Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Data Storage Backup Plan
I've been doing some final Christmas shopping the past few days. I hate shopping. It takes me forever to figure out what to buy, and then I spend lots of time comparing brands and prices. I'll be so glad when Christmas is over, and I can get back to normal.
My brother just wants money and gift cards, so at least he was easy. He wants to buy a laptop since his desktop died. To go along with the cash, I purchased a Kingston Digital 16 GB USB 2.0 Hi-speed Datatraveler Flash Drive DT101G2/16GBZ. It's $9.99 at Amazon.com. Pretty good price for 16gb of data storage. I got one for myself too. I really need to come up with a better backup system for my laptop. If anyone can recommend free backup software, please leave me a comment.
I'm paranoid about making backups of individual files when writing code, but when it comes to making backups of my hard disk, I need improvement. I just don't take the time to do it, so I need something automated. A 16gb flash drive should be a good size for storing what I need to backup.
There are companies out there that specialize in backup systems. One company is called Nexsan. They are one of the leaders in data storage production. Their storage systems have built in features to backup and restore. They have an E-series storage system that is ideal for mid-sized companies.
Backing up your data is crucial. The hard drive on my old work laptop suddenly went one day and nothing could be recovered. That really sucked, but I didn't really lose anything because I had backups. Good thing.
Monday, August 27, 2012
AppZapp App Bargain Guide iPhone iPad
The number of apps out there is a bit overwhelming. There is an app for just about everything. There are even different apps for different platforms. There are apps specific to browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome. There are apps specific to the Android operating system. There are apps specific to the Kindle Fire. There are apps specific to the iPad and iPhone. It's endless.
Trying to pick through all of the apps for just one specific device or browser is a daunting task. I always tend to look through the top rated apps, but I'm sure there are some pretty good apps out there at the bottom that just don't get noticed.
A small startup company from Switzerland has created an app called AppZapp. It is for the iPhone and iPad. I don't have either one of those, so I'm out of luck, but for those of you that do have one of those, the AppZapp sounds like it might come in handy.
The AppZapp is an app which allows you to share your apps with friends. They can see what apps you like and you can see what apps they like. The AppZapp also lets you see all app sales, news apps, price and seller alerts. It will instantly alert you of price drops, so that you can get a good deal. AppZapp the App Bargain Guide for the Apple App Store for iPhone & iPad is available in all 123 Apple app stores. An iPhone Free version is available on iTunes. AppZapp is also available in 11 languages.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Digitizing Photos To CD
I finally gave in and replaced my 8 year old HP Photosmart 2510 all in one printer. It was having issues printing in color. It would give an error that something was wrong with the color ink. After I replaced the color ink cartridge, it would work ok for a while, but then the error would pop up again. The new ink cartridge wouldn't even be empty yet.
I went with the HP Photosmart 7510 all in one printer. It just arrived today. It's installing some required software now and so far so good. I also really needed a new printer, since I lost the installation cd to my old printer and was unable to print from my new laptop. The HP Photosmart 7510 prints wirelessly, so that should come in handy.
I had to use my old desktop computer in order to scan in a few photos. I have tons of photos that should be scanned. Maybe my new printer will give me an incentive to start scanning them in. It's one of those time consuming tasks I just don't get to. Maybe when the boys are grown I'll magically have more time in the day.
I should just package up all the photos that need scanning and send them to one of the photo scanning services. Paying someone else to convert photos to cd would be a big help.
A company called ScanDigital offer a photo scanning service. In order to digitize your photos, you place your order, package your photos and send them via UPS to ScanDigital. After your photos are received, they are put in a queue for processing. They are scanned and undergo a first round of quality checks. The scans are then edited and optimized before undergoing a second quality check. A final quality assurance review is done before the photos are stored to disc. The order is then finalized and billed before being shipped to you via UPS. The order is also uploaded to an online gallery. It is a pretty lengthy process in order to ensure you get the best possible digitized photos. It is certainly worth checking out, if you don't have the time or equipment to digitize your photos yourself.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Wind Forecast Tool PredictWind
A big windmill project was installed near my parent's farm a few years ago. It's purpose is to use wind to produce energy for residents in New York City. I don't know how many windmills were installed, but they are scattered all around for miles and miles. There is also a big substation that was installed just down the road from my parent's home. The only thing I like about the substation is it looks really pretty at night as it has a ton of lights. I do wonder if the substation has any negative effects on the health of people who live in the area. The substation is right on top of several houses. I definitely would not want to live near it.
Many people who live near a windmill have complained about the noise. I can't say I blame them. I wouldn't want to live in an area that was once quiet and now has a constant background noise. On Sunday we drove by a windmill that was fairly close to the road. They are very scary looking. Each windmill is very tall and has three super long, sharp blades that turn. I think they are evil looking.
On a positive note, windmills are a green energy alternative as they turn free wind into energy to use by people.
There must be a lot of technology involved in converting wind into energy. Windmills definitely need to be built in an area that receives a large amount of wind.
There is actually software called PredictWind at http://www.predictwind.com that gives wind forecasts. It provides wind weather updates every hour with a wind speed and direction map for your area. It is pretty accurate as it uses two data sources that produce two forecasts for comparison. You can also get access to 15,000 live wind observation stations located all over the world. PredictWind is a great tool for boaters, yachters and anyone else traveling by water. It uses different physics, parameters, and complex equations to calculate weather data such as wind speed, direction, temperature, pressure, rain and cloud. The model that PredictWind uses has been developed by a team of research scientists for over 25 years. It sounds like a very interesting piece of software.
Many people who live near a windmill have complained about the noise. I can't say I blame them. I wouldn't want to live in an area that was once quiet and now has a constant background noise. On Sunday we drove by a windmill that was fairly close to the road. They are very scary looking. Each windmill is very tall and has three super long, sharp blades that turn. I think they are evil looking.
