Mobile Banking free essay sample

Bank of America is the largest US bank founded in 1904, it has expanded through several acquisitions. By the end of 2009, Bank of America was the market leader serving 82% of the US population and over 53 million customers. They are positioned as number one in online and mobile banking. Their mobile banking services were launched in 2007 and have gained 4 million customers in less than three years. Acquisitions made by Bank of America prior to the financial crisis caused a very strong drop in their stock price. Customers: In 2009, 10 million customers used mobile banking and this is expected to grow to 37 million by 2014. Customers that use mobile banking are not the same as online customers. Customers that use mobile banking represent a different segment of the market that other banking customers. Security issues, a perceived low value and expense, were the primary reasons that customers did not switch to mobile banking. Potential customers were reluctant to try a new banking service that are represented an extra cost and they were also afraid of losing control of their finances. We will write a custom essay sample on Mobile Banking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Debit cardholders were the most active users. It was convenient for them because they could check their account at any time. Customers that used this service changed their usual banking channels and as a result -the bank had a higher retention for these users of online services. Competition/Competitors: Bank of Americas main competitors were: Bank of New York Mellon, JP Morgan Chase Co. , Wells Fargo Co. , Citigroup, and PNC Financial Services. These competitors also used mobile banking to ensure good service for their customers. They used SMS, customized web browsers and apps, depending on the bank and the customers they served. Citibank and Wells Fargo had different applications customized for their target groups. General Context Considering that the banking industry is fragmented, with thousands of banks offering retail and wholesale banking services; ten of the largest banks hold 46. 4% of total deposits, Bank of America being the largest one. The mortgage crisis of 2009 led to a deep recession and spilled over into a financial crisis that affected the retail banking business. Banks started waving fees and offering additional benefits in order to capture and retain customers. Mobile banking was introduced in the US in 2007 which added costs to each transaction. However, these costs were lower than call centers and interactive voice response costs. Bank of America had three options: mobile messaging (mobile stream modification without any software installation), mobile Internet (wireless application protocol), and mobile applications. Mobile applications in particular were more sophisticated and costly. Smartphone use was estimated to grow to 46% by 2014. Development Dilemma: Bank of America has two options to handle the future of mobile banking: 1) Build new and various applications to target different customers a) Pros: i) Customers want customization in the products; this will increase retention and satisfaction. ii) Marketing strategies can be segmented into different types of clients. This increases efficiency and reduces costs. iii) Superior brand and innovation perception. a) Cons i) Cost of application creation will increase due to the different areas and type of customers at Bank of America ii) Any changes in the bank services will have to be applied to all apps. Some customers will have to download and use various apps at the same time 2) Refuse to add complexity to the current application a) Pros: i) No extra costs on building a new application ii) Customers that don? t like technology or doubt about security issues wont be affected b) Cons: i) Other banks offer better mobile apps and this will increase their competitive advantage ii) Customer satisfaction will suffer if the app is not updated and does not fulfill their needs. iii) Transactions will still be done through ATMs, Call centers and IVR, which are 4 to 11 times more costly. Opportunities: Since Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in United States that has millions of customers; online banking is an important feature that offers to ease transactions and provides access to billing statements. However, because of the multitude of services banks offer it is overly-complicated to provide all items in one bundle. Because of this complexity (to add all the banking features in one app for mobile banking) Bank of America should target tablet-users to provide all the banking features with different applications. For example Bank of America can provide tools like market reports for savvy investors or savings programs for households (where it is easier to keep track of expenses. ) Tablets are relatively easier to use than mobile phones. Targeting such a market at an early stage can broaden the spectrum in which Bank of America operates its mobile banking. This opportunity which targets future markets as computers are being replaced by tablets should not be forgone. 1) Pros: a) Ease of access and use for customers with multiple Bank of America services, easier tracking of frauds or errors. ) Bank of America customers will be able to access a large array of services online. c) For some high-end apps a nominal fee may be charged to cover some of the technology budget. 2) Cons a) Customer information may be at risk as it is insecure to access sensitive information online for which Bank of America will have to maintain high privacy, increasing cost. b) Some of the features may still be complex and require customer support hotline. c) Customers may act on unintended transactions involving significant funds. Recommendations: Bank of America needs to improve the complexity to the current application. After analyzing the options and the opportunity, we think that Bank of America has to differentiate themselves from their competitors while offering a great service to their clients, we would recommend to increase the functionality of the mobile app. This change will bring extra benefits to the different type of clients in a single download. The company will also cut costs in the type of transactions made by the clients. The continuous growth of the mobile market especially the Smartphone use is another aspect of the recommendation. Having a mobile has become a commodity for the population. The new generation will get so accustomed to this technology that they will be able to deal with any app complexity without any problem. Bank of America has to think of its future customers, not only the current mobile technology adaptors. Having a better application will differentiate the bank compared to their competitors b) Customers will have overall services in a single application. ) Mobile payment services would be added to the app and will attract and benefit many customers. d) Transaction costs will become lower as the % of Smartphone users grows (46% for year 2014). 2) Cons: a) Added complexity will discourage some customers to use the application b) Speed of the application may suffer if the customer has a bad connection or has too many applications downloaded in their mobile. c) The cost of developing a more complex application is larger and may require more expertise and training for employees and customers as well.

