Like any human language, Java provides a way to express concepts. If successful, this medium of expression will be significantly easier and more flexible than the alternatives as problems grow larger and more complex.

You can’t look at Java as just a collection of features – some of the features make no sense in isolation. You can use the sum of the parts only if you are thinking about design, not simply coding. And to understand Java in this way, you must understand the problems with it and with programming in general. This tutorial discusses programming problems, why they are problems, and the approach Java has taken to solve them.

Prerequisites:
This tutorial assumes that you have some programming familiarity. Of course, the book will be easier for the C programmers and more so for the C++ programmers. I’ll be introducing the concepts of object-oriented programming (OOP) and Java’s basic control mechanisms.

Chapters:
Here is a brief description of the chapters contained in the tutorial.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Objects
This chapter is an overview of what object-oriented programming is all about, including the answer to the basic question “What’s an object?”, interface vs. implementation, abstraction and encapsulation, messages and functions, inheritance and composition, and the all-important polymorphism. You’ll also get an overview of issues of object creation such as constructors, where the objects live, where to put them once they’re created, and the magical garbage collector that cleans up the objects that are no longer needed.

Chapter 2: Everything is an Object
This chapter moves you to the point where you can write your first Java program, so it must give an overview of the essentials, including the concept of a reference to an object; how to create an object; an introduction to primitive types and arrays; scoping and the way objects are destroyed by the garbage collector; how everything in Java is a new data type (class) and how to create your own classes; functions, arguments, and return values; name visibility and using components from other libraries; the static keyword; and comments and embedded documentation.

Chapter 3: Controlling Program Flow
This chapter begins with all of the operators that come to Java from C and C++. In addition, you’ll discover common operator pitfalls, casting, promotion, and precedence. This is followed by the basic control-flow and selection operations that you get with virtually any programming language: choice with if-else; looping with for and while; quitting a loop with break and continue as well as Java’s labeled break and labeled continue (which account for the “missing goto” in Java); and selection using switch. Although much of this material has common threads with C and C++ code, there are some differences.

Chapter 4: Initialization & Cleanup
This chapter begins by introducing the constructor, which guarantees proper initialization. The definition of the constructor leads into the concept of function overloading (since you might want several constructors). This is followed by a discussion of the process of cleanup, which is not always as simple as it seems. Normally, you just drop an object when you’re done with it and the garbage collector eventually comes along and releases the memory. This portion explores the garbage collector and some of its idiosyncrasies. The chapter concludes with a closer look at how things are initialized: automatic member initialization, specifying member initialization, the order of initialization, static initialization and array initialization.

Chapter 5: Hiding the Implementation
This chapter covers the way that code is packaged together, and why some parts of a library are exposed while other parts are hidden. It begins by looking at the package and import keywords, which perform file-level packaging and allow you to build libraries of classes. It then examines subject of directory paths and file names. The remainder of the chapter looks at the public, private, and protected keywords, the concept of “friendly” access, and what the different levels of access control mean when used in various contexts.

Chapter 6: Reusing Classes
The concept of inheritance is standard in virtually all OOP languages. It’s a way to take an existing class and add to its functionality (as well as change it, the subject of Chapter 7). Inheritance is often a way to reuse code by leaving the “base class” the same, and just patching things here and there to produce what you want. However, inheritance isn’t the only way to make new classes from existing ones. You can also embed an object inside your new class with composition. In this chapter you’ll learn about these two ways to reuse code in Java, and how to apply them.

Chapter 7: Polymorphism
On your own, you might take nine months to discover and understand polymorphism, a cornerstone of OOP. Through small, simple examples you’ll see how to create a family of types with inheritance and manipulate objects in that family through their common base class. Java’s polymorphism allows you to treat all objects in this family generically, which means the bulk of your code doesn’t rely on specific type information. This makes your programs extensible, so building programs and code maintenance is easier and cheaper.

Chapter 8: Interfaces & Inner Classes
Java provides a third way to set up a reuse relationship, through the interface, which is a pure abstraction of the interface of an object. The interface is more than just an abstract class taken to the extreme, since it allows you to perform a variation on C++’s “multiple inheritance,” by creating a class that can be upcast to more than one base type. At first, inner classes look like a simple code hiding mechanism: you place classes inside other classes. You’ll learn, however, that the inner class does more than that—it knows about and can communicate with the surrounding class—and that the kind of code you can write with inner classes is more elegant and clear, although it is a new concept to most and takes some time to become comfortable with design using inner classes.

Chapter 9: Holding your Objects
It’s a fairly simple program that has only a fixed quantity of objects with known lifetimes. In general, your programs will always be creating new objects at a variety of times that will be known only while the program is running. In addition, you won’t know until run-time the quantity or even the exact type of the objects you need. To solve the general programming problem, you need to create any number of objects, anytime, anywhere. This chapter explores in depth the container library that Java 2 supplies to hold objects while you’re working with them: the simple arrays and more sophisticated containers (data structures) such as ArrayList and HashMap

Chapter 10: Error Handling with Exceptions
The basic philosophy of Java is that badly-formed code will not be run. As much as possible, the compiler catches problems, but sometimes the problems—either programmer error or a natural error condition that occurs as part of the normal execution of the program—can be detected and dealt with only at run-time. Java has exception handling to deal with any problems that arise while the program is running. This chapter examines how the keywords try, catch, throw, throws, and finally work in Java; when you should throw exceptions and what to do when you catch them.

Chapter 11: The Java I/O System
Theoretically, you can divide any program into three parts: input, process, and output. This implies that I/O (input/output) is an important part of the equation. In this chapter you’ll learn about the different classes that Java provides for reading and writing files, blocks of memory, and the console. The distinction between “old” I/O and “new” Java I/O will be shown

Chapter 12: Run-Time Type Identification
Java run-time type identification (RTTI) lets you find the exact type of an object when you have a reference to only the base type. Normally, you’ll want to intentionally ignore the exact type of an object and let Java’s dynamic binding mechanism (polymorphism) implement the correct behavior for that type. But occasionally it is very helpful to know the exact type of an object for which you have only a base reference. Often this information allows you to perform a special-case operation more efficiently. This chapter explains what RTTI is for, how to use it, and how to get rid of it when it doesn’t belong there.

Chapter 13: Creating Windows and Applets
Java comes with the “Swing” GUI library, which is a set of classes that handle windowing in a portable fashion. These windowed programs can either be applets or stand-alone applications. This chapter is an introduction to Swing and the creation of World Wide Web applets. The important “JavaBeans” technology is introduced.

