Getting quotes for auto insurance is an easy process. With just a few clicks on the computer or toll-free telephone calls, anyone can gather a list that compares auto insurance by services and rates. For senior citizens, who often are on fixed incomes, this can be a very cost-effective consume, possibly saving them hundreds of dollars during an insured period.

Finding Comparable Rates

Buying auto insurance is like any other famous, long-term purchase. The key is to take time to research and shop for the best deal with reliable auto insurance companies.

The following is a sample of insurance companies and insurance brokers offering auto insurance quotes on the Internet. Many have specific marketing programs targeting senior citizens.

AARP: www.aarp.thehartford.com.
AARP is an advocacy organization for seniors that promotes the interests of people over 50 years old. They offer auto insurance to members through The Hartford.

Allstate: www.allstate.com.
Allstate is a well known insurance company. Quotes can be gathered at the above website or local agents can be found in the telephone book and are available to assist in preparing a free quote.

Farmers Insurance Group: http://www.farmersinsurance.com.
Online or in person, a Farmers insurance agent can review auto insurance coverage, help identify potential gaps, and include any qualifying Farmers Auto insurance discounts.

Progressive Insurance: www.progressive.com.
Progressive will provide a quote for their company along with comparables of other auto insurance companies for easy comparisons.

Geico Insurance: www.geico.com.
This company can be accessed online or at one of their many offices. It is easy to get a quote; they offer flexible payment options and competitive rates.

Costco: www.costco.com.
Costco offers membership insurance through Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance.

Autoinsure: www.autoinsure.org.
Autoinsure has a page with helpful insurance information for senior citizens. They can provide quotes from all the major auto insurance companies.

Esurance: www.esurance.com.
A rising star among insurance companies that take pride in stating: “Esurance doesn’t just offer proper insurance coverage, we also believe in educating consumers.” Their online quote process is easy to navigate.

US Insurance: www.usinsuranceonline.com
They will provide multiple auto insurance quotes tailored to specific needs within minutes of filling out their simple short form. It’s easy then to compare them side by side to score the best prices and coverage.

Car Insurance Rates: www.carinsurancerates.com
Their network of companies and brokers offer a variety of car insurances: Farmers, Allstate, AIG, Nationwide, AARP, Safeco Insurance, Liberty Mutual, MetLife and Mercury.

Every insurance rate: www.everyinsurancerate.com
EveryInsuranceCompany.com is a handy Internet directory to find local insurance companies, insurance quotes and discount insurance rates.

Quote Scout: www.quotescout.com.
This website will provide quotes from a long list of auto insurance companies – literally from “A” to “Z”.

Insurance.com: http://www.insurance.com.
Insurance.com works directly with 15 highly rated car insurance companies in 46 states: 21st Century, Electric Insurance, Esurance Auto Insurance, The Hartford, Infinity, Liberty Mutual, Meritplan Insurance, MetLife Auto Insurance, Newport Insurance, Permanent General Assurance Corporation (The General), Progressive, QBE Insurance, Safeco, Travelers Insurance, and Unitrin Explain.

Keeping Auto Insurance Rates Down

There are ways that senior citizens can take responsibility to control their auto insurance rates. Here are a few suggestions.

According to seniorjournal.com, most of the major auto insurance agencies provide a 5% – 10% discount to drivers beginning at the ages of 50 or 55. However, as a group, drivers 75 and older have one of the highest rates of fatal daytime accidents. Because of this, it’s principal that senior drivers stay proactive and involved in keeping their driving skills sharp.

Many states offer an auto insurance discount for aged drivers if a person meets a given age criteria and has taken an approved mature driver safety course. Local colleges and senior centers are good resources to learn about the classes. AARP has local and on-line access to the course. Costco offers its members an online drivers’ safety training course through FirstNet: www.firstnetlearning.com.

Another method to keep auto insurance rates down is to drive a low-profile car, one that as piece of a group has a lower rate due to minimum repair costs, considered safer and less likely to be stolen. Check the Highway Loss Data Institute, www.iihs.org, for the latest related data.

