The eNotes Blog Your Study SessionMenu

Your Study SessionMenu Can you say #finalsweek ? A few tips from our intern on how to tackle finals and hunger simultaneously. Beware: it may put you  in the mood for the Sixth Sense and drippy, crumbly things Good food can make any situation better. Even if you were experiencing the worst possible thing (i.e. traffic on the 405), think about how much happier you would feel with a bag of your favorite chips or a donut by your side. Road rage: managed. In my many years of falling asleep in lectures and movies and on tables in libraries†¦ I’ve come to realize that food has  another  awesome benefit: as long as you’re eating it, you stay awake. You might fall asleep the second you stop eating (me), but while the munching is happening, it’s physically nearly impossible to be sleeping. As I’m sure you can imagine, by this stage of my life, I am a  professional  snacker and I pride myself in it. I know what kind of snacking is appropriate for various situations and what individuals’ snacking choices and preferences say about them. It’s like I’ve got a sixth  sense.  (I see snacks, people.) Now, there’s a good chance you’re an avid reader. Books are your hobby. They’re the soap opera to the 70 year old woman living inside of you. They’re your  thing. I, on the other hand, would love to be an avid reader, but I fall asleep the second I open a book. Unless I’m snacking. So, after much trial and error, I have finally figured out what kinds of foods you should and shouldn’t eat when reading a book. Even if you don’t need food to stay awake, like I do, some of these snacks might just make your reading experience  that  much better. DRUMROLL, please. DO’S! 1. Foods blended together in liquid form and consumed via straw.  Also known as, your average smoothie. These work for many reasons. For one thing, if positioned properly in front of you, you don’t even need hands to consume it. You could just put it on the table and sip away with your book in front of your cup. It’s just you and the straw. Pretty simple. You also get the added benefit of eating like†¦5 things at once. Which is great if you just really get a kick out of multitasking or if you’re trying to get some veggies or fruits all up in your diet regimen. 2. Pretty much any cold liquid consumed via straw.  I’d recommend chocolate milk. The most important part here is the straw, though. They just makes your life easy. Which is one of the reasons you shouldn’t drink hot drinks, because anyone who has ever drunk hot liquid out of a straw knows the roof-of-your-mouth burn is probably one of the worst, and that it’s inevitable.   No matter how many times you try to cool the drink down, no matter how many times you engage your different ‘testing’ tactics pre-consumption, you will almost always burn yourself when drinking hot liquid through a straw. And that’ll just ruin your reading experience, and probably your whole life. Just please don’t do it. 3. Family-sized bags or boxes of snack foods in original flavors.  These are things like cheez-its, goldfish crackers, pop chips, cereal, you know the drill. They are in the snack aisle for a reason, and it’s because they have been perfected for your snacking pleasure. They literally exist because of your munchies. You should be able to stick your hand blindly into these bags/boxes without becoming nervous or surprised by what comes out of it.   If you can’t, you’re not eating the right snack. The goal is to be able to grab a bunch and shove it directly into your mouth without ever having to avert your glance from your novel. Original flavors mean you’ll have the stamina to keep snacking without wearing out your pallet. And family-sized is crucial because there’s nothing more annoying than wanting to read but running out of snacks to read with. Could you imagine? 4. Peanut butter via spoon.  Yes, it can and should go on a spoon. This applies to Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter, almond butter, and Nutella, as well. You get the drill. 5. Cereal with milk.  This might be a little messy, and yes, it might not be ideal for reading because you have to sort of turn your head to face your cereal bowl every now and then†¦but cereal is worth it. Cereal is always worth it. DON’TS! 1. Warm drinks like coffee or tea.  I already discussed the dangers of attempting to drink hot drinks. But there’s more. Unless paired with other foods, or if you’re part of the 5% of the population that is actually still affected by the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee, these will just make you sleepy. Warm milk, warm water, whatever it is. Parents give little kids these drinks in order to make them fall asleep. And even if they don’t make you sleepy, these are still no-no’s because these things don’t really qualify as foods and therefore they’re inherently just not as enjoyable. Simple as that. You also could potentially and will likely spill on yourself, since you won’t be drinking out of a straw, which will lead to sheer anguish. If you attempt to prevent the spilling of said hot liquid, you’ll just end up having to look away from your novel all the time. That’s not what we want, is it? Goodness, why is it all so complicated? 2. Flavored anything.  How many times have you grabbed a page of a novel and gotten that red hot-cheeto residue all up in there? Or maybe you’re the type who feels the need to lick your fingers after eating something flavored†¦then you’re just going to get your drool all over your novel the next time you page turn. Is that what you want? Is that really what you want? I know these things are delicious, but they’re dangerous. Many of them also require things like water or milk for the washing down of strong flavors. That’s just time wasted, right there. Please, do yourself a favor and avoid the flavor. 3. Small bags of snacks moms put in lunchboxes.  Are you a baby? Tell me, are you a baby? Do you  really  want to read this novel? Because if you DO then you better be in it for the long haul, and the long haul has no room for teeny tiny snack bags. You’re a big kid now. You pack your own lunchbox. 4. Soup.  I mean†¦what are you thinking? That’s just begging for disaster. 5. In general, things that  drip. 6. Things that require two hands to eat.  How do you expect to read with no hands? Are you a magician? If you aren’t which I suspect you aren’t then you should probably you know†¦stop doing that. Reading while devouring a subway sandwich isn’t possible. It just isn’t. At this point you’re just pretending to read while you eat your sandwich, so you might as well just eat your sandwich. 7.  Bags of things with too much variety.  Unless you like all of the items within that variety. For instance, chex mix. Do  you  like those awkward circular pretzels? Bleh. Next. 8.  Foods that are  so  good you can’t help but think about them as you eat.  My god†¦it’s just†¦it’s just so good. 9. Things that crumb.  There are few things as frustrating as getting crumbs stuck in the seam of your novel. Trying to get them out just means you make more and more, progressively smaller crumbs out of the one large one you dropped in the first place. They crumble exponentially until there’s nothing to grab and you’re left feeling sad and defeated. Don’t do that to yourself. It’s masochism. I don’t care how much you love those fancy croissants or slices of toast with jam. It’s just not going to work. 10.  Anything with melted chocolate.  This is the most painful â€Å"don’t.† But we all know†¦chocolate gets everywhere. You eat a cookie that’s fresh out of the oven and somehow five minutes later you have chocolate on your shirt, your fingers, your face- and in this case, your book. No good.   Just no good. Brown smudges on novels just invite inquisitive questions later on. Just try to fight it and stay away. Let the snacking begin!

