10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog

1. Invite Comments - I notice that when I specifically invite comments that people leave them in higher numbers than when I don’t. To some degree this confuses me as most of my readers know that they can leave comments on any post - but I guess inviting a comment triggers a response to some extent. Also keep in mind that new readers that are unfamiliar with blogging don’t always know about comments or how to use them - invitations to participate in well laid out and easy to use comments systems are good for helping them participate.

2. Ask Questions - Including specific questions in posts definitely helps get higher numbers of comments. I find that when I include questions in my headings that it is a particularly effective way of getting a response from readers as you set a question in their mind from the first moments of your post.

3. Be Open Ended - If you say everything there is to say on a topic you’re less likely to get others adding their opinions because you’ll have covered what they might have added. While you don’t want to purposely leave too many things unsaid there is an art to writing open ended posts that leaves room for your readers to be experts also.

4. Interact with comments left - If you’re not willing to use your own comments section why would your readers? If someone leaves a comment interact with them. This gets harder as your blog grows but it’s particularly important in the early days of your blog as it shows your readers that their comments are valued, it creates a culture of interactivity and gives the impression to other readers that your comments section is an active place that you as the blogger value. As the activity in your comments section grows you may find you need to be slightly less active in it as readers will start to take over on answering questions and creating community - however don’t completely ignore your comment threads.

5. Set Boundaries - I noticed that shortly after I set the rules for my comments section (with a comments policy) that my comment numbers jumped up a little. I’m not sure if it was just a coincidence or whether readers responded to knowing what was and wasn’t acceptable. It’s just a theory but I think a well managed and moderated comments section that is free of spam and that deals with well with people stepping out of line is an attractive thing to readers. I personally don’t mind people expressing different opinions to one another in comments but when I sense things are getting a little out of hand and too personal I often step in to attempt to bring some order to the situation (I rarely delete non spam comments). I find that people have responded to this and that comment threads generally stay constructive as a result.

6. Be humble - I find that readers respond very well to posts that show your own weaknesses, failings and the gaps in your own knowledge rather than those posts where you come across as knowing everything there is to know on a topic. People are attracted to humility and are more likely to respond to it than a post written in a tone of someone who might harshly respond to their comments.

7. Be gracious - Related to humility is grace. There are times where you as the blogger will get something wrong in your posts. It might be spelling or grammar, it could be the crux of your argument or some other aspect of your blogging. When a someone leaves a comment that shows your failing it’s very easy to respond harshly in a defensive manner. We’ve all seen the flaming that can ensue. While it’s not easy - a graceful approach to comments where you admit where you are wrong and others is right can bring out the lurkers and make them feel a little safer in leaving comments.

8. Be controversial? - I put a question mark after this one because it doesn’t always work (and I personally avoid it as much as I can these days) - but there’s nothing like controversy to get people commenting on your blog. Of course with controversy comes other consequences - one of which is the risk of putting off less vocal members of your readership.

9. ‘Reward’ Comments - There are many ways of acknowledging and ‘rewarding’ good comments that range from simply including a ‘good comment’ remark through to highlighting them in other posts that you write. Drawing attention to your readers who use comments well affirms them but also draws attention of other readers to good use of your comments section.

10. Make it Easy to Comment - I leave a lot of comments on a lot of blogs each week - but there is one situation where I rarely leave a comment - even if the post deserves it - blogs that require me to login before making a comment. Maybe I’m lazy (actually there’s no maybe about it) or maybe there’s something inside me that worries about giving out my personal details - but when I see a comments section that requires registration I almost always (95% or more of the time) leave the blog without leaving the comment that I want to make. While I totally understand the temptation to require registration for comments (combatting spam in most cases) something inside me resists participating in such comments sections. Registration is a hurdle you put in front of your readers that some will be willing to leap but that others will balk at (the same is often said about other comments section requirements that go beyond the basics). Keep your comments section as simple and as easy to use as possible.

How to Beat the Recession? Seven Golden Tips for a Successful Career

There is no one who does not aspire to excel in his/her career & reach the star. In today’s era of dynamism & great competition, I don’t think that heavy university degrees can contribute too much in your success. Impressive degrees undoubtedly act as a rock in the soil, but apart from that we need to understand the superiority of smart working over hard working in this environment of fast change.

What we need is a Tip-Top & pleasing personality. Even if you happen to be highly qualified & intelligent, but haven’t cared to improve your personality; you are liable to be branded as an old fashioned owl & you may not achieve the level of success, you think you deserve. Having realized the underlying fact, this is the high time for you to change yourself. I am giving below 7-Golden Tips to transform your personality by virtue of which you can beat any type of recession & march on a highway to success in your professional career.

Tip No. – 1: Demonstrate your Importance: Keep yourself engrossed in worthwhile / value added activities that could help you develop your importance among your circle. You must be always conscious of your ultimate career goals & most important issue is that you must have chalked out some realistic / may be a bit difficult plan to achieve your career objectives. It is essential that you make your presence felt effectively. For that you must develop patience & remain ever aware of your real talent, that ought to be capitalized effectively & that too at the most appropriate time. Remember that if you fail to hit the nail right on its head at the proper time, you may miss an opportunity of impressing others about your talent & importance.

