How to Choose Beginner Piano Lessons

Many people want to learn how to play the piano but do not know how to get started. If you are one of these folks, you are now closer to becoming a pianist.

This is with the help of free piano lessons online.
Read on to know how to choose the right piano class. Some pianists and would-be pianists play "by ear.

" They do not use music sheets but play music just by listening to it.

They can easily learn to play the piano even without formal training.
This is not always the case and playing "by ear" can be challenging.

If you want to be good at it, you must have enough training and background of music reading. How do you choose the right piano lesson? Perhaps the better question would be, "What makes great free piano lessons online?" An excellent piano class uses a combination of exercises and selection to develop your skills.
It should include basic theories on chord structure, tempo marking, and key and time signatures. According to experts, an effective piano lesson lets students enhance their skills to play be ear and sight read. Fortunately, you can find many websites providing free and paid piano lessons. Skill Level Your skill is one of the most important considerations when choosing your piano lessons.

You fall under the "beginner" category when you have little to no experience with the piano. In this case, beginner piano lessons are the best choice.
These lessons provide the necessary information for starters.
They may include a short history and description of the instrument.

Lessons for beginners may also have basic exercises.
Most users fall under the "intermediate" category.
These people can play simple music and have some knowledge on reading music sheets.
It is also easy to find lessons for these types of students. Other online free videos for learning focus to those who are in the "late intermediate" and "advanced" categories.

These are for those who can read music and play some songs already.
Such lessons aim to hone the skills of the pianist and introduce expert skills.

Free or Paid? Choose free lessons first. In most cases, you can learn as many skills from such classes as you would from fee-based lessons.
As long as you choose lessons that suit your skill level, you can successfully learn the art.

For beginners, go for lessons that are easy to understand.

You may encounter a number of terminologies, which piano professors and online channels should explain for your benefit.
The last thing you want to happen is getting lost in the middle of the lesson due to words you don't clearly understand.

Most free beginner piano lessons value the learning of the students by providing comprehensive step-by-step lessons. Start searching online for the right beginner piano professor.
Compare your choices wisely.
Playing the piano is a worthwhile activity and using free online lessons can be the start of learning it.

An Agile Leap of Faith

For me the hardest part of moving from a waterfall to an Agile environment has been the "What are they doing in there, anyway?" factor.

In a waterfall environment I received requirements documents that I translated into technical documentation that were in turn translated into time estimates.
There were meetings.
Lots of meetings.

Everyone signed off on everything after reviewing the documentation. Only after that process, which sometimes spanned months, did we start coding anything. After the code was written, it was reviewed and then shipped off to a QA division for testing. I recall this process taking well over 6 months on more than one occasion before a single line of code was written.

In Agile, most of that takes place in a span of about ten working days.

That span is called a Sprint. The design work is largely done during an all-day Sprint Planning session on the first day of the Sprint.
The customer drives the product through Sprint Reviews ten days later where they have the opportunity to actually use working software and tell you if you got it right. Nothing is presented to the customer until it meets the teams Sprint Definition of Done; no smoke and mirrors allowed. Documentation is still important but the emphasis is very much on working software.

All of the requirements documentation, technical specifications, code reviews, testing and high performance means absolutely nothing if your code isn't what the customer wants.
Consequently the Agile team works directly with the customer in two week increments to help ensure they're programming something with a high ROI. So. I said all of that to write about the "leap of faith" in the title post.
There's pride-of-ownership that develops on an Agile team that I've never seen form between people in a waterfall environment. I've worked with many, many talented developers who very much take pride in what they're working on (and come up with some of the greatest ideas I've seen) but they might be working next to someone who doesn't care-and in the end they both suffer the consequences vis-a-vis the product performance in the market place.
In Agile, everyone on a team is responsible for the code the team produces and it shows.

The trick is taking that leap of faith and letting the team work through issues themselves and help foster pride-of-ownership.

How? Don't direct the team to solve an issue a particular way because you become the person who's blamed when your way causes the project to fail.

Conversely, if the project succeeds the team can't take credit for actually solving a problem because you told them how to do it.
You lose either way.

You have to learn not to care so much about how they're doing something, only that the team is producing working software in a volume you, and more importantly the customer, is happy with. All Agile teams will get to things done a different way.

Sure, they're all going to be following the basic rules-standups, storyboards, sprint reviews, etc.

but each team will develop it's own culture; what works for one team won't work for all of them.
Give the team the tools they need to get the job done and get out of the way.

After-Prom Ideas For Conservative Teens

If you are a conservative or religious teen you may be wondering what you can do after prom.
As you already know, prom-night is notorious for hotel parties with plenty of alcohol and drugs.

Some prior planning can make a huge difference in your after-prom fun level.
Here are some ideas we've come up with: Dinner: If your prom isn't serving dinner then you should probably go out to dinner.

Decide on a restaurant with your date or a group.
Unless it's a fast-food joint you should probably make reservations a few weeks ahead of time.
Weekends are usually busy for restaurants but weekends during prom season are even more busy.
It's no fun to wait an hour for a table, so plan ahead.
  Since you're already dressed to turn heads it's fun to go to a fancy restaurant even if you can only afford to order an appetizer or dessert.
Activity: Some popular after-prom activities are playing miniature golf, going to a comedy club, playing pool, bowling, going to a movie, playing video games, or just going to the mall to parade around in your fancy clothes.

After-Party: A fun and inexpensive way to hang out with your date or group of friends after prom is a prom after-party.
Do any of your friends have a huge TV, game room, swimming pool or a jacuzzi? When you find a home, ask the parents if you can have exclusive use of the common areas for the night, meaning the grownups will be there but they won't compete with you for use of the facilities. More importantly, they'll keep younger children from bothering you and your date or group.
Make sure the parents know the party will go very late, and get them to agree to stay up the whole time.

If the parents will be there and be awake the whole time your friends' parents will be more likely to let them come.
Use these ideas as a springboard for planning your own after-prom fun. Who knows? You might have more fun after prom than you did at the prom!

Getting a Job As an IT Specialist

An information technology specialist job and a career in IT essentially demands you to be well conversant with how computers work and while at the same time you should enjoy helping others. Without these basics in place, you may not be a best fit for the job.

An IT specialist, who is also commonly known as a computer support specialist, is responsible for helping internal or external clients in resolution of problems in computer.

Generally, computer support specialists need to support their clients, which may include business houses, healthcare clinics or hospitals, schools, government offices, etc, over email, phone, or visiting the client home or office.

He or she may be expected to walk the client through with basic steps to resolve common computer problems.

It is common for clients to ask their support personnel to help them with common computer hardware, operating system, and programs.
Many a times an IT Specialist may need to work over nights, weekends, or be available on call.

In order to get a job as an IT Specialist the most obvious skills is none other than the customer services skills. These skills are to be coupled with computer skills specially ability to fix computer hardware and software problems, especially remotely.

Hence, you may be expected to have a great listening skill and be able to keep calm even with the difficult clients and difficult to resolve problems.

Having understood the behavioral skills, an IT specialist may also be required to have an associate degree as per the requirements laid out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science may be an expected or desired qualification by many employers.
Similarly, training in communication or psychology may be of great help.
Even though, there may be a preference given to an educationally qualified individual, it is not mandatory that you must have an associate or bachelor's degree. Even if you have done some of the certifications in hardware, networking, and Windows/Linux OS you are good to start your career as an IT or computer support specialist.
The candidates background in computer skills, behavioral factors, and experiences go a long way in deciding his or salary levels as a computer support professional. The IT specialist jobs are ever increasing in numbers. It is expected to multiply manifold in next few years. With advancement of complex work environment, ever-increasing number of applications and newer hardware the need for skilled IT specialists is expected to increase manifold.

Make Your Own Medusa Costume

We only have few days before the Halloween season.
You better think of a dashing outfit now that would make people want to be YOU in this event. One of the hardest characters or costume to dress this Halloween is the serpent-lady Medusa but here are some ways on how to make your own eye catching Medusa costume for this holiday.
Checklist: 1. Make-up 2. Serpent Hair 3. Dress 4. Shoes 5. Other Accessories Make-Up There is no need to buy face paint for your make-up. Your usual make-up kit would do as long as you have those green, gray and black colors.

It would take time for you to master the Medusa look but practice will always make it perfect.

Serpent Hair This is the most important part of the character.
You could actually don any gown as long as your hair has snakes.

It is would be hard to look for the hissing snake headdress even in Halloween costume stores.
Therefore, the best medusa hair is the home made stuff.
You could create a hair out of paper mache. Be patient and creative.
Creating a Medusa Headdress will just take a few research and practice.

Dress This is actually the easiest part of the whole ensemble. You could wear whatever outfit you like.

There is no such thing as "I don't have a Medusa dress". You could be a Greek Medusa or a modern Medusa.
You could wear tight fitting black dress or tights and look like the bad character in those cartoon hero movies.

