Microsoft Cliparts

Images prove helpful to make a document appear smart and good enough. In case, you are sick of the same old Clip Art that comes included with Word, and you need more Clip Art for Word 2007, PowerPoint 2007, or Publisher 2007, then open the site of Microsoft Office programs, that could be helpful to provide the same better clips, you are frantically looking for. The greater usefulness of browsing this site can be measured from this fact, that regular updates of images and cliparts are being made, thus you don’t require doing any hassle for free clipart or consume considerable time searching for these cliparts. In case, you are required some more details, about how to handle all types of image transfers, you will get every type of information from this site. The Microsoft site has over 150,000 free images and you can add to your documents, spreadsheets, or publisher creations, thus this site don’t impose any restriction of getting permission or paying subscription. Frankly speaking, in case you are an enthusiast of cliparts or images or a cinematographer, or an article writer, you might be feeling comfortable to get every sort of greater and amusing cliparts and shoot-ups from the Microsoft clipart site. For this greater development in the field of art and craft – Microsoft truly deserves our exclusive thankfulness. In this greedy world, who are so much generous like Microsoft? Great Microsoft, you are truly great! Although you are doing greater headways, and you already have acquired name and fame as a reputed technology provider all over the globe, this would be considered an additional greatest contribution of Microsoft that is aimed to facilitate and educate the cliparts and images fans all over the world. In the nutshell, as and when you need cliparts, you open the site of Microsoft Office, and click to the online free clipart library, and then use whatever stuff you need, in the search box – that is it. You will get a lot of information about cliparts and images.

Features of cell Phones

FREEDOM…JUST A CLICK AWAY Wired…are you? No longer. Lets take a step in to the wire free world of cellular phones. Small, big, slender, bulky, they are available in all sorts of sizes. Once upon a time treated as a status symbol, cellular phones have now become a frequent sight. The service providers too, have gone a step ahead in offering competitive rates, making the wire free world an absolute rage in these present times. However it's not only the service that most people are interested in. Deep thought and scrutiny is also given to the instrument one is purchasing. Numerous companies have plunged in offering a variety of fancy instruments. Once again, the manufacturer has placed the consumer on the highest scale of preference, giving him a colossal amount of models depending upon price, feature, size, etc. Along with the users attitude, the manufacturer as well has become articulate in delivering the best product to their buyers. How are manufacturers actually trying to woo their customers? The answer is simple. Innovative functions are constantly being introduced in cell phones to make communication as simple as it can be. 'Coming Closer' is the key word. Due to the superior expertise applied, cell phones are a fine example of the world getting more and more close. Undoubtedly, 'an ode to technology'. Interactive features are what make the consumer tick today. Ranging from Voice Dialer, Internal Vibrating Alert To Infra Red and Enhanced Full Rate Speech; they are plenty, they are new and they are for you! That's right. No longer does you mobile phone serve you as a device, merely to make or receive calls. With the abundant features available to you in that 6-inch wonder, life definitely becomes simpler and easily accessible too. Ranging from Travel, Weather and Shopping Info To Dial A Pizza and Order A Bouquet, cellular services have emerged as a new digital revolution in this existing era. GET MORE…. FROM YOUR CELL As usual, lets get the factual inputs right from the consumer's viewpoint. Speaking of features, one of the most popular is that of a 'Voice Dialer'. A voice recognition system that allows you to dial a telephone number stored in your phone memory by just saying the person's name. You could store telephone numbers and verbally record the names of people you wish to fill up in your phonebook / memory. The most suitable for today's hassle-free world of pace and time, Voice Dialer provides an almost effortless dialing system to its users. Just say the name and abracadabra… your phone is already in the process of connecting you to the dialled call. One such lucky user of this incredible function is Mrs. Seema Lal. " I think it's a real boon. Specially while driving. While dialing the number manually one can get distracted, but this is a real treat. Just call out the caller's name and you are already getting connected." She explains gladly. Long, long ago when communication modes were scarce, imagining such a possibility would be laughed upon. But now it's all there right in front of our eyes. Too good to be true! Yet another interesting feature is the Enhanced Full Rate Speech (EFR). This feature helps in reducing the background noise that gets transmitted along with your voice while speaking on the phone. Highly advantageous in order to deliver an audible and a clear speech, this feature is just the apt requisite for our ever - so - crowded trains and buses. Mr. Ravi Khanna, a stockbroker is a loyal commuter of our dear old western railways since a long time now. " Traveling from Churchgate to Borivali is my everyday routine and since I'm into shares most of my work is done on my cellular phone. Earlier it used to be impossible, but now due to this special EFR function, conversing on the mobile has turn a lot better. Thankfully, my phone has turned in to a mini mobile office" says a satisfied Mr. Khanna. Whether the never - ending problem of our city's noise pollution is solved, cell phones have indeed come up with a credible solution. This feature is essentially supportive in theatres, crowded streets and huge public places. Technology for thought…sure has done some wonders SPEAKEASY 'No strings attached'! That does sound good to the ears. Some skilled minds have made possible that it feels good to the ears as well. We are talking about the impressive 'Hands Free Kit' available with some cellular handsets, redefining freedom in the most amazing manner. Trendy and popular, the hands free kit is very well accepted by today's generation. " To avoid that extra head ache of actually holding the instrument while corresponding, a hands free is just the right thing." Says Mr. Vishal, a young production executive, who simply detests the idea of carrying the phone around all the time. "I specially chose an instrument with the hands free feature to avoid that extra pain on my ear and hand," he laughs. The hands free is included in the kit by the manufacturing company itself. One simply has to insert the plug in the instrument and wear its earphones and then J-U-S-T T-A-L-K. Your mobile being in the tiniest corner of your attire will not make a difference to your dialogue. Another added advantage of a hands-free is for motorists and bike riders who cant afford talking while driving/riding. A sweeping fine of Rs. 500, and undue diversion caused on the road are reason enough for many to choose a cellular instrument with this facility. However sleek a cell phone, nothing is more cool and compact than a hands free kit. PASS IT ON THE DIGITAL WAY! Ever thought information could be passed on in the mobile manner… Here's one more cherry in the cellular pie. This one is called 'Infra-red'. Infrared is the most exclusive feature available in a few elite cellular phones wherein you can send and receive data from computer to mobile and mobile to mobile (provided all the instruments are Infra Red compliant). The process applied is fairly simple in which both the parties having the phone have to be physically present with each other for the exchange of data to take place. Mr. Scott, Vice President of a leading pharmaceutical company is very proud of his cellular wonder. "There have been many occasions where I need some important notes on my cell from my computer. Seemed like a far-fetched contemplation some while ago. No more hassles! I just have to transfer the data from my computer to my cell phone and sometimes even vice - versa. Now isn't that outstanding. My phone actually performs technological wonders" he exclaims with a broad grin. In addition to sending and receiving data from computer to phone, Infra red is also used amongst cellular users to exchange data such as business notes, telephone numbers, calendar notes etc. These features in cellular phones are comprehensive as well as highly beneficial to the end user. ITS ALL… IN THE PHONE Moving on to something more amusing, but certainly worth a thought. How many times have we seen (or rather experienced it ourselves) people getting pathetic looks in theatres, meetings, conferences, auditoriums etc? No… it's not because of their appearance. The reason is that shrieking ring of that tiny mobile which gets across angry eyes and gritted teeth. There is a peaceful way out to this repetitive nuisance. Its called 'Internal Vibrating Alert'. Most phones have this function wherein the user can program his phone to physically vibrate instead of a ring tone, in accordance with his environment. This feature prevents the phone from making any kind of sound, saving the user unwanted embarrassment. Along with the vibrator, there are other modes such as 'silent', 'light only' and 'vibrator + ring', but the 'internal vibrator' still remains immensely popular. This feature also helps in crowded places where one is unable to hear the ring. HIP 'N' HAPPENING One of the entertaining features provided by the manufacturers is the availability of games in cellular phones. Usually instruments have three to four games in their menu such as snake, logic, memory etc. Being extremely enjoyed amongst college students and young executives, these games are brainteasers and keep you entertained too. Several other features such as Calendar, Large Screen Display, Changing Backlight Colour, Musical Ringing Tones, and Bizarre Graphics are available on latest cell phones that are attractive and increase the phone value. "Hi I'm not available right now. Kindly leave your message and telephone number and I'll get back to you". That's sounds rather familiar! No, Its not one of those answering machines switched on. Ditto! It's available on your cellular network too. Thoughtfully called Voice Mail, this feature allows you to programme your phone to go on voice mail when you cannot answer the phone (just keeps ringing), when the phone is switched off or is in no or limited range. The network providers offer Voice Mail services at a good bargain and give you a chance to suit the options as per ones requirement. "No worries when my phone is in low range or switched off. The voice mail system in my phone helps me to get all my messages and revert back to them accordingly. A very well thought about feature, I must say." Says Mr. Anand Kumar, a cloth merchant. A regular traveler, at times finds himself with places with less network. However, with a Voice mail in his cellular, he is completely carefree. Other utility oriented features include Call Divert, Call Wait etc. Call Divert enables you to divert your phone to your voice mail, fax line or a separate LAN line number as and when essential. It also helps when your phone is put off or when one does not wish to answer calls. Similarly, Call Wait allows you to hold one call and answer the next incoming one (swap) at one time. In addition to that you can speak to all the parties simultaneously through the conference facility available. In totality, multi conference (more than 4 parties together) is also possible. Features such as Voice Mail, Call Wait, and Call Divert etc., can be availed through your service provider at monthly subscriptions and notifications. These features are incredibly useful in managing one's time and correspondence in the most efficient manner. Indeed, cellular phones keep you connected round-the-clock.

