Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Dark Matter essays

Dark Matter essays Two people have been credited for determining the need for dark matter. The first was astronomer Jan Oort, who back in 1932 measured the perpendicular motions of nearby stars relative to the disk of our galaxy. By studying the gravitational influence of the disk on these stars he was able to calculate the mass of the disk. The value he determined was twice as much as that inferred by the visible stars and nebulae in that region. A year later in 1933 astronomer Fritz Zwicky estimated the mass of a group of galaxies by measuring their brightness. When Zwicky used a different method of calculating the mass of the cluster he found it to be 400 times the value from directly inferring the mass from the brightness of the cluster. In both cases Oort and Zxwicky came to the conclusion that the visible galaxies only accounted for 10% of the mass needed to keep them gravitationally in the cluster. Based on 70 years of accumulated observations of the motions of galaxies and the expansion of the universe, most astronomers believe that as much as 90% of the stuff constituting the universe may be objects or particles that cannot be seen. In other words, most of the universes matter does not radiate it provides no glow that we can detect in the electromagnetic spectrum. Now in the 21st century, Zwicky and Oorts theories have been further enhanced. We have already observed in clusters of galaxies that the motion of galaxies within a cluster suggests that they are bound by a total gravitational force due to about 5-10 times as much matter as can be accounted for from luminous matter in said galaxies. But it is also theorized that within an individual galaxy, you can measure the rate of rotation of the stars about the galactic center of rotation. The resultant rotation curve is simply related to the distribution of matter in the galaxy. The outer stars in the galaxies seem to rotate too fast fo...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Negative Effects of Collusion in Business and Politics

Negative Effects of Collusion in Business and Politics Collusion is an agreement between two or more entities to limit open competition or gain an unfair advantage in the market by means of deceiving, misleading, or defrauding. These types of agreements are - not surprisingly - illegal and therefore are also typically very secretive and exclusive. Such agreements can include anything from setting prices to limiting production or opportunities to kickbacks and misrepresentation of the party’s relationship to one another. Of course, when collusion is discovered, all acts affected by the collusive activities are considered void or having no legal effect, in the eyes of the law. In fact, the law ultimately treats any agreements, obligations, or transactions as though they had never existed. Collusion in the Study of Economics In the study of economics and market competition, collusion is defined as taking place when rival companies who otherwise would not work together agree to cooperate for their mutual benefit. For instance, the companies may agree to refrain from participating in an activity that they normally would in order to reduce competition and gain higher profits. Given the few powerful players within a market structure like an oligopoly (a market or industry that is dominated by a small number of sellers), collusive activities are often commonplace. The relationship between oligopolies and collusion can work in the other direction as well; forms of collusion can ultimately lead to the establishment of an oligopoly. Within this structure, collusive activities can make a significant impact on the market as a whole starting with the reduction of competition and then the likely possibility of higher prices to be paid by the consumer. In this context, acts of collusion resulting in price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation could place businesses in jeopardy of being prosecuted for violations of the federal Clayton Antitrust Act. Enacted in 1914, the Clayton Antitrust Act is intended to prevent monopolies and protect consumers from unfair business practices. Collusion and Game Theory According to game theory, it is the independence of suppliers in competition with one another that keeps the price of goods to their minimum, which ultimately encourages overall efficiency of the industry leaders in order to remain competitive. When this system is in effect, no one supplier has the power to set the price. But when there are few suppliers and less competition, as in an oligopoly, each seller is likely to be acutely aware of the actions of the competition. This generally leads to a system in which decisions of one firm can greatly influence and be influenced by the actions of other industry players. When collusion is involved, these influences are typically in the form of clandestine agreements that cost the market the low prices and efficiency otherwise encouraged by competitive independence.​ Collusion and  Politics In the days following the tumultuous 2016 presidential election, allegations arose that representatives of the Donald Trump campaign committee had colluded with agents of the Russian government to influence the outcome of the election in favor of their candidate. An independent investigation conducted by former FBI Director Robert Mueller found evidence that President Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Flynn may have met with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. to discuss the election. In his testimony to the FBI, however, Flynn denied having done so. On February 13, 2017, Flynn resigned as national security director after admitting he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his conversations with the Russian ambassador. On December 1, 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI about his election-related communications with Russia. According to court documents released at the time, two unnamed officials of the Trump presidential transition team had urged Flynn to contact the Russians. It is expected that as part of his plea agreement, Flynn promised to reveal the identity of the White House officials involved to the FBI in return for a reduced sentence. Since the allegations surfaced, President Trump has denied having discussed the election with Russian agents or having directed anyone else to do so. While collusion itself is not a federal crime - except in the case of antitrust laws - the alleged â€Å"cooperation† between the Trump campaign and a foreign government may have violated other criminal prohibitions, which could be interpreted by Congress as impeachable â€Å"High Crimes and Misdemeanors.† Other Forms of Collusion While collusion is most often associated with secretive agreements behind closed doors, it can also occur in slightly different circumstances and situations. For instance, cartels are a unique case of explicit collusion. The explicit and formal nature of the organization is what differentiates it from the traditional sense of the term collusion. There is sometimes a distinction made between private and public cartels, the latter referring to a cartel in which a government is involved and whose sovereignty likely shields it from legal action. The former, however, are subject to such legal liability under the antitrust laws that have become commonplace around the world. Another form of collusion, known as tacit collusion, actually refers to collusive activities that are not overt.  Tacit collusion requires two firms to agree to play by a certain (and often illegal) strategy without explicitly saying so. Historical Example of Collusion One particularly memorable example of collusion occurred in the late 1980s when Major League Baseball teams were found to be in a collusive agreement to not sign free agents from other teams. It was during this period of time when star players like Kirk Gibson,  Phil Niekro, and Tommy John – all free agents that season – did not receive competitive offers from other teams. The collusive agreements made between team owners effectively erased competition for players which ultimately severely limited the player’s bargaining power and choice.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Evidence based practice and PICO format Assignment

