M'n'M Support Specialists Tips and Tricks

Changes are Wonderful

2005-10-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here at M'n'M Support Specialists changes are inevitable. We have upgraded ourselves and moved to a new location. If you are interested you can find new reports in the business by visiting us at www.mnmtraining.com/tips. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing with you the news and updates in the construction world and ways to help you run your business with ease.

Monday Fun: Computer Jokes.

2005-09-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Well it is another Monday and the month of September is just about over. This month has been a difficult one for the US and I pray that all of your family members are well and save. Here at M'n'M we have been working hard on getting some new services designed and ready for launch October 1, 2005. We will keep you up to date on those developments and look forward to what the future has to offer. All of our best to you and your love ones may the fall be prosperous and fruitful for you this year.

Regards,

Michelle Zambos-Duerksen

Computers are Like Men...

* In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.

* They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem.

* They have a lot of data but are still clueless.

* As soon as you commit to one, you realize that, if you had waited a little longer you could have had a better model.

* They hear what you say, but not what you mean.

Computers are Like Women...

* No one but the Creator understands their internal logic.

* The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

* Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval.

* As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

* You do the same thing for years, and suddenly it's wrong.

To err is human ...

To err is human; to blame your computer for your mistakes is even more human.

To err is human; to forgive, beyond the scope of the Operating System.

To err is human; to really foul things up requires a computer.

Computers are unreliable, but humans are even more unreliable.

Computers manufacturer is considering changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the flood of calls asking where the "Any" key is.

Technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in.

A technician received a call from a man complaining that the system wouldn't read word processing files from his old diskettes. After trouble-shooting for magnets and heat failed to diagnose the problem, it was found that the customer labeled the diskettes then rolled them into his typewriter to type the labels.

A customer was asked to send a copy of her defective diskettes to the technician. A few days later a letter arrived from the customer along with Xeroxed copies of her diskettes.

A technician advised his customer to put his troubled floppy back in the drive and close the door. The customer put the disk in, asked the tech to hold on, and was heard putting the phone down, getting up and closing the door to his room.

A customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything. After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the screen and pressing the "send" key.

A customer needed help setting up a new program, so the technician suggested he go to the local Egghead. "Yeah, I got me a couple of friends," the man said. When told Egghead was a software store, the man said, "Oh, I thought you meant for me to find a couple of geeks."

A customer called to complain that his keyboard no longer worked. He had cleaned it by filling up his tub with soap and water and soaking the keyboard for a day, then he removed all the keys and washed them individually.

A technician received a call from a customer who was enraged because his computer had told him he was "bad and invalid". The tech explained that the computer's "bad" and "invalid" responses shouldn't be taken personally.

An exasperated caller to Tech Support couldn't get her new computer to turn on. After ensuring the computer was plugged in, the technician asked her what happened when she pushed the power button. Her response "I pushed and pushed on this foot pedal and nothing happens." The "foot pedal" turned out to be the computer's mouse.

Another customer called Tech Support to say her brand-new computer wouldn't work. She said she unpacked the unit, plugged it in, and sat there for 20 minutes waiting for something to happen. When asked what happened when she pressed the power switch, she asked "What power switch?"

The Architect's Role in Disaster Response

2005-09-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

Excerpted and adapted from "The AIA Guidelines for Disaster Response and Recovery Programs," copyright 1999, The American Institute of Architects

When a natural disaster strikes, architects can play an important role in emergency relief as well as long-term recovery, offering invaluable guidance as a community rebuilds itself.

As soon as possible after each disaster strikes, relief efforts begin. First, the injured are cared for. If necessary, emergency repairs are made, or severely damaged buildings are classified "off limits." The focus then shifts to making homes livable and work places functional, and putting the community in working order. Licensed building experts such as architects, engineers, builders, and others are often called to help evaluate post-disaster conditions and, later, restore the community.

As a community begins to rebuild, it needs some kind of quality control. On one hand, opportunities may arise to improve, rather than simply replace, the physical structure of a community. On the other hand, "rebuilding fever" can result in a built environment less attractive than it was before. A long-term redevelopment plan is crucial during this rebuilding time. Architects can help the community not only to rebuild, but to use the disaster to become an even better place to live.

