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Ireland: geography facts

A bite size lesson in the geography of Ireland

If Ireland's geography leaves you feeling a little lost, this short 'lesson' should bring you up to speed. It isn't intended to be an in-depth study on the subject, just some basic information to help you start to get to know the island where your ancestors once lived.

Ireland geography basics
Click for larger view of Ireland's geography in the famine year of 1848
Map of Ireland 1848

The island from which your ancestors originated is situated on the north-eastern fringe of the Atlantic and on the north-western edge of Europe. It occupies a total area of approximately 84,409 square km/ 32,599 square miles. The Republic of Ireland measures 70,273 square km/27,132 square miles while the six counties that today make up Northern Ireland measure about 14,136 square km/5,467 square miles.

Its greatest length crosses from Toor Head, Co. Antrim, in the north (which, in the 1800s, was an important headland used for recording the passage of transatlantic ships and relaying the information back to Lloyds of London) to Mizen Head, Co. Cork, in the south. The distance covered is 486km/302 miles.

Its greatest breadth crosses from Dundrum Head, Co. Down, to Annagh Head, Co. Mayo, a distance of 167km/104 miles.

On the north coast of Achill Island, Co. Mayo, are its highest cliffs. They rise 2000feet sheer from the sea and make a spectacular sight. The highest point, however, is Carrantuohill, a mountain in Co. Kerry, which climbs to 3414 ft/1050m. The second highest mountain is also in Kerry: Beenkeragh at 1010m

The longest river is the Shannon which cuts through 386km (240 miles) of the low lying Midlands region before pouring into the Atlantic at Limerick.

The total length of the island's coastline is 3,172 km (1,970 miles).

The largest lake is Lough Neagh, which is 396km²/153 miles² in area.

Among the island's natural resources are zinc, lead, natural gas, copper, gypsum, limestone, granite, peat, silver and gold.

The Great Hunger

The map above, and the edited versions which are downloadable below, are taken from The Great Hunger, by Cecil Woodham-Smith.

This outstanding book is the definitive work on the dreadful famine of the late 1840s which claimed so many lives and impacted so much on the Irish character and on Anglo-Irish relations.

It isn't necessarily the easiest book to read  the author is unrelentingly in detail and unjudgemental in the telling of a terrible story  but if you ever wanted to know what really happened in those awful years, this is the book to read.

Now published in Penquin paperback, it is easily available in bookshops or through online book outlets.

Ireland geography: social & historical

Ireland consists of four provinces, broken up into 32 counties as follows:

  • Province of Connaught: Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
  • Province of Leinster: Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly (previously known as King's Co), Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
  • Province of Munster: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.
  • Province of Ulster:Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan are in the Republic of Ireland; Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Derry and Tyrone are in Northern Ireland, a part of the UK.

Towns, counties and ports

You can find out more about the 32 counties on these three pages: Antrim-Down, Fermanagh-Louth, and Mayo-Wicklow. These pages will give you a little extra social and historical information about each individual county.

Maps, for both the counties and regions can be accessed in the links at the bottom of the page.

The main towns of Ireland, historically, were Dublin and Cork. Belfast grew significantly in the 19th century. In the Republic, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have all become major cities during the course of the last 100 years or so.

Ports: During the 19th century, when many Irish people left Ireland either due to famine or lack of opportunity, there were any number of departure points dotted around the coast. Some small boats could set sail from harbours that usually saw only fish being landed. Large boats had to use the main cargo ports. These were Queenstown (now Cobh) in Co. Cork, Belfast, and Dublin. More about Irish emigration.

Ireland geography: climate

Even the briefest look at Ireland's geography has to consider the climate because it impacts dramatically on the soil, the culture and the personality of the Irish people. Ireland is in the Temperate zone which means that is mild all year round. It is, to put it mildly, a moist kind of place. Average annual rainfall is 750mm (30 inches) in some Eastern counties rising to 1500mm (59 inches) in some western areas. Mountainous areas receive even more. The 'wet stuff' has long been referred to as 'soft' weather. As the old storyteller says: if you can see the top of the mountain, it's about to rain. If you can't see the top of the mountain, it's already raining.

The coldest months are usually January and February when average daytime temperatures might be 4-7 degrees Celsius. The warmest months are July and August when average temperatures are 14-16 degrees.

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Worms and children

All about worms…

'Doctor my son keeps picking his nose. Could he have worms?' 'Doctor that child never stays easy, he’s always on the go. It's almost as if he was hyperactive. Could he have worms?' 'Doctor my child is always eating sweets, he must have worms?' 'Doctor he never sleeps right at night he’s always threshing about the bed. Surely he must have worms?'

Parents have put these observations and questions to me many times over the years. I know from conversations with my colleagues that my experience is not unique. They have had the same experience and some have even more exotic tales to tell.

In his interesting treatise on Irish country cures Dr Patrick Logan devotes a chapter to the subject of worms. He informs us that in Irish folk medicine the seventh son is credited with the power to heal many diseases and that he can kill worms by simply touching them. Why he would want to is another question. Dr Logan also describes old cures such as drinking lime water or boiled nettle roots. The latter probably worked because of its strong purgative effect. Our ancestors had strong beliefs in the harmful effects of worms and perhaps a form of folk memory persists within many people to this day despite our increased sophistication and education.

All the blame

The poor old worms get blamed for an awful lot of medical conditions. The belief in the harmful power of worms is so strong that an unscrupulous medic could establish a lucrative practice specialising solely in the treatment of worms. He would however have to find a suitable title that would be properly grandiose while at the same time conveying a sense of what he was about. The professional title of worm specialist would simply not do.

'It is good hygienic practice to ensure that the family dog is de-wormed several times a year as a form of prevention against worm infestations. Unfortunately man’s best friend is often the chief suspect in cases of worm infestation'.

On a more serious note, intestinal worms are now far less common than they used to be although they can be a serious health risk in poor countries. The differing incidence of infestation between poor and rich countries is due to better sanitation and the availability of a clean water supply in the richer nations of the world. Improved standards of butchering and higher hygiene standards in the kitchen have also contributed to the drop in worm infestation.

There are several types of worm that can infest the human gut. They include hookworms, whipworms, threadworms, tapeworms and roundworms. The species that are most frequently encountered in Ireland are the threadworm (enterobius vermicularis), the roundworm (ascaris lumbricoides) and the tapeworms (taenia saginata and taenia solium). Taenia saginata can be acquired from beef and taenia solium comes from pork.

Tapeworm infestation is now very rare in Ireland and I have not seen a single case in twenty years of general practice. The diagnosis is made by observing tape-like segments being passed with the stools. The treatment of this form of infestation can be difficult so it is indeed fortunate that it is rare. Roundworm infestation is now relatively uncommon and it is recognised by the passing of a worm with the stools. Usually there are no symptoms prior to the passing of the worm so its presence can come as quite a surprise to the host.

Threadworms are the commonest worms that we encounter in everyday practice. They cause no symptoms apart from an itchy bottom that can disrupt sleep at night. The threadworms can exit through the anus and irritate the skin. Sometimes they can be seen just like small threads around the anal region. So the parent who questions if a disturbed night’s sleep could be due to worms might well be right.

The parent who questions if picking the nose could be related to worms might also have a point because infestation frequently occurs from hand to mouth contamination. If an infested child has unfortunate social habits and brings its hand close to the mouth after scratching its bottom it is easy to imagine how the cycle of infestation can be maintained.

Modern treatments for threadworm infestation are so effective that treatment failure is usually attributed to re-contamination. In such situations success is achieved by treating the whole family, including the parents, not to mention the family dog. It is good hygienic practice to ensure that the family dog is de-wormed several times a year as a form of prevention against worm infestations. Unfortunately man’s best friend is often the chief suspect in cases of worm infestation.

If a parent suggests to me that a child has worms I will often treat the condition on the basis of that evidence alone. It is bad enough for the parent or child to suffer the thought that worms might be present but the cringe factor rises even higher if the doctor decides that it is necessary to prove that they are present. Applying sellotape to the anus in order to catch a worm strikes a little of unnecessary zeal. If the parent suspects that they are present or has seen threadworms with the stools or has seen them on the child’s anus that evidence is a reasonable basis for proceeding to treat.

The drugs used to treat worms are known as anthelmintics and they come in two categories. One category works by paralysing the worms and eventually killing them allowing them to be passed from the gut during normal defaecation. The other category immobilises them and forcefully eliminates them from the gut through the presence of a purgative, which is combined with the anthelmintic. There is no significant absorption of the drug from the gut into the bloodstream, which means that the incidence of side effects with these drugs is very rare. However, since they do induce paralysis in the worms it is most important to take the medication in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and not to take multiples of the recommended dose in order to be sure to be sure!

