Globalisation, Terrorism and Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Globalization, Terrorism and Security - Essay Example Fear mongering consistently stems up in the most fragile of classes inside a general public. (THACKRAH, 2004) Its early stages is in this manner reproduced and sustained in the most minimal of classes inside the way of life. This feeble class in an underdeveloped country is as a general rule the majority. People's opinion of the type of government is truly given a demeanor of aloof encounters when fear mongering begins to manifest out of nowhere. This makes a sentiment of disdain for the administrative foundations just as the individuals in charge of undertakings, i.e., the ones who are creating the strategies and are running the legislature. (OOTS, 1986) Terrorism requests of individuals to change their method of looking and anticipating something, in the event that they accomplish besides, from the administration. It has been the situation for a long time that at whatever point government inside a specific nation is in a place of monetary and safeguard power, psychological warfare creeps up out of nowhere and hypnotizes its popularity based foundations unrecoverable and reclamation. The need of great importance on these countries’ part is to battle against the psychological oppressor exercises with a harsh hand however in a progressively taught and moral style. On the off chance that the equivalent isn't done, contempt is the most widely recognized of responses that have been seen for days of yore for these nations. Psychological warfare has changed the substance of the world. The individuals of this world have begun to feel perilous at whatever point they are inside a swarm and in this way various presumptions have begun to come to fruition as worries to the premise of various assemblages, occasions, shows et cetera. This has truly introduced an exceptionally bleak image of the harmony angle related with this world. It must be changed and there should think mentality move inside the worldwide people to begin with. Individuals need to comprehend their particular duties and afterward reverberation the equivalent in the light of the

Critically Assess Australian foreign policy in the 1930s. essays

Basically Assess Australian international strategy during the 1930s. papers During the 1930s, Australia battled to get itself an international strategy that would not just secure its inclinations in the Pacific locale, however would likewise empower it to pick up distinction and remaining inside the universal network. Thusly, Australias international strategies during this period swayed to suit the disturbance that encompassed the world, especially during the late 1930s. This paper will endeavor to fundamentally assess the different arrangements utilized by Australia, and the explanations for the utilization of each. This will be finished by enumerating the international strategies of Australia, and why they were established. It has been said that the chief point of Australian international strategy during the between war years was to save harmony, and its auxiliary goal was to guarantee that if war came, the Empire was solid and steady. The rationale behind this was the League of Nations couldn't be trusted, yet the Empire could. Australia had developed significantly because of the Great War, and was currently perceived universally as an increasingly free, creating country, which was a consequence of Hughes endeavors at the Paris harmony gathering. Be that as it may, its connects to the British Empire were still especially predominant and as will be seen this was to affect Australias international strategies during the 1930s. At first, Australia was not all that worried about her international strategy, and could even be said that she fail to have one. The explanation behind this was it was generally accepted that Britain would act the hero, should the need emerge. For sure, up until Versailles, the Mother Country had a huge strength over Australias universal undertakings. It kept on doing as such during the 1920s, yet less significantly than previously. It was commonly held that Britain would give international strategies to Australia as they were required. Mansergh accepts that Australia tried to her greatest advantage no... <!

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Web based business - Essay Example Clear correspondence channels and acceleration network ought to likewise be characterized. The center group must set up a philosophy and time span to move existing information to the new framework. A last dispatch date ought to be clung to or changed relying upon venture progress. The authority group must give extraordinary consideration to making sure about staff purchase in, with the goal that the new framework when propelled is grasped by the clients. In actualizing this technique different hierarchical, the executives and specialized issues should be tended to. This is talked about underneath. Authoritative Issues In order that a life coverage organization moves from a physical business to a robotized domain, vital authority is significant. The authority group may need to assess: Procedure to manage channel strife Forestall disintegration of edges Survey kind of items reasonable for web dispersion Methods to fortify client connections and increase new clients on the web (Bloor Research). This involves enormous interest in IT foundation. The initiative group should choose the installment technique for this venture. One alternative is to re-appropriate or share costs with a supplier while the other is to remove costs from existing activities. For instance Allstate Insurance, a US based guarantor rebuilt its workforce to help a move towards a multi-channel deals technique including the Internet, call focuses and operators. It disposed of thousands of non-specialist positions and changed over hostage operators into self employed entities. These progressions supposedly will spare the organization $600m. Allstate has likewise apparently revamped and merged a portion of its activities to spare costs (Insurance Journal). The life coverage organization needs to choose the regions to... This article assesses the system for a life coverage organization to change from a physical business to an e undertaking. The specialist centers around the conversation of the issue of changing over a disaster protection organization to an e-undertaking, that requires tremendous fiscal speculation, yet additionally interest in keeping the vitality and rhythm of the workers high so venture usage is fruitful. On the off chance that e dispatch is fruitful, a few pieces of the customary set up can be supplanted by progressively present day forms. It will divert the insurance agency from a mammoth association to a lean firm. Diminish preparing time and control cost, e â€commerce and e †business arrangements hold incredible intrigue for an insurance agency. Josefowicz suitably takes note of that a life coverage organization can â€Å"maintain a little gathering of e-business specialists to give direction, consistency and best practices on the five key regions of system, instructio n, ease of use, security and standardization†. The analyst expresses that this will enable the organization to diminish the danger of: re-designing the wheel for each new activity, supporting cross-reason activities, absence of preparing, which prompts absence of appropriation and client dissatisfaction, dissimilar interfaces, which builds preparing cost, and lessens reception, costly, superfluous joining of unique frameworks, absence of interoperability, costly and tedious post facto incorporation. The analyst then concluds that it's ability, clear course and energy, that can unquestionably make the venture a triumph.

