Cold Fusion Research Paper -- Energy Research Papers

Cold Fusion Research Paper As the world turns out to be progressively mindful of the developing requirement for an increasingly rich vitality flexibly, one vitality source has been hidden away from plain view and basically disregarded. This source is cold combination. Cold combination is: â€Å"A response that happens under specific conditions in supersaturated metal hydrides (metals with loads of hydrogen or overwhelming hydrogen broke up in them). It produces overabundance warmth, helium, and an exceptionally low degree of neutrons. In certain tests the host metal has been transmuted into different components. Cold combination has been seen with palladium, titanium, nickel and with some superconducting ceramics.† (Infinite) In 1989 Stanley Pons and Martain Fleischmann declared to the press that they had found cold combination. This declaration sent established researchers in a state of chaos and the open news media went insane. The open saw another wellspring of clean vitality that had almost no natural impacts. Mainstream researchers saw a paper, which was not peer explored, of a logical guideline go out into general society without their assent. While the idea of cold combination is in opposition to the acknowledged perspectives on material science, this little reality isn't what had the network shocked. It was the way Pons and Fleischmann introduced the investigation that caused issues. The acknowledged method of introducing research results inside established researchers is to initially distribute your trial to the remainder of mainstream researchers, have other researcher check your outcomes, and afterward simply after your outcomes have been tried and confirmed should you go to the press. Science frequently has tests that are in opposition to the current hypothesis, when these examinations are watched the hypothesis is changed to permit the outcomes to occur and be pre... ...could all show similar impacts without there being any legitimacy to their shellfishes. The speculations behind chilly combination are in opposition to well known hypothesis and in this manner normally face extraordinary obstruction. Speculations on why cold combination is watched are as yet being grown, however a complete hypothesis is yet to be reached. There is a requirement for another hypothesis since cold combination has been seen in such a verity of trials, that the chance of mistake isn't likely. The mind-boggling number of trials that have delivered an affected named ‘cold fusion’ powers another hypothesis to be thought of. Until another hypothesis is endorsed the world should manage without the potential vitality wellspring of cold combination. The world needs a perfect vitality source, accordingly a hypothesis must be conceived and tried that will permit cold combination to enter the material science network as a reasonable

Fewer numbers without language - Emphasis

Less numbers without language Less numbers without language The individuals who consider themselves to be as number individuals than word individuals may be astounded to discover that their comprehension of numbers is really reliant on language. New research has discovered that, without language, it is difficult to appropriately appreciate bigger amounts. The discoveries originate from an examination, distributed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, of a hard of hearing network in Nicaragua. With no information on Spanish or formal gesture based communication, these individuals have made their own marking framework; yet it doesnt incorporate jargon for numbers. This is regardless of the way that they live and work in a numerate society. During the trials, individuals from the gathering frequently forgot about explicit numbers over three. In one test, members were approached to react to taps on the hand by tapping a similar sum back, however they would in general be out by a couple. Theyre not fiercely off, says Elizabet Spaepen, the lead scientist. They can inexact amounts, however they dont have a method of getting to the specific number. Despite the fact that people have been appeared to have an intrinsic numerical comprehension, we are just normally capable at seeing little numbers and evaluating huge ones. We need words so as to overcome that issue. What language does is give you a methods for connecting up our little, precise number capacities with our enormous estimated number capacities, says Daniel Casasanto, an analyst at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. What's more, we wouldnt be the place we are today without this imperative connection. It has been the device that offered ascend to the general public we live in, Casasanto says. The high rises we work in and the PCs that were chatting on right now these things are conceivable as a result of precise huge number and people capacity to control them. An interesting point next time youre dealing with your portfolio, adjusting your checkbook, or sharing out MMs in the workplace.

Borrowers Ask Court for $25 million Judgement in Loan Scam Case - OppLoans

Borrowers Ask Court for $25 million Judgement in Loan Scam Case - OppLoans Borrowers Ask Court for $25 million Judgement in Loan Scam Case Borrowers Ask Court for $25 million Judgement in Loan Scam CaseInside Subprime: Nov 21, 2018By Grace AustinBorrowers are asking that a court hold up a $25 million judgment against a Canadian family of alleged scammers that ripped off more than 100 consumers trying to receive loans.Sandy Hutchens, his wife Tanya Hutchens and their daughter Jennifer Hutchens solicited loan applications and provided written monetary commitments to borrowers; that was in exchange for large advance fees. But those borrowers say they never received a dime in loans from the Toronto-based family’s businesses, even though the Hutchens committed to $3.5 billion in loans. In the latest news in the five-year legal battle, the Hutchenses filed an appeal in late October of the judgment.The borrowers asking the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to maintain that multimillion-dollar judgment are led by a residential golf course developer in Colorado; a Las Vegas resident; and a Chicago-located company. They’re saying the immense amount they were awarded in a 2017 trial was understandable given the extent of the crimes, which the judge said included violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. And those borrowers say that they haven’t been paid any of that $25 million judgment. The lawsuit dates back to June 2013. The borrowers were awarded nearly $8.5 million from a jury after a nine-day trial in which 24 witnesses took the stand in May 2017. A judge upped that judgment to just over $25 million because of the RICO violations. Patriarch Sandy Hutchens is accused of setting up several businesses to give out the loans to borrowers, and even working under several aliases.After consumers were approved for the loans and the Hutchens received the advance fees, the borrowers were refused the loans usually for an unsubstantiated reason. For example, one of the plaintiffs, Colorado Golf Club Holding Co. of Denver, was developing a golf course when an investor withdrew fr om the project. Sandy Hutchens said he was the CEO of a mortgage company and he could help the company get a $34 million loan in exchange for advance fees.According to the lawsuit, CGC paid Hutchens more than $180,000 in administrative, legal and inspection fees.The attorney for the borrowers claimed during the trial that the advance fee fraud dated to the mid- to late-aughts, and Hutchens had a long criminal record that included everything from fraud and theft to assaulting an officer. The Hutchenses’ attorney said at trial that Sandy Hutchens had an upstanding background as a lender that went back decades, and that he was only the middle man between wealthy investors and the borrowers.The case is considered unusual because class action lawsuits are rarely tried in federal court, at least according to the borrowers’ attorney. For more information on scams,  payday loans  and  title loans, check out all of our  state-by-state Financial Resource Guides.Visit  OppLoans  on  YouTub e  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIn

The U.S. Constitution Articles, Amendments and Preamble

In just four hand-written pages, the Constitution gives us no less than the owners manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known. Preamble While the Preamble has no legal standing, it explains the purpose of the Constitution and reflects the goals of the Founders for the new government they were creating.The Preamble explains in just a few words what the people could expect their new government to provide them -- the defense of their liberty. Article I - The Legislative Branch Article I, Section 1Establishes the  legislature  -- Congress -- as the first of the three branches of governmentArticle I, Section 2Defines the  House of RepresentativesArticle I, Section 3Defines the  SenateArticle I, Section 4Defines how members of Congress are to be elected, and how often Congress must meetArticle I, Section 5Establishes procedural rules of CongressArticle I, Section 6Establishes that members of Congress will be paid for their service, that members cannot be detained while traveling to and from meetings of Congress, and that members can hold no other elected or appointed federal government  office while serving in Congress.Article I, Section 7Defines the legislative process --  how bills become lawsArticle I, Section 8Defines the  powers of CongressArticle I, Section 9Defines the legal limitations on Congress powersArticle I, Section 10Defines specific powers denied to the states Article II, Section 1 Establishes the offices of the  President  and Vice President, establishes the  Electoral CollegeArticle II, Section 2Defines the  powers of the President  and establishes the  Presidents CabinetArticle II, Section 3Defines miscellaneous duties of the PresidentArticle II, Section 4Addresses the removal from office of the President by  impeachment Article III -- The Judicial Branch Article III, Section 1 Establishes the  Supreme Court  and defines the terms of service of all U.S. federal judgesArticle III, Section 2Defines the  jurisdiction of the Supreme Court  and lower federal courts, and guarantees trial by jury in criminal courtsArticle III, Section 3Defines the crime of treason Article IV -- Concerning the States Article IV, Section 1 Requires that each state must respect the laws of all other statesArticle IV, Section 2Ensures that citizens of each state will be treated fairly and equally in all states, and requires the interstate extradition of criminalsArticle IV, Section 3Defines how new states may be incorporated as part of the United States, and defines the control of federally-owned landsArticle IV, Section 4Ensures each state a Republican form of Government (functioning as a representative democracy), and protection against invasion Article V  -  Amendment Process Defines the method of  amending the Constitution Article VI  -  Legal Status of the Constitution Defines the Constitution as the supreme law of the United States Article VII  -  Signatures Amendments The first 10 amendments comprise  the Bill of Rights. 1st AmendmentEnsures the five basic freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and freedom to petition the government to remedy (redress) grievances2nd AmendmentEnsures the right to own firearms (defined by the Supreme Court as an individual right)3rd AmendmentEnsures private citizens that they cannot be forced to house U.S.soldiers during peace4th AmendmentProtects against police searches or seizures with out a warrant issued by a court and based on probable cause5th AmendmentEstablishes the rights of citizens accused of crimes6th AmendmentEstablishes the rights of citizens in regard to trials and juries7th AmendmentGuarantees the right to trial by jury in federal civil court cases8th AmendmentProtects against cruel and unusual criminal punishments and extraordinarily large fines9th AmendmentStates that just because a right is not specifically listed in the Constitution, does not mean that right should not be respected10th AmendmentSt ates that powers not granted to the federal government are granted either to the states or the people (the basis of  federalism)11th AmendmentClarifies the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court12th AmendmentRedefines how the  Electoral College  chooses the President and Vice President13th AmendmentAbolishes slavery in all states14th AmendmentGuarantees citizens of all states rights on both the state and federal level15th AmendmentProhibits the use of race as a qualification to vote16th AmendmentAuthorizes the collection of income taxes17th AmendmentSpecifies that U.S. Senators will be elected by the people, rather than the state legislatures18th AmendmentProhibited the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. (Prohibition)19th AmendmentProhibited the use of gender as a qualification to vote (Womens Suffrage)20th AmendmentCreates new starting dates for sessions of Congress, addresses the death of Presidents before they are sworn in21st AmendmentRepealed the 18th Amend ment22nd AmendmentLimits to two the number of 4-year terms a President can serve.br/>23rd AmendmentGrants the District of Columbia three electors in the  Electoral College24th AmendmentProhibits the charging of a tax (Poll Tax) in order to vote in federal elections25th AmendmentFurther clarifies the process of  presidential succession26th AmendmentGrants 18-year olds the right to vote27th AmendmentEstablishes that laws raising the pay of members of Congress cannot take effect until after an election

