Digital Marketing

10 resources for a great book cover design, whatever your budget

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Your book needs a cover design that is as good as its content!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, and since your cover is going to be what really grabs the attention of people browsing Amazon, you really want to make sure it’s the best it can be (within your budget).

Here are some options for quickly creating a fantastic cover design, whether you’re happy to spend $5 or $500. Or even if you’re not looking to spend a single penny!

Now, of course, you can create a cover design yourself using software like PhotoShop or even just Microsoft Word, and if you’re artistically inclined, that may be a great option for you. However, that can be quite a complicated process.

In fact, I’m going to talk about software that makes creating your own covers very quick and easy, much easier than advanced graphic design software!

But before anything else, you should start with ideas in mind, as it makes the process of designing and deciding on your final cover much easier.

Here are some options to get started with market research:

  • Browse Amazon in your marketplace for design ideas. Pay special attention to best-selling books.
  • That said, you don’t need to limit yourself to your market. Spend some time looking at the best-selling books in other related marketplaces and see what ideas they give you.
  • And it’s also worth downloading Amazon book samples to see how other authors have designed and presented their books.

Now let’s go over ten great options for creating your own fantastic book cover:

Get dozens of designs at 99 Designs

99 Designs is a very popular site for getting lots of design ideas in just a few days and the final design a few days later.

The operation is as follows:

  • As a client of the site, you will have hundreds of designers competing to create the perfect design for you.
  • So, initially, you choose your “prize” level. This is a financial amount, and the higher this amount, the more designers you will have vying for your attention, and the better quality the designers will be.
  • You prepare a summary of the project and launch the contest.
  • The designs begin to arrive.
  • Once the contest is over, among all the designs you have received, you choose finalists.
  • You work with the finalists to create the perfect design for you.

Now, 99 Designs isn’t the cheapest option, but how much you spend depends on the prize amount you choose. However, with this site you get what you can’t (affordably) with any other site, dozens of design ideas in just a few days.

Get a unique design for $5 on Fiverr

Fiverr is a very popular online marketplace for services, where everything is just $5. Well, the basic options start at $5 anyway. There are often many advantages that can significantly increase the price. For example:

Do you want a response time of 24 hours? That’s an extra $20.

Do you want all the source files for your design? Add $10.

… and so.

But, with a bit of searching and reading the reviews, you can come up with a decent cover design.

It will usually be created relatively quickly (a few days) and is likely to be okmaybe even Okay. Probably not great. But of course, for $5, your expectations can’t be too high. If you are looking for a lot of collaboration between you and the designer, this is not the site.

Find talented and affordable designers at UpWork

oDesk and eLance used to be two separate sites that were marketplaces for services. Effectively sites where people could post projects of what they needed to do, and then freelancers would bid on the project in an attempt to get the job.

One (not entirely unfair) way to categorize the two sites was that oDesk catered to the cheaper end of the market, while eLance tended to be more expensive and, by implication, the quality of freelancers was higher (although this wasn’t always the case). ).

However, the two sites have now become one. And it’s called UpWork.

Now, there are thousands of very talented designers on this site from all over the world, and prices vary quite a bit depending on country, skill level, and sometimes just because freelancers are underrated or underrated.

So you can approach a freelancer directly and set up a private project with them, or you can publish a project and let designers bid on it.

If you post a project, you then filter through the people who have bid on your project to choose who you’d like to communicate with more, so you can choose one (or more) designers to work with.

When choosing designers, be sure to review their work history and portfolio. This is ideal if they have already created book covers and can show you examples of their work.

And if you’re clear on what you’re looking for and find a designer who creates great work and communicates well, you can often get great designs even for less than $50.

More great designers will be found at People Per Hour

Another site where you can find very talented freelancers is People Per Hour.

It is worth noting that although it is an international site, a large proportion of the freelancers on this site are from the UK. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t work with them if you’re outside of the UK.

But be aware of time zone differences, and in particular, that they won’t offer the kind of low prices that some designers do on UpWork.

Interestingly, this site also offers simple services at a fixed price, and calls them Hourlies.

This way, you don’t always need to go through the process of posting a project and interviewing people. You can simply buy a ready-made service and take care of it right away.

Get your own exclusive premade book cover

Author Marketing Club is an affordable membership site that provides tips and tools to help freelance authors write, publish, and promote their books.

They offer a large number of exclusive covers ready to use. You can choose one of these covers, customize it just for you, and then buy the exclusive rights or get it as a bonus when you become a paid member:

Use free Canva software to easily design book covers

Canva is free software that makes designing easy. It has all kinds of features, but a particularly relevant part of its functionality is the creation of book covers.

