lending products. Although 60 percent of its total managed loans is in its credit cards business (see Exhibit 3, on page 68), the company is gradually increasing its operations in other business segments. In 1998, Capital One bought Amerifee, a company that provided financing for elective surgeries such as orthodontic, vision, and cosmetic procedures. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital One in May 2001. Amerifee is a market leader known for introducing Orthodontists Fee and Dental Fee plans in 1993 and 1998, respectively. These fee plans are the largest patient payment plans inà (dollars in millions, except per-share data) Reproductive Endocrinologists and infertility clinics. IS The subsidiary formally became Capital One Healthcare Finance in April 2005. Capital One soon realized that the auto financing market is double that of the credità card market, and therefore it has a strong growth potential in that segment. This market is highly fragmented and no company holds more than 20 percent16 of the market share. It provided an opportunity to Capital One Auto Finance Ine. (COAF) to introduce innovative offers and increase its market share. COAF added $163.8 millionl? to the companyââ¬â¢s earnings in 2004, and has continued to be on a high growth curve. To strengthen its market position in the automobile finance segment, the company acquired ONYXAcceptance Corporation (Onyx) for $191 millionl8 (in an all cash transaction) on January 11, 2005. It also acquired InsLogic, an insurance brokerage firm, from Onyxââ¬â¢s management team. The purchase strengthened the Auto Finance subsidiary of Capital One and enhanced its dealer relationships, coastto-coast market penetration in the United States, and its product line among the prime borrowers. Onyx is based in Foothills, California, and provides automobile loans to certain independent and franchise dealerships all over the United States. Onyx claims to have purchased and securitized $10 billionl9 in auto loans since its inception in 1993, and will add 12,000 new dealerships to Capital Oneââ¬â¢s list. According to David R. Lawson, Capital Oneââ¬â¢s executive vice president, and president of COAF, ââ¬Å"This transaction combines two strong franchises with complementary strengths. Onyxââ¬â¢s significant and long-standing presence with California dealerships coupled with its strong prime product offering fills out both COAFââ¬â¢s product line and geographic footprint. Together, we expect to realize significant revenue and cost synergies:ââ¬â¢20 This acquisition may make COAF the second largest auto lender in the United States. COAF has announced that it has raised its car loan limit to $100,00021 (previously $75,000) for direct-toconsumer vehicle loans that have originated from its Webà site (http://capitaloneautofinance.com) in February 2005. This move was made in response to the growing demand for luxury cars such as Corvette by Chevrolet, so that the company can get more business from this customer segment. This extension is limited to only those with excellent credit histories (super-prime customers). The vice president of COAF, Brian Reed, said, ââ¬Å"Car buyers have more choices than ever today at the higher end of theà car spectrum, so weà ¢â¬â¢ve adjusted our limit to offer consumers greater flexibilit/ââ¬â¢22 The competitive advantage of COAF is that the loan process takes place on the Internet and requires no legacy fees. Also, its IBS system allows it to charge varying interest rates depending on the customerââ¬â¢s risk levels. In February 2005, Capital One purchased eSmartloans .com for $155 million,23 one of the largest online providers of home equity loans mortgages in the United States. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, the company offers a variety of products that are marketed and delivered directly to homeowners. The purchase is meant to broaden Capital Oneââ¬â¢s offering of consumer loans and deepen its position in the growing US. home equity market. Larry Klane, Capital Oneââ¬â¢s executive vice president of Global Financial Services, said, ââ¬Å"eSmartloan has succeeded in building a scalable technology platform, a highly skilled sales team, and an outstanding reputation for customer service and speed to close. By combining these strengths with Capital Oneââ¬â¢s powerful national brand, access to 47 million accounts, and expertise in direct marketing, we will enhance the growth of our home equity lending business:ââ¬â¢24 In early March 2005, Capital One announced its decision to purchase Hibernia National Bank. Hibernia is the largest bank in Louisiana,2s with 316 branches in Louisiana and Texas, and $17.4 billion26 in deposits. It provides a wide assortment of financial products and services through its banking and non-banking subsidiaries that ranges from deposit products, small business, commercial, mortgage, private and international banking, to trust and investment management, brokerage, investment banking, and insurance. Capital One paid a 24 percent premium over Hiberniaââ¬â¢s closing stock price of $26.57 as on March 4, or $33 per share,27and