What Is Anti-Spam Software

Before we learn about anti-spam software, we need to first know what is spam. To put it succinctly, spam is unsolicited and unwanted email. Other names for spam are Unsolicited Bulk Mail, Excessive Multi-Posting, and Unsolicited Commercial email, in addition to the more common - spam mail, bulk email or just junk mail. The advent of email brought in an era of instant communication, where information reaches our desktops, at negligible cost, and in no time at all, from across the globe.

Along with the benefits, came the negative aspects of email. For the multitudes of marketing hawks out there, this was an opportunity to send unsolicited promotions of their products, instantly, and at a very low cost. Today, spam has reached such monumental proportions that 10 out of every 13 emails (76.9%) we receive are spam, one way or the other. This is why anti-Spam filter has become a must have software for almost all PC users.

Stopping Spam

Simply put, anti-spam software helps detect spam. It is a software program that detects unsolicited and unwanted e-mail, and prevents them from reaching your inbox.

Anti-Spam software is also known by many different names, such as: Spam Filters, Email Spam Filtering, Spam Blocking Software, Anti-Spam Filter, Spam Filtering Software, Spam Blockers, Bayesian Filters, and Anti-Spam, among many others.

Anti-spam software is installed in your machine to divert the spam coming in. If installed in the mail server, you will never receive the spam, to begin with. The filtering is configured based on a number of criteria. These could be specific words in the subject line, in the body of the message, and the type of attachments accompanying the mail. You could arrange to filter out even the senders email address. Certain Internet Service Providers (ISPs) maintain a blacklist of habitual spam senders known as spammers. Anti-spam software detects these blacklisted senders and rejects them per se.

Over time, anti-Spam software has become sophisticated to match with the wiles of the spammers. They use techniques that do not trash genuine emails by effectively analyzing the content of the email. Such software looks for keywords and tries to interpret their meanings in the sentences. Certain spam filters do not accept emails that come to you in the form of "Undisclosed Recipients." They accept emails where your email address is in the to or cc fields.

Anti-spam software has become an essential part of your computers security, to ensure that you only receive the emails you want, and not others. To help eliminate spam, look for anti-spam software that has the following features, among many others:

Blocking emails using both lists and preset filters - blocks specific addresses, watches subject lines, and messages within

Updating filters automatically

Isolates spam outside of your inbox

Puts acceptable emails automatically into your safe list

Monitors and filters multiple email accounts

Now that you know the basics about the need and importance of anti-Spam filter, select the right one for your computer and get rid of the menace of Spam.

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.com. Related Information: http://www.pcmantra.com/SpamFilter.aspx?id=4Alyssa Blog16818
Angelo Blog68200

What To Consider When Deciding To Rip A DVD

When I first saw the title for this article I thought great this is something we have dealt with a lot, until I learned that ripping a DVD is different from making home VCDs or even burning a DVD. Not only are the processes, softwares, and hardwires different but it seems the legal controversy is as well.

We all know that with the right software that is normally included with any CD writing drive, that you just record your videos, open it with the software and burn it to a CD Disk. However this is not the case with making a DVD, by either burning it or RIPPING it.

Obviously the first thing you need to do is decide is which type of DVD you are making, the first being a home movie, the second being a copy of Movies you have either purchased and are wanting to make a personal backup copy. Both of these require a DVD+R Writer, and DVD+R/DVD+RW disk, and the appropriate software. Not too mention plenty of space on your hard drive.

The controversy on making copies of Movies you have legally purchased is the fact many film makers do not want you to copy but buy a new one to replace it. At this time it is not illegal to make copies for personal use of movies you have bought, it may or may not change in the future but we are talking about today.

Onto ripping your DVD, once you have decided what kind of DVD you are ripping, you then have to decide which program to use and how easy they are to work. There are many out there which are deceiving to say the least, luckily though my husband found one that is both user friendly, but reliable as well, not too mention has many various other features which are definitely useful. Nero frequently offers software updates with registration; drivers for your burners and is definitely worth the cost.

There are many different products on the market with different ways to download some of these for free, however it has been my experience that cheaper or free is not always the best answer. I know someone who went with cheaper and ended up having to download multiple programs, and drivers, including having to purchase more memory for her PC. All of this was after the fact she had to redo her PC when she ended up running out of space even though she met or exceeded the requirements, and her PC froze. She had tried to remove the Movie but the file was even too large to remove.

Yes there are compressing agents out there to decrease the size but unless it comes with the program and is automatically started at the appropriate times this program cannot do the job to the best of its ability. Which leaves the computer too full to erase properly and leaving the owner to harassed and upset to do anything else but either pay more money for someone to fix or redo the pc and try again.

In conclusion, in cases such as this it is my sole opinion that the best thing to do is when you go looking for the write hardware. Make sure you also choose the right software to go with it, if not already included. Make a checklist and see how many things the Program can do, and what it cannot and go with the one who does it all or the most.

Dee Owens writes articles and reviews for http://Download3000.com. Please follow the link for more information about DVD ripper software: http://www.download3000.com/download_15698.html.Anders Blog51983
Allistair Blog80548

How To Have A Low Cost Web Site With High Cost Features

There a lot of solutions out there that enables anyone to create a web site.

Though these solutions usually give a variety of templates that the user can choose from and customize with his own information.

The problem arises when the site owner wants more than just an informative site.

He wants to communicate with his web site surfers, receive feedback from them in a variety of issues i.e. Contact us form, Polls, Feedback and many more Web Forms.

To create and add these Web Forms usually he needs a programmers help (paid of course) that will build him the code of those Web Forms and to upgrade his hosting from a simple HTML hosting to Code / Database hosting.

These operations increase the cost of the web site ten folds and even more.

There are some solutions out there that enable a non programmer web site owner to create and manage forms, in this article I would like to suggest one of them: http://www.formlogix.com is web platform that enables you to do that and more.

Creating a form is the first step using the system.

The form creator tool is a user friendly web form designer, which does not require graphic or technical skills whatsoever.

Using the form creator tool, one can create, change and delete forms.

Also you can publish the form through your web site (using the formlogix platform with no need for database and expensive hosting)

Once data is gathered through the form, one can view it using a web based interface.

The information viewed can be sorted and sliced for maximum comfort.

You will also be able to create, edit, and delete data.

Whenever there is a new data entry, you will be advised via e-mail, and will thus be kept up-to-date.

Highly sophisticated query builder will assist you in filtering your data, and creating charts based on it.

You can use the platform to create:

Contact us forms, registration forms, surveys, polls, business forms, order forms, questionnaires, employee satisfaction forms - these are only a few of an endless range of forms, that can be produced with the Formlogix form creator tool.

Alex Liverant is a senior software computer engineer with an experience of over 15 years in programming an design architecture. Hes currently a senior software engineer in http://www.formlogix.comAmerigo Blog20546
Allana Blog30607

The Truth About Traffic Generator Software

Once your Website is up and running, youre probably looking for effective ways to increase traffic and lure visitors to your site. Traffic generator software can be found in many forms online, and there are some advantages to using them. For one, they can give you a great starting point for additional keyword recommendations and sites to review or link to. They can give you timely information on the right links and word combinations to use, and they can suggest alternatives for what you are currently doing. Second, they can be great supplements to learning more about search optimization techniques.

However, almost all traffic generator software programs available for purchase today are clever marketing tactics about the search engine optimization and AdSense industry today. With the growing demand for knowledge and information about AdSense programming, traffic generators are often just vehicles of information targeting your needs. To move away from purchasing the software, here are some worthwhile tips to increase your traffic. Here are the promises that these generators hope to fulfill:

1. Make use of Weblog tools and invest in some strong analytic software packages if you want details. There are some great resources out there that can map and monitor your daily traffic. Check with your AdSense template package for the customized tools available on your site.

2. Use reciprocal links whenever possible. This goes hand-in-hand with your promotional and marketing efforts for your site. The more linking you can do, the higher your chances of getting visibility and traffic on basic search engines and beyond!

3. Use top keywords for the subjects and core of your site. Whenever possible, review Google Adwords selector and Yahoo! Keyword selector tools to stake out the most profitable and worthwhile keywords for your site.

4. Use social networking sites to your advantage. Dont fall into the trap of becoming a spammer, but instead do some real networking with other like-minded people to promote and share your site and its content.

5. Create a viral marketing campaign and track the results. You can easily target a campaign and analyze the Web traffic results with the free tools available.

6. Keep records of your Weblogs for easy reference. Stay organized with your valuable data so that you can make the best decisions on an ongoing basis.

