+++++++++++++++
LGBT Seniors Have Resources to Make Retirement Years Less Stressful
Forbes
The first baby boomers are now the retirement age. A new study shows that
millions of gays and lesbians will become 65 and older during the next 20
years. But 20 percent are unsure who will take care of them if they fall ill
or incapacitated, …
Read more at:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardkrooks/2011/12/06/lgbt-seniors-have-resources-to-make-retirement-years-less-stressful/

+++++++++++++++

No more having to research markets for your business ventures. No more
having to worry about having to check for spelling mistakes, grammatical
errors or using the wrong or inappropriate words.
No more of being afraid of having to write or spend endless hours
researching something that you are not sure about.

Contact us at info@sterlingcreations.com and we would be delighted to help
you get started.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and week.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.com and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Helpful tips for February 2012

In this issue:

General tips
Tech tips
Quotes for the day
_________________________

General tips
Courtesy of the research team at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca

The following tips were published on Dec 27 2011 in keeping with the holiday
season but we felt it necessary to reprint this very important notice.
Taken from

http://news.ontario.ca/oss/en/2011/12/tips-for-freezing-out-scammers-and-fraudsters.html

Tips For Freezing Out Scammers and Fraudsters

* Keep all personal documents in a secure place. If you don’t need them, do
not carry your birth certificate, passport or SIN card.
* Never tell another person your bank card PIN or account passwords and take
care to cover your hand when entering your PIN at bank machines and when
making store purchases.
* Safely dispose of old bills and bank statements — shredding is best.
* If you’re on the web, do not click on pop-up windows or respond to emails
by people you do not know, especially if they include attachments or links
to websites. Your
bank or credit union will not send you anything by email unless you ask them
to.
* Never give out your credit card, bank account, or personal information to
someone over the phone, at the door, or over the Internet unless you know
the person or organization
you are dealing with, or you made the contact.
* Do not sign an agreement or contract to buy anything without taking enough
time to think it over. If a salesperson insists that an “offer” is “time
limited” and
you must decide that moment, it is probably better not to buy.
* Be suspicious if someone you don’t know asks you to send them money or a
cheque, or to return money they “accidentally” sent you.
* Before hiring someone or agreeing to have work done on your home, ask for
proof of identity and references and check them.

_________________________

Tech tips
Taken from Melanie Mama’s corner

Six Useful Windows Tips
>Tip One: Don’t just maximize your windows-go full screen
When you need a really big window for viewing photos and videos, don’t just
maximize it: go full screen! This tip works great for viewing photos and
videos at maximum size in Windows Explorer or Windows Media Player,
utilizing screen space usually occupied by the header at the top of the
screen and the taskbar at the bottom. Here’s how:
Open any photo in Windows Explorer, or open a photo or video clip in Windows
Media Player. Do one of the following:
A. In Windows 7 and Windows XP, press the F11 key at the top of your
keyboard.
The photo or video image enlarges to its maximum size and the title bar and
taskbar are hidden.
Viewing a photo in Windows Explorer standard view
B. To undue full-screen mode and restore the window to its normal view,
press the Escape key at the top left corner of your keyboard.
Customize the Navigation pane
You can use the navigation pane (the left pane) to find files and folders
and display links to frequently used folders and other items. You can also
move or copy items to a destination in the navigation pane.
If you don’t see the navigation pane on the left side of an open folder
window, click Organize, point to Layout, and then click Navigation pane to
display it.
To customize the navigation pane in Windows 7:
In an open folder or library window, click Organize, and then click Folder
and search options.
In the Folder Options dialog box, click the General tab, and then do one or
both of the following:
To show all the folders on your computer in the navigation pane, including
your personal folder, select the Show all folders check box, click Apply to
see the change, and then click OK.
To automatically expand the navigation pane to the folder that’s selected in
the folder window, select the Automatically expand to current folder check
box, and then click OK.
>Tip Two: Customizing the navigation pane in Windows 7
More ways to customize your favorites in Windows 7
To add a folder, a saved search, a library, or even a drive as a favorite,
drag it to the Favorites section in the navigation pane. Note: You can’t add
individual file to Favorites, but you can add them to any folder in
Favorites.
To change the order of favorites, drag a favorite to a new position in the
list.
To restore the default favorites in the navigation pane, right-click
Favorites, and then click Restore Favorite Links.
To view the folder where your favorites are stored, click Favorites in the
navigation pane. Favorites are stored as shortcuts.
To remove a favorite, right-click the favorite, and then click Remove. This
removes the favorite from the navigation pane-it doesn’t delete the files or
folders that the shortcut points to.
The Favorites area of the navigation pane in Windows 7
Add folders and files in Windows Vista
In Windows Vista, you can add folders to Favorite Links in the navigation
pane so that you can open them from any folder window at any time. To do
this, first open the folder that contains the subfolder you want to add.
Then simply drag its icon from the original folder to where you want it in
the navigation pane. You can also click Folders at the bottom of the pane
and drag a folder from the folder list up into the Favorite Links section of
the pane. Note: You can’t add individual files to Favorite Links, but you
can add them to any folder in Favorite Links.
>Tip Three: Pictures folder in Windows
Pin a program or items to the Windows 7 taskbar
You know what would make a great taskbar? One where you could pin your
favorite applications or files so that you could open them quickly from any
window at any time. Guess what? You can.
In Windows 7, you can also pin shortcuts for favorite or frequently used
files, folders, and websites to the Jump Lists for each of those programs to
the taskbar. Learn more about Jump Lists.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Using-Jump-Lists-to-open-programs-and-items

Pin a program to the taskbar
To pin a program shortcut to the taskbar, do one of the following:
If the program is already running, right-click the program’s button on the
taskbar (or drag the button toward the desktop) to open the program’s Jump
List, and then click Pin this program to taskbar.
Or if the program isn’t running, click Start, find the program’s icon,
right-click the icon, and then click Pin to Taskbar.
You can also pin a program by dragging the program’s shortcut from the
desktop or Start menu to the taskbar.
Pinning a program to the taskbar
Using Jump Lists in Windows 7
Jump Lists on the taskbar give you quick access to the things you use most
often. You can drag a file, folder, or website icon or a shortcut from the
Start menu or the desktop to the taskbar. This pins the item to the Jump
List and also pins the associated program to the taskbar. If you drag the
shortcut to the taskbar and the associated program isn’t already pinned
there, then that program is pinned to the taskbar and the item is pinned to
the program’s Jump List.
Pinning an item to a Jump List on the taskbar
To view the Jump List for a program, right-click the program’s button on the
taskbar. To open an item from a Jump List, open the program’s Jump List, and
then click the item.
>Tip Four: Customize the Quick Launch Bar in Windows XP
In Windows XP, the customizable Quick Launch Bar also gives you convenient
shortcuts to your favorite programs, folders, and files. The Quick Launch
Bar remains accessible from most windows, so it’s a handy way to open the
applications and files you use frequently.
If the Quick Launch Bar isn’t already visible to the right of the Start
button , you’ll need to turn it on. To do that, right-click an open area of
the taskbar. Hover your mouse pointer over Toolbars, then click Quick
Launch. The Quick Launch Bar appears on your taskbar.
The Quick Launch Bar on the Windows XP taskbar
To add a program shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, click the Start button,
click All Programs, then click and drag the application you want to the
Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the application’s icon
appears in the Quick Launch Bar.
To add a folder or file shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, open Windows
Explorer, navigate to the folder, subfolder, or individual file you want,
click and drag the folder or file you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release
the mouse button and the icon for the folder or file appears in the Quick
Launch Bar.
To remove a shortcut from the Quick Launch Bar, right-click on the icon in
the Quick Launch Bar of the application, folder, or file you want to remove
and right-click it, click Delete, and then click Yes when asked if you’re
sure you want to delete the shortcut. Note: Although the shortcut is removed
from the Quick Launch Bar, the actual application, folder, or file has not
been deleted from your computer.
>Tip Five: . Arrange windows on your desktop
In Windows, you can arrange windows side by side, which can be especially
helpful when comparing two documents or when moving files from one place to
another. Note: If you’re using a nonstandard setup (such as dual monitors),
the tricks below may not work as expected.
Windows 7
Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until
an outline of the expanded window appears.
Release the mouse to expand the window.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another window to arrange the windows side by
side.
To return a window to its original size click the Maximize button in the
window’s title bar and the window expands to full size.
The Maximize button
Learn more about managing multiple windows in Windows 7.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Manage-multiple-windows

