Thursday

Get A Local Builder To Make Your House Greener

I think I am safe in saying that we are all now aware of the need to be more environmentally aware. The world’s population has increased hugely in recent years. We are now confronted with statistics such as the fact that of the estimated 110 billion humans who have ever lived around 6% of them are alive today. In 1900 the world’s population was around 1.6 billion, while today it is not far off the 7 billion mark, putting a huge demand on the planet’s natural resources and causing more pollution then ever before . Of course, figures like this can make a few tweaks to our home and a few changes to our habits seem entirely insignificant. However, change has to start somewhere and below you will find a few ideas for making your home that little bit greener.
 
1) Solar panels. This is a wonderful way to get cheap, reliable and environmentally friendly energy for your house. You might think that the UK’s climate hinders the efficiency of solar panels but modern designs work perfectly well even on grey, cloudy days. The current range of solar panels offer all sort of shapes and sizes and some even let you sell the excess energy produced to the National Grid.
 
2) A greenhouse. This is a cheap and environmentally friendly way to grow your own vegetables. A greenhouse needn’t be expensive to build. If you have children what better, and more fun, way to show them the importance of eating healthy, locally produced vegetables. If you don’t much about gardening then a search through the web will give you all the information and tips you could possibly need.
 
3) Composting toilet. This might be seen as being too hard core for a lot of people, but a quick look at a few internet sites will show you that modern options are clean, safe and virtually maintenance free. This is a particularly good option for people who live in the countryside.
 
There are plenty more ideas out there which are easily researchable. I just wanted to give you a couple of hints and make clear that the changing technology is making things like solar power and composting toilets easier and cheaper to use than ever before. Once you have decided what changes you want to make to your home another good idea to find a local builder online. The current “find a builder” sites work like auctions, where recommended local tradesmen bid to do your job. Finding and hiring a local builder is now easier than before, removing one more obstacle from your path to becoming greener.

Recent Events at Orla Murphy Jewellery



Last week I was delighted to be interviewed by Emma Connolly of Cork's Evening Echo. Our diamante earrings were pictured in Cork News in their article on dressing for your debs. In fact many of our necklaces and earrings, recently added to our web site, would be a perfect addition to that all important debs dress. We also got a mention in the Cork Independent who carried an article on a recent Fashion Show in aid of the Niall Mellonn Trust, where we sponsored Best Dressed Lady, which was won by a very trendy Laura Morley. Bling It On! was the caption used by Stylist, AnneMarie O'Connor when she talked about us in her recent News Trends in the Irish Examiner. On Friday 13th (unlucky for some!) our jewellery was expertly modelled by the girls from Lockdown Models at a Fashion Show in Timoleague. Last, but not least, we were delighted to exhibit our jewellery at yesterdays, Irish Examiner Autum/Winter Fashion Show at the Rose of Tralee.

Tuesday

Yoga - To Force Or to Feel?

