LINKEDIN: Your LinkedIn Network … effective and / or efficient?

Thursday, May 17, 2007

http://www.thinkinghomebusiness.com/
blog/_archives/2007/5/18/2957254.html

http://tinyurl.com/39axpd

How Efficient is Your LinkedIn Network?
by Des Walsh on Fri 18 May 2007 09:08 AM EST

***Begin Quote***

While the delivery of the box of donuts with resume attached is the focus of the post, I noticed also that one of the steps Greg has taken to get noticed for the job is to send a message to the owner via LinkedIn.

***End Quote***

I’d suggest that LinkedIn be used for developing “inside” knowledge. That’s probably worth more than getting to a decision maker. Finding out what makes them tick, what they want, and texture around the opportunity may allow you to tailor the sales pitch.

If I was measure “efficient”, then I’d want to know how “responsive” it was. Effectiveness might be how much “value” it delivers. Responsiveness and value are tough to define and even tougher to measure.


LIBERTY: Jury Duty summation

Thursday, May 17, 2007

With apologies to my fellow jurors, upon whom I inflicted my awful sense of humor, Mary K, Barbara A, Michael M, Anna H, Maryln P, Paul S and some one I forgot.

Zenger!

No matter how many times in the courthouse that the lie was repeated “You must decide based on the law as the Judge gives it to you”, it doesn’t make it so. The jury is sovereign. We have Freedom of the Press because a colonial jury in Boston refused to convict a newspaper editor regardless of the law. We ended Prohibition because juries refused to convict on an absurd law. So, of course, the Gooferment has to dumb down the people so it can have it’s way with us.

If EVERY jury was fully informed, they could end the drug war in an instant. I’d suggest that every juror, when presented with a non-violent drug case, merely vote “not guilty”. Steadfastly, without discussing why, with the courage of Gandhi & Martin Luther King, and that lone fellow in Tiananmen Square (i.e., The Unknown Rebel from the famous photo, taken on 5 June 1989 by Jeff Widener), vote your conscience. When the Gooferment can’t get the convictions, then maybe they will get the message.

I resent being made a slave to the State, wither by them stealing two days of my time and attention, or in the huge percentage that they make me a slave by taxes, fees, inflation, and form filling out. Sorry, but didn’t Lincoln free the slaves.

And, for the benefit of two insurances companies quibbling about who was going to pay how much. Sorry, not my business.

And, the way some, not all, of the staff and sheriff’s deputies, treated the folks being herded like cattle. I’d have fired at least tow of them. But then I only pay their salaries.

OK, now, on to my petty gripes.

Most jurors drive, park in the garage next to the court house, BUT have to walk around the block to use the “juror entrance”. Of course, the lawyers, bureaucrats, and the rest of the “anointed” can use the entrance closest to the garage. Argh! What disrespect.

Metal detectors. Sorry that’s unreasonable search and seizure. Every juror should be allowed to carry anything that they want into the building. The Second Amendment was to make the Gooferment afraid of the people. And, tread lightly around their Rights. We now have it backward. I heard MANY jurors express that they didn’t want to be there but were afraid of the Gooferment and the consequences.

It would be interesting, if one had time to challenge them, to confront their “summons”. Just ignore it. Non-cooperation. Peaceful. But complete non-cooperation. Spirit of G, MLK, & and that chap. Just lay down.

Wonder what they would do?

They start at 8AM supposedly. But, why that time? We spend an hour listening to gooferment propaganda about the wonderful system. I’d like to see a Libertarian dissect the thing for truthfulness, self-serving statements, and errors.

Some fellow had a tiny pen knife. That they made a big deal over. And, if he didn’t take it back to his car, then they’d seize it and he couldn’t get it back. Thieves.

Their vocabulary was insulting: “We’ll release you”, “Dismiss you as a group”, and “check in”.

Pity the poor smokers.

They paid for the parking, but if you took your car for lunch, they’d only pay once. And, if you lost your ticket, your problem. Just like when you visit any business? They need to take lessons from the casinos, or Disney.

And the five bucks for the first two days. Breakfast and Lunch? So, is that an added tax?

And, since I pay taxes to the county, I think they are (a) over staffed; (b) have too many deputies; and (c) too many deputies cars parked around the building.

