Category: Day to day

For blogs on the day to day activities

Work is Worship

Family life balance versus feeding the family versus leaning on.

Finding work is a challenge altogether for the skilled and disabled. Greater challenges exist for the older workforce as well as new graduates. Upskilling, certifications, project experience, community approval, blockchain-type verification of credibility, financial responsibility, and virtual/onsite are some of the considerations for any new hires.

Newer laws of minimum wages are taking into effect to attract verified personnel into the workforce. During these challenging times, lethargy and complacency are getting ridden off and people are always available for work. With a positive attitude and upskilling, there might be opportunities in large cities. Devices and networks are being verified along with the operator using multi-factor and other key signals.

Lateral movements are discouraging new hires, however, project management are deprived of the latest skills and technologies in the market. Middle-level hires contribute to documentation that can be shared across the enterprise and open workforce (thru github). New graduates are equipped with research projects at the universities. With the help of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and pair programming, middle-level technologists with the core domain expertise and the new hires with blazingly fast attitudes are able to create innovations for the clients.

Leaning on new directorial and board-level works for only a few well-off enthusiasts. For technocrats, a few hours per week is suggested as the technologies are always evolving. To explain the technologies to the board room, architects are needed to demonstrate how the features might be helpful to them and the product. Enablers and mentors are often hard to find in the day-to-day life. However, to experiment the ideas and visualize them in a movie, cartoon characters or modern movies might help. 🙂 Learning from the small is expected however, the elevator pitches are mandatory to convince the experienced professionals.

Even at the retirement age, workforce are not thinking of a work-life balance rather toiling on multiple shifts to feed the family. Senior insurance and the other benefits are dependent on the state policies as a result people never retire. Your entire career might be jeopardized with a minor mistake that went unnoticed and you might be downgraded at the time of retirement. Due to the post-retirement benefits dependent on the salary at retirement, senior workforce are looking forward for wage increases.

Unemployment benefits require having a graduate/post-graduate degree as a valid training. However, in the technical fields, the degree/professional programs might not suffice for use in the regular work. Professionals rely on mandatory in-house micro-trainings or several virtual seminars out of work hours. I think, the state need to start recognizing the trainings the candidate has taken for the breadth of skills and expertise needed to tackle the challenges.

Tax dollars spent towards the books and magazines are not itemized and hands-on workshops are getting expensive. Why the average human is penalized for the one percent challenges is beyond comprehension. If the labor is getting paid based on the zip-code, why are they getting the intrusions similar to the popular sites. Physical threats are increasing in the communities at the MidWest level similar to the coasts. However, we are not equipped or have the resources to tackle the violations. We are unable to leave the doors unlocked in a typical MidWest style as there is a greater danger of displacement of qualified workforce.

Work is worship if you have one, otherwise feeding self and paying the bills itself is a nightmare. Loyalty and commitment is expected without returns. 🙂

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College Applications

Halloween is also a scary deadline for high school seniors who have to apply for colleges. Many colleges declare November 1 as the application deadline and the seniors are juggling with college applications and essays. Seniors are also figuring out where to go and how to pay. FAFSA, financial aid, and scholarship applications are also due at this time. Completing the application process while managing senior year and other activities is definitely a challenge for high school seniors.

Common App

Every student uses their individual style of completing applications and essays. Filing FAFSA, financial aid, and scholarships is another aspect of college admissions. Some colleges may waive application fees based on a student’s score. Common App is a platform for the students where they can create a profile and submit applications to many colleges. Payment options are available through the Common App. Applying to as many colleges as possible is suggested, as the colleges are highly selective. Each student’s individual preferences also might be different and in order to meet those, students need to keep their options open.

Scores

Students need to submit their high school courses, interests, sports, activities at school and outside of school, and all other details in the Common App. Some colleges provide an essay topic and the students are required to write the essay before they can submit the application. Other colleges that are not in the Common App, have respective websites to file the applications. Having the ACT, SAT, GPA, Toefl, AP Scores, College credits (if any), and other information ready will help in the application process. Putting all the details will help the colleges get a fair idea about the student.

FAFSA

A FAFSA ID is needed for both the students and parents so the colleges can get financial information. Students who cannot file the FAFSA can fill out an alternate form if any provided by the colleges. Parents who cannot file FAFSA can fill out a paper form. Students are encouraged to apply for FAFSA even though they are not eligible to get any aid. Colleges use the FAFSA ID to determine the financial aid a student can get. Based on the Federal-aid, state aid, and college aids, students can get an idea of how much more they need to pay from other sources such as work-pay, parental support, or loans. Once they receive the admission letter, students can create an account on the college websites and get an estimate of how much their tuition and dorm charges are going to be.

Scholarships

Applying to different scholarships is also crucial for the student. Regardless of their financial status, students are encouraged to apply so that they are left with fewer loans by the time they graduate. Again, scholarships need essays! and other criteria. STEM courses have special scholarships that the students must apply. Requesting recommendation letters and getting them ready is also crucial as colleges and scholarships are asking for them.

Senioritis

Seniors are often tired and get lazy in the senior year resulting in ‘Senioritis’. Students must be mindful that senior year is the basis for their future and planning ahead will help them save time and money. It is overwhelming for the students to catch up with the courses, sports, activities, college applications, and all. Students can get the help of teachers, counselors, parents, friends, and mentors to reduce stress. The applications and scholarships do have a deadline and timelines are important. Good luck to all the seniors in their college application process!

Developing Scrum Teams to Wipe Out Toxic Work Culture

If you are feeling repulsive every day to get back to work and to avoid the toxic work culture, you are not alone. Hostile work environment and workplace harassment exists even in Fortune 500 companies. Scrum teams and agile methodologies are a perfect solution to wipe out instability and insecurity in the teams.

Toxic Work Culture

Toxic work culture is common in organizations and definitely in all insecure teams. It is as evident as bullying in schools and ragging in colleges. You can only suck it up so much! Using your peers against you has become a norm for Human Resources and Project Managers. The insecurity and instability have led to more repulsive and reclusive teams.

You can differentiate toxic work culture in the first week itself. Everything is so rosy until you join and while you are getting acquainted with the new environment, the onset of personal attacks will begin. By the way, this has nothing to do with how well you are educated, how hard you are working, or how much you are willing to change to match the company’s expectations. It is just like that.

Scrum Teams

On the other hand, Scrum teams are proving to more empowering teams by self-organizing and cross-functional methods. All teams are agile and are welcoming input for continuous improvement. We all learn from each other and that is true for organizations as well. New hires who are Scrum certified are now becoming mandatory for teams. Even your organization is not following agile scrum, getting certified will provide new ways of working and enabling each other.

