Monday, October 21, 2019

SocialBookShelves.com Offers Literary Reviews Based on Page Count

SocialBookShelves.com Offers Literary Reviews Based on Page Count When published author and freelance writer Dane Cobain of High Wycombe, UK, decided to start a book blog, he wanted to take an approach that was unique (and maybe a bit time saving). Since then, his book blog SocialBookshelves.com, has become an award-winning site ranked #3 in Vuelios Top Ten Literature blogs in the UK, and his different approach is writing book reviews that have the same number of words as pages in the reviewed book. For example, if a book has 300 pages, it would be reviewed on SocialBookShelves.com with 300 words.History of the siteCobain founded SocialBookshelves.com in April 2013 and officially launched the site on May 1st of that same year. Through the site, he met the former VP of Community Management at Booktrope Publishing and on June 11, 2015, released his first novella, No Rest for the Wicked with Booktropes Forsaken imprint.Since that time, SocialBookshelves.com has published over 1,000 book reviews and interviewed dozens of authors, providing readers a us eful resource full of well-written reviews. As a labour of love, the website reflects its owners own personal reading list and now has a number of reviews organized by authors last name and genre.Navigating the siteThe home page of SocialBookshelves.com shows the most recent blog post or review left by Cobain. Since the most recent book he reviewed was Three Japanese Short Stories by Akutagawa and others (containing 58 pages), the review was a brief 58 words, which to some, could be too little information.In the right-hand menu bar, there are navigable links organized as follows:Authors A-E (By Surname) (374)Authors F-J (By Surname) (289)Authors K-O (By Surname) (249)Authors P-T (By Surname) (329)Authors U-Z (By Surname) (106)Fiction (776)Magazine (3)Non-Fiction (363)Poetry (145)As you can see from the numbers to the side, the website contains over a thousand book reviews, searchable by the authors last name and the works genre. Below the main menu, there are links to the Cobains ow n books, along with reviews from Goodreads. Finally, youll find icons of various awards that SocialBookshelves.com or Cobain has won.Since one of my favorite contemporary writers is Gillian Flynn, I clicked on the Authors F-J (By Surname) (289) link to see if the site had any reviews of her books. The first review that showed on the screen was one for Flynns Sharp Objects, a book that I hadnt enjoyed nearly as much as her bestseller Gone Girl. Since Cobain had both of these books reviewed on his site, I read both and (for the most part) agreed with his take on both novels. I was particularly impressed to read his disappointment with the end of the novel, stating that it was unbelievable and could have ended better. Most reviewers praise that ending for its gotcha! effectiveness and let the suspension of disbelief take over.Review policyAny author or author representative who wishes to submit a book for review to SocialBookshelves.com should note that the website only accepts paperba ck or hardback books for submission. This means that no e-books or Kindle versions will be considered, and the website notes that no books will be returned to the sender after submission.Cobain also suggests that if anyone wishes to submit a book for his review, they should look on his Goodreads page to consider his overall tastes in reading. If he chooses to review the book, the review will be cross-posted across his author pages on Goodreads and Amazon, along with a link to purchase the book. He suggests to consider his in-house style when submitting shorter works or novellas, and note that an 80-page book will have an 80-word review.Additionally, while most reviews are written within 2-3 weeks of receipt of a book, it can take longer in some instances. Cobain also notes that reviews are his honest opinion based on his preferences in literature and writing, so if he rates it negatively, it isnt something he will change. He mentions several authors attempting to contact him to conv ince him to change his rating but he insists on maintaining the integrity of the reviews for his readers and fans.So why the page count/word count connection?Cobain states that the reason he decided to create a unique connection between page count of the book and word count of the review is because he wanted to challenge himself in writing, succinct reviews. In doing so, he saves time (since running the website is not his fulltime job) and offers readers a different approach to reviewing books- hopefully one that keeps his readers coming back for more.How to contact the siteIf youd like more information about the site and wish to contact the administrator of SocialBookshelves.com, you can email danecobain@hotmail.com. If youre interested in sending in a book for a potential review, send a brief synopsis of and links (if available) containing further information about it.Final takeawayI found the content of SocialBookshelves.com to contain well written, thoughtful reviews of a variet y of books across a wide range of topics and genres. I liked the fact that the reviews tended to be concise, without a lot of fluff.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