And interestingly, instead of asking for payment in advance, their business model is as follows:

  • You can use the software for free.
  • You can create your cover for free.
  • You can choose from over a million images available in the software to help create your design.
  • Nevertheless, images are watermarked, so if you want to use an image for your cover, you must pay the rights to the image to have the watermark removed. So, in a way, it’s a stock photography site, with some software attached to the front!
  • GoalIf you provide your own photos or stock images, you don’t need to pay to use them, of course, so using the software may not cost you anything.
  • That said, there is also an advanced version with more features that is billed monthly.

Cover Creator is a free software to create book covers

Cover Creator is a completely free web-based software for designing book covers. It’s not the most feature-rich software, but it’s a quick and easy way to get started:

Easily design great covers with Book Cover Pro

Book Cover Pro is software that helps you easily and quickly create attractive covers for your eBooks, even if you’re not technical or particularly artistic!

There is no free or demo version of this software on the main site, to try before you buy, but there are plenty of testimonials on the site, so if you decide to take the plunge with this software, it looks like you’ll be fine. business.

That said, you can currently download a demo version from CNET and there are some additional reviews there.

Get your own exclusive cover ready to go

Like the Author Marketing Club mentioned above, there are two other sites where you can pick up ready-made covers and get exclusive rights to one you like: Go On Write and the related site Vamos Write.

Cover prices are currently $45. You browse through the available covers, and if you see one you’d like for your book (with the text changed, of course), you place your order, and that cover is personalized and becomes exclusively yours to use.

This is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to get a cover you like, without the usual back and forth of working with a designer.

The cream of the crop for cover designers

If you have the budget to do so and are looking for the best cover you can get, you may want to check out Creativ Indie Covers.

This service comes recommended by successful freelance author Joanna Penn, as she uses it for her own books (which have sold over 300,000 copies).

Although due to the expense, you may need to feel confident about your book sales and have a significant marketing push lined up before spending a large amount on a design.

Of course, you can start with a cheap cover to test a book, then update the cover once you’re generating sales. While a cover can certainly affect how well a book sells, it’s not the only variable, so you may not want to make costly, feet-first decisions if funds are too much for you at the moment.

Three additional resources…

While 10 is a nice round number, 13 is less so! But they would give me to exclude the following options also to design your cover:

Book Baby offers a number of services to help authors create and promote their books. Of course I am going to focus on your ebook cover design service.

Currently, their price per design starts at $199 for a fairly basic offering, and goes up to $299 for more complex designs with multiple photos, textures, graphics, and unique fonts.

eBook Launch offers formatting and design services for authors to help your book look great for publication date.

The lowest price option is for prefabricated covers. As you can see, the price is double (or more) compared to other services, so it’s not competitive, although you can of course browse through your options and see if a cover catches your eye.

While the higher priced options are custom designed just for your book.

The Book Cover Designer specializes 100% in book covers for authors. You have the option of pre-made covers and prices vary quite a bit.

They also offer a custom design service that is very affordable starting at $90. However, the basic offer is not as flexible as other custom services. And additions to the basic service (more images, for example) add to the price, so it’s best to clarify at the beginning of the process how much it could end up costing you.

Health Fitness

How much does a leopard gecko cost?

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Leopard gecko prices can range from very low to very high, depending on what you are looking for. They are one of the cheapest pets, starting at $20 for a full grown adult. If you want a special breed, you can expect to pay up to $200.

Pet stores often sell leopard geckos, and you can also buy them at reptile shows or directly from breeders. The easiest way to buy a leo is to head to your local pet store, where you’ll find them for around $50.

With breeders and lizard shows, you can buy a simple leopard gecko even cheaper, usually as low as $20. Pet stores also run sales sometimes. If you’re looking for a special morph, you probably won’t find it at your local pet store. For those, go to a breeder or a lizard show.

Housing Costs for Your Leopard Gecko

While you can do it for less, you should plan on spending around $100 to get your leo, cage, and all the other little things you need.

A 10-gallon aquarium costs about $15. This is the simplest type of cage and you can always pay a little more for something better.

Your leopard gecko’s heating needs will cost you less than $20. This includes an under-tank heating pad or light bulb and a cheap thermometer to gauge the temperature.

Substrate can cost anywhere from free to $10, depending on what you use. Flat stones, newspapers and paper towels are the cheapest way to do it. You can buy a big bag of play sand for five bucks and you won’t have to buy it again for a while.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner for your Leo

Feeding needs can be totally free if you can catch your own gecko food. Go hunting for crickets and mealworms, and you can feed your leo for free.

If you prefer to buy them at the pet store, crickets and mealworms are very cheap. You can buy in bulk and find deals like 1,000 bugs for $10.

One thing you will need to buy is calcium powder and reptile multivitamins. For around $7 you can buy a jar of powder that will last quite a while. You can also save money by buying bugs to catch and feed the gut.

