More Cool Web Tricks
Jim Edwards
If you ask most people what frustrates them most about the Internet, many of them will tell you "Its the little things!"
It seems like all the great tricks and tips that make people exclaim "STOP! How did you do that" never make it into any manual at least where I can find them.
My father and co-author of "Turn Words Into Traffic" calls it the "reverse oral tradition" of computing, where children teach parents the survival skills of PC life.
Well, if you want to look good to your kids or buddies around the water cooler, check out the following cool web tricks.
~^~ Cool Google Tricks ~^~
Virtually everyone knows that Google.com ranks at the top of most peoples search engine lists, but it does a lot more than just tell you where to find vitamins or information on George Washingtons wooden teeth!
Need a map to a specific location
Type in the address, city and state of virtually any location in the US, hit the search button, and Google serves up several different map providers across the Web.
Want to know what software application a certain file goes with on your computer
Input the file name into Googles search box and a number of reference sites will help you know exactly what purpose a file serves.
I actually used this to feature to identify a piece of "spyware" lurking on my computer.
Want to know whos calling you on the phone in the US
You can just input the phone number on your caller ID or cell phone display into the Google search box and get information on listed numbers before your answering machine can even pick up!
Log on to http://www.google.com/help/features.html for more cool search features that harness the search power of Google.
~^~ Text Zoom ~^~
Next time you cant see small text clearly on a website, try holding down the "CTRL" key and then moving the scroll wheel on your mouse up and down.
The text in your web browser and some programs will increase and decrease in size as you roll the wheel back and forth.
This little trick provides an excellent means of quickly getting what you need from websites with tiny text.
~^~ Slow Surfing ~^~
If your Internet Explorer web browser starts giving you problems, you might want to clean up your "Temporary Internet Files."
Most people dont realize it, but when you leave a web page, it doesnt leave you!
Most of the time you keep a copy of websites you visit on your hard drive and, over time, they build up.
This collection of old web pages can eventually cause your surfing to slow to a crawl and even cause errors!
Heres one way to clear out those old files. Click your "Start" button, then "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and "Disk Cleanup."
After an initial check of your hard drive which can take some time if its the first time youve ever launched the utility, you can check the boxes of the files you wish to delete.
To speed up your surfing, at a minimum, make sure you delete the "Temporary Internet Files."
~^~ Surfing Shortcuts ~^~
To quickly cycle back and forth through a series of web pages youve visited, hold down the "ALT" key and tap your left and right arrow keys.
Left arrow takes you back while the Right arrow takes you forward.
The Page Up and Page Down buttons allow you to quickly move up and down any web page without struggling to find the scroll bar slider on the right side of the page.
About The Author
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist http://www.TheNetReporter.com and is the author of several best-selling ebooks, information products and software programs.
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6 REALLY COOL THINGS: The King of your Castle!!!
Tom Levine
If you want to be a millionaire, if you want to be smart with your money, if you want to get ahead in life, build security, establish equity, and retire in confidence, then you must, simply MUST become the King of your Castle!
You need to buy your first home if you havent taken this important step yet. If you have bought your first home already, then read on. I know you already are nodding your head in full agreement, but lets briefly review some of the really cool things that happens when you own your own home:
Thing 1 : All interest paid on your mortgage is a tax write-off at the end of the year.
Thing 2: You are building equity, and FAST!
Thing 3: No more landlords, No more thin walls!
Thing 4, the tax break, gives you breathing room financially.
Thing 5, Equity. Huge deal here.
Thing 6: The King of your Castle!
Thing 1 : All interest paid on your mortgage is a tax write-off at the end of the year.
Thats HUGE. If you pay $1000 a month on your mortgage, the vast majority of this is interest.
Youre write-off at the end of the year, will be around $12,000 as a scheduled deduction on your 1040 to the tax-man. See the massive benefit this has, come April 15th
Watch your savings account thrive, or go on an awesome vacation to Jamaica, or buy a new car, or invest in a mutual fund. We
Staying Cool When the Job Heats Up
Dale Collie
Jobs are heating up. Were all feeling the pinch of hiring freezes and information overload. Workplace stress is increasing right along with the workload.
Headaches are turning into migraines; back pains are driving us to the chiropractor, and minor irritations are causing tempers to flair.
In addition to our personal reaction to stress, it is taking its toll on the bottom line. Stress is driving up the cost of health care, and we can see a huge impact in things like tardiness, absenteeism, personnel turnover, and accidents. The annual price tag of stress in corporate America is more than $150 billion.
While forecasters tell us we can expect more of the same, we need our jobs, and we need to find ways to control the stressors that are taking a affecting our health and productivity.
Here are 11 ways you can keep your cool and minimize the impact of stress on your life.
