Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Forgo vs. Forego

Forgo vs. Forego Forgo vs. Forego Forgo vs. Forego By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between forgo and forego? It’s a foregone conclusion that there’ll be some confusion, but I’ll forgo further digression to get to the discussion. To forgo is to do without, or relinquish: â€Å"He will forgo the pleasure of her company†; â€Å"I’ll forgo the formality of requiring a co-signer.† The present participle is forgoing (â€Å"She is forgoing the procedure†), the past-tense form can be forwent (â€Å"She forwent the procedure†) or forgone (â€Å"She had forgone the procedure†), and one who forgoes is a forgoer. Only the basic verb form, however, is common. To forego, by contrast, is to go before, to precede. Forego is much less common in usage than forgo, and it generally has a figurative sense, often used in such statements as â€Å"Her reputation will forego her† or â€Å"Her reputation foregoes her,† meaning that others will have heard about the subject before they meet her. However, although the past-tense form forewent is rare, the form foregone, and the present participle foregoing are more common than the root word. A phrase I used in the first paragraph, â€Å"foregone conclusion,† is applied frequently to indicate that something is implicitly understood to be true; foregoing refers to something that has previously been encountered, as a passage in a document: â€Å"The foregoing statement should not be construed as an endorsement.† To maintain the distinction between the words forgo and forego in your mind, remember these basics: Use forgo or forgoing in the sense of â€Å"doing without†; past-tense usage is rare. And though use of forego is unlikely, foregone and foregoing are common terms for reference to something already done. Or, most simply, think of -fore in before to remind yourself that forego and its variants refer to sequence and that forgo resembles forget, which is often the reason something is left undone. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How Many Tenses in English?10 Types of TransitionsMay Have vs. Might Have

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Electoral Votes Are Awarded - A Complicated Process

How Electoral Votes Are Awarded - A Complicated Process There are 538 electoral votes up for grabs in every presidential election, but the process of determining how  electoral votes are awarded is one of the most complicated and widely misunderstood facets of   American presidential elections. Heres the thing you should know: The U.S. Constitution created the Electoral College, but the Founding Fathers had fairly little to say about how electoral votes are awarded  by each of the states. Here are some common questions and answers about how states allocate electoral votes in presidential contests. How Many Electoral Votes Are Needed to Win an Election There are 538 electors in the Electoral College. To become president, a candidate must win a simple majority of the electors, or 270, in the general election. Electors are important people in each major political party who are chosen by voters to represent them in the selection of a president. Voters dont actually vote directly for the president; they choose electors to vote on their behalf. States are allotted a number of electors based on their population and number of congressional districts. The larger a states population, the more electors it is allocated. For example, California is the most populous state with about 38 million residents. It also holds the most electors at 55. Wyoming, on the other hand, is the least populous state with fewer than 600,000 residents. As such, it holds only three electors. How Electoral Votes Are Distributed States determine on their own how to distribute the electoral votes that have been allocated to them. Most states award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in the state. This method of awarding electoral votes is commonly known as winner-take-all. So even if a presidential candidate wins 51 percent of the popular vote in a winner-take-all state, he is awarded 100 percent of the electoral votes. Exceptions to Electoral Vote Distribution   48 of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., award all of their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote there. Only two states award their electoral votes in a different manner. They are Nebraska and Maine. These states allocate their electoral votes by congressional district. In other words, instead of distributing all of its electoral votes to the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote, Nebraska and Maine awards an electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. The winner of the statewide vote gets two additional electoral votes. This method is called the Congressional District Method; Maine has used it since 1972 and Nebraska has used it since 1996. The Constitution and Vote Distribution While the U.S. Constitution requires states to appoint electors, the document is silent on how they actually award votes in presidential elections. There have been numerous proposals to circumvent the winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes. The Constitution leaves the matter of electoral-vote distribution up to the states, stating only that: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress. The key phrase pertaining to the distribution of electoral votes is obvious: ... in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the states role in awarding electoral votes is supreme. Electors and Delegates Electors are not the same as delegates. Electors are part of the mechanism that chooses a president. Delegates, on the other hand, distributed by the parties during the primaries and serve to nominate candidates to run in the general election.    Delegates are people who attend political conventions to choose the party nominees. Controversy Over Electoral Vote Distribution Former Vice President Al Gore has expressed concern about the way most states award electoral votes. He and a growing number of Americans support the National Popular Vote initiative. States that enter the compact agree to award their electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Electoral College Ties The 1800 election  exposed a major flaw in the countrys new constitution. At the time, presidents and vice presidents did not run separately; the highest vote-getter became president, and the second-highest vote-getter was elected vice president. The first Electoral College tie was between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, his running mate in the election. Both men won 73 electoral votes. Electoral College Alternatives There are other ways, yes, but they are untested. So its unclear whether theyd work better than the Electoral College. One of them is called the National Popular vote plan; under it, states would  cast all of their electoral votes for the presidential candidate winning the nationwide popular vote.  The Electoral College would no longer be necessary.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

CRITQUE MY PEERS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CRITQUE MY PEERS - Essay Example Similarly the essay refers to the possibility of the employees in daycare centers having criminal history, which the author backs up with suitable examples. This argument is also a valid one in terms of what one can observe in the society. The narration of the medical concerns and the mention of the amount the author had spent in treating a child sound a little weak. Medical problems do not seem to be the rampant issue in day care centers. If the author feels so, this contention should have been supported through research evidence. My suggestion would be to include some of the advantages of daycare centers such as they can come as a solace when both parents need to work at the same time. To refute this, I would argue that this does not qualify a daycare center to win the trust of parents. I would also include some suggestions relating to such facilities being more professional and the government or community involving more in the operation of such organizations to ensure that the consumer receives proper services. Does the author use signal phrases to introduce quotes? (Signal phrases are discussed in more detail in section 10g of The New Century Handbook. ) If so, provide an example. If not, suggest the correct way to do this. All quotations that the writer has used are stand alone, without integrating them into the writing. The author also has not used signal phrases appropriately. I personally believe that rather than using stand alone quotations, the writer can integrate the quotes into the writing so that the prose will have better coherence and flow. The writer has not used proper in-text citations in the paper at this stage. However, it appears that because this is a draft. The citations, as they are now, do not follow the standard requirements for acknowledging the sources. I presume the writer will address this issue before submitting the final paper. The