To snap an active window to the side of the desktop by using the keyboard,
press Windows logo key +Left Arrow or Windows logo key +Right Arrow.
viewing windows side by side in Windows
Windows Vista and Windows XP
In Windows Vista and Windows XP, it’s easy to display any two (or more)
windows side by side on the desktop, all equally sized. Press and hold the
Ctrl key and click two or more of the window buttons on the taskbar that you
want to open. Release the Ctrl key, right-click, and then do one of the
following:
Windows Vista users, click Show Windows Side by Side.
Windows Vista, Show Windows Side by Side command.
Windows XP, Tile Vertically command.
>Tip Six: . Organize your files into groups
Windows offers a variety of options for organizing folders and files in the
ways that work best for you.
Windows 7
The easiest and most effective way to organize your stuff in Windows 7 is to
use file arrangements in your libraries.
You can arrange files in the Documents library by author, for example, or
you can arrange the Music library by artist if you’re looking for an album
or song by a particular band.
To arrange a library
In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button .
In the navigation pane (the left pane), click a library (such as Music).
In the library pane (above the file list), click the Arrange by menu, and
then choose a property. For example, in the Music library, you can choose
Artist to quickly arrange your music collection by artist.
The “Arrange by” menu
When you arrange your files, Windows doesn’t just put your files in a
different order. Instead, they are presented in a completely different way.
The arrangements work differently depending on which one you choose. For
example, arranging your pictures by month puts your pictures into stacks,
like this:
Files arranged in “stacks”
Arranging by day puts them into groups, like this:
Files arranged in “groups”
There are four default libraries in Windows 7, each with its own specific
arrangements. You can also create new libraries and choose which
arrangements are available for them.
For more information about libraries, see Working with libraries.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Working-with-libraries

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

Quick And Easy Way To List All The Windows Updates Installed On Your System
Updated November 15, 2011 – 0:07 by v.laurie
Every month there is another bunch of updates (also called hotfixes) for
Windows. After a few months, they pile up to quite a collection. If you have
to reinstall Windows or for some other reason you would like to know which
ones have been previously installed on your computer, a list of the hotfixes
on your PC might be handy.
Some programs, such as Belarc Advisor, will include a list of updates in an
overall analysis of what is on your computer. This type of comprehensive
survey of your computer’s contents is worthwhile but there is also an easier
way to get a list of Windows updates. This method takes advantage of the
command line and requires no installation of additional software. Open the
command prompt and enter this command:
wmic qfe list brief /format:htable > “%USERPROFILE%\hotfix.html”
This produces a nicely formatted list in an HTML file named hotfix.html that
gets placed in the User folder. You can, of course, change the destination
to some other convenient location. If there are any spaces in the name of a
folder that you choose, don’t forget to wrap the destination name in quotes,
as is done in the commands given in this tip.
If you would rather have a text file, the command would be:
wmic qfe list brief /format:texttablewsys > “%USERPROFILE%\hotfix.txt”
If you prefer not to copy and paste a command into a command prompt, there
is a little batch file available at this link. It will produce the HTML
file mentioned above.

http://vlaurie.com/computers2/downloads.htm

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

Brainshark: Add Voice To Powerpoint & Word Docs
MyBrainshark is a cool web tool for enchaining your presentations online. It
lets you upload PowerPoint presentations, videos, image slideshows or
documents and effectively increase their interactivity by adding voice
narrations.
Making voice presentations is easy. Just upload your file and then record
your voice by calling a phone number provided by MyBrainshark. This tool
has support for several video, audio, and document formats, so you won’t
have a problem dealing with file conversions to make this service work for
you.
MyBrainshark’s core functions are catered to businesses. The app is useful
for corporate trainings, business presentations, product demos, proposals,
and lectures. But if you are a blogger looking for a personal show-and-tell
tool, Brainshark will also work well for your needs. You can also view other
presentations from MyBrainshark’s rich content library.
You can register an individual account for free or you can view their small
business and enterprise accounts if you are looking to integrate this tool
to your business.
Check out myBrainshark at:

http://www.my.brainshark.com

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

Sites Of The Week:
* Accessible iPad Blog
The Apple iPad has opened a new world of engaging and educational activities
for children and adults with special needs. This blog offers the collective
knowledge of special educators, assistive technology pros and parents on how
to make the iPad cognitively and physically accessible to users of all ages
and abilities by providing best practice “how-to” information as well as
product and app reviews.
Join the conversation at:

http://accessibleipad.blogspot.com.

*The blindtech list is an active mailing list where people can get answers
to a variety of technology questions. to subscribe, send a message to:
blindtech-subscribe@lists.blindtech-list.info
*Best Free Income Tax Filing Software and Services is a list of the top free
income filing services.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-income-tax-filing-software.htm

*Best Free Streaming Media Recorder

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-streaming-media-recorder.htm

*Best Free File Copy Utility

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-file-copy-utility.htm

*This PDF to Word Converter Is Fast And Free

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/pdf-word-converter-fast-and-free.htm

*Free Program Downloads 1000 TED Talks To Your PC

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/free-program-downloads-1000-ted-talks-your-pc.htm

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

Best Free Spell-Checker
Updated December 6, 2011 – 13:33 by site.editor
A typo is a typographic error that occurs in the typing process. This
can happen for various reasons; distraction, lack of concentration, fingers
striking the wrong keys etc. To help reduce the mistakes, users can install
a good spell checker which helps check typos almost completely in a few
seconds, and suggest a list of correct words for replacement right on the
screen. Quite often the spell checker picks up the mistakes more reliably
than the human eye can.
tinySpell

http://tinyspell.m6.net/

is an impressive little utility which checks individual words on a
correct-as-you-type basis, from clipboard contents or from a query box. The
110,000 word dictionary is not enormous but more than adequate for normal
use, and you can also add words to the dictionary as needed. Resource
demands are modest, and the product can be easily enabled/disenabled from
the taskbar icon.
It has one odd feature — the dictionary has both American and English
spelling so words like “color” and “colour” both show as correct. Overall,
it’s quite a solid and excellent product.
tinySpell features include:
Checks spelling in any Windows application
Checks spelling on-the-fly (alerts if the last typed word was misspelled)
Checks spelling of text that is copied to the clipboard
Allows you to specify tinySpell disabled or enabled applications
Optionally beeps on error (beep sound can be easily set to any wav file)
Opens replacements list with a simple mouse click or a hot-key
Optionally copies the selected replacement word to the clipboard
Optionally inserts the selected replacement word into the document
Allows you to add words to the dictionary
Easy Enable/Disable
Uses little system resources.
Warning: Downloads from Cnet (Download.com) now require the use of a
proprietary installer.
For more information, please click on the following link:

https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/cnet-downloadcom-wrapped-installer.htm

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

How To Download YouTube Videos, And Other Curious Things
By Stephen Chapman | December 6, 2011, 5:39am PST
Complete article and more found at:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/how-to-download-youtube-videos-and-other-curious-things/4349

Summary:
If you’ve ever wondered how to download YouTube videos (and other curious
things) to your computer, this post is for you!
One question I’m frequently asked is if I know of a way to download YouTube
videos, to which my answer is, “Why, yes! Yes, I do.” As such, I’ve decided
to write a quick post addressing this popular question, as well as chime in
with a couple of additional mentions that are relevant to the subject.
Now, while I know that many of you reading this already have the know-how to
download YouTube videos, this post is for those who comprise the 6,000,000+
(according to my Google keyword research) monthly searches on this topic!
What follows are the 3 solutions I personally use that 100 percent fill my
needs for downloading not only YouTube videos, but just about everything
else as well.
1. Keepvid.com:

http://www.keepvid.com/

When it comes to saving YouTube videos, KeepVid is my first choice, without
question. While there are tons of sites out there that perform the same
function, KeepVid is consistently on top of YouTube when changes are made
that temporarily “break” services like this. It’s quite simple to use: just
copy the link of the YouTube video you would like to save, paste it into the
URL box at the top of KeepVid’s site, click the “Download” button, then
select which quality and format you would like to download the video in from
the links that show up afterward. From copying the link to visiting the site
and running through the process, you can have a video downloading in under 7
seconds! To note, KeepVid also supports downloading videos from Vimeo,
Google Video, DailyMotion, Metacafe, and Megavideo.
2. JDownloader:

http://www.jdownloader.org/

This program is one of my favorite programs, period! For Windows, Mac, and
Linux, JDownloader is a download manager for just about every site
imaginable that streams and hosts files. You can have it monitor your
clipboard so that it automatically grabs links you copy, so if you find that
you want to download something like a whole series of videos from YouTube,
you can just copy the link for each of them and they’ll automatically paste
into JDownloader. Removing the step of having to paste all of those links
really helps to save some time. And like KeepVid, JDownloader allows you to
choose the quality and format you’d like to download YouTube videos. But
really, this functionality is but a minor piece of a greater sum, for
JDownloader is SO much more.
If you have any premium accounts with sites like RapidShare, HotFile,
FileServe, etc., you can enter your log-in credentials for those sites and
furiously download files from them with only the limitation of your
bandwidth. Not only that, but because it’s a download manager at its core,
you can queue up download links from just about anywhere. And for sites that
require you to enter CAPTCHA information (the pictures with weird, almost
unreadable word combinations/numbers, like “Bicycle PancaKeS”), JDownloader
will auto-enter that information from CAPTCHAs it recognizes (offhand,
MegaUpload is one site I know it recognizes them from)! Definitely check out
JDownloader if you’re looking to download YouTube videos en masse.
3. DownloadThemAll!:

http://www.downthemall.net/

For my Internet browsing needs, I primarily use Firefox. As such, I have a
multitude of add-ons that I use, including download manager add-ons like
“DownloadThemAll!”. Unlike the two suggestions above which have YouTube
download capabilities, this add-on is solely for “other curious things.” If
you’ve ever been on a page with a ton of pictures, MP3s, documents, or other
file types, “DownloadThemAll!” gives you the ability to download all of
those files with just a few clicks. So, instead of having to save 100
pictures, songs, PDFs, or whatever else file-by-file, you can quickly save
them all to a folder of your choosing. Once installed, it’s as simple as
right-clicking on a page, selecting “DownloadThemAll!.”, then choosing the
folder you would like to save the files to and clicking “Start!”. It also
has plenty of functionality for you advanced users who would like to
specify/negate certain file types to download (like if you work with files
that have uncommon file extensions that “DownloadThemAll!” doesn’t
recognize), etc. Overall, an invaluable add-on if you frequently download
groups of files.
That’s it! Those are the three solutions (outside of the old standby, that
is; “right-click, save target as.”) I use to download YouTube videos and
other curious things. Again, these are far from the only solutions out
there, and while my chosen three may not be “the best” or the most
efficient, they’re certainly good enough for me; an individual who has yet
to harness the virtue of patience.
If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

The Complete Guide To I-Tunes Books, Podcasts Plus I-Tunes U I-Lounge
Article
Found at the link below if you wish to visit the page and find much more.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-complete-guide-to-itunes-audiobooks-podcasts-itunes-u/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

