GPSolo Magazine - December 2003
You’ve decided you need a scanner in your office. As with any piece of hardware, knowing what you want it to do and how you plan to use it will help you make the best possible decision about which model to buy. But first, as with most technology, scanners have a language all their own, and you should be conversant with at least the basic terminology.
- Color depth. This somewhat misleading phrase refers to the number of possible colors. Manufacturers generally advertise the internal or input color depth, typically 48 bits, rather than the output color depth, which is what you’ll actually see and is limited by the 24-bit maximum most applications (apps) can handle. Adobe Photoshop is among the apps that can handle up to 48 bits of image data. As internal color-depth numbers rise, generally so does the quality of the image, but the real test of an inexpensive scanner is how well it converts the scan to 24-bit output. This can be determined only by viewing the results.
- Scan element type. The technology used to capture an image can make a difference in the quality of the result. Most ordinary flatbed scanners use a CCD (charged coupled device) scanning element, but some compact scanners use the smaller CIS (contact image sensor). Scanners using a CCD typically produce better results.
- Optical resolution. Optical resolution refers to the maximum number of dots per inch (dpi) a scanner can capture with the imaging hardware. With commodity flatbed scanners, the optical resolution typically ranges between 600 x 600 dpi and 1200 x 2400 dpi. A lower optical resolution, for example 300 x 300 dpi, generally works, even for scanning and printing photographic images the same size as the original. If you want to scan small originals—photographic slides, for example—and enlarge them, however, look for the highest possible resolution you can afford. Scanners with optical resolution greater than 1200 x 2400 dpi are generally professional grade and are expensive.
- Interpolated resolution. Interpolated resolution results from software processing of the scanned image that fills in spaces between scanned dots with other, artificially generated dots. Interpolated resolution is important only if you plan to scan line art and enlarge it dramatically—to produce trial graphics, for example—or send it to a phototypesetter, because interpolation in some cases will eliminate jagged fine lines. Commodity flatbed scanners usually offer interpolated resolutions of 9600 x 9600 dpi, and some claim as much as 19200 x 19200 dpi.
- Maximum supported media size (maximum scan area). Low-cost flatbed scanners, now commodity items, scan media up to 8.5 x 11 inches (letter-sized) or 8.27 x 11.69 inches (A4-sized). Few inexpensive scanners can handle 8.5- x 14-inch (legal-sized) media. Photo scanners generally max out at 5 x 7 inches, but ordinary flatbeds can produce scans of equal quality to use-specific photo scanners. Film scanners, designed for slides or negatives only, generally do better than flatbeds with slide adapters. Scanners capable of handling large media, such as 11- x 17-inch paper, are substantially more expensive.
- Flatbed scanners. These function much like copiers, with a glass platen over a scanning element or a lens. Some are equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF) or offer this as an add-on. If you plan to scan books or other bound volumes, photographs, film, or slides, you will need a flatbed scanner.
- Sheetfed scanners. These have no platen and work like a fax machine to scan the original images on a page. Many also have the capability of scanning both sides at once (duplex). They can be significantly more expensive than flatbed scanners but are useful for high-volume scanning (e.g., document productions).
- Duty cycle. This refers to the number of scans per month the unit is designed to handle. Because this number can affect the frequency of machine failure, be sure your choice matches your anticipated scanning volume. (As a practical matter, if you expect a high duty cycle, you’ll do best with at least a flatbed with an ADF, or a high-capacity sheetfed scanner.)
- Compatibility. Not all machines work with every operating system. Some units are compatible only with Windows-based computers or with recent versions of Windows. Others are compatible with a wide selection of operating systems, including Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Unix.
- Warranty, service, and support. Most major scanner manufacturers offer a one-year warranty on parts and labor. In addition to thorough printed and electronic instruction manuals, the manufacturer should offer technical support via telephone, e-mail, or a website. Toll-free numbers and 24/7 telephone support are less common.
How Will You Use It?
- What will you be scanning (single sheets, photographs, film or slides, books or other bound materials, files, incoming and outgoing documents, etc.)?
- What is the size rage (business cards, standard letter, A4, legal)?
- Will you scan two-sided materials? You may want a scanner with built-in duplexing.
- Will you need to enlarge the scanned images or portions of them? A high-resolution scanner will give the best results.
- Will you want color output (a step up from black-and-white models)?
- Will your daily output require an automatic feeder?
- What will your monthly output be? Check it against the machine’s duty cycle.
- l Do you want scanned text to be searchable? Optional optical character recognition software can be added to do this automatically for final PDF or word-processing documents.
- Do you want scanned material available to all office workstations? If so, consider getting a scanner that will connect directly to your network, instead of running your scans through a dedicated workstation.
- Will you want scanned materials transferred directly to CD-ROM? Some models, such as the Canon CD-4050, offer this feature.
- Will you want the scanner to directly fax or e-mail scanned materials?
- What connective capabilities will you need to interface with workstations? Some scanners use SCSI interface, others use USB. (See the sidebar “Making the Connection” on page 43.)
Making the Connection
There are basically two options for connecting the scanner to the computer: Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI). Both USB and SCSI come in varying standards that transmit data at different rates. USB 1.1 moves data at the rate of 10 MB per second, whereas the newer USB 2.0 transfers data at the theoretical rate of 480 MB per second. SCSI, an older technology, has more standards and rates; the original SCSI-1 standard moved data at the rate of 5MB per second, whereas the current Ultra160 SCSI moves data at the rate of 160MB per second. Some scanners can be connected directly to a LAN by way of a built-in network interface card (NIC). Here the choices are standard Ethernet with a capacity of 10 MB per second, fast Ethernet rated at 100 MB per second, and dual-capability 10/100 MB per second NICs.
Scanners come with as few or as many bells and whistles as imaginable, and they are priced accordingly. Higher prices generally mean increased functionality and productivity, but these must be balanced against your real-world requirements.
Flatbed scanners cover a huge range, from single-sheet standard-letter models to 200-sheet ADF-fed legal-size duplexing workhorses. At the low end of the price spectrum is the 48-bit Epson Perfection 1260 color scanner for PCs or Macs ($89, www.epson.com), featuring 1200 optical dpi (1200 x 2400 hardware dpi) and optional slide adapter but no ADF. The Canon CanoScan 5000F CCD and Canon CanoScan LiDE 80 CIS 2400 optical dpi (2400 x 4800 hardware dpi), also for PCs or Macs, color scan and are $169.99 and $179.99, respectively (www.canon.com).
The HP ScanJet 7400c ($499 “street” [online or brick-and-mortar] or $319 to $469 direct from HP, www.hp.com) 48-bit color scanner can scan photos, text, and graphics at 600 optical dpi, and at 2400 optical dpi for high-resolution materials such as slides, negatives, and other images requiring enlargement. It also handles legal-sized documents and photographic media from 35mm film to 5- x 5- inch prints. HP Precisionscan LAN software (included) lets you connect to your network via USB (included) or SCSI (optional). It features an optional 50-page ADF ($250) that enables 15 ppm scanning. This model includes preset buttons for setting number of copies according to output type: e-mail photo, e-mail document, fax, copy, file, and OCR.
Farther up the scale are devices such as the Fujitsu Fi-4340C 600 optical dpi 24-bit color flatbed CCD scanner with a 100-sheet ADF capable of handling 100 sheets of legal paper at up to 48 ppm. Using a Fast SCSI interface, this Windows-only scanner (street $2,976-$4,071, www.fujitsu.com) has a duty cycle of 3,000. The fancier Fujitsu Fi-4750C also offers duplex scanning.
The Canon DR-4580U (street $5,024-$5,772) 400 optical dpi color scanner offers one-pass duplexing with a CCD element for the “front” and a CIS scanning element for the “back” of each sheet. Working from a 200-sheet ADF, the DR-4580U can scan up to 56 ppm in simplex and 92 sides per minute in duplex mode. Scanning resolution is adjustable from 100 to 600 dpi in one-dpi steps. The platen will accept ledger-size (11- x 17-inch) documents.
Corex Cardscan Executive
If you accumulate a substantial number of business cards, as I do, a nifty solution for getting the information into your personal information manager (PIM) without having to re-key it is the Corex CardScan 500 Executive (www.cardscan.com). This paperback-sized device scans cards, automatically identifies the information on them, enters it into the correct fields, and even generates a database you can export to your favorite PIM (such as Microsoft Outlook). It’s available online for under $150, including associated software. The more advanced CardScan 600 ($249) scans color and monochrome cards and connects via the included USB cable.
Sheetfed scanners also offer a broad selection of capabilities, starting with the lightweight small-footprint Canon DR-2080C 600 optical dpi 24-bit color duplex scanner. This reasonably priced device (street $690-$790) will image up to 20 sheets per minute in duplex mode (i.e., up to 40 ppm) from a 50-sheet ADF with on-the-fly OCR-to-PDF conversion to generate searchable PDF files. This Windows-only scanner offers both USB 2.0 and SCSI-II interface.
Stepping up from here, the Canon DR-3060C 300 dpi color scanner has a 100-sheet ADF and images up to 43 sheets per minute in duplex mode (street $2,897-$3,295); and the Canon DR-5020 400 dpi model features a 500-sheet ADF imaging up to 90 sheets per minute at 200 dpi in duplex mode (street $4,416-$5,099).
If you’re going to be doing a lot of high-speed, high-volume scanning, the Panasonic KV-SS855D 400 optical dpi dual-CCD monochrome scanner with a 1,000-sheet ADF is for you (www.panasonic.com). This versatile unit accepts paper from business cards to ledger sheets. It will scan over 180 images per minute at 200 dpi in landscape duplex mode, and up to 160 images (80 sheets) per minute in portrait duplex mode. Speed and capacity at this level, however, come at a price—$13,600.
Multifunction devices are now available to the consumer market owing to the rise of digital copying. The devices incorporate a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine into desktop or stand-alone models. Consider a laser printer rather than inkjet, because the printed images are more durable.
Xerox (www.xerox.com) offers the small-footprint (21 x 17 inches) WorkCentre M15i ($1,299) with 30-sheet ADF that prints at 1200 x 1200 dpi at up to 16 ppm (letter), copies at 600 x 600 dpi at the same speed, scans at up to 4800 dpi interpolated, and faxes monochrome and color over the built-in 33.6 bps fax modem at 300 x 300 dpi at 3 seconds/page. The M15i connects via either parallel (IEEE 1284) or USB cables or an optional external Ethernet print server.
Another small-footprint desktop device (22.4 x 24 inches) is the oddly shaped Lexmark X632 MFP ($3,749, www.lexmark.com). Ethernet 10/100 Base TX-ready, with both a bi-directional parallel port and a USB port, it has a 50-sheet up-to-legal-size ADF, prints at 1200 x 1200 dpi, copies (monochrome) up to 40 ppm, and scans up to 23 ppm monochrome and 14 ppm color at 600 dpi, with a duplex capability. It is equipped with a 33.6 Kbps fax modem. It comes with 64 MB of RAM, a 500-sheet paper tray, and a 100-sheet multipurpose feeder—and can be upgraded to 320 MB of RAM, paper drawers as large as 2,000 sheets, a 500-sheet duplexing tray, and an envelope feeder. It works with Windows and Macintosh operating systems and carries standard duty cycles of 200,000 pages per month for the copier/printer and 10,000 pages per month for the scanner. The X632 will work with Citrix MetaFrame terminal services; certain Unix, Linux, and Novell operating systems; and virtually any platform supporting TCP/IP. It even offers an optional 802.11b external wireless network port.
Xerox (www.xerox.com) offers a number of advanced multifunction systems for those of us wedded to traditional standalone copiers. Both the Document Centre and WorkCentre Pro series offer 4,800-sheet capacity, special finishing options customary to Xerox copiers, and a 350,000-ppm duty cycle. The Document Centre series starts with the Model 535 at $8,799 and 35 ppm capacity and includes units running as much as 55 ppm. All Document Centre units copy, print, network fax, i-Fax, e-mail, and network scan. The WorkCentre Pro series operate at the same page outputs or run as high as 90 ppm; all units copy, print, fax, i-Fax, network scan with e-mail, and offer fax server and accounting server integration. Xerox participates in the ABA Member Advantage program and offers special pricing options and discounts to members.
With courts moving steadily toward e-filing and even e-service, and with communication moving to e-mail (with attached graphic files for correspondence, court papers, attachments, exhibits, and the like), scanners are becoming more and more essential to the well-equipped law office. Choose wisely for your particular situation, and you can be on the way to a paper-less, if not paperless, practice.
J. Anthony Vittal is a business trial lawyer in Los Angeles, California. He speaks and writes frequently on legal technology topics. He can be reached at email@example.com.


