The Importance of Accreditation

Accreditation is one of the most important factors when selecting an online high school program. Parents and prospective students should do their homework to ensure that a particular school is accredited by the right type of agency.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is the process of reviewing an online high school's programs and policies to see if it meets certain criteria, generally set by an outside agency. When a school is found to meet the minimum criteria, it is granted accreditation.

Why is accreditation important?

Accreditation is meant to protect students, schools, and employers. It ensures that an online high school is teaching its students at a nationally acceptable level. When students receive a diploma from an accredited high school, they can be assured that it will be recognized by colleges and accepted by employers. Likewise, when a college is accepting students or an employer is looking to hire, they can be assured that a student or prospective employee has received quality training from an accredited high school.

Who can grant accreditation?

The truth is anyone can claim to have the power to grant accreditation to schools. Be aware that not all accreditation is equal. Accreditation from the wrong source can be just as bad as no accreditation at all.

Be sure to check whether your school is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You can visit the department's listings of national and regional accrediting agencies. You can also check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is a non-government agency that recognizes accrediting agencies in the United States and helps to coordinate policy and research on accreditation issues.

What if my school isn't accredited?

If you choose an online high school that isn't accredited, you may find that many colleges and businesses won't accept your diploma. If you are taking a typing course, it might not matter. But if you are enrolling in an online high school program, you want the school to be accredited.

Take the necessary steps to protect your education. An online high school is designed to provide you with additional educational options, not to limit them.

http://www.alliedhighschool.com

Heather Brunson is a lead marketing writer for Allied Schools. She has a B.A. in Journalism with an emphasis on public relations. She has additional experience in technical writing.Bell Blog2308
Buffy Blog50469

Top Gamers Laptops from Alienware

Alienware is an american computer hardware company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell computer corporation. Alienware's most well known series of desktops are the Aurora and Area-51 lines; Alienware also sells considerable-end laptops to which their most well known is the Area-51m.

Functioning under the tagline of "build it as if it were your own," Alienware has earned numerous awards for excellence and has become a respected brand name worldwide with systems on hand direct within the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. That point is that Alienware has confirmed them as a counterculture alternative with high quality, considerable performance hardware that is packaged in a creative way.

Computers

Since high-end game hardware was not widely distributed, the company's founders formed an OEM that sold pcs with the highest performing hardware and settings according to benchmarks. You receive to buy the peripherals and accessories you require including monitors, games, game controllers, keyboards, mice, and more. They also sell all kinds of computer parts and PC components like monitors, printers, CPUs, memory, graphics cards, motherboards, modems, CD drives, DVD drives, and hard drives, power supplies, video cards, sound cards and wireless networking hardware. Alienware is arguably the sexiest computer manufacturer in the greater OEM area.

Laptops

Alienware has done it again, bringing those who love gaming on their laptops yet another powerhouse in the form of the m7950. After all, these aren't ordinary word processing laptops but respectable gaming machines. I also recommend this laptop to computer enthusiasts who multi task programs, game occasionally, and surf the net regularly. Regardless of rumours of degraded quality of Alienware's product quality since their merge with Dell Pc's, I decided it was still the best way to receive the most quality, highest performing laptop, without "crapware"; useless pre-installed programs, etc.

Intel

Intel� Core 2 Duo is built with Advanced power gating (apg) to optimize performance per watt even while being overclocked by shutting down certain parts of the cores. Intel has subsequently started selling x86 chips that are 64 bit, and that use multiple cores. As things currently stand, Dell exclusively uses Intel CPUs in its systems, but Alienware use both Intel and AMD, so what happens next, we have to wait and see.

Graphics

The Alienware M9750 has dual Nvidia 7950GTX graphics cards, just like the Sager NP9260 does, so you are going to receive extreme gaming performance. With the capability of configuring dual Nvidia graphics cards, it is capable of handling a lot. The graphics cards are admirable choices for gamers and those who work with 3D apps. All are PCI Express and have 256 megs of graphics memory.

Alienware computers and Alienware notebooks are ideal for those that play games, use extensive graphics or require high performance systems. The whole reason why gamers go to companies like Alienware is to exclusively can have the best PC gamer product possible.

Keith & Kevin run a number of sites, and currently are active in the CD & Computer Towers Blog http://www.cdcomputertowers.co.uk/computer_laptops_desktopsArlyn Blog63327
Benedicta Blog14184

How To Find Talented Tech Employees

Finding and recruiting top tech talent is a top priority for all companies and organizations from Fortune 100 to the smallest start-ups. We are all aware of the shift to outsourcing overseas, but many companies can't afford to do so or they need their talent here in an corporate office to add to strategy and implement tactics. With the development of the Internet, newspapers are now basically an obsolete form of advertising quality job positions. However, even the great online behemoths like Monster and Careerbuilder have quickly become rather ineffective and very expensive. The normal online job boards are not targeted or proactively helping organizations find the much needed talent to take their business to next level.

This trend can actually be a good trend, especially for small and mid-size enterprises. The playing field is becoming even in finding talent. Today Fortune 1000 companies as well as small businesses have the ability to recruit talent with equal ease because of the second generation of web applications, known as Web 2.0. According to Wikipedia, Web 2.0 is a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2004 refers to a supposed second generation of Internet-based servicessuch as social networking, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomiesthat emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users. The Web 2.0 world allows businesses to share information and communicate directly to potential employees.

Web 2.0 allows much easier communications. The real exchange of information allows talent to learn and establish expertise as well as gain creditability publicly. Everyone loves to give their opinion. Heck thats the basis of AM talk radio. Everyone also loves to talk about their favorite subject: themselves. Blogging allows them to do both. Tech experts visit tech blogs to keep up with their field and interact with other experts in blogs. Eventually, many of these experts may set up their very own blog.

Unlike job boards, Web 2.0 is fun! The best talent already have a job so they are not actively looking for a job. But most know that job security is rare and they may be downsized without much notice. They need to be aware of the job market and they may not be working in their ideal job or for the ideal company. They enjoy participating in the web 2.0 world. Blogs, forums, newsgroups, rss feeds, and other new methods communications give professionals something to look forward to when they come online.

Finally, there are key methods to leverage recruiting efforts and web 2.0 applications. One company specializing in helping hiring managers and recruiters find top talent in technology is Staff It Now. Staff It Now gathers resumes and job descriptions from around the net and active markets job opportunities to specific targeted groups. For example, if you need to hire someone that knows Oracle like the back of their hand, Staff It Now will market and advertise the job opportunity in several blogs dealing with Oracle programming. The site also give you an unique technology service to accurately match and prioritize resumes to job descriptions. Staff It Now brings together everything you need to find great tech professionals.

In conclusion, the static job boards and job posting sites are not getting the quantity nor the quality they use to just five or six years ago. The rapid growth of Web 2.0 and the changing global economy will force HR recruiters, headhunters, hiring managers, and small business owners to change the way they recruit talented employees. In fact, it may force them to recruit faster, more effective, and more efficiently.

J. Carl Williams IIIAnni Blog68956
Aleece Blog1278

Checking with the Better Business Bureau

It is always a wise practice to do your homework on a company before doing business with them. There are many unscrupulous companies in todays world that you want to avoid. How can you tell? What avenues are there in determining what company is best for you?

A good place to look is the Better Business Bureau. You can find them at www.bbb.org. Some things to consider when looking up a company report:

* Is the Company Listed? - If not, that should be a big red flag. They are either too new, are flying under the radar so as not be noticed, or they arent a registered company.

* Complaints Ratio - Compare the number of complaints to the company's customer-base they are servicing. If the company has a high rate of complaints, more than 5% of its customer base, then they have a customer service problem. Less than 2% to 3% is an acceptable range. There will always be customers, for some reason or another, that are never satisfied. Youve probably dealt with some.

* Resolution of Complaints - How many complaints have not been resolved? This indicates if a company makes an effort to resolve customer issues.

* Rating - What type of rating has the BBB given this company? An unsatisfactory record means that the company has demonstrated practices that are misleading or deceptive, or it has failed to cooperate in efforts to resolve consumer disputes. A satisfactory record means the company has cooperated with the BBB to resolve consumer disputes and is not involved in practices that could be considered misleading or deceptive. The company must also be free from an unusual volume or pattern of complaints, as well as any law enforcement action involving its marketplace conduct.

The Better Business Bureau states, "The mention of complaints in a BBB report is not necessarily negative. The finest businesses get complaints. Look for statements about the causes of the complaints and if the complaints are being resolved. When considering complaint information, please take into account the companys size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firms responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints."

Bottom line Do your homework. Give the company a fair review. Make sure you feel good about doing business with them.

