Interface Design for Learning: eBook on graphic design for eLearning

It is extremely helpful for me. Thank you for taking the time to discuss this. I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information.

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Passion.Fruit: Full of Grace

It is extremely helpful for me. Thank you for taking the time to discuss this. I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information.

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Free Scroll Saw Patterns by Arpop: Mule Mini Clock

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New macOS Sierra release date & new features: Mac OS X renamed; beta available now with public preview coming

Apple has announed an update and new name to its Mac operating system at its massive WWDC 2016 event in San Francisco on 13 June. Read on for our full round up of what's new in macOS Sierra, as well as the macOS Sierra release date news, compatible Macs and the beta and preview schedule. Watch the video above for our first impressions of macOS Sierra's new features.

OS X is no more: Apple announced at WWDC 2016 that the operating system for the Mac is now known as macOS to keep it in line with its other OS names (tvOS, iOS, watchOS 3). This year's update will be called macOS Sierra, and it's rolling out officially this autumn. For now, though, you can find out all about what's coming to a Mac near you with macOS Sierra, and when to expect to be able to get your hands on it (it might be sooner than you think thanks to the public preview).

MACOS Sierra UK release date: When is macOS Sierra coming out?

macOS Sierra will be available in the Autumn for the general public, so around September, but the public beta will be available from this summer, in July.

In fact, the developer preview is available right now. This follows Apple's usual pattern of introducing macOS updates; WWDC is the introduction to developers (who get instant access) but then consumers must wait until the official release - this will be in the autumn, around September and most likely will coincide with the launch of iOS 10 and new iPhones, although Apple has been known to launch its Mac operating systems a bit later in October too.

There is the option of joining the public beta programme to get early access to macOS Sierra, which is likely to begin in July. If you join the public beta programme you'll be able to download and install a pre-release build of the software and try it out for yourself, but be warned that it's likely to be buggy and may cause problems with existing software. It would be wise to install the macOS Sierra beta on a secondary Mac rather than the machine you need for work.

We've taken a look at how to install macOS Sierra, so you can head over to our write up right now.

macOS Sierra price UK: How much will macOS Sierra cost?

macOS Sierra will be a free update to Mac users using compatible devices, following the pattern that Apple has stuck too since OS X Mavericks in 2013. For a full run down of the expected system requirements for macOS Sierra, read: which Macs can run macOS Sierra?

macOS Sierra new features: What's new in macOS Sierra?

Auto Unlock with Apple Watch

Apple is putting several new features into the OS. The first announced on the night was Auto Unlock which allows you to unlock your Mac using your Apple Watch. No more typing in lengthy passwords after the screen goes off! A small addition, but no doubt will prove useful to those who have invested in the Watch.

Universal Clipboard

Universal Clipboard was slightly overlooked, but it is a new, great way to sync your copy and paste data between devices. This could be best put into practice with an iPad Pro and a Mac: drawing direct onto the iPad before intelligently copying and pasting onto Mac documents. This is a great way of syncing information between devices and will stop the brain-hurt of emailing yourself pictures or even sticking stuff in the cloud to download to another device.

iCloud Drive and Optimised Storge

iCloud Drive is also receiving a much needed update. For those of us familiar with sprinkling our Mac desktops with files that we need, rejoice - those files are mirrored on your other Macs (if you're rich) and on your iPhone.

Optimised storage for iCloud will automatically back up older files, particularly those that you'll never use again like cache files. It'll make your storage go a lot further before you have to forl out for more, which is great news and nice to see Apple thinking about the smaller nuances of its services.

Apple Pay

A further excellent feature coming to macOS Sierra is Apple Pay for Mac. Apple Pay icons will now appear on the buy pages of certain merchants - all you need do is verify your purchases with Touch ID on your iPhone or using your Apple Watch. This will be initially supported in nine countries.

Ahead of Apple's keynote, rumours had suggested that at some point Apple will add a Touch ID fingerprint scanner to its Mac range. This more conservative way of introducing Apple Pay to the Mac still provides many of the benefits, and it's still possible that Touch ID will eventually come to the Mac, too. However, the introduction of Auto Unlock mentioned above seems to be the solution to unlocking the Mac securely without the need for Touch ID.

Tabs

Tabs have also been lovingly reimagined - no longer restricted to Safari, those apps that allow for tabs now (with no developer work needed) will allow you to multi-tab.

Picture-in-Picture

Picture-in-Picture mode allows you to thumbnail view photos and, more impressively, videos from certain apps while doing other things. So long, productivity! Although, for those who work in video editing, features like this will be another Godsend.

Siri for Mac

After all the little bits and pieces, Apple showed us what we were hoping for - Siri on a Mac. A particuarly useful and impressive feature that was demoed live on stage was searching through documents using Siri. The voice assistant will also let you be far more flexible with macOS Sierra - you'll be able to image search online with Siri, and have the ability to drag and drop those images directly into a plethora of apps.

