THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919) Essays - Cowboys, Theodore Roosevelt

THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919) Essays - Cowboys, Theodore Roosevelt THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919) Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most successful presidents in American history. He was fun to hang around with. He had a screeching voice that sometimes scared people who did not expect it coming from a man like himself. He told jokes and played with children. He loved children. He told ghost stories that would scare the little children to death. However, he had another side to him. When it was not time for fun and games anymore, he meant it and he did his job well. He took great pride in the United States. He wanted the best for his country and therefore he served his country to the very best of his ability. Roosevelt had a poor health when he was young. His asthma was especially bad. Whenever his asthma acted up on him, his caring father would take young Roosevelt out on the wagon and ride around until he got better. This is where Roosevelt gained his love for nature. He enjoyed being outside. He loved the tranquility of the forest, the animals, the water and such. A particular favorite of his was the bird. He loved the birds. He soon got into studying taxonomy and excelled in it. Roosevelt overcame his poor with many activities as he grew older. He did wrestling, riding, hunting, and swimming. Boxing was one of his favorites sports. He even managed to permanently injure one of his eyes during a boxing match. Roosevelt liked to take initiative. Therefore when he became impatient about not being able to get into any military action he resigned his Navy post in May 1898 to serve as lieutenant colonel under Wood. Roosevelt gathered himself a handful of volunteers and created what we as the Rough Riders. The Rough Riders became famous after Roosevelt ordered them to charge Sanuan Hill. They did so successfully and Roosevelt came back from battle a legend and thus beginning

Theme 101 What Is It and Why It Matters (with 10+ Actual Examples!)

Theme 101 What Is It and Why It Matters (with 10+ Actual Examples!) What is the Theme of Your Story? A Guide for Authors Pop quiz: what is the theme of a story? Let's get the obvious answers out of the way. It's not the song that comes near the start, nor does it relate to decor and costumes (like in a 'pirate-themed' party). Theme in literature relates to what a book is about.â€Å"What Start the quiz!Share your results in the comments below!How do you approach themes when writing fiction? Do you start with a theme in mind, or do you look for common threads as you’re writing? Or are themes not necessary to all forms of fiction? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Professional Ethics and Responsibilities in Computer Technology Research Paper

Professional Ethics and Responsibilities in Computer Technology - Research Paper Example However, software developers, individuals and businesses have to think about the rights and wrongs of making use of the information technology every day. The basic concerns essential to the world of IT are the end user's anticipations of privacy and the provider's ethical responsibility to utilize email or applications (Katers, 2012). Due to quickly changing environment of information technology, new and complex ethical concerns are emerging that bring into question the capability of society to tackle, and self-confidently resolve them. These serious issues and concerns are taking place in different fields such as information technology, biotechnology, nuclear technology, nanotechnology (Kastenberg, 2011). This paper discusses the role of the professional ethics and responsibilities in computer technology. The basic aim of this research is to discuss the importance and relevance of computer ethics in information technology. ... Moreover, in a business environment, some of the important professional ethical issues can be: (Sembok, 2003; Duke University, 2011) Managing human resource issues Impartiality in data analysis and professional consulting Data privacy Resolution of conflicts of interest Professional accountability Software piracy Academic honesty Adherence to confidentiality agreements In addition, the problems and issues of IT Ethics have recently turned out to be the biggest challenge for business organizations as well as individuals. In this scenario, the potential to put huge material on the web has attracted a vast majority of people. However, developing systems and applications have quietly concealed the issues and complexities as well as aggravations that were concerned in writing HTML; increasingly websites are being developed by people with a comparatively diffident quantity of computer systems (Schweitzer, 2005). The incorporation of new technology based systems has been almost never so sim ple. Moreover, as the web started to expand out of its shortened immaturity, a wide variety of new problems and concerns emerged repeatedly, and a majority of concerns and issues remained unresolved. Moreover, a lot of problems and concerns hold powerful ethics related data and information content. As the potential to arrive at millions of people immediately has passed into the hands of the individuals, the quick emergence of thorny ethical concerns is probable to carry-on unabated (Schweitzer, 2005). Common Dilemmas As ethics is not a black-and-white topic, the choices we formulate could affect our business or even our living. There are numerous ethical problems that can happen while making use of networking, social media or any IT based

As You Like It by Shakespeare is the still comedy, even Jaques seems Essay

As You Like It by Shakespeare is the still comedy, even Jaques seems like he got a tentative settlement (kind of unhappy ending) - Essay Example In a way Jacques role can be described as an individual who lives for others and whose aim is only to make the painful and dismissal surroundings turn into bliss as he states â€Å"O worthy fool!..............With observation, the which he vents In mangled forms. O that I were a fool! I am ambitious for a motley coat†. (Reed, 1901) Jacques displays an uncharacteristic burst of delight. Interactions with the fool in the forest who entertained him provided nihilistic musings on the passage of time and on man’s life. According to Touchstone this time is portrayed as life spent in man’s own decay, â€Å"â€Å"from hour to hour we rot and rot† (Reed, 1901) This fact for Jacques enables delight from depression and rancid. But analyzing this point from the other angle portrays Jacques who is attempting to make the toughest and miserable aspect of life, palatable. Indeed life is short and every hour of existence only leads us towards decomposition but instead of brooding over this horror as Jacques who draws positivism from negativities we must make the best out of our lives and enjoy spreading this happiness around us. Jacques is a normal human being who from the conversations with Rosalind â€Å"I have neither the scholars melancholy, which is emulation, nor the musicians, which is fantastical, nor the courtiers, which is proud, nor the soldiers, which is ambitious, nor the lawyers, which is politic, nor the ladys, which is nice, nor the lovers, which is all these: but it is a melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, extracted from many objects, and indeed the sundrys contemplation of my travels, in which my often rumination wraps me m a most humorous sadness† (Reed ,1901) portrays his optimism during his world travels and with this conversation with Duke Senior an intriguing fact that Jacques was a ‘libertine’ who indulged in sensual vices. Perhaps due to this bitterness Jacques has placed himself as

