Archive for May, 2009

The Costs of Spam

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

The volume of spam that is sent out every minute of the day has reached pandemic proportions. The simple reason for this is because the cost to a spammer ranges from zero to negligible. In fact, anyone with a list of email addresses and Internet access can spam thousands, even millions of people with a single click of the mouse. The cost of spam, however, now runs in the millions.

Bandwidth

Spam takes up valuable Internet bandwidth that would otherwise be used for legitimate business and personal use. Bandwidth refers to rate at which data is transmitted; it is the amount of data that can be transmitted within a fixed amount of time. The lower the bandwidth, the slower the transmission.

When spam uses up valuable bandwidth, and clogs up the system, it causes costly delays in the transmission of important, legitimate information. It forces the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to increase bandwidth just to handle the increased volume. This costs money, and this cost is passed on to the consumer.

Viruses, Worms and Malware

It is becoming an increasingly common menace. Spammers will attach viruses to the email they send out for purely criminal or malicious purposes. Some viruses, for example, are programmed to self-install and give the spammer access to all the vital information stored on your computer. This information is often be used for identity theft purposes.

Other viruses simply do great harm to computers the world over. A Consuner Reports study estimates that the cost of repairs and replacement parts for damage done to computer systems by viruses was over 8 billion over the past two years. This does ot take into account the billions spent on anti-spam and anti-virus software.

The information about Spam Protection presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Spam Protection or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Productivity

Spam is not only annoying, it also takes up valuable time just to go through it and figure out sort out the spam from the valid mail. For businesses that receives hundreds of emails a day, the cost in time and productivity really adds up.
The “cost of spam calculator” that is available at cmsconnect.com estimates the that spam costs almost $1000 per employee each year, with over 50 hours of lost productivity for each one.

Lost Messages and Data

As we try to battle the spammers by installing spam filters and blockers, these programs often weed out legitimate businesss correspondence. Lost correspondence from a client or supplier can easily cost businesses money, clients and goodwill

Identity Theft

The phenomenon of phishing has become more prevalent as spammers think up new ways to make a buck at your expense. Phishing involves the use of email that is designed to look like a legitimate company has sent it. It is sent out to millions of people in the hope of scamming them into revealing personal information that the scammer can use for identity theft. The cost of Phishing and identity theft to their victims now also runs in the billions.

The cost of spam is a financial drain on the economy. We pay a high price for the spammer to scam his victims. The spammer pays nothing.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Spam Protection.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!

Top US Fly Fishing Spots

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Fly Fishing. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Fly Fishing.

Fly fishing is a sport that is enjoyed around the world. Millions of people have discovered the joy and excitement of fly fishing. While fly fishing is practiced in every state in the US some areas naturally rise to the top as offering the best fly fishing around.

The Catskill Mountains of New York are renowned for fly fishing. The late 19th century saw anglers in the Catskills developing artificial flies designed to imitate natural insects. The Beaverkill is perhaps the most popular of the Catskill rivers. The Willowemoc and the West Branch of the Delaware River are also very popular with fly fishers.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the surrounding area offers near-unlimited fly fishing options. The Snake River and Jackson Lake are popular fishing choices outside of Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole is accessible by ground or by air to the Jackson Hole airport. Jackson Hole provides more fly fishing options within a few miles than any angler could explore in one visit.

Henry’s Fork of the Snake River offers legendary rainbow trout fishing. This area, particularly around Harriman State Park (Harriman Ranch) is legendary for its fly fishing. The area is open and offers unobstructed fishing. Downstream from Harriman Ranch the fishing is reputed to be faster paced.

The San Juan River in New Mexico affords excellent year-round fishing. The 10-mile stretch of river below the Navajo Dam boasts 10,000 fish per mile of river. The section below the dam is populated mostly by rainbow trout with brown trout and cutthroat trout found further along the San Juan.

The more authentic information about Fly Fishing you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Fly Fishing expert. Read on for even more Fly Fishing facts that you can share.

Gallatin River around Bozeman, Montana is renowned for rainbow trout. Nearby, just south of Livingston, creeks have up to five insect hatches each day. DePuy’s, Nelson’s and Armstrong’s all have fantastic rainbow trout fishing. Armstrong’s Spring Creek is a meadow stream from 50 – 100 feet wide and known for its rainbow trout. Spectacular mountain scenery rounds out the fly fishing experience here.

The Wind River Range in Wyoming has an estimated 700 trout lakes. These lakes include cutthroat, brook, rainbow, grayling, brown and golden trout. This range is primarily high country and offers great hiking as well as fly fishing.

