When I was growing up, I actually considered a career in politics. I quickly changed my mind, though, when I discovered that there was way too much politics involved in it. Obviously, that’s a play on words, but I get funny looks from people when I tell them that. However, I am completely serious. The politics of running for and holding elective office is influenced too much by the politics of power, influence, and money. But whose fault is it that such a condition exists? I believe voters have no one to blame but themselves.

As a voting public, we have become entirely too sophisticated for our own good. Many of us have made a habit of voting pragmatically, i.e., voting for the person we think has the best chance to win instead of the person we most agree with. We complain about wishy-washy politicians who won’t give us straight answers, yet when people who say what they really think run for office, we dismiss them as being “loose cannons.” When any candidate makes a statement that’s evenly slightly out of the mainstream, it is considered such an egregious act that he or she either becomes marginalized or is forced to drop out of the race. What’s left is a bunch of cautious and robotic weenies with their fingers in the wind - people who form their decisions based on polls and focus groups.

We say we want candidates who are different, but not too different. We say we want new ideas but we shun candidates that seem the least bit precocious. Therefore, we end up with the kinds of candidates we’ve always had.

I’ve often heard voters comment on candidates by making statements like “I couldn’t imagine her being elected” or “he sends shivers down my spine.” Most people will automatically exclude any candidate who would fit those kinds of descriptions. But should they? Sometimes good candidates come in packages that might be a little different or even a bit scary. By disqualifying those types of candidates, we could be missing out on some potentially great leaders. I wonder how many of today’s sophisticated voters would consider someone like Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, or Teddy Roosevelt too much of a “nut” to be elected.

We like to say the issues are the important things to us. However, many of us vote based on personalities. For example, we will decide on a presidential candidate based on who seems the most “presidential” (whatever that means). We are also too concerned about meaningless ceremonial issues. For example, I bet some people wouldn’t vote for an unmarried man for president because of their concern about the absence of a first lady. We also put too great of an emphasis on superficial issues such as aesthetics, i.e., how someone looks. Richard Nixon may have lost the 1960 election because he didn’t look as good on TV as John F. Kennedy during their debate.

We also stress a candidate’s education a little too much. Education is important, but it’s not everything. Some of smartest people in the world never attended college. However, many of us wouldn’t consider someone for any office higher than dog catcher unless he or she had at least a Bachelor’s degree.

Many voters make their ballot selections based on personal greed instead of what’s best for their country, state, district, or locality. They will reserve their votes for politicians whom they think will give them things and/or make life easier for them. Of course, Politicians constantly exploit this greed by making outlandish promises. Once these politicians are elected, they either have to renege on those promises or create budget deficits in order to bring them about.

Other voters, while not so much motivated by personal greed, will vote based on localized interests at the expense of the more general interests. For example, they might vote for a particular congressional candidate because they think he will bring a lot of goodies to their district. This mentality also helps to forge a cycle of promises, broken promises, and budget deficits. Until voters begin to put the general good ahead of personal and parochial interests, these problems will persist.

We like to blame the news media for all of the “gotcha” political stories that pry too deeply into the personal lives and distant past history of candidates and therefore keep many good and qualified people out the political arena. However, it is ultimately our fault because we eat that stuff up. We can’t get enough of it. The more dirt the news outlets dig up on various candidates, the more we buy their newspapers and tune in to their TV and radio stations for more of those stories. The sad part is that we allow that stuff to influence our votes. Most of it is irrelevant to the issues at hand and should not be taken seriously by voters. We do usually ignore the parts about the candidates or parties we like, but we tend to believe the parts about the candidates or parties we don’t like. Therefore, the news media keeps feeding us this garbage.

Last but not least, one of our biggest problems is our unwillingness to vote for independent or third party candidates. These candidates generally do not have obligations to party bosses or quid pro quo relationships with lobbyists like the major party candidates do. Very often, we will vote for the lesser of two evils, rather than an independent or third party candidate who might be much better. Of course, when you vote for the lesser of two evils, you’re still voting for an evil. Many people feel like they would be wasting their vote by voting for any of those other candidates. This is simply not true. A voter only wastes his/her vote when he/she votes for someone he/she does not really like. Instead, we create a voting catch-22 for ourselves, i.e., no one will vote for Mr. Independent because he has no chance; Mr. Independent has no chance because no one will vote for him. If enough people decided to start voting their conscience, we could break that vicious cycle.

Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, and trivia buff from Hopewell, VA. He also serves as a political columnist for American Daily and operates his own website - http://www.commenterry.com - on which he posts commentaries on various subjects such as politics, technology, religion, health and well-being, personal finance, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media.

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Deceased Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, it turns out, was originally from Wisconsin and was a Green Bay Packer fan. It also turns out that he was a mild and pleasant man who was known for his gentle wit. Ahhh Crap! I just hate it when people like him, whose philosophies I disagree with, are nice guys. It would’ve made me so much happier if he’d been revealed to enjoy murdering and eating puppies. Then I could’ve continued believing that he was vile in every single way.

Obituaries all make reference to Bush v. Gore as a defining case in his long career, mostly these obituaries refer to it as a ‘blot’. ‘Blot’, I’d have to say, is much too nice a word for what he did. The United States will forever be changed because the Supreme Court upheld election fraud as a precedent. And his was the deciding vote.

I don’t think many liberals are actually worried about John Roberts taking over as Chief Justice. Oh, sure, he’s supposed to be ‘qualified’ and all that, but he’s taking the place of a far right conservative and he’ll be a wash as far as the make-up of the court goes. Conservative replacing a conservative. Status Quo. Even Sandra Day O’Conner’s replacement isn’t too much of a concern because she was appointed by a Republican president and even though she was well known as a swing voter, whose to say her replacement won’t turn out to be a swinger, too? It’s a funny thing that the Supreme Court Judges who turned out to be the most liberal were also appointed by conservative presidents.

Here’s the big question, ready for it …. abortion. Will the new judges on the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade? My guess? Nope. Not at all. Conservative judges, real conservative judges, don’t believe in overturning precedents. They also don’t that the court should be activist (ie) they don’t believe that the judiciarie’s role is to be making laws, only interpeting the ones we have. So the more conservative they are the less likely they are to change things.

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Cellular phone service - pick the one you like.

You can select the cellular phone service of your choice from one of the many cellular phone companies like AT&T, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, and many more. When choosing a cellular phone service from one of the companies you will have access to a range of cellular phone plans. You can pick the best services by evaluating cellular companies’ features, customer service, voice quality, ease of operation, coverage, cellular phones, additional services like instant messenger, and many more.

Cellular phone service - Coverage

Coverage is very important to consider when selecting a cellular phone service. You cellular phone plan may allow you to call nationally or may offer just regional coverage. You may not be able to use your cellular phone when you travel somewhere if you service plan doesn’t offer excellent coverage. The signal could be weak in some places or inside the buildings.

Cellular phone service - SMS

SMS (Text Messaging) is a useful feature that can be offered when you select a cellular phone service. It is not offered by all companies or you may have to pay a fee to use it. Look for the promotions to find the SMS service included in the sign up package.

Cellular phone service - International Calling

If you are doing business with global companies based in other countries, you might want to consider a cellular phone service that offers international calling. This service is expensive and you may be able to get a better rate with some calling cards. So consider all pros and cons and make a decision about adding international calling to your cellular plan. International roaming is another service that you might want to take into account.

Visit http://www.camera-cell-phones-2u.com

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In a related article The PSU Factor, I said that it is inevitable a PSU purchase is looming on the horizon. The reason being, your current PSU is probably a few years old, it came with your computer system you bought online at a great price, and you have no idea what the specs are. Taking into consideration your computer manufacturer more than likely had a reliable power supply as being LAST on their list, or not on their list at all, pretty much guarantees something is about to happen shortly you won’t like.

The PSU Explosion

Over the last few years, the number of manufacturers producing power supply units have increased almost exponentially. If the company makes computer fans or computer cases, chances are they also manufacture PSUs. This makes for a confusing market for the consumer because of the massive selection of power supplies and the varying differences in the quality of those power supplies.

Determine What You Need

Before you begin any type of shopping for a PSU, find the amount of power required which your computer system is currently using. If you plan on upgrading your computer system and will be using the power supply, then it is wise to forecast the wattage for your future computer system. One particular way of determining this, is using an online PSU wattage calculator. The one I reference, eXtreme PSU Calculator, is in my opinion, the best one found online so far, and takes into account many of the latest systems such as dual- and quad-processors, overclocking, SCSI, SATA, and much more. In addition to the eXtreme PSU Calculator, eXtreme Outer Vision’s website is also a great place to go for other calculators relating to other aspects of your PC.

