Most equipment related accidents can be decreased a great deal if people would only learn to use the equipment properly and recognize signs of malfunctioning equipment. The advances in technology have brought about highly sophisticated electronic equipment in many houses hence the need for more education to help decrease equipment related accidents. Below are a few tips on how you can reduce accidents of this nature in the home.
There is a saying that says that, "A bad man quarrels with his tools." With due respect always use equipment only for the use to which it was intended and do not operate equipment with which you are unfamiliar. To prevent damaging it, handle equipment with care. Damaged equipment can malfunction and injure you.
For electric equipment, use three-prong electric plugs whenever possible. Do not twist or bend the electric cords because the lines inside may break.
To further protect yourself, be alert to signs that indicate equipment is faulty for example breaks in cords, sparks, smoke, electric shocks, loose or missing parts, and unusual noises or odors and report any signs of trouble immediately or take it for repairs, do not try to be a superhero.
It is also very important to make sure that electric cords are not in a position to be trapped as a vacuum is pulled or beds are raised or lowered and any other electric equipment because this can strip insulation covering the electric wires. Electric equipment can present a safety hazard to anyone in the family when safety measures are ignored. So always be alert for wet surfaces on areas where electric cords or connections are present. Inspect your home regularly to identify areas where there may be a high risk of accidents.
In conclusion, many accidents in the home frequently result from careless use of equipment or from malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment. All these can be prevented when families work together to prevent accidents. Involving every member of the family will even reduce accidents further since everyone will be aware of the consequences and advantages when they are properly used and signs of malfunction recognized in good time. Finally, a good home aims at prevention and not treatment.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Accidents in the Home - Safety and Prevention of Accidents at Home
Safety and the prevention of accidents in the home are some of the areas that are considered to be very important. Often, we incur injuries that can easily be prevented. It is even more important to take the two factors into considerations when there are children and the elderly at home. Following are a few tips on promoting safety and preventing accidents.
The first step is to identify the age groups that are present and modifying the environment accordingly to help decrease or eliminate accidents that may result in injuries. Education is an important factor. This includes showing children simple procedures such as washing hands after using the bathroom (toilet) and before touching any food. During this teaching process it is very important to take into account the age groups in the home because some educational materials may not be suitable for certain age groups.
Improving safety at home may also include enforcing the regulations or laws that can modify the behavior of the age group or people at risk the most. Looking at the risks involved individually can help a great deal.
Another factor is that it is very vital to have all the most important phone numbers in readily accessible locations. This includes the emergency number, poison control number, your family physician number and other important numbers.
Parents and children can recognize dangerous items in the home by using childproofing products. Many factors should be considered such as falls, infection, injuries, burns, suffocation, drowning, and inhalation, ingestion of poison/foreign bodies, guns and substance abuse. Statistics show that each of these factors is predominant in one individual age group and not others.
For example, infections are high in neonates and can easily be prevented by washing hands frequently. Falls are also a highest risk in infants and can be prevented by closely supervising children. Burns are the highest risks among the school-aged children and teaching them about prevention of accidents can promote safety in this age group. Drowning is another safety risk highest among adolescents. Teaching adolescents about responsibilities, about the new world of freedoms that accompany being a teenager, can help equip them with the knowledge they need to face the dangers and risks when they are on their own.
The first step is to identify the age groups that are present and modifying the environment accordingly to help decrease or eliminate accidents that may result in injuries. Education is an important factor. This includes showing children simple procedures such as washing hands after using the bathroom (toilet) and before touching any food. During this teaching process it is very important to take into account the age groups in the home because some educational materials may not be suitable for certain age groups.
Improving safety at home may also include enforcing the regulations or laws that can modify the behavior of the age group or people at risk the most. Looking at the risks involved individually can help a great deal.
Another factor is that it is very vital to have all the most important phone numbers in readily accessible locations. This includes the emergency number, poison control number, your family physician number and other important numbers.
Parents and children can recognize dangerous items in the home by using childproofing products. Many factors should be considered such as falls, infection, injuries, burns, suffocation, drowning, and inhalation, ingestion of poison/foreign bodies, guns and substance abuse. Statistics show that each of these factors is predominant in one individual age group and not others.
For example, infections are high in neonates and can easily be prevented by washing hands frequently. Falls are also a highest risk in infants and can be prevented by closely supervising children. Burns are the highest risks among the school-aged children and teaching them about prevention of accidents can promote safety in this age group. Drowning is another safety risk highest among adolescents. Teaching adolescents about responsibilities, about the new world of freedoms that accompany being a teenager, can help equip them with the knowledge they need to face the dangers and risks when they are on their own.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
How To Build A Lamp Out Of Rocks
A lamp out of rocks?...Am I crazy? Actually, I have been doing this for a few years now and when done correctly, the final product is beautiful and extremely unique. If you decide to take this venture on, be prepared for your family and friends to be in awe of your new wonderful creation. A stone lamp fits wonderfully in that cabin of yours in the woods or can be placed in that special rustic corner in your traditional home.
Let's get started with the tools and parts you will need. These tools are essential for getting this project done correctly and may require a little bit of a financial investment to get started.
A drill press. The press does not have to be a large, floor model...it can be a bench top type for now. It does have to have a setting on it that will enable the drill to go fairly slowly through the rock. A setting of around 200-300 rounds per minute is best.
A 3/8" mortise bit. The mortise bit for this purpose only has to be around 5" long. DO NOT buy a carbide-coated bit, as these seem to not work as well. Home Depot or Lowe's both carry a standard 3/8" mortise bit for around $5.00.
A lamp kit with a harp included. These lamp kits are easy to use and will come with everything you need to put your lamp together. You will want to make sure the kit comes with a harp also if you are planning on using a shade that requires a harp. These sell for around $8.00 at most hardware stores.
