Being proud to be an American, I often think about what a great country we live in overflowing with opportunities everywhere I look. Hundreds of years of independence for the good old U.S. of A. Our freedom and independence to become the country we are today; the country we are still yet to be is what keeps that intangible but palatable “American Dream” something every American, and those who flow across our borders daily, hope to attain. That dream is as different to each American as the number of Americans! And there are just as many ways to get there – if you truly have the desire, the passion, the commitment.

This country unlike any other gives us the opportunity to become whatever we choose to be – or not be for that matter. But make no mistake, you do choose what you make of yourself – personally or in business – you do have control over what you can or will accomplish. Based on your choices, your work ethic, how you live your life. What a wonderful place to be born; a wonderful time to be alive! Technology, Freedom, Independence – what a combo! Technology effects our freedom, our independence differently – individually – based on each person’s chosen set of attitudes and perceptions. You choose the attitude you will have, you choose the information you seek (or do not seek) to base your perceptions on. You have the freedom to make those choices.

The addition of Technology to the American Dream’s recipe really makes becoming successful and attaining that “piece of the pie” within the grasp of every person who has the desire and commitment to just reach out and grab it. Literally! Never at any time in our history are there so many opportunities available for each individual so inclined to succeed. Technology has broken down the barriers and made information, education and resources available to those who merely started with the desire to seek it out. What freedom of knowledge! No longer can one sit back and say they “can’t” get involved in Technology. If someone isn’t involved, for the most part it is because they don’t want to be out of fear, intimidation, frustration or just plain old lack of interest. They have the freedom to make that choice.

Even those who do not yet own their own computer have the local library with computers that can get them online to access the rich wealth of information that makes the “Dream” within reach. Cypber/Internet Cafes are popping up in the smallest rural towns. If there is a will, there is a way! Why then with all this opportunity are so many unable or unwilling to take advantage of it? While we all “want” the house in the country, financial independence, 4 figure toys, why are so very few open to making the choices and sacrifices necessary to make their dreams come true? Attitudes (I can’t, I won’t, I don’t want to, I shouldn’t have to.) and perceptions (It’s too difficult, too expensive, too time consuming, not worth it.). Could it be lack of work ethic or lack of education? Lack of personal commitment or unwillingness to sacrifice for something worth having?

I don’t believe that the majority of Americans actually believe that Technology is a “right” or should hand them opportunity or success on a silver platter. Have we really become that spoiled as a country that we are no longer willing to work for our dreams, no matter what that entails? Especially with Technology making the “Dream” easier than ever, more accessible than before, more available to many, more opportunity than most know what to do with!?

If you were to interview any of our country’s founders about how easy many today think success should be, what little effort should be necessary, what little investment one would prefer to make in it to reach unrealistic goals – you would likely be put in shackles in the local jail house until you were thinking straight! You most probably would have been laughed at by the likes of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln for having such silly thoughts because they knew anything worth having, that you believe in, is worth unending commitment and sacrifice. Why should success be any different? You have the freedom to make these choices.

What I think our predecessors would find surprising is how few are up to the challenge of using Technology to make their dreams a reality. They would scoff at the fact that people were unwilling to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed because it takes too much time or work. They would gasp at the thought that many believe any goal worth pursuing should have no cost or responsibility involved. If they were here today, they would be disappointed and probably insulted that many current citizens of this fine country which they helped build with their ideals and sacrifices would actually prefer to believe that everything is a right, everything is a given, whatever one wants should just happen without effort, accountability, sacrifice or commitment.

They would quickly point out that to reach ones goals you have to work harder than you ever thought, sacrifice more than you could imagine, invest as necessary to reach those goals – do what is right! Only those that do succeed. Technology is opportunity, for those with the freedom to choose what to do with it, those who will work at it, those who will learn and invest and learn some more. They will succeed. The rest, well they’ll just be on the sidelines – and they have the freedom to make that choice.

With Technology, entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes have the ability to communicate and connect with vendors, customers and markets that even a few years ago were impossible. Even the smallest eCommerce sites can produce a handful of orders a day from across the globe for minimal investment combined with ongoing dedication and commitment. Small marketing sites can attain new clients, service current customers, provide marketing materials and product/service data 24/7 – once unheard of for small startups. But there is only one road to travel.

