You might be from Arizona if...

Arizona gun club offers photo with Santa and his machine guns

November 29, 2011 |  7:38 pm

Arizonans better watch out. They better not cry and they better not pout:
Santa Claus is coming to town –- and he’s got guns.
The Scottsdale Gun Club is offering a rather unusual Christmas card photo opportunity this holiday season.
For $10, those who are so inclined can have their photo taken with jolly old St. Nick –- and a high-powered rifle.
Jingle bells ... shotgun shells?
Santa poses in front of an $80,000 Garwood minigun. In last week's photo shoot, families, including children, could choose from an arsenal -- pistols, semi-automatic AR-15s, and grenade launchers, said Ron Kennedy, the gun club’s general manager, in a statement.
This is the second year the gun club has offered the deal. Hundreds of people reportedly lined up to get their photos taken last year.
“Our members and guests enjoyed the concept and we are delighted to bring it back again this holiday season,” Kennedy said.
The next photo session is Dec. 10.

Port Fowarding

How to Forward Ports on Your Router

Your router can sometimes get in the way of your favorite multiplayer games or chat programs by inadvertently shuttering certain network ports. To fix that problem yourself, follow our simple guide to port forwarding.

By Justin Phelps

Nov 28, 2011 11:44 AM

Are you having trouble getting your favorite multiplayer games or chat program to connect to the Internet? Does your tablet's Web browser fail despite being connected to a Wi-Fi network? Your problem may be a blocked port on your router, and that's easy to fix.
Your router stands between your devices and the Internet, making sure that data coming in and going out is directed properly. Imagine your router as a wall that keeps out unwanted and harmful traffic while opening ports to permit useful traffic such as Web pages, games, and file-sharing programs. Ports are like doors in the wall reserved only for useful traffic, and your router does a good job of automatically configuring most of the ports you need to safely use the Internet. In some cases, however, you need to tell your router to open up a certain port so a program won’t be blocked. This is called port forwarding, and here’s how to do it.

Assign Your Device a Static IP Address

First, you need to gather some information about your network and assign a static IP address to the device you're using. A static IP address is an unchanging number identifying a device on your network, and to forward a port you first need to give your router the static IP address of the device for which you are opening the port.
1. From a computer connected to your network, click Start, and then type cmd into the search field. Press Enter.
2. Type ipconfig /all in the window that pops up. Press Enter.

The Windows IP Configuration menu displays useful data like your IP address.

3. Record the following numbers listed under your network connection (labeled “Local Area Connection” or “Wireless Network Connection”):

• IPv4 Address (or IP Address)
• Subnet Mask
• Default Gateway
• DNS Servers

4. To set a static IP address on a Windows 7 or Vista PC, open Control Panel. Click Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center. In the left pane, click Change adapter settings in Windows 7; in Vista, click Manage network connections.
4a. Right-click Local Area Connection; then click Properties.
4b. In the list, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click Properties.
4c. Select Use the following IP address. Add 10 to the last digit of your Default Gateway number and enter it into the IP address field. For example, if your Default Gateway is 192.168.1.1, the new number is 192.168.1.11.

You can assign yourself a static IP address by tinkering with the IPv4 Properties menu of your router.

4d. Enter the numbers of the Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers that you recorded earlier into their respective fields. Click OK.
5. To assign a static IP to a printer, video game console, or other device on your network, you’ll need to use the device’s control panel or a Web-based interface.

Forward Ports

Now that you have a static IP assigned to your computer or other network device, log in to your router’s interface and open a port.
1. Open a Web browser, type your Default Gateway number into the address bar, and press Enter.
2. Enter your username and password to access your router’s interface. The default username and password should be listed in your router’s documentation, on a sticker on the side of your router, or on the Port Forward website. If the username and password have been changed from the defaults and you don’t remember them, you’ll need to reset your router.
3. To forward ports on your router, look for a tab or menu labeled “Applications & Gaming,” “Advanced,” “Port Forwarding/Port Triggering,” “NAT/QoS,” or something similar.
4. No matter what the router or interface, you’ll need to enter the same basic information. Enter the port you want to open under Internal and External, or enter a range of ports to open under Start and End. If you aren’t sure what port(s) you need to open for an application, consult this Port Forward list. Some common ports are 25565 (Minecraft), 6881–6887 (BitTorrent clients), and 3724 (World of Warcraft).
5. Choose the Protocol (TCP, UDP, or both).
6. Enter the static IP address you created.
7. Be sure Enable is selected if available. Enter a name under Application if you want, then save the changes.
Congratulations! You've mastered the arcane process of port forwarding. Keep this simple guide handy in case you need to open more ports in the future, or just try your luck with an automated port forwarding utility like Simple Port Forwarding.