Shoes You could actually just match any shoes with this costume as long as they match the dress.
The safest footwear though is the gladiator sandals that are currently in style. You will just have to be careful on the color combination with black as the safest-of course. Accessories Just be imaginative and wear those jewelries that you already have with you. There is no need to buy new set of bangles or earrings just to look like a serpent.
Like I have mentioned before, it is in the hair.
Accessories are just to make it more eye-catching.

Even green and black ribbons will do.

Wrap them around your wrist or as extensions of your gladiators. Just be creative, anyway it is Halloween.

Painting With Children

Children love color and the best way to introduce color is by using and mixing paint. You may think painting with children sounds daunting, but it is possible to teach children to paint when given the right tools and directions. Expecting to produce a good painting with a cheap watercolor paint set is not the answer.
The brush is poor quality and much too small.
The paint color is too light. Tempera is a good alternative and the colors are thicker and richer. First you need to purchase: Flat brushes Round brushes (tear drop shapes) Tempera Paint in bottles of the primary colors, red, blue, yellow as well as white, brown, and black Paper plate to be used as a palette Plastic tub like a used plastic butter or yogurt carton for water,paper towels Start by covering the table with newspaper or plastic cloth.

Fill up the tub with water and squeeze out paint on to your paper plate. Teach the child how to use the brush.

Many children will swish the brush side to side when they first start to use it.
It takes showing them often to change this kind of brushing.

It will not produce good color and usually gives the painting a messy look. Show them how to wash the brush after using one color to keep the colors pure.
Have them dip into the paint, brush on to the paper and then wash the brush.

Illustrate that the brush should not be pushed down too hard on to any surface because it ruins the hairs.
After washing they are to dab slightly on to a paper towel to remove too much water.

Then pick up another color To mix colors, one of the primary mistakes is to add a light color to a darker color. For example, when mixing white and red to make a pink, do not start adding white to a large area of red.

It will take much more paint than is needed because of the intensity and darker nature of the red color. Put the white down on the palette and add a small amount of red to the paint a little at a time to achieve the color you want.
To mix the primary colors such as red with yellow, put your yellow down first (the lightest color in the mixture) and then add the red.

If you want to keep the red pure then wash the brush before mixing again.

These colors will produce orange and adding more or less of each will produce either a yellow orange or red orange.
At this point if you add any blue, your color will become more and more brown.
Tempera colors can become muddy if the mixture is not done properly so try to keep the children from mixing all the primaries together. Instead of trying to produce a "picture" of something, explore different lines and shapes while trying out the paint and brushes.
In this way, there is no frustration on the part of the child to produce something recognizable. It frees the child to experiment with color.

Begin a short session in painting and you will find your child truly enjoying not only the process but also the creative aspects of painting.
To further develop your children's painting, look for other articles about projects for painting with children.

Dungeons and Dragons Tactics - How to Play the Game to Win

If you are keen on learning more about dungeons and dragons, you likely do want to learn more about D&D tactics.
Through this informational article, you are provided with a look at D&D strategys that can serve you well and aid you in becoming a better player at this enjoyable and challenging game. When it comes to Dungeons and Dragons strategy, the first set of D&D tactics that you will want to make sure that you master are secrets. On so many levels, ultimate success in D&D strategys depends upon a complete and essential mastery of secrets.
Of course, in considering vital Dungeons and Dragons tactics, you also need to pay attention to the crucial and fundamental issue of character generation. The manner in which you generate, craft and then create your character is paramount to your overall ability to enjoy true and ultimate success in this challenging gaming endeavor. Spells and enhancements are also vital when it comes to developing your own set of Dungeons and Dragons tactics.

These can take practice and some time to better master.
The same actually holds true when it comes to your D&D strategys efforts at development of feats.

Beyond what has already been mentioned in regard to Dungeons and Dragons tactics, you also need to be able to refine and advance your abilities as the same pertain to combat strategy. In this regard, on some level, you will have the best success at advancing in combat strategy (and in regard to your overall D&D strategy efforts) through progression charts and through the grounded use of quest maps and related applications.

There are three primary books that guide the play of dungeons and dragons. Of course, when it comes to D&D tactics, it is important for a player to familiarize his or her self with these three books: The Player's Handbook, The Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual. In June, 2008, the fourth edition of dungeons and dragons will be introduced onto the market.

With this addition, it is anticipated that there will be more extensive online support for players of the game.

Through this enhanced online support that is anticipated in 2008, yet another resource for D&D tactics will be available to players the world over.
Finally, when it comes to dungeons and dragons tactics, there are some very practical resources available to a person beyond what has been discussed thus far in this article.
For example, at the present time that are quite a number of websites dedicated to the game up and running on the Net today.

One of the common features of these sites that are devoted to dungeons and dragons are forums and chat rooms. Through these forums and chat rooms avid fans of D&D come together and share strategies and tactics with each other.
In point of fact, when it comes to the matter of D&D strategys, these Internet forums and chat rooms really have become primary information exchanges for the ardent players of this extremely popular game.
(You need to understand that experts estimate that 5.

5 million people regularly play D&D today.
That number is expected to increase with the release of the fourth edition of the game later in 2008.)

An Accredited Online College Degree Can Enhance Your Career Prospects

There are some things about the business world that do not figure to change much over the next few years.
One of those is that if you want to advance through many companies, you have to have the credentials to do it. The problem for many people is that they have the skills and they have shown themselves to be highly capable, but they don't have the degree to go along with it.

Unfortunately for those folks, companies will usually demand a degree in order for you to make moves.

As useless as this might be, it is the way things work in today's business world.
For folks who are already working, this can create quite a problem. You obviously cannot drop everything and go back to college. This is especially true if you have a family to support or you are locked in to your current career path. This means that you will need to look to some other alternatives in order to get where you need to be.
Getting an online college degree is the perfect answer, as it allows you to get the paper that you need, while not having to completely change up how you live your life right now. Many people shy away from online degrees, because they are unsure of how legitimately respected these degrees are.
What you should know is that this is not a valid concern at this point in time.

Employers respect online degrees as much as they respect degrees from four year universities.

When you show up with a degree in hand, you will have just as good of a chance to land a job as the guy who has a degree from his local college.

Additionally, you will have a chance to move ahead of that guy by working while you get your degree from the online college.
Online college degrees are nice because they can be completed from pretty much anywhere and you can do them at your own pace.
You need to take your education seriously, but it has to be done alongside your career goals.

The online programs will allow you to focus specifically on the things you need to learn in order to advance, while allowing you to not get bogged down in some of the things that a typical college offers.
It is the best of both worlds and the perfect way to improve your career prospects.

Sun Hats on Children - Is it Worth the Battle?

Getting a child to wear a sun hat can be a real battle.

Some kids hate them and will thwart any attempts by concerned parents to cover their heads.

It can turn into a real summertime war.
So, does it really matter if your son or daughter goes bareheaded in summer at midday? The recent drive to get young people to cover their heads in the summer is part of a growing response to the awareness of the damage of UV rays. There has been substantial research into the effects of early exposure to solar radiation, and the consensus is that sun damage in youth is a cause of melanoma (skin cancer) later in life and that up to eighty percent of skin damage, due to UV exposure, is done before the age of 18.

People with melanoma are twice as likely to have suffered at least one bad sunburn during childhood.

The number of people in the UK developing melanoma has quadrupled since the 1970s; mirroring the growing up of the tan-worship generation.
Common sites of skin damage and skin cancer are the neck, ears, temples, lips, face and nose.

It is enough to make you reach for your panama. Certainly the government thinks the danger is real enough to fund the Sun Smart campaign, which launched in 2003 through Cancer Research UK and provides guidance to families and schools on UV protection. Included in this, is advice to Governors of UK schools to encourage pupils to wear wide brimmed or legionnaire style hats when outside.

So, if the battle to get your kids to wear a hat is worthwhile, how do you win the battle? You can take away their choice, as they do in Australia and New Zealand where culture dictates that kids cover their heads in the summertime.

'Downunder' you don't negotiate: the common rule is your son or daughter covers up or doesn't go out.

Most schools include hats as compulsory school uniform. Everyone wears one, it becomes habit, the battle is won.

Alternatively, you give them a choice. The Australian Cancer Council recommends three styles of head cover to offer optimum sun protection: legionnaire; broad brimmed or bucket, all of which provide good shade to the face (they don't recommend baseball caps, which don't cover ears or neck).

There is a huge variety of good quality sun hats in these styles available on the high street and from specialist websites. Let your child make the choice to choose and wear a style they like - The battle is won. Children get into the habit of flipping on a legionnaire or bucket cap in the summertime, it becomes part of their summer culture. And as a new generation of young people grow up with UV awareness as part of their lifestyle, we should, in time, see a drop in the numbers of adults suffering skin cancer.

The Advantages Of A Helicopter Toy

A helicopter toy is so versatile and there a literally models out there to interest 8 month to 80 year olds.

