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The Cab Driver

The Cab Driver











He kept steering his cab through the huge rush. He was very much accustomed to this kind of situation. Five years into the job, the city’s roads were familiar to him. He no longer gave a damn for those drivers swearing from inside the car, expecting him to hear it. He did not care for those drivers who were lazy to turn their indicators while making a turn or changing lanes. And most importantly, he didn’t give a damn for his customers. They come and they go. And his life goes on. He knew his job was a tricky one. More than once he had been tricked into giving free rides to passengers. They would plainly make him commit something and then leave him with nothing but few despicable curses. But time has changed him to more than just being vulnerable. He argued with his customers and would eventually make them pay. At times he would indulge in chats with those whom he was pretty sure to pay him a good tip. He could actually spot them out from a given crowd. He came into this city with little cash and few clothes. But now, even though not a millionaire, had a reasonable job and a quite a happy life.


As of now he was on his way to the airport. He is supposed to pick up a certain David Rosario. He parked his car in the parking lot and walked towards the Arrival section. He was walking towards the area, when he bumped into a rather plump man. He gave his apologies to the fellow and was about to move ahead when he noticed the name tag on the fellow’s luggage. It said ‘David R.’. He rushed towards him and,


‘Are you David Rosario?’ he asked


‘Yes. Do I know you? ‘ the fellow replied


‘No, Sir. I am from the taxi company. You had called in to puck you up at the airport’


‘Okay I get it. So do you have the cab parked somewhere near by?’


‘Yes, it is just around the corner. A few minutes walk from here’


He motioned to pick his luggage, but the fellow resisted.


‘I’ll handle it, Thank You’


Not much of surprise there. Many a times, customers liked to keep their stuffs to themselves. He thought of that day when the lady whom he was supposed to pick up screamed just because he tried yo help her handle her luggage. He almost got fired that day.


He finally reached the car. He opened the boot of the car so that the fellow could keep his stuff in there. He entered the car and started the engine and the passenger entered the car. Now that he was inside, he had to ask that question,


‘Sir, where do you want to go?’


Now a third person might find the question too obvious, but he has seen way too many people to call that question obvious. He has come across people with looks on their faces which said,


‘Get me to the nearest hotel, like duh!!’


‘Well to say the truth, I don’t know. All I have is the name of the place. If you can get me there it would be helpful.’ the fellow replied, handing him a business card with the name of the place written on its back. The handwriting was almost illegible but still he could make out.


The place was in the outskirts of the city and not many people venture out there. Not because it is dangerous or something. The area was populated by casual labourers who worked in nearby construction sites. He hit the pedal and the car roared into the road.


The journey wasn’t supposed to be long but the traffic situation was kind of odd. The roads were overflowing with vehicles. The fellow was patient. Patient enough not to bug him with useless questions like` Is there any other way out?’ or `Can you drive it a bit faster?’. The fellow sat there doing nothing but staring through the glass with wry smile. He turned the radio on and tuned into the news channel. The woman on the news bulletin went on.


` On the regional news, we have the inauguration of the D’Leh metro- a pet project of the government. The metro possess what may be said as one of the few automatically operated locomotive systems in the world. The capitol city has planned a grand scale ceremony for this glorious project. Works for the metro began around two years back and the completed last month- three months prior to its planned date. The metro system would connect the various parts of the city giving its citizens complete mobility. The gates of the station would open for the public in another few hours and all roads to the station are jam packed. We would be returning back with a live update from the venue in another half an hour…..’


Now that would explain the huge traffic. He indicated to the right and turned but the driver in the opposite car wasn’t happy. The driver slid his window down to swear at him, and he slid his window up to avoid it. Avoiding such people was better than arguing with them. He took the next exit and drove off at high speed.


