background information http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for background information Copyright 2008 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:42:46 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/background+information Protect Your Family With Nanny Background http://www.artwoo.com/article/protect-your-family-with-nanny-background http://www.artwoo.com/article/protect-your-family-with-nanny-background#comments Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:00:10 +0000 nanny backgroundbackground screeningdefinitelystrangerbad personchina crystalgold money http://www.artwoo.com/article/protect-your-family-with-nanny-background nanny background screening yet? If not then you may not have been as honest with the first question as you thought. Letting a into your home to look after your kids is a big step and it is one that should never be taken lightly. This person if a , could cause all kinds of trouble and destruction, that is why nanny is so important to your entire family. You simply cannot wait to get the nanny background screening done, it should be done well before you even hire the nanny, never mind before she moves in.

Nanny background screening is vital to your safety and to that of your family. And I am not just talking about your physical safety although that is an issue. I am also talking about financial safety. How many things of value do you have in your home? Jewelry, china, crystal, gold, money? Even your appliances and your electronic equipment are all worth something. Do you know how many people have come home and have their entire home cleaned out? Tons, that is why it is so important for you to get some good nanny background screening gong on before you let this stranger into your home. They could be anyone at all.

If you take the time to do nanny background screening you will at least know that they do not have any record of past deceitfulness. You will know that there is no past record of violence or negligence. Of course this does not mean that you are hiring an angel but it will go along way towards putting your mind at rest as far as their reliability. Nothing else but nanny background screening will be able to give you these kinds of answers that you need so desperately.

Getting nanny background screening done is a simple process. There are many nanny background screening companies that specialize in this kind of work. They will be found on the internet and in a matter of a few hours they can often get back to you with all of the info that you need in order to make the right decision. The nanny background screening will often consist of a past employment record, a criminal record check as well as checks on where they lived last and who they associated with in some cases. You can even find out who their roommates were if you choose the right nanny background screening agency. It is amazing what today's technology can help you find out through the nanny background screening process. Thanks goodness for computers, you might just owe your family's life to them and nanny background screening. About The Author: http://aupairsnanny.com/ Au Pairs and Nannies: Looking after the welfare of your child. ]]> 12 Things You Might Not Know About Background Checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-background-checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-background-checks#comments Tue, 28 Nov 2006 08:27:07 +0000 background checksjob applicationjob candidatejob applicationsapplying for a jobnotre dame footballradio shack http://www.artwoo.com/article/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-background-checks applying for a job today, the chances are excellent that you will have to pass a background check to get hired. In fact, over 90% of companies now run on all applicants. Before you sit down to fill out that very important , here are 12 facts you might not know about background checks:

* According to Workforce Management, over 45 million background checks were run during the past year.

* Most companies use a candidate's job application, not resume, when running a background check.

* 86% of businesses say that inaccuracies on a job application can take a out of consideration.

* Half of all contain discrepancies.

* Well-known people who were caught lying on their resumes and job applications:

o Dave Edmondsen -- Chief executive of o George Deutsch -- Bush appointee at NASA o Alan Seman -- Mayor of Rancho Mirage o George O'Leary -- Coach o Kenneth Lonchar -- CFO at Veritas Software

* Companies generally don't tell applicants what types of information they are going to look at during a background check.

* Although many hiring companies do call references, they don't always call the ones supplied by the applicant.

* Most companies don't give an applicant a chance to correct negative information on a background report.

* The Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the federal law that deals with background checks. In addition, each state can pass its own laws that cover pre-employment screening.

* Many states have passed laws that allow a former employer to speak candidly about previous employees.

* A recent study showed that over 40% of employers revealed more information about previous employees than what was required by law.

* There is no such thing as a national criminal database. There are databases that contain partial information, but there is no database that contains information on every crime committed in the U.S.

One of the most important things you can do is prepare for your background check. Make sure that your hire and termination dates are right. Explain any gaps in your employment history. Confirm that your records are available. Many people lose job opportunities because prospective employers can't verify their background.

Remember, no matter how qualified you are, you won't get hired if you don't pass the background check. Jan Maxwell is the author of "A Job Hunter's Secret Weapon: How to Survive a Background Check and Get the Job You Really Want" http://www.jobhunterssecretweapon.com It's the first book that takes job applicants inside a real background check, explains how information gets verified. ]]> The Past Revealed: Background Checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-past-revealed-background-checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-past-revealed-background-checks#comments Mon, 03 Jul 2006 08:27:11 +0000 background checkconduct background checksfair credit reporting actfurthermorecredit reporting actincarcerationemployment verification http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-past-revealed-background-checks background checks before hiring new people. It is a specific process that involves knowing the information about the individual's past.

In today's society, it is no longer difficult to access information. This is because the advent of new technology allows us to retrieve a lot of kinds of information.

Contents of the Background Check

Most background checks contain criminal and records. Criminal and incarceration records include litigation records, driving and vehicle records.

, background checks include education verification, and credit card check. Some include detailed drug tests, licensing records and financial information.

These are just basic elements to a background check. Other things can be added to make the background check more specific.

Some even conduct interviews with the written personal references of the employees. They may be their former employers, family members or friends.

Reasons for Conducting Background Checks

There are several reasons why companies . First is to find out if the person has done any criminal activity. This would essential if the position requires customer relations or handling money.

Most companies also conduct credit checks. It serves as a indicator for the persons reliability.

Not only done in companies, in the United States, there exists the Brady Bill where background checks are done for those who want to buy guns, explosives and restricted firearms.

Other reasons for background checks may involve a suspicious neighbor or perhaps when one is hiring a new nanny. It can also be as serious has going into a background of a possible new business partner.

