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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>rcwvvms.info</title> <atom:link href="http://rcwvvms.info/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://rcwvvms.info</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:46:21 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3</generator> <item> <title>Ways To Get Your Finances Under Control</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/ways-to-get-your-finances-under-control,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/ways-to-get-your-finances-under-control,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:53:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ai photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[digital photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ed sheeran photograph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[film photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[landscape photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[landscape photography tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[landscape photography tutorial]]></category> <category><![CDATA[learn photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lyrics photograph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[outdoor photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photograph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photograph lyrics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography for beginners]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography ideas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography lessons]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography tutorial]]></category> <category><![CDATA[street photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[street photography basics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[street photography tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[travel photography]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=61</guid> <description><![CDATA[Establish a budget: There’s no better way to manage your finances than by being keenly aware of the interplay between your net income (how much you take home after taxes) and your total expenses (including fixed expenses like bills and variable expenses like clothing or entertainment). See our companion article “Creating a Household Budget” for [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Establish a budget: There’s no better way to manage your finances than by being keenly aware of the interplay between your net income (how much you take home after taxes) and your total expenses (including fixed expenses like bills and variable expenses like clothing or entertainment). See our companion article “Creating a Household Budget” for an easy path to a clear and cogent financial plan. Making use of software, like Budget Forecaster from Strativia, makes the task even easier.Make more money: Indeed, it may sound simpler than it really is, but it’s by no means outside the realm of reason. Just take a look at what you’re making now and try to find ways to augment it, be it asking for a raise, working extra hours, holiday or overtime, taking on a part-time second job, applying for a promotion or for a whole new job with an entirely different employer – there are numerous ways to increase your earning power.Pay yourself first: This is an ages old lesson that is as tried and true as they come – the instant you receive each paycheck, take 10% and sock it away in savings. Plan to live off of 90% of your income and you’ll be slowly but surely building a sizable nest egg that could end up lasting you a lifetime. But if you don’t do this religiously, first and foremost upon being paid, then there will be no money at month’s end to save at all, not 10%, not 1%.Pay your credits cards off: Credit card debt is a brutal, self-feeding cycle that can decimate your savings faster and more effectively than almost any other financial burden. At the very least, make your minimum payments on time so that your credit report remains untainted. Good credit is priceless in today’s world. And in many important circumstances, excellent credit can even compensate for poor income and savings. The best course of action, however, is to carry no balance. Pay your credit cards off in full as soon as you possibly can. Then restrain yourself from using your credit cards except when you know you can pay off new purchases in full at your very next billing period.Make your 401K contributions: Especially if your employer makes matching contributions, take maximum advantage of any 401K plan you have available to you. Not doing so would cheat you at the very least of the income from those matching funds, not to mention the income that can be gained from savings account interest or investment maturity. You wouldn’t turn down a company bonus would you? Then don’t let your company’s 401K plan go to waste.Stay on top of your investments: As time passes, the economy fluctuates, and an intelligent investment today may be a foolish investment tomorrow. You need to review your portfolio regularly and readjust it regularly to avoid loss and pursue gain. Remember, though, avoiding loss – or protecting your capital – is infinitely more important than pursuing gain. Don’t let any one stock comprise more than 5% of your total portfolio, and don’t let any one industry comprise more than 20%. Remain diversified and readjust your distribution of assets as the performance of your holdings changes. Seek professional financial guidance as necessary.Build an emergency fund: Start saving money in a separate, FDIC-insured account and build it up until it contains enough to cover six months of your expenses. Take a look at your total expenses (both variable and fixed) from your personally designed or Budget Forecaster household budget and then multiply it by six to discover how much you should keep in an emergency fund. Then leave that money alone until and unless you need it. Should the unfortunate day come that you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.Get your free credit reports: Your credit reports can be among your greatest tools for acquiring credit or they can be your biggest hurdle. The government decision to allow consumers a free copy per year of each of their credit reports from the three major reporting bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion – is an opportunity to take charge of your finances that should not be ignored. See our companion article entitled “Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Reports” for further details.Review and update your insurance policies: As with bank terms and credit card rates, insurance premiums also change considerably over time. A good deal yesterday could be a lousy deal today. And with your ability to go online, you can easily compare and contrast insurance offers in an instant. Important coverage to make sure that you have on both your home and auto insurance plans is cost replacement insurance. Decent liability coverage is also of the utmost importance. And also be certain that the insurance on your home accurately reflects the true value of your home today.Start A Business: Starting a business is easier today than ever before. There is all sorts of informational material, resources, and tools available to help you, and most of them are free. Whether it’s selling books on eBay, developing a sleek new high-tech product from scratch, or outsourcing your intellectual talents there is a market out there for almost anything. Whether you decide to go into business full time or part time, there is money to be made that will ultimately help you to keep your finances under control by increasing your income. </p><div class="mads-block"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/ways-to-get-your-finances-under-control,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Personal Finance Budget</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/personal-finance-budget,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/personal-finance-budget,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:11:03 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bajaj finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[basic finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[corporate finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance basics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance books]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance course]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance degree]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance job]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance major]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance news]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance report]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance skills]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance stock]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance update]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finance