Should You Get A Home Equity Loan When Refinancing?
by Joshua Suffie
Among the most economical lending solution available today are home equity loans and home equity lines of credit. Depending on your personal financial situation, some of the interest can be used as a tax deduction. They are generally flexible and generally offer you the best rates available. There are a lot of advantages to a home equity loan. However, be sure to refinance with extreme caution.
There are two different types of home equity loans. The actual loan usually has a fixed rate with a precise period of time in which the loan needs to be paid off. Also fixed is the payment. This type of loan is ideal for someone who has a precise amount in mind. When consolidating your debts, such as student loans, credit cards, car loans or doing some home improvements, a homeowner will obtain a home equity loan to consolidate their entire payments inro one easy to pay bill. Often times, this creates a lower overall monthly payment.
A more flexible option is a home equity line of credit. This is an open ended loan meaning the payment and rate usually tends to be lower and is variable. A line of credit is generally used like a credit card, with tax benefits. Interest is only paid on the portion of the line you use. The rest is available for when and if you need it. Whenever you make a payment, that portion that is applied to the principle and is then available to use again if need be. Some lenders will offer a card for easier access. This option is great for when you do need to use the money immediately or would like to have the flexibility to keep using the money without going through the loan process over and over again.
If you have equity left over, when you refinance your current mortgage, often times you will be offered a home equity line of credit or home equity loan. If you have other debts that are above and beyond your original mortgage, a good way to go is a home equity loan. You are probably wondering why you wouldn't include all of your debt in your original loan. Well, often times, in order to keep the loan amounts under 80%, debt is split into two different loans. This allows people to take advantage of the best rate available. If you are able to keep the loan amount under 80% of the home appraisal value, then you can easily avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI.
Whenever you do not have a need for a second loan when you are refinancing, you can then just put the money towards a line of credit. It is a good thing to have, should an emergency arise. When the need arises, the money is ready for you to use. This will save you the hassle of going through the entire loan process time and time again.
Another great benefit is the loan company can simply use the same credit inquiry for this loan that they used for the first loan. One note of precaution though, a line of credit usually has an annual fee attached to it. Be sure to ask your bank about specials they may be running in order to offset the cost. Sometimes they are willing to negotiate with you so that you will take the offer.
As you can clearly see, there are a lot of benefits to both a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit. Before making a decision, be sure to weigh all of your options. So that you are able to make a more informed decision, talk about the cost and ask if there are any hidden fees
About The Author
Low Rate Secured Loan UK: Best Deal Ever Introduced
Low Rate Secured Loan UK: Best Deal Ever Introduced
by Celeste Parker
While looking for a loan the issue that concerns an individual is that how can he derive more benefits from a loan policy by paying less rate of interest. Though fresh loan schemes are introduced in the market, the plans are not potent to provide maximum advantages. But low rate secured loan UK surpassed all polices by offering more benefits against low rate of interest. By providing such advantages it has become an iconic figure and able to establish its sceptre in the world of loan.
Low rate secured loan UK is designed for every community of UK and facilitates the citizens to borrow loan in an easy and convenient way. In a single amount of loan the individuals can execute and summarize various demands and ends like buying a car, going far holiday destinations, weddings, higher educations of children and so on. But to avail the amount applicanst have to pledge their property as collateral to the lenders. The pledging of collateral empowers them to borrow large amount which starts from �5,000- �75,000 by paying low interest charges. The charges can be reduced by negotiation with lenders if collaterals carry higher equity. But the rate of interest remains fixed throughout the period of repayment which is pre-determined. And the tenure of reimbursement is stretched from 10-25 years which again makes the repayment easier.
As loans are approved against property of applicants so they can even borrow low rate secured loan UK irrespective of poor or bad credit records, for rebuilding and stabilizing the bad credit scores from creating more financial hassles. The rate charges of low rate secured loan UK offered has left all the loan schemes behind and became the most preferred loan plan by financial experts.
To compete and provide services in a better way compared to other loan policies, low rate secured loan UK information are made available round the clock through online and customer care centre. Low rate secured loan UK can be approved by filing online application form with the personal and credit details. So, in a single amount applicants can now be able to supervise their miscellaneous demands.
About The Author
Ordering Flavored Tea Online
Ordering Flavored Tea Online
by Jon M. Stout
If you love flavored teas, you�ve certainly realized that there is an endless variety from which to choose. No matter what flavor you like, there�s a tea for you. If you�d like to try a wide variety of flavored teas, you may find it difficult to find all the flavors in your local tea shop. But, by shopping online, you have access to nearly all the flavored teas in the world at the touch of a button.
Experimenting is critical, particularly for the tea novice. It may take you some time before you understand which flavors you like paired with which tea varieties. But, oh, how much fun testing them all out can be!
The Internet makes shopping for tea so much easier. And, most of us are using it for buying tea � and everything else. In fact, experts say that 84% of Americans have shopped online at least once. And, approximately 60% of Americans say that they shop online regularly. In fact, most of us would agree that the internet has changed the way we shop for many things, forever. Online shopping is at its most important when we�re shopping for items that might be difficult to find locally- like rare and exotic teas.
Online shopping is one of the most convenient ways to shop and allows you to comparison shop far more easily. You�ll have access to more sales and be able to compare prices for the same products much more easily. Just look at a few different websites rather than driving all over town to visit different shops. You can order from home, day or night, and have your purchases delivered right to your door � and you can order from all over the world. When you�re looking for a rare tea or a rare flavor, this worldwide access is critical.
Shopping for tea online can pose two problems, however. The first is that you can�t see, smell or taste the tea before you buy. Most online tea shops have alleviated this problem by offering small quantities of teas for purchase as samples, and by offering money back guarantees on their products. Some tea companies make sampler packs with a combination of flavored teas including black, oolong, white and green tea varieties.
This way you can buy just a small quantity of the teas you�d like to try until you�ve determined which are your favorites. Once you know which ones you like, you can save money by buying in bulk.
In addition, many people worry about the security of their private information when shopping online. When reviewing the websites of tea merchants you�re considering, it�s wise to ensure that they employ stringent security measures to protect your information. Their website should tell you about their internet security. If it doesn�t, or if their measures do not encrypt your information, don�t purchase from them.
There are enough very good tea vendors out there that you don�t have to risk your personal information just to have good tea! If you find a tea vendor that you�d like to order from, but you don�t feel comfortable, let them know. They may be grateful to hear from potential customers and may work to upgrade their site.
You can list the flavors of tea you�d like to try and look for tea vendors that carry these flavors, or you can choose the tea vendors you think can offer you the best teas and choose the flavored varieties they offer. Most of us do a combination of the two, so that we can choose some of the flavors we�re dying to try, but also can take the recommendations from tea vendors we trust.
If you choose your online tea companies wisely, you simply can�t go wrong. The best loose tea purveyors work with the best tea gardens in the world to ensure that they have only the finest teas for their customers. Your tea vendor should be careful to buy only the flavored teas that are flavored using only natural ingredients. Artificially flavored teas will be less expensive but will not have the same great and natural taste as the teas that are flavored with real fruits, spices and flowers.
Take the time to ensure that any tea company you buy from has a good reputation and offers a money back guarantee. This guarantee ensures you that if you ever receive a tea that is not of the quality you expect, you can return it � no questions asked. This is particularly important when you�re trying new flavors for the first time. Knowing you can return the tea if you don�t like it makes you feel freer to try many different flavors.
A good online tea company (or two) can really improve your adventures in tea. Subscribe to their catalogs and watch for them to add new tea flavors. With the right tea vendor as your partner you can try many different flavors of tea in black, white, oolong and green tea varieties.
There are no doubt dozens of new flavored teas you�d like to try. And, a few good tea vendors can be your ticket to all of them. So, browse the internet, sign up for some tea catalogs and find the tea vendors that can provide you with many new and delicious flavored teas to try!
About The Author
Growing Quality Tea for Flavored Teas
Growing Quality Tea for Flavored Teas
by Jon M. Stout
Tea comes in many varieties. And, flavored teas, which are some of the most popular teas, are made from every variety of tea that can be produced. The most important aspect in obtaining a delicious flavored tea is the quality of the tea base.
