Technology: Friend or Foe? Essay -- Argumentative Technology Essays Pa

Technology: Friend or Foe? There are many differing opinions on the advancement of technology but there are really two main sides to the issue. One side is enthusiastic and ready for new progress and change, while the other side can see the value of technology but is more cautious and wary of the changes technology brings to society as a whole. These sides are simplified but useful for looking at the extreme ends of the issues in order to see the balance between the two. What is technology and why the fuss? Technology consists of something as basic as a calculator to something as complex as the newest secrets in military defense. Technology is applying the new and innovative discoveries in science to everyday tasks. The biggest concern about technology expressed in a growing number of articles and books has to do with computer technology. People are scared of the many advancements in computer technology such as the internet and the World Wide Web. Currently, information capabilities are growing quickly with few regulations. Some of the dispute comes from misunderstanding but the other half comes from experience. Younger people tend to have a more liberal and open view about the advancements, while older generations have seen the fast paced changes in this world and are more leery and hesitant to accept new technology without caution. It is useful to look at the two main sides and evaluate where the arguments can come together to form a medium and balanced view. In searching for arguments expressing hesitancy about the progress of technology one source is found through a man named Neil Postman. He is a well respected and accomplished professor and writer. Postman has devoted an entire book, Technopoly, to the subject ... ... from and where it is going. From this wider perspective people can begin to understand the pros and cons of technology better. Works Cited Downie, Peter. Transcript from a TV-interview for Progress and Prophesy. http://www.myna.com/~davidck/postman.htm. 1991. Lewis, Peter. "Anarchy, a Threat to the Electronic Frontier?" New York Times. 11 May, 1994: C1, C5. Postman, Neil. Informing Ourselves to Death. Speech. http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/gnomic/postman.html. October 11, 1990. Postman, Neil. Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Vintage Books. New York: 1992. Turkle, Sherry. "The Human Spirit in a Computer Culture." The Second Shelf. Simon and Schuster, 1984. Verity, John W. "The Information Revolution." Business Week. June 13, 1994: 10-18. Wiener, Jon. "Free Speech on the Internet." The Nation. June 13, 1994: 825-828.

Media Content Analysis of Espn Essay

ESPN demonstrates how a monopoly works in the contemporary media landscape, a landscape in which the cost of information is diminishing and the necessity of diversified revenue streams is increasing. By distributing content across multiple platforms, like their website, their television programs, their magazine and their mobile applications, ESPN maintains a steady position as the leader in sports news. No competitor has managed to knock ESPN off its horse, primarily because ESPN can outbid practically any other network or media group for content. The media groups of individual sports leagues like Major League Baseball pose an interesting threat to ESPN. These groups develop their own networks designed to produce content for one sport only, like baseball. They’re capable of offering products that ESPN can’t due to the amount and variation of content that ESPN covers. Fortunately for ESPN, the idea of partnering and revenue sharing is appealing to these networks due to ESPN’s wide audience base. What makes ESPN special is their ability to deliver a set of experiences that other networks cannot compete with. When content becomes homogenous between networks, it’s the availability and delivery of the content that makes a difference, and right now, no one delivers sports news like ESPN. In today’s media landscape, it’s extremely difficult to dominate a market. It’s difficult to even stay solvent for many news organizations. Bankruptcy, or the threat of bankruptcy, haunts just about every major newspaper in the country, including the Chicago Tribune, who filed for Chapter 11 at the end of 2008. Broadcast audiences in most large cities are divided up among the big network affiliates like ABC, NBC and FOX, and magazine subscriptions and revenues continue to decline. Despite uncertain times, one media group maintains a monopoly on their market. Often referred to as a â€Å"cartel,† Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) has dominated the sports media industry across multiple platforms for decades. Seemingly always multiple steps ahead of their largest competitors, CBS and NBC Sports, ESPN has developed mobile apps, a network of television channels, a documentary series and other original content that simply overwhelms their audience. Being the â€Å"Worldwide Leader in Sports† comes with its criticisms, of course. ESPN is often accused of biased reporting and engaging in conflicts of interest, notably, their development of the Longhorn Network with the University of Texas. Regardless, consumers turn to ESPN for sports news and content. In their mission statement, they say they endeavor â€Å"To serve sports fans wherever sports are watched, listened to, discussed, debated, read about or played,† and that â€Å"People are our most valuable resource, and care and respect for employees and each other will always be at the heart of our operations. † ESPN is in the unique position of being the people’s champion of the sports media landscape. Since its inception in September of 1979, ESPN has appealed to consumers on a more conversational, personable level than most other sports outlets or media organizations. The network has developed personalities like Chris â€Å"Boomer† Berman and Stuart Scott who involve their audience by combining references to pop-culture with sports. As a result, ESPN has developed as an incredibly strong brand, known for being â€Å"cool. † Competitors like CBS and NBC Sports are certainly well established brands of their own, but their brands aren’t as â€Å"hip† as ESPN. By generating cross-platform content with ESPN the Magazine, ESPN. com and the more recent ESPN