quick tips

Quick Tips: How to Make a Snowy Candle Lantern

2 Quick Tips: How to Make a Snowy Candle LanternNeed some quick seasonal decor? Fill a mason jar a third of the way with Epsom salts mixed with a little silver glitter, and stick a white votive candle in the center; it creates a gorgeous snowy candle lantern. Sparkling!

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Amazon Kindle How-To Series: Great Kindle 2 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

The new Amazon Kindle 2′s features and navigation is easy to access with the MENU, and HOME buttons, along with the 5-way navigator. But there are keyboard shortcuts built into the Kindle that can make using your new e-book reader more enjoyable. There also are some special features only available using keyboard shortcuts. Here are some of the shortcuts you should keep in-mind when using your Kindle 2.

Refresh your display – the new Kindle’s screen is a big improvement over the Kindle 1. The new “digital ink” gives the screen a little better contrast and sharpness. It also moves from page to page more quickly. What you’ll find however is that sometimes you get a “ghosting” image on your screen. This can be annoying as you read. To refresh your screen hold down the ALT key then press the “G” key.

Use the Kindle’s built-in Spoken Word feature – you can press and hold down the ALT key then press the SYM key to turn the Spoken Word feature on or off. If you want to pause the Spoken Word feature press the ALT key and the space bar. Press the ALT key and the space bar again to resume playing Spoken Word.

Can’t wait to buy some new books for your Kindle 2? Press the ALT key and the HOME button to go immediately to the Kindle store. 

If you find a key passage of a book that you want to send to someone you can take a screen shot using your Kindle. Press and hold the ALT and SHIFT (up arrow) keys and then the “G” key. The screen will flash when the screen capture is complete. Attach your Kindle 2 to your computer using the USB cable. You’ll find your screen shots there with a .gif file extension. You can copy the screen shots to your computer and attach them to e-mails or print them out.

Are you bored of reading and thinking of something else to do? Of course you could use your Kindle 2 to surf the web – or – you could play a game of Minesweeper. Press and hold down the ALT key and the SHIFT (up arrow) keys and then press the “M” key. The Minesweeper game will appear on your screen. Press the MENU button to change the game options.

If you’ve uploaded your own text files to your Kindle you may need to have the Kindle scan your documents so the new files show-up on your Home page. To do this hold-down the ALT key and then press the “Z” key.

How long have you been reading this book? To find-out press the Menu key and look at the top of your Kindle display. There you’ll see the time, the memory free on your Kindle 2, and details on your wireless network connection (right now mine says “3G”).

Need some detailed technical information on your Kindle 2? From the Home Page go to Menu > Settings and then type “411″. A screen will open showing your Settings and Device Information. Take a screen shot – hold down the “ALT” and “SHIFT” keys then press the “G” key – to save the information on the screen. Press the Home button again to close this window.

Congratulations! You’ve just learned how to get more use and enjoyment from your Kindle 2 e-book reader. To get keyboard shortcuts for your Kindle 1 visit the Guide to Kindle link at the bottom of this article.

 

Michael Piston
http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/amazon-kindle-howto-series-great-kindle-2-keyboard-shortcuts-860485.html

Quick Tips: How to Keep a Car Seat Cool

2 Quick Tips: How to Keep a Car Seat CoolIn the hot seat? Keep your car upholstery comfortable by throwing a reflective emergency blanket over it. Cool!

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The Most Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make and Why Markets Tolerate No Shortcuts

The question I receive more often than any other is: “What is the mistake you most frequently observe inventors or entrepreneurs making?” The answer is an easy one. Most unsuccessful entrepreneurs try to get to market by taking shortcuts.

We live in a commercial maelstrom. The marketplace is constantly churning, changing, adapting. Successful marketers are constantly adjusting, anticipating, re-inventing. Opportunity for product launches entering this market has never been greater, but there is zero tolerance in this highly cluttered environment for half done, distorted product or service offerings. The commercial markets will simply spit out these otherwise, potentially powerful possibilities.

How do we define a shortcut and why does each definition disqualify the product from successfully positioning itself in the contemporary marketplace? Here is a list of some of the most basic shortcuts we see entrepreneurs attempt to circumvent.