Requirements before conducting a background check

There are many laws and guidelines that should be followed in conducting background check. Some of these laws are as follows:

o . This law ensures that when credit reporting is done, correct and updated data is used.

o Drivers Privacy Protection Act. This law regulates the release and sharing of information from DMV records. Thus, the release of driver and vehicles records are part of these laws.

o Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. This act is also involved in employment screening. This regulates the information the employer can or cannot access. It stresses keeping the information private.

o Other state laws and guidelines. Depending on which state you are in, there are specific laws and guidelines pertaining to background checks.

Controversies Regarding Background Checks

Not all people are comfortable with background checks. Sometimes, there are tendencies that one unearths information of illegal activity. One must be aware that the information is 100 percent true. Some may perhaps be wrong or irrelevant.

An important factor when looking for sources is to what degree is your source credible.

The Deal with Background Checks

Although not everyone approves of background checks, the fact remains the same, that background checks are useful. It gives an overview of the personality and working habits of the person.

Remember to assess only the relevant information to prevent having information overload about the person. Time is always a factor. Some perceive background checks to be too time consuming. This may only occur when you get too much information about the person.

Background checks are now usually standard protocol not only to most companies but also at home when hiring household help. Thus, background checks are not only for big companies. It is something for the average household. Ashton Renderly talks in length about the pro's and con's of background checks at http://www.ezbackgroundcheck.info.. Also checkout http://www.photogreetingcard.info for more great information and resources. ]]> How To Perform A Background Check http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-perform-a-background-check http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-perform-a-background-check#comments Wed, 13 Dec 2006 04:27:16 +0000 government databasesspecialized databasesautotrackxpaccurintwestlawlexisnexisbackground check http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-perform-a-background-check background checking of certain individuals or companies has become necessary. The reason may be as simple as a verification of the credentials of a newly appointed executive in the office. It may be as complicated as digging out the criminal past of a dishonest businessman. A background check helps in affirming the credibility of certain person or confirms the certainty of some rumors relating to the performance of certain business house. Thus when you are looking for the source of information for your investigation, you should be guided by the context and circumstances of the investigation, and not by convenience or cost factors.

Background check is a form of investigative research and there is a wide range of databases to help you find the necessary information. There are a variety of databases such as , and regional and that may be helpful in searching for different types of personal as well as public information. Then there are several research agencies that will supply you with the necessary information for a price. The most renowned among them are , , ChoicePoint Online, and , which specialize, in various kinds of public records. For example, if you are tracking the address of a person over the past several years, Accurint will be able to provide you the most comprehensive information about address histories. But if you want to look up some incident in the recent past, then try AutoTrackXP's database.

In a democratic country such as the United States, the public theoretically has the right to access the government records that may seem relevant to their business. However there are restrictions on how you are allowed to use this information. The investigators who perform the background checks, therefore are required to be familiar with the various laws governing the accessibility to various public information and their permissible uses. The provisions dealing with the permissible uses of different information change with each state. However, most of the laws generally allow access to the information intended to be used for litigation-related purposes.

Up to this point so far, you have identified the context of the research, and you have identified the possible sources of information and the permissible uses of those sources. The next step involves obtaining personal identification information including name, date of birth and Social Security number. Your client may have already provided this information; even so it is your responsibility to verify them. You should also investigate the places where the person had lived and done business previously.

After you have obtained and verified the personal identification of the person in question, you can now proceed to other aspects of the investigation. For example, if you are checking the credentials of an executive, you should then look into his educational background and past employment history. Or if you are verifying rumors about the shady past of a certain person, you should start by checking for any criminal record. Run a background check at http://www.background-check-pro.info and http://www.background-check-pro.info/free-government-background-check.htm. ]]> What Does Your Myspace Background Say About You? http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-does-your-myspace-background-say-about-you http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-does-your-myspace-background-say-about-you#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:05:01 +0000 myspace backgroundsmyspace backgroundmyspace profilemuch more than justthis means thatsocial networkingpersonality http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-does-your-myspace-background-say-about-you social networking website MySpace has taken their operation to a new level in the last year. Pushed hard by competition from competing websites which attempt to piggyback off of their idea, MySpace has constantly been looking for different ways to get ahead and keep their largely youthful member base. Though there have been quite a few different things added to MySpace over the last few months, one of the most popular has been the new s which can be customized and uploaded easily. MySpace is now becoming a place to keep up with friends. Now, it is a place to make a statement about who you are and what you love.

With that in mind, what exactly does your say about you? Obviously, the information held there is going to be the primary way that people get to know you. How else might you communicate your through that profile? MySpace backgrounds offer an easy and creative way to differentiate your profile from all of the other profiles on the website. Any fool can make a profile with a generic background. It takes someone with real personality to get a custom MySpace background. If you are planning on installing one of these MySpace backgrounds, it's important to consider the message that you are sending.

When someone visits your MySpace profile page, the first thing they will hear is your music. Along those same lines, the first thing they will see is that fancy background. you will have an opportunity to make a first impression that a person isn't soon to forget. How do you do this and what things should you keep in mind before choosing a profile? Well, in order to make a good impression, you should choose something that's fun, easy on the eyes, and descriptive of your lifestyle. You have to keep your senses in order, though. A crazy MySpace background will take away from the other content on the page.

If you happen to like a sports team, then don't be afraid to show your stuff. Your MySpace background should represent you in a way that you are proud of. It should let people know what sorts of things that you are really into. When deciding on a different layout, you should try to pick something that is likely to be important to you for a long period of time. Though it's not all that difficult to change your MySpace background, it's not something that you'll want to make a habit of. By choosing something that has substantial meaning to your life, chances are that you will enjoy the background much more. The internet offers tons of Myspace Backgrounds for you to choose. For a look at some of the coolest MySpace background layouts on the entire internet, visit http://www.killacodes.com. ]]> Employers: Save Time By Hiring A Private Investigator To Conduct An Employee Background Check http://www.artwoo.com/article/employers-save-time-by-hiring-a-private-investigator-to-conduct-an-employee-background-check http://www.artwoo.com/article/employers-save-time-by-hiring-a-private-investigator-to-conduct-an-employee-background-check#comments Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:25:01 +0000 employee background checkprivate investigatorsex offenders registrysocial security numbersprospective employeebankruptcy protectioncheck time http://www.artwoo.com/article/employers-save-time-by-hiring-a-private-investigator-to-conduct-an-employee-background-check social security numbers and credit information for your company's clients.

