Real Estate Investing For Beginners A 10 Step Plan Essay

Real Estate Investing for Beginners: A 10 Step Plan By Kris Kemp | Submitted On February 18, 2016 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Kris Kemp If you have heard about real estate investing, but don t know where to begin, consider yourself lucky for two reasons. 1. Anyone can invest in real estate. Anyone can invest in real estate. Some of the biggest real estate investors are high school dropouts or college dropouts. These guys are clearing five figures a month net profit. My journey as a real estate investor In 2005, I started researching investment properties in the area of West Palm Beach, Florida. I soon discovered that real estate in South Florida was out of my price range. So, I decided to look elsewhere. I researched North Florida, using a technique that I had learned about in a real estate investing book. 2. Investing in real estate does not require using your own money. You can use someone else s money. What do you bring to the table? Your skills and knowledge. In exchange, you earn a percentage of the profit from the deal. Any risk can be ameliorated (lessened) by your research into the deal. In real estate terms, this research is called dueShow MoreRelatedLeapfrog Strategic Analysis10449 Words   |  42 Pagestechnologically and educationally based for consumers from the time they are infants until they complete grade school. Their products are available domestically and internationally. In order to further expand the distribution of their products, LeapFrog plans to partner with Disney Interactive Studios to develop and release games based on the LeapFrog educational model for use on popular gaming systems such as Wii, XBox, and Playstation. LeapFrog s strategy for future growth is to decentralize their distributionRead MoreStock Investment19083 Words   |  77 PagesNo one needed to educate me on why invest, as I suddenly realised that to achi eve these dreams, I needed to shed a bit of my happy-go-lucky attitude and set longer term financial goals. And to achieve these financial goals, I needed to invest! Investing to me, is focused primarily on making my own money (work harder, and) make more money for me. It is clearly about long term financial goals. As I started reading up and thinking more about building long-term capital, certain simple why invest basicsRead Morefundamental and technical analysis of banking stocks11699 Words   |  47 Pagesand a subsidiary of HDFC Bank- a renowned private sector bank. As a stock broking company, we have completed 10 years of operation serving a diverse customer base of retail and institutional investors. There are millions of reasons why you can choose our services and here are a few of them: Your Interest is Our Priority Your financial needs and interests are our priority. We simplify investing for you and provide 360-degree view on financial planning that suit your future goals and needs. One StopRead MoreCase Analysis Essay6670 Words   |  27 Pagesparticipants in gymnastics clubs were recreational; however, most high-level coaches, equipment, and resources at these sites were funneled toward the competitive athletes, who were far fewer in number. Recreational gymnastics was often viewed as a step down. Competitive gymnastics was what coaches and, to some extent, parents and athletes focused on as the preferred route. Few options were available to children who wanted to continue to feel challenged through high-level, non-competitive gymnasticsRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesCataloging-in-Publication Data Robbins, Stephen P. Organizational behavior / Stephen P. Robbins, Timothy A. Judge. — 15th ed. p. cm. Includes indexes. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-283487-2 ISBN-10: 0-13-283487-1 1. Organizational behavior. I. Judge, Tim. II. Title. HD58.7.R62 2012 658.3—dc23 2011038674 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 10: 0-13-283487-1 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-283487-2 Brief Contents Preface xxii 1 2 Introduction 1 What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Individual 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Diversity

Mental Disorder and Racism Free Essays

Racism is the feelings with preference because of your skin, color, wealth, nationality, religious, and many other reasons. It is considered as a psychological disorder that exists in families, societies, and countries. The most common phenomena about racism which we all heard about is the one between black and white Americans, for it began long time ago and remained until these days. We will write a custom essay sample on Mental Disorder and Racism or any similar topic only for you Order Now This problem between them even reached to our children, for they start also being racist without knowing, and some of them would also prefer white on black. For example, if you give your kid two toys one is white and the other is black, your kid will probably choose the white one, for he thinks it is better and prettier. Racism is spread a lot into our Arabian societies, and it is a disease with no cure. There are many bad results of racism in out societies. The bad effects that racism creates are discrimination between children in the family and discrimination between students in schools. The first effect of racism in our societies is the discrimination between children. Many parents prefer one child or more the most, for they are the youngest, the prettiest, the smartest, or the eldest. They start loving one child the most, and they stop giving love and care to others unconsciously, decrease that amount of care and love, stop treating them well, stop giving them attention, and stop giving them their rights eventually. Another example is that parents might not punish their favorite kid when acting bad, but they become so tough and strict when another one does