A 3/8" thread rod around 10 inches long. This rod can be bought along with your lamp kit in the hardware's lighting section. Usually, the lengths come in 24" to 36" and cost around $4.00. After you put the lamp together, you will want to cut the rod to length and I will explain how to do that.
A hack saw for cutting the 3/8" rod to length.
A good strong epoxy glue that sets within 30 minutes.
An angle grinder with a wheel suitable to grind rock.
Your Rock
The best place to get your rock for your lamp is to find a dried up riverbed. Rocks from dried riverbeds tend to be easier to drill and lend themselves more easily to making a lamp. Please note: We don't want to disturb riverbeds that are in use by our natural rivers and streams but picking up rock from dried up sources poses no harm to the environment. You will need a base to start with. Look around for a fairly flat base that when set down on a table, it won't rock back and forth but will sit stable. For this project, your base should be about 8 inches square and about 1 inch to 2 inches thick or thereabouts (any variation is ok as long it is fairly flat). After you have found your base, look for smaller rocks of different shapes and sizes and choose ones that are fairly flat on both sides too. This will make it easier to drill and fit together on your lamp. These should be around ½ " thick or so. You will need about 6 of these smaller rocks.
Drilling The Rock
Now that you have gathered your choice rock for your lamp, it is time to drill. Place the base of the rock on your drill press and roughly find the center of the rock. (You do not have to be exactly perfect in finding the center as this is a rustic lamp and if you are a little off, it only makes it more rustic and interesting). You should make sure that where you are going to drill is relatively flat so the drill bit does not dance around on you. (Before you drill, make sure you have a little water on hand to either spray the drill bit or splash some on to it as the drill bit can get very hot and could break if not kept cool). Begin drilling slowly, around 200 to 300 rounds per minute, and continue until you are completely through. Yeah....you did it! Now, repeat these steps with your remaining smaller rock until all are drilled and ready to put together.
Pre-Assembly
Take your length of 3/8" rod and cut it down to about 10" or so. Place the rod into the larger base and start stacking the smaller rock on top. Since none of these rocks are exactly flat, you may have to move them around a little to make sure they fit together snuggly so that the inner rod does not show. After you have completed this process you will most likely have extra rod on top that needs to be cut off. Taking your lamp parts into consideration, you will have to leave enough rod to hold your coupler, your piece that holds your harp, and your actual lamp fixture base. Usually, this means leaving about 1 inch or so above the last stacked rock. You can test this by getting all your lamp parts out, putting them one by one on the top of the extra rod, and then making a mark just under the first piece (coupler) to see how extra rod you need to leave protruding out. Mark your rod where you need to cut it, pull off the rock one by one keeping them in order and cut your rod to length.
Final Assembly
Put your pre-cut rod back into the base and put some of your epoxy glue around the hole where the rod fits into and around a small area where your first small rock is going to sit. Take your first small rock and slide it down over the rod and put it on top of the glued area on your base. (It is important to keep your glue area small so it is not seen after the rocks are placed together). Continue this process until all the rocks are places tightly together on the rod. Make sure the inside of your rod is clear all the way through the center without any obstructions so you can slide your lamp cord through it in the next step. You have now completed the most difficult part of making this lamp. Let your lamp sit for a couple of hours or so to let the glue set up.
Using the directions on your lamp kit box, assemble the rest of the lamp parts as shown. You will have to push your cord all the way through from the bottom of the base. (Sometimes, depending on the rock base, your cord will not sit correctly under the base and may cause the base to rock a little. This is where you will need your angle grinder with a wheel suitable to grind rock. Turn your lamp upside down and take your angle grinder and dig a small indentation from the middle of the rock where the rod is towards the back of the lamp. Just make sure the groove is deep enough to hold the lamp cord).
Finally, spray the lamp with a satin or semi-gloss clear lacquer to seal the rock and to bring out the natural colors of the stone. Apply two or three coats of the lacquer. After the lacquer is dry, you may want to put a piece of felt on the bottom of your lamp so it will not scratch the table it sits on.
Let's get started with the tools and parts you will need. These tools are essential for getting this project done correctly and may require a little bit of a financial investment to get started.
A drill press. The press does not have to be a large, floor model...it can be a bench top type for now. It does have to have a setting on it that will enable the drill to go fairly slowly through the rock. A setting of around 200-300 rounds per minute is best.
A 3/8" mortise bit. The mortise bit for this purpose only has to be around 5" long. DO NOT buy a carbide-coated bit, as these seem to not work as well. Home Depot or Lowe's both carry a standard 3/8" mortise bit for around $5.00.
A lamp kit with a harp included. These lamp kits are easy to use and will come with everything you need to put your lamp together. You will want to make sure the kit comes with a harp also if you are planning on using a shade that requires a harp. These sell for around $8.00 at most hardware stores.
A 3/8" thread rod around 10 inches long. This rod can be bought along with your lamp kit in the hardware's lighting section. Usually, the lengths come in 24" to 36" and cost around $4.00. After you put the lamp together, you will want to cut the rod to length and I will explain how to do that.
A hack saw for cutting the 3/8" rod to length.
A good strong epoxy glue that sets within 30 minutes.
An angle grinder with a wheel suitable to grind rock.