This adorable lizard is one of the cheapest pets to buy and keep. That is one of the reasons why they are so popular.

Legal Law

Differences in Indian ads in the US and American ads

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The style Americans use for advertisements is different from other cultures. For example, if you see an Indian ad in the US, it will probably stand out from all the others because of the difference in tone and voice used by these countries. These differences are mainly related to the cultural differences between the United States and India. Understanding these differences can help you get a clearer picture of what countries like India value in employees.

In countries like India, people use tone and attitude to convey their ideas more than words. So ads from this country are likely to be less verbose than Americans are used to. This does not mean that the company does not have much to offer; rather, it will show you what is most important to the company. If you’re unclear on something, you may need to contact the business directly to ask if it wasn’t included in the ad.

While both an American ad and an Indian ad in the US will provide you with a headline, body, and possibly an image and tagline, the emphasis differs between the two countries of origin. In the United States, companies focus most of their attention on the image and slogan of an advertisement. However, while Indian ads also focus most of their attention in the same places, they focus more on the other areas, such as the headline and body of the ad, than their US counterparts.

The type of speech used in the different advertisements also varies. For example, American ads are more direct and direct. They use concrete language that tells you exactly what to expect from the company. However, a country like India tends to use more creative language, even in an advertisement. They will focus more on descriptions than hard facts, so you may need to read between the lines or ask for clarification if there is anything else you need to know.

Understanding the differences between an Indian ad in the US and an American ad can give you insight into the way each country does business. While Americans tend to be very professional with their ads as well as their meetings, Indians often take a more personalized approach. This approach may seem unusual to Americans who see these Indian ads, but it is a reflection of Indian culture and is important to understand if you want to work with them.

Lifestyle Fashion

How to make béarnaise sauce: principles and techniques

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That smooth, creamy light yellow sauce that tops steaks, poultry, and vegetables, Béarnaise sauce is a popular but difficult sauce to make. Culinary experts say perfecting this sauce is hard work. But with the right steps, guidance, and practice, it’s not impossible to cook the perfect Bernaise sauce.

Béarnaise sauce is a ‘child’ of one of the five French mother sauces, the hollandaise. It is an emulsion of egg yolk and clarified butter flavored with herbs. While Hollandaise uses lemon juice or vinegar, Bernaise uses fresh chervil, fresh tarragon, shallot, and crushed peppercorns, either as a replacement or addition to lemon juice or vinegar.

The preparation of the bearnaise sauce consists of three main components: the vinegar or acidifying mixture, the clarified butter and the egg yolks. To make the vinegar mixture, combine the tarragon stems, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, shallots, parsley, white wine, and white wine vinegar in a saucepan, simmer until thickened. liquid has been reduced to about a quarter of its original amount. and then strain it into another container.

Clarified butter is made in a different saucepan by melting unsalted butter over low heat until it forms three layers: the white foam on top, the golden yellow liquid in the middle, and the milky liquid on the bottom. Clarified butter is the middle layer, so ladle off the white foam on top and discard the milky sediment on the bottom by straining the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer.

As for the egg yolks, place them in a bowl and beat continuously. Simmer the water in a double boiler beforehand and heat the yolks slowly by placing the pan over the boiling water. After 20-30 seconds, remove the yolks from the heat, whisk for a few more seconds, then repeat. It is important that the yolks do not stir; if they do, you’ll have to start over.

Beat the yolks until they are firm enough. How firm is firm enough? Raise the whisk and spray over the surface. If a ribbon-like pattern forms briefly before sinking back in, you’re ready for the next step: drizzle in the clarified butter while continuing to whisk. Don’t add the butter too quickly, as it can ruin the sauce by causing the emulsion to separate. After adding about a tablespoon of butter, add the vinegar mixture alternating with the butter.

Once thickened, season with salt to taste. This sauce is perfect for enhancing the flavor of meats like filet mignon and London broil, as well as potatoes and other vegetables. Once you’ve mastered this delicious dressing, you’ll be able to wow your friends and family with a gourmet meal prepared in your own kitchen. Consider sprinkling it over a slow-cooked broiled or grilled fish dish. Be careful adding this to turkey or pork, as the flavors won’t mix well.

Pets

Scotty Cameron California Hollywood Putter Review

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The Scotty Cameron California Hollywood Putter is the latest addition to Scotty’s California series of putters and could very well be the star of the show with its confidence instilling refined lines, smooth angles and a clean, flowing look.

Although it has a very similar profile to the Monterey blade design with toe and heel weighting, it has a rear flange that flows smoothly down and away from the topline instead of going back in steps, and it also has a sweep neck. rounded that flows effortlessly directly onto the shaft similar to that of the Coronado blade.