Examine modern auto insurance needs and requirements. Changing to higher deductibles or dropping collision or comprehensive coverage for older cars may acquire sense.

Always ask about discounts when purchasing or renewing auto insurance.

And finally, the best long-term advice: Always drive defensively, stay alert and follow the driving laws. Maintaining a wonderful driving record is the best way to withhold auto insurance rates down.

Liability is the coverage that will protect you and your property and possessions in the event you are at fault in a multi-vehicle accident. This coverage will pay the other person or persons involved for hospital bills, their vehicle repairs or pay off, and protect you in the event of a law suit. The limits of liability vary from state to state. Here in Tennessee the minimum limits are $25,000 per person up to $50,000 per accident. This means the insurance will pay up to $25,000 to the other person(s) involved but will not exceed a total of $50,000 for one accident. Limits range also from $50,000/100,000 up to $250,000/500,000.

Uninsured motorist is the coverage that will protect you in the event someone collides with you, and they are not carrying any insurance at all. This coverage will help pay for your vehicle repairs or replacement minus a $250 deductible. If this happens, the other person who is not carrying insurance is given the chance to make restitution to your insurance company and provide proof they have gotten insurance before they have their license taken. This is providing they have a license and do not end up in jail for some reason.

Medical payments will pay for your hospital and ambulance services up to a certain amount which is specified on the policy. Standard medical pay is $5000. You can carry higher or lower medical payments if you desire. Just ask the agent what their choices are.

Full coverage insurance is when a person carries liability, uninsured motorist, medical payments, comprehensive, and collision coverage. In other words, they have it all.

Comprehensive covers the fire, theft, vandalism, glass breakage, and animal collision on your vehicle. This coverage comes with several choices of deductibles. Deductibles are what you pay out of pocket before the insurance takes over. The standard deductible on this is either zero or $50. Most people carry such a low deductible since if a windshield or glass is broken, they usually only cost $300 to $400. Thus, there would be no need to have a $500 deductible on comprehensive since broken windshields are the most common claims turned in under this coverage.

Collision is what will pay for repairs or pay off of your vehicle in the event of an at fault accident or a single vehicle accident. Most people will opt for a $500 deductible on this coverage in order to keep their premium lower. Collision is the most expensive coverage on the entire policy.

Some companies offer Emergency Road Service and Rental Reimbursement. First Rental Reimbursement will not pay for you a rental vehicle if you automobile is in the shop just for mechanical repairs. This only covers a rental car if your car must be repaired due to an accident. Emergency Road Service will cover a tow in the event of a mechanical crash down but will not cover unbiased having a vehicle pulled from a ditch. If a tow is done due to sliding in a ditch or getting stuck, this is actually considered a collision and would fall under that coverage. Both of these coverages are optional.

Always do your homework on a company also. Check on their ratings and rankings, check to see if there are any complaints filed against them, and definitely check on their cancellation policies and statistics. Impartial doing this could save you a bundle on your auto insurance.

I sure hope this will help you if you are looking to get auto insurance. If you talk and think like an agent, you could probably save yourself some money on your auto insurance.

Source:

Personally working in insurance for seven years

Hmm…well, I finally received the paperwork on the new idea, the advertising campaign that is supposed to make Allstate better than all the other Auto Insurance companies!    Turns out in order to get the accident forgiveness part “Gold Protection Program” they charge you an additional $50 per 6 months, and if you do cause an accident, after joining they will deduct $100 off your deductable – After 4 years, you won’t have a deductable!  You probably won’t have the same car either.  Oh, and you’ll be out about $500 extra…so you do actually pay for the deductable, just before you have the accident.

The other program is called the Platinum Protection Program.  With this one, you get the same above benefits, plus receive a Safe Driving Bonus of 5% off your next renewal premium….sounds good?   The catch is that your premium increases by $100 or more (depending on your contract).   Sound to me that the only one who benefits is Allstate – at least for the first few years.   They charge me $100 extra for the new program, and then at the next premium, charge me $50 extra.  (reducing it by 5% or so…actually the stunning print says “Up to 5%), so you may not actually receive the whole discount.