It’s a mugging. For your time, attention, and money. For what? Some vague illusion of duty? Like I am a valued member of this fiction. No, it’s a gang, that maintains control by the illusion of legitimacy.

At least now, I won’t be “summoned” again for three years.

How insulting!


RANT: Michigan Republican Party wants to bar Ron Paul from debates

Thursday, May 17, 2007

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/
base/news-44/117935695635230.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

http://tinyurl.com/2fou7e

Michigan GOP leader wants Paul barred from future debates
5/16/2007, 7:07 p.m. EDT
By JIM DAVENPORT The Associated Press

*** begin quote ***

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party said Wednesday that he will try to bar Ron Paul from future GOP presidential debates because of remarks the Texas congressman made that suggested the Sept. 11 attacks were the fault of U.S. foreign policy.

*** end quote ***

Sure, because he differentiated himself from the other 9 clowns.

Does the chairman think that by bombing Iraq we have won friends over there?

Every killing, casualty, or “collateral damage” drafts more people into the “hate america” movement.

The dead old white guys didn’t want an aggressive foreign policy. That’s why the Constitution only permits an army for TWO YEARS. Drag out you Constitution if you have one and take a gander at it.

We should be like Switzerland. A porcupine; not an ass. MYOB. Respect the rights of others.

Heck, we don’t even respect the rights of our fellow americans!


PRODUCTIVITY: Anything that expires should be an appointment in your Outlook

Thursday, May 17, 2007

When I notarize stuff for people (mostly my Colleagues at work), I put their DL expiration in my Outlook calendar (minus one month). When it triggers, I send them an email. You can’t imagine how many people don’t know that. Surprised, they quick go renew. Just another value added service from your local nj notary. So don’t feel bad, lot’s of people do it. BTW I put my DL and Frau’s dates in my Outlook calendar as well. Passport dates, or anything that has an expiration.


LIBERTY: Bigger isn’t better for representative purposes

Thursday, May 17, 2007

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705150371

Bill Zapcic
It’s time for long-dead towns to find a buddy and reincorporate
Home News Tribune Online 05/15/07

***Begin Quote***

So how many municipal units should New Jersey have? We cram 8,724,560 people onto 7,417.34 square miles. (That’s about a half-acre for each of us, as long as you don’t mind being the person standing in the meadowlands or on the white stripe near Interchange 11 of the Turnpike.) Take out the biggest cities’ combined 700,000 people, and that leaves 8 million. Some of our more efficient municipalities, and those with lower property taxes than the state average, have 80,000 people. That’s a nice number.

***End Quote***

Oh yeah, “big” municipalities have worked out so well for the taxpayers of Nu Jerzee. Try and vote out some one in Newark or Camden. It ain’t gonna happen in your lifetime. Smaller is better. I’d like to break everything down into smaller granules. Even South Brunswick is too big to influence.

If we had smaller administrative units, then we could be “heard”. Certainly my neighbors are better served by a block representative than the South Brunswick – Middlesex County – Trenton -WashingtonDC paradigm.

When the revolution comes, it will be small units that will win because the politicians won’t be able to “escape” from their neighbors.


PRODUCTIVITY: Using Gmail as your spam filter

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

http://news.office-watch.com/t/n.aspx?a=512

Using Gmail as your spam filter
Gmail has a good spam filter, you can use it for your own email accounts.

Office Watch’s Email Essentials has picked up “my” tip on using GMail as a spam filter. Of course, they explain it much better than I do. I like to use TWO gmail ids.

ISP Id#1 -> Gmail#1 -> Gmail#2

ISP Id#2 -> Gmail#3 -> Gmail#2

But they explain it much better.

# # # # #


YAHOO ANSWER: Credit unions good for car loans? Not good; great!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

*** begin quote ***

Credit unions good for car loans?

I am looking to buy a used car that is $16000. a 72 month loan seems to be getting me an apr of about 11% no matter who i go through – would a credit unio be able to give me a lower rate – and are there any downsides to being a credit union member?

*** end quote ***

I just checked my credit union and you can get 48 months for 6%.

So they have good deals. I’ve blogged on how to bootstrap your way out of repeated car loans. Basically buy a car, finance it for three, but pay for six. The second three becomes savings for the next down payment.

I can’t give you a downside for a credit union loan, but I can give you a giant upside.