something wrong. At this stage, parents don’t notice how they are discriminating between their children until others start behaving bad, so they know that they are jealous. The second effect of racism is creating problems with children. When parents discriminate between their children, they cause many problems to their kids. This leads to create psychological and mental disorders with them, jealousy, envy, grudge, fights between their kids, violence, and it can also harm their health. Kids start hating their brothers or sisters that their parents prefer, and they start thinking of how to harm them and make them have a bad image, so many fights will occur at this period. Children in their position will totally change with everyone, and they even become violent with the other strange kids. The most dangerous effect on them is the psychological disorders, for it is the hardest to deal with, and it will last with them for a long time if not being noticed early. The mental disorders will walk until it controls their behavior and attitude, and it will have an effect on the children on the long term. According to an article, a researcher says â€Å"If the theoretical models that propose racism as a stressor are correct, then its effects on children need to be studied in the same way as other stressors that have been shown to have negative effects on health and development (for example, poverty, violence, neglect, abuse, and social upheaval). To assess the state of research into the effects of racism on child health and health care, a review of the literature was undertaken. † (Pediatr, 2009). The third effect of racism in our societies is the discrimination between students. In schools, many students face the fact that they feel some students are discriminated from other students. This action is caused by a lot of reasons such as the nationality, the relationship between the instructor and the student, and other reasons. Many teachers prefer some students because they are from their country, they know their parents, they are pretty, or they very smart, and they ignore those who aren’t smart or related to them in some way. Teachers start giving attention the most to them, give them more marks, become more kind with them, forgive them for their mistakes, and make things easier for them. It is illegal to treat students depending on those things although sometimes the feelings of love towards some students is with no control, but teachers must be careful on how they treat their students equally. The fourth effect of racism is creating problems with students. When a student feels that there is racism caused by the teacher, they wouldn’t accept or like that, for it is unfair. Since teachers know that the preference between students is bad, they must avoid it, so they don’t have to cope with bigger problems. Students start being hateful towards their classmates, being careless about their study, or become violent, and sometimes they start having bigger problems when this affects them even at home. There is no control over your attitude or behavior when there is a feeling of jealousy or racism, and students won’t be able to hide their feelings. The fifth effect of racism in our society is creating preference between different nationalities and religious. In our Arabian society, many people prefer specific people because they have similar nationalities or have the same religious, and you find this everywhere. Every single person thinks that his country and his people are the best among any country, so this person becomes racist with no good reason. In our nature, we unconsciously prefer people who are coming from the same country we come from, and even if they are bad we still prefer them, but this is wrong and its cause is racism. To conclude, it was mentioned that racism is a mental disorder which has many bad effects on us, on our societies, on our kids, and on our behavior and attitude. There are many examples of racism, and it exists everywhere and in everyone, but we must be careful how to treat people. The many problems of racism in our Arabian society are between students, between children in families, between adults in their workplace, and between relatives. Racism leads to discrimination which creates huge physical and psychological issues among young and old people, so we know that racism causes bad effects. Parents, teachers, and all adults must be aware on the way they treat children and students, so they don’t have to cause these bad effects on them. They should know also how not to make them become racist, and how to treat people well whatever their nationality, color, or skin was. How to cite Mental Disorder and Racism, Papers

Losing Innocence a Comparative Analysis of Henry James’s the Turn of the Screw and Jack Clayton’s Film Adaptation, the Innocents Essay Example

Losing Innocence: a Comparative Analysis of Henry James’s the Turn of the Screw and Jack Clayton’s Film Adaptation, the Innocents Paper Henry James’s novella, The Turn of the Screw, has entranced readers and held them in a finely woven web of ambiguity for over one hundred years. During that time, readers, scholars, and critics have tried to escape its clutches by offering a myriad of interpretations, a vast spectrum of critical opinions which make a definitive solution an impossibility. James’s masterful use of uncertainty truly supports, if not promotes, the ability of readers to discover numerous meanings to the tales mysteries. Does the governess really see the ghostly figures of Quint and Miss Jessel? Are the apparitions merely figments of an overactive imagination? Are the children accurately perceived as angelic innocents, or are they willing participants to possession by the evil manifestations? To answer these questions, James craftily leaves only veiled hints for the reader to collect and decipher along the way. The same vagueness that provides for endless