Instantaneous audience polling was perhaps the most interesting (and certainly the most geeky) aspect of last night's debate. With my mouth agape, I watched with fascination as the networks used instant audience polling to gauge the reaction of the undecided. It was an eye-opener (as well as a jaw-dropper). Technological advances--whether it be wireless transmission of data or real-time charting--have brought audience polling to the forefront of the hair-trigger world in which we live ...
We might be accustomed to audience polling as part of an interactive game show, seminar, or classroom setting, but of a political event?
Now that's entertainment!
The audience response companies claim that their polling systems provide instant feedback. After seeing last night's display, I can't dispute that fact. When the undecided act as public lab rats--televised for all to see--the electorate can shift in many ways.
If your company is considering the purchase of an audience response system, you may want to check into the economics of rental, as well. Audience polling companies include Audience Response Solutions, Genieve Systems, Meridia, Padgett Communications, Reply Systems, TCM Communications, Vistacom, and many others.
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) isn’t just a nicety these days; it’s a necessity. Take a look at the power cables running behind your desk. Are they all plugged into a cheesy power strip that’s masquerading as a surge suppressor? Or do you have an honest-to-goodness uninterruptible power supply? If you’re lucky enough to have a real uninterruptible power supply, do you know how long will it last in the event of a power failure?
It's important to size your uninterruptible power supply to the equipment it supports. If the UPS is too small, you will have precious little time to safely shut down your computer. While I like to think the bigger the better, I know all too well that it's the budget that often dictates the purchase decision. (That having been said, I'd be in heaven with a big UPS to feed all of the computer gear in my office.)
You should resist the temptation to plug everything into the battery backup outlets of your UPS. The less drain you put on the batteries, the longer they will last. Try to keep it to the minimum of just the monitor and the computer itself.
The batteries in an uninterruptible power supply will not last indefinitely. (I've had a few go south on me over the years.) That's why you should periodically test the UPS to make sure that the batteries are still functioning. While some models may have alarms to warn of a failing battery, others may not.
When the uninterruptible power supply battery finally does give up the ghost, you may be able to replace it, depending on the model and manufacturer. The better UPS manufacturers will offer a battery exchange program, allowing you to send in your old battery. And like soon to be jailbird Martha says, "that's a good thing." Battery disposal is a non-trivial matter. You shouldn't ever consider throwing a great big UPS battery in the trash--the last place it should land is a landfill.
Enterprise instant messaging has killer app potential. Faster than a phone call, more personal than an email, business instant messaging can be hard to resist. But it hasn't been a slam dunk (and it can't leap a tall building in a single bound). Although IM spread like wildfire through the Internet, it took ages for the business world to see the advantages afforded by the medium. So what makes enterprise instant messaging different from vanilla IM?
Enterprise instant messaging -- through the use of an in-house server -- ensures that those corporate secrets remain corporate secrets. The "great unwashed" (as a former boss of mine used to say) can't overrun your fortress. The party is within your walls, and only the invited can come in ...
Not surprisingly, authentication and security are key factors. Enterprise instant messaging systems typically use the authentication systems already in place within the corporation. InstantMessagingPlanet.com recommends that "If you have such a system, Microsoft's Active Directory or Novell's Directory Services, for example, make sure that the EIM system you implement can interface with them." Security should be accomplished through the use of encryption and other measures.
As the developers will surely say, high-end enterprise instant messaging is more than just simple chat. Real time business instant messaging comes in many forms. Codespear's SmartMSG focuses on "smart urgent messaging" to provide a channel for emergency broadcast, for instant one-to-many communications. Polycom's WebOffice weaves instant messaging into a framework that incldues audio and video conferencing.
There's nothing better than a fog machine for setting the right mood on Halloween night. With the proper fog machine, you can turn your humble abode into a spooky haunt to scare and delight. Making fog doesn't have to be a mystery. You just need to fill your fog machine with juice, plug it in, and letterip ... 1313 Mockingbird Lane never had it so good! If you're thinking about making a bunch of fog, read on ...
Fog machines operate by heating fog juice (which typically consists of glycol and water). It's pretty basic stuff. Turn it on, the juice heats up, and presto ... fog.
There's a fog machine for every budget. You can find some of the least expensive fog machines at party stores and the like. The better fog machines are typically carried at stage lighting and DJ suppliers.
Fog machines are often rated based upon their fog output, as described in the number of cubic feet per minute.
A basic fog machine might start at $75 or under. The professional units can top $1000. The lower-priced units may come with wired remote controls. Some of the higher-priced fog machines can be outfitted with wireless remotes. Miniaturized foggers are among the most expensive.
Dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) is another option for the fog-obsessed. If you go the dry ice route, be sure to take the proper precautions--this stuff is super cold and can cause you great harm and discomfort if it touches your skin directly. Don't touch it, and for Pete's sake, don't taste or swallow it.
Proper ventilation is essential for both conventional fog machines and dry ice installations.
dryiceinfo.com has lots of cool (cough) info on fun with frozen carbon dioxide (including making fog, of course). gotfog.com is a great resource for using fog machines for Halloween.
GPS tracking is an inspiring technology. Of course, it can inspire hope or fear, depending on your situation. Sure, you can be found, but hey, you can be found out, too. Whether you're a teenager or professional trucker, GPS tracking lets big daddy (or big brother) know exactly where you are at any moment. GPS tracking systems can report the exact date, time and location, while providing data on vehicle speeds and the routes taken ...
Kind of scary stuff, if you think about it.
I began looking into GPS tracking technology while researching fleet management software earlier this month. I was amazed at what I turned up.
If you want to track a wayward spouse, child, or significant other, all you need to do is flash that plastic and you too can have your very own GPS vehicle tracking system. A vehicle GPS tracking system can cost anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on the specifications. Install the gear into their car surreptitiously and, holy cow, it's better (or worse) than having eyes on the back of your head.
But it gets even crazier then that.
You don't even have to buy and install GPS tracking equipment.
If the person you want to track uses a Motorola i830, i710, i730, i88s or i58sr cell phone on either the Nextel, Southern LINC, or TELUS Mobility networks, you can track them through their cell phone, via uLocate. The service will even send SMS messages or email when a cell phone enters or leaves a specified location. uLocate's GPS tracking service costs $10.95 for the first phone. GPS tracking on multiple phone accounts costs $7.95 per phone, up to ten phones.
If a loved one gives you one of those Motorola phones as a gift, remember to look it in the mouth.
And check out this news.com article, on GPS
tracking, too ...
With a surveillance system, you'll never have to ask the question, "who's at the door?" Place a camera at your front stoop and you'll be able to tell if it's the UPS guy delivering your spiffy new hardware or an annoying door-to-door salesman (or worse). Why surveillance systems are even better than having a pair of eyes in the back of your head! Thankfully, it's never been easier to put together a custom surveillance system ...
Surveillance systems come in all shapes and sizes. While a simple surveillance system might consist of just one security camera and a monitor or PC, high-end systems can get quite complex, with multiple cameras feeding a dedicated digital video recorder (DVR). You can get started for less then a hundred bucks. But if you want to go high-end, get ready to peel off the c-notes.
There's a staggering array of security cameras in both wired and wireless varieties. Although there's certainly something to be said for a big obvious camera, stealth is often the way to go. With the tiniest models the size of a coin, it's not tough to be stealth. Of course, tough is important, too ... you'll find a wide range of vandal resistant domes, from relatively inexpensive black and white fixed single-lens models through beefy dual sensor designs.
Need something to handle low-light or infrared night vision? No sweat. Want to pan, tilt and zoom? You're covered.
We all know that VCRs are passe these days. It's the same case in the surveillance world. Time lapse VCRs might have their place, but DVRs are standard issue on state-of-the-art surveillance systems.
While the surveillance system in your humble abode or business might not rival that of one of Steve Wynn's casinos, you'll still want to be able to geek out for the neighborhood, right? Go for the DVR and you'll capture all of the action ... even if it's just the postman or your neighbor's dog.
Have you ever wanted to run a background check on someone? Perhaps an odd neighbor, new suitor, or potential babysitter? Running a background check isn't tough these days. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, you can dig up that dirt with a handful of clicks. If something just doesn't seem right, you don't have to sit and wonder. Flash that plastic and run all the background checks your heart desires (and credit line permits) ...
Background checks can provide a host of information, including: criminal records, marriage records, divorce records, legal proceedings, lawsuits, liens, and bankruptcies. You can find out where someone has lived (and under what names), who they owe, and what they own.
Given the extend of information available to anyone through a background check, I'm not sure that George Orwell would be proud, but he might just say "I told ya so."
I've never personally run a background check on anyone. But I know people that have. It's an eye-opener.
Nothing quite speaks to the crazy paranoid Internet-connected world that we live in like the popularity of the online background check. There are scores of companies that exist solely to provide the background information that inquiring minds want to know. While simple reports can start at $10, the price quickly goes up depending on the type and volume of information required.
If you need to run a report on someone, be sure to use a company that specializes in providing the specific information you need (ie: if you're a landlord, look for a company that provides tenant checks). You'll also do well to check out the background check company before you plunk down your cash ... look closely for solid references and proper accreditation.
