Top Tips Online

Two Simple Ways to Be a Happier Parent

2010-03-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

When Christine Carter became a parent, she realized that her work as a sociologist who studies happiness gave her a head start on being a good and happy parent. Rather than trying to solve problems in her family, she wanted to prevent them. That got her wondering what makes for happy families and children. The result of that questioning is Raising Happiness (Ballantine Books).

The book is chock-full of words—gratitude, forgiveness, optimism, and inner peace—I associate more with meditation than parenting manuals. But it's not at all woo-woo. Carter grounds her path to happiness in solid science, including behavioral psychology, which explains why praise is much more powerful in getting children to behave than punishment or nagging. Many of the findings are surprisingly simple. For instance, would you like to know the one thing that will make children do better in school, help them have fewer emotional problems, and make them less likely to become obese or have drug or alcohol problems? Eat dinner together as a family.
Science and simplicity in the service of happier families: That sounds like a winner. So I called up Carter, executive director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California-Berkeley, and asked her how I could start making my own family happier.
She said to start off by asking two questions about your life as a parent:
1. When are you happiest with your kids?
2. What part of the normal day with your family routinely causes suffering?
Then make sure your day is structured so that you get routine, habitual happiness and so that you're eliminating habitual pain.
Carter says that when she asked herself the second question, she realized that she hated getting her two daughters out the door for school. "Every single morning I was yelling at my kids [at] approximately the same time and for the same reason," she says.
So she decided to restructure those mornings so they'd be a shared joy, or at least neutral. The science of changing habits says you have to start off supersmall and build over weeks to a bigger result. So she had the kids put their shoes by the door the night before. In the morning, "I ended up setting a timer," Carter says. "It goes off twice. The first time it goes off, it means clear your dishes and go brush your teeth. The second is walk out the door to the bus." By the next morning, she says, "we didn't have such a bad morning. We had taken the first step."
Just as she changed the family's daily routine to make that one stressful period less miserable, Carter also focused on amplifying the moment that gives her the most joy in parenting. "For me, the most joy always comes at the end of the day when I'm putting the kids to bed" and they're telling me about their three good things [that happened in the day]. That's my most luscious thing, the thing I enjoy the most." To make sure that she didn't miss out on that moment when she had to work in the evenings, "we just moved [that bedtime routine] to after school. They sit on the couch with me and cuddle, and we read a book and they tell me about their three good things."
Carter says that despite her deep knowledge of the science of happiness, she doesn't always do the right thing as a parent. "It's part of the journey, an incremental improvement process. But it's amazing to me how much this stuff works when you have the intention to have a happier morning," she says.
That's my challenge for the week: Make a happy moment with my child part of our routine, and engineer out one annoying bit of parenting. And I challenge you do to the same, too. What will be your happiness moment? What suffering will you avoid?

5 Website Design Tips to Save Time

2010-03-01T21:29:00.001-08:00

Doing good website design can take a lot of time. In the case you have a lot of work to do, are there ways to reduce how much time you take up and still produce good website design? Here are 5 website design tips to reduce time costs.

1. Website templates

One of the most commonly used time-saving methods is finding (or designing) good website templates to use to cut back on the time it can take to build a full website construction. By doing this you can have a template ready to fill with your new website’s content and images.
However, be careful – overusing templates can often be noticed, since designing multiple sites with the same template can be noticed. This can upset people who want a very unique website. The best way to adjust to this is to have several templates ready to use, so you can customize the look to each website as necessary.

2. Set up a web server

There are several types of code that you cannot test locally by just opening in your browser. These include code like PHP and SQL calls. To get around the need to upload your code changes before you can see and test the results, it can save time to install a local web server on your development system.
There are different options for this, including Apache and Xerver. By installing one of these servers, you can do all your website design testing locally without needing to upload it to a remote server.

3. Keep a library with your favorite code

Any website designer has a few chunks of code they love using in almost every site they build. Getting organized and putting these pieces of code into a library you can reference will save a lot of time. You will be able to just go to your library and retrieve the code you need for that part of the site without needing to write it from scratch. And this library can be continuously updated, as well as used to share between different designers to help each be more productive.

4. Use a common header (or footer) file

By having the header or footer section (or other elements) of your website pages broken into a separate file, you are able to make one single change to a file and see this change distribute across the whole site. This can save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent editing each file independently.
To do this you can use PHP “include” functions, build nested templates in Dreamweaver, or even HTML file include methods. This way you can rest a bit by needing only to edit a single file instead of several.

5. Look for tools to save more time

Some of the best methods of saving time can be found through using different tools to help your website design process. This can vary, depending on your specialty. If you do a lot of website design, perhaps the Firefox Web Developer toolbar plugin would help you. Or if you’re a graphic designer, try the different graphic editors available to see which one you can work most efficiently with, or which combination works best. In addition to this, talking to an expert about what tools they use can help you discover other ways to save time you may not have even known about.
Being more productive in your website design is always a good thing. Try these website design tips to increase your own productivity and grow business!

How to Increase Alexa Ranking

2010-03-01T21:28:00.001-08:00

Download Alexa toolbar free. If you are using Firefox, I recommend you to use another plug-in called SearchStatus which not only displays the Alexa rank but it also shows page rank details, no follow links, meta tags, keyword density of a page etc
Put an Alexa rank widget on your blog. Each click will be counted as a visitor.
Encourage your friends or colleagues to use Alexa toolbar. Explain them about the tracking system of the toolbar. Ask them to rate your Alexa website profile.
Try to get dugg or stumbled. This will bring massive amount of traffic to your site and contributes a lot to your Alexa rank.
Write content related to webmasters. This is because most of the webmasters use Alexa toolbar. You may write and post articles related to SEO, webmaster tools. Webmasters always look for new tools and may revisit your website to gain access to the tools. Promote your articles on webmaster forums and social networking sites.
Buy links and banners from webmaster forums. A well displayed ad can bring lots of webmaster traffic to your site and boost your rank. But you need to have unique and good content on your blog to attract more and more visitors.
Write about Alexa and post in your blog. Bloggers love to know about different ways of increasing their Alexa rank. This may eventually increase traffic and your rank.
You may try Alexa autosurfs for a new site or blog. They may work for new sites having almost zero Alexa rank. But they are not a long term solution.

5 Ways to Avoid Burn Outs

2010-03-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

“You can rest when you’re dead.” This is a saying that really resonates with our modern culture, where we are pressured to work hard and then play hard. There is no way around it: If you don’t rest regularly, you’ll be dead a lot sooner. Here are 5 ways to break the cycle of constant activity and de-stress.

Are you on the road to burn out?

There are people who are addicted to constant activities. They may be workaholics who are looking for the adrenaline high, and when missing it they become depressed and tired. There are people who are simply trapped in their work/life out-of-balance scenario, and then they feel no control over what they do, going from anger to nervousness to giving up. Burn out, when sustained over time, can result in collapse, such as when someone has frequent emotional outbursts, a nervous breakdown, or just completely loses interest in every aspect of life, turning to alcohol, smoking, or overeating to numb the pain. Your best way to avoid burning out is prevention. You can start with the following 5 tips:

1. Revive and restore with naps

When you take a nap during the day, you are in good company: Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Thomas Edison are all famous nap enthusiasts. What they knew was that a midday snooze could actually increase their effectiveness. Research has found that some of the reviving benefits of naps include enhanced cognitive function, better reaction time, stress relief, and better overall health. Just keep your nap 30 minutes or under; sleeping for any longer will get you into deeper stages of sleep, from which it is difficult to awaken.

If you only have 5 minutes to spare, just close your eyes and massage your temples. Even a brief rest can reduce stress and help you relax, giving you the energy boost you need to complete your day.

The quickest way to prevent burnout is to begin a 15-20 minute meditation practice every day. It doesn’t matter what kind of practice you do, as long as you do it every day. For instruction, you can take a class, listen to a guided CD, such as the Stress Release Meditation CD, or look at my previous blog about easy beginner meditations.

2. Schisandra soothes and rejuvenates

A prized berry that has been used for thousands of years to revitalize the senses, schisandra contains vitamins and flavonoids that have antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. It is considered an energy tonic that enhances both physical endurance and mental concentration, while at the same time it soothes the nerves. Schisandra has been used as an adjunct support for immune function in patients undergoing chemotherapy and helps to protect the liver and kidneys. Grown in Asia, schisandra is available as a supplement from health food stores. A typical dosage to calm anxiety is about 200 mg daily.

Also, consider trying the formula Super Clarity, which uses Chinese herbs to provide abundant energy, focus the mind, sharpen the sense, and minimize stress.

3. Get your blood flowing to release tension

The constant pressures of your job and family can lead to chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is a direct cause of muscle and joint pain. Clenched jaw? Lump in your throat? Chronic back and neck pain? These can all be manifestations of stress in your body. You can release physical tension and clear these emotional blockages with regular exercise, massage therapy, yoga, tai chi, qi gong or any activity that gets your energy flowing.