An Overview Of Vaishnodevi Tourism Essay Example

An Overview Of Vaishnodevi Tourism Essay Example An Overview Of Vaishnodevi Tourism Essay An Overview Of Vaishnodevi Tourism Essay Vaishnodevi Settled at a height of 5,200 pess, Vaishnodevi, is perhaps the holiest sanctuary in the Hindu confidence. Situated in the slope of Vaishno Devi in Jammu Kashmir, Vaishnodevi is other than known as Mata Rani and is accepted to be an encapsulation of the Mother Goddess. This is the second most visited topographic purpose of pioneers venture after Tirupati. Criticalness On the off chance that antiquated Hindu writings and Bibles are to be accepted, the Mother Goddess was infact conceived detail mis off from where her holy place is arranged. Her place of birth appears to hold been the South of India and she was destined to Ratnakar Sagar. She left the mainstream wants at only 9 mature ages old enough to bite over and execute atonements to placate Lord Rama, an exemplification of Lord Vishnu. If you don't mind by her devotedness, Lord Rama requested that her movement North and ruminate in a collapse the Trikuta extent of Manik Mountains. This is the means by which Vaishnodevi is accepted to hold been set up. Attractions The Vaishnodevi Shrine: This universe commended sanctuary that pulls in 1000s of fans every twelvemonth is the point of convergence of Vasihnodevi. Like most antiquated places of worship the historical backdrop of the Vaishnodevi holy place is covered in times long past and mystery in spite of the fact that it is accepted that the hallowed place was found by the Pandavas and the Mother Goddess finds a reference in the courageous sonnet Mahabharata. On a mountain, just close to the Trikuta mountains and disregarding the sanctum cavern are five stone developments which are accepted to encapsulate the five pandavas. Devouts accept that the Mother Goddess has the ability to help through their wants and that no 1 goes flat broke from her altar. Baba Dhansar: This sanctuary, devoted to Lord Shiva, is found 15 kilometer from Katra. Numerous devouts crowd to this sanctuary to see the obviously framed Shiv Lingam on which beads of H2O pre-winter constantly all through the twelvemonth. This sanctuary is other than the area for a simply that is held during Shivratri. Shiv Khori: This is the sanctum cavern home of Lord Shiva and is arranged around 70 kilometers from Katra and the alone appealing power of this cavern is its structure it is formed like a Damroo , Lord Shiva s glorious music instrument expansive at the terminals and tight at the Center. Shiv Khori other than has an obviously framed Shiv Lingam that is well known among fans. Instructions to Reach Your Vaishnodevi Yatra begins from Katra, a town found 50 kilometer from Jammu. Katra is acceptable associated by course to Jammu. The closest airdrome to Katra is Jammu similar to the rail caput. On the off chance that you intend to pass by course, you can take from an expansive extent of movement choices like coachs, private cabs, landrovers and so on. As of late, a chopper administration has other than been begun for travelers who do non want to do the long and backbreaking trek to the hallowed place on pes.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters - Essay Topics and a List of Essay Topics

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters - Essay Topics and a List of Essay TopicsIf you're looking for your next essay, a good place to start is by getting a copy of 'If You Like My Sea of Monsters, Then You'll Love This One,' by Percy Jackson and the Olympians author Joe Lynch. With this book, you'll be prepared to take on any essay topic, no matter how difficult it may be. For this reason, it's well worth the money, and you will definitely find this book invaluable to your next attempt at writing a paper.The book contains a variety of essay topics that are designed to test you. However, you don't have to study all of them in order to come out ahead in a test. By reviewing some of the essay topics throughout the book, you'll gain a better understanding of how the coursework at your high school or college level is structured.Now, before you get started, it's important to know that these essays are designed to be taken on a number of different topics. These range from questions of defin ition to questions of descriptive investigation. This book makes it easy for you to figure out what you'll need to do to prepare for each type of topic and gives you some tips and tricks to help you through the process. Here's a look at a few of the main types of essays that you'll encounter throughout the book.Understanding One is a question/answer style of essay that is relatively easy to handle. In this type of essay, you'll simply need to think about an issue that is important to you and then describe how you can best get information to you or read it. You can see this type of essay on nearly every list of essay topics, as well as on Wikipedia, and you should have no trouble coming up with an answer to this.In addition to being one of the most popular essay topics, this is one of the easiest. In this essay, you simply have to write about something that is personal to you. This could be anything from your family to a pet to a hobby you enjoy, and you should have no problem coming up with a simple essay.So if you haven't yet decided what type of essay topics you want to tackle for your next essay, I suggest that you take a look at this book. It contains a great deal of variety, so you shouldn't run into any difficulty in getting started. It's designed to make writing easier and more enjoyable, and if you're looking for the perfect essay topic, this is exactly what you need.From dragons to prophecy, this is an adventure you can use for anything from surfing to poetry to the game of thrones, and everything in between. You can go from the mundane to the supernatural in a short space of time, and you can expect to have fun while doing it. Many people think that writing about adventures is a very common theme, but when you include fantasy in the mix, you'll really appreciate this book.Finally, let's take a look at one of the essay topics that you won't find on the general list. 