I've always had a bizzare fascination with the production of infomercials. Bizzare in that while I try to make a habit of not watching infomercials, I still find myself drawn in to the drone. Over the years, infomercial production has been elevated to an art. Why just the other day, I found myself watching the grand master, Ron Popiel, hawking his latest gizmo, in a triumph of infomercial production values. I was mezmerized before I knew it ...
It was early in the morning. As I walked by the television -- which happened to be left on all night (again) -- my eyes were drawn to a rotating roast beef. Popiel's voice drew me into the the rotisserie. I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee, but I began, like Pavlov's dog, to salivate. The thought of dinner permiated my feeble early morning brain. Popiel's infomercial production house had done its job oh-so-well.
Infomercial production houses specialize in taking high margin products to market. The Electronic Retailing Association says that "The general rule of thumb is that you'll want at least a 4:1 mark up between the cost of goods, and the selling price." If you plan on selling your geeky new high-tech product at the magic $19.95, it better not cost you ten bucks to build.
While in the midst of researching what was to become The Complete Guide to Associate and Affiliate Programs on the Net, back in 1998, I thought "hey, this could either be a book or an infomercial." Well, being a writer, rather than a direct response marketer, I opted to go the traditional book route with McGraw-Hill.
Had I had the gumption to produce an infomercial, it would have been a different trip, to be sure. The book retailed for $19.99. My royalty, of course, was just a sliver of that.
I've run out of room in my garden shed. A new little shed would help handle the overflow. I have a substantial stack of railroad ties that I want to turn into a post and beam shed frame. The timbers were originally part of the front walk here at ranchero indebto. I removed the timbers last summer when we had the walk redone. Now I'm thinking that a post and beam frame would be the perfect way to solve two problems (1. get rid of that stack of timbers, and 2. build a new little shed without dropping anything on the framing lumber).
The trick will be in fastening the posts. It would be cool to experiment with some honest-to-goodness post-and-beam joinery. Alas, I don't have the tools for the job. Could this be yet another marvelous case for the job justifies the tools? :)
It seems that laser hair removal is a hot topic in New York right now. I became fascinated with the topic after seeing a smattering of advertisements from New York laser hair removal clinics. Those funny little ads always seem to catch my eye. It appears that NY women are using laser hair removal to defuzz their upper lips, underarms, and legs, while the NY guys are frequenting the laser hair removal clinics to permanently mow their backs and chests.
Lasers! Dr. Evil would be proud.
Are the beaches in New York that filled with hairy-backed guys? While I know a few candidates, I'm not sure that any of those guys would think about walking into a Manhattan laser hair removal joint. (At least they're not talking.)
Now that summer's over, and they've left the Hamptons, they'll have plenty of time to think about it.
I easily save hundreds of dollars a year by banking online. But it's not just about the money. It's about the quality of life. I hate to stand around waiting for a teller. I can't deal with bankers hours. Online banking lets me get my stuff done quickly and easily, at any hour of the day, on any day of the week. But the truth be told, I wasn't always a fan of online banking ...
My first experience with online banking was a dismal failure. This dates back to the earliest days of Internet banking. I signed up with an online bank and never got into the groove of using the account. The service fees ate away at the balance until I finally wised up and closed the account.
Half a dozen or so years later, I got back into the swing of things when my local bank began offering online banking. I was hooked instantaneously.
Now you might be thinking, "how the heck does he save hundreds of dollars a year by banking online?"
I start by saving on postage. While I don't pay all my bills online, I probably save ten first class stamps each month. Thirty-seven cents x 10 stamps X 12 months = $44.40 per year.
By using my online banking account to pay bills, I'm able to beat the clock. With credit card late charges hovering in the $35 a pop range, online bill payment is a lifesaver. Before I started banking online, those due dates seemed to loom all that much sooner. I reckon I've saved six of those $35 late charges by getting my payment in just under the wire. Six X $35 = $175.
As a happy consequence of online payments, I use far fewer checks. I can't recall how much each check costs, but 10 fewer checks x 12 months has to add up to something.
And then there's the balance thang.
Before I started banking online, I was terrible about balancing my checking account. Well, you know what happens when you write to a zero balance. Boof! The last time I looked at a bounced check fee, it was $15. I haven't seen one of those since I started using the online account. Lets be conservative and say I save two bounced check fees in a year. Two X $15 = $30.
Balancing my checkbook against the online account is a breeze, and brings me to one of my favorites ...
I drive to the bank a whole lot less these days. That's not a small issue with gasoline hovering around the $2 a gallon mark. How much gas do I save by not visiting the bank as often? That's hard to say, but I'd have to guess that it would be at least $2 per month x 12 months = $24.
Total it up and yep, I'm easily saving a couple of hundred bucks per year by banking online. woo hoo!
