"The Christian Chamber Of Commerce exists to provide members the opportunity to grow their business through interaction with individuals who share their values and beliefs.  This organization serves as a vehicle to bring Believers together to advance the Kingdom of God and their individual enterprise for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our goals are accomplished through programs and events designed to showcase the products and services of our members and supporters."

When you purchase a phone with a two year attachment... you're pretty much stuck with it, unless you're willing to part with a good chunk of change by breaking the contract or purchasing a new phone outright.  The Android devices prior to Droid and now Nexus One are stuck on older versions.  G1 and ADP users are likely to never move beyond version 1.6.  All the goodies have really shown up in version 2.0 and later.

Perhaps Android should emulate Apple's model with updates for everyone, delivered through iTunes.  Here are some more thoughts on it @ Linux Magazine.

Do you want to invest in your personal education to stand out in your workplace and achieve greater success in your future? If so, read about your future education here.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

In this week's Linux Magazine column, I examine building Android applications from the command line with ant.  Eclipse is the preferred (and prescribed) build environment for Android applications, however the Android SDK also supports the popular (albeit maybe aging) build tool named ant.

So, malware is now on your mobile device -- what joy.  At least it is a sign of maturity.  Before you know it we'll be buying anti-virus for our phones.  And our cars.  And our microwave ovens.

You can read more about the Android "remote control" here.

.

Popping up in blogs across the internet, in the newspaper, and on the television networks - computers are changing from hardware-focused to internet-focused. The explosion of smartphones and netbooks has signaled the beginning of a new age in computer usage - An age during which how many Ghz this has and how many teraflops that can process will matter little. By now, everyone involved in the IT community knows that the cloud is the future of computing. Google's cloud-based, minty-fresh operating system, Chromium, will start to hit low-powered netbooks and tablets all over the place. Being the first operating system designed to access only the internet, it is yet another symbol of the new age. Where does this leave developers, who consistently rely on high-powered systems and complex software setups?

As an occasional/weekend web and software developer, I know that I like my desktop a certain way. I know which programs I prefer for each task, weather it be a certain browser or text editor. With each new system or fresh install of an operating system, configuring my desktop for the needs of a specific project will frequently take me a whole day. For example, when developing in PHP, I need a http server, database server, and PHP all set up and enjoying happy communication with each other. I also need a usable FTP client, my trusty text editor, and quite possibly a configured SSH, VNC, or Remote Desktop server.

For these reasons, I imagine that in the world of the future, there will be specific solutions for developers. Just as my development workstation is very different from my teenage sister's desktop, or "SNC" (Social Networking Computer), as I like to call it, these portals will not be the same as those designed for the every-day user. There will be methods by which developers will create a desktop comprised of applications that have been developed by the cloud, for the cloud. In fact, the desktop itself would be hosted in the cloud, and accessible from any capable peripheral. Developing in the cloud will be similar to installing apps on a handheld device such as Google's Nexus One or Apple's iPhone. In the future, tasks that typically required several pieces of software will be condensed into a single, efficient, and small piece of software that will merely interface with the cloud. Instead of each developer using their own particular system, each will use the app or set of apps for the specific cloud environment.

Food for thought.

If you're interested in learning more, you can check out this week's Linux Magazine article where I chronicle some of the steps I've taken to wind up here with a MacBook with Windows 7 running in a Virtual Machine.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Anyway, I wrote a bit about this for this week's Linux Magazine Upwardly Mobile column.  Time to get back to work on the second edition of Unlocking Android.

Recently I visited a client to set up a Microsoft Word mail merge for Christmas card labels using contacts from Outlook. Everything proceeded smoothly and the customer was soon ready to print the labels. However, before I even began to entertain the thought of patting myself on the back, the customer had asked me a question I didn't know the answer to:

Is it possible to create a separate "group" or distribution list of contacts for a mail merge to a specific group of people?

The client had a specific group of people who would receive Christmas cards each year and didn't want to waste time selecting specific people from the contact list or labels and paper printing all of the unneeded contacts out. When I got back to the office, some quick hunting through Outlook led me to the solution. It turns out these separate groups can be created by placing contacts in a separate folder in outlook. Here are steps for Outlook 2007, although the steps are nearly identical for Outlook 2003 as well.

1. Click the main Contacts tab in the lower-left corner of the screen.
2. Click the drop-down list arrow next to the new button on the top of the screen and select folder
3. Choose a folder name (Christmas Contact, etc.) and make sure Contact Items is selected under Folder Contains
4. If you want to keep the contact in both your normal contact list and the new group you must select the contact(s), copy, and then paste (Using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V or Edit->Copy and Edit-Paste) into the new folder. Drag and drop contacts into the new folder if you want to move them from one list to the other.

After that, when you enter the mail merge wizard from within Microsoft Word, you will be able to specifically select that group of contacts.

Luther hit some *very* low marks -- lower than many will ever see.  It appears that he is picking up the pieces and by God's grace moving forward.  It is a sad, but good read.

