Monday, February 22, 2010
Adwords
Adwords is a pay-per-click advertising system developed by Google aimed to assist businesses in marketing their products and websites by means of prominent text ads which appear as ‘sponsored ads’ when users search for phrases related to a particular business. This program was launched around 10 years ago and has since grown and developed.
How it works
The advertiser selects relevant keywords which are connected to his/her business and his/her ad will appear under the sidebar whenever the user is searching for a related keyword. Normally the advertiser only pays if the ad is clicked but they can also pitch the position the ad will appear on the page.
Is it that simple?
It holds a very simple concept and can be put into action in a relatively short time. But is it really that simple? One important matter that greatly affects your success in this program is your knowledge in Aword Management. One common strate¬gy for beginners is to start bidding slightly higher in order to counter-effect their lack of history and low quality score on their chosen keywords. Other important factors which greatly determine whether your ads are prominently displayed or not, is the clever choice of keywords and targeting unique aspects of your business. Without competent Adword management your budget will be used up with users, who do manage to visit your website, being disappointed since they would be landing on irrelevant pages.
Does it work?
We can certainly say that this program is a great success, especially for Google. There are mixed opinions for businesses using this program. While a large percentage claim increase in traffic volume and sales others are quite skeptical about the whole process and even claim some fraudulent behavior.
How it works
The advertiser selects relevant keywords which are connected to his/her business and his/her ad will appear under the sidebar whenever the user is searching for a related keyword. Normally the advertiser only pays if the ad is clicked but they can also pitch the position the ad will appear on the page.
Is it that simple?
It holds a very simple concept and can be put into action in a relatively short time. But is it really that simple? One important matter that greatly affects your success in this program is your knowledge in Aword Management. One common strate¬gy for beginners is to start bidding slightly higher in order to counter-effect their lack of history and low quality score on their chosen keywords. Other important factors which greatly determine whether your ads are prominently displayed or not, is the clever choice of keywords and targeting unique aspects of your business. Without competent Adword management your budget will be used up with users, who do manage to visit your website, being disappointed since they would be landing on irrelevant pages.
Does it work?
We can certainly say that this program is a great success, especially for Google. There are mixed opinions for businesses using this program. While a large percentage claim increase in traffic volume and sales others are quite skeptical about the whole process and even claim some fraudulent behavior.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
'Exterior Painting Tips and Techniques'
Today many homeowners, at some time or another, opt to take up the job of repainting their home exterior. This is no quick or easy task and requires much planning and common sense. If you are up to the job and determined to complete the work yourself then here are some important points and tips to consider.
Exterior painting jobs require a considerable amount of physical effort. You must be confident climbing scaffolding and sure-footed enough to work comfortably from that position. Ideally you should be familiar with handling paints and primers and have some experience in similar home maintenance tasks. Another factor which greatly helps in making this a successful job is ‘TIME’. Allow yourself ample time to finish the job. Start early and do not rush yourself. This is not a job that needs to be finished in a week or two. There are many factors and stages to consider and so rushing into things will not give a good result.
Plan to tackle this job in the right weather conditions. It is safe to say to stay away from extreme conditions; not too hot with direct sunlight and not having temperatures below 50 degrees F. Also try to avoid windy days as this will have your paint drying up too quickly and risking having dirt blown on to your fresh paint.
Get inspiration from various home improvement magazines, find out the latest colour trends and keep in mind not to defer greatly from your neighbours’ style of external décor. Try out small samples of paint combinations so that you can visualise the overall look of your colour scheme. Most paint store employees can be very helpful and ready to suggest the pros and cons and best combinations available.
Exterior painting jobs require a considerable amount of physical effort. You must be confident climbing scaffolding and sure-footed enough to work comfortably from that position. Ideally you should be familiar with handling paints and primers and have some experience in similar home maintenance tasks. Another factor which greatly helps in making this a successful job is ‘TIME’. Allow yourself ample time to finish the job. Start early and do not rush yourself. This is not a job that needs to be finished in a week or two. There are many factors and stages to consider and so rushing into things will not give a good result.
Plan to tackle this job in the right weather conditions. It is safe to say to stay away from extreme conditions; not too hot with direct sunlight and not having temperatures below 50 degrees F. Also try to avoid windy days as this will have your paint drying up too quickly and risking having dirt blown on to your fresh paint.