The French Resistance essays

The French Resistance essays The French Resistance came into existence during World War II. It was started during the time of German occupation in France in order to combat the German oppression. There were many small pockets made up of Communist party members, Socialist party members, and French soldiers. At first, they were located mainly in the forests of unoccupied territory. Three people that were important leaders during the early part of the Resistance were Jean Moulin, Jean-Pierre Levy, and Emmanuel dAstier. They started by printing newspapers and pamphlets and distributing them to the few thousand members they each had. A French general named Charles De Gaulle had the foresight to unite these two factions of the Resistance. These two groups eventually blossomed into a powerful force that served to save many lives of enemies of the Axis powers. The French Resistance had many functions that it performed during World War II. Some of their important ones were helping downed fighter pilots into Bri tain and other nearby neutral countries or countries on the side of the Allies, militia attacks to complement the attacks of Allied troops in many important battles including D-Day in Normandy, and assassinate key figures of the Gestapo and the Nazi army. Even though for the most part the Resistance tried to stay clandestine, its value was recognized by both the Allies and the Axis powers. General Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke of there inestimable value to the success of the Allies, and the Gestapo devoted much of its time to rooting the small clandestine pockets that were causing them so much trouble. There is no doubt that, without the Resistance, many more lives of Allied soldiers would have been lost and World War II would have been extended for a great amount of time. ...

Frederick Winslow Taylors Life. Scientific management theory Research Paper

Frederick Winslow Taylors Life. Scientific management theory - Research Paper Example It is important to posit elucidate the fact that much of the explanations and resolutions he developed were founded on his personal understanding, knowledge, and practice. At his prime, he joined the working class as a worker on the floor of a factor and gradually climbed the ranks to become an executive. Other than describing the life of Taylor, this paper described scientific management theory, experiments conducted by Taylor, and the applications of his theories in the modern word. Available sources assert that Taylor started his work life as a trainee in the field of engineering. Subsequently, he jumped ship and joined Midvale steel company as a mere worker and eventually became a supervisor. In his escapade in this steel company, he came up with his theory of scientific management. Later in his working life, he joined Bethlehem steel company and it was at this company where he merged all his thoughts and suggestions and later carried out a number of tests and trials on his thoughts aimed at enhancing efficiency and output in employment. He is credited for ensuring that his thoughts, suggestions, tests, and trials are passed on to the next generation. In doing so, he put down his thoughts and tests into writing in the year 1911. A combination of all his contributions were printed and made public (Cole 16). Scientific management theory Towards the end of the nineteenth century, many factory executives and owners believed that competence and effectiveness of the techniques or processes of performance was a topic of major concern. Suddenly, there was a flood of labor associated with the establishment of novel factories and other companies. Company executives were therefore faced with a lot of difficulties in systematically putting these essentials into order. This, combined with his infatuation with competence of working techniques is the origin of Taylor’s theory on scientific management. In the course of his studies, he comprehended the fact that the solution and explanation to these predicaments rested on methodical scrutiny and investigation of labor (Taylor 22). According to Cole, through practice, he had gained familiarity on the fact that a very low percentage of employees incorporated substantial exertion in their day to day duties. This propensity was illustrate and depicted by Taylor as soldiering. Soldiering was subsequently categorized into natural and systematic soldiering. According to Taylor, natural soldiering is refe rred to as the innate propensity of effortlessness depicted by human beings. Systematic soldiering on the other hand is referred to as an intentional and systematic constraint or limitation of the speed or pace of conducting various duties and activities portrayed by workers. He asserted that soldering resulted from workers’ dread of joblessness, variations in stipends, and the violent and handy advances introduced by the management (16). During this period, techniques and ways of conducting activities and duties were the enterprise of the employees whereby they were allowed to plan and program their duties. According to Taylor’s proposition in his theory, this should be the work of individuals in management positions. In support of his proposition, he argued that employees favored working conditions whereby they are bestowed with specific duties with precise principles. He elucidated the importance of disconnecting preparation, development, and scheduling of operation s with the work itself. The theory of scientific management also postulates that ongoing and continuing decline on the level of skills within the workplace is goes together with growing and increasing