a total of$5.3 billion for the purchase. The merger is expected to cost $175 million in restructuring expenses and result in near-term synergies of$135 million.28 According to Fairbank, ââ¬Å"This acquisition is a natural extension of the diversification strategy we have been pursuing for some time. The transaction brings together two financial companies with complementary strengths and represents a compelling long-term value proposition for shareholders of both companies. Hiberniaââ¬â¢s leading market share in Louisiana and its promising Texas branch expansion create not only a solid growth platform as we continue to expand, but also an additional source oflower cost funding. Additionally, we believe our national brand, 48 million accounts, broad product offerings, asset generation capabilities, and market expertise will drive profitable growth in branch banking:ââ¬â¢ 29 Capital One wanted to purchase a commercial bank with a strong management team and a large local market share. Hibernia has both these qualities as well as the potential to expand extensively into Texas markets. Currently it has only 109 branches in Texas, but the cities of Dallas and Houston are number 2 and 3 in terms of fastest growing markets in the metro cities, a seemingly untapped potential for capturing market share in that region.30 The main advantage of purchasing Hibernia is that Capital One gains access to a lower cost of funding at 1.38 percent against a rate of 4.24 percent.3l One third of Capital Oneââ¬â¢s funding is obtained from the deposits in its fully owned Internet bank at 4 percent, which is higher than that paid by any of its rivals. The rest of it comes from securitization, which is risky as well as costlier than its other avenues of sourcing funds. It can increase ratio of funding from deposits from the previous 30 percent to 40 percent,32 to support its lending operations in the areas of credit cards, auto finance and mortgages. Acquiring Hibernia is also expected to increase its profit margins due to decreased interest expenses and bring stability to its businesses of consumer lending and other financial products. It now has the ability to use Hiberniaââ¬â¢s brick -and- mortar branches as a launching pad to market its range of offerings in combination with its IBS techniques. The deal also provides Capital One with the opportunity to enter the debit -card market and also introduce its own home equity credit line. Early in the twenty-first century, the US. credit card industry witnessed a high level of competition and was also going through a phase of consolidation. For example, J.P. Morgan merged with Chase in 2000, and the combined group merged with Bank One in July 2004 to form the second largest US. bank holding company with a combined asset base of $1 trillion33 and 19.1 percent of the total credit card market share. The US. consumer debt amount of $2.1 trillion (Federal Reserve Bank data) in January 2005 was mostly due to the top ten credit card companies, which held 85 percent of the market share.34 Market share of Capital One in the credit card segmentà fell from 7.2 percent in 200Ys to 6.8 percent (see Exhibit 4) in 2004. Capital One was left with no innovative ideas such as being the first bank to offer automatic balance transfers, which could grab business from other banks. The rise in personal bankruptcies and the economic recession between 2001 and 2004, coupled with the saturation of the credit card market diminished growth opportunities for Capital One in that market. Thisà necessitated its diversification into other consumer lending operations through different distribution channels such as Hibernia. Capital One has been bombarding the Internet, radio, and television with its advertisement, ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s in your wallet?â⬠with one of the versions featuring the famous Hollywood comedian David Spade (Appendix 1). It spent $285 million on advertisements, a total marketingà expense of $1.3 billion36 in 2004 and $5.4 million in January 2005,37 which was more than competitors such as American Express. In a consumer survey conducted by USA Todayââ¬â¢s weekly poll, 30 percent of the people ââ¬Å"dislikedâ⬠the advertisement, while 12 percent liked it ââ¬Å"a lot;ââ¬â¢ suggesting that it did not receive the popularity it wanted. It was opined that the advertisement expense has been eating into Capital Oneââ¬â¢s profits. Another potential hurdle for Capital One is its potentially risky source of funding from securitization. It pools together the loans it originates and invests pieces from that collection in different securities. Because the investment is dependent on the stock market price fluctuations, this source of funding involves a great deal of uncertainty and risks of monetary loss. It has also amassed a large portfolio of sub-prime customers as it relies on its IBS system to guide it toward greater profit margins (related to greater risk), without incurring heavy losses. Due to federal regulations and a great many of its customers defaulting on their loans, Capital One had to shift away from