Pricing Your Home Properly

List your home at a price that is likely to target the right buyers. Too high and you’re narrowing your potential buyer pool, too low and you’re only going to get the opportunistic bargain hunters.

Don’t rely on agents to give you a realistic price expectation. They invariably over-quote to get your property on their books. When you don’t get offers at that price they’re likely to blame the market rather than their unrealistic price expectations.

Get an independent valuer to give you a valuation based on her knowledge of the local property market and her appraisal of your individual property. Between this figure and the agent’s over-optimistic price expectation, you can get a better idea of how to price your property.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/pricing-your-home-properly.html

HTML5 and Local Storage

The local storage mechanism is a nice replacement for cookies, and with HTML5, you can write up to 5MB of data to a special file on the client. This file is not executable and cannot hold binary data (only strings), so it's reasonably safe.

All the pages that come from your domain share the same storage area, so you can use this mechanism to keep data persistent between multiple pages. The data also stays on the client machine (until you remove it), so it can be used to keep track of information over time.

The localStorage attribute is an example of a very simple (but powerful) type of data structure called a dictionary. You've already used dictionaries many times as a Web developer. Each piece of data is stored in a key/value pair. The key identifies the name of the information (say 'firstName'), and the value is the value associated with that key ('Herbert').

HTML attributes are dictionaries (in <a href = "http://www.google.com">, href is the key, and http://www.google.com is the value). CSS rules are also dictionaries. (In the style rule color: red;, color is the key, and red is the value.) Some programming languages use different names for dictionaries, including associative arrays and hash tables.

Access to the local storage is through a special built-in object called localStorage(). This class has a relatively small number of methods, but they are extremely powerful and easy to use:

• localStorage.setItem(key, value): Stores a value associated with a key. Essentially, key is like a variable name, and value is the value associated with that key. You can store any type of value you want, but it will be stored as string data.

  
  



• localStorage.getItem(key): Retrieves the value associated with the key. Again, you can think of the key as a variable name. Note that this method always returns a string value, so you might need to convert the data to another type. If the key does not exist, you will get the special value null.

  
  



• localStorage.removeItem(key): Removes an item from storage. The key and the value will both be removed. This can be useful if you are running out of space. You are allotted only 5MB of space, and once it's full, you can't add anything else.

  
  



• localStorage.length: Returns the number of key/value pairs in the database. Usually used in a loop with the key() method to work with every key/value pair.

  
  



• localStorage.key(i): Given an integer i, this method finds the corresponding key. Note that the order of the keys is not guaranteed. Normally, this method is used in a loop to retrieve all the keys in the database. Then each key is used to look up the corresponding value.

  
  



• localStorage.clear(): Clears all key/value pairs from localStorage. This is a potentially destructive command, so think carefully before you use it. By definition, localStorage data is not backed up on the server (or anywhere else). Once it's gone, it's really gone.

  
  

If you try to store more than 5MB of data from the same domain, JavaScript will throw a "QUOTA_EXCEEDED_ERR" exception. There is currently no way to change the amount of storage allowed, even with the user's permission.

Amazingly enough, the local storage mechanism works very well on all current browsers, even Internet Explorer.

Of course, any time a Web page can write data to the client machine, there is some concern for privacy and safety. However, the data is stored on the client machine, so it is never transmitted to the server (unlike cookie data). The data is stored on the client machine and belongs to the client. The 5MB limit gives a fair amount of space to Web applications, but even if it is filled, it won't clog up modern machines. Finally, the data is stored in a plain-text format, and it can't be put in a separate file — so it would be difficult to use this technology to create viruses and other troublesome code pests.

It may seem limiting to store data in these simple name/value pairs, but you can actually store very complex data using this mechanism. The value can be any type, including the very rich XML and JSON data storage mechanisms.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/html5-and-local-storage.navId-397649.html

Giving Herbs to Pets

You can save your pets needless trauma and save yourself expensive veterinary bills by using your herbal medicine chest or herb garden as a pet pharmacy. To start using healing pet herbs, try these common and safe remedies. Your furry friends will benefit.

• Cuts and scratches: Make a tea of calendula flowers and spray it on the affected area. Or apply calendula salve, though be aware that animals are apt to lick it off — you may want to wrap the area with a cloth.

• Ear infections and ear mites: Use garlic-mullein ear oil, 3 to 4 drops, 2 times daily.

Dogs and cats have especially long ear channels, so it's good to massage the ears to get the oil to go down. Animals often like to have their ears massaged anyway, especially when they're having trouble with them. If your pet is sensitive to touch, and if the sensitivity persists, call your vet.

• Eye infections or watery eyes: Use a well-strained goldenseal tea as an eyewash. Be sure to buy cultivated goldenseal, as the wild populations have been seriously overharvested. Eyebright herb tea is an effective second choice.

• Fleas: To prevent fleas from hopping on pets, you can make an herbal flea collar by dipping a string into a combination of essential oils containing eucalyptus, citronella, and sage and tying it around your pet's neck. Yarrow tincture sprayed onto affected areas can discourage fleas.

Use orange oil to kill fleas when your pet does get an infection. Add one-half teaspoon orange oil to a quarter cup of people shampoo. Then shampoo the animal, covering them with suds. Start at the neck and work down, so that too many fleas don't end up right on your pet's face. Then, rinse it off. If it's a really bad case, do it again in two days and vacuum the house thoroughly at the same time. (Make sure that you toss the vacuum cleaner bag so that you don't provide a breeding ground for your pest population.)

Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to the skin where they can be licked off and make your cat or dog sick. For troublesome areas, though, you can mix 20 drops of eucalyptus oil in 2 ounces of almond oil to apply directly. Work the blend well into the hair.

• Foxtails: If your pet gets objects caught under the skin or between the toes, you can make a fresh plantain poultice or comfrey poultice by putting fresh leaves in a blender with a little water and blending it up. Apply the poultice to the area. This remedy even works for foxtails, the stickery type of grass seeds that often plague animals.

• Hyperactivity: Add calming teas or a few droppersful of a relaxing tincture like valerian, chamomile, or California poppy to your pet's water dish. Capsules and tablets are available if you can get pets to swallow them.

Consider the calming effects of St. John's wort for pets. For a small dog, use about one-fourth to one-half teaspoonful of the liquid tincture added to water or food, one or two times daily.

• Infections: When your pet gets an infection, you can often help him heal quickly by giving low doses of echinacea tincture (five to ten drops, three to four times daily, for one week). In general, when using tinctures, adjust the dose for the animal's size — the label dosage is generally meant for a 150-pound human.

• Lung problems: Make a mullein tea and put it in the water bowl or pour it over your pet's food.

• Skin problems and hair loss: Calendula salve is a good healer for skin problems, but give an internal blood-cleansing herb, such as red clover flowers or yellow dock root, at the same time. You can also make a tea of burdock root and sarsaparilla root for skin problems. Horsetail herb and nettle leaf tea are both used to prevent hair loss. You can also massage the skin with a few drops of rosemary oil diluted in almond oil.

• Urinary tract infections: You can use soothing urinary tract herbs that help reduce infection and strengthen tissue. Besides echinacea, which is a must for any infection, try some beneficial herbs that have a special affinity for the urinary tract like pipsissewa or uva-ursi. If you have an herb garden, brew a little fresh yarrow or plantain leaves and add them to your pet's water.

• Worms: Garlic is a good preventive for parasites. Chop it into your pet's food or use a powder. If you start this practice when your pets are young, they develop a taste for it. If prevention fails, and they actually get worms, you may have to use garlic capsules to get rid of the parasites.

