April 2008
Conversion of Spreadsheet Graph data to SVG
It should be possible to convert spreadsheet graph data to SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). This could also be achieved in any software system that uses graphs. It is difficult to convert one structure to a different representation such as a tree based information structure of a component into a diagrammatic representation of a component in SVG. This is not impossible though as CAD tools can do this. But output of a graph to SVG is straight forward, as the actual structure and semantics are the same, its only the syntax that needs conversion, so this can be achieved using virtually any programming language. In spreadsheets the data is converted to a graph automatically anyway.
However it is not practical to expect users to do this, its much more sensible to provide this functionality for them, so they can concentrate on representing the graph to explain the information they want displayed. There might be graph types that are difficult to translate, but a good approach would be to first automate the translation to bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts.
If anyone has worked on this can they let me know, and I’ll add an explanation of what they are doing to this article.
It would also be interesting to know whether anyone is aware of whether Microsoft are going to provide an HTML output that conforms to W3C recommendations for XHTML so the converted pages can be validated. This is another straight forward problem, and would save everyone so much time. Another thing that would save a great deal of peoples’ time is a tool to aid in conversion of non-compliant web pages to compliant pages.
I am a Researcher in the final year of my. I specialise in applying Semantic Web techniques. My current research is on a technique of ‘User Driven Modelling/Programming’. My intention is to enable non-programmers to create software from a user interface that allows them to model a particular problem or scenario. This involves a user entering information visually in the from of a tree diagram. I am attempting to develop ways of automatically translating this information into program code in a variety of computer languages. This is very important and useful for many employees that have insufficient time to learn programming languages. I am using the Protege ontology editor developed from a project of Stanford University and beginning to use the Jena tool of Hewlett-Packard. I am looking to research visualisation, and visualisation techniques to create a human computer interface that allows non experts to create software.
My Home Page is at http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~phale/ My blog is http://userdrivenmodelling.blogspot.com/
Dog Collars, Dog Clothing, and Accessories - Things You Should Have on Hand When Adopting a New Pet
The day you bring a new puppy or dog into your home is a red letter day indeed. It may be an exhausting one for you. It certainly will be for him. This is also one of the most critical moments in your relationship, because first impressions are indelibly marked on the animal mind. It is vital to establish from the beginning an atmosphere of security, affection, and mutual confidence. In short, the goal is to make your dog feel at home.
Your puppy will come to you with no worldly goods at all, so you must provide him with his first essential possessions;
- A bed, slightly larger than your dog
- A blanket, again slightly larger than needed
- A water bowl, (stainless steel or earthenware, but not glazed pottery, which contains lead that is poisonous to dogs)
- A light puppy collar with an identification tag, leather is best, flat for short-haired breeds, round for long haired
- A leather leash with a strong clip fastener
- A comb and brush, the canine kind, (suitable to his breed)
- A squeaky toy
- A chewing toy of rawhide or a nylon or both
- A hard rubber ball (Big enough so that he cannot swallow it, but light enough for him to carry around in his mouth)
- Finally, and most important of all, a name
Brent Jones along with his partner Randy Jones have been in the pet industry for many years. Starting with a small grooming business they have developed their business into an online pet site where pet owners can buy the latest and most stylish items for their beloved pets. You can go to http://joncopets.com/ and check it out, they are offering free shipping for a limited time.
Naked Options
In a recent article on Google (NASDAQ/GOOG), I reviewed the merits of employing a simple put option strategy for bearish investors or those who want to establish a hedge against downside weakness.
Some option traders try to generate premium income vis–vis the writing of naked calls. But as will become apparent, the risk-reward trade-off is inferior to that of put options.
Simply, when writing naked calls, it means you write or sell a call without actually holding the underlying instrument, whether stocks, futures or bonds.
Versus a Covered Call, writing naked calls means the option written is not hedged with an underlying long position.
It is this uncovered or exposed nature of Naked Calls that makes the trade an extremely risky proposition. For instance, should the market price of the underlying instrument decline below the strike price of the call, you would retain the premium for writing the call.
On the other hand, should the market price surge, you could be vulnerable to potentially large losses if the option is exercised. Why? Assume the call option is exercised. As the writer, you would be required to enter the market, buy the underlying instrument at the higher market price and then deliver it to the holder of the call option at the lower strike price.
