Federal Government Small Business Set Aside Programs

Every federal government purchase anticipated to be valued from $2500 to $100,000 is automatically set-aside for small businesses as long as there are at least 2 companies that can provide the product/service. Contracts over $100,000 can be set aside if enough small businesses are able to do the work. Contracts over $500,000 have to include a small business subcontracting plan so that small businesses can get work under these large contracts. Small Business Contracts less than $100,000 or those where 2 or more small businesses can fulfill the contract can be set aside for small businesses. This is typically a contracting officer decision after they perform market research. Contracts can be fully set aside or partially set aside (large company and small company). The SBA’s definition of a small business varies based on industry but typically is less than 500 employees or less than $5,000,000 in revenue. The government has an overall goal of 23% of prime contracts flowing to small businesses and in 2006 the actual was 23.09%. HUB Zone The HUBZone program is to encourage small businesses located in designated high unemployment, low-income areas through set aside contracts. HUBZone stands for â€Å"Historically Underutilized Business Zone†. To qualify a company must be a small business, owned and controlled 51% by US citizens, have a  main office in a HUBZone and have at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone. The governments contracting goal is 3% of all prime contract dollars being awarded to HUBZone businesses. There are also sole source contracts possible and 10% price preference (HUBZone company prices can be 10% higher and still be considered competitive). To become HUBZone qualified the company must submit an application and supporting documentation to the SBA. In 2007 $1.764 billion was spent on HUBZone contracts. SBIR/STTR The SBIR/STTR program was established to provide small companies with funding to develop products which have government and commercial potential. SBIRs are research grants to fund research and development efforts. In 2005 federal agencies spent $1.85 billion on SBIR awards. STTR is similar to SBIR except the company must partner with a university under an STTR. Federal agencies with RD expenditures over $100 million per year set aside 2.5% of the RD funds for the SBIR program. Twenty percent of the SBIR award companies were founded entirely or partly based on SBIR contracts (â€Å"An Assessment of the SBIR Program†). SBIR is a three-phase program. Phase I is worth up to $100,000 and is to explore whether the proposed solution will work. Phase II can have a budget of up to $750,000 and is to develop a proof of concept. Phase III is to commercialize the solution and has a mix of government and private funding. 8(a) Small disadvantaged businesses may apply to the SBA 8(a) program. To qualify a business must be owned by socially or economically disadvantaged people, in business for at least 2 years and owners must have a net worth under $250,000. Once certified by the SBA 8(a) companies have set aside contracts available. Women-Owned There is no formal certification for women-owned small businesses – it is self-certified. The government contracting goal is 5% to women-owned businesses but there are no specific set aside programs. In 2006 the government awarded 3.4% of contract dollars to women-owned businesses. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) Veterans who are certified as service-disabled and own a company can be qualified as a service disabled veteran owned company. There is no formal certification process (self-certified) other than the Veteran’s Administration qualifying them as service disabled. The government-wide contracting goal is 3% to SDVO. Just 0.12% of total prime contract dollars were to service disabled veteran-owned businesses. Veteran-Owned Veteran-owned companies is a self-certifying designation when at least 51% of the company is owned by veterans. There are no specific set aside programs for veteran-owned. Just 0.6% of total prime contract dollars were to veteran-owned businesses. Small Disadvantaged Business Small disadvantaged businesses are 51% owned and controlled by African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, and Native Americans. This designation is self-certifying. Native American Native American (including Alaskan and Hawaiian) can have contracts set aside and sole-sourced to them.

The Pain of English Class Essay Topics

The Pain of English Class Essay Topics Creative Essay writing is currently recognized among the most helpful activity for kids for their general personality development. Essays don't need to be difficult! The Writing section has two tasks. Also, you can look for sample expository essay topics so you will be aware of what to research and that which you will deal with. Always remember, any essay have three distinct components. Each essay is going to receive a score from 0-5. When the essay itself should consist of 3 parts, it's desirable to create an outline for every one of them. You have to present your teacher, professor, or tutor which you have made the very best possible essay with the info you had. Students don't need to write about a significant turning point in their essay, Soule states. English literature is huge and rich. Superior connections between arguments are many times a pitfall to writers, and by making sure very good connections are created, you can definitely strengthen your essay! English essay format is essential, so you need to adhere to a specific structure. English language is commonly used in official communications. Thanks to the correct option of presentation style and a thorough understanding of the goals you wish to accomplish in your essay, there are many categories essay themes may be broken into. Once you have selected a topic, you will commence writing your essay. Take a look at free essay papers and get material to write on the subject, and be certain you're well informed. The subject of your essay is critical. Hence, if you believe banking essays are boring just like your company studies are, then you're probably wrong here. Tell our experts what kind of homework help on the internet you want to get. Try out another topic and do the very same 5-minute writing test till you locate a topic you know it is simple to write on. You might find that a lot of the topics can be adapted to suit almost any sort of writing assignment. Your own opinion If you merely paraphrase different people's ideas, then your essay will wind up being boring and your audience is likely to get rid of interest. If you've already graduated from college or university and are trying to find a fantastic job, you want to get a persuasive resume to impress your future employer. This essay is likely to end up being 300 to 600 words, so in case you pick solid examples and make sure that you are very clear in your explanations of things, it won't tough to reach. A great essay is comprised of lots of characteristics like a well-structured, original suggestions and convincing arguments and far more. You will be able to take notes as you listen to it though. The 3 words you wish to write down need to be something I would call power words. Even in the event that you don't like students argue contrast the points of one-of-a-kind individuals, you compare has to be prepared to compose an argumentative essay at any moment! Drafting and planning together with researching should be done in order to have a simple writing. Our writers also undergo a string of other training that could truly convince us they are ideal for the job. It also needs to be interesting so you don't get bored in the practice of writing. If you're looking for assistance with your essay then we provide a comprehensive writing service given by fully qualified academics in your area of study.

