Oedipus Rex - Bliss In Ignorance Essays (795 words) -

Oedipus Rex - Bliss In Ignorance Oedipus Rex - Bliss in Ignorance One of the most memorable and meaningful Socratic quotes applies well when in context of Sophocles' Theban Trilogy. The unexamined life is not worth living, proclaims Socrates. He could have meant many things by this statement, and in relation to the play, the meaning is found to be even more complex. Indeed, the situation of Oedipus, king of Thebes, the truth of this statement is in question. Would Oedipus have been better off if he was blind to the knowledge of his birthing and the fate which was foretold to someday befall him? Truly though, his life would have been a far better and easier path had he never known about his true origins. His life in Corinth would have been long and prosperous, and Thebes would have lived on under King Laius. In fact, everyone would have been better off in the long run if Oedipus had not ventured out beyond the walls of Corinth. So is it worth living an examined life? Socrates had made this statement long after the creation of the Theban Trilogy. In the context of his own time, this was meant to imply that life must be examined and reflected upon, known and discovered by each individual philosopher to better enrich life for all. Yet in terms of Sophoclean drama, specifically Oedipus Rex, this was meant in a vastly different way. The unexamined life was one that was in the dark, unknown as to what fate lied beyond every turn and irony of living. Oedipus, up to the point in which he heard the comment in the tavern in Corinth, lived an unexamined life. To Socrates, he was an unfulfilled man, one who deserved to know more, one who not complete. However, in a much less metaphysical sense, Oedipus' life was complete, in that he had all that he needed, and was living a happy and fruitful life. As the drama progresses, he finds out more and more, learning exactly what the implications of his birth was, he suffers the fate for examining his life. So what Socrates had meant, that the life which was not rich with self exploration and reflection was not worth living, was indeed different than its application in terms of Oedipus, who's life was unexamined, yet complete. The question arises, what would life have been like, if Oedipus had not discovered his true origins? If he had stayed in Corinth, would this have ever happened? We find that indeed, we would have had no story, if not for that lone comment of a drunkard which sparked the fire of rebellion in the young prince Oedipus. He ventured out to Delphi, to pry knowledge of his background out of it, and to discover if this was indeed the truth, despite the fact that his adopted parents of Corinth had assured him of it falseness. Oedipus leaves Corinth, fulfilling the Socratic idea of the unexamined life. However, we must evaluate the eventual consequences of his actions and the implications which they possess. What becomes of his fateful journey out of Corinth leads to the downfall of an entire city and family line. If he had not murdered King Laius, the Sphinx would have never descended upon Thebes, he would have never fulfilled the prophecy, and all would have lived on in a relative peace and tranquillity. Once examining these aspects of the relationship between the quote and Oedipus Rex, we can come to a final examination of its implications. The question which was addressed, that of the value of the examined life, can be answered. Indeed, if Oedipus had not ventured beyond the protective walls of his adopted home, would anything such as what occurred in the play ever have transpired? If Oedipus had not pursued that answers to the mysteries that plagued him, despite the pleading warnings of I?casta, in fact his life would have been contented and happy. Instead, he follows the Socratic method of exploration and discovery, and proceeds down the path of pain and distraught. Was, after it was over, all worth it? We find that no, it was not. Being content and suited with what he knew of himself would have saved Oedipus and his children/siblings much agony. However, in the typical Greek tragedy, we must see his fall from grace through, which is indeed what happens. In the bliss of ignorance, much pain and difficulty is averted. For what worries does the ignorant man have? In the case of Oedipus, ignorance would have suited him fine. The Socratic quote the unexamined life is

Son of Sam - Killer David Berkowitz

Son of Sam - Killer David Berkowitz David Berkowitz, better known as Son of Sam and the .44 Caliber Killer, is an infamous 1970s New York City serial killer who killed six people and wounded several others. His crimes became legendary because of the bizarre content in the letters that he wrote to the police and the media and his reasons for committing the attacks. With the police feeling the pressure to catch the killer, Operation Omega was formed, which was comprised of over 200 detectives; all working on finding the Son of Sam before he killed again. Berkowitzs Childhood Born Richard David Falco,  June 1, 1953, he was adopted by Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz. The family lived in a middle-class home in the Bronx. The couple loved and doted on their son yet Berkowitz grew up feeling rejected and scorned because of being adopted. His size and appearance did not help matters. He was larger than most of the kids his age and not particularly attractive. His parents were not social people and Berkowitz followed in that path, developing a reputation for being a loner. Berkowitz Was Plagued With Guilt and Anger Berkowitz was an average student and did not show any particular flair for any one subject. He did, however, develop into a decent baseball player which became his main outside activity. Around the neighborhood, he had a reputation for being hyper and a bully. Believing his natural mother died while giving birth to him was the source of intense guilt and anger inside Berkowitz. Some believe it was the reason for his anti-social and aggressive behavior as a child. The Death of His Mother Pearl Berkowitz had a reoccurrence with breast cancer and died in 1967. Berkowitz was devastated and became severely depressed. He viewed his mother’s death as a master plot designed to destroy him. He began to fail in school and spent most of his time alone. When his father remarried in 1971, his new wife did not get along with the young Berkowitz, and the newlyweds moved to Florida leaving 18-year-old Berkowitz behind. Berkowitz Reunites With His Birth Mother Berkowitz joined the army and after a disastrous three years, he left the service. During that time, he had his one and only sexual experience with a prostitute and caught a venereal disease. When he returned home from the army, he found out his natural mother was still alive and that he had a sister. There was a brief reunion, but eventually, Berkowitz stopped visiting. His isolation, fantasies, and paranoid delusions were now in full force. Driven by Demons On Christmas Eve 1975, Berkowitz’s â€Å"demons† drove him out into the streets with a hunting knife to find a victim to kill. Later he confessed to plunging his knife into two women, one which could not be confirmed. The second victim, 15-year-old Michelle Forman, survived the attack and was treated for six knife wounds. Soon after the attacks, Berkowitz moved out of the Bronx to a two-family home in Yonkers. It was in this home that the Son of Sam would be created. Howling dogs in the neighborhood kept Berkowitz from sleeping and in his deranged mind, he turned their howls into messages from demons that were ordering him to go kill women. He later said that in an attempt to quiet the demons, he began to do what they asked. Jack and Nann Cassara owned the home and in time Berkowitz became convinced that the quiet couple was in truth, part of the demon conspiracy, with Jack being General Jack Cosmo, commander in chief of the dogs that tormented him. When he moved away from the Cassaras into an apartment on Pine Street, he failed to escape the controlling demons. His new neighbor, Sam Carr, had a black Labrador named Harvey, who Berkowitz believed was also possessed. He eventually shot the dog, but that did not offer him relief because he had come to believe that Sam Carr was possessed by the most powerful demon of them all, possibly Satan himself. Nightly the demons screamed at Berkowitz to go kill, their thirst for blood unquenchable. The Arrest of the Son of Sam Berkowitz was eventually caught after receiving a parking ticket at the time and near the place of the Moskowitz murder. That evidence along with letters he wrote to Carr and the Cassaras, his military background, his appearance, and an arson incident, led police to his door. When he was arrested he immediately surrendered to police and identified himself as Sam, telling the police, Well, youve got me. After being evaluated, it was determined that he could stand trial. Berkowitz stood trial in August 1978 and pled guilty to six murders. He received 25 years to life for each of the murders. Berkowitzs Crime Spree July 29, 1976 – Jody Valenti and Donna Lauria were shot as they sat talking in a parked car outside Donna’s apartment. Lauria died instantly from a gunshot wound to her neck. Valenti survived the attack.October 23, 1976 – Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan were shot while sitting in Denaro’s parked car. Both survived, but Carl was struck in the head by one of the bullets.November 26, 1976 – Donna DeMasi and 18-year-old Joanne Lomino were walking near Joanne’s home after a late movie. Berkowitz followed them briefly, then shot them. Donna survived without suffering permanent physical harm, but Joanne was paralyzed for life.January 30, 1977 – 26-year-old Christine Freund and her fiance John Diel were shot as they sat in a parked car. Christine died and John Diel survived the attack.March 8, 1977 – Virginia Voskerichian, a Barnard College honor student was shot and killed while walking home from class.April 17, 1977 – 18-year-o ld Valentina Suriani and her 20-year-old boyfriend Alexander Esau, were shot twice. Both died as a result of gunshot wounds. Berkowitz left a letter at the scene, signed â€Å"Son of Sam.† June 26, 1977 – Judy Placido and Sal Lupu were shot while leaving a disco. Both survived although Judy was shot three times.July 31, 1977 – Bobby Violante and Stacy Moskowitz were shot in the car while parked at a lover’s lane. Stacy died from a gunshot wound to her head and Bobby lost vision in one eye and partial vision in the other eye. The Ressler Interview In 1979, Berkowitz was interviewed by FBI veteran, Robert Ressler. Berkowitz admitted that he invented the â€Å"Son of Sam† stories so that if caught he could convince the court that he was insane. He said the real reason he killed was because he felt resentment toward his mother and his failures with women. He found killing the women to be sexually arousing. Throat Slashed On  July 10, 1979, Berkowitz was giving out water to the other inmates in his section when another inmate,  William E.  Hauser, attacked him with a razor blade and slashed his throat. Berkowitz was too afraid to cooperate with the investigation despite that it nearly cost him his life. Hausers name was not released to the public until 2015 when the for Attica superintendent James Conway revealed it. Serving His Time Berkowitz is currently serving a life sentence at the maximum-security Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill after being transferred from Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York where he spent several years. Since entering prison, he has become a member of the Jews for Jesus religious group. Berkowitz had refused to attend any of his parole hearings since he became eligible for possible release in 2002. However, in May 2016 he changed his mind and attended his parole hearing. Berkowitz, 63 at the time, told the parole board, â€Å"I was constantly putting myself out there to help other individuals, with kindness and compassion,† he said. â€Å"I mean, I feel that’s my life’s calling, all these years. My evaluations, and so forth, should show that to be true. I’ve done a lot of good and positive things, and I thank God for that.† He was denied parole again and his next hearing is scheduled for May 2018. Today Berkowitz is a born-again Christian and described as a model prisoner.