For disease prevention, give your pets proper nutrition, adequate opportunities for exercise, and plenty of tender loving care. Most pets like stroking and petting, which definitely have an immune-enhancing effect.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/giving-herbs-to-pets.html

How to Warn Children about Strangers

8 of 10 in Series:
The Essentials of Talking to Children about Sex

Talking to your children about strangers can be almost as hard as talking about sex. The tricky part is that you want your children to recognize the dangers posed by strangers, without being so scared that they won’t leave your side. But if you know how to talk about strangers with your kids in an age-appropriate way, you can rest easier knowing that your kid is well-prepared.

Give the speech about strangers in pieces and repeat it often. Kids don’t really comprehend too much new material at one time, and they usually must hear it more than once for it to sink in. Also, children can grasp more mature concepts as they get older. Although saying “Don’t accept candy from a stranger” may be enough for a 4- or 5-year-old, a slightly older child has to be told that it isn’t just candy that he or she should turn down, but also any favor, including money or a ride home from school.

Personal privacy

Teaching your children about privacy is critical. Make sure that all your children understand that not only are they allowed to maintain their privacy at home, but they absolutely must maintain it outside the home, especially when around strangers. Now you don’t want to frighten your children, but you do have to make sure that they understand that unless Mommy or Daddy says it’s okay (such as when the child goes to the doctor), no one is allowed to touch their private parts. The fact that child molesters are out there is very sad, but they do exist, and you have to teach your children to be extra careful.

Telling kids to tell an adult

As important as telling children what they shouldn’t do is telling them what they should do if a stranger approaches them improperly, which is to run away and immediately tell an adult. The first part, not doing certain things, is easier for a child than the second part. Why? Because if they experience sexual abuse or sexually inappropriate requests or behavior from a stranger, kids will often put it out of their minds or, if they sense that they may have done something bad, actually try to hide it from you.

Because you want your children to tell you about anything, you must be very careful to let them know that you won’t punish them if they report that something occurred. Passing this reassurance along isn’t easy, and, once again, he best way to do it is to repeat the message several times until you’re relatively sure that your child understands.

If a child reports something out of the ordinary to you, don’t overreact. The child will sense that something is wrong, and that may shut off communication at a time when you need your child to tell you as much as he or she can. Try to remain calm and matter-of-fact while you dig for information.

Organizing with other parents

Having a network set up before trouble happens rather than waiting until afterward is always better, which is why you should organize with other parents and nonparents on your block right now. Again, this isn’t an issue to get hysterical about — a child abuser isn’t hiding under every rock — but being prepared in case one does show up is certainly a good idea.

The organization you set up can be quite simple. It can consist of one meeting at which everybody agrees to watch out for each other’s children, and you put together a list of names and phone numbers, including cell and office numbers. The most important aspect of this organization is that if any adult on the block sees something going on with your child that he or she thinks may be suspicious, that adult will know, ahead of time, that he or she has your permission to investigate, as well as the means to communicate with you.

Members can also form a committee that is responsible for checking your state’s registry of convicted sex offenders and reporting the findings.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-warn-children-about-strangers.html

Straightening Out the Hacker's Terminology

We've all heard of external hackers and rogue insiders. Many of us have even suffered the consequences of their criminal actions. So who are these people? And why is it important to know about them?

• Hackers (or external attackers) try to compromise computers and sensitive information for ill-gotten gains — usually from the outside — as an unauthorized user. Hackers go for almost any system they think they can compromise. Some prefer prestigious, well-protected systems, but hacking into anyone'ssystem increases their status in hacker circles.

• Rogue insiders (or internal attackers) try to compromise computers and sensitive information from the inside as authorized users. Rogue insiders go for systems they believe can be compromised for ill-gotten gains or revenge.

Malicious attackers are, generally speaking, both hackers and rogue insiders.

• Ethical hackers (or good guys)hack a system to discover vulnerabilities for the purpose of protecting computers against illicit entry, abuse, and misuse.

Defining hacker

Hacker has two meanings:

• Traditionally, a hacker is someone who likes to tinker with software or electronic systems. Hackers enjoy exploring and learning how computer systems operate. They love discovering new ways to work — both mechanically and electronically.

• In recent years, hacker has taken on a new meaning — someone who maliciously breaks into systems for personal gain. Technically, these criminals are crackers (criminal hackers). Crackers break into (crack)systems with malicious intent. They are out for personal gain: fame, profit, and even revenge. They modify, delete, and steal critical information, often making other people miserable.

The good-guy (white-hat) hackers don't like being in the same category as the bad-guy (black-hat) hackers. (In case you're curious, the white-hat and black-hat terms come from Westerns in which the good guys wore white cowboy hats and the bad guys wore black cowboy hats.) There are also gray-hat hackers that are a little bit of both. Whatever the case, most people give hacker a negative connotation.

Many malicious hackers claim that they don't cause damage but instead are altruistically helping others. Yeah, right. Many malicious hackers are electronic thieves.

Defining rogue insider

Rogue insider — meaning a malicious employee, intern, or other user who abuses his or her privileges — is a term heard more and more within security circles and headlines talking about information breaches. An old statistic states that 80% of all security breaches are carried out by insiders. Whether or not this number is accurate is still questionable, but based on numerous annual surveys, there's undoubtedly an insider problem.

The issue is not necessarily users "hacking" internal systems, but rather users — from regular employees to auditors to contractors — who abuse the computer access privileges they've been given. There are cases of users ferreting through critical database systems to glean sensitive information, e-mailing confidential client information to the competition or other third parties, or deleting sensitive files from servers that they probably shouldn't have had access to in the first place. There's also the occasional "idiot insider" who's intent is not malicious but who still causes security problems nonetheless by moving, deleting, or otherwise corrupting sensitive information.

These rogue insiders are often our very worst enemies because they know exactly where to go to get the goods and don't need to be very computer-savvy in order to compromise very sensitive information.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/straightening-out-the-hackers-terminology.html

Cooking For Crowds For Dummies

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How Much to Cook When You Cook for a Crowd

When you're cooking for a crowd, knowing how much to cook is your biggest concern. The following tables help you determine how much food you need to prepare — everything from appetizers through desserts — for your big gatherings:

Appetizers

Type of Appetizer	Number of Different Appetizer Types	Per Person	Crowd of 25	Crowd of 50
Appetizers preceding a full meal	At least 4	6 to 8 pieces	150 to 200 total appetizers	300 to 400 total appetizers
Appetizers without a meal	At least 6	12 to 15 pieces	300 to 375 total appetizers	600 to 750 total appetizers

Drinks

Type of Drink	Per Person
Soft drinks	1 to 2 eight-ounce servings per hour
Punch	1 to 2 four-ounce servings per hour
Tea	1 to 2 eight-ounce servings per hour
Coffee	1 to 2 four-ounce servings per hour

Soups and Stews

Soup or Stew	Per Person	Crowd of 25	Crowd of 50
Served as a first course	1 cup	5 quarts	2 1/2 gallons
Served as an entree	1 1/2 to 2 cups	2 to 2 1/2 gallons	4 gallons

