It's Time to Get Your Head in the Clouds! | Big Dreams and Hard Work

By Gail Z. Martin

The term ?Cloud computing? sounds intangible, and that?s just the point.

?Cloud computing? refers to access to software that is accessible via subscription over the Internet. Programs that reside in the Cloud are actually housed on the servers of the company that owns the software and which provides subscription access. Unlike traditional software, such as word processing or spreadsheet programs that are stored on your computer?s hard drive, programs that reside in the Cloud never have to be installed, updated or uninstalled from your computer. That?s the beauty of the ?Cloud.?

Why move to the Cloud?

Why would you want your software to be housed on the Cloud? Several good reasons come to mind:

  • You don?t have to install the program, so you can use software that requires greater speed or memory than your desktop or laptop might possess.
  • Because the software is stored on the Cloud, it doesn?t hog memory or bog down your computer.
  • You don?t have to worry about updating the software; the tech staff at the company providing the software takes care of doing that.
  • Since you access the software via the Internet (and a secure password), you can access your software (and possibly your related files) from any computer, anywhere you have an Internet connection.
  • Since your access is via subscription (usually monthly or annually), your costs are much less than if you were to purchase a private license for the program.
  • When you no longer want or need the software, cancel the subscription. There is no software to uninstall on your computer.
  • If there?s a problem with the software, your subscription includes access to technical support. It?s the provider?s responsibility to fix the bugs, and you don?t have to download patches or new versions.

Starting to see the appeal? Cloud computing programs offer extremely flexible access to powerful programs without the hassles of maintaining the software on your own computer. If you?ve ever suffered through a lengthy software download (especially one that needed to be done over several times), you?ll understand the appeal of being able to ?visit? your software instead of needing to have it all on your hard drive.

What kinds of programs reside in the Cloud? Over the last decade, a growing variety of programs are available via Cloud computing. Most, if not all, of the productivity and networking programs I?ll talk about in the remainder of the book are Cloud computing programs. Here are just some of the types of programs provided via Cloud computing:

  • Calendar programs, such as Google Calendar and Tungle
  • Email programs, such as Constant Contact
  • Web audio/video programs, such as AudioAcrobat
  • Conferencing programs, such as GoToWebinar
  • Shopping cart programs, such as 1ShoppingCart
  • Data storage programs, such as Carbonite
  • Online job management programs, such as Elance
  • Benefits administration programs, such as BaseOnline.com

What about security on the Cloud?

If the idea of having your valuable and proprietary data residing in the Cloud worries you, there are steps you can take to set your mind at ease.

First, make sure that you understand the individual service provider?s privacy policies, terms of use, intellectual property safeguards, and recommended methods for assuring the security and integrity of your data.

Secondly, always back up essential information. This can mean creating a print-out, saving a Web-based document as a file or a screen shot, or copying essential information to your hard drive or an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) storage site. An FTP site allows you to store and share documents or files that are too large for regular email. Yes, FTP sites are also Cloud computing sites?an example is www.4shared.com, but there are many similar sites.

Third, be certain to safeguard your password. Realize that when you share access to your Cloud computing sites with an administrative assistant or colleague, they may gain access to your billing and credit card information unless the site allows for different levels of access. Some Cloud computing sites offer a group membership, so that you can provide access to several employees or partners while keeping your own account information private. Other programs make it possible to designate an ?administrator? who can access everything except the billing/payment information. If you must share your password with an assistant, keep track of which passwords have been shared and be sure to change your password if your relationship with the assistant ends.

Cloud computing programs can boost your productivity by giving you access to powerful software without the hassle of downloads and updates. You save time, reduce the in-house needs for online storage, and reduce your dependence on hired computer professionals. Just think?no more losing part of a day as your IT consultant tinkers with the settings to make sure a newly downloaded program doesn?t wreck your network!

Small businesses and solo professionals also benefit by gaining access to valuable online services and software which would be prohibitively expensive to license on an individual basis, and which would require significant investment in servers and personnel to install and manage in-house.

For big productivity gains and lower costs, get into the Cloud!