Forensic Accounting - 1628 Words

FORENSIC ACCOUNTING MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS The field of accounting is no longer just for those who enjoy crunching numbers. Preparing financial statements, internal auditing, and tax accounting are only the tip of the iceberg. In today s society of the money hungry, the sue happy, and the financially unfit, a new breed of accountant; the Forensic Accountant has emerged. Although Investigative Accounting has been around for years, it has only recently begun to transform into the science of accounting, hence Forensic Accounting. Forensic accountants are unique, looking beyond the numbers, digging deep to uncover fraud, hidden assets, and the like. The word forensic is defined in Merriam Webster s dictionary as relating to†¦show more content†¦Uncovering these minute irregularities requires superior interviewing skills as well as the ability to dissect the information obtained. Technical knowledge is also a plus; the increase in the use of computers, personal data assistants, and cell phone technologies have (in s ome cases) eliminated the hard copy paper trails of years past. Keeping up-to-date in the advancement of these and other technological products is imperative. Work experience requirements vary from company to company and depend largely upon the type of case work performed. Some forensic accountants enter the field of accounting as Certified Public Accountants; then at some point in their careers are placed in an investigative role using the knowledge gained in their CPA practice to further their careers as forensic accountants. Others start their career paths in seemingly totally unrelated fields, e.g., law enforcement, using the knowledge gained through those careers to further their careers in Forensic Accounting. In any case, the minimum two years work experience in some aspect of the accounting field is required. Most forensic accountants work from a base office as would any other accountant; however the actual working conditions vary greatly depending upon the stage of the specific case or the magnitude of the specific case. During the investigative stage; a forensic accountant may spend many hoursShow MoreRelatedForensic Accounting Essay1771 Words   |  8 PagesForensic Accounting in Practice: Forensic Accountants: Fraud Busters A forensic accountant is part investigator, part auditor, part attorney, and part accountant (Levanti, T.). Due to the increase in high-profile cases of companies and individuals, forensic accounting is a growing and popular field in the business and forensic subjects. A forensic accountant is someone who is often retained to analyze, interpret, summarize, interviews and present complex financial and business related issues inRead MoreForensics Accounting : Kessler International1612 Words   |  7 Pagesleaders in forensics accounting and investigations. With its headquarters in New York City, the small company was able to grow. This firm is renowned in many countries around the world. Its dedicated accountants and analysists work very hard to catch people suspected of committing crimes involving money. Due to fraud and other forms of dishonest business behavior, Kessler International steps in to investigate. They offer a wide variety of services ranging from Forensic Accounting, Di gital Forensics, IntellectualRead MoreForensic Accounting : The Energy Company Enron1765 Words   |  8 Pagesinvolved in one of the biggest corporate accounting scandals of the 21st century. The company had covered up large amounts of debt to make their financial statements look more appealing to investors; consequently, after the fraud was discovered, many people lost their investments and many employees lost their jobs, including the corporation’s CEOs. After the authorities had been alerted that illegal activities were possibly taking place within Enron, forensic accountants were brought in to determineRead MoreForensic Accounting7273 Words   |  30 PagesManagerial Auditing Journal Emerald Article: Forensic accounting education: insights from academicians and certified fraud examiner practitioners Zabihollah Rezaee, E. James Burton Article information: To cite this document: Zabihollah Rezaee, E. James Burton, (1997),Forensic accounting education: insights from academicians and certified fraud examiner practitioners, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 12 Iss: 9 pp. 479 - 489 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02686909710185206Read MoreForensic Accounting1497 Words   |  6 Pagesprofessors from Rider College interviewed over 150 lawyers, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and accounting educators. The study identified sixteen skills needed by forensic accountants. 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Since its beginnings in the great depression, to now, the great recession fraud has undoubtedly takingRead MoreForensic Accounting : A Relatively New Field1554 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction While accounting has always been widely practiced, forensic accounting is a relatively new field. Forensic accounting is the use of accounting to extract information from financial documents to prove fraud or embezzlement in the court of law. It involves identifying, recording, and extracting financial data while using a variety of direct and indirect analysis methods. In recent years, the profession has gained attention for its role in stopping both terrorists and corporations fromRead MoreForensic Accounting : The Field Of Accounting1585 Words   |  7 PagesThe field of accounting goes deeper than the general business field and requires specialized actions. Accounting is the systematic and comprehensive recording of financial transactions pertaining to a business. This system can contain various steps, procedures, and processes that led you to your final results. Some of these various types of accounting include tax, managerial, financial, governmental, private, and forensic acco unting. So as you can see, even in this extremely specialized field youRead MoreForensic Accounting1872 Words   |  8 PagesAlverez makes Sonya to accept the offer because she needed the money. If Sonya accepts the offer by Carlito Alverez, there are potential that Sonya might against the code of ethics as tax practitioners and could be finalized on her wrong doings. FORENSIC APPROACH âž ¢ THE ENGGAGEMENT PROCESS Fraud investigation engagement process consist of six steps that the investor need to go through. In this case, Sonya Fuentez which is the IRS- enrolled agent, should go through this process before she decideRead MoreForensic Accounting in Practice1443 Words   |  6 Pages Forensic Accounting In Practice Ronald Wimberly-EL Bagher Fardanes, Ph.D, MPA Business 508 May 19,2013 Running Head: Forensic Accounting In Practice Page 2 The five most important skills a forensic accountant should

