What You Should Be Looking For When Hiring A Web Designer

Has this happened to you?

A business friend or colleague reflects you to someone who has just designed their new or revised web site. You're told what a wonderful job the designer did and how pleased everyone is with how the site looks. Knowing what you do about the referring party, you call the design studio and shortly thereafter award your project.

Way too often this is a big mistake. Only last week did I hear again how the decision to go with a referral was going to result in terrible consequences. The site, which is to sell specialty dog ​​products would be months late and may not be ready for the prime selling season of the Holidays. Inventory had already been purchased causing the delayed launched to burn a whole in the site owner's pocket.

ALL WEB Sites ARE NOT THE SAME !!

If there is a truism about web design and production, it is that, like all businesses, all web sites are not the same. Web development, design and production is multidisciplinary. Some agencies are great at marketing but fall short on creating usable interfaces. Some designer studios render wonderful interfaces but lack the expertise in developing server-side programming requirements. Be careful when you hear the words "Web Designer" as that means different things to different people.

Many web sites require extensive back end integration with back office operations compared with others which are simple brochureware web sites. All designers and developers do not have the same skills and experiences and you may unwittingly choose one who is not capable of delivering your site on time and on budget.

Web sites that will miss their launch dates, like the one i referred to above, means lost economic opportunities for the site owner.

FIVE THINGS TO CHECK OUT WHEN HIRING A DESIGN STUDIO

1. Note that design studios have core competencies and outsource the skills needed beyond their knowledge base. That can have a down side as free lancers may not be available to the studio and their commitment to the project may not be as keen as the studio itself.

2. You can not tell what a studio did for a web project just by looking at that web site.

Most studios showcase their work but frequently do not make it clear as to exactly what they did. When reviewing compositions make sure you know exactly what the studio itself did and what work was subbed out or done by others.

3. Ask what Content Management System (CMS) will be used for your site. Will it be an open source solution (like WordPress or Drupal, for example) or something that will be customized or made proprietary for your use. What kind of CMS training will be provided so you will know how to manage and develop the site after it is launched?

4. Ask about the design optimization testing that will be used for your project. What browsers, screen resolutions and viewport size testing will be done to ensure design integrity? What legacy browsers will be tested? What about handheld devices and the possible need for a mobile site?

Find out if your designer follows the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards which has become the main stream approach to web design and assists bullet proof your site against future technologies.

5. Definitely take references and check them out in your vetting process. Ideally, speak with a business owner who's project is similar to yours. That's an ideal way to find out how the studio did the work and what bottlenecks occurred so you can be prepared if you choose that studio.

DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE YOU HIRE A DESIGN STUDIO

Before you ever approach anyone to work on your project develop the requirements for your site on paper much as you would a business plan. Organize all the requirements of your site into a Request For Proposal (RFP) document. The better you can articulate what the deliverables are the more likely it is you'll be successful in finding the right studio,

Use your RFP to set up a competitive bidding process between a small number of studios you have pre-selected. Yes, you can use the referral your friend cave you but have them submit their bid, along with others, so you can have proposals to compare. The RFP carries all the advantages for you including getting studios that may otherwise pass on quoting your project interested in what you are doing.

Conduct your search just like you would a design contest. Make sure no one has an unfair advantage over another studio. And NEVER declare what your budget is or what you are willing to pay. That puts the single biggest hurt into a process which should end up with a lot of satisfied people if properly ordered.

A DIY Guide for Cell Phone Repair

Are you interested in a DIY guide for cell phone repair? Many people want to know how to fix any problems they have with their cell phone without having to send it to their service provider and pay a fee, many times hefty fee. However, cell phone repair does not have to be that difficult and it is something you can do on your own if you just have some supplies and a little know how. An ultrasonic cleaner may prove helpful if you are trying to clean your cell phone or at least clean the parts that are dirty and that may be submerged in water. Ultrasonic cleaners work by creating lots of small bubbles that collapse and form quickly to scrub all the places on your cell phone that you could not possibly clean yourself. All the little edges and parts that can not be cleaned by hand can be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner!