Previous posts in this series have discussed the method and tool of making maps. The figure shows the end product of this process leading to the naming of creeks, and other landmarks useful in tree climbing.
Many early patents (land grants) are recorded using creeks as markers for locations. Separating and identifying these often help break down many brick walls.
The post is found:
Enjoy the swim!


Alex K. Silverson
People across the world fight every day for rights that should be acquired at birth. With every step forward in time, more and more of these rights are obtained by those who reach out for them, but the lasting impression of the fight remains. Appointing dates to represent certain historical landmarks is necessary in a world that moves so fast, we forget the past.
Celebrated on May 17th internationally (falling into its 12th edition), IDAH (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia) looks to celebrate the diversity that makes up our world. It is intended to showcase LGBTQIA+ rights work across the globe, while also raising awareness about rights violation encountered each and every day. Although in recent years, work towards rebuilding the foundations of basic human rights have seen a spike, there are still many more steps to take.
At John Abbott College, we do our best to provide a safe place for everyone. On April 12th, G.A.L.A. Club (Gay And Literally Anyone) will provide activities and informative booths to help the students learn and diversify their knowledge about the LGBTQIA+ community. Come help us celebrate the values and the joy of the LGBTQIA+ community, all while enjoying the presence of guest speakers, smiles, and cupcakes!


Preliminary design work on the Apollo spacecraft started almost immediately after President Kennedy’s speech, as engineers settled on a vehicle that could carry three crew into space for up to two weeks. By November 1961, NASA had given the contract to North American Aviation, a company with a fine reputation for building military aircraft, like the P-51 Mustang and the B-25 Mitchell bomber, but no experience with spacecraft.
Concerns soon emerged with the company’s construction of the Apollo Block I spacecraft. The initial version contained more than 600 switches, indicators, circuit breakers, and controls, along with 20 miles of wiring. Some of the work seemed haphazard, and machine bundling of the wires left them open to short circuits.
Despite these challenges, NASA’s successes in spaceflight increased its confidence in the ability to overcome any obstacle on the way to the Moon. For the first (but not the last) time, the space agency and its contractors succumbed to “go fever,” the urge to launch while the launching is good, downplaying or even ignoring safety indicators. Even the astronauts were imbued with such confidence.
Apollo 1 Commander Gus Grissom had already cheated death once during spaceflight. During America's second human spaceflight, the hatch on his Mercury spacecraft blew too early after he had landed in the ocean. The vehicle began taking on water, and his flooded flight suit nearly pulled him under before a helicopter snatched him from the Atlantic. Later, Grissom flew the first Gemini mission. If not for the Apollo 1 fire, he would also have been in line to command the first mission to the Moon's surface. Cool and calm, Grissom felt himself capable of tackling any problem that might arise.
Fellow astronaut Walt Cunningham came to NASA in 1963 as part of the third group of fliers chosen as the space agency enlarged its corps for the Apollo missions. A Marine Corps fighter pilot, Cunningham had flown 54 missions in Korea. “We were all interested in flying faster, higher, and farther,” Cunningham recalled recently. A little more than three years after arriving at NASA, Cunningham was named one of three back-up crew members for Apollo 1.
Pushing barriers was part of an astronaut’s job. This often happened in the sleek T-38 aircraft assigned for astronauts to fly from Houston to Kennedy Space Center in Florida or to Los Angeles, where North American was building the Apollo spacecraft. “It was like the last great flying club,” Cunningham recalled. “We ended up doing things with the T-38s, pushing them to levels anyone flying today will tell you, 'Can’t do that.'”
For instance, Cunningham flew his T-38 nonstop from Los Angeles to Ellington Field in Houston, a journey of nearly 1,400 miles that normally required a refueling stop in El Paso. A nonstop flight typically was attempted only during the winter, when the jet stream moved south. Under the right conditions, a T-38 could save fuel by cruising to a high altitude and catching a strong tailwind. To succeed, a pilot had to average 60 knots of tailwind, Cunningham recalled—and had to hit that average by Albuquerque or El Paso. Otherwise, the plane would run out of fuel before reaching Houston.
One time, with Wally Schirra flying, Cunningham passed El Paso but still had not hit the requisite average. Schirra took the plane up to 47,000 feet, where the duo found a roaring 160-knot tailwind. Even so, after passing San Antonio, Schirra shut one engine down and pulled the other one back to idle. At a few thousand feet above the Houston runway, he started up the second engine and circled down.
“All the way down, I had my hands on both eject handles,” Cunningham recalled. “It was very close. But in those days, we never even really thought a whole lot about it. We never talked a whole lot about it. That represents the difference in attitude we had. Not that I would recommend it, or even say it’s healthy for people. But it’s part of what made that program what it is now remembered for.”
The "plugs-out" test on January 27, 1967, was a standard step in the run-up to the first crewed launch of an Apollo spacecraft. Essentially, the test simulated the launch of both the rocket and its spacecraft, during which both vehicles switched to internal power. Although this was a serious test, no one expected the catastrophe that unfolded inside the capsule. Everyone assumed the real danger would come later, in space.
The definitive cause of the Apollo 1 fire, which killed Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White, has never been found. An incident review board pointed toward a “most probable cause,” in which cabling bundled beneath a door leading to the environmental control unit frayed during repeated openings and closings. It seems likely that when Grissom opened this door, electricity arced between exposed areas of wire. That was a problem because, in flight, the spacecraft would follow the same design as Gemini and Mercury—filling its internal volume with pure oxygen. This design choice saved considerable weight over a more complex two-gas system, but it also meant there were “many types and classes of combustible material” in the craft, the review board report stated.
A fire broke out, and conditions deteriorated rapidly inside the pressurized spacecraft. Only eight seconds passed between the time when a significant voltage transient was recorded and when someone, probably Grissom, shouted "Fire!" Two seconds later, someone, likely Chaffee, said: “I’ve [or 'We've'] got a fire in the cockpit.” Seven seconds later came a final transmission, which has been variously interpreted as “We’ve got a bad fire—let’s get out... We’re burning up!” or “I’m reporting a bad fire... I’m getting out. Oh, AAH!” This was followed by a scream. The radio went silent.
Following all of the investigations, Apollo's program office manager, Joe Shea, took much of the blame. He had led development of the Apollo spacecraft and was a burgeoning celebrity due to his extensive efforts to get the Apollo command module's development on track. Indeed, Shea's acclaim in the press had begun to rival even that of German rocket builder Wernher von Braun. Time magazine planned to feature Shea on its cover after the Apollo 1 launch.
Shea knew that NASA had taken delivery of a flawed spacecraft from North American, having reviewed all the reports of fixes that needed to be made. Moreover, Shea was sympathetic to problems raised by Grissom and the other astronauts. To gain first-hand understanding of the problems plaguing the Apollo 1 spacecraft, Shea had asked technicians at Cape Canaveral on January 26 to rig a fourth communications loop inside the spacecraft so that he could join the crew during the plugs-out test. But such a system couldn’t be wired in time, so Shea flew back to Houston on Friday afternoon. He arrived at his office just about when the fire began.
Shea could never forgive himself for the accident; he had failed to recognize the danger of the plugs-out test in a pure oxygen environment. In the weeks and months after the fire, he worked himself to exhaustion. For Apollo to survive, he would have to go. Shea was offered a transfer to headquarters in DC by NASA Administrator George Mueller, though the deputy administrator position that had sounded so good on paper turned out to be nothing more than a bureaucratic version of purgatory. Shea spent his days reading in his office or wandering around the nation's capital. Soon, he would be gone from NASA, forever knowing that he could have been sitting in that capsule alongside Grissom, White, and Chaffee.
Shea would never forget a meeting on August 19, 1966, when NASA accepted the Apollo 1 spacecraft from North American. The Apollo 1 crew members were in attendance during the six-hour meeting during which Shea led a discussion of major and minor problems with the spacecraft, which would be transferred from California to Florida for checkout procedures.
Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox's Apollo: Race to the Moon recounts that Grissom asked for the floor toward the end of the meeting and took out two photos of the Apollo 1 crew seated behind a table, heads bowed as if in prayer. Grissom gave a signed copy of one photo to Stormy Storms, general manager of North American’s space division, and another copy to Shea.
“Joe [Shea] advised us to practice our backup procedures religiously, so here we are practicing,” Grissom said, according to the book. Shea's photograph carried an inscription: “It’s not that we don’t trust you, Joe, but this time we’ve decided to go over your head.”
Shea kept the photograph displayed in the entrance of his home for the rest of his life.