Chapter 14: Multiple Threads
Java provides a built-in facility to support multiple concurrent subtasks, called threads, running within a single program. Although these can be used anywhere, threads are most apparent when trying to create a responsive user interface so, for example, a user isn’t prevented from pressing a button or entering data while some processing is going on. This chapter looks at the syntax and semantics of multithreading in Java.

Chapter 15: Distributed Computing
All the Java features and libraries seem to really come together when you start writing programs to work across networks. This chapter explores communication across networks and the Internet, and the classes that Java provides to make this easier. It introduces the very important concepts of Servlets and JSPs (for server-side programming), along with Java DataBase Connectivity (JDBC), and Remote Method Invocation (RMI). Finally, there’s an introduction to the new technologies of JINI, JavaSpaces, and Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs).

Climbing the corporate ladder requires hard work, good timing and a little bit of luck. It would be great if your academic credentials, job skills and performance reviews would magically open the doors to the executive suite, but life’s not like that. You need to create and execute your own plan.

Here are some tips to help you land that promotion.

1. Master your current job
Even if you’re not interested in making your present position your life’s work, give it your very best. Keep track of your accomplishments. Find ways to increase productivity. Offer well-researched suggestions that will reduce costs. Accept constructive criticism. Always be prepared to deal with any situation without becoming defensive, blaming others or blowing your professional image.

2. Volunteer to take on (valuable) extra tasks
Plan your strategy. Sometimes it’s better to take on a series of smaller tasks instead of a flashy major project in addition to your regular workload. While others are vying for the more visible responsibilities, you’ll be proving your worth and value by efficiently taking care of the less coveted ones.

3. Make your boss look good
Even if you do not particularly like your current manager, make it your goal to ensure the department is successful. When your boss gets promoted, someone has to take his place. Why shouldn’t it be you? When you’re seen as knowledgeable, skilled and interested, you’ll be considered promotable. Just don’t be a brownnoser or tie yourself too closely to your boss. If he’s fired for incompetence, you don’t want to be guilty by association.

4. Stay in close contact with the HR department
Making friends with people in personnel will help you find out quickly about upcoming openings. Your human resources department can also advise you of available training opportunities. Let it be known that you have long-term goals with the company. When decisions are being made for career development opportunities, you want to be on the HR short list.

5. Maintain positive relationships with the staff
You’re not going to like everyone you work with, but no one else needs to know it. Be polite, considerate and courteous at all times. Be a team player and share accolades with others. By acknowledging the efforts of other employees, you’ll earn their trust and respect. And watch your reputation: Keep your personal relationships private and don’t do or say anything you might regret in the office, on business trips or at company functions.

6. Let your leadership skills shined
Every rung on the corporate ladder requires a strong image as a natural leader. Offer encouragement to others in the office, recognize special achievements and, on occasion, organize office outings. Getting the staff together for a beer after work is a great team-building tool.

7. Groom a successor
If you’re the only one who can do your job, guess what? You’ll be doing it forever. Share your knowledge and skills. When you’re going on vacation, ask other people to handle aspects of your job and teach them how to do them well.

8. Get a mentor
Find someone you trust, preferably a senior manager or director with a lot of experience and a large network. Ask for advice. Discuss your career goals with him and plan your strategy. Sometimes you need to take a lateral transfer to gain a different type of skill in order to return to your preferred area in a higher position of authority.

9. Take additional training
No matter what your educational background is, there’s always more you could learn. Look into night courses, seminars and workshops, and ask your mentor and your boss if they would add value to the company. Read business publications and books. Sign up for online informational newsletters. Stay up-to-date on your industry as a whole, not just your job.

10. Look presentable at all times
It’s difficult to see vice president-potential in someone who constantly dresses down. If khakis and polo shirts are the standard in your office, make sure yours are clean, well-pressed and of good quality. Have a sports jacket handy in case you’re called to an important meeting in the executive offices. Keep your hair stylish and your shoes polished.

11. Perfect your elevator pitch
You never know when opportunity will knock. If you meet the CEO, introduce yourself in a way that will leave him wanting to learn more about you. When networking or meeting clients, you want them to remember you for the right reasons. Never brag and don’t be pushy. Ambition is an admirable trait unless you’re perceived as being an egotistical showoff.

12. Watch your timing
It’s usually better not to ask for a promotion. Avoid bringing this up when your boss is obviously stressed and has a strict deadline to meet. Choose the time wisely and let it be known that you feel ready to take on additional responsibilities. Try not to show you are in a rush for a raise and a new title. Be patient.

Promotions don’t just happen
You cannot expect to be offered a promotion based solely on merit, potential or seniority, and there will be times when someone seemingly less qualified is offered a position you feel you deserve. Don’t quit in a childish huff or you’ll prove that you weren’t the right person for the job. Hang in there and continue following these tips. An even better position may become available or the incumbent will fail miserably and you’ll be promoted to replace him.

Remain focused on your long-term career goals. Show off those skills, teach someone your position and always look good Maintain your integrity, your confidence and your efforts, and you’ll get yourself promoted.

An important step in every person’s professional life is the interview for the much anticipated position. People prepare for this moment their whole life, yet many things still go wrong. Here are some key interview tips to remember to have a successful interview, you must have the right type of preparation, and be able to keep a cool mind.

Preparation:
All of the interview tips you will learn about, this is probably the most important part of the whole process, because with good preparation, everything should go as planned. This should be the case, at least in theory. Before getting to the interview, conduct some research to know some basic information about the company , like its mission statement and its position in the industry. This will allow you to intelligently answer questions that might suddenly be thrown your way during the interview session.

This research should also include specific job related issues and requirements. Applicants don’t want to be faced with a tricky question often asked by interviewers, catching the applicant off guard. A good technique is to look at oneself in the mirror and go through the procedure of an interview. Portraying confidence and assertiveness are surely the most important parts of an interview. The interviewer wants to see that the applicant is sure of himself, and that his high confidence is a reflection of his abilities.

Looks That Matter:
Using the same concept as when preparing a resume, your appearance will play a key role in presenting a good image of yourself. We wouldn’t expect an employer to be wearing running shoes and jeans, so why should we ? Dress appropriately for the position. Office and administrative jobs require, without a doubt, a suit and tie appearance. Be wary of overdressing for the interview, but remember, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Body Language:
There are three main things to do when entering the interview room and first meeting a human resources person:

1. Present yourself by clearly stating your name.
2. Make direct eye contact with the interviewer.
3. Give a firm handshake. A trick to avoid having sweaty palms when giving a handshake is to carry a tissue in your pocket to dry your hand right before the handshake.

Before moving on, there are implicit signs interviewers are trained to look out for during an interview session. Interviewers are usually trained observers of the slightest details, which can say more than what is actually said by the applicant.