The Three Stages of Disaster Assistance

1. EMERGENCY
This is the first response. It relies on quick, decisive action and involves the provision of emergency shelter, medical services, food, and other such efforts. This stage can last two to three weeks.

2. RELIEF
Short-term housing is provided, as well as health services and employment counseling. At this time, the formal assessment of damage begins, with examinations of the condition of buildings, including analysis of historic properties and other non-building structures. This stage may last up to six months.

3. RECOVERY
This stage is characterized by rebuilding. Long-term comprehensive planning to enhance the physical fabric of the community should be emphasized. Regulatory changes may be necessary to mitigate the effect of future disasters. This period may last three years or more.

Monday Fun: Accounting Jokes

2005-09-19T02:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone, Sorry I missed posting something fun last week. I was able to find some jokes that pertain to the accounting profession that I thought would be fun for this week. Hope all is well have a great and wonderful week.

Michelle Zambos-Duerksen

An accountant is having a hard time sleeping and goes to see his doctor. "Doctor, I just can't get to sleep at night."

"Have you tried counting sheep?"

"That's the problem - I make a mistake and then spend three hours trying to find it."

A patient was at her doctor's office after undergoing a complete physical exam. The doctor said, "I have some very grave news for you. You only have six months to live."

The patient asked, "Oh doctor, what should I do?"

The doctor replied, "Marry an accountant."

"Will that make me live longer?" asked the patient.

"No," said the doctor, "but it will SEEM longer."

Why do accountants make good lovers? They're great with figures.

Why accountants don't read novels?
Because the only numbers in them are page numbers.

A guy in a bar leans over to the guy next to him and says, "Want to hear an accountant joke?"

The guy next to him replies, "Well, before you tell that joke, you should know that I'm 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, and I'm an accountant. And the guy sitting next to me is 6'2" tall, 225 pounds, and he's an accountant. Now, do you still want to tell that joke?"

The first guy says, "No, I don't want to have to explain it two times."

If an accountant's wife cannot sleep, what does she say?
"Darling, could you tell me about your work."

Printing Font Samples

2005-09-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

Printing Font Samples

Most computers come pre-installed with a bounty of printer fonts, and WinXP only added to them. You can also download hundreds more, or even make your own. Knowing how they will all look when they print can be tough, but can also be an important aspect!

Luckily, there's an easy way to print samples of the fonts on your computer. Go to Start Menu, Settings, Control Panel and double-click the "Fonts"
folder.

Now hold down the CTRL key and select the fonts you want to see samples for by clicking them. (If you REALLY want to see them all, press CTRL+A to highlight everything.)

Next, go to File and choose "Print". This will bring up a print dialog box for each font selected. NOTE: You'll have to click Print (or OK in older versions of Windows) in the print dialog box for each font you selected, so if you have a lot of 'em, get comfy. If you just want a sample page of one font, then right click and choose Print. Your printer will go to work printing complete sample pages for each font.

~Steve

Steve is a moderator of WorldStart Computer Tips: Your online source for computer tips and techniques in easy to understand language. Also, check out our software store for great deals.

What's the difference between Windows XP Home and XP Pro?

2005-09-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

Q:
What's the difference between Windows XP Home and XP Pro?

A:
Both flavors of Win XP have the same applications and multimedia features but Pro also includes corporate network support, backup , and security like those found in Windows 2000 Pro. Every feature found in Home Edition should be found in Pro, but since Pro is designed primarily for corporate networking it expands on many features found in Home. Since it is designed for business use, the user interface in Pro is different (it wears a suit and tie while pro wears jeans with a T-shirt :-) The default setting are different as well.

Remote Desktop is a neat feature that functions differently between the two types. It allows an XP Home Computer to control an XP Pro computer from another location allowing you to work away from the office. The Home computer can only act as the controlling computer and the Pro system can only act as the "controlee".

A cool feature of Pro is the Roaming User Profile. On a network this lets you access all your documents and settings from any computer no matter where you log on at.

Something to consider if upgrading: Both Pro and Home can upgrade from Win 98/ME but only Pro can upgrade from Win NT/2000

So, basically, XP Home is just that—a version designed especially for Home users. XP Pro, meanwhile, is geared toward business and "advanced" networking (you can create a network with XP Home, but you don't have as much control as Pro).