ScoreCenter mobile app, ESPN has carved up the sports media landscape to their liking, dictating how information is disseminated. While ESPN has done an amazing job up until now, they face the danger of losing specialized audiences to channels like the MLB Network and NFL Network who siphon off consumers with very specific sports interests. With companies like Major League Baseball Advanced Media (BAM) pioneering new applications like â€Å"MLB at Bat† and inking new television deals that revolutionize the way baseball fans follow the national pastime, ESPN has to be concerned. It’s unlikely ESPN will ever lose all of their broadcasting rights to MLB games, their audience is just too large, but once more baseball fans realize their interests might be better served with MLB. om and the MLB Network, ESPN could see declines in ratings and viewership to programming like. Sunday Night Baseball. In order to prevent that, ESPN has to consider mergers and collaborations. While the MLB might not be interested, yet, ESPN has already reached out to the NFL Network about the possibility of combining their ESPN Classics channel with the NFL Network. By doing so, the long arm of ESPN could bolster viewership and the specialized content of the NFL Network could expand advertising revenues. Whether a similar deal could be made with the MLB Network, which, as the MLBAM case study stated, â€Å"is the gold standard among sports leagues,† is uncertain, but often these specialized networks see themselves as broadcast partners, not competitors of ESPN. By Harold Vogel’s own definition in his text Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis, ESPN is a monopoly. There are no close substitutes for their output, they set prices, and there are barriers that prevent potential competitors from entering the market. In an article that appeared in the Sports Business Journal Daily in 2009 entitled â€Å"Industry wonders who will challenge ESPN,† staff writer John Ourand says that if a competitor were to emerge, they would have to do it between 2011 and 2014, when many of the major sports leagues TV deals expire. Regardless of expiration dates, ESPN is capable of outbidding just about anyone when it comes to content packages. They outbid FOX by $100 million in 2009 to secure the rights to the College Football Bowl Series through 2014. ESPN’s foothold on the sports media landscape is intimidating. Effectively, ESPN has constructed barriers to entry because no one is capable of competing with them on the same level across multiple platforms. Additionally, they’re usually willing to share revenues with other networks if it means increased viewership on their own channels. Vogel defines entertainment as that which produces a pleasurable and satisfying experience and cites Becker (1965) and DeSerpa (1971) for suggesting that the demand for leisure is affected in a complicated way by the cost of time both to produce and to consume. ESPN does a marvelous job maximizing the return on the amount of time spent consuming their products. It takes a mere moment to absorb the final score of the Chicago Bulls game via the ScoreCenter app. It takes just minutes to read an article about the game on ESPN. com and a consumer can spend upwards of thirty minutes watching SportsCenter where they can see highlights of the game and hear an analysis of it. In chapter two of Vogel’s text, it is explained that distribution power trumps control of content: â€Å"The best content in the world is not worth nything if it cannot be made readily available to audiences. † So, what is the result of the strongest distribution power and the best content in the world? The result is ESPN, a monopoly. The breakdown of gatekeeping that has affected so many media companies hasn’t resulted in a loss of control or profitability for ESPN. Instead, ESPN has embraced the greater empowerment of the user that Vogel’s speaks of. Increased â€Å"participation, engagement, connectivity, customization, personalization and collaboration† between users and the content ESPN creates has actually helped ESPN maintain and grow their audience. Viewers now send in videos to SportsCenter that are considered for segments like the â€Å"Top 10† and the â€Å"Not Top 10,† which highlight the best and worst of the week in sports. SportsCenter, ESPN. com and some of their original programming like SportsNation rely heavily on audience polls. SportsNation, in particular, is a program almost completely dedicated to polling fans about topics like the best slam dunks, touchdowns, even the best athlete’s beard (James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder). By engaging their viewers, ESPN continues to improve the user experience, which Vogel explains is what media companies are actually selling, a set of experiences. Fantasy sports are another experience ESPN is trying to sell. ESPN’s biggest competitor in the fantasy sports market is Yahoo!. It is one frontier where ESPN hasn’t completely dominated, but that doesn’t mean they’re not trying. Fantasy Sports are now incorporated into their original programming, giving the average player insights as to who to â€Å"start† and who to â€Å"bench† for a particular game. It’s just one more way for ESPN to engage their audience and diversify the digital distribution of their products. I think ESPN is an exemplary media content producer. In fact, I aspire to work for them one day. I acknowledge the potential issues associated with being considered a â€Å"cartel,† but I subscribe to the notion that if you can’t beat them, join them. I’m not entirely convinced of their biased reporting, either. ESPN employs a diverse variety of reporters who frequently disagree with one another. Additionally, they have provided a platform for female reporters pioneering their way into sports journalism. The latest irritations from viewers revolve around over-reporting of certain topics, like Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin. I personally don’t mind. ESPN does an excellent job engaging their viewers, diversifying content across multiple platforms, and embracing and monetizing digital distribution of information. I do think a competitor or two will come along in the near future, but I don’t think the downfall of ESPN is in anywhere in sight. Viewers love ESPN because it feels like home, and no one is ready to move just yet.

