Arranging Your Bedroom Furniture

The bed is the key piece of furniture in any bedroom, and it naturally becomes the focal point. Bedroom furniture is traditionally arranged according to a few general rules. For the most part based on common sense, here are some general guidelines for you to follow:

• Traditionally, folks tend to place a double, queen-sized, or king-sized bed against the center of the wall opposite the main door to the room. With this arrangement, the headboard is the center of attention as you enter the room.

If the dimensions of your room prevent you from positioning your bed on the wall across from the door, other possible choices depend on which walls are long enough to accommodate the bed. Diagonal placement works well when you have the space.

• Do not place a bed under a window, if the window will frequently be open. Open windows can create uncomfortable drafts. Positioning a bed between two windows, however, works well.

If your home is air-conditioned or heated year-round and the windows are seldom open, you may be able to ignore this rule.

• Do not place the bed where it obstructs a door into the room or a walkway through the room.

• Consider nontraditional furniture arrangements if doing so will free up space or use space in a more interesting way.

For example, a bed may look dramatic placed in front of a secure window; on a diagonal, which takes up extra space; sideways along a wall, to maximize floor space; or in an alcove (a technique called lit clos).

• If your closet is large enough and you'd like to free-up floor space, put your chest of drawers inside your walk-in closet. Doing this will let you add additional pieces of furniture, such as a writing desk, a seating group, or a big screen TV, to transform any bedroom into a luxury suite.

Bedrooms used by a specific group of people have unique needs. Whether you're decorating a master bedroom, a guest room, or a room for children, the following sections provide you with the tips you need.

Master bedrooms

A master bedroom doesn't have to be huge, but it does need to offer the amenities you need. If your space is less masterful than you'd like, look at some of the following suggestions for decorating your bedroom:

• Make the bedroom look larger by eliminating clutter.

• Use only necessary furniture. If you can, push a chest of drawers into a walk-in closet to free up floor space.

• Keep the bed visually low. Use a headboard, but don't use a footboard, and opt for something other than a four-poster bed, all of which tend to take up space visually, making the room seem smaller.

• Keep all your furniture — like the rest of your color scheme — light. Light colored furniture, walls, floors, window treatments, and bedding make a room seem bigger.

Regardless of the size of your master bedroom, the following tips can help you to make it as comfortable as possible:

• Add bedside tables that are as big as space will allow. If you read or watch TV in bed, you'll find these tables helpful.

You can buy restaurant café tables for very little money and drape them with quilts.

• Try to make room for at least one comfortable chair. Chairs are great for company on a sick day, for daytime resting, or for reading.

• Consider carpeting all bedroom floors to reduce noise in the room.

• Add a lady's desk — a small, delicately proportioned furnishing for writing letters and so forth — if you have room.

Teen bedrooms

Teenagers usually know what they want in a bedroom and aren't slow to tell you that they need storage for books and music and space for their collections of just about anything you can name. They have firm ideas about style and colors, so ask! And when your son or daughter requests a wild color, do your best to persuade him or her to use it as an accent.

More and more activities from surfing the Net to entertaining take place in a teen's room. Extra seating and small tables provide space for visitors. Keep furnishings practical and easy to care for.

Children's bedrooms

Nurseries must be planned with the child's future years in mind. But from the beginning, make room for a changing table near the crib. As always, keep safety in mind. The following tips will help you do all of these things:

• Keep cribs away from windows and window blind cords.

• Make sure cribs and bunk beds meet federal safety standards. Check to see that mattresses fit snugly against the crib's sides. Slats, spindles, rods, and corner posts should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart from each other. Make sure a child can't release the drop side of a crib.

• Choose chests and cabinets that can't be tipped over (even when drawers are opened and a child crawls up and into them). This may call for fastening them to the wall for security.

• Find hardware that's rounded, sanded, and has no sharp edges.

• Equip all electrical outlets with plastic safeguard plugs.

• Eliminate any small throw rugs on slippery floors.

• Make sure all flooring is skidproof.

• Eliminate dangling cords on window blinds.

• Choose bunk beds with sturdy ladders, handrails, and safety rails.

Make sure you have a guest bed for occasional sleepovers. A trundle bed, which neatly stores a second bed beneath a regular one, is the ideal solution for children's rooms.

Guest bedrooms

Setting aside a room for guests makes their stay more comfortable not only for them, but also for you. You can furnish the guest room with a marvelous bed and all the necessary furnishings and forget about it. Check out the following suggestions for ways to make your guest room comfortable:

• Buy a handsome, space-saving daybed or sofa bed that fits smartly against the wall and out of the way.

The versatility of these beds makes them a delightful option in a home office or other double-duty room. You may even consider installing a Murphy bed that hides away in a closet.

• Make sure that your guest has plenty of closet space.

• Dedicate two sets of sheets, a comforter, special pillows, a duvet cover, and pillow shams to your guest room.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/arranging-your-bedroom-furniture.html

Controlling Weeds Before You Plant Your Lawn

If you have decided that you are ready for a total lawn makeover, your first order of business should be to get rid of the weeds. Most professional landscapers will tell you that the best way to get rid of weeds is to spray the entire area with an herbicide. The most commonly available, easiest to use, and relatively safest herbicide is one with the active ingredient glyphosate. Brand names include Roundup, Kleenup, and others. The best way to tell whether you’re getting the product you want is to ask your hardware store or garden center associate to help you. Be sure to read the label and look for the active ingredient glyphosate.

You will probably have to apply this herbicide more than once.

For a lawn over 1,000 square feet, you need to rent or buy a backpack sprayer to do the job. The herbicide comes in a concentrated form that you mix with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Cordon off your lawn with tape, streamers, balloons, or some type of barrier. Keep the kids and your pets off the lawn and away from the yard. Glyphosate is a relatively benign herbicide, but it is a pesticide, and children and pets have lower sensitivity thresholds to chemicals than adults.

Make sure that you follow the label instructions and wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, rubber boots, and plastic gloves. Wait the specified time for the herbicide to work and then rake off any debris. Your lawn should be grass- and weed-free at this time, but be sure to make another application if you feel it is necessary.

When you’ve finally decided that all weeds and remaining grass are gone, wait one week before you plant your new expensive grass seed.

For those of you who prefer not to use toxic synthetic chemicals to kill the old grass and/or weeds, you can take several approaches to getting rid of weeds without chemicals.

• Rent a tiller: For a modest-sized yard with not a lot of weeds or dense turf, till your lawn area to a depth of 4 to 8 inches, rake out the grass and weeds, and till again. Keep tilling and raking until all the green matter is gone. Dump all this material in your compost bin where it decomposes over a period of months.

  
  

  Be sure to get a tiller that has the rotating tines in the rear behind the tires. They easier to handle than the tillers with the tines in front and over the engine. Running a front-tined tiller is like trying to control a bucking bronco.

  
  

  Don’t try to till dry or very wet soil. Water the whole area, let it dry for a few days, and then till.

  
  



• Renting a sod cutter: You simply guide the sod cutter over your old weedy lawn, and it cuts the turf at just below soil level. Turn the sheets of grass upside down where they will decompose and add nutrients to the soil. You also can haul the sod to a recycling center that accepts yard waste.

