How To Make .......

Meeting Sales Prospects for the First Time

When you meet prospective clients during the selling cycle — or anyone, for that matter — for the first time, your goal is for them to like and trust you. You can accomplish that goal and be on your way to making a sale by completing the following steps, in this order:

Smile, deep and wide.

Make eye contact.

Offer a greeting.

Shake hands.

Offer your name and get the prospect’s name.

Remember: Long-term relationships begin in the first ten seconds.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/meeting-sales-prospects-for-the-first-time.html

Elements of Eye-Catching Cover Letters

Avoid sending a generic cover letter and instead submit one that stands out, inspires intrigue, and gets noticed by employers. To ensure that your cover letter is a memorable one, ask yourself if it covers these critical points:

Addresses its reader by name; if a name is absolutely, positively unavailable, it addresses by the best alternative title.

Introduces me by mentioning a mutual contact, previous telephone conversation or meeting, or by using a "hook" statement that sells my hottest, most relevant qualifications.

Centers on the employer. As much as possible, it matches point-by-point what the employer wants; in effect, my letter says, "You want, I offer."

Specifically tells an employer how I can make money or save money for the company while doing the job the employer wants done.

Is rich with accomplishments and achievements. I measure them with real numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts.

Has no typos.

Is filled with powerful, selling words for extra bite.

Illustrates specific product, company, and industry knowledge — showing I did my homework.

Translates acronyms, technical jargon, or military lingo into plain English.

Closes by asking for an interview, promising to follow up at a given time.

Carefully measures the amount of personal data posted online, guarding against identity theft.

Contains keywords that software systems can easily pick up.

Informs the reader of the position I want near its top or in the "Regarding" space; if not, it gives ample clues to how I could fit in well to any of several positions.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/elements-of-eyecatching-cover-letters.html

Enabling and Disabling Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)

For a variety of reasons Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) may need to be enabled or disabled on portions of your network. CDP, when fully enabled, essentially allows you to identify Cisco devices on your network and see how they are connected.

Enabling CDP

Even though CDP is enabled by default on your Cisco devices, you might inherit a network where the previous administrator had disabled CDP because he disliked three letter protocols (or for some other equally valid reason).

If you find that CDP is not running on your device, you can enable CDP using the cdp run command as follows:

Switch1>enable
Switch1#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
Switch1(config)#cdp ?
  advertise-v2  CDP sends version-2 advertisements
  holdtime      Specify the holdtime (in sec) to be sent in packets
  run           Enable CDP
  timer         Specify the rate at which CDP packets are sent       (in sec)
Switch1(config)#cdp run
Switch1(config)#end

Disabling CDP

After CDP is running on your device, by default, CDP is enabled on all interfaces of the device. At times, you may want to disable CDP — for example, on the external interface of the Internet router connected to your ISP because the ISP does not need the details about the internal network configuration.

Using this method only disables CDP on a specific interface where you choose not to transmit CDP data, but leaves it enabled on the device, so you are still able to receive CDP data. To disable CDP on an interface, use Interface Configuration mode, as shown here:

Switch1>enable
Switch1#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
Switch1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1
Switch1(config-if)#no cdp enable
Switch1(config)#end

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/enabling-and-disabling-cisco-discovery-protocol-cd.html

Substitutions for Gluten-Free Cooking

Making food substitutions is common in any type of cooking, including gluten-free cooking. As you adjust to gluten-free cooking, you'll realize that you can choose from a wide array of gluten-free ingredients to substitute for gluten-laden ones. Here are some savvy substitutions for some of your favorite ingredients:

Flour: If your recipe calls for flour, consider using cornstarch or a gluten-free flour or mix. Experiment with the many new flours available, like bean flours, sorghum, and amaranth. They're nutritious and add flavor, and oh yeah — they're gluten-free!

Breading and coatings: If a recipe calls for breading, bread crumbs, flour coating, or a similar preparation, consider using a wheat- or gluten-free mix (either homemade or store bought). Bread and muffin mixes work well for coatings on chicken and other fried goodies. Seasoned cornmeal or corn flour (masa) and crushed potato chips (especially barbecued flavor) are also excellent alternatives.

Thickeners: Cornstarch, arrowroot flour, and tapioca starch make great substitutes for flour and other thickeners. Dry pudding mix works well for sweet recipes, and bread or baking mixes work well for just about anything.

Binders: Consider using gelatin, xanthan gum, or guar gum.

Pie crust: People think that if something calls for a pie crust — say a quiche or — well, let's say a pie — then it's off limits unless they make a really complicated crust from a really complicated recipe. Think again! First, consider making the dish without the crust. But if you really want to make a gluten-free crust without a complicated recipe, crush a couple of handfuls of gluten-free cookies or a sugary gluten-free cereal, add some butter or margarine (a glob or a dopple, whichever you prefer), and press the stuff into a greased pie pan. Then follow the baking instructions for a regular pie.

Bread crumbs: Many gluten-free breads turn to crumbs when you look at them. And certainly, there are always plenty of crumbs in the bag; just use them as extras for cooking. Or crumble some bread slices, and toast or broil the crumbs to make them crunch.

Croutons: Cut fresh, gluten-free bread into cubes, deep fry, then roll in Parmesan cheese and spices. Some people suggest letting the bread get just a tad stale (not moldy) before making croutons this way.

Granola: If you can find gluten-free oats, you're set. But if you can't, you can still make granola. Toss together toasted nuts and seeds, and then mix them with gluten-free cereal, honey, vanilla, a tiny bit of oil, and spices or seasonings. How much spices and seasonings? A smidge or so, till it tastes like you like it. Bake at 300 degrees F for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Add dried fruit (that's been soaked in water for 10 minutes), let cool, then refrigerate or vacuum seal and freeze.

Trail mix: Lots of trail mixes that are available at the stores are already gluten-free, but if you like to make your own, mix some peanuts, raisins, dried fruit, and gluten-free chocolate candies or chips.

Oatmeal/hot breakfast: Try corn grits. Prepare them like oatmeal and top with butter, cinnamon, and sugar, or fry them. Hot cereals are also available from the producers of gluten-free flours. Some new amaranth and quinoa hot cereals also are available that are nutritional powerhouses.

Buns and flour tortillas: Substitute lettuce, gluten-free bread, corn tortillas, or rice wraps (found in Asian markets and often used in Thai cooking). If you like nori (the seaweed wrap on sushi), you can use it as a wrap with anything stuffed inside.

Soy and teriyaki sauce: Asian markets carry some absolutely amazing Asian sauces that are gluten-free, but you have to read labels carefully (and sometimes that requires a crash course in another language). If you can't find a gluten-free soy sauce, you can substitute Bragg Liquid Aminos. You can find Bragg in the health-food aisle of your grocery store or at a natural-foods retailer. To make your own teriyaki, add equal parts of sugar and wine to your favorite soy sauce substitute.