Planned Organizational Change Essay Example for Free

Planned Organizational Change Essay Abstract Planned organizational change can be defined in many different ways, and characterized on many different levels. The common denominator listed after reviewing two related Internet articles, indicates that change cannot take place for changes sake, but must be implemented to accomplish a specific goal or task. Another common statement states that change must also be accepted and embraced before the desired outcome is achieved. Planned Organizational Change Planned organizational change can be defined in many different ways, and characterized on many different levels. The common denominator listed after reviewing two related Internet articles, indicates that change cannot take place for changes sake, but must be implemented to accomplish a specific goal or task. Another common statement states that change must also be accepted and embraced before the desired outcome is achieved. The first Internet article reviewed was titled Planned Organizational Change as Cultural Revolution (Izumi and Taylor. n.d.). This article was particularly interesting because of the broad statement provided indicating that organizational schemes often fail because of poor reception by those involved. The article states: Organizational schemes gang aft a-gley during the implementation stage because the corporate culture does not change enough to allow the new ideas, procedures, and structures to take hold. There may not be the cultural buy-in necessary to sustain the current change effort. If planned change is to be successful, it must include, as an integral and critical part of the change process, the seeds of the new values, beliefs, and attitudes the organization is trying to grow. Unfortunately, change programs are often set up to fail because the change methods only perpetuate the old way of doing things. This statement rings particularly true for this author. Over the past 20  years in business I have witnessed many organizational changes that have failed miserably. Businesses seem to want a change, for different reasons, but do not know how to properly implement these changes. Improper implementation of a sound plan, not enough organizational commitment, and organizational politics, as indicated in the article, seem to provide some of the most common reasons for failure related to organizational change. Businesses will sometimes have a valid plan to change an organization, but neglect the final stages of implementation. This lack of follow-up invalidates the entire effort. Politics also play a significant role in most organizational change failures. Many businesses have allowed small unofficial organizations to form within organizations; this creates internal kingdoms which prove fatal to organizational change. A strong belief in the importance of a proper structure, as told by the article, often causes change factors to focus on the organization instead or processes. The effects of this type of change produce a structural change instead of a process change that allows the same processes to function under new management. The article goes as far as mentioning on model, used specifically in the case of large mergers, how many resources can be combined with little analysis of the operating environment. The thinking is, the combination of skills, thoughts and ideas will combine to form an organization that operates in a drastically different manner that initially imagined. This idea sounds valid, but a combination of organizational direction from management combined with the evolution of processes and organization would seem to provide the most effective solution. Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is one of the most interesting ideas retrieved from the first Internet article. The BPR is described as a natural outgrowth of the Internal Process approach to organizational effectiveness. This model concentrates on targeting internal processes for change. When these processes are analyzed for inefficiencies there is little consideration given to strategy or organizational structure. When internal processes are changed to increase efficiency, the old systems should be replaced with new systems rather than using the old systems to create new  processes. As old systems are purged, the effects on the organization increase exponentially. The domino effect seen by replacing old processes often surprises businesses as to the effectiveness of this model. The second article reviewed was titled: Basic Context for Organizational Change, this article parallels the previous article reviewed by this author. This article written by Carter McNamara, PhD provides two interesting points: (1) Change should not be done for the sake of change, and (2) There is typically strong resistance to change; people are afraid of the unknown. This author has witnessed several organization changes that could easily been implemented simply for change sake. The Internet article helps in the realization of the necessity for organizational-wide changes to truly create situations that effect positive change. Many times businesses will implement organizational changes in only one or two departments, when the change truly effects the every department or division in a small way. Organizational-wide change, along with change acceptance will go a long way toward creating a favorable atmosphere to change. Typically there are strong resistances to organizational change. People are afraid of the unknown. Many people like the way things are, are comfortable, and dont understand the need for change. Many people view any organizational change as bad, and neglect to give proposed changes an opportunity to succeed. This type of behavior is difficult to remedy, but a well-structured, properly organized change can implement change much easier that an ill conceived plan. In conclusion, this author has realized the importance of implementing and following through with planned changes as an integral part of successful organizational change. This author has also realized that change for change sake is a dangerous proposition and organizational changes should always consider the entire company before attempting local changes. A final lesson teaches the importance of recognizing peoples inherent resistance to change and the need to address human resistance as an important step in any organizational change effort. The items reviewed in both internet articles discussed effective ways to implement and recognized planned change, and  should be invaluable in future business endeavors. Reference Izumi, H., Taylor, D., (n.d.). Planned organizational change as cultural evolution. Empire State College Resource List. Para. 2. Retrieved April 15, 2003 from the World Wide Web:http://www.esc.edu/ESConline/across_esc/forumjournal.nsf/ 3cc42a422514347a8525671d0049f395/1f36661906ca98d9852567b00

