College Cranium

The Last Lecture by Dr. Paush

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:18:00 +0000

Dr. Paush was diagnosed with terminal cancer. As a result he gave an upbeat and inspirational final last lecture at McConomy Auditorium. His lecture was powerful and discussed ways to accomplish childhood dreams. Dr. Paush's childhood dreams where to be in zero gravity, play in the NFL, authorize an article in the World Book encyclopedia, be Captain Kirk, win a stuffed animal, and be a Disney Imagineer.

Star Trek'in

Dr. Paush discusses in his lecture, that there are several very important lessons that he has learned throughout his life that have helped him to become a better person. Dr. Paush explains that getting criticized when trying to accomplish a goal is not a bad thing. He believes that being criticized means that there is someone who wants you to improve, and that not being criticized means that people have given up on you. Dr. Paush, also believes, that when things go wrong it is not all bad because you are still gaining the experience from failure, and experience is what makes you better prepared for the future. Finally, Dr. Paush discusses that the role of a leader is to empower others to obtain greatness, and that with faith and patients your team will accomplish the goal they set out to achieve.

To conclude, Dr. Paush's last lecture to be very educational and inspiring. I believe that he does a great job of explaining his thoughts on how to achieve a goal. I hope when I am nearing the end of my life and on my death bed, that everyone can look back and be proud of my accomplishment just as Dr. Paush was able to do. Rest in Peace Sweet Prince
source: youtube, Roberts

Accounting General Accepted Accounting Principles

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sun, 12 May 2013 21:23:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. has abided by General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) since 1967. These principles, which provide guidance, are actually required in the U.S. to assist investors and creditors in properly evaluating a company's financial standing; thus, it helps creditors and investors make intelligent decisions. Yet, recent criticism is encouraging the U.S. to change these standards. Critics suggest that the U.S. use International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), a set of accounting standards first used in 2001 and now partially used by over 100 countries. The rapid growth of countries has increased the pressure on U.S. companies to become IFRS compliant. With the increased pressure, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has begun proposing new standards that would ultimately help the U.S. and GAAP converge with IFRS.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IFRS AND GAAP

There are numerous differences between IFRS and GAAP, with one of the main differences being the offsetting of assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Offsetting, or “netting”, is the presentation of assets and liabilities as a single amount in the balance sheet. The following conditions must be met when an entity offsets a liability and asset under the given set of standards:

Under IFRS:
• Currently have a legally enforceable right to set off the recognized amounts

• Intend either to settle on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Under GAAP:
• Each of two parties owes the other determinable amounts

• The reporting party has the right to offset the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party

• The reporting party intends to offset

• The right of offset is enforceable by law.

However, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, GAAP allows an exception to its intent condition for derivatives executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement. An entity may offset:
1) Fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments; and 2) Fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral arising from derivative instruments recognized at fair value.

Entities must adopt an accounting policy to offset fair value amounts under this guidance and apply that policy consistently (KPMG)
These different offsetting conditions and requirements can cause a substantial difference between amounts recorded under IFRS and GAAP. Seeing that the main difference is the policy regarding derivatives, it can be expected that companies with large derivative activities will especially have vast differences in amounts recorded between the two set of standards.

“For example, reporting under IFRS, Deutsche Bank’s total assets amounted to US$2,146 billion, of which 40 per cent (or US$863 billion) were derivatives. In contrast, reporting under U.S. GAAP, J.P. Morgan’s total assets amounted to US$2,032 billion, of which only 4 percent (or US$80 billion) were derivatives. Furthermore, should J.P. Morgan have to report under IFRS, they would have reported US$1,485 billion of additional assets (ISDA).” cited by tmuel
The importance of understanding an entity's financial standing, or assets and liabilities in this case, must be noted. It will enable users of financial statements to properly compare entities and their risk, which is why the FASB and IASB are continuously working together to bridge the gap. Needless to say, the treatment of offsetting derivations is a major concern in converging IFRS and GAAP.

WHAT ARE DERIVATIVES AND WHY ARE THEY TREATED DIFFERENTLY

A derivative can refer to a variety of financial instruments whose values are derived from one or more underlying assets, market securities or indices. In practice, it is a contract between two parties that specifies conditions under which payments are to be made between the parties. Conditions are dates, resulting values and definitions of the underlying variables, the parties' contractual obligations, and the notional amount. The most common underlying assets include: commodities, stocks, bonds, interest rates and currencies (Hall).

Derivatives, which are not bought or sold like other financial instruments, are carried at fair value and managed on a portfolio basis. Although the management of derivatives and bonds is different, the risk can be the same. The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) gave the following example:

“If an entity buys an IBM bond, it is exposed to the risk of default of IBM. If the entity sells the bond, both the (i) risk of default and the (ii) bond disappear from its balance sheet. In contrast, if an entity executes a derivative contract that exposes the entity to the risk of default of IBM, the entity may not sell the derivative; it may enter into an offsetting derivative contract. The two contracts must remain in the balance sheet until maturity. However, the entity will not have a risk of default of IBM anymore. As derivatives contracts are usually traded in large numbers throughout the day, the result may be an accumulation of transactions11 in the balance sheet even when the risks are cancelled out.
To be expected, banks and financial institutions are affected the most by the difference between the two standards.

CONVERGING IFRS AND GAAP

Changes must be made in regards to “netting” or “offsetting” to better compare global financial statements. Even the Chairman of the IASB, David Tweetie, stated “the fact that companies can [...] report IFRS balance sheet figures that are double the size of their US GAAP numbers is not acceptable in global capital market (FASB).” In hopes of resolving the differences in offsetting assets and liabilities, in early 2011 the IASB and FASB drafted a proposal. The proposal provided more “narrow conditions” than what was and is used by GAAP. Despite the major attempt to find a solution, there was much backlash from stakeholders. Using feedback from stakeholders, the FASB and IASB ultimately decided to retain their offsetting models; however, they issued disclosure requirements to assist financial statement users in evaluating, comparing, and investing and to improve transparency in regards to how companies mitigate credit risk. The new disclosure requirements, which help bridge the gap between IFRS and GAAP, are listed below:

Amendments to IFRS 7

For financial instruments that are set off with IAS 32.42, these new disclosures are required in tabular form:
a) the gross amounts of those recognized financial assets and recognized financial liabilities;

b) the amounts that are set off when determining the net amounts presented in the statement of financial position;

c) the net amounts presented in the statement of financial position;

d) the amounts subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement that are not otherwise included in paragraph b), including:

i) amounts related to recognized financial instruments that do not meet some or all of the offsetting criteria;

ii)amounts related to financial collateral (including cash collateral); and e)the net amount after deducting the amounts in d) from the amounts in c) above.

Amendments are to be applied retrospectively for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013 and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted. Also, IFRS clarified is offsetting standards with the following Amendment to IAS 32, which are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014, and are applied retrospectively: an entity currently has a legally enforceable right to set-off if that right is: not contingent on a future event; and enforceable both in the normal course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the entity and all counterparties; and gross settlement is equivalent to net settlement if and only if the gross settlement mechanism has features that: eliminate or result in insignificant credit and liquidity risk; and process receivables and payables in a single settlement process or cycle. (KPMG)

WHY THE U.S. SHOULD NOT ADOPT IFRS

With IFRS' popularity rampantly growing, people often question why the U.S. does not adopt IFRS altogether. With further look, one will see several deficiencies in IFRS. In the case of offsetting derivatives, GAAP once again provides better information for financial statement users. Even the IASD said it “believes that the current U.S. GAAP principles are superior because they provide robust offsetting principles to facilitate investors’ evaluation of relative balance sheet size, leverage, returns on investment and overall financial condition. We believe that U.S. GAAP provides the best reflection of an entity’s solvency and its exposure to credit and liquidity risks for both derivatives and repurchase agreements.”
It is important that the balance sheet is presented accurately and fairly, and not overstated or understated. Presenting “net” (GAAP) instead of “gross” (IFRS) on the balance sheet is favorable for a true reflection of a company's financial standing. Needless to say, in a time when the accounting profession is being more relied on than ever to prevent financial crises, the U.S. must stick to its stronger and stricter principles which have an informational advantage.

CONCLUSION

The benefits of having a global set of global accounting standards would be astronomical. Having one set of standards would give users of financial statements a better ability to evaluate an entity's financial standing; also, it would help investors and creditors make intelligent decisions. With the U.S. under pressure to comply with IFRS, the IASB and FASB have made major strides in converging standards. But by not immediately giving into pressure to adopt IFRS, the U.S. has also given the IASB incentive to provide stronger and improved standards. In the case of offsetting derivatives, a solution was not met in the form of a new standard, but both the FASB and IASB agreed on new disclosure requirements which will help give a better picture of an entity's financial standing.
cited by tmuel

Developing a Marketing Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Developing or Implementing a Marketing Plan are you?

Marketing plans have to change over time. This is the nature of the economy and the business environment today. Mr. Beattie, the author of the article, assumes in the article that consumers are ultimately lazy- to the effect that they rely on marketers to reach them to tell them about the latest and greatest products. For businesses to succeed in marketing five key areas are analyzed.

Who is doing the buying of the product? A mother shopping for groceries for her family is certainly a different consumer than a college student shopping at the same retailer for a frozen pizza.

Next, the goal of every successful business is they understand what makes a consumer spend their hard-earned money. What triggers consumers to go to a store and purchase an item, is it a need or a want? Understanding these questions is key to a successful marketing campaign. Relating to our mother and college student example, who is involved in the purchase? For the mother, she is feeding her family. The article suggests at all times there is more than one person involved in the purchase of the item. So, looking at the college student buying a frozen pizza, lets take the small probability that he's going to eat the entire pizza alone. How did he get that money? Did his parents support him or did he have to work? If he's not going to share with him roommates, and assuming the laws of physics dictate he is physically incapable of finishing the entire pizza, who will get their hands on the left overs. There are always external variables and other people involved in a purchase.

It is so vital, especially for advertisers, to know where their customers are getting their information. Television commercials convince mothers (and females in general who are considered the primary grocery purchaser) what is healthy and what is nutritional and thus beneficial to feed their kids.