Michigan’s Au Sable River offers 180 miles of trout fishing. Located in northeast Michigan, the Au Sable River is home to rainbow, brook and brown trout, as well as steelhead from Lake Huron. The Au Sable offers a variety of fishing conditions along its distance.

The Jacks River in Georgia is a Conasuaga River tributary. The Jacks River is largely in the Chattahoochee National Forest and therefore is accessible to the public. The Jacks River provides fly fishing opportunities for rainbow, brown and brook trout. The area is popular with hikers but sees fairly light fishing activity.

Northeastern Utah’s Green River offers extraordinary trout fly fishing. The tailwaters below the Flaming Gorge Dam offer outstanding trout habitat. It was this 30-mile section of river that produced a 30 pound brown trout only 10 years ago. Unfortunately, this secret is out and summer finds the river quite busy. Early spring and fall offer less competition and a very large number of trout.

The United States boasts some great fly fishing waters. There area even more opportunities if you venture north into Alaska or Canada. As this list shows though, there are many great fly fishing opportunities right here in the United States.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Fly Fishing. Share your new understanding about Fly Fishing with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!

Stained Glass Painting

Monday, May 4th, 2009

There are many techniques that can be used to create beautiful and interesting works of art in stained glass. This article deals with stained glass painting. This technique has been used for centuries and was the most popular form of stained glass during the Renaissance era due to their keen aspiration for intricate details in artwork. Painting of stained glass became so popular, in fact, that the earlier stained glass arts of using “pot metal glass” almost disappeared entirely.

You will need several items handy to do stained glass painting. Obviously you will need paint and paintbrushes, if you cannot afford the specialized stained glass type you may be able to improvise with regular artist’s paintbrushes. You will also need access to a kiln to set your work. Many professional studios will allow you to use their kiln for an hourly rate. Next, you will need a palette for mixing your paint. A piece of sandblasted glass is the most suitable choice for mixing you stained glass paints. A palette knife is a helpful tool in mixing the paint. The paints are made from a mixture of powdered oxides, gum arabic and water.

As with other forms of stained glass art, you will want to start with your design on paper. Make sure there is some definition to your design and that the differently colored areas are outlined in a darker color. You may tape your design to the bottom of your glass so that it will remain in place during painting. Begin painting the dark outlines of your design with a tracer or rigger (long brush with a slender point). You will want your trace paint to be dark enough to block out light and provide contrast with your lighter colors. You must apply the outlines in long, smooth, continuous strokes. Do not try to “go over” your lines once they have dried (which does not take long!).

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Stained Glass, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

If you do you will cause the paint to bubble and separate (fry) when the glass is fired in the kiln. You should not touch the line at all once it has been painted, although you may correct some mistakes and overages by gently scraping the paint off with a toothpick AFTER it has dried completely. Next, your stained glass trace paint is fired in the kiln at approximately 1150? F.

After your trace paint has been fired, you are ready to apply your shading colors. The shading color may be dropped into a particular area of the stained glass and then brushed or “mopped” over the entire area where that color is desired. You may then use various brushes with different strokes or techniques to create a stippled or otherwise textured look. Keep in mind that the color of the shaded area will appear lighter in your finished stained glass project after it has been fired in the kiln.

You may also wish to enhance the look of your project with silver stain. Silver stain will be applied to the back side of your stained glass project (the opposite side from your painting) and will actually change the color of the glass rather than simply cover it. Silver stain can be corrosive as it contains silver nitrate so use with caution and please use clean brushes for this portion of the project. The effect of silver stain is a lovely yellow to amber-colored hue to the stained glass and provides a lovely background to your stained glass artwork.

Your skill and technique in painting stained glass will improve over time, as with any new endeavor. Be patient and allow yourself to enjoy the process. Painting stained glass can be a rewarding hobby and with a little practice you may even create a masterpiece someday!

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!

How to Install Your Stained Glass Window

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Many centuries ago stained glass windows were used almost exclusively in grandiose cathedrals. The installation was easily achieved as on opening was made in the stone and concrete structure to the window specifications (or the window was made to the size of the opening) and metal loops and bars were cemented into the window opening during construction specifically to be soldered to the metal bars and loops that are attached to the stained glass window. Stained glass in no longer limited to places of religious worship or even to just the rich and famous, so how does one go about installing a stained glass window in a modern day structure?

You have a several options available to you, assuming that you do not live in a grand cathedral and that your home was not specifically constructed with stained glass windows in mind.