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Factors affecting the salary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Factors affecting the salary - Essay Example Executives receive a variable compensation that is known as executive bonus that is based on attainment of organisational goals and objectives. Managers also get long-term incentives that are based on the firms’ goals and objectives. Executive perquisites and benefits are different than those that are offered to subordinates. This means that they receive higher levels of pension plans, fringe benefits, life insurance and health insurance. The website states that the pay rates for executive compensation in the US are higher as compared to the situation in other countries. The situation is similar in other nations including Asia and Europe. It is also clear that managers have the option to increase their levels of compensation. This has attracted numerous ethical concerns over the years. The book starts by stating that the issue of executive remuneration has attracted increasing attention over the years especially following the 2008/2009 banking crisis. This leads to the important question on the factors influencing executive remuneration. The recent discussion has shifted from how much the executives make in a month to how much they can make from their firms. The book notes that executive remuneration has spawn out of control in the recent past. In fact, it has become clear that the bonuses available to executive are approximately seventy percent of their basic salary. The High Pay Commission found verification that high pay for executives has negative impacts for society and the economy at large. The same commission found that while executives’ salaries increased dramatically over the years, the share prices have been observed to have declined significantly. Generally speaking, the main factors influencing executive remuneration include the decisions by remuneration committees, inherent values of executives, competitive forces in the market. There are two main theories that can further explain this

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Nation under God Essay Example for Free

Nation under God Essay The argument regarding the use of the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance is not a new one. In fact, this argument stems from the long standing principle of separation between the church and the state which is embodied in the First Amendment of the United States constitution. Under this principle, the government and the church are to be kept separate from each other. The government is prohibited from encouraging or advancing any of the interests of a single religion. This means that the government cannot promote a single religion or impose upon its people which religion to follow (Clark 1965). It is a blanket prohibition that prevents the government from intervening in the religious beliefs of people. The second aspect of this principle recognizes that the government will invariably have to deal with religious institutions one way or the other (Clark 1965). The doctrine on the separation of church and state therefore also regulates the dealings between the church and state such that there should only be a minimal and incidental interference from the government. This is also known as the rule on excessive entanglement between the church and the state. The problem with the use of the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance is considered as a violation of the doctrine on the separation of the church and state because many religious groups claim that the use of the term God favors the Christian religion which prominently uses the term God for the Supreme Being. Other groups on the other hand argue that the word God as used in the Pledge of Allegiance is not an advancement of the Christian religion but rather an acknowledgment of some higher being that is common to all religions. This short discourse will seek to shed more light on the issue of the use of the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance. The first part will cover the historical background of the insertion of the word God in an attempt to understand the original meaning of the word God as used in the Pledge of Allegiance. The next segments will cover the points of view from the perspective of the state as contrasted to the perspective of the church on the issue. Historical Background of the Insertion of the Word God: There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the use of the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance particularly with its mandatory recitation in the public school classrooms. Most of controversy revolves around the use of the phrase â€Å"under God. † It was not until June 14, 1954 however that this highly contested phrase was inserted (Whitsitt 1896). The original tenor of the pledge of allegiance which was created by Francis Bellamy on September 7, 1892 read as follows: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Historical Changes of the Pledge of Allegiance 1892: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. 1892 to 1923: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. 1923 to 1954: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. 1954 to Present: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. The original tenor of the Pledge of Allegiance did not contain any reference to any deity whatsoever. In response to this, the Knights of Columbus of New York City urged the assemblies to insert a reference to a deity since they felt that it was incomplete without one. The deity to which the Knights of Columbus referred to was the same one that was referred to in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (Whitsitt 1896). The words â€Å"under God† as used in Lincoln’s address, according to the Knights of Columbus, was the most appropriate one to add to the Pledge of Allegiance. It is important to note however that the phrase â€Å"under God† was never contained in the original text of the Gettysburg Address. By April 22 of the year 1951, the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus formally adopted a resolution to amend the recitation of Pledge of Allegiance by the members of the Knights of Columbus at the opening of each of the meetings of the 800 Fourth Degree Assemblies of the Knights of Columbus by addition of the words under God after the words one nation (Whitsitt 1896). It was not long before the whole organization had adopted the same resolution as the idea spread throughout the other Knights of Columbus organizations nationwide. On August 21, 1952, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus adopted a resolution at its annual meeting recommending the that the change in the Pledge of Allegiance be made universal and soon petitions and copies of the resolution were sent to the Office of the President, the Vice President, who was the Presiding Officer of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. While the attempts of the Knights of Columbus were unsuccessful, they were able to convince a majority of the relevance of inserting such a phrase and soon the movement began to gain momentum (Whitsitt 1896). It was not until Senator Homer Ferguson who in his report to the United States Congress on March 10, 1954 that the movement had begun to make significant progress. In this privileged speech, Senator Ferguson said, The introduction of this joint resolution was suggested to me by a sermon given recently by the Rev. George M. Docherty, of Washington, D. C. , who is pastor of the church at which Lincoln worshipped. By this time Congress concurred with the Oakman-Ferguson resolution, and Eisenhower opted to sign the bill into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954. The rationale for the approval and adoption of the phrase â€Å"under God† was clarified by President Eisenhower in a letter which he wrote in August of 1954 (Bradley 1996). These words [â€Å"under God†] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded. This was actually taken from the sermon of Docherty to which President Eisenhower had taken a great interest in (Whitsitt 1896). It was eventually published by Harper Bros. in New York in 1958 and President Eisenhower took the opportunity to write to Dr. Docherty with gratitude for the opportunity to once again read the fateful sermon. Finally, on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, Congress passed the legislation that add the phrase under God to the Pledge of Allegiance. At this point, it can be argued that the insertion of the word God into the Pledge of Allegiance was actually motivated by some religious influence, particularly the Christian religion. In order to have a better understanding of the issue at hand however it is important to briefly examine the import of the doctrine of the Separation of the Church and the State. Doctrine of the Separation of Church and State: The phrase, â€Å"separation of Church and State†, is actually from a letter that was written by one of the founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, to a group that called themselves the Danbury Baptists. In the letter, Thomas Jefferson wrote that, â€Å"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. † This was of course in reference to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution (Whitsitt 1896). The basic precept of this doctrine is founded on a firm belief that religion and state should be separate. It covers a very wide spectrum, as mentioned in the previous sections of this discussion, ranging from the secularization or elimination of the church to theocracy wherein the state works in tandem with a religion in order to govern over the acts of people (Bradley 1996). The Secularist Perspective: The secularist perspective is that the state should be kept distant from religion and that, in the same vein, the religious institutions should also be free from any governmental interferences. This follows the second aspect of the Doctrine of the Separation of Church and State that dictates that there should be no entanglement between the Church and the State (Bradley 1996). In this perspective, the government is prohibited from citing the authority or influence of a specific religious institution for the justification of its authority (Bradley 1996). While there are some governments that claim religious justifications for their powers such as the Muslim states, the justification for such is based on the emphasis of the relationship for ceremonial and rhetorical purposes only. The acts done by the government are not meant to further the cause of any single religion but are actually for the general welfare and the benefit of the state. The state therefore does not conform to any particular religious doctrine but in fact caters to its own doctrine as mandated by the will of the people and of the Constitution (Clark 1965). Acts such as exemptions from taxation or providing funds for education and charities, though viewed as supporting religion, are in fact welfare based or â€Å"faith based† according to secularists. This reflects the view that temporal authority and spiritual authority should properly operate in complimentary spheres. The spheres where they overlap such as in moral values or property rights are areas where neither should take authority over the other but should instead offer a framework in which society can work these issues out without subjugating a religion to the state or vice versa (Bradley 1996).