Left vs. Right brain and how it can impact learning Research Paper

Left vs. Right brain and how it can impact learning - Research Paper Example The right hemisphere can also perform mathematical estimations and comparisons to a limited level. Comprehension of visual imagery and interpretation of a voice tone are aspects performed by the right side of the brain. It is complex to tell how a person becomes right or left brained. Some people can be left or right handed, and that is alluded to the side of the brain is dominant. The brain assigns and balances functions to each side of its hemisphere. The portioning of tasks is done to ensure efficiency in the performance of the brain. The asymmetry of the brain is necessary in ensuring that there is no conflict in terms of performance and control. Left brained persons are known to be objective, analytical and logical. A right brained person is thoughtful, subjective, and intuitive. Psychologists note this to be lateralization of brain function. Each side of the brains plays a role. Nobel Prize winner, Rodger Sperry observed that incision of corpus collosum eliminates or reduces epileptic seizures. However, the patients experience other symptoms when the corpus collosum is cut. Such patients cannot name objects processed by either side of the brain (Fitgerald, 2010). Despite being lateralized, the two sides of the brain still work as a unit. Some analysts have also refuted claims that one side of the brain can be dominant than the other. Right brained persons are said to be more creative than their left side counterparts. It is believed that right-brained thinkers are very few. We can allude that they view things from a different perspective. That trait is what makes them creative. The left brained persons are objective but lack the natural creativity. Not that they are not creative at all, but they articulate it in a unique way (Duncan, 2009) Right brained people can learn much about abstract art. Abstract art has an element of disorganization and lack of order. It entails no boundaries and involves creativity. It is easy for

History of Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of Business - Essay Example Following industrial revolution, entrepreneurs formed Corporations with the main purpose being to raise funds for expanding business operations (Pillay, 2015). The terms of engagement dictated that shareholders would receive dividends after the company gains a profit. Other firms were able to control an entire market thereby creating a monopoly situation within the economy. Most companies within the same industry made agreements on product prices as well as the manner of dividing business operations as time went by (Carroll & Buchholtz, 2014). Another method of doing business that developed after Industrial Revolution was the formation of Trusts. Ideally, Corporations sharing the same market formed a trust, which took control of business activities through a group of trustees. . The economic philosophy under Laissez-Faire economics was of the perception that without government interference, businesses and the economy as a whole would perform best. Kurtz & Boone illustrated that unregulated markets would create competition in the market and thereby making prices to be fair for the consumers (2011). Related to this theory are aspects of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism stood on the ideology of helping the rich as the poor did not benefit the financial health of a nation. The emergence of technology in the 19th century marked the beginning of the entrepreneurial era. Lussier demonstrated that entrepreneurs became an instrumental aspect of business by combining various factors and coordinating labour in order to ensure business processes are effective (2012). Upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class and the working class were the main divisions of the social class. Essentially, the upper class and the upper middle class became the target market for entrepreneurs whose aim was to maximise profits and expand the market share. The production era persisted in the period after the civil war of

