Know If Instant Payday Loans Are Right For You
by Mario Churchill
You've seen the ads and have heard the stories. Now, you yourself need extra cash to cover for an emergency expense. Are instant payday loans the best solution for you? We examine what you need to know about these types of loans and whether or not you should turn to them to help solve your temporary cash problems.
What are instant payday loans?
If you're familiar with cash advances, then you have an idea of what instant payday loans are. These are unsecured loans that are available in small amounts, typically ranging from $100 to $1000. Some lenders offer more, especially if you qualify.
If they are unsecured, what do I use for collateral?
Instant payday loans are designed for emergency cash needs, that is why they are available only in smaller amounts. If you need say, $2500, for example, you'll have to find another source for your loan. While you will not be required to provide collateral, most lenders will require you to issue postdated checks, a show of good faith that you will pay back your loan.
What are the benefits of using instant payday loans?
Aside from being one of the easiest forms of loans to get, instant payday loans offer fast, convenient and secure transactions. Application procedures are short and do not require you to produce a lot of documentations. As long as you meet the qualifications, you could receive the money within 24 hours, even earlier.
Are there any disadvantages I should be aware of?
Instant payday loans by their very nature require a little bit of protection for the lenders. That is why borrowers are often charged higher interest rates compared to other types of loans. That makes instant payday loans more expensive. Lenders usually charge you about $15 for every $100 you borrow while other lenders charge as much as $30. That, and the fact that you will have to pay back the loan within a short period of time (usually as short as 14 days), makes instant payday loans a little difficult to handle.
However, you can try to find a lender who can offer you the lowest rates. That way, your loan is a lot easier to pay for and you could save a lot of money in the process. Talk to several lenders first before you make your final decision.
Should I get an instant payday loan?
Instant payday loans are right for you if you only need a small amount of cash for a temporary problem. Instant payday loans should not be used to pay for more regular expenses such as mortgage, groceries or luxuries like clothes and sports equipment. Regular use of these types of loan should be limited and must be resorted to only in real emergency cases.
You should also get an instant payday loan if you can pay back the loan amount and the interest on or before the agreed date. The horror stories you have heard about are people who obtained instant payday loans and were unable to pay them. They had these loans 'rolled over' as a new loan with a higher interest and ended up with a loan amount that is far too big for them to handle efficiently.
A lot of people have been helped by instant payday loans but only because they knew exactly what they were getting into and were prepared to face them. Make sure you understand what is expected of you and you can take advantage of the full benefit of instant payday loans.
About The Author
Eliminate Mildew Buildup in your Coffee Maker
Eliminate Mildew Buildup in your Coffee Maker
by Shannon Cole
Your coffee maker should be made part of your regular kitchen cleaning routine. Dried coffee oils, hard water buildup, and mildew will ruin the taste of even the best blend. Not to mention that mildew buildup inside the maker is hazardous to your health.
The good news is that cleaning your coffee maker is a simple, painless task, that takes no more effect than brewing a pot of coffee. Although there is no exact method that is the best, I have determined that this is a very effective method and one that is highly recommend.
First clean all components of your coffee maker including the carafe and filter basket. Personally I put these in the dishwasher, but the choice is yours. You can hand wash them in warm soapy water as well.
Second, fill your coffee maker with 1/4 regular white vinegar and 3/4 water. Place an empty filter in the basket (no coffee) and run the coffee maker. After finished brewing the vinegar / water mixture, turn off the coffee maker and let cool. Personally I let the coffee maker cool for about 10-15 minutes before continuing. Depending on when you last cleaned the maker, you may need to run the vinegar / water mixture through the maker a second time.
Third, discard the mixture and filter and fill the coffee maker again with just water. Turn on the maker. Once this is finished, turn off the maker and let everything cool again for another 10-15 minutes.
Finally, check to see if there's still any vinegar odor coming from the maker. If so, repeat the third step until the smell of vinegar is gone. Your coffee maker should now be clean to brew a delicious pot of coffee. You should clean your coffee maker at least once a month if you're a regular coffee drinker.
About The Author
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Aspects of Offshore Outsourcing to Ukraine
Aspects of Offshore Outsourcing to Ukraine
by Ihor Pidruchny
(the article was written by Softheme's top management and reflects ten years experience in IT outsourcing)
Though Eastern Europe occupies only near 5% of world offshoring industry, it shows the highest growth. While the average growth within nearest 3 years will count 25%, Eastern Europe is expected to show nearly 35%.
This, combined with high level of IT services based on strong educational system and scientific heritage of the country, attracts many US, European and other clients to the Ukrainian offshore market. This article aims to depict few aspects of offshoring to Ukraine. We will show you how you can make the whole process of launching the development center or establishing relations with outsourcing services provider with less risks and money & time expenses.
Advantages of Offshoring to Ukraine
Offshoring to Ukraine has several strong advantages.
First of all, Ukraine's culture is very close to Western values, and it was forming during centuries when Ukraine was the trading and therefore cultural cross road between West and East. Secondly, people who work in IT industry fluently speak English, and some of them also know German, French and Italian, which helps maintaining clear communications with clients from many countries abroad.
As it was noticed before, Ukraine is a country with strong education system and scientific infrastructure, and it lies in the depth of Ukrainian culture: Ukrainian mental schemes presumes digging into the nature of things, establishing unvivid connections and correlations, following intensive way of development instead of extensive. This is especially important in IT, and most of offshoring clients remark the ability of Ukrainian engineers to mine new knowledge and find unobvious solutions to diverse problems. This means that work offshored to Ukraine can have higher intellectual level, which makes offshoring more intensive and therefore profitable.
Major Ukrainian cities have well developed infrastructure, which enables quick entrance onto the market without capital investments.
Disatvantages of Ukrainian Offshoring
Nevertheless, the coin has its back side. Reading about unfavourable areas, you'll also find our recommendations how to reduce risks and even step into more favourable conditions where others prefer not to operate.
Well developed infrastructure is limited only by major cities. Others don't have direct airline communication and modern hotels which can make your staying less comfortable. If you decide to explore any regional cities of Ukraine, you'll have to traavel by bus or train, and either rent an apartment for yourself or live in old hotels which are not marked with any stars. Despite this, we possess the examples of offshore development centers located in smaller (not main) cities and towns of Ukraine which help to reduce costs of ODC operating. Such cities are Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and others. Every of such cities have one or few technical universities where quite strong IT specialists graduate.
Prices could be a disadvantage, too. Hourly rates vary from $15 to $30 and in many cases purchasing offshoring services in Ukraine makes no sence. On the other side, the rates are quite respective to the level of services, and the company wins when redirects more complicated projects and more intellectually complicated tasks to Ukrainian developers.
Bureacratic barriers is another disadvantage, if you decide to launch your own offshore development center. There will be issues concerning taxation, salaries and other things, which are usual to Ukraine but unusual for foreigners. In this case you will have to hire a good specialist on bookkeeping and corporate finance to guide you through relations with governmental organizations with minimum concerns.
Establishing Offshore Development Center
Launching ODC is a good choice for middle and big IT companies with annual turnover of $50 mln and more. Some aspects to which you should pay attention are:
* Property prices. Property market is highly speculative in Ukraine. As of April 2007, prices for purchasing office properties is $2,300 per square meter, for rent - $30+ per square meter per month.
