Evaluating the effectiveness of quantitative easing: An SVAR approach

The 2008 recession affected the American economy more than any recession since the Great Depression. Unlike its response to the Great Depression, the Federal Reserve aimed to stimulate the economy through all means in its power. However, the Federal Reserve’s conventional monetary policy tools were not viable options due to the zero lower bound. As a result, the Federal Reserve pursued an unconventional monetary policy tool known as quantitative easing which involved purchases of long-term assets on a scale never before seen in the United States. Since its inception, quantitative easing has faced significant scrutiny over its merit and has been the focus of research that has resulted in conclusions ranging from a complete failure to a resounding success. This paper focuses on quantitative easing’s effect on the macroeconomy and finds that although quantitative easing was effective in increasing inflation and lowering rates on long-term Treasuries and mortgages, there was a negative effect on real economic activity, casting doubt on how effective these programs were on stimulating the economy as a whole

The Last Crusade: British Crusading Rhetoric During the Great War

During the Great War many in British society started to utilize Crusading language and rhetoric to describe their experiences during the war. Those utilizing the rhetoric ranged from soldiers, journalists, politicians, to clergymen. The use of Crusading rhetoric tended to involve British nationalism, the region of Palestine, anti-Germanism, and more. Adding to the complexity, the soldiers’ and civilians’ rhetoric differed greatly between the two groups. While the soldiers focused on their personal experiences during the war, and often compared themselves to the British crusaders of old serving under Richard the Lionheart. The civilians had a less personal approach, and a far greater tendency to use the rhetoric against the German Empire. The focus of this study will be to examine who utilized crusading rhetoric, why they used it, and the contrast between the soldiers and civilians who used it

Teaching Appropriate Feedback Reception Skills Using Computer-Based Training

Feedback is a commonly used intervention to address performance issues in a number of settings. Most research on feedback has focused on manipulating parameters surrounding the delivery of feedback. However, the interaction between those delivering the feedback and a feedback recipient may also influence the impact of performance feedback. The current study investigated the efficacy of training individuals to receive feedback in an appropriate manner using a computer-based training format. Following computer-based training, participants exhibited increases in accuracy of appropriate feedback behaviors when compared to baseline. Participants also demonstrated slight increases in performance on primary job tasks. This study extends the application of computer-based trainings to a new and complex set of behaviors. This study also discusses how computer-based training may increase training efficiency when applied to settings where a sizable portion of an organization needs to be trained in certain skills when compared to traditional in-person training formats. This study extends the research line of training appropriate feedback reception skills

“It’s Not A Fucking Book, It’s A Weapon!”: Authority, Power, And Mediation In The Book Of Eli

The mediation of religious narratives through sacred texts is intimately bound to the power relations involved in their transmission and maintenance. Those who possess such mediated messages and control their access and interpretation have historically held privileged positions of authority, especially when those positions are not easily contested. The 2010 film The Book of Eli uniquely engages these elements by placing the alleged last copy of the King James Version of the Christian Bible at the forefront of a clash between different individuals in a post-nuclear wasteland. This paper, drawing on Max Weber’s notion of “charisma,” and scholars addressing religion, power, and violence, examines the role of authority and the shifting power relations revolving around the possession and use of this sacred text throughout the film. In doing so, it seeks to carry associated implications and critiques outside of the film and into the contemporary world

Platinum-Iridium Alloys in Jewelry

One of the most widely used metals on the periodic table is Platinum (Pt). The name is derived from the Spanish Platina, meaning “silver.” This malleable, ductile material is widely used in applications due to its unique chemical properties. A couple of these unique properties include a high melting point and good resistance to corrosion or chemical attack. Platinum materials have alloys that are indispensable in the chemical laboratory for electrodes. This allows for material applications in crucibles and dishes to withstand elevated temperatures. Platinum is used primarily in catalytic converters in vehicles converting emissions from the vehicle’s engine into carbon dioxide and water vapor. White gold is a gold-platinum alloy that is used in the making of jewelry and dentistry. Other applications include computer hard disks, thermocouples, LCDs, turbine blades, spark plugs, dental fillings, etc. In the research, Pt950/Ir 50 will be the specific alloy discussed throughout. Platinum-Iridium (Pt950/Ir 50) is known as the chosen alloy in the manufacturing of jewelry for its soft and fragile gem setting. We chose Platinum 950/Iridium 50 as our metal. It is a platinum alloy used in jewelry applications that is composed of 95% Platinum and 5% Iridium. Iridium is added to elements to increase several material properties such as hardness or chemical/heat resistance. This alloy is usually manufactured or cold rolled to produce jewelry. This motivated our group to dive deeper into the understanding of microstructures within this alloy.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/metallurgy/1040/thumbnail.jp

Righteous Remixes, Sacred Mashups: Rethinking Authority, Authenticity, and Originality in the Study of Religion

This dissertation sets out to place emergent theories of “remix” in conversation with scholarship exploring changes in the definitions and practices associated with the word “religion.” Through particular case studies, the dissertation analyzes the ways that certain contemporary creators, writers, and influencers have emerged as constructors of contemporary Buddhism. Specifically building upon the critiques of religion put forth by Jonathan Z. Smith, Russell T. McCutcheon, Brent Nongbri, Jane Iwamura, and others, I am concerned with how individuals who are not part of the religious studies scholarly community participate in the processes of constructing religion, and in this case, in constructing and contributing to changes in a specifically North American and European understanding of Buddhism. Utilizing an approach that centers on the art of metaphor, and employing a model for specifically studying cultural constructs via remix theory that I term Remix+/-, I explore the ways that a few influential leaders, including Stephen Batchelor, Osamu Tezuka, and Jon Kabat-Zinn, express and advocate for certain approaches to practices, rituals, and beliefs that are ostensibly related to historic forms of Buddhism. I argue that the ways they make their claims are best understood in relation to patterned metaphorical assumptions about religion. I further highlight the ways that these individuals are able to leverage technologies, rhetorics, and techniques in order to lay their claim – directly or indirectly – to authority, originality, and authenticity. Finally, I argue that these emergent leaders may be understood as exemplars not only of changes to Buddhism that are occurring today, but of what is likely to happen in the future with increasing speed. This speed and direction of change in “religion” is due to the affordances of digital technologies that intensify existing relations of power and amplify the views of those positioned, as these leaders are, to lay claim to certain linguistic, cultural, geographic, and technological resources as they participate in the construction of an emergent form of what they argue is Buddhism

The Ursinus Weekly, February 12, 1917

Basketball team drops three games • Founders\u27 Day next Thursday • Union banquet next Saturday • Vesper services • Letter from Petrograd • Literary societies • Girls play basketball • College calendar • On the campus • Inter-class basketball leaguehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2579/thumbnail.jp