Chris Liddell will be leaving his role as Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer at the end of 2009. Replacing him will be Peter Klein, who has been corporate vice president and CFO of Microsoft’s Business Division (MBD).

Here’s the official Steve Ballmer statement on the matter:

Chris and his finance team have accomplished a great deal over the past four and a half years. The team is deep and strong, and has an excellent record of building value for our shareholders. Peter brings great finance and operations expertise and a deep understanding of the company, and I am looking forward to a smooth transition that continues our commitment to cost containment and finance excellence.

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Google has unleashed a new feature in AdWords and is making it available to all U.S. advertisers. The feature is called Product Extensions and it uses information from an advertiser’s account in Google Merchant Center.

Product extensions allow images to be shown with your ad. However, unlike Product Listing Ads which are available on a Cost-Per-Action (CPA) basis, product extensions are available on a Cost-Per-Click (CPC) basis. The ads include a plusbox, which expands the ad. Advertisers will not be charged when a user simply clicks the plusbox – only when a user actually clicks through to the site.

Additionally, product extensions offer more control than product listing ads. For example, product extensions will only be triggered for ads by keywords set up in your campaign. And you can control which products appear in an ad. With Product Listing Ads, Google chooses these options for advertisers.

In order to use product extensions, go to your Google Merchant Account and add your AdWords account ID. Then, under the “Campaign Settings” in AdWords, look for “Ad Extensions” and choose “Use product images and information from my Google Merchant Center account.”

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The site of the day – PG Web Portal Pro – power script portal dowloand.

RSS icons, the orange, just-shaped icons on many websites, have fit permeative throughout the internet. They are a convenient, -economization tool, and those who not using the feeds they provide yet shouuld consider trying.

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is basically a way to commit happiness to a online. What makes it unique is that in place of of the buyer going to different sites, the essence is brought to the alcohol.

For example, a person interested in basket weaving who regularly goes to multiple web sites to cheeck if late information is posted could instead subscribes to RSS feeds from these sites. By doing so, he or she can automatically receive updates whenever new information is posted instead constantly checking the sites. It is somewhat like receiving immediate email updates but does not procure the spam and other problems email has.

How use RSS

To use it, complete first needs to get a be nourished reader (sometimes called a news aggregator). Since everyone has different needs, it finest to do a grain a inspection and check functions/reviews to find the best . These proggrams are usually free and eeither installed on a desktop or used from a web browser. Once it setup, a person unqualifiedly clickks on the RSS icon sites of interest that make available feeds and subscribes.

Advantages using feeds

Since they focus on updates anon to the consumer, there is no need to articulate to multiple cobweb sites, and the person can know almost the instant new information is posted. Also, the information can be tailored to the ’s likes so there is less need to wade through things that is not of interest. People can recceive exactly what interests them multiple websites in single convenient setting.

With caboodle from podcasts, blogs, news, videeo and weather available, they offer something for everyone and scrimp time.

are also a great tool for people working collaboratively on an online project. With RSS feeds, the whole world can exactly when something new is added and what each person is doing.

Those can put into practice feedss

Feeds are simple to use and can be a great tool for the duration of most web uusers. However, in the interest of thosee who only vvisit few sites regularly, like looking up siites and ccontent or have constantly changing interests, they may not ooffer much value and not be worth using.

By automatically bring unexplored conttent to users, RSS feeds are a convenience and time saver for most people for all that. They are qualified to expand in reject features and become a maintenance most all bumf sites will offer.

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton

Courtesy of the National Sleep Foundation  November 23, 2009

Sleep deprivation can have an enormous impact on your health and happiness. Apparently, it can also affect your ability to make split-second decisions, according to a recent study in the journal SLEEP. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin split 49 West Point cadets into two groups, 21 of whom were deprived of sleep and 28 of whom were well-rested, and tested them on tasks that require quick decisions. According to the study, participants in each group performed the tasks twice, separated by a 24-hour period. Cadets who were sleep-deprived between testing periods saw their accuracy decline by 2.4 percent, and cadets who were well-rested between testing periods improved by 4.3 percent. W. Todd Maddox, one of the researchers, told HealthDay that the type of thinking tested in this study is “critical in situations when soldiers need to make split-second decisions based about whether a potential target is an enemy soldier, a civilian or one of their own.” While people vary in their need for sleep, experts agree that for most adults the amount needed to feel one’s best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night.

SLEEP STEALERS

More often than not, you have a pretty good idea of what is keeping you awake at night — from the cat scratching at your bedroom door to the snoring partner next to you. But not all “sleep stealers” are obvious. Here are some big sleep stealers that could be keeping you up at night and you may not know it.

Psychological Factors Stress is considered by most sleep experts to be the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties. You are not going to solve all your problems while sitting in bed at night, so give it a rest and get some rest.

Lifestyle Stressors Without realizing it, you may be doing things during the day or night that can work against getting a good night’s sleep. These include drinking alcohol or beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular morning and night time schedule, and working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed.

Medications In addition, certain medications such as decongestants, steroids and some medicines for high blood pressure, asthma, or depression can cause sleeping difficulties as a side effect.

FATIGUE & EXCESSIVE SLEEPINESS

Do you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? Do you sometimes feel sleepy while watching television or driving? If so, you may be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from excessive sleepiness, a condition that can significantly reduce quality of life, decrease productivity and interfere with relationships. Most people feel tired occasionally, but excessive sleepiness that persists is neither normal nor healthy.

CAUSES:

One of the primary causes of excessive sleepiness is self-imposed sleep deprivation. In the U.S. and many other parts of the world, sleep loss may occur as a result of economic or societal pressures. People may skimp on sleep in hopes of getting more done, and widespread access to technology makes it possible to stay busy (at the computer, for example) around the clock. By some estimates, people now sleep about 20 percent less than they did a century ago.

Working at night and sleeping during the day can also cause excessive sleepiness. Some people are able to adjust to such a schedule. However, others may never overcome the body’s natural tendency to be awake during the day and asleep at night. A similar phenomenon occurs with jet lag, in which the body is “out of sync” with the natural environment. In general, symptoms of jet lag increase with the number of time zones crossed. That is, someone flying from Beijing to San Francisco is more likely to suffer worse jet lag than someone flying from San Francisco to New York.

Excessive sleepiness is also linked with a number of primary sleep disorders. For example, sleep disordered breathing (SDB), which includes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is often associated with excessive sleepiness. Because SDB may result in frequent interruptions during sleep, it can lead to abnormal sleepiness during waking hours no matter how many hours a person actually spent in bed.

Insomnia is another main cause of perceived daytime sleepiness or fatigue. Insomnia symptoms may include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and/or waking up still tired as well as daytime impairments such as excessive sleepiness, cognitive deficits (e.g., concentration and memory problems), fatigue, and irritability.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by disabling sleepiness. Most patients begin to experience symptoms in their teens or 20s, but symptoms may appear in younger children or older adults. Narcolepsy is also recognized by insomnia at bedtime, sudden sleep attacks, cataplexy (sudden muscular weakness), hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and a strong urge to move them.  People who suffer from RLS may mistake the problem for insomnia since RLS symptoms are usually worse at night, leading to insomnia at night and excessive sleepiness during the day.