Teas are grown in thousands of tea gardens throughout the world, and some are better than others. Simply put, the best tea gardens are those that pay careful attention to the details that go into growing various types of tea. And, the best tea comes from the best tea gardens.
Varieties of tea differ primarily in how they�re harvested and produced. All tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, but the variations in harvesting and processing the tea gives this one plant many different flavors.
Black tea, which is the most commonly consumed tea in the Western world, is fermented tea. The tea leaves are plucked, dried and then fermented to turn them a deep red. (This is why black tea is called red tea in most of Asia.) Black tea is a very healthy beverage. However, the fermentation process that black tea undergoes changes the anti-oxidant levels in the tea leaves, and reduces some of their health benefits, particularly when you compare them to other tea varieties.
Green tea is left unfermented. The leaves are withered and dried and then graded and packaged. This simple processing leaves green tea in a very natural state. The leaves brew up to a green or pale amber color and have a very natural, sometimes grassy, flavor. Green tea has been revered for its health benefits.
Because green tea undergoes so little processing, the tea�s anti-oxidants are left in their natural state. These anti-oxidants have been shown to be effective at preventing serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer and at slowing down the aging process.
White tea is also unfermented, so it has the same anti-oxidants and health benefits of green tea. However, white tea is different from green tea because it is harvested so early. White tea leaves are harvested only in early spring, before the buds have even opened, and while they are still covered in a fine white hair. This early harvest gives the tea a very light, sweet and delicate flavor. White tea is harvested just once a year, making it the rarest of all teas.
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea, somewhere between a green and black tea. The fermentation time varies from country to country, but is significantly shorter than the fermentation period of black teas. Oolong teas also retain a large percentage of their natural anti-oxidants, making them a very healthy tea, as well. In particular, oolong tea is thought to be a very effective weight loss supplement.
Each of these teas has different processing requirements, but all must come from a carefully tended tea garden.
The first work of the tea gardener�s year begins in February or March, when the tea plants are pruned. The time of pruning, as well as the time of the first plucking, varies by climate.
The first harvest begins as the tea plants are ready. The best tea gardens still pluck the leaves by hand, so that they can choose only the leaves that are truly ready for processing. The leaves are withered first, sometimes in the sun, and sometimes in sheds, depending upon the area. White teas are often withered right in the fields.
Next, the tea must be processed. This process can be very different depending upon the tea variety. Black teas are fermented at this point, where as green teas are steamed or fired next to prevent fermentation from occurring. Oolong teas are bruised to begin the fermentation process and then fashioned into a ball using a cloth sack. They are shaken or tumbled regularly during the fermentation process and checked regularly so that they are allowed to ferment just the right amount of time. Once fermentation is complete, the leaves are steamed or fired to stop the fermentation process.
Steaming or drying the leaves must be handled carefully to produce the right flavor. Next the tea must be finished. This finishing process includes sorting the leaves according to grade and sometimes, firing them or roasting them one final time before they are sent off to be packaged.
For flavored teas, the flavorings are added at this point. Many tea gardeners make flavored teas only using flavors that they have access to in their area. For example, much of the world�s jasmine tea is made in China, where the jasmine blossoms are the largest and most fragrant in the world.
The tea must be properly stored in order to maintain flavor. It is critical that tea leaves be stored in airtight containers so that no moisture is let in.
During the summer, green tea growers may produce a second, third, and sometimes even fourth harvest. Tea gardens in some areas and producing some varieties will continue to harvest tea until frost. However, it is the first harvest of the year that produces the finest quality green tea. Subsequent harvests will always be a lower grade of tea.
During the summer, the tea gardener will also do battle with weeds and insects. Since the best tea gardens are organic � meaning no herbicides or pesticides are used, keeping the gardens free of weeds and pests can be very labor intensive.
Autumn is when tea trees go through their heaviest period of growth. During this time, gardeners will amend and aerate the soil and fertilize the trees. By October, the tea trees will need to be pruned again before the winter comes. Pruning must be carefully timed to ensure that the spring buds will appear at just the right time.
During winter, tea gardeners must pay attention to their young tea trees, as many may need protection from the cold. In addition, many tea farmers will prepare new areas for gardening and plant new tea trees if the weather permits.
Quality tea gardens are labor intensive and require great skill to maintain. It is only the tea gardeners that have this skill, patience and tenacity that produce the finest teas.
About The Author
Frugal Living Tip - Giving Yourself a Reason to Save Money
Frugal Living Tip - Giving Yourself a Reason to Save Money
by Jonni Good
In the US and much of the Western world, we equate money with happiness, even though our personal experience seldom gives us reason to believe that the old saying "you can't buy happiness" is anything less than true. We assure ourselves that if we only get a raise or get a better job or win the lottery, all of the stress of daily life will disappear and we'll have time for those things in life we really enjoy.
This would be true, at least partially, if making more money allowed us to have more money in the bank. However, each raise in pay also raises our desire to spend, so a promotion at work can actually put us farther into debt. How many people do we know who bring in over $100,000 a year who are still living paycheck to paycheck? How many lottery winners end up in bankruptcy court, wondering where all the money went and how they managed to make such a muddle of this windfall that should have set them up for a lifetime of financial security?
An option to spending as much or more than you make every month is to live frugally - and it's refreshing to see the increase in interest in the voluntary simplicity movement. Being intentionally frugal can actually bring you the financial security that a high-paying job cannot. In fact, if you go one step further to voluntary poverty, as I have, you may be able to quit that job and actually do something that could really make you feel fulfilled.
The one frugal living tip that makes the biggest difference is to simply keep track of everything you spend for at least a month. You probably won't keep it up for much longer than that, but it will give you an idea of where your money is going, and whether or not the money you spend on each item is really giving you the satisfaction you're paying for.
However, just keeping track won't help much unless you have a vision of another way of life that would really give you pleasure or contentment. Saving money for it's own sake feels like a sacrifice, but saving money so you can retire early and start that little farm you've always wanted would be a goal worth working for. Creating that goal may take some true soul searching and many deep conversations with your family.
When you come up with a goal you all agree on, decide how much time it will take to get there - this time frame is important, and you should be as realistic as you can. Do you want to own your own home without a mortgage? Will it take 5 years of frugal living? Or 10? Would you like to retire all your credit card debt? How long will it take?
Once you have that goal in mind, the best way to start putting money in the bank is to notice where you're spending your money now.
One thing most people discover is that the simple act of jotting down the $3 you spend on coffee every morning, plus every other small or large expenditure, will magically cause you to have money left over that you ever had before. Keeping track causes us to be mindful of our choices, and even without adding up any numbers or making any deep decisions, we save money by spending more consciously.
Once you have at least a few weeks' worth of figures, you're ready to get out the calculator. Divide the items on your list into any categories that seem reasonable - such as lunch at work, utilities, dog food... Then add up the columns to see how much you really spend.
Then, go one step further to give yourself a true shock - multiply the amount you spend on each unnecessary category, like your morning coffee at Starbucks, by the number of months you think it will take you to reach that long-term goal.
If you spend $3.50 each working day at the local coffee shop, it doesn't seem like a very big deal. Multiply that by the average of 20 working days a month, and you may be startled to realize that you spend $70 a month on coffee that you could make yourself in your own kitchen. But the real eye-opener comes when you multiply that $70 times the number of months you need to reach your goal of financial security.
If you are willing to spend 5 years in frugal living to pay down the mortgage on your house or pay off all your credit cards, multiply your monthly coffee money by 60 months, and you'll see $4200 on your calculator screen. That 's enough money for a down payment on a reasonably priced house, or to buy a good used car for your teenager. It's also enough to pay at least several month's mortgage payments, or to put in the bank for a medical emergency. $3.50 isn't an important amount of money, but to almost anyone I know, $4200 is a serious amount of cash.
Do the same calculation for everything on your list that isn't truly necessary, and you may discover that you can reduce the amount of time you need to reach your long-term goal by several years or more. If your credit card debts are weighing you down and causing daily stress, this simple frugal living tip could lead to a complete elimination of debt in just a year or less. In my mind, that's more important than a fancy cup of coffee.
