"I appreciate the recognition for my work, but more importantly, I am ecstatic about the distribution opportunity that Conduit provides," said John Martin with Yallways.com. "As a small publisher, the Conduit Marketplace exposes my best stuff to a huge network of hundreds of thousands of web publishers and millions of users that I could not otherwise access. This is a remarkable opportunity for me to expose my brand and my content." Other notable winners included Sonic Forum for their Safe Security Scan application, Media Mule for their social network widget that includes integration with Facebook and other networks, and We7 for their music component with advanced player. Click here to see the special showcase dedicated to the winners.

via 130,000 Participants Support Their Favorite Publishers in the 2009 Conduit Awards Conduit Records Huge Participation and Unveils Winners of New Awards Competition for Innovative Publishers in its Network – CNBC.

This issue:  An exclusive look into the minds of conspirators and conspiracy theorists, The importance of Backlinks, 5 Basic Steps To Fix That Blue Screen Of Death and New Year’s Resolutions… Are they really worth it? Do They Work? And so much more!

In separate responses to the administrative law judge handling their case, Capt. Timothy B. Cheney, 53, of Gig Harbor, Washington, and First Officer Richard I. Cole, 54, say air traffic control rules weren't followed, which contributed to the incident.

"The air traffic controller(s) did not comply with the requirements of the air traffic control manual and other relevant orders, rules, procedures, policies and practices with respect to Northwest Flight 188, nor coordinate effectively with Northwest dispatch, and such failure was a causal or contributing factor in the incident," they said. The responses were filed November 24, but made public Monday.

"Since this is the subject of an ongoing legal process, we can't comment," said Laura J. Brown, deputy assistant administrator for public affairs at the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilots are appealing the revocation of their licenses by the FAA.

The National Transportation Safety Board has reported that the pilots told investigators they used personal laptop computers during the flight, in violation of company policy, and lost track of time.

via Pilots who overshot destination blame controllers – CNN.com.

However, none of the casualties were Hajj pilgrims making the obligatory journey for Muslims around the world, officials said.

The Hajj — the fifth pillar of Islam — requires devotees to journey to Mecca at least once in their lives if they can afford to do so.

The Hajj began Wednesday, and pilgrims were inconvenienced by the afternoon-long downpour on the first day of the annual observance.

But the rain had cleared by Wednesday night, making it easy for pilgrims to make their way to Mount Arafat on Thursday, a sweltering and windy but cloudless day where pilgrims trekked to seek forgiveness for their sins.

The deaths occurred in the port city of Jeddah, in Rabigh (north of Jeddah), and in the Mecca region, Saudi authorities said.

via Death toll nears 100 from Saudi floods – CNN.com.

The Islamic pilgrimage draws 3 million visitors each year, making it the largest annual gathering of people in the world and an ideal incubator for the H1N1 flu virus.

So far, about 60 flu cases have been uncovered, but health officials warn that the true impact will be known only after the faithful have returned to their home countries around the world.

Saudi officials, along with U.S. and international health experts, have geared up to try to limit any outbreak here. But they are also using the pilgrimage as a test case to build a database, watch for mutations and look for lessons on controlling the flu at other large gatherings, such as the 2010 soccer World Cup to be held in South Africa.

via Hajj’s stoning ritual raises fears of swine flu outbreak – washingtonpost.com.

The 53-nation meeting was the largest gathering of international leaders before next month's global climate summit in Copenhagen.

The leaders said a deal should be adopted no later than next year and the support money should be available simultaneously, providing up to $10 billion a year starting in 2012.

At least 10 percent of the fund should be dedicated to small island and low-lying coastal nations that are at risk of catastrophic changes from global warming, the group said.

“Climate change is the predominant global challenge,” the Commonwealth leaders said in a joint declaration. “For some of us, it is an existential threat.”

The document called for a “legally binding” agreement by the world's nations.

via The Associated Press: Leaders say momentum building on climate change.

The 53-nation meeting was the largest gathering of international leaders before next month's global climate summit in Copenhagen.

The leaders said a deal should be adopted no later than next year and the support money should be available simultaneously, providing up to $10 billion a year starting in 2012.

At least 10 percent of the fund should be dedicated to small island and low-lying coastal nations that are at risk of catastrophic changes from global warming, the group said.

“Climate change is the predominant global challenge,” the Commonwealth leaders said in a joint declaration. “For some of us, it is an existential threat.”

The document called for a “legally binding” agreement by the world's nations.

via The Associated Press: Leaders say momentum building on climate change.

The head of Russia's FSB counter-terrorism agency, Alexander Bortnikov, said the bomb, hidden on the railway line between Moscow and St Petersburg, contained the equivalent of 7kg (15.4lb) of TNT. Officers had found “elements of an explosive device”, he said.

Today two huge cranes lifted up wreckage at the crash site as workers searched for the missing. Officials said 18 people were still unaccounted for. Nearly 100 people injured in the crash were being treated in hospitals. Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, called for calm amid speculation the explosion could be the start of a new campaign by Chechen extremists. “We need there to be no chaos, because the situation is tense as it is,” he told Russian TV.

via Russia blames terrorists as dozens killed in train crash | World news | The Observer.

On any ordinary day, we could sense the inception of an approaching storm.  At first, the isolated low rumbles of thunder can be felt deep in our guts as apposed to being heard audibly.  Sometimes the sign is simply the breeze picking up and creating that familiar ghostly whistle in the nearby trees or a rush of leaves that tend to swoop out of nowhere as the atmosphere drops in temperature without warning.  The heavens become silenced by the swirling debris and quietness of the soul begins to meld with the mysterious feeling that something is just different.  We shut off any noisy appliances and turn the television stations over to the local weather channel in order to hear the latest forecast.  It turns out to be just a passing storm with no real threat involved.

We shut off the TV, grab our shoes and head out to the yard or front porch in order to stand there and watch in awe at the great wonder that is called nature.  The dark clouds are just visible over the distant houses as they seem to creep in and invade the blue solemn sky just directly above.  Low rumbles of audible thunder start entering the scene while little wisps of wetness start to dot your face with a splat here and a trickle there.  And then the darkness begins to shroud the sky and blind us from the light of day.

And this is the moment we all live for.  Not the storm or watching people come out of their homes as if it were the first time they realized there was a world out there.  It’s not the rain on our faces or the lightning that cuts us down and reminds us how small and insignificant we really are.  Nor is it the swooshing cool evening wind of an oncoming storm that prevents us from realizing our control over destiny.  The one thing that keeps us going from the moment we are born until the day we die is that illusion or sensation of something mystical and mysterious just over the horizon.