Most, if not all, credit unions don’t use the rule of 72 on your car payments. Most everyone else makes you pay the interest first and principal later. If you prepay the loan, then you’ve paid a higher rate for your money. CUs use a simple interest formula. Prepay early and you save interest expense. That prepayment also happens unexpectedly when the car gets totaled. So two good reasons to use the Credit Union. And, the CU usually has free credit life insurance thrown in.

So do your homework, it can save you big bucks.

Downside, you may have to bring a check from the credit union to the dealer, so you won’t have instant gratification of signing papers and driving away. So, I did think of a downside. But that dealer financing can be very “expensive” if you don’t really examine the details, which most people don’t.

Good luck,
Let us know how you make out.

# # # # #


JOBSEARCH: Learn skills that can’t be defeated by foreign competition

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/31830

http://tinyurl.com/2ueyjq

A Few Lessons from the Road
by Ben Stein
Posted on Friday, May 11, 2007, 12:00AM

***Begin Quote***

What’s the lesson here? Learn skills that can’t be defeated by foreign competition. The doctors in Detroit still make money. The finance people who manage the doctors’ offices still make money. And the people there who have substantial savings invested all over the world are doing fine, too.

More brutal than that lesson is that capitalism requires flexibility. Autoworkers who were being paid $50 an hour are getting laid off, it’s true. But in Indian Wells and Palm Desert, Calif., men and women who can lay tile or install plantation shutters or plumb toilets are getting $50 an hour and can’t keep up with demand.

***End Quote***

Remember the four part strategy: ruthless financial discipline, white collar job, blue collar skill, and a web biz.

Capitalism may require flexibility according to Senor Stein. But, the seeker “fighting” under today’s rules of engagement better have their own version of “flexibility” in mind.

Use your spare time wisely. Learn a language. There are things that are timeless and competition-proof. I’ve never met a poor plumber!


LIBERTY: Dona nobis pacem.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer155.html

Memorial Day Alternative
by Butler Shaffer

***Begin Quote***

Paths of Glory – A Kirk Douglas film. A general sends his men on a suicide mission. When the mission fails, a few soldiers are arbitrarily selected to be tried – and executed – for cowardice.

***End Quote***

In my younger days, I loved war movies. I think it was Paths of Glory or perhaps it was The Execution of Private Slovik that killed that illusion.

Now I see and regret the error of my ways.

Maybe it was the anti-war folk songs of the Sixties. Maybe it was reading about countless kids coming home to their parents in body bags over the decades. Maybe it was the anti-war Socialist Left harping on the issue (to advance their own agenda). Maybe it was the MASH tv series.

Maybe it was just growing up.

I’ve since “learned” of the horror. The Japanese Internment, Dresden bombing, and A bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I “learned” it in school, but I was too stupid to really “learn” it.

I’ve since learned that venial leaders like Lincoln were pursuing their own agenda (i.e., that of the Northern mercantilists). Some were just lying like Wilson who campaigned on an anti-war platform and proceeded immediately to get us into WW1. Some were seeking to get out of economic trouble like FDR staging Pearl Harbor (see Stennent’s book). Some were silver-spoon sex-crazed drugged egotists like Kennedy, who knows what their motivation was (I’d have expected better of a vet who was almost killed). It seems we the people only find out the truth long after the bodies are buried. Our friends and family members bodies that is. We are led by a political class that has a positive motivation to put us more under their thumb. Hitler was an amateur. He should have had the income tax and inflation. That makes everyone a slave. Then you can kill them at your leisure.

“For the people, wars do not pay. The only cause of armed conflict is the greed of autocrats.” ~ Ludwig von Mises
“You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.” ~ Jeannette Rankin
“War is the health of the State” Randolph Bourne

All drive home the point. We all lose in ANY war.

You can talk to me about war, when someone is landing troops on the Jersey shore.

Dona nobis pacem.


RANT: Jury Duty

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

AS EXPECTED

I’m going to have a lot to say about Jury Duty, but a quick note. Zenger! They keep repeating that the jury members have to apply the law as the judges give it to you. But, the Fully Informed Jury Association says differently. Jurys judge the law as well. Freedom of the press was established by the Zenger trial. Prohibition was effectively ended years before the Repeal by jurys refusing to convict violators. No mention of that. And, those who attend the gooferment skoolz probably never heard of it.