Therefore, conducting an is essential in many businesses. However, not every manager or owner will have the time to thoroughly check out everyone who has applied for and who is being considered for filling a position. That's where a comes in.

It's possible to hire a private investigator to conduct an employee background check for you.

With an employee background check, a private investigator can determine whether the :

has a car or truck registered in his or her name; has a clean driving record; has indeed attended the college or university listed on his or her application; has been sued or has a criminal record; has ever filed for ; has sued a previous employer for worker's compensation; has passed state licensing exams such as those for teachers, doctors, nurses or lawyers; has ever failed a drug test; or has been listed on the .

With this information, you can verify the information that is on the applicant's resume and determine whether or not they meet the criteria that your company sets for its employees.

Much of the information that is included in an employee background check is information that is on public record. Therefore, some businesses may wonder why they should hire a private investigator when it is possible to get the information on their own.

There are a number of reasons why it makes sense to hire a private investigator to conduct an employee background check. Time is one reason: while as an employer may have to place a number of phone calls or conduct a number of searches just to determine who should be contacted to find the information, a private investigator is experienced at conducting employee background checks.

In addition to saving time by having someone else conduct an employee background check, your business will be able to continue to focus on your clients and customers. As a result, your day to day business will not slip through the cracks and you can be sure that the employee background check is conducted without bias.

When the same individuals who conduct interviews also conduct employee background checks, it's possible that a detail would be weighted based on the interview with or personality of the applicant. Because a private investigator is a neutral party, all that will be considered during the employee background check is the information that the search yields.

With that information, you will be better able to determine whether or not the applicant is someone who fits in with your company, your mission statement and the specifics of the position. And, thanks to an employee background check, you can be sure that the person who you hire is a reputable, reliable candidate who will help your business to grow. David Almeida is a licensed private investigator with a degree in criminal justice. He is affiliated with the National Association of Investigative Specialists and the Licensed Private Detective's Association of Massachusetts. For more information visit http://www.baystatedetective.com ]]> Looking For A New Job? Are You Sure You Can http://www.artwoo.com/article/looking-for-a-new-job-are-you-sure-you-can http://www.artwoo.com/article/looking-for-a-new-job-are-you-sure-you-can#comments Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:32:07 +0000 job applicationbackground checkbackground checkscontact informationnegligent hiringhiring companyemployment check http://www.artwoo.com/article/looking-for-a-new-job-are-you-sure-you-can negligent hiring lawsuits, companies understand that bad hiring decisions can cause them big problems.

That's why over 90% of employers now run s on potential hires.

During a background check, a takes a good look at your personal and professional history. They verify your education and past employment, check to see if there is criminal activity in your past, and talk to your references. Some companies may even look at your driving record, credit history or previous drug testing results.

To run a thorough background check, a company needs some very specific information from you. For example, they need for your former employers and the names of your previous supervisors.

This type of detailed information is typically not found on a resume, even one that is professionally prepared. So companies have candidates fill out a that is specifically designed to get the information that's required to run a complete background check.

How you fill out a company's job application is directly tied to whether or not you get the job. In fact, over 80% of companies say that discrepancies on a job application can take a candidate out of consideration.

When you fill out a job application, you want to make sure that your information is complete and easy to verify. However, there are lots of situations that can cause problems for an applicant. Here are a few:

What kind of contact information do you provide for a former employer that has gone out of business?

If you worked for a company through a temporary agency, who do you list as the employer?

If you were fired from your previous job, should you leave it off the application?

How you answer these and other questions can make the difference between a swift and successful background check and one that grinds to a halt because information can't be verified. Human resources will usually caution against hiring someone whose information is hard to read, has gaps or inconsistencies, or is lacking important details.

A successful job search requires a professional-looking resume, strong interviewing skills, and a can-do attitude. These tools will get you in the door and help you make the final cut.

But if you don't pass the background check, you won't get the job.

Take the time to prepare the detailed information that will go on your job application. It's one of the best things you can do in your job search. Jan Maxwell is the author of "A Job Hunter's Secret Weapon: How to Survive a Background Check and Get the Job You Really Want" http://www.jobhunterssecretweapon.com.. It's the first book that takes job applicants inside a real background check and shows them how to fill out a job application that will sail through pre-employment screening. ]]> Free Criminal Records And Background Checks -- http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-criminal-records-and-background-checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-criminal-records-and-background-checks#comments Tue, 16 May 2006 12:32:03 +0000 background checksfree criminal recordsnegligent hiringpre employment screeningoiled machineworkplace violencecompanys business http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-criminal-records-and-background-checks oiled machine. For this reason, hiring individuals to become prospective employees of a company are serious matters of interest and one that can never be relegated as dismal.

Why Conduct and ?

That is an understandable question to ask. With the prices quoted by public records researchers these days, why indeed. However, if the hiring process is the key to keeping the business intact for a long time, then free criminal records and background checks are what make the hiring process thorough and exhaustive.

Free criminal records and background checks helps a company make better-informed decisions during the pre-employment screening. The information they provide are indispensable as they are the determinants of a person's character. In a way, free criminal records and background checks are steps that a company can take to protect its own interest. There have been too many cases in the past wherein no background checks whatsoever was made on an individual and so when that individual was hired as an employee and then later on committed a crime in the context of his or her job, the company was held liable.