About The Author
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Virtual Assistants - Create A New Income Stream In 15 Minutes
Virtual Assistants - Create A New Income Stream In 15 Minutes
by Biana Babinsky
Are you using multiple streams of income business model for your virtual assistance business? Instead of only selling your time for money, you should also sell products on your web site. These products could be e-books, audio recordings, special reports and others. The money you can earn by selling these products will allow you work fewer hours while still making money.
Many virtual assistants tell me that they do not want to create their own e-books and audio recordings, but they still want to create multiple streams of income. They still want to work fewer hours while still making enough money and having multiple streams of income.
If you are virtual assistant, who wants to create multiple streams of income, but doesn't want to create your own e-books, special reports and audio recordings is to become an affiliate and sell other people's products. It takes five minutes to sign up for an affiliate program and start using it to make money.
So, what is an affiliate? An affiliate is someone who sells other people's products and receives commissions for every sale. Affiliate marketing involves selling others' products and receiving commissions for every sale.
It is easy to become an affiliate to sell products; all you need to do is join someone's affiliate program. Joining an affiliate program does not cost anything. There are no minimums to sell, so you can sell at your own pace. When you join an affiliate program, you will receive your own unique id you use to link to products you are promoting. You make money by selling products.
There are many products you can sell online through affiliate programs. How can you pick affiliate programs that are right for you? Since you are already working with a target market for your virtual assistant business, I recommend that you pick products that appeal to your target market. It is much easier to sell products to an already existing target market than to start working with a completely new target market. Selling products to your current target market will help you create revenues in the shortest amount of time.
Virtual assistants, remember, even if you do not want to write your own e-book or teach your own teleseminar, you can still create another stream of income in just 15 minutes. To do that, find products that your target market needs and wants, sign up to become an affiliate for those products and start selling those products and earning commissions.
About The Author
The Art of Watermelon Carving
The Art of Watermelon Carving
by Suzanne Macguire
Fruit carving is one of the oldest traditions followed in the Oriental countries, China, Japan, Thailand and some Asian countries in particular. This artistic tradition generally centers on some festivities where the beautiful sculptures draw the attention of the people. In fact carving of fruits is an exquisite work of art. In China, watermelon carving is the most popular. Fruit carving can also be done on such fruits as carrots, papaya, pumpkins and other smaller fruits for carving individual items. But watermelon carvings appear to be highly attractive on account of its varied colors and size. The contrasting colors of melons lend a striking effect to the finished product, making them all the more appealing.
Prior to the execution of your carving skill, it is essential to make all the proper arrangements. A good carving knife with a single sharp pointed blade is a must- have in this case. Carving on a watermelon is done in a relief format; it can be just a simple cut out or carry an intricate engraving. This Chinese artistic sculpture is of ancient origin that has been passed down through the generations. In modern days, this wonderful tradition has found great recognition and popularity throughout the world. The varying tones and colors of watermelons (pink, white, green) work wonders to give a contrasting effect to the sculptures.
Watermelon sculptures can turn out to be the cynosure for any occasion or international event. This artwork can be exhibited at any cultural platform to showcase some wonderful talents. The carvings done on the watermelons are endless, ranging from teapots to flower vases, to little animals or even trophies. These amazing designs are carved out using carving tools and melon ballers. The carving tool is used to cut out intricate patterns while the melon baller scoops out larger sections. The melon baller is particularly helpful in carving out large unique shapes such as a fish, basket or fruit holder. The watermelon rind is very easy to cut into and amateurs can begin with cutting the rind to create large designs.
Watermelon carving can be a great fun with the kids too. In fact, being an excellent source of vitamins and a tasty fruit, kids can have a great time learning this art and absorbing the benefits of this fruit. This unique art sculpture should be encouraged among the children not only to propagate and keep alive the ancient tradition but also to give way to the creation of masterpieces of the future.
About The Author
http://www.sundiacorp.com/
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Types Of Notebook Computers
Types Of Notebook Computers
by Roberto Sedycias
Notebook, notebook computer, laptop, and laptop computer are different terms for a small computer, which is mobile, and weighing about 1 to 6 kg or 2.2 to 18 pounds, depending upon the model. In 1979-1980, Bill Moggridge of GRiD Systems Corp. designed one of the first laptops and named it as the GRiD Compass 1101. It featured the clamshell design where the flat display folded shut on the keyboard. In May 1983, Gavilan Computer Corp. introduced and first marketed as a laptop, known as Gavilan SC. About this same time, Sharp Corp.Ltd., announced their laptop Sharp PC-5000.
In 1989, Compaq introduced Compaq LTE, which was a laptop of a smaller size, about the size of an A4 paper notebook, and it popularly came to be known as a notebook computer or notebook. Thereafter the terms laptop and notebook began to be used interchangeably. Nevertheless, the terms, notebook and laptop are incorrect terms, as due to the heat, many laptops cannot be placed on top of the lap, and most notebooks are not the size of an A4 paper notebook. However, what manufacturers usually call as a notebook, end-users prefer to call it as a laptop; hence both the terms are used.
According to the functions and the models of notebooks, they are generally classified as: Ultraportables (screen is diagonally less than 12 inches, weight is 1.7 kg or less); thin-and lights (screen is diagonally from 12 to 14 inches, weight is from 1.8 to 2.8 kg); medium-sized laptops (screen is diagonally from 14 to 15.4 inches, weight is from 3 to 3.5 kg); and desktop replacement computers (screen is diagonally from 17 to 20 inches, weight is 4 to 6 kg).
The concept of laptop was to make a device that could use the same software of a desktop computer, but much smaller in size to enable mobility and support mobile computing (ability to use the computer while in transit). Thus, further innovations have introduced transportables (which can be moved from one place to another without supporting mobile computing); tablets (which feature touchscreens and support mobile computing); ultra mobile PCs (which are very small and compact tablet PCs); internet tablets (which support internet and mobile computing); personal digital assistants (PDAs), which are pocket-sized and support mobile computing; handheld computers, which represent expensive tablets or PDAs; and smartphone, which is a PDA or a handheld computer with cellphone integration. Over the development phases, these classifications got blurry at times, and many machines fused functionalities of other categories.
Notebooks can be used for various purposes. Commercial purposes like attending phone calls, receiving and sending emails and faxes, typing out letters and printing them, making presentations with pie and bar charts, and taking data from one place to another can be achieved by any standard notebook. However, high fliers prefer thin-and-light notebooks and for regular office work, ultraportable notebooks are preferred. Both are wireless notebooks so they can be remotely accessed. Scientific purposes are best suited with a notebook that features fast computing speed, good 2D and 3D graphics display, and a large memory, like desktop replacement notebook, and a thin-and-light notebook. Artistic purposes require animation, 2D and 3D drawings, interior & exterior designing, arranging music compositions, post-production audio-video work, etc., which can be fulfilled by desktop replacements, gaming notebooks, and mainstream notebooks.
Educational institutions normally do not prefer notebooks due to its high chance of being stolen. Additionally, they prefer that their assets do not move around within the premises in the hands of students who may be careless. However, to keep up with the times, and to be considered as techno-savvy, they do invest in notebooks. The types of notebooks best suited for educational purposes are mainstream notebooks, and desktop replacements. Students need a notebook to do projects, prepare study notes, and to play some games in their spare time. They need to take the notebook wherever they go, hence, size and weight are major considerations. The type of notebook that fulfills student needs is a thin-and-light notebook with locking facility so that they can lock it with their backpack. Most students report late submission of projects due to their notebooks being stolen.
So no matter what the purpose one might have for using a notebook, it seems that mobility will always seem to be the main reason for such a product purchase. Nowadays with so many models being offered with affordable prices, it seems that notebooks will always be a product in demand. After all it is one of the best selling computer hardware for quite some time. And that says it all.
About The Author
This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/notebook.php
Data Protection: Why and How
Data Protection: Why and How
by Paul Abbey
The advent of world-spanning computer technologies has created an environment in which all sorts of data is easily accessible by almost anyone. At the same time, more and more of our personal data is being collected and stored in computer systems. How can we be sure that it's safe? Data protection systems and technologies exist to protect our privacy.