Simply knowing that the future is unpredictable is not enough to sustain us.  Something that is unpredictable is still well within the realms of predicting potential outcomes even if the definite conclusion is still unknown.  Reliving the same mundane ins and outs of society is not what keeps us going either.  Even newfound relationships or unexpected promotions are not enough to lift us into a state of euphoria because something that is different to one person is still a routine for a series of generations.

In neither the ages of elderly bliss nor a mid-life crisis do we find anything like we did when growing up in the world and discovering it for the first time as young children.  “Blessed are the children” brings a whole new meaning when you think about it.  It is only a child who can establish a foundation of wonderment within a life consisting of everyday routines.  Once you become an adult, the wonderment transforms into a simple state of awareness that seeks to discover those feelings again.

We reach deep into our proverbial grab bag of ‘the known’ and start weaving together new ideas mixed with old childhood feelings in a vague attempt to turn order back into a state of chaos so that we can establish a new foundation of the ‘unknown’ to play with.  And from that repository of gifted memories and the abundance of available political or social debates of our present time, we construct a new method of reliving our lives anew.  Through the power of the subconscious mind with the assistance of our bias conscious thoughts, we develop a method of insurrection where we can create a problem in order to seek out the solution even where one may have never existed to begin with.  And so, a new conspiracy is born.

Surely, one must consider the natural order of things.  By merely introducing the possibility that a conspiracy is but the product of an overactive imagination is not to suggest that conspiracies do not exist.  There are three types of people in this equation.  First you have those who invent conspiracies theories.  Secondly are the ones who discover existing conspiracy theories and distort them in such a way to make them their own.  And lastly are the ones who create the conspiracies to begin with.  All three of which are still the product of that overactive imagination.  I have conveniently left out the ones that discover that a conspiracy really does not exist because there is no such thing.  Once a conspiracy theory is implemented it either graduates into a known fact or simply remains a theory for life.  You can not disprove a conspiracy theory insomuch as you, personally, can simply become a non-believer.  After all, many people believe that Elvis is still alive.  But once we have historically reached his one hundred and thirtieth birthday and everyone is sitting around no longer contemplating the possibility that he might still be with us, the theorists will simply be swapping “He’s still alive!” with “Well, he was!”.

What really boggles my mind at times is the fact that I really don’t see any possible directives with conspiracies to begin with.  Whether it is the theory or the conspiracy itself, the agenda behind it is a terrible phenomenon on its own.  To conspire being in a position of such great power or to have some ungodly amount of fortune is really quite contradictory to what people really want to begin with.  Our basic goal in life is to simply be happy.  Sometimes this takes money but certainly not an amount that justifies buying your own nation and introducing a whole new level of enduring hard physical and mental labor.  If one is to be so insecure about their own future that they must inject upon themselves a great powerful position or so much money that they could not possible spend it all in a lifetime, then somewhere a miscommunication has occurred that left these people believing that we ‘normal’ people really even care. 

Regardless of whether I am a billionaire or just received my long awaited weekly paycheck, I still have to wake up in the morning, eat food at some point, find a way to entertain myself and then go to bed.  I sometimes revel in the fact that I did not have to attend a secret society, participate in a Bilderberg meeting, take on a political assassination, overthrow a government or nuke an enemy just to have my daily bread and spend time with a few family members and friends.  Therefore, even with a tremendous ego and the power to rule the world, I still see this final completion of an objective nothing more than a method of transferring your life from one in which you know who your friends really are into one where you just order everyone to pretend they are your friends.  Anyone with such position of authority must have a relatively huge ego and equally large inferiority complex to begin with in order to submit to such extreme measures.

And then again most people are reluctant to notice that often times it is not so much the agenda behind a conspiracy insomuch as the fuel that set it into motion.  Not every fire is set in order to destroy something.  We need heat to survive and the flame to cook our food.  However, when did keeping warm or eating a hot meal ever need to be a huge secret?  If a huge conspiracy is based upon an agenda that we should all agree is a sound reason to contribute to it, then why is it all such a big secret to begin with?  Why not reveal the conspiracy while keeping the tactics involved a secret? Just once I want to see someone in power stand up and say “We have decided to overthrow an evil empire and make life good again for all the people of the world!  Oh, but we’re not going to tell just how we are going to do it though.”  Even if the conspiracy is involving Aliens visiting our planet I can’t see the idea of keeping it a secret.  Actual statistics imply that more people today believe in Aliens than in God.  However, I don’t see the governments running around picking off copies of the bible and hiding them away in underground bunkers in order to prevent religions from rebelling against government regulations.  Of course this is a bit of an exaggeration due to the fact that hiding religion today is about as possible as hiding Osama Bin Laden in the White House.  Oh wait, that’s another existing conspiracy.  Bad analogy.

My point here is that conspiracies are not often the product of simply being a secret as it is just a continuing controversy in order to cover one’s own butt.  For example, the act of hiding knowledge about alien existence might be reconciled with when attempting to prevent the enemy of war from obtaining such knowledge of Alien’s whereabouts prior to us knowing anything about them. And even in a time of peace, peace itself is nothing more than another way of saying, “well, nobody is shooting at us right now”. It’s still hardly considered peace while indifferences exist.  But nonetheless, don’t you think they have enough information on the aliens by now in order to come to a conclusion?  Whether that conclusion is that alien technology should be kept secret or not, at one point or another I believe it’s time to just stand up and say “Ok, here it is.  We have been hiding alien existence from you because we feel that their technology, in the wrong hands, could be severely consequential to our peaceful way of life. You can agree that this was for your own good.  But now we feel that the world is ready to know that aliens do exist but you should be patient with us about revealing any of the technology that we have uncovered thus far because terrorism is still in the process of threatening our quest for peace.  Now here is Zorknick from the planet Kaxxia to say a few words.”

It should already be plainly apparent that if an alien race or races did exist, that they would be extremely friendly by now.  I have come to this conclusion not because we haven’t been invaded by now but because, even if the government were attempting to hide them from us, if theirs was an agenda to mislead the public into thinking they are friendly only to attack later, governments could not hide them from exposing themselves to us.

Let’s break this down while using this whole alien cover-up thing as a scenario.  Let’s say that alien existence is being hidden because they want to hide their technology.  This only justifies the hiding of technology and not the existence itself.  We are not that stupid.  Aliens or no aliens, we are very much aware of the fact that there is military technology that is kept from us for good reason.  We are grown ups, we can accept that and completely understand the ramifications involved.  Humans come up with terrific forms of technology that need to be kept secret too.  Are we hiding geniuses now?