I have been contemplating switching back to Verizon to try out the Droid phone, however the silence around a major AT&T Android device is deafening.  Could it be the Google phone will be like the iPhone -- an AT&T exclusive?  That would work for me personally.  Looking forward to finding out.

Lots of stuff is happening in the news: we've got troops in harm's way fighting for liberty in lands far away, we're heading towards nationalized healthcare, we're facing unprecedented debt levels in our nation, some people close to us are very ill, and it seems that just when you thought you couldn't get taxed enough, business gets harder as we have more burdens to bear.  But there is hope.  God didn't place us here to merely complain and "get by" -- I believe we are meant to thrive where He has placed us, thought it doesn't always look the way we would have preferred.  We are to use the time, talents and treasures He has entrusted us with to inspire and encourage others -- in short to do His work; to be a part of His plan.

Sometimes we walk others through a hard time.  It might be a job loss, an illness, or just a broken computer (not to minimize that of course!).  Other times we walk through the hard time with others.  Either way, we each need to be diligent in our work, showing up day by day to do the work appointed to us and provided for us.

One of the things I get to do in my role at MSI is to work with students for a couple of "extra" non-academic sessions.  Sessions that can really change your life if you let them.

We had a great session today with the November QuickBooks and MS Office Certification students.  Today's afternoon session was on Communication Styles -- DISC assessments.  It was great to see the students have a few "ahha" moments as they gained new clarity on how they communicate with others and how people in their lives communicate with them.  We had a great time of laughing and sharing as we learned together.Will these skills help them gain employment?  Very likely, yes.  But even bigger than that, these skills will help them learn more about themselves and add quality to their lives - both personally and professionally.  That is our goal -- to contribute and be a person, or a team, of value to everyone we come in contact with.

Wherever you find yourself today, count your blessings and look to share what you have.

I heard a great sermon a couple of weeks ago.  The theme was stewardship and "living for the line, not the dot".

In our lives here on planet earth, we are but a breath, a gasp, a very short and momentary blip on the radar of eternity.  As we age, we move closer and closer to our eternal destiny.  Are we storing up treasures here on earth, or are we making deposits in heaven?  As we move down the "line" of our lives, are we moving away from our treasure, or towards our treasure?  In a phrase, are we living for the dot or are we living for the line?

Live for the line.

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless you and your family.

Frank

MSI was sharing with attendees our various Web design, programming, and hosting offerings as well as our flagship product, Proventiv managed services.

BlackBerry is perhaps not the most glamourous device, but it is the choice of long-time mobile "power users".  Virtually everyone in my C12 group carries a BlackBerry, though there is at least one confirmed iPhone sighting -- but that is excusable as that fellow's company actually does some work with iPhone related hardware.

iPhone, Android, BlackBerry -- all viable and growing platforms.  Palm... that is another story.  They just launched the Pixi.  Hopefully it proves magical for them to win the right to proceed to the next product.  Time will tell -- most likely the Christmas shopping season this year.

It's official.

The news has been popping up all over the blogosphere, but wasn't confirmed until recently.

Somewhere in the hallowed halls of Google, developers are working on an Android phone that will be branded with the powerful Google name. Don't get me wrong, there have been many Android-based devices released to date, with notable examples being the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) and the Motorolla Droid (Verizon Wireless). However, Google has yet to release a phone/mobile computing device of its own.

It is rumored that HTC will be the principal hardware contractor, with the 1 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor at its core. All this does seem to pose the question of why Google would seemingly turn its back on its marketing strategy for Android so far. It will be interesting to see how the major mobile carriers, all of which have at least one Android device, will react to this news.

Perhaps the most pressing question in our minds is "Which carrier will actually 'get' this device?" Engadget offers an interesting take on the question:

"Our most interesting theory here is that AT&T -- which has gone totally radio-silent for all things Android in the past six months -- is responding to the probable impending loss of its iPhone exclusivity by scoring a coup on a gorgeous, aspirational device with the Google logo all over it."

There are a handful of different takes as to why Google has chosen to release its own device in such a round-about-after-the-fact way. Perhaps Google has been setting up the market all along with less-than-perfect devices. However, until the phone is actually released sometime near the beginning of 2010, we won't really know anything.

More on this.

For those that are unemployed, I want to encourage you to be optimistic despite all the negative signs. I spend part of my time providing career resources for students enrolled in training at MSI Education Services, which does office productivity software training. I emphasize two primary things in my counseling of students:

1) There are many opportunities for non-full time employment, especially on a contract or temp basis. Small businesses often cannot fund full time positions due to the high costs imposed by an oppressive government, but work still needs to get done and if you have a marketable skill set, I recommend that you search for and engage with small businesses and entrepreneurs to find ones that might need your services. Think networking, not job search.