2017 2018 Full Review of Every ACT Test Date

2017 2018 Full Review of Every ACT Test Date SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Choosing an ACT test date can be difficult because what works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else. Ultimately, whether a test date is good for you depends on how soon you want to start prepping,what your goal scores are, andwhether you have any obligations around that time. In this guide, we give you the pros and cons of all upcoming ACT test dates and explain which dates work well- as well as which ones don't work so well- for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Feature image:Dafne Cholet/Flickr 2017 ACT Test Dates Autumn and early winter test dates are ideal for juniors taking the ACT for the first time, and for seniors taking the ACTone last time before college applications are due. However, sophomores should typically avoid these dates. September 9, 2017 Sophomores This ACT test date is far too early for sophomores. At this time, you won’t know many of the major concepts tested on the ACT. What's more, you probably won't have a concrete list of where you want to apply to college yet, so there’s no point in taking the ACT if you don't have a cleargoal scorebased on your schools. If you really want a head start on ACT prep, though, go ahead and start doing some light studying.You might want to buy a couple of prep books or work through somehigh-quality practice questions online. This lets you slowly familiarize yourself with the ACT without actually taking it. Juniors September is an ideal time for juniors to take their first ACT. Taking it early lets you get a feel for what's on the ACT and how it works, and gives you enough time to prepare for a retake in the spring or summer. Additionally, this date lets you prep entirely over the summer instead of during the school year, which is helpful if you think you'll have trouble squeezing in ACT prep when school is in session. Seniors This date is a good time for seniors to make a final attempt at the ACT, as it offers ample time for your scores to get to your schools, even if you’re applying early action or early decision. You'll also have the entire summer to prepare for the test. This is especially important for seniors since it means you won’t need to juggle ACT prep with college applications.As a result, you'll feel less overwhelmed and less anxious about everything you need to do. PSAT Test Date: October , 2017 It's important to keep this date in mind when choosing an ACT test date.Apractice test for the SAT (not the ACT), the PSATserves two primary purposes: To prepare sophomores and juniors for the SAT To recognize high-scoring juniors (top 1%) as National Merit Semifinalists Despite the fact the SAT and ACT are two different tests, they share many similarities in content and structure. Therefore, taking the PSAT could give you a clearer sense of what kind of content you’ll need to know to do well on the ACT. Don't be scared ... this next test date is right around Halloween! October 28, 2017 Sophomores This test date is still too early for sophomores.Most likely, you still won’t know where you’re applying to college and won't understand all of the concepts being tested.But if you’re really interested in getting an ACT test-taking experience, there are better options than taking the test this soon. One (free) option is to take a full-lengthACT practice test. Official tests are guaranteed to give you the most realistic practice possible. Another, and perhaps more level-appropriate, option is to take the PreACT. This test, which began in 2016and costs $12, is a practice ACT, similar to how the PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. Unlike the PSAT, though, the PreACT can be administered anytime from September to June; there is also no scholarship competition associated with it. Finally, you may want to consider taking the PSAT. As I mentioned earlier, this test is nearly identical to the SAT, so it’s not totally relevant to the ACT. But since the redesigned SAT and ACT are very similar now, taking the PSAT can offer you a broader sneak peek at how college admission tests work. Juniors If you missed the September date for your first ACT, this is another solid date for you to take it on.Like the September date, this date gives you plenty of time to prepare for a retake in spring or summer. If you’re taking the PSAT, however, opt for a different ACT test date. Studying for both tests at once will likely overwhelm and confuse you (especially since the PSAT is slightly different from the ACT), so go with one of the two instead of both. Seniors This is another solid choice for seniors. Most college application deadlines are around January 1, so an October test date offers plenty of time for your scores to get to schools.If you’re applying early action or early decision, this is the last date you can take the ACT and still get your scores to your schools in time. Because you’ll likely be busy preparing your college applications in October, I suggest aiming for the earlier September test date if possible. This way you won't have too many things to keep track of and can focus entirely on getting your applications together in October and November. December 9, 2017 Sophomores This test date, too, is a bit early for sophomores. That said, if you really want to know what the ACT is like, you’re welcome to flex your test-taking muscles and try it out. Just don’t put too much pressure on yourself to do extremely well on it. (Remember, you won't have learned everything that's on the ACT anyway!) What I recommend instead, though, is to continue working with practice questions and reviewing the various concepts tested on the ACT. Juniors This test date, though doable for juniors, can be a little trickier since it might overlap with finals. I would only opt for this test date if you missed the two dates in the fall and want to get your first ACT over with before springtime. Seniors For many schools, this is the last date you can take the ACT and still have your scores get to your schools in time.While it's too late for early action or early decision applicants, this test date should work fine for the majority of regular decision applicants. The biggest problem with this date is that it might overlap with finals, so make sure you’re balancing your prep time wisely. You don't want to overwork yourself by studying for too many tests at once! In addition, if you took the ACT in September but were unhappy with your scores, this date offers one last chance to try to raise them before your college application deadlines. If only we could actually jump to new years! 2018 ACT Test Dates Late winter, spring, and summer test dates are usually too late for seniors but should work well for juniors and high-achieving sophomores. February 10, 2018 This test date is not available in New York. Sophomores Again, this date is early for sophomores. If you’re really feeling ready to test the waters, though, go ahead and try the ACT.Just don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself to get a high score, especially on Math. If you're currently in Geometry, it's better to wait to take the ACT since you won't know the vast majority of concepts it tests. If you're in Algebra II, however, you'll know most concepts and could give it a shot if you really want to. (And if you're in Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry, you should definitely be fine!) Juniors If you took the ACT back in the fall and are getting ready to retake it, you could sign up for this date- but it’s probably better to hold off until spring. A spring test date ultimately gives you more time to study and hone your test-taking skills. Moreover, with an early February test date, you’ll most likely need to prep over winter break, which can be difficult to do if you're trying to juggle holidays and family time. Seniors This is the very last ACT date seniors can choose for regular decision deadlines. Unfortunately, not many schools accept February ACT scores (December is typically the last date you can take the test). If your school does accept February scores, however, this will be your final chance to get the scores you want and send them in. As with anything related to college applications, check your schools’ policies to see whether they accept February ACT scores before you signup for this date as a senior. April 14, 2018 Sophomores This date is the earliest I recommend sophomores take the ACT. At this point, you should be familiar with most concepts tested on the ACT, though there may still be some (particularly in math) you've yet to learn. By taking the ACT this early, you’ll get a sense of where you’re scoring and can then use the rest of spring, as well as the entire summer, to prepare for a retake in September or October your junior year. This puts you way ahead of the game! Juniors The April test date is a great time for juniors to take the ACT since it shouldn’t conflict with finals or most mid-terms. If you already took the ACT in the fall of your junior year, this is an ideal time to retake it and try to improve your score. On the other hand, if you haven’t taken the ACT at all yet, definitely take it by this date. This way you'll have the entire summer to prepare for a second attempt in the fall of your senior year. Seniors This date is too late for seniors.At this point, any scores you get on this ACT won't make it to your schools in time, so make sure you take the ACT in December (possibly February) or earlier. Would you rather go to the beach this summer or take the ACT? Before you say, "Go to the beach, duh!" just remember that you can't get a sunburn in a test center. Think about it. June 9, 2018 Sophomores This date is another date that could work well for sophomores looking to get a head start on the ACT.A June test date means you’ll get your scores by late June or early July and can then use the rest of your summer to prepare for a retake at the beginning of your junior year.At this rate, you might get all of your testing done before even starting your college applications- and that will definitely save you a headache later on! Unfortunately, the June date is likely to conflict with finals. So if you're already getting overwhelmed by those, it’s better to wait. Juniors Another solid option for juniors, the June test date allows you to get the ACT over with before summer vacation andwhen you're still in "learning mode" for school. As I mentioned before, though,this date might conflict with finals, so make sure you know your schedule ahead of time before registering for this date.Generally speaking, the April test date is a better option for juniors,as it is less likely to coincide with school tests and end-of-school-year events. July 14, 2018 This test date is not available in New York. Sophomores The July date is a solid time for sophomores (who are entering their junior year) to take the ACT and see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. The biggest benefit of this date is that you’ll have completed your sophomore year and therefore learned the bulk of what you’ll need to know for the ACT. Also, because this date is in the middle of summer, you won’t have to deal with homework or tests as you prep. Unfortunately, this also means you won’t get to have as carefree a summer as other people since you’ll be studying for the ACT- but, honestly, this might be worth it in the long run if you can avoid having to take the test your senior year! Scores from this test date come out around August, about a month before the September ACT. Since this doesn’t give you a lot of time to analyze your scores and prepare for a retake, it’s better to retake the ACT, at earliest, in October your junior year. Juniors This summer date offers a convenient opportunity to take the test when you have no school commitments or college applications to worry about. It's particularly convenient for juniors who want to avoid taking the ACT their senior year. Unfortunately, this means you’ll need to spend about half your summer studying for the exam. Still, it can be worth it if you feel you’ll get overwhelmed senior year due to college applications and awkward homecoming dances. It's time to push the big, fat "When" button- or, er, bubble? When Should You Take the ACT? Key Takeaways There are seven ACT test dates in the 2017-18 testing year. These are: September 9, 2017 October 28, 2017 December 9, 2017 February 10, 2018* April 14, 2018 June 9, 2018 July 14, 2018* *Not available in New York. ACT test dates are spread throughout year, from fall to summer, and offer multiple opportunities to take the ACT and get the score you want- especially if you’re a sophomore or junior. For sophomores, the best test dates are in April, June, and July. These dates ensure you’ve learned most of the exam's content and will have plenty of time to study and retake the test at the start of your junior year. Juniors have the most freedom and can take the ACT on any test date. Usually, we advise juniors to take their first ACT in the fall (September or October) and their second ACT in the spring (April or June). This gives you plenty of time between tests to focus on your weaknesses, study hard, and hopefully raise your score. Finally, seniors should stick to taking the ACT in September or October- possibly December. If you want to take the ACT one last time before your college applications are due, the two fall dates guarantee your scores will get to your schools in time, no matter whether you’re applying regular decision or early action/early decision.Though December is too late for early action, most regular decision applicants shouldn't have any trouble with the December test date. Ultimately, no matter when you decide to take the ACT, make sure you've got a solid study plan so that you'll know how much you need to prep and can carve out enough time for your studies! What’s Next? Want more help choosing an ACT test date?Check out our full guide to choosing to get tips on how to find the perfect test date for you. When should you register for the ACT?In our guide to ACT registration dates and deadlines, we give you all of the info you need, from deadlines to fees, to make the testing plans you want. Should you take the ACT more than once?There are many benefits of taking the ACT multiple times, the main one being that you can improve your score on a retake! Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Chapter 11 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chapter 11 - Essay Example Overall, their impact on national and global economies has been benign. Irrespective of the cyclical booms and busts of technology driven economies, they tend to improve the standard of living for people. 3. Many people believe that the government should regulate business with respect to privacy online, but companies say self-regulation is more appropriate. Which approach would benefit consumers most? Business? A self-regulatory approach will be a better option, for it frees online businesses of cumbersome governmental regulation, which would have thwarted technological progress. Moreover, consumers can take care of their own interests, in that they can promote or condemn a particular brand based on the quality and safety it offers. So allowing businesses to self-regulate would be the best option. Intellectual property is the concept of ownership associated with a creative work. This work could either be technological innovation or artistic creation. Owners of intellectual property can protect their rights by taking a patent or copyright for their work, which will give them legal protection against theft and false claims of ownership. Bioethics refers to the field of inquiry pertaining to ethical and moral dimensions of biological research. Since most of the moral principles are derived from a human standpoint, it is possible that the rights to existence and fair treatment of lesser species are taken lightly. Of late, the advent of stem-cell research has opened up new dimensions of ethical dilemma, as it entails human cloning. Given the controversies surrounding GM foods, it is prudent to label them as such. So far, no extensive studies have been done on the effects of prolonged consumption of GM foods for humans. And till such a time comes when the safety of the GM variety is firmly established, it is an ethical imperative for agricultural companies to forewarn consumers of possible risks. A strategic

