Is Debt Consolidation Reduction Good

Debt consolidation businesses are booming as many people struggle under the weight of big debt. Choosing to consolidate your debt can seem like an easy solution if you can save monthly expenses. But is debt consolidation a good thing? For some, yes. For many, it may not be the answer you need to save money on your bills. Learn how debt consolidation works so you can decide if it's good for you.

Function

The function of debt consolidation for credit card debt, according to many who offer the service, is to bring your monthly debt payments down by combining all of your bills into one. The payments are made to the consolidation service and not any of the original creditors. The service would charge you a fee that can either be a flat rate or a percentage of the original balance per creditor. In exchange, the consolidation service negotiates a lower percentage rate for each creditor. If the consolidation is a loan, the consolidation service can offer to settle the accounts for a lower amount. To consolidate mortgage debt, debt consolidation companies would assume the mortgage at a lower interest rate with the home serving as collateral.

Time Frame

It can take less than three days for debt consolidators to negotiate new terms with each creditor, should the creditors accept the program. Consumers would most likely have to authorize the consolidation service to draft the payments straight from their checking accounts. Once the terms are agreed upon, consolidation loans can take anywhere from a few months to several years for a payoff.

Benefits

One major benefit if debt consolidation is that you can pay off several high-interest credit cards at a significantly lower interest rate. Lower interest rates means less time it should take to pay off the accounts. Also, debt consolidation allows you to pay just one bill instead of several creditors that require payments at various times of the month. With debt consolidation, you pay once a month to one service. For home equity consolidation loans, there is a possibility of a tax deduction because of what you pay in mortgage interest rates.

Considerations

Debt consolidators often do not work for free. Many ask for long-term payoffs that, at first, seem reasonably lower but cost you more in the end. For example, let's say your debt is $10,000 at an average of 20 percent APR that would take 5 years to pay off at $200 per month. If the consolidation loan gets your payments down to $100 a month, you would still be paying for the same debt for 10 years, plus whatever fees the consolidation company charges. If you never reach a point where you can put some of that saved money towards the debt, you stay in debt longer. Your creditors do not always list your accounts as paid in full by the consumer. They can be listed as debt management, charge-offs, closed by creditor...you name it. Even if you've never missed a payment, having these labels attached to your credit report may turn off future lenders.

Prevention/Solution

One solution is to transfer balances of credit cards into a lower-interest card. You may still end up paying the same amount each month on your credit card bills, but you still have the benefit of making one payment. You will also pay off the total debt faster since the interest rate is lower. Another way to avoid debt consolidation for credit cards is to refinance other loans you have, such as automobile loans. If you can shave off 3 percent of your loan's percentage rate, take the savings and pay on your credit card. You may end up extending the loan of your vehicle, but at least you have something to show for it on a 7 percent APR vehicle versus a 19 percent credit card.

Is Copier Toner Harmful

In modern copy machines, the toner cartridges and toner delivery systems are designed and intended to function in such a way that there is no human contact with the toner. The reality is, however, that the copy machine operators do come into contact with toner. Cartridges malfunction, components in the machine break exposing toner to the environment, and there can be unfused toner on paper pulled from the machine when clearing a paper jam. These are ordinary ways that a copy machine operator can be exposed to toner.

What is Toner?

Toner is fine powder made of polymers and pigments. In very simple terms, it is plastic powder. How fine the particles are depends on its use. A high-quality, photo printer toner will be very fine and a toner for a low-end copy machine would be quite coarse in comparison.

Toner Contact

Toner is not considered a carcinogen, though it can be an irritant. Ordinary safety precautions apply. If you get toner in your eyes, flush the eyes with water to remove the particles since particles even of benign substances will irritate. Toner on the skin should be washed off with soap and water as soon as is practical to do so. Don't eat or smoke until you've removed yourself from the environment and washed the toner off. Brush toner off your clothes with a dry cloth or a clothes brush, then wash the clothes in cold water to remove toner that couldn't be brushed off. Don't use warm or hot water since toner is set with heat and will make a permanent stain on the garment. Wash in cold water until the toner is completely removed from the fabric before drying the garment.

Cleaning Up Spills

Wear a particle mask to prevent the toner dust from being inhaled. As with the eyes, even benign particles will irritate the respiratory system. Gently sweep up toner that is spilled. Treat the toner like flour. It is a fine powder and will hang in the air and gradually settle onto all horizontal surfaces if disturbed in a vigorous manner. Sweep slowly and deliberately so as not to puff dust into the air. If a vacuum cleaner is available with a microfilter capable of handling the fine particles, you may vacuum. If in doubt, use a broom or dust brush to clean up the spill.

Disposal

Dispose of the toner in a plastic trash bag, then gently and deliberately tie the bag closed. Be careful not to squeeze the air out of the bag too vigorously, or the toner dust will escape the bag and puff into the air. Dispose of the trash bag into a second trash bag, which can then also be tied closed. This double bagging will better ensure the toner does not leak out of a single bag, and it will prevent the vigorous disturbance of the toner lest something be tossed into the trash on top of it. Toner is not hazardous waste and so can usually be put out with the regular trash. It is not a good idea to reuse toner that has been spilled since the toner delivery system in the copy machine would be contaminated with foreign particles cleaned up along with the toner.

Safety

All toner manufacturers print a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each type of toner it makes and must make them available on demand. This MSDS documentation can be obtained directly from the manufacturer or from the supplier that sold the toner to you. Ask for a MSDS for each type of toner that is used in the office equipment you come into contact with or go to the manufacturer's website and download the documents. These data sheets provide very good information for consumers regarding product composition, hazard identification, first aid, combustibility information, handling and storage, and cleanup.

Is Really A College Of Phoenix Education Useful

Distance learning can greatly benefit those who do not have the time to go to a conventional college. Founded in 1976 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), University of Phoenix offers distance-learning programs, allowing you to study on your own time while still earning a degree.

History

The University of Phoenix offers courses designed for people who work full-time while pursuing further education. Take classes entirely online, or in-class at one of the university's more than 200 campuses nationwide. The curriculum offered by the University of Phoenix ranges from degree programs (with associate's, bachelor's, master's and even doctoral degree offerings) to certificate courses. Degrees are offered in a wide range of areas including nursing, business, education, and information technology.

Significance

The online learning system is appropriate for someone who cannot attend school during regular hours (such as those working full-time jobs). Because the teaching is done in an online classroom, the student can work at his own pace. The student logs into the classroom and completes the weekly assignments given by the instructor. With the classroom always open, the student can do projects 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Time Frame

There are time limits on the classroom assignments; the student generally has one week to complete an assignment. Other tasks may be required by the end of the term, or before the class has come to a close. Online classes typically last approximately five to six weeks.

Benefits

Being able to go to school at a distance learning center such as the University of Phoenix gives students who wouldn't ordinarily be able to fit in time for a degree, the opportunity to do so. Every student who applies is contacted by an advisor to discuss the specific program they're planning on taking; the goal is to make sure that the student is properly matched to the program, and will benefit from it. Those who are self-motivated will find that the experience is just as fulfilling as, and certainly as worthwhile as, in-person classes.

Financial

Financial aid is available at University of Phoenix, just as for traditional colleges. The school's finance advisors are very helpful in talking the student through the process of registration and filling out the FAFSA form for financial aid. Individual scholarships are available, as well. Besides that, one great financial benefit to taking classes at University of Phoenix, is that you do not have to give up your job while fulfilling your educational goals--for many, that means having to take out fewer student loans, eliminating a lot of anxiety down the road.

Details On Photo voltaic Traffic Control Lights

Traffic light

Converting traffic control lights to solar power and LEDs makes sense from both an environmental and cost-saving point of view. Converting an existing signal is as simple as replacing the light unit and hooking it up to a solar panel.

Basics

A solar panel is attached to the traffic control. Light strikes the photovoltaic cells and is converted to electricity which charges a battery. Solar traffic lights use LEDs which are both energy-efficient and very bright.

Function

Temporary traffic lights rely on a timer or a radar sensor to let traffic through. Permanent lights are linked by radio, with a main control unit run by computers.

Cost Savings

Solar traffic controls save cities money on their electricity bill. According to Outdoor Solar Lights, an eight-light set draws as much power as a family of four living in a three-bedroom house. LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours and draw from around 6 to 13 watts. (A normal household bulb is 60 to 100 W.)

Practicality

Existing lights can be converted to solar power. Solar traffic controls are helpful in developing countries where power outages are a fact of life. Installation of the lights can be done by one to two people without difficulty.