By doing things the right way, (which may not necessarily be your way) investing as needed and acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge, the sky really is the limit! I know that if someone wants to succeed with technology, I can take them there. I give each new client my personal guarantee in that regard. But they have to make the right efforts in the right areas based on the reality of what is necessary in order to lay the groundwork for that success which then produces financial freedom – part of the American Dream we all strive for. Are you up to this challenge?

Take the Technology Challenge below to see if you have what it takes to make Technology your stairway to success. Technology is not for the weak of heart. Rate each question based on a 1-10 scale with 10 being you agree with the statement 100%.

1. Without spending the required time learning and practicing the skills necessary to use technology properly, my chances to succeed are extremely diminished.
2. Knowledge acquisition will be an ongoing challenge to keep up with Technology as it evolves and I am prepared to be on a continual learning curve and deal with the frustrations that will bring.
3. There will be a new set of unwritten rules and guidelines which are part of the Internet “culture” that I will need to make myself aware of, practice and hone in order to be most effective and perceived as favorably as possible.
4. An ongoing program implementing the basics of running a organized and successful business is important to my level of success with Technology.
5. With very little to limited knowledge about Technology, in general, I realize I need to choose my partners carefully so I have proven experienced professionals on my team to trust and rely on for the best possible ROI (return on investment). This requires I not choose partners solely on price alone, claims of ease of use or instant results.
6. Technology is evolving daily requiring ongoing updates, changes and new directions that I will need to embrace and implement on a consistent basis in order to keep in front of my competitors.
7. Information Technology means that I will need to review all data and information available and provided to me on a regular basis in order to truly understand where I am coming from and where I will need to go to succeed.
8. 1-3 hours online minimally per day will be necessary for me to answer e-mail, network, market and organize my online activities and opportunities.
9. Online success is there for the taking if I make the right choices, efforts and commitment. This includes realizing that success doesn’t just happen – I need to work at it, possibly harder than anything I’ve ever worked at before to make it happen!
10. An open mind and a little ego are imperative in order to be able embrace the ideas and information, the recommendations and advice given by those with the experience to help me reach my goals. To override relevant data, recommendations or advice based on my very limited knowledge, without any other solid business reason to do so, will hinder my potential success.

Anything less than a score of 100 points indicates you may not be up to the challenge or have unrealistic expectations of what Technology will demand of you to succeed. That doesn’t mean I can’t get you there – it just means we need a bit of reality check before we begin. (BTW, this “reality check” is included when becoming one of my clients! )

Technology doesn’t wait or molly coddle anyone no matter how great your idea is, how pretty your site is, how much you “think” it is a good idea. Some try to kid themselves either based on stories from friends or hype on some Web site that the above level of commitment really is not required. They have the freedom to believe what they want; they have the freedom to make their own choices.

Wouldn’t you rather use your freedom to seek out the reality of success and then make it yours? Technology is a challenge for everyone who plays – even those of us who participate in Technology for a living are challenged on almost a daily basis with some new concept, trend or data that surprises and many times perplexes us which demands we react, rethink, redo. Realize that online – nothing is a right or a given.

If you want to play and succeed, there are things you will need to do, hills you will need to climb, decisions you will need to make. It won’t just happen – YOU need to make it happen. You have the freedom to make these choices. Use your freedom to make the choice to be successful, to do what it takes, to rise to the challenge! This is the U.S. of A. and we are celebrating over 225 years of freedom and independence. Isn’t time you stepped up to the plate and claimed your right to succeed and use your freedom to learn, your independence to make your own choices and stand by them until you reach your goals?

So stand up straight! Shoulders back!! Get that complacent look off your face and change your attitude! Technology (as with life) isn’t easy – nor is it cheap in time or expense! But then, neither is success. What do you think our founding fathers would do given the opportunity such as you have right now?

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By:Sandro Azzopardi

‘…is the programs and procedure required to enable a computer to perform a specific task…’. The software industry is huge and an ever changing one. Software has been with us since the first computers. Without it, computers cannot operate. Various kinds of software exist in the market today. They can be classified into:

Operating Systems
The lowest level form of software which has direct contact with the computer hardware. It manages resources as well as other software programs sitting on top. The operating system takes care of all the low level functions a computer performs and is probably the most complex piece of software in circulation.

