Wednesday, August 26, 2020

An analysis of variations in style in comparison to Standard English Essay

1. Presentation As in each language there are various tongue in British English. It has consistently been and keeps on being a language of vernaculars. Any place one goes in England there are clear contrasts between the manners by which individuals talk in better places. This is regularly a major stun for individuals who have been learning Standard English which is the assortment of English that is held to be ‘correct’ as in it shows none of the territorial or different varieties that are considered by some to be ungrammatical, or non-standard English. Non-English school-kids learn SE at school and hope to see each English individual once they enter the nation. Yet, the English they take in at school contrasts from the language which is being spoken in Britain. Obviously, SE is utilized in the media and by open figures, and in this way it has distinction status and is viewed by numerous individuals as the most alluring type of the language.1 Be that as it may, the English don't talk like that †semantic the truth is unique. Not just the words which are being utilized now and again contrast from Standard English even the syntactic structures fluctuate now and again. This work attempts to introduce the contrasts between Standard English which is being instructed at German schools and the vernaculars which are spoken in England. Inside and out these variables may prompt befuddling circumstances on occasion. German school-children could hear words in England which they were advised not to articulate in that manner when they were learning English at school. Hughes and Trudgill2 talk about two different ways of managing the issue of local Britons not having the option to communicate in their own language effectively. They call attention to that for students it isn't significant climate their hear right English or not. The issue which their are stood up to with is to comprehend what they get notification from the local speakers and which language-highlights they can adjust into their own discourse. The second point they talk about is if that â€Å"the idea of ‘correctness’ isn't generally valuable or proper in depicting the language of local speakers.†3 To discover those distinctions I will dissect German English books from an Orientierungsstufe4, writing about vernaculars in Britain just as private sources. I will attempt to examine the hole between German school English a discover potential answers for that issue. 11 Toward the start of my methodology I will introduce a determination of various accents in regards to their territorial use. In the accompanying point I will investigate Standard English which is being educated in German schools and contrast these outcomes and the accents referenced already. After that I will sum up my methodologies and attempt to discover clarifications as well as could be expected arrangements. 2. The primary lingos I need to begin with the introduction of the primary lingos of the English language. For this I will adjust the Dialectology of Baugh5 who separates between Northern, West Midlands, East Midlands and Southern. In Old English they were separated into Northumbrian, Mercian, West Saxon and Kentish6. Obviously there are undeniably more divisions of accents yet this would surpass the length of this bit of work. Also, I will finish up Cockney7 in my examination. 2.1. Northern English This vernacular is likewise knows as Geordie8. The Northeast region contains the urban focuses of Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesborough and neighboring zones. Trudgill9 characterizes the absolute most popular attributes of the cutting edge Northeast articulation which incorporate the accompanying. As indicated by him the complement, as we have seen, doesn't have the diphthongal ways to express the long ‘a’ vowel in made, door, face that are progressively average of the south of England, and the equivalent is valid for long ‘o’ as in pontoon, street, load. It very well may be characterized as a particular sort of improvement. Rather than the Standard English Combination of two vowels in pontoon [b㠯⠿â ½ut] just a single vowel is being utilized: [oo] a similar wonder can be found inside the way to express words like made, which are not being articulated [m㠯⠿â ½id] however disentangled [mehd]. Trudgill additionally brings up that words that have al in the spelling are articulated with a vowel of the sort ‘ah’, so everything is ‘ahl’ and walk is ‘wahk’. A Geordie-joke makes this distinction understood in an amusing manner: A non-Geordie specialist who inquires as to whether he can walk makes the patient deciphers as an inquiry about work ans answers â€Å"Wawk! I can't even wahk yet!