For increased stress reduction, practice five minutes of deep breathing during exercise. While exercising, deliberately slow down your breath by counting to ten for each inhalation. When you exhale, blow out and let go of worries and negativity. After five minutes, you should immediately experience a deeper state of relaxation.

4. Create a buffer zone at home

In our busy lives, there is literally no down time--even at home. Sometimes, when you open your front door, you get hit with more responsibility and more fires that you need to put out. The solution is to create a buffer zone. Give yourself the first twenty to thirty minutes when you get home. Don’t go straight to the computer and check your email. Give yourself some time before you start cooking or cleaning. What will you do during this buffer time? Calming activities to help you restore your energy, like listening to music in your room, taking a refreshing shower, or taking a quick walk around the block. This break will shield you from the stress of jumping from one fire into another. You will find that your mood will improve, your energy will increase, and you will be happier in your home with your family.

5. Take a time-out from technology

Your brain, like a computer, can handle only so much information at a time. Overloading your system is a recipe for stress. To evaluate if you’re overloading your circuits, examine all that you take in every day. Do you have to watch the news on TV, read it on the Internet, and also listen to it during your commute? If you exchange 200 email messages every day at work, do you also have to look at them at home and on weekends? Information overload is esspecially harmful in midlife because we have less tolerance for stress, which can create high blood pressure and heart disease. Try taking a full day off from technology. Turn off the TV, limit your email time, and turn your phone ringer to silent. Even a half-day off will cut down on stress and preserve your energy.

I hope this article helps you get off the road to burn out! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

7 Tips on Cooking Meat Products

2007-08-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

Meat can come in all shapes, cuts, and sizes. If you’re a big meat fan then you might have to keep in mind several thing regarding cooking meat. Here are seven of them.

* Ever tried frying a sausage? If the cooking fat keeps splattering, you might want to very lightly flouring the sausage before dipping them in the fat.
* Chill the ground meat first before trying to form them into hamburger patties. It will make the meat a lot easier to shape.
* Some meat products might need some dredging in flour. To dredge in flour, place flour and some seasoning (paprika makes the meat get a lovely brown) in a re-sealable container, place the piece of meat down on the flour, cover and shake. Repeat on the other side of the meat. Just be sure to brush off all excess flour.
* Always cut the meat across the grain. It will make the meat easier to eat.
* A small amount of rosemary to ham will enhance its flavor.
* Venison can have a very strong and gamey flavor. Soaking it in cola overnight will get that gamey flavor out of it. The acid in the cola will tenderize the tough meat too.
* Bake bacon strips instead of frying them to prevent it from getting wrinkly. Place them on a wire rack over a cookie sheet. It will help melt out some of the fat too.

Source:http://www.lifespy.com/2007/7-tips-on-cooking-meat-products/

5 Ways to improve your blog

2007-07-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

1. The visual design needs a makeover.
MyBlogLog’s looks betray its underlying usefullness. It seems to me that it grew too big too soon and is still trying to catch up in both its looks as well as its features. A slick web 2.0 interface would really work wonders.
2. Further integration of blog content.
As it stands at the moment there are 2 ways people find their way to your blog. They either see that you’ve visited their blog or profile, or they notice you on someone elses, and even then half time they just have a quick look at your profile and don’t bother visiting your blog. Now, how many people actually pay attention to the blog headlines that are hidden in a cramped little corner below the message box? Not many I’d wager. Blog content should be front and centre, like at this MyBlogLog clone. Give people a legitimate reason to visit a blog so they don’t have to just rely on a catchy name and a pretty face.
3. Sites that aren’t blogs.
There are so many websites on MyBlogLog that can’t even remotely be called blogs. It’s called My-Blog-Log people, not My-PieceOfCrapEbook-Log. One solution I see for this is to not allow non-blog sites to be added until a legitimate blog has been added first. Make a valid RSS feed a requirement on joining. If you’re really serious about promoting your business on the web you should already have a blog for it anyway.
4. More profile information.
When I visit someones profile I should be able to see if they are a member of my community or if they have added me as a contact, without having to dig through some long slow loading list. Just a little icon will do and would be simple enough to implement.
5. Actual separation of contacts, friends, family, etc.
Most of us have a pretty long contact list, and obviously most of the people on the list aren’t legitimate contacts. What would be nice is to be able to mark someone in the main contact list so they appear separetly. That way you can have your large contact list but also maintain a smaller list with your legitimate contacts.

27+1 Tips for Building and Maintaining a Blog Audience

2007-07-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

Source:http://blog.sponsoredreviews.com

As more and more people get into blogging, it’s become a Herculean task to attract readers. How do you compete with millions of other bloggers and develop an audience that consistently comes back to your blog? Here are some tips to get you going in the right direction.

The Fundamentals

Before we get into actual traffic building tips, let’s start with how to make your blog worth reading.

1. Consider Your Niche
Before you start the umpteenth tech or gadget blog, you will need to really consider the odds of breaking into this already overcrowded niche. Try to find a segment of an industry that no one else covers, or at the very least, try to find a way to present your blog in a light that makes it stand out from everyone else’s on the same subject.

Many people make the mistake of assuming that a popular blog is popular because of the subjects that are covered, and they try to create an exact clone. Blogs are popular not only for the information they present, but for the way it is presented. Whether it’s a smart-alecky blog, or a serious and in-depth blog, each blogger has their own writing style.

2. Be Original
The first point leads us to originality. If you’re not sure what your writing style is, don’t just copy the most popular blog you can find. Readers are savvy, and trying to pass over a poorly written clone will not work. Find your own voice, and don’t be afraid to be yourself. Let your personality shine through your words, whether you’re sarcastic or serious.

On the same topic, when you’re looking for something to blog about, try to come up with original subjects. While it is tempting to see what someone else is blogging about and then re-blog about it, it creates a vicious cycle where only a few stories are discussed. Try to find something in the news, or something that is pertinent to your niche that has not been beaten to death.

3. Don’t Forget the Design
Thanks to templates that work on various blog platforms, it’s never been easier to completely customize your blog. Unfortunately, this can lead to overkill and a hideous reading experience. While you may think purple text on a black background is terrific, chances are, not many people will share your opinion. Try to go with a color scheme that will be pleasing to most people’s eyes. You want to encourage people to actually read your blog, not run away with bleeding eyes.

In addition to actual colors, try to find a reader friendly layout that will encourage readers to stay on your blog. It’s best not to have any ads when you’re first starting out, but if you do have a few, keep them to a minimum and make sure they are unobtrusive.

4. Choose the Right Platform for Your Blog
It’s important to pick a platform for your blog that you’ll be comfortable using. WordPress is a very popular choice, followed closely by Blogger. Both offer free versions, making it easy to get started. If you are really serious about blogging, it’s a good idea to purchase a domain name and set-up your own website. However you can set up your domain to forward to your free blog, if you are trying to cut costs.

5. Choose the Right Domain Name for Your Blog
You’ll need to pick a domain name that is searchable and adequately describes what you will be talking about. If you are not a well known personality, then it is probably not a good idea to use your own name as your blog’s url. For example, johndoe.com would not be as searchable as a name that incorporates what you’ll be discussing.

Building Your Audience

Now that you have your fundamentals in order, it’s time to start building your audience. Here are some tips on how to build a good foundation that will help you increase your traffic.

1. Consistency is Key
Once you begin your blog, you’ll need to find a schedule and then stick to it. If you don’t think you’ll be able to blog every day, try to set aside at least one day a week that can be devoted to your blog. Keep in mind however that blogs that are updated frequently are usually more highly trafficked. Consistency will help your audience rely on you for information, since they know it will always be published at a set time. While you may not be able to stick to your schedule all the time, make an effort to publish as frequently as you can.

2. Picking the Right Topics
Try to focus your blog on interesting topics within your niche that other people will actually want to read. While you may be passionate about a specific subject, others may not share this interest. Try to find an angle to your posts that will interest a wide variety of people to ensure that your blog will appeal to a larger audience. This could mean covering hot or breaking news, or even in-depth looks at more obscure topics that are still interesting.

3. Interaction is Important
Enabling the comments feature on your blog can encourage readers to interact with you and feel like their opinion counts for something. If you are nervous about flame wars or spam, set the comment feature so that you have to approve comments that are posted before they go live. Keep in mind though that an empty comment section is just as bad as not having the option to leave a comment. Try to gauge the amount of traffic your blog is getting and as it increases, add the ability for your readers to comment. Likewise, if you’re getting a lot of email, this is a sign that a comments section would be beneficial for your blog.

4. Master the Art of Tagging
Technorati tags have made otherwise unknown bloggers household names. Frequently check which tags are the most popular and incorporate them into your blog. However, don’t use tags that don’t apply, simply because they are popular. It’s a good idea to use at least three to five tags per post, but don’t overdo it or stuff your post with tags.