with sharan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[finances]]></category> <category><![CDATA[learn finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[public finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[study finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[what is finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[yahoo finance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[yahoo finance premium]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=59</guid> <description><![CDATA[Setting up a personal budget for you and your family isn’t as hard as you might think. What’s hard is maintaining and keeping it working for you for any length of time. If you are setting up a personal finance budget, here’s 3 tips to keep in mind.1. KEEP IT PERSONALThat might sound like a [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Setting up a personal budget for you and your family isn’t as hard as you might think. What’s hard is maintaining and keeping it working for you for any length of time. If you are setting up a personal finance budget, here’s 3 tips to keep in mind.1. KEEP IT PERSONALThat might sound like a given, but with so many budget programs and plans out there, you’d be amazed just how easy it is to try and shoe-horn your personal finance situation into another person’s perfect design. Don’t do it.By trying to make someone else’s ideal, your own, it will only be that much easier to give up on it later when it turns out that it doesn’t work for you. This means setting up categories that are specific to your situation and lifestyle. If you do a lot of camping, for example, and that’s not one of the categories on your pre-formated budget sheet, don’t try to squeeze it into “Recreation” or “Entertainment.” Make a category for “Camping.”2. KEEP IT SIMPLEOne of the quickest ways to give up on a personal finance budget is to have it be so complicated that the week after you set it up, you’re not sure why you did what you did and can’t figure out how to update it. Keep it simple.Keeping the budget simple also means not having it be too much work to maintain. If it’s too much work, then you are really not going to feel like doing what needs to be done, because, it’s too much work.3. AUTOMATE TASKSDo what you can to make things happen automatically so that keeping and maintaining a budget doesn’t wear you out. For example, if you want to track how much you are spending on entertainment during the month, just keep your receipts and stash them in an envelope somewhere. At the end of the month, just add them up and you know how much you spent. This is much easier and “automatic” than writing down everything on a daily basis.As I mentioned at the start, this article was about how to keep the budget going once it gets started. You could sit down tonight and make up a budget, but will it work for you? Will you be able to maintain it over the long-term?Follow the 3 budgeting strategies above and you will greatly increase your chances of designing a personal finance budget that will last as long as you need it to. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/personal-finance-budget,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Black & White Photography Tips</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/black-white-photography-tips,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/black-white-photography-tips,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 12:59:13 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ai photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[digital photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ed sheeran photograph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[film photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[landscape photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[landscape photography tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[landscape photography tutorial]]></category> <category><![CDATA[learn photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lyrics photograph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[outdoor photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photograph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photograph lyrics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography for beginners]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography ideas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography lessons]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography tutorial]]></category> <category><![CDATA[street photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[street photography basics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[street photography tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[travel photography]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=56</guid> <description><![CDATA[Black and white photography was once thought of as being a thing of the past. Colour photography and technology were leading the way and everything became bright and bold. More recently, however, the art of the monochrome picture has been re-evaluated by many and has become a chosen format by some. By understanding some basic [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Black and white photography was once thought of as being a thing of the past. Colour photography and technology were leading the way and everything became bright and bold. More recently, however, the art of the monochrome picture has been re-evaluated by many and has become a chosen format by some. By understanding some basic black and white photography tips it is surprising what a difference you can make.There are some subjects that will always look better if photographed in colour. For example the starting grid of a Formula One race would look fairly lack lustre without the exciting race colours of the cars and drivers. Some scenes can look equally good, although very different, in both black and white and colour. Scenes such as a woodland, for example, can benefit from either format but the two pictures would have a very different feel. Some simple black and photography tips can ensure that you bring out the shade and shapes in your pictures and this will result in an added depth that is often missing with colours.Portraits can be given a lovely timeless feel if taken in black and white. It is almost like losing one of your senses. If you shut your eyes you will find that you are able to hear better. It is similar with photography. If you take away the colours, you will tend to see more deeply into a face. Some black and photography tips regarding the taking of portraits include consideration of texture. It is best to have your subject dressed in plain clothes as too much pattern can draw the attention. However, add some texture to bring depth into the frame. This may mean in the background. Perhaps you could use a brick or stone wall as a back drop. Alternatively, you could use texture in the clothing. Try woollen sweaters in place of smooth cotton tee shirts.Consider the content of your pictures and try to incorporate some interesting shapes. Either similar or contrasting shapes will create interest, but be careful to keep things simple and well constructed. Try to structure the shapes so that they have a relevance to each other. You can get some great black and white photography tips just by looking at others people’s work and trying to evaluate their reasoning behind the construction of the shapes in their pictures.Black and white photography tips, as well as advice on all aspects of the art, are available on the internet, very often freely. If you become interested and think that you would like to become involved in photography either as a hobby or as a profession, there are many courses available at colleges, often on a part time basis. You may also find that there is a photography club in your area where you can meet others with a similar interest and sometimes with work to exhibit. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/black-white-photography-tips,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Records Management in Government Agencies in Sierra Leone</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/records-management-in-government-agencies-in-sierra-leone,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/records-management-in-government-agencies-in-sierra-leone,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:18:01 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=54</guid> <description><![CDATA[IntroductionRecords Management is the systematic control of all records from their creation or receipt, through their processing, distribution, organization, storage and retrieval to their ultimate disposition. Because information is such an important resource to organization, the records management function also includes information management. Therefore, records management is also known as Records and Information Management or [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> IntroductionRecords Management is the systematic control of all records from their creation or receipt, through their processing, distribution, organization, storage and retrieval to their ultimate disposition. Because information is such an important resource to organization, the records management function also includes information management. Therefore, records management is also known as Records and Information Management or RIM (Magnus, 2006).Records management may also be used to define as the way official records (correspondence files, information) are organized in such a way that they have a meaning, and can be used continuously by the users such as managers, records professionals, educational institutions,Importance of Records Management in Government AgenciesEstablishing a records management programme, in government agencies for example, the Meteorological Department may result in both immediate and long-term importance to the department. Below are stated some of the importance of records management in the government agencies, civil service, companies and businesses as a whole:• Records management reduces lost or misplaced records. Because the human element is always with us, even the best system in the world will occasionally have misplaced records. But properly designed document management systems can gradually reduce misfiles. Most often misfiled records can cost the clerical staff a huge wastage of time in searching for records;• Records management act as evidence in the time of dispute. It is important for the settlement of dispute because it can be shown as proof in court;• It helps in evaluating progress of organization. It helps in the preservation of history of the organization. The past records shows direction to organization. It helps in finding out the weaknesses and strength of organization. Records management gives the account of progress and direction in which organization is giving on;• Records management is the memory of business. It is useful for future decision making process. The study of past records shows direction for future. It supplies information to organization whenever it is needed therefore, it helps in taking decision;• Records management helps to evaluate business progress and performance. It helps in comparison between one period of time and another or between sometime of businesses;• Records management helps in management and control of important records. It helps to protect necessary records with care and disposes useless records;<br />• To minimize litigation risks. Organization implement records management programmes in order to reduce the risks associated with litigation and potential penalties. This can be equally true in government agencies. A consistency applied records management programme can reduce the liabilities associated with document disposal by providing for their systematic, routine disposal in a normal course of business;• It increases accountability. A records management will put in place a system for tracking actions on each record, therefore increasing accountability and providing access reports; and• To improve working environment. Implementing records management programme improves the working environment through the organization of records and storage offsite. Organized working environment can then improve the perception of the business by clients and potential employees. New employees are also easily trained to manage the company’s records when an efficient records management programme is in place (Jackson, 2008).The Historical Background of the Meteorological Department Sierra LeoneSierra Leone was the headquarter (HQ) of the West African Meteorological services which was established in 1923.Meterological services were provided for four West African countries namely Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia respectively. The Sierra Leone Meteorological department is an offshoot of the British West African Meteorological services founded on the 27th April 1961. Since the establishment, the department has been governed by series of directors and the presently director is Alpha Bockari who has served in this capacity from 2012-to date. The headquarter is located at F18 Charlotte street Freetown.The Meteorological Department exist to provide cost effective weather and climate services by collecting, processing, archiving and disseminating meteorological and climatological information and services to support end user contributing to the management of Sierra Leone’s economy with special regard to protection of lives and property and safeguarding of the environment and recovering the costs of the services so rendered so that it expenditure will not exceed it income.As a department under the ministry of Transport and Aviation, they are charged with the following mandates /responsibilities:• Safety and well being of citizen and their protection against severe weather situation and devastation from natural disasters;• Provision of reliable climate data to facilitates project design for agricultural planning and implement, water supply systems, infrastructure, and tourism;• Contributing to the socio- economic (including providing end user services for agricultural activities, marine) development of the country;• Carryout weather and climate related activities e.g. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Climate Change Services (CCS), Reduction of Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), and National Communication (NCS) (Meteorological Department, 2014).Objectives of the Meteorological Department Sierra LeoneThe overarching objective of the Meteorological Department established as the sole authority, which issues weather and climatological warnings and services are, to:• Forecast, plan and deliver meteorological and climatological services which meet national socio- economic development needs.• Collect, process, store and disseminate meteorological and climatological information both nationally and internationally in accordance with rules and practices and procedures established under the WMO Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), etc and other relevant conventions of the United Nations systems such as the Frame work Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), and Convention to Combat Desertification, Drought etc.• Provide a range of customer/ sector specific operational meteorological services to such major sub sector as those for aviation, water resources, agriculture, defense, marine, tourism, sports and recreation, and construction;• Provides advice on meteorological and climatological matters to the national community and other governmental and non- governmental agencies.• Develop adequate manpower to enhance functional effectiveness and efficiency of agencies.• Reduce its reliance on the national budget and generate its own revenue by charging for services rendered to other clients;• Arrange for and manage surface and upper air observation networks and accurately and effectively record the weather and climate condition for Sierra Leone’s economic development;• Provides meteorological services for search and rescue operations during disaster and relief operations as well as during national emergencies; and• Participate on behalf of Sierra Leone in the activities of relevance international organizations to which its belongs, in particular the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Weather Watch (WWW), Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW), Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Developments (ACMAD), United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) etc role in all climate change activities of the country (Meteorological Department, 2014).Methods of Managing Records at the Meteorological DepartmentRecords keeping are of great importance to any institution. One of the most crucial decision managers, directors or heads of organization have to make is to choose the suitable methods of managing their organization’s records. There of two methods that is significantly used. These include centralized and decentralized methods of managing records.Centralized MethodsA Centralized method of managing records is the one in which all physical documents are located in one central location or office. The location is controlled by the records management office staff. The number of employees in the records department will depend on the size of the organization. In a centralized method, end users have the comfort of knowing all physical documents relating to a particular case are held in the same location. If for instance, end user needs to reference a file he/she would be required to contact the records office staff. The file would then be checked out to the end user. A complete claim of custody of file is captured, so the location of file is known at all times.A centralized method has a heightened level of security. For example, the entrance is locked so only the records staff has access to the files in the records office. This process yields much more control over physical document than the decentralized methods. For efficiency of purpose, uniform office procedures are documented and circulated to all end user. These