Assuming that my driving remains the same, no accidents, I acquire to be charged an additional $50 a month to possibly reduce a deductable that I may not ever need.

So the next time you see a commercial with the man with the assuring voice  telling you how great Allstate is and how mighty money you’ll place with their unique “Your Choice Auto Insurance’ – read between the lines.   The insurance companies are really only out for themselves, it is an illusion that they are there for you.

In honor of the holiday date, here’s 17 ways to enjoy your time this St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Serve the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Beginning on Columbus between Balbo and Jackson at 12 p.m., the event is free and parade watchers are encouraged to arrive early for prime viewing spots.

2. Watch the Chicago River Turn Green. Belief the annual transformation of the Chicago River as it turns a spectacular shade of vibrant green. This modern day “miracle” can be viewed at 10:30 a.m. and is best seen from the upper level bridges on Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive.

3. Help 80′s Night at Atmosphere. The party lasts from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m. at 5355 North Clark Street. $3 Cover Fee.

4. Visit the “Just Married” Exhibit. On display at the Jane Addams Hull House, 1136 West Wilson Avenue, this exhibit features images taken by photojournalists during the 29 days San Francisco offered same-sex marriages. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit http://www.hullhouse.org/ for more information.

5. Benefit Forever Green at Navy Pier. Held in the Grand Ballroom on St. Patrick’s Day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., this celebration features Irish music live performances, Irish dancers, and an open bar. Proceeds from the event benefit Chicago state charities including the Special Olympics and the Snow City Arts Foundation. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door for general admission, and $60 in advance, $70 at the door for the VIP lounge. Call (773) 348-5499 for more information.

6. Join Jen Sincero for an Author Chat. The Seminary Co-op Bookstore at
1301 East 57th Street will host a chat with Jen Sincero, author of “The Straight Girl’s Guide To Sleeping With Chicks” at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

7. See Les Miserables. This epic musical will be presented at The Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 – $80. More information can be obtained through the box office at (312) 902-1400.

8. Attend a Celtic Celebration. The Celtic celebration and dinner hosted by The Mortum Arboretum. From 5 pm. To 9 p.m. on March 17, the event features a Scottish, Irish, and Wales buffet along with music, dance, and folk-tales. Visitors can also assume free guided stir tours and plant some genuine shamrock seeds to take home. Reservations are required, $35 for members and $42 for non-members. Call (630) 725-2066 for more information.

9. Dine with Friends at Fado. A popular Irish-inspired spot, Fadoon 100 West Grand Avenue, offers an interesting variety of décor imported from Ireland, a variety of authentic dishes, and a chunky bar.

10. Join the Youth Drop In at Center on Halsted. Ages 13-24 are welcome for socialization and discussions on topics like self-esteem and self-expression and to learn communication, computer, and life skills. Start from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. the center is located at 2855 North Lincoln Avenue.

11. Celebrate at the Whiskey Bar & Grill. The Whiskey Bar & Grill in the Sutton Place Hotel, 1015 North Rush Street, celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with drink and menu specials from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

12. See The Buddy Holly Story. Buddy -The Buddy Holly Story will be playing at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N Southport Ave, at 5 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. Call (773) 325-1700 for ticket information.

13. Come By a Little Ice Time. The Chicago Wolves, Chicago’s AHL hockey team will be playing at 7 p.m. at the Allstate Arena, 6950 Mannheim Road, Rosemont, IL. Call (847) 635-6601 for ticket information.

14. Take a Bus Tour. The Highlights by Bus Tour sponsored by The Chicago Architecture Foundation departs at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call (312) 902-1500. Other tours include Historic Skyscrapers, Novel Skyscrapers, and Downtown Deco.

15. Attend Flanagan’s Wake. This hilarious interactive Irish wake is one of the longest running shows in Chicago history. The Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 West Campbell Street, Arlington Heights, IL has shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. For more information, visit the Flanagan’s Wake website: http://www.flanaganswake.com/

16. Listen to the Gaelic Storm. Chicago’s House of Blues welcomes the traditional Irish band, Gaelic Storm at 7:30 p.m. The House of Blues is located at 329 N Dearborn St. Call (312) 923-2000 for more information.