What is the timeline of the marketing plan? If it selling food products needs a quick sale and high volume and thus proactive marketing. Services may be long-term and can be established over time.

"I'm All Hopped-Up on Mountain Dew"

In conclusion, a marketing plan must be drawn up by a marketer who understands the customers, where they are getting their information, what triggers the purchase, the timeline for the marketing plan, and ultimately that many people are involved in a purchase even if one person buys the item. The marketing plan must be changing constantly over time.

Quick Review

Knowing where the target buyers get their information is one of the most important steps, especially for advertising. [True]

Which of the following is true of a marketing plan?

a. a marketing plan is always being reevaluated and changing

b. a marketing plan cannot be changed

c. a marketing plan is not useful to a business

d. if a business uses a marketing plan it will fail

[Answer: A]

Greek Woman: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Pi, Greek African American

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

>* How have you contributed to your particular organization’s promotion and advancement?
Since we have become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., we have made it a priority to advance this organization beyond its usual means. As the current Vice President of the chapter, we are working hard so that we are promoted in the right light. This is done through positive activities such as making sure we participate in collegiate activities, helping out around the community in activities such as our ongoing project entitled Community Garden and participating in Relay for Life. Not only are we serving our community to its highest capacity, a positive reflection of our sorority also comes out of this. We continually push the members of this illustrious organization to get out on campus and in the local Louisiana community and serve so that we can promote our organization and advance.

>>**
What can fraternities and sororities do in the future to improve their image at the Tech University?
Our organization’s image starts with our personal behavior and image. Each individual must uphold the image in a light in which they wish their organization to be looked at. So events, forums, activities about being a better, more professional team member in your organization is one way to improve an organization’s image. Other ways are simply participating in events. If an organization lacks to assist in on-campus events, then their appearance to Tech faculty and students might seem as if they are not doing anything at all. Also, more community participation. For all organizations, but mainly the Divine Nine, parties should not be our highlighted event for a quarter.

>>>***
To us, being Greek means being a part of an organization that one not only whole-heartedly loves, but is willing to do anything for. Being Greek says, "We became a part of this organization and it’s a part of us." We will work our hardest to keep this organization. The same dedication and drive we had when fighting for membership, we will have while we work upon membership. But being Greek is also about fighting stereotypes. We are NOT a member of a “partying” organization. We do more than socialize. We are a part of an African American organization that is about being of service, TO ALL MANKIND.

>>>>**** Organizations:
• Delta Sigma Pi (professional business frat swag)
• SOCA walk/run-raises funds for garden in local impoverished area
• Relay for Life Team Captain Community Service:
• Community Garden (painted fences, planted flowers, provided snacks for kids)
• Played Bingo at Alpine Nursing Home
• Relay for Life (Made cookies to sell for the fraternity, participated in the walk)
• Various forums on money management, health, domestic violence
• Cleaned campus –trash day

• Painted faces at Shaney’s birthday bash-raise funds for kids with Multiple Sclerosis
• Big Event

• Went to IA Harold Middle School to talk to the girls about bullying and peer pressure
• Hosted an event for middle aged girls to discuss things such as hygiene and career paths

Offices for Alpha Kappa Alpha:
• Pledge Class Secretary
• Treasurer Vice President Offices for Delta Sigma
• Vice President of Pledge Operations
• Financial Secretary

>>>>>*****
Upon graduation, let it to be said that we worked hard for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. That although we had two paid jobs and a full course load of classes, we gave my all to this organization and made my founders proud. We want everyone in my organization and all others to work just as hard and even harder as we feel we have to offer. We want to graduate knowing that the Divine Nine organizations, especially Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, will only get better.

Universities in France, the French way of Marketing Services and Products, Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:24:00 +0000

PART ONE of THREE

A 3 Part Journey Into French Marketing with America's Southern College Students

Product 1:
Slim Sodas

Many Europeans do no fit the "YuroPoor" StereoType

Shortly after arriving at our hotel in Paris we were given free time to exchange currency and get a quick bite to eat. Since we had already exchanged my currency, college cranium stopped at a small souvenir shop near the hotel to get something to drink. We asked the clerk for a coke from the refrigerator behind the counter and noticed that the packaging was much different from the U.S. The sodas were tall and slim, similar to a Red Bull can. In the U.S. sodas are short and stout. The tall, slim packaging in Europe is much more attractive.

Product 2:
Dinner on the Seine River

After a long day of walking and touring Paris we all met up around 8:00pm in the hotel lobby to go to our last stop of the night. This was the dinner cruise on the Seine River and probably one of my favorite moments in Paris. The boat was transparent on both sides to allow you to see the panoramic night views of the French architecture and monuments. It was nothing like I have ever seen before. As we floated along the Seine River dinner was served. I noticed the portions were much smaller than the portion sizes in the U.S. Also, there weren’t many options as there are in America. Our menus are much more elaborate and detailed with entrée and side options. The menu in France was very limited and did not give you an option to substitute sides. None the less, the dinner was beautiful and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Product 3:
YSL perfume promotion

After dinner I decided to visit the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was right across the street from the boat cruise so I purchased my ticket in advance. I had about forty-five minutes until the time of my tour, so I walked around the streets of Paris to waste time. The street that ran in front of the Eiffel Tower was Quai Branly and I explored to sites on that street to stay close. I noticed that some of the buildings had large posters on them as advertisements. In America we use different forms of promotions like billboards to gain the attention of drivers or pedestrians passing by. In France, they use building to post promotions and it seemed to be a popular technique.

Services

Service 1:
The Metro

Riding the Metro was Amazing

Our first day in Paris was very eventful. We explored Paris mostly by foot, but we also used another form of transportation, the Metro. This process is much different than what I’m used to in the U.S. I drive my car everywhere I need to go. In France, it is more convenient to use the Metro. First, you purchase tickets from a booth. (One ticket can take you anywhere you want to go!) Second, you scan your ticket and cross through a set of bars. You then go down an escalator to this underground “subway”. It is important to pay attention to the direction the train is traveling or you will end up on the wrong end of town, as I did several times!

Service 2:
Taxi Driver

After visiting the Eiffel Tower it was pretty late and my torn up map of the city was not going to help me get home. By this time I had nearly been up for 24 hours and was too tired to walk to the hotel anyway. I decided to wave down a taxi to drive me back to the hotel. When the driver pulled up, he rolled down the window to ask where I was going, in French of course. I showed him the hotel business card and he told me to get in the taxi. In the U.S. they would typically open the door for you and provide better customer service. While driving me to my hotel, the driver was talking on his cell phone and smoking a cigarette. This was very different from what I am used to and extremely unprofessional.

Service 3:
Hotel Balmoral front desk

This is what our Balcony's looked like, such a great service for foreign college students!

After checking into the hotel we received the keys to our room and they were literally KEYS! In the U.S. if you check into a hotel you receive a card key that you scan to access your room, the elevator, and even sometimes the front door to the hotel. You are to keep this key with you at all times. When leaving the Hotel Balmoral the hotel clerk held onto the key at the front desk. When you returned, you told him the room number you were staying in. They then grabbed the key from a key rack behind the desk and gave you the key to your room.

Services Marketing Strategy for Students Who Market Products

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:07:00 +0000

Marketing a service is different that marketing a product. 'Marketing' causes many businesses tome start thinking about 'pushing the product' onto the customers. This strategy is followed with mass-advertising with the product in plain sight. This cannot be done when selling a service. Products can be seen and physically examined and this is why mass-marketing strategies have proven successful for tangible items but mass-advertising isn't the best method for service retailers.

A Product is tangible (And delicious)

With services, market segments must be targeted to meet specific needs. This is because of the intangible nature of service retail and the variances among consumer groups. The article also identifies that service providers are selling themselves -their knowledge, skills and abilities. For small service industries like private investigators, it is important to not spread efforts and services 'too thin' by working for too many clients and the quality of their services and reputation suffers.

Service Jobs are respectable and require special marketing strategies

Referrals from previous clients is one of four ways service retailers can find success, according to Marketing Your Service Business ( J. Withers and C. Vipperman) and analyzed in the journal article. The second factor emphasizes the importance of customer relations. This will improve the reputation through word of mouth and is even more important when there is a service being sold and not a product. Services are learned and skill sets are developed which cannot necessarily be manufactured in a supply chain. Each company and their customers have expected levels of service. Participating in organizations was also key to sustaining a successful service retail business and promoting the service being sold. The Internet has key social areas which retailers need to use to improve their networking.

With services it is necessary that people understand that they are intangible and also inseparable. This means that once you get a haircut, pedicure, manicure, lawn mowing, any service job, it cannot be undone and you must trust the service provider. This is often an obstacle for many service retailers. A strategic advantage is often found when the retailer decides to implement a product along with the service.

Take lawn mowing services for example. If the retailer simply sells his business as a grass-cutting service and markets his service the same way as a product the promotions will not have an effective impact on sales and profits. If the retailer decides to sell the service while emphasizing the technology or advantages that the customers can see, the service will have a better chance at success and ultimately earn a better reputation, which will spread from person to person and client-to-client, resulting in the desired goal of increased profit share for any shareholders or stockholders. The same benefits are given to employees because their job will pay more and their boss will be apt to give them raises and recognition for a "job well done."

Lastly, the article concluded with the fourth point regarding direct mail which has still proven to help strengthen the service retailers promotion strategies and also helps them to improve their profits, keep customer satisfaction high, and ultimately gather loyal customers from a market segment. These are the goals that are of unique importance to service retailers.

Now lets take a marketing quiz based on what the students have learned. Answer True or false depending on the question. The answers to the marketing questions are underneath.

1. Mass-marketing works best for products, it does not work as well with services.

True

2. Being professional and using common sense are important to keep good customer relationships.

True

Market Research on Parking on LSU campus and the campus police

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 07:43:00 +0000

Define the relevant population for this marketing study. What are the characteristics of the persons and subjects who should be included in the sample from the population? The relevant population includes those from the LSU population like students, faculty, and LSUPD, who drive and park on campus. Their perception of the LSU police department were shown to be incorrect. Preliminary research also shows a majority of the driving and parking population lives off campus. Those who suffer from the high traffic and intolerability of walking far distances to get to work may be more inclined to be corrected about their misconceptions.