† 11 The second piece of the Northern territory, the Lower North and Central North, covers, as per Trudgill, an enormous region extending down from Carlisle to Sheffield and covering Cumbria, the vast majority of Yorkshire and parts of Lancashire. He calls attention to that this vernacular contrasts from the Northeast by not having ‘ee’ in very. 10 Another astounding element he makes reference to is that he Central North likewise contains a sub-territory in which an intriguing sort of consonantal change happens in specific conditions. What happens is that the voiced consonants ‘b’, ‘d’, ‘g’, ‘v’, ‘z’ and ‘j’ change to their voiceless partner ‘p’, ‘t’, ‘k’, ‘f’, ‘s’, and ‘ch’ in the event that they happen preceding any of these equivalent voiceless consonants.11 The models â€Å"E wood goh† (â€Å"He would go† ) and â€Å"E woot coom† (â€Å"He would come†). They would articulate the articulation â€Å"I don’t know† like â€Å"I doont noo†. Another point is that this tongue is very like the highlight Indians or Pakistanis have when they talk English. A significant number of these provincial highlights additionally show up in their articulation. These mutual highlights could be investigated in future for the Asian people group in Britain is expanding consistently is developing. Which words, articulations are being brought into English through them would be intriguing to discover. 2.2. West Midlands The focal town for this complement is Liverpool. for the complement is extremely unmistakable for this region called Merseyside. It has been primarily affected by Irish settlers during the nineteenth century. Hughes/Trudgill12 depict the Liverpool emphasize characterizing a few highlights of which I will make reference to a couple. 1. a) There is no complexity between sets of words like put and putt, both being articulated [put]. b) [㠯⠿â ½] happens in words like move, foolish and so on [†¦] c) Words like book and cook have the vowel [u:] 2. Not at all like in other northern urban accents (yet just the same as Newcastle), the last vowels of words like city and dingy is [i:] 3. A general inconsistency of glottal stop happens. 4. [h] is typically missing, however is some of the time present (him a her) 5. The addition - ing is [in] 11 2.3. East Midlands In light of own experience I can say that one of the most clear markers for the East Midland articulation can be characterized as a sort of parallelism to German which additionally show up in the Liverpool highlight now and again. The word transport, for example, isn't being articulated [bas] yet [bus]. Here, the vowel [u] is being articulated a similar path as in German. A similar marvel can be found in words like. Another marker for East Midland inflection is the way to express the vowel blend [oe] like in shoes, where it is being changed to [㠯⠿â ½] †[sh㠯⠿â ½z]. Speakers here may even have short ‘e’ toward the finish of words like coffeh13. Trudgill makes reference to an analytic sentence for this zone: â€Å"Veri few cahs mayd it up the long ill.†14 2.4. Southern English A portion of these regional highlights of Southern English are like the welsh emphasize. Trudgill states that the Bristol discourse is well known for the nearness in this complement of a wonder called the â€Å"Bristol I†. He clarifies that in the Bristol zone, words, for example, America, India, Diana, Gloria are articulated with a last ‘I’. Without a doubt, outsiders would be very confounded hearing words like Americal, Indial and Dianal. This component may be a consequence of hypercorrection, as indicated by Trudgill.15 In the South the glottal stop is extremely normal as a way to express ‘t’ which can be found in words like better, water, wager and what. This element can likewise be found in Cockney or Midland zones. Trudgill makes reference to the indicative element of the South are the absence of ‘y’ in few, which separates it from all other English locales aside from the Northeast, albeit today ‘h’ is quickly being lost.16 He likewise noticed that it a regular factor for East Anglia is â€Å"the absence of differentiation between the vowels of to a great extent, with the goal that friend seems as though pair, here like hair and deer like dare.†17 2.5. Cockney Cockney can be considered an extremely uncommon tongue since it must be found among individuals who live in and around the London region. Not to mention the name for this highlight is uncommon in light of the fact that it doesn't allude straightforwardly to the district. 11 The term Cockney initially originates from the middles ages where it was applied to a feminine individual, dolt or an especially frail man from a town instead of a compatriot who was viewed as harder. In the seventeenth century the term changed and came to mean explicitly a Londoner. The six most striking highlights of Cockney are18: 1. r is articulated just when followed quickly by a vowel-sound. Thus, in the show beneath, no r is articulated in blossoms. (Some New England pronunciations and Southern U.S. highlights have this equivalent component.) 2. h is generally overlooked (home in the exhibition words); in hesitant discourse it’s enunciated firmly. 3. l is articulated just when a vowel-sound follows (so no l is articulated in opening, and so on.). 4. Voiceless th is regularly, yet not generally, articulated as f (breath, and so on.). 5. Voiced th is in like manner frequently yet not generally articulated as v