Modern organizations like NewBoCo #newboco are training the youth in both software as well as agile scrum certifications and placing them in client place. Getting certified is the best way to understand why the clients are preferring Agile Scrum trained professionals. While some may think the Scrum certifications are unnecessary and only technical certifications are needed. But, how the technical certifications are helpful if your thought process is small and basic work habits are toxic. I think more than the technical certifications, Scrum certifications will help to improve the teams. Technical skills can be learned in a short time but the time taken to modify an entire organization mindset is more. Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Product Owner are the two certifications, to begin with. Even if your organization is not developing software, your teams can get benefitted by Scrum knowledge. This will help in the optimization of resources and time.

Scrum teams help each other and become high performing teams. They are continuously helping each other in technical and/or any personal issues. If one team member is having a problem, others are willing to pitch in instead of putting them further down. Helping will multiply further and foster a healthy workplace. All staffing companies must ask their consultants to get Scrum certified if the Client company is having Agile Scrum in their policy. This will help in a smooth transition and avoid unnecessary situations.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner Test

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner Certification is the first step into cloud computing with Amazon Web Services (AWS). If you are an existing architect you could get the certification in your first attempt itself! A lot of revision of the concepts and terms is needed before signing up for the test.

Amazon Web Services certification has different learning paths based on role or solution or specialty.  Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner Certification will help in understanding the concepts and basic terms of AWS.

Domains 

The AWS Cloud Practitioner Test is in four domains:

  1. Cloud Concepts – 28%
  2. Security – 24%
  3. Technology – 36%
  4. Billing and Pricing – 12%

Register

You can sign up for the test via your free AWS account. The test is conducted at a testing center near you. The AWS Cloud Practitioner Test comprises of 65 questions and you have 90 minutes to complete the test. The questions are multiple-choice or multiple select questions. You have an option to review the questions or to skip them for answering later. There is a short survey about your profile at the end of the test.

Test Questions

Test questions mainly comprise from the basics of the AWS. You will need a lot of eLearning and revision just to understand the concepts and familiarize with the terms. You will notice that some of the questions are interlinked and you can connect the answers while reviewing the questions.

The basic training from the AWS Training website will cover most of the test concepts. However, you will need an additional study on the Amazon Database services. Official Study Guides must be reviewed for new and updated AWS concepts.

Scores

Your score will be from 100 to 1000 and the passing score is determined by the AWS community. You need 70 percent to pass the test and you will receive a score report to your email. Do refer official AWS Cloud Practitioner exam guides. The cost of the test is $100 for two attempts. You will have fourteen days to retake the test if you fail the first attempt. Preparing notes will help and mock tests will assist in the review.

Developers, testers, business analysts, product owners, scrum masters, managers, administrators, and all IT professionals alike are recommended to take AWS certifications. Definitely looks good on your resume and organizations are preferring IT professionals with AWS knowledge and/or experience. Good luck on the AWS certifications and your first step will be AWS Cloud Practitioner Test! 🙂

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

The magical keyword in the Information Technology industry is the ‘Cloud’ and Amazon Web Services (AWS) is definitely leading the game. Globally distributed organizations require high-available and fault-tolerant services that are possible with AWS. The pay-as-you-go option from AWS is another reason for organizations to subscribe to AWS services.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Fortune 500 companies are preferring Amazon Web Services (AWS) in addition to their traditional data centers and original applications. Seamless integration with existing systems is a major plus for AWS. The elasticity and scalability of the AWS help organizations build cost-effective cloud computing services. The on-demand delivery of IT resources and applications via the Internet with pay-as-you-go options is the key advantage of AWS. Agility, reliability, and elasticity are the benefits of AWS.

Access

Users can create an AWS account via there corporate or personal email. AWS services can be accessed via the AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), or AWS Software Development Kit (SDK). Users can subscribe or core services and integrated services and create instances. AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification will help to better understand the AWS and learn/share best practices with the community.

Core Services

  1. EC2 – Elastic Cloud Compute: Cloud storage for storing your applications and data
  2. EBS – Elastic Block Storage: Add on storage volumes with pay-as-you-go options
  3. S3 – Simple Storage Service: Managed Storage Service that is scalable for high volumes. Stores application data
  4. AWS Global Infrastructure: Regions, Availability Zones, Edge locations to facilitate provision in multiple locations
  5. VPC – Virtual Private Cloud: Private network with configuration, security control, subnets, route tables, and Internet Gateway
  6. AWS Security Groups: Has builtin firewalls and to specify which traffic to allow

Integrated Services

  1. Application Load Balancer (ALB): Enables routing of instances
  2. Auto Scaling: Automatically adjusts instances based on conditions and capacity management
  3. Route 53: DNS resolution strategies and routing
  4. RDS – Relational Database Services: Managed service to provide relational database services on Cloud.
  5. Lambda: Compute service without provisioning. Create an environment, routines, and functions. ETL and REST API
  6. BeanStalk: Platform-as-a-service for quick deployment of applications. Supports all programming languages
  7. SNS – Simple Notification Service: Send emails/alerts/mobile communications for alerting users
  8. Amazon Cloud Watch: Monitor AWS applications/services and set alarms
  9. Amazon Cloud Front: Content Delivery Network that has local caching and scale out options
  10. Amazon Cloud Formation: Infrasructure-as-a-service; Template with a resource stalk

Five Pillars of AWS Architecture

AWS Architecture and design principles are based on the five pillars for your systems:

  1. Security: Identify Access Management(IAM), Data protection, incident response, traceability, security at all levels
  2. Reliability: Ability to recover from disruption, Scale horizontally
  3. Performance Efficiency: Virtualize resources, deploy in multiple regions, serverless architecture
  4. Cost-Optimization: Maximize ROI, Optimization over time, Match supply with demand, Measure overall efficiency
  5. Operational Excellence: Fault-tolerant and high availability systems

High Availability Systems

The following are the services that support high availability systems through AWS:

  1. Elastic Load Balancer
  2. Route 53
  3. Amazon Cloud Watch
  4. Elastic IP Address
  5. AutoScaling

Fault-Tolerant Systems

The following are the services that support fault-tolerant systems through AWS:

  1. Amazon Simple Queue Service
  2. Amazon Simple Storage Service
  3. Amazon Relational Database Service

Amazon Shared Responsibility

Under AWS Shared Responsibility model, the user is responsible for user data, application, and guest operating system. AWS is responsible for managing Hypervisor, network, and physical resources.

  1. User Data
  2. Application
  3. Guest Operating System
  4. Hypervisor
  5. Network
  6. Physical

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Identity and Access Management (IAM) in AWS is possible with users, groups, roles, and policy documents.

  1. User: Every user is given permanent credentials also with multi-factor authentication.
  2. Group: Multiple users are categorized into Groups.
  3. Role: Temporary credentials are given to roles based on the users and groups.
  4. Policy Documents: Policy documents establish rules for providing or denying access to the users/groups/roles.