For example, let’s examine the Google “out-of-the-money” June $350 calls, with the stock trading at $346.48 (March 15). In exchange for assuming the risk for writing a Naked Call on this particular option, you would receive a premium of $28.50 per share or $2,850 per contract ($28.50 x 100 shares). This premium represents the maximum reward from this trade.
Now let’s assume that the price of Google surges back to $400 and the holder of the call option decide to exercise. Under this scenario, the loss to you would be $2,150 per contract ($400 - $350 - $28.50 x 100 shares). At $500, the loss would be $12,150.
In theory, the market price of Google could rise to infinity; hence, the upside risk is unlimited. In reality, the loss is constrained by the use of internal risk control measures such as margin calls. For instance, as Google rises in price, you would be subject to ongoing margin calls. In most cases, the position would be closed and the account settled. This limits the loss.
As evidenced, the loss from writing Naked Calls could be substantial and not worth the potential maximum reward, which in this case is the $2,850 premium per contract. In my view, the premium fails to compensate for the risk assumed.
The breakeven point occurs when the market price of the stock surpasses the strike price by the amount of the premium. In our example, the breakeven price (excluding commissions) would be $378.50 per share ($350 strike + $28.50 premium).
The example we used is only for illustration purchases and not intended to be a recommendation or actual strategy. Because options are inherently risky, we recommend speaking with an options specialist before considering a strategy.
Note: you are welcome to post this article on your site if it is financial related. You must cut and paste the bio and make sure the web site link is live. Also please e-mail me to let me know.
George Leong is the founder of Investornomics.com (http://www.investornomics.com) - a provider of independent stock and option trading commentary. He has a degree in finance/economics and offers over 15 years of research experience in investing and trading.
Importance of High Fiber and Low Fat Foods
The easiest and most effective changes that you can make to your
diet is to eat more fiber rich foods, and fewer foods rich in
fat. Why boost fiber intake? There are many reasons to boost the
intake of fiber while controlling fat, including increased
exercise, decreased your weight and maintain a healthier
lifestyle.
The fact of the matter is most people consume too much of the
bad stuff- things like sugar, salt and fat, and not enough of
the good stuff - like vegetables, fruits, and whole foods. This
means that many people are not getting sufficient fiber in their
everyday diets, and they may suffer a variety of heath effects
because of it.
Well, before you can eat more fiber you need to know where that
fiber comes from. You should get in the habit of reading
nutritional labels. This will be one way to start the high fiber
count and low fat. Most packaged and processed foods in the
grocery store must carry these labels, and they label such
things as fiber, fat, calories and nutrient values. Getting
familiar with these nutritional labels is a necessary first step
to getting rid of the fat intake and increasing your fiber. Ok!
Increasing fiber and decreasing fat is certainly a great goal,
it is best to take things gradually until your body has time to
adjust. Those accustomed to low levels of fiber often experience
bloating, cramps, gas and abdominal pain when suddenly boosting
the amount of fiber in their diet. However with time and
increasing levels slowly you will decrease some of these side
effects.
Some of the foods that are highest in fiber, usually contain
more than 7 grams per serving, include foods such as dried
beans, legumes, dried peas, dried fruits, nuts and sunflower
seeds. These foods can be great sources of fiber. Most
vegetables or fruits can also be sources of fiber. Most of these
foods contain from 3 to 5 grams of fiber. It is also very
important to take fiber content into account as you do your
grocery shopping. Reading labels and choosing high fiber foods
is the best way to make a long term commitment to healthier
eating and better overall health.
Choosing the right cereals that are rich in fiber is a great
way to increase the level of fiber intake while still getting
that breakfast every morning. Most of today’s cereals that
contain wheat bran and oat bran can be great sources of fiber.
Lots of people have the assumption that cooking or heating up
vegetables and other fiber rich foods destroys their fiber
content, however this is not the true. While it is true that
overcooking certain vegetables can result in some loss of
nutrients, cooking has no effect whatsoever on fiber content. So
enjoy what you eat, but make sure that you think first about
those fiber foods and low fat meals.
Making the Doggie World a Better Place - The Benefits of Spraying or Neutering Your Pet
Unfortunately, the world has too many dogs in it. There are simply not enough homes for the amount of dogs that are available. One way to drastically lower the amount of animals that will die of starvation and disease is to make sure that your pets are sprayed or neutered. Spraying is the removing of the ovaries from a female dog. A neutering for a male dog is the removal of his testicles.
There are many myths about spraying and neutering that leave people with the idea that this can somehow be bad for their animal. Here are some things that you should realize.