  • No Patent, Trademark, Copyright Filing

Typically the cost of filing and utilizing a patent attorney is the principal deterrent. Many entrepreneurs attempt to fill in the blanks on a template available from bookstores or the inter-net and self-file. We have never, never seen this avenue succeed. There is a reason that patent lawyers practice no other type of law. This is the classic specialty practice. Investors, partners or licensees want to know that the idea they are reviewing has protection.

  • Amateur Prototype or Design

Professional quality, shelf ready prototypes are an absolute requirement when seeking to place, sell or license a product opportunity. The 3-dimension CAD art is also crucial in patent submissions and creating the cost of manufacturing the product. Occasionally the inventor has the skills and equipment needed to successfully create this absolutely crucial design element. However, we usually see amateur attempts to avoid the cost, time and research necessary to properly render the features and benefits of the product or service. This is an opportunity killer.

  • Fictional Sales Model

Inventors are passionate about their creations, and passion is important. However, they often do not properly research the size of their target market, competition and create a sales model that is supportable and believable. What is a sales model? A sales model is a quantified, qualified, well-researched formula to extrapolate the realistic sales potential for an opportunity. Knowing the dead net cost of goods is absolutely essential in establishing a believable sales model. What is the demographic for the product? What is the competitive overview? How does the new product differ in features and benefits from competition?

During year one, two, three, how many store openings will realistically be obtained? What will be the annualized turnover per door? Will there be international sales, kicking in when? A fictional sales model is tantamount to opportunity murder.

  • Let’s Guess the Cost of Goods 

It is amazing that learning the absolute cost of goods (COG) receives such short shrift. This number is to a product as blood is to life. If COG is too high, a product has little chance to compete. A low COG, with uncompromising product quality, is essential for success. Each element of a product or service needs to be included in a supporting Bill of Materials with costs extended to fractions of pennies. These are then totaled. Then add costs of freight, customs and duties (if offshore production involved) to obtain a dead net COG. Dreaming, wishing and hoping that COG is accurate is a dead giveaway that the inventor has taken deal-killing shortcuts.

  • This Opportunity Does Not Need a Business Plan!

These are famous last words. No modern home is built without an architectural drawing. A cell phone is designed around highly technical engineering models and art. Retail stores are painstakingly designed and planned. And yet, entrepreneurs, all too often, either will not recognize, or will not commit to writing a customized business plan. Again, an inter-net template is a waste of time. We receive hundreds of Business Plan submissions annually. We are still waiting for the first exciting, comprehensive plan that would be a candidate for funding, license or sale that came off an internet download template. This route screams shortcut and lack of serious commitment.

These are only a few of the most common shortcuts we see entrepreneurs regularly take. Most disappointingly, the shortcuts taken will kill otherwise excellent start-up opportunities. There are thousands of new opportunities chasing a limited amount of new enterprise funding dollars. Matching invention and success will not be achieved, no matter how revolutionary the new item, without presenting a fully researched and vetted package for market consideration. No Shortcuts Allowed!

 

 

 

 

 

Geoff Ficke
http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/the-most-common-mistakes-entrepreneurs-make-and-why-markets-tolerate-no-shortcuts-556883.html

Quick Weight Loss Tips – Dangers of Quick Weight Loss Pills

Anyone who can offer quick weight loss tips to an obese adult struggling with his/her weight is a savior. If you want to lose weight because you are grossly overweight or just not too pleased with your slightly larger frame, you are considered normal. This article will dig out the dirt on quick weight loss pills, and why you have to exercise caution before you pop another pill to help you lose weight quickly.

The last statistical head count put the number of people undergoing or aspiring to lose weight in America as more than 50 million. That’s a whopping 8-digit figure that keeps repeating itself every year. Are you ready to hear about the success rate? It is a miserable 3-4 percent, which means that out of every 25-30 persons who want to lose weight, only one will ever succeed and maintain his/her weight in the long run.

