What is a motherboard?

 

So what is a motherboard? A computer motherboard (also known as the mainboard) is one of the most crucial components of a computer.

As the name suggests, a motherboard is the mother to all the other parts. In other words, everything in a computer connects to the motherboard. A motherboard (mobo) is the primary circuit board in a computer.

Motherboard (the mother to all the other components)

A typical motherboard has attachment points for all the common components in a computer. These are the Power Supply, CPU (Central Processing Unit), hard drive, RAM (Random Access Memory), graphics card, CD drive and other peripheral devices such as sound cards, network cards etc.

Built-in Motherboards

In recent motherboards, the sound cards and even the network cards are built into the motherboard making it unnecessary to purchase additional cards. Some even have built in graphics card; but personally I would recommend buying a separate card. The reason for this, is because if you buy a motherboard that has the graphics card built in then it becomes much harder to upgrade your graphics in the future. Also unless you are just using your computer for word processing and the internet then you will need a better graphics card then those that are built into motherboards.

So what is a motherboard's most important component? The chipset is, because it determines the capabilities and features of the motherboard.

Every motherboard is different. Some have more expansion slots others have fancy features such as Wi-Fi or a 1394 connection. It is important that when you buy a computer you choose one that suits your needs. For example, if you have a wireless network that you want to connect to then it would be wise to purchase a motherboard that has wireless built into it.

Choosing a Motherboard

Its important to know what a motherboard is before going out and buying one. I have made this error myself in building a computer. I thought I would save a bit of money and buy a cheaper motherboard, one that still ran my CPU fine but didn’t have all the extras (wireless, firewire etc.)

Well the motherboard ran fine but in the end I needed to purchase all the extras (wireless and firewire) because I needed them in my computer. So to avoid having to purchase parts later it is a wise idea to not be skimpy on the motherboard and buy one that really suits your needs. My page on chossing a motherboard will explain the choosing process in more detail.

CPUs and Motherboards

Now every CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT) does not go into every motherboard. This means that if you buy an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU then you will need to buy a motherboard that supports that CPU. Check with the manufacturer before buying the motherboard to make sure that the CPU suits the motherboard.

Fine Jewelry Forms And Functions

The visual appeal of fine jewelry has never ceased to amaze us. In fact, jewelry pieces have been objects that denote social status especially during ancient times. They have significantly shaped many traditions that we know today. From necklaces and earrings, to rings and bracelets, these adornments have provided humans with worldly satisfaction that no other material could induce.

There are many types of fine jewelry pieces to choose from. Some are used as adornments, while others are used as symbolic tokens for certain occasions. There are also pieces that are inexpensive and simple in finish, while other articles are very expensive and made from the finest materials. Some of the most popular and commonly used pieces would be discussed here to provide further understanding about their qualities and uses. Rings are perhaps the most common articles of jewelry that almost all of us are familiar with. These jewelry pieces may come in the form of plain cylindrical bands as seen from wedding rings ornamented with precious stones like diamond heart setting, spiral or serpentine coils, signet rings, and open on one side. Rings are used for differing purposes but usually they serve as symbolic tokens given during special events like betrothals and weddings, or just to highlight one's fingers. In the case of signet rings, they commonly bear the emblems of fraternal orders or other organizational insignias.

The necklace is another popular form of jewelry worn around the neck. Generally, necklaces come in four different forms: close fitting collar band decorated with precious stones or beads, chain necklace with a pendant, raw of beads in graduating sizes set in a wire or chain, and strings of different lengths of necklaces worn on top of each other. Necklaces can be created from various materials but works well with metals, gemstones or the combination of two, and they are usually partnered with pendants made from gemstones with the diamond heart being one of the most sought after pendant design. To further highlight the beauty of necklaces, they appropriately worn with dresses that have low necklines as this design helps the jewelry to become the focal point of the person's upper body. 