Friday, November 15, 2019

SWOT Analysis of the COCOM Structure Essay example -- Business Analysi

The Idea of the Combatant Command structure was first emerged during World War II with the establishment of the different geographical theaters of operation that was composed of militant forces from different services. A single General or Admiral was appointed the single commander nominated by the President of the United States and was supported by a joint staff. With the implementation of the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1986, COCOM Commanders attained a nontransferable command authority over different service forces directly to the Secretary of Defense. Today there are 6 Geographic commanders consisting of the newest member the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). There has been a significant amount of criticism and arguments over the structuring and organization of the Combatant Commanders. Arguments have been made over personnel and budget restraints to peacetime efforts and the need for continued assistance. This Essay will analyze the COCOM structure using a SWOT analysis to look at both the internal and external points of the different commands and the overall effects the COCOM has on the world. This essay will finally offer and modification of the structure that would benefit the organization. The SWOT analysis is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats. The idea of this assessment was developed by a man name Albert Humphrey in 1960’s. His team of researchers at the Stanford Research Institute originally developed a long range corporate planning model called SOFT meaning Satisfactory, Opportunity, Fault,... ...N Douglas M. â€Å"SOUTHCOM Posture Statement.† Washington, DC, 6 March 2012. Andrew Feickert, â€Å"The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands: Background and Issues for Congress,† Congressional Research Service, Novemnber 7, 2011, 60. Kniskern and Ducey, â€Å"SWOT and Structured Assessment Methodology,† 7. GEN James N. Mattis, â€Å"Statement: Commander U.S. Central Command Before the Senate Armed Services Committee,† Washington, DC, 6 March 2012, 6. Stavridis, â€Å"EUCOM Posture Statement† 60. Ibid., 60 GEN Douglas M. â€Å"SOUTHCOM Posture Statement.† 24. Feickert, â€Å"The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands,† 64. U.S. Government Accountability Office. â€Å"Defense Management: U.S. Southern Command Demonstrates Interagency Collaboration, but Its Haiti Disaster Response Revealed Challenges Conducting a Large Military Operation,† GAO-10-801, July 2010, 25.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Tv News vs. Internet News

It is hard to believe that just a few years ago, watching TV or reading newspapers were the only ways of gathering news. Nowadays as thanks to the Internet there is one more option, the question whether it is best to rely on television news, or to follow online news emerged. When set beside, those two ways of gathering news seem to be enormously different. The biggest difference between online news and television news is the access to information. While watching news on TV, we are dependent on broadcast schedule of any TV station.By contrast, there is no schedule involved in following online news. The access to information is constant and it is the user’s choice when to follow the news. Secondly, compared to television news, the amount of online information seems to be much more greater. While on TV only the most important pieces of everyday news are broadcast, the Internet offers basically unlimited amount of information concerning every branch of science and all fields of li fe.Nevertheless, the quality of television news still remains much more higher, as online articles are often anonymous or unverified. Last but not least, unlike television news, following online news gives the reader the possibility of commenting on any given article. While watching television news, the receiver only gathers the news, whereas the online news follower may participate in live â€Å"debate† and express his view on every piece of news presented.To sum up, there are many differences between television news and online news, such as the access to information, the quality of news, or the receiver’s participation. While online news seems to be more available and gives the receiver the chance to comment, the television news still remains more reliable. It is up to the receiver to choose what is more important to him.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Marketing Research Report on Co-op Bookshop

