JOBSEARCH: Building value on Facebook

Monday, December 22, 2008

So, you’re on Facebook and you have dotcomeraden! (https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/10/23/fun-dotcomeraden)

Big deal!

What can you do on Facebook that is UNIQUE and helps your “facebook friends”?

Remember before anyone is motivated to do something for you (e.g., tell you about your perfect job they heard about; email you encouragement when you’re in a rough patch; just send you the latest joke; write you a LinkedIn recommendation; not “defriend”” you), you have to do something for them!

So, here’s an idea.

Facebook tells you every day, who among your dotcomeraden has a birthday. Send them an “hb”.

AND!

If you have dotcomeraden on Facebook who share a birthday, send them a message, a “you should be friends” Facebook option.

Here’s what I send:

*** begin quote ***

Best wishes on your mutual day.

I always thought birthdays were a great way to setup a granfalloon — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon — strange idea. A very important concept in “job search”. I’ve sent you connection suggestions of some “sharers”.

This is a Robbie Burns message. You know the gift to see ourselves as others see us. Facebook tells me that you share the day; it doesn’t tell you. Here’s a gift. A networking stretching weird one.

Nota Bene: They did say that “opportunity” knocks. What they did NOT tell you was what you’d find when you opened the door. It’s a great free offer requiring nothing more from you but to be open to something new. What throws you off, in this case, is that “opportunity” is disguised as a fat old man with strange ideas. ROFL!!!

fjohn

*** end quote ***

It’s a modest effort to build a community.

Even if I’m not elligible to be in it. Not sharing the same birthday, that is.

I’m hoping that in the coming months that one of my many “birthday grandfalloon” attempts tells me that they have “encircled” and had positive results (i.e., partied at the half-year point, made real friendships, exchanged “help” of whatever kind, or such!)

That’s why I’m doing the “birthday gathering chore” each morning.

:-)

Yeah, I know, get a life.

But what have you DONE to build value for your dotcomeraden on Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, or such.

At least I’ve found one small thing.

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HARDWARE: Seagate reduces warranty from 5 to 3 years. Bad move!

Monday, December 22, 2008

http://www.plaxo.com/events/show/120404522

Lockergnome Blog Network]

Chris Pirillo posted a blog entry

Seagate’s New Warranty Policy – Who Are They Kidding?

*** begin quote ***

Reported this morning on ZDNet, the Seagate company will be changing its warranty policy on many drives, beginning January, 3, 2009. The statement from the company gives a figure of only 5 % of the failures occurring in their drives between years 3 and 5 of service.

This may be so, but if it is, it shows a policy that has been decided by people who know little about perceived value and human psychology.

In many cases today, a choice between a Seagate drive and a drive, of equal size, from Western Digital or Hitachi is possible. I don’t really consider Fujitsu or Samsung drives here, as they are not widely available, or well known to the average consumer. Seagate and Western Digital are the heavy hitters here, and many don’t know the name Hitachi, and are slightly more comfortable when told that Hitachi is really what had been sold for years as IBM-branded product. In a $75 to $175 purchase, the difference of 5 to 10 dollars is hardly worth worrying about, and many times the drives are sold at equal prices.

What then, affects the decision process?

*** end quote ***

Seagate blew this one. They’ve reverted to the competition. Now the only differentiator is price. That means that disk drives are a cheap commodity. Cheapest price.

How stupid!

Sell that stock!

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JOBSEARCH: Evaluating your network’s “strength”

Sunday, December 21, 2008

http://personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/top-5-personal-branding-tips-for-recent-graduates/

200812091752.jpg

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RANT: Migratory Bird Act of 1918?

Saturday, December 20, 2008

“XXXXXX school in XXXXXX owns a bird collection of 300 species including several endangered species like a Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle and Eskimo Curlew. The collection was donated to the school in 1963. Is the school in violation of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918?”

Repeal the 1918 law? Isn’t there a statute of limitations.

Argh!

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QUOTE: Gooferment always gets bigger! “the ratchet effect”

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Underappreciated aspects of the ratchet effect
Liberty & Power
by Robert Higgs

“I have always insisted that modern government has many facets and that, at minimum, a study of its growth must consider not only government spending (or taxing or employing), but also the government’s scope and power. Changes in these latter aspects of government do not leave the same kind of easily retrieved record, or numerical data set, that economists typically work with — and without which they are more or less at sea, or in denial. Over the many years that I have pursued my research into the growth of government, I have repeatedly met with evidence of essential elements of the ratchet effect that lie completely beyond the purview of conventional economic research on this subject.” (12/16/08)

http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/58352.html

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[JR: Every gooferment actions, law, or program needs a SUNSET date!]

