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Microsoft Essay Thesis Example For Students

Microsoft Essay Thesis MICROSOFTBriarcliffe CollegeMicrosoft Corporation, driving American PC programming organization. Microsoft creates and sells a wide assortment of PC programming items in excess of fifty nations. Microsofts Windows working frameworks for PCs are the most broadly utilize working frameworks on the planet. Microsoft had incomes of $14.4 billion for the financial year finishing June 1998, and utilizes in excess of 27,000 individuals in 60 nations. Microsoft has its headquaters in Redmond Washington. Microsofts other notable items incorporate, Word, a word processor; Excel, a spreadsheet program; Access, a database program; and PowerPoint, a program utilized for making business introductions. These items are sold independently from Windows as a piece of Microsoft Office. Microsoft additionally makes Back Office, a coordinated arrangement of server items for organizations. Microsofts Internet Explorer permits clients to peruse the World Wide Web. Among Microsofts different items are reference applications; games; finical programming; programming dialects for programming engineers (eg; Visual Basic) ; input gadgets, for example, pointing gadgets and consoles; and PC related books. Microsoft works The Microsoft Network (MSN), an assortment of news, travel, money related, diversion, and data Web destinations. Microsoft and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) mutually work MSNBC, a twenty four hour news, talk, and data digital TV slot and friend Web website. Microsoft was established in 1975 by William H. Doors III and Paul Allen. The pair had collaborated in secondary school through their side interest of programming on the first PDP-10 PC from the Digital Equipment Corporation. In 1975 Popular Electronics magazine included a main story about the Altiar 8800, the principal PC. The article propelled Gates and Allen to build up the primary adaptation of the BASIC programming language for the Altiar. They authorized the product to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the Altiars producer, and framed Microsoft (initially Micro-delicate) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to create adaptations of BASIC for other PC organizations. Microsofts early clients included juvenile equipment firms, for example, Apple Computer, producer of the Apple II PC; Commodore, creator of the PET PC; and Tandy Corporation; producer of the Radio Shack TRS-80 PC. In 1977 Microsoft sent its second language item, Microsoft FORTRAN, and it before long discharg ed renditions of BASIC for the 8080 and the 8086 microchips. In 1979 Gates and Allen moved the organization to Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of their old neighborhood Seattle. ( Microsoft moved to its present headquaters in Redmond in 1986.) In 1980 International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) picked Microsoft to compose the working framework for the IBM PC, to be presented the next year. Under time and weight, Microsoft bought QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from Seattle software engineer Tim Paterson for $50.000 and renamed it MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). As a major aspect of its agreement with IBM, Microsoft was allowed to permit the working framework to different organizations. By 1984 Microsoft had authorized MS-DOS to 200 PC makers, making MS-DOS the standard working framework for PCs and driving Microsofts gigantic development during the 1980s. As deals of MS-DOS took off, Microsoft started to create business applications for PCs. In 1982 Microsoft discharged Multiplan, a spreadsheet program, and the next year, it discharged a word preparing program, Microsoft Word. In 1984 Microsoft was one of only a handful hardly any settled programming organizations that to create application programming for the Macintosh, a PC created by Apple Computer. Microsofts early help for the Macintosh brought about gigantic accomplishment for its Macintosh Application programming, including Word, Excel, and Works (an incorporated programming suite). Multiplan for MS-DOS, be that as it may, wavered against the mainstream Lotus Development Corporation. In 1985 Microsoft discharged Windows, a working framework that all-encompassing the highlights of MS-DOS and utilized a graphical UI. Windows 2.0 discharged in 1987, improved execution and offered another visual appearance, In 1990 Microsoft discharged an all the more impressive variant, Windows 3.0, which was trailed by Windows 3.1 and 3.11. These forms which came preinstalled on most PCs, quickly turned into the most generally utilized working frameworks. In 1990 Microsoft turned into the main PC programming organization to record $1 billion in yearly deals. .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 , .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .postImageUrl , .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .focused content region { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 , .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:hover , .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:visited , .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:active { border:0!important; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; haziness: 1; progress: obscurity 250ms; webkit-change: murkiness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:active , .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:hover { mistiness: 1; progress: darkness 250ms; webkit-progress: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: relat ive; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content design: underline; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; fringe range: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: striking; line-tallness: 26px; moz-outskirt span: 3px; content adjust: focus; content embellishment: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/basic arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .u007dd29431 7d3177f58854c61f620f58 .focused content { show: table; stature: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u007dd294317d3177f58854c61f620f58:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Life changing experience EssayAs Microsofts predominance developed in the market for PC working frameworks, the organization was blamed for monopolistic strategic approaches. In 1990 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) started examining Microsoft for asserted