The good news is that these sleep disorders can be easily diagnosed and effectively treated. If you have excessive daytime sleepiness and/or feel you may suffer from a sleep disorder, talk to a healthcare professional about the problem as soon as possible.

Excessive sleepiness may also be caused by a variety of physical and mental illnesses as well as some medications.  If you suffer from a medical condition and you are experiencing excessive sleepiness, talk to your healthcare professional about the problem.  In many cases, properly treating the medical condition may alleviate sleepiness. In other cases, sleepiness must be treated independently.

POLL DATA:

Excessive sleepiness is not just a matter of feeling lousy – it can also affect mood, relationships, work, and quality of life.  According to the results of NSF’s 2008 Sleep in America poll:

36 percent of American drive drowsy or fall asleep while driving

29 percent of Americans fall asleep or become very sleepy at work

20 percent have lost interest in sex because they are too sleepy

14  percent report having to miss family events, work functions, and leisure activities in the past month due to sleepiness.

Each of these consequences can have an enormous impact on an individual’s health and happiness.

One of the most serious risks associated with excessive sleepiness is drowsy driving.  NSF’s 2008 poll revealed that a whopping 36 percent of American adults have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving.  Sleepiness and driving do not mix.  If you feel sleepy, you should not drive. Visit drowsydriving.org. to learn how to prevent a drowsy driving-related crash.

There are several tools used to evaluate a person for excessive sleepiness.  An individual’s personal report of how they feel is also important in characterizing a sleepiness problem.  Interviewing a person’s bed partner or those sleeping nearby is also helpful in identifying things that occur during sleep (e.g., snoring and breathing pauses during sleep).

Special questionnaires developed specifically to provide insight regarding daytime sleepiness (these include the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Stanford Sleepiness Scale). Sleep diaries may also be helpful in assessing and evaluating sleepiness as well as any underlying factors.

Additionally, there are several tests that may be employed when a sleep disorder such as SDB or narcolepsy is suspected.  Such tests may include an overnight sleep study or “polysomnogram,” and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT).

TREATMENT:

Once a cause for excessive sleepiness is determined, there are generally a range of treatment options available to patients, including behavioral and pharmacological (drug) therapies.  For example, if the primary cause of sleepiness is OSA, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or an oral appliance may be prescribed. If excessive sleepiness persists in OSA patients using CPAP or is the result of narcolepsy, approved medications may be appropriate. For sleepiness caused by voluntary sleep deprivation or poor sleep habits, treatment will center on adopting behavioral measures to make getting adequate sleep a top priority.

COPING:

Although everyone should employ all the elements of good sleep hygiene, this is particularly important for anyone with excessive sleepiness.  These are behaviors and habits that can promote healthy sleep, which helps improve alertness during the day.  They include:

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, even on the weekends

Developing a regular, relaxing bedtime routine

Using your bedroom only for sleep and sex; if you do this, you will strengthen the  association between bed and sleep

Create a sleep environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and slightly cool

Removing all work materials, televisions, phones, and other distractions from the bedroom

Avoiding caffeine in the second half of the day

Limiting alcohol – it can disturb sleep

For some people with excessive sleepiness, adopting healthy sleep habits is enough to resolve the problem.

People vary in their need for sleep, but experts agree that for most adults the amount needed to feel one’s best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night.  Teens and young adults usually need nine hours of sleep or more per night.  If you suffer from excessive sleepiness that persists for more than three weeks despite allowing adequate time for sleep, discuss the problem with your healthcare professional.

GERD AND SLEEP

GERD, also known as acid reflux, is an acronym that stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is a chronic illness that affects 5-7% of the world population and is associated with serious medical complications if untreated. GERD is the 3rd most common gastrointestinal disorder in the U.S. Most patients with GERD also experience nighttime heartburn, which is more bothersome. And according to the 2001 NSF Sleep in America poll, adults in America who experience nighttime heartburn are more likely to report having symptoms of sleep problems/disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness and restless legs syndrome than those who don’t have night time heartburn.

GERD describes a backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Most patients with GERD experience an increase in the severity of symptoms (usually heartburn or coughing and choking) while sleeping or attempting to sleep. If the acid backs up as far as the throat and larynx, the sleeper will wake up coughing and choking. If the acid only backs up as far as the esophagus the symptom is usually experienced as heartburn.

Most people refer to GERD as heartburn, although you can have it without heartburn. Sometimes GERD can cause serious complications including inflammation of the esophagus from stomach acid that causes bleeding or ulcers. In a relatively small number of patients, GERD has been reported to result in a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which over time can lead to cancer. Also, studies have shown that asthma, chronic cough, and pulmonary fibrosis may be aggravated or even caused by GERD.

GERD is common and may be frequently overlooked in children. It can cause repeated vomiting, coughing, and other respiratory problems. Talk to your child’s doctor if the problem occurs regularly and causes discomfort.

No one knows why people get GERD but factors that may contribute to it include:

age, diet, alcohol use, obesity, pregnancy, smoking.

Also, certain foods can be associated with reflux events, including:

citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions,

mint flavorings, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, like spaghetti sauce, chili, and pizza.

GERD affects people of all ages, ethnicities and cultures and tends to run in families.

SYMPTOMS:

The most frequently reported symptoms of GERD are:

Heartburn

Acid regurgitation

Inflammation of the gums

Erosion of the enamel of the teeth

Bad breath

Belching

Chronic sore throat

Some patients with GERD experience no symptoms at all. Because of the wide range of symptoms associated with GERD and the need to distinguish it from heart-related problems, the number of medical visits and tests needed to diagnose or rule out the disease tends to be quite high.

TREATMENT:

GERD is a recurrent and chronic disease that does not resolve itself. If you are diagnosed with GERD, there are several methods of treatment which your doctor will discuss with you including behavioral modifications, medications, surgery, or a combination of methods. Over-the-counter medications may provide temporary relief but will not prevent symptoms from recurring.

The lifestyle changes you can make to minimize GERD include avoiding fats, onions, chocolate and alcohol. Losing weight may also help alleviate GERD symptoms.

Because of the association between GERD and sleep apnea, people with nighttime GERD symptoms should be screening for sleep apnea.

COPING:

These lifestyle modifications should help minimize reflux:

Avoid lying down after a large meal

Eat smaller meals and maintain an upright, relaxed posture

Avoid fats, onions, chocolate and alcohol

Avoid potassium supplements

Always swallow medication in the upright position and wash it down with lots of water.

POLL DATA:

GERD is the 3rd most common gastrointestinal disorder in the US and one of the leading causes of disturbed sleep among people between the ages of 45 and 64, according to the 2002 NSF Sleep in America poll. Reviewed by William C. Orr, Ph.D.

CAFFEINE AND SLEEP

Caffeine has been called the most popular drug in the world. It is found naturally in over 60 plants including the coffee bean, tea leaf, kola nut and cacao pod. All over the world people consume caffeine on a daily basis in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks, and some drugs.

