Life is a Highway
Ok, I'm not exactly sure what "BlogThis!" is on the top bar of my browser window, but I'll give it a try. First of all, I'm at the end of my rope (for the day) and I don't have much to write about. I do question my sanity in even writing these thoughts as I feel I'm talking to a wall, not that I want the world reading my thoughts and opinions on things, but is anyone really there?
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Maps for every occasion and purpose.
Now, this is a cool tool from ZeeMaps. I have previously used a similar map from Frappr.
ZeeMaps looks like a vehicle for publishing autonomous maps for a set purpose and each with its own stand alone purpose. Having just discovered this, I can't say more about it now other than the stand-alone function looks interesting and useful for a variety of group management situations. Here's an example map for Richmond VA.
Frappr (Friend Mapper) lets you see the zip code where your friends live or work, letting you find out who works in the office building next door and who lives in the apartment complex across the street. Frappr goes further by enabling users to belong to mapped communities and share these as well.
ZeeMaps looks like a vehicle for publishing autonomous maps for a set purpose and each with its own stand alone purpose. Having just discovered this, I can't say more about it now other than the stand-alone function looks interesting and useful for a variety of group management situations. Here's an example map for Richmond VA.
Frappr (Friend Mapper) lets you see the zip code where your friends live or work, letting you find out who works in the office building next door and who lives in the apartment complex across the street. Frappr goes further by enabling users to belong to mapped communities and share these as well.
Do Apple Mac users think they are immune from computer viruses
I have nothing against Macs or Mac users, but why do the users feel they are immune from viruses. Mac users happen to be less likely to encounter a virus because most virus creators are unleashing their attacks against those of us in the Intel community. Macs however can still get a virus and without antivirus protection, these Mac users put those they know and communicate with at risk and at inconvenience. They do so when they send a data file or worse yet, an executable file by email that is infected by a virus, whether it was contracted on their machine or not. It’s important to be able to detect and repair infected files and not pass them on to others.
While Symantec has a tool for finding and eradicating viruses, there are obviously others. Symantec's tool is Norton AntiVirus (NAV) 10.0.1 for Macintosh (Best Current Price: $29.45). MacWorld wrote a review on this product. The review ended with, "If you aren’t running any antivirus software, you should consider picking up a copy of NAV 10. It’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind you get from knowing your Mac is well-protected."
While Symantec has a tool for finding and eradicating viruses, there are obviously others. Symantec's tool is Norton AntiVirus (NAV) 10.0.1 for Macintosh (Best Current Price: $29.45). MacWorld wrote a review on this product. The review ended with, "If you aren’t running any antivirus software, you should consider picking up a copy of NAV 10. It’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind you get from knowing your Mac is well-protected."
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Cows In Space
America's Heartland aired a compelling story this morning on PBS. One of their segments was about Cows in Space.
What's that you ask? Cows in space are cows wearing collars with GIS devices instead of bells. Now farmers can track patterns and migrations about the field as well as geothermal conditions of the field to help understand why cattle behave the way they do. All of this helps the farmer to raise better cattle and improve our environment or impact on it all at the same time.
Wow, cattle farming has really changed in the last twenty years. For more interesting information on this topic, check out this article at NewScientist.com.
What's that you ask? Cows in space are cows wearing collars with GIS devices instead of bells. Now farmers can track patterns and migrations about the field as well as geothermal conditions of the field to help understand why cattle behave the way they do. All of this helps the farmer to raise better cattle and improve our environment or impact on it all at the same time.
Wow, cattle farming has really changed in the last twenty years. For more interesting information on this topic, check out this article at NewScientist.com.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Marketing, defined (sort of)
Several years ago I got into an in-depth discussion about marketing and marketing approaches with a friend of mine. He taught me something that at the time didn't quite sink in, but over time, has made a tremendous amount of sense to me. He said, 'People use products, buy benefits, and talk brand'.
This evening I saw an awesome video clip on RocketBoom through Tivo that really seems to bring the above statement into the Internet age. The speaker here is focused on how brand is no longer driven by corporate culture alone. He says it is about the cocreation of the brand. It's the result of a dialogue or interaction in real time with the users of that brand utilizing a technology medium and the power of social networking, blogging and more.