How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions

How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions? How Are Cash Advances Different from Regular Credit Card Transactions?Cash advances let you use your credit card to take out paper moneyâ€"which can be handyâ€"but the extra costs for doing so are going to add up fast.Credit cards can be a great tool to help people earn rewards, manage their monthly cash flow, and maintain their credit score. However, they can also be a really great way for people to spend far beyond their means, rack up excess debt, and send their credit score plummeting. It all depends on how you use them!Credit cards can also be used to take out paper money using a cash advance. And while the differences between a cash advance and a regular credit card transaction might seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually a bit more complicated than thatâ€"and a great deal more costly. Here’s how credit cards work.Credit cards work much like a traditional line of credit (LOC). Instead of taking out a set sum of money, as you would with a personal loan, a LOC gives you a set amount of money that you can borrow up to and then lets you withdraw funds at your own discretion. You are only charged interest on the funds that you actually withdraw.With credit cards, the terminology works like this: The total amount you can borrow is referred to as your credit limit and the amount you’ve withdrawn is referred to as your outstanding balance. Every time you use the card to make a purchase, funds are added to that outstanding balance up to the total credit limit.Credit cards have a “revolving” balance, which is an important distinction from some other LOC products. A revolving balance means that the amount you can borrow against your credit limit replenishes every time you make a payment.For example: If you borrow $1,000 on a credit card with a $3,000 limit, you then have $2,000 left that you could borrow in the future. But if you pay that $1,000 off, you would then have the full $3,000 left available to you for future use.Cash advances have a separate credit limit.When you make a purchase on your credit card, not physical money changes hands. The merchant receives the funds for your transaction electronically, and that same amount is then added onto your card’s outstanding balance.But if you absolutely need paper money, you can use your card to get cash. All you need to do is go to an ATM and use your card to make a withdrawal. While some credit cards might not have cash advance features, they are very common.However, if you’re looking to borrow a lot of cash using a cash advance, you might run into trouble. Cards that have cash advance features have a separate, lower credit limit for how much you can withdraw in cash.While these credit limits vary from card to card (and user to user), they’re often set as a percentage of your total credit limit. The higher your total limit, the more cash you can withdraw. As credit limits are oftentimes related to your credit score, bad credit borrowers might find themselves at a disadvant age.Cash advances are way more expensive.Then again, just because you can withdraw all that cash doesn’t mean you should. For one thing, you should refrain from spending beyond your limits on a credit card, regardless of whether you’re using cash or credit. Plus, the lower you keep your balances, the more it will help your score.But if you find yourself facing an unforeseen bill or emergency expense and absolutely need to put the charge on your card, you should opt for credit instead of cash. Why? Because credit card cash advances are much more expensive than regular transactions.To begin with, there are the interest rates: Cash advances almost always come with a separate, higher rate than regular transactions. Check your cardholder agreement to see what the cash advance APR is for your particular card.Second, most credit cards come with a one-month interest-free grace period for normal transactions. If you pay off the transaction within that period, you don’t have to pay any interest at all! With cash advances, on the other hand, there is no such grace period; interest will start accruing the second that transaction is added to your balance.Lastly, there are the fees. Not only do most cards charge you a cash advance fee purely for making the transactionâ€"oftentimes, it’s two to three percent of the amount withdrawnâ€"but you’ll very likely have to pay an ATM fee on top of that other charge.If you find yourself in the middle of a true cash-only emergency, a credit card cash advance can be useful. But otherwise, they’re much too expensive to be worth it.They’re still better than cash advance loans.While we don’t recommend credit card cash advances in any situation that doesn’t absolutely demand one, we also can’t deny that they are a far better option than short-term cash advance loans like payday loans or title loans.The high-interest rates for credit card cash advances aren’t great, but they are far preferable to the astronomical APRs f or payday cash advance loans, which average almost 400 percent. (Title loans, which put you at risk of losing your car or truck, have an average APR of 300 percent.)Due to their high rates,  their short terms, and their lump-sum repayment structure, no credit check loans such as these can be difficult for consumers to repay on time, which can lead them down the slippery slope towards a debt trap.If you are unable to use a credit card cash advance to cover a surprise bill and you need to take out a bad credit loan, you should look into possibly taking out an  installment loan that will provide you with more manageable payments.But the best method to protect your money in situations like this is to maintain a well-stocked emergency fund. That way, you won’t need to take out any loans or cash advances at all! To learn more about you can improve your long-term financial situation, check out   these related posts and articles from OppLoans:How to Raise Your Credit Score by 100 PointsF rom Budget to Baller: 6 Tips to Grow Your MoneySave More Money with These 40 Expert Tips8 Good Habits to Get Your Financesâ€"and Your Lifeâ€"on TrackDo you have a personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |Instagram

An Analysis Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning s Sonnets Of...

All literary genres are dealing with the particular context and construction to reflect on values, attitudes in human societies of various eras. The comparative study of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s â€Å"Sonnets of the Portuguese† and Scott Fitzgerald’s Pros fiction â€Å"The Great Gatsby† allow for a thorough evaluation of the relationship between the texts contexts and values. Both composers craft arguments on the nature of and value of life itself within the framework of love and spirituality. Browning, however writes from the perspective of a woman challenging values of the conventions of the Victorian era. Whilst, Fitzgerald construct’s his text as an accusation on the emerging hedonistic and capitalist creed of 1920’s America – the Jazz Age. Each writer’s context will influence our understanding of the discourse and will see the meaning and significance of each text, at the same time showing the connections that are achie ved. Both Gatsby and the sonnets address mortality in all its seriousness and complexity by formulating arguments on human mortality and the values each character carries within the context of mortality. The Great Gatsby presents most of the characters using immoral and corrupt means to achieve their American dream. The extent to which some characters, such as Gatsby and Myrtle go to achieve this dream, results in both their physical and symbolical death. Contextually, The Great Gatsby takes place in a time of prohibition and social challenges of values.