'The Sea of Monsters' is a great example of a difficult theme that is more difficult t han you might imagine. Of course, as with all of the other topics in this book, you'll have an easier time with this one because you're familiar with the subject matter already.

20 Affordable Valentines Day Gifts

20 Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts 20 Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts 20 Affordable Valentine’s Day GiftsChocolate. And flowers. And dinnerâ€"and thats before you even think about getting your significant other a gift. When planning a romantic Valentine’s Day, it’s all too easy to drain your checking account, load up purchases on your credit card, and generally make some spending choices that’ll end up hurting you long-term.But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are tons of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the cheap. And the same is true for gifts. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 20 awesome Valentine’s gifts that all just so happen to be super affordable too. Enjoy!1.  For the Chocoholic With Dietary RestrictionsGet them the gift of spooning chocolate from CocoaCanard.com. It may be gluten and dairy free, but once this pure, non-bitter  dark chocolate melts in a cup of hot water, you won’t know the difference. Think of it as the espresso of hot chocolate. Cocoa Canard’s spooning chocolate gift set comes with a ca nister of spooning chocolate, a spooning mugs, and a personalized linen stationary gift card and envelope, all for only $19.99. You can also check them out on Facebook.2.  For the Romantic Who Just Needs to Find the Right WordsNeed a new way to say I love you? Then What I Love About You is the Valentine’s gift you’ve been looking for. This inventive, fill-in-the blank book will help you say “what is in your heart, but may not always be at the tip of your tongue.” It’s chockfull of fun, romantic checklists, short answers, and phrases, that you and your partner can play through together. What I Love About You comes from bestselling journal-creators and husband-wife team Kate David Marshall, and is available for only $13.95!3. For the Movie Buff in Your LifeIf your significant other is the kind of person whose idea of a good date may or may not include dinner but definitely includes a movie, then why not order them a movie poster from JustMoviePosters.com? They have posters from hundreds of different films, most of which range from $8 to $15. And if you want to make the gift a little bit fancier, you can buy an inexpensive frame at your local target or Wal-Mart.4. For the Person Whose Path to Their Heart Runs Through Their StomachSure, a home-cooked meal can be delicious, but it can also be so much more than that. (Since you can’t see us, please know that we’re suggestively raising our eyebrows.) Author Amy Reilly  has written critically acclaimed aphrodisiac cookbooks inluding Fork Me, Spoon Me, and Romancing the Stove. Start cooking from these recipes, and you might find that the phrase “let’s just stay in tonight” will take on a whole new meaning. Both books are available for under $20.5. For the Person Who’s Always Digging Around for Their KeysIf your significant other has to basically mount a search party every time she needs to get her keys out of her purse, then a Finders Key Purse ® from the good folks at Isn’t This Clever  might just be the perfect gift. You simply attach your keys to the purse key clip clasp and then keep the key holder hanging over the edge of your bag or over an inside pocket. They have tons of awesome designs to choose from, and the purses only cost $6.95!6. For the Person Who Appreciates a Woodsy TouchNormally, just getting your significant other a card for Valentine’s Day would be considered a no-no. But with a beautiful, wood-carved “Bee Mine” card from Indigo Ember, that can be a romantic gift all by itself. You can order a card  for only $9.00, and you can add a personalized message to your sweetheart (maximum 120 characters, including spaces) for an additional $400.7. For the Person Who Appreciates Being PamperedNothing says “I love you” like giving the gift of self-care. A massage, a warm, scented bath, a clean smelling bedâ€"these are the ways you can express your love when you get your wife or girlfriend the Love at First Sight Romance Gift Set   from The Medical Momm as. The set includes a rollerball, a bath book, massage oil, and linen spray, all for only $24.99! Follow The Medical Mommas here on Facebook.8. For the Person Who’s Constantly Fighting With Knots in Their Ear BudsThe best gifts are ones that say “I love you” while still being useful in your partner’s day to day life. Enter, the Magneat Big Heart by OnanOff. This simple, stylish accessory helps keep your earbuds untangled at all times, saving you a lot of time and