Your Rock
The best place to get your rock for your lamp is to find a dried up riverbed. Rocks from dried riverbeds tend to be easier to drill and lend themselves more easily to making a lamp. Please note: We don't want to disturb riverbeds that are in use by our natural rivers and streams but picking up rock from dried up sources poses no harm to the environment. You will need a base to start with. Look around for a fairly flat base that when set down on a table, it won't rock back and forth but will sit stable. For this project, your base should be about 8 inches square and about 1 inch to 2 inches thick or thereabouts (any variation is ok as long it is fairly flat). After you have found your base, look for smaller rocks of different shapes and sizes and choose ones that are fairly flat on both sides too. This will make it easier to drill and fit together on your lamp. These should be around ½ " thick or so. You will need about 6 of these smaller rocks.
Drilling The Rock
Now that you have gathered your choice rock for your lamp, it is time to drill. Place the base of the rock on your drill press and roughly find the center of the rock. (You do not have to be exactly perfect in finding the center as this is a rustic lamp and if you are a little off, it only makes it more rustic and interesting). You should make sure that where you are going to drill is relatively flat so the drill bit does not dance around on you. (Before you drill, make sure you have a little water on hand to either spray the drill bit or splash some on to it as the drill bit can get very hot and could break if not kept cool). Begin drilling slowly, around 200 to 300 rounds per minute, and continue until you are completely through. Yeah....you did it! Now, repeat these steps with your remaining smaller rock until all are drilled and ready to put together.
Pre-Assembly
Take your length of 3/8" rod and cut it down to about 10" or so. Place the rod into the larger base and start stacking the smaller rock on top. Since none of these rocks are exactly flat, you may have to move them around a little to make sure they fit together snuggly so that the inner rod does not show. After you have completed this process you will most likely have extra rod on top that needs to be cut off. Taking your lamp parts into consideration, you will have to leave enough rod to hold your coupler, your piece that holds your harp, and your actual lamp fixture base. Usually, this means leaving about 1 inch or so above the last stacked rock. You can test this by getting all your lamp parts out, putting them one by one on the top of the extra rod, and then making a mark just under the first piece (coupler) to see how extra rod you need to leave protruding out. Mark your rod where you need to cut it, pull off the rock one by one keeping them in order and cut your rod to length.
Final Assembly
Put your pre-cut rod back into the base and put some of your epoxy glue around the hole where the rod fits into and around a small area where your first small rock is going to sit. Take your first small rock and slide it down over the rod and put it on top of the glued area on your base. (It is important to keep your glue area small so it is not seen after the rocks are placed together). Continue this process until all the rocks are places tightly together on the rod. Make sure the inside of your rod is clear all the way through the center without any obstructions so you can slide your lamp cord through it in the next step. You have now completed the most difficult part of making this lamp. Let your lamp sit for a couple of hours or so to let the glue set up.
Using the directions on your lamp kit box, assemble the rest of the lamp parts as shown. You will have to push your cord all the way through from the bottom of the base. (Sometimes, depending on the rock base, your cord will not sit correctly under the base and may cause the base to rock a little. This is where you will need your angle grinder with a wheel suitable to grind rock. Turn your lamp upside down and take your angle grinder and dig a small indentation from the middle of the rock where the rod is towards the back of the lamp. Just make sure the groove is deep enough to hold the lamp cord).
Finally, spray the lamp with a satin or semi-gloss clear lacquer to seal the rock and to bring out the natural colors of the stone. Apply two or three coats of the lacquer. After the lacquer is dry, you may want to put a piece of felt on the bottom of your lamp so it will not scratch the table it sits on.
Prepare for the Worst - Gather All Your Vital Documents
Scenario: You came home from work only to find that the tropical storm lingering out in the Atlantic Ocean has rapidly turned into a category 3 hurricane. Your home is in the direct path of the eye of the storm and officials have called for a mandatory evacuation within 4 hours.
In this scenario, how long do you think it will take you to gather all of your important documents assuming you won't have a home when you come back? If you said an hour or more, that is way too long! It shouldn't take you more than five minutes to grab all the papers you need. You will have a very hard time trying to put your life back together if you're missing critical documents.
Start now by using this checklist to gather all of your important documents and store them in a fireproof, waterproof or safe deposit box. Use plastic covers for passports, birth and marriage certificates, etc.
Don't let another hurricane season go by without you being prepared.
Emergency Document Checklist
Copy of driver's license
Passport/ Immigration papers
Social Security Card
Certified copy of birth & death certificates/ Adoption papers
Certified copy of marriage license/ Divorce
Church records
Copy of medical & dental insurance
Home insurance policy/ Photo of valuables
Property & vehicles titles/ Deeds
Wills/ Trusts/ Power of Attorney
Income tax returns (past 3 years)
Investments/ Stocks & bonds
Credit card/ Loan information
Bank information & contact
Employer benefits statement
All account numbers & passwords
Medication list
Resume/ Address history
Cash ($2,000 if possible)
Current pictures of each family member (pets too!)
Alberta is a member of The National Association of Professional Organizers and owner of Emplayce-The Organizing Source
In this scenario, how long do you think it will take you to gather all of your important documents assuming you won't have a home when you come back? If you said an hour or more, that is way too long! It shouldn't take you more than five minutes to grab all the papers you need. You will have a very hard time trying to put your life back together if you're missing critical documents.
Start now by using this checklist to gather all of your important documents and store them in a fireproof, waterproof or safe deposit box. Use plastic covers for passports, birth and marriage certificates, etc.
Don't let another hurricane season go by without you being prepared.
Emergency Document Checklist
Copy of driver's license
Passport/ Immigration papers
Social Security Card
Certified copy of birth & death certificates/ Adoption papers
Certified copy of marriage license/ Divorce
Church records
Copy of medical & dental insurance
Home insurance policy/ Photo of valuables
Property & vehicles titles/ Deeds
Wills/ Trusts/ Power of Attorney
Income tax returns (past 3 years)
Investments/ Stocks & bonds
Credit card/ Loan information
Bank information & contact
Employer benefits statement
All account numbers & passwords
Medication list
Resume/ Address history
Cash ($2,000 if possible)
Current pictures of each family member (pets too!)