Let’s face the sad fact together. The only hard work most of us will put in to achieve our weight loss goal is to think hard. But thinking and dreaming about our desired weight would never make us lighter on the weighing scales. We need to put those quick weight loss tips we learnt into action. These include revamping our diet and exercise routine and inject adequate moderate activities to burn off those extra pounds off our waists. It is no wonder that many people would turn to quick weight loss pills as an instant solution. We want to solve our weight problem but have no threshold to tolerate the pain or inconvenience caused as a result of change in our dietary habits and lifestyle.

Because of the sheer size of the weight loss industry, many are tempted to penetrate into this billion-dollar market. Unscrupulous manufacturers and businessmen are quick to seize this opportunity to profiteer from the “wonder quick weigh loss pill” phenomenon. Almost every other month, you will hear of new quick weight loss pills launched in the market.

Unfortunately, a lot of these weight loss pills are ineffective and unable to deliver on their promises of quick weight loss. What’s worse is some of these products contain harmful substances detrimental to our health. Complaints have been made to the authorities such as FDA and investigations have been conducted. You may have read in the news about crackdowns on weight loss pill rackets. Cartons of fake weight loss pills worth millions of dollars in market value have been seized and manufacturers of such weight loss pills are taken to court one by one.

Fat and starch blockers, diet patches, bulk fillers, spirulina etc are among those found to be problematic. Your intestinal and digestive system may suffer as a result of consuming such pills. Be careful if you are thinking of taking one of these quick weight loss pill. Here’s a useful quick weight loss tip for you. Although not all diet pills are harmful, it is always safer to read the content label and consult your doctor if in doubt before you consume them.

There are better and safer ways to lose weight fast. Look out for quick weight loss tips over at my blog and discover how you can lose 28 pounds easily and naturally over 3 weeks like many others who have succeeded.

The above content is for educational and illustrational purposes only. No special reference is made to any brand of drugs. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Davion W
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/quick-weight-loss-tips-dangers-of-quick-weight-loss-pills-91732.html

Tips for Cutting Half Blind Dovetails, Part 1

2 Tips for Cutting Half Blind Dovetails, Part 1Special Guest, Tim Rousseau teaches us some tips and tricks for improving the quality of your half blind dovetails in part 1 of this YouTube series. Tim Rousseau teaches at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. For more information on the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, pleas visit: www.woodschool.com

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Time Saving Tips – 5 Quick Ways to Simplify Life and Save Time

5 Quick Time Saving Tips

Never enough time?  Too much to do?  Take a quick look at these tips. 

1.    Problem #1: No Structure.  Solution: Organize!  Taking a few moments at the beginning of your day to put together a basic structure is the #1 way to save time.  This doesn’t mean you need your life scheduled to the minute.  Just a short “Organization Session” can work wonders.  It will save you TONS of wasted time most spend in urgent mode.  And will also save you from the suddenly recalled tasks to do at 4:59pm.

2.    Problem #2: I Can’t Just Move Forward.  Solution: Create Space.  Make your priority a true priority.  Don’t put it off.  A few tricks can help it finish up in no time.  Check your email and voicemail only a few times a day.  Two would be ideal.  Divide large tasks up into smaller ones.  Concentrate on a few projects and finish them up.  Going back and forth diverts attention and wastes several minutes each time trying to get your focus back.  Let others know this is your policy and have them text you if it’s urgent.  Don’t be afraid to say no to other’s demands on your energy and time. And make sure to reward yourself throughout the process – it helps with motivation to finish it all.

3.    Problem #3: Overflow and Overwhelm.  Solution: Let Go.  Do you get 100 emails every day?  Have piles of magazines to read that you never get to?   When you see these “stacks” of things and feel them weighing you down, immediately reach for them and toss them in a recycle bin.  Stop stressing about getting them done.  Look openly and ask yourself, “do I have to do these?  Do I really need these?  When will I really get to these things?”  Let go of the maintenance of things that you simply don’t have time for.  This will free up a lot of your energy from carrying around such a heavy burden.  Delegate things that you can.  Often times others would love to help out and it may even allow them to grow.  Consider hiring a helper for a few hours a week.  Even if they free you up just a few hours, it is often well worth it.

4.    Problem #4: Burn Out.  Solution: Take Short Breaks.  Rotating working periods with short rest or recharge periods will keep your energy flowing.  An optimal energy flow ensures the greatest quality and quantity of work possible.  Every few hours get up and stretch or take a quick walk around the parking lot.