2) How will you find them? One word: Linkedin. Linkedin is essential for both a job search for a full time position, and especially for networking purposes to find and engage business owners that need what you have. I have been giving a seminar for several months on how to use Linkedin for your Job Search that you can find here:

Supercharge your Job Search with Linkedin (on Slideshare)

If you have more questions or would like to connect to me, please find me on Linkedin and send me an invite. I would be happy to help you if I can.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmatyas

Finally, if you are in need of better software skills and are unemployed, you might be eligible for a training grant to attend classes at MSI Education.

http://www.msiservices.com/index.php/education/vocational/

Please contact us if you want to find out if you're eligible for a training grant or are interested in taking a class to fill a gap in your skill set (and resume).

[Photo from the Chumby store.  Not endorsing the product -- though it does look pretty cool.]

The first seminar is entitled "Supercharge your Search".  This program not only hits the "basics" of resumes, cover letters and interviewing, it also walks participants through some of the larger-picture questions. 

Who are you and what kind of job do you really want?

Are you an effective communicator? 

Can you explain to someone in 30 seconds or less a convincing statement of who you are and what you are looking for? 

Are you networking with friends and professional peers to make sure that everyone in your sphere of influence knows what a good opportunity looks like for you?

What is the title of the person you want to work for?

How far are you willing to drive to your new job?

Do you know how to effectively use Linked In and other social networking tools and communities to aid you in finding your next opportunity?

These and many other key questions are raised and discussed in the seminar.  Students spend time working together to practice their "30 second commercial".  It makes a difference.

We also cover the essential steps you need to do before, during and after the Interview.

Each student receives a complete Career Notebook, including class notes, worksheets and key reference materials.

Our second seminar is entitled "Your Communication Style".

In this seminar each student takes an in-class, certified communication-style assessment.  Once we have taken this assessment, we go through the different styles of communication and relate that to students' personal and professional experiences.  There are a lot of "Ah-Ha" moments as students gain a keener insight into how they communicate with their peers - both personal and professional.

Equipped with this new self-knowledge, students are better prepared to navigate a challenging interview, including all of those "hard interview questions".  We even review job postings and work together to determine what communication style would be a good fit for each.  Having a good job usually starts with picking the right job -- and how you communicate has a large impact on this decision.  Know yourself and be equipped!

Each student receives a complete Career Notebook, including class notes, worksheets and key reference materials.

Our third seminar is entilted "Bookkeeping in the real world".  This seminar is targeted towards our QuickBooks students, however all enrolled students are welcome to attend and participate.

In this seminar, our facilitiator walks students through the ins and outs of bookkeeping based on decades of experience in the financial industry.  In particular, the use of QuickBooks in a modern office setting is discussed including "key skills to have".  And yes, students can even ask their "debit vs credit" questions.  Our QuickBooks instructors are experienced, professional book keepers.

Our fourth seminar is entitled "Using LinkedIn to supercharge your Job Search".  In this seminar our facilitator walks particpants through the process of creating and/or enhancing their LinkedIn profiles.  Going well beyond the basics of setting up a LinkedIn profile, this seminar teaches students how to research LinkedIn for possible job opportunities in their target market, networking with former co-workers, and getting engaged in the numerous and active LinkedIn groups.  To navigate LinkedIn successfully, you must engage -- we show you how!

Our aim in providing these seminars to our students it to help them in any and every way we can.  We want to help our students become gainfully employed, however it goes well beyond that ambitious objective.

At MSI, we want to be an organization that provides value today, and for the future, to everyone we come into contact with -- a company of value.  If you have an interest in learning more about our seminars, or education program or about our company in general, please do not hesitate to contact us at 973.448.0070, email us at info@msiservices.com, or visit our website.

I'm presently on another network but perhaps by the time Droid matures I'll have access to one.  I recently tried out a Sprint Hero (Android 1.5) and now that the device has Exchange Active Sync it is a compelling platform.  All that said, I am afraid I will forever be an advocate of a physical keyboard.  I just dislike the on-screen keyboards.

I have been following Android  for the past couple of years and am curious to see how much market penetration it can achieve this fall as new devices hit the market.  A mixture of version 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0 devices will be on the market.  For most users, the 1.5 and 1.6 devices will be more than sufficient, though the 2.0 features round things out nicely.  This platform is really going to give iPhone a run for its app store.

As an added bonus, Google has recently announced free turn by turn navigation service availability.  It will be interesting to see how the likes of Garmin react to this.  Turn by turn navigation is a neat thing -- but only if your phone can also do other things -- and of course, the nav has to be correct!

On October 22nd, 2009 Microsoft unleashed upon the world Windows 7, the latest in a long line of operating systems for our beloved personal computers.

Even before its release, Microsoft has gone through great pains to make sure the release of Windows 7 didn't turn into a re-run of Vista's release. For several months, pre-release versions of the system have been given to thousands of system developers to ensure a smooth transition. What does all this mean to you, the everyday Windows user?

I could tell you about all the great things 7 has done with the Windows idea, but so much has already been said it would be redundant. Windows 7 simply means a better operating system.