Brad Stone is CEO of Heritage Web Solutions, a USA Based Company, specializing in Designing and Hosting Affordable Websites for Small and Medium Size Businesses. With a staff of over 160 employees, Heritage Web Solutions has grown to a multi-million-dollar company in just 4 years, achieving a Top 1% National Ranking as reported by WebHosting.Info. For more information, call 866-754-1474, or visit http://www.heritagewebdesign.com.Aindrea Blog83403
Aleece Blog25408

Eat to Lose Weight

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from being overweight? Is your kitchen counter is filled with protein shakes and diet pills that didn't work, and your basement crammed full of exercise equipment that eventually just sits there? Have you starved and exercised yourself into what felt like oblivion to see hardly even a dent of weight loss on your scale? Maybe you have tried every latest craze on the market, only to see very little, if any results! Is it any wonder so many of us eventually give up?

That's how it was for me until I stumbled across the most amazing plan to lose weight. It is the healthiest and safest way to lose weight I have found. But most importantly, it actually works! You don't have to starve yourself, exhaust yourself, or drain your bank account trying to lose those extra pounds. You can actually eat your way into getting thin! That's what I did!

By eating the right foods at the right time, you can lose weight quickly and effectively. It is so easy, anyone can do it! Eating food is much more effective than taking any dietary pill. By eating specific foods at the right times, your body will burn fat calories at a very fast pace. It will fuel fat loss and you will see the pounds start dropping off. I was amazed to see the body I once had as a teenager! I really thought that would never be possible for me again.

This weight loss plan is the easiest plan I have ever tried. The 11 day program is all laid out for you. You will never starve and you will enjoy eating delicious foods that will make the pounds melt right off your body. After 11 days, you will have 3 days to cheat and eat whatever you want. Have you ever heard of such an easy plan? You will be amazed to see the results! I was thrilled to be able to wear clothes I had not been able to fit in for years! And what fun it was to go buy myself a whole new wardrobe!

By losing weight you will greatly reduce your chances of getting Type2 Diabetes, heart and colon cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure and a number of other diseases related to being overweight. You will have much more energy and feel so much better about yourself. It is the best thing I have ever done. Losing weight doesn't have to be just a dream any more.

By using this method I have lost more weight than I ever thought possible. The nice thing is, it really does work! For more information you can go to http://www.articlelinkto.com/fatloss4idiots

Mandy Morris lives in Chicago and is an author who doesn't like to starve herself for a diet.Bridget Blog46269
Cathryn Blog94711

Web Safety for Kids and Teens

When kids are old enough to connect to the Internet parents need to know a few things about what the Internet is and what can be done on the Internet.

Some parents think if they dont have a computer or Internet access in the home they have nothing to worry about. This is not true and its like burying your head in the Internet sand. Computers with Internet access are available in many other places.

The Internet is a very large group of interconnected computer networks that allow you and your children to chat with people all over the world. This can be a great way to communicate and receive information on almost any subject. It is also a way for people to prey on children, teens and even adults.

When you are connected to the Internet there are many online functions that are possible. You can access information from thousands of sources in lots of formats like music recordings, books, articles and videos.

Anyone who has your Internet address can send you or your child an e-mail and you can return the e-mail. Chat rooms are another way to communicate instantly using your keyboard. You are able to post and read information on particular topics.

Chat rooms have some advantages like being able to talk to other people with similar interests. You can make new friends and find out information about things that interest you. There are chat rooms that are not appropriate for children or teens and this is another area where you need to pay attention to who your kids are talking to online.

When parents know a few things about the Internet, e-mail and chat rooms they are more likely to be able to keep one step ahead of their children.

Brad Franklin-Editor, WebSafeKid.ComBerri Blog8145
Bellina Blog78334

How To Correct A Slow Running Computer

You push the power button on your computer and 5 minutes later you're finally ready to start computing.It seems as though it takes forever and a day for your computer to get going,Why?

Most likely,the main reason your system is dragging the ground is because of all the junk that runs in the background that you don't see.These are applications you may have installed over time.

Such utilities as scanner drivers, and hard drive monitors can swallow up memory and cpu processes,not to mention adware and spyware creeping into your system.These affect both your computer's bootup process and performance during normal operations.

Another reason for slow pc bootup and performance may be the simple fact that your computer is aging. Computers running Windows 98 and Windows Me with cpu speeds of 500mhz or less are good candidates for slow operation.These system often have inadequate RAM Memory as well.

OK,so you,re no doubt asking, how can you correct this ever present,nagging problem.If your system was purchase when dinosaurs roamed the earth,consider upgrading by adding more memory,a larger hard drive,and if possible a faster cpu.

You can free up hard drive space by deleting files and applications you don't use often.Improve performance by not overlooking basic pc maintenance.Running scandisk and Defragment are crucial to pc preformance.And try third party memory management programs.

Running scandisk will find and attempt to correct errors on your hard drive.System Defragment will free up hard drive space by re-arranging files in an orderly manner.This allows the cpu to find files much faster and not have to roam all over the hard drive to load files into memory.

You can get more bang for your buck by purchasing a faster computer however.When adding the costs of components and the increase in speed and performance you will gain,you may come out better to purchase another system.

Windows operating system have a utility named Msconfig that can display programs that bootup and instantly run on your computer. To start Msconfig,select Start,Run,and type "msconfig" without the quotes,in the Run dialog box.Msconfig does not show all programs running in the background however.

If you have Windows XP as your operating system, try to delete all files in the prefetch directory. Windows XP Professional monitors files that are used when the computer starts and when you start programs.

When Windows XP Professional monitor these files, it prefetches them.Prefetching data is the process whereby data that is expected to be requested is read ahead into the cache. Prefetching boot files and applications decreases the time needed to start Windows XP Professional and start applications.

These files if not deleted will lower system resources and slow pc performance by loading programs that are no longer being used.To delete these files,open C,your system drive, and go to windows/prefetch.Delete all files or at least those more than 3 weeks old and, reboot.

Try to check to see if your computer and the CPU Chip are not overheating. Excessive heat will cause your system to perform much closer.Make sure your computer is well ventilated

A really neat and free utility that does a great job at displaying all programs is Merijins free startup utility which configure programs at http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml.This utility is simple to use and should not add more burden to your computer.

Another utility called Process Explorer ,Sysinternals Tutoring at http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html can be used and this utility allow you to disable each program.

And when it comes to correcting slow computer performance, you can be your own worst enemy.And just how is this? The word procrastination means to put off today what we can do tomorrow. Such simple tasks as running scandisk and defrag are often put off until a more convenient time.

Don't let procrastination or anything else get in the way of boosting the performance of your computer. You'll thank yourself many times over when you see the results. You will also have the knowledge to help others boost their computer's performance as well.And that can always be a blessing to someone.

Otis F. Cooper is the author of the award winning PC Super Pack,the Computer Training By Video course.For hundreds more free PC repair tips,sign up for his bi-monthly newsletter and learn the PC free at http://www.ultimatepcrepair.comCaryn Blog84047
Carolann Blog46461

Lawsuit Cash Advances Key Points

In recent years people who have been involved in personal injury accidents have discovered that they can receive a lawsuit cash advance against the proceeds they ultimately receive from a personal injury accident settlement. For the person who is injured enough from an accident so as to be unable to work and earn a living, a lawsuit cash advance may provide a very timely financial solution for the cash flow problems the person may currently face. Nevertheless it is always wise to know beforehand what a person is getting themselves into before they apply for a lawsuit cash advance.

A lawsuit cash advance is not a loan but a participation in a personal injury legal settlement that the victim of a personal injury accident will most likely, ulitimately receive. If the injured victim who receives the lawsuit cash advance for whatever reason doesnt receive a cash settlement from their case, they owe nothing and the company that provides the lawsuit cash advance receives nothing. This means that, like any underwriter, the provider of the lawsuit cash advance must determine what the likelihood is of ultimately receiving payment for the cash they advance and charge accordingly. Because of the nature of the lawsuit cash advance, normal interest rates will not apply, so the provider will most likely charge more for the lawsuit cash advance than a traditional lender would.

The fees charged for lawsuit cash advances can vary significantly. Typical fees for automotive cases are 3.0% per month and for medical malpractice cases 5.5% per month. Nevertheless it is not uncommon for some companies to charge a low entry fee to get business through the door and then charge additional, hidden fees to the personal injury accident victim.

Many companies say they will provide a lawsuit cash advance within 24-48 hours, but actual application times can vary greatly and are subject to the extent of the documentation required from the personal injury accident victim along with other factors. And it is important to realize that a company that approves an application too quickly may be charging the client through the roof to compensate for their less than stringent underwriting requirements.

The business of providing lawsuit cash advances to personal injury accident victims also has its share of brokers. A person is best off if they can find a company that provides the actual funding for lawsuit cash advances and deal with them directly. Otherwise the fee that a broker charges will be added to the fee the provider of the lawsuit cash advance receives from the personal injury accident victim.

A lawsuit cash advance is a potential cash resource that a person should consider if they have been involved in a serious accident and all other financial resources are depleted or unavailable.