The Bicycles Changed America Essay - 1820 Words

The Bicycles Changed America The great changes in American society that came with the introduction bicycle in the late 19th century are often overshadowed by the influence of the automobile in the following decades. Today, bicycles are often seen as an alternative mode of transportation - a cleaner and more environmentally conscious form of travel. Because of this, it may be difficult to realize the incredible modernizing effects that bicycles had on American society when they were first introduced. Manufacturing and marketing techniques introduced by the bicycle industry were massive steps towards modern industrial practices. In addition, by making individual travel available to many people for the first time, bicycles changed the†¦show more content†¦Drais de Savebrun was aware, however, of some of the important aspects of the draisine that hinted at the future possibilities of bicycles: when roads are dry and firm it runs on a plain at the rate of 8 to 9 miles an hour which is equal to a horses gallo p†¦[and] on descent it equals a horse at full speed. (Smith, 1972, pp 4) The next major development came with the acquisition of pedals. In 1855, the first bicycle with pedals, the velocipede, was invented and became briefly popular when it was brought to the United States. Because of the ride provided by its iron tires and wooden frame, the velocipede became known as the Boneshaker. The excitement around the velocipede died off within a few years, however, as it proved to be difficult to ride, expensive, and dangerous. During the second half of the 19th century, most of the major improvements were made that allowed for the invention of modern bicycles. An iron frame rather than a wooden one, rubber tires (solid rubber, however), rubber-coated pedals and steel rims were all developed during this time. Although the new bicycles, known as Ordinaries, had one wheel much larger than the other, were difficult to mount and dismount, had no brakes, and were expensive, they became much more popular than any of the previous ancestral bicycles. They were promoted on the basis that they provided exercise to the riders, and that they hadShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of The Bicycle869 Words   |  4 PagesInnovators have constantly changed the world that people now know today, who have may not realized the impact their small inventions would have. Not all innovators create something brand new, as most of the time their work was transformed from something that had already been created and given a market. Two inn ovators, Albert Augustus Pope, and Sam Walton, changed the American market through their innovative marketing techniques to get the consumer a wanted product faster and creating a market inRead More Comparison Of Two Films: Essay1268 Words   |  6 Pages In that paper, I will try to compare two films which are â€Å"A Birth of a Nation† directed by D.W.Griffith and â€Å"The Bicycle Thieves† directed by De Sica. After giving the story of the films, I will try to explain their technical features and their similarities. A Birth of a Nation by D. W. Griffith nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Griffith can be seen as the first modern director, his greatest achievements being the historical epics The Birth Of A Nation. When it was released, it was one of the longestRead MoreComparison of Two Films: Essay1290 Words   |  6 PagesGriffith and The Bicycle Thieves directed by De Sica. After giving the story of the films, I will try to explain their technical features and their similarities. A Birth of a Nation by D. W. Griffith Griffith can be seen as the first modern director, his greatest achievements being the historical epics The Birth Of A Nation. When it was released, it was one of the longest films ever made, over three hours in length. The prologue depicts the introduction of slavery to America in the seventeenthRead MoreThe Changing Attitudes Toward Athletics1270 Words   |  6 Pagesform. Harness Racing became the first modernized sport which seen change thanks to growth and the transformation of America. You first begin to see the formation of organization at the local, regional and national level. Rules became formal and written and legitimized by the organization where before, rules were based on local customs, so variations were plentiful. Competition also changed, going from local, to national and even international. People began to have the chance to establish themselves inRead MoreSoichiro Honda – Innovative Leader1268 Words   |  6 Pagesthe auto business in 1947, and lasted only a decade. The territory was taken, transportation was a mature industry, and its giants wanted no new competitors. By mid-century, one man could no longer create such a manufacturing empire† (Honda of America, 2009). Japan had its own established giants, but Honda somehow made himself their equal. He possessed the necessary qualities such as knowledge, persistence, self-confidence and intellect to be qualified as an innovative leader. Honda definitelyRead MoreEntertainment in the Gilded Age1450 Words   |  6 Pagesera of growing leisure time and the business that came along with it. One of the most popular forms of entertainment during the Gilded Age was theater, particularly Vaudeville, which was a type of variety theater prominent in late 19th century America. Of course, similar types of variety shows had existed much earlier, before the 1830s, but they experienced a growth thanks to Benjamin Franklin Keith, the father of American Vaudeville. He spent his earlier years working in traveling shows andRead MoreEssay about Flappers: The Untraditional Women of the 1920s682 Words   |  3 Pages63). Some people hated the idea of the flappers and these women had become. These women, the flappers, in the 1920s felt free after the 19th amendment was passed. â€Å"Since the early twentieth century, the sexual habits of these American women had changed in profound ways† (Zeitz 21). Flappers drank, partied, and had romantic evenings with men. All of which were illegal for women. In addition, they were an embarrassment to society and they were able to get away with anything. â€Å"Flappers were a disgraceRead MoreEssay about History of the Motorcycle866 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Motorcycle My goal is to explain the evolution of the motorcycle and how their importance has grown in our society. Motorcycles have changed a great deal over the past decade or so. They are constantly being bettered and improved. Slight changes are always being made to these man made machines. The motorcycle is an amalgamation of a motor and a bicycle. Motorcycles arent the only two-wheeled form of motorized transportation, there are others like minibikes, mopeds, and motor scooter (wwwRead MoreClimate Change : A Major Issue For Life On Earth1690 Words   |  7 PagesWhile buses are one option, bicycling has been shown to be one of the most sustainable modes of urban transportation. This is bicycles require little maintenance and require near zero fossil fuels to be operated, â€Å"...cycling beats every mode of transport, if one measures the amount of energy per kg of displaced mass over a fixed distance†( Hermans,12). The main issue with bicycles in cities is the issue of space, small sections of the road need to be dedicated for cyclists and this takes time, effortRead MoreThe American Automotive Company Chevrolet1152 Words   |  5 Pageshad gained interest in bicycle repairs. Especially racing bicycles. He worked at the robin’s machine shop from eighteen-ninety-five to eighteen-ninety-eight. While Louis worked there he fixed carriages and bicycles and learned the basics of mechanics. As a teenager Louis worked for a wine cellar and got tired of the slow transferring of wine form one cask to the other and created a pump, which was used extensively in France for decades. Louis also built and sold his own bicycle called the fronteac.

Summary Response Essay Instruct Free Essays

In the article, Blinder cites reliable evidence to successfully argue his opinion that the American education system needs to be revised in order to better prepare workers for employment in the current market. In the first section of the Blinder article, he starts off talking about much education one should accomplish. Blinder states, â€Å"In a progressive society, such as worrisome social phenomenon might elicit some strong policy responses, such as more compensatory education, stepped-up efforts at retraining, reinforcement of the social safety net† (Blinder 9). We will write a custom essay sample on Summary Response Essay Instruct or any similar topic only for you Order Now Americans are shredding the safety net; they keep on taking away reinforcements that help pep the playing field â€Å"fair. † According to Blinder, an effect of this is Social Darwinism, where the work force has become survival of the fittest. Employers are looking for people with a high level of education and good people skills. Having good people means being able to communicate well with others; it is a soft skill you must acquire. Later on in the article, Blinder talks about offspring. In the article he explains that offspring is, â€Å"the movement of jobs overseas† (Blinder 9). Countries with lower wages are taking jobs from Americans. Blinder talks about three reasons why jobs are becoming offshore. The first reason is because of â€Å"simple arithmetic. † The second reason is because of the growth in technology; people are now able to do jobs across seas in an efficient manner. This has a negative effect on American workers, because that means fewer job opportunities. Lastly, the number of workers overseas is growing rapidly, and these workers are willing to work longer hours, for lower pay, with few, if any, benefits. Blinder then goes on to talk about different types of jobs. Next in the article, Blinder discusses the different between personal and impersonal jobs. The higher paying jobs are the personal services that roved a specific service that cannot be provided remotely, like a plumber or a hair stylist, for example. He goes on to talk about how the American system of education is not preparing children the right way in school. Schools have them so focused on studying and memorizing for standardized testing instead of personal people skills. Blinder says how, â€Å"starting in elementary schools, we need to develop our youngsters’ imaginations and people skills† (Blinder 12). In the end he talks about education needs to better prepare children for the kinds of personal service jobs that cannot be exported. Blinder did a good job explaining his points about the workforce and about how it is changing. With every problem he presented, he argued and discussed a plan to improve that problem. For example, in relation to the personal service jobs, he wants to start children off earlier with learning people skills. Throughout the article, Blinder did not use any confusing words or ideas; he was straightforward and explained himself. He did express his opinions, but they did not come off too strong or heavy-handed. His opinions are supported with evidence and his article is written professionally, leaving he reader clear about what he was trying to say. I agree with what Blinder is talking about in the article. We need to push kids to get a college degree, not for the quantity of education, but for the quality. In America, we push kids to memorize and pass standardized tests that do not help them prepare for the future. Kids need to be learning how to apply what they learned in the real world and how to use that information to interact with people. The truth is, personal jobs are higher in salary. For example, think about doctors. Many medical specialists are foreign; many alienated individuals come to the United States to take advantage of our excellent programs in higher education and stay in the U. S. For work. While I have no problem with this, I also worry that our early education system is failing students since fewer and fewer are achieving the kind of advanced education required to be a medical specialist or something similar. Have never lost a job to someone overseas, but my best friend had to move because her dad’s job was offshore and they had to relocate for him to look for work. I want to be a special education teacher, which is a personal service, for now. It scares me with all this growth in technology. Look how many online schools there are now. Will one day in the future there be no teachers, just assignments on a computer screen? We need to learn from the past and use it to prepare for the future in order to be successful in the workplace. What if your job is exported? In the article, â€Å"Will Your Job Be Exported,† by Alan S. Blinder, he discusses how job exportation has become an unfortunate reality for so many Americans. Many people are losing jobs to people from other countries. Americans have to fight to keep personal service jobs versus impersonal services. How to cite Summary Response Essay Instruct, Essays

