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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