Archive for June, 2009
Appraising your PD:
This measurement is the distance between the centre of your pupils that is measured in millimetres.
Opticians do not tend to give out this measurement as it encourages patients to buy their spectacles from them whereas you can buy cheap spectacles online or designer glasses at a fraction of the price online. It is commonly recorded as one measure like 60 (60mm) but can also be presented as R 29 L 31. When written like this it is the individual distance from you right and left pupils to the centre of your nose.
When Varifocals, High Prescriptions or Prisms are ordered the measure is commonly split individually. On the whole, if you have a single vision prescription, it will be written down as one value.
If you do not know this measurement and don’t want to measure it yourself then most online opticians will make your PD the national average (63) for men and (60) for women.
Ask a family member or friend to physically measure your PD:
This will be by far the simplest means by obtaining your PD. Get your friend to sit directly opposite you and at the same height as you and ask them to put a ruler against your forehead and just above your eyes.
Next ask your friend to close their right eye and you then look directly into their left eye. Request your friend to slide the rule so that the zero value is in the centre of your right pupil and to sustain the rule very steady across your brow. Then ask your friend to close their left eye and for you to look directly into their right eye.
Your friend will then read off the measurement to the centre of your left pupil. And that is it! It really is that easy! Please see the diagram below to help you further.
Using your latest eyeglasses to evaluate you PD with help from a friend:
Check how well your eyeglasses sit on your face by putting them on and having a look. Request your assistant to stand opposite you and check on your lenses the placement of your pupils with a non lasting marker.
You should now see two lines directly infront of you whilst wearing your specs. Simply, remove your specs and measure the distance between the two markings. And that’s it! If the ruler shows 6 cm then your pupillary distance will be termed as 60. If the measurement is 6.3cm then your PD will be 63.
If you have a varifocal measurement, then just measure across from your right eye to the centre of your nose and then again from the centre of your nose to your left eye and record the individual readings for both your left and right eyes. If you aren’t buying sunglasses with prescription lenses in then don’t worry about what’s in this article.
At the age of fifty-something, I lost my job. My company, here in Oklahoma City, was very pleasant when they notified me that I was not being fired, just laid off. But, you know what?The end result is identical.The upshot is I am without work, not employed, unwaged, and oh yeah, looking for a job.
I began my journey to a new job by updating my resume (there was some dusting off involved but I finally got it ready to go). Next, I got the resume out to as many potential employers as possible.Then I bet you can guess what follows getting your resume out? That’s right!You are then called in for an interview. Another journey I hadn’t taken in 36 years.
I arrived on time for my first interview (I would hope so!). I sat down with a smiling Human Resources woman who said that she had a few questions for me and she would be taking some notes as I was answering them.
And so we began.The Human Resources woman was asking me questions that seemed very easy to answer. I noticed quickly, however, that she would often re-package the question and toss it back to me, even though I felt I had already answered it. The questions dragged on forever, it seemed. In fact, a lot of the time the “question” didn’t seem like a question at all but rather it was phrased like this, “Give me an example of a time when you …”. I left the interview feeling frustrated and a little unnerved. I was prepared to answer questions like, “Why did you leave your last position?”, “Do you have a strong sales background” or “How often did you figure the sales commissions at your last job?” No such luck! These questions never came up. What were these people looking for anyway? Couldn’t they trust that I would give them 110% if they would just give me a chance? The answer: I guess not!
I went home and, as I had with my resume writing, I looked for information on what makes a good (might I say great?) interview.I would like to share with all of you what I found out. Information that would have been good one short interview ago. Here goes:
Employers want you to answer questions in the STAR format. They will ask you a “question” and they want you to answer it by sharing either a situation or a task that you were involved in (either in a personal situation or at your workplace), then include the actions you took and the results you achieved. Thus the star. So, let’s break it down by including some examples.
1) The first question she asked was, “Give me an example of a job you had where quality and/or accuracy was very important”.
· A possible answer from me should have been (t), “Each month, at my previous job with a furniture store, I calculated the commissions for all of the sales people”. Here I had placed myself squarely in the middle of a task.
· I would then add, (a) “I created an excel work sheet, on the Great Plains software I worked with, that allowed me to input their commissions on a daily basis and have their totals calculated for me by month end”. All right, that’s a strong action, this doesn’t seem so hard.
