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The Connection Between Reason and Knowledge
By Phineas Upham Objectivists perceive reality for what it is. They do bring their own perceptions into a discussion, or an observation, but the pure philosophical stance is to try and perceive facts as they are without injecting bias or reason into them. However, reason is the basis of knowledge for all objectivist thinking. These two concepts seem at odds on the surface, yet Objectivism is keenly aware of the connection between reason and knowledge at all times. Man observes a phenomenon using his five senses to perceive it. He begins to form concepts based on those observations, and the brain (whether we are conscious of it or not) is…
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Private Mediation: What Construction Contractors Need to Know
You might consider yourself a construction claims expert, but do you know how to avoid taking a case to trial? If you’re not sure what the answer is, you could potentially lose thousands of dollars and untold hours of productivity. Sometimes a claim is not enough, and the other party feels wronged to the point where they need to make an additional claim. Aside from settling for a smaller amount, there is one other tactic that can provide excellent results and help maintain professional relationships. How Mediation Works Mediation involves the two parties in dispute, and a neutral third party. Their job is to try and understand the dilemma, and…
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The Complicated World of City Planning
City planning is a huge undertaking. Cities develop as they grow, so planners must be very careful to work on projects that will help future growth, not hinder it. Concepts like how people move, where they will work or commute to, and what roads they’ll use to get there must be considered with years of advanced planning. Along the way things go wrong, leading to claims and wasted tax payer money. City planning isn’t all doom and gloom, nor is it a money pit. In fact, civic construction projects can be a huge boon for local economies. Allocation The first major hurdle city planning projects go through is allocation of…
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Ads and the Web: Inseparable
Ever since the first forms of media began broadcasting over airwaves, advertising has been integral to the development of content. Somehow that mentality gets lost in translation when discussing the Web. Ads on the Web are seen as particularly jarring, but they represent nothing substantially different in practice than how we’ve behaved for hundreds of years. Ads are an integral part of the Web ecosystem, and it’s important to understand how and why advertising is necessary. The Illusion of “Free” Blogs are free. Starting a blog is free. Reading a blog is (usually) free. Quality blogs that people actually want to read are not free. People require unique content on…
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The Facts about Dryfast Foam and its Uses
Written by: TheFoamFactory.com If you’re looking for the ideal outdoor foam replacement, you should look for foam cushions that have wide open cells. The open cells let water pass through the foam, which helps avoid a lot more than just a soppy cushion. Mildew and mold won’t grow on dry foam, as long as it’s not left in a puddle. You can order this special kind of foam online, custom-cut to fit any piece of furniture you need. Thickness You can order dryfast up to 6 inches in thickness, which is plenty thick for a chair or swing cushion. The extra air flow also helps keep the foam from feeling…
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The Impact of Publishing Financial Statements
By Samuel Phineas Upham Along with the growth of the railroad came the birth of corporate finance statements. The late 1800s represented one of the first times American corporations had the ability to pursue bigger sources for financing and growth. The railroad offered investors hands-on experience with a potential company, where they could see how an operation was run and if it was worth investing. They could also check up on their progress, all in a matter of days and with certainty. Financial statements were just the next logical step in that direction. Attracting Capital The balance sheet wasn’t any attempt at corporate self-regulation, it was a solicitation of sorts…
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How Does Student Loan Debt Affect Your Credit?
Can student loans lower your credit scores? Well, yes—but how much depends largely on how you handle those debts. One thing’s for sure: the amount of student loan debt owed has increased pretty dramatically in just the last seven years. New figures from FICO show that the average student loan debt since 2005 has increased 54%–from $17,236 to $26,549. And the number of consumers with two or more open student loans on their credit report doubled in the same time, from 6 percent in 2005 to 12 percent now. The increase in loan debt, by itself, doesn’t necessarily affect the credit scores of those who are carrying it. How is Student…
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What Did Bernard Madoff Do?
On June 29, 2009, Bernard L. Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison. Let’s take a moment to understand how his scheme worked. The end result, of course, is that Madoff created up to an estimated $50 billion of losses for investors — said to be the biggest fraud committed in the history of Wall Street. Too Good to Be True Madoff’s firm offered what most investors seek — low risk and high returns. This should have fallen under the “too good to be true” category, as these concepts are fundamentally at odds. Investors should have seen red flags when they saw that no other investment…
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Where to Buy Caribbean Vacation Homes for Sale
Written by: James Bovell Summary: Seven Mile Beach offers excellent value for the savvy investor. Grand Cayman homes occupy some of the most beautiful real estate in the world, with everything from luxury condos in a swanky downtown area, to secluded beach-side bungalows and singe-family homes. The Cayman Islands cater to families looking for a relaxed lifestyle that bends business and pleasure in the best possible ways. If you’re wondering where the hottest locations are to buy, these tips will help you. Seven Mile Beach The Seven Mile Beach stretch of Grand Cayman is full of luxury developments, offering some of the best amenities on the islands. Beach bars dot…
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This Trick is Consistently Effective at Holding User Engagement
Users want content. It’s not necessarily good to be the gatekeeper of content, which various media outlets are learning, but it can be beneficial to be an interstitial. Users are willing to sit through shorter ads if it means that the content they want is just a few seconds away. This is why free services like YouTube or Hulu are able to thrive. One rising trend among advertisers is the usage of pre-roll ads on videos, which capture user attention just long enough for messaging to be effective. Explainer Videos Explainer videos primarily help push a customer towards conversion. These videos help set the stage for what to expect. They…