To Design or Not to Design: A Basic Introduction to Web Design

Over the years, I have had occasion to build a number of websites and oversee the development of a few others. Designing and building a website can be extremely simple or unbelievably complicated. As I have never learned certain coding aspects or complicated interactive methodologies, if I need a complex site I will hire a professional with the specific skills I lack. And I know I can find them in digital marketing agencies. However, if you are looking to get into web design or just need to build your own site, here are some pointers that may save you a bit of time and aggravation.

Tools of the Trade
There are tons of tools available for web designers of all levels. The software used to build a website is perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle. With all the options that exist, it is imperative to test out a few programs before making a choice. Each one has its own pros and cons, so read up on the options, costs, compatibility, and usability of the programs. Cnet is a good resource for reviews.

Even if the software you use to build sites contains a built-in FTP client for uploading a site or changes, I recommend acquiring a stand-alone client as well. There are some hosting sites that do not play well with software programs and there is nothing worse than discovering this as you try to upload a site on a deadline. CuteFTP, Simple FTP, and FileZilla are some of the more popular FTP clients.

Many websites are designed from template based programs that are integrated into the hosting platform such as Joomla! and WordPress. Pitfalls abound with these templates, so proceed with caution! I have seen too many sites broken beyond repair because an incompatible widget was installed or an update applied incorrectly.

Content, Content, Content
Once the mazes of basic site design and development have been navigated, it is time to move on to what can make or break a website: content. Content is not just the words on the pages, but also the images that are on the site. Web designers must be extremely vigilant that their content is legal and legitimate. Images are where this tends to be the biggest issue.

In an ideal world, every image on a website was created by and for the person or company that controls the website. Since the world is rarely ideal, designers use images acquired elsewhere. Ensuring that any images published on the site are properly paid for and credited is important in avoiding potential legal issues. Plagiarism with text content can also be a concern if it is purchased from an outside source. If there are any questions, I suggest checking an online plagiarism site for verification.

With tenacity and determination (and some good contacts), anyone can be a web designer. Keeping up with new technologies and methodologies will keep you from becoming stale in your design. The items I’ve mentioned here are but a glimpse of the many tools and skills a person needs to build a website. Research your options and pick the ones that meld best with your own way of thinking.

Why I Did Not Listen When They Said “Put Your Child in Day Care”

 

My family calls it being cooped up all day, and not letting my daughter be around other kids, spectators say I need to take a break and get out of the house, others say my daughter needs to be around other people than her immediate family of three. These are the voices of people who comment on my choice to be a stay at home mom. It seems as though they are turning what is supposed to be a positive decision into a negative one. Despite how annoying and sometimes hurtful some of their comments can be, I just remind myself that these comments are made by people with limited knowledge of staying at home with children because they have opted to work full-time for fear of raising sheltered, anti-social- children who suffer from separation. or because they had no choice but to work outside the home.


I choose to stay at home with my child because it is essential for me to be there to raise and care for her. I always say to myself, my social life can always be rebuilt but I can not get back the first years of my daughter’s life, so I indulge in the time I get to spend with her. The idea of day care did cross my mind, but I just could not bear to send her, because images of teacher’s neglecting her, other children, hitting and fighting her, began to fill my mind. I even thought about her getting sick from the other kids frequently and, I thought about how much our bond would loosen. All those thoughts were scary, so from there, I made a vow to myself to avoid putting my daughter in daycare and instead let them attend school in Teddy Kids Kinderopvang. From that point on, I adjusted my life for what I see as her convenience. for our bond, and for her security, and for maybe my assurance.

My daughter used to suffer from separation anxiety, whenever I had to leave her she would throw tantrums and not let anyone console her, a relative made a snippy comment saying that she would only get worse, if I did not let her go to daycare. This angered me greatly because this relative refused to see that my daughter was throwing a tantrum for a reason and it was because she did not feel secure, and that she needed me, to help build her security. I was even told that I shouldn’t carry her around the house a lot because I would not get anything done. I did not take their advice and two years later I have an emotionally, healthy, independent, secure two year old.