He reached the area but being almost deserted it made him feel uneasy. He had been to places far worse than this but not so lonely. The whole place looked as though a shootout had taken place. But the fellow insisted on going further inward. The cab reached a secluded building. It can’t be exactly described as a building. It was more like a single room house. The fellow told to stop there. He did so, even though feeling immensely insecure within. He got off the car to pick up the luggage from the boot. As he bend down to pick up his luggage from the boot he heard a swift move of hand and the next thing he knew was that he was bleeding through his chest. Without turning back, he knocked the fellow off with his elbow. But he did no fall back. He barely moved a few steps backward. That fellow was immensely strong for his bulging body. Punching him back, the fellow took out a knife. He didn’t know why the fellow was attacking him but now he had to fight him back. It was a `live or die’ situation and he was grossly unprepared for this. He felt the pain in his chest becoming increasingly strong. The fellow ran towards him but he moved towards the side. The fellow banged his head against the top of the boot and fell down unconscious. He looked into his chest-it was still bleeding. He had the sudden thought that there must have been something of immense importance that provoked the fellow to do such a thing. He went forward to examine the bag and luckily it wasn’t locked. All that was inside it were a few laptops and hard drives. He threw the bag out of his boot and entered the car. He stopped the meter and hit his head against the steering wheel. He felt relieved but the pain was still hunting him down. He placed one arm on his chest and drove off………..






To be continued……….
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Disk smart View

Please find as attached Click Here
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WHAT IS WINDOWS GENUINE ADVANTAGE?

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is an automated validation process integrated on later Microsoft operating system products. Windows Genuine Advantage was developed by Microsoft Corporation in order to bolster its anti-piracy campaign. This automated validation process makes it a requirement for Microsoft Windows OS users to go through a series of validation systems before being granted by the Microsoft website to download and subsequently install updates and various version releases of software programs.
Feature:
The WGA validation process validates the present installation of Windows and its license key, against the hardware involved. It is accessible by either a stand-alone program, or (within Internet Explorer), an ActiveX control.
If an instance of Windows doesn't seem to have a valid license, WGA display a specific notice to the user and prevent any updates being downloaded from Microsoft except security upgrades that are rated "Critical."
There are two separate parts of Windows Genuine Advantage for Windows XP: WGA Validation and WGA Notifications.
WGA Validation is the component that checks Windows to make sure it's a properly licensed copy of the software. Your system must be validated in order to receive some software (such as Internet Explorer 7, Windows Defender, and Windows Media Player 10) from Windows Update and Microsoft Update. WGA Validation has been required for access of these types of downloadble software from Microsoft since July 2005.

WGA Notifications was designed to remind users who fail validation that their Windows software has been deemed by WGA Validation to be illegitimate. It directs people who experience this to resources to learn more about getting what Microsoft calls "genuine" software. WGA Notifications is delivered via Automatic Updates and it is technically optional.
Behaviour on Windows VISTA:
On Windows Vista, WGA validation failure has a greater impact. In addition to persistent notification and the disabling of non-critical updates, WGA also disables Windows Aero, Windows Defender, and ReadyBoost. The user is given a grace period in which to then pass validation, after which most of the operating system is disabled and Windows reverts to reduced functionality mode.
What is Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool :
When a user installs WGA, an Internet Explorer add-on is installed labeled "Windows Genuine Advantage". Microsoft includes the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Library in several products like Windows Defender, Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft Folder and Windows Media Player 11 to validate about the Windows installation.
History:
Right after its release during the early 2000s, Windows Genuine Advantage was designed to be a voluntary add-on to the OS versions of Microsoft Windows users. But after Microsoft Windows OS 2005 versions were released, Windows Genuine Advantage is now a requirement when it comes to accessing the services that are being offered by Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update.
How to Disable IT :
To disable Microsoft's How to disable or uninstall the pilot version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications KnowledgeBase article.
If you prefer not to mess around with the System Registry yourself, there's a free utility called RemoveWGA available for download on the Internet from Firewall Leak Tester. I've testedRemoveWGA 1.2 and I recommend it as an alternative.
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INTERNET EXPLORER TIPS AND TRICKS