On a positive note, windmills are a green energy alternative as they turn free wind into energy to use by people.
There must be a lot of technology involved in converting wind into energy. Windmills definitely need to be built in an area that receives a large amount of wind.
There is actually software called PredictWind at http://www.predictwind.com that gives wind forecasts. It provides wind weather updates every hour with a wind speed and direction map for your area. It is pretty accurate as it uses two data sources that produce two forecasts for comparison. You can also get access to 15,000 live wind observation stations located all over the world. PredictWind is a great tool for boaters, yachters and anyone else traveling by water. It uses different physics, parameters, and complex equations to calculate weather data such as wind speed, direction, temperature, pressure, rain and cloud. The model that PredictWind uses has been developed by a team of research scientists for over 25 years. It sounds like a very interesting piece of software.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Prepaid Cell Phones
I got my first cell phone when I was in college. Having a cell phone was a good idea considering I had an hour drive each way and a slightly unreliable car. My first cell phone was a big, clunky Motorola flip phone with service through Frontier Cellular. It was also analog instead of digital like today's cell phones. Frontier Cellular was bought out a few times and eventually became Verizon Wireless. Over the years, I've upgraded my cell phone a few times. My current phone, Samsung Stratosphere, is my first smartphone. I really don't use it for much other than checking email and occasional Google searching. I only use about 1GB of my 4GB monthly data plan, so I should probably try to use it more often. I just prefer a larger screen, so I use my laptop for web activities.
These days, there are a ton of options to consider when you are signing up for cell phone service. There are a lot of different carriers with varying plans, including prepaid plans. Each carrier has it's own line of cell phones too. Even prepaid plans offer only certain phones. T-Mobile prepaid cell phones can be an entirely different selection than the prepaid phones offered by Tracfone.
Prepaid phones are actually a pretty good idea if you don't use your cell phone much. Prepaid phones are even available as smartphones. Data usage just comes out of your minutes.
. Prepaid plans also let you carry unused minutes over from month to month. My mother has a Tracfone that she uses to carry in the car with her. About four times a year she buys a 60 minute, 90 day card for $20.00 and adds it to her phone, so that it remains active. She has a ton of minutes from being lightly used and carried over from month to month for years. Her total cell phone bill for one year is about $80.00. Most people have a monthly cell phone bill that costs way more than that, whether they use it or not.
If you have a cell phone that isn't used much every month, a prepaid cell phone plan might be worth looking into.
These days, there are a ton of options to consider when you are signing up for cell phone service. There are a lot of different carriers with varying plans, including prepaid plans. Each carrier has it's own line of cell phones too. Even prepaid plans offer only certain phones. T-Mobile prepaid cell phones can be an entirely different selection than the prepaid phones offered by Tracfone.
Prepaid phones are actually a pretty good idea if you don't use your cell phone much. Prepaid phones are even available as smartphones. Data usage just comes out of your minutes.
. Prepaid plans also let you carry unused minutes over from month to month. My mother has a Tracfone that she uses to carry in the car with her. About four times a year she buys a 60 minute, 90 day card for $20.00 and adds it to her phone, so that it remains active. She has a ton of minutes from being lightly used and carried over from month to month for years. Her total cell phone bill for one year is about $80.00. Most people have a monthly cell phone bill that costs way more than that, whether they use it or not.
If you have a cell phone that isn't used much every month, a prepaid cell phone plan might be worth looking into.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Tote Mixer Dynamix
In the chemical manufacturing industry, good quality chemical mixers and totes are important. There is a company called Dynamix that specializes in tote mixers. They design tote mixers especially for tote mixing. They view tote mixing as a key part of quality control, so that a good tote mixer can be part of a strategic quality control plan.
Dynamix has an integrated line of tote mixers in addition to bridge tote mixers, which are designed for stainless steel or plastic mixers.
Plastic tote mixers are a fairly new line of mixers that use an impeller technology. Plastic totes are a result of the evolution from stainless steel to plastic. There are several different types of plastic totes, including rotationally molded and bow molded plastic totes.
The stainless steel tote tank mixer was originally designed for the automotive industry. It continues to be used in new industries to increase quality control. The stainless steel tote tank mixer allows for processing of batches which are too small for processing in a large steel tank.
Dynamix has a large knowledge base for dealing with mixing challenges specific to steel tank or steel totes.
Dynamix steel tote mixers can be used with steel totes of all sizes and shapes.
Dynamix has an integrated line of tote mixers in addition to bridge tote mixers, which are designed for stainless steel or plastic mixers.
Plastic tote mixers are a fairly new line of mixers that use an impeller technology. Plastic totes are a result of the evolution from stainless steel to plastic. There are several different types of plastic totes, including rotationally molded and bow molded plastic totes.
The stainless steel tote tank mixer was originally designed for the automotive industry. It continues to be used in new industries to increase quality control. The stainless steel tote tank mixer allows for processing of batches which are too small for processing in a large steel tank.
Dynamix has a large knowledge base for dealing with mixing challenges specific to steel tank or steel totes.
Dynamix steel tote mixers can be used with steel totes of all sizes and shapes.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Local Channels Directv
I live in a rural area of upstate New York. I'm only five minutes outside of town, but I'm in a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides. When I moved here nine years ago, analog television was still available. I received pretty static reception for just two local channels. Even though there was static, the channels were still viewable. I could still watch ABC and NBC soaps and Live with Regis and Kelly. Two years later my oldest son was born and I went on maternity leave for three months. I finally caved in and signed up for directtv. I signed up directly through them, but you can also sign up at www.dx3.net. The downside, no local channels, so I was stuck watching my soaps through static. The upside, direct tv has a channel called SoapNet, so I could watch my soaps perfectly clear when SoapNet re-aired them at night. At that time, SoapNet also aired old episodes of Ryan's Hope and Search For Tomorrow. Pretty great, not to mention all of the other channels that I now received.