• Constantly moving hands will usually represent nervousness. Keep them on the table, or on your knees.
• Sit up straight and don`t slouch. Sitting up portrays confidence and savoir faire.
• Unintentional nervous ticks are clearly noticeable by interviewers, but might not be to the applicant. Be careful not to tap the table, touch your face constantly, or stutter when answering questions.

Typical Questions:
Every interview contains a series of questions tailored for that specific interview, however, many of them actually include a set of generic questions that might be posed by the interviewer. Here is an exhaustive list to give you an idea of the types of questions that might be put forth in conversation, during an interview. The key is to answer the questions sincerely, while using a rich vocabulary.

• What experience do you have for the position?
• Why should we hire you?
• Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
• Name one of your weaknesses.
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What can you bring to our company?

Take the appropriate time to answer each one of the questions. Stick to the basic answer and don`t elaborate, unless asked to. An important aspect is never to assume that you have gotten the position, because employers can pick up on this. This could very well play against your odds during the hiring stage. Follow through the entire interview until the very end.

There are different levels of interviews, from the preliminary one to the final selection. Each level will offer different levels of difficulty and preparation, but with this basic bag of knowledge, you are ready to face any interviewer. Two important interview tips to remember are to answer honestly and not to act arrogant. That`s it for now.

You can find the interview questions in my other post 60 Toughest Interview Questions.

Is XP the fastest version of Windows ever? That’s debatable, but this is not: like every operating system that came before it, it’s not as fast as it could be without a whole bunch of fine-tuning. Windows operating systems are never streamlined by default.

I just found a good article on the web that lists a few great ways of speeding up your Windows. It’s a good read.

Find the article about speeding up XP Here.

Turn the flashiest, most colorful Windows yet into a stone cold performance machine with these performance tweaks. Check my tweak section, to find more ways to speed up your system.

General Guidelines:
Everyone is nervous on interviews. If you simply allow yourself to feel nervous, you’ll do much better. In general, be upbeat and positive. Never be negative. Never talk for more than 2 minutes straight. Find out what an employer wants most in his or her ideal candidate, then show how you meet those qualifications. In other words, you must match your abilities, with the needs of the employer. Be honest and most important never lie.

Good luck!

1. Tell me about yourself.
Beware, about 80% of all interviews begin with this “innocent” question. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters. Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position. Remember that the key to all successful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. This is the single most important strategy in job hunting.

2. What are your greatest strengths?
This question seems like a softball lob, but be prepared. You don’t want to come across as egotistical or arrogant. Neither is this a time to be humble. You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer’s greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. You know how to do this from question 1. You should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have specific example or two, which illustrates each strength.
The 10 most desirable traits:
1. A proven track record as an achiever.
2. Intelligence and management capabilities.
3. Honesty and integrity.
4. Good to fit corporate culture.
5. Positive attitude.
6. Good communication skills.
7. Dedication to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8. Definiteness of goals.
9. Enthusiasm.
10. Confident.

3. What are your greatest weaknesses?
This is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list. Any admission of a weakness or fault will earn you an “A” for honesty, but an “F” for the interview. Disguise a strength as a weakness. “I sometimes push my people too hard. I like to work with a sense of urgency and everyone is not always on the same wavelength.” Assure the interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of your performing in this position with excellence. Then, quickly review you strongest qualifications.

4. Tell me about something you did – or failed to do.
There are some questions your interviewer has no business asking, and this is one. But while you may feel like answering, “none of your business,” naturally you can’t. Some interviewers ask this question on the chance you admit to something, but if not, at least they’ll see how you think on your feet. Some unprepared candidates, flustered by this question, unburden themselves of guilt from their personal life or career, perhaps expressing regrets regarding a parent, spouse, child, etc. All such answers can be disastrous. As with faults and weaknesses, never confess a regret. But don’t seem as if you’re stonewalling either. Say you harbor no regrets, then add a principle or habit you practice regularly for healthy human relations.

5. Why are you leaving your old position(If you have a job presently)?
Never badmouth your previous industry, company, board, boss, staff, employees or customers. This rule is inviolable: never be negative. Any mud you hurl will only soil your suit. Especially avoid words like “personality clash”, “didn’t get along”, or others which cast a shadow on your competence, integrity, or temperament. Since you have a job, you are in a stronger position than someone who does not. But don’t be coy either. State honestly what you’d be hoping to find in a new spot. Of course, as stated often before, you answer will all the stronger if you have already uncovered what this position is all about and you match your desires to it.

6. The “Silent Treatment”
If you are unprepared for this, you will probably not handle it right and possibly blow the interview. Thank goodness most interviewers don’t employ it. It’s normally used by those determined to see how you respond under stress. You answer an interviewer’s question and then, instead of asking another, he just stares at you in a deafening silence. Most unprepared candidates rush in to fill the void of silence, viewing prolonged, uncomfortable silences as an invitation to clear up the previous answer which has obviously caused some problem. And that’s what they do – ramble on, sputtering more and more information, sometimes irrelevant and often damaging, because they are suddenly playing the role of someone who’s goofed and is now trying to recoup. We can just say “Is there anything else I can fill in on that point?” That’s all there is to it.

7. Why should I hire you?
Believe it or not, this is a killer question because so many candidates are unprepared for it. If you stammer or adlib you’ve blown it. By now you can see how critical it is to apply the overall strategy of uncovering the employer’s needs before you answer questions. If you know the employer’s greatest needs and desires, this question will give you a big leg up over other candidates because you will give him better reasons for hiring you than anyone else is likely to…reasons tied directly to his needs. The answer would be “As I understand your needs, you are first and foremost looking for someone who can manage the sales and marketing of your book publishing division. As you’ve said you need someone with a strong background in trade book sales. This is where I’ve spent almost all of my career, so I’ve chalked up 18 years of experience exactly in this area. I believe that I know the right contacts, methods, principles, and successful management techniques as well as any person can in our industry.”

8. Aren’t you overqualified for this position?
The employer may be concerned that you’ll grow dissatisfied and leave. As with any objection, don’t view this as a sign of imminent defeat. It’s an invitation to teach the interviewer a new way to think about this situation, seeing advantages instead of drawbacks. Just say “I recognize the job market for what it is – a marketplace. Like any marketplace, it’s subject to the laws of supply and demand. So ‘overqualified’ can be a relative term, depending on how tight the job market is. And right now, it’s very tight. I understand and accept that.”

9. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
One reason interviewers ask this question is to see if you’re settling for this position, using it merely as a stopover until something better comes along. Or they could be trying to gauge your level of ambition. If you’re too specific, i.e., naming the promotions you someday hope to win, you’ll sound presumptuous. If you’re too vague, you’ll seem rudderless. Reassure your interviewer that you’re looking to make a long-term commitment…that this position entails exactly what you’re looking to do and what you do extremely well. As for your future, you believe that if you perform each job at hand with excellence, future opportunities will take care of themselves.

