When Is the Time Right for Postpartum Sex?

5 of 5 in Series:
The Essentials of Sex while Pregnant

After the baby is born, many partners look forward to resuming their pre-pregnancy sex lives as soon as possible only to learn that they must wait. For some (especially the fathers), this can come as extremely unhappy news. And even after the doctor has given the okay for sexual intercourse, the time may not be right for the mother. So how does a new parent know when it’s okay — and when it'll be right — to have sex again?

A woman can’t have sexual intercourse for about four to six weeks after birth, even if there were absolutely no complications during the pregnancy or birth. And even after that, the woman may not yet be ready for sex; new mothers often want to avoid sex for completely non-sexual reasons:

• Physical factors. Having a new baby who gets up several times during the night is tiring.

  
  



• Emotional factors. The sudden decrease of hormones caused by giving birth can result in a case of “the blues.” Psychological factors having to do with becoming a mother may also play into this condition, especially if this is the woman’s first child.

  
  

This can be a frustrating time for the father, but he has to learn patience. Keeping the lines of communication open is important so the new mother can let him know how she feels and when she may be ready to try to resume having sex. Certainly he should feel free to masturbate to relieve his sexual tensions. And remember: a refusal is not a comment on your sexual prowess, but on the sometimes-difficult adjustment to parenthood.

Some couples actually split up because they never resume their sex life after having a baby, so make sure that this never happens to you. If you need to make special arrangements, such as hiring a baby sitter and going to a hotel to get reacquainted, you should do so.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/when-is-the-time-right-for-postpartum-sex.navId-323516.html

ETFs and Initial Public Offering Investments

Want to take a real joyride? In 2006, First Trust Advisors introduced the First Trust IPOX-100 Index Fund (FPX). You can invest in an ETF that, according to the prospectus, tracks the 100 “largest, typically best performing, and most liquid initial public offerings” in the United States.

Just prior to the introduction of the fund, the index on which it is based clocked a three-year annualized return of 33.74 percent. Needless to say, with that kind of return, this new ETF got the attention of a good number of investors.

Those who jumped on board didn’t exactly have a smooth ride. When the market tanked in 2008, FPX lost 43.79 percent — almost 7 percentage points more than the S&P 500 lost. But in 2009, this fund gained 44.56 percent, and it has continued to outperform the broad market.

Thinking about plunking some cash into FPX? The future may bring more extreme volatility.

The rollercoaster of recent IPO ETF performance

When times are good for small and mid cap stocks, as they were in the three years prior to the launch of FPX, times are typically very good for IPOs. But when times are bad, you can guess what happens.

The index on which this ETF is based suffered terribly during the bear market of 2000, 2001, and 2002, with respective annual dips of –24.55 percent, –22.77 percent, and –21.64 percent. (If you started with $10,000 in 2000, you would have been left at the end of 2002 with a rather pathetic $4,566.04.)

A broader look at IPO ETFs

But what about the very long-term performance of IPOs? Jay Ritter, a professor of Finance at the University of Florida, keeps copious records on the returns of IPOs. Dr. Ritter asserts that, collectively, they haven’t done all that well vis-à-vis the broad market.

But he hastens to add that long-term performance is dragged down by the smaller IPOs, and that larger IPOs — the ones included in the IPOX ETF — as a group have modestly outperformed the market, albeit with greater volatility.

Indeed. As the IPOX Index now stands, tech stocks, volatile as heck in their own right, make up slightly more than 25 percent of the roster. The top three companies together represent nearly one-third of the index’s value. Do you really want that kind of swing in your portfolio, on top of an expense ratio of 0.60 percent?

Maybe you do. But if you are inclined to take such a gamble, please don’t do it with any more money than you can afford to lose. Of course, that’s true of all stocks, but especially of these youngsters.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/etfs-and-initial-public-offering-investments.html

Finding Copywriting Inspiration

Stuck on a copywriting project? It happens from time to time. Fortunately, you don't need a miracle or even a flash of brilliance. Almost invariably, what you really need is a change of perspective, a fresh look at the subject at hand.

Reviewing customer letters or testimonials

What you think the value of a product is and what customers think that value is may be two very different things. Of course, their opinion is more important and may be available to you in the form of letters they sent on their own initiative or as testimonials your organization has actively solicited.

Either way, request these letters and testimonials and read carefully. Keep an eye open for the following:

• Alternative uses: You sold your product as car wax, but the customer loves the way it makes her lamp bases shine. These alternative uses (or recipes or suggested projects) may open your product to new markets or create new angles for your copy.

• Service kudos: If you hear a lot of applause for the quality of your service, consider emphasizing your organization's personal touch, especially if it's uncommon or unexpected in your industry.

• Real-life benefits: You knew that your scheduling software makes business easier, but thanks to your customer's letter, you discovered three ways it saves time, too. Benefits are treasures; the ones customers identify are golden.

Always get permission from customers before you use their testimonials in your copy.

Talking to salespeople

Salespeople are the ones who close the sale and therefore have the hard-won insights on clinchers — the things that ultimately turn prospects into buyers. Salespeople have a wealth of insight, yet so many marketers fail to ask them for it. Talk to them to discover the following:

• Key benefits and features: Obviously. But as your product may have many of these, the question here is this: Which are most important to customers? The salespeople should know.

• Path of least resistance: Of all the different roads that lead to a sale (ad to phone call to meeting to contract as one route, or mail invitation to seminar to personal sales call as another), which is most effective? Which is easiest and most convenient for the customer? Your copy should facilitate the path of least resistance.

• Unexpected hooks: Salespeople can alert you to unexpected connections between customers and features. SUVs, for example, were designed as macho vehicles for men who fantasized about adventure, but they found an unexpected audience among women who liked the extra traction of an all-wheel vehicle that wouldn't leave them stranded and vulnerable. Bingo — a new direction for positioning, messages, and copy.

Running a Web search

The Internet puts a vast library of information at your fingertips. Although the Web has as much misinformation and disinformation as real information, cruising online offerings can be a wonderfully fast and cheap way to gather insights on your product category, competition, and prospects. Here are some things to look for:

• Competitive intelligence: Run a search for your product or service on any search engine and see what comes up. Who appears in the top ten listings? What appeals and offers are they making? How does your product compare in price, features, quality, and overall value? Most importantly, can you identify special claims about your product that aren't being made by your competitors?

• Customer intelligence: For just about every interest you can think of, from lace doilies to cold fusion, some Web site forum is dedicated to true believers who swap tips, projects, and opinions. A quick query on any major search engine usually pulls up what you need. You don't have to believe; you just have to show up and "lurk" (read comments without leaving any of your own). Within a matter of minutes, you'll gather more than you ever thought possible about current trends, rumors, interests, brand favorites, and collective pet peeves.