Because caffeine is a stimulant, most people use it after waking up in the morning or to remain alert during the day. While it is important to note that caffeine cannot replace sleep, it can temporarily make us feel more alert by blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and increasing adrenaline production.

There is no nutritional need for caffeine in the diet. Moderate caffeine intake, however, is not associated with any recognized health risk. Three 8 oz. cups of coffee (250 milligrams of caffeine) per day is considered a moderate amount of caffeine. Six or more 8 oz. cups of coffee per day is considered excessive intake of caffeine.

Caffeine enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine and can have a stimulating effect as soon as 15 minutes after it is consumed. Once in the body, caffeine will persist for several hours: it takes about 6 hours for one half of the caffeine to be eliminated. There are numerous studies to support the idea that caffeine causes physical dependence. If you suspect that you or someone you know is dependent on to caffeine, the best test is to eliminate it and look for signs of withdrawal, such as headache, fatigue and muscle pain.

Although caffeine is safe to consume in moderation, it is not recommended for children. It may negatively affect a child’s nutrition by replacing nutrient-dense foods such as milk. A child may also eat less because caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant. Caffeine can be safely eliminated from a child’s diet since there is no nutritional requirement for it.

Although the FDA does not advise against women who are pregnant or nursing to eliminate caffeine from the diet, many experts recommend limiting the amount consumed during that time to one or two 8 oz. servings per day.

SYMPTOMS:

Caffeine is a stimulant. In moderate doses, it can:

Increase alertness

Reduce fine motor coordination

Cause insomnia

Cause headaches, nervousness and dizziness

It has also been known to result in:

Anxiety

Irritability

Rapid heartbeat

Excessive urination

Sleep disturbance

A “caffeine crash” once the effects wear off.

TREATMENT:

If the conditions listed under “symptoms” occur, discontinue the use of caffeine. These effects are more likely to occur if caffeine is consumed in large doses. Children and women who are nursing or pregnant should avoid caffeine. People who are taking any prescription medication should talk to their doctors before consuming caffeine.

Knowing the caffeine content of your food and drinks can help you keep caffeine intake at a healthy level so you can still reap the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

COPING:

In order to sleep better at night and reduce daytime sleepiness, try practicing the following sleep tips:

Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule including weekends

Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as taking a bath or listening to music

Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool

Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows

Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex

Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime

Exercise regularly but avoid it a few hours before bedtime

Avoid caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime

Don’t smoke — not only is it a major health risk it can lead to poor sleep

Avoid alcohol close to bedtime; it can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.

POLL DATA:

According to the 2001 Sleep in America poll, 43% of Americans are “very likely” to use caffeinated beverages to combat daytime sleepiness.

Reviewed by: Greg Belenky, M.D.

DIET, EXERCISE AND SLEEP

For years your doctor, your mom and your friend who goes to the gym multiple times a week have probably been telling you to eat better and exercise more. It is all you hear on television, in the newspapers and on talk radio. New doctors and dieticians usher in new diets, new fads, and so you’ve made some lifestyle changes – cutting back on your fat and sweets intake, and doing some cardiovascular exercise a few days a week. Despite all this, you still feel burned out, can’t drop those extra pounds, and don’t have the energy to greet each day with enthusiasm. What are you missing?

THE THIRD PIECE OF THE PUZZLE: SLEEP

Though the exact mechanisms of how sleep works, how sleep rejuvenates the body and mind is still mysterious, one thing sleep specialists and scientists do know is that adequate sleep is necessary for healthy functioning. Research shows that all mammals need sleep, and that sleep regulates mood and is related to learning and memory functions. Not only will getting your zzzs help you perform on a test, learn a new skill or help you stay on task, but it may also be a critical factor in your health, weight and energy level.

SLEEP PROBLEMS AND OBESITY: INTERACTING EPIDEMICS

An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder that leads individuals to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Not only does sleep apnea seriously affect one’s quality of sleep, but it can also lead to health risks such as stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is often associated with people who are overweight – weight gain leads to compromised respiratory function when an individual’s trunk and neck area increase from weight gain.

These interacting problems of weight gain and sleep apnea make it difficult to help oneself off the slippery slope of health problems. From a behavioral perspective, those suffering from sleep apnea may be less motivated to diet or exercise – daytime sleepiness lowers their energy levels and makes it difficult to commit to an exercise and/or diet program which would improve both their weight and sleep apnea.

Unfortunately, losing a significant amount of weight in a healthy manner can be very difficult, so Richard Simon, MD recommends treating sleep apnea first: “Unfortunately, we do not have great treatments for obesity that have long-term success rates of much greater than 5–10%,” Simon says. “Thus I prefer to start therapy with [continue positive airway pressure] (70% success rate) and then add exercise (probably less than a 50% success rate). People feel restored when they are effectively treated for sleep apnea and are more willing to start exercising then.”

Sleep deprivation may also inhibit one’s ability to lose weight – even while exercising and eating well! A 1999 study at the University of Chicago showed that restricting sleep to just 4 hours per night for a week brought healthy young adults to the point that some had the glucose and insulin characteristics of diabetics. Such sleep restriction may have been a bit extreme, but it is also not altogether uncommon in our society and is a pattern deemed the “royal route to obesity” by Eve Van Cauter, PhD, who conducted the Chicago study.

GETTING IN SHAPE: HOW SLEEP AND EXERCISE DO A BODY GOOD

Though research shows that exercise is certainly good for one’s body and health, properly timing exercise is necessary to maximize the beneficial effects. For example, a good workout can make you more alert, speed up your metabolism and energize you for the day ahead, but exercise right before bedtime can lead to a poor night’s sleep.

All the jumping jacks in the world would not make up for a night of tossing and turning! Sleep experts recommend exercising at least three hours before bedtime, and the best time is usually late afternoon. Exercising at this time is beneficial because body temperature is related to sleep. Body temperatures rise during exercise and take as long as 6 hours to begin to drop. Because cooler body temperatures are associated with sleep onset, it’s important to allow the body time to cool off before sleep.

DIET AND SLEEP: A HEALTHY HELPING OF THE RIGHT STUFF

Are you someone who needs a fresh cup of java to coax you out of bed in the morning? Or perhaps you prefer an afternoon jolt from the cola vending machine? Or maybe you are more the candy bar type – in any case, you are not alone. In a 24/7 culture, cups of coffee, cans of soda and candy bars are staples of everyday consumers. For some, the day cannot begin without a cup of Starbucks and for many students today no study break is complete without a can of Coke. How did caffeine become the drug (and food) of choice?

In fact, lack of sleep creates a vicious cycle – the more tired you are, the more caffeine you will consume to stay awake during the day; but the more caffeine you consume, the harder it will be to fall asleep at night. Not only are foods and drinks high in caffeine likely to keep you up at night, but they are also usually replete with sugar or artificial sugar and not much else. When a healthy snack such as a carrot or granola bar is replaced with a can of Mountain Dew, you are at higher risk for putting on weight and it becomes harder to sustain energy for a longer period of time.