6 Ways to Pay for Private School

6 Ways to Pay for Private School Attending a boarding school isnt cheap, we all know that. And today, many tuitions can cost a family as much as $70,000 a year (now multiply that by four years). Most private schools seem to be topping out around $45,000 to $55,000 a year, but some go well above that amount. Day school tuition typically runs about half that cost, or even less, depending on where you live. Even the primary grades cost a fortune these days. Paying for a private school education requires tremendous sacrifice for most parents. So how do you do it? How do you manage to pay for private school  tuition over the course of your childs education? Here are six ways you can manage those large tuition bills. Earn Cash Back on Tuition Payments Most schools expect payment of fees in two installments: one due in the summer, typically by July 1, and the other due in the late fall, typically by the end of November of the current academic year. Other schools may do their billing by semester or term though, so it varies. But, a little tip that not many families know is that schools will permit payment with a credit card. Simply make your tuition payment twice a year on a credit card with a rewards program, like a cash back card or one that will earn miles,  and then make your regularly scheduled monthly payments on the card. Lump Sum Discounts Schools always hate chasing down families who are late on their bills, which can have some negative results. But if you work with the school and pay your bill upfront, its often met with a discount. If youre able to pay your tuition bill in full by July 1, the school may offer you a  five to ten percent discount on the overall amount. Discount plus earning cash back with credit card payments? That sounds like a deal to me.   Tuition Payment Plans Not everyone can make lump sum payments and use a credit card to do so. For those families, there are still plenty of options. Most schools participate in tuition payment plans which are offered by outside providers, if not the school itself. The way these plans work is that you pay one-tenth of the expenses each month to the payment plan provider, which in turn pays the school on an agreed basis. It can be a real boon to your cash flow by allowing the payments to be spread equally over a number of months. The schools like the fact that they dont have to manage your billing. Its a win-win.   Financial Aid and Scholarships Almost every school offers some form of financial aid. You have to file an application for aid with the school and also file a standardized form, such as the Parents Financial Statement. The amount of aid which you can reasonably expect depends to a great extent on the size of the schools endowment, how much the school really wants to recruit your child, and how the school allots its scholarships. Several schools now offer a virtually free education if your family income is below $60,000 to $75,000 annually. So, if you need financial aid, see what the various schools on your short list can offer. Finally, be sure to ask around in your community. Many civic and religious groups provide scholarships. Loans Just like in college, loans are an option to pay for private school, though these are usually in the parents names, while college loans are often in the students names. Families have the ability to borrow against their assets to pay for private school education. There are also some specialized educational loan programs available, and your private school might offer or contract with a loan program, as well. It is always a good idea to consult your tax adviser and financial planner before making a major financial decision such as this. Company Benefits Many major corporations will pay for tuition and related educational expenses for dependent children of expatriate employees. So if you are posted to Belgium tomorrow, the main issue you will face is getting your children into the local international school. Fortunately for you, the tuition expenses will be paid for you by your company. Ask your Human Resources department for details. Edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Leo Straus -Carl Schmitt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Leo Straus -Carl Schmitt - Essay Example It also includes the state of indifference towards others’ political, social, economic, cultural, personal and religious activities. International politics, international law, state organizations, social justice, equality, liberty and social movements also come into the fold of liberalism. It is Marxism and modernism that have brought the term liberalism in its wake in modern theory and practice giving birth to feminism and other movements subsequently. An over-whelming majority of the scholars and thinkers have welcomed the notion declaring it a necessary element to secure the freedom of the individuals on the one hand, and create a free and fair world on the other. On the contrary, renowned political philosopher of twentieth century Leo Strauss seriously refutes the idea of liberalism declaring it a constant threat to the feelings of collectivism, national integrity, coherence and social solidarity. He is of the view that contemporary liberalism is the logical outcome of the philosophical principles of modernity, taken to their extremes. (Locke, 2002) Strauss emphatically opines that unchecked liberalism may lead towards conflict, devastation, destruction, turmoil and turbulence. The wars and battles, according to him, are also the outcome of so much and unwanted liberalism that lead the world under the clutches of dictatorship. Carl Schmitt also maintains the same views in this regards. Liberalism, according to him, by its nature, is hostile to all political projects. â€Å"In liberal democracy, writes Schmitt, â€Å"politics far from being the concern of an elite, has become the despised business of a rather dubious class of persons.† (1985: 4: quoted in Sunic and retrieved in.rosenoire.org/articles/schmitt.php) Thus, he emphatically rejects undue liberalism and declares it the way that paves the way for dictatorship in the world at large. Meier shows how Schmitt tried to accommodate some of the Strauss textual