Data protection is geared towards protecting personal information such as family details and medical records - information we may not want to share with just anyone. Data protection schemes aim to guarantee everyone a basic minimum of privacy in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. People dealing with sensitive government or corporate information may also rely on data protection.
Data protection begins with the type of privacy agreements which you will often see when you're asked to enter personal information into a website. This is the first stage of data protection - communication, ensuring that all those who are party to information exchange agree on what constitutes private data. Protection of such information can't otherwise be assumed, as the rules on what ought to fall under data protection schemes differ in different countries and between different organisations.
Whenever sensitive information is stored on computer systems, the law demands that it must be subject to adequate data protection. Special data protection software has been developed for this purpose, designed to identify this information and keep it separate from other records. Data protection depends on good information management, limiting access and, in some cases, limiting the period for which information is stored. Data protection software may also limit the context in which sensitive information can be utilised.
The advent of secure data protection systems minimises the risk of identity fraud faced by computer users sharing personal information. Data protection is essential in ensuring that emerging technologies do not undermine the older systems on which society is based.
About The Author
A Sure-fire Shortcut To Competitive Advantage
A Sure-fire Shortcut To Competitive Advantage
by Paul Levesque
All businesses that outperform their competitors have two key characteristics in common: a highly-energized workforce, plus hordes of delighted customers that keep coming back. Two nice things to have - but of course everyone knows the reason so few businesses enjoy a clear competitive advantage is precisely because these two things are so difficult to achieve. But wait. If it�s really as difficult as all that, shouldn�t those few businesses that manage to pull it off be absolutely exhausted by the effort? When you take a close look (as I have) at those rare businesses that consistently achieve both objectives - flashpoint businesses, as I refer to them - what you invariably see is just the opposite. Employees at all levels seem perpetually fired up, as if every day they�re engaged in some kind of fun group activity. Is there some big secret about "energized workers" and "delighted customers" that these flashpoint businesses understand, and everyone else seems to have somehow missed?
There most certainly is. And it has to do with what most people consider the basic difference between "work" and "play". The first step on a shortcut to competitive advantage is to understand the specific elements that make play so much more satisfying than work.
Play Element 1: Challenge
Achieving better bowling scores would be so much easier if the bowling pins were closer. On the other hand, who would pay to go to a bowling alley where anyone could knock down all the pins every time with ease? Knocking them all down over and over again would quickly begin to feel like the kind of repetitive, pointless activity most bowlers experience at their jobs, and go bowling precisely to get away from. To be fun, it has to be a real challenge�that�s key.
In most workplaces, there is no one single well-defined �mission� that takes precedence over everything else. Instead, there are all kinds of tasks and objectives and deadlines that often make workers feel they�re being pulled in a dozen directions at once. For many, the only real challenge on the job is resisting the temptation to quit.
Contrast this with flashpoint businesses, where the one crystal-clear overriding mission is to draw business away from competitors by attempting to delight every customer every time. In these businesses, the reason it looks like workers are having fun is because in many ways their work feels like a game with a single, challenging, shared objective.
Shortcut to Competitive Advantage, Part One: Challenge everyone in your business to think of -outperforming the competition through superior customer care� as the primary objective that overrides all others at all times.
Play Element 2: Rules
Every play activity has it own elaborate set of rules. In a new game, even before play begins, all the rules are carefully spelled out. These rules add to the challenge, and keep the game fair for all.
In the work setting, the rules are often vague and unclear. They may even seem to shift and change from time to time, based on different situations as they arise. Workers often feel reluctant to take initiatives, unsure if doing so will later earn them praise (for �thinking outside the box�) or rebukes (for �breaking the rules�). They tend to adopt a play-it-safe approach.
By comparison, most flashpoint businesses spell out their values and their priorities�the rules�over and over again. �Your goal is to delight the customer, but not by doing anything that harms the organization in any way.� �We want to pull business away from our competitors, but never in an unlawful or underhanded way.�
Shortcut to Competitive Advantage, Part Two: Ensure that your workers understand how the game is to be played�how, for example, you will be giving them opportunities to come up with their own ideas for enhancing the customer experience. Clarify what constitutes a �foul� or a violation of the rules.
Play Element 3: Scoring
In play activities of every kind, there exists some sort of scoring mechanism that lets the players know immediately how well they�re doing. This immediacy is critical. How popular would bowling be if the pins were in the dark, and players never found out how well they played until their scores arrived in the mail weeks later?
This is what it feels like for most workers on the job. They don�t find out how well they�re doing until the �quarterly reports� come out, or until their annual performance evaluation meeting.
Things are different in flashpoint businesses. There, spontaneous positive feedback from happy customers becomes the number-one scoring mechanism. At the same time it also serves as the number-one employee motivator, the basis for endless internal celebration and recognition.
Shortcut to Competitive Advantage, Part Three: Harvest immediate positive customer feedback by every means at your disposal, (especially informal face-to-face conversation), and direct as much of this feedback as possible to your workers.
Play Element 4: Satisfaction
Bowlers know before every game that they won�t succeed in knocking down every pin every time. Players in every kind of game know they�ll never achieve a perfect score�but this does nothing to diminish their attempts to do so. And when their score tells them their performance has moved closer to the unachievable goal, their feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment is profound. There�s shouting and high-fiveing and every kind of exuberant victory dance imaginable.
Flashpoint businesses also know they won�t succeed in delighting every customer every time. But when the feedback indicates they�ve moved closer to that unattainable objective, the same kind of cheering and celebration erupts. It�s something that�s almost never experienced in the majority of workplaces, and it�s something that�s almost routine in flashpoint businesses. They�ve once gain beat the opposing team, and once again the dance of victory unites all of them in their shared accomplishment�and in their shared determination to play the game again, and strive together to win another round.
Shortcut to Competitive Advantage, Part Four: Create a culture of celebration that maximizes workers� sense of accomplishment with every �rave review� from delighted customers. This is the motivational fuel that quickly gains the most powerful competitive edge in any business�and helps sustain it over the long term.
Customer-focus consultant Paul Levesque�s latest book is Customer Service From The Inside Out Made Easy (Entrepreneur Press, 2006).
Copyright Paul Levesque.
About The Author
Book keynote speaker Paul Levesque to speak at your meeting http://www.keynoteresource.com/PaulLevesque.html
Friday, December 28, 2007
Ordering Flavored Tea Online
Ordering Flavored Tea Online
by Jon M. Stout
If you love flavored teas, you�ve certainly realized that there is an endless variety from which to choose. No matter what flavor you like, there�s a tea for you. If you�d like to try a wide variety of flavored teas, you may find it difficult to find all the flavors in your local tea shop. But, by shopping online, you have access to nearly all the flavored teas in the world at the touch of a button.
Experimenting is critical, particularly for the tea novice. It may take you some time before you understand which flavors you like paired with which tea varieties. But, oh, how much fun testing them all out can be!
The Internet makes shopping for tea so much easier. And, most of us are using it for buying tea � and everything else. In fact, experts say that 84% of Americans have shopped online at least once. And, approximately 60% of Americans say that they shop online regularly. In fact, most of us would agree that the internet has changed the way we shop for many things, forever. Online shopping is at its most important when we�re shopping for items that might be difficult to find locally- like rare and exotic teas.
Online shopping is one of the most convenient ways to shop and allows you to comparison shop far more easily. You�ll have access to more sales and be able to compare prices for the same products much more easily. Just look at a few different websites rather than driving all over town to visit different shops. You can order from home, day or night, and have your purchases delivered right to your door � and you can order from all over the world. When you�re looking for a rare tea or a rare flavor, this worldwide access is critical.
Shopping for tea online can pose two problems, however. The first is that you can�t see, smell or taste the tea before you buy. Most online tea shops have alleviated this problem by offering small quantities of teas for purchase as samples, and by offering money back guarantees on their products. Some tea companies make sampler packs with a combination of flavored teas including black, oolong, white and green tea varieties.
This way you can buy just a small quantity of the teas you�d like to try until you�ve determined which are your favorites. Once you know which ones you like, you can save money by buying in bulk.
