One of the disadvantages of modern times is that people tend to acquire so many things they don’t really need. Numerous gadgets and services occurred targeting a vast market of consumers and this emergence of various inventions somehow blinded people. 

Since finances—especially money—is one of the major concerns of many people, a wide array of financial management services and financial options emerged. One of the most visible among the unending line of financial management services there are is the credit card. 

Although many people testify for the financial convenience you get when you apply for a credit card, it doesn’t mean that every financing convenience applies for you or for everybody in that matter. 

When people apply for a credit card, there is always a reason. It can be for managing their finances, needing extra money or in preparation to a big expenditure. But, no matter what the reason is, people apply for a credit card because of the ultimate convenience it brings. By now, you may have had your share of ‘pre-approved’ credit card offers in your virtual and physical mail. Since people are quite vulnerable when they apply for a credit card, some credit card issuers lure these people by giving low introductory APR, no annual fee offers among numerous perks. The tendency of this so many alternatives and “value” deals is to sway the person who wants to apply for a credit card. 

There are undeniably endless lists of pros and cons when you apply for a credit card, but if you really have decided to apply for a credit card, these are some of the helpful tips that can guide you on your credit card shopping journey. 

Actually, there are three easy steps you should follow if you have decided to apply for a credit card. First, surf the net and do some research on credit cards. By doing this, you can familiarize yourself with different credit card terms and types. Second, you can compare numerous credit cards that would best serve your needs and lastly, you may now apply for the credit card of your choice by filling out a credit card application by visiting a bank representative or through online. 

In order to find the right credit card fast and easy, first, before you apply for a credit card, make sure you mastered the credit card terms. When you apply for a credit card you must know what a “credit card” really is. Being a form of borrowing that involves charges, credit cards usually have underlying credit terms and conditions affect your overall cost. So, it’s best to compare terms and fees before you apply for a credit card and agree to open an account. Some of the important terms to be understood well include the annual percentage rate or the APR. 

When you apply for a credit card, you must know how the APR affects your credit account. Being a measure of the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate, the APR should be disclosed before you apply for a credit card so that you would not be obligated on the account and on your account statements later on. Aside from APR, the periodic rate must be disclosed to the card holder before they completely apply for a credit card so they would have an idea of their outstanding balance and finance charge for each billing period. Other important terms to know before you apply for a credit card are free period or “grace period,” annual fees, transaction fees and other charges, other costs and feature, and balance computation method for the finance charge like average daily balance, adjusted balance, previous balance, and two-cycle balances. If you’re not that type of person who is patient enough to research on all these terms, make sure that before you apply for a credit card, the issuer will give an explanation how the balance is computed and it must appear on your monthly billing statements.

Summary:

College students take tests:

• Every time class meets

• Once a week

• Once a month

• Once a semester

• Twice a semester

• All of the above

• None of the above

The answer to the question is all of the above. Although a few professors give only one big, all-or-nothing (talk about pressure!) test at the end of the semester, most give at least two. Thus, at the very minimum, you can probably expect to take a midterm exam (usually given in a regular class meeting) and ...

Keywords:

college, test taking,multiple choices, student

Article Body:

College students take tests:

• Every time class meets

• Once a week

• Once a month

• Once a semester

• Twice a semester

• All of the above

• None of the above

The answer to the question is all of the above. Although a few professors give only one big, all-or-nothing (talk about pressure!) test at the end of the semester, most give at least two. Thus, at the very minimum, you can probably expect to take a midterm exam (usually given in a regular class meeting) and a final, which is scheduled during a special exam period at the end of the term. A final exam normally lasts two or three hours; you may finish in less time, or you may still be scribbling as someone pries your blue exam book out of your cramped hands.

It's likely, however, that more than two tests (and other factors, such as papers and discussion) will contribute to your final grade. In some classes, especially science-oriented ones in which you're continually being bombarded with new terms and concepts, you may be tested once a week or more.

Which really isn't such a bad thing. In a way, getting lots of tests is better than having only one or two. For one thing, these tests tend to be "little": Each one doesn't count for a major chunk of your grade, so if you bomb one, it won't kill your overall average in the class. The sum total of these tests, however, may count for a lot—a third of your entire grade, perhaps. So if you do well on these little tests—and have a healthy grade going into the final or midterm—you might be in pretty good shape and feel much less pressured as you prepare for the big ones. Also, being tested regularly forces you to study and keep up with the material, which also is good; this way, you aren't trying to re-learn in December what you digested (and promptly forgot) way back in September.

Types of Tests

In huge lecture courses, you'll probably get "objective" tests, which deal with hard information more than ideas. In smaller discussion classes, you're much more likely to get essay exams, in which you'll be expected to organize concepts and write thoughtful responses to questions.