I stayed home with my baby and no, I didn’t keep her locked in the house everyday, we went for walks around the block, we went to parks, and beaches, we went to the library I signed her up for parent-child playgroups where she could interact with babies her age as well as adults. I believed my daughter benefited greatly from me staying home with her, I have been able to teach her new things each day. We spend time reading books, learning numbers, colors, playing and making music and doing arts and crafts and various projects that help her learn. Despite what people have said bout “sheltered” children, my daughter is very smart, she is very vocal, her vocabulary is expansive and clear, and she has no problem at all formulating sentences. When we have to separate she does much better and I know it’s because she is secure now, she knows that mommy is not leaving her. Staying at home with her has made our stronger which has given her the confidence to interact with others. My daughter is not anti-social or reclusive she is a people -person.

I am glad I did not listen to those who told me not to stay at home with my child.I believe that it’s the bond between parents that determines a child’s emotional success, and sometimes physical success like career wise, or as far as goal setting. I don’t look down or judge parents who have to work outside of the home or parents who choose not to stay at home with their children for their own personal beliefs, I just believe that sometimes we leave our children too early, leaving little time for creating a secure bond, which in some children may cause attachment problems which then may effect social skills. Of course my beliefs are just my own, there have been reported cases of children having a strong bond with their parents despite going to daycare and I agree that once a child is secure with a strong bond with parent(s) that he/she will be able to separate without jeopardizing the parent child bond. My daughter is more secure than she was a year ago and she show signs of an eagerness to be around other children now, and to support this urge, I am going to enroll her in a toddler group, for once a week for 3 hours by herself.

Just look for the signs that your children give and follow them, they may show signs of insecurity, or even independence you just have to examnme them closesly and support them,

Every parent is different and every child and family is different, moms should do what’s best for them whether it’s to go out and work or stay at home with the kids. I just wanted it known that not all stay at home children are sheltered, reclusive, anti social. Or possess a great problem with separation of anxiety, it all depends on the way parents, raise their child.

Management 101: Effective Communication (Part 3)

 

One thing that is 100-percent certain: if you don’t tell people what you want them to do, you shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t do it.
Just as it is your job as a manager to determine the most effective leadership style for your “workers,” you also bear the responsibility for effective communication.

Telling people what you want them to do is “communication” and (after examining your “management philosophy” and learning the concepts of “situational leadership”) is the third simple step toward effective management.

Parts of communication
Communication always has two parts – “sending” and “receiving.” Communication is a two way process, one person “sends a message” another person “receives the message.”

Communication can come in different forms. Two people having a private conversation, sending email/writing a letter, and giving a speech to a group are all “forms” of communication. Information is sent and received then information is returned.

“Listening” is an essential part of communication. Listening is more than just “hearing” what is said. A large part of person to person communication is “non-verbal” (some researchers say it is 95% of the message). We pay more attention to “how” something is said than to “what” is being said.

Imagine the many different ways someone could say “I’m so happy” – If they say it while jumping up and down, in a high voice, with a smile on their face – you get one message. If they say it while slumped in a chair, in a monotone, with a frown – you get a much different message.

This lack of non-verbal communication is a problem with the written word. Email doesn’t allow you to see the person’s face, or hear their voice, and it is easy to misunderstand the message. Punctuation and emotes have been developed to combat this problem (e.g. “I’m so happy!” 😉 or “I’m so happy? 🙁 “) but don’t count on them to get your message across. Be sure to select the right “medium” (e.g. face-to-face, email, chart) for your message.

The “simple” concept = You knowing what needs to be done is not enough, you must communicate what needs to be done to others. It is possible to give too much information (which can be irritating), but it is much more common to give too little information (which is much worse).

More Information
Countless books have been written on “business communication” (your local library probably has over 100 books on the subject).

