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Excel Tips – 3 Ways To Protect Your Excel Formulas

In this article I want to share with you 3 ways to protect your Excel formulas.

So, you have spent a long time preparing your Excel spreadsheet solution, and I bet you do not want anyone to mess up those formulas you have so lovingly created. So, there are a few ways to protect some of those most vulnerable parts of your Excel spreadsheet.

My top 3 ways to protect your Excel Formulas !!

  1. Hide the Formulas.
  2. Lock The Cells That Contain Formulas.
  3. Hide The Formula Bar With Some Simple VBA.

1.Hide The Formulas.

This method will temporarily hide your formulas , but you will be able to use them again if you need to. It's simple and straight forward. Here we go.

Select all of the cells that contain formulas that you want to hide.

  • Home Tab – Cells Group – Format – Format Cells
  • Navigate to the Protection Tab
  • Check the Hidden option and hit OK

This does not in itself hide your formulas, you need to then protect your worksheet to ensure these settings work.

  • Select Review Tab
  • Changes Group
  • Select Protect Sheet
  • Enter a password and confirm password when prompted
  • That's all you need to do.

Try selecting the a cell that contains a formula. The formula will not be visible in the formula bar. If you want to see the formulas again simply unprotect your worksheet.

2. Lock The Cells That Contain Formulas.

The second method is to just lock the cells that contain formulas so they can not be selected or edited by users. By default all cells in a work book are locked, so you will need to unlock them all to start with.

  • Hit CTRL + A to select all of the cells on the worksheet
  • Home Tab – Cells Group -Format – Format Cells
  • Untick Locked, to unlock all of the cells on the worksheet
  • Hit OK

Now all we need to do find all of the cells that contain formulas …

  • Hit F5 to bring up the GoTo Dialog Box
  • Select Special – Formulas – Hit OK
  • All of the cells that contain formulas will be highlighted

Then we need to lock those highlighted cells …

  • Home Tab – Cells Group -Format – Format Cells
  • Navigate to the Protection Tab
  • Check the Locked option and hit OK

This does not in itself lock your formulas, you need to then protect your worksheet to ensure these settings work.

  • Select Review Tab
  • Changes Group
  • Select Protect Sheet
  • Enter a password and confrm password when prompted
  • That's all you need to do.

3. Hide The Formula Bar With Some Simple VBA

My third method of hiding your formulas is to actually hide the formula bar on the Excel worksheet. This is easily achieved by a very small piece of VBA coding or an Excel Macro.

This macro uses the Application Object and we are looking to use the DisplayFormulaBar property of it.

To use this small piece of coding, you need to insert it into a module in your Excel workbook.

  • Open Visual Basic – by hitting F11 or Developer Tab – Visual Basic – Click Modules, and Add New Module.

Here is the VBA code if you want to copy it. Just paste it into a module you have created as per the instructions above.

Sub HideFormulaBar ()

Application.DisplayFormulaBar = False

End Sub

Just as we have hidden the formula bar we can easily write some VBA to show the formula bar again

Sub ShowFormulaBar ()

Application.DisplayFormulaBar = True

End Sub

In this instance we set the Application.DisplayFormulaBar to TRUE to display the formula bar.

I use all of these methods in my Excel spreadsheets depending on which I feel is most appropriate for that project I am working on for example it maybe not always appropriate to hide the formula bar even if some calculations are still needed to be seen, so I would just hide the sensitive formulas in that case. if it is a purely visual Dashboard solution then hiding the formula bar not only gives room on the Excel display area, but it always makes for a very neat and tidy visual for the Dashboard presentation.

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How To Fix The 0x0eedfade "Unknown Software Exception" Error On Your PC

The 0x0eedfade error is a big problem for many Windows PCs which are continually showing the message when they cannot correctly process software or settings that are on your system. The problem with this error is specifically that your PC will try and read the various files it needs to run your software, but will somehow have a problem that will prevent it from being able to correctly process the settings. If you find this problem is showing continually on your system, you can fix it by using the tools & methods which are going to repair any of the problems that your PC may have.

This error is basically caused by the “software” (usually Internet Explorer) on your PC being unreadable and unable to load up. The problem you’re seeing will likely show in this format:

  • “The exception unknown software exception (0x0eedfade) occurred in the application at location 0x7c812a5b”

The specific cause of this error is that there will be some problem with the program you’re trying to load. The most common issue is that “Internet Explorer” will have third party plugins which are not loading correctly. In order to resolve the problem, you first need to disable any of the third-party plugins which your Internet Explorer application may have, as well as then fixing any potential problems on the Windows system itself.

The way to resolve this error is to first make sure that Internet Explorer doesn’t have any third-party plugins which are causing problems. To do this, you should click onto “Open IE > Tools >Internet Options > Advanced Tab > Uncheck “Enable Third Party Browser Extensions (Require Restart)”. This will then allow you to load up Internet Explorer without any other software programs to disrupt or damage it, which should stop the 0x0eedfade error on most systems. On top of that, it’s also recommended that you repair your installation of Windows by updating it and then reinstalling any other programs which may be causing errors.

It’s also recommended that you use a “registry cleaner” program to scan through your PC and fix any of the potential problems that you may also have with the registry database of your system. The registry database is a large central storage facility which keeps all the files, settings and information that your computer will use to run, and is used by Windows to help load up everything from your desktop icons to your stored passwords. One of the most common causes of the 0x0eedfade error is actually down to the registry being damaged and corrupted, preventing your system from correctly being able to read the files it needs to run. To ensure this is not a problem, you should repair any potential registry errors that you have on your PC by downloading, installing and running a registry cleaner application.

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Elements of Writing a Mystery Novel

Like anything, a mystery novel is composed of different parts, which are referred to as elements. Each are critical in capturing the readers interest. If your story is searched and well written, it is sure to be a winner. By now, you are probably wondering what the elements are. They are the science, plot, characters with settings and writing technique.

First is the science. This needs to be accurate due to the fact several mystery novel readers are wired versus forensic techniques. They can see through phony stuff in an instant, and you want to avoid that. If you can write a good story and have correct science then your book just went from decent to great.

Next is the development of the plot. This will make or break your story. It is crucial to have a plot that makes sense, is intriguing, and has many twists and turns to keep the reader not knowing what is going to happen next. The more they do not know what is coming the more suspense you will create and of course in a mystery novel, suspense is everything! If there was a part to really focus on, it would be the plot!

Following is creating the characters with stories settings. It is important to really develop them and make them something authentic. You want to have the audience relate them. This will increase the connection with the reader and makes it easier for you to write the rest of the novel. The more you know about your character, the easier it is for you to write about them. After the characters, the setting is extremely important to set the atmosphere for the story.

Lastly, the element of writing technique is significant when constructing your mystery novels. This is simply because this is part of what creates the emotion within the reader. It is good to include literary elements such as similes, personification, and metaphors. It is good to also include more advanced techniques such as suspense and foreshadowing. These are big keys when writing a mystery story. What is even more important is what is called red herrings. These will make reader think the story is going one way when it is actually the other. Incorporating these will enhance your story and make for a better read.

