The two-year tax cut bill signed into law in December, PL 111-312, extended the 15% tax rate on qualified dividends. This also extended the benefits of IC-DISC (or DISC). Using a DISC, exporters of US-made goods get a subsidy of at least 10% of their earnings on those exports. If your business sells $1 million or more worth of US-made products for use outside the US, you need a DISC. You can make a profit regardless of whether your business manufactures or simply distributes the products. The benefit applies to partnerships, corporations and even sole proprietors.

This is good news for all exporters, who can continue to receive an export subsidy. The 15% dividend tax rate and the regular tax deduction (often at a 35% tax rate) of DISC commissions combine to reduce federal income taxes. This export subsidy is at least 10 per cent of export profits. The subsidy also applies to engineering and architectural services for construction projects outside the US, but not to most other services. To get this export subsidy, you must have a separate paper company that chooses DISC status. It must be in effect before goods are sold or construction services are billed.

DISC is NOT avant-garde, aggressive or risky. It has been around since 1971, but saw limited use from 1984 until 2003, when the tax rate on dividends changed. Congress claimed during the Bush administration that they wanted to keep DISC and the benefits for middle market exporters.

Several things are required for your business to obtain this subsidy. There must be a separate US corporation that has filed an IRS election to be treated as a DISC. It is purely a paper corporation with $2,500 capital and no other substance. This corporation must have agreements with business operating entities to earn a commission. The commission is calculated under complex IRS rules based on export sales or the net proceeds from those sales. The company gets a federal income tax deduction for this fee. The DISC does not pay taxes on your income. The DISC may defer some winnings, but must distribute the rest. The last tax payment to shareholders at the rate of 15% instead of the regular federal income tax rates on the distributed commission. This results in a federal tax rate differential of up to 20%.

Simple example: Smitty’s Plumbing Supply sells $3 million worth of Ohio-made plumbing fittings to customers in Windsor, Ontario. Smitty’s net profit margin is 8% overall, so he made $240,000 on sales in Ontario. Smitty, the owner, is in the 35% tax bracket. Without a DISC, Smitty would pay $84,000 in federal income tax on export earnings. If Smitty had a DISC, he could reduce that tax by at least $24,000.

Commission calculation in its simplest form can be done on a Post-It(tm) note, but the result may not be optimal. Various techniques can increase the profit. These include the application of the “no loss” rule, the percentage of total profit or the “marginal cost”. These techniques add to the complexity and cost of doing the calculation, but for sufficient sales volumes they can be well worth it. Optimizing these calculations in a way that the IRS will approve requires expertise. For very large transaction volumes, specialized software may be required. For many mid-market companies, these additional costs are trivial compared to the additional tax savings from DISC optimization. Consider each year whether the optimization calculations are worth it.

If you are an exporter of US-made products, DISC can probably help you, but you need help setting up a DISC and calculating the best profit. A new corporation is needed, as the DISC election must be held at the beginning of the DISC fiscal year. In addition, the DISC and the business entity must have the appropriate agreements in place, and the DISC must have an “evergreen” dividend resolution. Missing a key piece can kill your profit.

Remember, DISC savings start only when the new DISC is in place. Act now to start earning these tax benefits by calling Steve Fox.

First of all, it is good to know what kind of transportation you can get in Bangkok. There are numerous types of public transportation, but the average visitor or resident uses only 7 of these, metered taxis, tuk tuks, buses, boats, river taxis, motorcycles, and taxis (non-metered).

Let’s start with Tuk Tuks. Aren’t those little three-wheeled taxis cute, painted in bright colors and featured so much in anything to do with Thailand? They are very cute until you get stuck in traffic, behind the number 36 bus at about 2pm and they inhale more smoke in 10 minutes than the average smoker in a lifetime… ho ho ho you will say for the kids Isn’t it fun… while your kids bury their heads in their daddy’s armpit because it smells fresh compared to the air around them? It’s ok Try a Tuku Tuk once, don’t go too far and then leave them as a bad idea. Outside of Bangkok they are much more fun. You have to haggle with the Tuk Tuk drivers, the price is set beforehand and they will generally always rip you off, take a taxi.

Taxis (with 4 wheels) come in two types, metered and non-metered, although some non-metered actually have a meter hidden behind a panel in the dash below the radio… Taxis are great, sit in the air-conditioned luxury and watch the Smiths die of carbon monoxide poisoning in a Tuk Tuk. If a taxi driver refuses to use his meter, tell him to take a walk, get out, don’t be fooled. Check where you are standing, if it is outside a nice big hotel, then walk down the street a bit and hail a taxi. Unlike US or European taxi drivers, they do NOT have to pass TESTS to become a taxi driver, within days of being in Bangkok you will know Bangkok better than many taxi drivers…again if the driver doesn’t seem to know where it is you go, get out… another thing, make sure you know where you are going and have a rough idea of ​​the route, otherwise a less honest taxi driver will take you on a tour of the back roads “the shortcuts”. If you are going a long way, take the toll, it costs 20-40 baht (you pay) and will save you hours of travel. Calling a taxi by phone costs an additional 20 baht, airport taxis cost an additional 50 baht. And yes, there is a REGULATED taxi rank at the airport outside the main assembly area. Don’t get suckered in by the taxi and limo salesmen. Oh yeah, then there are the taxis without a meter… well if you want to use one, feel free… it will cost you the same as a Tuk Tuk, but at least you will have air conditioning… .possibly.