5. Offer Digg This and Other Social Bookmarking Options
Give your readers the opportunity to share your blog with others by incorporating a Digg This button, or other social bookmarking links. Most blogging platforms now have plugins to easily add these buttons to each of your posts, or you can always add them manually. Just don’t overdue it, pick a few of the biggest and stick with those.

6. Digg Yourself – But Do it Wisely
If no one is digging your posts, you can always Digg them on your own, but remember this important caveat: Interesting posts = Digg Success. Boring or spam posts = bad Digg experience. If you’re in doubt on whether your post is worth Digging, err on the side of caution. Do not make the mistake of submitting every one of your posts to Digg. If you submit every article you will get to be known as a spammer, and fewer people will Digg you.

7. Incorporate Basic SEO Principles
If you’re not familiar with basic SEO principles, they include using keywords wisely, writing effective post titles and utilizing meta tags when applicable. Try to avoid keyword stuffing in your posts, but you can incorporate a few when they fit. Post titles are an essential part of creating a searchable blog and they will help improve your search engine ranking. Be descriptive, but not overly so. For example, if you’re writing about the latest recalled tech gadget, you can try a splashy headline that will grab a reader’s attention and then pull them in with the rest of your post. Your post titles are the face that the world can see, so make sure they are as attractive as possible.

8. Don’t Forget Your Grammar
Blogs that are filled with spelling and grammatical errors usually don’t make it to the cream of the crop level. If you don’t have a blogging utility with a spell checker, take the time to double check your work in your word processor. While you don’t have to write like an English teacher, it’s still a good idea to avoid rampant errors.

9. Become a Reliable Resource
This plays into the consistency angle mentioned above, but in a broader sense. If your readers know that they can rely on you for reporting on a specific angle, or digging up great dirt, they’ll keep coming back. A great example of someone who has built a reputation on her reliable reporting is Mary Jo Foley, who has been covering Microsoft for over a decade. People know they can rely on Mary Jo for all the latest news and dirt on Microsoft and they keep coming back for more. Even if your niche doesn’t have anything as exciting as corporate intrigue or breaking news, find a way to really get to the heart of the matter and make your subject interesting.

10. Stay Informed
Subscribe to several relevant RSS feeds and news notifications on your topic. When news happens, break it on your blog. This has the added advantage of making your blog more searchable and you’ll have a better chance of attracting an audience if you cover topics that are consistently on the cusp of what’s happening.

11. Use an RSS Feed
It goes without saying that most avid blog readers expect their favorite blogs to have an RSS feed. Blogger and WordPress have this function built in, as do most other blogging platforms. If you aren’t currently using an RSS feed, now is the best time to start. Don’t forget to promote the feed in an easy to find location on your blog’s main page as well as within posts.

12. Find the Right Balance in Post Length
Shorter blog postings are usually well received as opposed to long, drawn out dissertations. Keep your posts pithy and easy to read, unless your posting on a subject that requires a long commentary. In this event, it may be a good idea to split your posts into several entries to ensure that you’ll hold your reader’s attention. On the other hand, brief and inscrutable postings won’t get you very far either. Try to strike a balance between the two extremes. In the case of this article, we felt that longer copy makes sense. Primarily because of the timing, since this is one of our first posts, we want it to be very informative. Most of our posts will be much shorter.

13. Promote yourself using SponsoredReviews

One of the smartest things you can do to build your audience is to promote yourself on other similar, but not competing, blogs. Pay another blogger a few bucks to write about you. You could probably build your readership for as little as $1 per. Now this isn’t going to be a good idea for everyone, but for professional bloggers looking to seriously grow, it could be the best way to get known.

Keeping Your Audience

Once you’ve done the hard work of building up your audience, now is not the time to slack off. You’ll need to continue using the principles mentioned above, and you’ll need to incorporate a few more to ensure that your blog not only maintains its current popularity, but that it will continue to grow.

1. Avoid Gimmicks
There are hundreds of schemes that promise to get your blog on the front page of Digg, and the majority of them usually backfire. Now that you’ve built your audience using solid principles, don’t alienate them by trying to take advantage of gimmicky posts to increase your traffic.

2. Use Trackbacks
Wisely. If you read several blogs, or if you are commenting on another blog’s posting, don’t forget to use the Trackback Feature. This will help you attract new readers and establish a more searchable blog. Don’t abuse this feature though, or it will backfire. On the same token, if you frequently comment on other blogs or forums, include your blog’s url in your posting, but avoid coming off as a spammer.

3. Post Items and Lists that Actually Help Your Audience
If you’ve found a great tool or a resource and you want to share it, don’t forget to blog about it. Make a list of sites you visit every day, or fun things that you’ve discovered. Lists always perform well and you’ll have a better chance of scoring a legitimate Digg success.

4. Reach out to Your Readers
Don’t make the mistake of viewing your audience as the great unwashed masses. Reach out to them and let them know that they do matter. This will build a level of trust and appreciation that will keep your word of mouth advertising and your repeat readers at an all time high.

5. Listen to Your Audience
If you’re getting a lot of “Your blog is great, but…” comments, you may want to listen to their advice. The best blogs incorporate what their readers want to read, further perpetuating the principle mentioned above. While it’s a good idea to avoid the “trying to please all of the people all of the time” pitfall, your audience may actually have some very good suggestions that will make your blog even better.

6. Stay Topical and Timeless
Thanks to search engines, readers may be coming in on a blog posting that’s over a year old. Keep this in mind when you write each post. If it’s not something that will stand the test of time, rewrite it. Find a way to incorporate information that will remain timeless, even if your posts are about breaking news. On the same token, stay on top of trends in your niche, and make sure that you’re covering topics that are going to interest your audience.

7. Watch out For Growing Pains
If your blog is increasing in traffic and you find that you need either more space or a better server, you’ll need to make the transition as seamless as possible so that you don’t lose your audience. Make use of redirects, both for your feed and your site so that your audience won’t lose track of you.

8. Interview Industry Leaders
As your readership increases, you’ll be in a better position to land some really great interviews with leaders in your niche. Try to publish at least one every few months. This will help you attract new readers, particularly if the subject of the interview is in the news.

9. Stay on Top of Blogging Trends and New Techniques
Don’t let your blog get stale or boring. Keep your readers up to date on current trends and take advantage of them on your own blog. While this doesn’t mean changing your theme every two weeks, don’t overlook the possibility that your blog may need a sprucing up every now and then to overcome reader complacency.

10. Avoid Alienation
As your blog increases in popularity, it’s easy to let it go to your head, forgetting your roots and what gave you that popularity. Never alienate your core audience. The competition in the blogosphere is incredible and it’s never been easier for readers to get their information from someone else. Keep this in mind before flying off the handle or posting something you may regret next week.

The most important thing to remember when trying to improve your blog’s traffic is that quality content is the most essential ingredient. It may take weeks, months, our years to build the next big thing, but once you get there, it’s definitely worth it. Have some patience and keep plugging away. It will pay off!

10 Lazy Performance Tips

2007-07-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

10..no make it 9 Lazy Performance Tips:

1. Don’t bound out of bed when the alarm clock goes, rather take 10 to 30 minutes to lay in bed and get some more sleep and slowly drift into the new day.
2. Take the same route to work every day so that you don’t have to be bothered with minor decisions.
3. Dump or delegate any tasks that can be trashed or given away.
4. Get lazy with emails – check them only once a day.
5. Don’t compose long winded emails when a quick “yes” or “no” will do.
6. Leave early for appointments so that you can have a lazy drive to your destination and a chance to read a magazine or meditate for a few moments while you wait for your appointment.
7. Achieve lazy calmness: When things are getting to you ask yourself if it really worth the emotional effort to get upset and complain.
8. Enjoy some lazy crazy days of summer in the next 6 weeks: Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,Those days of soda and pretzels and beer…(sung by Nat King Cole)
9. Make a lazy list - stop at 9 items, you don’t always have to be a perfect 10!

Ten tips for enhancing your blog or website’s design

2007-07-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ten tips for enhancing your blog or website’s design:

1. Always base your site or blog’s colors on your content. This ensures that visitors stay on your blog longer. Just imagine if Digg had a very dark color combination, would it have been as user friendly as it is today.

2. Always keep the user navigation in mind while choosing a template for your blog. A good blog is nothing without an equally superior navigation.

3. Try to choose light color combinations most of the time. Of course, dark colors don’t look bad if used properly (see carfreaks’ dark and beautiful design).