Social networking sites help students do better at school Research Paper

Social networking sites help students do better at school - Research Paper Example There are some students who find physical-social contribution and interaction difficult. Engaging these students through an online platform can make studying easy for them (Osborne). Dialogue and collaboration are hampered by the introduction of social networking on the learning environment. Collaboration and dialogue are critical to the one-to-many and one-to-one models. In the many-to-many model which is used in social networking, the point of attention shifts from the collaborative to cooperative learning and from the group level to an individual. While collaboration seeks that the group moves together, cooperation seeks individual affinity and flexibility in a learning environment. George Middle School, in Portland developed a program that encompassed social networking and school routine. Through the program, they discovered that grades increased by 50 percent. 20 percent of the students completed extra assignments at will. Through the program, they discovered that integrating social networking with the education system lowered absences by 33 percent. An article in The New York Times explains that, Erin Olson  a teacher uses social media to improve class participation. The students use a website where they post their feelings and thoughts about the classroom discussion. Olson appreciates the arrangement because students become more engaged in learning and participate when they others post their views than when done in class (Sang). Students and other individuals join social networks to associate and engage with others who are like minded and in need of learning similar things. Some schools impose learning management systems on their students. Many students are of habit of avoiding using the school-managed learning environments and systems because they are either difficult to use or irrelevant to the basic daily learning needs. Such a response from students shows that a loose network of composed of willing participants guarantees

Tourism Essay Example for Free

Tourism Essay An ‘issue’ is a topic for discussion and debate – something which is viewed differently by different people. Its effects spread far and wide and, although many people have their viewpoints, there seem to be no simple solutions or remedies. Many issues come to prominence through speciï ¬ c events. The 9/11 al-Qaeda attack in 2001, for example, was one such event,  or the London bombings of July 2005. It is important that you distinguish between such events and the underlying issue – terrorism. The factors affecting the travel and tourism industry may be political or they may be inï ¬â€šuenced by worldwide economic developments, or they may be climatic, or even tectonic, such as witnessed by the tsunami disaster in 2004, which claimed the lives of around 300,000 people. This disaster, along with climatic phenomena such as hurricanes will be discussed, together with the broader issue of global warming and how this will affect the industry now and in the future. Advances in the ICT industry are having a profound effect on all our lives and some of these issues will be investigated, particularly the emergence of e-tourism which is leading to changes in the structure of the travel and tourism industry. For some organisations in the industry, globalisation appears to be the most proï ¬ table solution, and we study the growth of the global conglomerates which are starting to appear, from hotel chains to tour operators. The increasing number of acts of terrorism, such and those in New York, Bali, Madrid, Egypt and London – and the constant fear in many other areas – are investigated. But it is not just what humanity will do to itself that is a threat to travel and tourism – it is also the spread of diseases, such as SARS and avian ï ¬â€šu, and how this threat affects people’s attitudes to travel that we will cover in this unit. It is clear that international relations can have a positive or negative effect on travel and tourism. Wars have an immediate adverse effect, and may limit tourism in an area for decades – as has happened in the Middle East. Political stability can only help the ï ¬â€šow of tourists – as shown by the growing numbers of travellers who have chosen to holiday in America or Australia over the last few decades. Many people in the world’s less developed countries (LDCs) are often dependent on tourism for their livelihoods, so anyth ing that affects the industry can have dramatic effect on them. Areas of Africa and South America, as well the Far East will be examined in this unit. The Industry Focus is an interview with David Harris – a typical world traveller – who shares his opinions on many  of the current issues in travel and tourism.