procedures address topics such as hours or operation, file request and delivery times.Decentralized MethodA Decentralized method is one in which the physical documents are located across the entire office. This may mean they can be found in every staff offices or other work room space. Unlike centralized methods, where the files are controlled exclusively by the records office. A decentralized method is controlled by the staff that created the file. The physical files are stored at the employee’s desk not in a centralized location for all to access. Thus, the method would not require a full time record staff.Employees would have access to their files at all times and would be responsible for maintaining accuracy. The decentralized method of managing records has its demerits. For instance, suppose group of employees are working on the same case at the same time suddenly, the employee who is responsible for maintaining the file is absent. The rest of the group may have trouble in locating the file if the organization does not have claim of custody procedure in place. Along the same lines, a decentralized method of managing records will have little or no security over files. This can prove problematic especially if an organization handles high sensitive cases.However, in the meteorological department, a centralized method of managing the department’s records is adopted. That is to say, both physical and electronic or other records are centrally managed by the department’s office clerk. Although, there are challenges with regards to the keeping and managing of records, nevertheless the method is well utilized. (Meteorological Department, 2014).Types of Records generated by Meteorological DepartmentThe records generated by the meteorological department office plays a vital role in managing the operations of the department. The department documents past activities, phenomenon and events that serves the basis for further actions. The records are both manual and electronic in nature. Examples of manual records include:• Office administrative records;<br />• Human resource records;<br />• Financial/ fiscal records;<br />• Meteorological data/ records;<br />• Material records;<br />• Public information records;<br />• Conference/seminar service records; and<br />• General programs.Electronic Records: These electronic or machine readable records are data in a form that can be read and processed by a computer and that satisfies the legal definition of a record. At the Meteorological Department in Sierra Leone these are records relating to divisions and out stations in the department and these include:<br />• Electronic mail and messages;<br />• Electronic spreadsheet;<br />• Primary data files and data bases;<br />• Machines readable indexes; and<br />• Word processing files.Users of the Records at the Meteorological Department in Sierra LeoneThe users of the Meteorological Department records in Sierra Leone include:<br />• Administrative personnel;<br />• Research/ external users;<br />• Human Resource Management Office (HRMO);<br />• Government ministries and agencies;<br />• International organizations e.g. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO); and<br />• Clients to which Meteorological Department information is given. For example, the media in Sierra Leone such as: Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), African Young Voices (AYV), and Star Television).Filing System at the Meteorological Department in Sierra LeoneFiling System in Records Management is the process of classifying, arranging, sorting and storing records so they may be easily located and retrieved when needed. It is the classification and control of basic file groups, material collection procedures, file preparation, sorting, indexing, maintenance and cross referencing. A well defined and maintained filing system allows vital information to be accessed quickly and saves company money by saving time. Business, schools, government agencies and even every day, people use filing systems to keep their affairs organized. Thus, the following various types of filing systems may enable agency to carry out proper filing system efficiently.Alphabetical Filing SystemIn the alphabetical filing system, records are arranged according to name that is from A-Z either the name of a person, company or subject in accordance with the letters of the alphabet. There are two methods involve in alphabetical filing system.The topical alphabetic filing system, also known as a dictionary system. In this system files, individual record are in alphabetical order. This filing system works well when storing a small number of records. It proves to be problematic when individual has a lot of client sharing the same name.The other method is the geographical filing system; also know as encyclopedia or classification system. This system is used to organize larger volume of records. It groups subject together under broad categories based on a location such as a city, country or state. The categories and the files within each category are arranged alphabetically.Numerical Filing SystemIn the numeric filing system, numbers are assigned to each file and arranged the numbers in segmented order. Files of people with the same name won’t have duplicate headings as with the alphabetical system. This system also offers better filing confidentiality since names are displayed in the files and work well when handing a large volume of files.Terminal Filing SystemIn the terminal digit filing system also, numbers of assigned files are in sequential order but filed according to the last two digits. For example. If an individual is filing number 18547; first the individual go to 47 section of the filing system then look for the 85 area of the section and finally look for the number one (1).Alphanumeric Filing SystemThe alphanumeric filing system, both letters and numbers are used to organized files. For example, two letters are used to signify the client files in, followed by a number to denote his account number.The meteorological department filing system, have adopted the alphanumeric filing system. In that record, they use the end-tab folder and pockets that simply stand on shelves and filing cabinets. No hanging pocks with a use of office space. The meteorological department has some challenges but the filing system is organized and use efficiently.Records Storage SystemsRecord should be kept in good order, in a secure location. Those containing confidential or personal data such as staff files must be stored in lockable units and should not be left on desks overnight or view of visitors. Only records which are required frequently should be stored in the office. Those which need to be retained for legal or other reasons should be stored offsite with the records office offsite, while those which have outlived their usefulness should be destroyed. However, records which are less than one year will not be stored offsite.Storage systems used in records office most provide appropriate protection for records based on format and volume of records, how frequently they are used, how quickly they need to be accessed and security requirement. The main types of records storage systems used include:Vertical Filing CabinetsThese are adequate for small filing systems, but are less suitable for large runs of records and records that require frequent access. Access is slow, since drawers have to be opened, and these can significant impact where there is a high volume of records activity. The cabinets require large amount of space and drawer space is often not use to full capacity.Book ShelvesThese are suitable for books or files that are stored upright, such as box files and lever arch files.Lateral Filing UnitsThese have long drawer for storing files laterally and use space more efficiently than their vertical counterparts. Alternatively, static unit without drawer can be use, where files are stored in hanging pocket or cradles. Where prompt filing and retrieval are required open unit will be the most efficient. If file access is to be restricted, units with lockable doors or shutters can be used.Mobile ShelvingThis may be suitable where a large volume of records need to be stored near at hand, as it reduces the number of access aisles require. It is the most expensive type of shelving, and is very heavy. The floor must have sufficient structural capacity to support these shelves.Open Shelving SystemThis usually found in large offices and in central file rooms, it allows for rapid retrieval and refilling. This type of lateral file, which resemble open book shelves allows files to be retrieved horizontally. It also offers full viewing of the folder tabs, which makes for rapid retrieval. And there is an estimated 50 percent saving space when files are moved from vertical system to an open shelve system. This unit usually requires professional installation, which can be negotiated with the vendor is an inclusion in the cost of the equipment. These are the most efficient kinds of files available. They also have doors and can be locked. Some of those with doors have flush backs and can be used as attractive