(Excerpted with permission from the book 30 Days to Virtual Productivity Success.)

Gail Z. Martin owns DreamSpinner Communications and helps companies and solo professionals in the U.S. and Canada improve their marketing results in 30 days. Gail has an MBA in marketing and over 20 years of corporate and non-profit experience at senior executive levels. Gail hosts the Shared Dreams Marketing Podcast. She?s the author of the new book, 30 Days to Virtual Productivity Success as well as these books: 30 Days to Social Media Success and The Thrifty Author?s Guide to Launching Your Book. Find her online at www.GailMartinMarketing.com, on Twitter @GailMartinPR and check out her Facebook page at 30 Day Results Guide.

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Source: http://bigdreamsandhardwork.com/2012/08/its-time-to-get-your-head-in-the-clouds/

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Badgers aim high, need new QB and Ball bounceback

(AP) ? With a pair of division heavyweights facing postseason bans, a lot of things would have to go wrong for Wisconsin to miss out on another trip to the Big Ten title game. And even after recent off-the-field drama involving star running back Montee Ball, Bret Bielema's team has its eyes on even bigger goals.

The NCAA has ruled fellow Big Ten Leaders division powerhouses Ohio State and Penn State ineligible for the postseason, a ban that includes conference title games. That leaves the Badgers to deal with the likes of Purdue, Illinois and Indiana for division supremacy.

With the Badgers coming off back-to-back Rose Bowl losses and poised to win a potential third straight Big Ten title ? they shared the 2010 title with Michigan State ? Bielema has warned them from looking too far down the road going into their Sept. 1 opener against Northern Iowa.

"The thing that I said immediately after that is if anybody wants to jump to that date, you're more than welcome to think about it but we'll never get there," Bielema said. "It's taking it one day at a time."

There are questions, however.

The Badgers lost playmaking quarterback Russell Wilson to the NFL. They've brought in another transfer, Danny O'Brien from Maryland, although he isn't walking in as the presumptive starter like Wilson did a year ago.

They also need to integrate a slew of new assistants, including offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

And they will have to shake off a recent off-the-field controversy involving Ball, a Heisman Trophy finalist who recently was assaulted by five men near campus and sustained a concussion. Police say they are investigating whether a previous fight involving Badgers football players might have led to the attack.

Ball hopes to be ready for the season opener. He denies having any involvement in the previous fight, but knew the incident had the potential to cause a distraction and apologized in front of the team.

"I just addressed the team because there was a big elephant in the room," Ball said. "I just wanted to make sure I attacked it. I just wanted to tell the entire room not to feel sorry for me because I'm going to channel all this energy I have from it and work it onto the field."

The Badgers hardly are hurting for depth behind Ball, with James White and Melvin Gordon both likely to get their fair share of carries.

But it's Ball who gets most of the attention.

"There's no doubt in my mind that he's got an awareness to him, probably a heightened awareness that he's never had to this point," Bielema said. "And realized anytime you're in a situation where something of that nature comes up and you've got multiple people attacking you at one time, it could have been a lot worse."

And while the attack on Ball ? and the lingering questions about the circumstances that may have led to it ? haven't exactly made for a smooth transition into camp, nothing has changed for the Badgers in terms of expectations.

Three straight Big Ten titles?

"That is definitely one of our team goals but we have to approach it one day at a time and one game at a time," wide receiver Jared Abbrederis said. "But that is one of the goals set for us and we'll see what happens."

First they'll have to find a quarterback.

O'Brien arrives from Maryland and can play right away because he has graduated, the same rule Wilson used to become eligible right away last year. O'Brien was a starter for most of the past two seasons at Maryland, putting together an impressive 2010 season before struggling with the team's new offense in 2011.

"I've gotten better each year," O'Brien said. "I'm sticking to that and not worrying about anything else. I've got to earn it like anybody else. I wouldn't want it any other way. My mindset hasn't changed. I knew what to expect."

But unlike Wilson, who basically arrived in Madison as the starter, O'Brien came in competing with Joel Stave and Curt Phillips for the job.