When in doubt, leave it out. And really, what's the harm in leaving it out, anyway? If your soup recipe calls for a tablespoon or two of flour, try leaving it out and see what you think.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/substitutions-for-glutenfree-cooking.html

How to Cobrand Your Business with Another Business

Cobrands capitalize on the benefits of two compatible brands that consumers can relate to. In consumers' minds, a cobrand can benefit both your business's brand and the brand with which you want to partner-up in a number of ways, as long as you avoid a few dangers.

The potential advantages of cobranding are as follows:

Both brands benefit from the opportunity to appeal to a greater customer base than either may be able to reach on its own.

Each brand stands to enhance its esteem by borrowing on the strength of the partner brand.

The brands share marketing costs, resulting in cost savings for each.

Each brand benefits from the perceived endorsement of the other.

Potential dangers of cobranding include:

Brand management is complicated by the need to integrate the separate operating systems and management approaches of each brand.

The cobranded offering can confuse consumers unless the link between the two brands is immediately obvious, sensible, and easy to understand.

One brand can be diminished in stature if consumers consider the partner brand to be an incompatible match.

Cobranding efforts cover a broad range. They may involve strategic alliances in which two brands unite to reach common goals or cobranded promotions in which two brands team up to achieve short-term sales objectives. Efforts may also involve cobranded product introductions in which two brands bring their production and marketing efforts together to achieve a greater market impact than either could achieve alone.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-cobrand-your-business-with-another-business.html

Using the Safari Web Browser in Mac OS X Tiger

Safari is the Web browser installed with Mac OS X Tiger. Before you can browse the Web, the first step is to open your Web browser. No problem. As usual, there's more than one way. You can launch Safari with one of these methods:

Clicking the Safari icon on the Dock (look for the big blue compass)

Double-clicking the Safari icon in your Applications folder

Single-clicking a URL link in an e-mail or other document

Double-clicking a URL link document in the Finder

When you first launch Safari, it automatically connects you to the Internet and displays the default Apple home page.

If a dialog box pops up asking whether you'd like to set Safari as your default browser, click Yes. If you later change your mind and would prefer a different browser to be your default, you can change it in the Internet System Preference pane.

Playing with buttons

The buttons along the top of the window from left to right — Back/Forward, Reload/Stop, and Add Bookmark — do pretty much what their names imply. Other available buttons include Home, AutoFill, Text Size, Print, and Bug (report a bug to Apple); you add or delete them using Customize Address Bar in Safari's View menu.

Below the Address field are some "bookmark" buttons that take you directly to pages that may interest you, such as the Apple Web site, the Apple .Mac Web site, Amazon.com, eBay, Yahoo, and others.

The News item in this row of buttons is a pop-up (actually a pop-down) menu. Clicking any of these buttons or choosing one of the items in the News (or a different) menu transports you to that page.

Trying out the Address field

To the right of the top row of buttons is the Address field. This is where you type Web addresses, or URLs (Uniform Resource Locators), that you want to visit. Just type one in and press Return to surf to that site.

Web addresses almost always begin with http://www. But Safari has a cool trick: If you just type a name, you usually get to the appropriate Web site that way — without typing http, //, or www. For example, if you type apple in the Address field and then press Return, you go to Apple's home page. Try it — it's pretty slick.

Navigating bookmarks

Choosing Bookmarks --> Show All Bookmarks, typing the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+B, or clicking the Show All Bookmarks button (shown in margin) brings up the Bookmarks window.

You can view the contents of any Collection (that is, a folder full of bookmarks) by clicking its name in the Collections pane. Here are the basics of navigating bookmarks:

Open bookmarked pages by double-clicking them.

Use the Bookmarks menu to add bookmarks or folders.

Move bookmarks by dragging them. You can place bookmarks and folders of bookmarks on the Safari Bookmarks Bar or Menu by dragging them to the appropriate folder. If you drag a folder of bookmarks to the Bookmarks Bar folder (or directly onto the Bookmarks Bar itself), the result is a drop-down menu.

To delete a bookmark, select it and then press Delete or Backspace.

Bookmarks are favorites, and favorites are bookmarks. Both words describe the same exact thing — shortcuts to Web sites. Safari calls them bookmarks. Some other browsers call them Favorites.

Your copy of Safari comes pre-loaded with bookmarks that take you to other nifty Mac sites to check out. You'll find links to Apple sites, hardware and software vendors, Mac publications, and more. Take a look at the list of great Web pages that your pals at Apple have put together. Be sure to explore all the included bookmarks when you have some time; most, if not all, are worth knowing more about.

Understanding RSS feeds

One of the bigger buzzes in Web browsing these days (other than blogs, a form of Web-published personal journal) is RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication (according to most people who know about it). You see synopses of what's available at the site providing the RSS feed — which gives you an adjustable-length overview with a link to the full story. When a Web page has an RSS feed (that's what the special RSS links are called) associated, you'll see a little RSS icon at the right end of the address bar. Click it and you'll see all the RSS synopses for the site.

If you like this RSS thing (and why wouldn't you?), Safari includes plenty of interesting feeds to choose from. Click the little book icon (below the Back arrow near the top of the window), and then click All RSS Feeds collection on the left. The list of available RSS feeds will appear on the right; double-click one or more items in the Bookmark list to see its feed.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-the-safari-web-browser-in-mac-os-x-tiger.html

Cisco Configuration Backups and Archiving

Current Cisco IOS versions allow you a few new commands to manage your configuration backups and archiving. Backup and archiving give you an easier recovery process for configuration errors. Remember, a good configuration management process (such as the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) configuration) helps, but backup and archiving are tools to help you as well.

If you have archived a configuration, you can replace the current running configuration with an archived copy manually or automatically. The manual process makes use of the configure replace command issued in Privileged EXEC mode. This command replaces the running configuration with the contents of the file. If you use the command copy <filename> running-config, you actually merge the two files.

To enable the archiving feature, which is strongly recommended by Cisco for all supported devices, you need only issue five easy commands. The following command set saves the archives to the specified path, automatically creates a new archive every 1,440 minutes (once a day), saves the last 14 files, and takes an extra archive when you issue the write memory command:

Router1#enable
Password:
Router1#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
Router1(config)#archive
Router1(config-archive)# path flash:archived-config
Router1(config-archive)# maximum 14
Router1(config-archive)# time-period 1440
Router1(config-archive)# write-memory
Router1(config-archive)#end

If you are low on space on your devices, you may want to reduce the number of archives you save on your device.

