Cobweb Spiders, Family Theridiidae

Cobweb Spiders, Family Theridiidae From the harmless house spiders to the venomous widows, the family Theridiidae includes a large and diverse group of arachnids. Chances are theres a cobweb spider somewhere in your house right now. Description: Spiders of the family Theridiidae are also called comb-foot spiders. Theridiids have a row of setae, or bristles, on their fourth pair of legs. The setae help the spider wrap its silk around captured prey. Cobweb spiders are sexually dimorphic in size; females are larger than males. Female cobweb spiders have spherical abdomens and long, slender legs. Some species practice sexual cannibalism, with the female eating the male after mating. The black widow gets its name from this practice. Cobweb spiders build irregular, 3-dimensional webs of sticky silk. Not all spiders within this group build webs, however. Some cobweb spiders live in social communities, with spiderlings and adult females sharing the web. Others practice kleptoparasitism, stealing prey from other spiders webs. Classification: Kingdom – AnimaliaPhylum – ArthropodaClass – ArachnidaOrder – AraneaeFamily – Theridiidae Diet: Cobweb spiders feed on insects, and occasionally other spiders. When an insect becomes ensnared in the sticky strands of the web, the spider quickly injects it with venom and wraps it tightly in silk. The meal can then be consumed at the spiders leisure. Life Cycle: Male cobweb spiders roam in search of mates. In many species, the male uses a stridulatory organ to signal his interest in females. Though some Theridiid males do get eaten after mating, most survive to find another mate. The female cobweb spider wraps her eggs in a silk case and attaches it to a point near her web. She guards the egg sac until the spiderlings hatch. Special Adaptations and Defenses: With dozens of genera in the Theridiidae family, adaptations and defenses are as diverse as the cobweb spiders. Argyrodes spiders, for example, live along the edges of other spiders webs, dashing in to grab a meal when the resident spider isnt around. Some Theridiids mimic ants, either to trick potential ant prey or to fool possible predators. Range and Distribution: Cobweb spiders live throughout the world, with more than 2200 species described to date. Well over 200 Theridiid species live in North America.

Blood Wedding. essays

Blood Wedding. essays Lorcas use of language in Blood Wedding is very poetic. He uses lots of metaphors and moves from Prose to Verse within the play. In Blood Wedding, poetry and drama seem to become one as characters talk to each other in verse form. But verse is only used in the play at a heightened dramatic point or to help create tension. For example, when Leonardo and the Bride are talking to each other in the middle of the forest, they speak in verse form. I think Lorca does this because it adds to the romantic side of the play and emphasises how they feel about each other. They also speak to each other in metaphorical terms, as do some of the other characters when they are speaking. She describes herself as a straw blown on the wind which means she cant help following Leonardo just like the wind is too overpowering for the straw. I like the way Lorca uses metaphors in this play. They emphasise points or peoples feelings and they add to Lorcas idea of poetic drama. Lorca was also interested in music and rhythm within his theatre and this is apparent in Blood Wedding. When the mother-in-law is singing to the child to go to sleep, it is very rhythmic and stylised. Lorca also uses repetition a lot to emphasise something. For example, the mother has a great hate towards weapons such as knives and guns, obviously as she has lost her son and husband. So to accentuate the idea of her hate for these things she is always talking about it. No we cant be done with it! Lorcas use of surrealism and imagery gives the play a slightly magical tone which I like. He does this well in the forest scene when the moon comes out and ...