No one can say with any certainty how long there has been a congregation of religious brothers living on Mt Carmel, the great edifice that looks down toward Nazareth on the plain from one direction, and the Mediterranean Sea to another. Nor do they have a named founder. They have been recognized since the twelfth century AD, but were probably there more than one hundred years earlier. Some scholars suggest there has been a group of hermits on the mountain ever since Elijah’s confrontation with the followers of Baal. A spiritual residence on Mt Carmel was written about by Ancient Greeks, and Pythagoras is believed to have spent time there.
By the thirteenth century a group used the name Brothers of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Their expression was one of deep devotion to the Blessed Mother: Mary is the example of Christ’s Divine love and how to live in the human family. The order is mendicant, that is, that they survive on Christian donations, at times through begging. There was definitely a church dedicated to Mary on the mountain built in the thirteenth century, but some archaeologists and historians have pointed to a much earlier date, at least for the construction of an altar. At the top of the mountain, one can visualize the altar erected by Elijah. Earlier historians believed St Helena, the great church builder and mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, had a worship space consructed on the mountain. There is even evidence that some building on Mt Carmel was dedicated to Mary prior to her Assumption into heaven, and it is clear that this is one of the first sights of the new Christian faith to commemorate the Mother of Jesus.
The order of Carmelites spread from the mountain into Europe. There, some of the greatest saints and Doctors of the Church refined and redirected the order. They include Teresa of Avila, who mastered prayer and developed it within the order, which by then included Carmelite nuns. St John of the Cross wrote “The Ascent of Mt Carmel,” apparently in response to the deprivation he experienced in a church prison, “The Dark Night of the Soul.” John and Teresa united to bring a respect and understanding of the Order of Our Lady of Mt Carmel that had never been there before. However, the most involving exploit of a holy person has been wrapped in mystery and controversy and took place far away from Mt Carmel.
On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin was said to have appeared to Simon Stock in Cambridge, England. The word ‘stock’ comes from Olde English and is a sort of slang for a tree trunk. Simon was so named because of a legend that he became a hermit at the age of twelve and lived in the trunk on an ancient oak. The young man was educated extensively in Rome and at Mt Carmel, where he became a preacher. He might never have left the mountain had Muslims not secured the territory for a time and expelled all Christians. Once he made his way to England, he took the vows of a Carmelite, remained devoted to Mary, and in his 80s became the sixth superior general of the Carmelites. During his leadership, the order spread throughout Europe, and Simon converted the assembly to friars rather than hermits and they began to live a more organized monastic life.
Despite the growth of the order, they had enemies including much of the ‘organized’ European clergy. Not all saw them as a legitimate religious order, and they were even accused of lacking Christian beliefs. In some cases, their Marian devotion was seen as a little over the top. It was amidst this turmoil that the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared to Simon and presented him with a brown scapular, made in the image of her own clothing. She told him that anyone in the order who wore the scapular in reverence and prayer would have her protection from sin and death. Even though the brown scapular has become the symbol of the Carmelites, its protection has been extended to all those who wear the emblem in faith. This was not the first or last scapular introduced to faithful Christians, and the word itself actually comes from the name of a monk’s shoulder-covering cloak.
Simon Stock expanded the Order of Our Lady of Mt Carmel greatly. Even though he enhanced the faith and the tradition of Marian devotion, he has never been canonized a saint. That is in part to the controversy surrounding how or if Simon came into possession of the scapular from the hands of the Blessed Mother. Even though he is not sainted, Simon Stock is recognized as a patron to the Carmelites and is celebrated by them on May 16, the date of his death in France.
Originally, July 16 was celebrated as a feast day for the Scapular of Mt Carmel, but it has always been a day to remember the prayerful, penitential Mother of Jesus, her example to Carmelites and to all the faithful. It is not so much a memorial of an apparition of Mary as it is a recalling of her tremendous example to those who chose to live a Christian lifestyle whether they are Carmelite or laity, praying a rosary or celebrating a Mass. It is in a way, a recollection of God’s goodness and his gift of tolerance to humankind. It is a day of inspiration and reflection on what Christian values really are.