Investigation of Select Financial Sector Organizations - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 11 Words: 3253 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Strategic alliances and Mergers and Acquisitions (MA) are the dominant corporate strategies followed by organizations looking for enhanced value creation. The growing tendency towards mergers and acquisitions (MAs) world-wide, has been driven by intensifying competition. There is a need to reduce costs, reach global size, take benefit of economies of scale, increase investment in technology for strategic gains, desire to expand business into new areas and improve shareholder value. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Investigation of Select Financial Sector Organizations" essay for you Create order During the first wave (i.e., 1990-95), the Indian corporate houses seem to have been bracing up to face foreign competition while the second wave (i.e., 1995-2000) experienced a large presence of multinational firms [Beena 2000]. The third wave of MAs in India (2000-till date) is evident of Indian companies venturing abroad and making acquisitions in developed and developing countries and gaining entry abroad. The relative size of target and acquiring firm has also increased. The size differences between the bidder and target firms influence acquisition performance and large acquisitions would have a greater combination potential [Kitching 1967]. MAs also determined, to a large extent, the nature of foreign investment in the country during this period. MA comes in all shapes and sizes, and investors need to consider the complex issues involved in MA. The most beneficial form of equity structure involves a complete analysis of the costs and benefits associated with the deals. Corporat e restructuring including MAs have given rise to a host of important issues for business decisions, for public policy formulation and economic regulations. While business firms can grow both internally and externally, with increased global competition, it has become imperative for the business firms to grow inorganically that is externally. A look at the sectoral trends reflects that Indian financial sector is adopting inorganic strategies to grow its businesses. The Indian financial system comprises an impressive network of commercial banks (CBs), co-operative banks (CPBs), development finance institutions (DFIs) and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Researchers and economists have observed that due to smaller size, the Indian commercial banks may find it very difficult to compete with international banks in various facets of banking and financial services in the post 2009 scenerio. The entry of foreign banks was restricted earlier, but since 1991 a number of foreign banks have been allowed to operate in India. To enhance competition, foreign direct investment up to 74 per cent of ownership has been allowed in private banks and up to 20 per cent in nationalized banks. The banks have also been allowed to enter into insurance business either as joint venture participants or to take up strategic investment for providing infrastructure and services. Consequently, the number of foreign and private banks operating in India increased from 21 and 23 in 1991 to 33 and 30, respectively, in 2004. For the Indian financial sector organizations, one of the strategies to face the intense competition could be, to consolidate through the process of mergers and acquisitions. India is slowly but surely moving from a regime of large number of small banks to small number of large banks and larger the bank, higher its competitiveness and better prospects of survival appears to be the mantra for success. However, there is little published empirical literature on the impact of MAs in India. This study is an initial attempt to fill this void. The aim of this study is to find out the impact of mergers and acquisitions on corporate performance in Indian context particularly in relation to companies of financial sector. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 discusses the present status of MA in India. Section 3 elaborates the related literature. Section 4 describes the data. Section 5 discusses the impact of value creation for the merged or acquiring firms before and after merger. Section 6 concludes with avenues for future research. 2. The Present status of MA in India During the last decade, there has been a sharp increase in the number of mergers and acquisitions in India. The largest MA transactions involving an Indian company until now are depicted in Table 1. India has experienced upward trend in outbound deals (Figure 1). It is expected that in next decade (2010-2019), global MA deals by Indian industries is likely to more than treble and the domestic consumption oriented businesses like telecommunication and healthcare will throw up global scale Indian companies. Even as the economic slowdown has impacted overall merger and acquisition (MA) activity in Asia Pacific, India along with Japan and China is among the top five countries in the region with the highest number of MA deals in the first three months of 2009. India is among the top countries in the region in terms of MA activity in the first quarter of 2009 even as deals saw a 72 percent decline from the same period a year ago. PricewaterhouseCoopers lists India amongst the top three emerging markets to watch out for over the next 18 months, in terms of attractiveness for deals (Alaganandan et.al, 2009). According to global consultancy firm Grant Thornton, the total number of MA deals announced in January 2009 stood at 18 with a total announced value of USD 970.85 million against 63 deals amounting to USD 1.66 billion in January 2008. Indian Industries announced more billion dollar MA deals in 2008 compared to the previous year when the markets were on a bull run. Although involving the m ega $10 billion plus deals of last year, Tata Corus and Vodafone-Hutch were missing in 2008, there were however other large size transactions which kept the Indian -bankers busy. HDFC banks acquisition of Centurion Bank of Punjab was the lone large domestic MA deal in 2008. Marking the largest-ever deal in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, Japanese drug firm Daiichi Sankyo in June 2008 acquired the majority stake of more than 50 per cent in domestic major Ranbaxy for over Rs 15,000 crore ($4.5 billion). The deal created the 15th biggest pharmaceutical company globally, and is Indias 4th largest MA deal to date. Insert Table-1, Figure-1 here MA research has also peaked during the last decades and the research material on different aspects of MAs is extensive. In our paper, we have reviewed literature covering motives of MA and specifically the impact of MA on financial viability of the companies. Despite the empirical evidence on MA in general, very little is known on how they have performed in financial-based industries. Therefore, our paper attempts to fill the void by evaluating the financial performance of MAs particularly of financial sector companies in India , before and after merger and to assess its impact in terms of value creation for the merged or acquiring firms. 3. Extant Work and Hypothesis Development Extensive research is available in context to MA. It has been observed that they primarily cover nature of mergers in terms of their management, profitability and efficiency of merging companies, operating and financial synergies, post-merger operating performance of acquiring firms and comparison of pre- and post merger financial ratios in India (Table A). Insert Table A Here The above body of work has provided considerable knowledge on MAs concepts, and scholars have proposed additional research into many issues. But bulk of research has been in the context of U.S and European industries. At this juncture, it is pointed out that it is important to also study industries in context to India. In this paper we find out the impact of mergers and acquisitions on corporate performance in Indian context particularly in relation to companies of financial sector. Studies by Surjit, 2002; Swaminathan, 2002; Arora, 2003 have guided the methodology employed in the paper. Surjit, 2002 carried out an analysis of 20 merging firms to compare the pre and post takeover performance, applying a set of eight financial ratios. He found that profitability and efficiency of merging companies declined in the post takeover period. Swaminathan, 2002 studied the sample of five companies and found that four of the five acquiring firms improved operating and financial synergies (measured through financial ratios). In a recent survey article, Bruner (2002) summarizes the findings of 130 studies conducted during 1971-2001. The results of the studies that focused on short-term returns suggest that tar get shareholders earn significantly positive abnormal returns and that bidders earn zero risk-adjusted returns. The combined returns of bidders and targets are positive. Arora, 2003 examined the post merger performance of merged companies using the value added metrics of corporate performance such as EVA, MVA and RONW. Drawing on the existing evidence we thus state our two hypotheses as: Ho: There is no significant difference between the financial performance of the companies before and after the merger that is Ho: ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ = 0. Ha: There is a significant difference between the financial performance of the companies before and after the merger that is Ha: ÃÆ'Ã… ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼ ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ °Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   0. 4. Data and Methodology a. Sample Description This empirical study analyses the financial data of selected merging firms in the period 2000-2008. In order to evaluate the financial performance of the merging firms in the long run, at least three years financial data is required. Therefore, 2003, 2004 and 2005 are considered as the event years to identify the MA deals in India and to compare the financial performance of the cases pre merger and post merger during 2000-2008. The pre merger years taken for comparison are from 1st April, 2000 to 31st March, 2003 and years 1st April, 2005 to 31st March, 2008 are taken as post merger years (figure A). The data is collected from various sources; CMIE database PROWESS, newspapers, magazines and journals. Insert Figure A Here In all 491 (all industries) mergers took place during the event period. Our study concentrated on the financial sector companies. The sample under study includes 17 companies in financial sector (Table B). The financial data for these 17 companies is collected for six years i.e. for three years pre merger and three years post merger period (average of three years) using Prowess database of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). In order to test the hypothesis Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is used for four parameters. These are: Overall profitability parameters from Return to Equity Shareholders point of view, return on net worth and earning per share are calculated. Liquidity parameters- current ratio is measured Solvency parameters debt to equity is calculated Overall efficiency parameters- profit before tax and profit before tax to total income Insert Table B Here b. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test Methodology Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is a non-parametric statistical hypothesis test for the case of two related samples on a single sample. The Wilcoxon signed rank test compares the median of a single column of numbers against a hypothetical median. The raw figures were obtained for the above said parameters and signed rank test is carried out to assess the difference in the performance between pre-merger and post-merger. In our study XA denotes pre-merger and XB denotes post-merger. The Wilcoxon signed rank test computes W ± and the number of signed ranks is designated as ns/r that is equal to number of XA XB pairs (that is number of companies) minus the number of pairs for which XA- XB=0. The test statistic z is computed and probabilities observed are compared with desired level of significance (0.05) to accept or reject null hypothesis. 5. Empirical Results I. Overall profitability parameters (Return to Equity Shareholders) In the present study Return to Equity for shareholders is measured with the help of two ratios: Return on Net Worth and Earning Per Share. The use of both these ratios presents a broad picture of a companys efficiency, financial viability and its ability to earn returns on shareholders funds and capital employed. Return on Net Worth (RONW) RONW measures the rate of return on the shareholders equity of the owners. It measures the companys efficiency of using the capital (shareholders funds) entrusted to it and generating profits. The average amount of net worth of financial sector (Table 2) companies after merger was higher than that of pre merger period. Major observations in Table 2  · Out of 17 merger cases of financial sector, 11 merging firms showed a positive sign, i.e. increase in RONW and 6 merging firms showed decline in net worth. Among the sample, 3 merging firms showed negative net worth during post merger period. In the next step, we perform non-parametric (Wilcoxon) test to verify whether there is difference between the pre and post merger efficiencies. The result seems to be consistent with our null hypothesis at 5% level of significance (z = 1.051.64) with p value 0.29370.05 (2-tail test) and 0.14690.05 (1-tail test). Therefore, for financial sector companies we accept the null hypothesis and observed the difference between pre and post merger RONW to be not statistically significant. Insert Table-2 here Earning Per Share (EPS) In order to get true idea of return on investment owner should evaluate his investment returns not on the basis of the dividend received, but on the basis of the EPS i.e. earnings per share. The more the EPS better are the performance and prospects of the company. Major observations in Table 3 The EPS of merged company during pre and post merger periods given in Table 3 can be interpretated as:  · It is interesting to note that among the sample of 17 merging cases, 15 merging firms indicate increase in EPS and only 2 merging firms showed decrease in average of three year of EPS during post merger period when comparing with pre merger performance of same cases.  · Also out of 17 merging cases, EPS of 9 firms increased more than fifty per cent during post merger period as compared to pre merger performance of the companies.  · 2 merging firms having negative value, showed an increase in EPS during post merger period but it was observed that inspite of increase in amount of EPS the value was still negative. We also find that the null hypothesis is rejected as z=3.091.64 at significance level of 5% and the difference is statistically significant at two tail test (p value=0.002) and one tail test (p value=0.001). Hence, we find that there is a significant correlation between financial performance and the MA deal. Insert Table-3 here II. Liquidity parameters Liquidity ratios measure the short term solvency i.e. the firms ability to pay off current dues. In the present study current ratio is used to check the liquidity of the firm. Current Ratio In a sound business, a current ratio of 2:1 is considered an ideal one. A very high ratio will result in idleness of funds and therefore, is not a good sign. On the contrary, a low ratio would mean inadequacy of working capital. Major observations in Table 4 The results of the current ratio of sample merging firms before and after merger have been presented in Table 4.  · Among the 17 merging cases, 7 merging firms showed increase in current ratio and 10 merging firms showed decrease in current ratio.  · In the case of Laxminarayan Investment Ltd. current ratio increased from 1 times to 10 times (approx.), showing a huge increase in working capital, it can be interpreted that the firm may have idle funds available as current assets, which increased relatively with greater speed than current liabilities. By running Wilcoxon test null hypothesis is proved for financial sector companies as z=1.011.64 at 5% level of significance and difference between pre and post merger current ratio position is not statistically significant as inferred by p value (2-tail)=0.3125 and p value (1-tail)=0.1562. Insert Table-4 here III. Solvency parameters Solvency parameters indicate the ability of an enterprise to meet its long term indebtedness (obligations). In this study debt-equity ratio is used to measure the solvency position. Debt-Equity ratio The debt to equity ratio is worked out to ascertain soundness of the long term financial policies of the firm. A higher ratio indicates a risky financial position while a lower ratio indicates safer financial position. The debt to equity ratio of sample merged companies during pre and post merger period of financial sector is exhibited in Table 5. Major observations in Table 5  · Out of 17 merging firms, there was increase in debt to equity ratio of 11 merging firms, which means that debt (leverage) in the firm increased. It is important to note that the average increase in the value of 4 firms over three year was small.  · 2 firms out of 17 merging cases showed decline in debt to equity ratio. As per the results from the Wilcoxon test we reject the null hypothesis for financial sector companies with z=2.461.64 at 5% level of significance. The difference is statistically significant as p value = 0.0069 (1-tail test and p value = 0.0139 (2-tail test). Insert Table-5 here IV. Overall efficiency parameters The main objective of business is to earn profit. Therefore, efficiency in business is measured by profitability. Thus, a measure of profitability is the overall measure of efficiency. To check the overall efficiency of the merging cases, profit before tax, profit after tax and profit before tax to total income are calculated. Profit before tax (PBT) Profit before tax, or PBT, measures the profits of the companies before paying corporate taxes. Table 6 depicts PBT of the merging cases in financial sector and can be interpreted as follows: Major observations in Table 6  · It is interesting to know that all 17 merging cases taken under study have shown increase in the profit before taxes.  · Among these 17 merging cases, 5 companies had negative profits before taxes during pre merger period but it is observed that during post merger period the average of three years profit before taxes was positive. It can be interpretated as good sign for the companies going for merger. Insert Table-6 here Profit before tax to Total income Profit before tax (PBT) to total income is the relationship between profit before tax and total income incurred by the business. The results of PBT to total income of sample merging firms before and after merger of financial sector companies have been presented in Table 7. Major observations in Table 7  · It was observed that out of 17 merging cases in financial sector, 11 firms showed increase in PBT to total income and 6 firms showed decline in ratio. When we perform non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test, the results for PBT were found to be inconsistent with the null hypotheses and we reject the same as z = 3.61 at 5% significance level and p value =0.0002 (1-tail) and 0.0003 (2-tail). On the other hand the results of PBT to total income were found to be consistent with the null hypothesis at z = 1.43 at 5% significance level and p value = 0.0764 (1-tail) and 0.1527 (2-tail). Insert Table-7 here 6. Conclusion With the series of MA taking place in financial sector in India more than half of the merging firms showed improved financial performance in the post merger time period as compared to the pre merger period. Our study produced several interesting findings. First, earning available to shareholders and debt to equity ratio showed a significant change in pre and post merger financial position of the companies. Second, contrary to our expectations, we found the change in the return on net worth, liquidity position and profit before tax to total income of the companies to be not statistically significant. Overall, the result of the study indicate that in most of the MA cases, in the long run the acquiring firms were able to generate value creation in one or the other form, that is higher cash flows, cost cutting and greater market power, however in spite of improved financial performance sixty four per cent of cases showed increased debt to equity ratio. It is also significant to note that profit before tax in all the merging cases has shown a positive trend for both financial sector companies.