4. Avoid large rounded corners and messy design components.

5. Keep the design neat, clean and simple with everything stacked at its proper place.

6. Keep the outline thin. Fat outline looks bad to most internet users.

7. Keep your advertising spaces in mind while coming up with the design.

8. Don’t neglect the footer. The footer is often ignored in blog designs even though it carries a lot of importance.

9. Always try to create colors through HTML coding rather than by using images.

10. Always be original and come up with your own design. Never copy others.

28 Tips How To Be A Kid Again

2007-07-11T01:44:00.000-07:00

1. Do a cartwheel.
2. Sing into your hairbrush.
3. Walk barefoot in wet grass.
4. Play a song you like really loud, over and over.
5. Dot all your “i”’s with smiley faces.
6. Read the funnies. Throw the rest of the paper away.
7. Dunk your cookies.
8. Play a game where you make up the rules as you go along.
9. Step carefully over sidewalk cracks.
10. Change into some play clothes.
11. Try to get someone to trade you a better sandwich.
12. Eat ice cream for breakfast.
13. Kiss a frog, just in case.
14. Blow the wrapper off a straw.
15. Have someone read you a story.
16. Find some pretty stones and save them.
17. Wear your favorite shirt with you favorite pants even if they don’t match.
18. Take a running jump over a big puddle.
19. Get someone to buy you something you really don’t need.
20. Hide your vegetables under your napkin.
21. Stay up past your bedtime.
22. Eat dessert first.
23. Fuss a little, then take a nap.
24. Wear red gym shoes.
25. Put way too much sugar on your cereal.
26. Make cool screeching noises every time you turn a corner.
27. Giggle a lot for no reason.
28. Give yourself a gold star for everything you do today.

Top 25 Blogs About Blogging

2007-07-10T02:50:00.000-07:00

Sometime ago I came across Todd And’s “Power 150.” Basically it is a list ranking the top 150 marketing blogs around the world. The interesting part is that the ranking is based on some numerical factors including Google’s Pagerank, Technorati Authority and Bloglines subscribers; which renders the list objective.

Guess what, I contacted Todd and decided to replicate the idea on a different segment. More specifically, I decided to use similar ranking factors to produce the “Top 25 Blogs About Blogging” list.

This new list includes the Alexa rank as a factor, and the algorithm was modified as well. Each of the four factors range from 0 to 10, where 10 is the best score. The maximum total score for each blog, therefore, is 40. There will be monthly updates. Below the table you will find the technical details.


#1	Problogger	6	10	10	10	36
#2	Copyblogger	6	9	10	10	35
#3	John Chow	6	10	6	10	32
#4	Quick Online Tips	6	8	10	6	30
#5	Lorelle on Wordpress	6	8	6	9	29
#6	Daily Blog Tips	5	8	6	8	27
#7	Performancing	7	8	1	10	26
#8	Weblog Tools Collection	6	9	5	6	26
#9	Blog Herald	6	7	4	9	26
#10	Blogging Pro	6	7	4	8	25
#11	Successful-Blog	6	6	4	8	24
#12	JohnTP	6	8	3	7	24
#13	Dosh Dosh	4	8	3	8	23
#14	Engtech	6	6	2	7	21
#15	Bloggers Blog	6	3	6	5	20
#16	Andy Beard	5	7	2	6	20
#17	ChrisG	5	6	4	4	19
#18	Converstations	5	3	5	6	19
#19	The Wrong Advices	5	4	1	5	15
#20	Business Blog Wire	6	2	2	4	14
#21	Alister Cameron	5	4	1	4	14
#22	Blogtrepreneur	5	3	1	4	13
#23	I Help You Blog	4	3	2	2	12
#24	Build A Better Blog	6	1	3	1	11
#25	Blog Talks	4	2	1	3	10

Blogs considered: the list considers only blogs that have a high percentage of blogging-related content. Topics might range from blogging tips to monetization, from news to building communities or business blogs.

Google Pagerank (0 to 10): the actual Pagerank was used on the algorithm.

Alexa Rank (0 to 10): Ranges were determined based on the Alexa Rank (i.e., 150k and up, 100k-150k, 75k-100k, 50k-75k) and each range was assigned a number (1 to 10).

Bloglines Subscribers (0 to 10): Subscriber ranges were determined (i.e., 0-50, 50-100, 100-150, 150-200) and each range was assigned a number (1 to 10).

Technorati Authority (0 to 10): Ranges were determined based on Technorati’s Authority rank(i.e., 0-100, 100-200, 200-400,400-600) and each range was assigned a number (1 to 10).

Top Ten Money Saving Tips for College Freshmen

2007-07-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

1. Create a budget.
To be fiscally fit you need to know how much goes in and out of your account. Keep monthly records of your spending and living expenses.

2. Get organized. Keep ATM transaction receipts, bills, purchases and tax records organized together in labeled files. This will help you stay on track with your budget and make it easier when it's time to pay bills.

3. Buy used books. Used books are usually in good condition and cost about half the price of new books.

4. Keep the car home. Parking, insurance, and theft are additional worries that most college students could live without. More than likely everything you need is within walking distance.

5. Shop around. Compare prices and be selective to get the best prices, services, convenient locations and lowest fees for credit cards and bank accounts.

6. Get smart about credit. Credit cards are not magic money; they're a loan with an obligation to repay. Don't spend more than you can afford to pay back.

7. Live within your means. Don't buy what you can't afford.

8. Smart spending equals savings. Find inexpensive ways to entertain yourself. Visit museums, parks or read at the coffeehouse, check out sales racks, consignment shops, cut coupons or search the Internet. If you do a little research, you will save money.

9. Protect yourself. Don't be a victim of fraud or identity theft. Guard your credit card, PIN and account numbers. Buy a shredder so you can dispose of statements, receipts and bills properly.

10. Pay attention. Read your bills and statements each month. This helps you keep track of your spending, alerts you to fraud and any mistakes that may occur on your account.

25 Tips to Help You Survive and Thrive Your Freshman Year and Beyond

2007-07-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Do you need all this to survive?

1. Go to all orientations. Do you really need to go on yet another campus tour? Yes. The faster you learn your way around campus -- and around all the red tape -- the more at ease you'll feel and the better prepared you'll be when issues arise.

2. Get to know your roommate and others in your residence hall. The people you live with, most of whom are going through similar experiences and emotions, are your main safety net -- not only this year, but for all your years. You may change roommates after the first semester or you may stay roommates for all four years -- just take the time to get to know your fellow first-year students.

3. Get Organized. In high school, the teachers tended to lead you through all the homework and due dates. In college, the professors post the assignments -- often for the entire semester -- and expect you to be prepared. Buy an organizer, a PDA, a big wall calendar -- whatever it takes for you to know when assignments are due.

4. Find the ideal place for you to study. It may be your dorm room or a cozy corner of the library, but find a place that works best for you to get your work done -- while avoiding as many distractions as possible.

5. Go to class. Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8 am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you'll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc.

6. Become an expert on course requirements and due dates. Professors spend hours and hours preparing course syllabi and calendars so that you will know exactly what is expected of you -- and when. One of the lamest excuses a student can give a professor: "I didn't know it was due today."

7. Meet with your professors. Speaking as a professor, I can assure you there are only upsides to getting to know your professors, especially if later in the semester you run into some snags. Professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students -- take advantage of that time.

8. Get to know your academic adviser. This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, deciding on majors and minors. This person is a key resource for you -- and should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts. And don't be afraid of requesting another adviser if you don't click with the one first assigned to you.

9. Seek a balance. College life is a mixture of social and academic happenings. Don't tip the balance too far in either direction. One of my favorite former students always used to say her motto was to "study hard so she could play hard."

10. Get involved on campus. A big problem for a lot of new students is a combination of homesickness and a feeling of not quite belonging. A solution? Consider joining a select group -- and be careful not to go overboard -- of student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You'll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.

11. Strive for good grades. Another obvious one here, right? Remember the words of the opening paragraph; while good grades could have come naturally to you in high school, you will have to earn them in college -- and that means setting some goals for yourself and then making sure you work as hard as you can to achieve them.

12. Take advantage of the study resources on campus. Just about all colleges have learning labs and tutors available. If you're having some troubles, these resources are another tool available to you. Another idea: form study groups.

13. Make time for you. Be sure you set aside some time and activities that help you relax and take the stress out of your day or week. Whether it's enlisting yoga techniques, watching your favorite television shows, or writing in a journal, be good to yourself.
14. Don't feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major. It doesn't matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they're doing with their lives -- believe me, they don't -- college is the time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and what you want to be. It's not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options.

15. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Don't look to place the blame on others for your mistakes; own up to them and move on. Being an adult means taking responsibility for everything that happens to you.

16. Make connections with students in your classes. One of my best students said his technique in the first week of classes was to meet at least one new person in each of his classes. It expanded his network of friends -- and was a crucial resource at times when he had to miss a class.

17. Find the Career Services Office. Regardless of whether you are entering college as undeclared or have your entire future mapped out, seek out the wonderful professionals in your college's career services office and get started on planning, preparing, and acting on your future.

18. Don't procrastinate; prioritize your life. It may have been easy in high school to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still get a good grade, but that kind of stuff will not work for you in college. Give yourself deadlines -- and stick to them.