Friday, October 18, 2019

Introduction to Consumer Behavior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction to Consumer Behavior - Assignment Example 2. Search engine companies are responding to the capability of apps to limit or exclude identity of the user by using technology related bias that threatens values such as privacy and favor values related with scrutiny and monitoring. The companies tend to manipulate search results by systematically giving prominence to some sites. Search engine companies have also resorted to offering of personalization and customizing features (Johnson 26-9). Security of users, data and the network has been given first priority by the search engine companies through robust security architecture and rigorous security programs. There are flexibility required for open platform such as protecting user data, system resources and offering application isolation. There is secure inter-process communication, application signing and application defined and user defined permissions. 3. Tagging apps users is helpful in grouping customers and the usefulness is evident when searching on a tag. Tagging further assists in identifying users deemed significant for categorizing app users. New methods of tagging app users also play a significant role in driving repeated usage where new products and services can be built. The new tagging capabilities may further help to expand app landscape and making mobile marketing more competitive (Johnson 29-30). The new methods may also help in optimizing strategies for ranking and maintenance of a user-base in the social media and even change the way users discover apps. 4. Facebook’s challenges of transferring its targeted ad to mobile platforms may play reach a huge number of mobile phone users worldwide. Consumers will be able to learn about different ads at their convenience. Many companies will be able to offer their ads information to the targeted customers globally and provide them with variety of products and services. In this case, consumers will enjoy variety of

Placement Report at Abacus Business Advisors, Ltd Essay

Placement Report at Abacus Business Advisors, Ltd - Essay Example Abacus Business Advisors, Ltd. (Abacus) was reportedly incorporated on March 17, 2010. Just two years in operation, this corporation is classified as private company with three partners:   Ishtiaq Mahmood Farooqui, the Director and Accountant with expertise in accountancy, book-keeping and transactions involving tax consultancy; Ejaz Farooqui, also the Director and Accountant share the same expertise with Ishtiaq Mahmood Farooqui; finally, Yomtov Eliezer Jacobs, was the Director whose expertise was in company formation. As such, his directorship was already classified as inactive at current times.Location and Contact Numbers  Abacus is currently located at 9 Norville Terrace, Headingley Lane, Leeds in the United Kingdom. It is classified as a private organization that offers accounting and auditing services; as well as tax consultancy services. Its contact number is 0113 225 2026 and 0113 274 5508. It currently advertises its services through online sites such as the SeekAccounta nt.co.uk,   TouchLocal.com, among others.Placement Job DetailsMajor Accounts and Responsibilities  In my first week, the first few days were spent in orientation of the organization’s accounting system. I had to be familiarized with their system to enable facilitation of filing, encoding, and working on basis accounting responsibilities: book-keeping, bank reconciliation, among others. I was made to start off with sorting out bank reconciliation in the first few weeks. I worked through the organization’s general ledger accounts.... It is classified as a private organization that offers accounting and auditing services; as well as tax consultancy services. Its contact number is 0113 225 2026 and 0113 274 5508. It currently advertises its services through online sites such as the SeekAccountant.co.uk, TouchLocal.com, among others. Placement Job Details Major Accounts and Responsibilities In my first week, the first few days were spent in orientation of the organization’s accounting system. I had to be familiarized with their system to enable facilitation of filing, encoding, and working on basis accounting responsibilities: book-keeping, bank reconciliation, among others. I was made to start off with sorting out bank reconciliation in the first few weeks. I worked through the organization’s general ledger accounts that contained records of their cash and check transactions. Likewise, I worked through bank statements to reconcile and counter check that the cash and check transactions during the perio d under study to perfectly reconcile with the balances shown in both the general ledger and the bank statements. It was initially a difficult task given the details that one needs to check and countercheck these balances (bank versus book). Likewise, adjustments had to be made in terms of deposits in transit, any outstanding checks issued but not yet recorded by the bank, and the occurrence of some bank errors (as it normally happens). In addition, I had to adjust the balance in the company’s books in terms of the need to deduct bank service charges, NSF check fees and fees for the issuance of checks. I also noted the need to add interests earned and any notes receivable, as identified. After comparing the accuracy of the balances, I finally had to prepare journal entries to