Arguing for Medical Marijuana Legalization Essay examples

Arguing For Medical Marijuana Legalization The argument for medical marijuana legalization has been one of the controversial debates that have raised heated discussions in many conferences worldwide. Therefore, this essay will provide a consistent and comprehensive argument to support the position that medical marijuana should be legalized. In this essay, the stand will focus on the fundamental aspects behind treatment. In addition, it will present evidence for how marijuana treatment provides heaps of benefits for terminally ill patients as well as pain relief options for others. As if so, this essay corroborates that legalization will allow substance controls and regulations, in turn, minimizing the chances for abuse or addiction.†¦show more content†¦Prohibiting this process in essence means abandoning human life. Marijuana is the most essential and therapeutically active substance that has been discovered by man. Therefore, medical cannabis refers to the use of the canna bis drug as recommended herbal therapy by physicians. This is mostly known as antiemetic. The experimental demonstration of marijuana’s significant properties thousands of years ago proves that it is one of the most essential substances that can be used in manufacturing drugs (Minamide). As provided from the ancient Indians, its psychoactive properties were realized which triggered its use by doctors to treat a variety of ailments and illnesses. This argument has been supported by the modern scientific experiment in the United States. Researchers have found that marijuana was greatly important in treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, pain reliever mostly in childbirth. In addition, they also found out that smoking marijuana reduces pain, especially with patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, and chemotherapy (Minamide). In the recent past, marijuana has been found to be an important substance on AIDs patients where it reduces nausea, vomiting, and appetite lo ss. Moreover, it was recognized as a significant substance in relieving glaucoma eye pressure. It was also shown that it plays a vital role in Multiple Sclerosis. It reduces muscle pain, spasticity, and reduces diseases that cause body tremors. Epilepsy,Show MoreRelatedthree arguments Essay741 Words   |  3 Pageslegalizing marijuana I found three very different styles of arguments in which the authors backed up their opinions with facts. In my reading of these arguments each writer had there own style. The first essay by Stephen B. Duke, Cannabis Captiva Freeing the World from Marijuana Prohibition, the second Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: Investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence, and the third Poll: Nationwide Marijuana LegalizationRead MoreEssay on Medicinal Marijuana: Miracle Drug Of the Future?1682 Words   |  7 PagesMedicinal Marijuana: Miracle Drug Of the Future? The many tales and legends surrounding the medical use of marijuana can be traced as far back to the ancient Chinese and Greek civilizations, who both believed that on top of its psychoactive capabilities, marijuana was effective in treating pain. Several thousand years later, Queen Victoria was urged by her doctor to take marijuana in order to relieve such pains as migraines or menstrual cramps. However, despite the many historicalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal? Essay1234 Words   |  5 Pagesdoctors have prescribed marijuana, and â€Å"the Clinton administration threatened to prosecute doctors who prescribe marijuana,† (Gonnerman 40). Doctors are prescribing marijuana for its medical benefits. The Clinton administration on the other hand is outlawing marijuana because it has not been approved by the FDA. Since doctors feel marijuana has medical benefits it should be clinically tested so they can prescribe it for their patients. Marijuana can be used for many medical reasons. For cancer patientsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1218 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana legalization would allow for legal distribution and taxation of cannabis as well as decrease expensive enforcement and incarceration costs. Political authorities debate whether legalization or decriminalization is necessary. Derived from the hemp plant called Cannabis sativa, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States (Glauser). Usually smoked in a blunt, joint, or pipe, the dry, shredded brownish-green mix of stems and leaves can be mixed in food, or brewed intoRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1502 Words   |  7 Pagesand wellbeing of all human life in our nation. The dynamic of whether we should legalize marijuana for recreational use is evident and typically harmful. The American Academy of Pediatricians has summarized in a statement some of the negative effects stemming from marijuana use for youths. As well as a report from the n ational Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which has confirmed that consuming marijuana can remain at times more fatal than drinking while under the influence of alcohol. ThereRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should Be Legal1641 Words   |  7 PagesThe article Marijuana talks about what marijuana is and how marijuana is used in the medical setting. Also this article marijuana talks about how effective the marijuana of kids in high school and the effects of social work and the social life itself. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Marijuana can also be used to drink tea and, predominantly when it is sold or expended for medical purpose is normally mixed into foods. Marijuana is a cannabis which used for some psychoactiveRead MoreRhetorical Essay Sample Paragraph835 Words   |  4 PagesParagraph The Legalization of Marijuana in America Should America legalize an illegal drug, as way out of the economical downfall we have found ourselves in? A popular article appeared in April of 2009 in Times magazine, catching millions of readers’ attention. The article was titled, â€Å"Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense† and was written by Joe Klein. Cannabis, America’s drug of choice for the past eighty-five years has been a plant otherwise known as marijuana or weed. Everyday millionsRead MoreThe Debate Over The Legalization Of Hemp1443 Words   |  6 Pages The legalization of hemp has been a very controversial topic since it was made illegal in 1937. However, through research in recent years that it has become more evident that hemp is more than a drug, but a versatile, economical, friendly product that can be used in a wide variety of resources with low impact on the environment. Hemp seed oil can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, inks, lubrication, household detergents, varnishes, resins, and paints due to it is low in saturated fats. HempRead MoreLegalization of medical marijuana at the federal law Essay1653 Words   |  7 PagesWhy should marijuana be legalized? Marijuana can be argued for different reasons. In my case I will be arguing the medical purposes for legalizing marijuana. Marijuana has positive features, and how people prefer using marijuana. Marijuana helps individuals get through a variety of things that they suffer. Marijuana provides relief from pain, rather than other medications out there. Many individuals prefer marijuana over anything else to relax. An argument on why people using marijuana spend moreRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana For Recreational Use Essay1463 Words   |  6 Pageshave approved the legalization of Marijuana for recreational use, and eighteen other states have approved forms of medical uses of the drug. T his means that there are a total of forty-two states that have not approved the drug for recreational use, and have criminal laws against it. One of these states happens to be the state of Ohio. Recently, the counties within Ohio have voted for the legalization of both recreational and medical use, ending with a result of only passing medical uses of the drug