One of the easiest ways to install your stained glass window is over the existing window. Your stained glass window overlay should measure about 1/8″ smaller around each edge than the original window. First make sure the existing window and inside window frame is clean and dry, you don’t want any dirt or moisture permanently pressed between the pieces of glass. First, check to see that the stained glass panel will fit into your window. You can place 1/8″ cardboard or wood spacers around the bottom of the window and run a small bead of caulk around the inside edge of the window frame.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Stained Glass, keep reading.

You may use either clear caulk or a colored caulk that matches your window frame. Now, press the stained glass panel into place and fill in carefully with additional caulk. Be sure to smooth the caulk carefully with your fingers, wiping the excess unto clean tissue and discarding immediately. It is important not to get the caulk on the stained glass panel (if you do simply wipe it away with clean fingers and wipe them with clean tissue). Once the window is caulked in place you will need to secure it there for 24 hours to allow the caulk to set properly.

Using wood blocks or stacked pieces of cardboard brace the window in place and tape across the bracing for the next day. At this point, you may consider the job complete or you could add some wood trim around the inside for a more finished look and added stability. Another easy solution would be to use your stained glass panel as a window hanging and simply solder hooks to the rebar on your stained glass panel secure a chain into the window frame and hang the stained glass panel. This option allows you to take your stained glass with you if you move.

The next option may require some professional help. You may want to have your stained glass panel put into a wood, aluminum, or vinyl window frame. The stained glass window can be protected on either side with tempered glass which will provide better insulation to your home as well. At this point the window can be installed in the same way as a normal new or replacement window, by screwing it into the window frame. Whatever method you choose, your new stained glass window is sure to add beauty, value and enjoyment to your home.

This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!

Stained Glass Workshop Safety Tips

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Whether you are an experienced or new stained glass crafter or artisan, it is important to think about safety in your stained glass workshop or studio. There are the obvious hazards of working around glass, but tools and chemicals can also be hazardous.

When you go to your stained glass supplier, do not bring small children. There is too big of a risk of being cut by glass and being exposed to toxic fumes, dust and lead. Most stained glass warehouses post signs requesting that small children do not go into areas where the stained glass is stored. Your local retail stained glass dealer would appreciate not having the stress of having a “bull in a China shop.”

When carrying sheets of stained glass, wear gloves that help you have a good grip on the glass. The gloves should protect your hands from cuts from the razor sharp edges of the stained glass. Grip the glass on each side. Carrying it with one hand on top and one on bottom creates a hazard that the glass could snap in two. If you grip from each side and the sheet of stained glass breaks, you have a better chance of letting the glass slip away from you without being cut.

When scoring and breaking stained glass at your workbench, wear protective eyewear and gloves. Be careful not to use your hand to swipe glass shards out of your way. Keep a bench brush and dust pan handy so that you can frequently brush off your workbench. This will reduce accidents and also keep a smooth surface to work on. The tiniest glass shard under a piece of stained glass that you are scoring can cause the piece you are working on to have an unwanted break.

Never use a glass grinder without protecting your eyes. Glass particles can fly up into your eyes and cause terrible pain and may permanently damage your eyes. Most glass grinders are equipped with face shields or face shields can be purchased separately.

I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

While grinding your stained glass, wear goggles that shield your eyes from all sides to prevent glass particles from getting in your eyes from underneath since the grinder is below eye level. It would also be a good idea to wear a paper mask to prevent breathing in the glass particles and dust that could be harmful to your sinuses and lungs.

When leading the stained glass pieces, wear gloves to protect you from exposure to lead poisoning. If you have cuts on your hands, cover them with band-aids. Pay careful attention to your hot soldering iron. Don’t look away and reach for your iron. You might grasp the wrong end of the iron . . . the end that is several hundred degrees hot!

Make sure that your area is well ventilated when you are soldering. Fumes from solder and flux contain harmful lead and acid. Solder scraps should be kept in a special container for taking to a recycler.

Sometimes new stained glass crafters don’t have a workshop and think they can begin by working at their kitchen table or counter. That is a definite risk of exposing you and your family to lead poisoning, chemical contamination, and hazards from the shards of stained glass. It would be better to set up a space in your garage or an unused room. Some stained glass shops will allow you to rent bench time.

Common sense and a clean stained glass workshop will help keep you safe and add to your enjoyment of the art of stained glass.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!

How to Become a Chiropractor

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

To become a chiropractor you should have a chiropractic degree in the philosophy of chiropractic. You should be well-versed with the chiropractic principles; apart from theoretical knowledge you should also have practical knowledge. How to treat the patient, how to effectively understand the symptoms and what course of action should be undertaken as per the symptoms should be properly understood.

