Excel Formulas and Functions For Dummies

Microsoft Office Excel is used to store data and crunch numbers in all types of businesses. The spreadhseet program's power lies in Excel functions and Excel formulas, which allow all sorts of data analysis, from simple sums to standard deviations. Consider this Cheat Sheet your quick and easy Excel tutorial.

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Excel Functions You're Likely to Use

Some Excel functions apply to specific subject areas, but others are general and apply to all needs. The following list shows an array of Excel functions used by one and all. Check here for a quickie reference to the purpose of each Excel function.

Excel Function	Description
SUM	Calculates the sum of a group of values
AVERAGE	Calculates the mean of a group of values
COUNT	Counts the number of cells in a range that contains numbers
INT	Removes the decimal portion of a number, leaving just the integer portion
ROUND	Rounds a number to a specified number of decimal places or digit positions
IF	Tests for a true or false condition and then returns one value or another
NOW	Returns the system date and time
TODAY	Returns the system date, without the time
SUMIF	Calculates a sum from a group of values, but just of values that are included because a condition is met
COUNTIF	Counts the number of cells in a range that match a criteria

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Excel Text Functions You'll Find Helpful

Excel's text functions are very helpful when you're working with names, addresses, customer lists, or any other text-based data. Here is list of Excel functions associated with text, along with a description of what each function does:

Function	Description
LEFT	Extracts one or more characters from the left side of a text string
RIGHT	Extracts one or more characters from the right side of a text string
MID	Extracts characters from the middle of a text string; you specify which character position to start from and how many characters to include
CONCATENATE	Assembles two or more text strings into one
REPLACE	Replaces part of a text string with other text
LOWER	Converts a text string to all lowercase
UPPER	Converts a text string to all uppercase
PROPER	Converts a text string to proper case
LEN	Returns a text string’s length (number of characters)

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Excel Order of Operations to Keep in Mind

Mathematics dictates a protocol of how formulas are interpreted, and Excel follows that protocol. The following is the order in which mathematical operators and syntax are applied both in Excel and in general mathematics. You can remember this order by memorizing the mnemonic phrase, “Please excuse my dear aunt Sally.”

1. Parentheses




2. Exponents




3. Multiplication and division




4. Addition and subtraction

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Excel Cell References Worth Remembering

In Excel formulas, you can refer to other cells either relatively or absolutely. When you copy and paste a formula in Excel, how you create the references within the formula tells Excel what to change in the formula it pastes. The formula can either change the references relative to the cell where you're pasting it (relative reference), or it can always refer to a specific cell. You can also mix relative and absolute references so that, when you move or copy a formula, the row changes but the column does not, or vice versa.

Preceding the row and/or column designators with a dollar sign ($) specifies an absolute reference in Excel.

Example	Comment
=A1	Complete relative reference
=$A1	The column is absolute; the row is relative
=A$1	The column is relative; the row is absolute
=$A$1	Complete absolute reference

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Excel Error Messages to Get to Know

If you create a formula in Excel that contains an error or circular reference, Excel lets you know about it with an error message. A handful of errors can appear in a cell when a formula or function in Excel cannot be resolved. Knowing their meaning helps correct the problem.

Error	Meaning
#DIV/0!	Trying to divide by 0
#N/A!	A formula or a function inside a formula cannot find the referenced data
#NAME?	Text in the formula is not recognized
#NULL!	A space was used in formulas that reference multiple ranges; a comma separates range references
#NUM!	A formula has invalid numeric data for the type of operation
#REF!	A reference is invalid
#VALUE!	The wrong type of operand or function argument is used

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dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/excel-formulas-and-functions-for-dummies-cheat-she.html

Web Resources for Landing Page Optimization

Want to find out more about landing page optimization? Use this list of Web resources to increase your understanding of landing page optimization:

• SEO Chat: Use this site to check out the keyword density used on your site and the competitor’s site.

  
  



• Google Keyword Tool: Google AdWords Keyword Tool is the landing page developer’s best friend.

  
  



• Google Webmaster Tools: Get all your Google Webmaster tools right here.

  
  



• Yahoo! Site Explorer: Google is the Big Cheese in the search engine field, but Yahoo! has some great tools as well. Follow this link for some quality Yahoo! tools.

  
  



• Bing Webmaster Tools: MSN Web tools? Oh yeah they’re out there. Follow this link to find out what MSN has to offer.

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/web-resources-for-landing-page-optimization.html

Use Chrome Frame to Render HTML5 in Internet Explorer

Sad but true: The browser with the largest market share — Internet Explorer (IE) — has the least support for HTML5 standards. So how do you let all those people using IE view your HTML5 web pages?

The answer lies with Google Chrome Frame. Chrome Frame is a special tool that embeds the Chrome rendering engine inside IE. To use it, put the following code in your page:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <title>ChromeFrame.html</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <script type="text/javascript" 
          src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/chrome-frame/1/CFInstall.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body onload = "CFInstall.check()">
</body>
</html>

Write the rest of your code assuming the user has Chrome (which has excellent support for HTML5). This is the best way to use HTML5 in IE until Microsoft decides to add meaningful support to HTML5.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/use-chrome-frame-to-render-html5-in-internet-explo.html

Solving Easy Limits

There are two types of easy limit problems: the ones you should just memorize and the ones where you can plug in the x-number and get the answer in one step.

Limits to memorize

You should memorize the following limits to avoid wasting time trying to figure them out. (Pay special attention to the last three limits.)

(y = c is a horizontal line, so the limit — which is the function height — must equal c, regardless of the x-number.)

Plugging and chugging

You can use the plug-and-chug method to solve some limit problems. Just plug the x-number into the limit function, and if the computation results in a number, that’s your answer (don’t forget that zero divided by anything other than zero equals zero which is, of course, a number). For example

This method always works for limits that involve continuous functions and functions that are continuous over their entire domains. These are well-duh limit problems, and, to be perfectly frank, there is really no point to them. The limit is simply the function value.

The plug-and-chug method also works for any other type of function, including piecewise functions, unless there is a discontinuity at the x-number you plug in. (A piecewise function has separate pieces, where each part of the piecewise function has its own equation.)

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/solving-easy-limits.html

The Windows XP Security Center

You can find the Windows XP Security Center in an obscure corner of the Windows infrastructure: Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories→System Tools→Security Center. The Windows Security Center, shown here, is made of firewalls, automatic updates, and virus protection — settings focused on preventing the bad guys from invading your computer.

1. Windows Firewall is responsible for more weird Windows XP behavior than all other festering problems combined. If you can’t connect into or out of your computer, disable the firewall momentarily. Your system will be vulnerable for a few minutes — but you may save yourself hours (or days!) of headaches from trying to run down the problem.

   
   



2. Microsoft really wants you to download and install Windows patches automatically. Given its track record, do you trust the company? Get all the facts — not just the Party Line.

   
   



3. The Windows Security Center is notorious for not recognizing perfectly legitimate antivirus programs. If Windows doesn’t identify your AV program, don’t fret. Turn the red light off — and remember that Microsoft is working on its own antivirus products to peddle.

   
   

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-windows-xp-security-center.html

Business Website Statistics to Watch

Of the many, many website statistics that are available, the following key parameters provide valuable information for every business. Compare them by month or week, depending on the statistical package you use. Sites with heavy traffic justify daily, or even hourly, reviews.