The buses, there were once red buses, blue buses, green buses and Air Con buses, then micro buses and then deregulation and now there are so many buses that I really don’t know what they all are… anyway, yeah going to use a bus, GET A BUS MAP. Then always use the Air Con buses, unless the place you’re going to isn’t on one of their routes or you’re on such a tight budget that 8-15 baht per person might mean you have to run out of food. Other buses range from 3 Baht to 20 Baht. Don’t bother asking the driver where you want to get off, to them you are a lower life form (all passengers are), ask another passenger. A word about getting on and off the buses. Do it FAST, buses sometimes don’t stop at the bus stop, they “slow down” in the middle of the road and let out a stream of potential hit-and-runs in the middle of traffic, okay, I’m exaggerating a bit, but when you have its stop, make sure you are already close to the door and you can run towards it. Don’t expect the people who get on to open the way for you, that kind of common sense often fails people who use the buses, their goal is to get on quickly and get a seat before everyone else… which brings seats… don’t be fooled into thinking that being a “gentleman” will thank you… oh no, you’ll see pregnant women standing around while snotty youngsters from school take the seats, you’ll see old women laden with groceries standing while sweaty teenagers hoard the seats…its a dog eat dog first come first serve world on the buses and if you take one of the non air conditioned buses you will eventually see a poor person pass out…then they get a seat.

Motorcycles. Yes… I want to get somewhere fast, take a motorcycle taxi, get married and have children… buy life insurance and a good helmet. Most MB taxi drivers will do their sole intent to scare you to death, to see if they can fit your bike through a gap that is obviously closing faster than they are moving and to see how fast they can go. in an open space. stretch of road…they have no fear (or sanity)…your life is in their hands and soon you will wish it wasn’t. It is the law in Thailand that all cyclists MUST wear a protective helmet… some of the helmets you see would not project a small child falling out of a 3 wheeler. Thai law says you have to wear a helmet, but as far as the law goes…it can be done with paper…if you intend to use MB Taxis a lot then get a helmet…I did, I It saved face when the inevitable finally happened and I skidded across the road after being run over by a pick-up truck… if you can avoid MB taxis then do so. If you’re in Bangkok long enough, you’ll eventually be able to learn which MB taxi teams (yes, they work as a team) are safer than others (or luckier than others). Take a look at the motorcycles they drive, a scratched accident will be a good indication that the driver has kissed the asphalt several times, a new motorcycle, a green horn that is still waiting for its first brush with death… if you go in a motorbike and the driver drives like crazy, tell him to stop and get off.

I have to admit I have very little experience with boat transport in Bangkok, but from what I’ve been told, if you can get a canal or river taxi then go for it, they are fast, generally clean, less polluting and of course Of course, there are fewer vehicles to hit. Prices vary depending on how far you go.

In summary, I would suggest that if you plan to travel to Bangkok: – get a map, take metered taxis, always know the general route and even the price range to your destination… oh, and don’t travel between 8am and 9am , or 3 pm and 4 pm, or 7 pm and 8 pm… you won’t get anywhere very, very slowly.

I guess one of my pet reasons that comes pretty close to the top is lack of communications. This can cover many situations and cover a wide area. I intend to cover just a couple of these today, but I encourage you to think about your own environment and what happens when things are unknown but acted upon. Many times, it becomes a disaster in many ways.

Take for example, you buy one of those kits that have to be put together and they claim you only need a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. Many times, it ends up being a worthless piece of junk, or something you have to modify to make things work.

The boss who says he wants this or that, but doesn’t give you much of an idea how to get to the bottom line the way he or she wants it done. The end result is obvious, but how many ways can you go wrong to get to the end result. Rules of “Murphy’s Law”.

Or the take-it-all employee never tells the boss what’s going on with the job. Mistakes continue to be made over and over again. You have to remember ONE thing: the boss is FULLY RESPONSIBLE for what you do. He doesn’t have to be the one making the mistake to be responsible.

Many business leaders require a “weekly status report” or some other title, but get the same results. They require employees to report to management about what they are doing while at work; what is the progress or what is happening. There are many different formats, from oral reports to weekly written reports, but the end result is the same. If you don’t know how to create one, there are plenty of examples available on the web.

Some business leaders send out weekly or monthly newsletters to clients or related business professionals. Email newsletters are very important. Many people refer to many emails as “spam” and could fall into this category if left unchecked. Some school systems use this system to keep parents informed about the developments of school activities.