Painting - George Washington Crossing the Delaware Essay

Painting - George Washington Crossing the Delaware - Essay Example The essay "Painting - George Washington Crossing the Delaware" focuses on the George Washington Crossing the Delaware, painted in 1851 by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. The obvious mismatch in dates between the creation of the painting and the actual crossing of the Delaware suggest that this was an event that was painted well after the fact – in fact, well after many of the recognizable men in the boat had been placed in their graves. Understanding a little about the history of the painting itself, along with the artist who painted it, helps to unravel some of the historical elements of the painting, both accurate and inaccurate. Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze was a German-born painter who spent much of his life hopping back and forth across the Atlantic. He was born in Wurttemberg, Germany in the spring of 1816 and was brought to America as a small boy. It is known that he was in America in 1825 but that by 1841 he was on his way back to Germany again to take a course in art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Bowman, 1995). From his earliest works, one can begin to see his fascination with historical subjects as his first work, purchased by the Dusseldorf Art Union, was entitled Columbus before the Council of Salamanca. According to John Bowman’s (1995) essay on the painter, Leutze determined to paint the image of one of the more decisive moments of the Revolutionary War as a means of supporting the various revolutionary movements that were then taking place in Europe at the time of the painting.

Changes in the Banking Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Changes in the Banking Industry - Essay Example The capital ratio stands at 11.39% in 2010 when compared to 8% in 2006. The number of institutions reporting to the FDIC has decreased from 8833 institutions in the year 2005 to 7760 institutions in 2010. The number of problem institutions has increased drastically on a year on year basis from 552 in 2009 to 860 in 2010. The number of failed institutions has also increased to 127 institutions in 2010 from just 3 institutions in the year 2007. Bank’s return on assets which refers to net income as a percentage of total assets, increased which suggests that the banking industry is able to garner more interest income with the rising in demand for loans with reducing the cost of funds, therefore sustaining revenues and improving asset quality. In relation to the core capital ratio, Tier 1 capital can absorb losses without a bank being required to cease its functioning. Therefore increase in core capital ratio indicates the health of the banking industry is improving considerably. T he banking industry is giving prime importance to strengthening the Tier 1 level of capital. Credit growth has been strong due to which the net interest margin is indicating an upward trend with a 291.33% increase in net operating income of banks. Despite this relatively good news, the number of problem institutions has increased primarily because of financial, operational or managerial weaknesses that might lead to increased number of failed institutions in the last quarter of 2010. The trend of the number of institutions reporting to FDIC reducing is largely explained by the acquisition of smaller institutions by bigger institutions to prevent banks from failing and also because of increasing number of failed institutions. The number of problem institutions continues to increase but the aggregate assets of these problem institutions continued to decline suggests that this are smaller institutions in nature.  

Critically evaluate evidence obtained from a range of sources Essay

Critically evaluate evidence obtained from a range of sources demonstrating how it can inform practice - Essay Example In Wales, the National Health Services (NHS) holds the mandate of providing a functional framework that guides the entire social and health sector address the health needs of all the different groups. NHS also sets the required standards of health care that the people of Wales should enjoy (National Service Frameworks, 2012:1). The organization came into place in order to address the issue of inconsistency that had prevailed concerning the availability of and access to healthy care. Therefore, the organization has the special mandate of ensuring that a level of consistency does exist. In order to make its goals a success, the body sets up assessment measures of determining the rate at which the departments and organizations involved meet their goals. Moreover, NHS has multiple programs that foster implementation of its goals. Upon defining the desired health standards, it becomes easy for the body to recognize and address the issues that arise (Pierson, 2011:243). However, despite it s efforts, the organization lacks the capacity of handling all the health issues of the people of Wales (Pierson, & Thomas, 2010:185). The government of Welsh government has monitors and regulates the care delivery systems to its people (Welsh Government, ‘Bill’, 2012:20). It does this by designing policies, setting of standards, and inspection of service delivery programs and provision of funding to the local authorities. An independent committee looks into the delivery of social services in Wales and presents reports on the areas that need improvement (Independent Commission, 2010:8). According to recent statistics, a third of people in Wales live with a permanent condition reducing the quality of life that they lead. Moreover, a fifth of the entire population had disability issues in 2010 and the prevalence keeps increasing. Other researches indicated that the chances of disability increased with age. This translates to the fact that the