Identify a sample frame plus how will it be obtained. Discuss the degree of sample frame error present in your plan. A list of names from the Traffic Department who is responsible for writing tickets on the campus will be obtained and used as the sample frame. The list will include the only those who have received non-moving traffic violations. This will be used with as the population, N, for the sample plan. The two sources of sample frame error occur when elements like those who violated parking rules but did not get a ticket and all others who suffered from the high traffic and possible ticket but are missing from the Traffic Department's list. The second error is that the list includes those who got non-moving violations unrelated to parking- like driving without a seatbelt- and also includes those who do not attend LSU and/or have no concern with the campus parking.

Television for your Dorm Room? Let me do some research

WHICH SAMPLE PLAN TO CHOOSE?

a. Sample Plan - Simple Random Sampling

A random numbers method will be used and each member of the sample frame will be assigned a number and the sample will be selected with a computer program which utilizes the free numerical library licensed under the GNU GPL for random sampling. The best substitution process is handled by the software to select the sample-size. The advantage of SRS is an equal and known chance of sample-size selection but it requires a complete accounting of the population and it is cumbersome to provide unique designations to every population member.

b. Sample Plan - Systematic Sampling

Our Population will be chosen randomly but more efficiently than by simple random sampling because the skip interval will be used for non responses and creates substitutes from dividing the list of the populaiton size by the desired sample size resulting in an approximate known and equal chance of selection because it is a probability sample plan. It is also efficient and is less expensive and faster that the sample random sample. The disadvantages are that there is a loss in precision.

c. Sample Plan - Cluster sampling

The population will be divided into groups based on geographic location based on proximity to campus. With these will form two groups considered to represent the non-homogeneous population. We will use the drop-down method as it applies to each group. This way the sample size will be economic efficient- by being faster and less costly than the simple random sampling. However, it is vulnerable to cluster specification error because the more homogeneous the clusters, the more precise the sample results are and we are using the two-step cluster to limit errors. Increased variance between the two clusters may decrease accuracy.

d. Sample Plane - Stratified sampling

Research assumes the subgroups are going to vary, so we will assume those who live off campus will value parking more than those who live on campus. We would expect the mean score of our questionnaire differ based on the distance traveled for the students. The off-campus students will show less variance and more agreement to the questions should be represented. The advantages of this method would be more accurate overall sample of a skewed population because the less variance in a group the less sample size it takes to produce a precise answer. This method allows the market researchers to allocate more sample size to strata with less variance and less sample size to strata with less variance Therefore, for the same sample size, the researches achieve higher precision. We would accomplish this via disproportionate sampling because students who have not experienced parking problems because they live on campus can be sampled less. Alternatively, the disadvantages are the complexity of the sampling plan requiring different sample size for each of the stratum.

e. Sample Plan - Convenience sampling

As the only non-probability method this will give us the fastest and relatively inexpensive answers. Convenience sampling will also cost less. The sample size will represent the first names from the sample frame who received tickets on LSU campus and who also are accessible via school email systems. Next, a list of names for the sample size based on this attribute is created. The sample frame error is going to occur because the members may be infrequent drivers or offenders, may no longer own a vehicle, or may not have a license anymore. The way the respondents are chosen presents sample errors that are avoided with the probability sampling methods. With such drastic misunderstanding of who is responsible for the tickets, the decision may be able generalized and applicable to a small sample-size say that of 300 names. These name are ultimately drawn based on the convenience and randomness of the LSU marketing research department.

Welcome to Marketing Research. We are happy to have you, subject #7089

Which of the aforementioned five sampling methods would you recommend that the students use? Why? I would recommend using the convenience sampling. Even though it is subject to problems, overall it will allow for an accurate sample-size for a large population and ultimately give a better representation of the attitudes of those students who have to drive and park on campus. For LSU Campus Police Department and Captain Mark Shaw, the results of the questionnaire should to a high degree of accuracy a sample-size that can be attributed to the entire population and they can take further research or marketing actions post-analysis.

Qualitative Research for Marketing Minor or Major

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:33:00 +0000

According to observational analysis the supermarket chain was accurate to a high degree in their beliefs about shopping behavior for customers over 65 years old. The notes from in-field observation were measured against the six beliefs of the supermarket chain. The chain wants a successful future by targeting this older market segment so it is important to understand the target customers. The supermarket chain believes older consumers behave differently while shopping compared to other consumer groups. For the majority, elderly consumers are more price conscious and purchase items in smaller servings. Non-grocery items and impulse products are less likely to be purchased by older shoppers. Last, elderly shoppers may have some physical problems.

Elderly shoppers evaluate grocery stores differently from other consumer groups. Other consumer groups were moving at a much faster pace than the subject. Other consumers also selected more brand names, used baskets instead of grocery carts, and stopped at displays. Larger displays and brighter lights may have improved how the subject (and whole consumer group), evaluates County Market. The friendly cashier bagged the subject's groceries which is another example of the differences because the same service would likely be less valuable for a different segment.

Healthy Part of a Balanced Breakfast and Hard Working Mind

The belief that elderly consumers are more price-conscious is accurate according to field observations. The subject purchased the cheaper alternative for most products and examined the prices for almost every item. There was a low impact of price savings between items, usually under a dollar, but it was still a heavy influencer. Many items had a sales sticker. The cost of the item was not the only deciding factor, the subject bought favorable, familiar, and more expensive products such as frozen meals. Next, the purchase of multiple, large, and pricier lasagnas also contradicted the belief that the elderly buy items in smaller servings. While this error could be related to a number of uncontrollable variables such as the upcoming holiday, overall observational analysis shows this belief to be the only one found incorrect. Most of the items purchased were inconsistent with the smaller-serving-size belief.

To confirm elderly shoppers rarely purchase non-grocery items a statistical analysis of the final purchases was conducted. This belief came out to be accurate for 90.90% of the items. The subject purchased paper towels which was the only deviation from a grocery only shopping cart. Next, according to the direct observation analysis, impulse items are not usually bought and may not be bought at all by the subject and segment as a whole. The subject was unaffected by items such as 99-cent snacks displays located at high traffic areas. The subject showed no interest in other impulse items like tabloids, candy bars, and car fresheners at checkout. Because impulse items were unnoticed while close inspection was needed for a single tomato, the subject confirmed this consumer group will not be likely to get impulse items.

Structured observation revealed physical limitations for the subject. The physical problems the subject had while shopping were mostly vision related. The subject inspected a lot of items closer and farther away from the eyes. In addition, the subject wore thick-lensed glasses. Items above eye-level were considered impossible and out of reach. However, an extensive assistance program may not be cost-effective because the subject demonstrated a high degree of independence. Attempts by the store to help elderly customers such as motorized scooters were not needed by the subject, neither was the assistance of any employee. However, brighter lighting would have helped inspect products and brighten the tall aisles. A greater availability of employees who are aware of the segment’s physical limitations could lead to higher sales.

EBT - BRAIN FOOD

Through disguised observation the behavior of the subject, an elderly shopper, was found to be consistent with the majority of the findings conducted by the large supermarket chain. Five of the six aforementioned beliefs were all confirmed to a substantial degree of exactitude based upon an analysis of field notes from observation of the subject. The subject definitely contradicted the belief of buying smaller serving sizes, but this conflicting shopping pattern was wont to uncontrollable variability for factors such as holiday visits or special/ unique occasions. Understanding the physical difficulties and its relationship to how the market segment evaluates stores is critical. In addition to evaluation differences and physical limits, price-consciousness, avoiding impulse buys, and preferring grocery items were all agreeable with the supermarkets data.

Background
Store Location:	County Market 101 W Arizona Ruston LA 71270
Date:	Wednesday 3/27/13
Arrival Time:	11:10am
Exit Time:	11:57am
Total time in store:	47 (minutes)
County Market private brand:	Yes

Customer
Age (approx.):	70
Limitations:	Sight, Hearing, Speed
Handicap Parking::	No
Requests for Assistance:	0
Impulse Buys:	0
Avoids non-grocery purchases:	Yes
Smaller serving size preference:	No
Evaluation differences among segments:	Yes
# of complete stops to inspect items:	12
# of different items looked at (approx.)	2-3 per stop
Products finally purchased:*	8
Price-Conscious:	Yes
Brand name purchases:	Yes
Payment Method	Cash, one coupon

*Unique products purchased; buying more than 1 of the same item counted as single product purchased.

Product Branding: Online Marketing Quiz

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:54:00 +0000

Read the following summary and answer the true and false questions at the end of the article. The summary is based on a marketing research study from Doctor Kim "Impact of Brand Factors on the Purchase of Various Brands of Television" which was published in the Journal of Arts, Science & Commerce.

Brands have never been more important. They help consumers in the decision making process. The article emphasizes the importance of a brand when purchasing a television. Through various academic studies and statistical analyses, the correlation between purchasing and brand recall was loyalty, perceived quality, and brand association and statistically proven to influence consumer behavior.

The study was limited by the recall bias and sampling errors. However, the objective of the study, which was to assess the influence of different brand factors, was successful because detailed data gathered from six different households all confirm the need for a good brand. Most of the products that are sold today have a distinguishable brand image. The article studied the influence of various aspects of product branding such as brand heuristics, brand knowledge, brand trust, brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand association and overall brand equity when purchasing a new television.

The characteristics of knowledge, loyalty, and trust create a preference in the minds of the customers.

When purchasing a product like a television that will last more than a year, consumers are more likely to conduct research based on the resources available to them such as the Internet. Having a good brand image takes time and cannot be accomplished by one-time advertisements. Brand trust and loyalty are also necessary factors because in the present day there are multiple brands competing for a customer purchase.

The studies proved through empirical research that brands are important when choosing what television to buy. Assumptions based on brand are not always true but trusting a brand and being loyal to a brand are what marketers strive to accomplish because it increases sales. The perceived quality of the brand in relationship to the price was one the most important factors for nuclear families. A brand helps buyers to recall the product and buyers will perceive the quality of the product based on the brand and will prefer brands they trust and will make purchasing decisions accordingly.