In addition, many people worry about the security of their private information when shopping online. When reviewing the websites of tea merchants you�re considering, it�s wise to ensure that they employ stringent security measures to protect your information. Their website should tell you about their internet security. If it doesn�t, or if their measures do not encrypt your information, don�t purchase from them.
There are enough very good tea vendors out there that you don�t have to risk your personal information just to have good tea! If you find a tea vendor that you�d like to order from, but you don�t feel comfortable, let them know. They may be grateful to hear from potential customers and may work to upgrade their site.
You can list the flavors of tea you�d like to try and look for tea vendors that carry these flavors, or you can choose the tea vendors you think can offer you the best teas and choose the flavored varieties they offer. Most of us do a combination of the two, so that we can choose some of the flavors we�re dying to try, but also can take the recommendations from tea vendors we trust.
If you choose your online tea companies wisely, you simply can�t go wrong. The best loose tea purveyors work with the best tea gardens in the world to ensure that they have only the finest teas for their customers. Your tea vendor should be careful to buy only the flavored teas that are flavored using only natural ingredients. Artificially flavored teas will be less expensive but will not have the same great and natural taste as the teas that are flavored with real fruits, spices and flowers.
Take the time to ensure that any tea company you buy from has a good reputation and offers a money back guarantee. This guarantee ensures you that if you ever receive a tea that is not of the quality you expect, you can return it � no questions asked. This is particularly important when you�re trying new flavors for the first time. Knowing you can return the tea if you don�t like it makes you feel freer to try many different flavors.
A good online tea company (or two) can really improve your adventures in tea. Subscribe to their catalogs and watch for them to add new tea flavors. With the right tea vendor as your partner you can try many different flavors of tea in black, white, oolong and green tea varieties.
There are no doubt dozens of new flavored teas you�d like to try. And, a few good tea vendors can be your ticket to all of them. So, browse the internet, sign up for some tea catalogs and find the tea vendors that can provide you with many new and delicious flavored teas to try!
About The Author
Frothing Milk: The Perfect Topping On A Latte Or Cappuccino
Frothing Milk: The Perfect Topping On A Latte Or Cappuccino
by Craig Barista
Frothing Milk gives a latte or cappuccino its sweet milky top. Getting this right brings the final touch to a great cup of coffee. It also gives you budding barista's a chance to practice and show off your artistic talents. Yes I'm talking about latte art. While not an indication of good milk (you could burn it) it will show others you have a passion for coffee. But before we get all excited about making flower or heart patterns, let's make sure we get the milk temperature right first.
The first tip is to start right. That means cold milk and a cold stainless steel straight walled steamer or milk jug. Yes, cold milk, not room temperature, you don't need to help the steamer wand do its thing. It takes a little longer, but the smooth velvety frothing milk you will have at the end is worth the extra effort.
* Put in the amount of milk you need for your coffee.
* Then raise the milk jug so that the steamer wand falls well below the milks surface.
* Open the steam valve, and raise the steamer wand so it sits just below the milks surface. You don't want to create large bubbles, so somewhere around 1cm (or 2/5 inch) under the milk surface will be fine.
* As the milk rises move the steamer wand accordingly. Remember your aim, smooth velvety frothing milk, not big bubbles.
* Once you have built a velvety surface, push the steamer wand deeper into the milk and continue to heat the milk.
* Wait until the milk jug is hot to touch, not warm, HOT, you should have hot velvety frothing milk.
* Then just pour into your espresso to complete a great cup.
Now, those milk patterns I mentioned earlier? It's called Latte Art. Find out how to make those works of art. Its coffee dressed to impress!!!
Cheers,
Craig.
http://www.the-java-cafe.com
About The Author
Cheers,
Craig.
http://www.the-java-cafe.com
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Advice on Buying Estonia Property
Advice on Buying Estonia Property
by John Everitt
Buying property in Estonia is a relatively straightforward and safe procedure.
The wheels of the bureaucratic machine move fairly efficiently, meaning that you could have title transferred in as little as four weeks.
Foreigners were known to have paid higher prices in the early 1990s, but the market has matured. Foreigners are developing many properties in Estonia now. This combined with the closing gap between foreign and local salaries mean that far fewer people, foreign or local, are being taken advantage of.
Most agents meet certain standards within real estate protocol and foreigners getting fleeced is not something to be over duly concerned about.
How much can I borrow?
Estonian banks and financial institutions are happy to give finance to foreigners, though the rates and conditions will not be as competitive as those given to Estonian residents.
Interest rates, however, are very competitive, and can be as low as 3 of the property value for a first property, and 50 off new properties in Estonia around 5-6 lower than the asking price. And because Estonia is experiencing a building boom, needing up to 3000 new housing units a year, haggling might be a luxury you can't afford.
Buying without an agent?
Not recommended!
Buying without a property agent in a country you are unfamiliar with, even for the most experienced property investor, is looking for trouble.
Additional Charges
The Notary is responsible for overseeing the transfer of ownership of property in Estonia.
Notaries play a necessary role in the closing process and are paid separately.
In Estonia, their fees are fixed by the state ranging from 0.4 to 1.0.
Most new builds sell off the plans and are sold complete with interior decoration. Demand in Estonia for 2- 3-roomed apartments has grown, particularly in the suburbs.
This is in contrast to its Baltic counterparts, Riga and Vilnius, where demand is largely for 1 -2 roomed apartments.
The result is a 5 more for any type of property for sale in Tallinn's old town. Demand for such properties has increased significantly over the past year in both the buyer and rental markets.
Investor's interest in new build apartments around the city centre has led to less demand for houses in Estonia. While demand has fallen, prices have remained stable, though selling times are longer.
It is possible to find bargain properties in Estonia's rural areas at extremely low prices and the past year has seen far more of these properties come on the market than in previous years.
The Buying Process
The settlement process in Estonia is fairly efficient, typically taking between 30 to 60 days, although it can be sooner depending on how quickly an appointment can be arranged with the Notary.
The Role of the Notary
The notary will oversee the transfer of ownership and ensure that it is in accordance with Estonian law. If it is not, recommendations for change will be made since the notary is financially responsible for potential mistakes or violations of the law. Once approved by the Notary, the documents are then signed in the Notary's office. Bear in mind that the notary's role is neutral. You will not be advised on any aspects of title, searches or burdens that they property may carry. The Notary will can also handle payments for the property through their account if required. Each party will be issued copies of the contract on signing at the notary office.
Notary Fees
The most equitable agreement for paying notary fees is to divide the cost equally between the buyer and the seller. Be sure to negotiate this before the meeting. There will also be a small amount of tax [state duty] to be paid by the buyer. This amounts to approximately 0.4.
The Contract or Pre-Purchase Protocol
The "pre-purchase protocol" is the agreement that commits the buyer and the seller to the property sale.
It usually requires the payment of a deposit, set at around 10%.
The pre-purchase protocol is immediately binding and under Estonian law there is no opt-out period.
Once the contract has been signed, you are legally obliged to follow through on the terms of the agreement.
Estonian property purchase contracts are generally "firm sale only".
In contrast to other countries where you may negotiate a property purchase conditional on getting bank finance or selling another property, it would be very rare for an Estonian property seller to accept conditions on a property sale.
Always beware of contracts that have been translated from Estonian to English.
A bad translation may compromise the terms of the contract. You are legally obliged to have an accredited translator with you at the notary's office to take you through the contract and to ensure that you fully understand the terms of agreement.
To ensure that the pre-purchase protocol is legally valid, it must be signed by an Estonian Notary.
Many agents however do not insist on this procedure since it incurs extras costs.
However, without a formal signing at the notary's office, the terms and conditions of the contract do not have any legal sway.
Deadlines may extend longer than they should and other problems may arise. As a final note of caution, make sure that the director of the agency you are working with signs the contract. In order for a contract to be valid under Estonian law, the director of the company and not the agents working for the company must sign the documents.
Don't expect to be handed the deeds of the property once the purchase has been completed.
In Estonia, there are no property deeds.
A notorized application is made to the Land Register to transfer the ownership of the property to the buyer in the land register book. This cannot happen until the state fee is paid.
After this process, the title is legally valid.
Public notice of the transfer must be published in the Official State Gazette, though this does not affect the title, which is secured after being noted in the land register book.