17. Add Something Wicked to Your St. Patrick’s Day. The critically acclaimed new musical, Depraved, will be playing at The Ford Center for Performing Arts Oriental Theater, 24 W Randolph St., at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Call (312) 782-2004 for pricing and information.

• Choosing a Low Deductible: Before an insurance company will cover the cost of an auto accident, the driver must pay a deductible. Deductible amounts vary. On average, drivers can choose either a $250 or $500 deductible. Naturally, drivers are more inclined to choose a policy with a cheaper deductible. However, there are advantages to paying a higher amount. For starters, paying the higher deductible will set aside you money. If your driving record is tainted, and you are already paying considerably more for an auto policy, choosing a $500 deductible could save you $50 to $75 a month.

• Add a Teenager or Fresh Driver: When a teenager reaches the age of 16 and acquires a driver’s license, many parents consider adding the child to their auto policy. This decision is helpful for the driver, but does not benefit the parent. If the teenager attempted to receive his or her own policy, they would probably be unable to afford coverage. On average, teenagers and new drivers receive higher auto insurance quotes. On the flip side, the teenager will place money if insured under their parent’s policy. Yet, parents can examine a monthly increase.

• Buy an Expensive Car: Monthly auto insurance premiums are based on a vehicle’s worth. For this matter, if you purchase an older car, premiums are low. On the other hand, if you settle to buy the most expensive vehicle on the lot, with a lot of extra accessories and features, your auto premiums will be higher. Additionally, sports cars have higher premiums because these cars are usually driven at a faster speed, which increases the risk of accidents.

• Multiple Accidents and Traffic Violations: Auto insurance companies notice that accidents and moving traffic violations will occur. Thus, insurance premiums will not greatly increase from a single mishap. On the contrary, if you have several moving traffic violations or involved in many accidents, your insurance company will likely increase your premium, or refuse to renew the policy. Once dropped from an insurance company, acquiring affordable coverage with another company may be difficult.

• Failing to Shop Around: When shopping for an insurance company, comparing quotes is critical. Each insurance company has different criteria for establishing premiums. Larger companies such as Allstate and Nationwide offer great services, but they also have higher premiums. On the other hand, smaller, privately owned insurance companies offer the same great coverage for a fraction of the cost. Shop around. Whenever possible, request online quotes from multiple companies. Periodically review your driving report and attempt to receive a lower premium.

Increased Production

If you’ve recently noticed that you’ve been paying overages in employee’s wages, then you’re wasting dollars on overtime. How do you know that your employee is being productive, rather than “milking the clock”? With the GPS installed into each vehicle, you can now monitor- Time spent per service call, response time per service call, efficient routing information (saves gas and response time, especially in today’s economy and the fluctuating prices of fuel, break times vs. idle time, speed monitoring feature (helps promote qualified driving, and in most cases, serves as witness in case your vehicle gets caught in a speed trap), and save money on tire costs.

Insurance and Tax Breaks

Car insurance companies offer reward incentives for employing safety measures and devices into your company vehicles. Incentives range from discounted premiums and up to 35% decrease in insurance rates. Here is a general list of Top Insurance Companies that offer insurance breaks for installing GPS systems into their vehicles (qualifies under “Anti-Theft Device”): AAA Insurance, Liberty Mutual, AIG Insurance, Mercury Insurance, Allstate Insurance (CA, TX, NY, FL), Nationwide Insurance (CA), ALFA Insurance (

AL), Progressive Insurance, Farmers Insurance, Safeco Insurance, Fireman’s Fund, USAA Insurance, GEICO, 21st Century Insurance, and Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance (GA).

Also, if you operate your business in any of these states, Anti-theft Device Discounts are state mandated: Illinois, New Mexico, Kentucky, New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Texas, and Recent Jersey.Note:Before you note up for any insurance plans or premiums, be sure that you understand the terms and agreement for coverage, before committing to the service.