The Scotty Cameron California Hollywood putter features the same 303 stainless steel head for that smooth sound and feel highly-skilled golfers demand and the honey-dipped gold mist finish that not only looks spectacular but helps reduce glare from the top line.

One of the most notable technological improvements introduced to Scotty Cameron’s California series of putters is the interchangeable weight system that is also used on Scotty’s Studio Select series. This system uses circular weights that are screwed into the heel and toe ends of the putter sole.

These weights adjust to perfectly match the 3 different shaft length options (33″, 34″ and 35″) that Scotty has to offer. They also offer a heavier version on the 34″ and 35″ shafts, for those golfers who prefer a slightly more solid feel during their putt.

This weighting system not only gives you a putter option to suit your fitness and putting style, it also has the added benefits of increasing MOI and sweet spot for a more stable and forgiving putter. .

Scotty Cameron’s California Hollywood putter also benefits from a raised toe profile, which helps eliminate the tendency many golfers suffer from, which is to lift the toe of the putter up at address and consequently point to the left. of the intended target line.

Every little detail has been thought of in Scotty Cameron’s California series and while you may need to spend a bit more than other brands, you won’t be disappointed.

The Scotty Cameron California Hollywood Putter brings you the best of classic and contemporary design and performance-driven technology that will give you a great looking putter that has an exceptional feel and will increase your performance and confidence on the greens.

Real Estate

Cost of Adding a Greenhouse Extension to Your Home

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If you want to add a conservatory to your home, know that it can help increase the value of your property. It will also provide a nice place for your children. You can also place your favorite plants in this area. This investment will increase the value of your property. So is it worth it. In this article, we will give you a deeper insight into the cost of conservative extensions. Keep reading to know more.

Factors that determine the cost of this project

In addition to the cost of labor, other factors, such as the cost of material, affect the total cost. It is important to note that the main material is the type of translucent panels. The price of these units will affect the price of this addition and the comfort level of the conservatory. Similarly, it will also have an impact on energy bills.

The least expensive material is polycarbonate. Other alternatives include double door panels. They can be a good option as far as cost is concerned. Another factor you may want to consider is the material of the frame. If you want to get a low cost material, you can go for uPVC. But if you have a big budget, you can invest in natural wood.

If you’re looking for the best value for money, you can opt for brick, aluminum, metal, and engineered wood. Make sure that the material you have selected can complement your home.

Other factors

The size of the greenhouse is another factor that will affect the cost. For larger conservatories, the cost is usually higher. For larger units, you will have to pay the cost of labor. Therefore, the size of your conservatory is an important factor.

Design will also play a big role in determining the cost of your new project. The cost will vary depending on the type of roof. Some good options include Victorian, Gable, Orangery, Edwardian, and Lean-to, just to name a few. Apart from this, you can choose between dwarf walls or full walls depending on your personal preferences. Obviously full walls will cost more.

low budget options

If you’re on a budget, you can build a conservatory without spending a lot of money. To do this, you will need to opt for a simple design and use low-cost materials. You better take a look at different conservatories when making a choice. Apart from this, you can ask for any display model that is on sale. Usually these units are sold at a low price. Therefore, these units can be a great option if you want to save a lot of money.

Material types that are low in cost include white uPVC and polycarbonate roof coverings. Side panels should be made of enameled glass as they are inexpensive.

Long story short, this was a description of the cost of adding a conservatory to your home. If you want to make this addition to your home, we suggest you consider the factors mentioned in this article. Hopefully, you will find this article useful.

Shopping Product Reviews

Why did Susan Boyle’s album I Dreamed a Dream break Amazon pre-order sales records?

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This Sunday I saw the news on our Spanish television, and there was a headline with a brief report. “Susan Boyle’s Debut CD Sets Amazon Pre-Order Sales Record”. I don’t recall hearing Susan sing any songs for the Album, I dreamed a dream, in the trailer, but I remembered a photo of the “woman”. My first thought was that I had seen the images of Susan Boyle’s mother and not the artist herself.

Before I continue, may I first introduce myself a bit. I am German (excuse my poor English), I live in Spain, married to a beautiful Spanish woman and the father of a wonderful 14-year-old teenager. Yes! A teenager, but still wonderful!). I work all day and have little time to watch TV. Having never heard the name Susan Boyle, I asked my daughter if she knew anything about Susan and her new album, I Dreamed a Dream.

He looked at me with that cynical look of his, as if to say “Da, you’re living behind the moon,” and replied “Haven’t you heard of Susan Boyle?…Really?…Okay. She’s a singer from the English TV reality show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. The show is similar to the Spanish equivalent ‘Operación Triunfo’. She was the sensation!” “And why that?” I replied. Again, he looked at me with this cynical expression, shaking his head slightly, about to continue, but then he changed his mind and just said. “It’s a surprise Pa. If you want to know more, then take a look on the Internet. It’s worth it!”