hassle. This particular design comes with a big red heart that serves a nice little daily reminder of the love that you and your partner share.9. For the Person Who Loves Playing GamesIf you want to give your partner the gift of shaking up your everyday routine, this try the Kisses 4 Us box. This soft-touch laminated box contains 30 Unique Kiss Cardsâ€"each of which explains a different type of kiss, plus extra trivia, fun facts, and additional kissing tips. Each box also come with 5 Create Your Own Cards; and an I dea Book. You can and your spouse can practice these new kisses once a day, or all at once. The choice is up to you. The Kisses 4 Us Box is only $19.99, or $24.99 if you buy it with a special gift bag.10. For the Person Who’s Always Turning up the ThermostatHaving trouble staying warm this winter? Then why not give your significant other a gift from Heat Holders, the USA’s leading thermal sock brand.   Their Ladies Lounge Socks are perfect for romantic night in, while their men’s Ankle Slipper Socks are great for a fun tromp through a wintery wonderland. And Heat Holders has more than just socks! Their Thermal Oversized Throw blanket might be just the thing for you and your partner to cuddle up under during a long February night.11. For the Love of Your Life Who Also Needs a Phone CaseIs your significant other the kind of person who has a cute photo of you two as their smart phone lock screen? Well why not give them a smart phone case that’s got an even cuter photo printed o n it. With Skinit custom phone cases, you can upload a photo to create a personalized, one of a kind case for your sweetie. The cases are only $35, which is a great price to combine such a sweet romantic gesture with the sturdiness of a good phone case.12. For the Person Who Loves Homemade Chai Tea.Chai tea is one of the few drinks that can really hit the spot as your trying to make it through the long, dark winter months. And if your significant other is a real chai-head (that’s totally a thing, we checked) then they will flip for this gift box from Prana Chai. The box includes a 250g Masala Blend Prana Chai Bag, a 14oz Stainless Steel Turkish Teapot, a Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer, a Robert Gordon Chai Mug, and a Prana Chai recipe bookletâ€"a $62 retail value that Prana Chai is offering for only $42. Follow Prana Chai on Facebook.13. For the Person Who Adores Those Personal TouchesThe craft of the handwritten love letter has gone the way of the dinosaur, the dirigible, and the dodo, but that hasn’t stopped the good folks at Punkpost  from bringing it back! Here’s how it works: you choose a letter, send them the text, and they turn it into a gorgeous, personalized handwritten card that they mail on your behalf. You can choose a card from their special Valentine’s day collection and send your beloved a handwritten card today, free of charge. That’s right, because your first card through Punkpost is free!14. For the Person Who Needs a Little Help to RelaxPeople who are constantly on the go usually have trouble relaxing. And if you don’t have the kind of extra income to spend on regular massages, then it can be especially hard to take care of stress. That’s why the Bodyworks Ball  is such a perfect gift. It’s a simple massage tool that people can use to get some easy relief. IT’s specially designed to not damage or mark-up walls, meaning that you can use it pretty much anywhere you go! Reasonably priced at only $34.99, this is a gift that will keep on giving.15. For the Person Who Owns More Crystals Than Pairs of SocksIf your significant other’s chakras are a little out of whack these days, then get them the gift of some good ol’ fashioned crystals from Little Box of Rocks. And if you’re looking for something romantic Valentine’s Day, then the Moonstruck (Romance)  box should do you nicely, and it’s only $35.00! From the Little Box of Rocks website:  Infused with the energy of hot, lunar passion, this bouquet was created as an expression of  wild and feverish love. Instead of flowers, send a little bit of secret magic to the mesmerizing soul who’s got you Moonstruck and watch your beloved go weak in the knees.16. For the Person Whose Sweet Tooth Has a Sense of AdventureWant to get your sweetheart a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day? Well why don’t you skip the chocolates and get them something unique instead? With a lollipop from Lollyphile.com you can give your partner a gift that’s both surprising and delicious. They have lots of different flavors, some more unexpected than others. You ever wanted to try a pizza-flavored lollipop? Well don’t worry, Lollyphile’s got you covered. You can get for lollipops of a single flavor for only $8.00, or get one of their mix packs  for only $12.00!17. For the Health-Conscious Person Who Still Craves Tasty TreatsThe flipside of giving your partner a bunch of candy for Valentine’s Day is that, well, candy isn’t actually all that good for you! Or at least, most candy isn’t. The hard candies from Cracked Candy  are sugar-free, vegan and diabetic safe, and they’re even good for your teeth. (If you’re dating a dentist, this is 100 percent the gift for them.) These candies come in four delicious flavorsâ€"Cinnamon, Mellow Orange, Zesty Lemon and Peppermint Iceâ€"and you can order an 8-pack for only $37.99.18. For the Person Whose Lips Are Constantly DryWinter can be a nightmare for people with sensitive or dry lips, so why not give your partner the gift of soft, moisturized lips? (Not to