After the archiving system is configured, you can force an archive to be generated with archive config command and see the list of archives using the show archive command. Both of these commands are executed in Privileged EXEC mode. Here is what the commands looks like:

Router1#archive config
Router1#show archive
There are currently 5 archive configurations saved.
The next archive file will be named flash:archived-config-5
 Archive #  Name
   0
   1       flash:archived-config-1
   2       flash:archived-config-2
   3       flash:archived-config-3
   4       flash:archived-config-4 <- Most Recent
   5
   6
   7
   8
   9
   10
   11
   12
   13
   14

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/cisco-configuration-backups-and-archiving.html

How to Complete Schedule J for Estate Form 706

Use Schedule J: Funeral Expenses and Expenses Incurred in Administering Property Subject to Claims on tax Form 706, to itemize all funeral expenses and expenses incurred in administering property subject to claims, the property available to pay the decedent’s creditors. Include each separate expense on Schedule J, the name and address of the person/entity to which the expense is payable, and the nature of the expense.

Administrative expenses must be deductible under state law and considered “reasonable and necessary” by the IRS to be deductible on the 706. Deduction is limited to the amount allowable under local law. Additionally, it can’t exceed the combined value of property subject to claims in the gross estate and the amount of expenses paid out of property included in the gross estate but not subject to claims.

Expenses of property not subject to claims should be deducted on Schedule K, not Schedule J.

Deducting funeral expenses

Itemize all funeral expenses on line A, Schedule J. These expenses include all miscellaneous items billed by the funeral home; flowers; a newspaper funeral announcement; a tombstone, monument, mausoleum, or burial plot for the decedent and his or her family (including perpetual care costs); and travel expenses for one person to accompany the body to the place of burial if traveling a distance.

Unless the amount is paid to the surviving spouse, reduce the funeral expense deduction by any amounts you receive from the Social Security Administration or from the Veterans Administration. If your decedent was a veteran and the VA provides a burial marker, you don’t have that expense to deduct.

Deducting administration expenses

On line B of Schedule J, list the administration expenses for your executor commissions, attorney fees, and accountant fees, indicating whether they’re amounts estimated, agreed upon, or paid.

If you don’t have a probate estate, enter the amount of the trustees’ fees of the revocable living trust on line B1. If both executors’ and trustees’ fees are being charged, enter the trustees’ fees as a miscellaneous expense under item B4. If the decedent arranged to pay the executor through a bequest or devise, you can’t deduct the payment.

You may want to complete, sign, and date Form 4421, Declaration of Executor’s Commissions and Attorney’s Fees, reference it on line B1, and attach it to tax Form 706 as an exhibit. This expedites the audit process. Form 4421 contains a statement as to how much of the attorney fees and executor fees are being taken as a deduction on an income tax return.

Some other expenses that you may deduct on Schedule J, include:

Appraisers’ fees

Probate court filing fees

Certified copy charges

Guardian ad litem fees

Brokers’ and auctioneers’ fees (only if the sale was necessary to pay taxes, debts, or expenses of administration, or preserve the estate)

Maintenance expenses of estate property (including insurance)

Investment advisors’ fees

Other miscellaneous expenses related to the estate such as telephone bills, mileage, and postage

Even interest expenses you incur as executor after the decedent’s death are deductible if they’re reasonable, necessary to the administration of the estate, and deductible under local law. If you elect to pay the estate tax in installment under section 6166, you can’t deduct any interest expenses incurred on the installments on Form 706 but you can deduct them on Form 1041.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-complete-schedule-j-for-estate-form-706.html

Online Communities: A Place to Work

Researchers gather data by asking questions or viewing behaviors, so it’s natural that online communities often harbor researchers, most of whom let the community members know their intentions. Although researchers come to do a job, they also participate and enjoy the atmosphere of the communities.

In addition, online communities are welcome distractions for home-based workers and telecommuters. Many of them miss the camaraderie that an outside place of employment has to offer, so they go to their favorite online communities to enjoy conversation throughout the day.

These communities also work well for people who are passionate about or want to know more about their business. Accountants, marketing people, and even wait staff all have places to interact online. They like knowing that other people are experiencing the same things and that they’re not alone.

Additionally, Internet marketers and traditional salespeople are discovering that there’s money to be made online. If a company wants to promote a lemonade brand, for example, it may try to build a presence on Facebook — not because it expects folks to do nothing but discuss lemony beverages, but because a Facebook presence can draw people in to have a conversation.

Marketers don’t even need to create their own communities to drive sales, however. They’re happy enough to participate in existing groups and networks. This participation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The best online salespeople are low-key, productive pillars of the community. They drive sales because members trust them.

Bloggers and other online authors also like to use online communities for marketing or promotional purposes, but they have a different reason: They want to drive traffic to their websites and create awareness for their names, their blogs, and even their businesses.

Many highly trafficked blogs and websites earn the bulk of their income through advertising and product sales, so it’s essential for them to bring in new traffic each day.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/online-communities-a-place-to-work.navId-323004.html

Dealing with Anticipatory Grief and Caregiving

Anticipatory grief is the name given to the angst and sorrow that accompanies the knowledge that your loved one almost certainly is going to die from whatever disease or debilitating condition he's suffering. The watchword of anticipatory grief is angst: You fear the loss that you know is coming more than you actually grieve it.

Anticipatory grief often is accompanied by outbursts of sorrow and rage followed by bouts of depression. Because this type of grief is intertwined with fear, you find it particularly draining, especially when you're dealing with the other stresses associated with being a caregiver for your dying loved one.

Many people mistakenly believe that, in suffering anticipatory grief, they lessen the grief that they'll experience when death finally comes. Unfortunately, this is not so. Don't expect the grief that you feel and the grieving process that you have to undergo when your loved one finally passes away to be any less even if you've suffered a ton of anticipatory grief.

Some grief professionals debate whether or not anticipatory grief can be separated from the other stresses you undergo as a caregiver. It's well documented that being a caregiver for a loved one who's dying is extremely stressful for any number of the following reasons:

Burnout from trying to do all the caregiving on your own without the help of others or from having to be the caregiver for more than one loved one (as in trying to care for both your aged or ailing parents at the same time).

Feelings of extreme isolation when the caregiving seems to take over every aspect of your life.

Resentment toward the loved one for needing the care, frustration with the medical or insurance bureaucracy, and/or anger toward other family members for not helping with caregiving.

Guilt that you aren't able provide to better care for your loved one, for finally having to put him in a nursing home, and/or for not being able to save his life.

Difficulty watching the health and vitality of someone you love decline.

Helplessness in the face of the anticipated loss and the overwhelming and growing demands of being the caregiver for an increasingly incapacitated loved one.

Don't ignore the feelings of angst and stress associated with anticipatory grief and with caregiving for a loved one. Instead, find ways to express and validate your feelings. Seek the help of family or grief counselors, social workers, or psychologists in order to keep yourself going. If you're a primary caregiver, you also may need to get some help with the caregiving from other family members, community services, or a hospice team. Although you may feel as though you have to "keep it together" in order to be an effective caregiver, you may actually be less effective if you don't deal with the psychological tolls from the stresses related to caregiving.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/dealing-with-anticipatory-grief-and-caregiving.html

How to Gauge Stock Volatility Using Average True Range

Most day traders prefer volatile securities, because that creates more opportunities to make a profit in a short time. The volatility of a stock, bond, or commodity is a measure of how much that security tends to go up or down in a given time period. The more volatile the security, the more the price fluctuates.