Tip No. – 2: Cultivate Positive Attitude: Be positive & optimistic in your approach. You must deploy your best potential to achieve your short-term & long-term goals with positive attitude. Always keep yourself motivated, which will help you in keeping your professional confidence alive. Try to identify & drop your negative traits & try to develop the opposite – positive habits. Being kind hearted & ever eager to help others at an hour of need, is a very good attribute that improves the personality. However you need to be conscious that no one should take you for a ride out of your kind-heartedness. Tip No. – 3: Develop Right behavior: Your behavior with others is of prime importance in shaping your personality. Try to find out that you are not like many people who are habitual of indulging in unwanted arguments with anyone over trivial issues & who occasionally fail to pay due respect to others. This type of behavior casts a negative impact on one’s personality. Try to be true to your words & must never break a promise, once made; else your sincerity will come under shadow, which is going to be a strong impediment in your success. Tip No. – 4: Introspect periodically: It is ideal to have a check-list of do’s & don’ts or a diary where you can record your activities of the day, especially the ones where you happen to slip out of the planned do’s. Try to fix some sort of small self-punishment for every deviation from the defined do’s. For instance you may decide to donate say 10 cents for every lie from you. In case of a time constraint, introspection at least once a week needs to be done. Be true to yourself while introspecting; remember that you are not going to impress anyone by hiding the facts. You should not tell a lie to yourself. Such introspection will be a great eye opener for you, which will improve your personality gradually. Tip No. – 5: Care for your Dress: Be cautious of your body language & your dress. Your body language & your dressing sense are true reflections of your personality. Proper dress plays a vital role in developing a dynamic personality. Be careful of your dress that needs to be neat & clean always. Too tight or too lose dress is a sign of negative personality. Excessive repetition of dresses also sends negative signal among people whom you meet frequently. We need to avoid transparent apparels in office.

Tip No. – 6: Develop Creativity: You don’t have to repent if you are not a born leader. Creativity is the biggest factor due to which you act with added strength & vigor. It is proven that by lack of creativity you & your company can lag behind your competition to a great extent. Appropriate environment contributes a lot to your creativity. Check if your environment is obstructive or supportive to your creativity. Remember that neat & clean surroundings to your work place are highly conducive to your creativity, while a disorganized one is bound to have adverse effect on your creativity. The gist of creativity lies in your being an out-of-the-box thinker & a positively dissatisfied person. Tip No. – 7: Be a Problem Solver: Try to be the first to suggest remedies to come out of any type of crisis in your office. Never try to fuel the crisis & complicate the situation, rather try to contribute in a way helping in controlling the situation

Tips and Tricks to Master the Web

1. Receipt notification If you have a really important message and need to know if it’s been received, use a feature called Read Receipt in Outlook Express. This feature is available on most e-mail clients and requests the recipient to confirm that he has received the message by a return e-mail. To do this while composing a mail in Outlook Express, click on Tools > Request Read Receipt in your message window. If you desire, you can have all your outgoing messages sent with the Read Receipt notification. For this, go to Tools > Options, click on the Receipts tab and tick ‘Request a read receipt for all sent messages’. Remember, the read receipt confirmation is dependent on the e-mail client the recipient is using and also whether he wants to send the confirmation. 2. Adding signatures to your e-mail If you send a lot of mail each day, then a repetitive task like signing your name at the end of each mail can be quite tedious. It’s easier to create a signature and attach it automatically to every mail that’s sent. To do this in Outlook Express, go to Tools > Options > Signatures. Then go to New and add the contents of the signature in the Edit Text field. Also select the option of sending the signature automatically with all outgoing messages. In case you don’t want to send this with replies or forwards, enable the option, ‘Don’t add signatures to Replies and Forward’. For creative signatures, use the option to append a file that contains the signature you have created. If you happen to have multiple e-mail accounts, select the account with which you want to send the signature. To do this, go to Tools > Options > Signatures and click on the Advanced button near the Edit Signature tab. A new box will appear saying ‘Advanced Signature Settings’ where you can select the account with which the signature should be automatically added.

3. Auto-respond facility Won’t be checking mail for some time? Activate a feature called ‘vacation reply’ (if you are using a Web-based service). Most e-mail services such as Indiatimes provide this feature which can be activated through the options menu. You can type a short message which will be sent to all who e-mail you while you are away. In Outlook Express, you can do this from Tools > Message Rules > Mail and clicking on the New Rule option. Select the ‘For all Messages’ options from the condition for your rule field and in the Action select Reply with a message. You will have to select a message that you have already created and saved.

4. Keep a copy of the message If you are on a trip and want to access your e-mail from another machine, keep a copy of your messages on the server of your e-mail service provider. Go to Tools > Accounts and select the account (if you have multiple accounts), then go to Properties > Advanced. Check ‘Leave a copy on server’. This has one more advantage: if you’ve formatted your machine without taking a backup of your mail, you can retrieve the mail as a stored copy.

5. Disable MSN Messenger from auto-starting Whenever one opens Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook XP, MSN Messenger loads automatically. To disable it, go to Tools > Options in Outlook Express and uncheck ‘Automatically log on to MSN Messenger Service’. Then go to View > Layout and uncheck the option of Contacts. In Microsoft Outlook XP, go to Tools > Options > Other and uncheck ‘Enable MSN Messenger’. The over-eager Messenger won’t be so eager now!