* Situation on HR market. Workforce market demonstrates high intensivity. Much time is needed to find appropriate specialists and you'll have little time for decision making about every candidate due to high demand for IT sector specialists. Therefore you'll have to provide candidates with attractive promise including both material and non-material compensation and stimulation.
Finding an Offshore Outsourcing Service Provider
Finding a outsourcing company in Ukraine is a good solution when you want to minimize your investments and risks with high quality of services. Companies which give feedback about working with Ukrainian developers emphasize that at equally high level of final products communication style, management approaches and processes transparency play an important role in the total cost of each project. Offshore outsourcing suppliers pay more and more attention to how business processes are held in the providing company. Side by side with high technical quality, not all companies follow the paradigm of client-oriented management which can yield to additional risks. We recommend to pay attention to such issues:
* Is there a particluar person responsible for the communication processes in the company (account manager) and the final result?
* How staff is treated in the company? Due to great demand for IT specialists inadequate HR policy could cause to workforce flow.
* Transparency and accessibility of both top management and every team of the project. Transparency of team structure.
Comparing Ukraine to Other Global Offshoring Areas
Eastern Europe in all and particularly Ukraine has found its niche in the global offshore outsourcing market. It became to win in quality and "intellectuality" of provided services compared to the services. Due to culture which is closest to Western values, rising quality of management and constatly high level of software development Ukrainian hourly rates, which vary between $15 and $30, rise the total profitability of offshoring to Ukraine. Definitely, Ukraine cannot compete in price segment of India and South-East Asia, where rates are $8+, but it becomes strong in the mid-price segment of software development market with high level management, staff involvement and return on investment into human development mix.
Learn more about successful IT outsourcing:
http://www.softheme.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/src,5/
About The Author
5 Ways to Boost Your Earning Potential
5 Ways to Boost Your Earning Potential
by Mary Gormandy White
1. Networking - Build a network of other people who are influential in your career field. Professional organizations, chambers of commerce, and networking groups are great resources for meeting people who are leaders in your field and community. As you cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with your networking contacts, you�ll likely learn about new job opportunities before they are announced to the general public.
2. Computer Skills - Having strong computer skills is a key to success in just about any career field. People who keep up with the latest software applications and operating systems often have a competitive advantage when it comes to being considered for promotions and getting new jobs. Even if you are very busy, there are a number of options for inexpensive and convenient online training programs that can help you stay on top of the latest advances in computer technology.
3. Professional Licensure - In many fields, there is a huge salary difference between licensed and unlicensed professionals. Say, for example that you work in the office of an apartment complex. Because of your work experience, you might very likely have the skills needed to be a real estate agent or home inspector, and you could boost your earning potential by becoming a licensed professional in one of these fields.
4. Get Certified - When employers are looking at hiring highly skilled professionals, they want to be sure that the candidates they choose do in fact have the skills to do the job. Earning a recognized certification in your field is one of the best ways to prove your skills to prospective employers.
5. Earn a Degree - One of the best ways to help yourself move up in your career is by increasing and validating your knowledge base with a degree. In many types of jobs, your pay rate is directly related to the highest level of education you have completed.
Working toward an advanced degree in your field can demonstrate to your current and future employers that you are committed to long term career success. If you already have an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree can have a positive impact on your earning potential.
The power to boost your ability to make more money is in your hands. The better connected you are and the more able you are to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and commitment to employers, the more control you will have over your future career success.
About The Author
Monday, May 12, 2008
Research Tools for Pricing Research
Research Tools for Pricing Research
by James Marriot
Price marketing research involves finding a competitive price for your product. It involves deep analysis of the competition prevailing in the market and then taking a decision accordingly.
Market research companies help you in deciding an optimum price for your product, keeping in mind your product and its features. For this, market research firms use qualitative and quantitative research tools.
The pricing done by market research companies is done after keeping in mind consumer sensitivity towards pricing. Price sensitivity depends upon the nature of the market, target consumers, value of the company�s brand and the differential level of your company�s product and services.
Market research companies advise the client company on answering the brand-positioning question, while deciding upon the overall price features of your product or brand. Market research companies help you address the brand positioning-related questions and also make you aware of your current market standing.
In various stages of pricing research, market research companies help you by conducting market segmentation research and positioning research, which includes aspects like price sensitivity and concept analysis.
Qualitative research methods are employed to provide a base for the quantitative research for deciding on the competitive prices of the product. This task is carried out by defining the problem, assuming a hypothesis and identifying the determinants. Pricing research can be carried out by conducting personal interviews, which will help you get a personal opinion on what people feel, value and believe. It also helps in discovering the hidden issues. It is seen that it is the market research firm that decide the sample size in order to get an accurate market research data.
Market research companies help you in answering your specific problems related to the pricing of your product or service. They also make you aware of the benefits of carrying out pricing research, and advise you on how to tap the opportunities and maximize your success chances in market.
Global firms have analyzed the profits of investing in India and are therefore looking forward towards investing in the various sectors in India. This has led to increased competitive pricing in the country. This has also contributed in the boom in knowledge outprocessing companies in various parts of India. Market research companies prepare market research reports on the basis of research carried out by them.
To avail more information on market research in India and its future market growth log on to the website: http://www.rncos.com.
RNCOS E-Services Pvt. Ltd. is an industry leader in the field of online business research. We specialize in industry research on various business verticals. To read our market research reports, visit us at our website: - http://www.rncos.com or email us at info@rncos.com.
About The Author
RNCOS E-Services Pvt. Ltd. offers complete e-publishing solutions for your business. We provide personalized world-class content development and management solutions that are qualitative and result-oriented.
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
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Indian Cookery - Mixing Your Own Spices
Indian Cookery - Mixing Your Own Spices
by Liz Canham
While you can easily obtain ready mixed spices in most supermarkets or Asian speciality shops these days, you get a fresher, more authentic taste when you mix your own. It may be a little time consuming, but well worth it for the extra flavour.
If you are going to mix your own flavourings from whole, rather than powdered, ingredients, you will need an electric coffee grinder or spice grinder, otherwise you will not obtain the powdery consistency.
A much used spice mix, usually incorporated towards the end of cooking time, is Garam Masala (which actually means hot spice) and there are probably as many recipes as there are families in India. However, one of my favourite cookery writers is Madhur Jaffrey and in her book Indian Cookery, she recommends the following:
1 tbsp cardamom seeds
A 2 inch (5cm) stick of cinnamon
1 tsp black cumin seeds
1 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp black peppercorns
� of an average-sized nutmeg
Finely grind all the spices together and store in an air-tight jar in a cool dark place.
Another recipe uses rather more ingredients as follows:
1 tsp coriander seeds
1tsp cumin seeds
� a dried chilli
� tsp nutmeg
1 tsp black peppercorns
1tbsp cardamom pods
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 fairly large bayleaf
Remove the seeds from the cardamom pod and if you don't want a hot mix, the seeds from the dried chilli. As before, grind finely and store carefully.
For a slightly different, more aromatic flavour, dry roast the spices first in a frying pan.