critical study, however, poses a large problem when adapting the story to film. Careful consideration is given to which elements of character and plot need to be included, as well as how focus needs to be placed on them in order to achieve the desired effect. We will write a custom essay sample on Losing Innocence: a Comparative Analysis of Henry James’s the Turn of the Screw and Jack Clayton’s Film Adaptation, the Innocents specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Losing Innocence: a Comparative Analysis of Henry James’s the Turn of the Screw and Jack Clayton’s Film Adaptation, the Innocents specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Losing Innocence: a Comparative Analysis of Henry James’s the Turn of the Screw and Jack Clayton’s Film Adaptation, the Innocents specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Movies are almost never an exact match to the text from which they are taken; they are merely the director’s vision of that text. Creating an adaptation of The Turn of the Screw is made all the more difficult by the seemingly infinite positions that can be taken. In 1961, Jack Clayton directed what is still known as the definitive cinematic version of James’s ghostly tale: The Innocents. His artistic vision of the events at Bly, combined with a skillfully designed script by legendary screenwriters William Archibald and Truman Capote, creates a chilling visual look into the psychological terror of James’s literary classic. It is also a somewhat imperfect one. James presents The Turn of the Screw as the manuscript of the governess’s recollections, transcribed, preserved and read twenty years after her death by Douglas, then retold years later by an unnamed narrator. In the book, this initial first person narration establishes the setting of the story at the remote country estate, and Douglas’s testimony to the character of the governess is the only one we get aside from our own judgment. With the insinuation of an illicit affair, the reliability of these characters and veracity of the tale are immediately called into question, though, and the lack of answers is our first indication that James will leave much to the reader’s imagination. In The Innocents, however, this entire prologue is omitted and viewers are not privilege to the initial perceptions it grants; the first person narration of the story’s telling and retelling is lost. Instead, Archibald and Capote leave it to Clayton and the camera to provide only the third person perspective, bringing us in to witness what appears to be the emotional breakdown of the governess after her ordeal; her hands in supplication, she bemoans her failure to save the children. It is an introduction to the governess that gives us an insight to her character after the ordeal that is not a part of the original, and reduces some of the ambiguity James leaves about the conclusion. In both versions, her story then begins with her meeting the privacy-demanding gentleman of Harley Street. It is here that we quickly perceive another key example of Clayton’s failure to follow too closely in James’s ambiguous footsteps. While James had left three of his characters without one, the governess, known only as such throughout the entirety of The Turn of the Screw, is given a name: Miss Giddens. It is during her interview with the uncle that we learn the circumstances, and peculiar requirement, of the position Miss Giddens seeks. In the movie we are additionally introduced to the character of Miss Jessel, her death, and young Flora’s love for her. The connection between the two is firmly and quickly established as the new governess is explicitly told not to mention her predecessor because it will upset the child, unlike the book which leaves this relationship more open to interpretation. Clayton, in fact, follows this scene with several more that vary noticeably from James’s classic, either by altering the original or by adding completely new material. Many of these changes are instrumental in giving focus to some of James’s unresolved issues, while others are used to help set up other elements such as mood. The governess’s arrival at Bly and subsequent introduction to Flora are prime examples of how Clayton made deviations that enhanced the story’s mysterious nature. The straight-forward meeting between the governess, Flora, and Mrs. Grose that James wrote is transformed into a disturbing scene that serves mainly to reinforce both the governess’s madness and the children’s lack of innocence. Her first surreal vision of Flora through the lake’s reflection, instantly appearing from nowhere, also seems to foreshadow her vision of the ghosts. The treatment of the children, and the question of the extent to which they are aware of the manifestations is another element of The Turn of the Screw that Clayton takes liberty with during adaptation. James makes the reader wonder if the children are as truly angelic as they seem, with only subtle indications that they may not be, or that they are not wholly unaware of the ghosts of their former caretakers; Clayton, however, nearly takes all doubt away. From the moment Miles meets the governess he displays a blatant disrespect for her and the ability to manipulate others, indifferently ignoring direct questions about his school then using flattery to change the subject. Later in the film, in two other scenes found only in the movie, this behavior escalates to physical violence as Miles strangles the governess during their game of hide and seek and then throws Flora’s turtle Rupert in seeming madness. Adding a psychological twist to the child’s suggested evil nature is his recitation of poetry during the costume party; his vacant expression makes it one of the most chilling scenes in the movie. There are many others as well, as Clayton stresses the boy’s wickedness and possible demonic possession all the way to the final climactic