Managing Stage Fright when Presenting Your Speech

Everyone suffers with nerves at some point in their lives – especially when taking the stage to deliver a speech. Try to conquer your jitters by reading through these useful tips to ensure you keep your stage fright at bay



  1. Avoid alcohol and pills – they don’t work. If they wear off before you speak, you’ll be even more nervous. If they don’t, you’ll be numbed and unable to project any human emotion or confidence.



  2. Channel nervous tension into your performance.



  3. Work off nervous energy by taking slow, deep breaths.



  4. Leave time to go to the toilet shortly before you speak.



  5. Prepare some positive affirmations to repeat to yourself to boost your confidence.



  6. Remember that the audience wants you to succeed.



  7. Smile and look as if you’re enjoying yourself – looking positive is half the battle in winning over an audience.











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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/managing-stage-fright-when-presenting-your-speech.html

How to Effectively Compliment or Criticize an Employee's Work

Compliments and criticism are unavoidable in the workplace. Both cases point the way toward increased business success, so, from a managerial point of view, they are important tools for making your small business work.


Complimenting employees


Keeping your employees happy doesn't always have to cost you more money. Simply complimenting an employee when he or she does exceptional work can go a long way toward an employee's job satisfaction. Make sure, however, that youur compliments mean something; give compliments only when employees deserve them for a job well done. Think of them as little gifts.


Giving compliments should be easy, but surprisingly, most people need practice to do it right. Always compliment



  • Politely: Be sincere, and use a genuine tone of voice. Insincere or snarling compliments are pointless.



  • Precisely: Be precise and detailed about exactly what the employee did well.



  • Promptly: Be timely.



  • Publicly: Usually, it’s best to praise in public.


    Shy people and those with cultural prohibitions against public praise are best praised in private.




Delivering compliments in person or in writing is largely a matter of personal style. Some people prefer face-to-face contact; others prefer e-mail. One nice thing to do is to compose a handwritten note, seal it in an envelope, and deliver it to the person with a handshake and a quick “Good job.”


Criticizing employees


Giving criticism can be difficult, but it's a necessary part of working. If you have to give criticism, make sure it's constructive: avoid anger and irrelevant detail, and always criticize the work, not the person. The only reason to give criticism is to improve performance. Criticizing is not complaining, and it's not attacking. You should criticize in the following manner:



  • Privately: Only the people you're criticizing need to hear what you have to say.



  • Politely: Focus your comments on the problematic work and not on the person. Avoid identifying what an employee did as "stupid," "brainless," or worse; your employees have feelings, after all, and you should keep them in mind.



  • Precisely: Criticism should be specific and constructive. Identify the problem and look for a solution.



  • Promptly: Hand out criticism as soon as possible. If you're mad, though, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down first. You might need to take some time to formulate your criticism, but don't use that as an excuse to procrastinate. Procrastination only increases the chance that the problem will be repeated.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-effectively-compliment-or-criticize-an-empl.html

Getting Fit by Water Walking

Water walking is an excellent aerobic and calorie burning workout; you can burn up to 550 calories an hour walking in the water. Water walking is the perfect break from the pounding of everyday training on terra firma. It’s a wonderful way to keep active if you’re nursing an injury. And when the outdoor temperature climbs into the 90s, it’s a refreshing version of earthbound walking.


Water walking can also help correct muscle imbalances. Walking on land emphasizes the muscles in the front and back of your thighs. Walking in water works your upper body equally as hard as your lower body because water gives all your submerged muscles 12 to 14 times the resistance of air.


Taking a water walking or running class is a good way to get a handle on form and technique. Many colleges, universities, and high schools offer relatively inexpensive classes to the public. YMCAs, Jewish Community Centers, and public pools may also offer these types of classes.


There are two types of water walking: deep water and shallow water. Here’s a description of each type:



  • Deep water walking is done in a pool or any other calm body of water where your feet don’t touch the bottom. During deep water walking, you mimic land-based walking movements such as walking up hills, walking sprints, and backwards walking.


    Although it is not absolutely necessary, you should consider wearing a flotation vest or belt. This device keeps you afloat and holds you in a relatively stable condition in the water so that you can concentrate on your form instead of on keeping yourself afloat. If your pool doesn’t have a buoy vest and you want to give water walking a try before you invest the $50 or so on a flotation device of your own, you can try propping a Styrofoam weight under each arm to keep yourself afloat. Most pools have them. Stick them firmly under your arms so that they don’t interfere with your arm swing and so they keep you relatively stationary in the water.



  • Shallow water walking is done in thigh- to chest-high water where your feet still can touch the bottom. If your space is limited, you can tether yourself to the side of the pool with a stretchy band or a bungee cord so that you can keep moving your body without actually having to move through the pool. Otherwise, walk the pool back and forth widthwise, driving your arms and legs as hard as you can. Don’t worry about speed. You won’t move very fast. But you will work up a sweat and tire out quickly. You might want to start with a few short intervals with a minute or two of rest in between and gradually increase from there.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/getting-fit-by-water-walking.html

Popular Meditation Techniques

Meditation techniques, like meditation itself, tend to be pretty simple. Following is a brief list of ten of the most commonly practiced techniques. You can use one exclusively, or you can try one method for a few months and then switch to a different technique.



  • Repeating a meaningful word or phrase, known as a mantra



  • Following or counting your breaths



  • Paying attention to the sensations in your body



  • Cultivating love, compassion, forgiveness, and other healing emotions



  • Concentrating on a geometric shape or other simple visual object



  • Visualizing a peaceful place or a healing energy or light



  • Reflecting upon inspirational or sacred writings



  • Gazing at a picture of a holy being or saint



  • Contemplating the beauty to be found in nature, art, or music



  • Bringing mindful awareness to the present moment




Be aware that changing techniques frequently makes it hard to reap the full range of benefits you can realize by using a consistent technique for a range of time — a few weeks to a month at least.









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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/popular-meditation-techniques.html

Identifying What Qualifies as a Toxin

A toxin is any substance that your body can’t use in a purposeful way or that requires energy to be removed. Even substances that your body has to have to survive can be toxic if you get too much of them. If you have a good grasp of what’s out there in terms of toxins, you can more easily identify and avoid them.


It’s truly a miracle that we can expose our bodies to the vast numbers of toxins in our environment and we don’t just drop over and die. But even though your body is resilient, if you push it too hard, something is bound to break.


Natural chemicals as physical toxins


People often think of toxins as manmade chemicals, but Mother Nature provides plenty of toxins, too. If you’ve ever brushed up against some poison ivy or been bitten by a spider, you know the toxic effects of your close encounter. The key to limiting the amount of damage that natural toxins do to your body is avoidance.


Living toxins


In addition to the natural chemicals that act as toxins, plenty of living things can have toxic effects on your health. Bacteria, for example, are all around us. Some types of bacteria are helpful, like the kinds that live in your intestines and help to digest your food, but many other types are extremely toxic and harmful. Yeasts, parasites, and viruses are other common living toxins.


Toxic manmade chemicals


In the past 100 years, man has been really busy creating new things that are supposed to make our lives easier and better. Unfortunately, many of these things contain toxic chemicals and/or are made using some sort of toxic process. The chemical creations include pesticides, petrochemicals, and food additives, to name just a few.