  
  



• Using black plastic: If your lawn is less than 1,000 square feet, buy enough heavy-gauge black plastic to cover your entire lawn. Spread the plastic out over the lawn and weigh down the edges with stakes, or rocks. Without sunlight, grass can’t grow and eventually dies. This process can take anywhere from a month to three months, depending on how hot and dry your season is.

  
  



• Plowing: Plowing is another method to use if your lawn is rather large. Adjust the plow blade or blades to dig the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Rake off the weeds and debris and keep plowing and raking until you get rid of all the unwanted green matter.

  
  



• *Bulldozing: If you have a really large area, a bulldozer or Bobcat may be a good option. Adjust the blade so that you’re just scraping off the thin layer of grass and weeds. You don’t want to take off the soil layer.

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/controlling-weeds-before-you-plant-your-lawn.html

Selecting Sustainable Plants for Your Yard

Selecting and combining the right plants, trees, and shrubs will contribute to a beautiful, sustainable landscape that you can enjoy for years. Ask these key sustainability-oriented questions when mapping out plants for your yard:

• Is it adapted to your climate? Make sure your plants will tolerate the temperatures, winds, humidity, and seasonal rhythms that occur where you live.

  
  



• Is it the right size? Plants that grow too big for the space they’re in need constant pruning to keep them in bounds. Give your plants (and yourself!) a break by allowing them room to grow.

  
  



• Is it resistant to pests and diseases? Why create trouble by choosing wimpy plants? Opt for sturdy varieties that never need to see the doctor.

  
  



• Is it long-lived? This question is especially important with trees and shrubs. Replacing “permanent” plants all the time is definitely not sustainable.

  
  



• Is it safe? Avoid poisonous or highly flammable plants, thorny plants, and trees that tip over or break apart in windstorms.

  
  



• What does it do? It’s best if your plants are more than just pretty faces on your landscape. Try to use plants that provide food for you or the neighborhood critters, make habitats for wildlife, improve the microclimate around your house, or create privacy.

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/selecting-sustainable-plants-for-your-yard.html

How to Supply Essential Accessories for Your Dog

6 of 8 in Series:
The Essentials of Adopting a New Puppy

Dogs don’t require thousands of accessories, and you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune to equip your dog. However, to be able to manage and train your dog successfully, you need some basic items from your friendly local pet store:

• Identification tag: An ID tag is the most important dog accessory you can buy. Engraved with your dog’s name and your address and phone number, an ID tag can be your dog’s ticket home if he ever gets lost — even if he has a microchip, he needs tags as well so that he can be returned to you without a trip to a vet or shelter.

  
  



• Buckle collar and six-foot leash: Choose nylon or leather with a metal or plastic buckle. For some small breeds or dogs that pull a lot, consider a harness in addition to a collar, but make sure you still can include identification tags.

  
  



• Crate or kennel: The crate or kennel is absolutely essential for housetraining and general management because it becomes your dog’s beloved den — and bedroom. A crate is a plastic carrier with a wire front. Crates are sometimes called kennels, but kennel also refers to a wire cage. Your dog needs to be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably inside. If you have a puppy that will grow quite a bit, buy a crate or kennel to fit the dog’s adult size.

  
  



• Dog seat belt: No, this device isn’t a luxury, it’s an important safety item if your dog’s kennel is too large to fit in the backseat or to buckle into the vehicle so that you don’t risk having your dog distract you while driving or get injured in an accident.

  
  



• Food and water bowls: Metal and ceramic are easier to clean and less likely to harbor bacteria, and they’re not tempting to chew.

  
  



• A high-quality dog food: Like humans, dogs are what they eat, so choose a nutritious chow.

  
  



• Assorted brushes depending on your dog’s coat: A natural bristle brush can be used for short and medium-coated dogs, and wire-pin and slicker brushes work for long or fluffy-coated dogs.

  
  



• Shampoo made just for dogs: You’ll also want conditioner for long-coated dogs.

  
  



• A nail clipper for dogs: This tool comes in sizes appropriate to your dog’s size (the label says whether the clipper is for small, medium, or large dogs).

  
  



• Pest control products to prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworms: The best ones come from your veterinarian.

  
  



• Chew toys: Puppies need to chew and need to have acceptable things to chew so they don’t chew your things. Chew toys can include hard rubber teethers and edible chew toys like rawhide, pig’s ears, hooves, and jerky treats.

  
  

  Some vets advise against certain edible chew toys like rawhide for some dogs because they can pose a choking hazard and/or stomach upset. If you aren’t sure about which edible chew toys are safe for your dog, talk to your vet.

  
  



• Interactive toys for bonding time: Whether you throw a tennis ball or a flying disc like a Frisbee or play tug-of-war with a rope toy, be sure to get a few toys that you and your dog can play with together. These toys give you great ways to play with your dog in the doggie way that he enjoys and help build a quality relationship between the two of you.

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-supply-essential-accessories-for-your-dog.html

Overview of Lion Server’s iChat: Instant Messaging and More

The iChat Service in Lion Server provides instant messaging, audio and video conferencing, and file transferring; it supports Mac, Windows, and Linux clients as well as mobile phones. iChat works on a person-to-person basis and in multiuser situations.

iChat Server can also create persistent chat rooms, which let participants leave or log off. When they return, they can see everything that happened in their absence. Users can send chat messages to other users who are offline.

iChat also acts as a kind of automatic note-taking service because users can generate chat transcripts. On the server, you can log chat text so that the administrator can read it or forward it to a group that needs it.

Chats aren’t just text, however. The server and clients support audio and video conferencing using the built-in mics and video cameras of most Macs and iOS devices.

iChat service is private and secure, using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. Users must have accounts in (and are authenticated by) the Open Directory domain, which means they can use iChat services from any computer and still see their buddy lists, groups, and other information.

Lion Server’s iChat service is compatible with a number of instant-messaging servers and clients. iChat service is based on the open standard Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), also called Jabber, which is used in the Jabber and Google Talk servers.

This compatibility enables iChat Server to communicate (or federate) with other XMPP servers or domains, including Google Talk, to enable users of both to interact. XMPP support also means that the server supports Jabber clients on any platform.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/overview-of-lion-servers-ichat-instant-messaging-a.html

Becoming Familiar with the QuarkXPress Interface

You may notice that the QuarkXPress interface bears a strong resemblance to the features used by other Windows and Macintosh programs. If you use other programs, you already know how to use QuarkXPress components such as file folders, document icons, and the set of menus at the top of the document window.

You create a document by choosing File --> New --> Document or open an existing document by choosing File --> Open --> Document.

When you display a document in either Windows or Macintosh, you'll see a few visual elements:

• The ruler origin box lets you reset and reposition the ruler origin, which is the point at which the side and top rulers are 0 (zero).

• The name of the open document appears on the title bar, located below the menu bar on the Mac and above the menu bar in Windows. You can move the document window around in the screen display area by clicking and dragging the title bar.

• If you have reduced or enlarged a document, clicking the zoom box on the Mac or the restore box in Windows, at the top right corner of the document window, returns it to its previous size.

• You can make a document all but disappear by minimizing it (in Windows) or turning it into a window shade (on the Mac). To minimize a document, click the minimize box in the document's title bar. To make a document into a window shade, double-click its title bar or click its WindowShade box on the Mac.

• The vertical and horizontal rulers on the left and top of the window reflect the measurement system currently in use.