19. Stay healthy/Eat Right. A lot of problems first-year students face can be traced back to an illness that kept them away from classes for an extended period of time that led to a downward spiraling effect. Get enough sleep, take your vitamins, and eat right. If you haven't heard the jokes about college food, you soon will. And without mom or dad there to serve you a balanced meal, you may be tempted to go for those extra fries or cookies. Stay healthy and avoid the dreaded extra "Freshman 15" pounds by sticking to a balanced diet.

20. Learn to cope with homesickness. It's only natural that there will be times when you miss your family, even if you were one of those kids who couldn't wait to get away. Find a way to deal with those feelings, such as making a phone call or sending some email home.

21. Stay on campus as much as possible. Whether it's homesickness, a job, or a boyfriend or girlfriend from home, try not to leave campus too soon or too often. The more time you spend on getting to know the campus and your new friends, the more you'll feel at home at school. And why not take advantage of all the cultural and social events that happen on campus?

22. Seek professional help when you need it. Most colleges have health and counseling centers. If you're sick or feeling isolated or depressed, please take advantage of the many services these offices provide students. You don't have to face these issues by yourself.

23. Keep track of your money. If you've never had to create a budget, now is the time to do so. Find ways to stretch your money - and as best you can, avoid all those credit card solicitations you'll soon be receiving. The average credit card debt of college grads is staggering.

24. Don't cut corners. College is all about learning. If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do well on tests, but you'll learn very little. Even worse, don't cheat on term papers or tests.

25. Be prepared to feel overwhelmed. There's a lot going in your life right now. Expect to have moments where it seems a bit too much. As one student says, be prepared to feel completely unprepared. The trick is knowing that you're not the only one feeling that way.

Top tips on how to Finance A Startup Modal

2007-06-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

1. Bootstrapping. “Bootstrapping means using whatever resources you have on hand to help you get your business to the next level.

2. Friends and family. Entrepreneurs also raise money from relatives, colleagues and other people they know well.

3. Banks. A long shot because banks typically will only consider companies that have been in business for two years.

4. Grants. Tech businesses and start-ups launched by women and minorities may qualify for special government grant programs.

5. Angels. These are typically wealthy people who invest directly in start-ups to turn a profit. Unlike friends, family or neighbors, angels tend to be professionals in how they pick their business investments.

6. Venture capital. Nearly impossible to get; fewer than one in 10,000 start-ups qualify for venture money. Most are tech-oriented with tremendous prospects for growth.

7. Customers and suppliers. Customers might invest in return for special deals. Suppliers sometimes offer to finance machinery and other capital goods or inventory at favorable rates.

source:http://www.business-opportunities.biz/

Top 50 Malaysian Blogs

2007-06-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

No
Blog Title
Technorati Rank
Category

1
kennysia.com
Rank: 234 (4,828 links from 2,406 blogs)
Personal

2
target=_blank>SapiensBryan.com
Rank: 604 (2,676 links from 1,577 blogs)
Technology

3
Hemmy.net
Rank: 1,667 (1,862 links from 932 blogs)
Humor

4
JeffOoi.com Screenshot

Rank: 2,009 (2,824 links from 836 blogs)
Politics

5
LiewCF.com
Rank: 3,346 (1,532 links from 613 blogs)
Technology

6
target=_blank>Yasmin The Story Teller
Rank: 3,594 (1,026 links from 585 blogs)
Entertainment

7
Afdlin
Shauki
Rank: 3,750 (874 links from 569 blogs)
Entertainment

8
PaulTan.Org
Rank: 7,360 (863 links from 369 blogs)
Auto

9
Alex Allied
Rank: 8,367 (589 links from 345 blogs)
Personal

10
Rocky’s
Bru
Rank: 8,402 (1,015 links from 344 blogs)
Politics

11
Lim Kit
Siang
Rank: 8,593 (826 links from 337 blogs)
Politics

12
target=_blank>Hot-screensaver
Rank: 8,976 (531 links from 323 blogs)
Personal

13
EVERiBODi LAFU
ROJAKS
Rank: 9,411 (785 links from 310 blogs)
Humor

14
5Xmom
Rank: 10,439 (1,131 links from 297 blogs)
Personal

15
target=_blank>masak-masak
Rank: 11,717 (648 links from 269 blogs)
Food

16
smashin’
pOpstar
Rank: 12,698 (669 links from 254 blogs)
Personal

17
target=_blank>cheeserland.com
Rank: 13,733 (439 links from 236 blogs)
Personal

18
Kahsoon.com
Rank: 15,091 (427 links from 218 blogs)
Humor

19
target=_blank>minishorts.net
Rank: 16,256 (398 links from 202 blogs)
Personal

20
Patric Teo
Tokkok
Rank: 18,289 (282 links from 182 blogs)
Personal

21
FriedBeef’s
Tech
Rank: 20,119 (356 links from 168 blogs)
Technology

22
Amanz.net
Rank: 21,013 (430 links from 161 blogs)
Technology

23
target=_blank>Kickdefella
Rank: 21,251 (505 links from 159 blogs)
Politics

24
target=_blank>CyberHackz.net
Rank: 21,381 (558 links from 158 blogs)
Technology

25
target=_blank>SultanMuzaffar
Rank: 21,514 (324 links from 157 blogs)
Entertainment

26
Fireangel
Rank: 21,668 (348 links from 156 blogs)
Personal

27
Lagu Top Masa
Kini
Rank: 22,088 (298 links from 153 blogs)
Entertainment

28
jasiminne
anorexic penguin
Rank: 22,088 (264 links from 153 blogs)
Personal

29
Gobala
Krishnan
Rank: 22,200 (365 links from 152 blogs)
Marketing

30
The Scribe A
Kadir Jasin
Rank: 22,200 (269 links from 152 blogs)
Politics

31
A Gonzo
Journal
Rank: 22,371 (381 links from 151 blogs)
Personal

32
As Suanie Sees
It
Rank: 23,740 (457 links from 142 blogs)
Personal

33
Nizam
Zakaria - Limau Nipis
Rank: 24,396 (269 links from 138 blogs)
Literature

34
Susan
Loone
Rank: 25,146 (509 links from 134 blogs)
Politics

35
target=_blank>ShaolinTiger.com
Rank: 25,286 (337 links from 133 blogs)
Personal

36
target=_blank>Bibliobibuli
Rank: 25,921 (329 links from 130 blogs)
Literature

37
target=_blank>MichaelOoi.net
Rank: 26,568 (290 links from 127 blogs)
Personal

38
target=_blank>SaifulSham.com
Rank: 27,158 (386 links from 124 blogs)
Marketing

39
Faisal
Tehrani
Rank: 27,639 (169 links from 122 blogs)
Literature

40
Raymond.CC
Blog
Rank: 27,690 (276 links from 122 blogs)
Technology

41
target=_blank>RantingbyMM
Rank: 27,865 (241 links from 121 blogs)
Politics

42
Anwar
Ibrahim
Rank: 28,570 (185 links from 120 blogs)
Politics

43
target=_blank>Eudcation In Malaysia
Rank: 29,571 (298 links from 116 blogs)
Education

44
SmartUsaha
Rank: 29,935 (298 links from 113 blogs)
Marketing

45
RotorBlog.com
Rank: 30,287 (170 links from 112 blogs)
Technology

46
Vincent
Chow
Rank: 30,287 (158 links from 112 blogs)
Humor

47
Babe in
the City - KL
Rank: 30,844 (398 links from 110 blogs)
Food

48
kyspeaks.com
Rank: 31,740 (261 links from 107 blogs)
Food

49
Irfan
Khairi
Rank: 32,439 (398 links from 105 blogs)
Marketing

50
Aisehman.org
Rank: 32,858 (314 links from 104 blogs)
Politics

Source : Sabahan.com

Top Tips to Attract More Visitors to your blog

2007-06-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

1. Content, content content
Yes, in the world of blogging, content is still the king. But more importantly, they offer the right kind of contents that please their visitors’ palate.

2. Adding fresh content daily
They are adding new content daily, on average, 3 posts per day.

3. Accumulate incoming links
They manage to accumulate large number of incoming links. I am sure manual link exchange plays important an role here. Besides, writing quality and interesting content also encourage others to link to them

4. Taking it seriously
I know that LiewCF and Kahsoon are full time bloggers, but I do not know if Paul Tan is also a full timer. LiewCF and Kahsoon left their previous jobs after they saw the potential rewards by doing it full time.

5. Be the authority in their niche
It’s hardly surprising they are able to attract large followers since I can’t find many Malaysian bloggers who have the same success in tackling the car, technology or funny junk niches to become the ‘authority’ in those niche. Or perhaps, being among first ones to take it seriously might have helped them too.

6. Good search engine ranking
With so many posts, the chance for any of the posts to rank high in search engines increases. You only have to look at their stats to understand that a large chunk of their traffic comes from the free search engines.