Alberta is a member of The National Association of Professional Organizers and owner of Emplayce-The Organizing Source
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Small Business Information Center - Your Information Gateway
Starting up a small business is really a testing time for any entrepreneur; one has to undergo a lot of stress full with so much to do in so less a time. The initial phase before starting up a business is also characterized by toiling under pressure to find out what is right and what is wrong.
The major issue of concern before starting up any small business is the availability of right resources. Do you have the right kind of guidance? Do you have enough small business information? What is the source of your information?
Internet is one of the best resources for searching for small business information. You can also get some practical information on ‘how to start your home business’ and can also search for some small business opportunities that suit your taste and budget.
However, the best thing would be to visit a small business information center. You can also find out about the addresses of some government based small business information centers and administrations.
There are many local Business Information Centers which provide the small business owners and the prospective entrepreneurs with important information. The small business centers also provide contacts for state regulatory requirements for people wanting to start up small businesses.
The primary objective of any small business information center is to facilitate sustainable small business development. You also find information about licenses and permits you need to obtain and maintain in order to run your business smoothly.
Small business information you need before starting up a business:
• Information for obtaining the necessary licenses and permits
• Availability of different financing options for your short term or long term goals
• Information on some copyright and trademark issues.
• Information on how you can get some guidance from external sources.
Some of the organizations that can help you to set up small businesses are the following:
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business owners. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
There are many SBA programs and services which support your small business. You can also get SBA-backed loans and find government contracting opportunities. SBA also provides disaster assistance and training programs to help your business succeed.
There are around 25 million strong small businesses providing strength to America’s economy. Despite their immense contribution to the economy, small businesses are heavily burdened by the costs of government regulation and excessive paperwork.
Office of Advocacy within the U.S Small Business Administration helps to reduce the burdens that federal policies impose on small firms and maximize the benefits small businesses receive from the government. It encourages policies that support the development and growth of American small business.
The major issue of concern before starting up any small business is the availability of right resources. Do you have the right kind of guidance? Do you have enough small business information? What is the source of your information?
Internet is one of the best resources for searching for small business information. You can also get some practical information on ‘how to start your home business’ and can also search for some small business opportunities that suit your taste and budget.
However, the best thing would be to visit a small business information center. You can also find out about the addresses of some government based small business information centers and administrations.
There are many local Business Information Centers which provide the small business owners and the prospective entrepreneurs with important information. The small business centers also provide contacts for state regulatory requirements for people wanting to start up small businesses.
The primary objective of any small business information center is to facilitate sustainable small business development. You also find information about licenses and permits you need to obtain and maintain in order to run your business smoothly.
Small business information you need before starting up a business:
• Information for obtaining the necessary licenses and permits
• Availability of different financing options for your short term or long term goals
• Information on some copyright and trademark issues.
• Information on how you can get some guidance from external sources.
Some of the organizations that can help you to set up small businesses are the following:
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business owners. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
There are many SBA programs and services which support your small business. You can also get SBA-backed loans and find government contracting opportunities. SBA also provides disaster assistance and training programs to help your business succeed.
There are around 25 million strong small businesses providing strength to America’s economy. Despite their immense contribution to the economy, small businesses are heavily burdened by the costs of government regulation and excessive paperwork.
Office of Advocacy within the U.S Small Business Administration helps to reduce the burdens that federal policies impose on small firms and maximize the benefits small businesses receive from the government. It encourages policies that support the development and growth of American small business.
Choosing A Security System for Your Home and Office
Over the last few years, many home security companies have started to combination plans that will cover your home and your business. This can let you deal with a single company for all your security needs - both home and office.
In the past, it may have been necessary to deal with two different companies or at least two different accounts at a single company - one for your home and one for your office.
It wasn't so much a matter of needing different types of alarm systems as it was a matter of policy. Most security companies treated business security different than home security. By combining the two into a single plan, it simplifies things for the customer and it simplifies monitoring for the security outfit.
The basic security requirements are not really any different between a home and a business. The alarm system can be wired or wireless, monitored or stand-alone. These are decisions that you would make for either your home or your office, depending on your budget and your needs.
The difference between home and office systems lies mainly in the way the monitoring is handled. Both home and office systems offer central monitoring so the alarm company can alert you and the authorities in case of an alarm. Office systems are handled a little differently though.
Many businesses have security guards that keep track of things after hours - either hired by the business directly or supplied by the building management in rental offices. The alarm company can work with these security guards in case of an alarm, which is not something that is common in the case of home alarms.
Office alarms generally cover more than just break-ins too. They often include fire and smoke detection and the alarm company can alert the fire department in case of a fire.
In the past, it may have been necessary to deal with two different companies or at least two different accounts at a single company - one for your home and one for your office.
It wasn't so much a matter of needing different types of alarm systems as it was a matter of policy. Most security companies treated business security different than home security. By combining the two into a single plan, it simplifies things for the customer and it simplifies monitoring for the security outfit.
The basic security requirements are not really any different between a home and a business. The alarm system can be wired or wireless, monitored or stand-alone. These are decisions that you would make for either your home or your office, depending on your budget and your needs.
The difference between home and office systems lies mainly in the way the monitoring is handled. Both home and office systems offer central monitoring so the alarm company can alert you and the authorities in case of an alarm. Office systems are handled a little differently though.
Many businesses have security guards that keep track of things after hours - either hired by the business directly or supplied by the building management in rental offices. The alarm company can work with these security guards in case of an alarm, which is not something that is common in the case of home alarms.
