Different Types of Interest Rates

There are several different ways of calculating different types of interest. Simple interest is the most basic type of interest and the easiest to calculate and understand. The simple Interest is calculated with simple formula I=p*r*t (interest=principal*rate*time period). Savings account interest is possibly the most common type of interest that individuals earn. For many saving account’s interest is calculated monthly, using a method called annual percentage yield (APY). APY is the amount of interest a person earns over a year. The difference between savings account interest and simple interest is, in the earlier one, compounding is done to the account.

More interest can be earned, if the interest compounds repeatedly. Credit card interest is calculated using an average daily balance, and there can be additional increase in interest rate if the balance is carried from month to month. Those who pay their credit cards in full each month are not normally charged interest. Credit card interest is calculated using a seperate set of rules different from mortgage interest, as per the terms of agreement. Amortized interest (like what you pay on mortgage or car loans) is another type of interest that many people will experience. In this type of interest, the amount on the loan is calculated such that all of the interest due each month is paid plus a small amount of the principal. The principal amount becomes slightly smaller when the payment is done each time.

Detecting Spam With Checksums

Checksum based filters use the principle that messages sent in bulk are very much similar to each other except for a few variations. They strip the messages of all that varies between messages, reduce what remains to a checksum, and compare this value with a list of values in a database. If a match occurs the message is a spam else, it is allowed to pass through.

The advantage of this method lies in the fact that both administrators and users can use it thus increasing the list of spam fighters. However, the spammers come up with ingenious tricks to add some meaningless information-known as -hashbusters- in the middle of the message thus making it difficult for the filter to identify it as spam. This happens because each message with the hashbuster generates a unique checksum. Thus, there is an ensuing battle between the developers of the checksum software and those of the spam generating software.

Checksum based filtering methods include Distributed Checksum Clearinghouse also referred as DCC is a hash sharing method of spam detection. The logic behind this is that spam mail is sent to many recipients. Therefore, if one mail that is a spam is sent to a server it generates a checksum for it and posts the hash to a central, collaborative repository. When the server receives the same message later it checks with the online database whether the message is reported as spam .If yes, then the database increases the spam score for that message.

Vipul's Razor and Recurrent Pattern Detection are other products that also depend upon the fact that spam messages are sent in bulk

Stealing Open Mail Relays:

The mail servers that ISPs run require some sort of authentication to make sure that the user is a customer of that ISP. Therefore, spammers seek out and make use of vulnerable third party systems such as open mail relays and open proxy servers since these do not verify the veracity of the users and pass all mail to the destination address.

Quiet often spammers use networks of malware infected PCs known as Zombie networks (or Botnets) to send their spam. In June 2006, Zombie PCs sent an estimated 80% of e-mail spam, which was an increase of 30 per cent from the previous year. Approximately about 55 billion spams were sent each day in June 2006,which saw an increase of 25 billion per day from June 2005.

Tips To Improve Fuel Mileage

With gas prices at all-time high, motorists are looking for ways to improve gas mileage. Here are a few things to remember:

• Warming up your vehicle in the driveway wastes gas. Drive slowly for the first few blocks instead to bring your engine to optimal driving temperature.
• Smooth, gradual acceleration increases fuel mileage; rapid starts waste gas. Try to maintain a steady rate of speed and take advantage of timed traffic lights.
• Watch your speed. For every mile per hour over 50, mileage decreases roughly one percent. When traveling at a steady speed, most vehicles get their best fuel economy between 35 and 45 mph.
• Proper tire inflation and wheel alignment decrease road resistance and increase mileage. Check tire pressure monthly and rotate tires using your vehicles specific maintenance schedule.
• A well-maintained vehicle will run properly and use fuel more efficiently.
• Use your air conditioning wisely. With the air on, your engine uses more fuel.
• Drive less by planning ahead. Try to do all your errands in one trip and plan the most efficient route.
• Don't vent your anger behind the wheel. Aggressive acceleration wastes gas and can be dangerous as well.
• When you see a red light or stop sign ahead, take your foot off the accelerator and let your vehicle coast in gear. This lets momentum get you to the intersection.
• Shift properly. If you have a manual transmission, shifting into high gear as soon as possible without straining the engine reduces drag and uses less fuel.

Problems Caused By Electronic Waste

Electronic waste, if treated properly, is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However if not treated properly it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Rapid technology change, low initial cost and even planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe. Technical solutions are available but in most cases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied. Electronic waste represents 2 percent of America's trash in landfills, but it equals 70 percent of overall toxic waste.
Due to lower environmental standards and working conditions in China, India, Kenya, and elsewhere, electronic waste is being sent to these countries for processing – in most cases illegally. Guiyu in Shantou region of China, and Delhi and Bangalore in India, all have electronic waste processing areas. Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including occupational safety and health effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste. The Basel Convention controls trade in electronic waste.