Under the 2008 Federal Economic Stimulus Act, businesses that purchase GPS tracking devices may qualify for tax breaks. Be sure to check with your tax agent about qualifying your business. Once you make the decision to equip GPS vehicle tracking systems into your mobile fleet, your investment should increase profits many times over. Also, you will be pleased at how easy it is to beget and monitor your business, virtually at the convenience of your PC desktop or laptop computer.

Others players named to the ’09 State Farm Coaches All-American Region III Basketball Team are Whitney Boddie and DeWanna Bonner from Auburn, Sha Brooks from Florida, Siarre Evans from East Tennessee State, Ashley Houts from Georgia and Christina Wirth from Vanderbilt.

Hightower will also be among those in the finalists for the The State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team, formerly the Kodak All-America Team. She is one of 52 finalists being considered for the “elite” team. The selection of finalists will be cut down to 40 on March 25, 2009. The final 10 member team will be selected from this field of players. The final selection will be announced at a press conference on April 4, 2009 from St. Louis, MO by the Space Farm selection committee.

Hightower is a junior guard from LSU, originally from Arlington, Texas. Allison has been racking up distinguished awards since her freshman year. She was named the SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year last year by the SEC coaches.

Allison has led the Tigers this year in four major areas: assists, scoring, steals and blocks. She is on track to become the first player to lead the Tigers in all four areas in a single season. Marie Ferdinand holds the portray for assists and scoring from the 2000-2001 season with an average of 21.1 points and 3.5 assists.

Hightower is also a first team All-SEC selection and ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in all categories. She closed out the regular season of play with double figures in 24 of the 28 games for LSU.

Hightower will surpass her 900 career point report in scoring in the NCAA Tournament.

Sources:

Allison Hightower: http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml? SPSID=27830&SPID=2167&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=275495&Q_SEASON=2008 (LSU Bio.)

LSU Sports: http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml? SPSID=27830&SPID=2167&ATCLID=3694874&DB_OEM_ID=5200 (Hightower Named WBCA All-Region Team)

Interestingly enough, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has done research on women and men in the labor force and the numbers seem to be somewhat unsettling. In terms of managerial and professional specialty, it is stated that men, on average, in the year 2000, had 15,739,000 workers while women had 15,866,000 workers in the same fields. In the year 2001, the numbers were very similar, men with 15,947,000 workers compared to women with 16,155,000 workers. Nevertheless, even though the numbers for women workers are somewhat larger, the wages they earn are significantly lower. For the year 2000, median weekly earnings for men were recorded at $1009 compared to $726 for women. Similarly in the year 2001, median weekly earnings for men were $1046 compared to $742 for women. That is a $15,000 annual income difference for people who are supposedly completing the same jobs and receiving a drastically different amount on their paycheck 

However, the numbers can be somewhat explained under the indicate conditions. Characteristically, individuals in upper level Executive positions earn more than those in lower positions, and since women only hold a small fraction of the upper level positions, it is no surprise that women earn less money. Thus, the quiz becomes as to why women do not hold more of the upper level positions in the IT profession. For example, out of the Chief Information Officer’s or CIO-equivalents at 300 Fortune 1000 companies and the 100 fastest-growing companies recently surveyed by Amsterdam, N.Y.- based Sheila Greco Associates, there were only 41 women (13.7 percent), compared with 259 men (86.3 percent). Sheila Greco Associates say that the percentage of women CIO’s has not changed since their research consultancy began its annual inspect in 1998(Paul). 

According to the 1996 Information Week 500 list of leading IT users, women held the highest-ranking IT positions at only about 7% of the 500 companies listed. Five years later, the number only rose by 1.8 percent to 8.8% of the positions held by women or 44 out of 500 Executives. Among them were Farmers insurance Group, Cecilia Claudio, and New York Life Insurance Co., Judith Campbell. Not surprisingly, the Society for Information Management, an organization of senior IT executives, counts only 195 women among its 2700 members. According to ongoing research by Robert Zawacki, professor emeritus of management and international business at the University of Colorado and distinguished scholar in residence at accounting firm KPMG Peat Marwick in Novel York, just 20% of senior IT executives are women, while nearly 40% of all IT employees are female. These findings were based on a study conducted every year for 20 years in IT departments at 200 companies in different industries (Wilde). 