Next let us consider that their existence is being hidden because they are hostile.  Hostile?  Really?   If the government can’t even cover up YouTube videos of recent sightings captured on camera phones then how would they possibly manage to hide an invading army of aliens that are so technologically advanced that our F-16s and stealth bombers are like tortoises in the Kentucky Derby?   We would have been invaded and destroyed long before Barney and Betty Hill could ever say “What the heck is that?”

Next let’s consider that Aliens are actually secretly working along side the US government in order to complete some sort of unknown agenda.  What agenda could that possibly be that would initiate an advanced society of aliens to want to help conspire with any particular government secretly?  After achieving interstellar travel and universal enlightenment, they all decided to take a break and come down here in order to become part of some great conspiracy to fool humans into believing they aren’t here.  Wow!  Sounds like something they could have achieved by simply staying on their own planet to begin with.

Ok, despite the fact that there are countless other theories involving alien cover-ups, let’s just back this up a minute.  Who ever came to conclusion that aliens have achieved cosmic or universal awareness anyway?  Think about this for a second.  We earthlings have come so far in the areas of technology that we have already managed to travel to other heavenly bodies years ago.  Despite the fact that the order of things would require one to first explore the galaxy or even the Universe prior to even beginning to consider alternative dimensions, we have already jumped into those as well.  Logically speaking, we may only be a few years to no more than a couple hundred years away from managing light speed or beyond.  However, some guy in the desert wearing a turban managed to take us down to our knees in one swipe using four airplanes while thrusting a new age of terrorism into our lap and setting us back billions of dollars in the process.   Who is to say that these Aliens are not a mere couple hundred years more advanced than we are instead of the millions of years that people are hypothesizing about?  If the Roswell crash has taught us anything it should be that maybe the aliens are still in the process of getting the hang of their own inventions.  Technology represents the evolution of a man but only peace can represent the evolution of mankind.

The most common reason given by non believers as to why aliens could not exist is in the form of a common question.  “If aliens are millions of years more advanced than us then why haven’t they bothered to show themselves until just recently?”  My response is that there is a first for everything.  It just seems illogical for one to determine the existence of something based on the historical timing by which it chooses to take an action.  Could this simply be an indication that Aliens are just starting out where we may have been starting out in a couple hundred years anyway?  Perhaps these aliens have a world of their own where they are fighting and being taken down by defenseless looking desert cepulapods and telling their inhabitant that humans don’t exist.  Maybe the reason they have not revealed their existence to us is not so much an issue of us not being ready insomuch as we all are just not ready.

Let’s just consider for a moment that not all conspiracies are what they seem.  With all of the political power and religious influences that exist on our feeble little planet, why would the primary agenda be to have complete control over the whole planet when they already have that?  World domination is no longer a quest as it is just another boring day for them.  They are just dogs chasing fire trucks and now that they’ve caught one they have no clue what to do next.  So, like everyone, they are sticking their hands back into the ‘grab bag’ and preparing new adventures in order to relive their wondrous childhoods from a new adult perspective.  As for the rest of us, you really don’t have to try that hard to uncover new conspiracy theories.  It’s not always about reliving your childhood in a state of euphoric discoveries.  As long as people are out there seeking their own adventure, conspiracies will just happen and eventually they leak into the public on their own accord.  After all, all you have to do is remember what it was like to be child.  Getting into trouble was not always that much fun until you included the risk of being caught.

Not unlike the approaching storm and the occasional sensation of fear at conspiracies that appear too big for us to control on our own, one can always choose whether they want to be a spectator, participant or to simply not get involved.  By not getting involved, you certainly provide no momentum or power the deceptions nor would you be assisting in uncovering the mysteries that blind us from the truth.  Nonetheless, the uninvolved is usually the ones to be least effected by any negative outcomes.  The spectators are often the ones sitting on the sidelines and watching everything unfold at the hand of the participants.  So it’s your choice.  You can grow old and tell your grandchildren boring stories about how you sat around all day watching the storms pass from your living room windows and front porches or, despite all of the lightning, thunder and other dangers involved, you can tell them how you went outside with the rest of us and danced in the rain.

Vacuuming

Using A Home Steam Cleaner

The Power of Baking Soda

Oxygen Based Cleaners

Liquid Detergents

White Vinegar

Application of Cleaning Solutions

Bathroom Odors: Baking soda is very effective at absorbing odors. Open an entire box of baking soda and place it behind the toilet or some other open, but inconspicuous place. Activated charcoal also works.

Blood Stains: Pour hydrogen peroxide over the entire stain and rub it gently until you can see the stain starting to ?lift?. Wash the item in your regular load of washing, but do not put it in the dryer. Check to ensure the stain is fully removed because the heat of a dryer will ?set? the stain, making it permanent.

Carpet Stains: Try pouring hydrogen peroxide over the stain and rubbing it in gently. If this is not successful, you can try baby wipes because they are excellent for removing most stains.

Candle Holders: As you probably already know, once wax melts into a votive candle holder, it is difficult to remove. You can prevent the aggravation of removal by adding a small amount of water into the candle holder before the candle. Put the candle on top and then light it. If you want to remove wax build up you can place the entire candle holder in the freezer for several hours. Remove the wax by chipping it with a butter knife. The residue can be removed with hot soapy water.

Candle Wax: To remove wax from carpet or clothing, scrape off the excess wax with a blunt object. Place some paper over the wax and then iron it with a warm iron. The wax will melt and stick to the paper. You can also freeze it with an ice cube, then chip it and vacuum up the wax. If there is a grease stain left on the carpet from the wax, sprinkle baking soda over it and allow it to remain overnight then vacuum as usual. Colored wax stains can be removed with a tide pen or carpet spot remover. Be sure to follow the directions on the label.

Cast Iron Pans: Cast iron pans should always be seasoned before you use them to prevent food from sticking. This is done by rubbing it with a light coating of cooking oil and then heat the pan in an over for 40 to 60 minutes. Clean a cast iron pan after using it by wiping out any excess food with a dry paper towel. Next, sprinkle the entire pan with coarse salt and wipe it again with another dry paper towel. The salt is abrasive and scratches off particles of food that are stuck. The reason that this method is used is because hot water and soap will remove your pan?s ?seasoning?. If food still remains, try scraping with a butter knife, gently.