Some packages might use slightly different terms but measure the same elements. (These definitions apply to whichever time frame you choose.) This list describes the key statistics to track:

• Visits: The number of distinct user sessions that take place; in other words, the number of times your website is viewed. It’s your total traffic to the site. Different stat packages may define a new visit after different frames; many users go back and forth among websites several times. Most statistical packages delete visits made by search engine spiders or robots because these devices artificially inflate the number of visits.

  
  



• Unique visitors: The number of user sessions from different computers. (Stats can track users’ IP addresses but not who’s sitting at the machine.) This number is smaller than the total number of visits; the difference represents repeat visits, which are extremely valuable. To assess your success in drawing people back to your site, you might want to track repeat visits as a percentage of all visits.

  
  



• Page views: The total number of distinct web pages downloaded — that is, displayed on the screen.

  
  



• Page views per visit: The number of pages shown divided by the total number of visits. The more pages viewed, the longer the user is on the site and the stickier your site is. If more than half your visitors leave before viewing two pages, you have a problem capturing viewers’ attention and interest.

  
  

  This key parameter correlates roughly to time onsite. Time measurement can be misleading, however, because it doesn’t consider what happens if people leave a browser window open when they go to lunch or leave at the end of the day.

  
  



• URLs viewed: The number of times each individual page of your site is viewed (downloaded). It’s helpful to know not only which pages are popular but also which ones aren’t. The latter might be caused by lack of interest or perhaps a lack of contextual links or calls to action that pull someone to that page.

  
  

  This statistic is handy to count thank-you pages for contact forms or other pages that are part of your conversion equation.

  
  



• Referrers: The websites or pages that generated links to your site. Some statistical packages include links between onsite pages in this list. If you have an active, inbound link campaign, you can easily see which links are driving traffic your way.

  
  

  You might also discover links from previously unknown sources. To distinguish links from multiple online ads in your analytics, you can always insert /?src=X at the end of the destination URL, where X represents the source of the ad or any other distinguishing feature you want to track.

  
  



• Search engines: Which search engines generated links to your site based on appearance in natural search results.

  
  



• Conversion rate: A number that’s calculated as a percentage. The denominator is total visits; you decide on the numerator, whether it’s number of sales, number of contact forms, e-mails or calls generated from the site, or newsletter subscribers, for example.

  
  

Unless you have quite a large site, monitoring statistics monthly or quarterly is usually sufficient. You might check more often when you first open your site and whenever you initiate a specific web marketing activity.

Most statistical packages have an administrative setup, allowing your programmer to change the default values for certain statistics. If you don’t see what you want, ask! For instance, some packages display the page views for only the 25 most visited URLs. If you have a larger site, set that parameter to display the results for all your pages.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/business-website-statistics-to-watch.html

Atrix 4G Smartphone Touchscreen Operations

Your fingers — and a little know-how — is all you need to carry out a variety of day-to-day operations on your Atrix 4G’s touchscreen. With just a touch, here's what you can do with you Atrix smartphone:

Action	How to Do It
Touch	In this simple operation, you touch the screen. Generally, you’re touching an object, such as a program icon, a button, or a control (for example, a gizmo you use to slide something around).
Double-tap	Touch the screen in the same location twice. Double-tapping can be used to zoom in on an image or a map, but it can also zoom out. Because of the double-tap’s dual nature, you’ll probably find yourself using the pinch or spread operation instead.
Long-press	Touch and hold part of the screen. Some operations on the Atrix 4G, such as moving an icon on the Home screen, begin with a long-press.
Swipe	Start with your finger in one spot and then drag it to another spot. Usually, swipes are up, down, left, or right, which moves material displayed in the direction you swipe your finger. Swipes can be fast, flick-like actions, or they can be slow. This operation is also known as a flick.
Pinch	Start with your thumb and a finger separated, and then bring them together. The effect is used to reduce an image or a map. The pinch is used to zoom out.
Spread	In the opposite of a pinch, you start out with your thumb and a finger together and then spread them. The effect is used to enlarge an image or a map. The spread is used to zoom in.
Rotate	Place two fingers on the screen and turn them around a central point as if you’re turning a combination lock.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/atrix-4g-smartphone-touchscreen-operations.html

How to Troubleshoot Your Firewall and Proxy Settings When Using Skype

Your firewall and proxy settings may get in the way of Skype's incoming or outgoing traffic. Try these troubleshooting steps if you're having problems making a successful connection with Skype.

• Run your Skype incoming connections through ports 80 and 443: If you are having difficulty connecting to the Internet over Skype after establishing your proxy settings, look to see that a check mark appears next to Use Port 80 and 443 as Alternatives for Incoming Connections.

  
  

  You can find this setting by choosing Tools→Options→Advanced and clicking Connection from the list of options in the left panel. If the Use Port 80 and 443 as Alternatives for Incoming Connections option is not checked, select it, save your settings, and retry Skype.

  
  



• Open your external firewall: If your company is running an external firewall, ask your network or security administrator to configure the firewall to allow for Skype traffic.

  
  



• Open your internal firewall: If you are running your own personal firewall and have administrative rights on your computer, here are some steps you can take:

  
  

  Check to see whether there is currently a rule that specifically prohibits Skype traffic. The first time you ran Skype, your personal firewall server may have prompted you when it detected Skype traffic and suggested that it be blocked. If you gave the OK to block the traffic, Skype cannot communicate with the outside world. Your solution is to find the offending rule and remove it.

  
  

  If you can't find the rule that blocks Skype, the following may work: Uninstall Skype and re-install it. The next time Skype runs, your personal firewall may prompt you about what to do. This time, you can tell it to allow the Skype traffic.

  
  

  Your personal firewall software may not have any rules about Skype and may need to be explicitly told that network traffic associated with Skype should be allowed. You must add Skype to your firewall's list of allowed programs.

  
  

Some companies require you to apply special settings to connect your Web browser to the Internet. Generally, your Skype Connection settings should closely match those of your browser.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-troubleshoot-your-firewall-and-proxy-settin.html

Adobe Creative Suite: Managing Comments in Acrobat 6.0

Use the Acrobat Commenting toolbar to add annotations to PDF files, including stamps, text highlights, and electronic sticky notes. Add comments to PDF files by using the Review and Comment tools and the Advanced Commenting tools — each of these has its own independent toolbar. You can access both toolbars by clicking the arrow to the right of the Review and Comment button; a list of review and commenting options appears in a drop-down list.

The real power of PDF comments is the ability to easily manage and share them. For example, you can determine which comments are displayed at any time, and you can filter the comments by author or by the type of commenting tool that was used to create the comment. Additionally, you can indicate a response to a comment and track the changes that may have been made to a document based upon a comment. Also, comments from multiple reviewers can be consolidated into a single document.

Viewing comments

You can use any of several methods to see a document's list of comments:

• Click the Comments tab along the left side of the document window.

• Click and hold on the Show button in the Commenting toolbar, and choose Show Comments List from the menu that appears.

• Choose View --> Navigation Tab --> Comments.