Questions:

True or False:

1. The name which helps the buyers in recalling the product instantly is known as brand name.

True

2. When several brands of a particular product, which are similar in quality of performance and appearance, are available to the consumers brand knowledge, loyalty, and trust can create a preference in the minds of consumers.

True

Fraternal Exam Alpha Kappa Psi

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:57:00 +0000

Fraternal Exam

What is Alpha Kappa Psi’s tag-line?

a. Excellence in People, Excellence in Business

b. Shaping People, Shaping Business

c. Givin’ ‘em the Business

d. Bears, Beats, Business.

When and where was the fraternity founded?

a. July 4, 1776 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

b. May 15, 1939 Gotham City

c. October 5, 1904 New York University, New York

d. Circa 1180 AD Troy, Greece

What is the term used to refer to the four founding fathers?

a. Four Brothers

b. Brooklyn Four

c. Fantastic Four

d. Four G’s.

Name one of the ten men who are credited as the founders of the fraternity.

a. Captain Planet

b. Antonio Banderas

c. Irving L. Camp

d. Ike Ajunwah

e. Mufasa

How many meetings or required events can a student member miss unexcused per academic term before they are subject to suspension from the chapter?

_________________ per quarter

Name one set of governing documents of the fraternity.

___________________________________________________

In what region does our chapter belong?

a. French Quarter

b. The Land of Oz

c. Central

d. Southcentral

e. Asgard

What is the regional director’s name?

a. Ike Ajunwah

b. Courtney Harrison

c. Luke Skywalker

What annual gathering is held during the month of February?

a. Parish Board Leadership Initiative

b. Principled Business Leaders Institute

c. Avengers Academy

What is the minimum number of AKPsi members that must attend this annual gathering?

_____________________

Bonus!

Draw a picture of a bulldog in a business suit.

Student Study for Important Industries in Ecuador Education

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:36:00 +0000

Ecuador has many powerful industries. The two most important industries that are vital to Ecuador’s economic wellbeing are petroleum (crude oil) and agriculture. Per Sector, industries account for 36.1 percent of Ecuador’s GDP. Their industry accounts for 25 percent of the labor force, which is around one million. Chief industrial exports are petroleum and agricultural goods. The agricultural industry exports lots of coffee and bananas. Ecuador has a positive country-of-origin effect for roses, which they are internationally praised for growing. The high altitude in Ecuador’s Andes Mtn. Range gives them a geographical advantage.

ceviche

Ecuador relies on two volatile and fluctuating industries which are held responsible for the wellbeing of Ecuador’s economy. This is because the chief products of these industries are primary products. Globally, demand for primary products is volatile, compared to manufacturing. A result of this riskiness would be the economic downturn in 1999 which drastically increased poverty and shrunk GDP. This resulted from two strokes of misfortune in 1998 when international prices for oil decreased and their shrimp were struck by a virus.

chorizos with llapingachos

Petroleum is the major industry in Ecuador and their economy relies heavily of the fluctuating international price of oil. The nation’s largest oil field is ‘Occidental's Eden Yuturi’ which, in the first half of 2004, produced more than 75,500 barrels of oil per day. Another geographical advantages that Ecuador has in industry is Ecuador’s Amazon basin which facilitated their membership into OPEC (Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries). Petroleum accounts for one-third of public sector revenue and 40% of export earnings in 2002. Ecuador’s constitution grants subsurface resources as the property of the state, which means the government owns all the untapped oil reserves. This differs from the United States, where subsurface resources belong to the owner of the property, and allowed for many industrial giants.

Even today, their petroleum industry expands. The two major oil pipelines in Ecuador are the Sistema Oleducto Trans-Ecuatoriano (SOTE) and the Oleducto de Crudos Pesados (OCP). The three hundred ten miles of pipeline making up the Sistema Oleducto Trans-Ecuatoriano can transport more than four hundred thousand barrels per day and the shorter, three hundred mile Oleducto de Crudos Pesados can move around four hundred fifty thousand barrels per day.

fanesca- ec shrimp & soupy

Ecuador’s industry is in favor of servicing their domestic market. However, in 2000, in an attempt to fix their troubled economy, Ecuadorian citizens had to begin paying international oil prices, which meant many citizens couldn’t afford gas. This is because before the reform, the government granted large price subsidies on domestic oil, driving down the price of gasoline for individuals and created inexpensive public transportation. As a result of these regulations, according to a 2010 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Ecuador 2009 primary energy consumption was 12.39 million tonnes oil equivalent, 0.11% of the world total.

The agricultural industry of Ecuador is the second largest industry after petroleum. In addition to flowers, this industry produces and exports fresh tropical fruits, processed coffee and coffee beans, various wood products, chemicals, textiles, Cocoa, and metals. Canned fish has become more prevalent recently.

Ecuador is a gold mine for metal production and various mining industries. Ecuador had extensive and poorly established gold resources and other minerals. Ecuador mining industry produces cadmium, copper, gold, lead, silver, zinc, cement, bentonite, common clay, kaolin, feldspar, crude gypsum, silica (glass sand), ferruginous sand, stone, sand and gravel (limestone, marble, pozzolan, pumice), salt, and sulfur. Gold mining resulted more than nine and half percent increase of gold production in 2003 when compared to 2002 (2,750 kilograms of gold in 2002 and 3,020 kilograms of gold in 2003). This impressive increase in precious metals improved economic conditions and was facilitated by the mining industry.

The forest industry of Ecuador produces many wood products which is accomplished by the large dense forests of Ecuador. Their tropical forests contain more than 2,200 identified species of trees which can be refined for various production needs. The government again shows its control of resources by owning exclusive rights to more than half of the country’s forests. The Ecuadorian government owned forests accounts for 26,086,000 acres (10,557,000 hectares), or 38.1% of the total mainland area. The visible hand of the government, according to Adam Smith, is preventing industrial growth and progress. In 1999 deforestation by Ecuador’s forestry industry was 1.2 percent.

Ecuador has many other industries including a prevalent media business. Machinery, specifically printing machinery, is a growing service in Ecuador’s media industry. The use and access to internet has helped Ecuador’s industry and the internet country code is “.ec” unlike “.us” in the USA. The USA also controls the limited use of “.gov” and “.mil” (reserved for the US government and military respectively). The Research and Development Industry is heavily influenced by the government but still is a profitable and growing industry in Ecuador. In 2002, high technology exports were valued at thirty-four million dollars and shows a promising manufacturing future. Currently, their high technology industry has seen an increase in demand and as a result their manufacturing industry has improved.

Ecuador attracts lots of international tourists for many reasons. Certain mountains draw many hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Beach buffs will enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches found in Ecuador. Examples of these beaches include Salinas, a big beach city about 1and a half hours outside of Guayaquil and is referred to as Ecuador’s Miami. The city of Montanita, is home to the beach known as the surfer’s beach because of its great waves and rocky terrain. The terrain is perfect for beach enthusiasts looking for a unique beach experience. Atacames/Esmeraldas: Two beaches that are well known as family get away beaches and attracts international vacationers and beach dwellers. Casablanca is a profitable tourist attraction for the “posh” to enjoy an exclusive and pricey vacation. Casablanca is full of big condos, hotels, and apartments for tourist to reside.

In addition to the beaches of Ecuador, another advantage to their tourist industry is the deliciousness and freshness of their local cuisine, which varies by region (coastal and mountainous). On the coast, the booming seafood industry in addition to favorable climates create delicious South American meals. Popular plates take advantage of the near-by coast line as well as the developed vegetation. Ecuadorian meals are usually more ‘soupy’ than other South American dishes. Popular Ecuadorian cuisine includes Conchas Asadas, Ceviche de Camaron, Guatita, Patacone, Bolon De verde (‘Bolon’ is a slang term that means large ball), and Cazuela De pescado. Ecuador’s mountainous cuisine includes Hornado, Cuy, Fritada, Llapingachos, Humitas, and Mecocha.

In addition, Ecuador’s tourism industry includes many hotspots for travelers. These ‘must-see’ spots include the Historical Colonial Quito, the Papallacta thermal baths, the Otavalo Indigenous Market, Midad del Mundo, the Galapagos Islands, and the Amazon River.

Ecuador hosts many international companies such as Roche. In Ecuador, ‘Quito’ means ‘Pharma.’ In January of 1994, the company decided to change their name and ‘Ecuaroche’ was simplified to just Roche. The company is a research-focused healthcare company that develops and provides innovative diagnostic and therapeutic products which deliver significant benefits to patients and professionals in the healthcare industry. American companies such as Ford Motors and Kimberly Clark have manufacturing plants in Ecuador as well. The temperate climate provides a comforting source for expatriates of these businesses.

In conclusion, Ecuador’s industry is composed of two primary businesses- petroleum and agriculture. In addition to these volatile international industries, Ecuador also has important industries that include forestry, mining, research and development, and high technology manufacturing.

http://www.roche.com.ec/portal/roche-ecuador/roche_ecuador
http://www.ford.com.ec/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Ecuador.aspx
http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ener/sa/ec/index.htm#5
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicatons/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html
http://www.mbendi.com/land/sa/ec/p0005.htm#Industries
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/EcuadorINDUSTRY.html
Smith, Adam “The Wealth of Nations”

International Marketing for Special Advertisements

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:03:00 +0000

Russia uses sex to advertise many of their products. Women are viewed as objects and most Russian ads that use sex appeal would not be allowed in the United States or many other westernized countries. This happens because Russia still often oppresses women even though their country is becoming more capitalist. I think that women’s rights is another hurdle that Russia must overcome on their way to becoming westernized and Russia’s readiness to compete and market on an international level.

South Africa has laws regarding alcohol advertisement which are interesting and also restrictive and highly regulated. This may be due to the violence that has occurred in South Africa and maybe because of the country’s moon-shine businesses which I recently saw a video about. The laws for advertisements rule “no one depicted in the act of drinking in commercial communication may be younger than 25” or “suggest that alcohol beverages can contribute directly to sexual success.” I am not surprised by these laws but I think the laws about alcohol advertisement should be left as they currently are in the USA- which regulates mostly the audience of the alcohol promotion.

