Sunday, October 31, 2010

Password Recovery for Chrome Browser


ChromePass is a small and simple password recovery tool that allows you to view the user names and passwords stored by Google Chrome Web browser. For each password entry, the following information is displayed: Origin URL, Action URL, User Name Field, Password Field, User Name, Password, and Created Time.

You can select one or more items and then save them into text/html/xml file or copy them to the clipboard.

The utility is portable and released as freeware.

Latest software release: 1.16

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Direct Download: http://ping.fm/VquG3



Demarker Technical Indicator

Definition and Overview

The Demarker Indicator is a technical analysis tool developed by Tom Demarker for identifying high-risk buying or selling areas in a given market. It is a technical indicator that attempts to measure the demand of an asset by comparing the high and low prices with the previous high/low prices.


It is composed of two others indicators which are DeMax and DeMin. The first compares the current bar high with the previous bar high while the second compares the current bar low with the previous bar low.

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These two indicators moving average are then assembled to create the DeMarker indicator.

The period using to calculate the moving averages discussed previously is the DeMarker indicator input, and this is the only one this function accepts.

The indicator is bounded between -100 and +100, and is subject to different interpretation. But generally, it is considered as an overbought/oversold indicator, so when the DeMarker value rises above a certain level (70 for example, but it depend on the period you set), it is considered as bearish signal, while a fall below a certain level (30, also depends on the period), it is considered as bullish signal.

Algorithm

Prediction Algorithm:
1. Calculate DeMax (i): If HIGH(i) > HIGH(i � 1), then DeMax(i) = HIGH(i) � HIGH(i � 1), else DeMax(i) = 0

2. Calculate DeMin (i) If LOW(i) < LOW(i - 1), then DeMin(i) = LOW(i - 1) - LOW(i), else DeMin(i) = 0

3. Calculate DeMarker indicator : DMark (i) = SMA (DeMax, N) / (SMA (DeMax, N) + SMA (DeMin, N))

4. If DMark<30, predict BUY ElseIf DMark>70, Predict SELL

Where:
HIGH (i) � current maximum price;
LOW (i) � current minimum price;
HIGH (i � 1) � previous maximum price;
LOW (i � 1) � previous minimum price;
SMA � simple moving average;
N � number of periods used in the calculation

Limitations

DeMarker oscillator works in a very similar way to RSI, Stochastic and other overbought/oversold oscillators, oscillating between -100 and 100. Main drawbacks of DeMarker are the same of other oscillators: usually works fine in sideways markets or in slow trending markets but it is not able to deal with strong vertical trends.

Trading with the Demarker Indicator

DeMarker Indicator is an oscillator, and it is possible to use with it all the common techniques that are applied to oscillators. The oversold and oversold levels of the indicator are at 0.3, and 0.7, respectively. When the oversold value is exceeded, the expectation is that the prices may soon stop falling. In the opposite case, we anticipate that the uptrend will run out of steam in a short time.

If you remember how the RSI is constructed, you will note that the formulation of the demarker indicator is almost the same as that of the RSI with the difference being that the RSI most often uses an exponential moving average, while the demarker indicator uses the simple moving average of the prices. But on the whole, both indicators compute the same formulae for the min-max values, and interpret them in very similar ways.

In short, it is fair to say that one will never need to create technical strategy where both the Demarker and RSI indicators are necessary. They are both oscillators, but beyond that, the great similarity between the two indicators means that using one will always grant us all the information that can be derived from the other.

The indicator is most suitable to a ranging market. If it is used in trending markets, it must be used as an auxiliary to a trend indicator, and divergence/convergence configurations must be sought out for its interpretation.

Conclusion

The Demarker indicator is a solid, simple and reliable oscillator in general, and can be used as a substitute for the RSI when the trader chooses to do so. It doesn't possess any great qualities distinguishing it from the latter, however, so there is no point in creating a combination of the two in just about any conceivable scenario. Arguably, the decision to use any of these two indicators will depend on availability. It is a good idea to use one when it is available and not to worry too much about the other.


Sources and Additional Information:

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Children&#39;s Alzheimer&#39;s: Niemann-Pick Type C Disease

Twin 4-year-old girls Addison and Cassidy Hempel are similar to their contemporaries in many ways: They love nursery rhymes; "Humpty Dumpty" is the family favorite; they go to school and play house. But the identical siblings differ from other children in one major way.

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The girls' world of childhood fantasy is haunted by a heartbreaking reality that they are fighting a disease that seeks to steal their memories. Like a pediatric version of Alzheimer's disease, Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC), from which the girls suffer, causes patients to slowly lose their motor skills and then their minds. Rarely do children with NPC live past their teenage years. In fact, the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation says NPC always is fatal and the vast majority of children die before age 20 -- with many not making it to the age of 10.

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Niemann-Pick Type C Disease as Children Alzheimer's

While formally speaking, Alzheimer's (AD) and Niemann-Pick Type C Disease (NPC) are absolutely different disorders, NPC is frequently referred as Children Alzheimer's. In comparison with AD, which affects more than 5 million people just in USA, the NPC is much rarer. It affects currently less than a 100 people currently living in the United States, and about 500 cases have been diagnosed ever worldwide. NPC is described as a genetic degenerative neurological disorder that mostly strikes during childhood that stores fatty lipids in the brain, liver, spleen, and bone marrow because of the cells inability to metabolize cholesterol. Although uncommon, adult onset can take place with NPC. Outcome is also fatal with no cure.

Whether it is Niemann-Pick Type C Disease (NPC) or Alzheimer's, they are extremely saddening to experience as a loved one. One affects mostly older adults and the other strikes predominantly in adolescents. Regardless, a main symptom in each disease is progressive Dementia along with similar pathological features that include the loss of intellectual function.

What is Niemann-Pick?