Main Courses

Entree	Per Person	Crowd of 25	Crowd of 50
Baby-back ribs, pork spareribs, beef short ribs	1 pound	25 pounds	50 pounds
Casserole	N/A	2 to 3 13-x-9-inch casseroles	4 to 5 13-x-9-inch casseroles
Chicken, turkey, or duck (boneless)	1/2 pound	13 pounds	25 pounds
Chicken or turkey (with bones)	3/4 to 1 pound	19 pounds	38 pounds
Chili, stew, stroganoff, and other chopped meats	5 to 6 ounces	8 pounds	15 pounds
Ground beef	1/2 pound	13 pounds	25 pounds
Maine lobster (about 2 pounds each)	1	25	50
Oysters, clams, and mussels (medium to large)	6 to 10 pieces	100 to 160 pieces	200 to 260 pieces
Pasta	4 to 5 ounces	7 pounds	16 pounds
Pork	14 ounces	22 pounds	44 pounds
Roast (with bone)	14 to 16 ounces	22 to 25 pounds	47 to 50 pounds
Roast cuts (boneless)	1/2 pound	13 pounds	25 pounds
Shrimp (large — 16 to 20 per pound)	5 to 7 shrimp	7 pounds	14 pounds
Steak cuts (T-bone, porterhouse, rib-eye)	16 to 24 ounces	16 to 24 ounces per person	16 to 24 ounces per person
Turkey (whole)	1 pound	25 pounds	50 pounds

Side Dishes

Side Dish	Per Person	Crowd of 25	Crowd of 50
Asparagus, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, corn kernels, peas, black-eyed peas, and so on	3 to 4 ounces	4 pounds	8 pounds
Corn on the cob (broken in halves when serving buffet-style)	1 ear	20 ears	45 ears
Pasta (cooked)	2 to 3 ounces	3 1/2 pounds	7 pounds
Potatoes and yams	1 (medium)	6 pounds	12 pounds
Rice and grains (cooked)	1 1/2 ounces	2 1/2 pounds	5 pounds

Desserts

Dessert	Per Person	Crowd of 25	Crowd of 50
Brownies or bars	1 to 2 per person	2 1/2 to 3 dozen	5 1/2 to 6 dozen
Cheesecake	2-inch wedge	2 9-inch cheesecakes	4 9-inch cheesecakes
Cobbler	1 cup	2 9-x-9-x-2-inch pans	4 9-x-9-x-2-inch pans
Cookies	2 to 3	3 to 4 dozen	6 to 8 dozen
Ice cream or sorbet	8 ounces	1 gallon	2 gallons
Layered cake or angel food cake	1 slice	2 8-inch cakes	4 8-inch cakes
Pie	3-inch wedge	2 to 3 9-inch pies	4 to 5 9-inch pies
Pudding, trifles, and the like	1 cup	1 gallon	2 gallons
Sheet cake	2-x-2-inch piece	1/4 sheet cake	1/2 sheet cake

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

How to Know If You're Ready for Sex

4 of 8 in Series:
The Essentials of Getting Started in Sex

What's the right age to start having sex? When to start having intercourse (or any other type of sex) is a very difficult and serious decision to make. Some people believe you must wait until you're married before having sex. Other people may not have a problem with premarital sex. You're the only one who can decide for yourself — although there are important factors to consider in that decision.

Many adults will tell teenagers to be abstinent — to wait until they are married before having sex. At the same time, sex before marriage is commonplace in today's world. Consequently, far too many young women are becoming single mothers, a difficult and expensive life for both mother and child.

Making the decision to have sex

The most important thing about deciding to have sex or not is not to rush into anything. Think about your decision carefully and weigh the pros and cons. Your relationship with this potential partner will have a lot to do with your decision.

The relationship aspects of being a couple are just as confusing and messy as the sexual ones. It's easy to say that you're boyfriend and girlfriend, but exactly what that means during your teens is very subjective. Some young people want so badly to have a boyfriend or girlfriend that they'll link up with someone they don't even like.

Remember these straightforward guidelines when making your decision:

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  Never, never have sex because somebody pressures you into it. If you're with somebody who says that he or she will stop seeing you unless you have sex, then you know what the right decision is: First, stop seeing that person, and certainly never have sex with him or her. That person isn't interested in you, but in sex.

  
  


• 
  

  If the person you're with says that he or she is "dying" with the need to have sex, remember: No one has ever died from not having sex, but you could die if you have sex with a person who gives you AIDS or cervical cancer (which is associated with human papillomavirus, or HPV).

  
  


• 
  

  Remember, you will never forget the first time you have sexual intercourse. So be as certain as you can be that, when you "do it" for the first time, the occasion is one that you'll treasure for the rest of your life — not one that you'll regret forever more.

  
  

If you have followed your best judgment in making your decision, no one can say whether your decision, whatever it is, was absolutely right or wrong. Only time and your own life's experience will tell.

Is this person worth it?

Perhaps you have already had sex for the first time, but you're trying to decide about a new potential partner. How do you decide whether someone is worthy? Here are some possible questions you may ask yourself. There are no right or wrong answers here, but if the overall tone of your answers skews toward the negative, then consider getting to know the person better before engaging in sexual intercourse.

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  What parts of me does this person activate? My head? My heart? My loins? Two out of three? One out of three?

  
  


• 
  

  Will I want to keep the lights off, so this person doesn't see the parts of me I don't like, or on, so I can see all of this other person?

  
  


• 
  

  I could use a shower. Will this person care? After getting undressed, will I care?

  
  


• 
  

  Where do I see us as a couple one month from now? Six months from now? Ten years from now?

  
  


• 
  

  If something goes wrong and neither one of us has an orgasm, will I ever want to see this person again?

  
  


• 
  

  What will I think about myself in the morning?

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-know-if-youre-ready-for-sex.html

Online Gaming Services for Gaming Consoles on a Windows 7 Home Network

2 of 6 in Series:
The Essentials of Home Network Gaming

Once you’ve connected your gaming console to your Windows 7 home network, you can sign up for an online gaming service. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all offer online gaming services that enable head-to-head Internet game play, game downloads, chat, shopping, and Web browsing.

There are practically hundreds of PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii console games built for online playing, but not all games are online capable. Be sure to check the online capabilities of your individual games before attempting to play one online! If a game supports online play, it’s clearly marked on the box or in online reviews and descriptions.

Sony PlayStation Network

The PlayStation Network is a free service for Sony PS3 and PSP (PlayStation Portable) gamers that provides exclusive content including games, movies, videos, TV programming, and more.

On the PlayStation Network, you can do the following:

• Shop online and download new games that are stored directly on your PS3’s hard drive, check out demos of new games, and view high-definition trailers of new games and movies.

  
  



• Participate in free online head-to-head gaming competitions.

  
  



• Establish an online identity, build an avatar, participate in message boards, and do live text and voice chats.

  
  



• Surf the Internet. (Technically, surfing the Internet isn’t part of the PlayStation Network — but don’t let that stop you!)

  
  

Although the PlayStation Network is free, some games may require an additional subscription fee to play online.

Microsoft Xbox Live

Xbox Live lets you use your Xbox 360 to connect with friends online, download and play games, and quickly access games, music, movies, and more!

Xbox Live is no longer available for the original Microsoft Xbox.

Xbox Live comes in the following versions:

• The basic service, Xbox Live Free (formerly known as Xbox Live Silver) lets you voice chat, preview games, watch television and movies (rental fees apply) in high definition, download games and add-ons, and build a Gamertag and Avatar.

  
  



• Xbox Live Gold adds party and video chat, multiplayer gaming, streaming movies and television (requires Netflix and Sky Player subscriptions, respectively), and Facebook, Twitter, ESPN, and more. An Xbox Live Gold account costs about $10 monthly or $60 annually.

  
  



• Finally, Microsoft has added the Xbox Live Gold Family Pack which allows you to manage your family memberships and settings, view family usage reports, and earn Microsoft Point Allowances and discounts for your family. An Xbox Live Gold Family Pack membership costs $100 annually and gives you up to four Xbox Live Gold accounts.

  
  

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo’s online services include numerous channels, including the Wii Channel, Nintendo Channel, Mii Channel, Internet Channel, Photo Channel, Wii Shop Channel, and others.