CAM and the Medical Community :: Medicine Medical Health Essays

CAM and the Medical Community Alternative, complementary, and integrative healing are all part of a well debated but poorly researched area of medicine. Doctors of the conventional American and European medical communities have been long prone to dismiss unconventional healing methods such as acupuncture, herbal supplements, and massage therapy as ineffective, or outright crackpot methods of treating illness. The view of the medical community, however, seems to have little impact of the growing popularity of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) among patients. An increasing number of people in the United States and Europe have been turning to these treatments in addition to or instead of traditional Western medicine. The sheer popularity of CAM has forced the medical community to better examine the acceptance of CAM in medicine. CAM encompasses a wide range of healing methods from acupuncture to massage therapy to herbal remedies such as St. Johnà ­s Wort and Echinacea. Many of these remedies have been around for centuries. In the case of Acupuncture, there have been regulations on acupuncture in China and Japan for years. However, since many of these procedures have not been proven à ¬scientificallyà ®, western medicine had largely rejected the remedies as being effective forms of treatment. One professor of medicine at the Rabin Medical Center likened CAM to beliefs in magic and superstition that medicine relied on before modern scientific advances. "The deep model of Alternative medicine is anthropocentric magic. The explanations of the practitioners of alternate medicine are giving patients a set of magical rules to control the physical world, rules that have the human as the fulcrum."(1). In this article, he argues that alternative medicine is fraudulent, impossible to prove in clinical trials, and t herefore, unacceptable even on the fringes of modern medicine. Arguments to the contrary have grown increasingly louder as acupuncture, holistic therapies, and herbal remedies grow popular in the western markets. Most of these remedies and treatments have been around for centuries, so there must arguably be some healing properties to these treatments. People turn to CAM treatments when western medicine fails them. CAM provides people with more options and gives them hope for remedy. One argument for the acceptance of CAM is the Psychological impact it has on its patients. Herbal treatments and acupuncture give people hope for alleviation of their symptoms. One example of this can be seen at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. They provide their cancer patients acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, and other CAM services in addition to their chemotherapy treatments. CAM and the Medical Community :: Medicine Medical Health Essays CAM and the Medical Community Alternative, complementary, and integrative healing are all part of a well debated but poorly researched area of medicine. Doctors of the conventional American and European medical communities have been long prone to dismiss unconventional healing methods such as acupuncture, herbal supplements, and massage therapy as ineffective, or outright crackpot methods of treating illness. The view of the medical community, however, seems to have little impact of the growing popularity of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) among patients. An increasing number of people in the United States and Europe have been turning to these treatments in addition to or instead of traditional Western medicine. The sheer popularity of CAM has forced the medical community to better examine the acceptance of CAM in medicine. CAM encompasses a wide range of healing methods from acupuncture to massage therapy to herbal remedies such as St. Johnà ­s Wort and Echinacea. Many of these remedies have been around for centuries. In the case of Acupuncture, there have been regulations on acupuncture in China and Japan for years. However, since many of these procedures have not been proven à ¬scientificallyà ®, western medicine had largely rejected the remedies as being effective forms of treatment. One professor of medicine at the Rabin Medical Center likened CAM to beliefs in magic and superstition that medicine relied on before modern scientific advances. "The deep model of Alternative medicine is anthropocentric magic. The explanations of the practitioners of alternate medicine are giving patients a set of magical rules to control the physical world, rules that have the human as the fulcrum."(1). In this article, he argues that alternative medicine is fraudulent, impossible to prove in clinical trials, and t herefore, unacceptable even on the fringes of modern medicine. Arguments to the contrary have grown increasingly louder as acupuncture, holistic therapies, and herbal remedies grow popular in the western markets. Most of these remedies and treatments have been around for centuries, so there must arguably be some healing properties to these treatments. People turn to CAM treatments when western medicine fails them. CAM provides people with more options and gives them hope for remedy. One argument for the acceptance of CAM is the Psychological impact it has on its patients. Herbal treatments and acupuncture give people hope for alleviation of their symptoms. One example of this can be seen at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. They provide their cancer patients acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, and other CAM services in addition to their chemotherapy treatments.