The Meaning of Art in Society

The Meaning of Art in Society In this paper we will discuss the concept of art by presenting out perception, defining our preferred art forms and drawing a conclusion by applying the theory of aesthetics, semiology (semiotics) and hermeneutics. The main goal is to look at different art forms in order to evaluate the meaning and place of arts in our society. Animation as an art form Animation, as an art form can be presented as entertainment, education, information, inspiration showing us the world in such a different way we do not imagine it. In this case, we can look at animators as artists and entertainers as well. They are always striving to give us a new perception of the surrounding environment and always doing it in such a funny and simple way. The power of animators is that they can tell edifying story in way that live action could not. By taking us in a new reality, animation professionals show us animated characters presented as real human beings. We can find a lot of common with them because they are all like us with the entire behavior, attitude and feelings. Thus, we could consider the animation as a mirror, reflection of our own physical and mental evolution. In this way, we can conclude that the development of animation goes together with the development of our society. With all the changes in our lives, the massage and the way it is delivered cha nge as well. All the art forms, including literature, painting, sculpture, and dance are about telling a story or making a statement. As a part of this group animation is educational tool and inspiration for all generations because everyone could find some new and useful ideas in such a simple story. Going out of imagination limits this form is accessible for everyone no matter the age, social and financial status. Animation has a rich and long history. The first animation form came on the scene in the early 1900s. J. Steward Blackton produced the first stop-frame animated cartoon, titled Humorous Phases of a Funny Face, in 1906. Another early landmark was Winsor McCays Gertie the Dinosaur (1914), a popular animated feature consisting of 10,000 illustrations hand-drawn on rice paper by the McCay and an assistant. The best known of these film animators was Walt Disney, who in 1928 produced Steamboat Willie starring Mickey Mouse, and who in 1937 brought to the American movie screen the first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Disney introduced numerous technical refinements and innovations intro his animated features in order to provide greater realism and to heighten the illusion of depth. Since the early days, animators have used new technologies to their advantage. Some of the techniques used by animators nowadays include cel animation, clay animation, pixelation, rotoscoping, photo montage, puppetry, cut-paper animation, and computer animation, Although the artist remains a dominant figure in the animation process, the introduction of computers has brought about a major transformation in the animation industry. Not only is computer automation cutting production time and costs, it is also producing startling new effects and unprecedented results in the animation features and programs being shown on our television screens, computer monitors, and movie screens. As technology continue to develop and gives us new tools and opportunities the animators will be challenged to use them in order to tell us new entertaining stories and show us the world in new and different way. The future of animation looks to be bright but the development depends on the professionals ability to use the new technologies and methods in the right way striving always to get beyond spectators imagination. The premises for success are not far to seek. Hermeneutics of Animation: Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation theory, and can be either the art of interpretation, or the theory and practice of interpretation. Animation is interpreted as a picture of entertainment. People like to entertain themselves and animation is a good way to escape from the everyday pressure and relax. People always like to feel happy. Animation is inviting people to spend their free time by watching a good production and become a guilty pleasure for some of them. This art form is not about children, culture and social status. Wherever animation is played, class, race and nationality do no longer exist. Peoples roles of judgment and imagination play both in our experiences of animation and its critical interpretation, and reevaluate our current understandings of animations transformative power. Semiotics of Animation: Semiotics deals with meanings and messages in all their forms and in all their contexts(R.E. Innis,1985); the subject matter of semiotics is the exchange of any messages whatsoever in a word communication (T.A. Sebeok ,1994). Animation can be used to exploit familiar processes, or objects that have properties similar to the context of the intended message Animators must also appreciate the need to use appropriate levels of abstraction. Animations should not contain objects or actions which are so detailed that they cause information overload. Equally, animations should not contain objects or actions that are so abstract that they cannot be associated with the real life experiences of the viewer. Leaning Tower of Pisa The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisas Cathedral Square after the Cathedral and the Baptistery. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The tower presently leans to the southwest. The Tower of Pisa is a work of art, performed in three stages over a period of about 177 years. Construction of the first floor of the white marble campanile began on August 9, 1173, a period of military success and prosperity. This first floor is a blind arcade articulated by engaged columns with classical Corinthian capitals. According to me as any building construction which is manmade I think that the leaning tower of Pisa is a piece of art because of many reasons. It is considered to be a unique piece of art because of its structure and because of its existing. As you know this tower leans to southwest from its beginning and this made it a really nice art element which is known in the entire word. The fact that everybody knows this monument makes it an art form visited every year by tourists from all over the world. What I like in this monument and make it e real piece of art is that