JOBSEARCH: Always frame problems

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

interbiznet presents The Bugler
May 15, 2007

 

***Begin Quote***

Gurutosis

The three most powerful words anyone can use are “I don’t know.” In an instant, the playing field gets leveled and the problem can be addressed without agenda. Center stage attention shifts and leaves an opening for the best local expertise to emerge. The very essence of leadership is knowing what to do when you don’t know.

***End Quote***

A well said piece of advice for seekers being interviewed. When candidates I was interviewing tried to bluff their way thru on a point, I’d hit the ‘eject button”.

No one knows everything, not even me!

It’s what you do when you can or can’t see the boundary. It’s how you test if there’s a hidden boundary there. It’s about your system for protecting against runaways, under runs, and stoppages.

It’s realizing that, you don’t know, what you don’t know.

The toughest boss I ever had used to asks for results, and then would ask how he was supposed to know that the results were true. At the time, I didn’t understand. But what he was asking was not just the answer to a problem, but to see the work that got to the answer. He wanted evidence and confidence. Just like in school.

So in your interview prep, be sure you have a legend (i.e., an elevator speech about something that you can pop out when needed) that presents a situation where either you couldn’t know the answer or you were wrong. In your legend, show how you always set up a “frame” so that you can never spin endless away. Visualize the spaceman’s wrench spinning off into deep space, until it reaches the end of the tether rope, and gets reeled back in. That’s the frame. Your frame can be time (i.e., I set a kitchen time, worked on the problem for an hour, and then I asked for help), feedback (i.e., a Colleague always checks my project plan for over commitments because I like to please people), or milestones (if.eat., I always have a project plan for anything I promise that has many moving parts).

Always demonstrate your framing!


MONEY: There is no retirement fairy.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north529.html

Debt: An Inescapable Concept
Part 2: Personal Debt
by Gary North

***Begin Quote***

There is no tooth fairy. There is no retirement fairy. There will be no streams of income for the vast majority of old Americans. There will probably be monthly checks. They will not buy much.

***End Quote***

Medical costs will destroy us. The unfunded promises of the Medicare and drug benefits will bankrupt the country. When the politicians make promises, they leave the bill for the future taxpayers to pick up the tab. When the bill comes due, it’ll be devastating.


LIBERTY: Biometrics Social Security Cards

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

http://www.wired.com/politics/onlinerights/news/2007/05/biometric

National ID: Biometrics Pinned to Social Security Cards
Ryan Singel Email 05.15.07 | 2:00 AM

***Begin Quote***

The Social Security card faces its first major upgrade in 70 years under two immigration-reform proposals slated for debate this week that would add biometric information to the card and finally complete its slow metamorphosis into a national ID.

***End Quote***

Great, then when the gooferment loses the data, we can have REAL identity theft. How long before you’ll be able to buy a “biometric national id”. Or the whole kit to go into business with on ebay? Can I get “one week” in the pool. If it’s such a great idea, why does it have to be “mandated”?


JOBSEARCH: A new set of “rules” — adding the the Web-based biz!

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

http://www.prairietumbleweedfarm.com

ATTENTION KMART SHOPPERS!

I think the “rules” are changing again. If you’ve been down to my “turkey farm”, then you know that I think there have been four “rule changes”.

http://home.comcast.net/~v2y2r0n27rhj6y/TURKEY/index_Page369.htm

Unlike that TV show “wife swap” — yeah I watch too much tv — there was NO rules change ceremony.

I wish I had a dime for every seeker who stops in for help that is working with the old pair of dimes.

<<You know paradigm. Way of thinking. Glass half-full half-empty. Your mental model. Your meme (i.e., mental gene).>>

I’ll still meet folks using the “gold watch” paradigm and wondering why they are getting screwed, broke, busted, disgusted, and killed in the employment marketplace. They believed the “barbara streisand” that their employer peddled until it was too late. They were a freshly axed turkey!

But, back to my point, about the “rules”.

I am sensing a new rule. As with most change, it is sneaking up on us. It’s actually adding to my “Three Part Harmony” description. A fourth item is being added.

The Web-based biz!

It is trivial for you to form a Nevada corporation. (I just did it for about $1200!) It is trivial for you to assemble a web-based store. (I’m in the process of doing it now for under $250) And, if this lady can sell tumbleweed, then surely you have something to sell. I think the key thing to notice is the available click at the top of the website that displays the site in Japanese!!