AWS Security

AWS has a resilient infrastructure with high security and strong safeguards. Compliance management and cloud-based governance are possible with AWS Security. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), data encryption, key management service, hardware-based key storage, access control and management, and multi-factor authentication are some other features of AWS Security.

AWS Security also passed compliance requirements from many government authorities. Users can run their own scans on top of the AWS Security for compliance.

  1. Amazon Inspector: A tool to improve security and automated security assessment
  2. AWS Shield: Managed Distributed Denial of Service that safeguards applications. The basic AWS Shield is free for all users and the Advanced AWS Shield can be purchased.

AWS Pricing

AWS Pricing has multiple payment options for users. There are pay-as-you-consume or Pay per GB options. Users can pay less when they use more or pay less when paid all upfront. There are monthly payment options for users. Pricing Dashboard, Simple monthly calculator, and TCO calculator assist users in determining the services and duration.

Users can get discounts for reserved instances and there is no charge for inbound data transfer. The AWS free tier provides access for 12 months to try out their services. Users can map usage to pricing and see their pricing on the Consolidated Pricing dashboard.

AWS Support Plans

Amazon Trusted Advisor is a service to advise customers on fault-tolerance, security, performance, and cost-optimization. Users can view recommendations, weekly notifications, and download reports.

AWS Support Plans exist for Basic, Developer, Business, or Enterprise. Technical Account Manager, Trusted Advisor, and Account Assistance is available to users.

Constant Learning

AWS is an ocean and how users can best use those services for their business is constant learning. Good luck on your AWS journey!

Certified Scrum Master: Say Nothing and Let the Development Team Figure it Out

Yes, in ideal development scrum teams, Scrum Master does not provide a solution but facilitates the discussions towards the solution. Certified Scrum Master is the servant leader in Agile Scrum teams to help achieve their goals. Scrum Master helps improve the business value and assists in the implementation of Scrum both at the team level as well as at the organization level.

Scrum Master

Scrum Master is one of the key roles in the Scrum team who ensures the relationships in the team are smooth for the operation of the Scrum team. Scrum Master definitely teaches, explains, shares experiences, and has a positive outlook toward the implementation of the Scrum. Whenever a difficult situation arises in the team, Scrum Master does the coaching and raises awareness so the team members are able to find the solution themselves. Scrum Master removes any external impediments the team is facing and in certain cases help the team to remove the impediments themselves.

Facilitation is one of the key responsibility of the Scrum Master. They help organize the Scrum events such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. Scrum Master works with the Product Owner to ensure the team has everything needed to achieve their goals.

Scaling Scrum

Scrum Master plays a key role in Scaling Scrum at an organization level. Large Scale Scrum is a challenge in the big organizations and coordinating the multiple Scrum teams is needed. Scrum Master helps the team realize the team capacity and backlog refinement. Scrum Master guides the teams in the Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing stages of the Scrum Team.

Scrum Master initially works at the team level to make them self-organizing and high-performing. Next, Scrum Master observes the team from a broader perspective. Next, Scrum Master expands the coaching at an organization level to inculcate a culture change. Working with other Scrum Masters is crucial for a Scrum Masters to understand the best practices.

At times, Scrum Master lets the team fail and understand the situation and adapt in the next Sprint. Even when the team becomes self-organized, the Scrum Master is needed for continuous improvement and performing teams. A Scrum Master is open to experimenting, asking questions, encourage conversations, and finding out better ways to get things done.

Scrum Master can introduce fun games and conduct cupcake get-togethers to encourage conversations. Offering small gifts and appreciating the team on achievements helps in team engagement.

Certification

To get Scrum Master certification, you need to attend a two-day paid workshop by a Certified Scrum Trainer. ( Only about 300 worldwide). After completing the class, you can take the test online from your home or office. The test is a 50 question multiple choice test and you have one hour to complete it. In order to receive the certification, you need to get 74%. You have 90 days to take one more time without paying fees.

The test has most questions from the Agile Manifesto and the Scrum Guide. It is an open book test and hence you can have the material by you for reference during the test. However, the time limit is crucial. Some questions on the Scrum roles may be confusing but it is okay. You have an option to get back to a skipped question if you are unsure. The test is included with the training fees for the first two attempts.

Getting the certification definitely helps boost the resume and understand the Scrum concepts. To maintain the certification, you need to keep earning the educational units. Every organization has a different way of adopting Scrum. Some Scrum Masters might perform dual roles as a developer or a tester. Scrum Masters can work on multiple teams and definitely help in backlog refinement in certain Scrum adaptations. Often developers are frustrated as to why the Scrum Masters are following up outside of the Scrum events. Ideally, Scrum Master is helping change the mindset of the organization to improve the business value.

Hollywood Calling

Hollywood is the must-visit attraction in Los Angeles, CA to get close with your stars or to be one. With Allegiant offering flights to LAX international airport from the region, reaching to LA is now a click away. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica Pier, Getty Center, and the Universal Studios Hollywood are some of the top attractions in Los Angeles, California!

California is the third-largest state in the USA and Los Angeles is the biggest city in California. The City of Angeles is the home of the Stars and is a city busy with tourism, events, and economic activity. It can be overwhelming to decide what to see if you have limited time. Booking ahead saves a ton of money and you can get flights and hotels at an affordable rate. You need to plan what to attractions to visit during your stay in LA. Most people plan their trip around sports or cultural events so they can get most of their trip.

LAX airport itself is like a big city and is overwhelming again. 🙂 Most hotels operate free shuttles from the LAX airport. (the best way to get around)

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is more of a video shooting studio than of a theme park. The Studio tour will take you throughout the studio in a tram. The live commentary provides information about the studio and the sets. The 4d experience during the tour is very thrilling. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the latest attraction of Universal Studios Hollywood. You can find Harry Potter fans in their costumes, pick up your wands, have some butterbeer, and walk through the halls of Hogwarts. The ride takes the visitors through a quidditch game and around fly the castle. Pets show, Transformers show, Water World, Walking Dead, and other park highlights are very entertaining. Lockers are available to store extra luggage and the park has plenty of food joints. Book tickets online to get a discount and there are options for multiple visit tickets.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

To get a glimpse of Hollywood, start with the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the Hollywood Boulevard. Each star costs around $30K and the funds go to the film association and to maintain the star. You can see the Dolby Theater and walk the stairs where Oscar stars go every year. The Chinese Theater has handprints and signatures of famous film stars in the entrance. The walk is very entertaining and fun. There is a wax museum, Ripley’s museum, and Hollywood history museum in the same area if you are interested.

Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign

Griffith Observatory has the largest telescopes and planetarium for visitors. Space research and exhibits at the venue provide a glimpse into the sky and space. The astronomers’ monument in the front has famous astronomers in the history of space. The museum will let you watch through the telescopes during the night and there are presentations throughout the day. Space and the stars are changing continuously and we are unable to capture the change in a lifetime. What we see that change is constant but in the space world, change takes a lot of time. 🙂

Griffith Observatory is also where you can get good pictures of the Hollywood Sign. There are hiking trails in the Griffith Park ad a Greek Theater at the bottom of the hill. You may spot a film star if you are lucky. You can reserve a bus tour that can take you through the luxurious mansions of famous stars and the places they hang out.

Santa Monica Pier

Beach is the most famous attraction in LA. Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach are famous for their boardwalks. The Santa Monica Pier is the end of the trail for Route 66 and that is the end! 🙂 The beaches are clean and safe for families. You can walk by the ocean or take a dip in the water. Santa Monica Pier is also a famous spot for movie shootings. Enjoy the sunrise and sunset at the Pier. You can take a day trip to Malibu beach from LA if time permits.

Downtown LA

Downtown LA is busy with high rise buildings, banks, corporate offices, and a lot of economic activities. Downtown LA also has museums and cultural centers where you can spend your time. Glass slide thru the OUE SkySpace is a must for a mini thrill. Abundant shopping and nightlife are available in Downtown LA.

Getting Around LA

Public transportation is the best mode of getting around LA. LADOT operates buses with a minimum charge around the famous attractions. LA Metro Rail is the fastest way to get around the city. Uber and Lyft are also widely available for local commute. Bicycles, electric kick scooters, skateboards, electric skateboards, and other boosted boards are available for rental in LA.

Union Station in LA has the most beautiful architecture with the biggest chandeliers and highest ceilings. But beware of the panhandlers and people asking for food or train fare. Homelessness is the biggest problems in LA and you can see that in the Union Station despite the warnings.

The locals are very friendly and helpful to visitors. I observed that they are not judgemental and are okay however you are. Unlike the MidWesterners, the Los Angeles locals are not immediately jumping to correct you but they let you adapt your own paths and styles. 🙂 I think LA is a lot of fun but I did not get to see Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus or Lilly Singh during my trip. 🙂

VRK Diet

Veeramachaneni Diet or VRK Diet is the popular diet emerging as a weight loss diet, diabetes diet, cancer diet, and a healthy alternative to a carbohydrate-based diet. Basic ingredients such as coconut oil, lemon juice, sea salt, ghee, and other high fats can keep you full for a longer time and reduce carb intake. VRK diet is the emerging diet for cancer patients to reduce the tumors and diabetes patients to remove diabetes from the body. The only risk is eliminating the medicines the doctors prescribe and just following the VRK diet in the initial phases.

Veeramachaneni Ramakrishna was in the Quad Cities recently as part of the US tour. He formulated a diet for his own self and it slowly expanded to the immediate family and friends. Now it has expanded to worldwide diet followers and many WhatsApp groups supporting the users through their journey. Some Chinese hospitals have adapted VRK diet to their cancer patients and observed the tumor has reduced completely. Several diabetes patients have ditched their medicines and by following the VRK diet they are reportedly doing absolutely fine. VRK diet also claimed to be helping women with cysts, period problems, and fertility issues.

VRK Diet and Diabetes

Veeramachaneni claims that medicines for Type 2 diabetes are making the patients drug addicts. The drugs let the patients generate more insulin on top of what the body already generates naturally to digest the glucose in the body. The extra insulin gets stored in the body as fat which in turn causes other complications in the body. The medicines the doctors prescribe are for reducing only the blood sugar which will not reduce the sugar in other parts of the body. The patients fall into a continuous cycle of drugs and sugar they never recover.

VRK Theory – Fat Metabolism vs Glucose Metabolism

The human body can survive on fat-based metabolism and glucose-based metabolism. Human cells can absorb only so much glucose and when they are full, insulin converts extra glucose into body fat. The insulin resistance of the body is the root cause of the diseases which can be mitigated with fat metabolism.

Fat-based foods keep you full for a longer time and do not need insulin to get absorbed into the body. On the other hand, carb-based foods generate a lot of glucose in the body which needs insulin to digest. Fat-based foods do not modify your daily required calories and are safe without any side effects. According to Veeramachaneni, timing the food intake will regulate the body sugars and you do not need medications at all!

VRK Diet

Veeramachaneni suggests that you only need a two meal, one meal, or complete liquid meal.

  1. Start the day with one liter of water, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Have a teaspoon of cold-pressed virgin unrefined coconut oil at this time.
  2. After that, if you are following a two-meal diet, have heavy lunch and heavy dinner. Avoid taking any meals or snacks during the day. Liquids such as juices and tea are okay in between if you feel hungry.
  3. Similarly, for a one meal diet, just eat one heavy meal and substitute the rest of the diet with liquids.
  4. For a complete liquid diet, you do not consume any solids and fill your stomach with only liquids throughout the day.

Following your doctor suggestion is crucial about the VRK diet. Ditching the medicines may cause sudden changes in the body. One may customize their diet according to their food preferences. However, think that you have only two food coupons for the day and you can only use those to eat. Avoid eating whatever comes your way or whatever is available. Just because there is surplus food, we don’t have to eat it. Fasting also is a mechanism to cleanse the system and use up the extra fat stored in the body.

For people looking to change their lifestyle, VRK diet is a good way to start and may help in weight loss. Being aware of the food intake will result in healthy alternatives. Contact Veeramachaneni at +91 7671995599 to get added to the Whatsapp support groups who can suggest the diet items and share success stories.

 

 

Smartphone Hacking – The Latest Creepy Trend

Credit card hacking and computer hacking are some of the large scale issues we all face. However, the latest creepy trend is smartphone hacking. Smartphones have inbuilt security features but are vulnerable to hacking and exposing the most private information.  Having a passcode and disabling some settings may prevent your phone from hacking.

Who is hacking

Hacking a family member or friend smartphone and threatening them to expose their calls is the latest creepy trend happening in our communities. Users are unaware that sometimes the most nearer ones are the ones that are hacking your smartphones. Sharing the apple id and passcode is enough to hack an iPhone. Apps are available that can forward all your calls, reset your logins, and transfer all secure date including photos, notes, and other information.

iPhone hacking is a known issue in the Apple community and many have fallen victims of it. Using public wifi or sharing the account details to someone can lead to smartphone hacking. Users are even unaware that their phone is hacked until they see some huge bill in their credit card or their private conversations/chats are exposed online.

What are the Signs of Smartphone Hacking

Low volume during the call, muffled noise in the background, blank calls, unrecognized apps, and so on are some of the signs that the smartphone is hacked. The battery runs off often, smartphone applications slow down, and you don’t even recognize some of the apps that are running on your phone. Without your knowledge, all calls are forwarding to a group of numbers that can also record the conversations for further sharing.