Looking at her smiling face and meeting my teenage daughter, it was very clear that she wouldn’t say another word to me about Susan Boyle’s “sensational” performance on Britain’s Got Talent. I would have to investigate on my own. I asked her if the “woman” on television had been Susan Boyle, and she nodded, confirming the “impossible.”

Now I was completely intrigued and headed straight to my PC. When I searched for “Susan Boil” on Yahoo there was nothing. I thought, “Well, Susan Boil can’t be that important if I can’t find her name on Yahoo.”. Then I tried google and got the clue. “Did you mean ‘Susan Boyle’?” oops! Google was right, and I am ignorant! There were pages and pages of search results for Susan Boyle, including photographs of this “sensational” woman. Also the title of Susan’s new (debut) album, I Dreamed a Dream, was all over it. An album that hasn’t even been released! Dreamed a Dream, will be officially released on November 22.

One of the first entries was the YouTube video titled “Susan Boyle – Singer – Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)”. That looks interesting, click and go. The video was uploaded in HD mode. The first pictures, Susan, sitting in the back, taking a big bite out of her sandwich, in a way that made it look like she wanted to eat it all at once, including the tips of her fingers. Then some backstage footage of Susan with the final line “I’m going to get the audience moving!” What statement! This woman, what would make her acting so “sensational”? Was this “show” of self-esteem just a bluff? Either Susan was totally “n…”, or… I don’t know what to say…

The following sequences are amazing; Susan takes the stage with all her pride and courage, exposing herself to the humiliation and despair that will undoubtedly follow. When she is asked where she came from, she gets stuck, but quite naturally finds her way out; then, asked about her age, 47, she shows a wonderful sense of humor with her peculiar “belly dance”. You can tell that she is enjoying the “Dream of her” of hers! Susan Boyle has nothing to lose and she is living this moment that she will never return.

The flashes of people’s faces and expressions, ranging from pain to amusement and laughter to disbelief, make me feel happy for her because she can’t see those expressions from her place high up on stage, against the lights. blinding. She would have fled, that’s for sure! But Susan stays! No doubt seems to beat our brave Susan Boyle. Asked who she would like to succeed like her, Susan unashamedly, but rather convinced, names a famous star. It is not necessary to describe the expressions on the faces of the crowd.

Then Susan starts…singing her song, “I Dreamed a Dream”…In a matter of seconds the whole mood changes. Her voice seems to encompass everything. People’s faces first freeze but then quickly warm up and surprise and joy is everywhere. The audience enthusiastically applauded, shouted and gave a standing ovation. The crowd “rocks”!…Susan Boyle has fulfilled her dream. Her song over, she blows her audience a kiss, turns around and is about to leave the stage (as if she doesn’t want to spoil this memory of her dream), but the jury returns her. to call. Susan turns around and with firm steps returns to take her place on the stage, waiting for what is to come. Needless to say, she had passed the exam with outstanding results.

Amanda defines the public and myself very well. “I know that everyone was against you. We were all being very cynical, and this has been the biggest wake-up call ever…” Simon describes Susan I in one clear sentence; “Susan, you are a little tiger, aren’t you?” Yes! Susan Boyle is a tiger, and not one of the little ones. I’m trying to imagine how much she had to fight against herself and all the odds, but she Susan didn’t give up! She finally managed to live the dream that she dreamed.

Now, while I’m writing this little article, I’m taking a little break and rewatching Susan Boyle’s first performance. The same thing happens to me as when I saw her yesterday. Tears are rolling down my chicks. It has definitely stroked my heart, this little tiger! On Sunday November 21, 2009, there were 77,023,361 views on Susan’s YouTube video “Susan Boyle – Singer – Britains Got Talent 2009 (with lyrics)”. How many tears and joy have these 7:07 minutes given to the world? How many talented people are there out there who haven’t had the opportunity to live the dream they dreamed or didn’t even dare to dream?

So… Why did Susan Boyle’s album I Dreamed a Dream break Amazon pre-order sales records?

I searched the internet and found already 50 very positive reviews on Susan’s unreleased debut album; Then I listened to the trailers of the 12 songs of the Album titled,…guess what!… “I Dreamed a Dream”. The reviews were very positive and I really like the songs, but nothing convinced me more than the moment I enjoyed with Susan, when she lived her dream.

Sports

A look in the rearview mirror of college football: The worst of 2006

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A trip down football memory lane

Before we start another season, let’s take one last look back at last season to remember the good times. And put the bad guys to a worthy end. Lessons from the past can be helpful in preventing failures in the future. Unfortunately, many of the schools that appeared in the 2006 FirstWorst Futility rankings seem destined to stay there.