Fun Facts

Solar power is used in traffic controls but also in signs. Boston, Mass. established an evacuation route using solar power. Ontario, Ore. installed solar-powered school crossing warning lights.

Is Really A License Required To Start All Kinds Of Companies

Small business resources commonly advise the entrepreneur that his business exists as soon as he makes his first sale. While this may be true in the sense that sole proprietorship simply means being the sole owner of a business, it's not wise legal advice. Most states require you to obtain some form of license to start your business, even if it is a sole proprietorship.

Business Licenses

Most local governments require business owners to obtain some type of license to operate their businesses. This may or may not be the case where you live, as regulations vary by state, city and even county. In the cases of county and city licenses, the license simply allows the business owner to operate within the jurisdiction. States, on the other hand, typically only require licensing for businesses whose product or service can greatly affect customers' wellbeing, such as bartenders, hairdressers, financial advisers and mechanics. Contact your county clerk, city hall and secretary of state to find out what licenses your business requires.

Sales Tax Licenses

Even after your business is legal in your area, you shouldn't sell anything until you obtain a sales tax license or permit from the state tax department. A sales tax license or permit allows you to charge taxes to your customers, and in some states, you may face criminal charges for not having one. Sales taxes typically only apply to transactions with in-state customers, but contact the tax department in each state where you do business to make sure.

Resale Licenses

Wholesalers work as the middlemen between manufacturers and retailers. They supply goods to the retailer in large quantities and at reasonable prices --- that is, at a discount and free of sales tax. This arrangement is as attractive to retailers as it is to some dishonest consumers, which is why wholesalers commonly require proof of business ownership from their buyers. An employer identification number may suffice in some cases, but other wholesalers may require you to furnish a resale license or certificate. You can obtain one from the same place you get your sales tax license.

Occupational Licenses

Like state governments, the federal government requires certain types of businesses to have licenses. Licenses are necessary for businesses that handle highly regulated items such as food, weapons and financial advice. If your business involves more than one such item, you may need multiple licenses. You may wish to hire an attorney to help you navigate the process to avoid legal repercussions.

Iso Training Methods

ISO is the largest multinational standards developing organization in the world. The International Organization for Standardization is responsible for many of the accepted standards recognized today, across many different industries. Since standards are a conduit for conveying knowledge, it is important that certain procedures are in place to create such standards for business, government and within society. Such training procedures provide a foundation for common business practices and the modernization of technology.

Consensus

A consensus of views among a variety of fields is collected and agreed upon before any ISO standard is developed. For example, there must be agreement among manufacturers, vendors, end-users, consumer groups, governments and more before a new standard can go into effect.

International Workshop Agreements

You can obtain the recognized ISO documents by participating in a workshop meeting rather than the full ISO committee approval process. This is a quick five-step process that is meant to supplement the full scope of ISO training procedures available.

Proposal

Submit a proposal for training to the ISO Central Secretariat. Your proposal should clearly convey a purpose for the proposal and justification, as well as any relevant documents. It should also include an estimate of the number of necessary meetings you expect will be needed.

Hold the Workshop

A member from the ISO body will contact you regarding the full details of the workshop. Details discussed may include the price of the workshop, a time and place, document supply, and process specifications. During the workshop the objective is to reach the best possible consensus. If necessary, there can be more than one meeting that takes place.

Performance Objectives For Sexual Harassment Training

Effective sexual harassment training gives employees a shared definition of unwelcome contact and response options.

Sexual harassment is a complex problem that hurts individuals as well as an organization's overall health. Providing sexual harassment training not only helps create an appealing place to work, but it is a prudent business decision as well. Establishing anti-harassment policy and training employees to adhere to it can prevent companies subject to federal law from facing lawsuits. While training methods can take many forms, including books, online resources, instructor-led courses and self-directed study, the objectives remain constant.

Clear Definitions

Sexual harassment training should ensure all employees apply the same definition of sexual harassment. What one employee believes is harmless flirting or even a polite acknowledgment might make another employee uncomfortable. Sexual harassment training should spell out actions or behaviors that are not tolerated. These include displaying racy pictures, unwelcome suggestive jokes or touching, leering, requiring sex for a promotion and discussing sexual exploits at the water cooler. Effective training covers handle less clear-cut behavior and what is and isn't appropriate in workplace relationships.

Respond

Employees should know what to do if they are made to feel uncomfortable at work. Training should identify harassment situations and outline an individual's response options. Employees should be taught options to assert themselves and should be given encouragement to respond appropriately to other employees' unwelcome actions. Employees should be taught file an official complaint. Company policy on when to file a complaint, the person to whom the complaint should be directed and the information required in a complaint should be covered in the training.

What Happens

Victims may be afraid to file a sexual harassment claim because they fear retaliation or losing their job. However, bringing a legitimate case to the attention of an employer is critical for victims if legal action is needed. Proper action and documentation are required by a company to show it is making a good-faith effort to provide a discrimination-free workplace. Sexual harassment training should outline what happens when a claim is made and illustrate the protections and responsibilities of the one filing the report as well as the accused. Training should explain management's role in preventing and responding to sexual harassment claims. Employees should become aware that employers have a vested interest in preventing sexual harassment.

Create Your Banner Online

There are a surprising number of options out there for online banner ad creation.

Banner ads can be a powerful resource for your business, generating leads and directing potential customers right to your website.

If you don't have a banner ad for your business but need one in minutes, you're in luck, as there are a surprising number of options out there for online banner creation. Keep in mind that online sites for online banner ad creation tend to offer you the fastest and most ready-made approaches to your banner ad--not the most unique or creative. They're simply designed to get your ad up and running in minutes. However, on the plus side, they're easy to accomplish, and give you a great-looking banner ad faster than you can brew a cup of coffee!

Instructions

Creating Your Online Banner Ad

1. A reputable search engine can help you find a suitable banner creation site.

Use a reputable search engine to locate one of the many online banner creation tools available to users today, and click to navigate to the site.

Be sure to have your favorite antivirus software enabled, and only choose "green", or safe, sites from which to create your online banner.

2. Once the banner creation site of your choice has loaded, select the ready-made template or background that most fits with your idea of what your banner ad should look like. Most banner creation sites offer up to 20 options or more for backgrounds, in vibrant colors and utilizing engaging graphical elements.

3. Your banner headline should incorporate a powerful call to action in your message.

When prompted, enter your banner headline. This should be succinct and ideally no more than five or six words. Use powerful "action" words and phrases--remember that you're trying to generate interest and action in your viewer, as well as curiosity.

4. Keep in mind that sans-serif fonts are easier to read and tend to be 'cleaner" than serifed fonts.

Choose your headline's desired font, color, size, and position.

Keep in mind that sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Humanist are generally best in banner ads, as the fonts have a cleaner look and are easier to read from afar. "Curly" or serifed fonts can often look cluttered and difficult to read, especially in small spaces.

Also, make sure you choose font colors that stand out vibrantly against your ad's background--you want to be seen, and noticed!

5. Enter your secondary text (usually your website), along with desired font size, color and position.

6. Upload your company logo, preferably in PNG format and in a fairly small file size.

If given the option, upload your company logo as a third visual component of your ad. You'll want to use a fairly small file size, but one that is at least 200 dpi. (Wherever possible, provide your logo in PNG format, as it offers less file degradation than JPG.)

7. Preview your banner ad online. Review it carefully to ensure that there are no misspelled words or typos in your ad copy, and that your logo or URL is clearly visible and shows up properly and without missing elements.

8. Your finished banner as an animated "GIF" file should already be the standard 468x60 banner size.

Download your finished banner to your computer as an animated "GIF" file. The GIF you receive should already be the standard banner size of 468 x 60, with file size at or around 25-35 KB (kilobytes) at most.

9. Archive the file, then upload your finished banner as needed to your advertising contacts or banner exchange network to put it into immediate use. You've completed a major step toward promoting your brand successfully online.

Iso 9001 Calibration Needs

Calibrating valves and other industrial components ensures proper performance.

As it relates to ISO 9001:2008, "calibration" is the relationship between a set of operations and the related values realized by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirements. The website ISO 9001 Help characterizes ISO calibration requirements as pertaining to the safety and structural integrity of equipment used in a laboratory or industrial settings to measure the volume of a given material. Several private companies also offer ISO-compliant calibration services.

Overview of the Standard

ISO 9001 covers the calibration of any machine used for industrial production; the ISO characterizes Standard 9001 calibration requirements as generic and intended to apply to all organizations. ISO calibration requirements work as part of a system that consistently provides a product that meets customer requirements as well as any legal requirements and aims to enhance customer satisfaction by consistently improving production machinery.