When all local channels went digital and analog became obsolete, I couldn't receive local channels anymore. I tried several different converter boxes, but could never get a stable reception. Just lots of pixelized boxes that would fade in and out, so I pretty much gave up trying to watch any shows on the local channels. The main thing I missed was the local news.
A few years ago, I signed up for ABC through Directv's long distance networking plan. It was nice being able to watch ABC's primetime shows, even though the news broadcasts pertained to New York City and New Jersey.
Last summer, Directv finally enabled local channels in my area. An installer had to come and replace the old box and satellite. I do wish they had sent a more experienced installer as the one they sent was young and ran the cable from the satellite down the whole backside of the house rather than run it down through the inside of the walls, so that it's not visible. Oh well. Receiving local channels is really nice though! Now I can watch the local news and primetime shows. I even receive CBS, FOX and PBS. I've never been able to watch those channels, even before I moved here. Receiving local channels was a long time coming, but well worth the wait.
When all local channels went digital and analog became obsolete, I couldn't receive local channels anymore. I tried several different converter boxes, but could never get a stable reception. Just lots of pixelized boxes that would fade in and out, so I pretty much gave up trying to watch any shows on the local channels. The main thing I missed was the local news.
A few years ago, I signed up for ABC through Directv's long distance networking plan. It was nice being able to watch ABC's primetime shows, even though the news broadcasts pertained to New York City and New Jersey.
Last summer, Directv finally enabled local channels in my area. An installer had to come and replace the old box and satellite. I do wish they had sent a more experienced installer as the one they sent was young and ran the cable from the satellite down the whole backside of the house rather than run it down through the inside of the walls, so that it's not visible. Oh well. Receiving local channels is really nice though! Now I can watch the local news and primetime shows. I even receive CBS, FOX and PBS. I've never been able to watch those channels, even before I moved here. Receiving local channels was a long time coming, but well worth the wait.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Free Online Accounting Outright
An important part of running a successful, small business is making sure the financial records are accurate and kept up to date. Good, financial software is a must. There are many different financial applications available for purchase. There is also a free online accounting website called Outright that is geared towards helping small businesses manage their finances.
Outright automatically pulls all of your financial information from across the web into one place. It will import your information from sites such as ebay and amazon.com. It will also import your banking and credit card information.
Outright makes it easy to analyze your information since it provides quick view graphs and charts. Graphs and charts are automatically updated, so you always have the most up to date information.
Outright allows you to track where your money is going. You can quickly view what you are spending money on and who your biggest vendors are.
You can also quickly view customer information. You can see who your best customers are and how much each customer has paid you. Outright helps simplify your taxes by automatically categorizing transactions according to IRS guidelines. A preview of your taxes and what you may owe, is available at any given time. You are also notified by email of any upcoming tax deadlines. With Outright, you can easily track how much customers have paid you in sales tax and how much you need to pay the IRS.
Outright is very secure as it uses 256-bit SSL security, which is what banks use. It is monitored and verified by TRUSTe, VeriSign and McAfee. Servers are housed in facilities with tight security that includes security guards and biometric scanning. Outright does not allow you to transfer funds. It is only for importing, organizing and categorizing data.
Outright is web-based, in the cloud. Data is backed up regularly and can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Since data is not stored on your computer, you don't have to worry about losing data if your computer is stolen or breaks down.
If you have a small business that is in need of accounting software, Outright may be worth looking into.
Outright automatically pulls all of your financial information from across the web into one place. It will import your information from sites such as ebay and amazon.com. It will also import your banking and credit card information.
Outright makes it easy to analyze your information since it provides quick view graphs and charts. Graphs and charts are automatically updated, so you always have the most up to date information.
Outright allows you to track where your money is going. You can quickly view what you are spending money on and who your biggest vendors are.
You can also quickly view customer information. You can see who your best customers are and how much each customer has paid you. Outright helps simplify your taxes by automatically categorizing transactions according to IRS guidelines. A preview of your taxes and what you may owe, is available at any given time. You are also notified by email of any upcoming tax deadlines. With Outright, you can easily track how much customers have paid you in sales tax and how much you need to pay the IRS.
Outright is very secure as it uses 256-bit SSL security, which is what banks use. It is monitored and verified by TRUSTe, VeriSign and McAfee. Servers are housed in facilities with tight security that includes security guards and biometric scanning. Outright does not allow you to transfer funds. It is only for importing, organizing and categorizing data.
Outright is web-based, in the cloud. Data is backed up regularly and can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Since data is not stored on your computer, you don't have to worry about losing data if your computer is stolen or breaks down.
If you have a small business that is in need of accounting software, Outright may be worth looking into.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Data Storage Systems Digital Photos
One item on my to-do list is to tackle organizing my digital photos and printing out a few of the photos that I would like to frame. My digital photo collection isn't really in too bad of shape. Last year I started organizing some of the photos. I sorted them by year and within each year, I created a month directory to sort them by month. This method of organizing my digital photos has worked out well so far. The problem is I have digital photos on two different laptops. I also have a whole bunch of more recent photos on my cell phone and digital camera.
I also really need to back them up. I have an external hard drive that is almost full. I have a few thumbdrives that are either full or need cleaning up too. I'm thinking about buying a few new data storage systems. My external hard drive is only 250gb. That was pretty good sized when I bought it almost ten years ago. Today you can buy an external hard drive that holds terabytes of data. My external hard drive also requires plugging into an electric outlet. Today you can buy external hard drives that just use a USB port. Prices are also pretty reasonable now. I paid around $100 for my 250gb hard drive. Today you can buy a $100 hard drive with much larger amounts of data storage.
