Computers :: Technology

Computers Computers are found in practically every household today. Everywhere you look, people have access to a Personal Computer, someway or another. As computers get more advanced, the demand for a better computer gets greater. The Personal Computer (PC), a machine capable of repetitively and quickly performing calculations and instructions. Designed to be used by a single person, a PC is smaller, less expensive, and easier to use than other classes of computers, such as supercomputers, mainframe computers, and workstations. However, it usually has less computational power.1 First appearing as massive machines seen only in areas of high technology, the computer eventually found its way into homes and offices in the smaller, more accessible form of the PC. They have revolutionized entertainment, science, the media, art, medicine, education, and business because they provide computational abilities at a low cost to people with no programming experience. PCs enable artists to envision and manipulate images. Musicians use them for learning, creating, and recording music. Businesses track finances and forecast company performance using PCs. Foreign correspondents can compose news stories on portable PCs, called laptops, and electronically submit these stories from remote locations. Many people work at home and communicate with fellow workers via their PCs in a practice known as telecommunications. PCs are also able to interface with worldwide communication networks, such as the Internet, and the graphics- based information database known as the World Wide Web to find information on any subject. With a PC and a modem, a user is able to connect to information on local, national, and international networks via phone lines. As computers and software have become easier to use, or more â€Å"user friendly,† many people are finding them both useful and necessary for their jobs. As a family tool, this computer may be used for school, research, communication, record keeping, work, and entertainment. Mainframe Computer, a high-level computer designed for the most intensive computational tasks. Mainframe computers are often shared by multiple users connected to the computer via terminals. The most powerful mainframes, called supercomputers, perform highly complex and time

US Foreclosures Feasibility Project

The dependent variable, U. S. Foreclosures Filings, is used in the cause and affect relationship presented wrought the project. The following independent variables will be used to determine the most significant factor in U. S. Foreclosure filings. This data is collected every month from more than 2,200 countless by [email  protected] Realty'[email  protected] compiles this nationwide data and reports a count of the total number of properties with at least one foreclosure filing reported. Primary Independent Variable: a.Rising Unemployment Rising unemployment rates is the primary Independent variable because I believe that as the national employment rate continues to rise so will the number of foreclosure filings. The data used to represent the relationship was provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and collected monthly. The first resource that solidifies my belief comes from commoner. Com. Less Christie describes in the article, â€Å"Mounting Job Losses Fueling Foreclosure s,† the correlation between unemployment rates and the rise In U.S. Foreclosures. He explains that the more individuals lose their jobs the more the delinquency trend will continue. (Christie, 2008) In the article, â€Å"2008 Foreclosure Filings Set Record,† Stephanie Armor recognizes the relationship between Job loss and foreclosure lings. She clarifies that even though Interest rates decreased, the number of those filing for foreclosure continued to rise between 2007 and 2008 resulting in an 81% increase.The former federal deputy Housing Commissioner under President Clinton is quoted saying, â€Å"with foreclosures continuing to rise and the economy in a downward spiral, It's not surprising you see Increased foreclosure because of Increased unemployment. † (Armor, 2009) Independent Variables: a. Divorce (XX: DIVORCE)- Divorce is another leading cause in the number of the family and they then run the risk of foreclosure. This data was compiled through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention & National Center for Health Statistics.