6. Optimising your Inbox A three-step process to ensure that your Inbox never looks cluttered. 1. Organising: Outlook Express allows you to create folders within which mail can be organised. To create a new folder in Outlook Express, go to File > Folder > New. This will display the directory tree of your Inbox. Just select the location (say Inbox) where you want to create a folder and enter the Folder Name. Or, you could use the shortcut [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [E] and enter the Folder Name. You can also drag and drop folders to change their location. Folders can be quite useful, especially if you have multiple accounts configured on the same identity or to sort out e-mail messages on the basis of sender, subject, etc. 2. Filtering: Message Rules can automatically sort your mail into the appropriate folder as soon as it is downloaded. Specify the folders where you want the messages to be downloaded based on names in the From address, names in the To address, certain words in the Subject line or in the message body. Go to Message > Create Rule From Message. Create a rule selecting the appropriate options offered, and the next time you download your mail, it will be sorted according to the rules created. You can also sort your existing messages based on the message rules created. In Outlook Express, go to Tools > Message Rules and click on Mail. You will get a list of the message rules you have created. Click on ‘Apply Now...’, select the rules to apply, and click on Apply to filter your existing folder. 3. Grouping: Outlook Express allows you to group e-mail messages on the basis of the conversation carried. To enable this, go to View > Current View and click ‘Group Messages by Conversation’ (In Outlook, this option is available from View > Current View > Conversation Topic). With this feature, all e-mail messages are sorted on the basis of the subject line and the messages that are a reply to that particular subject are grouped together. A ‘+’ sign next to a message indicates responses based on that subject. 7. Download Mail to your PC If you use a Web-based e-mail service, such as those run by Yahoo! and MSN, download a copy of your mail directly to your browser. This is much quicker than using the bandwidth-hungry Web interface and also allows you to access your mail without having to be connected to the Internet. To do this first add a new account by going to Tools > Accounts > Add and select the Mail option. You will be prompted for personal details and account information. Select the POP3 server option in the screen that asks you for your e-mail server information and enter the appropriate POP3 server address for incoming mail. 8. Browsing offline Quite often you may want to refer to a page that you have visited at some point in time. While finding the link in your browser’s History is not too difficult, you can view the site without actually logging on to the Internet by going to File > Work Offline. Then just click on a link in your History folder to view the complete page from your hard disk.

9. PC-to-PC calls Buddy Phone, Yahoo! and MSN Messenger allow users to make phone calls from one computer to another, provided both computers are online. If you would like to use this facility in MSN Messenger, select your friend’s name from the list and go to Actions > Start a voice conversation. This can also be done by right-clicking on the person’s name and selecting the option of ‘Start a Voice Conversation’. After the opposite person has accepted your request, you can start talking into the microphone.

10. Split files Splitting files can increase download speeds tremendously in FlashGet. Usually, splitting the file in three or five segments is sufficient. However, if you are downloading a particularly large file which is available from several servers, you could get better speeds by increasing the number of segments being downloaded simultaneously. The number of segments that you want the file in can be set in the option box that pops up when a download begins. Just set the option for the number of segments that you want the file to be split into.

File extension and software name

A

.a - library (unix)

.ad - screen saver data (AfterDark)

.adi - graphics (AutoCAD)

.adl - MCA adapter description library (QEMM)

.afi - Truevision bitmap graphics

.afm - Type 1 font metric ASCII data for font installer (ATM - many)

.all - format file for working pages (Always)

.all - general printer information (WordPerfect for Win)

.ani - animation (Presidio - many)

.anm - animation (Deluxe Paint Animator)

.ans - ANSI graphics (character animation)

.ans - ASCII text ANSI character set (NewWave Write)

.asc - ASCII text file

.avi - Audio Video Interleaved animation file (Video for Windows)

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B

.bak - backup file

.bas - BASIC source code file

.bat - batch file (DOS)

.bbm - brush (Deluxe Paint)

.bbs - Bulletin Board System announce or text info file

.bch - batch process object file (dBASE Application Generator)

.bcp - Borland C++ makefile

.bdf - Bitmap Distribution Format font file (X11)

.bga - bitmap graphics

.bib - bibliography (ASCII)

.bib - database - not compatible with TeX format (Papyrus)

.bib - literature database (TeX/BibTeX)

.bif - Binary Image Format b&w graphics (Image Capture board)

.bin - binary file

.bio - OS2 BIOS

.bit - bitmap X11

.bm - BitMap graphics

.bmk - Help Bookmarks (Windows 3.x)

.bmp - BitMaP graphics (PC Paintbrush - many)

.bpt - bitmap fills file (CorelDRAW)

.btm - Batch To Memory batch file (4DOS)

.bup - backup file

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C

.c - C source code file

.c - compressed unix file archive created by COMPACT

.c++ - C++ source code file

.cal - calendar file (Windows 3.x)

.cal - spreatsheet (SuperCalc)

.cbl - COBOL source code file

.cbm - compiled bitmap graphics (XLib)

.cbt - Computer Based Training (many)

.cc - C++ source code file

.ceg - bitmap graphics (Tempra Show - Edsun Continuous Edge Graphics)

.cga - CGA display font (Ventura Publisher)

.chk - recovered data (DOS CHKDSK)

.chk - temporary file (WordPerfect for Win)

.clp - clip art graphics (Quattro Pro)

.clp - clipboard file (Windows 3.x)

.cls - C++ class definition file

.cmd - batch file (OS/2)

.cmd - command (dBASE - Waffle)

.cmd - external command menu (1st Reader)

.cpp - C++ source code file

.cpp - presentation (CA-Cricket Presents)

.cpt - compressed Mac file archive created by COMPACT PRO (ext-pc.zip)

.cur - cursor image file (Windows 3.x)