In the United States today, more than 80,000 chemicals are being released into our environment, and less than 3,000 have been tested for toxic effects on humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows any chemical to be released unless scientific proof exists that it causes cancer or is toxic in some other way. We have the cart ahead of the horse when it comes to manmade chemical toxins.











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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/identifying-what-qualifies-as-a-toxin.html

The Field Lacrosse and Box Lacrosse Positions

The easiest way to know the positions on the field and in the arena is to know the responsibilities that come with them. In a nutshell, players have three main assignments that come with their positions: score goals (attack players), prevent the other team from scoring goals (defenders), and stop the ball from entering the net (goaltenders). In addition, in field lacrosse, one set of players — known as the midfielders — is regularly assigned the task of playing both offense and defense.


That said, the names of the positions and their precise responsibilities do vary in men’s and women’s field lacrosse and box lacrosse.


Here are the men’s field lacrosse positions:



  • Attackmen: The attackmen are the primary offensive weapons looking to feed and score. They create most of the offense and generally don’t play defense. They’re the three players kept on the opposite side of the midline while the ball is at the other end.



  • Midfielders: Midfielders play offense and defense, following the flow of the game and getting involved at both ends of the field. Midfielders, or “middies,” are crucial to a team’s transition offense and defense.



  • Defensemen: The role of the defensemen is generally to stop the opposing attackmen from creating offense or scoring. Occasionally, a defenseman will be dispatched to cover a dominant opposing midfielder.



  • Goaltender: In addition to stopping shots and getting the ball out of the defensive end, goalies are also responsible for directing the defense. Goalies in field lacrosse have to be more athletic than those in box lacrosse because of the larger goal (6 feet wide by 6 feet high in field, as opposed to just 4 feet wide by 4 feet high in box).




Here are the women’s field lacrosse positions:



  • Attack: The attack positions are made up of first, second, and third homes, and two attack wings, all of whom are responsible for scoring goals.



  • Defense: Defensive assignments are broken down into these areas: center, two defensive wings, point, cover point, and third man. Wing players move the ball from defense to offense.



  • Goaltender: The only player on the field wearing a helmet, her job is to prevent goals from being scored.




In box lacrosse, all five offensive players — the two creasemen, two cornermen, and pointman — also play defense:



  • Creasemen: These two players are generally the primary goal scorers who have strong one-on-one skills.



  • Cornermen: These two players trail the creasemen on offensive breaks.



  • Pointman: This player is a threat to score and usually a strong perimeter shooter, but his main role is to feed the ball to his teammates.



  • Goaltender: The final line of defense, his job is to keep the ball out of the net.











dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-field-lacrosse-and-box-lacrosse-positions.html

Useful Iterators and Methods for Ruby on Rails

When you want to travel through the items in a database you created with Ruby on Rails, knowing the iterators to use is key. The following table shows helpful iterators and methods:































































[1, 2, 3].each { }=> [1, 2, 3]
[1, nil, nil, 2, 3, nil].compact { }=> [1, 2, 3]
[1, 2, 3].delete_if { |x| x >= 3 }=> [1, 2]
[1, 2, 3].collect { |x| x + 1 }=> [2, 3, 4]
[1, 2, 3].find_all { |x| x % 2 == 1 }=> [1, 3]
[1, 2, 3].reject { |x| x % 2 == 1 }=> [2]
[2, 5, 1, 0, 7].sort=> [0, 1, 2, 5, 7]
[2, 5, 1, 0, 7].max=> 7
[1, [2, 3]].flatten=> [1, 2, 3]
[1, 2, 3].empty?=> false
[].empty?=> true
[0, 5, 9].length=> 3
[1, 2, 3].include?(2)=> true
[1, 2, 3].include?(16)=> false
[1, 2, 3].reverse=> [3, 2, 1]



dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/useful-iterators-and-methods-for-ruby-on-rails.html

Important TCP/IP Command-Line Utilities in Windows Server 2003

When you attach to the Internet, building a TCP/IP toolkit will help you troubleshoot if you run into network problems. Windows Server 2003 includes a collection of utilities to help you perform some useful functions. The Help String column in the following table shows how to get online help for syntax details on each command.











































NameHelp StringFunction
ARParp /hDisplays and modifies the address translation table maintained
by the TCP/IP Address Resolution Protocol
IPCONFIGipconfig /?Displays all current TCP/IP network configuration data
NETSTARTnetstart /?Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP network
connections
NSLOOKUPNslookupDisplays information about known DNS servers
PINGPingVerifies connections to local or remote computers (Ping stands
for Packet InterNet Groper, an excellent IP troubleshooting
tool)
ROUTERouteDisplays and manipulates network routing tables
TRACERTTracertDisplays the route from your machine to a specified
destination



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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/important-tcpip-commandline-utilities-in-windows-s.html

Image-Editing Software for WordPress Web Design

When you work with graphics (including digital photographs) for Web design, you work with two file types: raster and vector. When you create, edit, or manipulate those files, you use graphic- or photo-editing software to accomplish the job. Here's a list of some software that you may want to consider.























Software ProgramFile Types
href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop/">Adobe
Photoshop
Raster-based image-editing program used to create PSD layout
files and to work with raster image file types and photography
Adobe
Illustrator
Vector-based image creation and editing used to edit vector
image files, such as AI and EPS files
Corel PaintShop Photo ProRaster image and photography editing program
CorelDRAWVector image creation and editing for AI, EPS, and CDR file
types



dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/imageediting-software-for-wordpress-web-design.html

Giving Affordable Gifts to the Wedding Party


10 of 10 in Series:
The Essentials of Budget Weddings





The members of your wedding party provide support throughout your wedding planning process, so you probably want to give them an affordable thank-you gift to show your appreciation for their friendship and to commemorate the occasion. This gift, like any other that you give, should reflect your knowledge of and affection for the recipient. And, most important, it should fit your budget.


Wedding vendors know you want to provide gifts for your wedding party, and, not surprisingly, they’ve turned this tradition into big business. You can find wedding-party gifts that range in price from a few bucks to thousands of dollars — along with the peddling of guilt that so many wedding vendors employ to get you to spend more than you really want to.


If you decide to give separate thank-you gifts — rather than using accessories or events like a spa day to serve as gifts — try to spend roughly the same amount for each attendant.


Here are some ideas for fun, inexpensive gifts:




  • Gift baskets: You can make these baskets yourself, incorporating any theme you like: bath and beauty, tea time, coffee lover, sports fan, cinema freak, and so on. Get the basket and wrapping paper — and perhaps even some items for the basket — at your local dollar store or discount retailer to keep costs down.


    You can have metal gift baskets engraved for a small cost — usually $10 or less — at places like Things Remembered or a jewelry store. Or you can get engraved metal key rings to add to the gift basket as a memento of the day.




  • Scrapbooks: A scrapbook can commemorate your friendship and your wedding if you include favorite photos of yourself and your attendant together, along with a copy of your ceremony program and other mementos from your wedding. Pick up inexpensive scrapbook kits at your local craft store, or look to your local dollar store for photo albums that can accommodate your mementos.




  • A special outing: If your schedule allows, treat each of your attendants to a few hours of one-on-one time with you — perhaps a lunch, a round of golf, or an afternoon at the mall.