The English prefix 'inter' is used to denote a being between or among.1 The Latin preposition 'inter', from which the English prefix originated,2 carries the same meaning.3 And this goes also for the Sanskrit 'antar',4 to which the Latin preposition can be traced back.5 Now a being between presupposes a plurality. And a plurality presupposes an alterity and a difference. If there are no alterity and difference among certain givens, if they are all completely identical, then the unity of one single given is the case, and not the plurality of a multitude of givens. And then there can also be no case of a being between, and thus the term 'inter' will then not be applicable.
In the title of this contemplation the prefix 'inter' is fixed to the word 'wedlock'. 'Wedlock' is nowadays used to simply denote the condition of being (literary or legislative) married,6 but referred in older times more meaningful to the marriage vow of being faithful.7 It is a compound word, composed of the terms 'wed' and 'lock'. 'Wed' here taken as a verb refers to the act of marrying,8 however when taken as a noun does it refer to a pledge.9 This latter meaning is also attached to its presumed prehistoric Germanic root 'wathjōjan'.10 So the word 'wed' as it appears in 'wedlock' refers in its root to a pledge.
The second term of which 'wedlock' is compounded, namely; 'lock', refers primarily to a fastening and an enclosing.11 Taking the two primary meanings of 'wed' and 'lock' back again in the compounded word 'wedlock' it comes to refer to a pledge that fastens and encloses. In wedlock two people pledge faithfulness, fastening themselves to each other and enclosing themselves from other such pledges with others. It is in this more primal meaning that 'wedlock' is used here. This primal meaning leaves room for pledged relationships outside legislative marriage to fall under the term 'wedlock'.
'Inter-wedlock', to attach the earlier contemplated 'inter' to 'wedlock', then refers to a fastening and enclosing pledge between people that are different from each other.
'Inter-wedlock' refers to a fastening and enclosing pledge between people that are different from each other. This assertion raises the question of human difference. Now human difference should be dealt with against the background of human sameness. Thus first a look shall be given at human sameness, after which human difference can be contemplated.
Human sameness can be understood as that which makes a human human. It is that which all humans exclusively share with each other, that which makes all humans exclusively the same. The word 'exclusively' is used deliberately. For there are aspects in humans which are the same among them, but which are not exclusively human. It can be induced that all humans have a brain. But it is not exclusive for a human to have a brain. An animal has a brain too. So to have a brain may be an aspect of human-animalistic sameness, but not of human sameness. What is it then that makes a human exclusively human? The answer to that question is as much meaningful as it is simple. The answer is 'humaneness'. It is exclusive for humans to be humane. If a being is not humane, then this being cannot be considered to be human. Here it is not possible to contemplate humaneness intensively, and a deeper understanding of its meaning shall therefore be left to the contemplator's own humaneness. After all is it only humaneness which can understand humaneness.
Humaneness is human sameness. It is in humaneness that human differences can be overcome and that human sameness can become the focus of attention. But this human sameness is not always the focus of attention. Quite often is it the human difference that catches attention. And the differences between humans are innumerous. The most striking of these is probably the sexual difference. At times it seems to cleave humanity in two as an impassable abyss.12 No matter what other differences may cut humanity, within the differentiated parts of humanity the sexual difference is always there. Another such a difference is the racial one. Humanity consists of a colorful spectrum of black, red, white and yellow races, who within themselves again differ on a less noticeable level. This differentiation goes on up to the individual level. For every human being is a unique being. But the differences are not confined to humanity's physiology. Human beings do not only differ biologically, but also psychologically and sociologically. Every individual human is endowed with a unique character. And every society, large and small, has its own culture.
It cannot be said that these physiological and non-physiological differences match one on one, but history has proven that a correlation is there. African, Asian and European cultures and mentalities differ from each other with the same clarity as do their physiologies. Now the saying that no man is an island is applicable also here. These different races and individuals with their different cultures and mentalities are not isolated from each other. This goes especially for contemporary days. In the past the encounter of human difference took place generally (though not exclusively) on a local scale. In contemporary days however have technical and other advancements enabled people to be confronted with human difference on a global scale. Mass migration and mass media (such as television and internet) have even made it almost impossible for people to escape from being confronted with human difference on a global scale. And the differences are greater globally than locally. A Bengali differs physiologically and culturally more from a Scott than does a Welshman. So in contemporary times are people confronted with a greater extend of human difference.
Human difference has been present as long as humanity has. Throughout history have humans been confronted with human difference. And this difference has been approached, from the most ancient to the most contemporary times, and from the most local to the most global scale, either with rejection or with acceptance.
The English word 'rejection' refers to a refusal of accepting (something offered),13 and is thus set opposite to 'acceptance'. It stems from the Latin 'rejicēre'14 (also 'rēicere' or 'rēisiō'), which is compound of 're' and 'iacio'.15 The prefix 're' refers to a movement back,16 and 'iacio' (or 'iaciō') means 'to throw'.17 Thus is in a rejection something (offered) thrown back. 'Acceptance' is in the English language set opposed to 'rejection' as we have seen. As a derivative from the verb 'accept' does 'acceptance' stem from the Latin 'acceptāre' or 'accipēre', which carries the general meaning of 'receiving what is offered'.18 So both rejection and acceptance can be seen as a reaction to an offering. In rejection the offer is thrown back and in acceptance the offer is taken.
Now a reaction is a re-action, thus an action, and actions change situations. And this is also what rejections and acceptances do. It can be said that rejections pluralize while acceptances unify. When for instance in a liver transplant the liver is accepted by its new host body, then a unification takes place of the liver and the body. Here acceptance has acted unifying. A rejection would have kept the plural state of body and liver. And with an autoimmune disorder does a body reject certain of its own body cells, leading to a pluralization of the body and certain body cells. Here rejection has acted pluralizing.
It was attested that both rejection and acceptance can be held as a reaction to an offering. In rejection the offer is thrown back and in acceptance the offer is taken. Now when two humans meet there is always a mutual offering taking place, even if not deliberate. For what those humans offer to each other is their own characteristics. One may be dark skinned and the other may be light skinned, but the character of their complexion is offered to each other through the sense of sight. One may be male and another may be female, but the character of the their pheromones is offered to each other through the sense of smell. One may greet with 'hello' and another may greet with 'namaste', but the character of their tongue of speech is offered to each other through the sense of hearing. And these undeliberate offerings (or perhaps quasi-undeliberate offerings in the latter case) then may be taken or thrown back. These offerings may be accepted or rejected.
Whether another's characteristics are accepted or rejected depends on whether the attention is focused on difference or on sameness. A focus of attention on difference will result in rejection, whereas a focus of attention on sameness will result in acceptance. People will find it generally more easy to accept others with similar characteristics. When these differ however it becomes more difficult to keep the focus of attention on sameness, and then it will become more difficult to accept others.
It may be objected that the above sketch is not applicable to the human sexual difference. It may be objected that it is exactly the sexual difference that leads to a sexual unification. Indeed is it true that only differences can attract each other. For attraction presupposes a plurality. When only a unity is the case then no space is left for attraction. However attraction presupposes also a primal unity or a sameness. No attraction between two givens can exist if these givens share no sameness with each other.19 So where unifications of men and women are concerned a sense of sameness is always dominantly in play. If this is not the case then couples often break up, explaining their divorce by saying that they are too different from each other. But as long as they voluntarily stay together it can be attested that their focus on their sameness dominates. And in this way can inter-wedlock be taken as a touchstone for acceptance. When two people with different characteristics engage in an inter-wedlock, then a focus on human sameness, a humaneness and an acceptance are present.
However the balance between acceptance and rejection is never static. As said do couples sometimes break up because they find they are too different to stay together. They started out with sameness being their dominant focus of attention, but their attention during the relationship shifted towards difference. Perhaps they discovered some characteristics in their partner that are so different from their own, that they feel that such a difference cannot be overcome. Perhaps their partner has changed certain characteristics by which a differentiation took place. Or perhaps one's own perspective and focus of attention shifted from sameness towards difference. All this can happen in wedlock because the balance between acceptance and rejection isn't static but dynamic.
The opposite can, and does, of course also happen. Engaging in an inter-wedlock may make a couple closely and intimately acquainted with each other's sameness. Inter-wedlock may then be seen as a field of exploration where humaneness is the treasure to be found. This treasure however will often not be found without effort. Staying both within one's own well known comfort-zone will not lead to growth in humaneness. But if the effort is taken, whether the inter-wedlock will last until death does part or ends earlier, if the effort is taken to keep the attention focused on human sameness, then indeed is inter-wedlock a path to acceptance.
In the previous paragraph was inter-wedlock uncontextual thematized. Here a few words shall be given on inter-wedlock's context. For this we shall turn towards an individual's characteristics. For as individual as one's set of characteristics may be, these characteristics do not stand on themselves. Characteristics are inherited. Many characteristics are genetically passed on from parents to children, after which cultural settings mould and form the individual further. And those who wish to look beyond may even see characteristics to be inherited from previous incarnations or to be god-gifted. In this contemplation we shall confine ourselves to the more general accepted inheritances.
Mostly does an individual identify himself with his inherited features. He identifies himself with his parental race (being black, red, white or yellow), his nationality, his cultural upbringing, his family, etcetera. It is clear that in such an identification the focus is laid on characteristics that differ from those of many other individuals. In this way does identification lead to pluralization. And the narrower one identifies, the greater will the pluralization be. Unification then is benefited with a wider identification. And this, among other situations, happens when the characteristics of those from which identification is derived are plural in nature. Plural parents, plural family members, plural nationalities, plural cultural upbringing, etcetera, widens identification, diminishes one's focus on difference and benefits humaneness. Thus does inter-wedlock not only work unifying for the regarded partners, but also for their possible offspring. Inter-wedlock as a path to acceptance is a path that transgresses generations.
It is however not only the offspring that is influenced by an inter-wedlock. The family of the regarded couple is influenced as well. This goes especially for those individuals in inter-wedlock with close family ties. There are cultures for instance where parents still have a deciding vote in choosing their children's spouse. And if they agree with their child's wish to have an inter-wedlock then such an agreement is a true touchstone of their acceptance. This goes the other way around as well of course with a disagreement. And once individuals (with or without consent from their parents) have engaged in an inter-wedlock, then the challenge is there also for the parents and the family of the engaged couple to work towards acceptance. Thus does inter-wedlock stretch its influence beyond the engaged individuals into their families, their friends and their further social surroundings and settings. And thus may inter-wedlock be considered to be a fine touchstone for and an excellent path to acceptance.


To create a DICOM Image Histogram Module, users of DicomObjects can use the DicomImage.Histogram method, which returns an array containing the distribution of the raw pixel values.
DicomImage.Histogram(Min, Max, BinSize)
- Min as Long Integer - The lowest pixel value to be included.
- Max as Long Integer - The highest pixel value to be included.
- BinSize as Long Integer - The number of adjacent pixel values to be grouped into each Bin
A variant array of Long Integers containing the distribution of raw pixel values, the index of the array is 1-based.
How to decide Min and Max
- DicomImage.MinimumPixelValue and DicomImage.MaximumPixelValue methods could be used to decide the minimum and maximum values of the pixel data. This approach is not very efficient as they are big operations in DicomObjects.
- A better way of deciding the Min and Max is to use "Bits Stored" (0028, 0101) and "Pixel Representation" (0028, 0103): N = Bits Stored (0028, 0101); Pixel Representation (0028, 0103) indicates whether the pixel data value is signed or unsigned. If signed then the pixel data range is (- 2^(N-1)) to (2^(N-1)). And if unsigned, the pixel data range is 0 to (2^N – 1).
What is BinSize
- The BinSize is the value people choose to define how many pixel values get put into each returned bin, so for instance if you have Min=10 and Binsize=5, then the bins are: 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, Etc.
What is in the returned array
- The returned variant array of Long Integers contains the distribution of raw pixel values. For example we have a pixel data at range 10 - 24, the BinSize is set to 5 so that we have 3 bins: 10-14, 15-19, 20-24. A returned array of [30,40,50] means 30 pixel data are within the value range (10-14), 40 pixel data within the value range (15-19) and 50 pixel data within the value range (20-24). You can then feed the info into a chart control to get the Histogram graph.