Pregnancy warning

There is one serious exception to the advice I have just given. Anthelmintics are absolutely not to be used in the case of the first three months of pregnancy. The risk exists that they could cause defects in the developing foetus. This is an important exclusion to make because expectant mothers are frequently in the company of small children and therefore are more at risk of being infested with worms.

If an expectant mother becomes infested her family should all be treated even in the complete absence of symptoms in those family members. The mother should vigorously scrub her hands and nails after each bowel movement and avoid scratching her bottom. She should also have a bath or shower on a daily basis paying particular attention to the anal area. Strict attention to personal hygiene is essential. This advice may be tedious but it should help to eliminate the possibility of re-contamination.

Reading about worms and even thinking about them may cause the hairs on the back of your neck to rise. But washing your hands after you have been to the toilet, washing your hands after you have played with your dog and keeping your hands generally clean should go a long way to avoiding infestation. Also, don’t forget to de-worm the dog.

Dr Leonard Condren is the medical editor of irishhealth.com.

Anonymous - 15/08/2001 09:02

What is the best treatment on the market at the moment

Henry(hgormley) - 15/08/2001 18:24

I suffer from an itchy anus and have tried the usual PreparationH, Anusol, washing with salty water, sudocream, Savlon Cream and Savlon Liquid---still no cure-- Any ideas please?

Anonymous - 15/08/2001 20:57

Are they harmful?

Eileen(ileen) - 15/08/2001 23:07

I too, would like to know the best product to buy as my children suffer from time to time and indeed would need to be 'dosed' before school restarts in September.

Gracie - 16/08/2001 21:44

plese give a cure for itch

Anonymous - 17/08/2001 21:20

Vermox medicine or tablets available in chemists no prescription needed suitable for adults and children single dose but recommend repeat ing in 14 days to prevent reinfection

finn(tommytucker) - 04/10/2001 12:29

Is teeth grinding in children a sign of worms.

Anonymous - 13/02/2002 12:22

I found your article on worms very useful as I think I may have them. I have an itchy anus but I also suffer from piles at present. I had them removed surgically a few years ago but they appear to have recurred. Could you suggest any medication for either piles or worms. Many thanks.

Anonymous - 13/02/2002 17:20

I have a 15month old girl who hasnt slept a full night for me,i will try anything do you think she is too young for a worm dose.Her nappies would usually be very loose i have never seen any worms but she would have a fair amount of sugar in her diet.

Anonymous - 23/06/2002 17:04

I need some advice, I have twins two years young, boy & girl, my son is very hyper and does not sleep well, my daughter for the past few nights almost does summersaults in her sleep, can this be worms. I did try vermox suspension before is there any thing else I could use.

Anonymous - 03/07/2002 17:09

My grandson, who is 4 and three quarters (his words)twitches a lot in his sleep. It can go on for a long time. It is not restlesness, but little jerking movements. I had thought of worms, but reading your comments I do not think that it could be explained this way. What other explanation is there.

Anonymous - 20/11/2002 14:23

I have a four year old girl who constantly suffers with wet farts. A small amount of beige to clear frothy liquid comes out at the same time. She doesn't complain of an itchy bum. Any ideas ?

Geraldine(Geraldinedel) - 03/01/2003 16:34

I have a thirteen year old daugher who at least 3/4 times a year gets worms. She has been having this problem since she was born, I now know what to do but can you tell me why she continously gets worms when no else in the family has the problem

Anonymous - 05/02/2003 18:05

My 8 yr old daughter is constantly getting worms. She complains of an itchy bum and then I remove the worm with a Q-tip. She takes vermox but somehow they constantly re-occur. Is she at any risk from constantly having them

Anonymous - 27/03/2003 11:53

My daughter I know gets worms a number of times in a year. She is 10 years old, very clean and eats quite healthy. The problem is they are in the vaginal area. Has anyone out there dealt with this. I am fed up trying to get answers from doctors. They insist they are in the back passage. When she does get them she is in extreme pain. It is terrible to see her like this.

Anonymous - 08/04/2003 22:07

I don't know anything about worms but for the person who asked about itching, regular Oilatum baths help to stop itching.

christopher(christopher3) - 06/09/2003 20:45

I think my two year old son might have worms he has a itchy bum at night i dont know anything about worms what shall i do?

Anonymous - 18/12/2003 11:25

While most of the comments are expessing a fear of worms, I have recently heard about a Dr. Joel weinstock in Iowa who is conducting tests on the beneficial use of whipworms for the treatment of Crohn's disease. As your article rightly pointed out infection by worms is decreasing in the western world with increased Hygiene standards however Crohn's disease is on the increase in the same areas that standards are highest while it is unknown in the Third world. Dr. weinstock has treated over 200 patients in clinical trials with the eggs of whipworms which mature in the colon and are passed out of the body safely with no side effects. He has had a 99% success rate first time around & 100% success rate second time. His theory on this is that Humans have lived with these parasites since the beginning and in some instances beneficial effects accrue to Humans as equally in some instances does the downside. It is an interesting Hypothesis & seems to be true. For sufferer's of Crohns disease it may provide welcome relief if they can get over the squeamish factor.

Anonymous - 27/12/2003 22:40

I think that if all kids were taught to keep their hands away from their faces generally, they would save themselves and their parents a lot of hassle. So many germs and parasites are transferred via the mouth. And also the hands can cause impetigo, herpes and wart infestations to be spread. As a sufferer of coldsores I have always taught my kids to keep their hands away from their faces and mouths and have never kissed them on the lips to reduce the incidence of herpes.This has proved sucessful in that none of them have contracted cold sores from me. I only wish the person who infected me had more sense!. Saying all this, I do believe that a certain amount of germs are necessary to maintain a strong immune system. All bugs are not nasty but some we could do without.

Anonymous - 13/01/2004 10:10

Are there de-worming drugs that one can purchase across the counter, without necessarily seeing a G.P.?

Anonymous - 16/01/2004 11:15

Hi, I actually did not make a comment about worms. I asked a question as to what drugs I could purchase across the counter for the purposes of de-worming the whole Family. Can you still answer this question?

fergus(ferguslyons) - 22/01/2004 22:35

The best natural treatment for round worms, thread & whip worms is to use bioforce papayaforce (extracted from papaya leaves) and always used by the indians historically for the treatment of the above. Importantly, a child who constantly has worms where the family does not is in all likelyhood re infecting him/herself at night time by scratching the anal area and then from there to the mouth. Wear good fitting underclothes by night to avoid this - you can see the above in Vogels "The Nature Doctor. Vogel also thinks anthelmintic medicines can be quite toxic so prefers the natural route of bioforce "Papayforce"

Anonymous - 04/04/2004 07:05

Can a tapeworm in a human cause anemia?

Tracey(JCL18639) - 02/10/2004 22:21

My daughter is three and grinds her teeth particularly at night. Does this mean she has worms.

help - 13/10/2005 21:44

i have worms for years i tryed ovex in england nothing happened. what can i get over the counter to get rid if the worms?? from an adult

concerned parent - 19/10/2005 07:42

My son is 3 years old, and he is suffering from something, but not sure what it could be. His stomach is always very enlarged compared to his small body, which has not grown much in the last 1 and 1/2 years. He is constantly hungry and when he eats, his stomach becomes very big. Someone mentioned this may be caused from worms, but he is suffering some psychological problems as well as if something has control of him. He tries to fight it off, but is not strong enough. I know this sounds weird, the doctors I took him to think he has asbergers autism, but I disagree as the symptoms they provided do not match his attitude. If worms are not found for a long period of time could they do this to a person?

Anonymous - 24/11/2005 00:22

I definetly have worms. Small little white treads about 1/2 cm long. What should I use to cure them and should I treat the whole family

John(johnwilliams) - 27/11/2005 20:50

I am amazed that people who claim they or theirs have worms,waste time going on line asking for advice. The advice you will get online is often of little value. Why not go to your own pharmacist and ask him or her for treatment. Bt the way, worms are not very common. A lot of people equate, teeth grinding, itchy anus and old wives tales with an infection of worms. It more than likely is not.

Anonymous - 12/12/2005 23:22

I have suffered from thread worms since i was nine. Im now 24 and still suffer. The treatment works at the time but then thet just come back a few months later. i have just got used to it now but what else can i do?