Untrue: A dog that is sprayed or neutered will become lazy and then fat.
Fact: The only thing that factors into the dog’s weight is whether or not you provide them with the amount of exercise that they need as well as the right amount of food. Removal of these organs plays no role.
Untrue: Some think that dogs should have a litter of puppies before being sprayed.
Fact: If a dog is sprayed before she goes into heat, she is often healthier. Dogs that have just one litter have an increased risk of cancer later in life.
Untrue: It is cruel to do this!
Fact: Animals that are sprayed and neutered will have a lower risk of cancer later in life of the reproductive organs. If this happens when they are puppies, they will recover faster and need less pain medication.
Untrue: The dog is not as protective anymore.
Fact: Your animal is less likely to roam the neighborhood looking for a mate. The fact is that without these hormones, you can better control your animal. But, that does not mean that he will not want to protect his own. He will. One has nothing to do with the other.
Untrue: Children who see a dog give birth are being educated.
Fact: When a female is ready to birth, she will likely seek out a quiet, secluded area to do it in. So, more than likely, they will not witness it. Also, some children can experience negative effects, even traumatic feelings when they have to give up a puppy that they have bonded with for the last two months.
Untrue: It’s too expensive.
Fact: The larger the dog, the more anesthesia that is needed. To help cut down the costs, look to your local humane society and even animal welfare groups for help. They offer low cost alternatives to seeking out a private practice physician.
Visit Pet-Medication-Supplies.net for all leading Pet Health products, and tips and articles to ensure your dog or puppy stays healthy. Dog News Center publishes news and articles about dogs and puppies.
http://pet-medication-supplies.net This article may be reproduced as long as the resource box and live links remain intact.
What is Camera Shake and How Do I Avoid It?
“My images appear blurred and a friend says this is caused by camera shake. What is this and how can I avoid it?”
If your digital camera makes even a small movement when you take a picture, you are at risk of having a blurred image. The reason for this is camera shake.
Digital cameras need to be got used to. Those new to digital photography, especially using compacts, should realise that the must use the shutter release button properly. Initially, by pressing the button halfway, the camera measures and sets it’s exposure and focussing parameters. The second press takes the photo.
Low light also leads to the possibility of camera shake. Here the aperture is wider (to let more light in) and therefore the shutter speed is slow. Using a long and heavy lens will also cause difficulty in holding the camera steady. Try to steady yourself or use a tripod for support. If you don’t have a remote shutter release, use the self-timer to trigger the shutter button.
If you don’t have a tripod handy, hold the camera steady using your elbows braced against your body for support. Holding the camera firmly against your forehead also helps.
Setting a faster shutter speed will also minimise the possibility of blurred images. And in low light conditions, using a flashgun will prevent blurring.
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com
How to Unlock Sales Person Competency
To begin understanding sales competency, you have to begin with the ultimate assumptions about professional selling. Can we all agree that professional selling is ultimately:
1 - Grounded to a buyer(s) behavior and decision process?
2 - Focused on helping a transaction occur?
3 - Bound by an ethical responsibility to do “what is right”?
If we can all agree on these things from all sides of the table we can begin to dissect the sales profession step by step using the system’s approach. If the buyer, marketing, purchasing, and even HR professionals can agree to this, then we can begin to arrive at a common definition of “sales competency.” Obviously, this is a long way away. Though I have worked on the definition of “what” professional selling competency is for six years, I still have work to do toframe it up all the way.
Sales competency is ultimately defined as a salesperson’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and values. All four components must be in alignment to the customer in order for a sales professional to become competent. Because competence is defined as knowledge, skill, abilities, and values, sales professionals have a difficult job ahead of them if they wish to become better. Becoming better is not easy and most sales organizations do not provide adequate training to cover the breadth of competency - because it has never really been defined before.
Effective sales professionals are continuously learning and they have developed a framework and process for accessing their knowledge. They have a solid “knowledge foundation” and they understand their strengths and weaknesses. Because skill is determined by the knowledge a salesperson has gained plus their experience level, salespeople do get better over time. But it takes too long in almost everyone’s opinion. Sales Management wishes that sales people would “ramp up” quicker. Sales people wish they could sell more, faster. The buyer wishes that all salespeople were “competent” and reliable.