Reflective Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflective Report - Essay Example When it comes to being â€Å"dependable†, it is always my best interest to create a remarkable atmosphere within myself in order for others to generate among themselves a certain level of trust in me. I have not thought about it that others could actually see it in me, but based on understanding of my generic competencies, I am capable of initiating a positive response to important things that somebody might entrust to me. That is why I totally agree with the three specific statements I received from the three respondents who told me something about my being dependable. What matters at this point is the fact that there is a positive consistency of what I thought about myself and what others could tell about how I could be relied on certain things. The problem with this is that these respondents might have just seen me based on the standpoint of generic competencies or areas of effectiveness, which I presume common to all people especially with high level of â€Å"dependabilit y†. After all, they still have many things to learn about me. People with high level of dependability are consistently doing the same level of things the way I do. There are no other special things they might observe at this point just the way I do. This is how I view how others might have tried to take a look at my dependability and they based it on the common standard that organizations usually employ to look out the best for others. However, in my case, my being dependable does not have any consistent link with my performance in an organization. This is really who I am. This is my lifestyle. Everything about my dependability does not need to be associated with my performance in an organization. It is just really part of being me that I just do not like not to guarantee others a certain level of trust on my potential or worth as a person. It is integral part of my personality which boils down to the kind of behavior I might have carried at this moment. So at this point, I co uld say my being dependable is unique due to the point that it is tantamount of who I am at present. It is just a bit encouraging that people around me could actually see outside who I am inside. However, I just do not have a remarkable proof that what they actually see in me is who really I am inside, which could substantially tell something more about my uniqueness as a person. However, due to the statements I received from the target respondents, I have finally validated the uniqueness and innermost part of my being as one reliable enough to be entrusted with things in an organization. However, as of now I could clearly say that with the change of my actual behavior, my uniqueness as a person would eventually banish. After all, being dependable is something intrinsic that I found could not be influenced by an organization as I consider it enough as a lifestyle, which changes my perspectives and actual behavior. The other emergent theme that I come to formulate about the feedback I received from my respondent is â€Å"integrity†. The three feedbacks associated with this theme are all consistently pointing to the idea that I am true to my words, which positively builds a positive impression for my identity. As I considered myself dependable, integrity perhaps is strongly associated with dependability as this remarkably

Classical Films vs. Art Films Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Classical Films vs. Art Films - Essay Example Two significant cinematographic modes defined by the methods of studio production and compliance with a set of related standards are classical Hollywood cinema and art film. Form the body of related research literature, it becomes clear that classical Hollywood cinema mode is that resting upon the set of traditions and stylistic devices descending for the Classical era of cinematography. Classical mode is distinguished by restricted ambiguity and uncertainty, resolution of the crises and moral dilemmas by the end of the narrative, visibility of causal relationships. This approach is marked by the technical means’ subordination to presentation of events and by decreased value of the motion picture as an artefact: it is the content of the narrative that draws primary attention, with the plot-related questions emerging in the viewers’ minds. Development of the narrative is usually logical, clear and occurs in the chronological order, while the scenes are glued together sea mlessly creating a smooth flow supported by appropriate music scores. The described characteristics of the classical cinema mode are derived from the function cinema is expected to perform within this mode: classical Hollywood cinematographic products are intended to entertain the audience, with the key stress being placed on action. In order to insure completion of this task, production process uses technical aspects such as lighting, mise-en-scene, music score and cinematographic properties making the comprehension of the narration easier.

Whu I Am going To Be A Succesful Teacher Essay Example for Free

Whu I Am going To Be A Succesful Teacher Essay In pursuing a goal or an objective, a profound level of commitment must first be assured.   I contemplate my dreams and purposes in life along such premise.   And then, I reckon and inculcate values that will equip me along the way.   As such, my goal to become a successful teacher will be achieved because of the prime values I consider my strengths.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As I am sure of my commitment, I develop total patience in my total perception and pursuit of my goals.    The first step I take to sustain my patience is acceptance and acknowledgement of responsibilities towards a goal.   As I acknowledge what is the level and amount of responsibilities involved, I then work out the features involved to meet them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Working towards a goal requires a very positive attitude.   Even though I immediately acknowledge the various ups and downs, I see to it that â€Å"hope springs eternal†.   I exert my best efforts to be unyielding and sustain persevering outlook towards the best there is towards a goal.   I keep the faith that I can find my way through any difficulty – even at an unknown length of time.   It is the inspiration of rewards and fulfillment that will make me endure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The dedication and commitment towards a goal must be more than deep-rooted in my mind, it must be soul-felt.   My passion towards a goal is set not only because of the rewards due in achieving a goal, but more so because of the sense of completing my being.   It is the glory of an internal satisfaction that will give me a good night’s sleep.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being effective and successful as teacher will enhance my creativity and originality.   Teaching and molding young minds to the universal sea of knowledge will keep me always on my toes to make my presentations interesting, efficient, clear and challenging.   And working out the plans to achieve the same will encourage me to ensure that my students will experience a unique, yet understandable, awakening to knowledge.