5 Ways to Spend Time with Your lovable children.

Itwas Dr. Anthony P. Witham who once said "children spell love…T-I-M-E." He was definitely onto something. Unfortunately, if you are like most parents, time is a precious commodity that often eludes us. Whether we have a new job, a new baby, or we just need to make the coffee or strip the beds, we always seem to be wishing for more time. We need more. We want more. But we feel we just don't have it. Does that mean we don't love them? Of course not. Spending quality time with our children is extremely important for their development and happiness. I have interviewed thousands of children around the world and they told me that time spent with them doesn’t need to be elaborate or long, but it must be "quality". We must find ways then to slow down and slip in some memorable time that will let our children know that we love and care for them. Many children will let you know in their own "subtle" ways if they feel that you are not giving them the attention that they need. Some will withdraw while others will "act out." You might see it when a child gives "lip" to a teacher, fights with another classmate or resorts back to behaviors that once got your attention like increased crying, throwing tantrums or even bed-wetting. This is a way to capture your attention, albeit often negative, so that they can enjoy "focused" time with you. Essentially the thought process is, "if I can't get her attention by doing something good, I'll get her attention by doing something bad." Nobody wants that! So how can you find time when you feel you don't have any to spend? 1. One-on-one time: Alone time with your child is best when you are doing something you both enjoy. With one family it may be the time when Dad takes the baby so Mom can spend time with the older child. This could mean going to a movie, going to the local theater to see Cinderella, or just sitting at the park on a bench and talking. The frequency of one-on-one time is up to you, but the children I interviewed said at least once a month is the minimum. If you are a single mother with more than one child you could arrange it so that each Saturday you spend quality time with one of your children and the last Saturday of the month you spend quality time as a family. Marking your dates down on a calendar is a great idea and shows your children you make this time a priority. 2. Integrate Together Time into Your Daily Schedule: Children love to help. Do you have a mailing to do? Have them put the stamps on the envelopes. Need to go shopping? Make grocery shopping "fun time" with you. Need to make dinner? Let them help you by contributing to the preparation process. While it might be messier and it may time more time in the beginning, you will see that the children will become your greatest helpers and they will look back and remember that "before dinner" was always special time with you. 3. Phantom Time: Don't have a moment to spare until about 3 a.m.? You can still let your children know that you care. Write notes and drop them into their lunch boxes. This was one of the top ten things children told me made them feel loved and cared for by their parent. Other ideas would be to record a short video for them using a camera and leaving it for them at the breakfast table. Be creative here! 4. Break time: Everyone is busy. Some parents are busier than others. Slide in a "break time" so that you and your children can spend 15 minutes or a half hour together. Set a timer if you need to so that everyone knows when "break time" starts and finishes. Give warnings to your children when 2 minutes are left so that it doesn't come as a surprise. Don't even have break time available? Wake your child up 15 minutes early so that you can spend a little extra time doing something fun in the morning. You might not think that 15 minutes is any significant time at all, but to a child, it is 15 extra minutes with you. Spending time with your children provides them with opportunities to learn and to be heard. Most of all, it provides you and your children with time to connect. It's these connections that make your children feel loved. So leave the beds unstripped for another few minutes and put the coffee on an automatic timer. Take those extra moments to spend with your children. When you look back, you will be thankful for the memories.

Why Everyone To Know About Auto Shipping

New technology has advanced the auto shipping industry at a rapid rate, as better tracking methods have resulted in safer transport of vehicles. Whether you need a vehicle moved cross country or to a nearby city, there are plenty of companies to choose from. When choosing a company to move your vehicle, consider the cost, length of transport, method of shipping and safety. Auto shipping and moving services are utilized for a variety of reasons. A new job may require a relocation where driving a vehicle is inconvenient. Other reasons to use an auto shipping company include conveyance after a purchase or sale of a vehicle, an extended vacation, or military deployment. All types of vehicles including motorcycles, trucks, and most recreational vehicles can be shipped through an auto moving company. Do your research and ask for references to determine the shipping method that is best for you as companies vary. Open truck shipping, enclosed shipping and door-to-door services are some of the shipping methods available. Trailers which are either partly or completely exposed to the elements are used for open truck shipping and come in a variety of sizes. If you prefer your vehicle is entirely secluded, enclosed trailers are the way to go. Keep in mind that the cost to ship your vehicle in an enclosed trailer will cost a significant amount more than open truck shipping. Door-to-door shipping can be misleading and doesn't actually mean that your vehicle will be dropped off on your doorstep. Since many large cities and towns limit large transport vehicles from coming into residential areas, the shippers would simply get as close to you as the law and safety allows. Drivers require lots of room so it may be best to meet in a large parking lot close by to avoid narrow streets, speed bumps and tight turns. If you are considering having a vehicle shipped it is important to make sure you have insurance on your vehicle. You may be responsible to pay a deductible even though insurance is provided by your auto shipping company. Your personal insurance may also cover your vehicle but be sure to have the particulars in writing from both your personal insurance company and the company transporting your vehicle. Remove all personal items from the vehicle before pick-up no matter the type of vehicle you are shipping. Insurance will most likely not cover items if they are lost, stolen, or damaged. It is also advised that only a small amount of gas remain in the vehicle before shipping. It is recommended that you allow plenty of time to arrange transport of your vehicle as some companies can take up to 3 to 4 weeks to make arrangements. Once verified there are several factors that will determine how long it will take to ship your vehicle. Distance between pick-up and drop-off, weather conditions, traffic, and unexpected delays should all be considered.

What Is The Disadvantages of Solar Energy?

Solar energy is energy derived from the Sun which can be transformed into thermal or electrical energy and used to power electrical appliances. Undoubtedly one of the most promising source among the various alternative energy sources, solar energy is being pitched as the future of power generation mainly due to the definite advantages that it has over its counterparts. One has to undertake a critical evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of solar energy in order to ascertain whether this alternative source of energy has the capacity to replace its conventional counterparts or not. In this article we will stress on solar energy disadvantages in a bid to highlight the problems that we are likely to face when we try to harness it. Disadvantages of Solar Energy Those in favor of the development of solar energy believe that there are much moreadvantages of solar energy as compared to its disadvantages. Whether this claim really holds ground is a question that can only be answered after undertaking a serious introspection of solar energy pros and cons. Given below are some drawbacks of solar energy which you are likely to come across when you try to harness it. Economic Issues The most prominent disadvantage of solar energy is the high cost incurred in creating a set up for the same. A decrease in the cost of solar panels for electricity may bring this source of energy back on track in terms of replacement for the fossil fuels, but as of now the high cost incurred is a major roadblock when it comes to practical use of solar power. Add to it the fact that you will have to invest in batteries, in which you will store electricity, and huge area, wherein you will set up the solar panels, and the cost incurred in the development of solar power goes even higher. Reliability Issues Yet another limitation of solar energy comes in form of its dependence on weather. A cloud cover can hamper the amount of sunlight received by these solar panels and affect their efficiency, thus reducing the amount of power generated by this means. Even pollution is known to affect the photo voltaic cells used in solar panels. The wear and tear that the solar panels will subjected to due to overexposure to sunlight can reduce their efficiency and shorten their life as well. Location Issues The location of solar panels is yet another important attribute of solar power generation. You can only opt for solar energy generation if you live in a region wherein there is abundance of sunlight. If you intend to generate solar energy for home, you will have to place these solar panels in such a manner that they get direct or filtered sunlight throughout the day. The presence of trees and tall buildings in the surroundings can affect power generation to a significant extent. Environmental Issues Scientific studies have brought to surface several solar energy facts which were not known until a few years ago. This may come as a surprise for many, but solar energy has issues related to environmental pollution as well. The solar panels made from silicon contain potentially toxic metallic elements, such as lead and cadmium, which can harm the environment as well as our health. These were some of the most prominent disadvantages of solar energy which have to be taken into consideration, along with its advantages, in order to decide whether this source of energy has a promising future or not. While these disadvantages do exist, and they are quite serious as well, it would be wrong to dismiss the chances of this source of power making it big anytime in the future. The giant strides that we have taken in the field of science and technology over the last few decades comes up as a major hope for the development of solar energy. The research and development teams of various countries are putting in efforts to address these disadvantages. If we are to ensure a smooth sail for solar energy in the future, these issues have to be addressed at the earliest.

Ideas for a video game.

Video Game Article is usually dedicated to making fun of all games (even the ones I really like), but I'm posting a game idea here because I really think I'm on to something with this concept. I hope you agree. I've been working on this spec sheet for the last four months. Synopsis: There is a kingdom, but there is a shadow, dark and also metaphorical. The shadow has befallen the kingdom. Although you come from an unlikely beginning, only you can save the kingdom and probably the whole world. Features: Every choice has consequences! If you fight a skeleton you get experience points, but if you decide not to fight that skeleton you dont get any. Customize your character's look! You have to wear clothes to use magic, wear armor to kill things with weapons, or wear light armor to do a little bit of both or sneak around and pick locks. Engaging story! Someone betrays you, someone lets you smack the skin that surrounds their genitals with the skin that surrounds yours. Comes with a cloth map! Cloth as hell, not large enough to be useful for anything other than a quick reminder of which continent goes where. A living, breathing world! Every town has an innkeeper and armor/weapon/item dealers. Master the fully-realized economy! Make sure nothing in your inventory is better than what you have equipped, then mash the "Sell All" button. Hundreds of skills! Invest skill points to learn how to swing around in a circle with your weapon, get interesting buffs that you'll never use because instead of toggled auras they're spells with limited durations. Strategic combat! Spells cost mana, combat skills cost action points or maybe mana. Use strategy to know how many potions you'll need to lug around. Next-gen roleplaying! Talk to pretty much anyone with a unique name. Explore every branch of the dialogue tree. If you forget anything, just go back and have the exact same conversation. Detailed environment! Forests are pretty much full of trees. While most buildings have the same layout, some have different pictures on the walls. Bone-crushing realism! Two-handed weapons do way more damage than their one-handed counterparts.