Some of the most skilled sales professionals have stayed in one vertical market or industry for a longer period of time. They have also stayed in the same sales role for a longer length of time (such as outside sales). Why? They have followed a defined career path with increasing levels of responsibility and complexity of sale and they have been able to gain effectiveness, efficiency, and competency.
Ironically, a “truly” competent salesperson would have the ability to move into any organization and gain the trust of the buying decision-makers. They would be able to create a situation where buying can occur within an ethical environment at a fair price no matter who they worked for. They would have the knowledge to speak to a CEO, the front-line manager, or the newest employee about what issues and challenges they face almost immediately - no matter what vertical market they served.
They way to get there is to strive and push to increase your knowledge, skill, and ability so you can be the best at what you do.
To accomplish this, you need a framework. Since 1999, I have been personally interviewing hundreds of salespeople and I have been a “bag carrying/quota carrying salesperson. I have also been vigorously studying the sales professional as part of Ph.D. research. My dissertation and final Ph.D. publication will be on the area of individual selling competency. The remaining part of this book offers you an important framework that many salespeople have leveraged to succeed, gain more confidence, and attain their greatest accomplishments in selling.
The Components of Salesperson Competency
For anyone in any profession, they usually seek to become better. To do this, they must first start with an objective analysis of where they currently are and where they want to be. They must objectively analyze their performance against existing benchmarks from their organization or from their professional trade association. They must understand what their current performance “situation” is and where they need to be. They need to understand who their performance is impacting.
For professional salespeople, they must objectively ascertain:
- What results are currently being achieved?
- What results are desired of me?
- ow large is the gap between my current situation and the expectations?
- What is that impact of that gap? To myself, to my employer, to others?
The goal for you, then (as an individual sales professional) is to understand what you can control and improve upon in order to close the performance gap.
If there is a gap in performance, the goal then is to clearly understand why that gap exists. Perhaps you don’t have the right information or support. Perhaps you don’t have the time or ability to perform all the work that needs to be done. Maybe the rewards in place are not giving you the proper incentives. These are “external” causes of the performance gap that you may not be able to control (and are usually the purview of your management team).
Usually, a gap in performance that you can control stems from the absence of the right activities, beliefs, or competencies that will lead to the desired level of performance.
- Activities are visible outputs that you create as a salesperson. These outputs can take the form of something communicated, something thought, or something created.
- Beliefs are internal thought patterns that lead you to accept something as “true”, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons (i.e. that all salespeople are bad people, etc)
- Competencies are comprised of your knowledge, your ability, and your skill
- Knowledge is acquisition of the right information necessary to perform.
- Abilities are defined as the quality of being able to do something, either physically or mentally (like drive a car).
- A skill is the proficiency, facility, or dexterity acquired or developed through training or experience (like driving a car very well).
Once you have defined why a certain gap exists and defined specifically, what you can control within that gap, you must understand what you can do about it. You should objectively and appropriately define specific ways to close your performance gap by addressing the root cause (activity, belief, or competency). To accomplish this, you may choose to read, attend training, interview others, listed to something, etc, etc. You may choose to accomplish this on your own or with others.
The key is to identify what you need to improve and learn it in the most appropriate manner for you. What this doesn’t mean is reading a book on sales methodology and “swallowing it whole.” Most salespeople do not do this anyway. If a salesperson gets one or two “nuggets” of information from out-of-the-box sales training it’s considered good. To become an expert salesperson, you have to develop expertise in selling. You must be able to think effectively about problems that come up within professional selling. Understanding expertise is important because it provides insights into the nature of thinking and problem solving. Research shows that it is not simply general abilities, such as memory or intelligence, nor the use of general strategies that differentiate experts from novices. Instead, experts have acquired extensive knowledge that affects what they notice and how they organize, represent, and interpret information in their environment. This, in turn, affects their abilities to remember, reason, and solve problems.
With this accomplished, it’s time to implement the new activity, belief, or competency. This is easier said than done. Because the choice you have made is most likely accomplished in a “vacuum”, you probably haven’t discussed why you chose to change a certain aspect, or you haven’t been able to ground your thought process to anything solid. By that I mean, if you don’t have something to serve as a checklist, framework, or scorecard, it’s hard to stay focused on implementing your new behavior. This is different than just “staying motivated’. I am specifically talking about the need to implement a lasting change. To do that, you need to make changes in a planned and managed fashion. The aim of this process should be to more effectively implement new activities, beliefs, and competencies. The changes to be managed lie within and are controlled by YOU. You must have a plan, work the plan, and measure your progress. This process is not unlike the change or “version control” aspect of information system development projects. This process starts with understanding the end result, assessing where you currently are and incrementally making the appropriate change until the desired result is accomplished.