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D

.dat - data file in special format or ASCII

.dbd - debug info (Clarion Modula-2)

.dbg - symbolic debugging information (MS C/C++)

.dcf - disk image file

.dd - compressed Macintosh file archive created by DISKDOUBLER

.deb - DEBUG script (DOS Debug)

.def - defaults - definitions

.dem - demonstration

.dem - graphics (VistaPro)

.dgs - diagnostics

.dic - dictionary

.dir - directory file (VAX)

.diz - description file (Description In Zip)

.dlg - dialog resource script file (MS Windows SDK)

.dll - Dynamic Link Library (Windows 3.x - OS/2)

.dll - export/import filter (CorelDRAW)

.dmp - dump file (eg. screen or memory)

.doc - document text file

.dos - network driver (eg. pkt_dis.dos)

.dos - text file containing DOS specific info

.drv - device driver eg. for printer

.dsk - project desktop file (Borland C++ - Turbo Pascal)

.dss - screensaver file (DCC)

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E

.ega - EGA display font (Ventura Publisher)

.emu - terminal emulation data (BITCOM)

.env - Enveloper macro (WOPR)

.env - environment file (WordPerfect for Win)

.err - error log

.err - error messages for command line compilers

.esh - Extended Shell batch file

.exc - REXX source code file (VM/CMS)

.exc - exclude file for Optimize (do not process) (QEMM)

.exe - directly executable program (DOS)

.exm - MSDOS executable, system-manager compliant (HP calculator)

.ext - extension file (Norton Commander)

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F

.fac - FACE graphics

.faq - Frequently Asked Questions text file

.fax - fax (raster graphics) (most Fax programs)

.fdw - form (F3 Design and Mapping)

.fix - patch file

.frm - form (Visual Basic)

.ftp - configuration (FTP Software PC/TCP)

.fx - on-line guide (FastLynx)

.fxd - phonebook (FAXit)

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G

.gbl - global definitions (VAXTPU editor)

.gfb - compressed GIF image created by GIFBLAST (gifblast.exe)

.gft - font (NeoPaint)

.gif - Graphics Interchange Format bitmap graphics (CompuShow)

.gly - glossary (MS Word)

.gph - graph (Lotus 1-2-3/G)

.gr2 - screen driver (Windows 3.x)

.grb - MS-DOS Shell Monitor file (MS-DOS 5)

.grp - group file (Windows 3.x - Papyrus)

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H

.hlp - help information

.hof - Hall Of Fame (game scores)

.hp8 - ASCII text HP Roman8 character set (NewWave Write)

.htm - HTML document (Mosaic)

.htx - Hypertext file

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I

.iax - bitmap graphics (IBM Image Access eXecutive)

.ibm - compressed file archive created by ARCHDOS (Internal IBM only)

.icn - ICON source code file

.ico - icon (Windows 3.x)

.id - disk identification file

.ifs - system file (OS/2) hpfs.ifs

.img - bitmap graphics (Ventura Publisher - GEM Paint)

.inc - include file (several programming languages)

.inf - information text file (ASCII)

.inf - install script

.ini - initialization file

.ins - (WordPerfect) wp51.ins

.ins - installation script (1st Reader)

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J

.jas - graphics

.jbd - datafile (SigmaScan)

.jpc - graphics (Japan PIC)

.jpg - JPEG Joint Photography Experts Group format bitmap graphics

.jtf - graphics (TIFF file with JPEG compression)

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K

.key - security file eg. Shareware Registration info

.kps - IBM KIPS bitmap graphics

.kyb - keyboard mapping (FTP Software PC/TCP)

---

L

.lbm - bitmap graphics (DeluxePaint)

.lbm - linear bitmap graphics (XLib)

.lcl - (FTP Software PC/TCP)

.ldb - (MS Access)

.lgo - startup logo code (Windows 3.x)

.lib - library file (several programming languages)

.lis - listing (VAX)

.log - log file

.lpc - printer driver (TEKO)

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M

.m3d - 3D animation macro

.mac - bitmap graphics (Macintosh MacPaint)

.mac - macro

.mai - mail (VAX)

.mak - makefile

.mak - project file (Visual Basic)

.man - command manual

.map - color palette

.map - format data (Micrografx Picture Publisher)

.map - linker map file

.map - map (Atlas MapMaker)

.map - network map (AccView)

.mbx - mailbox data (ZERBERUS)

.mci - MCI command script (Media Control Interface)

.mcp - printer driver (Mathcad)

.mcw - text file (MacWrite II)

.mdm - modem definition (TELIX)

.meu - menu group (DOS Shell)

.mid - standard MIDI file (music synthetizers)

.mke - makefile (MS Windows SDK)

.mod - MODULA-2 source code file (Clarion Modula-2)

.mod - Windows kernel module

.mon - monitor description (ReadMail)

.mov - movie (AutoCAD AutoFlix)

.mp2 - MPEG audio file (xing)

.mpc - calender file (MS Project)

.mpg - MPEG animation

.msg - message

.msp - bitmap graphics (Microsoft Paint)

.mst - setup script (MS Windows SDK)

.mth - math file (Derive)

.mtm - MultiTracker Module music

.mtw - datafile (Minitab)

.mu - menu (Quattro Pro)

.mus - sound file (MusicTime)

.mvf - stop frame file (AutoCAD AutoFlix)

.mvi - movie command file (AutoCAD AutoFlix)

.mvw - log file (Saber LAN)

.mxt - (MS C)

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N

.nws - info text file (latest news) (ASCII)

.nxt - sound (NeXT format)

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O

.obj - object code (Intel Recolatable Object Module)

.ocx - OLE custom control

.off - Object File Format vector graphics

.old - backup file

.ovl - overlay file (part of program to be loaded when needed)

.ovr - overlay file (part of program to be loaded when needed)

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P

.pac - STAD Image (graphics ?)