If you often cook in a hurry, you may want to have a pre-prepared curry powder to hand. Shop bought curry powder is not particularly flavoursome, so make some of your own as store as for Garam Masala. Don't make too much at a time as it will lose its flavour.
1 tsp coriander seeds or coriander powder
Dried chillies or chilli powder to taste.
1 tsp cumin seeds or cumin powder
� tsp garlic powder or garlic salt
� tsp salt (omit if using garlic salt)
1 inch (2.5cm) cinnamon stick or 1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 large bayleaf
� tsp cloves
Seeds from 8 cardamom pods
1 tsp black peppercorns or powdered black pepper
If you are using whole spices, you will need an electric grinder, but if you are using powdered ingredients, just mix them together in a bowl or jar and store as before.
About The Author
As well as a love of Asian cooking as you can see in her Asian Food and Cookery website, Liz seeks to help newcomers to the world of internet marketing with tools, tips and training from her Liz-e-Biz website.
http://lizebiz.com/
How Families Can Pave The Way To Success
How Families Can Pave The Way To Success
by Ian McAllister
If a hurricane swept your home away, would your family know how to survive? Would you be self-sufficient? Self-sufficiency comes from sharing many active family pursuits.
A research doctor asked me to prepare equipment for him requiring needlework because "I always had servants to do that for me, so I don't know how to thread a needle."
We were filling in a form when I was asked if I was pregnant (I'm a man) and I replied that as I watched people in the city there were more pregnant men than women. They must have no activities.
Kid Pursuits
Man is better than the other animals because of his brain. If we don't use our brains we lose our superiority. Healthy kids love a constant round of activities because it stimulates that human brain. Each new pursuit will build new skills and ways of thinking.
If you spend all your time in front of the TV the kids will have to find projects of their own. Many kids now spend hours playing computer games each day. What manual skills are they building? How to push some buttons!
Systematic Kid Pursuits
Plan long-term projects including preparing for a vacation, so that the family can experience budgeting, arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, keeping and butchering animals or just fishing and cleaning the fish. Don't let your family pursuits be so few and uneducational that your children could end up dieing within sight of food and water because they don't know how to unzip a banana, or clarify a mud puddle.
How can your family become more versatile? Practice learning new things. The more you learn the faster you can learn, and the more options you will have in an emergency.
Our research was brought to a standstill by a frozen water-pipe. The rules said that the gardener had to dig up the pipe then the plumber had to fix the pipe. But the gardener was on holiday. So the boss and I dug a trench to uncover the pipe, replaced the broken section, and covered everything up again, even shovelling snow back on top for extra insulation. Neither of the trade unions ever knew that we had avoided a two-week delay by doing their work ourselves.
Even your maths will improve. If the recipe serves eight, and there are three of you, how do you work out how much to use where the recipe says two tablespoons? If you are papering a wall and need half-sheets in several places how do you work out the total number of rolls that you will need? How do you work out the number of seeds to plant in the garden, bearing in mind how many people will eat the produce and how much they will eat, and the germination rate of the seeds?
Products of the kids construction will have to be proudly displayed. They may not have craftsman finish and flair, but each project represents another ability that might be needed one day. It doesn't matter if pottery is distorted if it carries water to avoid dieing of thirst.
And yes(!) boys need to learn to cook and sew. If they go to college and they can't cook their health will probably deteriorate. If they allowed a friend to bleed to death out in the bush because they couldn't thread a needle to sew them up imagine how they would feel.
A young lady might just have to stand and look helpless to get the boys clustering round to fix her car, do the gardening, clean the gutters, kill the hens, fix the door lock etc. but if she doesn't know how to do it herself, will she have as many helpers when she is 50 years old?
Conclusion
Vegetating before a TV is OK until civilization changes, perhaps tomorrow. If global warming floods coastal cities what would your family do?
About The Author
Over and over again the author is thankful for parents that showed us how to be self-reliant and versatile. Get great ideas for family endeavours here:
http://familypursuits.com/ and family health here
http://healthforu.info/health/healthfood/
Change Your Booking Attitude and Watch Your Direct Selling Business Explode
Change Your Booking Attitude and Watch Your Direct Selling Business Explode
by Karen Phelps
Are you getting as many bookings as you would like with your Direct Selling Company? An interesting thing happened while I was on a phone call the other day. The consultant at the other end of the line said to me, "NO ONE wants to have parties during the summer!" I replied, "No one wants to have a party? How many have you asked?" She responded, "Well, I made about five calls the other day and all of them said they were too busy during the summer!" I paused for a few minutes and then asked another question, "Did you quit at five calls or did you keep on going?"
Well, I'm sure most of you know the answer to that question was, "I quit because I got tired of hearing NO." How easy it is to get discouraged when you constantly let others control your business and your attitude about the business.
First of all, let me ask YOU a question. Because 5 people said "NO" to you does that really mean that NO ONE is having parties during the summer? I've talked to hundreds of consultants who have a full schedule for the summer. What's their secret? They have learned to get past the NO and move forward to the next person! Have you ever heard the phrase, "Some will, some won't, so what, Who's next"? If you haven't it perfectly describes the direct selling cycle of success.
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you are sick and tired of hearing about all the successful people who continually have bookings all year round. It's much easier to hear about the others who are struggling because then everyone can feel miserable together. Why is it that we often find it difficult to listen to success tips being offered by someone who is successful BUT we listen with both ears to the consultant who is blaming everyone but herself for her lack of business. My gosh, when I was selling I did my best to avoid being anywhere near the negative people because I didn't want them to "suck the life" out of me!
I remember telling my children as they were growing up that "nothing is impossible if you have a good attitude and learn the skills needed." If they came to me complaining that they couldn't do something and they hadn't tried it yet, I would remind them, "don't tell me you can't do something until you've tried it!" How often have you looked at a task and decided before you began that it was impossible? It often isn't the "impossible task" we have problems with but the "negative way in which we approach the task"!
A good friend of mine, John Fredrick used to tell us, "things are the way you like them, or else you'd change!" I happen to agree with him! If you don't like the way your booking calendar is looking for the month what have you done to change it? How many "excited calls" have you made to get more bookings? If you have recently attended your company's convention what did you do immediately when you returned home to build your business. If you are going to attend your company convention, what are you going to do when you return home to "build your business"?
I was at a convention recently and I spoke just before lunch on the last day of the convention. Two hours later, after the consultants had lunch on their own, one of the attendees came up to me and was really bubbling over! She told me that she was so excited after listening to me and hearing me tell them exactly what to say to the people they called when they returned home that she began making her calls right then and there. She had already booked about 8 parties for the following month just by sharing her excitement and a "special offer" with the people she was calling. WOW! What a great way to make use of your "down time" at a convention! She had learned a very valuable lesson, "harness your positive energy" and use it when it can deliver the most results!
We often let the emotional "ups and downs" of the business get the best of us! Over and over again I have people ask me, "how did you do it? Was it easy?" The truth is, it wasn't always easy, but it is always doable! Listening to "Motivational and training material" EVERYDAY was one of the ways I kept positive about the business! Also, if I began to start dwelling on any negatives of the business I quickly reached for a paper and pen and began to list the positive benefits of my direct selling business. Small paychecks soon began to grow and my how your attitude can change when you continually get a sizable check at the end of the month!