These guidelines are meant for guidance only and describe a straightforward purchase scenarios. However this information is not meant to replace proper legal advice, which we always insist you take.
About The Author
Avoiding Adoption Scam Artists
Avoiding Adoption Scam Artists
by Matt Ryan
As with anything where a person or persons hearts and feelings are involved there are quick buck artists out to make a quick buck by pulling on the heartstrings of those who wish to adopt an infant or put an infant up for adoption. It is unfortunate, but true and all too often people involved in the adoption process wind up losing thousands of dollars and having their hearts broken.
The most common tell of an adoption scam artist is they immediately ask for money. They are looking for the money even before setting up a face-to-face meeting with potential adoptive parents. Avoid this at all costs, insist on meeting in person to discuss the generalities of the adoption offer and inform whomever you have made contact with that there will be no money exchanging hands prior to this meeting.
Perhaps the most powerful scam is that of the scammer posing as the birth mother in a dire situation. They will often ask for money to pay lawyers fees to get the adoption process moving. In this case, simply ask for the name of the attorney and contact information. With this data in hand, make contact with the attorney yourself and ascertain if the request is on the up and up. Adoptive parents have the advantage in this instance, as they are not required to obtain legal assistance for the birth mother of an infant up for adoption. In addition, if proven to be on the up and up, the retainer fee should be sent directly to the attorney.
To avoid a majority of the birth mother type scams it is imperative that probable adoptive parents obtain an actual physical address and live telephone number where the birth mother can be reached at any given time. Never send money, airline tickets, bus tickets or airplane tickets. Money can be spent, most often untraced, and tickets of any variety can easily be taken in for a refund.
Before making a majority of agreements with the birth mother of the infant up for adoption be sure to obtain undeniable proof of pregnancy. Have these and any other documents scrutinized by professionals, even insist that the inspecting professional get into contact with the author of the document. Further regards to documents are the timely manner in which they arrive after being requested. If the mailing of them is continually delayed, or excuses are made when the items haven�t arrived then it is probably time to scrutinize the situation with a little more vigor.
Another tactic is the use of �friends�. An adoption scammer will pose as somebody acting on behalf of a pregnant friend who would like to put her baby up for adoption and make contact with as many people looking to adopt as possible. To avoid this scam, immediately inquire about contact with the actual birth mother. If this request is denied from the onset, avoid it at all costs. If contact is indeed granted, take measures to ensure that the birth mother and the �friend� are not the same person. Be aware of similarities such as the same phone number, address, IP address if on the Internet and any other things that may seem certifying the potentiality of a scam.
In the beginning stages of adopting, adoptive parents must be extremely aware of the potential of getting scammed. It is often hard to not get emotional at a time like this, however, being cautious and maintaining composure can prevent future heartbreak and lead to a happy ending.
About The Author
Serving Wine at Holiday Parties
Serving Wine at Holiday Parties
by Jennifer Marie Jordan
Hosting a party can bring about a great deal of stress. You may find this true for any kind of party, but it seems to be particularly true for a party thrown around the holidays. For some reason, the holidays are a time when parties aspire to be a little grander; they need to have tastier food, more elegant alcohol, and those who are hosting it need to wear red and call each other by names like, �Dearest.�
While a holiday party is something you will likely want to throw well � hoping to impress your friends, your relatives, and your next door neighbor whose front lawn animatronics nativity scene makes your decorations look inferior � you will also want to save some room on your credit cards for all your holiday shopping.
This may seem to pose a bit of a problem, as if you are forced to make the choice of throwing a great party or buying presents for your children, children who � as they contact social services and attempt to get on Oprah � probably won�t be too forgiving if the holiday season finds you empty handed. However, throwing a great party doesn�t have to drain your bank account; there are ways to have a party that is both festive and frugal. Because alcohol is generally one of the most pricy party expenses, buying wisely is the first step in throwing a party that will leave both your social circle, and your children, still talking to you.
Have a Variety
Some people are under the impression that hosting a party involves purchasing the most expensive wine they can find, wine that would impress even the most seasoned connoisseur. However, when it comes down to it, the price of wine is not nearly as important as the variety.
Holiday parties typically consist of a large spread of food. From the p�t� to the cheese balls, the months of November and December are like a giant buffet. Because of this, it�s important to cover your bases and purchase wine that is adaptable, wine that all types of food consider �easy to get along with.� The simplest way to do this is to cover all your bases by purchasing both red wine and white wine.
For red wine, Merlots, Shiraz, and Cabernets are all good choices, with white wine�s best bet being Chardonnay, though a nice Alsatian Riesling is also a great choice. While there are certain vintages that are expensive, it�s relatively easy to find bottles that aren�t extremely high priced; with some searching, or asking the clerk at the local liquor store for help, you can buy red and white wines that won�t take away your ability to go holiday shopping, leaving you, ultimately, to holiday shoplift instead.
Serve White Zinfandel
When choosing a wine to serve at a party, White Zinfandel is an extremely popular choice. This is simply because people drink it up. A chilled beverage, White Zinfandel is light, sweet and low in alcohol content, which makes it a popular choice for folks who are driving. One of the least inexpensive, with many bottles costing around five dollars, White Zinfandel is a preferred choice of many party hosts everywhere.
A Box is Your Friend
There is an unfavorable stigma attached to box wine, like lawyers or people obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. But, box wine is often a party staple. This is because it�s inexpensive, it�s convenient, the leftovers won�t spoil, and even if you don�t enjoy the taste of it, many others do.
Box wine was once the laughing stock of the wine world: people often equated it with cheap wine, it was only purchased by those who had a cash flow problem, and cases of Pinot Noirs were often found pointing and laughing, mocking the box wine from the comfort of their glass bottles. However, over the years this stigma has gone down the drain, and the box wine of today now stores a variety of wine, including wines that are premium.
Appease the Wine Folk
While White Zinfandel and box wine may quench the thirst of some, many wine connoisseurs prefer something a little different, believing that drinking anything other than a unique holiday wine is the equivalent of drinking from the water bowl in the Christmas tree stand. Because of this, it�s a good idea to have a couple of bottles of something a little interesting.
A fun holiday wine that is great to serve at a party is the Lady Bug Red Cuvee V. Not only is it visually appealing � as it comes in a bottle with a green label and lady bugs all over it � but the flavors are wonderfully fruity, containing a combination of blackberry, plum, cocoa, oak, and pepper. The wine, made up of Zinfandel, Carignane, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, is sure to satisfy a wide range of wine lovers.
Take People Up on Their Offers
It is etiquette for those attending a party to offer to bring something � a casserole, a plate of cookies, a spinach dip. While you may have trouble accepting this gesture, thinking that you should be the one to generate all the party goods, keep in mind that many people who offer to bring something typically really want to.
People enjoy showing their gratitude and when they are able to contribute to a party, they feel as if they are given the opportunity to do just that. If a person asks you if they can bring anything, and you are stressing over the drink selection, simply request that they bring a bottle of wine. This not only assures that they will bring something they enjoy, but it also allows you to subtly shrug your shoulders and point your finger in their direction if others do not like it. That, after all, is what friends are for.
Holiday parties can be hard to plan. But, with the above tips, you should at least have the wine list taken care of, leaving you free to worry about food and d�cor instead.
More than anything, when it comes this time of year, keep in mind that the wine you serve at your holiday party shouldn�t be that important: the holidays are a time for camaraderie, family, and love, three entities that not even the most expensive vintage can ever rival.