  1. Quick jump to Web Site IE : 
    Type just the Internet domain name in the URL Address field and hold down ctrl enter keys.
    This will fill in www as the machine name and TLD .com
  2. Quick jump to Web Site Part II IE : 
    Type go ebay in the URL address field.
    This will go to MSN search page site and select the best match.
  3. Presentation Mode IE : 
    Select the F11 function key to enter Presentation mode.
    Select the F11 function key to toggle back.
  4. Resize Text Size IE : 
    Hold down ctrl key and move the wheel on the mouse.
    The page text will enlarge or shrink. 
  5. Page forward and back IE : 
    Hold down shift key and move the wheel on the mouse.
    This will page forward or backward through the pages selected. 
  6. Quick jump to the addresses IE : 
    Select the alt and D keys together.
    This will select the URL address field.
  7. Page scroll using mouse wheel button IE : 
    Push down on the mouse wheel button and slide the whole mouse up and down. 
    This will page up and down the screen.
  8. Select visited web site addresses IE : 
    Select the F4 function key.
    This will show a listing of sites you have visited for selection.
    1. Refresh the page IE and Netscape 6 : 
      Select the F5 function key.
      This will refresh the current page.
    2. Quick Search IE : 
      In the address field type find or ? then your topic or keyword
      This will go to MSN search engine and search on your topic.
    3. Quick Search part II IE : 
      Select the F3 function key.
      This will display the left side search column box.
    4. Open a New IE Window : 
      Enter Control N
      A new IE browser window will appear.
    5. Open a New IE Window with One Click : 
      Hold down shift and click on the link.
      A new IE browser window will appear.
    6. Page forward and back using arrow keys IE : 
      Hold Alt button and use the arrow keys to page foward and back.
    7. Stop flashing images IE : 
      Find a site that has flashing images About.com
      After the page loads select the Esc button.
    8. Get to Your Favorites with Keyboard Shortcut IE : 
      Enter Control-I will bring up your left pane favorites. 
      Enter Control-I will make it disappear
      Enter Control-B to organize your favorites
    9. Print Part of a Web Page IE : 
      Select the area you want to print with your mouse.
      Select the print option from the menu bar - not the print icon. 
      Change the print range area to selection.
    Here is the list of shourtcut keys for Internet explorer.
    • CTRL+A: Select all
    • CTRL+C: Copy
    • CTRL+X: Cut
    • CTRL+V: Paste
    • CTRL+F: Find
    • CTRL+E: Search
    • CTRL+W: Close window
    • CTRL+N: New browser window
    • CTRL+R: Refresh web page
    • CTRL+O: new location - esc to close
    • CTRL+D: quickly save a Web page to your Favorites list
    • CTRL+I: Favorites
    • CTRL+P: Print the page
    • CTRL+H: History
    • CTRL+tab: goto URL Address field
    • Alt+Spacebar+X: Window Maximize
    • Alt+Spacebar+R: Window Restore
    • Alt+Spacebar+N: Window Minimize
    • Home key: beginning of page
    • End key: bottom of page
    • Backspace key: move back a page.
    • CTRL+LEFT+ARROW : quickly move the cursor back between parts of the address.
    Previous pages quickly, click the small down arrow to the right of the Back button.

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USB Installation Problems

Out-Of-Date Firmware

  • Firmware is a systems diagnostic file that contains all the information about a particular device and is found on every USB device. Manufacturers often create updates for firmware that can improve functionality on certain systems or new software applications. Updating a device's firmware often can resolve problems between the device and the computer operating system.

  • Unknown Device

  • When an external device is plugged into an open USB port, the computer will attempt to detect and recognize the device. If the device is detected, but not recognized, this could be a result of the USB plug not being seated correctly into the USB port. Unplugging the device and then plugging it back into the computer sometimes can remedy this problem.

  • USB Port Not Recognized As 2.0

  • Users who upgrade from Microsoft Windows XP to Vista occasionally run into a conflict where their USB 2.0 ports are recognized as an earlier version of the software, usually USB 1.1. This can happen when the USB boot controller is installed improperly. Uninstalling and reinstalling the boot manager using the Windows Device Manager can fix this problem.





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    Tips for getting started with OneNote