  • Gift cards: Some people think gift cards are too impersonal, but if you know your best man is never happier than when he’s prowling the history section at his favorite bookstore, a gift card may be more appreciated than anything else you could give him.




Don’t forget your flower girl and ring bearer, if you include these attendants. These little tykes deserve a gift of thanks as well. Some age-appropriate ideas for these special guests include personalized T-shirts, engraved piggy banks, or baskets filled with candy or other goodies.











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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/giving-affordable-gifts-to-the-wedding-party.html

Blend Modes in Adobe CS5 Illustrator

In Adobe Creative Suite 5 (Adobe CS5) Illustrator there are many ways to blend a transparency in your artwork. The transparency feature changes an object to make it transparent so that what’s underneath that object is visible to varying degrees. Illustrator allows you more control over the application of transparency via Blend modes.


A blending mode determines how the resulting transparency will look. To achieve different blending effects, you choose different blend modes from the Blend Mode drop-down list in the Transparency panel.


Truly, the best way to find out what all these modes do is to create two overlapping shapes and start experimenting. Give the shapes differently colored fills. Then select the topmost object and change the blending mode by selecting an option from the Blend Mode drop-down list in the Transparency panel. You see all sorts of neat effects and might even pick a few favorites.


We define each blend mode in the following list, but we’ll say it again: The best way to see what each mode does is to apply them — so start experimenting.



  • Normal: Creates no interaction with underlying colors.



  • Darken: Replaces only the areas that are lighter than the blend color. Areas darker than the blend color don’t change.



  • Multiply: Creates an effect similar to drawing on the page with magic markers, or like the colored film you see on theater lights.



  • Color Burn: Darkens the base color to reflect the blend color. If you’re using white, no change occurs.



  • Lighten: Replaces only the areas that are darker than the blend color. Areas lighter than the blend color don’t change.



  • Screen: Multiplies the inverse of the underlying colors. The resulting color is always a lighter color.



  • Color Dodge: Brightens the underlying color to reflect the blend color. If you’re using black, there’s no change.



  • Overlay: Multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the base color.



  • Soft Light: Darkens or lightens colors, depending on the blend color. The effect is similar to shining a diffused spotlight on the artwork.



  • Hard Light: Multiplies or screens colors, depending on the blend color. The effect is similar to shining a harsh spotlight on the artwork.



  • Difference: Subtracts either the blend color from the base color or the base color from the blend color, depending on which has the greater brightness value. The effect is similar to a color negative.



  • Exclusion: Creates an effect similar to, but with less contrast than, Difference mode.



  • Hue: Applies the hue (color) of the blend object to underlying objects but keeps the underlying shading, or luminosity.



  • Saturation: Applies the saturation of the blend color but uses the luminance and hue of the base color.



  • Color: Applies the blend object’s color to the underlying objects but preserves the gray levels in the artwork; works well for tinting objects or changing their color.



  • Luminosity: Creates a resulting color with the hue and saturation of the base color and the luminance of the blend color. This mode is essentially the opposite of Color mode.













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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/blend-modes-in-adobe-cs5-illustrator.html

Perks for New Online Community Members

Here’s a question for you: Though you as community manager want your online community members to take a specific action, what’s in it for them beyond having a conversation with a brand?


As awesome as you may think that you and your brand are, that general awesomeness won’t always catch a potential member’s eye and invite her into the community. If you’re expecting sales, signups, or brand evangelism, you’re going to have to have something to offer beyond conversation.


Unless your online community is one in which hobbyists and enthusiasts share their passion or come to find out about a specific topic, getting members to rally around your brand may be a hard sell.


People enjoy certain brands, but they’re generally aren’t so enthusiastic that they’ll visit the community each day or talk about the brand on the social networks. They need a little bit of enticement to visit your community, participate in the conversation, and especially evangelize your brand.


To generate this kind of brand loyalty, it’s a good idea to offer perks and swag:



  • Offer T-shirts to everyone who signs up for your newsletter. Everyone likes shirts. Even people who don’t wear shirts with logos or words on them want to take them home to give to a family member or to sleep in. Because most Internet giveaways are inexpensive and even flimsy, a T-shirt is desirable swag.



  • Provide discount coupons for making a certain number of comments. Most new members sign up for a brand’s online community to receive free or discounted products. If you have a great product or service, and you can entice members to buy by using a discount code, they’ll buy again if they like the experience. You may not get 100 percent return, but even 20 percent would be significant.



  • Announce different levels of perks for different levels of community commitment. If new members know that they’ll receive perks for participation, and that they’ll receive more perks the more they participate, they’re more likely to become active members of the community. They’re also more apt to spread the news to friends, family members, and people they meet online.



  • Offer special badges and avatars for various levels of participation. Community members love to show off their commitment. By giving them badges to display in their community profiles or widgets to display on their blogs, you not only let members show their level of participation and commitment to the brand, but also entice nonmembers to find out what all the fuss is about.


    When you award special badges for a certain number of comments or years of participation, members who earn them will feel super special, and members who aren’t so active will want to achieve the same awards.




List the perks for all levels of participation on a specific welcome or landing page so that potential members know they’ll receive cool stuff and freebies for various levels of commitment. Offer incentives for members to tweet about their rewards or post pictures on a special page so that nonmembers can see these perks and benefits and sign up as well.


People don’t want pitches; they want perks. If you want them to buy your stuff or evangelize your product, you’re going to have to offer something valuable in return. Truthfully, most people don’t want to read newsletters, especially from a brand that’s looking to sell products, but they may be inclined to subscribe to a newsletter if they know that they’ll receive something worthwhile.


If you continue to offer discounts in your newsletters, members won’t trash the newsletters as soon as they receive their gifts.




dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/perks-for-new-online-community-members.html

Rotate InDesign CS5 Objects

You can rotate an object in InDesign Creative Suite 5 by using the Free Transform tool or the Transform panel. Use the panel to enter a specific degree that you want the object to rotate. The Free Transform tool lets you visually manipulate the object on the page.


To rotate an image by using the Free Transform tool, follow these steps:



  1. Select an object on the page with the Selection tool.


    Handles appear around the edges of the object. You can rotate any object on the page.



  2. Select the Free Transform tool in the Tools panel and move it near the handle of an object outside the bounding box.


    The cursor changes when you move it close to the handle of an object. For rotation, you must keep the cursor just outside the object.



  3. When the cursor changes to the rotate cursor, drag to rotate the object.


    Drag the cursor until the object is rotated the correct amount.




Alternatively, you can use the Rotate tool to spin an object by following these steps:



  1. With the object selected, select the Rotate tool in the Tools panel and move the cursor near the object.


    The cursor looks similar to a cross hair.



  2. Click the cursor anywhere on the page near the object.


    The point that the object rotates around is set on the page.



  3. Drag the cursor outside the object.


    The object rotates around the reference point you set on the page. Hold the Shift key if you want to rotate in 45-degree increments.




You can also rotate objects by using the Transform panel. Here’s how:



  1. Select an object on the page with the Selection tool.


    The bounding box with handles appears around the selected object.



  2. If the Transform panel isn’t open, choose Window→Object & Layout→ Transform.


    The Transform panel appears.



