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Never Use A Product If You Dont Know About Its Functions posted on 19 May 2012 in Technology Greg had bought a new blackberry over the weekend so he carried it to office on Monday to show it to his colleagues. It was really a good model which had very good features and the price at which Greg bought it was also reasonable. I asked Greg how familiar he was with all the functions of his new blackberry. He replied that he was still not familiar with most of the functions but he was confident that he would learn about it in some days. Later in the day we were called for a meeting in the conference room by our boss who wanted to discuss some important thing with all of us. In between the meeting Greg's phone began to ring which was very embarrassing. He excused himself and went out of the room. I knew his problem so I too followed him and asked him outside what was the problem. He asked me how can I mute my blackberry. I helped him mute his phone and told him to follow me back in the conference room.

So How Are Your IT Solutions at Work Performing? posted on 17 May 2012 in Computers We all get stuck in a rut a times. We know that the way we work has inefficiencies and bottlenecks, and outright absurdities when it comes to rules and systems at work. However, sometimes we need to look at how we work and look to see where we can improve efficiency and productivity - especially if you're a manager overseeing a number of employees. One place to look at are the IT solutions you currently have in place. Are they meeting your needs? Do you find the training overwhelming or straightforward for new employees? Are there needless steps involved in your processes? Then weigh up the alternatives - from iq sys to other solutions - would your office be a better place to work if you had those new systems in place? While it's normal to be wary of change, it can also be an opportunity to do things more efficiently and productively.

On Why My Favourite Logo is the Fred Perry Logo posted on 17 May 2012 in Business and Finance Fred Perry was an English tennis player, the last British player to win the Wimbledon championships all the way back in 1936. His name nowadays is synonymous with the clothing label, Fred Perry. Mods back in the late 50s to mid-60s grew fond of the label and managed to badger the company into making more varied colours instead of just the standard white polo that Fred himself used to wear. The logo itself is a laurel wreath inspired by the glittering career of Fred. Though he suggested the idea of a pipe initially, this was turned down as it was thought that women wouldn’t go for it. The laurel wreath logo is a timeless, classic logo that doesn’t look out of place on anything it’s embroidered on to. The Fred Perry polo shirt transcends the fickle nature of fashion and stands outright in the face of trends. Working in brochure design in Nottingham, such logos and emblems inspire me in my own work - simplicity is best when it comes to such designs.

Online Sellers Rely Heavily on the Postal Service posted on 16 May 2012 in Business and Finance Whatever you sell online - be it branded usb flash drives, jewellery, or even camping equipment - you will rely on your postal service to get those goods sent out to your customers. I am very happy with the postal service that I am availing. I had once gone to the post office to post a letter and saw a big line in front of one of the counter. I asked in the enquiry as to why so many people were standing in a queue. Then he told me about the monthly recurring deposits that people do every month in the post office, as well as the relatively new phenomena of online selling. Regarding monthly deposits, one is a monthly deposit and another is a pension scheme where people withdraw money every month. After I learnt about it, I have started depositing money in a recurring deposit. It pays a good interest and I have to continue it for 5 years. Once the five year term is over, I get the original amount with the applied bonus. So it a good method of investment where one gets to save a small amount every month. I go every month to deposit the money in the post office and they stamp it in a passbook.

What I Hate About Driving Should Be an Easy Fix posted on 15 May 2012 in Cars and Transport My van roof racks job sees me on the road much of the time. After a rainstorm, potholes in the streets are more like deep buckets or mini-wells in my town. Plus, there are so many, it's impossible to drive around all of them. I know, because I've driven on many streets that have them. A lot are repaired after a rainy period, only to reappear and get even bigger during another rainy day - and that, being very close in time. At those unfortunate instances when I drive over them, my insides get a shock, rumbling to resist gravity, again and again. Not only that, I shudder to think what wear this causes on my car axle and shocks. City workers can be seen trying to patch up the streets, but it seems that either the repairs are only temporary or that many areas were missed altogether for, time after time, the same potholes and even new, ugly and invasive crater-like pits implode along my driving route. That's what I hate about driving.