How to Be A Good Student Essay -- Teaching Public Schools

How to Be A Good Student To become a success in life, we all need to learn to become a good student in every aspect of life. Becoming a good student takes much work and self-discipline. There are many ways that a student can stand out from the rest of the class. These good students are distinguished by their attitude, intellectual skills, consciousness, and achievement. Attitude is primarily a genuine desire to learn and the will to do hard academic work to achieve understanding. It is also shown by how well you apply yourself even to subjects in which you have little interest and how much you can achieve even when a teacher’s style is not what you are used to. Also attitude can change the way you percieveperceive things and make you want to either quit or do better. Havin...

Assess the dramatic and thematic effectiveness Essay

The opening act of ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ is important in terms of the themes that John Webster is presenting. He uses the characters to explore such themes, and subsequently the audience are given detailed descriptions of most of the main characters. Moreover, Webster uses the characters to describe each other not only giving the audience an insight into their personal attributes, but also how each character perceives the other. Although not entirely apparent in the initial acts of the play, the fact that the audience only know about the characters from the other characters’ descriptions, implies the ideas of secrecy, deception, and spying, and the general theme that there are things that the characters think they know, when in fact they don’t. Antonio is the first character to be introduced, and he is initially presented as an outsider returning home from the French court, which he â€Å"admires†. He has a brief conversation with Delio about the French court, and how although it was orderly, it could easily be distorted.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Pure silver drops in general; but if ‘t chance  Some cursed example poisoned ‘t near the head,  Death and diseases through the whole land spread.† The rhyming couplet makes it almost seem like a curse, and exerts a sense of doom. This already gives the impression that the court of Malfi is it self distorted, as Antonio describes the goodness of the French court, and then quickly goes onto describe how easily any court could be corrupted, as if ‘pointing a finger’ at the court of Malfi. Webster uses this contrast quite effectively to convince the audience from the beginning that there is more to the Court of Malfi than it may primarily seem.  Interrupting the conversation, Bosola arrives, and before he even speaks, Antonio speaks of him to Delio, and creating a distinct impression of Bosola. â€Å"Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud,  Bloody, or envious, as any man,  If he had the means to be so.†Ã‚  This unpleasant impression of Bosola given to the audience is further supported, as Delio reveals that he was â€Å"a fellow seven years in the galleys for a notorious murder†, making him appear as an evil character who is capable of murder.  Aside from the information the audience receive from Antonio and Delio, the way in which Bosola speaks makes him appear to be very negative. â€Å"He and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools; they are rich and o’erladen with fruit, but none but crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them.†Ã‚  The constant use of dark and distasteful imagery attributes him to be quite bitter, and so completes the overall impression that he is indeed an unpleasant character. However, as Bosola leaves, Antonio says he has heard good things about Bosola, but his â€Å"railing at those things which he wants† overcomes these positive aspects. â€Å"‘Tis great pity  He should be thus neglected; I have heard  He’s very valiant. This foul melancholy  Will poison all his goodness.†Ã‚  This indicates to the audience that Bosola may have a good side which he may or may not reveal later. Either way, this is another way in which Webster explores the theme of first impressions not being all that they seem.