The Effect Of Government Consumption On The Average Growth...

Econometrics Empirical Project†¨ THE EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION ON THE AVERAGE GROWTH OF REAL GDP PER CAPITA _____________________________________________________________ Heidi Zhuge Content Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 Literature Review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 Data†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 6 Sources†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Transformation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.6 Description†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Regression Models†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 Model 1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 Model 2†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 Model 3†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 Model 4†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦15 Model 5†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦16 Results†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.18 Assumptions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..18 Summary Table ..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 Interpretation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..20 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..21 Introduction GDP is an important measure that indicates an economy’s performance and affects employment, inflation and foreign trade among others. Extensive research has been done on the factors that impact real GDP growth, but many different models exist and there is no consensus that is universally accepted. One important influence is government expenditure but economic theory does not clearly state the relationship between government spending and GDP growth. Free market supporters believe that government expenditure will lower real GDP per capita since they expect that government expenditure inShow MoreRelatedEvaluating Flat Taxes : Considerations For Tax Reform Essay1281 Words   |  6 PagesEvaluating Flat Taxes: Considerations for Tax Reform Taxes are a necessary component for operating a government, however, they are also the source of great debate within our society. Especially when considering what types of taxes to use, and how much to tax the population without negatively impacting the economy. Income taxes are currently one of the biggest sources of income for the government, but are also one of the biggest concerns given the level of complication involved with the current taxRead MoreQuantitative And Quantitative Methods Of Methods3360 Words   |  14 Pagesrelationships by employing quantitative tools, such as econometric software. The research approach of this paper is not bound by a single method. A qualitative analysis is conducted to explain the research background, the essence of aid to economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, discussions about the definition and functions of aid, how aid affect the Sub-Saharan Africa countries in terms of governance, institutions and economics, followed by reference of specific case studies and examples, as wellRead MoreDeterminant Factors of Demand in Dairy Food Market - Implications for Milk Production in Bangladesh2045 Words   |  9 PagesAlthough the declining rate of population growth has contributed partially towards self-sufficiency but the factors like urbanization and substitution have created the increasing demand for milk. Milk production in Bangladesh has increased at a rate (2.8 per cent) slightly higher than population growth (2.2 per cent) during the period from 1984 to 1996. Total supply of milk increased even slower than production because of elimination of imports with the growth in production. Although the milkRead MoreEssay on Causes and Effects of Economic Growth1724 Words   |  7 Pagescauses and effects of Economic Growth Economic Growth Before discussing the causes and effects of economic growth, I will define what economic growth actually is and distinguish between the two types of growth in the economy; actual and potential. On the whole, economic growth may be defined as ‘a long-run increase in an economy’s productive capacity and trend output’. The long-run output growth trend an economy achieves is indicated by the path of trend Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) and is usuallyRead MoreThe Recession of 1973-19751076 Words   |  5 Pagesprices and imposed an embargo against the United States. This quickly caused oil production to be cut dramatically, leaving no choice but to increase the price in oil. This recession, I am going to pin point the causes, fiscal and monetary policy the government uses to help the economy slowly come out from the recession. Also I am going to pin point the recession’s recovery and expansion. The causes of this recession was due to the unemployment being too high and how it had rose even higher through theRead MoreEffects Of Economic Growth On Unemployment And Inflation1150 Words   |  5 PagesDiscuss the effects of economic growth on unemployment and inflation in Australia Economic growth is an increase in the volume of goods and services that an economy produces over a period of time and is measured by the annual rate of change in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Economic growth is classified as one of the most important indicators of an economy’s performance. Australia has maintained an average of 3.3% real GDP growth since 1992. The pursuit of a stable economic growth is a majorRead MorePublic Expenditure and Economic Growth in India13502 Words   |  55 PagesPUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH WHAT IS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE? MEANING: Public expenditure refers to Government expenditure i.e. Government spending. It is incurred by Central, State and Local governments of a country. Spending by government , municipality, or any local authority. It covers things such as health, education or social services and is funded by tax revenue. It is one of the element that make up aggregate expenditure. Government spending or government expenditure is classified byRead MoreGlobal Business Environmental Forces5642 Words   |  23 Pagesof how they affect a firm’s marketing activities, let’s look at each of the areas of the external environment. 