Food is also related to sleep by appetite and metabolism. Research by Dr. Van Cauter shows that people who do not get enough sleep are more likely to have bigger appetites due to the fact that their leptin levels (leptin is an appetite regulating hormone) fall, promoting appetite increase. This link between appetite and sleep provides further evidence that sleep and obesity are linked. To top it off, the psychological manifestations of fatigue, sleep and hunger are similar. Thus, when you are feeling sleepy you might feel like you need to head for the fridge instead of bed.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS: HOW DIET, SLEEP AND EXERCISE AFFECT YOU

By now you probably realize that health is complex – if one part of the body system suffers, you are likely to see consequences in other areas of your life. Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, it is also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat (and how much), how we exercise (and whether or not we lose weight), and how we function on a daily basis. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is necessary to face the world with your best foot forward. Sleep will help you on the road to good fitness, good eating and good health.

NAPPING

More than 85% of mammalian species are polyphasic sleepers, meaning that they sleep for short periods throughout the day. Humans are part of the minority of monophasic sleepers, meaning that our days are divided into two distinct periods, one for sleep and one for wakefulness. It is not clear that this is the natural sleep pattern of humans. Young children and elderly persons nap, for example, and napping is a very important aspect of many cultures.

As a nation, the United States appears to be becoming more and more sleep deprived. And it may be our busy lifestyle that keeps us from napping. While naps do not necessarily make up for inadequate or poor quality nighttime sleep, a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance. Nappers are in good company: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Napoleon, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and George W. Bush are known to have valued an afternoon nap.

TYPES:

Naps can be typed in three different ways:

Planned napping (also called preparatory napping) involves taking a nap before you actually get sleepy. You may use this technique when you know that you will be up later than your normal bed time or as a mechanism to ward off getting tired earlier.

Emergency napping occurs when you are suddenly very tired and cannot continue with the activity you were originally engaged in. This type of nap can be used to combat drowsy driving or fatigue while using heavy and dangerous machinery.

Habitual napping is practiced when a person takes a nap at the same time each day. Young children may fall asleep at about the same time each afternoon or an adult might take a short nap after lunch each day.

TIPS:

A short nap is usually recommended (20-30 minutes) for short-term alertness. This type of nap provides significant benefit for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.

Your surroundings can greatly impact your ability to fall asleep. Make sure that you have a restful place to lie down and that the temperature in the room is comfortable. Try to limit the amount of noise heard and the extent of the light filtering in. While some studies have shown that just spending time in bed can be beneficial, it is better to try to catch some zzz’s.

If you take a nap too late in the day, it might affect your nighttime sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall asleep at your regular bedtime. If you try to take it too early in the day, your body may not be ready for more sleep.

BENEFITS:

Naps can restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes and accidents. A study at NASA on sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that a 40-minute nap improved performance by 34% and alertness 100%.

Naps can increase alertness in the period directly following the nap and may extend alertness a few hours later in the day. Scheduled napping has also been prescribed for those who are affected by narcolepsy. Napping has psychological benefits. A nap can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation. It can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation.

Most people are aware that driving while sleepy is extremely dangerous. Still, many drivers press on when they feel drowsy in spite of the risks, putting themselves and others in harm’s way. While getting a full night’s sleep before driving is the ideal, taking a short nap before driving can reduce a person’s risk of having a drowsy driving crash. Sleep experts also recommend that if you feel drowsy when driving, you should immediately pull over to a rest area, drink a caffeinated beverage and take a 20-minute nap.

Shift work, which means working a schedule that deviates from the typical “9 to 5″ hours, may cause fatigue and performance impairments, especially for night shift workers. In a 2006 study, researchers at the Sleep Medicine and Research Center affiliated with St. John’s Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital in suburban St. Louis, MO, looked at the effectiveness of taking naps and consuming caffeine to cope with sleepiness during the night shift. They found that both naps and caffeine improved alertness and performance among night shift workers and that the combination of naps and caffeine had the most beneficial effect.

James K. Walsh, PhD, one of the researchers who conducted the study, explains, “Because of the body’s propensity for sleep at night, being alert and productive on the night shift can be challenging, even if you’ve had enough daytime sleep.” “Napping before work combined with consuming caffeine while on the job is an effective strategy for remaining alert on the night shift.”

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

In spite of these benefits, napping is not always the best option for everyone. For example, some people have trouble sleeping any place other than their own bed, making a nap at the office or anywhere else unlikely. Other people simply have trouble sleeping in the daytime; it could be that certain individuals are more sensitive to the midday dip than others – those who are may feel sleepier and have an easier time napping. Here are some other negative effects:

Naps can leave people with sleep inertia, especially when they last more than 10-20 minutes. Sleep inertia is defined as the feeling of grogginess and disorientation that can come with awakening from a deep sleep. While this state usually only lasts for a few minutes to a half-hour, it can be detrimental to those who must perform immediately after waking from a napping period. Post-nap impairment and disorientation is more severe, and can last longer, in people who are sleep deprived or nap for longer periods.

Napping can also have a negative effect on other sleeping periods. A long nap or a nap taken too late in the day may adversely affect the length and quality of night time sleep. If you have trouble sleeping at night, a nap will only amplify problems.

One study has indicated that napping is associated with increased risk of heart failure in people already at risk.

STIGMAS:

While research has shown that napping is a beneficial way to relieve tiredness, it still has stigmas associated with it. Napping indicates laziness, a lack of ambition, and low standards. Napping is only for children, the sick and the elderly. Though the above statements are false, many segments of the public may still need to be educated on the benefits of napping.

A recent study in the research journal Sleep examined the benefits of naps of various lengths and no naps. The results showed that a 10-minute nap produced the most benefit in terms of reduced sleepiness and improved cognitive performance. A nap lasting 30 minutes or longer is more likely to be accompanied by sleep inertia, which is the period of grogginess that sometimes follows sleep.

By now you are probably thinking about ways to incorporate naps into your daily routine. Keep in mind that getting enough sleep on regular basis is the best way to stay alert and feel your best. But when fatigue sets in, a quick nap can do wonders for your mental and physical stamina.

…ends…

A few weeks ago, Bing made its mobile application available for BlackBerry Storm devices. Now, the BlackBerry Curve is getting the mobile app treatment from Bing.

If you buy the new BlackBerry Curve 2 (8530) from Verizon, the app will come pre-installed in the device. If you have a different model Curve or carrier, then you can download the app at m.bing.com/download.

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Good Morning, it’s the time of the week again. Today I shall review on a game, or rather an intellectual puzzle.

In any case, x’mas is coming round the corner. The fragrance of the turkey seems to be just a doorstep away! Oh I really miss the good old turkey banquet!

Word cum Hangman – Flip Words 2

Click letters to flip them around and make words in this exciting sequel to one of the most captivating word games around. You can test your skills in Classic mode; get into Strategy mode where you can earn and spend tokens to help you solve the phrase; or, share the fun with your friend in Party mode! Flip Words 2 will keep tons of word fun at your fingertips!