But volatility can make gauging market sentiment tougher. If a security is volatile, the mood can change quickly. What looked like a profit opportunity at the market open may be gone by lunchtime — and back again before the close.

The average true range is a measure of volatility that’s commonly used in commodity markets, but some stock traders use it, too. It’s a measure of how much volatility occurred each day. When averaged over time, this measure shows how much volatility takes place during the period in question. The higher the average true range is, the more volatile a security is.

Many quotation systems calculate the average true range automatically, but if you want to do it yourself, start with finding each day’s true range, which is the greatest of

The current high less the current low

The absolute value of the current high less the previous close

The absolute value of the current low less the previous close

Calculate those three numbers and then average the highest of them with the true range for the past 14 days.

Each day’s true range number shows you just how much the security swung between the high and the low or how much the high or the low that day varied from the previous day’s close.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-gauge-stock-volatility-using-average-true-r.html

Networking All-In-One For Dummies

Managing a small computer network is well within your reach. But it’s vital that you keep track of key information that’s unique to your network and have quick access to your network information. You'll also want to understand some basic networking concepts such as pin connections and IP address ranges, and have a list of useful Web sites for networking information. Lastly, you can review a few basic network concepts.

Identifying and Recording Key Network Information

Use these tables to keep track of the key information that allows you to access your network, contact your network administrator, access network storage, use network printers, and keep track of important network servers.

Account Information
My user ID	____________________________________
My password	DON’T WRITE IT HERE!
Domain name	____________________________________
My e-mail address	____________________________________________

My Network Administrator
Name	____________________________________
Phone number	____________________________________
E-mail name	____________________________________
Favorite snack food	____________________________________

My Network Drives
Drive Letter	Description
_____	__________________________________________________________________
_____	__________________________________________________________________
_____	__________________________________________________________________
_____	__________________________________________________________________
_____	__________________________________________________________________

My Network Printers
Printer Name	IP Address	Description
_________	________	__________________________________________________
_________	________	__________________________________________________
_________	________	__________________________________________________
_________	________	__________________________________________________
_________	________	__________________________________________________
___________	__________	__________________________________________________

My Network Servers
Server Name	IP Address	Description
____________	________	_______________________________________________
____________	________	_______________________________________________
____________	________	_______________________________________________
_______________	__________	_______________________________________________

Identifying and Recording Key Internet Connection Information

Use these spaces to keep track of key information about your Internet connection, including your Internet service provider, your TCP/IP configuration, and information about your router.

Provider
Company name	____________________________________
Technical-support contact	____________________________________
Technical-support phone number	____________________________________
Web site	____________________________________
E-mail address	________________________________________

TCP/IP Information
IP range	________________ to ________________
Subnet mask	____________________________________
Default gateway	____________________________________
Nameservers	____________ — ____________ — ____________

Router Information
Make and model	____________________________________
Internal IP address (LAN)	____________________________________
External IP address (WAN)	____________________________________
Administrator username	____________________________________
Password	DON’T WRITE IT HERE!

Knowing the RJ-45 Pin Connections

If you’re wiring up your own RJ-45 connectors for a TCP/IP network, you need this information to make sure you connect the pins correctly. Setting up a small network is easy once you understand the steps.

Pin 1: White/orange

Pin 2: Orange

Pin 3: White/green

Pin 6: Green

Identifying Private IP Address Ranges

Private IP address blocks are the IP addresses most often used for private networks or home networks. Most networks use addresses in one of these ranges:

10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255

172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255

192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

Visiting Useful Web Sites for Networking Information

As a network administrator, the Internet is your best friend. To find information about networking and network administration, here are some Web sites for you to visit often.

To register domains:

InterNIC: www.internic.net

Network Solutions: www.networksolutions.com

register.com: www.register.com

To check your TCP/IP configuration:

DNSstuff: www.dnsstuff.com

To see whether your e-mail server has been blacklisted:

DNSBL.info: www.dnsbl.info

Don’t forget to check out the standards organizations from time to time and look for the latest networking news and updates. Here are the standards organizations you’ll want to check:

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: www.ieee.org

International Organization for Standardization: www.iso.org

Internet Engineering Task Force: www.ietf.org

Internet Society: www.isoc.org

>
dummies

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

Zoom Functions on the TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator

Z is for zoom, on a TI-83 Plus graphing calculator. In addition to helping you design a graph, your TI-83 Plus calculator can zoom into a section and redraw a graph to meet different criteria. Discover how to use the Z functions of the TI-83 Plus:

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/zoom-functions-on-the-ti83-plus-graphing-calculato.html

Make the Entire Header a Link

With HTML5 and CSS 3, you can use any font you want in your web pages, and you can even create design features like drop shadows without having to use graphics.

In the old days of web design, the banner at the top of most web pages was created with a big, long graphic. Designers resorted to using a graphic because it was the only way to use any font they wanted, and most designers included things like logos in the banner.

Using HTML5 is great for creating faster-loading pages that are more accessible and easier for search engines to read, but it does cause a common problem. How do you link the entire banner area of your page if it’s not a graphic?

Some designers like to link the banner of their sites back to the site’s home page to help visitors find their way home easily. This link is especially useful on the smaller screens of an iPhone. A quick solution to making your entire banner a link is wrapping an anchor tag around text, images, or any block-level element.

Block-level elements, such as a paragraph tag, <div> tag, or a heading tag, begin a new line in the document by default. In contrast, inline elements, such as the <strong> tag, don’t cause a line break.

Here’s how the code looks that turns a banner, created with the <h1> tag, into a link:

<header>
   <a href="index.html">
      <h1><a href="index.html">Jelly Rancher</a></h1>
      <h2>Specializing in Jellyfish Aquariums</h2>
   </a>
</header>

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/make-the-entire-header-a-link.html

The Fundamentals of Wrestling

Your success in wrestling is a direct result of your expertise in the fundamentals. After you master the following basic aspects of the sport, you can build on them to expand your wrestling repertoire:

Stance: Your body position and posture on the mat; can be parallel or staggered

Penetration step: The first offensive movement that puts you in a position to score

Level change: The act of raising and lowering your hips to set up or execute an attack or to counter the moves of your opponent

Neutral position: The starting position in which you stand face to face and with your shoulders square to your opponent in the wrestling area

Referee’s position: The starting position in which one wrestler is in the top position and the other is on the bottom

Takedown: A move during which you take your opponent down to the mat and gain control from the neutral position

Reversal: A move during which you quickly turn the tables and go from being in a position of defense to being in a position of control as the offensive wrestler

Escape: A move you use from the bottom of the referee’s position to escape, or get away from your opponent

Breakdown: A move you use when you’re in the top of the referee’s position to try to get your opponent off balance and down to the mat

Finish: The act of pinning your opponent with special techniques that lead to a fall, meaning that the back of your opponent’s shoulders are on the mat for at least two seconds

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-fundamentals-of-wrestling.html

The Difference between Speculating and Hedging when Day Trading

Professional traders fall into two categories: speculators and hedgers. Day traders are speculators, but it is important to understand the difference.