Negligence particularly on issues concerning , supervision, security, training, and retention can not only cause loss in productivity but at the extreme end, as well that could very well cost the lives of other employees. And thus, it is the responsibility of the company as well as a right to protect its assets and interests, including its employees from incidents that may arise due to the lack of free criminal records and background checks.

State Requirement

Several states in the U.S. have laws requiring free criminal records and background checks during the pre-employment process. States, such as Florida, are especially particular about free criminal records and background checks on certain industries where "care" is provided as a service. Thus, any prospective employee or volunteer of a facility for the elderly, children, and people with disabilities are required by state statute and by federal law to undergo free criminal records and background checks.

Today, 29 states in the United States keep central repositories for the purpose of providing information to those conducting free criminal records and background checks. As of this time, there is no known "national" database of criminal history information and the most you could do to conduct a nationwide search is to visit each state repository individually. Fortunately, the Internet has made it possible for you to do this right on your computer screen. Find Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime... Dig Up Dirt on Anybody... Even Uncover Secrets and Closely-Guarded Information... Plus, Do It All Legally and Without Anyone Ever Finding Out! Visit http://www.onlinedetectiveguru.com for more information. You may use this article only if you leave that hyperlink above in place. ]]> Background Checks For Small Business http://www.artwoo.com/article/background-checks-for-small-business http://www.artwoo.com/article/background-checks-for-small-business#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:22:24 +0000 free background checksclean cut kidpart time workoffice supply storebackground checkfamily businessniece http://www.artwoo.com/article/background-checks-for-small-business Background check, why would I need to run a background check? That's what I told my wife. "Come on dear, I heard you can get absolutely online" she said. How those words echo in my mind every time I think of what happened to my small business.

As a small anytime we needed more help, we would check for the nearest or nephew looking to work, we didn't need a background check on them so we never even had considered the idea. So when we decided to hire a young man to help run our store during busy season, I never even though of running a background check . I now know better. I bugs me even more to know you can get absolutely free background checks all over on the internet.

"Steve" as I will call him was a clean cut young man who walked in one day looking for some to put towards college that fall. He filled out a basic application for employment, (a standard form we picked up at the ) that looked pretty good. He just seemed like such a polite , I have to admit, I didn't check his references, much less run a background check.

Steve took to the business right off and had a great way of handling customers, everyone left with a smile and we had many good reports on him. It wasn't more than a month before he was running errands for us with the company truck (something I never would have done if I had run a background check on him) including taking the daily deposits to the bank for us.

Steve seemed to be so honest. His third week with us, I made a mistake on his paycheck, for whatever reason, I had figured his hourly rate at .50 more an hour than he was supposed to get. He came right into my office and showed me the mistake and asked me if I would make him a different check. I said no and turned the mistake into a raise for him telling him how important me it was to have someone as honest as him working for me. Man, he was good!

So, now it's the end of the summer and Steve gives me not 2 but 3 weeks notice, letting me know it's back to college and even asked about coming back to work the holidays on his breaks or maybe on the weekends if I was in a bind. This guy was the ultimate employee. I would always ask my wife, "so still think we need to run that background check? I think I trust him more than you, maybe I will run a background check on you! I know a place where you can get absolutely free background checks"

Two weeks before Steve was supposed to quit, he "lost" his paycheck and asked for a duplicate. Two days later we came in at the normal time, but our company truck was gone as was our computer, cash drawer and about $5,000 in merchandise from our store. It turns out, "Steve" came in early that day! He had apparently made a spare key for the truck, cashed his "lost" paycheck and the replacement check, charged a full tank of gas and headed for a college far far away.

That night, my wife ran a background check, an absolutely free background check. Turns out Steve has more work experience than he listed on his resume. If we would have seen just one of the issues on his background check, we never would have hired Steve and I wouldn't be writing this story.

Does your business need to run a background check on new hires? You better believe it. And why wouldn't you when you can get an absolutely free background check online? You have put a lot of time and sweat into your small business, don't make the mistake of cutting corners on something as simple and potentially important as a background search.D. LeRoy is involved with several small business in both a consulting and marketing role. Click here to see how easy it is to get a background check as recommended by D. LeRoy.]]> How To Remove Background From An Image In Photoshop http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-remove-background-from-an-image-in-photoshop http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-remove-background-from-an-image-in-photoshop#comments Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:27:18 +0000 magic wand toolpaint brush toolnew imagemask modeeraser toolsmall iconsfinished selection http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-remove-background-from-an-image-in-photoshop
The first thing that you need to do is to open the image whose background you would like to remove. Then select the from the Tools box. The Magic Wand Tool is a great tool to get the image you are trying to select roughed out. This tool will select a section of an image based on the color of the image. Do not worry about getting everything exactly right using this tool, but you want get a rough selection of the image you are trying to extract from the background. You want to click on the image to make the first selection, and then hold down the shift key while clicking to continue adding selections, until you have the entire image that you would like to remove selected. Right now you will probably notice that not the entire image has been selected, or that the selection is not very clean looking. To fix this, Photoshop has a very handy built-in tool to help clean up your selection.

Right below the color selection area in the Tools box is two that look like cameras. The one on the right is Edit in Quick , click on this one and everything you have not selected will turn red. Then you can use the to add to your selection, and the to remove from your selection. After using these tools to clean up your selection, click on the Edit in Standard Mode button to see your . Then you can click on Edit, Copy and then click on File, New to open a . Photoshop will look at the image that you have copied on the clipboard, and size the new image to the same size as the image copied. Then paste your copied image to the new image, and you will have your extracted image with a transparent background. Beef up your images with Photoshop Plugins http://www.vertustech.com/ ]]> The Importance Of Nanny Background Checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-nanny-background-checks http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-nanny-background-checks#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2006 06:27:10 +0000 nanny background checksaskaddress phone numberutmost carebirth educationdummycompulsory http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-nanny-background-checks dummy mom in your absence from the house. Thus pay every single attention you can before you select a nanny for your child. Your child requires the best of all things -- best care, best atmosphere and, loads and loads of care, attention and love. Since you are unable to provide him the due to some reason, you are hiring a domestic helper to fill up the gap. Hence it is almost that you are fully assured of her honesty and security towards your child and your house. And to do that you need to do on all of the potential hires.