Childhood Depression :: essays research papers

Childhood Depression In recent years, we have heard of depression and the affects of the disorder, and what medications and theories help to prevent depression in adults. Many people are not aware that not only is depression diagnosed in adults, recently studies show that depression is diagnosed in adolescents. Not only adults become depressed. Children and teenagers also may have depression. Depression is defined as an illness when it persists. Childhood depression is one of the most overlooked disorders. Depression probably exists in about 5 percent of children in the general population. Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have, learning or conduct disorders are at a higher risk of depression. Studies show that depression is more likely to show up in boys than in girls. Depression in men and meal adolescents most of the time is over looked are misdiagnosed. Men for instance, have higher rates of drug abuse and violent behavior that do women or young female adolescents do, and some researchers belie that this behavior masks depression or anxiety (Canetto, 1992; Kessler al., 1994). Some Psychologists believe that the reason that young males are more likely to suffer from depression because of the stigmatism of being a male and being taught by adults that expressing there feelings are wrong. According to Carol Wade, Travis, Depression (Major Depression) is a disorder that is sever enough to disrupt a person’s ordinary functioning (Physiology filth edition, 586). The diagnoses of depression might be the same for adults and adolescents, but the behavior of depressed children and teenagers differs from the behavior of depressed adults. Child and adolescent psychiatrists advise parents to be aware of signs in there youngsters such as persistent sadness, A major change in sleeping and eating patterns and increased activity or irritability. Depression is accompanied by physical changes as well. Frequent complaints of physical illness such as headaches and stomachaches A child who used to play often with friends may now spend most of the time alone and without interest. Things that were once fun now bring little joy to the depressed child. Then symptoms could trigger antisocial personality, a disorder characterized by antisocial behavior such as sealing, lying and sometimes violence: a lack of social emotions and impulsively. Children and adolescents and adolescents who are depressed may say they want to be dead or may talk about suicide. Depressed adolescents may abuse alcohol or other drugs as a way to feel better.

