Does China Need a Minimum Wage Law? It Might

As free-market economists I am not much into minimum wage laws, in fact I am quite against them. However as I watch what's going on in China right now, with the protests and strikes from the labor at the foreign manufacturing companies which are inside their country, I see that something must be done. In China you are not allowed to go on strike at a Chinese company, and even though there are often problems, they are not publicized because the Chinese government doesn't want that in their media.

Still, it is my contention that Henry Ford was correct in his thinking and strategy as he began to mass produce Model T's. He paid the labor enough money so they could afford to buy Ford automobiles, that makes sense. And although I am not in favor at all of minimum wage laws, in China's case - if they don't do something they will find themselves in a world of hurt and employee riots and protests. Industrial Revolutions have cycles, all that has yet to play out in China, don't kid yourself, it's unavoidable, and they've done absolutely very little to stave it off or lessen its potential effects, it's a time bomb for their economy and national stability.

Do you believe that my comments are hypocritical, that on one hand I pose this question; "Does China Need a Minimum Wage Law?" and then on the other hand I say I am against minimum wage laws? Well, my comments aren't hypocritical, and let me tell you why; because I believe the free-market should control labor wages, and that businesses should compete in the free-market as well, but in China it's not a free market, and the way they run the labor there is shall I say; "interesting."

This latest ploy to get employees to rebel using the media in order to make US and Japanese companies with factories in China look bad due to suicides and low pay rates has completely backfired. Now, Foxxcon has doubled the pay of the workers, and Honda raised the pay by nearly 50% in their Chinese factories. There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal; "Chinese Workers Win Wave of Raises," by Andrew Batson and he postulates, as does some of the people he interviewed; that the writing is on the wall; "no longer can companies rely on China's cheap labor forever."

Now I have another comment, we know that all nations go through periods during their growth of industrial revolution, and angry labor mobs causing riots and such. This is the last thing China needs, as it experiences 8 to 10% growth year-over-year for the last three decades. Inflation, low wages, poverty, is taking its toll and it will divide the classes, and cause conflict from here on out.

We have already seen that many Chinese companies are investing in countries like Egypt where there will be cheaper labor ($1 per day still) when they can no longer afford to pay the new labor rates in China. It seems that many of the factories are looking for the lowest cost labor, but at some point they have to pay people what they're worth, and they cannot continue to drive slave labor. Things are changing in China, China is growing up. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes it's hard to write 20,000 articles; http://www.bloggingcontent.net/

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

Help Your Kids Learn Math

Math has become a four letter word. That's the feedback I keep getting from parents sitting at their kitchen tables trying to help their kids navigate through their math homework. Have you tried to help your kid with math lately?

Somewhere along the way a new math language has been formed and kids as well as parents are having a hard time speaking and understanding it. When did borrowing become regrouping and lowest terms become simplifying? According to a 2005 study funded by the U.S. Department of Education, children in the United States perform consistently below most of their global peers. What does this mean?

We are failing math as a whole - teachers, students, and parents. It's not that math is so horrible, but that we just don't know what to do with the new rules. The teachers are doing their best to keep up with steep standards that are imposed. We, as parents try to relate to today's math by showing our children how to do it the way we were taught back in the dark ages. I think every parent has heard, "But that's not how my teacher showed me how to do it!" And the battles begin. Sadly, it's the kids who end up suffering as they bring home poor grades, feel like failures, and learn to fear math.

Even kids who are naturally good at math will experience panic over upcoming tests. Not sure how to study or what to study, they are left to their own devices. And, it has occurred to many parents that their own children's math abilities have superseded their own. Sloppy habits affect other students. They don't want to write out each step but instead prefer to "just do it in their heads". Their columns don't line up and there are often doodles and artwork on the sides of their pages. It takes them forever to do a few problems because they often daydream instead of bearing down and just doing the work. To top it all off, math today requires a lot of reading. Poor readers are penalized even if they are good at math computation. Eventually kids learn to avoid math and even fear it.