Most of us who do yoga yearn for more from the practice than just physical benefits--indeed, for more than just benefit to ourselves. But how can twisting our bodies, opening our hips, and straightening our legs make a difference in the wider world? How can lifting our chests help lift up this troubled planet?
Our asana practice can have a positive impact because it constantly asks us to become more sensitive, more conscious, more aware of ourselves--not just our bodies but also our minds, feelings, emotions, and our very nature. The real value of asana practice is that it can teach us to tune in and truly feel. As our sensitivity increases, life becomes more rich and enjoyable because we can taste the unique flavor of each individual moment. More important, we also become more aware of what moves us toward out dharma and what takes us away from it. This awareness makes us clearer and more peaceful, more able to elegantly handle life's endless dilemmas without feeling overwhelmed or fearful. As a result, we become more effective in all of our actions, and our presence begins to inspire and bring out the best in people around us.
The opposite of feeling is forcing. When we force, we cannot feel, and when we feel, we cannot force. The moment we start to force, we begin to lose awareness of the effect our efforts have on our nervous system, on the situation itself, and on the other people involved. Forcing makes us angry, inflexible, and intolerant; raises our blood pressure; and can eventually create heart problems. Feeling, on the other hand, makes us calmer, more receptive, more understanding, and healthier.
If we force ourselves into Ardha Matsyendrasana II (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose II), the spine will twist where it always has, where it needs the twist the least. In this pose, it is particularly easy to force the body while attempting to reach around the back and grab the shin. To the extent that the desire to do this comes from the ego's urge to satisfy itself--just to prove we can do this pose--it manifests itself as force. Feeling, on the other hand, allows us to tune in to the habitual tendencies of the body and sense which vertebrae are twisting and which are not. Cultivating feeling in Ardha Matsyendrasana II allows movement where there was stagnation, release where there was stiffness, and freedom where there was bondage.
Just as force and feeling are opposites, so are violence and awareness. We often get angry, and sometimes even outwardly violent, when a situation arises that is not to our ego's liking, rather than using it as an opportunity to become more aware. But violence inevitably breeds more violence. The more forceful and violent we are, the further we move from feeling and awareness; consequently, the more violent we become.
I believe much of the violence in our world comes from our lack of awareness, which has historically manifested itself as an unwillingness to see other people's point of view. When we pause and feel, we become more open and more receptive to the possibility that there are valid ways of thinking other than our own.
Sensitivity is often portrayed as weakness, yet it actually gives us the strength to lower our guard and say to an enemy, "Let's sit down and talk this through. How are you feeling? Why are you behaving the way you are?" People who have the security that comes with deep sensitivity and awareness have no desire to be violent; it is insecurity that contributes to violence. Through feeling, sensitivity, and awareness, we can bring insecurity and its resulting violence to an end.
What does all of this have to do with our individual practice of asanas like Ardha Matsyendrasana II? The awareness that we develop on the yoga mat, though seemingly small, affects all that is. As we become more aware in our yoga practice and in our lives, as we move away from force and violence and toward sensitivity, feeling and awareness, we change our individual consciousness and actions. In turn, these changes influence the consciousness and actions of everyone we meet. Slowly we shift the direction the world is taking. As we practice each asana, whether it be a challenging twist like Ardha Matsyendrasana II or a simple standing pose, we have the opportunity to become the embodiment of peace and to make our practice a prayer for harmony in the world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1424058

Sunday

Knowing the Basics of Computer Hardware



 
Who doesn"��t know what a computer is? In the modern world, computers are one of the most common technologies that one must learn to operate. Lack of knowledge about computers can cause you to get left behind in this technological era.

Elementary schools are mandated to teach the basic parts and functions of computer hardware. Computer hardware consists of the physical components of the computer. These include the central processing unit (CPU), monitor, keyboard, mouse and printer. Optional hardware devices such as digital cameras can also be installed, but these are not necessary for computer use. Most people install web cameras in their computer units solely for video chatting.

Storage devices are also considered hardware devices. There are four kinds of storage devices: hard drives, optical disks, floppy disks, and USB flash drives. Hard drives are normally found inside the CPU, acting as main data storage for important programs and system files. An optical disk is commonly used to store large files that do not require much editing, such as movie files and pictures. Floppy disk drives store data and information in thin, flexible vinyl tiles enclosed in a hard plastic material.

The most commonly used storage device by students and professionals alike is the USB flash drives. In information technology (also known as it consulting boston professionals recommend the use of these USB flash drives. These storage devices read and store memory in flash devices enclosed in a durable and plastic material. Because of their size and affordable price, they have already supplanted traditional memory storage devices such as floppy disk drives. Others call them "thumb drives" because most USB flash drives are about the size of a thumb.

It is important to know that a computer is not a single gadget; it is a unit consisting of various hardware devices operating together. One should not attempt to assemble a computer without it consulting boston, Massachusetts has various IT services) to help in installing computer hardware devices. Knowing where to connect one device to another is important in computer assembly.