1. Political forces: The political environment in a country influences the political climate, stability and security, types of government and philosophies, nationalism, political risks, international and diplomatic relations, etc. 2. Legal forces: The legal environment includes legal system, international laws and institutions, all legal provisions on trade and investment thatRead MoreLimitation of National Income4235 Words   |  17 Pagesinhabitants of a country. The baseline measure of the standard of living is real national output per head of population or real GDP per capita. This is the value of national output divided by the resident population. Other things being equal, a sustained increase in real GDP increases a nation’s standard of living providing that output rises faster than the total population.   However it must be remembered that real income per capita on its own is both an inaccurate and insufficient indicator of true livingRead MoreEconomics For Business Administration : Economics2730 Words   |  11 PagesEconomics for Business Assignment 1 â€Å"The GDP is an appropriate measure of economic activity and wealth.† David Longbottom 000055846 November 2014 Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 1.0 Background 5 1.1. Macroeconomic Issues and Policy Objectives 5 1.2 Circular Flow of Income 7 2.0 Analysis 8 2.1 Measures for National Income and Output 8 2.2 How is GDP Calculated? 12 2.3 Arguments for GDP 13 2.4 Arguments against GDP 14 2.5 Comparative Case Studies 15 3.0 Conclusions

History of Video Games Essay - 2103 Words

Did you know that Pong; the first game made by Atari, wasn’t originally meant to be released to the public? A new Atari employee was given the assignment of making it simply as a test of his game design skills. Since Pong became a hit, video games have been a large part of the entertainment business. They have found their way into homes all over the world. â€Å"You can’t say that video games grew out of pinball, but you can assume that video games wouldn’t have happened without it. It’s like bicycles and cars. One industry leads to the other and then they exist side by side. But you had to have bicycles to one day have motor cars† (Steven Baxter). In 1931 David Gottlieb invented the first pinball machine. Gottlieb was a short, stocky†¦show more content†¦It came in the form of a ball on a pedestal; from which came the name â€Å"Stool Pigeon.† If the ball fell off, that was the end of the game. It allowed the cabinet to move only within a reasonable boundary. The pedestal was later replaced by a pendulum. The tilt mechanism has been present in all pinball machines since. In 1933 Williams designed the first electric pinball machine. It was called â€Å"Contact.† It utilized electrified scoring pockets called â€Å"Contact Holes.† They knocked the ball back into play which allowed scoring to continue. One of the most significant innovations in the history of pinball is arguably the flipper bat, invented by Harry Mabs. For a while pinball was considered gambling because it had payouts. The flipper bat redeemed pinball because the flipper made it a game of skill. The invention of the flipper was so significant that in France pinball is simply referred to as â€Å"Le Flipper.† The first video game was created by a man named Steve Rusell. He was short, wore glasses, and had curly hair. He made the game in 1962. It took him six months. His game was called â€Å"Spacewar.† It was a simple duel between spaceships. The controls were toggle switches. It was a two player game because the computers at that time were too slow to have artificial intelligence, which would’ve allowed the computer to act as a second player. In a later version of the game there was a background of stars. There was also a hyperspace button; a button which madeShow MoreRelatedHistory of Video Games740 Words   |  3 PagesVideo games have shaped the world your years. Video games have defined us and made us through technology. Some would say they can’t live without video games while others say they would die if they played them. Video games also start franchises, wars, friendships, relationships, and inspiration for those who might one day become a game designer them self. Aside from the gamers and designers, the video game itself is a whole other story. Video games are now-a-days played on consoles and PCs made fromRead MoreThe History Of Video Games1529 Words   |  7 PagesThe History of Video Games Some people may not know this, but there was a time when video games were not around. Like a lot of things in the world that are distinctly human, video games were made out of a combination of innovation, necessity, and curiosity. The early video game creators would be making something that would seem clunky, and somewhat crude at first. But that would completely change in time by the innovators, and entrepreneurs to