mention that it makes them way more kissable). Flask Brands  makes their lip balms using only 5 natural ingredients, including peppermint essential oil for flavor. And here’s the best part: You can order them with individual gift wrapping for only $5.99â€"shipping included!19. For Both the Man Who Loves Style and the Man Who Needs Some Style AssistanceSubscribing to monthly gift boxes is all the rage these days. And while these boxes are awesome, they can also represent a monthly expense that folks on a tight budget can’t afford. But with the Styled Man Box, you can order a one-time box, filled with 4-6 practical mens goods, gadgets and stylish accessory upgrades, all for only $39.99 And if you do decide to subscribe monthly, your box will be personalized just for you!20. For When Your Valentine Is Actually Your PetFor lots of people, their greatest love in life isn’t a person; it’s a furry little friend. (Trust us, w e totally get it.) If you want to show your pet how much you appreciate them, then give them the gift of proper identification. These fun, colorful LOVE tag from Twigo Tags  are not only affordable, but they’re incredibly simple to personalize. Just write your info on the tag, boil it to seal the ink, and then loop it on your pet’s collar. Each tag is only $8.00!Having a fun, romantic Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean heartbreak for your bank account. For other great ways to save, check out our blog with relationship expert Samantha Daniels for some great, affordable date ideas. And if you have some awesome ideas of your own, let us know at @OppLoans! 20 Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts 20 Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts 20 Affordable Valentine’s Day GiftsChocolate. And flowers. And dinnerâ€"and thats before you even think about getting your significant other a gift. When planning a romantic Valentine’s Day, it’s all too easy to drain your checking account, load up purchases on your credit card, and generally make some spending choices that’ll end up hurting you long-term.But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are tons of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the cheap. And the same is true for gifts. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 20 awesome Valentine’s gifts that all just so happen to be super affordable too. Enjoy!1.  For the Chocoholic With Dietary RestrictionsGet them the gift of spooning chocolate from CocoaCanard.com. It may be gluten and dairy free, but once this pure, non-bitter  dark chocolate melts in a cup of hot water, you won’t know the difference. Think of it as the espresso of hot chocolate. Cocoa Canard’s spooning chocolate gift set comes with a ca nister of spooning chocolate, a spooning mugs, and a personalized linen stationary gift card and envelope, all for only $19.99. You can also check them out on Facebook.2.  For the Romantic Who Just Needs to Find the Right WordsNeed a new way to say I love you? Then What I Love About You is the Valentine’s gift you’ve been looking for. This inventive, fill-in-the blank book will help you say “what is in your heart, but may not always be at the tip of your tongue.” It’s chockfull of fun, romantic checklists, short answers, and phrases, that you and your partner can play through together. What I Love About You comes from bestselling journal-creators and husband-wife team Kate David Marshall, and is available for only $13.95!3. For the Movie Buff in Your LifeIf your significant other is the kind of person whose idea of a good date may or may not include dinner but definitely includes a movie, then why not order them a movie poster from JustMoviePosters.com? They have posters from hundreds of different films, most of which range from $8 to $15. And if you want to make the gift a little bit fancier, you can buy an inexpensive frame at your local target or Wal-Mart.4. For the Person Whose Path to Their Heart Runs Through Their StomachSure, a home-cooked meal can be delicious, but it can also be so much more than that. (Since you can’t see us, please know that we’re suggestively raising our eyebrows.) Author Amy Reilly  has written critically acclaimed aphrodisiac cookbooks inluding Fork Me, Spoon Me, and Romancing the Stove. Start cooking from these recipes, and you might find that the phrase “let’s just stay in tonight” will take on a whole new meaning. Both books are available for under $20.5. For the Person Who’s Always Digging Around for Their KeysIf your significant other has to basically mount a search party every time she needs to get her keys out of her purse, then a Finders Key Purse ® from the good folks at Isn’t This Clever  might just be the perfect gift. You simply attach your keys to the purse key clip clasp and then keep the key holder hanging over the edge of your bag or over an inside pocket. They have tons of awesome designs to choose from, and the purses only cost $6.95!6. For the Person Who Appreciates a Woodsy TouchNormally, just getting your significant other a card for Valentine’s Day would be considered a no-no. But with a beautiful, wood-carved “Bee Mine” card from Indigo Ember, that can be a romantic gift all by itself. You can order a card  for only $9.00, and you can add a personalized message to your sweetheart (maximum 120 characters, including spaces) for an additional $400.7. For the Person Who Appreciates Being PamperedNothing says “I love you” like giving the gift of self-care. A massage, a warm, scented bath, a clean smelling