It means "snappier and more responsive" (Dwight Silverman, Houston Chronicle). It means "improved emphasis on workflow and organization" (eWEEK). It means "Vista done right, with a smaller disk and memory footprint, faster startup, and fewer annoyances" (Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine). It means you'll "have fun using it" (Joe Wilcox, Microsoft Watch). It means an operating system designed with user feedback in mind. It means "Windows 7 could indeed be the best version of Windows yet" (Mary Branscomb, Financial Times).

Although Windows 7 is a large improvement over other versions of Windows, there is a slight learning curve. The famous (infamous?) "Start" button is gone! Now, before you jump up and start running around in circles, flailing your arms in protest, realize this: The button has not be removed, but replaced. In fact, the entire taskbar has been redesigned with usability in mind. A feature called "Aero Peek" allows a user to preview or close the window by simply dragging the mouse over the program's icon in the taskbar, it's a great time-saver. Several other features of the interface have been reworked, and it will take some getting used to.

The interface improvements, coupled with countless security and feature improvements make Windows 7 the best Windows yet. Don't believe me? Check it out at Microsoft.com.

PS. Be sure to check out Ian's post - Windows 7: The New NT?

I just came across this article about using your cell phone to disable your car in the event it gets stolen.  Very cool application of mobile technology.

Event details:

Thursday, October 15, 2009

11:00 A.M. Through 3:00 P.M.

Location: Sussex County One Stop Career Center

Senator Littell Center

12 Munsonhurst Road

Franklin, NJ 07416 

Phone-973-209-1217

What to Bring: Employers should rsvp for a table and bring applications for job seekers or their related web sites. Job Seekers should bring 40 to 50 resumes as the Fair typically draws 50 to 90 companies.

Event Details: Sussex County One Stop Career Center Annual Job and Career Fair is always a big draw for employers, and those seeking work.  Interested employers should reserve tables by calling Bill Weightman at 973-209-1217 or via his email at William.Weightman@dol.state.nj.us.  The Fair runs from 11AM to 3PM with employers arriving at 10:00.  A light lunch and beverages will be provided to employers participating in one of the premier job fairs.

Directions to Event: From the East take Rt. 80 to Rt. 15 North and get off at Rt. 517 North and make Right onto Munsonhurst Road (Mexican Restaurant- and go to end of street.  From Rt. 3 or Rt 287 take Rt. 23 North and make right turn onto Munsonhurst Road and the Littell Center. Similar directions would occur, if coming from Rt. 80 West by following Rt. 15 pass the arsenal.

View Larger Map

• Services offered by Prime Time Personnel
• Software training available at MSI and availability of training grants for those who qualify

Also, remember that all student alumni of MSI Education Services are eligible to earn a voucher to a free training session  for referring a friend that takes a course.

Please share this info with your friends via Linkedin and/or Facebook, and if you haven't already done so, please join our Linkedin Group and/or Facebook Page today!

I posted the presentation on SlideShare yesterday, and was happy to discover this morning that the editors of the leading presentation publishing site decided to feature the presentation on the SlideShare homepage today. As of this posting, it has received almost 400 views in a little over 24 hours!  You can view the slides here: http://ow.ly/s9Pj

Whether you've been using Linkedin for a while, or have never used the social networking site, this presentation will cover the what, how, and why of professional social networking on Linkedin, and explain how to best use its capabilities for an effective job search.  If you like the presentation and/or know someone who could benefit from it, please share it on your favorite social networking site (use one of the buttons below this post, even) or via email or blog.

Finally, if you are not already connected to me on Linkedin, please send me an invitation to connect.  I'd love to connect with you and learn how I might be able to help you.  Thanks!

Job Description

The candidate should have experience documenting, analyzing and negotiating claims for billing errors and working with suppliers to implement corrective service changes. Strong MS Office productivity suite skills and experience. Candidates should also have strong written and verbal communications skills as this is a client facing position as well as back office operations.
The ideal candidate will possess 2+ years of telecom audit or cost reduction audit experience. CPA designation is not required.

The following skills are preferred:
- Supplier pricing and contract negotiations
- Prior LEC or CLEC employment in billing operations
- Federal and/or healthcare industry billing experience

Candidate Requirements:
- Ability to work well under pressure and demonstrate continuous commitment to quality and service
- Significant experience and capability with spreadsheet programs or Excel
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, especially in a client interaction context
- Proven ability to work independently, and/or remotely, with excellent time management and reporting skills

Responsibilities for this position include working with clients and telecom suppliers to gather and document existing telecom system requirements, plans and programs and utilizing our proprietary tools to evaluate alternate scenarios, develop solution recommendations and implement corrective actions with the recommended carriers. Ongoing operations activities include post‐audit evaluations, client account management and client billing management activities.