Siri is already on iPhone, iPad and even the Apple TV, so it was only a matter of time before Siri came to Mac too. After all, Microsoft already has Cortana in Windows (and has done since Windows 8.1) and Chrome has Google Now.

Collected from : http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/mac-software/

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First Look: Santa Monica Studio’s New God of War on PS4

Everything, everywhere changes.

Change is an essential part of life. In creative development change is often the explosive spark that transforms good enough into truly memorable.

Several years ago we at Santa Monica Studio began the journey of creating a new God of War. All of us recognized a special honor and responsibility to create a different and better and truly more memorable experience than before. I realized early on that we had to make changes in every aspect of the game.

I knew I didn’t want to simply reboot the franchise, starting over with a retelling of the origin story. I wanted to reimagine the gameplay, give players a fresh perspective and a new tactile experience while delving deeper into the emotional journey of Kratos to explore the compelling drama that unfolds when an immortal demigod makes a decision to change.

For Kratos, this change means breaking the cycle of violence, distrust and deception that his family, the Greek pantheon, perpetuated for so long. That cycle drove a whole host of bad decisions – the ill-fated deal with Ares, the murder of his family and a rage fueled descent into madness and vengeance that ultimately ended with the epic destruction of Olympus.

It also means learning how to control his rage, the intensely turbulent monster that lives within him, steering him down ever-darker paths. Kratos needed to figure out how to put the monster back in the box, how to control when he does and does not let that monster out.

Kratos’ rage has provoked a ton of bad decisions in his life, so I was fascinated to see what would happen if he actually made a good one. What would that look like? How would he struggle with this very difficult and unfamiliar road? And more importantly, why would he do this?

The last question was answered in my own life with the birth of my son, a tremendously transformative event that had me thinking about all kinds of change in life. It is hard for human beings to truly change, but one thing that can really motivate us is the thought of being responsible for a life, and especially the life of our child. The weight of that responsibility drives the instinct to protect, to want to prevent the mistakes of our past being delivered upon them. There is no end to the lengths we will go, no adversity we will not overcome, to be better… for them.

Once the decision to change was made, things got really interesting for Kratos and for all of us here at SMS. The road to creating a new God of War is a seemingly endless climb up an impossibly enormous mountain, filled with countless gut-wrenching failures and joyfully sweet successes.

Change is hard, but through it all we persevere, getting back up each time we are knocked down and celebrating each breakthrough, knowing that this journey ends in the realization of a collective vision – a great change in something we all hold very dear – a chance for us all to be better.

This playable gameplay teaser is an early first glimpse at the new beginning for God of War. We are so very eager to show you more as the game continues to take shape.

Reference by : http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/06/13/first-look-santa-monica-studios-new-god-of-war-on-ps4/

post by : Cory Barlog on Jun 13, 2016 // Sony Santa Monica Studios

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Natural Ways to Stay Young

Stress Less
Getting older — without being doomed to wrinkle-dom and jiggly thighs — does not require a high-priced trainer and a bucket o’ Botox. We swear it. We know it. We asked top researchers to share their stay-young secrets for winding back time naturally. Their advice will help you stay young and have you looking and feeling everyday fabulous, by doing everyday smart things: exercise, eat healthy, de-stress — not so hard, right? Try it today.

The Workout That Helps You Lose Weight and Stay Young
Get the complete You on a Diet Workout, developed by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen, authors of the best-selling You on a Diet.

Get the Workout

1. Give yourself a break

Recent studies show that stress causes physical changes in the body that can accelerate aging. Surges of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol cause blood pressure to rise and the heart to beat faster. These days, when our stressors seem unrelenting (a steady stream of job pressures, traffic jams, money problems), chronic doses of adrenaline and cortisol take a heavy toll on our physical and emotional health. “Sixty to 90 percent of all doctors’ visits each year are related to anxiety, depression, obsessive anger and hostility, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart attacks — all problems caused by stress,” says Herbert Benson, MD, author of the landmark book The Relaxation Response and a founder and director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine in Boston.

The most effective way to halt this destructive chain of events is to meditate, using what Dr. Benson calls “the relaxation response.” The technique involves repeating a mantra — a word, sound, phrase, or prayer — for as little as 10 minutes a day. A 2005 study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston showed that meditation helped prevent age-related changes in the brain.

Try it! Once or twice daily, for 10 to 20 minutes (yes, you do have the time — you just have to make it), sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, relax your muscles, roll your head, neck, and shoulders, and breathe deeply. On each exhale, repeat your mantra. If other thoughts try to invade, says Dr. Benson, tell yourself, “Oh, well,” and return to your word or phrase. When you’re done, keep your eyes closed for an extra minute; slowly allow everyday thoughts to flow back into your mind. Still not into the idea of meditation? Do yoga, or something active and repetitive, like running, instead. Focus on your breathing and how your feet land with each stride. Get your to-do list out of your head, says Dr. Benson.