Evidence based practice and PICO format - Assignment Example Therefore, EBP can also be said to aim at using evidence to change practice for the better, mainly because it builds on the collection, analysis, appraisal and incorporation of clinically applicable, significant and valid research. In the practice setting, EBP is brought into use by encouraging the concept of inquiry. Current methods are questioned, providing the platform for the search and collection of relevant evidence, focusing on both ethical and legal issues. After the evidence is critically appraised, it is used to change questionable practices that have been in use previously. In the clinical setting, wound care management is a common nursing practice that requires a critical search for evidence in terms of how it should be conducted. Since the wound has already occurred, treatment is an inevitable part of the healing process. As a healthcare practitioner, formulating a question regarding the treatment of the wounds in terms of recognizing effective interventions and reducing risk factors then eventually resulting in improved prognosis is imperative. Male children are naturally hyperactive, and from the P perspective of the PICO (T) concept can be perceived as a vulnerable population to injuries and consequential problems of the wounds due to the activities of their stage in life. A viable question would be: â€Å"how wounds frequently found on boy children should be treated differently from those on adults and girl children?† This involves a critical question because it is gender specific and evidence can be provided that focusing on boy children actually targets a particular population (Yoder-Wise, 2007). Depending on where they are brought up, treatment of wounds does not necessarily have to be based on sanitizing wounds and requiring operations, albeit minor ones. Rather than stereotyping all childhood wounds to arise from cuts and bruises occurring from simple falls, some can rightly be considered to come from

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Homeland Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Homeland Security - Essay Example Seven hundred thousand lines of bug-ridden code that was functionally off target was delivered by VCF’s contractor, Science Applications International Corporation. The bureau had to scrap the $170 million project. Various government and independent reports show that, the FBI, shares the blame for the project’s failure. The ‘investigative data warehouse’ was added to combine several of the FBI’s crime and evidence databases into one. Detailed interviews with people directly involved with the VCF depicted the picture of of an IT project that fell into the most basic trap of software development, from poor planning to bad communication. Some of the evolving problems also included: the failure of the VCF technology to meet the bureau’s requirements the intense pressure to get the product to FBI agents following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 the change in the FBI’s prime mission from criminal investigation to preventing terrorism. Poor management decisions early in the project inadequate oversight for continuing the costly problems. The investigative data warehouse, perhaps a useful tool, doesn’t manage case overflow and doesn’t substitute for an effective case management system.It is critical to keep in mind that intelligence failures of 9/11 happened because the right people didn’t have the right information at the right time. There was also various changes in management, and perhaps too may players in the mix. In September 2000, the FBI IT Upgrade Project was funded for US $379.8 million. ... replace the obsolete Automated Case Support (ACS) system. Instead, the FBI's VCF would become the most highly publicized software failure in history. Seven hundred thousand lines of bug-ridden code that was functionally off target was delivered by VCF's contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC.) The bureau had to scrap the $170 million project. Various government and independent reports show that, the FBI, lacking IT management and technical expertise, shares the blame for the project's failure. The 'investigative data warehouse' was added to combine several of the FBI's crime and evidence databases into one. Detailed interviews with people directly involved with the VCF depicted the picture of of an IT project that fell into the most basic trap of software development, from poor planning to bad communication. Some of the evolving problems also included: the failure of the VCF technology to meet the bureau's requirements the intense pressure to get the product to FBI agents following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 the change in the FBI's prime mission from criminal investigation to preventing terrorism poor management decisions early in the project inadequate oversight for continuing the costly problems The investigative data warehouse, perhaps a useful tool, doesn't manage case overflow. and doesn't substitute for an effective case management system. It is critical to keep in mind that intelligence failures of 9/11 happened because the right people didn't have the right information at the right time. There was also various changes in management, and perhaps too may players in the mix. In September 2000, the FBI IT Upgrade Project, later called Trilogy, was funded for

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Trade Deficits and Weakening Dollars Essay Example for Free

Trade Deficits and Weakening Dollars Essay Economist Frank Shostak offers an unpopular view of the United States’ trade deficit and its effect on the country’s economy. The view is widely held that an increasing trade deficit ultimately leads to the unwillingness of other nationals to hold the American currency. The effect of such a development would be an ultimate decline in the United States’ dollar exchange rate. When United States nationals converts its dollars to that of another country, say the Japanese Yen, in order to procure their goods, this might be considered as the existence of a demand for Japanese money. This demand arises as a result of a demand for goods produced in Japan. If such demand is no reciprocated—that is, if this American demand for Japanese products is not answered by an equal demand by Japan for American products—then this could lead to a trade deficit. The important aspect of this trade deficit lies in the fact that the demand for American goods is not as great as American demand for foreign goods. On some level, money can be considered as a commodity—especially for the purposes of investment where interest becomes the price of money. When the demand for American money decreases, the price of money also decreases. Interest rates are an important part of economic growth as it denotes (in the most simplified sense) the worth of such strictly monetary transactions as investments, lending, savings, etc. It would appear that when the price of money decreases, the worth of money would also decrease, and this leads to a disparity between the worth of the U.S. currency and that of the Yen—in favor of the Yen. Shostak argues otherwise. Though he concedes that the trade deficit is related to the exchange rate of the U.S. currency, he does not consider the trade deficit to be the deciding factor of that exchange rate. Rather, he considers the deficit an unfortunate result of that decline in the exchange rate. The U.S. monetary policy is what he blames. He considers a wanton increase in the money supply as having precisely the same effect as counterfeiting. Below is a table showing the changes in money supply, interest rates, trade deficit and GDP between 1987 and 2005. Here it can be seen that a fall in GDP does occur in relation to a fall in interest rates. Though the decrease appears small, the comparison should not be exaggerated, as many fluctuations occurred in between the given time period. It does show an overall decrease in the net deficit, but this is shown as a percentage of GDP. The effect of one on the other is therefore not clear from this table. Money Supply (1987 = baseline) Interest Rates 1987 2005 1987 2005 100% 273% 6.5% 1% Net Deficit (as % of GDP) Gross Domestic Product 1987 2005 1987 2005 ~8% 6.3% ~3.4% ~3.3%   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Naito, Norrington Yamaguchi; Elwell, 8). However, according to Shostak, when the U.S. money supply increases in relation to that of another country (say Japan), yet all else remains the same, the amount of money competing for essentially the same amount of output rises. This scenario mimics a rise in demand, which leads to a rise in prices according to the price elasticity theory of