How to Save Your Relationships?

We all enter relationships hoping they will make us happy. Each person has a shopping list of hopes and expectations, secret demands he/she makes on their partners. When those hopes are fulfilled, they consider that they’ve won – the relationship is successful. However, this approach to relationships usually brings disappointment in the long run. Not only do our hopes, needs and expectations change, but constantly making demands upon our partner can only lead to relationship burnout. A truly winning relationship is built upon a different basis. The Basis of Winning Relationships When we think that our happiness is dependent upon what we are receiving, we are bound to be let down. When we know that happiness always grows from what we are giving, we are on the right track. Happiness that depends upon having our needs met, is fleeting. It comes and goes. It has to. When things go well, we are happy. When we get what we want, when the sun is shining, when our boyfriend finally pops the question, these are moments of happiness. The only thing wrong with this kind of happiness is that it revolves around us and our needs. We become addicted to feeling good or having our needs met. We become addicted to people and circumstances that bring this about. Not only does this addiction become a problem, but as what makes us happy keeps changing, we stay on a merry go round. Winning relationships are based upon joy. When things are difficult, or our hopes are not fulfilled, it is still possible to feel joyful. Joy, is not a knee-jerk reaction to circumstances. Joy arises from within. It is an attitude of mind that can be developed, a positive choice we make about ourselves and the world we live in. In a sense joy is a practice. It is an orientation towards life and towards the people in our relationships. Joy is built upon actions. There are steps we can take which allow joy to be present each day. These steps are the foundations of a winning relationship. No matter what happens, when you live in this manner, you feel good about yourself and your partner. 1) Give Up Blaming The Other Person It is very easy to find many things wrong with the person you are in a relationship with. When we are upset, we attribute it to something they’ve said or done. This puts our well being in another’s hands. It is one of the most significant ways we destroy our peace of mind. It is also one of the most significant ways we undermine the other person. Each person has the right to be who they are at this moment. Realize that no one made you their judge and jury Also realize that if you are upset or unhappy at their behavior, that is your response, it does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with them. By blaming another for your unhappiness, you are disempowering yourself. Give it up. Just observe their behavior. Get to know them. Say to yourself, they have a right to be who they are, and I have a right also. In fact, it is your own expectations which are upsetting you. When you do not put your expectations on the other, but are willing to get to know who they are, blame dissolves easily. 2) Learn The Art Of True Giving There is a huge difference between really giving to another, and giving so you can get something back in return. When we give in order to get something back, (and secretly demand it), this is nothing more than manipulation, and quickly kills our joy. A winning relationship is based upon true giving. This means giving with no strings attached. Giving something to the person that they need or would like, (not something that pleases you). Some fear to give, feeling that they will be drained. The opposite is true. The more we give, the more we have. There are many things that can be given - many people need time, attention, acknowledgment, the chance to be right about something. Make a list of all the things you can give another. Practice giving freely. Do it in little steps at first. The more you do it, the more your joy will grow. 3) Learn How To Really Listen There is no better way of building a wining relationship than by learning to really listen to your partner. Real listening means stopping the little voice inside that always comments, criticizes or is thinking about what it is going to say next. When you really listen to and hear another, you are giving them an enormous gift. When a person is really listened to and understood, they feel loved. When you develop this ability, you will be amazed at how the people around you will start opening up, and you’ll also be amazed at how joyful your own life will become. 4) Stop Wanting To Change The Other Person One of the biggest thieves of our joy is our constant desire to fix or change the other person. One person feels they cannot love the other unless that person changes. The other feels hurt, inadequate and as though something is wrong with them. Everybody becomes hurt and frustrated. So often we hear the phrase, if you loved me enough you would change for me. But winning relationships is built upon our ability to love the person as they are, (including the parts of them that may not please you). A person has not been put on earth to make you happy. They have been put here to grow, develop and discover who they are. The odd thing about change is that the more we let go of wanting to change the other, the sooner they are able to change because they don’t have to stay as they are as a matter of pride. 5) Develop Patience Patience is an old fashioned word in today’s worlds of instant technology. However, the more patient you are with yourselves and others, the less you will feel frustration and the more easily you will develop joy. When you learn to be fully in the moment, and to allow each relationship to grow and develop in its own rhythm, this is a sure fire way to allow both of you to win. It’s necessary to realize that right at this moment, we are lovable and acceptable, just as we are. The more love and acceptance we can offer, the more everyone experiences joy and the easier it is for us to build our relationships upon a foundation that cannot falter.

6 Tips for Family Vacations

According to a recent poll, close to 80% of adults believe that family and friends are more important than possessions - in other words, relationships trump 'bling' in creating happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment of the American dream. So, in these tough financial times, families are still taking vacations together yet are managing to cut back on spending. Many are accomplishing this feat by visiting the National Parks - figures show that attendance has been unusually high. Even the President and Vice-President have visited some of these majestic national treasures with their families. But you don't have to be a politician or a celebrity to enjoy "America's best idea," as Ken Burns dubbed the National Parks. Make a plan to spend time with your family in the great outdoors - be inspired, educated and motivated to protect our rich environment. Your kids will grow from the experience and you'll all have fun together as you follow these tips: 1. Engage in the world around you. Join with other families exploring the country or start by becoming more involved in your own community. What are your family's interests and passions - hiking, history, nature, adventure, native plants and animals? You can learn more about them together and expand your universe at the same time. 2. Find role models to inspire you. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum dreamed about creating a memorial to American heroes that would last through the ages. He worked in the mountains of South Dakota, drilling and chiseling for over 10 years, to sculpt Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt on Mount Rushmore. These men reflect goals to strive for - courage, freedom, compassion and conservation, among others. And the nearby sculpture-in-progress, commemorating the Lakota leader, Crazy Horse, honors the richness of the Native American culture and the dignity of these tribes. 3. Expand your universe and learn something new. The National Parks provide a unique and ideal environment for learning - whether it's about the geysers, hot springs, mud pots or fumaroles of Yellowstone, the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, the waterfalls and giant sequoias of Yosemite or the powerful landscape of the Grand Canyon. If you're more interested in the wildlife of the region, there are bald eagles, bison, bears, moose, elk and wolves to observe and study. And the wildflowers and groves of trees provide endless opportunities for education. 4. Challenge yourself to take some risks. The parks present numerous opportunities for activities that may be new to you - riding a mule on tenuous mountain paths, whitewater rafting down rapids, hiking up a rocky trail to a waterfall, camping out under open skies, horseback riding through open meadows. You'll all find that the excitement of mastering a different skill carries over into a new sense of confidence in other areas of life. 5. Enjoy the people around you. It's always fun to spend time outdoors together - take a float trip down a calm part of the river, make s'mores around a campfire, go for a nature walk with a forest ranger, take pictures of the wild flowers or just take a long walk together. Let your family know that their company is important to you. 6. Immerse yourself in the serenity of nature. Most of us react with awe and appreciation when in the presence of the majesty of nature. A family trip exposing you to its dramatic power can help you put aside the realities of the current economic situation. When you allow yourself the opportunity to soak in the beauty of your surroundings, you'll feel more centered and ready to face the challenges ahead of you on your return home. If you're over 62, you can purchase a lifetime senior pass in any of the parks for only $10. And you'll find that many national and state parks offer kids the chance to become Junior Rangers. This program encourages them to explore, learn, and protect the environment. You can follow up your visit together by reading more about the history of the parks and the Native Americans who once freely roamed these lands.

Top 11 reason behind for TQM Fails?