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Fraud Resistance and Detection †Free Samples to Students

Question: Talk about the Fraud Resistance and Detection. Answer: Presentation In this the presentation is given about the DIPL, it is an Australian based organization. The organization start crafted by printing. Notwithstanding this companys fiscal report is being analyzed to evaluate the proportion and to check the steadfastness of the announcements. In this Company will talked about on some different factors, for example, intrinsic hazard factor and different factors, for example, to dazzle the investors by doing some control in the monetary records of the organization. In this DIPL need to follow the diagnostic system so by the assistance of this method distinction coming in money related information from a years ago can be effectively looks at with this investigative technique. Notwithstanding this with the assistance diagnostic system analyzes of proportions should be possible on the organization. In this report budget summary and look at of proportions of the organization of most recent three years has been talked about underneath:- Explanation for logical examination (introducing computation of proportions) Calculation of proportion examination Liquidity proportion 2013 2014 2015 Current proportion 1.424851323 1.46655925 1.500731379 0.017751573 Fast proportion 0.82797619 0.944834334 0.847272997 0.007768664 Working capital 16,05,938.0 23,88,900.0 32,03,429.0 0.331580049 Productivity Ratios 2013 2014 2015 Working Profit Margin 0.100977727 0.089047255 0.08898715 - 0.039581594 Net Profit Margin 0.068957968 0.060779639 0.06838972 - 0.002746837 Profit for Capital Employed 0.4 0.3 0.2 - 0.160459244 Profit for Equity 0.257834973 0.212484827 0.24261746 - 0.019673454 Profit for Total resources 0.182458623 0.144075478 0.113667738 - 0.125673945 Obligation value proportion Capital structure proportion 2013 2014 2015 Obligation value 0.413114754 0.474816041 1.134444326 0.582025183 Intrigue inclusion proportion 40.94205904 40.1257067 4.78608308 - 0.294367022 Productivity proportion Productivity proportion 2013 2014 2015 Receivable turnover proportion 11.08401323 9.2532887 Lender turnover proportion 12.68542199 11.23585229 Stock turnover proportion 12.83396414 10.75765974 Resources turnover proportion 2.614942828 2.066946288 In this report we will talked about the numerous progressions has been determined of the money related information of organization from most recent two years. To be increasingly productive, the organization needs to change their arrangements and procedures and furthermore need to roll out certain improvements in another process(Well, 2017). The new variety of the organization likewise drives the organization from the front for holding the portion of the market in the offer market. For this situation investigation of the organization different proportions is been inspected on the organization, money related variables are being measure after analyzed because of changes have being finished by the organization. In this new factor is present knows as liquidity proportion by the assistance of this proportion there is augmentations of 1.77% in organization current proportion. The large factor of augmentations in current proportion is, high turnover of the organization in a years ago. Because of high turnover of the organization working capital of the organization will raise consequently. The impact of this the current working capital was 16, 05,938 AUD it has been expanded by 32, 03,429 AUD in year 2015.In expansion to this by present of the snappy proportion organization effectively dealt with the liquidity and furthermore dealt with the capital structure of the organization appropriately and satisfy the different sorts of prerequisites of the organization. The organization present the benefit proportion which is utilized to quantify the benefit of the organization however from a year ago it has been estimated that benefit is decreasing a result of the progressions made by the organization for the inside and outside clients. It has been seen that there is decrease of 3.95% of working net revenue in the year 2013 and the pace of working overall revenue in present is 1.009% in the year 2015 the rate is assessed as .88%. Because of this the money related state of the organization has gone down it has been impact by the some related components of the productivity proportion. It has been notice that estimation of the benefit of the organization is abatement and it tends to be appears with the