Models Performance Cooperative Exploration -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Models Performance Cooperative Exploration? Answer: Introducation The report analyses the different communication skills that individuals can use and the manner in which using these skills can help in improving the communication. The focus is on the particular communication skills that are required for success in a business organisation. The report analyses the communication tools that are required for the development of a proper communication system. The report provides a brief concept of communication and the various issues and models related to communication. Furthermore, the report provides a reflection based on the interpersonal communication of the researcher that is based on the results obtained from the use of the communication tools. Hence, to complete this assessment, the report uses five diagnostic communication tools that help in understanding the effectiveness of communication. To understand the level of my communication prowess I have used five diagnostic tools that can help me to understand my confidence level and the improvement that I need to make. According to Shwom and Snyder, (2015), the communication tools help an individual to find out the error they possess and the qualities they lack while undertaking proper communication. To understand the personality of the people, questionnaires are solved that provide an insight into the personality of the people and the confidence they possess while communicating with one another. The five tools that have been used in this case are: The Non-verbal Immediacy Scale Self-report (NIS-S) Personal Report of Intercultural Communication Apprehension (PRICA) Talkaholic Scale Tolerance for Disagreement Scale (TFD) Willingness to Listen Diagnostic These tests are effective in helping me to understand my communication style and the areas in which I need to develop my skills. Each tool has different levels that help me in assessing the pattern of communication that every individual possesses. The Non-verbal Immediacy Scale-Self-analyses the behaviours of the individuals provide positive feeling towards other people. This can be considered as the most updated communication assessment tool. Similarly, the Personal Report of Intercultural Communication Apprehension addresses any communication issue that may arise during intercultural communication. This instrument is assumed to be better than the previous version, although some scholars are of the opinion that it may be correlated with the previous version (Thill Bove, 2013). The Talkaholic Scale is used to measure the talkative nature of the people. People with difficulty to remain silent for a long time can be assessed using this tool. However, the phrase talks too much usually refers to people that speak out their feelings that others do not. The fourth tool, that is the Tolerance for Disagreement Scale is used to measure the level up to which people can tolerate being disagreed upon by other people. The Willingness to Listen Diagnostic tool helps to understand the listening ability of individuals. Often the listening ability of individuals is termed as the key to make effective communication (Shwom Snyder, 2015). Each of the tools used has produced different results that have helped in the analysis of my communication level. The communication style and the level of my confidence have been presented in a clear manner after the analysis of the test results. The results of the analysis are summarised accordingly for the future development of my communication abilities and reaction to situations. The analysis of the Non-verbal Immediacy Scale Self-report suggests that my positive feeling towards other people is medium. This suggests that I need to develop my skills to see the positive side of the people. The analysis states that any score above 83 for males is low as it brings in a sense of negative attitude towards other people. The calculation of the total score of the questionnaire and the solving method undertaken for the analysis suggests that my score is 94, which is below 104. Thus, my emotions towards trusting people depend upon factors such as the personality of the people and level of m y connection with the people. According to Cardon, (2015), it is an important aspect of the communication process that can help in making effective communication with people in the workplace (Refer to Appendix 1 for test result). The next test that was undertaken by me is the business-law Report of Intercultural Communication Apprehension. In this test, the score can range from 14 to 70 and scores below 32 indicate that the level of intercultural communication is low among individuals. In my case, the results of the test indicated that my score is 28. This indicates the fact that my ability to maintain intercultural communication is low and that I am usually nervous whenever I talk to people outside of my cultural group. I cannot engage in any group discussion that involves people of other culture. Despite this, I feel comfortable while interacting with people from other cultures. The results indicate a huge negative sign as in the modern day, it is necessary for every individual to remain comfortable during the communication with people from other cultures. This is because organisations employ people from different backgrounds for increasing diversity (Refer to Appendix 2 for test result). The third test result that I had undertaken is the Talkaholic test. This test indicates the level of my boldness and the manner in which I can communicate my feelings to other people. The requirements of this test are that I need to have a score between 10 and 50 to assert my level of high talkative nature. However, the results showed that I had scored 27, which is said to be an average score for many people. This indicates that I do not like to communicate my feelings with others and tend shy away from sharing my views (Refer to Appendix 3 for test result). The fourth test result, that is Tolerance for Disagreement Scale is a test that determines my temperament level. This test suggests that people with a high mentality of the argument tend to be involved in a disagreement with people. Any score below 32 in this test shows a low level of tolerance. In my case, the score of 44 indicates that I have a modern level of tolerance towards disagreement. This is a character test, as well as my responses to these disagreements, can be analysed (Refer to Appendix 4 for test result). The fifth test result indicates that my willingness to listen to other people is moderate. In this test, a score of 84 indicates that I pay attention to the talks of the people but at the same time try to install my opinion as well. This implies that I tend to be carried away and that I need to be more focused so achieve desired results in my professional career (Refer to Appendix 5 for test result). Having analysed the results of the five communication test, I can tell that my ability to speak with others need improvement. This is evident from Talkaholic test in which I secured low score than the cut off mark. This can help in gaining an advantage in the future, as my thoughts may prove important in any organisational matter. My ability to speak with people from difficult cultures also need improvement as is evidenced by the PRICA test. This is also effective in learning about the methods and beliefs of people belonging to different cultures. The moderate score of my listening ability indicates that I can be a good communicator. However, I need to remain focused and try to see the reason for the negative feedback that people give me about a particular topic. I do not engage in the deliberation of disagreement with people at my workplace. To provide a more detailed analysis of my communication level, I can provide two instances that highlight my communication gap. The first issue that I need to provide focus is my ability to interact with other people of a different cultural group. The situation happened about 3 months ago, while I was working in a team. The team members consisted of different cultural people and my nervousness in front of them was clearly visible. My role in the team was to motivate the members and provide any moral support during the work. However, owing to my nervousness I failed to achieve the task assigned to me. This created problem in the team and most of the members were discouraged to continue working for the team. The situation made me realise my inability to maintain intercultural communication. I need to develop smartness and be bold while communicating with the people outside the culture. The second issue that occurred was the result my lack of concentration while listening to people. Due to my inability to remain a focus, I failed to understand the tasks that were given to me by my superior. This led to the huge commotion as it got the organisation to fall into a state of concern. I need to develop this ability, as a good listener is also a good communicator. The assessment of every situation can be done by properly listening to the words of other people. Thus, the ability to listen to people and judge people positively is also another skill that I need to develop. These abilities are effective for a proper professional growth. Concept of communication and its issues According to Rentz and Lentz, (2013), communication can be considered as a convenient way of transferring information, thoughts and feelings. Every person needs to communicate with one another to prevent from being lonely and understand the thoughts and processes of the people. The exchange of information can be in two-folds, non-verbal and verbal. The verbal communication is the most common form of communication that involves the talking with people using words; the non-verbal communication is made by using signals. To understand the communication level that is required, certain tools are developed that highlight the ability and the inability of the individuals. The communication tools are effective in highlighting the issues and the manner in which individuals can solve it (Argenti, 2015). Hence, an example can be provided to highlight the communication issues and the possible diagnosis. The inability to communicate properly with people from different cultures is a common problem for most people. This often leads to ineffective interaction between the team members and may create a sense of distrust among the members. As stated by Peleckien Polajeva, (2016) the issues between people may lead to improper communication and individuals may feel depressed due to the inability to maintain proper collaboration. This may even jeopardise the team as lack of communication may lead to misunderstanding. The second issue that I faced was the fact that I am not a good listener. Listening to people makes a person communicate more freely with people and develop a sense of leadership as the individuals can gain experience by listening to people (Chaney Martin, 2013). The proper listening ability also provides opportunities to make quick decisions. These issues can be solved by remain ing focused on the objective. Developing empathy towards the people can lead to building confidence to approach people of different cultures. In this regard, it can be said that certain models related to communication can be used in order to ensure effective transfer of communication. Models related to communication Hampf Mller-Pohl, (2013) stated that to develop proper communication among individuals, it is necessary to use certain communication models. These models provide a proper background about the effective use of communication and the manner in which messages can be transferred from one individual to another. One such model that can be used to understand communication is Schramms model. This model is used to segment the different components related to communication. These components help in the proper form of communication at a steady rate. The sender of a message delivers it using encrypted code. The message sent is then decoded by the receiver and analysed about its importance. After the decoding, the message is communicated to the people. The medium of communication is done by using internal activities that are present in an organisation. This can be considered as an ultimate model for individuals that have problems in maintaining direct communication. As observed by DiSanza Legge (2016) the model developed by Schramm considers communication is a continuous process. Communication between people will not cease, as people need to communicate with one another in every field. Hence, it is necessary for every person to ensure that the level of communication is kept intact and that people can understand one another fluently without any problems. In this context, it can be said that the model develops by Schramm can be an effective model that helps in maintaining the communication process in every sphere of life. The process can help in developing listening skills among individuals. This is done as the messages sent are normally encrypted. Hence, in order to decrypt the message, it is necessary that individuals listen to every part of the message minutely. The model provides a continuous flow that exists from both ends and maintains a steady level of communication. However, Sadia et al., (2016) stated that communication could be more eff ective with the use of Berlos model as it provides a simple approach to the communication process. Belos model signifies that the communication skills that are needed by individuals are vital for the transmission of messages from the sender to the receiver. This model is also referred to as the SMCR model because the required factor is analysed using every component. At the same time, the skills that are required for the dev elopement of the model are stated that provides a proper understanding of the model. Evans et al., (2017) stated that the factors are divided help in analysing the model in a proper manner. The factors include the source, message, channel and receiver. The sender sent the messages by the use of various channels that are effective in delivering the message on time and in an accurate manner. The channels are used in an abstract manner that is used for the proper communication of messages. These channels can be sight, hear, feel, smell and taste. This signifies that the five sense of individuals is necessary for maintaining the proper communication between people . However, proper communication skill is also required for accepting the messages in its true format (Grunig, 2013). At the same time, it is necessary that the receiver understand the manner in which the messages can be decrypted. In order to ensure that communication is maintained effectively, this can be considered as an essential factor. Hence, it can be said that people with an inability to communicate with others cannot be asked to handle this form of communication. The important component of this model of communication is the fact that the messages are precise and consist of codes. The comprehensive manner in which the messages are transferred is effective in many workplace situations. This is because short messages are easy to get through to people and the manner in which it is sent can be decrypted easily. This model can help in the development of interpersonal communication skills. It can be said that the practical implementation of this model can be applied to individuals wanting to improve the level and effectiveness of communication (Fleisher Bensoussan, 2015). Thus, it can be said that the conceptual and practical implication of these models helps in the development of an individual. The skills are analysed so that every person can develop the ability to maintain proper communication with one another. Hence, Belos model is effective for developing communication as well as interpersonal skills among individuals. Conceptual and behavioural skills needed To develop competence in the department of communication, it is essential that individuals apply theoretical as well as practical knowledge. The applicability of the theoretical concept can help in understanding a topic in a broader manner. This can help in the application of the concepts and can help in focusing on the ways to improve the practical application. The practical implementation helps to provide an experience that is necessary for competing in the professional world. Both the applications can help individuals understand the level of improvement required in their personal development areas. In the words of Popp, Raneburger Kaindl, (2013), the listening skill of the individuals form the basis of all communication. Every individual is provided with an opportunity develop self-competence that can help in the development of skills in the future. The factors that cause an issue among individuals can be analysed with the development of professional skills. Hence, it can be said that verbal, as well as non-verbal communication, is required in order to solve any issue that arises because of improper skills of the individuals (Tuna, Gulez Gungor, 2013). At the same time, it can be said that other factors also affect the interpersonal communication between individuals. The emotion of people often clouds the judgement that may hamper proper communication and judge of character of a person. People possessing strong emotional competence are destined to develop proper communication due to the lack of emotional outbursts that may occur within other people. Evans et al., (2017) provided evidence that people with proper listening skills often gain success in the communication department. This is because listening to people makes them judge the character of the individuals in a proper manner. This is an important factor as listening can help a person to gain experience in every department. Proper listening can pave the way for the development of future leaders as listening can be converted to making effective communication with people. In this regard, it can be said that the best method to improve the communication with people is to understand the demand made by them. Having understood this demand, individuals can develop communication competence and ensure that every issue that is faced by them are solved easily. This includes the issues related to communication (Thill Bove, 2013). The manner in which people listen and express their thoughts forms the basis of the communication process. Thus, it is important for every individual to ensu re that the necessary requirements for improving the communication process can be used effectively in order to ensure future professional development. Action Plan Having analysed my issues in terms of communicating with people, I have managed to develop an action plan that can be used to improve my skills. The action plan focuses on the issues that I have encountered and the manner in which I can improve upon the errors. It can be said that to conduct the plan in a proper manner I started to maintain a journal entry that records my activity every day. This journal can be effective as I can reflect upon my progress and the things that I still need to achieve in order to be successful in the communication department. In this regard, I have set a timeline so that I can develop my communication skills within that period. I aim to address my issues within 6 months and rectify any issues that hinder my communication. To ensure that I am guided properly, I have sought the assistance of a trainer. The person concerned is a professional and have coached people with similar problems that I have encountered. I have sought the help of Peter Dhu, a Diploma holder in Professional Coaching. Mr Dhu has an experience of over 20 years in providing training to people suffering communication issues. I have assigned an eight-week training programme for him with the hopes of getting help in my communication problems. The professional advice that Mr Dhu provides can help to understand the gaps in my communication and help me in the development of a stable career in my future. Along with the training classes, I have started to read books that describe various models and theories related to communication. For improvement, I have been reading books written by famous authors. Some of the books include Active listening 101: How to turn down your volume to turn up your communication skill written by Emilia Hardman, 2012. "The Power of communication skills to build trust, inspire loyalty and lead effectively" written by Helio Fred Garcia, 2012. "Power Listening: Mastering the most critical business skill" written by Bernard, T. Ferrari, 2012. With the help of these books, I have managed to understand the use of effective communication in developing proper skills. I have also started to participate in evaluation courses that help in developing communication skills. Some of the courses that I am currently undertaking include Diploma in Communication Management courses, Skills in managing people effectively using communication techniques. These courses are effectiv e for solving the issues related to communication. The experience and the guidance provided by the teachers can help me to mitigate the problems that I have faced. Activity January February March April May June Maintain journal Undertake guidance from professor Read books Enrol in communication course Table: Gantt chart (Source: Created by author) Reference Argenti, P. A. (2015).Corporate communication. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Cardon, P. (2015).Business communication: Developing leaders for a networked world. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Chaney, L., Martin, J. (2013).Intercultural business communication. Pearson Higher Ed. DiSanza, J. R., Legge, N. J. (2016).Business and professional communication: Plans, processes, and performance. Pearson. Evans, D. R., Hearn, M. T., Uhlemann, M. R., Ivey, A. E. (2017).Essential interviewing: A programmed approach to effective communication. Nelson Education. Fleisher, C. S., Bensoussan, B. E. (2015).Business and competitive analysis: effective application of new and classic methods. FT Press. Hampf, M., Mller-Pohl, S. (Eds.). (2013).Global communication electric: business, news and politics in the world of psychology. Campus Verlag. McQuail, D., Windahl, S. (2015).Communication models for the study of mass communications. Routledge. Peleckien, V., Polajeva, T. (2016). Towards sustainable entrepreneurship: role of nonverbal communication in business negotiations.Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues,4(2), 228-239. Popp, R., Raneburger, D., Kaindl, H. (2013). Tool support for automated multi-device GUI generation from discourse-based communication models. InProceedings of the 5th ACM SIGCHI symposium on Engineering interactive computing systemspp. 145-150 Rentz, K., Lentz, P. (2013).Lesikars Business Communication: Connecting in a Digital World. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Sadia, A., Salleh, B. M., Kadir, Z. A., Sanif, S. (2016). The Relationship between Organizational Communication and Employees Productivity with New Dimensions of Effective Communication Flow.Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies,2(2), 93-100. Shwom, B. G., Snyder, L. G. (2015). Business communication: Polishing your professional presence. Pearson. Thill, J. V., Bove, C. L. (2013).Excellence in business communication. Pearson. Tuna, G., Gulez, K., Gungor, V. C. (2013). The effects of exploration strategies and communication models on the performance of cooperative exploration.Ad Hoc Networks,11(7), 1931-1941.