Make sure you continually promote your company Hostess program so that your customers understand the value of hosting a party with you. There is no need to "beg for bookings" when you can offer everyone the chance to earn some free or discounted products! All of us love a bargain! Demonstrate to your customers the "potential savings" they can have when they host a party with you and you will increase your bookings! Get really, really excited about what you are "offering"!
Remember This is a Business and in order to make your business succeed you need to continually think positive about your business and do things that will produce "Positive Results". If something doesn't turn out the way you expected, laugh about it and DO IT DIFFERENT NEXT TIME!
You are so lucky to be with a Direct Selling company, having the freedom to work your own hours and the ability to control your income. ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE? I hope you are, and if not keep positive and keep on trying and as Zig Ziglar always says, "I'll see YOU at the TOP!"
About The Author
Want to know the fastest way to get more bokings and build your Direct Selling business? Head over to http://www.karenphelps.com for Direct Selling strategies.
Current Load Balancing Technology Solutions
Current Load Balancing Technology Solutions
by Allan Wilson
In order to run a profitable business in the competitive world today, it is very essential for a business to have instant access to clients, information and potential future liasons. The dependibility on computers has increased to a point that any transaction without the invlovement of the technology is unimaginable.
Computers have opened up new vistas that have made it possible for many small amd medium scale industries and regional applications to go global. The amount of business that can be generated is not comprehendable and the prospects are not countable.
However, with the application of the technology also comes the dedicated services that are a part of the interal complexities of the system and much needed to ensure that the show goes on and that too, uninterrupted.
The technology of load balancing is primarily applied to increase the existent capacity of a dedicated �server farm�. This application is usually accessible beyond any single server. The technology also enables the user specific access service to remain operational and continue to funtion, despite the limitations such as server down time, failure of the server or a technical snag within the server maintenance.
The solutions:
Load balancing also involves the operations and funtions of the virtual servers. The virtual servers or vservers or VIPs, implement the availability of a specific IP address and a dedicated IP port. The physical services comprise of the content within the physical server IP address and dedicated IP port.
The load balancing solutions include the practical application of many different Internet or dedicated ISP links. These could be both, inbound and outbound. There is a Link Proof solution that provides and ensures consistent Internet access. The package includes bandwidth management and specific �intrusion prevention�.
The application is available in a single and easy-to-manage box. The other solutions include load balance routers and cable modums or DSL. It is possible for the user to select a router dedicated load balancing solution. There are a number of technical specifications and application drawings that can be accessed on the Internet.
The optimization:
Load balancing solutions for servers optimize the operations that fall within the design and parameters of the server. The solutions ensure the availability of quality application twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The solutions ensure efficient and timely web traffic distribution. They also take care of prioritization and user specific intrusion prevention that is multi-gigabit in nature.
The load balancing solutions are dedicated towards optimizing precision and quality with every application. The industry strives to ensure that the solutions are targeted at meeting the specific requirements of the end user. The application of the solutions enhance the results desired and make the entire experience worth the money and effort.
About The Author
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Practical Tips On How To Clean Your LCD Screen
Practical Tips On How To Clean Your LCD Screen
by Johnny Waymire
Despite the many benefits of LCD screens, from lower power consumption to crisper image quality, they must still be cleaned and they cannot be cleaned as easily as traditional CRT monitors. Before the days of LCD screens, all you needed to clean a monitor was window cleaner and a paper towel, but now you need special equipment to properly and safely clean your screen. Cleaning an LCD screen is, however, still easy once you know the correct methods.
Before cleaning is necessary, though, you can perform some preventative maintenance. Like all screens, LCD screens accumulate dust from the air, and for laptop screens, from bags. Simply dusting the screen regularly can improve the quality of the image and help reduce the effects of other substances that can dirty your screen. To dust an LCD screen, either use one of the computer "dust squeegees" you can find at little or no cost at most computer stores, or use a very, very soft, dry cloth to wipe the dust away.
Aside from dust, another common way LCD screens get dirty is from body oil on fingers. For all LCD screens, the easiest way to prevent this is to not touch the screen. This simple advice can help keep your LCD screen clean enough to only need a more through cleaning every few months. Unless, of course, you have a laptop, since on most laptops, even if you never directly touch the screen, body oils will get on the screen from the keys when the laptop is closed. A simply solution to this is to place a thin, soft cloth between the keyboard and screen, keeping the screen from accumulating key marks.
Even with this advice to keep your LCD screen from getting dirty, it will eventually need to be cleaned since fluids, grime, and dirt find a way to your screen. When your LCD needs to be cleaned, the best way to do it is with a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution made of water and at most 50% isopropyl alcohol. You can either mix your own or purchased a premixed cleaning solution (usually mixed to 30% concentration) from a computer store. To apply the solution, use a very, very soft cloth, such as a piece of soft flannel or a synthetic microfiber material, and wipe the screen gently: too much pressure can cause the screen to crack or warp. You can use this cleaning method as often as necessary.
A word of warning, though. Never use any other cleaners, especially those that contain ammonia, such as glass cleaners. Ammonia can damage an LCD screen and leave it looking cloudy. Also avoid paper towels, since they can easily scratch an LCD as they drag dirt and paper particles over the surface of the screen; that's why it's so important to use the softest cloth you can.
Cleaning LCD screens is a simple process, but requires some care. You must use the proper tools; otherwise you could permanently damage your screen. With the right knowledge and tools, though, you'll be able to keep your LCD clean and functional for years to come.
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Personalized Photo Mugs The Perfect Gift
Personalized Photo Mugs The Perfect Gift
by Elizabeth Ellis
A sturdy types of cup used for drinking hot bevaerages are called mugs. They are bigger and can be filled with more water. It is usually made of ceramic but you can also find some that are made from high quality glass. Mugs have earned its place in record such as the Holy Grail.
Latest technologies in photo transfers have made it achievable to print photos on to mugs. It could also be produced in large quantity with low cost although it was quite expensive before. A good thing about this recent development is that these photo mugs make great souvenirs for organizations and personal use. Mugs are made out of earthenware, stainless steal, plastic and many other types of materials.
People use mugs on a daily basis. Therefore it is a great way of reminding someone you love of how important they are and what they mean to you. It is delightful to use mugs with your favorite images and words of motivation especially at work. A photo mug will also be a great way to promote your company and its product.
Mugs make great advertising means. The mugs are of personal use so there are no better ways to get potential customers to think about your company. The latest design employs the usage of disappearing ink that is sensitive to heat. The sensitive color is applied after the normal earthenware imprint colors have been printed and baked on. The photos will only appear after hot water is poured them mysteriously vanish when heat expires. The mugs with these fantastic effects make great photo gifts as well. Companies can make use of these mugs to boost company�s repute.
When you want to give someone something with a personal touch, consider personalized photo mugs. Just pick out any photos that are special for both you and the receiver. This way you can let them know you are thinking of them every time they have their coffee. For someone living on a budget, these mugs are cost efficient yet effective.
Mugs have always been around to serve us. We use it everyday but most of us do not realize the ability of these simple everyday utensils that can serve as great gifts for those we cherish.