demand. When this occurs, the comparison between the prices of two similar products in the United States and Japan yields an elevated price in U.S. dollars and therefore a deflated U.S. currency. This comes from the principle of purchasing power parity. However, it might be argued that the fall in the U.S. exchange rate could have the effect of reducing the trade deficit when the amount becomes expressed in terms of other nations’ currencies. The final analysis is that Shostak’s theory appears convincing especially in light of the rise in the U.S. monetary supply that seems to exceed GDP growth (see table) and the current weakening of U.S. dollar on the global market. The U.S. exchange rate in comparison with the Eurodollar fell 40% between 2001 and 2004 (Evans, 2). Works Cited Elwell, Craig K. The U.S. Trade Deficit: Causes, Consequences, and Cures. Congressional   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research Services, 2006. http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/RL31032.pdf Evans, Edward A. Understanding Exchange Rates: A Weakening U.S. Dollar—Good, Bad, or    Indifferent for Florida Farmers and Agrobusinesses? Gainesville: University of Florida   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   IFAS. 2005 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FE/FE54600.pdf Naito, Yuki, Robert C. Norrington, Keiko Yamaguchi. â€Å"The United States.† A Multi-country   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Evaluation of Trade Imbalances. Ed. Steven Suranovic. Washington DC: George   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Washington Universtiy. 1999. http://internationalecon.com/tradeimbalance/US.html Shostak, Frank. â€Å"Does the widening U.S. trade deficit pose a threat to the economy?† The Daily   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Reckoning. 2006 http://www.dailyreckoning.com/Featured/ShostakDeficit.html

Thursday, November 14, 2019

I/O psychology :: essays research papers

-I/O psychology is the psychology applied to work -The behavior of an individual in the work place -Motivation to work and feelings about work Psychology- scientific study of the behavior of people -I/O is made up of two parts: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Research methodology used to discover things about work 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Put them into work; apply -Three major sub fields: personnel, organizational and human factors/ergonomics 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Personnel Psychology – deals with the selection of personnel -Performance appraisal, job analysis (backbone of I/O psychology) -Training: understanding the job well enough to know who to hire and how well they are doing. -Job attitudes: whether or not the employees are satisfied and committed. 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organizational Psychology -Deals with leadership and work motivation -Divide into teams and see how the group affects individuals. 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Factors/ Ergonomics Psychology -Human Ergonomics- study of the work place fitting the human -studies the workplace and job designs, the safety and the usability of equipment. -Where do I/O psychologists work? -Academia (scientists) doing research and teaching -Production such as a teacher producing knowledge -Researchers publish projects in journals -Important to get research seen by the people who it would benefit. -Industry (practitioners) -Government is the largest employer -Office of personnel management is staffed with I/O psychologists to determine who to hire. -The military, consulting firms (go to clients) and in-house consultants are employers. -Salary: for PhD I/O psychologist $40-$50k a yr; Industry Master or PhD $35-65k a yr; PhD for higher level makes $50-$80k a yr. HISTORY 1900-1917 (about 10 I/O psychologists in the U.S.) -Topics of interest in psychology: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skill acquisition – how do people learn to be quick and efficient at their job 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Personnel selection- what might individual indifferences mean when it comes time to hiring people (interests). 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Important Job design – efficiency maximization (most frequently studied). Two parties studied this area early on: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frank and Lillian Gilberths -Wanted to find most efficiency with activity -Pioneered time and motion studies. -Called units of time â€Å"therbligs† (their last name backwards). 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fredrick Taylor -Focused more about productivity (showed how taking breaks is important) -Wrote Scientific Management. -Scientific management is the breaking down of jobs into smaller and smaller parts. -Bad results from small jobs: boredom, injury and fatigue -Good results from small jobs: increased productivity -At this time all psychologists were working in academic settings. WWI – 1929 (about 50 I/O psychologists working in the U.S.) -Two separate groups of psychologists approached the military. -Selection of officers using psychological intelligence tests (Alpha and Beta units). -Psychoanalysis of recruits. -Selection tests are not totally effective (only educated people show intelligence) -Minorities are hurt by the test (and uneducated people) -Two main groups formed: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Scott Company: formed by Walter Dill Scott and focused on selection testing. I/O psychology :: essays research papers -I/O psychology is the psychology applied to work -The behavior of an individual in the work place -Motivation to work and feelings about work Psychology- scientific study of the behavior of people -I/O is made up of two parts: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Research methodology used to discover things about work 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Put them into work; apply -Three major sub fields: personnel, organizational and human factors/ergonomics 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Personnel Psychology – deals with the selection of personnel -Performance appraisal, job analysis (backbone of I/O psychology) -Training: understanding the job well enough to know who to hire and how well they are doing. -Job attitudes: whether or not the employees are satisfied and committed. 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organizational Psychology -Deals with leadership and work motivation -Divide into teams and see how the group affects individuals. 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Factors/ Ergonomics Psychology -Human Ergonomics- study of the work place fitting the human -studies the workplace and job designs, the safety and the usability of equipment. -Where do I/O psychologists work? -Academia (scientists) doing research and teaching -Production such as a teacher producing knowledge -Researchers publish projects in journals -Important to get research seen by the people who it would benefit. -Industry (practitioners) -Government is the largest employer -Office of personnel management is staffed with I/O psychologists to determine who to hire. -The military, consulting firms (go to clients) and in-house consultants are employers. -Salary: for PhD I/O psychologist $40-$50k a yr; Industry Master or PhD $35-65k a yr; PhD for higher level makes $50-$80k a yr. HISTORY 1900-1917 (about 10 I/O psychologists in the U.S.) -Topics of interest in psychology: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skill acquisition – how do people learn to be quick and efficient at their job 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Personnel selection- what might individual indifferences mean when it comes time to hiring people (interests). 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Important Job design – efficiency maximization (most frequently studied). Two parties studied this area early on: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frank and Lillian Gilberths -Wanted to find most efficiency with activity -Pioneered time and motion studies. -Called units of time â€Å"therbligs† (their last name backwards). 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fredrick Taylor -Focused more about productivity (showed how taking breaks is important) -Wrote Scientific Management. -Scientific management is the breaking down of jobs into smaller and smaller parts. -Bad results from small jobs: boredom, injury and fatigue -Good results from small jobs: increased productivity -At this time all psychologists were working in academic settings. WWI – 1929 (about 50 I/O psychologists working in the U.S.) -Two separate groups of psychologists approached the military. -Selection of officers using psychological intelligence tests (Alpha and Beta units). -Psychoanalysis of recruits. -Selection tests are not totally effective (only educated people show intelligence) -Minorities are hurt by the test (and uneducated people) -Two main groups formed: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Scott Company: formed by Walter Dill Scott and focused on selection testing.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Storm Born Chapter Twenty-Two