room dividers with a built-in advantage of providing a good deal of sound- proofing. These doors and 6 openings are easily accessed over 200 inches of filing. Those without doors provide even more filing capacity and should be consider, even if there is a perceived need to lock them.Records Storage Systems at the Meteorological Department in Sierra LeoneThe main types of records storage systems used at the Meteorological Department in Sierra Leone is the open Shelve System which is mentioned above where files contacting records are usually found in large offices and in central file rooms which allows for the rapid retrieval and refilling. This type of lateral file, which resemble open book shelves allows files to be retrieved horizontally.Records Retrieval at the Meteorological Department in Sierra LeoneRetrieval is the process of locating and removing a record or file from storage. It is also the action of recovering information on a given subject from stored data. It deals with standards and procedures in retrieving paper, electronic and image records. For example, finding a name and telephone number in a telephone directory or data base is a common storage and retrieval activity. Records or information can be retrieve in three ways:Manually: people go to a storage container and remove by hand a record wanted or make a note of information requested from it.Mechanically: a person uses some mechanical means, such as pressing the correct buttons to rotate movable shelves to correct location of a record, remove the record manually, or record information requested from it.Electronically: a person uses some means, such as a computer, to locate a record. The physical record may not need to be removed from storage. The requester is informed as to where it can be found, or the information requested is showed to the requester in some way, perhaps on a screen in a data base or electronic mail file.Request for stored records may be made orally over the telephone or by a messenger or in writing memo, letter etc. The request may be delivered in person, sent by mechanical, such as a conveyor system, or sent electronically by email. The record must be retrieved from storage and given to the requester quickly. Every minute of delay in finding a record is costly in user or requester wasting time and in filers searching time and could possibly lead to loss of money for the business (Stephens, 2009).However, manual and mechanical procedures are normally utilized in retrieving records at the Meteorological Department since majority of their records are in paper based form.Challenges facing Records Management at the Meteorological Department in Sierra LeoneThe Sierra Leone situation in business of record keeping and management especially in the Meteorological Department system has not been too successful because of the lack of management component. Writing in support of the above finding, I have noted that many years of neglect had done great damage to meteorological sector and record keeping is not an exemption. The following are some of the challenges of proper records management faced by the Meteorological department in Sierra Leone:Inadequate FundingThe problem of inadequate funding of records office in the meteorological department is more intensive than the other departments. This is a problem that was not only experienced during the colonial era but has passed on even to today’s records management programs. Payment of employee’s salaries, purchase of modern preservation equipment and chemicals among the other day- today activities that facilitates records preservation are vital activities that call for proper adequate funding to enable the institution to achieve its objectives are not quite seen. For this reason, the meteorological records office practice is abandoned with unqualified personnel thus suffering from inefficiency and ineffectiveness.Inadequacy of Space and EquipmentThe records office at the Meteorological Department is rather too small to contain current and non- current records. The equipment used is somehow crude in nature and also of inadequate capacity. The record staff do not have access to modern equipment due to combine problem of inadequate funding and know- how technology.Problematic Nature of FormatMost record materials are still organic nature, most of them been paper based. This means they are capable of aging, advancing, deteriorating with time. For this reason, they need equipment to be treated and handled with for the purpose of preserving them. For such a country like Sierra Leone which lies within the tropics such conditions are worsen by high level of humidity in the atmosphere and high temperature all around the year. All these conditions combine work to hasten the nature chemical process of decaying records. Furthermore, records keeping facilities in the Meteorological Department do not have weather control preservative where all weather conditions can be controlled to enhance record preservation thus, making the whole preservation process even more difficult.Absence of Records Management LawsThe National Records act of 1964 is outdated and is no longer serving its usefulness. Records do not have legal description, backing or definition of their service. Legal laws provide for authenticity, which serves to promote and also provides confidence to the public and those practicing in the profession about the service being offered. These are the very important elements that the Meteorological Department’s record keeping facility lacks.Lack of Understanding and AppreciationThe records management program in the Meteorological Department is rarely appreciated and its role in the provision and management of information understood by only a handful of staff. This is also true as it is the culture in many other public and private sectors that generate vital records on a daily basis have no basic understanding of records life cycle and requirement of the records disposal act. They are extremely ignorant of the vital role that can be played by the records office to help them properly managed and preserve record both at the current and semi- current stages. Staff is totally uninformed about the records activities and for this reason it is recommended that the records office should engage in programs that will help to educate staff and other users in the requirement and content of the activities.Conclusively,Record keeping in an organization set up is very important and cannot be over emphasized. This is because continuity depends on availability of useful records of the past activities. In a complex organization like that of the Meteorological Department, it is not possible to keep every single information in the brain, because the volume of information is heavy, therefore records must be kept. In Sierra Leone, meteorological laws demand that every meteorological station should keep certain meteorological records such as weather fore cast data, personnel records, visitor’s book, inventory book, account book. Record keeping occupies a strategic position in the efficient and effective management of meteorological system. In fact, it is central in the administration of institution of learning because it document the planning and implementation of appropriate course of service allowing monitoring of work.Unfortunately, the Sierra Leone situation in business of record keeping and management especially in the Meteorological Department system has not been too successful because of the lack of management component. Giving credence to this assertion, records management practice in the Meteorological Department has a number of problems as indicated above. By paying close attention to all these problems and addressing them one at a time we help solve the problems and enhance good management of records in the Meteorological Department in Sierra Leone. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/records-management-in-government-agencies-in-sierra-leone,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Save the World? Can I Just Like You on Facebook?