something that would some day be consider an art formRead MoreThe History Of Video Games1922 Words   |  8 PagesWallace English 12, 3rd 5 February 2015 The History of Video Games So, I’m going to change things a bit. Instead of just talking about dates and numbers, which can be boring; I’m going to give this a little casual twist. So, in order to start the history let’s get a few facts out of the way. Let’s talk about gamers, mainly because I’ll be using the term a lot; gamers are people who spent a lot of time playing videogames. The Average gamer playing video games has spent twelve years playing them. AdultRead MoreThe History Of Video Games1797 Words   |  8 PagesHistory of video games. Have you ever played a video game and wonder? How does this thing work? Who invented it? Well you in luck because I have all the information that you need to tell you about the history of video games. How video games have advance right along with technology that we use in everyday life. If you ask people. When video games did first came out? Most people would say in the 1970 s and they would be wrong. In 1958, William A. Higinbotham, an engineer working for the United StatesRead MoreHistory of Video Games823 Words   |  4 Pagesargument of whether video games are good or bad for society is a clear example. Opponents believe they are a bad contribution to society while proponents believe they are a necessary and supportive addition to society. William Higinbotham, who in 1958 created a game called Tennis for TwoÂ… (The Beginning), is the one credited for the invention of the video game. At this stage in time, this new innovation did not spark much interest with the public. Computer and video games themselves did notRead More The History of Video Games Essay1046 Words   |  5 PagesThe History of Video Games 1972, the year the first home video game system, named Odyssey, is released by Magnavox. This main games featured on this system were a light gun game and a tennis game. During the same time, a game by the name of Pong is a success in the public. It is because people wanted to play Pong in the comfort of their own homes, that they bought Odyssey. The system only sold around 100,000 units since Magnavox only sold the game system from theirRead MoreEssay The history of video games987 Words   |  4 Pagesbeginning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. The first real â€Å"video game† was made in 1958, by a physicist named William Higginbotham. It is a table tennis like game and is played on an oscilloscope, a device used for visual displays. While some big name games, company’s, and events have yet to happen, this is what sparked the video game interest. These paragraphs will guide you through the many years of games. Lets‘a go!! Early years (1961—1972) Things start off when the first interactive computer game---- SpaceWars (made in 1961)Read MoreHistory Of Home Video Game1511 Words   |  7 PagesHistory of Home Video Game Consoles The video game industry has gone through some interesting developments over the past fifty years. Video games are as much of a pass time as watching network television, or going to see a movie. The initial motivation for video game production was to bring interested consumers to the computer market and has evolved into many forms and designs to give the end user an artificial experience of playing table tennis with a friend, or an imaginary friend. This paperRead More History Of Video Games Essay801 Words   |  4 Pagesargument of whether video games are good or bad for society is a clear example. Opponents believe they are a bad contribution to society while proponents believe they are a necessary and supportive addition to society. William Higinbotham, who in 1958 created a game called Tennis for TwoÂ… (The Beginning), is the one credited for the invention of the video game. At this stage in time, this new innovation did not spark much interest with the public. Computer and video games themselves did notRead MoreHistory of Video Games Essay examples1266 Words   |  6 PagesVideo games have progressed immensely in price and technology over the past thirty years making them more popular then ever. Video games were originally for arcades, then came the first home console. The graphics have changed a lot since the first console game. Games colors were originally just black and white now they have more colors then you can think of. Not all businesses made it through competition of other businesses. In the seventies video games were fairly new. Some companies were

Comm 331 - 1707 Words

TYLER COBB There are so many different stereotypes of black women, both positive and negative. The media plays a role in how black women are seen in society. A stereotype is a commonly held public belief about or types of individuals. The concepts of stereotype and prejudice are often confused with many other different meanings. Stereotypes can be about different age, racial or ethnic groups based on some prior assumptions. (J.F. Healey, Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Class pp33-35). The stereotypes seen in the media influence the thoughts and viewpoints of how people see not only all black women, but individuals as well. According to pop culture and some stereotypes, a black woman has a big butt, an attitude, is loud, unfriendly and a†¦show more content†¦This has the potential to hurt the confidence of black young women knowing that they are more or less unwanted. Although black girls and women make up their own stereotypes about white women mainly in relation to why they are stealing à ¢â‚¬Å"their men†. Black men who choose to only