The idiom “doesn’t hold water” means an argument, plan, or statement is flawed and false. It comes from the reliability of containers to hold liquids. It is used to question trustworthiness and tear down excuses. When someone says something doesn’t hold water, they are trying to suggest that an argument, plan, or statement has some […]
Home bias is when investors prefer domestic securities over foreign ones, despite foreign investments being more profitable. This bias can be due to difficulties in buying foreign securities, higher transaction costs, legal restrictions, and national pride. However, diversifying a portfolio with foreign investments can protect against losses in the domestic market. Home bias is a […]
The European Central Bank (ECB) was founded in 1998 to maintain price stability in the Eurozone. Its main goal is to create and maintain price stability, achieved through a low inflation rate and high employment. The ECB has many tools at hand, including the ability to issue bank notes and work with other European banking […]
Rhetoric and logic are closely related, with logic being an important part of rhetoric. The purpose of studying logic is to break down arguments to their bare bones, while rhetoric appeals to emotion and authority. Politicians use both rhetoric and logic to make compelling arguments. However, in formal logic, rhetoric is often seen as contradictory […]
Jubilee 2000 aimed to eliminate Third World foreign debt by 2000, based on the biblical concept of Jubilee. The movement had some success but fell short of its goal. It inspired continuing organizations dedicated to debt relief and forgiveness worldwide. Jubilee 2000 is an international coalition of churches and activist groups that sought to eliminate […]
“Patois” refers to non-standard languages, including dialects, pidgin, and creole. It is not technically correct to use it for jargon or slang. The term originated from French and was used to refer to regional French dialects. Creole languages can also be referred to as patois. The definition of patois is not firmly defined and can […]
Chinese philosophy, including Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and Confucianism, has been held by millions for thousands of years. It emphasizes spirituality, established order, and human virtues. It has influenced Western thinkers, writers, and artists and has even appeared in popular Western media. Chinese philosophy includes ideas about existence held by millions of people from China and […]
Insolvency refers to a person or business that cannot pay debts or has liabilities exceeding assets, while bankruptcy is a formal legal concept where the government intervenes to settle debts. Insolvency can lead to bankruptcy, but not always. There are two types of insolvency: cash flow and balance sheet. Bankruptcy can severely damage credit for […]
A jumbo pool is a mortgage-backed security backed by multiple groups of investors, including a broader range of properties and mortgages from across the country and possibly international locations, making it a safer investment with consistent returns. A jumbo pool is a financial term used to identify a mortgage-backed security backed by multiple groups of […]
A shadow economy operates outside of established trade and accounting principles, with goods and services that can be legal or illegal, but the financial aspect is almost always illegal. It violates trade laws by avoiding taxes and can include illegal activities. It thrives during rationing, and modern examples revolve around heavily regulated or illegal activities […]
An absolute nominative is a type of sentence within a complex sentence that describes the main sentence. It contains a subjective noun and verb, separated by commas. It is often used in Latin and Ancient Greek and can be mistaken for a “leaning participle”. An absolute nominative is the linguistic term given to a type […]
An EEG test monitors and records brain wave activity through electrodes attached to a patient’s scalp. The test is used to diagnose neurological disorders, head injuries, brain diseases, and sleep disorders. The patient may be awake or asleep during the test, and preparation varies depending on the patient’s condition. EEG results may be available several […]
Backup dancers add depth to live and recorded performances and can become part of a permanent creative team. They need professional training and skills in specific dance types, attend rehearsals, and must be able to adapt to mistakes during live performances. The job can be physically demanding, and pay varies. A backup dancer accompanies the […]
Maquiladoras are Mexican companies that temporarily import materials without paying export taxes to produce goods at a low cost, usually by Mexican workers, and then export and sell them at a higher price. The maquila program allows for the import of all necessary equipment, but the maquiladora must sign a bond stating that the equipment […]
Grammatical gender is a system in some languages where nouns are classified by gender, often masculine, feminine or neuter. Adjectives and articles must agree. Some languages have more extensive and complex gender systems, including assigning gender based on animate and inanimate categories or physical forms of objects. Grammatical gender is a system in the grammar […]
Brigadoon is a musical set in an enchanted Scottish village that appears every hundred years. The story centers around a traveling American couple who stumble upon the village just before a wedding. The musical features traditional Scottish music and dance and has been performed worldwide. Brigadoon is a musical written in 1947. The musical centers […]
Corporate credit unions provide investment banking and deposit services to smaller consumer credit unions. They help pool resources and make transactions more efficient. In the US, credit union leagues serve the larger credit union community. Consumer credit unions offer better interest rates and benefits to affiliated clients. A corporate credit union is a larger credit […]
Iatrogenesis is harm caused by medical treatment or personnel, including medical errors, adverse drug effects, misdiagnosis, and surgical errors. It can also be psychological in origin, with patients suffering from symptoms of diseases they don’t have due to diagnostic errors or mistaken beliefs. Iatrogenesis remains a leading cause of disease and death. Iatrogenesis refers to […]
Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code governs secured transactions of property and the rights of parties involved, including mortgages, liens, and physical assets. It was revised in 2002 to give creditors greater rights to guarantees and make financial statement submissions subject to more stringent requirements. As part of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Article […]
Social satire is a form of humor that criticizes society’s flaws, including politics and attitudes. It originated in ancient Greece and Rome and has been used by writers such as Aristophanes, Juvenal, and Jonathan Swift. Modern examples include TV shows like Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show. Satire is a humorous criticism aimed at […]