Speculators look to make a profit from price changes. Hedgers look to protect against a price change; they make their buy and sell choices as insurance, not as a way to make a profit, so they choose positions that offset their exposure in another market.

As examples of hedging, consider a food-processing company and the farmer who raises or grows the ingredients the company needs. The company may look to hedge against the risks of price increases of key ingredients — like corn, cooking oil, or meat — by buying futures contracts on those ingredients.

That way, if prices do go up, the company’s profits on the contracts help fund the higher prices it has to pay to make its products. If the prices stay the same or go down, the company loses only the price of the contract, which may be a fair tradeoff to the company.

The farmer raising corn, soybeans, or cattle, on the other hand, benefits if prices go up and suffers if they go down. To protect against a price decline, the farmer would sell futures on those commodities. His futures position would make money if the price went down, offsetting the decline on his products. And if the prices went up, he’d lose money on the contracts, but that would be offset by his gain on his harvest.

The commodity markets were intended to help agricultural producers manage risk and find buyers for their products. The stock and bond markets were intended to create an incentive for investors to finance companies. Speculation emerged in all of these markets almost immediately, but it was not their primary purpose.

Day traders are all speculators. They look to make money from the market as they see it now. They manage their risks by carefully allocating their money, using stop and limit orders (which close out positions as soon as predetermined price levels are reached), and closing out at the end of the night.

Day traders don’t manage risk with offsetting positions the way a hedger does. They use other techniques to limit losses, like careful money management and stop and limit orders.

Markets have both hedgers and speculators in them. Knowing that different participants have different profit and loss expectations can help you navigate the turmoil of each day’s trading. And that’s important, because to make money in a zero-sum market, you only make money if someone else loses.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-difference-between-speculating-and-hedging-whe.html

How to Deal with Foreign Currencies in QuickBooks 2011

QuickBooks 2011 supports multiple foreign currencies, in case your business goes international. If you turn on the Multiple Currency feature within QuickBooks, QuickBooks sprinkles little "currency" reminders throughout its windows and dialog boxes. For example, amount boxes show a little abbreviation for the currency that goes into a particular input box — thereby reminding that in this particular text box, you're supposed to enter, for example, British pounds.

Here's how you use Multiple Currencies in Quickbooks 2011:

Choose Edit→Preferences and select the Multiple Currencies option from the list box.

Click the Company Preferences tab.

Select the Yes I Use More Than One Currency button and choose your home currency from the drop-down list box.

After you tell QuickBooks you'll be working with multiple currencies, you need to set up a bank account for each extra currency. After that, you can indicate which currency a vendor or customer uses when you set up a new vendor or customer. You can also pick a default currency for vendors or customers you haven't yet done business with.

Using the currency exchange information available on the Currency List (available when you choose Lists→Currency List), QuickBooks converts foreign currency amounts to home currency amounts so you can prepare reports that use your home currency.

QuickBooks updates its records concerning foreign exchange rates if you display the Currency List window, click the Activities button, and choose Download Latest Exchange Rates.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-deal-with-foreign-currencies-in-quickbooks-.html

How to Remove Windows Programs in Windows XP

Windows is technically an operating system. Despite that, it comes with lots of software, including utilities, simple applications such as Write and Paint, and games. If you don’t use these Windows programs and need to free up some space on your hard drive, you may want to uninstall them.

Obey these directions:

Open the Add or Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel.

Click the icon on the left titled Add/Remove Windows Components.

The Windows Components Wizard window appears.

To uninstall a component, remove the check mark by that component.

Keep an eye out for that Details button. When it’s highlighted, click it and you can see various sub-items. For example, choose the Accessories and Utilities item and then click the Details button. Choose Games and then click Details. Only at the lowest level can you remove individual programs (such as Minesweeper) and Windows components.

Click the Next button to proceed with removing the component.

Click the Finish button when you’re done.

Close the Control Panel window.

You’re warned whenever Windows cannot fully remove a component. There’s nothing more you can do in that situation; Windows tries its best to remove the component, but portions may still remain.

Don’t disable a Windows feature if you’re unfamiliar with it. For example, you may think, “.NET? What’s that? I don’t need it!” But you do. Otherwise, you may find parts of Windows not working properly and end up having to reinstall the feature.

Don’t remove the Notepad text editor. All operating systems need a basic text editor.

Notice that some programs are missing from the list. Microsoft hides a few of its installed programs from you, preventing them from showing up on the list. If you don’t mind getting a little technical and working from the command prompt, you can use these directions to add Windows XP WordPad to the Remove Programs window:

Start a command prompt window: Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories→Command Prompt.

Type cd \Windows\Inf and press Enter.

Type notepad sysoc.inf and press Enter.

The Notepad window opens with the SYSOC.INF document present.

Locate the line that begins with MSWordPad=.

Near the end of that line, delete the word EDIT. Keep the commas before and after it. The line looks like this:
```
MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,ocEntry,wordpad.inf,,7
```

Choose File→Save.

Close Notepad.

Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.

You now find WordPad listed in the Windows components you can remove.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-remove-windows-programs-in-windows-xp.html

Fantasy Football For Dummies

Fantasy football is a fun, competitive, and addictive hobby. Get your fantasy season started by drafting players to build a solid team and using coaching tips to keep your team going strong. If you need to improve on a position, try some strategies for trading players and acquiring free agents. Keep a guide handy of important league dates so you don’t miss anything exciting or an opportunity to improve your fantasy football team.

Important Fantasy Football Draft Reminders

The success of your fantasy football team hinges on your draft picks. Use the following draft strategies to minimize risk, maximize gain, and make the tough decisions when it comes to fantasy football draft day:

Skill + Opportunity = Success. Always remember this fantasy formula when drafting players.

Draft RBs early and often. Your exact strategy will vary based on your draft position, but taking two RBs in the first three rounds is the best approach.

Look to acquire an elite WR in the first three rounds. Depending on your league, you should be able to grab a reliable top-five WR to anchor your receiving core for the entire season.

Don’t take a kicker or defense too early. You can find plenty of depth at these positions at the end of the draft.

Take quarterbacks in the middle rounds. Good, productive quarterbacks aren’t hard to find in the middle rounds. The top-ten QBs will be drafted before the tenth round, though.

Don’t draft studs with the same NFL bye week. Most fantasy teams can’t avoid having some players on the same bye week, but having your best players on the same bye can cost you a win.