This evening I saw an awesome video clip on RocketBoom through Tivo that really seems to bring the above statement into the Internet age. The speaker here is focused on how brand is no longer driven by corporate culture alone. He says it is about the cocreation of the brand. It's the result of a dialogue or interaction in real time with the users of that brand utilizing a technology medium and the power of social networking, blogging and more.
Prepaid Cellular Service
For years I've felt that consumers were taken advantage of by telephone companies. Three years ago, I had a phone at home that I didn't use enough and cellular service where my usage was somewhere in the stratosphere. The financial impact of this was simply wasteful.
Today, I no longer have the traditional phone service and I use prepaid cellular where rarely even I know the number for the phone I'm using. The number that is important to me is the VoIP number I have through AT&T. The VoIP service actually rings through to any and all prepaid cellular numbers as well as any other traditional landlines where I might be found. This is the number I give out and is why I don't actually need to know the number of my cell phone. In addition, the VoIP service provides all traditional extras without the extra charge. Finally, voicemail is only in one place. The VoIP service is capable of disconnecting from calls to phones where voicemail picks up.
I finally got ticked off with Cingular, TMobile and Verizon generally for the same reasons. They get you on those service agreements and then they don't live up to the terms of those agreements as the termination date approaches. I have since found that prepaid plans can be great alternatives if you go with the right ones. Their phones are disposable. The numbers are disposable. And most importantly, if the value offered degradates, the service is disposable without penalties.
I've learned that by having a few of these phones around, it is good insurance. If my son's baby sitter doesn't have a cell phone, I give her one of these to use so I can reach her when she is with him. When I'm out and about, rather than trying to find that one cell phone I used to rely on, I know there is one at work, one in the car and then the one 'I misplaced' and will find later.
Prepaid phones can be obtained for as low as $30 from either TMobile or NET10. Then, by purchasing 1000 minutes for $100, the minutes last for one year. This minimizes the risk of actually loosing the minutes from non-use or running out by not having enough. Look at it as a little measure of prevention.
Today, I no longer have the traditional phone service and I use prepaid cellular where rarely even I know the number for the phone I'm using. The number that is important to me is the VoIP number I have through AT&T. The VoIP service actually rings through to any and all prepaid cellular numbers as well as any other traditional landlines where I might be found. This is the number I give out and is why I don't actually need to know the number of my cell phone. In addition, the VoIP service provides all traditional extras without the extra charge. Finally, voicemail is only in one place. The VoIP service is capable of disconnecting from calls to phones where voicemail picks up.
I finally got ticked off with Cingular, TMobile and Verizon generally for the same reasons. They get you on those service agreements and then they don't live up to the terms of those agreements as the termination date approaches. I have since found that prepaid plans can be great alternatives if you go with the right ones. Their phones are disposable. The numbers are disposable. And most importantly, if the value offered degradates, the service is disposable without penalties.
I've learned that by having a few of these phones around, it is good insurance. If my son's baby sitter doesn't have a cell phone, I give her one of these to use so I can reach her when she is with him. When I'm out and about, rather than trying to find that one cell phone I used to rely on, I know there is one at work, one in the car and then the one 'I misplaced' and will find later.
Prepaid phones can be obtained for as low as $30 from either TMobile or NET10. Then, by purchasing 1000 minutes for $100, the minutes last for one year. This minimizes the risk of actually loosing the minutes from non-use or running out by not having enough. Look at it as a little measure of prevention.
Affordable, Secure, Wireless, Self-contained Internet Video Camera - Linksys WVC54GS
Yesterday, I made an impulsive purchase. I mistakenly went to Best Buy where I was only kidding myself to say to all the hired help, "I'm just browsing".
In my house, I can't hear the doorbell from certain parts of the house where I happen to be on the computer. Linksys has come out with an affordable, secure, wireless self-contained Internet video camera. What's cool is it doesn't have to be hooked up to a computer which opens up a realm of possibilities.
What Linksys doesn't tell you on the outside of the box is that you must be a datacomm expert to set one up. This is why mental health professionals have job security. People like me go insane with our technology addictions and our need to somehow figure out the impossible which at best is next to impossible and mostly based on luck. My choices are 1) pack it up and take it back, 2) risk the insanity approach of making it work because I think I can, or 3) pay someone to do something that I should be able to do myself.