Objective tests typically deal with true-or-false questions, matching, multiple choice, identifications, and completions. As you've probably figured out, these tests are more convenient to grade and are often handled by machines or teaching assistants. For some students, however, these can be worse than essay tests. Particularly nightmarish are questions without an obvious answer but rather a confusing array of answer options, such as:

A

B

C

D

A, B, and D

B and C

A and C

All of the above

None of the above

A, B, and D? What kind of mind, you may wonder, dreams up such a test? We don't know.

But we do know that this kind of test—which might cause you to have acid flashbacks to the SATs, Advanced Placement, or any other "achievement" tests you may have endured on your journey to college—throws a lot of people.

No test is a perfect instrument for measuring a student's progress; each semester, some of the most capable students—people who think clearly, write and talk well, and work hard—fail to come through exams with the good grades they genuinely deserve. Maybe they suffer from what educational psychologists call "test anxiety"—believed to affect about 25 percent of all students, some much more than others. The numbers are thought to be even higher for minority students. For whatever reason, some good students just don't "test well."

Others, however, seem to outdo themselves, to perform above their capabilities during exams. These students may not be brilliant, but they're shrewd enough to squeeze the full mileage out of the knowledge they do possess. Also, they take everything they're given—and sometimes professors give away quite a bit. Most professors have never taken Tests and Measurements, Educational Psychology, or other courses in teaching methods and techniques. Partly as a result, they often goof up on their own exams—unintentionally dropping hints for those students clever enough to take advantage of them. Hey, a break for you!

This question, for instance, might show up on an American History exam:

At the onset of World War II, the President of the United States was:

A. Harry S Truman

B. Dwight D. Eisenhower

C. Franklin D. Roosevelt

D. Herbert C. Hoover

Okay. Assume you're stumped by that one. Later in the same test, however, you find:

During the early days of World War II, President Roosevelt's Secretary of State was:

A. Henry Wallace

B. Cordell Hull

C. George C. Marshall

D. Douglas MacArthur

Well, you may not know who the Secretary of State was (Mr. Hull), but you would have to be pretty unobservant not to have noticed that the second question provides a big clue—the answer, in fact—to the first.

"I've left myself open to just this kind of thing many times," admits one professor, "and I'm amazed at how few students have grabbed the freebies that have been available to them."

The take-home message here: Grab the freebies. If you really study the test, you can pick up clues that add points to your score. It may not be much, but every little bit helps. Here are some other tips:

• Don't leave anything blank. You have a shot at points if you make a stab at an answer. You get diddley squat if you leave it blank. On true-or-false questions, you have a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right; on a multiple-choice question, your odds are usually no worse than one in four. On short-answer questions, a professor may give you a mercy point or two for at least making the effort—any effort—even if your answer is almost entirely wrong. (Warning: Some professors penalize their students for guessing. Be sure to find out what your instructor's policy is before you take the test!)

• Be ruthless with your time. Suppose you're asked to identify the term "rationalism." Each identification is worth, say, five points and should be answered briefly. But wait! It just so happens that you studied the heck out of rationalism; therefore, you're tempted to write three full pages on the subject to show off your hard-earned knowledge. Don't. It's not worth it. Let it go. You're only going to get five points, tops, no matter how much you write. So answer the question swiftly and move on. Don't tell everything you know on this question; nobody cares. The shrewdest test-takers respect the Point of Diminishing Returns and are ruthless in allocating their time. They demolish the easy stuff quickly and efficiently, saving up those precious extra minutes for the really tough questions that carry big point values.

The essay exam, some professors assert, calls for a higher order of mental processes. Instead of merely recognizing material, as in objective tests, you must also be prepared to organize it, evaluate it, argue with it, generalize and particularize from it, and relate it to other situations. If an objective test calls for knowledge, then an essay exam calls for knowledge, judgment, and skill. Your judgment will be demonstrated by how well you organize your thoughts (what you use and what you leave out), and your skill by how well you present what you know.

Summary:

Alot of us get inspired by movies to want to shoot great video with our video cameras - unfortunately there is a difference between want and being able to. Like photography, good videography requires a level of competence and artistic know-how. After all, there's more to shooting great footage than pressing the record button.

For good or bad, I learned the hard way how to shoot professionally. I'm not promising you'll get an oscar for your efforts but you'll avoid giving v...

Keywords:

filmmaking, videography, gadgets, photography, digital video, shooting video

Article Body:

Alot of us get inspired by movies to want to shoot great video with our video cameras - unfortunately there is a difference between want and being able to. Like photography, good videography requires a level of competence and artistic know-how. After all, there's more to shooting great footage than pressing the record button.

For good or bad, I learned the hard way how to shoot professionally. I'm not promising you'll get an oscar for your efforts but you'll avoid giving viewers that amateur-I-can't-hold-a-camera-steady look.