Of course, you may be interested in repairing a broken antenna, faceplate, screen, keys, or any other number of things. If this is the case then you need to evaluate the problem and see how much the replacement parts will cost you. In many cases you can find generic replacement parts that will work perfectly with your cell phone and also save you a lot of money. If the parts cost more than replacing the phone with a new cell phone then there really is no point in repairing the phone yourself. Only when you can repair your phone for significantly cheaper than you can replace it should you give it a try.

Now, if you need a new antenna because yours broke or it does not work just look for a replacement antenna on the Internet. Auction sites like eBay are great places to find these parts for cheap. Many times they will also include instructions on how to install the replacement piece. If you do not have directions just search the web and you will find the directions you need. There are plenty of other parts available for your cell phone and you just need to search for the piece you need. Make sure you search for replacement parts that are compatible with the make and model of phone you have. Otherwise you may buy a part that does not work and that will not work at all. Once you have the replacement parts and the instructions then you are ready to start repairing your very own cell phone. Good luck!

Computer Technology - Is it Good Or Bad?

The 21st century has been the age of so many technological breakthroughs and advances, technologies aimed for one purpose and that is to make the lives of people better by helping them become more efficient in their work. One such technological breakthrough is computer technology.

Computer technology has grown in great proportions starting from a computer with a size that of a room to a small well-designed palm top computer. Computers nowadays have become an indispensable part of the lives of people, especially at work, at companies, businesses, schools, offices and even in homes.

It has made the world smaller, but has it made our world better? It would then lead us to ask whether computer technology is good or bad. Now let us try to look at first some of the bad effects. With the advent of computers and with the internet it has become easy to access pornographic sites, children are more exposed to explicit content; some students would lose focus on their studies as they play computer games. The number of obesity cases has increased and it has been attributed to too much computer activity that led to less physical activity among a number of people.

On the other side of the coin, computers have opened a whole new world of possibilities. It is now easier to gain information on world events; you can even find a job in the internet; you can spread advocacies to a vast number of people all over the world; and most importantly it is now easier to be connected with one another even if you are on the other side of the globe.

Computer technology, just like any other material on earth has been created with a common good in mind. Just like a knife, it has been made to cut and slice food to speed up cooking time for people but it can also be used to kill people, and you cannot ban the use of knives in order to stop killing. And so you can't blame computers for the problems it may have caused for it is the people who use them who caused the problem. It has disadvantages and advantages that must be taken into consideration.

But the problem is not computer technology itself; the problem resides on the people who use it. Computer technology is generally good for it can bring in a lot of good if it is used properly, but can do great harm if used unwisely.

People have choices on how they make use of earth's resources, and that choice will determine how certain materials will affect people, be it good or bad.

Making Gold Our Currency

Every currency has its periods of glory and periods of depreciation, no matter how hard the members of a community would try to prevent this from happening. Insecure times are unpredictable, and no one can guarantee or ensure a financially stable future. What we hold for valuable may the very next day lose its value, whether we invest in real estate, oil, value stocks. The bad news is that no matter what measures we would take, everything happening on the financial market implications our assets, lowering or raising their value.

Neverheless, there is with certainty one thing that does not diminish its value through time, that can not be produced, multiplied, created, and that that gold. If we look back in time, this precious metal has been an important trade unit in the history of civilizations, due to its inherent value. Gold coins have a history that outlasts any other printed currency, which constant multiplication, unlike the yellow metal, produces market fluctuations and brings about insecure times.

So if you decide to invest in gold bullion bars, the best option would be to ask the advice of a specialist, who can make the process of purchasing simple and sure. This kind of person can give you a very clear inside perspective into this whole process of investment and can provide you the guarantee on the quality of your purchase. Another option would be purchasing gold coins, which have a slightly higher value and may be resold easier.

What is also important is that this rare metal will never diminish its value over time, on the contrary, price charts indicate its value slightly, but constantly rising. In times of unrest, of political, financial, economic crises, gold investment seems to be the right answer for anyone seeking security.

