Pets

Show quality pug puppies

admin

The history of the Pug puppy is vague. Breeders believe that the breed is approximately 4,000 years old and most believe that it was originally the result of a combination of a Pekingese and a bulldog. Many people believe that the breed was originally an Asian breed until Dutch explorers introduced the small dog to Europe.

In recent years, the Pug dog breed has enjoyed increasing popularity. The Pug is a breed of toy dog, the average height of an adult Pug is ten to eleven inches tall and they usually weigh between fourteen and eighteen pounds. Dog owners are delighted to find that they have a variety of colors to choose from when looking for a new Pug puppy. Pugs can be apricot, silver, or black.

The coat of the Pug puppy is short, fine and soft to the touch. Pug puppies have a black face mask that covers their cheeks, muzzle, and ears, before tracing the Pug’s back. The Pug’s squashed face and bulging eyes are very distinctive. The Pug’s tail curves up and over his back. The breed became an international phenomenon when it appeared in the original Men In Black movie.

The Pug puppy has an endearing personality. Dog lovers would find it difficult to find a happier breed of dog. The best thing about the pug is that he seems to get along with everyone and everything. He likes people, children, cats, and other dogs. Dog lovers are surprised that a dog with such a friendly nature also makes an excellent watchdog. The reason the Pug puppy makes a great watchdog is because it is alert. It is impossible for someone to approach the house without the Pug noticing.

Pug puppies are active, but as long as they are routinely walked they will do well in apartments. Pug puppies are a great option for a dog owner who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time grooming either. Every once in a while, brushing over the Pug’s short coat and routinely trimming the small dog’s nails is all the grooming the average Pug puppy requires.

The Pug has some health problems that the owner should be aware of. Owners should keep an eye on the puppy’s googly eyes to make sure they aren’t pierced or scratched. Pug owners must be vigilant to ensure that their Pug puppy does not overeat or develop respiratory problems.

Bringing home a Pug puppy can be an exciting and scary time for both you and the new puppy. This is the first time that your Pug puppy has been separated from its mother and littermates, adding to the separation to the fact that the puppy is in a strange environment and is sure to be a stressful time for your new puppy. Your mental state may not be better. You are responsible for a new life, one that is not domesticated. The key to keeping the big day as stress-free as possible is getting organized.

Make sure you have the proper equipment before bringing your puppy home. You will need a box, food plates, a dog collar, a leash, chew toys, and puppy food. Make sure the crate is somewhere in your house that is quiet but not so quiet that the new Pug puppy feels isolated.

Make sure you have plenty of time to spend with your puppy when you bring him home. One of the worst things you can do is bring a Pug puppy home, put him in a box, and then leave him alone for several hours. Having someone around will make your puppy feel safe from the changes.

Real Estate

7 questions to ask your electrical contractors

admin

Finding an electrical contractor can be difficult, but finding the right one will help create a safe and visually appealing home or commercial building. Make sure you do your due diligence to reduce the hassles associated with hiring a low-repute electrical contractor. Sometimes checking the website or checking reviews online is not enough to know how qualified a contractor may be. Here are some questions that can help you find the right set of electrical contracting capabilities.

Get answers to these questions before signing an agreement:

1. Are you insured and bonded?

A licensed and bonded contractor generally delivers an expected level of quality and follows relevant codes. If you hire an unlicensed contractor, you cannot make warranty claims if the work performed is out of code or mistakes are made.

2. What is your total experience?

No project is without mistakes, but an experienced contractor will know the ins and outs of dealing with a large residential or commercial project, and will do so with fewer mistakes. Some new entrants to the industry may have a qualification, but with a lack of experience they will make mistakes that you can only learn on the job.

3. Do you offer regular training to your employees?

Ongoing training ensures electricians and other workers are up-to-date on the latest industry methods, pros and cons. You can be confident that your company staff will be able to meet all of your needs and preferences, and that you will get the right people on the job, not just those available.

4. Do you have references?

A trusted contractor will not hesitate to answer this question. The answer to this question will help to identify the quality of work by talking to previous clients. Consider their experiences and how the commercial electrical contractors in question were able to handle the obstacles on the job.

5. How long will it take to complete the project?

An experienced contractor will be able to provide a reasonable estimate of the time required to complete a particular job. This is something you cannot know without having work experience. An experienced electrical contractor will be able to spot what problems can arise on a job.

6. What will the total cost of the project be?

Beyond the time, there are parts and the number of contractors needed to get the job done within the estimated time.

7. What are your specialties or capabilities?

Each electrical contractor possesses some qualities that distinguish it from other contractors. Whether it’s LED work, LED lighting, medium voltage, or designer construction, every electrical contractor has his or her niche. Getting an answer to this question will also allow you to get the best job from the contractor.

Shopping Product Reviews

The classic Nintendo Wii controller: comfort and style

admin

Much of the interest surrounding the Nintendo Wii is due to its new remote control technology, but if you were feeling more at home with the old-school controller, they also offer the “classic controller.”