Meanwhile, earrings are articles of jewelry used for the ears that could be set against the earlobes or are left as dangling drops. One of the most usual forms of earrings set on the earlobes are large pearls, while popular hanging earrings are chandeliers and hoops. Traditionally, it is a requisite to have the ears pierced when wearing earrings as this practice was once considered a barbaric act. Today, earrings can be worn by means of clipping them to the ear, though the method of ear piercing is still practiced. 

The bracelet is another type of fine jewelry, worn on the arm. This large ring-like piece may come as closed band, spiral coil, open on one side, closed with clasp or flexible rings formed as links. Other than the aforementioned pieces, there are other types of jewelry that one may encounter in the market including pins, cuff links, anklets, chains, brooches, and collar buttons to name a few. Generally, there are many jewelry pieces that vary in function, quality and design; it is already up to the individual what jewelry to use in accordance to his or her desired function.

Fine jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings are commonly used as personal adornments. However, they can also be used to signify societal status, as a form of currency, symbolism as well as artistic display. They can be made from precious metals set with gemstones just like a diamond heart setting and may come in varying finishes depending on the wearers preference.

A Contractors Guide To VAT - The Basics

Contractors have two different kinds of payment structures available. These are umbrella companies and limited companies. For each there are a number of VAT issues that must be taken into account.
VAT: Value Added Tax
VAT is known as a sales tax that is added to the price of products and services. Not every product and service in the UK succumbs to VAT, such as books, but there are only a few exceptions. A VAT registered business is able to reclaim any VAT that has been paid on products and services that it buys.
Who Needs To Register?
Any business that provides goods or services that count as taxable supplies, have a legal obligation to register for VAT with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customers (HRMC). Registration must be within 30 days of reaching a turnover equal or over the current VAT threshold (£73,000 as of 1st April 2011). Within any 12 month period. This rule applies to all businesses, including limited companies, sole traders and those who are self-employed.
The option exists to voluntarily register for VAT if the turnover is below the current threshold. After registration is complete each business will be given a VAT registration certificate with the unique VAT number. This number must then be included in all future invoices.
How Does VAT Work?
VAT works by businesses paying VAT on all purchases, this is known as input tax. Then each business is able to charge VAT on all sales, known as output tax.
Input Tax - If a contractor makes a purchase and the current VAT rate is 20%. This will enable the contractor to offset the VAT on their purchase against any VAT they have charged on their output tax.
Output Tax - The output tax, VAT charged on goods and services, is currently 20% therefore this must be included to any invoice.
VAT Returns
Most contractors have to account for VAT every quarter. After receiving a VAT return, it is vital that the payments are made online no later than one month following the end of the VAT quarter.
Fortunately, for those who have accountants or an umbrella company that can take care of these VAT calculations will not have the worry or confusion that the current tax systems creates for many.
Umbrella companies are themselves VAT registered and will include the VAT to their invoices. This situation will allow for the contractors to never see VAT and very rarely be affected by it.
All contractors must remember that VAT can be very complex and all individuals and businesses are encouraged to seek professional advice.

Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6691696

New Pen On the Block - Contour Max

One of the most popular promotional pens on the market at the moment is the contour pen. It looks good and won't break the bank, so it's a great give away for targeting those potential customers.

Now there's a new pen available based on the same design as the contour pen but with a neat twist - whilst there's the usual ballpoint pen down one end, at the other is a highlighter! We think this is a great feature as it's always handy to have a highlighter nearby to make those important points stand out.

The pen is called the Contour Max, and is only a fraction more expensive then the standard contour pen, so if you want a great looking pen to hand out and make a positive impact then this pen is a great choice. It's available in a range of colours which match the highlighter colour including blue, red, yellow and green.

Create a Gift Memory Book By Jeff McRitchie

A memory book is a great gift to help celebrate a birthday or other momentous occasion. Here are a few tips and ideas to help get you started.