scene. At the end we are almost forced to accept that Quint does have control of the boy, as he rages at the governess in the garden. Clayton truly seems to have settled on how he wanted the children to be perceived, and it was not with the same ambiguity of character that James developed. One of the biggest differences between the book and the movie regarding the children also shatters James’s mysterious nature: the deaths of Quint and Miss Jessel. James dispenses of both characters through unexplained circumstances; we know little more than that they are dead. Clayton, however, not only dwells on the details of both of their deaths, he changes them completely. In an additional turn of the screw he has the children witness their final moments, relieving the viewer of any doubt about the extent of their understanding. Part of the success Clayton sees in the greater development of the children’s characters is in the abilities of the actor and actress charged with playing them. Patricia Franklin portrays Flora with a maturity well beyond her age, and Martin Stephens, although better known for his role in Village of the Damned, does a remarkable job playing Miles. They both bring a believability to their part that is usually not seen from young performers. Clayton is able to utilize their talents in other ways, too: Flora’s eerie humming of the music box’s peculiar melody drifts in and out, usually as haunting precursors to the appearances of Quint and Miss Jessel. The strength the movie receives from its performers is not limited to the children’s roles though. Deborah Kerr plays the governess with an eerie intensity that accurately conveys the depth of the character’s despair and possible psychosis. It must be noticed, though, that Kerr’s casting in the lead role is in sharp contrast to the character James created. In The Turn of the Screw the governess is a young, untried woman only twenty years old; at the time The Innocents was filmed, however, Kerr was already forty years old. Although she does a wonderful job in conveying the madness of the part, it is still a huge departure from the original, changing an important part of how we perceive the governess. She seems to have much more confidence in the movie, giving us a clearer view of her. This can also been seen as part of Clayton’s attempt to reduce some of James’s extensive ambiguity. While Clayton may have had to resort to more subtle means when establishing his perception of the characters, his expertise with camera techniques allowed him to creatively combine sights and sounds to promote an air of suspense. The most prominent of these is the use of black and white film as opposed to color; the entire film is instantly given an additional dreamlike feeling. Viewers may find some of his methods for establishing mood a little more cliched though: flapping curtains and flickering candles plagued every room, and the thunder storm appears to last forever. Other of Clayton’s symbols can only be seen as truly creepy: large, crawling bugs that invade the Eden-like gardens of Bly, others that devour butterflies, and the broken, twisted body of a dead bird all reveal a sinister side to the country utopia. Clayton also utilizes many early special effects to advance the supernatural air of the movie, more tricks of the camera and double exposure than true effects. To dramatize the effect of the black and white film, many of Clayton’s transitions involved shadowy plays on light and dark. Some appearances by Quint and Miss Jessel are surrounded by a darkening of the screen around the edges, while others are visible through a misty fog. Typical to well-bred gardens at the time, Clayton also blends the apparitions in with statuary, creating the illusion that they may not actually be there. Like the kiss the governess gives Miles as she tucks him in, many of the images linger just a little too long; double, and even triple exposures remain on the screen in one twisted image. If Clayton fails to transmit all of James’s ambiguity into The Innocents through character, he certainly tries to make up for it with technical skill. It is this skill, combined with both artful screenwriting and a talented cast that brings the script to life, that has made The Innocents the definitive film version of The Turn of the Screw. Many others have been made through the years, but none to the same success; as an example of psychological horror it is still regarded as one of the all-time best. As an adaptation, however, it falls somewhat short of the original. The primary appeal of The Turn of the Screw is Henry James’s masterful use of ambiguity, something that just fails to transfer into Clayton’s direction of The Innocents. Many of the scenes, while still viable and entertaining parts of the movie, are completely new and used by Clayton only as a way to fill in many of James’s blanks. If the viewer is only interested in The Innocents as the source of a good old-fashioned scare, then the movie will not disappoint. The addition of scenes and lack of ambiguity are not noticeable, and the story keeps you breathless at times. If, however, the viewer is concerned with the study of Henry James and The Turn of the Screw, then The Innocents should only be seen as an artistic, cinematic work based on a book. While there is some consistency between the versions, there are still too many fundamental differences to make it an accurate substitute. Only a close reading of the original can reveal all of the subtle nuances that make The Turn of the Screw classic literature. Works Cited The Innocents. Screenplay by William Archibald and Truman Capote. Dir. Jack Clayton. Perf. Deborah Kerr, Martin Stephens, and Patricia Franklin. 1961. Videocassette. Twentieth Century Fox, 1996. James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. 1898. Ed. Peter G. Beidler. 2nd ed. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.