So, the model for success HAS officially changed! Henceforth and forever more, the model is “Four Tined Fork”. That is: (1) Ruthless financial management — get it, keep it, make it work; (2) White Collar job; (3) Blue Collar skill; and (4) one or more Web-based businesses.

Don’t say you didn’t get the memo. Here it is. A wake up call.

(Surely, if she can sell tumbleweed to the Japanese, you can do better!)

# # # # #


JOBSEARCH: 29 per cent of all US jobs are be potentially offshorable

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=
BQABRED1US4NPQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/opinion/
2007/05/13/do1301.xml

http://tinyurl.com/32s4l2

 

New York – the new Venice?
By Niall Ferguson, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 13/05/2007

***Begin Quote***

Looking closely at which activities are most vulnerable as Asian competition ascends the value chain from manufacturing into services, Blinder estimates that “somewhere between 22 per cent and 29 per cent of all US jobs are or will be potentially offshorable within a decade or two”. That could be one in four jobs.

***End Quote***

Not a good omen for the future.


TECH SERVICE: FEEDBLITZ missed three posts yesterday

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

ARGH.

***Begin Quote***

1933 2007-05-13 7:32:43 am
TECHNOLOGY: My 5 reasons to start a Blog
https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/2007/05/13/technology-my-5-reasons-to-start-a-blog/
http://tinyurl.com/25yavb

1929 2007-05-13 6:14:00 am
MONEY: Panama Has Thrived Without A Central Bank
https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/2007/05/13/money-panama-has-thrived-without-a-central-bank/
http://tinyurl.com/2kvhpt

1932 2007-05-13 6:07:36 am
LINKEDIN: My “granfalloon” won a prize in the recent “group hug” about LinkedIn
https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/2007/05/13/linkedin-my-granfalloon-won-a-prize-in-the-recent-group-hug-about-linkedin/
http://tinyurl.com/2cx3kn

***End Quote***

The guy form FEEDBLITZ support suspects it has to do with preloading content by playing with the time stamps.

(You DO know I have a real job right?)


RANT: Off to jury duty

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

The gooferment has enslaved me. I am commanded by force to serve it. It’s not enough that it makes me a partial slave by stealing my money via inflation, taxes, fees, and economic friction. It steals the most precious think I have … my time and attention. Argh!


GUNS: Response from Assemblywoman Greenstein

Monday, May 14, 2007

***Begin Quote***

Dear Mr. Reinke:

Thank you for your thoughts on A3701. The Assemblywoman will keep them in mind should the legislation come up before the full Assembly. In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance on this or any other matter.

Sincerely
Scott Crass
Constituent Services Director
ASW Greenstein

———-

From: reinkefj
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 7:07 AM
To: Baroni, Asm. D.O.; Greenstein, Asw. D.O.; Inverso, Sen. D.O.
Subject: Proposed Gun Legislation

Dear Assemblyman Bill, Assemblywoman Linda, and Senator Peter:

Please impress on your colleagues that this anti-gun bills are: (a) un Constitutional; (b) immoral; (c) ineffective; and (d) inefficient. And, vote that way.

Clearly, the Second Amendment precludes Government from regulating guns. Slice it and dice it any way you want the Dead Old White Guys were right on. When you take guns away from the People, or at least try to, that sets the stage for tyranny. Just remember Nazi Germany. Disarm the citizens; death camps in the 30’s and 40’s. Governments kill people in massive quantities. I can repeat all the bumper stickers, because they are all true. But let’s stick to the one most on point. When you outlaw, guns, only outlaws will have guns. Look to England with home invasions on the rise and they still have gun killings. Criminal don’t obey laws.

It is immoral to remove the People’s Right to Self-defense. I know you’d all love to live in a world where nothing bad ever happens. But, that’s not real life. The murders on the VT campus were a DIRECT result of creating a “gun free zone”. Guess it wasn’t do “gun free”? While we can’t ever know that there would have been an armed person there if that diktat was not in effect, we KNOW positively that there wasn’t even a possibility of one with it in effect. Even a young girl or an old teacher might have been able to stop the slaughter when the nut had to reload. But the politicians and bureaucrats ensured that the shooter would have no worries about armed resistance. John Lott’s studies show the power of guns in the hands of law abiding people. It’s immoral to deny the People the protection of “sprinkling a few sheepdogs among the sheep”. Recognize that good law abiding people will defend themselves, their families, their neighbors, and even complete strangers if give a fighting chance. Only the very bravest, or the foolish, will attempt to take on a shooter unarmed. But, given a weapon, how many of those VT dead an injured would have be able to defend themselves.