Advantages Using Social Network In Businessâ€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Advantages Using Social Network In Business? Answer: Introduction: Social media has provided the ability to contact and people irrespective of meeting them. In the view point of Scott (2017), the social networks like Twitter and Facebook have become the most used media platform to communicate. The easier means to communicate and reaching out to people has made it important to include the social network in the business activities. In business, social networks are used for the sake of promotion and marketing as a method of communicating with the consumers. As pointed out by Lin et al. 2014, for small businesses where the budget of market and promotion is kept low, social networks act as a savior to these companies. Moreover, in the recent time with the increased use of smart phones and application-based live activities the social networks have turn out to be an important part of life of every individual that has automatically made it easier for major businesses to use the social networks to reach out the particular target group of people. The concept of social network: As stated by Jussila et al. (2014), social network is the social structure that is made up of several social actors that aim at carrying out social interaction among the associated people. In order to communicate in the world of the social media, it is important to analyze the global and the social entities as well as the theories of social networking that would help to explain the pattern how the social network works. Ellison and Boyd (2013) have explained the concept of social networking. According to Ellison and Boyd (2013), social networking is the practice of expanding the business by making social contacts or increasing communication by the widely used social networking media sites like Facebook and Twitter. According to the concept of six degrees of separation, any two people on this planet can make contact with each other through communication chains or by establishing online communities using the social media. Thus, there would be no longer to meet an individual and subseque ntly, connections can be made to other members. This would definitely improve the quality of service and the means of communication and it would be rather easier to be in contact with any member of the society irrespective of the distances between the two persons. Social networks have evolved highly in the society and it is the unparalleled potential and the web facility that has helped in the expansion of the major social network sites. In addition to this, these social media platforms have increasingly contributed towards building the business applications in order to communicate as well as to build up businesses (Bharadwaj et al. 2013). There is no doubt that with the introduction of the computers, the business structure and networking have changed drastically. With the involvement of the social media sites, the use of the computer and its application in business has taken a new turn and has made it easier to reach out the target group of people irrespective of the distance between the business and the people. Uses of social network in business: As pointed out by Maier et al. (2015), the two most important perspectives of the social media are to make better communication and reach out people irrespective of the distance and gap between the target group and the actual business head. In the recent time, there are more than 3 billion internet users with almost 2 billion active social networking media users. This has given the opportunity to the small and big businesses to take active use of the social networks and reach out the people with the message that they intend to send. The most popular social networking site is the Facebook (Ngai et al. 2015). The business model of this social network is not to sell any product but to offer space to the businesses bodies that would be used for the sake of marketing and promotion. The idea of this kind of promotion is to reach out the consumers directly because the advertisements will appear on the mobile or the computer screens. Thus, this mode of promotion gives an opportunity to the m arketers to directly communicate with the consumers. Moreover, the cost and expenditure that is spent on the social media marketing are lesser compared to the other forms of marketing, providing better opportunities to carry out the marketing activities at a lower rate. Advantages of using social networks in business: With a large number of existing users with the increasing number of users joining the social networking sites, it has become easier to target more people through these networking sites. From the report, it has been evident that there are over 500 million Tweets take place on a daily basis. Facebook gets more than 5 billion likes in each and every segment and more than 90 million photos and videos are uploaded to Instagram (Hajli 2014). Thus, the numbers of people who can be targeted through these social networking sites are too high. There always remains the chance that whatever is posted in the social media will be seen or heard by the users and there will be some kind of output from it. In fact, the entertainment capability of the social network has also helped in increasing the daily engagement of the people (Georgescu and Popescul 2015). The idea of sharing moments by the means of uploading videos and images has provided the opportunity of being in the real time. This has automat ically increased the scope of creating brand awareness and improving the loyalty of the consumers (Castells 2015). Thus, awareness of any kind of product or service as offered by a company can be easily disseminated among the people using the social media sites. As stated by Bechmann and Lomborg (2013), the way the social media is presented in the recent time has changed since the time it came into existence. With the approach of growing the social media as a tool for marketing and promotion, there have been many ways of targeting the right group of people. The Facebook page offers the idea of getting narrowed down to a particular group or segment of people in terms of the location, gender, age and even habits and liking of the people. Therefore, any particular product that is being targeted for a particular segment of people can be easily endorsed to that particular group only by creating a separate page meant for that particular group of people. In this respect, Hair (2015) commented that with the approach of targeting a particular group of people, it has also become easier for the marketers to monitor the activities. It can be easily known whether the message has reached the right group of people or not. Moreover, social network also prov ides the opportunity of prompt response and feedback from the consumers. Facebook and Twitter give the opportunity where the users can easily communicate with the marketers and give them their feedback. Thus, the marketers could easily understand that stand point and can also come up with any kind of alteration in their activities. In the article, Stamati et al. (2015) have proposed other advantages of including social media network in the business activities. Primarily, the marketing and the promotional costs get reduced when the marketing is carried on using the social media. The social media has also given the opportunity of making the business