Experiencing the product or service

Take it for a spin; play with it; wear it on your back. Sometimes the only way to appreciate the value of something is to experience it yourself. When you do, ask yourself a few questions that can lead to valuable copy angles:

• How is this useful? If the item is a means to an end, such as a tool or a service, think about what it did for you. Did it make your life easier? More convenient? Did it allow you to do things you couldn't do before? Or in a better way?

• How did it appeal to your senses? For those things, like food or collectible plates, that are to be enjoyed in and of themselves, examine the sensual appeal: flavors, touch, look, craftsmanship, and so on. Can you play up these sensual appeals in your copy?

• How did it make you feel? When people buy products from Victoria's Secret or Harley-Davidson, they buy more than underwear and noisy motorcycles; they buy a magic mirror that reflects what they want to see. Does the product make you feel sexy, powerful, or youthful? Look "under the hood" for the special identities your product might confer on a customer.

Pretending you're the prospect

Give yourself a few minutes to close your eyes and become your prospect. Of course, you want to dig into hopes and fears — the emotional core at the heart of the purchase. But to make your insights relevant to your particular copy project, remember these questions:

• How would I buy this? After you understand how a prospect may buy (whether it be an impulse purchase at a cash register or a decision discussed among close friends), you may be able to adjust your copy to address anxieties (guarantees, "millions sold" claims) and create a path of least resistance (buying or ordering options suitable for your customers).

• What might stop me from buying this? Try to anticipate all the obstacles to the sale: price, lack of familiarity, or fear of ridicule or failure. You may not be able to address all of them, but you can tackle the most important ones. If the issue is price, emphasize value; familiarity, use endorsements; fear, counter with facts and information.

Opening your mind

Finally, a parting thought for lasting inspiration: Indulge your appetite for art, literature, music, and any other form of culture that excites you. No, reading Tolstoy or listening to Charlie Parker doesn't instantly transform your writing. But over time, the good stuff you digest subtly reasserts itself when you need it most. It prompts the apt metaphor that suddenly pops into your head, or it beats the steady rhythm that carries readers from the beginning of your copy to its end.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/finding-copywriting-inspiration.html

How to Choose Quality Cables for Short Runs

When choosing cables to connect your home theater components over short runs, look for decent quality. Choosing quality cables ensures you get the right look and sound you want in a home theater. The cables you use for short runs are typically called interconnects.

Finding the right shape, quality, and length of cables can be puzzling, so here are some guidelines to keep in mind when looking for interconnects:

• You can get audio cable (or most any kind of cable) for free in the box when you buy new equipment. Or you can pay literally $1,000 a foot for fancy, high-end cables.

  
  

  You may not want to use the free el cheapo cables that came in the box — because you do get what you pay for — but you don’t need to pay $1,000+ per cable either, unless you are both rich and absolutely convinced that you can hear an improvement in your sound or see an improvement in your video. There’s a happy medium. Bottom line: Yes, there is a difference in cables, but no, you don’t have to pay a ton for good cables.

  
  



• Look for cables that use oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductors and have gold-plated surfaces on the jacks. Oxygen-free copper is a purer form of copper, and the gold-plated surfaces resist corrosion.

  
  



• Use the shortest run of cable possible because the longer that audio signal travels over the cable, the more likely the signal will be audibly degraded by interference or attenuation.

  
  

Dozens of companies make high-quality cables at a wide range of prices. Here are just a few companies to explore:

• Blue Jeans Cable

  
  



• Kimber Kable

  
  



• AudioQuest

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-choose-quality-cables-for-short-runs.html

How to Track Twitter Hashtags

Sometimes, you need to track hashtags, for example, if you want to see whether twitterers are mentioning your company, brand, or event. People talk about you and your company on Twitter, although probably not as much as they discuss celebrity deaths or charges of election tampering.

The following websites enable you to track hashtags:

• Hashtags.org: A site that lets you see not only what’s trending that day, week, or month, but it also gives you a graphical representation of the frequency of tweets on the topic, who’s using hashtags, and even a count of how many times a hashtag is used. You have to follow @hashtags to have your hashtags tracked. Otherwise, the Hashtags site’s application doesn’t pick up the hashtags.

  
  



• Happn.in: Find the trends that are being widely talked about in your city. Right now, Happn.in tracks cities around the world. If yours is one of them, you can see what the top Twitter trends are in your city. This site is great for local marketers and businesses that want to stay on top of what’s happening in their city.

  
  



• HashTweeps: Type in the hashtag for which you want to search and click the Search button. HashTweeps shows you the people who’ve been talking about that issue. You can use this site to see who’s been talking about a particular problem in your industry, and then start following these people so that you can join the discussion.

  
  



• Twitterfall: A Twitter search site that searches for your hashtags and keywords (it can search for nonhashtagged items, too). It displays the tweets that it finds in a cascading waterfall fashion.

  
  



• monitter: This site looks like an Adobe AIR application, like TweetDeck, but it operates like Twitterfall. You can search for several different keywords and keep them grouped in columns, instead of just running them all in one column. You can even tell monitter to search around a specific city if you’re interested in seeing people within a specific area who are talking about your topic.

  
  



• Twitter Search: Twitter’s own search function not only lets you search for keywords and hashtags, but it also keeps track of what’s trending the most that day.

  
  



• What the Trend?: This site follows search trends as well as gives a brief explanation of why a particular topic is trending that day. It also has a paid version that allows (among many other things) the ability to obtain analytics and reporting.

  
  



• Trendistic: This site tracks hashtags, letting you visually select time frames for which it shows the tweets that contain the hashtag you are searching for.

  
  



• TweetDeck: This desktop application lets you do searches for people or keywords, and create groups of users whom you want to follow.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-track-twitter-hashtags.navId-610165.html

How to Purge Temporary Files in Internet Explorer

As you surf the web, your web browser picks up all sorts of stuff. Primarily, it collects media — pictures, sounds, videos — but also other information you see on any web page. All those items are known collectively as temporary files. You might also hear them referred to as the cache.

Normally, you have no reason to worry about temporary files. They exist to help web pages you frequent load faster. But temporary files also serve as digital fingerprints of places you visit. To remove these remnants, you can purge your computer of temporary files. Here’s how to do so in Internet Explorer version 8:

1. Choose Safety→Delete Browsing History.

   
   

   The Delete Browsing History dialog box pops up.

   
   



2. Place a check mark by the item Temporary Internet Files.

   
   



3. Click the Delete button to confirm.

   
   

The files you deleted accumulate again as you revisit web pages. It’s nothing you can prevent — temporary files are part of the web browsing process. But you can delete those files every so often.

• Yep, anytime you see porn on a web page, even if you visited the site “accidentally,” a copy of that image is retained on your PC as a temporary file. That is, until you delete the temporary files.

  
  



• You can also delete temporary files by using the Disk Cleanup utility.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-purge-temporary-files-in-internet-explorer.html

Determining Your Singing Level: Range, Leaps, and High Notes

Three factors to consider when determining your singing level are your range, your ability to take leaps and your high note range. Assessing yourself honestly in these factors will help you pick appropriate singing material.

