Web Sites and Computer Loading Times

When it comes to our computers we want them to be in tip-top shape. We all want them to load web sites at the fastest times possible. Let's just face it; we demand the technology to be faster and faster because in our lives we are so busy we do not have the patience to be inconvenienced in the simple tasks like pulling up a web page really quick. This means that we want our machines to run like they should with no problems and start up in a reasonable amount of time. We can do everything that is in our powers to achieve this like: do all our computer maintenance properly, keep our updates current, remove old unused programs, and defragment the hard drive properly. Still when using our computer to surf the internet we seem to still have a slow computer from time to time when going to specific sites. Why? How can we do everything right and in our powers and still have a computer that lags with simple computations like pulling up a web page?

Well first thing is first. You need to understand that it is not your fault. There are just some things that we do not have control over in how our computers run when it comes to the internet. There are many, many other factors involved when we depend on the internet to deliver the exchange of information to us. These are uncontrollable factors like: the Internet provider, provider technologies used, programmers, servers, and security. Many things can contribute to the reliability of your computer and we need to understand probably one of the most frustrating ones, the web site itself.

Without getting to depth with details and abbreviations that would leave us saying "Wait come again", generally speaking the main contribution to our slow computer is the way the individual web site is designed and laid out. When programmers write web sites sometimes the site gets very confused with ads, links, headers, information, news, titles, images so on and so forth. All of this information is data that our computers have to download and process. Again we see a direct relationship the more that our computers have to download the longer it can take for our computer to open the page. When we go to one of these sites that is jammed packed with information that is clustered and busy we tend to see the site size almost triple from the average site size. With new ideas in how to build web pages more efficiently and new techniques used in our most common sites the load times are improved. The general rule of thumb stands that the more on the site: images, information, videos, flash pictures, etc. The longer the site will take to load up. We still need to make sure we keep up on routine computer maintenance but at least we can start to have an understanding of the things we can not control that contribute to our slow computer.

How to Fix Application Error 0xc0000142

The application error 0xc0000142 can happen at a variety of times. Usually a reboot will fix the issue but you may need to do some other things to resolve it permanently, none of which are for the fault of heart. But do not worry worst case is you have to reinstall your whole system. It will not cause any hardware damage.

What is this error?

This error is usually a failure to initialize a DLL correctly. This could be because the file is corrupt, missing, or possible has been added to with malicious code. None of these is a big issue and can be easily fixed. With some troubleshooting you can be back to fully functional in no time.

How to fix?

In order to fix this error the first thing I would do is see if it is coming to one or more applications. If more than one then you will probably want to do a sfc / scannow from a dos prompt on the install disk. This will scan all the system files and replace them with known good versions for the OS. Once the process is complete reboot your machine. It is important to note that these are the OS so your applications may have issues and need to be re-installed if they happen to use one of the files that are replaced. Although if they use the file chances are you will be fine.

The application error 0xc0000142 can be caused by any variety of reasons so the solution above may not fix the issue. So you may need to run some type of registry cleaner to assist also. Just make sure you back up your registry before you try to accomplish anything so you do not have bigger issues later.

Because there are a variety of reasons for this error there is no one ultimate solution to fix it. You will want to run the sfc command just to make sure you do not have any issues with the system files. From there a registry cleaner will be extremely useful to not only cleanup your registry but to verify the locations and points of all the DLL's to ensure you do not have other issues as well.

Worst case if these solutions do not fix it then you will want to make sure you have a current backup of all your important information and reload your OS and then you applications. Making sure you run a registry cleaner afterwards to ensure you have a backup of the registry so that you do not have this issue in the future along with any of the multitude of possible issues you may run into with the registry.

Because of the error and it being such a generic error (application error 0xc0000142) there is really not a lot to go on to help you troubleshoot the issue. But with some patience and running sfc and then a cleaner you should be able to resolve the issue with a minimum of fuss and be back up and running in no time.

Green Roofing Tips

We're all trying to do our bit for the environment and looking for new methods of helping out. One of the latest crazes to sweep the gardening world is having a 'green roof'. While this does not mean painting your roof, it does mean you can save money, get recycling and help the environment without lifting a finger.

Green roofs serve several purposes for any building that they put on which is not limited to vegetation. To begin, start with products such as the sedum mats where you can lay strong, low-maintenance mats (in a variety of colors) over your roof, which are grown in the UK and ready for you to reap the benefits of green roofs.

But what environmental benefits can you expect? Firstly after installing them above a waterproofing membrane your green roof will create a wonderful layer of insulation. These roofs have been proven to reduce heat loss and energy consumption in the winter months which is great for saving money just before Christmas. Not only do they keep you warm; they provide great sound insulation too.

All gardeners and environmentalists know the importance of wildlife; be it insects, animals or plants and the shortage of natural habitats that are plaguing cities and affecting the surrounding nature. Environmentally friendly roofs provide a safe haven for birds, bees and butterflies - you really would be doing your bit for Mother Nature.

During winter a lot of rain can be expected, and these specialized roofs can hold up to 75% of stormwater meaning there is a significant reduction in runoff rates. They even filter out pollutants and heavy metals from the rain which you can collect (providing you have a drain system installed) or just leave for your plants to make good use of it.

Green roofing has also been proved to contribute to lessening the Urban Heat Island Effect which has seen temperatures in cities rise to up to 7ºc higher than the surrounding countryside. This is due to the lack of reflective buildings in cities but the plants on a green roof reflect heat instead of absorbing it. If there are more green roofs in London we can avoid another summer like 2003 when the temperature was 8ºc higher than it was in nearby rural areas.

The Urban Heat Island Effect has also been exacerbating ozone production at ground level which is a main component of smog. We all know that plants absorb carbon dioxide but they also filter the air around them which removals heavy metals. Studies have shown that the air above a green roof has reduced sulphur dioxide by as much as 37% and nitrous acid by more than 20%.

Green roofs have been extremely popular in the United States with one of the largest being at Ford Motor Company's Plant in Dearborn - it's a massive 450,000 sq ft.

Block Unknown Cell Phone Numbers With Your Computer

Lets face it - we all get strange numbers interrupting us on a daily basis, and today most of them are from private cell phones. They're about impossible to identify. But not impossible to stop on your land-line.

How to Block Phone Calls with your Computer

Using the right tools, you can easily convert your computer to block any type of unwanted phone call. It requires almost no processing power and lets you perform whatever tasks you choose on your computer unimpeded. Here's what you need:

1.Caller ID with Name





The first thing you will require is caller ID with name feature. This is usually about $5.00 a month, and the vast majority of us already have it.

2.Dial-up Modem with accompanying phone cord and jack





Many personal computers already have a modem built in. Simply make sure its setup and plugged in. Otherwise, they are commonly available for free in older machines.

3.Phone tray





This free software is the heart of your blocking system. It reads the name from your caller ID through the modem, and selectively blocks the call based on a list you create. Any words you put in the list are blocked. So if you never want to see another call identified as 'toll free' when you go to answer your phone again, you simply add the word 'toll' to the list. Anything further containing this word or a phrase with this word will be instantaneously blocked.

This system is simple to set up, and once running will block any calls you don't want to receive on a land line phone. Its wonderful for working at your computer when your expecting important communication.

What About Cell Phones?

Unfortunately to the best of my knowledge, no 'black list' or 'white list' system has been created for cell phones. While it would be an excellent idea, the best option we have at this time is to simply identify the unwanted number calling us, and report it. As telemarketing calls to cell phones are illegal, you but need to report their identifying information to the authorities.

Acquiring their identifying information then becomes the key. You have two options here: searching through free sites or using commercial reverse phone directories.

Free results are best used sparingly - try them first by entering the number into a search engine and quickly browsing the results. Scan any website which appears to contain information about your number and check it. Usually the results are frustrating, and limited to either a carrier, the phone type, or both. Often they are outdated, so even this information is inaccurate. But because there are now several types of free websites harassing the power of communities, its always worth a try. You could find information reported by someone with enough knowledge about the number to report it.

Reverse phone directories are the last resort. These websites collect information about 98% of all types of numbers, including cell phones, from public records. You enter a number into their form and results are returned in seconds including names, addresses, background info, and more than enough to identify and report any number. There is a small cost associated with using these directories to cover operating costs, however, they allow unlimited searches and refunds if no info is present.

So stopping 'junk calls' may not be as easy as email yet, and even may never be, but all hope is not lost.

Benefits of a Good Homemade Cat Food Recipe

Making your own homemade cat food can actually save you a lot of money in the long run. Many people seem to think that making your own food involves a lot of money and time. The truth is a really simple, yet effective recipe will not take a lot of time away from you. You can make a bulk supply of the food and store it properly, that way you will not have to spend time every day making it. The ingredients in homemade food allow the cat to get much needed nutrients while eating less and feeling more active.

When you feed your cat homemade food, you will notice that over time the cat eats less and less of it, while feeling full. This is because the homemade food is full of real, fresh ingredients. The cat will get the nutrition it needs while eating less of it. In fact, a good recipe will have the cat eating less of the food while getting a lot of energy. So the cat is more active meanwhile it is eating less.

Cats usually have to eat a lot of commercial canned food because the ingredients are not ideal. Some brands have plant sources as the main protein source; others have a lot of grains. These sources do nothing for the cat. So the cat has to eat a lot of it in order to feel full. This feeling of fullness does not last very long, and the cat is hungry again. This can cost a lot of money over time, because you are constantly buying cat food.

Meanwhile, all you really have to do is put money toward the initial ingredients of a homemade cat food recipe and watch yourself save. Making bulk food is an ideal way of saving both time and money. Once you create your bulk cat food and store it properly, it could last you a while. The cat will not have to eat a lot of it in order to get the nutrients it needs, therefore the food will last you longer than commercial food.

The best aspect of all this is that it is not hard to find a great homemade cat food recipe . There are a lot of sources located in several types of medium. Just find a recipe that works for you in terms of the ingredients listed and the amount you can make, and you are already more than halfway there for saving money on cat food.

Learn About Inflation and How To Protect Your Savings

Assuming you purchase the same things on a weekly basis that many other folks in the United States buy you have most likely taken note of the way the prices of common household items and groceries have been on the rise. This is known as price inflation and while most of us know a little about inflation it can be confusing subject and sometimes the things we think we know are actually partly or completely inaccurate. Let's take a closer look at how inflation impacts our day-to-day lives.

There are actually different kinds of inflation. The type we notice at the store is called price inflation but the type of inflation that lays the foundation for price inflation is known as monetary or money supply inflation. The organization responsible for money supply inflation in the United States is the Federal Reserve.

In the past various banks around the country controlled their own money supply but the system was unified in 1913 with the creation of the Federal Reserve. The trouble is that with the money creation machine centralized it became harder to escape from monetary inflation and the resulting price inflation. Since theception of the Fed we have seen the value of the dollar plummet almost 100%.

What this means is that a dollar today will not buy what one dollar would buy one hundred years ago. This is extremely unjust and since inflation is continuing we can be assured that our money saved up and in the bank know will be less valuable down the road than it is today. Since money supply inflation involves the printing of new currency or the creation of new digital money each unit of money already in existence is devalued by each new unit created.

This leads to higher prices for those of us buying everyday goods and services like gas, apples, bananas and laptops. Sometimes the level of productivity and innovation in an economy can outpace the level of inflation and we can see price deflation in certain sectors. This is a wonderful thing and has happened in the computer sector for many years in a row. We can now buy extremely powerful computers that not only fit on our desks but in our hands and do so at a price that continues to drop in many cases.

Commodity goods like fuel and metals on the other hand tend to hold their value against rising prices. This means that you always have to hand over more dollars to get the same amount of gas or the same amount of copper wiring. You can use this to your advantage in some cases by purchasing gold and silver as a form of savings. If you had begun to do this in 2001 you would have seen your silver go from $ 4.25 per ounce to over $ 30 and your gold go from about $ 235 per ounce to $ 1,700.

Sometimes experienced individuals go even farther than merely buying some silver coins as inflation protection. If you are experienced in paintings or collectibles you may be able to use these interests and hobbies as a way to protect your savings as well. Rare items like paintings, old coins and limited production run silver certificates can be valuable things to research if you have knowledge in the arena.

If you do not then a good place to start is with the common-though out of production- silver quarters that were used in the US until the middle of the 1960s. You can also look into other options like moving some of your savings into another currency that is doing better than the American dollar. Remember that even if inflation is slow and steady it can accelerate so if you want to make plans to protect your savings now is the time to begin!

Benefits of Your Online Business Offering a Money Back Guarantee

When considering local internet marketing for your online business, do not forget about the basics, such as customer service. By providing a good experience for your customers, offering them an informative, easy-to-use website with shopping cart, and making them feel confident about their purchases, your business is sure to thrive both offline and online. Take those concepts a step further and minimize risk to your clientele by offering a money back guarantee on the products or services you sell. Here are five reasons why this gives you the advantage.

1. The Trust Factor

Anytime you're starting a business, you are sure to encounter objections from buyers. Perhaps the most common objection is that your company is an unknown. It's always a bit risky to make a purchase from an unfamiliar entity and if you're selling a new product or service, the buyer's objections are doubled. How can someone be assured that the items they buy from your company are going to perform as promised?

One of the best ways to get past that objection is by offering a guarantee, preferably a full refund for any purchase that does not live up to the customer's expectations.

2. Beat the Competition

What about your competitors? Do they refund the purchase price for any dissatisfied customer? Chances are any big retailer selling the same or similar products does. When competing against other "small guys", the satisfaction guarantee identifies your company. When competing against the big retailers, it levels the playing field. Either way, it's a must.

3. Sales Copy

Wondering what to say about your products or services online? Why not mention the satisfaction guarantee? This is a great way to introduce your product and make potential customers confident in making a purchase. The inclusion of a guarantee just might be the difference between thinking about buying and actually making a purchase.

4. Good Business

When it comes down to it, guaranteeing the satisfaction of your customers is just good business. The last thing you want to do is annoy, frustrate, or anger someone by refusing to refund their money. And that could lead to a lot of bad PR - and future lost sales. Avoid the possibility by cheerfully reimbursing the purchase price and moving on to find the next customer through local internet marketing.

5. The Customer's Advantage

But, you might be saying to yourself, what about those people who make a business out of buying things, using them for a while, then returning them? There will always be a few of those in every bunch and unfortunately, it's just a part of doing business. Rest assured that the majority of your clientele will only go through the hassle of a return because they are truly dissatisfied. In this case, go ahead and let the customer have the advantage.

Do not forget that an integral part of local internet marketing objectives good customer service, and a money back guarantee is just one aspect of that. It cultivates trust in your company, allows you to compete with other businesses, and may even serve as the ultimate purchase incentive.