Microsoft Great Plains - Payroll & HR Inexpensive Solution? Not Any More

Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions accounting package for the US market. You should probably expect some issues when you have software development company to be bought by big player - in this case Great Plains Software was bought by Microsoft (Bill Gates was a friend to Doug Burgum - owner and leader of Great Plains Software - Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise). We certainly have some influence level in Microsoft Business Solutions, but what happened is out of our decision level and this is really sad story.

OK. Let's go to the story itself. Imagine - you are small company who serves to your clients as payroll/Humane Resources outsourcer. Old-days Great Plains Dynamics on Ctree or Pervasive SQL/Btrieve was excellent and inexpensive solution. You could have all your clients need installed on your home computer somewhere in Southern States, enjoying the sun and the niceties of California for k$2 per year with Great Plains software list price of around k$10 with unlimited number of Payroll/HR employees

Now - you have sudden hurricane - over Florida - somebody who is in charge in Microsoft - but really without clear understanding on what is in stake - this person needs to retune the cheap Great Plains version. Good - now you have Small Business Manager with restriction on employee count, then you have so-called Great Plains Standard which is available on MSDE and MS SQL Server 2000 - it caps you at 500 employees and ... - as a result of this decision - you can't conduct your business with Microsoft Business Solutions any more.

We have multiple examples of our customers who had to switch to Accpac, Adapta Soft and other cheap vendors of Payroll HR versions without limitation on the number of employees. We do certainly respect the right of Microsoft to compete with Oracle, SAP and PeopleSoft - but what is going on is probably non-planned and side effect of the solution which was made too soon. Of course the need to finish the contract with Pervasive software was a good idea - but cutting your small loyal customers - we actually doubt this

Happy implementing! if you want us to do the job - give us a call!

A Piano Thanksgiving - Help Your Child in Piano Lessons Count Their Musical Blessings

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to for families to give thanks for all the blessings they have received over the past year. It's also a great time to teach your children to do the same. Children taking piano lessons, because they are supported by so many people, have a wonderful opportunity to learn this tradition. You can help them realize how many people are in their musical community of support who play an important role in helping them reach their goals. One of the most difficult concepts young adults learn is how much others give to their success, and not to take such efforts on their behalf for granted. For most piano students these efforts would include the work of:

1. Piano Teachers

2. Their Parents and Family

3. Friends who recognize their need to practice

4. Music teachers at school.

5. Choruses they may also be involved in at school or church.

6. Family members who give them music gifts such as CD's or music books.

7. The Piano Technician who tunes your piano and keeps it good playing condition.

8. Other piano students who share their enthusiasm for music with them.

9. The local music store that provides a great selection of music for teachers to choose for their students.

10. The Piano Sales Gallery that also provides a wonderful piano and Recital Hall where students perform for their family and friends and for auditions.

There is a lot for piano students to be thankful for. Helping kids learn to be appreciative early pays off in the long run. So take a few minutes at the dinner table this holiday season to help your piano student give thanks for all their musical blessings.

Sterling Silver Jewelry Fashion Trends for the New Year and Beyond

Each year, on fashion runways from New York to Paris, Milan, and Toyko, sterling silver is "new again" as designers interpret it in new and exciting ways. What makes sterling silver a fashion perennial? The answer is clear: when it comes to beauty, versatility, durability, and affordability, sterling silver jewelry is unsurpassed.

In the hands of talented artists and designers, sterling silver is constantly "reinvented" to suit the evolving tastes of the women who wear it. But whether as a ring, a necklace, or bracelet, standing alone or presented in combination with gemstones and other precious metals...sterling silver is always in fashion.

Here's a look at what's "hot" this year:

Peace of Silver

In 2004, many Oscar presenters and recipients wore gracefully and simply designed "Dove of Peace." pin. Embraced by such Hollywood luminaries as Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Drew Barrymore, and Leonardo DiCaprio, it has also been seen on the Dali Lama and Nobel Peace Laureates Oscar Aria Sanchez, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, and former UN Assistant Secretary-General Gillian Sorrensom.

Now non-celebrities may purchase the pin in sterling silver pin to demonstrate both their commitment to peace and their fashion sense. The 2005 sterling silver interpretation was designed by award-winning American jewelry artist Henry Dunay to resonate the energy of Picasso's "Dove Of Peace."