Specific Job Responsibilities:

Account Administration - General administration & document management responsibilities, includes:
- establishing account in system(s)
- updating account and contact details to support ongoing account management
- scanning initial contracts, forms, invoices, etc.. into the document management folders and virtual binders for remote access,
- establishing access with the suppliers (LOA, Online Billing System Access, Provider Letter) to gain access to billing and equipment & service records
- acquiring and downloading historical billing information and Customer Service Records to support analysis activities

Analysis – Analysis is the process of analyzing the customer’s bills and telecom environment, looking for errors and opportunities for savings. The Analyst’s responsibilities include all of the following activities:
- Reviewing existing bills and contracts to identify errors
- Compiling data to establish baseline rates and volumes
- Gaining Authorization to access vendor systems as necessary, where LOA does not suffice
- Requesting and analyzing traffic studies if necessary
- Gathering customer requirements and defining specs for project services
- Developing optimization solutions
- Gathering competitive vendor quotes
- Comparing competing providers/configurations/plans/quotes for best cost solutions
- Generating the recommendation letters
- Supporting sales presentations to the client
- Hand off to Implementation staff

Implementation – Implementation is taking recommendations accepted by the client and working with the vendors to make the changes to the client’s telecom system. Implementation responsibilities
include all of the following activities:
- Pursuing and obtaining refunds/credits for billing errors
- Gathering and preparing implementation paperwork for delivery to client for signature, including Service Orders and Contracts
- Ordering, scheduling, and tracking of changes with the vendor
- On‐site visits, as necessary, to coordinate interconnects, vendors, etc
- Audit of first billing cycles with Production staff and requesting changes with vendors if any problems encountered or mistakes are made in implementation

Candidates should send a copy of their resume to Bill Kahn at wkahn@schooleymitchell.com and include 3 business references. References will only be contacted following successful initial interview. Local candidates only please. Thanks!

Have you considered your online presence?

• Face it - you're going to get Googled. An employer is going to do a search for your name and see what comes up. This may include social networks, which can help or hurt you. Make sure that you perform a search to see what comes up and deal with anything that could hurt you. Better yet, you should set up a search alert so that you know anytime that your name appears online. You can do this with alerts.yahoo.com or www.google.com/alerts.
• Do you have your own website? Do you blog? Make sure that your official web presence delivers the impression that you want employers to see. If you don't have a site or blog, consider creating one and begin writing to demonstrate your intelligence and expertise. You can get a free blog setup in minutes on Blogger or Wordpress.com (my recommendation).
• Is the professional "You" online? This is more than having your resume posted on a job site, but having a detailed profile on Linkedin or ZoomInfo. Professional social networking sites are particularly helpful because they help connect you to the people that could offer the lead that you need to your next job. For tips on using Linkedin, see 10 Steps to using Linkedin for your job search.

Have you considered your phone presence?

• Got voicemail? How does your voicemail greeting sound? Make sure that it delivers a professional image and that you articulate words and convey warm cordiality. This is especially important if you are looking for a job involving customer service or sales.
• Be sure to turn off the privacy function so that you allow restricted calls in. Recruiters often use restricted caller ID, and you wouldn't want to prevent them from talking to you.
• Can you hear me now? Conduct all phone interviews on a landline phone. You wouldn't want to be on a cell phone call and have it drop, and thus inconvenience the interviewer by wasting time waiting to reconnect and continue.

Have you considered your physical presence?

• Dress up. For any type of event that you attend, you should be wearing business-casual at a minimum. Remember that someone sees you before they hear you.
• Be sociable. With everyone. Not only could a fellow job seeker be an essential contact that could yield a lead on a job, but you never know who's watching you. An employer may very well take notice of your personable nature and want to follow up with you because of an interaction with someone else.
• Pitch yourself. Develop and practice an "elevator pitch". Be able to talk about your character, abilities, skills, experience, and what you can deliver to an employer in about 30 seconds. That may be all the time you get with someone during an introduction. What you say may be the very thing that makes you stand out and makes you memorable.
• Get published. Make business cards to hand out at events. They make you look more professional. Print your unique skill sets and experience, along with a statement of what you uniquely bring to an employer. Use both sides if needed. Give them to everyone and ask for cards from everyone. Follow up by connecting with people on Linkedin and other social networking sites.

These are just some of the items to look at when analyzing your professional presence.  There may be others that effect you depending on what you've done in your career and other activities in your job search.  Presence management is an important aspect of a job search that takes a good deal of up front work and continual effort to ensure that you are consistently presenting your best professional image to prospective employers.

Reference Sources:

Janice's job search tips on CareerBoard

Before modifications:

After modification:

This is a good sign for Palm.  They need to get the device into the hands of as many users as possible.  With a full keyboard this is a viable alternative to the iPhone.  iPhone is sexy but it is not a texting device.  Good move, Palm!  That said, we're not taking sides -- just good to see each of the platforms making progress.  It is good for consumers.

The other interesting experience I had today was a troubling "time-vampire" discussion with a couple of classmates on FB.  The topic was nationalized health-care.  I won't go into my position (I am strongly against it) here, however FB presented a somewhat unique forum to have a dialog in short "sound bites".  Each post is limited in length so you cannot drone on and on about a point.  Good debate practice I think.  I like to think that my point was heard -- though I am sure I didn't convince my friendly "opponent" in this matter, others certainly had the opportunity to "listen in" and hopefully learn some new angles on the topic.  So beyond telling friends that it's two hours until the weekend or what party you're heading out to after work, FB has a bit of a soap-box opportunity for those inclined.  Use it wisely.