10. Describe your ideal company, location and job.
This is often asked by an experienced interviewer who thinks you may be overqualified, but knows better than to show his hand by posing his objection directly. So he’ll use this question instead, which often gets a candidate to reveal that, indeed, he or she is looking for something other than the position at hand. The only right answer is to describe what this company is offering, being sure to make your answer believable with specific reasons, stated with sincerity, why each quality represented by this opportunity is attractive to you.

11. Why do you want to work at our company?
This question tests whether you’ve done any homework about the firm. If you haven’t, you lose. If you have, you win big. This question is your opportunity to hit the ball out of the park, thanks to the in-depth research you should do before any interview. Best sources for researching your target company: annual reports, the corporate newsletter, contacts you know at the company or its suppliers, advertisements, articles about the company in the trade press.

12. What are your career options right now?
The interviewer is trying to find out, “How desperate are you?” Prepare for this question by thinking of how you can position yourself as a desired commodity. If you are still working, describe the possibilities at your present firm and why, though you’re greatly appreciated there, you’re looking for something more (challenge, money, responsibility, etc.). Also mention that you’re seriously exploring opportunities with one or two other firms. If you’re not working, you can talk about other employment possibilities you’re actually exploring. But do this with a light touch, speaking only in general terms. You don’t want to seem manipulative or coy.

13. Why have you been out of work so long?
A tough question if you’ve been on the beach a long time. You don’t want to seem like damaged goods. You want to emphasize factors which have prolonged your job search by your own choice. This would be a good answer “After my job was terminated, I made a conscious decision not to jump on the first opportunities to come along. In my life, I’ve found out that you can always turn a negative into a positive IF you try hard enough. This is what I determined to do. I decided to take whatever time I needed to think through what I do best, what I most want to do, where I’d like to do it…and then identify those companies that could offer such an opportunity.”

14. Tell me about the strong and weak points of your old boss
Skillfull interviewers sometimes make it almost irresistible to open up and air a little dirty laundry from your previous position. DON’T do that. Remember the rule: Never be negative. Stress only the good points, no matter how charmingly you’re invited to be critical. Your interviewer doesn’t care a whit about your previous boss. He wants to find out how loyal and positive you are, and whether you’ll criticize him behind his back if pressed to do so by someone in this own company. This question is your opportunity to demonstrate your loyalty to those you work with.

15. What good books have you read lately?
As in all matters of your interview, never fake familiarity you don’t have. Yet you don’t want to seem like a dullard who hasn’t read a book since Tom Sawyer. Unless you’re up for a position in academia or as book critic for The New York Times, you’re not expected to be a literary lion. But it wouldn’t hurt to have read a handful of the most recent and influential books in your profession and on management. Consider it part of the work of your job search to read up on a few of these leading books. But make sure they are quality books that reflect favorably upon you, nothing that could even remotely be considered superficial. Finally, add a recently published bestselling work of fiction by a world-class author and you’ll pass this question with flying colors.

16. Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized.
This is a tough question because it’s a more clever and subtle way to get you to admit to a weakness. You can’t dodge it by pretending you’ve never been criticized. Everybody has been. Yet it can be quite damaging to start admitting potential faults and failures that you’d just as soon leave buried. This question is also intended to probe how well you accept criticism and direction. Begin by emphasizing the extremely positive feedback you’ve gotten throughout your career and (if it’s true) that your performance reviews have been uniformly excellent. Of course, no one is perfect and you always welcome suggestions on how to improve your performance. Then, give an example of a not-too-damaging learning experience from early in your career and relate the ways this lesson has since helped you.

17. What are your outside interests?
You want to be a well-rounded, not a drone. But your potential employer would be even more turned off if he suspects that your heavy extracurricular load will interfere with your commitment to your work duties. Try to gauge how this company’s culture would look upon your favorite outside activities and be guided accordingly.

18. The “Fatal Flaw” question
If an interviewer has read your resume carefully, he may try to zero in on a “fatal flaw” of your candidacy, perhaps that you don’t have a college degree…you’ve been out of the job market for some time…you never earned your CPA, etc. A fatal flaw question can be deadly, but usually only if you respond by being overly defensive.
Whenever you come up against a fatal flaw question:
1. Be completely honest, open and straightforward about admitting the shortcoming.
2. Do not apologize or try to explain it away. You know that this supposed flaw is nothing to be concerned about, and this is the attitude you want your interviewer to adopt as well.
3. Add that as desirable as such a qualification might be, its lack has made you work all the harder throughout your career and has not prevented you from compiling an outstanding tack record of achievements. You might even give examples of how, through a relentless commitment to excellence, you have consistently outperformed those who do have this qualification.

19. How do you feel about reporting to a younger person ?
It’s a shame that some interviewers feel the need to ask this question, but many understand the reality that prejudices still exist among some job candidates, and it’s better to try to flush them out beforehand. The trap here is that in today’s politically sensitized environment, even a well-intentioned answer can result in planting your foot neatly in your mouth. Avoid anything which smacks of a patronizing or an insensitive attitude, such as “I think they make terrific bosses” or “Hey, some of my best friends are…” You greatly admire a company that hires and promotes on merit alone and you couldn’t agree more with that philosophy. The age (gender, race, etc.) of the person you report to would certainly make no difference to you. Whoever has that position has obviously earned it and knows their job well. Both the person and the position are fully deserving of respect.

20. On confidential matters…
When an interviewer presses you to reveal confidential information about a present or former employer, you may feel it’s a no-win situation. If you cooperate, you could be judged untrustworthy. If you don’t, you may irritate the interviewer and seem obstinate, uncooperative or overly suspicious. Your interviewer may press you for this information for two reasons. First, many companies use interviews to research the competition. It’s a perfect set-up. Second, the company may be testing your integrity to see if you can be cajoled or bullied into revealing confidential data. What to do? The answer here is easy. Never reveal anything truly confidential about a present or former employer.

21. Would you lie for the company?
This another question that pits two values against one another, in this case loyalty against integrity. Try to avoid choosing between two values, giving a positive statement which covers all bases instead. “I would never do anything to hurt the company..”

22. Looking back, what would you do differently in your life?
This question is usually asked to uncover any life-influencing mistakes, regrets, disappointments or problems that may continue to affect your personality and performance. You do not want to give the interviewer anything negative to remember you by, such as some great personal or career disappointment, even long ago, that you wish could have been avoided. Indicate that you are a happy, fulfilled, optimistic person and that, in general, you wouldn’t change a thing.

