8 things to consider before retiring

Save, save and save some more is one of the mantras of retirement preparation. These days, it's been joined by "work, work and work some more." People have responded to investment, employment and housing shocks by deciding to continue working. Some surveys show people are typically adding a full five years onto their employment plans.This would be a huge financial and lifestyle change for older Americans, if it happens. For years, retirement surveys have found a large gap between when people say they plan to retire and when they actually mothball their office and factory wardrobes. Consistently, actual retirements have occurred nearer age 62, the earliest date at which people can elect to begin receiving Social Security benefits. This has been several years earlier, on average, than the dates pre-retirees say they plan to stop working.So, first off, let's wait and see what actual retirement patterns look like once the economy has settled into what appears to be a sustained period of disappointingly low growth. Before this can happen, of course, we need to get past the congressional impasse on the nation's debt ceiling and deficit crises while avoiding, let's hope, a repeat visit to Recessionland.More from U.S. News World Report The best places to retire But as you consider your own retirement prospects, here's a checklist of investment and income matters you should review:Work-retirement tradeoff. For each additional year you work, you should be able to generate an additional two to three years of retirement coverage.There is, of course, the extra year of work itself. Presumably, you will be spending Rosetta Stone American English none of your retirement nest egg during that year, and, let's hope, you will be adding to your savings. Let's say this adds 6% to your nest egg (the 4% you didn't spend and 2% in new savings). You'll also be getting an extra year of earnings on your retirement funds. That should be worth another 6%.Lastly, you can extend the age at which you begin collecting Social Security. Social Security benefits rise by roughly 8% a year for each year you delay taking benefits between ages 62 and 70. That's 12% more in your nest egg and 8% tacked onto your Social Security income for each year you continue working. The added income may even raise your Social Security benefit if you earn enough to raise your lifetime wage base.Longevity and retirement. Once you turn 65, you'll live, on average, an another 18 (men) to 20 (women) years, current longevity statistics say. Your retirement savings will need to stretch over a shorter period should you keep working until age 70.International investments. Traditionally, diversification of retirement investment portfolios has been about asset classes. You made sure there was an appropriate balance between stocks and bonds, and paid attention to the risk and return characteristics within each type of asset. Increasingly, your investment mix needs to become focused on foreign holdings.

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A woman in space

in Mathematics Economics Image Credit: NASA In the early years of the "space race" (1957-1975) two men sought to test a scientifically simple yet culturally complicated theory: that women might be innately better suited for space travel than men. In 1960 the thought of a woman in space was a radical one, and justifiably so. On the ground 75% of American women did not work outside the home and females were banned from military flight service altogether. In marriage, wives were required to have their husband's permission to take out a bank loan, buy property, or purchase large household goods such as a refrigerator. Despite the social odds, a Harvard-educated surgeon and a U.S. Air Force General sought to determine if, from a purely practical perspective, women were suitable for space flight. The latest look at the intersection of physiology, spaceflight and politics is captured in a new article entitled "A Forgotten Moment in Physiology: The Lovelace Woman in Space Program (1960-1962)," written by Kathy Ryan, Jack Loeppky and Donald Kilgore*. Their article appears in the September edition of Advances in Physiology, a publication of the American Physiological Society (APS; the-aps.org/press). The APS has been an integral part of the scientific discovery process since it was founded in 1887. The Mercury 7In 1957, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) launched Sputnik, the first unmanned orbital satellite, thus formalizing the race for space. The following year the U.S. government established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and in April 1959, NASA introduced the seven men who would comprise the first American astronaut group, better known as the Mercury 7 crew. Individually, the Mercury members made six flights between 1961 and 1963 of which two would reach space, defined as 62 miles above earth. In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. Two Men's Vision for SpaceSometime before the mid-1950s two men had begun to seriously discuss the possibility of sending a woman rather than a man into space. One of the men was William R. ("Randy") Lovelace, II, a Harvard-educated physician, surgeon and aeromedical Rosetta Stone Language physiologist. During his years at the Mayo Clinic Lovelace co-developed a much-needed high altitude mask that delivered oxygen to pilots while in flight. At the time, aircraft cabins were not pressurized which lead to hypoxia-induced errors and accidents by pilots. Upon leaving Mayo he established the private Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research, which received government contracts throughout the '50s to conduct aerospace research. Lovelace was also among the team of experts who developed the physiological, medical and psychological criteria by which astronaut candidates were assessed and selected, including the Mercury 7 team. General Donald Flickinger, Air Force chief of bioastronautics at the Air Force Air Research and Development Command (ARDC), was a member of the NASA Special Advisory Committee on Life Sciences and a friend and oft-time collaborator with Lovelace. In 1959 Flickinger established the Woman in Space Earliest (WISE) program at ARDC. Thereafter, he and Lovelace began to contemplate plans for testing women in space. Their proposition was based purely on physiology and practicality. They recognized that women's lighter weights would reduce the amount of propulsion fuel being used by the rocket's load and that women would require less auxiliary oxygen than men. They knew that women had fewer heart attacks than men and their reproductive system was thought to be less susceptible to radiation than a male's. Finally, preliminary data suggested that women could outperform men in enduring cramped spaces and prolonged isolation. The Mercury 13 Women Before WISE testing could begin the Air Force announced that it would no longer pursue the program. In response, Lovelace established a privately funded effort, the Woman in Space Program, in 1959. A total of 19 women were enrolled, most of whom had been selected from flight schools.