If you can have all these elements intertwined into your story, you are on the right track to write a great mystery novel!

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Getting a Look at the Proform XP 160 Elliptical Trainer

Selling for around $400, after discounts, this particular elliptical trainer will deliver a great many features that usually aren’t found in machines in this price range. Generally speaking, one has to spend several hundred dollars more to get everything this machine offers, even though it sits at the lower end of this particular segment. For the price one will be paying, one will be getting quite a bit of trainer, to be honest.

For example, the XP 160 comes with several different stride lengths, which trainers costing this little usually can’t offer. The length can be set for as much as 18 inches, which is also something not seen in the machine at this price point. Normally, the most one can hope to expect is about 15 inches of length, which is acceptable – make no doubt – but which is overtaken by the full 18 inches available in the 110.

Additionally, magnetic resistance capability is offered in the Proform XP 160 elliptical trainer. For the price that this trainer will be offered at, that’s a little surprising, because one doesn’t often see magnetic resistance for this little, truthfully. There are also a wide range of resistance settings, which will prove to be more than enough for most anybody of any sort of fitness.

It will sit nicely and with a great deal of solidity wherever it is placed, and the frame is guaranteed to hold up well to users coming in at as much as 300 pounds. Additionally, there are a number of different workout regimens, with all of them having been designed by certified fitness trainers. Usually, though, most new users just play around with the resistance settings instead of going to the workout regimens.

There are two different ways that this machine is powered – meaning how it uses its LCD screens and other functions – with the first one being batteries. For those who tire of swapping out such things, there is an unmarked plug where a 6 volt AC adapter can be connected. The machine itself weighs a bit, so it’s a good idea to be sure of where it will be located because moving it around will take two people, usually.

Getting a look at the Proform XP 160 elliptical trainer, then, reveals a machine fully comfortable in its own skin and certainly attractive enough, especially after one spends a few minutes with it giving it a try. The price is also sure to attract those who may have a more limited budget but who also want quality for the money they can spend. This trainer will more than meet that criteria, it must be said.

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What Are Halotron Fire Extinguishes?

As halo carbon-based clean agent, halotron fire extinguishers are ideal for handling fires in the corporate and industrial settings. They inhibit the chemical reaction of fire but do not leave any unsightly solid residue when used, so preventing damage to documents and other valuable sensitive electronics like computers, monitors and other office peripherals.

Halotron fire extinguishers were first introduced into the market in 1992 to replace the use of Halon-1211 or bromochlorodifluoro-methane (BCF), which was found to have ozone-depleting properties. The Montreal Protocol in 1987 restricted the use of both Halon-1211 and Halon-1301 because of the perceived environmental damage they caused. Although Halon continues to be used in the US, Middle East and Asia to date, using or even owning it is deemed illegal in Australia.

There are a number of replacements for Halon fire extinguishers available today like Halotron I, Halotron II, FE-36, and FM-200. These gaseous agents are dispensed in the form of quickly evaporating liquid, and also have no solid passages. These halocarbon-based alternatives have no ozone-depleting properties, and their atmospheric lifetimes have been significantly reduced. These can be used where Halon was specified and used before, although they may not be as effective.

The Halotron I is a chemical blend based on the raw material HCFC-123 and has a higher throw length compared to the other clean agents, owed to its reliably high boiling point. In comparison, this makes it more effective and easier to dispense even for the inexperienced user, as it can reach up to 45feet.

The Halotron-I has been approved for use in aircraft in Australia, replacing Halon-1121. And there's the FE-36, which is based on HFC-236fa. Like the Halotron-I, this is also an alternative to Halon-1121 fire extinguishers . And as it uses a clean agent, this is also ideal for office settings.

To replace Halon 1301 is Halotron II, which is a three-component total flooding agent based primarily on HFC-134a. This agent, however, discharges in gas form.

Another one that also discharges in gas form is the FM-200. The main advantage perceived for this is that the gas can reach all areas of the facility protected, and allows for minimal disruption in an office setting. Also an alternative to Halon 1301, these types of fire extinguishers poses no breathing problems for those exposed and does not block vision, allowing people to get to safety in cases of fire emergency. This type would usually require periodic servicing and maintenance. Monitoring is usually done electronically or by qualified installers / companies.

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Operating System Options and Installation Methods

An OS is installed on the computers' hard disk, inside an area called hard disk partition. There are several ways for installing a new operating system. The installation method is based on the system hardware and end-user requirements. Typically, you have four basic options for the installation of a new operating system:

Clean Installation

We can perform a clean installation on a new computer or in those cases where there is no upgrade path between the current operating system and the new one. This type of installation deletes all data on the hard disks partition where the current operating system is installed. A new PC requires, of course a clean installation. You can also do a clean install when the current operating system installation has corrupted files or does not work properly.

Upgrade Installation

Sometimes, it is also possible to perform an upgrade. When you perform an upgrade, OS configuration settings, installed programs and data are preserved. With this installation you have nothing to worry about, because you will not lose any personal data. You will just replace the old operating system files with the new, upgraded files. However, keep in mind that after the upgrade the applications and drivers that are incompatible with the new OS will not work as expected.

Multi-boot Installation

Another option is to install multiple operating systems on a single computer. You can install each OS inside a different disk partition and this way every OS will have its own files and configuration settings. On multi-boot installations, the users see a menu when they open their computers and they have to select the desired OS. Of course, only one operating system can run at a time.

Virtualization

This is relative new technique that is often used on servers. With virtualization we can run numerous copies of an operating system on a single set of hardware and create this way some virtual machines. Every single virtual machine works like a separate computer. This technology makes a single physical hardware resource to appear like multiple logical resources.

Before starting any operating system installation you have to make sure that all the hardware is certified to work with the new operating system. Also confirm that the hardware resources meet the minimum installation requirements. Moreover, when you perform an upgrade it is a very good practice to perform a virus scan before starting the installation and a complete full backup of all your personal data.

One method that helps you protect your data is this: Create multiple partitions on the hard disk and install a different OS on each partition. Then copy all your data inside an empty partition that does not contain an OS. This way you can upgrade the operating system without the risk of losing any data. Backup and recovery of data files is also easier with this design.

It is also important to decide the type of file system to use. The file system controls how the OS stores and tracks the files. There are several different file systems available. The most well-known are: FAT 32, NTFS, HPFS, ext2 and ext3. Every operating system is designed to use one or more of these file systems. There are advantages and disadvantages on every file system. Careful consideration should be made to the type of file systems supported by the selected OS and the benefits of each.

You can find several programs to modify the partitioning structure and file system of a hard drive after installation, but it is better to avoid them if possible. When modifying either the file system or partition structure on a hard drive, data loss may result. Careful planning can help preserve the integrity of the data.