subprime to a greater proportion of prime and super-prime customers. This change led to smaller margins as the company offered an introductory rate of 9.9 percent to its super-prime customers vis-a-vis a rate of25.9 percent3s charged to sub-prime customers who are associated withà high probability of delinquency. In July 2002, the company disclosed its decision to tighten controls over its loan disbursements (mainly to sub-prime lenders) to meet the banking regulatorsââ¬â¢ demands, leading to a 40 percent decline39 in its shares in one day (Appendix 2). Management of Hiberniaââ¬â¢s branch banking and its non-consumer lending operations, after the merger is complete, might pose a challenge for Capital One because it lacks experience in those fields. The non-consumer lending portfolio consists of commercial and industrial loans (C&I) and commercial real-estate (CRE) loans. Hiberniaââ¬â¢s combined portfolio of C&I and CRE is worth $4 billion,40 and its small business portfolio is valued at $3.2 billion. The challenge will be to efficiently integrate Hibernia into its system and strategy, which includes incorporation of its retail branch banking, and review of its business and asset integration plans. For the short term, it might need to rely on Hiberniaââ¬â¢s management team in making any strategic decisions. Part of the strategic long-term vision, as announced by the company is to expandà further into the state of Texas, especially in Dallas and Houston, and establishà new branches there. In expanding in that direction, Capital One is likely to face stiff competition from several major players in the credit card and banking industry such as JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, and American Express. It may be difficult for Capital One to steal any business away from these giants, even with its innovative ideas and products, because the bigger players have strong presence in that region. Analyst and credit rating agencies like Fitch have warned that Capital Oneââ¬â¢s growth depends on its ability to aggreSSively defend and maintain market positions in the states of Louisiana and Texas. Fairbanks said, ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re well positioned to continue our profitable growth. Financially, weââ¬â¢ve never been stronger. Our flagship credit card business is thriving. Weââ¬â¢re successfully taking IBS, the strategy that made Capital One a winner in credit cards and auto finance, to new businesses. And, we have a powerful brand and huge customer base to fuel our growth and diversification. Our people have pulled together to make Capital One the strong, diversified company it is today. And I am confident that they will sustain our momentum as we enter our second decade as a public company: M. McNamee, 2005, Capital Oneââ¬â¢s concrete step, http://www .businessweek.com, March 11. http://wwwfortune.com. http://wwwcapitalone.com. Ibid. N. Slaughter, 2005, Capital One shells out http://wwwfoolcom, March 7 1994, Capital One financial corporation completes initial public offering, http://wwwbusinesswire.com. http://wwwfortune.com. Ibid. 2005, Capital One to acquire Hibernia Corporation for $5.3 billion in stock and cash, http://biz.yahoo.com, March 6. M. McNamee, 1999, Capital One: Isnââ¬â¢t there more to life than plastic?â⬠http://wwwbusinessweek.com. http://wwwcapitalone.com. Ibid. http://wwwcapitalone.com. 2005, A capital idea, http://wwweconomist.eom, http://wwwcapitalonehealthcarefinance.com. Ibid. http://wwwcapitalone.com. Ibid. http://wwwonyxacceptance.com. http://wwwcapitalone.com. 2005, Capital One announces new online auto loan limit of $100,000, http://wwwpwrebdireCl.com. February 25. Ibid. March 10. November 22. November 15. http://wwwmccollpartners.com . http://wwwcapitalone.com. Louisiana is one of the southern-most located between Texas and Mississippi. A capital idea, op. cil. states in the U.S. and is 2005, Capital One buying Hibernia for $5.3B, http://wwwcnnmoney. com, March 7 http://wwwCapitalone.com. Capital One to acquire Hibernia Corporation for $5.3 billion in stock and cash, op. cil. Capital Oneââ¬â¢s concrete step, op. cil. A capital idea, op. cil. Ibid. 1 Locke, 2005, Bank One, JPMorgan merger ups the ante in Colorado banking game, http://wwwbizjournals.com. A capital idea, op. cil. March 25 K. Maguire, 2005, Capital One rolls with the punches, http://news.yahoo.com, March 21 http://wwwcapitalone.com. M. McCarthy, 2005, Capital Oneââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËWhatââ¬â¢s in your wallet?ââ¬â¢ ads filling airwaves, http://wwwusatoday.com. March 13. S. Maranjian, 2005, How to owe $40,000 by doing nothing, http://wwwfoolcom, February 11. R. Barker, 2003, Whoââ¬â¢s minding the store at Capital One? http://wwwbusinessweek.com. March 24. 2005, Fitch places Capital One on rating watch positive; Hibernia on watch negative, http://wwwbloomberg.com. March 7 http://wwwcapitalone.com.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Friday, December 27, 2019
The Use Of Lichen And Its Effect On The Environment