Result, Methods, And Intro Essays - Mental Processes, Memory, Schema

Result, Methods, And Intro 12/8/00 Introduction, Methods, and Results Memory Recall Adianice Correa Memory Recall There are many questions to how people process information. Many have understood that people remember and learn components of a passage more easily when particular elements of the passage are subjectively considered to be important than when it's not. Systems such as story schemata produce organized descriptions of the substance of a text. Thus, drawing attention to particular parts of a story. However, there is no definite answer as to what makes such element s important, and therefore making such components become easily retrieved. This paper will list possible explanations for what makes specific text important. Findings from prior research give special consideration to evidence that seem to maintain dissimilarities between encoding and retrieval. The schemata theory has been used for the present experiment. In this theory, components of a schemata are slots or variables which may be defined as events or elements that are remembered better because there is a structure or framework laid down beforehand. Such theories, which try to explain how schemas work are recognized as the ?attention-directing theory? or the ?slot theory.? Schema theory provides an instant annotation on the dominance in the recollection of important information. In the ?attention-directing? hypothesis the schema singles out important elements. Therefore, more attention is devoted to these elements than to less important ones, and so they more likely to be learned. Another hypothesis is the ?ideational scaffolding? hypothesis in which the schema is most likely going to contain a slot for important text elements where the information gets stored specifically because there is a function for it. Ways of processing information are based upon individual differences, in which there may or may not be slots for both important and unimportant elements. Several investigators (Bower, 1977; Mandler Pichert & Anderson, 1977) have contemplated that a schema might provide a retrieval arrangement. The idea is that memory search comes from the generic knowledge integrated in the schema to the particular information stored when the text was read. A second possibility is that schemata guide ?output editing.? This would require suggesting that a schema includes within itself an indicator of significance, which in conjunction with the demand characteristics of the recall causes the person to establish a response condition. A final possible retrieval process is ?inferential reconstruction? (Spiro, 1977). Suppose that a participant was attempting to recall a story about going to a movie theatre. He or she might not remember whether popcorn had been eaten, but since there is a slot in his or her schema for popcorn being eaten during movie- watching. And so, the popcorn may be reconstructed, and assumes that soda was a most likely beverage to be drunk during the move session, being produced as a plausible guess. Therefore, the abstract apparatus of the schema will be biased toward reconstructing important elements. There is a repeated finding that important elements persist to emerge in recall code of behavior after a retention period, whereas the appearance of unimportant elements decreases overwhelmingly (cf. Bower, 1976; Newman, 1939). In the present study, college students were read stories from either of two directed perspectives or from no directed perspective. The passage had to do with a subject named Spike, who was trying to get out of a situation, being bound and had been accused of doing something wrong. The situation was described to be in a closed tight space with a confinement description of his surroundings. Different groups rated the importance of the elements in the story from three points of view: the viewpoint of wrestler, the viewpoint of a convict, or a non- directional perspective. The purpose of the experiment described in this paper was to attempt to offer a foundation for the process in text recall of retrieval methods separate from storage mechanisms. Within a schema framework, it can be argued that people may store information when reading a text, which they fail to produce when recalling that same information. After the subjects had been read the Spike passage, all attempted to recall the story after being presented with a distraction test. One third of the subjects were directed to one perspective, that is, from wrestler, to convict, to a