online that has eventually increased the sales of the products of the organization. The online marketing process can be easily manipulated by the one who is involved in the marketing process by the means of engaging in ranking the website in the search engines. The concept of content marketing has given better opportunities to the marketers where they can easily modify their content and can make it more search friendly for the users (Georgescu and Popescul 2015). In addition to this, as there remains the opportunity for the consumers of giving feedback that can help the marketers to make changes in their approach towards the entire promotional process. Disadvantages of using social networks in business: Considering the disadvantages of using the social network, Iturrioz et al. (2015) have highlighted the cons of using the social media network in the business. Most importantly, at many cases it is being observed that the social network strategy is not is not aligned in a proper way and so the actual objectives of the marketing process are not fulfilled. In order to carry out the online marketing strategy, it requires more resources to perform the marketing activities that at times become challenging for the organizations. It has to be understood that social media requires prompt action and monitoring the entire activities. When the social media is not updated, there remains no opportunity to involve more promotional or marketing activities in the entire process (Schoonjans et al. 2013). Therefore, it can be easily said that when prompt actions are not taken in terms of the social networking, the entire process cannot be actually benefitted. It requires huge input for the social media presence. In terms of getting feedback from the consumers, similar problems or issues might arise (Georgescu and Popescul 2015). There could be excessive inappropriate behavior of the consumers as well and the feedback can be negative that might create a negative impression on the other consumers of the organization (Fernndez-Prez et al. 2015). The inappropriateness might result in bullying and harassment as well. The most negative impact of the social media networking is that the particular site of the organization can get hacked and the organization would have to face great trouble. This might also lead to leak of information or misleading and inappropriate lawsuits against the organization. In the view point of Hinz et al. (2014), for an organization, determining the profitability and the return on the investment is the most important criterion. Social media networking does not provide the opportunity of calculating or quantifying the value of the investment made on the social media networks. Apart from this, if the marketers fail to get engaged with the customers in a prompt and regular manner, the impact of the social media might not be effective enough. If the case of online purchasing is also taken into considering, there are certain disadvantages as well (Borgatti et al. 2013). For instance, the sites can be hacked and it might create problems for the users in terms of safer payment methods or others. This, in turn, will create a negative impact on the organization on the consumers and the image of the organization will be hampered as well. Impact of social network in business: There is no doubt that the use of the social media has increased by many folds. In fact, the Facebook advertisement has reached a record breaking of $104 billion. This can be easily aligned with the fact that the power of the social media and its impact has marked a great impact in the business of marketing. A marketer can employ certain tactics in practicing the marketing activities using the social media. For example, primarily it is required to create a Facebook or Twitter page/account and then one has to be extremely active throughout the social media process. As pointed out by Stamati et al. (2015), social media marketing involves great creativity and consistency in the process. One cannot ignore the regular activity and leave it to become successful. The marketers need to be extremely active and concerned towards the needs of the social media marketing. The major objective of the social media is to maintain communication with friends and peers. This gives rise to the word of mo uth publicity (Ho and Vogel 2014). Moreover, social media platform has also provided the opportunity to the people to communicate with each other. This is when the word of mouth publicity can play an important role. People can review the products and they can give their response through the social media networks (Tsiotsou 2015). In fact, millions of people also keep uploading videos and images that can directly impact others. The timeliness and the creativity that are the main demands of the social media marketing leave great impact on the receivers or the consumers that directly help to create impact on the users of the social media networks. In the article, Alexander (2014) commented that there have been many pieces of evidence where the social media has been used as a tool to influence people. For instance, the social media has been used during the Presidential Election in order to influence people or send propagated messages to the particular group of people. Thus, it can be clearly stated that social media network has become mass influencers and potential influencers (Georgescu and Popescul 2015). It is a unique way to engage the target group of people and at the same time, keeping people updated with the regular happenings carried on in an organization. It is the easier and the fastest method of reaching out people and informs them about the organizational activities. Summary: The literature review has highlighted the importance of social networking in carrying out the marketing and the promotional activities of an organization. Keeping the advantages of using the social network, every big and small organization is implementing the social network as a tool for their marketing. This has definitely created a direct impact on the overall business activities of the organization. In fact, the impact of social media has reached to that level that no particular organization can think of carrying out its business activities without the social media network. References: Alexander, D.E., 2014. Social media in disaster risk reduction and crisis management.Science and Engineering Ethics,20(3), pp.717-733. Bechmann, A. and Lomborg, S., 2013. Mapping actor roles in social media: Different perspectives on value creation in theories of user participation.New media society,15(5), pp.765-781. Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O.A., Pavlou, P.A. and Venkatraman, N.V., 2013. Digital business strategy: toward a next generation of insights. Borgatti, S.P., Everett, M.G. and Johnson, J.C., 2013.Analyzing social networks. SAGE Publications Limited. Castells, M., 2015.Networks of outrage and hope: Social movements in the Internet age. John Wiley Sons. Ellison, N.B. and Boyd, D.M., 2013. Sociality through social network sites. InThe Oxford handbook of internet studies. Fernndez-Prez, V., Alonso-Galicia, P.E., Rodrquez-Ariza, L. and del Mar Fuentes-Fuentes, M., 2015. Professional and personal social networks: A bridge to entrepreneurship for academics?.European Management Journal,33(1), pp.37-47. Georgescu, M. and Popescul, D., 2015. Social Mediathe new paradigm of collaboration and communication for business environment.Procedia Economics and Finance,20, pp.277-282. Hair, J.F., 2015.Essentials of business research methods. ME Sharpe. Hajli, M.N., 2014. The role of social support on relationship quality and social commerce.Technological Forecasting and Social Change,87, pp.17-27. Hinz, O., Schulze, C. and Takac, C., 2014. New product adoption in social networks: Why direction matters.Journal of Business Research,67(1), pp.2836-2844. Ho, R. and Vogel, D., 2014. The impact of social networking functionalities on online shopping: an examination of the webs relative advantage.International Journal of Business Information Systems,16(1), pp.25-41. Iturrioz, C., Aragn, C. and Narvaiza, L., 2015. How to foster shared innovation within SMEs' networks: Social capital and the role of intermediaries.European Management Journal,33(2), pp.104-115. Jussila, J.J., Krkkinen, H. and Aramo-Immonen, H., 2014. Social media utilization in business-to-business relationships of technology industry firms.Computers in Human Behavior,30, pp.606-613. Lin, H., Fan, W. and Chau, P.Y., 2014. Determinants of users continuance of social networking sites: A self-regulation perspective.Information Management,51(5), pp.595-603. Maier, C., Laumer, S., Eckhardt, A. and Weitzel, T., 2015. Giving too much social support: social overload on social networking sites.European Journal of Information Systems,24(5), pp.447-464. Ngai, E.W., Tao, S.S. and Moon, K.K., 2015. Social media research: Theories, constructs, and conceptual frameworks.International Journal of Information Management,35(1), pp.33-44. Schoonjans, B., Van Cauwenberge, P. and Vander Bauwhede, H., 2013. Formal business networking and SME growth.Small Business Economics,41(1), pp.169-181. Scott, J., 2017.Social network analysis. Sage. Stamati, T., Papadopoulos, T. and Anagnostopoulos, D., 2015. Social media for openness and accountability in the public sector: Cases in the Greek context.Government Information Quarterly,32(1), pp.12-29. Tsiotsou, R.H., 2015. The role of social and parasocial relationships on social networking sites loyalty.Computers in Human Behavior,48, pp.401-414.

Marijuana And Medicine Essays - Euphoriants, Entheogens,

Marijuana And Medicine I decided upon the question "Should Marijuana be Medicine?" because I wanted to confirm my strong beliefs of an anti-drug policy, but after research, my attitude towards medical marijuana changed because it seems the benefits far out-weigh the risks. Of the 60 some chemicals unique to the marijuana plant, the main psychoactive ingredient and the one for exploring the physiological as well as the psychological role in the anandamide system is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or more commonly known as THC. The anandamide system is concerned with mood, memory and cognition, perception, movement, coordination, sleep, thermoregulation, appetite, and immune response (a). Cannabis is the term used to describe the dried hemp spike. When burned and inhaled, the cannabis receptors bond to the macrophages in the brain and spine, which control the anandamide system. Macrophages are chemicals in the body, which attack the infected areas in the body and help take away the waste from an injury (a). THC acts as a catalyst in this process. It speeds up the macrophages' disposal of the waste and is why therapeutic relief comes as such a rapid onset to the user (b). Even though the THC bonds with the processes going on inside the brain, there are few THC receptors in the part of the brain that controls the basic life functions therefore making it impossible for cannabis intoxication to lead to death (c). There are strong links to cannabis relieving aches and pains, numbing the symptoms of opiate withdrawal, improving sleep, reducing anxiety, and alleviating the vomiting, anorexia, and depression associated with certain AIDS related disorders, specifically AIDS wasting syndrome(c). Some studies have also shown that cannabis can relieve muscle spasms especially in multiple sclerosis patients' (b). "With smoked marijuana, patients get immediate relief, whereas with the oral drug they get a delayed, big rush of unpleasantness. " Studies on animals have shown it could also quite possibly be an anticonvulsant. Doctors have been able to make a synthetic delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, which they call Nabilone, that helps relieve nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy and may pose as the strongest evidence that cannabinoids do work (a). It is a non-psychotropic drug and therefore greater accepted. Researchers have also developed a delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, which they call dronabinol (a). This oral drug has proven itself in stimulating the appetite of AIDS patients and has won approval from the American Food and Drug Association; one of only three drugs approved for this treatment. This drug has also been found to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties along with possible anxiolytic , hypnotic, and antidepressant properties, which gives this drug a profile unique to other man made drugs, and is compelling enough for further studies (a). The adverse effects have also been studied and there have been no deaths due to cannabis toxicity alone. Some of the most common side effects include sedation, euphoria, anxiety, and paranoia, dry mouth, blurred vision, and incoordination. Dependence can occur but withdrawal symptoms are mild. The smoke is toxic and may increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease (a). When I began this study, I was greatly opposed to marijuana for whatever reason it was being used, but now that I have found more information on the subject, my opinion has definitely swayed. I have attained a greater understanding for how this drug interacts with the body and why it has the effects on pain that it does. I think that if I were to compile more research, especially now that medical marijuana is actually a respected topic and no longer a joke, I think that I would find even more reasons as to why this drug should be seriously considered for therapeutic reasons. One of the reasons that this drug is so frowned upon is that society has taken for granted and abused a very unique and possibly beneficial drug therefore almost permanently attaching a bad name and delaying the necessary research which could be putting millions to ease. (a) British medical journal Cannabis as a medicine The major point that this article brought out was that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana more commonly known as THC, does ease a wide variety of various symptoms from aches and pains to AIDS related disorders. They described how patients told their doctors how effective cannabis is in relieving aches and pains, numbing the symptoms of opiate withdrawal, improving sleep, reducing anxiety, and alleviating the vomiting, anorexia, and depression associated with AIDS related disorders. It also discussed how THC acts as a catalyst in the anandamide system, which helps dispose of the waste

