February 3, 2009

Google Flu Trends

Did you know that Google is not just a search engine company? Everyone knows about www.google.com and all of the programs and features it offers to help the everyday computer user, but many people don't know about the other part of Google called www.google.org.

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Google.org is a part of the company that uses its technology to help the world in many ways. The newest part of the Web site is called Google Flu Trends. It's a feature that looks at search trends dealing with the flu. It monitors to see what parts of the country are searching for articles related to the flu. That way, they can predict which parts of the country are being affected by a flu breakout.

Google Flu Trends then puts all of the data together into a map of the United States. The map shows where they believe flu breakouts are happening. If you're concerned about a spell of the flu hitting your area, you can check the Google Flu Trends Web site to see if others are reporting flu related symptoms in your area.

To look at the Google Flu Trends map, you can visit this Web site.

There are other worthy causes that google.org takes on as well and you can read all about them on the google.org Web site. Until next time, stay safe out there, my friends!

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BigString

Have you ever wished your e-mail would do certain things for you? Well, today, I want to introduce you to a new e-mail service you might like. It's called BigString, but before I go into any detail about it, I have to ask you a couple questions. Have you ever wanted to erase an e-mail that was already sent? Or, how about ensuring a private e-mail wasn't forwarded, saved or printed? Would you like to record a video right in an e-mail? Luckily, all of those things are just a few of the features BigString boasts. So, let’s check it out!

To get started with BigString, you first need to create an account. Here's how:

1.) Head on over to http://www.bigstring.com/ and click on the Sign Up link.

2.) Now, you’ll need to set up a username. Type in your choice and click on Check Username. BigString is relatively new, so there are plenty of choices for usernames. If your choice is available, click Continue.

3.) You’ll then have to fill out the usual information: your name, password, set up a security question, etc. Once you're finished, click Continue.

4.) Next, click on Take Me to My Inbox and you'll see this screen:

5.) To begin typing an e-mail, click on Compose.

Now, here’s where the magic begins! You can select from all different types of e-mails. Let’s check them out!

  • Recallable Messages – These are messages that expire after a certain number of views, an exact time or a time after it was opened. They can also be edited. For example, if the wrong information was sent to the wrong person.

  • Quick Destruct – Messages that destruct after either 15 to 30 seconds or one to two minutes after being opened.

  • Regular with Tracking – These are messages that can be tracked by how many views they've had.

  • Video Mail – This one allows you to record a video using a Webcam. The video can be set to self-destruct after a certain number of views.

  • Secure Mail – This uses encryption to keep your e-mails private.

  • Regular – Of course, you have the option of sending a normal e-mail as well.

6.) You can experiment with sending e-mails to yourself with those different options. I’m sure you’ll notice that it's rich-text formatting, which is similar to MS Word. You can also embed an image if you wish. To send an e-mail, simply click on the green Send button.

Now, I’d like to show you how to recall and self-destruct messages!

7.) First, click on .

8.) Here you can see that an e-mail I sent to myself hasn’t been read yet. To self-destruct it, just click on the checkbox and then click on Self-Destruct.

9.) Now, let’s say I wanted to edit the following message:

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10.) Just double click it and type in your corrections. Then click on Update. It’s as easy as that!

11.) As for the video e-mail, I have a Webcam and I've recorded a short clip. When the recipient gets the video, they'll have to click on a link to be directed to a video player similar to this:

That's it. Now, go on and enjoy all that BigString has to offer!

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Can you please explain the difference between CDs and DVDs?

Q:
Can you please explain the difference between CDs and DVDs? And how about their ROM drives? Are they really all that different?

A:
I sure can and yes, they are! There seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to those two types of media. These days, most computers come with both a CD ROM drive and a DVD ROM drive and because of that, I think a lot of people assume you can use either drive for either type of disk. Well, that's just not the case. Yes, the drives are the same size and shape, but that's where their similarities end. Let's check out some of the differences and get all of this cleared up, shall we? Here we go!

For starters (and this is the biggest difference), DVDs have seven times the capacity that CDs do. If you're not sure, that's quite a bit! Now, I know you're probably thinking, "How can that be possible?" Well, DVDs use more layers than CDs and the way DVDs are written is quite different as well, which is a huge booster for the DVD's capacity size.

Now, it's time for a little background information. CDs and DVDs both store their data in little grooves that run all around the disk. Our CD and DVD ROM drives then scan those grooves with a laser beam, which is how we're able to listen to music or watch a movie on our computers. They both also work with lands (reflective bumps) and pits (non-reflective holes), which help to represent the digital information the CDs and DVDs need in order to work.

With that said, DVDs work with much smaller pits than CDs. Basically, the smaller the pits, the more data you can fit onto the disk and that's how DVDs overcome CDs in terms of available space. As a matter of fact, the normal pit length for a discount cialis DVD layer is 0.4 and for a CD, it's 0.834. Also, the tracks along a DVD are a lot closer together than on a CD, so that allows for more tracks per disk. As you can see, all of that information runs together to give a DVD a lot more room than is allotted on a CD.

That's also where the biggest difference between the CD and DVD ROM drives comes into play. Because DVDs work with such smaller pits, etc., they need a special drive that will be able to read them. Therefore, a DVD ROM drive cannot read a CD and vice versa (a CD ROM drive cannot read a DVD). That's why most computers these days are coming with both drives already installed. So, while it may seem a little wasteful, now you know why it's necessary!

Want to know some more differences? Well, like I said earlier, the layer sizes for CDs and DVDs are quite different as well. Along with DVDs having several more layers than CDs, they're also much thinner. That helps when the laser beam inside the drive is reading the DVD. DVDs also come with double sided layers, which obviously, allow for more information all the way around.