Marketing 202 Research Report Co-op Bookshop Executive Summary Co-op is a bookshop in Macquarie University at North Ryde Campus, and it sales new textbooks and references books to students, as well as popular novels and so on. However, after beginning of the semester, the quantity of sales of Co-op has an obvious decline. In this situation, our group use online survey method to collect questionnaires from 108 students in Macquarie University at North Ryde, and with the purpose of measuring students potential purchase behaviors and attitudes towards the Co-op, in order to help Co-op to improve the sales. Through use of the SPSS program, frequency, one-sample t-tests, cross tabulation and Chi-Square Tests data to show and analyze results of the survey, then in the following report there are four points can be concluded, and three commendations can be found. The most obviously one is that most of the students prefer to buy textbooks at a much lower price, compared with the demand for book quality, cheaper price seems more attractive. That is, although the second hand bookshop cannot to be a competitor on service and quality with Co-op bookshop, potential price threats could be bring to influence the Co-op bookshop’s sales volume. Then do some price promotional activities in Co-op is necessary. Table of content Introduction3 Hypothesis4 Research objectives4 Methods5 Results and finding6 Analysis16 Limitations19 Conclusion19 Recommendations20 Appendix21 Introduction University students are big and traditional market for textbooks, references books, magazines and journals, especially those with strong professional and academic focuses. Facing such a market, it is critical for bookshop owners to understand how to efficiently operate and manage the bookshops so as to meet the demands of the particular customer group and keep the business going under the fierce competitions from other channels. A traditional bookshop providing regular book categories and services may not satisfy this particular group and consequently ends with poor sales results. This report is based on the study on the Co-op, a bookshop in Macquarie University. It is observed that when the new semester begins, Co-op bookshop, with convenient access and abundant variety of stocks, becomes a destination for students to get new textbooks; however, sales shrink dramatically after the opening weeks. In this situation, our group tries to figure out the potential demands from the student group by understanding their purchase behaviors and attitudes towards the Co-op bookshop. A survey is made to understand the gap between the actual demands from the students and the current operation situation at the Co-op, and consequently to help Co-op to improve the sales. We use online survey method to collect questionnaires from 108 students in Macquarie University at North Ryde. In the following report, diagrams are used to discuss and analyze the survey result related to the research topics. Hypothesis †¢ Macquarie University students prefer to buy brand-new books at the Co-op bookshop rather than to get used books in second hand markets. †¢ Only Co-op bookshop sells new textbooks and academic references in Macquarie University. †¢ Quite a portion of the students are using second hand book, feeling easy with them. This is one of the reasons that make the sales shrink for the Co-op bookshop. †¢ Student opinions on the discounts offered by the Co-op bookshop are diverted. The student preferences survey shows that half students appreciate the discounts from the Co-op while the rest do not show big interest on it. Research objectives Several key objectives are decided for this research: – To identify the students group who prefer to buy textbook or other academic references in Co-op bookshop. To identify the student who are likely to join the membership to have discount plans with Co-op bookshop. – To measure student attitudes and beliefs about buying new books at Co-op bookshop. – To identify the level of satisfaction of the students who use second hand books. These research objectives are presented on the survey questions and will be explained in details in later part of this report. The research objectives are used to identify whether Co-op bookshop should enhance pric e promotion or leverage other methods in order to increase sales profit. The survey questions are based on the research objectives to help figure out an efficient promotion method. Methods Questionnaire survey is designed for this study since it is inexpensive, timesaving, and convenient. When properly designed, this method is very efficient because the survey questions are eligible for collecting opinions on multiple subjects from a large number of people. This research is targeted at all Macquarie University students at North Ryde campus. The feedback rate for this survey is 95%. 08 students are sampled after wiping off invalid questionnaires. We collect these samples using random sampling. We spread this survey question randomly to our classmates, student in library, student in SAM building and canteen. The statistical methods used to analyze the data are obtained through the SPSS Program. Through the use of SPSS program, frequencies, one-sample t-tests, cross tabulation and Chi-Square Tests data are generated reflecting the results of the survey. Resu lts and finding Question 1 |If you want to buy some books, which way comes to your mind first? | |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent| |Valid | | |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid | | |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid | | |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid |I don't want to |14 |13. 0 |58. 