LIDAR-Lite: A New Benchmark for Optical Distance Measurement Sensors
The founders of PulsedLight, Bob Lewis and Dennis Corey, recognized that there was an unmet need for an optical distance measurement sensor technology that addressed applications where a very small, low-power, high performance, reduced cost optical ranging sensor was required, such as robotics and UAVs. So in 2011 they co-founded PulsedLight, LLC in Bend, Oregon to bring their vision for a new optical ranging sensor technology to market.
After more than two years of work, we are ready to introduce our technology in the form of the LIDAR-Lite, a very small form factor, optical distance measurement sensor capable of measuring out to 40 meters using inexpensive, off-the-shelf, electro-optical components.
First, a Little Science
All optical ranging sensors use the principle of “Time-of-Flight” (ToF) to calculate distance to a target. Simply put, ToF calculates the time it takes for a signal, light in this case, to travel from the sensor to a target and back to determine distance.
Pretty simple in concept…
But, as the target gets farther away or you want to measure distance in bright light or against non-reflective targets, the transmitted beam has to be more powerful and/or collimated. In other words, you need a laser and a power source to support the laser.
Because light travels really, really fast, 299,792,458 meters per second or 1mm in 3 picoseconds, you need a very precise clock to measure the signal’s round trip. And in order to reliably detect the return signal, the detector needs to be very sensitive.
All of this, very collimated light sources (lasers), very sensitive detectors and super precise clocks are the reason even the least expensive optical range finders can cost hundreds of dollars.
We have created a series of new innovations which applies edge based signal reconstruction methods, similar to that used in radar, to optical rangefinders and also incorporates signal correlation processing to perform a "signature match" between a captured transmit signal record and the received signal. This specialized signal processing method enables a single-chip processing implementation using programmable logic chips suitable for low cost, ultra-small optical distance measurement sensor applications.
This approach allows us to:
- Recognize and process a very weak return signal.
- Quickly and accurately calculate distance without having to directly measure it real-time. In other words, we don’t need a super precise clock to make it all work. (Our acquisition time is 0.05 second and measurement accuracy for the LIDAR-Lite is 5%.)
- Implement our core technology in a single, system-on-chip solution, enabling sensors that have the lowest complexity hardware, and size.
- Create a sensor that is easily reconfigurable via software control.
In simple language, our technology extracts the maximum performance out of the emitters and detectors used. In the LIDAR-Lite we use components similar to those found in a TV remote control system to create a sensor that can measure distances out to 40 meters in a module that measures 51mm long X 30mm wide X 39mm tall.
Our processor-based approach also means that the modules can be easily configured under software control to operate in different modes; proximity detection, distance or velocity measurement. Modes can even be changed “on-the-fly”. Pun Intended….
The experience gained from developing long-range sensors for industrial and consumer products has been applied to this design allowing us to maximize its performance. The resulting tests of early prototypes, including flying it on a UAV, have been very promising.
The beam width of the LIDAR-Lite as delivered is 1.5°. This narrow beam provides long-range performance and also enables better target selectivity than an ultrasonic sensor. The optics can be removed increasing the beam width to about 6° and reducing range to approximately 5 meters. This broad, short-range beam is great for applications, such as proximity detection.
Operating from a 5vdc power source and drawing only 100 milliamps peak power when it is taking a measurement and under 10 milliamps when idle, the LIDAR-Lite is ideally suited for projects running from battery sources where low power consumption is critical.
The I2C communications interface allows multiple modules to be connected as slaves to a common communications bus.
The combination of attributes found in the LIDAR-Lite- high performance, low cost, small size, light-weight, low power consumption, and dynamic configurability along with I2C communications and addressing - means that it becomes practical to install multiple sensors on a project with minimal weight and power penalties. For more details, check out the LIDAR-Lite specification and data sheet.
If we are able to get this kind of performance from an LED, why aren’t we offering a laser-based LIDAR-Lite 100? Eye safety… Installing a laser would be the next logical step. However, before you can sell a laser-based device, even a simple laser pointer, it’s necessary to obtain eye safety certification. This takes additional time and delays the delivery of our technology to you. But, by supporting our campaign on Dragon Innovation today, you move us closer to being able to offer this capability in the near future.
We have a developed a revolutionary optical sensing technology that can be used in a variety of applications. We are excited to see what you will do with it and your support enables us to realize our goal of making our technology widely available to a large community of creative people. Thank you in advance for your support.


Part One: Conceptual Problems of an unusual species 1. Have We a Nature? 2. Animals and the problems of Evil 3. Instinct, Nature, and Purpose Part Two: Art and Science in Psychology 4. Directions without a Director 5. On Taking Motives Seriously 6. Altruism and Egoism Part Three: Signposts 7. Up and Down 8. Evolution and Practical Thinking 9. Facts and Values Part Four: The Marks of Man 10. Speech and Other Excellences 11. On Being Animal as well as Rational 12. Why we need a Culture Part Five 13. The Unity of Life Bibliography Index
Mary Midgley (1919-2018). A philosopher with a special interest in ethics, human nature, and science, Mary Midgley has a widespread international following for her work.
'This is a very important book ... Midgley has provided
an urgently needed bridge between science and philosophy.'
- Iris Murdoch
'A brilliant and persuasive attempt to set us in our animal context, to show us to ourselves as at home in the world, and to indicate a morality for society without religious absolutes - a morality of which we see the rudiments in our brother species.' - The Observer
'A wonderful breath of fresh air and a book for non-philosophers as much as for philosophers.' - Mary Warnock


Depression is a mood disorder that causes distressing symptoms that affect how you think, feel, and handle daily activities.
Depression drains you of hope, energy, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. Furthermore, this condition can strike at anytime, and can affect people of all races, ages, and socio-economic classes.
Here are 20 inspirational quotes that will help deal with depression:
#1 “If you want the light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.” – Guy Finley, an American philosopher, self-help writer, and spiritual teacher.
#2 “We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.” – Swami Vivekananda, a world spokesperson for Vedanta and the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
#3 “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller, an American political activist, author, and lecturer.
#4 “Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” – William James, an American psychologist and philosopher.
#5 “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.” – Walt Disney, an American animator, entrepreneur, and film producer.
#6 “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” – Colin Powell, a four-star general in the U.S. Army.
#7 “Life is a gift, and it offers us the opportunity, privilege, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” – Tony Robbins, an American author, businessman, and philanthropist.
#8 “Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude.” – Lou Holtz, an American football coach, player, and analyst.
#9 “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” – John Wooden, an American basketball coach and player.
#10 “There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in succession. That which grows slowly, endures. That which grows fast, withers as rapidly.” – Josiah Gilbert Holland, an American poet and novelist.
#11 “Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice.” – Stephen Covey, an American businessman, educator, author, and keynote speaker.
#12 “An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality.” – Brian Tracy, a self-development author and a motivational public speaker.
#13 “The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it, is service to a fellow human being.” – Lee Iacocca, an American automobile executive.
#14 “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.” – Erma Bombeck, an American humorist.
#15 “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive events, thoughts, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, and it sparks extraordinary results.” Wade Boggs, a professional American baseballer.
#16 “When I hear somebody sigh, ‘Life is hard,’ I am always tempted to ask, ‘Compared to what?’” – Sydney Harris, an American journalist.
#17 “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” – Oprah Winfrey, an American talk show host, media proprietor, producer, actress, and philanthropist.
#18 “When the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to pray.” – Rumi, a poet, Islamic scholar, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic.
#19 “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson, an American musician, songwriter, singer, author, actor, and activist.
#20 “Being miserable is a habit; being happy is a habit, and the choice is yours.” – Tom Hopkins, a sales legend.
Ways to prevent depression naturally:
Get 8 hours of restful sleep, which you need to feel your best.
Practice regular physical exercise – it triggers the release of many of the essential brain chemicals considered to be in low supply when people are battling depression.
Get a daily dose of sunlight – the lower the levels of vitamin D, the more likely to have clinically significant symptoms of depression.
Breathing exercises – clearing your mind and focusing on your breathing can be beneficial in a stressful situation.
Spending time with other people and confide in a trusted relative or friend. However, limit your time with people who drain your energy.
Try to eat a healthy diet – high vegetable consumption increases the amount of B vitamins in the diet, that have been found to affect your mood.
Practice relaxation techniques – meditation will restore your present mind focus, keeping everything from getting stale. In addition, meditation allows you to understand how your mind, thoughts, and emotions intertwine.


Music as a healing mechanism has been accepted for over 50 years. Music is a source of primal memory similar to that of smell. It has been used in brain injury patient management, as well as to promote wellness, manage stress alleviate pain, promote physical rehabilitation, and enhance memory in Alzheimer’s Disease patients. I have appreciated the power of music my whole life and as a physician and musician, realized its healing potential early on in my medical career. I burned CDs of the music chosen by my patients to be played during their surgery (usually performed with light sedation) and gave it to them as a surprise at their office follow-up visit.
I will lightly touch on some reasons why music would be a great digital health technology.
1. There are scientific studies to provide evidence of efficacy. There are very few digital health technologies that are mobile technologies which have been proven to be efficacious. Since music has been digital for decades, it is a natural for adoption as a mobile health tech tool. Here’s a nice bibliography on the uses of music therapy. Areas such as mental health, special education and Autism, and pain management have been subjects of studies.
2. Music is universal. Language and cultural barriers are often cited as sources of failure of the healthcare system. Music is a communication tool which transcends this issue. Presented in the context of graphic or other simple instructions, it can be used in a number of acute or chronic disease settings by a provider, therapist or caregiver with the patient if necessary.
3. Music bridges literacy gaps. Reading, health, or digital literacy gaps can be bridged with simple digital music devices. One needs to press an on/off button in a personalized programmed device for the patient with prerecorded simple instructions. This is ideal for even young children.
4. Music tech is economical, generic and interoperable. Reimbursement issues and medical regulatory requirements (unless medical claims or clinical decision support is contained) are not significant for a simple musical digital technology solution. This leads more easily to adoption by payers, providers, and patients alike. Wouldn’t it be nice to have analytic tools which proscribe different types of music based on diagnoses found in the the patient’s electronic record?
5. Music builds relationships. As discussed above, music is associated with memories. I have observed strong relationship building with the use of music as a tool. Anecdotally, I can say that music decreases anxiety during and after surgical procedures. In addition, it conveys an appreciated humanistic side of the provider to the patient.
While not considered a digital health technology (I have yet to see it described as such elsewhere), music is digital and is certainly entrenched in the annals of healing. So let’s begin to consider it as such and build it into health portals, apps, and other tools.
David Lee Scher is a former cardiologist and a consultant, DLS Healthcare Consulting, LLC. He blogs at his self-titled site, David Lee Scher, MD.


