6 Financial Moves That Sound Good -- but Aren't

by Erin Joyce
Thursday, October 1, 2009


For most people, each and every day involves some type of financial decision. So how do you feel about your financial decision-making skills? If you think you are making sound choices, ask yourself this: Have you weighed the consequences of your choices against their apparent benefits? In many cases, the answer is no.
Let's take a look at six common financial choices that sound like smart moves, but could leave you scratching your head wondering where you went wrong.


1. Applying for a Line of Credit
Advantages: Starting a line of credit will diversify your credit sources, which is good news for your credit score. It also allows you to access funds you may need for large purchases, like buying a car, without having to scramble to arrange the funds when you decide to buy.

Consequences: A line of credit is too often treated like free money. In many cases, such easy access to funds leads borrowers to rack up consumer debt for things they don't really need. And there's nothing free about this cash injection: borrowers have to make minimum payments on the line's outstanding balance. In addition, a balance will limit borrowing power on other loans, such as a mortgage.


2. • Withdrawing From Your 401(k) or Retirement Savings to Pay Down Debt
Advantages: If you have a big debt to pay off, you may choose to either put off contributing to a retirement or savings fund, or to withdraw money from an existing fund. The upside to this is that paying down debt is a good thing, and the sooner it is paid off, the greater the savings in interest expenses for the borrower.


Consequences: By withdrawing funds set aside for retirement, you are robbing yourself of the benefits of compounding. Also, pulling the money out of your savings could leave you in a very bad position should something unexpected, like a job loss, happen. The earlier you start saving, the more money you will be able to accumulate for retirement. If properly invested, money saved now is almost always better than more money saved later. (For more on the power of compound interest, see Compounding Your Way To Retirement.)


3. • Choosing Only the Safest Investing Vehicles
Advantages: If you invest in risk-free or nearly risk-free vehicles, the risk of losing your hard-earned cash is extremely low. This can be a viable option, especially if you are nearing retirement.

Downside: However, you are again missing out on the opportunity to have your money work for you. Take into consideration your age and stage of life when deciding your risk level. Although everyone's risk tolerance is different, generally speaking, the younger you are, the riskier you can afford to be. This is because you have the time to make up any losses, and also because the higher risk may be warranted because it helps combat the effects of inflation on your portfolio's gains. The closer you are to retirement (or to whatever goal you are saving for) the more conservative you should be in order to protect your investment. (To learn more about risk, see Determining Risk And The Risk Pyramid.)


4. • Avoiding Debt Altogether
Advantages: "Debt free". It sounds good, doesn't it? And it can be. Living debt-free is a wonderful goal and is more achievable than you might think.

Downside: However, debt can also be a tool. If, in your quest to remain debt free, you are turning down "good debt", that is, debt that allows you to leverage your investments, you are doing yourself a disservice. Examples of good debt include taking out a mortgage to buy a house. This is because houses and property tend to appreciate over time, and owning your home can lower your living expenses compared to renting. Another example would be taking out a student loan for post-secondary education. While student debt can be a huge responsibility, it is also an investment in yourself that boosts your potential earning power.


5. Cutting Your Variable Spending
Advantages: If you are looking to cut your spending, this suggests that you have a budget to modify. That's great! Often variable expenses (expenses that are not fixed, such as entertainment, dining out and personal spending) are out of line with the amount we earn. An honest appraisal of where your money is going is a great step to getting your budget in fighting shape.

Downside: This seemingly great idea is only great if you include the second part of it: sticking to your new budget. Unrealistic expectations, or treating your budget goals as "guidelines" rather than rules, could leave you spending more than ever. (For more tips, see Get Emotional Spending Under Control.)


6. Paying Off a Major Loan in One Payment
Advantages: You've been working hard and saving – smart! Before your loans start accumulating interest, or even if they have, you decide to pay them off in one payment. That's a wonderful accomplishment that will save you months', or years' worth of interest.

Downside: If you choose this route, make sure you take a look at your interest rate. Some loans have such a low interest rate that you'd be better off putting your money in a savings account that earns you a higher return and paying off your debt monthly. Keep in mind this is only a good idea if 1) your savings interest rate is higher than your debt interest rate and 2) you are disciplined enough to pay the debt off on time, every month, and not to spend your hard-earned cash on luxuries instead. The bonus? Responsibly paying off monthly debt helps you to establish a good credit history. This is especially helpful if you don't have a credit history (or you are trying to rebuild a bad one).