As the “classic” controller has been called, it is ideal for the old Nintendo games of yesterday. It’s designed for games where you can’t use the innovative Wii remote, nun-chuck, or any other fancy controller, although it can be used with any game. This is the controller of choice if you really want to keep it simple.

The design bears similarities to the Super Nintendo gaming platform. Its oval shape and buttons are diamond-shaped. It has the usual D-Pad and a start and select button. The buttons included on the front are the old A, B, X and Y buttons, and finally it includes the four buttons on the top edge of the controller.

The classic controller is much smoother over the Super Nintendo controller. The D-Pad has a much more comfortable feel than the SNEC, and the controller fits better in your hand. The analog sticks will move like a dream compared to the old ones. For some, the A, B, X and Y buttons can pose a problem as they are more widely spaced. It will take a little thumb stretch to use it, but you will get over it quickly. Although, it can still be difficult to do some of those move combinations in games like Street Fighter.

The classic controller has obviously been designed with maximum gaming comfort in mind. The controller buttons are rounded to be much easier to use with your fingers. Previous controllers had indented buttons, although they are easier to grip, they can get tired after a long game.

The drawback of the classic controller is that it cannot be used to play games on the GameCube system. If that’s what you expected, you are advised to get something else.

The left analog stick of the classic controller is used to control the cursor when you are in the Wii channel menu. If you intend to play classic Nintendo games from Virtual Console, then this controller is a must.

That’s the true purpose of the classic Nintendo Wii controller – to play all those classic games that are available for the Wii. As cool as the Wii remote is, you just can’t play Mortal Kombat or any of the thousands of other games Nintendo intends to release. The Virtual Console is expected to give you access to all the great games of yesteryear shortly, and the classic controller is that perfect retro controller to enjoy.

The classic Wii controller will need to be purchased separately for $ 19.99, and there are places on the internet where you can get one.

Sports

Let them play! New NCAA College Basketball Foul Rules from a Fan’s Perspective

admin

Let them play!

Last night, I was able to attend a Butler Bulldogs vs. The Princeton Tigers men’s basketball game at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler campus, an exceptional place to watch a game, a cozy 10,000 seats close to the action, amid some of the original beautiful architectural features from 1928, that are still visible: Hinkle Fieldhouse, when built, being the largest basketball stadium in the world … and although it was a game well played, the new interpretation of the foul rules got in the way of the game being truly pleasant.

Excited to see Princeton’s offense in action, Butler, for the most part, is still well-groomed and well-trained by Butler’s new coach, and Brad Stevens heir Brandon Miller closed the cuts on Princeton’s back since the beginning, forcing Princeton to shoot three points in the first half, and then, after a halftime adjustment, clearing space for their players to attack Butler and the basket one-on-one, which, under This new interpretation of the foul rules, also known as “all hands out,” caused foul, after foul, after foul, and turned the game into a ticky tack foul shooting contest when Princeton would go to the line. and then he would go to the foul line again, and then Butler would get a recovery call, and he would come back, and he would go back and forth.

By the end of games, Princeton had thrown 37 free throws, the most free throw attempts Princeton had made since the Tigers fired 40 free throws against Columbia in February 2005 … potentially a good game. played by Butler, and what should have been an easier Butler win, dragging down the free throw to eventually create a chance for Princeton to tie the game with less than ten seconds to go.

Butler managed the 70-67 victory, but the most notable team in the game was not Butler, nor Princeton, but the umpires.

While the NCAA did not directly change any foul rules on the books, here are the most important changes or “points of emphasis” umpires will be looking for this college basketball season:

(Note: The NCAA also changed the wording for the offensive blocking / charging foul, which is a welcome change, hopefully eliminating the defensive flop that had become an all too prevalent defensive tactic in college play. upward movement to pass or shoot … so basically the defensive player has to be in a defensive position earlier than last year to get a charge call).

Fouls must now be called when …

1) When a defensive player keeps a hand or forearm on an opponent.

2) When a defensive player puts both hands on an opponent.

3) When a defensive player strikes continuously extending his arm or arms placing a hand or forearm on the opponent.

4) When a defensive player uses an arm bar to impede the advance of an opponent.

What Causes This?

Well, from what I saw last night at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse …

1) Quick whistles to any defender one on one.

2) The whistles stop the game just as the game progresses as the offensive players try to cut and bypass the screens.

3) The defense packing in the lane and allowing only three-point wide shots.

4) Quick whistles when a big man is going to shoot with two or more defenders around him.

5) It is important to note that the game does not flow.

6) The energy of the local public is being depleted by the continuous interruptions of the game. (I saw some yawns in the crowd that made me yawn too … being contagious.)

7) Players on both sides get frustrated.

8) An unintended effect – and since I’ve been watching college basketball it’s always been there – of the referees calling for more fouls on the team behind in favor, which, at least in this game, seemed to cause the best team in the court, Butler, for, even though playing better and being the best team tonight, they can’t get as far away as they should have been. (Note: ESPN commentator Jay Bilas, in Michigan State’s # 2 78-74 win over # 1 Kentucky, continually commenting that Michigan State should be way higher than they were and comments from Adreian Payne and Matt Costello after the play).