To have a fully satisfactory bio-data of your nanny is not necessary but almost essential. And after being satisfied with it, comes the part of verification. It is most important for you to check accurately to all the details provided by her by doing nanny background checks. Any false information given by her should immediately lead you to drop her. Here are some important tips that you must undergo before appointing a nanny for your baby.

First and most importantly, it is necessary to have at least 3 references given by your nanny. She must be able to provide every little detail that you for and you must ask as if you have the right to do so. After going through the interview the references she provided must be checked thoroughly. If necessary go ahead and ask questions to them about her like, when did she join? How long was she there? How was her performance? Etc, etc. This is just the first step to good nanny background checks.

It is essential for you to make your nanny fill up an application form before she starts off. This application form must cover all the details about her including her name, address, phone-number, date of birth, education and experience, and above all, her identity proof. After she pens down all the information it becomes your duty to investigate and do thorough nanny background checks. If she provides you with names of her close relatives or friends, you should verify them. If you find any information any misleading it is advisable to reject the candidate. And if you find her convincing, then you may go ahead and keep her.

It is always best to be straightforward in whatever you do. You should inform the person that you require verification on her background and make her sign an agreement with an authorized statement declaring you will be doing nanny background checks. If she hesitates then it is better to forget about her. If the task of verification becomes difficult for you, there are plenty of online background-check services available today. These agencies are reliable and take up all the responsibilities to find out everything about your nanny. These agencies are quite reasonable and very efficient in their work. Their work includes social security verification, national criminal search, sex abuse registry check, medical review and drug screening.

Last of all and most importantly, you must rely on your own intuition. It your intuition does not support you, meaning you do not feel confident about your child's nanny, never make a mistake of handling over your baby to her. After all, a mother's instinct can judge the best for her child's security. It is just the nanny background checks will help. Carl Walker is the publisher of http://aupairsnanny.com/nanny-background-check.html Au Pairs and Nannies which provides helpful advice about nannies including nanny background checks. ]]> The Dreaded Picture Day http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-dreaded-picture-day http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-dreaded-picture-day#comments Wed, 06 Sep 2006 04:27:13 +0000 background colorblue backgroundsuitable backgroundparentsphotodiyhttp http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-dreaded-picture-day parents think of such a day as being a monumental time, as they use it as a means of recording a child's youthful career. It is basically the only way of preserving school days for years to come.

So, why do parents seem to ensure the pictures which are taken turn out to look more like something that they want put on the walls and to have sent out to every family member? I would say there are certain steps which can ensure your children's s will turn out the very best.

The first thing that is imperative is to really understand what can really make a good photo. It is the case that parents get to choose a background in most cases. When from the 70's through to the 80's the was the answer for everyone but now there is a choice. Please keep in mind that the colors of clothing can make all the difference as to what is a color.

So what you have to do is consider what color your child looks best in, or even what they are willing to wear. If they like dark blues, then a pale blue background will offer the best results.

Hair can be the reason that some images just do not work out properly at all. Give your child a comb when they are going away to school, and tell them to use it before they get their photo taking. A scruffy hair cut can really make the difference between a presentable photo and one that is not. And also do not forget to have your child do a lovely smile. This can really make the difference between a great photo and one that is OK.

Good luck parents, and I hope that everything goes according to plan! Jon is the editor of a top http://www.educationalclub.com website, and he also runs a site about -professional.com" >http://www.diy-professional.com ]]> Chromakey is the Secret to the Magic You See in Television http://www.artwoo.com/article/chromakey-is-the-secret-to-the-magic-you-see-in-television http://www.artwoo.com/article/chromakey-is-the-secret-to-the-magic-you-see-in-television#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:50:26 +0000 tv weathermanpc weathershades of colorsweathermapvirtual setweather mapweathercast http://www.artwoo.com/article/chromakey-is-the-secret-to-the-magic-you-see-in-television
Chroma key is the way to do it. Chromakey is the cancelling out a background color so that you can insert a different background. You can purchase what you need from the auctions below.

How They Do It

The most common example of chroma key (chromakey) is the . He is not really pointing at a giant when doing his . He is being filmed in front of a blue or green background. These are not normally found in nature. The station software simply substitutes the map for the green screen.

Using chromakey software, the blue or green color is removed and the weathermap background is substituted for the transparency left after the keying process. Another example of this was the occasional scene on the TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway". They frequently had an actor standing in front of a green screen with something revolting, such as cockroaches or snakes crawling all over the background.

Now You Can Do Green Screening At Home

Software is readily available today that allows you to do it on a home PC. I have scenes taped of myself in front of a greenscreen and then using an NLE (Non linear editing software) and putting in a such as the Taj Mahal, the French Riviera, the Coliseum in Rome in the background. I trave;ed the world without leaving my computer room.

With Ultra CS3 from Adobe, you are able to use a virtual set and a green screen at the same time. A virtual set is a background to a video clip. Using Ultra CS3, if you stand in front of a green screen with a virtual set or another video clip in the background, and then key out the green, it will appear that you are a part of the background. We visited the Universal Studio theme park in Los Angeles where they used this. They selected two kids from the audience and place them on a bicycle angled up in front of a green screen, at about a 30 degree angle and had them pedal while they taped it. Behind the scenes, they inserted a background of the moon and a few clouds in the sky. When they showed the finished product, what you saw was the two kids on a bicycle, moving across the sky just as you saw in ET The Extra Terestrial. Once you understand the chromakey process, you will see what is behind the illusion you view in the movies or on TV. It does take some of the fun out of it.