.pac - package (SBStudio II)

.pal - color palette

.par - permanent output file (Windows 3.x)

.pcc - cutout picture vector graphics (PC Paintbrush)

.pch - patch file

.pct - bitmap graphics (Macintosh b&w PICT1 - color PICT2)

.pcw - text file (PC Write)

.pcx - bitmap graphics (PC Paintbrush)

.pda - bitmap graphics

.pdv - printer driver (Paintbrush)

.pgm - Portable Grayscale bitMap graphics

.pgm - program (Signature)

.pgp - support file (Pretty Good Privacy RSA System)

.pgs - manual page (man4dos)

.pic - PIXAR picture file (SDSC Image Tool)

.pic - bitmap graphics (Macintosh b&w PICT1 - color PICT2)

.pic - bitmap graphics (many eg. Lotus 1-2-3 - PC Paint)

.pif - Program Information File (Windows 3.x)

.pif - vector graphics GDF format (IBM mainframe computers)

.pit - compressed Mac file archive created by PACKIT (unpackit.zoo)

.pll - pre-linked library (Clipper 5)

.pnt - Macintosh painting

.pop - messages index (PopMail)

.pop - pop-up menu object (dBASE Application Generator)

.prd - printer driver (many)

.pub - public key ring file (Pretty Good Privacy RSA System)

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Q

.qpr - print queue device driver (OS/2)

.qpx - compiled query program (FoxPro)

.qrt - QRT ray tracing graphics

.qry - query (dBASE IV)

.qt - QuickTime movie (animation)

.qwk - QWK reader message file

.qxd - document (QuarkXPress)

.qxl - element library (QuarkXPress)

---

R

.rdi - device-independent bitmap file (RIFF RDIB format)

.rdx - datafile (Reflex)

.rec - datafile (EpiInfo)

.rec - record file (Sprint)

.rec - recorded macro file (Windows 3.x)

.red - path info (Clarion Modula-2)

.ref - cross-reference

.reg - OLE Registration (Windows 3.x)

.reg - registration (Corel programs)

.rem - remarks

.rgb - SGI RGB image file (SDSC Image Tool)

.rif - RIFF bitmap graphics (Fractal Design Painter)

.rip - graphics (Remote Access)

.rix - bitmap graphics (ColorRIX VGA Paint)

.rmk - makefile (RMAKE)

.rpt - report

.rtf - Windows Help file script

.rtl - text file

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S

.sav - backup file (saved file)

.sav - configuration

.sav - saved game situation (eg. NetHack)

.sbd - storyboard (Storyboard Editor)

.sbi - Sound Blaster Instrument file (Creative Labs)

.sbr - support file (Source Browser)

.scc - text file

.scr - DEBUG source code file (DOS Debug)

.scr - screen saver (Windows 3.x)

.scx - bitmap graphics (ColorRIX)

.sea - Self-Extracting compressed Macintosh file Archive

.sec - secret key ring file (Pretty Good Privacy RSA System)

.sec - secured animation file (Disney Animation Studio)

.set - setup options file

.sgi - graphics (IRIS - Silicon Graphics)

.sig - current program settings (Signature)

.sig - signature file (PopMail)

.sit - compressed Macintosh archive created by STUFFIT (unsit30.zip)

.smp - sample (sound file)

.smt - text file (Smart Ware II)

.snd - digitized sound file (Macintosh/ATARI/PC)

.spl - sample

.sum - Summary

.swp - swap file (DOS)

.sys - datafile (SYGRAPH - SYSTAT - SPSS/PC)

.sys - system file - device driver or hardware configuration info (DOS)

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T

.tbl - graphics (native format) (PageMaker TableEditor)

.tbl - table of values (OS/2)

.tel - host file (Telnet)

.tga - TrueVision Targa bitmap graphics

.tmp - temporary file

.toc - Table Of Contents

.tre - directory tree file (PC-Tools)

.trm - terminal settings (Windows 3.x)

.tut - tutorial

---

U

.ub - audio file (unsigned byte)

.uhs - Universal Hint System (binary file)

.uif - long prompts for windows (WordPerfect for Win)

.unx - text file containing UNIX specific info

.upd - program update info

.usr - user database file (Procomm Plus - Turbo C++ tour)

---

V

.vbx - Visual Basic eXtension (Visual Basic)

.vga - VGA display driver

.vga - VGA display font

.vgd - VGA display driver (Generic CADD)

.vid - MS-DOS Shell Monitor file (MS-DOS 5)

.vid - bitmap graphics (YUV12C M-Motion Frame Buffer)

.vid - screen device driver (Word)

.voc - digitized samples (Creative Voice file)

.vst - Truevision Vista bitmap graphics

.vue - animation (3D Studio)

.vxd - Windows 3.x virtual device driver (QEMM)

---

W

.w31 - startup file (Windows 3.1)

.wav - Waveform audio file (RIFF WAVE format)

.wbf - MS Windows Batch File (Catch)

.wbt - batch file (WinBatch)