The Hyundai has an MSRP of $9,970 and a 5 year cost to drive of $17,964.  Were a person to finance that vehicle for the 5 years, the total cost to buy and operate the car would come to $30,042.  Seems like a lot, but people pay the money.  Come to think of it, it's the same with homes.  It costs a small fortune today to finance, maintain, heat, cool, repair and live in a home.  But we do it.  We do it because we realize that things need to be maintained and fixed.  Nothing is built to last forever and operate problem free.  Even ourselves, the most magnificent creations in the universe, require maintenance to operate well, and that maintenance costs money.  I know. I share a home with my wife and four teenagers. 

So how is it that we willingly and enthusiastically spend two, three or even four times the purchase value of something to maintain it, but believe that the universal laws that govern maintenance costs cease to exist when it comes to computers?  The answer, I believe, it quite simple.  It's a matter of love.  We love our cars, we love our homes, we love ourselves and those we care for, those whom we refer to as our "loved ones".  But I don't remember the last time someone told me they loved their computer.  (An astute MAC person would respond that "I must not know any MAC users", but save your breath.  I just stole your thunder). 

We just don't develop that bond with our computers that we do with other things or with people.  If we are away from our computers for an extended period of time, we don't get "computer-sick".  I don't get that same feeling of pride when my computer successfully adds a row of numbers that I do when one of my children scores a goal or aces a test.  And I certainly have never sat behind the keyboard of my laptop, flipped the top up and let the wind rush through my hair.  Yet 85% of Americans own a computer, compared to 82% owning cars and 68% owning homes.  In fact, most homes and cars now have some sort of built-in computer.  I can't ever remember a computer coming with an on-board car or home. 

So how do we get people to care enough about their computers that they'll show a little love and give these machines the care and maintenance they need?  Beats me.  If I knew that I'd be the top computer support salesperson in the country.  For now, I just keep plugging away, teaching one client at a time the need to maintain their computer system.  Teach a few people, make a few dollars, and spend it on more personal care items for the brood back at my beloved, expensive to maintain, home.  For me, that's where the love is.      

Unfortunately, I don't seem to have the secret sauce to storing zip files there, so I am placing them here in this post.

TicketResponder project. (Android)

TicketResponder project with second Activity and Data Storage (Android)

Once he had established rapport via a seven-minute monologue that bordered on insanity, he decided to allow me to respond to a question.  "So, what will you be doing a year from now?".  I looked at him as if I didn't understand the question, which was the perfect reaction considering I didn't understand the question, or more accurately the context in which he was asking.  Being a graduate of the Dale Carnegie "Human Relations and Public Speaking" course, I was trained to respond deftly in such situations.  Without hesitation, I fired back with "Excuse me?".  "In a year from now" said he "when everyone moves to the ASP model and your clients won't be buying workstations, or servers, or software, or support services anymore?". 

I have to admit, for a brief moment I wanted to kick myself for not reading some of the trade rags that had come across my desk, because I did not know what the "ASP model" even was.   And here this guy is telling me that my company, only a year old, seeded with my children's college fund, was doomed to be replaced by this "ASP Model" thing.  Not wanting to let him see my discomfort, I think I uttered something along the lines of "we'll cross that bridge when we get there" and went about my work, determined to find out about this looming threat. 

Well, it turns out that my malodorous new friend was talking about "Application Service Providers", companies whose model was to provide computer and software platforms to businesses on a "rental" basis to save them the capital expenditure associated with buying a network.  His prediction was that the ASP Model was going to render my services obsolete, and it was going to take place in 12 months.  It has been 12 years since my encounter with Sir Stinks-A-Lot, and 24 years since I started in this industry, and I am still here helping businesses navigate through the noise, the hype and the next big things which promise to deliver us all to computing nirvana.

So now it is 2009, and my livelihood is being threatened by "The Cloud", which is the Next Big Thing in network computing.  I wasn't sure if I should be worried about this new threat, mostly because of the name.  "Clouds" are puffy and pretty, sometimes shaped like airplanes or animals, sometimes vibrantly colored as they reflect the sun's light, but they don't seem all that threatening.  Maybe "The Cloud" was using this seemingly innocuous form to infiltrate the computer industry like a giant vapor Trojan horse, waiting until we all fall asleep before it springs out and attacks us.  But sanity prevailed and I realized that "The Cloud" is just the next big thing. 