Network Opimisation Problems And Forecasting

Network Opimisation Problems And Forecasting The Makonsel Company, a fully integrated company that both produces and sells goods at its retail outlets. After production, the goods are stored in companys two warehouses until needed by the retail outlets. Trucks are used to transport the goods from the two plants to the warehouses, and then from the warehouses to the three retail outlets. Using units of full truckloads, the following table shows each plants monthly output, its shipping cost per truckload sent to each warehouse, and the maximum amount that it can ship per month to each warehouse. Unit Shipping Cost For each retail outlet (RO), the next table shows its monthly demand, its shipping cost per truckload from each warehouse, and the maximum amount that can be shipped per month from each warehouse. Unit Shipping Cost The Managements objective is to determine the shipping plan (number of truckloads shipped per month from each plant to each warehouse and from each warehouse to each retail outlet) that will minimise the total shipping cost. In order to achieve the objective, the following issues will be discussed : The distribution network of Makonsel Company, algebraic formulation for the network model, spreadsheet formulation for this problem by using the solver of excel and interpretation and recommendation of the result. The distribution network A network model for the Makonsel Company problem as a minimum-cost flow problem According to the data from the table above we put it into a distribution network. The supply nodes in this network are P1 (plant1) and P2 (plant2), the transshipment nodes are W1 (warehouse1) and W2 (warehouse2) and the demand nodes in this network are RO1, RO2 and RO3. And the shipping cost and the shipping capacity differ considerably among these shipping lanes. The cost per unit shipped and the maximum amount that it can ship per month (given in square brackets of the arc) through each lane is shown above corresponding arrow in the above Figure. Algebraic Formulation Solution: Decision variables Makonsel must determine how much to ship per month from each plant to each warehouse and from each warehouse to each retail outlet. Let Xij = Number of truckloads to ship from i to j (i = P1, P2; j = W1, W2). Let Xjk =Number of truckloads to ship from j to k (j =W1, W2 k=RO1, RO2, RO3). Then Makonsels problem may be formulated as Objective: Subject to: The first five constraints ensure that each retail outlet is meet their monthly demand, and the 2 Sources constraints are ensure that each plants monthly output and the last 10 ensure the maximum amount that can be shipped per month. Spreadsheet Formulation After we finished the algebraic formulation, we can transform them to spreadsheet, and using the solver of Excel to work out the distribution problem. The spreadsheet formulations are all showed in the graph below. A spreadsheet model for the Makonsel Company minimum-cost flow problem, where the changing cells (C4:C13) show the optimal solution obtained by the Solver and the target cell (E15) gives the resulting total cost of the flow through the network. Interpretation and Recommendation The optimal solution for the Makonsel Company problem, where the shipping amounts are shown in parentheses over the arrows By using excel we can calculate the minimum total shipping cost of Makonsel Company is  ¿Ã‚ ¡488.125. In order to make the minimum total monthly shipping cost of  ¿Ã‚ ¡488.125, the Makonsel Company should first transport 125 truckloads per month from plant 1to warehouse 1 and 75 units to warehouse 2. And ship 175 truckloads per month from plant 2 to warehouse 1, ship 125 truckloads per month to warehouse2. After that the retail outlet1, retail outlet 2 and retail outlet 3 should get 100 truckloads, 50 truckloads and 100 truckloads from warehouse 1 respectively. And should separately transport 50 truckloads, 150 truckloads and 50 truckloads from warehouse 2 to retail outlet1, retail outlet 2 and retail outlet 3. As we have known the shipping cost per truckload from each plant and each warehouse from the table. Thus the Minimum Cost= 425*125+560*75+510*125+600*175+470*100+505*50 +490*100+390*50+410*150+440*50 =488,125 Conclusion Determined the shipping plan which can minimise the total shipping cost is the management objective of Makonsel Company. By building the distribution network , formulating the constraints and calculating the result through using the solver of excel , Makonsel Company successfully solve the distribution network problem and construct the shipping plan with the minimum total shipping cost of  ¿Ã‚ ¡488.125. Forecasting Introduction The time-series below relates to the Sales of a company (00s) for the last five years. The objective is to use the information contained in the time-series data above to construct a forecast of the next four quarters sales. In order to achieve the objective, the following issues will be discussed: Analysis this time-series, Detrend a Time-Series and construct the Seasonal Indices by MINITAB, Forecasting the next four quarters sales and use measures to identify the forecast accuracy, Reservations about the appropriateness of the forecasting procedure used. Time-series Analysis Main characteristics of this time-series The first step in any forecasting exercise is to plot a graph of the time-series. We transfer the data from the table to Minitab and use the time series plot-simple of Minitab to make the graph, since the time-series was recorded in quarter, so we choose the quarter of calendar in time scale. The plot of this time-series looks like: Form the graph above We can roughly find out that there is a decreasing trend over time, a clear quarterly seasonal effect and it is a table time series, the pattern is regular with little random noise. With the purpose of confirming the characteristics of the time-series, we use the cantered moving averages (CMA). Since the CMA is the average and smoothed data of the actual figures, which is much easier for us to determine the characteristics of the time-series, we use this plot instead. As the time-series was recorded in quarters and with quarterly seasonal effect so the length of moving average is 4, and chose the moving averages, plot the graph smoothed vs. actual. Negative Trend Structure, an decreasing trend over time It is a negative trend structure. Look at the smoothed line of this time-series, as at the beginning of the time-series the sales of this company is about 485 ,however , it keeps decreasing and from about 485 down to around 478 to roughly 471 and finally it decrease to around 405. A clear seasonal structure , additive seasonal structure It can be seen from the graph above that there is a clear quarterly seasonal structure, for each quarter 1 the actual observed value is about 13 units below the trend value. For quarters 2, 3 4 estimating from the graph the actual observed values are 30 above, 22 above and 23 below the estimated trend values. Seasonal Structures: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 -13 30 22 -23 These are estimates of the seasonal indices; and also in this case, for a given variable the quarter 1 is 13 units below trend, quarter 2, 3 are 30 units and 22 units above trend, quarter 4 is 23 units below trend. And it can be seen from the graph above, seasonal deviation is constant about the trend so this seasonal structure is additive. A table time series, the pattern is regular with little random noise The graph of Moving average plot for sales above shows us that the pattern is regular with little random noise, it decreasing stability of the seasonal pattern, and also from the smoothed line we can find that the series reduce stability, from about 485 down to around 478 to roughly 471, ect. No more than 10units lower. Model the time-series QUADRATIC TREND MODELS There are two trend models ,one is linear trend model (Trend = a + b*t ) and the other is Quadratic trend model (Trend = a + b*t + ct2 ), and as we have been calculated the Cantered Moving Average (CMA)above, which is the average and smoothed line of the actual sales, so by using the CMA, we can use value of these two models to compare with the value of CMA, and then choose the model which the value is much closer to the CMA as our forecasting model. There are three commonly used measures of forecast accuracy: Mean Square Deviation (MSD), Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). And the smaller the data is, the more accurate of the forecast. And it can be seen from the graph above that the Quadratic Trend Model, MAPE=0.43297, MAD=1.91172, MSD = 5.44313, and to the Linear Trend Model, MAPE=0.51281, MAD=2.21232, MSD = 7.74838. The data of the Quadratic Trend Model are all smaller than the Linear Trend Model, which means that the value of quadratic trend model is much closer than value of the CMA; the quadratic trend model is much more accurate than the linear trend model, so choose the quadratic trend model to forecast. Detrend a Time-Series and construct SI of MINITAB Detrend a Time-Series Detrend a Time-Series, which means Sales-Trend (DIV), the gap between the actual sales and the forecast sales. After we have decided to take the quadratic model to forecast, we can record the data as the trend data, and the plot the graph above to compare with the sales and trend. And use the actual sales data minus the forecast one we can Detrend a Time-Series. As the graph shows us above the DIV1=472-500.367=-28.3673, DIV2=516-493.333=22.6674, DIV3=507-486.459=20.5414, DIV4=462-479.745=-17.7454, etc. By using the Minitab, we can use the calculator to figure the result. Construct the Seasonal Indices by MINITAB As Seasonal Indices is the quarter average of DIV, after we have calculated the DIV, we can use MINITAB to construct the seasonal indices. And in the MINITAB, we use the decomposition to figure out the SI. As we have described before that the sales trend of this company is additive and seasonal and the data were recorded in quarter, so the seasonal indices is four quarters as a unit, the seasonal length is 4 and the model type is additive. And Seasonal Indices is the average of each quarter of DIV, so the seasonal indices can be calculated as below: Quarter1=SI1= (DIV1+DIV5+DIV9+DIV13+DIV17)/5= -24.0937 Quarter2=SI2= (DIV2+DIV6+DIV10+DIV14+DIV18)/5=20.4062 Quarter3=SI3= (DIV3+DIV7+DIV11+DIV15+DIV19)/5=17.2812 Quarter4=SI4= (DIV4+DIV8+DIV12+DIV16+DIV20)/5=-13.5937 Since seasonal indices is the average of each quarter of DIV so SI is quarterly cycle, the value of SI5 will equal to the value of SI1, SI6=SI2, etc. And also it can be seen from graph above that the SI is quarterly cycle. Forecasting and measures of forecast accuracy Future Forecast As the Future Forecast equal Future Trend plus Future Seasonal Indices, so first we should use the CMA to calculate the future trend of the next four quarters. Since the CMA is the average and the smoothed data of the actual data, using the data of CMA can let forecast more accuracy. And the time-series is seasonal structure of quarter, so the number of forecast is 4. And we use trend analysis to calculate the future trend. After we figure out the future trend, copy the first four Seasonal Indices (SI is quarterly cycle) which we have calculated before (-24.0937, 20.4062, 17.2812, -13.5937), as Future Seasonal Indices. And then use the FTrend and FSI to figure out the Future Forecast value (FFC=FTrend+FSI). After figure out the FFC, copy them after the FC to plot a forecast. The plot of time series of sales and forecast looks like: So the next four quarters; Q1, Q2, Q3 Q4 of 2009 are: Q1=366.116, Q2=406.796, Q3=400.011, Q4=365.637 Measures of forecast accuracy After we calculate the forecasts for the next four quarters, we need to know whether the forecast is accurate or not, so we use the three commonly used measures of forecast accuracy: MSD, MPE and MAD to check the forecasts. i. Mean Square Deviation: MSD = S (Xt Ft)2/n ii. Mean Absolute Deviation: MAD = S |Xt Ft| /n iii. Mean Percentage Error: MPE = S |(Xt Ft)/Xt| /n Since all of measures above need the value of Xt Ft (error), so we should calculate the error first. Error = Sales-FC, in the Minitab we use calculator to figure it out. After calculated the error, we can figure out the value of accuracy. MSD = S (Xt Ft)2/n MAD = S |Xt Ft| /n MPE = S |(Xt Ft)/Xt| /n And for this forecast the MSD=29.3526, MAD=4.69560, MPE=1.08963. As we all know for each forecast indicator, the lower value, the higher prediction accuracy. And usually we use the MPE to confirm the accuracy. Lets look at the MPE, the value of MPE is equal to 1.08963%, though the value of MPE is slightly higher than 1%, it close to 1%, the forecast is still accuracy. Reservation In this forecasting procedure we faced two choices, one is determined the seasonal structure of the time-series, determining whether the seasonal structure is additive or multiplicative. And the other one is to confirm the trend model, choosing the linear model or the quadratic model. The choice we make will affect the accuracy of forecasting. Additive or Multiplicative In this forecasting, we analysis the time-series as additive seasonal structure by using method below ¼Ã… ¡ Seasonal Structures: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 -13 30 22 -23 In this case ¼Ã…’for a given variable the quarter 1 is 13 units below trend, quarter 2 is 30 units above trend, etc. This is an Additive Seasonal Index. Alternatively we could have expressed the index as follows: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 -13% 30% 22% -23% Here the quarter 1 data is 13% below the trend value, or more conventionally 87% of trend, similarly for the other quarters. It is conventional to express this Seasonal Index as: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 87% 130% 122% 77% This is called a Multiplicative Seasonal Index and if the seasonal deviation is proportional to the trend then the seasonal structure is multiplicative. In this case we preferred the additive seasonal structure as the time-series constant about the trend, but in fact it could proportional to the trend and become the multiplicative seasonal structure in the future, so we should make appropriate adjustments base on the future data. Linear or Quadratic model In this case, we modeled the time-series as quadratic model due to the data the company provided closer to the quadratic model now, however, with the future data the model may be transformed into the linear model. Conclusion The objective of the company is to use time-series data to construct a forecast of the next four quarters sales. So as to do the forecast first we analysed the time-series to determine main characteristics of this time-series and modeled it, then found out the difference between the sales and trend to construct the seasonal indices, after that did the forecasting and to identify whether the forecast accurate or not by using the MAD, MSD and MPE. And the next four quarters sales of this company are Q1=366.116, Q2=406.796, Q3=400.011, Q4=365.637. However, during the forecasting procedure we should also consider about the choice we have made whether to choose additive or multiplicative, the linear model or the quadratic model will affect the accuracy of forecasting.