  3. Select a value from the Rotation Angle drop-down list or click the text field and enter a percentage.


    The object rotates to the degree you set in the Transform panel. Negative angles (in degrees) rotate the image clockwise, and positive angles (in degrees) rotate the image counterclockwise.













dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/rotate-indesign-cs5-objects.html

Proof Strategies in Geometry

Knowing how to write two-column geometry proofs provides a solid basis for working with theorems. Practicing these strategies will help you write geometry proofs easily in no time:



  • Make a game plan. Try to figure out how to get from the givens to the prove conclusion with a plain English, commonsense argument before you worry about how to write the formal, two-column proof.



  • Make up numbers for segments and angles. During the game plan stage, it's sometimes helpful to make up arbitrary lengths for segments or measures for angles. Doing the math with those numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) can help you understand how the proof works.



  • Look for congruent triangles (and keep CPCTC in mind). In diagrams, try to find all pairs of congruent triangles. Proving one or more of these pairs of triangles congruent (with SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, or HLR) will likely be an important part of the proof. Then you'll almost certainly use CPCTC on the line right after you prove triangles congruent.



  • Try to find isosceles triangles. Glance at the proof diagram and look for all isosceles triangles. If you find any, you'll very likely use the if-sides-then-angles or the if-angles-then-sides theorem somewhere in the proof.



  • Look for parallel lines. Look for parallel lines in the proof's diagram or in the givens. If you find any, you'll probably use one or more of the parallel-line theorems.



  • Look for radii and draw more radii. Notice each and every radius of a circle and mark all radii congruent. Draw new radii to important points on the circle, but don't draw a radius that goes to a point on the circle where nothing else is happening.



  • Use all the givens. Geometry book authors don't put irrelevant givens in proofs, so ask yourself why the author provided each given. Try putting each given down in the statement column and writing another statement that follows from that given, even if you don't know how it'll help you.



  • Check your if-then logic.


    For each reason, check that



    • All the ideas in the if clause appear in the statement column somewhere above the line you're checking.



    • The single idea in the then clause also appears in the statement column on the same line.




    You can also use this strategy to figure out what reason to use in the first place.



  • Work backward. If you get stuck, jump to the end of the proof and work back toward the beginning. After looking at the prove conclusion, make a guess about the reason for that conclusion. Then use your if-then logic to figure out the second-to-last statement (and so on).



  • Think like a computer. In a two-column proof, every single step in the chain of logic must be expressed, even if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Doing a proof is like communicating with a computer: The computer won't understand you unless every little thing is precisely spelled out.



  • Do something. Before you give up on a proof, put whatever you understand down on paper. It's quite remarkable how often putting something on paper triggers another idea, then another, and then another. Before you know it, you've finished the proof.











dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/proof-strategies-in-geometry.html

Tips for Maintaining a Professional Tone on Twitter

If you are using Twitter for marketing, you have to take several things into consideration. You must balance your tweets so that you don’t overwhelm (and lose) your followers as a result of posting too many marketing tweets. You should attempt to be casual and personal in your tweets, as a way to interact with your potential customers on a one-to-one basis. This includes providing your followers with useful information, even if it doesn’t translate into a sale.


However, whether you are tweeting about a discount or sharing useful information about your niche to benefit your followers, always maintain a professional tone. Here are some thoughts to help you be professional while you are personal on Twitter:



  • Don’t do something on Twitter you wouldn’t do in person. If you think about it, Twitter is a very personal medium. This lets you approach potential customers in unique ways. But ask yourself if you would make fun of a funny accent by a customer. Most likely you wouldn’t, so don’t mock other Twitter users about their typos, broken links, or anything they may find offensive.



  • Always read carefully and look for the information in the tweets about your products or company. Buried below a nasty complaint by an upset customer may be an opportunity to improve your product, your service, and your company’s image. Make the most of it, by being attentive and reading carefully, showing empathy and understanding.



  • Avoid making negative remarks about interactions with customers. Even if you just had the worst exchange in history with a customer, don’t tweet something like “Just got off the phone with the most annoying customer! I hate this job!” If you decide to tweet about your exchange, look for a positive spin: “Just assisted another customer on the phone.”




While you spend time in the social networking realm, you hear the words transparency and authenticity a lot. Here’s what these terms mean within the context of a social network:



  • Transparency: Being clear and forthright in your communications. In your tweets, updates, and blog posts, reveal as much information as you feel you need to. Don’t hide behind the corporate veil on Twitter. As long as you aren’t breaking any laws or rules, or doing anything illegal, people expect transparency. And if you don’t deliver it, they’ll stop following you, at best. At worst, they’ll tell the whole world that you are a fake.



  • Authenticity: Being truthful and honest. Don’t set up fake accounts under fake names. Don’t make stuff up. Don’t lie. If you have to keep things a secret for corporate security, you’re better off saying so than lying about it.


    For example, say that you want to launch a new product and create some buzz about it on Twitter. The inauthentic company would create five Twitter accounts, all with fake names; amass as many followers as possible; and then start pumping out different tweets from each account as a way to trick people into thinking a lot of folks are interested in the product. The authentic company would set up a single account, and list the company’s information in the account’s bio.













dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tips-for-maintaining-a-professional-tone-on-twitte.html

How to Draw a Fun Cartoon Character

One enjoyable and challenging part of being a cartoonist is the ability to create interesting human characters. Cartoon characters, like their human counterparts, are made of various components. Knowing how to draw different parts of a character helps you put them all together more confidently. Try your hand here at creating a mad scientist by using the following steps and figures to help:



  1. Start with the head.



    • Draw a medium-sized oval shape with small ears on each side.



    • Lightly sketch a horizontal line across the middle of the head area.



    • Lightly draw a vertical line down the middle of the head. These two lines intersect at the middle and form a centerline guide for placing the facial features.





  2. Draw the face.



    • In the middle of the head, lightly sketch out the nose and place a small round circle on each side of the nose for the glasses.



    • Under the nose, draw a smile and curve it upward on both ends.



    • From each side of the nose, draw a vertical line going down on each side of the mouth.



    • Draw a small line below the mouth for the chin.


      image0.jpg



  3. Sketch the body.



    • From each side of the bottom of the head, draw two vertical lines going down, curving slightly outward so that the lines are wider apart at the bottom than at the top to form a bell shape.



    • Draw a horizontal line across from the bottom of the left vertical line to the right vertical line. Doing so forms a complete bell shape.



    • Draw a horizontal line across the middle of the torso and a vertical line down the middle. These two lines intersect at the middle and form a guide for placing clothing and creating a center for the character.



    • Under the head, draw a V-shape for the jacket lapels. Draw a bow tie directly under the chin.





  4. Add the arms.



    • On the character’s right side, draw vertical lines going down the side of the torso for the arm.



    • At the end of the arm, draw in the hand and draw a large square shape under the arm for the paperwork the character is holding.


      image1.jpg



  5. Place the legs.



    • Under the torso area, draw four vertical lines going down about 1/4 the length of the torso. Each pair of lines forms one of the legs.





  6. Add shoes.



    • For the character’s right shoe, draw a diamond shape that points downward.



    • For the left shoe draw a small, elongated oval shape that points outward to your right.





  7. Add some accessories.



    • On the torso, fill in the area for the outer lapels. Draw a vertical line from the bottom of the lapels to form the middle of the lab coat.



    • Sketch in the glass beaker in the character’s left hand.