Applications Software
Software which can normally be bought from stores is called application software. These packages serve infinite purposes and can vary from office applications, like word processors, spreadsheets, payroll systems, account systems, anti-virus applications and database driven software, to games, communication and multimedia applications.

Tailor-Made Software
Same as application software, tailor made software is written specifically to perform a particular task and to meet the user’s specific requirements. This software fills the gap that application suites leave in the software industry. Certain performances needed by particular businesses and organizations cannot be performed by the standard application suite found on stores’ shelves. As a result, several software companies specialize in this area and create software applications designed to perform a specific task for specific sectors in our society.

The Process
Software is normally written by professional programmers working with small to medium companies as well as large corporations. They create standard packages that are then marketed and distributed worldwide. The purpose can vary from general use, like operating systems and office applications to specific use, like software written for hospitals and government departments. The process of writing tailor-made software can be totally different though. Before the programmers put their hands on the keyboard and start coding, a whole process is carried out by systems analyst, normally called feasibility study. This study serves to understand the business requirements of the specific organization to which the software is going to be written. A full documented systems design is then written explaining all these requirements, which will also server as the basis on which programmers write their code in order to produce the end product.

The Works
Software applications need to be loaded through a disk or through a network link from an office server or internet. It loads into the computer memory and normally gets installed on the local computer’s internal drive. Once resident there, every time the package is called from the user, it loads into the computer’s memory and execution starts. Some applications remain resident in the computer’s memory for as long as the computer is functioning. These are normally functions forming part of the operating system and other applications like network applications, anti-virus software and device drivers.

Everything one sees on a computer screen is made up of software. Without it, a computer cannot operate and is useless. Software applications have gone a long way and today many software applications can perform millions of tasks every second, supported by the evolution of computer hardware and the huge leaps forward of technology.

Article keywords: software

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Sandro Azzopardi is a professional author who writes articles on his web site and local newspapers. http://www.theinfopit.com/technology/software/software.php

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By:Mayoor Patel

Podcasting is becoming ever more popular as more and more people get to know about it and how it works. But, as with everything, when it becomes popular it can be very confusing trying to find what you want, when there is so much to choose from. When there were not so many podcasts then it was fairly easy because either what you wanted was available, or it was not. But now, even if you want to find a podcast on a very unusual topic, then the chances are that there will be several. But you still have to know where to find them and the best way to do that is by looking for a good podcast directory. They are a great way to find the podcast that you want to listen to and it can save you a lot of searching for the right type of podcast.

If you find a good podcast directory, then it can save you hours of searching. But you need to make sure that the one that you find has a good membership so that it has the widest range possible. Some of the larger podcast directories carry thousands of listings. But you also need to make sure that they are laid out well, so that you can find what you are looking for . There is no point in them having thousands of listings if you are not able to find the one that you want, or even the type of podcast that you want.

A good podcast directory should have a great many listings for the subject of the podcasts and then sub sections. This is very helpful, as if you are looking for a popular subject, then if you look at the listings for that subject and there are dozens of them, then you will still probably not find the one that you are looking for unless you look through them all. The whole point of a podcast directory, is to make it as easy as possible to find the one that you want.

Many good podcast directories also list them by language, country and city. Another useful way to look for the best podcasts, is if you can search by popularity. This way you are just using all of the research from those that looked for your topic before and eventually found the best ones. This can save you a lot of work. It is well worth finding a good podcast directory, it can save you a great deal of time and it will also help you to find the best podcasts as well.

Article keywords: Podcast Directory

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Theres a truckload of information for beginners published on my website which can be found at http://www.PodcastWares.com

By:Christine Harrell

Thinking of developing your Access skills? New to Microsoft Access and don’t know where to start? Want to know more about what Access can do for your business?

Microsoft Access is a popular application designers often use to store and retrieve information. It is a database management software application (DBMS) used by small businesses, large corporations and by home ‘have-a-go’ programmers.