2. Consume more fat

The healthy kind, that is. Omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, walnuts, and seeds) help stabilize your mood, maintain bone strength, and help prevent visible signs of aging by reducing inflammation in the body, explains Nicholas Perricone, MD, a leading anti-aging expert and author of 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health, and Longevity. “Omega-3s also boost the ability of the body’s enzymes to pull fat out of storage — from your hips, say — and use it as energy,” he says. “Omega-3s keep you healthy and your skin radiant.”

Try it! “Virtually every expert agrees that you need two grams of omega-3 fatty acids a day,” says Michael Roizen, MD, chair of the division of anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and coauthor of You on a Diet. Eat plenty of fatty fish such as wild salmon (a 3-ounce serving has 6.9 grams), as well as walnuts (one-half ounce has 9.2 grams), says Dr. Roizen. If you aren’t getting enough omega-3s from your diet, consider taking fish-oil supplements.

3. Get off the couch

Not only does regular exercise help you lose weight, tone muscles, build healthier bones, and boost mood, it can also help you think clearly. Studies cited by the National Institute on Aging demonstrate a connection between physical exercise and better brain power. “Walking for just 10 minutes a day lowers your risk of Alzheimer’s by 40 percent,” says Gary Small, MD, director of the UCLA Center on Aging and coauthor of The Healthy Brain Kit. “Physical conditioning reduces stress and anxiety, which wipe out your memory bank.”

Try it! Make time for three 20-minute workouts a week. Run, bike, swim, dance — do whatever you enjoy most.

4. Feel the love

Anyone who’s ever fallen head over heels or discovered an activity that makes them eager to jump out of bed in the morning knows that passion is a powerful drug. “It’s the central motivation of all human activity,” says Gail Sheehy in her new book, Sex and the Seasoned Woman. The ability to embrace life boosts self-esteem, fuels the immune system, and improves cardiovascular health. Passion in bed can be particularly beneficial: “Loving touches release hormones, including oxytocin, that reduce stress and anxiety,” says Mehmet Oz, MD, professor of surgery and vice chairman of cardiovascular services at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University, as well as the coauthor of You on a Diet. “If sex is a purely hedonistic process, it won’t have the same results.”

Try it! Banish boredom and isolation at all costs. Rekindle the flames with your partner. Or discover a new love in the form of a mental or physical pursuit: Take up painting, join a book club, start a running program (you’ll find motivation and tips and connect with other women like you through Team FITNESS, our personalized online exercise community, at fitnessmagazine.com/teamfitness). Do whatever it is that makes you feel energized and alive.

5. Drink red wine

Last fall, a groundbreaking study showed that mice on a high-fat diet supplemented with resveratrol, a substance found in the skin of grapes, had longer average lifespans than those not given the resveratrol. According to the study’s co-lead researcher Rafael de Cabo, PhD, of the National Institute on Aging, resveratrol clearly reduced the risk of diabetes and liver problems in mice, leading to a significant decline in obesity-related deaths. But here’s the catch: “You’d have to drink 180 bottles of red wine a day to get the same benefits,” says Dr. Roizen.

Researchers are working now to improve the potency of resveratrol in order to develop a pill that contains the optimum amount of the substance. In the meantime, there’s plenty of evidence that a little red wine can offset a host of health problems. A new animal study from Johns Hopkins University suggested that red wine can diminish brain damage caused by stroke by as much as 40 percent. And research released last year showed that grape-seed procyanidins, found in red wine, helps reduce arterial clogging, resulting in lower blood-cholesterol levels and a reduction in deaths from heart disease.

Try it! Until an optimally potent resveratrol pill is available, enjoy red wine, but it’s best to follow the latest alcohol guidelines from the American Medical Association and drink no more than one glass (5 ounces) a day for your health.

6. Do yoga

More energy, better posture, greater flexibility, improved mood, and less stress are just some of the rewards of this mind-body workout. “Yoga means ‘union’ in Sanskrit,” says Cyndi Lee, founder of New York City’s Om Yoga and a FITNESS advisory board member. “Through conscious yoga breathing, you become aware of the connection between mind and body.” That translates into major anti-aging advantages. Yogic breathing has been shown to oxygenate the cells, ridding them of toxins, helping prevent illness, and making skin radiant. Unlike other exercises, says Lee, yoga poses are designed to work the inside of your body as well as the outside, which helps rejuvenate the digestive system, the reproductive system, even the immune system. “Yoga is like wringing your body out like a washcloth,” she says. “It’s one of the best ways to keep things moving.”

Try it! Practice yoga or other mind-body activities at least twice a week, says Lee, to give yourself an energy boost, help build bone mass, and de-stress.