The NCAA stated that the need for these new foul interpretations, supposedly, was that the score in college basketball was at a modern-era all-time low last season. The idea and ideal, supposedly, behind these new interpretations of the rules is also that by calling these fouls this would increase the flow, movement, and athletic art of college play.

The first problem I have with this NCAA idea is the perceived need for more scoring, and that there is an ongoing idea throughout the American sports world that “more scoring” makes the game more entertaining.

My second problem with this idea and NCAA ideal is that some of the best and most entertaining basketball games I’ve seen were tough battles, where every basket made was magnified.

I think the NCAA views last year’s NCAA championship game between Louisville and Michigan as the ideal high-scoring and entertainment event, a final score of 82-76, but that their vision of that game as a college basketball game ideal fails to see that the score was not created by fouls or lack of fouls, but rather by the unique styles of each team that made the match more open and higher-scoring, to include:

1) The Louisville press, when effective, creates high-quality offensive opportunities.

2) Louisville’s press defense, once broken, leaves an open space for the offense to operate if done quickly.

3) The John Beilein system encourages high-quality photography.

4) Trey Burke was playing and was the best college basketball player last season.

5) Neither team had a truly dominant big man that could affect the other team’s shots.

6) Spike Albrecht, who averaged 2.2 points per game last season, hit 4 triples and scored 17 points in the first half.

7) The only limiting factor on offense for either team was Louisville’s Russ Smith, whose low-quality, selfish shot selection Smith finished 3 of 16 from the field was Louisville’s only offensive obstacle and games.

It is important to note that in this highly entertaining championship game, fouls and free throws had very little to do with the entertainment value of the game, rather it was the team’s praise styles, lack of dominant big men, strong offensive strategies and a player. , Albrecht, freaking out, which made the game very entertaining.

From what I saw last night at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the NCAA has chosen the wrong route to open the game, increase the score, and make the game more entertaining, and that, from their decision to reinterpret fouls, I don’t think they understand very well. either the game they rule, or the reasons why the flow of college basketball has slowed.

If you really want to increase the flow of the game, open space and increase the score (although free kicks falsely increase the score), fouls are not the way to do it.

A practical solution would be to reduce the shot clock to 30 or even 28 seconds, which would give those ball control teams a little more time to have the ball and control the pace, give the teams enough time to get and create quality offensive opportunities, and increase the number of shots fired per game.

Although it would never change now as the rise in the massive popularity of the games has coincided with the start of the 3-point shooting … the best way to increase the flow of the game would be to eliminate the triple as players would have to . You’ll learn to run down the lanes properly on the fast break and won’t find yourself in predictable areas on the court while playing offense for defenders to take. Although this would never happen now, the 3-point shooting has, over the years, become part of the problem for the flow of the game. Note that it was the era of the player who didn’t grow up with the 3-point shooting as part of their game, that is, Magic, Bird, Jordan, and therefore players who had to be stronger on offensive fundamentals. of the game (which does not include excessive 3-point practice), which brought college basketball into the era of popularity it has today and also brought the NBA to its best level of play in its history despite more defenses. physics known to the game in the late 1980s and early 1980s. 1990s.

Of course, over time, college players will adjust in part to these new interpretations of fouls and find new ways to limit the mobility of the offensive player by getting in their way and standing in front of them, and in the present, coaches will design more zone defenses. to protect his players from fouls (and thus increase three-point attempts), but this does not make basketball more visible.

So instead of increasing the number of fouls, after watching last night’s game at Hinkle Arena, it seems to me that the NCAA should be more realistic, accept the game as it currently is: the current skill level of the players, the physique current and improve players’ strength, as the NCAA board members and coaches who made these decisions used to play or start watching the game, and take into account the current popularity of the college game, and instead of change the game, their enjoyment and the possible outcomes of the game in To give us what they perceive we want, while still respecting the rules, go back to how the referees called the game last year with the improved way of determining offensive fouls and frankly, just let them play!

Tours Travel

The Hermit of Fort Fisher

admin

Robert E. Harrill, also known as “The Hermit” is a character woven into the history of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Surely one of the most famous characters on Pleasure Island. He has been the subject of a documentary, a book, a “society” and has written many articles about his life and times. He lived “off the ground” in an old abandoned bunker during WWII for 16 years. Harrill hitchhiked to Fort Fisher, on the North Carolina coast, from the mountains in search of peace and refuge from an abusive and disappointing life. At age 60, he finally decided to get away from society and get closer to nature. Her life was sad, sweet, inspiring, and brave; his death shrouded in mystery only adds one more layer to his story. He was sociable, teaching his version of “the school of common sense”, in the late 1960s it was considered the second largest tourist attraction in the state of North Carolina after the battleship USS North Carolina.