There are other observations that I think have contributed to their success but the above are the main ones.

My plan now is to emulate these to help me achieve my goal. Starting a blog, adding content and bringing the traffic level up to the next level require hard work and time. If one can keep the motivation going, the traffic trend will go nowhere but up. I’ll keep you updated with my progress.

25 Top Tips for handling homework

2007-06-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

1 GET ORGANIZED
Keep homework supplies close at hand.
“Mom! Where’s the stapler?” To avoid digging through
drawers, create a cache of homework supplies and
keep it close to where your child works. Dedicate a
desk drawer, box, or bin with often-used items.The
supply list provided by the teacher is a great resource.
Or use the list to the right as a starting point.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

2 OPTIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENT
Be flexible about your child’s study place.
Not every child works best sitting at a desk in a
silent room. Ask your child how he likes to study—
lying on the floor, sitting on his bed with a lap desk,
or at the kitchen table amidst the bustle of dinner
preparations. Some kids like background noise;
others prefer quiet. While television is almost always
a distraction, music is welcome white noise to many
kids. Your child’s favorite study environment might
change as he grows and may vary depending upon
the type of work. The key is to be flexible while
ensuring that homework is completed.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

3 CLEAR AWAY CLUTTER
Set aside everything not related to the task at hand.
When your child comes home in a panic because of
homework assignments in multiple subjects, ease her
overwhelmed feeling by helping her focus on one
thing at a time. Review everything that needs to be
done and choose one assignment to start with.
Gather and organize the materials needed to
complete the chosen task and set everything else
aside until it’s time to tackle the next assignment.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

4 USE A PLANNER
Use a homework planner to record assignments.
Help ensure that all your child’s homework arrives
home each day by teaching him to record each
assignment as it’s given. A daily planner (print or
electronic) or assignment sheet provides a central
place to record assignments. He can review the sheet
at the end of each day and make sure the needed
materials are in his book bag. If necessary, his
teacher can review and initial the assignment sheet to
ensure the assignment was recorded correctly.
GRADES 4 THROUGH 12.

5 BOOKMARK IT
Save links to useful reference sites on the Internet.
The Internet is full of helpful “homework help”
websites. These sites, divided by subject, can help
your child with tricky assignments and research
projects. Another benefit: in order to find the right
information, your child must first understand what
she needs to know, and that’s the first step toward
solving a problem. Save the addresses of a few of
these sites in the “Favorites” file of your web browser.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

6 BUILD A LIBRARY
A home reference library is an invaluable
homework aid. A small library of reference materials, in either print or
electronic form, can be a handy resource for your child.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

7 STICK TO A SCHEDULE
Schedule time for homework every day—and stick
to it.When school starts each fall, schedule homework into
your family’s daily routine. With your child, agree on a
specific time period for doing homework, including
some weekend time. Even when there are no
assignments to complete, adhere to the schedule by
using homework time for review or reading.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

8 EASE INTO IT
Avoid an abrupt transition from playtime to
homework.
It can be hard for kids to switch from playing or other
pleasurable activities to concentrating on homework.
Make the transition easier by giving your child a small
task before she settles down to work. Assigning a job
she usually does without a fuss creates a more gradual
shift from play to homework and puts your child in a
“work” frame of mind.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

9 GET OFF TO A GOOD START
Help your child get started with homework, then
back off.If your child is unsure about an assignment, set him
on the right track by sitting together and reviewing
the instructions. Check his understanding by having
him explain how he will proceed, then stay close by
while he answers the first few questions. With his
confidence built, you can back off and let him
complete the rest of the assignment on his own.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

10 KEEP THINGS IN ORDER
Tackle assignments in the best sequence for
your child.
When your child has several homework assignments,
some she can breeze through and others that take
more effort, which should she tackle first? That
depends on your child and on the particular mix of
assignments. Starting with easier work and moving
toward the more challenging builds your child’s
confidence. On the other hand, getting the tough stuff
done first lets her breathe a sigh of relief. Try both
approaches to see which works best. But don’t be
afraid to mix it up—if she’s frustrated with a tricky
assignment, suggest she set it aside in favor of
something easier. She’ll return to the challenging
assignment refreshed and with renewed determination.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

11 TAKE TIME OUT
Set a timer to pace homework sessions.
If your child has difficulty focusing on homework long
enough to complete it in one sitting, use a kitchen
timer to set agreed-upon study and break times. Work
together to estimate the total work time needed, and
then break the total into smaller chunks. Thirty
minutes of math homework might be broken into two
15-minute work periods with a five-minute stretching
or snack break. Adjust the work and break intervals to
suit your child’s age, temperament, and the intensity
of the homework.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

12 PLAN FOR THE LONG HAUL
Set intermediate goals for long-term projects.
Make long-term projects manageable by helping your
child break the project into smaller goals. Set a target
for when each goal will be met, leading to completion
of the entire project. This process helps your child
focus on a smaller aspect of the assignment, keeps
him motivated, and teaches him planning skills.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

13 ASK LEADING QUESTIONS
When your child hits a roadblock, ask questions that
guide her to the answer.
Rather than giving your child the answer when she’s
stuck, ask questions to get her thinking about how to
solve the problem on her own. If she’s stumped by a
math problem, look at the last problem she successfully
solved. Ask, “What was the first step you took to
solve this one?” Lead her through the steps until the
tricky one becomes clear. Your questions will prompt
her to take small steps toward breaking a roadblock.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

14 BE A ROLE MODEL
Use your child’s homework time to do your
own work.
When your child sits down to tackle homework, join
him by taking care of your own “homework” at the
same time. Choose chores that are interruptible if
your child needs your help and set a good example by
not working while watching television.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 8.

15 STAY POSITIVE
Let your own upbeat attitude toward learning rub off
on your child.
If your child senses that you dread homework
sessions, she’ll dread them too. A positive attitude,
particularly when your child is facing a tough
assignment, goes a long way toward taking the
tedium out of the daily work. Keep in mind, though,
that teachers are sometimes unreasonable in the
timing or amount of homework they assign. Help your
child resolve such challenges by asking the
school/teacher what their homework policy is.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

16 LET GO OF RESPONSIBILITY
Avoid rescuing your child from homework
emergencies.
All kids, at some point, forget their homework or put it
off until it becomes a crisis. When that happens, avoid
stepping in to fix things. Instead, guide your child
through the steps needed to salvage the situation. If
he’s forgotten his assignments, for example, sit with
him while he checks the school’s homework web page
or calls a classmate. If an assignment cannot be
completed on time, instead of writing a note to the
teacher yourself, have your child write it, explaining
why the work is late and requesting an extension.
Both of you should sign the note. Letting your child
take responsibility for his mistakes gives him valuable
problem-solving experience.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

17 BE AN ADVISOR
Be available for help as a consultant.
Your child’s homework is hers to do, not yours. Let her
know that you are willing to help but limit yourself to a
consultant role. Avoid evaluating your child’s work
unless she specifically requests your opinion. It’s OK
to point out mistakes, but let your child decide
whether to correct them. Seeing the errors will help
the teacher understand your child’s learning process.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

18 CALL IN ASSISTANCE
Recognize when outside help is required.
There may be times when you are not the best person
to help your child with homework. If working together
leads to frustration, look for outside help. This need
not mean costly tutors or joining a homework center.
You could, for example, make a trade with a
classmate’s parent: you agree to work with both kids
on English assignments if she takes on science. Or
recruit an older sibling or your spouse. It’s better to
maintain your relationship as a loving parent than get
into a cycle of anger and aggravation over homework.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

19 KNOW WHEN TO CALL A HALT
Sometimes you have to say “enough is enough.”
Everyone has his limit, and there may be occasions
when your child becomes too tired or frustrated to
continue on an assignment. That’s the time to stop. If
possible, your child can return to the assignment later
on. When the work is due the next day, write a note to
the teacher explaining that he completed as much as
he could. Know when to be your child’s ally and avoid
letting homework push him to the brink of a meltdown.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

20 KEEP A HOMEWORK HISTORY
File completed assignments for quick reference.
Completed homework assignments are a valuable
resource. Your child can refer to them to check how
he solved problems in the past, see progress made in
each subject, and detect patterns of errors. To set up
a homework history, create a color-coded file folder
for each subject. File completed assignments in order
as his teacher returns them.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

21 MAKE THE GRADE
Take the time to review your child’s graded
assignments.
Make a point of reviewing your child’s homework
assignments after they have been graded and
returned by the teacher. This review is an opportunity
to praise work done well and progress made. You will
also see trouble spots and areas where extra practice
is needed. When you treat homework as an important
part of school and learning, your child will value its
importance too.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

22 REWARD PROGRESS
Give your child small rewards for reaching goals.
Providing an occasional reward for reaching
homework goals can be a great motivator. When your
child faces a particularly difficult assignment, offering
an incentive (such as letting her choose the next
movie rental) could be just what she needs to get
through it. Also consider incentives for longer-term
goals like completion of a complicated project.
Rewarding her for hard work is similar to promising
yourself, “When I finish painting the back door, I’m
going to sit down and read for a while.”
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

23 TURN YOUR CHILD INTO A TEACHER
Encouraging your child to teach you gives him
confidence.
It’s true that teaching others reveals how much you
really know. Turn the tables on your child and have
him show you how to complete his assignments. Ask
a lot of “how,” “why,” “when,” and “who” questions.
Giving explanations helps your child think through
concepts and step-by-step processes and discloses
areas where more work is needed. You can then work
together to fill in the gaps in his knowledge.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

24 KEEP IT INTERESTING
Tie homework to your child’s interests
whenever possible.
Kids are often able to choose their own topic for
homework assignments or projects. Use those
opportunities to relate the work to something your
child is passionate about. For example, if an English
assignment requires that your child write five
compound sentences, suggest that she write about
her favorite hobby, a recent family trip, or her pet. The
work goes faster and is more fun when your child is
truly engaged in the subject.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 12.