Analysis and Discussion of the Nature of Team Building Process

I have just been appointed as a Manager of a Department within a new company. My role will be to develop a new work group of twelve into an effective and cohesive business team. The aim of this paper will be to analyse and discuss the nature of the teambuilding process. I will look at the various components involved in this process, from Leadership Styles and communication methods to decision-making, planning, and group dynamics. Within the context of this framework I will attempt to integrate several academic models and theories in order to clarify my own ideas on the teambuilding process. Finally, I will focus on my own personal style of leadership and motivational techniques. Would I have been able to lead the team to achieve its maximum potential? Have I achieved a good balance between directing group actions and giving the group the freedom to make their own choices? Ultimately, have I been honest enough with the group to gain their trust and respect? The most important aspect in the initial teambuilding phase is time spent on planning. Before the team meets as a group it will be necessary to clearly define the reason for the team's existence. What will be their function within the context of the organisations future strategies? As Coghlan (1994,) states: † Groups and teams play a key role in the process of planned organisational change. The change process typically involves teams in the organisation's hierarchy responding to the change agenda and adapting to it in terms of its tasks and processes. †    I think it is essential at this stage to also consider which leadership style gives me the best opportunity to obtain maximum effectiveness for the group. The previous questions identify several separate issues i.e. what tasks will the group have to perform and how will this affect individuals within the group? John Adair (1985) identifies the relationship between the task, the group and the individual (see fig. 1) and how a balance must be maintained between all three in order to produce the most effective results for the organisation. Fig.1 Interaction of needs within the group. ( Adair, 1985) In order to fulfil each of these needs it is necessary to obtain a high degree of information, and to establish lines of communication. My first task will be to identify the companies strategy and what requirements they have for the team. Will the team have to report back specifically to anyone, or will there be a certain level of group autonomy? It will also be necessary to define the boundaries/parameters that the team will be required to work within. I will also establish what resources are available i.e. money, information, time and materials. Will we have use of a secretary for notetaking and access to a suitable room for team meetings? Once the issues of task have been established I will then explore the expectations and experiences of the individuals who will comprise the group. Schutz (1958) argues that it is possible to determine how well a group will come together by looking at the compatibility of the individuals within that group. In order to match personality types and balance skill levels it is useful to look at the work of Meredith Belbin (1993) whose research offers a typology of team roles and behaviour (fig. 2). Each team member would be required to complete Belbin's Self-Perception Inventory before the meeting. Tyson and Jackson (1992) further categorised Belbin's original eight roles into subsections of people, task and ideas. They identified the wide range of differences in personality and character those individual team members would bring to a group, this in turn enables predictions to be made about the possible strengths and weaknesses in group dynamics. I think that it would also be a useful tool for team members to understand their own unique attributes that they bring to the team. These one to one meetings will be a good opportunity to express to team members an outline of the companies objectives and to get a feel for their own expectations and interests. I would also emphasise that within the team a level of parity will exist, irrespective of external hierarchies, and that I would always be available if individual members felt that decisions taken within the group were causing external pressures. My final task before organising the first team meeting would be to get each member to briefly write down what their levels of expertise and experience are and a short outline about themselves, plus relevant e-mail addresses and telephone numbers (if they have access). This initial pattern of communication is comparable to ‘the wheel' Mullins (1999) where the leader acts as a central conduit through which all parties communicate and indirectly are all linked. My eventual aim however would be to decentralise this communication method and achieve ‘the all-channel network' Mullins (1999). The latter system requires that all members of the team interact with each other. I would hope that this system would produce an environment where all members feel comfortable enough to express themselves freely, and that the communication channels promote the free exchange of ideas. The next stage in the teambuilding cycle is the team meeting. This will require a certain amount of planning and consideration. This preparation will hopefully convey a level of professionalism and intent to each of the team members. Because the team are new to each other, and to me, I will be trying to gain their trust and promote confidence in the project. It is essential to ensure that everyone will be able to attend the meeting. I would plan for weekly meetings initially on one dedicated afternoon (probably Monday). This would allow the team to clear their schedule well in advance. Regular attendance demonstrates a level of commitment and promotes team unity, which is vitally important at this stage. It is also important to have an agenda with a time-scale built in, meetings can become long and drawn out and members lose interest and focus. Team members should be notified well in advance of the meeting, either by e-mail or memo. The initial phase of the meeting will allow the team to introduce themselves. This will then be followed by my own introduction, and a presentation which would emphasise the organisations goals and objectives (It might be necessary to invite someone from senior management to give a short introduction to the project, and to stress the importance of the teams involvement). I would then encourage the group to establish a team mission/charter, which would give the team focus, and would also help to develop team identity. It is important that members do not feel alienated because they are unable to link their work with overall organisational goals Maslow (1954). At the end of this talk I will introduce two more concepts to the group. The idea here is to increase awareness in the teambuilding process, whether through improved decision making or more efficient problem solving. The first is the observation sheet Mullins (pg.498, 1999). This is a feedback mechanism on individual participation, and could be a useful tool in future weeks. The sheet is a simple method for giving constructive feedback. However, in order to promote a non-judgemental environment it would be necessary to employ an independent assessor to undertake this role. Secondly I would introduce Tuckman's (1965) ‘Team Development Wheel'. The wheel looks at change in the group process and focuses on the dynamics of a team's development. Tuckman identifies four different stages that should be accomplished in order to attain group maturity. The stages are: At stage one, Forming, the team has many questions, concerns. There are certain anxieties like, where do they fit into the group? Why am I here? Who are the other team members? Will I be able to get all my questions answered? It is important at this stage that the Team Leader has prepared well enough to reassure everyone by providing suitable answers and by providing a framework whereby individuals will have a better understanding of what they are expected to contribute. Belbin's (1993) team analysis could be usefully deployed at this stage. At stage two, Storming, the group may find difficulties occur as the team attempts to assert identity. Personal differences will emerge on the proposed direction that the group should take. This is a particularly difficult stage as competition and jealousy can cause other members to feel demotivated and to question their need to belong to the team. I would try to foster an open and honest forum. I would attempt to decrease my own influence on the decision making process and encourage the team to work their way through any difficulties, and hope that other leaders may emerge to offer further support. At stage three, Norming, a more cohesive unit will emerge. Team members will have developed more confidence in the group, there is a greater sense of belonging. Member's opinions are more readily accepted, and preconceived ideas are diluted in order to achieve common consent. At this point I can act more as a facilitator, providing occasional feedback, but allowing the group to formulate and expedite their own decisions. Finally at stage four, Performing, the group will have achieved a high state of maturity. A supportive and trust based ethos permeates the group. Tasks are tackled effectively, and the group has a flexible and resourceful approach to decision making and problem solving. My role at this point would still be as a facilitator, able to offer experience and advice when required. Each stage provides the group with insight into the various mechanisms' that are required to allow the teambuilding process to progress. By understanding the process the team will perhaps be more adaptable to change and work more fluently towards achieving team goals. It is vital that team unity is established at the earliest opportunity. It's important that team members leave this first meeting with a positive attitude to what they are being asked to accomplish. The team mission will outline the team's objectives, and members will be encouraged to share ideas and communicate with each other or through me. A further way to improve team unity is through the use of teambuilding exercises and training programs. Teambuilding exercises will give the group a chance to deal with real issues in a safe environment. They encourage the group to respond as a collective unit to achieve results and they assist with team bonding and individual growth. Taking this concept a step further, I would schedule a two to three day weekend away from the company, and invest a portion of the resources (if they are available) in a practical teambuilding exercise program. This type of weekend would focus on team issues like trust, respect, and empowerment, and would improve interpersonal relationships and promote strong partnerships. I would arrange this time away in the first month of the project. Training would be tailored to reflect my leadership style, whereby, I would empower the team with the freedom to make decisions within defined parameters Murdock (1999). I would arrange training sessions to deal ! with the two complementary key issues required for this process, i.e. communication and decision-making. With empowerment comes a level of responsibility; a responsibility that each team member would have towards each other to listen effectively and give constructive feedback. Team members must provide each other with feedback on whether their performance enhances the team's performance or impedes it. To do this they need an understanding of non-verbal communication and effective listening skills. Regular training sessions could provide each member with key skills. I would try to initiate some kind of training budget, specifically for the team, in order that this program of improvements could be accomplished.