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FUN: irregardless

Friday, December 19, 2008

“Do you fix misspelled menus? Correct your girlfriend’s grammar? Cringe every time someone says “supposably” or “nucular”? Has this obsessive behavior ever gotten you in trouble (i.e., dumped, fired, or arrested for defacing public property?).”

No, but when I was hot under the collar about a room reservation screw up, I did roast a hotel clerk’s tail feathers over the word “ilregardless”. Every once and while my Luddite friend uses it. We all laff.

But, I’m not sure he was joking?

(Are you?)

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INTERESTING: Winthrop 27, Georgia Tech 65

Friday, December 19, 2008

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/womens-basketball/recap?gid=200812180232&prov=ap

What do you think when you see a big powerhouse team “beating up on little kids”?

I’m a mix of conflicting emotions. Having graduated from a small Catholic college with a proud basketball tradition, I’ve seen “the team” get thrashed. It has convinced me that NCAA basketball isn’t about basketball, school pride, student athletes, or even achievement.

It’s about the money honey!

And, the self-delusion that that there is any affinity between a bunch of ringers and the student body.

We over-look the damage done when big time basketball or football schools “graduate” functional illiterates. Basket weaving 101? And, all the tutoring, accommodations, and sometimes fraud that goes into the “game”.

Nope, it’s time to learn some very hard lessons:

(1) It’s all about semi-government organizations (i.e., schools that are fund largely by involuntary taxation) that have “feathered their own nests” by fooling students and alumni.

(2) It’s the football and basketball version of Major League Baseball’s minor league. WIthout the honesty of paying the players, and without puncturing the illusion that the “team” is anything more than it is.

(3) It does NOTHING to improve ourselves, our families, or our societies. People some how feel that if the “home town” team wins it reflects well upon them. This nonsense distracts us from other performance issues that do reflect upon us.

(4) I often refer to “millionaires playing for billionaires” in my posts on taxpayer funded stadiums. Nothing seems more ABSURD than when someone refers to a PRO team as “theirs”. I fall back to the old joke: “if it’s mine, can I sell it?”. (This also applies to “my government”, “my schools”, “my town”, “my state”, “my country”, or “my world”. In life, there is very very little that is truly “mine”. (See rants on full and partial slavery by “your government”!)

(5) We need a shift in memes and paradigms. One thing that blogging on the internet does is to cause those shifts.

IMHO!

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SERVICE: “TRIBUTES” emerges from beta with search still broken!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Begin forwarded message:

From: “Tributes.com” <info@tributes-mail.com>
Date: December 18, 2008 5:20:49 PM EST
Subject: Tributes.com – Member Update

Dear Tributes Member,

The end of September marked the formal launch of Tributes.com as our site exited its testing phase and went into full production to serve families and funeral homes across the U.S. by providing the national resource on the Internet for obituary news and lasting personal tributes.

As we work to consolidate obituary news from across the country onto a single national platform, more and more people are looking to Tributes.com as a reliable place to locate service and condolence information so that they never miss the opportunity to grieve with family and friends. Obituary Alerts also ensure that you receive notification by email of any obituaries that are posted to our site for people from a particular city or town, family, school, or military unit.

Lasting Tributes to Remember Loved Ones

For those of you that have recently lost a special person or would like to remember someone that passed away months, or even years ago, we now offer a robust suite of interactive tools to help create lasting online tributes that appropriately tell the rich stories of our loved ones’ lives. You can now choose from multiple tribute offerings to create a lasting tribute, capturing and preserving special memories for generations to come. Tributes include:

Unlimited copy

Photo slideshows

Interactive memory books

Music & Video support

Custom templates

Create a tribute for your loved ones who have passed away

We take great pride at Tributes in being an important resource for our users and always are interested in your comments and feedback.

Best Regards,

Elaine Haney

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Search for “manhattan college” still doesn’t work! Argh!!

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President, Tributes.com

Tributes.com • 1 First Avenue, First Floor • Charlestown, MA • 02129

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MONEY: 401Ks have an a few drawbacks imho

Thursday, December 18, 2008

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/12/16/how-much-does-the-stock-market-actually-return

Yes, You Can Achieve Financial Independence
How Much Does the Stock Market Actually Return?
Tuesday, 16th December 2008 (by J.D.)   
This article is about Investing

*** begin quote ***

The recent market turmoil has the naybirds out in force, and they’re decrying the long-term viability of stocks. I think this is nonsense. Though I try not to be dogmatic around here, today is an exception. Today I am going to sing the praises of the stock market.

