Students Of Success

A computer needs a certain amount of information to operate; for example, the date and time, the amount of memory installed, the number of drives and their configuration, and so on. In the early days of computers, either the user typed in this information each time the computer started, or it was set using DIP switches and jumpers. Today, computers store this information in a CMOS chip that uses a small battery to retain the information when the computer is shut off.

CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) is type of chip that consumes very little power; therefore, while the computer is turned off, the battery discharges very slowly. But the battery will totally discharge if you leave your computer turned off for a year or so. Even if you turn your computer on every day, the battery is designed to last only a couple of years. Occasionally a battery will fail prematurely.

Today’s plug-and-play computers can detect most of the necessary settings, but if your CMOS battery is dead, your computer will not be able to retain the date and time. The computer will also lose any custom settings, for example, the boot sequence. If you set a password in CMOS, you may be locked out of the computer. If the CMOS battery does fail, you might receive the message “System Configuration Lost” when you start the computer. It would be wise to record all the CMOS settings as a precaution.

To record the CMOS settings, watch for an on-screen prompt when you first start your computer. The prompt tells you to press a key, usually the Del or F2, to enter CMOS. To enter the CMOS configuration utility, you have to press the indicated key while the message is on the screen. After the CMOS configuration screen appears, follow the instructions provided to page through all the screens and record all the settings.

If your computer loses its time setting overnight, the CMOS battery may not be holding a charge. The CMOS battery is located inside the case on the motherboard. Changing the battery is usually a job for a computer technician. In fact, a layman might not even be able to find the battery.

If you want to locate the CMOS battery in your computer, be aware that a static discharge from your hands can damage components inside the case. After taking proper precautions, open the case and look on the motherboard for a battery. If you have a diagram of your motherboard, locate the battery on the diagram first.

Different motherboards use different types of batteries. The battery may be shaped like a barrel or a coin. Some motherboards use a component that resembles a chip which contains the CMOS and the battery (made by DALLAS or Benchmarq). Batteries come in different voltages, so make sure you get an exact replacement.

Sometimes the battery is mounted in a holder. Sometimes it is soldered to the motherboard. De-soldering and re-soldering a battery is usually a job for a computer technician. An inexperienced solderer can cause a lot of damage. If you want to try to do it yourself, first practice on an obsolete circuit board. You may change your mind.

If the CMOS battery has failed because it’s too old, this might be an opportunity to upgrade your motherboard. When upgrading a motherboard, the most important considerations are to make sure the new motherboard is the correct form factor for your case, and that the new motherboard has the correct bus connector slots for your expansion boards.

Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp

As an authorative hub a link from a DMOZ directory category to your website will give your site a boost in PageRank and may assist in getting search engine spiders to crawl your site faster and more often. Google also uses DMOZ data for its Google directory.

What does this mean? It is well known in seo circles that by having a site listing in DMOZ you will also get a listing in the Google directory, effectively creating two high PageRank backlinks. Hundreds if not thousands of smaller sites also use Dmoz directory data. Check my search engine relationship table for who DMOZ supplies directory data to. So from a single listing in DMOZ the potential for hundreds of backlinks can stack up quite substantially.

Unlike Yahoo! with it’s paid inclusion via Yahoo! Express, you may submit your site freely to DMOZ for inclusion into their database. This can be a harrowing and traumatic experience for some as the DMOZ directory submission requirements are very tight and strict.

DMOZ prides itself on listing websites with high quality content, culling bad and garbage sites. Hopefully I can lay to rest some of your DMOZ submission fears.

Prior website checks before submitting to DMOZ
A peek at the site suggest guidelines at DMOZ gives a few clues as to what DMOZ editors look for when processing site submissions.

I don’t know how many times I have read on forums and message boards webmasters complaining they have submitted their site/s to DMOZ over and over again only to be rejected.

You can bet their site either doesn’t conform to the submission guidelines, was submitted to the wrong category or was just complete crap with no quality content.

Here is the DMOZ submission guidelines list taken from their site. Follow it to the ‘T’ and ensure your site conforms.