Bell Canada Business Analysis

Bell Canada Business Analysis Free Online Research Papers Bell Canada has been in the wireless business for many years serving customers across Canada as Bell Mobility. Bell Canada has been a leader in all of the industries it is involved in, and with wireless telephony it is no different. As time progressed, other competitors entered the wireless business, and with that Bell Mobility lost a vast majority of its share. Once the leader in the wireless market, it now sits back and watches Rogers Wireless tear away at its subscriber base and major corporate clients (BM Product Pricing, 2007-B). Sitting comfortably ahead of its CDMA counterpart Telus, Bell mobility needs to review and assess it most important resources and capabilities in order to focus on opportunities that may rise in the external environment (Grant, pg. 125). There has been an increasing emphasis on the role of resources and capabilities as the basis for strategy. This is due to unstable industry environments and that competitive advantage is the primary source of profitability (Grant, pg. 125). Bell Mobility, therefore, needs to exploit its key strengths, specifically its dealer channels (distribution), R D departments, Engineering, and its Marketing and Sales teams, and ensure that the company’s strategy is focus ed around these resources (Grant, pg 147). Analysis In order for a company to be successful it must focus its strategy around its best resources and capabilities. Resources and capabilities should be appraised against two criteria: Importance to the industry, and the relative strength of these resources and capabilities compared to industry competitors (Grant, pg. 143). The next 3 pages hold a table and a figure, which summarizes Bell Mobility’s strengths and weaknesses, and how important these are to the overall strategy: INSERT RESOURCE AND CAPABILITES CHARTS HERE Combining importance and relative strength allows a company to highlight its key strengths and key weaknesses (Grant, pg. 147). The assessment for Bell Mobility shows that the company should focus its strategy around its dealer network, engineering, RD and marketing sales departments. The chart also illustrates that the organization’s key weaknesses are strategic management, product development, and its purchasing arrangements. Conclusion Now that Bell Mobility has assessed its key weaknesses and strengths, it can begin to build a strategy around its strengths, and develop an action plan to improve its weaknesses. In regards to product development and purchasing power, the problem lies in its CDMA technology. Despite being a better network, and offering quicker wireless broadband speeds than GSM, and GSM’s edge, devices are scarce, GSM is pretty much the world’s standard with all of western Europe being on GSM. Portugal and Ireland are the only countries with CDMA capable technology, although major carriers also use GSM (cdg.org, 2007). It is with strategic alliances with companies such as Samsung and Microsoft that Bell will continue to combat Rogers in regards to exclusive handhelds. Monthly delays for phones such as the LG Chocolate, Moto Razr, Moto Krazr, and various BlackBerry devices eroded activation growth in 2006 and 2007 (BM Product Pricing, 2007-B), and thus, Bell needs to associate itself wi th a reputable company in order to meet customer demands and improve its activations while reducing its cost of acquisition on handhelds. In regards to its strategy, the company should continue to expand its dealer network through the branded Bell World stores and perhaps build an alliance with a major retailer such as Best Buy or Future Shop to combat Rogers alliance with Circuit City and Radio Shack. These changes along with continued support for Engineering and RD will ensure continued success for Bell Mobility. References 1. Anonymous (2007). Telus Pricing Strategy: Q2 Results. Telus Mobility Internal Document. September 2007. 2. Bell Mobiliy Product Pricing (2007). 2008 Wireless Priorities. Bell Mobility Internal Document. August 31, 2007. 3. Bell Mobility Product Pricing (2007). Competitive Landscape Industry Analysis. Bell Mobility Internal Document. June 28, 2007. 4. CDG (2007). CDMA Development Group. www.cdg.org 5. Grant, Robert M., (2007). Contemporary Strategy Analysis: 6th edition. Blackwell Publishing. Malden MA. Research Papers on Bell Canada Business AnalysisAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasGenetic EngineeringStandardized Testing

Humanitarian Action Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Humanitarian Action - Assignment Example Hieronymi main logic or deduction from his research is that interests and values based approaches to humanitarian action are not entirely mutually exclusive. However the effective combination of the two vices can significantly strengthen the arguments that are formulated in humanitarian’s action favor. Hieronymi supports this logic by referring to the humanitarian imperative. This is the value and ability engrained deep into the human soul that enables him to clearly distinguish between right and wrong.1 He argues that in everyday life, human beings are faced with various moral dilemmas. These dilemmas can be of varying nature and human beings are therefore placed in a precarious position where they have to decide whether to take action or not. For example when one witness an instance of child cruelty, there is the obvious urge to take intervene. However in certain circumstances, moral consideration may be out rightly rejected. This may be due to various political philosophies , for example in states under dictatorship where human cruelty may be a common norm. This is obviously a clear violation of human values and principles. Hieronymi uses various historical situations in the past to further support his argument. Hieronymi also elaborates on the interests that humanitarian crises touch and which inadvertly stimulates human beings to take action. The first one is the nature and values of the universe that the human being so closely covets. The second interest is the ‘importing’ of the suffering and trouble risk. The final interest is the aftermath costs of the crises, which would have been avoided had prevention measures been effected. Hieronymi further argues that when deciding whether to take humanitarian action, the interests of both the victims and the individuals or organizations of the people taking the action must be taken into consideration. There should therefore be a convergence of both interests. Hieronymi concludes his logic by s tating that values and interests are therefore the two most significant vices that govern humanitarian action consideration. David Rieff’s point of view in his publication A Bed for the Night is that humanitarian action may pose more problems if solved realistically. This is an opinion which clearly concurs with other critics like Waal, Michael Maren, Bernard Hours, and Peter Uvin. He argues that humanitarian action is a futile enterprise whose effects may be fatal and this makes him unique from other literature writers because he first acknowledges the complexity of the issue call for a proper preparedness. His writing seeks to attack the common approach of relief programs and advocacy initiatives that are increasingly being applied by humanitarian agencies.  

Roles Reversal of the Democratic and Republican Party Research Paper

Roles Reversal of the Democratic and Republican Party - Research Paper Example Currently, democrats can be described as the real stewards of the status quo while Republicans are now struggling to bring changes in the United States. As much as the two parties have undergone modifications such that they appear to have reversed their positions, the royalty from the public has not changed. By this, I mean that those regions that were loyal to the conservative Republican remain loyal to the somehow radical Republican while the region royal to the radical Democratic Party remain loyal to the less liberal Democratic Party. However, it is irrefutable that certain aspects remain unchanged in either of the two parties. This paper argues that the Republican and Democratic parties have reversed their roles but most people remain loyal to either of the party because they do not know the history of the Democratic and Republican parties. Background of Republican and Democratic Parties Democratic Party origin can be traced back to the period before America attained independenc e from British. It was enhanced by Anti federalist factions. On the contrary, anti-slavery objectors instituted the Republican Party in 1854. However, Republican Party remained less popular until the Election of Abraham Lincoln who was the first Republican Party. During its foundation, Democratic Party was grounded on liberalism ideology while the Republican Party was based on conservatism. The different ideologies are depicted in personal and economic issues (Meyers web; Berg-Andersson Web). Liberalism advocate for individual autonomy over morality in addition to favoring economic equality over freedom. Liberalism also supports government actions to reduce poverty by redistributing the wealth. On the other hand, conservatism approves of personal morality over freedom and advocate for economic freedom over equality. Conservatives promote traditional principles such as strong patriotism (Parla Web; ProCon Web). Additionally, conservatism supports the idea that the government should n ot involve itself in role such as helping individuals and opposes attempts to redistribute income between the wealthy and the poverty-stricken. The ideologies also dictated the possible ways of reacting to different issues with Republicans being more likely to put economic freedom above equality while Democrats were likely to put equality over economic freedom (Berg-Andersson Web; Parla Web). Democrats are considered to be on the left side of the political spectrum and commonly referred to as the leftist while the republican are considered to be on the right. With time, the two parties have been characterized by change in their ideological platforms and specifics. Currently, neither of the two parties fully represents the same ideologies it did during the initial stages of the foundation. Additionally, the parties have undergone drastic changes in the past four decades, which has been portrayed by the change in the leadership styles by recent presidencies from each of the two partie s (Meyers Web; ProCon Web). The Democrats were initially a States Rights party, and strongly supported slavery. On the other hand, the Republicans started as an abolitionist party, whose members strongly opposed slavery. Currently, Republicans advocate and support States Rights, and are against any attempt by the government to increase taxes. On the other hand, Democrats prefer to use Federal funds and power to improve the lives of the poor as demonstrated by

Arthur Miller biography Essay Example for Free

Arthur Miller biography Essay Arthur Miller was born on 17 October 1915, in New York City. He lived in Harlem until he was fourteen. His Dad was a clothes manufacturer but lost all his money in 1929 when the stock market crashed. Due to the economic depression, which followed, when Miller graduated from high school in 1932 there was no money to send him to university. He worked for two years as shipping clerk, earning money to get him to college. He applied to the University of Michigan in 1934 and graduated from there in 1938. He worked in a Navy Yard while writing for the radio. His first successful stage play was All My Sons which opened in 1947 and later a film was made of it. Following this was the even more successful Death of a Salesman, which opened in 1949. These plays were seen as an attack on capitalism and during the McCarthy era of the 1940s and 1950s there was a lot of hysteria surrounding the spread of communism. Senator Joe McCarthy was very anti-communist and was adamant that any communist activities in America should be stomped out and the perpetrators jailed. Although this seemed a good idea to some, McCarthys policy was you either confess to be a communist, or give names of communists, or you would go to jail. Due to All My Sons and Death of a Salesman being seen as an attack on capitalism, Miller was summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee that had been in operation since 1938. He was told to confess to signing his name on various petitions that the court had received or he would be jailed. Arthur Miller linked the activities of the Committee to the Salem witchcraft trials in which a few adolescent girls accused people of Salem of witchcraft. If these people did not confess to witchcraft then they would be hanged. From this he was able to write the play, The Crucible. The Crucible is about a young girl named Abigail who is in love with a married man named John Proctor. Abby and some other girls confess to compacting with the devil and are seen as saints as they start naming people who they claim to be witches. Proctor is determined to stop them and he with some others try to oppose authority to uncover the truth. Miller has used John Proctor as metaphor for himself.

The Awakening Essay -- essays research papers

The Awakening is a novel about the growth of a woman into her own person, in spite of the mold society has formed for her. The book follows Edna Pontellier through about a year of her life. During this time we see her struggle to find who she really is, because she knows she cannot be happy filling the role of the mother-woman that society has created for her. She did not believe that she could break from this pattern because of the pressures of society, and ends up taking her own life. Should readers sympathize with her death? The answer is no.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Edna Pontellier was on her way to an awakening. She realized during the book that she was not happy with her position in life. It is apparent that she had never really been fully unaware however, because her own summary of this was some sort of blissful ignorance. Especially in the years of life readers are told about before her newly appearing independence, we see that she has never been fully content with the way her life had turned out. For example she admits she married Mr. Pontellier out of convenience rather than love. She knew he loved her but she did not love him. It was not even the case that she did not know what love was, for she had had infatuations that at the time (being so young) she believed was love. She consciously chose to marry Mr. Pontellier even though she did not love him. When she falls in love with Robert she regrets her decision of marrying Mr. Pontellier. Readers should not sy...

