CHOCOLATE QUOTES

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #1

Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get.

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #2

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.

Anonymous

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #3

Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put 'eat chocolate.' Now, you'll get at least one thing done today.

We believe this is from Gina Hayes

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #4

I never met a chocolate I didn't like.

Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #6

And above all... Think Chocolate!

'Betty Crocker'

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #7

The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!

Terry Moore

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #8

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!

Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #9

Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world's perfect food.

Michael Levine, nutrition researcher, as quoted in The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars

Favorite Chocolate Quotes #10

I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?

Unknown

The Last Bargain

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

The Last Bargain

              1"Come and hire me," I cried, while in the morning I was walking on the stone-paved road.

              2Sword in hand, the King came in his chariot.

              3He held my hand and said, "I will hire you with my power."

              4But his power counted for nought, and he went away in his chariot.

              5In the heat of the midday the houses stood with shut doors.

              6I wandered along the crooked lane.

              7An old man came out with his bag of gold.

              8He pondered and said, "I will hire you with my money."

              9He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.

            10It was evening. The garden hedge was all aflower.

            11The fair maid came out and said, "I will hire you with a smile."

            12Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went back alone into the dark.

            13The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly.

            14A child sat playing with shells.

            15He raised his head and seemed to know me, and said, "I hire you with nothing."

            16From thenceforward that bargain struck in child's play made me a free man.

The Banyan Tree

                                                                         

The Banyan Tree

by Rabindranath Tagore

                 (This poem is from 'The Crescent Moon' by Tagore)



O you shaggy-headed banyan tree standing on the bank of the pond,
have you forgotten the little child,
like the birds that have nested in your branches and left you?
Do you not remember how he sat at the window
and wondered at the tangle of your roots that plunged underground?

The women would come to fill their jars in the pond,
and your huge black shadow would wriggle
on the water like sleep struggling to wake up.

Sunlight danced on the ripple like
restless tiny shuttles weaving golden tapestry.

Two ducks swam by the woody margin above their shadows,
and the child would sit still and think.

He longed to be the wind and blow through your rustling branches,
to be your shadow and legthen with the day on the water,
to be a bird and perch on your topmost twig,
andto float like those ducks among the weeds and shadows.

Taking Advantage of Open Source PHP MySQL Applications

One obvious solution is to approach a software development company and obtain a custom built product. However to take this approach one needs to first know what features and functionality is desired. Then on the other hand in some instances the need does not warrant the cost of commissioning a custom application. 

A plethora of free open source web applications exist today. Regardless of the specific circumstances of the need these applications can quite often prove to be a valuable resource.

http://freshmeat.net is one of the best online directories of open source applications. A quick search on freshmeat.net for say "intranet", "cms" or "groupware" will yield pages of results. Browsing these results any application marked beta, stable or mature is a possible solution. A large majority of the available web applications would also state PHP + MySQL as the platform.

Oh well I need to have some Linux Server and it's way too hard is a common reaction. Fortunately this is not entirely true. If you wanted to host a large scale production site then the chances are that a custom Linux server may well be a requirement. However just evaluating on your own PC, or setting up a solution on your LAN for anywhere between 1 to 100 users can be easily realized without custom Linux servers.

The solution is in another open source free product known as WAMP server. The acronym stands for Windows Apache MySQL PHP server. WAMP is extremely simple to install and a good platform for either evaluating PHP + MYSQL applications or operating the same for up to a few hundred users.

Visit www.wampserver.com
Or www.wampserver.com/en/ for the English version
First it is important to note that most open source PHP + MySQL applications will not run correctly on the latest versions of PHP and MySQL. For this reason instead of the downloading the latest version of WAMP server click on "downloads" from the left menu and then click on "older versions at sourceforge" This will take you to
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=116092
scroll down and select "WAMP5 1.4.3". Download the WAMP5_1.4.3.exe file and install it on your computer with default options.

Once installed and started a new icon will appear in the icon tray near the date/time on your task bar. Left click on this icon to activate it's menu which allows you to restart or edit the configuration files.

Changing the web server port if necessary.

One common reason for wanting to edit configuration file is in case you already have a web server running on the same computer. In this case you would need to change the port address used by apache to something other than 80. In this case 8080 would probably be a good alternative choice.