I followed the “Path of the Hermit” to the bunker that I used to call home. Like everyone else, I am intrigued by a man who lived in the middle of a salt marsh, right by the ocean, so independently for so long. He lived on the “fat of the earth”, here on the coast there were oysters, fish and a garden that he himself planted. He faced hurricanes, the humidity and the heat of Carolina summers, he fought for his right to stay in his “home” against developers and other authorities who considered him a homeless man. Mainly, his friends were animals, stray cats, dogs, and wild raccoons. Although, I don’t imagine that he was alone for human company, it has been said that he had a guest book that at his death contained no less than 100,000 entries. These passersby made their contributions to him, dropping money into his pan or sharing some food. He also accepted donations for posing for a photo.

He was quoted in 1968 in the New Hanover Sun regarding his popularity,

“Everyone should be a hermit for a few minutes to an hour approximately every 24 hours, to study, meditate and commune with their creator … millions of people want to do exactly what I am doing, but since it is much easier to think about it to do it, subconsciously they choose me to represent them, that’s why I am successful … “

I guess I didn’t miss much food or drink. There is an entry on his website from a local who was about 16 years old at the time and used to take him to town to buy food. The man remembers stacking 30 bags of groceries in his trunk!

Letters and stories, along with her collected personal writings, indicate that she lived a difficult life. He grew up through depression in an abusive home as a child. Their marriage ended in divorce and their eldest son’s committee committed suicide. I can identify with his desire to escape to a simpler life. However, to continue his story, his youngest son, Edward, founded The Hermits’ Society. The inspirations, “teachings” and thoughts of the Hermit are recorded in photographs and films.

His death on June 3, 1972 was classified as a heart attack. The Hermit was found by a group of teenagers early in the morning. His body was in the position of an eagle stretched out on a pile of garbage. I find it difficult to convey how sad this makes me.

You can still visit your bunker and walk the trail from Fort Fisher / South End Beach Access. The trail begins in front of the Visitor Center. The trail is approximately ¼ mile to the bunker. You can continue to the Observatory platform at the top of the island where you can see herons, ibis, egrets, and other amazing colonial shore birds. A regular show for our friend the hermit.

Having learned all this about Robert Harrill, I felt compelled to follow him and find his grave. It is located on Dow Road at the Federal Point Methodist Cemetery. It is a quiet riverside location in a shady, historic area of ​​the grounds. The grave itself is covered in shells that have been left as souvenirs, in fact I left one myself when I knelt down to read the tombstone. It says “It made people think.” I’m not the only one, your visitors are still looking for it, most recently a DVD of the movie Fort Fisher Hermit was also left at Robert’s grave. His life story, “The Battle for Independence; The Life and Times of the Hermit of Fort Fisher” is for sale on lulu.com.

Arts Entertainments

Fly-Drive the west coast of the USA

admin

Fly Drive is becoming more and more popular these days, with people wanting to explore more and more places in a short amount of time. An easy way to describe air travel is to book a plane ticket somewhere, pick up a car at the airport, and set off. Staying in hotels on the road because you can’t drive for a week or two without stopping!

There are many different types of flight boosters. You can stay in one city and drive to other nearby cities, or you can start in one city and end in another. This would be particularly good if you plan to go to the US, as you can see many more cities on your vacation, rather than staying in one.

One really wonderful fly trip is the west coast of the US Drive to places starting in San Diego, California and ending in Portland, Oregon. Before leaving, I advise you to read guides on the different areas of this trip and get some maps and study them, finding the best routes to follow. The guide below is a rough guide, so to get the most out of your trip, do some study!

Get started in San Diego, pick up your rental car, and voila! I recommend that you watch the sunset over this city, there are not too many huge skyscrapers, but only enough to give a wonderful view. There are plenty of places to stay here as well, which is where your guides will come in handy as they provide information on different types of places to stay, from the cheapest to the most luxurious. Some of the attractions in San Diego are the variety of museums such as the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and the District of Columbia, which has a variety of historic ship exhibits. There is also SeaWorld, Legoland, and the San Diego Zoo to visit.

Your next stop is a wonderful 2-3 hour drive along the coast on Highway No.5 towards Los Angeles. Before heading to town, if you feel like relaxing in Long Beach, there are some wonderful stretches of beach along this strip. This is a must-see city. You will definitely want to spend a few days here as there is so much to see. Head to Disneyland and Universal Studios for a fun-filled family park. Or go to Beverly Hills and Hollywood Boulevard and see the star-studded walkways, look inside the Kodak Theater where the famous Oscars are held, and indulge in some luxury shopping. Just make sure you have enough room in your suitcase for your next destination!

Next, we take a short detour up the coast, 4 to 5 hours in fact, to Las Vegas, Nevada. Now you will have to cross states, from California to Nevada, so have all your documents from your car rental company, driver’s license and insurance documents in case you are stopped and searched. It is also advisable to have your passport handy. Now Las Vegas is a sight to see in itself. The beautiful lights of the city at night are something to see. Also eat and eat in good restaurants and stay in some very elegant hotels like the Bellagio or the Ceaser’s Palace. Enjoy some of the many theatrical shows, such as the Blue Man Group, or you may have the opportunity to see performances by the Pussycat Dolls. Las Vegas is a wonderful city and you can even drive outside and see the Hoover Dam.