Origins of the Ancient Mesoamerican Ballgame

Origins of the Ancient Mesoamerican Ballgame The Mesoamerican Ball Game is the oldest known sport in the Americas  and originated in southern Mexico approximately 3,700 years ago. For many pre-Columbian cultures, such as the Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, and Aztec, it was a ritual, political and social activity that involved the whole community. The ball game took place in specific I-shaped buildings, recognizable in many archaeological sites, called ballcourts. There are an estimated 1,300 known ballcourts in Mesoamerica. Origins of the Mesoamerican Ball Game The earliest evidence of the practice of the ball game comes to us from ceramic figurines of ballplayers recovered from El Opeà ±o, Michoacan state in western Mexico about 1700 BC. Fourteen rubber balls were found at the shrine of El Manatà ­ in Veracruz, deposited over a long period beginning about 1600 BC. The oldest example of a ballcourt discovered to date was built about 1400 BC, at the site of Paso de la Amada, an important Formative site in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico; and the first consistent imagery, including ball-playing costumes and paraphernalia, is known from the San Lorenzo Horizon of the Olmec civilization, ca 1400-1000 BC. Archaeologists agree that the origin of the ball game is linked with the origin of ranked society. The ball court at Paso de la Amada was constructed near the chiefs house and, later on, the famous colossal heads were carved depicting leaders wearing ballgame helmets. Even if the locational origins are not clear, archaeologists believe that the ball game represented a form of social display- whoever had the resources to organize it gained social prestige. According to Spanish historical records and indigenous codexes, we know that the Maya and Aztecs used the ball game to solve hereditary issues, wars, to foretell the future and to make important ritual and political decisions. Where the Game Was Played The ball game was played in specific open constructions called ball courts. These usually were laid out in the form of a capital I, consisting of two parallel structures that delimited a central court. These lateral structures had sloping walls and benches, where the ball bounced, and some had stone rings suspended from the top. Ball courts were usually surrounded by other buildings and facilities, most of which probably were of perishable materials; however, masonry constructions usually involved surrounding low walls, small shrines, and platforms from which people observed the game. Almost all main Mesoamerican cities had at least one ball court. Interestingly, no ball court has yet been identified at Teotihuacan, the major metropolis of Central Mexico. An image of a ball game is visible on the murals of Tepantitla, one of Teotihuacans residential compounds, but no ball court. The Terminal Classic Maya city of Chichen Itz has the largest ball court; and El Tajin, a center that flourished between the Late Classic and the Epiclassic on the Gulf Coast, had as many as 17 ball courts. How the Game Was Played Evidence suggests that a wide variety of types of games, all played with a rubber ball, existed in ancient Mesoamerica, but the most widespread was the hip game. This was played by two opposing teams, with a variable number of players. The aim of the game was to put the ball into the opponents end zone without using hands or feet: only hips could touch the ball. The game was scored using different point systems; but we have no direct accounts, either indigenous or European, that precisely describe the techniques or rules of the game. Ball games were violent and dangerous and players wore protective gear, usually made of leather, such as helmets, knee pads, arm and chest protectors and gloves. Archaeologists call the special protection constructed for the hips yokes, for their resemblance to animal yokes. A further violent aspect of the ball game involved human sacrifices, which were often an integral part of the activity. Among the Aztec, decapitation was a frequent end for the losing team. It has also been suggested that the game was a way to resolve conflicts among polities without resorting to real warfare. The Classic Maya origin story told in the Popol Vuh describes the ballgame as a contest between humans and underworld deities, with the ballcourt representing a portal to the underworld. However, ball games were also the occasion for communal events such as feasting, celebration, and gambling. The Players The entire community was differently involved in a ball game: Ballplayers: The players themselves were probably men of noble origins or aspirations. The winners gained both wealth and social prestige.Sponsors: Ball court construction, as well as game organization, required some form of sponsorship. Affirmed leaders, or people who wanted to be leaders, considered ball game sponsorship an opportunity to emerge or reaffirm their power.Ritual Specialists: Ritual specialists often performed religious ceremonies before and after the game.Audience: All sorts of people participated as spectators to the event: local commoners and people coming from other towns, nobles, sport supporters, food sellers and other vendors.Gamblers: Gambling was an integral component of ball games. Bettors were both nobles and commoners, and sources tell us that the Aztec had very strict regulations about bet payments and debts. A modern version of the Mesoamerican ballgame, called ulama, is still played in Sinaloa, Northwest Mexico. The game is played with a rubber ball hit only with the hips and resemble a net-less volleyball. Updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources Blomster JP. 2012. Early evidence of the ballgame in Oaxaca, Mexico. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition. Diehl RA. 2009. Death Gods, Smiling Faces Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies Inc: FAMSI. (accessed in November 2010)and Colossal Heads: Archaeology of the Mexican Gulf Lowlands. Hill WD, and Clark JE. 2001. Sports, Gambling, and Government: Americas First Social Compact? American Anthropologist 103(2):331-345. Hosler D, Burkett SL, and Tarkanian MJ. 1999. Prehistoric Polymers: Rubber Processing in Ancient Mesoamerica. Science 284(5422):1988-1991. Leyenaar TJJ. 1992. Ulama, the survival of the Mesoamerican ballgame Ullamaliztli. Kiva 58(2):115-153. Paulinyi Z. 2014. The butterfly bird god and his myth at Teotihuacan. Ancient Mesoamerica 25(01):29-48. Taladoire E. 2003. Could we speak of the Super Bowl at Flushing Meadows?: La pelota . Ancient Mesoamerica 14(02):319-342.mixteca, a third pre-Hispanic ballgame, and its possible architectural context

PSAT Test Dates 2015

PSAT Test Dates 2015 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The PSAT test dates of 2015 have come and gone, but they are not forgotten - especially for students aiming to become National Merit Finalists. This guide will go over the exact PSAT test dates in 2015, as well as discuss how test-takers can make the most of their PSAT score reports today. If you’re looking for future PSAT test dates, then check out this guide instead. If you’re in the right spot, then read on to learn about how the PSAT testing schedule works for participating students. What to Know About PSAT Test Dates Unlike many other standardized tests, like the SAT or ACT, you don’t choose when you take the PSAT. Instead, your high school registers juniors and chooses the test date from two options in October. If you’re a ninth or tenth grader who wants to take the PSAT, then you have to ask your school counselor to sign you up. College Board gave schools two choices for test dates in 2015, a primary and an alternate. Both test dates fell on a weekday, on a Wednesday to be exact. Most schools administered the PSAT on the primary test date. Below are the exact dates for the primary and alternate testing dates for the PSAT in 2015. PSAT Test Dates in 2015 Schools administered the PSAT on one of these two test dates in 2015. Primary test date: October 14, 2015 Alternate test date: October 28, 2015 Most schools held the PSAT on October 14, 2015. The only exception would be if the school had a scheduling conflict that day and had to go with the alternate test date. Once students took the PSAT, they waited a few months to get back their scores. For juniors, October is the month of pumpkins, pie, and the PSAT. When Did 2015 PSAT Scores Come Out? Scores from the 2015 PSAT came out on January 7th, 2016. On that date, students could sign into their College Board accounts and view their score reports. Counselors actually had access to the scores one day earlier, on January 6. In addition to online score reports, students got paper score reports around January 29. Forstudents who took the PSAT in 2015 or who will be taking it in the future, why are PSAT scores important? Why Are PSAT Scores Important? PSAT scores are important for two main reasons. First, they give you essential feedback about your skills as a test-taker, and you can use that feedback to prepare for the SAT. Secondly, PSAT score reports tell any juniors who took the test whether or not they will qualify for National Merit distinction and scholarships. Let’s take a closer look at both of these functions of your PSAT scores. 1. Practice and Feedback for the SAT The PSAT and SAT are very similar tests, so your score report on the PSAT can help you figure out how to improve for the SAT. Both tests have Reading, Writing and Language, and math sections. The main difference is that the PSAT doesn’t have an essay section. Your PSAT score report will give you detailed feedback on your performance. You should take time to look at your results and pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. If you struggled on the math section, for instance, then you can focus especially on math as you get ready for the SAT. By figuring out where you lost points, you can make efforts to get those kinds of questions right for next time. Your score report can also prompt you to reflect on the test-taking experience. Did you find yourself running out of time? Would you benefit from trying new test-taking strategies, like process of elimination on vocabulary questions? If you took the PSAT in 2015 and are still planning to take the SAT, you should carefully consider your PSAT score report and use it to design your SAT prep plan. Your PSAT score report gives you useful feedback on your skills as a test-taker. You