People going back on their word is another good point. Was he ever promised that someone would do something, he never heard from it again? You go and ask for details, why and what happened, but they pass it off as “it’s not a big deal, it’s not important”. Especially the engaged ones; even those promises To your childs is it so extremely important.

Two-way communication is one of the most basic functions needed to minimize business issues. Many problems can be traced to inadequate communications about what is needed. A simple process of sharing ideas and thoughts, opinions and plans seems like a “no-brainer”, but the value of communication seems to be quite low in today’s information world.

It is simply not possible to have a relationship between people or projects without commutation, but that communication must be total and have good value content. Midway communications can be dangerous in any number of ways, from friendship jeopardy to business failures to the safety of equipment or life and limb.

AGAIN — This is so VERY IMPORTANT !!!!! manager vs. Employee: The employee cannot do the job with bad communications coming from management. This works both ways: the employee must also provide information of value to the chain. Reports written without continuity or accuracy are worthless.

This can also be a very good motivational tool for the employee. Improve morality so everyone knows what’s going on. It’s a great way to avoid low morale with some people knowing things others don’t. It also increases productivity because it brings staff input from employees if they know the “whys” of a decision. Post suggestions etc. It should always be in writing for constant reference. Deadlock in proceedings will eventually cause problems.

I’m not telling you anything new, I’m just reminding you of something you’re already well aware of. Wisdom = just common sense with its sleeves rolled up.

The best place to find a good public adjuster is through the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. NAPIA can provide referrals in all states that license public adjusters. A Public Insurance Adjuster is the only type of adjuster qualified to represent the insured party in a property claim. Currently, more than 43 states plus the District of Columbia require an adjuster to have this license to represent the insured.

A professionally trained public insurance adjuster will act as your advocate and help you navigate the insurance maze so you can collect the full amount owed to you under your policy. However, there are several steps that must be completed before you can receive payment: valuing the loss, presenting it to the insurer, and negotiating a settlement. Insurance policies are complicated and conditional, full payment of a loss is not automatic.

A public adjuster can help determine coverage and causes of loss to evaluate the insurer’s offer or denial.

After a disaster, fire victims are often beset by inquiries and offers from general contractors and public adjusters and others offering to help them. This is normal. Just because they ask for it doesn’t mean they are doing something wrong. However, you should be careful and do your due diligence before signing up for their services.

If public adjusters are not members of NAPIA (National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters), be careful. They may not have the legal or insurance knowledge to adequately represent you. Here are some danger signs:

1. They make BIG promises without any guarantees.

2. Their fees are outrageous. Most legitimate public insurance adjuster fees range from 5% to 12%, with the average being around 10%. Some public adjusters may charge higher fees on small claims or when hired midway through the claims process.

3. If you feel pressured to make a quick decision, run. Legitimate PAs recognize that this decision to hire someone to represent you in getting your home and life back is momentous. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. This could be one of the most expensive decisions you make in your life. Take your time and make sure you are comfortable with the adjuster you are hiring.

4. Check your website and address. If they have nothing more than a business card, be very careful. If your only address is a PO Box, this may be another red flag.

5. It is often better to hire someone who is local. Someone who knows the local real estate market and rebuilding costs, who understands the community’s resources and how best to take advantage of them. A local PA may also have previous experience working with representatives from major insurance companies in the area and can cut through much of the red tape and red tape to ensure you get what you’re owed more quickly.

How to make sure you hire the right personal assistant?

Again, make sure they are NAPIA members at www.napia.com and have professional designations. Take your time and do several in-person interviews and ask for at least five references for each one. It can be difficult and intimidating, but you should call the references and find out what their situation was. Have your questions ready before you call your references. Are they responsive to your questions and seem genuinely concerned? If you hire a public adjuster, get it in writing and understand their fees before you sign.

One of the best examples of success through optimism is Sir Winston Churchill.

His directness, wit, and faith in building others up helped him lead England from the darkest shadows of World War II to victory over Nazi Germany.

It’s not just my opinion, here are several others:

When Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of England, the German air force was “dropping plane after plane of bombs on England” at all hours of the day or night. “Nobody knew if the British Empire would be able to hold out for another week.”

Despite the grim prospect of the Nazis rushing over France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Joseph P. Kennedy, the American ambassador in London, “told Washington that Britain was finished.”

Cameron C. Taylor wrote: “In the midst of darkness and confusion and in the face of what seemed to others impossible odds, Churchill took office with optimism and determination.” (*8 Attributes of High Achievers by Cameron C. Taylor)

Churchill understood the can of optimism to lay the foundations for victory.

On the day he took office, Churchill wrote: “I felt as if I was walking with the destiny that my past life had only been a preparation for this hour for this test… and I was sure that I would not fail.”

The key to Churchill’s bravery “was his boundless optimism”. Optimists are courageous because they depend on the hope “that dangers and threats can be overcome.”

