State of the current economy (Economics) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

State of the current economy (Economics) - Essay Example rici declares "we are in a depression (Shinkle, p1)."   He signifies a recession as an economic decline from which an economy can eventually recover but poses that the state the American economy is in today is much worse and can’t be resolved with a quick fix. "My feeling is that . . . if (the president) doesnt fix whats structurally broken, what caused this, well be back into this after the federal stimulus has had its effect," says Morici (Shinkle, p1).   Many different aspects of the American economy have come under fire as the cause of this financial crisis, most infamous of these methods to date are credit default swap contracts and short selling. The very first credit default swap contract was constructed in 1997 by JP Morgan and it is given credit for what initiated the market to balloon up to a $45 trillion value in 2007 (Pinsent, p1). In a CDS contract, credit risk from emerging market bonds, mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds or corporate debt is transferred between two parties.   It is a bilateral contract in that both parties are obligated to carryout their end of the contract.   CDS contracts were designed because as Stephan Teak puts it in his article Did Credit Default Swaps Cause the Financial Market Meltdown?, lenders were encountered with a problem they needed solved.   He best describes the factors leading up to this revelation by lenders when he says, â€Å"When a lender provides financing in the form of a loan, it has to keep a certain amount of cash, called capital, on hand to cover any problems with the loans such as defaults. For larger financial institutions like JP Morgan, this meant havin g huge amounts of money tied up and doing nothing. The credit default swap was designed to deal with this problem (Teak, p1).†Ã‚   The basic goal of the credit default swap is to free up the unused ‘safety-net capital by selling off the risk of the loan to a third party for a premium.   Once the capital was freed-up it would be available for

Stanford-Binet Fifth Edition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Stanford-Binet Fifth Edition - Essay Example The Fifth Edition of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (SB5) is a relatively new revised method, but has a unique history (figure 1). In 1905, Binet and Simon developed the first formal intelligence test, and Louis Terman created the Stanford-Binet Scale in 1916; this final scale was revised in 1937, 1960, 1986, and 2003. The first versions used items to address functional abilities, and were arranged by levels. The Fifth Edition is a standardized intelligence battery that can be administered to people from ages 2 to 85 years. According to Strauss (2006) the main purpose of the revision was â€Å"to expand the range of the test, to allow assessment of very low and very high levels of cognitive ability†, and to increase its clinical applications (see table 1).The SB5 is based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive functioning, which is considered â€Å"one of the well-validated, comprehensive models of cognitive functioning† (Fiorello and Primerano, 2 005). Johnson (2007) describes the Stanford-Binet as â€Å"a comprehensive, norm-referenced individually administered test of intelligence and cognitive abilities†. The test is consists of five factors, which include Fluid Reasoning, Knowledge, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Processing, and Working Memory; each factor is further divided in verbal and non-verbal subtests (table 2). The Abbreviated Battery IQ scale consists of two routing subtests: one nonverbal (Object Series/Matrices) and one verbal (Vocabulary) (Coolican, J. et al, 2008).... Johnson (2007) describes the Stanford-Binet as "a comprehensive, norm-referenced individually administered test of intelligence and cognitive abilities". The test is consists of five factors, which include Fluid Reasoning, Knowledge, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Processing, and Working Memory; each factor is further divided in verbal and non-verbal subtests (table 2). The Abbreviated Battery IQ scale consists of two routing subtests: one nonverbal (Object Series/Matrices) and one verbal (Vocabulary) (Coolican, J. et al, 2008). The fifth revision retains the routing subtest technique, and routing subsets and functional levels were redesigned. Johnson (2007) further states that a Working Memory factor was added "because it has been shown to be related to both reading and math achievement". Table 1. Main goals of the Fifth Revision. Restoring the original toys and manipulatives for assessing preschoolers that had been removed in recent versions Increasing clinical utility. Updating materials Increasing non verbal items Increasing the range of domains measured by the test Source: Strauss, E. et al. 2006. Table 2. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, 5th ed. Factor Measures Fluid Reasoning The ability to solve nonverbal and verbal problems using reasoning skills Knowledge Fund of general information Quantitative Reasoning Ability to work with numbers and solve numerical problems Visual Spatial Processing Ability to see patterns, relationships, and spatial orientations Working Memory Ability to store, sort and transform information in short-term memory. Source: Coolican, J. et al, 2008. How well a test is standardized provides information