• High quality graphics.
• New phrases to download.
• Online score lists.
• Exercise your mental muscles in

Above information all quoted from BigFishGames.com

As the game title already explains : you need to flip words to earn points for getting more turns and solve the hangman word puzzle as well. Personally the good part of the game is that there is no time limit. Hence you can take your time to derive the best path or longest word.

The idea of the game is that when you have matched a certain word e.g. Fire, the character F will be used to solve the hangman puzzle but not for character I,R or E. It will also take away 1 turn.

Each word you have matched will have a certain points and I highly feel that it’s much like Squabble where unique words like Q,X,Z etc have higher points.

Why do you need the points you may ask. Well basically remember I have mentioned on the turns? You need to gain points to recover more turns.

There is one limitation for the online version and that is you can not match a word more than 6 characters i.e. words like Fantastic F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C has 9 characters, system will not allow it.

Local government leaders accuse education watchdog Ofsted of feeding the public’s fears over child safety…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: learning. The blog is also related to: tefl.

From the  FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton

Courtesy of ProHealth

Copyright © 2009 ProHealth, Inc.

Rumor on the ProHealth Message Boards has it that Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) in Reno, Nevada (www.redlabsusa.com), will soon make available a test kit for the XMRV virus – the retrovirus which most of the world knows by now is thought to be a biomarker for a large proportion of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients.

According to the buzz, ME/CFS patients and their physicians will be able to order VIP Dx kits as soon as pricing is established – and that was due to be Friday, Oct 16, according to a ProHealth ME/CFS Message Board user who has already arranged to receive a kit when they become available for shipment. According to her, “They send it to you by FedEx and you have to have a Dr. sign off and take it to a lab. [VIP Dx] pays for it to be sent back.”

This cannot  be offered in Europe. As of Oct 14, a Co-Cure listserv poster reported that Marguerite Ross, Director of Marketing & Client Relations at VIP Dx, indicated to him “we cannot offer the test in Europe because of the time difference and temperature changes the sample would experience,[which would render it]unsuitable for analysis.” In the same communication, she stated “the test will be available in the USA in about 3-4 weeks as it is undergoing final validation and licensing.”

According to the initial news on the VIP Dx test – posted Oct 9 on the CFS Warrior blog (http://cfswarrior.blogspot.com), there is “a PCR test for the XMRV virus itself. Another test kit recommended by Dr. Paul Cheney is the NKCP & LYEA test… If you want to be tested call the lab at 775-351-1890 and they will ship out a kit to you. Your doctor has to sign off, then take it to a local lab to get the test done and then it gets shipped overnight back to VIP Labs. It takes about two weeks to get the results. The woman I spoke to was very nice. They are swamped with calls but expected it.”

VIP Dx is the new name of the former REDLABS USA, launched years ago with the assistance of Belgium-based ME/CFS researcher Dr. Kenny De Meirleir, who has no financial interest in the venture. It was named after De Meirleir’s own R.E.D. Laboratories, a biotechnology company in Belgium focused on “developing clinical diagnostic tests and therapies for chronic immune diseases.” VIP Dx is located geographically near the Whittemore-Peterson Institute, which is part of the University of Nevada, Reno. VIP’s medical director – Dr. Vincent Lombardi, PhD – was recently hired from the UN-Reno School of Medicine, and reportedly played a role in the WPI testing.

Test Availability from Whittemore-Peterson?

Meanwhile, according to the XMRV FAQ at the WPI website, “The WPI has developed a blood test for the detection of XMRV. The test is currently undergoing clinical evaluation and validation. We hope to have a clinical test available to the public within the year.”

NEWS FROM  http://www.redlabsusa.com/  states:

LATEST NEWS: XMRV TESTING

VIP Dx 5625 Fox Avenue, Suite 369  Reno, NV 89506  Phone: (775) 351-1890  Fax: (775) 682-851 E-mail: info@vipdx.com 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PST)

Press Releases

October 23, 2009, Reno, Nevada

It is with great pleasure that Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx) announces the introduction of its family of diagnostic tests for the Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-like Virus for XMRV associated neurological disease (XAND).

XMRV is a gamma retrovirus and replicates in dividing cells. Low-level latent infections are best detected in activated, dividing cells; to activate a latent virus takes additional cell culture. Productive infections are more easily detected without special treatment of the specimen.

Each XAND specimen must have an XAND acceptance code on the test requisition. The XAND acceptance code is assigned by our staff and will arrive on the test requisition in your specimen kit. Specimens sent without the appropriate acceptance code may result in the delay or inability to perform the diagnostic test. The diagnostic tests available for XAND* are as follows:

XAND by PCR for XMRV active infection: Test Code XAND ($400)

XAND1 by virus culture for XMRV latent infection: Test Code XND1 ($500)

XAND2 by PCR for XMRV active infection and virus culture for latent infection: Test Code XND2 ($650)

We are accepting XAND tests on Tuesdays and Fridays only due to the incubation period required for proper analysis. Therefore, you must have your blood drawn on Monday or Thursday and ship immediately back to us by priority overnight FedEx for receipt by us on Tuesday or Friday.

For XAND testing you must use the coded test requisition provided with your kit. Refer to the updated specimen guidelines in the right column of the test requisition for proper blood draw.

No special preparation is required for specimens; ship specimens at ambient (room) temperature. Specimens must be received within 24 hours for proper analysis. Collection and shipping instructions are included in each kit along with all required specimen tubes. The return clinical envelope and overnight airbill are also included.

To order you test kit, please e-mail your full name, address and telephone number toinfo@vipdx.com. There is a 4-6 week back order. VIP Dx is committed to having everyone tested who wants to be tested. Please accept our sincere apology for any delays. We thank you for your support and patience.

Please visit our website at www.vipdx.com for more information on VIP Dx and our tests.

Please visit Whittemore Peterson Institute for FAQ on the XMRV virus at www.wpinstitute.org.  On behalf of the VIP Dx team, we thank you for your continued support.

* The XAND tests were developed and their performance characteristics were determined and validated by VIP Dx. These tests have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diagnostic purposes. Medical expertise is required for XAND test interpretation.

….ends…..

So the issues with A continue as usual at this household. We are having problems with feeding and sleeping and of course along with that comes the awful desats that go on ALL night.

For about the past week the nurses have had to use oxygen at some point with A during the night. I didn’t really think much of it because they have to administer oxygen if his saturations go below 90 for greater than two minutes. Well anyone who knows A knows that this happens A LOT. Anyhow, two nights ago, Friday night was HORRID. It brought me right back to the days when we brought A home from the NICU. I would never want to relive those days, and honestly sometimes I wonder how I even did survive back then.

When I put A down on Friday night and hooked him up to his monitor, he was sitting about mid 70s. He was sound asleep. I tipped his head back a little and he came and hovered around 84. This is NOT good enough. For about twenty minutes I just stood there watching him wondering what the heck was going on. I still don’t know what to think.

I came downstairs and grabbed some nasal prongs, tape and an oxygen tank. Once I got up to his room he went to 91 and stayed there. This is still not really good enough for me because it isn’t the norm when he is sound asleep.