In 1910, Churchill said: “I am one of those who believe that the world is going to get better and better.” He “disapproved of negative thinking.” In 1916, in “a speech to his officers in the trenches in France, Churchill urged: ‘Laugh a little and teach your men to laugh… If you can’t smile, smile. If you can’t smile, stay out of the way until you can.'”

On May 13, 1940, Churchill made his first speech as Prime Minister to the House of Commons. He said, “You ask, what is our goal? I can answer with one word: Victory… victory despite all the terror, victory no matter how long and hard the road may be… with all the strength that God can give us… I assume my task with optimism and hope I am sure our cause will not be allowed to fail.” (Winston Churchill, World War II, Volume II, His Finest)

Just after becoming Prime Minister in 1940, Churchill “was informed of a doomsday plan to be implemented in the event of a full-scale German invasion of Britain.” He “would not allow contingency planning for failure, knowing that it would inevitably trickle down and breed pessimism.”

The plan: “The royal family and top members of the government would be evacuated to Canada. Churchill flatly vetoed the proposal, adding: ‘We will make them regret the day they tried to invade our island'” (Celia Sandys and Jonathan Littman, “no we will fail”)

Even in the worst of times, Churchill remained optimistic and confident that they would achieve victory.

During a BBC broadcast, Churchill proclaimed: “We are determined to destroy Hitler and all vestiges of the Nazi regime. From this, nothing will separate us.”nothing. We will never parley, we will never negotiate with Hitler or any of his gang. We will fight him on land, we will fight him by sea, we will fight him in the air, until, with God’s help, we have rid the earth of his shadow.”

“Churchill not only saw reasons for hope and confidence in the darkest days of World War II, but He was able to infuse his unique blend of stoicism and optimism into the backbone of the nation, the military, and his own personnel.”

Leo Amery, a minister in the Churchill government said: ‘Nobody leaves his cabinet without feeling like a brave man.’… Great leaders bring out inner strength that people often don’t know they possess.”

Churchill empowered others to be their best selves!

“Churchill’s determination to never relent and his optimism that victory would be achieved enabled his country to fight bravely and bravely through tremendous difficulties and also enlisted the support of other countries in the cause until victory was achieved.”

The free world owes a debt of gratitude to Prime Minister Winston Churchill. At the age of 66, he inspired, motivated and encouraged his people to fight. He was a leader with a positive attitude. in the face of adversity,

Churchill died on January 24, 1965. “More than 300,000 people passed by his casket and millions watched the funeral” on television paying “his final respects to the man who helped change the course of history.”

Churchill presided over one of the great and most dramatic turning points of civilization. His actions were instrumental in shaping the world we live in today.

“He knew that if he could unite the mind, spirit and heart of the British people, they would eventually emerge victorious. Churchill not only saved Britain from defeat, but now, in retrospect, saved democracy as a form of government in the world”. Here was truly one individual whose life made a profound difference to everyone on our planet.” Hyrum W. Smith, what matters most (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000).

What 3 Leadership Lessons Did Prime Minister Winston Churchill Teach?

1) Be optimistic and confident. “It brings out the inner strength of people.”

2) Churchill, ‘Laugh a little and teach your men to laugh’.

3) “If you can’t smile, smile. If you can’t smile, stay out of the way until you can.”

Churchill was a builder and lifter of people.

What is the problem with the groups? What are the characteristics of the groups? Entity is how coherent a group appears (Baron, Byrne, & Branscombe, 2005). Groups are characterized by roles, status, norms, and cohesion. Roles can cause people to behave differently than they normally would. For example, a female manager behaves differently, probably in a more masculine way, at work, than she would behave at home, in a family group. Physical characteristics (such as beauty and height) and behaviors help people gain status in a group. An example of this statement is the Hollywood or film industry, where beautiful actors and actresses can get a chance, even if they have no acting talent. Another example of this statement is the business world. Super high perspective CEOs are perceived as more powerful than lower perspectives and often people are more afraid of tall people. Being aware of group dynamics can ensure a successful social life.

Also, if the members like each other, then the group is cohesive and tends to remain a group. Oddly enough, one way to gain status is to express anger. In general, the benefits of participating in a group are: self-awareness, improved status, social change, and progress toward meaningful goals. Some costs or disadvantages of groups are: great demands on energy, time and resources, and loss of personal freedom.

Groups, like friendships and other relationships, need to be nurtured and cultivated. Parenting requires money, time and energy. Individuals leave groups when the group no longer reflects their beliefs and values. When the desire to join a group is very strong, prospective members are willing to undergo painful initiations, such as Ivy League fraternities, as shown in various movies, such as the movie “The Social Network,” which is premiered last year. , in 2010.

Additionally, having an audience or co-actors can influence the performance of an individual or group. For example, performers, such as dancers, Cirque du Soleil performers, or Olympic athletes, practice vigorously for years to perform in front of as many people as possible. If a person knows that she will be in front of an audience, rather than alone, she will dress and have a more appropriate posture. Some exhibitionists can thrive in an audience. One example is the famous and touristy Hyde Park Speaker’s Corner in London, UK, where anyone can stand in front of an audience or crowd and say whatever they please, good or bad! This effect is called social facilitation-inhibition.