3 | | |pay the | | | | | |membership fee | | | | [pic] 14 students out of 24 say they don’t want to join because of the membership fee, which makes up 58. 3 percent; 7 students out of 24 think the discount is too low to be attractive, which constitutes 29. 2% of total valid samples; 3 students out of 24 claim that they have no idea about the membership, the 12. 5%. We have expected a lower percent on the fee consideration, because the fee is not high and is apparently beneficial with 10% saved on each purchase. This percentage is obviously higher than our expectation. 29. 17% of students think the discount rate is the reason, however we have expected this number to be higher, because the main benefits of membership is the discount. Discount also to some degrees shortens the gaps between brand-new and second-hand books on the price consideration. Thus we expect the main reason of not getting membership is due to a discount lower than students’ expectation. Question6: If the Co-op bookshop sells combined textbooks cheaper than the separate one, do you prefer to buy? |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid |Yes |74 |68. 5 |68. 5 |68. 5 | | |No |14 |13. 0 |13. 0 |81. 5 | | |I do not care |20 |18. 5 |18. 5 |100. 0 | | |Total |108 |100. 0 |100. 0 | | [pic] For this question, 68. % of the students appreciate the bundled offer at a more favorable price than that for individual sales at the Co-op bookshop. The bundle promotion type not only attract the student with textbook demand, with Co-op gradually recognized as a resort for favorable seller, more people will think of Co-op whenever they want to search for some other references. This probably will bring back the rest 18. 5% people who initially say no to the Co-op. Thus the demand for new textbook in MQ campus will ramp up, and the Co-op bookshop will sell more books than ever, even the profit per each sales decrease a little, then the overall profit will increase with higher sales volume. Question7: If Co-op bookshop provides  extra discount  on the  other  books besides textbooks periodically,  would you like to come? | |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid |Yes |63 |58. 3 |58. 3 |58. 3 | | |No |45 |41. 7 |41. 7 |100. 0 | | |Total |108 |100. 0 |100. 0 | | [pic] From this question, our group wants to know the attitude of the students in North Ryde MQ campus towards books other than textbooks. From the diagram this survey reveals a satisfactory result with 58. 3% people in the survey willing to buy other books from the Co-op shop. For the rest 41. 7% who claim no intention to buy books other than textbooks, we think this will not impact the sales and promotion strategy of the Co-op shop to ignore the potential market demand other than textbooks in North Ryde MQ campus. Question8: Have you used second hand textbook before? | |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid |Yes |92 |85. 2 |85. 2 |85. | | |No |16 |14. 8 |14. 8 |100. 0 | | |Total |108 |100. 0 |100. 0 | | | | | | | | | [pic] The result of this question turns out that about 85. 2% students in our survey have used secondhand textbook, with only 14. 8% using only new books. This reveals that the biggest competitor of Co-op shop is second hand bookshop. Question 9: What are you feeling when using second hand textbook? |Frequency |Percent |Valid Percent |Cumulative Percent | |Valid |Regretful |7 |6. 5 |6. 6 |6. 6 | | |Poor |25 |23. 1 |23. 6 |30. 2 | | |Good |59 |54. 6 |55. 7 |85. 8 | | |Excellent |11 |10. 2 |10. 4 |96. 2 | | |Delightful |6 |5. 5 |3. 8 |100. 0 | |Total |108 |100. | | | [pic] The result further expands the discovery in the previous question. The result shows 6. 5% of the surveyed people thinking regretful for the quality of second hand books and 23. 1% feeling them poor; while 54. 6% finding them as a good choice, 10. 2% believing second hand books just excellent and 5. 5% reporting delightful user experience. That means about 70. 3% people in the survey think second hand book markets are better resorts for textbook and they prefer using it given that they have convenient access to them. Therefore, this result of this question confirms again that the biggest competitor of Co-op shop is second hand bookshop. Question 10: |Are you an international student? | | | | | | | | | | |Gender |Total | | | | |Male |Female | | |% Within Gender |100. 0% |100. 0% |100. 0% | Chi-Square Tests | | | |b. Computed only for a 2Ãâ€"2 table | Among the surveyed student, 83. 7% male students and 72. 9% female have Co-op bookshop membership, which does not stand for distinct difference between gender groups. The result is reflected in the Chi-square test table. The p-value in chi-square tests is more than 5% cut-off, thus the gender has no significant impact on people decision to get membership or not. |Are you an international student? * What's your feeling when you use the second hand textbook? Cross tabulation | | | | |Value |df |Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) | |Pearson Chi-Square |2. 009a |4 |. 734 | |Likelihood Ratio |2. 323 |4 |. 677 | |Linear-by-Linear Association |1. 329 |1 |. 249 | |N of Valid Cases |108 | | | |a. 5 cells (50. 0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is . 37. | | Question 9 reveals student attitudes towards second hand textbook, with 7. 1%, 24. 5%, 55. 1%, 10. 2% and 3. 1% of the surveyed students claiming second hand book user experience as regretful, poor, good, excellent and delightful. In total 108 surveyed students, 98 are international students and only 10 are local students. However, their opinions do not vary much as reflected in the Chi-square test table. A p-value of 0. 734 that is more than 5% cut-off, thus the feeling of using second hand books is not significant affected by whether the students are international or local. |Which facility are you in? Have you used the second hand textbook before? Cross tabulation | | | | | Value |df |Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)| |Pearson Chi-Square |3. 