Once you have a general idea of how much wattage your computer system will need, the amperage and the number of rails provided need to be determined.

Rails, Wattage And Amperage

Knowing the total amount of watts your system requires is certainly a good thing, but what’s even more important, is knowing how many amps the PSU will provide, and on what rails the amperage will be distributed. The most important rail is the 12V line. Today’s motherboards, processors, graphics cards, hard drives, and other components, use the 12V line. The 5V line is not so important anymore and computers built several years ago use them. When you see a 500W PSU, and notice there are 50A on the 5V line, then this should tell you there will be problems. Why? Because that’s 250W which is basically available for your entire computer system–but it cannot use it because the newer PC components require a 12V line. So, now you’re talking about 250W remaining that is actually usable. Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it. Your 500W “SLi Ready” or “High Performance” PSU is far less than what the outside of the box says it is.

Be sure your 12V rail has enough amps to support your system. How do you know what the proper amount of amps should be? Well, suppose you find out after entering in all your component information in a PSU calculator, you come up with 625W. Take 625 and divide this by 12, which will give you the amps. This gives you 58A which should be on the 12V rails exclusively. You might also find it interesting to take manufacturer’s PSU wattage claims and then divide them by 12 and see how many amps are actually offered on the 12V rails versus how much you need.

The Rails

When discussing a PSU or reading an article/post about power supplies and especially figuring out which PSU to purchase, the term rails will more than likely come up. A rail is basically the voltage output of a PSU, and there can be several voltage outputs. Ideally, there should be separate rails for hard drives, graphics cards, and CD/DVD drives. Why? Well, because if you have only one “rail” delivering power to all of these components, the power will be split up between all of these components. This is not the preferred method of power current delivery because all of these components have different requirements. One faulty device could send off a chain reaction to other devices since the power is being distributed through one cable. So, finding a power supply with separate rails and their own separate power current for specific devices, is what to look for.

Temperature, Temperature, Temperature!

All this preparation and know-how is great, but unfortunately, we still have to be careful when looking at the specs of power supplies. Many manufacturers are now competing with legitimate ones by simply changing a very important factor of PSU specs: the temperature the PSU was tested at when the specs were taken. Currently, only one PSU manufacturer tests their PSUs at realistic temps, which are tested at 50C. The manufacturer is PC Power & Cooling, Inc. You’ve probably heard of them mentioned as the most serious PSU manufacturer, the most upfront and direct when it comes to dispelling the myths of PSUs, and you’ve probably noticed their products are not for the squeemishly budget-minded either. One thing is certain, if you want to avoid future troubleshooting of your PSU, PCP&C are the people you should get to know. They publish their 50C temperature specifications on every PSU and are not hiding behind the withholding of such information.

Changes Are Needed

I will say for the record we need the latest ATX specifications to be more strict on testing conditions. Currently, the testing conditions can be anywhere from 10C (50F) to 50C (122F). I don’t know about you, but the inside of my computer case is rarely 10C (50F). And even if it was, I don’t want a power supply to be rated by the coolest my computer has been or could be, I want the PSU to be rated at the HOTTEST my computer has been or might be if I have it running full throttle. Makes sense, right? When you buy tires for a sports car, those tire ratings aren’t for driving at 20MPH speeds in a School Zone.

Are Cheap PSUs Bad?

Actually, no. It really depends on what you’re going to use the PSU with. However, more and more claims of “Sli Ready”, “SLi Certified”, and “High Performance” paired with 600W-700W PSUs selling for only $150, the marketing is clear: You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a high-end PSU to power your high-end computer. Nothing could be further from the truth. But as we should know, classic marketing has always told the consumer you can get something for just about nothing. And as we should know, the consumer ends up losing down the road for the cheap purchase.

If you don’t have or plan on purchasing two video graphics cards, two processors on your motherboard, don’t overclock, and basically just use your PC for checking email, then yes, a $50 PSU would probably suffice. However, if you’re thinking you can get a cheap PSU to power your high-end system, it just isn’t going to happen. Well, it will happen–it just won’t happen the way you intended it to happen. You spent all that money on video cards, a performance motherboard, high-end memory, and yet for some reason you’re skimping on a PSU–a component which is literally the “heart” of your computer system. Please don’t. Spending a few hundred dollars on a PSU is a wise investment.