Effects of Segregation and Racism in Of Mice and Men Chapter 4 :: John Steinbeck

In the story, Crooks' home is, "a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn." This suggests that he is isolated from the other men and treated like the animals he cares for and as such is made to live with them. Crooks' "bunk" was actually a long box filled with straw, which could further reinforce the fact that he is treated like an animal or it could show that he is poor and has low, if any social status. To say that Steinbeck seems to make his characters seem low and poor, Crooks seems to have a number of pleasant possessions, however, some are damaged but this could represent their amount of use. These include, "a single barreled shotgun" which suggests that he feels threatened and needs protection, although it could be a trophy from previous times in his past that he would like to remember. Also, he owns a "big alarm clock" which may show that he is punctual, ordered and that he requires being on time given the job but it may also show that because he is isolated from the other men, he relies less on others to awaken him in the mornings. ?A tattered dictionary? is another of his personal items, which could define his character as intelligent, but that he wants to be seen and it could be a way to prevent his constant loneliness from being a problem. Another piece of his home comes in the form of ?a mauled copy of the California civil code,? which can be used to represent his character?s intelligence plus that he reads to escape solitude, in addition to this point, as a coloured person in those times, Crooks? life must have been difficult, knowing his right as a person could aid in protection with which he needs. The last article in Crooks? inventory of significance would be his ?gold-rimmed spectacles,? which could enable him to see clearly, but may also allow him to view the world in a different perspective. The last point regarding Crooks? room may perhaps be seen as a relevant one, ?this room was swept and fairly neat?? could illustrate Crooks as a proud, aloof man. Finally, the fact that Crooks keeps his distance and demands that others keep theirs could again reinforce the point that he feels threatened and this would keep him protected. When Lennie enters the room, we learn more about the effects of isolation. Effects of Segregation and Racism in Of Mice and Men Chapter 4 :: John Steinbeck In the story, Crooks' home is, "a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn." This suggests that he is isolated from the other men and treated like the animals he cares for and as such is made to live with them. Crooks' "bunk" was actually a long box filled with straw, which could further reinforce the fact that he is treated like an animal or it could show that he is poor and has low, if any social status. To say that Steinbeck seems to make his characters seem low and poor, Crooks seems to have a number of pleasant possessions, however, some are damaged but this could represent their amount of use. These include, "a single barreled shotgun" which suggests that he feels threatened and needs protection, although it could be a trophy from previous times in his past that he would like to remember. Also, he owns a "big alarm clock" which may show that he is punctual, ordered and that he requires being on time given the job but it may also show that because he is isolated from the other men, he relies less on others to awaken him in the mornings. ?A tattered dictionary? is another of his personal items, which could define his character as intelligent, but that he wants to be seen and it could be a way to prevent his constant loneliness from being a problem. Another piece of his home comes in the form of ?a mauled copy of the California civil code,? which can be used to represent his character?s intelligence plus that he reads to escape solitude, in addition to this point, as a coloured person in those times, Crooks? life must have been difficult, knowing his right as a person could aid in protection with which he needs. The last article in Crooks? inventory of significance would be his ?gold-rimmed spectacles,? which could enable him to see clearly, but may also allow him to view the world in a different perspective. The last point regarding Crooks? room may perhaps be seen as a relevant one, ?this room was swept and fairly neat?? could illustrate Crooks as a proud, aloof man. Finally, the fact that Crooks keeps his distance and demands that others keep theirs could again reinforce the point that he feels threatened and this would keep him protected. When Lennie enters the room, we learn more about the effects of isolation.