Organizational culture Essay

For a company, organizational culture is very important because the culture is like something that the employee can be based for. In addition, the organizational culture is defined as a system of shared meaning and beliefs within an organization that determines, in a large degree, how employee’s act (Robbins, et al., 2003, p. 70). Founders of new organizations and managers play an important role in creating and maintaining organizational cultures. However, ethical organizational cultures are those in which ethical values and norms are emphasized. As Jones and George (2003, p. 350) argue that ethical organizational cultures can help organizations and their members behave in a socially responsible manner. Some might believe that if they do the ethical corporate culture, they will be able to get much profit. Meanwhile, Arnold and Lampe (1999, pp. 1-19, cited in Robbins, et al., p. 154) claim that the content and strength of an organization’s culture also influences ethical behavior. Nevertheless, a strong culture will have a very powerful and positive influence on managers’ decisions to act ethically and unethically. whereas, in a weak organizational culture, managers are more likely to rely on subculture norms as a behavioral guide. Work groups and departmental standards will strongly influence ethical behaviour in organizations with weak overall cultures. Alongside with organizational culture, there are two more things that have strong correlation with it. The first one is ethics. Ethics is the code of moral principles and values that govern that behavior of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong (Robbins, et al., 2003, p. 150). The second thing that has strong correlation with culture is social responsibility. It is a management’s obligation to make choices and take action that will contribute to the welfare and interest of society as well as to the interest of the organization (Robbins, et al., 2003, p. 138). Nevertheless, managers who have ethical behavior and social responsibility can build a good reputation for their company. As Donaldson and Werhane (1993, pp.249-254) argue that having a good reputation of a company can increase profit. In addition, Robbins (et al., 2003, pp. 161-165) defines social responsibility is â€Å"an obligation, beyond that required by the law and  economics, for a firm to pursue long-term goals that are good for society†. However, social responsibility is the duty of manager to make decision consider with well-being of stakeholders and society. In fact, there are two main views of management’s social responsibility, which are classical view and socioeconomic view (Robbins, 2003, p. 407). Additionally, classical view aims to maximize profits, whereas socioeconomic view is that social responsibility goes beyond the increasing profit to improve the welfare of society. It is very important that managers support and develop an ethical culture because employees more likely to act ethically if their leader work having an ethical role model (Jones, & George, 2003, pp.101-103). Working ethically is a responsibility to the society. Nevertheless, this is very important as it can avoid harming stakeholders and also enhance the well-being of society as a whole. Stakeholders including employees, customers, suppliers, competitors, governments, media, union, communities, social and political action groups, etc (Robbins, et al., 2003, pp. 92-93). There are still some examples for the reference of socially responsible behavior such as providing training for workers, eliminating discrimination and reducing pollution (Robbins, et al., 2003, p. 407). Providing training for workers can enhance their skills and techniques for work and it can improve the productivity and efficiency. Workers will not be obsolete by the changes of technology so it benefits employees as well as the company (Tsang, 2003, p. 25). Social responsibility and economic growth is related sometimes. At first, the profit may be reduced by the costs of training workers, however, when the trained employees can work efficiently, the productivity will be increased followed by increasing profit at last. Eliminating discrimination is a social responsibility of managers. Some companies would like to employ a specific kind of person but not the others and cause inequality is known as discrimination. For instance, some companies would prefer employ a local student to an international student or they prefer employ man to woman (Pagan, 2000, p. 619). It is harm to firm if they refuse to employ some other races people since they can provide some  new ideas to the company for reference. These new ideas may not be gained from local employers as foreigners have different culture from the local and they can offer some useful information from the other view for the decision making. This is why an organizational culture which has formally adopted a specific position, philosophy, or set of beliefs regarding the fundamental values or principles, is an important thing to be used as the basis for business decision making. Moreover, if managers keep labor Market discrimination, it would lead to society chaotic and harm the society. Therefore, managers should bear the social responsibility to reduce discrimination. Another point that supports an organization to become socially responsible is that when a company being socially responsible, which means that the company has long-term goals. Company should higher the quality of a product to benefit customers to provide a better quality of life (Samli, 1992, p.12). The real example about this is The Body Shop. Although The Body Shop is looking for the profit, they still very concern about the environment. They use goods that not give bad impact on the environment. The product that the body shop sells is more expensive than others because they use the materials that do not give bad impact to the environment. As a result, people still buy their product because people know that they choose the right product. More expensive but in their product, it can’t be found anything that can damage their self and more important damage the environment. As we have seen, by being socially responsible, the firm can gain long-run profit and improve the company’s public image (Davis, et al., 1988, p. 37). In short, it can be seen that being socially responsible and following ethical corporate culture is much more profitable. But, since not all the companies have ethical corporate culture, there are some policies or practices that can be worked to encourage it. Firstly, the company should provide some training for the new and current employee because with the training activities it will make all the employee know about the culture and can adapt with the organization’s culture. Secondly, the company should punish the person who do not obey or perform appropriate with the culture and give respect to the person who perform and do the culture. With that  punishment and respect the employee will think that obey the culture is important. Third, the leaders in the company have to do the culture, so the employee can follow the leader to do the culture. Senior management needs to zealous avoid any decision or action that could reasonably be expected to communicate selfish motive for im posing an ethics philosophy, system, or measurement on employees (www.centeronline.org/knowledge/article.cfm?ID=2431). In conclusion, social responsibility is an important element for a company to success. Social responsibility brings company reputation followed by higher profit. Those firms having social responsibility can improve people’s quality of life and their health. It can also stable the society from chaotic. Therefore, managers should follow regulations and work ethically with the consideration of society’s well-being. Briefly, if one company is concerned about the ethical corporate culture which means that the company and the employee know what is right and wrong and know how to behave in the company. Thus, in one company it is very important to have ethical corporate culture.