Lichens are widely distributed in many different areas and can be found inhabited within harsh habitats such as dry arid hot deserts and freezing mountain tops. Environmental factors such as temperature, sun exposure levels, and the pH levels of soil influence the growth of Lichens. Their natural structure and symbiotic relationship with fungus and a photosynthetic partner has given these organisms the ability to survive such harsh and exposed environments. Their ability to absorb substances and minerals dissolved in rain and dew has also enabled Lichen to live and survive in such extreme areas, but this ability has had the effect of making them very sensitive to pollutants in the air; and therefore cannot survive in polluted areas such as the city because of automobile traffic such as cars, and industrial activity. Lichen can be found growing within soil, on the surface layer of rocks, and most commonly, they are found growing on the bark of trees (Raven et al. 2010, p. 626-627). The graph above shows that the south aspect of most of the trees in Campbelltown Campus had the greatest surface area of lichen coverage on the tree trunk, compared to the other aspects (east, north and west). The east aspect had the second highest average cell count of lichen coverage. The north and west aspects had a similar cell count which varied by a small amount, with the north aspect having the lowest amount of lichen coverage, and the west being the second lowest. The results did notShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Air Pollution On The Environment1198 Words à |à 5 Pagesbio-indicator called a lichen. Lichens consist of two organisms, a fungi and a cyanobacteria (algae) which grow symbiotically. Lichens while they grow symbiotically their relationship of interaction can be described as mutualism. Three basic types of lichens include foliose, crustose, and fruticose. Lichens are durable and can grow in harsh environments where there is little or no soil. Lichens can tolerate severe temperatures both hot and cold. Despite their durability lichen are not impervious, manyRead MoreThe Effects Of Pollution On The Environment1636 Words à |à 7 PagesOur environment nowadays is becoming more polluted by the second. There are several types of pollution in the atmosphere: Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution and many more. It is corroding away our trees and contaminating our water. People take no interest in looking after the environment bec ause they cannot see the effects it is causing the earth. Pollution is becoming dangerously high and it is beginning to affect wildlife. Due to the water being contaminated, they have no safe drinkingRead MoreEvaluation of cumulative air pollution in Riga and Liepaja with Cumulative Pollution Index method1944 Words à |à 8 Pagesambient air. It is a significant risk factor for multiple health conditions including lung cancer, respiratory and heart diseases. Therefore it is important to keep up with latest data about actual air quality to react timely and initiate appropriate environment management procedures when pollution levels rise to high (Snyder et. al, 2013). For this purposes, air quality monitoring is carried out. It is regular and continuous collecting of information about air quality to prevent with pollution associatedRead MoreLab 3 Biodiversity2005 Words à |à 9 Pagesaffected by the missing species for each round of the demonstration. a. Round 1 = white bead representing lichens. Our laboratory reading for the experiment stated that lichens are instrumental in the development and needs for all species. The text stated, ââ¬Å"Lichens play a part in the creation of soils from which plants can obtain nutrients. Like all living organisms, lichens need nutrients and energy to grow. Nutrients may be obtained from the air including dust, water, and from the substrateRead More What Are We Breathing? Essay2006 Words à |à 9 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Poor air quality is the culprit for the consequences that are being suffered by many human and plant communities. Air pollution, smog, or acid rain; it may be called whatever you like, it is the effects that it is causing that are important. Although many people associate smog with Los Angeles, it is not the only area that has been effected by poor air quality. Many national parks, aquatic systems, and other populated areas are showing major signs of air pollutio n.Read MoreLichen Species Hang from Trees2259 Words à |à 9 Pagesname for a collection of lichen species categorized in the family Parmeliaceae, which grow while hanging on tree branches and resemble greenish or green hair (Tilford, 1997). Usnea is often commonly known as Treeââ¬â¢s Dandruff, Tree Moss, Beard Lichen, Old Manââ¬â¢s Beard, and Womanââ¬â¢s Long Hair. Belonging to the fungus division Ascomycota, Usnea is a symbiotic combination of an algae and a fungus (Halonen, 2000). Usnea grows and thrives well across the globe. Because the lichen is often inconspicuous, manyRead MoreEssay on The Speckled Band and The Man with the Twisted Lip1580 Words à |à 7 Pageswhich Arthur Conan Doyle has chosen for his stories in