Infinitoâ€Understanding the Italian Infinitive

The infinitive, or linfinito, expresses the concept of a verb without expressing a tense or the people acting in the verb (what is called an indefinite mode). It is what is expressed as amare, vedere, capire, parlare, mangiare, dormire, and what translates to the English to love, to see, to understand, to speak, to eat, to sleep, and so on. What the Infinito Tells You Every single verb, whether regular or irregular, has an infinitive, and in Italian they fall into three categories or conjugations based on their endings: verbs of the first conjugation, ending in -are (mangiare, studiare, pensare); verbs of the second conjugation, ending in -ere (vedere, sapere, bere); and verbs of the third conjugation, ending in -ire (capire, dormire, partire). The one-word infinitive covers the English counterpart of to eat, to sleep. Am-are: to loveCred-ere: to believeDorm-ire: to sleep When you see those endings it tells you it is the infinitive of a verb. Generally, when you look in the dictionary, under the infinitive lemma you will learn if the verb is regular or irregular and transitive or intransitive. Those are important things to know: the first will help you learn how to conjugate the verb, and the second—very much related—will tell you which auxiliary verb the verb in question uses in composite tenses such as the passato prossimo. Hence, it is helpful to learn those -are, -ere, and -ire endings. Also, because Italian verbs, as you know, descend from Latin, the relationship between the Italian and Latin infinitves of a verb can help you learn about the verbs irregulaties and how it conjugates. Sometimes under the infinitive entry you will find useful tips on how to conjugate the verb. The root of the verb—that am- and cred- from above—is what you attach your endings to when you conjugate the verb. The Power of the Infinitive One of the most powerful aspects of the Italian infinitive is that it often acts as a noun: il piacere (the pleasure), il dispiacere (the displeasure), il mangiare (the food), il potere (the power). As Italian dictionaries such as Treccani and Accademia della Crusca point out in great detail and variation, you will find the infinito sostantivato with great regularity, used often the way the gerund is used in English: Mangiare à ¨ uno dei grandi piaceri della vita. Eating is one of lifes great pleasures.Mia nonna fa il mangiare (or da mangiare) buono. My grandmother makes great food (great eating).Camminare fa bene. Walking is good for you.Il bere troppo fa male. Drinking too much is bad for you.Parlare bene à ¨ segno di una buona educazione. Speaking well (good speech) is a sign of a good education.Mangiare troppo velocemente fa venire lindigestione. Eating too fast causes indigestion.Mischiare litaliano tradizionale e dialetto à ¨ comune in molte parti dItalia. Mixing traditional Italian and dialect is common in many parts of Italy.Tra il dire e il fare cà ¨ di mezzo il mare. Between saying and doing is the sea (Italian proverb). The infinitive can also serve as the equivalent of an instruction, in cooking for example: Cuocere per tre ore. Cook for three hours.Tenere a bagno per 30 minuti. Soak for 30 minutes.Lavare e asciugare linsalata. Wash and dry the lettuce. Auxiliary Verbs Are Frequent Companions of the Infinito The super-important auxiliary verbs—volere (to want), dovere (to have to), and potere (to be able to)—when accompanied by a verb are always accompanied by the infinitive regardless of tense (the tense variation is expressed through the auxiliary). Thats another reason to understand their importance. Devo andare a casa. I have to go home.Non voglio partire. I dont want to leave. Avrei potuto dormire tutto il giorno. I could have slept all day long.Non posso visitare il museo oggi perchà © à ¨ chiuso. I cant visit the museum because it is closed today.Possiamo andare a mangiare? Can we go eat? Volevo fare un giro del Duomo. I wanted to take a tour of the Duomo.Non sono potuta andare a scuola oggi perchà © avevo la febbre. I was not able to go to school today because I had a fever. Infinito and Other Verbs In addition to the auxiliary verbs, other verbs, such as cercare, andare, trovare, provare, pensare, and sognare, are often accompanied by the infinitive. Vado a prendere la mamma. Im going to get mom.Porto a lavare la macchina. Im taking the car to be washed.Provo a dormire un po. I am going to try to sleep a little.Cerco di mangiare meno. I am trying to eat less.Pensavo di andare a casa. I was thinking of going home.Ho sognato di avere un cane. I dreamed of having a dog. As you can see, often the supporting verb and the infinitive are connected by a preposition (determined by the supporting verb): andare a; portare a; cercare di; provare a, pensare di. Infinitive as an Order: The Negative Imperative You give a negative command in Italian by using the simple infinitive preceded by non. Non andare! Dont go!Ti prego, non fumare! Please, dont smoke!Non mi disturbare, sto dormendo. Dont bother me, I am sleeping. The Past Infinito The infinito has a past tense, indicating an action preceding the one in the primary sentence. The infinito passato is made from the auxiliary essere or avere (depending on whether the verb is transitive or intransitive) and the past participle. Thats another reason its important and interesting to understand and know if a verb is transitive or intransitve or both. Aver dormito: having sleptEssere stato: having beenAvere capito: having understoodAvere parlato: having spokenAvere saputo: having learned/knownEssere andato: having been or gone. For example: Dopo aver visto la campagna, ho deciso di comprare la casa. After having seen (seeing) the countryside I decided to buy the house.Dopo aver visitato il museo ho capito quanto sono ignorante della storia Italiana. After visiting the museum I realized how little I know about Italian history.Prima di aver parlato con la mamma non avevo capito quanto stesse male. Before speaking to mom I had not understood how sick she was. Often the infinito passato, rendered in English with the gerund, is also used as a noun. Lavere visto la nonna mi ha risollevata. Having seen (seeing) grandma made me feel better.Avere saputo questa notizia mi ha resa triste. Having learned (learning) this news makes me sad.Avere capito mi ha aiutata. Having understood (understanding) has helped me.