Once you are ready to leave Las Vegas, head down Route 95 for about 2-3 hours, again cross the border back to sunny California and you will find yourself in Death Valley National Park. Here you can enjoy walks and hikes. Keep in mind that it can be very hot, so take plenty of water with you! You can also camp at some of the May campsites and enjoy some inspiring views! It’s definitely worth staying the night, if you can cut through the heat.

The next destination is about 5 and a half hours away in a beautiful city called Fresno. Here are some wonderful things to do. If you go in season, you can enjoy the Fresno Country Blossom Trail which is home to some of the best peaches, nectarines, plums, orange and almond trees in full bloom. Also a must see is the Forestiere Underground Gardens, which were built over 40 years and have some amazing trees growing underground. There is also a selection of hotels to stay in, after a 5 hour trip I think you will need it.

Now we will head back towards the coast towards San José. It should take about 3 hours. In San José there are many parks to relax and have a coffee and there are also many trails around the city to enjoy. You must visit the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph which is the oldest parish in California and also Raging Waters, the largest water park in Northern California with 23 acres and millions of gallons of water.

Now a nice short trip to San Francisco, you should be there in less than an hour traffic permitting, and there are plenty to do here. Play a round of golf if you’re on the road with the lads, then head to River Rock Casino or see Fishermans Bay and go to the Aquarium. A must see is the Golden Gate Bridge and a tour of the Jelly Bean Factory! There are many more attractions to see in San Francisco, but the ones I let you find are part of the fun of a Fly-Drive vacation.

Hit the roads again for an hour or two to Sacramento, the capital of California. There are many things to see and do in Sacramento, some of them include drinking and dining at some fabulous restaurants, visiting the many art galleries and museums, or simply taking a city tour. A must see is the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, which is a sundial but only 100% accurate on the summer solstice on June 21 or 22. Also the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which has 300 acres of tranquil gardens.

Another 2 hours straight, passing the Oregon border, you will stop in the town of Medford. This is the time to relax with Alba Park, Medford’s oldest, and also head over to Vogel Plaza to see if you attend one of the many events held here.

Back on the road, you will drive for another 3 hours or so until you reach the town of Eugene. It is home to a number of cultural organizations, so you will have many different shows that you can enjoy here. From dances to concerts to opera, it will suit everyone. You can also meet some outdoor enthusiasts here!

Go away again! We are getting closer to our destination. Drive for just over an hour to Salem. Bush’s Pasture Park, a 90.5-acre urban public park and botanical garden located just south of downtown, or the Enchanted Forest, a fairytale land where you visit medieval castles, walk along wooden sidewalks in the wild west, or maybe stumble upon a ghost in the haunted mansion. This is a small theme park and has attractions for children and adults with an alpine roller coaster, bumper cars, trains, and more. In one of its many restaurants there is a magnificent water show with colored lights that bounce off the water currents. Next door is another attraction, Thrillville.

Portland is only an hour away, which is filled with wonderful parks and open spaces. Visit Mt Tabor Park which is located on an extinct volcano, Forest Park which is the largest natural park spanning over 5000 acres, and also Mill End Park which is the smallest park at 2 feet in diameter . Besides this, Portland has many cultural attractions. Visit the Portland Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and History. Also go see the Opera or the Ballet.

Finally a wonderful 3 hour drive to Seattle and you have reached your destination. Here is the birthplace of grunge music, mainly famous from Nirvana and Pearl Jam, also from great coffee drinkers, Starbucks was born. Seattle is a regional destination for the performing arts. That is why it is worth going to Fifth Avenue to enjoy some of the musicals. Go see the Jimi Hendrix statue! Here you can lay your head down to rest before finally flying home from such a wonderful plane ride all over the West Coast.

I recommend that you spend a few days in each city if you can so that you can absorb everything and see everything you can see, if not, you will spend 7 to 10 days spending a few hours in each city and in a few cities overnight.

It’s also a good idea to have more than one driver so everyone can switch between cities. In this way, one person does not drive all the way.

Total distance: 1933 miles (3111 km)

Total driving distance time without stops: 1 day 9 hours.

I advise you to plan your trip thoroughly, making sure you have enough stops to rest, eat, and gas (which is very important, otherwise you won’t get anywhere!), And plan overnight stays in advance. Also, as I said before, learn the routes! Make sure you know exactly where you are going, gas stops, and all border lines.

Auto Europe offers a great car rental service for driving in the US and allows you to pick up your car at one destination and drop it off at another.

Technology

How to develop Excel applications with C-Sharp and VSTO 2008

admin

Building applications with Excel 2007 and C # is not always straightforward, as many of us have discovered. For example, you can’t use a macro to write code like you would with VB.net (VBA). To add to the dilemma that you will encounter when programming with C # in Excel 2007 or other Office products, you have to access the APIs differently compared to using VBA. So there is a little learning curve.

That said, Microsoft provides full support for C # in the Excel 2007 API, through Visual Studio 2008 Tools for Office 2007 (or 2003). Both are available as separate downloads from the MSDN site.