There are some perennial powerhouses that live among the FirstWorst. The Duke Blue Devils know this place well. While Army and Navy have a terrific track record of producing people who can blow things up and take things from other people, Army can rarely manage to produce more than 3 and out on the grid. Perhaps this is because their graduates are expected to accomplish things, and thus the best high school recruits go elsewhere. The Army Mules are still trying to convince each other that a win over Kent State counts as a victory.

Losers deserve respect. Without them, the Nebraska Cornhucksters would have no schedule. The states of Eastern, Western, Southern, Central, Lower and Upper Michigan would have no way of funding their sports programs. Troy State (who?) bankrolled a good chunk of their athletic budget by sending eleven poor bastards to Lincoln in September to bow out for a 56-0 drubbing of the Big Red. Nebraska charged admission for this. Big Red fans really paid.

Being cannon fodder playing against a top school has its rewards, though winning isn’t usually among them. The Sage acknowledges that while the Montana State Bobcats pummeled the Colorado B’lows in their season opener in Boulder, most disadvantaged schools grit their teeth, accept the beating and the paycheck. However, underdog players and coaches must question their self-esteem. Still, Sage is betting Montana State had fewer players arrested this offseason than CU, unless you can get busted for shooting rabbits in Bozeman.

Losers deserve respect because they may not always be among the best of the worst. The sage will miss Rutgers. The Knights shattered years of school tradition last year by falling to a dismal 11-2 record. The campus has not yet recovered. The wrench the Knights threw in predictions early last year has tipsters twirling their Cross pens wondering how they got it so wrong. And now CA sportswriters have to learn to spell ‘Piscataway.’ By building a legitimate show, Rutgers has failed fans across the country and relegated their show to respectability. A fate worse than the Sage cannot imagine.

Losers have their place in this world. They balance everything. The sage loves to find bits of wisdom and irony in lost football. To these little moments of fun, this column is officially dedicated.

Featured here are the original top ten picks in college football. Before continuing, the Sage points out that this list: · Lacks any scientific process · Focuses on but is not limited to BCS teams · Is developed entirely at the whim of the Sage of College Football · May contain inappropriate references for underage readers · May require literate adults to explain the finer points to children or people who paid to watch Nebraska play at Troy State May have nothing to do with an actual football game

Number One: The Poor Blown Devils of Duke

This one is a no-brainer. Basketball schools shouldn’t try soccer; Hitting the ball over the goal posts does not award any points. Also, that ball bounces weird. The DHs rose to the lofty status of number one on the FirstWorst list by virtue of their brilliant 0-12 record last season. Capped off by a season finale loss to rival powerhouse North Carolina, the Bleu Devils stole the loss from the jaws of defeat by coming back to have an extra point locked in late in the fourth quarter to seal the loss by a point. This solid record and strong finish sets up the Duke coach who loses and gets the job. – for another splendid recruiting season.

Included in the head coach’s job description is: “Study, evaluate and recommend innovations in soccer strategy and team. Qualifications required at this level: Education/Coaching N/A”

At least the University is realistic. The Sage wonders if it is possible to produce a winner by designing new pants. In any case, the University capped off its perfect season celebration by adding a new stadium parking lot for more than 500 cars. The occupants of such vehicles can look forward to another spectacularly futile season.

2- Temple Owls

After going through their challenging schedule, meeting and losing to teams like Buffalo (not the Bills) in which neither team scored a touchdown, the Owls fought hard to close out the season on a five-game losing streak, including losses to Toledo and Akron. . The Pitiful Owls also had to play Ohio State and survived by losing 35-7. Seven points being scored for Temple was cause for celebration. Pennsylvania produces hundreds of star high school recruits each year. Unfortunately for Temple, everyone chooses other schools.

3-Illinois

The forces in Chambana recently declared a second “St. Patrick’s Day.” When spring break coincided with the holy day of alcohol, local bars let out a howl that they were losing business to foam-drinking students in Florida. So, to support local bartenders, the university introduced a second St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It is this kind of visionary leadership that has earned Illinois third place in the FirstWorst rankings. (D)UI leadership also showed foresight and fortitude in removing Chief Illiniwek this offseason. Illini, crying, then had an extra reason, as well as an extra day, to drain her sorrows on green beer consumed in Gatorade glasses. The Orange and Blue finished the 2006 season with wins against Eastern Illinois (yes, there is such a place and they play football), and they got an upset by winning at Michigan State. If Illini can win at home this year against a Big Ten school, the University has promised to declare a third St. Patrick’s Day.