"We all want to play," said Stave, a redshirt freshman. "We're all competitors. Someone's got to separate themselves at some point."

Phillips, a fifth-year senior, has fought back from a series of knee issues.

"It felt great," Phillips said. "That's one of the biggest things coming into camp. I felt my knee's not an issue at all. We can finally get away from that question and let it rely on how we play."

Bielema said he hopes to name a starter by Wednesday, Aug. 22 ? 10 days before the first game.

"If it happens before that, it's just because we feel comfortable," Bielema said. "Not in a big hurry to make that decision."

And while last year's season will be remembered for a pair of heartbreaking last-second losses on big plays by Michigan State and Ohio State, the Badgers expect to be strong on defense.

"I'm really excited," linebacker Chris Borland said. "We have a lot of experienced players who are back despite not having a lot of seniors. We have a lot of guys who have played some meaningful football contending for meaningful roles this year."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-16-FBC-Wisconsin-Preview/id-b053899ce0b143b090c81d29b7bb446c

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This is not a pipe: Curious dark Pipe Nebula seen as never before

ScienceDaily (Aug. 13, 2012) ? Just as Ren? Magritte wrote "This is not a pipe" on his famous painting, this is also not a pipe. It is however a picture of part of a vast dark cloud of interstellar dust called the Pipe Nebula. This new and very detailed image of what is also known as Barnard 59 was captured by the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory. By coincidence this image is appearing on the 45th anniversary of the painter's death.

The Pipe Nebula is a prime example of a dark nebula. Originally, astronomers believed these were areas in space where there were no stars. But it was later discovered that dark nebulae actually consist of clouds of interstellar dust so thick it can block out the light from the stars beyond. The Pipe Nebula appears silhouetted against the rich star clouds close to the centre of the Milky Way in the constellation of Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer).

Barnard 59 forms the mouthpiece of the Pipe Nebula [1] and is the subject of this new image from the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope. This strange and complex dark nebula lies about 600-700 light-years away from Earth.

The nebula is named after the American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard who was the first to systematically record dark nebulae using long-exposure photography and one of those who recognised their dusty nature. Barnard catalogued a total of 370 dark nebulae all over the sky. A self-made man, he bought his first house with the prize money from discovering several comets. Barnard was an extraordinary observer with exceptional eyesight who made contributions in many fields of astronomy in the late 19th and early 20th century.

At first glance, your attention is most likely drawn to the centre of the image where dark twisting clouds look a little like the legs of a vast spider stretched across a web of stars. However, after a few moments you will begin to notice several finer details. Foggy, smoky shapes in the middle of the darkness are lit up by new stars that are forming. Star formation is common within regions that contain dense, molecular clouds, such as in dark nebulae. The dust and gas will clump together under the influence of gravity and more and more material will be attracted until the star is formed. However, compared to similar regions, the Barnard 59 region is undergoing relatively little star formation and still has a great deal of dust.

If you look carefully you may also be able to spot more than a dozen tiny blue, green and red strips scattered across the picture. These are asteroids, chunks of rock and metal a few kilometres across that are orbiting the Sun. The majority lie in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Barnard 59 is about ten million times further away from Earth than these tiny objects [2].

And finally, as you take in this richly textured tapestry of celestial objects, consider for a moment that when you look up at this region of sky from Earth you would be able to fit this entire image under your thumb held at arms-length despite it being about six light-years across at the distance of Barnard 59.

Notes

[1] The entire Pipe Nebula is composed of Barnard 65, 66, 67 and 78, in addition to Barnard 59. It can be seen easily with the unaided eye under dark and clear skies and is best spotted from southern latitudes where it appears higher in the sky.

[2] Asteroids move during the exposures and create short trails. As this picture was created from several images taken in different colours at different times the different colour trails are also shifted relative to each other.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Southern Observatory - ESO.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120815082721.htm

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Before you make a baby, ask yourself. Have you taken folic acid? All State commercial parody by UNF student Van Lambert and Paige Dyjack. This was a project for our Nutrition class at UNF on Folic Acid.