TQM-What Is It? If you are reading this book, it is likely that you already know what we mean when we use the term Total Quality Management. Still, it's a good idea to define the term, and provide a brief overview. Certainly TQM can be defined in a number of ways, and the details of different approaches can vary somewhat. However, a good starting definition, drawn from Capezio & Morehouse is: "Total Quality management refers to a management process and set of disciplines that are coordinated to ensure that the organization consistently meets and exceeds customer requirements. TQM engages all divisions, departments and levels of the organization. Top management organizes all of its strategy and operations around customer needs and develops a culture with high employee participation. TQM companies are focused on the systematic management of data of all processes and practices to eliminate waste and pursue continuous improvement. " Perhaps a better way of understanding TQM is to compare a "TQM organization with what we might call a "traditional organizations". tet's look at a number of differences. 1. Customer-Driven vs. Company-Driven Traditional organizations tend to make their decisions based on what is most convenient for them, rather than what is wanted and expected by their customers. Being customer-based means gatf7ering information from customers/clients and modifying services and processes to meet those needs as well as possible. In government, this is not always easy, due to the conflicting responsibilities of a department, and the multiple customers/stakeholders involved in government situations. However, in many cases moving to a customer-driven organization can yield many positive results for government departments. 2. Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation Traditional organizations tend to think and plan with respect to short term outcomes, white TQM organizations tend to think in much larger time spans. A typical example might be that a TQM organization would look at downsizing as having effects over a decade or two, while a traditional organization would look only at the immediate budgetary issues, letting future chips fall where they may. Also, successful TQM organizations make a long term commitment to the principles of TQM, rather than looking at TQM as a program; something with a beginning and end. This means patience. 3. Data-Driven vs. Opinion-Driven Traditional organizations tend to be managed by gut feel, or by opinion. They guess at what their customers want, and guess at the costs of waste, etc. TQM organizations base their decisions on data they collect; on customer needs, on waste, on costs, and on the sources of problems. While judgment is always involved in any decision, TQM organizations begin with the data, not with the solution. 4. Elimination of Waste vs. Tolerance of Waste Most organizations operate with a high degree of waste and inefficiency. Traditional organizations consider waste, whether it be in time, materials, etc, as a normal part of their operation. TQM organizations are very active in identifying wasteful activities, and eliminating them. 5. Continuous Improvement vs, Fire Fighting Traditional organizations tend to address problems with the way they do things only when there is a major problem or crisis. The watchword in traditional organizations is: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", except that often it IS broke, but nobody is paying any attention . TQM organizations are always looking for improvement, and are constantly engaged in problem-solving to make things better. 6. Prevention vs, Inspection Traditional organizations tend to fix problems after the fact. Rather than trying to prevent problems, they catch them after the fact, which is very costly. TQM organizations work to prevent problems and errors, rather than simply fixing them. 7. Cross-Function Teams vs. Fortressed Departments Traditional organizations tend to have sub-units that work autonomously and with little communication or involvement with other units. For example, personnel may have only limited interaction with other departments. Or, on a local level, administrative staff may have little communication with other staff in a government branch, and have a different reporting structure. In TQM organizations, there is more use of cross-functional teams; teams convened for a particular purpose or purposes, with representation from a number of units or levels in the organization. The use of cross-functional teams means that input is gained from parts of the organization that need to be involved. 8. High Employee Participation vs. Top-Down Hierarchy Traditional organizations tend to have very restricted communication and decision- making patterns. Employees are told what to do, rather than being inctuded in figuring out what to do. Information tends to flow from top to bottom. In TQM organizations, employees are much more actively involved in both the decision-making and communication processes. Information flows both top to bottom and bottom to top. For that matter, information also flows sideways. 9. Problem-Solving vs, Blame Traditional organizations tend to look to affix blame for things that go wrong. TQM organizations attack the problems in their organizations rather than the people. They fix things. 10. Systems Thinking Vs. Isolation Traditiona~ organizations tend to see the parts and processes of their organization as single things, unretated to other part of the organization. TQM organizations tend to recognize that most often, probtems arise as a result of multiple causes, and that sub- units are interdependent. TQM organizations tend to see problems as a result of the entire system. 11. Leadership vs. Management Traditional organizations tend to see people as objects to be managed; told what to do, disciplined, tracked, etc. TQM organizations exhibit more confidence in staff and more trust, and expect MORE from them, not less.

The Link Between Planning & Doing

If you have read the preceding articles in this section on strategic planning, YOU will have a sense that strategic planning involves more than getting together for one day a yearto develop a strategic planning document. Strategic planning is both a logical, rational process, and a process that involves people. It takes more than developing a plan for that plan to be implemented. In this article, we consider that the critical link between planning and doing is leadership. Traditional Planning Methods The traditional way for government organizations to plan is for a group of people, usually executives/management, but sometimes including employees, to get together for some period of time each year. Generally, inadequate time is allocated to the exercise, but if it is completed, it results in a document that contains a mission statement, broad organizational goals, and other elements as is deemed appropriate. Then, the plan is usually hidden away somewhere, never to be seen again. Traditional methods yield traditional results. As a wise man once said "If you keep doing what you have been doing, you will get what you have always got". It needn't be this way. Reconceptualizing Strategic Planning Planning should be considered as a blueprint for change. The plan should be the basis for introducing controlled change into an organization so it can adapt to changing times. By anticipating shifting demands, the plan serves the purpose of allowing the organization to control its own direction, rather than waiting until political forces demand change (and demand change NOW). In addition, the plan allows for consistent monitorin~ofsuccess,~nd re-examination of the degree to which organizational resources should be structured and allocated to achieve future goals. But, if we look at strategic planning in this light, as a blueprint for change, we also need to consider that any organization has built-in inertia.. the tendency to keep on doing what one has been doing. On its own, the strategic planning process, as traditionally undertaken, is insufficient to overcome this inertia. Other forces need to come into play if the plan, and proposed changes get implemented. Leadership - The Key Force In the context of strategic planning, leadership means a number of things. We can outline the role of leadership in the following ways, keeping in mind that leadership may come from appointed leaders (management and executive) and from the ranks . 1.Those in leadership roles ensure that as many members of the organization as possible buy into the values, mission, and broad organizational goals. There are two components to this function. First, leaders manage the perceptions of staff with respect to the planning process. Remember that most people have experienced the "plan-in-the-drawer" syndrome, where effort expended in planning is seen as wasted when the plan is ignored. Prior to the planning process, leaders must emphasize that THIS TIME, things will be different. Second, leaders manage the planning process so that staff feel that they have adequate input into the process, that they are heard, and their values and visions are incorporated into the final plan and its implementation. Specifically, leaders arrange things so that the process is open, and conforms to accepted rules of communication. That may mean hiring an external consultant to orchestrate the planning sessions. It will certainly mean that rules get established to guide participation. Everyone who wants to participate should have the opportunity, and even reticent staff should be gently encouraged to involve themselves. 2. While managing perceptions of the planning process is important, the critical role of leadership occurs after the plan has been completed. Leaders must treat the planning results as the "organizational signposts that guide behaviour and decision making". After all, nobody is going to take a plan seriously if the formal leaders ignore it, or never refer to it again. If you are serious about using strategic planning as a tool for organizational success, consider some of the following actions. A. When working with staff to set individual objectives, be sure to mention how the individual objectives will contribute to the achievement of the mission and organizational goals as outlined in the strategic plan. Make sure that the employee is familiar with the plan when individual objectives are set. In addition, at each meeting with each employee, work with the employee to help him/her determine how the values outlined in the strategic plan apply to them. In other words, given the particular values, strategic goals and mission statement how is the employee to behave or make decisions. B. Once the strategic plan has been completed, the formal leader of the organization (and perhaps others) should present and discuss the plan with the up-line manager or executive. It is NOT sufficient to send a copy. Because you will need up-line support to implement the plan, you will need their commitment, and commitment will only come from discussion and explanation of the plan. C. At staff meetings, when decisions are required, explain how the strategic plan is used, or is to be used to make decisions. If you are the manager communicating a decision you have made, explain your rationale in light of the mission, values and goals expressed in the plan. If you are using a participative decision making process, help staff refocus on these components of the plan, so that they can be used to guide decision making D. When doing performance reviews with staff, ask the individual to explain how his or her actions are consistent with the elements of the plan. How has their action contributed to organizational goals? Has their behaviour been consistent with organizational values? What needs to change so that the individual can further contribute to implementing the plan? Consider recognizing contributions to achievement of the plan, even if the individual did not have specific responsibility as outlined in their individual objectives. And, when setting future objectives, consider writing an objective that refers to the values expressed in the plan. For example: "Will act in accordance with the organizational values expressed in the strategic plan". If you go this route, make sure -that~the implications of these values are clear to the employee in terms of his or her behaviour. 3. A final role of leadership is to create more leaders. One goal that formal leaders (executives, managers) can set for themselves is to encourage down-line employees to take on some of the leadership roles outlined above. This can be particularly effective in decision making. The ideal situation is for staff to internalize the plan to the extent that some take on the role of reminding people of the plan, and its relevance to any given decision-making process. Cultivate leaders in your organization by giving increased responsibility, and encouraging this kind of leadership behaviour. Conclusion Leadership, regardless of when it comes from formally appointed leaders, or Informal leaders, provides the link between planning and doing. Leadership, regardless of when it comes from formally appointed leaders, or informal leaders, provides the link between planning and doing. Effective leadership helps alter perceptions about strategic planning, and the organization itself, helping to overcome inertia, the tendency to keep things the same. Without leadership, most strategic plans will end up as dead pieces of paper. Most importantly, when planning occurs without leadership, cynicism increases when staff see that the plan is being ignored, or even violated. The outcome of this is that formal leaders suffer a loss of credibility.