25 CHANGE THE SCENERY
Try tackling homework in an unusual location.
Make homework time a special occasion by moving
the study area to an offbeat place. Set up homework
camp in a tent in the backyard or living room. Spread
out under a tree or in a tree house. Try the top bunk
or even a walk-in closet. Just be sure to take along all
the usual homework supplies so everything your child
needs is close at hand.
GRADES 1 THROUGH 5.

Top 10 Travel Tips

2007-06-20T07:13:00.001-07:00

1.

Check the latest travel advice for your destination and subscribe to receive free e-mail notification each time the travel advice for your destination is updated.
2.

Take out appropriate travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, including adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.
3.

Before travelling overseas register your travel and contact details online or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so we can contact you in an emergency.
4.

Obey the law. Consular assistance cannot override local laws, even where local laws appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards.
5.

Check to see if you require visas for the country or countries you are visiting or transiting. Be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry.
6.

Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, travellers cheques, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.
7.

Check with health professionals for information on recommended vaccinations or other precautions and find out about overseas laws on travelling with medicines.
8.

Make sure your passport has at least six months validity and carry additional copies of your passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
9.

Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas.
10.

Before departing Australia check whether you are regarded as a national of the country you intend to visit. Research whether holding dual nationality has any implications for your travel.

Top 10 Tips Airline Safety Tips

2007-06-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

1. Fly on Nonstop Routings
Most accidents occur during the takeoff, climb, descent, and landing phase of flight so flying nonstop would reduce exposure to these most accident prone phases of flight.

2. Choose Larger Aircraft
Currently, aircraft with more than 30 passenger seats were all designed and certified under the strictest regulations. Also, in the unlikely event of a serious accident, larger aircraft provide a better opportunity for passenger survival.
Passenger fatalities by aircraft model

3. Pay Attention to the Preflight Briefing
Although the information seems repetitious, the locations of the closest emergency exits may be different depending on the aircraft that you fly on and seat you are in.

4. Keep the Overhead Storage Bin Free of Heavy Articles
Overhead storage bins may not be able to hold very heavy objects during turbulence, so if you or another passenger have trouble lifting an article into the bin, have it stored elsewhere.
Top 10 Baggage Tips
Risks from Overhead Baggage

5. Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened While You are Seated
Keeping the belt on when you are seated provides that extra protection you might need if the plane hits unexpected turbulence.
Turbulence Risks

6. Listen to the Flight Attendants
The primary reason flight attendants are on an aircraft is for safety, so if one of them asks you to do something like fasten your seat belts, do it first and ask questions later.

7. Don't Bring Any Hazardous Material
There are rather long lists of hazardous materials that are not allowed, but common sense should tell you that you shouldn't bring gasoline, corrosives, poisonous gases, and other such items on the aircraft unless they were allowed by the airline and shipped in a proper container.
Details on dangerous baggage

8. Let the Flight Attendant Pour Your Hot Drinks
Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour the drink and hand it too you.

9. Don't Drink Too Much
The atmosphere in an airliner cabin is pressurized to about the same altitude as Denver, so any alcohol you consume will affect you more strongly than at sea level. Moderation is a good policy at any altitude.
Air Rage

10. Keep Your Wits About You
In the unlikely event that you are involved in an emergency situation such as a precautionary emergency evacuation, follow the directions of the flight attendants and flight crew and exit the aircraft as quickly as possible.

Top 10 tips on energy saving measures

2007-06-20T07:06:00.002-07:00

1. Brush up on energy saving

Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too.
You can install draught proofing your self

2. Draught dodgers

Draughts also get in through gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, which also allow heat to escape in winter. Stop this waste by filling these gaps with newspaper, beading or sealant. Stop draughts by filling gaps with newspaper, beading or sealant

3. Use energy saving light bulbs

Switch to energy saving light bulbs. They last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, and each bulb you fit could save up to £100 on electricity over the bulb's lifetime. They come in a whole range of styles.Energy saving bulbs last up to 12 times longer

4. Jazz up your tank with a jacket

Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket - it only costs a few pounds and, with all the heat it traps in, it pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year. If every UK household that could fitted an adequate tank-jacket tomorrow, we'd save over £95 million of energy every year!Fit a hot water jacket that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year

5. Lofty ambitions

Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy - you can even install it yourself. Insulate your loft today and in a year you could save between £180 and £220.Loft insulation can save you between £180 and £220 a year

6. Insulate wall cavities

Around 33% of the heat lost in an uninsulated house is through the walls. You could save up to £160 on energy bills each year by insulating your wall cavities. It also creates an even temperature in your home. If we all filled our wall cavities, we'd save over £960 million of energy a year.

7. Switch to high-efficiency boilers

If your boiler is over 15 years old it's probably time to replace it. By law, new gas boilers in England and Wales must now be of the high efficiency condensing type, which can help you save up to a third on your heating bills and even more if you upgrade to modern controls as well.Save up to a third on your heating bills with a high efficiency condensing boiler

8. Look for the logo

When purchasing new appliances, always look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Energy Saving Recommended appliances are the most efficient in their category and could save you up to £45 a year.Always look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo

9. Keep twice as warm with double glazing

Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by £80 to £100 a year.Cut your heating bill by £80 to £100 a year

Top Ten Tips for Success at University

2007-06-20T07:06:00.001-07:00

1. Location, location, location...

Serious about getting work done? Find a good location. Use the libraries, study rooms, or empty classrooms.
2. Make It a Habit: Do Coursework Every Day

Cramming is not conducive to understanding and retaining large amounts of information. Time on your courses each day is the best way to learn. Use the time between classes to stay on top of readings.
3. Help Exists! Seek It Out and Improve Your Grades

Whether you're an 'A' student or a 'D' student, you can strengthen your skills. Check out SDS' Learning Skills Services. Get to know your professors and tutorial assistants. Use study guides and help centres.
4. Write It Down

Use a day planner or wall calendar. Plan time for coursework. Plan ahead for assignments and exam periods.
5. Get Energized - Eat, Exercise, Sleep

Fatigue and stress weaken memory and comprehension. Eat properly, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep.
6. Perform Like a Pro: Go to Class Prepared and Take Thorough Notes

Don't miss class. Someone else's notes aren't going to be as good as having gone to the lecture yourself. While taking notes, listen for emphases and examples. Questions after the lecture? Go to your professor's or tutorial assistant's office hours. Learn as you go and you won't find yourself unprepared the night before an exam.
7. Lectures and Textbooks: What's the BIG Picture?

University learning requires understanding how pieces of information fit together to form a "big picture." Use course outlines, tables of content, and headings and subheadings to organize information.
8. Do Something to Remember Key Information

Be active! Generate examples, create mnemonics, make summary notes, identify key words, highlight textbooks, or add margin notes. Improve your memory by being creative and interested.
9. Think You'll Remember Key Points? Prove It.

No matter how well you understand something, without practice forgetting will occur. Before a test, recall information without looking at notes or textbooks and by doing practice questions.
10. Be Test Smart

Don't lose marks because of test-writing errors. Use strategies to tackle different types of tests (e.g., multiple-choice). Read instructions, budget time to marks, and do less difficult questions first to build confidence.

