Abstract
This paper discusses closed-end mutual funds. It looks at why most investors involved with mutual funds opt for open-end funds for investments. It describes the many types of mutual funds and contends that in contrast with an open-end mutual funds, a so-called closed-end mutual fund is not a mutual fund at all.

From the Paper
"The pricing of securities in the financial markets is, in theory, based on the function of the efficient markets hypothesis. The efficient markets hypothesis among other things assumes that all investor always act rationally in relation ..."

Tags:Mutual, Funds, Closed-End, Open-End, Efficient, markets

Abstract
This paper presents a critical review of Paul Roberts book, "The End of Oil". The paper relates that Roberts' book begins with a candid series of observations that while realistic, are also gloomy. The paper summarizes these observations and then discusses another contention made by Roberts regarding the problems with the world's energy economy. The paper also discusses some of the solutions to the world's energy economy that Roberts makes and points out some of the problems with these solutions. Lastly, the paper discusses the Bush administration's energy policies according to Roberts and concludes with a reference to Robert's concern about what will happen in the Middle East if and when the Saudi crown prince dies. He is a close ally of the U.S., but upon his death, there will be a power struggle in Saudi Arabia, and some experts are convinced that a very anti-American power structure could emerge that could cut the U.S. out of oil.

From the Paper
"Meanwhile, Roberts' book begins with a candid series of observations that while realistic, are also gloomy. In his Prologue, Roberts points out that the Middle East countries are engaged in a "perpetual state of political instability, ethnic conflict, and virulent nationalism" - and oil is at the center of this chaos. The war that the U.S. launched in 2003 in Iraq - ostensibly to remove Saddam Hussein from power - was, Roberts insists, whether "openly acknowledged or not...clearly meant to restore Middle Eastern stability and maintain Western access to a steady supply of oil." The suspicion by Roberts and many others that the current executive branch had a secret oil agenda is given credibility by the fact that the vice president, Dick Cheney, was recently the CEO of Halliburton, an oil service giant, a company in fact that was given billions in no-bid contracts to work in Iraq following the toppling of Saddam."

Tags:hidden, resource, alternative, energy, sources, nuclear, Gas-fired, plants

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the events surrounding the end of the American Civil War. This war was a war of epic proportion. Never before and not since have so many Americans died in battle. The American Civil War was truly tragic in terms of human life. In this document, I will speak mainly around those involved on the battlefield in the closing days of the conflict. Also, reference will be made to the leading men behind the Union and Confederate forces.

Tags:historic, peoples, north, south

Abstract
This paper is based on the short story, "So Much Water, So Close to Home," from the book, "Where I'm Calling From," by Raymond Carver. The paper discusses Mrs. Kanes discovery of Stuarts lack of compassion. It gives examples from the book of times when Stuart acted without compassion, and how Mrs. Kane dealt with his actions.

From the paper:

"In 'So Much Water, So Close to Home' the main character, Mrs. Kane, uses the tragedy of the her husband's discovery to learn that Stuart lacks the ability to show human compassion by his downgrading the discovery to 'nothingness' and that unless he changes or she begins to act now, she will be drug down with him and end up not much better than the girl found floating in the water."

Tags:calling, carver, close, home, much, short, so, story, water

Abstract
This paper examines how, in the article, "Making Ends Meet-How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work" by Christopher Jencks, both sides of the welfare for working mothers issue are addressed. It shows how the article looks closely at the economic hardships of single mothers today from the effects of new government policies to issues of childcare and health expenses. It also looks into the future consequences of changes that may affect the current programs.

From the Paper
"Jencks also discusses the inabilities of single mothers to live on their federally supplied monthly income. According to the article, families with incomes below $5,000 a year somehow also spent $1,100 a month. This is because these women also take non-reportable work and rely on family, friends and the fathers of their children to help support their family (Jencks, 1997). While many may see this as taking advantage of the system, I see it as a necessity. If the federal government is providing so little income to these mothers, they absolutely have to find other sources of income, in order to obtain necessities. In addition, I feel that this is one way that mothers consider themselves responsible for providing family needs."

Tags:childcare, government, income

Abstract
A major theme that exists throughout the works of the poet Emily Dickinson is mortality. The topic of death and how it affects the subject that is passing and those around them is prevalent in such works as "Because I Could Not Stop for Death", "There's Been a Death in the Opposite House", and "My Life Closed Twice Before it Closed". This paper examines how within these works, one can observe Emily Dickinson's views on the end of existence.