Chimney: To keep your chimney clean, you can buy specially formulated things such as safety flue crystals. Never use salt or rock salt, it will corrode your chimney.

Chrome: To remove rust from chrome, crumple aluminum foil, leaving as much of the shiny side exposed as possible. Next, dip it in coca-cola, then rub the chrome gently. Rub the chrome dry with a soft towel. You can also polish the chrome after cleaning it with a soft cloth.

Cloudy Drinking Glasses: Hard water leaves spots and makes your glasses cloudy. Try rubbing them with toothpaste to remove the marks. If you see scratches and/or etching, this is permanent, unfortunately, and is usually caused by dishwashers. To avoid this, you should hand wash your ?good? glasses.

Coffee Grinder: To keep the blades sharp, grind a cup of rice once per month. The rice also helps to keep the grinder clean.

Copper: To polish copper, rub equal amounts of salt and vinegar over it. Rub the mixture over the copper to reveal a fantastic shine.

Crayon on Walls or Washable Wallpaper: WD40 is a great stain remover when it comes to crayon. Spray the area, wipe it gently using a paper towel or dry cloth. You can also make a paste with baking soda and rub the area. Wipe away any residue with a sponge soaked in warm soapy water. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers also work for this.

Deodorize dishes, pans, cutting boards or utensils with pungent odors by pouring about a quarter cup of lemon juice into your dishwater.

Dishwashers: Mineral deposits in dishwashers prevent your dishes from getting clean. You can add a cup of Tang drink mix and run your dishwasher through a cycle, or you can use a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda.

Fireplace Soot Odor: When you are finished using your fireplace for the season, clean the ashes out of it, and then fill your fireplace with crumpled newspapers to absorb the odor. Leave the newspaper in the fireplace for few days and then discard them. Ashes from your fireplace are the best cleaning agent to remove soot from glass fireplace doors. Use a dry paper towel and rub them over the glass.

Fish or Spoiled Food Odor: Fill a small bowl with white vinegar and allow it to sit on the countertop for a few hours. This will remove all of the odor.

Freshen a Garbage Disposal: Pour a small amount of baking soda along with some dishwashing liquid. Don?t use too much. Making sure the disposal unit is off, scrub it with a brush, (new toilet brushes work great for this). After you have scrubbed the gasket, remove the brush and turn on the water to flush the disposal. Add some cut up lemons or limes and run the disposal running plenty of water through it to freshen it up with citrus scent.

Freshen Laundry Basket: Putting a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket each week will keep it smelling fresh. Baking soda also works well. Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda in the bottom of the basket to absorb odors.

Freshen Linen Closet: You can purchase small bottles of essential oils at the health food store. Soak cotton balls in the essential oils, allow them to dry and then put them in the corners of your closet and on the shelves.

George Foreman Grills: These grills are great for cooking, but they can be a real pain to clean. After you have removed your cooked food, place a wet paper towel in the grill, close it, unplug it and let it sit for up to 30 minutes. Open the grill and wipe it with the wet paper towel.

Ink Stains: Put rubbing alcohol on the stain and allow it to soak in. If this does not remove the stain, a Tide pen with bleach works wonders.

Kitty Litter: To keep your cat box from being too smelly, clean it often and mix in scented baby powder and/or baking soda in with the fresh litter.

Microwave Filth: Microwave cooking causes food to splatter all over the inside and cake on over time. Place a water soaked sponge in the microwave and cook it on high heat for two minutes. Allow the sponge to sit in the microwave for five minutes. Now, open the microwave and wipe it with the sponge you just heated.

Microwave Odors: Placing a box or cup of baking soda in the microwave between uses will keep foods from smelling like other foods previously cooked in it.

Mothball Substitute: Keep your leftover soap slivers until you have several of them. Place them in a vented plastic bag. You can add the bag to your bags of seasonal clothes before you pack them away. Now your clothes will not stink like disgusting moth balls and they will smell fresh when you need them.

Odor-free Car: Putting a few briquettes of charcoal under your car seat will help to absorb odors and keep your car smelling fresh. Don?t use charcoal briquettes that have starting fluid on them.

Paint on Carpet: Spray the paint with Windex and then wipe it clean with a dry cloth.

Permanent Marker on Carpet: Use a washcloth soaked in rubbing alcohol and dab it on the area with the marker stain. Be sure to blot, not rub or you will spread the stain. Rotate the cloth using a clean spot on the cloth each time you blot.

Pet Urine on Carpet: Using paper towel, blot as much of the urine from the carpet as you can. Next, using a clean cloth and warm soapy water, blot the stained area as clean as you can, rinsing with clear water. Blot the area again until it is dry. Combine 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 of a cup of water, dabbing the stain, rinse with clean water and blot dry. Wait until the area is dry (usually 24 hours), then sprinkle the area with rug deodorizer or baking soda. Allow it to sit on the carpet for a few hours, then vacuum.

Roach Problem: Make ?roach food? from 1 part powdered boric acid (you can buy this at pharmacies), 1 part white flour, and 1 part white sugar. The sugar acts as bait, the flour makes it stick and the boric acid kills the roaches. Place the mixture in the backs of drawers, cupboards, under your refrigerator, behind your stove, and in crevices. It will take about 3 cycles of killing the cockroaches and them making a comeback in progressively smaller numbers before this finally works. Children and pets will eat this mixture, so keep it out of their reach.

Shower Doors: If you have clear glass shower doors, rub them with baby oil with a scrubber. Once you have made a paste, rinse it off with vinegar and wipe dry. Go Jo hand cleaner for mechanics will also work.

Smashed Down Carpet: Place several ice cubes on the area of the carpet that is crushed. Allow them to melt. Allow the carpet to dry overnight, then vacuum the area. The carpet should look normal again.

Smelly Cooking Hands: Rub your hands over something made of stainless steel under running water. This will remove garlic, onion and fish odors.

Smelly Shoes: Fill an old sock with cat litter, tea leaves or baking soda. Tying the end closed, place the sock into the shoes when you are not wearing them. You can use this sock sachet over and over again.

Sour Sponge: Soak a smelly sponge in lemon juice, then rinse it out. Sponges should be washed on a regular basis to keep bacteria from growing on them. Place them in the dishwasher and run them through your next wash cycle.

Stains in Plastic Storage Containers: Make a paste from baking soda and water and rub it on the stained area. Rinse with vinegar and then wash normally. You can also soak them in a sink full of water with a small amount of bleach.