Purchasing and supplies assignment Essay

ABC analysis In materials management, the ABC analysis (or Selective Inventory Control) is an inventory categorization technique. ABC analysis divides an inventory into three categories- â€Å"A items† with very tight control and accurate records, â€Å"B items† with less tightly controlled and good records, and â€Å"C items† with the simplest controls possible and minimal records. The ABC analysis provides a mechanism for identifying items that will have a significant impact on overall inventory cost, while also providing a mechanism for identifying different categories of stock that will require different management and controls. The ABC analysis suggests that inventories of an organization are not of equal value. Thus, the inventory is grouped into three categories (A, B, and C) in order of their estimated importance. ‘A’ items are very important for an organization. Because of the high value of these ‘A’ items, frequent value analysis is required. In addition to that, an organization needs to choose an appropriate order pattern (e.g. ‘Just- in- time’) to avoid excess capacity. ‘B’ items are  important, but of course less important than ‘A’ items and more important than ‘C’ items. Therefore ‘B’ items are intergroup items. ‘C’ items are marginally important. Advantages and Disadvantages of ABC Analysis Inventory Activity Based Costing, or ABC, is a method of allocating overhead and direct expenses related to the most important activities of the company first. This process allows business owners and managers an opportunity to better define the areas of manufacturing or sales that generate the most profit for the company. Inventory analyzed under the ABC method is classified in order of profitability to the company. Class A inventory accounts for 80 percent of revenue, class B inventory for 15 percent of revenue and class C inventory for 5 percent of revenue. Better Control of High-Priority Inventory ABC inventory analysis places tighter and more frequent controls on high-priority inventory. High-priority inventory, or class A inventory, is the class of inventory that customers request most often. In manufacturing, class A inventory also can include the items most often used in the production of goods. Because Class A inventory is directly linked to the success of the company, it is important to constantly monitor the demand for it and ensure stock levels match that demand. With ABC analysis, your company can use its resources to prioritize control of high-priority inventory over inventory that has a lower impact on your bottom line. More Efficient Cycle Counts Under the ABC inventory analysis method, you can allocate your resources more efficiently during cycle counts. A cycle count is the process of counting only certain items on scheduled dates. The frequency of your cycle counts and the items you choose to include depends on how often your inventory fluctuates. Once inventory is organized by class, you can focus regular cycle counts on class A inventory. Depending on your needs, it may be necessary to count class B inventory as infrequently as twice per year and class C inventory only once per year. The ABC analysis method saves time and  labor counting only the inventory required by the cycle for the class of inventory versus counting all inventory items each cycle Disadvantages Conflict with Other Cost Systems The ABC inventory analysis does not meet Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) requirements and also conflicts with traditional costing systems. Companies that use ABC methods must operate two costing systems, one for internal use under the ABC method and another for compliance with GAAP. Traditional costing systems generate the figures required by GAAP. Traditional costing systems allocate cost drivers by the actual unit cost, rather than by the activity percentage of the cost driver. As a result, ABC cost assignments often differ from traditional cost system assignments. Requires Substantial Resources The ABC method requires more resources to maintain than traditional costing systems. When cycle counts are performed, class A inventory must be routinely analyzed to determine if the inventory still consists of high-priority items. If an inventory piece is no longer used or demanded as frequently, it is moved to another inventory classification. This constant process requires much more data measurement and collection Just in time A strategy for inventory management in which raw materials and components are delivered from the vendor or supplier immediately before they are needed in the manufacturing process Advantages & Disadvantages of Just-in-Time Inventory Companies turnover significant inventory control to suppliers with just-in-time inventory. Just-in-time (JIT) inventory refers to an inventory management system with objectives of having inventory readily available to meet demand, but not to a point of excess where you must stockpile extra products. Maintaining inventory takes time and has costs, which is what motivates companies to implement JIT programs. Customer Needs Balancing the goals of avoiding stock outs while minimizing inventory costs is at the heart of just-in-time inventory. One of the main benefits of automated and efficient inventory replenishment systems is that you can quickly respond to reduced inventory levels. Companies are now equipped to pull back on stock in a given product category and ramp up inventory in another as customer needs and interests change. Inventory Costs Minimization of inventory management costs is a primary driver and benefit of just-in-time practices. Inventory management has costs, and when you reduce the amount of holding space and staff required with JIT, the company can invest the savings in business growth and other opportunities, points out the Accounting for Management website. You also have less likelihood of throwing out product that gets old or expires, meaning reduced waste. Coordination A disadvantage of managing a just-in-time inventory system is that it requires significant coordination between retailers and suppliers in the distribution channel. Retailers often put major trust in suppliers by syncing their computer systems with suppliers so they can more directly monitor inventory levels at stores or in distribution centers to initiate rapid response to low stock levels. This usually means build up of technology infrastructure, which is costly. This coordinated effort is more involving on the whole than less time intensive inventory management systems. Risks Just-in-time inventory is not without risks. By nature of what it is, companies using JIT intend to walk a fine line between having too much and too little inventory. If company buyers fail to adjust quickly to increased demand or if suppliers have distribution problems, the business risks upsetting customers with stock outs. If buyers over compensate and buy extra inventory to avoid stock outs, the company could experience higher inventory costs and the potential for waste. Vendor managed inventory Top of Form Bottom of Form Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) . Bottom of Form Vendor Managed Inventory or VMI is a process where the vendor creates orders for their customers based on demand information that they receive from the customer. The vendor and customer are bound by an agreement which determines inventory levels, fill rates and costs. This arrangement can improve supply chain performance but reducing inventories and eliminating stock-out situations. VMI, the vendor specifies delivery quantities sent to customers through the distribution channel using data obtained from Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). There are a number of EDI transactions that can form the basis of the VMI process, 852,855 and the 856. The first is the Product Activity Record, which is known as 852. This EDI transaction contains the sales and inventory information such as key product activity and forecast measures, such as Quantity sold ($) Quantity sold (units) Quantity on hand ($) Quantity on hand (units) Quantity on order ($) Quantity on order (units) Quantity received ($) Quantity received (units) The EDI 852 information can be sent from the customer to the vendor on a weekly basis or more frequently in high-volume industries. The vendor makes the order decision based on this data in the 852 transmission. The vendor reviews the information that has been received from the vendor and an order determination is made based on existing agreement between the vendor and customer. Many vendors use a VMI software package to assist them in determining order requirements. VMI software can be part of an ERP suite  such as SAP or be a standalone option such as products from Blue Habanero, LevelMonitor, NetVMI or others. The software will verify if the data as accurate and meaningful. It will calculate a reorder point for each item based on the data and any customer information such as promotions, seasonality or new items. The quantity of each item available at the customer is compared with the reorder point for each item at each location. This will determine if an order is needed and the quantities required. The second EDI transaction that is used in VMI is the purchase order acknowledgment, which is known as the 855. This EDI document sent to the customer contains a number of fields including; Purchase Order Number Purchase Order Date Purchase Order Line item Quantity Price Item Number Description of Item Freight Charge Ship Date Some vendors supply an advance ship notice (ASN) to their customers to inform them of an incoming order, which is know as EDI 856. The ASN differs from the purchase order acknowledgement in both timing and content. The 856 is sent to the customer after the shipment has been made instead of at the time of the purchase order. Advantages of vendor managed inventory One of the benefits of VMI is that the vendor is responsible for supplying the customer when the items are needed. This removes the need for the customer to have significant safety stock. Lower inventories for the customer can lead to significant cost savings. The customer also can benefit from reduced purchasing costs. Because the vendor receives data and not purchase orders, the purchasing department has to spend less time on calculating and producing purchase orders. In addition, the need for purchase order corrections and reconciliation is removed which further reduces purchasing costs. Cost saving can also be found in reduced warehouse costs. Lower inventories can reduce the need for warehouse space and  warehouse resources. When a business relies on vendor-managed inventory, it’s placing a big bet on that company’s ability to deliver. The vendor has to be able to determine when to send new stock, what specific products to send and in what quantities. This can be beyond the means of a supplier that doesn’t have the software, infrastructure or expertise in place to make that work. If just-in-time inventory turns into way-too-late shipments thanks to poor demand forecasts or a supply-chain breakdown, VMI isn’t going to work. Disadvantages of vendor managed inventory Unscrupulous Partners Even with return policies in effect, a business risks being taken advantage of by a supplier looking to make its numbers. For example, a vendor might ship an excessive amount of product at the end of the quarter and book it as revenue to boost its sales figures regardless of the customer’s needs. The customer may return the unneeded merchandise, but the vendor already has gotten what it wants out of the transaction. In addition, VMI may require a company to share sensitive information with the supplier, which can leave it in a delicate position should the relationship between the parties ever falter. Limited Options A vendor-managed inventory system can be bad for a business when it keeps the business from seeking better-suited or lower-cost options. Because VMI links the supply chain together so closely, it serves as a disincentive to make a change that necessitates changing the company’s inventory management system. As a result, a business may find its inventory savings negated by settling for higher-priced or inferior goods. Market Responsiveness Customer preferences can change in a heartbeat, with favorites falling out of style and new items becoming more in demand. If your vendor doesn’t supply a wide enough range of products and your contract prevents you from going to the competition, you may be stuck with items your customers don’t want and no way to fix the problem. Make sure your contract doesn’t bind you so tightly to your vendor that you both sink together when the market changes. The manufacturer can gain some benefits from vendor managed inventory as they can gain access to a customers point of sale (POS) data makes their forecasting somewhat easier. Manufacturers can also work their customers promotional plans into forecasting models, which means enough stock will be available when their promotions are running. As a manufacturer has more visibility to their customers inventory levels, it is easier to ensure that stock-outs will not occur as they can see when items need to be produced. INTRODUCTION TO MRP manufacturing resource planning (MRP II) is defined as a method for the effective planning of all resources of a manufacturing company. Ideally, it addresses operational planning in units, financial planning, and has a simulation capability to answer â€Å"what-if† questions and extension of closed-loop MRP. This is not exclusively a software function, but the management of people skills, requiring a dedication to database accuracy, and sufficient computer resources. It is a total company management concept for using human and company resources more productively. MRP is a comprehensive system used for planning and scheduling materials requirement. It assists in improving the materials handling capability of an organization. But it has certain disadvantages. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of MRP have been discussed below Advantages Some of the key benefits that can be derived from using an MRP system are: Reduced per unit cost of production thus enabling an organization to price its products competitively Low inventory levels, especially for in-process materials Better response to market demand Better customer service Reduced set-up and tear-down costs Comprehensive material tracking and optimized production scheduling Improvement in capacity allocation and planning Disadvantages Following are the disadvantages of an MRP system: High costs and technical complexities in implementation. In addition, organizations, which use an MRP system need to spend considerable effort on installing necessary equipment (computers), training personnel, modifying the software to serve their specific needs, validating, testing, and eliminating possible errors, and maintaining the software. The time required for planning and implementing an MRP system is generally very long. Data entry and file maintenance requires considerable inputs in the form of training and education of the personnel. Dependence on forecast values and estimated lead-time can sometimes be misleading. The implementation of an MRP system can be effective only when there is a high degree of accuracy in the organization’s operations. It requires high commitment from the top management of an organization. The management should educate its executives on the importance of MRP as a strategic planning tool. The success of an MRP system, like that of any other system depends on proper implementation and right application. Managers can derive more benefits if they use the MRP system as a management-planning tool. MRP needs enormous human efforts and care in continuously collecting the required information for the system. However, many organizations prefer to adopt MRP systems, as the advantages of the system outweigh its disadvantages. Are you searching Operations Management expert for help with Advantages and Disadvantages of an MRP system questions? Advantages and Disadvantages of an MRP system topic is not easier to learn without external help? We at www.expertsmind.com offer finest service of Operations Management assignment help and Operations Management homework help. Live tutors are available for 24Ãâ€"7 hours helping students in their Advantages and Disadvantages of an MRP system related problems. We provide step by step Advantages and Disadvantages of an MRP system question’s answers with 100% plagiarism free content. We prepare quality content and notes for Advantages and Disadvantages of an MRP system topic under Operations Management theory and study material. These are avail for subscribed users and they can get advantages anytime. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) Economic order quantity (EOQ) is the order quantity of inventory that minimizes the total cost of inventory management. Two most important categories of inventory costs are ordering costs and carrying costs. Ordering costs are costs that are incurred on obtaining additional inventories. They include costs incurred on communicating the order, transportation cost, etc. Carrying costs represent the costs incurred on holding inventory in hand. They include the opportunity cost of money held up in inventories, storage costs, spoilage costs, etc. Ordering costs and carrying costs are quite opposite to each other. If we need to minimize carrying costs we have to place small order which increases the ordering costs. If we want minimize our ordering costs we have to place few orders in a year and this requires placing large orders which in turn increases the total carrying costs for the period. We need to minimize the total inventory costs and EOQ model helps us just do that. Total inventory costs = Ordering costs + Holding costs By taking the first derivative of the function we find the following equation for minimum cost EOQ = SQRT(2 Ãâ€" Quantity Ãâ€" Cost Per Order / Carrying Cost Per Order) Example ABC Ltd. is engaged in sale of footballs. Its cost per order is $400 and its carrying cost unit is $10 per unit per annum. The company has a demand for 20,000 units per year. Calculate the order size, total orders required during a year, total carrying cost and total ordering cost for the year. Solution EOQ = SQRT(2 Ãâ€" 20,000 Ãâ€" 400/10) = 1,265 units Annual demand is 20,000 units so the company will have to place 16 orders (= annual demand of 20,000 divided by order size of 1,265). Total ordering cost is hence $64,000 ($400 multiplied by 16). Average inventory held is 632.5 ((0+1,265)/2) which means total carrying costs of $6,325 (i.e. 632.5 Ãâ€" $10). businesses require an efficient inventory system to maximize profit. The Economic Order Quantity model is a commonly used element of a continuous review inventory system. It is based on a formula that calculates the most economical number of items a business should order to minimize costs and maximize value when re-stocking inventory. Small business owners should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this inventory model before implementing it. DISADVANTAGES Minimizes Storage and Holding Costs Storing inventory may be expensive for small business owners. The main advantage of the EOQ model is the customized recommendations provided regarding the most economical number of units per order. The model may suggest buying a larger quantity in fewer orders to take advantage of discount bulk buying and minimizing order costs. Alternatively, it may point to more orders of fewer items to minimize holding costs if they are high and ordering costs are relatively low. Specific to the Business Maintaining sufficient inventory levels to match customer demand is a balancing act for many small businesses. Another advantage of the EOQ model is that it provides specific numbers particular to the business regarding how much inventory to hold, when to re-order it and how many items to order. This smooths out the re-stocking process and results in better customer service as inventory is available when needed. Complicated Math Calculations The EOQ model requires a good understanding of algebra, a disadvantage for small business owners lacking math skills. Additionally, effective EOQ models require detailed data to calculate several figures. For example, the key formula of the model calculates the square root of 2DS/H, where D is the number of units purchased annually, S is the fixed ordering charge, and H is the holding cost per unit. Rent or mortgage payments, utility costs and property taxes are required just to calculate H. Based on Assumptions The EOQ model assumes steady demand of a business product and immediate  availability of items to be re-stocked. It does not account for seasonal or economic fluctuations. It assumes fixed costs of inventory units, ordering charges and holding charges. This inventory model requires continuous monitoring of inventory levels. The effectiveness of the basic EOQ model is most limited by the assumption of a one-product business, and the formula does not allow for combining several different products in the same . INTRODUCTION TO ERP What is ERP? It means enterprise resource planning, which itself means planning the resources in an enterprise (business). So, this abbreviation simply means, that this is a way of using the resources in a company more effectively. Notice, that this is not some kind of software, this is an ideology. Some companies build applications, that work according to this ideology, called ERP solutions. But there is something more there†¦ the developers of such solutions build their application implementing some best business practices in it, and this is one of the most valuable features of ERP systems. The so called know-how is the most common thing that many of the small businesses out there lack. And this could be the difference between the successful, fast flowing company and the average company. At some point of the life cycle of an enterprise, the need of such a system becomes inevitable. The earlier managers understand this, the better. As the company grows, its control becomes more and more difficult task. An integrated solution, like ERP software, could be really helpful in this situation. Every small company, that wants to grow big just needs to use an ERP system. Some big corporations even would not do business with you, if you hadn’t such a software implemented and working in your business. Such a solution is a proof for higher quality and that you are running your enterprise well and effectively. There are many many benefits coming from these systems, later we’ll talk about them more. ERP solutions are from the group of integrated systems, which means that they are built to integrate any part of your business. Initially the manager in a small company can coordinate the different departments relatively easy, but when the company starts to grow, the same happens with the size and number of departments. The coordination between them becomes really hard and expensive. At some point of time a crisis of control is inevitable. ERP systems can be  managers’ best friend then, because this is one of their main purpose – to integrate your business. Advantages & Disadvantages of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Systems In order to understand computer networks better, it would be helpful to have an overview of the applications running on the network. ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is an important enterprise application that integrates all the individual department functions into a single software application. ERP Systems make it easier to track the workflow across various departments. They reduce the operational costs involved in manually tracking and (perhaps) duplicating data using individual & disparate systems. In this article, let us have a look at the advantages and dis-advantages of implementing ERP (Enterprise Resource Management) Software Systems. Advantages of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) 1. Complete visibility into all the important processes, across various departments of an organization (especially for senior management personnel). 2. Automatic and coherent workflow from one department/function to another, to ensure a smooth transition and quicker completion of processes. This also ensures that all the inter-departmental activities are properly tracked and none of them is ‘missed out’. 3. A unified and single reporting system to analyze the statistics/status etc. in real-time, across all functions/departments. 4. Since same (ERP) software is now used across all departments, individual departments having to buy and maintain their own software systems is no longer necessary. 5. Certain ERP vendors can extend their ERP systems to provide Business Intelligence functionalities, that can give overall insights on business processes and identify potential areas of problems/improvements. 6. Advanced e-commerce integration is possible with ERP systems – m ost of them can handle web-based order tracking/ processing. 7. There are various modules in an ERP system like Finance/Accounts, Human Resource Management, Manufacturing, Marketing/Sales, Supply Chain/Warehouse Management, CRM, Project Management, etc. 8. Since ERP is a modular software system, its possible to implement either a few modules (or) many modules based on the requirements of an organization. If  more modules implemented, the integration between various departments may be better. 9. Since a Database system is implemented on the backend to store all the information required by the ERP system, it enables centralized storage/back-up of all enterprise data. 10. ERP systems are more secure as centralized security policies can be applied to them. All the transactions happening via the ERP systems can be tracked. 11. ERP systems provide better company-wide visibility and hence enable better/faster collaboration across all the departments. 12. It is possible to integrate other systems (like bar-code reader, for example) to the ERP system through an API (Application Programing Interface). 13. ERP systems make it easier for order tracking, inventory tracking, revenue tracking, sales forecasting and related activities. Disadvantages of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) 1. The cost of ERP Software, planning, customization, configuration, testing, implementation, etc. is too high. 2. ERP deployments are highly time-consuming – projects may take 1-3 years (or more) to get completed and fully functional. 3. Too little customization may not integrate the ERP system with the business process & too much customization may slow down the project and make it difficult to upgrade. 4. The cost savings/payback may not be realized immediately after the ERP implementation & it is quite difficult to measure the same. 5. The participation of users is very important for successful implementation of ERP projects – hence, exhaustive user training and simple user interface might be critical. But ERP systems are generally difficult to learn (and use). 6. There maybe additional indirect costs due to ERP implementation – like new IT infrastructure, upgrading the WAN links, etc. 7. Migration of existing data to the new ERP systems is difficult (or impossible) to achieve. Integrating ERP systems with other stand alone software systems is equally difficult (if possible). These activities may consume a lot of time, money & resources, if attempted. 8. ERP implementations are difficult to achieve in decentralized organizations with disparate business processes and systems. 9. Once an ERP systems is implemented it becomes a single vendor lock-in for further upgrades, customizations etc. Companies are at the discretion of a single vendor and may not be able to negotiate effectively for their services. 10. Evaluation prior to implementation of ERP system is critical. If this step  is not done properly and experienced technical/business resources are not available while evaluating, ERP implementations can (and have) become a failure ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BARCODING Bar codes consist of bars and spaces that vary in width. The bars and spaces on a bar code correspond to numbers and letters that represent descriptive data. Scanners scan the bar code to find the corresponding description of the item, including the make and model of an item and its price. Many stores and shops commonly use bar code technology for stock inventory. It’s also used to scan when a customer wants to purchase it. There are advantages and disadvantages regarding the use of bar code technology. the Disadvantages of Barcodes disadvantages of Bar Codes Time In the blink of an eye, scanning a bar code instantly displays the product name, type of product and price. Bar codes also have a 12-digit product number that when entered also produces the same information. However, if a cashier has a long line of impatient customers, entering the product details of each item is time-consuming, especially in grocery stores where each customer usually purchases multiple items. Although bar codes are a huge advantage when it comes to time, it can also be a disadvantage if the bar code on the product doesn’t correspond to the right product, or the bar code scanner isn’t working Inventory Inventory is a huge component of any goods and services business. Keeping track of inventory can be a tedious, time-consuming and difficult task to do without a bar code scanner. With a bar code scanner, shop owners simply scan the bar code on the items and keep track of the store’s inventory that way. When an individual purchases an item, the scanner transmits this information to the computer and it’s calculated on the stock inventory via computer technology. The major disadvantage here is if the cashier sees a number of items that look or seem the same and scans one item multiple times to save  time. Each item and type of item has a unique bar code and must be scanned separately. As a result, this could affect inventory. Labels Labels make it easy for bar code scanners and computers to recognize the product item and vendor name. But when a label is damaged or non-existent, it poses problems. Damaged labels make it difficult for the cashier to scan. Even the 12-digit number on the label may be damaged to the point where it is not legible. When this occurs, the checkout process is significantly delayed while the same product is sought out and brought to the cashier for scanning. In addition, some products, such as fruits and vegetables at grocery stores, don’t have labels, which potentially cause delay. However, cashiers are usually trained to remember the 12-digit number corresponding to items without labels. Costs While bar code technology drastically reduces the time and energy spent on inventory and checkout procedures, it is costly. Businesses that want to implement bar code equipment and technology have to withstand the growing pains of doing so. This includes training employees, installing the equipment, expensive printers and the time spent entering codes for labels. However, despite the disadvantages with start-up, the bar code technology benefits businesses in the long run. CONCLUSION ON THE ABOVE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT TOOLS One should start by saying that inventory management is the active control program that facilitates the management of sales, purchases and disbursements. The inventory management is all about special software that would reduce the costs and human efforts required to create invoices, purchase orders, various receiving lists, or payment receipts. The inventory management attempts to coordinate all the efforts in the warehouse, retail and other product lines in order to develop better controls of the processes that go inside the organization. Speaking about a particular software, I would like to note that one of the many is available at http://www.advanceware.net/modules.asp. The software is said to provide all  the needed inventory management tools in just one package. The website provides a demo version of the software where one is able to explore the shipping module. The software allows the company to print serial numbers on an invoice, set a default tax rate, generate several types of reports, receive and process various customer/vendor returns, and place/process customer orders in various currencies. As for the inventory management in the workplace I would like to note that because I work in the hotel industry, the inventory management is different here than in other industries. The inventory that hotel manages is the room space available for rental. One should understand that because hotel industry sells services the improper inventory management might mean that the hotel will not fill up all the rooms. Thus, the inventory management for the hotel industry should focus on the timeliness with respect to room occupation and marketing. The inventory management should also account for the food, towels, bed sheets, and other items required for the daily hotel operations. The inventory management should assure that the hotel rooms are filled right after they are freed, otherwise, the hotel would lose out since unlike tangible inventory, the service hotel industry offers cannot be s References Harris, Ford W. (1990) [Reprint from 1913]. â€Å"How Many Parts to Make at Once†. Operations Research (INFORMS) 38 (6): 947–950. doi:10.1287/opre.38.6.947. JSTOR 170962. Retrieved Nov 21, 2012. edit Hax, AC and Candea, D. (1984), Production and Operations Management, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, p. 135 Grubbstrà ¶m, Robert W. (1995). â€Å"Modelling production opportunities — an historical overview†. International Journal of Production Economics 41: 1–14. doi:10.1016/0925-5273(95)00109-3. Nahmias, Steven (2005). Production and operations analysis. McGraw Hill Higher Education. edit Altintas, N.; Erhun, F.; Tayur, S. (2008). â€Å"Quantity Discounts Under Demand Uncertainty†. Management Science 54 (4): 777–792. doi:10.1287/mnsc.1070.0829. edit Andrew Caplin and John Leahy, â€Å"Economic