Should you be thinking about "The Cloud" for your business?  Perhaps you should.  There are businesses that will benefit greatly from this style of computing, while others will go chasing after some elusive network never-never land instead of sticking to more appropriate solutions.  So how are you to know what's right for your business?  The first step in answering that question is deciding which of the two following business principles you will follow.  The first principle is this: industry will always march out an endless stream of "new, improved, next big thing" hype so long as there exists people to whom to sell.  The second principle is that businesses will always need caring, committed professionals to help find their way through the first principle.  I urge you to opt for the second principle, and not just because I need to replace the college fund money that I pilfered those years ago.  And if you really like the idea of your salvation coming on a cloud, you may be right.  You just might be looking in the wrong place (Matthew 24:30)

Tell them to visit the MSI Education website and call Carol at 973-448-0070 to get more info and to set up a time to visit our training facility.

Be sure to email us with the name and email of the person you've told so that we can follow up with them and let them know about our upcoming class schedule.

MSI Education Services is pleased to annouce several new additions to our collection of resources for our students.

In addition to our recent launch of an online Job Search tool and Career Resources page to assist students with their job searches, we have just added a Facebook Page and Twitter account to give you additional opportunities to learn about training and career resources that can aid you in preparing for the next step in your career. Click on the icons below to view our new social networking pages and become a Fan on Facebook and/or a Follower on Twitter.

Your job search requires two things to be successful:

1. You need to find the right job with the right company

2. You need to present yourself as the ideal candidate

How?

How do you find the Right job with the Right company?

• You research and compare the options, and choose where to apply

 How does a company decide who to hire?

• They research and compare the options, and choose who to hire
• You and they would rather rely on input from someone that knows both of you, and most hiring managers appreciate someone smart enough to connect the dots to find that person

Enter Linkedin

LinkedIn is the premier social network for professionals, consisting of:

• Profile - this is your online live resume, your professional YOU
• Connections - this is your professional network: your colleagues, your former coworkers, and professional friends
• Recommendations - these are associated with positions in your profile, and go beyond the resume by providing additional info on your history, performance, and abilities
• LinkedIn Groups - these are context-specific groups of members that enable making connections, finding expertise, and finding jobs
• LinkedIn Jobs Insider - this utilizes the SimplyHired job search engine and enables you to search for people in your network that work at companies that are hiring for positions you are interested in
• Companies - research companies that are hiring and get inside info on the people working there to help you prep for interviews
• LinkedIn Applications - Post slideshows, connect your blog, & more

For more info on how to get Linkedin working for you, see 10 Steps to using LinkedIn for your job search.

1. Build your profile: Include as much detail as possible. Sell yourself using the Summary block. Use important key words. Get your Profile Completeness rating to 100%. Customize a vanity URL with your name, like www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmatyas.

2. Build your network: Import your email address book into LinkedIn and invite everyone you know to connect to you, even if they're not currently using LinkedIn.  Search for people you know from previous jobs or schools. Personalize invitations, especially to people that you found on LinkedIn - talk about them and why you think connecting would be mutually beneficial.

3. Get recommendations: Ask former coworkers and colleagues to recommend your past work and your unique talents and abilities. Do the same for them.  Be specific in your request with some suggested items for them to mention that are important to your story.

4. Join Groups: Find LinkedIn Groups that are in your area of expertise and join them. Connect with people in those groups. Start and join discussions in them - this increases your visibility to others that you are not currently connected to.

5. Put your vanity URL on your resume: This gives hiring managers awareness of your level of sophistication and allows them to view your profile and let you sell yourself through your profile.

6. Find out where people with your background are working: Use the advanced search feature to search by keyword, location, industry, and more.

7. Search for Jobs: Use the JobsInsider to search for jobs and find people that are connected to the company or decision makers.

8. Research companies: Find out more about the company, especially who works there, if you know anyone that works there now or did in the past, and help prepare yourself for any interviews.

9. Use your LinkedIn status: Make it known to your network that you are actively looking for a job and post updates on your progress as reminders. Others can keep you in mind and might give you the lead to the perfect job.

10. Participate in LinkedIn Answers: Contribute to discussions in your area of expertise. These posts will show up in various places on LinkedIn to others and may provide the critical instance of visibility that you need to get a lead on your job.

That said, from a user perspective - it rocks.  I was in San Jose this week attending a mobile software conference and had the chance to go to dinner with a long time friend.  He had an address of a restaurant that a friend had recommended.  It was in his "SMS" application.  He tapped and copied the address, though it didn't paste into Google Maps all that well.  He went back and forth multiple times between the applications (messaging and maps).  I had to laugh a bit because here he was on his sexy iPhone 3GS and it is a single tasking platform.  On webOS, you would just swipe back and forth between the running applications.  What iPhone needs to do is implement a "taskmanager" as a "cover flow".  Then the iPhone would dominate.  Maybe someone from Apple will read this.  Probably not.  I have written some more thoughts on palm pre on Linux Magazine.

If you have Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, or if you have installed Microsoft KB952155, you are now using Remote Desktop Client 6.1.  The /console switch has been depreciated in favor of the /admin switch.  For remote connections to Windows 2003 servers using one of these clients, specify “mstsc /admin” and you will be connected to the console(session 0) as before.   For remote connections to Windows Server 2008, the /admin switch has no function.  In Server 2008, session 0 is now isolated to system processes and services.  The first user session is session 1 regardless of whether you are logging in locally or remotely to the server.  The only way to access a locally logged in session is to log into the server remotely using the same credentials as the local login.  If another set of credentials is used, session 2 will be created regardless of whether the /admin switch is used.