• The pasteboard is a work area around the document page. You can temporarily store text boxes, picture boxes, or lines on the pasteboard. Items on the pasteboard do not print.

• QuarkXPress displays a shadow effect around the document page. The shadow indicates the edges of the document.

• If you select Automatic Text Box in the New dialog box (which you access by selecting New Document from the File menu), a text box appears on the first page of the new document.

• Clicking and dragging the size box on the Mac resizes the document window as you move the mouse. In Windows, you can drag any side of the window to resize it.

• The View Percent field shows the magnification level of the page that's currently displayed. To change the magnification level, enter a value between 10 and 800 percent in the field; then press the Return key or click elsewhere on the screen. Press Control+V on the Mac or Ctrl+Alt+V in Windows to highlight the View Percent field.

• Switch pages using the page pop-up.

• Use the scroll bars, boxes, and arrows to shift the document page around within the document window. If you hold down the Option or Alt key while you drag the scroll box, the view of the document is refreshed as it "moves."

• Close a document by clicking its close box.

Menus

The menu bar appears across the top of the document window. To display a menu on a Mac, click the menu title and, if you're using an older version of operating software, hold down the mouse button. (In Windows or Mac OS 9 or later, just click the menu title; you don't need to hold down the mouse button.)

From the menu, you can select any of the active menu commands. QuarkXPress displays inactive menu commands with dimmed (grayed-out) letters. When commands are dimmed, it means that these commands are not currently available to you — they're inactive.

To select one of the active menu commands, hold down the mouse button as you slide through the menu selections. (As you get used to the program, you can avoid using menus by using the keyboard equivalents for menu selections instead. Keyboard equivalents are displayed to the right of the command names in the menu.)

If an arrow appears to the right of a menu command, QuarkXPress displays a second, associated menu when you choose that command. Sometimes this secondary menu appears automatically when you highlight the first menu command; other times, you must continue to hold down the mouse and slide it to the submenu name in order to activate the menu. This may sound a little confusing on paper. But go ahead and try it. You'll find it's no big deal. (Again, in Windows or Mac OS 9 or later, you don't need to hold down the mouse button; just click the arrow to make the submenu appear.)

Dialog boxes

Some menu commands are followed by a series of dots called an ellipsis (. . .). If you choose a menu command whose name is followed by an ellipsis, a dialog box appears.

Some dialog boxes also contain submenus. If a menu has a submenu associated with it, an arrowhead appears to the right of the menu entry. In addition to submenus, QuarkXPress includes several pop-up menus, which appear when you make certain selections in a dialog box.

QuarkXPress uses tabs, a semi-new kind of dialog box that merges several dialog boxes into one. In fact, you'll often see six or seven of these tabs — similar to what you see on a file folder in an office cabinet — in a single dialog box. Like the file folders in an office cabinet, these tabs keep a large amount of stuff organized in one tidy spot. Click the tab, and it comes to the forefront, showing you the options for that tab. You simply work with each tab you want within the dialog box.

Keyboard shortcuts

You can select some QuarkXPress functions through pull-down menus, some through palettes, some through keyboard shortcuts, and some through all three options. Most new users begin by using menus because menus are so readily available and familiar. But as you become more comfortable using the program, you may want to save time by using the other options as well, particularly the keyboard shortcuts.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/becoming-familiar-with-the-quarkxpress-interface.html

Important Web Addresses for Peachtree Help

If you need help with Peachtree or have questions about managing your company’s finances, these web sites have the information you need:

• Peachtree For Dummies

  
  



• Peachtree Software

  
  



• Wiley Publishing

  
  



• Internal Revenue Service

  
  



• Microsoft

  
  



• Small Business Administration

  
  



• United States Post Office

  
  



• Diane Koers

  
  



• Elaine Marmel

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/important-web-addresses-for-peachtree-help.navId-323176.html

Handy Contact Information when You’re Buying a Home in the UK

Here’s some useful contact information to help you find UK house-buying experts. Try these numbers and websites for help finding the right person for the job.

• Estate agent: The National Association of Estate Agents or call 0844 387 0555.

  
  



• Licensed conveyancer: The Council for Licensed Conveyancers or call 01245 349599.

  
  



• Solicitor: The Law Society or call 020 7242 1222.

  
  
  
  

  • In Northern Ireland, try the Law Society of Northern Ireland or call 028 90 231614.

    
    
  
  

  • In Scotland, contact the Law Society of Scotland or call 0131 226 7411.

    
    
  
  
  
  



• Surveyor: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or call 0870 333 1600.

  
  
  
  

  • In Scotland, RICS Scotland or call 0131 225 7078.

    
    
  
  
  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/handy-contact-information-when-youre-buying-a-home.html

What Is Betfair?

Betfair.co.uk is a unique online betting site where thousands of people bet against each other every day. (Country restrictions do apply.) Betting against people online means you can get better odds, and it opens up many new options that haven’t been possible before.

Betting against other people means you can choose whether to back (bet for something to happen) or lay (bet against something to happen) by offering odds to other bettors. This gives you lots of different possibilities, such as choosing the odds at which you bet at, betting during an event (in-play), and making multiple bets on the same selection to try and guarantee a profit (trading).

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/what-is-betfair.html

Tips for Using E-Mail in Web Marketing

Reaching potential customers by e-mail can be a very effective Web marketing strategy. An e-mail marketing campaign can be detrimental, however, without some Web-based guidelines. Before you send your marketing e-mail, make sure that . . .

• You have explicit permission to send the e-mail.

  
  



• Your e-mail is CAN-SPAM-compliant.

  
  



• You pinpoint the main objective.

  
  



• Your From line clearly identifies your business.

  
  



• Your Subject line prompts your audience to open your e-mail.

  
  



• Your e-mail content is easy to scan.

  
  



• Your headlines are short, clear, and concise.

  
  



• Your e-mail contains a strong call to action.

  
  



• Your images help tell the story of your e-mail.

  
  



• Your e-mail content is relevant and valuable to your audience.

  
  



• You’ve checked all links to make sure they work properly.

  
  



• You’re prepared to handle inbound responses.

  
  



• You’re sending at a time when your audience is likely to notice.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/tips-for-using-email-in-web-marketing.html

Safe Sex: How Spermicides Work as Birth Control

Drug stores carry an array of spermicides for birth control: foams, creams, gels, and vaginal contraceptive film (VCF). Whatever the method, these products all work to kill the sperm before they can fertilize an egg — thus preventing unintended pregnancy. Spermicides do a great job of supplementing other birth control methods, but are not considered reliable contraceptives in and of themselves.

How spermicides work

Most foams, creams, and gels come with applicators to place them inside the vagina. You use each product a little differently, but in general you should put it in place at least ten minutes before intercourse (though this process can be integrated into foreplay). You must reapply the product each time you intend to repeat sexual intercourse.

Spermicide also can come as a vaginal contraceptive film (VCF), a 2-x-2-inch paper-thin sheet that contains nonoxynol-9 (a chemical that kills sperm). You place it on or near the cervix, where it dissolves in seconds, releasing the spermicide.

Advantages of spermicides

These products are easy to buy and easy to use. They don’t require a prescription, and apart from possible temporary allergic reactions to the chemicals of which they are made — which may affect the woman, the man, or both — they have relatively few side effects.