Zoe’s Tale PART III PROLOGUE

I lifted up my dad's PDA and counted off the seconds with the two thousand other people in the room. â€Å"Five! Four! Three! Two! One!† And then there was no noise, because everyone's attention – and I mean everyone's – was glued to the monitors peppered around the Magellan's common area. The screens, which had held starry skies in them, were blank and black, and everyone was holding their breath, waiting for what came next. A world appeared, green and blue. And we all went insane. Because it was our world. It was Roanoke, our new home. We would be the first people to land there, the first people to settle there, the first people to live our lives there. And we celebrated seeing it for that first time, we two thousand settlers of Roanoke, all crammed into that common area, hugging and kissing and singing â€Å"Auld Lang Syne,† because, well, what else do you sing when you come to a new world? A new world, new beginnings, a new year, a new life. New everything. I hugged my best friend Gretchen and we hollered into the microphone I had been using to count down the seconds, and hopped up and down like idiots. When we stopped hopping, a whisper in my ear. â€Å"So beautiful,† Enzo said. I turned to look at him, at this gorgeous, beautiful boy who I was seriously considering making my boyfriend. He was a perfect combination: heart-flutteringly pretty and apparently entirely ignorant of the fact, because he'd been spending the last week trying to charm me with his words, of all things. Words! Like he didn't get the teenage boy manual on how to be completely inarticulate around girls. I appreciated the effort. And I appreciated the fact that when he whispered his words, he was looking at me and not the planet. I glanced over at my parents about six meters away, kissing to celebrate the arrival. That seemed like a good idea. I reached my hand behind Enzo's head to draw him to me and planted one right on his lips. Our first kiss. New world, new life, new boyfriend. What can I say. I was caught up in the moment. Enzo didn't complain. â€Å"‘O brave new world, that has such people in it,'† he said, after I let him breathe again. I smiled at him, my arms still around his neck. â€Å"You've been saving that up,† I said. â€Å"Maybe,† he admitted. â€Å"I wanted you to have a quality first kiss moment.† See. Most sixteen-year-old boys would have used a kiss as an excuse to dive straight for the boobs. He used it as an excuse for Shakespeare. A girl could do worse. â€Å"You're adorable,† I said, kissed him again, then gave him a playful push and launched myself into my parents, breaking up their canoodling and demanding their attention. The two of them were our colony's leaders, and soon enough they would barely have time to breathe. It was best I get in some quality time while I could. We hugged and laughed and then Gretchen yanked me back toward her. â€Å"Look what I have,† she said, and thrust her PDA in my face. It showed a vidcap of me and Enzo kissing. â€Å"You evil little thing,† I said. â€Å"It's amazing,† Gretchen said. â€Å"It actually looks like you're trying to swallow his entire face.† â€Å"Stop it,† I said. â€Å"See? Look,† Gretchen tapped a button, and the vidcap played in slow motion. â€Å"Right there. You're mauling him. Like his lips were made of chocolate.† I was trying very hard not to laugh, because she was actually right about that. â€Å"Wench,† I said. â€Å"Give me that.† I snatched the PDA from her with one hand, erased the file, and handed it back. â€Å"There. Thank you.† â€Å"Oh, no,† Gretchen said, mildly, taking the PDA. â€Å"Learned your lesson about violating the privacy of others?† I said. â€Å"Oh, yes,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Good,† I said. â€Å"Of course, you already forwarded it to everyone we know before you showed it to me, didn't you?† â€Å"Maybe,† Gretchen said, and put her hand to her mouth, eyes wide. â€Å"Evil,† I said, admiringly. â€Å"Thank you,† Gretchen said, and curtsied. â€Å"Just remember I know where you live,† I said. â€Å"For the rest of our lives,† Gretchen said, and then we did embarrassingly girly squeals and had another hug. Living the rest of your life with the same two thousand people ran the risk of being dead-bang boring, but not with Gretchen around. We unhugged and then I looked around to see who else I wanted to celebrate with. Enzo was hovering in the background, but he was smart enough to know that I'd get back to him. I looked over and saw Savitri Guntupalli, my parents' assistant, conferring with my dad very seriously about something. Savitri: She was smart and capable and could be wicked funny, but she was always working. I got between her and Dad and demanded a hug. Yes, I was all about the hugs. But, you know, look: You only get to see your new world for the first time once. â€Å"Zoe,† Dad said, â€Å"can I have my PDA back?† I had taken Dad's PDA because he'd set the exact time the Magellan would skip from the Phoenix system to Roanoke, and used it to count off the last few minutes before the jump. I had my own PDA, of course; it was in my pocket. No doubt the vid-cap of me smooching Enzo was waiting for me in my in-box, just like it was in the in-boxes of all our friends. I made a note to myself to plot revenge against Gretchen. Sweet, merciless revenge. Involving witnesses. And farm animals. But for now I gave Dad back his PDA, gave him a peck on his cheek, and found my way back to Enzo. â€Å"So,† Enzo said, and smiled. God, he was even charming when monosyllabic. The rational part of my brain was lecturing me about how infatuation makes everything seem better than it is; the irrational part (meaning, most of me) was telling the rational part to get well and truly stuffed. â€Å"So,† I said back, not nearly as charmingly, but Enzo didn't seem to notice. â€Å"I was talking to Magdy,† Enzo said. â€Å"Uh-oh,† I said. â€Å"Magdy's not so bad,† Enzo said. â€Å"Sure, for certain values of ‘not so bad,' meaning ‘bad,'† I said. â€Å"And he said that he was talking to some of the Magellan crew,† Enzo said, forging along (charmingly). â€Å"They told him about an observation lounge on the crew level that's usually empty. He says we could get a great view of the planet there.† I glanced over Enzo's shoulder, where Magdy was talking animatedly to Gretchen (or at her, depending on one's point of view). â€Å"I don't think the planet is what he's hoping to view,† I said. Enzo glanced back. â€Å"Maybe not,† he said. â€Å"Although to be fair to Magdy, certain people aren't exactly trying hard not to be viewed.† I crooked an eyebrow at that; it was true enough, although I knew Gretchen was more into the flirting than anything else. â€Å"And what about you?† I said. â€Å"What are you hoping to see?† Enzo smiled and held up his hands, disarmingly. â€Å"Zoe,† he said. â€Å"I just got to kiss you. I think I want to work on that a little more before moving on to anything else.† â€Å"Ooh, nicely said,† I said. â€Å"Do these lines work on all the girls?† â€Å"You're the first girl I've tried them on,† Enzo said. â€Å"So you'll have to let me know.† I actually blushed, and gave him a hug. â€Å"So far, so good,† I said. â€Å"Good,† Enzo said. â€Å"Also, you know. I've seen your bodyguards. I don't think I want them to use me for target practice.† â€Å"What?† I said, mock-shocked. â€Å"You're not frightened of Hickory and Dickory, are you? They're not even here.† Actually, Enzo has a perfectly good reason to be utterly terrified of Hickory and Dickory, who were already vaguely suspicious of him and would happily cycle him out an airlock if he did anything stupid with me. But there was no reason to let him know that yet. Good rule of thumb: When your relationship is minutes old, don't freak out the new squeeze. And anyway, Hickory and Dickory were sitting out this celebration. They were aware they made most of the humans nervous. â€Å"I was actually thinking of your parents,† Enzo said. â€Å"Although they seem to be missing, too.† Enzo motioned with his head to where John and Jane had been standing a few minutes before; now neither of them were there. I saw Savitri leaving the common area as well, as if she suddenly had someplace to be. â€Å"I wonder where they went,† I said, mostly to myself. â€Å"They're the colony leaders,† Enzo said. â€Å"Maybe now they have to start working.† â€Å"Maybe,† I said. It was unusual for either John or Jane to disappear without telling me where they were going; it was just a common courtesy. I fought back the urge to message them on my PDA. â€Å"So, the observation lounge,† Enzo said, getting himself back to the topic at hand. â€Å"You want to check it out?† â€Å"It's on the crew deck,† I said. â€Å"You think we might get in trouble?† â€Å"Maybe,† Enzo said. â€Å"But what can they do? Make us walk the plank? At worst they'll just tell us to get lost. And until then we'll have a heck of a view.† â€Å"All right,† I said. â€Å"But if Magdy turns into all tentacles, I'm leaving. There are some things I don't need to see.† Enzo laughed. â€Å"Fair enough,† he said, and I snuggled into him a little. This new boyfriend thing was turning out just fine. We spent some more time celebrating with our friends and their families. Then, after things had settled down enough, we followed Magdy and Gretchen through the Magellan and toward the crew observation lounge. I thought sneaking into the crew area might be a problem; not only was it easy, but a crew member coming out of an entrance held it open for us. â€Å"Security is not a huge issue here on the Magellan,† Gretchen said, back to me and Enzo, then looked down at our clasped hands and smiled at me. She was evil, sure, but she was also happy for me. The observation lounge was where it was advertised to be, but alas for Magdy's nefarious plans, it was not empty as promised; four Magellan crew members sat at a table, intent in a conversation. I glanced over to Magdy, who looked like he had just swallowed a fork. I found this rather amusing myself. Poor, poor Magdy. Frustration became him. â€Å"Look,† Enzo said, and still holding my hand, guided me to a huge observation window. Roanoke filled the view, gorgeously green, fully illuminated with her sun behind us, more breathtaking in person than she was on the monitors. Seeing something with your own eyes makes a difference. It was the most beautiful thing I think I'd ever seen. Roanoke. Our world. â€Å"Wrong place,† I heard, barely, from the conversation at the table to the left of me. I glanced over at the table. The four Magellan crew there were so engaged in their conversation and so closed in to each other that it looked like most of their bodies were actually on the table rather than in their seats. One of the crew was sitting with his back to me, but I could see the other three, two men and a woman. The expression on their faces was grim. I have a habit of listening in to other people's conversations. It's not a bad habit unless you get caught. The way not to get caught is to make sure it looks like your attention is somewhere else. I dropped my hand from Enzo's and took a step toward the observation lounge window. This got me closer to the table while at the same time keeping Enzo from whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I kept myself visually intent on Roanoke. â€Å"You don't just miss,† one of the crew members was saying. â€Å"And the captain sure as hell doesn't. He could put the Magellan in orbit around a pebble if he wanted to.† The crew member with his back to me said something low, which I couldn't hear. â€Å"That's crap,† said the first crew member. â€Å"How many ships have actually gone missing in the last twenty years? In the last fifty? No one gets lost anymore.† â€Å"What are you thinking?