How to Add Users to Open Directory in Lion Server

You can use one of the Lion Server setup assistants to create a shared network directory of users (an Open Directory master) or import users from another directory server. Follow these steps:



  1. In the Next Steps pane of the Server app, click the Add Users button.


    The Next Steps pane advises that your server doesn’t have a shared network directory, so any users you add will be local users of the server Mac. In the text are several links that will open setup assistants.



  2. Click one of these two links to open a setup assistant:


    Click the Manage Network Accounts link to create a directory server on this Mac.


    Click Connect to It to import accounts from another directory server.


    In this example, click the Manage Network Accounts link.



  3. Click Next in the Configure Users and Groups dialog.



  4. In the Directory Administrator dialog, enter a name, short name, and password for an administrator and then click Next.


    The default name is Directory Administrator. The default short name is diradmin, all lowercase. Spaces are not permitted in short names.



  5. In the Organization Info dialog, type a name for your department or organization and an e-mail address for the directory administrator; then click the Next button.



  6. Review your settings in the Confirm Settings dialog and click the Set Up button.




The assistant takes a few minutes to create an Open Directory master for you. You can now create user and group accounts.


Notice the small question mark button in the lower right of these screens. You can click it in any of the configuration screens to get help. The help that pops up is specific to the screen, and it’s quite, well, helpful.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-add-users-to-open-directory-in-lion-server.html

How to Eject Your Flip Video Camera from Your Computer

When you’re ready to unplug your Flip Video camera from your computer, you should take the correct steps to ensure it’s ejected safely. Your computer thinks of your Flip camera as a disk drive, so you need to ensure you don’t damage your Flip’s internal memory or corrupt any video files and other files stored on your Flip.


Before you unplug your Flip from your computer, you must first eject it — sometimes referred to as disconnecting or dismounting your Flip (or most any other plugged-in storage device).


The two most common ways of ejecting your Flip from your computer before you unplug your Flip are the following:



  • If you’re already running FlipShare: Click the Eject Camcorder button in the Navigation pane of the FlipShare main window.



  • If you’re not running FlipShare: Eject your Flip from your computer by using the process outlined in the following steps, based on whether you connect your Flip to a Windows PC or a Mac.




Ejecting your Flip camera from a Mac


To safely eject your Flip from a Mac so you can then unplug your Flip, follow these steps:



  1. Quit any programs you’re running that may be accessing any files on your Flip camera (such as iMovie, iPhoto, or Final Cut Pro).



  2. Drag and drop the FLIPVIDEO icon on the Desktop to the Trash icon on the Dock.


    Alternatively, you can Control-click the FLIPVIDEO icon and choose Eject FLIPVIDEO from the pop-up menu that appears. Your Flip camera icon disappears from the Desktop.



  3. Unplug your Flip camera from your Mac and be on your merry way.




Ejecting your Flip Video camera from Windows


To safely eject your Flip from your Windows PC so you can then unplug your Flip, follow these steps:



  1. Exit any programs you’re running that may be accessing the files on your Flip, such as Windows Live Movie Maker or FlipShare.



  2. Press Win+E to open the Windows Explorer window.


    Your Flip camera appears as an icon in the Windows Explorer window.



  3. Right-click your Flip camera’s icon and then choose Safely Remove (Windows Vista) or Eject (Windows 7) from the contextual menu that appears.


    A notification message dialog box appears to let you know you may now safely unplug your Flip from your PC, so feel free to do just that.













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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-eject-your-flip-video-camera-from-your-comp.html

How to Choose the Right Goats for Your Needs

Nothing is worse than buying some goats, bringing them home, getting attached to them, and then discovering that they won't work out in your situation, are the wrong type, or aren't what the seller represented. Here are some characteristics to consider when looking for goats to buy:



  • Goats need company: A lot of people make the mistake of getting only one goat. Goats are herd animals. They live and move in groups and respond to each other's cues. They bond to their family members.


    You'll have a much easier time if you buy a pair from the same herd and, unless you want them to be unrelated for breeding purposes, from the same family. They adjust more quickly if they're with someone they know.



  • Size matters: Unless you have unlimited space and feed, you need to consider the size of the goats you get. If you live in the city or have a small acreage, consider small breeds such as the miniature dairy breeds for milk, the kinder (a Nubian/Pygmy cross) for meat, or the Pygora (Pygmy/Angora) for fiber.



  • Horns can hurt: Even if you object to removing horns, think carefully before you bring home a goat with horns. Horns can cause physical pain to another goat or person; they can also hurt your pocketbook when you have to replace a fence, pay for a lawsuit, or pay medical or veterinary bills.


    Find out whether the breed you want is one that is normally kept horned. Fiber sheep, for example, need horns because the horns provide them with natural temperature control in the heat. Some meat goats are also not normally disbudded.


    If you get a breed that is normally disbudded or polled, selling kids may not be as easy if they still have horns. You also won't want to keep horned and hornless goats together because they aren't evenly matched.



  • Registered or unregistered: If you just want a couple of goats to love, spend time with, and use for help keeping down the noxious weeds, then you don't need registered goats. Registered goats cost a little more, but they aren't necessarily any better. Registered goats are required to have identification, such as a tattoo or a microchip, which can be helpful if they are stolen. Registration also gives you some assurance that the goat is the breed and has the potential the seller claims. Registered goats are more valuable, so if you want to sell surplus kids, you can usually get more money for them than for unregistered ones. Most goat shows require entrants to be registered.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-choose-the-right-goats-for-your-needs.html

How Much Water Do Your Potted Plants Need?

When you water a container plant, the goal is to moisten the entire root ball and apply just enough water so that some drains out the bottom. Now, if the container is properly planted, a space exists between the top of the soil and the container’s rim that you can fill with water. It may be anywhere from 1 inch in small containers to 4 or 5 inches in larger ones. But whatever the case, you have to fill it more than once to get enough water to wet the root ball. That means filling the pot once, letting the water soak in, and then repeating the process until the whole root ball is moist.


This whole soaking process is a bit tricky for one reason. As the root ball in a container dries, it shrinks, usually pulling away from the edges of the pot. So when you water the first time, the water drains down the edges without reaching the root ball at all. This phenomenon explains why you need to make several passes with the hose or watering can — so that the root ball swells up a bit and seals the edges of the container, at which point the water can soak in. This is also why you can never judge how wet a root ball is by the amount of water that comes out the drainage hole. You may be fooled every time. Check water penetration by lifting the edge of the pot or poking in a finger.


The fact that drainage holes may fool you doesn’t mean you should do away with them. Without them, the plant drowns. Periodically check the drainage when you water. Even if your containers have holes in the bottom, they may fill up with roots, preventing proper drainage. Cut the holes open with a knife if necessary.


You can wet shrunken root balls or plants that are really root-bound in a few other ways:



  • Water from the bottom: If you place small trays or saucers underneath your pots to catch excess water, that water is gradually reabsorbed by a dry root ball. You’re basically watering from the bottom, at a pace dictated by the plant.