Considering your range

If your range is about eight notes, a beginner song works for you. An intermediate song has a range less than two octaves, and an advanced song may have a range wider than two octaves.

An octave is eight white notes on the piano, and two octaves are 16 white notes apart. To go up an octave from a black key, find the next black key in the same pair of two or three black notes.

Making leaps

How comfortable are you singing big leaps in a melody? Many beginner songs move in stepwise motion, which means that the notes in the melody are right next to each other. An example you may know is “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Yes, it’s a nursery rhyme, but try singing it — you’ll notice that most of the notes are right next to each other, and that’s stepwise motion.

Intermediate songs have bigger leaps of skipping five or six notes, and advanced songs can have leaps up to eight notes, or an octave. Wider intervals (the distance between two notes) challenge your ear. Spend some time working the larger intervals in a song to make sure that your throat stays open, your breath is flowing consistently, and your larynx stays steady.

Singing wider intervals also makes you listen more. If you figure out the wider intervals, you’re more likely to repeat that sound when you see the same interval in your next song.

Climbing higher

What’s the highest note you can sing successfully? Suppose that your highest note is F5, or the top line on the treble clef staff. Then consider these strategies:

• If you’re a beginner, you want to choose a song that has most notes below D5 or E5 and maybe only one F5.

  
  



• If you’re an intermediate singer with the same range, you want to choose a song that has one or two opportunities to sing that F5.

  
  



• If you’re an advanced singer, you know your voice well enough to determine how many times you can sing that F5 with ease. A soprano may sing her highest note four to five times in an advanced song, but a mezzo may want only one or two repetitions of her highest note.

  
  

  The same is true for a tenor and a baritone or bass; the tenor can handle more repetitions of those high notes than a baritone or bass.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/determining-your-singing-level-range-leaps-and-hig.html

Why Go Wireless?

Wireless technology — from home phones to cellphones to computers — has been developed in response to the unmet needs and desires of those wishing to roam freely while staying connected. Wireless phone handsets meet the needs of those who want to leave the kitchen or bedroom while conversing; cellphones meet the needs of those desiring freedom of travel while maintaining their ability to reach out and touch — or be touched by — someone. That's environment and genius coming together, meeting the needs of the populace; so it is with Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity).

Exploring the advantages

Shortly after the first phone cord was connected to a computer (tethering both it and the user to a small and specific radius), somebody began trying to figure out how to cut the cord. When the first laptops hit the market, the movement toward a wireless Internet connection hit high gear. Included among the needs and desires that wireless Internet connection technology strives to meet are the following:

• Convenience: This is the most attractive of all wireless Internet attributes. When using a dial-up connection, it's sometimes difficult to find a suitable spot from which to connect the cord. Because Wi-Fi does away with the cord or cable, everyplace within range of the wireless access point is suitable for use.

• Privacy: To a certain extent, this attribute goes hand-in-hand with freedom and convenience. Some RV parks that require dialup computer users to sit in the office or laundry room, and truck stops usually relegate dialup users to a noisy coffee shop or noisier TV room. When using Wi-Fi you can, if you choose, sit comfortably in the privacy of your own home on wheels.

• Speed: Download speeds for wireless broadband Internet connections are typically as much as ten to twenty times faster than dialup.

• Ease of use: Well, it really is easy to set up and use, but as with anything, there's a learning curve.

• Reasonable cost: If you've already got a laptop or PDA, you can easily and inexpensively adapt it for wireless Internet access. And Internet services, are usually reasonably priced, too.

So . . . what, no disadvantages?

Well, yes, for all its affirmative attributes, Wi-Fi does have a few disadvantages. Among them, the following three are primary:

• Range: Because of federally mandated power limitations — as well as the attributes of a high-frequency radio signal — Wi-Fi has a limited range. Another factor influencing range is interference; in a truck stop or RV park, that's the usual result when signals are blocked or bounced by trucks, trailers, and other RVs.

• Roaming: Unlike cellphone providers, most of those providing wireless Internet access have no roaming agreements. When, for example, you sign up for service with Flying J, you need to be in or near a Flying J facility in order to access the Internet. Flying J and others do provide access in areas other than their own facilities — and they're working on other solutions as well.

• Security: Okay, you're sending data using a radio signal, which means someone could intercept your transmissions.

Examining your options

If the allure of an untethered connection to the Internet beckons you forward, you might wonder about your choices and options. Currently, the primary methods of connecting to the Internet that are free from the tether of a phone cord include the following:

• Wi-Fi: Believe it or not, even though it's fully functional — and its use and availability are rapidly expanding — this technology's still in development. Wi-Fi uses a high-frequency, low-power radio signal to transmit and receive data. To use Wi-Fi, you must be within range of the access point transceiver, which is known as a hotspot.

• High-speed cellular: On a cellphone, data's often carried separately from voice; usually you need a data-service subscription in addition to your voice-service subscription.

• Satellite: Requiring the use of some fairly expensive and specialized equipment (not to mention a commitment to a hefty monthly subscription), this option is most popular with those living full-time in their RVs.

Taking the plunge

Of all the options available to you, the easiest and least expensive method of making a wireless connection to the Internet is Wi-Fi. In order to get started down the Wi-Fi highway, you need the following:

• Wi-Fi-enabled computer: There are two methods for enabling a laptop or PDA for use in a wireless environment:

• Wi-Fi adapter: By using an inexpensive adapter, wireless capability can be added to almost every laptop and most PDA devices.

• Integrated card: Most new laptop computers, and quite a few PDA devices, come equipped with a built-in wireless card.

• Hotspot proximity: You need to be within the coverage area of the radio transceiver, or access point, that has a wired or satellite connection to the Internet.

• Wireless Internet service provider: Better known as and often referred to as a WISP, most hotspot operators are WISPs or they contract with WISPs for service. In most cases, you can buy an hourly, daily, monthly, or annual subscription to a WISP.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/why-go-wireless.html

Ten Things To Do If Your Quicken 2012 Account Doesn’t Balance

If you're having problems reconciling an account in Quicken 2012 or if you’re sitting in front of your computer wringing your hands, try the following tips.

Make sure that you’re working with the right Quicken 2012 account

Sounds dumb, doesn’t it? If you have a bunch of different bank accounts, however, ending up in the wrong account is pretty darned easy. So go ahead and confirm, for example, that you’re trying to reconcile your checking account at Mammoth International Bank by using the Mammoth International checking account statement.

Look for transactions that the bank has recorded but you haven’t

Go through your bank statement and make sure that you have recorded every transaction that your bank has recorded. Cash machine withdrawals, special fees or service charges (such as for checks or your safety deposit box), automatic withdrawals, direct deposits, and so on, are easily overlooked.

If the difference is positive — that is, the bank thinks you have less money than you think you should — you may be missing a withdrawal transaction. If the difference is negative, you may be missing a deposit transaction.