The Speckled Band and The Man with the Twisted Lip. Consider the effects the writer has created and how they contribute to the atmosphere. Arthur Conan Doyles character, Sherlock Holmes, lived in Victorian London during the 19th century. His perception of the streets is portrayed as a dark and isolated environment. The atmosphere was far from welcoming. The streets were overrun with crime, beggars and prostitutes. Through the denseRead MoreThe Versatility and Adaptation of Plants for Survival Essay1531 Words à |à 7 Pagesare totally dependent on them. Even today with all our technology they continue to amaze us with their ability to inhabit places we humans could not survive, from the frozen Antarctic to the intensity of a volcanic spring, plants utilise their environments to their own advantage and evolve to survive the harshest of landscapes. A plant needs four basic things to survive, water, warmth, light and minerals and any place that can provide even a little of these essential needs, will be colonised byRead More Nitrogen as a Fertilizer, Nutrient, or Pollutant Essay963 Words à |à 4 PagesNitrogen as a Fertilizer, Nutrient, or Pollutant Nitrogen can always be a fertilizer, nutrient, or pollutant depending on the circumstances and the environment it is in. As a fertilizer, nitrogen can be extremely useful in aiding the growth of many plants. As a nutrient, nitrogen is essential to many plants growth and survival. As a pollutant, nitrogen can not only affect the plant at the given time but be very detrimental many years down the road. No matter where you go nitrogen will alwaysRead MoreDiscuss the relative importance of physical and human factors in accounting for changes to vegetation over time within ecosystems in the British Isles1623 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe succession from progressing any further and the climatic climax vegetation is never achieved, which in the UK are Oak, Hawthorne and Birch trees. This succession results in the development of an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a dynamic, stable environment which is composed of interacting and functioning biotic and abiotic components and can be of any size. The re can be composed of variety of successions, such as lithoseres in grassland and woodland areas for example the Isle of Aaron, psamoseres
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Evolution Of Creationism And Creationism - 907 Words
Evolution and creationism The debate about whether evolution and creationism be taught in schools has existed for years. Some parents are allowing their religious beliefs hinder the education of their children. According to Phy-Olsen, ââ¬Å"American students have lower scores in mathematics and the sciences than comparable students in other industrialized nations.â⬠(9). Many people feel that science goes against religion and they don t want this taught in the schools. If you teach just evolution this will be offensive to the people who believe in creationism, likewise teaching just creationism would upset those who believe in the evolutionary theory. It would be in the best interest of all to teach both creationism and evolution in schools or neither at all, this would prove to be beneficial to students later on when pursuing a college degree and in the workforce. Evolutionary theory is a theory concluding that humans come from Apelike ancestors through a process of natural sel ection. In present day, this has never been proven. People argue that evolution is just a theory and has never been proven so it shouldn t be considered science because of the lack of proof. There is no scientific evidence to prove that evolution had occurred. Creationists against the teaching of evolution have tried to compare its arguments with the Bible and they were inconsistent. As Young explains: The theory of evolution disagrees with much that is written in theShow MoreRelatedThe And Evolution Between Creationism And Creationism1023 Words à |à 5 Pages So what is the answer to how to present our students with the opportunity to make their own decisions? According to the laws and court decisions as of today, it is highly unlikely that Creationism will be granted equal time in the biology classroom any time soon. The Ohio standards for science include evolution as a core component mandating that biology teachers incorporate natural selection and the history of life on earth as part of the curriculum. One strategy, presented by the National CenterRead MoreEvolution Creationism2933 Words à |à 12 PagesEvolution and Creationism Outline: Thesis: Acceptance of Creation is growing in spite of overwhelming evidence proving Evolution. I. Acceptance of Creation is growing in spite of overwhelming evidence proving Evolution There is no easy resolution for whats true and evolution or creationism. It is a complex topic with profound scientific, religious, educational, and criticism. How can a student or parent come to grips with this issue? Evolution vs. Creationism provides a badly needed, comprehensiveRead MoreEvolution Creationism Vs. Creationism924 Words à |à 4 PagesAny