If you are looking for a way to leverage communication to give your company a competitive advantage, there has been a trend towards “open-book management” which relies heavily on communication between management and employees. The big idea being: If your “direct reports” don’t know the plan (i.e. “how the company makes money”) they won’t be able to contribute to the success of the “company.”

Tips for Effective communication

The well worn advise to “be yourself” is still true. People are always good at smelling out “fakes” or “posers” and quickly tune them out. Being genuine doesn’t guarantee that your audience will agree with (or even understand) what you are saying you, just that they will listen.

Do not “yell” and do not use profanity. This isn’t a morality issue, people have the tendency to shut down and dig-in when they feel attacked. Your audience may miss the point you are trying to make and simply remember that you used certain words.

Craft the message to the audience. You may know what you are saying, but does the audience understand what you are saying? Do not “talk over” your audiences head but don’t “dumb it down” either.

Repeat important points. Tell them what is important, then tell them again. People learn through repetition, you cannot “tell them” once and expect them to understand completely.

It is never “OK” to lie. Again this is not a morality issue, if you are a habitual lier then you will lose credibility. Once you’ve lost credibility then you’ve lost your ability to effectively lead. If you don’t know something, say you don’t know. If you are wrong about something, admit you were wrong.

Conclusion
Management communication can be boiled down to “shampoo instructions”: communicate, observe, repeat. Simple, but (again, for the last time) that doesn’t mean “easy.”

Next post: All About  Canadian web hosting reviews

Enjoy Western Decor on a Budget with These Nine Tips

 

The natural warmth of Western décor has a way of turning a bland home into a luxurious and cozy space. The combination of leather furniture, rich woods, and earth tones, are appealing and soothing to the senses. Unfortunately, a house filled with plush leather furniture, expensive antler chandeliers, and handcrafted accents and even wooden dinnerware that characterize a traditional Western décor theme, are beyond the reach of many budget-minded homemakers. Luckily, the look and feel of a comfortable Western lodge can be captured at a fraction of the cost by zeroing in on a few basics.


The first step toward capturing the ambiance of Western décor is to eliminate plastics and synthetics from your home. Take them down and move them out, and get ready to replace them with some real wood, leather, and other organic materials.

Look for hidden wood, covered up by layers of synthetic flooring or paint, that you can remove.

Rather than buying leather furniture for thousands of dollars per item, use genuine leather cowhides, deerskins, or buffalo hides, as throws over beds, couches, and chairs. This will change the look and feel of your room dramatically. A sheepskin or fur pelt thrown over the leather creates a warm look and feel.

Find fabrics with earth tones, American Indian, or oriental motifs, for bedspreads and throw rugs.

Don’t underestimate the power of windows and their decorations. Replace plastic window treatments with natural fibers and fabrics with earth tones.

Use earthy colors and hues on the warm end of the spectrum for walls and trim, and apply the subtle muted effect of orange lighting in corners or hallways.

Scour rural second-hand shops for collectibles to use as focal points. Replace plastic containers with rustic tins and tubs. A washboard, hand grinder, or even a rusty scythe, will be reminiscent of the Old West when used as a tasteful decorative accent on a wall or shelf.

The beauty of expensive antler art pieces created by master craftsman can be suggested by simply incorporating shed antlers in decorative centerpieces with items from your rural treasure hunts.

Use candles and lanterns to suggest the natural flame of fireplaces and woodstoves that are always part of the rustic country home.

You can capture the laid back luxury of a rustic Western lodge with these guiding principles: use materials that nature provides, incorporate earth tone colors, warm the room up with natural flame, and scour second hand stores for country collectibles. Incorporating these elements will allow you to embrace the luscious ambiance of Western décor without spending a fortune on things like leather furniture and expensive antler creations.