Look for reversed transactions in Quicken 2012

If you accidentally enter a transaction backward — a deposit as a withdrawal or a withdrawal as a deposit — your account won’t balance. And the error can be difficult to find. The Reconcile: Checking window shows all the correct transactions, but a transaction amount appears positive when it should be negative or negative when it should be positive.

Look for a transaction that’s equal to half the difference

One handy way to find a transaction that you entered backward — if you only have one — is to look for a transaction that’s equal to half the irreconcilable difference. For example, if the difference is $200, you may have entered a $100 deposit as a withdrawal or a $100 withdrawal as a deposit.

Look for a transaction that’s equal to the difference

If the difference between the bank’s records and yours equals one of the transactions listed in your register, you may have incorrectly marked the transaction as cleared or incorrectly left the transaction marked as uncleared.

Check for transposed numbers

Transposed numbers occur when you flip-flop two digits in a number. These turkeys always cause accountants and bookkeepers headaches. If you look at the numbers, detecting an error is often difficult because the digits are the same.

Transposed numbers are tough to find, but here’s a trick you can try. Divide the difference shown in the Reconcile: Checking window by nine. If the result is an even number of dollars or cents, you may have a transposed number somewhere.

Have someone else look over your work

Often a second pair of eyes can find something that you’ve been overlooking.

Look out for multiple errors

If you find an error by using this laundry list and still can’t balance your account, you should start checking at the top of the list again. You may, for example, discover — after you find a transposed number — that you entered another transaction backward or incorrectly cleared or uncleared a transaction.

Try again next month (and maybe the month after that)

If the difference isn’t huge in relation to the size of your bank account, you may want to wait until next month and attempt to reconcile your account again.

You reconcile your account in January, and the difference is $24.02. Then you reconcile the account in February, and the difference is $24.02. Then you reconcile the account in March, and, surprise, surprise, the difference is still $24.02.

What’s going on here? Well, your starting account balance was probably off by $24.02. (The more months you try to reconcile your account and find that you’re always mysteriously $24.02 off, the more likely it is that this type of error is to blame.)

After the second or third month, I think it’s pretty reasonable to tell Quicken that it should enter an adjusting transaction for $24.02 so that your account balances. (In my opinion, this is the only circumstance that merits your adjusting an account to match the bank’s figure.)

By the way, if you’ve successfully reconciled your account with Quicken before, your work may not be at fault. The mistake could be (drum roll, please) the bank’s!

Get in your car, drive to the bank, and beg for help

As an alternative to the preceding idea — which supposes that the bank’s statement is correct and that your records are incorrect — ask the folks at the bank to help you reconcile the account. (Check to see whether they charge for this service first, of course.)

Hint that you think that the mistake is probably theirs. Smile a great deal. And one other thing — be sure to ask about whatever product they’re currently advertising in the lobby. (This behavior encourages them to think that you’re interested in that 180-month certificate of deposit, and they’ll be extra nice to you.)

Your bank may have made a mistake, so ask the people there to help you. (Note: Be sure to have them explain any transactions that you discover only by seeing them on your bank statement.)

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ten-things-to-do-if-your-quicken-2012-account-does.html

Nonprofit Fundraising and Finance Management

Because fundraising is so crucial to many nonprofit organizations, your written plan needs to explain exactly where you intend to get the money to support your efforts and how much you expect to raise.

Typically, nonprofits take in the money they need to operate from the following sources:

• 
  

  Donations from companies and individuals

  
  


• 
  

  Government or private foundation grants

  
  


• 
  

  Income from endowments and trusts

  
  


• 
  

  Income from products and services, such as proceeds from the museum shop, concert tickets, and door-to-door cookie sales

  
  

Most nonprofits rely on a combination of these funding sources. National Public Radio, for example, is made possible by donations from listeners like you, corporate sponsors, and a little bit of help from Uncle Sam.

Literally thousands of foundations and government agencies offer grants to nonprofit organizations. To unlock their largesse, though, you need to persuade them that yours is the best organization to turn their dollars into good deeds. And that takes a strong grant proposal — a written description of your organization, your programs, your financial request, and exactly how you plan to spend the money and carry out your plans.

Writing a grant proposal may not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but it doesn’t have to be agony. In fact, as long as you have a good, solid business plan in place, you’re already well on your way to writing a grant proposal because a lot of the information that goes into your grant proposal comes right out of your business plan.

Your proposals will most likely include information such as your mission statement, your philosophy and vision, and a description of how your organization is set up and how you operate. If you’ve done your business-planning homework, the information is ready to go — or at least waiting to serve as useful background material.

Nonprofit organizations are founded on trust. Donors trust that you’ll use the money they give wisely, and grant makers trust (and usually verify) that you use the funds they provide for the purposes described in the grant application.

The members of the board of trustees are responsible for making sure that the organization lives up to its pledges, and that means maintaining accountability by keeping track of where, when, and how the organization spends each dollar. Wherever your dollars come from, be sure you establish a detailed record-keeping system.

If your nonprofit is incorporated, official corporate documents, board-meeting minutes, financial reports, and other records must be preserved over the life of the organization. For more information, check with the office of your Secretary of State or state Attorney General.

In your business plan, include provisions for an annual audit of your organization’s finances. Many nonprofits hire professional accounting firms to conduct an audit in order to make sure it’s independent and objective.

If your nonprofit is small or relatively new, you may opt to create a volunteer committee of people with experience in accounting to review the records, verify bank balances, and produce a written report of their findings. In order to ensure that the committee has no conflict of interest, it should operate completely independently of the board of trustees.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nonprofit-fundraising-and-finance-management.html

Essential Utensils for Candy Making

As a candy-maker, you need specific tools and utensils. Some, like measuring cups and spoons, you probably already have and use; others, like a candy thermometer and a marble slab, don’t see much service unless you’re making candy. Keep the following tools on hand for your candy-making efforts:

Baking pans	Measuring spoons and measuring cups
Candy and chocolate thermometers	Microwaveable bowls
Dipping utensils	Plastic storage containers of a variety of sizes
Double boiler	Saucepans (including 2-quart, 4-quart, and 5-quart)
4- to 5-quart mixer	Small marble slab
Kitchen scale	Spatulas (hard rubber and offset/stainless steel)
Large knives	Wax paper
Large wooden or stainless steel spoons

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/essential-utensils-for-candy-making.html

Viewing Routing Information for Cisco Networking

After setting up any routing protocol that you want to implement - RIP, OSPF, or EIGRP - you can view all of your routing information through the ip route command. The following is an example of the output of this command. The output includes a legend showing the codes for each routing protocol, and the specific routes are identified by the source protocol.