It is quite amazing to see so many different varieties of helicopters that can bring joy to such a diverse age group.
Naturally the 8 month old gets to have a plastic or even wooden model of a helicopter. The 2-3 year old gets the concept of a helicopter flying, just like a car goes vroom vroom on a surface. There are also jigsaw puzzles of helicopters to interest a 4 to 14 year old (maybe even up to 80).
The famous Tomas of Tank Engine fame now has Harold The Helicopter! Lego also has variations of helicopters you can build and I'm sure other well known 'brick building' companies that are similar to Lego.
Of course there are games involving helicopters for all ages.
Still what we usually mean with a helicopter toy is a remote controlled helicopter and it is amazing how little such a helicopter can cost - prices start around $25.

From ages 8 to 80 this is for you! Many of these helicopters are for indoor flying only.
They are often only around 8 ounces in weight and not powerful enough to manage outdoor flying conditions (wind, turbulence, etc.

).
They are great, however, at navigating around the home or better still an empty garage.
The home is usually fraught with difficulties like light fixtures, window coverings, etc. so a garage without the car would offer a better flying environment. At least at first when your level of expertise is at a very low level.
What usually happens is that the 8 year old is very enthusiastic but often down at heart if he or she can't manage the helicopter how he would like it and isn't so much into practice until perfect mode.
This is where the adult (usually the dad) comes in to help and supervise. At this stage it can happen that both son and father get hooked on flying helicopters around! Most serious helicopter toy manufacturers like Syma and Gaui not only produce great helicopters but usually have all spare parts available for purchase too. You will usually need to take advantage of this throughout your sojourn in the helicopter field.
There are so many models that you often end up with several. There are also larger, heavier models specifically for flying outdoors.
There are even remote control helicopters with cameras attached. It is an exciting hobby that brings you into the heady fields of aerodynamics and being ultimately conversant with many technical aspects.

So you see a helicopter toy really can follow you along your life's path and give you many hours of enjoyment.

Three Reasons To Love Children's Wooden Playhouses

Every kid on the block with a playhouse has a standard-issue plastic or resin product that probably came right off the floor of a major toy store.

There is nothing necessarily wrong with those playthings, but you might be interested in doing something a little different. You might be thinking about flexing your do-it-yourself muscles and entering the world of children's wooden playhouses. Some people will undoubtedly consider the idea of building a wooden playhouse too much effort.

Those who can handle basic construction, on the other hand, will recognize children's wooden playhouses as an opportunity to create something very special. Let us look at three reasons to love a wood playhouse.

This list is not comprehensive, but it does point out three reasons why so many people find the prospect of building a playhouse made from wood for their children enticing. First, you can create something very special for your child or children. A wooden outdoor playhouse will be unlike all of those other plastic options.

It will be more realistic, offering your child a chance for some great play opportunities.
There is no place like home and there is no place like the kind of mini-home you can create for your child.
Second, children's wooden playhouses can blend seamlessly with your home and landscaping in a way that a collection or rounded, plastic parts simply cannot rival.
The playhouse can reflect the style and color of your real home, for instance.

It can also match other playground equipment, out buildings or any particular architectural form that might be readily associated with your landscaping.
If you are concerned about the look of your backyard, the idea of a wooden playhouse will undoubtedly be of interest. Third, children's wooden playhouses are customizable.

Is your child fascinated by cooking? You can create a wood playhouse with a large, specially designed faux kitchen.
Is your child more likely to spend his or her time in the playhouse with action figures or dolls? You can create a larger open space complete with a built-in storage box.
If you live in colder environment, you can build a well-insulated unit.
If you live in an area where the summers seem to rage forever, you can use plans for playhouses with extra ventilation and superior air flow. If you are good with tools, you can create a great custom-play area for your children! Those are just three of the reasons why you might fall in love with children's wooden playhouses. Some people may be more than happy with the standard plastic options, but others will see wood as a great chance to do something very special. If you're good with your hands and are willing to put in the time and effort necessary, you may decide that a wood playhouse will be a perfect gift for your child.

Creative Games For Children

Games and childhood always go together.

Kids use creative games and play in order to learn and acquire new skills.
Creative learning games help them to handle difficult situations and to have lots of fun at the same time. Most kids will create their own games and every new idea is always welcome.
Every child is born with a creative potential.
It is the parents' responsibility to nurture their children with the right creative games that will improve a child's creativity and the ability to interact.

Although parents must be responsible for the safety of a child during playtime whilst allowing some leeway for learning to take place. It is a difficult thing to try to balance. This will allow the child to be more imaginative and it will help them to learn to do things on their own.

Creative and dramatic play is one of the best ways for kids to express themselves.
They are free to express the way they feel inside.
Every day, children tend to imitate animals, machines and older people.

It helps them understand and work within their environment. Parents can encourage their children with toys and games. They should choose the right types of toys and games for their age range.
Examples of simple yet creative games for kids include reading a story and acting it out after wards. This helps to enhance a child's ability to imagine and portray basic roles in life.
Most creative learning games for kids' games require physical energy and movements. Most of these games should be played outdoors. Parents should always remember that playing should always be fun and memorable.

If the usual games you play with your kids seem boring and tiresome then why not try the games listed above and let your creativity take over.

These creative games for kids will surely make every child's day fun and enjoyable.

Every human, especially a child, is born to play and have fun.

It is one great way for a kid to interact with other kids.

Playing is a source of relaxation whilst simultaneously being a source of stimulation of one's brain and body.
Playing creative games for kids is a sure way to develop a child's creativity, imagination, problem-solving skills and mental growth and awareness. So when it's time for you to choose your children's birthday gifts it is always a good idea to choose wisely and really start to think about the types of creative learning toys that would benefit them the most. Learning is certainly fun with creative learning toys and games.
You can't go wrong if you purchase brand names from reputable toy stores.

Is The Cloud Right For Your Business?

Many large technology giants are pushing cloud services as the next big thing. They promote these services to be some sort of panacea for small and medium-sized business owners.
The promise is that companies can reduce costs and enjoy leading edge software and other virtualization by sharing these services in the cloud.

The objective is to greatly reduce the expenditures involved with desk-by-desk purchases for office, CRM and other products. Long-term it provides a savings for on-site server upgrades and maintenance. For those not familiar with the cloud, the wiki dictionary defines it as "the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet".

) End users can access cloud-based applications through a web browser or a light-weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and user's data are stored on servers at a remote location.
Many claim that cloud computing allows enterprises to get their applications up and running faster, with improved manageability and less maintenance. They say it enables IT to adjust resources more rapidly to meet fluctuating and unpredictable business demand. How does it work? Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale similar to a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network.

The foundation of cloud computing is the broader concept of converged infrastructure and the sharing of services.

Four types of cloud computing are available to meet most business needs.

One is the Public Cloud. Public cloud applications, storage, and other resources are made available to the general public by a service provider.

These services are free or offered on a pay-per-use model with access only available through the Internet.

Another is the Community Cloud.
The Community Cloud shares infrastructure between several organizations from a specific community with common concerns.

They are managed internally or by a third-party.
The costs are spread over fewer users than a public cloud (but more than a private cloud), so only some of the cost savings potential of cloud computing are realized.
The Hybrid Cloud is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together, offering the benefits of multiple models. By utilizing "hybrid cloud" architecture, companies and individuals are able to obtain local usability without dependency on Internet connectivity.
Hybrid cloud architecture requires both on-premises resources and off-site (remote) server-based cloud infrastructure.

Finally there is the Private Cloud.

It is cloud infrastructure operated solely for a single organization, whether managed internally or by a third-party. It is hosted internally or externally.

Undertaking a private cloud project requires a significant level and degree of engagement to virtualize the business environment.
When it is done right, it can have a positive impact on a business, but every one of the steps in the project raises security issues that must be addressed in order to avoid serious vulnerabilities.
While the cloud has some benefits for email, marketing campaign tools (such as e-newsletters), Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM) and office applications, maintaining an entire network in the cloud is still cost-prohibitive.
Based on today's pricing structures a more efficient option is for a small to medium-sized business to purchase their own hardware and have it co-located at a data center or on the premises of the company.

The concept of virtualization (one physical computer with many virtual servers running on it), would provide a cost savings if a company were to build out the infrastructure themselves. Purchasing virtual servers from a large corporation like Amazon is still a more expensive offering.

Regardless of which direction a business chooses they must be managed by skilled engineers. For smaller companies establishing or maintaining a relationship with an IT or Managed Network Services firm is appropriate to analyze and recommend which facets of the cloud are appropriate for their needs.
In addition the IT firm can oversee cloud functions and provide day-to-day technology assistance such as 24 x 7 remote support, unlimited on-site support, a help desk, and even a Virtual CIO.
Larger organizations can take advantage of the tech firm's team of engineers and utilize their knowledge and skill set to assist with any transition whether it includes complete virtualization or the development of a Hybrid Cloud model. While the cloud is well publicized and certainly appealing, it may not be appropriate nor economical for every organization.
Business owners should consult with a technology professional to determine if the cloud is a good fit for their business operations.