7. Bite into a superfruit

There’s a good reason we’re hearing so much about pomegranates these days. “Current studies show that they are more beneficial than other fruits,” says Dr. Oz. Pomegranate juice has been found to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, possibly delay the onset of atherosclerosis, and potentially help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease; researchers believe it may also help prevent some forms of cancer from starting or progressing. Pomegranates can also protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays, according to a study published last March.

Another promising anti-ager is the goji berry, a fruit native to Tibet that boasts 500 times more vitamin C by weight than an orange and is considered to be the most abundant source of carotenoids, a type of antioxidant, on earth. This little nutritional powerhouse — which tastes like a denser, sweeter cranberry — also contains more iron than spinach, 18 amino acids, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E, according to Dr. Perricone. The goji berry stimulates the release of human growth hormone, a natural substance in the body that improves our ability to sleep, helps us look younger, reduces fat, improves memory, boosts libido, and enhances the immune system, he says.

Try it! Snack on a handful of dried goji berries (available at Whole Foods Market) throughout the day. Be sure to buy ones from Tibet, because they have high serum levels, advises Dr. Perricone. In addition, drink pomegranate juice. Not a fan of the flavor? Buy it in concentrate and add a tablespoonful daily to kefir (or plain yogurt), suggests Dr. Perricone. For dewy skin, try Rodial’s Wrinkle Smoother, a pomegranate-infused anti-aging serum with marine extracts and vitamin C created to plump wrinkles, block sun and give a youthful glow (available at blissworld.com).

blissworld.com

8. Sip green tea

The health buzz about this brew keeps getting stronger: Last year, green tea was found to reduce the risk of breast cancer and prevent remissions, and now it’s being tested as a way to help prevent bladder, colorectal, and lung cancer recurrence. “Green tea is an amazing compound in terms of blocking the signaling network that is linked with the progression of cancer,” says Amy Yee, PhD, a professor of biochemistry at Tufts University and principal investigator of the cancer study. It’s also an effective weight-management agent because it appears to rev up metabolism, says Dr. Roizen. Preliminary research indicates that green tea may even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. A Japanese study published last year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that drinking at least one cup a day can help keep your brain sharp as you get older.

Try it! Sip two or three cups daily for the ultimate health benefits, says Yee. We like Tazo China Green Tips tea.

tazo.com

9. Slather your skin with supplements

Retinol, a type of vitamin A (and a nonprescription, weaker-strength relative of Retin-A), is considered the most effective over-the-counter treatment to smooth the skin and prevent wrinkles, says David Colbert, MD, founder of the New York Dermatology Group and a member of the FITNESS advisory board, who practices in New York City. Retinols cause the skin to gently peel, revealing a silkier, rosier, and more supple layer. Dr. Perricone touts the benefits of alpha lipoic acid, a potent antioxidant that naturally occurs in the body. “Alpha lipoic acid is a wonderful anti-aging mechanism,” he says. It has been shown to reduce fine lines, improve skin texture, tighten pores, and give skin a general radiance.

Another powerful age-defying ingredient is madecassol, or madecassoside (found in La Roche-Posay’s Redermic, available at select CVS locations), an Asian plant extract that helps plump the skin, minimize fine lines, and restore a youthful glow, says Dr. Colbert. Madecassol has been used in France for decades to help heal scars and wounds. European studies have also found that it helps diminish wrinkles, restores firmness to skin, and hydrates skin cells.

Try it! Look for skin creams containing retinols, such as La Roche-Posay’s Biomedic Retinol Cream (available at dermatologists’ offices) or RoC’s Retinol Actif Pur Night (at drugstores). Use it only at night, since it doesn’t include an SPF. Or try products containing alpha lipoic acid.

Another good way to ensure cell turnover, protect your skin against free radicals, and stimulate collagen growth is to apply vitamin C serum under your moisturizer and makeup, says Dr. Colbert. Some expert-approved choices: IS Clinical C & E Serum (available at dermatologists’ and other specialists’ offices), SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (at dermatologists’ offices), Noah’s Naturals Honest to Goodness Anti-Oxidant Serum Gel (at select Wal-Mart locations), and Pond’s Age defEYE Anti-Circle Anti-Puff Eye Therapy (at drugstores). Finally, be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunblock every day to protect against UVA and UVB rays, which cause aging and skin cancer. One we like: Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Cream with Mexoryl SX (available at select CVS locations).

10. Do mental aerobics

A study published in last December’s Journal of the American Medical Association shows that brain exercises can prevent cognitive decline, and the benefits can last for as many as five years. In his own research, Dr. Small has found that a two-week program of mental training can actually rewire the brain. “We’ve seen evidence on brain scans that memory improves,” he says.

Try it! Strengthen your mind every day by doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or Brain Games, a handheld electronic game developed by Dr. Small that uses numbers, sequences, and word play to condition the left and right spheres of the brain (available at Wal-Mart and Target stores).

The Workout That Helps You Lose Weight and Stay Young
Get the complete You on a Diet Workout, developed by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen, authors of the best-selling You on a Diet.
References:
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/mind-body/feeling/10-all-natural-ways-to-stay-young/

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What is Ramadan actually about?