Most tips we give for XP should work on both versions unless noted otherwise.

~ David

PS: If you don't know what flavor of Win XP to buy, check out the chart at the XP web site and decide if you really need the additional features found in XP Pro. If not, get Home edition and save around $100.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

David is owner and moderator of WorldStart Computer Tips: Your online source for computer tips and techniques in easy to understand language. Also, check out our software store for great deals.

MONDAY FUN: The History of Labor Day

2005-09-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate Labor Day in the US and I thought it would be fun to give you a little bit of history into the National Holiday.

The History of Labor Day

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

This information is from The Department of Labor

Happy Labor day to everyone and may you enjoy your time with your family this fine day.

Michelle Zambos-Duerksen
M'n'M Support Specialists
The Contractor's Choice
"Let Us Take the Burden Off You!!"
www.mnmsupportspecialists.com
requests@mnmsupportspecialists.com
Office: (951) 609-1626 Cell: (619) 252-6550

Self-Employment and Small Business Taxes

2005-09-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Self-employment taxes and small business taxes has been a subject of concern recently. In an effort to provide accurate information on this subject, I have compiled the following list of useful websites.

Social Security Website: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
- go to this link http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=172&p_created=955651537&p_sid=ps5Yc5Nh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NTQmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PTEuOSZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1 which will answer the questions of self employment taxes to the SSA
Federal Gov’t IRS Website: www.irs.gov
- http://www.irs.gov/publications/p533/index.html Publication 533 at the IRS discusses all about self-employment taxes
- http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99921,00.html this publication is the Federal Gov’t definition of an Independent Contractor and an Employee
- http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99194,00.html listing of all tax forms that a small business or self-employed individual would need for the IRS
- http://www.irs.gov/publications/p334/index.html Publication 334 is the Tax guide for small business when you start hiring employees
State of CA Tax Board:
- http://www.tax.ca.gov/index2.html This is the Business Tax Board Link
- http://www.tax.ca.gov/index1.html This is the Individual Tax Board Link
- http://www.tax.ca.gov/index3.html This is the Forms list for the State

I strongly recommend you speak with an Accountant or Tax attorney in your state to ensure you have everything accounted for.

You may also wish to consider Paycycle for your payroll calculations. There are a variety of payroll and tax services offered, but unlike other services, you remain in control of your checkbook with Paycycle. Their rates are very resonable with the first month free, followed by 2 months for only $9.99 and then the full price of only $42.95/month for 5 employees or contractors. These rates include all of the required forms to be filed with your state and the federal tax boards along with direct deposit for your employees.

Regards,

Back to School Monday Fun

2005-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

I thought with the children returning back to school this week and next 2 weeks for most that it would be fun to learn a little bit more statistics from our nation's School Census Bureau.

CB03-FF.11 August 11, 2003
Quotes & radio sound bites

Back to School

Through August and early September, the nation's schools reopen following the traditional summer break. This edition of Facts for Features celebrates students' and teachers' return to school.

Students

73.2 million
The number of U.S. residents enrolled in schools -- from nursery schools to colleges. About 1-in-4 residents age 3 and over is a student.
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DSS&_lang=en>

53.4 million
The number of students projected to be enrolled in the nation's elementary and high schools (grades K-12) this fall. That number exceeds the total in 1969 (51.6 million) when the last of the "baby boom" children expanded school enrollments. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html> <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>

10
Percentage of all students who are enrolled in private elementary or private high schools. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

52
Percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds who are enrolled in preschool or kindergarten, up from 21 percent in 1970. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>

6-in-10
The ratio of kindergarten-age children enrolled in all-day kindergarten, up from 1-in-10 in 1970. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-22.html>

20
Percentage of elementary and high school students who have at least one foreign-born parent. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>

26
Percentage of high school students ages 15 to 17 who are holding down a full- or part-time job. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>

850,000
Number of students who are home-schooled. That is 2 percent of all students ages 5 to 17. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

9.8 million
The number of school-age children (5 to 17) who speak a language other than English at home. They make up nearly 1-in-5 children in this age group. Most of these children (6.8 million) speak Spanish at home. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DSS&_lang=en>