There's nothing worse than making a choice you thought was conscientious only to find out it had hidden consequences. Make sure you do your homework and your financial situation will be the best it can be.

On Alien World, It Rains Rocks

Andrea Thompson
Senior Writer
SPACE.com andrea Thompson
senior Writer
space.com – Thu Oct 1, 10:01 am ET

On Earth, strange things, including frogs and fish, sometimes fall from the sky, but on a distant extrasolar planet, the weather could be even weirder: When a front moves in, small rocks rain down on the surface, a new study suggests.
The exoplanet, COROT-7b, was discovered in February by the COROT space telescope launched by the French and European space agencies. Last month is became the first planet outside our solar system to be confirmed as a rocky body — most other known exoplanets are gas giants.
The planet is nearly twice the size of Earth and about five times the mass of our world. Calculations have indicated it has a density about that of Earth's, which means it is likely made up of silicate rocks, just as Earth's crust is.
The planet is likely much less hospitable to life though, as it is only about 1.6 million miles (2.6 million km) away from its parent star — 23 times closer than Mercury sits to the sun.
Locked and scorching
Because the planet is so close to the star, it is gravitationally locked to it in the same way the Moon is locked to Earth. One side of the planet always faces its star, just as one side of the Moon always faces Earth.
This star-facing side has a temperature of about 4,220 degrees Fahrenheit (2,326 degrees Celsius) — hot enough to vaporize rock.
So unlike the much cooler Earth, COROT-7b has no volatile gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen) in its atmosphere. Instead it's atmosphere consists of what might be called vaporized rock.
"The only atmosphere this object has is produced from vapor arising from hot molten silicates in a lava lake or lava ocean," said Bruce Fegley Jr., of Washington University in St. Louis.
Rocky weather forecast
To find out what COROT-7b's atmosphere might be like, Fegley and his colleagues modeled it. They found that COROT-7b's atmosphere is made up of the ingredients of rocks and when "a front moves in," pebbles condense out of the air and rain into lakes of molten lava below.
"Sodium, potassium, silicon monoxide and then oxygen — either atomic or molecular oxygen — make up most of the atmosphere," Fegley said. But there are also smaller amounts of the other elements found in silicate rock, such as magnesium, aluminum, calcium and iron.
The rock rains form similarly to Earth's watery weather: "As you go higher the atmosphere gets cooler and eventually you get saturated with different types of 'rock' the way you get saturated with water in the atmosphere of Earth," Fegley explained. "But instead of a water cloud forming and then raining water droplets, you get a 'rock cloud' forming and it starts raining out little pebbles of different types of rock."
Menagerie of minerals
The exoplanet's atmosphere condenses out minerals such as enstatite, corundum, spinel, and wollastonite.
Elemental sodium and potassium, which have very low boiling points in comparison with rocks, do not rain out but would instead stay in the atmosphere, where they would form high gas clouds buffeted by the stellar wind from COROT-7.
These large clouds may be detectable by Earth-based telescopes. The sodium, for example, should glow in the orange part of the spectrum, like a giant but very faint sodium vapor streetlamp.
Observers have recently spotted sodium in the atmospheres of two other exoplanets.
The new modeling finding is detailed in the Oct. 1 issue of The Astrophysical Journal.

Teachers Day Around the World

Teachers Day Dates Calendear Around the World
Country Teachers Day Date
World teachers day October 5
Teachers Day in Afghanistan 24 May
Teachers Day in Albania March 7
Teachers Day in Argentina September 11
Teachers Day in Australia last Friday in October
Teachers Day in Azerbaijan October 5
Teachers Day in Bhutan May 2
Teachers Day in Bolivia June 6
Teachers Day in Brazil October 15
Teachers Day in Chile October 16
Teachers Day in China (PRC) September 10
Teachers Day in Colombia May 15
Teachers Day in Croatia October 5
Teachers Day in Czech Republic March 28
Teachers Day in Ecuador April 13
Teachers Day in El Salvador June 22
Teachers Day in Hong Kong September 10
Teachers Day in Hungary First Sunday of June
Teachers Day in India September 5
Teachers Day in Indonesia November 25
Teachers Day in Iran May 2
Teachers Day in Jamaica May 6
Teachers Day in Lithuania October 5
Teachers Day in Lebanon March 3
Teachers Day in Malaysia May 16
Teachers Day in Mexico May 15
Teachers Day in Mongolia First weekend of February
Teachers Day in Pakistan October 5
Teachers Day in Panama December 1
Teachers Day in Paraguay April 30
Teachers Day in Peru July 6
Teachers Day in Philippines October 5
Teachers Day in Poland October 14
Teachers Day in Russia October 5
Teachers Day in Singapore September 1
Teachers Day in Slovakia March 28
Teachers Day in South Korea May 15 since 1963 in Seoul and 1964 in
Chunju city
Teachers Day in Republic of China (Taiwan) September 28
Teachers Day in Thailand January 16
Teachers Day in Turkey November 24
Teachers Day in United States National Teacher Day is the Tuesday Teachers Day in Vietnam November 20
Teachers Day in Oman February 28
Teachers Day in Egypt February 28
Teachers Day in Libya February 28
Teachers Day in Qatar February 28
Teachers Day in Bahrain February 28
Teachers Day in United Arab Emirates February 28
Teachers Day in Yemen February 28
Teachers Day in Tunisia February 28
Teachers Day in Algeria February 28
Teachers Day in Morocco February 28
Teachers Day in Saudi Arabia February 28
Teachers Day in Jordan February 28