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How to Fix PS3 Problems On Your Own

A PS3 is a rather cool yet delicate gaming console. Once it gets messed up, there is no other way but to fix your PS3 in one way or another. Now, many people ask how they can fix PS3 problems when they strike. Honestly, there are some PS3 issues that can be fixed by gamer's hand, but some issues should be given close attention by more technically inclined experts. But, we all know that gamers tend to be really impatient at some times and prefer most issues be fixed as soon as possible and be back to gaming.

So, what to do to fix PS3 problems by your own?

Power Cycle Your Console:

This may be a new word for most people but power cycling is basically turning off the console and turning it back on. This is usually the first thing to do when the console tends to freeze during gameplay. There is always a time when freezing can not be avoided. Actually, it has become a normal issue when it comes to gaming consoles not just the PS3. So, when the console looks to be stalling up a bit, you can always turn it off and turn it back on.

Check for Cable Issues and Settings:

Cables are usually the first parts of a console to get really worn out especially if not kept properly. For audio and video issues, turning off the console and checking out if there are loose cables or connections would be an important thing. This is actually a good start in determining the exact problem when you fix PS3 issues. Audio and video settings should also be kept it mind. Setting up the video is quite easy. Press and hold the power button until you hear two little beeps. It automatically sets the video configuration.

Clean Your PS3:

We all know that different kinds of dirt can easily break down any electronic gadget or device and this includes the PS3. Dust, in particular, can hinder the PS3's fan which can lead to overheating and system malfunction. Blowing the console with a hair dryer quite helps to clean of any dirt and dust in and on the console. This may even help fix PS3 issues such as freezing.

Let Your Console Breath:

Do not keep the console in a closed place especially when being used. This will cause the console to heat up which can lead to freezing and sudden shutdowns. It is better to put the console in open space when being used.

Use a Repair Guide:

For PS3 issues beyond the skill of a typical console owner, using a repair guide would provide a more detailed way to fix PS3 issues such as hardware failure. There are repair guides available on the internet which may be an option for people who wants to do the repairs on their own. Most of them are not for free though.

However, for people who do not have the confidence of doing the repairs by themselves, taking the console to repair companies is always an option. What's great about these repair companies is that owners will not need to worry about messing up their consoles anymore since the consoles are handled by experts. Consoles under warranty can, of course, be taken for repair or even replacement. Electronic devices are different to various issues that are inevitable. However, these issues can be preceded with proper console handling and care. Some issues may even be fixed through the simplest of ways like cleaning the console. There you go. Here are some of the ways on how you can fix PS3 problems on your own.

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Solve the Freeze Problem of Outlook 2007 with OST To PST Converter

It is easy to access Outlook mail objects, such as e-mails, tasks, journals, attachments, appointments, and messages without Internet connection. The overall credit goes to the OST files. These files allow you to use mail objects without Internet connection. Using the OST file is the same as using MS-Office file. Whenever you connect with the Exchange server, all the data of the OST file gets automatically converted to PST. But sometimes, it happens you are unable to use mail objects because you fail to synchronize OST files with exchange server. So, there is a need to convert OST to PST file. For conversion, use a third party OST to PST converter tool.

Discussed below is an error that appears when you use Outlook 2007, Outlook application halts after some time and does not allow you to access Outlook application:

"Event Type: Information
Event Source: Outlook
Event Category: None
Event ID: 30 Date: 5/10/2008
Time: 8:33:44 AM
User: N / A
Computer: SBS-Computer
Description: The store C: Documents and Settings user.domain Local Settings Application Data Microsoft Outlook outlook.ost is being reconciled with the indexer for the following reason: Non-matching max change numbers. "

Causes:
The cause for the occurrence of the above error message is corruption or destruction of your OST file.

Solution:
Such errors can be resolved easily. First repair the corrupt OST file. For checking the OST file, execute OST Integrity Check tool. For executing this tool, follow the below steps:

– Close Outlook.
– Open Scanost.exe. This program is located at drive: Program Files Common Files System MSMAPI LocaleID folder.
– From the Name list of profile, select a profile that contains OST for checking.
– A dialog box will appear that requests you to Connect or Work offline, select Connect.
– Check the Repair Errors check box. If you uncheck the Repair Errors check box, then the tool does not make any change even if changes are required.
– After performing all the above steps steps, choose Begin Scan.

If you are not satisfied with the results of OST Integrity check tool, then use a third party OST to PST converter tool. OST to PST converter tools are read-only tools built with advance technology to securely convert OST to PST file. Built with simple graphical user interface, these tools are easy to understand.

Stellar Phoenix Convert OST PST tool easily converts OST to PST without changing the original structure of the OST file. The tool restores OST to PST onto any drive that can be found by the host operating system easily. The tool employs advance scan and normal scan – whichever is required – to recover OST content. It supports MS Outlook 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000, and 2002. You can download a demo version of the software to preview its functionality.

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Jeffrey Archer’s "Old Love" Redefines Love Story

The “Old Love” of Jeffrey Archer is a unique amorous tale between two brilliant students of English literature from Oxford. Archer makes an exploration of the theme of love from a completely unusual standpoint. The rendition is fiercely honest while he portrays a chronic sense of envy and rivalry between two sworn arch-rivals in the Oxford University: William Hatchard and Philippa Jameson. Initially, their aggressive competition unsettles their tutor Simon Jakes. In their constant intellectual debates, Philippa confronted the deep, confident voice of William with her high-heeled boldness. The mutual hatred was absolute. Their sharply perceptive and analytical mind refused to be submissive to each other. Indeed, this fierce sense of competition enabled them to outshine everyone else in the field. Given the background of 1930’s she, to him, was “that silly woman” and he “that arrogant man”. Yet strange is the way of destiny that an unusual love story should blossom between the bitterest of academic rivals!

This rivalry assumed an unpalatable intensity when both excelled as toppers in their final degree exam. The Charles Oldham Shakespeare’s essay writing competition fed fat to this fire of passionate jealousy and became a life and death question for each to defeat the other.There were liberal exchanges of scornful remarks between the two to play each other down. However, things took a dramatic turn when William unwittingly discovered about the death of Philippa’s father (who was a Vicar) from cancer, and also, his secret dream to let his daughter study in Oxford and win the Charles Oldham award. The sight of silent sobbing of his proud and powerful adversary stirred up a sudden feelings of empathy in his guts. He got over his tentative doubts and offered to accompany her to her village for the burial ceremony. They held hand for the first time and discovered the new bond of friendship as they started their journey to her village. They communicated with each other spontaneously while returning to Oxford which bounces Philippa back to her normal competitive spirit. She slowly discovers the growth of her new found intense attraction for William. The latter secretly enjoys this interesting conversion in the Vicar’s daughter.

The transformation of hatred into love has always been a captivating subject in itself, and Archer makes the situation entertaining with the employment of sparkling wit in their conversation. They make a visit to Stratford and have meals together. But their first date was far from usual: it is a unique blend of warmth and intellectual antagonism! If this instinctive antagonism triggered a strong sense of hatred before, now it drew them closer. In fact, this killer instinct became a delirious source of entertainment for both. Archer makes the reader question if intense hatred could indeed be an expression of hidden attraction?