By Jesse Hollington
Applications Editor, iLounge
Published: Monday, December 5, 2011
Although iTunes began with a focus primarily on music, it wasn’t long before
it expanded its capabilities to include support for other types of audio
content, including audiobooks and community-authored episodic audio content
known as podcasts. As iTunes continued to expand its support into other
media types and the iTunes Store grew in popularity, video podcasts were
introduced as well, and the availability of a wide variety of podcasts on
different subjects expanded dramatically.
Today, the iTunes Store provides a catalog of thousands of audiobooks and
podcasts covering just about every possible subject you can imagine. In 2008
Apple further expanded the iTunes Store catalog of podcast-type materials by
adding iTunes U, a massive collection of free educational material from
various academic institutions for students, teachers and the general public.
With the release of the iPad in early 2010, Apple moved beyond audiobooks to
expand into the e-book business, adding text-based books which it dubbed
“iBooks” alongside a companion iBooks app for the iPad and later iPhone and
iPod touch.
For the most part, iTunes handles podcasts, audiobooks and iTunes U content
separately from your primary music and video library, placing them in their
own sections in iTunes and providing distinct options to manage these files
within iTunes and sync them to your Apple media devices. This article
provides information for both the beginner and experienced iTunes user alike
for getting the most out of your audiobooks, iBooks, podcasts and iTunes U
content.
Audiobooks and iBooks
iTunes supports commercial audiobooks both in the Audible.com or in iTunes’
own protected AAC format. Note that unlike music content on the iTunes
Store, most audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store and all audiobooks
from Audible.com are DRM-protected. As with music, you can import your own
audio files as audiobooks, a process that has become much more streamlined
with recent versions of iTunes.
For iBooks, iTunes supports titles in either the ePUB or PDF formats. Titles
purchased from the iBookstore are in a DRM-protected version of the ePUB
standard, although you can also import your own unprotected ePUB titles from
other sources such as Project Gutenberg or import PDF files from any source,
including those created on your Mac or Windows PC.
Note that although Apple uses the term “Books” throughout iTunes to refer to
electronic text-based books that can be read with the iBooks app, for the
sake of clarity we will refer to these as “iBooks” in this article.
Purchasing Audiobooks
iTunes and iPod compatible audiobooks may be purchased online from either
the iTunes Store itself or from Audible.com. As mentioned earlier, all
audiobooks from Audible.com and most audiobooks on the iTunes Store are
protected by iTunes’ Digital Rights Management (DRM), unlike iTunes Store
music purchases which are now all DRM-free. Audiobooks purchased from the
iTunes Store come in the protected AAC format and have the same DRM
restrictions as other types of iTunes content, basically meaning that they
may be played on up to five authorized iTunes computers and an unlimited
number of iPod or iOS devices that are synced with one of those five
computers. Audible content, on the other hand, carries a tighter set of
restrictions: only three computers may be authorized to play back Audible
content, and you authorize and deauthorize your Audible.com account
separately from your iTunes Store account. It’s also worth noting that due
to licensing restrictions, Audible.com content cannot be played on the Apple
TV.
Audiobooks purchased from Audible.com are not downloaded directly into
iTunes. Instead, you must either use Audible’s own download manager to
automatically import these tracks into iTunes, or download them manually and
import them into iTunes yourself as you would for any other audio file.
Further, unlike your iTunes Store account, there is no “Authorize Computer”
menu option for Audible; you are simply prompted to enter your Audible.com
username and password the first time you attempt to import or play an
Audible audiobook. Keep in mind also that since Audible authorization is
separate from iTunes Store authorization, if you’re planning to reinstall
your operating system or upgrade or sell your computer, you will need to
de-authorize both you iTunes Store and your Audible.com accounts separately.
The option to de-authorize your iTunes Store account is found under the
Store menu in iTunes, while the option to de-authorize your Audible account
can be found at the bottom of the Advanced menu in iTunes.
Most of the audiobooks available on Audible.com are also available on the
iTunes Store, and the main advantage of using Audible will be for those
users who listen to a lot of audiobooks, as Audible offers subscription
packages that work out more economically for avid audiobook listeners. On
the other hand you can purchase audiobooks on the go from the iTunes Store
on your iOS device whereas Audible.com content needs to be purchased on your
computer and synced from your iTunes library. Audible.com does offer its own
standalone iOS app for listening to your purchased Audible.com content,
however this app does not integrate with your iTunes library-books are
accessible only from within the native Audible.com application unless you
download them separately on your computer and import them into your iTunes
library manually.
Importing Audiobooks
iTunes also allows you to import your own audiobooks into your iTunes
library in much the same way as your own music tracks. Older versions of
iTunes made importing these audiobooks into the proper section in iTunes a
relatively cumbersome process involving external conversion tools, but the
good news is that as of iTunes 8 it has become considerably simpler to do.
With iTunes 8 and later, audiobooks can be imported into iTunes in any
supported audio format. These files will end up in your “Music” section by
default, but you can easily categorize them as Audiobooks simply by
selecting the newly-imported tracks and choosing File, Get Info from the
iTunes menu. This brings up the track information dialog box. From the
Options tab, you merely need to change the “Media Kind” field to
“Audiobook.”
Note that you may also want to enable the options for Remember playback
position and Skip when shuffling as shown above. These settings are enabled
by default for audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store and allow you to
resume listening to your audiobooks where you left off either in iTunes or
on your iPod, iOS device or Apple TV. The playback position is also synced
between all devices that are automatically syncing with your iTunes library,
allowing you to begin listening to your audiobook on your iPod, for example,
then sync your iPod and pick up where you left off on your computer or Apple
TV.
The Skip when Shuffling option is similarly desirable to prevent audiobooks
from coming up when shuffling large music playlists or the entire content of
your iPod.
Both of these options are actually forced on for content purchased from the
iTunes Store or Audible.com and you actually won’t be able to turn them off.
Further, audiobooks that were manually converted to the M4B format to be
imported into older versions of iTunes will also inherit these settings.
Another advantage of having your own audiobooks listed in the proper
“Audiobooks” section is that you will be able to vary the playback speed for
your audiobooks on your iPod or iOS device.
Note that some audiobooks that you obtain from other sources may consist of
multiple files for each chapter of the audiobook. If you are importing an
audiobook from CD, you can easily join the tracks together into a single
audio file when importing the CD into iTunes by using the Join CD Tracks
option; to do this, simply select all of the tracks on the CD within iTunes
and then choose Advanced, Join CD Tracks from the iTunes menu.
When importing the CD, the selected tracks will be joined together and
imported as a single audio file in your default import format. Note that
this will not add any chapter markers to your imported audiobook however, so
you may want to look at a third-party utility for this
purpose. There are a couple of good software utilities that can merge
multiple-file audiobooks into a single file for you and convert them into a
proper audiobook with chapter markers: Audiobook Builder by Splasm Software
( http://www.splasm.com ) for Mac users, or MarkAble from iPodSoft (
http://www.ipodsoft.com ) and its companion Chapter Master product for
Windows users. Both of these tools can handle the entire process of joining
separate audiobook files together, converting them into an iTunes-ready
audiobook file and importing them right into your iTunes library.
Purchasing iBooks
When Apple first debuted the iBookstore in April 2010, access to it was only
available from within the iBooks app running on an iOS device. Books
purchased in iBooks could be synced back to and managed within iTunes, but
they had to be purchased directly from the iBooks app.
It wasn’t until over a year later, with the release of iTunes 10.3 that
Apple finally allows users to purchase iBooks from their Mac or Windows PC.
The Audiobooks section of the iTunes Store was renamed to “Books” grouping
audiobooks and iBooks together into this single new section.
Purchasing an iBook works in much the same way as purchasing anything else
on the iTunes Store, with the usual purchasing and gifting options
available. Most titles also provide the ability to download a sample version
of the book before purchasing. The sample can be synced to an iOS device in
the same manner as a purchased book, and will include a link within iBooks
to purchase the full edition. If the user chooses to buy the actual book,
the sample is automatically removed in favour of the full title.
As with audiobooks, iBooks purchased on the iTunes Store are protected by
digital rights management and tied to the iTunes Store account used to
purchase them. Similar rules apply to iBooks as other iTunes media content:
you can sync your iBooks to up to five iTunes-authorized devices and can
only store content from up to five different iTunes Store accounts on a
single iOS device.
You can also download previously purchased iBooks from the “Purchased”
section in iTunes or within the iBooks app on your iOS device via iTunes in
the Cloud and configure iTunes or any of your iOS devices to automatically
download all new iBookstore purchases. However, as with music content once
you download prior iBookstore purchases with a given iTunes Store account,
you will not be able to download content with a different account on that
device for 90 days.
Importing iBooks
Importing your own ePUB or PDF files into iTunes is as simple as dragging
and dropping them in or using the File, Add to Library menu option. iTunes
will automatically place these items in the Books category. For ePUB titles,
iTunes will use the metadata embedded in the ePUB header, if any, to fill in
fields such as the cover art, title and author; for PDF files, the file name
becomes the title, and the first page of the PDF file becomes the cover art.
You can further customize the tags for a book in much the same way as any
other item in iTunes: Simply select the item and choose File, Get Info to
open the file information dialog box and then edit the track information as
you normally would.
For PDF files, you can also visit the “Options” tab and change the Media
Kind to Music, Podcast or iTunes U to list the item in a different category.
This is particularly relevant for items such as digital booklet inserts for
music albums or supplemental documents that come from podcast or iTunes U
subscriptions. However, this option can also be used in reverse if you want
to move one of these PDF files into the Books section for syncing to the
iBooks app on your iOS device.
Note that if you have electronic books that are another unprotected format,
you can also convert these to ePUB for use in iBooks on your iOS device.
Calibre ( http://calibre-ebook.com ) offers a free, open-source tool that
can convert electronic books from a wide variety of formats. It is also