No matter which method you use, a Comments List window that shows all the comments in the document appears along the bottom of the document window. You can see the author of the comment and any note entered by the reviewer. By clicking the plus sign to the left of the comment, you can view more information about the comment, such as what type of comment it is and the date and time it was created.

If you've clicked the plus sign to the left of the comment to expand the view, it changes to a minus sign, which can be clicked to return to the consolidated view showing only the author and the initial portions of any text from the note.

To the right of the plus sign is a check box that you can use to indicate that the comment has been reviewed — you can also use this check box to indicate that a certain comment needs further attention. Use these check boxes for your own purposes — their status does not export with the document if you send the file to others, so they are for your own personal use only.

Changing a comment's status

Acrobat includes a method for indicating whether a comment has been reviewed, accepted, or has additional comments attached to it. To change the status of a comment, follow these steps:

1. Right-click (Windows) or Control+click (Mac) on a comment in the Comments List, and choose Set Status from the contextual menu.

A contextual menu appears.

2. Select Accepted, Rejected, Cancelled, or Completed, depending on what's appropriate to your situation.

3. Choose View --> Comments --> Show Comments List to see the entire list of comments and the status of each.

The comment you changed appears in the list, showing the new status you just assigned to it.

Replying to a comment

You can also right-click (Windows) or Control+click (Mac) on a comment in the Comments List and choose Reply from the contextual menu to add a follow-up note to the comment. This way, additional comments are not added independently to the document when they actually relate to existing comments. If your documents go through multiple rounds of review, this capability allows a secondary or final reviewer to expand on the comments from an initial reviewer. Or it allows an author or designer to clearly respond to the suggestions from an editor.

Collapsing or hiding comments

Because the Comments List can become rather large, you can choose to collapse all comments so that only the page number on which they appear is displayed in the Comments List. To do so, click the minus sign in the upper left of the Comments List window. To view all of the comments, click the Expand All button in the same location.

To hide all the comments within a document, click and hold the Show button on the Commenting toolbar and choose Hide All Comments. You can then determine which comments are visible based upon the type (such as note, line, or cross out), reviewer (such as DeShaun or Mineko), status (such as accepted or rejected), and checked status (checked or unchecked). Use these filtering options to view only those comments that are relevant to you.

Sharing comments

You can share your comments with other reviewers who have access to the same PDF document by following these steps:

1. Click the Comments tab on the left side of the document window.

The Comments List appears.

2. Select the comment that you want to export by clicking it (Shift+click for multiple selections).

3. From the Options menu on the far right side of the Comments List window, choose Export Selected Comments.

The Export Comments dialog box appears.

4. Browse to the location that you want the comments to be saved and give the saved file a new name.

By following these steps, you create a file that includes only the comments' information, and not the entire PDF file. You can share this with reviewers who have the same PDF file, and they can choose Import Comments from the Options menu in the Comments List window to add the comments into their document. You can use this method to avoid having to send entire PDF files to those who already have the document.

Summarizing comments

Compiling a list of all the comments from a PDF file into a new, separate PDF document by summarizing its comments is also possible in Acrobat. To do so, follow these steps:

1. From the Options menu in the Comments List window, choose Summarize Comments.

The Summarize Options dialog box appears.

2. Create a listing of the comments with lines connecting them to their locations on the page by selecting the second radio button from the top of the list.

In the Include section, you can choose to return only the relevant, commented pages to the author or designer of a document by sending only the comments that are showing.

3. Click OK.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/adobe-creative-suite-managing-comments-in-acrobat-.html

How to Prevent Fungus from Damaging Your Lawn

There's a fungus among us—or rather, in your lawn. Fungi cause many — in fact, almost all — lawn diseases. To thrive, a fungal disease needs the right plant to infect, the right conditions — temperature, moisture, aeration, and so on — and a way to spread. A fungus’s reproducing spores travel from one place to another, usually through moisture or wind. Spores, however, can even be on the blades of a lawn mower or on the feet of the person pushing it.

That said, take a look at the various factors that influence whether or not your lawn gets a disease.

• The type of grass: Any grass that you plant near the edge of or outside its normal range of adaptation is bound to be more subject to disease. The grass just doesn’t grow as well, and that weak growth makes the grass more susceptible.

  
  

  Even when you plant the right grass in the right climate, some grass types are more likely to get a specific disease than others. Sometimes, all you have to do to prevent diseases from ruining your lawn is to overseed with a less susceptible grass. You also can find some varieties of grass that resist specific diseases. For example, Columbia bluegrass resists patch diseases.

  
  



• Watering: This element is a biggie. Most lawn diseases thrive in moist or humid conditions. If you water in ways that keep the lawn constantly wet or wet for long periods, your lawn is more likely to have disease problems. Water in the morning so that the lawn dries off quickly afterward. Water deeply but infrequently so that the lawn dries out between waterings.

  
  



• Temperature: If you live in the desert and you grow a grass that doesn’t like heat, diseases lurk in your future. The same is true for cool climates, if you grow heat-loving grasses. Grow grasses well-adapted to where you live.

  
  

  Some fungi like the temperature warm; some like it cool. Some, like snow mold, even like it freezing. If you know the conditions in which a certain disease thrives, you can better diagnose the disease and predict when it may occur.

  
  



• Fertilizing: Some diseases like heavily fertilized lawns; others like underfertilized lawns. Some diseases even prefer a certain soil pH. The point is to apply the recommended amounts of right fertilizer and then make adjustments depending on which problem you have. And don’t forget the value of a soil test.

  
  



• Mowing: Mowing low creates the grass conditions that disease organisms love: weakened (getting mowed stresses grass) and wounded (mower cuts are the ideal place for the disease to enter). After the disease gets started, you can even spread it around via the mower blades because the disease rides on the blades.

  
  



• Thatch: Diseases love thatch, that spongy layer of grass stems and debris that forms between the leaves and the roots. Everything about thatch favors fungus. Thatch holds moisture near the surface of the lawn, blocks water and nutrient penetration, and restricts air. Heck, if you were a fungus, you’d love thatch, too. So do something to reduce thatch, such as aerating or power raking.

  
  



• Pesticide use: Using insecticides and herbicides can upset the natural balance of a lawn, killing off earthworms and other beneficial organisms. Usually, that imbalance results in a thicker layer of thatch.

  
  

If you want to avoid diseases, plant the right type of lawn and then take good care of it.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-prevent-fungus-from-damaging-your-lawn.html

Body Measurements Chart for Knitting Projects

Before starting a new knitting pattern, record your body measurements —and those of friends and family — for an accurate fit. Don't let your knitted projects go unworn because the measurements were off. Here's a handy chart to record measurements for knitting patterns.

Body Part	My Numbers	___________ Numbers	___________ Numbers
Chest
Waist
Hips
Cross back
Sleeve length
Back to waist
Total length
Foot length
Head circumference

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/body-measurements-chart-for-knitting-projects.html

Perfecting PowerPoint 2011 for Mac Presentation Skills

Don’t let your audience suffer “death by PowerPoint” with the presentations you create in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac. Spruce up your slide presentations with these handy PowerPoint 2011 features:

• Cross-platform presentations: To play your presentations on other platforms, install Flip4Mac, a free QuickTime codec that enables you to play Windows Media Video format in QuickTime.