Gun Laws are ineffective. The NJ Legislature has passed how many gun laws. And, taxes on guns. And, restrictions. And, and, and. Still criminals shoot people. Do you think that all the laws in the world aren’t going to help? So for example, see any 50’s being used in crimes? Oh but let’s pass a law. What’s next, “if it saves one child”? You can’t legislate a solution. Go ahead and continue to try, but it’s futile. Good people will still be good; bad bad. When you pass a gun law, you shift the balance. Less good people with guns; more bad people with guns. When the law is exceptionally stupid, you might even turn “good people” into “criminals”. Stop the insanity. Every time you pass “gun laws”, you make the People less safe. Let’s take a Rutgers co-ed. Bright young girl. You have effectively made it impossible for her to defend herself. She get raped. Who’s fault? YOURS! You didn’t trust her to know when and how to defend herself. I do. Do I think that she will suddenly lose her mind and begin blowing people away. Not likely. Might some amorous young man get threatened. Could be. One thing is for sure that young girl will be in control. And, it’s a self-nominating thing. No one says she has to carry; she can choose to. With out you legislators playing God with her life. I trust women to know when they need to use deadly force. Don’t you? I trust all my fellow citizens to know when to use deadly force. Don’t you?

The gun laws are inefficient. The costs of ownership are artificially increased by legislation. Economics teaches us that when you raise the cost, the supply demand curve shifts. Raise the taxes and fees and you deprive the poor of the good. They can’t afford it. Now I know the political elite, the rich, and the celebrities all have all the armed security they need. I’m sure that the politicians and bureaucrats get all the gun permits that they could want. How about the poor minority woman who has to walk from the bus stop to her home at night? She doesn’t deserve to be able to protect herself. She doesn’t even show up on anyone’s radar. When you eliminate cheap guns or raise their cost, exactly whose hands are you taking them out of? Not the criminal’s. Not the elite’s. Yup, that poor person is at risk.

So in summary, I urge you to vote against ALL gun regulations everywhere anytime. The criminals won’t obey. And, the law abiding, who would, aren’t the problem.

Now, would you like to talk about the “drug war”? Would you believe it too is (a) un Constitutional; (b) immoral; (c) ineffective; and (d) inefficient.

If you have to make laws, make them limiting government. You guys don’t even fasten your own seat belts, but make us.

*** begin quote ***

New Jersey Update On Gun Ban Legislation!

On Thursday, May 10, the New Jersey Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee decided to take no action on Assembly Bill 3494, sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-6) and Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-18). A3494 would drastically raises all firearm license and permit fees and would allow the Superintendent of State Police the discretion to annually reconsider fees for a manufacturer or dealer license, a carry permit, the firearms purchase I.D. (FID), and the pistol purchase permits.The committee also voted 4 to 2 to amend Assembly Bill 3998, sponsored by Assemblymen Reed Gusciora (D-15), Michael Panter (D-12), and Robert Gordon (D-38), which would ban the possession of all .50 BMG rifles by declaring such items to be a destructive device.

*** end quote ***

# # #

We’ll see if it makes a difference. I’m not hopeful.

# # # # #


YAHOO ANSWER: new blog … better

Monday, May 14, 2007

*** begin quote ***

I have a new blog…which are things I can do to make it better??

*** end quote ***

You might want to ditch the pop unders. Most people have them blocked and they make you look like a used car salesman. The site has a hodge podge of add ins down the right side that I found distracting. You might want to review the various A list bloggers, who blog on blogging. The first thing that caught my eye was that you don’t have you own domain. (neither did I at first) That’s something you need if you ever want to move, control your content, or own the “word” on the net.