Stickers, Decals, and Glue: To remove sticky residue from furniture and plastic, saturate the area with vegetable oil and then rub it off. Small razor blades work best with glass.

Stuck-On Food in Pots, Pans, and Crockpots: Fill the vessel with water add a fabric softener to the water and allow it to soak overnight. The food with wipe off with ease.

Stovetops: Mix a half cup of lemon juice with two cups of water. Put this mixture into a spray bottle and spray the stovetop. This is an excellent degreaser and it smells great too.

Tarnished Silverware: Use a mixture of baking soda (1 tablespoon) and 2 cups of water. Line a pan with aluminum foil and add the mixture in along with the silverware. Heat the pan to 150 degrees in the oven. The tarnish will disappear.

Trash Bag Idea: You can save money on expensive household garbage bags by re-using your plastic grocery bags. Most plastic grocery bags will fit in the same containers as store bought garbage bags. Once they are full, you can use the handles to tie them up and dispose of them.

White Heat Marks and Water Rings on Wood Furniture: The wood needs to have a fairly good finish, do not try this on bare wood. Mix baking soda and regular toothpaste in equal parts. Dampen the corner of a clean soft cloth and dip it into the paste. Using a circular motion, gently buff the marks. Wipe the area clean and then keep buffing it until it shines. Once this is done, apply furniture polish. If the rings do not come out after five minutes of buffing, they may be too deep and the piece will need refinishing. A cloth dipped in vegetable oil and cigarette ashes rubbed over the mark may lift it. If neither of these methods work, you can try rubbing some real mayonnaise on the stain and allowing it to sit overnight. Wipe it up with a dry towel the next day.

Window Cleaner: Mix together ? bottle of rubbing alcohol and 2 tablespoons of Prell shampoo. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and spray your windows. The shampoo cuts the dirt while the rubbing alcohol prevents streaking.

Alternate histories have been fascinating people for centuries. In fact, the first known account of a variation on the past was written approximately two thousand years ago by Titus Livy, a Roman historian. In his work History of Rome from its Foundation, Livy speculates on what would have happened if Alexander the Great had lived longer and moved his armies westward to attack Rome. In this brief speculative account, which composes a mere section of one out of 142 books, Livy argues that the Romans would have been able to defeat Alexander the Great.

Perhaps the first modern alternate history was composed in France in the early 19^th century by Louis Geoffroy. Geoffroy wrote a compelling tale of what could have happened if Napoleon had succeeded in his Russian campaign and continued his global conquests. In this version, titled History of the Universal Monarchy: Napoleon and the Conquest of the World, Napoleon Bonaparte eventually unifies the world and rules as an enlightened despot. Ultimately, Geoffroy tells of a utopian society under Napoleon. Other writers of this period also created utopian alternate histories. For example, in 1895 Englishman Castello Holford composed a variation on the settlement of Virginia. In his version, a reef of gold is found and the settlers use the wealth to build a perfect society in the New World.

By the twentieth century, the genre of alternate history had undergone a notable change. Rather than taking a utopian spin, many authors began composing “dystopian” stories. These works depict a world that is completely under the authority of an authoritarian regime. Many focus on what would have happened if the Allies had not been victorious during World War II. Thus, in The Man in the High Castle, Philip K Dick shows what the United States might have been like had they surrendered to Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. Similarly, George Orwell’s classic text 1984 depicts a society completely overtaken by totalitarian regimes after World War II. In this version, the Second World War gave birth to three authoritarian super-states controlled by Britain, Russia, and China / Japan.

For the last several decades, there has been a growing trend to merge alternate history with science fiction. In many of these works, time-travel is an underlying theme. Historical figures and events are dragged across space and time to show interesting historical possibilities. One early example of this style was composed in 1923 by H.G. Wells. In his work, Men Like Gods, Wells sends his characters to an alternative timeline showing an oddly utopian Britain. In another variation on this theme, Murray Leinster sends his protagonists through several alternate timelines in his short work Sidewise in Time. More recently, Arthur C. Clark and Stephen Baxter co-authored Time’s Eye, a novel where the world is torn apart and reassembled with pieces from different eras. This ultimately results in one of the most interesting military matchups in alternative history; Alexander the Great versus Genghis Khan.

Alternate histories shine an interesting light on the past. They tell the story of how our world could have been if even the smallest change had been made to the historical record. When properly researched and accurately written, these works can be startlingly realistic. While it is impossible to know how accurate an alternative history account truly is, they ultimately provide an interesting commentary on the world we know.

One of the first alien abductions to be highly popularized was the case of Betty and Barney Hill. The Hills, who lived in New Hampshire, reported being abducted in September 1963. The couple is said to have observed a UFO while driving home from vacation. After being allegedly abducted, the couple was examined by the aliens, who conducted medical tests. Then, the two were able to continue their drive home. However, both reported strange after-effects, including damage to clothing and extreme fatigue. The Hills underwent hypnotic sessions to recall as many details as possible, and their story was repeatedly published for years to come.

Most alien abductions include the same types of events. Humans are usually taken on board a spacecraft to be tested for some medical purpose. The abductees may also communicate with the aliens and receive a tour of the vessel. However, most details of an abduction are forgotten by the victim when they return to Earth. There is also a reported loss of time, which cannot be explained. Hypnosis is often used to bring out additional details of an encounter. This has met with varying levels of success and been the subject of some criticism due to a hypnotist’s ability to influence memory. In a few cases, physical scars or implants have been discovered in abduction victims.

Several distinct types of aliens have been reported in encounters. Perhaps the most common are creatures defined as “Greys.” Greys are said to be shorter than the average human with large heads and no hair. As their name suggests, their skin appears grey in color. In some cases, people report seeing human-Grey hybrids during abductions. Greys have been reported since the early twentieth century, and these aliens were the focus of the Hills’ abduction.

In Europe, many encounters are associated with “Nordic” aliens. They are said to resemble the image of tall, Aryan humans with light hair and skin. Nordic aliens are generally seen as benevolent. In a few cases, both Nordic and Grey aliens were said to occupy the same vehicle. Thus, some believe that Nordic aliens are actually manifestations of human-Grey hybrids, as noted above. Others claim these Nordics are holograms created by Greys to calm abductees.

There exists little, if any, empirical evidence to support claims of alien encounters. Therefore, many people remain unconvinced that reports of such incidents are true. However, for those who report an encounter, the experience is very real. Thus, numerous believers continue to support the idea that extraterrestrial life exists and has repeatedly made contact with humans.