23. Could you have done better in your last job?
This is no time for true confessions of major or even minor problems. Again never be negative. “I suppose with the benefit of hindsight you can always find things to do better, of course, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything of major consequence.”

24. Can you work under pressure?
An easy question, but you want to make your answer believable. Absolutely…(then prove it with a vivid example or two of a goal or project accomplished under severe pressure.)

25. What makes you angry?
You don’t want to come across either as a hothead or a wimp. Give an answer that’s suited to both your personality and the management style of the firm. “I’m an even-tempered and positive person by nature, and I believe this helps me a great deal in keeping my department running smoothly, harmoniously and with a genuine esprit de corps.

26. Why aren’t you earning more money at this stage of your career?
You don’t want to give the impression that money is not important to you, yet you want to explain why your salary may be a little below industry standards. You like to make money, but other factors are even more important. “Making money is very important to me, and one reason I’m here is because I’m looking to make more. Throughout my career, what’s been even more important to me is doing work I really like to do at the kind of company I like and respect.

27. Who has inspired you in your life and why?
The two traps here are unpreparedness and irrelevance. If you grope for an answer, it seems you’ve never been inspired. If you ramble about your high school basketball coach, you’ve wasted an opportunity to present qualities of great value to the company. Have a few heroes in mind, from your mental “Board of Directors” – Leaders in your industry, from history or anyone else who has been your mentor.

28. What was the toughest decision you ever had to make?
Be prepared with a good example, explaining why the decision was difficult…the process you followed in reaching it…the courageous or effective way you carried it out…and the beneficial results.

29. Tell me about the most boring job you’ve ever had.
You give a very memorable description of a very boring job. Result? You become associated with this boring job in the interviewer’s mind. You have never allowed yourself to grow bored with a job and you can’t understand it when others let themselves fall into that rut. “Perhaps I’ve been fortunate, but that I’ve never found myself bored with any job I have ever held. I’ve always enjoyed hard work.”

30. Have you been absent from work more than a few days in any previous position?
If you’ve had a problem, you can’t lie. You could easily be found out. Yet admitting an attendance problem could raise many flags. If you have had no problem, emphasize your excellent and consistent attendance record throughout your career.

31. What changes would you make if you came on board?
Watch out! This question can derail your candidacy faster than a bomb on the tracks – and just as you are about to be hired. No matter how bright you are, you cannot know the right actions to take in a position before you settle in and get to know the operation’s strengths, weaknesses key people, financial condition, methods of operation, etc. If you lunge at this temptingly baited question, you will probably be seen as someone who shoots from the hip. Moreover, no matter how comfortable you may feel with your interviewer, you are still an outsider. You, of course, will want to take a good hard look at everything the company is doing before making any recommendations.

32. I’m concerned that you don’t have as much experience as we’d like in…
This could be a make-or-break question. The interviewer mostly likes what he sees, but has doubts over one key area. If you can assure him on this point, the job may be yours. This question is related to “The Fatal Flaw” (Question 18), but here the concern is not that you are totally missing some qualifications, such as CPA certification, but rather that your experience is light in one area. Before going into any interview, try to identify the weakest aspects of your candidacy from this company’s point of view. Then prepare the best answer you possible can to shore up your defenses.

33. How do you feel about working nights and weekends?
Blurt out “no way, Jose” and you can kiss the job offer goodbye. But what if you have a family and want to work a reasonably normal schedule? Is there a way to get both the job and the schedule you want? First, if you’re a confirmed workaholic, this question is a softball lob. Whack it out of the park on the first swing by saying this kind of schedule is just your style. Add that your family understands it. Indeed, they’re happy for you, as they know you get your greatest satisfaction from your work.

34. Are you willing to relocate or travel?
Answer with a flat “no” and you may slam the door shut on this opportunity. But what if you’d really prefer not to relocate or travel, yet wouldn’t want to lose the job offer over it? First find out where you may have to relocate and how much travel may be involved. Then respond to the question. If there’s no problem, say so enthusiastically.

35. Do you have the stomach to fire people? Have you had experience firing many people?
This “innocent” question could be a trap door which sends you down a chute and lands you in a heap of dust outside the front door. Why? Because its real intent is not just to see if you’ve got the stomach to fire, but also to uncover poor judgment in hiring which has caused you to fire so many. Also, if you fire so often, you could be a tyrant. So don’t rise to the bait by boasting how many you’ve fired, unless you’ve prepared to explain why it was beyond your control, and not the result of your poor hiring procedures or foul temperament. Describe the rational and sensible management process you follow in both hiring and firing.

36. Why have you had so many jobs?
Your interviewer fears you may leave this position quickly, as you have others. He’s concerned you may be unstable, or a “problem person” who can’t get along with others. First, before you even get to the interview stage, you should try to minimize your image as job hopper. If there are several entries on your resume of less than one year, consider eliminating the less important ones. Perhaps you can specify the time you spent at previous positions in rounded years not in months and years.

37. What do you see as the proper role/mission of good job, good manager?
These and other “proper role” questions are designed to test your understanding of your place in the bigger picture of your department, company, community and profession….as well as the proper role each of these entities should play in its bigger picture. Think of the most essential ingredients of success for each category above – your job title, your role as manager, your firm’s role, etc. Identify at least three but no more than six qualities you feel are most important to success in each role. Then commit your response to memory.

38. What would you say to your boss if he’s crazy about an idea, but you think it stinks?
This is another question that pits two values, in this case loyalty and honesty, against one another. Remember the rule stated earlier: In any conflict between values, always choose integrity. Say “I believe that when evaluating anything, it’s important to emphasize the positive. What do I like about this idea? After all, the most important thing I owe my boss is honesty. If he can’t count on me for that, then everything else I may do or say could be questionable in his eyes. But I also want to express my thoughts in a constructive way. So my goal in this case would be to see if my boss and I could make his idea even stronger and more appealing, so that it effectively overcomes any initial reservation I or others may have about it. Of course, if he overrules me and says, ‘no, let’s do it my way,’ then I owe him my full and enthusiastic support to make it work as best it can.”

39. How could you have improved your career progress?
This is another variation on the question, “If you could, how would you live your life over?” Remember, you’re not going to fall for any such invitations to rewrite person history. You can’t win if you do. You’re generally quite happy with your career progress. Maybe, if you had known something earlier in life, you might have moved in a certain direction sooner. But all things considered, you take responsibility for where you are, how you’ve gotten there, where you are going…and you harbor no regrets.