• Do not submit mirror sites. Mirror sites are sites that contain identical content, but have altogether different URLs.
• Do not submit URLs that contain only the same or similar content as other sites you may have listed in the directory.
• Sites with overlapping and repetitive content are not helpful to users of the directory.
• Multiple submissions of the same or related sites may result in the exclusion and/or deletion of those and all affiliated sites.
• Do not disguise your submission and submit the same URL more than once.
• Do not submit any site with an address that redirects to another address.
• The Open Directory has a policy against the inclusion of sites with illegal content. Examples of illegal material include child pornography; libel; material that infringes any intellectual property right; and material that specifically advocates, solicits or abets illegal activity (such as fraud or violence).
• Do not submit sites under construction. Wait until a site is complete before submitting it. Sites that are incomplete, contain Under Construction notices, or contain broken graphics or links aren’t good candidates for the directory.
• Submit pornographic sites to the appropriate category under Adult.
• Submit non-English sites to the appropriate category under World.
• Don’t submit sites consisting largely of affiliate links.

A good tool for checking inbound and outbound links is Xenu Link Sleuth, it does a great job and of course it’s free. The reason I have focused on site link checking is the DMOZ editor will most likely run a similar program on your site when reviewing it.

Submission Time
Ok your site is set, you conform to the DMOZ submission guidelines, Let’s do this thing! Surf to DMOZ and perform a search using a broad search term that relates to your site. You will be presented with a category full of sites that should relate to your site theme. At the top of the page should be sub-category links.

At this point ask yourself two questions;

1. Does my site fit this category?

2. Is there a Suggest URL link on the page for this category?

The idea behind this is to find the closest category match to your website. If you answer no to any of the previous two questions drill down further using the sub-category links at the top of the page until a suitable category match is found.

NOTE* Something to note when finding a category is region. If your website is regional submit using regional categories first before drilling down.
If you think you have found the right category visit some of the sites that are listed to be sure they are similar to yours.

Suggest URL
Congratulations! You have found your niche category that best fits your site. Click the Suggest URL link and let the fun begin.

Titling Your Site
This is an area where most webmasters come unstuck by using promotional words in their titles. DMOZ editors don’t take kindly to it. Use your real site title. If your official website title is Tech Law, then that is the title to submit.
As stated in the DMOZ submission guidelines, don’t use all capitals in your title.

Site Description
When describing your site common sense should prevail. As with writing page descriptions for meta description tags, write a compelling, brief, and descriptive overview of your site. Don’t be overly promotional and keep the site description free flowing.

Always describe your site from a third person view. If DMOZ editors write a description for your site they will use third person view.The idea is for your site to be listed with your description. So make the DMOZ editors task as simple as possible. If you write from a third person view and give an accurate description the editor may not make any changes to it. Using correct grammar and spelling is a must.

One way to get help for an accurate description is to ask friends to view your website or ask people from forums to view your site. Use their feedback to write a compelling, accurate and non-promotional description.

The long wait
DMOZ is free submission and edited by volunteers. There is no paid express directory inclusion and from what is stated at the DMOZ directory website, nor shall there ever be.

Processing of site submissions will take a while, even up to six months, sometimes longer. Don’t focus on this but instead continue to build quality content for your site. As one of my mentors recently stated in his ebook.
“I usually submit and forget about it.”

(c)2005 Paul Cody

Paul Cody has for the last six years studied website design and search engine optimization. Paul is active in a number of webmaster forums and has recently launched his new site http://www.auswebdesigns.net focusing on seo resources for webmasters new to this area of site design.