Anyway, the situation takes a quirky turn while returning from Stratford. On their way back to Oxford, Phillipa and William had to spend the night in a car as the petrol gauge showed empty. The former obviously did not miss the chance of expressing her doubt about the cerebral power of a person who couldn’t even read a petrol gauge! The day next William gave her the reason why he let the car run out of petrol: He said with a rare sense of humor: “My father told me if I spent the night with a barmaid then I should simply order an extra pint of beer, but if I spent the night with the vicar’s daughter, I would have to marry her.” He came down on his knees and said,” Will you marry me if I win the Charles Oldham?” Philippa answered that “as there is absolutely no fear of that happening I can safely say, yes… ” When William declared his love for her she told him not to show his face in Somerville again if he failed to win Charles Oldham. The readers wonder if the writer reveals Philippa’s secret wish that she could marry himeven at the cost of losing Charles Oldham! Otherwise why would tears come to Philippa’s eyes when a girl informed her that she had won? It was a moment of crisis for her because between the conflicting emotion of ambition and love in her heart, the latter had won and for once the proud girl confessed, “I do love nothing in the world so well as you; is that not strange?”

However, when she discovered that William was a joint winner, her puckish spirit returned as she said ” I take thee for pity” to which William replied ” I yield upon great persuasion… ” They were locked in a passionate embrace, and after that, they were never apart for more than a few hours. Strangely, their honeymoon in Athens ended up in a heated argument over the relative significance of Doric and Ionic architecture!

Later in life, this constant battle of wit prevented their romance from dwindling into boredom and banality. Their serious research works and creative activities, though on different fields, kept them deeply connected. After three years, “with well-received D. Phils”, they moved on, in tandem, to college teaching. But their fierce encounters continued and their sharp wit at each other’s expense would flash across the dinner tables at Oxford. However, those who understood their love felt envious of their unique relationship! They were childless yet their life was not tasteless.

Returning home after the celebration dinner (being declared the Joint Professor), their heated argument over Proust’s monumental work took such an intimidating turn, that a policeman, nearby, asked Philippa “Is everything all right madam?” “No, it is not”, William declared “this woman has been attacking me for over 30 years, and to date the police have done deplorably little to protect me”. Yet, beneath this apparent antagonism, their bond continued to grow stronger with each passing year. Interestingly, their intense love was inseparable from their zealous intellectual antagonism which lent a peculiar aura to their relationship. When Philippa was made the Dame of the British Empire, William referred to her as an “Old Dame” he had to live with now. It is this bitter-sweet flavor of their love which defines their marriage.

The most irritable habit of Philippa to William was her determination each morning to complete “The Times” crossword before he arrived at the breakfast table. One fine morning in June, William, studying the clue, filled in the eight boxes left incomplete by Philippa. Philippa’s instantly retorted that there was no such word. To the delight of Philippa the word “Whym Wham” could not be found in the shorter Oxford Dictionary. William assured her that the word could be found in OED on his desk, made for scholars like him. William left the breakfast table with sharp comments on Philippa’s limited command of English language and that she will have to eat a humble pie at Somerville’s Gaudy Feast as she reads the collected works of John Skelton…

William left with a sigh, kissing his wife on her cheek, wishing he had lost Charles Oldham. Philippa replied that he did indeed because it was highly inappropriate during those days to declare a woman as the sole winner! Having closed the front door, as she entered the kitchen, Dame Philippa suddenly suffered her lone heart attack. She called out to William hoarsely but in vain. The news of her death was conveyed and the story ends with a note of dark humor in the suicidal note of Sir William (who shot himself with his pistol): “Forgive me, but I had to let her know”. There was the volume of the work of John Skelton held open in one of his hand with the word “Whym Wham” underlined neatly, his fingers stiff and cold around it. Such weird ending, subtly hints at the essence of special relationship this couple shared so that they rise above the great marriage vow “TILL DEATH DO US PART.” Archer’s love story excels because death could not part Sir William and Dame Philippa! Even while following his wife to her grave, William felt the need to camouflage the inseparable bond they shared, and the insufferable loneliness he would feel without her… he does it with a wry sense of humor!

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The 8 Best Natural Ingredients to Look For in Skin Cream

In the last few years there have been countless new-fangled ingredients in skin care that the sound very fancy and make incredible claims. Some professor to make your wrinkles disappear in one day, others claim that you could bounce a quarter off your skin after using their product, and still others have so many ingredients that you can not pronounce, you might as well be reading a science book .

Ingredients will come and go but over the centuries natural quality ingredients for skin care never change. Some may be the current hot thing, but most if not all have been used for centuries in and they still hold up in modern natural skin care. Do not be fooled by modern fancy sounding names, most are just made up to sound good for the expensive marketing campaign that the giant conglomerates are going to spend 20 million dollars on. Below is a list of the eight best natural additives that you should be looking for in your skin care.

The first ingredient is olive oil. This amazing wonder of nature comes from the most ancient of lands, in fact it was mentioned in the bible and also used by the Greeks and Romans in many of their skin care regimens. Interesting how we have learned so much in modern science about such an ancient ingredient. Olive oil contains polyphenols, which are the known as strong antioxidants and are reported to reduce the incident of skin cancers when applied to the skin directly after UV exposure. Also the vitamin A found in olive oil has been known to be beneficial for wrinkles, age spots, and other skin damaging effects from the environment.

The second natural ingredient is shea butter. Found mostly on the savannah in Africa, shea butter is a natural fat that is extracted from the nut of the karate tree. Shea butter is an amazing natural carrier of Vitamin A & E. Many studies site shea butter for its ability to fight wrinkles because of the high amounts of these two vitamins. The vitamin E is helpful to the skin because it increases the micro circulation which results in better blood supply to the skin, therefore helping the skin recover better from free radical sun damage.

A fruit butter you probably have never heard of, but should of, is cupuacu butter. Grown in the rainforest of Brazil this fruits' seed contains the most magnificent butter, and is also known as the plant alternative to lanoline. Studies have shown that Cupuacu butter is highly beneficial for dry and damaged skin. It has properties that promote long lasting skin hydration which means it gives skin more significantly ability to easily absorb and retain water. Because of the high levels of phytosterols within cupuacu butter, the skin becomes more elastic, and consequently is better able to reduce the appearance and development of wrinkles. It also has been shown to help in the healing of eczema and dermatitis.

The forth natural ingredient is squalene. Derived from olive oil, squalene is chemically similar to the skins Sebum, which is the normal lubricant of the skin. It keeps the skin supple and forms a protective bacterial and fungicidal coating that helps moisturize the skin's surface. It just so happens that the sebum is overflowing with squalene when a person is youngger, but as we age we loose the ability to produce this substance in sufficient quantities that is required for soft and supple skin. Because squalene is part of the natural skin lubrication process, tests have shown that it has the ability to provide hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Squalene is easily absorbed into the skin and makes it the perfect natural non-greasy skin care ingredient that also improves the youthful appearance of skin .