College Interview Essay

Most college interview questions are meant to help you and the interviewer find out if the college is a good match for you. Rarely will you get a question that puts you on the spot or tries to make you feel stupid. Remember, the college is trying to make a good impression too. Use the interview to show off your personality in ways that aren’t possible on the application. 1. Tell me about yourself. Im Romualda Heredia who really love silence place. Because of that people called me a very quiet person. That’s make me unique because of my silence,people got make mistakes in judging me. They think that I can’t do that and can’t do this but one day they are often surprise of my excellency. So im a typical mysterious person. This question seems easier than it is. How do you reduce your whole life to a few sentences? And it’s hard to avoid commonplace answers like â€Å"I’m friendly† or â€Å"I’m a good student. † Of course you want to demonstrate that you’re friendly and studious, but try also to say something memorable here that really makes you different from other college applicants. Can you hold your breath longer than anyone in your school? Do you have a huge collection of Pez dispensers? Do you have unusual cravings for sushi? â€Å"Tell me about yourself. † It seems like such an easy question. In some ways, it is. After all, if there’s one subject you truly know something about, it’s yourself. The challenge, however, is that knowing yourself and articulating your identity in a few sentences are very different things. Before setting foot in the interview room, make sure you put some thought into what it is that makes you unique. Certain characteristics are desirable, but they are not unique. The majority of students applying to selective colleges can make claims such as these: â€Å"I’m hard working. † â€Å"I’m responsible. † â€Å"I’m friendly. † â€Å"I’m a good student. † â€Å"I’m loyal. † Granted, all of these answers point to important and positive character traits. Of course colleges want students who are hard working, responsible, and friendly. That’s a no-brainer. And ideally your application and interview answers will convey the fact that you are a friendly and hard-working student. These answers, however, are all predictable. Nearly every applicant could give the same answers. If we go back to the initial question — â€Å"Tell me about yourself† — we need to recognize that the answers any applicant can give do not successfully define what characteristics make you special. The interview is your best opportunity to convey your unique personality and passions, so you want to answer questions in ways that show that you are you, not a clone of a thousand other applicants. So, when asked to tell about yourself, don’t spend too much time on the predictable answers. Show the interviewer who you are. What are your passions? My passion are writing and reading novels. I like those two because it comforts me a lot whenever im alone. What are your quirks? My quirks are Why do your friends really like you? They like me when I told them funny quote or stories in serious manner. They are always convinced of my seriouseness but in the end,,it is something that makes them laugh . What makes you laugh? I laugh when nobody laugh at my jokes. I don’t know why but im used to it. What makes you angry? Im angy most of the time when I met some irritating and annoying person. I don’t like those kind of person because its not in my attitude. Did you teach your dog to play the piano? Do you make a killer wild strawberry pie? Do you do your best thinking when on a 100-mile bike ride? Do you read books late at night with a flashlight? Do you have unusual cravings for oysters? Have you ever successfully started a fire with sticks and a shoelace? Were you ever sprayed by a skunk taking out the compost in the evening? You are almost guaranteed to be asked to tell about yourself, and your interviewer truly is interested in getting to know you. Your answers need to take the question seriously and you need to answer sincerely, but make sure you are actually painting a colorful and detailed portrait of yourself, not a simple line sketch. Be specific when answering this, and show that you’ve done your research. Also, avoid answers like â€Å"I want to make a lot of money† or â€Å"Graduates of your college get good job placement. † You want to highlight your intellectual interests, not your materialistic desires. What specifically about the college distinguishes it from other schools you’re considering? 2†³Why are you interested in our college? † Like many of the most common interview questions, this one seems like a no-brainer. After all, if you are interviewing at a school, you have presumably done some research and know why you are interested in the place. Nevertheless, some answers to this question are better than others. Your answer should show that you have specific and admirable reasons for attending the college. The following answers are not likely to impress your interviewer: â€Å"Your college is prestigious. † â€Å"I’ll make lots of money with a degree from your college. † â€Å"All my friends are going to your college. † â€Å"Your college is convenient and close to home. † â€Å"My counselor told me to apply. † â€Å"You’re my safetly school. † The interviewer is hoping that you are interested in the college for reasons other than peer pressure or convenience. Similarly, if you say you applied entirely because of a parent or counselor’s recommendation, you’ll be suggesting that you lack initiative and have few thoughts of your own. When it comes to prestige and earning potential, the issue is a bit more fuzzy. After all, name recognition and your future salary are both important. The interviewer most likely is hoping that you find the college prestigious. That said, you don’t want to come across as someone who is more concerned with material gain and prestige than with pursuing your passions and getting a high quality education. Many students choose a college based on sports. If you love nothing more than playing soccer, you’re likely to look at colleges that have strong soccer teams. During the interview, however, keep in mind that students who are interested in nothing except sports often fail to graduate. Any answer you give about athletics should be balanced with academics. What you most need to do when answering this question is show the interviewer that you know the college’s distinctive features well. Don’t simply say that you want to go to the college to get a good education. Be specific. Let the interviewer know that you were drawn to the college’s innovative first-year program, its emphasis on experiential learning, its Honors Program, or its international focus. Also feel free to mention the school’s wonderful hiking trails, its quirky traditions, or its amazing lilacs. Whatever you say, be specific. Before you set foot in the interview room, make sure you have done your research and identified several features of the college that you find particularly appealing, and make sure at least one of those features is academic in nature. 3. What can I tell you about our college? You can almost guarantee that your interviewer will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions. Make sure you have some, and make sure your questions are thoughtful and specific to the particular college. Avoid questions like â€Å"when is the application deadline? † or â€Å"how many majors do you have? † This information is both uninteresting and readily available on the school’s webpage. Come up with some probing and focused questions: â€Å"What would graduates of your college say was the most valuable thing about their four years here? † â€Å"I read that you offer a major in interdisciplinary studies. Could you tell me more about that? † 4. Who in your life has most influenced you? There are other variations of this question: Who’s your hero? What historical or fictional character would you most like to be like? This can be an awkward question if you haven’t thought about it, so spend a few minutes considering how you would answer. Identify a few real, historical, and fictional characters you admire, and be prepared to articulate WHY you admire them. Myself — In truth, you probably are the person who is most responsible for your success. You may, in fact, be self-reliant with no real heroes. However, if you answer this question with yourself you will sound self-absorbed and selfish. Colleges want to admit students who help each other out and work as a community. They don’t want solitary egotists. A Friend — For good or bad, your close friends have a huge influence on your decisions and behavior. Whatever your answer, bring the influential person to life for your interviewer. Avoid vague generalities. Provide colorful, entertaining, and specific examples of how the person has influenced you. 5. Why do you want to major in ______________ ? Realize that you don’t need to have decided upon a major when you apply to college, and your interviewer will not be disappointed if you say you have many interests and you need to take more classes before choosing a major. However, if you have identified a potential major, be prepared to explain why. Avoid saying that you want to major in something because you’ll make a lot of money — your passion for a subject will make you a good college student, not your greed. Read more tips on this question†¦ Make sure you are ready to explain why you are interested in a particular field. What experiences or high school courses piqued your interest? At some large universities it is possible that you will need to pick a field of study when you apply. For example, some of the California public universities are trying to balance enrollments within different programs. And if you are applying to a business or engineering school within a larger university, you will often need a specialized application for that school. 6†³Tell me about a challenge that you overcame. † The question isn’t a difficult one as long as you’ve put a couple of minutes of thought into it before your interview. The main danger with the question is being unable to think of an appropriate challenge during the interview. Realize that you can draw from many different kinds of â€Å"challenges† when you answer this question. You don’t need to have lived a life of adversity or oppression to have a meaningful challenge to discuss. So your first step is to figure out what challenge you want to share with your interviewer. You would be wise to shy away from anything that is too personal — you don’t want your interviewer to feel uncomfortable. But an appropriate challenge can come in many forms: An academic challenge — Perhaps you found chemistry or English particularly difficult? A challenge at work — Did you have a boss or co-worker who was difficult to work with? An athletic challenge — Did you have to work hard to improve your skills? Did you have a competition that was especially demanding? A personal tragedy — Did you lose someone close to you and have a hard time getting over the loss? A personal goal — Did you set a goal for yourself that was difficult to accomplish? An ethical dilemma — Were you put in a position where none of your options were attractive? Keep in mind the purpose of this type of question. The interviewer isn’t necessarily interested in hearing about some horror story from your past. Rather, the question is designed to help the interviewer discover what type of problem solver you are. College is all about developing critical thinking and problem solving skills, so the interviewer wants to see that you have promise in these areas. When confronted with a challenge, how do you respond? 