There are also many online data storage sites where you can store data in the cloud, including Amazon.com, Google.com and Nexsan.com. Some of the services give you a certain amount of storage space for free. I don't like the idea of depending on a third party website to store my files. If that site goes away, there go my files. It is convenient to be able to access your files from any computer with an internet connection though. A third party online data storage site might be a good idea to use as a secondary backup. It's always a good idea to keep an extra backup off site.
I also really need to back them up. I have an external hard drive that is almost full. I have a few thumbdrives that are either full or need cleaning up too. I'm thinking about buying a few new data storage systems. My external hard drive is only 250gb. That was pretty good sized when I bought it almost ten years ago. Today you can buy an external hard drive that holds terabytes of data. My external hard drive also requires plugging into an electric outlet. Today you can buy external hard drives that just use a USB port. Prices are also pretty reasonable now. I paid around $100 for my 250gb hard drive. Today you can buy a $100 hard drive with much larger amounts of data storage.
There are also many online data storage sites where you can store data in the cloud, including Amazon.com, Google.com and Nexsan.com. Some of the services give you a certain amount of storage space for free. I don't like the idea of depending on a third party website to store my files. If that site goes away, there go my files. It is convenient to be able to access your files from any computer with an internet connection though. A third party online data storage site might be a good idea to use as a secondary backup. It's always a good idea to keep an extra backup off site.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
TGI ERP Software
There is a company called TGI that offers ERP software. They are based in Toledo, Ohio and have been in business since 1990. Their main focus is on development, implementation and support of its business management software.
They offer a complete manufacturing software solution that aims to improve order line item fill rates and inventory costs while increasing customer satisfaction.
They also offer distribution software that includes an RF and barcode-enabled warehouse management system allowing for smooth warehouse opertations. Features include inventory control, transportation, financial and pricing management, and quality control.
There are a few key differences that make TGI a unique company. They offer one complete solution that includes free source code at no additional cost. They offer a 24 hour customer support hotline training system and online tutorials. For the first year, software maintenance is free. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed, or your money back. TGI's Enterprise 21 software is also platform independent, so that it will work with any ODBC compliant database.
TGI's Enterprise 21 software is used by many different small to mid size manufacturers and distributors from many different industries, including agriculture, construction, defense, electric, food and beverage, industrial and plumbing.
If you would like to check the software out before buying, an online demo is available.
TGI can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/TGILTD. You can also check out their blog at http://www.tgiltd.com/blog/.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Internet marketing Middle East
Friday, April 6, 2012
Buy Sell Magazine Back Issues Classified Ads
I'm working on adding a classified ads section to my magazine back issues website, magazine-back-issues.biz. I get emails all of the time from people looking for certain magazine issues. I don't usually have them, but can sometimes point them in a direction where they might have better luck finding whatever they are looking for. With the classified ads section, they can list an ad if they have a collection of magazines to sell, or post an ad if they are looking to buy a certain issue.
I don't buy magazines from other people for several reasons. You don't know what condition they will arrive in. When shipped, they may be in great condition, but arrive in terrible condition due to being poorly packaged. In the past, I've purchased magazines from ebay less than a dozen times. The majority of the time, the magazines arrived all wrinkled, due to being mailed in just an oversized envelope with no protection.
When I ship magazines, I wrap them in bubble wrap, place them in a cardboard envelope, and attach pieces of cardboard to that envelope. Everything is then placed in a large mailing envelope. One time, a buyer purchased the wrong item and sent it back to me. When it arrived back to me, it was still in the same condition as when I had shipped it.
I also don't buy magazines because I don't have the room to store them. The more you have, the more space they take up and I hate clutter, so I refuse to get overrun. I have a small, out of the way, storage area set aside for storing them.
Selling magazine back issues is just a hobby and a way to make a little extra money.
If I was to ever expand, I might have to look into third party logistics software, such as 3PL. That is software which helps a large business run smoothly. It keeps track of inventory and automates the billing process. It allows customers to view real-time inventory status, shipment status and tracking information. 3PL is also a web-based system, so information can be accessed from any computer. Sounds like a good idea for those looking to grow their business.
I don't buy magazines from other people for several reasons. You don't know what condition they will arrive in. When shipped, they may be in great condition, but arrive in terrible condition due to being poorly packaged. In the past, I've purchased magazines from ebay less than a dozen times. The majority of the time, the magazines arrived all wrinkled, due to being mailed in just an oversized envelope with no protection.
When I ship magazines, I wrap them in bubble wrap, place them in a cardboard envelope, and attach pieces of cardboard to that envelope. Everything is then placed in a large mailing envelope. One time, a buyer purchased the wrong item and sent it back to me. When it arrived back to me, it was still in the same condition as when I had shipped it.
I also don't buy magazines because I don't have the room to store them. The more you have, the more space they take up and I hate clutter, so I refuse to get overrun. I have a small, out of the way, storage area set aside for storing them.
Selling magazine back issues is just a hobby and a way to make a little extra money.
If I was to ever expand, I might have to look into third party logistics software, such as 3PL. That is software which helps a large business run smoothly. It keeps track of inventory and automates the billing process. It allows customers to view real-time inventory status, shipment status and tracking information. 3PL is also a web-based system, so information can be accessed from any computer. Sounds like a good idea for those looking to grow their business.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A cute mother and daughter set of aprons
Guest post written by Samantha Marion
My daughter is always trying to get me to let her help out in the kitchen. But I was also the same way with my mom when I was younger. So I like to let her help me mix some things and crack eggs and things like that. She loves it and for her upcoming birthday I thought I would give her something for her to use in the kitchen to make her feel like she's helping out even more.