5.    Problem #5: It’s a Mess Here.  Solution: Clean and File.  It seems like a waste of time, I know.  It’s not that you have to do it.  But someone needs to.  Set your desk up as a cockpit.  A great setup can speed up efficiency miraculously.  Keep your areas neat and clean.  File your work so that you can quickly find it when needed.  So, go ahead.  Hire that helper if you haven’t already.  Start somewhere.  Or, if not, pick up that stack and begin today.  Implement a system that creates a perfect harmony between findable and low maintenance.  I’ve found one.  It IS possible!

And now I invite you to get more free refreshing lifestyle ideas, organization and clarity tips, and fun at http://www.AhamPrema.com. Stay connected to receive your goodies.

By Danielle Marie Crume

Danielle Marie Crume
http://www.articlesbase.com/time-management-articles/time-saving-tips-5-quick-ways-to-simplify-life-and-save-time-692971.html

Quick Tips: Free internet at Stillwater Public Library

2 Quick Tips: Free internet at Stillwater Public LibraryThe Stillwater Public Library offers free internet service.

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5 Quick Weight Loss Tips

Quick weight loss tips are much sought after by folks eager to lose some weight in the shortest time possible. You could be a bride preparing for your wedding and needed to slim down to fit into your gown nicely, or in your mid-40s and want to lose that beer belly. Whatever the reason may be, it is not wrong to desire to lose weight quickly. But the key is to do so healthily. This article is packed with 10 goodie tips that would put you on the right track to losing those extra unwanted pounds on your body and regaining the dream body you always loved to have.

Here’s 5 simple quick weight loss tips:

Quick Weight Loss Tip 1 – Losing Weight is an Equation

Losing weight means you have to eat lesser calories than what your body needs. This translates to consuming lesser calories than your daily energy requirement. Follow the Basal Metabollic Rate (BMR) formula which you will find on my blog to calculate your BMR. This tells you how much calories you need to intake in order to maintain your body weight. You will need to step down your daily calorie intake by about 500 calories in order to lose one pound in one week’s time.

Quick Weight Loss Tip 2 – Eat More Meals and Don’t Skip Them

Before you start wondering if you are reading correctly, let me assure you that your eyes are not playing tricks on you. It is a myth that skipping meals would help you to lose weight quickly and effectively. Your body would slow down its metabolism when you skip meals, in a bid to conserve energy, hence burning away lesser calories. You end up hungry and yet not achieving the desired weight loss.

Spread your meals from 3 big meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner into 5-6 smaller meals comprising the 3 main light meals and 2-3 other snacking time. This would distribute your calorie intake and reach a good balance.

Quick Weight Loss Tip 3 – Eat Green

Stock up your fridge with lots of leafy green vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits are rich sources of fiber and water and add weight and volume to our food. This makes our stomachs full while maintaining a lower calorie count since fruits and vegetables are inherently low in calories and fat content. They also pack our bodies with healthy nutrients making our diet a balanced one.

Quick Weight Loss Tip 4 – Sleep Well

Sleeping is a favorite quick weight loss tip since it is one of the most effortless. Do not understand the power of having enough sleep. It is vital to your overall weight loss plan. Medical research has proven that sleep deprivation would induce hunger, and improve appetite. This often results in excessive eating. Likewise, having sufficient sleep of at least 8 hours helps to bring a balance to the leptin level and aids weight loss.

Quick Weight Loss Tip 5 – Exercise Enough

Some folks hate this quick weight loss tip and are immediately turned off. Sad to say, in order to maintain a healthy weight, exercise is necessary. Dieting and making adjustments to your eating habits would only win you half the game. Regular exercising is the missing part of the quick weight loss puzzle. You may be wondering how much is enough? Physical trainers or even your doctors would advise you to go for moderate exercise sessions of 30 minutes each time. Repeat the routine for a minimum of 3 times a week for effective weight loss. You would be surprised how fast you start to lose inches off your waist and hips once you begin your exercise regime.