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Source: http://myveryhealthy.com/todays-healthcare/homocysteine-heart-risk-for-heart-disease-cardiovascular-disease-folic-acid.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homocysteine-heart-risk-for-heart-disease-cardiovascular-disease-folic-acid

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Robert Pattinson's 'Cosmopolis': Everything You Need To Know

If you're expecting the David Cronenberg-directed flick to be just the next Pattinson movie, you may be in for a surprise.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz and Josh Wigler


Robert Pattinson in "Cosmopolis"
Photo: Alfama Films

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691737/robert-pattinson-cosmopolis.jhtml

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Buy Your First Apartment Building ? An E-Course For Apartment ...

Buy Your First Apartment Building -- An E-Course For Apartment Building InvestorsClick Image To Visit SiteThe students of my E-course will tell you that apartment building investments are easier than you might think

My name is Ted Karsch. I have been a real estate investor, nationally recognized investment counselor and commercial mortgage specialist for most of my adult life. Every day, in my role as commercial mortgage consultant, I speak to at least 4 or 5 people who are brand new to commercial real estate investing and are eager to get started. Most of these people have some experience in residential real estate investments. For example, they may own a duplex or two that they lease. But, investing in apartment buildings attracts them for numerous reasons. Many are surprised to learn that investing in an apartment building can actually be easier than investing in single family homes.


The problem that many new investors face when looking at apartment buildings as potential investments is that they don?t have the tools or knowledge to perform some key tasks that are essential to apartment building investment success. I have designed the "Buy Your First Apartment Building E-Course" with the brand new commercial real estate investor in mind. My Ecourse will take you from absolute beginner to buying your first apartment in as little as three weeks. The amount of work you put into the course and how well you follow the directions will determine your ultimate success.

Q: I have looked at the home study courses of real estate gurus like Dave Lindahl and Daran Garmin. These guys are charging over $900.00 for their home study courses and around $5,000.00 for seminars. How is it that you are offering similar materials and a better education for only $99.95? What is the catch Ted?

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Source: http://ronalddavies.com/buy-your-first-apartment-building-an-e-course-for-apartment-building-investors/

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Study off Mass. coast finds noise harming whales

FILE - This April 10, 2008 file photograph shows three right whales cresting their tails on the surface near Provincetown, Mass., in Cape Cod Bay. A study off the Massachusetts coast has concluded that increasing amounts of underwater noise, largely from shipping traffic, is surrounding rare right whales in an "acoustic smog," making it harder for them to communicate. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

FILE - This April 10, 2008 file photograph shows three right whales cresting their tails on the surface near Provincetown, Mass., in Cape Cod Bay. A study off the Massachusetts coast has concluded that increasing amounts of underwater noise, largely from shipping traffic, is surrounding rare right whales in an "acoustic smog," making it harder for them to communicate. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

(AP) ? Researchers say increasing amounts of underwater noise, largely from shipping traffic, are enveloping rare right whales in "acoustic smog" that makes it harder for them to communicate.

The endangered North Atlantic right whale relies far more on sound than sight, using distinctive noises to maintain contact.

A paper by federal scientists and Cornell University researchers published Wednesday estimates that in the last 50 years, the area where the whales can effectively communicate in Stellwagen Bank and surrounding waters off Massachusetts has fallen by two-thirds because of the noise.

The researchers say the racket is cutting down on the animals' ability to gather and share vital information that helps them find food, avoid predators, reproduce and protect their young.

"Basically, the whales off Boston now find themselves living in a world full of our acoustic smog," said Christopher Clark, director of Cornell's bioacoustics research program and a study co-author.

The paper's lead author, acoustics expert Leila Hatch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, compared the whales' plight to a person at a crowded cocktail party who must either speak up or leave the room to be heard.

In the whales' case, the animals might change the frequency or volume of their calls, which can limit the effectiveness of the communication and put them under physiological stress, Hatch said.

The slow-moving whale, which can grow to 55 feet and 70 tons, was nearly hunted to extinction in the 18th century. With only 350 to 550 North Atlantic right whales remaining, it's crucial to better understand specifically how the noise affects each one of them.