The Roaring Twenties and the Illusion of Prosperity essays

The Roaring Twenties and the Illusion of Prosperity essays The Roaring Twenties had the illusion of prosperity for all. This was the result of the new advancements in technology of that time. The economic transformations brought about changes in all aspects of society and seemed to push the nation into an age of modernism and prosperity. However, beneath the success that seemed to permeate during the 20's, immigration, urban growth, and social tensions remained polemic issues. Like any other time of prosperity experienced before, people attempted to counter the new way of life. Many new organizations and ideas arose in response to the original values and attitudes. The Ku Klux Klan, fundamentalism, and prohibition all aimed to reform society. Though the 20's experienced economic success, the issues that came along with that success and the changing times evoked social conflict from different peoples. The conservative political and cultural values that were being espoused threatened to tear the social fabric. The KKK, fundamentalism, and pr ohibition struggled to limit the extent of change. Many felt that immigrants, blacks and new beliefs were tainting the American way of life. The Ku Klux Klan hoped to act as a catharsis to filter out alien influences and other impurities that had corrupted traditional American values. The KKK opposed the theory of evolution and supported traditional Protestant values and restriction on immigration. The hope ban the immigration of inferior peoples came in response to the nativism of the Klan. Jews, Catholics, and most of all, blacks were the main targets of the Klan. In response to the new values of the 20's, they denounced the Flapper lifestyle and the "demon rum." Traditional family values and ethnic, moral and religious purity that the Klan advocated appealed to many. Also, there was the excitement and cohesion that the Klan provided which led to increased membership. One member wrote, "Who can look upon a multitude of white-robed Klansmen without th...