This article is intended to be an entry point for developers who, like me, need to use C # to interact programmatically with Excel (2007) or because it is their preferred language. This article will describe what references to include; how to initialize a workbook; access a group of worksheets; or just one in particular; how to access and change a cell. All samples will use VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office 2007) project templates.

Workbook project example

This example is a simple walkthrough to show you the basics of programming with Microsoft C # with Excel 2007. When programming with VSTO 2007, you should view the Excel 2007 file as a Windows Forms client. Interact with this form as you would any other Windows form in .Net.

If you have not already done so, you will need to download and install VSTO 2008. You can find the toolkit on MSDN. Installation is quick and easy. Once you’ve configured VSTO, create a project in Visual Studio 2008:

-> File
-> New
-> Project

Alternatively, click Ctrl + Shift + N.

From the New Project Panel, expand the C # node and select the Office node. On the right side, you will have several project solution templates to choose from. For this example, select the Excel 2007 workbook template. In the appropriate fields, enter your request, choose a location, and a Solution Name. Make sure the “Create directory for solution” option is checked.

On the next screen, accept the defaults to use a new workbook. You can also choose to use an existing workbook if you want to add some functionality to an existing application. Keep the default “xlsx” file format and click OK to finish creating the project.

Once the project is created, you will have an Excel workbook instead of the usual Windows form. In Solution Explorer, there will be a C # (cs) file for each Excel worksheet and the Workbook.cs file. This follows the same Excel template when creating a standard Excel spreadsheet.

At the top of the open ThisWorkbook.cs are the various references that are included in the template. The VSTO solution template should have added the following two references (see below) when the project was set up. However, if this is not the case, you can copy and paste the code references into the code editor of the Workbook.cs file.

…
using Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel;
using Office = Microsoft.Office.Core;

Most of the code is created from the template when the project is configured. For the examples in this article, you will add code to “ThisWorkbook_Startup”, which will be called when the application starts.

If you need to reference the top sheet (Sheet1) when the application starts, you should use the following code:

Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet sheet = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet) this.ActiveSheet;

Alternatively, if you need to reference another worksheet when the app starts, you would first use Get Worksheet Collection

Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Sheets sheets = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Sheets) this.Worksheets;

Then I could control the collection worksheet:

Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet sheet = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet) sheets.get_Item (“Sheet2”);

To access a cell and enter a cell, you need to access a Range. It can be a cell or a range of cells:

Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range afield = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range) sheet.get_Range (“A1”, System.Reflection.Missing.Value);
afield.set_Value (System.Reflection.Missing.Value, “Hello world”);

The complete code for both examples is provided below:

Example of how to access the active sheet

namespace test
{
ThisWorkbook public partial class
{
private void ThisWorkbook_Startup (sender of the object, System.EventArgs e)
{
// Example 1: to get the top sheet (for example Sheet1) or the active sheet, use this syntax
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet sheet = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet) this.ActiveSheet;

// To get a cell or group of cells, you can use the following syntax
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range afield = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range) sheet.get_Range (“A1”, System.Reflection.Missing.Value);

// Set the value of cell A1 equal to “Hello world”
afield.set_Value (System.Reflection.Missing.Value, “Hello world”);
}

Example Access a particular worksheet

namespace test
{
ThisWorkbook public partial class
{
private void ThisWorkbook_Startup (sender of the object, System.EventArgs e)
{

// Example 2: get a specific sheet in a workbook
// Check all worksheets in the workbook
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Sheets sheets = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Sheets) this.Worksheets;

// Get a specific sheet in the workbook
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet sheet = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Worksheet) sheets.get_Item (“Sheet2”);

// To get a cell or group of cells, you can use the following syntax
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range afield = (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Range) sheet.get_Range (“A1”, System.Reflection.Missing.Value);

// Set the value of cell A1 equal to “Hello world”
afield.set_Value (System.Reflection.Missing.Value, “Hello world”);
}

Conclution

This information, while minimalist, is hard to come by and will hopefully help you in your quest to develop an Excel application with VSTO in C #.

Home Kitchen

The history of quartz countertops

admin

In 1963, Marcello Toncelli founded a company known as Brevetti Toncelli, which roughly means Toncelli Patents. A few years later that name was shortened to Breton, he took the Bre de Brevetti and the Ton de Toncelli to create a new brand. He later developed a patent for his quartz and resin slab solidification process for use on countertop surfaces. The Italian inventor created the Bretonstone technology used to produce engineered stone, also known as vacuum vibro compression. As a result, he was able to create an extremely durable surface that would one day be used around the world for all types of surfaces, particularly countertops. This method has been adopted by other companies around the world such as Dupont, Cambria or Cosentino to create their own specific mix. Zodiaq, for example, is Dupont’s version of a quartz countertop.

It is not only popular in Italy, according to Wikipedia it is the second most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust. Not only is it abundant, but almost all ancient cultures revered quartz for different reasons. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Australian Aborigines, and Romans used quartz crystals as talismans. The Romans used rose quartz as a seal to indicate ownership, and the Egyptians believed that the stone could prevent aging.