Hiv/Aids and Social Support Essay

HIV/AIDS and Social Support Essay The role of social Support in coping in HIV/AIDS As South Africa has a very high rate of HIV infections. The government has increased the availability of antiretrovirals to the individuals who have been diagnosed with this disease. Whereas the availability of the treatment increases there is a great amount of stressors that come with the diagnosis of this virus. Therefor there are other aspects that play a role in the treatment of HIV/AIDS such as environmental factors, stigmazation and social support.This essay will be discussing the role that social support plays in people with HIV/AIDS, the effects of social support and the theories on social support. This essay will also be discussing the role of social support after an individual has been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The related health decline and the stigma attached to this diagnosis. The diagnosis of HIV/AIDS leads to enormous amounts of stress to the individual that has been diagnosed with this c hronic illness.Solomon (1987) as citied in Green (1993) hypnotizes that stress, psychological and social support can influence the pace at which HIV replicates and progresses to AIDS; therefor there is an indirect link between HIV/AIDS and social support. According to Carver (1989) as cited in Koopman, Gore-Felton, Marouf Butler, Field, Gill, Chen, Israelski & Spiegel(2000) the lack of expression of motions, the withdrawal of one’s behaviour and the mental detachment to the world are the three most used coping tactics that are associated with the increasing levels of stress among people living with HIV.There are a lot of stigmas associated with HIV such as that it infects only certain kinds of people. Stigma refers to be bias, negative attitudes, abuse and mistreatment directed at people living with  HIV  and  AIDS. The consequences of stigma are widespread: being rejected by family, friends and even the community. â€Å"Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It is a main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment if so.It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world. † (Moon, 2010). HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening illness, and therefore people react to it in strong ways. HIV infection is connected with actions (such as homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution) that are already stigmatised in many communities many of this stigmatisation is caused by not being informed and the misconceptions that go along with HIV.The effects of the ARVs may cause individual to change appearance which may lead to discrimination based on appearance. HIV/AIDS is a very stressful life event with due to the diagnosis of the chronic event therefore one needs stable social s upport. According to Friedland, Renwick and McColl (1996) social support reflects on the following types of supports: The kind of support in which  the individual is provided with adequate services and goods and financial stability.The second support is where the individual who has HIV/AIDS is provided with all the information she needs regarding the condition she has, the third one is emotional support which is according to House (1981) the feeling that the individual is being cared for. Emotional support strengthens the feeling of self-worth and belonging and is also regarded as the most important one in terms of social support. Friedland et al. (1996) suggests that health professionals could meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS more by developing semi-formal social support so that the burden from friends and family can be decreased.People with HIV/AIDS can be encouraged to attend counselling sessions provided by health professionals. Many communities prove that support provid ed by AIDS survivors, buddy-systems, support centres have decreased the gap between formal and informal social support significantly. Even if these kind of semi-formal support does not provide the closeness that friends provides, it provides a higher level of trust for the individuals with HIV/AIDS. Schreurs and Ridder (1997) emphasizes that close relationships are unique therefor they cannot be replaced.According to Broadhead et al. (1983) in Green (1993) there is a positive association between social support and psychological assets which helps the individual who has HIV/AIDS cope with the illness and also promotes recovery. Green(1993) argues that the is no proof that show the concrete proof that show social support has an effect in the development of HIV. Riello (1990) states that it is more likely for death to occur in an individual who has been diagnosed with HIV in the past 12 months with no social support.When the diagnosis is in its initial stages it is where the rate of it s progression is the fastest and the individual who is being diagnosed is at his/her most vulnerable stage because they are still coming to terms with themselves having the disease. Based on these statements social support plays a big role in the physical health of an individual with HIV. Constructed on the research done by Persson (1991) there is an association between social support and an HIV positive individual’s low CD4 count.There are also symptoms during the duration of the illness that are linked to weak social support. Social support is divided into two categories. The kind that is beneficial for the individuals who are experiencing stress. According to the buffering theory, social support protects people from the unhealthy effects of traumatic events by influencing how people think about and  handle these kinds of events. According to stress and coping theory,  events are stre ssful to the extent that individuals have negative thoughts about the events and cope unproductively.This theory is called the buffering hypothesis. Willis (1985). The main theory is the one that is health improving to everyone. This theory is found when social support is intellectualized. Apparently this is not due to better coping actions but it promotes self-worth and the feeling of stability. In conclusion, it is debatable that there is a link between social support and the health improvement status in individuals living with HIV/AIDS even if it is minimal. As discussed above social support can have a negative effect when it comes to coping strategies.Even if social support help people with HIV deal with the illness it does not play a significant role in the physical well-being of the individuals but it has a big considerable emotional impact. It can be concluded that social support increases the quality of life and self-esteem in people living with HIV/AIDS. Therefor it can be concluded that more research needs to be conducted to prove the definite correlate bet ween social support and the diagnosis of HIV. References Green, G. (1993). Editorial review: Social support and HIV. AIDS Care, 5(1), 87. Koopman, C. C. , Gore-Felton, C. C. Marouf, F. F. , Butler, L. D. , Field, N. N. , Gill, M. M. , & †¦ Spiegel, D. D. (2000). Relationships of perceived stress to coping, attachment and social support among HIV-positive persons. AIDS Care, 12(5), 663-672. Friedland, J. J. , Renwick, R. R. , & Mccoll, M. M. (1996). Coping and social support as determinants of quality of life in HIV/AIDS. AIDS Care, 8(1), 15-32. Schreurs, K. M. G. , de Ridders, D. T. D. (1997). Integration of coping and social support perspectives: Implications for the study of adaptation to chronic diseases. Clinical Psychology Review, 17(1), 89-112. .

