The Refresh Orlando Heirs

First Date Do’s And Don’ts

First dates are scary. Most people hate the idea of having to go
on a first date. Will you like them? Will they like you? What do
I talk about? It feels more like a job interview than a date.
Here are some basic tips to make your first date with that
special someone run a little more smoothly.

DON’T Talk About An Ex Or Past Relationship

Nobody wants to know about all the juicy details of your last
relationship; that’s something you save for much, much further
down the line. Talking about other people you were once with can
cause jealousy, or make the other person think you’re still
emotionally in that relationship, and turn them off.

DO Smile!

Smiling always sends a positive vibe out to people you’re with,
and you want your date to think you’re happy. By frowning the
whole time they might see you as a negative person who isn’t fun
to be with. So smile, I swear you will get a much better
reaction.

DON’T Answer Your Cell Phone

I cannot stress enough how incredibly RUDE it is to answer your
phone when you are with another person, especially if you are on
a first date with them! By answering your phone, you’re telling
the person you’re with that they aren’t intriguing enough and
you’d rather have a conversation with someone more interesting.
Just turn it off! They invented voicemail for a reason.

DO Be A Gentleman

Chivalry is NOT dead! Despite what you hear, women still love
when a guy opens the door for you (this means the car door too!)
You will never get points knocked off for being a gentleman,
because you are showing her that your mature and know how to
treat a lady. Flowers wouldn’t hurt either.

DON’T Wear A Costume

Well, okay, not literally a costume, but don’t wear something
that isn’t YOU. First dates are scary enough, you don’t need to
be pulling and tugging at your outfit the whole night, and
wondering if your skirt is too short. Wear something that you
wear a lot, something you feel comfortable in because if you
feel comfortable on the inside, then you will look more
comfortable to your date on the outside.

DO Ask Questions

Everyone’s favorite topic for a conversation is themselves. Why?
Because it’s the field we are most knowledgeable in. When in
doubt about what to say, just ask them a question about
themselves. They will be happy to answer, and who knows, it just
may even spur a topic for a new conversation.

DON’T Give It All Away

Ladies, do not sleep with the guy on the first date. This is by
far the worst move you can make. If you give everything at once,
then what is left for him to find out? A little mystery goes a
long way.

To find singles in your area, check out Datehookup.com Personals

1. Backup your website on the server.

If you have more than one important web site, put them on different web hosts. Don’t rely on your web host for backups.

Find two different hosts which allow SSH access. Get an account with each. FTP the backup of one site to the other server directly, and vice versa. Download copies to your home computer as well.

2. Put a file called ‘index.html’ in every major or important directory in your website, if it doesn’t already have one.

This stops people trying to peek at other files in the same directory.

3. Do not use old versions of FormMail. Do not use scripts that are newly released, unless you know how to check for security holes.

They should filter input like \# or >. Search on the terms ‘Script Name bug’ or ‘Script Name security’.

4. Rename any email scripts you download before installing them.

Why give a spammer a clue as to what your script is, and what it can do?

5. Do not give files or directories obvious names, like ‘pass’, ‘emails’, ‘orders’ and the like.

Again, why make it easy for snoopers?

6. Do not leave unencrypted, confidential information on your server.

It’s only a computer in a room God knows where, with God knows who having access to it.

7. Use a popular web host.

That cheapo one might be an un-committed reseller. Their Google PageRank gives a clue as to how popular they are. Send them an email or two. See how long it takes to get a reply. Check out their forums; how busy are they? They don’t have a forum? Next!

8. If you are setting up .htaccess files or any other type of password protection, use long and varied passwords.

“Ch33s3And0n10n” is a lot more secure than “cheeseandonion”, and just as memorable. Make your password at least 8 characters in length, containing both letters and numbers, and both upper and lower-case letters. Ordinary words can be guessed by brute-force cracking programs.

9. Strip scripts down to the bare essentials. Upgrade them regularly.

Programs like PHPNuke have lots of features in the default install. They allow webmasters and users a lot of control of website content. This creates vulnerabilities. A ‘Nuke site of mine was hacked during Christmas 2005, by an Arabian group. Fortunately, I had a backup. I didn’t have fast internet access, at the time, to upgrade it. I only needed one module working, so I removed the inessential ones, and changed file permissions on the admin section. At the time of writing, I’m waiting to see what happens next!

If you don’t truly need it, turn it off.

10. Be careful what you say about other people or products on your site.

Not really security, but… people are very touchy about criticism. ‘Flame wars’ are a waste of time and energy, so avoid them.