The drive theory says that an audience can increase or decrease the level of performance, depending on whether the dominant responses, for a given circumstance, are correct or not. The distraction conflict theory says that the audience induces conflicting impulses to focus on the performance task and the audience. The increase in arousal could be accompanied by a brief focus of attention from the performers. This social facilitation also occurs among animals. Dogs and rabbits are especially notorious for having a short attention span and being easily forgetful and distractible, which generally makes them all the more endearing.

It is also important to note that when multiple people work on the same task, social loafing can occur and people perform worse. People tend to perform worse on simple tasks and better on complex tasks, in front of an audience. For example, if a person is at a small karaoke bar in her neighborhood, he is likely to feel less pressure than if he were performing a series of songs at a stadium concert, and therefore the person will make room for the others. mistakes. To eliminate social loafing, it is best to assign specific and unique individual tasks that are important to the individual and to which they are committed. To maximize individual performance and combat social loafing, it is recommended to: study alone and take tests in public, work on simple tasks in front of an audience, ensure individual contribution can be individually assessed, work only with committed individuals, and secure contributions . they are unique, versus superfluous or redundant.

Another characteristic of the group is that when people are part of large crowds, their self-awareness and social identity are reduced. In addition, they adopt the current norms that often allow impulsive and unbridled behaviors. Some examples are a musical concert and a sports game in the stadiums, during which there is increased police surveillance, given the probability that the crowd will gather. In these scenarios, criminals may think they are less likely to get caught or punished and thrive on being watched.

Regarding group dynamics, cooperation is a common aspect in society. Cooperation doesn’t always happen, even when it should, due to social dilemmas, where some people may increase their own defection gains. An example of a social dilemma is the prisoner’s dilemma. If both parties involved choose to cooperate or confess, rather than compete or not confess, they get more favorable results. Cooperation is facilitated by strong reciprocity, communication and a personal attitude towards cooperation.

Extraverted individuals, compared to introverts, are more likely to seek and enjoy cooperation. Some people are very competitive and live a very competitive lifestyle in all aspects of their lives. Most humans naturally tend to reciprocate, according to human evolutionary history. Creatures that cooperate have a higher chance of survival and reproduction than creatures that don’t. In short, not always everyone collaborates to share the work. Most people have experienced responsible and hardworking people, within their groups, versus lazy or lazy.

On the other hand, conflict occurs when an individual perceives a discrepancy or incompatibility between his own interest and the interest of the group. Faulty attributions, personal traits, poor communication, and objective consideration of one’s own viewpoints can lead to conflict. The most effective ways to reduce conflict are the induction of superordinate goals and bargaining or bargaining. Higher goals are achieved through the cooperation of people, with individual goals opposing each other. Some examples occur in religious groups, work groups, and friend groups. Members may grow apart emotionally, develop new and different needs, and/or mature socially at different rates.

What is group equity? The members of the group want justice. Equity is evaluated as results and is called distributive justice. Fairness can also be evaluated as procedures and called procedural fairness. Finally, fairness can be evaluated as kind treatment and called transactional (interpersonal) justice. When someone feels that he has been wronged, then he takes action to restore justice. Being spiritual can help you let go and trust that people don’t always have to bring others to justice or become “cops.” Life, circumstances, or the “universe,” or energy, or karma as some people call it, can do a better job of restoring justice than people, and that way individuals don’t have to take chances. to take care of her.

Often on the news, people hear about someone committing a crime and not coming clean to the authorities and getting away with it. Years later, people hear that those same criminals got sick and died. That is an example that not everything has to be ‘an eye for an eye’. Sometimes an individual has to learn that it is time to disengage from certain individuals, groups, and/or activities. In the event that some people decide it is necessary to bring someone to justice, then some common overt actions have been protests, and some covert actions have been employee theft (employees steal from the company, to deal with to perceived unfairness) or sabotage or suggestions that others deserve fairer treatment.

It is useful to know that some strategies to achieve an integrative agreement or a better result than simple compromise are: expanding the pie (increase available resources), non-specific compensation (one party gets what they want and the other party is compensated fairly ). unrelated issue), complicity (both parties make concessions on low-priority issues, in exchange for high-priority concessions), bridging (neither party gets what they originally wanted, but a third option is introduced, in the interest of both) , and , finally, cost reduction (one party is satisfied and the cost for the other party is reduced). Superordinate goals bind, versus separate, the interests of two different parties.

What is a possible big myth about groups and individuals? It may actually be a myth that groups make better decisions than individuals, because groups can experience that group polarization effect and make more extreme decisions than individuals. Some horrific examples of this effect can be the Holocaust and other similar events, including the current ones, similar to war. Groups could also be affected by groupthink or assume they are right and reject any other information. Groups are likely to accept criticism from groups and reject the same criticism from outside groups.

