Chris Pirillo » General

For many homeowners today the choice of modern home interior design has become increasingly popular. The advantages it offers such as its clean and uncluttered feel makes this style one that people tend to love. Other advantages that this style of home décor provides is the wide variety and availability of furnishings and accents that one can make use of. Bear in mind however that before you even begin your quest toward changing the look of your home, there are a few things that you need to consider particularly the addition of four important elements.

Making Use Of Clean Lines

When you think of modern home interior design one the first things that come to mind is the look, it’s all about the simple, clean and sleek look of the architectural lines and furnishings found throughout the style. It is rare to find things like ornate pieces or intricate fabric patterns in this style, and instead solid colors, straight lines and geometric shapes are more commonly used. The use of clean lines applies to all furnishings from the couches, mirrors to the tables and chairs. Remember simplicity is the key to an ideal contemporary design.

Making Use Of Wood Tones

The use of wood in modern home interior design is not as common, however as long as the lines created are sleek and the tones match with the rest of the décor then it has it’s place. The use of darker wood tones such as mahogany, Nara and walnut are the most ideal for this style, however many prefer to use pale toned wood instead such as teak. Making use of light tones brings out a good contrast between the sleek metal accents and makes the space brighter.

Making Use Of Metal

In the context of modern home interior design, the use of metal is necessary whether it be a solitary steel constructed centerpiece or sleek chrome hardware. Making use of metal frames within the space or use of metal legs on tables and other furniture provides the essence of this design style. Steel sculptures are ideal centerpieces to a room and the addition of metal vases or bowls filled with transparent beads provides good color contrast. If you want to accentuate the use of this design style even further you can place nickel plated lamp stands or chrome bookshelves, and literally as metal as defining pieces of furnishings.

Making Use Of Color

It may seem that within the context of modern home interior design, the use of neutral colors is the norm. However if you infuse small bursts of rich colors at key places within the space then it provides a more creative feel and compliments the style. Adding a crimson red couch with your chrome and glass coffee table or placing a set of deep burgundy blind divider in the middle of a room gives a great effect and provides a point of interest within the seemingly minimalist spaces. Perhaps try putting brightly colored pillows on a leather sofa or even yellow sunflowers in a metal vase on top of a black top table, and this gives some warmth to your space.

The feeling of calm and clean living is what modern home interior design provides and this is what makes it a popular choice of style today. Take a look at this particular style of interior design and decide whether this is one that would suit you.

You can find more information on modern interior design and interior renovation from Home Improvement Guide.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luvi_Marie_Corcuera class=”related_post”>

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Proform Coupons

coupons — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:13:16 +0000

Proform Coupons is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Are Elliptical Trainers Effective?
By Dave Casey

Are elliptical trainers effective at providing quality workouts? It’s a very common question these days. You may have already heard of the popularity of elliptical trainers and almost every local community gym or gym chain has several of them. More and more people are buying elliptical cross trainers for their homes and more fitness trainers are recommending them than any other fitness machine out there.

What is the reason for this boom in ellipticals? It’s because word is getting out about the effectiveness of elliptical machines. This is not another fly-by-night invention making big promises that it can surely never live up to. Elliptical trainers are effective because they are designed for specific needs of the people who will be using them. Did you know that:

* Elliptical machines burn more calories that similar machines (treadmills, exercise bikes)
* Ellipticals can be adjusted for any fitness level from beginner to advanced
* Elliptical trainers allow a total body workout – not just exercise of the legs
* Elliptical machines are safe for people with joint injuries and the elderly
* Ellipticals reduce the stress placed on your joints and muscles during exercise
* Elliptical cross trainers provide a great fat-burning workout that is easy to do
* You can adjust the tension and resistance as you progress so you will never outgrow your elliptical machine
* Elliptical machines require very little training to learn to use them correctly

What’s Your Fitness Goal?

To answer the question about whether or not elliptical trainers are effective, you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve. Before you can know for sure if an elliptical cross trainer will meet your fitness goals, you have to clearly identify these goals. An elliptical trainer is kind of a cross between a stair stepper and a treadmill so to understand their effectiveness you need to look at them in comparison to the machines they are replacing.