In my house, I can't hear the doorbell from certain parts of the house where I happen to be on the computer. Linksys has come out with an affordable, secure, wireless self-contained Internet video camera. What's cool is it doesn't have to be hooked up to a computer which opens up a realm of possibilities.
What Linksys doesn't tell you on the outside of the box is that you must be a datacomm expert to set one up. This is why mental health professionals have job security. People like me go insane with our technology addictions and our need to somehow figure out the impossible which at best is next to impossible and mostly based on luck. My choices are 1) pack it up and take it back, 2) risk the insanity approach of making it work because I think I can, or 3) pay someone to do something that I should be able to do myself.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Heed the Recruiter's Advice when Looking for a Job
I took a recruiting position with an IT Staffing Firm this Spring, 2006. In recap, my career started as a Network Engineer (1988) in the Financial Services industry. During this part of my career, I gained experience in vendor management, technology standards development & compliance, enterprise-wide technology planning & management, relationship management, and project management. I transitioned to IT Sales (2000) for software/web development projects and services such as on-demand computing, survey systems, supply chain management systems, and a variety of other business and financial consulting services.
What I've learned is that when a recruiter gives you advice about how to land a job, it might serve you well to follow that advice. On a daily basis, I see job hunters who simply refuse to spend extra effort to potentially land that next good employment opportunity. In many cases, these job hunters are guilty of the same behaviors I've also engaged in over the years (prior to becoming a recruiter myself)
The single-most important piece of advice I would give is that when you apply for a job and you know specifically what the employer is looking for (based on their posting or advertisement), customize your resume. Make it fit the job. Too many job hunters simply use one resume and expect the employers to make the job fit the resume. It's not going to happen. Employers review resumes looking for specific skills. Job hunters who have these skills and make their resume reflect this for this application stand a much stronger possibility of getting an employer's interest.
For the job hunter, I know this can be a frustrating process of having many many versions of their resume, but this is still a very good way of connecting with that potential employer.
Collins Denny
IT Recruiter
Leading Edge Systems
Richmond VA
What I've learned is that when a recruiter gives you advice about how to land a job, it might serve you well to follow that advice. On a daily basis, I see job hunters who simply refuse to spend extra effort to potentially land that next good employment opportunity. In many cases, these job hunters are guilty of the same behaviors I've also engaged in over the years (prior to becoming a recruiter myself)
The single-most important piece of advice I would give is that when you apply for a job and you know specifically what the employer is looking for (based on their posting or advertisement), customize your resume. Make it fit the job. Too many job hunters simply use one resume and expect the employers to make the job fit the resume. It's not going to happen. Employers review resumes looking for specific skills. Job hunters who have these skills and make their resume reflect this for this application stand a much stronger possibility of getting an employer's interest.
For the job hunter, I know this can be a frustrating process of having many many versions of their resume, but this is still a very good way of connecting with that potential employer.
Collins Denny
IT Recruiter
Leading Edge Systems
Richmond VA
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Discover the addition of audio to blogging
This is a totally cool application. AudioBlogger has let me post the above "rather mindless expression of awe" to my Blog, from my telephone. The process was dirt simple. I can think of lots of potential application for this. Lets see if I have time to implement any.
Using the Internet as a means of promotion & organization
I'm looking for a job and decided to read the book, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters. It's full of some great advice. One of the many suggestions was to get involved in editing stuff on the web. Sure why not! Now it just so happens that I used other of the authors recommendations that have resulted in my building and launching a personal web site. Now I'm going through the motions to make sure I'm easy to locate on the web. In the process, I came across Google Directories. This resource is totally compiled by editors that are putting together fragmented informaiton across the web. Well, based on the above, I decided to volunteer.
I haven't yet figured out the relationship, but its called The Open Directory Project. Their goal is to produce the most comprehensive directory of the web by relying on a vast army of volunteer editors. I am beginning by volunteering to critique personal web sites of people local to Virginia.
Ultimately, it all goes back to the end goal of getting involved and doing something.
I haven't yet figured out the relationship, but its called The Open Directory Project. Their goal is to produce the most comprehensive directory of the web by relying on a vast army of volunteer editors. I am beginning by volunteering to critique personal web sites of people local to Virginia.
Ultimately, it all goes back to the end goal of getting involved and doing something.
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