Simple Port Forwarding Freebie Helps Home Routers Use Online Apps

By Preston Gralla, PCWorld    Feb 27, 2009 8:00 PM

If your home router is mulishly refusing to work with certain Internet applications, such as online gaming, you may need Simple Port Forwarding. Home routers are deceptively simple to install, and sometimes maddeningly difficult to administer. This free program can help you solve one very specific problem they present with the use of certain applications.

Some Internet applications, particularly games, require that a specific Internet port--a virtual port, not a physical one--be accessed in order for the application to work. The problem is that the PCs inside your home network don't have their ports exposed to the Internet; they're shielded by your router.
The answer? Port forwarding, in which when a certain application from the Internet needs to contact a port, the router forwards that request to the proper computer on your home network. Doing this yourself, manually, using your router's setup can be maddeningly difficult. That's where Simple Port Forwarding comes in. Run the program, tell it which ports to forward to which PC, and your work is done.

• See more like this:
• downloads,
• freeware,
• lan utilities

Thought for food

How Clean Are Bagged Salads?

By The Conscious Consumer | Green –

By Lori Bongiorno

Packaged salads are certainly convenient, but they’re not nearly as clean as their "pre-washed" and "triple-washed" labels suggest. Ready Pac Foods recently recalled more than 5,000 cases of bagged greens in 15 states because E. coli bacteria showed up in tests. Consumer Reports’ tests found bacteria “that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination” in many of the packaged salad greens it tested last year.

No one is suggesting that you stop eating salad. Just take some of the precautions below to make sure you're eating the safest greens possible:

• Always wash salad greens, even if the bag says "prewashed" or "triple-washed." Rinsing won't remove all the bacteria, according to Consumer Reports, but it may remove residual soil. Washing with plain water works as well as anything else, says Nestle. There's no need to use detergent, vinegar, or special produce washes.
• 
  
• Buy packaged greens as far from their expiration date as possible. In the tests, Consumer Reports found that many packages with higher bacteria levels were one to five days before their use-by date.
  
  Packages of salad that were six to eight days away from expiration date fared better, according to Consumer Reports. (It's also interesting to note that many of the packages with the highest amounts of bacteria contained spinach.)
• 
  
• Choose fresh greens over packaged when you can. Bagging changes the environment in ways that might promote bacterial proliferation, says Nestle. A fresh, whole head of lettuce is usually less expensive than a bag of lettuce too.
  
  Buying local may offer extra protection since greens tend to be fresher so their bacteria haven't had as long an opportunity to multiply, Nestle notes, and this ought to reduce the risks of centralized contamination. However, in the Consumer Reports tests, it didn't make a difference if greens were organic or if the greens were packaged in plastic clamshells or bags.

What are words for?

18 Common Phrases to Avoid in Conversation

Some things should never be said―like these phrases. Here, what to say instead.

Greg Clarke

What Not to Say About Someone's Appearance

Don’t say: “You look tired.”
Why: It implies she doesn’t look good.
Instead say: “Is everything OK?” We often blurt the “tired” comment when we get the sense that the other person feels out of sorts. So just ask.

Don’t say: “Wow, you’ve lost a ton of weight!”
Why: To a newly trim person, it might give the impression that she used to look unattractive.
Instead say: “You look fantastic.” And leave it at that. If you’re curious about how she got so svelte, add, “What’s your secret?”

Don’t say: “You look good for your age.”
Why: Anything with a caveat like this is rude. It's saying, "You look great―compared with other old people. It's amazing you have all your own teeth."
Instead say: “You look great.”

Don’t say: “I could never wear that.”
Why: It can be misunderstood as a criticism. (“I could never wear that because it’s so ugly.”)
Instead say: “You look so good in skinny jeans.” If you slip, say something like “I could never wear that…because I wasn’t blessed with your long legs.”

Expert: Clinton Kelly, cohost of the TLC show, What Not to Wear.

Greg Clarke

What Not to Say in the Workplace

Don’t say: “That’s not my job.”
Why: If your superior asks you to do something, it is your job.
Instead say: “I’m not sure that should be my priority right now.” Then have a conversation with your boss about your responsibilities.

Don’t say: “This might sound stupid, but…”
Why: Never undermine your ideas by prefacing your remarks with wishy-washy language.
Instead say: What’s on your mind. It reinforces your credibility to present your ideas with confidence.