Growing Up: My Experience with Bikes posted on 14 May 2012 in Recreation and Hobbies Growing up I remember my first bike. My grandmother bought my sister and I brand new bikes for the summer in Cape Cod where the family went every summer vacation. I used to ride that bike every day proud of my first bike. My sister and I would go on the bike trails and ride for hours having great fun. I remember being proud of having a bright red fast bike and trying to out ride my sister's blue bike. I can recall being so impatient for summer to come so we could go on vacation and ride the bikes. Later in life I still ride a bicycle occasionally remembering the good old days - though this one is a more sophisticated one - a bmw bicycle - I use this to get to work, and also for training purposes too - I'm an avid cyclist and runner these days.

Interior Design for Today's Interiors posted on 13 May 2012 in Home and Garden Modern and contemporary design relies on sourcing unique items and an interesting feature piece to furnish and style both interior and exterior spaces. French antiques are often an interesting source for interior designers, as they are highly desirable, often extremely ornate and can be upcycled or refashioned to sit alongside other items in a modern day setting. Many designers today are looking for their interiors and exteriors to exhibit a unique style. This is where restyled or refashioned antique items are so interesting, as many items that would otherwise be discarded or become obsolete, are recycled back into modern day use, where they can enjoy another lease of life. This is one of the many pleasures of transforming French antique items, as well as enjoying them for their original and unique beauty. Also, interior designers enjoy an occasional trip to Paris or the French countryside to source these interesting items, which is always a treat for all of us!

The Bathroom is My Big Tough Job Ahead of Me posted on 11 May 2012 in Home and Garden I love my house, and love buying things for it. For example, I recently bought some new door handles for my house. However, there are things I'd like to change about my house that require more than just buying furniture. My bathroom is really small. It's way too small. There is a cheap stand-up shower stall which is so small that you might bump your elbows on the walls while you're trying to shampoo your hair. There is also no storage in the room except for a cheap shelf over the toilet. If I could change the bathroom, I would make the room bigger by extending it partially. Then I would add a nice bathtub, as well as skylights and some built-in shelving or a closet. I would also like to add a double vanity counter with two sinks. I'd also like to remove the cheap cardboard-style "tiling" on the walls and paint them. I'd go with a calming color like blue or green. Finally, I'd fix the old, run-down fan that makes a loud grinding noise when you turn it on.

My Business Dream Of Online Grocery Stores posted on 11 May 2012 in Internet Related I have a dream of setting up an e-commerce website that would link all the major departmental stores in the country selling groceries. I know how people suffer to go out especially in hot sun to buy things. If the products like rice, wheat and dhal varieties and soap and shampoo items are listed in the site with price, the customer can simply tick them and place their orders. It would be door delivered at no extra cost. Payment could be made either through money when dispatched or through credit or debit cards. You may think that it is similar to phone ordering. But here, sellers do not need a shop or more number of workers. So, the shop rent, electricity charges and other daily expenses are saved considerably and hence they can provide quality products at a more reasonable price than those who run shops. It eliminates middle man and the whole sale merchants can directly plunge into trade. It involves much hard work initially. It is similar to setting up a courier company. If planned well, this online store could be a successful chain store catering to the needs of the people living anywhere in the country. I just need a digital marketing firm in Nottingham to help me realise this dream - because marketing the site is going to be the make or break factor here.

Finding a Family Away from Home Sweet Home posted on 10 May 2012 in Technology James was on his way to the old building when Ron saw him. Ron needed help with zune software so he tried his best to catch up with James who was walking so fast. James! Ron called. When James turned around and saw him, he stopped to wait for Ron. The two then went together to the old building. James and Ron have become so close after working together in the same department for more than ten years. James is very thankful for having found a friend and brother in Ron, especially because he is basically alone in Canada. James, whose family is based in New York, had to settle in Canada because of his job. If there was a good opportunity, he would have wanted to go back to New York. But then, he has already established himself in Canada and he is afraid that if leaves now, he might not have the same job opportunity in New York. So for now, Ron is practically his only family away from home. Ron is also glad because James is also the brother he never had.