† I jumped, which made Enzo jump. â€Å"Sorry,† he said, as I turned to give him an exasperated look. I put a finger to my lips to shush him, and then motioned with my eyes at the table now behind me. Enzo glanced behind me and saw the table. What? he mouthed. I shook my head a tiny bit to tell him he shouldn't distract me anymore. He gave me a strange look. I took his hand again to let him know I wasn't upset with him, but then focused my attention back to the table. † – calm. We don't know anything yet,† said another voice, this one belonging (I think) to the woman. â€Å"Who else knows about this?† Another mutter from the crew member facing away from me. â€Å"Good. We need to keep it that way,† she said. â€Å"I'll clamp down on things in my department if I hear anything, but it only works if we all do it.† â€Å"It won't stop the crew from talking,† said someone else. â€Å"No, but it'll slow down the rumors, and that's good enough until we know what's really happened,† the woman said. Yet another mutter. â€Å"Well, if it's true, then we have bigger problems, don't we?† said the woman, and all the strain she was experiencing was suddenly clear in her voice. I shuddered a little; Enzo felt it through my hand and looked at me, concerned. I gave him a serious hug. It meant losing the rest of the conversational thread, but at the moment, it's what I wanted. Priorities change. There was the sound of chairs pushing back. I turned and the crew members – it was pretty clear they were actually officers – were already heading toward the door. I broke away from Enzo to get the attention of the one closest to me, the one who had had his back to me earlier. I tapped him on the shoulder; he turned and seemed very surprised to see me. â€Å"Who are you?† he said. â€Å"Has something happened to the Magellan?† I asked. The best way to learn stuff is not to get distracted, for example, by questions relating to one's identity. The man actually scowled, which is something I'd read about but had never actually seen someone do, until now. â€Å"You were listening to our conversation.† â€Å"Is the ship lost?† I asked. â€Å"Do we know where we are? Is something wrong with the ship?† He took a step back, like the questions were actually hitting him. I should have taken a step forward and pressed him. I didn't. He regained his footing and looked past me to Enzo and Gretchen and Magdy, who were all looking at us. Then he realized who we were, and straightened up. â€Å"You kids aren't supposed to be here. Get out, or I'll have ship's security throw you out. Get back to your families.† He turned to go. I reached toward him again. â€Å"Sir, wait,† I said. He ignored me and walked out of the lounge. â€Å"What's going on?† Magdy asked me, from across the room. â€Å"I don't want to get in trouble because you've pissed off some random crew member.† I shot Magdy a look, and turned to look out the window again. Roanoke still hung there, blue and green. But suddenly not as beautiful. Suddenly unfamiliar. Suddenly threatening. Enzo put his hand on my shoulder. â€Å"What is it, Zoe?† he said. I kept staring out the window. â€Å"I think we're lost,† I said. â€Å"Why?† Gretchen asked. She had come up beside me. â€Å"What were they talking about?† â€Å"I couldn't hear it all,† I said. â€Å"But it sounded like they were saying we're not where we're supposed to be.† I pointed to the planet. â€Å"That this isn't Roanoke.† â€Å"That's crazy,† Magdy said. â€Å"Of course it's crazy,† I said. â€Å"Doesn't mean it might not be true.† I pulled out my PDA from my pocket and tried to connect with Dad. No answer. I tried connecting to Mom. No answer. â€Å"Gretchen,† I said. â€Å"Would you try calling your dad?† Gretchen's dad was on the colonial council my parents headed up. â€Å"He's not answering,† she said, after a minute. â€Å"It doesn't mean anything bad,† Enzo said. â€Å"We did just skip to a new planet. Maybe they're busy with that.† â€Å"Maybe they're still celebrating,† Magdy said. Gretchen smacked him upside the head. â€Å"You really are childish, Magdy,† she said. Magdy rubbed the side of his head and shut up. This evening was not going anything like he had planned. Gretchen turned to me. â€Å"What do you think we should do?† â€Å"I don't know,† I said. â€Å"They were talking about keeping the crew from talking. It means some of them might know what's going on. It won't take long to get to the colonists.† â€Å"It's already gotten to the colonists,† Enzo said. â€Å"We're colonists.† â€Å"We might want to tell someone,† Gretchen said. â€Å"I think your parents and my dad need to know, at least.† I glanced down at her PDA. â€Å"I think they might know already,† I said. â€Å"We should make sure,† she said. So we left the observation lounge and went looking for our parents. We didn't find them; they were in a council meeting. I did find Hickory and Dickory, or rather, they found me. â€Å"I think I should go,† Enzo said, after they'd stared at him, unblinking, for a minute. It wasn't meant as intimidation; they don't blink at all. I gave him a peck on the cheek. He and Magdy left. â€Å"I'm going to listen around,† Gretchen said. â€Å"See what people are saying.† â€Å"All right,† I said. â€Å"Me too.† I held up my PDA. â€Å"Let me know what you hear.† She left. I turned to Hickory and Dickory. â€Å"You two,† I said. â€Å"You were in your room earlier.† â€Å"We came looking for you,† Hickory said. It was the talker of the two. Dickory could talk, but it was always a surprise when it happened. â€Å"Why?† I said. â€Å"I was perfectly safe before. I've been perfectly safe since we left Phoenix Station. The Magellan is entirely threat-free. The only thing you've been good for this entire trip is scaring the crap out of Enzo. Why are you looking for me now?† â€Å"Things have changed,† Hickory said. â€Å"What do you mean?† I asked, but then my PDA vibrated. It was Gretchen. â€Å"That was fast,† I said. â€Å"I just ran into Mika,† she said. â€Å"You won't believe what she said a crew member just told her brother.† The adult colonists may have been either clueless or tight-lipped, but the Roanoke teenage rumor mill was in full swing. In the next hour, this is what we â€Å"learned†: That during the skip to Roanoke, the Magellan had wandered too close to a star and had been thrown out of the galaxy. That there was a mutiny and the first officer had relieved Captain Zane of command because of incompetence. That Captain Zane shot his own traitorous first officer right there on the bridge and said he'd shoot anyone who tried to help him. That the computer systems had failed just before the skip, and we didn't know where we were. That aliens had attacked the ship and were floating out there, deciding whether to finish us off. That Roanoke was poisonous to human life and if we landed there we'd die. That there was a core breach in the engine room, whatever that meant, and that the Magellan was this close to blowing up. That ecoterrorists had hacked into the Magellan's computer systems and sent us off in another direction so that we couldn't ruin another planet. No, wait, it was wildcat colonists-turned-pirates who hacked in, and they were planning to steal our colony supplies because their own were running low. No, wait, it was mutinous crew members who were going to steal our supplies and leave us stranded on the planet. No, wait, it wasn't thieving crew, wildcat pirates or ecoterrorists, it was just some idiot programmer who messed up the code, and now we don't know where we are. No, wait, nothing's wrong, this is just the standard operating procedure. There's not a thing wrong, now stop bothering the crew and let us work, damn it. I want to be clear about something: We knew most of this was crap and nonsense. But what was underneath all the crap and nonsense was just as important: Confusion and unease had spread through the crew of the Magellan, and from them, to us. It moved fast. It told any number of lies – not to lie but to try to make sense of something. Something that happened. Something that shouldn't have happened. Through all of this, nothing from Mom or Dad, or Gretchen's dad, or any of the colony council, all the members of which had suddenly found themselves called into a meeting. The common room, previously deserted after the new world celebrations, began to fill up again. This time people weren't celebrating. They looked confused, and concerned and tense, and some of them were beginning to look angry. â€Å"This isn't going to turn out well,† Gretchen said to me when we reunited. â€Å"How are you doing?† I said. She shrugged. â€Å"Something's happening, that's for sure. Everyone's on edge. It's putting me on edge.† â€Å"Don't go crazy on me,† I said. â€Å"Then there won't be anyone to hold me back when I lose it.† â€Å"Oh, well, for your sake then,† Gretchen said, and rolled her eyes dramatically. â€Å"Well. At least now I'm not having to fight off Magdy.† â€Å"I like how you can see the bright side of any situation,† I said. â€Å"Thanks,† she said. â€Å"How are you?† â€Å"Honestly?† I asked. She nodded. â€Å"Scared as hell.† â€Å"Thank God,† she said. â€Å"It's not only me.† She held up her thumb and finger and marked the tiny space between them. â€Å"For the last half hour I've been this close to peeing myself.† I took a step back. Gretchen laughed. The ship's intercom kicked on. â€Å"This is Captain Zane,† a man's voice said. â€Å"This is a general message for passengers and crew. All crew will assemble in their respective department conference rooms in ten minutes, 2330 ship time. All passengers will assemble in the passenger common area in ten minutes, 2330 ship time. Passengers, this is a mandatory assembly. You will be addressed by your colony leaders.† The intercom went dead. â€Å"Come on,† I said to Gretchen, and pointed to the platform where, earlier in the evening, she and I counted down the seconds until we were at our new world. â€Å"We should get a good place.† â€Å"It's going to get crowded in here,† she said. I pointed to Hickory and Dickory. â€Å"They'll be with us. You know how everyone gives them all the space they want.† Gretchen looked up at the two of them, and I realized that she wasn't terribly fond of them either. Minutes later the council came streaming in from one of the common area side doors and made their way to the platform. Gretchen and I stood in the front, Hickory and Dickory behind us, and at least five feet on every side. Alien bodyguards create their own buffer zone. A whisper in my ear. â€Å"Hey,† Enzo said. I looked over to him and smiled. â€Å"I wondered if you were going to be here,† I said. â€Å"It's an all-colonist meeting,† he said. â€Å"Not here, in general,† I said. â€Å"Here.† â€Å"Oh,† Enzo said. â€Å"I took a chance that your bodyguards wouldn't stab me.† â€Å"I'm glad you did,† I said. I took his hand. On the platform, John Perry, the colony leader, my dad, came forward and picked up the microphone that still lay there from earlier in the evening. His eyes met mine as he reached down to pick it up. Here's the thing to know about my dad. He's smart, he's good at what he does, and almost all the time, his eyes look like he's about to start laughing. He finds most things funny. He makes most things funny. When he looked at me as he picked up the microphone, his eyes were dark, and heavy, and as serious as I had ever seen them. When I saw them I was reminded, no matter how young he looked, how old he really was. For as much as he could make light of things, he was a man who had seen trouble more than once in his life. And he was seeing it again. Now, with us. For all of us. Everyone else would know it as soon as he opened his mouth to tell them, but right then was when I knew – when I saw the truth of our situation. We were lost.