    • Add the small buttons and pockets.


      image2.jpg



  8. When you’re finished, ink your character for his final, complete look.











dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-draw-a-fun-cartoon-character.html

How to Use Route Prefixes to Create Routing Filters in Junos

The fundamental purpose of routing policies is to prevent certain routes from being either accepted into your routing table or advertised to some adjacent router. Sometimes, matching specific routes or a set of routes is useful. To do so, you use a route filter.


Route filters match on specific IP addresses or ranges of prefixes. Much like other routing policies, they include some match criteria and then a corresponding match action. The basic configuration resembles the following:


[edit policy-options]
policy-statement my-route-filter {
term router-filter-term {
from {
router-filter prefix/prefix-length match-type;
}
then {
actions;
}
}
}

This basic configuration outline matches a route against the specified filter. If the route matches, the defined action is taken. If it doesn’t, the next term or policy is evaluated. As with other policies, if no match occurs, the protocol default action executes.


An important difference between route filters and other policy match conditions is how multiple filters are handled. If you have more than one match condition, the conditions are treated as a logical AND, meaning all of them must be true for it to be considered a match. With route filters, the presence of multiple filters represents a logical OR, meaning it’s a match if the route matches any of the configured filters.


If you want to effectively create route filters, you need to make sure that you understand route prefixes and prefix lengths. An IPv4 address in dotted decimal notation is really just a shorthand way of representing a 32-bit address. For example, the address 192.168.32.4 represents the following 32-bit address:


11000000 10101000 00100000 00000100

So, when you add a prefix length to this IP address, you’re specifying the number of significant digits in the expanded 32-bit address to include. If you want to match a prefix length of 24 (192.168.32/24, for example), you’re really identifying the first three octets in the address.


Usually, the prefix covers the network address portion of the IP address (the rest of the bits form the host address), but not always. The fewer bits the prefix includes, the more network addresses that are covered. A prefix like 10/8 covers more than 16 million networks, whereas 192.168.32/24 covers only 254.




dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-route-prefixes-to-create-routing-filter.html

Staying in Shape for the Firefighter Fitness Test

Firefighting is a physical job that requires strength, endurance, and flexibility, so a physical ability test or fitness test is part of the firefighter hiring process. To stay in shape for the physical test, use the following tips:



  • Make it routine. It’s easy for life to get in the way and ruin your fitness goals, so try to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule.



  • Don’t get bored. Repeatedly doing the same workout will quickly grow tiresome, so change it up. Instead of jogging around a track, play soccer or go for a bike ride.



  • Work out with a friend. Working out with a buddy is more fun. You can talk, laugh, and catch up while motivating each other to keep moving.



  • Eat healthy foods. Be sure to eat plenty of lean proteins and vitamin-rich fruits and veggies. These foods give you the energy you need to work out each day.



  • Drink plenty of water. When you work out, you lose a lot of water through sweat. In addition, water cleanses toxins from your body, so stay hydrated!



  • Get plenty of rest. You need rest to give your body time to repair itself. Doctors recommend seven to nine hours of sleep each night.






dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/staying-in-shape-for-the-firefighter-fitness-test.html

Right-Click for Common QuickBooks 2010 Tasks

To perform a common QuickBooks 2010 task related to a window, right-click to display a shortcut menu. In a register, select and right-click a specific transaction; in a list, right-click an item; in a form, display a transaction and right-click a blank area of the form.


QuickBooks displays a shortcut menu of common commands for the particular transaction, item, or window. For example, it often displays commands for memorizing or voiding the transaction or for creating a QuickReport on the transaction. The commands differ based on the type of transaction you select.




dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/rightclick-for-common-quickbooks-2010-tasks.html

Understanding Intangible Assets and Amortization Expense

Many businesses invest in intangible assets. Intangible means without physical existence, in contrast to buildings, vehicles, and computers. Amortization refers to the allocation of the cost of an intangible asset over its estimated economic life. This expense is similar to depreciation expense.


Some examples of intangible assets include the following:



  • A business may purchase the customer list of another company that is going out of business.



  • A business may buy patent rights from the inventor of a new product or process.



  • A business may buy another business lock, stock, and barrel and may pay more than the total of the individual assets of the company being bought are worth — even after adjusting the particular assets to their current values.


    The extra amount is for goodwill, which may consist of a trained and efficient workforce, an established product with a reputation for high quality, or a very valuable location.




Only intangible assets that are purchased are recorded by a business. A business must expend cash, or take on debt, or issue owners’ equity shares for an intangible asset in order to record the asset on its books. Building up a good reputation with customers or establishing a well-known brand is not recorded as an intangible asset.


The cost of an intangible asset is put in the appropriate asset account, just like the cost of a tangible asset is recorded in a fixed asset account. Like a fixed asset account (with the exception of land), the cost of an intangible asset that has a limited useful economic life is allocated over its estimated useful life. (Certain intangible assets are viewed as having more or less perpetual useful lives.)




dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-intangible-assets-and-amortization-e.html

Umbrella Insurance Checklist

You purchase umbrella insurance so that you’re covered under every contingency. An umbrella policy should also provide coverage for the gap between the value of the insured item and the amount you owe on it. The following table lists basic umbrella coverage every umbrella policy should include:

































Gap DescriptionWhat Coverage You NeedComments
Territory of coverageWorldwideMake sure lawsuits outside the U.S. and Canada are
covered.
Personal injury liabilityLibel, slander, false arrest, and so onUnderlying insurance may be required. Be careful.
Coverage of newly acquired vehicles, boats, and so onAutomatic, no notice requiredPoor policies require notification in 30 days or no coverage.
Dangerous!
Liability assumed in contractsWeddings, parties, rentals of all kindsPoor policies limit coverage to residential contracts
only.
Punitive damagesAllowed in some statesYou could travel in a state that allows them.








dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/umbrella-insurance-checklist.html

Real Estate Listing Agreements

To pass a real estate license exam, you need to know the types of listing agreements. Listing agreements establish the relationship between the real estate agent and the property seller. Similar agreements are used in localities that include buyer agents as well as real estate agents.


The types of listing agreements are as follows:



  • Exclusive right to sell listing: In this agreement, the agent gets paid no matter who sells the property, regardless of whether it’s the agent or the seller.



  • Exclusive agency listing: Agents get paid in this type of agreement only if they sell the property. No fee is earned if the owner sells the property on his own.



  • Open listing: In this type of agreement, sellers have the right to use as many brokers as they want. The seller is not, however, obligated to pay any of them if he sells the property.



  • Net listing: This type of agreement is illegal in some states. The agent gets to keep everything he can get that’s more than the sale price the owner wants.











dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/real-estate-listing-agreements.html

Furnishing Your Second Home

When furnishing your second home, don't hastily spend thousands of dollars on items that you may not need. You have the luxury of time when outfitting your second home.



You probably won't use your second home in the same way or with the same frequency that you use your primary home unless you plan to turn it into your primary residence post-retirement. So you must decide what you really need in your new second home and what you really don't need.



To figure this out, you have to know how you're going to use your new place. Ask yourself the following questions, and answer realistically based on your work and lifestyle:



  • How often am I going to use this home?

  • How long will the home be rented out to others?

  • Will my family and friends be using the home?

  • Will I rent the home on a full-time basis until I plan to retire there in five (or however many) years?

  • Am I going to use the home a few times a year and rent it for the rest of the time on a seasonal basis?