Calibrating Your Machines

A company may either initiate its own calibration checks or may employ an outside firm to do the testing. Costal Calibration Laboratories (CCL) is a company that specializes in ISO 9001calibration; according to CCL, having an outside organization calibrate your company's equipment adds credence to your claim of ISO compliance. CCL and similar calibration companies also offer training for your employees if you would rather handle the job yourself.

ISO 9001 Calibration Requirements

ISO 9001 requires calibration for gage blocks, micrometers, pin gages, calipers and thread gauges; according to Industrial Calibration Services (In-Cal), the standard also calls for calibration of a variety of digital measuring devices, including voltmeters, oscilloscopes and power supplies. The standard also governs calibration of mechanical gauges, transducers and other measurement tools, even those relating to the temperature of ovens and other heat controllers. In-Cal also recommends additional calibration for manufacturing and testing equipment such as furnaces and presses.

Frequency and Validity of Calibration

The ISO requires surveillance audits every three years to check for compliance. This means you will need to recalibrate your machines and tools at least every three years to maintain your ISO compliance. According to QC Inspect, the purpose of these audits is to assure your entire operation is maintained in compliance with ISO 9001; a third party, such as ISO QAR can perform these audits. The website ISO 9001 Help suggests testing your equipment at regular intervals whether or not an audit is imminent. ISO 9001 also recommends checking the validity of your external lab if you use one, as well as ensuring your equipment, once tested and certified compliant, is not tampered with and is adjusted as necessary in case the ISO updates Standard 9001.

Isf Compliance

Importers must make timely filing of documents to maintain ISF compliance.

The importer security filing (ISF) regulations address national and international security. Importers must electronically file documents based on 10 elements and ocean carriers must file documents based on two elements before shipping cargo to the U.S. The regulations are sometimes referred to as 10 + 2.

Importer Requirements

Some objections have been raised by importers. The ISF compliance must be met before the cargo can be shipped even if the importer has met requirements under other programs. ISF compliance with all 10 elements must be met for import into the U.S. Compliance must be met for five of the 10 elements for import to U.S. free trade zones. Failure to comply can result in fines up to $5,000 (as of 2010).

Importer Elements

Four elements must be filed by the importer before loading the cargo. These are seller, buyer, importer of record and consignee number. Four elements must be reported as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours prior to the ship's arrival. These are supplier/manufacturer, the party being shipped to, harmonized tariff schedule (HTUS) and the country of origin. The container stuffing locations and consolidator/stuffer must be supplied no later than 24 hours before the ship's arrival.

Ocean Carriers

The ocean carrier must supply two sets of data elements. These are the vessel stow plans and container status messages.

Irs Filing Rules For 501(C)(5)

Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code provides tax-exempt status for nonprofit organizations in the fields of agricultural, horticulture and labor. With tax-exempt status, a nonprofit organization does not owe any tax on income used to further an Internal Revenue Service-approved agenda or purpose. 501(c)(5) organizations need to meet guidelines set by the IRS to prevent their application from being rejected and must file an annual tax return in order to maintain their nonprofit status.

Labor

Labor organizations allow employees and their collective bargaining agents to bargain for higher pay and improved working conditions with an employer. To file for 501(c)(5) status, the IRS allows any organization formed to improve the condition of its members, improve the quality of products or develop more efficient techniques. The IRS will reject any application where the labor organization controls a business or offers savings plans.

Agricultural

According to the IRS, an agricultural or horticulture organization must provide for the betterment of farmers and ranchers through aid, improvement of agricultural products and improvement through efficiency. These activities can include testing soil, pest control, improving the production of a plant or animal, maintaining the purity of a breed and rodeos. The IRS will reject a 501(c)(5) application if the filer's organization engages in horse racing, provides insurance to agriculturalists, forms labor pools of farm laborers or engages in any promotion or advertising of a manufacturer's product.

Application

If a filer believes his labor, agricultural or horticulture organization fits into the criteria listed by the IRS, he must fill out Form 1024 for apply for 501(c)(5) classification. On Part I of Form 1024, the filer will check the 501(c)(5) box and enter the name, address, employer identification number and other identifying information of the proposed organization. In Part II, the applicant will write a detailed history and activities of the organization and will write down the names, addresses and compensation of all trustees, officers and directors. In Part III of Form 1024, filers must list detailed information about the assets, liabilities, cash flow and expenses of the organization.

Filing

If the organization is a corporation, organizers must attach a copy of their articles of incorporation to their completed Form 1024. Trusts must attach a copy of the Trust Agreement, and associations must attach their Articles of Association. All filers must include a copy of the organization's financial statements when submitting an 501(c)(5) to the IRS and can include court decisions or rulings that support their request for tax-exempt status. Filers can submit their completed 501(c)(5) application to the Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 12192, Covington, KY 41012-0192.

Returns

According to GuideStar, organizations approved for 501(c)(5) status must file a Form 990 return by the 15th day of the fifth month after the organization's fiscal year ends. Tax-exempt corporations do not normally have to file a return if they have less than $50,000 in gross receipts for the fiscal year. The IRS allows 501(c)(5) organizations to receive a three-month filing extension by filing Form 8868.

Irs 401c3 Tax Rules

An IRS 501(c)(3) organization (often mistaken as "401(c)(3)") is a corporation or a Limited Liability Company (LLC) that exists for religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes. A 501(c)(3) organization must use all of its profits for charitable purposes, but enjoys tax benefits unavailable to traditional business entities.

Forming a Company

The first step in forming a 501(c)(3) organization is to form a company. 501(c)(3) organizations may take one of two forms -- a corporation or a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The process is exactly the same for a 501(c)(3) as it is for other companies -- a legal company name must be registered, foundational documents (Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization) must be filed with the Secretary of State of the state in which the company is organized, and a filing fee must be paid.

Applying for Tax-Exempt Status

After a company has been formed, it must apply for federal tax exempt status. This is accomplished by filing IRS Form 1023, Form 8718 and a copy of the company's foundational document with the IRS. The IRS forms ask detailed information and can take time to prepare. Approval can take from several weeks to a year.

Federal Tax Benefits

501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from income tax, property tax and sales tax. They are also eligible for certain tax-deductible donations that are unavailable to traditional companies. 501(c)(3) organizations are still liable for employment and certain capital gains taxes.

State Tax Benefits

State tax-exempt status is available in every state; however, the procedures differ from state to state. In some states, all that is required is a letter from the IRS stating that the company has been granted 501(c)(3) status. In other states, a separate application process is required. Although some states offer only limited state tax exemptions, it is possible in some states to obtain state tax-exempt status even if the IRS refuses to grant the company 501(c)(3) status.

Maintaining 501(c)(3) Status

Maintaining 501(c)(3) status requires that company formalities applicable to corporations or LLCs be complied with (such as holding shareholders meetings). These formalities are somewhat less burdensome for LLCs than for corporations. The 501(c)(3) organization must continue to operate for its stated purpose, and certain federal and state informational filings are required so that the government can exercise oversight over the conduct of the organization. These filings vary at the federal level according to the type of organization, and at the state level according to the state of organization of the company.

Ipo Investment

An initial public offering (IPO) represents the culmination of years of work to build a startup enterprise into a publicly-traded corporation. Young companies just starting out do not typically have access to large amounts of capital. To conserve cash and attract bright, experienced employees, businesses often issue stock options that can provide a windfall to recipients when the company goes public.

Liquidity

Options acquired prior to an IPO are often difficult to value properly and thus exercise. Once the company becomes public, however, the options are typically traded on one of the major exchanges (such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange), which provide access to many buyers and sellers as well as up-to-the-minute quotes. While other requirements may be in force depending on individual business circumstances and contracts, the IPO generally provides the means to accurately value and sell employee options.

Vesting Schedule

The vesting process is usually spread out over a number of years, but can also happen if key performance milestones are met. Once this occurs, holders are permitted to sell their stock or options without penalty even if they leave the company. Beforehand, however, employees risk forfeiting options, which can amount to a significant asset after the company becomes public. This golden handcuff is highly effective at keeping employees within the fold as the company grows and prepares for its public trading debut.

Post-IPO Requirements

The original options agreement, generally negotiated at the time of hire but subject to revision upon mutual consent, can contain restrictions on when the options may be converted to common stock and sold after the IPO. Also, the Securities and Exchange Commission has rules in play that prescribe when employees may sell their holdings, which may happen in large numbers in the days after eligibility and cause a price decline, which is often temporary.

Options Exercise

As a practical matter, holders of stock options may not have the cash on hand to acquire the underlying stock, in which case they can borrow the money from the company or work with a brokerage to complete the transaction. The tax implications of any such transaction must be considered, and the decision whether to hold onto some or all of the shares may be influenced by how much is owed to the government.