· And finally, I would finish with, (r) “This saved me time but, most of all it provided a precise accounting of their work and they could be accurately paid”. Great finish with a result that impacted people’s paychecks.Always a reason to be particularily accurate.
2) Let’s try one more example. Another question I was asked, “Tell me about a time you dealt with a frustrated/upset customer”.
(s) “A woman stormed into the furniture store I worked at angry and complaining about a side lever that had broken off of a La-Z-Boy chair she had just purchased. The chair had cost her a fortune and she had been assured it was top quality.”
· (a) “I remained calm while I apologized for this inconvenience and assured her I would do everything I could to help get this resolved.I got out the number for La-Z-Boy and together we called them up.The type of warranty issue this customer was dealing with had to go through the manufacturer.I made arrangements for the part to be shipped to us and have our Service Department do the repair. I told her that we would be by to pick up the chair that afternoon but the delivery of the part and subsequent repair would take about 3-4 days. Again, I apologized for any inconvenience this would cause her.
(r) “The customer had composed herself at this point and told me that this was truly an inconvenience (she had purchased the recliner to have it in time for her son’s graduation), but that because I had been so kind to help her with the situation she would return to our store again in the future.”
Had I answered the questions in my first interview with such thoroughness I know the Human Resources person would not have had to prod me along. Needless to say, I didn’t get that job but I am now armed with all the information I need to be a STAR in my future interviews.
FICO credit scores are changing, which may be a benefit or a detriment if you plan to refinance your mortgage or buy a home. Some mortgage applicants could see their credit scores change by 20 points or more. Here are 5 new credit score factors:
1. Amount of Available Credit
The ratio of account balance to the amount of credit available appears to have more influence on the credit score formula. The less available credit a mortgage borrower has on credit cards, the lower the score would be. Having more credit available could result in a better score. This change could have a broad impact on credit scores used by mortgage lenders to qualifying borrowers, if credit card issuers implement more cuts on their maximum limits. It doesn’t matter if an account has a balance or not, credit scores may drop if the available credit limit is lowered.
2. Number of Open Accounts
It used to be that having too many open credit card accounts was viewed as a negative factor. It appears, however, that has changed, as long as the accounts have not been delinquent. More open and active accounts could now have a positive effect on credit scores under the new scoring system. More credit card lenders can close seldom used accounts, which is a potentially negative effect. From a mortgage lenders perspective, underwriters will also have to change how they view borrower credit files.
3. Isolated Credit Issues
The new credit score model will apparently be more forgiving to mortgage borrowers who only have one major negative problem on their credit report. The scoring model calculates the severity and frequency of negative credit items. Depending on the item reported, isolated problems will have less impact on credit scores, as opposed to continuous and recurring late payments and delinquencies. The potential upside of this change is that good borrowers will not be lumped into a category of repeat offenders.
4. Small Collection Accounts
Collection accounts with an original amount of less than $100 are disregarded. Another positive benefit for borrowers with minor debts owed from parking tickets, unpaid library fines, small medical bills, or other disagreements. Infractions like these should no longer affect credit scores.
5. Authorized User Credit
The previous FICO credit score model allowed for authorized users on credit card accounts to build a positive credit profile without being the primary card holder. While some authorized user data is allowed, the new formula has reduced the ability to build credit based on this method.
Mortgage rate comparison on a refinance, also, prices and information on San Diego new home
We all constantly endeavor to look young; in fact, we are incessantly trying to search for that proverbial fountain of youth. Aging, however, is very natural and with it comes wrinkles. Some individuals undergo a surgical procedure in an attempt to delay aging and others opt for injections. However, majority of the population go with the more affordable option: eye wrinkle creams. Using the right cream for eye wrinkles, perhaps one that is organic or uses some natural ingredients will give you the most results.
As we get older, our skin starts to regenerate itself at a much slower pace. Thus, our skin becomes flimsier, less pliant, and more fragile, which makes it more susceptible to getting damaged. Also, there is decreased production of natural oils leading to drier and wrinkled skin. It is fat that keeps the skin plump but that likewise is slowly lost with age, causing the skin to droop and develop lines and crevices.