Silver Screen

With the enormous popularity of the "Lord of the Rings" series, it comes as no surprise that designers have created jewelry based on the elaborately crafted pieces in the films. Based on the actual pendant worn in the Lord of the Rings film, the Arwen Evenstar Pendant is crafted in sterling silver and comes in a wooden gift box. Measuring 2-1/2 inches in length with a 18" sterling silver chain and a Swarovski crystal stone, each piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, adding long-term value to its other charms.

Works Like A Charm

Charm bracelets are both wonderfully retro and extremely cutting edge. Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Levigne, Hilary Duff, and other high-visibility high-fashion celebrities are wrapping their wrists in silver bracelets with the hip L.A. brand "Eldorado Club."

The "Girlie Charm Bracelet" is adorned with charming femme-friendly charms including a cat, a cocktail glass, and a kitty.

Sterling Silver - Always In Style for Your 25th Anniversary No matter what list you consult -- traditional, modern or the now popular "ultra-modern" (which includes items like clocks and appliances) -- silver is the 21st Century gift of choice for a 25th wedding anniversary. Whether it's silver's durability, its strength, its flexibility or its unparalleled beauty, sterling silver is an exquisite memento of 25 years of loving commitment between a couple.

Topping the list of this year's "What's Hot" in silver wedding anniversary gifts, women say they want charm bracelets, hoop earrings, and hair ornaments. For wives who would like to present their husbands with sterling silver tokens, the "top of the charts" picks are cufflinks, tie clips, money clips, neck chains, and I.D. bracelets.

But #1 for him AND her -- a classic sterling silver Tiffany keyring.

Honda Super Cub and 50cc Honda Cub - The Volkswagen Beetle of Motorcycles!

A very clever design: the Honda Super Cub was the combination of a moped and a scooter. It attracted many people due to its friendly and non intimidating look. People who before had felt threatened by bigger motorcycles, approached and adopted this model very quickly.

It was a versatile motorcycle and had enough power to carry two passengers or a passenger with luggage. Its large diameter tires and wide seats made the ride almost as comfortable as the touring bikes from that time.

>> Honda 50cc Cub and Super Cub FACTS

- In 1952 Honda built 7000 units of this bike which represented the 70% of the entire production of Japanese motorcycles for that year.

- Thanks to this model Honda Motorcycles were absolute market leaders during 1953 and 1954.

It's worth mentioning that those were very competitive days. There were many manufacturers competing for a very fast growing and demanding market.

- The Honda Super Cub was the equivalent of the Ford T or the Volkswagen Beetle for automobiles. As of 1992 Honda Motorcycles had built 20 million of these machines.

- The Honda 50cc Super Cub was exported to 120 countries.

As the Volkswagen Beetle, the Honda Super Cub didn't change much through time. Just take a look at the technical data below:

1959 Honda Super Cub Specifications

-> Four stroke horizontal engine. -> 49 cc of displacement -> Three speed semi-automatic gearbox. -> U-shaped frame in stamped steel. -> Weight: 155 lbs. (70 kg.) -> Speed: 35 mph (57 kph)

1992 Honda Super Cub Specifications

-> Four stroke horizontal engine. -> 49 cc of displacement -> Three speed semi-automatic gearbox. -> U-shaped frame in stamped steel. -> *Weight: 122 lbs. (55 kg.) -> *Speed: 50 mph (80 kph)

Enjoy the ride!

Daniel Levy

Legal Pointers to Help You Choose the Right Piece of Land

The one area that comes to mind when we think about how too many choices make our decision hard is Real Estate. There are too many options available in terms of commercial and residential property. Whether it is a flat, independent house, villa, booth, plot, etc., there's something lucrative and appropriate for everyone. Many people buy plots for commercial purposes. They may want to build a shop or a booth there, or a place for their tuition or dance center. Endless business ideas culminate in buying a plot as the first step. But it is not a joke. Serious consideration and effort must go behind the purchase of a commercial plot.