7†³What do you do in your free time? † The interviewer might ask this question in one of many ways: What do you do for fun? What do you do when you’re not in school? What do you do on your weekends? This is not a trick question, and many kinds of answers will do well. The interviewer is simply trying to get to know you better. College is about much more than academic classes, and the admissions folks want to know how you keep yourself busy when you’re not doing schoolwork. The most attractive students are those who do interesting things in their spare time. So, when you answer the question, make sure you actually sound like you do interesting things in your spare time. Answers like these will not impress: I like hangin’ with my friends. (Do you actually do anything with those friends, or do you just take up space on our little planet? ) I do Facebook in all my free time. (This is true for many students, but too much online time is a major source of poor academic performance in college) I like partying. (Another activity that, if a abused, has caused many students to fail out of college) I watch lots of TV. (Many of us watch too much TV; don’t highlight that fact during your interview) I don’t have any free time. (This answer is true for some highly involved students, but it is an evasive answer; what would you do if you did have free time? ) I’ve been reading all of the Greek classics. (Good for you, but really? Colleges like good scholars, but they also want students who occasionally take their heads out of their books) The best answer to this question will show that you have passions outside of the classroom. The question allows you to show that you are well rounded. Within reason, it doesn’t much matter what you do in your free time as long as you do something. Do you love working on cars? Playing a pick-up game of soccer? Hiking in the neighboring mountains? Experimenting in the kitchen? Building rockets? Playing word games with your younger brother? Painting sunsets? Surfing? Your transcript will show that you are a good student. Your answer to this question will show that you are also someone who has diverse interests that will enrich the campus community. 8†³What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? † This interview question can come in many flavors: What do you want to do with your life? What are your goals? What is your dream job? What do you want to do with your college degree? However your interviewer phrases the question, the goal is similar. The college admissions folks want to see if you have thought about your future. A lot of students don’t succeed in college for the simple reason that they don’t have a clear sense of why college is important to them and their goals. This interview question is subtly asking you to show how college fits into your long-term planning. Realize that you definitely do not need to know what you want to be doing ten years from now. College is a time of exploration and discovery. Many prospective college students have not yet been introduced to the fields that will define their future careers. The majority of students will change majors before they graduate. Many students will have careers that aren’t directly connected to their undergraduate majors. That said, you don’t want to evade the question. Answers such as these may be accurate, but they won’t impress anybody: â€Å"I don’t know. † True enough, but keep on reading to see a better way to present your uncertainty. â€Å"I’m not sure what I’ll be doing, but I want to be making lots of money. † This answer suggests that you have no academic interests, but you have strong materialistic desires. Such attitudes aren’t very attractive to a college that is trying to enroll an interesting and engaged group of students. â€Å"I want to be working for a big company. † Try to focus more. What type of company? Why? A vague answer isn’t going to create a strong impression. â€Å"I hope I’ll be married with kids. † That’s fine, but the interviewer isn’t really asking about your personal life (in fact, it wouldn’t be appropriate for an interviewer to ask about your future plans for family and marriage). Keep focused on career goals that are connected to your college education. So, if asked about your future goals, be honest but also answer in a way that shows you have actually thought about the relationship between college and your future. Here are a couple ways to approach the question: â€Å"I want to major in aeronautical engineering and work for NASA. † If you know what you want to do, an interview question about your future is easy to answer. However, be sure to elaborate and explain why you want to pursue a certain career path. What got you interested in the field? What do you hope to accomplish in this career? â€Å"I don’t know what I will be doing, but I know I want to work with people. In college I’m interested in taking classes in sociology and psychology to learn what some of the options are. † An answer such as this shows your uncertainty, but it shows that you know yourself, you’ve thought about the future, and you are eager to explore new fields of study. Again, the interviewer is not expecting you to know what you will be doing in ten years. If you can see yourself in five different careers, say so. You will have successfully answered this question if you do more than shrug your shoulders or evade the question. Show that you are excited about the future and that college plays a role in that future. 9†³Does your high school record accurately reflect your effort and ability? † This interview question provides you with an opportunity to explain a bad grade or weak spot in your academic record. Nearly all highly selective colleges have holistic admissions, so the admissions officers want to get to know you as a person, not just as a list of grades and test scores. Your interviewer knows that you are human and that extenuating circumstances can sometimes affect your academic performance. That said, you don’t want to sound like a whiner or grade grubber. If you have mostly A’s, don’t feel that you need to come up with an excuse for that one B+. Also, make sure you’re not blaming others for your own academic performance. The admissions folks won’t be impressed if you complain about an unreasonable teacher who doesn’t give out easy A’s. The following responses are all poor ways to answer the question: â€Å"I’m very good at math, but my teacher didn’t like me. That’s why I got a C+. † Really? This response suggests that you aren’t mature enough to own up to the grade you earned. Was your math teacher really that biased and unprofessional? And if so, why didn’t you address the unethical behavior with school officials? Even if your teacher didn’t like you, this isn’t something you want to highlight in your interview. Are you unlikable? â€Å"I worked really hard, so I don’t know why my grades weren’t higher. † This response makes you sound clueless. Students who don’t understand the low grades they earned are risky prospects for a college to admit. Successful students know what went wrong, and they work to address the problems. â€Å"I would have put more effort into my classes, but I was too busy with my job and sports. † While this response may be honest, it will not create a good impression. It’s wonderful that you are busy with work and athletics, but successful college students have strong time management skills and they give academics top priority. â€Å"I didn’t have to work hard to get all those A’s. † Shhh. Sure, we all had classes that were easy A’s, but don’t draw attention to this fact during your interview. So, how should you answer a question about the relationship between your record, your effort and your ability? In general, take ownership of your grades and justify low grades only if you have truly extenuating circumstances. The responses below would all be appropriate: â€Å"My parents got divorced at the beginning of my sophomore year, and I’m afraid I was too distracted to put in my best effort at school. † Fair enough. Big upheavals at home — divorce, death, abuse, frequent moves — can certainly make it difficult to devote 100% of your effort to academics. If a large domestic issue did affect your grades, your interviewer will want to know about it. Ideally, however, your academic record shows that the dip in grades was short-lived. If your grades never recovered, the admissions officers will wonder if you have gotten your act together enough to do well in college. â€Å"I had gallbladder surgery in 9th grade and was on a lot of pain medications. † Serious illness or surgery can certainly disrupt your academic efforts, and it is worth mentioning this type of disruption if it had a negative impact on your grades. Here, as with the response above, your record should show that the dip in grades was temporary. Make sure you are talking about serious health issues. Your interviewer will not be impressed if you try to blame that weak semester on the sniffles. â€Å"Yes, my record does reflect my effort. I didn’t work as hard as I should have in 9th grade, but by 10th grade I had figured out how to be a successful student. † The honesty of this response is refreshing. Some students figure out how to succeed later than others. There is nothing wrong with this. In general, colleges will be pleased to see that your grades have trended upwards throughout high school. A downward trend will raise red flags. Again, don’t be tempted to explain every little aberration in your academic record. The interviewer is really looking to see if you had any major extenuating circumstances that affected your grades. If you come across as the type of student who goes on a rant complaining about a single B+, you’re going to sound like an annoying whiner. 