How to Avoid Smartphone Hacking

Placing your phone in the national Do Not Call Registry may help avoid unwanted calls. As soon as you suspect that your phone is hacked, resetting the phone will help. Creating a new id and deleting unwanted apps will also help. Updating the latest phone software is needed. Turning off Bluetooth and cellular when not in use will help. Manage the security settings of the apps and the device you are using. Take backups before resetting the smartphone.

We are sharing a lot of information on the Internet. At the same time, we do not want to share some information such as private conversations, credit card information, and bank account details. Creepy people are getting into our phones and torturing with hacking. If you see the problem persists, discard the phone and buy a new one. If you suspect a person that is hacking, stop sharing your accounts with that person. Many are opting for nonsmart phones for phone calls to avoid hacking altogether. Smartphones are allowing us to become smart at the same time they are leaving us vulnerable to hacking.

Customer Service Associate

The most underpaid and under-appreciated customer service associate job is not just limited to taking phone calls. De-escalating customers, navigating computer applications, finding the customer information, suggesting the appropriate solution, and short talk are some of the many activities of a customer service associate.

Business Representation

For all companies, a customer service associate becomes the face of the company and is communicating directly with the customer. The success of a customer service associate is mandatory for the success of a business and increased sales. With one voice across all the products, a customer service associate must convey the product and process the account information.

We all had long wait times and after an hour of wait, we have to provide all the information to the associate. We are often frustrated why we have to repeat the same information that we already entered into the system. However, on the other side, the associate is maneuvering complex software applications to find the correct account and solution.  An associate is also updating the call details and suggestion provided before the end of the call.

Calls

Every call is different and each situation is unique. Most of the times we are put on hold because the associate is waiting for feedback from another system or supervisor on the case. When we are asking to talk to a supervisor, in most cases that must be another associate with more experience.

De-escalating the angry and upset customer is an important skill for the associate. Small talk with the customer is an art that must be practiced while the information is loading. Being too casual must be avoided and the associate is expected to be professional all the times. Following the opening, closing, and personalization is crucial for call quality. All calls are recorded for quality and training purposes. 🙂

Customer Service Associate is most valuable because they are the people whom we can talk to and find a solution to our problems. In the current technology and device obsessed world, finding a person to talk is impossible. 🙂

Skills

English speaking skills and computer literacy are some mandatory skills. However, bi-linguals are paid more depending upon the business and demand. The salary of the customer service associate ranges from $8 to $25. For a technical customer service associate, the pay is higher. Flexible schedules and paid holidays can apply after a minimum service. Some local companies are even offering paid training without any binding contracts! Growth paths in the career are also offered based on further interest.

Background checks are needed for some companies. Insurance is offered as an option by some call center companies. Inbound and outbound sales call associates can earn higher depending on the commission. Customer Service Associate is a sedentary work with minimum movement and strict attendance and schedules. For starters, students, and aged population all alike Customer Service Associate is an apt job.

Summer Solstice, Flooding, and Rainfall!

It’s Summer Solstice but people in the Quad Cities are shivering because of the flooding and never-ending rainfall. After an over-the-top polar vortex winter, residents are looking forward to the warm weather. However, the flooding of the rivers in the area and non-stop rains have left many with flooded basements and wet belongings.

Flooding

Quad Cities have witnessed record-breaking flooding along the rivers. Sandbags and HESCO barriers couldn’t stop the overflowing rivers and within no time many properties have flooded. People have left their belongings and evacuated immediately seeking shelters and hotels. Businesses with apparel and other perishable goods were hit most as they have lost all the inventory and are now forced to close the locations. Insurance companies are directing people to federal funds and many people did not have flooding covered by the insurance company. Many of the river drive summer events are either canceled or moved to other areas.

Rainfall

Quad Cities are also having historic rainfalls and people are panicking because of the rains. Properties have flooded regardless of new or old, low-lying or hill-high. The stormwater systems failed and most waters escaped into the basements. Sump pumps have failed either due to malfunction or power surge issues. Backup sump pumps also were useless in some areas. Residents have no clue how to deal with the water and wet basements. Unfinished basements are now preferred over finished ones due to lesser damage. Pipes gave up due to plumbing issues and some properties even had sewage backup inside the house.

Bills

Most of the bills came out of pocket as the cleanup efforts were not covered by most insurance companies. Federal funds needed a lot of approvals and proofs. Insurance adjusters are unable to cope-up with the requests and are offering very minimum refunds. Many businesses were out of a place to put their belongings. Restaurants needed additional clean up, sanitation, and restoration. Many are opting for rebuilding the entire property due to the damage. The unprecedented flooding of the Mississippi River and the Rock River followed by heavy rainfall have put many in debts. People living paycheck to paycheck are continuing to live in the flooded properties as they have no place to go. Some were even caught in the flash flooding on the roads and lost their vehicles. Many had to empty their savings (if any) to accommodate the sudden bills. Construction of the local properties and the I74Bridge also missed the deadlines due to the flooding and rainfall.

Resilience

The resilience of the locals has put them back to work as soon as the water receded. Cities have responded with the cleaning efforts and many volunteers and non-profits have raised funds to assist those affected. Area hotels offered discounted nights for flooded residents. Local businesses are organizing clothing and food drives to raise funds for the flooding victims. Neighbors have come together to help each other with the cleanup.

The flooding of 2019 in the Quad Cities has affected all in some way or the other. Cities and residents are preparing plans to mitigate similar situations in the future and changing plans accordingly. Individuals are thankful that they are still alive and continue to rebuild their future in the Quad Cities.

Adultery and Infidelity

We are all adults and are living in a free country where any kind of relationship is possible. However, when we hear about adultery and infidelity, we often think about how is it even possible. When you are married, have kids, share responsibilities, and all how can you even think of cheating a partner. Adultery is illegal in Ilinois and is subject to fines.

Of course, love has no limits and conditions, but when you are able to comprehend one love story, another love story emerges. All the fancy love stories seem good in only movies. It takes a huge toll on the families involved and creates irreparable damage. Some people never change and keep getting away with cheating. Some get adjusted to spousal cheating and live their life like that. Getting away from such people is difficult but staying is also harder.

Proofs

Proving adultery is getting easier with the latest technologies. Call monitoring, hacking cell phone, video surveillance, audio recording, and other methods are available. We often see that private data of celebrities and billionaires are being exposed to the general public. Once the posts are public, proving innocence is also getting difficult with all the data that is rapidly spreading on social media.

Sometimes we cannot even recognize the cheating going on right in front of our eyes. Teenagers are getting smarter with SnapChats, but they can also be retrieved. High school children are able to differentiate between crush, love, like, friend, or acquaintance and set limits like that. Their brain keeps growing up to age 30 and keeps changing with each partner.