Router2>enable
Password:
Router2#show ip route
Codes: C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
       D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
       i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
       ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
       o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route
Gateway of last resort is not set
D    192.168.10.0/24 [90/284160] via 192.168.1.1, 00:04:19, FastEthernet0/0
O    192.168.10.0/24 [110/11] via 192.168.1.1, 00:01:01, FastEthernet0/0
R    192.168.10.0/24 [120/1] via 192.168.1.1, 00:00:07, FastEthernet0/0
C    192.168.5.0/24 is directly connected, FastEthernet0/1
C    192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, FastEthernet0/0
S    192.168.3.0/24 [1/0] via 192.168.1.1

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/viewing-routing-information-for-cisco-networking.html

Sharpening Your Rapport in Seven Quick Ways

Rapport is the foundation of valuable relationships and is key to your success in your interactions with others. Here are some ways to help you build rapport fast:

• Take a genuine interest in getting to know what’s important to someone with whom you want to build rapport. Start to understand that person rather than expecting the person to understand you first.

  
  



• Pick up on the key words, favourite phrases, and manner of speaking that someone uses, and then build these items subtly into your own conversation with that person.

  
  



• Notice how someone likes to handle information. Does the person like lots of details or just the big picture? As you speak to the person, feed back information in this same portion size.

  
  



• Breathe in unison with the other person.

  
  



• Look out for someone’s intention – the underlying aim – instead of what the person does or says. People may not always get things right, but expect their heart to lie in the right place.

  
  



• Adopt a similar stance to the other person in terms of your body language, gestures, voice tone, and speed of talking.

  
  



• Respect someone’s time, energy, favourite people, and money. They’re important resources for that person.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/sharpening-your-rapport-in-seven-quick-ways.navId-400164.html

Fantasy Football Terms You Need to Know

1 of 7 in Series:
The Essentials of Fantasy Football

Like the rest of the sports world, fantasy football has a lingo all its own. The slang terms are all fairly easy to grasp and fun to use, so don’t be scared off! The following list will help you get a good feel for these fantasy football terms before you start playing:

• Breakout: When a player goes from average to great.

  
  



• Bye week: Every NFL team is inactive once during the regular season; an NFL team’s off week is its bye week.

  
  



• Cheat sheets: The lists of pre-ranked players — overall and by position.

  
  



• Collusion: Two coaches working together to win a league.

  
  



• Damaged goods: When a player involved in a trade is hurt.

  
  



• Elite: The highest ranked players at their positions.

  
  



• Fantasy formula: A simple way to evaluate a player’s potential: skill plus opportunity equals success.

  
  



• Fantasy worthy: He plays enough to make a fantasy impact.

  
  



• Fleecing: Taking advantage of a bad coach in a lopsided trade.

  
  



• Game-time decision: Waiting to see if a hurt player will start.

  
  



• Handcuffing: Drafting a backup and a starter from the same NFL team.

  
  



• Keeper league: Coaches retain a certain amount of players from one season to the next.

  
  



• League settings: The league rules and stat modifiers that determine fantasy point values.

  
  



• Pre-rankings: How NFL players are rated before the draft.

  
  



• Private league: A league you can join by invitation only and that’s controlled by a commissioner.

  
  



• Public league: A league where anyone can sign up and play.

  
  



• Sleeper: A little-known player who’s ready to awaken and be great.

  
  



• Stud: A top-rated fantasy starter.

  
  



• Trade bait: Good players who you can offer to other coaches.

  
  



• Trading deadline: Last day of the season to make trades.

  
  



• Vulture back: A running back who steals goal-line carries from the starter.

  
  



• Waiver wire: Dropped players are here before they become free agents.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/fantasy-football-terms-you-need-to-know.html

SolidWorks 2008 CommandManager Groups

SolidWorks 2008 CommandManager is an efficient way to work because it displays commands specific to the tasks at hand. Depending on the document you're working on, CommandManager displays default tools specific to that file. This list shows the principal SolidWorks CommandManager groups:

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/solidworks-2008-commandmanager-groups.html

Move Around in a Document with NaturallySpeaking

You can do all your editing by voice, just as if you were dictating your changes to a real person instead of your virtual NaturallySpeaking assistant. Basically, when you tell NaturallySpeaking where to move the cursor in its document window you have three options:

• You can give a directional command like “Move Up Five Lines.”

  
  



• You can specify a location in the document by saying, “Go to End of Paragraph.”

  
  



• You can say some text and count on NaturallySpeaking to find it by saying, “Insert After wish you were here.”

  
  

These commands are summarized in the table, as well as in the “What Can I Say?” topic of NaturallySpeaking Help. To display this topic, speak the command “What Can I Say” and the Dragon Sidebar will pop up with suggestions (if it isn't open already).

You don’t have to use the voice commands if you’d rather not. The mouse and the arrow keys on the keyboard can also move the cursor. It’s your choice.

Commands for Moving Around in a Document

First Word	Second Word	Third Word	Fourth Word
Go To	Top, Bottom
Go To	Top, Bottom	of	Selection, Line, Paragraph
Move	Up, Down, Left, Right	1 – 20
Move	Back, Forward	1 – 20	Words, Paragraphs
Insert	Before, After

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/move-around-in-a-document-with-naturallyspeaking.html

Priming Your Home's Exterior Before Painting

On most unpainted exterior surfaces, the standard procedure calls for a primer coat followed by two topcoats of paint. This procedure is also recommended for any painted surface that requires significant scraping and repairs. However, you may be topcoating only because the surface is dull or because you want a new color. If that's the case and the existing paint is sound, a single coat of "one-coat" acrylic latex paint applied properly offers adequate protection and coverage in lieu of the two topcoats.

You can apply quality latex paint over any oil- or latex-painted surface that's in good shape. If the paint is sound, you generally need to prime only scraped or repaired areas. You can also use a stain-blocking primer in lieu of regular primer to seal knots in board siding or trim and to cover stains that you can't remove, such as rust.

If you're applying latex paint over a glossy paint, play it safe and prime the entire house, even if you've sanded or treated the existing finish with a deglosser. Hardboard siding may also require a primer. As a general rule, use an alkyd primer and a latex topcoat when repainting.

Be sure that your primer is appropriate for the surface you're painting. Cedar and redwood, for example, usually require an oil-based primer to seal the surface so that tannin stains don't bleed through the topcoat. Also make sure that the primer and topcoat are compatible. How do you know? By telling your supplier what you're painting, reading the label, and (though not always necessary) using the same brand of primer and topcoat. To make it easier for a colored topcoat to cover primer, have your paint dealer tint the primer to the approximate color of the finish coat.

If you already have three or more coats of oil-based paint on the house, use oil-based house paint. Using latex may cause the old paint to lift off the substrate.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/priming-your-homes-exterior-before-painting.html

How to Manually Assign an IP Address in Windows XP

Most computers that are attached to an Ethernet network will have their IP addresses assigned automatically by DHCP. You can configure your PC to use its own IP address, effectively disabling DHCP.

In Windows XP, follow these steps to manually set an IP address on your computer:

1. Open the Control Panel’s Network Connections icon.

   
   



2. Open the icon representing your PC’s network connection.

   
   



3. Click the Properties button in the Status dialog box.

   
   



4. From the list of items, choose Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

   
   



5. Click the Properties button.

   
   

   The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box appears.