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California Schools

Education is essential for societal, financial, and intellectual needs. Taking the time to explore schools for your children is the first step to ensuring a bright education.? It is important to explore public school options in your area as well as discovering the school district you are a part of. By looking up school districts, you are able to access information on school spending, as well as strengths and weaknesses in areas of education within that school district.Primary School is the first step in most children's education. Starting between the ages of 4 and 5, primary school is designed to prepare children for basic education structures as well as begin basic group social interactions. Introduction to a primary school helps children transition more easily into elementary and middle school.It is important to look into all the public schools within your school district ahead of time so you can provide the best education for your children. Becoming active in public school boards and further involving yourself in your children's schools will keep you aware of how your child's education system is being run.About CaliforniaAlthough California is one of the most expensive places in America to live, it still attracts thousands of individuals every year who wish to call the Golden State "Home". California is known for it's fast –paced lifestyle and abundance of opportunity, recreation, and entertainment. Aside Discount Rosetta Stone from being the most populous state, California is also renowned for its famous companies and places. Another unique quality to California is its diverse climate.? So whether you want to call it home or just explore all the variety it has to offer, California is an essential travel destination spot. Make the most out of a day at home. Provide cuddling and an ear to listen. Tender comfort through touch can actually nurture a sick child towards wellness.A sick child is inevitable and it may seem as if it happens at the worst time. Remember that your child(ren) are very precious and there will be many job and career choices that you can win at, so you are allowed to fail. But is you fail at being a loving parent, there is no winning for anyone. Trust your instincts when determining the level of your child's sickness. Ask for help. And above all, trust God. Nothing is occurring today that has not passed through His hands first. He knows both you and your family before you were formed in your mothers womb.Prayer changes things. I always pray for favor on my job and favor with anyone in contact with my child.