I didn't give Lara all the details the next day, only that I'd just broken up with a guy. â€Å"Ice cream,† she advised me through the phone. â€Å"Lots of ice cream. And tequila. That's the key.† â€Å"I can't do a lot of drinking right now.† â€Å"Hmm. Well, maybe get one of those liqueur-flavored ice creams. Like with Kahla or Irish cream.† â€Å"Any other hot tips?† â€Å"Chick flicks.† â€Å"Good God. I'm disconnecting right now.† â€Å"Well, then, try this.† She sounded huffy. â€Å"I just got a call from a guy who thinks there's a troll in his basement. Seems like beating one of those up would be therapeutic.† â€Å"Lara's full of shit,† Tim told me later when I recounted the phone call. â€Å"Why do women turn to ice cream? It makes them fat, then they hate themselves and start going on and on about how they'll never find anybody, blah, blah. It's stupid. Now, if you've got some peyote squirreled away, that'd be a different matter†¦.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"No peyote. Not after what happened last time.† He made a face. â€Å"All right, then. My best advice? Don't call him. He's probably going through all sorts of regret and guilt. You call him, he'll feel smothered and put up his defenses. Let him stew for a while, and he'll call you.† â€Å"I don't want him to call.† â€Å"Sure, Eug.† I ended up taking down the troll later that day, but it didn't really do much for me. Neither did the Kiss puzzle I put together that night. With my doldrums growing, I was only too happy when my next lesson with Dorian came the following day. Considering his fascination with human things and novelty in general, I thought he'd like eating out somewhere. I didn't know why I bothered; we probably should have gone straight to the lesson. Maybe I felt guilty about the sex thing. Maybe I was lonely. After a quick drive, I arrived at the Catalina Lodge, a prissy hotel about a mile or so from Catalina State Park. I parked in a remote spot, hopefully away from watchful eyes, and sat down on the ground with crossed legs. The ring sat beside me on the asphalt. Slipping on my sunglasses, I leaned against the car and waited. My timing couldn't have been more perfect. A few minutes later, I felt the pressure and tingling, and then Dorian materialized beside me. He'd left the robes and cloaks at home, wearing dark pants and a blousy, sage-colored shirt that looked only moderately out of place. He squinted up at the bright sunlight and then noticed me on the ground. â€Å"Isn't it ever cloudy in this infernal place?† I straightened up, and he offered a hand to help me rise. â€Å"I could arrange that if you wanted.† â€Å"And risk you wiping out half of your fair city? No thank you.† â€Å"Figured you'd appreciate that. It'll make your world domination easier. One less place to conquer.† â€Å"No. I need this place intact. I plan on keeping prisoners and exiled enemies here. Where exactly are we today?† â€Å"Mere steps away from the best food of your life, if rumors are true.† He flashed me one of his trademark grins. â€Å"Pleasure before business? My, my, you never fail to astound me.† â€Å"Hell, wait'll you hear me identify every water source in the restaurant.† That, at least, had been a good thing to come from Beltane. I could now feel cactuses, wells, and any other water source within a certain distance. I could even sense people now since the human body was supposed to be, what, 65 percent water? That meant no one could sneak up on me. Inside and seated, Dorian found watching his surroundings far more fascinating than anything on the menu. â€Å"Pick something for me,† he said distractedly, watching a family leave with four small children in tow. He cocked his head curiously. â€Å"By the gods, do all those little ones belong to them?† I glanced up. â€Å"Likely.† â€Å"And their mother looks pregnant again. Incredible. Back home, those people would be worshipped as fertility deities. A family with two children is remarkable enough.† The waitress returned. I ordered spinach-stuffed ravioli for me and some sort of spicy chicken for him. â€Å"A lot of middle-and upper-class families actually go out of their way to only have two kids. And a lot of them don't even start until they're older than me.† â€Å"Baffling.† He propped his elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand. â€Å"A woman your age could have had that many children by now.† â€Å"Hey, I'm like twenty-six. I'm not that old. I don't even look my age.† â€Å"That's your father's blood. And I wasn't insulting your age – merely making an observation.† He sighed. â€Å"I'd give up half my kingdom for just one child.† I smiled slyly. â€Å"And the chance to be the father of Storm King's grandson?† â€Å"I'd be just as happy to father his granddaughter too. I'd be happy to father anyone's child.† â€Å"Then why don't you find some nice girl and do it?† â€Å"Believe me, it hasn't been for lack of trying.† His face held a rare seriousness, but the expression vanished as quickly as it came. â€Å"Ah, now there's a fetching young woman.† Following his gaze across the restaurant, I saw a tall blond woman exit the restroom. She was stuffed into a tiny spandex dress, her chest practically spilling out. I didn't have the heart to tell Dorian there was probably a lot of silicone in there. His eyes lingered on her, then his charm-alarm must have gone off for fear of neglecting me. He turned back around. â€Å"Not that you don't look lovely today too.† â€Å"You don't have to pacify me.† I laughed. â€Å"You're welcome to ogle other women.† Our late-afternoon meal proceeded nicely, and everything about it continued to enchant Dorian. The credit card I used to pay with at the end especially captivated him. â€Å"It has information about me stored in it,† I tried to explain. â€Å"That information lets the restaurant get money from me.† He picked up the returned card gingerly, turning it over and over in his fingers. â€Å"Intriguing. I imagine this has to do something with electricity? The blood of your culture?† His wry tone made me smile. â€Å"Something like that.† It wasn't until we were on the mile and a half walk to Catalina State Park that things got a little tense. â€Å"Heard from the kitsune lately?† â€Å"He has a name,† I snapped. â€Å"Heard from Kiyo lately?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Really? He hasn't tried to contact you and beg for forgiveness?† â€Å"No,† I repeated between gritted teeth. Something about the way he said it made it sound like I'd been dealt a great insult. â€Å"Odd. I think that's what I'd do if I'd offended my ladylove. Of course, I suppose when a man spends half his existence as an animal, you can't really expect him not to act like one.† I halted and turned on Dorian. â€Å"Stop it. Just stop it, okay? Stop trying to poison me against him.† â€Å"You don't need me to do what he's already done.† â€Å"Damn it, Dorian. I'm serious.† We started walking again, but it was me who brought up the subject again after several minutes of silence. â€Å"You knew. You knew Maiwenn was pregnant and didn't tell me.† â€Å"It wasn't my secret to tell. Besides, I got in trouble the last time I spoke badly of her. You accused me of trying to turn you against her.† â€Å"I'm not sure this is really the same thing. We're talking about Kiyo now. Last time it was about Maiwenn wanting to kill me.† â€Å"And you don't think they're the same thing?† I stopped walking. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Kiyo is her friend, formerly her lover, and now the father of her child. He stands firmly with her against Storm King's invasion. Yet, where would he stand if it came to a choice between you or her? What if Maiwenn decided you were too great a threat? What would he do? What would he do if you accidentally got pregnant?