The Refresh Orlando Heirs

Everyone knows that our world cannot exist without computers.
Ever tried to make a purchase at a convenience store when their
computers are down, ever waited for someone to make change when
their register computer is down, or have you ever tried to find
a book in a library when the system is down? If you have ever
experienced one of these inconveniences, you know that our world
hinges on whether or not our computers are working.

Remember when you told your teacher that the dog ate your
homework? Did she believe you? Probably not. Now the excuse is
my computer crashed, my printer wouldn’t print, or we were out
of ink. Even kids rely on computers to do their schoolwork. The
days of pen and pencils are almost over. In fact most students
know more about computers than their teachers or parents. They
don’t even remember a time without computers.

As computers become more and more intuitive and powerful, we
must proceed with them. If you are still among the population
that resents the encroachment of the computer, think about this
scenario. If Eve in the Garden of Eden had access to the
Internet, she could have looked up information about snakes. She
would have found out that they have forked tongues and an evil
reputation. Instead of listening to the snake’s lies, she would
have thrashed him with a tree branch. Think how much better our
world would be now.

The best present any graduate can get this June is a desktop
computer or a laptop. In my day, girls were given matching
luggage to take their clothes to school. Yes, I know I am dating
myself, but I do have a point. Today buy your child a computer
and let them take their clothes is a paper sack. They don’t
care; an old gym bag will do. I know; schools have computer
labs, but they are always full. Wouldn’t you rather your son or
particularly your daughter not be out of the dorm or apartment
working on projects or papers? Also, when your newly graduated
senior has moved away to school, e-mail will become your best
friend. Even if you hate computers, you will learn to love them
because they will become your link to your child. The nest will
never be empty as long as you have e-mail.

Computers are links to the outside world. The world has never
been more accessible or smaller. You have to keep up or you will
be left behind and who wants to be the last straggler on the
planet? Not me!

It is the most annoying thing when one day you use your computer and nothing seems to work fine. Program freezes, files get corrupted or internet doesn’t work. You called the customer support or some friends you know who’s very much familiar with computer and still didn’t solve the problem.

There could be one to many things why this happens, you probably came across with spy- wares or dangerous ad-wares or even virus when you were working on that computer last time, but whatever the reason is, your only main concern is to get it up and running so you can go on with your work.

You tried everything and the only hope you can think of now is to format your computer. Formatting is the last and ultimate solution you should resort into. You just don’t format a computer like your deleting a file. You need to back up all your software data, personal documents, pictures, other folders you may feel important, and of course you got to look for those original installation disk for your devices such as printers, scanners or any other device hooked up in your computer, these are called drivers. If your computer came with original recovery disks then you need that too, recovery disks are usually bundled with your branded computer system, such as HP, Dell, Gateway or any other leading computer manufacturer and if you have them, its as easy as putting the CD recovery disks and running it, it will do the rest of the process for you.

If your recovery disk is gone or you didn’t have one then this is what this article is for. Your only savior is to go back to the most recent settings that worked, in other words yesterday’s settings. Microsoft provides an effective way to somehow backup your computer settings and configuration, this is called System Restore. System Restore has the ability to create a restore point wherein every once a week or two depending on how often you install or uninstall updates and programs. The following steps will walk you through the process of setting up your restore point and how to go back if you need it.

Start by going to Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools, and then open System Restore.

On the right side panel it will give you an option to Create Restore point or Restore my computer to an earlier time.

Choose Create Restore Point, and then put your description, hit next then put in the date you want to go back to, then hit “Create” and that’s it. You just save yourself on formatting your computer in the future.

Guil Tabasa is a consultant for Altertek Solutions; he has been in the consulting business for more than 7 years now. He has helped small and medium businesses add value to their business that directly contributes to their revenue. You can email Guil

The Vitamin B complex is one of the most important vitamins that can have a great influence on a person’s health as well as on one’s physical and mental performance concerning the nervous system. It is a part of the group of nutrients which are responsible for the creation of some of the most basic structures in the nervous system.

In order for a person to actually have a healthy well-being, one must always remember to have an adequate daily intake of the prescribed vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs in order for it to stay healthy and fit.

Unfortunately, due to stress and the increasingly fast-paced environment that we’re often subjected to, it’s quite easy to neglect one’s body, most importantly one’s health. It is actually alarming how a lot of people just seem to not actually mind the damage that they’re bringing to their bodies. However, obesity and heart failure is starting to cause a big dent on the American population. It’s high time that we act on this problem right now.

Starting with the various vitamins and minerals that directly influence the nervous system’s proper functioning and health as well as to keep note of the importance of just taking it on moderate levels.