What is Reverence? A new look at Matthew 6:9 thru 13. Many call
Matthew 6:9-13, The Lords Prayer but it actually isn’t. Its the
prayer that Jesus gave to us, so in essence its our prayer. What
I want to do is break it down to make it more personal. How many
here today love Jesus? How many here today love God? How many
here today do the commandments of Christ? You know, Love your
neighbor as yourself, pray for those who despitfully use you,
forgive others, pray for your enemies, ect, ect, ect? If you are
sure, then this is your prayer. Mat 6:9 …Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Mat 6:11 Give us this
day our daily bread. Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors. Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Now lets make it personal,
between you and the Father. 1.”Our” Belonging to, in possession
of, to abide in oneself. God belongs to us and we to the Father.
By the purchase of our body and soul with the blood of His Son.
2.”Father”A man who begets or raises or nurtures a child. To
procreate (offspring) as the male parent. To act or serve as a
father to (a child). To create, found, or originate. To
acknowledge responsibility for. Isn’t the meaning of Father,
everything that God is? “To acknowledge responsibility for.” God
acknowledges us as His children, His seed, His Creation and he
fully takes responsibility for us. To Teach and Nurture, to Feed
and cloth, to Save and protect. Now what about those who refuse
God as Father, refuse His Chastisement? Heb 12:8 But if ye be
without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons. “Bastard”, The Talmud and the rabbis are
probably therefore right in explaining mamzer, not illegitimate
children in general, but those begotten in incest or adultery:
from mazar, “to be corrupt.” The only other occurrence of mamzer
is Zec_9:6; “a bastard (a vile alien) shall dwell in Ashdod.”
One who is without the conjoining of Father (God) to themselves.
We must look at this from the spiritual and not the physical for
all children have a physical father(dad). 3.”which art” “Which
Art”, residing at, being in a certain place or time, without
doubt as to where or who.Positive. Without our Faith knowing
where God our Father resides, we would not believe in a Diety,
that is in controll of all manner of life. We must first believe
in Heaven and Hell, Reward and punishment, Resurrection and
Damnation, on a grand scale, up to and including, the very soul
that makes us who we are. Rom 1:17 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith. 4a.”in heaven” 4.”IN”
Within the limits, bounds, or area of: From the outside to a
point within;. To or at a situation or condition of. 5.”Heaven”
The sky or universe as seen from the earth; the firmament.The
abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted
salvation. An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting
bliss. Any of the places in or beyond the sky conceived of as
domains of a divine being. A place of great happiness, delight,
or pleasure: Jesus promised all who believed in Him a place.
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Heaven is not the place that Jesus spoke of, but a place in the
Family of God, an abiding of spirits together as one with the
Father. 6. “Hallowed”Sanctified, Blessed, Holy, Sacred.. 7. “be”
Happen, occur, take place. 8.”thy” your; belonging to you
9.”name” 1.El-Elyon as “Maker of heaven and earth.” 2.El Olam
“God of Eternity.” 3.EL Berith “God of the Covenant.” 4.EL Roi
“God of Vision.” 5.EL Hoseem “God of Creation.” 6.Elohim ”
Creator of the Universe.” 7.Eloi, “My God.” 8.Yeshua “The Lord
of Salvation” 9.Yahweh “Jehova is the Lord,The Lord of
Miracles.”. 10.Yahew Jireh ” The Lord will provide.” 11.Yahweh
Nissi, ” The Lord is My Banner.” 12.YAHWEH MEKADDESH, “THE LORD
Sanctifes.” 13.Yahweh Shalom “The Lord of Peace.” 14.Yahweh
Sabaoth.”Lord of Hosts.” 15.Yahweh Rohi,”The Lord is my
Shepard.” 16.Yahweh Rophe,”I am the Lord that Heals You.”
17.Yahweh Tsidkenu, The Lord is our Righteousness.” 18.Yahweh
Shammah, “The Lord is there.” 19.Adon. 20.Adonai 21.Jehova
Adonai. 22.Yeshua-”The Lord Of Salvation” 10. “Thy kingdom.”The
domain in which God is dominant 11. “Come”Move toward, travel
toward, approach,Reach a destination; arrive by movement or
progress,Come to pass; arrive, as in due course. 12. “Thy will”
Decree or ordain,A fixed and persistent intent or purpose. 13.
“be done” Gods Intent and purpose to come about, into existence.
14. “in earth, as it is in heaven.” In the un-limitless expanse
of His Power and Reign. 15. “Give us this day” Matthew 6:34 Take
therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof. 16.”our daily bread.” The Spiritual bread of the
Word of God. 1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be
therewith content. 17.”And forgive us”Alleviate or remove, Free
from a burden, evil, or distress, Grant exemption or release.
18. “our debts,”Anything that is owed to someone else, The state
of being legally obliged and responsible. 19. “as we forgive our
debtors.” “Anyone that owes us, 20.”And lead us not into
temptation,” God never leads us into temptation but our prayer
here is stating that we desire God to correct our wavering from
the right path, back to where we should be. Our temptations come
from our own lusts and being weak in the flesh ,we are dependant
upon God to help our short comings. 21.” but deliver us from
evil:”Recover or preserve from loss or danger. For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. So as you
can see, The Lords Prayer is our own personal prayer to God. Our
future lyes with Him and His mercy. Take the Scripture
personally as thou it was written especially for you. For It
Was. ars

For several years I worked with a janitorial service cleaning offices. From that

experience I learned many tricks to make your house cleaning chores easier

and faster.

First, decide on the level of disgust that makes you uncomfortable. If you

don’t mind a little dust but can’t stand clothes on the floor, concentrate on

that problem.