Personal Income Expense Statement and Budget Essay

2.1Personal income statementAnnual wages$75,000 Monthly Gross pay $6250 Federal Withholding $265 Social Security $238 Medicare $56 California State $149 Net Monthly pays$5,5422.2My estimated monthly budgetMy family comprises of three family members expenses, which is me, my wife, and our one year old son. We live in an apartment in California. Estimated monthly Expense Amount ($) Rent 950 Childcare 0 Food 500 Taxes 311 Gas 200 Electricity bill 90 Internet services & Phone services 50 Grocery 400 My school tuition 2250 clothing 30 Transportation, Car maintenance & Insurance 300 Emergency Fund contribution 70 Masters degree savings account contribution 100 Entertainment, Gym membership 100 Roth IRA 100 Miscellaneous 80 Total expenses 5,531 Net income gain 11 Detailed above are my income statement and my estimated monthly budget. As much as my budget is small, I always aim to maintain it at the manageable level to avoid drowning in debts and even making some savings according to my short term and long term goals. My annual salary is $75,000 which translates to monthly gross pay of $6250. There are other charges levied such as federal withdrawing, social security, Medicare and California state levies bringing my net pay to $5,542. According to Randal (2007), housing is the most expensive item in California State. With an annual salary of $75,000 before tax, considering purchasing a home is a bad idea. As much as buying a house is one of my long term goals, I plan budgeting and planning for it after getting a well paying job or after establishing my business and making it successful to cater for purchasing a home. Therefore, with my net monthly salary of $5542, I opted for $950 rent for my apartment for my family. This is the average rental prices in my neighborhood since it is safe and it is not also expensive. California State is a region that is hard getting around without a car and therefore transportation forms part of monthly budget. My 2007 Toyota corolla car is reliable and uses fuel efficiently estimated at $164 per month, even with the soaring gas prices. My car uses 1 gallon per 29 miles and I drive to work and school daily at an estimated distance of 20 miles each way, translating to 40 miles daily, and five times per week. With additional driving on weekend when going out for entertainment or even vacation, the estimated monthly driving is calculated below: 40 miles dailyÃâ€" 30 days per month= 1200 miles 1200 miles per month/29 miles per gallon=42 gallons of gas per month Cost per gallon $3.961 Ãâ€" 42= $164 I have a good driving record, combined with my car’s liability insurance costs of $30 per month and car maintenance, my monthly transport cost is estimated to be $300 With a family of three, food is major item in my budget. With $500 I am able to feed my family well because here in California, we have several regional markets competeing with the common super markets. Averagely in the regional markets, the goods prices are about 40%-60% cheaper compared to the chain markets and they carry many items needed in the house like snacks, cleaning supplies, tools and tooth pastes among others. I installed â€Å"naked DSL† for only DSL and this provides me with full internet connection services at $40 per month. Furthermore, I went for pre paid phone services from T-mobile at $10 per month. This brings my monthly expense for internet connection and phone service per month to be $50. Californian weather is always good all year round and generally electricity is low, estimated to be $90 from my past average electricity bill of five months. My apartments pay for water and trash services. Similarly, I do not consume much gas and therefore a budget of $200 is enough per month. Moreover, I do my monthly cloth shopping at Old Navy and sometimes at Ross since they provide discounts and their cloths are of quality. As part of my short term goals to live healthy lifestyle, I have enrolled in a nearby gymnasium for my workouts three times per week. Moreover, as part of my entertainment I go out for few movies, go for some camping trips and eat out occasionally. Moreover, I make good use of free places like the beaches for my entertainment and therefore, an estimated budget of $100 is enough. Planning for my retirement and having protection in future is also part of my long term goals. Similarly, setting aside emergency funds in a savings account to help in resolving emergency situations swiftly was part of plan. My estimated monthly budget has catered for savings in form of Roth IRA is $150 and emergency finds contribution is $70. Moreover, I also save for my Master’s degree education that I plan to pursue after my undergraduate studies wit $100 per month. Lastly, Childcare is free in California State and is sponsored by the state government and therefore is nil in budgets. I also pay my tuition fees of $2,250 per month for my studies. Lastly, I do budget for $80 for miscellaneous expenses in addition to taxes of $311 2b. Managing LiquidityPlan to manage financesCash management according to AAT (2013) refers to concentration, collection and disbursement. My plan to manage my cash balances in a manner that satisfies my budget, maximizes cash availability and avoid risks of debts 2b.1Types of accountsIn management of finances, I will use ING Direct since they will be providing me with online pay services, savings services and checking services. Furthermore, the will allow me to create sub- accounts so that I can make savings for specific goals. 2b. 2Tools and process in maintenance of budget each monthBecause they offer many services and tool, I will use ING Direct as my primary tool for budgeting. I will be setting aside some money in specific pools of sub accounts, transfer the money back and forth automatically, and set up automatic payment of bills. These tools provided by the ING Direct bank will allow me to manage my finances effectively. The process in which ii will use in maintenance of my budget is a step by step process as outlined below: I will first of all get an account with the ING Direct because it has online checking and access to savings in addition to pay bill. The second step will be to set up an automatic bill payment for my bills per month. This means that for every regular bill per month that I have, I will set up an automatic payment of bill for that particular bill so that I do not have to worry about paying it when it is due. This will be done by creating the specifying the date and amount to pay it, and payment will be made automatically on that regular date I will also create a sub- account for each saving goal and irregular bill. This one will be for the other bills that usually come after several months has passed and sometimes crunch the budget such as my car insurance and gas bill. Similarly, I will set up sub accounts for specific saving goals such as my emergency funds, my Masters’ degree education and long vacation to France after my graduation. For these I will create sub accounts to set aside some money so that when their bills come however big or small they are, I am ready. These sub accounts I will give them names to identify them as my distinct funds such as â€Å"emergency funds,† â€Å"Masters Degree funds,† â€Å"car insurance,† â€Å"Gas bill,† and â€Å"France Vacation.†From there, I will set up an automatic money transfer into these sub accounts My next step will be to pay the bills as they come. This will be done after setting everything well and only remains with the responsibility of paying the bills as they come in. I will be paying my bills by 5th every month. I will ensure that I am on top of the incoming bills so that I do not get fined for late payments. Since I will have set most of bill payments to be handled through automatic transfer, I will not have many things to deal with; therefore few bills every month will get my attention. The fifth and the last step that I will do is that I will apply for debit card from Electric Orange checking services of ING that also functions as a master card to centralize completely all my spending. The debit card will be useful for regular purchases of household things like groceries. All these tolls and process will create a centralized view of my day-to-day expenditure and also form the core of my budget. 2b. 3Analysis of the current monthly budgetAnalysis of my current monthly budget was done under personal income expenses and budget. From the analysis, my monthly gross pay is $6,250 and net monthly pay is $5,542. Moreover, my estimated total monthly expenditure is about $5,531 with a net gain of $11. 