date white women usually choose to do so because they are what they refer to as â€Å"drama free†. Now this may not be for all white women just as not all black women have drama. This is yet another stereotype that black men believe along with other members of societies of different ethnicities. The media plays a very big role in how black women are viewed. More specifically, reality television. In recent past years reality TV has become very popular. On common reality shows that involve women, there is usually a group of beautiful girls but out of that group there are maybe one or two black women. Usually the black girl is loud, obnoxious, the cause of the drama and conflict of the show which viewers find entertaining. Anyone with access to a television doesn’t even have to make up stereotypes because it can be seen on TV and then applied to all. Shows like â€Å"Real Housewives of Atlanta† black women are seen as gold diggers, materialistic and sometimes even greedy. Shows such as BET’s â€Å"Tiny amp; Toya† and â€Å"Frankie amp; Neffe† show drama with drug addicted mothers and other everyday drama with having aShow MoreRelatedCOMM 3312269 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿1.0 Introduction According to Reverso (2003), theoretical principles refer to the study based on the ideas and beliefs related to a particular matter that rarely applied. Value and identity, and theoretical issues and are instances of the theoretical principles which the society and corporations should consider as the key to success. These theories will be illustrated and applied to Bittman’s article, â€Å"Good government puts people over business (2015). 2.0 Key Issues in the Article As stated byRead More The Evolving Roles of Women in the Economies of Greece and Italy2002 Words   |  9 Pagesone inspiring tale of one woman disguising herself as a man to be an obstetrician, their role in the economy was still little to none. Hellenistic Age: The major turn for women?s roles in Greece finally came with Alexander?s conquests of 331 BC, which led to large-scale political and social upheaval.? Greeks from the mainland migrated to Egypt and Asia and had to conform to new governmental classes.? In the new cities, some conventions were held, but the Egyptians weren?t used to goingRead MoreEvaluation and Structure of Commercial Banks in India2383 Words   |  10 Pages|784 |424 |66 |5.54 | |Sangli Bank |1948 |192 |85 |1985 |812 |137 |4.30 | |SBI Comm. Intl. Bank |1993 |3 |88 |331 |231 |26 |7.65 | |South Indian Bank |1929 |438 |456 |8492 |5365 |709 |3.81 | |TamilnadRead MoreDetecting And Resolving Privacy Conflicts2939 Words   |  12 Pages Carminati, E. Ferrari, and A. Perego, â€Å"Rule-Based Access Control for Social Networks,† Proc. Int’l Conf. On the Move to Meaningful Internet Systems, pp. 1734-1744, 2006. [7] M. Harrison, W. Ruzzo, and J. Ullman, â€Å"Protection in Operating Systems,† Comm. ACM, vol. 19, no. 8, pp. 461-471, 1976. [8] B. Carminati, E. Ferrari, and A. Perego, â€Å"Enforcing Access Control in Web-Based Social Networks,† ACM Trans. Information and System Security, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1-38, 2009. [9] P. Fong, â€Å"Relationship-BasedRead MoreGeneral Motors Case Study7702 Words   |  31 PagesTerm Investments | 141 | 134 | 5,555 | 16,148 | | | Cash and Short Term Inv | 14,194 | 22,813 | 26,616 | 31,647 | | | Trade Accts Recvble, Gross | 8,340 | 7,768 | 8,951 | 10,280 | | | Prov. for Doubtful Accts | (422) | (250) | (252) | (331) | | | Total Receivables, Net | 7,918 | 7,518 | 8,699 | 9,949 | | | Invent. - Finished Goods | 9,579 | 5,906 | 6,638 | 7,838 | | | Invent. - Raw Materials | 4,849 | 4,201 | 5,487 | 6,486 | | | Inventories - Other | (1,233) | n.a. | nRead MoreConvergys Case10226 Words   |  41 Pages0.4455 | 214 | 0.5999 | 48 | DISQUALIFIED | American Manufacturers Mutual | C | Insurance | 0.5272 | 98 | 0.8150 | 20 | 0.5992 | 49 | 40 | Mid Atlantic Medical Services | C | Insurance | 0.5932 | 71 | 0.6147 | 111 | 0.5986 | 50 | 41 | Dobson Comms Corp | C | Communications | 0.6527 | 34 | 0.4318 | 224 | 0.5975 | 51 | DISQUALIFIED | American General Life | C | Insurance | 0.6531 | 32 | 0.3981 | 244 | 0.5894 | 52 | DISQUALIFIED | Paul Revere Life Insurance Co | C | Insurance | 0.5728 | 79Read MoreEssay on Research on Dell5612 Words   |  23 Pages13 7824 6321 6427 6403 6916 49 16777 11206 10 102441 RD Per Revenue 13 1.38% 1.06% 1.17% 1.09% 1.00% 8 1.53% 1.41% 10 2.83% Quick Ratio 32 1.12 1.26 1.03 1.05 0.85 -7 1.02 1.10 Return on Equity -41 41.86% 39.31% 28.91% 61.19% 71.29% 85 22.55 12.16 331 -41.43% No of NPE Lawsuit 137 19 36 23 28 8 44 19 Net Profit Margin 17 5.63% 4.29% 2.71% 4.06% 4.82% 11 1.6 .97 289 -10.51% Note: Compare in Dell between 2008 to 2012; In Lenovo Between 2011 to 2012 In HP Between 2011 to 2012 2011 126796 1404 90 34960Read MoreThe Censorship of Art Essay example14698 Words   |  59 PagesAC/DC, had died as a result of alcohol abuse). In Nevada, on December 23, 1985, 18-year old Raymond Belknap and his friend James Vance listened to the album Stained Class by the British band Judas Priest (Block 1990:778, 788-789; Houser 1990:327-331). They had been listening to the album for over six hours while smoking marijuana and drinking beer. Afterwards, the two men went to a children’s play area near an empty churchyard. Raymond Belknap put a sawed-off shotgun beneath his chin and shot himselfRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesFILLER PICTURE X(10). 05 SALES–OUT PICTURE $$$,$$$,$$$.99. 05 FILLER PICTURE X(10). 05 COMMISSION PICTURE $$$$,$$$.99. 05 FILLER PICTURE X(47). 77 TEMP–COMMISSION PICTURE 9(6)V99. 77 TOTAL–COMMISSIONS PICTURE 9(10)V99 VALUE 0. 77 TOTAL–COMM–EDITED PICTURE $$,$$$,$$$,$$$.99. 01 MORE–DATA PICTURE X VALUE ‘Y’. 88 THERE–IS–MORE–DATA VALUE ‘Y’. 88 THERE–IS–NO–MORE–DATA VALUE ‘N’. FIGURE 2.11 COBOL Program 45 46 Part I †¢ Information Technology 1 8 12 PROCEDURE