Don’t say: “I don’t have time to talk to you.”
Why: It’s plain rude, in person or on the phone.
Instead say: “I’m just finishing something up right now. Can I come by when I’m done?” Graciously explain why you can’t talk now, and suggest catching up at an appointed time later. Let phone calls go to voice mail until you can give callers your undivided attention.

Expert: Suzanne Bates, president and chief executive officer of Bates Communications, an executive-training firm in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and author of Speak Like a CEO (McGraw-Hill, $22, amazon.com).

Greg Clarke

What Not to Say During a Job Interview

Don’t say: “My current boss is horrendous.”
Why: It’s unprofessional. Your interviewer might wonder when you’d start bad-mouthing her. For all you know, she and your current boss are old pals.
Instead say: “I’m ready for a new challenge” or a similarly positive remark.

Don’t say: “Do you think I’d fit in here?”
Why: You’re the interviewee, not the interviewer.
Instead say: “What do you enjoy about working here?” By all means ask questions, but prepare ones that demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.

Don’t say: “What are the hours like?” or “What’s the vacation policy?”
Why: You want to be seen as someone who focuses on getting the job done.
Instead say: “What’s the day-to-day like here?” Then, if you’ve really jumped through every hoop and time off still hasn’t been mentioned, say, “Can you tell me about the compensation and benefits package?”

Expert: Mary Mitchell, president of the Mitchell Organization, a corporate-etiquette training firm in Seattle, and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Etiquette (Alpha, $19, amazon.com).

Greg Clarke

What Not to Say About Pregnancy and Babies

Don’t say: “Are you pregnant?”
Why: You ask, she’s not, and you feel totally embarrassed for essentially pointing out that she’s overweight.
Instead say: “Hello” or “Great to see you” or “You look great.” Anything besides “Are you pregnant?” or “What’s the due date?” will do. Save yourself the humiliation and never ask.

Don’t say: “Do you plan on breast-feeding?”
Why: The issue can be controversial, and she may not want to discuss her decision publicly.
Instead say: Nothing. Unless you’re very close, don’t ask. If you slip, make up for the blunder by adding, “And do you feel comfortable telling me?”

Don’t say: “Were your twins natural?” or “It must have been hard for your child’s birth parent to give him up.”
Why: You’re suggesting that natural conception is better than in vitro fertilization (IVF) or adoption.
Instead say: To a parent of multiples, try a light “Wow, you have your hands full!” To an adoptive parent, say the same stuff you would to any other parent: “She’s adorable!” or “How old is he?”

Expert: Kim Hahn, founder and chief executive officer of Conceive magazine.

Greg Clarke

What Not to Say to a Single (or Newly Single) Person

Don’t say: “You were too good for him.”
Why: You are basically saying she has bad taste. And you’ll be embarrassed if they ever patch it up.
Instead say: “His loss!” It gets the same point across without disparaging her judgment.

Don’t say: “I’m glad you got rid of him. I never liked him anyway.”
Why: She’ll wonder about your fake adoration for him while they were together.
Instead say: “I’m confident you’ll find someone who will give you exactly what you want.” It focuses on what’s to come, not on the dud you’re glad she’s done with.

Don’t say: “How could someone as perfect as you still be single?”
Why: A statement like this comes off as a backhanded compliment. What she hears is “What’s wrong with you?”
Instead say: “Seeing anyone?” If she’s tight-lipped about her love life, move on to other topics.

Expert: Bethany Marshall, Ph.D., a psychotherapist in Beverly Hills and the author of Deal Breakers: When to Work On a Relationship and When to Walk Away (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $23, amazon.com).

Greg Clarke

What Not to Say During a Fight with Your Beloved

Don’t say: “You always” or “You never” or “You’re a [slob, jerk]” or “You’re wrong.”
Why: Speaking in absolutes like “you always” and “you’re wrong” is playing the blame game, and resorting to name calling makes your partner feel helpless, which puts him on the defensive and makes a bad fight worse.
Instead say: “I’m upset that you left the dishes in the sink again. What can we do so that this stops happening?” Starting with the pronoun I puts the focus on how you feel, not why he’s in the doghouse, and it will make him more receptive to fixing the problem.

Don’t say: “If you really loved me, you would...”
Why: The more you treat your partner as if he’ll never satisfy you, the less satisfied you’ll be. Controlling your partner by imploring him to do something isn’t a good way to build intimacy.
Instead say: “I feel taken for granted when you don’t help around the house. I would feel better if we could…” The best way to keep a productive fight from becoming a dirty one is to be clear about why you’re upset and then offer a solution.

Expert: Terrence Real, a family therapist in Newton, Massachusetts.

R.I.P. Heavy D