Which States Require the ACT Full List and Advice

Which States Require the ACT Full List and Advice SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Over the past five years, the number of states that administer the ACT statewide has more than doubled: there are now 12 states that require every junior to take the test and eight more that either require the test in some districts or offer it as a free option for students who wish to take it. This post explains why these programs exist, which states have them, and how you can take advantage of them if you live in one of these states. Why Do Some States Require the ACT? In 2001, when states were first implementing statewide assessment programs, Illinois and Colorado decided that, rather than creating their own tests for high school juniors, they would contract with ACT, Inc. to use the ACT as a statewide assessment. (The ACT is generally considered more content based than the SAT, and therefore a better for for assessments.) This plan had the added advantages of providing every student with the chance to take a college admissions test and, ideally, encouraging students who might not have otherwise considered college to apply. Colorado and Illinois were followed by Kentucky, Wyoming, and Michigan in 2007 and then North Dakota and Tennessee in 2009 (although Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan have since switched to the SAT). Since then, the number of states using the ACT as a statewide assessment has almost doubled, and the SAT has created an equivalent program called SAT School Day. The spread of the ACT as a state assessment helped it surpass the SAT as the most popular college admissions test in the US 2011-2017 (although recently it's been overtaken by the SAT once more). For the 2019-2020 school year, 20 states have a contract with ACT, Inc. to provide free ACT testing to some or all high school juniors at public schools. Which States Require the ACT? Of the 12 states that administer the ACT statewide, more than half include the writing (the rest do not). There are also a few states that don't require the test of all students but allow districts to opt in to the program or give students the choice of which test to take. States that require all students to take the ACT with Writing Alabama Hawaii Montana Nebraska Nevada North Carolina North Dakota Utah Wisconsin States that require all students to take the ACT (no Writing) Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Wyoming States with other arrangements Arkansas - offered but not required; no Writing Kansas - offered but not required; no Writing Minnesota - SAT or ACT offered Missouri - determined by district; not funded Ohio - SAT or ACT required; district determines which test Oklahoma - SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing required; district determines which test South Carolina - SAT or ACT required Tennessee - SAT or ACT required (districts may provide either SAT or ACT or allow students to choose) What Does Statewide Testing Mean For Your ACT Prep? The short answer is that it doesn’t make a huge difference: the ACT is the same whether you take it on a state-administered date or one of the regular test days. However, if you do live in one of the states listed above, you may want to tweak your approach to take advantage of some of the state resources available to you. Here are a few things to keep in mind. You'll Be Able to Take the Test for Free If the cost of taking the ACT is a financial burden for your family, the opportunity to take the test for free is a valuable one, and you should take advantage by scheduling your studying accordingly. Remember that you'll also be able to send four free score reports. You may also be eligible for a fee waiver, thus giving you the chance to take the test up to 3 times for free. You Might Practice for the ACT in School Because the statewide ACTs can double as an assessment for schools and teachers, you may do some in-class preparation for the test. This instruction can help make you more familiar with the test, which is a key step in preparing for the ACT. High school teachers aren't always the most knowledgeable about the ACT, however, so if a teacher tells you something about the test that seems off or contradicts what you've learned in your prep, make sure to double check it! There Could Be Other Free Prep Materials or Classes Available to You Even if your school doesn't offer in-class ACT prep there might be other resources you can take advantage of like free prep books or after school classes. (For example, students in Utah have access to free ACT study materials