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Study at Home and Earn a Nation High School Diploma

Life is full of opportunities and adventures for those who seek them. There is always a door that can take you into a wonderful new alternate world where you can live a life much different than the one you are currently living. However, you will have to work to find out these doors of opportunity. One quick short cut to finding that door is getting education.Education does not only open the door to new jobs and more income, it also opens your mind so that you could think creatively and make wiser decisions. Education had always been the core driving agent behind the development of human civilization. The humankind developed a system where the knowledge was transferred from one individual to others, and then those others transferred it to many more. However, some people were not lucky enough to go through a proper procedure of obtaining credentials to prove their academic skills. Each year thousands of students drop out of high schools without graduating.Nation High School provides an opportunity to get a high school diploma. Nation High School is an online school offering high school diploma programs. One of these programs is Nation High School's Rosetta Stone study at home high school diploma.Nation High School's study at home diploma is a unique program that allows students to study at their own pace and from anywhere. Nation High School provides interactive online classes accessible to students 24/7; students can take classes whenever they want. The main mission of Nation High School is to make education affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. To achieve this goal, Nation High School has reduced their fee structure to a very minimum level. Recently they waived off admission fee, admission-processing fee, and even online classes fee. This has significantly reduced the cost of attending Nation High School.High School Diploma awarded by Nation High school has global accreditation, which means it is recognized and accepted all over the world. This unique feature also makes Nation High School diploma, a much better GED alternative program.?The administration at Nation High School believes that with the ease and flexibility of their high school diploma program, they would be able to attract many students particularly those who desperately need a high school diploma to excel in their lives. Nation High School provides a smaller first goal to people who have big dreams and want to pursue higher goals.

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Real Estate Relocation? Moving Home, Kids and School

The big move...Okay, that would be ANY move! It all begins innocently enough. You start looking at homes on the Internet, then in the Sunday paper;? you might even stop by an Open House or a New Home Development. Suddenly, the bug has you! It's time to buy the next home! If you have children, the schools will play a big role in how well your family fares. And if you don't have children, you should know that the schools also play a big role in how your home's equity will do over time. There is a symbiotic relationship between the enviable equity gain in neighborhoods that are served by good schools, and good schools created by strong neighborhoods. A wonderful exchange. For those of you with children, you are probably of the mindset that you want the BEST schools for YOUR KIDS, whether they be public or private schools. TIP: You may find it easier to learn about the schools before shopping for your next home.Doing so, will keep your homes shopping trips in a well defined area. Doing so will also keep you from falling in love with a home that is in the wrong school district. How will you choose your next home as it relates to your children's school?? My suggestion is to hire a Realtor that is school savvy. How do you find one?? Just ask the Realtor what they specialize in-a school specialist is what you are looking for.Then, jump right in. Your Realtor should be able to guide you to the right resources, much of it online.? As you know, each child is different; yours may be a bookworm, an athlete, or a drama queen/king...maybe you have one of each! You know better than anyone else Rosetta Stone does, what you expect your schools to provide for your kids, so do the research on your own as well. Use the Internet, speak with other parents, check out the schools individual web site. Be hands on! Did you know that you can even get a guided tour of the school?? Many schools have? parents that volunteer and specilize in the school tour. These volunteers will give you a great overview of the school, you can choose to do this with or without your children present. Call the school you are interested in and if they offer it, get yourself on the schedule! Continue with area research on various recreational activities and their availability.? What works well for one family's set of values, may not work well for your family at all. Ever. Checking out the schools should be a relatively easy task. It's not though. Not in Charlotte NC. The Charlotte Mecklenburg School system is the largest in the state of North Carolina. The tools to search on line, are readily available, but a bit overwhelming with 172 public schools and more schools being added to the list each year. The scores are not readily available on your new schools, as they arrive in arrears. Call your local Realtor,? talk to them about their knowledge of the schools. Share your needs with them, what your family is all about. We all have our special niches. In the Charlotte real estate market, mine happens to be the schools.