Michael Merten is an Internet marketing specialist who does does "cutting-edge" Internet marketing for a living. One of his best and oldest clients is Lawsuit Cash Advance, LLC (http://www.lawsuitcashadvance.com) a personal injury finance company. Lawsuit Cash Advance, LLC can be reached at info@lawsuitcashadvance.com.Bernadine Blog76582
Astrix Blog9691

Is Reciprocal Linking Better Than One Way Links?

The current trend, put simply, would answer Yes.

The search engines are favoring popular links. Meaning the more links to one site, the more popular that site is and therefore should rank higher within the search engines. This is this argument that many webmasters believe and 'one way link' farms are claiming.

However, we found one important floor in this issue. Many web sites link to each other because it makes good business sense to do so. If the search engines were to penalize these sites, they could be eliminating quality web sites simply because they think that the reciprocal links were ill-formed.

Why would the Search Engines want to exclude quality web sites?

They don't!?

Although it is true that many reciprocal links are SEO tactics and webmasters manipulating the system. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though. Google claims to have indexed over 8 billion pages, and I'm sure that it's the grand link campaigns and reciprocal linking on the internet that helped them find a few of those 'billion pages'.

'Quality' and 'relevance' is important for search engines and they can determine this by a number of measures

Comparing themes of the link source and link destination pages

Placement of links on the page (i.e. is it in body content, ad section, navigation area, etc.)

Relatedness of the two linked sites (are they in compatible industries?)

These three measures alone will provide a far greater measure of the quality of a link than looking at whether a link is reciprocated or not.

So, could this work for 'one way' links?

Well possibly . . . if the theme and content of the linking sites are related to your site.

If you're buying 'one way' links from a link farm, are they managing this for you?

Who's 'vetting' the links?

and how can you check this?

If the link is coming from a 'bad neighborhood', then that web site could be banned by the search engines and the link to your site is worthless!!

Can you check the quality of the incoming links?

'One way' linking can not easily answer that question.

Reciprocal linking can confidently answer YES. The webmaster is in control of who does and who doesn't link. Link management services like the www.intiallinks.com make this process very easy. The service is free and all members and web sites are vetted by human editors to ensure quality linking and the exclusion of bad neighborhoods. All members have one thing in common - they all want to exchange links with other quality web sites, and initiallinks.com ensures that.

In regards to links, and SEO in general, we don't believe it makes much sense for search engines to look for ways to penalize those who are manipulating the system to their advantage, but rather to make sure that those manipulations work to provide higher-quality search results. Only reciprocal linking can give that control to the webmaster.

Gavin HaugheyBunni Blog3393
Caitlin Blog43751

Impress Your Partner With Ease Dating Ideas

To impress your partner some dating ideas, that attract your partner and make them happy. Welcome your partner with a smile and a nice hug, Thats Make your date awesome.

Location for the date:

Think of a nice location for the date. Choose a location that should be public area and not much crowded. Location selection is a tough part of dating. Arrange a date on the beach in evening, both can walk on the wet sand with nice silence, If is possible then go for an resort where different types of games or a proper talk can be possible with each other. Other locations are river, museum etc.

What you wear, when you go for Date:

Dress up:

It is visual tool that make your partner impress at first sight,

1. Wear the dress in which you feel comfortable, dont wear the cloths that you are not used to wear, that make you uncomfortable and feel easy.

2. Wear shoes in which you are comfortable and move easily.

3. Suitable haircut with dress up

4. Simple makeup makes you very beautiful.

5. Ware a nice smile on your face.

Gifts:

Bring a nice gift for your partner which he/she likes very much; wrap in a nice wrapper. When you meet, told to open gift that time and tell them how much they are special for you. If you cant afford to buy an expensive gift to your partner then just give a bunch of flowers and if you manage to get red roses then this will awesome. Another really expensive gift is Look into your partners eyes and say I Love You.

Payment of date:

In today's society, generally this rule is that the person who pursues the other is the one that should pay for the date. I think the guy should pay the bill, but its not like that always his wallet get cut. When he has some problem to pay the bill then girl should pay the bill. This will make your relationship more transparent.

Finally at the end of a day, dont forget to kiss on forehead and say I Love You.

Marina John is freelance author who exchange ideas, review in some specific areas as Dating, Romance, Friendship. She has been writing articles for http://www.freedatingservicesweb.com. For details contact marina at friends.marina@gmail.com.Allix Blog492
Alla Blog84388

Hawaii Cruise - Travel by Land or Sea?

So, you want to plan a trip to Hawaii. There are lots of options to consider when planning your vacation and they may seem overwhelming. A good starting point might be to think about how you are planning to arrive in this tropical paradise. Since Hawaii is, after all, an island there are only two ways to get there: by sea or by air. When calculating time from California, your choice is between five hours in the air or five days by sea. Now, I know there's a big difference in time, but a Hawaii cruise might be just the excitement and relaxation you're looking for.

Depending on your preference of travel, a Hawaii cruise might sound much more appealing to you than traveling by plane. It is inevitable that every time you step onto an airplane, even if you did pay top dollar for first class, you find yourself in an overcrowded area, in close quarters with several hundred people, many who are possibly ill.

You probably do everything you can, short of jump off the plane, to pass the grueling five hours. Then once you're off the plane you spend another hour or more enduring airport security and looking for your luggage before you even begin the trip to your hotel. Wow, doesn't sound like a great way to start a relaxing vacation. And just think, you get to do it all over again at the end of your trip, too.

Now, visualize yourself heading to your departure point and arriving right at your hotel. No long security lines, no crowded planes. When you travel by ship on a Hawaii cruise it's just like checking into your hotel and relaxing while you head to your destination. You can put your luggage in your room and head straight to the pool deck, enjoy a cocktail, and spend the first five hours of your vacation basking in the tropical sun rather than dodging someone else's germs.

When it comes down to it there's really no comparison. I know I would much rather spend my vacation to Hawaii relaxing on a cruise ship than wasting it in an airport. You will return home relaxed and calm from a week of pampering and luxury instead of stressed to the max from a long flight. The choice is yours, spend you days and nights in a luxurious room, enjoying delicious meals on a cruise ship of your preference, and you will truly enjoy your getaway to the paradise of the Hawaiian islands.

Jeremy Thompson is the author of CruiseHawaiiVacations.com your online guide to Hawaii vacations and Hawaii cruises. His fun filled site is filled with great information about Hawaii vacations and cruises. Check it out at http://www.cruisehawaiivacations.com.Anica Blog40622
Beth Blog23055

Earning An Online Masters Degree

Online master degree programs are gaining much acclaim in the recent times owing to huge associated benefits in terms of flexibility and convenience to working adults. Thats why they are the reality, they are the not the sign of future, they are the future fulfilling the dreams of the Professionals to build their skills.

Today online master degree programs are available in a wide variety of fields as Degree and Certificate Programs, MBA Programs, Business Courses, Computer, IT and Web Training, Career and Vocational Training, language courses etc.

Earning an online masters degree is one way to improve your workplace marketability and salary potential. There are major benefits to earning your master degree online. An online master degree is a surefire way to get your employer's attention.

However, continuing your education at an advanced level, like a master degree program, is much harder than pursuing an undergraduate degree. The courses are more focused, but also exponentially more demanding. Students pursuing this specialized online education degree need to be committed to learning, otherwise it's difficult to succeed.

Online Master's Degree School programs are plentiful, easy to find, and can help earn a Master's Degree from home, in a library, or while at work. Curriculums are demanding and rigorous so that a Master's Degree can be achieved in just months of online study. So, before you choose a program, check out these four hot online majors that lead to masters degrees:

Masters in Education - Teachers who are looking for a way to advance their skills and bring in more money often earn this degree. A masters degree is a requirement to be an administrator in most primary, secondary, and college settings.

Masters in e-Commerce - This relatively new degree is popular with students who want to excel in the virtual business world. Students who graduate from e-commerce programs generally aim to be hired at companies and organizations that need a business presence on the web.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) These online programs are a favorite with busy professionals who want to advance in their field of business. Business programs generally provide students with the information and skills to make informed business decisions. Fields of study may include finance, marketing, and management. Most programs require prerequisite coursework in business, but at some schools students can earn a degree in less than two years.

Masters in Information Technology - This degree has the potential to fuel the careers of those who earned their bachelors degree in computer science, math, or a related field. Typical fields of study include: data systems, systems engineering, project management, software, etc. Students with extensive professional background in the information technology field may be able to qualify for accelerated programs.

Always verify the legitimacy of any school or program before you enroll for an online degree program. It is also wise to compare prices and course schedules of at least three schools before enrolling in an online masters degree program.

Make a list of all the masters degree online programs you are investigating and compare what you are getting. Price is definitely a consideration, but less is not always more. If you pay for a masters degree online program that is not accredited, you may well be throwing your money away. Future employers will be paying attention to where your degree comes from, so be sure to align your career goals and program accordingly.

