Once upon a time payroll was pretty simple. Figure each employee's gross pay, subtract federal, state, local taxes and a couple of other deductions and write a check for the difference. Nothing stays simple for long though -- pretty soon along came direct deposit, 401(k) plans, cafeteria plans, vehicle allowances, the Earned Income Tax Credit, garnishments, third party sick pay, paycards, and a raft of other complications. For many small companies payroll went from taking an hour or so each pay period to a process that can consume a whole day or more. And that's just to produce the paychecks -- there are usually various files to be written and reports to be filled out as well. In short, payroll can be a very confusing, time-consuming task. For a new employer it can be frustrating just figuring out how to get started; and even employers who've been at it for a while can run into problems when new situations arise or payroll laws change. The purpose of this book is to give a quick overview of what every employer needs to know about payroll. It provides simple, easy to understand answers to a good many of the most frequently asked payroll questions, along with references to other sources if you need more detailed information.

Are manned aircraft about to go the way of the Pony Express or silent movies? Has the last generation of manned fighter pilots already been born? Probably not, but it is clear that unmanned aerial systems are going to have an increasing impact both on the battlefield and on commercial air operations. UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have already become a vital part of the United States military arsenal and they are finding new applications in civilian life every day. Modern military UAVs have revised the the whole concept of aerial surveillance and close air support. Providing extensive coverage of the battlefield and delivering lethal payloads with surgical precision, UAVs are guided by satellite and can be directed by personnel sitting in a trailer halfway around the world. Similarly, UAVs are taking hold in the civilian world doing jobs as diverse as border patrol and crop dusting. This book is intended to provide a quick overview of what military and commercial UAVs are, how they're being used, how they operate and what impact they may have on the present and future.

Each year somewhere around 6 to 8 million dogs, cats and other animals in the United States end up in shelters - and about half of those are eventually euthanized. The number of these "animals in need" has reached epidemic proportions and continues to grow. "No kill" and "low kill" shelters are forced to turn away animals because they simply don't have room for them. If you're interested in trying to do something for these homeless animals and rescue them from what in many cases amounts to "death row," then this book can offer some advice on helping your local shelter and adopting or fostering shelter pets. In addition, there are chapters on how to keep your adopted pet safe and healthy and how to deal with sick or injured pets, plus a few stories about actual dogs, cats and parrots that my family and I have rescued. We all have many other things to deal with besides animals in shelters. But if you or anyone you know is thinking about getting a dog, cat or other animal, please contact your local "city pound," animal shelter, or special breed rescue group and take a look at some of these homeless animals. If you're looking for a great companion, there are so many of them there - lost, abandoned or unwanted - please consider giving one of them a chance at a "forever home."

Once upon a time payroll was pretty simple. Figure each employee's gross pay, subtract federal, state, local taxes and a couple of other deductions and write a check for the difference. Nothing stays simple for long though -- pretty soon along came direct deposit, 401(k) plans, cafeteria plans, vehicle allowances, the Earned Income Tax Credit, garnishments, third party sick pay, paycards, and a raft of other complications. For many small companies payroll went from taking an hour or so each pay period to a process that can consume a whole day or more. And that's just to produce the paychecks -- there are usually various files to be written and reports to be filled out as well. In short, payroll can be a very confusing, time-consuming task. For a new employer it can be frustrating just figuring out how to get started; and even employers who've been at it for a while can run into problems when new situations arise or payroll laws change. The purpose of this book is to give a quick overview of what every employer needs to know about payroll. It provides simple, easy to understand answers to a good many of the most frequently asked payroll questions, along with references to other sources if you need more detailed information.