    It’s not a good idea to have a container sitting in water for a long time. The root ball becomes too wet and eventually the plant drowns. But submerging a pot partially, or even completely, for just a little while doesn’t hurt, and it’s a great way to wet a really dry root ball. In fact, if your plants get too dry, set them in a container filled with several inches of warm water — use the kitchen sink, a 5-gallon bucket, or your child’s swimming pool, whatever’s easiest. Let the pots bathe for an hour or so; then remove the plants and let the excess water drain off.



  • Use drip irrigation: Drip emitters apply water at a slow, steady rate and do a great job of thoroughly wetting the root ball.




Water plants deeply and thoroughly; then allow them to dry out a bit before watering again. Avoid frequent light sprinklings, which encourage roots to form near the soil surface where they’re prone to drying out. Deep but less frequent watering encourages healthy, deep roots.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-much-water-do-your-potted-plants-need.html

The Quarterback's Hand Off and Grip

In a football game, one of the most important things for a quarterback to learn is the running game and how it affects his steps from center. Some running plays call for the quarterback to open his right hip (if he’s right-handed) and step straight back. This technique is called the six o’clock step. The best way to imagine these steps is to picture a clock.


The center is at twelve o’clock, and directly behind the quarterback is six o’clock. Three o’clock is to the quarterback’s right, and nine o’clock is to his left.


For example, a right-handed quarterback hands off the ball to a runner heading on a run around the left side of his offensive line (it’s called a sweep) at the five o’clock mark. When handing the ball to a runner heading on a sweep across the backfield to the right, the quarterback should hand off at the seven o’clock mark.


Because different quarterbacks have different-sized hands, one passing grip doesn’t suit everyone. Some coaches say that a quarterback should hold the ball with his middle finger going across the ball’s white laces or trademark. Other coaches believe both the middle and ring finger should grip the laces.


Many great quarterbacks have huge hands, allowing them to place their index finger on the tip of the ball while wrapping their middle, ring, and small fingers around the middle of the ball. However, the ball slips from many quarterbacks’ hands when they attempt to grip the ball this way. So basically every quarterback needs to find the grip that works for him.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-quarterbacks-hand-off-and-grip.html

Web Marketing Case Study: Using Facebook

Geoff Tucker, DVM and president of The Equine Practice, Inc., first started his website in 2007 as the hub for four other sites. Every site shares the overall goal of educating horse owners about veterinary care and horse husbandry.


About two years ago, Tucker added Twitter and Facebook to his online corral. “I don’t have a target market in the sense of demographics,” says Tucker. “I just put out my message for those who are ready to listen.” It turns out that mostly older women are listening because they just happen to own the most horses these days.


Tucker primarily uses Facebook to drive people to his site by posting content. But he sees each of these social media services as a way of reaching different people. For Tucker, the more channels of communication he has, the better his chance of reaching his audience.


Tucker acknowledges several challenges with Facebook. “The biggest,” he says “is just starting,” especially with the confusing directions and frequent changes in user interface. He began before the days of business pages, when he had to create two profiles — one for personal use and one for business.


He had to overcome the loss of thousands of Facebook friends when Facebook converted friends to fans. The time commitment is another challenge. Tucker spends about an hour a day responding to comments and posting pictures from the farms he visits; his wife spends time monitoring topical issues that need a comment, and his assistant spends another 20 minutes a day posting content from her archives.


Tucker joined a few groups but finds them too time-consuming. “Don’t let [Facebook] consume you,” he warns.


Although Tucker watches for a constant growth in the number of fans, he finds that the number of monthly active users is more valuable as an accurate reflection of engagement. Tucker promotes his Facebook page with chicklets and a Like me button on the top of every web page and in his weekly e-newsletter.


He supplements his online marketing with word-of-mouth, signage, business cards, brochures, phone decals, and talks to small groups. He doesn’t have much use for display ads or PPC, but SEO “is big” in his world.


Tucker advises starting with a Facebook fan page, not a profile page, for business use. Viewing Facebook as simply another communication tool offers some perspective. “In all my years working with horses, I have never, ever, not once, had a horse write me a check. Everything is a people business. Use Facebook as a way to meet new people, and your business will grow. “


See these URLs for The Equine Practice:












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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/web-marketing-case-study-using-facebook.navId-811455.html

Mom Bloggers Create a Sense of Community

Many of the most successful mom bloggers have created a sense of community with their readers. Your community starts with the very first interactions you have with your readers. As your readers interact with each other, your community grows.


They will let you know when what you write resonates with them, and may not respond at all when you produce content they aren’t interested in. They are absolutely a part of your blog and how it develops over time.


Amusingly, just a few years ago, some people and companies thought that social media was just a fad and would soon be gone. If you told that to the more than 500 million Facebook users, they would disagree. Forrester estimates that by 2014, 3.1 billion dollars will be spent annually on social media marketing campaigns. The power of the Internet to connect people and form communities is not going away.


In fact, 79 percent of moms with kids under 18 are active in social media, and 57 percent of Facebook users are women. Studies have proved that women lead the pack when it comes to participating in online communities — it is very natural for women to want to connect with other women.


Blogs are natural community builders, but here are some more ways you can foster the establishment of a thriving community around your blog:



  • Encourage your readers to talk to each other. You need not be the only source of information on your blog — your readers will love asking each other for advice, inspiration, and information that you might not be able to provide.



  • Make your readers famous. This is some of the best advice that Darren Rowse of ProBlogger has ever given. Link to your readers, invite them to guest post and showcase their talents. You’ll be creating connections for others and increasing your own reader loyalty at the same time.



  • Be active in social media. Create a Facebook page so your readers can connect with each other in their own social circles. Interacting with your readers on Facebook and Twitter is important because you want to go to where the conversations are already happening.



  • Host regular linking events. You can do this by posting weekly links to readers’ submissions, or you can use a linking tool like Linky Tools, which allows readers to create links themselves. This gets people coming back on a regular basis to get their content noticed and to meet new people.



  • Respond to reader comments. While this is an extremely effective way to get to know your readers, it can also quickly become time-consuming. At some point, it can also become downright impossible. But to the extent that you can respond to comments, it will always be highly appreciated by those who take the time to comment on your blog posts.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/mom-bloggers-create-a-sense-of-community.html

M&A Due Diligence: Operations and Financial Information

The due diligence portion of the M&A process provides enough information for the Buyer to be able to close the deal. This often includes mind-numbingly boring details. Yet this information is necessary for the deal to take place.


M&A due diligence: Operations information


A company’s operations are highly important. That should go without saying. But what does “operations” mean, and more specifically, how does a Buyer conduct due diligence on operations?