You will also want to confirm which masters degree online programs will recognize your previous degree. The most important factor to be considered before selecting an online university is the see whether it is accredited or not. Apart from that a student should also check if the accreditation body is a state recognized one. There are many accrediting bodies that are not recognized by the state; and getting an online degree from such universities is a waste of time as the degree is not considered eligible.

Finding a good accredited Online Master's Degree School that is just the right fit for pursuing an Online Master's Degree is just a click away.

This article has been published by Kateri White currently writing on online degree programs topics for our website http://www.onlineuniversitydegreeprogram.info. For more details about the online degree programs, please visit our website. If any mistake found please mail kateriwhite@gmail.comBeverlie Blog83065
Abigael Blog32949

Human Holon Communications within a High-Mix, Low-Volume Holonic Manufacturing System

Organizational communication is fundamental to high-mix manufacturing success. At the human holon level, communications are typically of the form: request, reply and inform. To have dialog amongst collaborative holons, human-system interfaces are required. Interface applications within a cooperative holonic domain are relatively simple, and decision support criteria will look like it comes from a single application.

Cooperative domains are highly distributed, autonomous and cooperative. An example of a strong heterarchy is real-time Internet chat amongst engineers. Heterarchical control is most effectively initiated by a triggering mechanism, e.g., machine breakdown, stockout, etc. for a manufacturing production environment. All users see the same state real time. Triggering is initiated after a disturbance or disruption occurs and the response strategy is communication to the entity(ies) capable of mitigating the problem quickly. Decision support would be provided to the holon responding. Decision support is comprised of heuristics to aid in the decision-taking process a pseudo expert system. The critical importance of mobilizing heterarchy cannot be overstated. To ensure efficiency is maintained, heterarchy increasingly trumps hierarchy as complexity and rate of change increase.

The power of heterarchy can be analogized to the behaviors of the ant kingdom. Simple creatures following simple rules, each one acting on local information. This heterarchical behavior forms the foundation of what is called swarm intelligence, i.e., decentralized self-organizing systems. No centralized control structure dictates how individual holons should behave. The collective behaviors of holons interacting locally cause coherent global benefits to emerge. The triggers and response tactics incorporated act to preserve advice given globally; for example, a production plan.

Consider a situation where a disturbance occurs at a process step. This trigger will cause the local holon experiencing the disruption to inform the production manager holon. The production manager holon will ask for a time estimate to recover from the disruption. If production was suspended, the local holon would have triggered the engineering holon as well as the production manager holon that production was suspended. If the due date cannot be met, the production manager holon will contact customer order service and customer order service may relax the due date or contact the customer directly. The production manager holon may minimally modify the current schedule to minimize the disturbances impact on orders in queue yet to be produced.

The rules-of-the-game are embedded in canons which are comprised of heuristics. Canons contain expert advice that facilitates some of the following characteristics for the holons with which they are associated; self organization, system optimization, cooperation, intelligence, forecasting and even considerateness.

Although there is a plethora of information available about automation exhibiting holonic behavior and test cases abound, this is is not a necessary requirement.

R. Michael Mahoney

R. Michael Mahoney is a leading thinker on high-mix strategy, and the author of the college text High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing, published through Hewlett-Packard Press by Prentice-Hall © 1997. He can be found at http://www.Holonyx.comCarol Blog65990
Alikee Blog40817

Great Tools For Knife Sharpening

Knife sharpening has come a long way from the traditional bench stone. Although these are still available, a wide variety of other tools are now available to sharpen every type of knife or cutting device. The knife sharpener you choose will depend on the tools you need to sharpen and your personal preference.

Grinding wheels have abrasive grains throughout that cut away chips in the material and sharpening the knife. A variety of abrasive substances are used in wheels. Aluminium oxide is the most common material found in wheels. Varieties of different types of oxide are used and are designated by a letter and a number. Aluminium oxide is great for sharpening steel, bronze, wrought iron and annealed iron.

Zirconia alumina is a blend of aluminium and zirconium oxide. This combination makes for a very durable wheel. It is good for sharpening a wide range of steels and alloys. This material is the next most common substance used after aluminium oxide.

Ceramic aluminium oxide is one of the newest materials used in grinding wheels. It is a very strong material and is used when precision is needed. Ceramic aluminium oxide is often blended with another abrasive material. The substance it is blended with varies according to the purpose and material it is being used to sharpen.

Wheels come in a variety of shapes. A straight wheel is the most common. These have a front facing cutting edge. A cylinder wheel is another common shape. These wheels have the cutting edge on the front of the cylinder.

The grit size is another consideration in choosing the right wheel for the job. A lower number, for example ten or twenty four, is a coarse grain wheel. A larger number, like 100 or 180 is a fine grain. Fine grains are good for finishing work as they remove smaller pieces of metal from the edge of the knife.

A Bench Grinder for Knife Sharpening

Bench grinders are inexpensive tools that are used by many to sharpen knives. They can be used to sharpen a variety of objects, including knives, cutters, hand tools and drill bits. They can be mounted on your workbench. The wheels come in six or ten inch diameter sizes. The motor used in these varies from 1/3 to 1 horsepower. A good bench grinder has a tool rest to keep the wheel steady and improve accuracy in sharpening.

Chain Saw Sharpeners

If you own a chainsaw, you will need a chain saw sharpener. Automatic sharpeners are the easiest method available to sharpen a chainsaw. The chain is locked in place when the wheel is lowered. Position the tooth and set the angle on the sharpener. Pull the head up when finished and position the next tooth. Automatic sharpeners ensure uniform sharpening.

Manual sharpeners are less expensive. They are also precise and work with all types of chain. A manual lever is used to lock the chain in place. Manual chain saw sharpeners often come with more than one wheel. This makes them more versatile and ensures they will work with your chain.

Bianca Bartegi writes frequently for http://www.insidewoodworking.com a website with resources. The author is specializing in subjects like knife sharpening ( http://www.insidewoodworking.com/sharpening/knifesharpening.html ).Carine Blog1233
Brigitte Blog57308

Greyhound: The Fastest Running Dog

The fastest running dog of all the canine species is the Greyhound. Because of their great speed, many Greyhound owners use these animals as racing dogs. In this case, the lifespan of a Greyhound depends on how long he can maintain his ability win. After too many losses, some owners will opt to euthanize their animals. For those Greyhounds lucky enough to be rescued, they can be rehabilitated for family pets.

If you decide you'd like to give a rehabilitated Greyhound a home, consider speaking with a trained rescuer about the issues these types of dogs may have. When training a Greyhound to race, they are taught to chase a mechanical rabbit. Many times Greyhounds will have difficulty discerning the mechanical rabbit from a small child or other pet, and will erroneously give chase. Rehabilitated Greyhounds make much better pets when they are not given the opportunity to interact with children and other pets. Being full grown at the time of their rehabilitation, unfortunately does not mean they are house broken and will likely need extra time and patience to learn what is expected of a pet.

The American Kennel Club classifies the Greyhounds as a member of the Hound Group, which first made their appearance in ancient Egypt. There they were taught to hunt down game. After making their way to England, they developed into favored animals with British noblemen who, realizing their speed and ability to turn coin, began racing them. This trend continued when Greyhounds crossed the seas to America.

Large, sleek and strong with narrow bodies, Greyhounds are muscular with long lithe tails and dark eyes. Where most dogs of a specific breed are categorized by their unique color, the Greyhound breed can be a variety of different colors.

Though not known for their energy, Greyhounds are popular for their impossible speed. When not racing, these dogs can be found lazing away in the shade, storing what energy they have for their next race. Greyhounds need plenty of room to run, in a well enclosed area. However, animals that live in more confined spaces like apartments will eventually acclimate themselves to walking on a leash.

Typically Greyhounds are amiable, companionable pets that enjoy time spent with their families playing. Greyhounds are affectionate dogs and love to be close to their owners. They love children and delight in playing with them, and are generally gentle and good natured enough to play with other animals as well. Because the Greyhound's instinct is to prey, it's advisable you watch them closely around other pets and children. Though they are loveable dogs, their natural instincts drive their actions.

Greyhounds require good quality food to sustain their bodies and provide energy. They are notorious for their tendency to bloat, so Greyhound owners must carefully monitor their food intake and make certain they are not eating too much. It's recommended, for the overall health of your pet that they be allowed to eat numerous smaller meals instead of a couple larger ones. It's always a good idea to speak with a veterinarian; they will be able to provide the best information about how to care for your Greyhound, along with recommending a vitamin supplement that will keep your pet in good health.

Luckily Greyhounds don't shed much at all. This is because they have a short coat, which makes grooming for these animals relatively simple. Greyhounds shouldn't need to be brushed more than once a week, and a good rule of thumb is to have their nails clipped by a professional when they begin to sound like tap dancers.

Deciding to become the owner of a rehabilitated Greyhound may seem daunting at first, but with patience and devotion, these dogs can make an excellent addition to any family.

