Jazz up documents using Word ? Business Management Daily ...

If you generate specialty items using Microsoft Word, familiarize yourself with two of the tool groups: Page Backgrounds and Quick Parts. From certificates and diplomas to announcements and posters, it?s easy to give your documents a creative and polished look with tools you can find in Word.

Page Backgrounds

In Office 2007 and 2010, you will find the Watermark and Page Border buttons. Watermarks have been used for everything from logos to messages like ?Confidential? or ?Draft.?

Here?s how to create a picture watermark for a brochure:

Start with a good-quality photo. On your brochure page, from the Page Layout tab, Page Background group, choose the Watermark button. Select Custom Watermark from the dropdown menu and click Picture Watermark. Be sure to select Washout unless the photo is already faded enough to show text through it.

You can be really creative with Page Borders. In the Page Background group, Page Layout tab, choose Page Borders. Select Art from the dropdown field at the bottom of the dialog box. Now start experimenting, so when it comes time to use one, you?ll have an idea of the balance between creative and conventional. You will find borders at each end of that spectrum. When you?re doing fun posters and announcements, you can afford to stretch over to the more creative side and pick something fun.

You may have noticed Page Colors under the Page Background group. Page Colors generally don?t print well but are quite effective for documents that will only be viewed online.

Quick Parts

You also can jazz up business reports and brochures using Quick Parts. It?s important to keep a balance between attractive and busy, and remember that documents that are easy on the eyes are more likely to be opened and read. That?s where Quick Parts comes in. A few paragraphs into the document, your content will need to hold the reader?s attention.

Add an attractive sidebar text box using Quick Parts: From the Insert tab, in the Text group, click the Quick Parts button and Building Blocks Orga??nizer menu selection. The ?easiest way to sort is by using the Gallery column; then look for what you need. Choose text box first. Look in the description column for ?sidebar.?

Caution: The Insert button is lo??cated directly below the Quick Parts selection in the dialog box. It might seem intuitive to automatically go to the lower right, but that takes you to the close button without inserting your selection.

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Contributor: Melissa P. Esquibel, Microsoft^? ?Certified Trainer

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Where to vacation in the Middle East

Khaled Desouki / AFP/Getty Images

Stone columns decorated with hieroglyphs are one of the many draws at the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, Egypt.

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By Chris Gray Faust, IndependentTraveler.com

It's been more than a year since the Arab Spring spirit of revolution swept through the Middle East, and the fallout continues to affect travel. Several countries, such as Syria, have plunged into daily violence or carry precautionary warnings, while others in the region remain healthy tourist destinations.

With safety concerns in mind, we've checked the status of tourism in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and issued some recommendations. Keep in mind that this list was created in March 2012, and political events can change the situation rapidly. Register with the U.S. State Department (or your own country's equivalent) if you're going on an extended trip to the area.

Tunisia

What's happened: Arab Spring actually began in December 2010, when violent protests against President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali led to his fleeing the country and the dissolution of his political party the following month. Constitutional elections were held in October 2011 and the new government took office in December. Demonstrations, work stoppages and protests, occasionally violent, have still taken place in 2012; however, no tourists have been affected.

Tourist fallout: Arrivals to Tunisia dropped one third in 2011, with more than half of the European tourist trade diminished. The government has launched a campaign to promote Tunisia in various European capitals.

Tunisia attracted several cruise lines before the upheaval, but several, including Costa and Oceania, have pulled out or changed itineraries for 2012. MSC Cruises, P & O, Azamara and Holland America still make stops.

Should you go? Yes, as long as you are a traveler who can handle uncertainty. Otherwise, wait.

Egypt

What's happened: Inspired by events in Tunisia, protesters began calling for the ouster of President Mubarak in January 2011, with large rallies in Cairo's Tahrir Square. While the revolution was successful, reforms have been sluggish, and strikes and protests -- often violent -- have continued against the governing body, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). The unease will likely continue until presidential elections take place in May 2012.

Even more troubling than the protests, however, is the decrease in security that's taken place since the revolution. In February 2012, two groups of foreign tourists were kidnapped at gunpoint in the Sinai Peninsula, where travelers flock to resorts on the Red Sea. Reduced police presence on the Nile forced some river cruising companies to cut their route between Luxor and Dendera, turning it into a bus tour instead.

Tourist fallout: Tourism plummeted in Egypt in 2011, with visitation dropping more than 33 percent. While the country could have recovered from the initial drop in tourism immediately after the revolution, the ongoing protests continue to offer a volatile image of the country.