Get inspiration from various home improvement magazines, find out the latest colour trends and keep in mind not to defer greatly from your neighbours’ style of external décor. Try out small samples of paint combinations so that you can visualise the overall look of your colour scheme. Most paint store employees can be very helpful and ready to suggest the pros and cons and best combinations available.
Monday, February 1, 2010
'How to Unclog a Drain'
How many times have our drains been clogged and we immediately call a plumber to fix it? Have you ever thought that you could fix it yourself without the need of wasting your time and money? Here is your solution.
All plumbing systems develop clogs, some time or another, and there’s no way you can avoid it. However, most stopped-up sinks and plugged toilets can be fixed without the need of calling a plumber.
Everyone knows the inconvenience and mess that accompany a sluggish drain. Even so, many people wait until the drain stops completely before they take corrective action. Sometimes a clog can be cleared with a simple homemade remedy; all you need is a little determination and the right tools.
The plumbing tools you need to withstand these clogs are affordable and you can find them at any ironmongery shop. The first tool you need, and which should be kept handy, is the plunger which is used by the plumber to clear clogs from most fixtures including sinks, toilets and tubs. If the clog is located farther down the drainpipe, you will need a cable auger or plumber’s snake, which are long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that’s fitted with a turning device. A closet auger is specifically made for fixing toilets. Similar to the plumber’s snake, it is equipped with a hand crank but instead of a spool, the cable is wrapped in a rigid shaft. Its end is bent at a precise angle to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap.
If you have a moderately clogged drain, you might want to try this homemade method: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Be careful! The two ingredients interact with foaming and fumes, so replace the drain cover loosely. Let the concoction set for about three hours before running water. If you know the slow drain is from grease, try this treatment: Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a teakettle of boiling water. Allow this combination to sit overnight.
If you want to keep your drains clog-free and odorless you should use this noncorrosive drain cleaner weekly. Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup table salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Stir ingredients together thoroughly and pour into a clean, covered jar. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain, and immediately add 1 cup boiling water. Wait 10 seconds, then flush with cold water.
Flushing weekly with a generous amount of boiling water also works well. Remember, if you can't clear a clog after a few attempts, turn the job over to a drain-cleaning service or licensed plumber. Exerting too much force can permanently damage a pipe or fixture.
All plumbing systems develop clogs, some time or another, and there’s no way you can avoid it. However, most stopped-up sinks and plugged toilets can be fixed without the need of calling a plumber.
Everyone knows the inconvenience and mess that accompany a sluggish drain. Even so, many people wait until the drain stops completely before they take corrective action. Sometimes a clog can be cleared with a simple homemade remedy; all you need is a little determination and the right tools.
The plumbing tools you need to withstand these clogs are affordable and you can find them at any ironmongery shop. The first tool you need, and which should be kept handy, is the plunger which is used by the plumber to clear clogs from most fixtures including sinks, toilets and tubs. If the clog is located farther down the drainpipe, you will need a cable auger or plumber’s snake, which are long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that’s fitted with a turning device. A closet auger is specifically made for fixing toilets. Similar to the plumber’s snake, it is equipped with a hand crank but instead of a spool, the cable is wrapped in a rigid shaft. Its end is bent at a precise angle to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap.
If you have a moderately clogged drain, you might want to try this homemade method: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Be careful! The two ingredients interact with foaming and fumes, so replace the drain cover loosely. Let the concoction set for about three hours before running water. If you know the slow drain is from grease, try this treatment: Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by a teakettle of boiling water. Allow this combination to sit overnight.
If you want to keep your drains clog-free and odorless you should use this noncorrosive drain cleaner weekly. Combine 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup table salt, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Stir ingredients together thoroughly and pour into a clean, covered jar. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain, and immediately add 1 cup boiling water. Wait 10 seconds, then flush with cold water.
Flushing weekly with a generous amount of boiling water also works well. Remember, if you can't clear a clog after a few attempts, turn the job over to a drain-cleaning service or licensed plumber. Exerting too much force can permanently damage a pipe or fixture.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
'How To Be a Part of a Virtual Learning Environment'
A virtual learning environment or in short VLE, is a technological revolution regarding teaching and learning. The traditional idea of the physical classroom is abandoned. VLE forges new incentives to the student to study in an original way from the commodity of his/her home. This type of e-learning system was originally intended to provide for long distance education but nowadays it is used in every sector of education to supplement traditional methods of lecturing. VLE is used in many places and by persons of all ages, from primary schools to well established universities and colleges.
How dose it work?