Electronic waste is of concern largely due to the toxicity and carcinogenicity of some of the substances if processed improperly. Toxic substances in electronic waste may include lead, mercury, and cadmium. Carcinogenic substances in electronic waste may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A typical computer monitor may contain more than 6% lead by weight, much of which is in the lead glass of the CRT. Capacitors, transformers, PVC insulated wires, PVC coated components that were manufactured before 1977 often contain dangerous amounts of polychlorinated biphenyls. Up to thirty-eight separate chemical elements are incorporated into electronic waste items. The unsustainability of discarding electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to recycle – or perhaps more practically, reuse – electronic waste.

Electronic waste processing systems have matured in recent years following increased regulatory, public, and commercial scrutiny, and a commensurate increase in entrepreneurial interest. Part of this evolution has involved greater diversion of electronic waste from energy intensive, down-cycling processes (e.g. conventional recycling) where equipment is reverted to a raw material form. This diversion is achieved through reuse and refurbishing. The environmental and social benefits of reuse are several: diminished demand for new products and their commensurate requirement for virgin raw materials (with their own environmental externalities not factored into the cost of the raw materials) and larger quantities of pure water and electricity for associated manufacturing, less packaging per unit, availability of technology to wider swaths of society due to greater affordability of products, and diminished use of landfills.
Challenges remain, when materials cannot or will not be reused, conventional recycling or disposal via landfill often follow. Standards for both approaches vary widely by jurisdiction, whether in developed or developing countries. The complexity of the various items to be disposed of, cost of environmentally sound recycling systems, and the need for concerned and concerted action to collect and systematically process equipment are the resources most lacked -- though this is changing. Many of the plastics used in electronic equipment contain flame-retardants. These are generally halogens added to the plastic resin, making the plastics difficult to recycle.

2007 Pulitzer Prize Category Definitions

The Pulitzer Prize, pronounced Pull-it-ser, is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. It is administered by Columbia University in New York City. Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. In twenty of these, each winner receives a certificate and a US$10,000 cash reward. The winner in the public service category of the journalism competition is awarded a gold medal, which always goes to a newspaper, although an individual may be named in the citation.

The Pulitzer Prize category definitions in the 2007 competition, in the order they are awarded, are:

• Public Service—for a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources, which may include editorials, cartoons, and photographs, as well as reporting. Often thought of as the grand prize, the Public Service award is given to the newspaper, not to individuals, though individuals are often mentioned for their contributions.
• Breaking News Reporting—for a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news.
• Investigative Reporting—for a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series.
• Explanatory Reporting—for a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing, and clear presentation.
• Local Reporting—for a distinguished example of local reporting that illuminates significant issues or concerns. National Reporting—for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs.
• International Reporting—for a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, including United Nations correspondence.
• Feature Writing—for a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality.
• Commentary—for distinguished commentary.
• Criticism—for distinguished criticism.
• Editorial Writing—for distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clarity of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction.
• Editorial Cartooning—for a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect.

Microsoft's new tool for Virtualization- Hyper-V Server 2008

Virtualization is an efficient way to run multiple operating systems on a single piece of hardware the two primary uses, which it serves, are server virtualization and desktop virtualization. Hyper-V Server 2008 is a stand-alone product that enables organizations to incerase the utilization of the server and thereby reduces the operating costs by allowing them to consolidate workloads onto a single physical server. It can easily plug into customers' existing IT environments helping them manage their existing patching, provisioning, management and support tools, and processes.

Customers should use Windows Server 2008 for better robust virtualization features when compared to other servers. Doing so provides business continuity, greater scalability, disaster recovery for unifying large workloads, and flexible and cost-effective virtualization rights. You are also entitled to certain free perks from Microsoft when you purchase a Windows Server 2008 for instance one free virtual instance for Standard Edition, four free virtual instances for Enterprise Editions, and unlimited virtual instances for Data center Edition with the purchase of a license of Windows Server 2008.