Top 10 Advices for Students , Do better research

I wrote about ways for students to add a little extra “kick” to their research papers. Those strategies were meant for students who had already mastered the basics of performing research, not students just getting started doing research and writing papers. As with writing, though, research skills are rarely taught very clearly — professors assume students know or can figure out how to do good research, or at best turn their students over to a librarian for a tour of the library’s facilities and resources. Is it any wonder that so many university students rely on Wikipedia as the first and last stop in their research itinerary? To help students get up to speed on basic research skills, here’s 10 tips to help you find, organize, and use the information you need to put together a decent research paper. 1. Schedule! I tell my students that the first step in writing a research paper is to admit you have a research paper. Write up a schedule with a series of milestones to accomplish by a specific date (e.g. find 10 sources by September 20, finish preliminary research by October 15), and keep to it. You will need time to get an overview of what material is out there, find out what’s in your library, select relevant material, read it, take notes, and start putting it together — and to do a second wave of research to clear up points raised in the writing of your first draft. 2. Mine bibliographies. Once you’ve found a good, solid academic book or essay on your topic, you’re golden — at the end there will be a list of dozens or hundreds of sources for you to look up. You can usually skim through the bibliography and note down anything whose title sounds relevant to your research. Academic authors aren’t very creative with their titles, so it is usually pretty easy to tell what their work is about from just the title or subtitle. Go back through and see if you recognize any of the authors’ names — these too might be worth following up. once you start finding the work the first book referenced, do the same thing with their bibliographies — soon you’ll have a list of far more sources than you need (but you need them, because your library may not have all the books and journals referred to, and inter-library loan is so slow as to be useless for students who need to finish by the end of the semester). 3. Start, don’t end, with Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a great place to start your research — spend some time searching for keywords related to your topic, browsing the links you find on each page, and following their suggested resources. Take notes, especially of any good sources they recommend. The goal here is to get a good overview of the subject you’re writing about, and Wikipedia is far better for that than most print sources, because of its hyperlink ed nature. By the time you get ready to write, though, you should have much better sources at your command than Wikipedia, so avoid citing it in your paper. 4. Have a research question in mind. Technically, your thesis should emerge from your research, when you have data in front of you. But you need a kind of “working thesis” while doing your research — a question you want to answer. As you come across new material, ask yourself if it looks like it will help you answer your question. Anything that looks relevant but doesn’t help answer your question you can put back. It’s tempting to gather a lot of background material, and some is necessary, but too much will waste your time without contributing to your research. Get one or two good sources for background (your initial Wikipedia searching should be adequate in most cases) and then keep focused by working towards an answer to your research question. 5. Deal with one piece at a time. Don’t try to tackle your subject all at once. Get enough of a sense of the topic that you can create an outline of the things you need to understand, and then deal with each piece on its own. You’ll find the connections between the pieces when you write your first draft. 6. Use a system. Start your research with an idea of how you plan to collect and organize your notes and data. Although I’ve written papers using index cards before, my favorite system is to use a one-subject notebook. At the top of a fresh page, I write the full bibliographic reference for a book or paper, then copy quotes and write notes — both tagged with the page numbers they came from — interspersed with thoughts and ideas that occur to me as I’m reading. I’d love to use a computer more efficiently when doing research, and have built databases and tried wikis and outliners and other kinds of software, but I’ve never found a system that worked well — I spent more time fiddling with the software than getting work done. Whatever system you decide on, make sure that every quote, fact, and thought is tied in some way to its source so that you can easily insert references while you’re writing. 7. Know your resources. Spend some time getting to know what resources, both online and offline, your library to offer. Most libraries offer tours to students, or talk to a research librarian — or at the least, walk through the library to get a feel for what is where, paying special attention to the microfilm repository and periodicals, which you’ll use a lot in the course of most research projects. Most university libraries also subscribe to a number of academic databases, and most are now accessible online — get to know the research material you can access from home. J-Stor, for instance, holds full-text photographic copies of hundreds of journals, all easily searchable. There’s nothing quite like thinking of something in the middle of the night, logging on, and printing out two or three relevant journal articles to review in the morning. 8. Ask for help. Use the human resources available to you as well as the material resources. Most professors spend their office hours waiting in disappointment for a student to drop in and give them something to justify the time they’re required to keep an open hour — be that student! Ask for help in finding and evaluating sources, or for help in figuring out what to do with the material you’ve collected so far. Another often-overlooked resource is your friendly neighborhood librarian. Librarians are, in my estimation, the best people on Earth — they know the material in their charge forwards and backwards, they are deeply concerned with seeing it used, and they have committed their lives to making information more available.Most librarians will be happy to help you find relevant material for your project, and some will even locate specific pieces of hard-to-find information for you. Don’t forget to ask your fellow student for help, too — some of the might have come across work directly relevant to your topic. 9. Carry an idea book. As you start really getting into your project, your mind will start churning through what you’re reading, even when you’re not consciously working on it. If you’re like me, you’ll be struck by sudden revelations at the least convenient times — in the bathroom, in the shower, at the supermarket. or while getting ready for bed. Keep a small notebook and a pen with you everywhere (well, maybe not in the shower — although I do keep dry erase markers by the sink so I can write down quick thoughts on the bathroom mirror when I get out of the shower); jot down notes whenever an idea crosses your mind, and transfer these notes into your research log (or software, or whatever) as soon as you can. 10. Bring it up to date. Pay attention to the publication date of your material — while it’s ok to use older material, ideally you’d like the bulk of your references to come from the last 10 years or so. If research in your topic seems to dry up a decade or so back, it might be because the field moved on, but it also might be because funding opportunities disappeared, a major researcher died, or any number of accidental reasons. One trick is to Google the major researchers whose work you’ve found and see if you can find their homepages — most will list recent publications and their current research activities — it could be that someone has a book about to come out, or reports published in obscure or foreign journals. If so, you might try inter-library loan, or in some cases, try contacting the researcher herself and ask if they can send you a draft or reprint. Be courteous, explain what you’re working on and what you’re trying to find out, where your research has taken you so far, and what light you hope their work can shed on your topic. Do not ask for a list of references or what your thesis should be — nobody wants to do a student’s work for them. These tips will help put a decent bibliography and a body of notes and data at your fingertips when you sit down to write up your paper. Although evaluating sources is also a necessary part of doing good research, it will have to wait for its own post, as it’s too big a topic to reduce to a bullet point here. A librarian or your professor can help, especially if you restrict yourself to books and journals available in your university library. Internet sources are trickier, as it takes no effort at all these days to put up a professional-looking website saying whatever you want; until you’re comfortable with the material in your chosen field, it’s best to stick to known sources like Wikipedia and sites endorsed by your library or department, if you use the Internet at all. Remember, though, that until a few years ago, most of us managed to do research with no Internet at all! With typewriters! Walking uphill! In the snow! Barefoot!

How to swim?

Why learning basic swimming techniques can be useful? Swimming is a great recreation activity for anyone wanting to burst a few stress bubbles. Even merely getting into the water and letting the body float is enough for some. On the other hand, there are some individuals who like to go through and fro between the ends of the swimming pool as fast as they can. Of course, their intention is not to dazzle others, rather to enjoy the rush of the adrenaline and the feeling of euphoria that it gives them. By mastering the basic swimming techniques anyone can get to enjoy this feeling and feel the tension ebbing from the body. After taking charge of a pupil interested in learning swimming, a coach or instructor, first of all, imparts basic swimming techniques and strokes to him. Depending on how fast and easily the pupil can master them, he, sort of, comes to understand whether the pupil is going to swim like a fish or a duck. Let us see what these basic swimming technique for beginners are. Basic Freestyle Swimming Technique Most probably, the coach will start the training by teaching the freestyle swimming technique for beginners to his pupil. The freestyle stroke is the most basic stroke that each and every swimmer gets to cut his teeth on. Depending on his style of teaching, the instructor may want his pupil to practice the stroke right in the pool, or on the land itself by going through the motion of the stroke. In certain cases, mock practicing a swimming stroke on the land can be very useful, as the pupil has only to concentrate on executing it and there is not water to be dealt with. Some of the instructors believe in showing videos while explaining the proper swimming techniques to follow. The following is a list of instructions for freestyle swimming stroke. • Lie on your stomach in the water and position both the arms in front, move one hand downward direction to push the water away. Do it as if you are trying to chase the water with with you palm and keep the fingers joined together. • Continue to swing the hand so that it passes the thigh and exits the water. • Let it swing above the head and come in front till it touches the other hand which then starts its motion. • While doing this, let the hands be relaxed and not stiff when they enter the water. • When the hand touches the thigh, turn the head simultaneously and steal a breath. • It is also important to use thigh muscles to kick or flutter the legs so as to aid the hands in gaining momentum through the water. Basic Backstroke Swimming Technique Backstroke is another of the swimming stroke to add to one's repertory. As compared to freestyle stroke, this one is a little bit harder to execute which makes it all the more important to learn backstroke swimming techniques properly. The following are the instructions to execute the backstroke technique properly. • Lie on your back in the water and maintain the head in line with the spine. • Swing a hand in the air and let it pass close by the head. When the hand is immersed in the water, try pulling a hand-full of water to the surface. • Maintain the hand fully stretched and let the pinkie enter the water first. The entry point should be above the head and just outside of the line of the shoulder. • When the first hand is about to hit the water, start swinging the other hand to follow the first , so that, at any time they are at 180 degrees with each other. • By the time the hand in the water is about to exit, the other hand will hit the water and enter it. • If the instructions are followed correctly, then the swimmer will end up recovering one hand from the water and pulling the water with other. • Use the legs to kick the water away from body. • The windmilling of the hand through the water i.e. the speed of the backstroke is controlled by the kick speed. • It is also necessary to swivel the whole body along the rotating arms. The shoulder of the pulling hand must be slightly above the pool while rotating the arm. • The shoulder of the recovery arm must be maintained at the surface of the water. • Take a breath when a hand enters the water and exhale when it enters the water at the start of the next cycle. • After mastering basic swimming technique for backstroke the swimmer may want to go ahead and learn backstroke flip turn. Basic Breaststroke Swimming Technique The breast stroke is an exhausting swimming stroke where the swimmer has to use hands and leg muscles a lot. • Get into the water and float by assuming a slightly tipped up and down-forward position. • Keep the legs close together and hold the hands close to the chest. • To execute a breaststroke bring the legs toward the chest and kicking them away from the body in one motion and squeezing them closer. • Remember to throw the feet away from the body while executing the kick, to displace more water. • This makes the swimmer glide through the water and he can control his direction by pointing his toes and extending his arms. • Let the glide continue for a moment and then turn the palms outward. • From this position, pull with both of your fully extend hands in and around circular sweep till palms, once again, are close to the chest. • While executing the sweep of arms, use the momentum gained to raise the head above the water and take a breath. • With the lungs full of air, submerge the head under the water and repeat the process for the next backstroke. Acquiring basic swimming techniques is not an easy task. Not everyone can adjust immediately to the transition from being on a solid medium, such as, land, to being in the water that gives easily. One must enjoy the process of learning how to swim, be patient and keep on practicing, to master it. Later on, one can move on to learn the butterfly swimming technique to enjoy swimming to the fullest. One can do beginners swim workouts to supplement and enhance his or her efforts in the pool.

Wireless Email Security

To me, the important lesson derived from the recent dust-up between the United Arab Emirates, India, Saudi Arabia and RIM, the company behind the BlackBerry, is that governments can spy on almost all wireless email. And, they get annoyed when they can't. Not being able to hack into BlackBerry email almost got the devices banned in a number of countries. Interestingly, there are no stories of the US government threatening to shut down BlackBerry service because they couldn't read the email. According to Reuters, U.S. authorities are able to tap into BlackBerry messages. The article also notes that "... security experts say that many governments around the world enjoy the ability to monitor BlackBerry conversations as they do communications involving most types of mobile devices." Obviously, a heads up for anyone that sends email wirelessly. Just how protected is your wireless email from spying? Starting with the basics, wireless email may be sent over Wi-Fi or a data network from a cellphone company. WiFi over a router that you control is easily encrypted. WPA-TKIPand WPA2-AES are reasonably secure as long as you chose a long password that's not in the dictionary. And, WPA and WPA2 encryption apply to any and all data traveling over the air, not just email. For more on this, see my September 2009 article "The Best Security for Wireless Networks." On a public Wi-Fi network, a VPN can be employed to also encrypt all data coming and going. For more on this see my article "Being Secure on Public Wi-Fi: VPN, Firewalls, File Sharing." Without a VPN, email sent over a public Wi-Fi network can still be encrypted using webmail with secure HTTPS web pages. Gmail is a great choice as Google encrypts all web pages, not just the login page. Yahoo is a poor choice, they only encrypt the login page. But email is also available using dedicated email software (Outlook, Thunderbird, Outlook Express, etc.) rather than webmail. Many, if not most, email software employs no security at all. It is available however, and we'll discuss it more later. While Wi-Fi encryption is well-understood by many, encryption on CDMA and GSM cellphone networks is a bit more obscure. In discussing this back in February 2008 Steve Gibson said that these encryption technologies have been cracked. They are old and were designed when there was little computational horsepower available in cellphones. "It's not like, you know, CDMA and GSM has been cracked to the degree, for example, that Wi-Fi has been. But there are papers on the 'Net that talk about how this stuff can be cracked. So it's not like there's super-strong, industrial-grade, current state-of-the-art crypto. The problem is, these technologies, these digital cellular technologies are so old, and now so widely deployed, that they can't be updated without obsoleting the entire network. And they're, I mean, they're encrypted to the extent that you have to really, really, really want to crack them in order to get inside them. But it is possible. Has been done." There is also another way to tap into cellphone-based transmissions. At the recent Defcon convention, a hacker mimicked a cell tower and simply told the phone to turn off encryption. Kim Zetter writing for Wired describes it: "A security researcher created a cell phone base station that tricks cell phones into routing their outbound calls through his device, allowing someone to intercept even encrypted calls in the clear. The device tricks the phones into disabling encryption and records call details and content before they’re routed on their proper way through voice-over-IP. The low-cost, home-brewed device, developed by researcher Chris Paget, mimics more expensive devices already used by intelligence and law enforcement agencies – called IMSI catchers – that can capture phone ID data and content. The devices essentially spoof a legitimate GSM tower and entice cell phones to send them data by emitting a signal that’s stronger than legitimate towers in the area." Encryption is essential Regardless of the encryption, or lack of it, employed by the transmission system (Wi-Fi, GSM, CDMA), email software, be it on a computer, smartphone or any portable device, should offer encryption of its own. For example, someone with her own domain may get her email from either the registrar that registered the domain or the company hosting her website. GoDaddy is a big player in this field and they offer instructions for iPhone users on how to send and receive encrypted email from their iPhones. But, iPad owners that follow other instructions from GoDaddy, will send email in the clear. Not only messages, but email passwords too are transmitted in plain text. Three protocols are used with email, POP and IMAP for reading, and SMTP for sending (typically someone reads email with either POP or IMAP). Each protocol comes in both a secure/encrypted version and an insecure edition. The secure versions employ the same SSL/TLS used by secure web pages and may be referred to as POPS, IMAPS and SSMTP, a naming standard familiar to anyone who has dealt with secure HTTPS web pages. The secure email protocols also connect using different ports. Ports are logical entry points on a server computer, in this case a computer running POP, IMAP or SMTP server software. The secure version of IMAP connects to the IMAP server using port 993. The secure version of POP connects to POP server software using port 995 and secure email is sent using either ports 465 or 587. With web pages, insecure HTTP uses port 80 and secure HTTPS uses port 443. Be aware, however, that what is encrypted by the secure email protocols is the connection between the email software on your computing device and the email server that it communicates with. For sending email, this means messages are encrypted between you and the SMTP server that actually sends your email. Oftentimes the SMTP server is provided by your ISP, but large companies and serious techies may run their own. What is not encrypted, however, is the transmission of the email message out from the SMTP server to the server computer that stores email for the recipient. This article is focused on wireless email however, and using SSMTP rather than SMTP insures that email traveling over the air is encrypted. To be sure of end-to-end encryption, the email message themselves need to be encrypted before they start their journey. The ability to send messages that are, themselves, encrypted is another topic altogether. Let me just say that an encrypted message can be sent using an encrypted protocol, and nothing says that both of these can't be done through a VPN, adding yet a third layer of encryption. The classic issue with encrypting the actual messages is that both the sender and recipient need to use similar software and it can be difficult to set up initially. For most people these hurdles are too high. I recently attended a hacker conference where the guys that setup the wireless network gave a wrap-up presentation on the last day. In discussing how the network was used during the conference, they were surprised to find both POP and IMAP traffic. This elicited shock and awe from the attendees. How could anyone be so un-informed as to read insecure email during a hacker conference over a wireless network? It boggles the mind.

10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a destroyer Social Media Strategy

Why do businesses need social media? It’s a good question, and one that everyone should ask before they get started. After all, spending time, money, and other precious resources on social media marketing before you have an understanding of what it can do for you is kind of like putting the cart before the horse (not advisable). What are your goals? Just because you’ve heard that other companies are doing it doesn’t mean that social media will magically work for you. Like any marketing strategy, it takes maintenance and a clear vision of the bigger picture. Your tweets, posts and comments should all be coordinated to meet the ultimate goal, which is to establish trust, build your brand, and increase sales. Which is why, of course, your business needs a killer social media strategy. In order to tap the potential of this fabulous marketing tool, you’ll want to first determine if social media can meet your goals and objectives. If you’re still figuring out your marketing plan for 2010, consider the following 10 reasons why a social media strategy may be well worth the effort. It finds your customers Companies using traditional marketing methods (e.g. surveys, focus groups, test marketing) often spend millions to locate their target markets. Where are the people most likely to buy your products and services? Establishing a social media strategy will help you see where potential customers are hanging out. You can search for related groups and Fan Pages through Facebook, start accounts on social bookmarking sites such as Digg or StumbleUpon, and check on who is linking to your site to find out who’s interested. It tells you what they like …and what they don’t like. Social media gives businesses on small budgets the ability to find out what people are saying about them (and others) in their industry, without paying large sums on market research. With your ear to the ground on social media, you’ll be the first to know if your product is working or if changes need to be made. Does your brand need a makeover? You’ll find out here first. It reveals their interests Regardless of what people are saying about you, it’s important to know what they’re talking about in general. What motivates them? What are their issues? In every industry, there are existing conversations going on. A social media strategy will allow you to get in on these conversations so that you can offer solutions, push buttons, and get people talking. It introduces your brand Is your company new? Or has it been around awhile but hasn’t been using social media? Starting a fan page on Facebook and a business account with Twitter is sort of like moving into a new neighborhood. You can introduce yourself, hold get-togethers and talk about topics of interest. Friends and followers will soon start inviting their friends over to see what’s going on. This is an effective way to make the connections that lead to sales. It expands your reach Even an established brand may be missing out on potential customers. Through social media, you can find out what online communities your existing customers belong to. These places can become portals to a larger audience for your products and services. And don’t forget that your customers can spread the word for you to these communities. Interest them with compelling and useful content, contests and giveaways, etc. They’ll soon be telling their friends and colleagues to check you out. It gives you feedback A big advantage to using social media is the “give and take” built into it. While large corporations are paying people to give them feedback, you can invite comments and opinions through your blog posts and fan pages for free. Then, channel them into improving your products, your brand image, etc. When you listen and respond to your customers’ opinions, suggestions and even criticisms, they start to feel invested in you. It provides a test audience No company wants to throw a new product or concept out there without first testing it out. You can tap into your pool of social media groupies to find those willing to test out your ideas and give you valuable feedback before you launch. Your social media pages offer places where people interested in your ideas are already gathered, so you don’t have to take a “hit or miss” approach to beta testing. It showcases your company’s personality Engaging through social media lends itself to more personal contact with customers. You can avoid being a faceless, impersonal storefront by letting people know who you are. Commenting, posting blogs and inviting conversation allow customers to connect with you and your brand. This builds stronger relationships over time. It makes you accessible Fans, friends, and followers have direct access to you. Unlike the pre-social media days, when consumers often had to deal with companies that they perceived as unreachable, you can quickly respond to your customers’ problems and frustrations before they balloon into a big mess. Likewise, being able to personally respond to positive feedback strengthens bonds by making people feel that their opinions matter. It lets you share Through social media, you can create all kinds of content and post it in one place. Make videos, write articles, and post blogs and podcasts to your pages, where everyone can access them. You can communicate in fun and inventive ways because there are no rules for how to best reach your audience, so you can mix it up and appeal to everyone. Sharing also gets people to share back, and gives you access to resources and links that could become invaluable to you. There are many things that social media can do for your business. Developing a strategy for using it means that you need to think about what you want to accomplish this year and determine how social media fits into the plan. One of the benefits of a social media strategy is the fact that you can customize the available tools for your particular needs. You can choose to concentrate your efforts on the sites that seem to offer the best return on investment, while taking a “wait and see” stand on the others. The bottom line is this: your customers are out there having conversations on social media with or without you. You can choose to join in or not. But when you think about the potential that social media marketing offers, it may be well worth your time to at least start exploring the possibilities it offers.

Ideas for Improve Your Golf Game

About Rife Golf Putters: They have been a revelation. It is not a claim or projection, it's a guarantee. These have been the shortest of clubs joining the pack lately. They make the golfer feel strong and give him a sense of ease to swing at the ball with all the force he can. The mighty swing that people debate about these days is a license that golfers have acquired through these Rife Golf Putters. This latest addition to the Galvin Green Golf Gear is being used by every Pro on the Tour. The golfers pride themselves on using these Galvin Green Golf Putters. They sort of take a higher ground than those without the Putters. Lets us not take the moral ground now and talk facts! The Rife Putters have been designed in a very innovative way. A steep curve is visible at the bottom where all the weight is driven. This helps the golfer club the ball hard. Two metallic rods are connected to the back of the cleft which power it. These are attached to make the metal robust. A good look at this Galvin Green Gear will tell you that the weight has been driven downwards, to the exact place which the player uses to club the ball and send it flying high. These Galvin Green Waterproofs teach the golfer to maintain poise. They are a good training base to polish skill and master the art of giving the ball some swing. Through them, the golfer can train to change the trajectory of the ball mid air and alter its course for a different landing. Trials have proven that the putters have an innate tendency to make the ball go far than usual if the speed is moderated by the player. They have shown that the ball can travel more distance, swing in the air and with the wind can change its landing trajectory. This is certainly music to all those ears desperate to find a club that would suffice their requirements. These are certain nuances to be learnt through practice. You just cannot show up on the turf and act that since you have been involved with the game for long, you will master shots through these putters. They are new, ask for rigorous practice and once that happens, your game is set to excel. Certain changes they help you in making will leave your contemporaries and fellow golfers in astonishment. They will not stop winking and stare in disbelief. The putters are made with special metal. This metal is solid and stays stout. Unlike some clubs that have been brought to attention in the past for budging under the force. These ones do not budge. They stay solid and allow the players to have their way and try out innovative shots. Players should see the writing between the lines and take this opportunity to try and flourish further. The Putters are a revelation, a way to take your level of golf to newer heights. This can be achieved if the work is there. Golf has again shown that with technology and practice, a lot can be achieved that once was a distant dream. A lot can be accomplished without much pondering. The Rife Putters are challenging equipment. They challenge the skill of the golfer, question his efficacy once again and ask whether he is ready to handle them! The answer: Practice. Learn how to manipulate the outcome of the shots through these Putters. You learn the art and you will never be the same player when you are on the turf.

ideas for keeping your family close

With the widespread success and use of the home computer, people are simply a mouse click away. The innovation of email and digital photographs has made it possible for families to stay in touch; however, is this really enough? While technology has enabled us to talk to people all over the world, in some ways it is hampering us from intimate contact, especially with our families. Keeping your family close must start when you children are very young. If you instill in them at an early age the importance of family, chances are your message will stick when they become adults. An important way to ensure family closeness is by creating special family traditions. While we all know every eats turkey on Thanksgiving, add something special to the day. Perhaps set aside this day for the entire family to play games. Try playing something as simple as Bingo, where everyone will get a prize – and here's the real treat – make the prizes "coupons". For instance, "This coupon good for one free movie with mom" or "This coupon good for one indoor picnic." Thanksgiving is traditionally a day for football, so organize a friendly family game of your own. You will be surprised how your children will come to treasure these special family times. Of course, as your children grow, marry and have children of their own, it is not as easy to spend each holiday together. Be flexible and either alternate holidays or pick a few specific holidays where the entire family will be together. Sometimes this sounds like an overwhelming feat, especially if you have a large family, but as I said, children, even when they become adults, need those special occasions and traditions and they will go out of their way to make sure they happen. Many families that have grown and multiplied considerably but are scattered through the country make it a point to hold a family reunion each year. This is a great opportunity for cousins to get to meet one another, sisters to catch up on gossip and mothers to sit back and enjoy their children and grandchildren. Another basic premise for keeping your family close is raising them in such a way that they like each other. By this I mean treat your children equally as they are growing; do not favor one over the other as this will lead to jealousy As your children reach adulthood, become more of a friend than a parent. By this I mean, don't make them feel guilty when they do not call or visit you on a daily basis. This will only lead to a relationship based on obligation rather than anticipation. When careers and circumstances dictate moving away, you can still remain close. As I stated at the beginning of this article, the Internet has enabled us to reach out to others to ways that were never before possible. For the "computer nerd" in the family, have them set up a family web-site where each of you can "meet". Set up an Internet chess game or game room where once a week or once a month you all get together to play a game. While modern technology will never replace the warmth of a mother's hug or the pat on the back from his father, keeping close is possible. When a family is built on love, respect and devotion, they will always find a way to be close – if not in body, then in spirit.

Needs of Team Building

It is not enough to get your group together off site and have a few icebreaker games. If you want team building to work, you have to show the members of the team that it benefits them personally. There is very little "team" in teamwork without a lot of motivation. We live in a society that seems fascinated with individual accomplishment and almost oblivious to teams. Even in team settings like sports, we single out the All-Stars and the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of each game. That is the environment you have to overcome in order to build your group at work into a team. Get Started Team Building Do you think of your group as a team? They won't think of themselves as a team if you don't. Do you reward team performance, or only individual achievements? You won't have much success in team building if you don't reward team performance. Let your group know that they are a team, that you expect them to perform as a team, and that you will reward their successes as a team. That's the first step toward team building. Remember that team building must be an everyday activity. It is not something you can just do quarterly at some off-site function. Motivate Team Building If you want team building to work, it's not enough to tell them that they are a team and must perform as one. You also have to show the members of the team that it benefits them personally. Most of us are selfish individualists. We watch out, first and foremost, for ourselves and do what benefits us most. We have to be motivated to include anyone else. Fortunately, it is pretty easy for us to see the benefits of including others, so most of us do that readily. Love is a strong motivator. Parents, for instance, watch out for their children. Money is another strong motivator. It is one you can use as an employer. However, the strongest motivator available to a manager (since it is unlikely your employees will fall in love with you) is self esteem. The more the individual sees a benefit to his or her self esteem from supporting the team, the more successful your team building efforts will be. First of all, your people have to acknowledge that they are part of a team. You can reinforce this by holding team meetings, posting team news on the bulletin board or your intranet page, and tracking team performance against team goals. Secondly, they have to believe that the team is capable of producing more than the sum of its members. Lance Armstrong is a great bicycle racer, but he could not have won the Tour de France without the support and assistance of his team members. You may have a great customer service rep on your team, but without the cooperation of the other members of the team he or she would not be able to handle as many calls. You have to make this readily apparent to them and clearly delineate the increased rewards they can achieve through teamwork.

matrimonial

Matrimonial

Some Photo Tips for Wedding Guests

Now that June is here, chances are that you will be attending a wedding or two sometime soon. And, chances are, you'll be bringing your camera to the wedding along with a gift or two for the happy couple. Here are some tips from the pros at the New York Institute of Photography, the world's largest photography school, to help you take great pictures of this memorable occasion. "While most couples hire a professional photographer to photograph the ceremony and reception, there's still plenty of room for you to also capture your perspective of this joyous occasion on film," says Chuck DeLaney, Dean of NYI, America's largest photo school. "There are lots of moments that happen among the guests that will never be captured by the professional wedding photographer," explained DeLaney. "Stay out of the pro's way. He or she has a big job to do. And, never shoot over the pro's shoulder. That won't be appreciated and could interfere with the job." Instead, DeLaney suggests concentrating on recording the fun that you and your family and friends have at the wedding. Not only will you have a record of the wedding for your own pleasure, but imagine the joy of the happy couple to receive prints of events that the professional photographer did not see or wasn't asked to cover. For instance, many wedding photographers no longer shoot those "table shots" of the guests because these photos don't usually get purchased by the bride and groom. This is the perfect opportunity for you. But shoot these like a pro: Have some of the people at your table stand up and move behind those still seated and take a group shot. Avoid showing the entire table complete with half-eaten food, instead concentrate on the faces of the guests. Another photo opportunity exists at your table. Many bridal receptions now include disposable "single use" cameras at every table. You may need to get the show rolling and coax your table mates to start taking pictures. Remember,the bride and groom can't be at every table to take part in the festivities so candid photos from these cameras can show the guests having fun in a way that professional photographers aren't likely to capture. A couple of hints on wedding photography etiquette. If you want to take photos at a church, synagogue, mosque or chapel, take your cues from the professional photographer hired by the bridal couple. If you see that he or she is not taking photos at the ceremony, chances are it is because the clergy told the photographer not to do so. Respect the tradition and don't take pictures. The same thing holds true for flash photography. Some places of worship will allow it at the ceremony, others will not. If you see that the pro is shooting, then take an aisle seat. It's the best place to get nice close shots of the couple that fill the frame as they leave the church. One other suggestion on wedding photography is to be respectful of the professional photographer. Don't get in that individual's way. You don't want to ruin the photos that the bride and groom are paying the pro to take, and the pro can do a better job of capturing many parts of the event than you can. As we've indicated, there are plenty of different kinds of shots for you too.