George Adams is a staff writer at http://www.pets-digest.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.recreation-digest.com.Berte Blog7179
Barbara Blog55330

What is the difference between Windows and UNIX web hosting?

Windows and UNIX are in fact two different systems and of course we are referring to computer systems. A web host uses computers, (we shall refer to them as servers, just computers, but sometimes larger) to host websites, and all computers need a operating system, so Windows and UNIX are the operating system.

The Windows used is normally Windows NT or 2000 and of course as you know Microsoft charges for it's software, while UNIX is an open source operating system, this means that the original creators of the system have given up the rights and anyone can use it, change, improve or do anything they want with, free of charge.

From this we already have to main differences, Window hosts are more expensive and UNIX is more reliable, because it as been improved by thousands of anonymous people.

Most probably you are reading this in front of your computer which most probably is operates on a Windows XP, have you noticed that it sometimes, it freezes, and the only solution is to restart it? UNIX is much more stable, robust, time-tested, flexible platform for a web server.

But Windows servers have also it's positive sides, they are compatible with Microsoft applications, and fully support Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Access and MS SQL, they also offer advance-programming environments and features such as Active Server Pages (ASP), the ASP.NET framework, Visual Basic Scripts, MS Index Server, Macromedia's and Cold Fusion.

Windows operating system require little or no experience in web development to get advanced features working very quickly because of better graphical user interface (GUI) Software such as Microsoft's FrontPage is specially developed for the webmaster to decrease the website development time and efforts.

Lets go back again to UNIX, they support FrontPage, Flash, Shockwave, Real Audio/Video, Cgi Scripts, Perl, PHP, SSH (Secure Telnet), MySQL, Web-Based Control System, Anonymous FTP, Web Site Graphical Statistics, Web-Based Email System, Miva/XML, Cold Fusion Perl, JAVA, PHP, C, C++, Miva, Shell Access and other wide verity of feature like Telnet and SSH that provides lots of flexibility and freedom in managing file and directories, but some of this require advance knowledge of Unix commands in order for you to customize the scripts to match your website needs.

Because of the nature of UNIX, (open source) and the people who love it, there is on the WWW freely available software and scripts, again bringing the cost down.

Concluding which one is the best, it really depends what you need, if you need high uptime, security and not so expensive then go with UNIX, if you need to run Windows applications like, MS Access or the MS SQL SERVER then Windows is your choice.

Paul SantosAntonella Blog93031
Allianora Blog83063

3 Steps To Getting An Online High School Education

Online high school education might make it possible for you to get your diploma. After you have left school, finishing your education is hard. There are a lot of barriers you have to overcome. High school doesn't fit well into the adult world you live in now, but you need that diploma in order to do what you want to with your life. Here are some ideas for getting your diploma using online high school education.

Step 1: Assess

Start by looking at where you are and where you want to be. If you are only a couple of classes short of the requirements for high school graduation in your school district, maybe they offer the classes over the internet, and you could finish up and graduate from your home high school.

If you need more than a couple of classes to graduate, you could earn your diploma and graduate from an online high school, taking classes to meet their graduation requirements.

Look at where you want to be, too. If you are finishing high school for your own self development, or so that you can advance in your present job, online high school education classes might be what you need. If, however, you want to go to college after you get your diploma, you might be able to find "double duty" classes that will give you both high school and college credit, so that you can enter college ahead of the game.

Step 2: Gather Information

There are four places you should look for online high school education classes: your local school district, community education in your area, local colleges and online high school education providers. Compare the requirements each program has for high school graduation, and what you would have to do to complete those requirements.

Look into ways to pay for your online high school education. If you are under 21, your local school district may be a good place to look for funding. Whether you get help from a local school district or not, you should be able to find a way to complete your high school education for free or at a low cost.

If you plan to enter college when you are done, find out what the entrance requirements are for your top three or four college choices. If they require two years of foreign language, for instance, it is much less expensive to take the classes as part of an online high school education than it is to make up the deficiency later.

Step 3:

Get started. Put together all the information you have gathered, and decide how you will go about getting an online high school education. Do the paperwork, go through the hoops and enroll in a class. You are on your way to completing your diploma through online high school education.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of http://www.continuingstudy.com where you can find the best distance learning programs and degrees to suit your needs including law enforcement training online.Carita Blog53472
Catriona Blog12718

Useful Advice For Cats: How To Care For Your Human

For us cats there are several sweet advantages in having a human as a pet. But remember you are taking on a big responsibility when you adopt one or more humans. Humans are demanding pets that need daily care and attention.

With responsibility come both advantages and disadvantages. If you adopt a human you must get used to spending time at home. Your human does not deal well with being left alone - they will get into all sorts of mischief. For example, if you are gone just two or three days you run the risk of seeing posters put up all over the neighborhood. Your human will put out an APB on you ! Often with an embarrassing text that reveals all sorts of personal details - and usually accompanied by an unflattering photo of you - with morning fur and crumpled whiskers. Exactly the kind of thing that attracts ridicule from all the neighbor cats.

So please consider carefully if you are ready for a life with humans. And remember humans generally grow very old, so there is a big chance that you will spend the rest of your life with your human.

Entertaining your Human

The litter box provides a great opportunity for entertaining your human. Naturally there is all the fun your human can have cleaning and scooping out the box. A lot of human time can also be used getting fresh litter - going to the pet store, transporting it home etc. However many humans like new challenges. Utilize your litter box time in making interesting and artistic renderings of countries or well known islands. Your human will have lots of fun guessing which one you made. Humans like game-shows - so this should be a popular activity. When your human increases in skill you can also make portraits of family and friends. Start with profile portraits - this will make it easer for your human.

Shredding

Make it a priority to shed indoors on appropriate surfaces. Fleece is a particularly suitable material to shred on. All you need to do is pass close by your human when he or she is wearing fleece. All cat hair within a radius of about 2 feet from the fabric will immediately be transferred to your human. No brushing necessary for several days ! Another good solution is to get access to a filled clothes hamper. Jump into it and give all contents a good work over. An extra bonus with this method is that most cat hairs will survive a trip to the washing machine. Your human will be stylishly accessorized with cat hair on all outfits.

Extra Food

All chances for a bit of extra food must and should be taken advantage of. Whenever your human is in the kitchen there is a prime opportunity of getting an extra snack. When your human is busy at the kitchen table place yourself in your humans blind angle (just behind the ankle is usually a good spot). And the second your human moves one of both feet you jump back screaming your most heart-wrenching cry. Your human will automatically assume that he/she stepped on you. When your human looks back scared to see what is happening look up at him/her with a painful expression on your face (practice this before hand in front of a mirror). Your human's bad conscience will often result an edible apology.

Grass Etiquette

Before you eat grass make sure that you are close to a suitable place to throw up on. Delicate furniture fabrics, precious carpets, and shoes are all good places. If you choose furniture aim for the part that has non-removable fabric. When you are getting down to business make sure you back up a step or two so that you cover the largest area possible. Another technique is to do several items with pauses in-between. Persian carpets will give a good camouflage effect and your little gift will often not be discovered until somebody steps in it.

Preventing your human from wasting valuable time

One of the most important tasks we cats have is to prevent humans in wasting their time. Humans love to spend their time on things with no relevance for cats. For example watching TV, reading, talking on the phone - and many other things that have no entertainment value for us cats what so ever. A lot of methods can be used to prevent human time waste - use your imagination. Some especially effective techniques will be mentioned here.

Watching TV; make sure that you always position yourself between the TV and your human. On the coffee table for example. You can also lie on the TV and let you tail or paws swing down in front of the screen. This method is most effective on small screens where you can cover a large percentage of the screen. It is a bit trickier with a flat screen - and only recommended for the agile kitty. A variation can be used with a computer screen. The new flat screens often leave a lot of empty space on the desk - so just get up in front - remind your human of how wonderful you are.

Cleaning; stalk the vacuum cleaner and attack when it passes by. You can also pretend that you want to attack the vacuum cleaner but "accidentally" catch a foot instead.

Garden work; jump repeatedly up-and-down and scatter any leaves that your human has raked together. Attack gardening tools - especially while they're being used. Immediately dig up any newly planted seeds, plants and flowers.

Closed Doors

Under no circumstances accept closed doors that separate you from your human. At any and all times you have a right to know what your human is doing. If the situation do arise when you by accident have been placed on the wrong side of a door you need to make your human aware of this ASAP so he/she can remedy the situation immediately. Loud meows and scratching on the door should be sufficient to get your humans attention. If this is ignored you need to take more drastic measures: Make a sound as if you are going to throw up. This sound can be heard by all humans in a 50 feet radius. This sound can also be heard through closed doors. The "puke sound" will always result in your human's immediate presence.