In a typical due diligence process, most Buyers seek the following information for evaluating operations:



  • Listing of all existing products or services, all products or services under development, any major operations discontinued or expected to be discontinued, and copies of all complaints and warranty claims



  • Correspondence related to any product or services regulatory approval (or disapproval)



  • Detail on any rebate programs or other special deals with customers (discounts, terms, and so on)



  • Contracts or agreements with customers, whether formal or informal



  • Customer quality awards, plant qualification/certification distinctions, quality certifications, or other awards or certificates



  • Listing of all business application software, vendor and version, number of licenses, and approximate acquisition date




In addition to reviewing a slew of operations-oriented documents, Buyers often want to see Seller’s facility, especially if Seller is a manufacturing or distribution company — in other words, a business with inventory and/or involved with fabrication.


M&A due diligence: Financials


No one should be surprised to hear that financial information is the cornerstone of M&A deals. As you can probably guess, Buyers conduct a thorough review of Seller’s financial information. In all likelihood, the financial review will be the most intensive and important of the due diligence process.


Buyers also want to analyze Seller’s accounting policies for various procedures, including, but not limited to, capitalizing assets, depreciation and amortization methods, and adjustments to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), as well as reviewing any changes in accounting methods.


The following list is an abridged list of typical financial due diligence, but it gives you an idea of the amount of data typically required to close a deal.



  • The usual trio of financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement), preferably prepared by an outside accountant



  • Accounts receivable and accounts payable information, including aging schedules and details on bad accounts



  • The general ledger



  • Projections, capital budgets, and business/strategic plans



  • Listing of all bank accounts and safety deposit boxes, including authorized signatories



  • Schedule of prepaid expenses with backup documentation and accumulated amortization



  • Schedule of deferred income at most recent year-end and month-end



  • Schedule of security deposits at most recent year-end and month-end



  • Schedule of all indebtedness and contingent liabilities



  • Detail of accrued expenses as of the most recent year-end and month-end



  • Detail of any customer advances, deposits, and credit balances as of the most recent year-end and month-end




Accrued vacation is often the one lurking problem Sellers don’t think about. If employees are due vacation time but haven’t yet taken that time prior to the closing, Buyer will demand a reduction in the purchase price equal to the value of that vacation time.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ma-due-diligence-operations-and-financial-informat.html

Suffering from Insomnia: The Likeliest Candidates

Almost anyone can suffer from an occasional bout of insomnia, but statistically speaking, certain groups come in for more than their share of problem sleep. Women, older people, and people suffering from depression have insomnia more frequently. The following sections explain why.



Why women have insomnia more frequently than men


Research shows that after a woman has a baby, she automatically develops a more acute sensitivity to the sounds her baby makes, enabling her to wake up quickly if she hears a disturbing noise such as a cough or a cry. Unfortunately, even long after their children are grown and have moved away, women retain this heightened sensitivity to nighttime noise. If you don't believe it, clinical studies have found that women who have never had children sleep better, even in their 50s and 60s, than women who had children.



Add to this sensitivity the constant hormonal changes going on in a woman's body every month. Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, may have a tough time sleeping when their bodies are awash in hormones. During her period, a woman's pain from menstrual cramps or lower back pain and breast tenderness may combine to make finding a comfortable sleep position difficult.



Menopausal women may have a hard time sleeping as well because they sometimes have to contend with drenching nighttime sweats. The good news is that by the time women enter the post menopausal phase of life, when all the hot flashes and hormonal swings are finally over, men tend to catch up to them in terms of sleeplessness. In fact, post menopausal women who don't have insomnia usually sleep longer and better than men of the same age who don't have insomnia.



Growing older with insomnia


As people age, both the quality and quantity of their sleep tend to deteriorate. Researchers aren't quite sure why this happens, but they suspect age-related changes in sleep phases and patterns may be to blame. They do know that the amount of time spent in light sleep increases as people get older. The accumulation of various medical conditions may play a role, especially if they're associated with pain. An alternative explanation is that the biological sleep-wake control system centers become less effective through cell loss or transformation, just as an elderly person's memory and physical abilities decline.



One study, which unfortunately only used men as subjects, showed subjects lose 80 percent of their deepest, most restorative sleep as they age from 16 to 50. (Now you know why your grandfather wakes up at 5:30 a.m.) Other studies have shown that after age 44, both REM sleep and the total number of hours of sleep decrease, while awakening during the night (usually to use the bathroom) increases. Yet another study indicated an overall weakening of the sleep-wake rhythm as people age.



Some sleep medications aren't appropriate for older adults because they increase daytime sleepiness and the risk for falls and fractures, which is especially true if the drug is long-acting (meaning that it remains in the body and brain longer). Even though a person takes the medicine at bedtime, the medicine may still be affecting the person the next morning or afternoon. If an older person who takes one of these medications needs to use the toilet in the middle of the night, his or her coordination may be impaired, which can lead to falls. Ask your doctor for guidance in choosing an appropriate OTC or prescription sleep aid, depending on your own medical history.



In addition, neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and some forms of dementia can cause sleep disruptions. Older people are also more likely to take a prescription drug or combination of drugs that may cause sleeplessness. They also experience a higher incidence of depression and other emotional problems that may contribute to insomnia.



Just because you're growing older, you don't have to live with poor sleep. Consult your doctor. Many effective treatments are available that can help you get back to sleeping better and longer.



According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2000 Sleep in America poll, a real disconnect exists between patients and their doctors concerning sleep problems, particularly insomnia. Although 62 percent of American adults reported they experience sleep problems at least a few nights a week, and 58 percent said they suffer from insomnia, physicians taking the same poll reported that only 16 percent of their patients suffer from a sleep disorder, and just 14 percent have insomnia. Physicians also said they don't consider the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia as an urgent health problem.



Insomnia and depression


Insomnia is so much a part of "the blues" that problems with sleep are actually described as one of the major identifying symptoms for diagnosing depression. In fact, more than 90 percent of all patients with depression report that they have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. The problem is particularly severe for patients with recurring depression.



Early identification and treatment of insomnia in a depressed patient is important. Proper treatment not only helps the insomnia, but resolving sleep problems also seems to help patients do a better job of sticking with their treatment plans. Alleviating insomnia also improves overall functioning and performance for depressed patients.



Tell your doctor if you're depressed and having trouble sleeping. You should avoid certain popular antidepressants, including some of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They stimulate serotonin receptors in the brain and change sleep patterns, producing insomnia. However, antidepressants like mirtazapine and nefazodone that block the stimulation of serotonin receptors actually help people with depression get to sleep more quickly, and sleep better and longer.










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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/suffering-from-insomnia-the-likeliest-candidates.html

Common Multiple Sclerosis-Related Cognitive Problems

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can not only cause a wide variety of physical symptoms, but also affect the way people think and feel emotionally. It's important to understand what these changes are, and how they may affect you because early recognition and treatment are key to managing symptoms successfully.



The following types of cognitive problems are the most common in MS.



Memory


Until fairly recently, experts believed that the primary memory problem for people with MS was with the retrieval of information that had been stored in memory. In other words, these experts believed that a person could learn new information and tuck it away in memory, but then be unable to recall or retrieve it from storage when needed.