Ipo Advantages

An initial public offering (IPO) is the financial mechanism by which a private company offers stock to the general public for the first time and officially becomes a publicly traded company. Initial public offerings are often exclusive events, with the majority of the stock going to institutions and well-connected individual investors. Historically, initial public offerings have performed extremely well in the after market (when the new stock trades freely on the stock market for the first time), and therefore are much sought-after investment opportunities. For example, when UPS went public in November of 1999, the stock opened 30 percent higher than the initial public offering price.

Significance

Every publicly traded company began with an initial public offering. It is the only way for a company to sell stock to the public and have that stock listed on one of the various stock exchanges. Every company must meet the listing requirements of their respective exchange, and file all the proper regulatory paperwork with the Securities Exchange Commission prior to their initial public offering.

Function

When a private company decides to go public, they contact an investment bank. The investment bank performs their due diligence and determines how much the company is worth on the open market. This can be a fairly arbitrary number, so it is open to negotiation between the company and the investment bank, now known as the lead underwriter. The lead underwriter will enlist the help of other investment banks, and these banks are known as syndicate banks. Having several banks involved in the underwriting reduces the risk to the lead underwriter and increases public exposure and demand for the new stock. Prior to the new issue, the underwriters will advertise the initial public offering in well-known financial newspapers. This advertisement gives the name of the company going public, the lead underwriter and the syndicate members, and it is known as a tombstone. The banks involved will solicit indications of interest from their respective clients and, based on each bank's allocation of stock, will assign the IPO shares to their clients according to these indications of interest.

Time Frame

While there is no set schedule or amount of time for the underwriting process to take, once a company has entered the red herring stage of an IPO (the final stage before the stock begins trading), the underwriter must bring the stock public within 30 days or the company's prospectus must be rewritten and reprinted, a very expensive process.

Benefits

Investing in an IPO can be an easy way to make a good return in a short period of time. It is standard practice for underwriters to price the IPO below fair market value so the stock rises in value immediately upon issue, making a nice profit for the initial shareholders. It is for this reason that it is so difficult to get IPO shares. Only the best customers of the underwriters are given these shares, and it is considered one of the financial perks of being an accredited investor.

Potential

While initial public offerings are usually managed so that they increase in value upon going public, this doesn't always happen. Especially when an initial public offering is sold on a "best efforts" basis, the IPO may not be fully subscribed prior to trading and may actually drop in value. While the potential is there for initial public offerings to trade at a profit, investors need to realize that there is still risk involved and that they may lose money, even on an IPO.

Invoice Invoice discounting Definition

An invoice creates an account receivable.

Invoice factoring involves the sale of one business's accounts receivables to a financing company at a discounted rate. Doing this shifts credit risk, and potentially bad debt, to the financing company.

Involved Parties

Three parties comprise the invoice factoring relationship. The customer, or debtor, owes money to the business for products or services received. After a period of non-payment, the business turns to a financing company, or factor, specializing in invoice factoring.

Benefits

Using invoice factoring, a business gains immediate cash flow. Factoring also reduces time and resources previously dedicated to the debt-collection process and may improve the business's credit rating.

Disadvantages

Under factoring-agreement terms, businesses give up accounts receivable at a discount. Also, because factors will be dealing with a business's customers, a business's reputation could be at risk because of strained relationships between the factor and customers.

Approaches For Enhancing Communication In Settlement

Good communication is key to succesful negotiations.

Negotiations work best when both parties leave feeling that they have won, or at least have made fair and respectful compromises. Whether you are working on a business deal or negotiating the parameters of a personal relationship, communication is key. There are certain techniques that will improve your communication skills in a negotiation. These techniques will ensure that your needs are clear, open up the discussion so that your negotiating partner can express their needs and desires, and will keep the door open to positive negotiations in the future.

Study. Before entering any type of negotiation, get a good understanding of where your negotiating partner is coming from. Discover their resources and any background information related to your upcoming deal, and plan out what you are willing to offer in exchange. Negotiation is all about compromise, so if you want something from your client, be prepared to offer something in exchange that is comparable.

Speak openly and honestly. This may not seem like a technique, but it is the crux of navigating a negotiation positively. When you come across as a trustworthy individual, and not as manipulative or cutting, your negotiating partner will return the favor and your communication will go smoothly. Be clear about what you need from this negotiation and what your motivations are. You are more likely to get what you want when you ask for it directly.

Be reasonable. Communication in a negotiation will be smoother and more effective when you request something that is within the reach of your negotiating partner. If you are in the midst of a financial negotiation, do not demand funds that will significantly impact the quality of life of your partner. When all parties are comfortable, your current negotiation will be successful, and you will have better dealings with your negotiating partner in the future, as they will feel respected.

Saks Fifth Avenue History

Saks Fifth Avenue History

Saks Fifth Avenue has been one of New York's most famous department stores since it opened at 611 Fifth Avenue in 1924. The store is now a chain, boasting outposts all across the country. Enjoy some key facts about Saks from its development in the Jazz Age to its turn in cyberspace.

Early History

Saks Fifth Avenue was born from the combined effort of New York businessmen Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel, who both operated stores in Manhattan's Herald Square area in the early 1900s. Both men wanted to create an upscale specialty store that would cater to New York's most fashionable clientele. In the 1920s, they purchased a site for their "dream store" on Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. At the time, the site was home to the Democratic Club and the Buckingham Hotel, which were both demolished to make way for the new store.

The First Store

The first Saks Fifth Avenue store opened on September 15, 1924. As business boomed, a cousin of Horace Gimbel, Adam, became his right-hand man. Soon after Horace died suddenly (of septic poisoning) in 1925, Adam took over. Adam Gimbel gets the credit for building the store's vision and turning it into a national chain.

One of Adam Gimbel's first acts was to redecorate the flagship store in the Art Moderne style, featured at the 1925 Paris Exposition. Gimbel also broke up the department store into a series of specialty salons, to focus on his clients in a more intimate setting.

Expansion

In the 1960s, Saks Fifth Avenue began expanding into the suburbs, and by the middle of that decade the chain had two dozen stores across the country. Between 1972 and 1989, 20 new stores opened, many in Texas and the Midwest. The first mail-order catalog for Saks Fifth Avenue, called Folio, also launched in the early 1970s.

Renovation

A major renovation of the Manhattan flagship store began in 1978. In 1979 the store installed its first escalator. At the completion of renovation in 1990, with the addition of an office and retail complex behind the store, Saks had increased its selling space by 30 percent.

The 1990s

In 1990, Bahrain-based Investcorp International bought Saks Fifth Avenue for $1.6 billion.

The first Saks Fifth Avenue outlet store opened in Franklin Mills, Pennsylvania, in 1992. Initially called Clearinghouse, in 1995 its name was changed to Off 5th.

Saks debuted on Rodeo Drive in 1993. In 1994, the store began a push to expand into the West Coast, buying four former I. Magnin stores in Beverly Hills, Carmel, San Diego and Phoenix.

Saks Fith Avenue became a publicly traded company in 1996. In 1998, Saks Holdings, Inc. and Proffitt's, Inc merged, taking the company name of Saks Incorporated.

Saks.com launched In the summer of 2000.

Fun Fact

In 2007, the shoe department of Saks got its own zip code: 10022-SHOE. The department received the new code after the United States Postal Service began selling vanity ZIP codes to businesses. The move marked the first time the Postal Service used letters in a zip code, and the first time a single floor in a building received its own code.

Internet Transaction Protocol Tips

Because of the great number of people who make Internet transactions, the problem of Internet hackers trying to steal information and money has become a bigger problem. By equipping yourself with knowledge, you can avoid becoming one of their targets.

No Security, No Transaction

If a website is not secure you should avoid making transactions on it. Scammers can place security images on their websites to fool you into thinking the site is secure. If you send information over a website that is not secure, Internet hackers can steal personal and financial data. When the site is secure, the site implements security measures to encrypt your confidential information. There are a few things you can look for to determine whether a website is secure. First, the web address should begin as "https" instead of "http." The letter "s" indicates that the site is secure. Second, if site is secure, there will be green or blue square in the "Firefox" location bar immediately before the "https." If you use Internet Explorer, there will be a closed padlock at the end of the address bar. Click on the padlock or the green/blue square to verify the website's security certificate to ensure that it is valid. If the certificate is outdated, avoid using the website for your transaction.