The fifth ingredient is honey. Honey is also one of those ancient skin care miracles that science has only recently begun re-discover. Honey is rich in vitamins and amino acids that nourish the skin; it also contains powerful antioxidants, allowing the skin to fight free radicals, therefore helping to reverse the aging process and also reducing the development of wrinkles. Honey is also known as an antibacterial and antifungal. A University of Wales study concluded that honey produced an antibacterial effect reducing if not eliminating the incidences of skin infections. It seems that ancient wisdom in conjunction with modern science all agree that honey is one of the finest skin care ingredients in natures collection.

Propolis, another incredible bee ingredient, which is a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used by the bees to seal the hive, the same way we use caulk to seal gaps in our house. However, unlike caulk, propolis contains flavonoids which makes it a proven antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Because of the high levels of vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene skin care ingredients containing propolis are known for their ability to stimulate the healing of skin, especially when it is used for anti-redness and other skin irritations.

The Seventh great natural skin care ingredient is silk protein. Silk protein is obtained by the breaking down the actual silk cocoon so it can be used in cosmetic preparations. Silk protein is used in skin preparations as a natural moisturizer, a skin elasticizer, and may even help to control the growth of melanin in skin that leads to age spots. A Japanese study concluded that a type of silk protein even has the ability to suppress skin tumors caused by chemical and UV radiation. So, silk is not just a natural product you should wear, go ahead and use it on your skin.

The final product that must be stated is Beeswax. Some people make the assumption that beeswax when used in skin cream formulas blocks your pores. In fact beeswax is non-comedogenic and will not irritate skin or block your pores. It is one of the only waxes that will let your skin breath while still having the knack to keep it hydrated. Beeswax is one of nature's most wonderful ingredients to use, and does an amazing job as a skin soother and softener. It also has natural antiseptic properties. The mayo clinic even recommends lip balms made from beeswax instead of petroleum based ingredients. Beeswax is an effective multi-purpose skin ingredient that effectively softens your skin and also locks in the moisture while still letting your skin breathe. Look for it in all you skin cream products.

Please use these natural products in your skin care, not only will you be helping the environment by using these durable products, you will feel better, look younger, and probably be more healthy overall.

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How to Fix Libcairo-2 Dll Error

Libcairo-2.dll is a file module and process of Windows Operating System. It is essentially required by system to run various programs. It helps in some of the language pack of installation processes and settings that system contains. But sometimes it initiates to displays frequent error messages in several formats, some of them are as follows:

  • "The file libcairo-2.dll is missing."
  • "This application failed to start because libcairo-2.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."

Error occurs when Windows becomes disabled to read and processes the settings that are required to run the programs correctly. Error warnings appears while installing particular applications and when at startup and shutdown of Windows. In some cases if this dll file gets removed, corrupt or misplaced then it generates numerous error. Infection of Trojans, virus and other malware propagates corruption and destruction of several files and leads to errors. Beside theses reasons the major cause behind such errors is mostly a registry issues.

It has been found that the dll error displays when you try to run specific applications. The issues that cause error system can not read the file that needs to run correctly. It can be fixed by installing the software again that causes errors. In many cases dll files could be deleted, lost or damaged that makes your system devoid to process the programs. You can fix it by replacing the damaged and infected dll files and also register it again for proper functioning.

But re-installing and replacement of dll file is not the complete solution to fix error. During the process of uninstalling the programs few leftovers of dll and registry entries remains on the hard drive of your system and continuously throws error messages.

As the results system leads to blue screen, crashes, failure of hard drive, system freeze up, sluggish system performance and many other issues. In order to fix this error and to stay away from its consequences, it is suggested to use Libcairo-2.dll Error Fix Tool.

This significant error fixing tool perfectly blocks the error messages. It is specifically designed to clean junk, trash, damaged and corrupted database of dll files as well as registry files.Libcairo-2.dll Error Fix Tool works as a multipurpose tool that protects your system against virus or Trojans that gratuitously uses the CPU and system resources.

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A Paycheck is a Paycheck is a Paycheck, Right? Wrong!

Ok so you get a paycheck. It is delivered to you, sent by email or handed to you by your arch-nemesis (your supervisor). Or maybe you are the person handing them out. Either way, the scenario is the same. You have in your hand or inbox a document showing you what you were paid. And to some, quite mysteriously, there is money taken out of your earnings and given to the government, or whoever, and it reduces the amount that you have to shop, save, or pay bills with. It could happen to you every week, every other week or each month. And you take that money that is left over and do with it whatever you chose. So why should you care where the extra money goes? It's gone, right?

But here is the thing …. where did it go? Did it go in the right amount? How does it affect you? Your spending habits, your budget, and the way you save for the future? It's gone, right? So who cares where it went, it's not coming to you, right? WRONG!

I'm not going to be one of these people to tell you that you can not afford things, or will ring bells and make funny noises to indicate that something to do with your finances should be important to you. But I will tell you this – it's your money and you need to know where it goes and why.

Now, most of us are savvier about money than say our mothers. (Sorry Mom!) Or we think we are. I was recently working with my mother going through her financial paperwork and was surprised about the things I took for granted as common knowledge that she was not aware of. She is a smart woman, so I was a little surprised. So we might be ahead of our mother's generation in terms of being more financially independent, but ask yourself, where does the money that comes out of your paycheck go? Do you know? Do you know what all of those fancy little acronyms mean? And why should you care?

First: the paycheck. And yes, we are going to go through it line by line. But I promise it will not be torture. We'll make it quick and then talk about why you should look at this every pay period and how it affects you.

So, what should you look at when you receive your pay stub? You may not like my answer, but the answer is everything. Let me ask you a question. If you lost $ 141.63 from your wallet would you care? Would you look for that money? Be honest with yourself, would you panic? Now I am not saying that you have lost this $ 141.63 from your pay, but if you do not know what it is or where it goes, it is as good as lost.

So now for the fun! Let's go through this pay stub line by line so that you can understand what you are being paid and where those deductions end up.

The first box is Emp #. This is your employee number that is assigned through payroll. This one does not have relevance without your HR department requests you to supply this to them as a routine part of how they identify you before speaking with you about a problem or question with your pay.

The next box is Company Name. It is important for you to know what the legal name of the company you work for is if you have an issue or a problem. An example of an issue or a problem that would be affected by you knowing your company's legal name would be if you needed to apply for Worker's Compensation or Unemployment. Again, why? Because these agencies refer to the company you work for by their legal name. If you do the same you will avoid confusion when dealing with them.

The next box is Period End date. This box is important to check because it states the period for which you are being paid. You may ask yourself, who cares? The answer is -you should. Does the amount being paid agree with the period that you worked for? In our scenario we have a salaried individual but if you were being paid by the hour, how can you know that you have been paid for the hours you worked without you know what period your employer is paying those hours for?