It is often found in passing grave cemeteries in Europe, such as Newgrange or Carrowmore in Ireland. The Irish word for quartz is grianchloch, which means “sunstone.” This has resulted in various video games referring to him as Sunstone. Quartz was also used in prehistoric Ireland and many other countries to make stone tools; both vein quartz and rock crystal were carved as part of the lithic technology of prehistoric peoples.

Made from one of the hardest minerals in the world, quartz countertops are one of the most durable options for kitchens. However, unlike natural stone slabs, which are quarried, these slabs are designed in a factory. They are made from just over 90% ground quartz and the other 10% is made up of polyester resins and pigments.

Until recently, people refrained from using quartz as a countertop because it lacked the beautiful patterns and color variations that can be obtained with natural stones like marble and granite. But thanks to many technological advances that is no longer the case, we now have the ability to make quartz slabs that have a variety of flakes and swirls to generate random patterns that can make quartz slabs absolutely stunning. Finally able to rival the natural beauty of marble and granite.

Auto

Trailer sway 101

admin

Yaw, more commonly known as rocking in the RV industry, is a dirty word for trailer owners. The definition of yaw or roll is a side-to-side movement. Nothing will ruin the way you feel about camping faster than the first time you experience trailer sway.

You’ve camped in a tent for years and now you decide it’s time to move on to a pop-up window. Go to your local dealership and find a pop-up with the perfect floor plan for you and your family. The seller knows that it will be close to the maximum weight that his vehicle can tow. You really need a sale because things have been slow. Rather than risk losing the sale, you decide not to explain the added expense of proper hitch work to safely tow your new trailer.

Everything is ready for a weekend getaway. You’ve done all your pre-trip checks and you’re good to go. Load the most precious cargo you have, your family, in your tow vehicle and embark on a new adventure. Everything is fine when you leave home. Take the entrance ramp to the interstate. You are cruising at the speed limit enjoying the music from the radio. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a transfer truck driving twenty miles over the speed limit passes you like you’re sitting still. The pop-up window is fed into the draft created by the truck. In an attempt to correct this totally unexpected event, you oversteer and the trailer begins to go in the opposite direction. Not quite sure what to do, he slammed on the brakes and turned the wheel to the left and then to the right. Now that one-ton trailer behind your sport utility vehicle is swerving from side to side and starting to affect how little control you have over the vehicle. The results are catastrophic.

Ok, since this is just an article, let’s start over and fix this before you realize there is a potential problem. You bought your pop-up from a reputable local RV dealership. At the risk of losing the sale, your salesperson explains that you will need specialized hitching work to safely tow your new trailer. You’re a bit skeptical, and you feel like they just want more of your money. Besides, your father never needed any of this. He just hooked the trailer to the ball and left.

Decide to give the salesperson the benefit of the doubt and listen for a minute. He shows you in his book that his tow vehicle is rated to tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds. It then explains what you need to consider for that trailer classification. It includes the weight of your new caravan, any aftermarket accessories such as the roof-mounted air conditioner and battery that the dealer will install, all cargo and personal belongings you load on the trailer and tow vehicle, and the weight of passengers in the vehicle. Now all of a sudden the salesperson has your full attention. You had no idea that all of this had to be considered.

He shows you the weight tag on his new trailer. Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) is 2,100 pounds. The air conditioner weighs 100 pounds and the deep cycle battery weighs 50 pounds. To be safe, he estimates that you will carry around 300 pounds of cargo and then add another 300 pounds for your wife and two children. You are amazed at how quickly things pile up.

You are now 2,850 pounds instead of the 2,100 pounds you thought. It is not over yet. Your salesperson begins by explaining that each state has different requirements for how much a trailer can weigh before it requires trailer brakes. In your state, the weight is 3,000 pounds, but your dealer has brakes installed on any trailer they ask to weigh more than 2,000 pounds. He explains that even though his vehicle is rated to tow 3,500 pounds, the vehicle’s brakes were designed to safely stop the weight of the vehicle, without an additional ton and a half being dragged.

He takes him to the parts department and shows him a brake controller and explains that this is what activates the trailer brakes and that the dealer will install it when they do the wiring of the trailer lights. You like the features you explained about the brake controller. The fact that you can manually adjust the amount of braking action so that when you step on the brake pedal, the tow vehicle and trailer work together to stop the weight in a reasonable amount of time. What you really like is the part you explained about the manual override lever that engages the trailer brakes without using the vehicle’s brakes.