assistance of ROCE, return on absolute resource proportions, ROE and Net overall revenue. What's more, presenting the capital structure proportion and effectiveness proportion which helps the organization for the development and execution of the organization( Hoelzer, 2011). The organization follows the capital structure proportion from most recent two years and because of impact of this there is addition of 58.20% paying off debtors value proportion. The purpose for the progressions made in the charge value proportion is because of contrasts in the liabilities and resources of the organization from most recent two years. There are the different proportions identified with gainfulness proportion a portion of these are talked about underneath : Assets turnover proportion, receivable turnover proportion, stock turnover proportion, productivity turnover proportion, Creditor turnover proportion and receivable turnover proportion by the assistance of these proportion organization development and execution can be look at with the assistance of these proportions and working capital is additionally inspects with the assistance of these proportions( Iverson, 2013). For this situation study, it has been referenced that as a result of the change is done in the business systems and plans, capacities, and tasks and so on because of this numerous progressions have been finished with the assistance of proportions. Because of this, it has become the troublesome activity for the reviewers to look at the progressions and follow up on them. It has been looking at that changes have been happening because of mix-up and incorrectness made by Jay and partners( DeGeorge , 2014). It turned into the obligation of Stewart and Kathy to discover the blunders and fakes and follow up on them straightway. Stewart and Kathys is the new customer of DIPL, and it is an obligation of reviewer to inspects the dangers components of organization and it is an obligation of examiner to unravel the dangers components and having the capacities to take a choice on dangers components and furthermore have the abilities for taking the solid choice for the organization( Handsworth, 2012). After investigation the organization report, it has been seen that organization is confronting the few issues by inborn hazard factors. Innate dangers factors are talked about in subtleties, for example, Purposeful Misstatement The inalienable hazard factor of the organization is talked about in subtleties, for example, In this bookkeeper offers the money related expression of the organization, without considering to any bookkeeping standards which expresses that there ought to be an appropriate rule and the guidelines and rule for setting up the budget summaries will be followed( Fernando, 2012). For the most part bookkeeper are engaged with the fakes exercises while setting up the budget report of the organization bookkeeper do the cheats in this. For this situation, concentrate after analyzes the DIPLs report, it has been seen that augmentations are done on income in a year ago, notwithstanding this some different factors likewise speak to the development of the organization. As indicated by this organization, benefit is still less( Hoelzer, 2011). This factor has been occurring, the purpose for this is paying the high assessment form to the legislature of Australian, it occurs because of the high benefits. Because of this organization is engaged with the fakes initiates they decline the benefit of the organization to pay the less duty to the administration of the Australia and shows the low benefit. This misrepresentation initiates should be possible by the organization by doing the bogus exchange with the goal that the benefit can be diminished. For this situation study, it looks at the some proportion that the great execution and development of the organization, it might be conceivable just when these realities are appeare d in the fiscal summaries by the consequence of this partner of the organization may get dazzled and they can put more in organization and it tends to be beneficial realities for the organization( Fernando, 2012). So companys intrigue charges have been expanded by high rates these sorts of exercises has been remembering for the cheats action so the impact of this expansion the financing cost charges aftereffects of that gigantic measure of advance. With this there is unpredictability has been done in the fiscal summary of the organization. Moreover, the pace of devaluation has been expanded. Some different components are referenced, for example, significant compensations has been given to the worker which isn't vital. Another explanation of intrinsic hazard factor for DIPL, is that off-base proclamation has been done in the books of records by the reviewer. To stay away from the inborn hazard factor organization need to maintain a strategic distance from the all cheats actuates and other a