Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
May you be blessed with all the joy and laughter this festive season!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Christmas around the corner...
Hi everyone, Christmas is around the corner ~~ Any idea what gifts to give to all your loved ones this season? Shopping for your love ones who has pretty much everything they need can be quite a challenge, especially when trying to stay within your holiday budget. Here are some creative and interesting do-it-yourself gifts you could consider making...
Holiday Cards with Fold-In Shapes
1. To make the snowflake and snowman pop-up on your card, trace template onto folded card stock, centering the image over the fold. Cut along shape with a utility knife, leaving it attached at the tabs. For the gift card, cut two parallel horizontal lines equidistant from the center fold on card stock.
2. For all cards, push the shape forward from behind while slightly closing card to crease the shape down the middle. For gift card, attach ribbon. Glue all cards into a larger prefolded backing.
Read more at Wholeliving.com: Glittered Holiday Cards With Fold-In Shapes - Martha Stewart Crafts
Here are some other card designs which I find interesting...
Tote Bags with Iron-On Silhouettes
1. Scan copyright-free clip art from books or download it online or from a CD. Buy iron-on transfer paper for your tote; choose paper for light cotton fabrics and for dark cotton fabrics, depending on your project.
2. Print the images on transfer paper, following the manufacturer's instructions, and cut them out. Cut around the images cleanly (use a craft knife, for precision); avoid making jagged edges.
3. Arrange the images on the bag, face up, for a preview (keep in mind this is a mirror image of the final design). When you're ready to iron, place the images face down. Press on top of images, starting at the edges of each one and using even pressure so that the image doesn't slide; do not move the iron back and forth, or image will blur or pucker.
4. When iron-ons have cooled, remove the backing paper. Replace the bag's handles with equal lengths of colorful twill tape or cover them with ribbon, if desired.
Source: Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts
Holiday Cards with Fold-In Shapes
1. To make the snowflake and snowman pop-up on your card, trace template onto folded card stock, centering the image over the fold. Cut along shape with a utility knife, leaving it attached at the tabs. For the gift card, cut two parallel horizontal lines equidistant from the center fold on card stock.
2. For all cards, push the shape forward from behind while slightly closing card to crease the shape down the middle. For gift card, attach ribbon. Glue all cards into a larger prefolded backing.
Read more at Wholeliving.com: Glittered Holiday Cards With Fold-In Shapes - Martha Stewart Crafts
Here are some other card designs which I find interesting...
Tote Bags with Iron-On Silhouettes
1. Scan copyright-free clip art from books or download it online or from a CD. Buy iron-on transfer paper for your tote; choose paper for light cotton fabrics and for dark cotton fabrics, depending on your project.
2. Print the images on transfer paper, following the manufacturer's instructions, and cut them out. Cut around the images cleanly (use a craft knife, for precision); avoid making jagged edges.
3. Arrange the images on the bag, face up, for a preview (keep in mind this is a mirror image of the final design). When you're ready to iron, place the images face down. Press on top of images, starting at the edges of each one and using even pressure so that the image doesn't slide; do not move the iron back and forth, or image will blur or pucker.
4. When iron-ons have cooled, remove the backing paper. Replace the bag's handles with equal lengths of colorful twill tape or cover them with ribbon, if desired.
Source: Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Are you an iPhone owner?
I myself is an iPhone owner, so I wanted to bring to your attention to be extra careful when you are outdoors as there are cases where iPhones were being snatched away from owners in public areas.
Recently, the police have arrested a serial snatch thief after a valuable lead from an iPhone application.
The 'Find My iPhone' application, which allows the owner of the iPhone to trace its physical location, allowed police to hunt down the perpetrator.
Although the suspect was arrested on Monday evening, and is believed to be also responsible for several other snatch theft cases in the Tiong Bahru and Kim Tian estates. No one could be certain that there will be no other similar cases in the future.
Do pay extra attention when you are outdoors!
Recently, the police have arrested a serial snatch thief after a valuable lead from an iPhone application.
The 'Find My iPhone' application, which allows the owner of the iPhone to trace its physical location, allowed police to hunt down the perpetrator.
Although the suspect was arrested on Monday evening, and is believed to be also responsible for several other snatch theft cases in the Tiong Bahru and Kim Tian estates. No one could be certain that there will be no other similar cases in the future.
Do pay extra attention when you are outdoors!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Shopping vouchers up for grabs
BE A fan of the Facebook pages of Digital Life and Urban, and you could walk away with shopping vouchers.