In addition to these top strategies, you can partner and link up to these sites to get additional traffic leads. These allow you to create a targeted ad campaign, and may prove to be a valuable reference tool. Some benefits of using traffic generator tools include increased access to industry articles and information, as well as being able to join other users in forums and discussion groups. You may automatically be able to promote your site with other users, increasing your traffic easily. Although there are no guarantees to increasing traffic with this software, it may give you an introduction to how the system works.

http://www.trafficswarm.com/
http://www.trafficdiscovery.biz
http://www.mysticalmaze.com/
http://WebBizInsider.com/
http://www.clicksmatrix.com/

Seth Willis Jr. is the webmaster for http://www.adsenseschool.com he is an experienced internet marketer and has a lot of expertise with adsense." I created adsense school so that I could help others who are starting out and needed a resource and tutorial site to get started, the school is completely free and there for anyone with a desire to learn how to make an income using adsense."Angeliki Blog16903
Aneta Blog44280

Affiliate Marketing: Electronic Word of Mouth

Take this seriously. This isnt a joke.

Youre going to start a business in the next 10 minutes! Whats more, you dont have to deal with customers, make products or even offer money back guarantees.

Does that sound too good to be true? Welcome to the world of affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing holds interesting possibilities for entrepreneurs like you who want to try a new business option. Almost anyone who sells online has an affiliate marketing program to help expand their business. This article will give you a few tips on how to improve your chances of success as an affiliate.

What is affiliate marketing?

In simple words its what you get paid (also called referral fee) for directing visitors to your website to other merchants sites. Compensation is based on the value of each visit, and could take the form of a pay per click or a commission for each sale.

This might shake you up, but according to a study by research firm Forrester, affiliate marketing earnings were worth over US$ 50 billion in 2005. We see weve got your attention. Read on to find out how you can get a share of those billions.

1. Test the waters: You must know a program and its underlying products inside out before signing up. Start by listing out the top selling items which will fetch profits quickly. Select programs that have a bighearted commission structure and products that cater well to your own websites audience. Also make sure they have a solid track record of paying their affiliates on time. There are a zillion affiliate programs available on the web, so you can afford to be choosy. Take your time while selecting.

2. Rediscover the writer in you: Cmon, dont worry about not having any writing skills. Its simple! You can write free reports or short e-books related to the product you want to promote. This will set you apart from the others who promote the same products. The report should provide valuable information and a recommendation for the product. Your audience will trust you more.

3. Publish online: Your own newsletter can do the trick for you! This will help you build a subscriber base and develop a relationship with them. That might give you an opportunity to recommend products to them. Remember, its easier to recommend to a friend than selling to a stranger.

4. Collecting helps: Collect contact information of the visitors who download your report. Research proves that over 60% of sales of any product are made after the 5th exposure to the sales message. A regular, but not too aggressive follow up schedule might fetch good results. Try and offer real value at each contact for example, an alert about the launch of a new book in the customers specific area of interest.

5. Design to impress: This is often a point of neglect. Its very important that you design your website so that it makes a positive impression on visitors. People must be willing to believe what you say, before they can be enticed into visiting an affiliate website.

6. Stay away from banner ads: This is not the best strategy as visitors tend to avoid them. But if you must have them, use sparingly. Avoid placing the merchants banner on the same page as your report or any other reference to the product you wish to promote. Otherwise, it might make your article look like a well written advertisement, and negatively affect the visitor.

Remember that your role in any affiliate marketing program is only to pre-sell. Once youve done your job correctly, its the merchants job to close the deal.

Hi, I am Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. Over the years I have run many successful businesses & made many mistakes on the way. I have created http://www.aykya.com to help you benefit from all I've learned on my journey. Please visit us & download our special 'Freebie of the Month' as a thank you for your visit.Angelis Daniela Blog4588
Alessandra Blog86645

Introduction to Microsoft .NET Technology

In 2000, Microsoft announced its .NET software environment, a new addition to Windows. The .NET (dot net) environment is effectively a virtual computer that runs on a real computer, with the advantage that any program written for it will run on any computer which is running .NET.

One important aspect of the .NET strategy is its independence from a specific language or platform. Developers can create a .NET application in any .NET - compatible language and participate in the same software project writing code in the .NET languages in which they are most competent (such as Visual C++.NET, Visual Basic .NET, C#, Perl and others). Part of the .NET software environment includes Active Server Pages (ASP) .NET technology, which allows developers to develop applications for the Web.

The .Net architecture can exist on multiple platforms, further extending the portability of .NET programs. Additionally, the .NET software environment involves a new program development process that could change the way programs are written and executed, leading to increased productivity.

The most important component of the .NET architecture is Web Services, which are applications that can be used over the Internet. One example of a Web service is the tour operators flights booking system. The tour operator wanted to enable customers to book flights from the tour operators Web site. To do so, the tour operator needed to access the airlines booking system. In response, an airline partner created a Web service that allowed the tour operator to access the airlines database and make bookings. Web services enable the two companies to communicate over the Web, even if they use the different operating systems (the tour operator uses UNIX and the airline uses Windows). By creating a Web service, the airline can allow other tour operators to use its booking system without creating a new program.

The .NET strategy extends the concept of software reuse to the Internet, allowing developers to concentrate on their specialties without having to implement every component of every application. Instead, companies can buy Web services and devote their time and energy to developing their products.

The .NET strategy incorporates the idea of software reuse. When companies link their products in this way, a new user experience emerges. For example, an online store could buy Web services for online credit-card payments, user authentication and inventory databases to create an e-commerce Web site. The keys to this interaction are XML and SOAP, which enable Web service to communicate. XML gives meaning to data, and SOAP is the protocol that allows Web services to communicate easily with one another. XML and SOAP act together combining various Web services to form applications.

Another important concept in the .NET technology is universal data access. If two copies of a file exist (such as on a personal computer and a company computer), the less recent version must constantly be updated, this is called file synchronization. If the separate versions of the file are different, they are unsynchronized and could lead to serious error. Using the .NET data could reside in one central location rather than on separate systems. Any internet-connected device could access the data, which would then be formatted properly for use on access device (a desktop PC, a PDA or other device). Thus, the same document could be displayed and edited without the need to synchronise the data, because it would be up to date in central area.

Ratko Carevic is the IT Solutions Development Manager of eNetGate Company, which specializes in Web Design, Database Development and Application Development throughout the UK.Alicja Blog23154
Amal Blog60829

San Francisco Schools Hire Mcgraw-Hill VP

After six months of interviewing applicants nationwide, San Francisco Schools district has filled its top position. Carlos Garcia, Vice President of Urban Markets for McGraw-Hill (educational publishers), has been selected as the next Superintendent of San Francisco Schools. Board members have been seeking a replacement since January after interim Superintendent Gwen Chan announced that she would not return to the post in the fall.

Garcia was voted in due to his experience in San Francisco Schools, strong results as Superintendent of other districts, and good reputation as a fiscal manager. Garcia served both Fresno, California and Clark County, Nevada as Superintendent. From 1988-91 Garcia was principal of San Francisco Schools Horace Mann Middle School. During his tenure the school improved its achievement scores and received recognition for its accomplishments.

According to Board President of San Francisco Schools, Mark Sanchez, We chose Mr. Garcia because of his past experience with San Francisco, his strong track record as a superintendent and his understanding of the challenges that our district faces. The San Francisco Schools have dealt with issues like declining enrollment over the past few years, as families leave for better districts and private schools. Initiatives like the small schools program are one of many that the San Francisco Schools are implementing to reverse this trend. This change in leadership may bring some of these programs into question, although the school board seems confident that Garcia is in line with their priorities.

Thirty applicants were interviewed since January in an attempt to find a new leader for the San Francisco Schools. Garcias credentials includes a B.A. from Claremont Mens College in political science, a M.A. in education from Claremont Graduate school, and an administrative degree from California State University at Fullerton. Parents in San Francisco Schools provided input to the hiring process in the form of both community meetings, and over a thousand surveys, to determine the criteria for their next leader.

Leadership of the San Francisco Schools will have a strong impact on financial spending and program funding. Given pressure to meet national No Child Left Behind standards, administrators in San Francisco Schools are constantly making decisions about how best to allocate funds. Californias poor reputation on educational priorities and spending was recently highlighted by a think tank study that claimed that the states educational priorities are in such disarray that the whole system needs an overhaul. While San Francisco Schools leaders may agree with the study, they still need state funding to run their districts.

The fact that Garcia led one of the nations largest districts, Clark County, gives the San Francisco Schools reasons to hope that he will use the same financial wisdom in this district. Six of the seven board members voted for Mr. Garcias appointment, with the seventh asking for more time to decide. Garcia will begin serving San Francisco Schools on July 16th, 2007.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Francisco/Angeliki Blog16903
Aleksandr Blog88167

What Is Spam? How To Identify And Block It?

Almost everyone who used to communicate via e-mail has ever found in the Inbox the messages from people he doesnt know proposing some services or products. All unsolicited and undesired messages you receive are SPAM. The emails of this kind usually offer pharmaceutical products, diet methods, sexual enhancements aid, and get rich quick plans. You can also meet bogus sales pitches, sales opportunities, and different types of scams. In addition to stock scams, in which spammers encourage you to invest money, a new spam-scam gambit called phishing is becoming very popular now. This scam is aimed to obtaining peoples private information such as user name, password, credit card details, etc. An example is an email coming from PayPal or Ebay asking you to go to the companys web site and update your account. If you do it, the spammers will record your keystrokes and your private details will be disclosed to them. And have you ever received pitiful letters from a widow or a relative of the former ruler of Nigeria? Sure you have. Its a famous Nigerian fraud that is still having a place on the Internet. Dont be enticed by the millions they would promise you. All they want is your bank account details in order to rob you.