Gather Your Material:

For your memory book, the first thing you are going to want to do is to enlist the help of as many friends and family of the guest of honor (GOH) as you can. Get an email list together and send a list of questions out to all of them, or ask for great stories that involve the GOH. Some examples of questions might be: tell us about how you met the GOH, what is the funniest thing he or she ever said or did, how he or she helped you through a rough time, etc. The idea is to get as many different anecdotes as possible, and if there is one great story, get some different perspectives on it. If the GOH has children, see of you can get them to do a drawing or write a poem.

The key here is to not be to rigid in what you expect from your contributors. Those who have a natural bent for writing should given free reign to contribute whatever they would like to, whereas those who busy or are hard to pin down can just give short answers to specific questions.

You should also ask for some great photographs from the past and present. You may have to encourage some people to scan photos that are not already in a digital format, or to send them to you via snail mail.

Putting it Together:

There are a few different ways you can go about this. You can either put the stories and pictures in chronological order of the GOH's life, or you can let each contributor have his or her own page, or you can divide the book into sections that were contributed by friends, family, children, etc.

When you are designing your pages, it might be a good idea to include clip art of the GOH's favorite hobbies, or items that are representative of what the story on that particular page is. If, for instance, someone is telling a story about a fishing trip, you can include clip art or images of fishing flies and rods, etc.

When you are putting your memory book together, keep fun in mind. Your GOH is going to be totally surprised, so depending on his or her personality, you may not want to do anything too embarrassing or tear-jerkingly poignant. Then again, you might. It all depends on the person. Just keep in mind that the book you are creating is something that you want the GOH to keep forever.

Printing and Binding:

When it comes to printing, you will probably want to make the pages as high quality as possible, so use a digital color printer if possible. There are lots of options for binding the book. "You can take it to the print and copy shop, send it away to one of many online services, or for less than one hundred dollars you can get a machine that will allow you to bind the book yourself. Thermal (hardcover) binding machines are really easy to use, and allow you to make as many copies as you want at a moment's notice. They are great to have around for other projects too, as well as repairing your old and worn out books.

If you are interested in more information about how the right Thermal Binding Systems can help you create a great memory book you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price on these machines and they even offer Free Shipping on orders over$75. Plus, they carry a full line of Thermal Binding Supplies, in many colors and sizes.

If you are looking for other information and articles to help you learn about Binding and Laminating, you should really check out MyBindingBlog.com. They feature thousands of articles, posts and product reviews on topics related to binding, laminating, paper shredding and paper handling. Check them out today.

Environmentally friendly printed pens

We like to play our part in making sure we limit the amount of damage we do to the environment and reduce our carbon footprint. Environmentally friendly promotional pens come in all shapes and sizes and in various designs. One more recent addition that is begoming highly sort after is the Enviro Promotional Pen.

The pens all come with a glossy white barrel and have varying colours of trim (the nib area and the clip). Their study construction makes them as durable as the most hard wearing pens. When printed with your logo on the barrel and clip, you can be assured that they will nothing but serve to increase your green creditials and brand awareness.

I'm sure you'lll understand exactly why these are so highly regarded. They are very inexpensive compared to similar promotional pens that are available.They look and feel as good a quality as any non-recycled pens you care to mention. Their build quality and vibrance of colour is a trait which is not often associated with recycled promotional pens, but these fantastic items have these qualities and more in spades.

Yoga For Women

Yoga has been gaining immense popularity due to the short-term as well as long-term benefits that it provides.

Today Many Women are spending their lifes with stress overload, due to their heavy responsibilities at home and office. This can cause exhaustion, depression, as well as numerous stress-related physical complaints.  Taking up yoga can help redress the balance, by instead, engaging the parasympathetic (quietening) nervous system which produces the ‘relaxation response’. 

Taking up yoga provides Fitness and Flexibility to the body and provides solutions to the Health Disorders and one can achieve an All-Round Development Of a calm, stress-free mind.

Women can take up yoga at any age and without being in top physical condition. It is a relaxing experience, not an exhausting one and carries with it an overall sense of well being. The psychological benefits of the practice are as marked as the physical changes.