  
  



• Print handouts: To print handouts with lines for taking notes, choose File→Print. Look for the Print What pop-up menu and choose Handouts (3 Slides per Page).

  
  



• Create a PowerPoint package: To create a package that has all DRM-free media properly linked, choose File→Save As. In the Format pop-up menu, choose PowerPoint Package.

  
  



• Notes Page View: Choose View→Notes Page to work in a special view that allows you to see your slide and create extensive notes.

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/perfecting-powerpoint-2011-for-mac-presentation-sk.html

How to Identify Milk Allergies in Babies

Some babies have to avoid milk-based infant formulas because they’re allergic to cow’s milk. Specifically, they’re allergic to one of the proteins in cow’s milk. Casein is one example of a milk protein found in milk-based infant formulas, as well as in many processed foods.

Milk allergy reactions can include hives, rashes, nausea, congestion, diarrhea, swelling in the mouth and throat, and other symptoms. Severe reactions can even lead to shock and death.

Babies with a milk allergy may be excessively fussy and irritable. They may have other symptoms, too, including diarrhea or loose, bloody stools. Your healthcare provider can run tests to diagnosis a milk allergy.

Testing for a milk allergy involves the following options:

• Blood tests: A sample of blood is taken from your child and checked for antibodies that suggest a sensitivity to milk protein. Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are proteins produced by the body to fight foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses, when they’re present in your system.

  
  

  If your child is allergic to a cow’s milk protein, his body may produce antibodies when the milk protein is present. Babies who are allergic to cow’s milk sometimes also are allergic to the protein in soy-based formulas.

  
  



• Skin tests: Your child’s skin is scratched and exposed to a milk protein. If your child is allergic to the protein, the area that was exposed to the allergen will react with a hive, or raised, red bump.

  
  

Neither of these tests is foolproof, but both can help your healthcare provider hone in on the most likely explanation for your child’s symptoms. A milk allergy in children usually occurs in the early years up to about age 3. After that, the allergy usually begins to go away.

About 2.5 percent of children under the age of 3 have milk allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. The allergy usually shows up in the first year of life. The good news is that 80 percent of children with a milk allergy outgrow it by the time they’re 16 years old.

Between 4 and 6 months of age, your child may show signs of being ready to include some solids in her diet. For instance, when your baby is able to sit up independently and grab for things to put into her mouth, it’s time to begin introducing solid foods. Foods that are easiest to tolerate include nondairy cooked cereals initially and later mashed or puréed fruits and vegetables and their juices. Baby rice cereal is the most common first food, because rice is hypoallergenic. Most babies tolerate it well.

You should wait until your baby is older before introducing protein-rich foods and foods that are high in fat. Foods such as meats, nut butters, and even nondairy cheeses are more difficult for immature digestive systems to manage. After your baby has adjusted to cooked cereals and mashed and puréed fruits and vegetables, you can move to nondairy table foods.

Even in families that aren’t living dairy-free, fluid cow’s milk is off-limits for infants under the age of one year. That’s because drinking cows’ milk can cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and lead to anemia. Infants given cow’s milk also have been shown in some studies to have an increased risk for insulin-dependent diabetes. (Trace amounts of dairy products in other foods aren’t as likely to cause a problem.)

Goat’s milk isn’t a safe substitute for cow’s milk for someone with a milk allergy. Goat’s milk is too similar in composition to cow’s milk. If someone is allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk, she’ll likely be allergic to the protein in goat’s milk, too.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-identify-milk-allergies-in-babies.html

How to Make a Tasty Gluten-Free Spinach Pie

If you cut the slices of this gluten-free pie a bit larger, this dish doubles as a meatless entrée. You can prepare it ahead, cover and refrigerate it, and then bake it just before dinner. After removing the dish from the oven, let it sit for 10 minutes before cutting.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

Nonstick cooking spray

3 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion, chopped

3 large eggs

16-ounce container small curd cottage cheese

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon dried dill

10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.

   
   



2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes.

   
   



3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs lightly.

   
   



4. Stir in the cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and dill.

   
   



5. Stir the onions and spinach into the cheese mixture until everything is well blended.

   
   



6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pie plate.

   
   



7. Bake the pie at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. If the pie begins to brown too much on top before being cooked through, cover it with a piece of foil.

   
   



8. Let the pie rest for 10 minutes before cutting it into 12 wedges.

   
   

Per serving: Calories: 177; Total fat: 11g; Saturated fat: 7g; Cholesterol: 81mg; Sodium: 484mg; Carbohydrates: 4g; Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 1g; Protein: 16g.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-make-a-tasty-glutenfree-spinach-pie.html

Blog Development Checklist

From thinking of a name and finding a webhost to writing your first blog post, you've got a few things to do before your blog is up and running. Use this checklist to keep track of the important tasks of blog development:

Blog name, hosting, and platform

• 
  

  Create your blog name and tagline.

  
  


• 
  

  Develop a list of domain name candidates.

  
  


• 
  

  Register your domain name.

  
  


• 
  

  Choose your blogging software

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Hosted services:

    
    

    Create your account.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Self-hosted blogs:

    
    

    Order (or modify existing) Web hosting.

    
    

    Install your blogging software.

    
    
  
  
  
  

Designing your blog

• 
  

  Write your blog specification. Be sure to include things like your preferred color palette and format (one column, two-column, and so on).

  
  


• 
  

  Choose a design option:

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Do it yourself.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Use a blog template:

    
    

    Find templates, usually by searching online.

    
    

    Pick/purchase your template.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Work with a blog designer:

    
    

    Find blog designers (search online or ask your friends for referrals).

    
    

    Hire your designer.

    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Develop a masthead.

  
  

Creating your content

• 
  

  Create an editorial calendar for your posts. Include:

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Type of posts — reviews, essays, opinion, and so on.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Frequency for each type.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Schedule.

    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Create a blogroll.

  
  


• 
  

  Write posts:

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Headlines matter. Use descriptive language and, when possible, search engine friendly keywords.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Use categories to make it easier for people to find interesting content on your blog.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Use tags to make it easier for search engines to index your site.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Link to other blogs whenever it makes sense for your post.

    
    
  
  
  • 
    

    Use spell check and proofread.

    
    
  
  
  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/blog-development-checklist.html

What Day Trading Is Not

So much mythology surrounds day trading: Day traders lose money. Day traders make money. Day traders are insane. Day traders are cold and rational. Day trading is easy. Day trading is a direct path to alcoholism and ruin.

Day trading is not investing

Day traders never hold a position for more than a day. Day trading is most definitely not investing. Day traders perform an important function to the capital markets because they force the price changes that bring the supply and demand of the market into balance. Day trading, however, doesn’t create new sources of funding for companies and governments. It doesn’t generate long-term growth.

It’s not gambling

One of the biggest knocks on day trading is that it’s just another form of gambling. And as everyone knows, or should know, in gambling, the odds always favor the house. That’s not the case with day trading, however. Consider these points:

• In day trading, the odds are even in many markets. The options and futures markets, for example, are zero-sum markets with as many winners as losers, but those markets also include people looking to hedge risk and who thus have lower profit expectations than do day traders.

  
  



• The stock market has the potential for more winning trades than losing trades, especially over the long run. For this reason, the stock market isn’t a zero-sum market, like options and futures markets. In the stock market, the odds are ever-so-slightly in the trader’s favor.