Although not widely known by the public and classified as rare by medical science, Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD) Type C has been the subject of worldwide medical research for many years because it is considered an important link in the battles against heart disease, Alzheimer's, stroke & seizure disorders. Basically, an inherited biochemical deficiency results in the body's inability to metabolize cholesterol properly. Consequently, cholesterol begins to accumulate in the liver, the spleen and the brain - a process which eventually results in serious neurological damage. The pathological effects of this disease were first noted around the turn of the century but, of course, its origins go back much further in time. In fact, a closely related variant of NPD-C (known as Type D) has been traced back to its originators in Nova Scotia in the mid- 1700's. With the discovery last summer of the primary gene associated with NPD-C medical research has intensified worldwide, and at least one drug has been found which delays the onset of serious effects but it is not yet ready for clinical trials. Usually, the effects of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (deterioration of motor skills, slurred speech, etc.) don't appear until the early school years (although there is also a young adulthood onset type). Children seldom survive beyond their 15th birthday. In some cases, the prognosis is more difficult because of his early age, but serious effects could begin in as few as two years.

How it is Diagnosed?

Unfortunately there is no quick available test that will give you the answer. If foamy macrophages appear it is a strong possibility of a Lysosomal Storage Disease. The test can take up to 6-8 weeks to receive the results from the blood work and skin biopsy that is collected. When you are told that your child or children have a fatal disease, this time period turns into an eternity of worried thoughts.

Treatment

There is no treatment for NP-C, but supportive therapies are available. These include medications to control seizures, abnormal posturing of limbs and tremors. Physical, speech and occupational therapy are also used to help with daily functioning. A low cholesterol diet and cholesterol-lowering medications do not appear to influence the course of this disease, and studies have shown no affect on the neurological progression. Currently a drug called Zavesca (Miglustat) which is FDA approved for Gaucher's Disease Type 1 (the most common Lysosomal Storage Disorder) is only available by mail through Curascript and is being used in NP-C patients off label.  Off label basically means that it is prescribed for a purpose outside the drug's original scope of approval. It has shown to help buy more time but the drug is not currently FDA approved in United States for use with Niemann Pick Type C Disease. This drug costs typically $159,000 per child a year.

Side Effects of NPC

When brain cell function is blocked NP-C children lose coordination (Gelastic Cataplexy), stumble, fall (Ataxia) and eventually need to be in wheelchairs, sleep in a hospital bed and utilize other adaptive equipment.  As the disease worsens other devastating symptoms develop including loss of the ability to speak (Aphasia), swallow (Dysphagia), laugh, remember (dementia), trouble moving eyes (Vertical Gaze Palsy) and often seizures occur.  The health of children with NPC deteriorates until ultimately, the disease claims the child's life.

Sources and Additional Information:
http://ping.fm/Mho6c


Digital Photography as Retirement Hobby

If you are retired or getting close to retirement, you may be wondering how to spend your spare time. Finding a hobby or pastime that you can do year round, in any weather can be hard to find. If you have time on your hands or are looking for something to do in your spare time, a digital photography hobby may be right for you.

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You have probably taken photos in the past and apart from the cost of the film, you had to pay to have the film developed � even when the pictures were poor quality. You also had to wait to see the results of your camera skills.

It would be great, to not have to buy film, not have to pay for development and not have to wait at all to see the results of your handiwork. Now you can, with digital photography.

If you plan on doing a lot of traveling this gives you a great opportunity to capture your travel experience and local interests in pictures.

Whatever your interests are you have lots of choice of subjects to choose from including taking pictures of your grandchildren, family, friends and pets.  You can find so many wonderful ways to use your photography skills.

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What are the benefits of digital photography as a hobby?
  1. Digital photography can be very inexpensive at entry level. A small, 6 megapixel camera with only 128mb memory is enough to start you on the road to artistic pleasure.
  2. Niche photography: landscapes, wildlife, portraits or even auto mechanics can become an area that you want to work in. Whatever interest you already have, you can extend through photography.
  3. It is a year round hobby. Think of the different seasons if your penchant is for landscapes or the different birds and animals that migrate with the seasons.
  4. Digital cameras can be used indoors or outside. Consider the use of flash in your photography. 
  5. Photograph manipulation: with the use of computer software, a mediocre picture can evolve into a masterpiece. From simple light and contrast enhancement to cropping, cutting and pasting from one picture to another, picture change and take on new meaning. Imagine a picture of a little girl blowing bubbles but the bubbles are filled with favorite toys that have been cut from another picture. The possibilities of photograph manipulation are endless.
  6. Turn your hobby into a moneymaker. Photograph items that friends or neighbors want to sell online through an auction or Craigslist.
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One of the greatest benefits of a digital camera is the ability to look at the picture as soon as you have taken it. If you do not like it, take another picture from a different angle or using a different camera setting. Digital cameras have an LCD screen with which to view the picture immediately and make your choice.

Most cameras have pre-programmed settings that allow for macro or close-up photography and fast settings to capture sporting events that would be blurred on a regular setting. Some cameras allow you to program your own settings for focus and speed.

When your cameras memory is full, copy the pictures to a computer and then delete the pictures from the camera. This will give free memory space to capture more pictures without the cost of having to buy more film.

A digital photography hobby is something that will keep you engrossed for many years. There are so many interesting areas to learn about.
  • Digital Camera Sensors
  • Digital meters and exposure
  • Lens filters
  • Depth of field
  • Lens flare 
  • Dynamic range.
The list goes on. You do not have to learn any of this, you may just want to point and shoot but if you really want this to be your hobby, you will never stop learning digital photography.

Consider joining a photographic club in your area to pick up hints and tips. You may even enter some of your works into competitions � and win. Who knows?

Whatever you do, wherever you go, a digital photography hobby will capture the moment. Enjoy it.


Sources and Additional Information:


http://tinyurl.com/2brjbgf

Friday, October 29, 2010

Tatmash 3D Tattoo Generator on Body Pictures

The culture status of tattooing has steadily evolved
from that of an anti-social activity in the 1960s
to that of a trendy fashion statement in the 1990s



It doesn't matter who you are or what your profession is. It doesn't matter if you're in the East Village or East Alabama. Whatever your socio-demographic is - from prisoners to princesses - having a tattoo is now an acceptable practice throughout most of society. With few religious and social exceptions, for the most part, people from all walks of life can be seen sporting a "your name here" on their lower-back or a classic image on their bicep.