The spermicides in these products do offer some protection against HIV and other STDs (but don’t rely solely on these products to remain disease free).

Disadvantages of spermicides

Spermicides are relatively ineffective when used by themselves. Of 100 women who use a contraceptive foam, cream, jelly, or suppository, 21 will become pregnant during the first year of typical use, although if perfectly used, that number drops to 3. VCF is similar: when used perfectly only 6 percent of women become pregnant. Under normal use, however, the number jumps to 25 percent.

All spermicides are much more effective when used in conjunction with either a diaphragm, cervical cap, or condom.

If you use these products several times a day, they can cause irritation that can actually make catching AIDS easier.

Another drawback of these products is that they’re messy although new technology is being developed all the time. At least one new brand of gel claims to avoid leaking and does not require later removal.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/safe-sex-how-spermicides-work-as-birth-control.html

Wedding Etiquette For Dummies

Wedding etiquette rules have relaxed a bit over time, but common sense and basic etiquette are still necessary in every phase of wedding planning — and on the big day itself. Familiarizing yourself with what to do before, during, and after your wedding will help ensure that everyone enjoys all your wedding festivities.

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Etiquette Tips for Compiling Your Wedding Guest List

Etiquette can help you decide your wedding guest list. Compiling a wedding guest list can be extremely stressful because people's feelings are involved. Here, etiquette calls for extra tact and sympathy for others' feelings — and patience and understanding to avoid conflict. Here are some etiquette guidelines for building your wedding guest list:

• Find out how much money you can spend per guest on food at the reception, and use that amount to determine the number of guests you can invite. After all, the head count at your reception is the biggest expense in your wedding budget. Establish your budget, and stick to it.

  
  



• Before creating a master guest list, you and your spouse-to-be make a list, your parents make a list, and spouse-to-be’s parents make a list. Compile these lists and work graciously together to come up with a final master list and reach the desired number of guests that fit into the budget.

  
  



• To prioritize your master list, you first have to determine the must invites, the should invites, and the could invites. Does your budget cover all the must invites? If so, move on to the should invites and then to the could invites. By using this system, you ensure that the people who are most important to you, your spouse-to-be, and your families make the cut.

  
  



• As a general rule, always invite family first. Remember that the guests at your wedding are your “witnesses,” so they should be family and close friends whom you care about and will stay in touch with for many years.

  
  



• If any single friend or family member is in a long-term relationship, invite that person and his or her significant other by name even though they aren’t married. Also, if your budget allows, give the single members of the wedding party and any single family members the option of bringing a guest. If your budget doesn’t allow for each single guest to bring a date — and many couples’ budgets don’t — address the invitation appropriately. Don’t include “and guest” in the hopes that they won’t bring one because they probably will.

  
  



• Don’t feel obligated to invite co-workers because, after all, you may not work with them six months after the wedding. Remember, no hanging invitations on workplace bulletin boards! If your budget allows, you can follow the unwritten rule that says to invite the co-workers and business acquaintances you socialize with outside of work. However, inviting everyone on your team except one person isn’t appropriate.

  
  



• Determining whether to invite children can be tough. Before you make the decision, consider the type of wedding you’re having. If it’s a black tie affair and your reception begins in the evening, you may have to deal with a few meltdowns as children become tired. If you’re having a casual garden wedding in the early afternoon and your motto is the more the merrier, by all means, invite children.

  
  



• Children count toward your final number, and, if space is limited at your reception, you may have an easier time making your decision. Keep in mind, though, your flower girl and ring bearer are part of your wedding party, so you should invite them, of course. If either you or your spouse-to-be has children, you should absolutely include them, too. If either of you has children in your immediate family (that is, brothers or sisters), you should invite them, as well.

  
  

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The Etiquette of Writing and Addressing Wedding Invitations

There's a purpose for all the etiquette surrounding written wedding invitations. The etiquette of writing and addressing invitations provides important answers for wedding guests: They'll know who the hosts are; who's invited; and the locations of the ceremony and reception. Before you select your invitations, you need to know how to properly word your invitations; send all the right enclosures with your invitations; and properly address the envelopes so that everyone clearly understands who’s invited:

• Spell out professional titles, such as Doctor and Reverend, and all military titles (General, Major, and so on.) for names on your invitations. Acceptable abbreviations are the nonprofessional titles of Mr., Mrs., and Ms. Don’t include academic titles, such as PhD, on the invitation unless the person is a minister with a theological degree. And no nicknames! Use full names instead (such as Michael rather than Mike). If you choose to include any middle names on the invitation, spell them out, too.

  
  



• Spell out street names, such as Avenue, Boulevard, and Street, on all invitations. Also spell out days of the week, dates, months, times, and numbers in addresses for invitations to black tie and formal weddings. For invitations to semiformal and informal weddings, you can use numbers freely.

  
  



• For a ceremony in a house of worship, use the word honour to show reverence to God, as in “request the honour of your presence.” For a location other than a house of worship, even if the ceremony is religious, use the phrase “request the pleasure of your company.”

  
  



• Give the hosts of your wedding top billing on the invitation.

  
  



• Do not include gift registry information or gift suggestions on your invitations. And never, ever, handwrite anything on the invitation.

  
  



• Include lodging information on a separate enclosure card with a map and directions to your ceremony and reception. You may also include this information with your save-the-date cards and/or on your wedding Web site.

  
  



• Address the inside envelope with exactly whom you’re inviting. For example, writing “Mr. and Mrs. Swanson” tells your guests that just the Mr. and Mrs. are invited, not their children.

  
  

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Etiquette Pointers: Registering for Wedding Gifts

Using a wedding gift registry makes it easy for friends and family to shop. Registering for wedding gifts is fun, but remember your etiquette! Consideration is key, whether you're working with the gift consultant, settling matters of differing taste with your beloved, or choosing your items with a range of prices in mind:

• Call ahead and make an appointment with the registry consultant at each store where you choose to register. Always be patient with and kind to consultants because they’re often being pulled in different directions by the many couples they’re trying to help.

  
  



• List items in different price ranges on each of your registries. Many national stores have lots of fun and useful, less expensive gadgets that make great gifts. Of course, it’s okay to register for some pricier items, as well; often friends and family go together to purchase one larger, more expensive item, such as a new grill. Don’t be concerned with having too many items on each list; your guests will appreciate having options to fit any budget. Besides, you have engagement parties and bridal showers, plus the wedding! Feel free to register for more gifts than the number of guests who will attend the wedding.

  
  



• Feel free to list “gift cards welcome” on your registry.

  
  



• Try to register together with your spouse-to-be or at least discuss each other’s likes and dislikes before registering. Be respectful of your different tastes!

  
  



• Let your family and wedding party spread the word about where you’re registered. Noting where you’re registered, as well as any gift alternatives, such as contributions to charities, on your bridal shower invitation and wedding Web site, is also acceptable.

  
  



• Check your registries throughout your engagement period (especially two weeks before and one week before your wedding), and add items as needed. If the pricier items are the only ones left, be sure to add some less expensive items.

  
  



• Keep a detailed list of who sent gifts as you receive them; also keep the enclosure card and receipt for each gift. This organization makes writing and sending thank-you notes much easier — and hopefully provides an incentive to start writing thank-you notes immediately.