According to distributive justice or equity, groups tend to be part of the biased processing of information, to adhere to general values ​​or achieve what they want. Politics can unconsciously use distributive justice. Devil’s advocate and the creation of true mavericks in groups are examples of how to improve decision-making (Baron, Byrne, & Branscombe, 2005). In the devil’s advocate strategy, one person takes it upon themselves to disagree with the majority. This strategy forces others to re-evaluate, re-discuss, and think more carefully, because people have to create a new argument to respond to the devil’s advocate’s criticism.

Authentic dissent is like devil’s advocate, except that no one in particular is cast in the role of disagreeing, rather one or more people simply begin to disagree with the majority. In conclusion, groups are necessary for healthy socio-emotional human development. Being aware of the group dynamics explained above, can ensure a successful social life.

References

Baron, RA, Byrne, DR & Branscombe, NR (2005) Social Psychology. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Apparently, there’s a popular myth that city cyclists have been kicking around for years: that they’re more likely to get hit by a car if they wear a helmet than if they don’t. This myth so intrigued Ian Walker, a psychologist at the University of Bath, that he decided to put it to the test. Walker fitted his bike with a special ultrasonic sensor that would measure how close cars approached him as he commuted to and from work. To complete the experiment, he wore a helmet every other day and rode bareheaded every other day for two months.

Their findings may surprise drivers, but they won’t surprise anyone who has ever had reason to ride a bike on busy city streets: On average, when you were wearing a helmet, cars came 8.5 cm (3.35 cm) closer to each other. inches) to him and his bike than when he left his helmet at home. The helmet haters are vindicated and you can all throw away your nasty and annoying helmets.

Except they can’t, because the results are misleading. Bicycle helmets are not used to reduce the occurrence of accidents, they are used to reduce the impact of accidents and to prevent irreparable brain damage.

According to helmets.org statistics, bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by approximately 85% and the risk of brain injury by 88%. They also provide a significant measure of protection for the face and forehead. Additionally, studies have shown that bareheaded cyclists are 14 times more likely to be killed in a crash than helmeted cyclists.

Before purchasing a helmet, cyclists should consider their cycling habits and needs. For example, are they road cyclists or off-road cyclists, riding mountain trails or city streets? Road helmets can be distinguished from off-road helmets by their longer, sleeker, more aerodynamic design with narrow air vents. Off-road helmet vents are wider because cooling is supposed to take precedence over speed.

It is very important that the helmets fit you well. Helmets must fit snugly on the riders head; They must be level and must not lean backwards or forwards. The helmet should sit approximately two finger widths above the eyebrows for maximum protection and a clear line of sight. Helmets should not sit loose on the riders head, should not roll or fall forward or backward, but should not be too tight or too tight. Helmets often come with extra sponges for riders who need to make the helmet smaller. Sponges already in the hull can be removed to make extra space if needed.

Studies have shown that children are more likely to wear bicycle helmets regularly if their parents model wearing helmets. About 98% of kids wear helmets if their parents do, but that number drops to just 30% when their parents ride bareheaded. Given the fact that children ages 10 to 14 have the highest rates of serious brain injuries sustained in bicycle accidents, parents have a good incentive to buckle up.

Helmets have a lifespan of around 4,500 miles (7,242 km), which translates to about 5 years (for average, non-professional recreational cyclists). Beyond that, the materials start to break down and the helmet’s effectiveness is compromised. Helmets should also be disposed of after an accident, because no matter how minor the damage appears to be, cracks in the plastic and dents in the protective foam will reduce the helmet’s protective ability.

Far from giving cyclists license to feel the wind in their hair, Walker’s experiment underscores the importance of wearing a helmet at all times. While doing the study on him, Walker was knocked off his bike twice, once by a truck and once by a bus, both times he was wearing his helmet and both times he got up with his skull and brain intact. Who needs more incentive than that?

Recommended websites:

nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10bike.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

bikerally.org/index.php/Articles/helmets.html

helmets.org/stats.htm

Custom PC is the UK’s leading magazine for computer hardware. Published by Dennis Publishing Ltd., the first issue came out in the summer of 2003. This monthly computer magazine is currently edited by Ben Hardwidge and is usually abbreviated to ‘CPC’.

It is aimed at PC hardware enthusiasts, gamers, and early adopters, and covers topics such as modding, overclocking, and PC gaming. Dennis Publishing acquired bit-tech in late 2008.

Custom PC is dedicated to high performance hardware and custom PC modifications. The magazine tests and rates hardware based on all features, providing in-depth technology coverage. It’s cleverly written and adds lots of fantastic photography and Star Wars references. As the UK’s number 1 magazine for PC enthusiasts, it has a wide audience. Every month, the magazine includes the latest technology news, combined with unique features, challenges for savvy readers, and information about the latest generation hardware. Readers are presented with clear advice while being provided with entertaining and technically rigorous content, comprehensive lab tests, and benchmarks.