Investing in gold has a double perspective: at an individual level, it provides financial stability against possible unstable periods, and, secondly, at a global level, it brings about the idea of ​​gold being re-used as a trade unit, as a sort of universal exchange tool. As Utopian as it may seem, the advantages of this possibility should be carefully considered and not at all neglected: an insurance against inflation, financial, economic crisis, the elimination of exchange fees, and the existence of a reliable currency.

Cheap SIM Free Mobile Phones - Freedom to Choose a SIM of Your Choice

There are three kinds of phone (here connection) available in the market viz. Contract phones, pay as you go phones and SIM free phones.

The contract phones are those where you get a handset along with a particular network provider of your choice. These are like postpaid connections where you are suppose to pay your service charges at the end of contract period. The contract period can be of 12or 18 or 24 months. Until that contract period is completed you can not switch to any other network. You can enjoy several sizzling contract deals within the contract period at affordable rates. So in simple words, if you buy a contract phone you are bound to a particular service provider and its services for the particular contract period.

If we talk about the pay as you go phones, these are like prepaid connections where you have to pay in advance for using any service of the particular service providers. Unlike contract phones, if your credit amount is zero at any time you can not access the requested service further. But as you top up your credit amount you can again access the particular service. Here you do not need to enter into a long contract period.

The last but not the least is SIM free phones, here when you buy a handset that does not accompany with a particular SIM. This mode gives you flexibility to choose a SIM of your choice and whenever you feel to change it, you can do that easily. Alike SIM free phones there are SIM only deals that gives you freedom to buy a SIM of your choice. So you do not need to buy a new handset whenever you change your existing SIM.

The benefit of cheap SIM free phones is that you do not enter into a long contract period. Moreover, you can switch your existing SIM at any time when you find some better services by other service providers. Nowadays, mobile subscribers are more preferring SIM free phones due to the aforementioned benefits. Orange, O2, Vodafone, Virgin, Three and T-mobile, all are offering tempting deals on SIM free phones.

5 Symptoms of Damaged Penis Nerves

Damaged penile nerves are a major cause of sexual problems in men around the world. Nerves send messages of touch, heat, pain and pleasure to the brain so when the nerves in the penis become damaged, a condition called neuropathy, sensitivity may be lost and sexual function and satisfaction seriously reduced. Poor nutrition, chronic disease and infections can all cause serious nerve problems in the penis. Typically, there are 5 symptoms which are linked to penis nerve issues and any one of them can possibly mean nerve damage. Always consult a healthcare practitioner if you think you may have penile nerve dysfunction.

Typically, there are 5 symptoms which can appear and one of which can possibly mean nerve damage. If in doubt always consult a medical practitioner without delay.

Symptoms

Although the symptoms of penis nerve damage and neuropathy may differ from man to man, some symptoms are typical, and appear most often where peripheral nerves have been damaged. The 5 most common symptoms experienced by men include:

• Pain




• Burning




• Tingling




• Numbness




• Loss of sensitivity

When the penis becomes affected by symptoms of tingling, numbness, pain, burning or loss of sensitivity, men should seek out medical attention at once. While in some cases these symptoms may be caused by physical damage to the penis, more often there is something else going on. In certain cases neuropathy is the first sign of a chronic health condition.

According to a study funded by the University of Ferrara, Italy nerve damage can become resolved without treatment in 10% of cases. However, it was also discovered that without treatment the condition worsened significantly in 30% of cases.

Should symptoms persist, speak to your doctor immediately.

Causes

Nerve fibers in any part of the body can become damaged in various ways. Poor circulation, resulting in loss of oxygen to the nerve fibers, is the primary cause of nerve damage in men. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity can also lead to insufficient peripheral circulation for nerve health. Physical damage or trauma to the nerves is the next most common cause. Accidents, injury and infection may also cause significant damage to the nerves, as can surgery.