More recent evidence suggests that the problem may involve the initial learning phase. People with MS may need longer time or a few more repetitions to learn and store new information successfully. After it has been stored, however, it can generally be recalled without difficulty. For example, if you have memory problems, it may take you longer than someone without memory problems to memorize a list of words. But once you have the words memorized, you'll remember them just as well as the other person does.



Information processing


Slowed processing is important because it may be the primary reason why a person with MS needs more time or repetitions to learn new information. When processing is impaired, the person has trouble keeping up with incoming information, whether it's from conversations, TV shows, or books. People describe this slowing by saying, "I can still do everything I used to be able to do, but it all seems much slower — like my brain needs to be oiled."



Attention and concentration


Attention and concentration, which form the basis for many other cognitive functions, can also be impaired by MS. For example, people who are used to being able to focus on many complex and competing tasks at the same time may notice some frustrating changes, such as being easily distracted by interruptions or competing stimuli, having difficulty moving smoothly from one task to another, or finding it more difficult to multi-task (an essential skill in any occupation, particularly parenthood).



Executive functions


Executive functions include the high-level processes of planning, prioritizing, and problem-solving. Research has shown that people with MS may find thinking through complex problems or projects more difficult because they lose the mental agility to shift from concept to concept along the way. People often describe this impairment as "feeling stuck" or "lost in a maze."



Visual perceptual skills


Visual perceptual skills, which include simple perception or recognition of objects, as well as sense of direction and orientation in space, can be affected in MS. These problems can interfere with activities ranging from reading a map or driving, to programming your VCR or dealing with those pesky "some assembly required" projects.



Verbal fluency


Verbal fluency includes the ability to find the word you're looking for quickly and easily. "It's on the tip of my tongue" is a particularly common complaint from those who have MS, as is "I'm talking to someone and all of a sudden I'm stuck without the word I need." People who experience these kinds of problems may feel less confident about their ability to talk smoothly and comfortably with others.



General intelligence


People with MS sometimes say they feel "dumber." The good news is that general intelligence is usually not affected in MS. However, individual functions that make up general intelligence, such as memory, reasoning, or perceptual skills, can be affected or slowed temporarily during a relapse or more permanently over the course of the disease. So, a person's intelligence quotient (IQ), which is a composite score made up of individual subtest scores on all these functions, can become lower over time.










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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/common-multiple-sclerosisrelated-cognitive-problem.html

Change Lenses on Your Digital Camera

If you have a digital SLR camera, you change lenses based on your artistic vision and the subject or scene you’re photographing. Changing lenses is simple: You push a button and twist the lens to remove it from the camera, align the lens you’re going to use with a dot on the camera body, and twist it until it locks into place.


With a Canon camera, you twist the lens counterclockwise to remove it, and you twist it clockwise to lock it into place. The direction in which you twist a lens on a Nikon camera is clockwise to remove it and counterclockwise to lock it into place.


When you change lenses, make sure you have the new lens aligned perfectly. It will lock into position with a gentle twist of the wrist. It you have to force the lens, it is not aligned properly. If you force a lens that is not aligned properly, you can damage the lens and the camera body.


Always turn the camera off before you change lenses. If you don’t, the current running through the sensor can set up a charge and act like a dust magnet. Never change lenses when it’s windy or when you’re in a dusty environment. When confronted with these challenges, go inside a car or building to change lenses.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/change-lenses-on-your-digital-camera.html

Setting a Budget for Your Business

Budgeting for a business requires you to set specific goals and develop a plan to achieve them. A business budget is an integrated plan of action for your business — not simply slap-dashing together a few figures and then hoping you reach the desired results.


A good budget demands a fair amount of time and energy, for several reasons.



  • Modeling: Forecast the amount of cash your business will generate during the coming year in profits so that you can plan for other sources of cash flow you'll need. For example, if your forecast that your store will make $400,000 in profits over the next year, but it costs you $475,000 to pay employees (including yourself), rent the storefront, and pay your utilities and other operating expenses, you'll know that you'll need to find a way to generate that extra $75,000. Create a budget that provides a clear trail of how the sales and expenses of your business (money coming into and going out of your business) determine what assets and liabilities your business has (assets are the things owned by your business, while liabilities are what your business owes to others). Together, assets and liabilities create your business's cash flow from the general activities that run your business.


    Budgeting requires good working models of making profit, financial condition (assets and liabilities), and cash flow. You can use these models to make strategic decisions and exercise control — and do better planning.



  • Planning: Budgeting forces you to create a definite and detailed financial plan for the coming period. To construct a budget, you have to establish explicit financial objectives for the coming year and identify exactly what has to be done to accomplish these financial objectives.


    For example, let's say that on top of the normal operating expenses in your independent bookstore, you know that in the next year, you want to replace the carpeting and all the bookshelves. Setting a budget will help you make this goal attainable.



  • Control: Budgeting shouldn't put your employees in a financial straitjacket, but it can hold individual employees responsible for keeping the business on schedule in reaching its financial objectives.


    Create budget targets (the amount that you plan to both earn and pay out for your business within a certain timeframe) as benchmarks against which you compare actual performance, you can closely monitor progress toward (or deviations from) the budget goals and timetable. You use a budget plan like a navigation chart to keep your business on course. Significant variations from the budget raise red flags, in which case you can determine that performance is off course or that the budget needs to be revised because of unexpected developments.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/setting-a-budget-for-your-business.html

How to Find a Song on iTunes



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To enter the store, click iTunes Store in the source list.



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The front page of the Music Store is like the window outside a physical record store. You’ll see colorful album covers, promotions for particular artists, and more. Store pages are laid out with new and recent releases, staff favorites, and a list of top songs, albums, and ringtones (for your iPhone).


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Select your main genre by clicking the drop-down menu under inside the Store (on the left side of the screen).



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You may see a few exclusives and other recommendations. The figure shows the front page of the store when you’ve selected Children’s Music as your genre.


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Click the banner of the album you like.



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You’re transported to a page like the one shown in the next figure. In the bottom half of the screen is the list of songs in the compilation.


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Click any song to hear 30-second samples.



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You can sample all tracks for 30 seconds, without any obligation to buy. Most of the songs that you do choose to buy cost 99 cents each.


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5

Look above the song list to read customer reviews and ratings.



>

Shopping online gives you the opportunity to cherry-pick favorite tracks from an album, without having to buy the entire compilation. However, some record labels require that some tracks be purchased only as part of an album.


>



>
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-find-a-song-on-itunes.html

What Is Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program?

Medicare Part D is a relatively new prescription drug program. Part D allows seniors to have some form of insurance coverage that will enable them to get their prescription drugs at an affordable rate. Part D is handled by a private insurance company that is approved by Medicare. There are two ways to receive Part D benefits:



  • Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. These plans (sometimes called "PDPs") add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.



  • Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO or PPO) are other Medicare health plans that offer Medicare prescription drug coverage. You get all of your Part A and Part B coverage, and prescription drug coverage (Part D), through these plans. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called "MA-PDs." This is also often known as Part C.




Because Part D is run through private insurance companies, you'll find various options and levels of coverage, depending on the company you choose. However, the government requires certain minimums that you can expect. Here is roughly what you can expect your deductibles, co-pays, and premiums to be for 2011:



  • Premium: In most cases, your Part D premium will be $30 per month.



  • Initial Deductible: The out of pocket prescription drug expenses is $310 before your drug plan pays a dime.



  • Initial Coverage Phase: Once the $310 deductible has been reached, Part D picks up the tab on 75% of the prescription drugs for seniors until their total costs for the year reach $2,840.



  • Donut Hole: Once the total drug costs for the year reach $2,840, there is a period of essentially non-coverage known as the donut hole. This requires the beneficiary to pay 100% of the drug expenses up to a total of $4,550. New for 2011: an added 50% discount on certain brand name prescription medications for those who fall within this benefit gap.



  • Catastrophic Coverage: If your annual prescription drug costs exceed $4,550, Part D will pick up the remaining drug costs with only a small co-pay.




Obviously, Medicare Part D is a complicated program that can still leave a beneficiary with a rather large outlay of costs. Those relying on Part D during retirement would be wise to explore a Medigap policy to plug the holes in the Part D program.











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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/what-is-medicare-part-d-prescription-drug-program.html

External Flash Power and Dog Photography

Another option for adding supplemental light to your dog photos is to use an external flash unit. These are battery-operated units that connect to your camera’s hot shoe and provide much more flexibility than a built-in flash does. This flexibility does, of course, come with a downside: price. An external flash unit runs you anywhere from $140 for a low-end, less-powerful unit to $500 for a higher-end, more-powerful unit.


The concept behind an external flash is similar to the concept of bouncing light. Ultimately, you can rotate, pivot, and swivel the flash head as you please so you can bounce the flash off of a ceiling, wall, or anything else. This indirect light eliminates (you guessed it) the dreaded demon-eye look.


Another advantage to an external flash unit is that you can also use it off-camera by simply connecting a wireless transmitter to your hot shoe and a receiver to the actual external flash unit that connects to a light stand.


This means that your light doesn’t always have to come directly from your camera; you can position your external flash unit wherever you’d like and even experiment with light modifiers like umbrellas and soft boxes.


Some dogs find flashes frightening. If yours is among them, don’t force the issue. Like most things, getting your dog used to the flash takes patience, time, and positive reinforcement. Go slowly at first; fire the flash once and then reward him. If he runs away, just wait for him to come back; don’t drag him back. Gradually increase the number of times you fire the flash before rewarding him.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/external-flash-power-and-dog-photography.navId-323789.html

Strategic Plan Considerations for Entrepreneurial Organizations

In the final phase of the strategic planning process, you will look at your own personal vision, determine the value of your company, and figure out how to plan for your company’s survival after you leave.


Although publicly-traded companies get all the media limelight, roughly 90 percent of the businesses in the United States are privately held. As a business owner, you have some special considerations in your planning efforts:



  • What’s your endgame?



  • How do you establish the value or projected value of your business?



  • How will your business continue when you exit?




Although you may not want to think about some of these questions today, each one influences the strategic direction of your company. Many owners have a difficult time thinking about life after their company. However, your endgame is arguably the most important part of your strategic planning effort. And although you may not share your ideas with your staff, you want to have a clear plan for your departure.


Take a few minutes to consider the legacy you want your business to leave. Will it continue indefinitely or pass to your children or employees? Do you plan on cashing out or will your business just cease to exist?


Many entrepreneurs can’t clearly see what their businesses look like without them, so they leave their exit strategy to chance rather than intention. But here’s the bottom line: The ownership of your business will be transferred at some point, with or without you. Your death or other unforeseen life changes may force the transfer, but through careful planning, you can leave a legacy of how you want your business to run.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/strategic-plan-considerations-for-entrepreneurial-.html

Grasping the Foreclosure Process

Knowing the foreclosure process helps you anticipate key events, gives you a better understanding of the options, and improves your chances of navigating through foreclosure. Depending on your situation and the rules and regulations in your area, the foreclosure process can take from several weeks to possibly a year and generally proceeds along the following course:



  • Pre-foreclosure: You receive missed or late payment notices in the mail and perhaps phone calls if you fail to respond to the written notices.



  • Foreclosure notice: The lender delivers an official foreclosure notice, publishes a notice in the local newspaper or county news publication, and posts the notice on or near your home.



  • Reinstatement period: For some time prior to the sale, which varies depending on your jurisdiction, you may be able to stop the foreclosure by catching up on missed payments and any penalties and fees that accrued due to the missed payments.



  • Auction or sale: Assuming you do not reinstate the mortgage or take other actions to stop the foreclosure, your property goes for sale. An investor purchases the property or, if nobody bids, your lender ends up with the property.



  • Redemption period: In many jurisdictions, you have one last chance to save your property by redeeming it — buying it back from your lender or the investor who purchased it at the auction. To redeem the property, you must pay the buyer whatever the person paid at auction plus interest and any other qualifying expenses the person paid and filed an affidavit for paying.



  • Eviction: After the redemption period (if applicable in your jurisdiction), you must move out. If you don’t move out, the court sends someone over to remove you and your belongings from the property.











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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/grasping-the-foreclosure-process.html

Updating Mac OS X

As any good software developer should, Apple constantly releases improvements to Mac OS X in the form of software updates. These updates can include all sorts of fun stuff, such as



  • Bug fixes

  • Improvements and new features


  • Security upgrades

  • Firmware upgrades

Apple makes it easy to keep Mac OS X up-to-date with the Software Update controls in System Preferences (see Figure 1). Alternatively, you can choose the Apple menu and then choose Software Update. To check for new updates periodically, enable the Check for Updates check box. Then from the drop-down list box, choose how often you want these updates. (At least weekly, if not daily.) For a manual check, make sure that you're connected to the Internet and then click the Check Now button.



>



Figure 1: Configuring Software Update is easy.

To download updates automatically, mark the Download Important Updates in the Background check box to enable it; the Big X politely downloads the updates behind the scenes and then alerts you that they're ready to be installed. (With automatic downloading disabled, Mac OS X displays any available updates with short descriptions, and you can toggle the installation of a specific update by enabling or disabling the check boxes next to it.)



Install all updates, even for hardware that you don't have yet. For example, install AirPort updates even though if you don't use an AirPort connection at home. The reason? Often, the functionality covered by an update may include system software that you do use, so you'll still benefit from installing it.



After you specify the updates that you want to install, click the Install button to begin the update process. You may have to reboot after everything has been installed.



To see which updates you've already installed, click the Installed Updates tab.