</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/save-the-world-can-i-just-like-you-on-facebook,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/save-the-world-can-i-just-like-you-on-facebook,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 28 Mar 2023 14:43:23 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=52</guid> <description><![CDATA[Although it may seem a bit early, I’d like you to imagine the end of the year office party at your environmental organization.Will you feel like breaking out the bubbly… or canceling the party altogether?What will dictate your mood? How will you know if you are satisfied with the progress you made this year?Will it [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Although it may seem a bit early, I’d like you to imagine the end of the year office party at your environmental organization.Will you feel like breaking out the bubbly… or canceling the party altogether?What will dictate your mood? How will you know if you are satisfied with the progress you made this year?Will it be that none of your staff had to be laid off? That more people attended your Earth Day street fair? That you all got raises? Or perhaps that you saved more white tigers, reclaimed more acres of native prairie, passed more environmental bills?Looking to your mission statement and organizational goals is helpful, of course. But defining success or defeat is probably more complicated than that. Clearly, there are many ways an environmental organization can define success.How about other people? Do they think you’ve succeeded?Let’s refocus for a second and consider what your donors would describe as your success.Because no matter what kind of mood you’re in at the end of the year, you want your donors to feel like you’re making progress.Why?Because a good chunk of prospects who donate to environmental organizations are inspired by action… your action. They love to see the good you’ve already proven you can accomplish. And most of all, they love to see what – specifically – their contribution to your organization has done to positively impact the world.So, before you can demonstrate the wonderful progress you’ve made… you have to define what your success will look like.Success and CommunicationSometimes looking for success can appear in odd places.Such as in your communication plan.By tracking how well your communications are working, you are indirectly analyzing your key indicators of success.See, it goes a little something like this:<br />Have a staff meeting and define success.</p><p>Staff decides… More preserved acres of native prairie!</p><p>Need to buy more acres of native prairie? Then we need more money.</p><p>Need more money? Then we need more grants and/or donations.</p><p>Need more donations? Then we need more members and donors.</p><p>Need more donors? Then we need…<br />Better communication!Whaaaaaat?Consider this. A Like or two on Facebook does more than make you feel popular.Everyone already knows the earth is in rough shape. And a thousand other environmental organizations are competing for the same people to spend 0.1 seconds and hit the Like button.But this person, who just hovered their thumb over their iPhone, choose you.And through that Like, or retweet, or share… what they’ve really done is spoken for you.In today’s world – however much we wish it weren’t so – the stellar scientific and preservation work you’re doing doesn’t speak for itself.And in a lot of cases, even YOU speaking for yourself doesn’t cut it.But… being popular on social media?That can cut it.And that’s where your communication goals come in.Satisfaction Guaranteed First, track how you’ve done so far.Convince some of those scientists you have on staff to help you analyze the algorithms most social networks provide for you.<br />Track how many Facebook updates you posted in week, how many of those Likes turned into new hits on your website, and how many of those new hits turned into new donations.</p><p>Then, take a look at the difference between the successful posts and the not-so-successful ones. Examine your wording, your images, the time of day you posted, and the day of the week you posted.</p><p>Do this across all your communication channels and social media. Analyze your fundraising appeals and email campaigns, radio spots and print ads. Change a headline or a teaser, and test it again. </p><p>Finally, map out a plan for the rest of the year. Sketch out the number and type of posts, newsletters, email fundraising campaigns, articles, case studies… Make a plan for who is going to create the content, and most importantly, budget the money and time to execute this plan.<br />And then? Picture how you’re going to celebrate at the end of the year party.That way, when you pop the bubbly and get inappropriately sloppy, at least you’ll have a solid reason to do it. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/save-the-world-can-i-just-like-you-on-facebook,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Secret About Fashion And You – Why Buy New When The Old Will Do</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/the-secret-about-fashion-and-you-why-buy-new-when-the-old-will-do,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/the-secret-about-fashion-and-you-why-buy-new-when-the-old-will-do,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:46:20 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fashion and Accessories]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=50</guid> <description><![CDATA[What does the word trendy mean in relation to fashion? Well simply answered, trendy means more up to date with what clothes/Jewelry you wear, more so than that of the person who chooses to snub in adorning themselves in latest fashion gear. In a nutshell: if dressed from head to toe in new designs from [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> What does the word trendy mean in relation to fashion? Well simply answered, trendy means more up to date with what clothes/Jewelry you wear, more so than that of the person who chooses to snub in adorning themselves in latest fashion gear. In a nutshell: if dressed from head to toe in new designs from Paris, Italy or London along with jewellery pieces of recent design – then you may be referred to by an onlooker as being trendy.However, keeping up with what is in fashion can leave you penniless because, most trendy designer labels come with a price tag that a fashion manic can ill afford. However, it is the uncontrollable urge to have those trendy clothes that hang on a boutique rail in the high street – that has you “the consumer” ignoring the warning signs of going overdrawn with your bank.To overcome this and still have money in your pocket is to set your own trend or style. Become a trend setter in your own right. Personalize those outfits hanging in the wardrobe collecting dust. Why buy new when the old will do. Think about it e.g. if you have garments hanging in the closet after a lengthy period of time is enough to tell you, that you are still attached to that little number (dress or frock).<br />If you feel the garment is past its sell by date (stale) then refresh it. (Wash or dry clean). Clothing is easily altered to appear fashionable and trendyColour coded material and accessories is, the key to what fashion is all about, but more importantly “you”, meaning: if you dislike the new updates on style, don`t wear them. Remember no one is out to pass judgement on the clothes you wear, however in saying that, if you follow designer fashion traits which do not compliment your shape or size then you may be faced with the possibility on being judged for looking hideous. (Fashion Freak)Remember in the world of fashion “What goes around comes around” For example: your clothes hanging in the cupboard were once trendy garments bearing a designer label at the time of purchase, so more the reason to take advantage – before repeat designs from the 1960s are created for the twentieth century at a price you can ill afford.Make the shawl trendy and fashionable.A shawl/shoulder wrap can liven up a plain sleeveless dress secured with a brooch/ornamental jewellery pin. Elbow draped shawls can be kept in place over the arms with bangles or bracelets. Concentrate on the shawl – and to where the jewellery clasp is to rest. (Nape of the neck – on the shoulder or clipped at the front) Personal preference prevails here. Two shawls (of light material) interwoven together in different shades is fashionable and trendy. You can always remove one shoulder wrap leaving you with what would appear to onlookers or admirers as another outfit. .Carry extra pieces of Jewelry in your handbag to claim yet another image.Be creative in thought, creativity results in trendy fashion gear. Make sure to jot down your ideas and conjure up images in your head and work from there. Low cut dresses can be smartened up with trendy fashionable neck decorations, i.e. shoe laces which come in different colours size and length, tie them in thin bows – plait them or even thread beads or pearls onto them. You can match the neckwear you have designed with wrist/ankle tie ups. This is more cost affective than buying expensive ribbons or chokers.The true feminine look in trendy fashion gear is the presence of head wear (Millinery hats). Save money: remove a shoulder pad from an old dress or jacket and cover in material of your choosing. Lace is a fine choice. Weave pearls, beads or buttons in and out of the lace or loop them around the edge. Sequins work well to. Have the lace cover the eyes or scrunch/fold it up on top of the padding. Take your time and you will be surprised at the result. Secure with hair grips.Regardless of what you wear, whether it is new trendy fashion gear or not, your own choice will leave you feeling like a million dollars. Fashion is about you; remember those famous words “It suits the wearer not the starer”. Now go out and knock them dead with your very own trend and let them stare all they want. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Let the beholder be YOU </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/the-secret-about-fashion-and-you-why-buy-new-when-the-old-will-do,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>All About Fashion and Fashion Week</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/all-about-fashion-and-fashion-week,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/all-about-fashion-and-fashion-week,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2023 22:02:09 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Fashion and Accessories]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=43</guid> <description><![CDATA[Fashion is the general style or custom of clothing worn at any given time. The word “fashion” comes from the years when people described a woman who was well dressed as a “fashion plate”.Whether or not it had a name, fashion has always been important to women. Now it seems to be almost as important [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Fashion is the general style or custom of clothing worn at any given time. The word “fashion” comes from the years when people described a woman who was well dressed as a “fashion plate”.Whether or not it had a name, fashion has always been important to women. Now it seems to be almost as important to men. Beau Brummell is probably the most well known and talked about male fashion plate in history. His colorful clothing and accessories were copied by men all over Europe.Couturiers with famous names such as Worth, Dior, Balenciaga, Chanel had famous fashion houses in Paris. These were the haute couture designers that every other fashion designer since has aspired to become. In spite of Prêt a Porter (French for ready made or off the rack) the world still looks to Paris first when fashion is concerned. Today, although fashion designers and models come from all over the world, fashion week in Paris is still the most exciting event of the year.Fashion changes nearly instantly. Each season welcomes in a different style, color, hem length, and designer. Today the person who follows fashion like a slave is called a fashionista. Some fashionistas look ridiculous in the new styles but they wear them anyway.The media is very important to fashion and can rightly take credit for the spread of each new style and trend over the world map. Fashion blogs are the newest manner of communicating the newest fashion. Prior to blogs there were fashion web sites, columns in newspapers and magazines, fashion magazines. One of the most famous fashion magazines is Vogue. It was founded in 1892 and it is the longest lasting fashion magazine in the world with versions being published in England, France, Italy, Germany and other countries. Vogue’s influence grew after W.W. II. Ready to wear designers and perfume companies were their largest advertisers. In the 50′, 60′s 70′s television was featured on television shows such as Today and other morning shows.A few years ago, Project Runway became one of the most watched reality shows on television. Each season a new designer is launched with his/her own fashion line. The show is sponsored by a well known department store, hair care company, and make-up company. The judges are a model, a fashion magazine editor, a famous designer and a weekly guest. This program watches a group of people who want to become fashion designers go through each stage of the competition. At the end, the three remaining designers compete with a line they put together in a month or two. This is presented at Mercedes Benz fashion week in Bryant Park, N.Y. The winner gets a large check to work at producing his/her own line which will be carried at the major department store.Fashion Week is a big industry event. There is one held in each of the large fashion capitals. This week the biggest fashion houses and designers display their newest designs and styles. There is a fashion week in Paris, Milan, London, and New York. These weeks occur twice a year for autumn/winter fashions and spring/summer fashions. They are held many months in advance so that the buyers and the magazine editors can see the designs prior to ordering them for their venue. The first week of women’s wear is New York followed by London, Milan and Paris. The men’s wear lines are shown in between in Milan.Fashion weeks are also held in other places for specific types of clothing such as swim wear and cruise wear in Miami. In fact, there are fashion weeks in many U.S. cities for several different types of clothing. You can probably find an alphabetical listing online if you want to go to one. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/all-about-fashion-and-fashion-week,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>An Inside Look at the Importance of a Smile in Sales</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/an-inside-look-at-the-importance-of-a-smile-in-sales,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/an-inside-look-at-the-importance-of-a-smile-in-sales,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:26:13 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Auctions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Audio Streaming]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Banner Advertising]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Businesses Online]]></category> <category><![CDATA[E Books]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ecommerce]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Forums]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Link Popularity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[List Building]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Podcasting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Publishing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Search Engine Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Site Promotion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Networking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Traffic Building]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Design]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Development]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Hosting]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=32</guid> <description><![CDATA[If you’re in sales, then you’ve probably heard all sorts of advice, from “don’t oversell” to “focus on solving problems.” However, one of the best pieces of advice that many forget is to smile! After all, your smile is one of the first features people notice about you, and it plays an essential role in [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you’re in sales, then you’ve probably heard all sorts of advice, from “don’t oversell” to “focus on solving problems.” However, one of the best pieces of advice that many forget is to smile! After all, your smile is one of the first features people notice about you, and it plays an essential role in the first impression you make. Keep reading to learn all about the importance of a smile in sales (as well as how cosmetic dentistry can help!).</p><p>Smile: Your Sale Depends on It!</p><p>Knowing your product and knowing your audience are key in sales. However, you don’t get far if your client doesn’t trust you or believe you. That’s why it’s so important to make a good first impression! Here are a few ways a smile can help:</p><p>• Smiling is more powerful than you might think – One study found that smiling has the same effect on our brain as $25,000 in cash!</p><p>• Smiling communicates your state of mind – Smiling is a non-verbal cue that you are happy to be where you are, that you are confident in your product, and that you are ready and willing to help.</p><p>• Smiling creates a ripple effect of positivity – Have you ever seen a friend yawn and done the same? Or seen someone take a sip of water and immediately realized you’re thirsty? Thanks to the mirroring neurons in our brains, we naturally mimic the behavior of those around us.</p><p>But What If You Don’t Like Your Smile?</p><p>If you don’t like your smile, don’t worry – that’s where cosmetic dentistry comes in. Whether you’re struggling with misaligned, misshapen, cracked, or otherwise imperfect teeth, your smile goals aren’t out of reach. The first step? Scheduling an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist. For both my father and myself, providing high-quality, personalized, and judgment-free dentistry is a passion. There’s truly nothing better than seeing someone walk out of our office with a dazzling, confident smile! So, don’t wait to make your dream smile a reality – it could make all of the difference when it comes to your personal and professional life!</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/an-inside-look-at-the-importance-of-a-smile-in-sales,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Best Job In The World?