  
  

In all markets, the prepared and disciplined trader can do better than the frantic, naïve trader. That’s not the case when gambling, because no matter how prepared the gambler is, the casino has the upper hand.

People with gambling problems sometimes turn to day trading as a socially acceptable way to feed their addiction. If you know you have a gambling problem or suspect you are at risk, taking up day trading is probably not a good idea for you. Day traders who are closet gamblers tend to make bad trades and have trouble setting limits and closing out at the end of the day. They turn the odds against them.

If you use risk capital, day trading’s not dangerous

A lot of day traders lose money, and some lose everything that they start with. Others don’t lose all of their trading capital; they just decide that there are better uses of their time and better ways to make money.

A responsible trader works with risk capital, which is money that she can afford to lose. She uses stop and limit orders to minimize her losses, and she always closes out at the end of the day. She understands the risks and rewards of trading, and that keeps her sane.

Many day trading strategies rely on leverage, which is the use of borrowed money to increase potential returns. Leverage carries the risk of the trader losing more money than is in his account. However, brokerage firms, which don’t want that to happen, will probably close a leveraged account that’s in danger of going under. That’s good, because it limits your potential loss.

It’s not easy

Along with the relatively low rate of success, day trading is really stressful. Concentrating on the markets and knowing that real money is at stake takes a lot of energy. The profit amounts on any one trade are likely to be small, which means you have to be persistent and keep placing trades until the end of the day.

Some traders can’t handle the stress. Some get bored. Some get frustrated. And some can’t believe that they can make a living doing something that they love.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/what-day-trading-is-not.html

Wedding Expenses: What the Bride's Family Pays For

11 of 11 in Series:
The Essentials of Planning a Wedding Reception

Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for most of the wedding — but modern couples often marry later in life and can afford to shoulder some or all of the wedding expense themselves. Finances can be one of the most problematic and stressful part of the planning anything — and the emotions involved in wedding planning can triple the stress.

One key point of wedding etiquette is that no parent should have to pay more for a wedding than he or she can comfortably afford. The bride and groom need to consider any contribution from their parents as a great gift.

The bride’s family traditionally pays for:

• Services of a wedding planner or coordinator: The national average cost of using a wedding planner is approximately $3,500 to $4,000. Many couples believe that the stress relief that this type of service provides offsets the cost.

  
  



• Ceremony site: Make sure you make it a top priority in your budget.

  
  



• Reception site and related costs: Because the reception is one of the most expensive costs in any wedding budget, some couples choose to share them today.

  
  



• Floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception and flowers for the bride’s attendants: Buying flowers locally and adding more greenery can add up to big savings. Also remember that the price of flowers varies at different times of the year, depending on holidays and the seasonality of different flowers.

  
  



• Music for the ceremony and reception: A DJ or recorded music may be more affordable than live music, but you can opt for a hybrid approach, such as a soloist for the ceremony and a DJ for the reception.

  
  



• Photographer and videographer: If photographs and videos of the big day are important to you, paying a professional for these services is worth the extra cost. If the budget is an issue, you may want to try negotiating with the photographer and videographer for a specific amount of time rather than the number of photos, which can get expensive.

  
  



• Wedding gown and accessories: Discuss with your partner what percent of your budget you can allocate to the dress and accessories without skimping on other parts of the wedding, because splurging on a gown is all too easy for a bride to do.

  
  



• Groom’s wedding ring and gift: Men’s wedding bands can cost anywhere between $100 and $1,500 (or more). Modern brides give their grooms gifts like personalize grill kits and custom-built toolboxes.

  
  



• Wedding invitations, announcements, enclosures and mailing costs: The average engaged couple spends $1,200 to $1,500 on wedding invitations and reply cards. And don’t forget about all that postage.

  
  



• Gifts for the bride’s attendants: These gifts don’t have to be extravagant, but they should be memorable.

  
  



• Luncheon for the bride’s attendants: If you can’t splurge, show your appreciation with an afternoon tea or brunch.

  
  



• Transportation for the wedding party: For the means, you can select anything from a horse-drawn carriage to a stretch limo.

  
  



• Guest book: After forking over thousands, a $30 to $50 guest book may seem like nothing.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/wedding-expenses-what-the-brides-family-pays.html

Teachers Shape Kids: Praising Kids in the Classroom

Teachers can improve the motivation of their students if they praise them often for doing the right things. Effective praise has four major elements, including

• When you praise, be sure to point out specifically what the child did right.

  
  



• Be enthusiastic with your praise.

  
  



• Give praise promptly without delay.

  
  



• Make sure the child is close by and paying attention when you praise.

  
  

For example, if Sadie sits quietly during the morning roll call, a teacher giving ineffective praise might say after some delay, “You’re a good girl, Sadie.” More effective would be a prompt statement such as, “Great job of sitting quietly, Sadie! I like it when you pay attention!”

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/teachers-shape-kids-praising-kids-in-the-classroom.navId-323518.html

Features to Look for When Shopping for a Display Mount

Shopping for a display mount with the right features takes some consideration. The right display-mount features can help make installation and use easy. When looking for a mount, consider these attributes of a manufacturer’s products:

• Design/ease of installation: Look for a mount with a lot of open space in its structure so you have a lot of room to do everything else you need to do when mounting a display. Check for a wall plate with minimal surface area so that you have more flexibility in where your cable and electrical outlets are located. Also, look for hands-free wall mount installations.

  
  

  The best designs allow one person to install them — for example, Chief Manufacturing’s flat-panel mounts allow you to pound a nail in the wall and temporarily mount the whole unit on that one nail, leaving your hands free for leveling and final bolting. Some swing arms can weigh up to 50 pounds, so you’ll want to be able to preinstall the top two lag bolts and then slide the mount over those bolts — leaving the remaining bolts easier to install.

  
  



• Ease of use: Ease of adjustment after installation is important. You should be able to adjust the tilt of a mount with a push of your fingertip. When you move a display, it should stay there without having to tighten knobs.

  
  



• Weight capacity: Make sure the mount is rated not only for your display but also for any speakers, decorative trim, and other accessories that can add weight.

  
  

  Look for mounts that are UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed. These are tested at several times their rated weight capacity.

  
  



• Range of motion (tilt, swivel, extension, and so on): Make sure that the mount not only fits in your space but also provides the range of motion desired when the size of the mounted display is taken into account.

  
  



• Integrated cable management: You’ll want to hide your cables. Spend time understanding how your wiring will be run. This is especially true for ceiling mounts in which the cabling may go through the center of the pipe. If you have to run cables outside your installation, check for snap-on covers that help hide the cables.

  
  



• Quick detach/attach capability: If you ever have to remove your display — to change the filters or lamps in a projector, for instance — you want a mount designed to maintain all the mechanical settings of the mount itself. You don’t want to have to reset and reconfigure your gear each time you put it back.

  
  



• Integrated lateral shift capability: Lateral shift is the ability to install a mount off center, when taking into account the spacing of the studs in your walls. A high-quality mount will allow you to displace your mount at least 4 inches to the left or right with 16-inch or 24-inch centered studs. An installed display should be able to be positioned vertically as well — quality mounts allow for at least 3 inches of vertical shift.