few realities so that by dodging these components an organization can accomplish their goals and chips away at their development and execution of the organization. Universal and residential announcing Furthermore, business of the organization can without much of a stretch oversaw at residential level and individual business can undoubtedly be overseen by the organization in Australia. Notwithstanding this to do the business at worldwide level organization need to observe the standard and rules of IFRS and GAAP and furthermore follows the all the necessities identified with this procedure. Adhering to the general bookkeeping's standard and principles could encourage the organization in owing kindness of enormous ventures by FDIC. Next to this, getting gigantic sum if venture could bolster the organization in settling a few issues. It has been referenced for this situation study it shows that rules and guideline of the general bookkeeping and the rule doesn't follow because of this suitable way isn't trailed by them in setting up the budget summaries( Thibodeau Freier, 2013). This may

Quizzes Help Students Gain Knowledge Essay Sample free essay sample

Blending to Anne McIlroy’s article â€Å"Pop test: what’s the best way to larn? New research has discovered that the more students are tried. the more comprehension they retain† . tests can help students to memory and get stuffs. builds. data for a long clasp. in any case, negative conclusions are against the hypothesis. McIlroy’s article is centered around Dr. Karl Szpunar’s research to back up her explanation that tests are useful for understudies to dissect. Be that as it may. tests may hold some negative consequences for understudies. McIlroy considers preliminaries as actuations helping understudies to examine. in any case, a few dissidents accept preliminaries are non vital. McIlroy recovers data from Dr. Szpunar’s research to turn out that preliminaries can help students to break down. The decency that tests bring to students is non restricted to recollect data. Tests can other than better students’ misgiving of stuffs. develops and data. Andrew Butler at Duke University in North Carolina partitioned his students into two gatherings. We will compose a custom paper test on Tests Help Students Gain Knowledge Essay Sample or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page One gathering was tested on the data. while others spent abundance cut dissecting the data. The outcome shows that the gathering of understudies who showed improvement over students did non hold tests. The exploration demonstrates the solid impacts of the tests. In spite of the fact that tests have significant advantages. the shortfall of tests is still existed. Despite the fact that numerous individuals demonstrate that tests have beneficial outcomes. a few dissidents accept preliminaries are non fundamental. Test may be a heap to understudies and some different strategies can take topographic purpose of test. As students. go toing intriguing nines and run intoing with various companions are of import for them during the university’s life. It is hard for students to rethink content release and converse with fix for unnecessarily numerous tests. What’s more. blending to Butler. some different strategies can supplant tests. For example, games. bunch exercises and example preliminaries before the existent preliminaries. A few educators who train students around Grade 5 are using the greater beguilement strategies to help understudies to dissect. The result shows that understudies do larn comprehension from various sorts of techniques other than tests. The exploration is naming taking care of the estimation of tests. In the interim. the article bring up some negative assumptions about the tests. The two slants are planned for providing a superior guidance framework for students. Students lean toward that educators give them legitimate aggregate of tests. Tests will help them to larn the data quickly and make non meddle with unwinding cut. Notices McIlroy. A. ( 2010. Dec. 4 ) Pop test: what’s the best way to larn? New research has discovered that the more students are tried. the more perception they hold. The Globe and Mail. Science. GLOB00002010120406c40003

Friday, August 21, 2020

Case Assignment Benzene exposure