Basically from 1am until 5:30am I was in there about every five minutes to place oxygen in front of his face or to try and move him to a position where his oxygen saturations would be better.

Feeds. I am having so much trouble getting the required amount into him in a 24 hour period. I really wish sometimes that we didn’t need food to survive! As you all know, he has been off of blended food since getting sick in October and gaining weight. I talked to his dietician on Thursday again and she said to maybe try adding just avocados in with the formula to make it a little thicker and maybe that would help go down easier. Well within thirty seconds of receiving only 30mls of food he threw up. He was gagging constantly and I had to pull all of the food back out of his tummy. This is very strange as well because he had avocado every single day in his blend of food.

So in the day time I have to give him a total of 750mls and at night he gets 500mls. This just does not work! I am so afraid that he is aspirating which in turn is causing his lungs to get worse-which we really CANNOT let happen. This would explain the crappy oxygen saturations. Thankfully we are seeing his respirologist in a weeks time and hopefully he will have some insight into what we should do. I know he did speak last time about admitting A into ICU for a couple of days to trial CPAP and BI PAP but I just didn’t think that would work because A has a soother. However he has not had his soother now in about six weeks! Something really needs to be done though because he cannot go on the way he has been.

A weighed in at 27.6lbs last night. Seems like he has stabalized there for a bit so that is good. Much better than 25lbs!

We just got home today from getting his second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. So the continuation of our hibernating will happen for about three more weeks. And even then we have to be careful as he has not had his regular season flu shot! Ugh neverending worry I’ll tell you!

On our way out of the mall where his doctor is we stopped at the one store. I was looking at the Toronto Maple Leaf stuff and a lady was trying to get around me and A. Once she got down the aisle she wanted she turned to me and asked me if I was his mom. I said yes. She held her hands to her chest and with tears in her eyes told me that she admired me. I said thank you. She told me she thought he was a gorgeous boy-ha we all know that!-I again said thank you. And she told me, no thank you for doing what you do. To give him life. I told her he gave himself life. He fought to be here. She gave me a hug and again said she admired me. I said thank you again and told her that it is nice to hear such kind comments from people. Totally made my day. It is not too often that a complete stranger says anything like this to you. Why can’t the world have more people like her in it???

Search Engine Strategies Berlin is being held this week at the Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre, and SES Chicago 2009 gets underway in two weeks at the Hilton Chicago.

During the past 10 weeks, I’ve shared 10 important reasons for going to these must-attend events. For those of you who want to join in the chorus, they are: 10 authors speaking, nine trainers training, eight days a-learning, seven tracks amazing, six booths astounding, five brand new things, four keynote themes, three key trends, two early birds, and a ranking in the top three.

This week, I’ll share an eleventh significant reason for attending Search Engine Strategies Chicago 2009 — and it isn’t “11 pipers piping.” You should attend SES Chicago 2009 for “11 topics breaking.”

According to recent research by Tradeshow Week, the top reason for attending conventions and tradeshows this year is to “keep up-to-date on trends and issues.” And a close look at the conference agenda for Search Engine Strategies Chicago 2009 shows that the conference sessions will help you keep up-to-date on trends and issues — big time.

When the conference agenda was first posted back in August, 11 out of the 65 sessions were totally new. In addition, another 11 sessions were “reserved for late-breaking topics.”

Since then, Incisive Media has appointed of Mike Grehan as VP and Global Content Director for Search Engine Watch, ClickZ, and Search Engine Strategies. And Grehan has identified these late-breaking topics and speakers have been invited to keep you up-to-date on these trends and issues.

Together, these 22 totally new sessions represent the “bleeding edge” of opportunities and threats in the search engine marketing industry. And some of them aren’t even about search engines — they’re about social media and social networking sites.

This is why savvy search industry veterans who have attended each and every SES Chicago since 2003 keep coming back year after year. They know this Search Engine Strategies conference gives them a sneak preview of the latest topics two to three months before their direct and indirect competition.

Below is the list of 22 sessions which are totally new to SES. You can’t attend them all, but you’d be smart to attend as many as you can.

Totally New Conference Sessions on Day 1: Dec. 7, 2009
Search: A Real Time Paradigm?
YouTube & Video Optimization
New Exporters: How Search Marketing Can Be Used to Build Trade overseas
Online PR: Where to Next?
From Search to Discovery
Point/ Counterpoint: DIY SEM – The Pros & Cons
20 Secrets of Top Converting Websites
The Quest for Perfect Information: How Network Intelligence is Transforming Search
Customer Insights Via Search Engine Tools
Ghost Blogging, Tweeting, Content Production: Is it Ethical? Does it Matter?
What’s the Link between Search & Social?

Totally New Conference Sessions on Day 2: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009
Developments in Information Retrieval on the Web
Social Media Checklist
Real Time SEO: No More Yesterday’s News
PR, Social Media and Search

Totally New Conference Sessions on Day 3: Wednesday, Dec. 9
PPC or SEO? The Ultimate Search Marketing Battle
Advanced Paid Search Brain Candy
Facebook Rockstars Roundtable: Marketing For the Other Internet
How to Cut Your Corporate Budget Without Cutting Leads or Sales
The Oprah Winfrey Litigation: What Affiliate Marketers MUST Know
Eye Tracking Research Update
M2M: Cracking the Code on Marketing to Marketers

Next week, we’ll look at a final reason for going to Search Engine Strategies Chicago 2009. In the meantime, just keep singing “11 topics breaking, 10 authors speaking, nine trainers training, eight days a-learning, seven tracks amazing, six booths astounding, five brand new things, four keynote themes, three key trends, two early birds, and a ranking in the top three.”

Read more

Image via CrunchBase

I have been doing something very important to my development as a Special Educator this morning.  Updating my feeds in Google Reader to include many more Special Education resources.

I am at my max or a little over in my ability to follow this number of feeds, I find that when I go over 100 feeds that I just skim read more of the articles.  I will probably go in and do a really brutal pruning over the Holiday Break in December.  By then I will have a much better idea of the feed subscriptions that I want or need to follow.

Please look at my Blogroll for some of the new feeds that I have added to my feed that immediately struck me as being very informative or that I have followed in my other blogs.  Others that I have added I will look at for a while before adding them to my Blogroll or pruning them from gReader.

I have purposely attempted to add a variety of resources, so that I do not get in that “we squeak” the same syndrome.  I wanted parent’s, lawyers, politicians, State Education, other K-12 educators and higher education.  I also purposely sought out both the right and the left based blogs that focus on education and disabilities.  I want a wide divergence of views and opinions – I don’t have to agree with what I am reading, but I believe that I do need to look at both sides of issues and stereotypes.

Hopefully, all this information provides me with “things” that I can actually use in the classroom to help my students.

As always – do the right things for the right reasons – today and tomorrow.

ATP World Tour Finals – London,

22-29 November 2009

Defending champion Novak Djokovic can be considered the man to beat at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after concluding the regular ATP World Tour season with consecutive titles, but the 22-year-old Serbian downplayed his status as the ‘favourite’ during the media round tables Friday in London.