Out of all the stuff that I could think of, I settled on making us some matching aprons. I love sewing and thought it would be such a cute idea. While I was looking up apron patterns I ran across some stuff on debt counseling and was glad that I did. I really wanted to handle our debt situation and I think that I'm going to use counseling services in order to do that.
I found an adorable pattern for a DIY ruffled apron and decided to make one for each of us in matching fabric. It will make our time together in the kitchen that much more fun!
My daughter is always trying to get me to let her help out in the kitchen. But I was also the same way with my mom when I was younger. So I like to let her help me mix some things and crack eggs and things like that. She loves it and for her upcoming birthday I thought I would give her something for her to use in the kitchen to make her feel like she's helping out even more.
Out of all the stuff that I could think of, I settled on making us some matching aprons. I love sewing and thought it would be such a cute idea. While I was looking up apron patterns I ran across some stuff on debt counseling and was glad that I did. I really wanted to handle our debt situation and I think that I'm going to use counseling services in order to do that.
I found an adorable pattern for a DIY ruffled apron and decided to make one for each of us in matching fabric. It will make our time together in the kitchen that much more fun!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Wedding Decorations
One of my goals for this year is to do some serious de-cluttering and organizing. I also hope to do a bit of redecorating. My office is on my loft. I have three desks put together in an L shape. They don't match and it's kind of cluttered. I'm going to buy one L-shaped desk to neaten things up. Walmart has a glass and metal L-shaped desk for $99 that I am thinking about buying.
Things really aren't that cluttered. I just tend to keep a lot of papers that I never look at again. The main disaster is all of the boy's toys. They have way too many toys.
Amazon had a couple of free de-cluttering books for the Kindle that I downloaded. I learned a lot of pretty useful tips. De-cluttering is a pretty good winter project.
One of the things I came across while de-cluttering my loft was a folder detailing all of the steps necessary when planning a wedding. That is one of the life events I have not reached yet. Reading through all the preparation tips sounded a little overwhelming and very expensive.
Fortunately, the internet is a great resource for helping you find the perfect wedding decorations at reasonable prices. There are wedding websites where you can get ideas. Wedding blogs offer tips and tricks to help with planning your wedding. Wedding websites also offer advice and ideas on wedding favors. Favors are always the part I like the best. Gone are the days of matchbooks. These days you can buy unique favors or even make your own. There are tons of different wedding favors available. Wedding websites offer favors for just about every theme or color scheme imaginable.
A wedding is a special event, so making sure the wedding decorations are perfect is important to making sure the day is a success.
Things really aren't that cluttered. I just tend to keep a lot of papers that I never look at again. The main disaster is all of the boy's toys. They have way too many toys.
Amazon had a couple of free de-cluttering books for the Kindle that I downloaded. I learned a lot of pretty useful tips. De-cluttering is a pretty good winter project.
One of the things I came across while de-cluttering my loft was a folder detailing all of the steps necessary when planning a wedding. That is one of the life events I have not reached yet. Reading through all the preparation tips sounded a little overwhelming and very expensive.
Fortunately, the internet is a great resource for helping you find the perfect wedding decorations at reasonable prices. There are wedding websites where you can get ideas. Wedding blogs offer tips and tricks to help with planning your wedding. Wedding websites also offer advice and ideas on wedding favors. Favors are always the part I like the best. Gone are the days of matchbooks. These days you can buy unique favors or even make your own. There are tons of different wedding favors available. Wedding websites offer favors for just about every theme or color scheme imaginable.
A wedding is a special event, so making sure the wedding decorations are perfect is important to making sure the day is a success.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Android 6250 Text Message VZWNM
At the end of November I bought my Samsung Stratosphere Android phone. It's been working great. Over the weekend, I started getting a bunch of weird text messages from a 6250 number with a message of VZWNM:1;1. After a day of getting them all day long, I did some searching on the internet. The only useful thing I found was a thread in an android forum. Apparently, it is Verizon sending these messages every time your default email account receives a message. My phone came with a default email app, but I also installed K-9 mail. I have 3 email accounts added to both apps. My gmail account was set as the default account in the default app. K-9 is the app I mainly use for email though. I deleted my gmail account from the default app and the VZWNM messages stopped.
A couple of alternatives: I can re-add the gmail account to the default app, only use the other option rather than the add gmail account option.
There is a text messaging app called Handcent. It has a setting where you can block the 6250 number. That seemed to be a popular choice in the android forum.
According to the thread, calling Verizon is useless. They have no clue.
No one knows why the messages start either. It just suddenly starts happening. Some speculated the installation of an app may have triggered it. I did install Amazon's MP3 app the day before. I don't know if that triggered something, but it would be really strange if it did, since it has nothing to do with Verizon or text messages.
It is good to know there is a solution to making the 6250 VZWNM text messages stop though.
More Android Phones
A couple of alternatives: I can re-add the gmail account to the default app, only use the other option rather than the add gmail account option.
There is a text messaging app called Handcent. It has a setting where you can block the 6250 number. That seemed to be a popular choice in the android forum.
According to the thread, calling Verizon is useless. They have no clue.
No one knows why the messages start either. It just suddenly starts happening. Some speculated the installation of an app may have triggered it. I did install Amazon's MP3 app the day before. I don't know if that triggered something, but it would be really strange if it did, since it has nothing to do with Verizon or text messages.
It is good to know there is a solution to making the 6250 VZWNM text messages stop though.