A Palestinian man decorates his shop with fairy lights in the old city of Jerusalem on June 3, 2016, as Muslims around the world prepare for the announcement of the fasting month of Ramadan.AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan started this week, and most of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims will be observing. This means there's a good chance you might encounter someone — a friend, a co-worker, the barista making your latte at Starbucks, your child's teacher — who is celebrating Ramadan.

But what is Ramadan, exactly? And how can I make sure I don't accidentally offend my Muslim friends and acquaintances during Ramadan?

We've got you covered: Here are the most basic answers to the most basic questions about Ramadan.

1) What is Ramadan actually about?

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims — the Prophet Mohammed reportedly said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."

Muslims believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran, Islam's sacred text, to Mohammed, on a night known as "The Night of Power" (or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic).

RelatedLondon's new Muslim mayor has the perfect response to Trump making an "exception" for him

During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from sunrise to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline — of deep contemplation of one's relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Quran.

But if that makes it sound super serious and boring, it's really not. It's a time of celebration and joy, to be spent with loved ones. At the end of Ramadan there is a big three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr, or "the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast." It's kind of like the Muslim version of Christmas, in the sense that it's a religious holiday where everyone comes together for big meals with family and friends, exchanges presents, and generally has a lovely time.

Cem Ozdel/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesEid presents!!!

Despite the hardship of fasting for a whole month, most Muslims (myself included) actually look forward to Ramadan and are a little sad when it's over. There's just something really special about knowing that tens of millions of your fellow Muslims around the world are experiencing the same hunger pangs, dry mouth, and dizzy spells that you are, and that we're all in it together.

2) How does fasting work?

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars — or duties — of Islam, along with the testimony of faith, prayer, charitable giving, and making pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims are required to take part every year, though there are special dispensations for those who are ill, pregnant or nursing, menstruating, or traveling, and for young children and the elderly.

The practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes: to remind you of your human frailty and your dependence on God for sustenance, to show you what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so you feel compassion for (and a duty to help) the poor and needy, and to reduce the distractions in life so you can more clearly focus on your relationship with God.

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating any food, drinking any liquids, smoking cigarettes, and engaging in any sexual activity, from sunrise to sunset. That includes taking medication (even if you swallow a pill dry, without drinking any water). Chewing gum is also prohibited (though I didn't find that one out until about halfway through my first Ramadan after converting — oops).

Doing any of those things "invalidates" your fast for the day, and you just start over the next day. To make up for days you didn't fast, you can either fast later in the year (either all at once or a day here and there) or provide a meal to a needy person for each day you missed.

Muslims are also supposed to try to curb negative thoughts and emotions like jealousy and anger, and even lesser things like swearing, complaining, and gossiping, during the month. Some people may also choose to give up or limit activities like listening to music and watching television, often in favor of listening to recitations of the Quran.

3) What is a typical day like during Ramadan?

During Ramadan, Muslims wake up well before dawn to eat the first meal of the day, which has to last until sunset. This means eating lots of high-protein foods and drinking as much water as possible right up until dawn, after which you can't eat or drink anything. At dawn, we perform the Morning Prayer. Since it's usually still pretty early, many go back to sleep for a bit before waking up again to get ready for the day (I certainly do).

Muslims are not supposed to avoid work or school or any other normal duties during the day just because we are fasting. In many Muslim countries, however, businesses and schools may reduce their hours during the day or close entirely. For the most part, though, Muslims go about their daily business as we normally would, despite not being able to eat or drink anything the whole day.

When the evening call to prayer is finally made (or when the alarm on your phone's Muslim prayer app goes off), we break the day's fast with a light meal — really more of a snack — called an iftar (literally "breakfast"), before performing the evening prayer. Many also go to the mosque for the evening prayer, followed by a special prayer that is only recited during Ramadan.

This is usually followed by a larger meal a bit later in the evening, which is often shared with family and friends in one another's homes throughout the month. Then it's off to bed for a few hours of sleep before it's time to wake up and start all over again.

(Note: There are good reasons for only having a small snack to break your fast before performing the evening prayer and then eating a bigger meal later. Muslim prayers involve a lot of movement — bending over, prostrating on the ground, standing up, etc. Doing all that physical activity on a full stomach after not having eaten for 15 hours is a recipe for disaster. Just trust me on this one.)

4) So do you lose weight during Ramadan?

Some of you may be thinking, "Wow, that sounds like a great way to lose weight! I'm going to try it!" But in fact, Ramadan is actually notorious for often causing weight gain. That's because eating large meals super early in the morning and late at night with a long period of low activity bordering on lethargy in between can wreak havoc on your metabolism.