when they started to build, the tower collapsed because of the soft soil under it. People who were involved in this construction did not give up. By this time the Pisans (people from Pisa) were in civil war with Genoa, Lucca and Florence so they leave the tower for almost a century and after that they started to build again, because this was the symbol of their city and this shows their love and passion to the city and why this monument is so special for them. In my opinion this is more than art this is something which is emblematic for the construction by this period. Another thing which makes this a unique piece of art is that after finishing the tower many of the famous painters started to visit Pisa and settle their camp near by the tower and paint many pictures from each side of the monument so they painted in different angle. Therefore today you can see many different pictures of leaning tower of Pisa sometimes is leaning left side, in other cases backwards. This is unique because each painter interpret this tower by himself and shows to the world his own view and own understanding of this piece of art which is imbibed for many people which are involved in art. One more thing proving the uniqueness of this monument is that even today the great mass continues to sink very slowly. It is a question of about 1 mm. every year. Since nobody can state with mathematical security that this sinking will continue in the future at the present yearly rate, without its ceasing, remedies by means of adequate measures, based on scientific studies and projects, are under consideration. In the meantime supervision with instruments of very high precision is continuously being carried out. In my opinion, the leaning tower of Pisa can be connceted to the semiology by this way. As we know semiology is a study of a sign and it can be applied to many things and one of them is architectural monuments as is this tower. So the tower in Pisa is absolute sign for the city and it is their symbol which represents them in front of the entire world. Therefore the Pisans (locals) finished it when she collapsed, because they really want this monument to be in their city to show that the Italians did not give up. Nowadays when you hear Pisa the first association is the leaning tower therefore this is a sign which makes this city so famous and visited by many tourists every year. In conclusion I would like to say that it does not matter that this thing which you look at is something really unique or is something very simple like a small stone standing in the corner of an art gallery everything can be art it depends on how you see the things and how they touch your sense. We can find art all over the place; it depends on the ways of seeing. The Eiffel Tower This is a 19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris, is the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 Worlds Fair. The tower stands at 324 m tall, It was the tallest structure in the world from its completion until 1930, when it was eclipsed by the Chrysler Building in New York City. The tower has three levels for visitors. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by lift. The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France. Its iconic status is so established that it even serves as a symbol for the entire nation of France, such as when it was used as the logo for the French bid to host the 1992 Summer Olympics. When it was built after its completion it was considered to be one of the ugliest buildings in the world, but for me this is incredible piece of art and now it is one of the most impressive buildings in the world. I have been under the Eiffel Tower and thing which impress me a lot is the design. If we have to say something about how it is connected to tourism we just must notice how popular is: more than 200,000,000 people have visited the tower since its construction in 1889, including 6,719,200 in 2006, making it the most visited paid monument in the world. Another interesting thing which is good to be mentioned is that The Eiffel Tower is also very reproductive: As one of the most iconic images in the world, the Eiffel Tower has been the inspiration for dozens of duplicate and similar towers around the world. Aesthetics: is concerned with the theory of beauty, but today it tends to be just concerned with the question of how we decide whether a work of art is good or not. Most judgments of this sort are based on either issues of form or content. For me the Eiffel Tower is great piece of work. From aesthetics point of view in order to maintain a uniform appearance to an observer on the ground, three separate colors of paint are used on the tower, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top. On occasion the colour of the paint is changed; the tower is currently painted a shade of brownish-grey. On the first floor there are interactive consoles hosting a poll for the colour to use for a future session of painting the only non-structural elements are the four decorative grillwork arches, added in Stephen Sauvestres sketches, which served to reassure visitors that the structure was safe, and to frame views of other nearby architecture. Hermeneutics: This is essentially the philosophy of interpretation and meaning. It began as the study Biblical texts, but in the last 450 years has expanded to cover all forms of culture. There are a number of different approaches to hermeneutics but they all deal with very similar questions and issues. How is our interpretation influenced and determined by our level of knowledge and our position in history, society and culture? How can we try to ensure that our interpretation of signifiers, words, language, arts, culture is a good one? I think that Eiffel Tower is piece of art because it is so great and tall, built so many years ago the tallest building in Europe. In the beginning the Paris citizens did not like it but now it is one of the most popular buildings in the world. The Eiffel Tower becomes very popular tourist attraction. So many people are going to see this attraction every year, to climb to top where they can see half of Paris. For me it is very beautiful land art. It inspires me when I am on top the feeling is great, built from so many fragments and so many people are working to keep it in perfect condition for the tourist. For conclusion I want to say that for me The Eiffel Tower is something very nice and everyone has to climb to the top to feel the wind.