New Zealand has interesting laws regarding when advertisements can be shown. Running ads between programs is banned on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and also on Sunday mornings before midday. Also, environmental products and the claims advertisers make regarding the eco-friendliness of the product must be detailed and verifiable and not general. According to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) New Zealand advertisers must comply with rules regulating the times their ads can broadcast. This makes sense to me because I have always seen New Zealand as consumer oriented and religious which would explain why ads can’t be shown on major Christian holidays. I agree with these rules too because I think it helps prevent exploiting the holidays for product sales.

Australia has an interesting advertising legislation that completely bans all advertising for tobacco products. In the US, tobacco is think this smart because Australia has one of the highest contents of ads in the world so the economy’s health improves as a result. By preventing products like tobacco from advertising, they help decrease the cancers and disease caused by the banned product. I think consumers demonstrate rational purchase behavior, except when it comes to addictive and health-hazardous consumption.

http://www.businessinsider.com/sexist-russian-advertising-examples-2012-11?op=1 http://www.asasa.org.za http://www.asa.co.nz http://www.freetv.com.au/content_common

College Fantasy and Realities of College

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:25:00 +0000

It has always been understood that those who went to college were going to do financially better than their high-school diploma waving peers, around 1 million dollars better. This was based on taking a risk that higher education, instead of going straight into the labor market, would create a path for success. In a slow economy, many students are questioning if the prices are worth the end result. Even non-tuition such as textbooks and laundry can add to student debt. As the country's student loan debt reaches over one Trillion dollars, frustrated students and cautious high school graduates want to know if college is like a fantasy or if it's a cold and lonely academic pool of despair.

To measure future success of college graduates, the only factor being considered will be financial return on the investment. This will not include the loss of money that could of been accumulated by working instead of studying, nor does it factor the risk of not graduating. Ultimately, the future success of the college graduate or potential college student depends on the degree.

Sociology Degree:
The Fantasy: "I will get to help everyone!" I want to be able to help those and a degree in sociology will mold me into a Addictions Counselor, Corrections Officer, or Social Worker.
The Reality: Sociology coursework is easy, elementary simplistic and even the students know it. The average salary of a sociologist was $48,545 for a starting position. When comparing total tuition to the salary, this degree is hardly worth the four years, maybe six, required to obtain the job, in addition to any internships.

These brownies are special

As a high school graduate, if you aspire to be a graphic designer, painter, illustrator, or drawer, it is important to consider the cost of art school. Many techniques and training courses are available for free or for minimum cost on the internet. This offers the student time to strengthen their skills and also time to work, instead of being in debt for art school supplies, software, textbooks, and avoid the loss of time from a class schedule that prevents work. This also includes culinary arts and nursing assistants. These are all fields where a four year degree may be an improper decision. College being the wrong choice? Yes! Especially when all the variable are considered when it comes to getting a higher education. However, outside of these variables are infinite other variables that favor college regardless of starting salary because of the ability to network and create a group of friends.

Education Degree:

The Educational System Works

The Fantasy: Working as High School, Grade School, or lower-level teacher and helping children and young minds discover the world. Being able to teach and spread the most valuable gift of all- knowledge. In the fantasy, studying to become a teacher turns you into the coolest teacher ever.

The Reality: The public school system doesn't have such a great reputation for a reason. Teachers are known to be underpaid despite their importance to the country. The low pay also calls into question the lengthy amount of time spent in debt because profits are rarely seen for five years with these educational salaries.

Studying music, religion, philosophy, and other "softer" skills may not lead to the financial well being or comfort which students are desperate for during these economically challenging times. Now, the first two degrees showed very poor evidence supporting college education.
The following degrees and subject material are recommended by the blog to get the most out of college and in the work force.

Information Technology:

How Women View Information Technology Degrees

The Fantasy: Hours and hours spent in front of the computer while endlessly trying to memorize programming languages. Whether it's python, ruby, java, JavaScript, Perl , MySQL, or maybe the lovely C+, your life revolves around nothing but boring code and network errors.
The Reality: To say this area of training is in demand is like saying Dormer is kind of cool. India is creating information technology machines! Not literally, these machines happen to be part of the 80% of their population that has a degree in IT or Engineering and unrelated to the AOL machines. The coursework is also surprisingly simple, compared to the astrophysics and mechanical engineering requirements. So is it worth it? The starting salary is listed as one of the highest paying by Forbes, and it's literally the future of mankind. Not enough to convince even the most technically unsavy to enter the Information Technology field? Well their salary is one of the highest in the nation, and this is true throughout the global market, as a IT degree offers a grand $70,000 entry reward.

Country of Origin Effect and Education

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A strong country-of-origin effect means that a country's name, attatched to a service or product, means it will be be positively received by the public. This is as obvious as having a Cambridge degree to as subtle as Swiss Bank accounts or degrees from Columbia. These criteria influence purchase decisions for students and target markets. Is the U.S.’s California wine region is catching up with France? Is the educational system of the United States catching up with competition overseas like in North Korea or China?

SWITZERLAND
Switzerland and their delectable, rich chocolate. I have personally divulged in Swiss chocolate and can assure it does not compare with any US Hershey manufactured product or anything made by Nestle. When I see Swiss chocolate, I confirm on the back it was made in Switzerland and I purchase it without comparing it to any of the other competitors. The Swiss make some indulgent and delicious chocolate bars, however, the same cannot be said for a Nestle Crunch Bar.

JAPAN
Japan has a strong country-of-origin effect in regards to their electronic and technological industry. Unlike China, who will be seeing a positive change in their COO, Japan is facing the inverse. With a traditional society that is overpopulated, their sales will suffer because cost of production is too high. When comparing DVD players, video games, or even cars, I immediately recognize the skill and abilities specifically of Japan, even compared amongst the rest of the Asian communities, as superior and reliable. I believe countries such as North Korea and businesses such as Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft will be negatively impacting the country-of-origin effect present in Japan. When purchasing a television, I am very likely to go with a Japanese model than a domestic made product.

Innovation!

Does the country-of-origin effect sometimes negatively effect the reputation of a product? Many scholars have research which supports a negative country-of-origin effect can be see in educational institutions across the globe.

CHINA
China has been known for products of inferior, cheap, inhumane or even deadly manufacturing standards. However, even after the incident with lead paint, China’s force in the global economy has not hesitated. Their disrespect of Intellectual Property laws will surely catch up with the country. If China continues to dominate manufacturing, while incrementally improving on product quality, their importance the global market will be reason enough to diminish negative connotation about Chinese made products. Chinese sweatshops raise ethical concerns among the conscientious consume and calls into question companies who choose to take advantage of these events. These negative perceptions spiked earlier in the century and are on the decline. China’s socialist and capitalist culture are proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

INDIA
India has been known for poor customer support. This is going to change. India is developing at a remarkable rate and they are now consuming more coal than the top two consumers of coal in the United States. As Indian families continue to stress education and tradition it is likely AOL customer support with be easier to understand and communicate with. Because India is awake when everyone else sleeps, they are at a unique marketing advantage to change the way foreign customer’s views the support that is offered in India.

Complications arise when comparing data among countries such as the United States and India because of the different stages of market growth that India is experiencing. After constant struggles, India has a developed one of the most educated populations in the world, with a percentage of doctorate and engineering students that will surely overwhelm their competition. India has a very high literacy rate, however, like many emerging economies, the country still much grow as a ethical society and allow women the chance to learn to read and work. The strict regulations of Korea's educational system give their country a very strong effect when merged with school because of their dedication to standardization. The picture below is one of a North Korean school boy who had to get a haircut to conform with his school's rules for acceptable appearance. Is standardization necessary in an economy that favor creative innovation? This blog absolutely supports maximum autonomy, however, there must also be ample opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in personal areas of their career, to encourage innovation and growth.

Haircut for School

Many countries have stronger educational programs than the United States on an elementary level. North Korea's grade schools are strict and designed to develop a highly educated public. However, the higher level of education, can hardly compete with a United States Ivy League program or some of the prestigious universities of the United Kingdom.

Country-of-Origin Effect

The one aspect of education which must be addressed, is the lack of creativity and discipline found in institution world-wide but especially here at home. This is because memorization techniques will only give the academic opportunities to achieve substandard goals. China, India, Russia, the USA, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Japan, and Switzerland all have developed into powerful nations and their education system represents a strong relationship between ethnocentric and nationalistic beliefs combined with objective results and statistics.

Online Education: MIT degrees over Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:03:00 +0000

Do students of online education courses cheat? Are you a doctorate student of the internet or for the internet? Certainly, with less supervisor and access to the internet and world wide web, the temptation to break the rules would seem enormous. Without a professor supervising the exam, why not just look up the answer on a cellphone that many college students have, or call a friend? Especially when using online resources means saving time on online education to feed your kids or make sure that one of the baby-daddy's actually paid his child support. Almost 23% of college graduates have participated or enrolled in an online course at one time or another.
Campus's located on a physical grounds are also claiming stake in the online course with 77% claiming to have offered online programs. MIT and Harvard, both respected Ivy League schools, offer online training for free in courses such as computer science to art and information. These are perfect substitutes if financially a student is already in debt or is not aware of their loans and interest rates. With websites already made to force blatant plagiarism in the past, by detecting common and coinciding data, to help students learn how to read and write on their own. Just because twitter has a word limit, does not apply to the graduates 30 page research paper on the history of art and law. This research paper, coincidentally can be shrunk down to a 1 page double spaced essay with large font if the student decides to simply buy software or test banks from online to create an unfair advantage over the competing students in the course.

Women online.

When tests and quizzes are not proctored it becomes easier for students to dishonor their education and cheat, and a quarter of students admit they have done such an offense during a quiz that was not proctored. Professors all over the country are revealing anti-plagiarism policies, especially in Michigan, but is it working? This applies to many online services such as tutoring Sometimes, tutors have been known to scam students by taking all their money upfront and offering a sub-par service. Women and minorities feel challenged when it comes to computers and online education because computers and the internet was created by those in power to be difficult on purpose. A television isn't difficult and neither is a kitchen.
I mean come on, you didn't sign up to be a nurses assistant for nothing did you? Did you want to be in the field of criminal justice? Maybe citizens and current students should question the ethics that many of these online degrees demonstrate. For a few extra dollars, entire courses of solutions are available on the internet, easily and legally, but maybe not ethically. Ethical or not, online resources and test banks continue to be a rapidly growing section of what today's young adults, in school, are searching for.
Students will admit to using the internet because they are better at it than their elderly instructors, a phenomena new to mankind. College students in a room of 100, 90 will have admitted to using the internet as a source of unfair advantage.

