How to prepare for your IELTS test

 Improve your Englis
It takes time to learn a language and one of the very best ways to learn is to take an English language course. The feedback you receive from your teacher will help you improve the specific skills involved in speaking, listening, reading and writing English.
Use your English every day – Read, speak, listen and write in English as often as you can as this is a proven way to improve your English and therefore your IELTS score.
Speak English with your friends and family


Listen to English language radio, television and film. Try to listen to a variety of English accents including American, Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand.

Read English publications wherever possible

Write letters, emails or notes in English to practise your written skills.

Understand the test format and rules

Familiarise yourself with the test format – Remember that there are two versions of IELTS – IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The Listening and the Speaking components are the same for both tests but the Reading and the Writing components are different.

 Read the Information for candidates booklet which provides essential information about how to respond correctly to each part of the test. You can also collect a copy of this from your test centre.

Read the Notice to candidates.

Get to know what each level on the IELTS band score table means.

Understand what the examiners are looking for in the Speaking and Writing tests by reading the assessment criteria.

Get the facts. Don't believe myths and rumours about the test. They will only distract you.

Practise sample questions

Download and practise taking sample IELTS exam questions. As IELTS is timed, it is critical that you practice as many sample exam questions as possible and work to build up your speed.

Practise the test using these free IELTS test sample questions.

Use the Official IELTS Practice Materials (two books available) which you can purchase online or from your local test centre

There is a wide range of IELTS materials available you can purchase from a variety of publishers. For a list of popular titles, click here.

In addition to practising sample questions you may also wish to consider taking an IELTS preparation course. A preparation course will help you:

practise the type of tasks included in an IELTS test (e.g. a short essay/letter for the Writing test)  get feedback on your answers to practice questions become more confident in your test-taking skills

help you decide if you are ready to take your IELTS test

Ask your local IELTS test centre for more information about preparation courses near you.

Try to feel relaxed on the day before you test

On the day before your test, take the time to refresh your memory of the test rules, test format and location so that you feel as relaxed as possible.

Read the Information for candidates booklet again - this contains essential information to help you do your best.

Make sure you know the test rules – read the Notice to Candidates Get plenty of rest the night before your test.Plan your journey − ensure you are familiar with the location of the test venue and know how you are going to get there so that you arrive on time.

Assembly Technician Responsibility Overview

The primary responsibility of an assembly technician is to keep the assembly line operational. His job is to look at what is happening with the line and adjust it so everything works well. He also may perform other tasks such as training new line workers, transporting materials and suggesting improvements to management.
In order to determine what needs to be done on the line, the assembly technician first has to conduct basic inspections and gather data. This means physically going into the assembly area and looking at individual machines and their parts. It also means gathering and analyzing computer generated readings related to the operation of the machines, as well as looking at gauges, dials and similar equipment. The technician looks for data readings that are outside of the acceptable range, physical imperfections or problems with the machines and whether the machines have what they need to run, such as the proper amount of oil or an electrical connection. The assembly technician listens extremely carefully during the inspection to determine where problems exist and the extent the issues may have.
Once the technician has the results of the inspection, if necessary, he makes adjustments to the assembly line equipment. Sometimes this is as simple as turning a dial. Other times, the technician has to oversee an extensive physical adjustment that may require saws, wrenches, presses, testing lights and other gear. An assembly technician also can make adjustments to the line by entering specific commands into computer software programs.
To determine how to approach line issues, assembly technician refers to documentation about the line equipment. For example, he may view charts or schematics. This means the technician has to be comfortable reading technical material and translating it into a viable plan of action.
Adjusting the line can slow or even halt production, so the assembly technician coordinates with the line operator and other managers to form a strategy for completing the adjustments. He makes decisions with these professionals about how and when the adjustments will happen. He also figures out who will do work he cannot do himself due to time constraints or lack of specific technical experience.
An assembly technician may not always have what he needs to fix the line in the assembly area. Alternately, after repairs are made, he may need to remove any bad parts or machines from the assembly area. Subsequently, he also may transport materials from one area to another, often via a forklift.
As the technician works, he is responsible for keeping the assembly area clean. This helps keep the line aesthetically as pleasing as possible, but it also serves a larger purpose in improving the safety of workers in the assembly area. A safe assembly area means production is able to continue and the company is free from lawsuits.
Sometimes a technician sees areas for improvement when performing his general duties. If this happens, the company expects the technician to speak up and bring the idea to management. The reason is that improvements result in better production, which translates to increased revenue and profit.
An assembly technician may be responsible for training line workers, as he is familiar with the entire line and the machines and other equipment contained in it. He also may train other technicians who can assist or take over after the assembly technician retires. The amount of training the technician must provide depends on the type of line and the exact position on the line involved.

Effective Communication Skills for success

Communication means transferring thoughts and ideas with an intention of delivering information. This article is going to articulate some of the techniques for effective communication. If you follow these techniques, surely success is not far away.
 
Listen attentively to everything they say.
Don’t focus too much on what you’re going to say next as they are talking. Instead, listen to every word they say and respond back as relevantly and smoothly as possible. This shows people that you are truly listening to what they have to say and you are fully engaged and in the moment with them. Also make sure to ask questions whenever there’s something they say that you don’t quite understand. You want to avoid all possible lapses in communication if you want to develop a fully engaged relationship with that person.

Expression
Honesty is very important here. Whenever you are expressing yourself, talking truthfully and honestly will send out a signal that you trust your audience. Speak clearly and properly. Also try to be precise about the subject that you are speaking on. Do not beat around the bush. This will only confuse your audience. Besides, if your audience is getting confused, the entire purpose of your self-expression is getting defeated.