.web - WEB source code file

.woa - swap file (Windows 3.x)

.wrs - Windows Resource eg. printer driver (WordPerfect for Win)

---

X

.xbm - X11 Bitmap graphics

.xll - Excel Dynamic Link Library (MS Excel)

.xmi - compressed eXtended MIdi music

.xwd - X Window System window dump image graphics (SDSC Image Tool)

.xx - compressed file ASCII archive created by XXENCODE (uuexe515.exe)

.xxe - compressed file ASCII archive created by XXENCODE (uuexe515.exe)

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Z

.zip - compressed file archive created by PKZIP (pkz204g.exe)

.zoo - compressed file archive created by ZOO (zoo210.exe)

Using Different Products from Different Lines

Problem: I've been following your advice and am using products from several different lines. My skin is doing well, but all the cosmetics salespeople say it is a mistake to mix and match. They say products are designed to work together, and that is what helps the skin best.

Solution: Stop listening to those cosmetics salespeople; they are wrong. If every line had SPF 15 sunscreens with the requisite UVA protection, gentle cleansers with nonirritating ingredients, foundations that aren't peach-colored, and on and on, I would agree that you don't need to mix and match. But I have found good and bad products in every line. Many lines don't have adequate sunscreens, while they do have products that contain irritating ingredients, or offer rose, peach, and ashen foundation colors, or make mascaras that flake and smear. If you only buy products from one line, chances are that you will end up with some bad products! Mixing and matching is the only way to go. You don't wear clothes from one designer, buy furniture from one manufacturer, take medicine from one pharmaceutical company, or eat food from just one company. The only way to develop a successful skin-care or makeup routine is to select what works best for your skin type and needs, not because it's from a particular line.

Small Lips

Problem: I have small lips. Any lipstick color I put on seems to make this more noticeable. What should I do?

Solution: To deal with small lips, do not over-line them to make them look larger. The technique of creating a new lip line works great in photographs, but in real life it looks like you missed your mouth. And, to keep up the look you have to touch up your lipstick and pencil the second any wears off. What works best is lining just to the outside or edge of your true lip line with a natural-colored lip liner. Do not wear dark lipstick because it will make your lips look smaller. A true red or any vivid color will make your lips look bigger. You can always consider cosmetic surgery procedures that enlarge lips, but that would be a last resort after experimenting with lipstick options.

Seasonal Changes

Problem: During the winter I use an emollient moisturizer you recommend and it works great, but during the summer it seems a bit much. Should I change what I do with the seasons?

Solution: Summer can require a change in skin-care products, particularly moisturizers. Instead of the richer or more emollient moisturizers you were wearing to combat the dry heat indoors and the dry cold outdoors, consider lighter moisturizers that come in gel or gel/lotion consistencies. Keep in mind that the concept here is to cut back on the amount of moisturizer you use. Moisturizer is for dry skin, so if you don't have dry skin, you don't need moisturizer. Also, remember that no matter how much moisturizer you wear, and no matter how many antioxidants it contains, it won't change or prevent one wrinkle on your face. What a lightweight moisturizer can do is soothe dryness and make fine lines less noticeable. Nothing is erased or changed, but things your skin does appear smoother. And this is at night, right? During the day you should be using a sunscreen with UVA-protecting ingredients for your face and exposed parts or your body.

Makeup Color Selections for Redheads

Problem: I am a natural redhead and have problems finding makeup professionals who are trained to advise someone with my coloring (I have bright red hair, pale skin, and freckles). I've had lots of makeovers at department store makeup counters and always walk out looking either overly made up or wearing colors that clash with my hair! What colors do you suggest?

Solution: The answer to your question seems rather simple to me, so I'm not sure what's going wrong when you get your makeup done professionally. For you, the sheerest foundation is best. If a makeup artist is trying to cover up your freckles, he or she should be reprimanded. Neutral golden tan as well as camel and chestnut brown colors for eyeshadows, blush, and lipsticks are made for your coloring. You can try a golden coral-brown for lipstick or blush if you want a dash more color. Although those colors are considered tried and true for redheads, there really is no color barrier these days when choosing colors. A vibrant red with a soft reddish-brown blush can look wonderful and quite dramatic on someone with your coloring. In the long run, keep experimenting until you find colors you're comfortable with.

When it comes to mascara, stay with brown and avoid black, which can be too hard a look on fair, freckled skin. Also keep in mind that makeup is not supposed to match hair color. A woman with gray hair doesn't need to wear gray colors, and you have alternatives too.

Lashes Falling Out

Problem: My lashes are falling out! Is there anything I can do to stop this from happening?

Solution: It is natural for lashes to shed and re-grow, but if you are noticing bald spots along your lash line, you may need to change some of your cleansing habits. Do not wipe off eye makeup. Wiping and pulling at the eyes can pull out lashes. Do not rub your eyes, especially when you are wearing mascara. Also, do not overuse mascara. I know it is tempting to have long, dramatically thick lashes, but the weight of the mascara can be too much for delicate lashes. Waterproof mascaras are the most difficult to remove and can take too many lashes with them. You might also want to change mascaras. It is unlikely that you are allergic to the mascara you are using, but try switching brands and see what happens.

By the way, you aren't using an eyelash curler, are you? Over time, the consistent tugging can pull out lashes. Another possibility: Noncosmetic allergies could be playing a part in your eyelash dilemma. The only solution is antihistamines or eliminating the allergens causing the problem. For example, if you are allergic to the down in your pillows, change to a synthetic fill. Hay fever can also cause the eye area to swell, damaging eyelashes.