I want a massage chair. But not just any old massage chair. I want one that I can use as a desk chair and control with my computer. A hand held controller just won't do. I crave a totally programmable massage chair that I can tweak with a web interface. Imagine leaning back at your desk, feeling that familiar twang of pain, and instantly addressing the problem with a click. Could it get better then that?
The only way I could imagine it getting better then that is if I had a personal masseuse on call 24/7 (along with the requisite expense account). Seeing as how that has little chance of ever happening, the dream of a high-tech massage chair is a whole lot closer to reality.
My dream massage chair would have a bit of artificial intelligence built-in. The web interface would ask me exactly where my pain was located and how it felt (ie: dull, sharp, or massive). It would suggest a number of alternative massage therapies. Then I'd pick a program and the massage chair would go to work. If that program didn't do the trick, I'd stop it with a click and the application would ask why and suggest an alternative course of action.
So why can't someone build a massage chair with a web interface? "If you nail two things together that have never been nailed together before," as George Carlin says, "some schmuck will buy it from you."
On those rare occasions when I'm dragged to a shopping mall, one of my favorite (and few) highlights is spending some time in the Brookstone and Sharper Image stores. I like the price of the comparatively inexpensive iJoy chair, alas it just just doesn't provide enough ooomph for my aching back.
Panasonic's Swede-Atsu massage chair looks like it provides a lot more ammunition, but it's their EP3202 Lounger that provides the closest approach to my dream; the remote control has a nice range of options. Alas, the purchase price exceeds that of my first three cars combined.
Why can't some brave venture capitalist see that what the world really needs is an affordable computer-controlled desk chair?
In the meantime, I'll dream on, lean back, and keep browsing for the ultimate massage chair ...
Point-of-sale (POS) software and hardware have transformed the common cash register. Spurred by the PC revolution, point-of-sale systems changed the nature of the sales transaction, from the smallest mom and pop shop to the biggest mega bigbox conglomorate store. Sales data is instantaneously captured, as credit transactions are authorized and inventory levels are updated. As consumers, we often take these point-of-sale systems for granted, stopping only to grumble about them when they don't perform as quickly as we'd like.
When compared to the the laborious checkout lines I remember from childhood, today's point-of-sale systems operate in the blink of an eye. I nostalgically recall standing at the counter in the neighborhood hardware store, as the owner tediously wrote up each receipt by hand. And I remember the day I first saw a bar code scanner in action at the local supermarket. What a marvel of engineering!
It almost seems that when off-the-shelf point-of-sale computer systems began to pop up in the early eighties, all of a sudden, the cash register became cool.
In the early days of the age of point-of-sale system, Apple computers could often be found at the sales counter. As the IBM Personal Computer became the ubiquitous standard, Apple lost a great bit of its POS shine. Of course, there are still POS systems for Mac folks; PayGo POS and PlatipusPro POS are two that come to mind (both are also available for Windows PCs, as well).
Today's point-of-sale system revolves around the barcode. When integrated with a full-scale inventory control system, the barcode enables the tracking of each piece as it comes in and goes out. When an item is rung up at the register, the electronic inventory database is updated to reflect the change. For the shop owner, less work taking stock means better living through high-technology.
Windows POS system software is available from a host of companies, including: COMCASH, Intuit, iQmetrix, ProfitLine, Retail Technologies International, Windward, and many others.
Industrial PCs handle the abuse that would rattle an off-the-shelf computer into a bucket of bolts. When you're operating in a harsh environment, you're either working with an industrial PC or you're working not at all. If it's mission critical, you need a PC that's up to the task. While Industrial PCs aren't the prettiest (or fastest) boxes on the block, if you need a PC that can take a licking and keep on ticking ... you've got to go rugged.
Industrial PCs are available in rack mount, wall mount, panel mount, workstation, bench top, portable, tablet, and in-vehicle configurations. There are gritty machines built to endure the toughest spots, from a sweaty factory floor to a frigid mobile unit.
Ruggedized industrial personal computers use beefy chassis and enclosures to provide protection from vibration and shock. Particular attention is paid to the drive bays. Many applications require that extreme temperatures, high humidity ranges, and dusty conditions are tolerated, as well.
The National Electronics Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published standards for an enclosures resistance to vibration, shock, temperature, water, and dust. This link describes the different enclosure types as defined by NEMA 250-1997.
PCs that are taken on the roll need to be tough--whether it's in a police car, fire truck, or ambulance. If you want to put that same technology in your ride, get ready to part with a chunk of change.
Don't expect to see a display of ruggedized PCs at your local BestBuy. These are highly specialized beasts. Rugged PC manufacturers include: Advantech, Beckhoff, Getac, Industrial PC, Kontron, Option Industrial Computers, and VersaLogic.