  
  

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dummies

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

Using Java Operators

An operator designates a mathematical operation or some other type of operation that can be performed on operands. Java has arithmetic operators, relational operators (also known as binary operators) and logical operators (also known as boolean operators).

Arithmetic

+	Addition
-	Subtraction
*	Multiplication
/	Division
%	Remainder
++	Increment
—	Decrement
+=	Addition and assignment
-=	Subtraction and assignment
*=	Multiplication and assignment
/=	Division and assignment
%=	Remainder and assignment

Relational

==	Equal
!=	Not equal
<	Less than
<=	Less than or equal to
>	Greater than
>=	Greater than or equal to

Logical

!	Not
&	And
&&	Conditional and
|	Or
||	Conditional or
^	xor

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-java-operators.html

Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies

The Internet has changed the way we do everything. But those seniors who didn't grow up with computers might be scared away from the Web by stories of online fraud and identity theft. Don't think that it's just you against the Internet; Internet safety for seniors doesn't have to be a big deal. Here are some helpful tips and Web sites you can use to be a safe, effective online user.

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Online Safety Web Sites

A number of Web-sites are dedicated to Internet safety. These Web sites can help you understand online risks, such as identity theft and scams, and can help you generally be a safer online consumer:

• LOOKBOTHWAYS offers blogs and step-by-step procedures to help you stay safer. Keep up with the latest online risks and gain skills to be a safer online consumer. The Ask Linda feature lets you ask safety questions at any time for expert advice.

  
  



• Fighting Back Against Identity Theft is a site from the Federal Trade Commission that guides you through the process of deterring ID thieves, detecting ID theft, and defending yourself against it.

  
  



• The National Fraud Information Center’s site lets you look up the latest online scams, under the theory that knowledge is power. It also has an online complaint form that you can use to inform them of bad experiences you’ve had with online spammers or scammers.

  
  



• The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start in identifying online stores that are safe to do business with.

  
  



• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission site is a good place to get information to help you protect your investments and access investment calculators.

  
  



• CNET is a good site for reading reviews of products from their editors and users before making your online purchase. CNET has a strong focus on electronics and technology, so if you’re thinking of buying a computer, this is a good source of information.

  
  

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How to Become Safer Online

The Internet is an amazing tool, but it poses some safety risks. Before you start "surfing the net," use these tips for being a safe, smart online user:

• Create stronger passwords. Create passwords that aren’t easy to guess, and don’t share them with others.

  
  



• Don’t expose personal information. Be aware of how much of your personal or financial data you might be sharing with strangers on social networking sites, through e-mail, and on special-interest sites.

  
  



• Don’t fall for e-mail scams. Online criminals may use e-mail to get your personal information and steal your identity. Or an e-mail might entice you to click a link that takes you to a bogus site or downloads malware (malicious software) to your computer.

  
  



• Know who you’re doing business with. It’s quick and easy to create a Web site that looks legit, but not all Web sites are.

  
  



• Be cautious with e-mail attachments. Attached files may contain malware, which can damage your computer — or it may install code that can track your activities

  
  



• Use software to avoid malware. Several types of software products can spot and avoid viruses, spyware, and objectionable online content. Make sure you use protection.

  
  



• Create safe e-mail aliases and usernames. Whether you're creating an e-mail account or a user account on a social networking or special-interest site, be careful how much information you give away even in your usename.

  
  



• Find out how others might expose you. Even if you never go online, your information is probably out there. Learn to identify your exposure and stop others from revealing personal information.

  
  

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dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/using-the-internet-safely-for-seniors-for-dummies-.html

Behind BARS: Evaluating Employees with Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales

The BARS (behaviorally anchored rating scales) method of evaluating employees carries typical job appraisals one step further: Instead of relying on behaviors that can be appraised in any position in a company, the BARS method bases evaluations on specific behaviors required for each individual position in an individual company.

The BARS method explained

Development of BARS evaluations requires an in-depth understanding of each position’s key tasks, along with an understanding of the full range of behaviors displayed by individuals in carrying out such tasks. You rate these behaviors for each employee; then you anchor each behavior to points on a rating scale, which indicates whether the behavior is exceptional, excellent, fully competent, or unsatisfactory. The result is a rating scale for each task.

For example, in a hypothetical position of human resources coordinator, one of the job holder’s responsibilities is to complete status change notices, which update the personnel system regarding changes in employee pay, position, title, supervisor, and personal data. The BARS method for this specific task in this specific job could read as follows:

5 — Exceptional performance: Accurately completes and submits all status change notices within an hour of request.

4 — Excellent performance: Verifies all status change notice information with requesting manager before submitting.

3 — Fully competent performance: Completes status change notice forms by the end of the workday.

2 — Marginal performance: Argues when asked to complete a status change notice.

1 — Unsatisfactory performance: Says status change notice forms have been submitted when they haven’t.

Pros and cons of the BARS method

The BARS approach offers several key advantages:

• It’s behaviorally based. The BARS system is totally focused on employee performance. Ideally, it removes all uncertainty regarding the meaning of each numerical rating.

  
  



• It’s easy to use. The clear behavioral indicators make the process easier for the manager to carry out and the employee to accept.

  
  



• It’s equitable. With its heavy emphasis on behavior, the evaluation process comes across as fair.

  
  



• It’s fully individualized. From the standpoint of consistency within a company, BARS is designed and applied individually and uniquely for every position.

  
  



• It’s action-oriented. With an understanding of the specific performance expectations and standards of excellence, employees can much more easily take steps to improve their performance, and they’re more likely to do so as a result.

  
  

Like any method, BARS isn’t perfect. Here are some of the drawbacks to the BARS approach:

• The process of creating and implementing BARS is time-consuming, difficult, and expensive. Each BARS form must be created from scratch for every position in the company.

  
  



• Sometimes the listed behaviors still don’t include certain actions required of the employee, so managers can have difficulty as signing a rating.

  
  



• It’s high maintenance. Jobs change over time, which means that BARS requires a high degree of monitoring and maintenance.

  
  



• It’s demanding of managers. In order to successfully conduct BARS evaluations, managers need detailed information regarding the actions of their employees. Gathering such data can be quite time-consuming, and many managers end up letting this slide.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/behind-bars-evaluating-employees-with-behaviorally.html

Network Basics: Network Attached Storage

A simple and relatively inexpensive way to add more storage to your network is to use network attached storage, also known as NAS. A NAS device is a self-contained file server that’s preconfigured and ready to run. All you have to do to set it up is take it out of the box, plug it in, and turn it on.

NAS should not be confused with a related technology called storage area networks, or SAN. SAN is a much more complicated and expensive technology that provides huge quantities of data storage for large networks.

A typical entry-level NAS device is the Dell PowerVault NX300. This device is a self-contained file server built into a small rack-mount chassis. It supports up to four hard drives with a total capacity up to four terabyte (or 4,000GB). The NX300 uses a Xeon processor and two built-in gigabit network ports.

The Dell NX300 runs a special version of Windows Server 2008 called the Windows Storage Server 2008. This version of Windows is designed specifically for NAS devices. It allows you to configure the network storage from any computer on the network by using a web browser.