Monster Turbine In-Ear Speakers

If you’re working out or just enjoying your favorite music, choosing the right headphones is imperative. When exercising you need to make sure the headphones won’t fall out or off your ears when you get sweaty and start moving. If all you’re doing is lounging while listening to music, anti-sweat headphones or a pair which fits tightly in your ear probably isn’t necessary. For lounging, you could probably get away with headphones from some great company like Holoplot which go over the ear and provide the best noise cancellation and audio quality possible. However, some headphones work well in any situation, and the Monster Turbine High Performance In-Ear headphones are one of them.

Monster Turbine headphones sound great with any iPod or MP3 player. It does so by understanding sound and how it interacts with people, and designing headphones which suit this interaction the best. There are three general types of frequencies in music, low, medium, and high. Low frequencies are associated with the deep bass in today’s hip hop music. Monster Turbine headphones deliver real life volumes without distortion, meaning that you can turn up the volume on your headphones without fear of ruining the quality of the sound, or blowing the speakers.

Mid-range frequencies are where vocals and most instruments are reproduced. While no frequency can be regarded as the most important, a poor reproduction of mid-range frequencies would affect the most instruments and the vocals, making for a poor listening experience. Monster Turbine headphones are precisely tuned to reproduce the natural timbre of instruments and voices. No instruments will sound out of tune. No voices will sound warped. What you hear is the reality of the song, for all the good and bad that goes along with it.

High frequency sounds are typically percussive sounds such as the snare drum, triangle, and cymbals. In reproducing these sounds, it is important to create a sense of space, air, and openness. You don’t want these sounds to be muddled or blurred together. Especially in rock music, the separation of percussive sounds is important as they often occur off-beat and are important to the creation of dynamic sound in the song.
Monster Turbine headphones are low mass and have a wide bandwidth driver which deliver a precise, accurate response. Between this, and the elimination of vibration for pure sound, these headphones are a great product which can provide a high-quality listening experience. The headphones come with multiple eartip sizes which allow you to find the size which fits your ear the best. This is important in creating a seal which will keep the noise from the outside coming in.

A Duraflex protective jacket maximizes tangle resistance and durability, which is an unsung feature in the headphone world. However you store your headphones, if they are tangled when you go to use them again, untangling them is an incredibly frustrating experience. The Duraflex feature of Monster Turbine headphones makes it so you won’t have to worry about knotted headphones and finagling with tiny knots. You also don’t have to worry about the headphones becoming tangled with other stuff that you have. A Compact Protective Case with an ultra suede lining and magnetic clasp is provided with Monster Turbine headphones to store them when they are not in use.

Whether using headphones during exercise or just to relax, Monster Turbine headphones are a great choice. They provide a high quality listening experience and features which lessen frustration and maximize awesomeness.

Like this article? Follow me on Twitter @mattschirano to receive updates whenever articles are released.

Sources:

http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=3959http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/monster-turbine-in-ear/4505-7877_7-33490631.html

How to Install TYPO3

 

TYPO3 is another content management system that is used by many. In my opinion, TYPO3 is a little easier to use than most of the other content management systems. This content management system comes with many built in ready to use interfaces, modules, and functions. TYPO3 has many features that you can install in one click. For example, you can install a news system, a gallery, a calendar and much more. There are over 800 extensions that you can install on TYPO3. You can easily install TYPO3 on your website by going through your control panel. In this tutorial I will show you how to install the TYPO3. So let’s begin.
Installing TYPO3 through your C-Panel

The first thing you need to do is login to your control panel. If you have more than one website make sure that you login to the control panel of the website that you wish to install TYPO3 on.

Once you are logged in, look for the Fantastico link and click that link. On the next page you will see a list of links down the left hand side of the page. Click the TYPO3 link under the Content Management System (.net cms) category.

The next page will give you a brief description of TYPO3. Under the description you will see the New Installation link, the amount of disk space required, and the amount of disk space that you have available. Make sure that you have enough disk space available before you proceed. TYPO3 is 30.12 mb. To continue with the installation, click on the New Installation link.