Dragon wizard - 21/12/2005 22:21

I am 17 years old, i have had a very itchy anus for the past 2 weeks, i could not stand the itch no more so i looked using a mirror at my anus, what i found out was abit horryfying, i saw at least 5 worms swarming in the anus hole, they were about 5mm in length and thin, i washed my bum out properly, until i could not see none no more, (every time i washed my bum and thought they were gone, new ones came back , i kept washing and washing until none came), I find this very hard to talk about, it is rather shameful, can you tell waht kind of worms they are, and is it serious, i tried to go to my pharmacy but they do not have the medicine you said would work, what can i do? I am worried cos i must have had them for at least to weeks now. Than ks

Anonymous - 22/12/2005 10:16

To dragon wizard, worms can usually be sorted out quickly, but you should go to your doctor or pharmacist. Don't be embarrassed - they deal with this kind of problem all the time.

fifi - 22/12/2005 11:00

Adults are bad enough but children are worse when it comes to washing their hands. Its a vicious circle. Worm treatments work. The child goes back into school. Goes through his/her day touching objects other infected children have touched. Eats lunch without washing hands. Infection back. Simple as that. Vermox is excellent as a treatment. If treating one member of the family though, remember the rest of the family must also be treated even if they are not infected at the time.

kris(RFH40852) - 24/01/2006 19:36

Where is it possible to do test for child has he worm or not?

Anonymous - 24/01/2006 22:27

Are worms different than parasites?

Anonymous - 25/01/2006 22:11

To Concerned Parent. Have you had your little boy checked for Coeliac Disease - an intolerance to gluten (found in wheat)? The enlarged stomach after eating is a symptom as the gluten affects the villii in the intestine. However Coeliac Disease would have no connection to psychological problems.

valerie - 02/03/2006 10:30

I have suffered from a worm infection and have tried everything, embarrasingly, confronted everyone in my family to try to find the source of the infection. In our case poor hygiene is not the cause but too much sugar in the diet and the only thing that seems to be effective for any length of time is papaya enzyme (5euros for a 100 chewable tablets, holland and barrett). Worm infections are dangerous as they travel especially in women and leave one exhausted and run down. Vermox, etc., are effective only for a short while and are too harsh on the intestines for consistent use. I would strongly recommend the papaya enzyme which actually feeds off the protein in the worm therby destroying it.

Madda(YPE46640) - 12/05/2006 01:25

My son keeps getting worms, I dont know why

bryan(TGO48717) - 29/06/2006 05:50

My son is 18 months old, and his stomach is very enlarged. He is constantly hungry, and always cried for food. he eats anytimes, but does not gain weight much. He eats 3 times more than his sister who is 5 years old; and when he eats, his stomach becomes very big. Also, he complains about stomachache. Could he have worms? What should I do? Is there anything I can do for him? He's only 18 moths. Please help. Thanks alot

fifi - 29/06/2006 12:09

Hi folks.. heres some information which might help you all. Threadworms are small, white, thread-like worms between 2 and 13 mm long. They infect human guts (intestines). They are common in children, but anyone of any age can be affected. Threadworms live about 5-6 weeks in the gut, and then die. However, before they die the female worms lay tiny eggs around the anus (back passage). This tends to occur at night when you are warm and still in bed. The eggs are too small to see without a microscope, but cause itch around the anus. You then scratch around the anus to relieve the itch. You often do this without realising when you are asleep. When you scratch, eggs get onto fingers and under nails. You may then swallow some eggs if you put a finger into your mouth. Also, threadworm eggs can survive for up to two weeks outside the body. They fall off the skin around the anus and can fall onto bedding, clothes, etc. They can then get 'wafted' in the air as you change clothes, bedding etc, and become part of the dust in a home. Some eggs may settle on food or toothbrushes. So, children may swallow some eggs at first by playing with other children who have eggs on their fingers, or from food, drink, toothbrushes, or dust that has been contaminated with threadworm eggs. Any eggs that you swallow then hatch and grow into adult worms in the gut. So a 'cycle' of threadworm infection can go on and on. Are threadworms harmful? Not usually. Often, the worst thing about them is the itch and discomfort around the anus. This sometimes wakes children from sleep. Scratching may make the anus sore. Large numbers of threadworms may possibly cause mild abdominal (tummy) pains and make a child irritable. In girls, threadworms can wander forwards and lay their eggs in the vagina or urethra (the tube that passes urine). A doctor may check for threadworms in young girls with a vaginal discharge, bedwetting, or problems with passing urine. Rarely, threadworms can cause other problems. Threadworms look like thin, white, cotton threads. Sometimes you can see them in faeces (stools or motions) in the toilet. If you cannot see threadworms in the faeces, but suspect your child has threadworms (if they have an itchy bottom), try looking at the child's anus. You can do this with a torch in the late evening after the child has gone to sleep. Part the child's buttocks and look at the opening of the anus. If the child has threadworms you can often see one or two coming out of the anus. Do not be alarmed! Ask a pharmacist for advice on treatment in the next day or so. Your children may come into contact with eggs in schools or nurseries, particularly in the toilets if they are not cleaned properly. If your child has recurring threadworms, it may be worth checking that toilet facilities at schools, nurseries, etc, are regularly cleaned in a way that will remove any threadworm eggs which may be present.

Anonymous - 18/09/2006 02:45

i know for a fact that i have thread worms, are there de-worming drugs that i can purchase over the counter.

dd - 09/03/2007 22:43

can you buy over counter medicine for worms

Anonymous - 26/03/2007 23:19

Are there de-worming drugs that one can purchase across the counter, without necessarily seeing a G.P.?

Anonymous - 10/06/2007 10:18

I am 14 and i have had worms for 2 years. I have tried a few different treatments, but i don't think they have worked. I took a liquid Vermox 2 days ago, and i don't know how long it will take to work, because i still have them. Also, after i took it, i went to the toilet and my stool have black things in it that looked like dead black threadworms. Is it that?

John(johnwilliams) - 10/06/2007 22:35

Anon of 10/06/07. If you have worms for 2 years you should see your doctor about it. Thread worm are white. You took vermox 2 days ago. Vermox should be taken twice daily for 3 days. See your doctor.

Ann - 11/06/2007 20:32

Worms are very common in children so they will need treating for them every so often. Adults are a different thing. An adult who is being regularly infected with worms would need to look at the bigger picture ie. why is this happening? Worms in children will cause itching and eating voraciously without putting on weight. As John says in an earlier post, don't just ask on line about treating. Go to your G.P. or pharmacy, get the medication and give it.

hannah22333 - 27/07/2007 13:54

You can buy ovex over the counter to treat pin worms or thread worms. You should be able to buy it from any pharmacy or chemist, but i'm not sure if there's an age limit, does anyone know if there is one?

Anonymous - 29/09/2007 01:11

I have small still white seeds (like seasame seeds) in my stools. I know I have worms of some kind as I have a very itchy behind and I have seen one of my children itching a lot. I bought ovex over the counter, but nothing I read anywhere mentions white seeds in the stools. I have read about moving white thread like worms, but that is not what I have. My vagina is also very itchy and I have read this can be an added sign of worms in the female. The only similar thing is tapeworm, where segments can be found in the bowel. The segments I have are tear shaped. I want to know I am taking the correct medication, and also giving my children the correct treatment. Can anyone give me any clearer picture what type of worm would produce tear shaped white seeds?

Bev - 06/10/2008 16:46

Please help me! i'm only 14 and i think i have had worms for a few years now. I get a very itchy bottom at night. When i go to the toilet, there are little white things and i'm pretty sure it's them. I haven't talked to my parents about this. Is there any way i can cure it without going to the doctor?! please reply ASAP!!!!!!!

Livvy - 09/11/2008 11:23

I have found out last night i have the worms. I am not sure if I ever got rid of them. I keep seeing them but I think they are dead. I picked up 1 last night and it began to move. Should I talk to my doctor about it? I am only 9 and it is really scary. While i wrote this I was crying. Please help. Also I took two spoon fulls of Vermox last night. I would also like to inform you that my aunt had these when she was small. And my cousin she gets them under neath her arm when she is hot.

emma1995 - 23/10/2009 23:19

Please help me! i'm only 14 years old, and i found a small white worm in my poo today and i haven't told my parents or my gp and i don't know what to do. please help me.

what could i do to get rid of them??

what would happen if i didn't do any thing??

please replay ASAP i'm really really worried !!

please help me !!

kildaredad - 26/11/2009 22:49

My young daughters appetite has recently increased markedly, her sleeping has dis-improved and she is restless, her stomach is somewhat swollen, she grinds her teeth alot and is very aggressive/sensitive to us changing her nappy.

We've not yet noticed anything in her faeces and the suggested methods for checking would not be tolerated by her - she wouldn't stay still long enough for us to check her.