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Almeza MultiSet * Leader in Unattended Installation Windows and Software!
Almeza MultiSet * Leader in Unattended Installation Windows and Software!
by Abramovsky Ivan
Interview for the Krasny Software computer magazine:
The Almeza Company has developed several quite interesting programs. Its flagship product is the automatic Windows and software installer * Almeza MultiSet. That's what we will talk about. Ivan Abramovsky, the CEO of the Almeza Company, answers the questions.
Q: What tasks does your program solve?
A: First of all, Almeza MultiSet has been developed to solve the task of the automatic installation of Windows together with a set of necessary software. MultiSet can create a bootable installation disk that automatically installs Windows, service packs, necessary drivers and any other software (video codecs, file managers, players... anything) plus it can configure all software and tune Windows (all custom settings in the operating system)
Q: What are the main features of the program?
A: 1) Automatic Windows installation
2) Automatic installation of any software
3) Creating a bootable disk for automatic Windows and software installation
4) Automatically restoring software settings and tuning Windows
5) Remote automatic installation. For example, it is possible to automatically install software via the local area network.
We should also mention the features of the program that won it users' admiration:
* Convenient Wizards. Automatic installation disks are created with the help of convenient wizards.
* Ease of use. The program does not require any special knowledge (i.e. it has no special script language, complicated settings), everything is as easy as possible.
* Processing all installation procedures correctly: restarting the computer during automatic installation, entering registration keys, entering usernames and other parameters; processing nonstandard exception situations in an adequate manner.
Q: And what unique features does the program have?
A: * Ease of creating an automatic installation disk. Minimum time is required to get the disk ready.
* Unique algorithm. The unique algorithm makes automatic installation as fast as possible.
* Creating the automatic Windows installation disk and installing service packs, drivers, registry keys and any other software right after that. It is also possible to enable automatic configuration for software and Windows.
Q: What benefits do your users get?
A: First of all, some statistics. Let's calculate: Windows installation + driver installation + service packs + necessary software + restoring old software settings + general OS configuration * on average, an experienced system administrator spends more than 200 hours a year on all that (25 8-hour business days); a regular user spends more than 90 hours a year (11 8-hour business days). Almeza MultiSet needs not more than 45 minutes to install Windows and necessary software. At the same time, human attendance is not required because installation is fully automatic. All in all, Almeza MultiSet will save more than 20 business days a year for a system administrator and more than 11 days a year for a regular user.
Second, Almeza MultiSet creates bootable disks for the automatic installation of Windows and a set of necessary software, drivers, service packs. This disk can be used to reanimate the computer. MultiSet is a turnkey solution = insert the disk and the new operating system, drivers, service packs and any other necessary software will be installed on the computer and you can configure the operating system and the software at once.
And third, Almeza MultiSet restores the system without losing the current data! Unlike in case of cloning image disks.
Q: Who are your customers, what is the target group of your product?
A: Our users are people who value and save their time, people who are used to giving routine work to computers. By automating the process of restoring and configuring the computer, MultiSet helps our customers save time. Mostly, our customers are:
* administrators (system administrator, network administrators)
* computer first aid services
* customer technical support services
* individual users
* educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities)
* companies possessing a large number of computers.
Q: How is the product doing at the moment?
A: Currently, thousands of people use Almeza MultiSet in more than 60 countries: the USA, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, Austria, Argentine, Belgium, Turkey, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Jordan... The product is being constantly developed and improved, we extensively cooperate with our users and it allows us to know their needs. At the moment we are working on the next version of the program where we will implement new features and fix existing drawbacks.
Web:
http://www.almeza.com/
Download:
http://www.almeza.com/download/multiset.exe
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Making the Most of Holiday Leftovers
Making the Most of Holiday Leftovers
by Femi Cole
Holiday time means turkey, and turkey usually means leftovers. Now you can jazz up roast turkey and watch it disappear.
The Reuben Tortilla offers another opportunity to savor the holiday leftovers. It�s easy to make, and thanks to sauerkraut, it�s healthy.
Sauerkraut � traditionally a staple of German cuisine � contains chemical compounds thought to prevent several cancers such as colon, lung, and breast cancer. A Michigan State University women�s health study observed that Polish women accustomed to a lifelong sauerkraut-heavy diet were 74 percent less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than their American counterparts. The study was presented during the November 2005 American Association for Cancer Research�s �Annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research� meeting.
Once the leftover turkey and Reuben Tortillas are gone, take advantage of sauerkraut�s versatility and use it during your next holiday party as an ingredient in contemporary hors d�oeuvres such as Sauerkraut-Stuffed Mushroom Caps. Also, sauerkraut juice can be used to mix dirty martinis and Bloody Marys.
For more tasty and nutritious sauerkraut recipes visit http://www.sauerkrautnews.com.
REUBEN TORTILLA
4 8-inch whole wheat tortillas, softened
� cup fat-free Thousand Island dressing
4 oz. cooked turkey (and/or pastrami or corned beef)
4 slices (� oz. each) Swiss cheese
1 cup well-drained Silver Floss/Krrrrisp Kraut� or Silver Floss� Sauerkraut
Spread each tortilla with 2 Tbsp. dressing. Top with 1 oz. turkey, 1 slice cheese, and � cup sauerkraut. Fold opposite edges of tortilla over to cover filling. Roll up from one unfolded edge to the other, forming wrap sandwich. Microwave each 20 seconds to 30 seconds or serve at room temperature.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cook's Tip: Wrap these sandwiches in cooking parchment, foil, or plastic wrap for lunch on the go.
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Drinking Tea
Drinking Tea
by Kadence Buchanan
The second most consumed beverage behind water is tea. Interestingly enough the 3,200,000 tones of tea produced worldwide come from only one plant species, named "camellia sinensis." But how a plant becomes a beverage? Tea is made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush in hot water for a few minutes, a great variety of tea tastes, aromas and colors can excite even the more skeptical drinker. If you do like tea drinking, but simply never had the opportunity to learn more about it beyond the fact that you enjoy it, you should know that there are thousands of kinds of tea offered on today's market. Shades in flavor derive from the region of cultivation and the method of processing the tea leaves. It is the processing techniques that produce the four simple tea categories are considered the art of tea making. In its most basic form, processing is the taking of the raw green leaves and deciding whether or not, and how much oxidation (or fermentation) should take place before drying them out. Oxidation is the reaction of the enzymes contained in tea leaves when they are broken, bruised or crushed.
The first category is that of black tea. Black tea is nothing more than the leaves of the camellia sinensis after being exposed to 8-24 hours of open air. After the leaves are picked up they are spread out to let the water they contain evaporate. You have probably witnessed it happening to a flower that is left without being watered. The foliage curls up and begins to dry. After this part of the process, the tea leaves are balled into rolls that encourage oxidization. When fully oxidized, the leaves turn into a rich black color. Tea producers then put the tea leaves into the final drying period before sorting and packaging them.
Oolong tea is another tea category and is considered to be the most difficult of the four types of teas to process. The best way to describe oolong tea is that it is somewhere in between green and black tea. This is because the leaves are only partially oxidized during the processing. As with black tea, the leaves are spread out to dry for 8-24 hours, but after that, they are tossed about in a basket in order to create a bruising and partial exposure to the air. The final step involves steaming the leaves, which neutralizes the enzymes in the tea and prevents further oxidization.