Personal Information

When conducting online transactions, be careful what username and password you use. If you have to create a username and password to make the transaction, make them unique instead of using those you use for other online accounts. When you enter your email address, don't use the same password for your transaction that you use for your email. Never give out your PIN number for online transactions. You likely will be asked for your credit card security code, which is the last three digits on the back of your credit card, but you should never be asked for your PIN. If your PIN is required, don't make the transaction.

Read Before Buying

Most websites include a terms of agreement that you must read and agree to prior to making your transaction. The agreement will let you know what you are purchasing as well as the refund and exchange policies. If you dispute the transaction or want a refund or product exchange after making your purchase, you will not be able to do so if the terms of agreement indicate that it is not allowed. Some websites bank on this because they know that many users don't actually read the fine print of the agreement. Some websites allow you to obtain a refund for your transaction if you request it within a certain time period after the purchase was made. Read the fine print before making your purchase. If your satisfaction is not guaranteed, you should think twice before buying.

Print Your Invoice

When you make an online transaction, you should receive an invoice. Sometimes, the invoice will appear immediately on your screen after you make the purchase. Other times, you will receive an email confirmation. However your invoice is generated, you should always print it out and save it for your records. You may need to refer back to it if a dispute arises.

Internet Marketing Ideas

Some businesses launch a website to promote their business only to be disappointed that they get no traffic to the site and no sales. Simply launching a website and expecting results is like opening a store in the middle of the desert. To get traffic to your website, you need to aggressively promote your site. Understand get traffic to your site, and you will be on your way to generating sales and the results you want.

Contents

Place quality content on your site and those who visit there will tell others and generate additional traffic. Write articles, and submit them to article directories with a link to your site. Those who read the articles and want more will visit your site. Produce videos and submit them to video portals such as YouTube. Place your website URL at the end of the video and give people a reason to visit your site.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO involves the use of a variety of techniques to improve your ranking in the search engines such as Google. Effective SEO is comprised of marketing your site externally and writing content for your site that is optimized for the search engines (on page optimization).

Mailing List

Give visitors a reason to come back to your site. Encourage them to leave their first name and email address to receive updates from you when new content is added. Create a database of all the people who leave their information and email to them at least once a month. Consistent emails will establish "top of mind" awareness about your site.

Pay Per Click

Advertise your site using a pay-per-click program. Pay per click involves placing banners beside the search engine results, such as Google Adwords. You pay for the advertising only when someone clicks on the advertisement.

Social Marketing

Participate in conversations on forums and social media sites. When you discuss points, promote your website name. Social media sites include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Press Releases

Create noteworthy news and submit stories through free or paid press release distribution services. Press releases are not perceived as advertising and are more credible.

Internet Radio

Start your own weekly Internet radio show. Interview guests to add interest. Some radio services do not charge for you to produce and distribute your own show.

Online Marketing Technical Schools

Marketing professionals' annual salaries averaged $80,220 in 2008.

Demand for professionals in the field of Internet marketing is expected to increase by 13 percent between the years 2008 and 2018. An assortment of technical schools offers programs in Internet marketing. Many of these schools offer flexible course schedules and job placement assistance to graduates.

Blackhawk Technical College

Located in Janesville, Wisconsin, Blackhawk Technical College offers a non-credit course in Internet marketing that can be completed in as little as 6 weeks. Blackhawk Technical College received high marks from reviewers at Students Review, earning an A+ for quality of education. The course syllabus consists of studies in domain name selection, the differences between e-commerce and e-business, the importance of product, price, place, and promotion in marketing and online traffic generation. Students will also learn design and market their own websites and create a successful business plan. Blackhawk Technical College offers its Internet marketing classes completely online to allow students to learn at their own pace.

Atlantic Technical Center

Located in Coconut Creek, Florida, Atlantic Technical Center offers career training in the field of Internet marketing through a diploma program in multimedia design technology. The program offers comprehensive training in video editing, web-page design, interactive presentation development and database management, and can typically be completed in one year or less. Atlantic Technical Center is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and received a rating of 10 out of 10 by reviewers at Great Schools, an online school review and information site.

Ashworth College

Based in Norcross, Georgia, Ashworth College is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council and the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission. Ashworth College offers a career diploma program in Internet marketing that can typically be completed online in as little as 6 months. The program includes instruction in strategic design, advertising objectives and promotional strategies, and Ashworth College received an A for student satisfaction and overall educational experience by reviewers at Get Educated, an online education review and information site. Ashworth College accepts a variety of tuition assistance programs, including military educational benefits, and offers monthly payment plans.

Globe University

With campuses located throughout the Midwest, Globe University offers courses in Internet marketing through associate degree programs in interactive media and graphic design. Full-time students can complete their degree in as little as 21 months and part-time schedules are also available. Course work consists of the study of design fundamentals, advertising and design production, digital illustration and page manipulation. Globe University is accredited by Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and was given an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau for quality and student satisfaction.

Purchase A Vehicle In A Junkyard

Buying a car at a junkyard can be done easily.

Junkyards can be a treasure chest if you are rebuilding a car or looking for a cheap car or car parts. The cars found in a junkyard will often be severely damaged, but if you know repair a vehicle and don't care about putting in many hours fixing up the car, it can save you a lot of money. A car can easily be bought at a junkyard by following a few simple steps.

Instructions

1. Find a junkyard in your area. To purchase a car at a junkyard you must first find a junkyard in your area that sells to the public. This can be done easily by looking in your local phone book or in the online version of the phone book. Call the junkyard you found and make sure they sell to the public.

2. Search the junkyard for a car you would like to purchase. You will most likely want to bring friends to help you find and haul away the car you have found. If you do not know much about repairing cars, also bring a trusted mechanic to help you decide which cars in the junkyard would be best for rebuilding and restoring.

3. Negotiate a price at the junkyard. If you want to buy a car from a junkyard you will probably be able to negotiate the price of the car with the person who runs the junkyard. Ask them how much they are willing to sell for and negotiate the price until you feel it is fair.

Home Based Internet Business Strategy

Use a landing page for your website to avoid spamming people.

Internet home business strategy starts with an attractive and usable website. People should be able to easily navigate your website to find your products or services. Additionally, make sure you write clean and error-free copy so anyone can understand it. You should also outline key details about your business, including where you will advertise, how frequently and how much money you can afford to spend each month.

Using Landing Pages

A landing page is a page where you can direct all of your advertising. The landing page is separate from you website. A landing page typically includes some basic information about your products, and even a video. People can then type in their name, address, email and phone number if they want additional information. Most Internet marketers use landing pages to avoid spamming or illegally sending information to people who do not request it. For example, if you send an email with just your website, you are technically spamming that person. However, a person who receives an email with your landing page has an option to enter his name and email. Thus, he is opting-in or requesting additional information. Also, you are wasting your advertising dollars if you do not use a landing page, according to Gaebler.com, an online business reference site. Names and email addresses are leads that you can convert into sales. Sometimes you need to contact people directly to make a sale online.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is the process of sending a mass quantity of emails out to people who use your type of product or service. You can collect email names through your promotions or order email names from outside vendors. The Direct Marketing Association at DMA.org sells consumer leads for people who want different types of products. Onesource.com sells business-to-business leads, if you are marketing your products or services to businesses. It usually takes a mass quantity of emails to generate orders or leads. For example, you may need to send out 500,000 emails to get 10 sales. However, you can send these emails out simultaneously with a click of a button. All you need is some bulk email software which is available at most office supply stores. Collect or buy emails on a regular basis. Continue to send promotions out to your email lists each month.

Pay Per Click Advertising

There are a number of online sites that offer pay-per-click advertising, including Google.com. In pay-per-click advertising, your ad ranking is based on how much you are willing to pay for each person who clicks on your site. Most pay-per-click sites divulge how much the top advertisers are paying. Therefore, you can determine whether you want to spend a certain amount to get listed on the first page. For example, the advertiser in the number one position may be spending 25 cents per click. However, you may decide to spend 10 cents per click for a third page listing. Clicks can add up as can your pay-per-click expenditures. Test your ads on different pay-per-click sites at lower rates first. Increase your expenditures if the sites are producing sales. You can use online tracking software to track from which sites people are visiting your website. Talk to a webmaster or Internet specialist if you need help installing tracking software. Refer to Supertop100.com for a comprehensive list of pay-per-click sites.

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization enables you to attain high rankings in major search engines like Google, Yahoo, Alta Vista and Lycos. Unlike pay-per-click advertising, your ranking is based on key words or codes you use on your website, and how closely those codes match your website content. If you can afford to spend $3,000 to $5,000, a search engine optimizer can help you attain high rankings in major search engines. Search engine optimizers will usually charge an intitial set-up fee and a monthly fee to maintain your listing. The investment for a search engine optimizer can pay huge dividends because you can exponentially increase traffic to your site.