Could it be possible tattoos are less meaningful nowadays that they're acceptable? Could it be body art has increased in popularity, perhaps as a means by which the boring can become interesting? New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks affirms this sentiment, saying, "Other people are trying to unveil their wild side. They're taking advantage of the fact that tattoos are associated with felons, bikers and gangstas. They're trying to show that far from being the dull communications majors they appear to be, they are actually free spirits - sensual, independent, a little dangerous."

Tattoo popularity could also be booming because people in American society are becoming more tolerant. It would make sense "normal" people (not gangstas or felons) get inked now that the stigma attached with tattoos has dramatically reduced. While Grandma may not be entirely approving, most of society won't cast a second look.

According to a 2006 American Society of Dermatological Surgery survey, 24 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 have a tattoo. That's one in four, a whopping number compared to the 10 percent of Americans who were inked in 1936, according to Life Magazine. U.S. News & World Report said tattooing is one of the fastest growing markets, along with computers, cell phones and internet offers.

In spite of the huge popularity and growing tolerance to the tattoo wearers, you should be really careful choosing and applying one. First of all, the presence of tattoos and/or body piercings is not considered a religious practice and is not protected by the anti-discrimination standards established by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employees with tattoos and/or body piercings are not members of a protected class and may be refused employment or otherwise discriminated against in the workplace. Also, permanent tattoo is something you'll wear for long, so it should be something that make you more attractive, sexier, or more open, and not bring you the "weirdo" verdict from other people.

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The Tattoo Generator will help you to apply virtually any chosen tattoo on your body parts, and check if that really what you want. Pick a tattoo out of hundreds of designs (you can also upload your own design), then upload a photo of yourself with the part of the body you would like to see tattooed. Free version of these interesting online service is limited (you cannot upload your own design and you have limited amount of fonts, for example), but that is a good place to start your tattoo exploration journey.

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You can visit Virtual Tattoo Simulator and start now: http://www.tatmash.com/


Situational Depression or Reactive Depression &#40;Adjustment Disorder&#41;

What is Adjustment Disorder?

An adjustment disorder is characterized by the development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor (or stressors) occurring within 3 months of the onset of the stressor. A stressor is anything that causes a great deal of stress in the person's life. It could be a positive event, like a wedding or purchasing a new home, or a negative event, like a family member's death, the breakup of an important relationship, or loss of a job.

These symptoms or behaviors are clinically significant as evidenced by either of the following:
  • Marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected from exposure to the stressor
  • Significant impairment in social, occupational or educational functioning
The stress-related disturbance does not meet the criteria for another specific mental disorder. Once the stressor (or its consequences) has ended, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional 6 months. By definition, if your feelings related to the event last longer than 6 months, it will no longer qualify for an adjustment disorder diagnosis.

An adjustment disorder can occur at any time during a person's life and there is no difference in the frequency of this disorder between males and females. An adjustment disorder is diagnosed by a mental health professional through a simple clinical interview.

Adjustment disorders are often diagnosed when it's not clear the person meets the criteria for a more severe disorder, or the actual diagnosis is uncertain. This diagnosis often gives the clinician time to further evaluate the client during additional therapy sessions.

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Adjustment Disorder Types

Adjustment disorders are further categorized by the specific symptoms experienced:
  • Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
  • Adjustment disorder with anxiety
  • Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
  • Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct
  • Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct
  • Adjustment disorder, Unspecified
Possible Triggers

Situational depression differs from major depression in that it is triggered by external events. The symptoms tend to disappear once the sufferer has learned to adapt to the new situation. A variety of stressors have been linked to the development of adjustment disorder. In large measure, what triggers the disorder depends on the individual, but the following types of events have a known association to situational depression:
*Divorce
*Ending a relationship
*Serious illness (yourself or in someone you love)
*Death of a family member or someone you love
*Becoming a victim of a crime
*Going through an accident
*Major life changes such as marriage, birth, or retirement.
*Surviving natural or manmade disasters

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Symptoms

The emotional or behavioral symptoms begin to develop in response to a stressful event. The symptoms come on within a few months of the event and it is rare for the symptoms to last beyond six months of the stressful occurrence that prompted them. In this type of depression, the reaction to the stressful event seems out of proportion to what one would expect in relation to what has occurred. The symptoms may interfere with the sufferer's daily functioning. He may find it difficult to sleep, study, or work.

The symptoms of adjustment disorder can include any of the following:
*Anxiety
*Nervousness
*Tearfulness
*Sadness
*Hopelessness
*Worry
*Lethargy
*Fatigue
*Sleep Difficulties
*Heart palpitations
*Stomachache
*Headache
*Missing work or school
*Withdrawal from friends and activities
*Destructive behavior
*Loss of appetite
*Binge eating
*Abuse of recreational drugs or alcohol

Behavioral Issues

In children and teenagers, the disorder is more likely to be characterized by behavioral issues, for instance playing hooky, fighting with peers, or acting out. Adults tend to have symptoms that are emotional in nature, for instance anxiety and sadness. The disorder is very common and can affect people of every age, race, sex, or lifestyle. There is, however, a greater tendency to this condition during times of major life transitions, for instance, with the onset of adolescence, middle-age, or with the arrival of the golden years.

Adjustment disorder and clinical depression

Situational and clinical depression can certainly feel and appear to be the same thing, but there are significant differences that people should be aware of. On the whole, clinical depression can be much more serious and certainly requires the assistance of trained mental health professionals for treatment.

Unlike clinical depression, situational depression (SD) is triggered by an external stress and usually goes away once the person learns how to cope or adapt to whatever happened. Situations that cause it can include the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, being fired from a job, being the victim of a crime, physical trauma/disease/illness, an accident, having a baby, economic hardship, living through a natural disaster, and loneliness.

Adjustment disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

Adjustment disorder is not the same as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD generally occurs as a reaction to a life-threatening event and tends to last longer. Adjustment disorder, on the other hand, is short-term, rarely lasting longer than six months.