Sleeping Time

It is important for us cats to prioritize our sleeping time. The objective is to get as much sleep done as possible while your human is awake. You will then be especially well rested and bushy-tailed at night when it is your job to keep your human awake. You can for example use the classical "cat-play with toes" and attack everything that moves under the duvet. You can also reenact highlights from last year's Grand National Steeplechase by revealingly galloping across the bed. A couple of loud meows will give it an extra exiting dimension for your human

Houseguests

Houseguests require special attention and handling. The following procedures should be followed:

Houseguests that either do not like us or are allergic to us: As soon as they sit down - jump onto their lap.

Noisy children that run after you and/or pull your tail: It is your duty to punish them - it can be necessary to use both claws and teeth. However be prepared that this can result in noise that is even more annoying and of an even louder decibel level.

Guests that try to get in contact with you by ingratiating themselves and speaking in a sweet voice: Should just be ignored. If they try to approach you, back away 5-6 feet - never further away than they feel encouraged to try again. With a bit of practice this game can he kept going for hours.

Bad Weather

Even in bad weather it can be necessary to go outside. The rain and wet ground will result in an unpleasant layer of dirt and mud on your paws. However this can easily be dried off on certain appropriate indoor spots. Find a light carpet, a duvet cover or nice piece of furniture and walk over it a couple of times. When your paw tracks are almost invisible your paws are clean and you are ready to go outside again.

Training your Human

Sometimes it can be necessary to discipline even a well-trained human. However do remember never to hit a human. At the most mark with a soft paw on the human's arm or hands. But try first to make your human understand what it has done wrong. And most importantly: be patient! The human intellect is relatively limited and it can be difficult for them to understand our wishes and needs.

Even after approximately 5000 years of domestication the human species still has primitive instincts and it does take time to train your human completely.

Door Training

One of the first things you need to teach your human is to open the front door, the garden door and backdoor when required. This is done by walking up to a door and make an impatient and very loud meow. Make some tripping steps with your back paws obviously indicating that you need to go to the outdoor litter box. When your human has gotten up from the couch and opened the door you decide that you do not really need to go outside right now. Just for appearances you can stand in the open door and pretend that you are thinking about the situation for a few seconds before you turn around to go inside again. Repeat this procedure several times a day. This will keep your human in good door opening form.

Inspection of the House

A house usually has unlimited possibilities for suitable sleeping spots. Every possibility no matter how theoretical should be investigated and tested. Cardboard boxes, cupboards, drawers, couches and beds are obvious localities, but places such as old slippers (size 11 or higher) open gymbags or kitchen cupboards should not be overlooked.

The house should further be investigated for all possible toys. An old sock can represent several hours of entertainment if you get your claw on a loose end and unravel a couple of miles worth of yarn. You human will love to tidy up after your play.

Martine Carlsen is owned by two wonderful silver abyssinian cats, Sonny and Cher. She is also a web designer and the proud owner and creator of http://www.carlsencards.com. And as you can tell from her website, cats play a big part in both her life and her work.Aubrie Blog23503
Allianora Blog42810

Dropouts on the Rise in Los Angeles Schools Many Blame New Graduation Requirements and an Unprepared Math Teaching Structure for Math

In 2003, the Los Angeles schools implemented a new policy of graduation requirements. The intention was to graduate Los Angeles schools students that were better-educated and groomed for college and high-level jobs. Requirements included graduates to pass one year of algebra and one of geometry, or equivalent coursework.

Though the intention was good and the Los Angeles schools policy should work in theory, the reality is giving a much different and more dismal picture. Los Angeles schools students are unprepared to meet the new demands and are failing algebra by the thousands. Coursework that used to differentiate a college-bound student from those planning to attend technical schools or directly enter the workforce, algebra is now the cause of many Los Angeles schools students giving up and dropping out.

According to Los Angeles schools Superintendent Roy Romer, algebra is now the reason for more student dropouts than any other subject. The frustration of consistently failing algebra gives a sense of hopelessness. More and more students are giving up the hope of a high school diploma from the Los Angeles schools as futile. Some have even thought of committing suicide all because of a mathematics requirement, and it will get worse before it gets better!

In the fall of 2004, 48,000 Los Angeles schools students in the ninth grade took Beginning Algebra. Of this group, 44 percent failed and seven percent received a grade of D, totaling 29,000 Los Angeles schools students either failing or just barely passing. Of those students who repeated the class in the spring, almost three-fourths failed again.

The failures and near failures, especially for students who had to repeat the class, has left many Los Angeles schools students discouraged and teachers frustrated.

One Los Angeles schools algebra teacher said that he failed 90 percent of his students, but seemed to blame the children for the failure. He noted that many students ignored their homework, rarely studied for tests, and often skipped his class. My question is this: Are the students lazy and do not care, as depicted by this teacher or are they being taught algebra in a manner they cannot understand and have just given up, possibly long before this teacher was assigned to them?

I know from experience that not all mathematics teachers should be teaching math. I took basic mathematics coursework all through school, and then decided to attend college as an adult. This meant that I had to take a lot of extra mathematics classes to catch up to the other students skill level. In one class, I absolutely could not understand the instructor or the math he was teaching, which thoroughly confused me. In middle school, my math teacher told me I should have been taking advanced math, because it came so easy to me. Finally, I spoke to the college instructor after class, asking if he could explain it to me differently. His response, If you cant get it here, hire a tutor. Later, in my eighth college math course of Inferential Statistics, I told my professor, who had a Ph.D. in statistics, about the incident. He said that anyone, who cannot explain mathematics at least five different ways, should not be teaching the course at any educational level.

Apparently, Los Angeles Schools Superintendent Romer agrees with my professor. He believes the fault is in the cumulative failure of the ability to teach mathematics adequately in the public school system.

With the increased mathematics requirements, there is a shortage of credentialed teachers in the Los Angeles schools at all levels meaning that teachers are certified in their subject or had the subject as their major or minor in college. Los Angeles schools high schools have 20 percent of their math teachers who lack these credentials. Even the state has problems with 40 percent of all eighth grade teachers teaching outside of their field of expertise.

Many Los Angeles schools students are beginning algebra who cannot add fractions or convert percentages to decimals, and they do not know their multiplication tables. Algebra teachers cannot provide a review of basic math, since the Los Angeles schools mandate they teach at a rapid pace. Additionally, many students repeating algebra are assigned to the same teachers, from whom they previously did not learn.

Now, the Los Angeles schools have raised the graduation requirements again, before making the prior policy a success. By 2016, Los Angeles schools graduates, who are now in the second grade, will be required to meet the entry requirements for the University of California whether they plan to attend college or not. This means that the 2016 graduates must pass a third year of advanced mathematics (such as Algebra II) and four years of English.

Knowing simple algebra means the difference between a menial job at near-to-minimum wage and a high-level career. Even blue-collar apprenticeship programs, such as electricians and plumbers, now require higher math skills to calculate needed materials. It is obvious that the skills are needed, so the solution for the Los Angeles schools is not a new policy that is more stringent than the first.

With some algebra being introduced now in kindergarten, the Los Angeles schools from elementary through high school must be equipped to appropriately teach it and motivate students to learn it. The failure to graduate threat only produces a higher dropout rate for the Los Angeles schools. The solution is credentialed teachers with a slower teaching pace and remedial math classes for students prior to repeating algebra.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Aubry Blog88653
Adriaens Blog91553

A Bitching Goodwill To All Men!

Well Darlings,

I think the newspaper headline of the week, perhaps of the month, has to go to the Independent for: "IT'S THE WAR, STUPID" in the bottom right-hand corner next to a full front page picture of a troubled-looking President Bush. Four simple words, and yet they told the whole story. Brilliant!

It's been a week of stupid people and stupid stories, I reckon. At a time when our prisons are bursting at the seams and convicts are having to be released into the community early to finish their time in hostels (if you watched the Panorama programme on this, then you're probably frightened to leave your home!) we hear that prisons all across the country are to spend money on having their fences painted dark green so they don't appear as prominent to the inmates, and they don't feel so "trapped"!

Er, isn't that one of the purposes of a prison - to keep offenders trapped behind bars and high walls so that the rest of us may feel safe? Shouldn't they know that is why they are there? What next, designer cells, balm toilet paper, and the latest fashion clothing for inmates? How about some annual leave - you know, a paid holiday? Perhaps they'd like that too!

Anyone not wishing to feel trapped shouldn't offend - it's as simple as that! You may ask who the hell came up with this stupid idea? Well, it's just one of the ideas to be found in the Prison Service's "Sustainable Development Report". A report that also calls for new windows to be fitted to cells, and for solar panels and wind turbines to be installed in order to make our jails "environmentally friendly". Environmentally friendly for who? Not for the planet, that's for sure!

Incidentally, have you noticed how many times that word "sustainable" is popping up these days? It seems to be the latest "in-word" used to relate a sense of importance to something, and I'm sure it must by now have overtaken our hoary old favourite: "initiative". With "initiative" being seen by people today largely as meaning: "prone to failure", I'm wondering what the public's perception might soon be of: "sustainable". Yes, I reckon "stupid" has to be in with a good chance.