# # # # #


LIBERTY: You are the homegrown terrorist threat

Monday, May 14, 2007

http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/05/13/
you-are-the-homegrown-terrorist-threat/

http://tinyurl.com/25aoc7

You are the homegrown terrorist threat
By Michael Hampton on Virginia

***Begin Quote***

Ogre also put together a nice interactive quiz which you can use to determine if you are a domestic terrorist. I scored a 70, which apparently means there’s a cell with my name on it in Guantanamo Bay.

***End Quote***

The test is at:

http://www.quizilla.com/score/display.php?item_id=4833864

and I scored a 65%.

I guess I’ll be picked up right after Senor Hampton. I’m reminded of the poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemoller.

*** begin quote ***

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

*** end quote ***

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Niem%C3%B6ller

Speak up now or forever hold your piece.

# # # # #


YAHOO ANSWER: Wireless Limited Connectivity

Monday, May 14, 2007

*** begin quote ***

Wireless Limited Connectivity/ Local Access Only???

the last few days every time I try to use any public internet connection that previously worked fine….my computer will connect only with limited connectivity or local access. any tips? also I get the message “connecting to the network is taking longer than usual” sometimes when I try. If I run diagnostics it either says resetting the adapter might help or it says there is no problem OR it says cannot ping dns server (remote host). the wierd thing is no matter what public server I try it wont work. help!!

*** end quote ***

You didn’t say what OS you were running but let’s assume some version of Windoze XP. If not, please ignore what follows. WXP has a component called WirelessZeroConfig. When WXP “loses its mind” about wireless network restarting this service sometimes help. I have also had success in uninstalling the networking interface, and other “stuff” and letting WXP “rediscover” it all again. One tip. Always reboot COLD (i.e., power completely off for five minutes. not 4:59) TWICE (i.e., no joke two completely down cycles). Some times WXP needs a good enema to clean itself out. When I help colleagues, coworkers, or others with connectivity issues, I like to have a “dork” (i.e., a plain old working system so I know it’s not the network, but it’s the platform I’m working on that has the problem) with me. At home, I have an ancient thinkpad that barely runs WXP to be my “dork” when I have real problems on my real notebook. Hope this helps.

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RANT: Staples website only works with IE

Monday, May 14, 2007

Lost me as a customer. I don’t do IE.


JOBSEARCH: Your resume is NOT your UVP

Monday, May 14, 2007

FROM AN EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH A NEW TURKEY

***Begin Quote***

Your resume is NOT your UVP.

The resume is an expression of your Unique Sales Proposition.

I believe that your UVP is a distillation of your elevator speech. It’s what you can uniquely do that is of value to you, and someone who will pay you.

For example, my UVP is that “I solve complex technical and business problems in large scale IT infrastructures.” That’s not on any resume, but that’s the message.

See the diff? (welcome to the big turkey’s vision of the world).

I like seekers to have one simple declarative sentence.

In marketing they teach product should “own a word”. Volvo safety. Cheerios Ohhs. Goodyear tires. Goodrich not-Goodyear. You get the idea. In jobsearch, I teach seekers to have at least one sentence that expresses their value to anyone.

In TurkeyLand, the process goes:

  • First you discover all / most / some of your Value Propositions. (I have pages of them; blogging ain’t one of them!)
  • Then, you refine them to UNIQUE VPs (i.e., Anyone can flip burgers).
  • Then, you sort them by how marketable they are, how saleable they are (note there is a BIG difference), and/or how interesting they are to you.
  • You, then, develop how you “market” / “sell” it (i.e., find the target audience & the sales proposition).
  • Finally, you develop the collateral material like resumes and cover letters and other stuff that support the USP.

OK, that’s how it is done in “turkey land”. In the real world, how do you do it?

***End Quote***

I cleaned it up for general consumption, but that was the thrust.


TECHNOLOGY: My 5 reasons to start a Blog

Sunday, May 13, 2007

http://www.lytebyte.com/2007/05/12/link-o-byte-4/

Link O! Byte cited

***Begin Quote***

http://www.whoismadhur.com/2007/05/10/top-5-reasons-to-start-a-blog/

Top 5 reasons to start a Blog

For all the people who are still reading blogs and still wondering whether to start a blog or not, Madhur has listed Top 5 reasons why you should be starting a blog.

***End Quote***

People bandy the word “top” around a lot. If one had “research”, “evidence”, or “facts”, then I wouldn’t be writing this. What the blooger had was really “His Top 5 reasons”. No research, evidence, or facts to substantiate that title.