>
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/updating-mac-os-x.html

Starting to Think about Your CV

Get some paper and a pen or pencil, or grab your laptop and start making some notes for yourself before launching into writing your perfect CV (Curriculum Vitae):



  • Think about the type of job you want to nab.



  • Write your key skills such as IT, languages or academic achievements.



  • List the dates and titles of your previous positions (use years; miss out the months).



  • Make a note of any additional information the employer might want to know, such as your climb on Kilimanjaro or the charity you volunteer for.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/starting-to-think-about-your-cv.html

How to Cut a Round Cake

No matter how great your round cake looks, the way you cut it can make or break it. You want to cut clean, uniform pieces from your cake. Who wants to eat a mush-up pile of crumbs and frosting?



  1. Cut the cake in half.


    The best knife for cutting cakes and tarts is a 12- to 14-inch long serrated knife.


    Think of a cake as a clock, with 12 o'clock at the far end. Plunge the tip of the knife at 12 o'clock and cut straight down, sliding the knife out beneath 6 o'clock (without raising the knife). When you cut, use a gentle sawing motion.



  2. Cut across the cake from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock.


    The cake is now cut into quarters.



  3. To get 16 even slices from a 10-inch cake, take one quarter of the cake and, using the knife, cut it in half; cut each half again in half and repeat with the remaining cake quarters.


    Have a deep container of hot water (or a warm, wet towel or sponge) nearby to plunge your knife into between slices. You want to remove crumbs clinging to the blade between slices — they mar the surface of the next cut. Also, a wet knife cuts through cake easier and cleaner.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-cut-a-round-cake.html

How to Read a Complex C++ Expression

C++ is full of little symbols, each of which adds to the meaning of expressions. The rules of C++ grammar are so flexible that these symbols can be combined in almost impenetrably complex combinations. Expressions in the simpler C language can get so obtuse that there used to be an annual contest for who could write the most obscure program and who could understand it.


It's never a good idea to try to write complex code but you will sometimes run across expressions in C++ that are a bit bewildering at first glance. Just use the following steps to figure them out.




  1. Start at the most embedded parentheses.


    Start looking for the outer most parentheses. Within those, look for embedded parentheses. Repeat the process until you've worked your way to the deepest pair of parentheses. Start evaluating that subexpression first using the following rules. Once you understand that expression, pop back out to the next level and repeat the process.




  2. Within the pair of parentheses, evaluate each operation in order of precedence.


    The order that operators are evaluated is determined by the operator's precedence shown in the table. Indirection comes before multiplication which comes before addition thus the following adds 1 plus 2 times the value pointed at by *ptr.



  3.         int i = 1 + 2 * *ptr;









































































    Operators in Order of Precedence
    Precedence Operator Meaning
    1() (unary)Invoke a function
    2* and -> (unary)Dereference a pointer
    2- (unary)Returns the negative of its argument
    3++ (unary)Increment
    3-- (unary)Decrement
    4* (binary)Multiplication
    4/ (binary)Division
    4% (binary)Modulo
    5+ (binary)Addition
    5- (binary)Subtraction
    6&& (binary)Logical AND
    6!!Logical OR
    7=, *=,%=,+=,-= (special)Assignment types


  4. Evaluate operations of the same precedence from left to right (except assignment, which goes the other way).


    Most operators of the same precedence evaluate from left to right. Thus the following adds 1 to 2 and adds the result to 3:


            int i = 1 + 2 + 3;

    The order of evaluation of some operators doesn't matter. For example, addition works the same from left to right as it does from right to left. The order of evaluation makes a lot of difference for some operations like division. The following divides 8 by 4 and divides the result by 2:


            int i = 8 / 4 / 2;

    The main exception to this rule is assignment, which is evaluated from right to left:


            a = b = c;

    This assigns c to b and the result to a.




  5. Evaluate subexpressions in no particular order.


    Consider the following expression:


            int i = f() + g() * h();

    Multiplication has higher precedence, so you might assume that the functions g() and h() are called before f(), however, this isn't the case. Function call has the highest precedence of all, so all three functions are called before either the multiplication or the addition is performed. (The results returned from g() and h() are multiplied and then added to the results returned from f().) The only time that the order that functions are called makes a difference is when the function has side effects such as opening a file or changing the value of a global variable. You should definitely not write your programs so that they depend upon these type of side effects.




  6. Perform any type conversions only when necessary.


    You should not make more type conversions than absolutely necessary. For example, the following expression has at least three and possibly four type conversions:


            float f = 'a' + 1;

    The char 'a' must be promoted to an int to perform the addition. The int is then converted to a double and then down converted to a single precision float. Remember that all arithmetic is performed either in int or double. You should generally avoid performing arithmetic on character types and avoid single precision float altogether.










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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-read-a-complex-c-expression.html

How to Troubleshoot Your Snow Leopard Network

After you set up a network on your Mac Snow Leopard, it rarely malfunctions, but if you do have problems with the network, it is either a hardware or a software problem. Begin troubleshooting your network by checking for hardware issues:


Although many things on a network can go bad or cause problems, usually network problems are caused by faulty equipment or wiring. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a cable not being plugged in snugly. Looking at the physical cables, connections, and equipment is always the best place to start looking for problems. Here is a quick list of physical things to check while trying to fix network problems:



  1. Make sure that both ends of the network cable are firmly connected.


    First check the end that plugs into the computer and then check the end that connects to the switch.



  2. Turn on the problematic computer to be sure that it’s connected to a hub or switch.


    Check the port on the switch to see whether the link/speed light is lit. (Depending on the switch that you have, you might not have a link light. Many switches use a speed light to indicate a link. Check the manufacturer’s manual for your model.) If your computer is on and connected but no link/speed light is lit, try replacing the network cable.



  3. If you replace the network cable and there still isn’t light, try unplugging the cable from the switch and plug it into another port.


    Choose one of the other computers connected to the switch that works, unplug it, and plug the broken computer into that port for testing. Occasionally, a single port on a switch goes bad; if that happens, just mark it as bad and don’t use it anymore. But if all computers connected to the switch stop working, it’s probably the switch that’s gone south. If the switch is still under warranty, get it fixed or replace it.



  4. If you replace the cable, try a different port on the switch, and if other computers work fine on that switch, the NIC inside your computer has possibly gone bad.


    If you reach this determination, call your local service center to have it looked at and repaired. If you have an older model on which the NIC was added instead of built in, you can simply replace the NIC yourself.




The key when troubleshooting physical problems is the link/speed light on the switch. If the link/speed light still doesn’t work, the problem likely isn’t physical. Start troubleshooting the network configuration on the computer itself.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-troubleshoot-your-snow-leopard-network.html

Search Engine Optimization on your WordPress Website

Improving your website’s rankings in Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) is accomplished by applying recognized Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques. Placing high in a list of results returned by a search engine like Google, Bing, or Yahoo is vital to improving your website’s view statistics. The goal of SEO is to make sure that your site ranks as high as possible for the keywords you expect people will use in a search statement.