bedâ€"these are the ways you can express your love when you get your wife or girlfriend the Love at First Sight Romance Gift Set   from The Medical Momm as. The set includes a rollerball, a bath book, massage oil, and linen spray, all for only $24.99! Follow The Medical Mommas here on Facebook.8. For the Person Who’s Constantly Fighting With Knots in Their Ear BudsThe best gifts are ones that say “I love you” while still being useful in your partner’s day to day life. Enter, the Magneat Big Heart by OnanOff. This simple, stylish accessory helps keep your earbuds untangled at all times, saving you a lot of time and hassle. This particular design comes with a big red heart that serves a nice little daily reminder of the love that you and your partner share.9. For the Person Who Loves Playing GamesIf you want to give your partner the gift of shaking up your everyday routine, this try the Kisses 4 Us box. This soft-touch laminated box contains 30 Unique Kiss Cardsâ€"each of which explains a different type of kiss, plus extra trivia, fun facts, and additional kissing tips. Each box also come with 5 Create Your Own Cards; and an I dea Book. You can and your spouse can practice these new kisses once a day, or all at once. The choice is up to you. The Kisses 4 Us Box is only $19.99, or $24.99 if you buy it with a special gift bag.10. For the Person Who’s Always Turning up the ThermostatHaving trouble staying warm this winter? Then why not give your significant other a gift from Heat Holders, the USA’s leading thermal sock brand.   Their Ladies Lounge Socks are perfect for romantic night in, while their men’s Ankle Slipper Socks are great for a fun tromp through a wintery wonderland. And Heat Holders has more than just socks! Their Thermal Oversized Throw blanket might be just the thing for you and your partner to cuddle up under during a long February night.11. For the Love of Your Life Who Also Needs a Phone CaseIs your significant other the kind of person who has a cute photo of you two as their smart phone lock screen? Well why not give them a smart phone case that’s got an even cuter photo printed o n it. With Skinit custom phone cases, you can upload a photo to create a personalized, one of a kind case for your sweetie. The cases are only $35, which is a great price to combine such a sweet romantic gesture with the sturdiness of a good phone case.12. For the Person Who Loves Homemade Chai Tea.Chai tea is one of the few drinks that can really hit the spot as your trying to make it through the long, dark winter months. And if your significant other is a real chai-head (that’s totally a thing, we checked) then they will flip for this gift box from Prana Chai. The box includes a 250g Masala Blend Prana Chai Bag, a 14oz Stainless Steel Turkish Teapot, a Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer, a Robert Gordon Chai Mug, and a Prana Chai recipe bookletâ€"a $62 retail value that Prana Chai is offering for only $42. Follow Prana Chai on Facebook.13. For the Person Who Adores Those Personal TouchesThe craft of the handwritten love letter has gone the way of the dinosaur, the dirigible, and the dodo, but that hasn’t stopped the good folks at Punkpost  from bringing it back! Here’s how it works: you choose a letter, send them the text, and they turn it into a gorgeous, personalized handwritten card that they mail on your behalf. You can choose a card from their special Valentine’s day collection and send your beloved a handwritten card today, free of charge. That’s right, because your first card through Punkpost is free!14. For the Person Who Needs a Little Help to RelaxPeople who are constantly on the go usually have trouble relaxing. And if you don’t have the kind of extra income to spend on regular massages, then it can be especially hard to take care of stress. That’s why the Bodyworks Ball  is such a perfect gift. It’s a simple massage tool that people can use to get some easy relief. IT’s specially designed to not damage or mark-up walls, meaning that you can use it pretty much anywhere you go! Reasonably priced at only $34.99, this is a gift that will keep on giving.15. For the Person Who Owns More Crystals Than Pairs of SocksIf your significant other’s chakras are a little out of whack these days, then get them the gift of some good ol’ fashioned crystals from Little Box of Rocks. And if you’re looking for something romantic Valentine’s Day, then the Moonstruck (Romance)  box should do you nicely, and it’s only $35.00! From the Little Box of Rocks website:  Infused with the energy of hot, lunar passion, this bouquet was created as an expression of  wild and feverish love. Instead of flowers, send a little bit of secret magic to the mesmerizing soul who’s got you Moonstruck and watch your beloved go weak in the knees.16. For the Person Whose Sweet Tooth Has a Sense of AdventureWant to get your sweetheart a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day? Well why don’t you skip the chocolates and get them something unique instead? With a lollipop from Lollyphile.com you can give your partner a gift that’s both surprising and delicious. They have lots of different flavors, some more unexpected than others. You ever wanted to try a pizza-flavored lollipop? Well don’t worry, Lollyphile’s got you covered. You can get for lollipops of a single flavor for only $8.00, or get one of their mix packs  for only $12.00!17. For the Health-Conscious Person Who Still Craves Tasty TreatsThe flipside of giving your partner a bunch of candy for Valentine’s