How do you identify spam among legitimate messages? You usually look at the senders name, which may be unknown to you or contain some gibberish. You also read the subject line of the message. As a rule the subject line of spam emails concerns gambling, pornography, or an offer to make a fortune in 24 hours. But the spammers are also able to create an email identical to legitimate one coming from a respected source. In other cases, the subject lines may indicate that the message is a reply to your email. A general way to distinguish spam is to read the To and From header fields in all the messages you receive. If you see strange, anonymous or scrambled alpha-numeric email addresses (for example, gt4590xx@domain.com) then you have spam. Some anti-spam solutions provide you with the capability to preview the emails. For example, in addition to a safe message content preview, G-Lock SpamCombat allows you analyze the message header in detail: From, To, Subject, Received and other header fields.

How to block spam? Remember, the point of spam is to have you open the email. Once you do it, the least trouble you may have is to let the spammer know that your email address is valid. Its luck for a spammer. He can continue spamming you in the hope that earlier or later you will swallow the bait. Or, he can sell your email address to someone else. Also, be aware that spammers send millions emails at a time, so even a very tiny response rate is a great success for them. Lets imagine that 100 out of 10 millions people invested 5 dollars each into a scam offered by a spammer. So, the spammer makes 500 dollars at a time.

If you are really suffering from a continuous spam flow, you can consider getting a new email address and disclose it to trusted senders only. Or, you can start clearing your inbox from spam right away using anti-spam software. Although not perfect, anti-spam filters are now very sophisticated and very effective at cutting out most of spam.

Anti-spam programs basically do one or more of the following things:

1. Check the senders email addresses and names against a blacklist of spammers they own and delete the message if the sender is on the blacklist.

2. Check the recipients email addresses and names and filter the messages according to certain parameters. For example, if the email is sent to a large group of recipients sorted alphabetically, the email is considered spam.

3. Analyze the message content and subject line and search for certain words or phrases, which are typically met in spam emails such as Viagra, Cialis, Mortgage, Invest and filter the spam email accordingly.

There are many kinds of anti spam solutions now. Software developers offer standalone spam blockers like Mail Washer, Spam Nullifier, G-Lock SpamCombat, etc. Most of the big, free email services such as Yahoo!, Google, MSN, and Hotmail also provide effective spam filtering. You just need to choose the right anti-spam solution that will serve you in the most effective way.

Julia Gulevich is a technical expert associated with development of computer software like AATools, Advanced Email Verifier, G-Lock EasyMail, Junk Email Filter http://www.glocksoft.com/sc/ More information can be found at Anti-Spam Software Resources http://www.glocksoft.net/sc/.Anja Blog4597
Anders Blog42751

Antispyware Software Can Kill That Spy !

Antispyware programs and adware removal tools can detect and remove spyware ranging from browser parasites, data miners, to malware, adware, software you didn't ask for, homepage hijackers, Trojan horses to dialers, and also provide prevention measures.

The one way to get a severe headache is to have your computer infested with spyware and adware. But if you understand what spyware means and take the necessary steps to detect, remove and prevent it you can be free from this headache before it turns chronic.

Spyware can imply many things - it could be browser parasites, data miners, malware, adware, software you didn't ask for, homepage hijackers, Trojan horses, dialers etc. These thieves usually hit Microsoft Windows applications and Internet Explorer, since most people use them, leading to a system crash or some really strange behavior.

But how did spyware get into your system in the first place? If you visited a website or looked at an html email message or if you clicked a pop up window, you are 'it'. Your action would have automatically triggered off the download and installation of the spyware into your computer without your knowledge. Something you clicked would have been conveyed as 'I do' to the spyware vendor. After all, it cheats. This way of misleading you into getting that tracking software called spyware installed in your computer is referred to as a drive-by download. It is one of the commonest ways of tricking pc users to accept spyware if they do not have real-time antispyware protection installed.

Arresting The Damage With Antispyware

That spyware which sneaked into your computer can alter your browser and security settings. Some adware vendors just collect your browsing information so that they can bombard you with their product ads. Adware spyware usually tracks your Internet browsing actions in the machine where they install themselves. They then have a way of conveying the information they collect back to the people who installed the adware so they can use it for commercial gain. They use it themselves, or sell it to others. These people in turn assume what your interests are through the information they collect and display a barrage of ads through the computer where they install their adware.

Spyware vendors pay software vendors to bundle in their spyware software so that they can get into users system. Some spyware vendors get into your system through the low security settings in your Internet browser. For each spyware installation they mark it with a tracking number so that they can trace your information, helping them to update their database on an ongoing basis.

Antispyware has become an essential part of a computer just like antivirus software. The adware that installs itself in our systems without our approval usually come up as popup windows or sleazy banner advertisements integrated into some totally irrelevant program. Antispyware programs and adware removal tools can detect, remove and also provide prevention measures.

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.comAndre Blog33413
Andre Blog33413

Spyware - The Main Hurdle Of An Efficient System.

Do not misunderstand when you read that Spyware is not malicious software. The name itself explains the motives of the program. Remove any trace of Spyware by running anti-Spyware on your system regularly. These include free Spyware Adware removal tools such as Microsoft free Spyware Adware removal utility and Yahoo Spyware removal tools.

Spyware is the main hurdle of any efficient system. Just as any other virus that may infect your system there are any number of sites that promote some product or service on the Internet and may have let loose a few Spyware programs that covertly download themselves onto your PC. Then they begin to operate in the background of the operating system unknown to the operator that this Spyware is observing every entry made through the keyboard and pointing device.

Such Spyware take up a lot of the processor time by overriding the IRQ settings of the peripheral devices and 'hijacking' the system in order to buy time to operate. This Spyware can be removed with the help of anti Spyware programs and safeguard the system from inadvertently giving out personal data. The entries in the registry can be removed with the help of the many free Spyware Adware removal tools such as Microsoft free Spyware Adware removal utility and Yahoo Spyware removal tools.

Why The Registry Slows Down A System

As the registry gets older with constant use, it gets updated every time there is a change in the system. This change may be some program that has been added to or removed from the system or some hardware that has been added or removed. The registry updates its records with the change. However, not all the registry entries may be deleted when a program or hardware device is uninstalled. So, when a program requests the registry for some information the registry starts searching from the beginning of the database. It will go through all the entries one by one.

This will include all the redundant entries, which may be tens of thousands in number

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.comAndreu Blog30971
Alighiero Blog87103

Read Only If You Need Higher Online Sales

Online businesses sell products and services to get sales. If there are several websites all working together promoting your products and services, chances are you will get higher sales. So how can you get other websites promote your offers? The key is affiliate marketing. By having affiliates, your products and services will reach a wider market scope.

Affiliate marketing can double or even triple your income. Generating sales through affiliate marketing isnt so painful compared to selling your products and services alone. The more affiliates you have, the more sales you can get. Sounds impressive but it isnt as easy as you think it is. You should be prepared before you venture into affiliate marketing.

Are You Ready For Affiliate Marketing?

There are two ways which you can venture into affiliate marketing. The next thing to having products and services is to generate sales. You can have affiliates do the sales for you. First you need to set up an affiliate program. You can either use an affiliate tracking software or get the service of an affiliate tracking company.

If you want to take full control of your affiliate program, you can run it yourself. But if you prefer letting experts do it for you, hire a company. In many ways this is a practical choice. It will spare you from all the hard work. You just have to pay for their service and you can sit back, relax and wait for sales.

Who Will Be Your Affiliates?

Affiliate marketing wont make sense if you dont have any affiliates. There should be some affiliate websites willing to promote and sell your products and services. If you are serious about getting affiliates, you should make your offer attractive and beneficial. Lets start with the one million dollar question: how much commission will I get? This is the first question that your potential affiliate will ask you.

If you want to get affiliates for your business, you need to offer an attractive commission. Quit the idea of offering a 1% commission. Definitely no one will be interested. You should make your offer quite beneficial to your affiliates. After all, you will also earn from their sales. The bigger portion of the sales will still be yours. And you can have it with less work.

You should also help your affiliates in promoting your products and services. If you have informative materials, articles or ebooks about your products and services, how about sharing them to your affiliates? These materials will help your affiliates better promote your products and services. In the end, the success of your affiliates will also be your success. So when the need for high sales haunts you, think of affiliate marketing.