72
Percentage of children 12-to-17 years old who are academically on track for their age. The rate is higher for girls than for boys (79 percent versus 69 percent). <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>

22
Percentage of children 12 to 17 who either are enrolled in a special class for gifted students or do advanced work in any subject. The corresponding rate for those ages 6 to 11 is 13 percent. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>

59
Percentage of children 6 to 17 who participate in at least one of three extracurricular activities, sports, clubs or lessons. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>

8.2 million
Number of students 25 and over enrolled in college. Students 25 and over account for about half of all college students. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

56
Percentage of college students who are women. Women have held the majority status in college enrollment since 1979. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DSS&_lang=en> <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>

2.4 million
The projected number of college degrees that will be conferred during this academic year. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

Teachers

6.5 million
The number of practicing teachers in the United States -- from prekindergarten to college. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

$53,300
Average annual salary paid to public school teachers in New Jersey -- highest of any state in the nation. Teachers in South Dakota received the lowest -- $30,300. The national average was $43,300. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

Technology in the Schools

13.6 million
Number of computers available for classroom use in the nation's 111,000 elementary and secondary schools; that comes down to 1 computer for every 4 students.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

98
Percentage of public schools with Internet access. As recently as 1995, the proportion was 50 percent. For every teaching computer connected to the Internet, there were seven students.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

A ratio of about 4-in-5 children ages 6 to 17 actually use a computer at school; 2-in-3 have access to a computer at home. Schools provide computer access to many children who do not have one at home. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-147.html>

The Rising Cost of College

$9,326
Average tuition, room and board (for in-state students) at the nation's four-year public colleges and universities for an entire academic year; that is up 75 percent from 1990.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

$27,711
Average tuition, room and board at the nation's four-year private colleges and universities for an entire academic year; that is up 84 percent from 1990.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

The Rewards of Staying in School

$4.4 million
The estimated lifetime earnings of professional (i.e., medical, law, dentistry and veterinary medicine) degree-holders. This compares with $3.4 million for those with Ph.D.s, $2.5 million for master's degree-holders, $2.1 million for those with bachelor's degrees, $1.2 million for high school graduates and $1.0 million for high school dropouts. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-95.html>

$54,761
Average starting salary offer to bachelor's degree candidates in petroleum engineering, among the highest of any field of study. At the other end of the spectrum were those majoring in the humanities; they were offered an average of $30,653. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

Graduation

84
Percentage of the nation's adults 25 and over with at least a high school diploma. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-51.html>

27
Percentage of the nation's adults 25 and over who have at least a bachelor's degree. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-51.html>

Government Spending on Education

$10,922
The per-pupil expenditure on elementary and secondary education in nation-leading New York in 2001. New Jersey, at $10,893, and the District of Columbia, at $10,852, also spent more than $10,000 per pupil. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-44.html>

State governments contributed the greatest amount of public elementary and secondary school funding in 2001: $201 billion. Local governments followed with $173 billion and the federal government was the third largest contributor at $29 billion.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-44.html>
Public school systems spent $410.6 billion in 2001, up $30.1 billion from 2000. About $212.7 billion was spent on instruction, $118.7 billion on services that support instruction, $48.9 billion on capital projects and $30.2 billion on other noninstructional items.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-44.html>
School districts invested $36.0 billion in school construction in 2001, up 13.3 percent from 2000. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-44.html>

Back-to-School Shopping

$5.4 billion

The amount of money spent at family clothing stores in August 2002. Only October, November and December -- the holiday shopping season -- also sales showed last year greater than $5 billion. Similarly, bookstore sales in August 2002 totaled $1.8 billion, an amount not surpassed by any month except January and December. (The dollar volume estimates have not been adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday or trading day differences or price changes.) <http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>.