Read and discuss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Read and discuss - Essay Example They should aim at reflecting the eventual HR challenges, and not just through HR practice investments but through making use of practice in the creation of value outcome. The author clearly states that within every function of management, the inability to anticipate accurately about the future may result in incomplete execution of errors which may have the ability to cause harm to the organization. For example, in case there is an incorrect design of something by the engineering department, it will have to go back to square zero in order for amendments to be made. If manufacturing fails to meet the cost required, quality requirements or delivery, there will be a quick correction of the problem and so on. I can go on and on to explain various circumstances, but as the authors of this text put it, in case HR managers fail to prepare for the future and fail to prepare an adequate plan, there will be more than just machines, designs, number and sales affected; a large number of peoples’ lives would be touched too. It may never be possible to undo such a terrible mistake. According to the authors, there may be a large number of failures caused by HR professionals, who may be administratively focused on future anticipation, although none of them may be more delayed in serious progress than the inability to gauge and watch movement of civil rights’ impact. This describes the extreme effects that may impacted an organization as a result of improper demand anticipation of economic, social, demographic, global and ethnic changes. The author might have been keen on addressing the key issues faced in a work environment as a result of worker discrimination. He puts to table the different consequences faced due to the practice of this growing vice. It is up to every HR to ensure that there is no discrimination in every single working environment if he ever wants to achieve positive, enticing organizational results. In 1941, Philip Randolph, the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Human resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Human resources - Essay Example It is a continuous process of methodical design to achieve optimum use of organization’s human resources (Ree &Â  French, 2010, p. 121). The aim of this study is to examine the implementation of human resource planning by the organizations. In order to achieve the organizational goals of labour requirements, the organization requires effective human resource planning. However, most of the organizations lack effective programmes on human resource planning to determine their recruitment and hiring practices. Therefore, human resource planning ensures the success of the organization by helping it to acquire the right labour force in the right numbers to match available jobs. However, some organizations fail to implement human resource planning for the following reasons; In order for the organization to have effective manpower planning, they must forecast the future demand for workforce. They can achieve this through trends analysis by studying the demand of some previous years and project the same in the future (Ree &Â  French, 2010). However, the demand and supply of labour is affected by economic conditions such as recession and boom periods. Such unpredictable economic conditions affect the capacity of the organizations to conduct effective resource planning (Kew &Â  Stredwick, 2010, p. 113). Organizations incur much expense to conduct human resource planning (Kew &Â  Stredwick, 2010). This is because almost all personnel must be involved in making a projection in order to achieve the reliable result. However, considering most organizations are small in size they cannot afford the cost of carrying out market research to obtain data for effective market trend analysis and predict the future demand for workforce. Instead of matching present and future labour requirements of organization, they acquire workers whenever the need arises and will downsize the workforce in case of fall in demand due to changes in