MTH 201 Project-Topic #1 A Poker Game Tom Andary Essays - Draw, Out

MTH 201 Project-Topic #1: A Poker GameTom Andary Section 4 There are many types of combinations desirable to possess in a poker game. Some are more desirable than others. What makes any given combination of cards powerful in the game of poker? The probability that it will occur. Specifically, the less likely a card combination is to occur, the more powerful it is. For starters, it is necessary to state that there are 2,598,960 possible combinations, or hands, from a standard 52 card poker deck. Also note that 1,302,540 of these hands do not contain any useful combination in the game of poker. That leaves 1,296,420 hands that could win you a game of poker. To get a pair, you are trying for 2 cards of a specific denomination out of 4 that exist, with three cards that don't amount to anything special from the remaining 48. For drawing the pair, you have combination of (4,2) (for drawing 2 cards from a four card set) times 13 (the number of 4 card sets), multiplied by the combination of (48,3). Then subtract the possibility of getting a full house, 2 pair, and 3 of a kind, to get 1,098,240 different ways of drawing a pair in a game of poker. This carries a probability of .4225. To get two pair, you are attempting to pull two cards each from two four-card sets, plus one random card not from either of the previous sets. First, you multiply the combination of (4,2) by 13, just as you would for 1 pair. Multiply the result by 12 times the combination of (4,2) and the combination of (44,1). Divide this answer by 2, to account for the fact that reverse pairs cannot exist side by side. (i.e. one pair can not be the 2 of hearts/2 of diamonds, and the other pair be the 2 of diamonds/2 of hearts.) The final answer is 123,552 possibilities, being a probability of .0475. Three of a kind is having three of one denomination, and two random cards which are not a pair. Take the combination of (4,3) times 13, multiplied by the combination of (48,2) to get 54,912. Then subtract the possibility of having a full house to get 54,912. Divide that by the magic number of possible poker hands to get your probability of .0211. A straight is cards forming a consecutive order, but not a straight flush or royal flush. Take the 4 suits of cards, and raise them to the 5th power, representing the 5 cards in your hand. Multiply the result by ten, then subtract the number of possible straight and royal flushes. This gives you 10,200 possibilities, divided by 2,598,960 for a probability of .0039. A Flush is having 5 cards from the same suit that are not in consecutive order so as to be a straight or royal flush. Take the combination of (13,5) (for 5 cards out of a 13 card suit) and multiply it by 4 (for the 4 suits) and subtract the possibility of a straight or royal flush to get 5,108. Divide 5,108 by the number of possible poker hands to get the probability of .0019. A full house is three of a kind and a pair together. Take the combination of (4,3) times 13 and multiply the answer by the combination of (4,2) times 12 (because you can't have a pair of a kind you have 3 taken out of already.) to get 3744. Divide that by the magic number of poker hands to get your probability of .0014. Noticing that the less probable a hand is, the easier it is to calculate? It keeps getting that way right down to the grand old royal flush? Four of a kind is pretty self explanatory. You posses all four of a given denomination of card. Take 13 times the combination of (4,4) and multiply the answer by the combination of (48,1) to get 624. Divide 624 by 2,598,960 to find the probability of .00024. A straight flush is having 5 cards of the same suit in consecutive order, not including the royal flush. With (A,2,3,4,5) being the lowest straight flush, and (9,10,J,Q,K) being the highest, that totals 9 possibilities for each suit, 36 in all. Divide 36 by the

Financial analysis of J Sainsbury PLC and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC

Financial analysis of J Sainsbury PLC and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC Introduction The law in most countries requires public companies to publish audited financial statements. These statements are used by various groups in making decisions about their interaction with an entity. Published financial statements provide the potential users with a narrow insight into the financial strengths and weaknesses of a business.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Financial analysis of J Sainsbury PLC and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such a comprehensive view of a business is important as it would influence users’ decisions on whether to continue their association with the business. Ratio analysis is an important tool for analyzing the financial position of a company. The results of ratio analysis provide adequate information for evaluating the performance of a company. Choice of company and justification for the choice J Sainsbury PLC and Wm Morrison Supermarke ts PLC, based in the United Kingdom, are public limited companies that trade on the London Stock Exchange. Both companies operate in the United Kingdom’s retail industry. J Sainsbury PLC takes about 17.7 percent of the market share in the UK supermarket. Besides, it is the second largest chain of supermarkets in the industry after Tesco. The company has about 1,106 stores. The company employs about 152,000 employees in their stores (J Sainsbury PLC 2014a). On the other hand, Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC ranks fourth among the top five supermarkets in the UK retail industry with a market share of 11.3%. The company has presence in over 600 locations. The company engages about 132,000 employees (Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC 2014a). Retail industry in the United Kingdom is quite competitive and the top players engage in aggressive competition so as to increase their market share. The table presented below shows the recent statistics of market share of the United Kingdom’s retail industry. Company Market share 1 Tesco 30.1% 2 J Sainsbury PLC 17.7% 3 Asda 16.4% 4 Wm Morrison Supermarketss PLC 11.3% 5 Co-operative group 4.4% Others 20.1% The information on the market share can be presented in a pie chart as shown below. Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The two companies are a suitable choice for analysis because they are among the top five in the UK retail industry. Besides, the companies have operated in the retail industry since 1800s. This implies that they have experienced and survived the swings in the economy over a long period of time. The paper seeks to carry out a comparative financial analysis of Sainsbury and Morrison Supermarkets for a period of five years, that is, between 2008 and 2012. Critical analysis of the ratios Profitability ratios J Sainsbury PLC 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Net Margin % 1.5 3 2.93 3.03 2.68 2.63 Return on Assets % 2.87 5.6 5.75 5.04 4.91 Return on Equity % 6.21 12.52 12.32 10.82 10.81 Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC Net Margin % 3.17 3.88 3.84 3.91 3.57 Return on Assets % 5.8 7.04 7.06 7.26 6.35 Return on Equity % 10.34 12.63 12.19 12.76 12.18 Source of data Morningstar, Inc. 2014b; Morningstar, Inc. 2014a; J Sainsbury PLC 2014b; Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC 2014b The net profit margin of Sainsbury increased by a small percentage during the five years. The net profit margin increased between 2008 and 2010. However, in 2011 and 2012, the company reported a decline in the value of the ratio. The same trend was observed in the values of return on assets and return on equity. In the case of Morrisons, The profitability ratios increased between 2008 and 2011. In 2012, the company reported a decline in the value of profitability ratios. Further, it can be noted that the profitability ratios for Morrisons are higher than those of Sainsbury. This implies that Morrison Supermarket is more efficient in managing pricing and the cost of operations. It also implies that the Morrison Supermarket is more efficient in using assets and shareholders’ fund to generate sales and net profit than Sainsbury (Atrill 2009). Further, both companies reported a decline in profitability in 2012. This may indicate that there was a decline in profitability within the industry. The graph presented below shows the trend of profitability ratio for the two companies. In the graph above and subsequent graphs, ‘J’ represents line graphs for J Sainsbury PLC while ‘Wm’ represented line graphs for Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Financial analysis of J Sainsbury PLC and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Liquidity ratios J Sainsbury PLC 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Current Ratio 0.55 0.66 0.59 0.65 0.61 Quick Ratio 0.26 0.36 0.27 0.31 0.25 Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC Current Ratio 0.53 0.51 0.55 0.57 0.58 Quick Ratio 0.25 0.19 0.21 0.21 0.2 The liquidity ratios for Sainsbury fluctuated during the five year period. The current and quick ratio for the company increased between 2008 and 2009. However, in 2010, the company reported a decline in the liquidity ratios. The values improved in 2011 and later declined in 2012. In the case of Morrison Supermarket, the current and quick ratio declined in 2009, the values later improved in the subsequent years. The liquidity ratios for Sainsbury PLC are higher than those of Morrison Supermarket. This implies that Sainsbury is more efficient in paying current debt than Morrison Supermarket. The information in the table also reveals that the current and quick ratios for both companies are less than one. This implies that the current asset of both companies cannot adequately pay the current liabilities (Brigham Houston 2007; Brigham Ehrhardt 2009). This can be attributed to the industry in which the companies operate. Companies operating in retail industry often have low liquidity ratios due to the nature of their businesses. The graph presented shows the liquidity ratios for the two companies. Gearing ratios J Sainsbury PLC 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Financial Leverage 2.29 2.19 2.1 2.19 2.21 Debt/Equity 0.5 0.47 0.43 0.46 0.46 Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC Financial Leverage 1.82 1.77 1.69 1.83 2.01 Debt/Equity 0.23 0.21 0.19 0.3 0.46 The gearing ratios focus on the amount of debt in the capital structure of a company. A high value of gearing ratio implies that a company has a high amount of debt in the capital structure. The financial leverage for Sainsbury ranged between 2.1 and 2.29 during the five year period while the value of debt to equity ratio ranged between 0.43 and 0.50. It can be observed that there was a general decline in the value of the gearing ratio. In the case of Morrison Supermarket, the financial leverage ranged between 1.69 and 2.01. It can also be observed that the company experienced an increase in the financial leverage over the years. Debt to equity ratio for the company ranged between 0.19 and 0.46. The two companies reported a decline in the value of gearing ratios between 2008 and 2010. However, in 2011 and 2012, the value of the ratios increased. The trend can be attributed to the economic meltdown that was reported in late 2008. The companies required external funding to finance operations (Brigham Houston 2007; Brigham Ehrhardt 2009).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It can also be pointed out that the gearing ratios for Sainsbury are higher than those of Morrison Supermarket. This explains the low profitability of the company. It also increases the risk of the shareholders’ fund (Collier 2009). The graph presented below show the trend of the gearing ratios. Investment ratios J Sainsbury PLC 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Price/Earnings 19.7 11.9 9 10.8 11.6 Price/Book 1.4 1.4 1 1.2 1.2 Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC Price/Earnings - 12.9 13 9.7 10.6 Price/Book - 1.4 1.5 1.2 1.2 The investment ratios are used as a measure of valuation of shares of a company. The ratios compare the price of shares and various attributes such as earnings, book value of assets, cash flow and sales (Haber 2004). The investment ratios for Sainsbury declined between 2008 and 2010. There was a decline in the value of the ratios between 2011 and 2012. In the case of Morrison Supermarkets, the value of the investment ratios increased between 2009 a nd 2010. There was a decline in the value of the ratios in 2011. In the table, it can be noted that the investment ratios for the two companies are relatively equal. Therefore, an investor may be indifferent about which company to invest in based on the investment ratios. The price/earnings ratio measures the market value per share in relation to its earnings while price to book ratio measures the stock price of shares of a company in relation to book value of the assets (Holmes, Sugden Gee 2005). The graph presented below shows the trend of investment ratios over the five years. Weaknesses of ratios There are a number of weaknesses of ratios. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account some of these weaknesses when using ratios as the main tool for comparing the financial performance of two companies. First, it is difficult to use a set of industry average ratios when analyzing large companies that have different business segment which fall in different industries. This creat es a major challenge when using industry average ratios to compare performance of such companies. The second weakness is that inflation distorts the financial statements of companies. Thus, using ratios to analyze the performance of a company or a group of companies in different regions may be a challenge (McLaney Atrill 2008). In such cases, an analyst may need to use personal judgement to evaluate the performance of a business. The third weakness of ratios is that it is highly distorted by seasonal factors. It is quite difficult to incorporate the impact of seasonal factors when analyzing the financial performance of a business using ratios. For instance a company may report a sporadic increase in sales of a certain product during a one season such as winter. This will distort the ratios calculated. Therefore, an analyst may be required to have prior knowledge of the seasonal factors that affects a business before using ratios to analyze the financial performance of such a busine ss (Siddiqui 2005). The fourth weakness of ratio analysis is that the use of different accounting practices hinders the ability to use ratios to analyze the performance of a company using ratios. For instance, when carrying out inventory valuation one company may decide to use FIFO while another company may use weighted average. This may make it difficult to use ratios to compare the two companies. The fifth weakness is that different ratios under the same category may give differing positions on the performance of a company. Thus, it may be difficult to give a generalized view of the performance of a company. For instance, under profitability ratios, net profit margin may indicate that the profitability of a company is declining over time while return on assets may indicate that the profitability of a company is increasing over time. This makes it difficult to give a conclusive decision on the performance of a company. Finally, some ratios may be difficult to interpret some ratios as to whether they are good or bad. For instance, high liquidity ratios may be interpreted as good or bad (Vance 2003). Conclusion and recommendation The paper carried out a comparative financial analysis of J Sainsbury PLC and Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC for a period of five years, that is, between 2008 and 2012. Analysis of market share indicates that Sainsbury has a larger market share than Morrison Supermarkets in the UK retail industry. Further, analysis of profitability indicates that Morrison Supermarket is more profitable than Sainsbury. Based on liquidity, it can be noted that Sainsbury has a better liquidity position than Morrison. Further, the gearing level of Morrison Supermarkets is lower than that of Sainsbury. Finally, the investment ratios for the two companies are fairly equal. Thus, analysis of the two companies shows that they have a fairly equal financial standing. In terms of market share and liquidity, Sainsbury is superior to Morrison Supermarket. However, in terms of profitability and gearing, it can be pointed out that Morrison Supermarket is superior to Sainsbury. An investor is likely to base his decision on profitability, gearing level and investment ratios. Thus, Morrison Supermarket will be the most suitable company to invest in. The paper also discussed the various shortcomings of use of ratio analysis. Even though it is a suitable for comparing the financial performance of various companies, a lot of personal judgment is required when using the tool. References Atrill, P 2009, Financial management for decision makers, Prentice Hall, USA. Brigham, E Ehrhardt, M 2009, Financial management theory and practice, Cengage Learning, USA. Brigham, E Houston, J 2007, Fundamentals of financial management, Cengage Learning, USA. Collier, P 2009, Accounting for managers, John Wiley Sons Ltd, USA. Haber, R 2004, Accounting demystified, American Management Association, New York. Holmes, G, Sugden, A Gee, P 2005, Interpreting company repor ts, Prentice Hall, USA. J Sainsbury PLC 2014a, About us, j-sainsbury.co.uk/about-us/. J Sainsbury PLC 2014b, Annual report and financial statements 2013, j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/1616189/sainsburys_ara.pdf. McLaney, E Atrill, P 2008, Financial accounting for decision makers, Prentice Hall, USA. Morningstar, Inc. 2014a, Sainsbury (J) PLC, http://financials.morningstar.com/income-statement/is.html?t=SBRYregion=gbrculture=en-USownerCountry=USA. Morningstar, Inc. 2014b, Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC, http://financials.morningstar.com/income-statement/is.html?t=MRWSFregion=usaculture=en-USownerCountry=USA. Siddiqui, A 2005, Managerial economics and financial analysis, New Age International (P) Limited, New Delhi. Vance, D 2003, Financial analysis and decision making: Tools and techniques to solve, McGraw-Hill books, United States. Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC 2014a, About us, morrisons-corporate.com/About-us/. Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC 2014b, Financial reports, morrisons-corporate.com/ Investor-centre/Financial-reports/.