Green teas, like white teas, are closer to tasting like fresh leaves of grass that the other two tea categories. This type of tea is also lower in caffeine and has higher antioxidant properties. The whole process of creating green tea revolves around preventing oxidization from taking place in the leaves. Though the tea leaves are sometimes laid out to dry for a few hours, then, in order to neutralize the enzymes and prevent further oxidation, the leaves are steamed or pan fried. It is this very technique which results in the preservation of the enzymes which have recently become the focus of medical research. After steaming, the leaves are rolled up, still quite green in color.
Finally, white tea has recently become a popular item in the west as it is the least processed tea and thus tastes the most like fresh leaves or grass. White tea is made of the little buds of the tea plant. Again like green tea, white tea is steamed or pan fried to prevent any kind of oxidization, and great care is taken to avoid bruising or crushing the tea. The dried buds have a silver-like appearance because the tiny white hairs of new growth are still present.
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Friday, May 9, 2008
From Green Coffee Beans To Aromatic Powder
From Green Coffee Beans To Aromatic Powder
by Roland Jefferson
Coffee does not exist in the form that we are used to purchasing it in at the stores. Coffee comes in the form of green coffee beans that grow on the coffee plant. These green coffee beans are then collected from coffee plantations and are sent to places to be roasted, ground and finely crushed to make the coffee powder that you are use to purchasing at your local store.
The Processes that Green Coffee Beans Undergo
There is a process that these green coffee beans must go through before they actually become coffee powder. Firstly, the beans must be picked from the coffee plantations. This is usually done by hand by laborers who get paid for each basket that they pick. Then, since coffee beans have a fruity flesh that directly wraps around the coffee bean, once they are gathered this flesh has to be removed right away. This is done by soaking the beans, scouring them and then mechanically rubbing the bean.
Once the green coffee bean is free from its fruity flesh it is then cleaned with water. This is done in order to remove any of the fruity flesh that may still be sticking to it, as well as any additional sugars that are on it. The beans are then dried by spreading them over a large concrete or rock plane where they are dried by a combination of the air and direct sunlight.
After the beans have been dried it is time for the beans to be put into categories that are based upon the color and the size of the coffee bean. Any beans that are discolored, decayed or damaged are removed from the other beans at this point.
When the beans are finally dried, they are then roasted. This process is important if you want an aromatic cup of coffee. At this time, the coffee bean will actually expands to nearly twice that of what its initial size was. It will also change color and density as it takes in heat. The color turns to yellow and then to a light cinnamon brown. At this point the coffee beans will start to crack, just like popcorn does. As coffee is grown in different parts of the world, varying climate conditions and other factors also play a role in how the beans are processed. The final product is then crushed into the savory coffee powder which we are accustomed to seeing.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008
Windows Vista: Secure Or Just Frustrating?
Windows Vista: Secure Or Just Frustrating?
by Christopher N. Goebel
Modern operating systems such as Mac OS X operate under a security model where even administrative users don't get full access to certain features unless they provide an in-place logon before performing any task that might harm the system. This security setup protects users from themselves, and it is something that Microsoft should have added to Windows several years ago.
Here's the good news. In Windows Vista, Microsoft is indeed moving to this kind of security model. The feature is called User Account Protection (UAP) and, as you might expect, it prevents even administrative users from performing potentially dangerous tasks without first providing security credentials. Sounds good, right? Before you agree, remember this is Microsoft we�re talking about. They made a royal mess of UAP.
The bad news, then, is that UAP is a sad, sad joke. It's the most annoying feature that Microsoft has ever added to any software product, and yes, that includes that ridiculous paperclip character from older Office versions. The problem with UAP is that it generates an unbelievable number of warning pop-ups for even the simplest of tasks. The frequency with which these warnings pop-up for the same action would be comical if it weren't so amazingly frustrating. One could almost laugh thinking of the millions of people rushing into computers stores to purchase a new PC preloaded with Vista, completely unaware of what they are getting themselves into. It�s almost criminal in its insidiousness.
To fully appreciate just how frustrating Vista�s implementation of UAP truly is, we�ll look at a simple example. One of the first things I do whenever I install a new Windows version is download and install Mozilla Firefox. Overlooking, for a moment, the number of warnings during the download/install process still leaves us with one glaring issue. Once Firefox is installed, there are two icons on my Desktop I'd like to remove: The Setup application itself and a shortcut to Firefox. I simply select both icons and drag them to the Recycle Bin. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Here's what you have to go through to actually delete those files in Windows Vista. First, you get a File Access Denied dialog explaining that you don't, in fact, have permission to delete a ... shortcut?? To an application you just installed! Seriously? OK, fine. You can click a Continue button to "complete this operation." But that doesn't complete anything. It just clears the desktop for the next dialog, which is a Windows Security window. Here, you need to give your permission to continue something opaquely called a "File Operation." Click Allow, and you're done. Hey, that's not too bad, right? What's the big deal?
What if you're doing something a bit more complicated? Well, lucky you, the dialogs stack right up, one after the other, in a seemingly never-ending display of stupidity. Indeed, sometimes you'll find yourself unable to do certain things for no good reason, and you click Allow buttons until you're blue in the face. It will never stop bothering you, until you agree to give up and leave that file on the desktop where it belongs. This will happen to you, and you will hate it.
The problem with Vista�s security implementation is that lots of warning dialog boxes don't provide security. Users get frustrated and eventually stop reading them altogether. They think of them as annoyances, an extra click required to get a feature to work. Is Windows Vista really more secure than the operating systems that preceded it, or simply more frustrating? Since Microsoft left us with no choice but to buy a PC with Vista pre-installed, we�re inevitably stuck with it. Let the frustration begin.
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Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
by Sarah Russell
It�s happened to me. About a year ago, someone got a hold of my bank card numbers. Fortunately, the crook made some international purchase which immediately clued me in and my bank was quick to settle the whole thing. But most people aren�t so lucky. Identity theft is a serious crime that�s growing each year. Victims of identity theft can spend months, or even years, trying to repair a ruined credit history, which can compromise your chances of getting a new job, a bank loan, insurance or even rental housing. Follow these steps to help keep your identity safe:
Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases
Check your receipts after making a purchase with your credit or debit card. In most cases, the printed receipt hides all but the last 4 digits of your credit card account number, but some terminals still print receipts that show all 16 digits of your account number and the expiration date. If you get one of these receipts, black out the numbers entirely before throwing it away � this is all the information a thief needs to make charges using your card. You're also permitted by law to hide the first 12 digits of your account number on any copies of the receipt that the seller keeps.
It�s especially important to keep tabs on your receipts at restaurants. Think about it � you pay for your meal and then leave the signed receipt on your table for the waiter to pick up. But in a busy restaurant, it�s easy for a potential thief to �accidentally� bump your receipt off the table (or just steal it) and get your information. If the restaurant�s receipt shows all of your account information, black out the first 12 digits of your credit card number before leaving the restaurant.
Do You Really Need To Give Your Social Security Number?