Following are three different scenarios pertaining to your second home. In each one, consider what to include when you outfit your place, as well as what not to include:



  • You plan to use your second home only for your own vacation purposes. If this scenario rings true for you, feel free to fill your second home with as many or as few personal touches as you want. If you envision blue carpeting, avocado appliances, and that Hawaiian hula girl lamp that everybody but your husband hates, then decorate to your heart's content because you'll be the only ones who have to navigate it.

  • You plan to use your second home a few times a year, and rent it the rest of the time. Here's where you want to create a cross between a comfortable "homey" home and a hotel room. Doing so means bringing in the basics (and making sure that they're both tasteful and functional), as well as throwing in a few personal touches that say, "Yes, you're using this home now, but it belongs to someone else."

  • You'll rent the home on a full-time basis until you retire there at some point. Stick with the basics and avoid the personal touches if this scenario applies to you. Go with some tasteful living room and dining room furniture, basic bedroom sets, and enough bathroom accoutrements to keep a renter comfortable. Don't bother with personal touches like family photos, and let them bring their own shampoo.

Ultimately, your goal is to create an enjoyable living space without exceeding your budget. Because this won't be your primary home (at least not yet), adopt an "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy. In other words, forgoing that $5,000 grandfather clock that you know would look great in the foyer probably isn't a bad idea. You won't get to see it every day anyway, and why spend that kind of money for an unoccupied house or to make guests or renters happy? Use common sense when spending, create a sense of style that you like, and stick with it for the best results.



dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/furnishing-your-second-home.html

Mergers and Acquisitions: Financing a Problem Company

Not all companies go up for sale in the rosiest of circumstances. Sometimes, Sellers need to unload debt-laden or money-losing businesses in an M&A deal. Working out financing for these so-called problem children is trickier than finding financing for healthy companies, but it’s not impossible. The following presents some problem situations and suggest ways you may be able to finance such deals.


Debt is greater than purchase price


When the external debt of a business exceeds the purchase price Buyer is willing to pay (known as being underwater), Seller is in a sticky situation. To accept the price means Seller literally has to write a check for the honor of selling his business. Short of getting Buyer to pay more (always an option worth trying!), Seller has a couple of options for selling his underwater company:



  • Ask Buyer to pay more. Seller should explain the situation to Buyer; if Buyer is hot enough for the deal, she just may be willing to pay enough to cover all the outstanding costs and debts of the business.



  • Negotiate with creditors. This situation is tricky because informing a creditor that a company is in financial trouble may cause that creditor to put place a lien on the business or force a bankruptcy on the company.


    The key is to not say the creditor will get nothing but rather that the creditor will get something. If Seller in financial straits can get major creditors to agree to accept less than the full amount owed, he may be able to extract himself from this precarious position without having to bankrupt the business.




Buyers of troubled companies shouldn’t let Sellers repay all creditors. Instead, Buyers should take complete control of the situation, ask Sellers to submit a complete list of all the business’s creditors, and directly pay all outstanding debt of the business at closing.


The business has operating losses


If a business has operating losses, Seller is wise to ask Buyer to pay for the assets of the business, which may have more value than the business. Sellers are strongly encouraged to speak with their accountants and lawyers before pursuing this course of action.


Another method of selling a business with losses is to determine the contribution, essentially revenues minus direct costs associated with those revenues (typically cost of goods sold, salespeople, marketing, and so on).


Say Seller has $30 million in revenue and $32 million in costs, resulting in $2 million in losses. Assume the direct costs associated with those revenues is $22 million. Therefore, the total nonsales and marketing administrative costs are $10 million ($32 million – $22 million).


In this example, Seller would provide $8 million in contribution ($30 million – $22 million = $8 million) to Buyer, assuming Buyer has sufficient existing administrative overhead to absorb Seller without needing Seller’s $10 million of nonsales and marketing administrative costs.


In this example, the question Seller should ask Buyer is, “What value does my company’s $30 million in revenue and $8 million in contribution have to your company?”


For the right Buyer, all or most of Seller’s $8 million in contribution would go to the bottom line. Even if Buyer figures it would need $7 million in overhead to handle Seller’s revenues, that still leaves $1 million that would fall to the bottom line. Any investment banker worth his salt should be able to make that case!




dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/mergers-and-acquisitions-financing-a-problem-compa.html

Cycling For Dummies (Australia/New Zealand Edition)





>


Picking a Bike that’s Right for You


Deciding to ride a bicycle (or start riding again or more often) is a big step forwards. Well done. But before you can pop down to the bike shop, make a purchase and ride off into the sunset, you have to give the purchase some thought. Most bike stores have a bewildering array of bicycles to choose between, so give some thought to the kind of riding you’re planning on doing before visiting a store. Here are some types of bike and some of the things they’re good for:



  • Road bikes: These bikes are meant to be ridden fast, in a bent forward position, on roads. They have curved handlebars and can be very light — and very expensive. Road bikes are good for racing, training and fast commuting.



  • Mountain bikes (MTBs): These are tough bikes that either have front or dual (front and back) suspension. They have wide, knobbly tyres to grip any surface and gearing to help with steep uphill climbs. They’re great for trails and off-roading, but can also be used for a comfortable, less speedy commute (although you might want to think about getting smoother tyres for commuting).



  • Cruisers: The curvy frames, wide saddles and colours of these bikes create a style statement that can’t be denied. Cruisers generally have no gears, or just three, and a back-pedal rear brake. They’re great for short trips but not usually designed for fast or long journeys.



  • Comfort bikes: These bikes are safe and steady option for anyone who wants a gentle — and comfortable — ride. They usually have a wide, low saddle, often with seat suspension, and allow you to ride in an upright position. Some are made with better quality components that enable longer rides.



  • Hybrids, city bikes, exercise bikes and flat-bar road bikes: While the definitions for these bikes may blur and merge a little, they’re all designed for medium-paced to slightly faster cycling. They have straight handlebars and allow a more upright riding position than a road bike.



  • Folding bikes: You can fold and pack up these bikes in a matter of seconds — and you can ride pretty fast and far on them, too.



  • BMX bikes: These bikes may be small, but they’re not just for kids. BMXs are great for flips, rolls and grinds, but not the best for travelling further than the local skateboard park.



  • Fixies: These bikes look like road bikes, but they have no gears and the fixed-wheel system means you can’t freewheel — so if the back wheel is turning, so are the pedals. Fixies are great for being cool and urban.



  • Tandems: These bikes offer two saddles, two sets of pedals and handlebars, two wheels and two riders. While often chosen by lovers, tandems are also great for people who can’t (for medical or physical reasons) ride a bike on their own.







>



>


>


Essential Cycling Equipment


You can buy a million things to make your bike riding more enjoyable. Here are some of the more necessary accessories for bicycling in style (and staying safe):



  • Helmet: Wearing a helmet is the law, all over Australia and New Zealand. Helmets are designed to lessen injury should you have the unlikely misfortune of getting in a stack or falling off your bike.



  • Lights: These are required by law and are essential for your safety if riding at night.



  • Bell (or horn): Also required by law, bells bring music to everyone’s ears.



  • Knicks, jerseys and other bicycle clothing: If you’re racing, the right gear is essential. Even if cycling more recreationally, you may prefer to wear cycle-specific clothing. Get them at the bike shop or look online.