Majoring in Finance in College or Business School

Majoring in Finance in College or Business School Why Major in Finance? Majoring in finance is a good option for students who want to have numerous job opportunities after graduation. Finance is the management of money, and since nearly every business seeks to make money, you could say that finance is the backbone of any business. The annual PayScale College Salary Report  often ranks finance as one of the most lucrative majors, particularly at the MBA level.   Educational Requirements for the Finance Field Some entry-level positions, such as bank teller at a small bank, may only require a high school diploma or the equivalent, but most jobs in the finance field will require you to hold a finance degree. An associate degree is the minimum requirement, but a bachelors degree is more common. If you would prefer to work in a more advanced positions, such as management positions, a specialized masters degree or MBA degree will help you achieve that goal. These graduate-level programs allow you to delve deeply into the topic of finance and acquire advanced experience in the finance field. The highest degree that finance majors can earn is a doctorate degree. This degree is best suited for individuals who want to work in research or education at the postsecondary level.   Programs for Finance Majors Almost every business school, as well as many colleges and universities, offer finance programs. If you have a career path mapped out, your best bet will be to search out finance programs that churn out the type of graduates your desired employers look for. You may also want to compare some of the different finance programs that are out there. For example, you could earn a general finance degree or a finances of finance-related degrees include: Accounting Degree  - Accounting is the study of financial reporting and analysis.  Actuarial Science Degree  - Actuarial science is the study of how math and science can be applied to risk assessment.Economics Degree  - Economics is the study of production, consumption, and wealth distribution.  Risk Management  Degree - Risk management is the study of risk identification, assessment, and management.Taxation Degree - Taxation is the study of tax assessment and preparation.   Coursework for Finance Majors Business majors  who specialize in finance will study many different things over the course of their academic career. Exact courses will depend on the school and the students area of focus as well as the level of study. For example, a general finance program at the graduate level will touch on many different finance-related topics, while an accounting program at the undergraduate level will focus more heavily on accounting. Most  finance programs are designed to develop and improve  critical thinking  and  problem solving skills. Some of the courses that nearly all finance students take at some point in a degree program include: Mathematics - Basic math and more advanced math.Statistical Analysis - Statistics, probability, and data analysis.Financial Regulation - Finance regulation at the local, state, federal, and international level.Valuation - Evaluation and appraisal of worth.Risk and Return - Trade-off in investment decisions.Ethics - Principles that should guide and govern behavior in the finance sector. Careers in Finance After graduating from a quality finance program, business majors should be able to secure at least entry-level employment with banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, corporations, and a variety of other organizations. Possible job titles include: BankerFinance OfficerFinancial AdvisorFinancial AnalystFinancial ControllerFinancial PlannerInsurance Underwriter