   
   



6. Choose Use the Following IP Address.

   
   



7. Type the IP address for your computer.

   
   

   Well, officially, you’re typing an IP address for the network adapter, but it’s kinda the same thing.

   
   

   Don’t randomly type an address. You need to type a value that’s useful for accessing the network. Obviously, if you don’t know what you’re doing here, don’t choose to manually assign an IP address.

   
   



8. Type a subnet mask.

   
   

   The value used on a local network is commonly 255.255.255.0, but it can be different, such as 255.255.255.127.

   
   



9. Type the default gateway address.

   
   

   The default gateway is the router, so type the router’s address.

   
   



10. Type the address for the preferred DNS server.

    
    

    The address should be obtained from your ISP. It’s used to help your computer find web pages and other addresses on the Internet.

    
    



11. Type the address for the alternate DNS server.

    
    

    The alternate DNS server’s IP address is something that your ISP provides.

    
    



12. Click OK to confirm the settings.

    
    



13. Close all other open dialog boxes and windows.

    
    

Yes, it’s kind of an ordeal to manually configure an IP address. The complex process underscores why DHCP was necessary and how it became popular.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-manually-assign-an-ip-address-in-windows-xp.html

Transparency in Online Communities

Transparency is a big word in the social-media space right now. It’s a fun, fancy term for honesty. It means gaining an online community’s trust by not having anything to hide. By being transparent, you give the public a look into your brand’s inner workings. You don’t sweep bad press or discontent under the rug.

Being transparent with your community means you’re trusting them enough to reveal certain bits of information, without offering too much information. For example, your community doesn’t need to know about your love life or other private details. It also means that you answer their inquiries with as much information as possible and without tap dancing around the issues.

Being transparent doesn’t mean sharing details that aren’t meant for public consumption. A brand is still allowed to have some privacy.

Be honest with your online community members

Transparency doesn’t mean a blog post each day giving away company secrets. However, honesty does mean answering questions and responding to negativity truthfully and without anger. When you’re asked why some members were banned or why profanity isn’t allowed, for example, you don’t respond, “Because I said so.” You say honestly and respectfully that the community reflects the brand and that you have to maintain a positive image.

Also, if you’re asked whether if it’s true that a particular product is being recalled or that someone within your organization made a very public gaffe, you respond truthfully, even if you can’t give out certain bits of confidential information. Say something like this: “Yes, that happened. I wish I could tell you more at this time, but I’m not at liberty to do so. However, I’m learning as much as I can about the situation, and I hope to have some answers for you soon.”

Here’s the thing: Your community members invest a lot of time in your brand. You owe it to them to treat them as equals and to be honest with them. Backpedaling, tap-dancing around issues, or pretending that you didn’t read or hear something are insults to their intelligence.

Also consider these best practices regarding being transparent with your community:

• If you’re not sure how to respond to something or don’t know whether you’re even allowed to address it, discuss it with your team and your superiors first.

  
  



• Address criticism and rumor head on without sweeping it under the rug.

  
  



• Respond to questions and inquiries honestly. At times, you may have to reveal information that hasn’t been released to the rest of the world in order to rectify a situation. For example, if a customer tells you that she doesn’t like a particular aspect of your product and you’re planning to discontinue it, you may want to reveal that information to make the customer happy and continue the trust.

  
  

Don’t take transparency to TMI in your online community

Do you know the difference between honesty and too much information? Honesty means that you’re being true to your community by giving responses that answer the questions, not avoiding the issues. Too much information (TMI) means that you’re sharing private information that doesn’t need to go beyond family members or your offline inner circle of friends.

Avoid providing too much information by following these guidelines:

• Your community doesn’t need to know about your sex life or your relationship status.

  
  



• Telling anecdotes related to the day’s topic is fine, but no one needs a play-by-play account of what you do in your offline life unless it’s relevant to the topic at hand.

  
  



• No one needs to see you in sexy clothes or a sexy pose.

  
  



• Religion and politics have no place in your forum unless it’s a religious or political forum.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/transparency-in-online-communities.html

Living Vegan For Dummies

Adopting a vegan lifestyle is definitely rewarding, but it’s not without challenges — especially in the beginning. While you’re still getting used to this new diet and lifestyle, you can definitely benefit from some help. When you go out, be sure to take a guide that you can use to direct restaurant servers and chefs, and when you eat at home, utilize menu ideas to ensure variety, proper nutrition, and success.

>

>

Nonvegan Restaurant Guide for Servers and Chefs

Going out to eat can be challenging to a new vegan. Hidden nonvegan ingredients lurk behind every menu item, and servers may not know exactly what the chef is cooking into each dish. You can use this handy list as a friendly guide. Simply print this page and cut out the following list to offer to your server the next time you go to a nonvegan restaurant:

Hi! I’m vegan and CAN’T eat:

• Butter or cream

  
  



• Eggs

  
  



• Cheese from cows or goats

  
  



• Milk from cows or goats

  
  



• Meat, poultry, lamb, or beef

  
  



• Fish, shellfish, shrimp, or lobster

  
  



• Gelatin

  
  



• Honey

  
  

I CAN eat:

• All fruits

  
  



• All vegetables

  
  



• All herbs and spices

  
  



• Beans

  
  



• Soy-based protein like tofu and tempeh

  
  



• Grains

  
  



• Pasta (that’s not made from eggs)

  
  



• Olive oil

  
  

>

>

>

Vegan Menus for a Full Week

When you’re first starting out as a vegan, deciding what to eat can be overwhelming. But don’t worry. The following table showing a week’s worth of vegan menus gives you a great place to start when planning your meals. Offering variety, nutrition, and plenty of different tastes, textures, and ethnic spices, these menus can help you fill up your vegan kitchen with new ingredients that you’ll be using for years to come.

Day of the Week	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Monday	Fruit smoothie made soy yogurt, flaxseed, and nuts	Burrito with black beans, brown rice, guacamole, and fresh salsa	Miso stew
Tuesday	Fortified vegan cereal with slivered almonds, vegan milk, and a banana	1 cup hummus, ten carrot sticks, Greek olives, green salad with sprouts, and vinaigrette	Beans and broccoli over polenta
Wednesday	2 slices whole-grain toast spread with almond butter and apple butter and 1 cup of vegan milk	2 cups three-bean salad mixed with a diced avocado and drained marinated artichoke hearts	Baked black bean burgers on whole-grain buns and topped with all the usual fixin’s
Thursday	Banana and ½ cup mixed raw almonds and raisins with a cup of herbal tea	Pita filled with hummus, avocado slices, and chopped lettuce and drizzled with your favorite vegan salad dressing	Brown rice, roasted sweet potato fries, sautéed kale and tempeh cubes drizzled with Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
Friday	Homemade porridge using leftover grain from preceding day; make with maple syrup, nuts, and cinnamon or bok choy, cashews, and soy sauce	Amy’s low-sodium lentil soup with a side of sliced red bell pepper	Cauliflower chickpea curry over quinoa
Saturday	Vegan British beans on toast	Leftover quinoa and cauliflower chickpea curry scooped into tortillas or whole-grain pitas	Creamy broccoli soup with rice balls
Sunday	Cornbread muffins with soy sausages and a hot mug of chocolate rice milk	Leftover broccoli soup with a side of fresh crusty bakery bread and Earth Balance spread	Large green salad topped with crumbled tofu cheese, garbanzo beans, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil and fresh lemon juice

>

>
dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/living-vegan-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

Taking Action When Norton AntiVirus Can't Repair an Infected File

Figure 1: Scan: Summary shows non-viral threats.