RingJohn is your complete web marketing and advertising company based in Dublin, Ireland. Get maximum online sales through RingJohns expert web marketing services. Please visit http://www.ringjohn.com to start promoting your website online.Amato Blog77020
Andre Robert Blog71407

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Education

Getting an online education has become a very popular technique these days. Whether you are looking for a high school diploma or a graduate degree or some specialized certification to supplement your existing knowledge, it is very convenient to obtain these without having to take time off from your schedule to attend a regular educational institution.

There are many advantages associated with online study. Some are given below:

Unlike traditional learning, distance learning can offer you greater flexibility, as you don't have to waste time- and money- commuting to the campus and you can choose a program that truly suits your interests or professional needs, because you are not confined to the classes that are offered locally.

Another advantage to distance learning is the fact that you can continue to work, because you don't have to worry about fitting your classes around your job schedule.

Online programs often cost less than their traditional counterparts, so you can save money on tuition, if you pursue your degree through an online university.

Online study is also a great option for those students with physical handicaps, which may prevent them from traveling to a traditional campus. Likewise, if you are shy, or perhaps even language-challenged, participating in an online course may be the perfect alternative to a live class.

There are some major advantages to online education, including the ability to set your own study time. You may be looking for a promotion or career change that requires additional training or you may simply be ready to learn something new. But with today's busy lifestyle, there's little time to devote to regularly scheduled class time. That's where online education can be a great asset for a motivated person.

Although there are many advantages of an online education, there are also some disadvantages. The fact that you are working on your own could very well be one of the major disadvantages of taking online educational classes.

Another major disadvantage is the lack of interaction. You aren't in a classroom and don't have the opportunity to hear questions and discussion from other students. This isn't always an issue, depending on the subject of the online education course you are taking, but it could be an important factor in deciding whether an online education is the best option when seeking out opportunities for learning new skills or gaining new training.

But above all the disadvantages the online education is gaining more esteem than traditional education.

This article has been published by Kateri White currently writing on online degree programs topics for our website http://www.onlineuniversitydegreeprogram.info.For more details about the online degree programs, please visit our website. If any mistake found please mail kateriwhite@gmail.comAngiola Blog5497
Ambi Blog48588

Scrubs (Season 1) DVD Review

Nominated for 9 Emmys and 2 Golden Globes, Scrubs premiered in Fall 2001 to moderate fanfare and a respectable Nielsen rating of #34. And although the series has yet to achieve blockbuster ratings, it has managed to build a loyal fan base devoted to its unique brand of humor and quirky characters. Created by Bill Lawrence (creator of Spin City), Scrubs is a spoof on the dearth of hospital dramas that have cropped up since ER popularized the genre. In a sense, its what Greys Anatomy would be like if Ben Stiller were the lead character.

Filmed in a real life hospital (North Hollywood Medical Center), Scrubs follows the bungling day-to-day experiences of medical intern Dr. John J.D. Dorian (Zach Braff). Along with his college buddy Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison), the two newcomers must learn the ropes of daily life in an actual hospital setting. But Sacred Heart, their new stomping ground, is the epitome of a dysfunctional work environment. One might easily believe that everyones job is to dump on J.D. In getting his feet wet, the young intern butts heads with numerous characters such as fellow intern and potential love interest Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), cranky Chief of Medicine Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), the ever-abrasive Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), pessimistic nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), and a sarcastic janitor (Neil Flynn).

Scrubs is a character-driven show thats exceptionally well-written, and the acting is superb. John C. McGinley is fantastic in the role of Dr. Cox, a performance almost as memorable as his portrayal of consultant Bob Slydell in Office Space. His delivery is almost as perfect as that of Ken Jenkins who often resembles Lloyd Bridges from Airplane with his uncanny ability to deliver ridiculous one-liners with a straight face. Veteran talents Sarah Chalke (Becky from Roseanne) and Donald Faison (Murray from Clueless) round out an excellent supporting cast for Zach Braff who makes his mark with this very likeable character. In the end, Scrubs is a situation comedy built on the strength of biting sarcasm and clever humor. And although its already enjoyed a successful five-year run, its probably one of the most underappreciated comedies on network TV. If you havent yet seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out. You wont be disappointed.

Below is a list of episodes included on the Scrubs (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (My First Day) Air Date: 10-02-2001
Episode 2 (My Mentor) Air Date: 10-04-2001
Episode 3 (My Best Friends Mistake) Air Date: 10-09-2001
Episode 4 (My Old Lady) Air Date: 10-16-2001
Episode 5 (My Two Dads) Air Date: 10-23-2001
Episode 6 (My Bad) Air Date: 10-30-2001
Episode 7 (My Super Ego) Air Date: 11-06-2001
Episode 8 (My Fifteen Minutes) Air Date: 11-15-2001
Episode 9 (My Day Off) Air Date: 11-20-2001
Episode 10 (My Nickname) Air Date: 11-27-2001
Episode 11 (My Own Personal Jesus) Air Date: 12-11-2001
Episode 12 (My Blind Date) Air Date: 01-08-2002
Episode 13 (My Balancing Act) Air Date: 01-15-2002
Episode 14 (My Drug Buddy) Air Date: 01-22-2002
Episode 15 (My Bed Banter and Beyond) Air Date: 02-05-2002
Episode 16 (My Heavy Meddle) Air Date: 02-26-2002
Episode 17 (My Student) Air Date: 03-05-2002
Episode 18 (My Tuscaloosa Heart) Air Date: 03-12-2002
Episode 19 (My Old Man) Air Date: 04-09-2002
Episode 20 (My Way or the Highway) Air Date: 04-16-2002
Episode 21 (My Sacrificial Clam) Air Date: 04-30-2002
Episode 22 (My Occurrence) Air Date: 05-07-2002
Episode 23 (My Hero) Air Date: 05-14-2002
Episode 24 (My Last Day) Air Date: 05-21-2002

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find where you can find more reviews of movies and TV series. Source: http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/07/scrubs-dvd.htmlAaron Blog43702
Adria Blog20338

Chandelier Basics. Versatile Elegance With A Variety Of Applications

One of my favorite topics is the chandelier because of its history as a method of lighting that was used before the sixteenth century. The earliest chandeliers were very basic, almost primitive devices that involved two pieces of wood connected together to form a cross. A spike was inserted at each end to hold the candles and a rope or chain was connected to the crosspiece and then suspended from the ceiling. As a former antique dealer, Ive found that nearly all of the earliest chandeliers were destroyed and very few authentic examples remain in existence today.

The chandelier found its resurgence in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and was found in the great palaces of Europe and America. They soon began to find their way into some of the more expensive mansions and private homes in this country and abroad and have been around ever since.

The industrial revolution provided the impetus for mass production of this once exclusive lighting fixture and today, chandeliers can be found in many homes and in any number of rooms in these homes. One of the major appeals of the chandelier is the drama it creates. It automatically lends character and a somewhat regal atmosphere to an otherwise plain room.

One of the major appealing characteristics of todays chandeliers, are their versatility. A kitchen can be transformed into a high-class dining area with the addition of the right chandelier. A large bathroom can be given an air of elegance with the installation of a chandelier. Some homeowners will even use a chandelier in the master bedroom to give it that special feeling.

Chandeliers are available in all kinds of styles, shapes and can be made from a variety of materials. Although the most common type of chandelier is made of crystal, faux candles and other types of lighting is also available. One of the best ways to find the style and size chandelier that will best complement your dcor, is to go online and look at whats available.

Keep in mind that the chandelier usually draws the immediate attention of a visitor so it should fit the basic dcor of your home. Proper sizing is critical. A chandelier that is too large for the space it occupies will overpower the room and may even lend a sense of claustrophobia to the visitor. On the other hand, a chandelier that is too small for the room just looks out of place regardless of its style.

Although most chandeliers can easily light an entire room, the result can often be a harsh or raw look. Many decorators prefer matching wall sconces and have both the chandelier and the sconces on dimmers so that just the right balance of light can be achieved.

Always keep in mind that chandelier and elegance go together conceptually. In fact, many consider a chandelier to be a piece of art.

Here are some practical considerations to keep in mind when looking for and eventually installing a chandelier. Sketch the room and include dimensions. Consider the size of any prospective chandelier in terms of the ratio of its size to the room where it will be installed. Some individuals fall in love with a particular chandelier, purchase and install it and find that it just doesnt work. This is usually the result of improper sizing.

If you intend to hang the chandelier yourself, its important that you keep some important considerations in mind. Most chandeliers are much heavier than the light fixture that they are replacing. A typical light fixture is installed in an electrical box that is anchored on one side to a ceiling joist. This usually provides sufficient support for the fixture.

The chandelier, on the other hand, usually requires much greater support. One option is to remove the existing fixture and the electrical box. Then, install a fan brace that is expandable so that it will fit tightly between two ceiling joists. Fan braces are most typically used to install heavy ceiling fans. Once the brace is expanded to fit tightly between the joists, attach it according to the instructions it came with and then bolt a new electrical box to the center of the brace. The brace, supported by the two ceiling joists, will support considerable weight (up to 150 or more pounds). Attach the chandelier to the new electrical box and youre ready to see the results.