The 20 Best Writing Contests for High School Students

The 20 Best Writing Contests for High School Students SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re a writer- fiction, non-fiction, or fanfiction- you can put those skills to work for you. There are tons of writing contests for high school students, which can award everything from medals to cash prizes to scholarships if you win. Not only will a little extra money, whether cash or scholarships, help you when it comes time to pay for college, but the prestige of a respected reward is also a great thing to include on your college application. Read on to learn more about what writing contests for high school students there are, how to apply, and what you could win! Writing Contests With Multiple Categories Some high school contests accept entries in a variety of formats, including the standard fiction and non-fiction, but also things like screenwriting or visual art. Check out these contests with multiple categories: Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Award Amount: $1,000 to $10,000 scholarships Deadline: Varies Fee: $5 for single entry, $20 for portfolio The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards celebrate art by students in grades seven through twelve on a regional and national scale. These awards have a huge number of categories and styles, including cash prizes or scholarships for some distinguished award winners. Categories include science-fiction and fantasy writing, humor, critical essays, and dramatic scripts, among others. Deadlines vary by region, so use Scholastic’s Affiliate Partner search to find out when projects are due for your area. Scholastic partners with other organizations to provide prizes to winners, so what you can win depends on what you enter and what competition level you reach. Gold medal portfolio winners can earn a $10,000 scholarship, and silver medal winners with distinction can earn a $1,000 scholarship, as well as many other options in different categories. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are open to private, public, or home-schooled students attending school in the US, Canada, or American schools in other countries. Students must be in grades seven through twelve to participate. Eligibility varies between regions, so consult Scholastic’s Affiliate Partner search tool to figure out what applies to you. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have a $5 entry fee for individual submissions and $20 for portfolio submissions, which may be waived for students in need. These fees may vary depending on location, so be sure to check your local guidelines. Ocean Awareness Contest Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500 Deadline: June 17, 2019 Fee: None The Ocean Awareness Contest asks students to consider the future of a coastal or marine species that is under threat from climate change. Submissions are accepted in a variety of art forms, but all must consider the way that climate change impacts ocean life. Submissions for all categories, including art, poetry, prose, film, and music are due by June 17, 2019. Winners may receive prizes of up to a $1,500 scholarship, depending on which division they fall into and what prize they win. Additional scholarships are available to students who demonstrate originality in their voice for ocean activism, as well as students located in Boston, Massachusetts. The contest is open to all international and US students between the ages of 11 and 18. River of Words Award: Publication in theRiver of Words anthology Deadline: December 1, 2018 for US students, February 1, 2019 for international students and those in Arizona or Georgia Fee: None The River of Words contest asks students to consider watersheds- an area that drains into the same body of water- and how they connect with their local community. Students can explore this concept in art or writing, with winners being published in the annualRiver of Words anthology. Entries in all categories must be submitted by December 1, 2018 for students in the US, or February 1, 2019 for international students and students in Arizona or Georgia. The River of Words contest is primarily for recognition and publication, as the website doesn't list any prize money. The contest includes specific awards for certain forms, such as poetry, some of which may have additional prizes. The contest is open toInternational and US students from kindergarten to grade 12. High school students older than 19 are also eligible. Adroit Prizes Award Amount: $200 cash Deadline: Spring Fee: $12 Sponsored by the Adroit Journal, the Adroit Prizes reward high school students and undergraduate students for producing exemplary fiction and poetry. Students may submit up to six poems or three works of prose (totalling 3,500 words) for consideration. Submissions typically open in spring. Winners receive $200 and publication in the Adroit Journal. Finalists and runners-up receive a copy of their judge’s latest published work. The contest is open to secondary and undergraduate students, including international students and those who have graduated early. The Adroit Prizes has a non-refundable fee of $12, which can be waived. YoungArts Competition Award Amount: Up to $10,000 cash awards Deadline: Spring Fee: $35 Open to students in a variety of different disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, the YoungArts competition asks students to submit a portfolio of work. Additional requirements may apply depending on what artistic discipline you’re in. Winners can receive up to $10,000 in cash as well as professional development help, mentorship, and other educational rewards. Applicants must be 15 to 18-year-old US citizens or permanent residents (including green card holders) or in grades 10 through 12 at the time of submission. There is a $35 submission fee, which can be waived. A pine cone is an essential part of any writer's toolkit. Fiction Writing Contests for High School Students Many contests with multiple categories accept fiction submissions, so also check out the above contests if you're looking for places to submit original prose. EngineerGirl Writing Contest Award Amount: $100 - $500 cash prize Deadline: February 1, 2019 Fee: None This year's EngineerGirl Writing Contest asks students (though the name of the organization is â€Å"EngineerGirl,† students of any gender may participate) to write a fictional story in which a female main character uses engineering to solve a problem. Word counts vary depending on grade level. At every grade level, first-place winners will receive $500, second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100. Winning entries and honorable mentions will also be published on the EngineerGirl website. Students of any gender from third to 12th grade may submit to this contest. Home-schooled and international students are also eligible. I recommend turning on the light or lighting a candle for extra visibility. Nonfiction Contests for High School Students Like fiction, non-fiction is often also accepted in contests with multiple categories. However, there are quite a few contests accepting only non-fiction essays as well. The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest Award Amount: $1,250 to $2,500 Deadline: March 15, 2019 Fee: None The American Foreign Services Association sponsors a high school essay contest tasking students with identifying the United States’ strengths and weaknesses in establishing peace in foreign countries. In an essay between 1,000 and 1,250 words, students must answer three questions about US foreign policy and national security. One winner will receive $2,500 as well as a Washington D.C. trip and a scholarship to attend Semester at Sea. One runner-up receives $1,250 and a scholarship to attend the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference. Entries must be from US students in grade nine through 12, including students in the District of Columbia, US territories, or US citizens attending school abroad, including home-schooled students. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest Award Amount: $100 - $10,000 Deadline: January 18, 2019 Fee: None The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage contest tasks students with writing an essay between 700 and 1,000 words on an act of political courage by a US elected official serving during or after 1917, inspired by John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage. Each essay should cover the act itself as well as any obstacles or risks the subject faced in achieving their act of courage. Essays must not cover previous figures covered in the contest, and should also not cover John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, or Edward M. Kennedy. One first-place winner will receive $10,000, one second-place winner will receive $3,000, five finalists will receive $1,000 each, and eight semi-finalists will win $100 each. The contest is open to students in grades nine through 12 who are residents of the United States attending public, private, parochial, or home schools. Students under the age of 20 in correspondence high school programs or GED programs, as well as students in US territories, Washington D.C., and students studying abroad, are also eligible. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest Award Amount: $300 - $1,000 scholarships Deadline: February 22, 2019 Fee: $5 The SPJ/JEA high school essay contest, organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and theJournalism Education Association, asks students to analyze the role of the Fourth Estate- the press- in American society. Essays should be from 300 to 500 words. A $1,000 scholarship is given to a first-place winner, $500 to second-place, and $300 to third-place. The contest is open to public, private, and home-schooled students of the United States between grades nine and ten. The National World War II Museum Essay Contest Award Amount: $500 - $1,000 Deadline: December 28, 2018, or when 500 essays have been received Fee: None The National World War II Museum contest asks writers to consider the importance of art and artists during war. Students will read and think about a Bob Hope quote- †I was offering time and laughs - the men and women fighting the war were offering up their lives. They taught me what sacrifice was all about.†- and respond to the question of what the duties of art and artists are during times of conflict. Essays are due by December 28, 2018, but entries will close when 500 essays have been received. If you're interested in participating, get your essay in soon! The contest is open to US high school students, including those in US territories or on military bases abroad. Letters About Literature Award Amount: $500 - $2000 cash prize Deadline: December 14, 2018 or January 11, 2019, depending on location Fee: None For this contest, students must imagine sitting down to write a letter to an author who has written something that moved them. Letters should be between 400 and 800 words, and written like a private conversation between the student and their author of choice. Depending on state, the deadline is December 14, 2018 or January 11, 2019. Deadline can be determined using the Library of Congress website. Individual states will assign prizes to winners. One national first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $2,000, and a national honorable mention will receive a cash prize of $500. All state-level winners will be published on the Library of Congress website. We the Students Essay Contest Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 cash prize Deadline: February 14, 2019 Fee: None For this contest, run by the Bill of Rights Institute, students must answer the question, â€Å"What are the essential qualities of a citizen in your community in 21st century America?† in between 500 and 800 words. Entries are due by February 14, 2019. There is no entry fee. One national winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize as well as a scholarship to Constitutional Academy. Six runners up will receive $1,250 each, and eight honorable mentions will receive $500 each. All US citizens or legal residents between the ages of 14 and 19 attending public, private, charter, or religious schools in the US, US territories or districts, at Armed Forces schools abroad are eligible to enter. Home-schooled students and those enrolled in correspondence or GED programs are also eligible. If you're a playwright, there're contests for you, too. Playwriting Contests for High School Students For those who love the stage, playwriting contests are a great option. An original play can earn you great rewards thanks to any of these contests! VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition Award: Participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Deadline: January 23, 2019 Fee: None The VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition asks students with disabilities to submit a ten-minute script exploring the disability experience. Scripts may be realistic, fictional, or abstract, and may include plays, screenplays, or musical theater. All entries are due by January 23, 2019. Scripts may be collaborative or written by individuals, but must include at least one person with a disability as part of the group. One winner or group of winners will be selected as participants in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Winners will have access to professional assistance in developing their script as well as workshops and networking opportunities. This contest is open to US and international students in grades six to 12, or between the ages of 11 and 18. Groups of up to five members may collaborate on an essay, but at least one of those students must have a disability. Worldwide Plays Festival Competition 2019 Award: Professional production in New York Deadline: February 1, 2019 Fee: None In the Worldwide Plays Festival Competition, students from around the world can submit an eight-minute script for a play set in a part of a neighborhood- specifically, at a convenience store, outside a character’s front door, or at a place where people convene. Each play must have roles for