Gangs in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gangs in America - Essay Example Being raised in an economically depressed neighborhood can understandably lead youth persons to think that their lives are unimportant and thus want for a sense of identity. The social construction gangs offer provides juveniles with a sense of belonging, a particularly significant need for developing youths. In many neighborhoods, adolescents are actively recruited or are intimidated into becoming gang members and seemingly have little choice. â€Å"A few [teens] are virtually born into gangs as a result of neighborhood traditions and their parents’ earlier and perhaps continuing gang participation or involvement in criminal activity† (Moore, 1978). The gangs offer disenfranchised kids, who are undergoing feelings of isolation, a connection to a family-like atmosphere. Some of these youths are wavering between what they consider as their adopted and native cultures but feel a connection to neither. There are many reasons that youths join and remain loyal to gangs, all of which are complex and possibly incomprehensible to the general public. This discussion will briefly explain why juveniles join gangs then discuss gangs themselves, their motivations, general make-up, characteristics, and trends concerning street gang activity. There are numerous early factors that can lead juveniles to become gang members in addition to what might be the most obvious, living in abusive households. Poverty is another of the more significant factors. According to research conducted by the Children’s Defense Fund, nearly one fifth of all youths live below the poverty line in American cities. â€Å"Poor neighborhoods, especially ‘inner-city war zones’, generally have relatively high crime rates, unsatisfactory schools and unhealthy living conditions. They provide a child with few resources, negatively affect development and increase the chances a child will become violent† (â€Å"Rosado†, 2000, p. 15). Children who are subjected to t wo or more risk factors such as poverty and abuse, have a significantly higher risk factor of participating in criminal behavior and juvenile violence. Inner city ‘battle zones’, which have grown significantly in many of the country’s small to medium-sized towns in addition to the larger urban sections of major cities, are described as those areas in which most youths over 14 years old has attended the funeral of more than one friend, a very distinct definition, one that is difficult for most Americans to fully comprehend. (Garbarino, 1999, p. 40). The usual age range of gang members range from 12 to 24 years old with an average age being 17 to 18 but this average age is usually older in large cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago where gangs have been operated for a long time. (Curry & Decker, 1998). While the numbers of gang members are rising, the average age of gang members is also rising. Gangs are becoming progressively older as their ranks swell in throug hout the country. Predictably, male gang members outnumber females by a large majority, a discrepancy that widens as the aggregate age of the members become older. Gang membership fluctuates in size depending on the kinds of criminal activity associated with that gang. â€Å"Traditional (large, enduring, territorial) gangs average about 180 members, whereas specialty (e.g., drug trafficking) gangs average only about 25 members. In large cities some gangs number in the thousands and even

Social contract ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social contract ethics - Essay Example The idea of social contract originated in philosophical doctrines of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. Even though all of them used the notion â€Å"social contract†, each of them had different understanding of how exactly people conclude the contract. This means that ethical principles of social contract are also different for each theory. Still all of them agreed in one crucial point: to create efficient social contract every individual should follow the terms established in the particular kind of agreement. In fact this means that if people live together they need to sacrifice a part of their personal freedom and restrict themselves in different aspects of their lives (Holcombe 1978). It is quite obvious that any ethics require some sorts of restrictions of human personal freedom. As far as humans are the kind of beings who frequently make certain actions that can be harmful for others who live next to them in society, ethical principles are supposed to teach humans how to act no t to harm. Basically, the main principle of social contract ethics is: do as you would be done by. Otherwise it would’ve been impossible for people to cohabitate together. Hobbes’ doctrine of social contract claims that people need to conclude the kind of agreement because their nature is evil and destructive. According to the agreement people give their personal freedom under someone’s control (either monarch’s or government’s) and the society lives in order following some strict rules established by the dictator.

Censorship and Information Privacy Policies in Eastern Asia and the Uni

Censorship and Information Privacy Policies in Eastern Asia and the United States of America Introduction Fifteen or twenty years ago, no one would have been able to predict the magnitude of the impact that the evolution of computer internetworking technologies has had on the world. The advancement of computers and networking technologies, as well as the constant flow of new innovations has forever changed the way the human race communicates. People across the globe have been given a medium through which they can express their ideas and beliefs freely†¦for the most part. Many cultures span this great planet of ours, each with different cultural, spiritual and governmental beliefs. Some of these cultures share common beliefs, but as far as censorship and information privacy are concerned, there are some notable differences. Here in the United States, Internet communication is a way of life. Instant messaging, e-commerce, and World Wide Web surfing are staples in many American’s lives. Citizens are allowed to post web pages containing various types of material with minim al fear of governmental interference. On the contrary, East Asian countries such as China and Singapore are subject to far more intense scrutiny. While it would be easy to judge these sorts of censorship and privacy invasion policies as being immoral, there is definitely more to these policies than meets the eye. Censorship and Information Policies in the USA The United States has been a breeding ground for many of the major developments in the realm of internetworking. With the releases of these technologies come practical applications for them in the consumer world. Once computer networks became affordable for the general public, the World Wid... ...he beauty of the study of philosophy and ethics allows there to be different points of view; this case is no different. References Aneki.com (Facts taken from CIA World Factbook) http://www.aneki.com/facts/Singapore.html Ang, Peng Hwa. Nadarajan, Berlinda. June 1996. Censorship of the Internet: A Singapore Perspective. http://0-portal.acm.org.sculib.scu.edu/ft_gateway.cfm?id=228520&type=pdf&coll=portal&dl=ACM&CFID=20568552&CFTOKEN=95543504 Tan, Zixiang (Alex). Foster, William. Goodman, Seymour. China's State-coordinated Internet Infrastructure http://0-portal.acm.org.sculib.scu.edu/ft_gateway.cfm?id=303861&type=pdf&coll=portal&dl=ACM&CFID=20568552&CFTOKEN=95543504 Wiese, Kelly. April 27, 2004. USA Today Missouri tracks scofflaws via pizza-delivery databases. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2004-04-27-pizza-no-privacy_x.htm