Similar to the online offerings from Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo provides lots of great online content and capabilities for the Wii. You can preview and download new games, shop online, browse the Internet, and much more.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/online-gaming-services-for-gaming-consoles-on-a-wi.html

Ballet Moves: Demi-Pli&eacute;s

The first ballet exercise at the barre is the small knee bend, or demi-plié ("duh-MEE plee-AY"). This article shows you how to perform a demi-plié from first, second, fourth, and fifth positions.

The word plié means "bent," and demi means half — just as demitasse means half a cup, demi monde means half a world, and Demi Moore is half a Moore.

When you do a demi-plié, you bend your knees as far as you can while still keeping both heels planted on the ground. That little caveat is the key. It means that the depth of a demi-plié varies a little for every single dancer — as you're about to find out. Your challenge now is to execute a demi-plié in four of the basic positions.

Demi-plié in first position

Stand at the barre in the starting position — but with one exception: Bring your legs into first position. Turn your feet out only as far as is comfortable.

From here, slowly bend your knees as far as possible, while keeping your heels on the ground, with your knees directly over the middle of your feet. While you descend, your lower right arm (from wrist to elbow) moves outward and slightly up, no higher than the level of your hips. This beautiful motion gives you the illusion of floating (Figure 1a).

Now unbend your knees, moving back up to the starting position — and bring your right arm back down to its starting position as well.

Your arms and legs should always arrive at their finishing positions together.

Congratulations — you have executed a bona fide demi-plié. Repeat it four times. And now, as much fun as this is, it's time to move on.

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Figure 1: Demi-pliés in first and second positions.

Demi-plié in second position

From first position, transfer your weight to your left leg and slide your right foot sideways along the floor. As you do this, allow your right heel to lift up, until your right foot is fully pointed, with your right knee straight. Your right foot should remain turned out during this motion — that is, your right heel should stay forward, just as in first position. While you point your right foot, bring your right arm up through middle fifth position, and then open it up to second position.

In switching from one leg position to the next, you have unwittingly accomplished a very tricky, yet essential, ballet move, called a battement tendu ("bat-MAHN ton-DUE" —literally: "stretched out"). You can read much more about this move later in this chapter.

Now lower your right heel and transfer your weight evenly to both legs. Your heels should be in line with one another. Ideally, the distance between them should equal the length ofyour own foot; but the move is a little easier with the feet a bit farther apart than that.

Now that your legs are in second position, do a demi-plié.

Bend your knees slowly, keeping your upper body straight, and lower your hips halfway down to knee level (refer to Figure 1b). Don't stick your rear end out. As you descend this first time, lower your right arm. Now straighten your knees, but continue to lower your arm.

Now repeat this demi-plié any number of times, moving your right arm just as you did for first (leg) position.

Demi-plié in fourth position

You may have noticed that we skip third position, and there's a reason for that. It's safe to say that nobody ever does demi-plies in third — except by accident.

From second position, begin by pointing your right foot. This time, draw a quarter circle on the ground, from the side to the front, without moving your hips. This is called a demi rond de jambe ("duh-MEE ROND duh JAHMB") — literally, a "half round of the leg." (Yeah, yeah, we know — we call it a quarter circle, the French call it a half. It's art. Give us a break.)

Keep your right heel turned out as much as you can, within the realm of possibility. Lower your right heel in front of your left, about a foot in front. (Again, the distance ideally equals the length of your own foot.) Meanwhile, bring your right arm up through middle fifth position and open it out to second position. Check to make sure that the weight of your body is evenly distributed over your legs. You are now in fourth position.

Now for the demi-plié. Once again, bend your knees as far as possible with your heels firmly on the ground. Make sure that your knees are pointing outward and are placed over the middle of your feet. Move your right arm as you do in the demi-pliés in second position (Figure 2a).

Concentrate on keeping your hips parallel to the front, without twisting — easier said than done.

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Figure 2: Demi-pliés in fourth and fifth positions.

Demi-plié in fifth position

To go from fourth to fifth position, begin by pointing your right foot, keeping it turned out as far as you can. Now close your right foot directly in front of the left, gently touching toe to heel. Lift your right arm through middle fifth position, and open it out to second. There you have it — fifth position.

Even in the unlikely event that you were born with mega-turnout, don't try to press your right foot flat against your left. A move like that can damage something important — your knees, for example.

In fact, your fifth position may stay "open" for years. It takes a long time for a dancer's hips to loosen up enough, and the muscles to strengthen enough, to hold the ideal position. Patience, young grasshopper.

While your right leg moves from fourth to fifth position, your right arm has something to do as well. Lift your right arm through middle fifth (arm) position, into second position.

Okay now — time for the demi-plié. All the same rules apply, and the arm movements are the same in second position (refer to Figure 2b). Because of the strange contortions involved, the demi-plié in fifth position is the shallowest bend of them all. But perseverance pays off.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ballet-moves-demiplies.html

How to Fix Air Leaks around Your Home

Air leaks mean excessive energy loss — and cost. Summer or winter, you don’t want your house to leak air, especially when you spend your hard-earned dollars warming or cooling it.

• Windows: Test a window for leaks by holding a lighted candle near all its joints and connections. If the candle flickers, you have an air leak. To fix air leaks, try these tactics.

  
  
  
  

  • Caulk around the window: Often, air leaks at a window result from a breakdown in the connection between the frame of the window and the frame of the house. To prevent leaks, caulk the window where its frame meets the exterior siding.

    
    
  
  

  • Replace the weather stripping: Leaks occur when weather stripping wears out. Most home centers sell replacement weather stripping in peel-and-stick rolls.

    
    

    You may have to remove the operable portion of the window to find the weather stripping.

    
    
  
  

  • Inject foam sealant between the frame of the window and the frame of the house. This is a major deterrent to air infiltration and also prevents water from leaking into the house.

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Doors: An air leak in a doorframe is pretty common. While the moisture content changes in soil, your home shifts. Your doors also shift, creating gaps large enough for a dump truck to pass through. Here are some solutions.

  
  
  
  

  • Add foam sealant between the frame of the door and the frame of the house by removing the interior door casing. The casing is the wood trim that covers the joint between the doorframe and the wall.

    
    

    Use a flat pry bar to slowly remove the trim so you don’t damage it.

    
    
  
  

  • Add some weather stripping. It doesn’t make any difference whether the exterior door is painted or stained, large or small, solid wood or French style, the same type of weather stripping can be used.

    
    
  
  
  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-fix-air-leaks-around-your-home.html

JavaScript Object Terms

JavaScript is an object-based language. To understand how to interact with the document object model you work with in JavaScript, you need to understand some basic object-related terms. The following table shows the ones you're likely to find most useful:

Term	JavaScript example
An object is a thing (noun).	A button is an object.
You can describe an object with adjectives (properties).	A button object has a name and a type.
An object can do things (methods).	A button object can click().
An object can respond to events (event handlers).	A button can recognize when it's been clicked (onClick).