The debate between Windows and Mac users has been raging for years. However, no definitive conclusion has been reached. Ultimately, both systems have their benefits and drawbacks. Choosing between the two is simply a matter of personal preference and usability needs. Thus, it is important to consider the real differences between these two platforms when deciding which to use.

Believe it or not, Microsoft and Macintosh are actually very similar. Both essentially perform the same functions. In fact, the two companies even share several patents for the technology they use. They simply use different interfaces to interact with users.

When it comes to print publishing, Mac seems to be the operating system of choice. Its typography, which is the way text is presented, is more accurate than Windows’. Thus, what you see on the screen is more likely to be what you get on paper. This also applies to color schemes. The colors you see on your monitor will be very close to what comes out of the printer. Macs also work better with .pdf formatting, which can come in handy if you need to work with such files. Finally, Macs tend to be more secure and immune to attacks from computer viruses.

Macs might also be the answer for small businesses. They tend to be easier to create small networks with. However, you may have a problem if the programs you need for your business are not available for Mac. The same applies to college students. Some campuses provide software for student use that may only work with Windows. So, be sure to check out what programs you will need before making a decision.

Similar to the problems businesses face, those who love to play games may not want to choose a Mac. A lot of programs cannot run on a Mac computer. However, if you are computer-savvy, there are ways around this. You can even install the Windows operating system on your Mac and switch to this interface for games. If this doesn’t suit you, just keep waiting. More and more companies are formatting their programs for Mac. In fact, you can even buy Microsoft Office for your Mac computer.

For 3-d graphic and video creation, Microsoft Windows seems to be the winner. Windows has better graphic capabilities and video playback. Microsoft PCs also have faster processors than Macs. Furthermore, Windows is the smarter choice for web design. It is easier to use .NET and ASP on a Windows platform. Additionally, since most people still use Windows, formatting a site on this platform ensures you see what 90% of your users will see. Finally, Windows is considered more user-friendly because most people are familiar with its interface. Switching to Mac requires some relearning and adjustment.

Ultimately, the operating system you choose will be the one that best suits your needs. Both are functional and user-friendly. Neither one will preclude you from participating in any one computer-related activity. So, do some research, know the facts, and choose the computing system that works for you.

Casual games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have swept the market and reaped tons of profits. However, few other casual games have been offered for Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 console was designed to feature the best graphics, which could enhance first-person shooters, RPGs, and other intensive games. Meanwhile, competitors like Nintendo’s Wii and DS focused on less advanced graphics and simpler games that could be easily enjoyed by anyone. It seems this latter group had the best results in the market, showing Microsoft developers that their Xbox 360 needed an update.

Xbox 360 developers may have recently had a wake-up call that their more intense games are no longer as popular. The latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series was recently released. However, Grand Theft Auto IV boasted remarkably low sales. Despite its $100 million development budget, the game failed to attract a wide market of players. This is clearly a sign that action packed games are declining in popularity.

The appeal of casual games is that players of all ages can easily learn the controls and play together. Many of the best games feature controllers that are motion sensitive and easy to use by even the most inexperienced players. That’s why the Wii has hit it big with its remote-style wands. Xbox 360 is now trying to include more adaptable controllers to its newer games. For example, Scene It? Includes a custom buzzer that is extremely simple to operate and makes it seem more like you are on an actual game show.

Casual games are great for developing companies as well. They require a much lower production budget than their hardcore gaming counterparts. Plus, they appeal to a greater variety of ages and demographic groups. Therefore, more copies of these games are ultimately sold. Additionally, these types of games lend themselves to other profitable avenues, like subscription online multiplayer features.

Xbox 360 hopes to take better advantage of the casual gaming market with titles like Lips, Scene It?, and You’re in the Movies. It is also featuring numerous casual game titles on Xbox Live Arcade. These can be downloaded to the console for a fee and played instantly. New games are expected to be 1 vs. 100, a massive multiplayer spinoff of the popular game show, and UNO Rush, which will also be a multiplayer experience.

Currently, Nintendo’s Wii, which focuses on casual games, is outselling both the Xbox 360 and PS3 systems combined. So, it seems Microsoft will have to change its gaming strategies. As Xbox 360 starts offering more and more casual games, the appeal of the console is expected to rise. Soon, we may see a vast turn-around in sales and a greater diversity among Xbox 360 players.

Viral content stems from the advertising technique known as viral marketing. This method is used to spread brand or product awareness through pre-existing social networks. When applied to the internet, this technique expands many times over. Social networks are no longer limited to face-to-face meetings. In fact, entire sites have been created for virtual social networking. Thus, when viral internet content spreads, it can spread to millions of users who participate in these networks.

Viral content has great marketing potential as it draws traffic to blogs and websites.

The content itself is usually free to view. Money is not made by the actual feature. Rather, it is used to promote a product or draw viewers to ads on the same site.

The key to viral content is that it is easy to understand. If one person “gets it” the odds are that others will too. That’s why images and videos are especially popular forms of viral content. Successful viral content must also be current. The more it is related to popular culture, the more people will be interested in it. However, the moment the feature becomes outdated, it will stop spreading.

Viral content is usually short and sweet. People have short attention spans and seem to prefer items that can be viewed quickly. A video may be no longer than a few seconds, or an article may take up half a page. Items that are too long can cause viewers to lose interest. This means they will be unlikely to share the content with anyone else, and the virus will not spread.

Lists are a popular form of viral content. They meet all of the aforementioned standards. Lists are generally short, easy to read, and simple to understand. Most good lists are well-researched and contain supporting information. When focused on an interesting topic, they can become quite popular. Thus, people will start to share a good list with others.

Interactive content is also very popular. Games, quizzes, and polls are great ways to let readers interact with your content. Additionally, letting viewers leave a comment makes them feel like they are a part of the feature itself. Those sites that allow outside contribution have become some of the most popular on the web. Consider Wikipedia, a site where anyone can post their ideas, or YouTube, which lets viewers post their own videos.

Viral media has been greatly impacted by the social web revolution. New networks that allow users to easily share links and reviews have made viral media even more prolific. This eventually creates a snowball effect as a “viral” article or video is repeatedly passed along from one person to several more. Thus, effective viral content takes advantage of these social sites by providing easy links to users so they can copy the feature to one of these social bookmarking sites, such as Digg or Twitter, or an RSS feed. Most sites also let you share content with friends via e-mail.

Viral content essentially spreads like a biological virus. This means it is reproduced at an exponential rate. Users may not even realize they are spreading viral content. Most of the time they are just trying to share something interesting or amusing with a friend. This makes it all the more effective as a marketing technique. The more people who participate, the faster the content will spread and the more publicity a site will generate.