For people who want to purchase a computer unit for the first time, boston it consultants recommend a canvass of various computer brands and models before deciding on which type of computer to buy. This helps in choosing the best set of hardware for a given budget.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Knowing-the-Basics-of-Computer-Hardware/1726519

The Intel Core i7 DX58SO Motherboard

Bottle necks slow down performance. This occurs if the processor, or one of its core, is unable to fetch data or instructions fast enough. The memory of the computer system is particularly important due to amount of data which is passed through it as the system receives instructions from the applications. Theoretically speaking, consequently the faster a processor receives data from memory, the better the performance.
Traditionally, processors are associated with the memory of a computer via an external bi-directional front-side bus (FSB). This bus served as being the central connection point between the processors, the chipset containing the memory controller hub, and all of those other buses just like PCI, AGP, etc.
Intel engineers realize that having better processors means that the architecture must also be upgraded to make sure that data flows more rapidly between all of the different components, and thus the Quickpath Interconnect was created.
The most notable component of the Quickpath architecture is that the memory controller has become integrated into each microprocessor. Each processor carries a dedicated memory controller. In the event that a processor has to access data from the dedicated memory of another core, it can achieve this by having a high speed broadband connection. This enables the cores to have data from memory controllers directly, and connection with other components of the system is also greatly enhanced. The technology is named Quickpath Interconnect because that is what exactly it offers: high-speed connection between all of the components.
Because of this, the Core i7 processors could only be used on motherboards that support Quickpath Interconnect. The Intel DX58SO is one such example.
The Intel DX58SO motherboard (codename “Smackover”) contains the Intel X58 Express chipset with ICH10R south bridge chip. The ICH offers support for all the other devices just like video and audio. All buses and components operate on a 133.33 MHz base clock. Put simply, a multiplier is given to the base clock to obtain a speed value. There are four multipliers on the motherboard that affects the overall system speed. These are the CPU speed, the memory speed, the Quickpath Interconnect (QPI) speed, and the uncore speed. The first three are focused on overclocking. Uncore speed is the multiplier that’s placed on devices that won’t draw power on the processor. Together, these four multipliers manage the overall system performance.
Intel DX58SOBesides support for your Core i7 processors (it supports all three editions), the DX58SO also offers other features, including integrated Intel audio, improved graphics performance, and the PCI Express 2. interface that delivers as much as 16GB/s bandwidth per port.
As all data and applications are stored on the systems disk drive, it’s most important the fact that system will be able to draw data from your drives rapidly. This is often achieved through six SATA ports with transfer speeds of up to 3GB/s. For external storage devices, eSATA can be obtained to aid achieve the exact performance.
With the DX58SO motherboard, Intel actually emphasizes system stability significantly. As an example, the motherboard features a unique fault tolerant BIOS that virtually eliminates downtime due to a corrupted BIOS.
The new features certainly promise highly enhanced performance. However, how can the Core i7 perform under stringent hardware tests?

source : http://www.ezinearticles.mk/Article/The-Intel-Core-i7-DX58SO-Motherboard/6987

Monday

Repair your computer online

There is no longer the need to take your PC to a Computer Repair Service center or hire a Computer Repair Technician to fix a problem. Remote computer repair is a great tool that can save your time, money and fuss.

Most of the tech support organizations provide remote computer repair. These services have several benefits, such as there is no need to wait for your machine to be fixed, no driving out to any repair shop, and you can avail these services as per your convenience.

Remote computer repair is of great help in things like spyware removal, troubleshooting, software installation, upgradation and many others. Remote computer repair is the field that's becoming customer's preferred choice looking for repair of their computers. These remote computer repair specialist take remote control to repair most of your computer problems.

Technical organizations adopt most advanced remote repair technology. During remote computer repair, your computer mouse actually move around on your computer screen. These specialist have a look at your PC while working on your problem. With the advancement in technology, it allows you to assume control anytime, whenever you feel that there is a break in security.

To resolve your problem, Our technical experts operate your keyboard and mouse and you can sit back to watch the action. Remote Computer repair is like having the expert operating at your computer. You can have a look at everything these technicians are doing to fix the issue or to make your computer run better and faster than ever.

iYogi is amongst the leading tech support centers. We connect to your computer over the Internet to speedily repair your PC and provide you with immediate online computer repair.

Our online computer services saves your time hassle and money. Our Extremely professional online customer services help you by fixing a Slow Computer, performing Virus Removal, completing a Computer Tune Up or simply fixing your computer in general.