Green Screen or Chromakey Software

Two examples of the software I use are Ultra CS3 and Visual Communicator CS3. These products were originally developed by a company called Serious Magic. Serious Magic was acquired by Adobe and they are marketed under the Adobe Banner.

Green Screen or Chromakey is fun.

My grandchildren are really impressed by what Papaw can do. You can do the same.I am Rick Blackmon I have been working with and on computers over 50 years. I retired from IBM after 42 years and have sold computers in retail since. Please visit my computer website The Geek's Photo and Video Store]]> A Review of the Background Searcher People Locator http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-review-of-the-background-searcher-people-locator http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-review-of-the-background-searcher-people-locator#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:36:53 +0000 invasion of privacybirth parentss childmissing peoplecouple daysadoptionsplethora http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-review-of-the-background-searcher-people-locator plethora of searches available. We'll explain more below.

Read The Middle Paragraphs

We understand websites like this one can become quite addicting, but before you go researching everyone you know, take a look at the paragraphs in the middle of the page. The second one probably gives you the best description about what you can find. It gives an example of figuring out whether a not a person has been married, what debt they have, any liens against them, criminal records, and several other instances it seems that no one has privacy anymore.

What These Sites Are Good For In The End

Companies love websites like the Background Searcher People Locator because they can do it on their own. It saves them money instead of hiring another company to go out and do the research for them. What used to take a to a week in order for a business to let you know if you're hired has now become only hours by utilizing these systems.

However, it's not all about companies and business. Many individuals use these to find out more about love interests, son's and daughter's dates, along with co-workers and friends. While some would consider this an and disrespectful, others would say it's an easier way to stay safe if you know what's going on at all times.

Now, keep in mind there are thousands of other reasons to use a system like the Background Searcher People Locator. You may want to learn about family history, check up on someone' support orders, inmate records, DMV files, property records, and , , and to be honest there is a lot more we just can't list it all here. In fact, there are well over 100 different categories from you to choose from on their website.

Our Overall Analysis

We can see how something like this could be beneficial for a great deal of people. There is a one-time fee that's associated with the Background Searcher People Locator, but it's not a really a lot of money considering all the people that could be spinning through your mind at this moment. Just look at it and see if there is something you could benefit from by looking into this type of information.

We would venture to guess that there is at least one thing you would like to know about someone that is listed on their page. Heck, we found about twenty ourselves when reviewing this website. Oh, also if you have questions about everything then take a look at their FAQ at the top left portion of the page below the header. If you need more, then check out the testimonials as well. It could be the top of upper hand you need in a situation you're in right now.Let Background Investigation Review Kings Brian Garvin and Jeff West teach you more about Background Searcher. Feel free to use this article but please leave all links and author bio intact.]]> What Is A Background Check On A Person And Why http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-a-background-check-on-a-person-and-why http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-a-background-check-on-a-person-and-why#comments Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:25:01 +0000 lookup emailphone numbers and addressescell phone numbersfacebookcriminal recordsgooglemyspace http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-a-background-check-on-a-person-and-why
Background checks used to be a tool mainly accessible to law enforcement or those with the money and resources to hire a private detective. It was costly and time consuming for anyone who had to gather information from many different sources in order to compile a comprehensive meaningful report. Computers and the Internet have changed the way that this type of information is gathered. Today, massively large databases are readily shared and collated to create a wealth of information that is readily accessible. Services that make this information available often include information from sources such as background records, , sex offenders, and warrant search can provide information such as - addresses, relatives, phone numbers, properties owned, judgments, criminal records, arrest, offence information, bodily marks, etc.

Birth records, death records, divorce records, and marriage records can provide such information as important dates, locations, names, ages, relative, parents, properties owned, etc.

Locating people via various means now include not only , but the ability to and . There are also services to do reverse lookups on phone, email, cell, and addresses.

and Internet web sites also contain a wealth of information. Sites like , , blogger and other web sites are full of personal information and images that may prove useful. With the rapidly expanding availability of all this information, be careful what you share. For more helpful tips and information visit http://www.atthesale.net/background-checks.php . George Baker is a constant observer of the evolution of the Internet. ]]> Basic Photoshop Tutorials Using The Eraser Tool http://www.artwoo.com/article/basic-photoshop-tutorials-using-the-eraser-tool http://www.artwoo.com/article/basic-photoshop-tutorials-using-the-eraser-tool#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:57:54 +0000 background eraser toolblue skymagic eraserspend a little timesampling optionswatchjob http://www.artwoo.com/article/basic-photoshop-tutorials-using-the-eraser-tool Background Eraser tool.

The is often used to blast large areas that contain unwanted pixels. It certainly can be effective if you want to get fast results, but it is less than subtle. This works well when you want to eliminate big areas of color that you don't need. It is not always as useful when you are working with areas that are more intricate.

This is one of the reasons that Photoshop is so great. This program provides the user with lots of selection tool choices. Each tool has its own options that can be customized.

Now, there are some kinds of selection s that work better with the Background Eraser than with the actual Magic Eraser.

The Background Eraser is more versatile and gives you greater control over some of the more difficult tasks. For instance, if you are selecting intricately shaped objects, the Background Eraser may be the tool for the job.

Let's say you want to isolate your image in your picture by removing the sky. The sky consists of edges that may prove difficult to work with. Remove the sky along with the detailed edges using the Background Eraser tool.

Some selection tools would not be able to handle the job because of the position of the crenulations and the arches of the towers. This makes it very tricky when you want to try to remove the sky that is hidden among all of that other stuff.

Here is the way that you can work with the Background Eraser tool to accomplish the above task. You can cut out the complex shapes easily using the Background Eraser. Now you may need to fiddling with the options to get the most use of the tool when you are working on a complex project such as this one.

Begin by selecting the tool from the toolbox and in the options bar you will want to set the to Once. Sample a section of the by clicking and the background icon will change color.