On the next page you will need to enter the required information to begin your installation. This is the first step of the actual installation. The fields are pretty self explanatory but the first couple of fields are where most people run into trouble. So I will walk you through the fields.

Installation Location

Install on Domain – You will have more than one option if you have sub-domains on this domain. If you don’t have a sub-domain then you won’t need to mess with this field. If you wish to install TYPO3 on a sub-domain simply drop the box down and select the sub-domain of your choice.

Install in Directory – When you install something on your website through your control panel, you have two options. Option 1 – You can install it in the root directory or Option 2 – You can install it in a sub-directory. If you install it in the root directory it means that it will be visible once you type in your domain. If you install it in a sub-directory then you will have to type in a certain link to access it. For content management systems, I think it is best that you install it in a sub-directory, so that you can play around with it and get the hang of it before moving it to your root directory. To install it in the root directory, simply leave this field blank. To install it in a sub-directory, enter the name of the directory. Make sure that the directory doesn’t already exist. For example, you can name the sub-directory typo3. So in order to access it you will type in http://www.yourdomain.com/typo3

The next two fields is where you enter a username and password to access the admin area of TYPO3. Then the next fields you will enter your site name, your name, and your email address. Once you have entered the required information, click the Install TYPO3 button to continue with the installation.

The next page will basically tell you that you have chosen to install TYPO3 on so and so domain and in so and so directory. If this information is correct, click the Finish Installation button. If you want to change this information, click the back button and change it.

The next page will tell you that you have successfully installed TYPO3. On this page you will see your username, password, the admin url, and the url to access TYPO3 if you installed it in a sub-directory. Now you are ready to begin setting up your content management system.

Quick Tips for Youthful Skin: Anti-Aging Skin Care

 

Most people spend their youth wishing they were older forgetting that with age comes aging! When they do finally become older they wish we were once again young or at least, younger looking.
While we wait for someone to discover the fountain of youth, there are a few quick tips both women and men can follow as part of an anti-aging skin care regimen to improve the tone and texture of the skin as well as help fight those wrinkles and blemishes.

The most important part of any anti-aging skin care regime is cleaning your face. During the day, your face is exposed to pollutants, dirt, dust and other common irritants. Ladies you should never go to bed without washing the day’s make up off. Keeping your pores clean is essential to your anti-aging skin care regime.

It doesn’t take much to clog the pores up with cosmetics, dirt and other small particles that can easily work their way in to you pores. You need to treat your skin gently to help aid the process of your anti-aging skin care regime. Using regular and harsh soaps will only cause more damage to your skin.

Your regular body soap is too harsh to wash your face with. It can cause dryness and flaking which in return only helps the wrinkles and blemish to flourish. You must use a gentle face cleaner to help win the anti-aging skin battle.

The weather plays an important role in our skins aging process, every time you step outside either in the sun or wind, natural moisture in your skin is affected by the elements and the skin is stripped of some of the moisture. A good gentle face moisturizer is as important as a good facial cleanser.

Stress is a part of everyone’s life and you may notice that a friend or neighbor who is under a good amount of stress looks a lot older than he/she actually is. Stress causes you to tense up and when you strain your facial muscles as well, which draws even more moisture out of your skin. A daytime anti-aging skin cream  as well as a nice derma roller amazon is something everyone should use to help protect your face from the elements and for women it acts as a protective barrier between your skin and makeup. A nighttime anti-aging skin cream will help your body with the natural process of repairing it’s self.

Over all taking good care of yourself is extremely important, being well hydrated and getting adequate amounts of rest plays an important role in your anti-aging skin regime.

While they eyes are the window to the soul, the skin is the window to your health and when you don’t take proper care of your body it shows on your skin. If you are going to neglect, your health there isn’t an anti-aging skin care regime in the world that can help you.

The best anti-aging skin care regime starts with staying well hydrated and getting enough rest. Wrinkle creams and lotions are only a supplement they are not a miracle cure for the aging process but they can produce amazing results if you do your part as well.