WordPress is equipped to create an environment that’s friendly to search engines, giving them easy navigation through your archives, categories, and pages. You can tweak five elements of your WordPress posts, pages, and templates to maximize your SEO.


Custom permalinks for SEO


Use custom permalinks, rather than the default WordPress permalinks, to fill your post and page URLs with valuable keywords. By using custom permalinks, you automatically insert keywords into the URLs of your posts and pages, letting search engines include those posts and pages in their databases of information on those topics.


When you're looking at the default permalink for any page, you see a URL that looks something like this:


http://yourdomain.com/?page_id=2

This URL contains no keywords of worth. If you change to a custom permalink structure, your post URLs automatically include the titles of your posts and pages to provide keywords, A custom permalink may appear in this format:


http://yourdomain.com/the-page-title 

Optimizing posts and page titles


Create descriptive titles for your blog posts and pages to provide rich keywords in your site. When used properly, WordPress custom permalinks give the search engines a triple keyword play:



  • Keywords exist in your page title.



  • Keywords exist in your page URL.



  • Keywords exist in the content of your page.




Keywords in blog text


Fill your blog posts and pages with keywords for search engines to find and index.


When search engines visit your site to crawl through your content, they don’t see how nicely designed it is. They look for words that they grab to include in their databases. Make sure that your posts and pages use the words and phrases that you want to include in search engine.    


Category names for search engine optimization


Use descriptive names for the categories you create in WordPress to place great keywords right in the URL for those category pages.


Links to your WordPress categories become keyword tools within your site to help the search engines and ultimately, search engine users find the content. Using custom permalinks gives you category page URLs that look something like this:


http://yourdomain.com/category/Category_Name

Images and Alt tags in optimized blog content


Place tags in your images to further define and describe the images on your site. You can accomplish this task by using the Alternate Text field in the WordPress image uploader.


When you use the WordPress image uploader to include an image in your post or page, you're given a Description text box in which you can enter a description of the image. This text automatically becomes the tag.


Search engines harvest those tags as keywords. The WordPress image uploader gives you an easy way to include those tags without worrying about inserting them into the image code yourself. Just fill out the Description text box before you upload and add the image to your post.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/search-engine-optimization-on-your-wordpress-websi.html

My Network and Welcome to It

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


Account information:


My user ID: _____________________________


My password: DON’T WRITE IT HERE! (Memorize it or keep it in a safe place, separate from associated information.)


Domain name: ___________________________


My e-mail address: ________________________


My network administrator:


Name: __________________________________


Phone number: ___________________________


E-mail name: _____________________________


Favorite snack food: _______________________


My network drives:


Drive Letter ______ Description _____________


________________________________________


Drive Letter ______ Description _____________


________________________________________


Drive Letter ______ Description _____________


________________________________________


My network printers:


Printer Name ____________IP Address ________


Description _______________________________


Printer Name ____________IP Address ________


Description _______________________________


Printer Name ____________ IP Address ________


Description _______________________________


My network servers:


Server Name ____________ IP Address_________


Description ________________________________


Server Name ____________ IP Address_________


Description ________________________________


Server Name ____________ IP Address_________


Description ________________________________









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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/my-network-and-welcome-to-it.html

Macrobiotic Principles of Awareness

By becoming more aware and developing a better understanding of your feelings, you have the chance to change your life into something more meaningful. To develop a personal philosophy that leads to a more creative and fulfilling life, apply the following macrobiotic principles of awareness:



  • Develop a generous spirit: The Principle of Abundance.



  • Embrace responsibility and admit faults.



  • Discover life via personal experience.



  • Develop your intuition.



  • Cultivate active appreciation.



  • Make friends everywhere.



  • Respect your elders.



  • Be mindful of ecology.



  • Practice economy of life: Vivero parvo.



  • Discover humor.



  • Practice self-reflection.



  • Perfect the art of living.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/macrobiotic-principles-of-awareness.html

Location-based Campaign KPI: Customer Loyalty

Customer loyalty is one of the KPIs most easily impacted by location-based marketing. The beauty of loyalty as a KPI is that a loyal customer base helps many of your other KPIs, including satisfaction, sales, and share of wallet, because loyal customers tend to drive referrals, sales, and customer retention.


To get a gauge of how your business is doing on the loyalty front, you have to look at repeat check-ins, tips, pictures from repeat check-ins, and regular cross-posting on other social networks (particularly when there is positive sentiment).


When you create offers that apply to all of your customers or offers that get better over time, you’re more likely to gain customer loyalty. They’ll keep coming back to you to get additional offers that they’re not getting at your competitor.


A good example of a customer loyalty driver is the program shopkick, which Best Buy (as well as other companies) has rolled out. If a customer walks into a Best Buy with the shopkick app open, she’s automatically checked in and gains kickbucks. She can exchange her kickbucks for gift certificates, donations to nonprofits, and other items.


A customer can also scan items for additional kickbucks and specials. shopkick rewards work across multiple venues, so customers can earn dollars not just by checking into Best Buy but for checking in and scanning items in other stores, including Target, Sports Authority, and Simon Malls stores.


This is good for Best Buy and the other participating stores because they’re all essentially participating in one big loyalty program that’s more fun and engaging than just a company-specific loyalty reward program.











dummies

Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/locationbased-campaign-kpi-customer-loyalty.html

Radio Frequency (RF) Modulation Techniques Basics

In preparation for managing your wireless networks, you should know something about the different Radio Frequency (RF) modulation techniques that are implemented in IEEE 802.11 networking.


You do not have to know everything about them; just be familiar with the terminology that is used in the following sections because it may be helpful when you are trying to find the source of interference or figure out how your network is being affected by interference.


Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)


The FHSS modulation technique uses the available channels to transmit and receive data, but rather than staying on any one channel, it rapidly switches between channels using a pseudorandom pattern that is based on an initial key; this key is shared between the participants of the communication session.


If interference affects only a few of the channels, this interference is minimized because each channel is used only briefly. If the interference is broad, it can still affect all the channels that are in use. This modulation technique requires that the initial seed or key be shared, but after that has happened, it is very difficult to eavesdrop on.


IEEE 802.11 wireless networks use this technique for modulation, while Bluetooth uses an adaptive version of this technique that stops using channels where interference or weak signals exist.


Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS)


Rather than rapidly switching between several channels, DSSS spreads the carrier signal across the entire 22-MHz frequency range of its channel. For example, a device sending over channel 1 would spread the carrier signal across the 2.401- to 2.423-GHz frequencies (the full 22-MHz range of channel 1).


At the same time it is transmitting the data over this channel, it also, at a faster rate, generates a noise signal in a pseudorandom pattern. This noise signal is known to the receiver, which can reverse or subtract the noise signal from the data signal. This process allows the carrier signal to be spread over the entire spectrum.


With the entire spectrum being used, the effect of narrow-spectrum interference is reduced. Also, if the channel is being used by other devices, the effect of their signal is reduced because they are not using the same pseudorandom noise pattern.