4-army

The sage is pained to declare Army a member of the FirstWorst club. The only “Shock and Awe” delivered by the Mulos in 06 was that people kept coming to see them. The Army’s ‘Black Nights’ just can’t produce a win against a quality team. Beating VMI, Kent State and Baylor doesn’t qualify as a stellar season. The Sage wishes the Army well this year, but West Point’s brass may have to call in close air support to complete a pass. We’ll see if the Air Force can help.

5-Boise State

The Sage can hear it now… ‘How can a big win in the Fiesta against OU on New Year’s Day rank a school among the worst in College Football? The simple reason is the horrible blue soccer field they play on. Just because it’s possible to create blue grass doesn’t mean it should be done. A quality team deserves to play in something other than the Tidy Bowl. A blue soccer field does not exist in nature for a reason. The Sage does not know what that reason is, but he is sure that it is a good one. BS students must be smoking something different in their pipes before home games to make it look real. BSU proved that you don’t need a blue field for any competitive advantage and can win in a big game. Lose the blue field!

6-Oregon

A team called the Fighting Ducks should find their way onto the FirstWorst list. But that’s not the reason for the Ducks’ inclusion this year. Oregon puts a good team on its two-tone field, but every year, it shows an incredible lack of taste in putting its team — appropriately descriptive wording eludes the Wise — those awful yellow uniforms with tire tracks on the shoulders. The ducks look like highlighter pens against green felt. Assistants in the Department of Psychology must have devised some kind of experiment to see if such a poorly dressed football team can generate a competitive advantage. The Sage thinks that in a state where the other University is called the Beavers, he would insist on putting a team on the field that could look as good as his record. Ducks often look like cheap office supplies.

7-North Carolina

The aforementioned Duke Blue Devils almost made the Heels reconsider showing up in those baby blue uniforms last year. NC couldn’t pull off the loss in their season finale game against Duke, but came close enough to earn a spot on the FirstWorst list. Blocking an extra point in the closing minutes against the Dukes blew the Heels’ chance to finish in the top five. Maybe Duke and NC should play football on the basketball court. How can two southern schools have such poor football programs?

8-Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes started last season strong at home with a solid loss to the Montana State Division II Bobcats. Then B’low’s season quickly went downhill. CU was in contention for a top-tier finish and had a real shot at number one in the FirstWorst standings before losing their form and not losing to conference foes Texas Tech and Iowa State. Former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins is going to dye the turf at Folsom Field pink in 2007 to match the red noses of the CU students.

8-Standford

Stanford’s “Cardinal” nickname was declared after school administrators dropped the “Indian” moniker in 1972. At least “Indian” was plural and implied that there would be more than one person on the football field dressed in red. (Yes, the Sage acknowledges that “Cardinal” is technically plural, but without an ‘s’, the ghosts of college football lore have abandoned the Stanford kids and cast their curse on the red eggheads.)

Though he’s produced some good teams in the past, Stanford is a perennial favorite in the underdogs. The school is still best known for sending its band onto the field to stop a Cal kickoff comeback in ’82. Even that backfired and Stanford went on to record the biggest last-play loss in history. The 2006 season produced a single win against PAC-10 foe Washington. Stanford has always had trouble finding people who can pass the first few tries and pass the entrance exam. The plan for 07 is to multitask the tuba players to play on the offensive line between tunes.

9, 10 and More: The Western Pathetic Lecture

If all the losers meet in the same conference, some will come out winners. The boys who play at home in the toilet bowl in Boise had a respectable season. The rest of the conference succeeds in losing. Four WAC teams combined for a total of seven conference wins in 2006. The Sage can only imagine the WAC Skywriters Tour in July, kicking off in Hawaii, followed by outfield visits like Boise, Louisiana Tech, Fresno and Las Cruces, NM. . Hawaii, despite their winning record, deserves an honorable mention…any team called the Rainbow Warriors qualifies. Imagine being assigned to cover the New Mexico State – Idaho game. The sage shudders.

The Sage wishes these schools the best of luck in 2007. Visit http://firstworst.com weekly for Scholarly Sage’s wit and wisdom, as well as updates to the FirstWorst College Football Futility Rankings.

Tours Travel

Plan your perfect romantic vacation in Ecuador

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If you are looking for the perfect getaway for your vacation or a romantic honeymoon, you should definitely consider Aruba. This 69 square mile island is located off the coast of Venezuela. This location makes it one of the warmest places in the Caribbean, as it is closest to the equator.

You will enjoy the tropical climate of the island, which is not extremely hot, with an average and almost constant temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also worth mentioning that the island generally experiences only marginal effects from tropical systems that form nearby, because it is located south of hurricane tracks. But, for the most part, the sea is calm, beautiful and clear. It is also a pleasure to lie on the beach with the trade winds cooling the island, but you must be careful and protect your skin properly.