The Vitamin B complex is one of the most important vitamins that can have a great influence on a person’s health as well as on one’s physical and mental performance concerning the nervous system. It is a part of the group of nutrients which are responsible for the creation of some of the most basic structures in the nervous system. Vitamin B12, also referred to as cobalamin due to its cobalt content, has a highly significant role in both the formation of the nervous system as well as in the maintenance of its proper functions. It also helps in the formation of the nerve cells themselves, the most basic of the nervous system structures.

A person lacking in vitamin B12 can actually suffer from irreversible spinal cord degeneration when things get out of hand. Adults need 2.4 micrograms of Vitamin B12 daily - while pregnant and breastfeeding women should increase their intake to between 2.6 and 2.8 micrograms daily. Children, depending on their age and physical size, should have between .9 micrograms and 2.4 micrograms of Vitamin B12 per day. The other B complex vitamins important to the nervous system include B9 also referred to as folate or folic acid which in addition to its role in the upkeep of the adult nervous system is also involved in the production of neurotransmitters. Adults are actually required to have 400 micrograms of folic acid daily while pregnant women should increase their daily intake to 600 micrograms however, breastfeeding women should only increase their daily intake to 500 micrograms. Depending on size and weight, children should take in between 150 micrograms and 300 micrograms of folic acid each day. Among the minerals that serve to help enhance the functioning of the nervous system is calcium. In addition to its other equally important health benefits, calcium also has a role in keeping the nerves healthy as well as to ensure their ability to communicate effectively. While magnesium is the mineral which can help the body make use of calcium most efficiently, it has a very important role in the upkeep of the nervous system. The lack of magnesium in the body can actually contribute to nervousness and confusion, while a lack of potassium can lead to nervous disorders.

Proper nourishment greatly affects every aspect of the body’s efficiency and function and in turn, has a positive effect on the quality of one’s life. The body functions based on a delicate balance of system from chemical reactions. The nutrients that you put in your body actually make up a large part of these essential chemicals and it is highly important to have a conscious effort in trying to trying to maintain the proper amount of certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients in one’s body. Nutritional supplements are a good way to help ensure one’s healthy well being, however, one must never rely on these supplements to actually give you all the nutrients that your body needs. A conscious effort to stay healthy is also being able to keep a healthy, well-balanced diet, a happy disposition and regular exercise. However, if unsure of the best dietary supplements for you or if you are somewhat overwhelmed by the countless dietary supplements that are available in the market today, a consultation with a licensed nutritionist can actually help you devise a personalized nutritional supplement plan that is best suited to your individual dietary needs and health goals.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

Taking only a few moments to plan upfront can release you from substantial disruption if disaster strikes, and it may even save you or a loved one’s life. Disaster and emergency preparation is one of the most important tasks you can do for yourself and your family.

Here are five steps you can take to measure your personal preparedness and assemble a disaster action plan that is adapted to your particular situation.

1. Decide meeting location. One important part of your plan is to select a meeting spot. Choose two or more spots. For a fire, make a plan to meet in front of your home. In case of an emergency requiring evacuation of your home, plan to meet at a specific place outside of your neighborhood, for example a relative’s house, elementary school, or church. Be sure each family member concurs on the location, and plans are in place for how everyone will get to the meeting spot.

2. Discuss with your family about what you would do in an emergency. If you have children, explain what kind of disasters might strike in your area, about the kind of dangers your family may face, and work jointly to brainstorm solutions. The goal is not to scare children and family members, but to openly discuss the possible dangers they potentially face, and to come up with an action plan that makes everyone feel safe and prepared.

3. Know how to shut off your utility services. Be sure each family member can turn off the gas, electricity, and water utilities. Know how to spot danger signs as to when a utility should be shut off. Get in touch with your local utility providers if you have any questions.

4. Keep a disaster supply kit on-hand. Always have bottled water stocked, in addition to non-perishable food items. Have a central location for keeping batteries, flashlights, and a shortwave radio. An emergency first-aid kit should also be nearby. Refresh disaster supplies every six months or so.

5. Establish evacuation routes. One of the most common and dangerous of emergencies is a house fire. Find and memorize two separate routes out of the house, and if you can, for each room too. In case of natural disasters, your family should familiarize itself with two routes for evacuation out of your neighborhood. Decide on one family contact that everyone in your family can call in case of an emergency, for example some friend or family member living in another town or out of state.

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.org, where you can read tips on home gas leakage protection, Honda emergency generators and other home topics.

Over Easter Weekend, I was able to enjoy a beautiful spring day in New York. The respite desperately needed as the horror of all horrors had happened: Yikes, my internet server had swallowed incoming and outgoing messages without my knowledge! Surely my colleagues and family would leave me for deadyet another road warrior lost somewhere between State College, Pennsylvania and the Holland Tunnel—a pathetic way for a motivational speaker to go.