A select group of industrial computers are eligible for the toughest military service assignments. The United States Military MIL-STD-810F standard sets the bar high.
Remember that episode of M*A*S*H when Radar O'Reilly confessed to shipping home a Jeep from Korea, part by part? If Radar were around today, he'd probably be scheming how to send an industrial PC back to the mainland. He might have a better chance of misappropriation then of finding a wicked cool Getac A770 at a surplus auction ...
Want to be all the creature you can be this Halloween? It's all in the eyes! With two blinks of an evil eye, theatrical contact lenses can turn you into a howling beast or a otherworldly alien. If you've never seen a custom special effect contact lens, get ready to be knocked out. These wicked slivers of deception combine high-tech with awesome artistry to create a mind-numbing effect. Freaky contact lenses can be ordered online from a variety of sources ...
Theatrical contact lenses are the ultimate accessory for a killer costume. You've seen them in the movies, no doubt. And you've probably wondered just how those characters got their look ... well, wonder no more!
If you're thinking about getting a set of custom contact lenses for Halloween, you best get started now, before the rush. You'll need to set up an appointment with your eye care professional to make sure that you can wear soft contact lenses. After all, you're sticking something in your eyes, for Pete's sake.
Whether you want to look like a dragon, vampire, zombie, or reaper, you'll find a wide selection of hand painted theatrical contact lenses at 9mmsfx.com. Their custom contact lenses are available in both prescription and non-prescription form. Hand-painted contact lenses can run into the hundreds per pair.
If that sounds a little rich, fear not ... there are other (more affordable) options.
Most contact lens suppliers carry simple colored lenses, if all you want to do is change your hue. (But of course, for this holiday, that just won't do.)
Mass-market custom contact lenses include Wesley-Jessen's Wild Eyes and CooperVision's Crazy Lenses. Expect to pay roughly $35-50 per lens. Be sure to check out the suppliers carefully to compare the product and shipping costs.
Many contact lens retailers carry more affordable mass-market special effects lenses, including Lens.com, CoastalContacts, discountcontactlenses, VisionDirect, and others.
T-Mobile's new Sidekick II is making quite a splash, or so it seems. On Tuesday I got an email from T-Mobile about a special $100 off offer on the new Sidekick II. Slightly less than 24 hours later, I got another email saying that they were temporarily sold out. Either these critters are going like hotcakes or the T-Mobile marketeers have engineered a bit of histeria around the launch of the second gen Danger Hiptop.
On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 9:23pm, Sidekick Team wrote:
>Dear Sidekick user,
>
>WOW - we've experienced EXCEPTIONAL call volume since the start of your exclusive offer yesterday. Thanks to the overwhelming response, we've not been able to answer all the calls as they've poured in - and we're very sorry.
>
>We want you to know we're aware of the difficulties Sidekick customers are having when calling to take advantage of this offer. Please know we're working diligently to improve your customer experience.
>
>We appreciate your patience. Rest assured we ARE STILL taking orders via the toll free number 1-800-817-9478, as this is the ONLY way to take advantage of this exclusive offer.
>
>The line is OPEN BETWEEN the hours of 5am-10pm PST, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. If you cannot get through, we do ask you to please try again at a later time. The offer runs until Friday, September 24 or while supplies last.
>
>We appreciate your interest in the Sidekick II! Thank you for being a loyal T-Mobile Sidekick customer,
>
>Your T-Mobile Sidekick II Team
>
>**********
>
>SIDEKICK II OFFER FACTS
>
>* Offer is available to current Sidekick customers ONLY.
>* Offer is while supplies last, or until Friday, September 24 whichever comes first.
>* You can buy a new Sidekick II for only $199.99 - that's $100 OFF the $299.99 suggested retail selling price.
>* The conditions are simply that you need to extend your contract for a year and return your current Sidekick to us within 7 days of receipt of your new Sidekick II. If we don't get it back, we'll have to charge you the $100 you saved! That's the deal. Both color and black and white Sidekick devices are eligible for this trade in offer.
>* To buy your Sidekick II, call 1-800-817-9478.
>* Check out the Ultimate Communication Device: visit http://www.getyoursidekick.com/productpage.htm to learn more about the T-Mobile Sidekick II!
>
On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 8:39pm, Sidekick Team wrote:
>
>Your response to the new T-Mobile Sidekick II has been nothing short
>of amazing!
>
>In just a few days, we've already sold through our first allotment of devices. We are quickly working to replenish our supplies so that more of you can take advantage of this same special offer in the very near future.
>
>T-Mobile will send you an e-mail as soon as we have more devices to sell. In the meantime, we ask that you refrain from calling the special toll free Sidekick Trade-in line or Customer Care.
>
>Thank you for your loyalty and enthusiasm for the new T-Mobile Sidekick II!