Different Sources of Energy Free Essays

The U. S is the world largest energy consumer. It relies on non-renewable resources for the provision of energy ranging from petroleum, coal and natural gas. We will write a custom essay sample on Different Sources of Energy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Modernization and industrialization has resulted to increased energy demand. Energy is required in important sectors like the transportation, industry as well as in the commercial sector. Industries like refineries and chemical production, in the production and processes of their products. Energy is consumed as vehicles, trains, ship and air transport people or goods from one place to another. Houses use energy to heat houses, water, lighting and other electronic appliances. Institutions and business also need energy to accomplish their day-to-day activities. The U. S oil consumption rates are increasing at a high rate that may catch up with the economic growth. U. S consumes 20. 7 million barrels or 869 million gallons daily, 25% total world consumption despite it forming 5% of the world’s population . The consumption level is subject to rise with increased industrialization. The over reliance in non-renewable resources will have adverse effects to the environment, political and economic aspects. The non-renewable resources result to high pollution rates. Over exploitation of the resources may result to exhaustion or depletion of the resources. Nuclear energy produces dangerous radioactive waste materials that can affect human beings’ health. Over reliance on oil affects the economy when the oil prices keep fluctuating. Since non-renewable resources can get exhausted scarcity may prevail leading to increased oil prices and inflation levels will be on the rise. A 5-10 Year Plan for Renewable Energy in America. There is urgent need for America to adopt renewable resources that will have reduced impact on the environment while providing a lasting solution to distortions caused by oil dependence. The oil rich countries can interrupt the U. S economy through the price fluctuations. (Micheal 7) The U. S should first put in place laws that will meet not only the short-term energy demands but also ensure that the long-term demands are not jeopardized. Renewable energy will ensure sustainable development. This is because it is reduces the health as well as environment risks. Renewable energy includes energy from the wind, solar and water, which can replace oil and fossil fuels. These forms of energy will reduce the over dependence on oil especially from foreign countries that make it volatile. US should diversify the sources of energy. (Eckhart 8). Encourage industries to adapt sustainable development strategies so that they do not cause health hazards to future generations. They should be environment friendly and high taxes can be imposed to those negating this strategy. The government can increase its investment on its cities so that wastage of energy is reduced. Transportation sector can be improved as an effort to conserve energy. The strategy can be faced with political challenges whereby by lack of political will by leaders will hinder the effective implementation of the project. The congress has to approve the proposal to be successful. The government should be committed in installing solar electric, geothermal and wind power in its public institutions. Creating awareness will be a positive move in ensuring that people understand the importance of renewable sources of energy as well as the adverse implications of non-renewable sources. This move will ensure that residential energy consumption trends are changed and people adopt renewable sources of energy. For instance encouraging people to use solar electricity to heat water and warm their houses. Renewable sources of energy will reduce the greenhouse gases production and consequently global warming will be reduced. (www. epa. gov). The government will need to commit a 300 billion dollar for 10 years to support this project. It can invest in modernizing the homes of low-income earners so that they adapt energy efficient measures. This approach will help in reducing wastage of energy from the residential sector. The transportation sector currently accounts for 68% of US oil consumption. Replacing the energy wastage measures by adopting renewable and environment friendly resources will help save America. The government can spend 15 $ billion to help automakers phase out the fuel inefficient vehicles. Scientists have shown that man has been very influential in causing global warming. Global warming affects the climate and has adverse effects on man. 20% of green house gases are from vehicles. The transport sector can use electricity from renewable sources. (Houghton 155). Since less than 2% of electricity is from oil it can be used on transportation. Research shows that 30% can be implemented on transport without extra installation. Introduction of sport utility vehicles and light trucks will help improve on fuel efficiency. Government must take its role in ensuring that buildings constructed are energy efficient. It must also ensure that technical training is provided to relevant bodies to save energy. Adopting the renewable energy resources will be of economic benefits. U. S spends approximately 1. 