1. Be A Good Student

Just like any craft you need to know your tools. For example, if your filming your son's baseball game you need to increase the shutter speed to ensure your image is free of motion blur. If your shooting from a distance and you've zoomed to bring the subject closer you'll need to pay attention to the camera's focus and switch it to manual to avoid focus drift. It really comes down to reading the manual and learning the tools. At first it may seem daunting but if you tackle one concept at a time and apply yourself by shooting it will make sense and it will become second nature. To simplify things, I recommend keeping a cheat sheet handy if necessary.

2. Stay Prepared

Think of videography like camping, you always need a survival kit.

- Bring plenty of spare batteries - you never know when you'll need them.

- Extra blank tapes. The more quality footage you have the easier the editing process.

- A lens-cleaning cloth. You don't want to be stuck in a situation where you have a smudge and you have nothing safe to clean your glass with. This a situation where post-production will not help.

- Bring a tripod. Steady shots go along way in preventing motion sickness. You'll be surpised how much better your shots will look.

- A battery charger/power supply. Having the ability charge your batteries ensures minimal downtime and more content.

- Extension cords for long cable runs. You want to be prepared for the worst scenario. Often on jobs, I'll bust out the cables if a local receptacle is not available.

- Duct tape, for taping down the extension cord so people don't trip over it. You don't want a lawsuit on your hands.

- Lighting gear, lens filters, and microphones, and any other accessories you may need. These are your tools to quality videography. Unless your feeling lazy, don't leave home without them.

3. Say YES to a tripod

The majority of home videos end up looking shaky, which is a drag to watch. Even with a small investment of $30 on a tripod, your footage look will look professional and steady. Also, you'll have the ability to execute pans and zooms without trouble.

No tripod? Lean against a wall to minimize shakiness. OK, no wall you say? Putt your butt on the ground, bend your knees, and drop your elbows on them.

If your shooting an event where space is limited or you're on the constant go I recommend a monopod. These are a real lifesaver. Not only can you get rock steady shots, you occupy less space and can relocate in a matter of seconds.

4. Give me light

It doesn't matter how good your camera is. If you have crappy lighting, it will reflect (no pun intended) in your video. A quick solution to overcome lighting issues is to shoot outdoors preferably in the morning or late afternoon hours. Why? At these times of the day the light is less harsh and produces a more pleasant softer look on the video - no shadows over the eyes, squinting, or washed out skin tones.

If you must shoot indoors take notice of which way the light is directed in the room. Avoid shooting your foreground subjects close to bright windows behind them. You don't want your camera to expose for the background leaving your foreground subject dark. Certainly let as much light into the room as possible and try to have the light coming from behind you towards your subject. If the light levels are low, its good practice to disable autofocus or you will encounter problems as the camera attempts to focus properly.

5. Hi-Fi Audio

Many people don't notice good sound but they sure notice bad sound. Getting good sound does take some work but its do-able. The microphones built into most cameras are pretty basic and are not considered high-end. When your dealing with an uncontrollable environment it's always best to get as close as possible to the source as possible to ensure the cleanest recording. You must monitor your audio with headphones to ensure the best results.

6. Composition

Proper composition is everything when setting up a good shot. Professional videographers obey the "rule of thirds" and you should do the same. Imagine a tic-tac-toed board over your viewfinder. The lines interact in four spots. Your goal should be to frame the action using one or more of those spots.

Of course, art is subjective and you can break this rule if your feeling creative. But exercise restraint: you don't want to alienate your audience.

7. Shoot B-Roll

B-Roll is secondary footage that is used for cutaway shots to connect your primary shot. The cutaway of b-roll footage can also be used to hide unflattering shots or mistakes you may have made while shooting. If your filming a wedding, you might take shots of the church, the invitation, and the little bride and groom atop the cake. When its time to cut your movie, you mix in the footage to cover up mistakes and add variety.

There are no hard rules. Anything can become B-Roll. If you study television shows or news stories you'll see a constant use of B-Roll. It's basically the glue to connect and link scenes together. As you gain experience you will be able to visualize your edit and what shots you need before you even shoot. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect.

Italy has always been a consideration for those interested in experiencing the Alps for less. Having said that, it is still considered one of the top European skiing countries today, and is a magnificent place to take a skiing vacation. There is a certain romance about Italy that makes it the number one choice for so many skiers each year, and it is easy to see the attraction with the place. From its northern snow-tipped peaks, you can also venture towards the cultural hotbeds of Rome and Turin, and experience Italy as it is intended, as well as its amazing ski slopes.