40. What would you do if a fellow executive on your own corporate level wasn’t pulling his/her weight…and this was hurting your department?
This question and other hypothetical ones test your sense of human relations and how you might handle office politics. Try to gauge the political style of the firm and be guided accordingly. In general, fall back on universal principles of effective human relations – which in the end, embody the way you would like to be treated in a similar circumstance.

41. You’ve been with your firm a long time. Won’t it be hard switching to a new company?
Your interviewer is worried that this old dog will find it hard to learn new tricks. To overcome this objection, you must point to the many ways you have grown and adapted to changing conditions at your present firm. It has not been a static situation. Highlight the different responsibilities you’ve held, the wide array of new situations you’ve faced and conquered.

42. May I contact your present employer for a reference?
If you’re trying to keep your job search private, this is the last thing you want. But if you don’t cooperate, won’t you seem as if you’re trying to hide something? Express your concern that you’d like to keep your job search private, but that in time, it will be perfectly okay.

43. Give me an example of your creativity
The worst offense here is simply being unprepared. Your hesitation may seem as if you’re having a hard time remembering the last time you were creative, analytical, etc. Remember from Question 2 that you should commit to memory a list of your greatest and most recent achievements, ever ready on the tip of your tongue.

44. Where could you use some improvement?
Another tricky way to get you to admit weaknesses. Don’t fall for it. Keep this answer, like all your answers, positive. A good way to answer this question is to identify a cutting-edge branch of your profession (one that’s not essential to your employer’s needs) as an area you’re very excited about and want to explore more fully over the next six months.

45. What do you worry about?
Admit to worrying and you could sound like a loser. Saying you never worry doesn’t sound credible. Redefine the word ‘worry’ so that it does not reflect negatively on you.

46. How many hours a week do you normally work?
You don’t want to give a specific number. Make it to low, and you may not measure up. Too high, and you’ll forever feel guilty about sneaking out the door at 5:15. If you are in fact a workaholic and you sense this company would like that: Say you are a confirmed workaholic, that you often work nights and weekends. Your family accepts this because it makes you fulfilled. If you are not a workaholic: Say you have always worked hard and put in long hours.

47. What’s the most difficult part of remaining at a position?
Unless you phrase your answer properly, your interviewer may conclude that whatever you identify as “difficult” is where you are weak. First, redefine “difficult” to be “challenging” which is more positive. Then, identify an area everyone in your profession considers challenging and in which you excel. Describe the process you follow that enables you to get splendid results…and be specific about those results.

48. The “Hypothetical Problem”
Sometimes an interviewer will describe a difficult situation and ask, “How would you handle this?” Since it is virtually impossible to have all the facts in front of you from such a short presentation, don’t fall into the trap of trying to solve this problem and giving your verdict on the spot. It will make your decision-making process seem woefully inadequate. Instead, describe the rational, methodical process you would follow in analyzing this problem, who you would consult with, generating possible solutions, choosing the best course of action, and monitoring the results.

49. What was the toughest challenge you’ve ever faced?
Being unprepared or citing an example from so early in your life that it doesn’t score many points for you at this stage of your career. This is an easy question if you’re prepared. Have a recent example ready that demonstrates either:
1. A quality most important to the job at hand
2. A quality that is always in demand, such as leadership, initiative, managerial skill, persuasiveness, courage, persistence, intelligence, etc.
50. Have you consider starting your own business?
If you say “yes” and elaborate enthusiastically, you could be perceived as a loose cannon in a larger company, too entrepreneurial to make a good team player…or someone who had to settle for the corporate life because you couldn’t make a go of your own business. On the other hand, if you answer “no, never” you could be perceived as a security-minded drone who never dreamed a big dream. Again it’s best to:
1. Gauge this company’s corporate culture before answering.
2. Be honest.

51. What are your goals?
Not having any…or having only vague generalities, not highly specific goals. Many executives in a position to hire you are strong believers in goal-setting. (It’s one of the reason they’ve achieved so much). They like to hire in kind. If you’re vague about your career and personal goals, it could be a big turnoff to may people you will encounter in your job search.

52. What do you for when you hire people?
Speak your own thoughts here, but for the best answer weave them around the three most important qualifications for any position.
1. Can the person do the work (qualifications)?
2. Will the person do the work (motivation)?
3. Will the person fit in (“our kind of team player”)?

53. “The Salary Question” – How much money do you want?
May also be phrases as, “What salary are you worth?”…or, “How much are you making now?” This is your most important negotiation. Handle it wrong and you can blow the job offer or go to work at far less than you might have gotten. For maximum salary negotiating power, remember these five guidelines:
1. Never bring up salary. Let the interviewer do it first.
2. If your interviewer raises the salary question too early, before you’ve had a chance to create desire for your qualifications, postpone the question, saying something like, “Money is important to me, but is not my main concern. Opportunity and growth are far more important.
3. The #1 rule of any negotiation is: the side with more information wins. After you’ve done a thorough job of selling the interviewer and it’s time to talk salary, the secret is to get the employer talking about what he’s willing to pay before you reveal what you’re willing to accept. So, when asked about salary, respond by asking, “I’m sure the company has already established a salary range for this position. Could you tell me what that is?” Or, “I want an income commensurate with my ability and qualifications. I trust you’ll be fair with me. What does the position pay?” Or, more simply, “What does this position pay?”
4. Know beforehand what you’d accept. To know what’s reasonable, research the job market and this position for any relevant salary information.
5. Never lie about what you currently make, but feel free to include the estimated cost of all your fringes, which could well tack on 25-50% more to your present “cash-only” salary.

54. What was the toughest part of your last job?
This is slightly different from the question raised earlier, “What’s the most difficult part of being at a position because this asks what you personally have found most difficult in your last position. This question is more difficult to redefine into something positive. Your interviewer will assume that whatever you found toughest may give you a problem in your new position. State that there was nothing in your prior position that you found overly difficult, and let your answer go at that.

55. How do you define success…and how do you measure up to your own definition?
Seems like an obvious enough question. Yet many executives, unprepared for it, fumble the ball. Give a well-accepted definition of success that leads right into your own stellar collection of achievements.

56. If you won $10 million lottery, would you still work?
Your totally honest response might be, “Hell, no, are you serious?” That might be so, but any answer which shows you as fleeing work if given the chance could make you seem lazy. On the other hand, if you answer, “Oh, I’d want to keep doing exactly what I am doing, only doing it for your firm,” you could easily inspire your interviewer to silently mutter to himself, “Yeah, sure. Gimme a break.” This type of question is aimed at getting at your bedrock attitude about work and how you feel about what you do. Your best answer will focus on your positive feelings.