  • Pump: Essential for getting air in your tyres.



  • Cage and bottle: A convenient way to stay hydrated while you cycle.



  • Baskets, panniers and racks: A basket up front is very handy for small items or shopping. Panniers, bags that hang either side of your back wheel, are great for larger loads.







>



>


>


Incorporating Cycling into Your Routine


With a bit of thinking, cycling can fit easily into your schedule, so you get healthy exercise and save time and money. Here are some tips on making cycling part of your weekly routine:



  • It’s not all or nothing: You don’t have to commute every day if at first it seems too much. Plan out your week fitting in the amount of cycling that suits you.



  • You don’t have to ride all the way: Ride to the station, or ride to a station further down the line. Cycle as much as you have time for.



  • Keep your helmet next to your car keys: When you’re heading out to the shops, ride instead of driving. You get there quicker and, if you only take a small backpack or pannier, it’s very likely you’ll spend less.



  • Cycle with the children to school: Healthy exercise for everyone and you get to avoid that congestion outside the school.



  • Find a safer route: Just because you drive on main roads, doesn’t mean you have to cycle on them. Find a safer, quieter route and you’ll feel much happier setting off in the morning.



  • Motivate yourself: Don’t tell yourself that you can’t — keep reminding yourself that you can. You’ll feel much better when you do.







>



>


>


Road Safety Tips for Beginner Cyclists in Australia and New Zealand


Keeping safe on the roads is vital. You can be vulnerable on a bicycle, but here are a few tips to help keep you out of harm’s way:



  • Visibility is key: Wear bright clothes and make sure you stay in a position where other traffic can see you.



  • Get some company: If you’re new to riding on roads, get a friend with a bike to show you how — there’s always safety in numbers.



  • Car doors: When riding alongside parked cars, be wary of doors flying open in your path. Slow down and keep your eyes peeled.



  • Don’t hug the kerb: Don’t let other traffic think it’s safe to squeeze past you in the same lane — it’s not. Stay a metre from the kerb and you can be seen more easily from every direction.



  • Eye contact: You can’t be sure a driver knows you’re there until you make eye contact. Don’t be afraid to wave just to make sure you’ve been seen.



  • Hook turns: If you’re planning to turn right, but you’re not sure about the other traffic, make a hook turn (move to the left, stop in front of traffic waiting to go the way you wish to travel and go straight ahead when the lights change) to avoid crossing lanes.



  • The rules: The road rules for cyclists vary slightly around Australia and New Zealand. You’re much safer if you know what they are. Look online to find out what the rules are for you.



  • Stay safe: No matter what the rules are, if you think a junction isn’t safe for you, get off your bike and make your way round as a pedestrian.







>



>


>


Packing for Local Rides and Longer Cycling Trips


Don’t end up standing beside your bicycle, wishing you’d brought along some simple item. Carry what you need to ensure you’ll get to your destination. Here are some suggestions.


Essentials for local bicycle trips


Even if riding a short distance, don’t leave home without the following:



  • Allen keys (in the size you need for your bike)



  • Chain or D-lock



  • Lights



  • Lip balm



  • Pump and puncture repair kit



  • Spanner (if required to remove the wheel)



  • Spare inner tube (quicker than fixing a hole)



  • Sunscreen



  • Tyre levers (for removing tyres)




Essentials for longer cycling trips


When packing for longer trips, you need everything in the preceding list, as well as the following:



  • Cable ties (can fix just about anything!)



  • Camera



  • Elemental protection (in case of rain or cold weather)



  • Fuel (in the form of food)



  • Map or GPS device



  • Phone



  • Phrasebook (if travelling to a country where you don’t speak the language)



  • Spare spokes, chain links and other bike tools



  • Water (enough to keep hydrated)







>






>
dummies


Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/cycling-for-dummies-australianew-zealand-edition-c.html

Overconsuming: Mother Nature’s Laws of Supply and Demand

Everything you consume comes at a cost to the planet — energy uses finite fossil fuels, even food depletes land, water, and light resources. Living a green lifestyle means looking at the resources you consume and trying to consume within your means — and the planet’s.


Looking at overconsumption around the globe


Currently, the world’s population requires 1.3 planets to support itself according to the Global Footprint Network. Some of the ways we’re overtaxing planetary resources include:



  • Approximately 75 percent of oceanic fisheries are heavily overfished to the point where governments are setting catch quotas to help give the fish populations time to recover.



  • Farms in the United States are removing topsoil — the richest, most productive part of the soil — more than 18 times faster than it can be replenished.



  • Water resources are declining worldwide, and some politicians and scientists believe that future conflicts between countries may be based on competition for water.




Focusing on U.S. consumption


In 2006, the Center for Environment and Population reported the following figures:



  • The United States has approximately 5 percent of the world’s population and uses 25 percent of the world’s natural resources.



  • The United States uses three times more water per person than the world average.



  • The United States uses almost 25 percent of the world’s energy.



  • The United States is the world’s single largest emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, with almost 25 percent of all global emissions. (Carbon dioxide is one of the major greenhouse gases linked to climate change.)




These numbers show a real need for action in the United States, but developed countries aren’t solely to blame. Unrestricted garbage dumping and unlegislated greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries are just as much of an issue.




dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/overconsuming-mother-natures-laws-of-supply-and-de.html

Connect Speakers to Your Windows PC

Most PCs have an internal speaker. It’s a cheap, tiny speaker, and usually is barely audible. Thus, you will likely want to connect external speakers to your PC. Here are some of the options you may find on your PC for connecting external speakers:


Rear speaker jacks: The standard PC setup is to plug a set of stereo speakers into the audio output jacks on the I/O panel, located on the back of the typical PC.


S/PDIF: High-end audio systems might employ the Sony/Phillips Digital Interconnect Format. It requires special optical cables and equipment used only by serious audiophiles and has separate S/PDIF connectors: one for input (S/PDIF in) and another for output (S/PDIF out).


DVD speaker jacks: An older PC may require that you connect its speakers to the DVD adapter card instead of to the PC’s I/O panel. A PC without a specific DVD adapter doesn’t have this requirement.


Front speaker jacks: For convenience, many PCs duplicate the speaker and microphone jacks on the front of the console. You can easily connect a set of headphones, though not every PC lets you use both the headphones on the front of the console and speakers on the back.


USB speakers: You can plug USB speakers or headphones into any USB port on the computer.


LCD and other types of flat-panel monitors that come with built-in speakers plug into either the rear speaker jacks or the USB port. (The speaker connection is in addition to the monitor connection.)


Traditional audio connectors are color-coded on your PC. The three colors used match the purposes of the three connectors. Ensure that you plug the speaker into the proper hole! (It’s the green hole.)









































PC Sound Jack Color Codes
ColorConnection
BlackS/PDIF output
BlackSurround sound left or right
BrownSurround sound center or subwoofer
GrayLine-in jack (for audio equipment)
GreenSpeakers or headphone
PinkS/PDIF input
RedMicrophone
WhiteS/PDIF input


  • Obviously, you cannot hear sound from the speakers when you plug them into the microphone jack. Likewise, the microphone may seem under modulated when it’s plugged into the line-in jack.



  • Speakers require power! Avoid using speakers that need batteries. Instead, use speakers with a power adapter. Speakers can also draw power from a subwoofer, or from the PC’s USB port.