Good Manners for children

Every child is known by his behavior. People judge our children by observing manners of children. Manners are much more than just saying “please” and “thank you.” They are ways of showing kindness and consideration. At young age, it is easy to teach good manners. Good manners are lifetime asset. The rewards of this asset are several and the cost is negligible. Parents are responsible for their children’s behavior. Manners are taught as soon as your child understands what you are saying. In addition, children will need coaching and reminders on manners throughout their childhood. It is best to give positive support, that is, when your child does something right, let them know. When your child does something wrong, do not be negative about it, but gently tell them how it is best done and why. Teaching of good manners: The best way to educate children is being a good role model. Because children learn from observation. . Learning manners is like learning a new language or a musical instrument. It is very easy to learn something in childhood. So start planting the seeds as young as possible. The foundation of good manners can be strong in young age. Give examples of good behavior and poor behavior to your child. Take help of books and discuss about good manners. When we talk about good manners, we think mostly about table manners. We are in need to teach them in other areas also. First we talk about basic manners. In my suggestion these are: • Be nice to people. • When you ask for something not forget to say “Please” Say “Thank You” when you are given something. Say “You’re Welcome” when someone thanks you. Greet people when you see them. Look people in the eyes when you talk to people look in their eyes. Do not interrupt when other people are talking. Share with others. Help people. Let guests go first. Be on time, especially if you are meeting someone. In good manners, cleanliness is also important. Put the habit of hygiene from very early stage. Here are tips for inculcating the value of cleanliness in children. Start with the room Put a habit to keep the things in the right place. Set down certain parameters. For example, a child should never be allowed to use dirty hankies or towels. Never allow the child to bring the shoes on the bed, however tired he or she may be. The next step is the bathroom. We should teach our children to brush their teeth, clean their bottoms and have a nice bath. They must also learn to keep their surroundings clean. For example, you could put up a funny little poster that reminds your son to pull the flush. Or put up a little bell that rings every time he forgets to shut the door. Teach you children to conserve water by shutting the all taps in the house as well. Be it in the bathroom or kitchen, or anywhere under the sun. What about other places? . In order to maintain cleanliness, never allow your children to eat in any place of the house. Teach your children to lay the table neatly. Make sure that both your son and daughter pick up their own used plates and carry them to the kitchen sink. They should also offer to carry those of the aged members of the family. Washing their hands and gargling after meals is also a very good habit, as it will help them fight bad odour throughout life. Cleanliness at public places Encourage your children to apply the same cleanliness standards in the public and private too. You have to ensure that your children do not litter a park when on a picnic or that they do not throw garbage from a running bus/train. The road is not for spitting or throwing other waste materials. Children have to be strictly warned against spitting, as it is an international menace. Table manners It is the turn of table manners. Table manners include party manners also. Here are some suggestions . • Do not chew noisily or with your mouth open. • The idea is to eat with your fingers, not with your hand and definitely not with both hands. • Put the napkin on your lap so that food does not get onto your clothes. • Do not read or watch television while eating. Because mealtimes are a good chance for the family to sit together. • Excuse yourself before leaving the table. Do not announce loudly that you have to go to the bathroom. • Wait till everyone has finished eating before getting up from the table. • Burping is not considered polite. • Do not talk with your mouth full. • Do not gobble your food. Take small bites and chew properly. • Do not play with your food and finish everything that is on your plate. • Use the words "please" and "thank you" when passing dishes to each other. • Do not turn dinner into an unpleasant "lecture time." That will turn kids off not only to manners, but to dinner, and to you, too. • Check your own example. Don't show up for dinner in just your underwear unless you want your kids to do the same. Don't get into the habit of telling your child that he is a "pig" or a "slob" every time he doesn't do things the 'propah' way. If you're going to label him like that, he's not going to see any point in trying to improve because he will think it 's in his nature to be a "pig." • Do not encourage burping competitions that your child may start with his friends at the table. Make it clear that you find it rude and offensive and definitely not funny. Approach manners as a game. One night a week, try to have a somewhat more formal dinner. Try dressing up, serve a special meal, and expect more formal manners. That will help improve your kids' social graces.

Leadership Games for child

Interesting Leadership Games for Kids Tug of War Tug of war is an interesting leadership games for girls and boys. In order to play this game, the total number of participants should be divided into two groups. Each group would have a leader who will guide the rest of the team members. In this game, both teams are given a rope which is to be pulled using full energy. A line is marked which is not to be crossed by both the teams. The team which crosses the line loses the contest. This game requires planning, team spirit, teamwork, enthusiasm and good leadership qualities on part of the leader. Team building exercises and games will help you understand better. Treasure Hunt Treasure hunt is one of the best leadership games for children as it can teach them many things which will prove to be useful in their later lives. In this game, again, two teams of equal members are formed and one kid will lead each of them. The aim before both the teams is to find the hidden treasure (which can be some material thing) in the area specified to them. The team which finds the treasure first wins the competition. This game requires team leaders to chalk out effective strategies as to where they can find the hidden treasure from the clues given initially by the referee. Good observation and leadership skills can be developed from this game. Obstacle Races Obstacle races can be the ideal leadership games for boys who love adventures and have a very good fitness and stamina. For organizing this race, several obstacles are created in the running tracks on the ground. There are two teams and members of the team will be standing at the obstacles. When the race is started, the player of both teams have to reach the first obstacle as quickly as possible with a ball in their hand. After reaching there, they give the ball to their team mate who again starts running and overcomes the obstacles to reach the next team mate. The team which will complete the entire race first will be declared as the winner of the sports event. For success in this game, proper coordination, high energy levels and effective leadership and planning is a must. Refer to leadership qualities list for relevant information. Football Football is also one of the finest leadership activities for kids as it gives them an opportunity to think strategically and lead the team to victory. The captain in this game assigns tasks and duties to each player and also decides their position on the field. He guides them at every stage of the game and tries his best to bring out the best out of each player. These were some of the leadership activities for kids which you can organize. Leadership games for kids can provide them with the much required recreation and enjoyment and also give them a good break from long hours of study. So, plan these games

Top 10 Tips for Computer Troubleshooting

Your computer may hang; send error messages, or worse, no longer work at all. For computer users, troubleshooting problems can stop their work. If you know how to fix a computer, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair jobs, professional fees, and even going so far as to buy a new one. The most common top 10 computer troubleshooting and their tips to fix that problem are as follows. 1) The computer is unable to start up If the computer does not turn on when you press the power button, the following suggestions may help you to determine why the computer will not start up: Check the computer is plugged into an AC outlet properly. Plug another electrical device into the outlet to be sure that the outlet is providing adequate power. 2) The computer screen is blank.If the screen is blank, the computer may not be set to display the image on the computer screen. First, check if the monitor plugged in to a power outlet and is connected to the computer securely and make sure the monitor power button is on. If the power light is not on, it means that the outlet is not delivering power to the monitor. 3) Trouble with video card. If the power light of the computer and monitor is on and nothing comes up on the screen when you start your computer then there must be something wrong with video card. You should take your computer to a repair shop or change its video card with the new one. 4) Software is functioning abnormally. If the software is unresponsive or responds abnormally, follow these tips. Restart your computer and run a virus scan. For this purpose you should have reliable antivirus software installed on the computer to fix this issue. 5) Windows do not boot properly. If windows do not boot properly then you should have reinstall windows with the windows recoverable CD. 6) The computer is on but not responding. If the computer is turned on but not responding to software or keyboard commands, then it must be freeze or halted. Press and hold the power button for at least 5 seconds, it will be turn off. Now restart your computer. 7) An external device is not working If an external device does not function as expected, turn it on according to Manufacturers instruction; be sure that all device connections are secure and receiving electrical power and compatible with the operating system. The correct drivers are installed and updated. 8) Slow working computer. You can improve your computer working performance by cleaning hard disk of unwanted files, run the disk defragmented utility, get rid of unneeded icons on your desktop, install a firewall, install antivirus and Anti spyware tools, schedule regular registry scans. 9) Slow working internet. To increase your browser performance, you must frequently clear cookies and internet temporary files. 10) Internet network problem. If your computer can not get connected to internet then check IP address, check network cables are connected properly, make sure that servers or gateways firewall application is not blocking http requests from your PC.