FDA’s Food And Dietary Supplements

The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is the branch of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which is responsible for ensuring the safety and accurate labeling of nearly all food products in the United States. One exception is products derived from traditional domesticated animals, such as cattle and chickens, which fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. FDA regulates products, which contain minimal amounts of meat, and the exact boundaries are listed in a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies. However, FDA regulates medicines and other products given to all domesticated animals through a different branch, the Center for Veterinary Medicine. Other consumables, which are not regulated by the FDA, include beverages containing more than 7% alcohol, and non-bottled drinking water.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 mandated that the FDA regulate dietary supplements as foods, rather than as drugs. Therefore, dietary supplements are not subject to safety and efficacy testing and there are no approval requirements. FDA can take action against dietary supplements only after they are proven to be unsafe. Manufacturers of dietary supplements are permitted to make specific claims of health benefits, referred to as "structure or function claims" on the labels of these products. They may not claim to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease and must include a disclaimer on the label.The FDA regulates bottled water in America. State governments also regulate bottled water. State and local regulations, as well as the United States EPA regulate tap water. FDA regulations of bottled water generally follow the guidelines established by the EPA, and new EPA rules automatically apply to bottled water if the FDA does not release an explicit new rule. Water bottlers in the US are subject to inspection similar to other food firms, but quality controls for the bottled water industry are not nearly as stringent as those for municipal water supplies.

What Should We Judge When We Judge Art?

Art can be tricky at the metaphysical and ontological levels as well as at the value theory level. When we see a performance of Hamlet, how many works of art are we experiencing, and which should we judge? Perhaps there is only one relevant work of art, the whole performance, which many different people have contributed to, and which will exist briefly and then disappear. Perhaps the manuscript by Shakespeare is a distinct work of art from the play by the troupe, which is also distinct from the performance of the play by this troupe on this night, and all three can be judged, but are to be judged by different standards.

Perhaps every person involved should be judged separately on his or her own merits, and each costume or line is its own work of art (with perhaps the director having the job of unifying them all). Similar problems arise for music, film and even painting. Am I to judge the painting itself, the work of the painter, or perhaps the painting in its context of presentation by the museum workers?

These problems have been made even thornier by the rise of conceptual art since the 1960s. Warhol’s famous Brillo Boxes are nearly indistinguishable from actual Brillo boxes at the time. It would be a mistake to praise Warhol for the design of his boxes (which were designed by Steve Harvey), yet the conceptual move of exhibiting these boxes, as art in a museum together with other kinds of paintings is Warhol's. Are we judging Warhol’s concept? His execution of the concept in the medium? The curator’s insights in letting Warhol display the boxes? The overall result? Our experience or interpretation of the result? Ontologically, how are we to think of the work of art? Is it a physical object? Several objects? A class of objects? A mental object? A fictional object? An abstract object? An event?

Microsoft's New Generation Windows 7

Microsoft declared its new operating system Windows 7 ready for delivery to the manufacturers. This means that they allow time for the new operating system to be built in with the remaining softwares. Microsoft released this as the new operating system has met all the validation checks. The new operating system is made based on the customer’s requirement.

Microsoft put Windows 7 for many quality tests and received the feedback from partners and test users before releasing it to the computer makers. The code will be delivered to hardware makers within the next few days.

According to Microsoft Windows 7 runs great on different hardware types ranging from netbooks to high-end gaming machines. More than 10 million people volunteered in testing Windows 7 software in a voluntary test program.

Microsoft announced the Windows 7 price in June. Microsoft’s corporate vice president for Windows consumer marketing said that they will offer free upgrades to Window 7 to the people who buy Vista-equipped PCs before the release date of Windows 7.

Modernize your house with a conservatory

Are you planning to extend your house? How about trying a conservatory, instead of a normal brick-and-wall extension?

Conservatories have become very popular solution for house extensions, these days. They allow you to extend your house at minimum costs apart from providing an amazing look.

However, before going to choose a conservatory to your house, you must make sure of many things like design of the conservatory, which material to use, what part of the house to extend, etc. This can be done by consulting any professional interior decorator. If you are concerned about the extra costs, why not choose a conservatory-solution provider who can provide you an advice for free. Solid solution for no extra costs - isn’t it?

There will be some issues while going with a conservatory solution like house planning, approval from regulations authority, etc. Above all – the maintenance of the conservatory is a typical task. But, all these will be taken care by the provider himself.

Importance Of Employee Drug Testing

Employee drug testing is becoming a part of day-to-day lives. Employees became used to the drug testing programs. This testing is helpful for the industries that have huge machinery in their work. In United States, drug testing became popular in 1980’s. Many employees undergo pre-employment drug screening before joining in to the duties. In United States, employers follow employee drug testing strictly for safety of workplace.

To minimize the risk of accidents or injuries, employers are conducting this drug test. In 1986, there was a ban in the employee drug testing among federal employees. Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, made it mandatory for every employee. Many felt that this was the best practice to avoid drug abuser in the organizations and to protect the work culture.

Some people felt that this is not good practice. Employers take advantage of their rights and conduct drug testing on employees. Despite of everything, the employee drug-testing program helps in protecting the health and safety of them.