Drawing the Line

Where do you draw the line for friendships, ex-relationships, spouse, work partner, gay gal, affair, love, life, or family? Sometimes traditional practices help in self-control. Even though we live in a free country, we cannot go destroy other people’s lives. It does not matter whose fault it is, the trust in people is broken that cannot be brought back. For wild fantasies, there are legal outlets. When you can pay for sex, why do you engage with other spouses? Just because you can get away with it or because you think people fall for your charms and it is okay.

Adulthood

As adults, we are all lonely at times. It is their personal choice and decision about how each couple leads their lives. There are problems in all marriages and no one is perfect that way. In long term relationships, if we are feeling neglected, that is only a matter of time. Other times, you may be extremely happy. It is pure common sense and self-awareness that can result in peaceful relationships. Taking frequent breaks and vacations will help. Appreciating the partner and expressing love on a regular basis through small gestures will add to the positive experience.

Scott’s Law

Simple awareness of Scott’s Law will save lives on the road. Due to the holidays, summer, road construction, distracted driving, and other factors, Scott’s Law is often neglected. As a result, precious lives are being lost. Increased police patrols on the road to avoid/prevent/reduce accidents due to failure to yield to an emergency vehicle parked on the roadside.

Scott’s Law is named after a Chicago first responder who lost his life when another driver hit Scott while he was assisting a traffic accident. Also known as Move Over Law #moveover, Scott’s Law is now being enforced very strictly.

When an emergency vehicle is parked on the roadside with lights on, the oncoming driver must slow down and change lanes. This will avoid hitting the people who are present on the roadside assisting others.  It is a simple common sense law that will save lives.

Challenges

Drivers are finding difficulty in switching lanes when they saw the vehicle with blinking lights. Sometimes there are multiple vehicles on either side of the road! By the time, we switch lanes for one vehicle, there is already another one on the other side of the road. At high speeds, switching lanes is also challenging.

If there are three to four lanes, drivers may find some space to move over. However, if there are only two lanes, sometimes drivers are unable to yield or slow down and go ahead without switching lanes.

Enforcement

During long drives on high ways, you can find that police patrol have parked vehicles with lights on just to enforce Scott’s Law. We have heard recent stories that police have left the vehicle they were inspecting and gave tickets to the vehicle who did not move over.

No one wants to hit another person or get a traffic ticket. Everyone must aim at reaching their destination safely and respect the rules of the road. By following Scott’s Law, both speeding and hitting other people can be avoided. Increased awareness and reduced speeds will save precious lives.

 

Canada Immigration

Canada is emerging as the top choice for immigrants in North America. Skilled professionals are able to apply online and get Permanent Resident status in less than a year. Within three years of moving, immigrants can get Canadian citizenship. The immigrant-friendly policies of Canada open up another way for skilled professionals apart from going back to their own country.

Canadian immigration is based on the points in a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Skilled professionals are eligible for Express Entry if they meet certain criteria. Users can create a profile in the Express Entry system. If they are targeting a particular province, they can create a profile for that Province. Canada Job Bank is the main source for searching jobs in Canada.  Wage search option lets the users get the low, medium, and high wages for their occupation.

Points and Ranking

Prospective employees are ranked based on their age, job category, IELTS score, highest degree, years of foreign work experience, job offer, provincial nomination, and other aspects. Spouse are also given points for their qualifications and experience. If a sibling or immediate relative is present, points exist. You will be scored out of 1200 points. Professionals with low scores are also admitted but it depends on the rounds of invitation in the Express Entry lottery pool.

Profile

Creating a profile in the Express Entry system is the first step in the Canadian immigration process. Candidates need to have a qualifying test score ready for applying. IELTS test costs $240 which can be written in the nearest test centers. Other language tests are also accepted based on your profile. Applicants are required to submit the Express Entry Profile details while registering for the IELTS test.

If you have traveled to Canada in the past for business or pleasure that will also add up to demonstrate your intent to immigration. Uploading the required documents are required during the online application. Filing fees (around CAD 1000) must be paid at the end of the application process. Express Entry is the open pool for employers to seek candidates. You will be notified if you are selected and an Invitation to Apply is sent.

You will be subjected to background checks, medical examination, and biometrics during the process. Candidates will be allotted the Permanent Resident status which allows them to move to Canada and work. Within three years, you will be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Advantages

Canadian immigrants are able to work in the Province they initially applied. They are free to move within Canada and work for any employer. Spouse and eligible kids are also able to study or seek employment immediately. Traveling to other parts of the world is also hassle-free once you get the Permanent Residence or citizenship. Canadian citizens are also able to work in the USA with a special visa and take up full-time employment.

Canada remains as a top choice for immigrants due to the current anti-immigrant policies in the USA and the UK. Growth and opportunities are abundant for both highly skilled and entry-level professionals alike. Cost of living is similar to the United States although housing, clothing, and food cost higher. Hospital visits and basic medical care is free, but you need to spend on prescriptions. Driving a car can be a costly affair due to high vehicle insurance and traffic tickets. Severe winters and weather may create havoc on your health. Canadian dollars is thirty percent lesser than United States Dollar but it doesn’t matter much if you aren’t traveling out of the country. Security and long-term family settlement are the plus points if you move to Canada.

Bienvenue Au Canada

Traveling to Canada from the United States is just a drive across the border. Toronto and Niagara Falls in the Ontario province are the top destinations in Canada. Visitors can get a complete look of the Niagara Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side. The Toronto CityPass will get you through the top attractions of Toronto. You can find the attractions similar to the United States but with the ‘Queen’s Style’.

Top Attractions

Walk through downtown Toronto will get you to the most attractions and unique experiences. Here are the top attractions in Canada.