point of contact with the scientific world in the 21st century will eventually lead one to the one of the most hotly contested topic in American education, that of evolution versus creationism. While the creationist point of view, as well as the evolutionary perspective, hosts a great variation of opinion amongst its supporters, Christianity is brought to the center stage time after time (Vuletic, 1994). Literal interpretation of the Book of Genesisââ¬â¢ account of creation falls contrary to theRead MoreThe Evolution Of Creationism And Evol ution1276 Words à |à 6 PagesCreationism and Evolution is a heavily discussed topic all over the world, sparking controversy on every turn. Whether humanity evolved from monkeys over time or was created instantly by an almighty God; that has been the debate between creationist and scientist since Charles Darwin came forth with the evolution theory in the late eighteen-fifties. Itââ¬â¢s hard to contest against the facts of science. Science tells us that the Earth was created relatively 4.5 billion years ago and life evolved fromRead MoreCreationism Vs. Evolution1130 Words à |à 5 Pages Where do we come from? The creation of the world has been told through many different stories, and from a variety of religions across the world. The argument between evolution and creation has been debated back and forth for years. So how do we know which claim is correct? Has all life evolved from simple bacteria to all the species that appear today, or did life on earth begin with Gods creation of Adam from dust and his partner Eve from adamââ¬â¢s rib bone. As a child I grew up attending church everyRead MoreThe Theory Of Evolution Of Creationism977 Words à |à 4 PagesThe theory of evolution is at odds with the views of many religions, and many people want to allow a religious view of creationism to be taught in the public school system. The foundation of evolution is based upon the belief that the origin of all ordered complex systems, including living creatures, can be explained by natural laws without the initiation or intervention of God. A person who believes in the biblical model of creation is viewed by some non- believers as a naive, narrow-minded religiousRead MoreCreationism And Evolution Of School1957 Words à |à 8 Pages Creationism and Evolution in school Almost every child has to go to school at some point in his or her life. ââ¬Å"The legal age is between six and fifteen years old. Whether it is home school, private school, public school, or any other way of being taught, it is a law that you have to attend school until you are sixteen.â⬠(Queensland Para 1) That is, unless you can prove to the State Department of Education that you should not be in school. What is taught in school applies to almost all AmericansRead More Evolution Vs. Creationism Essay1323 Words à |à 6 PagesEvolution vs. Creationism Abstract In the history of science vs. religion there have been no issues more intensely debated than evolution vs. creationism. The issue is passionately debated since the majority of evidence is in favor of evolution, but the creation point of view can never be proved wrong because of religious belief. Human creation breaks down into three simple beliefs; creation theory, naturalistic evolution theory, and theistic evolution theory. The complexities of all threeRead More Creationism vs. Evolution Essays1663 Words à |à 7 PagesCreationism vs. Evolution This paper will focus on the huge controversy between Creationism and Evolution. I will provide two opposing viewpoints on this subject. First, the discussion will focus on the question of why many people believe that God created the universe and all living things. On the other end of the spectrum, scientific information will be presented that substantiates the evidence against the existence of God. This creationism counter-argument known as evolution has itsRead More Evolution vs. Creationism Essay917 Words à |à 4 Pages Evolution vs. Creationism The Evolution vs. Creationism controversy goes all the way back to the Publishing of Origin of Species in 1859 by Darwin laying the foundation for the evolution of life to be understood. Scientists are continuously finding more evidence to support Darwinââ¬â¢s conclusion; that organisms descended from a common ancestor modified by the mechanism of natural selection resulting in the evolution of species adapting to their environment. The following are the main geological topics
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Frosts Use of Simple Everday subjects Essay Example For Students