Unfortunately, this is a “new way of thinking” for most salespeople. Why? Because to do this effectively, you have to understand “WHAT” professional selling is - this is very different than “doing professional selling.” If you try to engineer a change on the latter, you quickly end up in the area of subjective “here’s what I think we should do” thinking. This is often counter-productive and not uniquely tailored to your specific needs. The best way to get where you need to go is - do this yourself. Sure, you can ask others for input, but use the other articles I have written as a guide. They are built on “WHAT” professional selling is.
Brian is the Chairman and Founder of the the United Professional Sales Association (UPSA). UPSA is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington DC that has addressed the concerns and challenges of individual sales professionals. Brian has authored the world’s first universal selling standards and open-source selling framework for free distribution. This ‘Compendium of Professional Selling’ containing the commonly accepted and universally functional knowledge that all sales professionals possess. The open-source selling standards have been downloaded in 16 countries by over 300 people. Over 30 people have made contributions.
Because UPSA is not owned by one person or any company, it is a member organization and guardian of the global standard of entry into the sales profession.
Find out about the membership organization and understand the processes and framework of professional selling at the UPSA Website at http://www.upsa-intl.org
Find out more about Brian at: http://www.brianlambert.biz
It’s Foolish to Think You Cannot Make Money in Literally Any Market Environment
Is there any way you can remain completely safe from taking losses in the market? No, but you can sure pare down the odds and make it a lot more in your favor. Likewise, it’s foolish to think you cannot make money in literally any market environment. If you look for leadership, good chart patterns and time your entries well, even in a raging bear market you can still go long with success.
Obviously that is “fighting the tape” right? Absolutely. It would be more profitable to be short during a down market time frame and easier to do too. We have many readers that simply won’t go short or buy “put” options. So we try to show that if you are careful and do your homework, you can go long in a bear market. But fighting the tape is the wrong way to go. So, for the first installment of our mini series, let’s look at the tape, and where it comes from.
First we have to be aware of the overall market “trend” and we want to take a moment to clear up just what a trend really is. Remember a few up days is not a bull market any more than a few down days signals a crash. Markets go up, markets go down. Our main priority is to try and figure out which way they are going for the longer term, not just tomorrow. There is an “overall trend” like the downward one we have seen in the NASDAQ for over a year, and then inside that overall trend there are smaller “mini” trends. For instance, the lows hit on April 4th, 2001 to about June 5th, 2001 were a “mini” uptrend. The NADAQ gained something like 40%.
Let’s suppose we are looking at a scenario like this: We are in warnings season and the market is really nasty. Volatility reigns, and we are trading sideways to down. Then finally the warnings start drying up, and they focus more on perceived “good news” and the market starts moving up again, into the actual earnings season. Then after earnings the market settles back and drifts lower. Now, its mid-August and we are at the same levels on the averages we had when we started. What was the trend? See, there really was no “overall market trend”. We were basically directionless and getting tossed around on news, hopes, fears, anticipation etc. Yet during those periods of upswings and downswings, there were “mini” trends forming.
It’s those mini trends that produce profit or losses for you the investor or the short term trader. Get on the wrong side of that mini trend when the market is falling and you will be trapped in losing positions that could get really costly. Likewise going short when the mini trend is “up” can add some gray hair to your head quickly. So naturally, correctly identifying the mini trend is the first step in playing safely. If the trend over the short term has every appearance of being “down” then you don’t want to be loading your boat with longs. Sure you can still pick off the leaders and the breakouts, but you will have to be very fast and very stock specific. None of this “buy em all up” mentality.
On the other hand if the mini trend is up, you don’t want to be holding a ton of shorts, or missing the boat by only having one stock in your basket. Both are costly mistakes. So again, job one in playing safe, is always going to be to try and place yourself on the correct side of the tape. Long in a bull mini trend, short in a bear mini trend. Remember the old adage, “only salmon swim upstream, but then they die”. Likewise fighting against the tape is a tough way to go. So how do we find and identify these little trends? Well certainly our job is to try and weed them out for you, but you too should be doing your own homework. What we use is support/ resistance lines, overall “mood” of the market, and significant changes such as rate cuts, earnings seasons, etc., all of them lead towards the formation of mini trends.