Date ideas for loved ones

One thing I am passionate about it thinking of gift ideas for your loved ones. One thing Is to Give each other massages. With all the stress from work you and your partner deal with, getting a massage every once in a while sounds pleasing. So, on such a cold night, why don’t you give each other a break and help release all of the tension the both of you hold?

Aside from this, why not Karaoke night! Do you want to sing your heart out but your voice doesn’t sound so charming? Why don’t you do it at home with your partner and sing a duet?

They may laugh at you, but trust me, they will never judge. There is actually an app you can install. But before anything else, check on access point test first on your internet so you will not be interrupted while you sing!

How to Lower Prescription Drug Costs

 

More than 45 million Americans lack health insurance-approximately 15% of the population. Are you one of them? According to Katharine Greider, author of The Big Fix , in 2000, 29% of Americans failed to fill a prescription because they could not afford the prescription. The cost of prescription drugs escalates at four times the rate of inflation. What can the average American do to keep up?
Some patients ask their doctors for free samples-but that only works for so long. Others stretch their medication, taking one pill every other day instead of every day, putting their health at risk. According to a report released by Families USA, the average senior citizen spent $1205 per year on prescription drugs in the year 2000-that’s more than $100 per month, out of pocket. And the costs continue to rise.

For senior citizens on Medicare, government prescription drug reforms help-but also bring increased Medicare premiums and limitations. In 2004 Medicare premiums increased by 17.5%–the largest increase in history-and the new prescription drug coverage for the lowest-income seniors is limited to $600 per year.

And what about people under 65? Middle class families? Children? There are so many gaps in the system. There are some strategies that take the bite out of prescription drug costs, though.

Buy generic. You’ve heard the advice before, and there’s a reason why: it’s worthwhile. Generic drugs have the same drug ingredients as name brand drugs, although they may have different coatings and fillers (which do not affect the drug itself). The average generic drug costs 30-65% less than name brand drugs-a substantial savings for you. Ask your doctor for generics whenever possible.

Buy in bulk. Ask your doctor to write a 90 day supply prescription, and order through the mail. For instance, a prescription for Levoxyl (a common thyroid medication) costs $13.99 for a 30 day supply at a local pharmacy-but only $29.97 for a 90 day supply through a bulk mail-order company such as Drugstore.com. Your savings? $12.00. Some pharmacies offer extra savings for new or transferred prescriptions as well: Drugstore.com gives you $10 off when you bring a new or transferred prescription, upping your savings to $22. And you save your time and gas money going to the pharmacy. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy gives a list of approved mail-order pharmacies that meet state and federal requirements.

Ask for samples. Drug companies FLOOD doctors with samples for new drugs. The average drug company spends $21,000 PER DOCTOR on drug promotion. This includes advertising, free samples, free promotional items, conferences (that are free for physicians to attend) and so on. The pharmaceutical industry spends an incredible amount of money promoting their products. One way that money can trickle down to you is through free samples. It never hurts to ask your doctor for some samples, and many doctors will give you an entire month’s supply.

While high prescription drug costs are here to stay, savvy consumers can work to lower prescription costs and find a way to stay healthy and keep a fat wallet.

For beuaty products, I recommend you also look for FDA approved ones. Like the one my mother is currently using–a vitamin c serum for face which is really effective.

Open to New Gigs

Hi there! I am Nimfa. I am a freelance photographer based in Vancouver. I specialize on travel and fashion photography and I have worked with a number of talented models and brands around the world. I made projects regarding travel since 2015 together with my assistant. The most memorable one was in India where we documented the street scene. I would like to announce that starting next week, I am able to accept new gigs for travel and fashion photography. I am currently using wide array of cameras to help you get the most beautiful shots you want. I also currently work in a project regarding tourism promotiosn. Right now, I am using a 360 kamera for added value.  360 camera are the in thing nowadays and you should get one. Let me know if you have upcoming projects I can work on.