Yoga Benefits Women In Every Life Stage

The Importance of Yoga

Yoga have been developed over centuries of research and experience. They have been found to be extremely effective in Increasing flexibility of the body which leads to a healthier body

Yoga also helps in losing excessing flab and weight which is a major problem which women are facing now.

Yoga routines will vary depending on the purpose for which you seek to do yoga - it may be for better fitness or for specific ailments.

Yoga can be a wonderful antidote to our stressful lives.  The deep breathing, stretching, and relaxation techniques not only help release tension in the body, but can also quiet a busy mind.

Here are two simple yoga practices which keeps your mind and body relax. 

1. ‘Legs up the Wall’ Pose

In this passive inversion, you can’t help but relax as it nourishes the nervous system and rejuvenates the circulation. Sit side on to a wall and then flip the legs up the wall to lie on your back.  Shuffle your bottom in as close as possible to the wall. Have your arms to the side or bent up overhead. Close your eyes and stay here for anywhere between 2 – 15 minutes.  Breathe deeply and slowly. 

2. ‘Alternate Nostril’ Breath

I’ve coached corporate groups in this breathing technique, and after just a few rounds, people appear so much more relaxed and calm.  It’s a great, quick-fix way to centre yourself at any time when you are feeling anxious – before that job interview, or difficult meeting, for example! 

Sit up tall in a comfortable position on the floor or in a chair.  Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.  Then place the index and middle fingers of your right hand at the point between the two eyebrows.  Close the right nostril with the thumb and take a slow, gentle breath in through the left nostril, then close the left nostril with the ring finger and exhale without force through the right nostril.  Inhale again through the right nostril, and then, closing the right nostril and opening the left nostril, exhale.  That’s one round.  Complete 5 – 15 rounds in your own time. When finished, lower your hand to your lap and breathe naturally for a few cycles before opening your eyes, and easing back into your day .

To get the maximum benefits of yoga one has to combine the practices of yogasanas, pranayama and meditation.Regular practice of asanas, pranayama and meditation can help such diverse ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins and heart conditions.

According to medical scientists, yoga therapy is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and preventive therapy. The very essence of yoga lies in attaining mental peace, improved concentration powers, a relaxed state of living and harmony in relationships.

Yoga and Diet.Diet also plays a vital role in yoga It is said that our level of development, mental and spiritual, is reflected in the kind of food we take.

Some of the Food to be taken for good health are Fresh fruits,vegetables,whole grains,wheat and oats. Butter, ghee (clarified butter) and all good natural plant-based oils like sesame, olive and sunflower. Dairy products like milk, ghee, yogurt and cottage cheese from dairy animals who`ve been treated well.Avoid taking meat,junk foods,alcohol,tobacco.

Yoga Meditation

Yogic meditation is a means of training the being to tune itself to the workings of the Divine Being. The central principle of such meditation is to concentrate one`s mental faculties upon the object of quest. But it requires long hours of practice for the mind to be able to attain such sustainable levels of concentration and absorption. This discipline, above everything else, is the essence of yoga meditation.

The success of yogic meditation depends largely on the sincerity and strength of the yogi behind it. It is not the duration but the intensity of the aspiring consciousness, which is more important and ultimately effective. Fatigue is to be avoided at all costs, since it weakens the power of concentration and jades the mind.

Yoga meditation puts the being of the meditating yogi in a condition of increased and conscious receptivity to the workings of yoga shakti or the power of yoga. With a deepening of this state of mind there is often a total withdrawal from the external environment.

Yoga and Woman’s Life Stages

A regular yoga practice is beneficial in every stage of life. When an individual goes through changes, such as those associated with pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause, illness or injury, yoga helps them approach life with more equanimity. Yoga practitioners with depression, eating disorders, arthritis, or bone loss find that yoga can contribute to their healing. Special sequences of poses are available for a wide variety of health conditions. A yoga practice is healing and preventative of many types of illness. It can be emotionally balancing and spiritually nourishing. Yoga can help women on a day-to-day basis by allowing time for inner focus in a culture that is often hurried and which many women find stressful.