Top 25 Social Bookmarking sites

2007-06-20T06:50:00.001-07:00

List of Top 25 Social Bookmarking sites

1. http://del.icio.us/ PageRank: 8/10
2. http://www.furl.net/ PageRank: 7/10
3. http://www.simpy.com/ PageRank: 7/10
4. http://del.icio.us/ PageRank: 8/10
5. http://www.backflip.com/ PageRank: 6/10
6. http://www.blinklist.com/ PageRank: 6/10
7. http://bluedot.us/ PageRank: 6/10
8. http://de.lirio.us/bookmarks/ PageRank: 6/10
9. http://www.diigo.com/user/ PageRank: 6/10
10. http://www.shadows.com/ PageRank: 6/10
11. http://www.markaboo.com/ PageRank: 5/10
12. http://ma.gnolia.com/ PageRank: 7/10
13. http://linkagogo.com/ PageRank: 7/10
14. http://netvouz.com/ PageRank: 7/10
15. http://www.mister-wong.de/ PageRank: 6/10
16. http://www.spurl.net/ PageRank: 7/10
17. http://www.rawsugar.com/ PageRank: 6/10
18. http://www.stumbleupon.com/ PageRank: 7/10
19. http://www.digg.com/ PageRank: 8/10
20. http://www.blogmarks.net/ PageRank: 7/10
21. http://myweb2.search.yahoo.com/ PageRank: 7/10
22. http://www.netvouz.com/ PageRank: 7/10
23. http://www.taggly.com/ PageRank: 5/10
24. http://www.lookmarks.com/ PageRank: 5/10
25. http://socialbookmarking.org/ PageRank: 5/10

Top 100 Tips To Expand Your Web Presence

2007-06-20T06:47:00.001-07:00

101 Ways to Expand Your Web Presence

1. If you’re launching a new site, or new content, write an introduction and submit it to share sites like Digg, Reddit and Now Public.
2. Create a Yahoo Group in the niche your site sits.
3. Create a MySpace account and use it to publisise your site.
4. Bookmark your site on Del.icio.us and if you’re really keen, add a Del.icio.us button to your homepage.
5. Create a Technorati account and “claim” your blog.
6. Submit your site to free, search engine friendly directories. An excellent list can be found at Info Vilesilencer.
7. Conduct a survey. This is an excellent way to generate offline publicity.
8. Place a free ad for your company on Gumtree.
9. Syndicate your site’s content by using an RSS feeds.
10. Submit your RSS feeds to agregator sites like FeedBurner, Squidoo, Feedboy, Jordomedia, FeedBomb, FeedCat, rssmad, feeddirectory and feedfury. Stolen from DigitalPoint
11. Write an article related to your site and submit it to article sites.
12. Sign up to StumbleUpon and get your friends to Stumble your site.
13. Create a custom 404 page so that even if someone encounters an error on your site, they are re-directed somewhere nice.
14. Set up a 301 redirect to take traffic from your non-www address to your www address. See here for more info.
15. Add a link to your site in the signature of any forums you post on.
16. Tell your friends about your site. It’s free advertising init.
17. Speel cheek ur stie. Nothing appears more amateur than a site with typos or spelling mistakes.
18. Test your site and make sure it appears correctly in all major browsers.
19. Buy enough hosting. No one likes a slow site.
20. Don’t worry about PageRank - worrying about PageRank is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.*
21. Offer something for free. Free is good. People tell their friends about free stuff.
22. Tell your neighbours, you never know what contacts they might have.
23. Offer your users as many ways as possible to contact you. MSN, Skype, Yahoo etc all complement email, phone and a real address.
24. Advertise your site on Craigslist. It’s free, relevant and localised.
25. Do NOT use frames.
26. Submit your site to DMOZ.org. It may take time, but it’s worth it.
27. Create an XML sitemap of your site and submit it to Google.
28. Get a custom t-shirt made with your website url on it, and wear it often.
29. Ask a large breasted lady to wear one too.
30. Sign up with an affiliate programme to sell your product, or if you’re a publish, make some cash!
31. On your Contact Page ask people if they mind receiving your newsletter.
32. Send out a newsletter!
33. Go to a free seminar for Website owners. You might learn something.
34. Find quality and relevant blogs and leave a comment (with a link back to your site of course).
35. Don’t pay people to submit your site to search engines. It’s a waste of money.
36. YouTube and Google Video are excellent portals on which to launch a viral campaign.
37. Giving away an eBook is an excellent way to generate word-of-mouth about your site.
38. Sponsor a Wordpress theme or a phpListDirectory template.
39. If you sell products that are advertised on television by the manufacturer, add “As Seen on TV” to your site!
40. Avoid proprietry technologies like Java and Active X.
41. Put downloadable content on your site, but make sure it’s not manufacturer specific - so mp3 rather than wma.
42. Learn about CSS. It’s the new HTML.
43. Contribute to related subject areas on Wikipedia.
44. Ask bloggers and other Web site owners to review your site and/or products.
45. Have user friendly page names - most tools comes with some way to avoid www.yourdomain.com/pgInfoPages.cfm?cx=50799399822B393BBF95289295A3A10A4FD4F64E511ACB0E020C9048CFE3AEDAF8DD9D
46. If you must have a Flash homepage, make sure you have a “Skip Intro” link.
47. Tell your local rag about your site. These newspapers are desparate for stories and you may well even get a pic of your ugly picture published.
48. Become a leading authority on your chosen subject.
49. Donate money to a charity and most will place a link on their site back to you.
50. Abide to W3C standards - it will help your site in the long term.
51. Your local community sports teams offer cheap, but highly effective sponsorship opportunities.
52. Publisise your site on related forums - but don’t spam!
53. Ask bloggers to write about your site or product - in return for a link of course.
54. Offer a competition related to something in the news - so football around the time of the World Cup etc.
55. Add a “Tell a Friend” function to your site, so people can easily recommend you to their mates.
56. Have a Sitemap on your site to allow users to navigate around quickly and to aid the search engines.
57. Have a nice keyword rich title at the top of each of your pages. Users and search engines both like descriptive titles.
58. Include a Feedburner button on your site so people can easily subscribe to your feed.
59. If you use PPC then create a landing page for each of your AdWords - it’ll boost your conversations no end.
60. Appear on Dragon’s Den.
61. Create a Press section on your site where can you store all your press releases, logos and banners.
62. Add a link to your site from within your eBay profile.
63. Ask your friends to give you honest feedback on your site.
64. The best way to find someone to do any kind of work on your site is through personal recommendation.
65. Gain exposure by submitting photos and pictures to Flikr.
66. Share your banners on banner exchange sites.
67. Make sure it’s easy for your users to subscribe to your RSS feed.
68. Create a “lense” for your site on Squidoo
69. Ask friends, collegues and associates to “Favourite” your blog on Technorati.
70. You can add a Bulletin to your MySpace account promoting your site that all your MySpace Friends will see.
71. Response to your customer’s emails promptly, even if it is with a simply auto-responder. No one likes to wait 3 or 4 days for an acknowledgement of their contact with you.
72. Get a professional Copywriter to give your site a once over. If you are on a tight budget, limit to the just the homepage.
73. Make a list, “Top 10″s work well. Update it regularly to give your visitors a reason to return.
74. What did you learn today? Tell other people and they might learn something too.
75. Do you have really hot content on your site that geeks would love? If so Slashdot will bring you a mass of traffic.
76. Deep link directories are an excellent way to promote inner pages of your site.
77. Meta tags might carry less weight than previously, but you should still have them on every page.
78. Ask your Gran for feedback on your site. Never ignore the silver surfers.
79. Include a “Add to your Technorati favourites” button on your site.
80. Google Analytics is free and will tell you all you need to know about who’s visiting your site.
81. Search engines will find you. Don’t pay money for your site to be “submitted”.
82. Don’t be afraid to link to other sites, especially if they are relevant and to highly respected sites.
83. Keep It Simple Stupid: use CSS to control layout, style and colours and use HTML text rather than graphics to represent text.
84. Validate your HTML and CSS. It’ll help ensure your site displays well in all browsers.
85. Small pages sizes and optimised graphics will give your site a snappy feel and won’t require users to wait around for it to load.
86. If you plan to submit your site to lots of directory or article sites - create an email especially for this. Delete it when you’re finished to avoid spam.
87. “Link baiting” means writing some killer content that people will want to link to. Like a “101 Tips to Improve Your Web Presence” list!
88. If your chosen field is technology related then write a “whitepaper”. That’s a posh name for an article.
89. Google receives roughly 50% of all search requests, Yahoo 25% and MSN just 10%. That’s a good rule of thumb as to how much emphisis to put on each.
90. Make sure you have a robots.txt file in the root of your Web site. You can use this to control search engines, but if nothing else it’ll reduce the number of 404 errors in your Weblogs.
91. Free online games, a forum or chatrooms will give your users a reason to come back to your site.
92. Ebooks with re-seller rights make an excellent “free gift” for your site.
93. Upload your product feed to Froogle. It’s FREE!
94. This is an excellent list of Top 25 Social Bookmarking Sites
95. Search out unanswered questions on Yahoo! Answers and add your site as the “Source”.
96. PageRank is vanity, ranking is sanity.
97. Yahoo are catching up with Google with an excellent set of webmaster tools called Site Explorer.
98. Don’t buy traffic. It’s un-targetted and won’t convert.
99. Pay Per Click advertising gets you fast results - and if it’s handled well can be very profitable.
100. Upload a favicon.gif file so that your users have a nice icon when they bookmark your site.
101. And that’s it!