Stick to your draft plan. Trust your cheat sheets (player rankings). You worked hard to prepare them, and you don’t want to let the other coaches sway you into making a mistake.

Grab potential breakouts and sleepers late. You can pick up an average injury replacement during the season. In the later rounds, drafting players who may become studs could win you the league.

Fantasy Football Coaching Tips

After you’ve built your fantasy football team through the draft, your job truly begins. Coaching your team means compiling a complete lineup each and every week and deciding which players to pick up and which to release and/or trade. Your weekly coaching decisions will make or break your fantasy season, so make smart decisions by using some helpful coaching tips:

Don’t panic. The fantasy season is long; think before you trade your studs or dump your sleeper picks.

Check your players’ bye weeks. You don’t want to get stuck having multiple stars out of action at the same time.

Replace injured players. Check all available player updates to make sure your starting lineup is active.

Assess your team’s strengths and weaknesses. Be aware of your team needs when acquiring players and considering trade offers. What positions are solid, and what positions do you need to improve?

Check the free agent pool and waiver wire often. You never know when an owner will drop a player who can help your squad.

Look to exploit favorable matchups and avoid bad ones. Every week, your players’ performances will be affected by the quality of their opposition, especially at TE, K, and DEF.

Fantasy Football Trading Tactics

During the fantasy football season, you’ll want to trade players to upgrade some weaknesses in certain positions on your team roster. When trading, you target a player and then decide what you’re willing to give up to get him. Use these fantasy football trading strategies to put together a successful deal:

Buy low, sell high (and vice versa). Trading is all about making your team better without making it worse (in other words, improving one area without hurting another). In order to do this, look to trade for struggling studs who you think will rebound. Trade away your average players who have great stats so far due to soft schedules or injuries.

Trade from strength. If you have solid depth at a certain position, you can trade your depth to improve a weaker position on your team. Having a strong bench is a nice luxury, but only your starting lineup can win you games.

Make two-for-one offers. Look to upgrade a position by trading two decent players for one true stud. If you can identify a trading partner who has depth issues or a losing record, you can make the deal work.

Know the NFL schedule. Most fantasy coaches are so focused on the next game that they don’t plan ahead to avoid bye-week conflicts and poor matchups. By knowing the schedule and the upcoming matchups, you can make trades to avoid problems that could harm your team’s chances, and you can pinpoint teams that are headed for trouble (prime trading candidates if you remind them about their situations).

Be proactive, open-minded, and diplomatic. A big key to successful trading is your attitude. The other owners don’t want to be shown up or make trades with a jerk. Look to make offers that help both teams, and consider all offers you receive, no matter how wacky they may sound!

Acquiring Free Agents in Fantasy Football

During the fantasy football season, players who don’t get drafted become free agents — players available to any league team willing to drop an owned player. Use the free agent pool to replace an injured player or someone who’s just not living up to your expectations. Use these tips for finding a free agent to boost your fantasy football team:

Check player updates during the NFL games. The early bird gets the breakout player, so to speak, so watch for emerging players on Sundays and be ready to go online and make your move.

Beware of one-week wonders. Each week, many lesser-known players have big games, but you must decide the odds of those performances happening again. Surf the Web for information on each player before signing him, and decide for yourself.

Monitor intriguing players. Before each NFL game, review the free agent pool and choose a few players who you think could start to break out. If the players step up and you liked them already, look to add them to your roster. Many league providers have a “player watch” tool for this purpose.

Analyze recent trends and stats. During the season, sort the most-recent player stats from the last month or last week. In November, you need hot players, not guys who had big games in September and have since gone cold.

Your Fantasy Football League Calendar

To stay on top of your fantasy football league, keep a calendar of important league dates. Start your season by recording the following information and keeping it next to your computer, or wherever you do your high-powered fantasy football decision-making:

League Name:

Draft Day:

Draft Time:

League Provider:

Weekly Waiver Deadline:

Trade Deadline:

Regular Season Ends:

Playoff Weeks:

Playoff Slots:

Fantasy Championship:

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

When an Exchange-Traded Fund Closes Down

New exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are being born every week, but at the same time, others are dying. About 150 ETFs in the past several years have been zipped up, closed down, folded, and sent to that Great Brokerage in the Sky. No need to shed tears for the investors; they are okay.

If you are holding shares in a particular ETF that closes down, you will generally be given at least several weeks notice. You can sell, or you can wait till the final day and receive whatever is the value of the securities held by the ETF at that point.

It isn’t like holding a bond (or an exchange-traded note) that goes belly up. You may have a bit of a hassle redoing your portfolio, and you may face sudden tax consequences. If the ETF tracks a very small segment of the market, there may be a bit of investor panic that could depress prices. But you aren’t going broke.

Most of the ETFs that have gone under are exactly the kinds of ETFs that you probably want to avoid anyway: They tracked narrow segments of the market (companies based in Oklahoma, for example); or they tracked somewhat silly and complex indexes (dividend rotation); or they were highly leveraged, exposing investors to excessive risk; or they were overpriced; or all of the above! The public simply would not buy.

Here is just a small sampling from the ETF graveyard:

Bear Stearns Current Yield Fund (YYY)

Claymore/Beacon Global Exchanges, Brokers & Asset Managers ETF (EXB)

Claymore/Robb Report Global Luxury Index ETF (ROB)

Claymore/Zacks Country Rotation ETF (CRO)

Claymore/Zacks Dividend Rotation ETF (IRO)

Direxion Daily 2-Year Treasury Bull 3x ETF (TWOL)

Geary Oklahoma ETF (OOK)

Geary Texas Large Companies ETF (TXF)

JETS DJ Islamic Market International ETF (JVS)

Guggenheim Inverse 2x Select Sector Energy ETF (REC)

WisdomTree Earnings Top 100 Fund (EEZ)

According to ETF Deathwatch, a blog that tracks potentially closing ETFs, any ETF that is at least six months old that has an “Average Daily Value Traded” of less than $100,000 for three consecutive months — or that has assets under management of less than $5 million for three consecutive months — is probably not an ETF you should get overly attached to.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/when-an-exchangetraded-fund-closes-down.html

How to Work with Electricity Safely

If you don’t know how to work with electricity safely, you can injure or kill yourself. Following basic electrical safety tips is crucial — after all, you never know who worked on the wiring before you.

Electrical shocks can kill, so don’t do repairs when you’re tired, distracted, or rushed.

Follow a routine and double-check yourself each step of the way.

Remember that just because hot wires are supposed to be colored and the neutral wire white, people don't always follow the rules, especially if they don’t know what they’re doing.

Double-check to make sure that the appliance is unplugged before you start to work on it.

Turn off the circuit breaker or unplug the fuse that feeds electricity to the outlet or switch you want to work on. If in doubt, turn off all power to the house.

Read instructions several times until the sequence is fixed in your mind.