>
>Your T-Mobile Sidekick II Team
I recently installed a marvelous laminate floor in the kitchen and laundry room here at ranchero indebto. (And I completed the task all by my D-I-Y lonesome self.) Now you might be wondering why I'm babbling about laminate floors here in Lockergnome. Here's the deal ... I used all of my geek might (and my trusty old computer and software) to make the tricky job of installing the laminate flooring easier. Hard to believe? Read on ...
We decided on laminate flooring as the best way to handle the abuse from the kids and critters. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, laminate flooring is high-tech, super-tough stuff. But it's not the always the easiest thing for the do-it-yourselfer to install. That's where the power of the PC comes into play.
Laying out the laminate flooring tiles is a crucial task. You want to be sure of the pattern (as much as possible) before the table saw is fired up and a single tile is cut. This allows you to minimize the number of cuts while placing the seams in the best possible places.
It all started with some careful measurements. While I would have loved to have one of those nifty laser radar sonar measuring gadgets, I made do with a trusty old tape measure. I scribbled down all of the numbers onto a piece of scratch paper before I found my way to the computer.
So what program did I use to make my laminate flooring job go easier?
Adobe Illustrator!
Over the years, I've found that vector drawing programs can be a wonderful aid for D-I-Y visualizations. I took all of the measurements from the kitchen and laundry room and drew a simple diagram. (While I could have easily used Freehand or Corel, for the task, I happened to have AI handy.) Once I had the floor plan to scale, I created a single vector laminate tile.
Then I duplicated the tile and used guidelines to layout the tile pattern to best fit the rooms. Once the full tiles were laid out on screen, I created the cut tiles. When it was all done, I tallied up the number of tiles and added 15% for wastage to come up with the total number of tiles I needed to place my laminate flooring order.
Cutting and gluing the tiles took quite a bit of work, but all-in-all, the laminate flooring installation went pretty well. Having a nice crisp vector road map to work from made a big difference. Best of all, I didn't end up short on tiles. And I didn't end up over by three cases, either.
I saved at least a thousand bucks, even after springing for a new mini-table saw. I'll admit it ... I like doing stuff like this around the house for three reasons (in no particular order): I get to save a few bucks, I get the satisfaction out of doing it myself, and (okay, maybe this is the most important) I get to justify those new power tools to my ever-appreciative spouse.
Inventory tracking software is designed to help you keep a handle on the goods. No matter whether you're working with supplies, finished products, spare parts, or consumables, inventory tracking software will let you know whether the crate has left the dock (or whether it never got there in the first place). "Do you have any idea where my order is?" With a top-notch inventory tracking software package, you'll know exactly where everything is at any given time ...
Is the stuff that's supposed to be in the stockroom really in the stockroom?
A comprehensive inventory management system will follow the path as products are received, stored, inventoried, picked, packed, and shipped. When you implement inventory tracking software, data is collected and stored at every step of the way.
Bar code printing and scanning are core offerings of many inventory management systems, with portable RF terminals that beam the information right from the warehouse floor. Technology, however, marches ever onward. While bar codes are an essential component of most systems, RFID tags will increasingly become an option in cutting-edge operations. The real-time inventory information afforded by these technologies provides customer service with the data they need to keep your customers happy and your suppliers in line.
Inventory tracking software is quite often implemented as part of a larger system. As such, it is integrated with other functions, such as purchasing, sales, fulfillment, and supply chain management. Inventory tracking software developers include BarControl, Bellwether, Core Partners, iCode, Intuit, NetSuite, PeopleSoft, RedPrarie, Skandata, SpiritWorks, Tigerpaw, and many others.
Need to keep track of your rolling stock? Fleet management software helps you stay on top of that vehicle collection. The latest fleet management software uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to pinpoint the location of each and every vehicle at any given point in time. But fleet management software is not all about the whiz bang stuff. Rather, it can focus on a variety of criteria, where the seemingly mundane makes or breaks a budget ...
Maintenance schedule management is one of the most important features of a comprehensive fleet management program. By ensuring that preventive maintenance is performed, expensive repairs can be avoided down the road. Is it as simple as keeping the oil changed? Well, lets just say that's just a start. Following (or bettering) the manufacturer's maintenance schedule goes a long way to helping a vehicle lead a long and healthy life. A solid fleet management software solution will make it easier to adhere to that schedule. For the longer you can extend the productive life of a vehicle, the better.
Whether you use an in-house repair shop or an outside garage, comprehensive record keeping of repairs is a big positive, as well. Mechanics are a step ahead of the game when they can look at the records and know exactly when and why a part was replaced. Cumulative information on tire wear can help the fleet manager make better informed decisions with regard to the specification of replacements.