  • A bit beyond the standard stereo speakers are speakers that come with a subwoofer. In this configuration, it’s usually the subwoofer that connects directly to the console. The stereo speakers then connect to the subwoofer.



  • At the pinnacle of computer speaker technology is surround sound. It involves multiple speakers situated around the computer to create realistic, 3D sound. Setting up such a thing requires a degree in audio engineering, though enthusiastic and motivated computer users can often handle the task.






dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/connect-speakers-to-your-windows-pc.html

Major Mobile-Device Operating Systems

To protect data on mobile devices, you need to know a quintet of mobile-device operating systems that powers most of today's smartphone and tablet devices. Be ready for employee requests for access from all of these operating systems:



  • Apple's iOS: Incredibly popular operating system from Apple, running devices such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.



  • Google's Android: Google's mobile device operating system, powering devices from several device manufacturers.



  • Microsoft's Windows Phone: A newer operating system from Microsoft that ships on devices from a variety of vendors. Windows Phone 7 represents a complete redesign of Microsoft's previous operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5.



  • Research In Motion's Blackberry: A long-standing favorite in the enterprise due to security and manageability features. The iOS and Android platforms have increased in popularity in recent years and have become alternatives to Blackberry in many enterprises.



  • Nokia's Symbian: Open-source operating system managed by Nokia. In 2011, Nokia announced that it would begin building devices based on the Microsoft Windows Phone operating system, rendering the future of Symbian questionable.






dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/major-mobiledevice-operating-systems.html

Currency Trading For Dummies

Foreign exchange (or forex) markets are one of the fastest and most volatile financial markets to trade. Money can be made or lost in a matter of seconds; at the same time, currencies can display significant trends lasting several days, weeks, even years. Most importantly, forex markets are always moving, providing an accessible and target-rich trading environment.






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Choosing a Broker for Currency Trading


Online currency trading is offered by dozens of different retail trading brokerage firms operating from all over the world, so you have many options to choose from. Here are some key questions to ask when you’re choosing a broker:



  • How good are trading executions? The key to evaluating any brokers is the speed and reliability of your trade executions. Are you consistently able to trade at the price you’re trying for? If you’re trying to sell, and your trade request fails, and you’re offered a lower price, you’re probably being requoted. (Requoting effectively means you’re trading on a wider spread than you bargained for.) Does your broker offer price improvement on limit orders? For stop-loss orders, the brokerage’s execution quality comes down to the amount of slippage experienced when prices gap following data or news announcements. You should expect some slippage on stop-loss order executions — the question is, “How much?”



  • How are orders filled? Find out exactly how your stop-loss or take-profit orders are filled. Is a stop-loss sell order filled when the bid price matches the stop price, such as a selling stop at 10 triggered by a price quote of 10/13? Are stops guaranteed? If so, are there any exceptions to such guarantees? What’s the policy for filling limit orders? Does the market bid price need to match the price of the limit order to sell, for example? A reputable broker will have clearly defined order execution policies on their website.



  • Are dealing spreads stable in all market conditions? Most forex brokers offer variable spreads these days. When market liquidity is high, the spreads will be tightest. During volatile market conditions and around major news events, spreads will naturally widen. However, the amount of variability can really differ among brokers, so make sure you understand how wide spreads can go when the market’s really moving.



  • Look on a broker’s website to see if they publish their execution statistics, which can give you more insight into their execution quality — including speed, the percent of trade requests that are successfully executed, and the opportunity for price improvement. Remember: Tight spreads are only as good as the execution that goes along with them.



  • What is the commission structure? Most online forex brokerages provide trade executions without charging trade commissions. Instead, the broker is compensated by the price spread between the bid and the offer. A few brokers offer a commission-based pricing structure coupled with narrower trading spreads. If the brokerage charges a per-trade commission, you need to factor that cost into your calculations to see if it’s really a better deal than a spread-based commission.



  • How much leverage does the firm offer? Too much of a good thing? In the case of leverage, yes. Over the past several years, the maximum leverage available to retail traders has been reduced by regulators. For example, in the United States, the maximum available leverage is 50:1. In some markets outside the United States, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, 200:1 leverage is available. Generally speaking, firms offering excessively high leverage (higher than 200:1) are not looking out for the best interest of their customers and, more often than not, are not registered with a major regulatory body.



  • What trading resources are available? Evaluate all the tools and resources offered by the firm. Is the trading platform intuitive and easy to use? What charting tools are available? What newsfeeds are available? Do they provide live market commentary on a regular basis? What type of research does the firm provide? Do they offer mobile trading? Are you able to receive rate alerts via e-mail, text message, or Twitter? Are there iPhone/iPad apps? Does the firm support automated trading? Does the platform offer robust reporting capabilities, including transaction detail, monthly statements, profit-and-loss (P&L) reports, and so on?



  • Is 24-hour customer support available? Forex is a 24-hour market, so 24-hour support is a must. Can you access customer service firm by phone, e-mail, and chat? Are the firm’s representatives licensed? Knowledgeable? The quality of support can vary drastically from firm to firm, so be sure to experience it firsthand before opening an account.



  • Is the firm regulated, with solid financials? In the United States, online currency brokerages are regulated by the National Futures Association (NFA), which is the self-regulatory body subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversight. Other geographies with solid regulatory frameworks include the United Kingdom/Europe, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore — ideally you should trade with a broker that is regulated by at least one of these regulatory agencies.



  • Who runs the firm? Management expertise is a key factor, because a trader’s end-user experience is dictated from the top and will be reflected in the firm’s dealing practices, execution quality, and so on. Review staff bios to evaluate the level of management and trading experience at the firm. If the brokerage doesn’t tell you who is running the show, it may be for a reason.







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Grasping the Fundamentals of Currency Rates


Knowing the fundamental drivers of currency rates is the foundation of understanding price movements. This is very important to understand if you want to trade currency as an investment. Here are some suggestions:



  • Get to know the major economic data reports from all the major economies.



  • Understand the importance of expectations versus actual outcomes. Anticipate alternative outcomes to better gauge how the market is really reacting.



  • Stay aware of the pricing in and pricing out of market expectations that occurs in advance of data and events.



  • Factor incoming data and news into the major fundamental themes of interest-rate expectations, economic-growth prospects, inflation, and structural developments.



  • Be aware that technical and position-related themes can overwhelm the fundamentals.







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Identifying Currency Trading Opportunities and Creating Trading Plans


Identifying trading opportunities and planning each trade from start to finish is essential to success in currency trading. When you trade currency as an investment tool, remember to:



  • Maintain trading discipline by formulating — and sticking to — a complete trading plan: position size, entry and exit (stop loss and take profit) before you enter a trade.



  • Always trade with a stop-loss order. Decide on the stop loss before you’re in the trade and don’t move it unless it’s to protect profits.



  • Identify trade entry and exit levels in advance through technical analysis.



  • Understand how each currency pair’s prices move and what drives the prices.



  • Determine position size based on the trade setup and your financial risk-management plan.



  • Be patient — currencies move around a lot. Wait for the market to allow you to enter your trade strategy.




After you’ve invested your time, energy, and risk capital in a trade, your work has only just begun. Managing your trade while it’s active is just as important to a successful outcome. Stay alert, be flexible, but stick to your trading plan.





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