5 Strategies for Private School Admissions Test Prep

5 Strategies for Private School Admissions Test Prep Most private schools require applicants to take a standardized test as part of the admission process. Essentially what the schools are trying to determine is how prepared you are for the academic work that they want you to be able to do. The most commonly used tests in independent schools are the SSAT and the ISEE, but ther are others that you may encounter. For example, Catholic schools use HSPTs and COOPs which are similar in content and purpose. If you think of the SSAT and ISEE like the college level SAT or its preparatory test, the PSAT, then you get the idea. The tests are organized in several sections, each designed to assess a specific skill set and knowledge level. Here are several tips to help you best prepare for this important exam. 1. Start Test Prep Early Begin final preparation for your admissions test in the spring for testing in the following fall. While these standardized tests measure what you have learned over the course of many years, you should begin working some practice tests in the spring and summer before you actually take the real thing in the late fall. There are several test prep books that you can consult.  Want some study tips? Check out this blog for some SSAT test prep strategies. 2. Dont Cram Last minute cramming is not going to be very productive when it comes to learning material you should have been learning over several years. The SSAT is designed to test what you have learned over time at school. Its not designed so that you have to learn new material, just master the material you have been learning in school. Instead of cramming, you might consider working hard in school and then during the last few weeks before the test, concentrate on three areas: know what is expectedtake practice testsreview subject material 3. Know the Test Format Knowing what is expected when you step through the door to the testing room is just as important as taking practice tests. Memorize the format of the test. Know what material will be covered. Learn all the variations in the way a question can be presented or worded. Think like the examiner. Paying attention to details like how youll take the exam and how it is scored can help you excel overall. Want more test prep strategies? Check out this blog on how to prepare for the SSAT and ISEE. 4. Practice Taking practice tests is critical to your success in these standardized tests. You have a certain number of questions which must be answered within a fixed time. So you must work to beat the clock. The best way to perfect your skills is to actually try to duplicate the test environment. Try to match the test conditions as closely as possible. Set aside a Saturday morning to work a practice test to the clock. Make sure that you do the practice test in a quiet room and have a parent present you the exam, just as if you were in the actual testing room. Imagine yourself in the room with dozens of your classmates taking the same test. No cell phone, snacks, iPod or TV. If you are really serious about honing your timing skills, you should repeat this exercise at least twice. 5. Review Reviewing subject material means exactly that. If you have pursued your studies in an organized manner, that  means pulling out those notes from a year ago and going over them carefully. Note what you didnt understand. Practice what you werent sure of by writing it out. Thats a common test prep strategy, writing things out, because for many people, this strategy will help them remember things better. As you practice and review, make a note of where you excel and where you need assistance, and then get help in the areas where you have deficiencies. If you plan to take the tests next year, understand the material now so that you can nail them. Dont put off thorough test preparation. Remember: you cannot cram for these tests. Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Public Opinion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Public Opinion - Essay Example Therefore public opinion has become a valuable aspect of governance. In this case the evolution of technology and more democratic forms of govern which has kept the upholding of the right of individual has seen a dramatic evolution in giving of information to all people. One of the recent developments in the public opinion arena has been the opinion polls that have been used to give various information or views of the public on certain issues. They have been successful use in political pundits, market researches, national government agendas, and in other areas. Sociologists have relied on opinion polls in order to determine the success or failure of an event based on the views of the public. However opinion polls and other public view are contested notion that are likely to change overnight depending on what will be happening next. (Entman and Herbst 2001, P. 242; McCombs 2004, p. 63) The development of public opinion can be traced to many years ago during the time of Greek civilization. The quest on the nature of public opinion was first expressed by Plato who was a great Greek philosopher and who made immense contribution to the modern body of knowledge. From Plato the quest for the nature of public opinion can then be traced back to Herbamans and later to Bourdieu who seemed to contest the ability to have public opinion. Let us focus on the view of Bourdieu on public opinion and why he contested the existence of public opinion. The expression of the nature of public opinion according to Bourdieu can be traced to what he wrote in his book. He asserted the "the politician who yesterday said 'God is on our side' today says 'public opinion is on our side'". (Bourdieu 1979, pg. 125) According to Bourdieu, he was criticizing the notion that political have a way of relying on the views of the public which is done solely for source of support. In this case he was trying to show that the power of the politicians if vested in the people. The public have more power and control of the political situation in a state rather than the politician. This can also be attributed to what Aristotle referred to as a weak king when he asserted that a king who lost support of the public opinion should not be regarded as a king any more. In this case it is clear that the modern understanding of democracy and the politics can be taken in a way that political power should be vested on the people and should be responsibility of the people and their opinions. But the way Bourdieu compared political power with God detest the power of the public opinion. Bourdieu views public opinion as a manufactured consent and not as a traditional ways of research that can be used to give accurate information on something. He argued that public opinion in the form that is implemented is used in survey and poll is not efficient and does not exist. In this case he showed that opinion polls are used by those in power as a political instrument that legitimize their actions. They are relations of forces and tension and therefore they cannot be described as a percentage in any way. In his criticism of the polls, Bourdieu asserts that each and every one of use has an opinion that can be given on an idea. He stressed that all the

Richest man in Babylon report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Richest man in Babylon report - Assignment Example Similarly, a passive income must be pursued with the same intent [of fattening the purse- not draining it]. In The Richest Man in Babylon, Bansir and Kobbi inquire from Arkad why they were less financially fortunate, while Arkad had managed to grow rich with time. Several concepts are issued by Arkad and serve as important gems of financial wisdom. One is that no one should live beyond his means. Saving money is the genesis of wealth creation. The second important aspect of making wealth is investing. Investing the money saved should allow the investor to accrue passive income. Finally, the investment must be done wisely. In the seventh chapter, The Seven Cures for a Lean Purse, the King of Babylon, Sargon of Akkad is told of the poverty of the kingdom by his Royal Chancellor. People are subsequently told to: save a tenth of their earnings; control their expenditures; multiply their gold; guard their treasure from loss; insure a future income; and increase their earning power. Seeing that only the sixth and seventh parts are the ones that have not been delved into, it is important to appreciate them as calling for a remembrance of the days in which one will never be able to work and increasing one’s education on investing. The more one knows, the better that person will be in investing, and the more money that person will make (Clason, 17-32). In The Luckiest Man in Babylon, Arkad’s small school has blossomed into the city’s Temple of Learning. What is learned from this chapter is that there has to be a preparation for profitable opportunities, instead of waiting for luck, since luck cannot be stimulated to occur repeatedly. Procrastination in action and through indecision is also a bad practice. In The Five Laws of Gold, Kalabab asks what one would choose if offered a bag of gold or tablets whereupon are curved words of wisdom. The laws teach that: saving a fraction of