These quick weight loss tips are useful to you only when you apply them after reading. Many people fail in doing so because of poor motivation and lack of moral support from their family and closed friends. Share with them about your weight loss plan and encourage them to remind you from time to time about your goal to lose weight quickly. This would spur you on to be focused. Read up my blog if you desire to find out more about natural and healthy ways to lose up to 28 pounds within 3 short weeks.

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Davion W
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/5-quick-weight-loss-tips-90194.html

Quick Weight Loss Tips – Ready to Lose Weight Now?

Quick weight loss is not impossible but if you are thinking that it happens instantly without any effort on your part, you are seriously misled or living in delusion. If you are willing to observe and stick with a proper plan, together with steps and quick weight loss tips I will reveal in this article, you will find yourself ready for some fast weight loss. Are you ready to lose weight starting from today?

Weight loss and diet programs come and go. Some are just the fad of today, and people chase after them without fully understanding if they would work for them. Of course, there are some long-standing ones which do work such as the Atkins and Cambridge Diets. However, over-relying on a special diet program is not for everyone due to our different genetic make-up. There could be adverse side-effects that could surface and result in long-term health problems.

Weight loss is a lifestyle than a physical act. Let’s take a closer look at why most people fail in their weight loss attempts. Survey results showed that the majority failed due to the lack of proper preparation. To be more specific, their will and motivation to lose weight are not strong enough and they give up easily each time a weight loss program does not work for them. Many others give in fast to temptations of personal indulgence like food, snacks and the like. Still there are some who simple find it too tough to work out physically. Unless you take your weight loss seriously, there is a high chance that you will throw in the towel after a while.

Assuming you are serious about losing weight, you then qualify as a good candidate to apply those quick weight loss tips shared here. Losing weight successfully requires your mindset to be fixated on your quick weight loss plan and goal, no matter which route you have chosen. Plans do work but only if we work on them. Ask yourself what are the reasons for you wanting to lose weight. Make sure they are motivating enough. Think of the worst case scenario should you fail; the ugly stares at your fat tummy, not feeling confident when approaching the girl/guy you wish to date? The purpose of this whole exercise is to condition your thinking. Ok, once you have found the strong reasons to lose weight, you are one step ahead of many others.

Now, we will look at 3 practical quick weight loss tips:

1. Be Prepared to Put in Effort

Your fat does not melt while you are sleeping or dreaming about it. You need to do something about it. We live in a world where everything seems to be ideal in the media. The movies we watch feature only beautiful ladies with excellent figures, handsome looking men with nice abs, and so on. TV commercials flash nice advertisements with a famous celebrity endorsing some slimming pills that touts itself as the “Diet Pill of the Century” and that’s how they got their svelte figures. Frankly, these are gimmicks playing on your fears and anxiety. The celebrities or models you see already have great figures before they shoot the advertisements. Everyone wants a wonder pill that helps them to lose weight instantly without any effort. That is why people would not hesitate to try these diet pills and supplements. Unfortunately, most don’t work.

2. Be Focused in Your Weight Loss Goal

Quick weight loss can be achieved if you can stick with your exercise regime and dietary plans. It may take some time but it will happen. Stay focused on your goal, and keep reminding yourself on the motivating factors of your weight loss when you are starting to feel disappointed. It is important to share your goal with close friends and family members or even join a support group. Their constant encouragement would spur you on to fulfill your weight loss dream. No man is an island. Remember to put this quick weight loss tip into practice.

3. Have Fun in Your Weight Loss Exercises

Many folks fail to realize that weight loss can be an enjoyable experience. It requires deliberate but simple effort to inject fun. People have shared that they hated weight loss because they have to sacrifice their time with their TVs, their computer games, and give up on their favorite foods, and so on. Weight loss seems to have a negative connotation. If you are burning your calories, why not engage in games that you love? Like playing a game of tennis, or take a plunge in the pool and have a relaxing swim? For people who don’t like physical sports, they can go for brisk walking. Take a nice stroll with your loved ones. You wouldn’t even realize that you are exercising.

I hope these preparatory quick weight loss tips are beneficial to you. Find out what are the 10 easy weight loss tips that you can follow straightaway to lose weight fast in my blog.

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Davion W
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/quick-weight-loss-tips-ready-to-lose-weight-now-89445.html