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Continues to Aggressively Combat Distribution of Counterfeit Products

Company Announces Settlements with Five Individuals for Copyright and Trademark Infringement ARLINGTON, Va. --Inc. (NYSE:RST), a leading provider of technology-based language-learning solutions, announced today that the company has reached settlements in cases against Julian Tibbs, Hassan Bahri, Pablo Reiss as well as two individuals whose names are being withheld, for copyright and trademark infringement. Each of these individuals were selling counterfeit ? language learning software and/or offering to distribute download links to torrent sites linking to unauthorized copies ofsoftware. The settlements occurred between April 23, 2009 and May 14, 2009.“The company’s decision to settle these cases, rather than pursing civil lawsuits and criminal actions, was based on the willingness of each of the infringers to fully cooperate with our investigations,” said Michael Wu, general counsel, . “We are pleased that these infringers agreed Rosetta Stone to take full responsibility for their actions and paydamages that were substantially higher than the money the in fringers collected from their illegal sales.”continues to build zero tolerance programs to identify in fringers and cut down on software piracy, including the unauthorized copying, downloading, sharing and selling of software as part of its commitment to help protect its customers and maintain the integrity of the products customers purchase. For more information please. For additional media information please visit. About is changing the way the world learns languages.offers an interactive solution that is acclaimed for its speed and power to unlock the natural language-learning ability in everyone. Available in more than 30 languages, the language-learning solution is used by schools, organizations and millions of individuals in over 150 countries throughout the world. The company was founded in 1992 on the core beliefs that learning a language should be natural and instinctive, and that interactive technology can replicate and activate the immersion method powerfully for learners of any age. “” is a registered trademarkLtd.

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GlobalEnglish Gathers Industry Leaders in Munich for GlobalExchanges EMEA

Global English Corporation, the leading provider of on-demand learning and support for business English communication, today announced Global Exchanges EMEA 2010 will be held in Munich, Germany on September 14-15. With English as the common language for rising economies and rapidly emerging markets across the globe, forward-thinking companies are seeing why English is a strategic imperative for peak organizational performance and a competitive advantage in these markets. Global Exchanges EMEA brings together leaders from some of the world's largest corporations to share best practices to address the growing communication capability challenges within global workforces.Speakers from Arcelor Mittal, Kempinski Hotels, ABB, Maersk, Underwriters Laboratories and Procter & Gamble will lead presentations on how they are aligning their English development programs with business needs and measuring the success of such programs across the globe. "Global business requires a common language and English has become the language of choice," says Deepak Desai, President and CEO of Global English Corporation. "An estimated 2 billion people world-wide want stronger English skills right now. This has caused a 'network effect' that continues to grow. The more people adopt English -- the more others want to as well. No one wants to be left out of the global conversation. And, in particular, global businesses cannot afford to be left out of the conversation." In the past 3 weeks Desai has visited corporations in Brazil, India and China to assess the significant impact a common Rosetta Stone German business language has for industries in the world's most powerful emerging markets. In August, Global English hosted Global Exchanges Asia in Shanghai where Coca-Cola and General Motors discussed partnering with Global English to solve their need for English-proficient global workforces. And the setting for Global Exchanges EMEA has the backdrop of Germany's economy rising due to increased exporting and a strong relationship with China which is contributing to the increased need for a common language to conduct global business more cost effectively. "We are all connected in a global business village now. All key elements of business now flow across borders -- capital, labor and communication," says Desai. "Technology has greatly accelerated the 'business network effect' and created a way for English to be used as a tool for increasing productivity in global operations. Our Global Exchanges events are a unique opportunity to learn about the challenges global corporations face, and to discuss the impact that improved English competence can have on corporate performance." Global Exchanges EMEA is an invitation-only event that will take place at The Charles Hotel Munich. About Global English Corporation Global English is the leading provider of online assessment, learning, and support for business English communication for the world's top companies. The company offers a suite of scalable, on-demand products that helps employees improve their ability to communicate effectively in English and enables companies to succeed in the global marketplace. Global English is proudly made up of a team of global consultants who partner with clients to assess their business English needs, ensure successful implementation, and provide ongoing local support to over 30 countries worldwide. Global English is the preferred choice of the world's largest companies, including BNP Paribas, Capgemini, Cisco, Deloitte, Deutsche Telekom, GSK, Hewlett-Packard, Hilton, John Deere, Procter & Gamble, Unisys, and Wyeth.

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