Office alarms generally cover more than just break-ins too. They often include fire and smoke detection and the alarm company can alert the fire department in case of a fire.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Free Network Monitoring Software
Are you looking for a free solution for all your network monitoring needs? Then you should be really looking for free Linux networking status monitoring software online.
Today, businesses are seeking solutions for monitoring their networks and protecting them from unauthorized visitors. Software like Big Brother, Bandwidth Monitor and FreePing helps you protect your network from the unwarranted use of office software by the employees.
Free network monitoring software would help you to not only prepare reports on the uptime, downtime, and virus attacks, take backups of documents and passwords but also show online and offline time. Networking status monitoring can be done both internally as well as through remote controlling devices.
Free network monitoring software can help you find the complete status of your network and all your systems, and help you encrypt your emails and documents. Such software can also help you trace the routes of unauthorized visitors and debug their connections to your systems and network.
Before you can purchase network monitoring software, you need to get a thorough compatibility check done by a reliable third-party vendor. It could be from your own computer vendor or the manufacturing company.
Network status monitoring software usually comes for a nominal price of about $55 or more. The software is still priceless, since it serves multiple purposes and it all comes in one package. This would save a lot of your time you would have spent looking around, and give you maximum value for your investment.
Some free network monitoring software is also available in various languages (foreign or local). You could get reviews of various free networking monitoring software beforehand in some computer magazines online as well as offline. Finally, be choosy about the software you purchase.
Today, businesses are seeking solutions for monitoring their networks and protecting them from unauthorized visitors. Software like Big Brother, Bandwidth Monitor and FreePing helps you protect your network from the unwarranted use of office software by the employees.
Free network monitoring software would help you to not only prepare reports on the uptime, downtime, and virus attacks, take backups of documents and passwords but also show online and offline time. Networking status monitoring can be done both internally as well as through remote controlling devices.
Free network monitoring software can help you find the complete status of your network and all your systems, and help you encrypt your emails and documents. Such software can also help you trace the routes of unauthorized visitors and debug their connections to your systems and network.
Before you can purchase network monitoring software, you need to get a thorough compatibility check done by a reliable third-party vendor. It could be from your own computer vendor or the manufacturing company.
Network status monitoring software usually comes for a nominal price of about $55 or more. The software is still priceless, since it serves multiple purposes and it all comes in one package. This would save a lot of your time you would have spent looking around, and give you maximum value for your investment.
Some free network monitoring software is also available in various languages (foreign or local). You could get reviews of various free networking monitoring software beforehand in some computer magazines online as well as offline. Finally, be choosy about the software you purchase.
Associate Your Company With A Registered Office Address And Reap Business Benefits
It is mandatory (from legal perspective) for UK registered companies to use a registered UK address where the Government agencies can send official documents, such as statutory letters, court documents and so on. The registered office address will be recorded at Companies House.
A company when incorporated is assigned a registered office address that gets recorded in the public record, such as Companies House. All the official correspondence (letters and reminders) takes place at this address.
However, there are numerous small companies/business set-ups that do not wish to use their addresses as a registered address for official communication. This is because an effective and prestigious company address plays a crucial role in creating a good image of a company in the eyes of the customers. In addition, an effective registered office address ensures prompt and reliable delivery and receipt of official mails. All the office documents received at the registered address is forwarded to the designated address of the client. The small companies can use this address on their business stationary.
There are many firms that offer registered office address service to such small companies. For example, a small company run by a single director from his/her home can avail this service to enhance the efficiency of the business by ensuring reliable official correspondence. The director can use this separate company address to receive routine paperwork from Companies House and Inland Revenue.
The registered office address service is useful for the UK companies owned by people residing outside the UK. It is a legal requirement of a UK company to have a UK-registered address. So, such companies can avail this service and run their businesses smoothly.
The companies availing the registered address service should take care of not using the address as a 'trading address' for their general mails.
A company when incorporated is assigned a registered office address that gets recorded in the public record, such as Companies House. All the official correspondence (letters and reminders) takes place at this address.
However, there are numerous small companies/business set-ups that do not wish to use their addresses as a registered address for official communication. This is because an effective and prestigious company address plays a crucial role in creating a good image of a company in the eyes of the customers. In addition, an effective registered office address ensures prompt and reliable delivery and receipt of official mails. All the office documents received at the registered address is forwarded to the designated address of the client. The small companies can use this address on their business stationary.
There are many firms that offer registered office address service to such small companies. For example, a small company run by a single director from his/her home can avail this service to enhance the efficiency of the business by ensuring reliable official correspondence. The director can use this separate company address to receive routine paperwork from Companies House and Inland Revenue.
The registered office address service is useful for the UK companies owned by people residing outside the UK. It is a legal requirement of a UK company to have a UK-registered address. So, such companies can avail this service and run their businesses smoothly.
The companies availing the registered address service should take care of not using the address as a 'trading address' for their general mails.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Is Your Wireless Network a Home Security Breach?
Wireless networks for home computers are becoming more and more popular but do you know how to protect your Wi-Fi network?
A recent survey from www.wi-fi.org shows that protecting your wireless network has become one of the top three issues in home security. According to the survey the top three concerns about home security was:
* Locking windows and doors
* Installing a home alarm system
* Securing your wireless network.
More than 40 percent of the survey respondents felt that a protected Wi-Fi network was an important part of creating a safe home.
Is your neighbor using your Wi-Fi network?
Did you know that 17 percent of Americans thinks it's ok to use someone else's network. The wast majority thinks using your neighbor's Wi-Fi is like stealing. They don't like their neighbors borrowing their signal without their knowledge.