Essay --

Kyra Joray Joray 1 Curtis English 10H 10 March 2014 The Serial Killer Mind â€Å"We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.† Bryan White once said. Basically White is saying, childhood is a very fragile state and as a kid you’re learning social norms by what’s around you. Kids born into or raised around strange situations can affect the type of person they grow up to be. As an adult, you learn more about the logical way to act around other people and how your mind works. Certain experiences can alter the way a mind functions, and can result in a human lacking logical consent. Some people may seek guidance to control any urge they may experience while others chose to act upon their feelings. Once any violence is pursed, a criminal is born. A criminals mind makes different choices, ignoring whatever right or wrongs a normal person would know. This unhealthy brain can make a killer, whether they are mission oriented and kill to accomplish a mission, are hedonistic and seek thrill and pleasure, or are visionaries and kill because of an illness from birth altering...

Gangsterism in the 1920’s

â€Å"The Roaring Twenties,†; what a perfect aphorism. It was certainly roaring with music and dance, but it also was roaring with gangsters. In the aspect of gangsterism, the thirties were also roaring. Americans in this time period tolerated criminals, especially those involved in bootlegging. Bootlegging is the smuggling of illegal substances. Bootlegging could have possibly been tolerated because of the recent outlaw of alcohol during this time period, known as the Prohibition. Gangsters were involved in bootlegging, prostitution, gambling, organized crime, and racketeering. Al â€Å"Scarface â€Å" Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and John Dillinger were the headliners of this era. Gangsterism provided a risky job but maximum rewards in a time when jobs were scarce and our country was in the midst of a depression. When Congress passed the eighteenth amendment, alcohol was banned in every way from America. People who were addicted to alcohol and even those who were accustomed to the casual drink still had a demand for it. Many would pay top dollar for a drink, they didn’t think obtaining alcohol would be too immoral because it was legal just a few years back. Citizens would hold private socials and would serve alcohol to all of the guests, this was usually done by the wealthy because of the high cost of alcohol. This opened up many opportunities for those who were willing to take risks and bootleg illegal alcohol to the country. With money flowing like water to many of these gangsters, greed began to grow rapidly among them. They began to explore more demoralizing fields of work. These gangsters began to open speakeasies, which were like old west taverns with prostitution, gambling, and of course, drinking. Speakeasies always had cover charges ranging from five dollars to twenty-five dollars, depending on the price of alcohol at the time. America’s obsession for alcohol allowed the owners to charge any price they wanted. Thousands of speakeasies were located in Chicago, which meant that tens-of-thousands of speakeasies were spread around the country, with most in the large cities. So many Americans were sneaking around under the law that moral values began to dwindle. Gangsters moved up in the ranks and began more vicious crimes such as murder and massive theft. Most of these crimes were necessary to keep business alive. Murder was widespread because some people who would be paid to keep quiet would talk, in return they would be dealt with†¦very harshly. In 1929, gangsters from across the country gathered in Atlantic City, New Jersey to meet with one another. Leaders from all of the major crime syndicates attended. At the meeting, they made agreements on boundaries and a their â€Å"government† to make sure relations between groups were peaceful. Anyone who broke these rules were, again, dealt with†¦very harshly. One of the most famous crime bosses ever was Al Capone. His nickname was â€Å"scarface. † which is used as a nickname in many mobster movies. He had his own army†¦seven thousand strong. He owned ten thousand speakeasies, and he was involved in all of the traditional gangster activities such as prostitution and gambling. Many politicians and police officers were on the payroll of Capone. Because of his one-hundred million dollar annual income, he had no problem maintaining this kind of lifestyle. Capon’s most famous quote is â€Å"When I sell liquor, it’s bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, it’s hospitality. † In 1929, a rival boss, Bugs Moran, began to infringe on Capone’s territory. He sent some of his â€Å"boys†, disguised as police officers, to one of Moran’s drop-off spots for alcohol. They disarmed Moran’s men and then sprayed many rounds in to their bodies, ending Moran’s career as a gangster. This is known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. After the Massacre, Capone’s freedom and iron-fisted control was on the decline because of the Public Enemies List. Law enforcement tried to nail him for any offense for which they could get proof, the only one was tax evasion. Capone served eleven years in prison and left wrecked by syphilis. He died peacefully in his home and was buried next to his father and grandfather in Chicago’s west side. Other criminals took advantage of corrupt law enforcement and went on sprees of killing and looting. Bonnie and Clyde are two famous sidekicks who drove over the country committing murder after murder and robbery after robbery. After eight years of ludicrous behavior, the couple was gunned down outside of Arcadia, Louisiana by law enforcement. Because it was as if the law was a minority, the couple’s bodies were displayed as if they were prizes. Another criminal was John Dillinger, he was a pioneer in organized crime. He would time switching of guards, find escape routes, and always have a safe house. He had many informants on the â€Å"inside† that were paid to assist him. One particular time in Wisconsin, the FBI and police officers had him surrounded in a lodge and charged in to capture him and he mysteriously vanished eaving the government embarrassed. Dillinger was finally killed when he and his girlfriend were exiting the movie theatre and was met by several rounds of ammunition fired by awaiting law enforcement. Law enforcement of the day was struggling badly. It had police who were under the payroll of organized crime, police who would participate in illegal activities themselves, and morale was hard to come by. Police would not cooperate with one another and share information. The men with the still-good hearts had a desire for personal glory, the hero. he Federal Bureau of Investigation began massive manhunts to destroy gangsterism, and they finally were successful by sending many undercover agents in to the mobs themselves and secretly in to the speakeasies. The success is remembered by an image the FBI has today. It is known as the country’s premier law enforcement agency. Gangsterism was a powerful part of the twenties and thirties. Gangsterism was caused by a domino effect, beginning with Prohibition. Unlike most at the time, they received the Prohibition with open arms. It meant monopoly on liquor, which meant opportunity for money. Greed and lust for power fed these â€Å"czars† of cities, commanders of armies. Prohibition ceased after 1933 with the passing of the twenty-first amendment, which legalized alcoholic beverages. Gangsters began to fade along with their prominent source of income†¦liquor. Some of these gangsters were thrown in jail and others quit before they could be caught. When Capone was apprehended, he said, chuckling, â€Å"All I ever did was supply a demand,†