Day is that, well, candy isn’t actually all that good for you! Or at least, most candy isn’t. The hard candies from Cracked Candy  are sugar-free, vegan and diabetic safe, and they’re even good for your teeth. (If you’re dating a dentist, this is 100 percent the gift for them.) These candies come in four delicious flavorsâ€"Cinnamon, Mellow Orange, Zesty Lemon and Peppermint Iceâ€"and you can order an 8-pack for only $37.99.18. For the Person Whose Lips Are Constantly DryWinter can be a nightmare for people with sensitive or dry lips, so why not give your partner the gift of soft, moisturized lips? (Not to mention that it makes them way more kissable). Flask Brands  makes their lip balms using only 5 natural ingredients, including peppermint essential oil for flavor. And here’s the best part: You can order them with individual gift wrapping for only $5.99â€"shipping included!19. For Both the Man Who Loves Style and the Man Who Needs Some Style AssistanceSubscribing to monthly gift boxes is all the rage these days. And while these boxes are awesome, they can also represent a monthly expense that folks on a tight budget can’t afford. But with the Styled Man Box, you can order a one-time box, filled with 4-6 practical mens goods, gadgets and stylish accessory upgrades, all for only $39.99 And if you do decide to subscribe monthly, your box will be personalized just for you!20. For When Your Valentine Is Actually Your PetFor lots of people, their greatest love in life isn’t a person; it’s a furry little friend. (Trust us, w e totally get it.) If you want to show your pet how much you appreciate them, then give them the gift of proper identification. These fun, colorful LOVE tag from Twigo Tags  are not only affordable, but they’re incredibly simple to personalize. Just write your info on the tag, boil it to seal the ink, and then loop it on your pet’s collar. Each tag is only $8.00!Having a fun, romantic Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean heartbreak for your bank account. For other great ways to save, check out our blog with relationship expert Samantha Daniels for some great, affordable date ideas. And if you have some awesome ideas of your own, let us know at @OppLoans!

Taking a Hard Look at Khan Academy

The College Board is excited. For the FIRST TIME EVER the College Board is offering FREE practice for the SAT. At its annual forum, College Board widely and enthusiastically touted its new partnership with Khan Academy because it brings free SAT practice to all students, thereby finally leveling the playing field. Now any student willing to put in the work will be able to improve his or her scores through easily accessible example videos, practice drills, tests, and study plans. Its not test prep; its productive practice. So goes the pitch to educators. Students, however, arent just getting this pitch; theyre getting the hard sell. When students go to the College Boards website to register for a test, they are directed to create an account at Khan and start practicing. When students receive their PSAT reports, their results will be ported over to the Khan site and analyzed to form a personalized study plan. That is, the data from the PSAT will be used to identify each students current competency level across an array of math and verbal topics. Those competencies inform the order in which topics are presented to each student. Its simple and elegant. Who wouldnt get excited about free, personalized practice for all students? I agree that Khan Academys SAT practice section is a valuable resource for students who would otherwise have no access to test prep. Khan Academy is not, however, a good place to take practice tests. Claims that it will finally level the playing field are overstated, for it is not a substitute for the kind of thoughtful coaching that has historically helped students improve their performance. At best, and with the following caveats, its a good place to do drills. Khan Academys structural weaknesses undermine productive practice. There are two fundamental issues with prepping through Khan Academy: (1) Screens are not paper. This statement is obvious in the abstract but tends to get left behind when digital proponents enthusiastically speak of increasing accessibility. Its important to remember that answering questions on a computer is a very different kinesthetic experience from answering questions on paper with a pencil, and both modes require different strategies. You probably wouldnt practice tennis on a clay court in order to compete on a grass one just as you wouldnt type an essay to practice penmanship. Its practically axiomatic that students should practice the way theyll play. (2) Competency levels can be deceiving. Because Khan Academy divides skills into four levels, it risks giving students a false sense of mastery of the exam. A student could, for instance, understand a comma splice and even identify and fix it during a drill section on combining sentences, thereby earning the highest level of competency. Having mastered that rule, the student sets it aside. In a live test, however, the student could very well miss it because the greater context or time pressure proves distracting. It happens all the time. Focusing on passage content oversimplifies the reading task. You may remember that Khan Academy began in 2006 as a series of YouTube videos in which Sal Khan tutored his cousin in math. It grew into a site with mini-lectures on mostly math and then some science topics; only more recently has