</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/the-best-job-in-the-world,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/the-best-job-in-the-world,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:25:21 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Adventure Travel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Airline Travel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aviation Airplanes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Budget Travel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Camping]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Car Rentals]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Charter Jets]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sailing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Travel and Leisure]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Travel Planning]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vacation Homes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vacation Rentals]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=30</guid> <description><![CDATA[1999 was probably the worst year of my professional life. Unsatisfying office jobs followed by long periods of unemployment and claiming benefits. I’d also missed out on an opportunity to train as a Microsoft certified programmer because I was unable to find a placement. The dream of making my way into the world of employment [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>1999 was probably the worst year of my professional life. Unsatisfying office jobs followed by long periods of unemployment and claiming benefits. I’d also missed out on an opportunity to train as a Microsoft certified programmer because I was unable to find a placement. The dream of making my way into the world of employment had turned into an absolute nightmare, at times I felt like a total failure.</p><p>Towards the end of 1999 an opportunity arose for me to work in a casino. I’d always loved card games after seeing the glitz and glamour of casinos in James Bond movies. Dissatisfied with life in Northern Ireland, at the age of just 20, I packed a couple of suitcases and ended up going to the Isle of Man to train as a croupier (casino dealer) in January 2000. 18 months later I was working on my first cruise ship, and 18 months after that I was boarding the QE2 (the most famous ship of them all) to do a world cruise.</p><p>For a young man from a housing estate in Antrim, Northern Ireland this was beyond even my wildest dreams. On a ferry from Belfast to Liverpool in 1997, I’d once seen a pontoon table and croupier and dreamt what it may be to work as a casino dealer on the high seas.</p><p>Everything aboard the QE2 was as you would expect, starting with Captain Ron Warwick, who looked exactly what the captain of the QE2 should look like (Google the name if you don’t believe me). Passenger facing crew were immaculate in their appearance. I could probably have shaved with the crease on my pressed tuxedo shirts, and on a number of occassions when I had been sunburnt in port, I could feel the creases cutting into my tender skin as I dealt the cards that evening in the casino.</p><p>The great thing for croupiers on cruise ships is that they only work when the ship is in international waters, in port, the casino must close, and casino staff are free to do pretty much whatever they want. Casino staff have a cabin steward who cleans their cabin and takes away their dirty laundry and brings it back fresh each day. We did a 103 day world cruise which included stops in places like Hong Kong, Sydney, Cape Town, Hawaii, Mauritius, Nagasaki, Tahiti and Singapore to name a few. I managed to do some amazing excursions like diving in the great barrier reef, quad biking in the Namibian desert, and dining in all sorts of fine restaurants, trying delicacies like Springbok, Kangaroo, Crocodile and Kobe beef. We made stops in 5 continents, crossed the equator and even experienced living a Tuesday in consequetive days when we crossed the world timeline. Imagine that, you go to bed on Tuesday night, wake up the following morning and its Tuesday again, but this was far from groundhog day.</p><p>The role in the casino was not about taking passengers’ money like in a land-based casino, it was about providing them with fun and entertainment. The passengers were friendly and pleasant, many of them being extremely successful people (I understand the lowest cabin cost for a world cruise on the QE2 was about $50,000 in 2003). A lot of the passengers had never played in a casino and were fascinated to learn and experience the one onboard. Just getting to know some of these people was an experience in itself, and a large part of the role in the casino was simply to entertain them whilst they were in the casino.</p><p>There were also celebrity passengers. We would finish work and go to the crew/members bar where we would have guest entertainers like the late Des O’Connor and the magician, the late Paul Daniels down to have a drink. God bless them both.</p><p>Was my job the best job in the world? Maybe not for everyone, but it was beyond even my wildest dreams and the 6 month experience, as well as the amazing people I met will be something I treasure forever. I was very lucky to have lived this experience and will always be incredibly grateful for it.</p><p>Many years have passed since then and I’ve always missed the buzz of casinos which is how Fun 21 Casino Hire was created in 2021. My celebrities now are anyone who hires the No Money Fun Casino that I provide for parties and celebrations, and I aim to give the same experience that you would expect onboard the QE2.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/the-best-job-in-the-world,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Avoiding a bad home in advance</title> <link>https://rcwvvms.info/avoiding-a-bad-home-in-advance,html</link> <comments>https://rcwvvms.info/avoiding-a-bad-home-in-advance,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:24:30 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Building]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Buying]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Commercial]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Commercial Property]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Construction]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Home]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Home Staging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Property Management]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Real Estate]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://rcwvvms.info/?p=28</guid> <description><![CDATA[Avoiding a bad home in advance. Have you ever had a client who was a buyer “in today’s market” make an offer, get the offer accepted, only to back out after a bad home inspection? Well.. in order to limit this there are some things you as a Realtor can look for while showing the [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Avoiding a bad home in advance.</p><p>Have you ever had a client who was a buyer “in today’s market” make an offer, get the offer accepted, only to back out after a bad home inspection? Well.. in order to limit this there are some things you as a Realtor can look for while showing the home to your client that are definitely red flags, and at least could be brought up so the client isn’t surprised by a bad report. As a home Inspector and owner of SafeHome Home Inspections (www.safetulsa.com) the easiest thing to look at for somebody who is not trained is a bad electric panel.</p><p>A “Bad” electric panel in the eyes of any home inspector means “unsafe” or less safe than other panels. It has been determined by studies, lawsuits, etc that these panels are not desirable.</p><p>Here is a list of bad panels that are very common in the Tulsa area. These panels are likely present in your local market as well, and every or nearly every home inspector will call them out in the report as in need of further evaluation for replacement: Zinsco, FPE (Federal Pacific Electric) Stab-lok, Challenger. These are the most common “bad” panels that I run into here in Tulsa.</p><p>You don’t need to do very much work to identify these panels, oftentimes they are labeled somewhere in plain sight. A word of caution though, the access door is fairly easy to open most of the time but you should never open the deadpan front cover, It’s dangerous and would require tools anyway and you might as well leave something for the inspector to do .</p><p>I could go into detail about why these electric panels are dangerous and the different studies that have been done about them over the years but why bore you with that? If you want more information you can do a quick google search on any of these brands or look up one of the main studies by Mechanical and Materials engineer Dr. Jesse Aronstein titled “Hazardous FPE circuit breakers and panels: Information for Homeowners, Inspectors, and Electricians”</p><p>While you may not have to avoid a home like this completely, letting the buyer know in advance will at least prepare them so there isn’t a shock on the report, and who knows, maybe a seller will still be willing to change out the panel “in today’s market”. If so, that’s a major win for the customer and a great value to your client.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://rcwvvms.info/avoiding-a-bad-home-in-advance,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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