So does anyone know if the symptoms listed above are clear indicators of worms?

hambley - 02/01/2010 06:23

this message is to all parents..

If you suspect your child has worms talk to them. let them know you will need to take a look at their bum... doesnt matter how young..

stef2k10 - 09/01/2010 23:07

hello please help?!

i am coming up  to 15 this year,and i was worrying when i went to the toilet yesterday, i have just finished my period, i looked in the toilet to see if i have finished because i was slighty itchy, and there was white tiny threads moving in my poo? which i looked on google and it said the symptoms which match mine. i have told my mum, but i got really upset and thought there was something wrong with me, she said dont get worried and we will go to the pharmacy tomorrow... but i still want to know if 'threadworms' is dangerous and could be really serious? it is very embarassing if i do go to the pharamacy and ask.

torvi random(tori) - 15/04/2010 09:17

im 12 and down in my undie area im itchi and i looked at my poo that day and there was some worms there and im too imbarressed to tell my mum what should i do its realy annoying i wont to tell her now but what should i say so im not imbarressed ? plz help me pllllllllllllllllllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Viking - 15/06/2010 15:40

Vermox can be bought over the counter without going to a doctor. I'm not sure what the "dead worms" are meant to look like though.

For those of you who have worms and don't want to tell anyone, it's the most common thing in the world! It's nothing to be emabarrased about and you did nothing wrong to cause you to get them. While you might be embarrassed to speak to your parents and / or doctor - the relief you get when the worms are gone will FAR outweigh the torture you're going through at the moment.

goly - 04/08/2010 02:14

I fail to see what's the big fuss about worms is. When I was a kid I had them plenty of times and if i recall correctly I was dosed every six months by my mother for them along with my siblings who also were visited by them on numerous occasions.There's absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. My kids have also got them a few times and, only last month my 20 month old had them, I found four small white worms on his anus as I was changing his nappy, I dosed him with vermox and put him off all sweet stuff for about a week. I also dose my youngest two every six months, but I notice they always seem to get them after Christmas and Birthdays after they consume more sugary foods than usual.

kitkat101 - 26/08/2010 03:34

There is no need to worry about worms. I'm 10 and i have had worms twice in my life. All you need to do is tell one of your parents/guardians (I told my Mum) and they will take you do the pharmacy and you can get some medicine (I got vermox) that you will need to take once or twice. THEN YOU ARE CURED!!!

kkk278 - 31/10/2010 21:50

I am 11 and i get really embarresed by worms and i dont what to tell anyone tat i saw some wierd thread like things in my poo yesterday help me pleaseEmbarassed

John Williams - 01/11/2010 21:26

Worms are very rare nowadays (the posts from young teenagers looking at their 'poo' seem remarkably similar!). In fact the manufacturers of worm treatments must be laughing the whole way to the bank at the sales of their products used routinely because of old wives tales.

Anonymous - 02/11/2010 12:08

Not so John. Maybe rarely spoken about but not rare - as any pharmacist will tell you.

Anonymous - 19/11/2010 09:41

Soo - everybody is lying except John??? Yeah - right.

John Williams - 22/11/2010 19:36

I didn't accuse anybody of lying. A common scenario is: child is scratching its bottom or picking its nose or grinding its teeth at night etc. Granny tells young mum 'that child has worms'. Young mum in panic heads to her pharmacy and asks for worm treatment. Pharmacist or assistant gives what is asked for and hey presto everybody is happy; granny, mum and pharmacist.

Anonymous - 23/11/2010 10:00

Niether nose picking or certianly not teeth grinding has anything to do with thread worm infestation. In fact the latter should almost certainly be investigated by an appropriately qualified medical professional - which I think someone already poiinted out. If a child is scratching its bottom at night then yes, that can indicate threadworm infestation, which it is no harm at all to treat and will certianlky make the chuld happier in that they will be far more comfortable, which is the main thing, regardless of what granny does or doesn't say or how young or old Mum is.

Orual - 05/04/2011 11:13

Right. I have suffered from ill health for more than a year and a half. I have had numerous blood tests, x-rays and MRI's. They found, Osteo-arthritis and Advanced degenerative disk disease but nothing to explain the full extent of my ill health. I have frequent flu like illnesses, intermittent pain all over and a constant headache. I have had reactions to several painkillers and have become hypersensitive to many other things. I am not pregnant. I have had problems with frequent mouth ulcers and my teeth  and jaw are in constant pain.A week ago I pooped up a tapeworm. The whole household was dosed for worms. (6 adults and 2 children - hit by the recession). Anyway I won't go into the details but many pains in my body were relived by the dose including muscle pain, headache, the restriction in my neck, the pink eye I have been suffering from at night etc... And my two sons have had some unusual improvements too.I am not completely back to normal. I still feel unwell but I don't need the Tylex anymore.Prior to this, I went to numerous healthcare professional about my problems including my dentist and a neurologist.I can trace my symptoms back to a trip abroad.Many Irish people have become significantly poorer in the last two years and many Irish people visit the developing world on holiday. It many be wise for medical professions to assume that large parasitic infestations in individuals many not be as rare as they used to be.

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text:
Economist says credit line would be ‘preferable’

Irish 10-year bonds largely unchanged following announcement

A screengrab of a graph showing the trend on Irish government bonds since March.

A screengrab of a graph showing the trend on Irish government bonds since March.

The Government’s decision to exit the bailout programme without a credit line

has been was met with caution by some financial analysts.

According to Juliet Tennant, economist at Goodbody capital markets, opting for a safety net would have been preferable.

“The Government is indeed in a comfortable funding position [BUT]we would have preferred to see the Government apply for a precautionary credit line; not only for the safety net it would have provided but also the additional external surveillance that would have ensured that momentum in the implementation of the outstanding bailout programme reforms would be maintained,” she said.

“However, Ireland’s decision to exit alone shows confidence in its ability to fund itself and may well be viewed favourably by the ratings agencies, particularly Moody’s.”

There was little market reaction immediately following the announcement, with Irish 10-year bonds trading at 3.533 having opened slightly higher at 3.556.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny informed the Dáil of the decision this morning, ahead of a meeting of European finance ministers this afternoon at which Michael Noonan will give a briefing on the decision surrounding the December 15th exit.

The Government, in support of the move, also pointed to historically low levels of bond yields and an improvement in public finances with the country now on track to meet the deficit reduction of less than 3 per cent by 2015.

Euro area safeguards are also in place, including the ESM and the support of the European Central Bank, it said.


text:
One Man Charged In Sunday’s Shooting Incident

Monday, June 8 – Detectives of the Major Crime Team have charged one man in connection with a shooting incident outside UPs Cineplex during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Trent Harrigan, 26, of Slaney Hill was charged this morning with attempted murder.

The man wounded in the incident is at Peebles Hospital in critical condition. Officers are asking for more members of the victim’s family to come forward so that they can be informed on his condition.

Details surrounding the incident are still unclear therefore Police are asking persons who were around the area at the time of the incident or prior to the incident to come forward. Persons who were present can contact the Major Crime detectives directly by calling 368-5682.


text:
Frequent Parent Questions

While each family has a unique story, oftentimes many ask very similar, and very good, probing questions. With many years of combined experience in admissions here at the International School of Paris, we have tried to compile those questions in a useful manner to help better respond to you in real time during each stage of the admissions process, and to let you have a window into what other parents are asking, too!

We would also invite you to take a look at our dedicated information regarding :

Stage 1: Enquiry - Is ISP right for me?

1/ What makes ISP special?

We believe there are many unique aspects to an ISP education which make a student and family's time here in Paris with us truly special. To find out more, please take a moment to visit the About Us page of our website.

2/ Is there a "typical" profile for an ISP student?

ISP students are a very diverse group. Many of them have lived in several different countries already; others were born and raised here in France. A significant number of them will be with us for a few years during their parents’ professional assignments in Paris; others will stay for a much longer period. All of them, though, belong to a school culture which is warm, open-minded and international, and one that values intellectual challenge on every level. If you, too, can see yourself as part of this culture, please contact the admissions team and consider applying!

3/ What curriculum is taught at ISP?

ISP is an English-speaking International Baccalaureate World School which offers the complete IB curriculum, beginning with the Primary Years Programme (Nursery-Grade 5), followed by the Middle Years Programme (Grade 6–10) and culminating with the IB Diploma Programme (Grade 11–12). We are extremely proud to be able to offer this excellent curriculum, which prepares our students to be reflective critical thinkers and responsible global citizens. Currently, we are the only school in France officially authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). To learn more about the programmes that we offer at ISP please visit the official IB website,

4/ At what age can my child begin to attend ISP?