Taking Criticism Positively
If someone comes to you with criticism, it's just a natural human response to defend your stance. Try to take criticism positively and constructively. If the criticism is very hard to take and emotional, then the chances are that the person you are communicating with is in distress. Try to empathize with the person and resonate your words in a very mild language.

Avoiding Arguments
Most often than not, whenever you are trying to have a healthy conversation, it turns into an argument. Arguing does nothing but wastes your time. Try to avoid getting into such situations. And even if you get into such a situation, instead of trying to win the argument, find an amicable solution in a constructive way.

Understanding the Audience
You need to be able to understand your audience, as they are the ones for whom you are speaking. Do not send out your message before you are absolutely sure that they will grasp what you are saying. For example; suppose the quality of work of a junior employee is really hampering the overall performance of the team, and you are really concerned about his work, do not issue an official warning straight away. Try to understand the perception of the employee and then think of taking any action.
Appear to have a slightly higher energy level than the other person.
Generally, people want to be around those who lift them up, instead of bringing them down. If you consistently have a lower energy level than other people, they will naturally gravitate away from you in favor of someone who is more energetic. To prevent this from happening, consistently indicate with your voice and your body language that you have a slightly higher energy level so that they’ll feel more energized and positive while around you. Don’t be so energetic that you put people off, but have just the right amount of energy and aliveness that will slightly build up their enthusiasm.
Feedback
It's one of the most common occurrence at the workplace, that a colleague does exactly opposite to what you want him to do. You keep wondering, why has he done so. You keep thinking of many reasons for that. Maybe the colleague did not listen to you or maybe he did not understand what you said. But the worst possibility could be the deliberate inaction. What do you do in that scenario? Well, you take a feedback. Without taking proper feedback, you wouldn't know the perspective of the person in front of you. Only through feedback you will know why he or she did or did not do what they were asked to do.

Communication does not simply refer to merely articulating words. Body language, hand gestures, along with other factors, play an important role for communicating your point. I hope that some of the techniques of effective communication mentioned here help the reader in more than one way.

Improve your communication skills

Public-speaking skills are a must since public relations and marketing professionals often find themselves in front of clients, reporters, customers, community representatives or other groups. Effective public-speaking skills are a mixture of audience analysis, speech writing and speech delivery. Public relations and marketing professionals understand and respond to the needs of their audiences. Compelling speeches start with an attention-getting statement and include a clear thesis, preview of main points, main points, summary and clincher. Delivery skills include eye contact, a varied pitch and smooth vocal rate, and very few vocal fillers, such as "ah" or "like."

Non-Verbal Communication

Successful public relations and marketing professionals draw upon nonverbal communication techniques to underscore and emphasize a verbal or written message or determine the best ways to respond to client, management or team needs. Nonverbal techniques include eye contact, posture, gestures and listening.

Leadership

Since many communication and marketing goals require a team of writers, designers, editors and technicians, public relations and marketing professionals also require leadership skills to effectively pull a campaign together. Savvy marketing and public relations professionals understand the basics, as well as the pros and cons, of leadership theories such as transformational, transactional or situational and know how to choose the best approach based on the needs of their team. They also use communication to inspire as well as hold team members accountable for tasks assigned.

Research

Communications research is the backbone of effective public relations and marketing campaigns. Effective public relations and marketing professionals understand how to align a research method, such as survey, focus group or interview, with the research question. Public relations and marketing professionals also draw from writing, public speaking and nonverbal communication skills to create survey questions, manage focus groups and conduct interviews.

Increase torrent downloading speed easily

Torrent users would attest to the fact that half of our time is spent looking for ‘healthy’ torrents and the other half trying to download (and a bit of upload too) at the maximum speed. The former is mandatory; the latter thankfully is within the realm of tweaking.

If you are the one who thinks that your torrent download speeds could do with a boost then keep reading. Below, you’ll find a few tips on how to speed up torrent download speed.
 1.
Your ISP is where it starts

Check the maximum download and upload speeds allowed by your ISP. Most ISP’s have specific bandwidths for both uploads and downloads. Obviously your torrent download speed won’t cross the cap set by the ISP. Go over to this article on Speed.io for broadband speed test and this one by Tina on ways to increase your connection speed. There are many other bandwidth testers like DSLReports which is included in the speed test within uTorrent.
 2.
Choosing the right BitTorrent client

Use the better clients out there like uTorrent, Vuze or the BitTorrent client itself. Wikipedia lists about 51 of them supporting the BitTorrent protocol. The choice of client used should always be updated to the latest version. The screenshots here depict uTorrent. The settings should be similarly configurable for other clients too. Mac users shuld also check our Transmission vs. uTorrent post

 3.
Go for healthy seeds and peers

A peer is any computer participating in the download and upload of a torrent file. A seed (or seeder) is anyone who has one complete copy of the file being shared across the torrent network. A leech (or a leecher) is the person who does not have the complete file yet but has joined the network to download it. A leecher becomes a seeder when he downloads the entire file and then shares it across the network.


For high torrent speeds, the best bet is in numbers. The greater the number of seeders, the healthier the torrent and the better the chance of higher speeds. The rule of thumb says to choose the torrent files with a high number of seeders and preferably lesser number of leechers i.e. a higher seed-leecher ratio.
 4.
Get through the firewall

Firewalls can block all incoming BitTorrent connections coming through. To ensure otherwise, a firewall should be manually configured to accept the connections and let it through the client. Windows XP has the Windows Firewall. Configure the firewall installed to accept the connections by checking the BitTorrent client on the allowed list i.e. Options – Preferences ““ Connection – check Add uTorrent to Windows Firewall. Also, check the Windows Firewall exception (if you keep it enabled) in your client too. Shutting down the firewall is not recommended as it leaves the computer open to attack.