Affordable Online Accounting Degree Programs Make "Cents" in Current Economical Status

An affordable online, or distance learning, accounting degree program makes sense now for many reasons.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that this employment sector is expected to grow by 2.2 million between 2004 and 2014. Accounting is one of the more protected industries in the current economical climate. There is a need for accountants whether a business is growing or closing.
And the most sure thing is "death and taxes", so the need for accountants continues.

Accountants are need to advise businesses about their current standings and to assist in these difficult time. Online accounting degree programs allow a working person, or an unemployed person to pursue a degree wherever there is a computer to work on.
A good online degree website will provide information about potential financial aid to help cover the costs of the courses. President Obama's proposed relief package includes a focus on higher education in the form of an 8 million dollar increase in money for Pell Grants.

Online students can qualify for these funds.
Obviously a financially secure future includes higher education Accounting remains one of the top five stable careers, even today.
Industry, computer operations, pharmaceutical positions, and the aerospace industry are taking the biggest hits in this economy.
Starting an affordable online accounting college course is one way to take a positive step forward in this changing  economy.

Academic advisors and technical support are available at many colleges and universities to assist online college students. An online college or university website will provide potential online students with the resources they need to choose the program that will work for them.

Avoiding Accidents in the Home

Young children spend the majority of the first years of their lives in their home, as a result this is also where the majority of accidents to young people occur.
Here are some tips to keep kids safe in the home. Children should never be left alone in the house.

Young children should not be left alone in a room where there are dangers such as mechanical appliances, fires, or heaters.
All fires should have secured guards, which prevent the children from coming within reach.

Children's clothing should be non-inflammable, and they should wear pyjamas rather than nightdresses as these are more tight fitting and less likely to brush against an open flame. Saucepans on stoves should have the handle turned away from the room. Kettles and teapots should not be left near the edge of the table or within reach of young children.
Ensure that any power cords are also kept out of kids reach, as they can pull boiling kettles on top of them.

Anything which is dangerous must be kept out of reach of small children at all times; for example, matches, scissors and knives, plastic bags and cleaning fluids.
Medicines and tablets should be locked in a cupboard out of reach.

No poisonous fluids should be put into lemonade or milk bottles, as these can easily be mistaken for drinkable fluids by young kids.
A playpen helps to keep a small child safe, there should be plenty of toys to distract them from playing with dangerous things.

Toys for small children should be large, and not have small detachable parts which they can put in their mouths.
They should also be guaranteed a safe from other dangers such as poisonous lead paint. It is a good idea to place bars on the upper floor windows if they are easily opened, and there should also be a gate at the top of the stairs while children are young.

As soon as they are old enough to understand, children should be taught to avoid dangers.

For example, they can be taught not to eat poisonous berries in the garden, and not to touch things such as matches and scissors.

Giving Children the Mathematical Advantage

Learning to Love Math Math can be a difficult subject both to learn and to teach. Learning math is similar to trying to chase a chicken.
Though it does not seem to be useful to the general pubic, it is very useful in an indirect way.
It is important to develop the knowledge and appreciation of math at an early age. It is when a student discovers a problem that they want to answer that math becomes exciting.

Simple interactions of puzzles, games and patterns all help to make math fun. Mathematical Environments Setting the right atmosphere to learn math is imperative.

At a small age, we give children blocks to play with.
Children will sit for hours playing with these blocks and marveling at what they can make with them. Playing with blocks increases spatial ability and will impact mathematical success in the future.

Any sort of building blocks, cubes, dice, beads, etc.
will assist in spatial awareness. Rubik cubes, puzzles and tangrams teach how fitting objects together relates to patterns and numbers within the world around us.
Being able to decipher the language of math and relate it to themselves is an important building block.

It is this creative mind that brings math into focus and leaves children wanting more.

More Puzzles Puzzle questions create the reasoning children need to solve a problem.
A great puzzle which is in the movie Die Hard with a Vengeance is shown with liters.

Given a 5-liter jar, a 3--liter jar and an unlimited supply of water, how do you measure 4 liters exactly? These type of puzzles are both mathematical and logical and can be completed as a hand-on activity.

These teach both thinking and reasoning as well as how to make sense of the situation.
This type of informal and critical thinking, is transferred over to real life and more benefits are later discover.

Problem solving skills will help us improved both with everyday life situations and even extracurricular actives. Think about how many sports are play where math is used.
Even other types of games such as pool and poker take a mathematical advantage against ones opponent. Just ASK! Asking is the best way to learn.
When a child ask a question, it is OK to deviate from the problem and explore patterns and relationships. You can generalize and problem solve outside of the original questions.
This is a great way to learn and apply math. Math is easy to forget.
Do you remember the formula for circumference? What about the quadratic formulas? It is important to create flexibility in math. Children decompose and recompose numbers differently. Though math solutions are consistent, getting the answers are not. Take the following example: 15 x 5 One student may need a pen and paper to compute the answer.
Another child may calculate within their head, 10 x 5,=50 and 5 x 5=25 therefore; 50+25=75 Additionally, another child may use fingers and count by 5's all the way to 15.
The point here is that each student will still get the same answer.
Do not restrict children on learning math only one way.
You must present the advantage and allow them multiple ways to get the answers as this will sharpen their mental math skills. Take a Foreign Lesson The opportunity to learn math is global.
It is assumed that other countries outside of the United States fair higher in math.
The reality is that other countries impose math heavily and consistently with higher standards in relation to the United States.

You do not have to wait until kindergarten to teach your child numbers and addition.

You also do not need to wait until high school to learn algebra and calculus.
Children are capable of learning deeper math concepts than usually assumed. Everything in math is both concrete and abstract. It does not take a month to learn math, it takes years.

One must practice and continue to educate and develop their reasoning and awareness to properly solve equations.

Early exposure allows the mind to process the skills needed to both proceed and succeed.

Their are no limits in math.
Math builds on a set of knowledge, each concept relating to skills the children already have.

If a child always has the means to learn math, they merely need the education to obtain it.

Everyday children are thriving to learn.

Math is present in everyday activities including cooking, playing, running errands, driving, listening to music and more.
Incorporating math concepts is easy, but remember to keep the conversations light hearted and matter of fact.

The more you chose to introduce math, the more your child benefits. Give your child the mathematical advantage and create the fundamental skills needed for future success.

Job For 14 Plus - Highest Paying Teen Job

The idea of being hired and able to earn money can be exciting to a young teen.
Often times, they are eager to be employed not knowing the duties and responsibilities of the job.

If you have a youngster at home who are itching to earn his or her own money, be sure to remind him/her to make some background investigation of the job they want to apply for. They can be enticed to accept a job that gives them as high as $150 an hour and yet the task may be daunting and requires backbreaking labor.

In your search for jobs for 14+ - highest paying teen job, it is important that you know the responsibilities enclosed and its corresponding amount of wages.

For sure, the very first job that can come into our minds is babysitting. It has been a very common part-time job for teenagers. However, it can be a difficult task because they will be taking care of babies and toddlers and the wage may not be as good as we expect.

Another job may be is to work as a pizza delivery boy but this is only a job for boys.
The work may be rewarding especially if the tips are abundant, otherwise its wage rate may be as low as the babysitting job.

On the other hand, working as a waiter or waitresses in a fast food chain or restaurant can be rewarding particularly the handsome tips given by customers.
Aside from this job, the highest paying job for a teenager is filling up surveys forms issued by various companies over the internet.

It's easy and does not require you to stand for long hours or do some difficult task.

Why Boot Camps Don't Help Struggling Teens

You've undoubtedly seen them on television: Boot camps designed to "scare straight" troubled teens by teaching them lessons in "discipline" and "consequences". They make great programming. After all, they're confrontational, emotional and wildly different from the norm.

For some, the appeal is watching one of those "smart-aleck kids" receive a come-uppance. For others, it's riveting because they are dealing with an at-risk child and are desperately searching for an answer. Unfortunately, these boot camps really don't help struggling teens. While some participants may make some progress, these programs can often do more harm than people think and they often fail to produce any lasting or meaningful change.
The idea is simple.

By showing the kids the consequences of disobedience within a strict environment and confronting them with challenges that demonstrate their lack of invincibility, boot camp faculty hope to reinforce the idea that it's important to respect authority and to teach students an object lesson in the negative consequences of defying it.
They also believe that challenging the children can give them some sense of personal accomplishment and more belief in their abilities. The problem? It just doesn't work.

Struggling teens may be dealing with a host of issues, but they're not stupid.
They can quickly learn "the rules of the game" and they'll be more than happy to fake their way through a temporary period of playing by those rules in order to avoid punishment. They know what to say and how to say it, too. They might not be able to verbalize the underlying logic of the boot camp accurately, but they can certainly sense its purpose and how to skirt its ugliest components.

