PowerResizer Extends Windows 7 Aero Snap Windows

Even though Windows 7 native application window docking and snapping features are arguably great, we often experience some specific annoyances. For instance, Windows 7 Aero Snap lets you quickly open two application windows side-by-side for doing comparisons, keeping tab on two active processes, etc, but it is unable to automatically adjust size and positions of windows when you resize any of the opened window. Similarly, Windows 7 Aero Snap doesn’t support docking windows at top and bottom of the screen. PowerResizer is an open source application that extends the functions of Windows 7 Aero Snap without replacing any of its original functions. The application works in conjunction with Aero Snap to let you easily manage multiple active windows without having to manually adjust them at different sides of the screen.
Just like previously covered GhostWin, it can make windows transparent when they are being resized and dragged. You can enable/disable the provided windows management features and windows transparency from system tray options.

To see underlying windows while dragging and resizing applications, select Enable Power Resizer followed by Make windows transparent option. In addition to change opacity level of window, you can resize any of the docked window without having to adjust the size of other window, as it has the ability to automtically resize docked windows to fit your screen.

When enabled, you can dock windows at any side of the screen. When you drag window in downward direction, it will dock the window at bottom of the screen while leaving space to dock window above it

PowerResizer is an open source application that works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
Download PowerResizer

»»  Full TuTrIps..

How To Become a Writer

Maybe you've always wanted to become a writer, but had a few doubts. Well, before you make any major decisions, consider seven things you should do and know first. Here's how to become a successful writer.

1. Assess your writing skills. Think about your writing from an ability standpoint. In your last written communication was your wording clear and to the point? Do you understand how to evoke reader emotion? Are you careful about grammar and making words flow?
   Now give some thought to your writing talent. If others have told you they enjoy reading your emails, editorials, or work-related communications then it's possible you have a natural writing knack.
   But should your skills need fine tuning, don't worry. Online writing tutorials and community college writing courses can help you improve writing mechanics. You may even want to try some writing activities in your free time.
2. Investigate writing options. When you choose to become a writer you have numerous writing choices. For example, you can choose to specialize in creative, medical, legal, or technical writing careers. Or you can write for magazines or newspapers. Other writers prefer to focus on authoring books. Writers also work for the commercial arena where they specialize in developing marketing materials that businesses use to promote their company products.
   One way to explore writing careers and options is to subscribe to a few writing e-zines. www.writersweekly.com is very popular because it focuses on teaching writers how to earn money writing. It also lists several paid writing markets which warmly welcome beginner writers. Another good resource is www.writing-world.com. It covers everything from starting your writing career to expanding it.
3. Identify your passion. It's critical you write about things which inspire you. Otherwise you can easily become distracted and lose motivation. If you have a hobby, profession, or subject that captivates your interest repeatedly, incorporate it into your writing.
4. Continue to learn. Being a writer requires that you be a voracious learner. Early in your writing career you'll likely cover diverse topics. To sustain a generous stream of ideas, get into the habit of reading various books and newspapers.
   When you're ready to specialize, take classes, attend lectures, and join online communities and special groups who share your same or related interests. The advantage is you'll acquire more expertise in a particular area. The more expertise you obtain the more access you have to a receptive audience. This is a crucial part of the writing process (at least if you want to make money by writing).
5. Network and prospect. In order to earn money, you're going to need customers. These can be magazine or newspaper editors, business owners, publishers, or people who purchase books. Networking helps you establish valuable contacts. And since it's customary for writers to work solo, networking can also keep you from becoming a new age hermit.
   < < <Writing Tips: How to find networking events > > >
   Joining a writers group or an industry association will inspire new ideas and provide career support. Find a group that suits you or start your own.
   Locate writer's resources and networking options here:
   http://www.writerswrite.com/org.htm < List of writing organizations >
   http://idealist.org/ < List of internship/volunteer & writing jobs >
   http://bookweb.org/ < List of bookseller associations >
   www.mediabistro.com < List news, writing jobs, events, and features 'how-tos' >
   
   Networking Opportunities are also found in:Rotary Clubs
   School organizations
   Churches
   YMCAs
   Conferences
   Writing Retreats
   Trade shows
6. Create a Portfolio. A writing portfolio is a sample collection of your written work. Its purpose is to showcases your writing ability. Having a portfolio demonstrates your professionalism and proves your initiative. It will also boost your confidence.
   Samples can be contained in a binder, on a CD, or website. An editor or client prospect might ask to see a few writing samples just to get a sense of your writing style.
   When you're first starting out it's understandable that you won't have any published material. Do not let this dissuade you one bit. And never apologize for a modest portfolio. However you can build a professional-looking portfolio easily by including samples of material you've written for work. These could be sales letters, PowerPoint presentations, project reports, or corporate communication pieces. Include any essays or articles that are unpublished. You can also create mock newsletters and brochures. Use the advertisements you get in the mail as a guide.
7. Make a solid commitment. Writing takes discipline and supreme motivation. If you want to learn how to become a writer, you'll need to put a lot of time and effort into the process. Before all the romantic and glamour notions overwhelm you, give the vocation some serious thought.

»»  Full TuTrIps..

How Do You Now Someone Lying To You

From little white lies to nation-destroying omissions, lying has been around as long as the truth. And while lying has a rich history, the vast majority of humanity, almost all of the time, tells the truth. And why not? It is far easier, creates an atmosphere of trust, and facilitates a stable society. But every now and again, you get the sneaking suspicion that the person across from you isn't giving it to you straight.