But, if you’re coming to the island for more than just hanging out on the beach, there’s so much more the country has to offer. Thanks to its rich history and culture, the country has many places of interest to offer its tourists. You can take several laps to get to know the island better.

You can go on a jeep safari, which is very popular with tourists. During the tour you will be able to see the landscape of the island. Tourists can see the inhabitants of the island, such as iguanas and many different species of birds that can only be found here.

Another way to enjoy your time is to visit the Arikok National Park. This park occupies 18% of the island. It is also home to many species that exist only in this part of the world. If you want to get a magnificent and spectacular view of the entire island, you can take a helicopter tour.

The culture is a special mix that has been affected by many different countries. Today, many ancient traditions are combined with modern ones. And when you’re on vacation you can be part of one of the unique festivities such as Dera Gay, Betic Day or the celebration of the Day of the Flag and the Anthem.

There are many other must-sees in Aruba, but everyone who comes to the island discovers something to their liking. This island has to offer no matter if you are a party animal, a nature lover or if you just like to sightsee. Therefore, it is definitely worth visiting this one of the most welcoming places in the world.

Technology

A Cheat Sheet for Microsoft Office Programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

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History

Microsoft Office is described as an office suite of various applications, services, and servers that was developed by Microsoft. The Office product was first announced in 1988 by none other than Bill Gates at the COMDEX (Computer Dealer’s Exhibition) held in Las Vegas. Office suite was originally a marketing term for the set of included applications. The original version of Microsoft Office included Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Over the years, the Microsoft Office application has gradually changed to better suit the needs of users. Changes include shared features such as OLE data integration, spell check, and also Visual Basic (VB) for Applications scripting language. Due to the popularity and effectiveness of the MS Office application, the number of users has been steadily increasing and Softpedia announced in July 2012 that there are now over a billion users worldwide.

Microsoft Office versions

The desktop version of MS Office is available for all Windows-based platforms and also for MAC OS X. MS has also introduced a touch-optimized version that is pre-installed on Windows RT tablets to allow mobile users to take advantage of Microsoft services. through Office Mobile, which can be accessed for free on iOS, Android, and of course Windows Phone. Office Online is the web-based version, and Microsoft has already stated its plans to create more versions for other popular platforms.

The MS Office application is quite easy to use and understand. However, newbies might find it difficult to maneuver through the app, so here are some tips on how to use the apps easily.

Microsoft Word

MS Word is basically a word processor and was initially considered as the main program in the Office application. There are more than 10 versions of MS Word now and more than half are considered outdated or irrelevant. The most widely used versions of MS Word are Word 2003, Word 2007, Word 2010 and Word 2013. The following are helpful tips on how to easily navigate MS Word and its different versions.

word 2003

This version of MS Word is a perfect tool to create impressive documents; from formatting, page numbering, indexes and even more options to choose from. This version of MS Word has a few tricks up its sleeve that can help anyone master document creation. One of the best features of MS Word 2003 is that it will automatically save your work every few minutes. This means that you will still have your document even if you experience a computer shutdown. You can also automatically save your documents by following these steps:

Go to Tools, then Options and click the Save tab. Make sure the Save Automatic Recovery checkbox is checked, and then type your preferred backup interval into the Minutes box, and then click OK.

word 2007

MS Word 2007 is basically the same as the other versions, but it has added some features that can help you create better documents with ease. Word 2007 offers keyboard shortcuts for editing and formatting that are already well known to countless Windows users. It also has common and not-so-common keyboard commands, like pressing Ctrl+Shift+G to display the word count.

word 2010

There are some new changes in Word 2010, but the basic keyboard shortcuts remain the same. Formatting and other shortcut keys are basically the same as in previous versions. One cheat sheet we’d like to share is aligning your texts using Word 2010 to make it much easier when you use tabs instead of space.

word 2013

Word 2013 can have a complex ribbon that has tabs and other useful icons. However, the complexity is only temporary as the keyboard shortcuts and basic commands are the same as other versions of MS Word. A good tip when using Word 2013 is to press Shift + Enter to embed a soft return which can be very handy when you need to break a line of text like in an address or in a document title.

Microsoft Excel

There are more than 10 versions of Microsoft Excel, but the most popular versions are Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013. Some of the features in Excel apply to multiple subject areas, while most of the features are actually general and They can be used for all needs. Excel functions are basically the same regardless of version like SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, INT, and ROUND just to name a few. The order of operations when using Excel starts with parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, and addition and subtraction.

microsoft powerpoint

MS PowerPoint is a slide show program that was released in 1990. There are more than 10 versions of MS PowerPoint and the most used ones are the 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2013 versions. The commands and functions of the different versions are actually the same. themselves. However, users should learn basic formatting shortcuts to ensure their presentation is great.