Custom PC Magazine is not just another PC magazine; it is the only magazine that devotes enough space to individual product reviews. Whatever your budget, they offer the best performing components. The news section gathers the most important news; the games section reviews the latest games and what’s happening in the world of PC gaming. The CPC Elite section contains a pick list of the best hardware available, be it budget PCs or high performance PCs. The reviews section covers all of the latest kit, including CPUs, hardware, motherboards, and sound cards. The magazine also provides customization tips, anything that can help you build and customize your PC according to your requirements.

According to a survey, it was found that 59% of readers tune their PCs for performance more frequently, 64% of readers build their own PCs, 52% of readers are comfortable with overclocking their processors and 23% of them now play more games. 98.3% of readers rate the magazine as trustworthy, making it a trustworthy and authoritative source.

With a subscription to Custom PC Magazine, readers can expect magazines packed with reviews of the latest hardware, lab tests, benchmarks, and entertaining and technically comprehensive content. Digital newsstand apps on the market give you a personalized PC digital subscription at nearly 70% less than store prices. Publishers take advantage of the digital publishing format and attract readers with attractive prices for their digital magazines. Most of the apps are free for readers to download.

With a copy of Custom PC digital magazine, readers can have access to their favorite magazine anytime they need it. Talk about showing off to a friend or genuinely helping someone have a better PC experience simply by reading the magazine and keeping it close to you in the cloud. Plus, instead of throwing away your old PC, leaving it as scrap metal and increasing contamination risks, you can revamp your old PC to run almost like new, just with your new knowledge from the UK’s leading market magazine for hardware enthusiasts. from PCs, gamers and early adopters.

This kind of journal writing was the key to Professor Primus’s discovery or dilemma, whatever you want. I was excited and disturbed to find out all this, and my colleagues questioned my sanity and his as well. I had read and reread his articles with almost frantic intensity, since I was only there during the last minutes of his life. At which point she had found his hand moving in the last few paragraphs of him, all apparently sculpted with scientific madness as those same colleagues would call it. My uncle blamed his old age for not finding a way out of this dilemma in time, if he had searched for other artifacts, or pottery with hieroglyphics, he claimed that he would have found the tunnel to exit the Chamber of Death Three, as he referred to him. . with his last scribble of him on a piece of paper knowing that he was standing next to his last dying breaths. He looked chilled and even fully dressed in a wool coat and warm hat, in his Minnesota home, in that horrible winter of ’66.

Like I said, my uncle blamed his old age, now I can claim him as a relative, I was skeptical at first if I should. Many of his observations and messages in his writing struck me as extremely out of place, especially those attempting to connect this new found species, or race of earthly beings that had walked the earth at some point, with those cults he mentions from other planets. , cults, the word, use for the phrase “Out of the ordinary people” of maybe Mars, or Mercury, or Venus, even mentions a planet called Moiromma, in a boarding solar system; a people from a cold planet, under a reiterated and silent premise in the history of humanity, a pre-adamic civilization. They seem to have created some kind of pagan mystical religion, since God will have nothing more to do with them. Again, my colleagues call this a cryptic wisdom, perhaps belonging to the Sumerians, that if I go ahead, it will bear no fruit. Writing these letters he lived five days in total in that chair, pencil in hand. Always related to some terrible and dark intelligence, not writeable, except for what I have mentioned above.

The notes and letters go on to say: he became ill on the fourth day and lost consciousness, perhaps a little delirium, and while in this state, he felt like he was dreaming. His writings at this time were scribbles, and what I got from them were frantic words, this was invariably my assumption, a prelude to doing any experimentation while he was still alive had to be done by these subhuman creatures, otherwise, how could i have done it? he fell ill in a state close to a coma, inside another world, perhaps because once in the other world he could not lose his consciousness, astonished he said that he found this, this strange dream, if not meaningless and irreverent for him, because with he would have gladly given them whatever information he had stored in his mind or memories, freely. On the other he had what he said was this, “The eternal dead can lie, while the earthly living cannot”, and they don’t have eons to wait for the truth, whatever truth they are looking for, he calls this cult, the Uhluhtc Cult.

He said there is one hope for him, and only one, and at this point I don’t know the end, that I myself must enter this black abyss within the crust of the earth, and bring his soul back, unless I wait until the end of days, and pray to God to save him among this group of shipwrecked. But I put caution before audacity, if only I could piece this all together for myself, I might try.

That was all she said. I don’t even know if she tried to navigate her way out of this sleeping sickness, because this process had taken some of her will away from him, these last scribbles were just scribbles, sensors writhing.

No: 610 (3Second part: No: 611, 3-18-2010

After every school shooting on a K-12 campus, there is no shortage of tips, suggestions, or demands for change. Not all of these approaches are practical or possible; some are expensive, infeasible, and do not take into account the culture of the school district and the surrounding community.