Fleet tracking is a mission critical application with many companies that use fleet management software. With GPS, you can know exactly where your rolling hardware is ... whether it's a truck that's just around the corner and about to make a delivery, or a technical engineer stuck in a traffic jam on the Interstate.
You'll find a wide range of fleet management software solutions, with programs from Agile, Chevin, collectiveData, FleetMax, McLeod, RTA, TATEMS, Squarerigger, Teletrac, and many other vendors.
Computer forensics are at the center of today's news. At issue is whether or not the memos purportedly written by Lt. Col. Jerry Killian--one of George W. Bush's commanders in the National Guard, from '72-'73--are authentic. No sooner did the memos surface did an "expert" declare that they are forgeries. The computer forensics at question are typographic in nature. The computer forensic experts must determine whether the memos are real or if they were created with MSWord.
According to an Associated Press story, "Independent document examiner Sandra Ramsey Lines said the memos looked like they had been produced on a computer using Microsoft Word software." It isn't clear how this document examiner could make that determination at such short notice. A thorough and non-partisan typographic forensic examination should be undertaken immediately. If the FBI's computer forensic experts cannot clear up this issue, no one can.
At issue is whether or not Killian had the ability to produce superscript on his typewriter. Lines purports that the memo was computer generated because she was able to produce superscripts in MSWord, in a style similar to that in the memo. The AP reports that Lines is "a document expert and fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences."
True computer forensic experts should be able to determine the legitimacy of these documents in short time. All they need to do is look at other documents produced by Killian in the same timeframe. If other documents show superscripts, Lines case crumbles. If forensics turn up no other documents with similar typographic qualities, a bigger question looms.
Any computer forensic specialist with the slightest smidgen of a typographic background knows that the ability to produce superscript type was not introduced by Microsoft. Whether or not Killian had the necessary hardware at the time--perhaps an IBM Selectric II or Selectric Composer--to produce the memos, remains to be seen.
Given the recent series of storms, disaster recovery is on the minds of a lot of folks. And as Florida prepares for the possibility of a third battering, the topic of disaster recovery couldn’t be more timely. Backing up your data and using battery backup power are only a start. Adequate disaster preparation can go a long way to ease recovery if a disaster should occur. Unfortunately this summer, it’s not should it occur, it’s when …
Do you have a disaster recovery plan in place? How will you keep your computers up and running, should they survive? What would you do for a backup system, should your primary system(s) be destroyed?
The United States Small Business Admistration (SBA) suggests: "Ask yourself: what if the worst happened? How would it affect my business and my family? Would we survive if the business were closed down for weeks, months, or perhaps my entire revenue season? What can I do to make sure we survive?"
So how does a region get declared as a disaster area?
The SBA's website explains how disaster declarations are made: "All declaration requests must come from the Governor or authorized representative. The Governor can ask for a Presidential disaster declaration or a Small Business Administration Administrative declaration, depending upon the severity of the disaster. A Presidential declaration makes many Federal and State programs available, including SBA loans. An SBA declaration makes only SBA loans available." Once the declaration is made, the wheels are set in motion for government-assisted disaster recovery to begin.
I think back to the long gone days when I was a systems manager. We had an honest-to-goodness disaster recovery plan back then (as one might suspect an insurance company should). I backed up my department's data every single day. And we sent a backup off-site on a periodic basis.
These days, I am my own business. And I confess, I haven't been diligent about backing up my own data. I don't have a disaster recovery plan, whatsoever. I haven't backed up lately. I don't have a generator, nor any solar power. I don't even have a Toyota Prius to supply electricity in a pinch.
Time to get it in gear ...
Online meetings are a great alternative to business travel--if you can afford them, that is. Online meetings allow you to save gas, save time, and cut down on the hassles. Trouble is, a great many online meeting solutions are aimed at the high end. Little companies have historically gotten the short end of the stick. I've turned up a couple of new (perhaps) more affordable options since the last time I wrote on the topic ...
Just today, Macromedia announced new service plans for their Breeze Live web conferencing product. A pay-per-use plan allows you set up online meetings for 32 cents per minute per user. That might not sound too high until you start doing the math. Let say you have ten folks at your conference and it lasts for an hour. Per minute, that's 10 x .32, or $3.20. Multiply that by 60 minutes and you're looking at a bill of $192.00. Cheaper than one plane ticket, to be sure ... but not all that much cheaper than Macromedia's 5- or 10-user starter packs, which go for $375 and $750 per month, respectively. Both the five and ten seat plans provide VOIP and offer "unlimited" usage. (If you go over the concurrent user limit at any one time, you'll be dinged for the overage on a per-minute basis.)