T. O’ Donnell www.ttvanity.com is an ecommerce consultant in London, UK. His latest project is a freeware mortgage calculator, available at www.tigertom.com/mortgages-uk.shtml.

By using your computer today you can find a lot of different music and movie programs. From downloading music and movies directly from the internet to buying subscriptions, joining clubs, and even renting, all from the comfort of your home.

Today is a fast paced world and by having the luxury of not having to fight traffic or stand in lines makes getting your entertainment a lot easier.

Some of the more popular programs available include… file-sharing programs or also called p2p programs have cropped up all over the Internet, are easily accessible and range from being free to about twenty dollars. Also included in this category are companies such as Napster, Realrhapsody, Emusic, Itunes, Musicmatch, and even Wal-Mart, offer music downloads on a pay per song or album basis, ranging from .79 per song to about ten dollars for an album. You are able to burn these songs to a CD.

Music and movie clubs are still a strong player in the entertainment industry. Columbia House and BMG are still the two biggest music clubs today and offer outstanding bargains to join their respective clubs. Columbia House also offers a DVD club, which also includes a very good initial offer to join. Disney movie club has plenty of titles for the youngsters in your life.

If you don’t care to join any music or movie clubs, you can always rent them. Netflix, Wal-Mart and others give you the opportunity to rent your movies or concerts and have them delivered directly to your front door with all postage paid both to and from the company. These plans are about twenty dollars a month and you can rent as many as you want during that time. You can take up to three titles at a time. If you are a movie lover, this is really a good plan and very convenient.

Take advantage of your computer and the ease at which you can obtain your entertainment needs. All these different companies have safe and secure online ordering. Give it a try and have fun.

Let your computer help you with your entertainment needs.

About The Author

Robert Dorrance has been a music and movie lover for years and has a dedicated website for people to easily find out what some of their entertainment choices are by using a computer to help you make an informed decision. RD@musicmovieschoice.com

As promised at the end of part 4 of this series, in this section I will deal with Patio Sliding Glass Doors. Quite often homeowners install sturdy locks on their front doors but leave their patio doors and sliding glass windows “wide open” to illegal entry.

Burglars love these because they are so easy to open. Usually, sliding doors and windows are at the side or rear of the home so they are more secluded than the front door, this makes a perfect place for burglars to hide and enter.

There are two main risks that need to be protected against.

1. Forcing the lock.
The standard lock that is fitted to most sliding doors and windows is very easy to pry open, an additional stronger lock should be fitted to give more security. Something as simple as lying a broomstick in the runner can offer some protection provided it is a good fit.

However Dead Locks are much better, they will prevent the burglar from using the door or window to remove stolen property unless they smash the glass and that is a very noisy and risky thing for them to do.

2. Lifting Out.
Many sliding doors and windows can be lifted out of their tracks from the outside. You can prevent this by putting two metal screws through the track above the sliding part of the door or window, the screw will need to be adjusted to allow the door to operate correctly.

Double Hung Windows
To lock a double hung window, you will have to drill a downward sloping hole into the top of the bottom window, and through that into the bottom of the top window being careful to avoid the glass unit, if you have any doubt about your DIY abilities get a professional tradesman to do it. Once the hole is drilled a pin can be inserted, locking the window shut.

To use the window for ventilation, you should partly open it (less that 4 inches) and making a second set of holes, the window can then be used for ventilation.

Remember, open windows and doors, even if secured, should never be left unattended while you are gone or asleep.

This section is quite short but I thought the information was important enough to deserve a section of it’s own. In part six we will be dealing with Burglar Alarms.

For more vital home security tips and information about how to protect your home and family please visit http://www.homesecuritynews.info

You may reproduce this article provided you maintain an active link back to
http://www.homesecuritynews.info

At some point or another, we have all been there. We end up with a partner who has an imecapble resume. S/He is good looking, intelligent, career and family oriented. After the honeymoon period, we realize that the relationship is eating away at our self-esteem, leaving us feeling uneasy and ambivalent. We begin to ask ourelves questions such as: what’s going on here, but we got a long sooo well in the beginning, did s/he really say that, why am I putting up with this? These uncomfortbale feelings and self doubt may be a sign that you in a Toxic Relationship.

What is a Toxic Relationship?

A toxic realtionship leaves you:

Feeling bad about yourself, drained, uneasy, or uncomfortable

Feeling confused due to mixed messages

Feeling preoccupied or obsessed with your future and the future of the relationship

Feeling too emotional or needy for wanting to spend alone time with your partner

Feeling too analytic for wanting identify the discord or discuss the relationship issues

Feeling as if there is something wrong with you which needs to be fixed

Feeling that if you just hold on a little longer things will go back to the way they were in the beginning

Why do we put up with these relationships?