DSSS has an advantage over FHSS in that it has better resistance to interference. It is used primarily by IEEE 802.11b networks and cordless phones operating in the 900-MHz, 2.4-GHz, and 5-GHz spectrums. IEEE 802.11g/n networks also sometimes use DSSS, but these newer networks tend to prefer orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ODFM).


Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)


The slower that data is transmitted, the less likely that interference or line noise will cause a problem with the transmission. Multiplexing allows you to take several pieces of data and combine them into a single unit that can then be sent over the communication channel.


In this case, OFDM takes the data that needs to be transmitted and breaks it into a large number of subcarrier streams (up to 52 subcarriers) that can then all be multiplexed into a single data stream. Because 52 subcarriers exist, the final data stream can be sent at a slower rate, while still delivering more data than other methods in the same time period.


This multiplexing process gives OFDM an advantage over DSSS because it allows higher throughput (54 Mbps instead of 11 Mbps), and it can be used both in the 2.4-GHz frequency range and in the 5-GHz frequency range.


Multiplexing has many uses, and OFDM is used in any technology that needs to send large amounts of data over slower transmission lines or standards. OFDM is used with IEEE 802.11g/a/n networking as well as with ASDL and digital radio.


Multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO)


MIMO allows multiple antennas to be used when sending and receiving data. The concept of spatial multiplexing allows these multiple signals to be multiplexed or aggregated, thereby increasing the throughput of data.


To improve the reliability of the data stream, MIMO is usually combined with OFDM. When using multiple antennas, you can achieve higher transmission speeds — over 100 Mbps.


MIMO is used in both WiMAX and IEEE 802.11n networks and is the largest reason these networks achieve their high speeds.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/radio-frequency-rf-modulation-techniques-basics.html

How to Add a Cutting Board to a Laminate Countertop

Adding a cutting board to a countertop is a good strategy when you have a damaged area. You don’t always need to replace a whole countertop when just one part of it looks awful. Odds are that the damage is adjacent to a sink or range — high-risk areas. So all you have to do is cut out the damaged section and, in its place, put in a cutting board, a sheet of glass, or some decorative tiles, and guests will think you got the idea from a magazine focusing on upscale homes.


Before you make a cut, look under the damaged area to find out whether any supports or braces would be damaged if you cut a hole in the counter. If there are, you’ll have to rout the surface instead of cutting all the way through it.


The logical place for a cutting board is right next to a sink where you can wash vegetables, chop them, and scrape the scraps directly into the garbage disposal. You may also want one next to the stove so as you cut, you can dump the pieces into a pot. You need a good-quality cutting board or piece of butcher block with beveled or finished edges. The piece needs to be slightly larger than the damaged portion of the countertop. You also need a square and ruler, a pencil, a saber saw with a long tapered blade or a router, a level, clear silicone caulk, adhesive, and a metal frame that the wood piece can fit into. Look for them in the kitchen area of home improvement stores.



  1. Measure and mark the laminate.


    Use a square and ruler to mark each side precisely.



  2. Make sure the new piece will be level from side to side and along the front before you start cutting.


    Make sure that it’s level with the edge of the counter, not the back wall. Most walls aren’t completely straight, but the counter edge should be.



  3. Cut the countertop along those marked lines with a saber saw if you intend to go all the way through the counter.


    Go slowly enough that the saber saw doesn’t head off on a tangent.


    Or you can use a router to make a shallow cut into the plywood in the counter, to make a base to support the cutting board or butcher block.



  4. Starting in the center or well inside a cut seam, pry up the vinyl laminate and plywood under it.


    If you start inside the cut edges, there’s less risk of nicking the surrounding countertop.


    If you used a router, level the surface and sand it so that the board will fit into the hole tightly without rocking.



  5. Apply adhesive to the surface of the cutout and set the board in place.


    Press down on it to make sure it bonds tightly.



  6. Cover the board with cloth and weight it.


    This will help the adhesive form a tight bond.



  7. Squeeze a thin line of clear silicone caulk all around to seal the joint between the countertop and board.


    That will keep food out of the cracks and prevent mold from forming.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-add-a-cutting-board-to-a-laminate-counterto.html

How to Avoid Business Trouble: Eight Key Rules

A dangerous area of marketing arises when people try to bypass regulations that ensure fair pricing, safety, and honest advertising. In the UK, as in Europe and North America, there are regulations as well as self-regulatory industry guidelines:



  • Always make sure your pricing is fair to customers and competitors (because unfair competitive practices are usually illegal).



  • Always clarify the limits of warranties for services or goods.



  • Always provide full warnings and details about your product’s content and source on labels.



  • Always follow an open and honest policy with the media.



  • Never say anything deceptive or misleading in ads or other communications – remember the watchwords ‘legal, decent, honest, and truthful’.



  • Never distribute products that can do significant harm to anyone.



  • Never discuss prices with competitors (that’s called price fixing).



  • Always keep an eye on future trends that could impact on your performance.






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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-avoid-business-trouble-eight-key-rules.html

How Private Cloud and Public Cloud Computing Compare

In the community of cloud community services, confusion and debate continue over the definition of a private cloud. The phrase private cloud refers to a highly virtualized cloud data center located inside your company’s firewall. The private cloud also may be a private space dedicated to your company within a cloud vendor data center designed to handle your company’s workloads.


The characteristics of a private cloud are as follows:



  • Allows IT to provision services and compute capability to internal users in a self-service manner



  • Automates management tasks and lets you bill business units for the services they consume



  • Provides a well-managed environment



  • Optimizes the use of computing resources such as servers



  • Supports specific workloads



  • Provides self-service based provisioning of hardware and software resources




You might think these descriptors sound quite a bit like a public cloud! A private cloud exhibits the key characteristics of a public cloud, including elasticity, scalability, and self-service provisioning. The major difference is control over the environment. In a private cloud, you (or a trusted partner) control the service management.


It might help to think of the public cloud as the Internet and the private cloud as the intranet.


If private and public clouds are so similar, why would you develop a private cloud instead of ordering capacity on demand from an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider or using Software as a Service (SaaS)? Here are several good reasons companies are using a private rather than a public cloud:



  • Your organization has a huge, well-run data center with a lot of spare capacity. It would be more expensive to use a public cloud even if you have to add new software to transform that data center into a cloud.



  • Your organization offers IT services to a large ecosystem of partners as part of your core business. Therefore, a private cloud could be a revenue source.



  • Your company’s data is its lifeblood. You feel that to keep control you must keep your information behind your own firewall.



  • You need to keep your data center running in accordance with rules of governance and compliance.



  • You have critical performance requirements, meaning you need 99.9999 percent availability. Therefore, a private cloud may be your only option. This higher level of service is more expensive, but is a business requirement.




Some early adopters of private cloud technology have experienced server use rates of up to 90 percent. This is a real breakthrough, particularly in challenging economic times.




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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-private-cloud-and-public-cloud-computing-compa.html