10. â€Å"Recommend a Good Book to Me. † The question can come in many different forms: â€Å"What’s the last book you read? â€Å"; â€Å"Tell me about a good book you’ve read recently†;†What’s your favorite book? Why? â€Å"; â€Å"What types of books do you like to read? â€Å"; â€Å"Tell me about a good book you read for pleasure. † Whatever the form of the question, the interviewer is trying to learn a few things by asking about your reading habits and book preferences: Do you read for pleasure. Active readers are people who are intellectually curious. They are also people who are likely to have better reading comprehension and writing skills than non-readers. Students who read a lot in high school are more likely to succeed in college than students who don’t. Do you know how to talk about books. A lot of your college course work will involve discussing and writing about what you have read. This interview question helps figure out if you are up for the challenge. Your interests. You are likely to get asked about your interests and passions in another interview question, but books are one more way to approach the topic. If you have a love of novels about Cold War espionage, that information helps the interviewer get to know you better. A book recommendation. An interview is a two-way conversation, and your interviewer may actually want to learn about some good books he or she isn’t familiar with. Don’t try to second guess this question too much by recommending a book simply because it has historical or cultural significance. You’ll sound insincere if you state that Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is your favorite book when in truth your much prefer Stephen King novels. Nearly any work of fiction or nonfiction can work for this question as long as you have things to say about it and it is at an appropriate reading-level for a college-bound student. There are, however, a few types of works that might be weaker choices than others. In general, avoid works such as these:Works that were obviously assigned in class. Part of this question is to see what you read outside of class. If you name To Kill a Mockingbird or Hamlet, you’ll sound as if you’ve never read anything but assigned books. Juvenile fiction. You don’t need to hide your love of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Redwall books, but these works are also loved by kids much younger than you. You’d do better to recommend a book that is more in line with a college-level reader. Works chosen simply to impress. James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake isn’t anyone’s favorite book, and you’ll sound insincere if you recommend a challenging book in an effort to make yourself look smart. The issue gets a little more fuzzy with works like Harry Potter and Twilight. Certainly plenty of adults (like me) devoured all of the Harry Potter books, and you’ll even find college courses on Harry Potter. You certainly don’t need to hide the fact that you were addicted to popular series such as these. That said, so many people love these books (including much younger readers) that they make for a rather predictable and uninteresting answer to the interviewer’s question. So what is the ideal book? Try to come up with something that fits these general guidelines: Pick a book that you sincerely love and that you are comfortable talking about. Pick a book with enough substance to it so that you can explain why you like the book. Pick a book that is at an appropriate reading level; something that is a huge hit among fourth-graders is probably not your best choice. Pick a book that gives the interviewer a window into your interests and passions. This last point is important — the interviewer wants to get to know you better. This interview question isn’t so much about the book you choose as it is about you. Make sure you are able to articulate why you are recommending the book. Why did the book speak to you more than other books? What about the book did you find so compelling? How did the book engage issues that you are passionate about? How did the book open your mind or create new understanding? 11=†If you could do one thing in high school differently, what would it be? † This interview question is a bit trickier than most. You’ll want to make sure you don’t wallow in regret or draw attention to really bad decisions you’ve made. You have a tough balancing act to negotiate with a question like this. The best interviews are ones in which the interviewer feels like he or she has really gotten to know you. If all of your answers are calculated and safe, you’ll end up making a tepid impression at best. At the same time, providing too much information is also a danger, and this interview question can easily lead to TMI. In general, you’d probably be wise to avoid answers related to topics such as these: Your relationships. It wouldn’t be surprising if your biggest regret from high school was a disastrous relationship. However, if you answer the interview question with details about that nasty boyfriend or girlfriend, you’ll be introducing a lot of negativity into your interview. This type of response can easily sound immature, ungenerous, and spiteful. Steer clear. A class you hated. Do you really regret taking that class with that jerk of a teacher? Fine, but keep it to yourself. The best students can navigate all kinds of classroom environments, and your interviewer won’t be impressed if you start bad-mouthing your teachers. Your problems with drugs or alcohol. If you got messed up with drugs or alcohol in college, hopefully you do wish that you could go back and do things differently. That said, the college interview is not the best place to address this issue. While your interviewer may be impressed with your ability to confront your substance abuse, he or she may also feel uneasy about admitting a student who abused alcohol or drugs. Your interviewer may question your judgment or feel that you represent too great of a risk to the college. After all, colleges have enough problems with substance abuse without admitting students who have a proven track record of abuse. The best answers to this interview question will put a positive spin on it. A strong answer doesn’t express regret about a bad decision; instead, it presents regret over not seizing all the opportunities available to you. For example, the following would make good responses: You wish you had taken calculus instead of an easier math class. You wish you had looked for a more challenging job than the local burger joint. You wish you had discovered earlier in high school that you really enjoy theater. You wish you had worked harder in your freshmen year (some students are late bloomers, and your interviewer won’t hold this against you) A more personal response is also appropriate as long as it presents you in a positive light. Perhaps you wish you had spent more time with your grandmother before she came down with cancer, or perhaps you wish you had helped your brother more when he was struggling in school. Think carefully about this question before you set foot in the interview room. It’s not a difficult question, but it does have the ability to go astray if you draw attention to an action that reveals foolishness or poor judgment. +===The majority of college interviewers aren’t looking to trick you or put you on the spot. The interview is a way for you and a representative from the college to get to know each other. The interview helps you and the college figure out if you’re a good match. Try to relax and be yourself, and the interview should be a pleasant experience. The 20 questions below are meant to supplement my original 12 college interview questions. Also be sure to check out these 10 college interview mistakes. 1. What did you do this summer? This is an easy question that an interviewer might use to get the conversation rolling. The biggest danger here is if you haven’t done anything productive in the summer. â€Å"I played a lot of video games† isn’t a good answer. Even if you didn’t have a job or take classes, try to think of something you have done that was a learning experience. 2. What do you do best? There are lots of ways to ask this question, but the bottom line is that the interviewer wants you to identify what you see as your greatest talent. There’s nothing wrong with identifying something that isn’t central to your college application. Even if you were first violin in the all-state orchestra or the starting quarterback, you can identify your best talent as making a mean cherry pie or carving animal figurines out of soap. The interview can be an opportunity to show a side of yourself that isn’t obvious on the written application. 3. What do you hope to do after graduation? Lots of high school students have no idea what they want to do in the future, and that’s okay. Still, you should formulate an answer to this question. If you’re not sure what your career goals are, say so, but provide a few possibilities. 4. Why do you want to go to college? This question is so broad and seemingly obvious that it can catch you by surprise. Why college? Steer clear of materialistic responses (â€Å"I want to get a good job and make a lot of money†). Instead, focus on what it is that you plan to study. Chances are your particular career goals aren’t possible without a college education. 5. How do you define success? Here again you want to avoid sounding too materialistic. Hopefully success means making a contribution to the world, not just your wallet. 6. Who do you most admire? This question really isn’t so much about who you admire but why you admire someone. The interviewer wants to see what character traits you most value in other people. 7. What is your biggest weakness? This is a common question, and it’s always a tough one to answer. It can be dangerous to be too honest (â€Å"I put off all my papers until an hour before they are due†), but evasive answers that actually present a strength often won’t satisfy the interviewer (â€Å"My greatest weakness is that I have too many interests and I work too hard†). Try to be honest here without damning yourself. The interviewer is trying to see how self-aware you are. 8. Tell me about your family. When you interview for college, an easy question like this can help get the conversation rolling. Try to be specific in your description of your family. Identify some of their funny quirks or obsessions. In general,however, keep the representation positive — you want to present yourself as a generous person, not someone who is hyper-critical. 9. What makes you special? Or the interview might ask, â€Å"What makes you unique? † It’s a more difficult question than it might at first appear. Playing a sport or getting good grades is something that many students do, so such accomplishments aren’t necessarily â€Å"special† or â€Å"unique. † Try to get beyond your accomplishments and think about what really makes you you. 10. What can our college offer you that another college can’t? This question is a little different than one asking why you want to go to a specific college. Do your research and look for the truly unique features of the college for which you are interviewing. Does it have unusual academic offerings? Does it have a distinctive first-year program? Are there co-curricular or internship opportunities that can’t be found at other schools?