Amid all of these statistics, it looks like companies are getting the idea, slowly but gradually allowing women to be active in its upper level positions. Xerox, for example, received several awards for its diversity programs. Now, the company has about one-third of its IT department composed of women workers. Xerox CIO Wallington says that 10 years ago a woman in the computer industry had to be “a harder worker, a smarter person, a more qualified” than her male peers to move beyond the ranks of programming into management. Now that she has arrived, Wallington says, being a woman often makes it easier for her to be heard than her male counterparts. Still, Wallington notes that outside the walls of Xerox, IT is like the rest of corporate America- dominated by white males. She adds, “But hope can be taken from the fact that you can point to those exceptions, exceptions that weren’t there 10 years ago, so clearly there has been progress (Paul).” It seems that having a woman already in a higher position at a company makes it easier for other women to follow suite.

It seems that in IT at least, women are beginning to become a winning force in the Glass Ceiling war. Ann Winblad, founder of Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, a $95 million venture-capital fund in Emeryville, Calif., says the software industry is a meritocracy. “Skills matter more than gender,” she says, “It’s an industry where the incandescent capital wins.” For men and women, Winblad says, keys to success are intellectual stamina and common sense. Winblad, who started her career as a systems analyst in 1973, encourages women to be themselves, and to not adjust their personalities to fit a man’s world. “Having a personality that is the same whether it’s with friends or business colleagues is the key to success- and so far less stress, ” she adds (Paul). Thus, individualism is supposed to give women the upper hand when going out for jobs in the upper ranks of the IT field. 

IT, it seems, when it comes to sexism, is not noteworthy different from other careers. Computer consultant and author Ellen Ullman is quoted as saying “Sexism is everywhere, but technology is one place where for the first two-thirds of your career- if you’re good at it- you’ll be on equal footing with people around you. Other consultants agree with Ullman that “IT is one of the best equal-opportunity areas in our society today,” says Victor Janulaitis, president of Distinct Support Review, an IT management and consulting firm in Santa Monica, Calif. “It doesn’t care what race, color, creed, or sexual preference you are. If you as an individual can produce results, you’ll be rewarded, and you’ll proceed and progress (Wilde).” While this sounds very reassuring, it might still be a little far advanced into the future for unusual times.

As far as minorities are concerned, a study was done in order to attribute the Glass Ceiling as a factor in the advancements or lack thereof of black IT workers. The Glass Ceiling Commission has suggested that there might be a glass ceiling that prevents them from reaching the top levels of IS and non-IS management positions. The commission’s figures show that managers were 92% white and 8% minority in 1988, identical to percentages found in 1980 and 1985. A sample of 138 employees were former, 50% dusky and the other half white, and 52% of the sample were women. Eighty-two of the IS participants held managerial positions, and the remaining 41% percent held professional positions without supervisory responsibilities. The sample used was also of similar age. The measurements were done through a job performance rating and job performance attributions with a rating scale included on the Supervisor Survey. The perceive confirmed the presence of race differences in job performance evaluations, attributions, career advancement prospects, and career satisfaction. Black IS employees received lower job performance ratings, were less likely to have their job performance attributed to internal causes, were less successful in their jobs, were perceived as having less splendid advancement prospects, were more likely to be plateuad in their careers, and experienced lower career satisfaction than white IS employees (Igbaria, Wormley). 