  
  



• Aesthetics: Look for mounts that look good to you. Check for multiple colors to choose from. Low-profile mounts are important, and details count, such as covers for lag bolts on the wall.

  
  



• Don't go cheap on your mount: A good mount will last you many TV displays. Consider the future when making your purchase . . . nickel-and-diming here will only hurt you later.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/features-to-look-for-when-shopping-for-a-display-m.html

Attendees at Your Singing Audition

Although you knew your audition wouldn't be a private affair, its important to know who the attendees are and the role they play in the audition. For every musical production from a video to a musical to a singing contest, a producer, musical director, stage manager, choreographer, director, casting director, and general manager run the show.

These are theater bosses who hold the line. You may see any or all of them at your audition.

• 
  

  Producer: Pays the money, or finds it, so the show can go on.

  
  


• 
  

  General manager: Keeps up with how the money is spent.

  
  


• 
  

  Casting director: Calls in the actors to audition for the parts in the show or talks with their agents.

  
  


• 
  

  Director: Acts as the guide and traffic cop for all the actors on the stage.

  
  


• 
  

  Musical director: Shoulders the responsibility for the quality of the music in the production. Tasks may involve everything from working on arrangements for specific numbers to playing the piano at performances. When the musical director isn’t available, the rehearsal pianist is called in.

  
  


• 
  

  Choreographer: Creates the staging or directions for who moves when and where during the show.

  
  


• 
  

  Conductor: Waves her arms in time to the music so that the musicians in the orchestra pit and the singers onstage can follow along.

  
  


• 
  

  Stage manager: Keeps everybody and everything in order.

  
  

Be nice to everyone at an audition. You never know who you’re talking to. That person may be the director’s assistant — or he may end up directing the next show you audition for.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/attendees-at-your-singing-audition.html

Looking a Picture of Chickeny Health

Knowing what a healthy chicken looks like may stop you from mistaking illness or deformity for the normal appearance of a chicken. The following quick pointers can help you determine whether a chicken is healthy and normal:

• Activity level. Differences exist between breeds, but a healthy chicken is rarely still during the daylight hours. Some breeds are more nervous and flighty; others are calm but busy. In very warm weather, all chickens become less active.

  
  



• Eyes. Chicken eyes should be clear and shiny, with no discharge or swelling around them. When a chicken is alert and active, its eyelids shouldn’t be showing.

  
  



• Feathers. In general, a chicken shouldn’t be missing large patches of feathers. One exception to this is hens kept with a cockerel. These hens often have bare patches on the back and behind the head that are normal and caused by mating. However, you should never see open sores or swelling where the skin is bare.

  
  

  If you take on ex-battery hens, they’re normally quite bare when you first re-home them. Commercial egg farms get rid of the hens when they do because their laying slows right down, perhaps stopping altogether for a while, because they’re in the middle of their first moult, and are never quite so prolific afterwards. With some TLC they soon feather up again.

  
  

  A healthy bird has its feathers smoothed down when it’s active, though some breed differences do exist. For example, a Frizzle with its twisted feathers never looks smooth. A bird with its feathers fluffed out that isn’t sleeping or taking a dustbath is probably ill.

  
  



• Feet and toes. A chicken’s three front toes should point straight ahead, and the feet shouldn’t turn outwards. The hock joints (like knee joints that bend backwards) shouldn’t touch, and the toes shouldn’t point in towards each other. Chicken feet shouldn’t be webbed (webbing is skin connecting the toes), although occasionally webbed feet show up as a genetic defect, and you shouldn’t see any swellings on the legs or toes. Check the bottom of the foot also for swelling and raw, open areas.

  
  



• Mental state. Chickens should appear alert and avoid strangers if in a lighted area. Unless they’ve been tamed, inactive birds that allow easy handling are probably ill. Chickens in the dark, however, are very passive, which is normal.

  
  



• Mouth. Chickens breathe with their mouths closed, except in very hot conditions. If cooling the bird doesn’t result in it breathing with its mouth closed, it’s ill.

  
  



• Nose. Both nostrils should be clear and open, with no discharge.

  
  



• Vent. The feathers under the tail of the chicken around the vent or cloaca, the common opening for faeces, mating and passing eggs, shouldn’t be matted with faeces, or the area have any surrounding sores or wounds.

  
  



• Wings. Chickens of most breeds carry their wings close to the body, but a few breeds have wings that point downwards. (Study the breed characteristics to see what’s normal for your breed.) The wings shouldn’t droop down or look twisted. Sometimes droopy wings signify illness in the bird.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/looking-a-picture-of-chickeny-health.html

Flirting Tips for Dating

When you're on a date, flirting is a delightful way to make your date — and you, for that matter — feel irresistible and tingly all over. The point of flirting with your date is interest; that's why it's so alluring. Here are some flirting do's and don'ts:

• Use your whole body. Lean forward, make eye contact, smile, bend your knees a bit, and relax your hands and arms. Make very, very sure your breath is very, very sweet: no onions, garlic, coffee, or ciggy in the recent past.

  
  



• Make eye contact. Looking someone in the eyes is very alluring. And it makes your date feel like he or she has your undivided attention, which is as it should be.

  
  



• Smile, don't smirk. Smile openly and sincerely — it's irresistible.

  
  



• Pay attention. No looking like you're trying to remember if you fed the cat.

  
  



• Lighten up; don't bulldoze. Telling your date she or he is incredibly hot isn't flirting; it's steering your dating experience directly into a mountain.

  
  



• Focus on your partner, not yourself. Make your date feel as though every word is a pearl of wisdom.

  
  



• Enjoy yourself. Fun is the flirter's playground. And once you're having fun, it's easy to get others to play.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/flirting-tips-for-dating.html

How to Find an Estate or Trust Attorney

When searching for an attorney to help with your estate or trust, resources worth consulting include the phone book and the Martindale-Hubbell database, which lists most lawyers in the United States. Your local, county, or state bar association is also a good place to start. Personal references and referrals from other professionals can also provide invaluable leads in the search for a good estate attorney.

You may want to consider hiring an attorney to either shepherd the estate or trust administration process from beginning to end or to help you with only certain aspects of administration. Whatever the extent of the work you want an attorney to perform, finding one you can work with for a reasonable fee isn’t impossible. Know the scope of work you want the attorney to undertake.

Do some investigative work to uncover a lawyer that’s a good match for you. Check out the following resources when searching for an attorney:

• Phone directory: Your first thought may be to rush to your phone directory and start flipping through the listings. Chances are good you’ll see pages and pages of attorneys listed. You’ll probably notice multiple display ads touting this or that firm’s expertise with various types of law.

  
  

  Don’t necessarily ignore the phone book when searching for an attorney, but don’t rely on this information entirely. No one is checking the validity of the claims being made in the phone book or other forms of advertising.

  
  



• Martindale-Hubbell: This database lists most lawyers in the United States. You can find attorneys all over the country by using their free Web site. You can search for attorneys and law firms by practice type (the practice type you want is either Trusts and Estates or Wills and Probate) and location. You can also view peer rankings of attorneys in the database.