possible to find tools that can remove the DRM from some types of older
audiobook formats such as eReader, although discussion of such tools is
beyond the scope of this article.
Managing Your Books
Once in your iTunes library, management of your books is relatively
straightforward. The Books category in the iTunes source list will display a
view of all of the iBooks (“Books”) and audiobooks in your library which you
can see in standard list view, Grid view or Cover Flow view. Grid View has
the advantage of automatically grouping multi-file audiobooks into a single
entry, based upon the Album tag. By default Books and Audiobooks Other than
their placement in a separate category, audiobooks are managed in much the
same way as music tracks, and can be sorted, re-tagged and organized in the
same manner.
Note that although you can listen to your audiobooks in iTunes, the
corresponding feature is not available for iBooks; as has always been the
case, PDF files in your library can be opened in your default PDF reader,
but ePUB titles can only be read on an iOS device using the iBooks app.
Synchronizing Books
Synchronization of books to your iPod or iOS device is handled from a
separate “Books” screen. For traditional Click Wheel iPod models, this will
include your audiobooks; for iOS devices syncing of both iBooks and
Audiobooks is managed from here.
From this screen, you can choose to sync all iBooks and/or audiobooks or
choose specific titles for synchronization. Multi-part audiobooks also allow
you to sync only specific sections of the audiobook. Alternatively, you can
also build your own playlists of audiobook content and select them for
synchronization if you prefer. Note that the Include Audiobooks from
Playlists option only appears if you actually have playlists containing the
appropriate type of content, and only those playlists which include that
content are shown.
If you’re managing the content on your iPod or iOS device manually, the same
rules as for management of music tracks apply-simply drag-and-drop your
audiobooks from your iTunes library onto your device in this case.
Protected audiobooks and iBooks purchased from the iTunes Store have the
same limitations as other iTunes DRM-protected files: They may be synced to
up to five iTunes-authorized devices and you can only store content from up
to five iTunes Store accounts on any single device. Audiobooks purchased
from Audible.com work in a similar manner, although the limits in this case
are a maximum of three devices and a maximum of two different Audible.com
accounts per device.
Audiobooks with Remember Playback Position enabled will also sync their
current playback position between iTunes and any other devices using
automatic synchronization. Note that purchased audiobooks and audiobooks
converted to the M4B format via third-party tools will have this option
permanently enabled. With iBooks, the current reading position along with
any notes and highlights are synchronized over-the-air via iCloud-iTunes has
not part in this process.
Varying Playback Speed
On the iPod and iOS devices you can adjust the playback speed for your
audiobooks. This option is found under Settings, Audiobooks on the iPod
classic and Settings, Playback, Audiobooks on the pre-sixth-generation iPod
nano models. On the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, you can adjust the speed of
audiobooks during playback by tapping the screen to bring up the extra
controls and tapping the “1X” button in the top-right corner to toggle
between double-speed playback, half-speed playback, or normal speed
playback. The sixth-generation iPod nano provides a similar control that can
be found by tapping on the Now Playing screen to display the playback
controls and then swiping to the left to bring up the additional repeat,
skip-back and playback speed controls.
Podcasts and iTunes U
The most common source of Podcasts is the iTunes Store itself, which
provides a catalog of thousands of audio and video podcasts. Unlike most
iTunes Store content, podcasts are completely free. In fact the iTunes Store
really only provides the directory of podcasts; the actual podcast episodes
themselves are not stored or provided by the iTunes Store, but are rather
downloaded directly from each podcast provider’s own servers.
For the most part, Podcasts and iTunes U Collections are handled in a
similar manner. However, unlike podcasts, iTunes U content is provided only
through the iTunes Store itself. Note also that while most iTunes U content
is freely available, there may be items that are restricted only to students
and faculty of particular educational institutions; the iTunes U service
allows campuses to host their own internal iTunes U sites exclusively for
their own students. This content will generally not be visible at all to
iTunes users that are not part of those particular campuses.
Although iTunes U was actually first introduced to the iTunes Store in late
2006, these materials were originally treated by the iTunes application
simply as podcasts. It was not until the release of iTunes 9 that iTunes U
Collections received their own distinct category in iTunes.
Downloading Podcasts and iTunes U Collections
In spite of Podcasts and iTunes U content having their own separate
categories in iTunes, they are managed in mostly the same way. You can
browse for content of both types within the iTunes Store, and choose to
either subscribe to an entire podcast or iTunes U collection, or simply
download individual episodes that may interest you.
If you choose to subscribe to an entire podcast or iTunes U collection, the
most recent episode is downloaded immediately and iTunes checks daily for
any new episodes and downloads them automatically. Any older episodes that
are available in the series will appear below the most recent one but by
default are not downloaded automatically. You can download additional
episodes by clicking on the Get button beside each individual episode, or
simply click Get All in the heading to download all available episodes.
If you choose to download individual episodes instead of subscribing to the
entire podcast, these episodes will appear in the appropriate section in
iTunes, with a “Subscribe” button in the heading to allow you to easily
subscribe to the entire series if you later choose to do so.
With its extremely large catalog of podcasts, the iTunes Store is the most
common place to find podcasts, but you can also easily subscribe to any
individual podcast directly. Some podcast providers will have links on their
own web sites to subscribe in iTunes with one click, or alternatively if you
know the direct URL of a podcast you can subscribe manually by selecting
Subscribe to Podcast from the iTunes Advanced menu and typing or pasting in
the podcast URL.
iTunes U content, on the other hand, can only be obtained directly from the
iTunes Store, although it is also free to download. Note that you do not
require an iTunes Store account to download either podcasts or iTunes U
content, except for any iTunes U content that may be restricted to your own
organization.
Managing Podcasts and iTunes U Content
Although Podcasts and iTunes U content are organized into their own
respective sections in iTunes, each is managed in the same manner. Episodes
are organized into their respective podcast or iTunes U collection, and the
view can be collapsed or expanded to display the individual episodes below
each heading. Audio and video content is organized in the same section, with
video content being indicated simply by a video icon beside the episode.
Note that some podcasts or iTunes U series’ may include both audio and video
episodes or even PDF documents as supplemental material; these will be
organized under the same podcast subscription heading with videos and PDF
files indicated with a video or book icon, respectively.
iTunes keeps track of which podcast or iTunes U episodes you’ve listened to
or watched, indicating unplayed episodes with a solid blue dot and
partially-played episodes with a half-filled blue dot. The number of
unplayed episodes is also displayed beside the “Podcasts” and “iTunes U”
entries in the iTunes library source list on the left.
Podcast and iTunes U listings can also be viewed in Grid View and Cover Flow
views. In Grid View, the number of new episodes within each subscription is
shown as a blue badge count over the artwork. Note that this number
represents the number of new episodes and does not include partially-watched
episodes.
Buttons at the bottom of the screen allow you to subscribe or unsubscribe
from a selected podcast or iTunes U subscription and adjust your settings
for how many episodes to download or keep for each subscription. Clicking
the Refresh button will check your subscriptions for any new episodes.
The Settings button at the bottom of the screen will open a dialog box where
you can adjust your Podcast or iTunes U settings, depending on which section
you’re in.
At the top of the settings dialog box you can specify how often iTunes
should check for new episodes: hourly, daily, weekly, or manually, with the
default being daily. The lower section allows you to specify how many
episodes should be downloaded when new episodes are available and how many
episodes should be retained. For new episodes, the options are Download all,
Download the most recent one or Do nothing and are fairly self-explanatory.
The Episodes to keep option allows you to choose to keep either all
episodes, all unplayed episodes, or the most recent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10
episodes.
You can also override these settings for individual subscriptions by
choosing a specific subscription from the Settings for drop-down menu,
deselecting the Use Default Settings option and choosing specific settings
for that particular subscription.
The options for iTunes U are identical to those for podcasts, with the
exception of the references to “iTunes U” in the dialog boxes.
You can also exempt specific podcast or iTunes U episodes from automatic
deletion. This can be particularly useful if you want a podcast or iTunes U
subscription to normally only keep the last few episodes, but find one
particular episode that you consider worth keeping around longer. To do
this, simply select the individual episode that you would like to retain,
right-click on it, and choose Do Not Auto Delete from the context menu
which appears.
Note that this option will change to Allow Auto Delete when right-clicking
on an episode that has already been exempted from automatic deletion.
The auto-delete settings can also be applied to an entire podcast or iTunes
U subscription. If both options appear on the context menu, this indicates
that some but not all of the episodes in the series have been exempted from
automatic deletion. Choosing either option will change the setting for all
of the episodes in the current podcast or iTunes U subscription.
Exempting an entire subscription from automatic deletion in this manner is
basically the same as adjusting the custom settings for the subscription to
keep all episodes, and was the only way to do this prior to the custom
podcast settings being introduced in iTunes 8.
Another useful option that can be found on this context menu is Show all
available episodes. This option will refresh the podcast to show all
episodes that are currently available from the podcast feed. Episodes are
not actually downloaded, but are displayed greyed out with a “Get” button
beside each allowing you to retrieve any specific episodes from the feed.
Note that iTunes will stop downloading new podcast episodes automatically
for any podcasts that you have not listened to in at least five days. This
is presumably to prevent your library from getting cluttered with podcast
episodes that you don’t regularly listen to, however some users who may want
to collect episodes for infrequent listening may find this to be annoying.
Simply selecting these stale podcasts and initiating a manual update by
right-clicking and choosing Update Podcast from the context menu will resume
regular automatic downloads until the next five-day cycle elapses. Mac users
who would rather see this automated can check out the Update Expired
Podcasts AppleScript at Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes

http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=updateexpiredpodcasts

which will force regular batch-updates of all of your podcasts.
Synchronizing Podcasts and iTunes U Collections
Syncing podcasts and iTunes U collections to your iPod or iOS device is
handled through specific screens in your device sync settings in iTunes. As
with other Podcast and iTunes U settings, these two sections function in
essentially the same manner.
You can choose to automatically sync a specified number of episodes,
unplayed episodes or recent episodes of either all of your podcasts or
iTunes U collections, or from specifically selected collections. Episodes
selected for synchronization automatically will appear pre-checked and
greyed out within the selection list, and you can also choose additional
specific episodes to sync from each podcast or iTunes U collection.
You can also sync podcast and iTunes U content based on playlists. Note that
the Include Items from Playlists option only appears if you actually have
playlists containing the appropriate type of content, and only those
playlists which include that content are shown.
Podcast and iTunes U sync settings are independent of whether or not you
have your iPod or iOS device set to manage content manually. In other words,
you can choose to manage your music and video content manually while still
synchronizing podcasts and iTunes U collections automatically.
Listening to Podcasts and iTunes U On The Go
Any podcast or iTunes U episodes synchronized to your iPod or iOS device can
be accessed from the appropriate section on the device. If you have created
playlists containing podcast episodes, you can also play this content
directly from these playlists in your “Playlists” menu. Click Wheel iPod
models separate out audio and video podcasts into the Music and Videos
sections, as do the iPad and iPod touch. Prior to iOS 5, the iPhone placed
both together in the “iPod” application, but with iOS 5 these are now also
separated out in the same manner.
Although video podcasts are not included in the iOS “Music” app by default,
they will appear when searching for podcasts by name from the built-in
search field. Podcasts contained in a playlist will also appear in the Music
app’s Playlists section. Note that when playing a video podcast from the
Music app it is played back in portrait orientation.
All current iPod and iOS devices now provide specific support for iTunes U
content separately from podcasts. When syncing iTunes U Collections to older
iPod models, audio items will simply appear in your iPod Music section and
video items will appear alongside your Movies.
Newer iPod and iOS devices also provide visual indications of which episodes
you’ve listened to using the same blue-dot indicators found in iTunes: A
blue dot indicates that the episode is completely new, a half-filled dot
indicates that you have listened to part of the episode but have not
finished it, and the absence of a blue dot means that you have listened to
the episode all the way through. Like audiobooks, podcasts are set to
remember playback position by default, and therefore your current playback
position in a given podcast episode will sync back to iTunes and sync out to
any other devices connected to your iTunes library.
You can also vary the playback speed of audio podcast and iTunes U episodes
on your iOS devices or the sixth-generation iPod nano. This works in the
same manner as it does for audiobooks: Simply tap the artwork to bring up
the extended controls and tap the “1X” button in the top-right corner of the
screen to toggle between double-speed, half-speed and normal-speed playback;
on the sixth-generation iPod nano these controls can be accessed by swiping
to the left from the on-screen playback controls. Note that this option is
not available for video episodes.
Other options available during podcast or iTunes U playback include a button
to skip backward 30 seconds and a small envelope icon in the top-left corner
that can be used to e-mail out a link to your favorite podcast via the iOS
Mail application.
Note that older iPod models may still exhibit different behaviour when
playing back podcasts from playlists. A common problem encountered here is
that only a single episode will play back at a time from a given playlist.
This is most often caused by the iPod having Shuffle mode enabled; since all
podcast episodes are set to “Skip when Shuffling” an iPod in shuffle mode
would effectively have no other episodes for playback once the current
episode ended.
Downloading Podcast and iTunes U Episodes on an iOS Device
iOS devices also provide the ability to browse for and download podcasts
directly on the device via the iTunes Store app. A “Get More Episodes” link
is also shown at the bottom of your existing podcasts that will take you
directly to the podcast in the iTunes Store app so that you can check for
and download additional episodes.
Note that on the iPhone a Wi-Fi connection is required to download
individual podcast or iTunes U episodes over 20MB in size, although these
same episodes can be streamed live over a cellular data connection. Further,
there is presently no way to actually subscribe to a podcast or iTunes U
collection from your device-you can only download individual episodes.
Episodes downloaded to your device will transfer back to iTunes during the
next sync and if you are not already subscribed to the Podcast or iTunes U
Collection it will appear in the appropriate section with a “Subscribe”
button beside it in the same way as downloading an individual episode
directly within iTunes on your computer.
Managing Audiobooks, Podcasts and iTunes U Collections with Smart Playlists
Although iTunes 9 provides some greatly expanded sync options for
transferring your content to your devices, these built-in options are not
without their limitations. Most notably, automatic synchronization of recent
podcast and iTunes U episodes remains a global setting. For instance, you
can choose to synchronize the 3 most recent unplayed episodes of ALL of your
podcasts, but there is no method for selecting five recent unplayed episodes
from one podcast and three recent episodes from another.
Since iTunes allows playlists containing Podcasts and iTunes U content to be
synchronized alongside the standard sync settings, users with more advanced
requirements can turn to Smart Playlists as a means of dealing with these
special cases. Smart Playlists can collect and group podcasts based on much
of the same criteria used for other kinds of media content, allowing simple
or complex Smart Playlists to be built depending upon your specific needs.
For example, you can easily create a Smart Playlist that simply includes the
5 most recent unplayed episodes for a given podcast:
Smart Playlists can also be used to automatically group recent podcasts into
a single playlist, useful if you regularly listen to the same content during
your morning commute, for example:
This playlist can be further refined to include only audio podcasts that are
under a certain length:
An advantage of using Smart Playlists in this manner is that you can easily
group several episodes from different podcasts into a single playlist for
listening on your iPod or iPhone.
Podcasts and iTunes U episodes can also have star ratings like any other
track in your iTunes library. Although the iTunes sync settings allow you to
manually choose specific episodes to sync to your device, using ratings can
be another useful shortcut for flagging those episodes that you might want
to keep around.
In this case you would simply rate your favorite podcast episodes with five
stars and they would be included in this Smart Playlist. If this Smart
Playlist was selected for synchronization to your iPod then these episodes
would remain on your device even if they no longer met the automatic recent
or unplayed criteria in the main sync settings.
Under the Hood: How Audiobooks, Podcasts and iTunes U Collections are stored
Prior to iTunes 9, the organization of non-music content in the underlying
file system seemed almost an afterthought. iTunes began its existence as a
music-centric application, and as a result other content types were never
stored in a particularly logical fashion. For instance, audiobooks were
stored in folders named by artist in the same way that music content was
stored, and a “Podcasts” folder was simply added into the “iTunes Music”
folder structure alongside the artist folders.
iTunes 9 introduced a new folder structure which properly subdivides your
media content by type, resulting in far less clutter at the top level of the
iTunes Media folder. Audiobooks, Podcasts and iTunes U contnet are now
stored in appropriate folders by content type, with Audiobooks further
subdivided by artist (author) and Podcasts and iTunes U content organized
further into sub-folders by Podcast or iTunes U Collection name.
New libraries started with iTunes 9 or later will get this media
organization layout by default. However, if you’ve upgraded from an older
version of iTunes, the previous storage layout is retained for backward
compatibility. You can easily convert to the new layout, however, simply by
using the Organize Library option found on the iTunes File menu. More
information on this can be found in our article on Transferring your iTunes
Library.
Caveats, Limitations, and Conclusions
Although support for audiobooks and podcasts has been around for years, it
remained mostly stagnant until iTunes 8, which made some nice improvements
in allowing podcast settings to be managed on an individual basis. Likewise,
it is only in the past couple of years that iPod and iOS device support for
podcasts has become more stable and consistent in terms of how podcasts are
organized and played back on Apple’s portable media devices.
Unfortunately, despite the ability to download podcast and iTunes U episodes
directly to an iOS device via the iTunes Store app, the iOS platform
continues to lack any kind of subscription capability to automatically
update this content. Despite Apple’s efforts to untether the iOS platform
from a PC, subscribing to and automatically downloading episodes remains the
domain of iTunes on the desktop-an odd omission with this year’s emphasis on
iTunes in the Cloud and Apple’s new iTunes Match service. Avid podcast users
will need to either manually fetch new episodes on their iOS device as
needed or sync to their iTunes library on a regular basis to get new content
automatically delivered. Alternatively, users who spend a lot of time away
from their iTunes library may be forced to look to third-party apps to sync
and manage their podcasts in order to fill this gap in functionality.
If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

if you know of someone who would like to join Mama’s Corner, please contact
me at:

mamas-corner-owner@yahoogroups.com

_________________________

Quotes for the day
Taken from Melanie mama’s corner

Quote For Today:
None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a
currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of
bankruptcy.
Fred De Witt Van Amburgh
Quote For Today:
We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past.
Become the architect of your future.
Robin Sharma
_________________________

Quote For Today:
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to
be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way
to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep
looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when
you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and
better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t
settle.”
Steve Jobs
_________________________

Quote For Today:
We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in
work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we’ve established for
ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It
makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile.
Earl Nightingale
_________________________

Quote For Today:
Every day is a day to have a positive attitude. Smile and keep positive
regardless of the circumstances that attempt to beat you down.
_________________________

Quote For Today:
“We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving,
and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep
believing.”
– Louisa May Alcott
_________________________

Quote For Today:
I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that
matters and that it is my duty…This is my highest and best use as a human.
Ben Stein
_________________________

Quote For Today:
I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it
comes from within. It is there all the time.
Anna Freud
_________________________

Quote For Today:
Pleasure is an important component of the quality of life, but by itself it
does not bring happiness. Pleasure helps to maintain order, but by itself
cannot create a new order in consciousness.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
_________________________

Quote For Today:
“Growing into your future with health and grace and beauty doesn’t have to
take all your time. It rather requires a dedication to caring for yourself
as if you were rare and precious, which you are, and regarding all life
around you as equally so, which it is.”
Victoria Moran
_________________________

Quote For Today:
“Things don’t go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and
give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all
that you were intended to be.”
Samuel Johnson
_________________________

If you know of someone who would like to join Mama’s Corner, please contact
me at:

mamas-corner-owner@yahoogroups.com

+++++++++++++++
Global Smartphone Usage Highlights Challenges, Opportunities For Small
Businesses
Small Business News from Gaebler.com
Many smartphone users are active social media followers and use their
devices to connect with friends online. By creating a presence on social
media, small business owners can enter the conversation and create
opportunities for consumers to connect …
Read more at:

http://www.gaebler.com/News/Small-Business-Technology/Global-smartphone-usage-highlights-challenges,-opportunities-for-small-businesses-900000023.htm

+++++++++++++++

So what do you think? Are you ready to start cutting down on time and cost
to do your research and writing? Ready to leave those mundane tasks of
editing, proof reading, and spell checking to those who specialize in doing
this?

Contact us at info@sterlingcreations.com and we would be delighted to help
you get started.

+++++++++++++++
How To Prevent Identity Theft While Traveling
San Francisco Chronicle
In this article, we’ll give you some tips for keeping your identity safe
while … Otherwise, handle any sensitive online business on your secure
home …
Read more at:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/29/investopedia66526.DTL

+++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++

So what do you think? How long do you think it would have taken you to find
this piece of info?

So the next time you are stuck on how to do your research, no matter how big
or small it is, drop us an email at info@sterlingcreations.com and we would
be delighted to help.