Saturday

Seven Event Management Tips for Fundraisers


Staging a special event is a reliable method for fundraising and a good way to publicize your organization and your cause. This article contains some practical advice for event planning, promotion and management.

1. Decide on the Right Type of Special Event
There are several types of special events. Each has its own purpose and can be very effective if used for that purpose. Confusing the type of event can result in disaster. There are fundraising events, in other words, events that are run to make a profit for the organization. People pay to attend, buy something at the event, or gather pledges and then participate in the event. Similar to these types of events are what is often called third party events. These events are staged by someone or some organization other than the charity for the benefit of a charity. Another form of event is used for cultivation of prospects, recognition of donors or volunteers and to make announcements, such as the launch of a campaign. The purpose of this type of event is not to raise money at the event but to publicize the charity and inform potential donors about something new, with the intention that they will follow-up with a donation.
2. Make Appropriate Decisions Based on Type of Event
If you are running a fundraising event, you need to decide how you will make money with the event. This may seem obvious, but it is sometimes overlooked. Ask yourself if the funds will come from admission tickets, sponsors, sales of items in additional to the admission cost, a silent or live auction, door prizes, and so on. For third party events take these things into consideration. If you are working on the charity side, make sure that you have an understanding of what your role will be. It is easy to get asked to do more than your organization may have the resources to do. If you are the third party, understand how exactly how your event will benefit the charity. If the main purpose of your event is to make announcements and cultivate prospects, you will make more if you offer something for free and make the request for a donation later. Pay attention to how the media are managed at the event
3. Planning the Event
Cover the basics first - secure the venue, have enough food and drinks, book entertainment or speakers, look after details like parking, coat check, security, and washrooms. Prepare a budget based on these basics then adjust as more things are added or sponsors are secured. Prepare a detailed checklist of everything you will need - invitations, RSVP, who orders what and do it well in advance. Make a timeline working back from the day of the event and mark the deadlines for getting invitations out, placing ads in media, payments of deposits, to suppliers and entertainers, and when the RSVP must be received. Walk through the venue and imagine how people will move as they come to the event. Anticipate people's needs and if at all possible, don't have people waiting in lines at any time, get them a drink ASAP, and get them seated or involved.
Double check everything.
4. Promoting Your Event
Brand your event. Even if it is a relatively small event, a unique name, slogan and logo can help to sell the event. Consider building a special website for the event, with a link from your organization's website. A unique URL can help to brand the event and this can also make tracking registrations easier. If you are sending invitations to your mailing list, usually about six weeks to a month is an appropriate time to mail invitations. Use email lists and email invitations and have people register for the event on your website. If the event is open to the public, advertise in the media, using the media that will target your audience. As an example, if your event is upscale, advertise in business media or if your event is family oriented, advertise in community newsletters. Issue press releases when the date of the event is set, about a week before the event and just after the event.
5. The Day of the Event
Rehearse the program - time speakers and make sure they know where to stand and what to say. Test the audio visual equipment and have backup systems in place. If you are doing something that requires some technical skill, like a video presentation or sound feeds for media, hire a technician to be on standby. Always have a contingency plan for bad weather, late speakers, and emergencies.
6. If You Are in Charge of the Event
Never forget that you are working. It can be easy to relax with a few drinks and get into the mood of the event, especially if things are going well. Never forget that you are working. Be prepared to deal with the unexpected. Keep review your check list. Remember that key people - celebrity guests, speakers, entertainers - want to be taken care of and told what to do. Never leave them alone or ask them to decide something. Meet people where they arrive, assign someone to be with them at all times and respond to whatever they request. The most common breakdowns at an event are poor venue (too small, inadequate parking, not enough washrooms), poor food service, a/v breakdowns, and key people who don't show up or show up late. Try to anticipate these problems and solve them if they occur.
7. Wrap - up
Do a final accounting for the event as soon as possible. If a fundraising event, take all costs and revenue into account but also all take other benefits into account, such as an assessment of the value of the publicity you gained, new people you met and so on. If the event is for an announcement or donor cultivation, make sure you have follow-up planned - follow-up calls and letters to participants and to media. Get thank-you letters out to sponsors, suppliers and volunteers as soon as possible.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/305800