-------Changing the web server port address Begin-----------
Click on the WAMP server icon and from the menu under "config files" select "httpd.conf". A long text file will open up in notepad. In this file scroll down to the line that reads "Port 80" and change this to read "Port 8080", Save the file and close notepad. Once again click on the wamp server icon and select restart all services. One more change needs to be made before we are done. In Windows Explorer find the location where WAMP server was installed which is by Default "C:\Wamp". Next goto the subfolder named "www". Inside here you will see another subfolder named "phpmyadmin". We are looking for a file named "config.inc.php". In a default installation this file will be at "C:\Wamp\www\phpmyadmin\config.inc.php". Open this file in wordpad and find the line that reads
$cfg['PmaAbsoluteUri'] = 'localhost/phpmyadmin/';
Change this line to read:
$cfg['PmaAbsoluteUri'] = 'localhost:8080/phpmyadmin/';
-------Changing the web server port address End-----------

Now open a web browser and access http://localhost . Or if you changed the port address to 8080 then goto http://localhost:8080/ You should be greeted by the WAMP welcome page. For each application that you wish to install create a new folder inside the "www" subfolder of where WAMP was installed. Lets assume that WAMP was installed at "C:\Wamp".

Let say for example you wanted to install Mambo (www.mamboserver.com)
1) You would download the .zip or .tar.gz or .tar.bz2 file and uncompress it using winzip or winrar into "c:\Wamp\www\mambo".
2) You would access the wamp welcome page http://localhost/ or http://localhost:8080/ and access phpmyadmin. In here you would create a new database for mambo.
3) You would then access the wamp welcome page http://localhost/ or http://localhost:8080/ and from the list at the bottom of the page you would click on Mambo
4) You would then be greeted by the mambo installer which is a simple 5 step process. (the default username for MySQL is root and the password is blank as in an empty string)

Let say for example you wanted to install oscommerce
You would download the .zip or .tar.gz or .tar.bz2 file and uncompress it using winzip or winrar into "c:\Wamp\www\oscommerce".
1) You would access the wamp welcome page http://localhost/ or http://localhost:8080/ and access phpmyadmin. In here you would create a new database for oscommerce.
2) You would then access the wamp welcome page http://localhost/ or http://localhost:8080/ and from the list at the bottom of the page you would click on Mambo
3) You would then be greeted by the oscommerce installer which is a simple process. (the default username for MySQL is root and the password is blank as in an empty string)

And so on and so forth.

Any PHP + MySQL web application which does not provide an automated installer is most likely not a very mature application. 

10 Reasons For Small Businesses To Use Windows 7

A no-nonsense rundown of why small businesses, especially, will find it worth their while to upgrade to Microsoft's new operating system.

Small-businesses frustrated with Windows Vista's assorted hardware incompatibilities, ceaseless battery of pop-up alerts, and puttering speeds can officially unclench their jaws and ease those quivering fists away from their screens. Windows 7is actually good enough to make even holdouts still clinging desperately to Windows XP want to upgrade.

Albeit no revolution in desktop computing -- it's essentially a revamp of Vista that addresses owners' most common complaints and tightens the user interface -- Windows 7 provides a welcome evolutionary step forward for the platform, significantly improving security, stability, and everyday convenience.

Granted, some aspects may confuse. Cases in point: Multiple versions with negligible feature differences are offered, you have to manually backup and reinstall data to upgrade from Windows XP, and certain programs (including e-mail and calendar applications) must be downloaded separately from the OS. But these hiccups can't detract from what is easily the most significant upgrade the hoary old software standby has seen in years.

Here are 10 reasons why you'll inevitably want to earmark room for it in your IT budget:

Reason 1. Lower system requirements
Unlike Windows Vista, which required significantly more memory and processing speed to power its graphical user interface, Windows 7 isn't a system resource hog. As such, the same machines you now having running Vista should easily be able to accommodate the new OS, which in many cases loads programs and boots or shuts down faster. Less money spent on hardware upgrades translates into immediate cost savings, while a decrease in downtime twiddling your thumbs waiting for software to load provides a corresponding productivity boost. Furthermore, even a relatively slow 1GHz PC with 1GB of memory can run Windows 7 (though 2GB of RAM is recommended and 4GB for the 64-bit edition), making it suitable for installation on low-end netbook computers on up to high-end desktops.

Reason 2. Simpler navigation
A trio of improvements to the user front-end makes Windows 7 easier to navigate and multitask within than its predecessors. To begin with, using Aero Peek features, Windows 7 users can more easily view desktop contents by turning all open windows transparent. With Aero Shake, you also have the option to simply grab an active window and physically shake the mouse to minimize other panes cluttering up one's monitor. Last, but not least, Aero Snap functions automatically resize windows to take up half the screen when they're dragged to either side of your display.