The Science Behind How Popcorn Pops

The Science Behind How Popcorn Pops Popcorn has been a popular snack for thousands of years. Remnants of the tasty treat have been found in Mexico dating back to 3600 BC. Popcorn pops because each popcorn kernel is special. Heres a look at what makes popcorn different from other seeds and how popcorn pops. Why It Pops Popcorn kernels contain oil and water with starch, surrounded by a hard and strong outer coating. When popcorn is heated, the water inside the kernel tries to expand into steam, but it cannot escape through the seed coat (the popcorn hull or pericarp). The hot oil and steam gelatinizes the starch inside the popcorn kernel, making it softer and more pliable. When the popcorn reaches a temperature of 180 C (356 F),  the pressure inside the kernel is around 135 psi (930 kPa), which is sufficient pressure to rupture the popcorn hull, essentially turning the kernel inside-out. The pressure inside the kernel is released very quickly, expanding the proteins and starch inside the popcorn kernel into a foam, which cools and sets into the familiar popcorn puff. A popped piece of corn is about 20 to 50 times larger than the original kernel. If popcorn is heated too slowly, it wont pop because steam leaks out of the tender tip of the kernel. If popcorn is heated too quickly, it will pop, but the center of each kernel will be hard because the starch hasnt had time to gelatinize and form a foam. How Microwave Popcorn Works Originally, popcorn was made by directly heating the kernels. Bags of microwave popcorn are a bit different because the energy comes from microwaves rather than infrared radiation. The energy from the microwaves makes the water molecules in each kernel move faster, exerting more pressure on the hull until the kernel explodes. The bag that microwave popcorn comes in helps trap the steam and moisture so the corn can pop more quickly. Each bag is lined with flavors so when a kernel pops, it strikes the side of the bag and gets coated. Some microwave popcorn presents a health risk not encountered with regular popcorn because the flavorings are also affected by the microwave and get into the air. Does all corn pop? Popcorn that you buy at the store or grow as popcorn for a garden is a special variety of corn. The commonly cultivated strain is Zea mays everta, which is a type of flint corn. Some wild or heritage strains of corn will also pop. The most common types of popcorn have white or yellow pearl-type  kernels, although white, yellow, mauve, red, purple, and variegated colors are available in both pearl and rice shapes. Even the right strain of corn wont pop unless its moisture content has a moisture content around 14 to 15%. Freshly harvested corn pops, but the resulting popcorn will be chewy and dense. Sweet Corn and Field Corn Two other common types of corn are sweet corn and field corn. If these types of corn are dried so they have the right moisture content, a small number of kernels will pop. However, the corn that pops wont be as fluffy as regular popcorn and will have a different flavor. Attempting to pop field corn using oil is more likely to produce a snack more like Corn Nuts, where the corn kernels expand but dont break apart. Do other grains pop? Popcorn is not the only grain that pops! Sorghum, quinoa, millet, and amaranth grain all puff up when heated as the pressure from expanding steam breaks open the seed coat.