Do your own job - When poor the work habits of others create stress, remember why youre there. Pay attention to your own job. You will not be rated on the performance of others, but the boss will note the quality of your work. Stay focused on the job you were hired for, and let management deal with improving the department or the company. Dont get stressed about things that are not your responsibility.
Organization - Regardless of company expectations, you can alleviate a lot of your stress by organizing your work space and getting a firm grasp on the work that must be done. Even if you have to pay for it yourself, get the tools needed to organize your effort, e.g. files, furniture, PDAs, software, and training. Work with your boss to prioritize projects and routine tasks. Only get concerned about unfinished work if the boss gives it a priority. Youll never get everything done, so pick the most important and file everything else in an easy to reach file drawer.
Communication - Its important to maintain your supervisors comfort level, so meet with them as often as necessary to keep them informed of projects and progress. Give them updates the way they want them email, memos, briefings, etc., and persist in getting the feedback that is so important in reducing stress. Use this same strategy with those who give you information or products to do your job and those who depend on what you give them. Good communication is essential for good stress control.
Interruptions - Avoid stressful interruptions by controlling your schedule and your communications. Establish times for meeting with those who want information from you and hold them to it. The more persistent you are, the more organized they will be. Handle phone calls and respond to email during specific times. Develop a list of people and events that disrupt your job and work with each until it is under control.
Family Time - Family situations are among the greatest stressors at work. Theres an old axiom that says, "If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy." Its true. Avoid future problems by prioritizing family time on your schedule and stick to it. Get professional help if youre unable to resolve sticky situations.
Exercise - More than 80% of all doctors visits are stress related. Those who find time to exercise reduce stress, strengthen their immune system, and improve their well being. Do a little research and talk with the experts to find out what fits your needs. Make the exercise part of your work schedule if possible; dont let it cut into family time. Regular exercise can add years to your own life and make you more productive for your employer.
Nutrition - Proper nutrition is a key to stress control. The US Army recognizes proper nutrition as a critical element in controlling stress among combat soldiers, and you must admit, your job is sometimes as stressful as combat. Use the Internet or get information from Human Resources to improve nutrition. Youll have to make some deliberate changes because our eating habits are affected by our culture, the expectations of others, inadequate knowledge about what makes a proper diet. Learn what is needed and make a plan.
Rest - Take charge of your sleep habits in the same way you work on your eating habits. Sleep deprivation is a major stressor by itself, and it adds to the problem with other stressful events. Cut out the late night television. Quit taking work home from the office. Change the pattern of your weekend parties. Get some new friends. Do whatever is necessary to get back on track with seven or eight hours sleep every night. Studies show that twenty minute power naps make us more productive, so use part of your lunch break for nutrition and part for a short nap to control stress. Youll get more done.
Discussion - Tell people whats on your mind. If you cant ignore someones special talent for bugging you, talk it over with them. Theres a good chance they are unaware of the offense, so you dont need to get up tight about it. In a friendly tone of voice, let them know what gets under your skin and be ready to make some concessions yourself. As you now know, their irritating habit is probably magnified by other stressors, so make sure youve done what you can to control stress before challenging anyone.
Education - The more educated you are about your job, the less stressful it becomes. Even if youve been on the job for years, theres always more to learn about the upstream and downstream impact of what you do. Stay up to date with trade journals, books, and other research. Become the expert at what you do and coach others. While some companies do not pay for this type education, your own investment will make you more valuable to your company. What you know is portable - and it looks good on a resume.
Volunteer - Helping others has an immediate impact on stress levels. Build in some family time by volunteering as a family once a month. Build rapport with supervisors and co-workers by organizing a once-a-week lunchtime volunteer program. Lead a food or clothing collection for needy employees or families outside your company. Create a support-the-troops letter writing campaign so everyone in the company communicates regularly with GIs away from home. In short, doing something for someone else takes your mind off the stressors that bother you most.
Each of these stress relievers works independently of the others. Find one thats practical for you and put it to work. Friends, family, and co-workers will all notice the changes in you and thank you for making the effort.
For a free article about the top ten workplace stressors and how to tame them, send email to TopTenStressors@CourageBuilders.com
---Sidebar---
11 Ways to Keep Your Cool
Do your own job
Get Organized
Communicate with the boss and others
Control interruptions
Schedule Family Time
Exercise
Eat right
Get 8 hours sleep a night
Let others know what bugs you
Learn new things about your job
Volunteer to help others
Copyright 2005 - Dale Collie
About The Author
Copyright 2005
Dale Collie
You may publish this article electronically or in print f`r`e`e of charge. Feel free to edit for space and audience. Just include my full byline and add a hyperlink for web postings. When you publish, please send a courtesy link or email to collie@couragebuilders.com.