Get more info like this at:
http://lb.bcentral.com/ex/manage/subscriberprefs?customerid=12826
How to Clean your Air Conditioner like a Pro
February 2, 2005
Jack Frost is nipping at our nose and Santa Claus has just left. The eastern seaboard has just received their third blizzard for a total of over 125 cm (56 inches) of snow in one week. So, who in their right mind would be thinking about window air conditioners at this time of year?
Call me crazy, but I am.
It is a good time of year to start this project. Firstly, it keeps ones mind sharp for the coming spring. Plus, it allows you to try out those new tools you got for Christmas. Mainly though, it is a good winter project because by the time spring arrives you will be too busy to think about this job.
Very little is required to clean a window air conditioner, except lots of patience. If patience is something you lack then it is a job you should turn over to the local appliance serviceman.
Tools ———————-
Tin can or container (old muffin tin works well also)
Vacuum cleaner
Long handled brush (an old toilet brush works well)
Oil can
Rags
De-greaser or spray detergent
Selection of screwdrivers (Philips, Flat bladed, 1/4″ socket head)
Fin tool (optional)
New filter (if disposable type)
Lets get started ———–
1. Start by removing the filter from the front grille. If it is hidden behind the grille proceed to step 2.
If it is a disposable filter simply replace it with a new one. Other types are made in a plastic frame and can be cleaned and reused. To clean a filter lay it flat in the sink and sprinkle surface with powder laundry detergent. Then cover with about one inch of hot water. Just enough so the filter is submerged. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove from water and rinse with warm water. Hang up to dry while proceeding to next step.
2. Next, remove the front grille from the main body of the air conditioner. They usually pivot on two spring clips at the bottom. It is usually removed by pulling the grille gently forward while pushing it down at the same time. If there is resistance then look for hidden screws. Look near the top edge of the grille or behind the control knob door. Once removed place the grille aside until later.
3. Carefully remove metal cover of air conditioner to expose inner workings. Once all the screws are removed lift the cover straight up. Do not let it hit the other parts as it can have sharp edges. This is where the old can comes in handy (ice cube container or muffin tin works well also). Use it to keep track of all the screws you will be removing. An air conditioner will often use a number of different types and sizes of screws. Segregate them from each other or confusion will result when we start reassembly.
4. Check the fan motor for any oil holes or oil plugs. If the motor has oil plugs they are usually rubber. Use caution when removing because the rubber may have become brittle. Often they will break off in the oil holes resulting in a blockage. If this occurs try to remove the broken plug by using a pin of the tip of a small screwdriver.
Once the fan motor oil holes are exposed add a few drops of oil to each end of the motor body. Use a general purpose (3in1) oil or clean motor oil. A #30 oil is sufficient.
The natural tendency is to over-oil. Too much lubrication is as bad as not enough. Therefore only 3 or 4 drops on both ends of the motor body is sufficient. Add the oil slowly, pausing a few seconds between each drop. If you add it too quickly over-lubrication will result.
5. Use the brush to remove surface dust and dirt from the evaporator (front fins). Use an up and down motion. Do not go side to side or allow the fins to be bent. The fins are very soft aluminum and can be damaged easily.
Once surface dirt is removed, spray with de-greaser or cleaner. There is a good product on the market called HVAC cleaner. As the name implies it is meant for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioner coil cleaning. If this is not available the Fantastic Spray cleaner used in kitchens and bathrooms works quite well.
Let stand about 15 minutes or as per instructions on de-greaser can. This will allow cleaner to loosen any hidden dirt. Remove dirt and excess cleaner by slowly pouring warm water into fins. Do not allow the water to enter any electrical connections or components that may be near the coil. As an added precaution cover the motor with one of the cloth rags. to protect it from the water.
Do not use any form of high pressure air or water because this can drive dirt farther into fins. Also, use extreme caution as these coils are filled with high pressure refrigerant.
6. Straighten any bent fins. Use a fin comb if available. If no fin comb then use something soft such as a Popsicle stick. Straightening the fins will increase the efficiency of the air flow through the coils. This adds to the overall cooling effect produced by the air conditioner.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the condenser (rear fins) coil. A plastic cowling usually surrounds the condenser fins. If so, check the top edge to see if it will lift or open. If it opens this will allow easier access to the condenser fins. Again use caution because the condenser coil is also filled with high pressure refrigerant.