    Tips for getting started with OneNote

    • To increase your note-taking area on a small screen, you can hide the titles of the page tabs by clicking the Collapse Page Tabs arrow in the page tabs column.
    • To maximize your available screen space while taking notes, press F11 to use OneNote in Full Page view. (Press F11 again to exit Full Page view.)
    • Page tabs appear on the right side of your notebook by default. To display the page tabs on the left side of your notebook, in the Display category in the Options dialog box (Tools menu), select the Page tabs appear on the left check box.
    • To change the default color that is applied to a new section, right-click the section tab at the top of the page, point to Section Color on the shortcut menu, and then click the color that you want to apply. Click None to remove coloring from a section entirely.
    • If you want to change the way OneNote is set up, you can customize any of the items on the menus and toolbars by right-clicking a toolbar and then clicking Customize on the shortcut menu.
    • If you have a microphone and a webcam, run the Tuning Wizard before you attempt to record audio and video notes. On the Tools menu, click Options. In the Options dialog box, click Audio and Video, and then click Tuning Wizard.
    • If you have a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based smartphone or Pocket PC, you can install OneNote Mobile and synchronize notes between your computer and your smartphone. Connect your mobile device to your computer while OneNote 2007 and Microsoft ActiveSync are running. Choose to install OneNote Mobile when prompted, or install it manually at a later time. (On the Tools menu, click Options. In the Options dialog box, click OneNote Mobile, and then click Install OneNote Mobile.)
    • To view a list of useful keyboard shortcuts that make accessing OneNote tools, commands, and dialog boxes faster and easier, click Keyboard Shortcuts on the Help menu.
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    10 Powerpoint Tips for preparing a professional Presentation

    1. Compose Slides

    powerpoint template

    • Don’t copy & paste slides from different sources.
    • Keep the design very basic and simple. It shall not distract.
    • Pick an easy to read font face.
    • Carefully select font sizes for headers and text.
    • Leave room for highlights, such as images or take home messages.
    • Decorate scarcely but well.
    • Restrict the room your design takes up and don’t ever let the design restrict your message.

    2. Use Consistency

    • Consistently use the same font face and sizes on all slides.
    • Match colors.

    You may use your company logo, highlight headers, create a special frame for figures/images or the whole slide but don’t overload your slides with these elements.

    Colors

    color matchA poor choice of colors can shatter a presentation.

    If you’re unsure which colors match best, use ColorBlender to get a set of up to six matching colors, simply by moving a set of RGB sliders back and forth.

    3. Use Contrast

    • Black text on a white background will always be the best but also the most boring choice.
    • If you want to play with colors, keep it easy on the eyes and always keep good contrast in mind so that your readers do not have to strain to guess what you’ve typed on your slide.

    4. Apply Brilliance

    • Carefully use color to highlight your message!
    • Don’t weaken the color effect by using too many colors at an instance.
    • Make a brilliant choice: match colors for design and good contrast to highlight your message.

    Text

    5. KISS

    powerpoint text

    • Keep It Straight and Simple.
    • Keywords only.
    • No sentences!
    • Never read your slides, talk freely.

    Remember that your slides are only there to support, not to replace your talk! You’ll want to tell a story, describe your data or explain circumstances, and only provide keywords through your slides. If you read your slides and if you do it slow and badly, the audience will get bored and stop listening.

    6. Take Home Message

    • Always express a Take Home Message.
    • It’s your message, a summary of your data or story.
    • Make it a highlight that stands out.

    Images

    pie chartImages are key elements of every presentation. Your audience has ears and eyes – they’ll want to see what you’re talking about, and a good visual cue will help them to understand your message much better.

    7. Add Images

    • Have more images in your slides than text.
    • But do not use images to decorate!
    • Images can reinforce or complement your message.
    • Use images to visualize and explain.
    • A picture can say more than a thousand words.

    If you don’t have your own images, you can browse Flickr or Google’s image search for material. If this is a very public and official presentation however, you need to keep copyrights in mind.

    Animations & Media

    In animations, there is a fine line between a comic or professional impression. However, animations can be rather powerful tools to visualize and explain complicated matters. A good animation can not only improve understanding, but can also make the message stick with your audience.

    8. Don’t Be Silly

    • Use animations and media sparingly.
    • Use animations to draw attention, for example to your Take Home Message.
    • Use animations to clarify a model or emphasize an effect.

    Target & Content

    audienceYour target i.e. your audience, defines the content of your presentation. For example, you won’t be able to teach school kids about the complicated matters of economy. However, you may be able to explain what economy is in the first place and why it is important.

    9. Keep Your Audience In Mind

    • What do they know?
    • What do you need to tell them?
    • What do they expect?
    • What will be interesting to them?
    • What can you teach them?
    • What will keep them focused?
    • Answer these questions and boil your slides down to the very essentials.
    • In your talk, describe the essentials colorfully and choose your weapons i.e. text, images and animations wisely (see above).

    If you lose the attention of your audience, everything will be lost — it won’t matter how ingenious your design шас or how brilliantly you picked colors and keywords.

    10. Practice

    A well-prepared and enthusiastic talk will help you convince your audience and maintain their attention. There are some key points that define a good talk.

    • Know your slides inside out.
    • Speak freely.
    • Speak with confidence – loud and clear.
    • Don’t speak too fast.
    • Maintain eye contact with the audience.
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    Assigning Macros to Graphics

    You already know that excel allows you to add graphics to your worksheets, such as pictures. You may not know, however, that you can assign macros to these graphics. With a macro associated with a graphic, the macro is executed whenever someone clicks on the graphic.

    To assign a macro to a graphic, follow these steps:

    1. Right-click on the graphic. Excel displays a Context menu.
    2. Select the Assign Macro option from the Context menu. Excel displays the Assign Macro dialog box. Select the macro you want associated with the graphic.
    3. Click on OK.

    Save your workbook and test out your assignment by clicking on the graphic. The macro should run, as desired.

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    Add Ins in MS XL

    Any Excel Workbook can be converted to an add-in. The steps you need to follow to create an add-in are very precise, and may seem a bit overwhelming (particularly the first couple of times you do it). To create a protected add-in file, follow these steps:

    1. Load the workbook that is destined to become your add-in.
    2. Start the Visual Basic Editor by choosing Macro from the Tools menu, then choosing Visual Basic Editor.
    3. At the very top of the Project window, select the bold entry that declares the name of the VBA project that is open.
    4. Choose the Properties option from the Tools menu. This displays the Project Properties Dialog Box
    5. Make sure the Protection tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
    6. Make sure the Lock Project For Viewing check box is selected.
    7. Enter a password in both fields at the bottom of the dialog box.
    8. Click on OK. The dialog box closes.
    9. Close the Visual Basic Editor and return to the Excel workbook.
    10. Choose Properties from the File menu. This displays the Properties dialog box for your workbook.
    11. Make sure the Summary tab is displayed. (Click here to see a related figure.)
    12. Make sure the Title field is filled in. What you enter here will appear in the Add-Ins dialog box used by Excel.
    13. Make sure the Comments field is filled in. What you enter here will appear in the description area of the Add-Ins dialog box used by Excel
    14. Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.
    15. Choose Save As from the File menu. This displays the Save As dialog box.
    16. Using the Save As Type pull-down list, specify a file type of Excel Add-In (*.xla).
    17. Specify a name for your add-in file in the File Name field.
    18. Click on Save. Your add-in file is created.
    19. Close the workbook you just saved as an add-in.
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    My Limericks..-1

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    How to Copyright an Image in Photoshop

    How to Copyright an Image in Photoshop

    Instructions

    1. 1

      Click "File" in the top menu bar of Adobe Photoshop and select "Open." Locate in the resulting window the file that you want to copyright and then open it by double-clicking its icon.

    2. 2

      Click "Window" in the top menu bar. If no check mark appears next to the "Tools" item, click the item once to enable the Tools palette. Otherwise, skip to the next step.

    3. 3

      Click "Window" in the top menu bar again. If no check mark appears next to the "Character" item, click the item once to enable this palette. Otherwise, skip to the next step.

    4. 4

      Look to the Tools palette on the left side of the window and then click and hold on the Type Tool icon. This icon is represented by a "T" shape. Select the "Horizontal Type Tool" option from the resulting sub-menu.

    5. 5

      Click on the area of the image where you want the copyright text to appear, hold your click and then drag your cursor until the text box reaches your preferred size.

    6. 6

      Release your click. The text box will be created immediately.

    7. 7

      Look to the Character palette on the left side of the window. Select your preferred font face, font size, color, line spacing and scaling options using the corresponding drop-down menus within the palette.

    8. 8

      Type the content of your copyright text. The characters will automatically appear in the text box you just created. If you need to increase the size of the box, hold your cursor over the edge of the box, click once, hold your click and then drag your cursor until the box reaches your preferred size.

    9. 9

      Look to the Tools palette on the left side of the window and then click on the "Move" tool. This icon is represented by a pointer and a four-headed arrow.

    10. 10

      Click on your copyright text, hold your click and then drag the text until it is precisely positioned near the bottom-left or bottom-right corner of your image.

    11. 11

      Click "Layer" in the top menu bar and select "Flatten Image."

    12. 12

      Click "File" in the top menu bar and select "Save" to confirm your changes.




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