VLE uses a special type of software system to manage ordinary class activities such as collecting homework, peer assessments and questioners amongst many others. Although at first it may seem
to be a complicated matter as you go along you will find that VLE type methods are very effective. The key to VLE is by sharing information regardless of the distance between teacher and student. Many lecturers use Moodle or, which basically means, content is uploaded on a specific server and the student, having been provided earlier with a username and password, can access and see the information posted by the lecturer and his follow students.
Most Universities around the world use the latter method because it is quiet easy to use and the teacher could use it as an extension to the lecture. Many of the systems on the web normally use SQL to generate databases. VLE technology is increasing drastically because apart from giving a new experience of education to students, it also can present the teaching staff with more time on their hands because; often lectures in universities are very much occupied with research and administration.
How to be a part of it?
There are a variety of open source VLEs and anyone interested in e-learning could make use of this software as to ensure that his/her teachings methods aren’t confined to a building but reach out to
anyone who is interested to learn but cannot attend to a physical classroom. A few examples of Virtual learning environment around the web are;
Anybody can be part of this IT method revolution, but in order to effectively run and provide a sustainable method of education you have to constantly evaluate the system and service provided by
making sure that your needs and those of the students are met.
It would be a shame for teachers not to exploit this fresh idea of providing education. It will be hard at first especially if you are not that computer literate but don’t be discouraged, start with a simple solution at first and then continue to develop as you go along. With this IT solution the not even the skies are a limit, education has never been this fun and easy to access. Maybe it is that long wished for opportunity to further your studies from the commodity of your
home.
How dose it work?
VLE uses a special type of software system to manage ordinary class activities such as collecting homework, peer assessments and questioners amongst many others. Although at first it may seem
to be a complicated matter as you go along you will find that VLE type methods are very effective. The key to VLE is by sharing information regardless of the distance between teacher and student. Many lecturers use Moodle or, which basically means, content is uploaded on a specific server and the student, having been provided earlier with a username and password, can access and see the information posted by the lecturer and his follow students.
Most Universities around the world use the latter method because it is quiet easy to use and the teacher could use it as an extension to the lecture. Many of the systems on the web normally use SQL to generate databases. VLE technology is increasing drastically because apart from giving a new experience of education to students, it also can present the teaching staff with more time on their hands because; often lectures in universities are very much occupied with research and administration.
How to be a part of it?
There are a variety of open source VLEs and anyone interested in e-learning could make use of this software as to ensure that his/her teachings methods aren’t confined to a building but reach out to
anyone who is interested to learn but cannot attend to a physical classroom. A few examples of Virtual learning environment around the web are;
Anybody can be part of this IT method revolution, but in order to effectively run and provide a sustainable method of education you have to constantly evaluate the system and service provided by
making sure that your needs and those of the students are met.
It would be a shame for teachers not to exploit this fresh idea of providing education. It will be hard at first especially if you are not that computer literate but don’t be discouraged, start with a simple solution at first and then continue to develop as you go along. With this IT solution the not even the skies are a limit, education has never been this fun and easy to access. Maybe it is that long wished for opportunity to further your studies from the commodity of your
home.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Do electric hydronic baseboard heaters help with asthma?
Electric hydronic baseboard heaters have now become very common in domestic areas and other environments but it was only around the 1960’s and 1970’s that they were first introduced inside houses to heat the rooms within the household.
Electric baseboard heaters
The working process of an electric baseboard heater is very simple; it takes in cool air from the room, heats it within and throws it back out as hot air, which then rises and circulates around the room to keep it warm. The cool air is taken into the heating component of the heater, which has a number of metal pipes around it. The best place to put an electric baseboard heater is under a window, so that the heater takes in the cool air coming through the window.
Hydronic baseboard heaters
These heaters are otherwise known as hot water baseboard heaters and though they do the same heating job as electric baseboard heaters, the heating process is different, the reason being that electric baseboard heaters heat up the house room by room, whilst the hydronic baseboard heaters use central heating through hot water pipes situated under the floor, therefore the rooms in the house heat up together and there is uniform heat in each room. Hydronic baseboard heaters make use of radiation to heat up the environment, unlike their electric counterparts which make use of convection. Since warm air rises into the room through the floor, then you will no longer have to walk barefoot on cold floors. From all the countries of the world, those in Europe are the ones that use hydronic baseboard heaters the most.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Baseboard Heaters
Baseboard heaters are considered to be very efficient compared to other kinds of heaters which run on resources other than airflow or water. These include such gas heaters as kerosene and propane heaters, as well as stoves that burn wood to generate heat.