Asking for Help

A person who is in the early stages of depression will not find much solace in hearing that they just need to get over it. What they need initially is emotional support, someone who will listen and understand without judgment, so that they have a trusted confidant to share their feelings with. Dismissing their worries and concerns as trivial will only prolong the condition because they're likely to turn more inward and suppress the very things that need to be brought out and dealt with.

Everyone reacts differently to what life throws at them, and dictating the way another should feel is almost never a good idea. The person will feel alone. Although it is said that time heals all wounds, it is the positive and helpful things that you do in that time that bring about healing and mental homeostasis quickest.

A five-year career plan is a worthless scrap of paper unless you have being a good friend/sibling/father/mother/husband/wife/citizen prominently displayed on the list. Being there when someone close to you is down is the true test for that. Fair-weather friends bail out of the fox hole at the first sign of trouble. In a sense you are helping to liberate a mind from the tyranny of depression.

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Treatment

A treatment plan for adjustment disorder involves talking to a trained mental health professional who is capable of managing the patient's symptoms through therapy and providing them with effective coping mechanisms. Once the patient learns to deal with the issue that brought about the disorder in a healthy (and sometimes slightly detached) manner, they will most often be fully recovered from the grim effects of it in three to six months.

Asking for help may be the hardest hurdle to overcome for some folks who have situational depression. But it's essential to do so; and to try as many different solutions or a combination of treatment techniques until the suffering is alleviated and finally terminated. They will need the help of a trained therapist, psychologist, or psychotherapist who knows the most effective way to handle grief, loss, or the disabling upheaval of what brought about the condition. Trained mental health professionals will also be able to determine that this is indeed what the patient is suffering from and not a more serious mental disorder.

In many cases, adjustment disorder is the result of some sort of loss which results in Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's widely accepted five stages of grief that include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

So the goal is to get that person over the bridge to acceptance. As the Buddhists believe, non-acceptance is largely the root of all humanity's troubles and there is a lot to be said for that ancient wisdom. While we're on that topic, along with all the positive effects of regular and sustained exercise for attaining mental wellness, the ancient practice of Yoga is also ideal for healing a troubled mind. You can learn a whole lot more about that by reading Yoga has Far-Reaching Benefits on your Mental and Physical Well-Being. If it helps heal combat veterans who witnessed the horrifically depressing attributes of war, it can work for anyone else too.

Psychotherapy is the most common and trusted treatment plan for an adjustment disorder because the patient will begin to come to terms with how the external stressor affected them. A patient will learn to unravel the discouraging and bleak reoccurring thoughts until they gain a more healthy perspective.

Anti-depressants, medications to help with sleeping problems, and/or anxiety might be needed in some cases to bring a patient around. A psychotherapist will point out valuable insights that the patient is unable or incapable of seeing and understanding. Plus, they know effective coping mechanisms to employ such as cognitive therapy.

In many ways a person with situational disorder is his or her worst enemy. But the new skills learned to cope with this condition will actually improve their lives when they do overcome it. Some of our greatest lessons are learned after coming out of dismal anguish and when you realize that you can help someone who is going through the same thing. You are plugged into what Abraham Lincoln deemed "the better angels of our nature."


Sources and Additional Information:

Thursday, October 28, 2010

How to Post to Your Blog with Word 2010?

While I am personally not using Word 2010, I am sure that there are many bloggers who already relocated to this text editor platform. So, the question for those who use it: do you know that it is possible to write and publish a blog post using the same application you are using for anything else?

Device Magazine provides detailed review of this new Word feature I would like to present today.

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It makes perfect sense that Microsoft should want their users to employ Word for all word processing tasks, not just the ones that take place on documents stored on their PC or laptop.

Microsoft have become more and more aware of the wider uses for their Office applications in recent years, and have even released an online version of Office which is free to use for domestic users and offers the ability to save work in the cloud.

Writing a blog post with Word 2010 is nothing more but an extension of this. You are probably thinking "so I can write a blog with Word, but I can do that anyway and paste it in" but this method allows you to connect Word directly to the blog software, removing the need for any desktop or browser based blog editors like Scribefire, and dispensing with any problems with Word formatting causing problems with the display of your blog post.

Write a Blog Post with Word 2010

You can easily create a new Word document for your post and have it ready to publish to your blog in minutes. There are several blog platforms supported by Word 2010:
  • Windows Live Spaces
  • Blogger
  • SharePoint blog
  • Community Server
  • TypePad
  • WordPress
…and if you don't use any of these, you can enter manual configuration options by choosing "Other".

To set this up, create a new document in Word 2010 (File > New) and choose Blog post under Available Templates.

You will then be prompted to setup an account � here you should choose from one of the options as listed above. For instance, if you're using a WordPress blog, you will be prompted to enter the Blog Post URL for the XMLRPC.php script that manages links from third party apps like Word. You will see something like this:
http://<Enter your blog URL here>/xmlrpc.php

If you use a private WordPress blog, simply enter the URL as instructed, and then add your username and password. Many WordPress users have blogs hosted at www.wordpress.com � they should enter
http://<blog account name>.wordpress.com/xmlrpc.php

For Blogger and TypePad accounts you need only enter your username and password, while SharePoint blogs require just the URL. Windows Live Spaces blogs require the space name and your "secret word", while Community Server requires a special URL similar to that shown above (to the "metablog.ashx" script) as well as a username and password. Once you have configured the account for your blog, you're ready to start posting!

Publish Your Blog with Word 2010

With your blog linked up to Word, you can then proceed to write a new post. Using the Blog Post and Insert tabs, you can visit the Home page, choose a Category for your blog, apply text formatting (if supported by your blog) and insert Tables, Pictures and Clip Art, Hyperlinks and other media options.

A few useful blog platform tools are missing, however � there is now way, for example, to split your post so that only a small portion of it appears on your blog's home page. This would need to be added manually in your blog admin screen. Similarly, tags and labels cannot be added, but other than this, you can use Word as a great alternative to tools like Scribefire or your blogs own admin screen.