Examine cords and wires carefully so that you know which part is hot and which is neutral. Colored wires are supposed to be hot and white is neutral.

Know your plugs. The narrow prong always carries electricity; the wide prong is neutral.

Never work in or near water with power equipment.

Don’t open the service panel while standing in water.

Clearly label wires and bend them, in different directions so that no part of your hot wires accidentally touch each other.

Check that the power is still off before you twist or splice wires together. Match color to color; don’t cross them.

Always review each step to make sure you did it right, especially before turning the power back on.

For more information on electrical safety, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

If your easy fix doesn’t work and you’re reluctant to go further, or if you’re really leery about handling a hot wire, call a licensed professional.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-with-electricity-safely.html

Tuning into Health Issues before Toning Up

When starting a fitness program, it's important to take stock of your general wellness. Addressing medical, health, and safety concerns ensures that you end up doing the appropriate program at the level of difficulty that is best for you. The following is established wisdom.

Checking in with your doctor

It's always a good idea to see your physician before starting any exercise program, and getting one before starting your ten-minute tone-ups makes sense for your safety and general health. Besides, getting an annual physical should be part of your preventive medicine plan. The doctor can determine if you are at risk for cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal problems, or if you have other health issues. He or she can sort through possible symptoms of heart problems, orthopedic aches, pregnancy, and so forth. All of this information helps you to take responsibility of your own body so that you can accommodate any medical limitations.

When consulting with your physician, take along a copy of your ten-minute tone-ups plan. She can use it to advise you of what is appropriate or not for you, should you have any limitations. Your doctor will probably offer encouragement to you on your fitness journey.

Knowing your medical limitations

For safety reasons, always be aware of your medical limitations. It's important to respect any current injuries or health problems. For example, let's say your goal is to sculpt your shoulders and arms for an upcoming pool party. Under normal circumstances that would be a reasonable goal. However, if you recently injured your shoulder swinging a bat at a weekend warrior baseball game, this could be cause for medical concern. Trying to sculpt your arms after such an injury may not be appropriate because shoulder movement would be involved. You'd be better off seeing a physician. Depending on the extent of the injury, you might be able to adapt your goals to include a cardio workout and lower-body and core tone-ups rather than arm and shoulder exercises. Respect any injury or medical problem you have. Nobody knows your body like you do.

Preventing back problems

Primary care physicians see people with back problems back to back. Lower-back problems are the second-leading cause for doctor's office visits after colds. Approximately 80 percent of adults end up with lower-back pain. That figure is astounding when you consider that many of those problems can be prevented.

Most back problems are caused by weak muscles surrounding the spine. With weak postural muscles, any chance for correct body mechanics goes kaput. And it certainly doesn't help if you slouch all the time. Following are some great suggestions for preventing back problems:

Strengthening your core: Strengthening your core muscles (lower back and abs) creates stability for your back and entire body.

Do resistance training: Doing weight training, such as that provided in ten-minute tone-ups, helps maintain bone density.

Maintain appropriate weight: It's common for overweight people to develop back problems. Try to maintain an appropriate weight.

Do stretching moves: Stretching can help prevent back problems. Muscles to stretch include hamstrings, hip flexors, back, abs, and chest. Bet you didn't realize so many muscles affected your back!

Posture pointers

Proper posture can make all the difference in the world to your total look and health. Unfortunately, it's way too easy to cave into an unflattering "poor posture slump." You know — the one that occurs when you sit in front of the TV, drive, or even stand. The shoulders droop, and your spine collapses into a rounded bend. Poor posture can also ruin the results of your ten-minute tone-ups by working the wrong muscles or, worse yet, causing injury.

Posture is how all your body parts work together, whether you are sitting, standing, exercising, or doing anything else. To achieve good posture, your feet should be planted on the floor parallel to each other. Put your chest out and bring your shoulders slightly back but relaxed. Hold your abs in tight and keep your butt tucked under. Here are some helpful posture pointers:

Elongate the spine: Pretend you are a marionette and a tight rope is pulling at you from above and below.

Keep your chin parallel to the floor: This can help make the look of a double chin disappear.

Distribute your weight evenly: Pointing your toes forward rather than outward helps maintain stability.

Hold your head up: Holding your head up as if to lengthen your neck can make your neck appear longer, and you look taller.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tuning-into-health-issues-before-toning-up.html

Open House Checklist

Sometimes, part of the plan of staging your house is to make it look its best for an open house. An open house is always nerve-racking, so before any potential buyer steps foot in your house, make sure you do all the things in the following list so that your house looks its sellable best:

If the views are good open all drapes and blinds.	Shake out the front welcome mat and sweep away any dust, debris, spider webs.
Turn on all lamps; agents will turn on the overhead lights.	Add fresh flowers to any room in the house and fruit to your kitchen.
Make all the beds.	Wipe the sinks after doing dishes or washing your hands.
Empty all the garbage and waste paper baskets.	Clean the stove top and counters.
If you have a good sound system, play music	Sweep the floors.
Pick up and put away things that should be out of sight.	Mop the floor if you haven’t done so in the past two days.
Remove pets

Bathrooms are a world unto themselves. Make sure each bathroom gets all the attentions in the following list:

Clean toilet seat, rim, and lid. Leave toilet lid down.

Swoosh toilet bowl with brush.

Wipe off mirrors and faucets.

Squeegee shower doors.

Spray entire shower and curtain liner with shower cleaner after every use.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/open-house-checklist0.html

Successful Day Traders Set Targets and Limits

Good day traders set limits. They often place stop and limit orders to automatically close out their market positions when they reach a certain price level. They have profit targets in mind and know how much they are willing to risk in the pursuit of those gains.

With a stop order, the broker buys or sells the security as soon as a pre-determined price is met, even if the price quickly moves back to where it was before the order took effect.

A limit order is only executed if the security hits the predetermined level, and it stays in effect only if the price is at that level or lower (for a buy limit order) or at that level or higher (for a sell limit order).

Day traders close out their positions at the end of each day, so they rarely review their limits. A swing trader or an investor, on the other hand, who holds for a longer period of time, needs to review those limits frequently.

How much should a position move each month, quarter, or year before it’s time to cover losses or cash out with a profit? How has the security changed over time, and do the limits need to change with it?

When the position is working, an investor thinks of letting it ride forever. But, alas, few investments work that long into the future, so the investor also needs to think in term of relative performance. Has the time come to sell and put the money into something else with greater potential?

When managing money, day traders usually think about maximizing return while minimizing the risk of ruin. For an investor, the goal is maximizing return relative to a list of long-term objectives, including a target for risk.

But because long-term objectives change, the portfolio has to as well. That means that a position that has been working out fine may have to be changed in order to meet the new portfolio goals. Like successful day traders, successful investors have a plan for how they will allocate their money among different investments, and they adjust it as necessary.

Although investing is a long-term proposition and lacks the frenzy of trading, it is still an active endeavor. Instead of putting energy into buying and selling, the investor puts it into monitoring.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/successful-day-traders-set-targets-and-limits.html

Exchange-Traded Funds: The New Kid on the Block

In a world of very pricey investment products and very well paid investment-product salespeople of Wall Street, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are the ultimate financial killjoys.

Since their arrival on the investment scene in the early 1990s, more than 1,300 ETFs have been created, and ETF assets have grown faster than those of any other investment product. That’s a good thing. ETFs enable the average investor to avoid shelling out fat commissions or paying layers of ongoing, unnecessary fees. And they’ve saved investors oodles and oodles in taxes.

The start of exchange-traded funds

The first ETF was introduced in Canada, a creation of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The story of the development of ETFs isn’t quite as exciting as, say, the story behind penicillin or the atomic bomb. As one Toronto Stock Exchange insider once explained, “We saw it as a way of making money by generating more trading.” Thus was born the original ETF known as TIP, which stood for Toronto Index Participation Unit.

The TIP tracked an index of large Canadian companies (Bell Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, Nortel, and 32 others) known as the Toronto 35. That index was then the closest thing that Canada had to the Dow Jones Industrial Average index that exists in the United States.

Enter the traders

TIP was an instant success with large institutional stock traders, who saw that they could now trade an entire index in a flash. The Toronto Stock Exchange got what it wanted — more trading. And the world of ETFs got its start.

The move south of the border

The first ETF didn’t come to the United States for three or so years after its Canadian birth. On January 22, 1993, the Mother of All U.S. ETFs was born on the American Stock Exchange (which, in January 2009 — a big year for mergers and acquisitions — became part of NYSE Euronext).

The first U.S.-based ETF was called the S&P Depositary Receipts Trust Series 1, commonly known as the SPDR (or Spider) S&P 500, and it traded (and still does) under the ticker symbol SPY.

The SPDR S&P 500, which tracks the S&P 500 index, an index of the 500 largest U.S. companies, was an instant darling of institutional traders. It has since branched out to become a major holding in the portfolios of many individual and institutional investors — and a favorite of favorites among day-traders.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/exchangetraded-funds-the-new-kid-on-the-block.html

Moving, Resizing, and Deleting Objects in InDesign CS2

When working with InDesign CS2, the most common tasks you'll do with objects is rearranging them — both moving them and changing their dimensions, plus deleting the ones you don't want or no longer need. In any case, you must first select the object with the Selection tool.

Moving objects

The easiest way to move an object is by using the mouse. With the Selection tool, click an object and drag it to a new location. When you release the mouse, the object will be deposited in the new location.

If you want to more precisely move an object, you can enter specific X: and Y: coordinates in the Control palette or Transform pane.

Be sure to select the correct control point when entering coordinates. The little squares at the top left of the Control palette and Transform pane represent the object's control points (corners, side midpoints, and center). Click a control point to make it active (it will turn black); all coordinates are now based on this point.

Resizing objects

You resize objects in pretty much the same way you move them: by using the mouse for inexact sizes or the Control palette or Transform pane for precise sizes.

To resize an object with the mouse, click and drag one of the frame's handles. (Hold the Shift key as you drag to maintain the proportions of the frame.) Drag a corner handle to resize both the width and height or a side handle to resize just the height or width.

You can also enter new value in the W: and H: fields (for width and height) of the Control palette or Transform pane. Remember those control points for positioning an object (see the section named "Moving objects")? They come into play for resizing objects as well. Basically, the object will grow or shrink starting from the selected control point. So if the upper-left control point is selected and you enter greater W: and H: values, the object will add the extra width to the right and the extra height below. But if you choose the center control point, it will grow on both sides as well as on the top and bottom, spreading the extra size evenly.

Another way to resize a graphic is to enter percentage values in the Scale X Percentage and Scale Y Percentage fields of the Control palette or Transform pane. This is a handy technique for empty frames and shapes, but there are some issues that affect graphics and text that you need to understand fully. (In a nutshell, these Scale fields usually resize the contents of the frame, not just the frame itself.)

Deleting objects

Alas, not all the objects you create will survive all the way to the final version of your publication. Some will wind up on the cutting room floor. You can always move an object to the pasteboard if you're not sure whether you want to get rid of it altogether (objects on the pasteboard don't print). But when it's time to ax an object, oblivion is just a keystroke or two away.

If you delete a text or graphics frame, the contents are removed as well as the frame.

Here's how to delete objects: Using either selection tool, select the object or objects you want to delete and then press the Delete key or Backspace key. You can also delete a selected item by choosing Edit --> Clear.

Choosing Edit --> Cut or pressing Command+X or Ctrl+X also removes a selected object. However, in this case a copy of the object is saved to the Clipboard and can be pasted elsewhere (by choosing Edit --> Paste or by pressing Command+V or Ctrl+V) until you cut or copy something else or you shut down your computer.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/moving-resizing-and-deleting-objects-in-indesign-c.html

Creating a Morning Stretch Routine

A morning stretch routine helps you stay flexible and gets your muscles ready for exercise, including running, yoga, and Pilates. This routine contains stretches for your arms, legs, and back. Do these exercises upon waking up to prevent injuries.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/creating-a-morning-stretch-routine.html

How to Get an M&A Deal Back on Track

Here’s a key point for anyone who wants to get into M&A deal-making: The process isn’t linear. Expect the unexpected. The plan is important, even imperative, but you can’t become a slave to it. As long as you always keep the end goal of closing a deal in your sights, you can successfully navigate the winding M&A road.

A negotiation has a rhythm, a regular flow of information, phone calls, and e-mails where messages are returned in a timely fashion. If this rhythm is broken (extended periods of time elapse with no communication from the other side or communication is stilted, clipped, and forced), you may have a negotiating partner who is getting cold feet and a deal that’s going sideways (off the rails).

“An extended period of time” is subjective; how much is too much depends on the situation. When you’re not sure, trust your gut instinct.

If you find yourself in a situation where your negotiating partner has gone silent, you have a couple options to try to get the discussions back on track.

First, you need to break the buzz — do something different from the usual deal-centric message. Constant professional communication can be stupefying. You need to do something to snap the other person out of the haze of kindly professional correspondence, which is so easy to ignore.

Send an e-mail with a link to a relevant article or op-ed column. Offer to play golf or tennis or meet for a drink, invite the other guy to a professional event, or anything other than the usual “Please call me; we need to discuss something.”

Keep your message succinct. Avoid leaving long voice mails. If someone isn’t responding to your correspondence, that person probably isn’t going to listen to a two-minute message. If all else fails, offer a mea culpa. Simply ask whether you’ve done anything wrong. Ask the person to contact you, even if they have bad news.

Bad news is better than no news. At least with bad news, you have a chance at crafting a solution, or if that fails, of moving on to the next prospect.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-get-an-ma-deal-back-on-track.html