For our youngest students, ISP offers a pre-school Primary Years Programme (PYP) Nursery class for 3-4 year olds. To qualify, the child must be 3 years old on or before September 1 of the current academic year. For more information on ages and grade placement, please visit the grade placement section of our website.

5/ My child is not a native English speaker. Can he/she be accepted at ISP?

Fluency in English is not a criterion for admission (with the exception of candidates applying for grades 10, 11 or 12, in which case a functional level of academic English is required). ISP provides substantial additional support for students who are beginning in English up to and including Grade 9. For information about Grade 10 applicants whose English level is still only basic, please contact the admissions office directly.

6/ How much French will my child study at ISP? Is this a bilingual program?

At ISP, we recognize the importance of French as the language of our host country and, as such, it plays a key role in school life. In Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, students have one and a half hours of French per week (two classes of 45 minutes each). In Grades 1 to 5, students study approximately four hours of French per week and are split into different ability levels. Grades 6 to 10 have a minimum of three hours of French per week, with four different ability levels available. Students in these grades may also choose to take additional French in place of a third language, taking them to six hours per week. Similarly, advanced or native French speakers can choose to increase their exposure to French in place of a third language, by following a “Cultures et Sociétés” course which investigates French and Francophone culture through language, art and media. In Grades 11 and 12, students can take French as an IB Diploma subject, at Higher or Standard Levels, and as a Language Acquisition or Language and Literature course, as appropriate. We also offer the option to take a French enrichment course in Grades 11 and 12, for students whose IB DP programme does not include French.

In our 2016 graduating class, approximately 70% of our Grade 12 students were awarded bilingual diplomas through the IB Diploma Programme. This is more than double the worldwide figure of approximately 30%.

Please keep in mind that classes are taught in English at ISP and it is not a “bilingual” curriculum. However, French is a mandatory subject from Nursery through Grade 10 and an available course at all language proficiency levels in the IB Diploma Programme.

7/ Does ISP have any boarding facilities? Do you help identify host families for potential students?

We currently do not offer boarding facilities at ISP nor do we have any contacts with organizations or third parties who may offer these types of services to potential students. Under our current structure as a day school, our philosophy is that our students are best able to meet their academic potential when living with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Therefore, as a matter of course, we do not consider applications from students who will not be living with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) while attending ISP.

8/ How can I make an appointment to visit the school and meet with an admissions representative?

It would be our pleasure to welcome you on campus to meet with a member of the Admissions team and tour our school facilities. Details regarding such requests can be found on the on-campus visits portion of our website.

9/ What are the school hours?

Nursery and Pre-K

Kindergarten to Grade 5

Grades 6 to 8

8:50-16:30 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
8:50-15:45 Wednesday and Friday

Grades 9 to 12

Children in Nursery can be dropped off directly in their classroom from 8:55 am; children in Pre-K and Kindergarten can be dropped off from 8:45 in our Early Years playground. Children in Grades 1 to 5 can be dropped off from 8:30 in our main courtyard. For students in Nursery and Pre-K, students may be supervised until 15:45 for those families who need to collect siblings later.

10/ What are the school fees?

Information regarding our fees and fee structure may be found on the fees section of our website.

Stage 2: Document Submission - What, Where, When and How

1/ When should I submit my application? Is there a deadline?

We typically begin formal application reviews for the upcoming academic year (September-June) in January. As acceptances are done on a rolling basis here at ISP, there is no fixed application deadline. However, some grades can fill up quickly and it is difficult to predict for any given year which grades this can or will affect the most. Therefore, we always encourage our prospective families to begin the application process as soon as possible. Once we have reached our maximum capacity in a particular grade, candidates who are approved for admission are placed on a waiting list.

Given the mobile nature of our community, we are happy to welcome students part-way through the academic year, following a successful application process and subject to space availability. Should your family be considering a mid-year transfer, please feel free to contact us as soon as possible for an update on space availability in the grade(s) concerned. Mid-year applications are evaluated on a continual basis.

2/ What grade should I apply for?

The normal ISP grade placement policy has a birthday cut-off date of September 1st. This cut-off date is strictly enforced for all Early Years candidates, i.e. those entering our Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Our experience has shown that children in early childhood education benefit from remaining with their age cohort, as their social and emotional development moves in parallel with their academic and linguistic capacities. The IB PYP builds upon best practices in education to provide for differentiated, inquiry-based learning in small classrooms, so children’s individual learning profile and skills are taken into account at all levels.

For additional details on ages and corresponding grade placements, please refer to the Grade Placement section of our website.

3/ Where should I submit my completed application materials? Can I send scanned copies?

Application materials may be sent either electronically (e-mail scan) or via post/express mail.

For e-mail scans, please send all materials to our main ISP admissions inbox at Kindly limit the size of any individual e-mail to 5MB to ensure receipt. Larger files may need to be separated into a few, separate e-mails or scanned using a lower (non-photo) resolution.

Hard copy files can be sent via post/express mail service to:

ISP Admissions Office
6, rue Beethoven
75016 Paris

We will confirm receipt of all application forms via e-mail, usually within one to two business days.

4/ When and how should I pay the application fee?

The application fee may be paid by cheque, bank transfer, cash or credit card. Our bank transfer details may be obtained from the ISP admissions team directly ( In such cases, we would please request that you label the payment with your child(ren)’s name(s) to help us to trace it. Credit card payments can be made via our secure online payment platform - please contact a member of the admissions team in order to create your personal log-in. Please note that the only card we cannot accept is AmEx.

An application cannot proceed to the application review stage until the file is fully complete and this includes payment of the application fee. The application fee is non-refundable.

5/ What are you looking for in the Parent and Applicant statements?

Simply stated, the Parent and Applicant statements provide us the opportunity to get to know you a bit better. There are no right or wrong answers, please feel free to write as much as you would like (and to add additional pages, if necessary!)

For the Applicant statement, you will find specific prompts on our Applicant Questionnaire. The applicant (Grades 1 to 12) should provide a handwritten response – in English, if possible, and without assistance. Candidates for Nursery – Kindergarten should include a drawing as part of the Early Childhood Parent Questionnaire.

For the Parent statement, we have provided suggested subject prompts in the application documentation – however, please feel free to address as many points as you deem applicable and relevant.

6/ Who should I ask to complete the Confidential School Recommendations? How many references?

For candidates applying to Nursery to Grade 5, the student’s main class teacher should complete the Confidential School Recommendation Form. In these cases, one copy of the form is sufficient.

For candidates applying to Grades 6-12, two different referees must complete the Confidential School Recommendation forms. One referee should be a current teacher who knows the student’s academic abilities, the other a school administrator who knows the applicant in a social/pastoral capacity, such as a Principal, Vice Principal or Counsellor.

Confidential School Recommendations should be completed in English or French and sent to ISP directly by the applicant’s current/previous school. Alternatively, they can be delivered to ISP in a stamped, sealed envelope. Applications which are missing recommendation forms will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

7/ Are year-end summaries sufficient for grade reports?

During the application process, we kindly request all available grading periods so as to appreciate the evolution of the student throughout the school year. If the applicant’s year-end transcript includes grades from the previous marking periods then we can accept the year-end report only. However, if the student’s report cards from the previous marking periods include narrative comments which do not appear on the year-end report, please provide copies of the previous report cards as well.

8/ My child does not have any formal grades to submit. What should I do?

We understand that some school systems do not give grades before students reach a certain age. If this applies to you, please submit all other application materials and include with these a note that you are unable to provide report cards for this reason. The Admissions Committee will then review your application and if additional information is required in lieu of the report cards, we will get in touch with you directly to discuss how best to proceed.

9/ Do documents need to be officially translated?

All report cards which are not originally written in English or French must be accompanied by official translations. This also applies to psycho-educational evaluations or other auxiliary documents.

10/ When will my application be reviewed?

We begin processing applications for the upcoming school year (starting in September) in the preceding January. Applications for the current school year are considered on a continual basis, subject to availability in the grade concerned. Application files must be complete before being put forward for review. Further information about the application review process can be found in Stage 3 of Frequent Parent Questions.

Stage 3: Review Process - Getting to Know You

1/ Once I am informed that my application has entered the review process, when can I expect a response?

The review of an application is normally completed within two weeks. The process may take a little longer in peak periods, or if there is any additional follow-up which may need to be done.

2/ What are the criteria for acceptance at ISP?

Please consult the Criteria for Admission section of our website for information about what we look for when reviewing applications.

3/ Who will review my child's file?