Be very stringent about who you give your social security number to. You�ll probably need to share your number when you apply for credit or for a bank account, but sometimes a store or an organization will want to use it as an ID number, simply to identify you within their system. This is not only dangerous � it�s illegal. The law says that social security numbers aren't to be used as ID numbers. If you�re ever unsure about giving out your social security number, ask if there�s an alternative � there is in most cases.
Destroy Documents That Contain Sensitive Personal Information
Buy a paper shredder and use it to destroy any documents that contain credit card numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers, your date of birth and any other personal information before throwing them away. Any credit card offers should also be shredded � thieves can fill out the applications and open a line of credit without you ever knowing. Don�t think that throwing out these documents is enough � identity thieves aren't above going through the trash to find information that can help them get credit in your name.
If The Worst Happens
If you do become a victim of identity theft, take the following steps immediately:
* Contact your credit card companies to let them know what�s going on, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.
* Place a fraud alert on your file with any one of the three major credit bureaus. The other two will be notified automatically.
* File a police report. You may need it to show to creditors as proof of the crime.
* File a complaint with the FTC, which maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.
It�s not fun to think about identity theft, but in this age of technology, you can�t afford not to. Identity thieves get smarter every day � just think of the recent rash of companies announcing that their client databases have been hacked into, exposing personal information. Some things are out of your control, but there are some simple precautions you can take to keep your personal information secured. Keeping your identity safe may be one of the most important things you do for your financial future.
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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.
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Efficient Use Of Your Home Freezer
Efficient Use Of Your Home Freezer
by Johnny Waymire
Your freezer is like a little city and you are a real-estate agent. The first thing you need to understand is property value. Don't worry there is no licensing exam required.
In real-estate there are many things that affect property values, but in your freezer there is just one. Temperature! In the same way that mild climates and good weather contribute to the high property values in coastal cities, maintaining the desired temperature is the ONLY determining factor in Freezerville. In real-estate you have probably heard that the three most important things are location, location, location. The same holds true in Freezerville.
You can break it down into three neighborhoods: the back of the freezer � the palatial estates and gated communities; the front of the freezer � nice neighborhoods with clean parks and �normal' sized houses; and the freezer door � the rough part of town where you hope your car doesn't break down.
The back of your freezer, or the palatial estates, keeps the most consistent temperature. It is not as affected by the door being opened throughout the day. This is where you want to have your "rich" foods � raw meat, ice-cream, baby food, etc. � anything that would go bad if it were to even partially melt. If you have a shelf in your freezer then you double the space in your high-rent district, as the back of both the bottom and top would be roughly as cold.
The front of your freezer, or the nice neighborhoods, stays pretty cool when the door is opened, but is directly affected by the rush of warm air when you open the door. This is a good place to keep fully cooked meats or snacks. Things like frozen taquitos, quiche, pizza rolls � products that were fully cooked and purchase frozen.
The freezer door is the bad side of the tracks, or in this case the wrong side of the warm air. Every time you open the freezer door the temperature of these items immediately begins to rise. The real problem is if the door remains open for a longer period of time, like when you are putting away groceries or staring blankly at the frozen bags trying to decide what to have for dinner. In that case the freezer will usually kick up its production of cold air, but since these items are hanging out in the warm air of the kitchen, they are usually too far away to benefit from the cool breeze blowing through the better neighborhoods.
These are the mean streets of Freezerville where only the hearty stock can make it: frozen veggies, flour, ice packs, etc. Even though the door seems like a place you wouldn't want Mr. and Mrs. Fudgebar to raise their ice cubes, remember that even the undesirable neighborhoods in Freezerville are prime real-estate. Don't let any of it go unused.
Just like people in a community contribute to the quality of the neighborhood, items in your freezer actually contribute to the cold. Once an item is frozen its cold temperature helps to maintain the overall temperature in the freezer. Leaving a lot of open space requires your freezer to work harder to create more cold air to circulate. When you don't have enough food to fill your freezer simply stock extra icepacks or plastic containers partially filled with water. That way, when you need the extra space for food, you can just store the icepacks/containers elsewhere until the freezer is low again.
Finally, remember that you don't want to oversell your space. When I say full I don't mean busting at the seams. You want to have space for the cold air to circulate through the freezer or it will also be inefficient. Make sure you can see to the back of your freezer, as this is where the cold air blows into the freezer, and you want it to make it all the way out to the door once it is closed.
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How To Walk Humans
How To Walk Humans
by Luke Marchant
The problem with many dogs nowadays is that they forget that a human is not just for Christmas, it is for life. Shortly after being born, many puppies (with the naivety and inexperience of youth, I must add) impulse buy a human. They seem to think that owning humans will be all play, forgetting that the first few months are the hardest and that they�ll have to work like a�hard worker.
This essential guide will help you through those first months and hopefully, provide all first-time people buyers with some invaluable insight into the bizarre workings of the human mind.
1. Entering the house. Once you walk into the �house� (an over-sized kennel), mark your territory immediately. Ideal locations for doing this include any expensive looking rugs or elderly relatives that are lying around. If the humans yell at you, do it again. It is important that you let them know who is boss.
2. Make yourself at home. Humans love home improvement, so try to add a bit of yourself to the house by altering the furniture. This is very easy to do, just nibble off the corner of a coffee table or scratch a door to pieces. Don�t be afraid to use your imagination and try something new; my personal favourite is moving lots of human food from the inside of their fridge to the adjacent floor. When the humans discover your work, make sure you sit next to it and wag your tail so that they realise whom to accredit the alterations to. If they become over excited, mark your territory.
3. Avoiding danger. Shortly after you have settled in your new home, many humans will come to visit you. However, you need to be careful as you will inevitably encounter �Children� (mini humans; remember, the smaller the human, the more dangerous they are). Many children will insist on attacking you; they�ll either rapidly tap you on the head or scratch your ear. This may be painful, or even just plain annoying, but please, please do not run away. Stay still (perhaps wag your tail as a sign of impatience) and pray that the mini-humans will lose interest. If you do attempt escape, the children will rapidly pursue you. Indeed, nature knows no worse predator than a determined mini-human. Upon cornering you, the children will awkwardly hoist you in the air and scratch/tap you some more. For emergency escape, mark your territory. The child will quickly abandon you. (This is not strictly true, the smallest mini-humans, the variety referred to as �Bairns�, �Babies� or �Li�l Tykes� will probably mark their territory as well and then continue harassing you. Whimper to let them know that they have won and they will hopefully abandon you)
4. New Tricks: The older you get, the harder these are to learn, but humans will try to teach you certain performance pieces. They will often spend seven laborious hours with you (one in human time) getting you to act like them for various delicious rewards. Remember: the more you fail, the bigger the reward. It is imperative that you let the humans know that you will only perform for them if they pay you with treats. The famous actress Lassie infamously forgot this golden rule. Apparently, she started off performing tricks such as �sit� without edible rewards, and before long was rescuing mini-humans from mine shafts for little more than an affectionate pat on the head.
5. Exercise: Take your humans for walks regularly. Humans are notoriously lazy so will need much encouragement. When walking, you will have your humans on a �lead� (a cable designed to enable dogs to tow and guide their humans to various destinations). The humans will frequently pull on this lead and slow you down, but you must not let them walk at a normal pace; they will not get proper exercise if they go too slowly.
