WTVS News

Archive for January, 2011

The one edge that can still help people find a job in this struggling economy is an advanced degree. There are two reasons for this. The first is that an advanced degree represents a greater dedication to a field and a desire to move forward in a career. The second reason is that advanced degrees tend to be highly specialized, which equips students with specific knowledge and skills sets that will be pertinent to a given position or career path.

A good example is getting a masters, organizational psychology degree. If the student chooses the right program, they will be perfectly positioned upon graduation to step into a number of challenging and high paying positions in the corporate world.

Finding the right program is a matter of balancing coursework, cost, and the type of classes offered. For many working professionals, a good masters program is going to include a lot of online classes as these will be easier to balance with work and family time. Most organizational degrees will also include industrial psychology as the two are intertwined. A strictly organizational program, if it even exists, is probably much less valuable than an IO degree. Coursework should also prepare the student with knowledge of consumer psychology, diversity issues, and organizational systems and effectiveness.

Costs for programs will depend on the type of classes offered and the length of the program itself. Since most accreddited programs have financial assistance and loans available, it should be possible for anyone to find an affordable and quality degree program.

If your resolution for the new year is to spruce up your home but your income tax refund isn’t up to a full makeover or renovation, there are a number of small fixes that you can do that will change the look and feel of your home without breaking your bank account or maxing your credit lines.

The trick is to think in terms of accessories and small projects that are the equivalent of adding highlights to hair color. A family room or great room can be completely changed by adding an accent wall, putting in a wallpaper border or replacing or installing molding. Bedrooms are even easier as you can simply change the bedding or lamp shades to shift the color palette While bathrooms can get new fixtures or a colorful shower curtain.

Consider changing out all the hardware on your kitchen cabinets to 841bnb knobs, adding new curtains or replacing the backsplash above your sink. To create a unified effect in your home you can change out doorknobs, light fixtures, pillows, or add coordinated throw rugs in every room.

The cliche is true here: the possibilities are endless. You just need to apply a little bit of imagination and some sweat equity.

Sometimes it seems as if the federal government views every citizen as a criminal or, at the least, someone intent on engaging in fraud. Why else would benefits such as social security disability, which American workers are entitled to collect, be so difficult to obtain? The Social Security Administration almost seems to deny claims out of principle, even though citizens have a right to benefits if they are seriously ill or injured and unable to work.

The most important right that a claimant needs to understand is their right to representation. They do not have to go through this process alone. In fact, hiring a social security disability lawyer can significantly increase their chances of getting their claim approved. A good SSD lawyer will have considerable experience in filing and appealing claims and can ensure that a given claim isn’t dismissed due to minor errors. While some people may chose to have a friend or family member represent them, the SSA has to approve the representative and they will strongly favor licensed attorneys.

The other significant right is the right to appeal the initial denial. This appeal can go through four stages that ends in a federal court hearing. This is where having an experienced lawyer is really an asset. They will handle all the paperwork, meet all the deadlines, and will appear in court as needed. They are familiar with the process and will have gone through it many times before on behalf of other clients.