Teachers Day Activities & Celebrations

All over the world, Teacher's Day celebrations are assumed to respect teachers for their genuine attempts to pass on knowledge to their students. Teacher’s day is an event to pass quality time with teachers. By having commemorations on the teacher’s day, we communicate the message that we concern for our teachers now as they do.

Commemorating the festival is gratitude of devotion, with which, teachers assume the liability of educating a child academically with morally. And on this date, school students disguise like their teachers and teach their low-grade students, the similar way as their teachers perform. As the day surpasses, the students do the activities that are presented through the teachers.

Occasionally, the teachers sit in classes performing like students, reviving the time, at what time they were also students. And from this, it makes a mutual understanding between students and the teachers. Despite being the day at what time we give credit to our teacher's uphill struggle, the festival reveals a healthy communication between teachers and students, in which the latter recognizes the teaching ability of the former. Though it is effortless celebrations, and they imitate the verity that we heed for our teachers.

Teachers play a very significant role in the development of students. The dignified occasion is commemorated in diverse ways at diverse places. And some of usual activities presented on this event are drama, games, dance, thanks giving, imitation of teachers, competitions, etc. Sometimes, teachers play the role of students, and students play the role of teachers, which adds pleasurable part to celebrations.

This day gives the students a chance to express love and respect to their teachers. And both students and teachers take pleasure in the event with equal interest. It gives them a chance to come nearer to each other and have a very strong connection.

Here are some pleasurable activities for the teacher’s day :

Teacher Day Activity Ideas

Songs: One of the best ways of activities is either listening or singing to songs. And you may also arrange singing contests on the Teacher’s Day, and bargain pretty prizes to winners. Yet another choice is to dedicate a group song as well, to your teachers.

Dance: Arrange dance contests on the Teacher's Day is admired in several schools and colleges. And you may organize dance show (classical or non classical) in your learning institution. The artistic students in your school/college would be elated to grip the golden occasion to showcase their aptitude.

Drama: If you are making a plan to make a celebration for your teacher, on the particular time, dramatic activities can be a part of the commemorations. Such a motion would give the students a magnificent opportunity to explain their acting skill, while taking part in drama.

Mimicry of Teachers: There are various students who imitate teachers, whether as risk-free fun or to be just resembling them. Whilst copying teachers, they seek to ratify their way of statement, facial expressions teacher, etc. and Imitating teachers can shape a comic part of your commemorations as well, at where teachers take pleasure watching their 'replicas' on the stage.

Games: Games, both inside and outside, can be arranged on the Teacher's Day. And you may do football and cricket games, and carom competition or fumble contest, with teachers and students contributing in them. Ensure to keep awards for winners.

Chatting: There are very unusual moments, when teachers and students sit at the same stage and get to treat in a relaxed chat. The Teacher’s Day is an event when teachers and students can have open smooth thoughts, whether about each other's positive and negative behavior or academic discussions.

Thanksgiving: the Teacher's Day is an occasion for students to widen their appreciation towards their teachers. And On the event, you may demonstrate your credit to your teachers, with delivering speeches, organizing parties, dedicating quotes, etc.

Honoring Teachers: Several schools and colleges prize the teachers for their priceless efforts towards the betterment of students. And you may arrange an award function, where you may respect your teachers with titles, best suited for their role in institute.