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/javascript-object-terms.navId-405067.html

Words Related to Your Pet Turtle or Tortoise

Turtles and tortoises are not your run-of-the-mill pets, and if you choose to add a chelonian (a turtle or tortoise) to your family, you may want to broaden your vocabulary beyond what you need when talking about more, uh, ordinary pets. The terms here are some of the words used in reference to turtles and tortoises:

• Aquatic turtle: A turtle that spends all or the majority of its time in the water

  
  



• Basking site or basking area: An area for a turtle or tortoise to absorb warmth from sunshine or another heat source

  
  



• Brackish water: Fresh water that receives some salt water from the ocean during high tides, making it more salty than fresh

  
  



• Carapace: The top shell covering the back

  
  



• Carnivore: A meat eater

  
  



• Carrion: Decaying flesh that may be used for food

  
  



• Chelonians: All turtles and tortoises

  
  



• Clutch: A nest of eggs

  
  



• Estivates: Hibernates in summer

  
  



• Hatchlings: Baby turtles or tortoises

  
  



• Herbivore: A plant eater

  
  



• Keel: A ridge in the carapace, usually from front to rear so that it is over or parallels the spine

  
  



• Omnivore: Eats both meat and plants

  
  



• Plastron: The lower shell

  
  



• Scute: A single surface section of the shell; each shell is made up of many scutes with underlying skeletal bone

  
  



• Semi-aquatic turtle: A turtle that spends about half of its time in the water and half of its time on land

  
  



• Semi-terrestrial turtle: A turtle that spends most of its time on land but also goes into the water once in a while

  
  



• Side-necked turtle: When this type of turtle shelters its head, the neck folds to the side but does not disappear into the shell

  
  



• Terrarium: An aquarium or cage that contains live plants, a higher humidity, and no swimming water

  
  



• Terrestrial turtle: A turtle that lives on land but bathes or soaks in water or goes into the water to escape predators

  
  



• Tortoise: A land-based chelonian that can’t swim and only goes into shallow water to drink or soak; a tortoise never voluntarily enters water over its head

  
  



• Vent: Equivalent to an anal opening

  
  



• Vivarium: An aquarium divided into two sections — one for water and one for land

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/words-related-to-your-pet-turtle-or-tortoise.html

The Re-Emergence of Hungarian Wines

Hungary has a wealth of native and international grape varieties and plenty of land suited to vineyards, with a wide range of climates, soils, and altitudes. Hungary's winemaking tradition dates back to pre-Roman times.

Hungary's wine consumption has increased significantly since the country gained independence from Communism in the late 1980s and early 1990s, fueling an improvement in wine quality. International investment in vineyards and wineries has also made a huge contribution.

Hungarian wine regions

Hungary produces the equivalent of about 68 million cases of wine a year, most of which is white. Although the country is northerly, its climate is relatively warm because the country is landlocked and nearly surrounded by mountains. Hungary has 22 official wine regions, but their names are not yet particularly important outside Hungary.

The one Hungarian wine region that does have international fame is Tokaj-Hegyalja, which takes its name from the town of Tokaj and owes its reputation to its world-class dessert wine, Tokaji Azsu. The word Aszu refers to botrytised grapes. The wine comes from Furmint and Harslevelu grapes, both native white varieties, and sometimes Muscat grapes. This region also makes dry table wines, such as the varietal Tokaji Furmint.

Tokaji Azsu wines are labeled as three, four, five, or six Puttonyos, according to their sweetness, with six Puttonyos wines being the sweetest. (Puttonyos are baskets used to harvest the botrytised grapes, as well as a measure of sweetness.) All Tokaji Azsu wines sell in 500 ml bottles, and they range in price from about $35 to $150 per bottle, depending on their sweetness level.

Beyond the famous Tokaj-Hegyalja region, Hungary has numerous other wine regions that produce a range of dry and semi-dry wines, both white and red, Most of these wines are named for their grape variety and are quite inexpensive. Kadarka is Hungary’s best-known native red grape variety.

Hungarian wine production

Tokaji Azsu wines vary not only according to their sweetness, but also according to their style. Some wines have fresher, more vibrant fruity character, for example; some have aromas and flavors that suggest dried fruits; some have the smoky character and tannin of new oak barrels; and some have complex non-fruity notes such as tea leaves or chocolate. This range of styles is due mainly to different winemaking techniques among producers.

Tokaji Azsu has a complicated production method that involves using a certain amount of botrytised grapes (which are compressed into a paste of sorts) as well as healthy, non-moldy grapes; the more moldy grapes that are used, the sweeter the wine.

Some of the issues that Hungarian winemakers differ on — besides the normal issues of grape blend — include:

• What the botrytised grapes soak in to create the liquid that then ferments into the final wine: partially-fermented wine or simply juice (in either case, from non-moldy grapes)

  
  



• Whether the wine should mature in new or old oak barrels

  
  



• Whether the wine should be exposed to oxygen during aging (by leaving airspace in the barrels)

  
  

Hungary is now a member of the European Union, and its categories of wine therefore resemble those of EU countries. Wines at the highest level are classified as Minosegi Bor, followed by Tájbor (country wine) and Asztali Bor (table wine).

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-reemergence-of-hungarian-wines.html

Get an Edge with Social Media when Applying to Well-Known Companies

Social media can provide job seekers with an edge over other applicants when applying to larger, well-known companies. When the barriers to blogging went down along with the economy in 2009, websites like bsfshouldhire and twittershouldhireme started to appear, but the strategy of creating such a site isn’t very creative or compelling anymore.

However, these campaigns do offer the following lessons that are still applicable when applying to a job at a company with a well-known brand:

• Growing a social media following is easier when applying to a big company with a brand name.

  
  



• Building a social media following only works when you come across with authenticity and your story is compelling for others.

  
  



• Sharing your job search publicly and authentically (like through your blog or website) can demonstrate your credibility.

  
  



• Having followers rally behind your goal to get a job can feel great and does wonders to your personal brand.

  
  



• Using the names of big companies on social media channels gets their attention.

  
  



• Having fun and being creative in your campaign can go a long way.

  
  

Not everyone will apply, or is even interested in applying to, a big company. So this advice isn’t for everyone. But if you do have aspirations of making it into a large organization, you may consider trying out these techniques to get noticed. You never know what opportunities may arise by putting yourself out there.

Even if you publicly state that you want to work for Company X, that doesn’t mean you’ve limited yourself. Most of these creative job seekers didn’t end up getting hired at their target company. But their passion got the attention of other companies who pursued them.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/get-an-edge-with-social-media-when-applying-to-wel.html

How to Create Different Sidebar and Footer Templates for Your Pages

WordPress allows you to create separate Sidebar and Footer templates for different pages of your WordPress site by using a simple include statement. When you write an include statement, you’re telling WordPress that you want it to include a specific file on a specific page.

The code that pulls the usual Sidebar template (sidebar.php) into all the other templates, such as the Main Index template (index.php), looks like this:

<?php get_sidebar(); ?>

If you create a page and want to use a sidebar that has different information from what you have in the Sidebar template (sidebar.php), follow these steps:

1. Create a new Sidebar template in a text editor, such as Notepad (Windows) or TextMate (Mac).

   
   



2. Save the file on your computer as sidebar-2.php.

   
   



3. Upload sidebar-2.php to your themes folder on your web server.

   
   

   The new Sidebar template is listed in your theme files on the Edit Themes page. You can open this page by choosing Appearance→Editor on the Dashboard.

   
   



4. To include the sidebar-2.php template in one of your Page templates, open the desired template on the Edit Themes page (Appearance→Editor) and then find this code:

   
   

   <?php get_sidebar(); />

   
   



5. Replace the preceding code with this include code:

   
   

   <?php get_template_part(‘sidebar’, ‘2’); ?>

   
   

With the get_template_part(); function, you can include virtually any file in your WordPress templates. You can use this method to create Footer templates for pages on your site, for example. To do this, first create a new template with the filename footer-2.php and then locate the following code in your template:

<?php get_footer(); ?>

and replace the preceding code with this code:

<?php get_template_part(‘footer, ‘2’); ?>

You can do multiple things with WordPress to extend it beyond the blog. The point of this example is to show you how to use WordPress to create a fully functional website with a CMS platform — anything from the smallest personal site to a large business site.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-create-different-sidebar-and-footer-templat.html

The Next Step on the Road to Healthcare Reform

7 of 8 in Series:
The Essentials of Healthcare Reform

March 24, 2010. Although healthcare reform has passed through both houses of Congress and been signed by President Obama, a 150-page set of fixes to the bill still has to be approved by the Senate before the larger bill’s provisions can be implemented. The fixes, also called reconciliations, were added in order to reconcile differences between the House- and Senate-approved bills.