Also, keep in mind that this is not a one-person job.

The chandelier or chandeliers that you install in your home can change the look and the feel of the rooms where they are installed and in fact can provide a new feel of elegance to the entire home.

Chuck LunsfordAlgernon Blog74137
Aloysius Blog19023

What is the difference between Windows and UNIX web hosting?

Windows and UNIX are in fact two different systems and of course we are referring to computer systems. A web host uses computers, (we shall refer to them as servers, just computers, but sometimes larger) to host websites, and all computers need a operating system, so Windows and UNIX are the operating system.

The Windows used is normally Windows NT or 2000 and of course as you know Microsoft charges for it's software, while UNIX is an open source operating system, this means that the original creators of the system have given up the rights and anyone can use it, change, improve or do anything they want with, free of charge.

From this we already have to main differences, Window hosts are more expensive and UNIX is more reliable, because it as been improved by thousands of anonymous people.

Most probably you are reading this in front of your computer which most probably is operates on a Windows XP, have you noticed that it sometimes, it freezes, and the only solution is to restart it? UNIX is much more stable, robust, time-tested, flexible platform for a web server.

But Windows servers have also it's positive sides, they are compatible with Microsoft applications, and fully support Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Access and MS SQL, they also offer advance-programming environments and features such as Active Server Pages (ASP), the ASP.NET framework, Visual Basic Scripts, MS Index Server, Macromedia's and Cold Fusion.

Windows operating system require little or no experience in web development to get advanced features working very quickly because of better graphical user interface (GUI) Software such as Microsoft's FrontPage is specially developed for the webmaster to decrease the website development time and efforts.

Lets go back again to UNIX, they support FrontPage, Flash, Shockwave, Real Audio/Video, Cgi Scripts, Perl, PHP, SSH (Secure Telnet), MySQL, Web-Based Control System, Anonymous FTP, Web Site Graphical Statistics, Web-Based Email System, Miva/XML, Cold Fusion Perl, JAVA, PHP, C, C++, Miva, Shell Access and other wide verity of feature like Telnet and SSH that provides lots of flexibility and freedom in managing file and directories, but some of this require advance knowledge of Unix commands in order for you to customize the scripts to match your website needs.

Because of the nature of UNIX, (open source) and the people who love it, there is on the WWW freely available software and scripts, again bringing the cost down.

Concluding which one is the best, it really depends what you need, if you need high uptime, security and not so expensive then go with UNIX, if you need to run Windows applications like, MS Access or the MS SQL SERVER then Windows is your choice.

Paul SantosAmal Blog66514
Angiola Blog5497

Pain Relief Without Drugs

More and more people are turning to small compact electronic devices like TENs machines to bring them pain relief without having to depend on drugs that can often have unwanted side effects. These small digital machines can be worn unobtrusively while carrying out normal day to day activities.

What is TENs, how does it work and what sort of pain relief can it be used for?

TENs stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation where transcutaneous means through the skin. A TENs machine produces small electrical impulses which are transmitted from the machine through the skin by means of a wire connected to a small conductive patch which is placed on the skin.

TENs machines are believed to work in a two ways. The small electrical signal they transmit blocks pain signals from the bodys sensory nerves to the brain resulting in pain relief. The signals generated by the TENs machines can also encourage your body to release endorphins, natures own pain relieving feel good hormone.

A study in Sweden showed that backache is one type of pain which was best treated with the use of TENS machines. It also showed that TENS machines were the only painkillers required by 70 per cent of women in labour.

More recently some TENs machines are available with an electrical probe which can be used to stimulate acupuncture points to bring pain relief. While almost all TENs machines have cautions about placing the electrode pads on the head and neck these accu TENs machines will permit users to stimulate the accu points or channels elsewhere on the body to bring relief to head or neck pain.

Placement of electrode pads is all important for effective pain relief. Usually the pads are placed close to the source of the pain particularly with muscle pain or joint pain. In the case of sciatic nerve pain the electrode pads are likely to be placed either side of the spinal column and the top part of the affected leg. Your health care provider should advise on the best point to place the pads for optimum pain relief. Correct placement is very important and sometimes may take a little trial and error with careful reference to the manufactures guidelines. Pads should never be placed near the eyes or over the nerves from the neck to the throat or brain.

Most TENs machines have three main program modes, Conventional (some machines may refer to this as Normal or Constant}, Burst and Modulation. Each mode has subtle differences in the effect they have. Usually a combination of these modes will work best to provide maximum short and long term pain relief. With the TENs machine set to the Conventional mode (frequency between 90 and 120Hz and pulse width between 80uS and 200uS) the pain relief tends to be short lasting after the machine is switched off. To obtain longer lasting pain relief you should choose a Burst mode, or select a lo-rate TENs program (usually between 2Hz to 5Hz with a pulse width close to 200uS). The burst or lo TENs mode encourages the release of endorphins and gives longer lasting pain relief.

All TENs machine will allow you to control the level of electrical signal and once again it is import to set the machine to the optimum setting. If you set the level too high your muscles may start to twitch. You should adjust the TENs machine to a level where you can just feel a slight tingling sensation.

Many TENs machines are powered by a 9V battery. The downside of this is that the 9V batteries only last a few days so it is well worth while to invest is some high capacity NiMh rechargeable batteries accompanied by a battery charger. The only other part which will require frequent replacing is the electrode pads and very rarely the electrode leads. The internet offers a wide range of sources for all these commodities.

If you are a first time TENs user you might find it takes a few days or weeks to obtain maximum relief.

TENS machines should only be used on the advice of a doctor or other health professionals. They may not be suitable for all types of pain or all conditions. Always follow the manufactures instructions supplied with the machine. TENS machines should never be used by people who have a pacemaker or have heart problems. Pregnant women should avoid using TENs machines as the affects on the unborn baby are not known. Never place TENs electrodes on your head or neck.

Bill Morrison has his own website http://www.help4urback.com where he describes his own personal experiences and how he uses his TENs machine to provide pain relief. He also includes personal recommendations for people who suffer from sciatica or lower back pain on what books to buy and what web sites to check out.Andrea Pennington Blog86108
Adella Blog5338

Black Hat!

A black hat (also called a cracker or Darkside hacker) is a malicious or criminal hacker. This term is seldom used outside of the security industry and by some modern programmers. The general public uses the term hacker to refer to the same thing. In computer jargon the meaning of "hacker" can be much broader. The name comes from the opposite of White Hat hackers.

Usually a Black Hat is a person who uses their knowledge of vulnerabilities and exploits for private gain, rather than revealing them either to the general public or the manufacturer for correction. Many Black Hats promote individual freedom and accessibility over privacy and security[citation needed]. Black Hats may seek to expand holes in systems; any attempts made to patch software are generally done to prevent others from also compromising a system they have already obtained secure control over. A Black Hat hacker may have access to 0-day exploits (private software that exploits security vulnerabilities; 0-day exploits have not been distributed to the public). In the most extreme cases, Black Hats may work to cause damage maliciously, and/or make threats to do so as blackmail.

Black-hat hacking is the act of compromising the security of a system without permission from an authorized party, usually with the intent of accessing computers connected to the network (the somewhat similar activity of defeating copy prevention devices in software - which may or may not be legal depending on the laws of the given country - is actually software cracking). The term cracker was coined by Richard Stallman to provide an alternative to using the existing word hacker for this meaning. Use of the term "cracker" is mostly limited (as is "black hat") to some areas of the computer and security field and even there is considered controversial. A definition of a group that calls themselves hackers refers to "a group that consists of skilled computer enthusiasts". The other, and more common usage, refers to those who attempt to gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Many members of the first group attempt to convince people that intruders should be called crackers rather than hackers, but the common usage remains ingrained.

Techniques for breaking into systems can involve advanced programming skills and social engineering, but more commonly will simply be the use of semi-automatic software, developed by others - often without understanding how the software itself works. Crackers who rely on the latter technique are often referred to as script kiddies. Common software weaknesses exploited include buffer overflow, integer overflow, memory corruption, format string attacks, race conditions, cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, code injection and SQL injection bugs.

The reference to colored hats comes from Hollywoods use of hats in old black-and-white Western movies to help an audience differentiate between the good guys (white hats) and the bad guys (black hats). The 'hat' terms do not fall under common use. Even inside the computing field they are very controversial.

A grey hat commonly refers to a hacker who releases information about any exploits or security holes they find openly to the public. They do so without concern for how the information is used in the end (whether for patching or exploiting).

Ankit Talwar - Web Designer

Ankit Talwar is the owner of http://www.Dead-Yahoo.com. He is a Web Designer.Alicja Blog23154
Ambrose Blog85682

Affordable Remote Video Surveillance for Everyone

John was on a business trip in Europe, when his cell phone rang. He picked it up and there was a text message that read motion has been detected at your home on camera #2.

No one was supposed to be in his house while he was away, so this could only mean one thing, someone has broken in.