The use of technology that goes into creating an elliptical machine makes it more effective overall when compared to similar machines. When used correctly, it can help you burn more calories faster in comparison and it can give you more of a cardio workout with less impact and effort.

Here are some things to consider:

* What are your fitness goals?
* What is your current fitness level/experience?
* How much time do you have to use your elliptical?
* Are you looking for an “easy fix” to your fitness goals?
* Do you need a cardio workout regularly?
* Do you need weight training/bearing in your workout?
* Have you suffered from an injury (specifically a joint injury) and been told you need to take exercise gradually?

When asking yourself these questions, you help define a clearer picture of what your goals are and whether or not an elliptical machine will really be able to meet your requirements.

More about the Effectiveness of Elliptical Machines

Are you ready to learn more about the effectiveness of elliptical machines? You’re not the first person to ask “are elliptical machines effective” and you surely won’t be the last but elliptical machines are proving themselves to hold up under the pressure and scrutiny and out-perform many other fitness machines on the market.

Whether you are working at home on your own trainer or in the gym, you can benefit from every minute you spend on the machine. The workouts are fun and exciting and extremely effective so you will not become discouraged that you aren’t making any progress towards your fitness goals.

Now if someone asks you, “Are elliptical machines effective?” you know what to say!

About the Author:

Dave Casey is a freelance writer for www.allellipticals.com The popular site provides tips for elliptical workouts and unbiased elliptical reviews covering 20 major brands and 60+ models.

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site providing all links are included and clickable.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Casey class=”related_post”>

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Avanquest Coupons

coupons — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:15:26 +0000

Avanquest Coupons is a post from Chris Pirillo

Avanquest Software Coupons

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How to Avoid Small Business Finances Nightmare
By Martha Merten

What you are about to read will shock you-your small business may be hemorrhaging money.

It’s true. Many small business owners simply do not keep track of their profit and loss on a regular basis. When was the last time you checked the numbers with your accountant? Last month? Last year? Do you have an accountant?

The two biggest and most serious mistakes that small business owners make are as follows:

• Losing track of income and expenses

• Not having a knowledgeable accountant

Keeping track of your profit and loss is absolutely necessary to maintaining the financial health of your business. Simply put, without reviewing your books every so often, you have no real way to tell if you’re even turning a profit, let alone if you’re in the red. In fact, a whopping 63% of small businesses don’t survive even six years due to financial neglect and limited financial training-and most work-at-home people fail before six months time!

Further attributing to these small business casualties is the reality that many of them do not have an accountant that understands online business expenses. All accountants are not created equal. While some might specialize in tax representation, others are well versed in the insurance industry. Think about it though, would these types of accountants know what an affiliate payment is, or how much of your bandwidth fees you can reasonably write off?

This aspect of running a business can be intimidating, but don’t be discouraged! This article will illustrate four very effective ways to help prevent losing your business to these common oversights. Please keep in mind that I am not a certified accountant, and that these are only my suggestions to help you maintain the financial aspect of your business.

Find an Accountant That You Can Work With

As mentioned previously, not every accountant is going to be a good match for your business. If you hire an accountant who has years of experience with brick-and-mortar businesses, they may not understand the costs of running an online business.

You could, in turn, pay more taxes at the end of the year because your accountant did not recognize the potential tax write-offs that an online small business could benefit from. Did you know that your home office tools just might qualify as a tax write-off? Your computer, your business telephone line, even the entire room could possibly be written off at the end of the year.

So how would you go about finding the best accountant for the job? Request some referrals from people that you trust, and set up a couple of interviews. One size does not fit all in this case, however. You’ll want to know a few things about your prospective accountant:

• Experience – How long have they been working with online small businesses, and to what extent? Do they understand the difference between affiliate commissions and payroll?

• Hypothetical situations – Write an in-depth list of palpable risks and possible hurdles that you expect your business to be subject to in the long run. Ask the accountant how they can prevent or even benefit from these scenarios. Let them demonstrate why you should hire them.