>

Figure 2: Adware files are marked but not removed.

You can try to delete the file yourself using one of the Windows file management tools like My Computer or Windows Explorer. But what if it's a file you really need? Some of the files that can be infected may be needed by Windows to run. Deleting the wrong thing could send Windows into a tizzy and make it unable to load.

The first thing you want to do is to run LiveUpdate to see if there are updates available that may be able to repair the file.

If running LiveUpdate doesn't help you repair the file you need, then you need to get the gritty little details about the file that Norton AntiVirus spots and reports to you. To do so, just go to your browser toolbar, click the Norton AntiVirus icon located there, and choose one of the following:

• View Status: Opens the Norton AntiVirus Status window, which gives you an at-a-glance summary of what's enabled and when your last scan was run.

• View Quarantine: Displays the list of suspicious files identified and isolated on your PC by Norton AntiVirus.

• View Activity Log: Shows you a summary of the Norton AntiVirus threats identified and the actions taken.

• View Virus Encyclopedia: Allows you to look up a particular virus name and what it does.

• Launch Scan Menu: Brings up your list of scans so you can run them.

Consider this example: Figure 3 shows Norton AntiVirus pausing in a scan to tell you that, while running Repair Wizard, it located two files that it can't fix. You probably want to follow Norton AntiVirus's advice and quarantine these files, but you want to get a better idea of what exactly they are. Click one of the blue hyperlinked names under Threat Name.

If you're connected to the Internet, that click launches your Web browser and opens the Symantec Security Response site. You can then read through the details currently available about the file Norton AntiVirus discovered, as shown in Figure 4, which shows the details for another nasty program, Netsky. This one turns out to be a pesky little worm, which, if left on your system, could start sending itself out to people in your e-mail address book. Look back at the Norton AntiVirus window you saw in Figure 3 and click Quarantine.

>

Figure 3: The Repair Wizard reports problems.

>

Figure 4: A virus's rap sheet.








>
dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/taking-action-when-norton-antivirus-cant-repair-an.html

Nonprofit Business Legal Structure

As you organize your nonprofit venture, you want to choose a legal structure appropriate for your situation. The following nonprofit business structures represent your basic options:

• 
  

  Informal nonprofits: As the name implies, these organizations are loose-knit groups of like-minded people who get together for activities or to be of service to the community. Examples include local book clubs, self-help support groups, or graffiti cleanup patrols. Informal nonprofits have no legal structure and typically raise and manage only small sums of money. They aren’t big enough to fall under the watchful eye of the IRS.

  
  


• 
  

  Nonprofit corporations: Incorporation allows a nonprofit organization to protect its directors and staff from certain types of liability, similar to the protective shield offered to for-profit companies. Incorporation also ensures that the organization will be able to continue its activities even when the founding members are no longer around. To get the details on incorporation in your state, check with the office of your Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, or Attorney General.

  
  


• 
  

  Tax-exempt nonprofits: Nonprofit corporations with charitable, educational, scientific, religious, or cultural purposes can file for tax-exempt status under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. The major types of tax-exempt organizations include

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Charitable organizations (religious, educational, scientific, and literary organizations, for example)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Social welfare organizations (civic leagues and community groups)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Labor and agricultural organizations (labor unions and farm bureaus)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Business leagues (trade associations and chambers of commerce)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Social clubs (country clubs, fraternities, and sororities)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Fraternal organizations (lodges and other clubs)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Veterans’ organizations (armed forces groups)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Employees’ associations (employee-benefit groups)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Political organizations (campaign committees, political parties, and political action committees [PACs])

    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Qualified nonprofits: Donations to qualified nonprofits may be tax deductible — a distinction that can matter a great deal to contributors. Qualified organizations include religious, educational, scientific, and literary groups, as well as child and animal welfare organizations, certain veterans’ organizations, fraternal societies, and more.

  
  

For information on whether your organization qualifies for tax-exempt status, check out IRS Publication 557. For a current list of qualified nonprofits, look at IRS Publication 78. Both publications are available on the IRS website.

In the world of nonprofit organizations, you’re likely to hear a different language than the one spoken in the hallways of for-profit companies. Here’s a quick translation guide:

For-profit Jargon	Nonprofit Lingo
Balance sheet	Statement of financial position
Profit-and-loss statement	Statement of financial activities
Customer	Client
Investor	Funder, contributor, donor
Product or service	Programs or services
Market analysis	Needs assessment

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nonprofit-business-legal-structure.html

Soccer For Dummies

Soccer is a game of 2 teams with 11 players each and field with a goal for each team. Other than that, it’s fast-paced with few breaks in the action, so as a player, you have to stay on your toes — or at least on your feet — throughout the game.

>

>

The Soccer Field

A basic soccer field is at least 100 yards long, 50 yards wide, and has a goal centered at both ends. But within that basic rectangle is the goalie’s box, the penalty line, the center circle, and, of course, the corners, without which corner kicks would just be kicks. The following figure shows the correct layout for a regulation soccer field:

>

>

>

Positions on a Soccer Team

Each soccer team has 11 players — 1 goalkeeper and 10 field players. Every player, whether playing an offensive or defensive position, works to help the team score goals — as many as possible. The following list explains the role of each position:

• Goalkeeper: The keeper is the only player allowed to use his hands, and that activity is restricted to an 18-yard by 44-yard area called the penalty area. If a goalkeeper handles the ball outside of the box, she should be awarded a red card and the attacking team given a free kick from that spot.

  
  



• Defenders: They play in front of the goalkeeper, and their primary duty is to stop the opposition from scoring or getting shots — quality and quantity. Their assignments and responsibilities can vary from man-to-man coverage or zone defense, in which they defend a particular area. Outside fullbacks play on the left and right wings and patrol the flanks and rarely move from their sides of the field. Central defenders play in the middle of the field and usually cover the opposition’s leading goal scorer or center forward(s).

  
  



• Midfielders: These players are the link between the defense and attack. Midfielders must be the most physically fit players on the field because are expected to run the most in a game. They should be able to penetrate deep in enemy territory on attack and make the transition to defense when the opposition retains possession of the ball. Midfielders can specialize as an attacking player or defensive midfielder.