three actors, should not have a narrator who isn’t also a character, and should not contain set changes. Entries are due February 1, 2019.Winners will have their play produced by professionals at an off-Broadway New York theater. Scholarships are also available for winners. Any student, including US and international, in first through 12th grade may submit work for consideration. YouthPLAYS Award Amount: $50 - $200 cash prize Deadline: Early 2019 Fee: None Students may submit a one-act, non-musical play of at least ten pages to YouthPLAYS for consideration. Plays should be appropriate for high school audiences and contain at least two characters, with one or more of those characters being youths in age-appropriate roles. Large casts with multiple female roles are encouraged. One winner will receive $200, have their play published by YouthPLAYS, and receive a copy of Great Dialog, a program for writing dialog. One runner up will receive $50 and a copy of Great Dialog. Students must be under the age of 19, and plays must be the work of a single author. The Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest Award Amount: $100 - $500 cash prize Deadline: Spring Fee: None Students in grade 11 may submit a ten-minute play for consideration for the Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest. Plays should be 10 pages long, equivalent to 10 minutes. One first-prize winner will receive $500, one second-prize winner will receive $250, and one third-prize will receive $100. All entries must be from students in the 11th grade. Make Dickinson proud in these poetry writing contests. Poetry Writing Contests for High School Students For those who prefer a little free verse or the constraints of a haiku, there are plenty of poetry-specific contests, too. Just Poetry!!! Award Amount: $100 to $500 scholarship Deadline: Ongoing Fee: None Students may submit one poem of up to 20 lines for consideration. Winners are selected from all submissions to Just Poetry!!! throughout the year rather than as part of a single contest. One â€Å"Poet of the Year† will receive a $500 college scholarship, four â€Å"Best of Issue† winners will receive a $100 scholarship each, and four â€Å"Editor’s Choice† winners will receive a $100 scholarship each. All US high school students may enter. Creative Communications Poetry Contest Award Amount: $25 Deadline: December 6, 2018 Fee: None Students in ninth grade or below may submit any poem of 21 lines or less (not counting spaces between stanzas) for consideration in theCreative Communications Poetry Contest. Students may win $25, a free book, and school supplies for their teacher. Public, private, or home-schooled US students (including those in detention centers) in kindergarten through ninth grade may enter. Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize Award Amount: $100 - $500 Deadline: November 30, 2018 Fee: None Students in 11th grade may submit up to three poems for consideration in the Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize. Submissions are dueNovember 30, 2018. One first-prize winner will receive $500, one second-prize winner will receive $250, and a third-prize winner will receive $100. Poems may be published on arts.princeton.edu. All entrants must bein the 11th grade. Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 scholarship, $350 cash prize Deadline: Fall Fee: None Women poets in high school may submit two poems for consideration for the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest. One first-place winner will receive a $350 cash prize, publication in and ten copies of Cargoes, Hollins’ student magazine, as well as a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 for Hollins and free tuition and housing for the Hollinsummer creative writing program. One second-place winner will receive publication in and two copies of Cargoes, a renewable scholarship to Hollins of up to $1,000, and a $500 scholarship to attend Hollinsummer. Applicants must be female students in high school. What’s Next? If you're looking for more money opportunities for college, there are plenty of scholarships out there- including some pretty weird ones. For those who've been buffing up their test scores, there aretons of scholarships, some in the thousands of dollars. If you're tired of writing essays and applying for scholarships, consider some of these colleges that offer complete financial aid packages.

Meaning and Origin of the Surname Howard

Meaning and Origin of the Surname Howard The surname Howard possibly comes from the Norman name Huard or Heward which derives from German elements like hug heart, mind, spirit and hard hardy, brave, and strong. While the origins of the surname are unclear, it is theorized that it holds an English background from the Anglo- Scandinavian name Haward with derives from Ol Norse elements like h ‘high’ varà °r meaning guardian and warden. Huard or Heward is also thought to be one of the origins of the Norman-French personal name of the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. Additionally, there is a background of the surname Howard in relation to Irish with Gaelic notations. Howard is the  70th most popular surname  in the United States. One popular alternate surname spelling is Hayward. Discover genealogy resources, famous notable people, and three other possible surname origins aside from  English  below. Surname Origins Several possible origins for the Howard surname include the following: Derived from the Old Germanic name hugihard, denoting one strong of heart, or very brave.Derived from Germanic term howart, meaning high chief, warden, or chief warden.From hof-ward, the keeper of a hall Notable Persons Ron Howard:  American actor, producer, and director who got his start on The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days.Dwight Howard:  American NBA basketball player playing center for the Houston Rockets.Bryce Dallas Howard:  Daughter of the film director Ron Howard and actress known for her role on the show Parenthood, directed by her father. Genealogy Resources 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census?Howard Family Genealogy Forum  Search this popular genealogy forum for the Howard surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Howard queryFamilySearch - Howard GenealogyFind records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Howard surname and its variations.Howard Surname Family Mailing Lists  RootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Howard surname.Cousin Connect - Howard Genealogy QueriesRead or post genealogy queries for the surname Howard, and sign up for free notification when new Howard queries are added.DistantCousin.com - Howard Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Howard. To look for the meaning of a given name, use the resource First Name Meanings. If you are unable to find your last name listed, you can suggest  a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings and Origins. References: Surname Meanings and Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005.Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004.Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.