John immediately logged on to the Internet and in less than 2 minutes he was watching a stranger rummaging through his house. By comparison, the 10 minutes it took him to contact his hometown police department seemed pitifully slow.

Yeah John said Im watching the guy on my surveillance cameras right now, you can still catch him if you hurry

A few minutes later the police arrived at Johns house and caught the thief just as he was leaving with a bag full of Johns stuff.

John thought to himself, this surveillance software has just paid for itself, unlike my neighbors alarm system that calls the police every time his cat triggers a sensor.

Home security and surveillance can be an indispensable tool for keeping an eye on things while your not there. Video surveillance software allows you to use your home computer monitor as your viewing platform, and involves minimal set up using inexpensive software to connect your security cameras with a home network.

Applications can include doorway or gate security, grounds surveillance, or you can even view a hidden nanny cam right from a computer monitor inside your home. Or by logging in through the Internet to view your surveillance cameras, you can view what your security cameras see from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.

In the past, it was quite expensive to maintain and implement such security systems because they were tied to expensive recorders and other fancy hardware components. CCTV Systems and other high-tech surveillance systems can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to many thousands of dollars. But now, you can turn your computer into a powerful surveillance system at a fraction of a regular security system cost.

These surveillance software packages have no monthly fees, which means that for a small one-time cost you can have remote video surveillance for a lifetime.

Most of these software surveillance systems are easy and quick to setup and require only a very basic knowledge of networking. Some of them only require you to place the CD in your computers CD drive, and the software will walk you through the process in about 5 or 10 minutes.

These surveillance software packages can be used with wired or wireless security cameras. A high quality video stream will be viewable from a computer within your home, or from anywhere with an Internet connection. One such software package that I have discovered is the Visec security software. For around $100, you can install, set up, and immediately start viewing up to four surveillance cameras, remotely, from anywhere in the world.

Using your computer's IP address to log on, you can view live or past video, and many of these software packages even allow for a motion detection mode which will record video activity just when motion is detected.

They can even be set up to alert you by email, cell phone or PDA when motion is detected.

While these streaming surveillance videos can be viewed with a dial up connection, a High Speed Cable or DSL Internet connection is recommended. The use of a dial-up modem will tend to give you a choppy video due to the slow bandwidth speed of the connection, whereas a high-speed Internet connection will allow for a much smoother real-time video.

Steven Rubin is the owner of North American Security Products, LLC. A company dedicated to providing you with the means to protect and defend yourself against crime.Alberto Blog30455
Andrzej Blog16739

Great Technical Writing: Has Anyone Ever Used Your Product?

Product documentation gives the feeling that nobody has ever used the product. Most documentation:

. Ignores the product's failings (warts), and how to overcome them.

. Leaves out tips that would improve the User's experience with the product

. Leaves out knowledge that experienced Users could share with the new User

Before you release a product, have some people use it. From these "test users" get solutions to problems, tips and knowledge that would help your real-life Users. Put that information in your User Documentation, and on your product support Website.

Three More Ways That Your User Documentation Fails Your Reader/User:

1. Ignores the product's failings (warts), and how to overcome them

Every product has "warts". Warts are the failings of your product. A wart might be something that the current version of the product cannot easily do, but needs to be done.

Here are some examples of product warts. Some of the warts can only be cured in the next version of the product:

. A telephone answering machine that has no wall mounting. It only takes a small change in the mold of the plastic for the back of the unit to enable screws to hold the device on the wall. The answering machine has its cable permanently connected to the device, making it difficult to use a shorter cable when needed.

. A word processor that has the most unusual and troublesome defaults. These cause the users a myriad of problems, including reformatting an entire document when a small change is made to the appearance of a piece of text.

. An electrical sub-panel for eight circuits that only has room for four ground wires. This makes it difficult to connect all the circuits.

. A five-stage water filter that does not mark which of its filters fit into which holder.

. A graphical (windowing) computer operating system where the mouse cursor jumps around the screen.

. A toaster oven with an electronic timer built in, that does not stay on long enough to toast an English muffin in one toasting session. (It only takes a larger resistor in the timing circuit to make it work properly.)

. A digital timer coffee maker (I love this product for its flaws and the flaws in the User Manual). Quiz: For home use, when do you think most people want to have coffee automatically brewed? I think it's in the morning. However when a user sets the clock, the time display starts at 12:00 A.M. But when the user sets the brew timer (when the coffee will begin brewing) the timer starts at 12:00 P.M. This is not just a flaw; this is silly.

The Users of your product need to know how to get around its warts. Think about these warts, how to overcome them, and the best way to tell the User the techniques you find.

If you do not think that your product has warts, then you may be living in a fantasy world. The entire concept of the "next version" of the product suggests failings in the product. If these shortcomings are not in the product itself, then they are failings in our understanding of how our User needs to/wants to use the product.

2. Leaves out tips that would help the User in his/her experience with the Product

After using any product, one comes up with tips for better use. Share these tips with your Users so they will have the best possible experience with your product.

Probably the most outrageous missing tip is a product feature that is not described anywhere in the User Documentation. I have a low-flush toilet. These toilets have been the butt (sorry about the pun) of jokes because they have trouble with large quantities of "solid waste." My toilet has an undocumented feature. If I hold the handle down the entire time the flush is taking place, there will be extra water to handle the large quantity of "solid waste." But it's not documented! That is really a missed tip!

Think about how your User might want to and need to use the product. Add tips to help him/her.

Almost all computer software documentation leaves out a very important tip. It's a fact of life that users change computers every few years. Yet software documenters never describe how to move the User's data from the old machine to the new one. This is a failure of most software documenters to face reality.

3. Leaves out knowledge that experienced Users could share with the Reader

A front-loading washing machine has two spin speeds: "Normal" and "Fast". The User Document merely says to 'set the spin speed.' However I am confused. The User Document writers should have told me the benefits and the costs of using each spin speed. This information would help me decide what speed to use for my particular situation.

Computer language reference manuals are another good example of missed knowledge sharing. In many languages (for example the C or C++ languages in the UNIX environment) there are many ways to perform an operation. In computer jargon there are many different functions (or methods) that a programmer can use to do something with the computer. Yet these language manuals do not provide the knowledge that will help a programmer decide which function or method to use. The developers of the language know. It is only a matter of sharing the knowledge.

A good rule of thumb is that if your User has to make a decision, provide the information that will enable him/her to make the best decision.

The knowledge need not only be gained from your own use of the product, but from the product's industry. Let me give you two examples:

. A blood pressure monitor: Its User Manual provides a chart of blood pressure ranges and their meaning. That is good.

. A dehumidifier (or, also true for humidifiers): Its documentation does NOT tell the best range for indoor humidity. That is not so good.

Often it only takes a small table or a few lines in the User Document to provide this beneficial information, yet for some reason it is left out.

Test in Real USER Life

I bought a device (an "FM transmitter") that enables my MP3 player to play through any FM radio. The problem is that the transmitter distorts the sound. However, if I turn down the volume on the MP3 player when connected to the FM transmitter, the distortion is reduced. There is no tip or instruction in the User Manual telling me to turn down the volume. When I hear the unclear sound, I'm disappointed in the product, and believe that the product does not work.

I am sure that the company tested their FM transmitter. I am also sure that they were careful to set the volume on the audio source (MP3 player) low enough as not to distort. That is NOT a Real User life test.

In real life, the User would set the volume for comfortable headphone listening. Then when connecting the device to the FM transmitter, the volume would be too loud and the sound from the FM radio would be distorted.

My guess is that either

. The people testing the product never set it to the Users' real-life volume settings (they did not test in Real USER life)

. Or, if they knew that the User's headphone volume would be too loud, they felt that "everyone could figure it out" and did not include this knowledge (as a tip) in their instruction sheet.

By including the volume-setting information, the User would be more satisfied with the product, and thus less likely to return it.

Solicit Real Users' Comments

Ask your Users to comment on their real-life experiences with your product. Have them provide you with the tips, techniques, and shortcomings that they have discovered while using the product. Publish this information in later versions of the product's User Document, and on your product's web pages.

The Bottom Line

Share the experiences that your organization has with the product. Add relevant tips to the User Documentation. Add the knowledge that you uncovered in your experience with the product. Give remedies for the product's warts.

Doing so will improve your Users' experiences with your Product. Improving your Users' experiences with your product will:

. Reduce support costs

. Improve sales

. Reduce product returns

And those are the things we want to do to help our company thrive.