So, what can we, as parents do to help kids who are speaking this new math language? Following are some things I do at home and with my own students:

Make sure that emotion is taken out of the equation.  Take the fear and pressure off of the student by staying calm and keeping the student relaxed. Let them show you how their teacher does it and you copy that method.
 
Make sure that kids have a strong number sense.  Counting out loud, counting by three's, four's, etc. can help.  

Math is sequential. The student may need some missing parts filled in.  It's easy to do with workbooks from teacher supply stores.  If the student is failing algebra, chances are he/she doesn't have a strong math base of fractions and decimals.
 
For long division to be accomplished the student must know multiplication facts. Traditional flashcards may not work. Have them write their facts in sand or shaving cream. "Feeling" math facts can help them stick. 
 
Break the math into small chunks. Sometimes kids look five pages ahead and freak out over a formula that they will have to do in the future and it seems like too much for them to master. Assign five problems, allow a break, and then have them do five more.
 
Use colored pencils or markers on a blank page of white paper.  Color keeps the creative right side of the brain busy so the analytical left side can be accessed. If the teacher won't allow color, have the student transfer the answer in pencil.
 
Some  students do better while listening to music.  Once again, this keeps the right side of the brain busy so the left side can do its job.  Make sure the music is calm.
 
Math doesn't have to be doom and gloom. I recently helped a student who feared math to the point of absolute avoidance.  After using some of the strategies above, I finally heard him exclaim with a smile on his face, "Math rocks!" I think that means "math is fun" in kid-speak.

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Buying Discount Brand Name Perfumes Online

When buying brand name perfumes it can prove to be an expensive endeavor unless you know of a great place where to get discount perfumes. Such places exist online and consumers can save a bundle on the myriad brands of discount perfumes sold by online vendors. The types of perfumes which can be easily purchased online are fragrances suitable for both men and women, and the money saving advantages found in buying brand name perfumes at a discount can be truly significant.

What types of brand name perfumes are sold online? The line of fragrances that consumers can buy online include fragrances for men and women, and brand name perfumes like Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Cabana, Oscar de la Renta, Davidoff, Gianni Versace, Lacoste, Thierry Mugler, Escada, Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Nicole Miller, Yves Saint Laurent, Bvlgari, Hermes, and Calvin Klein, to name a few. There really is a limitless selection of perfumes and brand name perfumes that people can buy from online vendors specializing in the sale of discounted perfumes.

Discounts on perfume when sold online can be considerable, and range from 20 percent or more off the original price. Discounted perfumes include the general type "perfume," which is the strongest scented fragrance. A perfume has a long-lasting scent and usually has up to 50 percent of fragrance in it's make up. Since such perfumes are so strong and long lasting, they are associated with high costs, unless bought online from a vendor or online store offering discounted perfume prices. Discounted perfumes for sale also include the line of "Eau de parfum," which has roughly 10 to 15 percent of fragrance in it's make up. Its scent is a bit lighter than other perfume varieties and the consumer can also get great discounted perfume prices on "Eau de parfum" variants.

Discounted prices are also attached to cologne, otherwise referred to as Eau de toilettes, moisturizing perfume mists, and natural sprays as well. Like perfumes, as Eau de toilettes, moisturizing perfume mists, and natural sprays have a scent, all which vary in terms of fragrance percentage. Eau de toilettes have as much as eight percent fragrance in their makeup, and moisturizing mists and natural sprays provide a super light fragrance.

Perfumes make for excellent gives for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, weddings, and Valentine's Day. The ability to buy gifts online takes the hassle out of all holiday shopping and discounted perfumes are ideal for Christmas, as well as Easter. Little girls love perfume, and boys appreciate being treated like a young man when they receive their first bottle of cologne. Women and men are equally appreciative upon the receipt of superlative, brand name perfumes, and fragrances. Brand name perfumes are also considered intensely romantic gifts, and men often opt to buy their significant other or spouse a perfume gift.

Discounted perfumes can save the consumer a lot of money when it comes to gift giving too. The consumer does not have to spend hours walking around crowded shops to choose a perfume and the consumer does not even have to travel to purchase some of their favorite perfumes. Discount perfume vendors and online stores offer an array of brand name perfumes, all at steep discounted prices, and the items can be purchased on a secure environment via discount perfume selling websites. The items are then shipped directly to the home of the consumer and are ready for use or gift wrapping!

Once consumers have located a reputable online discount perfume store they can rest assured in knowing that they are getting great deals and high quality brand name perfumes at reasonable prices. Finding preferred perfumes online is not at all a difficult endeavor. Within minutes the consumer can order the brand name perfumes he or she desires, and have the perfume shipped to his or her home.

For the very top brand name perfumes at lowest discounted prices delivered to your door try DiscountBrandedPerfumes.com [http://www.discountbrandedperfumes.com] 100% authentic leading brand names

Folding Poker Table Review

With many different types and styles of folding poker tables on the market, which should you choose? This article helps you get the most bang for your buck, and choosing one that is right for you. Considering there are about 30,000 searches a month on google for the term folding poker table, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of merchants trying to push some version of this product. The one you invest your hard earned money into should fit your needs and the those of your poker partners, work with the space you have available for it, and not clean out your bank account.

To keep things simple, poker tables can really be broken down into about 4 categories. Poker table tops, fold up poker tables, folding legs poker tables, and furniture poker tables. Of these, the first three can only be considered folding types, where the furniture models are permanent setup, much like a billiard table, and cost several times more, often over $1,000.

Poker Table Tops are the least expensive of all since they do not have legs or a frame to add weight, shipping size, and cost. If you lack a large space for setting up a table, you can unfold one of these and use it right on top your kitchen or dining room table. No extra chairs needed. There are a wide variation in the size, shape, and quality of these tops depending on price. The best, or premium models, are made of solid wood with padding under a relatively high quality felt, giving them a more authentic "muffled" sound when the poker chips hit the pot. They usually also have padded armrests for player comfort during those long tournament games. While the premium table tops generally run in the low $100 dollar range with shipping, the lowest priced tops start in the $40 to $50 range. They are generally made of a foam material, and do not have armrests. They do tend to have very colorful casino type designs including blackjack, craps, or roulette, in addition to poker. Their light weight also makes them ideal for bringing them to a traveling game. Some other features often seen on these are poker chip trays at each player position, and cup holders for your favorite beverage.

Fold Up Poker Tables are the next price range up. These range from about $160 to $250 delivered. They have all the high end features of a solid wood top, padded felt, armrests, and cup holders, but the top folds in half and the legs fold up under each half for storage. The primary advantage of the bi-folding top is the reduced shipping cost since it folds into about half the size of the folding leg tables. Shipping dramatically increases with size and weight. They can also be shipped using UPS or Fedex eliminating the expense of using a trucking company. The other advantage is they can be stored away in a smaller space like a closet. The primary disadvantage is the place where the 2 halves come together when unfolded. If you are not careful when dealing, the cards may catch on the crease and flip over. While personally this does not bother me, some players have told me they do not like the fold and would rather pay the extra for a solid top.

Folding Leg Poker Tables solve the problem. The wood top is one solid piece for a long, smooth playing surface with no obstructions. Unfortunately, this also increases the shipping method and cost, so they tend to run in the high $200 to $400 range. The folding legs still do allow you to store them away but most often by leaning them against a wall, since they are far too large for most closets.

Shapes & Sizes: Folding poker tables come a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your need. An octagon or round table is usually about 48" across and ideal for smaller playing areas like apartments and kitchens. They tout that they can seat up to 8 players, but they will not be very comfortable since you will be sitting elbow to elbow. I would limit the number of players to about 6. The long oval tables range from 73" to 96" long and seat 8 and 10 players respectively, and more comfortably. But consider whether you really have the room to set one of these up, since you are looking at 7 and 8 foot tables, and 3-1/2 to 4 feet wide. Plus you need to have chairs for each of your players.

I hope this helps with your search for a folding poker table that suits your budget, space, and needs. There is really nothing that compares to playing your hold'em game on one of these, except maybe going to the casino.

The author, John Van Sciver, is the owner of an online retail poker supply store.

Visit here for more information on a Folding Poker Table.