But if you're careful, you can avoid putting on weight, and you may actually lose a few pounds. One meta-analysis of scientific studies on the effects of Ramadan fasting on body weight found that "[w]eight changes during Ramadan were relatively small and mostly reversed after Ramadan, gradually returning to pre-Ramadan status. Ramadan provides an opportunity to lose weight, but structured and consistent lifestyle modifications are necessary to achieve lasting weight loss." [Italics mine.]

So just like with any other extreme diet plan, you may lose a few pounds, but unless you actually make "structured and consistent lifestyle modifications," you're probably not going to see major, lasting results.

5) Why do the dates of Ramadan change every year?

For religious matters, Muslims follow a lunar calendar — that is, one based on the phases of the moon — whose 12 months add up to approximately 354 days. That's 11 days shorter than the 365 days of the standard Gregorian calendar. Therefore, the Islamic lunar calendar moves backward approximately 11 days each year in relation to the regular Gregorian calendar.

So that means that the first day of the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, moves backward by about 11 days each year.

This has a large impact on how people experience Ramadan from year to year. When Ramadan falls in the winter, it's much easier to fast: the days are shorter, which means you don't have to fast as long, and it's colder out, so not being able to drink water all day isn't as big of a deal, because you're not sweating as much.

Conversely, when Ramadan falls in the summer (as it has every year since I converted, because of course), fasting can be brutal. In many Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa, summer temperatures can reach levels usually reserved for the deepest bowels of hell.

And in some northern European countries such as Iceland, Norway, and Sweden (where, yes, there are Muslims), fasting can last an average of 20 hours or more in the summer. (And in a few places above the Arctic Circle, the sun never actually sets in the summer. In these cases, Muslim religious authorities have decreed that Muslims can either fast along with the closest Muslim country or fast along with Mecca, Saudi Arabia.)

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reference: www.vox.com/2016/6/6/11851766/ramadan-2016-muslim-about

Cyber Security

WHAT IS CYBER SECURITY?

Cyber security, also referred to as information technology security, focuses on protecting computers, networks, programs and data from unintended or unauthorized access, change or destruction.

WHY IS CYBER SECURITY IMPORTANT?

Governments, military, corporations, financial institutions, hospitals and other businesses collect, process and store a great deal of confidential information on computers and transmit that data across networks to other computers. With the growing volume and sophistication of cyber attacks, ongoing attention is required to protect sensitive business and personal information, as well as safeguard national security.

During a Senate hearing in March 2013, the nation's top intelligence officials warned that cyber attacks and digital spying are the top threat to national security, eclipsing terrorism.

CYBER SECURITY GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Learn cyber speak by familiarizing yourself with cyber security terminology.1

Access −

The ability and means to communicate with or otherwise interact with a system, to use system resources to handle information, to gain knowledge of the information the system contains or to control system components and functions.

Active Attack −

An actual assault perpetrated by an intentional threat source that attempts to alter a system, its resources, its data or its operations.

Blacklist −

A list of entities that are blocked or denied privileges or access.

Bot −

A computer connected to the Internet that has been surreptitiously/secretly compromised with malicious logic to perform activities under the remote command and control of a remote administrator.

Cloud Computing −

A model for enabling on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing capabilities or resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

Critical Infrastructure −

The systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to society that the incapacity or destruction of such may have a debilitating impact on the security, economy, public health or safety, environment or any combination of these matters.

Cryptography −

The use of mathematical techniques to provide security services, such as confidentiality, data integrity, entity authentication and data origin authentication.

Cyber Space −

The interdependent network of information technology infrastructures, that includes the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems and embedded processors and controllers.

Data Breach −

The unauthorized movement or disclosure of sensitive information to a party, usually outside the organization, that is not authorized to have or see the information.

Digital Forensics −

The processes and specialized techniques for gathering, retaining and analyzing system-related data (digital evidence) for investigative purposes.

Enterprise Risk Management −

A comprehensive approach to risk management that engages people, processes and systems across an organization to improve the quality of decision making for managing risks that may hinder an organization's ability to achieve its objectives.

Information Assurance −

The measures that protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity and confidentiality.

Intrusion Detection −

The process and methods for analyzing information from networks and information systems to determine if a security breach or security violation has occurred.

Key −

The numerical value used to control cryptographic operations, such as decryption, encryption, signature generation or signature verification.

Malware −

Software that compromises the operation of a system by performing an unauthorized function or process.

Passive Attack −

An actual assault perpetrated by an intentional threat source that attempts to learn or make use of information from a system but does not attempt to alter the system, its resources, its data or its operations.

Penetration Testing −

An evaluation methodology whereby assessors search for vulnerabilities and attempt to circumvent the security features of a network and/or information system.

Phishing −

A digital form of social engineering to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information.

Root −

A set of software tools with administrator-level access privileges installed on an information system and designed to hide the presence of the tools, maintain the access privileges and conceal the activities conducted by the tools.

Software Assurance −

The level of confidence that software is free from vulnerabilities, either intentionally designed into the software or accidentally inserted at any time during its lifecycle, and that the software functions in the intended manner.