More Android Phones
Monday, February 13, 2012
Credit Card Processing
I've finally made the move to upgrade the source files of my magazine back issues website to be more dynamic. Before, the pages used only HTML and CSS. All issues were hard coded into each web page. I would have to manually edit the HTML page in order to add a new issue. For the 2012 issues, the issue data is now being stored in a MySQL database. It's then displayed using PHP. I have an admin piece where I can login and enter the info for each new issue to store in the database. The upside to that is I can use any computer with an internet connection to add a new issue, rather than being tied to the computer storing the source data.
I use PayPal to handle all payment transactions. It makes things much easier. I don't have to worry about bounced checks, counterfeit money, invalid credit cards, etc. I am thinking of looking into alternative credit card processing services though. PayPal takes out a lot of fees for each transaction. It's not much, but it does add up over time. A seamless, no fee system where I don't have to do any manual processing would be great.
Credit card processing seems to be able to be done from anywhere. A salesman from Southwestern Advantage stopped last summer and convinced me to buy a set of kids reference books. I put the books on my credit card. The salesman didn't have any POS systems with him. He just called a number, gave them my credit card information, and the transaction was completed. I was kind of skeptical it was legitimate, but it was. Southwestern Advantage turned out to be a company that hires college kids who would like to run their own business for the summer. They go to another state and sell books all summer. The guy who stopped at my house was from Minnesota and had been selling books all over the valley. He mentioned names of people I actually knew. He was very friendly, but a real smooth talker. Before I knew it, I was signing a paper and buying the books, while wondering to myself, why am I buying these. lol. They were nice books, but expensive, although he somehow convinced me otherwise.
I use PayPal to handle all payment transactions. It makes things much easier. I don't have to worry about bounced checks, counterfeit money, invalid credit cards, etc. I am thinking of looking into alternative credit card processing services though. PayPal takes out a lot of fees for each transaction. It's not much, but it does add up over time. A seamless, no fee system where I don't have to do any manual processing would be great.
Credit card processing seems to be able to be done from anywhere. A salesman from Southwestern Advantage stopped last summer and convinced me to buy a set of kids reference books. I put the books on my credit card. The salesman didn't have any POS systems with him. He just called a number, gave them my credit card information, and the transaction was completed. I was kind of skeptical it was legitimate, but it was. Southwestern Advantage turned out to be a company that hires college kids who would like to run their own business for the summer. They go to another state and sell books all summer. The guy who stopped at my house was from Minnesota and had been selling books all over the valley. He mentioned names of people I actually knew. He was very friendly, but a real smooth talker. Before I knew it, I was signing a paper and buying the books, while wondering to myself, why am I buying these. lol. They were nice books, but expensive, although he somehow convinced me otherwise.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Middle Eastern Search Engine Marketing Firm Levant Digital
Online marketing has become a really hot area. Just about every business has a website. Marketing that website, so that it shows up in search results and people can find it, takes a lot of know how. Technology and online marketing techniques are constantly changing. Many businesses hire an employee whose sole purpose is to market the company website. Businesses also hire outside firms to help market their website.
People in countries outside of the United States are taking advantage of the technological revolution, particularly in developing countries with younger generations. The internet provides business opportunities that are not available in the real world. You can market an idea, skill or business to potentially everyone in the world. It's amazing how you can talk to someone on the opposite side of the world with just a click of a button.
The middle east is one particular area taking advantage of technology and the opportunities it offers. Middle eastern ppc management is one area of opportunity. Knowing the ins and outs of pay per click is a must for any business trying to succeed. One Middle Eastern search engine marketing firm is called Levant Digital. They are the #1 full-service digital marketing agency in the Middle East and North Africa. They offer services such as pay per click management, search engine optimization, social media advertising, conversion optimization, media buying and immediate crisis handling.
Middle Eastern search engine optimization firms like Levant Digital can provide short-term and long-term results for your business. They use many tools such as analytic systems and webmaster tools, use of effective keywords and placement, SEO-friendly titles and Meta descriptions, link building, social media and social bookmarking to help your site rise to the top of search engine results.
Learning how to market your website can be time consuming, so if you don't have a lot of time to learn the ropes of search engine optimization and website promotion, hiring an experienced professional might be a good idea.
People in countries outside of the United States are taking advantage of the technological revolution, particularly in developing countries with younger generations. The internet provides business opportunities that are not available in the real world. You can market an idea, skill or business to potentially everyone in the world. It's amazing how you can talk to someone on the opposite side of the world with just a click of a button.
The middle east is one particular area taking advantage of technology and the opportunities it offers. Middle eastern ppc management is one area of opportunity. Knowing the ins and outs of pay per click is a must for any business trying to succeed. One Middle Eastern search engine marketing firm is called Levant Digital. They are the #1 full-service digital marketing agency in the Middle East and North Africa. They offer services such as pay per click management, search engine optimization, social media advertising, conversion optimization, media buying and immediate crisis handling.
Middle Eastern search engine optimization firms like Levant Digital can provide short-term and long-term results for your business. They use many tools such as analytic systems and webmaster tools, use of effective keywords and placement, SEO-friendly titles and Meta descriptions, link building, social media and social bookmarking to help your site rise to the top of search engine results.
Learning how to market your website can be time consuming, so if you don't have a lot of time to learn the ropes of search engine optimization and website promotion, hiring an experienced professional might be a good idea.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
O-rings and Custom Seals Parco
I have a Doulton countertop water filter to filter out coliform bacteria. It attaches to the faucet and has a switch to redirect the waterflow to come out the filter instead of the faucet. When I want the water to come out of the faucet, I just change the switch back. Every few years I have to buy a new filter, which needs cleaning every so often. A few years ago, the switch attached to the faucet started leaking. The switch piece had never been cleaned and as a result the o-ring rotted. Just a simple little thing, but I had to buy a whole new switch costing $40 in order to get things fixed.