Barry Millman, Ph.D., has been a consultant for over 25 years, an instructor, course developer, and award-winning speaker. For the past seven years he has been researching and creating resources to help organizations create great User Documents. Visit: http://www.greatuserdocs.com/ for resources to help you create the content and access that your Users want and need.Aaron Blog43702
Aldous Blog21037

Super Food: The Acai Palm Berry

The Acai (pronounced ah-SAH-ee) berry is the latest super antioxidant food sweeping the world. This small round fruit is produced by the Acai Palm which is native to Central and South America floodplains and swamps. The fruit is rich in anthocyanin / anthocyanidin phytonutrients which are members of the flavonoid class of antioxidants. The dark purple berry, which tastes something like a blend of berries and chocolate, supposedly contains 10 to 30 times the flavonoids contained in red wine. The pulp is also rich in B vitamins, minerals, protein, Vitamin E, caffeine, fiber and essential fatty acids (such as Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9). This wonder food is purported to fight cancer, control cholesterol, increase energy, improve your sex life and help you lose weight. The University of Florida is studying its cancer fighting properties and Dr. Nicholas Perricone has recommended it as one of his top 10 superfoods for age-defying beauty on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, and in an article in Oprah magazine and also in his book The Perricone Promise. This little berry has been touted as one of the most nutritious and healthy foods in the world.

The studies being conducted at the University of Florida have determined that the Brazilian berry destroys cultured leukemia cancer cells. This study was not intended to show whether acai berries could prevent leukemia in people as it was only a cell-culture model. This is not a unique effect as other fruits such as grapes, guavas and mangoes contained antioxidant products that also destroyed cultured cancer cells. A lot of claims are being made but research has just started on the acai berry. Another study is underway to investigate the effects of acai's antioxidants on human subjects.

The acai berry is a small dark blue fruit, similar in size to a blueberry or small grape but with less pulp, that grows in clusters or panicles of approximately 800 berries on Acai palm trees. The tribes of the Amazon knew of the health properties of this fruit for centuries and traditionally pulped it to make wine. The berries contain a thin layer of edible pulp surrounding a large seed. These palms are extremely prevalent in the floodplain areas of the Amazon River and are easy to cultivate as a replacement tree in areas where the rain forest has been destroyed. The slender palms grow from 40 to 80 feet tall and have leaves up to 10 feet long. Each palm can produce more than 50 pounds of berries annually. The harvesting of this powerful antioxidant rich product has become a major industry in Brazil and employs up to 30,000 people on a daily basis to harvest and process the product. Unfortunately the fruit deteriorates rapidly after harvesting (active properties can disappear after 24 hours) and so it is restricted to being eaten in the growing region or being processed and shipped as juice or frozen pulp. This industry has become an economic and environmentally-friendly alternative to unsustainable harvesting of hearts of palm, logging and conversion of the rain forest to farming or ranching. During the last decade in Brazil, acai has become a major food fad and Brazilians consume the frozen pulp alone or in yogurt, ice cream, smoothies, drinks, fruit or as a cereal topping. The frozen pulp tastes like a blueberry sorbet or ice cream with a hint of chocolate.

Acai can be difficult to find outside of South America although the frozen pulp and juices are starting to be imported into the US and Canada. Your best chance of finding the product is in health food stores or the health food section of your supermarket. Make sure that the acai berry is wild harvested and quickly frozen to retain its maximum nutrient value. Also in the US, acai is being sold as an ingredient in a number of beverages, and as frozen fruit that can be added to home-made smoothies as well as in health food extracts and supplements.

Mark Ransome is a contributing editor and writer for the popular new website Benefits of Antioxidants. Visitors to http://www.benefits-of-antioxidants.com will have access to a new free diet and weight loss program The Psychiatrists Weight Loss Program. Alana Blog27908
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Columbus Schools Innovative Partnership Programs Continue To Succeed

The Columbus Schools partnership programs will continue into the 2006-2007 school year. These programs are conducted jointly with Columbus Schools and local and state universities, colleges, academic organizations, community organizations and area volunteers. The programs are wide ranging and cover lots of different subjects and grade levels.

The Early Childhood Development Center at Columbus Schools Weinland Park Elementary School is a partnership conducted with the Ohio State College of Human Ecology. This center is planned to open in the 2006-2007 school year. The facility will be able to offer aid to around 90students and their families. The students accepted will be cared for by the Ohio State students, who will benefit from an opportunity to practice what they have learned in the classroom. Columbus Schools Early Childhood Development Center at Weinland Park Elementary School will offer the use of students observation gallery, a creative arts studio, family advocacy offices, and an educational kitchen. While providing a valuable service, the center will also be used to conduct research and model practices developed at Ohio State.

The Time Dollar Store was created in May of 2005. This partnership program involves Columbus Schools Medary Elementary School, the PK-12 Project After School and Summer Youth Development Committee and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus. The Time Dollar Store focuses on parent and guardian interaction and involvement in the Columbus Schools. Parents can volunteer their time and skills and receive payment in Time Dollars, which can then be traded for household item and school supplies. The activities that parents can volunteer for include running a PTO meeting, helping create bulletin boards, distributing flyers or operating the Time Dollar Store. The Time Dollar Store was run at first by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus but is now run by parent volunteers. The program has created a chance for students and parents to share their experiences at the school.

All of the Columbus Schools are participating in a teacher development partnership program with the Ohio State Department of History and the Ohio Historical Society. The program is divided into two sections, History WORKS for middle and high school teachers and History WORKS II for elementary teachers. The original History WORKS program is an ongoing project funded by the federal Teaching American History grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Part of this project created a website that will benefit teachers and their students. The program has three parts: monthly seminars, summer workshops and the creation of the web based resource center. All the seminars were conducted by and held at Ohio States Department of History. The summer workshops were more intensive and held at area Columbus Schools. The History WORKS program focused on six themes: Faces and Places: American History through Ohio Biography; Turning Points: The Constitution and American Democratic Institutions; The United States in the World: American Foreign Relations; Migration and Immigration: The Peopling of America; Common and Uncommon Cents: American Economic History; and Differing Perspectives: Social Movements and Social Change.

The elementary teacher project History WORKS II is a newer project that has the same goals of teacher development. Over 100 teachers from the Columbus Schools are participating in this project. The project hopes to increase elementary school teachers knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history through an intensive, ongoing professional development program. This program is a little different in its design than the History WORKS program. It is conducted with Ohio State graduate students who hold training, which included school-year seminars and a two-week summer institute. Their was also an ongoing lecture series featuring distinguished speakers and panel discussions brought middle and high school teacher participants from History WORKS together with their elementary colleagues three times over the year to make American history a central focus of the Columbus Schools.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Columbus schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/ohio/Columbus/index.htmlAmbi Blog48588
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3 Options For Hosting Multiple Websites

The prices of domain name registration and web hosting have dropped to the point that it's possible to own multiple websites without going broke. If you plan to operate multiple websites, here is some information on the different options available to you.

The first thing to consider when setting up multiple websites is whether or not to host them all with the same web hosting company. Many web hosts offer packages that let you set up multiple sites on a single account and almost all will let you set up multiple accounts, one for each site.

If you are happy with the hosting company you're using for your existing website(s), one advantage of using them for another site is the fact that you know they offer good service and support.

They might also offer discounts for multiple sites, so your costs might be lower if you stay with them again.

On the other hand, if you choose a different host you'll be able to compare the quality of another company with whomever you're currently using. If you ever run into problems with them, you'll have an alternative. It's wise not to "put all your eggs in one basket" as the saying goes.

Another advantage of using a different host is that you'll get a different IP address for each of your sites. If your sites are related to one another and you want to link them together, having different IP addresses can sometimes help your site rank higher in the search engines.

Links from other sites are one of the most important factors in getting your site ranked highly. If those links come from sites on the same IP address, it is a signal to the search engines that they are quite likely all owned by the same person, and they may discount the value of those links.

If you do choose to host all your sites with one company, there are essentially 3 choices - separate accounts for each site, a reseller account where they are all hosted or a dedicated server, again where they are all hosted.

Separate accounts are self-explanatory, so let's look at reseller accounts. As a reseller, you are basically acting as an agent for the hosting company - a middleman between them and the end user.

The idea is that you can set up your own company offering web hosting that is ultimately hosted by the company. You don't have to resell this hosting however - you can use the hosting services for your own websites, essentially "reselling" the hosting to yourself.

A reseller account is nice because all your websites are "under one roof" and you have a single point of contact for any technical problems.

Hosting on a dedicated server gives you complete control of the computer that is the web server. You can install any software you want, any operating system you want and you can allocate resources like memory and hard disk space however you want to divide it up between your sites.

The disadvantage of a dedicated server is that you are responsible for maintaining the server and sometimes even for the technical side of things. If you aren't familiar with the technical side of running a web server, you may need to choose a managed dedicated server, where the hosting company looks after these issues.

Dedicated server are, of course, more expensive than the other options, so unless your websites are well established, with a lot of traffic, they may not fit within your budget.

John Lenaghan writes about web hosting and other related topics for the Hosting Report website. For more information, visit http://www.hostingreport.orgAmanda Blog10200
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Can Adware Be Badware ?

Adware can so badly infect your system that that you have to end up reformatting the infected computer by literally wiping everything out and doing a fresh install. Use antispyware software or adware removal tool to remove the threatening adware.

Adware is major commercial business with lots of money in it. Sometimes you become so badly infected with malware adware that you have to end up reformatting the infected computer by literally wiping everything out and doing a fresh install.