The more we make prison life comfortable, the more prisoners we shall accrue and the more prisons we shall have to build to house them. Prison should be an experience that no felon would ever again wish to endure. Only then will we really start to get on top of crime. All this stupid modern talk about human rights and comfort is ridiculous. On conviction every criminal should lose all but the very basic of human rights. Too often the convict, who has already violated the human rights of another, is kept by the public purse in conditions more comfortable than those of their victim. The country has gone bonkers! Utterly! It's those do-gooders again! Personally I'd find it far more environmentally friendly for all prisoners to do hard labour and all our prisons to be fitted with watchtowers complete with searchlights and machine guns. I may not be politically correct - but I'm right for you, for me, and for the planet!

Another institution that never fails to amaze is our National Health Service. I have no more medical qualification than that gained through reading the instructions on an Elastoplast tin - yet not even I would take more than a split second to conclude that any doctor suggesting to a woman patient her mother was a witch, one who with her husband was trying to kill her, was a little unethical. Such are the allegations being made against Dr Joyce Pratt, a London physician, who has allegedly told her patient she was the victim of "black magic" but that with "special powers", along with a visit to a priest at Westminster Cathedral, she might be cured.

A three-day tribunal by the General Medical Council Fitness to Practise panel in Manchester is to decide whether or not this doctor's conduct was irresponsible, unprofessional, or in any way intimidating to her patient and liable to bring the profession into disrepute. Now, we are often reminded about all those years of expensive training, examinations, and hours of hands-on experience that are required in order to become a qualified practitioner, aren't we? So isn't it rather strange how someone like Dr Pratt could go through the system holding such beliefs, if indeed she does, and not be detected? Perhaps even stranger is why any tribunal should need three days to deliberate such a matter. I have to wonder how many Pratts are involved in this case?

I'm guessing there's quite a few Pratts associated with the NHS's new computer system. We've aired this one before, but nothing seems to get any better. A new survey of more than 300 NHS staff in London reveals many of those who are to use the system are angry they weren't consulted before its introduction. They lack confidence in its ability to deliver what they need from it, and doubt it will be of much help to them. Those taking part in the survey included scientists, psychologists and pharmacists - one of whom has come out and labelled the systems as "useless". Once they've finished paying all the bills, that's getting on for 30 billion of uselessness bought out of the public purse. A lot of people could have been treated with that kind of money - a lot who today are refused life-prolonging medications because the finances aren't there to provide for them.

Perhaps a few quid could have been skimmed off to help raise some of the appalling hygiene standards found by the "Which?" magazine in their inspections over the past three years of some 50 UK hospitals. The consumer group reports reveal cockroach and mice infestations in hospital kitchens, dirty cooking equipment, inadequate refrigeration of food, mouldy equipment, out-of-date food, and even a lack of something as basic and necessary as soap and water. All this has been found, incredibly, within our National Health Service. And they have the gall to tell us our NHS is getting better? Better for who - undertakers?

Stupid council of the week was a close run thing between one that I won't mention and Tower Hamlets in East London. The former told a disabled driver, who had parked his car legally in a nearby disabled bay, that they needed his disabled badge in order to renew his permit at the (I believe, for this council anyway, quite stupidly named) Customer First Centre. After a friend fetched the badge for him, at the same time conscientiously paying for a parking ticket and putting it on the car, it was renewed and he returned to his car - only to find a parking inspector had slapped a 30 fine on the car for not displaying the badge.

This worthy of Lemony Snicket series of unfortunate events continued when his appeal against the fine was refused by the council because: "we received very little information and we found no valid grounds for cancelling the ticket." Well, I guess they couldn't have looked very hard for those grounds, could they? Customer First Centre? Bah! First for what?

Following this story hitting the headlines in the press, the council have promised to look at the case again should the person (the victim) write in to them with all the details. It's a sensible decision, but why has it had to take the story appearing in the press before some simple common sense was employed by the council? This particular council desperately needs to win friends and to influence people at this time, but it seems to me their in-built attitude which leaves much to be desired will prevent them from doing so. We are reminded at this time of year that a dog is not just for Xmas, but neither should be goodwill to all men (humankind, to be PC).

The winner of the accolade Stupid Council of the Week - by a mile! - in the end has to go to Tower Hamlets for dumping Guy Fawkes and replacing him with a tiger on Bonfire Night. The council there say that the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot is too old. Instead their officials spent 75,000 on a celebration centred around a Bengali folk tale called the Emperor and the Tiger. What? And these people are allowed to govern?

Of course there's nothing at all wrong with celebrating the Emperor and the Tiger, especially in an area with such a large Asian population, but it should not be done on this day in place of a great British tradition. Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot is a massive piece of British history. November 5th (1605) is up there with 1066 and one in the eye for King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, and with 1666 when the baker to King Charles II, Thomas Farynor - own up now, how many of you remembered his name? - the original pudding head of Pudding Lane, caused the Great Fire of London - you simply can't go and replace it with a tiger. It's sacrilege! And above all, it harms community relations.

More stupidity? White poppies. The red poppy is traditional; symbolic. It is to remind us of the fallen, those from many nations who had to sacrifice their lives for others. Its significance to Remembrance Day came as a result of the Canadian military doctor John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields". Poppies bloomed profusely across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their red colour a reminder of the terrible bloodshed of trench warfare. Now it is used to remember those fallen in all military conflicts. It is an icon used by the Royal British Legion which helps them to collect money for all the good work they do for ex-servicemen and their families. What it is not is anything political or jingoistic.

The white poppy dates back to 1926 and it is a very political statement. It symbolises the belief that there are better ways to resolve conflicts than through the killing of strangers. It's an admirable belief, one that many will go along with, but it has no part to play on Remembrance Day, a day when we are remembering those that WERE killed by strangers, and it should not be struggling for recognition on that day alongside the traditional red poppy. The red poppy still means so much to so many people, even today. Respect their beliefs. Respect them. Find another day - and preferably find another flower.

Yes, it's been a very stupid week. One that has brought to light some very stupid people.

I hope you'll remember them. It's a time to remember.

See you next week . . .

"The Bitch!" 10/11/06.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Michael KnellArluene Blog27493
Ariel Blog35096

Your Service Selling Pipeline: 6 Elements to Keep Business Revenue Flowing

So youve launched a viable business entity and now youre ready to grow it by seeking out more new customers. What to do next? Sure, you can promote your business through word-of-mouth referrals, and perhaps some sort of advertising, and even, , more and more likely in this day and age, promoting your company over the Internet. But at some point there will come an important moment when you and your associates need to get out on the road and sell to a major buyer if you really want to grow.

The concept of selling is different things to different people: fun for some, a dread for others, but certainly a necessity for any service business. Direct field selling is a key element for most companies whether they market a pure service or a quasi-service, i.e., part product, part service (such as printing).

As in most aspects of business, your service sales process can be viewed analytically. When broken down it can be seen as a series of sequential elements. When pieced back together, this process will produce a finished and integrated system capable of propelling revenue opportunities forward, culminating in a successful sale for many of them .

These selling elements, in combination, form what is referred to in the marketing trade as a pipeline. At the end of the selling spectrum is the order. At the beginning is the suspect. Your pipeline connects the two. In addition to a life-giving revenue flow, the pipeline offers the business owner two other ancillary benefits:

1. An ability to forecast the forthcoming revenue stream. This becomes possible because the owner can observe and quantify his/her number of prospects, presentations and proposals currently in play that will potentially advance the process right up to the order, i.e., the sale.

2. The ability to spot weak links in the chain. This is vital if the pipeline is running a danger of breaking and is thus in urgent need of repair. What is typically the he most common weak link? Quite simply, n insufficient number of hot prospects, one of the most crucial selling elements in the entire pipeline.

To get specific about all these sequential pipeline elements, lets examine them one by one:

1. The suspect This is a profiled buyer, defined as a firm or individual that could possibly have a need for a given service or product.

2. The prospect This is a suspect that definitely has a need for the given service or product

3. The hot prospect This prospect has expressed a clear interest in buying. The prospects reasons might include a belief that purchasing this product will result in generation of a cost payback within two years or that the prospects own productivity will be greatly improved. Whatever the expressed reason, a prospect becomes hot due to the very act of expressing one or more such reasons.

4. Proposal Submission A hot prospect, i.e., a strong potential buyer, should be willing to sign an agreement and put down at least a token fee or deposit for the seller to construct a customized proposal. A token amount might only be $100 to $200, just enough of a litmus test to affirm the buyers commitment to the sellers offering, though it should not so much as to jeopardize the buyers request for a proposal.

5. The Order. With the signing (or with a purchase order submission), the deal becomes official. Decide here if a guarantee or warrantee will be offered.

6. Program Implementation. The order is of course no value to the buyer in and of itself. The seller must take ownership of the service that has just been sold to the extent that the seller can help the buyer set up the purchased service and get it launched or started.