Once you are off the lead, you must protect your humans from any passing cats or cyclists. Furthermore, many humans suffer from acute amnesia in open spaces. Indeed, they very often drop a ball or a stick on the walk, which you have to return to them. Moments later, they will drop the object again. Make sure you are patient and bring the discarded object back to them each time, otherwise they will forget it.
When you return to the house, demonstrate that you realise that you are home by marking your territory.
6. Conversational English: Here are a collection of human phrases that you will find useful (do not repeat them, humans find it disturbing if their canine owners talk back to them in the same language).
Sit! - Take the weight off your feet and rest on your haunches.
Dinner!� I have poured some dry, meat flavour biscuits into a bowl. Please try it. Din-dins!
Walkies!- Please take me outside.
Good Boy/Girl � Congratulations are in order.
Vet- Run for your life.
Wilma�s next article will be published soon. For the mean time, dogs are welcome to try her earlier work, the self-help book �Finding Your Inner Puppy�
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Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Ensuring Data Protection
Ensuring Data Protection
by Scott Elliott
All of us require computers be it for personal use or work, or for some commercial purpose. For the same reason, it is important to take precautions because data is prone to leakage. The situation is most risky when you use the Internet as well.
Think about what you experience when you lose important data. You cannot even sleep properly if your data is lost. It is thus essential to have regular backups done.
Nobody wants their personal and confidential information to be disclosed over the Internet but unfortunately with the growing use of computers these days, data is no longer secure. The size of your organization or business is hardly a concern. It doesn't matter if you are using your computer at home or in office. The only concern is data protection. It is a great challenge in itself to protect confidential data. It is also important to be aware of what exactly are the reasons behind these data loss.
Various tools are available in the market these days in order to protect your valuable data. Some of these are backups, firewalls and various protection software packages for viruses.
Negligence by an employee is one of the other reasons for data leakage. Thus, it is considered therefore that employees can prevent a major portion of this data loss. If the employee is equipped with basic knowledge about computers and are honest while performing their tasks, lots of important data can be prevented from getting lost. If some strong security system is not implemented, employees generally take this for granted and work carelessly. This may mean that confidential data is lost.
Here are some methods that would help to protect your data:
Encryption: You can protect your data using a technique called encryption. In this technique, data is encrypted or is converted into some code, which can be decoded by only those who know the key or the related password. These days with the availability of so many data encryption software in the market, you can choose any one of them to ensure safe transaction of data.
Backups: Backing up your data is one of the tools that you should always use in order to avoid any sudden data loss. It is most effective in case of data loss due to a sudden power failure. If you are performing regular backups, these situations can easily be avoided. There is no specified interval during which you are expected to perform a backup. However, once in a week is the least limit, though thrice a week is normally advised to perform these backups. The best thing would be to ensure back up on a daily basis. Confidentiality of your data is the only criteria to set the limit for these backups.
Firewalls: A layered type of system is followed when it comes to security. An operating system may also serve as protector of data or else a firewall may be used. Through firewalls, nobody can access your system without your permission. This way, your data becomes much safer. It is recommended to update your computer at regular intervals to maintain security in a more consistent manner.
With this helpful information, you can ensure that your data is protected and not lost.
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Of Course You Can Develop Products
Of Course You Can Develop Products
by Pat Wiklund
Virtually every One-Person Business owner I've worked with has both products and services. Some of them just don't realize what they have. Don't let thinking you only provide service, don't have products, or don't know how to get started, slow you down. Time to learn from OPE (other people's experiences).
Look at what your competitors and colleagues offer in addition to their standard/professional services. What do they offer on their web sites? What have they published? What complimentary materials do they offer clients and potential clients?
One client of mine was surprised to realize that one of the services she bundled into her consulting--documenting how and what she had been doing for the client, her processes and procedures--was as valued by her clients as her consulting services. She hadn't mentioned the documentation in her sales pitch, just added it to the deliverables at the end of the project. She didn't realize she could charge more because she was providing more service.
Develop products that sing to you. I love to write special reports, five - eight page expositions of a single topic or addressing a specific issue or question. Usually these come from issues or discussions that arise when working with my clients. As I puzzle out the answers, it becomes clear how helpful the information could be for others.
One colleague hates to write, but put her in front of a video camera and she comes alive! Most of her products are video based, not written. Another prefers to service her client base with teleseminars. All her products are recorded live with existing clients, and then bundled with excellent workbooks, real-time videos demonstrating step-by-step directions, and follow-up autoresponder series adding value and easily implemented next steps.
Develop products and services that fit your life and lifestyle. One seasoned professional loves nothing better than going to another part of the country, preferably for a long-term consulting assignment. She enjoys getting to know new people, places, and local highlights. Me? After doing that for more than thirty years, I'm ready to stay home with my cats, garden, and family, working more on the phone and the Internet.
Of course, your products have to fit your clients. If you are targeting high-end executive coaching, your most effective piece just might be a four-color, printed white paper, rather than a downloadable special report. Both the format and design of your products, and the fees you charge, should reflect market prices, and your marketing collateral and web site be congruent with your executive look.
If you're working with start-ups, you'll need a more aggressive look. With governments, stability and seriousness. With co-operative nursery schools, a playful, fun look might be more appropriate.
Whatever your business, your life style, or your client base, start developing the right product mix to leverage your impact on your clients and your bottom line.
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Why Are House Prices Still Being Misquoted - (Part Two)
Why Are House Prices Still Being Misquoted - (Part Two)
by amos graham
Three years ago, the State Government introduced a law that it said would stop this practice. It requires that estimates are based on what �a willing but not anxious buyer� would pay, and forbids agents from advertising for less than their own estimate. However, it does not attempt to define an underquote by percentage. As yet, not one agent has been prosecuted under the state law. It seems to me that this law is failing and it is time that the state government took action and began an inquiry into why this is occurring so frequently without any investigation.
It is obvious that this government legislation no facilities to solve the present problems. It is common knowledge that the Estate Agents Council has been asked to monitor the situation. Consumer Affairs Victoria has revealed that they would deal with complaints, however, industry sources say Consumer Affairs has done little beyond monitoring. Again, it comes back to buyer frustration and that is where the anxiety is. Of course, anyone in a service business understands that one should never want to estrange clients, particularly when they are sincere, genuine buyers.
Buyers with whom I have talked at auctions, know that they need to adjust to these real estate agents changing conditions and buyers experience in the market has taught them to add 20% to 25%, but when it becomes an outrageous amount like 40% or 50%, then buyers are becoming very annoyed. Looking online for genuine real estate can be difficult too, but to add to your search, why not login to http://reiv.com.au where they will assist and make sure that the property you are buying is the right one in terms of price, location, value, size, and lifestyle. The other site I highly recommend is http://OzFreeOnline.com where there are thousands of real estate ads, Australia-wide, and a real estate forum, which will help you get in touch with likeminded people, who have hints and tips you can exchange.
For me there is the emotional and rational side. I feel that house hunting is eating away at much of my life, and every time I feel as though I have a chance to buy within my price range, I have the rug pulled out from under my feet. It is positively exasperating and I feel the industry is treating potential buyers, just like me, with contempt.
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