List of the Marginal Seas of the Indian Ocean

List of the Marginal Seas of the Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is a relatively large ocean with an area of 26,469,900 square miles (68,566,000 sq km). It is the worlds third largest ocean behind the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Indian Ocean is located between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia and Australia and has an average depth of 13,002 feet (3,963 m). The Java Trench is its deepest point at -23,812 feet (-7,258 m). The Indian Ocean is most known for causing the monsoonal weather patterns that dominate much of Southeast Asia and for being an important chokepoint throughout history.The Ocean also borders several marginal seas. A marginal sea is an area of water that is a partially enclosed sea adjacent to or widely open to the open ocean (Wikipedia.org). The Indian Ocean shares its borders with seven marginal seas. The following is a list of those seas arranged by area. All figures were obtained from Wikipedia.orgs pages on each sea.1) Arabian SeaArea: 1,491,126 square miles (3,862,000 sq km)2) Bay of BengalArea: 838,614 s quare miles (2,172,000 sq km)3) Andaman SeaArea: 231,661 square miles (600,000 sq km)4) Red SeaArea: 169,113 square miles (438,000 sq km)5) Java SeaArea: 123,552 square miles (320,000 sq km)6) Persian GulfArea: 96,911 square miles (251,000 sq km)7) Sea of Zanj (located off the east coast of Africa)Area: UndefinedReferenceInfoplease.com. (n.d.). Oceans and Seas - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0001773.html#axzz0xMBpBmBwWikipedia.org. (28 August 2011). Indian Ocean - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_oceanWikipedia.org. (26 August June 2011). Marginal Sea - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marginal_seas

Cyberbullying Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cyberbullying - Assignment Example It will also gather information on the students experiences with the vice and the extent of damage it caused. It will then gather their opinions on how well to address the issue. The modern day freshman is a victim of the new and insidious form of bulling that also involves social media. This research will focus on a quantitative study as the basis of the assessment of the prevalence of the problem. It will be informed by the actual opinions of the students based on the constructivist paradigm. The research will adopt a mixed methods approach to analyse the hypothesis that cyber bulling is a controllable concern among high schools in the United Kingdom. The mixed methods approach will allow the study to develop a complete picture of the research question. The triangular design will merge the qualitative and quantitative data as a means to understanding the research question. The embedded design in its part will create the auxiliary role of interpreting the quantitative data. The explanatory design will help in developing relationships and formulating solutions (Creswell, 2008). The students will be selected randomly from high schools across the nation and issued with open ended questionnaires and involved in interviews that will allow the researcher to document observations and also make content analysis. The sample size will be large to offer a more comprehensive result. This approach presents certain ethical limitations such as the relation between the personal opinions and the actual experiences of the students. The possibility of the students affecting their narration of the experiences with their personal opinion puts the research at the danger of being an analysis of opinion rather than experience. The approach requires the researcher to play the role of a moderator to the free flow of information. This, however, runs the risk of a bias by the researcher who may offer cues or leading information which acts to affect the

Exam 4 chapter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Exam 4 chapter - Essay Example In contrast only the broad outline is provided within which a variety of course content could be accommodated. The teachers play the role of a mentor to students. Instead of spoon-feeding all concepts and course content they give a fair degree of liberty for students to find their own individualized style of learning. They prompt students to find equilibrium in the interaction between the organism and the environment. There is no standardized evaluation of learning. Moreover, the process involves experimentation and learning through experience rather through concepts. Pragmatism also rejects Metaphysical Absolutes and Metaphysical Dualisms. Pragmatism is a relevant philosophy of schooling even today. The prevalent system of education does not mould students into well-rounded and socially-conscious individuals. The emphasis is too much on grades and individual excellence. Being part of the current education system I can clearly see what Pragmatism offers. Under Pragmatist education student co-operation is given more importance compared to student competition. This is not the case in the current system where there is severe competition to get good grades. Perhaps, the current system can be modified to include educational goals and methods outlined under Pragmatism. This chapter is useful reference for students and educators alike. Just as students are exposed a system of education quite different to theirs, it also helps educators to rethink the objectives of curriculum and methods employed to achieve the same. The lack of standard grading system can be problematic for contemporary educators. The ability of a student to handle ad hoc problems as posed by the teacher is loosely evaluated for learning outcomes. It is this aspect of Pragmatism which makes it incompatible with the present mindset of teachers and parents. Today teachers and parents want students to excel in tests, irrespective of understanding how it translates into social and