The United Nations Development Programme has just released their Human Development Report (HDR) 2015 which ranks countries around the world on different indicators.
In one of the important indicators -- gender inequality -- neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh have performed better than India.
In fact, India has been able to fare better than only Afghanistan when it comes to South Asian countries.
Among 155 countries, India is ranked at 130 which is way behind Pakistan's 121 and Bangladesh's 111.
Here is a quick look at the indicators which are used to calculate the rank:
- Women hold a mere 12 per cent of the seats in the Indian Parliament. In comparison, Pakistan's Parliament has 19.7 per cent women, Afghanistan 27.6 per cent and Bangladesh 20 per cent.
- If we talk about maternal mortality ratio (MMR), Pakistan and Bangladesh fare better than India here, too. While India's MMR is 190 (per 1,00,000 live births), both Pakistan and Bangladesh have 170.
- When compared to the opposite gender within the country, women come behind men on gross national income per capita, expected years of schooling, human development index, labour force participation, mean years of schooling and secondary education.
- The only parameter on which women perform better than men in India is that of life expectancy.
These revelations show that even though India is ahead of these countries on the Human Development Index, it needs to work hard when it comes to gender equality.


posted on Nov, 27 2012 @ 03:19 PM
My name is Harley Davidson Borgais, and I can explain almost all of this, with verifiable facts (Which wont fit in this character limit, so request
them: harleyborgais at gmail dat com).
First, ALL CAPS names (CAPITIS DIMINUTIO MAXIMA) are neither Proper Nouns nor common nouns (capitis diminutio minima), and under the law (U.S. Style
Printing Manual), all govt. unit names are to be capitalized as "Proper Nouns" (Capitis Diminutio Media). Since an all caps cannot be a legal name
of something that physically exists for these reasons, it can only be a 'legal fiction', which is intended to deceive.
"Fraud" is defined as when one party purposely deceives another so the first benefits while the deceived is harmed.
Thanks to the 'Fractional Reserve' and 'Federal Reserve' Systems which are illegal and fraudulent, ALL home foreclosures are illegal, null, and
void (Jerome Daly V. Wisconsin, 1969, and Spire Law groups $43 Trillion suit).
Also, no state may required drivers licenses because we own the roads, and the govt. is our hired servants...and taxes on labor are illegal because
they are like a trade, for which no third party has any right to take a portion. "Income" = "Profit" or "Gain", NOT "Compensation" like
"Salaries" or "Wages".
'Common Law' involves a harmed party who raises a grievance to the court, against the perpetrator, and requests a redress from the court. The Judges
duty is to understand, obey, and explain the law, making sure all parties understand the law properly, and the Jury's duty is to decide what is fact
and what is not certain. A person must be found guilty beyond any reason for doubt, and is presumed innocent until such proof is decided by the jury.
'Equity law' refers to a system of equality, justice, fairness, etc., so the punishment must fit the crime.
'Harm'=Injury, loss, or detriment (endangerment).
If there is no harmed party, there is no crime.
If one person is harmed or punished who did not cause any harm, or there is no party raising a grievance, than the officers are the criminals, and the
person is the victim.
Americans have equal rights to cite, arrest, and prosecute just as any officer does.
All officers and soldiers are required to swear, remember, and obey an oath to support our Constitution (the Supreme Law of our land, anything to the
contrary is void, no state may make or enforce any contrary law, and if any officer does, they are guilty of a crime).
Any officer convicted of even a misdemeanor is removed from office (in Constitution).
The 'Prime Directive of our nations Constitution is clear (in the Preamble): 'promote the general welfare' of 'We the People of the United
States' 'of America'. Anything contrary to that is illegal.
Common and Equity laws are natural laws. "Law" refers specifically to the 'laws of the lands' written by those governed by them, and means a
system which actually works in real practice, and is sustainable indefinitely, as opposed to a 'rule' which is imposed upon others, and ultimately
defies the 'Free Will' we have because of our abilities of critical and rational thought, hence they are destructive.
Admiralty law refers to the captain of a ship or vessel (a country or anything holding or transporting people or things can be a vessel), where the
captain is a dictator.
Maritime refers to international laws governing the international waters.
These last two are imposed rules, which are what we fought and died to severe our selves from in the 1770s and since.
For those speaking ill of Irene Gravenhorst, do more research. She is a genius, and a great person, obviously.
For those wanting more info, my contact info is at the top of this post.
I can also explain: Causes and cures for all disease and wars, secret societies and oaths, origin and nature of God and all existence, the entire
cycle of creation to the end of time, death and after life, and much, much more. I have proof for all that can be physically proven and logical
arguments for those things that are not physical in nature. Eventually I will get to the equations which work as logical proof for the mainstream
scientists as well.
Hope that helped, but I will post answers to any other questions as well.


All the ideals that Gandhi evolved visions of, through the demonstration of his life, are interwoven. If one is picked up and examined, all the others are found in tow. Likewise, the spheres he worked his ideals through: economics, political activity, education, religious expression, health care, and diet, are similarly inseparable from one another.
This is the beauty of a life lived with clarity of intention. Imperfections are of course there: distortions on that intention abound in Gandhi’s life also. Yet his burning effort to clarify, his constant work at refining his own understanding, leaves a legacy worth contemplating for defining and becoming aware of our own personal life intentions. Those intentions are known less by what we do, than ‘how we are’ with ourselves, with others.
We touched on Gandhi’s definitions of non-possession (#11) then moved into a cursory view of the foundations of what was to become his educational thought (#12). This article re-visits the theme of one’s relationship to material possessions through the ideal Gandhi sought to follow of non-stealing. His unending effort leaves a record of good thinking, and action upon those thoughts.
Non-stealing is the English translation of the more ‘comprehensive’ term that Gandhi used, the Sanskrit ‘a-steya’. I say ‘comprehensive’, as ‘a-steya’, non-stealing, is ultimately an attitude that becomes a quality of personal character. A careful and wise public education would address itself to the cultivation of this virtue to ensure a more just society.
Reflecting on this principle during one of his terms of imprisonment, Gandhi gave this definition which pierces our laxity and unawareness of the critical importance of this ideal, our deep sleep in front of our own conscience:
“It is impossible that a person should steal and simultaneously claim to know Truth or cherish Love. Yet every one of us is consciously or unconsciously more or less, guilty of theft. We may steal not only what belongs to others, but also what belongs to ourselves, as is done, for instance, by a father who eats something secretly, keeping his children in the dark about it. The ashram kitchen stores are our common property, but one who secretly removes a single crystal of sugar from it stamps himself a thief…It is theft to take anything belonging to another without his permission, even if it be with his knowledge. It is equally theft to take something in the belief that it is nobody’s property. Things found on the roadside belong to the ruler or the local authority. Anything found near the ashram must be handed over to the secretary, who in his turn will pass it on to the police if it is not ashram property.”i
Gandhi was able to define his understanding of theft through several contextual refinements which provide food for thought. The first is the outer, physical form of theft. In this form alone, he found several different types.
“…Non-hoarding refers to stocking of things not needed. Non-stealing refers to the use of such things. If I need only one shirt to cover myself with, but use two, I am guilty of stealing one from another. For a shirt which could have been of use to someone else does not belong to me. If five bananas are enough to keep me going, my eating a sixth one is a form of theft. Suppose we have a stock of 50 limes, thinking that among us all we would need them. I need only two, but take three because there are so many. This is theft.ii
Gandhi also noted that, “It is also theft to use a thing for a purpose different from the one intended by the lender or to use it for a period longer than that which has been fixed with him.”iii
It would be a different world, our relations with one another would be more open, trusting and gracious if these principles were followed, at least in part. At the next stage of physical theft, the line between non-stealing and non-possession, appears to merge:
“Thus far it is pretty smooth sailing. But the observance of non-stealing goes very much farther. It is theft to take something from another even with his permission if we have no real need of it. We should not receive any single thing that we do not need…We are not always aware of our real needs and most of us improperly multiply our wants and thus unconsciously make thieves of ourselves…One who follows the observance of non-stealing will bring about a progressive reduction of his wants. Much of the distressing poverty in this world has arisen out of breaches of the principle of non-stealing.”iv
If we can look at it honestly, stealing starts in the mind, through what is really, greediness, coveting. This negative quality of coveting has been enhanced and encouraged to our detriment by an economic system based upon indefinite consumption. For example, equality, a sense of ourself in relation to others, has been distorted by coveting, through shopping for the latest fad. It is perhaps almost a ‘spiritual need’ that in order to feel our larger self-identity with a group of those who have what we have, and are therefore, equal materially, we try to buy the same things. Yet, coveting, greediness, becomes an energy, a force impelling action in our lives. Gandhi saw its ramifications and reigned his own horse in tightly.
“Theft thus far considered may be termed external or physical theft. There is, besides, another kind of theft, subtler and far more degrading to the human spirit. It is theft mentally to desire acquisition of anything belonging to others, or to cast a greedy eye on it. It is mental theft if anyone, whether a grown-up person or a child, feels tempted by the sight of an attractive thing. One who observes the principle of non-stealing will refuse to bother himself about things to be acquired in future. This evil anxiety for the future will be found at the root of many a theft. Ideas may be stolen no less than material things.”v
This is particularly relevant to the raising of our children, our own self-discipline regarding what we subject our minds to, what we consider important to learn and know about. Gandhi said:
“We should remember that non-possession is a principle applicable to thoughts as well as to things. A man who fills his brain with useless knowledge violates that inestimable principle. Thoughts which turn us away from God or do not turn us towards Him are unnecessary possessions and constitute impediments in our way…We are there [in the World’s Scriptures] told that humility, etc. constitute real knowledge and that all the rest is ignorance.”vi
In seeking to follow Gandhi’s observances, we must exercise commonsense. If someone in an effort to emulate Gandhi were to take the vow of non-possession and non-stealing, and divest themselves of all their material possessions and live upon the charity of others it could be disastrous. The external observance can only meaningfully and practically come about through inner renunciation. Gandhi had trust and certainty in God as being the Truth within himself. Once the light of renunciation dawns within, dispassion and detachment naturally and spontaneously arise. Once that dialogue with the ideals within begins, light is shed on how to adhere to and practice them. In the beginning stages, we can consciously strive to move in that direction, seeking not to collect and acquire what we do not need. For me personally, Gandhi’s thinking on this subject is a challenge and an inspiration. I have far to go, and even further to think in regard to non-stealing in my own life.
References and Endnotes:
iGandhi, M.K. Swaminathan, K. (Ed.) (1956–1983). Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Navajivan: Ahmedabad : 44: 89–91. August 19, 1930. Age 60. From `Yeravda Mandir’.
ii Ibid. 23: 227–228. March 8, 1924. Age 54. Letter to Maganlal Gandhi, Sabarmati Ashram Manager.
iii Gandhi, M.K. Ashram Observances in Action.
ivGandhi, M.K. Swaminathan, K. (Ed.) (1956–1983). Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Navajivan: Ahmedabad : 44: 89–91. August 19, 1930. Age 60. From `Yeravda Mandir’.
vIbid. 44: 103–104. August 24–26, 1930. Age 60.
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Sleep Study Center
Sleep apnea is the most common chronic illness in the United States. Testing in clinical sleep laboratories found that 24% of male adults and 9% of female adults have sleep apnea. This adds up to more than 30 million people in the United States. The precursor to sleep apnea, snoring, is even more prevalent affecting 50% of all adults. Over half of all people with sleep apnea are 35 years or older and overweight. An estimated 80-90% of affected people are undiagnosed and untreated.
Three types of sleep apnea:•Obstructive Sleep Apnea-the absence of airflow through the nose and mouth despite persistent and increasing efforts to breathe
•Central Sleep Apnea-absence of any effort to breathe and consequently an absence of airflow through nose and mouth
•Mixed Sleep Apnea-a combination of the two types in a single episode
How is Sleep Apnea DiagnosedIn addition to your Primary Care Physician, a pulmonologist with specialized training in sleep disorders may order a sleep study. This is a test that records a variety of body functions during sleep such as the electrical activity of the brain, eye movements, muscles activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, airflow, snoring and blood oxygen levels.
For more information on setting up a sleep study, contact Shannon Bishop at (712) 623-7289.