What you need is a moisturizer. It seals in the moisture and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Skin doctors normally advocate the use of tretinoin-based eye wrinkle creams. Tretinoin is type of vitamin A delivered in acid form that helps slow down aging and even eliminates of wrinkles.Tretinoin can also help with other eye skin care issues as well.
If you have dark eye circles, using an eye wrinkle cream with vitamin K and retinol can help. Based on studies, vitamin K and retinol were observed to help reduce, if not prevent, the puffiness of and dark circles around the eyes. Vitamin K is said to lighten up the skin and retinol is said to encourage collagen production, which results to healthier skin growth.
There are many eye wrinkle creams available today, including popular brands such as Regenerist, Olay, Estee Lauder, Neutrogena and LifeCell. But, experts say most creams are not actually necessary; besides, they tend to be expensive. They say that most people can use one general moisturizer for the full face and that a special product just for the eye skin is not needed. Before you buy and start using any eye skin care product, however, see your skin doctor; you want to make sure you’re not throwing money away or be let down if the product doesn’t work.Don’t assume you can treat your puffy eyes with a cream designed for dark circles, or vice versa.
Alternatively, you can create your own eye wrinkle cream at home. Add about 5 drops of almond oil in mashed avocado to make a paste that you can use around the eye area. Place around the eye area this homespun eye cream. Rinse the avocado cream with warm water after five minutes. Avocado is high in vitamin A, it is fatty, and it also is high in vitamin K, all the components you need for dealing with eye wrinkles.
Everybody knows that it is normal to have swollen eyes after crying hard and that the condition is short-lived. But then, what’s annoying is waking up in morning with puffy eyes or having the puffiness visible all day long. There are many eye creams for the treatment of puffy eyes that are available online at reasonable prices and many offer free shipping and handeling.
There are lots of causes of puffy eyes but the most common is fluid retention. Water can build up in the tissues right under the eye skin area, especially when you lie down down for many hours. And when we get up, gravity pulls the water down to accumulate on the eye lids. The puffiness around the eyes leaves once the fluid is absorbed. Knowing the many reasons behind your puffy eyes in the morning is going to help you significantly in treating them for good.
Hormonal changes as a result of menstruation or pregnancy can lead to body fluid fluctuations and thus contribute to puffiness around the eyes. Furthermore, the body is inclined to retain water especially when salty foods, caffeine and alcoholic drinks are eaten up, and this can induce eye puffiness. In some cases, fluid retention and puffy eyes are the side effects of consuming certain medications. Those puffy eyes may also be due to a bad cold or nasal congestion. And if inflammation and itching accompany your puffy eyes, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction. If allergies are one of the main reasons your puffy eyes appear, than you need to know which ingredients to look for and stay away from in eye creams.
When you’re strained, burned-out, or you lack sleep, you’re liable to get puffy eyes. Even long-term wearing of contact lenses could irritate your eyes and cause swelling of the sensitive skin around your eye. The eyes need to get enough rest too in order for them to be in good shape.
There are plentyy of natural ways you can treat puffy eyes, such as washing your face with cold water, reducing your ingestion of sodium and alcoholic beverages, and placing two slices of cucumber or chilled tea bags on closed eyes for a few minutes. If the puffiness around the eyes is sparked by allergies, know what allergen it is and then make a deliberate effort to avoid exposure to it. Better yet, ask your physician to prescribe you a good allergy drug. Keep yourself well-hydrated during the day, but try not to drink any more water right before bedtime. Sleep with your head higher than the rest of the body as this will keep the fluids from accumulating under or around your eyes, and also try to get lots of sleep.
See your doctor if the puffiness does not get better over time because puffy eyes can be symptoms of serious medication conditions such as kidney, liver or thyroid disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
If you have been around for more than a few years then undoubtedly you will remember the frustratingly painful floppy drives that used to be the only way to effectively transfer files between computers. Frustrating of course because often the floppy would not write or even more frustratingly would not read on the donor machine.
Also the USB 1.0 format was relatively new back in the day, devices that took advantage of the technology were relatively thin on the ground so if you were really lucky you did not have to get involved with larger files that often required spanning across many disks which was even more fraught with frustrastion.