• Expertise – This accountant is great at crunching the numbers, but can they help you plan your business? Provide helpful and readily applicable advice? A good accountant can accomplish all this and more.

Pay special attention to how the accountants present themselves, and especially how they address your questions and concerns. If the accountant is not receptive to your business concepts, they do not have a place on your financial team.

Ask Your Accountant to Help Advise Your Small Business, Sole Proprietor, or LLC

Additionally, your accountant is a valuable advisor to have when considering important business options. Not only can they set up your business records and books, but they can be indispensable when it comes to deciding whether or not to expand, whether or not to hire new employees, and providing you with a complete financial forecast.

Because your accountant maintains your business finances, they will be able to counsel you about the risks and benefits of forming an LLC, or remaining the sole proprietor. This is a big step for any small business, and your accountant would be best suited to aid you in making this decision.

Meet With Your Accountant Regularly

Your accountant is a great asset to your company, but you cannot maximize your financial potential if you do not meet with them regularly. I cannot stress enough the importance of this-schedule quarterly, if not monthly meetings with your accountant.

Your finances are of the utmost importance, therefore careful monitoring should not be put off until tax season. This is a common folly that could ultimately cost you your business! Your accountant may find ways to save you money on a frequent basis, not just around tax season.

Meeting with your accountant consistently can help you ensure that your accountant is handling your financial needs in an acceptable manner, and keep you abreast of every single detail on your financial horizon.

Incorporate Accounting Software Into Your Business

Accounting software can be a tremendous help, especially if you are doing your own bookkeeping in addition to keeping an accountant. Accounting software can simplify budget management, and generally makes keeping track of expenses and revenue easier.

My preferred software is Avanquest’s Bookkeeper 2009. It is extremely efficient, inexpensive, and takes only minutes to learn. You can purchase Bookkeeper 2009 on Avanquest’s website here:

www.avanquest.com/USA/software/bookkeeper-2009-112676

Your Business Finances Don’t Have To Be a Nightmare

By following the steps recommended above, you will be able to avoid the two most critical mistakes that small business owners make. Your business will benefit from constant financial monitoring, and having a knowledgeable professional to guide you along the way is certainly an advantage as well!

About The Author: Martha Merten is the Operations Manager of AdClickMedia.com, an online advertising network and a subsidiary of Multiple Stream Media.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martha_Merten class=”related_post”>

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Gnomedex 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

Chris — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:08:58 +0000

Gnomedex 2010 Desktop Wallpaper is a post from Chris Pirillo

www.gnomedex.com/ – Are you coming to next year’s event? We’re starting to look for speakers and sponsors – with tickets available at gnomedex.eventbrite.com/ (yes, already). Well, if you needed a reminder, here’s a desktop wallpaper for you to use and share. Full resolution is 2560×1600 – suitable for up to 30″ screens.

Things a Geek Needs When on Vacation

Chris — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:24:24 +0000

Things a Geek Needs When on Vacation is a post from Chris Pirillo

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When Geeks go somewhere new, it takes us awhile to acclimate. There’s just so much stuff we have to take with us everywhere we go. However, I’ve found myself packing a little too much at times, have you? What are your must have Geek items that you have to take with you when you travel? What can’t you leave behind? Ollie was kind enough to send us a list of the top things that a Geek must be sure to pack whenever they go on a trip. How does his list compare to yours?