Britain Fights EU's 'Big Brother' Bid Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Britain Fights EU's 'Big Brother' Bid - Article Example The aim of the Intelligent Speed Adaptation technology (ISA) is reducing accident death tolls by a third but according to Mr. McLoughlin, UK Transport Secretary, comparing UK road deaths of 1754 deaths to 3,645, and 3,657 deaths in France and Germany respectively, UK has lowest death rates from road carnage in Europe. After being briefed that newly, designed vehicles will have camera and satellite systems allowing for the easy and cheap addition of speed limiters, Mr. McLoughlin instructed his officials to block the move terming it as a violation of British motorist’s freedom. According to AA, the new technology is poised to create dangers at lower speeds especially when there is a requirement to accelerate and the speed is limited resulting in an avoidable collision but believes audible speed alerts would work (Owen, 31 August 2013). EC reports that ISA and other issues will be published by the commission in a document in the autumn according to its mandate by member states and that there is ongoing consultation on the speed limiters. The research in the article is exemplary done owing to the reporting of the views of the different stakeholders on the introduction of ISA and this has a relation to the course material since it deals with a transportation policy issue aimed at implementation in the UK and Europe limiting driving beyond set speeds. The exemplary sections in the article are the workings of the Intelligent Speed Adaptation technology (ISA) that is well explained in the article allowing for a clear concise understanding by the reader.  

Penguin And Random House Sign Merger Deal Term Paper

Penguin And Random House Sign Merger Deal - Term Paper Example Penguin had revolutionised the publishing industry during the 1930s when it introduced inexpensive and high quality paperbacks. They were sold through various street stores like Woolworths (Penguin Books, 2012). Pearson Plc., which is a global media organisation, is the owner of Penguin Group. Apart from Penguin, Financial Times and Pearson are also included as different business segments of Pearson Plc. It is headquartered at London and was founded in the year 1844 (Yahoo Finance, 2012a). On the other hand, Random House is a privately owned digital publishing house. Various imprints and publishing groups are run by the company worldwide. Random House is actually a subsidiary company of Bertelsmann AG. The company operates its business in various geographical regions of the world like Europe, America, South Africa, and Asia Pacific. The company is headquartered at New York, United States and its employee strength is around 5,343 (Bertelsmann AG, 2012a). The present study entails abou t the detailed analysis of the merger decision between the two global leaders in the books publishing industry, Penguin and Random House. ... also provides financial and business news, analysis, comments and data. Pearson Plc. operates its business activities worldwide through five different business segments. Penguin is one of those five business segments operated by Pearson Plc. Penguin group is responsible for publishing around 4,000 non-fiction and fiction books every year. The books are offered to the consumers in different formats like on screens, paper, and even in audio formats and are meant for readers of all age groups. The range of front list and backlist titles of Penguin group is huge and includes classics, children, literary prize winners, and reference volumes titles. Its business operations are carried out worldwide with the help of many publishing houses located in different nations of the world. Penguin group publishes under some of the reputed imprints of the world like Putnam, Allen Lane, Viking, Berkley, Ladybird, Puffin, Dorling Kindersley, and Harmish Hamilton (Pearson plc, 2012). On the other hand, Random House is a US based multinational organisation which is engaged in the business of publishing general trade books in English language. On an average around 10,000 paperbacks, electronic and audio books are published by Random House annually and they come in 15 different local languages of various countries worldwide. It has been estimated that around 400 million books are sold by the company every year. It is one of the wholly owned subsidiary company of Bertelsmann AG. The imprints of the Random House Publishing Group of Bertelsmann AG includes Bantam, Dell, Delacorte, Ballantine books, Trade Paperbacks of Random House, One World, The Modern Library, Presidio Press, Triumph books, Spiegel, Spectra, Villard Books, and Grau. Ballantine Books is considered to be one of