Second, treat house cleaning like a job - schedule a regular time to clean,

put it on a calendar as you would a business appointment and keep that

appointment. Enlist your family in the project. If everyone works together, all

the chores are quickly completed.

Third, assemble your tools. A pro has a cart to push around but that is not

needed in a home. Buy or make a caddy that holds your cleaning supplies.

Put a duster, liquid cleaner, damp rag or sponge, dry link free towel and

window cleaner in it and store it in a convenient closet. If you don’t have

small children, keep additional supplies where they will be used - bathroom

tile cleaner, toilet brush, etc in the bathroom, cleanser in the kitchen.

Fourth, set a time limit. If you know that you have one hour to finish all your

weekly cleaning, you will become efficient and organized.

Fifth, decide what is to be done on a daily, weekly, monthly and semi-annual

basis. For example, daily chores could include pick up all clothes and put in

proper place, dishes washed, garbage taken out, countertops wiped down

and books and magazines put away. Weekly chores could include dust

surfaces and window sills, wash tv, computer and windows where the dog

puts his nose, vacuum carpets, mop kitchen and bathroom floors and clean

toilet. Make a list of your items and choose how often they need to be done.

Okay, now you are actually ready to start. Begin in one room and put

everything in its proper place. Then clean the upper surfaces by dusting the

tables and window sills. Clean the tv and computer screen. Clean counter

tops and sinks and toilets. Last, clean the floor surfaces. Vacuum and mop.
Voila! Your first room is done. Repeat for the other rooms of the house.

Turn on lively music, turn off the television and just do it. Set your timer and

see how much you can accomplish in the alloted time.

Professional janitors know that cleaning isn’t particularly fun but it needs to

be done. If you treat it like a job, scheduling time, what needs to be done

and a reward you will find that cleaning your house will be a lot easier.

About the Author

Pat Schraier has created a website that helps you with your house cleaning problems. Visit the site at http://www.cleaning-your-house.com

In 2004 The United States department of Labor reported that the number of injuries and fatalities from falls from roofs and ladders had increased. This report focused on occupational injuries that generally occur among trained personnel, which speaks to an even greater safety concern over DIY projects utilizing ladders.

Most accidents occur from incorrect use of the ladder or materials. Before you begin a project make sure that you have gone through safety preparations and are familiar with the tools to be used. As in most DIY projects, the best safety precaution is to think out your task thoroughly before beginning. You should have confidence in both yours and your equipment’s ability to complete the project.

Getting Started:

Once you have decided that you need to use a ladder to complete your project, make sure that you have the right type of ladder. There are many types of ladders all with their own advantages and disadvantages, which may include weight and height limits. If you are not sure that your ladder is the best fit for the job, make sure to consult a professional.

Some general things to look for in a ladder are:

How strong is it?

How tall is it?

Is it made primarily for indoor or outdoor use?

What material is it made out of (certain materials can have unique weaknesses or safety concerns)?

Does it have any cracks?

Does it have a coating such as paint that could cover defects?

Are the rungs secured?

Are the footpads secure and dry?

Diving into your Project:

While you may be eager to get started on your project, please take the time to ensure that your ladder is set-up correctly and that you know how to use it safely.

1. Make sure your ladder is steady. Place the ladder on a surface that is strong and level; also make sure that the ladder is not on top of any slippery materials.

2. If using a stepladder, make sure that the spreader arms are in the locked, open position.

3. If you are using a straight or extension ladder, make sure the ladder is resting at the correct angle to the wall or structure it is leaning on. The angle is normally 75-80 degrees. Or for every 4 ft high the ladder is on the wall, make the base 1 ft away from the bottom of the wall.

4. If using a straight or extension ladder, make sure that the top of the ladder is resting against a straight and solid surface.

5. Make sure that you have at least three points of contact with the ladder when working, such as two feet and one hand.

6. Wear flat shows or boots with grip when working on a ladder

7. Do not carry heavy items while climbing the ladder, use some type of hoist or pulley system to retrieve the items instead

8. Don’t work on a ladder in strong wind

9. Don’t allow children near the ladder

10. Never stand on the top two rungs of the ladder

11. Stay centered and facing the ladder when climbing or working

These ten tips will help keep you safe, however they are not all-inclusive. If you have any questions about your ladder or safety concerns about your project, make sure to consult an expert.

Amanda Miller is a writer and a home improvement expert. She offers reviews and advice on home improvement projects and products such as the little giant ladder system.