Setting up a new refrigerator for home use posted on 8 May 2012 in Technology When a new refrigerator is bought it should be carried with care from the point of purchase to the location where it will be used. At least 5 people are needed to transport a refrigerator of medium size without exposing it to damage. Normally when prestige instructions are read it will be learnt that during transportation of a new refrigerator unnecessary movement should be avoided as on the inside of this device there is a gas tanker which regulates temperatures. When the gas in this tanker is moved about a lot it risks inflating and blowing up the tanker. On connection to an electric source the refrigerator can then get permanently damaged. A short time should be given between the time that a new refrigerator has been transported to its destination and when it is connected to a power source. This is a precaution so that if there is any gas that has been displaced in the tanker it can settle down. After the refrigerator can be installed and connected to a power source and used without chances of any complications occurring.

The Things I Do when I Go to the Local Park on Sundays posted on 7 May 2012 in Home and Garden St. Peters Park is the main attraction of the town. There is a big waterfall in the center of the park and there is an area with a beautiful garden right around the waterfall. There are often special events taking place in the garden - festivals, concerts etc - you can always know something's going on when you see a cluster of gazebos - it's a sign there's an event on! I go their every Sunday to walk my do and then read a book on next to a tree. Many people jog along a path near the main entrance. That is where I walk my dog and sometimes meet nice people. This park is kind of a social are because I often see people who have never met each other meet here. I usually walk by the trees and listen to the birds. I often bring a ball that I can throw so that I can give my dog exercise. I always walk to the water fall and embrace of the water flowing. Last week I saw that the park keepers had installed some solar mole repellers to keep the moles away - very cool looking things (the repellers, not the moles!). The best part of the park is that the grass is so green and the air is so fresh. It keeps you in close contact with mother nature.

Where To Contact Facebook For Your Concerns posted on 7 May 2012 in Arts and Entertainment Since I have become busy with my full time job in the past few days, I do not have time to visit my Facebook account anymore. With this, I came across the idea of temporarily leaving Facebook while I still do not have time to update it. But I don&rsquot exactly know what I should do. I mean I am not really sure if I would still have time for Facebook. Therefore I&rsquom thinking of permanently deleting my account in Facebook. However, I&rsquom also thinking of just deactivate it so that I could still have my account. But I think I need to know the facebook help center contact first because I need to clarify whether what&rsquos going to be the conditions if I deactivate of delete entirely my Facebook account. As much I&rsquod like to leave the biggest social networking site where I&rsquove been an active member for many years now, I&rsquom still hesitant because I know that there will come a time when I would still long for Facebook, aside from the fact the I also have pictures in it. Further Sources: urbandictionary.com \| www.socialnetworkhelpline.com

One's career and prominence can influence another person posted on 7 May 2012 in Arts and Entertainment When I was young I used to hear of musician and celebrities without knowing who they are. My best celebrity was lindsay lohan and I didn't know who she was until I grew up and discovered that she was a musician, pop-star and also an actress. I was so much interested in knowing more about her since she was my best music and she produced the genre of music which is my favorite. When went through some of her productions, I developed an interest for singing and acting. Thereafter I started singing in churches and weddings to practice on my interest. All I did was to imitate what she used to do including her lifestyle and mode of singing. I wanted to sound like her but that was too much for me. It even reached a point when I needed to recorded my first song. My director told me that I should try to be original because he realized that I was struggling so much to do my best. It gave me a hard time to change the lifestyle because I was already use to be a copycat. I kept on practicing until I became to be original and good to go on my career of choice.

About the Dual Monitor Dilemma posted on 6 May 2012 in Business and Finance I've just come back from a prince 2 training course and the following is but one change I'd like to see in my office. As a programmer, sitting primarily in a cubicle, you may be able to relate. I have been running dual monitors for years. Aside from the obvious perk of efficiency when used to program, it's benefit and cost simply outweigh its negatives. It provides a bigger space to do all of your work and it no longer shackles you to tabbing or switching between windows or programs that you work with. It offers you the unique opportunity to work with everything side-by-side on your desk. As a web programmer, this is extremely helpful with the amount of Word documents that I see where the content needs to be published to the web and coded correctly. It increases efficiency on every project you work on. At a minimum, the programmers in your division or place of work should have them mandatory. I also contend that it increases morale and eye strain. You become less confused switching between documents, which aids with stress, creating a more friendly work environment.