The New York Yankees Essays - New York Yankees Players, Free Essays

The New York Yankees Essays - New York Yankees Players, Free Essays The New York Yankees The New York Yankees are without dispute the most successful franchise in baseball history. They have captured 33 American League pennants and 22 World Series Championships, which is far more than any other franchise in baseball. Baseball?s greatest players have played proudly wearing the pinstripes. But those facts alone are not what the Yankees are about. The Yankees are so much more than just a team that wins championships. It is the players (past and present) and the stories about these players that make the Yankees the team that they are. These stories are passed down from generation to generation. Stories of Yankee legends such as Babe Ruth bolting his 60th home run in 1927. Babe Ruth would go on to become the most influential player the sport would ever know. Another unforgetable Yankee memorie is when Roger Maris broke Ruth?s single season homerun record when he hit 61 homeruns in 1961. Every year as the World Series approaches, fans always reminisce about the time Reggie Jackson hit three homeruns on three consecutive pitches to win the World Series in 1977. It is the dream of most American youths to have been able to see those golden times first hand. Although many didn?t see the history of the Yankees, they experienced history in the making as the 1998 Yankees won the World Series while having the best record of any team in a single season. History and baseball greatness is overwhelmingly displayed in the Yankee symbol. The Yankees are so much more than just a baseball team, they are a symbol of teamwork, great talent, and unity. It has been seen throughout the years and it is seen with the team of 1998. They took the symbol into the 1990?s and have further burned the Yankee symbol of greatness into the minds of all that watch them. Yankee Stadium is, to many, the centerpiece of baseball history. It is the heart and soul of the Yankee tradition and it is a symbol of the greatness of baseball in general. Being one of the oldest stadiums in the game, Yankee stadium is not about modern amenities, it is about tradition. While other stadiums have changed the playing field to artificial turf, Yankee Stadium still has a natural grass playing field. The Stadium has changed little over the years. The white fa?ade above the bleachers in centerfield still glistens in the summer sunlight. The fans still have the same ritual of rejecting caught balls from the bat of opposing players by throwing the balls back out on the field. Players sign autographs before the game just as their heroes did for them when they were children. Yankee Stadium is a place where the fans can revel in the history of America?s pastime. A place where records have been broken, legends have been made, and moments have transcended time. Visiting Yankee Stadium is a must-experience for any baseball fan. As a fan passes through the metal turnstile, the loud, deep voice of a vendor resonates in the fan?s ear as he announces, ?Programs! Scorecards! Get your programs here!" Looking around reveals to each fan that Yankee Stadium is packed like Grand Central Station during the holidays. Excited fans frantically rush by as though they are running late for a train. Upon taking one?s very first step into the stadium, emotions of awe, anticipation, and excitement drastically heighten, taking over one?s body. Over the years fans have adopted different pre-game rituals. The sweet smells of roasted peanuts, buttered popcorn, and hotdogs lure some fans to the food stand. The great variety of food and beverages leaves many unsure exactly what to order. Hotdogs always seem to be the bestseller and fans never hesitate to pile on the mustard, relish, ketchup, and sauerkraut. Fans attempt to quench their thirst by consuming beers as if threats of prohibition loom in the air. Others patiently stand in line at the restrooms, waiting for a chance to relieve themselves of several pre-game beers. Some fans jump at the chance to expand their wardrobe of Yankee paraphernalia. Everything from Yankee hats to Yankee tablecloths hold large price tags, but are nevertheless sold by pushy vendors. All fans do

Henkel Essays

Henkel Essays Henkel Essay Henkel Essay Strongest pressure for the brand harmonization was due to the consolidation of European retailers. Retailers are focusing on internationalizing with increasing activity of acquisition and mergers after getting consolidated at variable rates within markets. For instance: combinations of Carrefour and Promodes, of Intermarche and Spar. Products that those retailers are selling should become international also parallel to their evolution, at least those big(heavy buyer) retailers will have greater preference over international branded products over locally known ones. They gained the awareness of the internationalization which is going to be their future in Europe. On the other hand, what counts most for the consumer is the local effect of the product because laundry and home cleaning are cultural related activities in which preferences are passed down through generations. The main difference is demographics ; Southern Europeans prefers less powerful detergents combined with bleach washed in low temperatures whereas Northern tradition involved with powerful detergents without bleach combination washed in hotter water. Packaging differs also; north people want compact product but in south people want big boxes. Henkel implemented different strategies for different markets relying on those differences like; whiteness with care for northern market like Germany and France but to catch the large green customer segment in Netherlands an environmentally friendly label named Persil Grune is launched. 2. Unilever and PG did an outstanding job harmonizing their brand portfolio internationally. Unilever was to reduce its portfolio from 1600 brands to 400 which they believed would allow to save on production from reduced stock-keeping units, concentrate their marketing support and the leaner, more powerful portfolio would give the company leverage with retailers. PG followed suit as they decided to internationalize the management of brands by category. Their consolidation of brands allowed them to re-brand items giving the company a face lift. I do feel that the consolidation of brands is a good idea because it gives the impression of a premium product that can also be exclusive. It might be a better idea to specialize in one brand or area in order to achieve Tier A brand status. 3. Distinction between product and brand became the basis for Henkel`s international brand marketing strategy. In some cases rather than Product Performance Strategy(standardization of product features) Henkel tries to standardize its brands, Brand Platform Strategy (such as design, advertising , brand name) when market is prepared to change its brand preferences. The example for this strategy was standardizing around the light-duty detergent named, Vernel, which is launced in 95 and by 2000 became the companies` primary softener. However, the biggest competitor, PG, decided to lead with Bold in markets which its type B tier product Dash is weak like Italy and Spain but brand is known as Bolt in Italy and Bold in Spain. The 2-in-1 position requiring different advertising campaigns in different countries is not fared well in Europe detergent category 4. Introducing Persil in Italy and Spain turned to be a great idea as they were able to control the market with their premium brand. In Italy, they understood the consumers` needs by establishing a blue powder which was preferred because of the azurrri (blue, national color) it was the national care. They entered the market with a strong idea that their performance brand, Dixan, would be able to achieve market leadership. In Spain, Henkel`s decision was quite simple. They decided to enter the market through acquisition and bought a strong market player, Wipp. Spain is also a performance driven market allowing Henkel to extend its brand image and cut costs by not launching a new brand. However, large retailers will increasingly only take one Tier A brand per supplier, making it harder to Henkel to distribute its various lines of detergent. Another concern is that likelihood that the consumer will try other brands and not stay loyal to the company. The best option would be brand standardization only because product standardization would be next to impossible.

Biology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biology - Assignment Example The number of cups of coffee should also depend on how much the escort and the professor can wager. 4. I believe the cups should not be identical. Perhaps there should be 3 designs and 4 pieces each, so 12. Maybe the design can affect the result of the experiment. I believe one kind of design is glass, another is plastic and the other is ceramic, because the coffee or milk might taste different with different material of the cup. If possible, I would like to prepare some cold and some hot, because it is possible that temperature might also affect the taste of the coffee or milk. 5. The order that the cups should be presented must be random so the only way I could think of is by jumbling the arrangement of all 12 cups but the escort and professor should take note which cup has milk or coffee added first. After that, any random cup from the group of 12 cups can be given to the model until she finishes tasting everything. 6. I think if she has guessed at least 75% of the cups correctly (minimum of 9), then we can say that the hypothesis is true. If we decide only after 50%, then maybe it is not enough and maybe she is just a good guesser. 1. The hypothesis I chose was different because it was a practical hypothesis. According to Fisher, if we use a null hypothesis we can exclude the possibility that the order of the cups has an influence on the results. However, if we use another hypothesis, then there might be confusion. So it is better to say that the order of the cups and other factors have no effect on the ability of the model to distinguish whether coffee or milk was added first. 2. My answer was the same as Fisher’s. I thought that â€Å"if only two cups are given to the model, then she will be able to simply freely guess whether the first cup had milk added first or if it is the second one.† According to Fisher, if only 3 cups can be chosen, then complete success can be achieved by pure chance. 3. I said the

Website plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Website plan - Essay Example In fact, e-commerce is believed to the most important and attractive internet supported ideas appeared in the recent times. In this scenario, electronic commerce engages carrying out business over the web with the help of computers that are connected to each other in order to form a network. In simple words, ecommerce deals with selling and buying products and services and transferring funds by making use of digital communications (EcommerceEducation, 2007; Hendershot, 2013). In addition, both the trends e-commerce and e-business are used interchangeably. However, e-business is about the development of businesses which can be run on the Internet, or using Internet systems and technologies to enhance the profitability or productivity of a company. In other words, this term can be employed to explain some structure of electronic business: that is to say, a business that makes use of a computer. This practice is somewhat out-of-date, though, and in most of the cases e-business refers completely to an Internet based business. In this scenario, the most frequent use of this term is for demonstrating a business which offers and sells products and services online, an e-business allows a firm to get access to a huge customer base than some customary brick-and-mortar store could ever expect for. Additionally, e-commerce is believed to be a significant component of e-business. Moreover, e-business can as well make use of the Internet to obtain wholesale products o r supplies intended for in-house manufacturing. This side of e-business is occasionally recognized as online or e-procurement, as well as provides the businesses an excellent opportunity to reduce their costs radically. However, the majority of e-businesses that work without an electronic business platform at the present utilize e-procurement as a key mechanism to effectively track and run their purchasing (McGuigan, 2013). This report