But the increasing noise demonstrated in the study has implications for other struggling whales who rely on sound to communicate.

"What we're trying to do is get these endangered species into better condition," she said. "There's some 'i's to dot and 't's to cross, to put it mildly."

The potential effect of underwater noise on marine animals has been studied for years, including how manmade noises can mask the low-frequency sound whales make.

In the latest study, researchers sought to better measure the natural and man-caused noise levels in a particular area over a long period, as a crucial step toward figuring out how that noise level affects the animals.

The scientists used computer models, vessel tracking information and data from underwater microphones in Massachusetts Bay to study the noise in about 3,900 square miles of ocean, including the Stellwagen Bank marine sanctuary.

The study focused on April 2008, a month when federal scientists documented more than 22,000 contact calls between right whales. It found that during most of the time the background noise, combined with the intermittent sounds of the ship traffic, left the whales with an area where they could communicate that was 62 percent smaller than the area 50 years ago.

Actually reducing the ocean noise is complicated, given that the background noise is often generated outside U.S. waters and most of the vessels that transit into U.S. ports are based in foreign countries with various regulations.

In the past, shipping companies have expressed interest in quieting vessels, and Hatch said developing more efficient propellers is an example of a change that could also benefit the industry. But other steps, such as slowing down ships or retrofitting them with quiet propellers, would be too costly and likely rejected by the industry. So it's unclear exactly what can be done.

"It gets much more complicated, very quickly," Hatch said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-08-15-Whales-Ocean%20Noise/id-7f8e78a64f0341cd96eec02696bd865e

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Kate Middleton: Nude Cousin Katrina Darling Covers Playboy!


Katrina Darling, Kate Middleton's cousin, covers the September 2012 issue of Playboy. The 22-year-old is a burlesque dancer ... and a beautiful one at that!

She and Kate are not close; in fact, their connection was only revealed last year.

Darling first learned of her royal relation shortly before Kate’s April '11 wedding to Prince William via a phone call from a member of the UK press.

“It was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard,” the club and cabaret dancer says, with a laugh. “It’s not every day something like that happens.”

Katrina Darling Playboy Cover

Last year, lines began forming outside the underground venues where Katrina had been performing her own burlesque show, God Save the Queen.

Yes ... however random and distant her Kate Middleton ties might be, the name of her routine suddenly took on a wonderful (and sexy!) irony.

“Burlesque is a platform for me to explore these kinds of things. The more into it the audience is,” says Katrina Darling, “the more into it I am.”

Katrina has upcoming U.S. shows, entitled “A Royal Dream,” at the Dream Hotel in South Beach August 31 and Dream New York September 6.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/08/kate-middleton-nude-cousin-katrina-darling-covers-playboy/

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Boris Johnson: These were the greatest Games ... - BBC World News

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has suggested the London 2012 Olympics were the ?greatest ever? as he thanked all those involved in delivering them. At a press conference in central London with culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and Locog chairman Lord Seb Coe, Mr Johnson said he ?wouldn?t dissent? if it was put to him that the Games were the best ever. Boris Johnson said Mo Farah?s two gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m were his highlight of the Games (Picture: Twitter/mayoroflondon) The mayor, who said crime had fallen five per cent during the Olympics, reserved special praise for the volunteers, security and transport staff who had played a major part in ensuring the successes of the last fortnight. He also said there were already signs London?s ambitious legacy plans were taking root. ?There are a series of exciting global sporting competitions (coming to London) and it is in that context we want to be expanding very vigorously now the number of young people who take part, we want people of all ages to take part in sport,? Mr Johnson said. ?We have seen 3,500 applications for people to get involved in sporting activities since the Games began. Kate Hoey, the commissioner for sport, will obviously be taking that forward very actively indeed.? On the upcoming Paralympic Games, Mr Johnson said there had been ?massive demand? for tickets and said people wanting to attend events should ensure they apply as soon as they become available online. PICTURES : The best images of London 2012

Source: http://bbc-worldnews.net/2012/08/boris-johnson-these-were-the-greatest-games-ever/

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