Sunday, February 22, 2009
Top 10 tools for landing a better job
From the first Google search to the last interview, you can boost your odds at landing a better job with the right preparation. Here are our ten best tools and tips for job-seekers and career climbers.
Surviving a tough boss
Calling your boss a monster and blaming him for all that is wrong with your life may be recreational and even therapeutic, but it does nothing to improve your situation. Only clear-headed strategy and a defined set of tactics will do that.
Should you stay?
In my nearly 15 years of dealing with workplace issues I’ve had a number of people complain about their boss, but rarely has it come to the point where a worker is completely distraught and feeling trapped. If that’s where you are my initial advice is to change jobs.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Facebook Error Check System - it's a worm, don't install it!
It seems that the application is definately NOT made by Facebook.
Reports suggest it is in fact a self-replicating worm that once installed automatically sends a notification to all of your friends saying that you have encountered errors in their profile, and to “Click here to view the errors”..
If they then install it repeats the process ….. and so the worm spreads!
You profile does not in fact have errors on it and is working fine.
It’s unsure what damage the application could do but there is potential that it could collect information about you and your friends from your profile or do any sort of damage to the info you have on Facebook.
I guess it’s likely to be removed by Facebook shortly anyway, but in the meantime …….
Friday, February 20, 2009
29 tech phrases you should be punched in the face for using
We're told that if you give a million monkeys a million typewriters, they'd create the works of Shakespeare - but what would you end up with if you threw a million typewriters at a monkey?
The internet shows us the answer: perfectly good phrases are replaced with rubbish, grown-ups talk like toddlers, and business bullshit is everywhere.
In an ideal world, anybody using these expressions would be punched in the face by their PC; for now, we'll have to make do with mocking them instead.
Save $
Okay, there are some good ideas here. But there are also some bad ideas. Here's my take on these
1 - Stock up on supermarket sales
- Okay, this one is not bad. But don't go buying stuff you won't eat/use. Take advantage of sales when they are actually selling something you eat/use.
2 - Increase your auto insurance deductibles
- Cheaper still, don't have a car - save hundreds of dollars per month - get a bicycle/take transit... (of course, if you live in the country, then their suggestion here makes sense.)
3 - Stop buying bottled water
- If you must get cleaner water (and most bottled water is NOT cleaner than tap water), buy a filter system - it's still cheaper than bottled water overall.
4 - Downgrade your cable plan
- get rid of your cable altogether and/or your tv - download tv shows via the internet and watch them on your computer
5 - Rediscover your Library (instead of constantly buying books)
- Not a bad idea. Or exchange books with friends and family
6 - Switch to a prepaid cell phone
- Unless you use the cell phone for only a couple of emergency calls per month, it makes sense to use a prepaid plan.
7 - Use bargain printer ink
- Or not. Using bargain printer ink can foul up your printer and end up costing more than the printer is worth to get it repaired. Stick with the manufacturer's ink, but shop around for the best deal on it.l
8 - Cancel your landline
- Or not. VOIP quality and reliability is still sketchy. A basic landline account with Bell is still inexpensive and the most reliable in service.
9 - Buy restaurant coupons
- Or, better yet, cut back on going to restaurants, period.
10 - Give your razor blades some TLC
- Buy an electric razor - lasts for years
11 - And not mentioned in their article - STOP TAKING SO MANY CABS!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Atheist bus ads in Ottawa - Update
Ottawa has joined two other cities--Victoria and Halifax--in an Axis of Benightedness.* The decision has been made: no atheist ads on our buses.
...
UPDATE: (February 18) The Ottawa City Council Transit Committee has met. By a vote of 3 to 3, and for want of a majority, Councillor Alex Cullen's motion to permit atheist advertising on buses was defeated. On the side of the angels--so to speak--were Councillors Cullen, George Bedard and Jacques Legendre. The knuckle-draggers who prevailed were Rainer Bloess, Doug Thompson and Marianne Wilkinson.
The matter is going to the full City Council on March 11.
Farewell Spider - help raise money for the funeral
If you want to know more, and/or want to donate to help with the funeral costs, visit this site.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Researchers close to decoding what makes viruses so hard to kill
This week researchers announce that they've created a perfect reproduction of a virus shell (pictured). That's the ultra-tough outer layer found on most viruses that allows them to drill into cells and reproduce.
Americans say "Investigate Bush"
Rumsfeld Knew His Guys Were Torturing People to Death, Which Is a Serious Crime
Apple trying to make modifying the iPone illegal
APPLE IS TRYING TO MAKE the act of modifying the Iphone operating system to allow the installation of third party software illegal.
...The EFF offers interesting analogy: "Ford might tell us that, for our own safety, all servicing should be done by an authorized Ford dealer using only genuine Ford parts. Toyota might say that swapping your engine could reduce the reliability of your car. And Mazda could say that those who throw a supercharger on their MX5s frequently exceed the legal speed limit.
"But we'd never accept this corporate paternalism as a justification for welding every car bonnet shut and imposing legal liability on car buffs tinkering in their garages.
Cell phones to get one universal charger - finally!
An initiative backed by both mobile phone manufacturers and operators will result in a universal charger based on the Micro-USB interface for new mobile phones.
No more bottled water
Many people believe that bottled water is safer than tap water. The fact is that this is simply not the truth. If you are still using bottled water, please read this. It’s a great list of “12 solid reasons to kick the bottled water habit;” put together by the GoodHuman.com. (Thanks GoodHuman.com!)
Still Hell in Gaza
Funny how the western media has totally moved on from Gaza. And yet, for those who are still in the thick of it, the only difference seems to be the particular flavour of hell they're living in.
Yes, the tanks have retreated and the aerial bombardment has ceased. They're still getting shelled from the sea, bombed by drones and shot at from the border, of course. And the Israelis have suddenly decided that their previous arbitrary 300m "buffer zone" was woefully inadequate and have now arbitrarily expanded it to a full kilometre - all on the Gaza side of the border, of course.
This, in a country that is only 6-7 kilometres wide along much of its length.
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