“It’s not for me to say if I’m favourite or not, considering the players who are participating in this tournament,” he said. “I don’t think any of us are big favourites because it’s the best eight players in the world, it’s very unpredictable. I think it’s going to be a very interesting tournament because it’s held for the first time in London, it’s in a new venue which no one has experienced before.”

MORE INFO:http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/

Satellite feeds:

Atlantic Bird 1 (12.5°W) – 11152 V 21600 HD DVBS2

Eutelsat W2A (10.0°E)- 11102 V 14400 SD World Feed DVBS2

In this short guide we will create a new page that lists the feeds available on a WordPress blog. It’s a simple process and can be a handy overview of what data your site offers.

Step One: Creating a Feeds Template

We will need a template which dynamically outputs our feeds. The easiest way to do this to fit in with the theme you have installed is to make a copy of the page.php template and name it something like feeds.php

Next we will need to give the new template a label. Look for the following snippet of code or something similar at the top and change the label to “Feeds Page”. If you do not see it go ahead and add this.

/*
Template Name: Feeds Page
*/

Next we will want to remove the code from this template that generates the page. We will replace it with the code that displays links to the feeds. Remove everything from the start of the WordPress loop to the end:

From

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

to

<?php endwhile; endif; ?>>

including the edit_post_link function call.

Now we will want to add in some code to display the feeds. I’ve created some code to get us started which can be demoed on my personal blog’s feed page.

The code is

<h2>Global Feeds</h2>

<ul>
<li><a href="<?php bloginfo('rss2_url'); ?>" title="<?php _e('Latest Posts (RSS)'); ?>"><?php _e('<abbr title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</abbr>'); ?></a></li>
<li><a href="<?php bloginfo('atom_url'); ?>" title="<?php _e('Latest Posts (Atom)'); ?>"><?php _e('Atom'); ?></a></li>
<li><a href="<?php bloginfo('comments_rss2_url'); ?>" title="<?php _e('Latest Comments (RSS)'); ?>"><?php _e('Comments <abbr title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</abbr>'); ?></a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Feeds by Category</h2>

<ul>
<?php wp_list_categories('orderby=name&show_count=1&feed=RSS&title_li='); ?>
</ul>

The first few lines simply link to the standard feeds: a feed of the latest posts in RSS format, a feed of the posts in ATOM format and a feed of latest comments in RSS format.

The last few lines (wp_list_categories) output some links to the feeds of the categories you have been posting in. You can edit the above code to fit your needs. For example you can set show_count to 0 to remove the amount of posts after the RSS link, or change “RSS” to say “Feed” instead or you can remove the listing of category feeds all together.

The hard part is now over. We need to let WordPress know we want a specific page for this template. We do this by creating a new page and setting the page template to use our new feeds template.

Step Two: Creating a Page

Login to the admin control panel and navigate to “Pages” and “Add New”. Name the page “Feeds” or something similar. Leave the content blank and then look to the right for “Template” under the attributes box. Click the dropdown and select our new template.

Once you publish the page and click the view button a beautiful new feed template should be displayed.

Closing

That’s it! Enjoy! This method can be adapted for other dynamic pages you may want to create and is employed by things like a custom archives page or a new dynamic home page. Let me know if this tutorial was useful or if you are using it on your own blog!

<ul>
<?php
wp_list_categories('orderby=name&show_count=1&feed=RSS'); ?>W
</ul>

Die liebe “Antje” hat die  “Miss Paleica” mit einem Hölzchen beworfen… Ich mag ja eigentlich keine Stöckchen, ich betone eigentlich, aber diesen finde ich interessant und werde Rede und Antwort stehen!

Warum bloggst Du?

Ich wollte immer eine gescheite Hompage haben und diese möglichst für umsonst. Dann hatte ich eine und ich merkte schnell das das Programmieren nicht ganz so einfach ist wie ich dachte. Bei meinem Homepageanbieter ging auch kein “PHP” ohne zusätzlich Kohle zu bezahlen. Ich schweife ab! Ich blogge weil ich Spaß am Schreiben habe, sei es  bei Berichten von Reisen oder Konzerten zu schreiben, sei es beim verfassen von Prosatexten. Die Fotografie erweiterte sich fast von selbst zu einem großen Horizont und rundetet das Geschriebene mit der Zeit ab. Da ich erst sehr spät mit dem Schreiben angefangen habe, ist das Kommentieren eine fast tägliche Übung diesbezüglich. Als Schlussworte: “Es macht mir einfach viel Freude zu bloggen und mich dadurch auszutauschen!!!”

Seit wann bloggst Du?

Seit Ende 2005 Anfang 2006 denke ich mich zurück erinnern zu können. Angefangen beim Portal “Blog.de” und nach fast zweieinhalb Jahren dann der Umstieg zu WordPress. Bei Blog.de hatte ich gegen Schluss keine so guten Erfahrungen mit wenigen Leuten aus meiner damaligen Freundesliste gehabt. Dort möchte ich auch die Werbung in den Blogs nicht, also nicht etwa die freiwillig eingefügte durch die einzelnen User, sondern die die der Betreiber bei den Free-Usern  in deren Blogs einbaut.

Warum lesen Deine Leser Dein Blog?

Gute Frage! Aber leider nicht für mich! Die dürften eher die Leser meines Blogs beantworten können!?

Welche war die letzte Suchanfrage, über die jemand auf Deine Seite kam?

Die vorletzte passt genauso gut zu mir als die Letzte: “Der Steppenwolf Trailer” und “Paulo Coelho Weihnachtsgeschichte”

Welcher Deiner Blogeinträge bekam zu Unrecht zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit?

Meines Meinung nach dieser hier: Astrid Lindgren – “Niemals Gewalt” Erziehung ohne Ohrfeigen – es ist und bleibt ein heikles Thema! Gewalt ist niemals eine Lösung!!! Bei diesem Beitrag über den Kurzfilm des jungen Filmemachers aus Hamburg, dauerte es sehr lange bis ein Kommentar sich einfand. Das fand ich sehr schade! Erlebte ähnliches leider auch im Freundeskreis, entweder waren Menschen nicht bereit auf das Thema einzugehen, geschweige den darüber zu reden, oder sie verstanden die Botschaft des Kurzfilmes nicht.

Dein aktueller Lieblings-Blog?

Ich kann mach dies bezüglich nicht auf einen einschießen und mag mich auch nicht ans Brett nageln lassen, mit dieser Frage. Jeder der mich mit seinen Posts anspricht, Gefühle bei mir weckt ist ein Lieblingsblog!

Welchen Blog hast du zuletzt gelesen?

Ich mache jetzt mal etwas für mich als Mensch ungewöhnliches und zwar spiele ich “I-Tüpfelscheißer” … ich habe in diesem “Blog” zuletzt gelesen, den ganzen Blog sicherlich nicht!

Wie viele Feeds hast du gerade im Moment abonniert?

Mal ganz ehrlich, ich habe mich mit Feeds und Feedreader überhaupt noch niemals auseinander gesetzt! Ich schaue Post nach dem Prinzip Zufall meist an, also bei fremden Blogs was mir so zufällt und mich wunderfitzig stimmt. Ansonsten besuche ich befreundetet Blogs oft und auch durch das Lesen mancher Kommentare lande ich auf Blogs.