The House approved the reconciliations at the same time they approved the larger healthcare bill. However, the next step of getting the fixes through the Senate won’t be an easy one. No Republicans are in favor of the bill as it’s been voted into law, and many have said they’ll do everything within accepted parliamentary procedure to stop it.

During the next few days, Senators will be able to introduce an unlimited number of amendments to the reconciliation and recommend content changes. They have to spend 20 hours debating the fixes, but they can’t filibuster. Also, they only need a simple, 51-vote majority to pass or fail any recommendation.

All content of the reconciliation must deal directly with bill revenues or spending. If even one new amendment or content change gets passed, no matter how minor, the bill will go back to the House and they’ll have to vote on it all over again.

Reconciliation legislation has been voted on by the Senate 22 times and in every instance but one, the Senate has made changes and sent the bill back to the House.

Although Democrats, who spearheaded passage of healthcare reform, have a 59-seat majority in the Senate, Republicans have publicly stated that they intend to introduce amendments they believe will be difficult for Democrats to vote against, especially in an election year.

If the fixes make their way back to the House and they contain major changes, there is a danger that they may not pass the second-time around. The reconciliations were a key factor in getting enough Democratic votes to push health reform through to passage.

Check in with us frequently. We’ll keep you updated on the status of health-reform reconciliation as it moves through the Senate.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-next-step-on-the-road-to-healthcare-reform.html

M&amp;A Transition: How to Determine the Level of Autonomy

One of the most basic questions you face as a Buyer after the M&A deal closes is, “What the heck should I do with what I just bought?” On paper, combining two entities may seem easy, but in reality, that integration is much more complex. Further, the level of integration varies greatly from Buyer to Buyer.

• Financial Buyers, such as private equity (PE) firms, usually allow the acquisition to maintain a level of autonomy, especially if they’re not integrating the acquired company into another firm but rather running it as a standalone business.

  
  

  These Buyers are in the business of buying and selling businesses and therefore aren’t in the same industry as their acquisition; although they may make some operational changes, financial Buyers typically let the acquired company run itself.

  
  



• Strategic Buyers often institute quite a bit of operational integration and may combine some products and eliminate others. Strategic Buyers are often in the same (or a related) industry as their acquisition, thus the level of integration may be very high.

  
  

No matter what type of Buyer you are, after the deal closes, you should do nothing! Let the acquired company operate as before. Take some time to understand the business and how it operates before instituting changes. Instituting huge changes before you fully understand the business can be a recipe for huge problems.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ma-transition-how-to-determine-the-level-of-autono.html

Types of Horse Racing Wagers (and Your Chances of Winning)

When it comes to betting on horse races, before you even place a bet on a horse you need to decide what type of bet to place. As the bets you can make range from a simple bet on a single horse in one race to choosing the winning horses for six consecutive races, you may need to the information in the following table to help you explore your betting options:

Bet Type	Your Chances of Winning	Explanation and Expectation	Suggested Plays (Based upon a $100 Bankroll)
Show	Very good	Your horse must finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd; modest payoffs	$6 per horse
Place	Good	Your horse must finish 1st or 2nd; payoffs better than to show	$5 per horse
Win	Average	Your horse must finish 1st; payoff determined by the win odds	$4 per horse
Quinella	Average	Your horses must finish 1st and 2nd in either order; a normal play is to box three horses	$2 quinella box using three horses costs $6
Exacta	Hard	Your horses must finish 1st and 2nd in exact order; riskier bet that can pay a little or a lot, depending on the horses’ odds	$1 exacta box using three horses costs $6; $1 exacta box keying one horse with three horses costs $6
Trifecta	Very hard	Your horses must finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in exact order; can be expensive to play if you use a lot of horses	$1 trifecta keying one horse to win over three horses costs $6; $1 trifecta keying two horses to win over four horses costs $12
Superfecta	Extremely hard	Your horses must finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th; hard to bet unless you have a sizeable bankroll; big payoff possible	$1 superfecta keying one horse to win over four horses costs $24
Daily Double	Hard	Your horses must win the two consecutive races; chance for a nice payoff with mid-priced horses	$2 daily double using two horses in each race costs $8; $2 daily double keying one horse to three horses costs $6
Pick 3	Very hard	Your horses must win three consecutive races; it’s a daily double plus another race; $1 unit makes it affordable	$1 pick 3 using two horses in each race costs $8; $1 pick 3 keying one horse with three horses in two other races costs $9
Pick 4	Extremely hard	Your horses must win four consecutive races; chance for a big score for a modest amount	$1 pick 4 using two horses in each race costs $16
Pick 6	Thinking man’s lottery	Your horses must win six consecutive races; very expensive to play; huge payoffs possible; a home run bet	$2 pick 6 using three singles with two horses each in the other three races costs $16

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/types-of-horse-racing-wagers-and-your-chances-of-w.html

Microsoft Office 365 Pay-As-You-Go Flexibility

With pay-as-you-go licensing, your organization is able to turn on or off licensing depending on the number of users that require Microsoft Office 365. In addition, Microsoft has added flexibility for you as a user by allowing you to activate the licensing on up to five different computers at a single time.

For example, when your organization adds you as an Office Professional Plus subscriber, you can activate the software on your workstation at work, your laptop, your home computer, and your home laptop. When you buy a new computer, you will find a simple user screen where you can update the computers that Office is activated on.

This flexibility makes managing your Office Professional Plus applications and licensing as easy and straightforward as possible.

The pay-as-you-go model for Office Professional Plus is only available for Enterprise Office 365 packages. If you are part of a small organization and only need a handful of Microsoft Office licenses, then you will still buy Office the same way as you do now.

The difference now will be that your Office applications are integrated with the server products running in the cloud (SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync). In addition, you will have access to the Office Web Apps, which allow you to work with your Office documents by using a web browser.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/microsoft-office-365-payasyougo-flexibility.html

How to Keep Team Members Focused on a Project

At the start of a project, staying committed to the overall goals of a project can be easy for a team. As the project progresses, however, a project manager may need to refocus team members' energies. After all, successful project completion requires a coordinated effort by all key participants.

As team members work hard to fulfill project obligations, their focus often shifts from accomplishing the project’s overall objectives to completing their individual assignments. In addition, other audiences who were initially very interested in the project’s results may become involved with other priorities and activities as the project continues (which means they likely lose interest and enthusiasm for your project).

To reinforce your team’s focus and interest, do the following:

• Remind people of the value and importance of the project’s final results. Frequently discuss the benefits the organization will realize from your project’s final results as well as the individual benefits your team members will gain. People are more likely to work hard to successfully complete a project when they realize the benefits they’ll achieve by doing so.

  
  



• Call your team together, and reaffirm your mutual commitment to bring the project to successful completion. Discuss why you feel the project is important, and describe your personal commitment to completing it successfully. Encourage other people to make similar commitments. People overcome obstacles and perform difficult assignments more effectively when they’re committed to succeed.

  
  



• Monitor final activities closely, and give frequent feedback on performance to each team member. Set up frequent milestones and progress-reporting times with team members. Staying in close touch with team members provides you and them up-to-date info on how close you are to final closure; it also provides the opportunity to identify and deal with any issues and problems that may arise throughout the course of your project.