The Admissions Committee is comprised of one member of the Admissions team, the Primary or Secondary School Principal, and the Head of School. Additional colleagues may be consulted for specialist advice as necessary.

4/ Is an interview required?

Interviews are not part of the standard application process. However, they may be requested in certain cases, when the Admissions Committee feels that they would provide crucial additional information to enable a decision to be taken. For more information, please see the Additional Follow-Up section of our website.

5/ Are English tests required?

English tests are not part of the standard application process. However, they may be requested in certain cases, when the Admissions Committee feels that they would provide crucial additional information to enable a decision to be taken. For more information, please see the Additional Follow-Up section of our website.

Stage 4: Committee Decision - A Mutual Match

1/ My child(ren) has(have) been accepted at ISP. What steps do I need to take to complete registration?

To confirm your acceptance, the Admissions team will send you a formal email containing a link to a registration contract. To formally accept our offer of a place, you will need to complete and return the French version of the contract with a down payment of 1000 Euros per child, within ten days. Please note that we cannot accept credit card payments for the registration deposit.

2/ My child has been offered a place on the waiting list. What now?

Please consult the Waiting List section of our website for more information about how waiting lists are managed at ISP.

3/ What are the criteria for acceptance at ISP?

For more information about what we look for when reviewing applications, please refer to the Criteria for Admission section of our website.

Stage 5: New Beginnings at ISP - What Next?

1/ When and how will I receive information regarding back-to-school and other transition information?

You will receive a ‘Welcome to ISP’ mailer in June, or upon registration if you enrol after this time. In mid-July, you will receive access to our online Back-to-School Information Pack, which will contain all the essential information you will need to know for the new school year. This will include policy and procedure information, a basic school supplies list, as well as key names, dates and contact information. For an overview of our post-registration timeline, please consult the Next Steps portion of our website.

2/ Who do I contact for changes to personal contacts (phone, address, etc.)?

Up until the start of the school year, please send any updates to your personal information to Once the school year has begun, the best address to use in the first instance is

3/When can I enroll in the hot lunch or bus service (Primary School)?

Sign-up forms for these services will be included in the Back-to-School Information Pack, which will be available electronically from mid-July. For an overview of our post-registration timeline, please consult the Next Steps portion of our website.

4/ When will the school fees be invoiced?

Tuition fee invoices for new families are sent out in late May/early June by our finance department. For specific questions relating to tuition fee invoices and payments, please contact

5/ How/when can I enroll in the Extended Curriculum Activities?

Sign up for Extended Curriculum Activities (ECA) takes place at the start of each term. Please see the Extended Curriculum Activities section of our website for additional information, including our ECA Handbook and schedule for the most recent school term.

If you would like additional information, please feel free to connect with the ISP admissions team.

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Adult, Adults Only, American One Hundred Dollar Bill, Business Person, Businessman

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Five Reasons to Take Cloud Security More Seriously

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Public Accessibility

Fact: 24,000 files per organization are publicly accessible, i.e. they are indexable by search engines, creating another risk vector.

The Cybersecurity Risk: These files may contain sensitive data or, as in the data point of 4,000 exposed files per organization on average that contain credentials, prove to be valuable payloads for cyber criminals.

The adoption of public cloud applications continues to accelerate for both organizations and individuals at an exponential rate — evidenced across the massive growth in the volume of accounts, files, collaboration, and connected third-party cloud applications. In fact, the volume of files stored in public cloud applications per organization in 2015 has ballooned to 1.2 million, a 10x increase from 2014.

Adopting cloud technologies affords organizations a wide range of benefits, including dramatic reductions in total cost of ownership, increased flexibility and scalability, the transition from capital expenditure to operational expenditure, and a substantial boost to employee capabilities.

Meanwhile, the volume of sensitive corporate data in public cloud applications is growing, with organizations storing 100,000 sensitive files in cloud platforms on average. Forrester Research further explains:

"Sensitive data is moving to the cloud, beyond the protection of your perimeter controls. … As this occurs, the amount of data, and, most importantly, the amount of sensitive or 'toxic' data the enterprise stores in these software-as-a-service (SaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platforms is increasing by the day - and regardless of its locations, S&R pros still need to protect it effectively." - Forrester Research (2015, March). Market Overview: Cloud Data Protection Solutions

How great is the cyber risk in the cloud? According to a recent CloudLock report entitled "Cloud Cybersecurity Report: The Extended Perimeter," it might be greater than you think.

Related Topics : IBM Looks to Redefine Industry Standard Servers, APC, Brocade, Citrix Systems, Data Center

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Next 'Tell Me About Yourself:' 5 Steps to a Well-Crafted Answer-5 Next

Cut the Fluff

Step #4: Cut the fluff.

To keep your audience's interest, cut anything that may be considered unnecessary. To do this, tailor your general elevator pitch to fit the particular role you're applying for, professional you're speaking to -- you get the idea. Use the company's job description to guide your speaking points and just address the skills, knowledge, or experience it references.

To further cut down your elevator pitch, practice it with a colleague and have them identify any excess or irrelevant information. Sometimes the best way to perfect something is to request a little help from a third party.

If you've ever interviewed for a job or attended a networking event, it's likely you've been asked the dreaded "tell me about yourself" question. It's a short but tricky question that can lead to a rambling quagmire. Where do you begin? What do you include? Obviously, the person asking doesn't want to know about your early years in elementary school, but you want to make sure you cover all the salient points that would interest the interviewer and increase your chances of landing the job.

According to Heather Huhman, writing for Glassdoor, 49 percent of over 2000 hiring managers surveyed by CareerBuilder make a decision on whether a candidate is a good fit for their company within the first five minutes of an interview. Given this incredibly short audition time, it's critical that you have a solid, well-crafted answer ready to go.

To help you create an elevator pitch that can be used in a variety of situations and, most importantly, the job interview, Huhman has outlined a five-step plan on how to pitch yourself to others -- without going off topic.

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Having plenty of logo problems. The 2 that are really bugging me though are the following:

1. The welcome screen (login screen) logo I saved will not work in Internet Explorer, but it works fine in Firefox.

2. The alert logo will not change, no matter what i do. I have tried numerous sizes (last one i tried was 115x65), and always make sure to use .bmp like it says to do.

Does anyone have solutions to these issues?
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for Issue number 1, I think you are affected by this bug:

I too encountered this problem after upgrading to 6.0

For problem 2

Graphics for pop-up messages must be in BMP format and 100
pixels wide by 38 pixels high.

I hope this helps

Answered 08/22/2014 by: raul102801
Orange Belt

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in C:\ACDFREE8\ has 1 inventory records, 0 Questions, 0 Blogs and 0 links. Please help add to this by sharing more!

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v8.00, FREE

ACD/Labs software package.

Uninstall String

C:\ACDFREE8\setup\setup.exe -uninstall

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Canon ZoomBrowser EX E

Version: 5
Views: 531  |  Created: 01/30/2007

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ZoomBrowser EX E

Uninstall String

MsiExec.exe /X{C1D76D7A-F3BB-47EA-A746-5B1E2FFC1DF2}

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Views: 828  |  Created: 09/07/2009

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IP Communicator has 7 inventory records, 1 Questions, 1 Blogs and 0 links. Please help add to this by sharing more!

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IP Communicator

Technical Assistance Center (TAC)

Cisco IP Communicator for Cisco Unified CallManager 4.1(3) and greater.

Uninstall String

MsiExec.exe /X{29615993-9D1C-40E8-B228-740DE73F2E63} MsiExec.exe /X{0747FE45-223E-4232-A513-D10313FC9D79}

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Does 2012 mark the demise of open platforms?

As I look back over the year, it strikes me that most of the big controversies and major computing trends can be seen as a battle between proprietary systems and open systems.

Such battles have been going on for a long time, with the concept of openness certainly winning the PR war. Any vendor with a proprietary strategy is likely to talk about how "open" it is, especially in this world where systems all have to interconnect, and the big platforms are competing to attract developers.

The biggest battle on this front over the past two decades has been between Windows and Linux. Windows still accounts for the vast majority of traditional desktops and laptops, and there are no signs of that changing. But while Windows servers sell many more units than Linux servers, Linux is gaining significant market share in the server market.

Even so, the big migration seems to be towards new mobile platforms, where Apple and Microsoft's proprietary platforms are losing in share to Google's Android, which is an open source platform (indeed, based in part on Linux). Yet in this new mobile world, the concepts of openness are changing.

In the traditional PC world, anyone could write, distribute, or install software without the platform vendor getting involved. Microsoft and Apple do not even have to know about any of the thousands of others consumer applications and utilities, or the corporate applications written for Windows or Macintosh.

