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For the keen, it is the easiest. PHP 5 or PHP version 5 has the object oriented capabilities and has grown to a mature level. There are more websites created in PHP than in any other language. Some of the very large business houses use them. For example, Oracle Corporation which is well known for the most popular Oracle database engine, supports PHP and provides a number of helpful downloads, like this pdf book for PHP,  for free. Similarly, IBM, the other big company in the IT and computers field has extensive PHP support. On this day, if you search for PHP on ibm.com, you will find 52,728 items. Most of them are articles and specific topics covered. In nutshell, in other words, PHP is no more a lame duck. It is getting recognition from the industry and a lot of work is being done in PHP. In fact, this site is running on PHP.

If you are convinced that PHP is good to start, you have won half the battle. From here on, it becomes very easy.

Download xampp. Say, for windows, take the zip file. Unzip in a folder. Please keep in mind, the folder has to be named xampp if you downloaded xampp and it has to be xampplite if you downloaded xampplite.

Just open the folder in windows explorer. You need to notice a few things:

There is an apache folder which has htdoc sub-folder. The main folder has a few .bat files.

To start, duble click on start-apache.bat. This will start apache. Then click on start-mysql.bat. This will start mysql.

In your Internet browser, type, http://localhost and you should see an orange screen giving you option of a bunch of languages.

Choosing English will take you to an information page. This is your setup for apache, php, and mysql.

Play around to make yourself familiar.

Now, to learn follow this link. There are tons of tutorials on the web and soon you will be able to program.

programming,php

Tags: php, programming

Tags: Programming, Technology, Business by Arch
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Insurance is a cost that can, in very subtle way chip a lot total for a business or individual.  All insurance is bought because either we are compelled or we want to insure with professionals the risk. To insure here needs to be contrasted with self insurance. In other words, if you live in flood zone, normally you should have flood insurance. You should have flood insurance even when you do not live in a flood zone. When you decide not to insure, you are supposed to be “self-insuring” or in other words you have calculated the chance and are willing to carry out the indemnification out of your own resources. Till the time concept is understood, it is fine.

It can happen that a person buys an insurance for a car and meets with an accident, within a day and on the other hand there can be a person who may not meet with accident for decades. Incidentally, motor vehicle insurance is mandated by law because it can involve indemnification of third parties. On the other hand medical insurance or dental insurance can be purely personal decision. One may think, I am healthy and I have not fallen sick and I do not want an insurance and if something comes up, I will pay the expenses out of what would have been insurance premium paid to insurance.

In the case of mandated insurance, the law entails us to buy the minimum but may not be adequate in circumstances. Such coverage is under insurance.

The basics are to buy adequate insurance after ascertaining  your risks or perils but buy insurance from a source which does not over charge you. Insurance can be a little technical for most of us not working in the industry. I came across this link http://www.ur-faves.com/insurance/insurance-basics-for-buying/ and followed it. It seems like the site has very clear explanation of the pros and cons to enable you to make some insurance decisions.

insurance,business

Tags: business, insurance

Tags: Insurance, Business by Arch
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Microsoft had taken an initial step in getting strategically involved with young businesses by offering BizSpark.  I would consider that as a very smart move because this would make the new and budding entrepreneurs look at the Microsoft technology more favorably than other technologies available. This takes care of the greater exposure plus builds goodwill with the newer businesses. Once they are successful, making a technological shift is more difficult for a well entrenched business. Though it is not as difficult as auto makers shifting to making electric cars but considering that skill sets of developers are often a matter that comes up because you cannot translate cummulative experience of an existing team (it is an intangible) to a newer team if you have to make a shift. And honestly, there is only difference in semantics otherwise all IT products work similar.

Successful businesses are likely to become role-models and examples of achieving bigger goals because of this help from Microsoft. For a mid size business this is veryimportant.

Now that they have over 15000 businesses getting benefit of the scheme in a host of countries, it may be possible that one day this will become the difference between Microsoft and Oracle.  It is nice to see Microsoft make some moves which differentiates from other IT companies such as Apple.

microsoft,bizspark

Tags: bizspark, microsoft

Tags: Technology, Business by Arch
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Walter Cronkite was truly a phenomenon. No words can be sufficient to describe the legend. I was truly impressed by the larger-than life journalist. I am not the first one nor the last one to say it. The media is filled with coverage and perhaps with a lot of material. I just thought it befitting to pay our tributes to the great guy. Unfortunately, he was side lined many years before as if exiled.

There are great many examples where we do not extend the best respects in the life time though of a great guy but miss him more when he is finally gone. This happened, a few days back for MJ and now for this legend.

walter cronkite,life

Tags: life, walter cronkite

Tags: Life by Arch
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PS3 players have had great games presented and have been very lucky. In the past few months, PS3 game Infamous has become famous for being a favorite of the players. I would agree with Andrew of blog-bee.com that it is an extensive game and has all the components of entertainment and involvement from a player. It is complicated for a game and that keeps you pretty busy. There is combat component and hence the tacit warning of material that flows out of combat.

Overall I liked the game and would like to rent and try, if in doubt though personally, I would buy it. I found this link at http://www.ur-faves.com/ps3/infamous/ which said to savea great deal of the price to make it even sweeter.

ps3,video games,infamous

Tags: infamous, ps3, video games

Tags: Video Games, Games by Arch
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