57. Looking back on your last position, have you done your best work?
Tricky question. Answer “absolutely” and it can seem like your best work is behind you. Answer, “no, my best work is ahead of me,” and it can seem as if you didn’t give it your all. To cover both possible paths this question can take, your answer should state that you always try to do your best, and the best of your career is right now. Like an athlete at the top of his game, you are just hitting your career stride thanks to several factors. Then, recap those factors, highlighting your strongest qualifications.

58. Why should I hire you from the outside when I could promote someone from within?
This question isn’t as aggressive as it sounds. It represents the interviewer’s own dilemma over this common problem. He’s probably leaning toward you already and for reassurance, wants to hear what you have to say on the matter. Help him see the qualifications that only you can offer.

59. Tell me something negative you’ve heard about our company
This is a common fishing expedition to see what the industry grapevine may be saying about the company. But it’s also a trap because as an outsider, you never want to be the bearer of unflattering news or gossip about the firm. It can only hurt your chances and sidetrack the interviewer from getting sold on you. Just remember the rule – never be negative – and you’ll handle this one just fine.

60. On a scale of one to ten, rate me as an interviewer.
Give a perfect “10,” and you’ll seem too easy to please. Give anything less than a perfect 10, and he could press you as to where you’re being critical, and that road leads downhill for you. Once again, never be negative. The interviewer will only resent criticism coming from you. This is the time to show your positivism. However, don’t give a numerical rating. Simply praise whatever interview style he’s been using.

Microsoft released the Public Preview version of Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 Beta, a pre-release version of its next Web browser. The idea was that developers and Web site operators should use this build to test their sites in anticipation of the final IE 7 release.

Download Internet Explorer 7 Here.

What Has Changed in Version 7:
Unlike both IE 5.x and IE 6.0, IE 7.0 includes both major functional changes as well as major changes under the hood that impact both the security and stability of IE as well as how the product renders Web sites.

• User Interface Improvements: The navigation bar in the new internet explorer is completely redesigned. Everything else is new and interesting. The major theme here is to have buttons as short cuts and pulldowns for more detail.
• Tabbed Browsing: Another interesting change is that the IE 7 introduced tabbed browsing. There is Quick Tabs feature which is technically unique. Quick Tabs let’s you visually switch between open Web documents.
• Integrated Search: The new Internet Explorer features a built-in search box, similar to the one in Firefox. Like Firefox, Internet Explorer has an infrastructure for adding more search engines.
• Favorites and History: Favorites and History have gone through a major redesign in this version, which aggregates these two document lists with the new RSS (Real Simple Syndication) support.
• RSS Integration: If there is one thing that definitely stands out in IE7, it is RSS integration. IE presents RSS feeds using a smart view which lets the user search, filter and sort the entries contained in the feed.
• Other Notable Features: There are also lot of additions in this new version like Printing Advances, Clear Type, Text Zoom, Fix Settings, Security Features, Enterprise Features and so on.

Getting Around IE7 Problems:
The new version of internet explorer has born with some problems.

• Problem With Viewing Some Sites: Every time a new version of Internet Explorer has been released, there have been sites that will not work with that new version. We can get around this problem with User Agent String Utility Tool Here. This tool opens an Internet Explorer 7.0 window which is configured to report its identity to websites as being Internet Explorer 6.0 – an excellent way to work with Web sites that are improperly coded to only recognise IE6 and earlier.
• IE7 (iexplore.exe) Crashes: Some times when we open a new tab the process crashes without any error message. Just vanishes from processes.This may be due to Add-Ons, so sometimes disabling add-ons will help(Internet Options -> Advanced -> Reset Internet Explorer Settings).
• McAfee Update Problems: Security settings in the new version of Internet Explorer are causing problems for users of McAfee software.McAfee have released a workaround solution to the problem. The install advice is here, and the update guide is here.
• “Internet Explorer Has Encountered A Problem And Needs To Close”: Instead of manually installing IE7, download it along with windows update.
• Start-Up Problems: Sometimes during start-up we get a window named “SMARTBRIDGE ALERTS: MotiveSB.exe and some error message. MotiveSB.exe is a program installed by SBC Yahoo and some other Internet providers to help them diagnose problems.Just disable the startup entry of MotiveSB.exe(Start->Run->msconfig-> startup).

If you still have problems with IE7, then try downloading IE from windows update site instead of manually downloading and installing.

Bottom-Line: IE 7 is a huge monumental improvement over IE 6 in both security and functionality, and will likely impress most typical Windows users. There is evidence of really good effort and innovation.

The bigger question is how does IE7 compare to Firefox 2.0 and is it enough to hang on to IE’s huge market share?

IE 7.0 Beta 2 is stable enough to use on production PCs and servers, and if you’re wondering what the future is going to look like, dive right in.

Google has forayed into the word processing industry by releasing a test version of Google Docs & Spreadsheets.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a web-based word processing and spreadsheet program that keeps documents current and lets the people you choose update files from their own computers. The new service aims to provide a solution for people trying to collaborate information stored in different word processors and spreadsheets by using the web to review and manipulate the data. A key feature of Google Docs & Spreadsheets is the ability for numerous users to simultaneously work on the same document from different locations.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets is currently in public test mode and available for free. It is supported by most of the browsers. At this time Google Docs & Spreadsheets is only available in English.

What can we do:

• We can create and upload Word documents, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML or text.
• Invite others (by e-mail address) to edit or view our documents and spreadsheets.
• Edit documents online with whomever we choose.
• Use formatting and formula editing in spreadsheets so you can calculate results and make your data look the way you want it.
• Chat in real time with others who are editing your spreadsheet.
• Publish documents and spreadsheets online to the world, as Web pages.
• Download documents to your desktop as Word, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML or zip.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets works on Creating, Sharing, Storing and Publishing.

Try it now for free Here.

I’m more impressed by Google every time I play around with their products.

What is this article about?
This article is for all those sad and worried pathetic souls sitting in their schools, colleges, and office cabins who cannot access their favourite sites as they are blocked by either their school/college/office administration or their ISP(Internet Service Provider).

After reading this article I’m sure you will be able to access your favourite sites like Myspace,Friendster,Orkut and Facebook anywhere. These are the best ways around blocked IP address filters at school and work. I’m listing a few approaches to help you in accessing your sites. So read on.