can use that insightas you get ready for the SAT. 2. National Merit Distinctions and Scholarships If you took the PSAT as a junior, then you’re in the running for National Merit distinction and scholarships. The top 3% to 4% of scorers werenamed Commended Scholars, while students who score in the top 1% werenamed Semifinalists and couldmove on to become Finalists and win scholarship money. National Merit Scholarship Corporation hasn’t released its exact state-by-state cutoffs yet, but we can estimate the cutoffs based on data from past years. About a year after they took the PSAT in 2015, about 16,000 students across the country foundout if they achieved Semifinalist status. If you were one of those students who took the PSAT in October 2015, how can you make the most of your PSAT score report now? Make the Most of Your PSAT Score Report If you’re still planning to take the SAT, then your PSAT score report can help you design a study plan. Look closely at the sections where you excelled and the sections where you could use some improvement. Think about what skills you can work on to get better as a test-taker, whether you need to review specific concepts or practice time management. As you study for the SAT, try to identify and target your weak areas. Gather lots of practice questions, time yourself, and score your practice tests. Continue to measure your progress with your practice test score reports, just as you did with your PSAT score report. By taking time to analyze your PSAT and SAT practice test score reports, you can root out your weak areas and gaugeyour progress as you work toward your target SAT scores. In closing, let’s go over the key points you should remember about the PSAT in 2015, how it was administered, and how you can make the most of your PSAT score report now. Use your PSAT score report to target your weak areas and improve for the next test you take. PSAT in 2015: Key Takeaways Most schools administered the PSAT on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. Juniors automatically tookthe test and competed for National Merit distinction. Younger students couldalso request to take the test, and they coulduse the experience as practice for the junior year PSAT and the SAT. If you took the test in 2015, then you got your scores online on January 7th. Whether you’re competing for National Merit or prepping for the SAT, you can gain valuable insight from your PSAT score report. Take time to analyze your performance, figure out your strengths and weaknesses, and reflect on the experience to get ready for the SAT. What’s Next? Are you preparing to take the SAT? Check out our ultimate SAT prep guides for the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math sections of the SAT. Did you take the PSAT as a younger student in 2015? If you're aiming for top scores when you take the test as a junior, check out this full guide to getting a perfect score on the PSAT. Have you started taking steps to apply to college? For a full overview of the entire college application process, check out this comprehensive guide. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Why US foreign policy towards Cuba has not thawed since the end of the Dissertation

Why US foreign policy towards Cuba has not thawed since the end of the cold war - Dissertation Example s in the field of foreign relations. More specifically, most of the researches involving this particular topic focused on the development of the foreign relations between the two. Indeed, the relationship between the United States of America and Cuba can be traced as far as the Spanish-American war, when Cuba attained its independence. The two began a good relationship but eventually became bitter after accession of Fidel Castro into power. This research offers an extensive review of the foreign policy of the United States of America towards Cuba, focusing on the primary sources such as the speeches of Fidel Castro, his books and the like. Chapter 1: (Condensed to 1,420 words) Introduction Background of the Study The relationship between Cuba and the United States started when the Spanish-American war ended. Spain was defeated by the United States in this particular war (Osieja, 2006; Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). As such, the United States granted the then colonies of Spain their ind ependence with the condition that the United States could intervene in their internal affairs if it becomes necessary (Aronson, Rogers, Sweig & Meid, 2001; Gibbs & Gibbs, 2011). In line with this agreement, Cuba has also granted a perpetual lease in favor of the United States of its naval base at Guantanamo bay (Haney & Vanderbush, 2005). The two countries cooperated with one another for the next fifty years after the independence of Cuba (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). The United States play an important role in terms of aiding Cuba in quelling down rebellions (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). Furthermore, the United States also began to pour in economic investments into the country in order to help them develop. However, things began to change with the 1959 Cuban Revolution (Gibbs & Gibbs, 2011). Primarily, the United States expressed support towards Castro by imposing