Virus −

A computer program that can replicate itself, infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user and then spread or propagate to another computer.

Whitelist −

A list of entities that are considered trustworthy and are granted access or privileges.

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Reference: http://www.umuc.edu/cybersecurity

7 Top Expenses And Time Tracking Software For Mac

For many roving workers and freelancers tracking time and expenses is a necessary evil, but one which can eat up a ton of time. Thankfully, there’s a whole bunch of awesome cloud-based expenses and time tracking software for Mac users to save themselves a lot of hassle.

Today on AppStorm I’m going to look at the seven of the best expenses and time tracking applications for Mac. While these applications aren’t specifically for the Mac, being web-based applications they can be accessed on a range of different sources. All of them have a colorful, accessible look and feel, so Mac users should feel right at home with them. In addition, some of the below applications also offer Mac clients. This software generally requires a subscription but most of the applications come with free trials.

Read on to find out more!

Xpenditure

Xpenditure, as its name implies, takes the pain out of expense tracking for freelancers. Perhaps the coolest feature of this app is digitized receipts. That means no more stuffing paper receipts into an old cigar box. Xpenditure keeps up with your receipts and it even exports to your accounting app of choice for full-scale financial reporting with ease.

To digitize receipts Xpenditure allows users to scan them and link them to your bank accounts and ID, integrating together the receipt and the bank confirmation. Due to Xpenditure’s integration with miiCard the app helps to ensure security by requiring identification. Xpenditure has apps on the Apple, Android, Windows and Blackberry marketplaces, and also links with a range of accounting software including both QuickBooks and FreshBooks, allowing you to streamline your financial tracking.

Pricing: From $5 per month.

Nutcache

Nutcache is a handy tool to keep track of time and expenses. While predominantly a project management application, Nutcache handles time tracking, invoicing, and expense tracking. It boasts some handy collaboration features, allowing you to invite coworkers and clients to comment on projects and share files with ease. Nutcache helps you get paid online too, through payment gateways such as PayPal or Stripe.

Nutcache makes time tracking simple through utilization of a calendar which can be filtered according to department or individual. Through this, superiors can quickly view an overview of time worked and form time sheets accordingly, making this a great choice of time tracking software for Mac users.

Pricing: From $14 per month.

Harvest

Aside from its simple, intuitive interface that makes time tracking simpler and invoicing even more speedy, Harvest adds a wide range of integrations with third-party apps including Xero, PayPal, QuickBooks Online, and a whole lot more.

Harvest is a great tool for employees and employers by allowing easy creation of timesheets and by incorporating a notification system, ensuring key documents are submitted on time. Harvest also offers a powerful Mac time tracking application. Through this, users can start timers to track when they’re working, these will then simultaneously create timesheets. The application also gives you the option to remove idle time if you leave a timer running. All in all, it’s a very useful and attractive time tracking application for Mac users.

Pricing: From $12 per month.

WorkflowMax

WorkFlowMax is a Xero product, which has the benefit of aligning time tracking, expenses, and accounting (if Xero happens to be your accounting app of choice). What’s even more compelling is that WorkFlowMax is capable of handling freelance jobs from taking care of the incoming lead, to performing the work, right down to reconciling the paid invoice (if you’re taking advantage of built-in Xero integration).

WorkflowMax helps to solve the problem of time tracking by incorporating timers, a mobile site, and additional widgets in order to track working hours. In the Mac App Store users can download the “Actual for WorkflowMax” app, making it easier to track time outside of WorkflowMax. From the data received through these sources you can use this expenses tracking software for Mac to instantly generate invoices from the timesheets.

Pricing: From $15 per month for one user.

Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a time tracking solution that was designed to empower teams to work together more effectively in real time. Running as an application on the desktop, Hubstaff uses a combination of screenshots, activity levels, and in-depth reports to enable freelancers, website owners and virtual teams to keep better track of the actual time they’ve spent working on client projects.

In addition to screenshots, activity monitoring, and reports, Hubstaff’s platform also includes key features like automatic payroll and GPS. It integrates with more than 30 popular business applications, which means users can work more efficiently and managers can gain a better understanding of which third-party applications their team members are running while they track time.

Pricing: From $5 per month.

Motiv

Motiv is a business management app that is specifically aimed at freelancers. In addition to time and expense tracking, this cloud-based software adds proposal and contract creation, quoting, invoicing, and electronic signature capture to the fold. Plus it has a pretty nifty mobile app.

Motiv, as part of its wide range of features also possesses a client portal and the ability to brand your documents. Through the branding functionality, users can change colors, logos and even add a custom domain. The Client Portal in Motiv is a great way to gain continued reputation with clients by giving them access to timesheets, agreements and contracts.

Pricing: Pricing starts at $5/month.