A Listing Of Royal Navy Ships

The British Royal Navy, as it is known today, began in the 16th century. King Henry VIII (r. 1509-47) started a program of naval warship expansion in response to threats to England from Scotland and France. Henry's original fleet was known as the Navy Royal and, by the time of his death in 1547, it numbered 58 vessels.

Aircraft Carriers

The Royal Navy has three current, active duty aircraft carriers: Invincible, Illustrious and Ark Royal. The ships weigh in excess of 22,000 tons, and they are 686 feet long and have a traveling speed of 30 knots. The carriers each have an operating crew of over 700 and can accommodate almost 400 air personnel.

Frigates

The Royal Navy has two types of frigates, type 22 and type 23. Type 22 frigates are designed for antisubmarine, surface and aircraft defense. They are around 485 feet long, can travel at 30 knots and carry a maximum of 301 personnel. The navy has four type 22 frigates, including the Cornwall and the Chatham. Type 23 frigates are designed for defense and stealth, they are approximately 436 feet long and weigh approximately 4,900 tons. The Royal Navy has 13 type 23 frigates, including the Monmouth, Portland and Westminster.

Destroyers

The Royal Navy has two types of destroyer-class vessels, type 42 and type 45. The navy has six type 42 destroyers, designed to defend against air and surface threats. The ships range between 410 and 462 feet in length and between 4,820 and 5,200 tons in weight. The top speed of type 42 destroyers is about 30 knots. Type 45 destroyers can weigh up to 7,350 tons and are 500 feet in length. The Royal Navy, as of November 2010, has only one vessel in this class, the HMS Daring, but others are in construction.

Assault Ship

The HMS Ocean is the Royal Navy's land invasion ship, designed to carry attack troops and equipment. Its purpose is to drop off and retrieve personnel and munitions speedily and easily with the support of other units close in to the shoreline of a target area.

Worldwide Efforts To Prevent Climatic Change

International efforts to stop global warming are growing.

The effects of global warming have obvious international implications. Individual national efforts to thwart global warming, such as Germany's plans for an environmental competency center, are nearly as important as international efforts; however, world political and organizational leaders realize they must work together to find ways to prepare for and stop global warming.

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is a treaty that was originally adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan that commits its 37 international members to reduce greenhouse gases. The Protocol encourages and commits industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gases, because those countries are the countries who emit the most gases. Of the top five countries who release the most CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, the United States is the only country that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

The Earth System Science Partnership

The Earth System Science Partnership is a partnership under the International Council for Science. It studies the changes and implications of changes in the Earth's system of physical, chemical, biological, and social components. The ESSP partners with four other global change research programs: Diversitas, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, World Climate Research Programme, and the International Human Dimensions Programme.

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme

The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme works to research Earth System Dynamics and the implications of changes to those dynamics. The IGBP works to provide knowledge of its research to society so that it can respond to global environmental changes. The IGBP works on several initiatives but has three focused, fast track initiatives. Those initiatives are "Upper-Ocean Nutrient Limitation: processes, patterns and potential for change," "Regionalisation of the Nitrogen Visualisation Tool," and "Megacities and the Coastal Zone: air-sea interactions."

World Climate Research Programme

The World Climate Research Programme aims primarily to determine the predictability of the climate and to determine the effect of human activities on it. Some current projects of WCRP involve assessing and quantifying the impacts of climatic variability and change on the cryosphere, simulating the Earth's climate system, and studying the thermodynamic processes that determine the global and regional hydrological cycle and energy interactions.

International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change

The International Human Dimensions Programme works toward understanding the social dynamics that correspond to environmental change. The programme has ten projects, and its six core projects focus on the human-environment relationship, including environmental governance, industrial transformation, human security, and urbanization.

Diversitas

Diversitas professes that "Biodiversity underpins the life-support system of our planet." The program works to understand the inderdisciplinary sciences as they relate to the biodiversity of the planet, and offers strategic approaches toward reaching biodiversity goals when species decline due to human activity.

Worldwide Education Projects

Have students write weekly emails to an international pen pal.

If your school is encouraging a diverse curriculum with multicultural elements, you might be searching for projects that help students learn about their international community. These activities can help students see the world from a different point of view, and also encourage tolerance and acceptance. Modify these activities as needed to make them work for your classroom.

Studying Immigrants

In the late 19th and early 20th century, America had an influx of immigrants from all over the world. Gather pictures of immigrants from different parts of the world, and assign the pictures to students. Search pictures of Ellis Island for appropriate pictures of immigrants. Ask students to research the immigrant's home country. What would have made him want to come to America? What do you think the trip was like? How might America have appeared to the new citizen? Have students write a journal entry as if they were the immigrant.

Online International Forums

Your students can use the Internet to connect and discuss issues with other students around the world. Find an online forum, such as Taking IT Global, and have your students create a username. These international forums have categories for several different areas of interest, such as media, entertainment and current events. Have each student choose a topic that interests him, such as a particular international current event or a perhaps his favorite music. He can post information about his interests in the correct forum and ask others from around the world to respond. For instance, if a student chooses to talk about his favorite band, he can include a link for others to listen. After students have solicited several responses from the international community about their topic, have them summarize their findings in a short essay. How did those around the world feel about the current event? Ask students why those in different parts of the world had the opinions they did.

Internet Pen Pals

After students find international students on forums or through other social networking sites, have them keep Internet pen pals. This should include a weekly email in which they highlight their week's learning in class and any current events. They can talk about personal issues, too. Have students keep a spiral-bound notebook in which they detail their dialogue and analyze their conversations. How does the other student's daily life differ? How is it the same? If appropriate, have students become friends with their Internet pal on a social networking site and keep track of status updates and pictures.

International Literacy Day

Read Write Think, an international reading organization, estimates that 780 million adults don't know read. Divide students into groups and have them find and research areas of the world where literacy rates are low. Have them create an informal presentation that explains why the rate is low and what could be done to help fix the problem. End the day with a reading marathon, and allow students to read about their area of the world.

Worldwide Corporate Lawyer'S Salary

International corporate lawyers are highly paid.

The salary of a lawyer can vary widely depending on her place of employment. International corporate lawyers tend to be in the upper pay scales among lawyers, because their clients have a lot of assets and can afford to pay the best lawyers to work for them. Lawyers who work in this field receive a lot of benefits in addition to their pay.

Income

The median salary for a beginning lawyer working in business is $69,100, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As an international corporate lawyer gains experience, his pay will increase. Many lawyers make more than $100,000 a year. Lawyers who work for international businesses make substantially more than lawyers in government or academia, but not as much as lawyers in private practice. Lawyers who are partners in private practice and have international businesses as clients can set very high fees for their work.

Location

Although international corporate lawyers may travel extensively as part of their job, the location where they are based can still have an impact on their income. A lawyer who works for a firm or corporation based in Manhattan is likely to be paid more than one who is based in Ames, Iowa. International lawyers are often based in foreign cities such as London, Tokyo and Sydney, and their income will reflect the cost of living in these places. Because international corporate lawyers, by definition, work for companies with international interests, their jobs can require moving to foreign locations.

Duties

International corporate lawyers may perform a wide range of duties. The common image of a corporate lawyer is someone who defends a huge company against lawsuits and plaintiffs. This is part of what corporate lawyers do, but they also work on acquisitions, mergers, import and export, bankruptcy and environmental law. The bureaucracy involved in the operations of an international corporation can become extremely convoluted, and large corporations may employ dozens or even hundreds of lawyers to keep track of it all.

Benefits

Most corporate lawyers receive benefits in addition to their financial pay. For experienced lawyers in good positions, the benefits can add up to more than their salary. Benefits include paid vacation, medical coverage, profit sharing and annual bonuses. Some lawyers also receive travel allowances, company cars and stock options. Intangible benefits include the opportunity to travel to exotic places and the creation of a network of colleagues in the business and legal fields. For lawyers who are planning to start their own firms, these networks can be extremely valuable for future business prospects.

Need For Peer Review Articles

Peer-reviewed articles represent the best research being done today.

Peer-reviewed articles are an important part of keeping up with current trends and research in any academic field. Scholarly journals mainly publish articles that have been reviewed by a group of peers in whichever field the journal or article topic is written on. Knowing the importance of peer-reviewed articles can help you when you're doing research or thinking about becoming a professor at certain colleges and universities.

Requirement for Research

Oftentimes, research projects depend partially on recent peer-reviewed articles from scholarly journals. These journals not only represent current trends and issues within a given field, but also the most up-to-date research. As a result, these journal articles often contain more up-to-date material than most textbooks. Peer- reviewed articles make great sources for research papers and assignments that require references and citations.

