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December 2005: in this issue...


Benefits of Continued Training

Get the most out of your software, your talents, your team. Training can make all the difference when business requires you to do more with less.

Training Is Cheap
The investment of training your personel is much less expensive than the cost of new equipment or hiring freelancers.

Training Fosters Teamwork
Teams that attend training together are able to share ideas, skills, tips and tricks within the group, enhancing their efforts and benefitting the company as a whole.

Training Raises Company Morale
Your team will be motivated when you give them the opportunity to learn new software and improve their skills. Express your appreciation for the team by investing in their skill development.

Training Makes Money
Focused training can pay for itself many times over by improving efficiency and increasing productivity. Training gives your company that competitive edge to make more sales, keep clients happy, and grow your business.


New Half-Day, Hands-On Photoshop Training

Digital Imaging Artist, Danny Hommes of The Pixelography Company takes you through real-world situations during two new hands-on, half-day training sessions. Learn tips and techniques to maximize your use of Photoshop.

Non-Destructive Editing – Last-minute revisions are inevitable, but you can be prepared when you learn professional techniques that will reduce costs and increase productivity.

Tones & Textures – Learn to use scanned textures and low-res digital captures to add visual interest to images. In addition to some very dramatic results that push towards fine art, you will learn practical ways to make illustrations more realistic.

See the schedule below for event dates.

Training Schedule Update
Coming up at the Pelarious Professional Skills Development Center:

Top Articles of 2005

The following helpful tips from the Pelarious Experts were the big favorites in 2006. We wanted to rehash these articles for your benefit in case you missed them the first time around. If you're interested in other passed articles from the Pelarious Experts, you can check it all in the SQUIB Archives.

Spring Cleaning Your Computer

It doesn't have to be spring time to do some "Spring Cleaning" on your computer. This checklist of to-dos should be done periodically to maintain a healthy computer station.

1) Update your applications and operating system
Use Software Update (Mac) and Windows Update (Windows PC)

2) Sort your email In-box.
- Delete unnecessary emails
- Create new folders for organizing your emails
- Empty the email trash
- Re-evaluate filters, especially "Junk" filters

3) Delete programs you're no longer using.

4) Clean your mouse, mouse pad, monitor and keyboard.
- Try OmniCleanz from Radtech. It cleans all surfaces of your computer.

5) Address Ergonomic Concerns.
- Adjust your chair height to a comfortable position with your desk.
- Adjust your monitor height so that the top of the monitor is just above eye-level.
- Adjust the room lighting to relieve eye strain.
- Consider adding a footrest to relieve back stress and knee tension.

6) Check the reliability of your computer bag. Ask yourself...
- Is the strap still sturdy?
- Is the padding worn down?
- Does it hold all the accessories you regularly need?

7) Remove unused peripheral devices.
(Zip drives, floppy drives, jazz drives, scanners, etc.)

8) Remove unused desktop icons, aliases, or shortcuts.

9) Test your backups.
You should be testing your data backup regularly and now is a good time to do it again. Your backup solution is not complete unless you are able to recover data from it. Also, test your battery backup to ensure your system is safe during a power failure.

10) Change or rotate your passwords.
It's a good idea to not use passwords for long periods of time. Read on to get Expert tips on creating good passwords!

Download this checklist.

Computer Recycling Options

Do you have an old computer that doesn't work anymore? How about a monitor that is so dim that you have to look at the power light to tell if it's on? If you're like a lot of people, these items end up in a closet, or a basement, or in the corner of your computer room.

Some people get tired of looking at their old monitor in the corner and toss it in the nearest dumpster. But be warned! Computers contain toxic metals - arsenic, chromium, and mercury - and CRT monitors can contain as much as eight pounds of lead. Many areas are classifying this waste as hazardous waste.

Placing your computers and monitors in standard waste receptacles is illegal. But, regardless of the legality, throwing out these items with regular trash is wasteful and potentially harmful to the environment. I don't know about you, but I like my water unleaded. If you can't donate your old equipment because it's either too old or doesn't work, what can you do?

Fortunately, we live in an area that provides an outlet. Recycle Works, located at 60 Triad South Drive in St. Charles, accepts computers and related equipment. This facility will take most computer equipment for free, but larger items such as laser printers and CRT monitors require a $5 fee per item. You can even dispose of really large appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners for a nominal $15 fee per item. Recycle Works will dispose of non-recyclable materials properly and recycle the materials that can be used again.

Read the official statement regarding the Recycle Works center at the St. Charles County Department of Community Health & The Environment website.

If you live closer to Wentzville, try this option.


We are always interested in your comments. Contact us with comments you would like to share. To speak with a Pelarious Representative, please call our office at 314-537-1330.