Vancouver’s mild climate has allowed for the cultivation of a wide array of both indigenous and imported plant life. No matter what season, the city always has a great display of natural beauty. To get closer to nature, the region offers countless campsites great for both tents and RVs. Several companies also offer eco-tours of the area to suit a variety of interests.

Vancouver’s Stanley Park is one of the city’s greatest public spaces. It stretches over 1,000 acres and encompasses woodlands, beaches, and elevated views. The park is home to numerous native birds, insects, and small wildlife. It also encompasses a small zoo and larger aquarium. So, visitors to the park can ultimately interact with goats, horses, llamas, and beluga whales. Those seeking a more active experience can head to one of Stanley Park’s hiking trails or navigate the park by bicycle or horse.

Another of the most beautiful places in Vancouver is the 55-acre VanDusen Botanical Garden. Opened in 1975, the gardens reflect a decade of work to save a piece of untouched land within Vancouver. The actual landscaping took five years to complete and includes more than 250,000 plants. The park now features a Forest Center, Floral Hall, Garden Pavilion, and more. The ultimate aim of the VanDusen Botanical Garden is to instill in visitors the importance of preserving plants and an understanding of Earth’s biodiversity.

For those seeking something a bit more exotic, Vancouver also has an Asiatic garden. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is located within walking distance from downtown Vancouver. Modeled in the style of 15^th century China, the garden serves as an educational bridge between Western and Eastern culture. Its construction employed more than fifty Chinese craftsmen and showcases the four main features of Chinese gardens: rock, water, plant, and architecture. Many of the elements were actually imported from China, giving the garden a truly authentic feel.

For stunning views of Vancouver’s natural ecosystem, visitors can head out to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Located 230 feet in the air, the bridge spans a 450 length. It was originally built in the late-1800s, but has since been expanded and reinforced. Views highlight the magnificence of the area’s Douglas fir trees, among many other plants and wildlife. The area around the bridge has also been designated a public park spanning some 27 acres and including numerous nature-themed activities. Some of the most popular attractions are guided hikes and a visit to the cultural center.

The various gardens and ecological centers in Vancouver frequently host educational programs for children and adults alike. Thus, the city is doing its part to promote environmental understanding. What’s more, all of these attractions can be easily reached by public transportation. Ultimately, this makes Vancouver one of the few cities where nature is truly a part of the urban visitor’s experience.

In order to start any sort of company, you need to create a business plan. In this plan, you should set out your goals and how you hope to achieve them. Ask yourself some important questions. For instance, how many sites can you design each month or year? Will you need other employees to help you? Also, consider who your potential customer base will be. It is important to decide whether you want to gear your design firm towards small businesses, non-profit groups, families promoting special events, or some other population. You should also set up a budget in your plan. This includes how much money you are willing to shell out for things like design software, hosting space, and marketing. Finally, you will need to choose a name for your new business.

Before you seek out clients, make sure you set up a viable pricing scheme for your business. This means deciding what services you will offer and how much you will charge for each. Consider whether or not you want to participate in reselling hosting so that you can offer clients hosting services in addition to site design. Also, think about other skills you may have to offer. Are you great with graphic design? Can you ad flash animation to a site? You might even be able to incorporate print publishing skills, like making brochures, into your business. Browse the web to see what packages other companies offer and how much they charge for services. This will help you get an idea for your own business.

In order to attract clients to your new business, you will need to establish a portfolio of your work. The best way to do this is to create a website for your company. Include screenshots and links to sites you may have worked on in the past. If you don’t have published sites, create a few “model” templates to display. To get potential customers to your site, you may want to consider some very basic marketing techniques. Post fliers, hand out business cards, and ask friends and family to spread the word about your new enterprise.

If you are having trouble finding clients the old fashioned way, there is another great option available to you. There are several websites that post freelance jobs for web designers and other professionals. Browse the listings for a job you think you can handle and place a bid for your services. If your bid is accepted, you’ll have a client. It’s that simple. Some sites to get you started are Elance.com and GetaFreelancer.com. Once you’ve done a few jobs on these sites, you’ll see your rating start to grow, which means more customers and more profit.

As your business starts to attract clients and grow, you may want to do some additional reading on entrepreneurship. When profits start coming in, you will want to open a bank account specifically for your business. Also, be sure to read up on any business licensing laws where you live. With the right information, and the right plan, you will soon be on your way to financial success.

The Xbox 360 is already capable of doing so much. Most notably, it plays some of the most advanced games on the market. This refers not only to graphics and audio, but to strategy as well. Additionally, players can compete against each other online and communicate via voice and video chatting while doing so. The Xbox 360 can also play audio CDs and DVDs, making it a truly multi-purpose electronic device.

One of the key changes Microsoft hopes to make is to improve Xbox 360’s connectivity. Soon, the console will be able to easily interact with other multimedia devices, like digital cameras and mp3 players. Such devices would let users better customize their Xbox experience. This would be done using a simple USB connection. Other accessories will also be available for the Xbox 360 soon. This includes a joystick, keyboard, and special edition black controller.

Currently, most Xbox games must be purchased in disc format. However, soon this will be a thing of the past. Instead, all new content for the Xbox 360 will simply be downloaded from the internet. Xbox Live users can already do this on a small scale; downloading simple games and additions to games on disc. The recent launch of Xbox Originals has also expanded the concept of downloading game content right to the console.

Xbox 360 is also looking to expand its multiplayer features. Soon, the console’s Live features will allow users to create avatars and interact more easily with peers around the world. Users will also have greater influence over their gaming experience as the future of Xbox 360 unfolds. Developers are working on games where users can edit the content themselves. An early example of this is Forza Motorsport 2. With this game, players can use an editor to make their own content and trade it with others online.

Finally, Xbox 360 is looking to take users beyond gaming. Its developers recently announced a deal made with Netflix, which will allow Xbox 360 owners to get movies and television programs downloaded right to their console. A similar service may soon be available for music downloads. Another entertainment innovation will be Xbox Live Primetime. This will be a multiplayer game show network right on the Xbox 360 console. Players will be able to compete in virtual versions of their favorite game shows and even win real prizes.

Ultimately, Microsoft hopes its upcoming improvements to the Xbox 360 console will give their company an edge over competitors. Whether or not that will be the case remains to be seen. However, many fans are looking forward to a new level of gaming and entertainment to be brought to their Xbox 360 systems.