This is easier said than done. It takes a log of research, an abundance of
time and patience, and if you do not know where to look, then you are going
to find yourself searching for a needle in a haystack! Let us help you!
Let us show you where to search and how to do it.
Take a look at our examples below and judge for yourself.

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US Job Market Looking More Like Europe’s
Wall Street Journal
As the baby-boom generation begins to retire, fewer Americans are working.
Dean Maki, chief US economist for Barclays Capital, says the trend wasn’t
evident in part because the housing boom created hundreds of thousands of
jobs in construction, …
Read more at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204452104577058140524660590.html

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Wells Fargo Survey Reveals Generational Warfare
BankInvestmentConsultant.com (blog)
The boomer’s (currently in their late-40′s to mid-60′s) response however, is
mixed, and truthfully, not pretty. While some are referencing economic
circumstances beyond their control, a lack of jobs and age discrimination
for their financial struggles, …
Read more at:

http://www.bankinvestmentconsultant.com/blogs/retirement-planning-generational-differences-boomers-millennials-2676123-1.html

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More Baby Boomers Launch Encore Careers
U.S. News & World Report (blog)
A growing number of people approaching retirement are pursuing encore
careers, or late-career jobs that pay the bills while providing personal
meaning or having a social impact. A new MetLife Foundation and Civic
Ventures report estimates that 9 …
Read more at:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/planning-to-retire/2011/11/29/more-baby-boomer-take-encore-careers

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Chances are that you may never have been able to find these on your own.
This is what we can do for you! We are dedicated searchers and we can find
any type of information for you. We know how and where to search and how to
find you exactly what you seek.
Contact us at info@sterlingcreations.com to learn more.

I know how difficult it is for anyone at the best of times; you are trying
to run your business and at the same time get your message out there and
keep up with the latest and greatest information. Or you are trying to
generate ideas to get started and don’t quite know where to look.
Not easy is it! So hard for you to run your business plus do the research
and write about it all at the same time. Here is where we can help. Take a
look at our Tiny Tip below and use it well to help you identify business
ideas, opportunities, plus much more.

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Watch out for scams
Always be on the lookout for phishing sites pretending to be your bank,
favourite game’s homepage, social media service or similar pages. Never
visit one through a link – always type the address in directly.
Most phishing attempts are woeful, but occasionally a convincing one slips
through.
Whatever you do, make sure you never enter any payment or other critical
information onto a site with no padlock icon. This means the connection is
secure.
Without it, anyone could be eavesdropping on the data you send. Many
services, such as Gmail and Backpack, also let you use these ‘SSL’
connections while you’re using their service. It slows them down slightly,
but not to the extent that you’ll notice.
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Now, take this tiny tip and use it to find related information that you can
use to write about.
Or, take it and develop it into a smashing business venture.

Having problems writing about this? Can’t be bothered or have no time to
check the grammar, spelling, or structure of your writing? Not sure how to
go about researching related information on this?
Then contact us at info@sterlingcreations.com. We would be most happy to
help.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day.

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Baby boom pushing midwives to the limit
Halifax Evening Courier
A NEW report has highlighted the pressures on maternity services in
Yorkshire after a baby boom over the last ten years. The Royal College of
Midwives (RCM) said rising birth rates and an ageing workforce were leaving
hospitals struggling to cope and …
Read more at:

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/baby_boom_pushing_midwives_to_the_limit_1_4007414

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No more having to research markets for your business ventures. No more
having to worry about having to check for spelling mistakes, grammatical
errors or using the wrong or inappropriate words.
No more of being afraid of having to write or spend endless hours
researching something that you are not sure about.

Contact us at info@sterlingcreations.com and we would be delighted to help
you get started.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and week.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.com and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

In the normal scheme of things, you would probably not have enough time to
do this research on your own. So, let us help you get a flying start.
Take this info and use it as you see fit and use it to get ahead of your
competition.
It’s what we do for a living! We help you to help yourself!
Enjoy!

The business desk team

Helpful tips to get you started
(Taken from Steve’s daily tips at Mama’s corner)

Do-It-Yourself Exfoliant
Dry skin can make you look dull and tired, and can be especially troublesome
in the winter months. For a quick and easy homemade exfoliant, try mixing
some of these ingredients together. One from each category is all you need.
Exfoliant:
This ingredient needs to be mildly abrasive. Choose from Himalayan crystal
salt, baking soda, brown sugar, or ground nuts/seeds. Add 1 1/2 cup.
Binder:
Choose from honey, water or organic liquid soap. Add 1 cup.
Moisturizer:
After your skin has been exfoliated, the moisturizer nourishes your skin.
Choose from most oils, such as vitamin E, jojoba or olive oil. Add 1/4 cup.
Preservative:
Vitamin E works as a natural preservative. If you already added vitamin E as
your moisturizer, there is no need to add more. If not, add 3 drops.
Optional Fragrance:
Essential oils or fragrance oils will give your skin a great smelling scent.
Stir ingredients together to a frosting-like consistency. Store in a
container with a tight fitting lid, and discard any remaining scrub after 2
to 3 weeks.
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Healthy Cooking Tips
Cooking at home should mean healthier, wholesome meals. However, there are
some key mistakes that many people make when cooking. Follow these tips for
creating healthy meals.
1. Use Frozen Fruits and Veggies. Not all fresh produce is better than
frozen, produce is often frozen at the peak of freshness, so some frozen
fruits and veggies will have more nutrients than fresh, especially if they
are imported.
2. Mix It Up. Don’t just have the same brown rice, chicken and salad for
every dinner. Try quinoa, salmon and a salad with kale, red cabbage and
mixed veggies. Experimenting with different foods will give your body
different nutrients and expose your taste buds to new flavors.
3. Eat Some Fat. Don’t cut out all fats because you think all fats are bad.
Essential fatty acids are needed for brain and heart health, and will leave
you feeling full longer. Make sure you stay clear of trans fats and reduce
your saturated fats. Try fish, nuts and avocados, and make sure to choose
healthy vegetable oils for cooking.
4. Plan Ahead. It’s so much easier to eat unhealthy foods after a long day.
Set aside an hour a week to plan out meals for the rest of the week and make
a shopping list before you go to the grocery store. Prepare as much as you
can ahead of time so that meal preparation takes less time later.
5. Don’t Exclude Certain Foods. Make sure you balance your variety of foods.
Cutting out one section, like carbs or fats, will leave your body feeling
deprived, which can lead to unhealthy snacking later. Choose healthier
choices, such as whole grain carbs or healthy fats. Eating small amounts of
indulgent food will often satisfy your cravings.
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7 Quick Ways To Fuel Your Brain
Losing the car keys, forgetting why you came in the room or not remembering
someone’s name are all common memory issues people experience as they age.
But you can stop those senior moments before they happen! Keep your brain
quick and sharp with these tips:
1. Google
Searching online actually uses neural circuitry. This suggests that repeated
Googling can build cognitive strength over time. Spend 20 minutes every day
researching topics you’ve always wanted to know about.
2. Exercise
It’s already been shown to delay dementia and speed and sharpen thought, but
exercise can also boost brain tissue. As little as 50 minutes of brisk
walking 3 times a week has an expanding effect on the brain.
3. Clean Teeth
A team of British psychiatrists showed oral health is linked to brain
health. They found that gingivitis and periodontal disease were associated
with poor cognitive function. It’s another reason to listen to your dentist
and brush and floss daily.
4. Limit Alcohol
The more alcohol someone drinks, the smaller their brain volume becomes
according to a Wellesley College study. Limit yourself to one drink a day
for women, two for men.
5. Snack on Blueberries
Researchers at Tufts University and the National Institute on Aging believe
that anthocyanin, the dark blue pigment in blueberries, strengthens learning
and memory. Eat them year ’round, frozen berries have the same
brain-boosting nutrient as fresh.
6. Do Puzzles
Never be bored again! Keeping a small book of puzzles on hand can help you
pass time and strengthen your brain. As you sharpen your mental abilities,
increase the difficulty in the puzzles and brainteasers.
7. Meditate
Along with being a natural stress reliever, people who meditate appear to
experience growth in the parts of the brain that control memory, language
and sensory processing, according to a study done by Massachusetts General
Hospital.
_________________