Many experts offered by the media offer solutions that can hardly be done on most campuses: lock down every facility, hand out key cards to every student, install expensive cameras or panic alarm systems, try to monitor every visitor , ask the local police to place a full-time officer on site. So what will work to prevent these unpredictable (and rare but catastrophic) events?

It’s time to return to a calmer, common sense response to this national discussion, using tools and ideas that already exist or can be put to use on campus. This requires an approach to utilizing the critical components of school safety and violence prevention: safety planning, adjusting existing policies, installing cost-effective security devices, creating district-led threat assessment teams, and use of threat management protocols in real time.

We can also take guidance from the 2002 “Safe School Initiative” report created by the US Secret Service: Most shooters do not warn their targets directly; they tell a third party, and many of them feel disconnected, discontent, depressed and vindictive. A team is needed to run our schools and districts; a team will be needed to respond to the problem of school violence. Consider these must-haves for our K-12 schools:

1. Hire more school counselors (trained in threat assessment and response).

The ratio of counselors to students is painfully low. They are pulled in many directions and are not always able to talk to as many students in crisis as they would like. In addition to increasing their number state by state, they must be fully trained in best practices for threat assessment and violence risk assessment.

2. Parent involvement (in school safety and behavior problems).

The DARE drug abuse and violence prevention program uses a triangular model, soliciting the support of schools, police and parents. Parents are sometimes the least supportive and that helps the concept fail. Each campus must have current contact information for each student’s parent or guardian. They need to be brought in to discuss what they are seeing at home with high risk students.

3. Gun safety education (for kids, and urgent for parents to use trigger locks and safes).

College shooters often get their guns by stealing them from their families. Many people still believe that their children will not find their weapons, so carefully hidden in dressers, bedside tables, under beds and in closets. We need a national campaign to secure every gun in every home. We need to use federal grants or funds, and even giveaways with low-cost trigger locks or gun safes, provided by gun manufacturers.

4. Gold Star Program (reaching those children who have fallen into oblivion).

This unique idea is simple: During staff development days, print lists of the names of all the students in the school and post them on the walls of unused classrooms. Ask teachers to place a gold star next to the name of any student with whom you have not had contact. Patterns will emerge quickly, showing kids that they haven’t had support or interaction from anyone on campus (a risk factor in the Secret Service study).

5. Anonymous tip lines (for threats, pending fights, and other security issues).

Students who tell us after a shooting that they knew it could happen (another factor in the Secret Service study), demonstrate the need to be able to tell adults, anonymously and in a protected way. This includes recorded message lines, Twitter accounts, or other privacy-controlled social networking sites, where campus administrators can monitor, investigate, and determine the validity of the information.

6. Security officers and campus devices (cameras, better door hardware, classroom phone lines, etc.).

In a perfect world, where cost was not a factor, we would have the luxury of putting a trained, handpicked, and armed security officer on every campus. Until then, the use of trained, selected and vigilant security agents has deterrent and early warning value. Cost-effective security devices are available to create entry bottlenecks, stronger classrooms, and mass notification systems. Security is not someone else’s job. Every employee should know that he or she is in charge of keeping themselves and everyone else safe. Teachers and staff who raise potential safety concerns with the principal or police should be rewarded.

7. Media plans (already implemented).

Just as the police and military have a “go bag,” school districts should create multiple copies of an organized and up-to-date media kit. They need a trained spokesperson, who has already met with the Public Information Officer or local police chief, and can speak accurately on behalf of the district and its campuses.

8. Regular drills (evacuation, safe rooms, fire, earthquake, tornado).

Under stress we respond as to how we have been trained. If you’ve never been reminded to dial “9” first to get an outside line before dialing 911, or that if you dial 911 on your cell phone, the state highway patrol may respond, then under stress it’s may not respond. correctly. Students, teachers, administrators, and staff must participate in regular active shooter drills; lockdown/shelter-in-place/or safe room drills; and fire and disaster drills. The key to success against an armed perpetrator is safe evacuations, barricaded safe rooms, or fighting until the police arrive.

9. Daily police presence (and interactions with students).

If there is no assigned school resource officer, local police and sheriffs should increase their patrols of perimeters, parking lots, and even taking walks on campus, every day, at irregular times. The more they can see and be seen by students as a source of help, and not the enemy, the better.

10. A District-led Threat Assessment Team (which meets regularly).

As with workplace violence prevention efforts in organizations, there is great power and intelligence harnessed when stakeholders in a school district can meet in person or by conference call, for high threat situations. This includes bomb threats; gang problems; a student making veiled threats or creating disturbing essays or drawings; threats to or by the employee, including domestic violence; angry, disruptive, or threatening parents; or any event that poses significant liability or risk to the District, staff, and students. Members of the Threat Assessment Team (TAT) often include District administrators and school business officials, risk and security managers, principals, expert teachers, counselors, psychologists, attorneys, and security officers.