The next box is Dept #. Even I will admit that this one is not too important unless your employer deducts things from your pay for working in a specific department. For instance, in restaurants employers may deduct an amount from your pay for uniform maintenance or you might have a deduction from your pay if a department in that restaurant is allowed to eat lunch while working and the employee deductions a flat amount for food costs.

Our next box is the mystery box! It says FW = M 01. Is it an algebraic formula? Is it something Einstein invented? No, this is actually an important box! The FW stands for Federal Withholding. The M stands for Married and the 01 is the number of dependents that is being claimed on form W4. This box drives what comes out of your pay for Federal Withholding and can determine the all important game of whether or not you receive a refund after filing your annual tax return or whatever you will have to send money into the IRS.

What is important to know about this is that the Federal Withholding taken from your pay each pay period is based on a tax table. So the way this calculates is any payroll system will look at your gross pay, the frequency you are paid (weekly, every two weeks, etc.), and what you claimed on your W4 to see how much tax to take from your check.

The tax table calculates based first on whether you are claiming the status of Single or Married and then on the number of allowances you have claimed, in our case 01. The general rule of thumb is that Single claiming 00 allowances takes the maximum tax and Married with more allowances takes less and less tax. We will get further into this in why you should care a portion of this article.

Our next box SS # xxx-xx-0123 again looks something we learned in high school algebra. It's not. It is your social security number. What do you need to know about this? You need to know that this is the way it should look on your check stub. Or it could look like: *** – ** – 0123. Or it could be all exes or all * s. What you should NEVER see on your check stub is your full social security number printed out.

Our next box is your name and address. This one is only of concern to make sure that it is correct. Sounds simple. Make sure it stays simple. Your company may have different policies of how they get information to you. Most will mail at least your W2 form directly to you at the end of each year. So make sure your information is current so that there is no disruption to you receiving important tax information. If you move, alert the appropriate person in your company as soon as possible so that they can get your salary records updated.

Under your name and address are two boxes: check # and net pay. The check number is not something that you need to look at. It is the check number assigned by your company. If you misplace a check or need to speak to someone regarding your check they can look up the information they need in their records. The net pay is the amount of pay that you will take home after taxes and payments have been taken from your pay.

Our next box is the earnings box. Stay with me here we are getting to the good stuff! This box tells you how much you are being paid before taxes and other items are deducted from your pay. In this pay stub we have a salary amount (Sal1). However, if you are paid by the hour, you will want to make sure the hours you told your employer you worked and the hours on your pay stub match. Mistakes can happen in processing payroll, they are not intentional. It is your responsibility to check your pay stub and let your employer know if there was an error in reporting your hours to the payroll company.

Other types of earnings may include commissions, bonuses, and even reimbursements for telephone usage, mileage or office supplies purchased.

The next box is labeled taxes. We are going to go through each item in this box to explain the different payroll taxes.

– FWH = Federal Withholding. Weave the example of this above when looking at the SS # box. This is your Federal Income Tax being withheld from your pay each payroll period.
– FICA = This tax is the Federal Insurance Contribution Act tax. It is taken at a flat percentage of 6.2% up to an annual earnings cap. These taxes are taken to provide a variety of benefits to qualifying workers and their families through the program known as social security.
– MEDFICA = This tax falls under the Federal Insurance Contribution Act and allows an additional 1.45% of your pay to be withheld for Medicare, which provides health insurance for qualifying disabled workers and people 65 years of age and older. There is no earnings cap with this tax.
– ST = State Withholding. Here in Pennsylvania this is a flat percentage tax. However, in many states the withholding works much like the Federal Withholding tax. It is based on what you claim on your state W4 form. Again the principle is the same, the tax table calculates based first on whether you are claiming the status of Single or Married and then on the number of allowances you have claimed, in our case 01. The general rule of thumb is that Single claiming 00 allowances takes the maximum tax and Married with more allowances takes less and less tax.
– WCHPA = This is the local tax where my company in this example is located. In Pennsylvania there are thousands of local taxes. They range from.5% to the Philadelphia wage tax that exemced 3%. The tax is based on where you are employed and not where you live. The next state close to Pennsylvania in the number of local taxes is Ohio. Many from this area would have surprised to know that many states have no local taxes.
– PA UNEM = This tax is the Pennsylvania employee share of unemployment. This tax can come and go. In times of high unemployment percentages the State deducts this tax from employees to help offset the cost of the payment of unemployment to those who do not have work. Other states have similar taxes and some also have employees contribute to disability and state paid health care.

Next is our discounts box. There are two discounts here as an example of what you could expect to see.

The first deduction is labeled MED125. Med125 refers to medical insurance premiums that are deducted from your pay and that are run through a Section 125 plan as defined by the IRS. What does this mean to you? If you have a health insurance premium deducted from your pay there are two ways to do it. One is a standard deduction that comes out of your pay after all of the taxes have been deducted. The other is through a Section 125 plan. If your company has an established 125 plan then your health insurance deduction comes out of your pay before taxes and is not subject to payroll taxes. If you are not sure what your company offers ask someone in your HR department. Using a Section 125 plan saves employees the cost of paying taxes on their health insurance contribution deductions.

The next deduction is labeled LST. This is the Local Services Tax for Pennsylvania. The local services tax is a tax that is deducted from your pay up to a maximum of $ 52.00 per year. It is collected on a pro-rata basis that is determined by the number of payroll periods established by an employer for a calendar year. This tax is used to help offset the cost of emergency services and also is used to reduce property taxes through homestead acts in certain municipalities.

Our final pay check stub box is Year to Date. Ok, we are almost done here! This is just a total of what has been paid to you and what has been deducted from your pay for the year.

So, now the all important part of this exercise. Why should you care about all of this and how does it affect you?

Well, to start this is your money. And yes it is important to know where it goes. This is really not the day and age where a woman is kept in the dark and her husband takes care of all of the financial responsibilities while the woman takes care of the house and children. Most families are made up of two working parents. For most it is a necessity to meet the rising cost of food, fuel and health insurance and it is not an option for many mothers to stay at home. It is also unfortunate that the divorce rate in our country continues to rise but it also means that women, like it or not, are almost forced to be financially savvy. So let's get started on the importance of understand how your money comes and goes through a paycheck and why you should care.

You earn an amount from your employer. You submit a time sheet or some type of data to your employer letting them know what work you have accomplished or the hours that you have worked. They take that data and process it through payroll. You then receive a net amount and it is direct deposited in your bank or you take a check to the bank and deposit it each pay day. We have established that there are taxes and deductions taken from your pay and you get what is left over. Now here is why it matters.

Unlike the popular thought that taxes and deductions are taken from your pay and there is not much you can do about it, there are portions of your pay that you can directly control to put more money in your pocket now!