Medically speaking, doctors refer to the loss of eyelashes as madarosis. According to ophthalmologist Dr. William Trattler, "While it may seem like mainly a cosmetic problem, the condition can be an indicator of something more serious, such as eye trauma, eyelid infections and even cancer of the eyelid. In addition, metabolic conditions such as hypothyroidism and pituitary insufficiency can cause madarosis" (Source: http://www.ivillagehealth.com).

It is also possible that the eyelash loss could be attributed to the presence of a mite called D. folliculorum. When it is active in small hair and eyelash follicles it can consume epithelial cells, causing the follicle to become swollen, inflamed, and plugged. All of this can lead to the eyelashes falling out. Fortunately, this problem is easily treated once correctly diagnosed. (Source: eMedicine Journal, May 11, 2001, volume 2, number 5.)

If you feel that your loss of eyelash hair is chronic, it is necessary to see an eyelid specialist (called an oculoplastic surgeon) and have him carefully examine your eyelid to determine the cause of the madarosis.

Lack of Eyebrows

Problem: My eyebrows are very thin and go from the inner corner of my eye to maybe ¾ the length of my eye (right where they should be arching). I draw in the rest with a brow powder, but if I sweat or sleep, the half of the eyebrow that I've drawn in disappears. I've thought about tattooing them. Do you have any other suggestions for me?

Solution: There are two potential solutions to your dilemma, and thankfully neither involves committing to a tattoo! The first option would be to continue to use the brow powder you like, but setting it with a brow sealant after the product has dried. These sealants are primarily alcohol with some potent film-forming agents, and they tend to be water- and smudge-resistant. Try BeneFit's She-Laq ($24) or, better yet, a clear brow gel such as those from Cover Girl or Max Factor.

Another option is to use a matte finish, waterproof brow or eye pencil to draw on the sparse portion of your natural brow. Although I am not a fan of brow pencils, there are some great ones out there that show a marked improvement over traditional hard or greasy brow pencils, though the best of these are rather expensive. Try M.A.C.'s Eye Brow Pencil ($12.50), Christian Dior's Powder Eyebrow Pencil ($21), or Lancome's Le Crayon Poudre for the Brows ($19.50). You may find that using the pencil and painting over the line with a dab of brow sealant is your best bet for worry-free wear. Nevertheless, do keep in mind that it's unrealistic to expect makeup to stay perfect if you happen to fall asleep!

I am leery of makeup tattooing, but when you have no eyebrows hair at all, it is not an option to dismiss outright. Though I have seen some really bad makeup tattooing (cosmetic surgeons make a lot of money removing those mistakes), I have also seen some great successes. With some careful shopping and interviewing you may find a talented technician who could work slowly and artistically and give you the results you are hoping to see every morning when you wake up and look in the mirror.

Foundation Settling into Pores and Lines

Problem: What causes foundation to settle into the pores and leave tiny little spots, or settle into laugh lines? I do not know whether my moisturizer is too heavy or not heavy enough, whether the foundation is too heavy or too light, or whether I have not waited long enough for the moisturizer to be absorbed.

Solution: Most foundations contain ingredients that provide some amount of movement. If they didn't, they wouldn't blend easily and would feel dry and matte on the skin, making wrinkles look worse. But that also means these foundations can easily slip into pores, making the skin look mottled. Moisturizing when you don't need to would create even more slippage. Unless you have dry skin, there is no reason to wear a moisturizer under foundation. Too much moisturizer (not too little) or too much foundation can absolutely cause slippage into lines and pores. Once you've blended on a foundation, apply a light dusting of powder to set your makeup. Also, try blending on your foundation with a sponge and not your fingers. A flat sponge can pick up excess foundation from the skin and blend it on in an even layer. Most importantly, if you have normal to dry skin, you may want to consider changing to a more matte foundation to avoid slippage. If you have oily skin then you will want to consider an ultra-matte foundation, which won't move throughout the day.

Flaking Eyeshadow

Problem: Whenever I apply eyeshadow, I find eyeshadow sprinkles on my cheeks and under-eye area. What am I doing wrong?

Solution: Make sure you are knocking the excess powder off the brush before you apply your eye makeup. Some eyeshadows are more powdery than others and cause more sprinkles. Eyeshadows from M.A.C., Physicians Formula, Shu Uemura, Bobbi Brown, Jane (at the drugstore), Iman, and Paula's Choice are more reliable in this respect. Another option that some makeup artists use is to apply foundation and concealer to the eye area first; then the eye shadow, liner, and mascara; after that, apply foundation to the rest of the face, touching up the concealer if "drippies" have made a mess of things. Although I find that approach time-consuming, it does help eliminate any trace of stray eyeshadow.

Eyelash Dyes

Problem: A friend of mine gets her eyelashes and eyebrows dyed at the hair salon she goes to. The effect is really rather impressive and I'm tempted to try this myself. Her blonde lashes look dark and long, even without mascara. What do you think?

