Articles written by Mary P Ivy

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What is Helium

About me - Mary P Ivy

In 30 years as a secondary English teacher, I have had many fine opportunities to share great literature with students, watch young writers grow, and see those children go on to have successful and meaningful lives. I have also learned a great deal about

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Jobs & Careers > Jobs & Careers (Other) Does a college degree really have benefits?: 2 of 8
Does a College Education Really Have Benefits? For those considering this question, it might be wise to stop and think about the last word of the question: benefits. Careful thinking about just what kind of benefits one hopes to receive from a college degree might help answer the rest of the question. Financial Benefits Many... More..
Education > Alternative Education (Other) Virtual high schools: 1 of 4
Virtual High Schools Virtual high schools deliver instruction through a computer and Internet connection. The curriculum is stringent and tied to state standards. The offline component may require projects and papers, book reports and speeches. These are not the "easy out" they are often seen as; in fact, many students find ... More..
Entertainment > Directors & Film Makers Can you trust the information in a Michael Moore documentary?: 1 of 4
Can You Trust the Information in a Michael Moore Documentary? Michael Moore's information is mostly trustworthy, though like any media - print or broadcast - the information is always skewed by the very choices the writer makes. Emphasizing one piece of information while touching lightly on another distorts reality. No human... More..
Business > Customer Management Customer service: Lifeblood of any business: 1 of 4
Why Do Corporations Seem So Oblivious To Legitimate Customer Complaints? Consumers with legitimate complaints about a product or service can do great harm to even a major corporation when the tools of technology are deployed skillfully. A wise business decision might be to acknowledge this and develop new ways of handling re... More..
Personal Finance > Investing (Other) Can socially responsible investments make good returns?: 1 of 3
Can Socially Responsible Investments Make Good Returns? Investors want and need to make decent returns on their money, but many do not feel comfortable profiting from businesses whose products or practices they do not condone. These investors do not want to support companies that exploit employees, disregard the environment,... More..
Business > Business (Other) The potential business benefits of corporate social responsibility: 2 of 5
Potential Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility Corporations are justified in asking "what's in it for us?" After all, they are in business to make money, not provide social services or replace non-profits. They may be interested to learn that being a good corporate citizen - a Socially Responsible Corporation - can al... More..
Personal Finance > Retirement What you need to know about retirement: 2 of 5
What You Need to Know About Retirement Retirement is really a lot like a graduation. And just like those other graduations, decisions have to be made about the next phase of life. Too often, just as with graduates, people want to know “what are you going to do?” It’s a tough question at 18 or any othe... More..
Travel > Travel (Other) Patterns of rude behavior among American tourists abroad: The 'Ugly Americans': 3 of 7
Rude Behavior Among American Tourists Abroad: The "Ugly American" "Harry, ya got the camera?" A large woman with bleached, piled-high hair yelled across the crowded sidewalk in Quebec City. Harry yelled back and she elbowed her way through the crowd toward Harry and the camera. Everyone else momentarily paused to gape at the... More..
Personal Finance > Student Loans Should the federal government bail out student loan holders?: 4 of 9
It is beyond time for the federal government to help individuals over corporations! Yes, to federal help to those with student loans. Before those on the opposite side of this issue become apoplectic, allow me to explain my idea of help. I am not advocating forgiveness of these loans but some kind of modification: extend tim... More..
Home & Garden > Architecture What is sustainable urban planning?: 2 of 4
What is sustainable urban planning? Since cities are the most efficient places for the world's population to live and work, it is vital that those cities promote a healthy, successful and sustainable quality of life. Ensuring that is the role of urban planners. Fortunately, many projects around the world are now serving as l... More..