Schools

1,010
The number of public charter schools nationwide. These schools, granted a charter exempting them from selected state and local rules and regulations, enrolled 267,000 students.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

92,012
Number of public elementary and secondary schools that children will report to on the first day of school this year. The corresponding number of private elementary and secondary schools is 27,223. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

4,084
Number of institutions of higher learning that grant college degrees.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>

40
Percentage of children ages 12 to 17 who have changed schools at some time in their educational careers. For children ages 6 to 11, the corresponding rate is 23 percent. This does not include the normal progression and graduation from elementary and middle schools. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series:

African-American History Month (February) Back to School (August)
Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) Labor Day (Sept. 1)
Women's History Month (March) Grandparents Day (Sept. 7)
St. Patrick's Day (March 17) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) Halloween (Oct. 31)
Older Americans Month (May) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month
Mother's Day (May 11) (November)
Father's Day (June 15) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
The Fourth of July (July 4) Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27)
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) The Holiday Season (December)

Editor's note: Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and, therefore, are subject to sampling error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone:
(301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: < pio@census.gov>.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Public Information Office
(301) 763-3030
Last Revised: August 11, 2003 at 07:27:55 AM

Enjoy and have a great week everyone. Happy Monday

Michelle

2005 AIA Home Design Trends Survey Results

2005-08-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

I saw this article on The Mature Market and thought that it would be great to know what the largest consumers of products and services, are looking to move in to for their retirement years.

Well until next time have a great rest of the week.

Michelle

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announces the results of its first-ever Home Design Trends Survey.

Reflective of an aging population and the “baby boomer” generation approaching retirement, the survey results highlight an increasing demand for greater accessibility and single-floor design which promotes easier mobility within the home. Fueled by a strong housing market, architecture firms working in the residential sector have reported favorable business conditions; with 44% of respondents indicating that their overall billings increased by more than 5% in the first quarter of 2005, while only 10% reported declines in billings from the fourth quarter of 2004.

“Our data demonstrates that the remodeling market, for both additions/alterations and kitchen/bath renovations, were the strongest sectors in the residential market for the first quarter of 2005,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “Additionally, the condominium and town house market was nearly as strong, with over half of firms reporting improving conditions for these units. We have found that the primary drivers in this particular market are young adults and empty-nesters who are interested in moving into urban neighborhoods.”
Link to the full report: http://www.aia.org/econ_designsurvey_results

Baker also stated that, “There has been a significant shift in consumer preference from formal living and dining rooms towards more ‘informal spaces’ featuring an open space layout of family rooms, dens, and activity rooms.”

Key residential design trend findings:

• Accessibility: 62% of firms reported that homes are becoming more accessible with features such as wider hallways, fewer steps, and the growing popularity of single-floor design

• Informal space: 66% of firms reported that “informal space” is increasing, along with a trend towards an open space layout in the home

• Home size: 40% of firms reported square footage of homes is still increasing, while only 13% report declines

• Home layout: 49% of firms reported that finished basements and attics are increasing in popularity, as owners of older homes are looking to increase their living space

• Outdoors: 48% of firms reported upscale landscaping is on the increase, as is the popularity of outdoor living space with features such as decks, porches, and patios

• Amenities: 30% of firms reported the increase in other outdoor amenities including swimming pools, tennis courts, and gazebos

Firms in all regions reported positive business conditions, with those in the South experiencing the greatest gains and those in the Midwest lagging behind the other regions. Another contributing factor to the continued health of the housing market is the backlog of projects that firms have reported. The average project backlog of work under contract necessary to keep an entire staff fully employed is five to five and one-half months. This figure is especially significant due to the relatively short design period and tight schedules of many residential projects.

The AIA Home Design Trend Survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of 600 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in the residential sector. Future surveys will cover home features (special function rooms and special features in homes), emerging design trends (design of communities, use of technology in the home, new residential products), and kitchen and bath features and products.

About The American Institute of Architects
Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America's architects. As AIA members, nearly 75,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation's buildings and communities. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect's dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.

AIA: http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/186/

All of the above text is a press release provided by the quoted organization. TheMatureMarket.com accepts no responsibility for their accuracy.

Happy Birthday NetScape

2005-08-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

Scholars will argue about how the internet began. Was it in the 1960's when the department of Defense created ARPANET to link scientific and academic researchers when the Soviets attacked? Could it be when the domain name system (DNS) was designed in 1983 to give us .com, .edu, .org and the like? Was it in 1985 when the National Science Foundation created NSFNET for research and educational communication? Could it be when, I hate to admit it, AOL appeared on the scene in 1989?