When the exercise is over, what really changes? Very little.

The drill instructor is gone. The cold nights of open camping are just a story to tell others.
They lasted through a boot camp and they utilized their manipulative skills to graduate with honors.

The experience doesn't necessary change their outlook on the world or the way they see themselves.

Real help for struggling teens involves more than yelling, screaming and strict enforcement of behavioral expectations.

It requires giving kids the space for real introspection, learning and personal growth in a supportive and therapeutic environment. Boot camps make for interesting afternoon talk show fodder, but they don't permanently changes lives as often as their directors would like you to think.

Religious and Theological Studies at a Glance: Best Colleges

Some of the best colleges you could enroll in and get your graduate or undergraduate degree are not necessarily those that rank highest in certain charts or lists built by prestigious magazines or institutions, but rather those colleges that can provide you with the correct educational environment you need and deserve. There are plenty of factors to compile and compare before you can make an honest decision based on facts and desires. Factors such as levels of tuition and fees, on-campus or off-campus expenses and future career and job opportunities should rank highest on your decision-making list. Like stated before, there are plenty of lists and charts you could consult and create an opinion based on the numbers you should be able to find at the end of a simple search on your favorite search engine. Whether you are prone to opt for an online or an offline college, it is entirely up to you.
The college market knows exactly what you need and is quick to provide you with the college experience of your choice. For instance, Hesser College can offer you some intriguing programs, such as the Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies.

This program could enable you to broaden your educational horizon dramatically, according to CollegeBoard.com.

Learning discipline, vast information on several fields and exquisite communication skills are some of the best assists of such a program.

These programs are basically created for those students who are not yet sure about the career they would like to pursue and they need some future college guidance to help them decide what their next big step should be.

Learning chemistry, biology, literature, history and politics, sociology and even algebra or public speaking could help you become better trained for pretty much anything life could offer you.

You could find a pretty decent job that could pay as much as $50,000 per year. The prestigious University of Kaplan can also offer you a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies and give you the opportunity to boost your general knowledge on many interesting and equally useful topics.

Argosy University can offer you the chance to enroll in a wonderful program and get your Doctor of Education in Pastoral Community Counseling;. This special program in mainly intended for those students who have already obtained their bachelor's or master's degree in clinical psychology, social, marriage or pastoral counseling and are planning on working as a school counselor or a pastoral counselor. You could be looking at some paychecks of up to $44,990 per year (according to PayScale.

com), but the personal rewards will definitely be worth it. Brescia University can provide you with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology online, with an emphasis in Pastoral Studies.

This program can help you get the education, preparation and convenience you are looking for.

These are just some of the colleges you could attend and start or continue your religious studies. Most of them also offer online alternatives for their programs, lower tuition and great financial aid.

Enroll in one of them and you could work as a teacher, journalist, librarian, historian, counselor or a social worker.

Winnie the Pooh Games at Pooh Corner

Winnie the Pooh games are the perfect compliment to your Pooh theme party located at Hundred Acre Wood. Imagine your little one celebrating their "beary" special day with their friends, while enjoying games and activities featuring Pooh, Tigger, Piglet or Roo.

HUNNY POT GUESSING GAME Fill a clear plastic container with Teddy Grahams and decorate it with Winnie the Pooh stickers. As guests arrive, have them examine your Hunny pot, and write down on a slip of paper how many Teddy Grahams are in the container.

Whoever guesses the closest to the actual number wins, and takes home the Hunny Pot.

PIN THE TAIL ON EEYORE Hang a poster of Eeyore on the wall.
Make enough gray tails as there are guests out of felt or construction paper.

Place double-stick tape at the top of each tail.
Children may either close their eyes or wear a blindfold, spin them around, and have them try to stick their tail on Eeyore where it belongs.
Whoever places their tail the closest to the right location wins! MUSICAL PIGLET Winnie the Pooh games that involve music are always a hit with children. Have your guests sit in a circle and pass a Piglet stuffed animal around as the music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding Piglet is out and wins a treat.

Game continues until everyone is out and has won a treat.
MUSICAL ANIMALS Write down on slips of paper the names of various animals, like gorilla, cat, dog, etc. and place them in a bowl. This game is played like musical chairs except the child who doesn't get to a chair in time, must draw a slip from the bowl and act out the animal through sound and movement, until the other kids guess which animal they are portraying.

Play Winnie the Pooh music for this game. WINNIE THE POOH PARADE Winnie the Pooh games that allow kids the opportunity to "make music" are always a hit at parties. Give each child a musical instrument, like cymbals, tambourine, bells, chimes, shakers, cowbells, maracas, or rhythm sticks.
Have them line up and march while playing their instruments.

Periodically have them exchange instruments with one another so they each have an opportunity to play a new instrument.

BOX RACE Decorate cardboard boxes that are large enough for the kids to sit in by painting the boxes red, blue, yellow, and green.

Glue various pictures of Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, etc.
onto the boxes.
Place a pillow in each box for comfort. Line the kids up on the starting line and have the parents push them to finish line.

Importance of Web Design in Companies

Behind every successful business that is done online, web design plays a very important role.

Most people running their businesses over the internet overemphasize this term of business, without actually understanding the roots behind the web-based business.
Website designing is similar to designing a building; just like designing a building involves things more than just an external appearance, website designing is not just about how the site looks.
Those designers who focus on the graphics and not on the functionalities get less likely to become listed on the search engine results. Few very important web designing features that are incorporated in an excellently functioning business website include anchors, silo structure, site navigation, search engine optimization, and search abilities. The business sites shouldn't be over-complicated, as a good balance of all these features can help increase your businesses to reach at unimaginable levels.
Let's discuss the importance of including these features in the web page design of your businesses. Anchor links assist online consumers to quickly reach to the information that is the most important to them; by integrating these links, consumers can scroll to the text area that is associated to the anchor link automatically. The silo structure introduces the topic in general on the homepage, and the sidebar links on the homepage relates to the specific aspects of that topics. The sidebar redirects links to new pages that elaborate the sub-topics, and the sidebar on that sub-topic relate to that specific sub-topic. Clear and simple navigation links enable your visitors to access your web pages in a quick, user-friendly manner.

Various other features such as comment and customer review section, precise contact form, round the clock helpline service and newsletters for visitors can make your visitors feel at home and can bring sale from the available potential customer. Consumer satisfaction is another significant aspect when designing a website for globalizing your business.

Most people surf along your websites but never return; there are cases reported that most people may return in less than 30 seconds from the homepage itself due to inadequate website information or unfriendly user navigation.
A good web design company along with integrating all the above features should also ensure that the development should be done in such a manner that your website should optimize on various Search Engine Platforms such as Google.com.
A good business website should conform to the various requirements of the search engine such as indexing and ranking algorithms.
SEO is a significant aspect of web site designing and getting crawled on Google because without being recognized on search engines a website is more like a no website.
SEO is a very complex topic in terms of websites, but to briefly understand the term, once you are recognized and ranked on Google or other search engines, people would be able to enter a keyword and search for your website easily. Overall, good web designing services for your website can bring in all successes to your business.
Therefore, along with understanding the importance of website design, it is also essential for you to choose the best company among the thousands that provide you with relevant, top-notch services.

How Can Kids Make Money Around The House?

A good lesson for kids to learn is chores. They are not only providing a good service to the whole family, they are able to make some money doing it. How can kids make money around the house? This article will tell you. When they reach the right age, let them cut the grass. Have them do it on a weekly basis.

This is more like a right of passage for young boys that does not stop until they are adults.
You are counting on them to make the yard look good each and every week.

Make sure they edge the sidewalks and the driveway too. Girls can do the dishes.

If you are more traditional, then let the girls do it.
It does no harm for the boys to do this too.

It makes them a part of the daily activities of the house, and if they want to earn a little money, then they will have no problem doing this.
Another right of passage for young boys, and even some girls is to take the trash out. This is not only the kitchen trash, but every trash can in the house.
Have them do this right after school so they can not only earn some money, but for going out as well.

Babysitting is very popular for kids to do.

You and your spouse deserve some time away from the house so have the older kids watch the younger ones.

Make sure they are responsible to take care of any problems that might arise. If they are, this is a great way for them to make some money if they are good at it.
Getting your kid to do chores is easy if you give them the opportunity to make some money.

It teaches them the value of money and it helps out the family.

Munch and the Balloon

Once upon a Munch Time, there was a cow called Munch.
Today was Munch's birthday, soon after Christmas.

Munch the cow had a party with Robbie the Robin and Sally the Squirrel, and all the other cows and pigs and sheep.
One of these was a shiny blue balloon with 'Happy Birthday Munch the cow' written on it in nice shiny orange writing.
The balloon was on a string.
Munch was grateful for the balloon and all the other presents.