2b. 4How and why my cash flows impacts the overall goalsMy short term goals include Building emergency funds, get a job after my bachelors degree, to study masters after my graduation, go for a two week vacation in France, build my personal development goals, and fitness goals. On the other hand, my long term goals include having my own business, buying a luxury car for my family, buy a house, pay college education for my children, and save money for my retirement. My cash flows impacts my short term and long term goals significantly and in different ways. My estimated monthly budget caters and also considers my short term and long term goals hence impacting them positively. For instance, my estimated monthly budget has set aside $70 per month for emergency funds, $100 per month for my Masters’ degree, $100 per month for my entertainment and gym membership to satisfy the lifestyle short term goals. Lastly, retirement funds also have a share in my estimated monthly budget at $100 under Roth IRA. The contribution towards achievement or realization of the goals is underway through financial support. This is evident from my estimated monthly budget. Probably after completion of master’s degree, the kitty can be changed to â€Å"children college fees† to start saving the future college fees for my children 2c. Credit ManagementDevelop a budgetAccording to Bullivant (2010), a person who is in financial debt need to first conduct a realistic assessment of the amount of money they take in and their expenditure amount. I use different ways in management and usage of credit. First of all, when I have a debt, I list all my fixed expenses. These are expenses that are the same each and every month such as the insurance premiums, car payments, my tuition fees and rent. Next, I do list the varying expenses like the clothing, entertainment and groceries. Listing down of all my expenses including te insignificant ones is very essential in tracking down my spending patterns, prioritize the rest and in identification of the necessary expenses. The main goal of my first step in credit management of listing of expenses is to ensure that the basics are fully settled such as my education, insurance, food and housing Contacting the creditorsWhen I have a problem of paying the debts as agreed, I immediately contact the creditor and explain to them why it is difficult for me paying the debt on time. I then try to adjust and modify my payment plans to levels that are manageable Secured creditsIf I have secured loans such as car loan and I am unable to pay it on time, I will sell the security (the car) and settle the debt rather than waiting for the creditor to reposes the car and sell it at an added cost. Similarly, if it is a mortgage, I will contact my lender to avoid foreclose 2c. 2Development of debt reduction processes after graduationCredit counseling I will go for credit counseling in any reputable organization or financial institution for advice on management of debts and money, assist in budget development, and for free educational workshops and materials. These counselors who are trained and certified in budgeting, debt and money management, and consumer credit will discuss with me my financial situation, and to help me in develop a personalized plan for solving my money problems 2c. 3Appropriate uses of credit and debit cardsCredit cardsOnline shopping-when shopping online credit card is the safest option because the insurers of the credit cards watch for fraudulent charges. It can be reversed quickly if its detected by the holder while debit cards are not protected in some instances like cash payments When making large electronic purchases- they are convenient is large electronic purchases in addition to offering warranty protection When on a vacation or travelling-it is suitable when away from home and it also adds anti-fraud protection. Moreover, by using credit cards during travels one can get perks such as cash back on purchases, frequent flyer miles, and discounts on the rental cars. Lastly, they are convenient for travel companies, airlines and hotels II.Debit cardsFor immediate payments since transactions are simultaneous and is the fastest When finances on the budget are automated-this is suitable for luxury and personal purchases and the card holder can use it as much as they want so long as they are within the budget. The card cannot work no more and this is advantageous since overdraft fees will not be incurred If recovering from poor habits of financial management or watching the finances. This is because credit cards are bad for some people in money management or living within their means. For best foreign currency exchange rate-it offers the current wholesale exchange rate especially when a person travels to a foreign country. 2c. 4Credit scoreA credit score according to Weston (2012) is a numeric representation of a person’s credit history and ranges between 300 and 850. The factors that impacts credit score include: Payment history- late credit card payments of skipping damages credit score while payment of credit card balances and bills on time and in full results to higher score Outstanding debt- it is good to use 25% and below of the available credit. Moreover, the more credit cards a person has that have been maxed out, the lower the credit score (Rich, 2013). The length of time for building credit- a person with a longer history of credit has a higher credit rating The credit report number of inquiries- more credit report inquiries will show up from the number of times a person applies for loans or credit cards. A higher credit report inquiry is an indication that the person is struggling with debt even if they never got a loan or used the cards (Rich, 2013). How I check my your scoreI usually check my score from AnnualCreditReport.com once per year for free. The website asks series of questions ranging from personal information, state, questions related to my finances I also use Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) website at MyFico.com Lastly, I also sometimes purchase my credit report from the credit Bureaus directly in USA which are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Importance of having good credit scoreGood credit score makes it possible for banks to issue debit or credit cards, stores to accept checks and companies to manage their operations (Servigny & Renault, 2004). 2d. Tax ManagementThe applicable taxes to me as a married person with one child filling a joint tax forms are listed below Federal tax. 25% State tax. 7.5% Income tax 6% Social security tax. 6.2% Medicare tax. 1.45% Taxes in California State and United States vary and are categorized into different brackets. The tax brackets include age, single, head of household, married and pay tax separately or married and pay tax jointly. With my annual salary of $75,000, married with one child and paying tax jointly with my wife, I pay federal tax of 25% and income tax of 6%. However, the state tax, social security tax and Medicare tax are fixed in California state and cut across every citizen of all ages, whether married or not. The taxes from my income take a large percentage from budget annually and this also hampers my investments progress and my economic plans. My budget has incorporated some of my long-term and short term goals and I am forced to contribute minimal amounts because of the obligated taxes according to the law. 2d. 2Incorporating tax strategy into budget and financial goalsBuying and holding- a person is liable to pay tax on managed funds or shares held for one year or less at the regular rate of income tax. However, holding the assets for more than 12 months receives a discount on the capital gain of up to 50% Using tax efficient funds- making investment on funds like index funds which has low turnover ca reduce the liability of capital gains, and improves a person’s after tax returns Investing in retirement plans- a person can make contributions from their pre-tax salary so that the money is taxed at a very low concessional rate instead of marginal tax rate (Broomberg, 2013). ReferencesAssociation of Accounting Technicians. (2013). Cash management. London: BPP Learning Media Ltd. Broomberg, E. B. (2013). Tax strategy. Durban: Butterworths. Bullivant, G. (2010). Credit management. Farnham, Surrey, England: Gower. Randal O’Toole (2007). Why California Home Prices are So High. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/why-california-home-prices-are-so-high. [Last Accessed 21th October 2014]. Rich, J. (2013). Improve and increase your credit score: Credit management strategies that will save you thousands. New York: Entrepreneur Press. Servigny, A. ., & Renault, O. (2004). Measuring and managing credit risk. New York: McGraw-Hill. Weston, L. P. (2012). Your credit score: How to improve the 3-digit number that shapes your financial future. Upper Saddle River, N.J: FT Press. Source document