In the mobile world, though, application distribution is pretty much controlled by the big platform makers. Apple's App Store does make it easier on one level for an application vendor to get distribution, and it certainly boosts security, but it means that Apple gets approval power.

The same is true with the Windows Store for new Windows 8 apps. Apple and Microsoft both allow any application to be installed in their desktop environments, but they seem to be getting stricter there as well. Google is also making a bigger push for apps from its Google Play store, even though Android is technically open. Amazon and Barnes & Noble are even more proprietary with their Kindle and Nook platforms, respectively, as they really try to tie customers to their content.

There are positives to a more locked down environment, like an easier selection process and better security. Take note, though, that Google is facing complaints about Android malware, which is in turn making it tighten its restrictions. Regardless, there's no question that the result is less openness.

Even more importantly, all the platforms now want to control your experiences in a much more holistic way. Not only do they want you to use their OS and their app store, but they want you to buy your media through them and use their web platforms to store your content. Apple has iOS, the App Store, iTunes, and iCloud; Google has Android, the Play store, and Google Drive; Microsoft has Windows, the Windows Store, Xbox Music and Video, and SkyDrive; and Amazon (which uses a modified version of Android) has its Kindle, Amazon Appstore for Android, and Cloud Player.

You can get Amazon's Kindle reader and Cloud Player on an iPhone, but you can't buy media directly through them. In part, that's because Apple wants a cut of all in-app sales. You can, however, go to Amazon's website and buy content, then access it through one of those apps. It's clear that Apple wants you to use iTunes.

Similarly, on a Windows Phone, you buy your music through the Xbox music service. The same goes on a Kindle, through Amazon's store. Android is a bit more open; Google wants you to use Play but as of now, you can also use Amazon's MP3 store. Google Drive and SkyDrive are available on iPhone, but with some limitations, supposedly because of payment concerns. iCloud only works on Apple devices, not on Android or Windows platforms. It's not quite a walled garden, but it's getting there.

We're even beginning to see this with mail clients. Google is no longer going to support Microsoft's ActiveSync (Google Sync) for new Gmail connections, which should make using the regular mail client on iPhone harder, and potentially cause even more trouble for Windows Phone users. Why? In part, it seems like Google wants you to use Android, and if not that, the separate Gmail app for iPhone.

In the mobile space, there has been a lot of talk about a battle of the ecosystems, with Apple, Google, Microsoft, and even Amazon fighting it out. But as the systems become more closed and more tightly integrated, my worry is that consumers are getting caught in the crossfire.

Michael J. Miller is Chief Information Officer at Ziff Brothers Investments, a private investment firm. Mr. Miller, who was editor-in-chief at PC Magazine from 1991-2005, authors this blog for PC Magazine to share his thoughts on PC-related products. No investment advice is offered in this blog. All duties are disclaimed. Mr. Miller works separately for a private investment firm which may at any time invest in companies whose products are discussed in this blog, and no disclosure of securities transactions will be made.


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Sony PlayStation 4: All you need to know

The hotly anticipated Sony PlayStation 4 has been the subject of intense speculation and rumour across the Internet. The most legitimate of which have already been covered by ITProPortal, but with a prospective unveiling rumoured to be as soon as next month every new detail leaked is likely to be more representative of the actual product. So bookmark this article as your all-in-one destination for the PS4 - or should I say PlayStation Orbis - as it will be updated with the most current and credible news on what to expect from Sony’s next console.

22 February, 2013

Sony has officially announced the PlayStation 4, but will it succeed? That's the question Stuart Andrews endeavours to address in his latest blog, while in other analysis, we take a more detailed look at the PlayStation 4's specs. It's fair to say we're pretty darned excited about the PS4 right now, so stay tuned for more great content - or why not migrate to our Xbox 720 rumour and news hub to see what the competition has in store?

21 February, 2013

Something kind of important occurred last night - Sony officially launched the PlayStation 4. ITProPortal's Riyad Emeran was up burning the midnight oil to bring you an in-depth report of the event, which saw the Japanese firm show off its new DualShock 4 controller and offer an early peek at some of the top titles coming to the next-gen system. However, Sony left a fair few questions unanswered, making a Sony PlayStation 4 FAQ one of the first things we set about writing after the big announcement. Follow the link to find out everything we know about the PS4 at this stage, including our tips regarding release date and pricing.

18 February, 2013

A photo of what appears to be Sony's revamped DualShock controller has hit the web, just days before the company is expected to take the wraps off its next-gen console. The big revelation here is the apparent integration of a touchpad into the middle of the unit, so follow the link for a speculative first glimpse of the next PlayStation controller.

16 February, 2013

Sony intends to offer technology that will allow users to stream PlayStation 3 games on its forthcoming PlayStation 4 console, according to the latest speculation.

7 February, 2013

With the PS4 looking increasingly likely to break cover at Sony's PlayStation Meeting on 20 February, attention is starting to shift to the console's pricing and availability. According to a respected Osaka-based newspaper, the PlayStation 4 will retail from ¥40,000 when it is released to consumers later in the year. That figure works out at around $400, €300, or £250 based on today's exchange rates. Of course, while $400 seems to be a fair asking price for the US market, we don't really think Sony will benevolently bestow its next-generation console on us Brits for a mere £250, so consider these early price indications as guides rather than gospel.

1 February, 2013

PlayStation fans should pencil in 20 February into their calendars as the possible unveiling of the Orbis. Sony has sent out invitations to this year's PlayStation Meeting where it promises that attendees will "see the future". The venue is purported to be New York with the event expected to be live-streamed from 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT).

23 January, 2013

Kotaku claims to have gotten its hands on a 90 page PDF which details the contents of Orbis dev kits issued for January 2013. The specifications mined from the document corroborates claims that the next-gen console will feature an eight-core CPU, in the form of four dual-core AMD64 "Bulldozer" processors, alongside an AMD R10xx GPU, 160GB HDD, Blu-ray optical drive, two Ethernet ports, four USB 3.0 ports as well as a few HDMI and optical audio outputs thrown in for good measure.

The specs do seem to be analogous to Digital Foundry's assertions (read below), bearing in mind that dev kits are designed to replicate the performance of a product but may not be representative of its end state, since it's still in-development. This is demonstrated by Kotaku's contention that the dev kits are compatible with both the Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers. At face value this refutes earlier reports that Sony could be retiring its DualShock controller series with the advent of the Orbis. However, Kotaku went on to report that a new controller is under construction, internally dubbed the "Orbis Development Tool", and is expected to feature a touchscreen – further corroborating previous controller speculation.

18 January, 2013

Digital Foundry put forward the lofty claim that it had a full rundown of the PlayStation Orbis’ system specifications. The technology focused arm of Eurogamer conducted in-depth speculative analysis on the future-console, which may hold a few nuggets of truth. Of course all of these details are yet to be confirmed so feel free to take the following with a pinch of salt.

The next PlayStation will purportedly run on AMD’s, currently in-development, eight-core “Jaguar” CPU clocked at 1.6GHz. The new processor will supposedly be paired with a Radeon HD GPU that has been likened to the Radeon 7970M in regards to power consumption and die-size. The Orbis GPU will likely feature 18 “Graphics Core Next” compute units and is expected to run at 800MHz.

The deep analysis does throw up some mystery, as the Orbis is also speculated to consist of a mythical “compute” component that is designed to aid in CPU busywork, like physics calculations. Its memory set-up is expected to consist of 4GB GDDR5 with 512MB reserved for the operating system.

Digital Foundry went on to reaffirm claims that the core silicon is codenamed “Liverpool” and will house all the aforementioned elements, reducing the overall rate of power consumption as a consequence. This incredible feat could be possible via AMD’s aforementioned Jaguar tech, which supposedly allows for an overall CPU component to be as little as 75-80mm. The all-in-one processor may also provide significant savings in regards to production as Sony will only need to manufacture one chip instead of the multiple components seen in the PS3.


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1. ITV Report

How to save on bills through energy policies and tips

SSE has announced a price hike today. Photo: Rui Vieira/PA Wire

British Gas announced today that household electricity and gas tariffs would increase by an average of 9.2 percent from November 23.

That means their new average dual fuel bill will now be above £1,474 a year.

It comes just a week after energy company SSE hiked dual fuel prices by an average of 8.2 percent. One industry insider told ITV News that "behind the scenes" the other energy providers "are all talking about similar rises."

Earlier this year, Energy Secretary Ed Davey said the government's policies were "putting a cushion" between global energy prices and bill.

Here is a look at what these energy policies are and how you can make the most of them.