Most new laptop computers have access to Wi-Fi networks as a standard feature. Try taking your laptop for a drive in the neighborhood and you'll probably discover that your computer can connect to several networks - especially if you live in the city. Some "Wi-Fi snatchers" even put small graffitti marks on walls indicating where your can find an open network.
Only seven out of 10 respondents in the survey had activated their Wi-Fi network security - that leaves 30% of networks wide open. Securing you network does require a little technical knowledge, but most systems come with an easy step-by-step guide for setting up the network security. When you have secured your network you can really enjoy the freedom of Wi-Fi without worrying about bandwidth theft.
Have you checked if your Wi-Fi network is secure?
Can you take your laptop computer across the street and still access your home network? Does using your network require you to logon to the network? If not your network is probably wide open so everyone in the neighborhood can use your network. Maybe it's time to find the manual to your system and start doing something about your Wi-Fi security before someone starts stealing your bandwidth or worse - gets access to you computer.
A recent survey from www.wi-fi.org shows that protecting your wireless network has become one of the top three issues in home security. According to the survey the top three concerns about home security was:
* Locking windows and doors
* Installing a home alarm system
* Securing your wireless network.
More than 40 percent of the survey respondents felt that a protected Wi-Fi network was an important part of creating a safe home.
Is your neighbor using your Wi-Fi network?
Did you know that 17 percent of Americans thinks it's ok to use someone else's network. The wast majority thinks using your neighbor's Wi-Fi is like stealing. They don't like their neighbors borrowing their signal without their knowledge.
Most new laptop computers have access to Wi-Fi networks as a standard feature. Try taking your laptop for a drive in the neighborhood and you'll probably discover that your computer can connect to several networks - especially if you live in the city. Some "Wi-Fi snatchers" even put small graffitti marks on walls indicating where your can find an open network.
Only seven out of 10 respondents in the survey had activated their Wi-Fi network security - that leaves 30% of networks wide open. Securing you network does require a little technical knowledge, but most systems come with an easy step-by-step guide for setting up the network security. When you have secured your network you can really enjoy the freedom of Wi-Fi without worrying about bandwidth theft.
Have you checked if your Wi-Fi network is secure?
Can you take your laptop computer across the street and still access your home network? Does using your network require you to logon to the network? If not your network is probably wide open so everyone in the neighborhood can use your network. Maybe it's time to find the manual to your system and start doing something about your Wi-Fi security before someone starts stealing your bandwidth or worse - gets access to you computer.
Office Printing Solutions
Every office has different needs when it comes to their printing solutions. Most companies will grow from a home based business into a larger office will require a change in their printing solutions. It doesn't make sense for a business to have several small ink-jet printers running all at the same time each serving as individual employee. Ink-jet printers are notoriously expensive to maintain and can only serve one or two people at a time without causing a huge backlog of print jobs. A larger office should have a singular large format laser-jet printer that will process jobs more quickly and more efficiently than smaller individual printers can. In the long run this will be much better for your business as it will lower many of the costs your business will incur. Converting from individual printers to one central unit will require several things and you should be aware of them before moving forward with this process.
Your office will have to establish a network of some sort for all the machines in your office to print to a single machine. This could mean bringing in a computer expert to establish your network, or simply setting it up yourself. Setting up a network for your office is really quite simple and can be done in any office outfitted for DSL, which most already are. All you will need to do is to route the DSL through one central router and out to the individual machines and setup the central printer either through your router or one of the computer's on the network that can grant access to all the computer's on the network.
Once you have a network in place you should do plenty of research before purchasing the printer you are going to place on your office network. There are plenty of models out on the market from companies like Brother, Hewlett Packard, Epson and Lexmark. You should choose a machine that gives you the options you need and has the print capacity that fits your company.
Your office will have to establish a network of some sort for all the machines in your office to print to a single machine. This could mean bringing in a computer expert to establish your network, or simply setting it up yourself. Setting up a network for your office is really quite simple and can be done in any office outfitted for DSL, which most already are. All you will need to do is to route the DSL through one central router and out to the individual machines and setup the central printer either through your router or one of the computer's on the network that can grant access to all the computer's on the network.
Once you have a network in place you should do plenty of research before purchasing the printer you are going to place on your office network. There are plenty of models out on the market from companies like Brother, Hewlett Packard, Epson and Lexmark. You should choose a machine that gives you the options you need and has the print capacity that fits your company.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Understanding The True Cost Of Corporate Office Space
How do I assess my true office accommodation costs?
We have been asked by a number of clients to help them identify the true cost of an office or location. Here is a guide to the factors you should consider to assess total accommodation costs.
The UK Department of Trade and Industry commissioned a report into remote working in 2005 and found that a significant operational cost reduction was achieved.
In a recent report the following figures were published from a study of 13 large corporations, spanning some 30 teams (1.0)
• 86% of managers and 74% of staff spend time out of the office during any month.
• An average office worker spends 10-20% of time away from their desk.
Taking the above we can calculate, in rough terms, the expected usage of accommodation to staff ratio. (This is only a guide and further study of any organisation will be required.)
Total cost of location – In order to calculate the exact costs of providing a desk, a number of factors need to be considered. A recent report from The City University Business School calculated the average desk cost as follows;
• Central London - 20K per desk per year
• Other major UK cities - 13k to 8k per desk per year
The above is inclusive of all service costs to the desk and space such as corridors or larger personal enclosed office space. We can use these figure to show wastage costs per office or team.
Example:
100 staff with 10 managers
100 staff of which 74 are out of the office 10% of the time = 7.4 empty desks
10 managers of which 8 are out of the office 10% of the time = 0.8 of an empty desk.
Total yearly cost = 8.2 desks at 8k per year 65.6k
(This does not include sickness or holidays)
(Remember that unless you maximise the space left, savings will not be made in direct accommodation costs.)