1. Surf the internet via a proxy server. A proxy server is a service that hides the identity of your computer. This means that only the address of the proxy server is visible to the world and not yours. Just visit the proxy server website with your Web browser and enter a URL (website address) in the form provided. Here is the huge list of proxies.

http://www.iphant.de
http://www.vcamo.com
http://www.3proxy.com
http://www.3proxy.org
http://www.45percent.com
http://www.75i.net
http://www.anproxy.info
http://www.anymouse.org
http://www.anymousindex.com
http://www.anymoussurf.be
http://www.anymousurfing.info
http://www.anypost.com
http://www.anti-boredom.co.uk
http://www.aproxysite.com
http://www.arnit.net
http://www.attackcensorship.com
http://www.betaproxy.com
http://www.boredatschool.net
http://www.browseatschool.net
http://www.bypassbrowser.com
http://www.bypassit.be
http://www.cecid.com
http://www.cleverproxy.com
http://www.clickcop.com
http://www.collegeproxy.com
http://www.computersteroids.com
http://www.concealme.com
http://www.cpr0x.com
http://www.cyberbite.com
http://www.darkproxy.com
http://www.demonproxy.com
http://www.desireproxy.com
http://www.directproxy.com
http://www.dnbroker.us
http://www.dzzt.com
http://www.ebypass.org
http://www.fastopener.com
http://www.fireprox.com
http://www.flyproxy.com
http://www.free-proxy.info
http://www.freeinternetproxy.com
http://www.freeproxy.ca
http://www.freeproxy01.com
http://www.freeproxysurf.info
http://www.fsurf.com
http://www.fullysickproxy.com
http://www.game678.com
http://www.gamecrib.net
http://www.ghostclick.com
http://www.gouc.fr
http://www.handsoffmycomputer.com
http://www.hideip.be
http://www.hideyour.info
http://www.hidingyou.com
http://www.hostwindsor.com
http://www.httproxy.com
http://www.hujiko.com
http://www.idoxy.com
http://www.ieproxy.com
http://www.ipzap.com
http://www.lightningproxy.com
http://www.liteproxy.com
http://www.mirkoreich.de
http://www.ninjaproxy.com
http://www.pc-portal.at
http://www.mrproxy.com
http://www.myfreeproxy.com
http://www.myproxysurfer.com
http://www.mysticproxy.com
http://www.netsack.net
http://www.networktechs.com
http://www.newproxy.be
http://www.pimps.com
http://www.pagewash.com
http://www.peoplesproxy.com
http://www.perlproxy.com
http://www.phproxy.org
http://www.poxy.us.to
http://www.pr0xy.org
http://www.primeproxy.com
http://www.projectbypass.com
http://www.proxifree.com
http://www.proxify.co.uk
http://www.proxify.com
http://www.proxify.info
http://www.proxy-sock.com
http://www.proxycraze.com
http://www.proxydrop.net
http://www.proxydrop.org
http://www.proxyfoxy.com
http://www.proxygasp.com
http://www.proxyguy.com
http://www.proxyhero.com
http://www.proxyip.org
http://www.proxylord.com
http://www.proxyking.net
http://www.proxymod.com
http://www.proxymouse.com
http://www.proxypi.com
http://www.proxypowered.com
http://www.proxyprince.com
http://www.proxyserver7.com
http://www.proxysnail.com
http://www.proxysw.com
http://www.proxyspy.com
http://www.proxytastic.com
http://www.proxyz.be
http://www.pureprivacy.com
http://www.rapidproxy.com
http://www.roachhost.com
http://www.satanproxy.com
http://www.scriptdownloads.com
http://www.secretbrowse.com
http://www.shadowsurf.com
http://www.smartproxy.net
http://www.sneak3.po.gs
http://www.sonicpig.com
http://www.spiderproxy.com
http://www.stoptheblock.com
http://www.strongproxy.com
http://www.studentproxy.com
http://www.stupidcensorship.com
http://www.surf-an.com
http://www.surfanym.de
http://www.surfnameless.com
http://www.switchproxy.com
http://www.thecabletown.com
http://www.thecgiproxy.com
http://www.thestrongestlinks.com
http://www.thatproxy.com
http://www.theproxy.be
http://www.theproxy.info
http://www.torify.com
http://www.totalupload.com
http://www.umzo.com
http://www.unblockthis.com
http://www.unipeak.com
http://www.urlencoded.com
http://www.useproxy.net
http://www.vproxy.be

2. To access the blocked Web site, type the IP address of the blocked website instead of the actual website URL in the address bar. You can find out the IP address of any website Here.

3. Use a URL redirection service like tinyurl.com or snipurl.com. These domain forward services sometimes work as the address in the the url box remain the redirect url and do not change to the banned site.

4. Enter the URL in Google or Yahoo search and then visit the cached copy of the page. To retrieve the page more quickly from Google’s cache, click “Cached Text Only” while the browser is loading the page from cache.

5. We can try changing the name of the websites by adding prefixes. For example we can use http://home.orkut.com instead of http://www.orkut.com. Other prefixes include search, invite, mail, blog, invite, favorites, forum, groups, events etc…

6. Finally when nothing works try this, it should work
https://74-38-40-204.dsl1.chi.il.frontiernet.net/cgi-bin/nph-202087.cgi/000000A/https/www.orkut.com/GLogin.aspx=3fdone=3dhttp=253A=252F=252Fwww.orkut.com=252F

Inorder to use the above link for other websites just replace the orkut with the website name . If you still have got any problems just post your problems in the comment box and I’ll get to them as soon as possible.

This article should be used only when an innocent website is accidentally blocked by your ISP or your government. There are always legitimate reasons to visit these blocked websites.

Good Luck.

Disclaimer: The author is not at all responsible for the misuse of the content in this article . The author cannot be held responsible for anything or whatever happens.

What is it?
GTalk Profile is a service through which we can connect to other Google Talk users. GTalk Profile can help you find other Google Talk users from around the world.

Visit GTalk Profile Here.

There is a world map on the homepage where we can see the countries with google talk users who are registered with gtalk profile. We can zoom on the countries and see which states or city the google talk users are located. There are points on the map to represent different countries, states/provinces, or cities/towns. When we click a point on the map we can see the users at that location. We can also use the search box to even further narrow your search.

In order to use the service we should have a gtalk profile of your own. The best part about this service is that our privacy is not compromised as your google talk ID is never revealed, any member can contact us if only we wish to. To talk to other members we have to add them to our profile as private or public friend, once we do that a notice is sent to other person  requesting their permission to be added as our friend and we will only be able to see their google talk ID if and only if they accept.

This service is available in more languages apart from english.

Visual Task Tips is a lightweight shell enhancement utility. It provides thumbnail preview image for each task in the Windows Taskbar, as seen in the upcoming Microsoft Windows Vista.

Features:
Simple: Visual Task Tips is a simple utility. Just download and install it.
Useful: By using Visual Task Tips you can significantly increase your productivity.
Free: Visual Task Tips is absolutely free for non-commercial use.

NOTE: Windows XP is minimum requirement to run Visual Task Tips.

Download the visual task tips Here.