Reason 3. Better multitasking
Borrowing a trick from Apple's Snow Leopard operating system, Windows 7 now offers a more aesthetically pleasing, icon-based taskbar that lets you permanently pin and organize favorite programs on it. You can additionally point to icons to get thumbnail previews of open files and windows associated with each program, all accessible with a click. Everything's displayed in as minimally intrusive a way possible as well, helping cut down on clutter and making it possible to keep track of everything that's happening on your desktop. Jump lists for each piece of software, available when you right-click on the respective program, even let you immediately pull up recently opened files and documents--a major time-saver.

Reason 4. Greater stability
Unlike Windows Vista, most hardware and software is readily compatible with Windows 7 and will work right out of the box, with no need to download and install additional drivers. Happily, in instances where necessary, locating and adding these updates to your PC proves a relatively painless procedure.

Reason 5. Enhanced security
Instead of making you play watchdog and constantly click to approve program access, Windows 7 does away with the vast majority of Windows Vista's nagging pop-ups. Users can now control the relative amount of prompts regarding system security they receive using an intuitive slider bar control, with alert messages minimized to avoid becoming a nuisance. In addition, the Internet Explorer 8 Web browser is better-guarded against external threats. Purchase the Ultimate Edition, and you can further encrypt drives and data using BitLocker technology to protect sensitive files and even portable USB keys from unauthorized intrusion.

Reason 6. Multi-touch capabilities
If you have a compatible touch-screen PC or laptop, multi-touch physical gestures can now be used to navigate the operating system and pull up documents and data with a flick of a finger.

Reason 7. Simpler file organization
Libraries, which serve as all-purpose containers, allow you to conveniently catalogue photos, music, video and files in single locations, no matter where they live on your hard drive. Because of this, it's a breeze to keep all materials related to the same work project organized in one readily retrievable location.

Reason 8. Optimized network setup
Brisk, painless network setup via new HomeGroup features makes it simple to share devices, documents and printers between other PCs running Windows 7 on a password-protected home network. Small businesses that need to access a larger companywide network may need to upgrade to the Professional Edition, which allows connectivity with more complex workplace servers.

Reason 9. Less clutter
Don't like all the so-called "bloatware" -- useless applications that traditionally come installed on any new operating system or PC? You'll be right at home here, as programs like Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, Movie Maker and Photo Gallery aren't even included with installation except in cases where they're pre-bundled by certain PC manufacturers. Instead, you choose to optionally download them for free from Microsoft. While some may balk at these typically preinstalled apps' omission, for others, it'll be seen as an effective way to cut down on unused programs that needlessly waste hard drive space and system memory.

Reason 10. Overall performance
Given its suite of welcome upgrades, Windows 7 is sure to inspire more third-party developer support than Windows Vista, and enjoy a larger business software library that takes advantage of its built-in features. As the system's improvements significantly enhance users' everyday work and online experience, it's inevitable that your enterprise will want to take advantage of programs which natively support these updates. Even those who opt for just the basic Home Premium edition and never buy another application will be able to appreciate extras like faster and more reliable desktop search functions and simpler document retrieval. Making it infinitely simpler to organize, store and navigate both your desktop and supported applications, more than a few small businesses will find that Windows 7 has been well worth the wait.

You've been programming too long when

When you are counting objects, you go "0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D...". When asked about a bus schedule, you wonder if it is 16 or 32 bits. When your wife says "If you don't turn off that darn machine and come to bed,then I am going to divorce you!", and you chastise her for for omitting the else clause. When you are reading a book and look for the space bar to get to the next page. When you look for your car keys using: "grep keys /dev/pockets" When after fooling around all day with routers etc, you pick up the phone and start dialing an IP number. When you get in the elevator and double-press the button for the floor you want. When not only do you check your email more often than your paper mail, but you remember your {network address} faster than your postal one. When you go to balance your checkbook and discover that you're doing the math in octal. When you dream in 256 pallettes of 256 colors.

Is Windows a Virus

No, Windows is not a virus. Here's what viruses do: 1.They replicate quickly - okay, Windows does that. 2.Viruses use up valuable system resources, slowing down the system as they do so - okay, Windows does that. 3.Viruses will, from time to time, trash your hard disk - okay, Windows does that too. 4.Viruses are usually carried, unknown to the user, along with valuable programs and systems. - Sigh.. Windows does that, too. 5.Viruses will occasionally make the user suspect their system is too slow (see 2) and the user will buy new hardware. - Yup, Windows does that, too. Until now it seems Windows is a virus but there are fundamental differences: Viruses are well supported by their authors, are running on most systems, their program code is fast, compact and efficient and they tend to become more sophisticated as they mature. So Windows is not a virus. It's a bug.