An welche fünf Blogs wirfst du das Stöckchen weiter und warum?

Die Frage mag ich nicht! Mein Motto ist und bleibt: “Jeder kann und keiner muss!!!”

Curiositat: utilitzeu lector de feeds? quin?

“Will the high street scuff jimmy Choo’s image?” (Times)

High-end fashion retailing is for people who pay over the odds not to be near you or be seen by you, except in the gossip columns of magazines. It is a place where price secures exclusivity. If that is true, why is Jimmy Choo selling stilettos and sandals at Hennes & Mauritz for £79?

“Watchmakers Seize the Moment for iPhone” (NY Times)

With the popularity of the iPhone and its myriad applications, the watch industry finally has been able to embrace a product that once was considered the biggest threat to its survival.

“Just Launched: RowNine’s Luxury Sale Site” (The Thread)

The latest private sale site to join the online sample sale party (already chock-a-block with Gilt, Rue La La, Daily Candy’s Swirl, etc.), RowNine.com plans to make its stamp by sticking to over-the-top luxury accessories. 

“Understanding Social Media 2.0: The Widget Is Dead” (MediaPost)

What marketers need to understand is that the feed killed the widget. Feeds, like Facebook’s news feed and Twitters status update, have made the portability of content nearly irrelevant.

Flo, Ying2, Madd and SinK’s group enlightened us on the topic last week.

Here are some interesting tidbits that I would be sharing with you soon relating to that and other topics after this hectic week (hopefully):

• RSS Feeds
• Continuous Computing
• Continuous Partial Attention
• Social Bookmarking
• Globalization
• Is Google making us stupid?

Check back in soon!

Meanwhile, if you have anything you would like to share with me about these topics, do feel free to drop me a comment!

ads – real estate web software.

Real Simple Syndication or in short RSS is an stuff tool to accumulate and distribute huge amounts of information in the dense internet world. It can be said a kids includes formats of web bbeing utilised to promulgate the works that need frequent updatinng, in the interest of instances blog entries, video files etc. This in precluding answers the question what is a RSS feed. RSS document which is also known as a net feed or simply feed has curt of certain texts in it. It does classify metadata that consists of information to publishing dates and the authorship details.

The syndication feeds are advantageous to the publishers. These feeds help syndicate fitting content materials in an automatiic manner. Also, the readers get benefitted by gaining communication and conveniently subscribing to the timely updates from the preferred websites. Any basic knowledge of what is a RSS food enables them to aggregate the required feeds from some websites into a single proper. A software by the name RSS reader may be acquainted with to announce syndication feeds. It is also called an ‘aggregator’. It is an internet based or mobile inclination based application suitable enabling a concerned actually to comprehend the web feeds.

A well formatted XML file of standardized variety permits the information conveyed past the feeds to published once. This is a outstanding subject-matter in this regarrd in case one always ponders in what is a RSS feed and its working details. There is exact manipulate gettingg subscribed to the provender. The RSS icon can clicked in web browser that initializes the process of subscription. He can also enter the web feed’s URI into the software cater reader. The RSS reader regularly keeps a tab on the subscribed feeds of the user for any kind of new work. It also efficiently downloads any availablee updates. Moreover, a sound user interface is provided by it in organization to properly monitor and scrupulously read the syndication feeds.

The main objective of all the RSS modules is to make extension of the basic XML formats. It is done to fulfill the purpose of more intense syndication process of the relevant content. more broaadly explains what is a RSS feed as it allows greater diversification and standardization without altering the electric cable RSS specification.

Previously when there was non availability of the syndication feeds, the people, especially the net users spent of hours to avail the required industry news and also information from other sectors. But due to the popularity and increasing usage of RSS feeds, it is a cakewalk to gather the relevant information and also to hop the unessential bumf.

Hopefully this concise piece of chirography has, to an extent, been to explain what is a synndication feed to the readers. With the help of RSS feeds, you can spare chichi time and on the related internet sources important for you, as for example web content.

comScore has released their search market share rankings for October 2009 and the news is good for both Google and Bing – they both gained 0.5% in search share. This came at the expense of Yahoo! who lost 0.8% and AOL, which lost 0.1%. Ask.com stayed steady.

After experiencing a slowdown in the rate of growth in September, Bing is back on the momentum it was gaining since launch last June. Bing has now gained 1.9% share since launch.

At first, Bing’s growth came at Google’s expense. As of this new report, Google has recouped all losses, while Bing keeps growing.

This is mostly problematic for Microsoft’s partnership with Yahoo! They’re stealing share from a competitor set to become a partner.

Still, Microsoft has to be thrilled with the headway they’re making with Bing.

Read more

Salesforce Chatter will completely transform the way you collaborate with people in your company.* As both a collaboration application and a platform for building social cloud-computing apps, Chatter helps you connect and share information securely like never before—all in real time. Welcome to the new world of collaboration for the enterprise.

With the new Chatter social platform, social features and capabilities will be available for any application built and run on the platform. Your custom apps will generate real-time feed updates, incorporate user profiles, and encourage dynamic interactions between people and groups. Soon salesforce.com customers, partners, and developers building custom applications will have all the social capabilities of Chatter at their disposal.

Note: Salesforce Chatter is currently scheduled to become generally available in calendar year 2010. Customers who purchase salesforce.com applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available.

To get chatter please log on to below mentioned link and click on the button get chatter – http://www.salesforce.com/chatter/platform/

- Also a little underwhelmed. “Chatter” is a way to leverage Social Networking Sites to be used in the workplace, for Service and Sales functions, specifically Facebook and Twitter, to the exclusion of all other sites. We all know users are fickle, what is hot today, might not be next year, so what would have been nice is an API so that one can interface with any standards-compliant social networking site.

- I believe, This is a fantastic achievement! I’ve did several implementations on SharePoint 2003 and 2007 this was breakthrough as well. But has some very important flaw deployment. HW/SW behind it was so costly that SME cannot afford it and even big companies had trouble to justify an investment. Other issue was integration, you cannot imagine how expensive … Read morewas to integrate even with native MS apps like Dynamics and Exchange. Only risk I see for SFDC is pricing of Chatter edition 50 USD per user / month. Try to imagine this cost for company with 1000 PC users. This would be hard to approve as MOSS can be cheaper as they has concurrent users. You should definitely adapt same model you do for Force.com and do giveaway limited chatter with strictly cut functionality Free. This would help to reach quickly critical audience number.

Música:

All The Things She Said

Goodnight Moon

Projeto:

Projeto Tamar

Projeto de Casas, Plantas, Sobrados, Orçamentos e Serviços de Arquitetura

Filmes:

20 Filmes que você deve assistir antes de morrer

Os 10 Melhores Filmes da Década

Curiosidades

30 Corpos (e casos) estranhos de Empalamentos

10 Brinquedinhos do Mal

Listas

100 coisas para se fazer antes de morrer

Internet

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