  
  



• Forwards: Their primary job is to score goals or to create them for teammates. There are several types of forwards. Wings play on either the left or right side and usually run up and down the sides of the field. They can either take the ball into the penalty area for a shot or keep it on the flank and try to pass it to a teammate in the area. Center forwards play in the middle of the field, but they are allowed to wander if open space is there. A center forward, also known as a striker, should be a team’s leading goal scorer and most dangerous player up front.

  
  

>

>

>

Soccer Do’s and Don’ts

Soccer is a game of near-constant motion — unless you’re the keeper in which case you’re in a constant state of being ready to be in motion. In either case, make sure that your shoes fit well. They’re the most important part of your equipment.

The do’s and don’ts in the following table apply whether you’re playing a pick-up game or a league game:

Do’s	Don’ts
Do learn to dribble with your head up.	Don’t be a ball hog. Pass to your teammates.
Do avoid touching the ball with your hands — unless you are the goalkeeper in the penalty area. It can result in a yellow or red card.	Don’t talk back to a referee. You can get a yellow card, and if it’s your second yellow, you will be ejected from the game.
Do find time to practice on your own or with teammates or kids on your block.	Don’t tackle from behind. You could get red-carded.
Do make sure that you are always in good physical shape.	Never come back from an injury too early.
Do show some sportsmanship after a match — win, lose, or draw — by shaking the hands of the opponent.

Even if you’re sitting on the bench, stay alert and watch the play. You never know when the coach will call on you or a teammate will be injured.

>

>
dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/soccer-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

Five Ways to Improve Your Business’s Presence Online

For any kind of business, the Internet can prove to be a most valuable platform. Read these tips to see how you can take advantage of all it has to offer and launch your business into the world of cyberspace!

• Once you have a website you have ‘readers’ who other people will pay to reach, just as they would if you had a hard copy magazine. You can sell space on your website yourself or affiliate with other websites.

  
  



• Nearly a quarter of all jobs are filled using the Internet so when you start to grow your business you can advertise for staff on your own website. In that way you can be sure applicants will know something of your business and you could cut out most of the costs of recruitment.

  
  



• Businesses get dozens of phone calls and letters asking essentially the same questions. By having an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on your website you can head off most of those and save time and money.

  
  



• Carry out free customer satisfaction surveys to get quick customer feedback on new products, services as well as any aspect of your business proposition.

  
  



• Sell your products and services 24/7/365 all around the world .

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/five-ways-to-improve-your-businesss-presence-onlin.html

How to Create a Monthly Budget

3 of 5 in Series:
The Essentials of Reducing Your Debt

Does the word budget send chills up your spine? It shouldn’t. Budgets allow you to have some control over what you spend. A monthly budget can help you to decide how to spend your money, plan for your future, pay off existing debt, and save a few pennies each month by reducing wasteful and impulsive purchases. To create your monthly budget

• Categorize your expenses.

  
  

  When you begin setting up a monthly budget, start with big categories before breaking your budget down into smaller expense categories.

  
  



• From your list of expenses, develop two separate budget lists, one for essentials and the other for extras.

  
  

  Within each general budget category, some items are essential (the mortgage or rent payment, electric bill, and groceries); others are extra (new furniture, gifts, and pizza delivery).

  
  



• Look through these lists to find flexible budget expenses where you can cut back.

  
  

  Put a star next to these flexible items so you can identify them.

  
  



• Estimate what you spend.

  
  

  Go through your checkbook and any other receipts or records you’ve kept over the past few months so you can track how much you actually spend on both essentials and extras.

  
  



• Add up your budget essentials list and the extras list separately.

  
  

  By keeping the lists separate, you can make cuts more easily, if you need to.

  
  



• Subtract the essentials total from your monthly income and, if you have money left over, subtract the extras total from that amount.

  
  

  If you still have money left over, great! Look into a savings or investing plan (talk to your bank or a certified financial planner for help setting up a plan).

  
  



• If your extras list takes you into negative numbers, start looking for places to cut back.

  
  

  You can also trim from the extras list to put more money toward debt repayment if that’s a high priority in your financial picture.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-create-a-monthly-budget.navId-323694.html

Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal for a Nondairy Breakfast

This hearty cereal is a healthy way to get your day started. The combination of nuts, dried berries, spices, and oatmeal is a satisfying and delicious dairy-free breakfast.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Yield: Two 1-cup servings

3/4 cup water

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup vanilla soymilk (or your choice of nondairy milk, plain or vanilla)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Additional soymilk as desired

Granny Smith Apple (optional)

1. Bring the water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan.

   
   

   Add a peeled and diced granny smith apple for extra flavor, if desired.

   
   



2. Add the oats and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

   
   



3. Add the cranberries, walnuts, cinnamon, soymilk, and brown sugar and cook on low heat for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through. The mixture will be thick and creamy.

   
   



4. Remove from the heat and ladle into serving bowls. Serve with additional soymilk and extra cinnamon or brown sugar as desired.

   
   

Per serving: Calories 420 (127 from Fat); Fat 14g (Saturated 2g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 52mg; Carbohydrate 67g (Dietary Fiber 6g); Protein 11g.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/cranberry-walnut-oatmeal-for-a-nondairy-breakfast.html

Mnemonics for Piano Notes

Reading piano music is a learned skill, and to help you remember the names of the lines and spaces for each staff and the notes they represent, try a mnemonic — a word or phrase created from the letter names of these lines and spaces.

You can use the following mnemonics, but feel free to make up your own. Unless otherwise noted, these mnemonics start on the bottom line of each staff and go up:

• 
  

  Treble clef lines (E-G-B-D-F):

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Traditional: Every Good Boy Does Fine

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Musical: Every Good Band Draws Fans

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Pianistic: Even Gershwin Began (as a) Dummy First

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Culinary: Eating Green Bananas Disgusts Friends

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Shameless: Every Good Book (is a) Dummies Favorite

    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Treble clef spaces (F-A-C-E):

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Traditional: FACE (like the one holding your nose)

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Musical: Forks And Chopsticks Everywhere

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Laundry (start with top space): Eventually Colors Always Fade

    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Bass clef lines (G-B-D-F-A):

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Recreational: Good Bikes Don’t Fall Apart

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Animal: Great Big Dogs Fight Animals

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Musical: Great Beethoven’s Deafness Frustrated All

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Musical: Grandpa Bach Did Fugues A lot

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Painful: Giving Blood Doesn’t Feel Agreeable

    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Bass clef spaces (A-C-E-G):

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Musical: American Composers Envy Gershwin

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Animal: All Cows Eat Grass

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Revenge (start with top space): Get Even, Call Avon

    
    
  
  
  
  

Read enough of these mnemonics and you’ll be hard-pressed to forget them. Of course, if you do happen to forget these helpful tools, simply find the line encircled by the clef and move up or down the alphabet from there.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/mnemonics-for-piano-notes0.html