8. Wipe any dirt buildup from both fan blades using a soft rag. Do not bend blades. This would cause a vibration that would harm the motor.
9. Vacuum all surfaces including front and back of grille assembly. Do not forget to vacuum underside of metal air conditioner cover. If the cover contains air holes clean them thoroughly. If necessary use a damp rag.
10. Drain any water left in the base and allow it to dry for few hours.
11. When completely dry plug in air conditioner and test operation. If everything appears okay unplug and begin reassembly.
Reassemble and test ————-
12. Once reassembly is complete, retest operation to ensure replacing the cover has not affected anything. Adding the cover will often twist the frame and can cause interior parts to move out of alignment. This may cause the fan to become noisy. To correct for this problem remove the cover and realign to the main body of the air conditioner. Reinstall the cover and test for noises every time 2 or 3 additional screws are added to the cover. Spinning the front blade by hand will let you know if anything is rubbing against the fan blades.
13. Install the front grille with the new or cleaned filter in place.
14. Lastly, cover air conditioner with plastic wrap or an old blanket. Store in a warm dry area. Raise it from floor slightly by placing onto a couple of pieces of wood. This will protect the floor from the metal edges of the air conditioner, and also protect the air conditioner from moisture.
You’re Finished ————
Repeat this simple procedure every year. If you do, the machine will be ready for many more years of dependable service.
Addendum ——————-
The filter inside the front grille should be removed and cleaned (as in step 1) every month throughout the cooling season. If you are a smoker it should be cleaned every week.
About the Author
Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All right reserved.
Donald Grummett is an appliance service manager in Ottawa, Canada. In the trade over 30 years as both a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. For more information about appliances including FAQ, Stain guide, Recycling, and Newsletter visit http://www.mgservices.ca
A Good Preschool Idea
The successful preschool idea behind many successful preschool learning centers is thorough all round planning and well-chosen staff members. Any preschool idea that does not begin with sound financial planning and in-depth budgeting knowledge will probably fail.
Profits from running a preschool learning center are usually only seen after a year or more of your preschool idea becoming operational. Difficult times might arise and you need enough money to carry your preschool learning business through with minimal stress. Once you have researched state licensing and taxation and have put your preschool idea into motion, there are many other considerations which are equally important parts of the whole preschool idea.
To begin with, the staff members are a strong force behind any preschool idea and they must be chosen with great care. Many of the staff will be in daily contact with the children at your preschool learning center and they should certainly share your preschool idea and vision where possible.
From the inception of your preschool idea, you should make job descriptions and employee benefits clear while telling staff exactly what their jobs will entail at your preschool learning center. Encourage honest discussion about your preschool idea with all staff members. They will carry out your preschool idea and this will ensure good communication at your preschool learning center.
The successful preschool idea relies on smooth functioning wherever possible at any preschool learning environment. Angry staff members with conflicting preschool ideas might allow negativity to reach the children. This is not an option at any preschool learning center and must be avoided through staff discussion and mutual understanding of the whole preschool idea.
Daily discussions at your preschool learning center, which include preferred study methods etc, are vital and should result in confident staff members eager to put your preschool ideas into practice.
When choosing staff to carry out your preschool idea, keep the following in mind: children at a preschool learning center acquire their knowledge of the world by playfully interacting with objects and people and this is a proven preschool idea.
The teachers who are part of your preschool idea need to know that children grow in confidence while testing the limits of their reality. The whole preschool idea shows that the physical and social world is explored in this way and children at a preschool learning center benefit from teachers who are aware of their need to interact.
The wisdom attached to this preschool idea shows that children are motivated by their desire to make sense of the world and they never need to be forced into learning something. This does not change and occurs steadily whether they are occupied with preschool learning or any other time of their lives.
As children grow physically they become better equipped to manipulate and control their preschool learning surroundings to larger degrees and your preschool idea must allow for this need for new knowledge. Young children are always busy with new stages of preschool learning and require teachers properly qualified in the preschool idea to meet their specific age group needs.
Depending on the age group of the children at your preschool learning center, the daily activities should be planned out and include the following 4 basic preschool ideas: Activities including language development, social skill enhancements, cognitive or thinking development and also independence skills development are necessary when deciding on your basic preschool idea and teaching methods.
Be sure that any staff members employed to carry out your preschool idea share the same teaching methods as you do. This will go a long way to achieving a successful preschool learning center while allowing your personal preschool idea to bloom!
Copyright 2005
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