One word of warning: when your blog account username and password are used by from Word, they may not be encrypted. This will be down to the authentication method used by your blogging platform, so make sure you make regular backups of your blog and that you don't employ a username and password that you might also use for other purposes.


Data Backup and Synchronization Utility - Allway Sync

Allway Sync is free file and folder synchronization software for Windows. It uses innovative algorithms to synchronize your data between all your computer based devices as desktop PCs, laptops, USB drives and more. Allway Sync combines bulletproof reliability with an extremely easy-to-use interface for the best users' satisfaction.

Main Features:
  • Free for personal use synchronization software. No spyware, adware or malware embedded in the utility.
  • Easy-to-use graphical interface.
  • Performs true bi-directional and n-way file and folder synchronization, forget about backup and restore routines.
  • File modifications and deletions are tracked in a local database. So, Allway Sync knows the true history of your files - no unnecessary questions asked.
  • Our innovative, proprietary algorithms do not rely on the accuracy of the system clock or network connection quality. So, Allway Sync helps prevents data loss.
  • Generates a full report of differences between synchronization folders.
  • Synchronizes folders as well. Allway Sync detects when folders are removed from one device and removes them from any other corresponding synchronization targets.
  • Supports virtually any file system (FAT, NTFS, SAMBA, Netware, X-Drive, CDFS, UDF and more).
  • Can be installed on a desktop, laptop, USB stick, external HDD or a U3-enabled device.
  • Capable of synchronizing more than two folders.
  • Synchronize data between your desktop PCs and laptops over a network.
  • A good way to backup and restore files if you run Allway Sync in one-way mode.
  • Specify independent synchronization parameters for any number of sets of folders (multiple jobs).
  • Transfer documents from one computer to another using an intermediate removable drive.
  • Or just synchronize with a removable device (USB key, flash drive, CDRW, Zip) so that you always have your data with you.
  • Flexible configuration and customization.
  • Supports files of any size.

Note that Allway Sync doesn't copy locked files by design to guarantee data integrity. User have to exit the application that is using those files (Outlook, for instance) to make synchronization possible.

Screens (click to enlarge for review):


Developers' website: http://ping.fm/GkW2S

Direct download: http://ping.fm/F7EuZ


Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Free Micro-eMBA Courseware from Free Management Library

Who Can Benefit From Program

  • Highly motivated learners who:
    - Wish to understand key principles, concepts and terms in business
    - Have limited time and / or money
    - Prefer to manage, schedule and locate their own learning experiences
    - Prefer highly practical results from programs
  • Leaders and managers:
    - Seeking guidance to understand business, start a business organization or to firm up the foundation of an already established organization
  • Service providers (associations, training centers, etc.)
    - That wish to offer highly accessible and practical professional and organization development programs in their areas
  • Middle managers or entry-level personnel
    - Who desire highly accessible and adaptable means to professional development for advancement in their careers
  • Consultants who
    - Desire better understanding of business and organizations, their systems and practices, in order to provide more effective services to clients
    - Wish to establish stronger credibility with clients by understanding the world of managers and leaders in the workplace
Program is Non-Degree-Granting -- It's Entirely for Your Learning!

Results for Learners and Their Organizations

Basic understanding and skills about:
  • Self-directed learning and self-management (in preparation for completing this program)
  • Feasibility analysis during considerations to start a business
  • Common structures, systems, cultures and life cycles
  • Roles and functions of chief executive officer and board of directors
  • Building and operating a board of directors (in the case of corporations)
  • Basic, critical skills in management and leadership in order to plan, organize, lead and coordinate activities in an organization
  • Strategic analysis, planning and implementation
  • Marketing, including market research and analysis, pricing, competitive analysis, production, distribution, sales and customer service
  • Financial management, including basics of bookkeeping, cash management, financial reporting and analysis
  • Staffing and supervising employees, including job definition, recruiting, hiring, performance management and personnel policies
  • Business ethics, including practical guidelines for managing ethics, roles and responsibilities, codes of ethics, codes of conduct, policies, resolving ethical dilemmas and training of employees
Program Outputs

Learners in the program might be able to produce the following results based on the studied courses (examples):

  • Job description of chief executive officer
  • Management and leadership training plans
  • Complete resources to equip board members
  • Training plan and materials to train the board
  • Strategic plan
  • Operating budgets
  • Product marketing analysis
  • Public and media relations plan
  • Sales plan
  • Advertising and promotions plan
  • Financial reports and analysis
  • Customer service plan
  • Policies for staffing and supervising employees
  • Policies and codes to guide toward highly ethical behavior in the workplace
  • Substantial cost savings from continued access to free, complete, online materials for personal, professional and organizational development
Program Design and Format of Learning Modules

The program includes 10, online learning modules. Modules are "courses" through which learners progress in the program. Materials and activities for learning are tightly integrated with each other across various modules in the program

Learners Can Start Anywhere in the Program

The program can be highly useful to learners regardless of the order in which they go through the modules in the program. Learning modules are arranged generally in the order needed to develop an organization from the ground up. Learners who are going through the program primarily as a form of training and development can proceed in a sequential fashion through the Links to Learning Modules, and in each module address the a) topics for discussion and reflection and the b) activities to build systems and practices.

Note that the activities required to build and manage a healthy organization are usually very cyclical in nature -- for example, product planning often produces learning that, in turn, polishes previous strategic planning activities. Therefore, learners are guided to revisit certain portions of various learning modules at various points in the program.

Format of Each Learning Module

Learning modules (other than the first and last) have the following format:
  • Introduction -- explains how the module fits into the program and the overall process of business and organization development
  • Specific Materials for Review -- references specific and free materials for review and study; these are needed to respond to all suggested topics for discussion and reflection and to the learning activities required to build basic systems and practices
  • Specific Topics and Questions for Reflection and Discussion -- highlights key concepts to understand about the overall topic of the learning module
  • Specific Activities to Build Systems and Practices -- guides the learner to develop the basic systems and practices to successfully build and manage the organization
  • Assessments -- helps the learner measure and / or evaluate extent of application of that topic to the learner's organization
  • Tracking Open Action Items -- guides the learner throughout the program to consistently record and track any incomplete action items remaining from the current and previous learning modules
  • Reminders to Learners -- poses miscellaneous reminders for learners to ensure they're using information and skills from previous learning modules
Time to Complete Program

Learners can go through all of the modules in the program or they can choose their own set of modules and how those modules will be completed. Consequently, the amount of time to complete the program depends very much on how the learner chooses to go through the program. The more time and energy that learners invest in the program, the more they will learn and accomplish for their organizations and careers.