About The Author
Microsoft Dynamics GP Customization Design
Microsoft Dynamics GP Customization Design
by Andrew Karasev
Microsoft Great Plains customization specking out might be challenging enough, especially if you try to think about GP modification from the perspective of .Net �surface� mods, not getting to the Dexterity depth � its tables structure, records workflow (how transactions are distributed in SQL Dex tables clusters: master, work, open, historical). As GP consultant you naturally understand that if you spec out customization, you need to decide on programming tools, and this in turn determines the customization architecture. Currently GP modification, reporting and integration tools are .Net, Dexterity, SQL scripting, eConnect, Integration Manager, Modifier with VBA, Extender, ReportWriter, SRS, Crystal Reports; in the case of Business Portal customization is more challenging, it is in .Net and UML and you do not have the option of direct modification access to SQL server. Let�s come through the techniques and options:
1. Business Logic mapping. This part is the most important. You need to decide how your customization extension will integrate with existing business logic. It might be independent custom logic with following integration to GP tables � in this case you should be familiar with GP master and transactions records distribution in GP. The easiest and most reliable approach is to imitate intended integration records via Great Plains user workstation data entry
2. .Net. Consider web ecommerce data publishing from Great Plains SQL tables. However, make your homework and research GP tables structure. Open GP workstation and go to tools->resource description->tables. We only intend here to orient you for the next step, not really give you complete solution, so you is the one to explore the further options
3. eConnect. In addition to above option, eConnect will give you some comfort level manipulating master and work transaction records in GP. In eConnect you can not post Great Plains transactions, due to Microsoft Great Plains Dexterity architecture � posting is left to GP users
4. Modifier/VBA. This tandem was very popular in 1990th and earlier 2000th, however now it is legacy as it is not .Net compliant. VBA is also Integration Manager modification tool. VBA scripting is very powerful � you can include Dexterity sanscript scriplets into Modified forms logic, which is very cool, but unfortunately not easily upgradeable to new GP version. VBA usesOLE Server functionality
5. Microsoft Dexterity. Former name is Great Plains Dexterity. This tool requires professional Dex developer, otherwise you will get into years long learning curve with all the known development errors and traps. The beginning of Dex learning are Dynamics.dic, Dex.ini, Dynamics.set, DEX_ROW_ID
6. Integration Manager. Besides obvious and intuitive integration you can extend it with VBA scripting and data translation. At this time IM is in process of being redesigned in eConnect (on the business objects level � SQL stored procedures), this should resolve known IM performance issue. Consider direct eConnect programming if you plan to integrate over ten thousand records per day
7. Reporting Tools. You should be aware that both SRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) and Crystal Reports will more likely require SQL Stored Procedures or SQL Views to be based on. If you decide to follow the �wizard� approach � the chances are high that you will end up with long term debugging and then move back to SQL stored procedure or view
8. ReportWriter is Dexterity module with all the pluses and minuses of this legacy technology. Report Writer reports version update is known as challenging, especially if you are not happy to redesign several reports from scratch. Known trick is as this � open new (non modified) and old (modified) version of your report and compare calculated fields
About The Author
Ruby vs Java Conundrum
Ruby vs Java Conundrum
by Vineet Tyagi
The Ruby language and Rails framework have been gaining rapid prominence and fast becoming development platforms of choice for many Web 2.0 applications and sites. This rapid rise is raising questions on the abilities and applicability of Java technologies for particular kind of products. Many visionaries and early adopters of Ruby and Rails framework have already sounded the death knell for Java. Impetus iLabs has invested significant time, effort and technological expertise to take a hard look at Java and Ruby platforms and to separate the facts from the fiction, an initiative to make users aware, informed, and ahead of new developments in the technology space.
Java
Java refers to a number of computer software products and specifications that together provide a system for developing and deploying cross-platform applications. Java is used in a wide variety of computing platforms spanning from embedded devices and cell phones on the low end to enterprise servers and super computers on the high end.
Java has gained enormous popularity since it first appeared. Its rapid ascension and wide acceptance can be traced to its design and programming features, particularly in its promise that you can write a program once, and run it anywhere. With Java, you can often get software for free and is one of the first programming languages to consider security as part of its design.
Security measures cannot be implemented with any degree of assurance without a reliable framework for program execution. Java provides multiple levels of reliability measures, beginning with the Java language itself.
Java: Pros
* Java�s population of programmers is huge.
* Java�s open source community thrives. Open source projects exist across a wide spectrum of problem spaces and fill many different niches. With Java, you can often get software for free that you�d have to build yourself or pay for on other languages.
* Java is mature. Java is often the safest choice.
* Java is scalable. We�ve learned enough from experience to build applications that scale.
* Java offers choice.
* Java Technology is mature and provides proven solutions for enterprise level problems such as Two-phase commit, and distributed objects.
Java: Cons
Like any programming language, Java is not without drawbacks. A study conducted by Wily in 2003 has reported the J2EE performance and availability was generally average to poor. Java has also been receiving stiff competition with IBM launching consulting support for PHP in February 2005.
* The Java Platform Is Weakening
Successful programming languages seem to emerge every decade or so. Bell Labs developed the C programming language in the early 1970s, C++ was released by AT&T in 1985 and slowly subsumed C because it had features allowing object-oriented programming. Sun released Java in 1996, and it rapidly emerged as a popular language for Internet development. Java has been growing steadily ever since. Trivial logic dictates we�re due for a new programming language around now, and Java should start to decline soon.
* Complexity
Java�s complexity is increasing. With one massively complex framework after another, Java vendors embraced EJB and the most complicated version imaginable of web services and XML. EJB vendors redesigned EJB from scratch twice, forcing significant migrations on their customers.
* Availability
In a 2003 study, Wily (http://www.wilytech.com/news/releases/031120.html) reported that J2EE performance and availability were generally average to poor.
* Competition
In February 2005, IBM announced consulting support for PHP. Ruby on Rails has passed 500,000 total downloads. Peter Yared, Sun�s previous application server CTO predicted that J2EE would lose to LAMP (open source software consisting of Linux, Apache web server, MySQL, and a dynamic language such as Python, Perl, or PHP)
Ruby language
Ruby is a reflective, dynamic, object-oriented programming language. It combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like object-oriented features, and also shares some features with Python, Lisp, Dylan, and CLU. Ruby is a single-pass interpreted language.
Ruby Pros
* Productivity: Ruby and Ruby on Rails have higher productivity measured as Lines of code per feature size and time to build feature.
* Short ramp up times, well motivated team and experienced team can be productive on RoR platform in less than a week cross training
* A long list of industry visionaries are supporting Ruby
o Martin Fowler, chief scientist at ThoughtWorks
o James Duncan Davidson, creator of Ant and Tomcat, is using Rails in a start-up to develop a web-enabled rich application that will be the primary offering of that company.
o David Geary, key designer for several successful web development frameworks including JavaServer Faces (JSF) is speaking and blogging about Rails with regularity.
o Richard Monson Haefel, once one of two voting individuals for the Java Community Process (JCP) recently led the Burton Group in a discussion with high-profile U.S. companies about Ruby on Rails as an important emerging technology. He has also published a paper about using Rails with Oracle.
* Ruby and Ruby on Rails have higher productivity which leads to other benefits like:
o More productivity leads to fewer developers per project.
o You spend less effort on communication for small projects.
o Having fewer developers per project also lowers management costs per project.
o When you finish applications sooner, you deliver their value to the business sooner.
Ruby Cons
* As a new language, Ruby could potentially stagnate, which could make scarce resources even harder to find.
* There are not as many deployed Ruby applications in production yet, so we don�t have as much definitive proof of the ultimate scalability of Ruby.
* The Ruby community is not as well established as the Java community, so it�s harder to find third-party components, frameworks, education, and services.
* Ruby is less structured than Java and has fewer automated features to protect applications from abuse. This flexibility is both a strength and a weakness.
Summary
Impetus strongly believes that in the current scenario Java and Ruby technology platforms will continue to coexist and address different need. RoR and Ruby platform is much better suited for a particular type of Web Applications and Sites where application programmers can control the database.
Java technology platform is proven and addresses issues like two phase commit and distributed objects very well.
In the coming future the equations may change, Ruby platform has a high chance of overtaking Java Platform to be the platform of choice for building all types of application. Impetus believes that the following factors are conducive of Ruby�s probability of replacing Java
* Network ubiquity and increasing bandwidth changes the dynamics and premises on which the distributed architecture principles were built. Thin client and layered architectures were necessitated for conserving network bandwidth and reducing network traffic due to latency. In a world with fast and fat pipes of connection these premises would not hold anymore. This tilts the balance in favor of Ruby and ROR.
* CPU cycles and memory is becoming ridiculously cheap. Performance and scaling up potentially will be lesser of an issue as you could use more hardware to scale up applications without having to take on a huge cost burden. This again tilts the balance in Ruby�s favor.