Conclusion - It is recommended that a short study is commissioned to look at potential within the organisation and identify an appropriate project that will bring cost savings and increased productivity.
We have been asked by a number of clients to help them identify the true cost of an office or location. Here is a guide to the factors you should consider to assess total accommodation costs.
The UK Department of Trade and Industry commissioned a report into remote working in 2005 and found that a significant operational cost reduction was achieved.
In a recent report the following figures were published from a study of 13 large corporations, spanning some 30 teams (1.0)
• 86% of managers and 74% of staff spend time out of the office during any month.
• An average office worker spends 10-20% of time away from their desk.
Taking the above we can calculate, in rough terms, the expected usage of accommodation to staff ratio. (This is only a guide and further study of any organisation will be required.)
Total cost of location – In order to calculate the exact costs of providing a desk, a number of factors need to be considered. A recent report from The City University Business School calculated the average desk cost as follows;
• Central London - 20K per desk per year
• Other major UK cities - 13k to 8k per desk per year
The above is inclusive of all service costs to the desk and space such as corridors or larger personal enclosed office space. We can use these figure to show wastage costs per office or team.
Example:
100 staff with 10 managers
100 staff of which 74 are out of the office 10% of the time = 7.4 empty desks
10 managers of which 8 are out of the office 10% of the time = 0.8 of an empty desk.
Total yearly cost = 8.2 desks at 8k per year 65.6k
(This does not include sickness or holidays)
(Remember that unless you maximise the space left, savings will not be made in direct accommodation costs.)
Conclusion - It is recommended that a short study is commissioned to look at potential within the organisation and identify an appropriate project that will bring cost savings and increased productivity.
HughesNet Is The World's Leading Broadband Satellite Service For All Consumers
HughesNet offers several service plans to meet a variety of needs. From surfing the Internet at super-fast speeds, to managing a small business from home, HughesNet has solutions for home users and home businesses. HughesNet’s business-class service plans offer companies the ability to securely connect their locations with broadband Internet in areas where fiber, cable or DSL are not available.
HughesNet Speeds
Maximum download speeds are not guaranteed. Actual upload speed will likely be lower than speed indicated during peak hours. Download speeds may also be temporarily slowed in cases when patterns of system usage exceed the download threshold for an extended period of time. See the HughesNet Fair Access Policy for more information. If you choose to run VPN over satellite, your data speeds may be reduced by as much as 50-75%. Despite the high speeds, time-sensitive applications, such as multi-player “twitch” games, are also not recommended over HughesNet due to signal latency.
Dynamic IP Address (NAT – Network Address Translation)
HughesNet provides a dynamically allocated IP address to the DW7000 modem with each service plan except Business Internet. IP addresses are assigned via Network Address Translation which enables dynamic assignment of private IPs to devices, keeping them private from users outside of the network.
Static IP Addresses
Static IP Addresses are available for all service plans. With the exception of the Business Internet service plan, static IP addresses must be ordered separately.
A static IP address is a permanent Internet address for a computer, much like a telephone number. Static IPs make managing Internet connections more secure and email access easier. Generally, a subscriber’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) determines the type of IP address (static or dynamic) the subscriber uses. Because there are a limited number of static IP addresses available, most residential subscribers use dynamic IP addresses.
Dynamic IP addresses (also referred to as a NAT or Network Address Translation) are randomly assigned IP addresses from a pool of available addresses. When connecting to the Internet, users with a dynamic IP addresses use a new IP address each time they connect to the Internet. Static IP addresses are necessary for some Internet uses such as:
• Accessing some applications remotely
• Using video conferencing services
• Accessing home computers remotely
• Operating a home email or web server
• Using some applications requiring Internet access
• Accessing some protected or secure web sites
• Offering e-commerce transactions using SSL (Secured Socket Layered) encryptions
Dial Up Account
HughesNet provides dial up accounts for accessing the Internet and HughesNet email when traveling. HughesNet also provides web-based access to HughesNet email.
Warranty Extension
HughesNet offers a 15-month warranty extension for customers who select either the Home or Professional service plans with the upfront purchase option. The warranty extension is included in the cost of the Home or Professional service plans under the promotional payment plan option. Small Office and Business Internet service plans have a 24 month extended warranty that is included in the cost of both service plans.
Onsite Maintenance
HughesNet offers next-day onsite service for the Small Office and Business Internet service plans for an additional monthly fee.
HughesNet Speeds
Maximum download speeds are not guaranteed. Actual upload speed will likely be lower than speed indicated during peak hours. Download speeds may also be temporarily slowed in cases when patterns of system usage exceed the download threshold for an extended period of time. See the HughesNet Fair Access Policy for more information. If you choose to run VPN over satellite, your data speeds may be reduced by as much as 50-75%. Despite the high speeds, time-sensitive applications, such as multi-player “twitch” games, are also not recommended over HughesNet due to signal latency.
Dynamic IP Address (NAT – Network Address Translation)
HughesNet provides a dynamically allocated IP address to the DW7000 modem with each service plan except Business Internet. IP addresses are assigned via Network Address Translation which enables dynamic assignment of private IPs to devices, keeping them private from users outside of the network.
Static IP Addresses
Static IP Addresses are available for all service plans. With the exception of the Business Internet service plan, static IP addresses must be ordered separately.
A static IP address is a permanent Internet address for a computer, much like a telephone number. Static IPs make managing Internet connections more secure and email access easier. Generally, a subscriber’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) determines the type of IP address (static or dynamic) the subscriber uses. Because there are a limited number of static IP addresses available, most residential subscribers use dynamic IP addresses.