Conclusion

The biggest factor you should take from this article is making sure you know the testing temperature of the PSU you are planning to buy. Chances are, the manufacturer will quote you 25C at best, when it should be 35C-40C at the least. If a manufacturer doesn’t tell you, refuses to give direct answers, or doesn’t get back with you, then it is best advised to not buy that product.

An inexpensive PSU can still be a viable solution if you don’t have a lot of components which require a massive amount of power. So, if you do have a basic computer system and don’t plan on expanding or adding a lot of components, then an inexpensive PSU might be your best purchase initially. However, be aware there is no guarantee on the reliability and your computer system could suffer.

©2006 by Jason Busch (DigitalDingus)

Purchasing A Power Supply Unit For Your Computer

A part of The DigitalDingus Guide To Computers & Hardware series.

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Graduation Gowns

Graduation Regalia

Cap and Tassel

Graduation caps are rather flat mortarboards at the top with four sides normally worn on the head during graduation ceremonies. The graduation cap and tassel form part of the graduation regalia that is mandatory for graduates to wear. Normally, the cap is black in color but also comes in various colors that match with the gown. The cap has a tassel in the center held by a button for easy removal. The color of the tassel normally matches that of the institution granting the degree. In most instances, a graduation cap and tassel are sold separately in different colors, shapes and sizes. However, sometimes they are hired or sold together. Sometimes, a rubber band is used to tie the tassel securely to the cap so that it does not come off. Being part of the graduation regalia, it is important for graduates to select an appropriate cap and tassel for their various degree levels and schools.

Graduation Information On The Internet

Graduation information is available all over the internet. You’ll find multiple links which can assist you in your research. Gordon International offers a lot of information which can be useful to anyone ordering graduation regalia but if you’re looking for specific history please see the link provided below.
The Following Site Offers Great Information About Graduation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress wikipedia provides the searcher with a great information source for any type of search. You can go to their search wiki and place an random search in the engine and you’ll come across a few useful sources & articles.

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Used laptops come in two varieties: used and refurbished.

What Are Used Laptops?

Used laptops are those that have been used by a consumer for any length of time and then resold. Even if computers are only one day old, stores cannot sell them as new laptops, they become used laptops.

What Are Refurbished Laptops?

A refurbished laptop is a computer that has been used anywhere from 1 to 90 days, and then returned to the store or manufacturer who then resells it, or repairs and replaces any needed parts in order to sell it. Some of these refurbished computers may be just as good as new computers, but you can get them at a much lower price.

What To Look For When Buying Used:

1. Condition

The first thing that you should look at is the used computer’s condition. It has been recommended to stay away from laptops that are over 3 years old. The system will be outdated and may not be able to run some of the software and programs that are currently available. You may even want to stick to laptops that are less than 18 months old. Refurbished laptops do not have some of these concerns because they are newer and have been repaired and tuned up.

2. Features

The features offered on used laptops are the next important factor you should take under consideration. If you need speed, you need to keep in mind that used laptops run slower than desktops with the same processing systems. Do not buy used laptops with less than 128 MB of memory; it may not be able to run many of the applications and programs that are standard in today’s computers. You can get used laptops that are powered by anywhere from 20 GB to 80 GB depending on your processing and computing needs. The screen size, definition, and resolution are other important issues in laptops. Make sure that the laptop you are looking at has the capabilities to do what you need it to do media and entertainment-wise.

3. Portability

Portability of laptops is also an important issue. Laptops are getting thinner and lighter every day. Does the laptop you are looking at weigh a lot? Make sure you add in the weight of the case and any other accessories you will be carrying.

Remember:

When buying used laptops from a private seller or an acquaintance, be careful. Have the used laptops checked out thoroughly by a neutral party or professional. Every good bargain shopper knows that you can find deals by shopping for pre-owned items. Laptop computers are no exception. Educate yourself on your wants and needs and you will get what you want.

By Margarette Tustle. Find laptop resources for laptop computers at dnalaptop.com.

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Downloadable Ring tones - The Latest Trend

What can you say about ring tones? NOTHING … except that cell phones capable of downloading ringtones are the newest “must have” item today! One of the fastest growing features today is ringtones, especially downloadable ones! There are other downloadable items available on the Internet too like Java Games. Various wallpapers and screen savers are hot too but by far the most popular feature requested is downloadable ringtones.