Alright, so there are fewer women Executives in IT then men, and minorities face a glass ceiling when trying to excel. The question is, why is this the case? Quite frankly, as some put it, women find the demands of IT a little bit too demanding. Karen Hogan, acting deputy CIO of the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. says that she wouldn’t want to take the CIO job at her agency because the time demands the position would impose on her life would be too much to bear. Women, due to the fact they need to care for children, find themselves more at odds with the near-constant travel and intense 24/7 demands of being a CIO (Paul). However, several surveys have found that the problem of balancing work and life are a major misfortune of male CIO’s as well. According to a new online survey by CIO of 310 IT professionals, almost as many men as women (57% versus 63%, respectively) felt they did not have an appropriate work and life balance in their current job. “Both men and women realize this is an issue,” says Judy Rosener, professor at the Graduate School of Management of the University of California at Irvine. Rosener believes the eventual dismantling of the glass ceiling in IT will steal pressure off both sexes. Rosener says, “A lot of men are saying they no longer want the burden of feeling they have to gain to the top.” However, still more men than women are willing to sacrifice their personal lives in exchange for a successful professional life, while women may not be ready to leave their instilled domestic responsibilities.

Even though all of this sounds very promising, the numbers themselves show that this equality peaceful has a long plot to go in order to near reality. Another reason why IT might not favor women is because of the sheer fact that women, throughout history, have not been the major proponents of math and technology. According to Charles W. Moore, the dissatisfaction of females in the IT profession can be explained through a simple observation of the way that women and men act on a daily basis. Men, when they get together, tend to talk about cars and the intricate parts of their hardware in their different machinery systems. Even though women might be better IT workers they will never get ahead due to the fact that they do not have the drive in IT that men have, thus giving them less satisfaction from working in the industry (Moore). While this is a very uncertain argument and exceptions do occur, it does tend to form sense. When most women exhaust a computer, they are more interested in the software and what the computer can do for them than the machine part of the system and the means it takes in order to achieve the ends. Thus, in the job aspect of IT, that drive from the enthusiasm gained from the machine aspect in Information Technology, can be the factor that get men most of the executive level positions. Impartial as when women pick out a car, most women tend to care more about the color and accessories of the automobile than the gas per mileage of the auto. Thus, grouped with the fact that women through history have had more domestic demands put on them, this lack of enthusiasm might be a factor that keeps women out of the front lines of the field.

Information Technology might be one of those modern careers of skill that acts very similarly to the oldest game of skill: the game of Chess. Being the oldest game, Chess if much more than just a game of skill. Few people realize this but the queen is the only fragment on the board that represents a woman, and she is the most worthy piece of the game. In medieval times, the surrender of the king would mean the loss of the kingdom to invading armies and that could mean change for the worse. The king is the most important, but not the most powerful part in Chess. Thus, if the king is not protected, the game is lost. Perhaps, not much is different in world of Information Technology. Even though women might have the same or more skill in IT, they are also bound by the demands of domestic responsibility, and their female drive may not include the same interests in technology and machinery as the drive expressed within the male characteristic, giving males fat control of the game. Furthermore, putting a woman in a high level state might be seen as a risk to many companies, not smart how the public will reply to a woman run game. Thus, when it comes to wages, executives and workers in upper positions tend to make more money. When it comes to those upper positions, women may not possess the characteristics or the time needed to fill those positions, and that is why it might seem that women are more prone to fall prey to lower pay and lower jobs while in reality it might just be a consequence of the historical trends still evident in original life today. Contrastingly from the recommendations of the Glass Ceiling Commission, affirmative action should not be applied; rather women and minorities should be promoted due to their efforts, drive, and skill, and not because of their gender or ethnicity. Therefore, until the queen and other minor pieces makes it evident that they rule the chess game, there will be, for some time to come, a struggle of women and minorities trying to attain higher level positions, and white men will continue to rule the field.

Bibliography

Moore, Charles W. “Female Dissatisfaction in the IT Industry.” (2001) 8 Feb. 2002
http://www.lowendmac.com/misc/01/0611.html.

Paul, Lauren Gibbons. “Why IT Hates Women (and the Women Who Conclude Anyway).”
CIO Magazine 15 Sept. 2001: 1-10.

Wilde, Candee. “Women Slit Through It’s Glass Ceiling.” InformationWeek 20 Jan.
1997: 83.

Wormley, M. Wayne and Igbaria, Magid. “Rush Differences in Job Performance and
Career Success.” Communications of the ACM March 1995: 82.