Note that some NAS devices use customized versions of Linux rather than Windows Storage Server. Also, in some systems, the operating system resides on a separate hard drive that’s isolated from the shared disks. This prevents the user from inadvertently damaging the operating system.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/network-basics-network-attached-storage.html

Extending Notes with Dots and Ties

All notes have a certain value, indicated by the size and shape of the note, that determines how long a pitch should be held by the voice or an instrument. Sometimes, however, you want to add to the value of a note to create syncopation or other interest in your musical piece. You can extend a note's value in written music using dots and ties. Here's the lowdown on each:

• Augmentation dot: This dot indicates that a note's value is increased by one half of its original value. The most common use of the dotted note is when a half note is made to last three quarter-note beats instead of two, as shown in the figure. Less common is the dotted whole note. This dotted note means the whole note's value is increased from four beats to six beats.

  
  
  



• Tie: Ties connect notes of the same pitch to create one sustained note instead of two separate ones. When you see a tie, simply add the notes together. For example, a quarter note tied to another quarter note equals one note held for two beats, as shown in the figure.

  
  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/extending-notes-with-dots-and-ties.html

Android Touchscreen Operations

You can perform several basic actions on your Android phone’s touchscreen. It’s just a matter of teaching your fingers to do what you want them to. Here are the basic things you do to control your Android phone from the touchscreen:

Action	How to Do It
Touch	Touch the screen.
Double-tap	Touch the screen twice in the same location.
Long Press	Touch a spot on the screen and keep your finger down.
Swipe	Touch a spot on the screen and drag your finger left, right, up, or down.
Pinch	Use two fingers to touch the screen and bring both fingers together as you continue to touch the screen.
Spread	Use two fingers close together and then spread them apart, touching the screen as you spread them.
Rotate	Twist two fingers around a central point to rotate an image, map, or other object on the screen.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/android-touchscreen-operations.html

Network Building: Installing Coaxial Cable

Although twisted-pair cable is the most common type of networking cable, some networks still rely on old-fashioned coaxial cable, usually called thinnet or sometimes BNC cable because of the type of connectors used on each end of the cable.

Here are some salient points about working with coaxial cable:

• You attach thinnet to the network interface card by using a goofy twist-on connector called a BNC connector. You can purchase preassembled cables with BNC connectors already attached in lengths of 25 or 50 feet, or you can buy bulk cable on a big spool and attach the connectors yourself by using a special tool. (Buy preassembled cables. Attaching connectors to bulk coaxial cable can be tricky.)

  
  



• With coaxial cables, you run cable from computer to computer until all the computers are chained together. At each computer, use a T connector to connect two cables to the network interface card.

  
  



• A special plug called a terminator is required at each end of a series of thinnet cables. The terminator prevents data from spilling out the end of the cable and staining the carpet.

  
  



• The cables strung end-to-end from one terminator to the other are collectively called a segment. The maximum length of a thinnet segment is about 200 meters (actually, 185 meters). You can connect as many as 30 computers on one segment.

  
  

  To span a distance greater than 185 meters or to connect more than 30 computers, you must use two or more segments with a funky device called a repeater to connect each segment.

  
  



• Although Ethernet coaxial cable resembles TV coaxial cable, the two types of cable aren't interchangeable. Don’t try to cut costs by wiring your network with cheap TV cable.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/network-building-installing-coaxial-cable.html

Your PC’s Setup Program

You might never need to run or access your PC’s Setup program, but it’s good to know how to get there, regardless. You use the Setup program, for example, when adding more memory to the computer, updating some types of hardware, or disabling chipset features. Keep these points in mind regarding the Setup program:

• Common keys to press for getting into the PC Setup program include Del or Delete, F1, F2, F10, F11, and the spacebar.

  
  



• The Setup program is part of your computer’s hardware. It’s not part of Windows.

  
  



• The Setup program might also be known as the BIOS Setup utility.

  
  



• One feature of the Setup program is that you can apply a system password for your computer. Only use this feature if you’re confident that you can remember the password and store it where you can find it. Unlike with other passwords, if you forget the system password, it’s very difficult to access your PC.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/your-pcs-setup-program.html

Network Administration: User Account Components

Every user who accesses a network must have a user account. User accounts allow the network administrator to determine who can access the network and what network resources each user can access. In addition, the user account can be customized to provide many convenience features for users, such as a personalized Start menu or a display of recently used documents.

Every user account is associated with a username (sometimes called a user ID), which the user must enter when logging on to the network. Each account also has other information associated with it. In particular:

• The user’s password: This also includes the password policy, such as how often the user has to change his or her password, how complicated the password must be, and so on.

  
  



• The user’s contact information: This includes full name, phone number, e-mail address, mailing address, and other related information.

  
  



• Account restrictions: This includes restrictions that allow the user to log on only during certain times of the day. This feature enables you to restrict your users to normal working hours so that they can’t sneak in at 2 a.m. to do unauthorized work.

  
  

  This feature also discourages your users from working overtime because they can’t access the network after hours, so use it judiciously. You can also specify that the user can log on only at certain computers.

  
  



• Account status: You can temporarily disable a user account so that the user can’t log on.

  
  



• Home directory: This specifies a shared network folder where the user can store documents.

  
  



• Dial-in permissions: These authorize the user to access the network remotely via a dialup connection.

  
  



• Group memberships: These grant the user certain rights based on groups to which they belong. For more information, see the section, “Assigning Permissions to Groups,” later in this chapter.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/network-administration-user-account-components.html

Perfect Pofer Cookies

4 of 10 in Series:
Cookie Recipes to Impress Your Friends

Pofer cookies not only taste delicious, but also look beautiful. Using a round fluted cookie cutter gives them an elegant appearance, because of the scalloped edges. Plus, the preserves glisten like jewels in the center of the sandwich cookie, making them hard to pass up.

If you don't want to sandwich them together, they’re delicious on their own. For special flair, dip them in chocolate or drizzle chocolate over them.

Specialty tools: 1-inch and 3-inch round fluted-edge cutters, rolling pin

Preparation time: 3-1/4 hours; includes chilling

Baking time: 10 minutes

Yield: 3-1/2 dozen

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (1-1/2 sticks plus 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 cups finely ground almonds

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

4 cups all-purpose flour

Pinch of salt

1-1/4 cups apricot or raspberry preserves

1 cup confectioners' sugar for garnish

1. Using a mixer, beat the butter in a large mixing bowl, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and mix together until smooth. Add the almonds, cinnamon, and vanilla and blend well.

   
   



2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and add to the butter mixture. Blend well and then add the flour with the salt in three stages.

   
   

   Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Mix to a smooth dough, about 2 minutes. Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for at least 3 hours, until firm enough to roll out. The dough can be held in the refrigerator for 3 days or can be frozen. If frozen, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

   
   



3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

   
   

   Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out circles using a 3-inch round fluted-edge cutter. Take half the circles and cut out their centers using a 1-inch round fluted-edge cutter.

   
   

   Gather together the scraps and center cutouts, reroll, and recut. Place the circles on the cookie sheet, leaving 1 inch between them. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden and set. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and transfer the cookies from the parchment paper to the cooling racks.

   
   



4. When the cookies are cool, place a teaspoon of preserves on the solid cookies.

   
   

   Heavily dust the cookies with the center holes with confectioners' sugar and place these on top of the cookies with the preserves, forming sandwiches. Store in a single layer in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

   
   

Per serving: Calories 349 (From Fat 64); Fat 7g (Saturated 3g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 11mg; Carbohydrate 71g (Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 3g.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/perfect-pofer-cookies.html

Job Search: How Useful Are the Want Ads?