Soon after the revolution began, major cruise lines canceled stops in Egypt's Mediterranean ports. Many have come back in 2012, including Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Oceania, P & O, Cunard, Silversea, Seabourn and Norwegian, which is scheduled to return this fall. Costa dropped the country entirely from its 2012 roster, and Crystal and Azamara eliminated stops later this year.

On the Nile, river cruises started again in fall 2011, although with far fewer passengers than before. Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld, Viking and Vantage are all sailing.

Should you go? Yes, but only if you're a traveler who can handle uncertainty. Otherwise, wait (the Pyramids will still be there).

Jordan

What's happened: Friday protests against the government began in January 2011 and continued throughout the year, despite cabinet changes made by King Abdullah II.

Tourist fallout: Tourism to Jordan dropped severely in 2011, mostly because of the negative perception of the region. Tourism officials estimated that the reduction cost the country $1 billion. Most tours remained open throughout the year, however, and all major tour companies are still operating.

Should you go? Yes.

Lebanon

What's happened: Until Arab Spring, Lebanon had experienced a resurgence in tourism, with record visitor numbers in 2009 and 2010. Beirut in particular became a trendy travel destination, with new hotels, clubs and restaurants rising along its beaches. Under pressure from Hezbollah, members of the government resigned in early 2011, with a new one forming in June. The country had several large-scale demonstrations and strikes during the year, some violent.

Tourist fallout: Lebanon's surge in tourism stalled in 2011, dropping by 25 percent. The country's tourism officials attributed the drop to the brutal violence occurring in neighboring Syria, which discouraged people from visiting other Middle Eastern countries. Silversea cruises still stop in Lebanon.

Should you go? Yes, but only if you're a traveler who can handle uncertainty; several countries, including the U.S. and Canada, have issued travel warnings. If you go, avoid the border areas with Israel and Syria.

Libya

What's happened: Anti-government protests that began in February 2011 mushroomed into an all-out civil war, which ended when Muammar el Qaddafi was killed in October.

Tourist fallout: The violence and fighting in Libya essentially ended most tours and cruise stops in the country during 2011 and into this year. While some airlines have resumed service into Tripoli, not all have done so yet, and tourist visas are still not being issued. A few cruise lines, including Crystal and Azamara, have considered Tripoli as a destination; however, none are going in 2012.

Should you go? No.

Morocco

What's happened: Fueled by protests in other countries, Moroccans rallied on Feb. 20, 2011, in massive demonstrations that called for King Mohammed VI to give up powers. Concessions were made, and a new constitution introduced. Protests still occur on Sundays.

In an unrelated incident, a suicide bomber attacked a cafe in Marrakesh in April 2011, killing 15 people.

Tourist fallout: Despite the protests, tourism in Morocco remained stable in 2011, and even grew slightly. Most major cruise lines have stops in Moroccan ports, and tour offerings are plentiful.

Should you go? Yes.

Oman

What's happened: Oman experienced several demonstrations, some violent, in early 2011, when protesters called for government reforms and a better standard of living. Sultan Qaboos bin Said responded with a hike in the minimum wage, some reshuffling of cabinet members and other reforms. The furor died down quickly, compared to other Arab countries.

Tourist fallout: With a less developed tourism trade than many Middle Eastern countries, Oman made it a priority in 2011 by opening more hotels and attractions. The number of cruise ship passengers visiting the country also increased dramatically, as more lines added port stops in Muscat. The Ministry of Tourism has said they expect two million foreign tourists in 2012, an increase of 400,000 from 2011.

Should you go? Yes.

Syria

What's happened: As in many Arab countries, demonstrations against the Syrian government started in January 2011. They continued through the spring until July, when the government of President Bashar al-Assad responded with harsh security clampdowns, using the Syrian military.

Now the country is engulfed in a civil war that shows no signs of receding. As of March 2012, more than 10,000 people from the opposition have been killed, and that's not counting deaths within the government security forces.

Tourist fallout: Before the violence, tourism to Syria had been on the upswing. That's done now. Most Western countries have issued travel warnings against going to Syria, and the U.S. Embassy in Damascus closed in February 2012.

Should you go? No.

United Arab Emirates

What's happened: The U.A.E., which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi, avoided most of the upheaval that categorized Arab Spring. While some of the emirates have had some economic dips, the country's income per capita remains among the highest in the world.