One of Italy’s smallest resorts, tucked up high, near Canazei in the North, is Alba. Based on a tiny village, the Alba resort is the truest form of skiing escapism, with amazing off piste skiing to be had. For the keen skier, this would make for an excellent day trip, or an excellent weekend away whilst staying at a bigger resort, and although it has only 5 lifts, it is a real Italian treasure, and something not to be missed if you like peaceful surroundings whilst you ski. On top of that, if you enjoy cross country skiing, Alba also offers a number of extensive trails for you to pursue, ensuring that you are likely to have a great time, whatever you skiing preferences and ability.

If you’re looking for something bigger, why not consider Italy’s highest resort, Passo Tonale. An ideal family resort, Passo Tonale is focussed more around beginners and intermediates, and provides a friendly atmosphere that is just simply lacking from some of the bigger resorts. Passo Tonale is also home to a top class ski school, employing some of the region’s most talented skiing instructors. In addition to that, the staff pride themselves on the conditions of their slopes, which are groomed frequently. From the peak of Passo Tonale, you are faced with a wonderful panoramic view of the whole region, which is truly breathtaking, and it has been known for skiers to spend hours simply analysing the view. Passo Tonale is a great resort if you are looking for a busier, more down to earth ski resort for you and your family.

Selva Gardena is one of Italy’s largest resorts, and if you are looking for some great scenery and excellent, consistent snow coverage, you could do a great deal worse than here. A great value for money resort, Selva Gardena is also child friendly, making it another fantastic resort to take the family.

Italy has a diverse range of ski resorts to cater for all different tastes and abilities. In general you will find all the resorts welcoming and friendly, not to mention the amazing hospitality you will experience in some of their restaurants and bars. If you are looking for a good value for money trip, and you enjoy skiing, the North of Italy is ideal for you, and can provide any skier with an adequate challenge of their abilities. Additionally, with some of the best skiing instructors in the world, Italy is one of the best places in Europe to enjoy skiing without paying an absolute fortune. Italy truly is a great skiing location for anyone looking to experience the Alps in all their glory, amidst the wealth and depth of culture and history right around the corner.

Do you have a love for fashion? Whether you make your own clothes or fashion accessories or if you regularly find yourself giving fashion advice to those that you know, have you ever thought about a career in fashion? If you haven’t, you may want to take the time to do so. Despite the common myth that a career in fashion is one that is difficult to obtain, it is more than possible with the right amount of willpower and the need to succeed.

When it comes to having a career in fashion, many individuals wonder exactly what they can do. The good thing about fashion is that there are a number of fashion focused jobs and careers out there. Some of these jobs involve working for someone else, like another company, but there are also opportunities out there where you can start your own business and be your own boss. If you would like to know more about some of the many careers in fashion that you may be able to have, you will want to read on.

One of the most popular and sought after careers in fashion is that of a fashion designer. Fashion designers are individuals who design clothing and fashion accessories, like jewelry or handbags. Many fashion designers start out small by making clothes and fashion accessories for themselves and their friends, but many later decide to start selling their own fashions. What is nice about being a fashion designer is that you can continue to make your own clothes or you can hire a manufacturer to do it for you. You may also want to think about selling your own clothes either locally or online.

Speaking of selling the clothes or fashion accessories that you may have designed, that leads to another fashion career. One other fashion career that you may be interested in is being the owner and operator of a fashion store. Fashion stores come in all different size, shapes, and styles. There are some fashion stores that focus on a particular type of clothing, like elegant eveningwear, and others who offer all different types of fashions for all different individuals, like men, women, and children. You also have the option of selling your own designs, if you are fashion designer, or buying other designer’s products to sell inside your stores, whether they are online stores, offline stores, or both.

Another fashion career that may be of interest to you is a fashion consultant. Fashion consultants are individuals who advise or consult with their customers on the latest in fashion trends. The clients of fashion consultants are often ones who are unsure about what to wear for a new job, a job interview, an elegant dinner, a wedding, or another important event. If you have a love for fashion, enjoy keeping up with the latest in fashion news and trends, and enjoy giving fashion advice to those that you know, you may want to look into a career as a fashion consultant.

Another one of the many careers in fashion that you may want to look into is one that is relatively unique. Each year, thousands of fashions shows take place in the United States. While a select few of those shows are able to make it on the national news, not all are that popular. Did you know that many local stores and fashion designers have their own local fashions shows? They do, but many do not realize that they can or have the time to plan a fashion show and this is where you can come in. You can make money as a fashion show organizer. Fashion show organizers often target local fashion stores and fashion designers to explain the many benefits of having a fashion show to them. As a fashion show designer, you may be in charge of making the show run well. This often includes booking the fashion show space, designing the stage, hiring the models, and so forth.

As you can see, there are a number of different fashion focused careers or jobs out there for you to choose from. What is even more amazing is that the above mentioned fashion focused careers are just a few of the many that exist.