We are going to reference back to those pay check boxes again and go through the portions of those taxes and allowances that you have control over. I know what you are thinking! Not the boxes again, but bear with me. There will be strategies to help you put money into your family's hands. It will be up to you to decide what strategies to use and what your comfort level will be with their affect.

So let's get started.

Ok, the first thing you should take a serious look at is your Federal Withholding. Let me ask you a question; are you one of those folks that get a huge refund when you send in your Federal tax return? If you are, you might want to think about what you are doing. By allowing the federal government the use of your money through the year you are missing opportunities. Do you have credit card debt? Is the credit card company charging you interest on your outstanding balance? Then why "loan" the IRS your earnings when you have debt to pay? Yes you get a big refund at tax time, but what if you had use of that money through the year? What would you do with it? Could you pay down debt? Invest it? If you invest this money, even in a money market account you could be earning money with these funds instead of allowing the federal government to use it and then pay it back to you later.

You have to be careful with this one. Think about your comfort level. Are you comfortable using that money through the year or do you have a need to get this all in one lump sum? If you are not a disciplined saver then that lump sum return of your money may be attractive to you. You also have to make sure that if you decide to take that money now that you check with your accountant or with an online paycheck calculator at the very least to make sure you do not reduce your Federal Withholding too much and end up owed money at the end of the year. That will certainly not help you achieve your personal financial goals, not to mention the IRS frowns upon you owed them money. Ironic, is not it?

There is another item on your paycheck that is important and can keep money in your pocket – it is your social security number. When we went through the individual boxes on our check stub I stated that you should NEVER see your entire social security number on your check stub. Instead, the number should be masked by stars or exes. Why? Because identity theft is a real threat in our society. So if your paycheck is lost in the mail, that is bad enough, but if your social security number is on it you are just asking for trouble. Check your latest check stub. If you see your social security number on your check contact your payroll administrator right away and they can have that number masked. It should be standard practice with payroll providers, but some are not paying attention to those trends that can affect the end user, namely, you.

Another item that can save you considering money is that MED125 deduction. A lot of companies have their employees pay a portion of the cost of health insurance. With the increasing cost of health premiums it has become a necessity for most companies. But how can you pay towards your health insurance save you money? Remember this health insurance deduction is taken from your pay and is not taxed.

You can not assume that if you have a health insurance deduction that it falls under a Section 125 plan. You have to ask your employer if they have this plan. If they do not you could ask them to research one. In the past it was a headache for companies to maintain a 125 plan. But now a plan that only contains health insurance premiums or a premium only plan has little administrative headache to it if your part of a company with under 99 employees.

Also, another way to save money through payroll is to ask your HR or payroll contact if your company has a Full Flex Plan as part of their 125 plan. What does this mean? A Full Flex Plan or A Flexible Spending Account as a part of a 125 plan gives you a great opportunity to save money. It allows you to have a predetermined amount withheld from your pay each year to pay for various medical needs. If you are having electrical surgery, it could be run through the Flex account at your work, so you do not pay tax on that amount. Many Flex accounts have a list of items that you could put this money toward, such as, contact solution, certain over the counter medications, and even nicotine patches are reimbursable. The thing to watch with Flexible Spending Accounts is that they are what is called "use them or lose them". So if you have $ 2000.00 deducted from your pay each year, but only submit reimbursements for $ 200.00 then you lose the $ 1800.00 you contributed. Check with your HR or payroll administrator to find out the rules to your company's Flexible Spending Account.

Another expense that you could be running through payroll using your company's Section 125 plan is Dependent Care. So if you have children that go to a day care facility during the week the amount that you pay to the day care could be run through your pay check and be deducted from you untaxed.

So to summarize this Section 125 plan, when these items are run through your paycheck on a pre-tax basis (meaning the amounts deducted from you are not taxable) you in effect save approximately an automatic 12-15% on health insurance, medical necessities , and child care. Really think about that statement. If you child's day care asked you if you wanted to save 15% on their fees, would you look into? If a pharmacy offered you savings of 15% off of all purchases would you go to there? This is like an automatic paycheck coupon to save your family money.

My final suggestion is what is missing from our check stub. There is no 401 (k) or Simple IRA deduction on our stub. These are savings for retirement accounts that are taken from your pay and are not subject to Federal Withholding. If your company offers one of these options look into it. 401 (k) plans are run according to the way your company sets them up, so the rules are not standardized. However, many companies offer what is called an employer match for discounts that you make into this type of retirement account. If your company does offer a match then this is instant earnings on your contributions. Simple IRA plans require an employer match so you are guaranteed to have an immediate return on your investment.

Consider carefully before you decide that you are not going to participate in one of these plans. If you put aside even a small amount I would venture to say that you are not going to miss that money on a pay pay basis and it will go to securing you financial freedom when you retire.

So now your paycheck should not just be a piece of paper to you. The mystery of what is taken out and why has been explained. I would challenge you to think about some of these strategies for putting money back into your pocket to see how you can save your family money through payroll. Of course, everyone's financial situation is different, so review these strategies with your financial professional before implementing them.

I would also challenge you to look at your pay stub each pay period. The more you look at it the more familiar you become with it and you will start to know what to expect. When you know what to expect then you will get a feel for what you are paid, when you are paid and how you are paid. Knowledge is one of the first steps towards becoming more financially savvy.

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How to Read and Play Guitar Chords Using Chord Diagrams

You do not have to read music to play basic guitar. This article explains how to interpret chord diagrams on sheet music and play them on the guitar.

One of the things you encounter immediately when reading sheet music is the chord symbol. This is the musical symbol that describes the harmony at a particular point in a piece of music. An example is Gmi7. This tells you that the chord is a G minor seven chord. But, what notes do you use to play a Gmi7 on the guitar?

Sheet music for popular songs very often has guitar chord diagrams above each staff showing you how to play the chords. These diagrams make it possible for you to play a chord without knowing what the chord symbol means, or what notes are in the chord. The diagrams simply show where to put your fingers on the strings on the fretboard.

Of course, you as continue to study guitar and music, you will probably want to learn music theory to understand chord structure and the notes used for all the important chords in all twelve keys. But to get started making music, this is not necessary thanks to chord diagrams. They are far simpler than interpreting complex chord symbols.

A guitar chord diagram consists of a grid of five horizontal lines and six vertical lines representing the guitar fretboard. The diagram is a miniature picture of the fretboard as if you were holding the guitar up in front of you and looking at the upper part of the neck.

The vertical lines represent the guitar strings. From left to right (low to high pitch), the lines represent the strings E, A, D, G, B, and E.

The frets are represented by the horizontal lines. The thick line at the top represents the nut of the guitar at the end of the fretboard. Hold your guitar out in front of you and look at it, and all this will make sense.

The dots on the vertical string lines show where to put your fingers, the notes you fret with your left hand when playing a chord.

The numbers below the string lines at the bottom of the diagram indicate the finger of you left hand to use to fret the note. 1=index finger; 2=middle finger; 3=ring finger; and 4=little finger. Normally, the thumb is not used to fret.