The cell phone and their various ringtones have become status symbols. Ringtones show that you’re up to date and happening. You can even take a test that defines which ringtone best suits your personality. You can truly display your lifestyle and certainly your musical taste on your sleeve.

This article will describe briefly what ring tones are, what’s currently available and what the future holds. It will also suggest a caveat to consider prior to downloading the multitude of formats of available on the market. Prices are low and the sky’s the limit, so read on.

* Just What Are Downloadable Ringtones?
* A Caveat Before You Buy!
* What’s Available?
* A Brief Glimpse At Ancient History.
* Ringtones - Where Do We Go From Here?
* Other Products Available On Ringtone Websites
* What Can You Say About Ringtones

Just What Are Downloadable Ringtones?

Ringtones are the sound that a regular or cell phone makes when it’s rings. Early ring tones were simple chimes and on later models, a combination of chimes. Limited numbers of ringtones were available and mostly consisted of different patterns of tones or chirps. An example of one of the most infamous ringtones was the ominous” ring ring…ring ring” that is reminiscent of Todd Beamer’s last telephone call on 9/11. You can hear that ringtone featured as an intro to Neil Young’s famous song “Let’s Roll.”

Ringtone technology developed quickly and has progressed a lot since that song was recorded. Originally, you purchased a cell phone and had a choice of monophonic ring tones that produced a one note song. The number of songs was extremely limited and downloadable ring tones were simply an Engineering student’s good idea.

Because of lightning speed technology and numerous service providers, one of the latest and greatest features available today is downloadable ringtones. When you’re surfing the ‘Net you’ll find plenty of sites offering tones by today’s hottest musicians; you can pick monophonic, polyphonic or true tone formats. More on that later.

A Caveat Before You Buy!

The first thing you need to know before you select, buy and download a suitable ring tone is if your cell phone is up to date enough to utilize this feature. Like everything else in technology, cell phones have evolved very quickly. As a result the cell phone that you purchased just a year ago may not have the ability to fully access the type of ring tone currently available. So make sure you check. Re-read your manual or call your service provider to find out. It’s possible that you can upgrade your phone for a reasonably low fee.

What’s Available?

Ringtones are divided into three formats.

1. Monophonic
2. Polyphonic
3. True Tone or Real Tone

To understand this type of technology, a person needs to have a physics/mathematics background and understand musical composition. Luckily, all that is needed to know is what types of ringtones are available and what they sound like. The following is a description of three types of ringtones, monophonic, polyphonic and true tone. Most websites offer samples of each and once you hear an example, you’ll know what type you’ll want to use on your cell phone.

1) Monophonic Ringtones
Some of the first cell phones came equipped with the capability of having a one tone ringer. “Monophonic” is the simplest of ring tone technology that uses a midi format. This “one note wonder” changed ringtones. Gone were the chirps and chimes; now you could play a song. A monophonic ringtone is single notes playing a song. You can recognize your favorite song but it sounds a little lame. Most monophonic tones are offered free of charge because of more full bodied tones now available, but if you’re trying to make a statement, however, read on.

2) Polyphonic Ringtones
Polyphonic ring tones also use midi technology but the tonal quality is richer and has more depth. This is because polyphonic ringtones can play up to 40 notes or more. A quick example is the sound produced when Windows XP® starts up. It reproduces the sound of an orchestra playing a note rather than one instrument playing the same note.
Polyphonic with its richer tonal quality sounds better than monophonic but when compared to MP3 quality it sounds pretty weak. Midi format may be adequate for basic ringers and great for greeting cards but if it’s real sound that you want for your cell phone, keep reading.

3) Truetone And Mp3’s
The future of sound for ringtones seems to be hifi quality. The real tone or true tone ringtones that can be downloaded onto your cell phone are equivalent to an MP3 player quality and sounds a little like an iPod.

True tone technology will allow the user to hear recorded voices such as Austin Powers announcing “You’re phone is ringing, baby, yeah”. This recording is so convincing that people will be looking for Mike Myers. Songs like Outkast’s “Hey Ya” and the Starsky and Hutch theme song are downloadable as well. With a built in microphone you can record your own or someone else’s voice. True tone ringtones will even mimic a real old fashioned telephone ring. How’s that for retro?

A Brief Glimpse At Ancient History

In the almost ancient past, cell phones came with one ringer and no features at all. Wall paper was something that decorated your home and SMS was unheard of. Cell phones were big and cumbersome and used only by the elite or as marketing gurus put it, “Early Adopters.” Very few people owned cell phones because of the size and expense.

Digital technology changed all. All of a sudden a lot of people were buying and using cell phones. This was confusing because every time a phone rang, everyone in the room started to rummage through their bags and pockets to answer it. A unique sound was the answer and that is how ring tones of every description came into being.

Ringtones - Where Do We Go From Here?

Some technical websites declare that the cell phone of tomorrow will replace the MP3 player of today. This will be possible once a dual use battery is invented that can hold a sufficiently long enough charge. The power would last more than a few hours and be easily recharged. The “techies” declare that memory capabilities must be enhanced so that the user can download and store hundreds of thousands of songs. This isn’t that far off, in fact an MP3 player being replaced by a cell phone is considered possible within 5 years according to most technical websites.

Other Products Available On Ringtone Websites

Sound mixers and Recordable Devices
A 2002 Motorola cell phone came with an audio mixer that could harness the hundreds of musical instruments in a midi format. This cell phone has greatly evolved and allows you to program special effects. Effects include echo and reverb to name just a couple. You can program your own ringtone, download it onto your phone and then enhance it with the above hifi effects.

Wall paper and Logos
Many cell phones are used to connect to the Internet and also do double duty as palm pilots. This has necessitated a larger screen and with that you need special wall paper. You can choose from a multitude of assortments. Your favorite logos are also downloadable. Logos of every sports team are available.

Java Games
Whether you’re waiting for the dentist or the bus, passing the time is far quicker by playing a computer game. Java games are available from the same websites that offer huge assortments of wallpaper and ringtones. Google the word Java Game or Gamer and there’s lots of websites sites to choose.

SMS (Short Message Service)
ICQ (I Seek You) was the pioneer of the SMS technology and still remains on the cutting edge of SMS technology. ICQ is pretty advanced and still progressing. It offers the availability of staying in real time communication and allows a large address book. As part of the ICQ community, there are message boards, chat rooms and user lists available. ICQ also offer unique ringtones as well. SMS Google is catching up quickly and now provides the user with the option of text messaging a query directly to its web site using a cell phone.

What Can You Say About Ringtones

So there you have it, what can you say about ringtones? It seems in today’s wireless world and with cutting edge technology, quite a.bit. Gone are the days where a single bell chime or as Lily Tomlin put it so well: “one ringy dingy, two ringy dingy” had to sound to get your attention. Today the choices are endless so shop around for what suits you best in your own unique ringtone. Stay in touch!

© 2005 http://www.cell-phone-n-plans.com

About the Author
Lillian Fuller is a talented and successful freelance writer for hire providing tips and advice for consumers about cell phones, cell phone plans, and cell phone ringtones. Her numerous articles offer valuable insight and informative views on many different topics.

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Where would we be without today’s mobile phone? Not many years ago cellular or mobile phones didn’t exist. Today, nearly everybody has one. It is one of the largest growing markets in the world and will eventually become the largest. The current choices of cell phone handsets are amazing. There is a phone to suit everyone’s needs, whatever their requirements, tastes and necessities. The features available on the handsets today are quite astonishing. Regardless of your preference, it is almost certain you will find a model, colour, shape, available options, price and any other combination you wish to have. It has become almost mandatory that you possess the latest, most technically advanced handset on offer. It has become a fashion icon, equally as important as the very latest designer clothes and accessories.

Customisation of mobile phones now has a cult following. Custom options are available for you to accessorize your phone to your own personal tastes, unique to you. You can change the colour of the handset, add flashing displays, change the ringing tones and add lots of other modifications. This makes your phone totally different from your friends’ and family’s handsets. It emphasises your sense of individuality with its distinctive customisation and can be identified immediately.

The contents of the handset can also be customised to reflect your identity. One way is to specialise in different ring tones or true tones. These are much more pleasant to listen to than the old fashioned shrieks and buzzes associated with the original mobile phones. You can also program your phone to play a huge variety of games, videos, screensavers and much else. You can have your mobile linked to the internet with all the benefits it has to offer. The fun and usefulness of the modern mobile phone has become an integral part of everyday life. We would now find it difficult to imagine life without one. The mobile telephone with the latest built in camera facility deserves a particular mention. The quality of the pictures is outstanding, with ‘focus correct’, ‘lighting correct’ and excellent colour. The speed is instantaneous and the system is cheap to operate. You can even mail your pictures to any part of the world to someone who has an email address.

The manufactures of mobile telephones are at the absolute cutting edge of technical developments in communication technologies. They are constantly bringing out advanced features, new additions to facilities and, more importantly, new developments in mobile communication techniques. Within the next few years today’s mobile phone will be obsolete.

One other important point for the mobile telephone user is the cost, which will inevitably come down, along with the cost of the hardware and the cost of service. The user market will expand, the competition will increase and therefore costs will fall meaning you will probably use your mobile even more as the operating costs come down and technology improves. Many people are already dispensing with a land line in their home, and use only their mobile.

It’s important to keep up to date with the latest innovations and keep abreast of the developments in mobile/cell phones which are improving almost daily. These constant improvements will lead to ever greater benefits in modern communication systems.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Cell Phones

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A new scheme has been launched in three towns across the UK, encouraging people to report anti-social behaviour using their mobile camera phones. Harlow in Essex (home town of Mouse2house.co.uk) as well as Bristol and Ipswich have been given the opportunity to test this new way of reporting anti-social behaviour.

Initially residents are being invited to snap photos of graffiti and vandalism using their mobile phones, which can then be sent over the mobile phone network to council officers on 07739 888 558 with the word Harlow, Bristol or Ipswich (depending on which town you are in) followed by details of where the offence has taken place. Once the image/s are received at the council offices they will then be added to the anti-social behaviour database, which is shared across several other organisations. The cost of sending a message is dependent on the person’s mobile phone tariff.

Harlow council joint leader Cllr Chris Millington said: “This new service will help increase people’s involvement in making Harlow a safer, cleaner place to live by expanding the ways in which these crimes are reported to us”. “It’s important to stress,” said the other joint leader, Cllr Kevin Brooks, “that we don’t want people to put themselves at risk by photographing perpetrators as they commit the crime, but photos of damage caused by anti-social behaviour will be useful in monitoring activity and building up evidence”.

According to a police spokesman, the police in Harlow welcome this partnership initiative as it encourages residents to become involved in helping towards the improvement of the environment and local community. If the scheme is proven to be successful in the three towns, it is proposed that the scheme is rolled out across the rest of the country.

This type of scheme demonstrates the changing face of the mobile phone and it’s use. It is no longer just a device for making phone calls, but a mobile device with many uses i.e. photos, video, music, note taking, voice recording etc. Imagine if you are unfortunately involved in a minor motor accident, you would be able to take photographic, video and audio records of the incident details which can later be used as evidence if necessary, no more 3rd parties denying that the accident took place or changing the story of what actually happened!

If you already have one of these great devices, don’t forget the most important part, the memory card to record on to. You can get exactly what you need from www.mouse2house.co.uk, where else!

Article by Iggy Quazi director of Ecommerce business Mouse2House based in Essex, England stocking a wide range of digital imaging devices. For more info see www.mouse2house.co.uk for the latest digital media products. For Flash Memory Cards visit www.mouse2house.co.uk/index.php?CatURN=637

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The cartridge world is a rotating atmosphere of both genuine and remanufactured ink cartridges. The question is, how genuine is imported ink from foreign suppliers?

There are several genuine reasons. It’s just a matter of who gives you the right answers. Multiple vendors will give you multiple answers, which may drive you around in circles.

Sometimes representatives will overwhelm the customer with too much technical information and lose them during the first minute of an explanation.

Mainly, the difference is going to be mostly made up of price, ink quality, service and the outside packaging of the box. Oh did I mention, the components on the inside of the cartridge which you can’t normally with the naked eye, unless taken apart.

The wrong ink cartridge can mislead or damage your printer.

Cartridge users don’t always realize that genuine cartridges are assembled with new and used parts. So if new cartridges contain used parts then why are they called “new”?

You’re paying top dollar mainly for the retail packaging that is used for marketing and branding purposes. The components just get reused until completely worn.

Based upon my experience with overseas ink, you should keep it local.

If there was a way where overhead can be reduced in a simple area like toner cartridges, just think of the possible savings that could take place in your pocket.