on Shmoop.) Check with a counselor or teacher at your school to find out if you're eligible for extra study help. Again, though, you should be mindful of whether the materials are good quality. The Curve Won't Be Affected One key thing that won't be affected by whether your state offers free ACT testing is the score curve. Many students believe that the curve is easier on state-mandated test dates because more low-scoring students take the test. Though it's true that scores on these dates are generally lower, the curve isn't actually affected. It's based on years worth of data, not a single test date. What's Next? Make sure you know when to start studying for the ACT and check out these 5 tips to get you started. Not sure what ACT score you should be shooting for? Calculate your target score with this helpful guide. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? We have the industry's leading ACT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and ACT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

9 Steps for Displaying a Living Christmas Tree

9 Steps for Displaying a Living Christmas Tree Some people  really hate to buy a tree only to turn around and throw it away. You may be one of them.  Displaying a potted  living Christmas tree  can perk up the season and can provide a tree for your yard or landscape a few days after the holiday, to commemorate an extra-special season.  A containerized Colorado blue spruce  is especially good for preserving if you live in an area where it thrives. Your local nursery can advise you on the type to purchase for your landscape. It  is not hard to keep a potted tree alive long enough to  plant,  but you need to be careful in following these recommendations exactly to improve the  trees survival chances. For one, it can be inside  only  from four to  10  days. You also need to expect to give the tree several days of your attention before and after bringing  it  inside.   Advance Prep Local nurseries will have potential conifers that can be purchased several months in advance for delivery near Christmas.  If you live in a climate where the ground  freezes, you  need to dig  a planting hole during moderate temperatures because the tree needs to be planted shortly after Christmas. No matter the climate, youll want to know where the tree will go to  ensure that it will thrive  (with the proper soil, sun, etc.). Caring for a Living Christmas Tree Your tree will come in a container with soil or as a bare-root tree that is  balled in burlap (b-n-b). If its a b-n-b tree, youll need mulch and a bucket to bring it indoors.  But first, you start in the garage. Gradually  over time, introduce your living tree from outside to inside. Take three or four days using the garage or enclosed porch for acclimatization. A tree that is dormant and exposed to immediate warmth will start to grow. You want to avoid any quick resumption of growth.  Youll also need to reverse the acclimation process exactly to plant the tree after the holiday  celebration.While the tree is on your porch or garage, check for insects and insect egg masses.Visit your nearest lawn and garden supply store and purchase a spray with an anti-desiccant or anti-wilt chemical to minimize needle loss. Use it while the tree is in the garage. This particular product also prevents  the loss of valuable moisture  for the tree coming into a climate-controlled home.  When finally taking the tree inside, locate your tree in the coolest part of the room and away from heat ducts, to keep the tree moist.Place the tree in its container in a large galvanized tub or a comparable item, keeping the  root ball  intact. Stabilize the tree in the tub in a straight and vertical position using rocks or bricks.  This tub confines water and needles into a more manageable and cleanable space. It will also contain any mess you might have and limit problems associated with a live tree inside the home.   If it is a b-n-b tree, place it in a smaller container inside the tub, if it doesnt fit the tub snugly. Fill any empty space around and on top of the root ball with mulch to retain as much moisture as possible.  Water your tree in its container directly as often as necessary to moisten the roots, but do not get them soggy. Never overwater beyond moist.Leave your tree inside no longer than seven to 10 days (some experts suggest only four days). Never add nutrients or fertilizers, as they may initiate growth, which you dont want to occur in a dormant tree.Carefully introduce tree back outside using the reverse procedure of keeping it in your garage for a few days, and then plant it in the ground.