Online gaming is the way of the future. In fact, by the end of 2008, it will probably be a $4 billion industry. Soon, online gamers will be able to use an array of mobile devices to play from anywhere on Earth. The next generation of handheld consoles will not only include even greater graphics capabilities and processing speed, but, also, much more efficient internet connectivity. This means users on the go can play games online wherever they are. What’s more, new devices will allow you to connect to a variety of games regardless of their platform.

Another innovation for the future of gaming is procedural generation. This term refers to users’ ability to create their own content within a game. No longer will games be limited to the rigid confines of their original developers. Take Spore for example. This upcoming video game will let users begin as a single-celled organism and grow into an interplanetary civilization. The game truly has no ending. The choices the user makes help generate infinite new worlds, planets, and species. How is this possible? Put simply, developers have only needed to create the game’s blueprint. The actual path the game follows and the images created are entirely generated based upon user input. Thus, an army of designers and developers is not necessary to create these types of new games.

Not only will gamers have more and more control over their games, they will also be able to interact with other players on a whole new level. Entire virtual communities will be developed with infinite possibilities for expansion. This goes beyond a basic chat room. Users will soon be able to have their own virtual homes, friends, and even entertainment experiences. The first such virtual society on the market is likely to be Sony’s PS3 Home. However, other developers will eventually put their own versions of virtual worlds out on the market. Imagine going to the movies with your friends in an entirely digital experience right from your game console or PC. Better yet, try walking through a virtual shopping mall and seeing all the products you want to buy. Then, simply pull out your virtual credit card and have that product shipped right to your door. All of this is possible with the virtual world of the future.

Eventually, games will be so advanced they won’t even be displayed on a console screen. Instead, developers are already working on a system called Virtual Retina Display, which would project images right onto a user’s eye. Within ten years, we should start seeing simple, sunglass-style devices hit the market. Soon after, you may begin seeing devices that can be controlled directly through brain power. Sounds crazy, but developers are already working on devices where people can control computers with their brains. At least three companies already have designs in the works, and some are already benefiting people who have been disabled.

Technology truly has the power to expand indefinitely, and plenty of people are working to take the video game world to the next level. While some of these innovations seem far off, they are all planned developments expected to be on the consumer market in the next twenty years. So, keep your eyes and ears open and be on the lookout for new gaming developments that will revolutionize the industry and our society as a whole.

Canada boasts one of the top ranked institutions of higher learning in the world. McGill University in Montreal was recently listed as the twelfth best university and the top school within Canada itself. The school’s status was granted by the annual Times Higher-QS World University Rankings. It also placed as the top publicly funded institution in North America. McGill’s high ranking was due to a number of positive factors. For one, the school boasts a well-qualified, dedicated faculty and an exceptional staff to student ratio. McGill also demonstrates its achievement level through the placement of alumni with top companies both in Canada and elsewhere around the globe. The university offers programs in some three hundred academic fields, and is a great choice for undergraduate study.

For those with entrepreneurial aspirations, Schulish School of Business at York University is the place to go. The Toronto school was founded in 1966 and has cultivated an exceptional reputation over the past three decades. The school is consistently ranked among the top business schools not only in Canada but around the world. Schluish offers a number of undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, including Canada’s first international MBA certificate. The school also boasts diverse students and faculty and a well-equipped learning environment.

Anyone interested in a career in food production should consider Stratford Chefs School in Ontario, which is considered the best culinary school in Canada. This institute has been around for more than twenty-five years and boasts a 100% graduate employment rate. Approximately seventy students enroll annually at the school, which is one of the few operated by current restaurant professionals. The program focuses on both classical and contemporary cuisine. It also has a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship. Thus, students are well prepared for a future beyond the kitchen. Many alumni even open their own businesses.

If food isn’t quite high-tech enough for you, you may want to look into Vancouver Film School (VFS), Canada’s top digital animation school. It was given this distinction by 3D World magazine, which also placed the school as fifth in the world. VFS offers thirteen programs, which can be completed in as little as one year. Similar curricula elsewhere could take three to four years to finish. Out of all the film schools on YouTube, VFS leads them all with more than 12,000 subscribers and nearly 8 million video views. Many of the school’s alumni work for top film companies and have won Emmys, Oscars, and other notable awards for their work.

Ultimately, Canada has much to offer those seeking an exceptional education. Its quality schools prepare professionals for a wide array of fields. What’s more, Canada’s academic prowess continues to grow each year. Rankings of its higher education institutes have consistently risen over the last several years, showing the nation continues to make progress towards producing more skilled professionals.

The first thing any good web designer will want to learn is how to write scripts in HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language. Sure, there are many other languages available to program websites, but learning HTML is the best foundation to start with. HTML codes are the basic building blocks of the web. They can be used to format text, create tables, produce links, and more. While you can simply mess around with tags until you get it right, it is important to know the accepted HTML standards. This information can be found at www.w3.org.

Another important design component to familiarize yourself with is CSS or Cascading Style Sheets. These are compatible with all HTML pages as well as pages in other XML formats. Although there are limitations to CSS, such as limited browser support, it is still something any good web designer needs to know. Style sheets make it easier to control the visual features of a page. This includes margins, fonts, colors, and more. Additionally, you can apply the same style sheet to multiple pages, which will make it easier to ensure your entire site is consistent.

Speaking of consistency, web designers building multi-page sites should understand how to create templates. Template pages can be applied to any number of other pages for the purpose of setting up a consistent layout. Within a template, the designer sets areas which can be edited on other pages (editable regions) and areas that can only be edited on the template (locked regions). Templates help keep all pages looking the same. They also make it so you only have to change major features, like link headings, in one place. Finally, templates are a great feature if multiple people are editing a single site.

The skilled web designer must also know his or her users, or, more importantly, what their browsers can display. For example, not all fonts are installed on every computer. Thus, only “web-safe fonts” will look the same on every screen. If you use a different style of text, some viewers might not see what you want them too. A list of web-safe fonts can be found at www.ampsoft.net/webdesign-l/WindowsMacFonts.html. Additionally, varying computers will display images differently, and some machines are not well-equipped to handle large pictures. So, keep your images in the smallest file format possible when uploading them to a site.

These tips are just the tip of the iceberg. They are the foundations upon which a good web designer can develop more advanced skills. Additional study and practice is necessary to design truly innovative interactive sites. Fancier features like Flash animations and java forms will bolster your designs. However, you can not even begin to explore more advanced options without knowing the basics of web design.