Online Courses give advantages.

Many online classes, offered by a University with a physical campus and well established history, are known to ask all students to come into class on the day of examination. This still does not prevent discussion and group support, not given to the physical class, and supposedly unknown to the professor, that will determine the bell-curve of the courses grades. It may be surprising to factor in the cost vs benefits of cheating. Not only is the quality of education effected, but so is the respect and integrity a student will want when looking for a job. Students are more likely to be caught looking off another students work, but only by a mere 3% according to an online college study and survey.

Typical "Online Classroom".

Research supports this theory. According to Senator Landrieu online courses have resulted in more A's than any other generation. The grades your parents made were because of hard work and the grades now are shaped on not studying and taking the easy way out. Online classes are growing at a rate of 10% each year, and the data for student loan debt was unknown, or rather, didn't want to be known. Over 7 million students participate in some sort of online educational program and the institutions are teaching the future academics important skills and experience to enter the career of their choice, the work force, or maybe prison. More important yet, is that even if these online classes have been described as 'remedial' or 'elementary,' what price can be set on being able to say you are a college graduate? For many this number is in the upper thousands.
Who is society to judge? The man who worked hard and studied hard because a lawyer, found it easy to find a marriage partner, and was able to feel superior because of his degrees. Systems for online education are fighting back by changing the test questions and randomly assigning questions, even still, the access to test information before the test is a problem which the internet is incredibly wonderful at solving, however, the students knowledge is now being used unethically, instead of ethically like in a pre-purchase evaluation, where one uses the internet to find information before a purchase, versus before an intelligence or course evaluation. College is not supposed to be easy and homework answers need to be done by hand, this is how learning has always been in the past. In the future however, teachers must be careful in even deciding what textbook to use and how to draw exam questions because online answers are free and easy, similar to the types of work short-cuts in education lead towards.

Doctorate of Economic from Online Education and external support.

Academic dishonesty is a problem on campus, where supervisors are careful to catch wandering eyes, notes written on the desk, water bottles, and backwards hats and sunglasses. The teacher also acts as a disciplinarian, ensuring students stay focused throughout the period of the lecture. Online students are free to talk on their cell phones or even watch a movie during class, all while being considered in attendance. These are not the students we want to become our nations leaders, you aren't a doctor but you watched one on TV as well as got a doctorate online doesn't qualify one to operate or perform surgery.
Professor, doctor, CEO, Ph.D, BS, BA, BSA. Martha Hubbard feels titles are irrelevant. She spent over hundred thousand dollars on various online learning institutions to be able to print out the most professional and intelligence-appearing business card imaginable. She insists that people, or as she calls them"dum-dum's" refer to her only as Mrs. Professor Doctor Hubbard the Master.
She claims to never have been one for many titles. What's more interesting is the extensive criminal history she has been active to hide as well as the tattoo of an insurance policy on her lower back. It wasn't noticeable at first, but as I saw her leave her car, the one with the bumper sticker that says "My other Doctorate is a Masters", I caught a glimpse of the history of one of the Internets most educated women.
Ethically, the question of the enormous financial price of these excellent institutions shows a glimpse into the society and culture a student is indebted in.

Career Fair: Advice, ProTips, and Motivation for Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:09:00 +0000

Career fairs or festivals are when many companies and business gather at a college campus to promote their business and try to recruit students who would help their company succeed. All grade levels are encouraged to attend this event, often dubbed Career Days, because classes are usually canceled so that students can attend the career fair and not miss class material. Career expos are a chance for potential employees to meet with employers to realize what is expected of them as future graduates who will be competing in the workforce. In the growing technological era, and during current economic times, this may also encompass an international market and workforce which can be overwhelming to many students who may not even be accustomed to receiving any paycheck never yet a salary or commissioned earning.

When attending Career Day try to find one or two friends to go with, this will help ease the social awkwardness many feel when in a large group of people with whom they are in direct competition. Students should be aware of the companies who are eager to recruit knowledgeable graduates in their specific study. Getting information from an engineering firm when Literature is your major is highly unadvised. Many college students need to "shy away from shyness" and open up to new experiences outside their comfort zone. Career Day is a chance for corporations through franchises and human resource managers to reach the cream of the crop of applicants. If working for a big business and national and international superstar such as Nike has been a career goal, then attending the Job Fair and being optimistic is a necessary step towards reaching satisfaction. On another side, local jobs from the community, such as Ruston, Louisiana's "Peach Orchard" or New York, New York's local cheesecake bakery "Cheese in my Cake" attend the local colleges to find talent at home. Career fairs are important because they are an example of companies searching for external workers outside of their organization. While, on a small-scale, minimum-wage/ hourly job, external recruiting is common, on the corporate level it usually isn't. This is because internal recruiting, that is, hiring through promotion or job postings is common because it is less risky and the employee has already demonstrated capability.

Companies understand that all levels of students are there, from freshman to graduating seniors. It is important for lower class students such as freshmen and sophomores to attend to gather experience and develop a reputation and face-value. For Juniors and Seniors, Career Day is a time to look into the near future and set goals and objective that utilize the years of hard studying (and some partying) done at the university. The contacts and information obtained from these events can dramatically change your starting salary and future plans for travel, family, or any monetary destination.
Businesses will set up booths with varying degrees of attention-getting material. This can range from poster boards and large colorful signs to basketball nets and pinball machines. Some companies may have a single sheet of paper to represent their company. This would represent endless possibilities and infinite potential for their young lives. Their main objective as a company is to get as many students over to their booth and to try and pitch their missions, philosophies, and job duties. They focus on finding potential employees with the right characteristics to fit the job, also known as person-job-fit. Another analysis these businesses may be doing is known as a organizational-job-fit which is how well the person will fit into their organization in regards to the company's mission and overall nature. Imagine the difference between working for a tax company with strict deadlines and very formal atmosphere compared to working in a stimulating, bright, and social environment that many sales teams contribute to, such as Zappos.

Dress formally and remember how important first impressions can be to a new client. Many students are not aware of marketing aspects which demonstrate how difficult it is to change a bad first impression into a good one. It is far more difficult to change a poor first impression into a positive one, than it is to go from a good first impression to a negative. The school's career center as well as dean's of study can be excellent sources of information for what to expect and how to behave at a career fair.
Speak with confidence and have an idea of what you are expecting. Why have you been studying all these years at college when you could have been working a minimum-wage job and being lazy?

State schools around the country and internationally are recruiting at younger and younger ages. Some new college students may be familiar with career days because they were offered during high school. This is because the market is becoming increasingly more competitive and is growing a measurable amount into international trade and globalization. By starting Job Fairs early, companies hope to avoid ethnocentric and nationalistic thinking that many young Americans believe. Realizing the power of external and foreign markets is a necessary step for new employees entering work and trying to support a family or their internal needs and goals.
Internships are highly competitive and very few spots are available. What's more, is that an internship is often unpaid and doesn't guarantee a job when the internship is over. This is why it is important for students to seek information from the Career Center, internet, books, gas-stations, and the Lady of the Mist for info about what opportunities are afforded to the student, given their qualifications and initial impressions. All college graduates need to be aware the challenges of finding a suitable career. Career Day experts, such as Professor Doctor Mary Allen Garbonzo P.h.d. M.d. recommends three keys to finding a successful and satisfying career. First, the job must be challenging to avoid boredom and monotony. Second, the job must offer some sort of post-performance reward, specifically internally- where the worker feels accomplished and can view his accomplishments as positive (such as completing the building a bridge, a supervisor manager will feel accomplished and motivated); however, companies have been known to give external rewards such as gift-certificates when intrinsic rewards are rare, for a successful Network Security management. Third, Professor Doctor Garbonzo PhD, MD, recommends a career where the employee feels they are contributing to the overall benefit of the company. Graduates should be aware of these keys to happiness for long-term success. Now that the job market demands college graduates, to an extent unforeseeable in the 1980's, college career days are opportunities of a lifetime for those young academics who are able to complete the challenges presented by higher level education.

Many of these expositions can occur on a seasonal basis depending on the demand of the local community. Many franchises look to these fairs as a main source of employee recruitment and job-retention. This increases the importance of making a good first impression, being formally dressed, well groomed, and professional Try standing out from the massive amount of other students by standing up straight, speaking clear, and acting upper class and alpha. No business or Human Resource center is going to want to higher some beta student before they employ an alpha specimen. This is because alpha's demonstrate the characteristics of leadership, sociability, agreeableness, and success that the firm needs.
Put a smile on and be confident and creative. These are all surefire means of being a huge success and making career day as informational and effective towards a lifetime of high paying careers, and also being thankful that the time and risks spent by furthering education pay off financially.

Twitter Butlers and the Future of Classrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:36:00 +0000

Jobs exist today that didn't exist five years ago. "Twitter Butlers" is a profitable and extremely well paying job that duties require a third party 'live-tweeting' the actions of whomever they are catering to. Students are constantly being told to turn off their phones in class just so teachers can show some video on a projector from the internet. The writers of this blog would like to stress to teachers the importance of knowing how to work simple technology which the students have perfected since adolescence. The importance of unbiased and abstract thinking information is incredibly important in a digital era.

Imagine, without creative thinking or sparks of genius, engineers- the most unoriginal studiers out there- must think differently at some point or else their field wouldn’t advance with society and these brilliant servants of science would only be memorizing the same old formulas generation after generation. The same is true for computer programmers. For both engineers and computer programmers, the importance and challenge of learning the material is only half the battle. The other half of the program is recognizing where modifications and independent paths can be chosen instead of the textbook answer.