The 4 Best Free VIN Check Sites

The 4 Best Free VIN Check Sites SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Imagine this: You’ve been saving up to buy a new car for months. You finally find the perfect vehicle and drive it home, only to get a call a few days later. The car was stolen, and you now need to deal with a police investigation. Obviously, this scenario is extreme, but it’s not unheard of for consumers to have issues purchasing new or used cars. One way to cut down on potential problems when purchasing a car is to run a VIN report to check out the vehicle’s history before you buy it. In this article, I’ll explain what a VIN number is, why it’s important, and how to run a free VIN check through the National Insurance Crime Bureau. I’ll also review other options for free VIN reports and discuss whether or not you should pay money for a more detailed VIN report when purchasing a car. What’s a VIN Number? A VIN number is an identifying code that’s associated with a specific automobile. A VIN number is made up of 17 characters (numbers and letters) that act as the vehicle’s fingerprint. No two automobiles have the same VIN number, so you can use a VIN number to track a specific vehicle’s history, registrations, and more. You can find a car’s VIN number by looking on the driver’s side of the vehicle, either at the corner of the vehicle where the windshield meets the dashboard or on the doorpost of the driver’s side front door. You can also find a VIN number on a vehicle’s insurance card, title, and registration. Why Should I Check the VIN Number When Buying a Car? If you’re planning to buy a car (new or used), it’s important to run at least a free VIN report on the car’s VIN number to get a better understanding of its history. Running a free VIN check on the car will pull up its basic history, including information on previous claims of theft and/or accidents. You’ll want to run a VIN check when purchasing a car to make sure that the car is legally available for purchase and that it’s in good enough condition to drive. A VIN check will pull up any significant claims that have been made about the car. These include information about if the car was ever stolen and if it was ever subject to serious damage, such as flood, fire, or accident damage. Reputable car dealerships will often provide you with a copy of the VIN report for the car you’re looking to purchase, free of charge. Your salesman will likely review the report with you, noting the number of owners, any accidents or claims reported on the car, and any other issues of note, such as recalls or leftover warranties. If you’re buying a car from a dealership that doesn’t offer a free VIN check, or purchasing from a private party, you’ll want to run a free VIN report on your own to check for theft records and major accidents. Depending on the circumstances, you may also want to pay for a more detailed VIN report. I’ll discuss when to purchase a detailed VIN report in a later section. How to Use the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s Free VIN Check The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a great resource for running a free VIN lookup search to check for theft and total loss records. In this section, I’ll talk you through how to use the NICB as a resource to check the history of an automobile. The first thing you need to run a free VIN lookup at NCIB is the VIN number of the vehicle you’re looking up. As I mentioned earlier, you can find a vehicle’s VIN number on the driver’s side of the car, either where the dashboard meets the window, or in the driver’s side door. After you have the VIN number in question, go to the NICB VinCheck page and enter the VIN number where it says â€Å"Step 1.† Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions of use in â€Å"Step 2.† Enter the verification code that appears in the box for â€Å"Step 3,† then hit â€Å"search.† You’ll be taken to a page that displays the results of your free VIN lookup. You’ll receive information about the vehicle’s theft and total loss records. A theft record indicates that the car has been marked as stolen at some point in its history, while a total loss record means that the car has been damaged and marked as a loss in an accident, flood, or fire. If your VIN number shows that the vehicle has not been identified, as shown in the above screenshot, that means that the vehicle has never been stolen or had any significant damage that would signify a total loss, e.g., the car's been declared totaled. The vehicle will only be listed in this database if theft or loss records have been generated. If your vehicle shows that there’s a record for either theft or total loss, you’ll want to do more research to find out the exact details of the situation to determine if the vehicle is suitable for purchase. Other Free VIN Check Options You can get a free VIN check from a number of other sites as well. In general, these sites offer more detailed VIN reports than that of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. You can also pay at each of these sites to upgrade your VIN check and receive more information about the car you're purchasing. #1: CarFax CarFax is known as a leader in provided detailed VIN reports to consumers. In fact, many car dealerships will show you the CarFax report for the vehicle you’re looking to purchase. While the most detailed CarFax reports cost money, you can get a basic VIN report on used cars listed on CarFax’s website for free. These reports show accidents reported, owner history, usage information, and service history. #2: Research.com Research.com provides the most comprehensive free VIN report, offering extensive details about the vehicle’s inspection and performance records, safety ratings, warranty, and more. It will also tell you when and where the vehicle has been listed for sale, as well as its sale price. #3: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a VIN lookup that gives you information about the car’s make and model, so you can know if it’s under any recall orders. Knowing about recall orders will help you decide if the car is safe to drive and if it’s facing any lengthy or costly repairs. Should You Pay for a More Detailed VIN Report? When should you pay for a more detailed VIN report? Well, a lot of it depends on how much detail you want to know about your car’s history. In general, it’s a good idea to purchase a detailed VIN report if you’re buying a used car and you can’t get one for free from the dealership or individual you’re working with. More detailed VIN reports are fairly cheap - $39.99 to check a single VIN number on CarFax, or $59.99 if you want to check a bundle of five different VIN numbers. Detailed VIN reports go into much more depth about the overall condition of the vehicle. For instance, CarFax’s detailed VIN reports offer comprehensive information about recalls, repairs, dates and times of servicing, and an overall evaluation of the vehicle’s condition. Knowing the vehicle’s condition is important for two reasons. First, it helps ensure that you’re purchasing a car that’ll actually run for you. Second, it lets you know if you’re paying a fair price for the car. Learning about a previous owner’s service records is important as well, as it shows that the car has been properly maintained. Likewise, learning about recalls and warranty information can save you money on repairs and routine service in the long run. If you’re purchasing a new car, you probably don’t need a detailed VIN report, as it won’t tell you much information about the car, since a new car won’t have any ownership or accident records. Review: How to Check a VIN Number for Free A VIN number is like a car’s fingerprint- you can look it up to learn about the car’s history. When purchasing a car, it’s important to run at least a free VIN check to lookup the car’s history and ensure that it doesn’t have any open theft or total loss records. You can also pay for more detailed VIN reports that offer information on a car’s service and ownership history, as well as detailed information about the car’s value.