† A chill ran through me at his words. I abruptly turned away and barely recognized my own voice when I spoke. â€Å"I don't want to talk about this anymore.† He held up his hands in a pacifying gesture, face calm and affable. â€Å"I honestly intended no harm. Pick another topic. We'll discuss anything you like.† But I didn't really feel like talking anymore, so the rest of the walk proceeded in silence. When we finally entered the park, the sun was well into its descent. We still had plenty of light and set out to pick a good place to work. We ended up following one of the less traveled trails and then deviated from it into a semi-treed area. We had nothing even close to dense forest coverage, but rock outcroppings, some scraggly pines, and distance from the path promised relative privacy. The routine proved to be the same. Dorian had me sit on the ground, leaning against a rock. He had another stash of those silk cords and again wrapped them around me. The rock didn't make a suitable attachment, so he simply let my hands rest in my lap and bound them together at the wrist. Naturally, he did his usual artistic weave on them, intricately wrapping red and blue cords together. When he moved on to wrapping the cords around my chest and arms, his eyes flicked to mine and then back to his handiwork. â€Å"You aren't really going to stay mad at me for the rest of the day, are you?† â€Å"I'm not mad.† He laughed. â€Å"Of course you are. You're also a terrible liar. Lean forward, please.† I did, letting him tie the knots behind me. â€Å"I just don't like you playing games, that's all. I don't trust them.† â€Å"And pray, what games am I playing?† â€Å"I don't even know half the time. Gentry games, I guess. You speak the truth, but it always has an ulterior motive behind it.† He leaned me gently back against the rock and crouched on his knees to look me in the face. â€Å"Ah, but I do speak the truth.† â€Å"I just can't tell what you want sometimes, Dorian. What your plans are. You're hard to read.† That delighted smile of his spread over his face. â€Å"I'm hard to read? This from the woman who alternately hates and fucks Otherworldly denizens? The same woman who claims not to trust me even while I tie her up, putting her completely at my mercy?† I wiggled in my bonds. â€Å"Well, I trust you with this.† â€Å"Are you sure?† He pressed a hard kiss against my lips. It startled me, but I couldn't do anything about it. This man, this gentry – the one who could be either helping me or using me – had me trapped. I couldn't do anything except let him keep kissing me. The realization triggered a response in me that was quite startling, considering my issues with control and helplessness. It made me feel vulnerable†¦and excited. I turned my head away as much as I could, attempting to break off the kiss. â€Å"Stop that.† He leaned back on his heels. â€Å"Just making a point.† â€Å"No, you weren't. You were just trying to kiss me.† â€Å"Well, yes, you've got me there. But the fact remains: Tied up or free, you can trust me. I do nothing that I don't firmly believe is in the interest of your well-being. The same holds true for casual comments about your love life. Now then.† He stood up. â€Å"Shall we commence this lesson?† â€Å"No blindfold?† I asked, still a little shaken. â€Å"Not needed. You know where the water is. Or you will in just a moment.† He produced the canteen I'd brought along and took off its lid. Searching the area, he found a large boulder, reaching almost to his shoulders. He set the open canteen on top of it and then selected a spot for himself near some scrubby bushes where he had a clear vantage of me and the canteen. â€Å"You feel the water?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Make sure of it. If you accidentally reach one of the trees and end up calling its water, you'll kill the poor thing.† I extended my senses, considering what he said. After a few moments, I felt certain I had the water sources all differentiated. â€Å"No, I've got it.† â€Å"All right, then. Call it to you.† â€Å"Am I supposed to make the canteen rise or something?† â€Å"No. You have no connection to it. But you do connect with the water. You feel it. You touch it with your mind. Now coax it to come to you, to come out of its container. You've already done it with storm systems. The trick now is doing it on a small, specific level. Forget about your body – it's useless to you now. This is all in your mind.† â€Å"That's all the instruction I get, coach?† â€Å"Afraid so.† He stretched out, rolling onto his side to get comfortable. For someone who took such care with his clothes, he seemed nonchalant about getting them dirty. I supposed laundry was a small concern when you had a full staff to take care of it. Sighing, I turned back to the canteen. What I attempted seemed ludicrous – but, then, so had feeling the water in the first place. So, I followed what he said as best I could. My grip on the water was so tight, I might as well have held it in my hand already. But no matter how hard my concentration focused, I couldn't make the water move. It reminded me of the wind. I could feel it but not control it. Well, actually, if my training progressed, I might actually be able to control it some day. But the analogy stood, nonetheless. Time dragged. Extensively. I tried and tried to order the water around, but it refused to obey. More time passed. It crawled. I finally decided it was a good thing the cords covered my watch because I'd be pissed off if I discovered how much time had elapsed. Hours had slipped by; I felt certain of it. The light had grown dimmer and dimmer. Looking over at Dorian, I swore he was asleep. â€Å"Hey,† I said. No response. â€Å"Hey!† He opened one eye. â€Å"I'm not getting anywhere with this. We should call it a night.† He sat up. â€Å"Giving up already?† â€Å"Already? It's been like two hours. Probably three.† â€Å"Miracles don't happen overnight. These things take time.† â€Å"How much time? I'm starting to wonder if you made this magic rule just to procrastinate on getting Jasmine.† â€Å"Well. You can believe that if it makes it easier for you. The truth – if you trust me enough to hear it – is that this is for your own protection. In a perfect world, we would go in and extract the girl quietly. In the real world, we will likely fight Aeson's guards and Aeson himself. I would prefer we both walk out of this alive. You didn't fare so well last time.† â€Å"This is going to take forever. This training.† I knew I was being whiny and petulant, but my back hurt, and mosquitoes had come out. At least in identifying the water source, I'd been able to take guesses. Here I could do nothing more than just wait and stare. If nothing happened, nothing happened. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I told him. â€Å"I'm just tired, that's all. Didn't mean to bitch you out.† He seemed untroubled by my reaction, just like always. Indeed, I could see his face regarding me kindly in the twilight. â€Å"No problem at all. Let's go, then.† He walked over to the canteen and recapped it. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against the rock to wait for him to release me. As I did, I felt something cool and wet, like mist, spread out behind my back and neck. To my new water senses, it didn't feel†¦right. Moments later, before I could ponder the difference, the mist coalesced into slimy skin. â€Å"Dori – â€Å" My scream was cut off by cold, clawed hands. One covered my mouth, and the other gripped my throat. Dorian had spun around before my cry, making me think he'd sensed something before I had. He leaped toward me, but four wet, human forms materialized in the air before him, blocking his way. Nixies. Water spirits. Two were male; two were female. Legends whispered they could shape-shift into more beautiful forms, but here they appeared drab. Clammy skin, mottled and gray. Clothes sodden and dripping. Seaweedlike hair hanging down. The one holding me pushed me down flat to the ground, all the better to cut off my oxygen that much faster. Water dripped onto me from her hair, and her eyes gleamed a sickly green in the waning light. She hissed with pleasure and pressed harder while I frantically assessed my options. I finished the assessment pretty quickly because I had no options. I was fully armed but unable to reach anything because of Dorian's fucking bondage fetish. Covering my mouth stopped me from summoning a minion. The world flickered with starbursts as my air disappeared. My lungs and throat heaved, trying desperately to latch onto something. Her claws dug into the tender flesh of my neck, and I half-wondered if she'd