  
  



• Local, county, and state bar associations: Bar associations all have lawyer referral services, which match you with an attorney in your area. Referrals are free and made on a rotating basis. Your first half-hour appointment with the attorney is typically billed at a substantially reduced rate.

  
  



• Personal references: Ask people you trust where you work, within your family, or elsewhere if they’ve personally worked with an attorney on estate or trust matters and whether they were satisfied with the service they received.

  
  



• Referrals from other professionals or within law firms: You may already be working with a tax pro or an investment advisor who can recommend a competent attorney. Or you may be the client of a large firm that practices in many areas of law. Even if the attorney you usually employ doesn’t do trust and estate work, he or she may be able to recommend a lawyer with the required expertise.

  
  

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-find-an-estate-or-trust-attorney.html

Sage One For Dummies (UK Edition)

>

Comparing Sage One Cashbook and Sage One Accounts

Sage One offers two easy-to-use online accounting services – Sage One Accounts for small business owners and Sage One Cashbook for sole traders who need a simple online cash-based system. This table helps you to decide which one is better for you.

	Sage One Cashbook	Sage One Accounts
Useful cash management tool	Yes	Yes
Keep records of customers and suppliers	Yes	Yes
Bank reconciliations	Yes	Yes
Create professional sales invoices	-	Yes
Produce Profit & Loss report	Yes	Yes
Produce balance sheet	-	Yes
Online backups	Yes	Yes
Your accountant can access in real time	Yes	Yes
Submit your VAT return	-	Yes

>

>

>

Entering Your Opening Balances in Sage One: Your Checklist

Entering your opening balances is crucial because they represent the financial position of your business on the day that you start using Sage One. The documents that you require are

• Bank statements at the prior year end

  
  



• Outstanding sales invoices (that is, those that are unpaid at the year end) or Aged Debtors report

  
  



• Outstanding purchase invoices (that is, those that are unpaid at the year end) or Aged Creditors report

  
  



• Opening Trial Balance from your accountant (if you’re an existing business and moving from another accounting system to Sage One)

  
  

>

>

>

Monthly Accounting Checklist for Sage One

Good online accounting needs good house-keeping, but Sage One really does make it easy for you. Every month, check that you have done the following to ensure your business finances are in tip-top condition:

1. Create sales invoices.

   
   



2. Enter purchase invoices.

   
   



3. Enter cheque payments from cheque book stubs.

   
   



4. Enter receipts from paying in book stubs.

   
   



5. Reconcile the bank accounts.

   
   



6. Run the Aged Debtor report.

   
   



7. Run the Aged Creditor report.

   
   



8. Run Profit & Loss Report.

   
   



9. Run Balance Sheet.

   
   



10. Run VAT return (if VAT registered).

    
    

>

>
dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/sage-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-uk-edition.html

How to Add a Service Item to the Item List in QuickBooks 2012

You use service items in QuickBooks 2012 to purchase or bill for items that represent service. For example, a CPA prepares tax returns for individuals and businesses. When they bill a client for preparing his or her tax return, the line item that appears on the invoice for Tax Return Preparation is a service item.

In your business, you probably have service items, too. For example, a healthcare provider, such as a dentist or doctor, provides treatment or performs procedures. These activities represent services.

Even retailers and contractors — businesses that you typically think of as selling tangible physical goods — often sell services. For example, a retailer may gift-wrap a purchase, which is a service. A contractor may provide services such as painting or cleanup.

To add a service item, display the New Item window. When QuickBooks displays the New Item window, select Service from the Type drop-down list. Then use the Item Name/Number box to give the service a brief code or name. If the service is a subitem, select the Subitem Of check box and identify the parent item.

Select the This Service Is Used in Assemblies or Is Performed by a Subcontractor or Partner check box if the service is provided by, as the window suggests, a subcontractor, owner, or partner. You indicate which services are performed by subcontractors, owners, and partners because these parties are subject to different tax accounting rules.

Finally, use the Description box to describe the service. Your description appears on invoices and purchase orders, so you want to be thoughtful here. Use the Rate box to describe the price or rate per unit of service. Use the Tax Code box to indicate whether the service is taxable. Finally, use the Account box to identify which Income account should be credited when the item is sold to some customer, client, or patient.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-add-a-service-item-to-the-item-list-in-quic.html

Celebrating at Beer Festivals

Beer lovers love to celebrate beer. Craft beer fests seem to be popping up wherever a small collection of brewpubs or microbreweries exists. Can it be that beer is a good social lubricant? Something to ponder.

Americans have discovered that the true meaning of beer festival goes far beyond the ubiquitous Oktoberfests that take place in practically every two-horse town in the country. You need a little more than grilled bratwurst and oom-pah music to please the beer crowd nowadays. In beer festival parlance, quantity means variety, as in number of brewers and styles — not a high rate of consumption. And you need good beer. Craft-brewed beer.

Beer festivals are becoming somewhat standardized, with the sponsors having learned from early mistakes.

• Attendees can expect to pay a healthy entrance fee, which is easily justified in order to cover high insurance premiums, rental of the hall or festival grounds, a mess of Porta-Potties, advertising, and festival glassware (the glasses may become collector’s items, especially if they’re dated).

  
  



• If the cost of the beer itself isn’t included in the entrance fee, then serving tickets or tokens may be purchased for a little more than pocket change. Some festivals serve as little as 1 ounce per beer (usually the festivals with all-inclusive entrance fees, of course), while others allow as much as 10- or 12-ounce servings — but this amount is more of an exception than the rule.

  
  

Beer festivals aren’t just places to taste-test beer nowadays. Many of these extravaganzas now feature homebrew demonstrations, cooking-with-beer seminars, book signings, and sponsored booths peddling all kinds of beer-related goods and paraphernalia.

At the smaller festivals, one of the treats is to chat with the brewer and get the sense of passion and artistry that’s so much a part of craft brewing. However, as festivals tend to grow (and grow in popularity), meeting with the brewer is, unfortunately, becoming rare. Staff or volunteers do the pouring and talking now.

If you’re really into beer and fun, you can ask to volunteer to be a server or guide at a festival — a good idea whose time has come and whose rewards (guess what) are simple.

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/celebrating-at-beer-festivals.html

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Photoshop CS Toolbox

The Photoshop CS toolbox is jam-packed with handy tools to help you manipulate and maneuver through digital images. You’re thinking that it may be helpful to have some keyboard shortcuts to some of those tools? Well, your wish is Photoshop’s command; behold these handy keyboard shortcuts you can use to reach the Photoshop tool you want:

dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/keyboard-shortcuts-for-the-photoshop-cs-toolbox.html

Energy Commodities: Companies in the Offshore Drilling Business

In recent years, offshore drilling has generated a lot of interest among commodities investors, and a flurry of activity has been taking place in this sector as oil on land becomes scarcer. Some of the leading companies engaged in the offshore drilling business include the following:

• Diamond Offshore Drilling (NYSE: DO): With 50 offshore rigs, Diamond Offshore (DO) is one of the dominant players in the offshore drilling industry. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, DO has a wide global footprint, with deepwater drilling operations in Brazil, Scotland, Australia, and the Gulf of Mexico. The company has particular expertise in ultra deepwater drilling, with significant operations in Brazil through Petrobras, the state-owned oil company.