First Come, First Served

First Come, First Served First Come, First Served First Come, First Served By Maeve Maddox The expression first come, first served began life as a proverb having the same sense as the early bird catches the worm. Both proverbs are admonitions against dawdling.†¨ The proverb was adopted by shopkeepers to convey the idea that customers would be served in the order of their arrival. In case of limited quantities, latecomers would be out of luck. And if the local squire got there after the char lady, hed have to wait his turn. The expression has become so common in modern times that the abbreviation FCFS and even Fcfs is seen in advertising and on ticket-selling sites. Because the expression originated before the 1900s when the idiom changed, modern speakers and writers have trouble with the usage. A common error is to write the phrase as first come, first serve. The confusion arises from thinking that come is the same kind of verb form as serve and that theyre supposed to match. One way to look at it is to think of first come, first served as an elliptical form of the first to come will be the first to be served. Another is to recognize come as a past participle or adjectival verb form. Consider: First seen, first treated. First gone, first missed. In first come, first served, come functions as an adjective. Its not a common usage these days, but I actually found a contemporary example in a song written by Steeleye Span, a British electric folk band. Its from their 2004 album They Called Her Babylon: some said, â€Å"give him the beef, the beef,† some said, â€Å"give him the bone.† and some said, â€Å"give him nothing at all but let the beggar roam.† then up and spake the new-come lord, a saucy word spoke he, â€Å"pass round the cup, let my rival sup, then send him on his way.† Confusion about the expression involves punctuation as well as spelling. No comma Bookings must be made by midnight 22nd June, so hurry, spaces are limited and available on a first come first served basis. Comma Free flights from British Airways for small businesses looking to export. There are 4,000 up for grabs on a first come, first served basis. Hyphens Delta Airlines accepts pets on a first-come, first-serve basis. Quotation marks NEWCASTLE United  is set to be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. I vote for the unhyphenated, unquoted comma version: The new phones will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Of course the problems of verb form and punctuation can be avoided entirely by going with FCFS. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†For Sale vs. On SalePractice or Practise?

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL - Essay Example Like many other Chinese cosmetics companies, Herborist has also recognized the need to expand their operations in new markets and follow and extensive internationalization process while keeping the business rooted to its own unique cultural factors and a differentiated positioning strategy. Herborist is in the business of herbal cosmetic products and is an established name in the herbal care sector of China. The traditionalism and uniqueness of the herbal factor remains the unique selling proposition for the brand which it must capitalize on while entering a new potential market for its expansion process. The international expansion process of a company is guided by many factors which are likely to drive the development of the internationalization success for the company. These factors may include the following: the company may seek growth opportunities through market diversification, the company may seek to increase the revenues and profitability of the business, the company may try to gain ideas about new business processes, products and methods for innovation, the company may aim to serve a wider range of potential customers in new regions, the company may also achieve increased benefits from new supply sources and get the advantages of global sourcing and the company may achieve economies of scale through lost cost and high volume production (Bakker, 2008, pp.117-118). Herborist can focus on entering the market of Russia as a part of their international expansion strategy as this would help the company to achieve all the above mentioned benefits as well as the company will be able to benefit from the interest of the consumers in this country towards herbal skin care products and spa services that Herborist can offer (Deighton, Kornfeld, He and Jiang, 2010, p.10). The Russian cosmetic industry is a developed market in which the customers have much

Job stress among help desk technicians Coursework

Job stress among help desk technicians - Coursework Example Ask support staff what issues they run into most often, and if they are things that users could fix themselves, add them to the list (Knapp 45). Sometimes, a bad relationship with the help desk may cause users to avoid reporting minor IT problems and that means those issues can stagnate and become big issues. That is why departments should make it as easy as possible for users to send IT support requests to the help desk. Different groups will prefer different communication methods. Find out what users in your company prefer, whether it is the phone, email, instant messaging, or something else (Knapp 45). Many help desks operate on a first-come-first-serve basis however, that often allows more requests that are important usually delay in favour of minor issues in the company. Instead, IT support staff should be able to prioritize their work according to established protocols. For example, issues that prevent users from getting work done should be placed ahead of those that do not. Users often complain that IT employees mess around on their computers without explaining what they are doing. Often it is something simple like installing an update, but if users do not know, they might assume they have done something wrong when a support employee stops by to use their machine. Users can often get stressed out when they run into what they believe is a huge technical problem and it might be even worse if they think it was their fault. Support staff should assure users their problems can be fixed, and be sure to never scold a user for doing something wrong. Instead, IT staff can look for opportunities to pat users on the back when they have done something