STEPHEN W. PORGES
The University of Illinois at Chicago
What determines how two human beings will act toward each other when they meet? Is this initial response a product of learning from culture, family experiences, and other socialization processes?
Or is the response the expression of a neurobiological process that is programmed into the very DNA of our species? If the response has a neurobiological basis, are there specific features of the other person’s behavior that trigger either feelings of safety, love, and comfort or feelings of danger?
According to the Polyvagal Theory (including the con- ept of neuroception), our range of social behavior is limited by our human physiology, which has evolved from that of more primitive vertebrates. When we are frightened, we are dependent upon the neural circuits that evolved to provide adaptive defensive behaviors for more primitive vertebrates. These neural circuits provide physiological mechanisms that reflexively organize mobilization or immobilization behaviors before we are consciously aware of what is happening.
When, on the other hand, neuroception tells us that an environment is safe and that the people in this environment are trustworthy, our mechanisms of defense are disenabled.
We can then behave in ways that encourage social engagement and positive attachment.
Focusing on biologically based behaviors common to all humans allows practitioners to imagine new intervention paradigms .
Here the PDF.


Calculating your credit score requires advanced algorithms. Thankfully, we don’t have to do that math.
We do, however, need to understand why maintaining a good credit history is important. Credit scores are intended to help financial risk managers and others make fair decisions on whether or not to take a risk on someone. The risk might involve giving that person a loan, offering a credit card or approving their apartment rental application. Credit scores are designed to predict the likelihood that individuals will pay their bills.
“Small monthly payments on a credit card for Netflix or Spotify can help someone build up a good history, which leads to a good credit score,” explains Julie Kuzmic, director of consumer advocacy at Equifax Canada. “Set up an automatic transfer from your bank to pay off your credit card regularly and you’ll be building a consistent payment history with no effort.”
It’s good advice, especially when taking into account daily expenses that can add up.
Equifax Canada recently did a pulse check, a generational study of 1500 Canadians, asking people where they would have the hardest time cutting back if they had to. Respondents said that eating out, car expenses and travel are the top three expenses that would be difficult to cut back on.
Those in Atlantic Canada are most likely to say they would have a hard time cutting out their car. Those in urban areas and younger Canadians (18 to 24) are more likely to say that cutting back on eating out would be difficult. Younger Canadians were also most likely to say that cutting back on Netflix would be difficult.
Sadly, the research also revealed that only 42 per cent know their current credit score. Those between the ages of 25 and 44 were the most likely to know their credit score.
“Whether you’re negotiating rates on car payments or trying to secure the best mortgage rate, you should know your credit standing before sitting across from the lender,” adds Kuzmic. “If you want to pay less interest for a car or a home loan, then keep a good handle on your credit.”
The main factors involved in calculating a credit score are your payment history, used credit versus available credit, the length of your credit history, public records and number of inquiries into your credit file.
Learn more at equifax.ca/education.


Have hands-on experience learning bio science with this 4D Science Plant Cell Model. This 4D science model of a plant cell features 24 fully detachable parts. You can get acquainted with cell structure, microscopic parts of plants, and biology putting this 4D vision science toy together. 4D Science Plant Cell Model features transparent parts that show internal plant structure. While assembling this unique 6 inches plant cell anatomy puzzle you will learn how cell membrane, nucleus, ribosomes, chloroplast and cytoplasm look. 4D Science Plant Cell Model comes with illustrated assembly instructions and display stand. Master biology with this collectible quality new type of science puzzle.


Scuba stands for “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.” A scuba is gear that allows you to complete a range of underwater explorations and activities. Scuba in addition refers to groups of individuals who engage in or are enthusiasts of scuba diving.
If you happen to visit or holiday in seaside destinations, you will become aware that diving programs are typically presented in these places. If you have not very much or no scuba diving practice, diving programs can aid you to obtain the experience you should have to undertake scuba diving in a specific location. Many travelers and scuba diving enthusiasts voyage to exotic seaside destinations and scuba dive there so that they can develop skills and become set to scuba dive in other more tricky scuba diving spots or locations.
Scuba diving lets you explore much deeper undersea, rather than simply a few meters under the surface. Scuba diving allows you the opportunity to get nearer to the underwater ecosystem. Although scuba diving gear may be heavy, it does not appear so when you are undersea. When you scuba dive, you carry with you every one of the needed scuba gear you need in order for you to breathe comfortably underwater. As soon as you are underwater, you can choose to glide underwater by propelling yourself with fins and your own strength. However, you can also use a little mechanical vehicle if you would rather move underwater faster. many times scuba divers use devices that keep them attached to their boats.
Even though scuba diving is still evolving, it already has several common classifications including recreational diving, technical diving, military diving and commercial diving. There are also other scuba diving groups, but these are the more everyday ones. Essentially, a scuba diving classification is dependent upon the scuba diver and the gear utilized


How does handedness relate to infant language development?
When you talk about handedness, the first question that comes to mind is ‘What hand do you write with?'. In addition, movements such as combing your hair or throwing a ball are tasks that uncover your hand preference. We usually perform these activities with one hand.
There are also a lot of tasks we fulfill using both hands. For example, cutting a piece of paper, unzipping a bag, peeling a sticker from its backing, or unscrewing a lid from a jar. These skills are called Role Differentiated Bimanual Manipulation (RDBM).
Fine motor skill development is key
Role-differentiated hand use can be defined as a bimanual manipulation skill in which each hand performs a different action, but these actions unite in the manipulation of an object. The different actions of the two hands have complementary functions; one hand has a supporting, or stabilizing role as the other manipulates or explores the object. Thus, the one hand holds the paper steady, while the other hand cuts it in half with a scissor. A sophisticated fine motor ability.
Developing these motor skills is key to children’s learning and exploration. It also appears to be related to spatial, social, and language skills. According to research, consistency in hand preference early in development is linked to language skills. For example, Nelson and colleagues performed several studies to confirm this.
Developmental research on handedness and language
Researcher Sandy Gonzalez from the Florida International University and New York University conducted a study together with her team to investigate whether consistency in handedness predicts receptive and expressive language abilities. What are receptive and expressive language abilities?
- Receptive language ability: the child understands and comprehends spoken language that he or she hears or reads.
- Expressive language ability: the child makes requests, choices, asks questions, answers, and describes events. Speaking, gesturing (waving, pointing), writing (texting, emailing), facial expressions (crying, smiling), and vocalizations (crying, yelling) are all variations of expressive language.
Score infant behavior for analysis
A group of 90 children was included in the study. The researchers assessed hand preference for RDBM at monthly intervals from 18 to 24 months. Twenty-nine objects that afford actions where one hand stabilizes the object (non-preferred hand) while the other hand manipulates the object (preferred hand), were presented individually at the child’s midline while they sat on their parent’s lap.
Children were video recorded during the RDBM assessment. Video data were scored afterwards by trained observers using The Observer XT. Three latent classes for toddler hand preference were identified using the Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA): right-mild left (largely right hand use with little left hand use), right-moderate left (mostly right hand use with some left hand use), and left-moderate right (mostly left hand use with some right hand use).
Receptive and expressive language skills were measured at 5 years of age, using the Preschool Language Scales 5th edition (PLS-5). The scales assessed various areas of language development including vocal development, social communication, semantics, language structure, and emerging literacy skills.
Consistency in hand preference important for language outcomes
The majority of the sample fitted a right-mild left classification of hand use for RDBM. This hand preference as well as the other two classes demonstrated distinct hand preferences at 18 months, and did not change over time from 18 to 24 months, indicating that hand preference for RDBM was stable throughout toddlerhood.
Furthermore, the researchers found that toddlers with consistent right hand use for RDBM had greater receptive language skills at the age of 5, compared to toddlers with a right hand preference but moderate left hand use, and compared to toddlers with a left hand preference but moderate right hand use.
They also demonstrated greater expressive language skills at 5 years compared to toddlers with a left hand preference but with moderate right hand use. These results indicate that early consistency in hand preference for fine motor skills during toddlerhood serves an important role in language outcomes in early childhood.
Tools to study children's development
In the Noldus Webinar about Research tools in Developmental Psychology, we explained how our research tools can be used to study the behavior of children both in a natural and in a laboratory setting. Curious? Watch the webinar on demand now!
Gonzalez, S.L.; Campbell, J.M.; Marcinowski, E.C.; Michel, G.F.; Coxe, S. & Nelson, E.L. (2020). Preschool language ability is predicted by toddler hand preference trajectories. Developmental Psychology, 56(4), 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000900
Kimmerle, M.; Mick, L.A. & Michel, G.F. (1995). Bimanual role differentiated toy play during infancy. Infant Behavior & Development, 18, 299-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/0163-6383(95)90018-7