Pregnancy Yoga

In pregnancy, yoga helps bring your whole being into balance. Taking time out from a busy life to process the changes you are experiencing is beneficial. Yoga can also help you prepare emotionally and mentally for the anticipated change in your life when you give birth. Emotions are calmed and quieted with the practice of yoga poses and breathing exercises. Breathing exercises develop your inner awareness and can help you give birth by making it easier to consciously relax the body with breath. Yoga postures help you become more adept at changing positions, which is useful in the process of labor and childbirth. You will feel more comfortable in your body which helps you feel better in pregnancy. Aches and pains of pregnancy can be diminished or alleviated with a yoga practice. You can work with your bodily changes to learn how to move ergonomically, freeing your energy with better posture. You can more easily tap into your instinctual self, which will assist you in the birth process.

If you have ever had a miscarriage, do not do yoga during your first trimester. These early months are the most vulnerable time of pregnancy. Avoid standing poses, inversions, twists, and backbends at this time. You can do forward bends, preferably gentle ones over bolsters or pillows. As you progress to the second trimester, you can vary the poses more. Twists can be done very gently in the last two trimesters. Shavasana, the relaxation pose in which you lie on your mat, can be done lying on your side instead of your back. In the third trimester, modify the yoga poses as your weight distribution changes. Your center of balance is different. Don’t put pressure on or compress the belly to keep the baby safe. The priority in prenatal yoga is not to put stress on the baby-to-be. Learn to use yoga props to adapt poses so they are easier for you to perform. Doing poses next to the wall or with a chair works well, and a prenatal yoga teacher can show you how.

The yoga pose that is considered the best preparation for childbirth is Baddha Konasana, or Cobbler’s Pose, and is also called the Bound Angle Pose. It is a hip opener that also works to open the pelvic area. Sit upright on your yoga mat or a cushion. Place the soles of your feet together and bring the heels toward your pelvic area. Your knees will splay out to the sides. You will feel work in your upper thighs, next to the groin area. Breathe and relax with the intensity so that you can release it. If your knees don’t reach the floor, you can place a pillow under each one. You can sit upright, or you can lean forward with your chest supported on a bolster or two. A third way to do the pose is reclining. Try leaning back onto a couple of bolsters with a small extra pillow for your head. The reclining version helps if you are getting up to urinate frequently at night. If you do this for 10 minutes or more at bedtime, it can help.

Pregnancy and ashtanga yoga are an especially good match since this form of yoga follows a well-defined set of movements to come into and out of poses in a way that completely absorbs the consciousness while stilling the thoughts.

Yoga for Menstruation

Women are cyclic in their nature and physiology. Most sequences of poses for menstruation include supported forward bends. Forward bends quiet the brain and are perfect for this time in which one typically feels like going inward. For health reasons, it is suggested that you avoid doing inversions during menstruation. Some women also avoid standing poses or backbends at this time. Having a regular practice with a variety of yoga poses for the rest of the month is recommended for women, keeping them healthy, fit and emotionally centered. Yoga helps a woman deal with heavy or irregular menses and PMS. Special sequences exist for these and other problems. Depending on why she is having difficulty becoming pregnant, certain yoga poses may help women become more fertile.

Overall, a woman can balance her endocrine system, improve her blood circulation, develop better posture, become more toned, have better physical balance, increase her flexibility and strength, and build her immune system through yoga practice. A lifelong and daily practice will cultivate the many health benefits and spiritual growth possible with yoga throughout all stages of life.

Some women have found that a regular yoga routine will even out their periods and alleviate the anxiety and depression common at "that time of the month." Also, by strengthening the abdominal muscles, yoga has been found to decrease painful cramping.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/yoga-for-women-1076387.html