Surgical procedures for prostate cancer in particular can cause damage to the penile nerves, resulting in male dysfunction and impotence. According to a study by Hungarian researchers, male dysfunction is the most common side effect of prostate surgery, with 59% of men able to have arousal spontaneously following the procedure

Treatment

The treatment to repair damaged penis nerves depends largely on the cause of damage. When obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are under control, peripheral nerve damage should improve significantly. For more severe cases, improving circulation, antioxidant protection and nutrition of nerves is important.

Omega-3 and 6 are required for healthy nerve function. Omega-3 oils concentrate in the brain, in the form of DHA, while omega-6 is required to form the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers in the peripheries of the body. These essential fatty acids are also capable of thinning the blood, enhancing the easy flow of blood and oxygen to the nerves throughout the system, and reducing cholesterol. Bilberry, ginkgo and garlic may also support blood flow to the male organ nerves. Alpha lipoic acid, a vitamin-like antioxidant, has shown in studies to reduce the damage to nerves caused by prostate surgery, effectively treat symptoms of damaged penile nerves, and enhance the regeneration of nerve fibers.

Penis Health Crèmes

Penis health crèmes deliver nutrients and oils directly to the penile nerves, supporting the healing process of neuropathy with male organ-specific nutrition, as well as bioactive compounds to treat the symptoms of neuropathy. Specialist formulas (most professionals recommend Man1Man Oil) contains alpha lipoic acid for healing damaged nerves and the soothing of numbness, tingling and burning which often accompanies this condition. Other ingredients, such as vitamin C, E, D, A and L-arginine support healthy circulation to the tissues of the penis and protect nerves from free radical damage.

Student Debt Consolidation - An Overview

Student debt consolidation is an effective way to reduce the burden of student loans wherein concurrently running loans are paid off with the help of a student debt consolidation loan. The type of student loan consolidation option you can select of course depends on the type of loans you have taken. Since the federal student loans are guaranteed by the government of the US, the process of federal loan consolidation is tad different from normal debt consolidation loans.

Student Loans - Advantages And Consolidation Options

Interest rates for student loans can be anywhere from 9% for Plus Loans, 8.25% for Stafford Federal Loans to a low of 4.70%. The student debt consolidation program allows students to consolidate loans the first time with a private lender. However, they can then reconsolidate but only if it is with the permission of Department of Education. Interest rates are set as per the prevailing guidelines at that time. The thing to note here is that rates remain the same when a student's loan reconsolidation is done. Here, an average of all loans previously taken is calculated, and compared with the current rates of interest on these loans taken.

People make the mistake of calling this student loans refinancing, although this is not true, as rates in student debt consolidation are locked, and not changed. The Federal Government offers incentives and subsidies to companies that handle student debt consolidation. This is why they do not charge the student any extra charges.

The US Department of Education gives loans to the tune of $ 60 billion a year through its various student Federal loan consolidation Programs. The department's Federal Student Aid program offers the best and easiest way of getting student loans. These give you the opportunity to be able to further your education and pay the government later. Leading financial lenders provide standard student debt consolidation programs. These offer you easy unsecured loans, but such loans come at a price of higher interest rates than those offered by federal loans.

The largest advantage of student debt consolidation is convenience, as you make only one payment for your loan as opposed to multiple payments every month. This drastically reduces paperwork, and you do not have to remember due dates every month. If you are lucky, you may also end up making a slight gain from paying less when you consolidate loans sometimes. For example, you may be making three payments of $ 100 each for three separate loans every month, but when you consolidate them, you may end up paying $ 290 for all three loans under the students' debt consolidation program. Doing this also gives you a longer time to re-evaluate your options and repay your loans over a longer period of time. This can buy a student much wanted time to settle down after he / she has finished studying to pay back the loan.

When a student goes in for student debt consolidation, he / she technically pays off all his old loans and takes out a new one, so the older loans are considered paid off. Here, credit ratings of students who opt for students debt consolidation is also higher, but only if the student loan consolidation company in question submits the data to credit bureaus.