Solution: Unfortunately, my solution isn't much of a solution, because all I can do is strongly say "Don't do it!" The only safe solution for making lashes and brows more visible is to use mascara on the eyelashes and shade your eyebrows, either with an eyeshadow that matches your hair color, an eyebrow pencil, or a brow mascara like Bobbi Brown's Natural Brow Shaper. But first let me give you a little history on why my answer is such an emphatic "no." Back in 1933, a congressional controversy was brewing over the need for new and stronger food, cosmetic, and drug laws. At the time, the FDA had no authority to move against a cosmetic product called Lash Lure that was causing allergic reactions in many women. Two women, in fact, suffered severe reactions to the product; one woman became blind and the second woman died. When the new Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was passed in 1938, Lash Lure was the first product seized under its authority. A lot of time has passed since then, and although hair and lash dyes have changed a great deal, they are still formulated with peroxide and ammonia or ammonia-like ingredients. If a dye doesn't contain those ingredients, it can't affect hair color.

No one should ever dye her eyelashes or eyebrows. An allergic reaction to the dye could prompt swelling, inflammation, and susceptibility to infection in the eye area. These reactions can severely harm the eye and even cause blindness. The FDA absolutely prohibits the use of hair dyes for eyebrow and eyelash tinting or dyeing, even in beauty salons and other establishments. The FDA has also continuously warned the public about the use of coal-tar dyes on the eyebrows and eyelashes, stating that using them could cause permanent injury to the eyes, including blindness.

There are no natural or synthetic color additives (or coloring agents) approved by the FDA for dyeing or tinting eyelashes and eyebrows—either in beauty salons or in the home. In fact, the law requires all hair-dye products to include instructions for performing patch tests before use, to identify possible allergic reactions, and to carry warnings about the dangers of applying these products to eyebrows and eyelashes. The health hazards of permanent eyelash and eyebrow dyes have been known for more than 60 years. These dyes have repeatedly been cited in scientific literature as capable of causing serious reactions when placed in direct contact with the eye.

Does Hair Dye Cause Cancer?

Problem: I had a nurse tell me not to use any dark brown or black hair coloring because it might cause cancer. I read your book on hair care about this particular subject explaining there is nothing to worry about, but it seems to still be an issue in the medical world. Is dark hair color safe, or isn't it?

Solution: Unfortunately, few of the 75 million women who color their hair on a regular basis even know that an issue about hair dye and its association with certain types of cancers exists. However, although the issue is real, what it means isn't settled or conclusive in any regard. The best I can do is to provide the information and research that is available so that you can make a final decision for yourself.

Much of this controversy began when a study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that women who used black hair dye for more than 20 years had a slightly increased risk of dying from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma (a bone-marrow tumor that is usually malignant). Researchers surveyed 573,369 women who completed questionnaires about their use of permanent hair dye. However, this same study concluded that women who dyed their hair showed a slightly reduced risk overall of dying of cancer than women who never used dyes. (Sources: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, February 2, 1994, pages 210–215; Environmental Health Perspectives, June-July 1994, volume 102, number 6–7.)

Subsequent studies found no correlation and did not support risk of any kind. An article in FDA Consumer magazine, January-February 2001, explained that in a "...study, published in the October 5, 1994, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston followed 99,000 women and found no greater risk of cancers of the blood or lymph systems among women who had ever used permanent hair dyes. Then in 1998, scientists at the University of California at San Francisco questioned 2,544 people about their use of hair-color products. After integrating the results of this study with those of animal and other epidemiological studies, they concluded that there was little convincing evidence linking non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with normal use of hair-color products in humans. The study was published in the December 1998 issue of the American Journal of Public Health."

There have also been other subsequent studies showing hair dye to have no association with cancer or other diseases. One noted that: "The lack of an association between exclusive use of a single type of hair coloring application and breast cancer risk argues that hair coloring application does not influence breast cancer risk among reproductive-age women. Thus, the results of the present study, as well as negative ones from most (but not all) prior studies, are most consistent with the conclusion that neither hair coloring application nor hair spray application influences breast cancer risk" (Source: Cancer Causes and Control, December 1999, pages 551–559). Another stated: "We found no evidence that permanent hair dye use, age at first use, frequency of use, or duration of use is associated with the development of systemic lupus" (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism, April 1996, pages 657-662).

Then in February 2001 this issue was given new life when researchers from the University of Southern California reported a link between the use of permanent hair coloring and bladder cancer. "They analyzed questionnaires from 897 patients with bladder cancer and compared them to questionnaires from 897 similar individuals without bladder cancer. They found that individuals with bladder cancer were three times as likely to have used permanent hair dyes at least once a month for 15 years or more. In addition, subjects who worked for 10 or more years as hairdressers or barbers were five times more likely to have bladder cancer than people who were not exposed to permanent hair dye" (Source: www.sciencedaily.com).

It is important to point out that this study was an epidemiological investigation looking at behavior and the possible relationships between products and their effect on health. Epidemiological studies are not definitive in any way. For example, it isn't clear from this study what percentage of this group smoked, what kind of diet they had, or whether or not they had other mitigating illnesses. It also doesn't say that hair dye causes cancer, just that it has a casual relationship (meaning there is no definite or conclusive evidence).

As you can tell, the jury is still out on this issue. There is not enough information or research to assert that you should avoid dark-colored hair dyes.

If you want to be extra cautious you can choose to avoid dark permanent or intermediate hair dyes. In view of the University of Southern California study showing that women who dye their hair 12 times or more each year for a period of 15 years were at a higher risk, you may want to consider dying your hair less frequently, no more than say 6 or 8 times a year. It is also important to keep in mind that although hair dyes may increase the risk of getting bladder cancer, such a risk would represent a relatively small number of cases, since women account for only about 15,000 of the 40,000 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed each year. (Source: www.webmd.com.)