BillGrid

BillGrid aims to solve a common issue, tracking time and expenses for different projects for the same client. BillGrid allows you to do just that for not only time, and expenses, but also invoices and estimates. If you need to send your client an invoice, you can also do this with one click from the time you have tracked across the entire project.

BillGrid gives you flexibility when tracking time on a Mac by allowing manual or automatic recording. In addition to expense and time tracking options, BillGrid also places huge emphasis on client information storage. Allowing you to quickly view estimates, amount invoiced and range of recorded files relating to a specific client.

Pricing: From $8 per month.

Now you’ve seen some of my choices of the best time tracking and expense software for Mac, visit our sister site GetApp where you can search and compare more top time and expense tracking applications based in the cloud. Let us know which apps you’re using to track time and expenses, we’d love to hear from you!

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Manage Your Business Better: Top Online Booking Software For Mac

To get ahead in the travel and hospitality industry means taking advantage of online booking apps and cloud technology. An important part of this is being able to accept online bookings at any time but developing an in house booking system is both costly and time consuming. Luckily, there are some excellent cloud-based reservation and online booking software for Mac users who run a business that needs to manage appointments.

These apps are all based in the cloud and they look great on a Mac. There’s zero maintenance at your end, and you can access them from any device. They’re also easy to use and you can start accepting reservations through your website and social media channels instantly.

These Mac apps for hospitality and the travel industry are perfect for a wide range of uses and industries including for hotels, tours, sightseeing operators, bars, hair salons, restaurants, and even one-off courses or events. Crucially, they allow you to get on with improving your business while your customers can book and pay for everything online with a credit card with no need to use the phone or leave the house.

So, here are five of the best pieces of online booking software for Mac users within the travel, leisure, and hospitality industry…

MINDBODY

MINDBODY is an easy-to-use booking software for Mac users to organize your day and welcome new clients into your business. MINDBODY allows you to manage new customers and clients and check them into your business to improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

MINDBODY keeps track of both staff and clients and encourages new customers to become regular clients by setting up recurring billing and automated referral programs to encourage them spread the word. There’s also the MINDBODY Connect app for mobile devices, which allows users to make bookings and purchases on the move.

Pricing: From $30 per month.

Lodgify

If you’re in the property rental business, then look no further than Lodgify to manage online bookings on your Mac. Lodgify is a SaaS solution that enables rental owners and managers to easily create their own vacation rental website and accept online bookings.

Lodgify is very well organized with a clear dashboard that allows owners to manage all reservations in one place and synchronize property data with booking channels.

Lodgify is suitable for owners of all types of business whether you own a small holding or manage hundreds of vacation properties, Lodgify makes online bookings and management easy.

Pricing: From $8 per month.

Checkfront

Checkfront is a centralized booking management system for Mac which allows you to quickly integrate your inventory into an online booking system. Checkfront gives you a clear overview to manage availability, seasonal rates, packages and special offers in one place.

Checkfront is ideal for managing accommodation, tours, rentals and professional service bookings. It can be integrated with WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal, Facebook and stand-alone websites which can be integrated into your own site with the Checkfront API.

Checkfront also includes powerful Analytics tools which give you a deeper insight into booking traffic and how effective your marketing campaigns can be.

Pricing: From $49 per month.

Trekksoft

TrekkSoft is one of the most popular and accessible booking software for travel and leisure companies on Mac which allows you to set up your own personalized, branded website where you can describe your products, publish live inventories, promote your products, offer discounts and accept payments.

TrekkSoft facilitates easy ways to book via mobile and can be integrated into your website via a free booking widget. There’s also the TrekkSoft Channel manager which helps give your products more visibility to industry distribution partners and you can also sell your tours on other providers’ websites or allow them to sell their tours on your site.

TrekkSoft offers a tour management solution for travel companies to help manage both the backend and frontend operations of your ecommerce store. Through the creation of your own branded website, along with the ability to integrate TrekkSoft onto other websites, TrekkSoft allows you to create a more efficient and more personalized user experience.

Pricing: Various commission-based payment plans.

ZOZI Advance

ZOZI Advance is a cloud online booking system for tour, activity, event, and rental businesses. ZOZI Advance helps you manage bookings, payments, and customers in one convenient dashboard.

ZOZI Advance has a well designed dashboard and booking calendar that makes it very straightforward to customize product pricing, equipment rental, setup a POS system, send automated emails and more.

There’s also the ZOZI Advance mobile app so you can check your calendar from anywhere and for customers to make bookings on any device. You can promote your business further on the ZOZI.com marketplace where customers can search services and businesses by type and make bookings directly.

Pricing: From $39 per month.

These online booking apps for Mac can boost your bookings, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction, so it’s well worth checking out these and comparing more of the top, cloud-based reservation software on our sister site, GetApp. Let us know which Mac booking software you use for your business and why you chose it.

Reference

http://mac.appstorm.net/roundups/manage-your-business-better-top-online-booking-software-for-mac/

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