  
  

  As easily accessible oil becomes scarcer, national oil companies and the majors will likely make more use of DO’s deepwater expertise.

  
  



• Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE): Founded in 1921 in Texas, Noble is one of the oldest drilling contractors in the world. It has a fleet of more than 60 vessels and operations stretching from Brazil to the North Sea, and it has an edge in implementing technologically oriented solutions to meet customer demands.

  
  

  Noble Corporation has a subsidiary, Noble Technology Services Division, that’s a sort of technological think tank dedicated to generating technical solutions for customers.

  
  



• Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG): Transocean, whose company motto is “We’re never out of our depth,” is the ExxonMobil of the offshore drillers. It’s the largest company in terms of market capitalization and the size and scope of its operations.

  
  

  The company has more than 90 offshore drilling units at its disposal and is an expert in operating under harsh and extreme weather conditions. It has offshore operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

  
  

  In 2007, Transocean agreed to merge its operations with the operations of GlobalSanteFe, the second-largest offshore driller at the time. The combined entity saw the addition of 60 vessels and an expanded global footprint, to include the Middle East and Canada. If you’re looking for the largest and most diversified company in the group, Transocean is it.

  
  

If you want to dig deeper into this sector, you can check out the website Rigzone, which includes up-to-date information on the offshore industry and the oil industry as a whole.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/energy-commodities-companies-in-the-offshore-drill.html

Halloween Decorating Safety Tips

3 of 12 in Series:
The Essentials of Halloween Parties

Decorating for Halloween can bring out creativity in everyone, but many elements of Halloween decorating can pose hazards to unsuspecting visitors. Here are a few safety tips to keep handy when preparing for Halloween:

• Clean up your mess: Do your pumpkin carving on absorbent newspaper and scoop those pumpkinseeds and slimy innards into a bowl.

  
  



• Say “No, no,” to knives: Don’t let your children handle sharp carving knives and keep an eye on them while you’re carving. If possible, purchase specific tools that are geared just for pumpkin carving (for your safety, too!). If the kids really want to participate in the carving, you can let them make the pattern or poke the pumpkin flesh in after you’ve done the carving.

  
  



• Reconsider the candles: If you’re going to have many children around, nix the candles. It’s just too much of a fire hazard. Buy a bunch of glow sticks readily available at any party supply or discount store and place them inside your jack-o’-lanterns. They cast an eerie green glow and are safe all around.

  
  



• Pay attention: Never leave a candle anywhere unattended, and never leave burning candles where children (or people who act like children) can reach them or accidentally knock them over.

  
  



• Blazing fires aren’t allowed: Keep a fire extinguisher handy. You never know when a gourd will go up in smoke (no, dear, that’s not a special effect).

  
  



• Secure the perimeters: Make sure that all props hanging, dangling, draped, staked, or set are steadily secured. Where there will be foot traffic, tape down loose wires with duct tape. You don’t want people to trip. And check these places often during the course of the evening for any loose edges that need retaping.

  
  



• Follow the package directions: If a package of lights says that they’re only for indoor use, don’t string them outside. Read the fog machine directions. Take every precaution when it comes to decorating with materials you’re not familiar with.

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/halloween-decorating-safety-tips.navId-400689.html

What to Do about Your Dog’s Diarrhea

Most dogs get an occasional bout of loose stools. Although uncomfortable and undesirable, diarrhea may just be the body’s way of clearing the intestine of something disagreeable.

The best thing you can do for a simple case of the runs — other than giving your dog frequent access to the outdoors — is to fast your dog for a day. Missing a meal or two won’t harm your furry friend, but it will give her gastrointestinal tract a chance to repair itself.

Be sure to give her access to water to replace the fluids she’s lost in her feces. Follow the fast with a couple days of bland diet, and your diarrheic dog usually will be back to herself in no time.

If your dog continues to have diarrhea after a day of fasting, if there is blood in your dog’s stools, or if your dog has other signs of illness such as a fever, take her to your veterinarian. She may need intravenous fluids to replenish fluids lost in the stools and perhaps antibiotics to fight infection.

Finding the cause of persistent or severe diarrhea is important. Several viruses and bacteria passed among dogs can affect intestinal function and cause diarrhea. There are many other causes of diarrhea including impaired pancreatic function, autoimmune diseases, and food allergies. Your veterinarian can perform tests to make a diagnosis and come up with an appropriate treatment.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/what-to-do-about-your-dogs-diarrhea.html

Strategic Planning: Resources for Business Valuation

The comprehensive approach to determining your company’s value is to conduct a business valuation that includes market comparisons. Several major databases are available via subscription, such as Done Deals, BIZCOMPS, and IBA Market Data. Business owners can also get valuations from accounting, consulting, and investment banking firms.

The quick, less scientific way to determine your value is to look up sales of similar companies online. Inc.com’s website provides free valuation about valuation. Whichever angle you choose, be sure to include in your owner’s vision the dollar value you’re shooting to sell your business for.

Armed with the valuation results, identify areas you need to fine-tune and improve to create increased earnings and, ultimately, a higher price when selling your business.

It is also helpful to assemble a group of trusted advisors to help protect your assets and future desires. When taking all considerations to heart, developing sufficient responses and eventually setting a solid strategy can be easier with outside expertise and resources.

The following free, online resources can also help you start your transition process. These sites are brokerage sites for buying and selling businesses, and they can help owners get started and/or see what valuations similar businesses are earning.

• Business Broker

  
  



• BuySellBiz.com

  
  



• The Biz Seller

  
  

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/strategic-planning-resources-for-business-valuatio.html

PHP & MySQL Web Development AIO For Dummies

Using PHP and MySQL to develop your Web site and/or database gives you lots of tools and lots of options, but you have to become familiar with how each program operates so that you can properly format queries, WHERE clauses, ALTER queries, and PHP statements. You need to get to know PHP and MySQL functions and the special characters that allow you to go where you want and do what you want quickly and easily.

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MySQL Queries

If you're going to develop Web pages with PHP and MySQL, you're going to have to write MySQL queries. The following list shows the MySQL query names to help make your web development easier than you thought it could be!

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WHERE Clause Format for PHP and MySQL Web Development

You’re developing Web pages using PHP & MySQL, and because you’re developing Web pages and/or databases, you need to write WHERE clauses so that you can sort through data. The following list shows the PHP and MySQL format for various comparisons:

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Changes for the ALTER Query in PHP and MySQL Web Development

Using PHP and MySQL in developing your Web site and/or database means you often get do things the easy way, and the following list shows you just how easily you can change things (meaning add, alter, drop, modify, and rename.)

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PHP and MySQL Functions

Doing Web development with PHP and MySQL, you need to use MySQL functions to run your subroutines, whether you’re writing a connect routine or a query. The following list shows the format for these functions.

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PHP Statements to Use for Web Development with PHP and MySQL

You'll use PHP statements when developing Web sites and databases with PHP and MySQL. The following list lays out the key PHP statements and the necessary format:

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Special Characters Used in Patterns in PHP and MySQL Web Development

To search for patterns in Web sites and databases developed using PHP & MySQL, you use a list of special characters. You don’t have to channel Daffy Duck (although he is a very special character), but the more mundane symbols listed in the following table:

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/php-mysql-web-development-aio-for-dummies-cheat-sh.html