So, I’ll just give my opinion which is just as valid. Maybe less so, since no one reads me, except 3 relatives and 3 friends. (Yes, I have three friends — OLDEST, OLDER, and just OLD!) Oh, and yeah, that nice spammer who keeps placing all those excellent comments wanting to enlarge a body part that polite people don’t discuss. (Think he will get the idea since ZERO of his comments have slipped thru moderation. Has to be a bot; no one is that persistently annoying. Not even me! Even so, running a bot has to cost something.)

My Top Five Reasons To Start A Blog

(5) You have nothing else to do. Just as “a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money”, so to “a blog is just a hole in the internet into which you throw time”. (Made that up all by myself!)

(4) You think that you can earn a buck drawing readers and selling advertising.

(3) You can sell your version of the “great american invention” for 19.99 if people would just listen.

(2) You can have that next great job served to you on a silver platter when an employer read your witty insightful drek.

(1) If the Universe is truly one song, then you want to sing yours in such a way that it is never lost. Each of us has unique insights that we have a moral obligation to pass along. Sort of like the frozen mountain climber’s body on Everest warning the next climber of danger. The internet is the closest thing to immortality that we’ll ever have. The pharos had their pyramids. The Eskimos had their totem poles. We have blogs. Your words will live forever,

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MONEY: Panama Has Thrived Without A Central Bank

Sunday, May 13, 2007

http://www.masternewmedia.org/information_access/
central-bank-federal-reserve/panama-has-no-central-bank-20070512.htm

http://tinyurl.com/25db5o

May 12, 2007
The Federal Reserve – Who Needs It? How Panama Has Thrived Without A Central Bank
David Saied is head of National Public Policy for the Government of Panama
and also directs the National Competitiveness Program.

***Begin Quote***

The Federal Reserve is America’s Central Bank, owned by an unnamed corporate cartel, given a license to print money, and holding significant sway over the national government and economy. If it were dissolved tomorrow, the average tax-payer would doubtless be a lot better off. But we couldn’t do that, could we?

The Republic of Panama has managed just fine without a Central Bank for over a hundred years, and in actual fact, if you compare the rate of inflation between Panama and the USA over the last twenty years, Panama comes out a lot better off every step of the way.

***End Quote***

I’m just an injineer; not one of them there highly educated highly compensated ekkynonnymists. BUT, it seems to me, that you are tying yourself to the USA Federal Reserve Bank Note and the rate that they choose for inflation. That “tying” can become a hangman’s noose when “helicopter ben” starts dropping FRBNies from the sky. ALSO, it would seem that shifting from the “US Dollar”, which is really the FRBN not a real Constitutional Dollar, to a gold / silver standard for a Panamanian currency could make you the darling of all the gold bugs in the world. A national currency redeemable in gold might well be a great growth industry. But then, I’m just an injineer.

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LINKEDIN: My “granfalloon” won a prize in the recent “group hug” about LinkedIn

Sunday, May 13, 2007

http://www.linkedintelligence.com/smart-ways-to-use-linkedin-prize-winners/

May 13th, 2007
Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn – Prize Winners

*** begin quote ***

I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn Group Blogging Project, and especially the people who stepped up and donated over $4,000 in prizes. I was overwhelmed by your generosity. It enabled the start of what I hope will become a valuable resource for all LinkedIn users

*** end quote ***

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And I commented
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reinkefj
May 13, 2007 at 5:27 am

Thanks. It’s always nice to “win”, BUT I think the real winners are:

(1) all the people got new ideas;

(2) all the people who showed themselves to be the generous experts they are; AND

(3) YOU for creating a new paradigm. (I call it “rally a group hug” with prizes.)

Even a grizzled big fat old turkey, like me, learned some “new tricks”, as well as some interesting new ideas.

Only time will tell if those ideas “were actioned”, but they are out there forever for the taking.

And, in some sense, there are future readers who have “won” by having a “blazed path” to follow in exploiting LinkedIn.

Thanks for pulling this together. Do it again next month? :-)
fjohn

p.s., Is there a “wining” logo? (Yeah, I know. What an ego!)

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But I was really hoping my “dog” would be awarded “best in show”! I thought it was one of my best posts. And I was hoping for a kool logo. But, I’m a “winner”. ;-) And I can make my own medal.

medal-purple-150