O-rings are pretty important little objects. If they go bad, leakage occurs and things break. There is a company called Parco that specializes in producing o-rings. They produce high performance seals for six different industries.
The first industry is the Oil Field Machinery industry. A faulty seal can cost more than $100,000 a day in downtime alone. Parco develops o-rings, back-up rings, packing elements, compensators, T-seals, rubber-to-metal bonded parts and other custom seals that can withstand caustic, high-temperature environments in wells as deep as five miles.
The second industry is the Aerospace & Defense industry. Parco produces o-rings and custom molded seals to meet various military and aerospace specifications. They are one of the few companies approved to supply Qualified Products List o-rings.
The third industry is the Water Filtration industry. Parco produces o-rings and custom molded parts resistant to swelling in chloramine-treated drinking water. They also have low compression set to ensure an extended life.
The fourth industry is the Motor Vehicle industry. Parco produces o-rings and custom molded seals for engines, transmissions and steering systems.
The fifth industry is the Farm & Construction industry. Parco produces o-rings, back-up rings, and T-seals that stand up to even the toughest of jobs.
The sixth industry is the Fuel-Dispensing industry. Parco produces o-rings, rubber-to-metal bonded parts and other custom seals for pumps that are resistant to gasoline. The seals have low compression set to help extend their life.
If you need help finding a seal, Parco offers a tool called the Compound Wizard. You enter information such as elastomer, durometer, color and key properties, and the Compound Wizard will provide you with a list of seals with those qualifications.
Parco has been in business since 1941. They were the first manufacturer to specialize in o-rings. They are based in Ontario, California.
O-rings are pretty important little objects. If they go bad, leakage occurs and things break. There is a company called Parco that specializes in producing o-rings. They produce high performance seals for six different industries.
The first industry is the Oil Field Machinery industry. A faulty seal can cost more than $100,000 a day in downtime alone. Parco develops o-rings, back-up rings, packing elements, compensators, T-seals, rubber-to-metal bonded parts and other custom seals that can withstand caustic, high-temperature environments in wells as deep as five miles.
The second industry is the Aerospace & Defense industry. Parco produces o-rings and custom molded seals to meet various military and aerospace specifications. They are one of the few companies approved to supply Qualified Products List o-rings.
The third industry is the Water Filtration industry. Parco produces o-rings and custom molded parts resistant to swelling in chloramine-treated drinking water. They also have low compression set to ensure an extended life.
The fourth industry is the Motor Vehicle industry. Parco produces o-rings and custom molded seals for engines, transmissions and steering systems.
The fifth industry is the Farm & Construction industry. Parco produces o-rings, back-up rings, and T-seals that stand up to even the toughest of jobs.
The sixth industry is the Fuel-Dispensing industry. Parco produces o-rings, rubber-to-metal bonded parts and other custom seals for pumps that are resistant to gasoline. The seals have low compression set to help extend their life.
If you need help finding a seal, Parco offers a tool called the Compound Wizard. You enter information such as elastomer, durometer, color and key properties, and the Compound Wizard will provide you with a list of seals with those qualifications.
Parco has been in business since 1941. They were the first manufacturer to specialize in o-rings. They are based in Ontario, California.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
EasyTether Review Laptop Cell Phone Share Data
I finally upgraded my cell phone to a smartphone. I went with Verizon's Samsung Stratosphere because it has a physical keyboard and is 4G. Nice phone.
The only problem is I don't really use it for anything that requires large amounts of data. Having the internet with me at all times is great, but I prefer using my laptop to access the internet. It has a larger screen & keyboard.
My new cell phone contract includes 4GB of data per month. My home internet uses Verizon's mobile broadband mifi device and includes 3GB of data per month. Most months I stay under 3GB, but once in a while I do go over. I thought, it would be great if I could connect my laptop to my cell phone and use it's data plan if needed. Doing that through Verizon would cost an extra $20 per month. I would have to add a data plan that includes mobile hotspot. Apparently you can root your phone and then there are apps you can use to access the cell phone's data plan. Rooting your phone will void the warranty and may make your phone unusable if something goes wrong. Not really the route I wanted to go.
I came across an app in the Amazon app store called EasyTether. It does just what I want. It's normally $9.99, but I bought it for $4.99. You download it to your phone. Go to the EasyTether website and download software for your laptop. Hook your cell phone up to your laptop via USB. Right click on the easy tether icon on your laptop and click connect. Your laptop can then surf the internet using your cell phone's data plan. Pretty cool!
I have no idea if it is legal, but I did not find any reviews saying Verizon suspended anyone's account. The IP address on the laptop is the same as the IP address on the cell phone, so I don't know how Verizon would be able to know what you're doing. I don't know anything about networking though.
One thing to note is my cell phone seemed to get hot pretty quickly. Although, I guess it wasn't any hotter than my mifi device gets. The connection does time out quite frequently when it's cloudy outside. When it worked, it seemed fairly quick, but slower than my mifi connection. I can only get 3G at my house. When 4G comes, the connection will probably be pretty good.
EasyTether is an awesome app! No rooting, no extra $20 per month. It's a great, quick and easy way to connect your laptop to your cell phone's data plan. Now if there was a way to get my Amazon Kindle Fire to tether to my cell phone...
More Tethering
The only problem is I don't really use it for anything that requires large amounts of data. Having the internet with me at all times is great, but I prefer using my laptop to access the internet. It has a larger screen & keyboard.