Smoking in public places should be banned Essay

Smoking in public places should be banned - Essay Example Thus, they become passive smokers. This argumentative paper tends to persuade the reader that smoking in public should be banned by throwing light upon the hazards of passive smoking. Just like active smokers are apt to acquire many diseases, same is the case with passive smokers especially those who are actually living with the smokers. When in public, smoking does not only irritate others but tends to impart many illnesses to those around like sore eyes, sore throat causing smoker’s cough, nausea, headache, and trouble to people with asthma. This is not fair to the non-smokers because they are inhaling smoke and impure air for no reason of their own. This smoke is of two types: side-stream smoke and mainstream smoke. Side-stream smoke is one which rises from the tip of the cigarette while mainstream smoke is that which the smoker exhales. There are around 4000 toxic chemicals and gases present in both types of smoke which when inhaled by others in public cause many illnesses . â€Å"Non-smokers can get affected by breathing in cigarette smoke at home, at work, in bars and other smoky environments outside the home†¦About 2.2 million people in UK are exposed to passive smoking in their places of work†, states Gardezi (2005, p.30). ... Those children are at increased risk of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome; lung infections such as pneumonia; ear infections; and more severe asthma.† The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report also states that second hand smoke is a major cause of sudden death in children and chances of SIDS is greater for children who are exposed to second hand smoke either at homes or in public (American Cancer Society, Inc., 2010). This is because some children are born with weak immune system while in others the immune system may become weakened due to diseases, infections and medications, states Young (2009, p.32). Toxic gases in the polluted air weigh heavily on the poor immune systems of young kids thus making them ill quite rapidly. Another hazard connected to public smoking is that it tends to inspire other immature minds like those of young kids and youngsters. Their frail minds accept public smoking as pop culture and they also start following the same trend. Mature people under stand the hazards related to smoking but young minds are not familiar with the hazardous nature of smoking. Children tend to have less-developed ability of decision-making or critical thinking so they cannot realize what is wrong with what they are watching and their minds learn or absorb every act they see. Wishik (1963) state in their research that, â€Å"As one looks around to see 18 and 19 year old boys and girls smoking, one is impressed with the number of them who have already become heavy smokers.† This increase in the number of young smokers is due to the pop culture that is imparted by their elders to them. Public smoking is an important example of pop culture that tends to destroy young minds

Career Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Career Management - Essay Example Being an international student, I have been exposed to diverse and dynamic experiences that have subsequently changed the way I perceive my life and the world in general. I have countered my home country life context to embrace the larger world. In the process, I have learnt to define the study of hotel management from a global perspective. Defining myself as an open-minded person has allowed me to dream big in the hotel management context. Although I am still in the process of building my career in hotel management, I believe my future is bright and prospective. My goal is to build a strong career portfolio as a general manager in a U.S hotel. My open-mindedness will essentially influence the pursuit towards the realization of this goal. In terms of global diversity, cultural, social, economic, and political differences observed across the world cannot be ignored. These differences are vital sources of opportunities which I can move swiftly to exploit as I build and manage my career. For this reason, my life continues to become more and more oriented towards personal and global differences that ultimately make the world a unique place for all of us. Most importantly, the plan is to combine the two aspects (open-mindedness and global diversity) to create a strategy mix that enhances my personal and professional competitiveness. It is important to note that the path to a successful career is rough and one characterized by many challenges. The ability to think critically and creatively is, therefore, fundamental. In this respect, the plan is to try and identify opportunities from a basket of challenges. In other words, the objective is to rise above academic, career, and professional challenges to become a globally competitive individual. Success is not achieved or realized overnight. Rather, it is the outcome of a progressive process that

Unmet needs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Unmet needs - Essay Example HSV-2 has a higher bracket since it incorporates those between 20% and 80%. HSV-2 is common between women than in men. In the USA, the HSV-2 viruses are prevalent among black people than the whites and the Latinos. This virus only affects the humans. This is through close personal contact. The infections occur through inoculation of the virus into susceptible mucosal surfaces. This will cause the viruses to thrive under room temperatures thereby causing drying. The unmet need associated with the disease is that the medical practitioners have not been able to identify a cure and a permanent way to eradicate the disease. This has caused continued suffering from infected people. In this disease state presentation, I have an idea that can help the society eradicate the disease completely. The idea is to encourage the society to use the product that we are going to develop. This is the mass production of latex condoms. Latex condoms have been proven scientifically to minimize the exposure of the genital organs during sexual activities. Sexual activities are the main cause of herpes. Secondly, I have devised a specific glove, the latex glove. This will be used when inserting the hand in an oral cavity. Thirdly, I have developed another idea of anti-viral therapy that is going to be used to reduce episodes of asymptomatic viral shedding (Leslie and Robbins 8). The second disease state that am going to look at is arthritis. This is a disease state with minimal disease action during ant rheumatic treatment or a disease state with tenacious nonappearance of medical and radiological ciphers of disease activity deprived of being pickled for a precise time. The causative agent for second factor is the absence of autoantibodies. The factors that cause this disease are many. They include heredity. Arthritis is a disease that is normally inherited from