Many of the learning activities in this program are activities that organizational leaders and managers should do in the workplace anyway to develop a healthy organization. Consequently, time to conduct these learning activities in the program should not be viewed only as "time in the program"; rather, this program helps learners turn their organizations and careers into "learning labs" where they get things done -- and learn at the same time.

As a very rough estimate, learners can spend anywhere from 10-40 hours in each module -- again this amount of time depends very much on how thorough learners are in reviewing learning materials and conducting activities to deepen and enrich that learning.
Certain modules include more learning activities than others. Therefore, the program sponsor and learners may choose to dedicate more than one meeting for these modules.

Learning Modules

Module 1: Program Orientation -- Getting Most from This Program
� Guidelines for You to Get Most from Program
� Tips to Improve Your Reading and Studying Skills
� Extensive Free, Online Resources About Business
� Designing Your Best Approach to Completing the Program

Module 2: Starting and Understanding Your Business Organization
� Conduct Feasibility Analysis About Starting an Organization
� Key Roles in Your Organization
� Basic Structures in Your Organization
� Life Cycles of Your Organization
� Culture of Your Organization

Module 3: Understanding Role of Chief Executive
� What is a Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?
� Major Functions of CEO
� Core Knowledge and Skills for CEO Role
� Early Preparation for Building Board
� Early Preparation for Strong Board-Staff Relationships
� Avoiding "Founder's Syndrome"

Module 4: Developing Your Basic Management & Leadership Skills
� Basic Skills in:
� � � Problem Solving/Decision Making
� � � Planning
� � � Delegation
� � � Internal Communications
� � � Meeting Management
� � � Managing Yourself
� Optional -- Advanced Topics in Management and Leadership
� Optional -- Designing Your Management and Leadership Development Plans

Module 5: Building and Training Your Board of Directors
� Understanding Board Roles and Responsibilities
� Building Policies and Committees
� Building Committees
� Recruiting New Members
� Ensuring Strong Participation
� Board and CEO Evaluations
� Board Calendar and Operations
� Organizing Board Manual
� Training Board Members

Module 6: Developing Your Strategic Plan
� Understanding Strategic Planning
� Writing Your Mission, Vision and Values Statements
� Conducting Strategic Analysis
� Setting Strategic Direction
� Conducting Action Planning
� Developing Operating Budgets
� Writing and Communicating Your Plan
� Monitoring and Evaluating Your Plan

Module 7: Marketing Your Products/Services and Promoting Your Organization
� Conducting Market Analysis for Each Product/Service
� Developing Your Public and Media Relations Plan
� Developing Your Sales Plan
� Developing Your Advertising and Promotions Plan
� Organizing Your Marketing and Promotions Plans

Module 8: Managing Your Accounting and Finances
� Basics of Bookkeeping
� Budgeting
� Cash Management
� Financial Statements
� Financial Analysis

Module 9: Staffing and Supervising Your Employees
� Defining New Job Roles
� Recruiting Job Candidates
� Screening Applicants
� Orienting New Employees
� Delegating to Employees
� Ensuring Strong Performance
� Firing Employees
� Personnel Policies and Handbooks

Module 10: Practical Guide to Managing Ethics in the Workplace
� What is Business Ethics?
� Myths about Business Ethics
� 10 Benefits of Managing Ethics
� Ethics Management System
� 8 Guidelines for Managing Ethics
� 6 Key Roles and Responsibilities
� Ethics Tools: Codes of Ethics
� Ethics Tools: Codes of Conduct
� Ethics Tools: Policies
� Ethics Tools: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
� Ethics Tools: Training




Monday, October 25, 2010

Investopedia Stock Simulator

Investopedia is one of the best sources to get useful information for all investors: beginners and quite experienced traders. It is offering a free stock stimulator for all users. Beginners are able to enjoy risk-free skills and experiences acquisition, and those who already got taste for real moneymaking on market that may just serve as nice competitive game.

Why Use a Simulator?

Investing in the stock market can seem like an intimidating and complex task for many new investors. Investing brings a considerable amount of rewards, as well as risks. So, before putting your hard-earned savings on the line - why not practice with a virtual account?

The Simulator uses real data from the stock markets in order to reproduce the experience you'd have using a real online brokerage account. Users are provided with a virtual cash balance and can place virtual trades using real market data. Some use it to test out new investing strategies and others use it to experience what it "feels" like to place a trade. Whatever your level of financial knowledge, the Simulator can help make you a better investor.

Using the Simulator for Placing Trades and Managing Portfolio

Investopedia has made is extremely simple for you to join new games, create games, and trade stocks in your portfolio. The big plus about Investopedia is that everything is free game: market orders, limit orders, stop orders, buying on margin, and even trading options.

So once you register and make your first trade and it shows up in your portfolio, you will see exactly how that position is performing.

Advantages of using Stock Stimulator

* Join the Investopedia Simulator for FREE and receive $100,000 in virtual cash! Put your trading skills to the test against other users and see where you rank among the thousands of Investopedia traders. Beat the rest of the pack and trade your way to the top!

* The Investopedia Simulator is the ideal platform to get your financial feet wet! Submit trades in a safe simulated environment before you start risking your own capital. Put your knowledge to work in a formal and realistic way; stop reading and start doing!

* Interact with thousands of other users on the Simulator! Connect with other traders from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and learn the methods behind their trades to become a better investor.

* You have ability to leave yourself tips on your stocks, as well as check out the tips that other people have left on their stocks to see what is on people's minds as they play the game. There are also excellent forums that you can take part in to talk with other players and learn new strategies and tips as you try to make your millions in the stock market.

