An Information Technology Degree And An Open Door

Of all the most sought-after degree programs there are, the information technology degree is the one that is currently in the hotseat. Information technology is a branch of engineering that basically has to do with utilizing computers and their software to exchange, process and save information. Because there are different types of technology available, there are several different types of IT professionals.

The word technology is widespread now and covers a vast array of different applications; and it would seem that those applications are almost limitless. From working on computers as a systems analyst to selling computer systems based on a strong foundation of knowledge, getting a degree in information technology can be just the thing to not only push a career forward but give a person just that much more of an edge over their competition.

An assortment of specialized areas in information technology allows for the everchanging and evergrowing needs in the field to be met without alteration. A qualified individual in any one of the IT areas will be able to provide a company with a level of optimum productivity; especially when the learned skills are mixed with the basic fundamentals of business and their applications. It is no secret that employers tend to look for prospective employees who can provide a strong foundation in order to keep operations smooth.

Project management theory, computer programming, database and network systems are only just a few of the lessons that apply to getting an information technology degree. Hands-on training is great for building confidence and provides a level of comfort when entering a professional work environment. Professional certifications and dual degree programs can not only upgrade IT degrees, they can boost resumes and help to achieve the earning power that one has been looking for. A fully certified IT professional with a degree can expect to make $45,000 per year and up.

As this is one of the fastest growing fields around (and it looks to stay that way), there is always a need for those skilled in information technology. One would be hard pressed to find any area of everyday life where computers aren't already in use; and that is why the demand is and will always be what it is. An added plus is that with the use of computers being so widespread, there is hardly any place on the map a person can go that doesn't need workers with an IT degree.

With computers and technology, the learning is never done. As the demand continues to grow and change, so will the technology that complements our every day life. The person seeking a degree in information technology must be truly interested in computers and have a thirst for knowledge. There must be willingness and an aptitude for learning something new as software and technology upgrades itself at an amazing rate. The IT professional is a person who is alert and able to keep up; and better yet, is one step ahead of the game at every turn.

6.10.08 18:25, comment

An Increasing Need For Nurses

“Pursue the nearest duty.”

A Solution?

Bush seeks to provide a remedy by focusing on two angles: making coverage more available by reforming the tax code and to provide federal funding to states with an abundance of low-income and hard-to-insure residents. The former plan would involve a standard deduction in taxes for those purchasing insurance on their own or through their workplace. The latter plan would seek to deliver basic, affordable private health insurance to applicable residents.

Bush intends for the two solutions to stymie the reliance on government-run health care. Bush hopes that his plan will foster the opportunity for Americans to be more in control of their medical decisions. Critics of Bush’s plan say that the lower income population would not benefit from this plan because they will still not be likely to afford the premiums even if they do have a plan. Another vociferation is that the plan might force employers to lower or drop benefits in parts of the country where premiums are the highest and in small business sectors.

Congressional Implementation

Congress will also attempt to peer into the health care problem. The federal government will address many nursing specific bills in the near future:

- The Nursing School Capacity Act of 2007 will allow research to focus on the constraints encountered by schools of nursing in relation to admitting and graduating nurses sufficient in meeting the pressing health care needs of Americans, assess if entry-level graduates are pleased with their schooling preparation, and evaluate salary and benefit structures within the field.

-The Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2007would give nursing schools funds to add to their faculty, maintain facilities, purchase equipment, and recruit students. This bill would provide over $255 million over the period of three years.

-The Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act of 2007, seeks to expand access under the Medicaid fee-for-service program. Currently, pediatric nurse practitioners and family nurse practitioners qualify, but the bill seeks to include all nurse practitioners, CNSs, and physician assistants as primary care providers.

6.10.08 18:24, comment

An Honor Roll, Not A Watch List, For Colleges

I am surprised when members of the House speak of reigning in college costs with measures such as this, when they fail to do the same for health care. I am sure the list of hospitals that have raised charges beyond inflation would be longer than the number of bad-behaving colleges.

What will a watch list do? It will not put colleges and universities on-notice because Congress cannot regulate their business practice, but it will embarrass their presidents and possibly force them to submit paperwork or public testimony to explain their pricing decisions. If the federal government publicizes such a list, it may also scare prospective applicants away from institutions that need students, even if the school is in a position to offer considerable financial aid.

This is one scenario where it is better for Congress to butt-out. State governments are already taking their own steps to regulate tuition increases for the institutions that are under their control. The voters, including parents and students, have a stronger voice with their state government than they do with the federal government. Placing state-supported schools on a watch list would serve to show that some states have less commitment to higher education than other states. I doubt that any member of Congress wants to embarrass the governor of the state in which they reside.

Private institutions, like public ones, can prepare parents and students by publishing their annual tuition rates (670 have already agreed to do this, thanks to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) and they can make their own decisions. This is one time that parents do not need Congress to be a nanny for them.

However, Congress should do the opposite, which is also something it is good at: rewarding the good schools, irrespective of their tuition charges.

Therefore, I have an alternate proposal. Congress should create an "honor roll" of colleges — the colleges that do the best at retaining and graduating their students. In a previous piece, I wrote that approximately 260 four-year colleges have retained 85 percent of their freshman class and graduated 65 percent of their entering first-year classes within six years. There is a good mix of schools to set an example for the rest.

It makes far more sense to recognize the most successful schools and use them to help their peers. While colleges have varied missions, their primary task is to help their students receive degrees. Every college wants to do that better, and every college president already knows that some schools do that better.

The honor roll could be more than a list; it could be an exchange of ideas to help schools get better. Unlike other markets, college presidents do not want their competition to fail; it is an embarrassment to all schools when a single one closes. The success of a college not only depends on its ability to manage student costs, but also the academics, student services and physical plant. The honor roll could also be a motivational tool with college employees; they do not receive the same incentives as private sector workers.

A public honor roll would also be noticed by employers. They want to recruit the best and the brightest; not all of them go to the schools that are considered prestigious today. However, inclusion on the honor roll elevates the prestige of many institutions for a very positive accomplishment. The honor can only help their students in their job search; it certainly cannot hurt.

Even better, Congress might not need to fund the honor roll after a year or two. The same corporations that support intercollegiate athletics or aggressively hire entry-level employees can be drawn in to support a national honor society based on student achievement, or maybe one of the ranking sources would like to make the investment. There are no scholarships or stipends attached, only the costs of ceremony and publicity.

6.10.08 18:23, comment

Easy Comparison Of The English To Spanish Alphabet

Learning the Spanish alphabet requires only learning three more letter than are found in the English alphabet. These include ch (che), ll (elle) and ň (eňe). The fit into the alphabet in an order that also makes sense, following the letter from the English alphabet that starts with the same similar letter. Here is the order they appear in:

a,b,c,ch,d,e,f,g,h,I,j,k,l,ll,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z.

Letters Not A Part of the Alphabet

There is some controversy, believe it or not over a couple of the letters that come from other languages of similar origin. This lies with the letters “w” and “k.” There are not any Spanish words that contain these letters, unless they were added to the language from some foreign translation. In addition the letter “rr” not in our list above is used in some versions of the Spanish alphabet. It is used to make a stronger “r” sound, usually in the case where the “r” is drawn out in a rolling sound.

Putting Things in ABC Order

A Spanish dictionary may add more confusion to the inclusion of some letters of this language’s alphabet. For example, older edition dictionaries might list all the words containing “ch” after all “c” words. In newer versions, the words containing “ch” go in alphabetical order just like in English. The opposite is true when it comes to “n” and “ň.” In this case “ň” comes after “n.” This whole change took place as recently as 1994.

Not officially a part of the Spanish alphabet, there are many other “letters” created by the addition of accents. Many vowels such as o, e, or u have accents added which change the pronunciation and also the meaning.  Many other languages treat accented letters as separate letters and add them to their alphabets. This is not true of Spanish.

What Spanish Letters Sound Like

English letters are not given names and neither are Spanish letters. However, when you say the letter it has a pronunciation all its own that could be thought of as its name. The following is the Spanish alphabet with a pronunciation guide. Remember, this is not a phonetic pronunciation, even though some of the English letters will have a similar sound. And of course, you need to take into account the Spanish accent.

A: a
B: be
C: ce
CH: che
D: de
E: e
F: efe
G: ge
H: hache
I: i
J: jota
K: ka
L: ele
LL: elle
M: eme
N: ene
Ñ: eñe
O: o
P: pe
Q: cu
R: ere
S: ese
T: te
U: u
V: ve
W: doble u
X: equis
Y: i griega
Z: zeta

If you speak English (and that’s a good assumptions since you are reading this in English) then you already know many Spanish words. Spanish and English have the same basis as all Romance languages. The spelling may be different such as between the words baby in English and bebe in Spanish but the pronunciation is very close, differing only in the accent given the words.

Once you have mastered the sounds of each letter it is easy to begin learning Spanish. You’ll be prepared for your next vacation to Spain, or at the very least, be able to help your kids with their homework!

6.10.08 18:22, comment

American Flag - Standing Proud

 American flag is a symbol of freedom and sacrifice for United States citizens. Although we typically picture cloth versions of this national emblem, it can be anything that the observer acknowledges. Therefore, a Christmas tree adorned in red, white, and blue could be considered an American flag. Examples can be made from any material or placed on any object. The tragic events of September 11th resurrected a since of patriotism within the United States. The result has been a desire to display the American flag in front of homes, office buildings, and everywhere possible.

The historic tale of Betsy Ross painstakingly sewing the first American flag is widely known. However, many of the details of that extraordinary event, along with the circumstances leading up to it have been overlooked. To begin with, the colonies had adopted several flags as a representation of their new American beliefs. The “Don’t Tread on Me” version incorporated red and white stripes with a snake across it. A popular option used by George Washington, which signified the unification of the colonies, was similar to the British emblem. Washington raised this particular version at Prospect Hill. The Loyalists misinterpreted the emblem as a sign of defeat.

The confusion that ensued prompted General George Washington, Colonel George Ross, and Robert Morris, along with other key members of the Congressional Committee, to enlist the aid of Mrs. Ross. At the time Betsy Ross was running an upholstery business. She had completed several assignments for General Washington, and he was familiar with her work, as well as being a personal friend. They provided her with a crude drawing of the appointed American flag and commissioned her to complete the work. She began the assignment in early May and completed the job in late May or early June.

The American flag was raised on July 4, 1776 to commemorate the birth of a new nation. Independence Day offers all United States citizens an opportunity to remember the hardships that our forefathers endured to gain our freedom. The American flag has been an inspiration to citizens of the United States, since its inception. Francis Scott Key composed our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, after his relief at seeing the American flag flying at dawn following a brutal battle, during the War of 1812. The symbolic raising of this national symbol has marked other moments in United States history. Soldier’s lifted the “Colors” to signify victory and determination after the Battle of Iwo Jima; in the same way, the first astronauts to walk on the moon placed “Old Glory” within its powdery surface.

This type of patriotism waned in the late 20th century, but was brought back after tragedy gripped our nation on September 11, 2001. American flags are becoming a hot commodity and displaying “Old Glory” should be conducted with dignity. After that horrific day, citizens rose up and began displaying “Old Glory” throughout the land. A desire to perpetuate this newfound pride meant individuals wanted to keep the display up 24 hours a day. In order to maintain respect, the Colors must be properly illuminated.

6.10.08 18:21, comment