rip it out rather than wait for suffocation. My only hope was Dorian, but he wouldn't get to me anytime soon, not with his own army of – Every stone and pebble in the area suddenly lifted off the ground. Shortly thereafter, the really large stones and boulders followed suit. Those big ones exploded, fracturing into thousands of tiny shards. All those little pieces of rock rose higher, joining each other, slowing rotating in a clockwise manner. My captor's grip had lessened slightly, probably from surprise. It didn't return my air, but I twisted my head enough to see Dorian standing with his arms raised up like some sort of symphony conductor. Above him, that cyclone of sharp rocks spun faster and faster, a blur to the eye. Then, as though giving the song's grand finale, he brought his arms down sharply. And down came the rocks. A portion of that maelstrom swooped and soared, the primitive predecessors of bullets. At first their movements seemed chaotic, and I feared falling into their path. But it turned out every rock had its own plan, its own target. Those sharp pieces honed down on the nixie holding me, piercing and slicing with a fierce precision. She opened her mouth in a silent scream as blood splashed onto me, and her torn body collapsed in a bloody, wet pile. I twisted out from under her, taking in big gulping breaths of air. Beyond her, Dorian gave another downward motion, urging his orchestra to its next climactic moment. The rocks swooped into another nixie, cutting it to pieces. Then another†¦and another†¦until the nixies were nothing but ribbons of blood and gore. Their task complete, the rocks gently fell to the earth, as soft and placid as drops of rain. The entire counterattack had taken less than a minute. Immediately, Dorian knelt by my side, helping me sit up as I gasped my way back to life. â€Å"Easy, easy,† he warned. Blood covered both of us. â€Å"Small breaths.† â€Å"Untie me! Get me out of this!† He pulled the silver athame from my belt. In moments, he sliced open the cords, freeing my arms and hands. I jerked away, my adrenaline still surging. He reached for me, but I flailed against him. â€Å"Damn you! You almost got me killed!† I yelled, hearing the hysteria in my voice. â€Å"You almost got me killed!† He grabbed my upper arms with a solid strength, pulling me to him and forcing me to stillness. â€Å"Eugenie, calm down. Eugenie!† He shook me – hard – where I still struggled, and I halted abruptly, quelled by the harsh sound of his voice and ferocity of his grasp. I could no longer find the silly, languid gentry king. There was a stranger holding me, his face hard and commanding. â€Å"Do you think I'd let anything happen to you?† he demanded, almost shouting. â€Å"Do you think I'd let anything harm you?† I swallowed, still in pain from the nixie's claws on my throat, and found my body shaking. His grip was so tight, I might as well have been tied up again. He scared me, having turned into someone else. Someone powerful and awe-inspiring. Looking into his eyes and seeing the sweat on his face, I realized fear had touched more than just me. He was scared too, not for himself, but for what had almost happened to me. Something inside me eased up, and I nearly slumped into him. â€Å"I can't believe what you did,† I whispered. I killed all the time without much thought or effort, but this†¦this had been something else entirely. And he wasn't even at full strength in this world. â€Å"You slaughtered them.† â€Å"I did what I had to do.† The heat in his voice had faded, replaced with a deadly calm. â€Å"And you'll be able to do the same someday.† One of his hands released me and moved to my head, smoothing my hair back. He pressed our bodies together and rested his cheek against mine so his soft words could spill into my ear. â€Å"You will surpass me, Eugenie. Your power will be so great, none will stand against you. Armies and kingdoms will fall, and they will bow down before you.† I found myself trembling again, feeling the same fear and excitement that had filled me during our last kiss. Only this time, I didn't know if my feelings came from his body's proximity†¦or the promise of power he offered.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Comparing Eastern and Western Religions Essay

During a time when no vehicles existed or any type of technology, there was religion. This was part of the pre-modern times. Depending upon what part of the world you are from depends on what type of religion you are likely to encounter. This also determines the likelihood of what religion you may have grown up with. Your religion and your background helps in determining what values you may have. These believe and values vary in different religions. Some may learn some parts of these religions from movies or hearsay. Sometimes as we get older it is hard to determine what we believe as we do. Before 500 BC there were three western religions. They started very similar in the pre-modern times. When you look into the religion of Islam, the studies not only consist of the Qur’an but also the Bible. There are similarities as well as differences amongst these two religions. Many with the Muslims community that have converted from a Christian background before turning to Islam as thei r spiritual guidance. There are many comparisons as well as differences amongst these two religions. Judaism, one of the western religions compares closely with the religions of Christianity and Islam. The bible is used in the religious studies although preferred in the original Hebrew text. Amongst these three western religions come relationships that will have learners referring to one or the other through contrast and comparison. Understanding the source of information from God allows for teachings to continue. These three religions also preside with the majority percentage in North America with the largest and second largest of the religions within these three. In time before there were hospitals, there was a son born to a virgin Mother Mary. In this birth the son of our father was born. God had his only begotten son Jesus Christ. Within the Christian community he was a messenger that delivered the messages of God. He was God reincarnated. Jesus although with different roles within the western religions all has him in common. As a Muslim, no virgin would be able to give birth to. Jesus does exist within the Islam religion and born from the Virgin Mary but as one of the prophets sent from Allah. Although from God his messages were misconstrued and corrupted Later in years when the Jewish had their own religion, they saw Jesus as a normal person in a normal birth. Although there are some differences, the main similarity between these three is that Jesus existed and was a very important part of the religious community. Looking at one of the Eastern religions, we can  look at what we believe as our self. In Hinduism, one can achieve Moksha by doing good and having eternal life. Nothing we go through in this lifetime is really important. Once we truly realize this, then we are no longer subject to Karma. The law of Karma says all actions produce future experiences, good or bad. Karma plays an important role in all the life we live as a Hindu. The more bad that is done determines the sufferings one will go through and the reincarnations to determine the amount we have. There are many different Gods for different purposes. These different ones are sub-gods but there is one Brahma through their different belief stages. This is the supreme of all Gods. Hinduism is a way of life and in a sense, no one person is beyond it. They have many different sy mbols of God. Once people notice the symbol, there is no need to point it out. Sacred rituals happen and the Ganges River is vital part of this. In Taoism, the religion believes that reality has a natural order just as there was a natural order with nature and the less you do to change that order then the better off you will be. With Taoists, the practice of Wu-Wei is evident. It is the rule that states to act without action, and being non-aggressive is the right way to live. D-fens thought he was doing the right thing by making all of these people pay for what they’ve done, but in actuality, it wasn’t his right to judge. When civilization at first became, the world was focused on God. The pre-modern times also has a focus on church, community and leadership. The traditional values in humanity are essential in the reasoning of the religion as well as the scriptures. Alternatively, the modern era moved away from religion and scripture. Instead of God bringing reformation, mankind was. Logic was used to explain events; science replaced religion. Moreover, both science and religion were gone during the post-modern period. God was â€Å"dead† and science could not explain reality any longer. In order to restore human nature and religion back to its original purity, Muslims, along with Christians and Jews, believe that God and the messiah need to be restored. With eastern religions, the times have shown one with reality. Being one divine nature of God has always been the way. Whereas within the western religion we have have always been two kinds of reality. The individual has been separated in creation and each other person in the eastern religion. This has to do with life and death and the aftermath. In the western religion one has remained the same throughout eternity. With the western  religions in life and death, you only live and die once while the eastern religions there is reincarnation. In western religions, the priest, Pope and so forth relay the words of God while the sources of enlightenment are within each individual person. They must also follow the ways and laws of God while the eastern follow dharma. References Comparison of Islam, Judaism and Christianity . (n.d.). Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islam_judaism_christianity.htm Esposito, J. L., Fasching, D. J., & Lewis, T. (2009). World Religions Today. New York: Oxford University Press. Jewish Wedding Tradition. (2009). Retrieved March 10, 2012, from http://www.jewishweddingnetwork.com/jewish-wedding-traditions Korn, R. E. (2011, March 29). Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://www.thejewishweek.com/jewish_life/sabbath_week/significance_circumcision

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Cousin Nancy Essays

Cousin Nancy Essays Cousin Nancy Paper Cousin Nancy Paper An intellectual migration from America to Europe significantly shaped T. S Eliots modernism. Discuss this statement via a close analysis of the form and content of Cousin Nancy and ONE other poem of your choice from Prufrock and Other Observations. To attempt to answer this question it is important to understand the reasons behind Eliots decision to migrate from America to Europe, and how this move was influenced by his intellectual beliefs in the modernist movement. It is also essential to understand these beliefs and this can be achieved through an analysis of the poetic techniques used in the Prufrock poems. By focusing this essay on a discussion of Cousin Nancy and The Boston Evening Transcript specifically an insight into modernist writing and Eliots dissatisfaction of America can be discussed in tandem. This joint discussion will highlight how Eliots physical migration to Europe was influenced by a wish to intellectually migrate away from American literature towards European modernist ideals. Cousin Nancy was written in the second period of the Prufrock poems that covers the timescale of 1914/15. At this time Eliot had moved to England, and so the poems from this period covered his reflections of the USA from a European perspective. Eliots poetry at this time was heavily influenced by European modernism and had been developed earlier through an awareness of French symbolism, particularly a study of LaForgue. These styles of writing, which are evident in the two poems that will be discussed, were very different to the American literature of the time which had not embraced modernism with as much conviction as their European contemporaries. American writers were influenced more by a sense of Individualism and Transcendentalism that stemmed from their sacred study of the enormity and sublimity of the landscape that God had provided for them (quoted in Heath and Boreham, p. 165). Their attitudes leading up to the start of the Twentieth Century followed more Romantic beliefs than Modernist themes and Cousin Nancy reflects Eliots frustrations at this insular way of thinking that seemed stuck on reflection rather than progression. The poem focuses on the grand and trivial movements of Cousin Nancy, as she changes and redefines the shape and trends of New England. The hills are described as barren which suggests that this area shows no sign of growth or development. This description needs to be placed in the context of Eliots allusion to New England, which was the adopted home of American Transcendentalism, and was pioneered by Ralph Waldo Emerson. With the knowledge of insight it is clear to see that Eliots description of this barren land symbolizes an attack on American Literatures lack of progressive style, which concentrated on an attempt to define its environment rather than change it. With this in mind it is easy to see that Cousin Nancy symbolizes the modernist movement that is creeping into American culture from Europe through writers such as Eliot and breaking down the old barren traditions. By also describing New England as barren Eliot is hinting at the lack of literary history and limitations of US culture that he felt restricted any growth or progression in his writing, and contrasts it with the symbol of modernism that Miss Nancy Ellicott represents of a more cultured Europe and the new things it offers (quoted in Brown and Gupta, p. 238). This symbolism evokes fragmentary thoughts from the poet persona as the observations of the breaking of the hills bring visions of: Riding to hounds Over the cow-pasture. This image alludes to the rich history of the landscapes of England, with its rural hunts and farming traditions, and by doing so compares the difference between the strength of European culture and modernism to the fragility of Americas insular reflective background. Where the land offers very little sign of life, Miss Nancy Ellicott is full of vigour, and by using a double meaning of the verb smoked Eliot offers up the image that she is not only displaying modern trends but is actually burning with life in her attempt to display modernist ideals. The poem also describes in stanza two how she danced all the modern dances, and it is in this description that a slight bitterness and un-easiness at her actions is evident from the poet persona. By using all Eliot is hinting that her actions are artificial as if she is following a trend rather than understanding its meaning. This lack of understanding is mirrored by the aunts who were: not quite sure how they felt about it, But they knew that it was modern. By describing the aunts lack of emotion or insight Eliot hints at their ignorance of modernism, which promoted the link between the environment and the consciousness. The women in this poem seem to adopt or accept modern symbols without any thought as to what they represent, and this can be seen as another slant on the obtuseness of American culture, that is so immersed in attempting to discover its own identity that it loses sight of time. The fact that they are all women also follows the misogyny in most of the Prufrock poems that helps to establish the character and voice of the poet persona. The final stanza of the poem fragments and shifts again away from the observations of Cousin Nancy to an image of two busts that kept watch over the previous symbolic exertions of modernism. The first bust is of Matthew (Arnold) and the second Waldo (Ralph Waldo Emerson). Both these figures represent canonical ancestors of Eliot and Waldo also represents the implementation of Transcendentalism in New England. The description of them both upon glazed shelves hints at a secondary meaning of them having a faraway, blank or distant look about them. This interpretation can be seen as another attack on Americas ignorance of the inevitability of modernism and change, in place of pre-occupation and self-discovery. The two busts also represent immovable inanimate objects which highlights Eliots modernist opinion of American culture. The final line of the poem describes them as The army of unalterable law which alludes to the poem Lucifer in Starlight by George Meredith. In this poem Meredith describes how Lucifer observes the army of unalterable stars that surround Heaven, making an impregnable fortress against him and therefore reminding him of his impotent and subservient status in the face of the power of God. By comparing the two busts with these stars Eliot hints that their unwillingness to be moved or changed renders them redundant as they stare blankly at the inevitable progress that Cousin Nancy represents. To Eliot they typify American culture, and highlight why his frustrations as a modernist thinker led him into an intellectual migration to Europe.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Top 10 Reasons to Consider a Career in Data Science