No university could prepare students for this sort of job world. Sixty-five percent, OVER HALF, of CEO's don't have a personal twitter and don't know how to use one for marketing gains. The impact of social media has grown like an epidemic. The heads of corporations were just realizing how to add their wife on Facebook when the mobile era of apps and business integrated websites and social media took an explosive upward turn. Who is to blame for this seemingly overnight phenomena --- young students? Yes, specifically, those at M.I.T. where a young man known as Aaron Swartz

Society now exists in a time when ingenuity is a necessary part of the job industry. 'Reading, 'Righting, and 'Rthimetic' aren't going to cut it and that is where the public school system has failed us. It’s the arts and creative programming as well as the efforts of the teachers that make a child’s learning useful and applicable in the tough economy where college diplomas are as common as tissue paper.

The Original 'MySpace'
-JFK (not Al Gore)

For years, students are forced to deal with incompetent professors who didn't know how to control the volume on their computer, that's about to play a thirty minute YouTube video, probably improperly copyrighted, and probably teeming with inappropriate comments underneath the video- you should of seen what this professors old classroom would say on a video about the ‘European Union’ or on ‘Oxford’.
Now, keep in mind these are the same teachers who tell students they are only allowed to use a limited amount of internet resources. And do you want to know why teachers are putting a limit on the amount of internet related material students can use in their papers? Because the majority of students are unaware of how to tell the difference between a reliable an unreliable website! and, why are they unable to determine if "a website called 'Ab0rti0n is Baby-ma55acre' is biased? is because they didn't learn proper website education in the first place!

It is so important in this digital age that the youth who are already swarming the social media aspect of the internet need to embrace the information and pay respects to the un-sung heroes of the internet who continue to fight for our freedom and against illegal corporate giants from turning the internet into the department of motor vehicles.

As long as teachers continue to berate students for using Wikipedia and as long as students continue to use information that only supports their thesis statement there is going to be a huge learning gap in this next generation. Teachers must overcome their own learning curve! For the first time in history, TEACHERS have to learn what the students have known for years. Instead of having decades of experience with scientific calculators, teachers are realizing what kids have known naturally, without realizing the fact: education and information online is cheaper, more efficient, and ultimately educational and beneficial to use the internet as a means of informing students about the information superhighway, which is made up of many tubes and will ultimately reshape the classroom.

Consumer Behavior of the Adult Student

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:39:00 +0000

The behavior that consumers display in searching for, purchasing, using, and disposing of products, services, and ideas is known as their consumer behavior. As young adults or older students of academia, it is important to recognize key aspects of their purchasing decisions if a university or even a business can successively target this group.

This group of adolescents who are also financially and biologically capable of going to school are well sought after especially in the media and during political decisions. This consumer tends to think liberally and is alright with the though of change.

To be successful in satisfying the needs of your target market, it is recommended that you take the step of market research to pinpoint and accurately describe exactly how and why you are capable of properly reaching the market. As a businessman who is focused on targeting young adults, specifically college level academics it is important to remember that price will always be a factor. In addition, these purchasers have high expectations for what they will get for their hard earned student dollars.

To create satisfaction, there must first be assurance that their basic expectation for the products performance will be met. This includes factors such as 'How long it will take from purchase to actually owning the product (for example: online shipping).

These consumers are also very interested in customization. In every aspect of their life, being individualistic is common for this age. As students. we must remember that money must be spent in order for money to be earned. It is important to listen to advice from your peers and never let spending money interfere with studying.

Business Personality Profile

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:53:00 +0000

I usually see myself as organized, resourceful, and future oriented. My day to day activities are focused on graduating. My lifestyle appreciates learning, hard work, and monetary success. Developing computer software and creating websites are personal areas of interest. I like the intellectual challenge and creative possibilities of computer languages such as Python. I run various Linux operating systems and fully support open-source projects.
I believe software needs to be shared along with various information and knowledge that should be free and easily accessible to the public. Apple, as a corporation, lies to the consumer, manufactures overseas, and profits off stolen software; regardless, I use their iPhone.
I’m an honest and trustworthy person, like Abraham Lincoln. The QR code was custom made and reflects my involvement in various aspects of the internet and technology.
Some marketers blatantly target a desperate-to-believe audience through advertisements that include offers to earn one million dollars in a month. I always appreciated the manipulative efforts that went into cheesy advertisements like paid-programming shows. Creative arts play a huge role in my life, I like the talent and timeless nature of Ludwig van Beethoven’s music.

I grew up in New Orleans as a fan of the cities football team and have childhood memories of watching football with my family. The cup of coffee represents a vital part of my morning ritual which is never complete without java. Working at a coffee shop has only strengthened this routine. This collage demonstrates how I see my personality. The various images represent areas of personal interest and come together to create a single image that reflects my individual lifestyle.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:26:00 +0000

There is a tribute to Aaron Swartz located at the end of this review. It begins with the photo of Mr. Swartz for the readers who wish to read ahead.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology or M.I.T. is a prestigious and highly respectable university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their mission statement reads

"The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century"

M.I.T. specialized in developing the brightest minds from around the world. The impact the school has on the surrounding area is impressive. Our review was instantly going to be positive once their computer lab was shown. The technology at this school is incredible, simply astounding. Students have access to some of the latest and most powerful technology including computers that are in current use with NASA at this moment.

Established early in 1861 as a school for the elite, Massachusetts Institute of Technology was actually opened for students in 1865. The school played a important role in military defense during World War Two when the government asked the students for their help in fighting a war that didn't directly involve his country. Being the ambitious students that they are, the students eagerly helped defend the United States against the invading countries. Their rivals are Harvard because both prestigious universities are located in the same state and compete in similar athletic events.

This school also has a well organized and friendly admissions service although their admission rate was under 10% in 2011. This school guaranteeing a future of intellectual success and it is the dream of many engineers in sciences, physics, mathematics, computer engineering, and even arts to attend class as a Tim the Beaver, their school's mascot.

President: L. Rafael Reif
Colors: Cardinal Red and Steel Gray
Zip Code: 02139
Telephone: (617) 253-1000
Notable Alumni include the founder of the Texas Instruments calculator, various senators, supreme court justices, and government officials; as well as, Christina Romer, and the Prime Minister of Greece.

Our blog would like to take a moment aside from M.I.T.'s fantastic educational program to pay our respects to Mr. Swartz, a man who's life inspires millions of intellectuals. His work will not soon be forgotten, he was a courageous student and

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology declined to support their student, Aaron Swartz, when faced with severe legal ramifications for accessing JSTOR, an online collection of scholarly works. JSTOR fully supports Swartzs' actions making his untimely leaving even more sad. Their decision is believed to be influenced by money, though the school cited 'personal differences.'

Aaron Swartz wrote "Guerilla Open Access Manifesto" on January 18, 2013. It begins as "Information is power. But like all power, there are those who want to keep it for themselves." a startlingly truth that Mr. Swartz was one of the first to see clearly. He was able to see first hand what we all believe. Aaron Swartz was a remarkably intelligent computer programmer and activist and embodies what it means to be a renaissance man and how to responsibly use the gifts he was given to benefit everyone and not just himself.

Cause Analysis of Social Networking Popularity

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:57:00 +0000

What are the causes behind social networking’s mass popularity?

Why does everyone use Twitter now?

What makes Facebook better than MySpace?

Social networking sites appear to want everyone in the world to use their site. The site’s popularity in modern culture and today’s society is undeniable. Even though the popularity of specific social network sites peaks and falls, as a whole, social networking has gained and sustained massive popularity. These sites have engraved their name on the walls of modern popular culture. This trend emerged and continues to prosper because of social, cultural, and economic conditions.

Societal factors affected the growth and popularity of this trend. With the invention of the internet, society had opened up a door that would allow for certain web creators to make a fortune. As society made tremendous technological advancements, creative web developers came up with ideas that would form a phenomenon. Society’s ability to continue to make technological advances and changes allows for these networking sites to take off. Social networking sites take advantage of text messages, emails, and instant messaging and use those resources to create extremely popular sites.

The social conditions of these sites allow friends and family to stay in touch. Society as a whole has become incredibly reliable on communication through social networking sites. For some, keeping in contact with someone who doesn't have a social networking site is very difficult, even with a telephone number. Another contributor is that parents like to feel they are a part of the times while still keeping an eye on their child. Social networking sites have become an altogether new way to communicate across the world, especially as their availability on phones and pagers allows for instant access at any time of the day. As the ease of access to these sites gets easier, their popularity will only grow

To a bystander it would appear that today’s culture wants nothing more than to communicate with others without actually speaking. From emails to text messages, the ability to engage in or completely ignore a conversation is one that has enticed billions. Our culture began to favor nonverbal communication with the creation email, and with this the wonders of nonverbal communication began.

As the use of text messages and instant messaging became popular, web researchers were already looking for the next best thing. That next best thing was the social network MySpace. MySpace was the first social networking site to gain worldwide popularity. However, Facebook soon replaced MySpace as the favorite and now Twitter and Bebo begin to gain popularity with social network crowd as well.

Because of cultural causes social networking sites receive a lot of approval and support. The ability to distinguish oneself from the massive online crowd allow for a user to meet people more like him. Groups and causes are extremely popular among the more recent social networking sites. Groups based on everything from race and religion to favorite bands or television shows. These sites also allow for users to customize and express themselves through their web page. The ability to stand out from a crowd and also find users with similar interests, allows social networking sites such approval from its users.

An economic factor that adds to the sites popularity is its massive and diverse user body. The first users of early social networking sites were young boys and girls, and old men who really wanted to meet young boys and girls. However, social networking sites began to make drastic improvements in both security and convenience. Soon the age of the users began to spread. Facebook is accessed so frequently by young adults that's it's easy to see why they are bombarded with information and frustrated at the amount of advertises blatantly aimed towards them to spend their money on a corporate or business. Teenagers may find their parents even grandparents on popular social networks. This variety of users is a perfect audience for corporations and big companies to advertise to. They purchase their advertising space and have a specific spot on a user’s page. The specific social networking site changes as new companies come out, and the heavy flow of money changes hands pretty frequently. A recent Observer article, written by David Smith explains that currently Facebook has many more unique visitors monthly than the apparently obsolete MySpace. Earlier in 2008, MySpace had a much more popularity than the young Facebook.