Munch the cow stood on the string and enjoyed tapping the balloon with her nose.
But Munch enjoyed this game so much that she let go of the balloon.
Her hooves did not hold the string well.

Munch could only hold wider things like books. That caused Munch to lose the balloon.
The balloon floated up and the string got stuck around a high up door handle.
The balloon was stuck in the window of the barn. Munch the cow cried.

She could still see the balloon but could not get it.

This gave her hope of getting the balloon, but no way of reaching it. Sally the squirrel said to the cow, "why don't you climb and get the balloon", but Munch could not climb.

Robbie the Robin said "why don't you fly up and get the balloon", but Munch could not fly.
Munch the cow cried and cried. She knew the animals were trying to help but she could not do these things. She felt sad. Then Robbie the Robin said "I will fly up and get the balloon".

Robbie was good at flying.
Robbie was good at flapping against the balloon to knock the balloon free from the window. Robbie was good at picking things up with his beak. But when Robbie picked up the string and tried to fly down he could not, as the string was still stuck around the handle. Robbie felt bad because he couldn't get the balloon, Robbie cried.

But then Sally the squirrel said "I can't fly but I can climb and chew". So Sally climbed to get her teeth into the string. Robbie kept hold of the string at the top.
When Sally chewed through, the balloon came free.
Robbie flew down with the balloon.
The animals felt good. They all cheered and barked and mooed and chirped and squeaked.

Munch the cow felt better but was still worried because she had hooves. Though she felt better that she could not fly, she still felt bad that she could not hold the string.

The farmer looked out the window to see what had happened.

The farmer was pleased the animals were having fun.

Colin the Collie had an idea, he ran under a gap in the hedge to get the farmer to ask him to help. The farmer wanted to help Munch the cow.
The farmer has hands so can hold things. So the farmer tied the balloon string around a little post.

Then Munch felt better and the farmer felt better, and all the animals felt better because the farmer had helped. Munch the cow felt better but was still a bit unhappy. As the other animals could all do useful things and the Munch could not do any of these things so well.
Munch wanted to do something but could not fly or climb or hold things, or run through the little gap in the hedge.

Munch did not feel like doing her game again.
But then Munch thought of something she could do and the farmer realised how he could help. The farmer liked Robbie the Robin but did not like that Robbie often flew in the window of the barn and pecked at the milk bottles.
The farmer did not like telling Robbie off though.
The farmer wanted to help Munch and Munch wanted to help Robbie the robin and the other animals.
With the farmers help, Munch was milked and this meant everyone could have milk.

The farmer had lots of nuts left over from Christmas and gave this to Sally the squirrel.
This helped Sally to eat her favourite food and snuggle indoors for the cold winter. The farmer and Munch put some of her milk every day in a bowl near the post. This meant that all the animals that liked milk had milk every day.
Robbie the Robin did not need to peck the bottles in the window. Robbie drank from the bowl instead.

And Munch the cow had lots of company who all joined her game, and they all had fun every day.
They all felt good that they all knew how to do things and how to help each other.

Basic Computer Troubleshooting Techniques

Having patience is very important when troubleshooting computer problems. Becoming frustrated or not taking notes can extend the troubleshooting process significantly.

Always take careful note of things that may have changed. Did you install a new piece of hardware or software? Was there a bad thunderstorm or a power outage? All of these things may be part of the underlying problem so take careful notes.

Before you click "OK" or restart your computer, be sure to write down any error messages.
Take careful note of what programs you were running at the time.
If the message is in a windows box, sometimes clicking Details can provide additional information. One of the most basic troubleshooting techniques is to perform a cold restart of the system. Shut down windows completely until the PC is completely turned off.
Wait for 10 seconds or so and then power the PC back on.
If there is a printer, external hard drive or other peripherals attached to your computer, it is recommended that you power these devices down at the same time that you shut down the computer. In most cases you will want to power up these devices again before you turn your computer back on.
Is there a specific action that you perform such as starting a program, accessing a specific function or using a peripheral that causes the issue to repeat itself? Taking careful note of this can be invaluable in troubleshooting issues.

As you use the process of elimination to track down the issue, check to see that the issue still exists each step of the way.

If the problem is predictable and repeatable it will make troubleshooting much easier.

Random problems are very difficult to troubleshoot.

Pay close attention to user actions and usage patterns in troubleshooting issues.
The most important question is what changed prior to the problem manifesting itself.

If your computer does not turn on you probably have an issue with your power supply. Check the outlet that your computer is plugged into by plugging a different device into the same outlet.

If it is on a power strip, make sure any errors have been reset.
There is typically a switch or button to reset a power strip from a power condition.
If the outlet tests out OK and you don't hear anything spinning inside your computer when you turn it on, your power supply has probably gone bad.

This component can be replaced by a qualified technician.
When you start your computer it will perform a power on self test (POST).

If there are any obvious hardware issues, an error code will be displayed and a beeping sound may come from the system speaker.

The error codes and number/length of beeps will vary depending on the specific issue.
For instance a memory related issue will often display a 201: Memory Error.

Any issues related to memory will start with a 2 in the error code.
When you computer emits a series of beeps when starting up, that indicates a hardware issue.
The system BIOS is capable of identifying hardware problems and issuing the error sound.
The pattern and length of beeps will vary by BIOS manufacturer and hardware component.

For instance an Award BIOS code for a video card issue would be one long beep followed immediately by two short beeps.
Always be sure to have a backup solution in place to protect your important documents and file.
The best solution is to have a backup in place that is completely automatic and one in which the data is stored in a separate secure location in case of fire or natural disaster.
If your computer goes to a "blue screen" (often referred to as a BSOD or blue screen of death) be sure to write down the specific error code message such as prog.exe has caused an invalid page fault in module xw32.dll at 0147:ffccddee.
Having this information will be helpful to your technician. If your computer restarts itself or displays a blue screen when playing a game, doing video processing or other CPU intensive tasks, you might have an issue with heat.
Make sure that the computer is located in a cool room, there is not a build up of dust on the heat sink of the processor and all of the fans are working properly.

Use compressed air to remove dust from fans and heat sinks to eliminate heat problems. Make sure that the dust is removed and not simply blown deeper into the heat sink.

A layer of dust can cause great havoc to the cooling systems of a modern computer.
When troubleshooting hardware it is important to swap out one piece of hardware at a time.

For instance changing out one memory module.

Check to see if the error condition still exists.
If it still occurs put the original component back in place and swap out another.
If the problem is resolved, chances are you have identified the faulty component.
Troubleshooting is a careful process of elimination.
Swapping out hardware components, ruling out an infrastructure component or piece of software one at a time.
Make sure that each time you are making a hardware or software change you are only making a single change. If something does not fix the problem always reverse the change. When troubleshooting a network connectivity issue, it is important to try connecting to different types of resources when identifying the problem. For instance, if you are not able to connect to the Internet, try pinging a local computer or printer.

Make sure that pings are not being blocked by a software firewall.

If you are able to access local resources, you know the network interface, cable and switch is good.

The problem exists in the router, modem or on the Internet.
We hope that this article has provided some basic guidance when it comes to basic computer troubleshooting and repair.

Cheating Is Not Necessarily A Bad Thing

While this statement doesn't apply to everything in life it does apply to gaming, if you are a decent player who has a fair amount of intuition when it comes to solving the intricate puzzles that most games are made of then you know that even if you are a good player you will still have trouble unlocking each and every single section of a game, this holds true in each case when the game you are playing has been designed with several levels in many areas which need to be unlocked in order to advance to yet another level, hidden area or to acquire a special ability.

Unlocking every section of the game is actually nearly impossible, and a new games you are very likely to not even come close to unlocking 50% of the game hidden areas, if you have played games such as: House of the Dead 2, in the version of Grand Theft Auto, Halo, Pokémon, SimCity, The Legend of Zelda, etc.

then you know that the amount of levels and hidden places is just incredible.

In Pokémon alone there is an enormous number of worlds that each player needs to clear in order to meet the final bosses, and many versions of this game the Pokémon which you have captured can be evolved when you migrate them from one version to another, this is actually something that not every player knows about but it would definitely be a very useful piece of information to know, thinking on this very same issue great online communities of players have come together to share their tips, tutorials and even cheats of each game they play. Another good example of much needed information comes into play in the game of World of Warcraft, if you have played this game did you know that there is a gold rush, where each and every single player is trying to acquire this virtual gold in order to get items that will allow them to enhance the characters as they play in advance from level to level.
Because everyone wants gold, savvy players have started to farm gold in order to sell it online in many players do in fact pay the price for this virtual gold, which is not cheap.

Those who play this game have developed several guides which include the best tips for making gold, some of these tutorials are actually sold but if you are able to find a community of gamers who are willing to share this information for free then you will obviously hit a jackpot.