Teachers Day 2009

Teacher’s day is commemorated on 5th September in India. We celebrate this day to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was staunch supporter of education. He was one of the most admired scholars, president of India, diplomats and most of all teachers. As a compliment to this unbelievable teacher, his b’day has been detected as teacher’s day and directed to its basis. And this day is simply evidence of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan love for and connection with teaching occupation. Indeed Dr. Radhakrishnan himself asked his lovers to rejoice his birthday not as his birthday but as a teacher's day. In modern India the most popular writers differs on ethical, educational, cultural, philosophical, social and theological subjects. He added several articles to special popular journals, which, are of massive assessment value and it seems to revelation various readers owing to depth in the sense of articles.

Today Teacher’s day has become an occasion which is expected through students and teachers. On this day not only teachers are admired but also several school students wear dressy clothes as a symbol of their teachers and take diverse lectures that are allocated to the teachers they signify. As the day passes the students present the usual activities that are presented through the teachers. And on this day students understand the value of a teacher and how they improve the future of various students. And teachers are also reminded what it experienced like when they were students.

Despite the fun feature everyone should disburse their compliments to the great Dr. Radhakrishnan. In the view of fact that this day has become a usual event.
Teacher’s day is an event to pass quality time with teachers. And it is a day to celebrate the job of teaching and everyone allied with it. The teacher’s day is commemorated on diverse dates in diverse countries. In USA, the day is detected as the National Teacher's Day. And the day is detected with great display, across western country. Students do several activities so that they may more closely with teachers. On this day, several learning institutions across the countryside organize the cultural programs, to respect teacher and appreciate them.

Teachers Day Quotes

"To teach is to learn twice."

- Teachers Day Quotes by Joseph Joubert

"The authority of those who teach is often an obstacle to those who want to learn."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Cicero

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Plutarch

"If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Anonymous Teacher

"Teaching is the only major occupation of man for which we have not yet developed tools that make an average person capable of competence and performance. In teaching we rely on the "naturals," the ones who somehow know how to teach."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Peter Drucker

"A gifted teacher is as rare as a gifted doctor, and makes far less money"
- Teachers Day Quotes by Author unknown

"Those who educate children well are more to be honored than parents, for these only gave life, those the art of living well."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Aristotle

"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Anatole France

"Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Japanese proverb

"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Helen Caldicott

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Henry Brooks Adams

"The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Author Unknown

"Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Author Unknown

"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Jacques Barzun

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth.""
- Teachers Day Quotes by Dan Rather

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Karl Menningervv

"A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Author Unknown

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
- Teachers Day Quotes by William Arthur Ward

"Teaching is leaving a vestige of one self in the development of another. And surely the student is a bank where you can deposit your most precious treasures."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Eugene P. Bertin

"The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Amos Bronson Alcott

"Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Bob Talbert

"Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Jacques Barzun

"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."
- Teachers Day Quotes by Author Unknown

World Teachers' Day

The United Nations' (UN) World Teachers' Day celebrates the role teachers play in providing quality education at all levels. This enables children and adults of all ages to learn to take part in and contribute to their local community and global society.

Background

On October 5, 1966, the Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers in Paris, France, was closed and the "Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers" was signed by representatives of UNESCO and International Labour Organization. On October 12, 1997, the 29th session of UNESCO's General Conference was opened. During this conference, on November 11, 1997, the "Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel" was adopted.

On October 5, 1994, the first World Teachers' Day was held. This event has been organized on the same date each year since then. However, local events may be on some other date close to October 5, so that they do not fall during fall (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) school vacations. In 2002, Canada Post issued a postage stamp to commemorate World Teachers' Day.

What do people do?

Various events are arranged in many countries around the world on or around October 5. These include celebrations to honor teachers in general or those who have made a special contribution to a particular community. The day may also be marked by conferences emphasizing the importance of teachers and learning, extra training sessions for teachers, recruitment drives for the teaching profession among university students or other suitably qualified professionals and events to increase the profile of teachers and the role they play in the media.
Trade unions or other professional organizations that represent teachers play an important role in organizing World Teachers' Day events in many countries. These include:

• The Australian Education Union.
• The Canadian Teachers' Federation.
• The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (Canada).
• The All India Secondary Teachers' Federation.
• The Japan Teachers' Union.
• The Teachers Council (New Zealand).
• The National Union of Teachers (United Kingdom).
• The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (United Kingdom).
• The National Education Association (United States).

Moreover, international organizations such as TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and Education International organize international, national and local events. In some areas posters are displayed and pupils and ex-pupils are encouraged to send e-cards or letters of appreciation to teachers who made a special or memorable contribution to their education.