{Extraneous Deleted}

*** end quote ***

[TO WHICH I REPLIED!]

I too recognize that the stock market is the pnly casino in town. I too would point out Japan and inflation. Both cause by the government. Like the laws of thermodynamics about entropy, you can’t win and you can’t leave the game! Only solution is work, diversify, and yell at your congress critter every chance you get! imho.

[and later]

# Ellie Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

*** begin quote ***

I’m about to enter the workforce for the first time, and you bet your behind that I’m taking all the 401K match my employeer is going to throw at me (100% of the 1st one percent, 50% of the next 5%). At my age (22), the stock market isn’t even a gamble. Its a discount store with huge store-wide sales. I’m putting every extra penny in the stock market, and I know I’m going to get huge returns for this!

*** end quote ***

# reinkefj Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

@Ellie: While IN PRINCIPLE, I agree with a 22 year old going whole hog on the 401k up to the match. It’s like “free money”.

HOWEVER, I would caution some exceptions that might temper that “advice”:

(1) an Enron-like 401k where you have to take 100% company stock and your locked in for eons. There were many horror stories out of that debacle that you should study.

(2) Investment options that are horrendous. High fees. Limited choices. Private label funds. Incestuous relationship between the company and the 401k provider. I have heard many sad tales of woe where the employee lost their money and suffered from terrible ROIs.

(3) Any “fishiness” with respect to all the hands involved in the transactions. I’d be looking for SPIC or such insurance and what the LIMITS are. SIPC of 300k on a million dollar 401K ain’t good enough.

(4) Labels on choices that may or may not reflect the underlying investments. I’ve seen “fixed income” that was leveraged; small caps that had options in the portfolio; a bond fund that was leveraged and optioned.

(5) Unit trusts, annuities, insurance “products” in the “401K”. No joke, I’ve seen an annuity with its cruddy load 2% mutual funds advanced as “required” for a 401k. (I called a friend at the SEC on that one.)

In summary, there is a POLITICAL risk in 401Ks now. The congresscritters are talking about “taking” them in exchange for an “enhanced” Social Security benefit. I think this would cause blood in the streets, but never underestimate the perfidy of a politicain who thinks there is money to be “stolen”!

So, proceed, but remember the old psuedo-Russian movie proverb, “trust but verify”. So I say to you: “Trust but verify”!

The market is a crooked casino. But it’s the only game around for you.

May I also plug my formula: “Success for your generation is: (1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you; (3) a white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open; (6) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.”

Hope this helps … … everyone.

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PRODUCTIVITY: Leaders empower their people

Thursday, December 18, 2008

http://execunet.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-email-of-day-award.html  

Tuesday, December 09, 2008
The Best Email of the Day Award

*** begin quote ***

…Goes to Peter Clayton, producer/host of Total Picture Radio. It needs no further commentary from me as it eloquently speaks for itself. Good on ‘ya Peter.

“Capital goes where it’s welcome and stays where it’s well treated.” Walter B. Wriston

Dear Dave,

When “The Citi Never Sleeps” ad campaign was first launched in 1978, Walter Wriston was running the place, and the motto had real meaning. Wriston was highly regarded, as was the institution he lead. Citibank / Citicorp was a cherished brand by its employees and a respected competitor in the financial services industry. Citibank had a unique, authentic, brand identity

*** and ***

According to David, “82% of shareholder value is intangible.” According to John, one-third of all shareholder value is attributed to “brand.
“So here’s an idea I’d like your help with: If we could find 24,000 Citibank employees willing to donate $10 each into a fund to “keep the trains running,” it might give the employees of this beleaguered institution something to be proud of, and smile about. I bet through Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing, and Facebook we could mobilize enough Citibankers to take up the cause. Next year, the Holiday Trains at Citigroup Center exhibit could be “In memory of Walter B. Wriston.” The fund could be set-up as an old-fashioned “Christmas Savings Account.”
*** end quote ***

Dave always finds the great challenging ideas. Worth every nickel of my free RSS subscription.
It is clear that the current crop of “leaders” isn’t worth the power to blow them over. Poof! They’re gone. Gone; absconding with the salary, bonus, options, perks, and benefits. (I laffed at the Ford guy taking a $1/year! If the Congress MYOBed and Ford had to do Chapter 11, he could wave “bye” to his stock and options.)
It’s sad that “leaders” are so dishonest.
The time of large corporations is so OVER!
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