  
  



• Be accessible to all team members. Make yourself available when team members want to confer with you. Consider having lunch periodically with them and letting them see you around their office area. Being accessible affirms your interest in and the importance of their work.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-keep-team-members-focused-on-a-project.html

Using DOS to Write-Protect and Reformat Disks

You can protect floppy disks in such a way as to prevent yourself or anyone else from modifying or deleting anything on the disk.

When a disk is write-protected, you cannot alter, modify, change, or delete anything on that disk. And you cannot accidentally reformat it. You can read from the disk and copy files from it, but changing the disk — forget it!

To write-protect a 5-1/4-inch disk, grab one of those tiny tabs that came with the disk in the box. Peel the tab and place it over the notch in the disk, which should be on the lower left side as you insert the disk into the drive (see Figure 1). With that notch covered, the disk is write-protected.

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Figure 1: Write-protecting a disk prevents changes to your data.

To write-protect a 3-1/2-inch disk, locate the little sliding tile on the lower left side of the disk as you slide it into the drive. If the tile covers the hole, then you can write to the disk. If you slide the tile off the hole (so that you can see through it), the disk is write-protected (see Figure 1).

To un-write-protect a 5-1/4-inch disk, peel off the little tab. Although this action renders the disk sticky, it's a livable problem. You can un-write-protect 3-1/2-inch disks by sliding the tile over the hole.

Reformatting disks

Disks must be formatted before DOS can use them, and after they're formatted, you can reformat them. You can format them under two circumstances: when you want to totally erase the disk and all its data or accidentally.

Obviously, you shouldn't erase a disk you don't want to erase. All the data on the disk goes bye-bye. The only way to avoid this situation is to be careful: Check the disk with the DIR command first. Make sure that it's a disk you want to reformat.

Don't be afraid to erase disks. You may have stacks of old disks that you can reformat and use. The data on them may be old or duplicated elsewhere, so reusing the disk is no problem. Here's the FORMAT command you want to use:

C> FORMAT A: /Q

That's the FORMAT command, a space, and then A and a colon, which directs the FORMAT command to format a disk in drive A. That's followed by another space and a slash-Q. That line tells DOS to Quickformat the disk. It's very fast.

If DOS refuses to Quickformat the disk, try this FORMAT command:

C> FORMAT A: /U

This command is the same as the last one but with a slash-U rather than a slash-Q. This command tells DOS to unconditionally format the disk. It takes longer than a Quickformat, but it generally works.

• If you want to reformat a disk in drive B, substitute B: for A: in these examples.

• Note that you cannot Quickformat a disk to a different size. In fact, you shouldn't be reformatting disks to a different size anyway. If you must, use the /U option, as just shown.

• Quickformat only newer disks. If a disk has been sitting around awhile, use the FORMAT command without the /Q. Although that method takes longer, the FORMAT command does a better job to ensure that the disk is still usable.

• After formatting a disk, you see a list of statistics. If one of the statistics mentioned is xxxx bytes in bad sectors, you have a bum disk on your hands. If this is the case, then just toss it away. If you still have the receipt and the store said that the disks were "fully guaranteed," you can try to get your money back. Good luck!

• You can recover accidentally reformatted disks by using MS-DOS 6.2 and higher.

Duplicating disks (the DISKCOPY command)

To make a duplicate of a file on disk, you use the COPY command. To make a duplicate of a floppy disk, you use the DISKCOPY command. DISKCOPY takes one floppy and makes an exact duplicate of it, even formatting a new disk if it was previously unformatted.

Here are two things you cannot do with the DISKCOPY command:

• Use DISKCOPY to create two disks of different sizes or capacities.

• Use DISKCOPY with a hard disk or a RAM drive. (If you don't know what a RAM drive is, go to the refrigerator and reward yourself with a cool, carbonated beverage.)

When you copy disks, DOS refers to the original disk as the SOURCE. The disk to which you're copying is the TARGET.

To make a copy of a disk, first write-protect the original, the source. Put your write-protected original in drive A. Close the drive's door latch for a 5-1/4-inch disk.

Type this command at the DOS prompt:

C> DISKCOPY A: A:

That's DISKCOPY, a space, and then A: twice (which means that drive A is mentioned twice and separated by a space). Press Enter and DOS examines the disk, spews out some technical mumbo jumbo, and then

Reading from source diskette . . .

The drive churns away for a few moments. Then, you're asked to insert the target:

Insert TARGET diskette in drive A:
Press any key to continue

Remove the source disk and insert your duplicate disk. Close the door latch if you have a 5-1/4-inch disk. Press Enter.

Writing to target diskette . . .

Take a few seconds to put the original (the "source") back in a safe place. When the operation is complete, you can use the duplicate rather than the original.

• When the operation is complete, DOS asks whether you want to use DISKCOPY again. Press Y if you do or N if you don't.

• In MS-DOS 6.2, after the copy is complete, you're asked whether you want to make another duplicate of the same disk — another TARGET. Press Y if you do or N if you don't. Then you're asked whether you want to copy another disk (another SOURCE). Press Y if you do or N if you don't.

• You can use DISKCOPY in your drive B by substituting B: for A: in the preceding command.

• You can use the following DISKCOPY command if and only if your drives A and B are of the same size and capacity:

C> DISKCOPY A: B:

This command is faster because you don't have to swap disks.

• If the target disk is unformatted, DISKCOPY formats it. If it's already formatted, DISKCOPY replaces the original contents with the copy.

• The DISKCOPY command is the only accurate way to duplicate a disk. Even the COPY command cannot always make a full copy of all the files on a disk.

• You may be asked to swap the SOURCE and TARGET disks a few times. This process can be maddening. If it bothers you, consider updating to MS-DOS 6.2 or higher, where they (finally) stopped the DISKCOPY disk-swapping madness.

• Use DISKCOPY to copy disks for only your use, not for friends — it's illegal to copy licensed programs for others.

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dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-dos-to-writeprotect-and-reformat-disks.html

How to Register a Purebred Dog

When you buy a purebred puppy, you may want to register your ownership with a dog registry, such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) or Canadian Kennel Club. And, the papers that accompany your newest family member generally include a registration application or certificate to help you do just that.

The registration slip is one of two kinds: Either an application to name and record a puppy for the first time, or a certificate transferring the ownership of an already named and registered dog. (AKC rules say once a dog has been given a registered name, there’s no changing it. What you actually call him in the comfort of your own home, of course, they don’t care about.)

If you’re buying a puppy, you’ll probably get a registration form, commonly called a blue slip. A grown dog should come with an official registration certificate — white with a purple border — with a transfer of ownership form on the back. You fill out the form, send it and the nominal registration fee to the address on the form, and get a response, hopefully with a certificate of registration.

Registries maintain breeding records by registering the offspring of already registered purebreds and the change of ownership of adult dogs. They also oversee canine competitions, from dog shows like the Westminster Kennel Club’s to obedience and agility competitions. They award titles like Champion to animals who have met the requirements for each title. These organizations also fight for the rights of dog-owners, educate people on proper care of dogs, and investigate cruelty and registration fraud.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-register-a-purebred-dog.html

Checking Your Gauge throughout a Project

You need to be mindful of your gauge throughout the entire knitting process (at least on projects that are supposed to fit a certain way). Read on to see when and how to check your gauge throughout a project.

For something that doesn't need to fit exactly, like a scarf or a wrap, you don't need to be nearly as fastidious. If it looks good to you, you don't need to fret about the numbers.

When to check your gauge

After you've cast on and knit a couple of inches of your project, measure your gauge again to see how it's going. If you made and measured your swatch a month ago or even a week ago, things may have changed. Your mood, level of alertness, or the fact that you've been knitting more or less often can all affect your knitting tension. Or maybe you swatched on straight wooden needles and now you're knitting with metal circular needles. The material a needle is made of can make a big difference to your gauge.