So, when I go to an event, I want to make sure that I get the most I can from the time. Generally, it's a commitment of 3-4 hours between driving, networking, program. I have to make sure that I get at least as much value from that 3-4 hours as I would from spending the same time using LinkedIn for Networking - and that's tough competition.

Over the years, I've somewhat changed what I'm looking for when I attend a local event. It used to be that I first looked for good content. A program that had interesting speakers and where I expected to learn a lot. Now, unless its someone really great, I don't go because of the program. Most often I can spend 30 minutes on my own to get a better result in terms of content than I get from 60 minutes at an event. And most in-person events do not give you a back-channel or much opportunity for Q&A.

He goes on to explain his technique of reviewing the attendee list and searching for a sample of attendees on Linkedin to see what the makeup of the group will be like.  If there are 4-5 people that could be good people to talk to for your networking purposes, then you proceed on to pre-networking.  Connecting to 2nd level connections via an introduction on Linkedin is a way to get a personal first impression with the person and build towards a warm (vs cold) in-person introduction and discussion. 

Think about it: by the time you meet the person at the event, you have already reviewed their profile, had at least a brief email exchange with them (and perhaps a deeper back-and-forth), and feel like you know the basics about the person by the time you meet face to face.  This can make the time spent talking in person much more focused and productive than a cold intro - in part because you otherwise probably waste time talking to people that aren't going to be mutually beneficial for a deeper discussion.

Though I have not taken this exact approach to strategically considering whether I attend an event or not, a related technique I have used is reaching out to people I have met previously at networking events that I'm now connected to on Linkedin and contacting them to see if they're attending and to invite them and pre-network with them before the event.  This does two things: 1) even if the person is not attending the event, it is an opportunity to reach out and maintain contact with them, and 2) you can determine an agenda for discussion with that person for when you meet at the event, which leads to a much more focused and productive conversation.

After reading Tony's article, I thought that a combination of these would be quite powerful.  You could use Tony's method to determine if the event is worth going to, and if there are a few, but not enough people to make attending worth it, you could invite a few contacts that you know to see if they would like to attend.  This again takes advantage of a reason to contact someone, and if you consider the attendee list for the event in light of who else might benefit from meeting the attendees that you find, then you have the even more powerful driver of contacting someone else to offer them help in meeting people that may really benefit them.  Like I always say - social networking is interactive and about helping people; creating a win-win by focusing on others first will usually net great returns over time.

Since one of my (many) current activities involves providing career guidance to job seekers, and I always advocate networking as a critical part of a job search, and the heavy use of social networking as a foundation of that, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a great way of leveraging this method for job seekers.  While job seekers may have some additional "free" time compared to those that are employed, optimizing one's use of their time is still an important goal to strive for.  Attending a networking event every night of the week may not be a very good use of time, but using Tony's methodology to screen and pre-network events is a great way to help preclude attending an event that wastes time (and in many cases, money).  Using tools like Meetup, Linkedin Events, Facebook Events, and local networking events, including those posted on Ning networks,  since most of these list attendees, you can effectively use this methodology to find and seize opportunities to meet people and potentially find a job that otherwise would fly below your radar.

As more and more events are being published and coordinated online (often in multiple places), Tony's great methodology can be a wonderful time saver and a way to create opportunities to contact people that you otherwise would not have the impetus or reason to.  Happy pre-networking!

Of course, this is the "native" approach to developing applications for Palm's webOS, so we need to give it some credence.  Happy programming...

There will always be a certain degree of nervousness and stress before an interview.  Proper preparation will go along way to helping you turn that stress into a great performance during your interview.

Linkedin also has the ability to do this because it uses the SimplyHired search engine for searching for jobs, then displays the search results with a column called the JobsInsider that will allow you to search the company to see if you know anyone that works there that is in your Linkedin network.  This is the kind of information that only social networking can easily uncover, and the ability to find it is what makes utilizing social media and social networking a MUST for a successful job search today.

And then there's Windows 7. Sure, it looks like a prettier version of Windows Vista. But it's small and fast, usable and secure. It is the first version of Windows, perhaps ever, that I can recommend wholeheartedly, and without reservation, to virtually anyone. It is the first version of Windows since, well, NT, that I'm proud to use and point out to others, sure that there isn't anything better out there, from Microsoft or elsewhere. This is quite a turnaround.

Powerful words comparing the new Windows 7 to Windows NT. It made me switch. Here is a link to the whole article: http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_nt.asp

And here's all the information you need to test drive Windows 7 for yourself: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

Enjoy!

Find out what Palm is doing on their own blog.

Please check out the SCYO and plan on attending some of their upcoming events.  They are a non-profit organization and would certainly appreciate any support you can provide!

The latest version of the ASE may be found here.

http://linux-mag.com/id/7355