In honor of the holiday date, here’s 17 ways to luxuriate in your time this St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Attend the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Beginning on Columbus between Balbo and Jackson at 12 p.m., the event is free and parade watchers are encouraged to arrive early for prime viewing spots.

2. Scrutinize the Chicago River Turn Green. View the annual transformation of the Chicago River as it turns a spectacular shade of vibrant green. This modern day “miracle” can be viewed at 10:30 a.m. and is best seen from the upper level bridges on Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive.

3. Attend 80′s Night at Atmosphere. The party lasts from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m. at 5355 North Clark Street. $3 Camouflage Fee.

4. Visit the “Just Married” Exhibit. On display at the Jane Addams Hull House, 1136 West Wilson Avenue, this prove features images taken by photojournalists during the 29 days San Francisco offered same-sex marriages. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit http://www.hullhouse.org/ for more information.

5. Attend Forever Green at Navy Pier. Held in the Grand Ballroom on St. Patrick’s Day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., this celebration features Irish music live performances, Irish dancers, and an open bar. Proceeds from the event benefit Chicago area charities including the Special Olympics and the Snow City Arts Foundation. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door for general admission, and $60 in approach, $70 at the door for the VIP lounge. Call (773) 348-5499 for more information.

6. Join Jen Sincero for an Author Chat. The Seminary Co-op Bookstore at
1301 East 57th Street will host a chat with Jen Sincero, author of “The Straight Girl’s Guide To Sleeping With Chicks” at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

7. Peep Les Miserables. This tale musical will be presented at The Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 – $80. More information can be obtained through the box office at (312) 902-1400.

8. Support a Celtic Celebration. The Celtic celebration and dinner hosted by The Mortum Arboretum. From 5 pm. To 9 p.m. on March 17, the event features a Scottish, Irish, and Wales buffet along with music, dance, and folk-tales. Visitors can also pick free guided scurry tours and plant some genuine shamrock seeds to take home. Reservations are required, $35 for members and $42 for non-members. Call (630) 725-2066 for more information.

9. Dine with Friends at Fado. A popular Irish-inspired spot, Fadoon 100 West Grand Avenue, offers an provocative variety of décor imported from Ireland, a variety of authentic dishes, and a paunchy bar.

10. Join the Youth Plunge In at Center on Halsted. Ages 13-24 are welcome for socialization and discussions on topics like self-esteem and self-expression and to learn communication, computer, and life skills. Open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. the center is located at 2855 North Lincoln Avenue.

11. Celebrate at the Whiskey Bar & Grill. The Whiskey Bar & Grill in the Sutton Residence Hotel, 1015 North Rush Street, celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with drink and menu specials from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

12. Contemplate The Buddy Holly Story. Buddy -The Buddy Holly Story will be playing at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N Southport Ave, at 5 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. Call (773) 325-1700 for ticket information.

13. Collect a Little Ice Time. The Chicago Wolves, Chicago’s AHL hockey team will be playing at 7 p.m. at the Allstate Arena, 6950 Mannheim Road, Rosemont, IL. Call (847) 635-6601 for ticket information.

14. Take a Bus Tour. The Highlights by Bus Tour sponsored by The Chicago Architecture Foundation departs at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call (312) 902-1500. Other tours include Historic Skyscrapers, Unique Skyscrapers, and Downtown Deco.

15. Attend Flanagan’s Wake. This hilarious interactive Irish wake is one of the longest running shows in Chicago history. The Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 West Campbell Street, Arlington Heights, IL has shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. For more information, visit the Flanagan’s Wake website: http://www.flanaganswake.com/

16. Listen to the Gaelic Storm. Chicago’s House of Blues welcomes the used Irish band, Gaelic Storm at 7:30 p.m. The House of Blues is located at 329 N Dearborn St. Call (312) 923-2000 for more information.

17. Add Something Atrocious to Your St. Patrick’s Day. The critically acclaimed new musical, Wicked, will be playing at The Ford Center for Performing Arts Oriental Theater, 24 W Randolph St., at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Call (312) 782-2004 for pricing and information.