I know it sounds weird, but trust me, it really works.  You should be able to find it in the colds section of your nearest pharmacy.  If you can’t find it there, I know they carry it at WalMart and Costco.

Spring & Fall Sinus relief is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Vector graphics on the other hand are based on a set of primitive drawing instructions.  The instructions are directions on where and how to draw lines, arcs, points and polygons.  The result is a very sharp scalable image.  No pixelation occurs as the image is increased in size.

Here are a few applications that generate these types of graphics are Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Macromedia Freehand.  The problem with these applications is they are very expensive.  I know I couldn’t justify the expense of buying one of these applications for just a few uses.

The challenge is to find software that is affordable that will produce the Vector based image files the printer needs for his software.  I tried several different free products, they worked okay, they produced the image I wanted, but they didn’t produce the file format I needed.  One of the products was relatively new.  Unfortunately, the help was pretty non-existant.  I sent an email, but haven’t received a response yet.

Just about the time I had given up hope at finding free software that would meet my needs, I revisited the Open Office Suite.  Specifically, a program called OpenOffice.org draw.  The version I used was 3.1.1.  As far as I know, the file I was trying to generate the EPS (Embedded Post Script) format was produced correctly by OpenOffice.Org draw.  I was able to read the EPS file using another program that could read EPS files.

Just like my embroidered shirt challenge many months ago, this was an educational experience for me.  In the future, if I need to produce Vector based graphics, I know exactly which program I will try first.

Vector Graphics & T-Shirts is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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This isn’t an exhaustive list, but I think it hits the main fairs, faires and festivals that are happening nearby.

Faires & Festivals around the 209 area code in 2010 is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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But Wes, how can that be?  You just said that your USB drive gave up the ghost.  How come you didn’t lose all your data?  That’s because I used the USB drive as a file cache for transporting data back and forth.  My USB contains only the latest documents I’ve been working on.  It isn’t used to backup my data.

Everybody should be in the habit of backing up their data in multiple places.  A while back I wrote an article (“Online Storage Showdown“) about online storage.

My suggestion is that everybody keep at least one backup copy of their important information somewhere other than on their computer.  Maybe it’s on another computer, a NAS (Network Attached Storage), a removable hard disk that you keep in a safe or on backup CDs or DVDs.

Don’t rely on your USB drive as a backup.  Always back up your USB drive. Use it as a tool to keep your primary and alternate computers synchronized with the latest documents you’re working on.

Where’s your data? is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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That used to be the case with me until recently when I lost mine without knowing it.  Many USB drives have a little ring that attaches to your keyring.  It gives everybody a false sense of security.  It will stay on your keyring right?  Unfortunately, the stock ring they include with the Cruzer is not made to stand up to the punishment most people dish out when they handle their keys.

How do I know?  The other day, I discovered my USB drive sitting on the ground next to my car.  It had to have been sitting there for at least 24 hours.  I’m lucky it was only mangled a little bit.

It appears that the USB drive somehow came off my keys and landed on the ground.  Then it was stepped on or rolled over by a heavy object.  Possibly a car.  The slider used to extend the USB plug does not seem to be functional either.

So, if the ring isn’t really designed to fit on a keyring, how are we going to keep it safe and handy?  One solution is a protective enclosure that will hold the USB drive.  The image on the left shows a USB drive carrier that attaches to a keyring or other leash mechanism.  It keeps 2 USB drives safe and secure. 

 Inside the case are two pockets that hold each USB drive snuggly so they don’t go anywhere.  Inside the case you can see a PNY USB drive that I plan to use for my mobile storage needs.  I’m hoping – after some minor technical procedures - I will be able to transfer the data from the beat-up Cruzer to the PNY 4GB drive.

How to guard your data is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Best tools for moving

• Movers’ dolly (aka furniture dolly) – for moving really heavy things. As long as they have a good solid surface underneath, this is the workhorse for most movers
• Forearm forklift – http://www.forearmforklift.com/ I learned about this product a few years ago, when I received a new refrigerator.  The delivery guys, walked in with the refrigerator, not using your appliance dolly, but using the Forearm forklift.  If the furniture isn’t too heavy and kind of tall, the forearm forklift might just do the trick for you.
• Appliance dolly – for moving things like refrigerators, washers & dryers

Any time I help someone move, they usually have the appliance dolly.  I bring the forearm forklift and a couple of movers’ dollies to make my life easier.  About the only thing that movers’ dollies and Forearm forklift or appliance dollies don’t work on are big bulky furniture such as couches.  I’m still looking for a solution to that one.  I’m planning to check out the Shoulder Dolly http://www.shoulderdolly.com/ in the future.  It looks like it might be easier to use than the forearm forklift.

Best tools for moving is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Before I begin sharing my wisdom, I want you to know that I am happily remarried.  Unfortunately, this wisdom I share did not come cheaply.  I encourage marriage, I think that marriage is a wonderful thing and wish you to have a successful marriage.

Most marriage failures can be attributed to two main factors, money and lack of communication.  When the money is flowing life is good and everybody’s happy.  When the money is tight, things can change a lot -  tensions rise and communication can break down.