From the Paper
"In the work "Because I Could Not Stop for Death", death itself is put into an almost human form. One could view in the mind a figure such as the grim reaper, showing up at the narrator's doorstep to pick him or her up for the ride to "eternity". In reading this poem, I gathered that the narrator was busy in day to day life like we all are, perhaps even stating like some do, that we are too busy to die. However, death, as illustrated in this poem, will "kindly" stop for us. Death, as Dickinson seems to view it in her poem, does not care for the busy life in the world. In reading, I enjoyed how the narrator had an evolution in his or her thinking and priorities. At the beginning of the verse, we read the line "Because I could not stop for Death," which gives me the first impression of the hectic life the narrator had been leading. I then see the speaker's views change with the lines "We slowly drove, he knew no haste, And I had put away My labour, and my leisure too,". With these lines, I saw the narrator change his or her perspectives on the day to day rush of life, realizing that with the end of life there are no more trials and toils. The worries of life go away into what is expressed as a carriage ride into immortality."

Tags:life, existence

Abstract
The paper studies the period of Reconstruction when the country set out to rebuild and to revive the economy of the devastated South. One of the major changes brought about by the Civil War was the end of slavery, as signaled by the Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln. The writer traces the steps taken by U.S. leaders to reclaim the South and integrate freed slaves into American society.

From the Paper
"There were divisions among the black political class at this time as well. In 1865, various black groups entered the political arena in Louisiana. The Equal Rights League formed in that year and held a convention to demand black suffrage and equal access to the city's streetcars, and speakers at the convention denounced the state legislature for poor treatment of blacks. Newspapers saw the convention as evidence of the unity of the black population, but in fact, most of the delegates were New Orleans free blacks. Another group, the emancipated slaves, also entered the political arena at this time, and it seems logical that the rural freedmen would place as much emphasis on the land and labor questions as upon suffrage (Foner 65)."

Tags:slavery, emancipation, freedom, South, Lincoln

Abstract
Centers on Bush v. Gore and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision (5-4) to end a recount in Florida, resulting in Florida's electoral votes giving George W. Bush the Presidency. Closeness of vote. Litigation. Criticism of Supreme Court's decision as partisan & politically motivated. Analysis of a critique of the case from January 2001 edition of California Bar Journal that finds the Court's decision indefensible from a legal standpoint.

From the Paper
"Pundits predicting a close vote in the 2000 Presidential race could not have imagined just how close it would be. So close that the outcome would not be determined for more than four weeks after the November 7 election, and then only after the United States Supreme Court interceded to end a recount in Florida. That decision has been widely criticized as purely partisan and politically motivated. If accurate, the Court s decision contravenes the spirit (if not the letter) of the Court s Constitutional mandate. One of the most thoughtful critics of that decision has been law professor Erwin Chemerinsky. This paper will analyze Chemerinsky s critique of the case, which appeared in the California Bar Journal s January 2001 edition.

This litigation began almost as soon as the election ended."

Abstract
This paper examines how a great gap exists today between the academic achievements of white and Asian-Americans and the rest of the non-Asian minorities, which has been increasing steadily since the 1980s. The paper suggests the gap is a social construct created from the prejudice of the white majority and the unconscious and often paradoxical ways in which minorities inadvertently live up to their expected negative role. Other explanations for the achievement gap are discussed, but in the end, systemic prejudice mixed with the results of the "stereotype threat" are seen to explain the burgeoning divide between minorities and the majority.

From the Paper
"According to Steele's extensive research, constant exposure to negative stereotypes results in one of two different responses. The individual may go through a process called "disidentification" in which "To reduce this stress he may learn to care less about the situations and activities that bring it about -- to realign his self-regard so that it no longer depends on how he does in the situation... Pain is lessened by ceasing to identify with the part of life in which the pain occurs." (Steele, 1999, I) A more commonplace term for this process is tuning out -- for the student effectively tunes out not just negative stereotypical input, but also those parts of their life about which negative stereotypes may occur, such as the academic world. The other response is to gear up: to try doubly hard to overcome and disprove the stereotype. Most theorists would blame tuning out for the gap in achievement -- however, Steele suggests that gearing up may be equally to blame."

Tags:prejudice, stereotype, hispanics, blacks

Abstract
The paper discusses how the inclusion of slaves in the Union ranks gave the Northern forces the additional manpower they needed to bring a speedier close to the Civil War. The paper explains that for one thing, the existence of these men in the ranks of the Northern forces meant that some of the terrific demand for more bodies at the front was alleviated for the north - whilst the same could surely not be said for the Confederate forces.

From the Paper
"Put simply, the inclusion of slaves in the Union ranks gave the Northern forces the additional manpower they needed to bring a speedier close to the Civil War. For one thing, the existence of these men in the ranks of the Northern forces meant that some of the terrific demand for more bodies at the front was alleviated for the north - whilst the same could surely not be said for the Confederate forces. Perhaps more significantly, however, the African-American regiments - like the First North Carolina Colored Volunteers - fought with surpassing courage and tenacity and..."

Tags:confederacy, civil, war