I welcomed the brief journey on Broadway to see Avenue Q, where the theme song “It Sucks to be Me” somehow deeply resonated. I had after all, just experienced hours of frustrating computer troubleshooting in a world where I didn’t even know the language! Yup, you’ll all be happy to know I finally discovered that my “pop server” was not grandpa bringing ice cream.

In Avenue Q, a Broadway hit that I would highly recommend, a cast of talented people and puppets ask the question So What’s your Purpose? all the while experiencing life’s temporary setbacks. We’ve all discovered that life is indeed filled with big setbacks as well as little, annoying ones, but let’s listen to the puppets on Avenue Q and Take heart this week: It’s all temporary!

As we left the Broadway theatre, police were holding back crowds, waiting for Julia Roberts to exit the theatre next door. I was proudly wearing my “It Sucks to be Me Button” and yes, for just a moment, I thought of waiting for Julia and tossing her my new mantra. Surely even Julia has those less than perfect days. Doesn’t she?

Somehow, I was feeling better about my internet woes that while still unresolved for the moment, were indeed only temporary and small issues compared to “The bigger Purpose”. It was a message I had heard earlier in the week, as a group of professionals in training had shared their personal mantras for dealing with the stress of technology, change and complaining customers.

What’s a Mantra?that little voice in your head that talks you down from the rooftop in times of stress, with a short, soothing, Yoda Like wisdom that has meaning and comfort just for you!
One woman remembered a day when she was terribly upset that she messed up a pizza order as a waitress in college. Her boss, probably should be promoted for his 3 simple words of wisdom, that today still bring the young woman back to her purpose “It’s only pizza” So What’s your mantra for stress survival?

“It’s only Pizza”
“It Sucks to be Me, but it’s temporary”
“I am doing the best that I can in the place that I am” or maybe a simple question
What’s the very next thing I need to do?
Or quite simply But what’s my purpose?

Rosemary Rein, Ph.D is an Author, Professional Speaker and founder of Costa Rica Learning Adventures. http://www.costaricatraining.com. She lectures internationally and hosts leadership and personal development retreats in tropical Costa Rica.

Business owners have often argued that voicemail is impersonal, offensive to their customers and is bad for business. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is an argument that has raged in business offices for twenty years. The owner or others in upper management want to make sure the phone gets answered. They hate leaving a message with a computer or a machine. They feel that voicemail is at best unproductive, at worst a convenient dodge for their employees to talk to their customers and therefore a business killer.

We will address this issue from the perspective of the customer, your employees and that of owners and upper management.

Voice mail systems have been added to the vast majority of phone systems today. There are still many thousands of phone systems in operation today that can not have voicemail added to them. They would have to be replaced to have voicemail. Still many thousands of system are in use that would have to be upgraded to add voicemail. Many more could have voicemail added at the customer’s option.

Before fully addressing this issue, we frankly admit that voicemail can be implemented in damaging ways. Employees can duck calls. If the automated attendant is programmed to answer all calls (even during regular business hours), you risk alienation of your customers.

Customers have become used to being offered voicemail when an employee isn’t available. They would usually rather leave a detailed message in someone’s voicemail box. They can feel free to address an issue in full and without concern about confidentiality. When you try to leave a message with a person to be delivered by hand, you know that anything beyond your contact information is likely to be edited. Besides, do you feel justified taking up that person’s time or do you cut yourself short so you won’t overburden them? Largely, the customer would rather go to the voicemail box.

When the customer wants to speak to someone else right away, they should be offered the opportunity to do so. When someone isn’t available to come to the phone, make sure your employees say “Would you like to go to their voicemail or could someone else help you?” 90% or more will take voicemail; the rest will appreciate the chance to talk to someone now.

Your employees will appreciate voicemail greatly. They can get their messages instantly, rather than when someone remembers to give them the message slip. They can check their messages from outside the office. They won’t be interrupted from their work to take messages or deliver them. They can transfer calls from friends and relatives into that employees voicemail. They will be more productive for you.

Owners and upper management will benefit from having more efficient and productive employees as well as better communications with their customers. They will have to make sure that they don’t put in voicemail the wrong way. Don’t use automated attendant to answer calls during regular business hours. Don’t set up large, confusing menu trees. Don’t set up voicemail jail where there is no opportunity for a caller to reach the operator. Make sure that someone is designated to answer calls when people hit zero for the operator. Voicemail’s chief benefit is the non-simultaneous completion of voice communication. Unless you have a huge operation with a call center, don’t get yourself in trouble by trying to do more than that.

Voicemail will be appreciated by your customers, your employees and you–via the bottom line.

Bob Mrozinski

Owner of Applied Voice and Data, a broker of refurbished and new business phone system equipment from many manufacturers. Bob’s eighteen years in the phone industry are mostly on the sales side. By visiting with customers in person and on the phone for so long, he has acquired a knack for honing in on what a customer really needs to make real world applications work.

http://www.avdphonesystems.com/