  1. The Canadian National Tower (CN Tower) is the 1815 feet tall structure in Toronto that gives a good view of the city. The high-speed elevator ride takes to the SkyPod, Lookout level, EdgeWalk, and the glass floor. The 360-degree restaurant in the CN Tower is a good experience to enjoy the view while having food. I think Chicago’s Willis Tower Skydeck has a better glass deck than the CN Tower’s Glass look out. If you are adventurous, you can try the EdgeWalk for a thrilling experience in the CN Tower.
  2. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada has a good collection of fish and of course sharks! Rare species are on display including the jellyfish, stingray, starfish, flying turtles, and sharks are some of the special kinds you can find in the galleries. It is amazing how the big sharks and small fish adapted to live in the same container and share their spaces! I think Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium has a larger collection than the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. The aquarium is right next to the CN Tower and you can plan your day accordingly. Rogers Center stadium and Steam Whistle Brewing are other attractions in the same area.
  3. CasaLoma is Toronto’s majestic castle that is a must-see attraction to understand the history of the city. Unique architecture and interiors of the castle make CasaLoma a popular destination for weddings. You will be surprised to see that many movies were shot in the castle including the X-Men! It is just a palace built by Sir Henry Pallett for his wife Mary Dodgson but involves the history of the city. The pictures along the tunnel to the sheds give you a glimpse of the times of the past. Galleries and Queen’s collection are also present in CasaLoma. Walk up the towers to get a complete view of Toronto. Let me know if you get to see the rumored ghosts of the haunted castle!
  4. Royal Ontario Museum is the largest museum in Canada and has unique galleries of art and natural history. A lot of kids activities are included throughout the day. You can find art and displays from Egypt, Asia, Africa, Italy, China, Japan, Greece, India, and so on. Of course, there are mummies and pyramids waiting for you in the galleries. Gold and silver coins are on display from different parts of the world. Galleries of dinosaurs, mammals, birds, fish, and other species are also open for visitors. Unique Lee-Chin crystal architecture of the building lets you walk through the bridges and self-supporting prismatic structures.
  5. Ontario Science Center is a few minutes drive away from Toronto. It has an Imax theater and planetarium. Special collection includes space centers, planetary motion, eclipses, rocks from moon and Mars. Fun exhibits are open for children such as 3d printer, rocket chair, living roof, radio collection, energy displays, and so on. Science center is a must-see for school children and has ‘hair-raising’ exhibits. Special displays for the human body and space are interactive.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls Ontario is a couple of hours drive from Toronto. It has exclusive and unique views of both the Niagara Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The city is very much active and has a range of activities for families and adults. Helicopter tours and zip lines are available at an affordable cost. If you have seen Niagara Falls from the United States, you will immediately notice that you have seen only a part of the falls. Canadian Niagara Falls are visible right from the road leading to it and during off-season, you can get a mind-blowing experience of the Niagara Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

Friendly Canadians

Canadians are friendly and approachable even in their biggest cities. The population density is lower and I think they are happy just to see people. French is one of the official languages but their English is ‘English’ English. You can immediately notice the difference. Find Queen on the currency, expressways, and roadways. Most of the establishments accept Visa or Mastercard or Discover credit cards and currency exchange is available in the big hotels. Visitors will need a Canadian visa and the border patrol agents will enquire the basic questions about the travel. Public transportation or Uber is a better way to travel to avoid parking charges and traffic. You can find popular food joints such as McDonald’s or exclusive restaurants such as Tim Hortons everywhere. You can complete the top attractions in a day or two. During the warm seasons, you can also visit the Lion Safari, Lake cruises, and Niagara Ziplines. If time permits, you can drive to Ottawa for more attractions. Let me know what else you liked during your visit to Canada!

 

 

What’s going on with the fires in the Quad Cities

Recently we heard so many fire incidents in the area and some were even fatal. This is shocking to hear how fast the fire can spread and result in a total loss of the families. The homeowners are often left with nothing due to the lack of proper insurance coverage for fires. Apartments, trailers, restaurants, homes, and commercial properties are falling to fire losses. Area agencies are distributing free fire alarms but how many are aware of it. Homeowners need to take special measures to mitigate the risk of fires.

Causes of fires

Unattended candles, faulty switches, garage fires, outdated stoves, grilling, burning leaves, worn out HVAC, chipped electric wiring, sofa fires, hoarding, and all other minor issues which were kept pending may result in fires! Within minutes the fires engulf the buildings and people are lucky to get out with minor smoke inhalation. Complete loss of the assets overnight leaves families in a very vulnerable position.

Fire Control

Controlling the fires in winter is often challenging due to the freezing weather in the Quad Cities. We often hear multiple fire departments responding to a fire call and controlling the fire. Limiting the fire and not letting it spread to other properties is also crucial. Access to water and high winds are other considerations during fire control.

Insurance

Some of the common Homeowner insurances do not cover the fire damage. They cover basics and property owners often are reluctant to increase the coverage for unnecessary damages. Fire damage, however, must be mandatory for all properties so the damage can be claimed by the insurance. Extra charges for fire damage is a common among the home insurance. The claims processing is often tricky as the fire department needs to identify the cause of the fire. The insurance companies also may need additional verification to process fire claims.

Routine Inspection

Homeowners are suggested to inspect their properties for any fire risks. Updating any outdated equipment is recommended. Modern paints and building materials are available in fire retarding models that reduce the risk of spreading the fire. Any chipped electric wires can be discarded. Overloading an electric point or extension cord is also dangerous. Local utility companies are willing to exchange outdated refrigerators, washers, and dryers. Some are even offering rebates for discarding the old ones.

Checking the fire alarms and replacing the batteries yearly is also a common practice. Common remedies can prevent the greater damages of fire. Having an escape route in case of fire, setting aside emergency kit, identifying an area where the family can meet when they escape, and other fire escape plans are needed. The small fire extinguishers can come in handy in some cases.

Quad Cities is very fortunate to have giving communities in times of difficulty. Area shelters, Red Cross, churches, and local groups are contributing to the families in need. Old and new properties alike are at risk of fires and annual inspection is required.

 

Product Owner and Scrum Master

Agile Scrum is being in practice with many software development teams as well as teams in non-software development. How the Agile Scrum is implemented is dependent on each organization and how they adapt the Scrum principles. However, getting certification from a Certified Scrum Trainer will guide the teams in the Scrum principles and roles.

Often, we come across Scrum teams where the Scrum Master is writing user stories or the Product Owner is conducting the Scrum events. In some teams, Product Owner is also part of the development team. This may be customized according to the organization. But, certified professionals can clearly see the improper implementation of Scrum. Scrum teams are cross-functional and self-organizing. The three important roles in the Scrum teams are the Development team, Product Owner, and Scrum Master. Each has their own responsibilities.

Product Owner

In Agile Scrum teams, Product Owner becomes the business representative for the Scrum teams. Here are the responsibilities of a Product Owner:

  • Always available for the team, knowledgeable in technical and business domain, and is agile
  • Communicates the product vision and product roadmap
  • Manages the product backlog
  • Writes user stories and acceptance criteria/tests
  • Prioritize the product backlog and sprint backlog
  • Responsible for backlog grooming
  • Determines the sprint duration and estimating the user stories
  • Communicates with the business team and the development team
  • Works closely with the business to know actually what they want from the product
  • Quickly adapts to the change requests from the business
  • Partners with the Scrum Master for the overall performance of the Scrum team
  • Works only for one Scrum team
  • Attends daily scrum (optional)
  • Does not speak until spoken to 🙂
  • Lets the development team figure out how they are going to develop the product
  • Responsible for the business outcomes
  • Prepare the release plan
  • Maintains continuous feedback from the business
  • Seeks questions and answers from internal and external stakeholders
  • Uses tools to maintain the backlog, calculate sprint velocity, and maintain burndown charts

Scrum Master

Scrum Master is responsible for removing any impediments to the development team and oversees end-to-end implementation of the Scrum principles and events.