Chiropractor as an alternative medicine is gaining wide popularity but unfortunately in the USA the numbers of chiropractic schools are not many. So, most of the time, the aspirants have to go to different countries, to obtain a degree.

In order to become a chiropractor you need to have a chiropractor license. In the USA these licenses are valid only in that state from where you have got the license. License is provided to those who have got about two to four years of undergraduate education and one has to do a 4 year college course in chiropractic.

The course helps to get a Doctor of Chiropractic degree; later one needs to attend the state and national exam. Certificate for chiropractic is awarded in specific areas. The areas include neurology, nutrition, industrial health, internal disorders, sports injuries, thermography, occupational health and diagnostic imaging. Without the license you may not be allowed to practice

A chiropractor has to deal with the patient more closely; lot of body contact occurs during the whole process of treatment. If you want to become a chiropractor be prepared for it; you should have zeal and moreover patience. The result won’t be quick; you should have to convince the patient to follow certain dos and don’ts.

So, to become a chiropractor you should have a good communication skill; whatever you want to convey to the patient you should be able to do it in an effective manner. Inter-personal skill is also very important because apart from the chiropractor skill it is also important that the patient beliefs in you and feels confident when in front of you.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Chiropractors? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

The patients are considered to be responsible for the maintenance of their own health. Manual therapies are used to treat the patient.

Straight and mixer are the two forms of chiropractic practice which are prevalent today. Straight is the oldest form of chiropractic principle; it is based on the teachings of B.J. Palmer and D.D. Palmer.

Mixer chiropractor is a new concept wherein the chiropractors mix the chiropractic principles with the other forms of medical practices. In order to practice chiropractic it is essential to take the license.

A chiropractor may work in a private sector or may also work in a hospital. Those aspiring to become a chiropractor will be pleasantly surprised to know that the chiropractor salaries are continuously increasing.

The average salary of chiropractor at present in United States of America is 81,500 USD per annum. The range is from USD 45,000 to USD 102,000 per annum. The chiropractor salary definitely depends on experience and qualification.

So if you want to become a chiropractor then go for it; money won’t be a problem.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing–the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!

Stream Fly Fishing for Trout – Know Their Holding Lies

Friday, May 1st, 2009

When fly fishing for trout it is especially important to understand the various types of trout lies. Trout take up their positions, or lies, based on a set of three of their basic needs when they are in moving water. These needs are shelter from a constant current, protection from predators, and the need for adequate food.

Swimming against a strong current can be very tiring for a trout. Therefore, they look for shelter from the current which is their first need. Sometimes the trout rest behind objects in the water, such as a large rock, which breaks the current. But most of the time trout stay in holding lies that are close to the current. They want to be able to dash out and grab any food that the current brings their way.

The second need that the trout have is protection from predators. They generally prefer water that is deep enough, or rough enough, that they cannot be seen on the bottom by predatory birds such as kingfishers or osprey. The trout usually hold where there is some type of cover to protect them. They look for cover, such as a log, a deep pool, or an undercut bank to keep safe. At times while fly fishing, you might see small or medium sized trout feeding in the shallows far from any type of shelter. However, it is very unusual to see large trout feeding in the shallows, unless there is some type of cover nearby.

If your Fly Fishing facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Fly Fishing information slip by you.

The third need, which often overrides the other two, is the need for adequate food. It seems trout live by a basic formula – the food it eats must give it more energy then they expend getting it. A trout will fight against a strong current if hatching, migrating, or drifting insects appear. To the trout the amount of food that the insects offer justifies the extra energy needed to fight the current. Often, during a heavy hatch, trout may hold near the surface of a pool, or flat, putting themselves in danger from predators while they greedily feed.

For fly fishing, knowing the three basic needs of trout which cause them to hold in certain types of water, while avoiding others, is an invaluable piece of knowledge. Knowing the spots of the water that meets one, two, or three of the trout’s basic needs, is knowing where the fish are holding.

Trout have three types of holding lies. Deep holes which look like dark areas in the streambed are often used to escape from the current. The best deep holes have boulders or logs for cover. Eddies below points, such as the edge of a boulder, create a slack water pool, and sometimes a reverse current pool, that often hold many trout. Upwelling springs appear as light spots of bubbling sand where the silt has been washed away. Many trout are drawn to these springs in the summer and the winter because they have a stable temperature.

Successful fly fishing depends on knowing as much as possible about the habits and habitats of the fish you are hoping to hook.

Don’t limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about Fly Fishing. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what’s important.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this URL Shortening Service, working exactly like TinyURL.com!


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