Accounting is the language of business. Accountants are the experts. Organizations across the world need accountants. It is one of the most recession proof jobs. This article will answer any questions you have around the roles and responsibilities of an accountant, what an accountant does and how one can become an account.
The Accountant's Roles & Responsibilities
A company gauges its financial health at regular intervals and drafts strategies to overcome any shortcomings. An accountant accomplishes the task to bring forward the discrepancies of the financial details and suggest methods to improve them. So, what does an accountant do, after all?
- With their expert knowledge of accounting principles, accountants are responsible for assessing and presenting a detailed description of the financial status.
- They ensure the intactness of financial statements, financial reports and tax reports in compliance with the laws and regulations.
- They advise and assist reviewers with ways to reduce costs, enhance profits and revenue.
- They are in charge of maintaining a database and records of all the monetary information.
- They also suggest the utilization of proficient and secure accounting software that will uphold and supervise the monetary information. These advanced accounting tools assist with the production of reports.
- They are also involved with tax filing, sorting tax returns, and ensuring prompt payment.
With this in mind, it is important to note that the difference between accountants and CPAs (Certified Public Accountant); the two roles shouldn’t be confused with one another. The next section talks about the differences between the two.
CPA vs Accountant
A professional who meets the qualification criteria set by the state and possesses a leveled-up skillset (compared to an accountant) is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant); sometimes, also referred to as a public accountant. Let’s see some key differences between the two roles.
CPAs have additional responsibilities and the process of becoming a CPA is more stringent than that of an accountant. They are more adept at handling financial details owing to their qualification and rigorous training. Besides, they have a legal responsibility to act in the best interests of their client. They must keep themselves updated throughout their career to keep up with the accounting reforms.
The accountants, on the other hand, are involved with preparing financial statements. They don’t have to take a licensing exam and are not licensed to perform mandatory audits for the companies.
Simply put, all CPAs can undertake the works of accountants but not vice versa.
Qualifications to Become an Accountant
While most of the applicants hold a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or economics, other skills may be considered to pursue an accountant's job.
- Sometimes, employers prefer an advanced degree like a Master’s in Accounting or Business Administration with Accounting as the subject.
- In some instances, candidates with a high-school diploma or even an associate’s degree may step into the field of accounting. They can begin with the post of a bookkeeper or accounting clerk.
Aside from these, the candidate’s soft skills can be an added advantage.
- Meticulousness: Accounting experts should give solid consideration to each detail to keep the data accurate and coordinated. Accountants handle so much financial information daily and a simple mistake may lead to unimaginable collateral damage.
- Business intuition: An accountant should be able to comprehend the essential elements of a business to precisely break down and decipher monetary information. A great business sense enables the accountant to gives a precise insight into the data that they work with consistently.
- Good with Computers: With the advent of computers and various accounting software and tools, an accountant is required to have a strong knowledge of utilizing these tools. This adds to the efficiency and leads to enhanced productivity, apart from helping in reducing the chances of errors.
- Insightful abilities: Gathering all the financial information and reading between the lines is an enormous part of accounting. An accountant needs to consistently investigate the information he has received and use it to predict any issues that may arise in the future.
- Communication skills: Accountants should be able to listen and collect all the information accurately from their clients or partners. This forms an important part of the accountant's job. Likewise, they should be able to unmistakably explain the consequences of their work and present their discoveries in a composed way.
- Good with Numbers: While it may not come under an essential skill for an accountant's role, it would be an added advantage if the accountant is good with numbers.
Accountants who wish to become CPAs can take the UCPA exam.
Uniform CPA Examination
The American Institute of CPAs administers the exam which comprises of 4 sections, namely the Regulation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Auditing and Attestation, and Business Environment and Concepts.
It has 14 hours of total testing time and is considered a tough exam to clear, according to AICPA.
The exam enables accountants to upgrade their skills to become certified accountants (CPAs). They usually perform tasks such as bookkeeping and maintain general business accounts; but, with this certification, they can now prepare, audit, and review financial documents.
It must be noted that most private and small businesses may not require a CPA. However, public companies certainly need to generate audited statements that are produced by a certified professional.
How Much Does an Accountant Make?
With a job requiring many number-crunching and data-scrutinizing mechanisms, one may wonder what an accountant's salary is like. Let us look at how both, CPAs and accountants perform on this front.
CPAs are accountants with special qualifications and certifications, and therefore, make 5% to 15% more than accountants. A licensed CPA can trigger a higher salary range by a huge margin. Title, experience, and percentile determine the range of the salary.
For example, a senior accounting manager within the 25th percentile may earn $110,250 whereas above 95% percentile, this goes up to $210,000.
Likewise, a manager in tax services within 50th percentile makes $102,000, whereas the same position for a 95% will earn approximately $162,250.
Factors Affecting Salary
Accounting professionals with a certification or a Master’s degree tend to make a higher salary than accountants. The CPAs lead the salary channel. However, certain factors that affect the salary range are:
- Experience: Years of experience translate into more expertise and consequently, a higher salary. An experienced candidate with the right skills has enhanced chances of getting paid extremely well.
- Company Size: The Occupational Outlook Handbook anticipates a 10% rise in employment for accountants between 2019-2026. The prospects in this area are far better than any other sector. Moreover, the larger the firm the greater is the scope of salary.
- Industry-type: An accountant working for a software or a pharma company is set to see a growth in his salary chart; whereas someone working for a non-profit may not earn as much. So, the industry or the employer-type affects the salary to a great extent.
- Location: Supply and demand vary from one city to the other. Larger and populated cities tend to offer a higher salary owing to the augmented workload and prospects of the company.
Pros and Cons of Accounting
Just like any other profession, accounting as a career has its set of pros and cons. Before considering it as a career, it is essential to know what it holds. Let’s learn more about them in this section.
Pros of being an Accountant:
- Clearer vision about career: Often, studying a particular subject may lead to myriad careers which tends to make it harder to choose the right profession. However, if you study accounts, it makes for a clear career path leading to accounting. Although there are different types of accountants, the responsibilities will likely be the same.
- Favorable Earning Potential: The field of accounting depicts an upward curve when it comes to salary. With a median salary in 2017 of $69,350, the profession has been showcasing impressive growth.
- Evergreen profession: As long as business and commercial activities exist, accounting as a profession isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Companies will need assistance with taxes and other related matters, which require accountants. So, accounting can be safely termed as a stable field to be in.
- Entrepreneurial opportunities: Not all professions offer an option to start a business in the same field. With the right entrepreneurial spirit, one can certainly launch one’s own business or an accounting firm. It’s a dream to become your own boss and accounting provides those opportunities.
- Continuous learning: Accountants have to be on their toes and constantly update themselves with the latest trends in the market. The newest reforms and changes in the legal regulations are aspects which they need to keep up with. This is to say that they are on a learning spree all through their professional life.
Cons of being an Accountant:
- Work may seem mundane: Accounting can be taxing at times and in some years, may appear dull. The long hours of calculations and working with numbers, deriving strategies to overcome hurdles can become boring.
- Stressful at times: The accountants are responsible for a company’s finances and so, it comes as no surprise that there will be pressure. A competent accountant should know to handle the stress around and not let it hamper the overall mental health.
- Brace-up for the busy season: With the closing of financial years, the accountants are the busiest people around. So, the aspiring accountants must know that there will be a time in the year, their work will shoot up.
Future Job Outlook for Accountants
The accountants can expect the work opportunities to rise by 4% from 2019 to 2029, depicting a steady growth. Moreover, expanding economy and globalization seem to promise greener pastures for the talented minds in the accounting domain.
Public accounting (CPA) is one of the few roles with massive demand in recent years. The Accounting and Finance Salary guide (2018) hints at growth in the hirings of skilled candidates. The fresh graduates have also witnessed higher pay offers apart from the perks and bonuses. The firms have also reformed their policies to prioritize work-life balance and flexible working hours to attract the top talent in accounting.
Over To You
To summarize, virtually, every business needs an accountant and it only seems to be growing with time. The credentials, however, require a significant amount of time and effort to acquire.
So, weigh the options carefully. If the pros outnumber the cons, then gather up all the commitment and get set to dive in.
You can use Deskera to become an expert in accounting and can even manage your client's books with ease. We have tons of resources to help you on the journey to be an accountant and setup your own accounting business with ease. Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter for more details.