Marriage checklist

1. Education: Get your primary education out of the way.  The biggest mistake most couples make is assuming  they’ll finish their education after they’re married.
2. Career: Establish your career before you get married.  Establishing a career takes a lot of time, money and energy.
3. Experience: Each person should live on their own away from each other and away from their parents for awhile, because they need to understand the cost of living.
4. Self-fulfilment: Don’t expect your partner to fulfill your needs.  They should compliment you of course, but they shouldn’t be your entire life.
5. Common interests: Make sure you have several common interests, things that you would do either together or separately.  The more activities you have in common with each other means the more fun you will  experience together.
6. Realistic budget: Create a budget that you and your significant other plan to live by.  I suggest that you both go through FPU (Financial Peace University) by Dave Ramsey.  You won’t regret the experience.
7. Emergency fund: Create an emergency fund.  Dave Ramsey says a baby fund is $1,000 in the bank.  A fully funded emergency fund is 6+ months of expenses that you don’t touch except for an emergency, such as being get laid off.
8. Share your dreams: Talk about what your future looks like in 1 year, 5, 10, and 20 years down the road.  It’s preferable if you agree on what your future looks like.
9. Children: Talk about when you would like to have children and how many you would like to have.  Ideally, you agree on that too.
10. Child-rearing: Talk about child-rearing.  It’s best if you both agree on how you will do it as a couple.

A marriage checklist is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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For those that are iPhone users, are there other Social Networking Apps you use?

Going mobile with Social Networking is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Basic cooking skills

Your kids should know their way around a kitchen.  They don’t need to be chefs, but they should know some basic skills.

These include being able to:

• Properly wash their hands before cooking
• Properly handle kitchen utensils, such as knives
• Prevent cross contamination of food
• Properly clean cooking surfaces before/after cooking
• Follow cooking directions
• Measure ingredients
• Boil water
• Grill a sandwich
• Mix batter
• Cook pancakes or waffles
• Cook pasta
• Cook an egg
• Make toast
• Bake a potato
• Cook a frozen dinner
• Reheat food

Laundry skills

To help your clothes stay clean, they need to be washed.  An important skill is knowing how to separate whites and darks from colors into separate loads.  Another skill is having the ability to read the label for special instructions.  It is also essential to know what temperature to use for washing and drying clothes.  Finally, it is useful to know how to fold and put away clothes.

Cleaning skills

Every person should know how to wash dishes and sweep and mop floors.  They should also learn how to keep a toilet and tub clean.  A particularly important skill is knowing how to read the directions for proper use of cleaning agents.

Effective communication skills

Say what you mean and make sure your audience understands you.  Verbal and written communication are very important skills that will help you survive in the real world.

Time management

The ability to get to appointments on time is key to success.  This  includes the ability to go to bed at a reasonable time and wake up on your own.

Proper hygiene

Nobody wants to be around someone who has a hygiene problem.  Hygiene falls into several categories.

• Oral – brush & floss daily, visit the dentist regularly
• Hair – keep hair clean and brushed
• Body – shower or take baths frequently
• Clothing – make sure your clothes are properly washed and cared for and not showing excessive wear.

Financial management

While the ability to earn money is a great skill, there is an even greater skill that will help you get ahead in this world.  It’s the ability to hold on to a portion of what you earn for future needs.

Personal responsibility

This is probably the trickiest one.  Sometimes, while growing up, young ones have not been held accountable for their actions.  This is probably the hardest one to undo.  Every action or inaction a person takes has consequences.  The sooner this is learned the better chances of survival they have.  Blaming your past actions on someone else will not solve the problems you have today.  Taking responsibility for where you are, good or bad, is the right thing to do.

Urban survival skills for living in the real world is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Option 1

Stop everything.  Live in poverty while I update my education so I will be considered for my dream job.

Option 2

Stop pursuing my dream job, switch to a totally different career.

Option 3

A little bit of options 1 and 2 might be the right mix.

I can’t completely stop everything, because living in poverty is not very appealing to me or my wife.  I don’t think we would have a very happy existence under those circumstances.

I can’t stop pursuing my dream because living without hope would be very depressing.  I can postpone my dream for a while and continue pursuing my education so I can eventually achieve my dream job.

The Box

To achieve Option 3, I was told I need to start thinking outside the box.

Box = “The career I once had.”

I’ve been stuck looking inside the box.  I’ve been desperately, trying to find the life I once knew.  I have focused so much on the inside of the box, that I haven’t noticed all the other opportuntities that are available outside of the box.

After I finally put the box down, I notice it has the shape of a coffin.  I realize the coffin needs to be buried.  So, I don’t pick it up again.  I start to notice there are other opportunities to utilize the skills I have.  These other opportunities have different job titles.

Thinking outside the box

So once, the box is buried, where do you go to see the other opportunities?

1. Visit the O*Net website http://online.onetcenter.org/find
2. Enter key skills you already have or plan to have in the “Keyword or O*NET-SOC code” field, then click Go - the resulting list of occupations will be ordered by relevance, to their side may be a leaf to represent green jobs and/or a demand symbol signifying the field is in high demand. 
3. Click on the Occupation to find out more about it.
4. Click on the Wages & Employment for the median wages to see if the pay is reasonable enough to help you make ends meet.  It provides an option to see the wages based on State.
5. Click on the Details Tab to bring up more options to investigate such as Education.
6. Click on the Education link - to see the average education level for this particular occupation.
7. While investigating this occupation, you can review the Job Tasks, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Activites, Work Values, etc.

Implement outside the box

Once you’ve decided on which occupations would be suited for you, build a resume for each occupation that you’re considering.  Have a trusted accountability partner evaluate each resume.  See if you can convice them that you are really skilled and proficient at the skill required for the job.  If you can’t convince your accountability partner that you really want that occupation, then how are you going to convince a potential employer that you want the job?

Think outside the box is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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