Check your gauge from time to time as you work on your project, particularly if you have put it aside for a while and have just recently come back to it. If you get in the habit of checking your gauge when you have a tape measure out to determine the length of your knitting, it won't seem like any extra work.

After you verify that you're on the right track with your gauge, you can continue knitting with confidence. It's much easier to rip out a few inches than it is to rip out the whole back when you discover that your gauge is off. And knitters, like everyone else, are often loath to admit their mistakes. If you have a gnawing sense that something isn't quite right, force yourself to do the necessary reality check and measure things. The sooner you correct an error, the better.

How to check your gauge

To check gauge during a project, many knitters like to use a gauge measurement tool. This tool has holes to size up needles and a small window that's 2 inches wide and 2 inches tall. To use the gauge measurement tool, lay your knitting flat and, without pressing it down so vigorously that you distort the stitches, lay your gauge meter on top and count how many stitches there are across the window. Don't forget that you have to double the number of stitches to determine the number of stitches per 4 inches.

You can also use a tape measure or ruler to help you count the number of stitches per 4 inches. A lightweight clear plastic ruler works nicely.

Whatever tool you use, be sure that your knitting is flat on a table and that your measuring device is lying parallel to your rows of stitches.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/checking-your-gauge-throughout-a-project.html

How to Resize a Picture in Word 2007

After you insert a graphic (whether it’s a picture, clip art, or an AutoShape) in Word 2007, you probably want to resize it to your liking. Resizing an image is a cinch.

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Click to select the image.

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The image grows multiple little dots. You can click and drag these handles to edit the image.

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Press and hold the Shift key.

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Holding the Shift key keeps the image proportional. Otherwise, you'd change the image's dimensions, distorting it.

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Use the mouse to drag one of the image's four corner handles inward or outward to make the image proportionally smaller or larger.

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If you’d rather not keep the image proportional, skip Step 2 and just grab a handle (a corner handle or one on the four sides) to resize the image. For example, grab the middle top handle and drag up or down to make the image taller or shorter.

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Release the Shift key.

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Your image is now resized.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-resize-a-picture-in-word-2007.html

Curing Chi-Flow Problems in Your Feng Shui Garden

The free and easy movement of chi (life energy) through the garden is essential to good Feng Shui. Without it, your garden doesn't produce as abundantly, and your own energy is negatively affected.

Unfortunately, even with your best intentions, sometimes chi movement isn't as good as it could be. Although you can prevent many chi problems with good planning, some of them come along unexpectedly and need to be fixed, or cured. Fortunately, most Feng Shui cures are pretty simple and straightforward. You don't have to take a lot of time, money, or energy to place them.

If you suspect you have chi flow problems, you're probably right. Your instincts are usually on target, so listen to them. To spot potential chi flow problems, imagine chi as a river flowing and meandering through your garden:

• Certain places in your garden block the free and easy flow of chi, making them trouble spots. Examples of such places are clumps of trees and undergrowth or solid fences and gates.

• Other places can cause the chi to collect and stagnate (think of an algae-covered pond). Empty corners of the garden often cause this problem.

• Too much flat, empty space in your garden can cause the chi to move through too quickly, making it difficult for the chi to do its work of bringing positive energy and abundance into your life.

If you have any of these problems, here are some quick cures.

Clearing the clutter

The number one cure for chi movement problems is clearing the clutter. That means getting rid of debris, raking up leaves, composting grass clippings and other organic matter, cutting down undergrowth and overgrowth, and otherwise caring for and maintaining your garden. Make sure that you

• Pick up the trash that gets blown into your yard (pay a kid to do this if you must).

• If you have pets, dispose of their yard waste regularly. (If you can encourage them to use only one spot in the yard, so much the better.)

• Keep the grass mowed and the weeds pulled (pay a kid . . .).

• Do annual maintenance on your plants: deadhead blossoms (pinch off dead flowers), pull up annuals, and dig up bulbs, if necessary.

• Get rid of dead and dying plants. If they're diseased, discard them. Otherwise, compost them.

Keeping the garden clutter-free and well maintained helps the chi movement. It also helps you enjoy your garden more. Nothing gives you a headache faster than seeing dead leaves piled up under all the trees.

Coloring your garden

A powerful way to enhance the chi and to bring balance to your garden is through the use of color. You can use color to enhance the yin (passive) or the yang (active) energy in your garden. Yin energy slows chi down, so if fast-moving chi is your problem, you want to concentrate on this type of energy. Yang energy, on the other hand, speeds up the chi, so if impeded or stagnant chi is your problem, focus on yang energy.

Bright colors are more yang, while darker colors and earth tones are more yin. Pastels can be yin or yang depending on their brightness.

Because plants and flowers come in practically any color you can think of, you're not limited except by your imagination.

If you want to bring one of the Five Elements into your garden (or into any part of it), use the color associated with that element. For example, the Metal element is associated with white and pastel colors; the Wood element is associated with green. Although all plants symbolize the Wood element, you can use their blossoms and coloring to symbolize other elements, too.

The Life Sectors of the Bagua also have colors associated with them. So if you want to raise the chi in a particular Life Sector, plant a flower or place a decorative object of that color in that sector. For example, dark blue in the Career sector enhances that sector; pink in the Relationships sector is good for your love life.

Inviting living energy into your garden

Nothing raises the chi in your environment quite like the energy created by living plants and animals. Attracting living energy into your garden is very Feng Shui. For example, making the garden an enjoyable place for your children to play in raises the chi. Letting your pets run around outside also raises the chi.

You can plant your garden especially to attract birds, insects, and other wildlife. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to certain types of plants. By placing these plants in your garden, you invite good living energy into your garden.

Water, water, everywhere

Water is a cure-all for chi problems. Adding a water feature, especially one with running water, raises the chi in your garden. A water feature doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. A simple fountain works wonders. A more sophisticated waterfall with a pond also imports good energy into the garden, if you're up to the tasks of installing and maintaining it. (Hint: A murky pond filled with dead leaves does not enhance your chi.)

Running water symbolizes wealth and abundance flowing towards you (make sure the water actually flows toward your home and not away from it.). Running water also makes a pleasant, soothing sound that can enhance the chi in your environment.

Putting goldfish into your fountain or pond boosts the chi even more.

Using your nose

Fragrances and scents raise the chi in the environment and serve as a terrific pick-me-up. And the garden is the perfect place to find some of these fragrances and scents. An aromatherapy-herbal garden may be just the thing to keep chi moving in your garden. Or, plant a few plants just for their fragrance. Place them where you're able to smell them — near your favorite bench or next to the kitchen door.

If you want to perk up the chi (and yourself), try:

• Citrus orange

• Basil

• Cardamom

• Jasmine

If you want to relax the chi (and yourself), try:

• Lavender

• Rosemary

• Marjoram

• Pine

Moving around

Movement in the garden is good. Like living energy, movement or moving energy enhances the chi in your garden, and keeps it from getting still and stagnant.

Movement cures are inanimate objects that move (if they were animate objects, they've be called living energy). Examples include pinwheels, flags, banners, whirligigs, and running water. Some objects and shapes also seem to be moving and these can increase the feeling of movement in your garden. Think circular shapes, curves, and objects made from natural materials.

Sounding off

Bringing sound into the garden raises the chi, as long as the sound isn't irritating and annoying. You don't have to install an expensive outdoor waterproof stereo system to get some sound going (although you can).

Try these other ideas:

• Running water makes a soothing sound.

• Wind chimes make beautiful music.

• Birds invited into your garden can sing lovely songs.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/curing-chiflow-problems-in-your-feng-shui-garden.html