This lets you know the pixels that are headed for deletion. If you hold the mouse button down and spray the eraser's brush around the image you will be able to get rid of all the pixels of the same color.

Pixels of other colors will not be removed as you spray around the edge of the building. If you want the best results you can tweak the Tolerance setting. Master The Basics Of Adobe Photoshop In Under 2 Hours With Easy To Follow Instantly Accessible Online Video Tutorials. http://www.learnphotoshopnow.com/blog/2007/04/basic-photoshop-tutorials-usi= ng-eraser.html ]]> The Most Important Piece Of Paper In Your Job http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-most-important-piece-of-paper-in-your-job http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-most-important-piece-of-paper-in-your-job#comments Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:32:09 +0000 job applicationjob searchjob applicantspre employment screeningbackground checksbackground checkcheck backgrounds http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-most-important-piece-of-paper-in-your-job job search? If you said it's your resume or your cover letter, you'd be wrong. It's your .

Over 90% of companies run some type of on today. To get the detailed information that is required to run a thorough check, most companies require applicants to fill out a specially-designed application form.

Over 80% of companies say that discrepancies on a job application can take a candidate out of the running, yet half of the run in 2005 found inaccuracies in the information provided by applicants.

As you can see, how you fill out that job application is directly tied to whether or not you get hired.

There are four golden rules to follow when filling out a job application. Some of them are obvious and all of them are important. If you follow these rules, you will start the pre-employment screening process far ahead of your competitors.

Tell the Truth:

As amazing as it sounds, over half of all applicants lie on their applications. Don't be one of them. Nothing will take you out of consideration faster than fabricating information. Because so many companies today, the chances are very good that lies will be discovered and you will not get the job.

Be Neat:

Since companies use the information on your job application to check your background, make sure people can read it. If you can type your application, do it. If not, print clearly. Your mother might be able to read your handwriting, but she is not the one who will be checking your background.

Be Complete:

It is always better to give too much information, rather than too little. You never know what a company will want to verify. Here are some general rules:

1. If there is space on the application, list every diploma and degree you have received. Some companies will only verify your highest degree, while others will want to verify everything.

2. Fill in as many employment boxes as you can. Work study, internships, and volunteer jobs all provided you with experience. List them if you have room.

3. Always provide up-to-date phone numbers and addresses for your previous employers.

Be Prepared:

Most companies will not tell you what information they plan to check. Some will only run a criminal check, while others will verify every piece of information on your job application. You need to be prepared for anything they choose to do.

You also need to be prepared for anything a hiring company might hear about you. Even though previous employers may be liable for saying bad things about you, it happens every day. If there is bad news out there, it is far better for you to tell the hiring company than to have them find it out on their own.

Before you send out that first resume, or respond to that first newspaper ad, take the time to prepare the detailed information that needs to go on your job application.

Remember, while a great-looking resume and solid interviewing skills will help you make the final cut, if you don't pass the background check, you won't get the job. Jan Maxwell is the author of "A Job Hunter's Secret Weapon: How to Survive a Background Check and Get the Job You Really Want" (http://www.jobhunterssecretweapon.com). It's the first book that takes job applicants inside a real background check and shows them how to fill out a job application that will sail through pre-employment screening. ]]> MySpace Profile - Making A Good Looking Profile http://www.artwoo.com/article/myspace-profile-making-a-good-looking-profile http://www.artwoo.com/article/myspace-profile-making-a-good-looking-profile#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:30:04 +0000 myspace graphicsmyspace commentswishafriendfontsdark colorsreadablelayouts http://www.artwoo.com/article/myspace-profile-making-a-good-looking-profile readable and cannot be understood by most new comers. What is the way out? Here are some quick tips.

Do not choose with very . Remember that if your layout is very dark, all other design elements will disappear in the darkness. Choose a little lighter layout with that are clearly readable. Do not ask your friends to strain their eyes in reading your profile. Will you do that? If the answer is no, avoid this.

If you have used a background, you have to be very careful. Most of the layouts come with inbuilt fonts but backgrounds do not. Choose few backgrounds and try them one after another. If needed take opinion. The background should reflect your personality. If you are a softhearted person, imagine what impression you convey with background full of images of wrestlers? The backgrounds will either attract the reader to stay on your profile and click away. Look at the background carefully. Does it look good? Is it inviting? Are the fonts clear and the text easily readable? Does everything look in place?

Video and music are loved by all of us. Most of the profiles have them. And most of these profiles take ages downloading. Once everybody has got something, it is no more unique. Make your page stand out. Let it download quickly. Only then your friends can comment quickly. The more comments you get, the more popular you get.

These are few tips to make an attractive profile for MySpace. Pay attention to- layout, background and page weight. Once you succeed in this, you have won half the war. .com" >http://www.wishafriend.com offers hundreds of and . ]]> Marketing Study: Background Color vs. http://www.artwoo.com/article/marketing-study-background-color-vs http://www.artwoo.com/article/marketing-study-background-color-vs#comments Tue, 18 Apr 2006 06:50:12 +0000 white backgroundyahoo googlebackground sitesblue backgroundcolored backgroundebayamazon http://www.artwoo.com/article/marketing-study-background-color-vs
I keep seeing different colors for major marketers. I even see some major marketers switch colors from one site to another. It makes me wonder if they have done any testing. Does the color just not matter? If so, why do so many use dark blue, light blue and black?

Then I consider the major money makers on the 'net and wonder why only one uses a . I'm talking about Yahoo, Google, and . They all use a surrounding their "page" that is set in a limited width table in the center of the page. Only MSN.com uses a medium .

It was high time for a study to find out the real answer. I did it in the usual way. I built a list of profitable and unprofitable sites by looking at the duration of ads being placed on Yahoo (Overture) and Google. If an ad had been shown for six months or longer, I placed the target page on a list of "profitable" sites. If an ad was placed and completely dropped in less that one month, the site was placed on an "unprofitable" list. The latter list would be less reliable, but the comparison between the two lists would still be statistically valid with a sufficient sample size. The latter list might only represent "average" sites, but even "average" sites would be less profitable than the known profitable list.