But as files grew larger the floppy simply did not make the grade, but as time passed the CD writer came of age which could hold a hefty 500mb of data, still a little more than most people required and media was originally quite dear as well.
Fortunately the USB (universal serial bus) standard was rapidly gaining ground and it was not long before a new breed of mobile storage hit the market which was of course the humble memory stick also affectionately called a thumb drive. These simple plug an play devices could hold a heady 2,4,6 or even 8mb of data (ok don’t laugh) and data transfer speeds of 12mbps which although slow by modern standards was in fact blisteringly fast back then.
The computer repair and IT industries where some of the first serious adopters of pen drives primarily due to the fact that system tools could be easily carried on a flash drive and with the larger capacities reduced the need to carry around a number of CD disks used for diagnostics or computer maintenance utilities.
As capacities grew though faster data transfer speeds were needed and this led to the emergence of the second generation of USB …USB 2.0.
There was of course a lot of confusion between USB 2 and Hi speed USB at the time, which could transfer data at an astonishing 480mbps per second but a lot of early adopters were left more than a tad upset as industry often sold devices and PCI cards as USB 2.0 but in reality they were only USB 2.0 compliant and still had a much slower transfer speed.
The USB interface and standard is now nicely matured and USB interfaces are common across a range of consumer devices from phones to cameras and even video players although it was and still is to a degree questionable as to whether USB or Firewire would win the day as the dominant data transfer protocol.
The humble and originally very expensive thumb drive really took the market by storm and capacities rose to become greater than some people still have on their old computers, and it is now estimated than in excess of 150 million flash drives will be sold a year which of course is only the tip of the iceberg when you consider the estimated 6 billion plus USB interfaced devices in circulation which is growing at a rate of 2 billion per year.
Increases in drive capacities has raised a number of issues across many industry sectors including the data recovery industry, which has had to evolve new USB memory recovery techniques for recovering data from these flash based devices.
Transferring data has become so easy that scant regard has been paid to data backup and equally in the drive to manufacture cheaper products manufacturing standards appear to have slipped resulting in memory controller errors, which of course in turn has led to an increase of lost data.
Some Data recovery companies have of course stepped up the mark and the pen drive recovery industry is now alive and well.
Another issue these devices have highlighted is the need for security as sensitive data (business or personal) can be quickly and easily stolen from the source. Technology has answered the problem and secure pen drives are now available and manufacturing giant Fujitsu has continued its innovation in security with the invention of a smart USB drives which even have the ability to auto erase data on a USB memory device.
As it seems with all technology every development brings us even greater speed and the new USB 3.0 standard is no exception promising data transfer speed 10x greater than current specs which will give us transfer speeds around 5Gbps.
This very fast transfer speed may of course signal the end of the older firewire standard which has been falling behind more recently.
The USB 3.0 standard has now been rolled out and accepted by most mainstream technology players but it may be still be some months before we see any consumer based products or reasonably priced motherboards supporting this latest standard.
Wrought iron home accessories and furniture traditional] style and sturdy design all in one. You can find many different looks in this material including traditional as well as contemporary. There are several reasons that you should consider wrought iron furniture for your home.
First of all, wrought iron is timeless. This material never goes out of style. Many different furniture designs have come and gone but few have stood the test of time. When you invest in wrought iron outdoor furniture you are investing in decades of use.
You can easily find this product in many different places. Just about any quality furnishing supplier usually will carry some sort of wrought iron furniture in its stock. This is just good business because this classic furnishing for the home is a staple for many families.
Wrought iron furniture is durable. There is not doubt that your furniture will stand the test of time and that it will be enjoyed for generations to come. The material is beyond sturdy and you are sure to feel confident that you have made a sound investment in a quality product.
The wrought iron look is flexible. You aren’t hampered by a specific theme when you use wrought iron furniture. The color is typically black, natural or white but it can be easily painted to match any decor. Wrought Iron is often used in traditional, ornate designs but you can also find sleek, up to date lines in this materialas well. The metal is the perfect element for just about any interior or exterior look you are attempting to create.
Also, wrought iron furniture has a smaller frame than other furniture types on the market. The material can change the entire look on the room or patio without taking up too much space like larger wooden pieces do. This makes wrought iron furnishings ideal for smaller rooms or small patio areas.
With all perks of using this style of furniture in your home it is little wonder why so many home owners are selecting wrought iron furniture. It is simply a great investment to make for your house.
Today, more and more people are buying utility trailers of one sort or another. Considering the price of gasoline and the demise in popularity of the family SUV, owning a good utility trailer makes sense. Utility trailers can range from small flatbed style trailers to larger enclosed cargo trailers with locking barn style doors. There are also snowmobile trailers, motorcycle trailers, all sizes of camping trailers, and boat trailers to mention some. First you should decide which kindtrailer is best for your family needs.The main reasons behind owning a trailer is usually based upon business or a family hobby which requires transporting your large toys.
If you intend to haul snowmobiles or motorcycles, then an open landscaping style trailer might be your best choice. Then again, if you need extra space at home for storing your toys, you might consider going with a larger enclosed trailer. These are easily locked and can be stored next to a house. You will be shocked at how much space you will free up in your garage when you start moving your recreation vehicles and such to a storage trailer. If you are considering a larger enclosed trailer to serve as storage and for hauling, I’d chose one with ramp back doors and a side door. This type of trailer is available in many sizes which should be taken into consideration if hauling heavier loads. The side door is is most convenient in reaching those things you placed in the front of the trailer.
In past years, I’ve bought several trailers related to business. You will quickly learn, locating a good used trailer can be a challenge at times but with the advent of online trailer sales, this problem has been solved. You can almost always find exactly what you are looking for if you have a bit of patience. It is also very handy to be able to purchase all your trailer parts and accessories on the web also. You can easily find everything from replacement lighting to axles and brakes for just about any utility trailer without leaving your desk.
If you see a new trailer in your future, you really should click through and read this excellent article that will help you select the best utility trailer for your personal needs.
Imagine the effect on your business. The IT system fails and everything is lost. Every single document on your network has seemingly gone up in a proverbial puff of smoke and the company is left with nothing – no records of orders, contracts, invoices, vital contacts, staff details, and payroll. Even the emails have simply vanished.
Your IT infrastructure forms the very core of most businesses I this day and age and this does not only apply to multi-national corporations but even the local home office user as well. And if you have not taken sufficient steps to cope with potential data losses then the reality is you could be putting the existence of your business at peril.
Any IT solution should not be restricted to the basics like computer support , but should also take into account business continuity planning.
The sad fact is that nobody can predict if a business or a consumer is likely to suffer from a data loss emergency, but there are a number of areas that are generally prone potential problems which could arise from a basic electrical power surge, electronic or mechanical failure or even a sabotage attempt by a disgruntled employee. You also have to consider acts of nature i.e floods, storms or even natural disasters depending on your locality.
In recent years companies with foresight have invested in tape back-up systems, where all important data has been copied to tape, usually each night. But even some of those have fallen victim to theft, loss or tape failure. Fortunately technology has moved on and companies wishing to ensure the best possible protection have taken advantage of IT specialists offering the ultimate solution – offsite data back-up to remote, highly secure servers.
This then leads to the need for far more expensive data recovery or raid data recovery as a method of hopefully retrieving vital data.
Many companies are now investing in remote data backup models as part of their business continuity strategy as these have a number of significant advantages.
For example, despite being stored remotely, data can be restored in the workplace extremely easily by logging into the servers. Data is digitally encrypted so that it can be accessed by no one other than the company to whom it belongs. “It is also a very cost effective method compared to tape systems which are less reliable and constantly need replacing.”
An effective business continuity plan as long as it has been implemented can be the difference between the survival or failure of a business going forward, so to fully understand the implications of a data loss emergency ask yourself some very serious questions: could your business carry on if you lost all of your customer records or what would be the impact on our business if we lost all our computer aided design data.
And of course on a final note, once you have implemented a business continuity plan make sure you test it to make sure the plan is robust in a real environment.
For more help and advice visit the data recovery Manchester website.
Why should you bother?
The life blood of any business is good customer service. Although new customers are important good customer service will help generate customer loyalty and repeat business. With each satisfied customer your business will secure many more customers through word of mouth and you should always keep in mind that if you are not taking proper care of your customers there is always a competitor that will.
Online customer satisfaction surveys will demonstrate to your customers that you care and are proactive in looking for ways to improve the service that you provide.
Where to start?
Objective – As a first step decide what the main objectives of the survey are, in that way you will be able to retain focus and find it easier to decide what questions to ask.
Analysis – In addition to the objectives consider how you will analyse the answers having completed the survey.
Keep in mind that ‘closed’ questions (where the respondent is asked to choose from a limited number of responses) are easier to analyse than ‘open’ questions (where the respondent can reply in anyway they want).
A lot will depend on the likely volume of respondents, the higher the volume the more important it is to have an easy method of analysing the results.
Opportunity – Keep in mind that as well as obtaining valuable market research data customer surveys are also a good way to publicise aspects of your service that your customers may not be aware of.
Before you publish the survey confirm that the questions you have asked will provide you with market research data that when analysed will help you make informed decisions.
Then, from a marketing view point read through the survey, confirm that you have phrased each question so that every opportunity has been taken to promote your business?
The ideal question will perform the following three functions:-
- Market research – provide valuable feedback to help you improve your customer satisfaction levels and in turn your business
- Marketing – promote aspects of your business
- Information/Education – advertise a service that you provide that your customers may not have been unaware of
For example:- Do you find the in-store baby changing facilities useful?
In asking this question the store will hopefully not only receive useful feedback on the baby changing facility but they will also promote the store as being a child-friendly and caring store even to those the customers who do not actually require the facility.
Warts and all – to benefit most from a customer survey you need to avoid the temptation, in any way, of attempting to sugar coat the survey.
A customer satisfaction survey should be designed to highlight problems so that they can be addressed; regular customer satisfaction will prevent complacency and will also give early warning on where your competitors initiatives may be losing you business.
What to ask?
Although it is a given that each business is likely to have specific and unique factors that are important in providing good customer services there are common areas that are relevant to all businesses be they a physical store, online internet store or a service industry. The following are some key areas to providing good customer service.
Communication – Do customers find it easy to communicate with you?
When a customer telephones is the phone answered promptly; are enquiries about products or services properly handled? Good businesses will make every effort to ensure that whatever the customers query it is resolved by the right person, politely, quickly and fairly.
If a problem is not resolvable immediately do you promise to respond in a given time period and do you deliver on your promise?
Use a customer satisfaction survey to confirm that all your staff are perceived by your customers as being helpful, courteous and knowledgeable.
Location – Are you doing everything you can to ensure that your customers find it easy to visit you, if a physical store, does it have good access and is it conveniently located?
Making it pleasant, making it easy – For an internet business it is important to ensure that your website is aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.
Physical store or online website, is the store properly laid out, can your customers find what they need and is there sufficient information and help on hand to explain how a particular product works?
The right quality products – In addition to measuring the quality of the service that you provide you should ensure that the products and services that you provide do fully match your customers’ requirements.
Value for money – Cheap or expensive is not always a good measure, value for money is.
Is your business associated with value for money by your customers, if not, why not?
Speed and attention – Regardless of the type of business most customers will want to be dealt with quickly but attentively.
Are you doing everything you can to avoid delays?
Customers like to be treated as individuals, how do you treat your customers? Attention is appreciated but it needs to be followed up with a quick and satisfactory resolution to the query.
Demographics and Specific issues – Take the opportunity to profile your customers, for example their gender, age group and where they live?
The more knowledge you have of your customers the better you will be able to target your business.
Allow customers to highlight their specific problems and provide contact details so that any problems might be later addressed and their concerns followed up.
What next?
Having completed the survey analyze the results.
Trends – Identify specific and common areas where the service is found wanting.
Ask yourself honestly if any criticism that you receive is valid and if there anything that can be done to resolve or minimise the problem?
Training – Are all employees properly trained and do they have sufficient knowledge?
If customer service training programs have been implemented have they improved the customer experience?
Follow-up – If a customer who has completed a survey has raised a specific issue do all you can to ensure that their complaint is addressed.
Do not waste an opportunity to resolve a problem and keep a customer.
Continuously Monitor – Make changes and then measure by issuing further surveys.
If you are interested in tracking customer satisfaction and would like to see a sample survey for a store that demonstrates some of the above advice please view the following example that can be used as a customer satisfaction survey template.