He said if you’re on a steep grade and you don’t want to prematurely wear the vehicle’s brakes, slowly slide the lever and the trailer brakes will slow you down. But what really convinced you was when he explained that if the trailer starts to sway, you can gently move the lever, activating the trailer brakes, to help straighten the trailer. He went on to explain that trailer sway is one of the biggest potential problems you can encounter when towing a trailer. List some of the factors that contribute to trailer sway.

o First, poor trailer design contributes to trailer sway. When there is too much weight behind the trailer axles, making the tongue weight less than 10% of the trailer’s weight, it has a natural tendency to sway.

o Incorrect tire inflation

o Improper weight distribution hitch settings

o No sway control on trailer

o Crosswinds

o A transfer truck that goes through the back of the trailer.

o Descending slopes

o Tow speeds

o Tow vehicle that does not adapt properly to the trailer

o Improper loading, overloading and poor weight distribution

He took the time to explain that for the trailer to pull properly, the manufacturer recommends that the weight of the tongue resting on the ball mount be 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer. He said if it’s more than 15% they have what’s called a weight distribution hitch that takes the extra weight off the tongue and distributes it to the tow vehicle and trailer axles where it should be, and if it’s less than 10 %. When you load your load, you distribute it to add some extra weight on the tongue. He looked for the pop-up window he was buying from the brochure and the weight of the tongue was 305 pounds. With the air conditioner installed and your load loaded, it would be in the 10-15% range. He explained that a weight distribution hitch was more commonly used with heavier trailers and in some cases with pop-ups depending on the tow vehicle, but in this case it would not be necessary.

The next thing he asked was if his vehicle had a receiver. You answer, you mean a hitch? He explains that the part that is bolted to the vehicle is called the receiver, and shows him a table that has several different classes of receivers based on how much weight it will tow. The class II receiver was rated for 3,500 lbs. gross trailer weight and 300 lb. maximum tongue weight. For a slight price difference, he recommended a class III receiver rated for 5,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 500 lb. maximum tongue weight since his trailer tongue weight exceeded 300 pounds.

With that done, he said: let me show you the one component our dealership highly recommends to anyone buying a pop-up. He walked over and took a part of the shelf. This is called friction roll control. We mount one end on the ball mount and the other end on the tongue of the caravan. The amount of friction is adjusted by turning the lever clockwise for more friction and counter-clockwise to reduce friction. He explained that he turns it in 1/8 “increments until it fits where it feels comfortable. This won’t totally eliminate the sway, but once the sway forces are in motion, it will dampen the sway and help you control it when it moves. you are towing your caravan.

Well, he said, that’s it. For less than 10% of the pop-up price, you can do all the hitch work and make sure your family is safe when you go on a trip. At this point, you are convinced that the seller has your best interest in mind and was not just trying to make more money.

You’re ready for the first weekend getaway with your new pop-up window. Complete all of the pre-trip checks the dealer explained to you and you’re good to go. Load the most precious cargo you have, your family, in your vehicle and embark on a new adventure. Take the entrance ramp to the interstate. You are cruising at the speed limit enjoying the music from the radio. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a transfer truck driving twenty miles over the speed limit passes you like you’re sitting still. You feel a slight movement behind you. It was enough to remind you that you are opening the pop-up window. You look at your watch and tell the family that you should be at camp in a couple of hours.

Knowing how to react when a trailer begins to sway can make the difference between your safety and disaster.

Happy Camping,

frames

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk Owner of RV Education 101

Digital Marketing

The three roles of an organizational spokesperson

admin

The prospect of being interviewed by a journalist creates anxiety for even the most confident professional charged with serving as the voice of an organization in communicating with the media. Training helps increase the likelihood that this spokesperson will convey the key messages of an organization clearly and in a way that is tailored to the needs of the journalist. Understanding the three roles of spokesperson (expert, educator, and salesperson) is the first and most important component of this training.

As the individual to be interviewed, the designated spokesperson is the one with whom the reporter wants to speak about an issue at a particular time. The spokesperson has the necessary knowledge and perspective. The reporter considers the spokesperson to be an expert.

As an educator, the spokesperson provides information to a journalist to emerge with a clearer understanding of the topic. Reporters vary in journalistic experience and knowledge of the subject. Even the most experienced reporter doesn’t know everything. An effective spokesperson has information that the journalist does not have, particularly regarding company activities and industry trends. As an educator, the spokesperson recognizes the reporter’s expertise and elaborates the content and delivery of their comments accordingly. The main challenge here is for the spokesperson to share information without appearing condescending or arrogant.

Ultimately, the spokesperson is a salesperson for the organization, cause, product, and / or service. Public relations and other professionals approach journalists with story ideas because they see the media as a powerful medium for communicating what their organizations have to offer to current or potential stakeholders. To this end, the role of “spokesperson as salesperson” requires an enthusiastic and energetic communication style.

However, it is imperative to recognize that journalists do not want to be sold, as a marketer might attempt to persuade a potential customer of the merits of a product. Your goal is to write stories that interest readers, viewers, listeners, and other media consumers. The purpose of a reporter is to serve this audience, NOT to do a commercial for a company. That is why the salesperson role ranks third, after the expert and educator. In short, the most effective organizational spokespersons mute their marketing and sales orientation when speaking to reporters. They highlight what the interview topic means to the reporter’s audience and avoid a treatise on why your company’s offerings are the best.

In short, the goal of the spokesperson is to provide useful information that meets the needs of a journalist and communicates the key messages of an organization. It is true that it is a challenge to balance these tasks while fulfilling the three identified roles. However, it is invaluable in the long run for building productive relationships with the media that, in turn, serve marketing and broader organizational goals.