The X or O above a string line means that string is open, or unfretted. An X means you do not play the string with the right hand, and an O means you play the open string.

In cases where a chord begins on a fret other than the first fret, a number on the right side of the diagram tells what the starting fret is, such as 2fr, 5fr, etc. Chords that use the first four frets often use open strings and are simpler to play. Thus, they are more common in chord diagrams.

That is about all there is to it to get started. When you look for sheet music or music books, just make sure they have guitar chord diagrams, and you can start playing basic guitar right away.

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Peer Pressure Teen Stress

Peer pressure teen stress can be defined as the way teenagers try to explain due to pressure coming from their peers. This kind of stress is triggered by issues like the need for approval, acceptance and the need to have a sense of belonging. When teenagers, the pressure that comes with trying to gain approval or accept or find a sense of belonging leads to all kinds of circumstances causing stress in the life of adolescents which if not checked may result in health related problems.

Issues that can cause peer pressure teen stress:

The two main settings that teenagers get their peer pressure stress from are the school and the home and there are many issues arising out of these settings which causes stress in adolescents of which some are

1. Issues relating to mixing with others

2. The feelings they have towards themselves relating to how they see themselves and how they think others see them

3. Problems that may arise out of the home with other family members

4. Traumatic or grief related events like divorce among parents, death or illness in the family can also be a likely cause for teen peer pressure

5. Having to adapt to a new school environment

6. Having to move to an environment or place they are not comfortable with

Some ways of dealing with peer pressure stress

1. A positive attitude

One way of tackling this type of stress in teenagers will be for teenagers to encourage themselves to adopt a positive attitude towards life. This will involve them having to adopt a healthy eating habit, avoiding using alcohol or drugs as a way of solving their problems, cutting down on the intake of caffeine drinks amongst others …

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Narcotics and Foot Pain – A Poor Combination

The use of narcotic medication to treat body pain is a common practice for many doctors and other health care providers. Narcotics are effective at relieving many types of pain, and are safe if properly used. The use of narcotics to treat severe foot pain is a practice that still enjoys some popularity, primarily amongstst non-foot specialists. Unfortunately, unlike pain in the rest of the body, foot pain often has a mechanical cause directly related to the way one's foot structure functions when walking. The use of narcotic pain medication for foot pain will often lead to a worsening of the condition causing the pain. This article will discuss the nature of narcotic medication, foot pain, and how the two do not need to work well together.

Narcotic pain medication is part of a large family of prescription drugs called opioids that effect the way people perceive pain sensation. These drugs typically bind themselves to cells from tissue found in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal system. The part of a cell an opioid binds to is called the opioid receptor. The medication binds itself to this area, and the end result of a complex process that follows is reduced pain sensation, increased pain tolerance, and euphoria. Unfortunately, some side effects can occur despite a good track record of safety when used properly. These can include sedation, a reduction in breathing ability, and constipation. Dependance on these drugs can also develop if they are taken long enough. When someone becomes addicted to pain medication, the dependency effect as well the euphoria created by the drug reinforces the body's desire to continue on the medication, even if it is not medically needed. By stopping the medication, a withdrawal effect can also develop, limiting the ability of an addict to discontinue the medication.

The traditional use of narcotic pain medication was for chronic, unrelenting pain. This type of pain is seen with terminal cancer, major surgery recovery, or during severe injuries like burns and major fractures. Recently, the use of narcotic pain medication has expanded to many types of pain, both acute and chronic. The masking of the pain can be beneficial for people to help restore a normal life without pain. This works fine if the pain is from an inflamed gallbladder, back arthritis, or rib fracture. When the source of pain comes from a foot injury, a more unique approach must be taken to control the pain, as simply 'feeling better' can often lead to a worsening of the injury that caused the foot pain and a delay in healing.

Most foot pain is due to an injury that occurs directly or indirectly as a result of some abnormality of the foot structure. For example, the vast majority of heel pain is due to an injury of a ligament in the arch called the plantar fascia. This injury is usually due to flat feet or high arches causing strain or shock, respectively, on the fascia. Without the abnormal foot arch structure, the heel would not hurt. The same can be said for many other common sources of foot pain, including Achilles tendonitis, arthritis, neuromas (pinched nerve), most toe pain, pain in the ball of the foot, bunion pain, and many causes of pain around the ankles. The common factor seen in these various conditions is the development of inflammation in the foot as a result of the body's overzealous attempt to heal the injured tissue. The treatment for these conditions ideally needs to revolve around supporting the injured foot, restricting motion at the injured area, and reducing the overzealous infection the body creates during the healing process. By reducing the inflammation, the pain is reduced. With this and proper support, the body heals efficiently without excessive pain.

Unfortunately, the use of narcotic pain medication only addresses pain control, and not inflammation or foot structure. Narcotics do not help at all with pollution, which is the true source of most foot pain. These medications will only reduce the body's perception of pain, allowing the inflammation process to continue. This will delay the body's ability to heal the foot for two reasons. Firstly, the excess of inflammation not reduced by the narcotic medication will continue and the body will heal when it is good and ready. Often this time period will be for much longer than what is really necessary, since the body forms an overzealous reaction to injury just to be on the 'safe side'. Secondly, with narcotics, the tension of many people is to resume activity as normal, since the foot does not hurt as much. When foot pain is correctly reduced because of inflammation reduction, increased activity may not be as harmful if proper foot support is still maintained. However, if foot pain is simply eliminated by a narcotic pain medication only, the feeling of 'normal' invites many into mistakenly resuming their activity as usual. This only worsens the foot injury and increases the inflammation, as the true nature of the injury is masked by the pain relief.

The foot is unique in that it receives the weight of the body above it and the stress of walking below it. Injuries to the foot need much more support and rest than any other part of the body. Narcotic pain medication use for foot pain allows excessive activity too early in the healing process, and should not be used for most types of foot pain as it does not address the underlying cause of foot pain: inflammation as a result of mechanically-caused injury. There are times in which narcotic pain medication is acceptable, and even advised for foot pain. Severe crushing injuries, fractures, burns, and other injuries that have nothing to do with foot structure or normal infection can benefit from pain control. However, narcotic pain control in fractures should be short term, and strict control of motion and activity is necessary, even if the foot 'feet better' with pain control. Foot pain from surgery can also be treated with narcotic pain medication in the short term, as much of that pain is due to the cutting of tissue. Most people require only a brief period of pain control following foot or ankle surgery, which does not usually exceed 3 weeks in most cases.

Narcotic pain medication has its place in the treatment of pain in the body. When dealing with most causes of foot pain, the combination of a likelihood of worsening the foot injury, delaying healing, and the problems of narcotic addiction make the use of these powerful drugs ill-advised. Properly addressing the inflammation of the injury, supporting the foot, and dealing with the abnormal foot structure that often led to the painful condition in the first place are far better ways to treat foot and ankle pain.