The results were very mixed. First of all, the white were the vast majority on both lists. You simply can't go wrong with a completely white background. However, it wasn't actually the winner. Here is the breakdown:

Profitable sites with a white background: 85.2%

Unprofitable (or average) sites with a white background: 92.6%

A non-white background actually was more profitable a higher percentage of the time. I then studied the "darkness" of the background in those minority sites for both profitable and unprofitable sites. Looking at the RGB values, I split the colors into two buckets... those that were dark (191 or less average RGB value) and those that were light (192 or higher RGB value). The results were even more clear:

Looking only at non-white backgrounds of profitable sites with dark colors: 92.8%

Looking only at non-white backgrounds of unprofitable sites with light colors: 96.1%

Wow! That's quite a correlation. Although a vast majority of profitable (and unprofitable) sites have a white background, those that do have a non-white background have a dark background whereas the unprofitable sites were more likely to have a light background... both with an extremly high correlation. That's hard to ignore.

I next had to get the actual answer. What color background had the highest correlation with profitability. What's the bottom line? The answer was just as clear:

53.3% of the profitable sites with non-white desktop background were black.

Now; I should be very clear about this result. The area under study is NOT the actual web-site text area. We are NOT talking about having white text on a black background. In a vast majority of cases, these sites actually had black text on a white background. The area under study is the theoretical area AROUND the virtual piece of paper. It is the "desktop" color if you pretend the web-site area is a piece of paper sitting on a virtual desktop. It isn't the color of the piece of paper that is under study. It is the color of the virtual desktop that the piece of paper is virtually laying upon.

So what am I going to do about this result? I'll probably eventually implement it. I don't like it, but the result is very clear. Why don't I like it? Well, take a look at one of my sites:

http://www.Glyphius.com">http://www.Glyphius.com

I use a virtual piece of white paper on a virtual white desktop. I like the fuzzed shadow I use around the edges. That fuzzed shadow won't be possible with a black background. The shadow will simply disappear leaving (in my opinion) a less professional look of a crisp piece of white paper against a black backdrop.

The other reason I don't like it is that it puts me out of the majority of profitable sites in general. It will make future studies more difficult. Instead of simply grabbing profitable sites and comparing them to unprofitable sites, I will need to grab only profitable and unprofitable sites that have a black background. Otherwise other results might not be valid if they come from the majority white background dataset. A good example would be a study of headline color. The most profitable headline color might be different between those sites with a black background and those with a standard white background.

I simply haven't decided what to do yet. Will I stick with the safe standard white desktop behind my virtual piece of paper? Or will I go with the black desktop that is less standard, but has a higher correlation with profitability? What will you do?

One result from this study is very clear though. If you do choose a non-white background, it is foolhardy to choose yellow, blue (light or dark), pastel green, or any other color. The correct color for highest profitability is clearly black. The 2nd place color (and the color of the vast majority of sites) is white. All other colors failed miserably in this study. Are you ready for the future? Can you imagine improving your sales with computer software guiding you and helping you improve your copywriting? The future is here. Get Glyphius today: http://www.Glyphius.com">http://www.Glyphius.com ]]> Federal Prison Inmate Locator: How to Find Someone in Prison For Free http://www.artwoo.com/article/federal-prison-inmate-locator-how-to-find-someone-in-prison-for-free http://www.artwoo.com/article/federal-prison-inmate-locator-how-to-find-someone-in-prison-for-free#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:50:35 +0000 federal inmate lookupfederal inmate locatorfederal bureau of prisonsfederal inmatesbureau of prisonshow to find someone in prisoncorrection facility http://www.artwoo.com/article/federal-prison-inmate-locator-how-to-find-someone-in-prison-for-free How can I find out if someone is in jail or in federal prison?

When I went looking for someone recently who I thought was in federal prison I was sure that I would have a near impossible task on my hands but I was wrong. It might have been difficult a few years ago but not anymore. Let me show you and get loads of background information about them at the same time.

Step 1: Use the BOP and USA.gov State Corrections Departments lookup

The (BOP) provides a web site at www.bop.gov. On the site you will find the BOP which is a searchable database of all since 1982.

Type in the details of the person that you're looking for and click the button to see a list of names together with the prisons where they're being held. If they are still in prison the list gives you a link to the facilities web site. When I did this recently the site gave me a long list of inmates because of the common name that I was searching for so I had to find out which one, if any, of the inmates was the person that I was looking for. This can be more difficult than it sounds.

If you don't find the person that you are looking for it could be that they are being held in a State and not a federal one. If this is the case then you can look them up on the usa.gov web site. Unfortunately you either have to know which facility they might be held in or you have to do the same search on about 37 different web sites. You can do this but it might take you a little time. Also you must remember that not all correctional facilities put their records online.

Step 2: Getting more background information on someone to narrow down the search

You may find like I did, that when you've fine tuned your search by race, age and sex you're still left with several names on the list and you can't be sure that any one of them is the person that you're looking for. You need to get more information on this person.

The BOP site is ok and so are the state search web sites, they are free and they might just tell you everything you need to know. If they don't then you should subscribe to a web site that will give you all the information you could ever wish for on prison inmates or anyone else you might want to dig up some records for. These websites take information from thousands of sources all over the Internet and offline too. They're easy to search and when you find the person that you're looking for you can do a full criminal records and background check on them. When you've done this, and it can take you less than 10 minutes, you'll be far more confident that you've found the person that you're looking for.Find inmates in federal prison or in state jails and correctional facilities using a public records database How Do I Find Out If Someone Is In Jail? How to check for arrest warrants http://howdo-i.com]]>