The Top 10 Reasons to Consider a Career in Data Science â€Å"Data scientist† seems to be the IT job of the moment. But how much of what you’ve heard is hype and conjecture, and how much of it is based on facts?   Usually, when something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. However, the demand for data science is taking the world by storm, and companies – large and small – are clamoring to find employees who can understand and synthesize data, and then communicate these findings in a way that proves beneficial to the company. Below are the top 10 reasons to consider pursuing a career in Data Science. #1 The Job Outlook Don’t expect this bubble to burst anytime soon. According to a report by McKinsey Company, by 2018, the U.S. will have anywhere from 140,000 to 180,000 fewer data scientists than it needs. And the shortage of data science managers is even greater. Roughly 1.5 million data decision-making managers will be needed by 2018. At some point, the frenetic pace at which employers pursue data scientists will slow down, but it won’t happen anytime soon. #2 The Salaries According to an O’Reilly data science salary survey, the annual base salary of U.S.-based survey respondents was $104,000. Robert Half’s tech guide places the range between $109,000 and $153,750. And in the Burtch Works data science salary survey, the median base salary ranges from $97,000 for Level 1 contributors to $152,000 for Level 3 contributors. In addition, median bonuses start at $10,000 for Level 1 contributors. As a point of comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that lawyers earn a median annual wage of $115,820.   Ã‚   #3 The Management Salaries    Data science managers can earn almost as much – and sometimes more – than doctors. Burtch Works reveals that Level 1 managers earn a median annual base salary of $140,000. Level 2 managers make $190,000, and Level 3 Managers earn $250,000.   And that puts them in pretty good company. According to the BLS, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and internal medicine doctors earn a median annual wage between $226,408 and $245,673. So without years of med school, residencies, and medical debt, you might earn more than the person who holds your life in his/her hands on the operating table. Cool. Scary, but cool.   Ã‚   And when you factor in median annual bonuses, data science managers out-earn many surgeons. Median annual bonuses for Level 1, 2 and 3 managers are $15,000; $39,900; and $80,000, respectively. #4 The Work Options    When you become a data scientist, you can work practically anywhere your heart desires. While 43% of these professionals work on the West Coast, and 28% are in the Northeast, they’re being employed in every region in the country – and abroad. However, you might be interested in knowing that the highest salaries in the U.S. are on the West Coast. And you’re probably not surprised that the technology industry employs the most data scientists, but they also work in other industries ranging from healthcare/pharma to marketing and financial services to consulting firms to retail and CPG industries. In fact, data scientists even work for gaming industries, and 1% work for the government. #5 The Sex Appeal    The prestigious Harvard Business Review hailed data scientist as the sexiest job of the 21st Century. How on earth is that possible? Are data scientists suggestively dangling the data in front of their employers? Are they whispering sweet algorithms in their employer’s ear? No (at least I don’t think so), but some of them work with cool startups, and also mammoth companies like Google, LinkedIn, FaceBook, Amazon, and Twitter. In essence, their sex appeal lies in the fact that everyone wants them, but they’re hard to acquire. #6 The Experience Factor â€Å"Experience† is probably one of the most common words found in a job description, and frankly, companies usually want employees with a ton of it. However, data science is such a relatively new field that Burtch Works reports 40% of data scientists have less than 5 years of experience, and 69% have less than 10 years of experience. So scroll back up to Reason #2: Salaries to match up the wages with the experience levels. Level 1 individual contributors typically have 0-3 years of experience. Level 2 individual contributors usually have 4 to 8 years of experience, and level 3 individual contributors have 9 years of experience.   #7 The Variety of Undergraduate Majors Since data science is such a new major, many colleges are scrambling to create undergraduate degree programs. In the meantime, data scientists hail from an assortment of academic backgrounds, including mathematics/statistics, computer science, engineering, and natural science. Also, some data scientists have degrees in economics, social science, business, and even medical science. #8 The Variety of Education Options If you pursue an online Master’s Degree in Data Science, you don’t have to sit in a classroom all day. You can take courses online from anywhere in the world, with the luxury of studying at your own pace.    #9 The Lack of Competition Not only is there a shortage of data scientists, but professionals in other fields don’t necessarily want to step up to the plate. According to a recent joint report by Robert Half and the  Institute of Management Accountants, employers are looking for accounting and finance candidates who can mine and extract data, identify key data trends, and are adept at statistical modeling and data analysis. But the report reveals that most accounting and finance candidates don’t have any of these skills – in fact, many colleges don’t even teach this level of analytics to students majoring in a financial discipline. #10 The Ease of Job Hunting Because data scientists are in such high demand and the supply is so limited, organizations have recruiters solely dedicated to finding these professionals. While candidates in other fields are harassing recruiters and pestering hiring managers, as a data scientist, you merely need to let it be known that you’re looking for a job . . . or maybe, you’re just thinking about looking for a job. In fact, the need is so dire that even if you already have a job, recruiters will try to lure you away with a better compensation/benefits package. Let the bidding begin.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The case of Powell v. Alabama (1932) Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The of Powell v. Alabama (1932) - Case Study Example The jury was composed solely of white people who did not represent any interest on the part of the black men. (â€Å"Powell v. Alabama (1932)†, n.d.) The legal representatives of the accused were convinced that their clients were done a disservice by the state courts and decided to appeal their case before the U.S. Supreme Court where they called the validity of the sentences into question based upon the way the case was handled in court. The main issues they wished to have the court resolve (Powell v. Alabama, n.d.) boiled down to the following: Although the Alabama Supreme Court, where the appeal was first filed, had ruled on a count of 6-1 that the jury trial was fair and impartial, the defense refused to accept this decision and brought the case all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. â€Å"Where the defendant is unable to employ counsel, and is incapable of making his own defense†¦ it is the duty of the court, whether requested or not, to assign counsel for him as a necessary requisite of due process of law; and that duty is not discharged by an assignment at such a time or under such circumstances as to preclude the giving of effective aid in the preparation and trial of the case.† Based upon the aforementioned argument, it became very clear that there was a miscarriage of justice in Powell v. Alabama as evidenced by the way the counsel for the defense was withheld until only a few hours before the trial was to begin. This act prevented the accused from receiving due counsel and an effective and well prepared defense in the process. It was therefore the opinion of the Supreme Court that the 14th Amendment was violated and the sentences of the accused were overturned. It was the opinion of the court that due to the hostile circumstances existing in Alabama, accompanied by the illiterate status of the accused, isolation from their families,