From now until noon on Wednesday, both weekly publications will be giving out $100 shopping vouchers to lucky fans, when enough folks on Facebook follow each of the respective pages.
The way this contest works: The higher the number of followers, the more chances readers will have of winning.
For example, if the Urban (The Straits Times) (www.facebook.com/URBAN.ST) page nets 3,000 fans by Wednesday, there will be three prizes to give out.
If the number hits 5,000, there will be eight prizes.
And if it crosses the 7,000 mark, there will be a total of 21 prizes that will be given out.
For the Digital Life Singapore (www.facebook.com/DigitalLifeSG) page, three prizes will be handed out if the number of fans cross the 5,000 mark.
There will be 21 prizes awarded if the number crosses 9,000.
To stand a chance, simply log in to your Facebook account and click on the 'Like' button on the respective Facebook pages.
The full list of winners will be published in an upcoming issue of Digital Life and Urban.
Study finds businesses unready for risks from new technology
I was browsing through the internet and stumbled upon this article talking about risks from new technology, check it out!
Less than a third of global businesses have an IT risk management programme capable of dealing with the risks related to the use of new technologies, a study has revealed.
Just one in ten consider new and emerging IT trends very important for the information security function to consider, according to Ernst & Young's 13th annual Global Information Security Survey.
Some 60% of respondents see a significant increase in use of external service providers and adoption of new technologies, such as cloud computing, as an increased risk.
Despite this, only 46% intend to increase their annual investment in information security, but this figure rose to 67% when considering UK participants only.
Technology advances represent a massive opportunity for IT to deliver significant benefits to the organisation, but new technology also means new risk, said Seamus Reilly, of Ernst & Young IT Risk Advisory.
"It is vital that companies not only recognise this risk, but take action to avoid it," Seamus Reilly said.
The mobile workforce
Over half of respondents said increased workforce mobility poses a considerable challenge to information security. This was due to widespread use of mobile computing devices that allow people to access and distribute business information from anywhere at any time.
For almost two-thirds of respondents, employees' level of security awareness is recognised as a considerable challenge.
"As the mobile workforce continues to grow, so does the level of risk. In addition to implementing new technology solutions and re-engineering information flows, companies must focus on informing the workforce about risks," said Reilly.
The delivery of effective and regular security awareness training is a critical success factor as companies attempt to keep pace with the changing environment, he said.
Data leakage
Half of respondents plan to spend more over the next year on data leakage and data loss prevention, a 7% increase from 2009.
To address potential new risks, 39% are making policy adjustments, 29% are implementing encryption techniques and 28% are implementing stronger identity and access management controls.
The survey found data leakage was seen by 50% of UK respondents as either their top or second priority. It highlighted that UK respondents reported significant levels of encryption technologies for laptops of 85%, compared with 47% globally.
Business continuity
For the first time, continuous availability of critical IT resources was identified by respondents as one of the top five risks.
Increased mobility and lack of control over end-user devices can cause problems when trying to implement effective and efficient business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities.
Half of respondents globally - but only 36% of UK respondents - identified this as an area of increased expenditure.
UK respondents reported higher levels of key business continuity capability, including having a defined business continuity strategy, 93% vs 60% globally; and business continuity testing plans, 85% vs 55% globally.
Only 3% of UK participants reported having no BCM program, compared with 13% globally.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing services are gaining greater adoption, with 23% of respondents using cloud computing services and a further 15% planning to use within the next 12 months.
When asked if an external certification of cloud service providers would increase trust, 85% of respondents said yes, with 43% stating that the certification should be based upon an agreed standard and 22% requiring accreditation for the certifying body.
Misplaced your iPhone?
Have you misplaced your iPhone? Apple has come up with a way to locate where your phone is with an online map. You could also display a message or set a passcode lock on your phone. It's cool, check this out!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Eyes-free device - the next wave
Similar to OnStar's September launch of voice-activated Facebook and texting, Windows Embedded Automotive 7 has evolved to enable voice commands that let you keep in touch without touching your phone.
Personally, I feel it might be good for people who is always on the move. However, it can also be bad as it sort of encourage people to use their mobile while driving.
Feel free to comment. Thanks.
Please click on the link below for the full article.
http://gizmodo.com/5703561/texting-while-driving-might-not-be-so-bad-when-its-hands-free
Personally, I feel it might be good for people who is always on the move. However, it can also be bad as it sort of encourage people to use their mobile while driving.
Feel free to comment. Thanks.
Please click on the link below for the full article.
http://gizmodo.com/5703561/texting-while-driving-might-not-be-so-bad-when-its-hands-free
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)