Access has become one of the most widely-used applications of the well renowned Microsoft Office. Today’s office environment often demands more than just email and report writing. As a result, skills in key office applications have become paramount for many businesses’s success. But do we get really get the high performance results we know these applications are capable of?

Access provides powerful, easy to use design tools with relatively little effort. Its ease of use, often utilised by untrained office workers can sometimes be as much of a hindrance as a blessing as many ‘have-a-go’ developers overlook the true power and business value it possesses, mistaking it for a limited data modelling application.

The underlying factor for this misunderstanding is largely due to lack of knowledge and training. Learning Access from dull manuals is often difficult to learn and far from enjoyable.

However, this no longer has to be the case! Many training companies are offering instructor led Microsoft Access training courses, delivered in a professional and easy to digest manner. Trainers combine their experience with real development knowledge – they really do know their stuff and are able to break down key concepts into manageable units.

The Microsoft Office Suite has come along way in the last decade and fortunately so too has the training. Gone are the days of large classes, limited training material and questionable delivery. Microsoft training is now a booming industry with a selection of course venues, availability and competitive prices to match.

These days you can expect professional Access training, delivered by Microsoft certified trainers in Microsoft authorised centres. Many of the larger training companies now offering up to three Microsoft Access public schedules courses a week at introduction, intermediate, advanced and VBA (programming) level according to the users experience and understanding.

So Access ‘newbies’ can benefit from the introduction training level, learning important concepts such as how to use tables, fields and records in relation to simple queries, forms and views. The more advanced users will develop skills in SQL queries and how they relate to relational databases.

Students with more tailored needs can take advantage of bespoke training or even consider a mentoring approach in the form of consultancy. Consultancy can be a great choice for users who need to understand or tweak an already existing Access application. Consultancy can also help with database design or re-design and development to improve robustness, efficiency and usability.

Students may find it convenient to have classes conducted and/or tailored at their company site. This is becoming an increasingly popular approach. Public schedules, near-site, one-to-one and consultancy are also widely offered.

These days, you can choose the best time to learn. Public schedule courses for Access, run many times a month and on-site training can be scheduled around your team’s workload allowing more control and focus relating to your business goals. You can also gain recognition of your Access skills by taking Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certified examinations examinations.

The future looks bright for Access students, with a plentiful supply of courses in an extremely competitive market. The Microsoft Office training industry often offers promotional rates and easy online booking. With the variety of training and competitive rates there has never been a better or easier time to develop key Microsoft Access skills.

Article keywords: microsoft access training, computer, london, excel training

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Author is a trainer with a Microsoft Office training company. For more information on Microsoft Access training, visit www.MicrosoftTraining.net.

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By:James Hunt

An ASP is known as an Active Server Page. It is a server scripting technology that is for building web pages that are both dynamic and interactive. The ASP implementation was created by Microsoft and gives web developers the freedom to create dynamic websites accessed from the many Microsoft COM-compliant data sources available. It is distributed within Microsoft’s web specific products including:

Internet information Server (IIS) – 2000 / XP Pro / NT4 Personal Web Server (PWS) – Windows 98

HTML Editors – Front Page and Visual Interdev

ASP is simple to understand and create, yet powerful enough to allow:
Interaction between the user and the server

Behind the scenes access to databases and other servers
User of the powerful COM components

Support varying types of browsers the web site visitor is using

It uses a combination of standard HTML and text, and XML, but can also access other standard scripting languages such as VBScript and JavaScript. The standard extension for an ASP is .asp, instead of the normal .htm extension. It is incorrect to consider ASP as a language itself; it is a technology that enables web developers to create sites that don’t rely on static HTML.

How is an ASP processed?

When an ASP page is requested by a browser the web server knows that its sole task is to interpret any ASP contained with the web page before sending the HTML to the browser. The entire ASP is run on the web server and no ASP will ever be passed to the browser. Any web pages containing ASP cannot be run by simply opening the page in a web browser. The page must be requested through a web server that supports ASP.

What are the advantages of ASP?

ASP is more advantageous than CGI or Perl due to its simplicity and speed. It provides security as ASP code cannot be viewed from the browser and clever ASP programming can reduce network traffic.

Article keywords: active server page, Microsoft, server, HTML, CGI

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at www.asp-central.

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