Missouri Compromise of 1820 †Kansas-Nebraska Act

In the forty years leading up to the Civil War, the United States Congress did its best to enact a number of different pieces of legislation that were all designed to regulate the budding issue of slavery in so called â€Å"border† states. In places like Kansas and Missouri, there was no clear cut answer to the slavery question. In fact, the discussion went on for decades in these two states. Starting with the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Congress made it clear that they would take all necessary measures to bring an accord between pro-slavery states and those who opposed it. The aptly named compromise mandated that slavery couldn’t take place anywhere north of the Louisiana Territory, except for the area of Missouri, where slavery would be allowed. The congressional legislation continued in 1850, when a series of laws was put into place in order to keep balance between the slave and free states. Called the Compromise of 1850, the primary objective of this legislation was to bring California into the union as a free state, in order to shift the balance between the two sides. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 continued this long line of legislation and put more control of the issue in the hands of the people. It established the two states and let the people their make their own choice on the matter of slavery. These three laws were extremely important in helping to establish the distinct party lines on the issue of slavery and set the stage for the conflict that eventually led to the Civil War. These acts had varying levels of significance and success, depending upon who one might be asking. This essay will address the impact of each act on the development of the United States as a whole during a time when tempers were flaring and spirits were high. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was one of the most important pieces of legislation to come about during the time leading up to the Civil War in the United States. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate struggled immensely with this compromise because they could not come to a working accord on the matter. The fact that the various factions that had control over congress held vastly different opinions on slavery did not help matters in the least bit. In short, people from the South had a vested financial interest in keeping slavery alive, while those people in the North had a similar financial interest in getting rid of slavery. In a way, it was all a song and dance done in order to keep the idea of control in place for both sides. Specifically, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 did a couple of things which had a huge impact on the country and made necessary the legislation that would soon follow. During that time, the Missouri Territory was close to becoming a state, but a great debate raged on about what kind of state it would ultimately become. Since the proposed Missouri state was a gateway to the west and was an important addition to the growing country, each side wanted to get their hands on the state. Though the immediate result of the compromise was that it brought another large slave state into the union, the more important and overlying impact was that it split the country into two halves. Above the state of Missouri, there could not be any more slavery. That meant that Missouri would become something of a battleground state and it also meant that the lines were now clearly drawn. It was the North against the South and there was that anyone could do to change that after the fact. Even great American thinker Thomas Jefferson knew that the creation of a slave state in Missouri would go a long way to ripping the Union in pieces. He wrote to John Holmes and said, â€Å"A geographical line, coinciding with a marked principle, moral and political, once conceived and held up to the angry passions of men, will never be obliterated; and every new irritation will mark it deeper and deeper† (Jefferson). That rhetoric was ultimately an omen for what was to come for the United States. Though it would be another four decades before the country would go to war, the creation of Missouri as a slave state opened the door for even more unreasonable discourse and further legislation. While the Missouri Compromise was one single piece of nation changing legislation, the Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws that had a similarly large effect on the country. It was clear with these laws that Congress was trying to do everything in their power to make sure that the country did not go to war. Though it would eventually be imminent, there was some thought in 1850 that the Union could be saved without the nation having to go through a debilitating Civil War. The Compromise of 1850 did a lot to help bring the nation together, although it could be said that the effort was too little and too late. California was ready for statehood at this point and it brought that state into the Union as a free one. Like all compromises, this one was two sided, though. It also did much to help improve the prospects of the slave holding southern states. Though the series of laws did away with the slave trade in the U.S., it did establish a law that would help slave owners to bring their slaves back. The Fugitive Slave Act was a strong measure that required all people to help in this effort. If the nation’s history was a sentence, this compromise could certainly be used as a semi colon. It put aside some of the tensions that both sides had and it also had some people convinced that a solution was on the horizon. Though it might have looked like a step in the right direction, it appears in hindsight that this bunch of laws was nothing more than a pause between the tenuous situation leading up to 1850 and the Civil War, which came a mere eleven years later. Still, this was a positive measure for the country in that it did attempt to do something to rectify the situation. It was not the last series of laws aimed at doing this, though, as the Kansas-Nebraska Act a few years later was also important. Whatever good will was built during the Compromise of 1850 was certainly smashed to pieces with the events that led up to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. This act started out as a good thing, but quickly deviated from that plan. Initially, it was passed in order to help open up the Western area of the United States for exploration by white settlers. It helped to establish Kansas and Nebraska in that area. Still, the more important point is that this act gave the people of those territories the right to choose whether or not they would have slaves or not. This was a step in the right direction for those people who felt strongly for states’ rights, but it failed to serve as a solution for a nation that genuinely needed answers to their questions. The people of the United States, at that time, had no way of making such a decision by themselves. In fact, the political positioning and jockeying that went along with this act was a negative byproduct that the writers of such an act could have never imagined in the beginning. The Kansas-Nebraska Act also did away with the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and with that, did away with any progress that the act had established during that time. From this important act came the American ideal of â€Å"Popular Sovereignty†, which was truly a people based system that put all of the power in the hands of the states’ residents. Most historians feel that this law did not achieve its desired impact and it really had a negative effect on the Union. This law pleased those from the South, while it angered Northerners, who felt that such a law was in favor of slavery. This event marked one of the last straws leading up to secession and eventually, the Civil War. Because of it, the North felt that they could no longer trust the Southerners in power and because of that, there was no turning back. These three acts happened over the course of many years, but they were all intertwined and all had a profound impact on the changing dynamic of the United States prior to the Civil War. Congress was clearly grasping at straws, and although their motives may have been pure in regards to writing the laws, the intended meaning did not hit the mark. The Missouri Compromise drew lines between the two sides for the first time and gave each section of the country its own identity. That was a pre-cursor to war, but it certainly was not the thing that caused the nation to battle itself. The Compromise of 1850 sought to dissolve the tension that existed and was put into place by the Missouri Compromise, but it really did not do enough to cause any real, noticeable change in the Union. It did create a little bit of good will and promote some camaraderie between the two sides, however, which was a positive thing at the time. Unfortunately, all of that positive momentum was destroyed in the few years that followed the writing of the 1850 Compromise. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was sloppy and did not take into account what people from the North might think about the dissolution of the previous laws. In short, it became a dividing force that pushed a country apart as it was just about to come together. All of these events were representative of the struggle faced by the Union during the time that they were written. Even the most influential and smartest people of American society were not able to write laws that could bring a country together when the fundamental problems were ripping at its core. Works Cited Jefferson, Thomas. 22 April 1820. Thomas Jefferson to John Holmes.         

The Literary Criticism Of Great Expectations Essay

The literary criticism â€Å"Patterns of Communication in Great Expectations† is an effective literary criticism, it proves there is evidently more communication between characters in the novel than most critics let onto. Ruth M. Vande Kieft, who is the author of this piece, suggests that the majority of the characters in Dickens novels have a substantial amount of communication among themselves. But, the dialogue in the novel depicted is not what we typically observe in the majority Victorian novels. Vande Kieft uses evidence in her writing from Dorothy Van Ghent, who suggests there is little interaction and the majority of the main characters attempts fail when they do try and communicate amongst each other. This article is effective in showing examples of certain patterns between the many characters in the novel. The article was also effective because it showed a different way of looking at communication in the way writers aim for when writing stories. This literary critici sm was an interesting because it made me think about other novels that I have read and how Vande Kieft would have depicted them. In Great Expectations, we saw a different pattern in how characters communicate. Most family communication patterns are usually easy to follow. Although this novel was easy to read, I understand where critics state the contrary. I valued this work because of the examples stated throughout, and I will analyze some of the examples stated in my paper. Ruth M. Vande Kieft used aShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations1707 Words   |  7 PagesGreat Expectations Human nature is the psychological and social qualities that characterize humankind. Human nature separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. The underlining theme of human nature is evident in Great Expectation by Charles Dickens use of his characters. A main characteristic that Dickens displays is friendship. The friendship between Pip and Herbert is strong. 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