The heating process used by baseboard heaters has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that in case of electric baseboard heaters, the air is not forced in and out, therefore dust and other particles are not being blown throughout the house and the environment does not become too dry as a consequence of this, therefore these heaters help with asthma and other allergies or respiratory conditions because there is no dirt or dust involved.
On the other hand, the main disadvantage of baseboard heaters is that due to the lack of forced air, the environment takes a longer period of time to heat up or cool down. Another disadvantage concerns electric baseboard heaters in particular; although the equipment of electric baseboard heaters is known for its low cost and the air they produce is dirt-free and very healthy, the electric power they need is the most expensive among all resources required by other types of heaters i.e. natural gas, oil and wood.
However, thanks to the benefit of electric and baseboard heaters, asthma sufferers do not have to worry anymore about their respiratory condition because these heaters are the solution to their health problem.
Electric baseboard heaters
The working process of an electric baseboard heater is very simple; it takes in cool air from the room, heats it within and throws it back out as hot air, which then rises and circulates around the room to keep it warm. The cool air is taken into the heating component of the heater, which has a number of metal pipes around it. The best place to put an electric baseboard heater is under a window, so that the heater takes in the cool air coming through the window.
Hydronic baseboard heaters
These heaters are otherwise known as hot water baseboard heaters and though they do the same heating job as electric baseboard heaters, the heating process is different, the reason being that electric baseboard heaters heat up the house room by room, whilst the hydronic baseboard heaters use central heating through hot water pipes situated under the floor, therefore the rooms in the house heat up together and there is uniform heat in each room. Hydronic baseboard heaters make use of radiation to heat up the environment, unlike their electric counterparts which make use of convection. Since warm air rises into the room through the floor, then you will no longer have to walk barefoot on cold floors. From all the countries of the world, those in Europe are the ones that use hydronic baseboard heaters the most.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Baseboard Heaters
Baseboard heaters are considered to be very efficient compared to other kinds of heaters which run on resources other than airflow or water. These include such gas heaters as kerosene and propane heaters, as well as stoves that burn wood to generate heat.
The heating process used by baseboard heaters has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that in case of electric baseboard heaters, the air is not forced in and out, therefore dust and other particles are not being blown throughout the house and the environment does not become too dry as a consequence of this, therefore these heaters help with asthma and other allergies or respiratory conditions because there is no dirt or dust involved.
On the other hand, the main disadvantage of baseboard heaters is that due to the lack of forced air, the environment takes a longer period of time to heat up or cool down. Another disadvantage concerns electric baseboard heaters in particular; although the equipment of electric baseboard heaters is known for its low cost and the air they produce is dirt-free and very healthy, the electric power they need is the most expensive among all resources required by other types of heaters i.e. natural gas, oil and wood.
However, thanks to the benefit of electric and baseboard heaters, asthma sufferers do not have to worry anymore about their respiratory condition because these heaters are the solution to their health problem.
Monday, January 18, 2010
How to succeed with Virtual Learning
Virtual Learning is making use of Information and Communicating Technologies (ICT) for learning and teaching purposes. ICT can transform boring, repetitive lessons into becoming more interesting and well organized. There are different ways to succeed with Virtual Learning. Using it at school can affect the way students learn and how teachers teach. It has various impacts on teaching methods like some of the following:
Facility to Save Work
A teacher can save the time spent re-writing or going through important parts of certain lessons. One can save the work and refer to it at any time.
Run off material for pupils who were absent
Some teachers have to repeat or re-explain most of the lessons for any absent students in order to help them catch up with their other classmates. In other cases the teacher doesn’t have the time to repeat such lessons usually due to deadlines and the pupil is left to learn the lesson on his/her own. So, with virtual learning, it will be easier because it saves both the teacher’s and the student’s time.
Positive incentive
Pupils are given a chance to go over parts of the lesson they didn’t quite understand by going through the saved work done by the teacher. They have also the chance to come out and show what they know and understood. Most of us already know that it is quite difficult to keep students away from a computer! Therefore is helps to attract pupils` interest. They don’t loose interest in the lessons and remain concentrated on the task at hand. It can also improve their behaviour and encourage them to willingly follow what is being said in.
Using Interactive Whiteboards
An interactive whiteboard can help the student succeed more due to some of the following reasons:
• Play – the element of play is an important component of learning. This whiteboard has serious intentions and can be fun.
• When using video clips, animations, audio files and other web materials, one can understand more easily.