You can make energy-saving improvements to your home or business without having to pay all the costs up front through the 'Green Deal'. This is a grant which allows you to have work done to your home to help reduce bills which will then be paid off in instalments through your electricity bills.

Energy-saving improvements include:

Infographic showing estimated average impact of energy and climate change policies on household energy bills in 2020. Credit: Department of Energy & Climate Change
  • Cold Weather Payment

You may be eligible for the Cold Weather Payments if you are getting certain benefits.

Payments will be made when your local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

  • Winter Fuel Allowance

You could get between £100 and £300 tax-free to help pay your heating bills if you were born on or before 5 July 1951. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Most payments are made automatically between November and December. You should get your money by Christmas.

You should get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit).

You may still be eligible for the payment if you live in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

  • The Warm Home Discount
A house in Stalybridge, Manchester with solar panels installed on the roof. Credit: Anthony Devlin/Press Association

The Warm Home Discount is available for winter 2013 to 2014 if your energy company is participating in the scheme and you are over 75-years-old on the 'qualifying day' (which has yet to be announced) and receiving the guarantee credit element of the state pension. Alternatively if you are under 75 and getting the guarantee credit element of the state pension (and are not receiving the saving credit).

Some energy companies also extend the Warm Home Discount to those under 75 who are vulnerable such as those on low incomes.

A full list of the energy companies participating in the scheme is available HERE.

The Warm Home Discount does not affect your Cold Weather Payment of Winter Fuel Allowance.

  • Tips for keeping your home warm

The Energy Saving Trust has seven steps to saving energy straight away.

  • Turn it down - turn down your central heating
  • Turn it off - Turn off your light, appliances and chargers when you can
  • Careful in the kitchen - use a low temperature on your washing machine, do not over fill your kettle
  • Get a head - get an eco shower head to reduce water consumption
  • Do not lag behind - insulate your hot water cylinder or boiler
  • Be a draught excluder - draught-proofing products are cheap ways to cut your heating costs
Turn down the thermostat to save on your heating bills. Credit: PA

Other website offer similar tips to help you keep your bills down but your home warm, such as:

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Staffordshire gritting figures

The council had 55 gritters and 60 snow ploughs working through the night to keep the county moving. They will be going out throughout the day and into the evening, salting and ploughing up to 80% of the county's roads.

They have used 1,200 tonnes of grit within the last 24 hours, and they have 20,000 tonnes left in stock.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon ultrabook review: strong, lightweight and elite

Lenovo's latest ultrabook offers fast performance in a stylish carbon-fiber case.

There's no shortage of ultrabooks that offer a 13.3-inch screen, but what if you want a 14-in. display? Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon pushes the state of the art to create a notebook that provides a lot of mobile power per pound, but its price of $1,349 makes it a bit more expensive than some of its rivals. (As of this writing, the X1 Carbon was due to ship August 24.)

As its name implies, the X1 Carbon's case is made of lightweight carbon fiber, a material usually used in equipment where cost is not a consideration, like fighter jets and Formula One racing cars. It's the perfect material for a laptop, though, because it's as strong as aluminum while weighing one-third as much.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon ultrabook

As a result, the 3-lb. X1 Carbon may be the lightest 14-in. ultrabook on the market. It not only matches the weight of the 13-in. Dell XPS 13, but is 2 oz. lighter than the 14-in. Fujitsu Lifebook U772.

One thing I noticed: Although the system is light, its AC adapter is anything but. The X1 Carbon's power pack weighs a hefty 12 oz., nearly double the weight of the Lifebook U772's AC adapter. It adds up to a travel weight of 3.7 lb. -- 3 oz. heavier than the Lifebook.

The X1 Carbon measures 0.7 in. thick in front (matching the Lifebook), but moves up to 0.9 in. at the rear, making for a distinctive wedge-shaped profile. Overall, the system measures 13.0 x 8.9 in.

Inside is Intel's third-generation Core i5 3427U processor along with 4GB RAM and a 128GB solid state drive (SSD); Lenovo sells the same configuration with 8GB RAM for $1,599. A model with a slower Core i5 processor is available for $1,249, while if you want a Core i7 3667U processor with 4GB RAM and Windows 7 Professional instead of Windows 7 Home Premium, a model is available for $1,579.

This being Lenovo, of course, keep in mind that these four base configurations are tweakable. For example, you can increase storage capacity to 256GB for an additional $280, and upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional for $50.

Above the screen is an HD webcam for everything from shooting mini-movies to videoconferencing. As with other ultrabooks, there's no room for a DVD drive. While the X1 Carbon doesn't have its own docking station (a few ultrabooks, such as the HP EliteBook Folio 9470m, do), Lenovo is planning to sell a universal docking station sometime this month for $179 that will have five USB 3.0 slots, a pair of DVI outputs for monitors.

A great display

The display uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology and is one of the brightest and richest screens I've seen. It shows 1600 x 900 resolution, a step up from the Lifebook's 1366 x 768 resolution. As with several other ThinkPads, the screen can be folded back so that the entire system is flat; this lets you stow it under a monitor stand with the keyboard sticking out.

The system comes with Intel's HD Graphics 4000 video engine. With 64MB of dedicated video memory, the X1 Carbon can also use up to 1.63GB of the X1 Carbon's system memory, providing access to nearly 1.7GB of video memory.

While the screen looks great, it might be a hassle connecting it on the road to a monitor or projector because the X1 Carbon has neither VGA nor HDMI ports. Instead, it relies exclusively on a Mini DisplayPort connection; Lenovo sells a $35 adapter for VGA work.

Its other ports include one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 port, an audio jack and a flash card reader. Like many other ultrabooks, it requires a USB-based adapter to connect with a wired LAN; the dongle comes with the system. Along with Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi, the X1 Carbon has Intel's WiDi technology for wirelessly sending video and audio to a compatible projector, TV or monitor.

In the back is a phone network SIM card slot that connects up with the system's integrated 3G mobile data card, which works with AT&T's HSPA+ network. There's no 4G LTE data option available.

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Vitamin D Improves Eye Health

We are all increasingly aware of the harm environmental chemicals can cause to our health. To underline that fact, a recent study by the University of Exeter, UK studied the urinary presence of environmental chemicals in a cross-section of people. They discovered a worrying correlation between the presence of heavy metals and vision health. That's the bad news. The good news is that vitamin D supplements can counter the presence of toxins that may cause poor vision health. Here's the lowdown:

Environmental Chemicals Associated with Macular Degeneration

A recent UK study determined a definite correlation between the presence of environmental chemicals and poor vision health. Heavy metals, arsenic, pesticides, environmental bisphenols and phthalates are part of everyday life and are present to a greater or lesser degree in the environment. Information was gathered from a cross-sectional study on demographics and household interviews or questionnaires were conducted to ascertain information about those suffering with vision, hearing and balance disorders. A selection of the study participants then submitted urine samples for mass spectrometry in order to measure the contaminants present.

The results showed that where urinary cadmium, molybdenum and tungsten concentrations were present, they were clearly associated with vision disorders. The presence of other named contaminants was associated with hearing disorders and balance disorders.

The study found a clear and worrying correlation between environmental chemicals present in urine and neurobehavioral impairment. Unfortunately the study was cross-sectional and therefore could not establish a direct cause, so specific clinical trials are required to establish a firm conclusion.

Vitamin D Means Healthy Eyes

In the meantime, as we cannot change our environment, preventative health decisions can greatly improve our vision health. The main supplement found to boost the quality of eyesight and reduce the risk of macular degeneration is vitamin D.

Good eyesight is dependent upon each person having adequate vitamin D intake on a daily basis. Conversely a deficiency of this vitamin has been shown to be responsible for a range of health issues, including poor eyesight. Research consistently shows that people with high levels of vitamin D in their blood are less susceptible to age-related macular degeneration while those with higher levels of vitamin D have a 60% reduced risk of vision loss.

Researchers from the University College London (UCL) understood that vitamin D was able to eliminate amyloid plaques in the brain which are associated with the presence of Alzheimer's disease. They hypothesized that vitamin D may also be the key to eliminating toxic molecules that cause macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

Lab tests performed on mice over a six-week period (the equivalent of 5.75 human years), found that administering a solution of safflower oil and vitamin D reduced the presence of macrophages which cause inflammation. The presence of amyloid beta protein, a toxin associated with poor eyesight, were also significantly decreased with the increased intake of vitamin D compared to mice given a placebo.

The study concluded that vitamin D supplements are "a very simple and effective route to limit disease progression" , from eye disease to heart disease and even Alzheimer's disease. Are you getting enough vitamin D to counter the damage that environmental toxins cause to your vision and overall health?