Your solution = “Domestic remanufactured ink cartridges” not “Overseas genuine printer ink from certain foreign suppliers. This is to ensure your print quality.

How can I prove this solution? Let me explain.

One time ago, I ordered some hp 51645A ink cartridges. All I did was take the ink cartridge out of the original box and it began to leak out through the printheads just from being in it’s printing position as if it were in the carriage.

It was unbelievable. Not every genuine ink or toner cartridge is built with Grade A performance.

What you need to know is who you know. Make sure to maintain a good if not excellent relationship with your supplier. Here’s a prime example using a toner cartridge where both analogies share relative similarities.

Forinstance; you order an HP C4127A toner cartridge for the LaserJet 4000 series, which consists of 600 grams of toner, and your current supplier is only providing 300 grams of toner, you’re being cheated 300 grams of toner.

At this point, if you’re not tech savvy you might not be able to take apart the cartridge and examine the exact amount.

Instead of yielding up to 6,000 pages, now you only have up to 3000 pages, limiting your page count.

Another tip of the iceberg is that third party vendors will not change the parts within the toner cartridge such as the drum, wiper blade, doctor blade and other parts that may be needed in order for the cartridge to perform at its best.

You may or may not have been told that you are able to use the cartridge multiple times before changing any parts, of course just refilling the cartridge with toner. That is true, if in fact when they become worn.

You can be notified the possible change or part replacement by your local supplier. This is why it is important to ask qualifying questions to be assured that you will get qualified answers.

Some may even be intimidated to come forward yet to realize that they might just need that bit of information to find what they are in search of.

Whatever you do, do not fall into that influential trap that technicians may attempt to sell you. Remember, in this industry or any industry, “There is no such thing as a stupid question.”

The only thing that is stupid if anything is not getting the right answer. Wrong answers can lead into the wrong things. You need to be given the right amount of information on your ink.

I think it’s time to dig under the surface of the skin during this next section. There is something that all toner cartridge sellers and buyers should be aware of when dealing with overseas importation of genuine ink cartridges.

You would be better off taking my personal experience than rather go through it yourself.

I tell you this because at one time I wish I had a mentor or someone who was knowledgeable enough to direct me instead of having to lose thousands of dollars.

This article will prevent you from falling into the same or similar traps that I once did, yet coming out a survivor and testify.

My international trade ventures with ink, I have come to acknowledge the business practice of “genuine” toner cartridges imported from overseas vendors may not always be so “genuine” after all.

Many distributors have been passing off remanufactured cartridges as original items. That is why if you encounter an overseas supplier, they may tell you that they cannot sell outside of a certain perimeter due to exporting laws and custom duties.

They do this by numerous methods, which also take place in the ink cartridge world. The process is relatively simple, yet deceiving. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) empty cartridges are gathered from various end users, kept in its original form, sometimes with new or used parts, sometimes not.

The “genuine” new style boxes are duplicated, inserted with a new remanufactured toner cartridge, with the same OEM label and sealed just like an original item. Wow, isn’t that clever?

At this point for business owners, pricing becomes more competitive with trade and can create a halt to sales within the United States.

It’s a matter of where they are.

Going back to the compatibility discussion, I can imagine how many of you are hesitant in using a remanufactured or compatible cartridge.

This either could have been from a bad experience or someone else’s personal experience that has left a bitter taste in your mouth.

For the most part, even throughout OEM (original equipment manufacturer) facilities, both new and used parts are assembled to makeup for production, then set up for distribution making it easier to sell to the end consumer.

If you’re an end user or reseller then you should listen up.

I bought about 10 HP C6578D remanufactured ink cartridges from a reseller. Eight of them were empty and were sold as finished product. Be careful out there.

We are in a day and an hour where the economy is so unstable.
Numerous amounts of remanufactures will buy aftermarket parts from major companies that use the same internal mechanisms to construct these cartridges. This happens overseas since new parts become an expense for every cartridge remanufactured.

In conclusion of, overseas genuine printer ink isn’t so genuine after all. You’re better off buying some domestic remanufactured ink cartridges. Make sure you’ve researched your supplier thoroughly.

In description of, Joseph Mercado is known as The Internet Marketing Tyrant. He specializes in the consumable market involving studies on inkjet cartridges.
http://www.yourhprep.com

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