Another big difference is that DVDs can access data a lot faster than CDs can. They also have a better error correction method. And one last difference is the recording format the two types of media use. DVDs record using the Universal Data Format (UDF) method and CDs are not compatible with that type at all. The UDF format allows DVDs to store data, video, audio or a mix of all three onto a single file structure. That file can then be accessed by any drive or computer. CDs just can't say the same.

Now, I know it may sound like DVDs are the best option when it comes to certain things, but don't forget that there are times when a CD is just what you need. Sometimes DVDs are just too much and a simple CD will do. Either way, the two media formats are very convenient and handy for all of our recording needs. You have to give props to both of them for all they do!

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Travel Photography: What to Pack

Picking and choosing the photography gear you take with you on a trip is entirely dependent on what you want to get out of the trip and where you're going. However, here's a rough guide you can follow to pack exactly what you need for hassle free travel photography. daily dose cialis This list will cover you through rain, dark interiors and sandy beaches!

Bag It

Travel involves a lot more external factors than staying at home and venturing out without the basic infrastructure. Therefore, it's imperative to carry a proper bag that will protect your photographic gear. That basically translates to a backpack that's durable and water-resistant. One example of a bag like that is the Kata Rucksack. The main compartment has enough space for your camera, three to four lenses, speed lights and an external hard drive. Also, in the zippered top, you could keep lens cloths and cleaner, not to mention, a card reader, extra cards, a USB hub and any other small items you may want. The two zipper pockets on the outside could hold your cell phone and an iPod. Plus, the back has a secret zipper compartment that can hold your laptop, charger and a book for the road.

However, if you want to travel light and don’t need a laptop and several speed lights, you could opt for the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home. It holds your camera, all your lenses and its zipper top can hold all your little accessories, such as lens cloths, card reader and extra cards. Its front pouch can also hold your wallet, passport, phone and maps.

If you want to keep a lot of your photographic gear in your hotel room and only carry what you want, it's best to go with a shooter bag. Since your camera is on your shoulder, a shooter bag is good enough to hold essentials, such as an extra lens, memory cards, wallet, passport and a map.

Protective Gear

Since you're on the move all the time, it's possible you could lose small items like your memory cards. Therefore, it's important to keep all of your 1GB, 2GB and 4GB cards in one bunch in a little protective case that can be thrown into a larger bag.

Cleaning Cloth

Cleaning cloths are critical, but largely ignored by amateurs. Lens cloths are important to keep dust, sand and dirt away from your lenses. Similarly, a "puffer" will keep your mirrors and sensor spotless.

External Hard Drive

If you want to go to the next level of photography and really have enough time to take thousands of pictures, it's advisable to get an external hard drive to securely store your images.

Rain-proof Gear

You never know when it will rain and dampen your photo walks. Therefore, it's best to keep a couple of spare gallon-sized zip lock plastic bags to hold your camera and lenses. They work beautifully when you intend to keep shooting despite the inclement weather.

LED

Carrying too many flashes might not be such a good idea when you're traveling. Therefore, one weight-reducing measure would be to go for an LED (light emitting diode) to be used in low-light conditions.

Gorilla Pod

If a tripod is too cumbersome for you, try a Gorilla pod. They're easy to use when you're on the move and they don’t take up very much space.

Backups

If you're on a photo assignment, this is one extra rule you should abide by: have extra battery chargers, storage cards and two cameras. Also, it's important to buy two 4 GB memory cards instead of buying one 8 GB memory card, because the cards might crash, get stolen or go missing. Also, bring as many batteries as you can, especially if you're going to be in cold weather, because batteries tend to drain faster in the cold. Backup your photos as often as you can as well.

Card Reader/Data Cable

If you hate bringing backups, one work around is to simply shoot in RAW + JPEG and upload the JPEGs to Flickr or burn a DVD at an Internet cafe. To do that, you're going to need card readers or data cables. If you’re on a long enough trip, a card reader/data cable will help you backup all your pictures onto a DVD or upload them straight to Flickr or Gmail. So, if anything bad happens, you'll at least have a backup.

Shower Caps

If you're staying in a hotel, take the free shower cap when you travel. They're best used to cover your camera if it starts raining.

Knee Pads

This could be a rarity, but it's important nonetheless. If you happen to be doing a lot of photography from the ground upwards, you'll need some trusty knee pads. I suggest getting two of them: one for your elbows and one for your knees.

Camera to TV Cable

Of course, a camera to TV cable is important. It's useful to see the pictures you've taken without a laptop. Most hotels have a TV with an A/V input.

Battery Charger

Don’t forget to carry a battery charger so that you can charge your batteries every night.

iPod

Not only can you listen to music while you're on the move, but you can also dump the photos you’ve taken onto it, making it a spare memory card.

Conclusion

While all of the suggestions above are fairly comprehensive, it's best if you hand pick from them to go with your time, money and convenience. Happy traveling!

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Copied From Above

Here's a super quick copy trick for MS Excel!

Have you ever needed an exact copy of a cell's contents?

And I do mean exact. Even cell references won't be changed in your formulas.

Well, here's the trick: simply select the cell directly below the item to be copied daily cialis and use the Ctrl + ' (Ctrl + apostrophe) key combination.

Yep, that's all there is to it! The cell contents are duplicated and can now be moved to whatever location you choose.

And those cell references in your formula? Well, unlike the results from the usual copy/paste, this method leaves them exactly as they were.

Now, that's what I call a true copy!

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