  • Monitor the Sprint events and gatherings including Sprint planning, Sprint review, Sprint retrospective, and daily scrum meetings
  • Facilitates the Scrum by being a mentor and coach
  • May monitor one or more Scrum teams
  • Approaches business to remove impediments
  • Partners with the Product Owner for Scrum implementation

Development team

  • Decides how to develop the product increment
  • Picks the user stories for the Sprint
  • Participate in all the Scrum events
  • Perform code reviews
  • Performs many functions and self-organizes to meet the Sprint goals
  • Complete the user stories vertically so the customer can start using the increment
  • Ensure the committed user stories for the Sprint are complete in all aspects
  • Works for only one Scrum team even if reporting to Project Manager from another team
  • Cannot take up any work from outside the team
  • Being agile to implement changes in future sprints
  • Looks out for each other for the success of the Scrum team
  • Complete all stages of development including testing
  • Communicate with Scrum Master and Product Owner

Self-organizing and cross-functional Scrum teams are the latest way of getting things done efficiently. Collaboration and communication are key to the success. Managing complex projects can be simplified using the Scrum principles and events. Lots of discussion and consensus is required before actually starting the work so the teams can deliver what the customer actually wants.

The Scrum has changed in 2018 and here is the 2017 Scrum guide for your reference. Getting the Scrum certification from a Certified Trainer will help the Scrum teams to know what they are doing right and what is the ideal way Scrum teams are supposed to work.

scrumguidenov2017

 

Taxes are Approaching Faster Than You Think

As the magic of holidays fades away, the new year also brings tax time for all of us. The new GOP tax bill drastically adds/removes incentives that could affect your paycheck and taxes. Homeowners are rushing to pre-pay the property taxes, Businesses are announcing bonuses for their employees, Tax agents are figuring out how the tax rules can be implemented, and others are waiting to file the taxes on the postcard!

The yearend also brings the burden of filing taxes. Procuring the 1099s, W2s, and documents consume individuals and make you wonder where did all the money go. 🙂 TurboTax has user-friendly self-guiding software which can show your taxes based on the information you provide. If you approach a local tax agent such as H&R Block, they can guide you through the filing. The agents enter your details into their tax software and complete the filing.

If you are itemizing you will be required to carry all proofs during filing. If there is an audit from the IRS, you have to re-submit your proofs. Wait until the end of January or February until you receive all the 1099s and W2s from the agencies. Tax agents and taxpayers are eagerly waiting for how the new GOP tax bill will change the taxes. Here are some general points to consider:

  1. Increased standard deduction:
    1. For married couples: Increase from $13, 000 to $24, 000.
    2. For individuals: Increase from $6500 to $12, 000.
    3. For single parents: Increase is from $9550 to $18, 000.
  2. Property tax exemption limited to $10, 000: This is a huge blow to high property tax states such as Illinois and New Jersey.
    • I wonder why Scott County residents rushed to pre-pay the property taxes. They only pay $3600! Rock Island County does not accept pre-payment until the tax bill arrives in May. Illinois is already leading in people moving out and it may increase further in future. 🙂
  3. Taxes can be filed on a postcard: This will simplify the documentation required. However, the cost of the postcard is not revealed yet. 🙂
  4. Change in Payment: Payroll software providers are adjusting the tax withholding to accommodate the tax changes
  5. Child tax credit increased from $1000 to $2000 for the people with incomes up to 200, 000 (single parents) and $400, 000 (Married filing jointly). However, the child is required to have a valid SSN.
  6. Change in tax slabs: Corporate tax rate is flat 21 percent. Pass-through business owners or small business owners can deduct 20 percent of the income. Large businesses announced bonuses and higher contributions to charity due to the tax savings they get from the GOP tax reform. The different slabs for low-income, middle-income, and high-income have been set up.

IRS will not accept taxes until the end of January and if you are expecting a refund, you will not be seeing them until the end of February. The last day to file taxes is April 17 without penalty. The new GOP tax reform is from 2018 to 2025 and some are skeptical that after 2025, all the tax savings will be lost. For low-income earners, the taxes might reduce first but increase after 2025. Everyone is trying to understand how it will change and any hint of fewer taxes gives a huge relief for taxpayers. 🙂

Happy New Year 2018!

 

Low-income tax rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle-income tax rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High-income tax rates

 

Are You Ready for the Next Gen Coders…

The typical requirement of four year or three year bachelor degree with over ten years of experience in the related field is not relevant in the IT industry anymore. The new wave of coders are high school graduates with technical training and on the job apprenticeship are ready for your high-tech job within an year! Here is the best part, they are already aware of the agile Scrum processes and are ready for the 60K to 75K IT Job! Quad Cities is one of the regions adapting the trend and is getting ready to manage the young coders!

Youth start coding as young as twelve through the different programs in school or local STEM institutions. They learn typing in schools and are better at organizing work with the Google Docs. Initially used for getting work done, now schools have started using computers for educating students in computers. Engineering, Nursing, Coding, and other STEM courses are popping up in the school curriculum. Robotics has become a mandatory activity for kids in and out of school. High schools have created vocational courses so that the kids can be a certified nurse after passing high school. Some local high schools have made engineering an optional course in all four years so they are ready for the vocational jobs.

Special programs for girls in coding and computer science are in place to encourage coders. The traditional mindset of limiting women to just the Business Analyst or Tester roles will not work anymore. Women in IT are now developing more programs and managing those projects as well. The next gen women coders are able to take up the challenges with more communication skills, perfection, and confidence!

Ignite Quadcities, QCESC, Career Cruising QC, and CoWorkQC in the Quad Cities and NewBoCo and Vault in Cedar Rapids are some of the latest organizations developing young coders. The next generation workforce also have founded an organization and done some consulting in their high school years. Government grants and funds to encourage STEM programs and trade schools has also added to the new trend. Some trade schools do charge some amount for the training. By partnering with local IT companies, they allow local IT managers to visit the students during the apprenticeship and teach what is required at their organizations. Some local colleges are allowing the credits from the trade school to transfer to a degree so the kids can have a Bachelors degree as well. The trade schools are also allowing the kids to work in the Scrum process under a certified Scrum Master so the kids are aware of the process in the IT organizations. In addition, the trade schools are also willing to take older workforce who are stuck in minimum wages through out their lives and are willing to work hard for the change.

The next generation coders are already learning Java (!) during their high school years and participating in the local hacking and coding marathons. Online courses from Khan academy and Udemy are paving a way to learn coding in a systematic way. We do not need the specialists (?) anymore as we can employ our local kids to work in our IT organizations. However, whether they are going to work long enough in the same organization is questionable. Also, are they ready for super stress and long working hours demanded by the Information Technology work. A trade school course can get them a job but is not a substitute for the Bachelors degree and the kids must work towards the degree while working in their dream IT job!