Application for unemployment benefits if one loses a job in UK. posted on 5 May 2012 in Business and Finance Collecting unemployment benefits after one loses his/her job is allowed in UK. These benefits will enable the ex-employee to cope with the situation and to cater for their needs as they look for an alternative job. One can go in the unemployments benefits agencies' offices in person to make inquiries and to present their applications or they can do it online. Inquiries about Unemployment Benefits By Phone is also allowed, and there are certain numbers that one can call a certain agency in order to make the inquiry. The presence of a benefits calculator in every agency will enable the applicant to know how much they will be receiving either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, and they can budget well for the money. Since these benefits do not last forever, the applicant will be required to be actively looking for a job in order to be well prepared when their benefits period expires. The money is barely enough and may not cater for all the needs a person may have, but at least the basic needs will be catered for.

On Buying Gifts for a Complete Stranger posted on 3 May 2012 in Uncategorised Buying someone a considerate gift largely depends on how well you know the recipient. For example, it’s a lot easier to buy a gift for your best friend than your uncle’s wife, since you know what your friend likes. However, it’s also possible to buy a nice gift for a complete stranger, without having to put much effort into it. In this day and age, there are a lot of easy ways to find out something about a person without them knowing anything about it. For example, you could call one of their friends, look her up on Facebook or simply do a quick search on the Internet. This should give you plenty of information on their likes and dislikes that you can base your gift purchase on. For instance, you find out that the person that you’re planning to buy a gift for is a fan of a certain genre of music, or has a passion for swarovski crystal animals. Even if you don’t know much about it, there are plenty of gift lists on websites such as Amazon, styled after certain interests and events – one of them is sure to match your needs. So whether your shopping for a friend or a complete stranger, with just a little research, it’s easy to make a great and personal gift.

A Good House Was All the Comfort I Needed! posted on 30 April 2012 in Home and Garden When I returned back to my home country after being away for twenty years on a humanitarian mission to Africa, all I wanted was to rest as much as I could. I could not do that in the old apartment I was living in before I left. I wanted to build my own house fast, so I contracted a construction company, showed them the site and the building plan and they proceeded with the building plans. I also contracted the slating and tiling roofers for the roof. I wanted a very good house in the end, the one which will provide all the comfort I needed as I rested from my working years. I deserved a break anyway after all that I had done back there for the less fortunate. Before I knew it, my house was ready and I was moving in. I love this house so much because it was not only constructed by qualified and experienced contractors, but also it is a constant reminder of all the good work I did in my life which made me deserve so much pay when I retired.

Summer on My Grandfathers Farm in Tennessee posted on 28 April 2012 in Holiday and Travel Summertime is my favourite time of the year. I tend to spend a lot of my time in my french farmhouse during this time of the year, but I always like to recall my childhood days in the summer. My grandfather's farm, which sits at the bottom of Holston Mountain in Tennessee, was the perfect playground for hot summer days when I was a child. There was always plenty to do. My brother, sister, and I spent our time riding horses, fishing, and hiking up and down the hills, or just chilling out under his old wooden gazebo. Our imaginations soared. We would play "Little House on the Prairie", or simply explore the property looking for insects, turtles, and other wildlife. Other times, we would climb into the hammock hanging between the two apple trees, enjoying the breeze as it swung back and forth. Some days, my grandfather would take us to town to feed the ducks at the Covered Bridge. We would then pick up a bucket of chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken and return to the farm to wait for my cousins to arrive. Soon we were all together again. We would talk and play for hours. As the day became evening, my grandfather would pick a watermelon from his garden, which we ate with excitement. The darkness meant it was time to leave.

Our House Is Small, Aesthetically Pleasing And Beautifully Located posted on 21 April 2012 in Construction and Industrial Two years ago, we were living in another city. The site of our house was truly big and we had made a big house - about 4,000 sq ft of constructed area with green roofing - and a garden to match. The house had everything you can think of, a huge portico with a garage, four bed rooms with attached baths, a big kitchen with store room, a dining room, a prayer room and two living rooms. Just too good, isn't it? We had one gardener, a car cleaner and a servant to take care of the maintenance of the house. But gradually, we realized the futility of maintaining such a big house, especially when there were only four of us living in that house. We then shifted to the present city and into a smaller apartment, consisting of just two bed rooms with attached baths, a living room, a small prayer room, and a kitchen with a utility area. The apartment has a parking slot for the car at the basement. I must say we are quite happy here since it is small and tidy and is easy to maintain. When the maid absents herself once in a while, we don't throw a fit but clean the house without any problem.