4 billion $ daily on foreign oil, money that can be saved if renewable sources of energy are sought. Dissemination of information about the adverse effects of non renewable sources of energy for instance global warming will see people change their energy consumption patterns. Alternative methods of transportation can be opted to reduce the traffic jams that that lead to high wastage levels of energy. Imposing high taxes on polluters will encourage industries to adapt environmental friendly techniques. Increased investment in research will help America establish potential renewable resources that can be exploited match its energy demands. Intensified research will provide accurate information needed in implementation of this project. Research will identify viable resources thus reducing unnecessary costs. The government also needs to invest in training for manufacturing industries so that they adapt energy conservation strategies. The government will need to allocate more money to support ethanol refineries. Ethanol from corn is environmental friendly and should be encouraged to reduce the adverse effects brought about by over dependence on oil. Renewable energy will help America maintain its national security and its influence and options in the world will not be affected. Oil rich countries tend to be prone to constant conflicts and are undemocratic. How to cite Different Sources of Energy, Papers

Treble Chorus of New England free essay sample

I distinctly remember when I decided to join the Treble Chorus of New England. My mom had mentioned it to me several times before in passing, but I never thought I would actually join. Something inside of me clicked, however, on a September day in 2004. I was in the car outside Dunkin Donuts with my mother when a woman whose daughter was in the chorus started talking to us. That woman suggested I join, and for some reason I still don’t know, I was inspired to and told my mother that on the drive home. The days leading up to my audition for the Treble Chorus I was very anxious. My worst fear was singing in front of someone I didn’t know, and then being rejected admission and embarrassed. I had many, many doubts about auditioning, but I knew I couldn’t back down. I was shaking when I first starting singing for the director of the choir, but I managed to get through the song. We will write a custom essay sample on Treble Chorus of New England or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To my surprise, I was accepted at their intermediate level. Immediately, my confidence soared. The first rehearsal was difficult because I was very much out of my comfort zone. I didn’t know anybody in the group, and I was very shy. My first year in the Treble Chorus was very trying. I didn’t talk to anyone, but I enjoyed performing. I didn’t think my voice was anywhere near up to the level of my fellow members, but I still decided to audition to be a part of the chorus for the next year. Eighth grade was a tough year in school, but I finally came into my own with the Treble Chorus. A girl from my school joined, and I started talking to the other kids in the group. I discovered that unlike the people in school, these kids weren’t snippy or judgmental. That eighth grade year was a huge growth year for me. I found out that I could have real friends, not fake friends, and the kids from Treble Chorus proved that to me. I also was able to be proud of an activi ty I did after school. Prior to joining the chorus, my only other outside of school activity was soccer. I enjoyed it, but being on the lowest level team when everyone around you is in the highest isn’t something to brag about. I was able to tell my classmates about how I sang at Symphony Hall in Boston, and that I was on TV in China as part of a New Year celebration. I believe that being a part of the Treble Chorus of New England helped me immensely for the transition into high school. That summer, I learned that I had been accepted into the advanced choir, the highest level in the group, Schola. I was still a very shy girl, and not a fan of change. Although I didn’t know how my freshman year was going to go or how I was going to make friends, TCNE remained constant. It was the one extracurricular for me that carried from middle school into high school. In high school, I have become a leader and a risk taker, and I absolutely credit that to my experience with the Tr eble Chorus of New England. I have become a much more social person, and although I still have shy sides to my personality, I am able to overcome them. Truly I have blossomed. I have led retreats, and I was recently elected to the office of Vice-President of my high school’s Theatre Guild. I never would have had the confidence to leave my comfort zone and go on my first retreat or audition for my first high school show without the Treble Chorus. Although my confidence has grown exponentially, it is still growing. Sometimes I still feel like I can’t sing as well as my fellow members, and it was only this past year when I first auditioned for a solo in the winter. I didn’t get it, but I didn’t give up like I would have a few short years ago. I auditioned for another one in the spring and got it. I had butterflies in my stomach during the performance, but I was confident that I could sing it and it would go successfully. When I first auditioned for the choru s and got in, that was the first true success I felt in life. I was proud of myself for one of the first times. The risk of trying out was the best thing I have ever done in life, and it has opened up so many doors, in the area of performing arts and in the rest of my life.