Using the want ads as a job search tool, either from the paper or online, might not be a bad job search strategy, even though some career counselors rant that answering want ads is a weak approach to landing a job. But in light of the number of jobs posted on the Internet, the easy tools for sifting through them, new laws requiring the public posting of jobs, and people getting ever sicker of being "networked," answering ads may be a more powerful tool than you think.

Consider these "want ad" facts:

• With literally millions of easy-to-search online job ads to choose from, you can focus on those that really fit.

• It's fast. Respond to an ad today and you could be hired within weeks or even days.

• Ads are a legal cheat sheet for job applicants. Unlike with networking or cold calling, you usually know exactly what the employer is looking for — the job requirements are right there in the ad. So you can tailor your resume to the employer's needs.

• Responding to want ads is more psychologically rewarding than networking because you know you're applying for an actual job opening, and responding to want ads is less stressful than asking people to help you find a job or trying to convince an employer who hasn't listed a job opening to hire you.

• Using the want ads is an ideal approach for people who work during business hours. You can search for and respond to want ads at night and on weekends so you don't have to take time off work.

• Using the want ads is ideal if you're looking for a job out of town. The Web contains sites with literally millions of instantly searchable job openings all over the world.

• Responding to want ads is ideal for people who write better than they schmooze.

• Want ads may be better for you than other job-search tools. Networking works if you have a 500-person Rolodex; cold-calling dream employers works if you're a terrific self-promoter. But most people aren't like that. For most people, responding to want ads feels more doable.

Want ads have long been underrated, and networking overrated, but today, that's truer than ever. More and more job openings are subject to affirmative action hiring requirements, so fewer jobs are filled from the "inside." To fulfill legal requirements, they must be advertised.

Meanwhile, thanks to the Internet, answering want ads is a job-search method on steroids. Millions of job openings are posted on the Web. You can search through them to find tailor-made jobs from the comfort of your home. You can even have personal electronic job scouts scour the Net for you 24/7, searching through those millions of job openings and delivering the best fits on a silver platter right to your electronic door. All free to you!

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/job-search-how-useful-are-the-want-ads.html

Digital Photography Terms

Get comfortable with your digital camera by learning some digital photography lingo and tips that will help you with lighting, portraits, and depth of field so you’re off and shooting great digital photos.

• ISO: The camera’s sensitivity to light. Increasing the ISO rating makes it possible to take pictures in low light conditions without using a tripod. However, increasing the ISO also increases the amount of digital noise that’s visible in the resulting photograph.

  
  



• depth of field: The distance in front of and behind the subject that appears to be in focus. When you shoot portraits, try to capture a shallow depth of field where your subject is in focus but the foreground and background are blurred. When you shoot landscapes, try to capture a large depth of field where the entire scene is in focus.

  
  



• f/stop: The diameter of the opening of the lens relative to the focal length. A small f/stop value lets a lot of light into the camera, whereas a large f/stop lets a small amount of light into the camera.

  
  



• Aperture Priority mode: Noted as AV (Aperture Value) or A (Aperture) on the camera shooting mode dial. When you set the aperture, the camera automatically chooses the shutter speed for a properly exposed image. Choose a large aperture (small f/stop value) to achieve a shallow depth of field, and a small aperture (large f/stop value) to achieve a large depth of field. You achieve the shallowest depth of field when using a large aperture with a telephoto lens, and the largest depth of field when using a small aperture with a wide-angle lens. Use this shooting mode when your primary objective is to control depth of field.

  
  



• Shutter Priority mode: Noted as TV (Time Value) or S (Shutter) on the camera shooting mode dial. When you set the shutter speed (the amount of time the shutter stays open), the camera automatically chooses the aperture for a properly exposed image. Shutter speeds can range from a very fast 1⁄4000 of a second to as long as 15 seconds or more. The range of shutter speeds varies depending on the cost of the camera and on the manufacturer. Choose a fast shutter speed to freeze action, and a slow shutter speed when you want to blur an object in motion. Use this shooting mode when your subject is moving.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/digital-photography-terms.html

Your Daily Parkinson’s Disease CHECK-IN

If you have Parkinson’s disease (PD), you know that few things are quick and easy — except the following list that helps you remind yourself that living well with PD is possible. Read this list once a day — twice if it’s a rough day:

• Challenge — Acknowledge and face the facts.

  
  



• Humor — Find and revel in the absurd.

  
  



• Empowerment — Refuse to surrender your life and relationships to PD.

  
  



• Collaboration — Team with your family, friends, and healthcare providers.

  
  



• Knowledge — Know the difference between myth and fact and keep up with the latest developments.

  
  



• Integration — Treat the body, mind, and spirit.

  
  



• Never give up!

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/your-daily-parkinsons-disease-checkin.html

Getting Equipped to Play Baseball

When you take the baseball field, you should take along the best equipment available. You don't need to spend vast sums to purchase top-quality accessories as long as you know what to look for and where to find it.

Unless you are under ten years old, buy equipment that meets all the major league specifications. Buying equipment that is licensed by a reputable body, such as Major League Baseball, the NCAA, or the Little League, offers you some quality assurances.

Baseballs that last

You don't have to go to your local sporting goods store armed with a tape measure, scale, and scalpel (for filleting the ball to check its innards) to make sure you're buying a baseball that conforms to major league standards. Rawlings is the only company licensed by both major leagues to manufacture their official baseballs. So if you buy one of their baseballs, you know you're getting the genuine article.

A ball whose insides are poorly wrapped rapidly becomes misshapen with use. If your baseball is poorly stitched or constructed from inferior leather, it falls apart. Avoid balls made with synthetic leather wrapped around a core of hard plastic. This kind of ball makes a good toy or first ball for a toddler, but if you're a young adult or older, you'll tear its cover off in one good afternoon of batting practice.

Bats that really swing

Although pro players are required to use wooden bats, many people prefer the power that aluminum can offer. Here's a breakdown of three styles of bat:

• Professional wood: A major league bat must be a single, round piece of solid wood, no more than 2-3/4 inches (7cm) in diameter at its thickest and no more than 42 inches (1.06m) long.

Choose a bat that you can swing comfortably with control and speed, but also look for one that will last. Bats made of white ash have greater durability than bats constructed from less dense woods. When you choose a bat, look for one with a wide grain, the mark of an aged wood. These bats are more resistant to breaking, denting, chipping, or flaking than bats made from less mature wood.

• Powerful aluminum: Aluminum bats are currently popular in many levels of nonprofessional baseball. The choice of aluminum over wood is largely an economic one: Most nonpro leagues find that the cost of regularly replacing broken wooden bats can bust their budgets.

Hitters love aluminum bats because they are hollow and light yet they have more hitting mass than heavier wooden bats. This quality enables the hitter to generate greater bat speed and power. Balls that are routine outs when struck by a wooden bat are out of the park when launched by aluminum.

An aluminum bat's sweet spot is twice the size of that found on a wooden bat. Aluminum bats have a longer game-life than wooden models, but they aren't immortal. After 600 hits or so, metal fatigue becomes a factor.