261a |3 |. 353 | |Likelihood Ratio |2. 576 |3 |. 462 | |Linear-by-Linear Association |. 529 |1 |. 467 | |N of Valid Cases |108 | | | |a. 6 cells (75. %) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is . 59. | From the cross tabulation, 87. 2% students majored in business/economic have used second hand book, turning out the highest rate among the rest groups. Only 60% human science students have used second hand book, which becomes the lowest in the survey. In average, 85. 2% out of total 108 students have used second hand book, which mean in this campus, the second hand book market is a big rivalry to Co-op bookshop. However, in the chi-square test, the p-value of more than 5% cut off indicates that facility has no significant impact on student decision to use second hand books or not. Limitations There are many limitations affecting our projects, for all Likert questions, we try to provide the respondents a chance to answer in neutral way to reflect a true situation of the book sales on campus. However, some people give up in the middle of survey with the questionnaire half complete. If these data are recorded for the data analysis, the inaccuracy will be introduced in the final result. Therefore, these survey input must be manually removed before the analysis. Another limitation is that the survey samples are not diverse enough, with most respondents being international students but only 10 out of 108 students as local. This reason may affect the accuracy of data result. This problem could have been avoided with careful selection of the sample student and more samples. Moreover, the descriptions for questions do not make sense in their word meaning, which confuse the student and affect their answers. We should have more carefully reviewed the descriptions and adding necessary explanations before handing them out for the survey. Conclusion According to the results of the survey discussed and analyzed above, the following points form North Ryde’s Macquarie University students can be concluded. Firstly, most of the students go to Co-op bookshop for textbooks at the beginning of the semester. Secondly, most of the students have a membership even they do not choose to buy books at the Co-op bookshop at the first thought. This finding does not show big variation between the gender groups. Thirdly, although it is obvious that second hand bookshop cannot compete on service and quality with Co-op bookshop, most of the students prefer to buy textbooks at a much lower price while the demand for book quality are not that important to them compared with the price At the same time, buying second handbooks are not divided between the international students and the local students, or among the facilities they are in. Thus, second hand bookshop turns out to be a threat to Co-op bookshop sales in Macquarie University. Moreover, from the data that received in the survey, it seems that the reason why most students are not willing to become members of the Co-op bookshop is the extra membership fee. Recommendations †¢ From the survey it can be found that most students like to purchase the textbooks in bundle at a favorable price, because it is cheaper than purchasing separately. It would be feasible for Co-op bookshop to offer more bundled selection to increase sales volume. Qui te some students think the discount rate to be unsatisfactorily low, which prompts the Co-op bookshop to offer a higher discount rate to attract these students. †¢ Most students only go to the Co-op bookshop for textbooks at the beginning of the semesters. Thus, the Co-op bookshop shall put more emphasis on promotion by, for example, handing out more advertisement fliers to students to explain favorable offerings and to spread recent promotion activities so as to attract the potential customers. Appendix Q1 [pic] If you want to buy some books, which way comes to your mind first? †¢ [pic]The co-op bookshop †¢ [pic]2nd hand bookshop †¢ [pic]Other book stores Q2 [pic] Have you  ever  bought books from the co-op bookshop? †¢ [pic]Yes †¢ [pic]No | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | |If No Is Selected, Then Skip To End of Survey | | |Edit | | | | | | Q3 [pic] Which  time period do you go to the Co-op bookshop often? †¢ [pic]beginning of the semester †¢ [pic]interim of the semester †¢ [pic]end of semester †¢ [pic]aperiodicity Q4 [pic] Were you joining membership of Co-op bookshop? †¢ [pic]Yes †¢ [pic]No | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | |If Yes Is Selected, Then Skip To if the co-op bookshop sells combined textbooks†¦ | | |Edit | | | | | | Q5 [pic] Why do you not join a member of the Co-op bookshop? †¢ [pic]I don't want to pay the membership fee †¢ [pic]The membership discount too low †¢ [pic]I have never known about the membership †¢ [pic]I have never bought books in the Co-op bookshop †¢ Q6 [pic] If the Co-op bookshop sells combined textbooks cheaper than the  separate one, do you prefer to buy? †¢ [pic]Yes †¢ [pic]No †¢ [pic]I do not care Q7 [pic] If Co-op bookshop provide  extra discount  on  the  other  books (except textbook) periodically,  would you like to come? †¢ [pic]Yes †¢ [pic]No Q8 [pic] Have you used the second hand textbook before? †¢ [pic]Yes †¢ [pic]No Q9 [pic] What's the feeling when you use the second hand textbook? |Regretful |Poor |Good |Excellent |Delightful | |[pic] |[pic] |[pic] |[pic] |[pic] | Q10 [pic] Are you an international student? †¢ [pic]Yes †¢ [pic]No Q11 [pic] Gender †¢ [pic]Male †¢ [pic]Female Q12 [pic] Which  facility are you in? †¢ [pic]Art †¢ [pic]Human Science †¢ [pic]Business/Economic †¢ [pic]Science