Acquiring these game cheats doesn't necessarily mean that you are in fact cheating because many times you may just be stuck on a certain part of the game which you can't beat, this is very normal and happens to most players which is why game cheats come in very handy.

How Bath Time Stories Can Get Your Child In and Out of the Bath With Ease

Sometimes we work so hard to correct or establish a behavior in our children that we overlook the possibility that our efforts may actually work..

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too well. For example, have you ever tried everything you could do to get your child to learn to wash their hands only to then not be able to get them to stop? Or work so diligently with your child to get them to learn to speak...

only to then wonder if they'll ever stop talking shortly thereafter? Sometimes children cling to the awesome new things they've learned and then want to obsessively do those things.

Bathing is prime example of an activity that little ones seem to be completely hit or miss on. With my son, we go through periods where he simply refuses to go willingly into the tub.
Trying to make any human being do something they don't want to do is hard enough..
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but when that human being is 2 foot tall, completely naked and slippery as an eel in jello..

. it's a battle to say the least! And then there is the other problem.
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what to do when the little guy suddenly rediscovers his long lost bathing passion and wants to stay in the tub till the sun comes back up.
Fun and creative soaps, coupled with engaging bath time stories, have been my go-to for getting my kiddo into the bath but I've discovered something really neat during this process.

The story can also be an integral part in getting him out of the tub! The children's book is essentially the bookends that start his bathing session and also end it.
It may take a time or two to establish the routine with your child, but once you make them associate bath time being over once the book is finished it becomes a much smoother transition than when your child perceives that you just arbitrarily chose to end their fun splash time for no reason.
I do get encore requests and yes, I honor them.

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but we are at least then in an accord that the duration of the bath is correlated with the story we're reading.
Most children's books are short and not very wordy so to successfully apply this method, it's vital that you engage your child with the story.

We're not reading a news report here. Talk to your child about the pictures and ask them questions.
Encourage them to think and give you their thoughts on the story.

This is prime, hot off the grill, super bowl commercial, beachfront property quality time we're talking about here so soak it in.
These are memories that you are creating for yourself as well so get involved and engage your little one.
Once the story is finished, close the book with a playful "The End" (or "All Done" which is what my son likes) and place the book in a dedicated spot reminding your child that you'll both go on another adventure again tomorrow evening.
After a session or two, you may be very surprised at how well your child falls into the routine and follows suit without fuss.
Not only have you given them playful motivation to get in the tub, you've done so with parameters and with a solid way to signify the end of bath time built right into the equation.

Cap Guns - Most Popular Toy of All-Time?

At present, model armaments have become extremely popular among the kids as they feel a strong inclination towards carrying one of them from an early age. Moreover, these toy guns are available in different range of variants and people can select a good gun according to their price budget and so on. Recently, a big controversy was held stating that the use of toy handgun may easily corrupt the young minds at an early stage. This argument has gained much popularity in all countries but the demand for toy gun has not yet decreased.
Toy Gun Beginnings It is important to know that Cap revolver was the first type of toy gun to arrive in the market that made its appearance in the middle of nineteenth century.

Subsequently, the powerful gun was appeared around the end of the American Civil War ensuring to create a great response among the people.
Meaning of Cap Gun To be clear, a cap gun or cap pistol is a game rifle that enables to make a loud sound akin to a gunshot when the trigger is pulled.
Further, these cap guns were made out of cast iron, gunpowder and the newer models are made out of plastic.
Importance of Cap Guns Cap arms are of many types such as small guns including Derringers, Large Rifles, Rifleman, Paper cap gun, Ring Cap pistol, and much more. These guns have become extremely popular when the heroes of Indian Cinema and television celebrities riding their horses with the powerful cap weapons in their hand.
It is sure that cap pistol was considered as the best toy for all time as the kids experienced a real thrill while using the effective equipment.
Different Styles of Pistol Available Apart from this, pistol of model guns were available in three different styles such as semi-automatic, revolver with a revolving cylinder, regular revolver and more. Several companies started to manufacture this game gun as they kids have become crazy in collecting all types of guns in their collections. Also, there are number of manufacturers who produce these amazing guns in the market and it is important to select the right one. People Collect These Cap Pistol for Hobby It is great to know that there are millions of collectors throughout the world who acquire all type of guns even though the restrictions were made on them. Out of many, air-soft guns have become quite popular among the kids as they get the ability to shoot projectiles just like a real gun.

Prevent Loss of Learning Over the Summer - Tips For Parents of Public School Students

One problem that I have had to face as a parent to students in public school is how to prevent loss of learning during Spring break or the summer months.

We try to stay as involved as possible with the education of our children, although they are in public school.
This means during the summer months and school breaks, we want to be sure our children stay fresh on their studies so that school won't seem so difficult when they return. I spoke with home school parent, Lyn Lomasi about what parents like myself can do to help their children stay up to date on their studies during time off from school.
The advice she has to give is amazing! Lisa: How can parents of public school students prevent loss of learning over the summer? Lyn: There are a variety of ways parents can help their students in prevention of learning loss.
One method is to enroll a child in an educational summer program.
Other parents may choose to hire a tutor.
Some other ways include educational day trips, learning games, as well as setting a studying schedule that won't interfere with summer vacation.
Reading and math are the two areas in which summer learning loss is the most common. Therefore, reading books daily, as well as consistently practicing math over the summer are both essential for a parent who wants to prevent learning loss over the summer.

Lisa: What are some activities parents can do with elementary aged children over the summer to help with math? Lyn: Elementary-aged children often are more interested in playing than studying, especially over the summer.
Parents can draw on this as a means of providing valuable lessons. If the parent is the one doing the teaching, learning games and manipulative toys can be used to get the child interested.

Store trips, planning family vacations, and earning allowance all are activities that could be used to teach a math lesson without the child even knowing it. Computer games, as well as outdoor activities can also help to supplement learning.

There also are various websites that offer free worksheets, printable math games, and interactive computer lessons.
Some parents may also opt to hire a private tutor or enroll their child in a summer math program.
Whether a child takes summer classes or the parent does all the teaching, the above activities will be a great help.

In addition, reading comprehension aids in math comprehension, so reading daily is a must.

Lisa: What are some activities parents can do with elementary aged children over the summer to help with English? Lyn: Much of English comes from practice of the language.
Reading daily is important.
Most parents know and understand that, but some do not think about the fact that there are various ways to do so.

Reading aloud, as well as reading silently both are important.
Allow your child to read to you, but also allow time where the child reads quietly alone.

A child should also hear the language. Therefore, parents can read to their children, as well as engage them in conversations throughout the day.
When talking to children, try throwing in some new words to keep them immersed in learning new English.
If the children will oblige, let them read dictionaries and encyclopedias.
An alternative may be to display a word or words of the day on the fridge.

Workbooks, learning games, and tutoring can also be a great help.

Lisa: What are some activities parents can do with elementary aged children over the summer to help with spelling? Lyn: Daily reading and writing practice help sharpen spelling skills a great deal.
Another great way to do this is to play word games.
There are many word games available in stores.
Parents also can make up their own.

Perhaps the most popular word game of all is Scrabble.

Scrabble is excellent for spelling skills, as the words must be spelled correctly in order to receive any points.

Other word games on the market include Boggle and Boggle Jr and Sight Word Bingo.
There also are many spelling games for the computer, as well as free printable spelling games online.
Lisa: How can parents make time each day for learning with their children? Lyn: Using everyday activities and play to incorporate lessons can make it even more fun and educational. It also saves time.
For instance, if you already are going to the grocery store, you can enhance spelling and language skills by allowing the child to prepare the list.
Math skills can be obtained through adding up the cost, as well as paying for the items.

Also, think about times where you aren't as busy.

For instance, lunch time is a great opportunity to practice oral language skills simply by using conversation. It can easily be geared toward whatever the current lesson is.

This can be done both during preparation and as everyone is eating.
If there is more than one child, it is possible to do this on each child's appropriate level.

Also think of times where you might typically be doing nothing but wasting time. Those are good times to schedule in lessons, as are times that you know are your child's most aware times during the day. Just a few minutes of quality learning here and there throughout the day can make all the difference.

Online Biology Degrees - Educate Yourself

One of the many branches of study in the field of science is biology.

Most students discover the field to be a very interesting field of study.
The area is one full of learning opportunities and can also be very exciting because it involves the vibrant world of plants and animals. These can be very interesting to watch and learn. How much more can you watch a student is not limited to books but also in biology online video? You can educate yourself in this field of biology degrees online.
Children of different age groups can learn online information from the website of the National Biological Information Infrastructure.
It is one of many sites on the World Wide Web that is capable of serving with a wealth of information for learning biology. This site can be a great guide for teachers to introduce and teach: Aquatic Biology, general biology, biodiversity and the environment, botany, birds, insects, mammals, arachnids and worms, microbes, or even reptiles and amphibians, between others. For students using this site, there are age and level brackets that they could choose to choose. You can also look to be educated in his best interest to get a biology degree online.