If your league insists that you use an aluminum bat, buy one that rings or lightly vibrates when you strike its barrel on something hard. Bats that don't ring have no hitting life left in them.

• Other batting options: Ceramic and graphite bats are the new kids on the block. They have the durability of the aluminum bats but are closer in weight/mass ratio to wooden bats, so they don't give hitters an unfair advantage over pitchers. Their price, however, can be prohibitive: Top-of-the-line models can cost as much as $220.

Gloves that fit the job

All major league gloves and mitts are made of leather. Children can get by with using vinyl gloves and plastic balls, but once you're playing serious baseball, leather is the only way to go.

Pick a glove that conforms to the major league standards and fits your hand comfortably. Gloves with open webbings allow you to watch the ball until you catch it, which is always a good policy. You don't have that advantage with closed-web gloves, which are also more difficult to break in (though if you're a pitcher, you need the closed webbing to better hide your pitches).

The best way to break in a leather glove is to play catch with it frequently. You can also make it more pliable by rubbing it with linseed oil, saddle soap, or shaving cream (though you may want to avoid shaving gels, which tend to dry out quickly).

If your glove gets wet, let it dry naturally. Placing it on a radiator or some other heat producer cracks the leather. When your glove is idle, place a ball in its pocket, and then tie the glove closed with a leather strap or wrap a rubber band around it to maintain its catching shape.

Shoes like the pros

Most nonprofessional players give little thought to their shoes; they just put on whatever they can. In fact, standard baseball shoes are no longer obligatory for many pro players — Frank Thomas has been known to hit in tennis shoes.

But traditionalists believe you should buy a light shoe with metal spikes (the shodding of choice when you're playing on natural grass) so that you can get maximum traction in the batter's box and on the base paths. If you don't want to wear spikes, at least get shoes with rubber cleats (preferably worn on artificial turf) so that you can grip the playing surface as you run.

Your shoes should fit properly and offer your feet adequate support; otherwise you risk damaging your lower legs' connective tissue. Choose a sturdy shoe with support that runs its entire length. Because your shoes stretch with use, choose a pair that fits snugly when you first wear them.

Batting helmets

Both major leagues require hitters to wear batting helmets with at least one earflap (protecting the side facing the pitcher). Anytime you go to bat against live pitching without wearing a batting helmet, you should have your head examined. And if you're unlucky, that is exactly what you will have to do.

Even a low-grade fastball can permanently damage or even kill you if it collides with your unprotected cranium. A solid batting helmet with double earflaps is the best insurance policy a hitter can buy.

Light plastic batting helmets, such as the freebies that major league teams give away on Helmet Day at the stadium, are too flimsy to protect your head from an errant fastball. Do not wear them to the plate.

Batting gloves

Batting gloves protect a hitter's most important tools — his hands — from painful blisters, cuts, and scrapes. Runners can wear them on the base paths to protect their hands while sliding; fielders can don them under their fielding gloves to reduce the sting of hard-hit balls. For hitting, choose gloves that do not detract from your feel for the bat.

Caps and uniforms

Your cap should fit snugly enough that the bill doesn't droop over your eyes to block your vision. Uniform fit is a matter of personal comfort; your pants and jersey should permit unrestricted movement at the plate and in the field.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/getting-equipped-to-play-baseball.html

Where to Find Online Audio Content

5 of 8 in Series:
The Essentials of Accessing Digital Content for Home Theaters

Downloading online music instead of buying a CD at a store is pretty convenient, but music isn't the only audio content you can find online. Audio book and free Internet radio are also available. Audio preceded video in terms of Internet portals, largely because audio content could be listened to via dial-up Internet connections (due to the much smaller file sizes).

Some of the most popular online audio content providers include:

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  Apple’s iTunes Music Store

  
  


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  Rhapsody

  
  


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  eMusic

  
  


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  Amazon.com

  
  


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  Napster

  
  

The pricing and options for these services change rapidly, so it's tricky to describe the services in detail. Instead, here's some advice about how to find the best service to match your needs:

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  Number of songs: The bigger services offer more choices — it’s as simple as that. If you are concerned about the variety and depth of content, you should be aware that there is a big variance in the number of songs — and the number of songs from high-profile artists — each service makes available. Big services such as iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon.com’s MP3 store have many millions of titles.

  
  

  In general, the wider your tastes, the more you want to go with the larger services. But smaller services (by comparison) such as eMusic have a lot of interesting music too — and may offer independently produced content that the big guys don’t have.

  
  


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  Flexibility in use: If you want to own all your own tracks and movies and have no problem limiting your player choice to iPod models, iTunes is a great option for you. It’s simple, has an extensive catalog, is leading the pack with video purchase options, and allows things such as sharing over your LAN and on multiple PCs. The downside of iTunes is that you can’t play your iTunes-purchased music or video on alternate players, set-top boxes, and so on — only Apple’s own Airport Express will play iTunes Music Store-purchased songs remotely.

  
  

  On the other hand, if you go with the more widely accessible Microsoft Windows Media Audio-based systems, you open up your entire home to a range of players, set-top boxes, and other platforms to access your digital content. The most flexible, for music at least, are Amazon.com and eMusic, which do not use any sort of DRM system, so you can use them on anything that plays the MP3 format.

  
  


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  Quality desired: Digital content has a range of quality as well, mostly based on the encoding sampling rate used. None of the online digital content services store content in a lossless fashion, so all of them end up compromising the original recordings to some extent. You can truly notice a difference between tracks encoded at 128 Kbps, 160 Kbps, and 192 Kbps, for instance. You do trade off the amount of music you can store on your player, though, because the file sizes are larger for higher sampling rates.

  
  


• 
  

  Try before you buy: If you like to try out lots of new bands and watch all the new indie movies, you should look at subscription services because you can listen and watch to your heart’s content and buy what you like. If you go the download route, you’ll buy a lot of content you end up not liking — and that’s simply a waste of money.

  
  


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  “On the go” services: If you are constantly downloading your content and then hitting the road, you need to look at the available to-go services, such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody To Go, which package their subscription services. For about the cost of a CD each month, you can grab your music player, download anything in their full catalog, and hit the road. Only specific music and video players are supported, so check their sites.

  
  

If you like audio books, check out Audible.com for audio content you can download to your portable music player. Also, if you like Internet radio, be sure to check out the following Internet radio hosting or search sites for cool stations:

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  SHOUTcast

  
  


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  RadioTower

  
  


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  Radio-Locator

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/where-to-find-online-audio-content.html

Making a Note of Useful UK Telephone Numbers for Health Emergencies

Having access to the right help at the right time can make all the difference to effectively managing your health symptoms. Don’t waste time hunting around for phone numbers when you most need them – keep a list of contacts handy by your phone. Print out this list:

NHS Direct: 0845 4647; www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NHS24 (Scotland): 0845 4242424; www.nhs24.com

Your GP surgery: ___________________________

Your dentist: ___________________________

Your local hospital: __________________________

Ambulance/Police/Fire: 999

Alcoholics Anonymous: 0845 7697555

BackCare Helpline: 0845 1302704

ChildLine: 0800 1111

Cruse Bereavement Counselling: 0844 4779400

The Patients Association: 0845 6084455

The Samaritans: 0845 7909090

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/making-a-note-of-useful-uk-telephone-numbers-for-h.html