1. We Rationalize: We begin to make lots of excuses, and they usually begin with- BUT: But s/he is so stressed with work right now, But s/he didn’t mean to say that s/he just had one too many beers, But s/he was just joking.

2. There are times when things are good: At times, our partner can be kind, caring, and charming. This behavior serves to offset our concerns and causes us to believe that things aren’t that bad. If and when we contemplate breaking up with this person we think, “We had such a great time the other night. We were totally in sync. Maybe things are changing.” These good times are few and far between, and they usually come around when your partner senses that you are questioning the relationship.

3. Optimism: We believe that when the right time comes along we will be able to work things out. The problem is, it is almost never the right time. Or, we discuss the issues all the time and believe that we are working on the relationship, yet no real change occurs.

4. Living in the past: In the beginning, things were great! As a couple, we had a great time together, really connected, and made some great memories. These memories serve to distort the real picture of what is going on. We hold on because we hope and pray that things will go back to the way they were.

5. Chemistry: We have great sexual chemistry with this person and mistake it for love.

6. Fear: At some level, whether we are aware of it or not, fear exists. It could be fear of: loss, failure, never finding someone, never finding someone better, putting ourselves back out on the dating scene. These fears hold us back from making decisions that honor our true selves and keep us from what we deserve.

Although toxic relationships can be difficult, we can work on them and through them. In part two of this article, you will find simple and practical solutions for your toxic relationship.

Peggy Tsatsoulis, MA CAGS- is a highly sought after Professional Life Coach and Certified Psychologist with over ten years of experience. She has been dedicated to working with individuals to improve the quality of their lives, and her focus has been on bringing out the best in others. She uses simple and practical tools to help clients find simple solutions to their daily challenges. For more information and resources, or to sign up for a free consultation please visit http://www.simplycoaching.net.

Much of our personal and cultural perspective on the world is
colored by the language in which our concepts and ideas are
couched. Changing that language can therefore alter our
attitudes about what we hear and see.

“Responsibility,” for example, is a word with positive
reverberations. It reeks of reliability, accountability, and
self-control. It carries connotations of honesty, dependability,
and courage.

So why have the media adopted the buzz phrase “claims
responsibility” for the violent outrages committed by terrorists
who cover their faces in cowardly anonymity, hide themselves
behind innocent civilian populations, plot behind closed doors,
and, in general, act totally irresponsibly?

If the media changes their terminology to “admits guilt” the
concept itself changes dramatically. “Guilt” is a suitably
pejorative notion to apply to murder. An admission of guilt
clearly conveys the message that the perpetrators know wrong
from right and have willingly made their hideous choice.

Regardless of the politics, culture, or religion involved in any
dispute, no matter how complicated or divisive, there is the
rational approach to resolution and there is the emotionally
selfish, vicious, and vindictive response.

Terrorist groups of all persuasions have defined themselves as
criminal by their heinous indifference to that most fragile
quality: human life. Let’s expose them for what they are and
call a spade a spade.

Depending upon the player that you own, you may experience a few
glitches here and there while trying to enjoy your favorite DVD
(digital videodisc) movie. Perhaps you’ve even experienced the
problem of the non-playable DVD - you know… the one that
worked fine when you first bought it, but then failed to run
properly after a number of viewings. If you have experienced
this problem, then you’re probably ready to learn how to back up
your DVDs onto an environment guaranteed to run it!

Fortunately, you can use DVD backup software to burn your
favorite movies onto another workable CD (DVD disk). “Burning”
is the process of copying data from a DVD (or audio CD) onto
your hard drive, and then making another copy from your computer
onto a readable and writeable DVD (DVD-R). Writeable DVD disks,
like writeable CDs, can be purchased at any computer or office
supply store. Once burned, you can watch movies from your new
copies.

To get a movie onto your hard drive, you’ll need to “rip” it.
Ripping a DVD requires additional software that’s designed to
copy the movie onto your computer. It’s not a process for the
computer newbie and if you’re not familiar with terms like IFO
files or VOB files, you’ll need to do a little research before
attempting to rip a DVD.

In addition to researching the concept of DVD ripping and
burning, you’ll also need to familiarize yourself with U.S.
copyright laws. As it currently stands, you may rip a DVD for
your own personal use, but you may not distribute it at all for
any reason. Copying a movie for personal use is permissible
under the copyright’s Fair Use law. However there are no
protections for people who make these copies available for
others to use.