Dynamic IP addresses (also referred to as a NAT or Network Address Translation) are randomly assigned IP addresses from a pool of available addresses. When connecting to the Internet, users with a dynamic IP addresses use a new IP address each time they connect to the Internet. Static IP addresses are necessary for some Internet uses such as:
• Accessing some applications remotely
• Using video conferencing services
• Accessing home computers remotely
• Operating a home email or web server
• Using some applications requiring Internet access
• Accessing some protected or secure web sites
• Offering e-commerce transactions using SSL (Secured Socket Layered) encryptions
Dial Up Account
HughesNet provides dial up accounts for accessing the Internet and HughesNet email when traveling. HughesNet also provides web-based access to HughesNet email.
Warranty Extension
HughesNet offers a 15-month warranty extension for customers who select either the Home or Professional service plans with the upfront purchase option. The warranty extension is included in the cost of the Home or Professional service plans under the promotional payment plan option. Small Office and Business Internet service plans have a 24 month extended warranty that is included in the cost of both service plans.
Onsite Maintenance
HughesNet offers next-day onsite service for the Small Office and Business Internet service plans for an additional monthly fee.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The Billows Family Name - Famous George Billows
The Billows Family name is not that common and there are no nobility links that can be found in the historical record. Billows Family name appears to have come from those who worked as bellowers in the 16th century and for the most part many were peasants although in more recent times a few have risen to the ranks of bureaucrats and paper work government workers. Others have become union workers and such.
In past periods some Billows were sent to the Australia Prison Colonies. Some Billows rose to the ranks of assistant engineers, although most were low-level worker bees who contributed at least some needed grunt labor. There was a George Billows who married into the Baker family in 1772, which up lifted that family lineage quite a bit, but their offspring did not make the any significant impacts on the forward progression of human civilization.
George Billows in 1772 who married Mary Baker, married well and this has been about the best records we have found to any real strength of the family name. To this date there have been no real major accomplishments or notices in the public record of the Billows Family name as achieving any thing of major significance other than a few named bureaucrats of government and industry.
Some of the records seem to indicate that the Billows family name was once Willows, but since the uneducated line of the family in the 1600s could not read, write or spell and it is hypothesized that the name was inadvertently changed, although this is merely speculation. If you have information on the Billows family name or if you can find anything, which can help show that this is a worthy name of note; please post it on ancestry.com bulletin boards at your earliest convenience to help.
In past periods some Billows were sent to the Australia Prison Colonies. Some Billows rose to the ranks of assistant engineers, although most were low-level worker bees who contributed at least some needed grunt labor. There was a George Billows who married into the Baker family in 1772, which up lifted that family lineage quite a bit, but their offspring did not make the any significant impacts on the forward progression of human civilization.
George Billows in 1772 who married Mary Baker, married well and this has been about the best records we have found to any real strength of the family name. To this date there have been no real major accomplishments or notices in the public record of the Billows Family name as achieving any thing of major significance other than a few named bureaucrats of government and industry.
Some of the records seem to indicate that the Billows family name was once Willows, but since the uneducated line of the family in the 1600s could not read, write or spell and it is hypothesized that the name was inadvertently changed, although this is merely speculation. If you have information on the Billows family name or if you can find anything, which can help show that this is a worthy name of note; please post it on ancestry.com bulletin boards at your earliest convenience to help.
How to Get Affordable Individual and Family Health Insurance
An affordable individual and family health insurance plan is an insurance plan provided only to individuals and their families, unlike the group insurance plans offered to employers or other organizations. Not everyone has the option of getting an employer-sponsored group health insurance plan, and not everyone belongs to an organization that offers group health insurance plans to their members. When this is the case for individuals with families, an affordable individual and family health insurance plan is ideal.
Affordable individual and family health insurance plans are often offered through an indemnity or managed care organization. With an indemnity, the policyholder – you – pays for all health care costs upfront. The individual and family health insurance plan will reimburse you once they receive a doctor or hospital bill. With a managed care plan, you usually only have to pay a co-payment at the time of your medical service. The doctor or hospital will then bill your individual and family health insurance company for the rest. Managed care organizations include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Point of Service (POS) plans, and they do not always provide the wide selection of doctors and other health care professionals offered by indemnity plans.
You may feel health insurance is too expensive for you, but there are affordable individual and family health insurance plans out there. Being without adequate health insurance is too risky – for your health and your bank account. Thanks to individual and family health insurance plans, it’s possible for you, your spouse, and your children to obtain affordable health insurance.
If you and your family are currently without affordable health insurance, act quickly. After you apply for an individual and family health insurance plan, the time between application and the date the plan actually starts varies. The speed of the process usually depends on the underwriting process of the insurance company, so it’s best to apply as soon as possible.
Affordable individual and family health insurance plans are often offered through an indemnity or managed care organization. With an indemnity, the policyholder – you – pays for all health care costs upfront. The individual and family health insurance plan will reimburse you once they receive a doctor or hospital bill. With a managed care plan, you usually only have to pay a co-payment at the time of your medical service. The doctor or hospital will then bill your individual and family health insurance company for the rest. Managed care organizations include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Point of Service (POS) plans, and they do not always provide the wide selection of doctors and other health care professionals offered by indemnity plans.
You may feel health insurance is too expensive for you, but there are affordable individual and family health insurance plans out there. Being without adequate health insurance is too risky – for your health and your bank account. Thanks to individual and family health insurance plans, it’s possible for you, your spouse, and your children to obtain affordable health insurance.
If you and your family are currently without affordable health insurance, act quickly. After you apply for an individual and family health insurance plan, the time between application and the date the plan actually starts varies. The speed of the process usually depends on the underwriting process of the insurance company, so it’s best to apply as soon as possible.
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