Apple Releases Quarter Sales Results Of iphone

The recession seems lucky period for Apple though there is no logical connection between the recession and Apple’s first quarter’s record revenues.

Apple released its first quarter results of record $10 billion revenues. The revenues have grown up with 6 percent compared to the previous quarter.

In addition, the profits for these revenues were reported to be around $1.6 billions, which have also increased from the profits last year, by 2 percent.

All the applause goes to Mac Laptop and iPod, which were sold at record levels this quarter. Around 2.5 million Macs were sold this quarter, up by 9 percent from the previous quarter. And the laptops contributed to 71 percent of the Macs sold by Apple.

Apple sold around 2.5 million iPods, and this is a record 3 percent increase amid the weak economy.

Apple sold around 4.4 million iPhones in 70 countries all around the world.

Mexican Tycoon Carlos Wins Over Website Blackmail

This was a great way of blackmailing, I could ever imagine of. The better name to call it would something like ‘Web-nap’, which was faced by World’s second richest man.

Actually this is not a new thing. This has been since a long time.

You set up a business, register for some popular domain names and sell them for big amount. Can any body tell me how it differs from the hijacking of ships by Somalia pirates?

This hasn’t been considered serious till some big man came out into the society to speak against it and spend so much money to fight against it.

The story goes like this: Mexican Tycoon Carlos Slim Helu wanted a website to be set up in his name. But to his shock he finds it already grabbed by some person of Jakarta named Ahmad Rusli. When Carlos approaches gently to this person and asks back his website name, the person starts blackmailing Carlos for a ransom of $55 millions. If Carlos didn’t succumb, the website would be linked to a pornographic website.

Carlos didn’t succumb and started fighting against this Rusli and finally wins over his suit.

Enlighten Your Savings through Leds

It is in 1879 when Thomas Alva Edison has invented the first electric bulb. It was much power consuming at heat evolving, but people had to keep using it because there was no other substitution for it.

But today we have so many alternates for that classic electric bulb, but people keep using to on and on. They don’t care about power consumption statistics, the generating pollution or to their electric bills even.

Are people trying to show their loyalty towards electric bulb or the mighty Edison who invented it? If that is the case Edison wouldn’t be happy with such kind of loyalty or gratefulness.

LEDs are also serving humans since many decades. They are more efficient and less power consuming compared to the Electric bulbs.

It is estimated that people all over the world can save a mere $1.83 trillions if the people all around the world used LEDs for 10 years in place of electric bulbs.

Isn’t the sum tempting? Then why not start the revolution from today itself.

The Cycle in the Auto Industry

The cycle is not the one which you can simply rode on without using any kind of gasoline product, which was designed by Macmillan. That is the enemy of the auto industry. Why would they possess that?

This cycle is similar to life cycle or water cycle, which will be taught at some lower classes. The main elements of this cycle are manufacturers, employees, consumers, and people.

Few months back, the cycle was running this way.
Manufacturers wanted to grow bigger. They hired a lot of people who are now employees earning more than they want for their lively hood. They can now buy a house, a car, maintain a mobile, this is where some more people get jobs but in different sectors. Even they earn good and start buying goods of auto industry. They are now consumers.

So, manufacturers develop employees. Employees increase employees. More employees are now consumers.

Now something wrong has gone in the cycle
Manufacturers mess up with some stats. They fear they can’t do better and start laying off their people. So now employees turn to plain people again. They now can’t afford to services they had before. So other sectors which employed people for these ex-employees will also laying off people. So there are no more consumers for auto industry as they are also plain people again. And as a result auto industry is in turmoil.

It is not just the case of auto industry. All other basic industries can be related to this cycle.

Card Tricks - Do One Yourself

Whenever I see a magician performing, many of us know that he had it up in his sleeves. He simply but elegantly brings it out and makes it a magic.

Many of us want to become a magician and get applause, but magicians have their own equipment and secrecy which they never share with you.

There are certain magic tricks for which much equipment and tricky thing is not required.

How about starting with a card trick?

You will need a card pack with four jacks separated from them.

Put one of the jacks upside down, on top of your pack, but your audience shouldn’t know it.

Start your story – “Once upon a time there were three best friends who lost their way in a mild desert. The only way to survive was split and search in three directions before them. The first people to get help would comeback and rescue other two”

Now put one jack on the top, one at the bottom and one in the middle of the pack. Now ask one of your audiences to cut the pack into two equal parts. Put the bottom half of the pack on the other half.

Turn your pack upside down and amaze your audience by showing them three jacks together somewhere in the middle of the pack.

So simple, isn’t it?