Frosts Use of Simple Everday subjects Essay Robert Frost is a poet of genius because he could so often make his subtleties inextricable from an apparent availability. (Poirier p. x) Frost uses simple everyday subjects such as nature, man, and home to get his point across in his poetry. Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874, in San Francisco California. His father, William Prescott Frost, was a journalist who worked for the Daily Evening Post in San Francisco. His mother, Isabelle Moodie Frost, came into the United State when she was 12 years old. Frost was born a year after his parents had gotten married. After Frosts father had died in 1885, he moved with his family to New England where he attended Lawrence High School. Frost had published several poems in the school magazine and was named class poet. (Bloom p.12) He graduated in 1892, sharing valedictorian honors with Elinor White, to whom he became engaged. (Bloom p. 12) Frost then went onto Dartmouth College, he ended up dropping out of school after one semester. He instead pursued a variety of jobs, including teaching at his mothers private school and working in a textile mill. In 1894 he published a few poems in The Independent and began corresponding with its literary editor. (Bloom p.12) In December 1895 he married Elinor. In the early years of there marriage, Frost attended Harvard as a special student but withdrew in 1899 and took up poultry farming to support his growing family. The Frosts family life, often strained by emotional and financial anxieties, was marked by a series of tragedies. Their first child, Elliott, died of cholera at age three. Another child, Elinor Bettina, died two days after birth. Of the four children who lived to adulthood, Frosts daughter Marjorie died of childbed fever at age 29, and his son Carol committed suicide at age 39. Another daughter, Irma, had to be institutionalized for mental illness, as did Frosts sister Jeanie. (Bloom p.13) Frost moved with his family in 1912 to England so he could focus more on his poetry and book publication. A Boys Will was published by the London firm of David Nutt and Company in 1913, and was reviewed favorably by American poet and critic Ezra Pound, a highly influential figure in modernist letters. Nutt published Nor th of Boston a year later. (Bloom p. 13) As Frost was continuing to write poetry, he began to pursue what would be a life long career as a part-time college teacher. He and his family moved between teaching posts in New Hampshire, Vermont, and many other places. In the course of his lifetime, Frost was recognized with more than 17 honorary degrees from prestigious colleges and universities in the United States and England. He continued to write books of poetry, receiving the Pulitzer Prize and unprecedented four times. (Bloom p.14) Later in life Frost toured Europe, the Middle East, and South America as a cultural emissary and a personage. (Myers p.24) Frost was chosen in 1961 to read at President Kennedys inauguration, he read The Gift Outright. Frost died on January 29,1963, just 2 years after reading at the presidents inauguration. He was said to be the most famous American poet and also the most popular of his time. If a reader, even the most superficial takes anything at all from Frosts poems, it is likely to be a memorable impression created by the overwhelming presence of nature. (Gerber p.131) Frost visualizes man always cradled within nature, totally immersed in environment. (Gerber p.132) Frosts views of nature does possess a persistent ethical or metaphysical dimension of very substantial importance in any examination of Frosts work or of the values expressed in that work. (Nitchie p.5) This is saying that Frost basically tends to pull away from the statements of a theory of nature, or mans relationship. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, is said by many people to be one of Frosts most famous poems. He himself always offered it as the prime example of his commitment to convention. (Gerber p. 85) Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening the pressure of distant responsibilities, referred to in abstract terms, prevents the speaker from lingering to contemplate a sensuously appealing landscape near at hand. In his longing for the darkness and sleep represented by the lovely woods swept by easy wind and downy flake, he seems to look forward to the final rest that succeeds all engagements with reality. (Gerber p.76) Whose woods these are I think I know suggests that is a poem concerned with ownership and does not choose to care even about owning himself. The terrifying lightness of sight and sound leads the speaker to contemplate the woods as lovely, dark, and deep, a desire to lose himself in this self-annihilating scene. (Bloom p.64) The woods are lovely, dark and deep,This rejects natures impersonal plea in favor of purpose, the last verse refuses to imply whatever such purpose is self produced and determinedBibliography:
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Mia Hamm Essay Example