Friday, November 8, 2019

The 25+ BEST Writing Tools in 2019

The 25+ BEST Writing Tools in 2019 The 25+ Best Writing Tools in 2019 Before the computer there was the typewriter, and before the typewriter there was pen and paper, and before pen and paper there were plenty of other lost tools of writing - like clay, papyrus, wood, slate, parchment, and, of course, pens made out of reeds. (Fun fact: the name â€Å"Reedsy† is inspired by the â€Å"reed pen,† which was used as early as 800 B.C. for documentation).As you can tell by now, the act of writing has been a part of human culture from the days of chiseling stories onto the walls of caves - and as we have evolved, so have our writing tools. In fact, today’s writers and storytellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding which tools to use.The following list details our favorite writing tools and resources for taking any idea through to its written conclusion.Writing toolsWe all know Google Docs and Microsoft Word, so we’re not going to waste your time giving those two a run-down in our list. Below are four other word proc essors you might not know about, and that are worth checking out.Reedsy Book Editor - freeDoes â€Å"fake it ‘til you make it† ring true to you? Well, the Reedsy Book Editor is a free, online word processor that formats your book as you write. See your drafts automatically turn into a professional-looking manuscript - and allow this glimpse of your work as the final product spur your motivation to write. One of the Reedsy Book Editor’s best functions is that it lets you instantly typeset your manuscript to EPUB and print-ready PDF files.Check it out if: if you want a writing tool that takes care of formatting and conversion for you.Draft - freeDo you like a helpful tap on the shoulder, reminding you about something you need to do? Well, you’ll likely enjoy Draft then, because the online word processor not only keeps track of how many words you write per day, it can also email you daily reminders about your daily word count goals. (Of course, if this sounds a little too â€Å"hands-on† for you, you can always turn the reminder function off).Other than that, Draft functions a lot like Google Docs: allowing you to track changes, collaborate via suggested edits, and make comments on the doc.Check it out if: you like Google Docs, but want an even simpler interface.LibreOffice - freeYes, we did say that we wouldn’t mention Microsoft Word, because by now everyo ne knows that it’s a useful writing tool. But we didn’t say we wouldn’t mention it’s free counterpart: LibreOffice.LibreOffice is the open source answer for people who want to try Microsoft without paying the price tag. (Open source means that the software is built on code that anyone can inspect and enhance). Plus it’s compatible with all of the regular file types people are used to, such as   .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, and .pptx files.Check it out if: you like a classic word processor - and moreover, a free one.Mellel - $50 (or try a 30-day free trial)The people behind Mellel don’t just know word processing - they also know catchy, memorable marketing. Their description of why writers should choose Mellel starts like this: â€Å"Mellel is a writer's dream come true. To start, it is exceedingly boring: it just works, day in and day out, reliably. An enormous number of people used Mellel to write and they all report that their jou rney with Mellel was boring and uneventful. As well it should. In other words, it does all the mundane bits, and leaves the creative stuff to you.†Mellel is not free (and note that it’s only for Mac). In return for the price tag, you’ll get more book-specific tools than other, perhaps more traditional word processors - such as outlining and bibliography-making functions. And, judging by the witty, funny copy on Mellel’s website, Mellel makes the process of writing much more fun than they let on.Check it out if: you’re a Mac user who wants more than the Pages app offers.Organization tools Check it out if: you’ve ever felt envy at Rita Skeeter’s Quick-Quotes Quill in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.Ergonomic desk setups - variesAs more and more of the workforce moves to sedentary jobs where the majority of 9am to 5pm is spent sitting - usually hunching - at a computer, a growing number of sitting-related health injuries have been occurring. That’s why looking into more ergonomically friendly desk setups is a good idea for writers who spend long hours at the computer - or even writing in a notebook. This could be a standing desk, or even just a number of textbooks piled under your desktop so that your screen is eye level, resulting in less stress on your shoulders.Check it out if: you don’t want writing gains to come at the cost of growing back pains.Computer Glasses - variesWriters are all familiar with computer-caused eyestrains. Because you blink far less when looking at a screen than you do otherwise, computer vision syndrome (CV S) is a condition people have been developing due to long stretches of staring at a computer.One way to help alleviate this - other than just making sure to take time looking away from your computer - is to invest in some computer glasses. They typically come in blue or amber shades, and are coated with a protective coating.There are a number of brands you can check out, such as Pixel Eyewear or Felix Gray.Check it out if: you notice itchy or tired eyes after long writing sessions.FREE writing coursesMaybe you’ve got all you need to actually get the writing done, but you could use a leg up when it comes to craft. These free, ten-day courses are intended to help you do the best writing you can!On writingNovel Writing 101 - Over the course of ten lessons, you will learn how to plan an amazing novel, create compelling characters, and build a writing routine to make sure you get from 'page one' to the final chapter of your magnum opus.Writing Non-Fiction - In this 10 day cour se, publishing coach Azul Terronez goes through which common writing mistakes to avoid, which questions to ask yourself before you get started, and finally, how to stay motivated throughout the writing process.Writing YA Novels - Over ten lessons, you will discover the most common pitfalls of first-time YA authors, and learn how to hone your craft towards writing for a teen audience.How to Write a Business Book -   In this course, Alison Jones, a publishing partner for businesses and organizations, will teach you how to approach the writing of your first book, from the idea itself down to the day-to-day writing routine you should adopt.On productivityBuild a Solid Writing Routine - Over ten email lessons, we’ll give you a bunch of practical, actionable tips to help you understand and face down your procrastination gremlins to find a writing habit that works for you.How to Stop Talking About Writing a Book and Actually Start Doing It - In this short course, book coach Jen nie Nash shares the secrets for how to start strong so you can move forward with confidence. It’s a powerful way to stop talking about someday writing a book, and to actually start doing it, by getting the idea out of your head and onto the page.On editingHow to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro - Lisa Lepki of ProWritingAid is here to help you spot (and fix) the ten most common writing mistakes. These mistakes won't just make you seem like an amateur - they will also hinder your chances of landing an agent or securing a publisher.Story Editing for Authors - In this email course, author and Fictionary CEO Kristina Stanley shares her method for ensuring that your story is well-told, well-paced and highly effective. Over ten lessons, you will be guided through the process of reviewing your story, scene-by-scene, with the help of a downloadable resource that you will receive in lesson one.Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites - The editors behind #RevPit will show y ou how to dive into the revision process and methodically prepare your book for publication. The best writing tools of 2019 that every writer should consider adding to their arsenal  Ã¢Å" Ã¯ ¸  At this point, your arsenal is fully stocked: you’ve got a place to do the writing, tools to help you concentrate and edit, a workspace that makes long hours at your desk a little more fun, and advice from professionals on perfecting your craft. At the end of the day, putting these writing tools to good use is down to you - so show us what you’ve got!Have you tried any of the above writing tools - and if so, which were your favorites? Or maybe you feel there are some great resources missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Make Deep Copies in Ruby