Presentation Benzene which is otherwise called benzol is a natural intensify that is boring, profoundly combustible and with a sweet scent. It will in general dissipate immediately when left uncovered. It is a synthetic aggravate that is ordinarily framed by a characteristic procedure, for example, volcanic arrangement or woodland fires. It is additionally shaped from hydrocarbons. It was supposed to be available as a â€Å"component of the cigarette smoke† (ACS, 2008). Some of it physical properties are a moderately high softening point and high dissolvability in water.It is generally use as a dissolvable in most concoction businesses. It capacities ranges from the creation of medications, plastics, engineered elastic to colors creation where it for the most part fills in as the antecedents of such modern items. Course of presentation Benzene introduction has a great deal of wellbeing effect and there are for the most part three manners by which an individual can be presented to benzene poisonousness, these are inhalational course, ingestion and transdermal retention (Media Fact, 2008). Inward breath of benzene is generally because of the breathing of the benzene fumes.Benzene vapor are breathed in effectively on the grounds that benzene is an amazingly unstable natural compound and this sort of introduction is one of the deadliest as a result of it quick contact with the lung parenchyma. This at that point evoke a great deal neurological manifestations, for example, cerebral pain, tipsiness, tachycardia (increment in pulse), tremors and ensuing demise if untreated on schedule. Benzene ingestion come about because of eating of benzene loaded nourishments or drinks and its perceptible symtoms are neurological while those of transdermal course typically result from contact with the benzene or benzene loaded materials (Media Fact, 2008).The medical issues cause by this course of benzene introduction â€Å"are erythema (blushing of the skin), scaling derma titis, concealment of the hematopoietic framework and pancytopenia† (Media Fact, 2008) Sources of Benzene Exposure The significant wellsprings of human presentation to benzene are ecological, word related and purchaser items. Benzene is generally discharged into air from sources like gas filling stations, underground spillage of oil, vehicular fumes, tobacco smoke, squander items or sewage and some food products.Most of the word related benzene presentation are seen predominantly in ventures like those include in elastic creation, compound plants, treatment facilities and shipments and retail shops. Different sources incorporate buyer items that are made of benzene, for example, pastes, glues, cigarettes, paint and varnishes e. t. c Short and long haul impacts The transient impacts of benzene introduction are â€Å"drowsiness, tipsiness, cerebral pains, tremors, disarray and unconsciousness† (ACS, 2008).The past side effects are because of presentation of around 700-300 ppm while intense introduction of high portion brings about spewing, bothering of the gastrointestinal tract, narcolepsy, spasm and tachycardia. In outrageous instances of high portion ingestion passing typically results. The drawn out impact of benzene poisonousness has been credited to the impedance with the typical platelet creation I. e. the hematopoietic cells. The sequeale of this is sickliness and leucopenia. A person with this will be immunocompromised subsequently such individual will be inclined to entrepreneurial diseases.The long haul impact can likewise be believed to bring about conceptive organ brokenness. Prudent steps 1. The utilization of individual defensive hardware, for example, gloves, cover and some other attire materials. 2. Unique preparing on supplies dealing with and use 3. In the event that there is coincidental arrival of the benzene fast departure of such research center must be done critically 4. Appropriate ventilation of the research facility Referen ces ACS, (2008). Benzene. Counteraction and early discovery Retrieved Sept 4, 2008 From www. disease. organization/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3X_Benzene. asp

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Livescribes Pulse Pen

Livescribe’s Pulse Pen sup yall? Sorry I havent blogged lately. The truth? Ive been enjoying the laziest IAP I can muster. I sleep until at least noon every day, Im not registered for any classes until next week, and I have absolutely no commitments. Last year I was overzealous and did the typical MIT Look at at all this free time I have! Im going to fill it to the brim with awesome stuff. . . .wait . . . .now Im busier than I was all semester! AHHHHHH! No, this IAP Im very much not busy, and it is wonderful. A flashback to a previous entry is probably a good way to begin this one. Remember when I was a contestant in a blogging scholarship a while back? In the end I got a very commanding 4th place out of 20, and I couldnt have done it without all your help. I feel kind of guilty begging for so many votes, but in the end it all worked out (I hope!). My prize was $100 sent via PayPal the day right after the contest ended. Woo! $100! One of my charms is that I have absolutely no responsibility when it comes to money. If I have it, I spend it. Ask anybody who lives with me, Im pretty awful. I have an R2-D2 trashcan that cost quite a bit of money, I went out and impulse bought a new Macbook, same with a pair of roller blades, I went out and got a hamster last week, and Ive got enough geek points built up to get some of the