Commercial plots are much harder to look for and buy as compared to residential ones. The location for your business must be a prime one, the transportation should be such that your place of business is accessible and I should be financially viable. Once your money is given away for the purchase, it could a real hassle for you if the choice turns out to be the wrong one. To avoid all that, you must make sure that you do research on your plot, compare with others, ascertain the market rates and ensure that your location suits your business and company as well. A wrong choice could harm your business. So take your time, there is no hurry.

The legal hassles involved in buying a plot are many. The seller should give you all the original legal documents beforehand so that you can scrutinize properly. Some of the legal tips are -

* Make sure you acquire the services of a good lawyer who can help you avoid some major or minor loopholes that property documents entail.

* Confirm the legal status of the plot before even thinking of purchasing it.

* You must know who the plot belongs to. The ownership should not ever be a grey area.

* Make sure nobody else is involved in selling the property. You should opt to see the plot's previous deeds as well.

* Make inquiries in all the official places to see if there is something that has been hidden from you.

* Beware of being handed over a liability by checking if all the taxes have been paid so far or not.

* Any balance payments, in fact, must be paid already by the seller like the electricity and water bills. No notice or requisition related to your property should be outstanding.

* Check from the registrar office if your plot has any dues or complaints of the legal nature.

* Make sure that if the seller had bought the plot on loan, then he should have returned the whole amount that was due.

* Measure the plot. This is important. Many property dealers exploit the trust you put in them. You select a plot and are content that is exactly what you will own after the purchase. But before the purchase, ascertain the size that you had specified. Keep visiting your plot location regularly so that nobody can rob you of even an inch of your property.

Buying a plot is a decision taken with patience and calm. Start off your commercial success by buying a safe and good commercial plot.

Home Spun Schools - Teaching Children at Home What Parents Are Doing and How They Are Doing It

In this day and age we often find that, the more we know the more we still have to learn. Whether it is in discovering that the moon or Mars may contain water to finding new species of ocean life, we continually come to the conclusion that there is much left to discover and learn about our universe and about ourselves.

This is also the case when it comes to the field of education. It wasn't that long ago that children were receiving formal education in a one room schoolhouse with all age groups in attendance. This well-meant approach quickly revealed many problems. In addition to the difficulty controlling the older children to not unduly influence other children of a younger age, there was the problem of reaching all minds with the standard curriculum regardless of age or level of comprehension.

Thus, it was in the best interest of children that we began addressing these discrepancies by assigning grade levels deemed appropriate to their age level. This was a marked improvement to teaching according to comprehension level to a great degree, with one exception: it was discovered that, regardless of same age to grade assignment, many children weren't comprehending the curriculum at the same level as others in their peer grouping.

Enter the specialized educational opportunities commonly referred to as private or special education geared to individual ability. However, the standard form of education still remained within the public educational format. It was apparent though that neither of these venues were completely satisfying. Either the private schooling was economically out of reach for many children in need of special education or the public system was still too much in the cookie cutter mold mentality. In recent years, there has emerged a third form of education: homeschooling.

In addition to the concerns of parents as to the quality of education their children receive within the private or public school system, there is also a very real concern as to what type environment their precious children are being exposed to. It has become apparent to many that the private and public school systems are becoming less about educating children as they are more about indoctrinating them into a world view contrary to the wishes of many parents.

Into this field of concern come pioneers to the homeschooling movement Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore. The many years of research and documentation have led them to the forefront of this latest phenomenon to educating today's children. Among the many books they have published over the years, one of those books is titled "Home-spun Schools".

This book offers two vitally needed areas of information for any parent considering homeschooling their child: the testimony of the parents themselves and the legalese to know where to turn, so you don't run afoul of the laws pertaining to homeschooling in your state.

There are chapters covering a wide range of everyday citizens desirous to take control of their children's education and, by default, their future. Every walk of life is represented in "Home-spun Schools" to give you the encouragement needed when considering the option of homeschooling. There are entries from bankers, builders, dentists, nurses, as well as teachers and single parents.

In addition, in chapter 13 titled "How To Deal With The Law" you will find common sense approaches to determine the legal rights you have as a parent to home school your child. There are test cases as well as a wide range of information to ensure you are standing on legal ground.

In "Home-spun Schools" the Moores have painstakingly documented the voice of all of us, as well as given us a solid start regarding the law, to provide incredible evidence that children deserve the best opportunity to succeed in their education and their life, and that can include the decision to home school.