• Ostentive teaching- is the way young children learn through pointing at objects or people to reinforce questions of statements.
World-Wide/ Online
Virtual Learning is such a success also because of its online facilities. Currently such initiatives have advanced and provide teaching facilities through the computer. This helps not only the full time students, but also those who work and/or wish to continue studying a subject on a pat-time basis. They can do it in the comfort of their home and have the advantage of one to one attention or can talk about it with other people through forums.
In conclusion, Virtual Learning has many advantages that can help someone to succeed. First of all it helps by making the pupil feel comfortable with the computer itself, especially for those who do not have ICT experience on a daily basis. It can improve a pupil’s behaviour in school whilst making this pupil to be more open and show what he/she can do.
Facility to Save Work
A teacher can save the time spent re-writing or going through important parts of certain lessons. One can save the work and refer to it at any time.
Run off material for pupils who were absent
Some teachers have to repeat or re-explain most of the lessons for any absent students in order to help them catch up with their other classmates. In other cases the teacher doesn’t have the time to repeat such lessons usually due to deadlines and the pupil is left to learn the lesson on his/her own. So, with virtual learning, it will be easier because it saves both the teacher’s and the student’s time.
Positive incentive
Pupils are given a chance to go over parts of the lesson they didn’t quite understand by going through the saved work done by the teacher. They have also the chance to come out and show what they know and understood. Most of us already know that it is quite difficult to keep students away from a computer! Therefore is helps to attract pupils` interest. They don’t loose interest in the lessons and remain concentrated on the task at hand. It can also improve their behaviour and encourage them to willingly follow what is being said in.
Using Interactive Whiteboards
An interactive whiteboard can help the student succeed more due to some of the following reasons:
• Play – the element of play is an important component of learning. This whiteboard has serious intentions and can be fun.
• When using video clips, animations, audio files and other web materials, one can understand more easily.
• Ostentive teaching- is the way young children learn through pointing at objects or people to reinforce questions of statements.
World-Wide/ Online
Virtual Learning is such a success also because of its online facilities. Currently such initiatives have advanced and provide teaching facilities through the computer. This helps not only the full time students, but also those who work and/or wish to continue studying a subject on a pat-time basis. They can do it in the comfort of their home and have the advantage of one to one attention or can talk about it with other people through forums.
In conclusion, Virtual Learning has many advantages that can help someone to succeed. First of all it helps by making the pupil feel comfortable with the computer itself, especially for those who do not have ICT experience on a daily basis. It can improve a pupil’s behaviour in school whilst making this pupil to be more open and show what he/she can do.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Space Saving Ideas under $50
Most of today’s homes have one common problem, which is lack of space. What can a person do nowadays to have a beautiful home but spacious at the same time? Well, one can say that Modern furniture can come in handy at this point. But what about something that can cost less? Here are some ideas:
Bedroom Closets: Use hangers: there are many different types of hangers that one can use to save some space. There are hangers made especially for doors. In fact, more than one item can be hanged on each.
Doors: If one has a small room, instead of making a usual door, one should try to do a folding door; it will make enough room to put more storage in the room. Such doors can be made in small bathrooms or closets.
Unused Clothes: One should store away unused clothes of a particular season which will not be of use at anytime soon. Vacuum storage bags can be used and are very easy to use.
Shoes: Shoe storages vary from both prices and sizes. There are shoe shelves, shoe boxes and also over the door storage where more than one pair can be put in this particular storage and hanged on the door.
Do it yourself furniture: These have become popular as they consist of various objects one can make on his/her own and will cost less money. It can be either a small cabinet, shelve, wardrobe or any other space saving storage.
Bedroom Closets: Use hangers: there are many different types of hangers that one can use to save some space. There are hangers made especially for doors. In fact, more than one item can be hanged on each.
Doors: If one has a small room, instead of making a usual door, one should try to do a folding door; it will make enough room to put more storage in the room. Such doors can be made in small bathrooms or closets.
Unused Clothes: One should store away unused clothes of a particular season which will not be of use at anytime soon. Vacuum storage bags can be used and are very easy to use.
Shoes: Shoe storages vary from both prices and sizes. There are shoe shelves, shoe boxes and also over the door storage where more than one pair can be put in this particular storage and hanged on the door.
Do it yourself furniture: These have become popular as they consist of various objects one can make on his/her own and will cost less money. It can be either a small cabinet, shelve, wardrobe or any other space saving storage.
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