Developers Website: http://ping.fm/D23sf

Screens:

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Multi-functional Media Downloader and Editor - aTube Catcher

What is aTube Catcher?

aTube Catcher is a simple freeware application for personal, private and non-commercial purposes, allowing to download videos from multiple popular video sharing sites like YouTube, XTube, Pornotube, Dailymotion, MySpace, Google, Yahoo, etc. and export to many formats (MPG, AVI, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, PSP, MOV, FLV) with the quality that you choose. For your convenience, the utility also provides templates to encode your videos to standard formats as DVD, VCD, IPOD, PSP, etc.

Software supports "Authentication" option in YouTube, so you can download private videos (of course, if you have proper authorization), or videos with adult content.

How it works?

aTube Catcher (aTC ) is a small web browser, it enters to a Website, interprets the content and when it finds one video instead of download and playback (like all the other web browsers), it just downloads in the directory that you have previously selected after that, it converts your video to the format requested.

Do you have FLV files on your disk (downloaded with other tools for example) or videos in other formats waiting to be converted to 3GP, 3G2, MPEG1, 2, 3, 4, DVD, VCD, IPOD, WMV, XVID, AVI, etc? You do not need to convert one by one anymore. Just copy all the paths to a simple text file and open the file with aTC, it will process and recode all that files automatically.

To protect copyright holders, aTube Catcher doesn't support secure/ciphered protocols (including RTMPE) and it doesn't has support to decode/decrypt protected content by any DRM security measure.

The utility comes with a Flash video (FLV) player and a new tool called Smart Media Hunter that allows you to download your favorite comic and fun videos from a hundred sites, including TV commercials, and all completely safe and free.


So, not only you can export the videos from YouTube, XTube, Pornotube, Dailymotion, MySpace, Stage6, Google, etc, also you can convert/recode any video or FLV (downloaded from other site or with other software) to the mentioned formats. YouTube Catcher also can download and encode any FLV if you provide him with the direct link.

The freeware program comes with many features, you can find just in commercial applications. You can set the encoding options such as size, framerate, aspect, video codec, fileformat, audio codec, audio sampling, quality, motion search, etc. Now includes Batch file processing, just paste the links in a plain text file, and YouTube Catcher will download all the videos to the specified folder, you will not have to wait one by one anymore.

Additional Features

Among other features, aTube Catcher also can burn in DVD/VCD your videos without use any other third party software. It has a built-in Screen Recorder to capture what you see on your screen, even video chat sessions from Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, DVD movies, Webinars, Online Meetings, etc, or just create video/audio presentations.

The latest software release includes 2 new functions, IE Cache Media Browser and Video Packet Capture, with this new great tools you will be able to download almost any video from internet, completely free and from the easy to use characteristic GUI (Graphical User Interface).

Computer Requirements

* Processor: Any i686 or compatible CPU running Windows 32 bits.
* Operating system: MS Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Windows7, Windows 64 bits versions supported.
* Memory: The minimum required for your Operating System.
* ASPI Driver for VCD recording, you can install it by clicking on "Install ASPI Driver" on help menu.
* For Windows XP, it's recommended to have Service Pack 3

Screens (click on thumb to enlarge):


Developers' website: http://ping.fm/bPaAy

Direct Download: http://ping.fm/vlXGB


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Should You Leave an Inheritance to Your Children?

All the inheritance related questions (as almost all questions on this blog) can be viewed from multiple perspectives, as financial, ethical, psychological, etc. For the matter of this post, we'll not touch the issues related to finances and taxation.

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Inheritance Arrangement and Financial Crisis

Financial Adviser Magazine ran the inheritance related article in their October issue, where it was noted that many parents are saving more of their estate for their own expenses, and shrinking the amount they plan to leave for heirs. But children's expectations of a big inheritance haven't diminished, and advisors are often caught in the middle. They're warning older clients that it's more important to have adequate resources, and emphasizing to heirs that they'll need other sources to fund their own retirements.

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"What we're saying is, 'Don't worry about the kids,'" says Todd C. Ganos, an investment advisor in Carmel, Calif. "You need to make sure you're OK."

Many working-age people, with their own savings shrunk after the financial crisis, may be hoping that an inheritance will save their retirement plans. "People secretly think we'll probably get $1 million or something," says Debra L. Morrison, a financial advisor in Lincoln Park, N.J. "That's wishful thinking," she says. "An inheritance is the last bastion of hope. People are starting to see their financial blocks crumble from under their feet."

As it battered portfolios, the crisis rocked the confidence of many older investors who have in turn reduced their holdings in stocks�and thus their opportunity for asset growth. Facing rising costs in health care and others areas, they will need more of their own money to meet expenses.

Do Competent Kids Need an Inheritance?

While the ability to leave money to your kids becomes even more difficult task in the modern World of struggling economy, raising prices, and unsure Social Security perspectives, there is a basic question you should ask yourself, if your kids really need you money. You may think that this question sounds really stupid: who does not need money? But if you think twice, the answer may not be so straightforward, as it looks like.

Competent children don't need an inheritance, and incompetent children don't deserve one. In other words, if you have truly taught your children how to fish, they can find their own way; otherwise, placing significant wealth in their hands can be irresponsible and disastrous. While this is certainly a pragmatic philosophy, many parents with substantial wealth struggle to balance providing advantages that will propel their kids towards greatness and removing the incentives for hard work and productivity.

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Nepotism

Some have decided that they don't intend to leave an inheritance, so this isn't a big issue for them. For example, Yu Pengnian is a Chinese real-estate tycoon who is committed to giving away his billion dollar fortune entirely to charity. When asked how his children felt about receiving nothing, he said that they didn't oppose it. (Note that he didn't say, they celebrated the decision). Mr. Pengnian logic is rather simple though: "If my children are competent, they don't need my money. If they're not, leaving them a lot of money is only doing them harm."

Along this vein, it appears that giving your children wealth is akin to saying that you lack confidence in their ability to find their own way. Inherent it the tone of his comment is a dislike of nepotism. Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives or friends with no regard to merit.

Suppose your children have proven their merit?