A laptop. – Every Geek will undoubtedly take a laptop on vacation. Whether it be a netbook or a full blown, top of the line, 17” MacBook Pro. How would a Geek survive without access to the internet? How would he/she check blogs, watch Diggnation or even check emails?! A laptop left at home is an unhappy and lonely laptop. Don’t deprive it of a Vacation.
An external mouse. – While a laptop has a perfectly good trackpad, who wants to use this all the time? If you are sitting in your hotel room and you are checking up with the latest updates, your hand will most likely start to ache after sitting there for long periods of time poking at your laptop with a finger. A mouse is going to make you feel more comfortable and relieve the strain from your hand. It will also mean you are being more ergonomic and will reduce the risk of long term pain you may build up in your hand.
Travel adapters. – These are some of the most important things you will need, yet some of the most forgotten. Without travel adapters, you cannot convert power from foreign sockets and therefore not power your electronics. Not bringing these will defeat the aim of taking any kind of electronic device at all. You can pick these up at any general store for very little. Most laptop power bricks will have interchangeable plugs. The Apple Store sells a worldwide travel kit with different sockets for different countries and these just attach onto the white power brick. Be sure to check the power brick’s voltage first as countries operate on different voltages. Most power bricks operate at 110v – 240v which is fine for most of the world.
Spare cables. – You never know when you will need a spare cable. This could be an ethernet cable, for some older fashioned places or a simple iPod cable for when your iPod/iPhone needs a sync or even a charge. It can also be helpful to carry adapters for converting DVI – VGA just in case this place you are staying has a monitor you can plug in to. Other useful cables would be a Mini USB cable, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack, video cables and anything else related to your gadgets.
A comfortable bag. – If you are carrying all these heavy gadgets, you are going to need something to carry them in. The simple solution is a bag. This can be especially important if you are going to be flying, as you are likely going to be walking around the airport. If you have a strap that is digging into your shoulder, or putting strain on your back, you are going to regret it later. Find a bag that is comfortable to carry with heavy weights and is going to be ergonomically suitable to you and your needs.
An iPod/Zune. – When you are traveling, chances are you are going to get bored. If you are driving for multiple hours, you are not going to want to listen to some radio in a language you cannot understand. If you are on a plane and you want to relax and block the noise of everyone else and the engines out, just stick your headphones and watch a movie or listen to your own music. Be sure to charge and sync your device before leaving home.
Movies and TV Shows. – Continuing the previous point, make sure you have sufficient content for your device that would keep you entertained throughout the trip. You can rent or buy movies and videos through iTunes and rip them using Handbrake or a Windows equivalent. Make sure they are in the right format. Do not leave it until you want to watch it to find out that the content has not synced due to incorrect formatting.
A camera. – You will always need a camera to capture those special family moments or something that you like the look of and makes you laugh. Cameras today are not cheap and most video cameras will take stills so you do not have to carry two cameras around. If you forget your camera, why not use your cell phone camera? Just make sure that before you leave, you have tweaked all the settings you can to give the best image possible.
Comfortable headphones. – These are a MUST! You will get extremely annoyed if you have to sit there for ages with headphones that irritate or make your ears sore. Find some headphones that you can tolerate for more than an hour at a time. Test them before you leave. Go through the checklist: Comfortable? Wearable? Are they going to fall out? Do they make my ears hot? Test headphones out for about half an hour. See if they can keep their comfort for more than 5 minutes. A big no no, is cheap headphones. These will give you bad sound quality, bad build quality and will likely be uncomfortable.
DVDs. – If all else fails you have will have these back up discs. These are for emergency situations like rainy days, improper formatting or forgetfulness to do formatting. Your laptop will likely have a DVD drive, if not the place you are staying likely does. There is nothing worse than getting there, finding out the weather is bad and having nothing to do. This may not be the most interesting of things to do, but it is better than sitting on your bed bored to tears.

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I’m Being Eaten by Pac Man

Chris — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:16:34 +0000

I’m Being Eaten by Pac Man is a post from Chris Pirillo

Would You Drink This?

Chris — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:56:26 +0000

Would You Drink This? is a post from Chris Pirillo

http://twitter.com/chrispirillo – Apparently, I taste like “orange and cream.”

The Pirillow!

Chris — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:53:58 +0000

The Pirillow! is a post from Chris Pirillo

Throwboy is making a limited run of Lockergnome pillows (to be given away at Gnomedex initially). Would you like to buy a Throw Pirillow for your own home / bed / sofa?

Seattle Night Skyline

Chris — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:06:16 +0000

Seattle Night Skyline is a post from Chris Pirillo

This is one of the reasons I love living in Seattle. It looks beautiful, day or night, no matter the vantage point. This was taken at Kerry Point Park.

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.