cool expensive stuff (if I didnt still want to save them up!). The point is, $100 of prize money wasnt going to last very long. I was surfing Engadget the day or two after getting the money and saw an ad for some smart pen, something called the Pulse Smart Pen. I did something I dont usually do and I clicked the ad. Im generally pretty skeptical of devices that seem magical, i.e. they do things that I dont understand and employ technology that boggles the mind. This pen fit into that category. Supposedly, it remembers everything you write and syncs it to your computer to be used later in a digital format. It also records whatever is being said and maps it to the notes youre taking. All it takes is a tap on a word youve written to hear what was being said when you wrote it. When I was researching laptops for MIT I was dead set on getting a tablet. I researched tablets more than anything Id ever researched before. I was e-mailing execs, MIT profs, reading reviews, and printing dozens of pages of fact sheets. In the end, it just wasnt meant to be, the graphics cards werent powerful enough, but I still mourned the loss of being able to take notes on a computer screen and have a digital copy of everything. If this pen did what it said it could, then it may be the answer to my problems. I wasnt willing to plop down $150 on a pen that was gimmicky though, so I did some homework. Step one when researching technology, Cnet.com. Ok, this is a good sign. Next was PCWorld, Ok, also good. I continued looking around and realized that everybody said this pen did exactly what it said it did, and it did it well. It was decided, my $100 blog scholarship money would go towards this new pen. Lucky for me, MITs bookstore sells these things (I remember seeing the display at the beginning of the semester and scoffing. Oops), so I headed over to the Coop, slapped down the dough, and walked out with a new toy. This pen, hands down, is the most amazing and potentially beneficial note-taking tool Ive ever seen in my life. Everybody Ive shown it to seems to think so as well. My parents think it will become the standard writing tool of almost all students within the next couple of years. No, seriously, I sound like a commercial, but enough of you asked about this thing in Chriss entry that Im going to shamelessly plug this pen because, frankly, I believe its an amazing tool for this place (MIT) and your life would be improved if you got one. Skeptical? Good. Let me change your mind. Heres the important stuff that you get in your box. You get: 1) A Pulse Smart Pen 2) A notebook with special dot-matrix paper 3) A dock for the pen 4) Headphones Youll notice that the pen has a little screen on it. The picture is too small, but its currently displaying the time, its default display. This next bit of explanation is better actually demoed by a human being than by pictures and text, so Ive decided to make some little videos for you. Have you ever noticed how weird it is to hear yourself recorded or on video? Right, anyway, moving on. People have asked Why not just use a tablet and a microphone? Thats a totally legitimate question, and the answer is that you could. Some benefits, however, to the pen are that you have two copies, paper and digital, where as with a tablet you just have one copy. Also, tablets cost WAY more than $150! Hows the battery life? I can go all day without having to recharge the battery. Itll last for a day and will charge when the pen is docked. I want to be able to search my notes and convert them to text! Sure, go ahead. Theres handwriting recognition software that you can use for a free 30-day trial or buy for about ~$25.00. There is built-in handwriting recognition as well, allowing you to search your handwritten notes for specific words that you may have written. Well its toast if it runs out of ink. Nope. Replaceable ink cartridges included and for sale. This seems too good to be true. Seems that way, doesnt it? I think this is one of those rare cases where you are actually buying exactly what they say you are buying. In fact, there are even a bunch of MIT students that work for Livescribe and worked on this pen. I used my pen for the last 3 weeks of class and have to say, Ive enjoyed it very much. Ive even used it to answer a comment question or two in previous entries (remember when I posted my 2.005 final review outline? Check out the Livescribe website for more details, but seriously consider getting this pen. No, you dont need it, but its so nice! And it actually does what it says it does. Almost everybody Ive shown it to in person has decided to get one (ahem, Chris) and everybody Ive talked to who has one loves it. Ta-ta for now, Im getting back to doing nothing during my IAP! Oh, and keep this coming Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday open because its Mystery Hunt time and Ill be publishing some puzzles for you guys to help with!