While the historians slug it out, let's look at things from a socioeconomic perspective. The internet as we know it was made possible ten years ago this week with the introduction of the Netscape browser. Earlier that year saw the emergence of AOL (after six years it finally caught on) and CompuServe along with Amazon.com, but it was Netscape that brought the internet to the masses. Of course Microsoft played catch-up by giving away Internet Explorer with Windows 95.

The Alta Vista search engine and RealAudio appeared along with annual fees for domain name registration. The dot-com boom was on. The next year saw Yahoo, Ebay, Expedia, Travelocity, and ICQ instant messaging. AOL had 5 million subscribers which doubled by the next year. Netscape still held 87% of the browser market by 1996 with IE at 4%.

How interesting that ten years later Internet Explorer is 90% of the browser market (insert conspiracy theories here...) In fact, Netscape now ranks fifth under Firefox, Mozilla, and AOL as of June 2005. AOL, however, still holds the largest share of the ISP market (24%)compared to other individual providers, but that means that 76% aren't using AOL. Google (45%), Yahoo, and MSN rule the search engine arena with early bird AltaVista still out there but adrift in cyberspace.

We've come a long way in ten years and so much has changed (for better or worse—you decide) thanks to the internet. A toast to Netscape Navigator on its tenth birthday: although we like Internet Explorer and Firefox better, you will always have a place in history.

~ David

David is owner and moderator of WorldStart Computer Tips: Your online source for computer tips and techniques in easy to understand language. Also, check out our software store for great deals.

Monday Morning Fun

2005-08-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

It is Sunday and I thought that this would be good to start your Monday mornings off with. I will try to do this every week as I feel it is great to start back at work in a happy mood. Happy Monday everyone and may you have a great, profitable week.

Michelle Zambos-Duerksen

Tech calls from the computer Illiterate...

AST technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in.

A Dell customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything, After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the monitor screen and hitting the "send" key.

Another Dell customer called to complain that his keyboard no longer worked. He had cleaned it by filling up his tub with soap and water and soaking the keyboard for a day, then removing all the keys and washing them individually.

An exasperated caller to Tech Support couldn't get her new Computer to turn on. After ensuring the computer was plugged in, the technician asked her what happened when she pushed the power button. Her response, "I pushed and pushed on this foot pedal and nothing happens." The "foot pedal" turned out to be the computer's mouse.

Customer: "I received the software update you sent, but I am still getting the same error message."
Tech Support: "Did you install the update?"
Customer: "No. Oh, am I supposed to install it to get it to work?"

A user trying to install new software...
Customer: "I'm having a problem here. Do I put the serial number in the box that says 'serial number,' or do I put it in the box that says 'company'?"

Tech Support: "What seems to be the problem?"
Customer: "When I change my font sizes, the letters change size."

More stories can be found at the Computer Stupidities web site
http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/

Elevator Speech

2005-08-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

Many people ask what is the purpose of an Elevator Speech and how do I go about putting one together. I have volunteered for over a year now in assisting Executives that have become unemployed in how to get back to work. One of the first things we teach these professionals is the power of a great elevator speech and the reason for it. I have done an online discussion on this topic in the past and felt that it would be great to share it with all of you.

The
Elevator Speech

(The 30 second Commercial)

The Purpose of the Elevator Speech is to alert your listener to your company background and aspirations. It stimulates their interest in learning more about you. It confines your introduction to an average adult’s attention span.

Your elevator speech identifies company high-spots and provides some background sprinkled with quantified accomplishments. When someone says, “Tell me about yourself,” The ‘commercial’ is both an answer and an introductory marketing pitch.

The Elevator Speech is an important part of articulating your company goals, creating a positive, lasting impression with the listener, any networking meeting, a pre-screening meeting with a potential client, an informational interview, a job interview, in social situations, or wherever there is an occasion to market you.

Outline of an Elevator Speech.

1. Start with an introduction of yourself.

a. Hello I am Michelle Zambos-Duerksen of M’n’M Support Specialists

2. What types of companies do you Service

a. Our company services small, new to young companies in the landscape design arena.