How to Make Deep Copies in Ruby Its often necessary to make a copy of a value in Ruby. While this may seem simple, and it is for simple objects, as soon as you have to make a copy of a data structure with multiple array or hashes on the same object, you will quickly find there are many pitfalls. Objects and References To understand whats going on, lets look at some simple code. First, the assignment operator using a POD (Plain Old Data) type in Ruby. a 1b aa 1puts b Here, the assignment operator is making a copy of the value of a and assigning it to b using the assignment operator. Any changes to a wont be reflected in b. But what about something more complex? Consider this. a [1,2]b aa 3puts b.inspect Before running the above program, try to guess what the output will be and why. This is not the same as the previous example, changes made to a are reflected in b, but why? This is because the Array object is not a POD type. The assignment operator doesnt make a copy of the value, it simply copies the reference to the Array object. The a and b variables are now references to the same Array object, any changes in either variable will be seen in the other. And now you can see why copying non-trivial objects with references to other objects can be tricky. If you simply make a copy of the object, youre just copying the references to the deeper objects, so your copy is referred to as a shallow copy. What Ruby Provides: dup and clone Ruby does provide two methods for making copies of objects, including one that can be made to do deep copies. The Object#dup method will make a shallow copy of an object. To achieve this, the dup method will call the initialize_copy method of that class. What this does exactly is dependent on the class. In some classes, such as Array, it will initialize a new array with the same members as the original array. This, however, is not a deep copy. Consider the following. a [1,2]b a.dupa 3puts b.inspecta [ [1,2] ]b a.dupa[0] 3puts b.inspect What has happened here? The Array#initialize_copy method will indeed make a copy of an Array, but that copy is itself a shallow copy. If you have any other non-POD types in your array, using dup will only be a partially deep copy. It will only be as deep as the first array, any deeper arrays, hashes or other objects will only be shallow copied. There is another method worth mentioning, clone. The clone method does the same thing as dup with one important distinction: its expected that objects will override this method with one that can do deep copies. So in practice what does this mean? It means each of your classes can define a clone method that will make a deep copy of that object. It also means you have to write a clone method for each and every class you make. A Trick: Marshalling Marshalling an object is another way of saying serializing an object. In other words, turn that object into a character stream that can be written to a file that you can unmarshal or unserialize later to get the same object. This can be exploited to get a deep copy of any object. a [ [1,2] ]b Marshal.load( Marshal.dump(a) )a[0] 3puts b.inspect What has happened here? Marshal.dump creates a dump of the nested array stored in a. This dump is a binary character string intended to be stored in a file. It houses the full contents of the array, a complete deep copy. Next, Marshal.load does the opposite. It parses this binary character array and creates a completely new Array, with completely new Array elements. But this is a trick. Its inefficient, it wont work on all objects (what happens if you try to clone a network connection in this way?) and its probably not terribly fast. However, it is the easiest way to make deep copies short of custom initialize_copy or clone methods. Also, the same thing can be done with methods like to_yaml or to_xml if you have libraries loaded to support them.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

CV Portfolio Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

CV Portfolio - Personal Statement Example My resultant aptitude towards the applied sciences leads to the development of certain core skills 1 with notable strengths in the Academic and Self Management Areas while my Communication and Interpersonal skills leave much to be desired. My structured thinking and "fluid" learning abilities allow me to research, accumulate, synthesize, analyze, organize, and interpret large amounts of information, information which once coupled with my problem solving and organizational abilities allows me to creatively and innovatively resolve most or all forthcoming challenges. My major weakness, probably due to my somewhat introvert character, lies in my weakness to actively communicate and effectively interact with my immediate and not so immediate surroundings. I am well versed in written communication and the use of information and IT systems tools and services, but am at a disadvantage when it comes to associating with co workers and students, and presenting orally my thoughts and conviction s. Although I am fluent in several languages and do adapt quickly, this ability to change and move from my comfort zone can only be done on an individual or personal basis; I should have great difficulty in adapting as part of a team and I believe that my presence in a team would impede the performance of the said team. This apparently has to do with my perceived introversion and my individualistic "Apollonian" nature; since "No Man is an Island" this has to be dealt with if I am to be successful in any future endeavors. My background, influencers and resultant core skills point me in the direction of the Pure and Applied sciences in general, and the field of engineering in particular. I believe that my strong abilities in the areas of mathematics and physics as well as my ease of learning and strong problem solving skills will allow me to become one of the top performers in this field, specifically Communications Engineering. I am not sure that I would call this an aspiration. I guess my aspirations have to do more with making a descent living and have enough time on the side to be able to do the things I've never done: Play sports, learn music, adventurous travel, write, indulge in good cuisines and fine wines, and generally fill my life's portrait with vivid colors instead of shades of gray. My basic strategy is to use my existing aptitudes as a tool, a medium and a catalyst to increase and maintain at an acceptable level my standard of living in order to enrich that part of me that has seemingly been ignored these past years: My "Dionysian" Self. I firmly believe that the above strategy will allow me to develop fully as a person and lead a balanced and full life, and to maintain through continuous development an impressive and excellent career, while simultaneously leading a full and happy life unaffected by the dreary grayness of today's mechanized world. KENNY'S SKILL ASSESSMENT FORM 5 = Fully proficient; 4 = Very Comfortable; 3 = Average/OK; 2 =Needs

Friday, November 1, 2019

Crime Causation and Diversion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Crime Causation and Diversion - Essay Example As they are young they can be physically and mentally provoked easily than adults. California is a highly crime prone area and men as well as youth indulge in crimes day and night in this state. Here more violence can be seen among children as they imitate the criminal acts performed by adults in real life or movies. Mostly the youths are under the addiction of drugs and have knowledge as towards their violent action. Most of the children who are having single parent or parents who are psychologically disturbed can provoke the child to do more criminal actions. Organized crime and criminal networks in many California cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento have a base in Russia. These people can even make children as their prey to perform crime .So in order combat this social evil the government has organized juvenile intervention, diversion and prevention programs. Juvenile prevention programs rather two intervention programs practiced in California is analyzed in detail further below. These two are California Youth Outreach and Juvenile Intervention & Prevention Program (JIPP). Youth are the ones, who get easily diverted in to drug, alcohol and crime and they are the ones who require utmost caring and intervention at the right age. Young children get some drugs, money or other facilities in return to their criminal act. But California Youth Outreach reaches out to young people who are victimized to the youth gangs and their aggressive behavior of violence and weapon usage. This intervention program is extremely careful in imparting education to the youth who are in juvenile restriction. Along with juvenile youths, their families are also educated regarding gang violence, drugs, alcohol and weapon usage. JIPP is an intervention program which is founded by Stephen Koffman who resides in Southern California and has masters in social work to his credit. Stephen