an arms embargo against the administration of then-President General Fulgencio Bautista. In fact, the United States imm ediately recognized the government of Castro (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). However, the Castro government began seizing private lands and nationalized private companies, including those of American origin (Haney & Vanderbush, 2005; Osieja, 2006). As a result thereof, the administration of then-President Eisenhower responded by imposing trade restrictions except for the basic necessities such as food and medicines (Gibbs & Gibbs, 2011). As a response to the alleged â€Å"Yankee-Imperialism,† Castro decided to start trading with the Soviet Union instead (Meacham, 2009). In this regard, the United States dissolved all diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and from then on, the unfriendly relationship between the two begun (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). Indeed, the bitter relationship between Cuba and the United States worsened upon the accession of Fidel Castro in 1959. The relationship between the two has evolved into bitter arguments, political grandstanding and eventually resorted to an international crises (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). In fact, since 1961, the two countries have failed to enter into a bilateral agreement and would often call upon Switzerland as their mediator should they need to negotiate on certain matters (Aronson, Rogers, Sweig & Meid, 2001; Haney & Vanderbush, 2005). The relationship

What Is The Most Important Virtue For Human Fulfillment Essay

What Is The Most Important Virtue For Human Fulfillment - Essay Example In the same regard, it is interesting to note the work of four prominent thinkers of their respective times, namely: Descartes, Spinoza, Emerson and Tolstoy, a brief discourse of which is presented hereunder. The stance of Rene Descartes on the said issue can be summarized as, "I think, therefore I am" (Descartes, 1641). Now a very popular statement, this means much more than the literal meaning. This can be taken as the essence of the entire philosophy of Descartes, wherein he began to understand himself by virtue of his thought processes. On the same lines, his thoughts can be extrapolated upon mankind as a whole. The fact of the matter lies in the fact, that man cannot achieve fulfillment if he does not think; this, even as a proposition is considered to be impossible according to the stance of Descartes. By virtue of undertaking things, dealing with them, and ultimately being deceived by them, it becomes all the more evident to man that there is a reality that exists. This reality can be identified with, and the highest virtue can subsequently be attained by means of thinking. Contemplation gives insight, and ultimately self-actualization. There can be no better strength than realizing one's true potential of existence. Ethics by Spinoza Spinoza's views advocate, "All our endeavors or desires so follow from the necessity of our nature" (Spinoza, 1677). This concept given by him refers to the identification of the power that the human being yields and associates from within himself. Whatever one might seek or ask, it is basically a product of how one identifies with the concept of self. The most significant virtue here becomes knowing about oneself. A person, who realizes himself, is truly the most potent of all. Desires, passions and restraints of the material world, can only be understood with reference to the person. Therefore, if and when a person appreciates his own personal standing and inception, it subsequently becomes the greatest source of endowment and fulfillment for the person. Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Emerson here postulates, "Insist on yourself; never imitate" (Emerson, 1841). This again is a propagation of the belief that an individual should at all times try to be what he/she is, and not impose a figure, picture of personality which is not a true depiction of the same. If one has the tendency to falsify one's self-image, then true actualization of self can never be there. To be able to appreciate and attain the highest order of fulfillment, the greatest virtue here would be to not pay heed to social and extraneous challenges, and keep representing one's own personality as it is. If in the face of conflict, one tends to shy away from the true sense of being, then it can never really come out. Under normal circumstances, it is always simple to portray oneself; however, the true test of character is when there is antagonism, and yet still a person can attain virtue by means of beings what he truly is. The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy Leo Tolstoy deliberates upon the topic in the following way, "In place of death there was light" (1886). Though this may seem ironically contrary to the actual concept of life itself, yet this line answers probably the greatest mystery of life - death. So is the virtue of human fulfillment embedded in death Not exactly; it is in understanding the concept of death. It refers to establishing a belief that this entire struggle in life is death itself, and the absolute moment of death, is just the termination of this struggle. The ultimate attainment in life