In the end, the key is to link these six elements into a productive chain resulting in a continuous flow of revenues. The activities required that comprise each link of this pipeline order-chain will vary depending on the type of service (or product) being offered. For example, the seller may need to conduct a snail-mailing or a cold-call telephone search to identify prospects from among the firms available on a purchased list of suspects. An illustrative ratio for significantly-sized orders (say over $5,000 each) might look like this:

50 suspects -- 10 prospects --- 3-4 hot prospects --- 3 proposal submissions --- 1 order

For sake of discussion lets assume that your average salesperson is budgeted to close at least one major new account (sale) per month. In this example, your sales rep would need to solicit 50 suspects a month (10 per week). Depending on the size and duration of the average order, this may be a reasonable figure for a salesperson with an assigned territory populated by customers requiring service.

The pipeline process can also be shortened in that a lead may originate through some promotional source. Depending on the potency of the lead, this could either be classified as a prospect or a hot prospect. For example, a hot prospect has expressed an interest in the service offered, while a prospect is thought to have only a mild or passing interest.

By routinely monitoring the numbers at each point in the pipeline the owner (or sales manager) can note weak links in the selling spectrum and predict growth in new business. In this way, your service pipeline can reap you rewards for years to come.

Brooks Fenno, CMC, Principal of SALESMARK, is a longstanding Massachusetts-based management consultant with expertise in diversification into new products and new markets. To learn more, visit http://www.brooksfenno.com or (617) 536-0197.Alvinia Blog23753
Carolee Blog62241

How to Beat the Banks at the Credit Card Game

This financial tip is an answer to a letter I recently received from Debbie. She asks: Weve been battling credit cards for most of our married life. Were finally getting on top of the situation. Weve paid off almost all of our cards with one left to go. It feels good! It makes me extremely angry to get two and three new offers of credit cards almost every day. I take great joy in tearing all of them up and throwing them away. The minimum payments have gone up. Interest rates are astronomical! Is there anyone who goes to bat for the consumer on credit cards or are the big banks just leading us to the slaughter? It appears that the banks can do about anything they want. Thanks!

First of all, congratulations on your efforts to get out of debt. As Ive mentioned in the past, this has to be a major priority for all Christians. We are to be slaves to Christ, not to lenders.

Unfortunately, the banks have a lot of power to influence Congress, so they are able to do just about anything they want. Which means anyone who has credit card debt knows what Scripture is talking about when it says, the borrower is servant to the lender.

Youre doing the very best thing you can do to control the banks pay off the cards. And then stay out of debt. If you cant control your spending with credit cards, cut them up and stay away. Credit cards are a great tool if you know how to control them. Unfortunately, most people dont. Researchers say that the average person spends about 30% more when they use a credit card compared to using cash only. Thats why radio talk-show host Dave Ramsey tells all his listeners to cut up their cards.

I think thats the best course of action for most people. Remember, the banks make money with credit cards three ways: interest charges, late payment and other user fees, and through merchant fees (fees charged to the companies that accept credit cards). The latter will often result in higher prices you pay for the things you buy. The first two, you have more control over.

If you decide to use credit cards, you must pay them off every month and use them only for items you would buy with cash. That means you have to stay within your budget. If you can do that, then credit cards are a good tool to use. But if you cant, then cut them up.

As for the credit card offers you receive in the mail, theres an easy way to stop those. Check out my article that tells you how to do it in just 5 minutes (visit http://www.wisdomsedge.com/newsletters/vol1/V1N24.htm#finance for details).

(c) Wisdom's Edge, 2006. Becka Blog80028
Anjanette Blog3849

Las Vegas Schools Open New Schools and Hire New Teachers

New Schools Equal New Hires

Las Vegas Schools have ten new schools opening for the 2006-2007 school year. Nine are brand new schools, while one is a replacement of Rancho High School. This is part of a long term plan to meet student population demands and create modern facilities. The schools opening in August are six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The new elementary schools are Hayden Elementary, Schorr Elementary, Steele Elementary, Thompson Elementary, Ward Elementary and Wright Elementary. The middle schools are Johnston and Tarkanian and the high schools are the new Legacy High School and the replacement Rancho High School. All these new schools create the need for more teacher and support staff. With this in mind Las Vegas Schools is engaging in a very active recruitment process including holding a recruitment fair this summer to be held at the Desert Rose Adult High School. In the area of academic staff Las Vegas Schools are hiring over one thousand new staff and teachers. But academic staff are not the only ones needed to keep a school running. These new member schools of Las Vegas Schools are also in need of bus drivers, transportation aides, vehicle mechanics and substitute food service workers.

The New Rancho High School

The newest edition to Las Vegas Schools is the placement of the old Rancho High School. The new design may seem surprisingly familiar to the students. The new Rancho High School is based on the same design used in most suburban shopping malls. The new 330,000 square foot school was built on the site of the former schools athletic field. The old school will be torn down later in the school year. The new Rancho High School follows a two story mall design and the total building cost was around $75 million. The money came from the Las Vegas Schools $3.5 billion capital improvement plan approved by voters in 1998. The new design did cause a little concern but it actually creates a very functional and friendly space which can add to the success of a school. The Rancho High School principal plans to divide the school into four distinct sections each with its own assistant principal and student services. These sections will possibly be divided based on grade level or program type. Rancho High School is well known for its magnet programs that aim towards the medical and aviation fields. These magnet programs will have new offices and special facilities on the new Ranch High School campus. The ROTC will also have a new area. The Rancho High School ROTC is one of the largest in the U.S. and the facility will be able to accommodate over five hundred students. The Ranch High School replacement is part of a long term replacement plan by Las Vegas schools. The plan was to replace five existing schools Sunrise Acres Elementary, Wendell Williams Elementary and Rancho High School are the first three with Booker Elementary and Virgin Valley Elementary to follow.

Rancho High School is Second to Have Mall Design

Rancho High School is the second Las Vegas School to have the mall design. The first was at Buffalo and Grand Teton. The mall design creates a new and unique space that provides natural light and fresh air to the classrooms while creating a more secure environment than a conventional school design. Both the current principal and the president of the construction company building the new school are former Rancho High School graduates, who are extremely pleased with the modern replacement.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Alexia Blog81881
Brook Blog94954

Detroit Schools Partner for Engineering Success

The Detroit Schools has partnered with local universities to get students thinking about careers in science and engineering. Students at different levels of the Detroit Public Schools are being targeted in a statewide effort to get more women and minorities enrolled in engineering programs. One program that makes this its mission is the Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program (DAPCEP).

The Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program

DAPCEP works with area students in three main ways. It partners with local public school teachers to design a curriculum that encourages creative thinking in the sciences. To fulfill this goal, DAPCEP sponsors science fairs, field trips, and university seminars for students and teachers.

DAPCEP also runs a Saturday program in conjunction with local universities and corporations to provide enrichments activities for students in grades 4 12. These activities focus on different aspects of math, computer science, engineering, physics, chemistry, and communication skills.

In addition to its programs during the school year, DAPCEP brings local public school students into universities for summer programs. Some of the summer programs are residential, with students living on campus for a few weeks and getting a real taste for the college life. Other programs provide transportation to and from campus.

University Partnerships
DAPCEPs list of university partners is certainly impressive.
University of Detroit Mercy
Michigan State University
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Wayne State University
Lawrence Technical University
Oakland University
University of Michigan Dearborn
Michigan Technological University

The Little Engineer Program

In addition to their very successful middle school and high school programs, DAPCEP also has something for smaller learners. Its Little Engineer Program is for students in grades K 3. These Saturday classes for both children and their parents focus on teaching and learning math, science, pre-engineering, and reading.

How to Join DAPCEP

The selection process for DAPCEP can be daunting for parents anxious to give this opportunity to their children. DAPCEP holds an open house each fall for prospective students and parents. Students must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average in all their school subjects. Other factors, such as attendance, and taking certain academic subjects in the regular school curriculum, such as physics, chemistry, and higher level math, also play a role in student selection. For many programs, students also need letters of recommendation from their math and science teachers.

Summer Course Offerings

DAPCEPs university partnerships are providing a range of summer courses of Detroit area students. Here are some highlights:

Watershed Investigators (University of Detroit Mercy)
Students will investigate local water quality in a series of real world experiments.

How Math Rocks Our World (Tabernacle)
Students will see how their math and science skills compare with other students around the world, in particular China and India.

Wireless Integrated Microsystems (Michigan State University)
Hands on activities and presentations from nine different engineering majors offered at the university.

Engineering Intensive Workshop ( Michigan Technological University)
Students choose two areas of study, ranging from Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering, Computer Programming, Material Engineering, Chemical Engineering and others.

All of the DAPCEP programs emphasize the Detroit Area Public School Districts commitment to ensuring that students have the opportunity to explore many challenging areas and gain further insights into the college experience.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Bellina Blog24639
Allyn Blog84473