Note: If the home computer is behind a router, it also should be configured through the feature called Port Range Forwarding to enable torrent traffic. The router documentation should have specific information on this.
 5.
Limit your upload rate

A peer to peer network is all about sharing alike, but an unlimited upload rate hits the download rate too. Using the speed tests, find out your maximum upload speed and then set your client’s upload rate (Global Upload Rate in uTorrent) to about 80% of your maximum upload speed. You can also try varying your upload speeds ““ keep it high initially and then gradually bring it down towards the middle of the download.

Note: Mind the speed units ““ it may be given in kilobits per second (kb/sec) or kilobytes per second (kB/sec). 1 kilobyte = 8 kilobit
 6.
Go to a different port

The default port for the BitTorrent protocol is any between port numbers 6881-6999. ISPs throttle traffic on these ports as BitTorrent sharing involves high bandwidth usage. It’s easy to configure a different port in your torrent client. Use some number above 10000 to get around ISPs and also avoid problems with other applications. By default, the uTorrent port is randomized each time it starts. Set a specific port by not enabling the Randomize Port setting.
 7.
Increase the number of Max Half Open TCP connections

This figure specifies how many connections a torrent client should attempt to establish simultaneously at any given time. Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or newer, limits this to a default of 10 as a barrier against virus multiplication. But that’s a bummer for torrent speeds as torrents too need a large number of simultaneous connections.

A patch has been available for a while from LvlLord which modifies the TCPIP.sys file in Windows to allow a higher number of TCP connections.


After running the patch, you have to set the number of connections in your torrent client. For example, in uTorrent go to Options ““ Preferences ““ Advanced – net.max_halfopen. Set any number from 50 to 100. But see that net.max_halfopen is set lower than the value set in TCPIP.SYS. Always check if it is still patched because Windows updates sometimes overwrite it.

8.
Experiment with Protocol Encryption

Some ISPs love to act like Big Brothers and constrict bandwidth for P2P protocols. Protocol Encryption in most of the torrent clients helps to override this bandwidth shaping. Enable outgoing protocol encryption and put a checkmark on Allow Incoming Legacy Connections.


With protocol encryption, ISPs find it difficult if not impossible to detect that the traffic is coming from BitTorrent. Experiment with enabled, disabled and forced options because you could be getting better speeds with encryption disabled. Non-encryption makes a torrent connection compatible with someone who is not using encryption but as a minus it makes the torrent detectable to an ISP with a bandwidth restricting policy.
 9.
Bandwidth and connections

Your BitTorrent client’s settings options will let you enter figures for ““

Global maximum number of connections gives the maximum number of connections that a BitTorrent client can make for any P2P exchange. Setting this too high does NOT mean higher speeds. Setting it too high would take up useless bandwidth and too low a figure would miss out on peers. For my 256kbps connection, I have a setting of 130.

Maximum number of connected peers per torrent gives the maximum number of peers that a BitTorrent client can connect to for any P2P exchange. Experiment by setting this number close to the available peers for a particular torrent. For my 256kbps connection, I have a default setting of 70.

Number of upload slots per torrent gives the maximum number of peers that a BitTorrent client will upload to for any P2P exchange. A low setting may affect downloads. For my 256kbps connection, I have a setting of 3.


 10.
Some common sense

Most BitTorrent clients allow us to view the individual files in a download. You can selectively disable the download of files you don’t think necessary.

Familiarize yourself with the customization settings of your particular client available in the Help files or at the website FAQs.
12,  otherwise follow the following method.
Open your torrent program, go to Options > Preferences. Now go to 'Bandwidth'. Go back to the website, the number for 'kB/s max upload speed' goes to the number for 'Maximum upload rate (kB/s):[0: unlimited]' on your torrent program.

'Max upload slots per torrent' goes to the number for 'Number of upload slots per torrent:'.

'Maximum number of connections per torrent' goes to the number for 'Maximum number of connected peers per torrent:'.

'Maximum number of connections globally' goes to the number for 'Global maximum number of connections:'.

Now go to 'Queueing'.

'Max simultaneous downloads' goes to the number for 'Maximum number of active downloads:'.

'Max active torrents' goes to the number for 'Maximum number of active torrents (upload or download):'.

You're done with that website now.

Click on 'Advanced'.

Switch 'bt.allow_same_ip' to true.
 Switch 'dht.rate' to 2.
 Switch 'rss.update_interval' to 20.

Clck on 'Connection'.

Uncheck 'Enable UPnP port mapping' and 'Randomize port each start'.

Click 'Apply' and then 'OK'.

Now restart your torrent program by clicking on 'File' at the top left, and then click 'Exit'. Open your torrent program again, and it should boost your download speed.

This is a pretty basic thing to do, but for the ones the don't know this, you can right-click on your torrent that's downloading, go to 'Bandwidth allocation' and select 'High'.

Now we're going to get into a little bit more advanced, but probably most of you already know how to do this, Port forwarding.

Find out your routers IP address, I'm using Linksys (if you don't know yours, search it up on Google).

Enter the IP address on your web browser. 192.168.1.1 (If you use Linksys, use this, if you don't use Linksys then like I said find yours on Google).

It will ask you for a username and password, if you never changed anything, it should be your username is admin and your password you put nothing.

Once you're in, go to 'Applications & Gaming'.

Now quickly open your torrent program, go to Options > Preferences.

Click on 'Connection'.

Click on the button that says 'Random port', and copy that number.

Go back to the website.

Now go to a new application and call it whatever you want, I suggest Torrent.

Make the Start and the End the same number you copied down. Make the protocol both UDP and TCP. Make the last 3 numbers of your IP address. Make sure you check Enable. After that click on 'Save settings'. And then you can exit out of that.

Hopefully this increases your download spe

Important shortcuts key for your window

Windows Key+E
The best part about shortcut keys is letting your keyboard do half the work. This is a perfect example: This shortcut allows you to open Windows Explorer with one quick keystroke.
Windows Key+M
This is the shortcut to keep in mind when you are at work doing anything but working—it allows you to minimize all of your open windows, leaving just the desktop left exposed. To restore the windows, hit Windows key+Shift+M. Another quick way to do this is Windows key+D, which shows your desktop; to restore, just repeat the same keystroke. This is a handy shortcut to have around the next time your boss is wandering through the office.
Alt+Tab
This allows you to easily scroll through all the windows you have open. If you're working in Word and referring to something in Explorer, for example, you can toggle back and forth between the two programs. You can also use this to switch between windows in the same program, making multitasking a breeze. Very similar is Windows key+Tab: In XP, it lets you scroll the items on the taskbar, and in Vista, it starts Flip 3D for a fun graphical spin on the same idea.
Alt+F4
This shortcut is a quick way to close a window in any program. Alt+Spacebar+C (which requires less stretching, but more keys) and Ctrl+W do the same thing. Any of the ways will allow you to close a window without using your mouse to hit the X in the upper-right corner.
Ctrl+Arrow Keys
In Microsoft Word, the left and right arrows allow you to move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word or the next word; the up and down arrows will do the same with paragraphs. This is very helpful when editing a document or scanning for any reason.
Shift+Delete
If you want to delete a file—and you don't want to deal with it later in the Recycle Bin—this is the way to go. Just be absolutely sure that this is a file you won't want back!
Hold Shift While Inserting a CD
Have you ever wanted to insert a CD and not use it right away? This shortcut allows you to bypass Autorun when inserting a CD so you can control exactly when you will use a CD you've inserted.
Ctrl+Drag
There are many ways to copy a file, but this just might be the easiest. All you have to do is click on the file, hold, and drag it into its desired location. This works the same as another handy shortcut, Ctrl+C.
Windows Key+U+U
Quickly shut down Windows by hitting the Windows key (don't hold it down), hitting U to reach the shutdown menu, and then hitting U again to shut down.
Windows Key+Pause
Need a quick way to get to the Systems Properties menu without too much thought? Just press these two keys and you'll be brought right to it.
Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y
Undo an action by hitting Ctrl+Z; if you change your mind, Ctrl+Y will redo the undo.
Shift + Arrow Keys
Holding shift and pressing one of the arrow keys will highlight text in Word (or a group of Excel cells) without the mouse, selecting in the direction the arrow points.
Ctrl+U, Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I
This one's for Office newbies. It's a snap to underline, bold, and italicize without the mouse if you press Ctrl+U (underlining), Ctrl+B (bolding), or Ctrl+I (italicizing).

Wifi network Optimization Tips

Fix Connectivity Issues
It sounds crazy, but 95 percent of all Internet connectivity problems can be solved by power-cycling both the router and the modem. Turn them both off, and then turn the modem back on first. Once its "sync" or signal light comes on, turn on your router.
Use Encryption
You've probably heard this before, but it bears repeating: Always enable your router's wireless security! Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption is the oldest (and weakest) form of security; the newer (and stronger) Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA-2 are the best protection available today for home users.
Update Your Router's Firmware
All routers include internal read-only chips with embedded instructions that can be updated by the manufacturer. Router manufacturers generally update a product's firmware to increase performance as well as to resolve bugs and security issues, so it's wise to keep your router's firmware up-to-date. Check the manufacturer's Web site for the latest updates.
Boost Your Wireless Signal
If walls and distance are causing wireless signal degradation, you can do a few things to boost it. Move your router to higher ground—the signal radiates downward. You can also try a signal extender (or repeater), which boosts the signal. Finally, high-gain antennas will work, but they only focus the signal in one direction.
Change Admin Password
Every router has a well-known default password that's used to access the router's browser-based configuration page. Most setup wizards will make you change this password, but not all do. If not, be sure to change it yourself to prevent unwanted hangers-on from changing your network's settings.
Go Back to Factory Settings
If you've lost or forgotten your router's login credentials, you can get around this predicament by resetting the router to its factory settings. Do this by holding down the button on the back of it for 30 seconds. Next, look in the manual for the default user name and password, and then change them on your router's browser-based configuration page.
Disable SSID Broadcast
Unless you disable it, your router broadcasts its service set identifier (SSID)—the name of your network—which allows your neighbors to see (and attempt to gain access to) your network. Instead, disable broadcasting, making the network appear as "SSID not broadcast." Access the unnamed network by typing in the SSID name when prompted.
Change the Default SSID
Change your pre-defined, default SSID—leaving it as "Linksys," for example, tells the world that you haven't configured your router, which invites attackers.
Filter by MAC Address
Every piece of networking gear includes a unique "fingerprint" called a media access control, or MAC, address. You can configure your router to filter connections using these addresses so that only your computers can connect to your network. Most routers will show you connected devices, so adding an adapter's MAC address is a one-click process.
Step Up to 5GHz
The majority of today's networks operate in the crowded 2.4GHz frequency range, which is shared by microwaves, cordless phones, and other home networks. To avoid possible interference, many new routers are capable of broadcasting at 5GHz, which has 23 wide-open channels as opposed to 2.4GHz's three non-overlapping channels.
Limit Your Number of DHCP Clients
Most people use their router as a DHCP server; when clients connect, the router dynamically assigns IP addresses from a large pool of addresses. Limiting that list to the number of clients in your home, however, will help prevent interlopers from hopping onto your network.
Use Your Router's Firewall
Two features make most hardware firewalls more powerful than software firewalls: stateful packet inspection (SPI) and network address translation (NAT). SPI examines packets' content and behavior before granting access, and NAT hides all PCs connected to the router from the Internet, "translating" their IP addresses into private ones that are unreachable from outside the firewall.
Change Your Channel
Wireless B and G (and some N) routers operate at the 2.4GHz frequency, which only has three non-overlapping channels: 1, 6 and 11. By default, your router will most likely be using one of these channels, and the bad news is so your neighbors' routers as well. If you experience dropped connections, sluggish performance or both, a good first step is to switch the channel. If it's set to channel 1, go to 11. If it's set to 6, try either 1 or 11 for best results.
Let Windows Control Your Wireless Networks
If a network adapter's software takes control of your wireless network, it can be difficult to put Windows back in charge. First, click Start, then Run, then type services.msc. Scroll down to Wireless Zero Configuration and start the service. Right-click your wireless connection, select view available networks, and then click advanced settings on the left. Click the wireless networks tab, and check "Use Windows to Configure my wireless network settings."
Disable File Sharing in Public
If you're in a public place with a Net connection, it's a good idea to disable File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. In the properties of your network adapter, uncheck the appropriate box. It's also a good idea to switch your notebook's wireless radio off if you aren't using it.

General Care of Laptops


Make Your Own Power Plan
Windows laptops include a few preset power plans for maximizing battery life, but you can also customize your operating system's power-management features (in Windows XP, under Power Options in the Control Panel; in Vista, under Mobile PC in the Control Panel). Setting aggressive targets for when the display turns off and when the machine goes into sleep or hibernate mode will help your battery last longer.
Limit Your Connection
When you aren't actively using your notebook's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WWAN, or other wireless connections, turn the radios off (via the hard switch, if your PC has one, or using the appropriate utility), so they don't run down the battery while they keep searching for a signal. Also, use USB-attached devices sparingly while you're mobile.
Track it down
Thousands of laptops are reported stolen every year. Our advice? Prepare for the worst by investing in tracking software like Absolute Software's Lojack for Laptops, CyberAngel Security, or the free TheLaptopLock. These utilities can pinpoint a registered notebook's location once it connects to the Web, increasing your chances of recovering your system.
Dim the display
A laptop's biggest battery-life-sucking component is its LCD display. To eke out more juice when you're off the plug, turn down your panel's brightness to the lowest level your eyes can stand. Most notebooks have a Function key combo—or even a dedicated hot key—for a quick crank-down. (You can also adjust brightness in Display Settings under Control Panel.)
Keep It Cool
Thanks to their small, cramped cases and tiny vents, laptops are prone to overheating. Unfortunately, using your notebook on your lap—or on top of a blanket that protects your lap from your scalding-hot notebook—can seriously stifle ventilation and make matters worse. To help keep temperatures in check, opt for a lap desk or a laptop cooling pad that won't conduct heat or block your laptop's vents.
Back Up Everything
Constant movement puts computer components at risk, and because of their portability, laptops suffer a lot more wear and tear than desktops. All of that on-the-go use increases the risk of hard drive failure, so make sure you back up the data on your laptop to an external hard drive, thumb drive, or home server on a regular basis. Portable hard drives like the Western Digital Passport Elite make it easy to back up your data on the road.
Cover Your Keyboard
Keep liquids away from laptops at all times. That rule often gets broken, of course, and accidents happen. Should that accident end up on your laptop's keyboard, however, you could end up with more than just a mess: Liquids that seep through your notebook's keys can fry its components. Protect your notebook from spills with a custom-built, plastic keyboard cover from ProtecT Laptop Covers.
Buy a Bag
If you plan to carry your notebook with you, the most useful accessory you can buy is a laptop bag. They're available in a number of styles and prices; for maximum protection, we recommend investing in a model with a built-in padded sleeve. If you want something less conspicuous (thieves have been known to target obvious-looking laptop bags), cover your laptop in stand-alone sleeve and stow it in your backpack or briefcase.
Let It Accumulate
When you move your laptop from a cold to a warm environment, and vice versa, don't boot up until your system reaches room temperature. Sudden temperature changes can cause condensation to build up inside the notebook case; turn it on too quickly, and the moisture could damage your system's inner components.

Top Place To Visits In Bangalore


Bangalore, is one of the popular Indian travel destinations for the tourists on India Tour. The best places to visit in & around Bangalore city would take you deep inside the exotic culture of the region and its rich history. The city has witnessed the rise and fall of great empires as history progressed. The throne of the great warrior Tipu Sultan and then the rule of the East India Company are to name a few amongst them. Bangalore is a subtle mix of cosmopolitan and traditional culture. From the majestic forts of Tipu Sultan to the modern towering building, trip to Bangalore city offers a number of tourist attractions for its visitors coming from different parts of the world.
There is a never exhausting list of places to visit in Bangalore . The main place are :-Flight 4 Fantasy, Wonder La Amusement Park, Art of Living International Center , Shivasamudram Falls, Basavanagudi , ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple, Surayanarayana Temple, Malleswaram, Pyramid Valley, Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain ,Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Vidhana Soudha and Attara Kacheri, St. Mark's Cathedral, Amoeba. The Heritage Centre & Aerospace Museum, Cubbon Park, Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Road, Bannerghatta National Park, Savandurga, Raja Yoga & Meditation Centre, Sri Vani Science Park, Bull Temple, Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan Fort and Palace - Bangalore KR Market, Shiv Mandir Temple, Venkatappa Art Gallery and Government Museum, St. Mary's Basilica, Big Banyan Tree, Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Ulsoor Lake etc
ISKCON Temple Complex
A perfect and breathtaking blend of modern and traditional south Indian temple architecture, the ISKCON temple should be a must-see on your itinerary
The Bangalore Palace
Built way back in 1887 by Chamaraja Wodeyar, the Bangalore Palace is inspired by the Windsor Castle.
Lal Bagh Gardens
This expanse of greenery, which was laid out by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century, is one of India's most beautiful botanical gardens. Within the Gardens there is a beautiful lake with water spread over an area of 1.5 sq kms.
Government Museum
One of the oldest museums in the country, established in 1886, has a unique collection of sculptures, inscriptions, paintings, icons and also some relics from Mohenjodaro
Vidhana Soudha
A magnificent building of the Neo-Dravidian style, houses the State Legislature which was conceived and executed by Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1956.
Cubbon Park
Spread over 300 acres of land, this park serves as the lung space of the ever growing Bangalore city. Designed by Lt. General Sir Mark Cubbon, in 1864, is dotted with statues, fountains and also has a library within its premises.
RiTipu Sultan Fort
The Tipu Sultan Fort was built in the year 1537 and it was extended in 1790. The fort was initially built by Kempe Gowda. Inside the fort there is Tipu Sultan Palace. It is mainly made wood and reflects great work of artistry. It was the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan. The palace is two storied with arches, pillars and balconies standing with élan to mesmerize the visitors. The style resembles the Islamic design.
Nandi Hills
The Nandi Hills is located around 60 kms from the city of Bangalore. The hill offers scenic view and is home to many historic relics would take the traveler back into time. The Nandi hill has 2 temples of Lord Shiva. One of the temples is located at the top and one at the foot. Few of the other attractions one may explore in this hill are Tipu Drop, the place is a cliff from where convict given death sentence were pushed.
Bannerghatta National Park
Some of the major attractions of Bannerghatta National Park is the Tiger and Lion Safari, Crocodile Farm and also Butterfly Park. The safaris are divided into two sections like carnivore and herbivore. The park is home to a wide variety of animals like royal Bengal tiger, hyenas, bison, black buck, leopard, barking deer, elephant and wild boar. Many animals rescued from the circus are also kept here.
Karnataka Folk Museum
One such great tourist attraction amongst the list of places worth visiting in the Bangalore City is the Karnataka Folk Museum. It is situated around 53 kms from Bangalore. The museum was established to promote the folk culture of Karnataka. All the collections are stored in three building the buildings are Lokamatha Mandiral, Lokamahal and Chitrakuteera. Some of the interesting folk collections that one could explore are the Temple Chariot, Ancient Carvingm, Videotapes of folk dance, Artifacts, Puppets, Earthen Jars and Masks.
Bangalore Aquarium
Located on Kasturba Gandhi Road, The Bangalore Aquarium has the finest fresh water fish collections. Apart from visiting the Aquarium one can visit the fish restaurant and fresh fish stalls surrounding the place. More on Bangalore Aquarium.
Venkatappa Art Gallery
Venkatappa Art Gallery in Bangalore displays the works of painter Venkatappa, wood sculptor Rajaram, Hebbar and many others. This is a must place to visit during Bangalore Tour if you are an avid art lover as it will leave you bedazzled with the stunning artworks by these renowned artists of the past. More on Venkatappa Art Gallery.
Nandi Bull Temple
Nandi Bull Temple was built at Basavangudi in the Kempe Gowda period in 16th century. The monolithic Nandi Bull made of grey granite polished with mixture of groundnut oil and charcoal is believed to have grown over the period of time and now measures nearly 5m in height and over 6m in length. More on Nandi Bull Temple.

Grand Mosque In Abu Dhabi For All Nationalities And Religions

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was initiated by the late President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His final resting place is located on the grounds beside the same mosque. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world. The mosque site is equivalent to the size five football fields approximately.
The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque features 80 domes all decorated with white marble. The main dome’s outer shell measures 32.7 meters in diameter and stands 70 meters high from the inside and 85 meters from the outside - the largest of its kind, according to the Turkey Research Centre for Islamic History and Culture. This architectural work of art is one the world’s largest mosques, with a capacity for an astonishing 41,000 worshippers.
The Mosque has 1,096 columns in its exterior and 96 columns in the main prayer hall which are embedded with more than 20,000 handmade marble panels encrusted with semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, red agate, amethyst, abalone shell and mother of pearl. Furthermore, beautiful minarets standing 107 meters are built on the four corners of the Mosque.
After the first phase involving foundations and the concrete structure, the mosque was finished with a decoration of Greek and Italian white marble, which is considered to be among the purest of the world. For the interior design, calligraphers from the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Jordan supervised the work of artists from all over the world. Verses from the Holy Quran are written in three types of Arabic calligraphy. The mosques spectacularly decorated interior features unique plants designed specifically for the mosque, as well as verses from the Holly Quran. In addition, the designers have also used mosaic to cover the entire courtyard (17,000 square meters) and thus it is considered among the largest open spaces in mosques worldwide.
The mosque is open to people of all nationalities and religions, not only Muslims and there’s no passport or religion check of visitors to the mosque. Visitors can walk around the main courtyard by themselves (at pretty much any time of day except Friday mornings), and inside the main mosque prayer hall (restricted during prayer times, Friday sermon times, and Ramadan). But must follow the dress code and behavior rule to entry the mosque, like No smoking, eating, or drinking inside the mosque area. Dress code for men is long-sleeve shirts, long trousers, no shorts. White dish-dashas are available for men who are inappropriately dressed. Dress code for women is long trousers or skirts, long-sleeve shirts or tops, nothing tight, headscarf (important). Black abayas are provided to visiting females. You might, or will probably, be given one to wear no matter how conservatively dressed you are so don't worry too much about what you're wearing or remembering to bring a scarf. Hair (for women) should be kept covered while in the mosque grounds but it's not necessary to cover faces. Footwear must be removed before entering so it is recommended that visitors wear comfortable shoes that are easily removed.
 Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, also the Head of the Church of England, visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque on 24 November 2010 during a visit to the UAE with her husband, Prince Philip. She was the first leader of a non-Muslim religion to officially visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Photography is permitted inside and outside the mosque except for taking photos of the grave of Sheikh Zayed and the area around the tomb. It's worth visiting in the evenings to look at all the pretty lights, or early morning at sunrise. No entry fee is required. Guided tours are organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
source :-abudhabitourism.ae, dubaifaqs.com, abudhabi.ae , visitabudhabi.ae

Top Places To Visit In Dubai

 Dubai has emerged as a dynamic political economy, with a strong international profile and large expatriate population attracted by the emirate’s relatively liberal social norms. In response to the emirate’s relatively low reserves of oil, in contrast to those of Abu Dhabi, Dubai is in the process of transforming itself into one of the world’s leading business, financial and tourism centres. It is now recognised as a truly cosmopolitan city of the future, having grown from a small trading outpost to the leading commercial centre in the Middle East.

 Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates and is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. It has the largest population with the second largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi. It is a great place for tourism and is famous world over. The primary activity of the tourists is shopping but there are also other modern and ancient attractions in Dubai which are a tempting factor for the tourists to visit this place.There are so many worth seeing places in Dubai. SMCCU Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Dubai Metro, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Dolphin Bay, Arabian Team Adventures, Bur Dubai Abra Dock, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, The Emirates Golf Club, Wild Wadi Water Park, Aquaventure Waterpark, Dubai Creek, Emirates Towers, Ski Dubai, Jumeira Beach and Park,  The Lost Chambers Aquarium in Atlantis, The Palm, iFly Dubai, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Museum, Al Mamzar Park, Bastakia Quarter, Jumeirah Mosque, Safa Park, Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Sheikh Zayed Road, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Islands, Shallow water dolphin experience, Dream Explorer Dune Buggy Driving, Dubai Autodrome, Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center, Dubai Ice Rink, Dubai Dolphinarium, Al Bastakiya, Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, Reel Cinemas, The Address Montgomerie Dubai - Golf Course, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Children's City, Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, XVA Gallery,  The Desert Ranch, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Club Rush, Heritage House,  Dubai Polo Academy, Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum's House, Burj Experience, The Dubai Heritage Village, Dragon Mart, Hatta Rock Pools, Wonderland Theme & Water Park, Dubai Zoo,  Al Sahra Desert Resort, The World are most attractive place of dubai.. I have tried here  to encompass some of the best places which you must visit in Dubai.
Burj Khalifa and dubai mall
It is the tallest building in the world and measures over 828 meters. You can enjoy the stunning scenes of Dubai from the top of this building. Burj Khalifa has also got the world’s tallest restaurant situated on the 122nd floor at 442 meters (1350 ft) up in the sky. This behemoth shopping mall is the world’s largest shopping mall based on total area and includes 1200 shops. It is the part of Burj Khalifa and this mall can be reached via Doha street. Now as we go into the mall the things you would see there are; the world’s largest Gold Souk with 220 retailers; the 850,000 sq ft (79,000 m2) Fashion Catwalk atrium; Fashion Island (Avenue), with 70 stores dedicated to haute couture; the Middle East’s first Galeries Lafayette department store; Oasis Fountain Waterfall; and WaterFront Atrium.
BURJ AL ARAB and Jumeirah Beaches
It is the tallest hotel in the world and the first 7-star hotel in the world. Its construction started in 1994 and was opened to the public in 1999. It is the iconic symbol of Dubai and it resembles a dhow (Arabian sea vessel) with a billowed out sail.  Dubai has got some of very beautiful beaches in the world and they run along Jumeirah Road. There are many hotels and private clubs along the length of the beach but at the same time there are many public access places which include playgrounds, barbecue sites, food kiosks, and picnic areas for families. January is the best month to visit these beaches as the temperatures are pleasant and one can enjoy to the hilt there.
The Palm Islands Dubai
These are the world’s three man-made islands, so large that they can be seen from space with the naked eye. In 2002, the original two islands announced were the Palm Jumeirah and the Palm Jebel Ali and this project is being undertaken by Al Nakheel Properties (Nakheel Corporation). These islands are built in the shape of palm trees and there are houses on these islands to live in. It is simply marvelous.
The World Islands In Dubai
It is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands constructed in the shape of a world map, four kilometers off the coast of Dubai, UAE. The islands project was actually the idea of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and was developed by Nakheel Properties. The overall cost of the project was estimated at 14 billion USD. Each island in the archipelago ranges from about 14,000 m² (150,000 square feet) to 42,000 m².
Dubai Autodrome
It is actually a motor sports facility and is a part of the Union Properties Motorcity development. It was first inaugurated in October 2004 and hosted the final round of the FIA GT Championship. Dubai Autodrome includes an FIA sanctioned 5.39km circuit, a Race & Driving school and a CIK approved Karting track.
Dubai Museum
It was built in 1787 and is the oldest building in Dubai. The aim of this museum was to present the traditional way of life in the Emirate of Dubai to the people. Lot of visitors come to visit the Dubai Museum and in March 2008, the Museum had 80,000 visitors. The museum includes local antiquities as well as artifacts from African and Asian countries that traded with Dubai.
Desert Safari
In this, you use an off-road vehicle and set out for an exciting journey into the sand dunes. This is really a thrilling activity and this needs pertinent driving skills and experience to handle the car on the sand. For all the adventurous people out there, do try this and give it your best shot.
Jumeirah Grand Mosque
Learn more about the Muslim religion and culture with a visit to one of the few mosques in the Middle East that’s open to non-Muslims. Tours are available Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am but plan to get there early. Entrance is 10Dhs. Shoes are left at the entrance and visitors must be appropriately dressed. You can borrow a head scarf or abaya if necessary
Dubai Marina
Built along a two-mile stretch of waterfront, this man-made marina has created a complete waterfront community with apartment towers and villas set against a watery backdrop. The development itself is as big as a medium sized UK/US town accommodating more than 120,000 people. With public walkways, loads of great restaurants and cafés, plus yachting, fishing and a beach on the doorstep, coupled with a vibrant nightlife
Dubai Museum 
 Explore the history of Dubai, from desert houses with their typical wind towers to modern Dubai. See old maps of the Gulf and aerial photos showing the development of Dubai over recent decades. See the diverse collection of exhibits including knives and swords, and gain a fascinating insight into the rich history and cultural heritage of Dubai. Walk the streets of a 1950’s era souk. It's impressive and cool out of the heat as it's largely underground. Free entry if on the Big Bus (red/city) Tour, which stops literally just outside.
Dubai Gold Souk
The Dubai Gold Souk is a traditional market located at the core of commercial business district in Deira, eastern Dubai. The souk accommodates more than 300 retailers exclusively trading in jewelry. Among the retailers are both the well-established stores like Damas, Joy Alukkas Jewlry and ARY Jewelry, and also smaller stores that operate exclusively. Approximately 25 tonnes of gold are displayed in the windows of more than 600 shops at any given time.

Bandipur Nepal: Rural Heritage


Bandipur is a fantastic example of traditional Newari culture, and the town itself seems completely untouched by modernisation. The hilltop town not only overlooks the incredible expanse of the Marsyanngdi river valley, but also offers a breathtaking sweep of the Himalayan range. Apart from the beautiful views the town has some wonderful 18th Century architecture, numerous temples and wonderful opportunities to witness daily community life. Here are the list of things to visits in bandipur nepal.


Local houses

The distinctive feature of the village houses are the brick walls, mud floors and slate roofs.

In fact, the slate roofs come directly from the pits in the village itself. Some houses are also very brightly painted and very Mediterranean-ish.

Town Square

This is where the majority of activities is located. All the shops and hostels are here, so it's the best place to coordinate activities.

Farmlife

The local Hindus do not eat beef and the main source of meat come from the goats bred by each family.The distinctive feature of the goat pens are the low ceiling, low windows and doors and baskets of dried grass hung outside the pen for grazing. Many of the goat pens are interspersed between the villagers' living quarters.

In the day, the goats may also be released into the nearby mountains. As the mountains are really harsh and lacking lush vegetation, I get the impression the goats spend most of the time finding their foothold rather than grazing.

Mulberry and silkworm farm

As the silkworm farming is more for subsistence rather than tourism, it may be advisable to get a villager to accompany you there.
They allow us to freely pick the juicy mulberry fruits which you must be careful not to let it d

Shiva shrine

Shiva is the Hindu god the locals pray to. We were fortunate to witness a celebration at the shrine which gave out a mysterious air when lit with many oil lamps.The locals make a sweet, flour cake as offerings and consumption

Views over Himalayas

There are breathtaking views of the Himalayan from Bandipur, and they range from Langtang peak in the east to Dhaulagiri in the west. From the nearby hilltops, one can see as far as Manakamana and Gorkha to east the great Chitwan plains to the south, among others. Himalayas are best seen in the afternoons and before sunset and until dusk. The morning fog from the nearby valleys blurs the views over the Himalayas, but makes the scenery fairy-tale like.

Tundikhel

Back when Bandipur was a stop no the trade route India – Tibet, Tundikhel was the setting for trade fairs, as well as a parade ground for archery contests and celebrations. Strolling around the platform, i got a sense of eternalness to the point that i even expected some medieval arches to jump from the enormous fig trees while trade caravans were packing their goods.According to Hindu legends, the diferent types of fig trees represent different gods - the fig trees at Tundikhel represent Vishnu, Brahma and Hanuman.

Stroll as much as your feet can bear

Strolling around the town, to hilltops and peaks, to objectives such as the largest cave in Nepal (Siddha Gufa), or the Martyrs Memorial, or the Patali Dwar (aka the Gateway to Heaven), etc. This is something you definitely won’t have enough. Just smell the flavours, and you’ll want to wander around to abandoned army camps or police stations, or to the surrounding Magar villages, admiring the views and watching children at play and adults at work. This seemed to me a step back in time, to the age of innocence, untouched by “civilisation”.

Bandipur is located on a 1000m ridge in Tanahu district some140km west from Kathmandu and 60km east from Pokhara, Bandipur's hallmark is its beautiful scenery. At the eastern part of the town is the pagoda-roofed Bindabasine temple which houses goddess Durga, Bandipurs guardian deity. The rich wooden carvings and details brass-work that adorn the temple are replicas of those found in the many old pagoda structures of the Kathmandu valley. The other important temples and shrines in the vicinity include the Mahalaxmi temple with its exquisite woodwork and Khadga Devi temple which comes alive once a year during the Dashin festival.