Tourist fallout: Often considered the Las Vegas of the Middle East, Dubai's tourism increased 20 percent in 2011, a jump that officials attributed to the uncertainty elsewhere in the region. All tours and cruises have continued as usual.

Should you go? Yes.

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V&A celebrates British design | In.Design Magazine

To coincide with the 2012 London Olympics, the Victoria and Albert Museum has unveiled an exhibition showcasing the best of British design.

Under the title of ?British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age?, it is the first comprehensive exhibition to examine the ways in which designers who were born, trained or working in the UK have produced innovative and internationally acclaimed work from post-war to the present day.

Spanning the period from the 1948 ?Austerity Olympics? to the summer of 2012, pieces range from the Morris Mini Minor of 1959 to the newly commissioned model of Zaha Hadid?s London Aquatics Centre from 2011.

It covers British fashion, furniture, fine art, graphic design, photography, ceramics, architecture and industrial products over the past 60 years. Included in the exhibition is the Lecson Audio system (pictured) created by the co-founders of Meridian Audio, a leading British manufacturer of high-end audio and visual entertainment systems. The Lecson Audio system was created in 1974, three years before Allen Boothroyd and Bob Stuart founded Meridian Audio

Allen Boothroyd, who still heads Meridian Audio with Bob Stuart, said: ?We are very proud that one of our earliest and most influential products has been selected to be part of this prestigious exhibition. For the Lecson to be shown at the V&A alongside products from other iconic British brands such as Jaguar, Alexander McQueen and Concorde is a privilege. This exhibition represents the rich heritage and the finest craftsmanship of British manufacturing for which this country has become renowned and towards which we are very honoured to have contributed since we started out 40 years ago.?

The Lecson reinvented the relationship between design and function. Before its release, hi-fi equipment was housed functionally in regular grey boxes with knobs. The Lecson did away with the monochrome, boxes and knobs. The power amp was housed not in a dull cube of metal, but in a ribbed cylinder which was not only striking to look at but designed to dissipate the necessary heat. The control unit was not simply a block of buttons but used a spectrum of coloured keyboard-like sliders making it both fantastically bold and incredibly intuitive.

The broadly chronological exhibition starts with a gallery investigating how key events such as the Festival of Britain in 1951 and the Queen?s Coronation in 1953 played an important role in promoting modernisation and preserving British traditions and heritage. The work of designers such as John Fowler, John Makepeace and Michael Casson demonstrates the revival of traditional craft techniques and shows a renewed fascination in the British landscape as a source of inspiration.

The New Towns movement is illustrated by models and architectural drawings created for towns such as Harlow and Milton Keynes. The economic recovery of the late 1950s and 1960s also generated new kinds of consumer demand, met by designers including David Hicks, Max Clendinning and David Mellor and high-street stores such as Terence Conran?s Habitat.

The second section of the exhibition is dedicated to the subversive nature of British design from the 1960s to the 1990s, featuring British artists such as Richard Slee, Zandra Rhodes and Damien Hirst. It explores the counter-cultural movements from 1960s ?Swinging London? through to the 1970s punk scene and the emergence of ?Cool Britannia? in the 1990s. British street culture has long fuelled the country?s creative spirit, with the work of fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, photographers David Bailey and Terry O?Neill, performers David Bowie and Brian Eno, graphic designers Peter Saville and Barney Bubbles, and furniture designers Tom Dixon and Mark Brazier Jones.

The final section of the exhibition explores British creativity in relation to manufacturing industries, new technologies and architecture. The strength of Britain?s advances in new technologies is illustrated by objects such as the Sinclair ZX80 home computer (1980) and Jonathan Ive?s iMac for Apple (1998). There is also an immersive computer-gaming installation at the centre of the final gallery, featuring specially designed projections of five video games developed in Britain.

The last section also examines Britain?s expertise in architecture and structural engineering and displays architectural renderings and models of the Falkirk Wheel created by RMJM (2002), Foster & Partner?s 30 St Mary Axe building (2004) and a newly commissioned model of Zaha Hadid?s London Aquatics Centre (2011), opening in the summer of 2012.

For this major exhibition the V&A has worked with leading British designers. The 3D design was created by Ben Kelly Design, exhibition graphics by London-based consultancy GTF (Graphic Thought Facility), visual identity and accompanying catalogue by Barnbrook Design and audio visual installations by Soda.

It runs at the museum in Kensington, London, until August 12, open daily from 10am to 5.45pm, and until 10pm every Friday. Tickets are ?12.

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