About The Author
Impetus is a pure play outsourced product engineering services provider.
We offer outsourced software R&D, Testing, Quality Assurance and Support Services, exclusively to software and technology enabled companies.
We partner with our clients to create award-winning software products. Our 100% focus on product engineering, together with in-depth hold on technology, creates distinct value. Our expert talent ensures that you get high quality product content, catering to requirements of high transactional, highly available, and highly performant software products. We work as a virtual extension of your product engineering team, working seamlessly in a WhiteBox Engagement Model.
visit: http://www.impetus.com
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
7 Profit Multiplying Trading Strategies Of Successful Traders
7 Profit Multiplying Trading Strategies Of Successful Traders
by Jeff Fairchild
Would you like to see your trading profits multiply? Are you struggling to squeeze out small profits and reduce losing trades? Here are some tips to help you make better decisions each and every time you trade.
One of the first and foremost strategies of the successful trader is actually having a strategy in the first place! Many new investors mistakenly make decisions based on one day of trading or the release of just one economic indicator report. The more successful traders develop a long-term strategy for their investments and trade only when certain criteria are met. Traders who go back and forth from one strategy to another are sabotaging their chances for success. These erratic changes make it much more difficult to analyze which strategy works and when.
To boost profits, you must employ careful research and long-term planning. Just because the strategy is long-term does not mean you cannot participate in day trading or swing trading. The long-term strategy means developing investment goals and making sure that each trade adheres to these goals. You will also want to develop specific criteria for your trades. Use historical prices as a starting point in developing when you will buy and sell. Write down your entry and exit strategies. Then stick to them at all times and track your results. Lastly, modify the plan as needed to produce the greatest percentage of winning trades as possible.
Successful traders analyze the level of risk that they are willing to assume and their trading strategies are built around this risk level. Evaluate your individual financial needs. A 25-year-old male is much more likely to be willing to assume a higher level of risk than a 40-year-old female with two children to support. Determining the level of risk you are willing to undertake will keep you focused when developing your trading plan.
Research is another power tool in the successful stock trader�s arsenal. These traders utilize stock charts, press releases, news articles, and other sources to detect trends in various industries as well as to make individual stock predictions. They also do not make their trading decisions based on biases. Make sure that you are relying on solid financials, from a reputable source.
Successful investors stay smart by being aware of the trading scams that abound on the net. From bogus stock purchase programs to promises of doubling or triple didgit returns, there are always dishonest people willing to use the allure of huge profits against you. Don�t get scammed out of your hard-earned money. Make sure to avoid any site selling or relating to high yield investment plans, or �HYIP� for short. If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
Finally, understand and being able to utilize current technologies that will help your bottom line in the trading game. New online software and systems can give your trading strategy a boost. If you refuse to learn how to use this technology and availability of information, you are undercutting the profits you stand to make. You could buy many trading courses and still be ahead if you found just one that enables you to multiply your profits and become a successful trader. Keep in mind that the ones that don�t work for you will most likely have a money back guarantee.
Lastly, making investment decisions based on emotions is one of the poorest decisions a trader can make. Don�t let the emotions surrounding a loss keep you out of the game. If you are truly interested in investing to make a profit, suspending your emotions and making fact-based trading decisions that follow along with your set trading plan. If you don�t stick to your plan, then how can you determine whether it was faulty and a new plan should be formed?
***** Publishing guidelines (Publisher, delete before using this article): Make sure when using this article that the about the author resource information is included and the related links are working (clickable). *****
About The Author
Why Should You Make Friends With Co-workers?
Why Should You Make Friends With Co-workers?
by Dock Murphy
Cooperation is the key to success in any business and workers who can work together can mean the difference between success or failure. By making friends with co-workers it can ease competition for the affection of the boss and help allay any suspicion that you are going to stab the other folks in the back to further your own career. Being friends does not necessarily mean going out to dinner and having family picnics in the park together, but it does mean that in the workplace, a spirit of cooperation can go a long way to show that you and your friends have the best interests in the company at heart.
There may also be times when you fall behind in your work and with friends in the office, they might be more tempted to help you through a few rough spots than if you treat them as adversaries in the workplace. They will also be more amenable to come to your defense if a project is not done exactly right.
On the flip side, you will have to repay them in kind, by covering for them while they are on vacation or they require assistance on a project in which they are involved. The hard part comes in when the friendship exceeds the boundaries of the office. If for some reason the people develop a dislike for each other while participating in an activity outside the office, it could have detrimental effect on their workplace demeanor.
While friendships between co-workers on the same level in the pecking order are generally acceptable, it is never a good idea to try to be friends with the boss. Others may see this as an attempt to cozy up to the boss and if the supervisor does become friends with an underling, it could prompt accusations of favoritism. Any one who supervises others should never begin a friendship outside of work with a person who reports directly or indirectly to them.
If a friendship develops between to people on the same rung of the corporate ladder, they should keep in mind the possibility of one being promoted to higher position and know the friendship will most likely be in trouble as a result. It can really cause a friendship to become strained if one is appointed as the other�s supervisor on a temporary basis, as there may be attempts to use the friendship to receive special considerations. Whenever one is promoted over the other, regardless of what they say, there will probably be hard feelings directed at the one with the new position.
Romantic friendships in an office rarely work out, and when they break up it can lead to uncomfortable consequences for them as well as for their co-workers. Friendships can work out in the office, provided they are maintained on a professional level.
About The Author
To learn more about this topic Dock J. recommends you vist:
Http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-17106
Cotton Pajamas: Providing A Comfortable Sleep
Cotton Pajamas: Providing A Comfortable Sleep
by Mario R. Churchill
Tired of the same pajamas you wear every time you go to sleep? Why not try and buy a new set of pajamas. You will be surprised that there are a lot of new pajama designs out in the market today. All are designed to be very comfortable and are also available in different prints.
Cotton pajamas are by far, the most popular pajamas in the market. Besides, who wouldn't want to buy this kind of pajamas? It's comfortable to wear and it's very affordable.
Pajamas are also available in different designs and prints that can suit your personality. Today, you can have a pajama that screams out your personality and at the same time, provide you comfort as you sleep.
If you have kids, you can buy a pajama for them with their favorite cartoon character printed on it. These pajamas are now very popular in the market. There are even cotton pajamas that look like a Spiderman costume or a Superman costume where your kids will really want to wear over and over again.
Pajamas are available for men, women and kids. With different designs that you can choose from, you can be sure that you can have that peaceful sleep you need and at the same time, look good while you're at it.
Pajamas are also ideal gifts on any occasion. The best way to do this is figure out the person's personality first, and choose a pajama that compliments his or her personality.
The person you will be giving the pajama to will truly appreciate the thought. There are even wild pajama designs that you can purchase.
If you can't find the right pajama design for you or for your children in the stores near you, try searching in the internet for the designs you want. You will be surprised to see that there are hundreds or even thousands of pajama designs available in the internet. There are also cotton pajamas that can be custom made to give you a perfect fit.
Cotton pajamas are great for cold climates as it can really provide warmth. However, it is usually not recommended in hotter climates. This is because cotton pajamas can contribute heat to the wearer. If you live in hotter climates, you might want to wear silk pajamas. This will provide ventilation throughout your body and can really provide you that needed comfort as you sleep.
There are thousands of pajama designs that you can choose from. Whether you want a full length pajama or a short pajama, you can surely find the design you want in today's market. Pajamas are also available in different prints that you can choose from.
Getting a comfortable sleep is one of the things you should really prioritize. Without a comfortable sleep, you will end up feeling unusually tired for the rest of the day. This is why you should choose a pajama that is really comfortable.
It should be loose and provide ample ventilation throughout your body in order to get that comfort you need while you sleep.
With different varieties of pajamas available, you can try out different designs available. Choose one that you are most comfortable with and also choose one that provides good ventilation throughout your body. Every cut in a pajama should never interfere with your body's movements which can interrupt you from deep sleep.
These are some of the things you should consider in a pajama. If you think that you're not comfortable in your pajamas that you wore for many years, you probably have to change pajamas. Comfort should be your number one priority.
About The Author