Advertising is nothing new, and used responsibly and in the appropriate context, is useful and beneficial to the user. But in Internet advertising Adware is something we all have to be very careful about because of its dangerous activities once installed in our system, especially if we didn't consent to it. Any unauthorized program carries the risk of making our computers unstable. And if infected with adware, the system performs really slowly and crashes constantly.

Sometimes the system does not even boot up. On top of all this, when you try to clean up your badly adware infected system, you encounter serious problems. If there are too many adware items to remove your antispyware software or adware removal tool, your computer may not be able to handle the load. Moreover, after you remove the adware, it may have taken away the computer's ability to connect to the Internet.

Privacy And Security Risk

Adware acts like spyware, while threatening your privacy and security. It reports details about your browsing habits, every time you connect to the Internet, tracking what you type, what you search for and which advertisements interest you. When you surf the Web, a malware installation may very well alter your Internet Explorer security settings in such a way that it might show you treacherous sites as Trusted sites. You have the Trusted sites section so that you can be sure that these websites won't destroy your data or system. The problem about adware is that it adds deceitful sites to the trusted zone without our approval and knowledge.

If you use Windows XP and have Service Pack 2, you are supposed to be safe, but adware can be clever enough to exclude itself from list of popups to be blocked. It can even unblock itself from the Windows Firewall! Some adware use Trojan horses to conceal them so that antispyware software can't find them.

The concern with adware is even more severe when teenage kids are involved. They go to various sites to download lyrics and end up with a computer that becomes so infected with adware that it becomes a real challenge for an adware removal tool to tackle. Not only that, the adware keeps generating popups that are most unsuitable for the viewing of kids.

It is therefore, highly recommended that every computer must be installed with antispyware to ensure safety.

Arvind Singh is admin and technical expert associated with development of computer security and performance enhancing software like Registry Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam Filter etc. More information can be found at http://www.pcmantra.comAmin Blog51107
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Spyware - Adware - Scumware, The "Hezbollah" of the Computing World!

Yes, the world of computing has it's own "Hezbollah", called Spyware, Maleware, and Scumware. Like the terrorist group among civilians, these programs "hide" among legitimate downloads and upgrades you make on a daily basis. If you are connected to the internet you have been exposed to, and almost certainly already have, a Hezbollah/Spyware/Maleware/Scumware program living right along side one of your favorite programs as we speak! These programs are almost as hard to get rid of as the Hezbollah and not nearly as nice.

I wrote this article out of shear frustration!! Having just finished (I Hope) the removal of the last remnant of a particularly bad Spyware infection. It started when I decided to take a look at a "music" download service - you know the type - the kind that let you "download all you want!" I downloaded something all right. First came the popups - I couldn't close them fast enough, then I noticed my home page was NOT Google Search anymore but some God awful Male Enhancement site, then came the emails - sex sites, gambling sites, advertisements of all shape, size, and color and did I say SEX sites - I had no idea how many males suffer from small.... well you get the picture. I then noticed my computer had become soooooo....slooooow... it would churn and churn as the Male Enhancement ads and the Viagra ads - just kept coming!

I NEEDED HELP and NOW!!

The more I read about the culprits Spyware - Malware and Scumware as they have been affectionately called the more I began to worry - these guys were SERIOUS about their mischief! I tried all the free softwares I could find to get rid of them but even after I rebooted the little devils reinstalled themselves. I knew I was in over my head and the enemy was very very good at their craft, I even had one Spyware "killer" program that installed it's own Malware on my system and sent me to a site to "Buy" the only fix for the Problem - UNBELIEVABLE!!

Why Do I Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me?

Spyware is one of the fastest-growing Internet threats. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, Spyware infects more than 90% of all PCs today. These unobtrusive yet malicious programs are designed to silently bypass firewalls and anti-virus software without the user's knowledge. Once embedded in a computer, they can wreak havoc on the system's performance while gathering your personal information. Fortunately, unlike viruses and worms, spyware programs do not usually self-replicate.

Where do they come from?

Typically, Spyware originates in three ways. The first and most common way is when the user installs it. In this scenario, spyware is embedded, attached, or bundled with a freeware or shareware program without the user's knowledge. The user downloads the program to their computer. Once downloaded, the Spyware program goes to work collecting data for the spyware author's personal use or to sell to a third-party. Beware of many P2P file-sharing programs. They are notorious for downloads that possess spyware programs.

The user of a downloadable program should also pay extra attention to the accompanying licensing agreement. Often the software publisher will warn the user that a Spyware program will be installed along with the requested program. Unfortunately, we do not always take the time to read the fine print. Some agreements may provide special "opt-out" boxes that the user can click to stop the spyware from being included in the download. Be sure to review the document before signing off on the download.

Another way that Spyware can access your computer is by tricking you into manipulating the security features designed to prevent any unwanted installations. The Internet Explorer Web browser was designed not to allow websites to start any unwanted downloads. That is why the user has to initiate a download by clicking on a link. These links can prove deceptive. For example, a pop-up modeled after a standard Windows dialog box, may appear on your screen. The message may ask you if you would like to optimize your Internet access. It provides yes or no answer buttons, but, no matter which button you push, a download containing the Spyware program will commence. Newer versions of Internet Explorer are now making this Spyware pathway a little more difficult.

Finally, some Spyware applications infect a system by attacking security holes in the Web browser or other software. When the user navigates a webpage controlled by a Spyware author, the page contains code designed to attack the browser, and force the installation of the Spyware program.

What can Spyware programs do?

Spyware programs can accomplish a multitude of malicious tasks. Some of their deeds are simply annoying for the user; others can become downright aggressive in nature.

Spyware can:
1. Monitor your keystrokes for reporting purposes.
2. Scan files located on your hard drive.
3. Snoop through applications on your desktop.
4. Install other Spyware programs into your computer.
5. Read your cookies.
6. Steal credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.
7. Change the default settings on your home page web browser.
8. Mutate into a second generation of Spyware thus making it more difficult to eradicate.
9. Cause your computer to run slower.
10. Deliver annoying pop up advertisements.
11. Add advertising links to web pages for which the author does not get paid. Instead, payment is directed to the Spyware programmer that changed the original affiliate's settings.
12. Provide the user with no uninstall option and places itself in unexpected or hidden places within your computer making it difficult to remove.

Spyware Examples

Here are a few examples of commonly seen Spyware programs. Please note that while researchers will often give names to Spyware programs, they may not match the names the Spyware-writers use.

CoolWebSearch, a group of programs, that install through "holes" found in Internet Explorer. These programs direct traffic to advertisements on Web sites including coolwebsearch.com. This Spyware nuisance displays pop-up ads, rewrites search engine results, and alters the computer host file to direct the Domain Name System (DNS) to lookup preselected sites.

Internet Optimizer (a/k/a DyFuCa), likes to redirect Internet Explorer error pages to advertisements. When the user follows the broken link or enters an erroneous URL, a page of advertisements pop up.

180 Solutions reports extensive information to advertisers about the Web sites that you visit. It also alters HTTP requests for affiliate advertisements linked from a Web site. Therefore the 180 Solutions Company makes an unearned profit off of the click through advertisements they've altered.

HuntBar (a/k/a WinTools) or Adware.Websearch, is distributed by Traffic Syndicate and is installed by ActiveX drive-by downloading at affiliate websites or by advertisements displayed by other spyware programs. It's a prime example of how spyware can install more spyware. These programs will add toolbars to Internet Explorer, track Web browsing behavior, and display advertisements.

How can I prevent Spyware?

There are a couple things you can do to prevent Spyware from infecting your computer system. First, invest in a reliable commercial anti-spyware program. There are several currently on the market including stand alone software packages such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware or Windows Antispyware. Other options provide the anti-spyware software as part of an anti-virus package. This type of option is offered by companies such as Sophos, Symantec, and McAfee. Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware by providing real-time protection, scanning, and removal of any found Spyware software. As with most programs, update your anti virus software frequently. As discussed, the Internet Explorer (IE) is often a contributor to the Spyware problem because Spyware programs like to attach themselves to its functionality. Spyware enjoys penetrating the IE's weaknesses. Because of this, many users have switched to non-IE browsers. However, if you prefer to stick with Internet Explorer, be sure to update the security patches regularly, and only download programs from reputable sources. This will help reduce your chances of a Spyware infiltration.

And, when all else fails?

Finally, if your computer has been infected with a large number of Spyware programs, the only solution you may have is backing up your data, and performing a complete reinstall of the operating system.

DO NOT take the Spyware threat lightly.

It is, in my opinion, much more insidious and sneaky than the plain old Virus that most Virus software can handle. Take it from me after nearly 48 hours of trying to cleanse my system of this "stuff," - I will not be without an effective and Guaranteed method of removal again.

Steve Ingram

Steve Ingram is a Real Estate Broker turned web marketer see some of his sites at:Alon Blog80352
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