it begun to tackle other fields. I would not be the first to offer a critique of how Khan teaches math, but I would suggest that Khan Academys limited experience with the humanities becomes apparent when we analyze the organization of SAT reading and writing practice. For the sake of brevity, Ill ignore the fact that as of this writing nearly one-third of the writing question types are missing from the drill sets (all of the development and organization questions), and will instead focus on the reading section. The Khan site organizes reading skills by passage genres: science, literature, history, and social science. The assumption is that if a student has a weakness, it will be with a kind of passage rather than a kind of question or kind of comprehension task. In my ten years of working with students, Ive come to believe that helping a student learn how to employ comprehension skills across passage types – e.g. defining the authors argument, decoding the meaning of words in context, identifying the implication of a claim – is more important than exposing a student to particular genres. Appreciating a passages content matters less than thinking critically about what a multiple-choice question is asking and how the answers are worded to distract or confuse a reader. Most students understand and can summarize a passage in their own words better than they think they can; its the questions and answer choices that lead to their confusion. Upon answering a question incorrectly, a student should either be given an explanation, or preferably be asked questions that allow him to figure out where he went wrong. But the explanations offered on Khans site are just as general and unhelpful as the generic classification system. They fail to diagnose where a student has made a comprehension error. They assert rather than illuminate. The kind of granular analysis and personal feedback that could help a student recognize actual weaknesses is currently missing from the reading practice. By structuring its reading practice by genre and offering little ancillary support, Khan Academy reinforces the notion that some students are simply bad at comprehending certain subjects. Khans videos model inconsistency. For the sake of argument, lets accept Khans approach and say that a student consistently struggles to understand science passages. He or she could turn to the How-to videos (one passage per genre) presented alongside the practice sets. Unfortunately, these videos fail to offer actionable strategies for breaking down the passage and answering the questions; students simply observe Sal Khan reading the passage and then answering the questions out loud. Everything about his approach is unconscious and inconsistent – the two qualities any qualified tutor would attempt to eliminate from a students process. As one of many possible examples, Khan underlines portions of the science passage but never talks about when or why a student might want to underline or how that underlining might be used later. He simply repeats phrases like this is really interesting. By the time he reaches later passages, hes dropped underlining altogether, implying that its not an important strategy after all . The videos in which he answers questions arent much better. Once again, his approach is inconsistent: sometimes he uses process of elimination and sometimes he jumps to the right answer. He frequently says things like well, no, this doesnt make sense without further explanation. He rarely returns to the passage to justify an answer (which is ironic given the College Boards emphasis on evidence-based reading skills), relying instead on his memory of the passage. Indeed, he exhibits many of the habits of smart students whose scores hit a ceiling because of careless errors. As models, Khans videos are not only problematic, but are also based on an assumption that viewing a display of skill is equivalent to gaining that skill. Khan Academy is like learning to play golf by watching Tiger Woods and then going to a driving range. Most people will get frustrated when their swings are ineffective. Most people need an experienced golfer to watch their swing closely and offer some tips and tweaks. The personalization offered by Khan Academy is less like a golfing lesson and more like a list that tells you to practice ten swings with your 5-iron, ten with your 9-iron, and ten with your driver. Its a drill, sure, but its just as likely to entrench bad habits as it is to help improve your game. Learning skills requires more than technology. The College Boards current slogan for its partnership with Khan – Skills Arent Bought. Theyre learned. – pushes back against the longstanding (albeit mistaken) perception that students can beat the test by spending lots of money to learn a few tricks. But as weve written about before, effective test prep is not about tricks. High quality tutoring is about identifying gaps in knowledge and helping students not only review what theyve learned in school, but also develop test-taking skills. While Khan Academys free practice is better than no practice, its unlikely that even extensive technology-guided practice will prove more beneficial than the focused guidance of a high-quality teacher or tutor assigning regular timed drills and practice tests. Most students succeed when an expert asks the right questions, listens to their responses, and adjusts lessons accordingly. Education technology is improving rapidly, but computers are still a long way from replacing educators.