Mia Hamm Paper Kelsey Williams Period 3 Gym 15 October 2012 Mia Hamm Mariel Margaret Hamm, otherwise known as Mia Hamm, was born in Selma, Alabama on March 17th, 1972. Mia Hamms brother recalls that she was extremely athletic even back then and that she would often compete with the other boys on the block in childhood games, often winning them. But earlier on, Mia Hamm had some problems with her legs, she was born with a partial clubfoot. This meant that she had to wear casts on her feet to correct this problem. Fortunately, the casts had a visible effect and Mia Hamm would soon fully recover. Throughout Mia Hamms childhood, she had to move a lot, because her father was in the Air Force. Once, her and her family went to Italy and it is there that Mia saw exactly what soccer is about. The Italians passion for soccer triggered an interest in soccer, when she was just 6 years old. After moving to Texas, she immediately picked up the sport and started playing for a local womens soccer youth club. | Unlike most other players that have to go through certain steps during their childhood, Mia Hamms career had a jump start at a very early age. With Mia dominating the youth competitions of womens soccer in Texas, it was only natural that she ended up in the spotlight of the United States national team staff. However, at age 14, she wasnt ready for that big of a leap, yet. One of the less known facts about Mia Hamm is that she also enjoyed watching and playing football. This helped her later on in her soccer career, increasing her strength, structure and aggressive spirit. We will write a custom essay sample on Mia Hamm specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mia Hamm specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mia Hamm specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Age 15, Mia Hamm moved to northern Virginia, where she would attend the Lake Braddock Secondary school; living with her uncle. She kept on playing soccer and one day, an impressive phone call got the young girl cheering throughout the house. She was called for the senior United States womens soccer team, becoming the youngest player in history to play on it. Fortunately, she did have a good constitution that allowed her to physically survive the difficulties of senior professional soccer at that level. Although she would not play much during her first few years on the team, those times were extremely important in her adaptation process. By the time Mia was seventeen, she already felt right at home on the United States squad and managed to score her first goal for the team, in a match against Canada. After finishing high school, Mia Hamm was already on her way to success, now constantly being called up to the national team. She started playing regularly. However, she chose to follow a University as well; the University of North Carolina. She began playing for the University of North Carolinaââ¬â¢s women soccer team, the Tar Heels, and lead them to a string of four straight national titles, in addition to being the team and the leagues all-time top scorer. | In 1991, she put her time with the University of North Carolina on hold. She was being called for her first World Cup, held in China. The United States team was put in a tough group against Brazil, Japan and Sweden. In their first match against Sweden, Mia Hamm managed a crucial 62 minute goal, and the USA team won 3-2. She had scored the winning goal. Their next match, against Brazil saw a wild United States Team with Mia Hamm as the MVP of the match, beating Brazil 5-0. In the last group match, against Japan, the United States womens soccer team beat Japan, 3-0. Coming back to the UNC, Mia Hamm was greeted as a hero and was soon given the nickname Jordan, as a reference to another North Carolina athlete of international fame, Michael Jordan. By that time, Mia Hamm, a soccer player that started out in a small Texas youth club, was already a World Champion at age twenty and had a wonderful career in front of her. When she finished studying at the University, Hamm focused merely on the US national squad, participating in the 1995 World Cup, where the United States ended up third. A moment bound to be remembered from that World Cup was when Mia Hamm went on to play as a goalkeeper, with no one left to play on this position. Despite the United States losing the title and the final, Mia Hamm was voted the Most Valuable Player of the World Cup. One year later, at the 1996 Olympic Games, Mia suffered an ankle injury that kept her off the field for a match, but she was able to recover for the final game, played against China. Hamm contributed decisively to the winning goal, her shot coming off the bar, only to be plunged back in the net by Shannon MacMillan. The United States had gotten another gold medal. Months before the World Cup started, Mia Hamm had already broken the record for most international goals scored by a male or female soccer player, hitting the net for the 108th time in a match against Brazil. Mia Hamms seventeen years with the United States squad brought her a lot of trophies and success. This included two World Cups, two World Cup bronze medals, two Olympic gold medals, and a silver medal. Mia Hamm also won the FIFA Womens Soccer Player of the Year twice, in 2001 and 2002. She currently holds the record for most international goals scored by a player, male or female, with an impressive amount of 158 goals. Mia was one of the only 2 women named on Peles 125 Best Soccer Players of All Times, next to USA national team colleague, Michelle Akers. Mia retired from soccer in 2004 at the age of 32, to start a family.
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