These online videos for Biology may actually be an effective tool for media for learning and education. Unlike others, like a conventional book and videos are able to encourage children to understand more of the lessons.

You no longer have a difficult time imagining how particular animals or plants will appear as action.

Although, there are often pictures in books, videos are in action and look more "real" in the eyes of the students-viewers.

You never know if one is aspiring to become the next Jane Goodall.
They can use these as a catalyst to reach great heights and to get a biology degree online to save planet Earth one day.

Biology is a key issue to understand, so that learning and teaching in the best manner possible, to keep the attention and interest of the student.
Online education for biology is in its most accurate and most up to date which is advantageous for our time.
Learn to take advantage of the biology of online degrees, courses and classes!

How Kids Benefit From Tablets

The age of the tablet is beginning, which may seem scary for many parents but they offer an opportunity for education and entertainment for your children; the question is what is the best tablet for kids? There are many factors to weigh, from cost to applications and everything in between, but with a little research, finding the best tablet for kids is as easy as the tablets themselves! The children of today are amazing with technology The children of today far surpass our generation with how easy it is for them to understand technology, and as a result will most likely be able to figure out any tablet you get them.

This is especially true because of kids amazing capacity to learn. The challenge is finding the one that best suits your own child's wants and needs.
Tablets don't have to cost an arm and a leg For many parents, choosing a tablet for your children first must pass the test of price.
Tablet computers can vary from around $80 to as high as $800 for the more desired brands, but purchasing a less expensive tablet does not necessarily mean it is "worse". They all offer a variety of features but almost all of them will have applications available to them that both entertain, and educate your children. There are even tablets available that tend to be on the less expensive end of the spectrum that are specifically made for educational entertainment of children.

These often come with preloaded applications, sometimes even with television characters they recognize and relate to.
They are very cheap and simple to use, which makes them a prime candidate for the best tablet for kids, and perhaps specifically your own.
Tablets with Wi-Fi If you feel your child is too mature for that type of tablet, the best tablet for kids may be one that they can grow into.
This is when tablets with the internet come into consideration.
These tablets are usually over the $150 mark but offer a much broader and longer lasting experience.

While the internet can be a scary place to have your children, most tablets come with easy to use parental controls, that can often be switched off for when you would like to use it. Having access to the internet also allows for the downloading of applications.

While it is easier to have them come preloaded, there are thousands of entertaining and educational free applications that can be downloaded. In addition, for a more advanced experience, there are paid applications that truly expand the possibilities of your child's tablet. The best part is the applications usually need a password to be downloaded, which gives you full control of which applications your child does, or does not use.
Tablets with cameras and the memory to use them When searching for the best tablet for kids, a large amount of space may be a good idea.
In the $200+ range, tablets start to have hard drives capable of holding lots of media.
Things like TV shows, or your child's favourite movie can be loaded on easily and accessed anywhere.
This makes that road trip to visit grandma a whole lot easier, and quieter for yourself.
This space may also come in handy in the area of pictures and videos.

Whether your blossoming little photographer takes them themselves, or you capture that magic home run moment, having a camera on your tablet might just make it the best tablet for kids.

Within the $200+ range many of the tablets come with high definition cameras and camcorders built in.

Sometimes even with cameras in the front for voice chatting. This is perfect for when dad is away on business but wouldn't miss a birthday for anything.

Tablets for school If your child is nearing the age that he might want a computer for school, the best tablet for kids might be the one that is for young adults too.

This is where the consideration of a word processor may come up.
They will have the best notes in class on an easy to read screen that still uses standard QWERTY keyboard layout so they can practice their typing. If they find it uncomfortable to use the on screen keyboard, most tablets offer the feature of being able to plug in a normal keyboard instead, which can be picked up for around $10.
Protect your child's tablet with a case Whether your kid is a young man or a rambunctious little girl, when looking for the best tablet for kids, durability is something to be considered.

While most tablets come with screen protectors, if your tablet isn't specifically designed to be able to take a beating, a case is a good idea. There are cases available for every tablet of varying levels of durability.

Some offer simple shock absorbing rubber or silicone for the edges, while others give you a full blown hard cases complete with screen protection and waterproofing with a sleek look to match.
These cases vary in cost, but it is better to suck it up and throw down the extra couple bucks then to have to pay for a whole new tablet.
With that in mind, parents know their kids better than anyone and the level of durability definitely varies from child to child.

Tablets are fast becoming on of the most useful and educational tools of the new technological world.
While it is easy to push the idea of buying a tablet for your child away, studies are showing that many children respond very well to the simple to use touch screen interface. Just as the old days of spelling words with blocks offered an interactive, hands on learning experience, the tablet does the same. The difference is there is probably an application for those very blocks as well as so much more. When it comes down to it, it's impossible to find the best tablet for kids.

What you can do is find is the best tablet for your own child.

As you watch your child grow and learn with their tablet you will know that you have truly found the best tablet for kids.

Forming an Online Study Group

Online learning is an excellent way to further your education.

It can be done from anywhere: you can connect at any time you feel like connecting.

You don't have to schlep books across campus; you don't have to put up with drafty lecture halls, or professors who turn up late.
Just about the only thing you might miss out on is collaboration with other students. If you're having trouble motivating yourself to work, or if your online degree requires you to assimilate a lot of information, consider forming an online study group with other students.

  Working with a well-organized study group offers many benefits.
You can compare notes with your study partners to ensure you've covered all aspects of your material.

You can collaborate on projects, get help with drafts of papers, and discuss difficult material productively. Study groups can keep you accountable if you're procrastinating-knowing that you're going to talk about chapters 9-10 in your economics text on Monday will help motivate you to read it by Sunday.

Finally, study groups offer you the chance to practice working in teams and networking, both of which are skills that can be profitable in your day job.
And you may just make friends or valuable business contacts, too.  Here are some guidelines for forming an online study group.
  1. Limit the group's size To ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute, and to keep logistical headaches to a minimum, try to restrict your group to no more than four or six people.

Big virtual groups can be just as unwieldy as big site-based groups.
It will be easier to coordinate schedules and conduct discussions with a smaller group.
  2. Set an agenda and a schedule for every session  One of the major pitfalls of study groups is that they can become chat sessions (even online) that don't actually get around to becoming study sessions.
 Head this off at the pass by setting a specific start and end time for your group meetings, and follow an agenda with time limits.
  For example, you might agree to ten minutes at the beginning of your meeting to recap the last session, followed by forty-five minutes to discuss a reading, giving everyone time to contribute thoughts. Finish up with ten minutes to plan the next agenda and discuss whether or not you thought the session was productive, and what to do next time.

  3. Assign roles to study group members  While you're all equals as students, setting up roles within your group can save a lot of time and headaches.

A group of four students might include a leader, a recorder, a moderator, and a spokesperson. The leader sets the agenda, the recorder saves chat transcripts and distributes meeting minutes, the moderator keeps the group on-topic, and the spokesperson approaches professors with questions from the group.

  4.

Find a comfortable online meeting place One of the problems with online learning is where you can "meet". Many instant messenger programs (Google Chat, AOL Instant Messenger, etc.

) will let small groups chat simultaneously, although this can be confusing. There are some web-conferencing tools, such as Skype, DimDim, and Yugma, that are free for groups of less than 10 people, and offer more than chat-video chat and desktop sharing are available in some cases. If you're lucky, your online university will provide you with a "virtual campus": dedicated web space to discuss your work in real-time with other students, as well as message boards to post files to.

Make sure that all your group's members are comfortable with whatever setting you choose for your virtual meetings. 

How to Find Reputable Online Degree Programs

Searching for information on how to find reputable online degree programs? With the number of online colleges and universities nowadays, it pays to know which of them you can trust. Finding online schools that are credible has never been this easy. Information abound online and are very much public that any person with basic computer skills can easily access them.
Online degree programs like the traditional degree programs are being regulated by an accrediting body.

A set of criteria is laid down for the online college to adhere to.
Of course, if they fail to comply with even just one, they are immediately reprimanded to ensure that they give quality and credible online degrees to their students.
A lot of "fly by night" online schools are also in existence.

You can easily distinguish them because they offer you online courses that you can earn in an unbelievable short time.
Be wary of these types of online colleges as they are out there to rob you of your money.

Reputable online degree programs follow a standard set of requirements that accrediting bodies have given.

The online colleges who adhere to these can be found in the database of the accrediting body for online schools.
There are also big name traditional schools that now offer online courses. You can check them out because for sure, they are accredited or else their name that has been highly respected for hundreds of years will be tainted.
At the end of the day, it pays to be inquisitive about the online degree programs you may want to earn.
After all, your money and hard work is on the line here. On top of that, your reputation and credibility is also in the limelight, where people will judge you on your decision.
Better make the right one and enroll only in a reputable online college.

Need additional insights on how to find reputable online degree programs?