Some would argue that families of some means don't have to follow Mr. Pengnian's model to have successful children. For those of us who purpose to leave an inheritance for our families, the challenge becomes finding the appropriate way to bestow our inheritance so that it enhances instead of destroys.

There are some interesting examples of how this is done. Possibly, the best example is Warren and Peter Buffet. Recently, Peter wrote a book entitled: Life is What You Make it: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment. It suggests that parents focus on giving their children values rather than spoiling them. Peter says it was the values he was brought up with that helped remain normal despite his family's wealth. He writes "values are the steady currency that earns us the all-important rewards." Moreover, he argues that it does your children a disservice to give them everything they want. Remember, his father is the ultra rich billionaire who famously lives in the same home that he purchased in 1958 years ago for $31500. Bufftet has also committed to giving away a 85% of his wealth to charity (the Gates Foundation). Thus, Peter argues from an extremely rare perspective.

Other prominent examples are Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric Trump who all finished school and went on to work for their dad's (Donald Trump's) enormous empire. Interestingly, it appears to me that Ivanka Trump finds it particularly important to prove herself. She graduated summa cum laude in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, initially interned someplace else, and even got a mortgage in one of her dad's buildings. Gary Vaynerchuk and Dylan Lauren (daughter of billionaire designer Ralph Lauren) are two additional examples of prominent offspring who have successfully moved beyond their parents brand to become successes in their own rights. I would probably even throw Nicki Hilton (Paris Hilton's younger sister) into the mix. She designs and famously said "I'm not a celebrity like my sister... I just design clothes..." when an interviewer was asking too many personal questions.

Not the Money That Ruins the Child

All of these examples show that money doesn't necessarily have to ruin the child. Now if you have a deep desire to donate most or all of your wealth to charity, such as Yu Pengnian, I doubt anyone who matters can really fault you. After all, you were the one who created the wealth in the first place. Note, only 2 out of 10 millionaires inherited a substantial portion of their wealth. However, there is no reason to disinherit kids in an attempt to prevent them from being spoiled rotten. In many cases, it was providing for your family that initially prompted you to pursue wealth in the first place. Thus, it would appear unfair to some if they were deprived the privilege to give to their children. However, according to Peter Buffet, the key to not raising trust-fund babies is making sure that your kids embrace the values you hold dear, such as strong work ethic, trust, tolerance, belief in education etc. As the seemingly well-adjusted son of the third richest man in the world, perhaps we should listen.

Aftermath

I know, many parents and even most of the kids would disagree with the viewpoint of this article. True, there are not many observers, who support it as well. In multiple articles the main idea is that leaving inheritance for kids is a straightforward parents' duty. I'll leave the question open. Everyone is finding its own answer, and there is no right or wrong solution.

Live long, healthy, and wealthy lives and let your children make their own contribution for themselves!

Sources and Additional Information:
http://tinyurl.com/34mtu3u

How to troubleshoot unknown devices in Windows XP Device Manager?

Working computer have all the drivers for the hardware used, and you might not even think about all these pieces of computer code supporting the functionality of all systems. However, after computer crash or following the complete re-installation of the Operating System, you may find that not all the hardware elements are recognized automatically by Operating System. If you are advanced and careful computer user, you might have the drivers backup somewhere, or, at least the original drivers disk, which came with computer purchase. But, what if you miss this information? The devices, where the drivers are not assigned or improperly assigned, might not properly function, or not function at all.

First of all, visit your Device Manager to see, what kind of problems you have. Device Manager displays a list of all devices that are installed on a Windows XP-based computer. When you view device information in Device Manager, you may see a device listed as Unknown Device next to a yellow question mark. It may be difficult to determine the cause of this unknown device, because there are few indications of what generates it. There are several ways to access Device Manager. One of them is choosing My Computer on your desktop or menu and with right click calling Properties. Next, select the tab Hardware and click on the Device Manager button.

When you located the questionable device, try to update the driver, pointing the search to the disk with the stored drivers collection or just let computer search Internet for the suitable one, if you do not have a disk. The worst situation is when your problematic device is related to networking, not allowing you to go online. For this case, you will have to operate from another computer to locate and download the required driver.

There are several ways to update the driver, if it is not recognized automatically:
1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site to see whether the Web site autodetects an updated driver for your device. Install all recommended drivers.
http://ping.fm/nl1OP (http://ping.fm/R2ccG)

2. Search for Universal Drivers Pack in Google for your Operating System. Download it and burn DVD or copy to the external drive. Then, direct for the updated driver search to the location where the drivers are placed. I have several packs for Windows XP, and there was no single case, when the drivers were not recognized, except for the hardware malfunctioning issues.

3. Visit directly the manufacturing site for the device you need to troubleshoot:
  • Visit the Web site of the computer manufacturer if the device came with the computer.
  • Visit the Web site of the device manufacturer if the device was installed after you purchased your computer.
  • Visit the Web site of the device manufacturer if the device was preinstalled on your computer and the computer manufacturer does not have an updated driver.
Look for a Drivers section or a Download section on the manufacturer's Web site, and search for the device name. Download and install the Windows XP version of the driver. If you do not know the identification and manufacturer of the malfunctioning device, follow the steps:
  • Right click on the unknown device and click on Properties.
  • Under the Properties window click on Details tab and select Device Instance Id (or Device Instance Path) from the drop down box.
  • You should see a code similar to this

          PCIVEN_8086&DEV_27DC&SUBSYS_30868086
          &REV_014&1E46F438&0&40F0
  • The portion of the code highlighted in RED is the Vendor ID and the portion highlighted in GREEN is the Device ID. In this example:

          Vendor ID = 8086
          Device ID = 27DC
  • Once you have obtained both the IDs, proceed to PCI Database. There you can either search for the vendor from the vendor ID or directly get information about the device along with the vendor name by searching with the device ID.
4. Locate the required driver from the specialized websites
In case, the manufacturer does not provide the drivers download option, or ceased to exist at all, you can search for the required drivers on the websites collecting all kind of drivers. There is a list of the sites, you can use:

Sources and Additional Information: