If everyone involved in the process of accounting followed their own system, or no system at all, there's be no way to truly tell whether a company was profitable or not. Most companies follow what are called generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and there are huge tomes in libraries and bookstores devoted to just this one topic. Unless a company states otherwise, anyone reading a financial statement can make the assumption that company has used GAAP.

If GAAP are not the principles used for preparing financial statements, then a business needs to make clear which other form of accounting they're used and are bound to avoid using titles in its financial statements that could mislead the person examining it.

GAAP are the gold standard for preparing financial statement. Not disclosing that it has used principles other than GAAP makes a company legally liable for any misleading or misunderstood data. These principles have been fine-tuned over decades and have effectively governed accounting methods and the financial reporting systems of businesses. Different principles have been established for different types of business entities, such for-profit and not-for-profit companies, governments and other enterprises.

GAAP are not cut and dried, however. They're guidelines and as such are often open to interpretation. Estimates have to be made at times, and they require good faith efforts towards accuracy. You've surely heard the phrase "creative accounting" and this is when a company pushes the envelope a little (or a lot) to make their business look more profitable than it might actually be. This is also called massaging the numbers. This can get out of control and quickly turn into accounting fraud, which is also called cooking the books. The results of these practices can be devastating and ruin hundreds and thousands of lives, as in the cases of Enron, Rite Aid and others.

Summary:
Many, many programs are available to students throughout all Phoenix Public Schools districts. Sensing the constant need for improvements, and to keep up with national and global standards, Phoenix Schools are meeting these demands head on. For example, some Phoenix Schools have implemented innovative Science, Art, and IB (International Baccalaureate) programs.

InnoWorks, a new science program available to underprivileged Phoenix Schools middle-school students, was impl...


Keywords:
Phoenix Schools, Patricia Hawke


Article Body:
Many, many programs are available to students throughout all Phoenix Public Schools districts. Sensing the constant need for improvements, and to keep up with national and global standards, Phoenix Schools are meeting these demands head on. For example, some Phoenix Schools have implemented innovative Science, Art, and IB (International Baccalaureate) programs.

InnoWorks, a new science program available to underprivileged Phoenix Schools middle-school students, was implemented in February 2007 by Grace Hsieh, a junior at the University of Arizona. Hsieh was looking to start a peer mentor and tutoring program when she came across a website detailing the program InnoWorks, which had its beginnings at Duke University.

Phoenix Schools middle-schoolers take part in a free science camp organized and run entirely by UA undergraduates. Twenty-four students from six Phoenix Schools were selected for the camp. InnoWorks’ leaders hope that by exposing underprivileged Phoenix Schools students to college campuses and science research, more students will be inspired to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"Immediately it was easy to recognize what a great program it was, in its philosophy and vision," Hsieh said.

Hsieh has gathered about $20,000 in donations to fund the program, recruited about 20 fellow students to work as mentors, and sought out campers by calling Phoenix Schools counselors and teachers.

Explorer Middle School recently received the Mayor's School of Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education. Integrating arts into their academic classes is one thing that makes this member of the Phoenix Schools unique.

Principal Marianne Bursi believes that the appreciation of art relates to all fields of study.

"We find students learn more by doing," said Bursi. "The brain remembers more with visuals rather than just looking at plain old text. The [students] discover [they have] many hidden talents because art is incorporated into all their academics."

Each quarter, seventh-graders are encouraged to take chorus, visual arts, world languages and applied technology courses. Once they are in eighth grade, these Phoenix Schools children can then choose which they prefer for the year

Phoenix Schools are beginning to offer children in Grades K-10 an opportunity to learn via the International Baccalaureate program. This is a teaching model used around the world that pushes students to become proficient in at least two languages, think critically and learn from a global perspective by studying other cultures.

Mesa Public Schools could soon become the first school district in Phoenix Schools, and one of only a handful nationwide, to offer an IB program to students from kindergarten through the end of high school.

Gregg Good, is the IB coordinator for one Phoenix Schools high school which began offering the program last year. Administrators are still determining the best way to test young Phoenix Schools elementary students in a "culturally neutral" way to decide which children will participate in the rigorous IB program for the 2007-2008 school year.

Summary:

When driving the short distance to your favorite local golf course, a golf travel bag isn't necessary. But when traveling by airplane or long distance driving, a regular golf bag won't offer the protection your clubs need.

Keywords:

golf,golfing,golf travel bags,golf travel,golf travel cases,travel,traveling,golf tips

Article Body:

When driving the short distance to your favorite local golf course, a golf travel bag isn't necessary. But when traveling by airplane or long distance driving, a regular golf bag won't offer the protection your clubs need.

How much are your golf clubs worth to you? Some of us have expensive custom made clubs, while others own a more affordable set. Whatever the retail value--our own clubs are what help us play our best game, so they are valuable to us. That's why the Pros always bring their own clubs on tour.

Enjoy playing golf on that holiday trip by doing what you can to protect your clubs from damage while traveling. Here are a few tips when trying to choose the best golf travel bag for your situation.

Hard Travel Cases

The case is a hard plastic shell that provides the most protection from drops and falls. These are the ideal choice when traveling by air. You won't be able to carry your clubs on the plane with you, so you'll want the best protection you can get with the baggage handling process involved. It can get rough down there!

Soft Travel Cases

Made from more pliant fabric, these are more car friendly since the outer shell is more flexible. Look for bags that use double stitching as this provides a sturdier hold.

Wheels

Carry your golf travel bag around for a bit and you'll be wishing it had wheels. Imagine walking what seems like miles through a busy airport while carrying your golf clubs--inline wheels are a must.

Handles & Straps

Look for sturdy, double stitched handles and straps that will easily hold the weight against pulling and lifting.

Padding

Watch that the bag has some amount of foam padding. This will absorb much of the shock from a drop or from heavy banging.

Traveling and playing with our own golf clubs beats renting clubs hands down! By using a golf travel case, you'll be protecting your clubs from damage and ensuring you have them when you need them most--on the golf course!

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Antique cars, often referred to as classic cars, are usually prized possessions of their owners. After all of mechanical work has been done to restore them to perfect working conditions, painting is usually the last step in the process.

Just because it's the last step, however, does not mean that it's the least important step. In fact, the painting of antique cars is quite possibly the most important undertaking of the restoration process. For, it is what gets noticed first.

Following are some handy tips to following when painting prized possessions like classic cars.

3 Ideas for Choosing the Perfect Color for Your Antique Car

This is a personal choice but should be done with care, especially if you have restored your antique car for the purpose of selling it. Just like choosing paint colors for your home, there are some definite do's and don'ts.

Choose mainstream car colors: Black, red, white, navy blue, cream, gray, etc. These are considered traditional colors that never go out of style. They're not trendy and are unlikely to turn off buyers like, for instance, lime green.

If you're having a hard time deciding on a color, try one of the following to get some ideas:

(i) Go with the original color of the car: This is an easy option that is "saleable" as well. For example, your ad could read, "Lovingly restored antique car, right down to the original color." Classic car buyers tend to like vehicles that have as much of the original look and feel of the car as possible, including the color.

(ii) Peruse classic car magazines: Again, just like home décor magazines, these provide a multitude of color ideas - quite possibly colors you never would have considered.

(iii) Ask other classic car enthusiasts: It's always a good idea to get broad a range of opinion from those who share the antique car passion.

You can employ one or all of these tactics. While paint is not permanent, it's not something you want to make a mistake on simply because it can be changed. Getting the color right the first time means you can sell - or start to enjoy - the car that much sooner.

The above color-choosing ideas are meant for those who wish to sell an antique car. If the car is for your personal use, then choose whatever your heart desires.

Antique Cars: How to Choose a Professional Paint Shop

Now that you've spent time choosing the perfect color, it's time to choose someone to do the job. Following is some advice on choosing the right shop.

Make sure that the paint shop you choose has been in business for a while. This is important because it means they will have all of the necessary tools and equ8ipment to get the job done right.

Antique cars are prized possessions that owners want to protect from dust, grime, rust, wear and tear. A reputable paint shop will be able to give you information on the different types of paint finishes you can use to protect against all of this.

There are four basic types of garage doors and three types of

materials commonly used to construct these doors.

If a traditional look is desired for the garage, then the side

hung garage door is the usual solution. Side-hung doors can

be fitted directly on a wood frame or on bricks.

Another type of garage door is the sectional garage door.

These doors are perfect where the space in front of the garage

is limited because they open vertically. They are perfect

for a new garage that is intended to have an aesthetic appeal.

Similar to sectional garage doors are the roller doors. The

door rolls up inside a drum above the opening of the garage

door. Also there is no need to allow any room inside or out to

operate the door so it would be well suited for limited space

in front of the garage.

The last type of door is the most common one, up and over

garage door. This is the most popular type. They can be

manufactured from timber, steel and GPR materials. They

can also be manual or automatic and they are relatively easy

to install.