Everyone wants to know how to catch liars in the act.

So how do you tell if you're being lied to? Before we cover that, we have to ask two important questions.

The first question is: Do you really want to know? Some people willingly blind themselves and accept a lie as fact solely because the truth might be too painful to handle.

On the other hand, some people are so desperate to believe that the painful truth is a lie that they will see “signs of lying” where none exist.

The first step to discovering a lie, then, is to be aware of your personal feelings about the subject. In other words, what is your involvement in this possible lie?

The second question is: Why would this person lie to you? What is at stake here? Maybe he is afraid of being punished, or of the loss of the ability to obtain what he desires (for instance, your business), or, ironically, he is afraid he will lose your trust.

In order to really be accurate in spotting a lie, you must be aware of the other person's motivations for lying to you, including what you might do to him if you knew the truth.

An example of this is a child lying to a parent to avoid being grounded: He is desperately avoiding the punishment he is certain the truth would bring. The parent, being aware of this, is in a better position to gauge the child's lie.

So, you want to know, you're certain he has a reason and you've got the feeling that he is hiding the truth? Let's test that theory...with science!

1. Know how he talks normally. The first step to reading a liar's body language is to know his normal, everyday conversational habits. This is referred to as someone's “baseline” behavior – normal eye, hand and body movements during a pleasant conversation in which there is no pressure or lying. This will allow you to detect variations when the lie occurs, without mistaking a naturally awkward or shy person for a chronic liar.
2. Notice how stress influences his patterns. It is notoriously difficult to tell the difference between a person who has been put on the spot (that is, under stress and pressure), and an out-and-out liar. This is because most of the tell-tale signs of lying are based around the fact that telling a lie is a stressful event on the body and mind – it seems humans are not built for distorting the truth, and forcing that situation has recognizable repercussions.
3. Look for the signs. This is a list of the most common “tells” that people have while attempting to lie. Again, note that most of these also occur when someone is feeling stressed by the conversation.
   • Little to no body movement. People will sometimes “freeze,” not quite facing the other person, and will move as little as possible during the lie. Alternatively, some people will fight this by being overly dramatic, moving the body much more than normal to try and “sell” the lie.
   • No eye contact. A lot of information is conveyed through eye contact, and most people have an extremely hard time lying to someone while looking directly into his eyes. Sometimes this will only occur at the moment of the lie, a brief glance at the floor or to the right. Again, some will try to sell the lie by making and maintaining eye contact fiercely, much more so than usual.
   • Stress gestures (rapid blinking, scratching, itching, swallowing, fidgeting, etc.). If discovered, a deception carries much greater risk of punishment than simply telling the truth, and people understand this. This uncomfortable situation will make them uncomfortable, and they will act accordingly.
   • Looking up to the right. Looking up and to the right stimulates the part of the brain associated with imagination (that is, making things up), whereas looking up and to the left stimulates the part of the brain associated with recalling memories (that is, telling the truth).
   • Touching the nose and covering the face/mouth. Habits from childhood, these gestures are a subconscious attempt to “cover up” the lie, and put distance between the liar and you.
   • Rise in vocal pitch. Another product of stress, the liar's voice will get higher and squeaky. This should be noticeable if you are familiar with his normal speaking voice.
   • Wide-eyed, innocent look. Another product of childhood fibs, based on the “who, me?” fake innocence usually associated with a kid denying he has his hand in the cookie jar while it is still in there.
   • A noticeable pause in speaking. Most people lack the ability to come up with a plausible fiction in an instant, so they have to take a moment to think something up. This results in a pause, usually right before the lie itself, while they desperately reach for something other than the truth. Careful questioning will reveal variations in their story, as a consistent fiction is hard to remember, whereas actual events are usually easy to recall.
4. Lying by omission. Sometimes a lie will happen by not speaking – that is, the liar omits an important piece of information from an otherwise truthful statement. However, this omission will, in the mind of the liar, poison the “truthful” statement, thus rendering it a lie. The above signs will still be present, with the addition of more obvious signs after he has finished talking. (An example: After talking in a relatively truthful manner, he falls silent and immediately looks away, covering his mouth and fidgeting.)
5. Ask. A risky maneuver, as a person who is telling the truth may be horribly offended. Sometimes, however, a liar will come clean if given the chance to, as he realizes that continuing to lie when you know he's doing so would be far worse than just admitting the lie.
6. Trust your intuition. Notice I say “intuition” and not “desire.” Most people have a pretty decent “lie detector” built in, and if you trust it, it can usually point the way. However, some people may want to believe they are being lied to, and they mistake this desire for “a gut feeling.” So before you start accusing anyone of a lie, make sure you're not trying to project your desire on an innocent person.

Using the above steps, you should be able to determine the difference between a lie and the truth to a much more accurate degree. And while we may not have an answer to how to define truth for certain, we will at least be able to tell if the other person feels like he is lying...and if it feels like a lie, it probably is.

Good luck!

 

 

Caution:

• Looking for lies obsessively will yield many...sometimes some that are not even there.
• A belief that everyone always tells the truth will not foster an atmosphere of trust.
• While you're looking for a lie in someone, he may be looking for one in you!

Quick Tips:

• Look for unusual eye contact - too much or far too little.
• Professional liars can correct for almost all tells, so be wary.
• When in doubt, ask.

»»  Full TuTrIps..