Non-scholarly Sources

Most non-scholarly sources, such as more traditional magazines or Internet websites, do not have peer-reviewed articles by other researchers and professionals in the field or topic area. As a result, these sources are considered to be less credible and scholarly, and are therefore not as suitable for research assignments.

Importance for Professionals

Getting published in a peer-reviewed journal is a great way for new teaching professionals at a college or university to gain recognition and standing with peers within their field as well as within their university. Depending on the structure and requirements for tenured status, professors may have to publish a certain number of articles in a peer-reviewed journal. This ensures that professors not only are doing their job in gaining recognition for the university, but also are staying on top of current trends and research in their field.

Process of Peer Review

Usually an article that appears in a peer-reviewed journal will require several months, if not a year, of research, analyzing data, writing, editing and reviewing. The peer-review process can go through two or three rounds of revisions before reaching a final decision about whether to accept the article for the journal. Each journal has different rules regarding the rejection of an article and resubmission. If the peer-review process determines that an article cannot be accepted for publication in a journal, then the author(s) of the article may seek to have it published in another journal.

Objective Research Base

One of the main reasons for peer-reviewed articles is to present a more objective research base. Every author has biases, regardless of how hard they may try to remain objective. Every peer reviewer has biases too. Having a diversity of opinions can help to neutralize the biases that may come up during research and help to keep the findings of the article objective, thus presenting the best possible research for others to build upon.

Worldwide Building Code For Stairs

International codes govern building of stairs.

The International Building Code (IBC) is a set of model ordinances that is available for adoption and use by any municipal governmental jurisdictions worldwide. It provides for minimum health, safety and welfare regulations for the general public.

Chapter 10 of the IBC is titled "Means of Egress" and covers the standards for stairways in two separate sections.

Purpose

The purpose of IBC Chapter 10 is to protect the occupants of buildings by giving them the means to safely relocate from one part of the building to another or to evacuate the building through the available exits.

Section 1009 (Stairways), Section 1026 (Exterior Exit Ramps and Stairways) and Section 1028 (Assemblies) are the parts of the chapter that deal specifically with stairs.

Definitions

Section 1002 (Definitions) sets the definitions for terms used in Chapter 10:

A "means of egress" is the ability to leave a building via an unobstructed passage.

A "stair" is a change in elevation consisting of at least one riser. Multiple stairs make up a stairway that can be either internal or external to the building. The code provides that exit stairways must have a clear width of at least 48 inches between the required handrails.

Stairways

Section 1009 consists of 14 separate subsections that address such topics as "Headroom," "Vertical rise," "Spiral stairways" and "Handrails."

Exterior Exit Ramps and Stairways

Section 1026 consists of six separate subsections that address such topics as "Exterior exit ramps and stairways" and "Exterior ramps and stairway protection."

Assemblies

Section 1028 consists of 15 separate subsections that address such topics as "Width of means of egress for assembly" and "Common path of egress travel."

Graph Having A Ti83 Dimension Mismatch

When you graph an equation on a TI-83 calculator, it's important that you can see the entire graph and it fits on the screen. If you have the dimensions for the x-axis and y-axis set to the same scale, it's difficult to see graphs that don't have similar x and y values. To make it easier to view the graph, customize the dimensions of the axes and set them to different scales.

Instructions

1. Press the "Y=" key in the top left corner of the calculator and enter the equation you want to graph.

2. Press the "Window" key next to the "Y=" key to edit the dimensions of the graph. This menu allows you to specify the minimum and maximum values of the x-axis and y-axis. Press the down arrow to scroll down the the value you want to edit, then type a new value and press "Enter." Edit each value until you are satisfied with the dimensions.

3. Press the "Graph" key in the top right corner of the calculator. The graph is displayed on the screen with the axes dimensions set to the ones you entered. If the area of the graph you want to view doesn't appear on the screen, press the "Window" key and change the dimensions again.

4. Press the "2nd" key, then "Quit" to exit the graph and go to the home screen.

Worldwide Banking Technology

International banking technology is as diverse as the world's citizens.

Banking technology, like the world's citizens, varies from nation to nation. Its continuing advancement stems from the ever-changing need to respond to each country's evolving economic, political and social demands.

Types

Some types of international banking technology are standard; for instance, ATMs, e-banking and check cards are available from the U.S. to Nairobi. Some types of technology, however, are region-specific. For example, in India, bank technology allows customers to make Internet donations to any of more than 1,000 deities.

Significance

Advances in international banking technology have both economic and social significance. For instance, in Germany, software that enhances the ability to analyze and manage portfolios improves a German bank's marketability to financial professionals and private clients. In Kenya, however, bank technology provides previously unavailable access to banking services by enabling citizens to transfer money using their cell phones.

Warning

International banking technology does not develop uniformly; this renders some markets vulnerable to criminals with knowledge of their technological shortcomings. For instance, as of 2010, Australia's ATMs use magnetic strips rather than the chip-and-pin technology used in other developed countries. Criminals exploit this weakness by engaging in skimming, a method of stealing ATM information that is ineffective with chip-and-pin technology.

Worldwide Agency Agreement

Agents a vital link to consumers in international markets

An International Agency Agreement is an important tool in international trade. It is a legal contract between the principle, referred to as the first party, with an agent in another country, to sell goods or services on behalf of the principle in return for commissions.

Requirements

Though tailor made, certain fundamental principles mark the commonality of International Agreements. According to the U.S. Department of State, agreements must be "within the scope of any existing umbrella agreement, if applicable." They must also be "desirable in light of trade implications, and the interests of U.S. industry."

Contractual Obligations

Contractual Obligations include liabilities and termination terms.

Commercial business obligations include agents purchasing goods and selling them at a higher price. Each agreement has a definite time frame and leaves the room open for further extension. Each agreement outlines responsibilities of both parties. Other important commonalities in these agreements include intellectual property rights and access to confidential technical information.

Complex Local Laws

International reimbursable agreements are generally goverened by U.S Federal law.

Often an important aspect that is overlooked is the local law of the agent's country.

In some countries outside of the United States, local laws mandate a specific majority local management ownership. International non reimbursable agreements are generally governed by international law.

Worldwide Accounting Standards

International accounting standards are the previous set of standards that regulated how specific transactions should be noted in financial statements. International accounting standards are generally abbreviated as "IAS" and were first established by the Board of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). However, in 2001 a newer set of standards, called the international financial reporting standards were put into place by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Significance

Accounting standards are important because, for financial reporting, they ensure reliable, consistent and relevant information. Accounting standards must be governed by an infrastructure that watches over and makes sure that the standards are properly interpreted and followed.

Monetary and Financial Policies

The code of good practices on transparency in monetary and financial policies revolves around public availability of policy information, clarity of objectives, responsibilities, and roles, procedures for policy-decision formulating and reporting, and also assurances of integrity and accountability.

Fiscal Transparency

The code of good practices on fiscal transparency has four main principles under the International Accounting Standards, which are public availability of information, clarity of responsibilities and roles, independent assurances of integrity, and also open budget preparations, execution and reporting.

Auditing

The international standards on auditing focus on the fact that more consistency, comparability and transparency is necessary in order to keep up with increasing cross-border capital movements. The body of standards for auditing concentrates on audit evidence, internal controls, planning, responsibilities, international auditing practice statements, external auditors and much more.

Insurance Core Principles

Under International Accounting Standards, insurance core principles were put into place to garner ethical and practical supervisory practices for insurance--internationally. These principles were also established in order to build a framework and infrastructure to come up with more detailed insurance global standards.

Interior Decorator Supplies

In addition to creativity and having a sense for the client's taste, an interior decorator needs to stock a number of supplies to complete a project. Depending on the scope of a decorator's services, he might stock fabric swatches, furniture magazines and paint palettes. Some decorators keep a warehouse with accessories, window treatments and furniture, which are taken to each job as needed.

Measuring

All decorators carry a measuring tape to create the initial plans. Digital measuring tapes can store measurements on a memory card until they can be uploaded into a decorator software program.

Portfolio

A professional decorator carries a portfolio of previous work to give a client an idea of the types of work done in the past. Clients may respond to certain styles, giving the decorator an idea of proceed.

Laptop

Decorators carry a laptop with interior design software, which can re-create a room, allowing the professional to show the client what the new room could look like.

Samples

Most decorators have reams of samples ranging from a wide assortment of paint chips to carpet squares and fabric swatches.

Camera

A good digital camera helps a decorator remember every niche of a room when shopping for fixtures and accessories.