3. What services do you offer (sub-group)

a. Organizing financial records

b. Project Timelines

4. What will the potential client gain

a. Concentrate on completing the project

b. More time with family

c. Less stress

5. Give an example

a. For example, we have one client whose books we put in order for last year before meeting with his Tax Attorney. This year he had only 5 hours of work completed by his Tax Attorney compared to 45 hours the year before, after what we invoiced him, it worked out to a savings of $3,000.

6. Conclusion – This could be one of two things.

a. Ask a question

i. Do you know of someone who could benefit from our services? Great! Do you mind giving me their contact information so that I could contact them on Wednesday to find out more about their company? This would not be a sales call, just an informational interview.

b. Ask for the meeting

i. If their company is one you want to work with then ask for the meeting. I would love to talk to you more about what my company might be able to do to help take the burden off you. Would Wednesday at 10:00 AM work well for you?

My Elevator Speech

Hello, I am Michelle Zambos-Duerksen, of M’n’M Support Specialists, a Virtual Assistant company. Our company services small, new to young companies in the landscape design arena. We assist these companies by organizing their financial records and setting up their project timelines. We Take the Burden Off our clients to where they have more free time with their families, less stress, and projects are completed on time with a higher profit margin. For example, we have one client whose books we put in order for last year before meeting with his Tax Attorney. This year he had only 5 hours of work completed by his Tax Attorney compared to 45 hours the year before, after what we invoiced him, it worked out to be a savings of $3,000. Do you know of someone who could benefit from our services? Great! Do you mind giving me their contact information so that I could contact them on Wednesday to find out more about their company? This would not be a sales call just an informational interview.

Conclusion

Your introduction needs to be flexible – customized and responsive to the agenda and needs of the listener. It is important to be able to expand your story when the opportunity presents itself, or to hold back if that is more
appropriate. In either case, once you are comfortable with your basic story, you will find telephoning, networking, interviewing, and negotiation to be easier, more rewarding and exciting.

Are there any questions?

Welcome

2005-08-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take the time to Welcome you and let you know a little bit about what you will be able to find here. Check back here often for tips in Microsoft (MS) Office programs and some unknown short cuts along with tips about Quickbooks (QB) Pro 2005. I will post information on the changes in the construction industry and some of the newest materials being offered.

Being a Virtual Assistant (VA) is something that I love doing and would love to share more information on the industry with you. From time to time I will post articles on the industry and its growth to help educate you more about the industry and the benefits of using a VA over hiring an on-site administrator.

My background includes a Microsoft Office Specialists Certification. I have worked in the Construction industry for over 5 years and keep up with the latest news in equipment and supplies to assist you in making your construction build go more efficient.

It is a pleasure to welcome you, and to get you started, here is a listing of the most common short cut keys used in MS Word and Excel.

Function Keys
Key Stroke	Action
F1	Help
F2	Move Text or Graphic
F3	Insert Auto Text
F4	Repeat
F5	Go To
F6	Next pane
F7	Spelling
F8	Extend Selection
F9	Update fields
F10	Go to menus
F11	next field
F12	Save as
Home	Beginning of Line
Ctrl + Home	Beginning of Document
End	End of line
Ctrl + End	End of Document

Control + Keys
Key Stroke	Action
Alt + Ctrl + O	Outline View
Ctrl + A	Select All
Ctrl + B	Bold
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + E	Center Text
Ctrl + Enter	Page Break
Ctrl + F	Find
Ctrl + F2	Print Preview
Ctrl + G	Go To
Ctrl + H	Replace Text
Ctrl + I	Italics
Ctrl + J	Align text left, right, or center
Ctrl + K	Hyper link
Ctrl + L	Align Text Left
Ctrl + N	New Document
Ctrl + O	Open Existing File
Ctrl + P	Print
Ctrl + R	Align Text Right
Ctrl + S	Save Document
Ctrl + U	Underline
Ctrl + V	Paste
Ctrl + X	Cut
Ctrl + Y	Repeat last action
Ctrl + Z	Undo last action

Michelle Zambos-Duerksen
Principal Virtual Consultant
M'n'M Support Specialists
The Contractor's Choice
"Let Us Take the Burden Off You!!"
www.mnmsupportspecialists.com