Try These Natural Cleaning Solutions
It seems like cleaning this time of year happens more often than usual. And
due to the weather, most of us keep windows and doors closed when we clean,
which can trap any unhealthy chemicals from mainstream cleaning products in
our house. If you are looking for some natural and environmentally friendly
cleaning solutions, look no further.
1. Lemons.
A cheap alternative to remove dirt and rust, and can be mixed with salt to
scour surfaces. Lemon juice can also bleach stains, neutralize odors on
hands, hard surfaces and in garbage disposals and can cut grease.
2. Essential Oils
Potent and plant based, some essential oils can kill bacteria and mold. Tea
tree oil can be used to fix scuffed floors and clean toilets, and orange oil
can remove gum from various materials.
3. Liquid Castile Soap
Who knew one soap could have so many uses? Liquid Castile Soap mixed with
water can clean your car, floors, stovetop and almost any surface in your
bathroom.
4. Cooking Oils
Not just for making food more delicious, they can also get rid of dirt, hide
scratches and hydrate wood. Vegetable oil can buff leather shoes, smooth
scratches in wood furniture, and prevent wicker from drying. Oil olive can
also buff stainless steel surfaces.
5. Borax
Used mostly with or for laundry detergent, it can kill mold and fungus and
soften hard water, too. It can also clean china, the dishwasher, pots and
pans, and the toilet.
6. Vinegar
Really a miracle cleaner, vinegar can make tarnish vanish, destroy soap scum
and mineral deposits, and can inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and some
bacteria. Did we mention that it’s cheap? Use it to clean your coffeemaker,
dishwasher, drains, glass, showerhead and floors.
7. Baking Soda
Not only used for cooking or sitting in the back of your fridge to eliminate
odors, baking soda can also be used to clean stains off of coffee mugs,
remove odors from upholstered furniture and erase crayon marks from white
walls. It can also remove rust stains and dirt from a stainless steel sink.
8. Standard Toothpaste
After you’ve brushed your teeth for the day, try your toothpaste to polish
chrome and tarnished silverware, piano keys and scuffed linoleum.
9. Regular Table Salt
Most salts will work just as well for scouring, but table salt is cheaper.
Get stubborn stains out of glassware, remove grease from pots, pans and
wooden counters and tables, and cleans spills in the oven.
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What’s The Story With Squash?
Fresh and healthy vegetables can be scarce in most parts of the country this
time of year. One exception is winter squash. Here are some quick facts
about common winter squash varieties:
Acorn Squash
This small, acorn shaped squash is filled with fiber and can be roasted
(plus you can eat the skin).
Butternut Squash
A very common bell-shaped squash, it has a sweet and nutty flavor and has
high doses of vitamins A and C. Used mostly for roasting and soups.
Spaghetti Squash
Finally, a healthy alternative to pasta! Once cooked, this squash separates
into noodle-like pieces and can easily be topped with your favorite pasta
sauces.
Sweet Potato Squash
This pinstriped squash has a creamy flavor and texture and can be roasted or
stuffed.
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An Easy Way To Protect Sensative Teeth
Does a bite of ice cream make you wince? Protect sensitive teeth by limiting
acidic foods and rinsing with water after eating. If drinking hot coffee or
ice-cold water makes you flinch, you likely suffer from tooth sensitivity.
Sensitive teeth affect up to 35 percent of adults. It’s often caused when
gums recede, leaving the vulnerable soft layer underneath, called dentin,
exposed. Dentin is connected to a network of nerves that register pain when
exposed to foods or drinks that are hot, cold, sweet or sour, or even when
breathing cold air. You can help protect your tooth enamel and prevent
further deterioration by limiting acidic foods, rinsing your mouth with
water after eating, staying well-hydrated, and brushing your teeth gently.
Two out of three people brush too vigorously, resulting in gum tissue loss.
Using a desensitizing toothpaste can help reduce painful symptoms. If you
still don’t experience relief, your dentist may recommend fluoride gel or a
sealant that bonds the teeth’s roots.
_________________________

Moisturize Winter Skin With Shea Butter
Now that we’re in the depths of winter, you may have noticed the dry, cold
air wreaking havoc on your skin. Cold air has less moisture than warm air,
so it’s easier to develop dry, rough, itchy and cracking skin during the
winter months. Harsh winter winds can also strip lipids from the skin that
protect the skin barrier and keep it from drying out. Your home’s heat and
taking hot showers also don’t do your skin any favors.
To take care of moisture-zapped skin, apply shea butter. Shea butter comes
from the African shea tree and delivers antioxidants like vitamins A and E.
These nutrients naturally moisturize skin and promote smoother, younger
looking skin. Shea butter is a solid fatty oil and has been used by African
women for centuries to nourish skin. Look for shea butter sold by itself or
as an ingredient in lotions, lip balms and other health and beauty products.
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3 Health Benefits Of Salt–Yes, Salt!
Did the title about salt’s benefits throw you off? If it did, you’re not to
blame.
We’re bombarded by ways salt is bad for us, and that low-salt and no-salt
diets are
helpful to your health. But there are some ways salt is beneficial too, just
not
when you eat it.
Salt Helps During a Cold
Next time your nose gets stuffy, use a salt inhaler. The salt loosens up the
mucus
by drawing soothing moisture into the mucus, making it thinner and more
easily swept
out by cilia that protect your nostrils from unwanted particles. When you
feel a
cold coming on, use a salt inhaler for 15 minutes a day to reduce symptoms.
Promote Respiratory Health
Switch the pillows on your bed to salt pillows. These pillows filter the air
that
is near the nose and mouth while you’re sleeping and can help breathing.
Take a Salt Bath
Use salt in your bath to soothe and moisturize skin. Mix a half-cup of
crystal salt
and a half-cup oatmeal in your bath water. The salt hydrates the skin by
drawing
moisture into it while the oatmeal helps lock the moisture into your skin.
_________________________

Out-Of-The-Box Uses For Coconut Oil
You may know all about the good fat in coconut oil and how cooking with it
can be beneficial for your overall health, but did you know that it can
highlight a certain part of your face? Check out these 10 not-so-typical
uses for coconut oil.
1. Cooking at high heat.
Ok, this one is more of a “normal” use, but since some oils are unsafe to
cook with at high temperatures, coconut oil is a great alternative.
2. Cheekbone highlighter.
Apply a small amount on cheekbones over makeup.
3. Shaving lotion.
Close shave and a moisturizer at the same time.
4. Deep conditioning hair treatment.
Rub a small amount of oil into hair (mostly at ends), comb through and put
hair in a loose bun before bed, and wash out in the morning.
5. Eye makeup remover.
6. An all-natural facial moisturizer.
7. Massage oil.
8. Body moisturizer.
Applied directly after showering or bathing, it helps retain moisture and is
better for your skin than most lotions.
9. Hair flyaway tamer.
Use VERY sparingly on ends or areas with flyaways.
10. Gluten free and vegan cooking.
Another food one, but it adds a little something extra to a dish.
_________________________

A Healthy Way To Sleep Better And Avoid Daytime Fatigue
Get moving to get snoozing. People who exercise regularly sleep better and
report less daytime drowsiness than couch potatoes do.
Hit the track before you hit the sack. People who work out on a regular
basis report better shut-eye and less daytime fatigue than those who don’t
exercise regularly. Just how much exercise are we talking? The study,
published in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, defined
physically active people as those who meet the national exercise guidelines
of 150 minutes of moderate activity (like walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous
activity (like running) a week. While this study doesn’t prove you can run,
jog or bike away from chronic sleep problems, it does suggest that regular
physical activity may help some people sleep better. After all, depression,
stress and anxiety can all do a number on our sleep patterns, while a good
sweat session can help bolster our emotional health.
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Thinking globally
Westfair Online
“Research also shows business around the world believe China will continue
to be a source of key trading opportunities over the next six months, with
Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East also featuring strongly,”
Bocchini said.
Read more at:

http://westfaironline.com/2011/17480-thinking-globally/

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So what do you think? Are you ready to start cutting down on time and cost
to do your research and writing? Ready to leave those mundane tasks of
editing, proof reading, and spell checking to those who specialize in doing
this?

Contact us at info@sterlingcreations.com and we would be delighted to help
you get started.

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Survey on children and the Web
The Hindu
This Children’s Day, global internet security firm McAfee released a survey
… Tips to parents include positioning the computer in the main living
space, …
Read more at:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article2642763.ece

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So what do you think? How long do you think it would have taken you to find
this piece of info?

So the next time you are stuck on how to do your research, no matter how big
or small it is, drop us an email at info@sterlingcreations.com and we would
be delighted to help.