Datebook

A professional decorator often works with architects, builders and contractors to coordinate each piece of a building or remodeling job. An electronic or paper datebook is an essential tool for accurate scheduling.

Contracts

Prepare to sign a contract when visiting clients by having pre-printed contracts available.

Begin A Grooming Your Dog Business

Start a Dog Grooming Business

A dog grooming business may be the right choice for someone who love dogs and have an entrepreneurial spirit. Many people love their pets so much they are willing to pay high prices to keep them happy. Cash in on the ever-growing market of dog grooming. It's a hard road to own your own dog grooming business, but these steps will get you in the right direction.

Instructions

1. You must love dogs. An underlying love of dogs must be there for a person to have the patience and care to deal with sometimes nervous animals. Animals can often sense that a person is tense and will react on that.

2. Learn the art of dog grooming. There are accredited dog grooming schools that offer pet grooming programs. You might want to try a community college or a local trade school, but you best bet will be a specialty pet grooming class. These courses, depending on your state, will take you around 300 hours in the classroom.

3. Choose a location to work from. Maybe start small with an outdoor set up for neighborhood pets. Work out of the home, rent a booth at a grooming salon or open a shop.

Your best bet might be to start off small--get a couple of clients and work out of your home (or travel from client to client). Get a feel for being a dog groomer on your own. Working small will give you a taste of your future. This stage might be where you realize this career isn't exactly for you.

4. When you do decide to start taking clients (either in your home or at a brick and mortar shop), make the setting comfortable. Make sure the area is well lit, welcoming and safe for the dogs. There should be little distraction for the dogs, not a lot of noise or people.

5. Advertise a lot. There are many books to be found and classes to take to teach about advertising. It is a crucial part to any business no matter how big or small. Spend a lot of time thinking about the right advertising techniques for the size of the business. Start local: Daily newspapers, ads at pet shops, Craigslist and of course, word of mouth.

6. Offer multiple services. This will keep people happy and they will return for more. A wide range of services will greatly increase the market range. Offer shampooing, drying, shaping and cutting--even nail painting.

7. Keep prices low at first. People pay for experience. Don't expect to charge top fees with no experience. Find out what your competition is charging and price your services just a tad under what they're charging.

Insurance Policy Terms

Insurance is a financial product that individuals and organizations can purchase to protect against unpredictable losses. The average person is likely to carry several different types of insurance, such as health insurance, homeowner's insurance and auto insurance. The basic principle of insurance is that you pay a fee and in exchange, the insurance company will pay for various losses, such as damage to a car or home, if they occur. It is important to understand basic insurance terms when seeking insurance coverage.

Claim

An insurance claim is a notification given to an insurance company that a loss has occurred and that payment for the loss is desired. Any time a loss or expense covered by an insurance plan occurs, the person covered by the insurance plan must make a claim to receive funds from the insurance company. For instance, if you get in a car crash, you must make a claim to your auto insurance company so that they are aware of the crash and will pay you for damage caused to the vehicle. It is important to make claims as soon as possible after losses occur; insurance companies may have policies where losses that are not claimed soon enough are not eligible for coverage.

Deductible

The deductible on an insurance plan is an up-front cost that the insured party must pay before the insurance company will pay for losses. The higher the deductible, the less risky it is for the insurance company. All else held equal, the cost of insurance is usually less when deductibles are higher.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is a term frequently encountered in the health insurance industry. Coinsurance indicates a sharing of expenses between the insured party and the insurance company at a ratio set out in the insurance plan. For instance, a health insurance plan might require 20 percent coinsurance on surgery, meaning you would have to pay 20 percent of the costs of surgery. Seemingly low coinsurance percentages can still result in high costs. For instance, 5 percent coinsurance might seem low, but 5 percent of a costly cancer treatment can still amount to thousands of dollars.

Premium

The term premium refers to the fee you must pay to maintain insurance coverage. In other words, the premium is the cost of insurance coverage. Premiums are often charged monthly, quarterly, biannually or annually.

Limits

An insurance limit is the maximum amount of money the insurance company will pay you for a loss. For instance, if you purchase collision coverage on a car with a limit of $50,000, the insurance company will pay, at most, $50,000 toward damage done to the car even if the car is worth more than that amount.

Write A Company Introduction Letter

A formal business letter is the best way to introduce your new company to others.

Once your business plan is complete and opening day is drawing near, it's time to write a business introduction letter. Your letter can serve as a cover letter to accompany your business plan when you send it out to investors, or it can be tailored to simply describe your company and its products or services to the press and potential customers. The important thing in any case is to keep your letter brief and to the point, succinctly summing up all the essential information about your business.

Instructions

1. Write a salutation and greet the recipient by name, such as "Dear Ms. Wright." It is considered unprofessional to generically address someone in a business letter, so customize each letter you send out.

2. Write the first paragraph and introduce your business by name. Explain your affiliation with the business, and state your reason for believing the recipient will be interested to hear about the company.

3. Write the second paragraph and go into more detail about why you are writing. Be polite but direct. If you are requesting an investment or financial backing, state so, and include the amount. If you are inviting the recipient to opening day or want him to become a customer, describe your products or services and state why you believe the recipient might want them.

4. Write a closing paragraph and indicate whether any documents are enclosed, such as the business plan, brochures or business cards. Indicate if you would like to follow up with a phone call or meeting about the business, and state how the recipient can contact you with questions or concerns. Thank the recipient for her time and consideration. Type a closing ("Best Wishes") and your name.

Restretch A Silkscreen Frame With Adhesive

Silk Screen Making

Restretching silk screens is accomplished by stretching screen mesh on a screen stretching device, and gluing to the screen frame. The operation requires the proper equipment, tools, practice, and patience. Commercial screen stretchers are available in manual or automatic models, or you may substitute a retensionable screen frame, larger than the frame you will be gluing. Follow the owner's manual and manufacturer's recommendations for proper use of the stretching device. Manual stretching without a device will not allow enough tension for a usable silk screen.

Instructions

Prepare Frame and Tension Mesh

1. Clean silk screen thoroughly, removing all traces of ink.

2. Remove old mesh by peeling it away, starting from a corner edge. It is generally not necessary to remove or abrade old glue. Sand down any sharp or rough edges old glue may have left behind.

3. Center the frame within the screen stretching device, and place wood blocks underneath corners to allow the frame surface to rise slightly above the level of the stretching frame.

4. Load screen mesh into the stretching device, and tension to manufacturer's published recommendations for mesh type and count.

5. Measure mesh tension with a screen tension meter, and ensure that even tension is achieved over all areas of the mesh.

Apply Glue

6. Ensure that the frame to be glued is making positive contact with the screen mesh, and is pushing up against the tightened mesh. You may need to add more wood blocks, or weigh down corners of the stretching device to facilitate contact.

7. Follow glue manufacturer's mixing and application recommendations. Pour a thin, continuous line of glue onto the mesh, over the frame edge.

8. Spread glue evenly around the frame edge, using a flat plastic glue applicator or heavy cardboard.

9. Allow glue to dry according to manufacturer's recommendations.

10. Release tension on the stretching device, and trim along the edges of the glued frame with a sharp razor knife. Your screen is now ready for use.

Make Business Card Printing For Bartending

Private parties are a great way for a bartender to earn extra money and are a great place to promote your services. Having professional business cards to present to party goers will show you are a reliable, serious business person.

Instructions

1. Review the business card templates from the selections offered in the websites in the "Resources" section. Choose your favorite, and download it to your computer's desktop. Check that the template you choose is compatible with the version of Microsoft Word that is on your computer, and that you have business card paper that match your template.

2. Open Microsoft Word, and go to File--Open. Select the template you downloaded from your desktop. The file name will end with a ".dot" extension.

3. Select the template text, and replace it with your company's name, address and contact information in the corresponding places in the template.

4. Highlight any special drinks or services you offer. Do you do theme parties with a special drink menu, like luaus or martinis? Have you created some unique recipes that are always in demand by your clients? Have you won any awards for your bar tending skills? Add a line or two describing your skills, kind of like a slogan.

5. Indicate whether you offer special rates for repeat customers, or for parties where a large number of attendees don't drink alcoholic beverages. If you have a selection of non-alcoholic specialties, mention them.

6. Add a coupon to the back of your card, indicating a special offer such as a referral discount, or other marketing programs.

7. Remember to check the spelling and to check for any errors on the page. Save the file.

8. Put the blank business card printer sheets into your printer, using the directions from the guidelines included with the paper. Select File--Print. Select one copy, and then click OK. If the first page looks good, you can print more sheets.