My new cell phone contract includes 4GB of data per month. My home internet uses Verizon's mobile broadband mifi device and includes 3GB of data per month. Most months I stay under 3GB, but once in a while I do go over. I thought, it would be great if I could connect my laptop to my cell phone and use it's data plan if needed. Doing that through Verizon would cost an extra $20 per month. I would have to add a data plan that includes mobile hotspot. Apparently you can root your phone and then there are apps you can use to access the cell phone's data plan. Rooting your phone will void the warranty and may make your phone unusable if something goes wrong. Not really the route I wanted to go.
I came across an app in the Amazon app store called EasyTether. It does just what I want. It's normally $9.99, but I bought it for $4.99. You download it to your phone. Go to the EasyTether website and download software for your laptop. Hook your cell phone up to your laptop via USB. Right click on the easy tether icon on your laptop and click connect. Your laptop can then surf the internet using your cell phone's data plan. Pretty cool!
I have no idea if it is legal, but I did not find any reviews saying Verizon suspended anyone's account. The IP address on the laptop is the same as the IP address on the cell phone, so I don't know how Verizon would be able to know what you're doing. I don't know anything about networking though.
One thing to note is my cell phone seemed to get hot pretty quickly. Although, I guess it wasn't any hotter than my mifi device gets. The connection does time out quite frequently when it's cloudy outside. When it worked, it seemed fairly quick, but slower than my mifi connection. I can only get 3G at my house. When 4G comes, the connection will probably be pretty good.
EasyTether is an awesome app! No rooting, no extra $20 per month. It's a great, quick and easy way to connect your laptop to your cell phone's data plan. Now if there was a way to get my Amazon Kindle Fire to tether to my cell phone...
More Tethering
Monday, January 9, 2012
Technology Lawyer
Since being laid off by a top defense company, who shall remain nameless, I've been working part-time as a contractor. I started off doing a month of work for a small, local computer vision company. After that, I started doing some web development work for a small, local web development company. For both companies, I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, also known as a confidentiality agreement. Software companies are in a pretty competitive field, so they have to be careful that employees don't divulge all their secrets. I'm sure they have to be even more careful with someone they don't know who is just a contractor. The computer vision company even had their own lawyer draw up the paperwork. It was pretty official.
I never realized it, but there are lawyers who specialize in representing technology companies. Technology lawyers provide services in areas such as technology, internet, ecommerce and media law; media, technology and intellectual property transactions; technology and ecommerce start-up;, copyright issues; and trademark registration and disputes. One such company is called the Neff Law Firm. They are based in Manhattan Beach, CA.
For 12 1/2 years they were known as Neff Law Group LLP. Since 2004, they have been known as Neff Law Firm. Their practice consists of three attorneys: Richard Neff, Amanda Laura Nye and Daniel S. Latter. They also work with other lawyers to handle patent registrations and various kinds of issues and international requirements.
Neff Law Firm has handled cases for companies such as Informatica Corp., PriceGrabber.com, glu mobile, Logitech Inc., and Symantec Corp.
They have handled cases involving copyright disputes. Richard Neff headed an antipiracy cause in Latin America, which led to the reform of many national copyright laws. He has also helped studios, publishers and authors with the copyright do's and don'ts of film and video making.
Neff Law Firm can handle ecommerce issues and has helped a top Internet price comparison website.
They can help with trademark issues, such as selection, usage and registering of a trademark. They can also help protect your domain name from being stolen.
Everybody is on the internet these days. The majority of businesses have websites. Some people start businesses that are strictly online. I have a website where I sell back issues of magazines. My first website was focused on ways to earn money online. One time when I was reviewing it's stats, I discovered another website out there under a totally different domain name, but the same exact content as my website. It was really strange. I'm still not sure if I should have done something about it, or what I should have done. Cyberspace is a tough area to patrol as the whole world has access. There are no boundaries. People often don't even use their real names. The internet is still fairly new, so there are a lot of gray areas. If you have a website and want to protect yourself, in addition to making sure you are setting your business up properly and not infringing on anyone else's rights, it might be a good idea to hire a technology lawyer.
I never realized it, but there are lawyers who specialize in representing technology companies. Technology lawyers provide services in areas such as technology, internet, ecommerce and media law; media, technology and intellectual property transactions; technology and ecommerce start-up;, copyright issues; and trademark registration and disputes. One such company is called the Neff Law Firm. They are based in Manhattan Beach, CA.
For 12 1/2 years they were known as Neff Law Group LLP. Since 2004, they have been known as Neff Law Firm. Their practice consists of three attorneys: Richard Neff, Amanda Laura Nye and Daniel S. Latter. They also work with other lawyers to handle patent registrations and various kinds of issues and international requirements.
Neff Law Firm has handled cases for companies such as Informatica Corp., PriceGrabber.com, glu mobile, Logitech Inc., and Symantec Corp.
They have handled cases involving copyright disputes. Richard Neff headed an antipiracy cause in Latin America, which led to the reform of many national copyright laws. He has also helped studios, publishers and authors with the copyright do's and don'ts of film and video making.
Neff Law Firm can handle ecommerce issues and has helped a top Internet price comparison website.
They can help with trademark issues, such as selection, usage and registering of a trademark. They can also help protect your domain name from being stolen.
Everybody is on the internet these days. The majority of businesses have websites. Some people start businesses that are strictly online. I have a website where I sell back issues of magazines. My first website was focused on ways to earn money online. One time when I was reviewing it's stats, I discovered another website out there under a totally different domain name, but the same exact content as my website. It was really strange. I'm still not sure if I should have done something about it, or what I should have done. Cyberspace is a tough area to patrol as the whole world has access. There are no boundaries. People often don't even use their real names. The internet is still fairly new, so there are a lot of gray areas. If you have a website and want to protect yourself, in addition to making sure you are setting your business up properly and not infringing on anyone else's rights, it might be a good idea to hire a technology lawyer.
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