Another economic factor that has allowed social networking sites to stay in business is its convenience to advertise as a small entrepreneur. Just as corporations benefit off the diversity of the users of social networking sites, small time entertainers and entrepreneurs benefit as well. Facebook has taken a hard hit because students were not keen to the idea of being directly marketed to based on their likes and dislikes. These small time workers don’t purchase advertising space like corporations; but create profiles, free of charge, and get themselves out there. Many actresses, musicians, comedians, and web designers have all made professional carriers for themselves, starting from a social networking site.

Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Bebo are trends that show no signs of stopping in its quest for worldwide usage. However, with such a gigantic fan base and a very generous income, these sites face many problems. According to a recent New York Times article, specific sites such as Facebook are facing many accusations and problems that they will have to accommodate. Despite the ease of access, convenience, and worldwide usage, the phone is undoubtedly losing its hip and popular ways. These sites have truly made an impact on the world. This trend undoubtedly gained such power because of the social, cultural, and economic causes that allowed it to survive.

Russia With Love

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:48:00 +0000

Russia’s history was initially influenced by the earliest Eastern Slaves, the Kievan Rus', who had accepted Orthodox Christianity from the Eastern Roman Empire in 988. This greatly affected the culture of Russia because the vast territory controlled by modern day Russia was united through Christianity, thus Christian values, traditions, and ceremonies can be seen in the earliest history of Mother Russia.

President of Russia Board of Education

Russia has endured dramatic cultural shifts starting as the Russian Empire, the nation then struggled as the USSR, emerged as the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, and the “motherland” is now known as the Russian SSR. Russia has suffered under a multitude of terrible and cultural inhibiting leaders throughout their history, such as Ivan IV-the Terrible. Russia has often been isolated from the rest of the world (sometimes purposefully and other times indirectly) and Russia’s culture has been slower to advance and Westernize their culture. Russia’s arts, such as its literature, theater music, and architecture are often unique to Western ways. Russia always was trying to catch up with the rest of Europe but never could and this included their poor education system which was based on roots and not pie.

However, Russia has also had very effective leaders such as Peter the Great who played a large role in westernizing the Russian people and advanced Russia’s way of life. He also founded Saint Petersburg a popular tourist attraction. When Stalin assumed prime minister in May 6, 1941, he killed many and further stunted Russia’s economic growth and social evolution. Russia spent the years under Stalin’s control in fear. After world war one and two, Russia removed the Soviet Union and became an independent country in 1991. Russian culture celebrates their independence by retaining a vigorous nature.

Russians are known to party which is why freshman must be careful when studying in Russia because their inexperience can get them into trouble. For the international students, it is advised that you seek help from a professional in regards to your decision to study in Russia.
*Editors note: If you are studying about the potatoes or the snow, never mind Russia is full of snow and potatoes.

Russia also celebrates a week long Christmas holiday but they are required to fast. It is not known if this began as a tradition or if they were just out of food for a really long time. When we visited Russia, we were astounded at the lack of schoolhouses for the young children. Homeschooling is very popular in Russia, or what the students referred to as 'The motherland.' Russia students are educated much like Western students from Britain, Canada, or the United States, however, they go to school year round and get no summer. They are also required to have access to ammunition in a short notice.

Gertrude, mother of 7
Education level: 7 Potatoes (equivalent of 3rd grade USA)

All Russian students must adhere to a very strict dress code. All beards must be at least two inches long at all times. For many of the boys and girls, this means long minutes without shaving. The universities reasoning behind this was that bears of all sorts pose serious risks at all time to foreign students.

International Students and Stability

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:55:00 +0000

The students of Venezuela, Syria, and Turkey must face classes during a time of political instability. Their economies are suffering and as a result so is the educational system for these countries.

Venezuela
Hugo Chavez is terminally ill and cannot attend getting sworn into office for a third term. The country now does not know who their leader is going to be because the interim president is an appointed official, not an elected one, and his appointment expires with the presidential term in which he was named. This will put Venezuelan politics in limbo until the president’s status is resolved.

Syria
Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are fighting off rebel forces by restricting the countries freedom to access the internet and the policy is being met with heavy opposition and resistance from Syrians. Citizens are desperate to access the internet and are often using the country’s spotty cell phone connections and foreign aid to get online.

Turkey
A Syrian mortar hit Akcakale, Turkey which caused Turkey to invade the bordering country Syria, despite international opposition from the EU and Muslims. The border town of Akcakale has been deserted, blurring the geographical boundaries of the countries. International countries urge Turkey to avoid escalation and to prevent further casualties.

The University of Mississippi, better known as Ole Miss

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:46:00 +0000

This public college is known throughout the south for their athletics and southern charm. The only problem is that graduates of this school, are realizing the difficulty to find jobs located outside of Mississippi. Mississippi ranks low compared to other states on education and academic performance- among other standards such as quality of life, employment, crime, and average annual salaries. Students, now in debt from their student loans, are realizing that their undergraduate degree from Mississippi State may guarantee a life and career inside the state. The state has a reputation of being "backwards" in regards to equality, compared to more progressive and liberal states such as California.

The Rebels!

This isn't just speculation. The state of Mississippi is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina which devastated their Gulf Coast. The BP oil spill didn't help in their endeavors to improve the state's economy. With high crime rate, low test scores and average incomes, some parts of the state are still facing incredibly difficult economic times. It is ranked as one of the worst states to find a job in, with an unfortunate increasing unemployment rate. This rate correlates to the academic and educational abilities of the area. Harsh immigration laws also harm the state in regards to tax revenue and employment.
However, even with these facts, alumni such as U.S. Senator Trent Lott graduated from Ole Miss, as did William Faulkner. This school also has a spectacular law program which has graduated many effective lawyers and senators. Also, the location of the campus puts the school outside of some of the more rural and poverty stricken areas.
In addition, Ole Miss offers The Residential College South, which is a program that helps a diverse group of students to grow academically and socially. Another response to the school's critics comes from the college's undergrad honor society, which was chosen by Phi Beta Kappa and is known for its prestige. The campus' location puts it in walking distance from the only children's hospital in Mississippi. The school also recently added three new dorms, known as The Ridges. This will help house their growing student body. There is also a local skate park for those students who enjoy extreme sports such as skateboarding or rollerblading. These activities can be a great way to get an adrenaline boost and also ease the stress of school.
The Higgs Boson discovery took years of scientific advancement and drastic amounts of knowledge and dedication. This state school is responsible for researchers who helped make this advancement possible. UM is known for respectable degrees in Business Administration, Elementary Education, Finance, and Journalism. UM graduated a record breaking 112 pharmacists, showing the exceptional work of their Pharmaceutical College.
This goes to show that a student's life is what they decide to make of it. With motivation and hard-work, the scholar can rise out of desolation. The economy of the southern state of MS is still growing and their respect for equality is also progressing. The school of UM is certainly helping to bring Mississippi from out of the dust.
The Ole Miss Rebels play UCA on September 1st in Oxford for their season's opening football game.

"On behalf of knowledge and wisdom"
Founded: 1848
Campus Location: Oxford, MS
Mascot: Rebels
Football Stadium: Vaught Hemingway Stadium
Gym/ Weight Training Building: Turner Center
UM Website: www.olemiss.edu

Florida State University_FSU_Seminoles

noreply@blogger.com (Ditch Digger) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 15:48:00 +0000

The Florida State University is a highly populated school known for its warm beach parties and social atmosphere. Sciences, arts -such as theater and film, and engineering are major areas of study. The students are also highly active in supporting equal rights including the LGTBQ's. Even during the 60's students were protesting and voicing their opinions about racial integration and the involvement of the United States in Vietnam. Since then, FSU students; can be seen helping others in addition to standing up for their beliefs. Recently FSU students developed a website to help children's advocacy groups. Florida State students have always been opinionated and unyielding on their beliefs.

Nole-ympian Correspondents at the Olympic Games 2012

The college has recently made developments and improvements around campus as their student population swells and this includes the new Advocacy Center which has a delicious apple tree planted in front. The school also is finishing construction on its new Wellness Center, which is just another example of the renovations the school took over the summer. On the other side f campus, on the east side of the Union Courtyard, students can see the ongoing improvements to the buildings as it is almost completed. FSU hopes to have most of its renovations done before Seminole Sensation Week which occurs right before the fall, when freshman and other students gather to celebrate returning to school and being among friends and colleagues. Among other changes students can expect in the fall is located in the school's library which is now The Werkmeister Humanities Reading Room. The Werkmeister Humanities Reading Room is not longer a place for books but rather a collection of memorabilia and tributes which recognize and educate on the school's history and pride. Florida State had graduate students taking the bar exam the week of July 24th, a test which many students probably lost sleep over as they studied and reviewed. This school is constantly outgoing and impressing this blog by participating in activities including having professors write for the nationally acclaimed newspaper "The New York Time." Alum are also striving to set good examples for their undergraduate colleagues, including Leron Rogers who made it into Men's Book. If that isn't enough to impress any future college students, FSU professors recently helped in finding the Higgs boson particle as a researched with the highly intelligent scientists at CERN.
A rich history is found in The Seven Days of Opening Nights Festival which actually lasts much longer than a week. Artists and performers gather to entertain and dazzle audiences. The Festival was foudned in 1999. This college isn't without tarnish however. Who could forget the loss of Seminole Greg Reid from the FSU football team this year because he was asked to leave the college. Florida's official art museum, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, is operated by FSU. This comes as no surprise because of their remarkable music and arts program.
Florida State also sent 12 students to London, England to report on the 2012 Olympics. The student correspondents had much to say in their letter back to the school about the sporting events and also run a Tumblr.
No review of Florida State would complete without mentioning their nationally recognized Law Moot Court Team. Their court team took first prize at the 2012 Kaufman Memorial Securities Law Moot Court Competition.

Motto: Strength, Skill, Character
Founded: 1851
Campus Address: 600 W College Ave Tallahassee, FL 32306
School Phone Number: (850) 644-6200
Colors: Garnet, Gold
Nickname: Seminoles
Website: http://www.fsu.edu