Marketing Strategy Formulation Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing Strategy Formulation Assignment - Essay Example It is intended to help the disable people to perform their daily activities, similar to any other normal person. These robotic legs have been invented in a manner that permits effective and comfortable bending and moving of limbs to desirable directions. Apparently, targeted to a noble cause, the degree of influence created by social responsibilities of Parker Hannifin increases substantially also affecting its marketing strategies to a certain extent (Tita, 2014). Correspondingly, this essay intends to assess the marketing strategies adopted by Parker Hannifin when launching its robotic legs, with due consideration to its basic price strategies and overall promotional strategies. Pricing strategies is the most crucial factor to boost sales volume of any marketable devices, which is no exclusion in the case of Parker Hannifin. In the words of the head of its Human Motion and Control Unit. Mr. Achilleas Dorotheou, â€Å"There’s a graveyard of great technologies out there. You need to prove to the payers in dollars and cents that the device saves MONEY†, which apparently signifies the importance of pricing strategies for the device. Accordingly, its pricing strategies have been based on the value of the product addressing the target customers’ basic needs. When introduced, Parker Hannifin’s Indego was marketed through the price skimming method, whereby the price of the device was fixed at between $69,000 to $100,000. Hence, the price of the product was fixed at a higher rate but along with insurance facilities to cover damages and other risks to be borne by its users. This further sufficed the conditions of cost plus pricing strategi es by the company (Kotler, 2002). Besides, the company also considered that offering different kinds of discounts and innovative schemes will help to attract a larger volume of consumer towards the product, further helping the company to penetrate its markets by lowering its prices in the near future to

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - Essay Example It is said that the best martial art movies are those that do not have fighting but personal excellence. The heroes used in these films are those that transcend gravity, space and the limitations of the body and mind fears. For example, in a fighting movie, the characters are portraying hatred for one another by fighting, but in a martial arts movie, these characters tend to be celebrating their powers together with one another. This film is also one of those that have been known for its display of heroism and power and the victory of an individual over collectivism. The film increased the popularity of the strong heroes and was one of the first American films in a foreign language that gained so much popularity and praise. The movie has been a presentation of complete levels of Tao, love, life, and tradition. It is basically a life story of Yu Chiao-lung (Jen) depicted showing an account of the way in which the real self can be seen and comprehended intuitively to the Tao. Jen’s journey can be described as the path from the dragon to the Phoenix, transformation of emotion to compassion or natural virtue to spiritual virtue. The film was based partially on the chivalric novel in China which gives a certain traditional representation in the characters. It not only emphasizes on the characters but also has a philosophical aspect included. The main characters in the film are each significant in their own position and hold the certain touch of symbolism in their role. Li Mu-bai had entered a Taoist monastery and was becoming the expert of sword fighting in Wudan School and was a very well known person throughout China especially for his gungfu. He had a weapon, Green Destiny, and it was 400 years old and it had special powers. This shows that the sword holds symbolism in the film and throughout it is used as a special power rather than a weapon to harm others.