Macromedia Breeze's big advantage is that it's based around the Flash standard. Because Breeze is based on Flash, the story goes, online meeting participants are not required to download and install an additional plug-in. The product is also notable for its conversion of PowerPoint presentations.
Raindance is offering a month of free meetings to try out their Raindance Remote Meetings service. (It's not the first month free, however ... you'll have to use the service for two months before you get the third month for free.) Even better, the two-person Raindance Meeting Edition is completely free, although it does not offer any audio integration. The Raindance 5- and 10-user packs are priced at $274.95 and $399.95 per month, respectively. Audio conferencing is billed separately, if needed.
When I asked for call center story submissions over the summer, I never imagined the wild tales of customer service woe. After reading these stories, I've gained a whole new appreciation for customer service call center employees. This is great stuff! Our first story of call center magic is so fabulous that I've decided to print it verbatim. Read on, as Gnomie Carrie writes about a customer service phone call that you won't soon forget ...
So I've been working as a customer service rep for perhaps two weeks at my new job. The products that we sell are new age and metaphysical gifts, like tarot cards and feng shui kits. Mostly we sold them to stores, who then in turn, mark them up and sell to the public.
Some people who start up new businesses think "hey, great, I'll start up my own massage/yoga/meditation studio and have stuff for people to buy, too," with absolutely no business plan or idea of what they are getting into. Some people want to 'test' the objects they buy first, before setting them out for sale.
Such was the case with one buyer. She calls one day, (remember that this is approximately two weeks after I get the job) to tell me that there's a problem with one of the items she's bought from us.
"Which item exactly?" I ask.
"The 40mm crystal ball," she says. "It's broken."
"You mean it shattered during shipping?"
"No, it's just broken." She sounds very disappointed.
"Are there any cracks or impact marks on it?" I ask, trying to figure out if it was indeed damaged during shipping, or if she just rolled it off a counter onto a hard surface...
"No, it LOOKS fine. But it doesn't work."
"How does it 'not work'?" I say. I'm starting to get the idea, though.
"Well, I'm just not seeing very clear images through it."
Keep in mind that while I think that some of the products that we sell are kind of pretty, or interesting, I in no my actually practice any type of divination, witchcraft or feng shui. But I've learned all these principles on paper, as part of my training.
"Hmmm." I say, buying time. I really want to tell her to adjust the antenna or something snide, and I start giggling. I need to put her on hold, NOW.
"Can I put you on hold for a moment while I consult my runes?" I ask.
"Sure" she says, and I hit the hold button. There's about 4 other people in the office that take these type of calls, and they all seem to look at me at once to say "What's going on?"
I beg my boss to take the call. He says no, it'll be good training for me, but he'll be happy to listen in. Great. Thanks.
I've left her on hold as long as I can. Of course, I'm the center of attention in the office now. No pressure.
"Ma'am?" I say, "Sorry about the wait. You know how the runes are sometimes. I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions, and we'll see if we can track down where the crystal ball got clouded. OK?"
"Ok."
"Was the shipping box damaged or did it have any strange marks on it?"
"No."
"And all of the other products in the shipment are fine, right?"
"Right."
"What did you do with the crystal ball immediately after you unpacked it?"
"I set it out on the table with the rest of the stuff from the box, and left it there, ummm, overnight I think. Was that OK?"
"Well, yes, but think of it this way. All these items have energies that were cooped up in a dark, cramped shipping box for a few days, and then you set them free, only to leave them alone on a strange surface alone overnight. They were probably a little scared."
"Really?" She sounds genuinely concerned, like she just heard a friend is really sick.
"Crystal balls are a divination tool, so they see and record impressions of other energies nearby. Or far away, if you know how to focus it."
"So I can't see anything because the ball is picking up on all the other stuff in the box that was scared from the journey in the dark box, AND the fact that I left them out alone overnight? Won't this happen EVERY time I order something from you, then?"
"I can tell you how to purify your ball, so that it will be able to focus on what you need, and not be confused by random energies. First, when you unpack any orders, make sure you've got a nice dark cloth to put the items on before you price them or put them out in your store. This gives them time to relax from the shipping process."
"Oooh. I've got about 3 yards of black velvet I was going to use for a display. Will that work?"
"That's perfect," I say. I notice that everyone in the office is totally engrossed in my call. My boss has the headset that allows him to listen in on both sides of the conversation as well. Great.
"Now, for the ball," I continue, turning my back to the office so I can concentrate without cracking up. "Do you have any salt?" I ask.
"Yes, will table salt do?"
"That's fine. Get yourself a clear glass bowl, deep enough that the ball cannot be seen over the top. Put a little salt in the bottom, then add the ball. Keep adding more salt until the whole ball is completely covered. Then, put the bowl in a sunny windowsill, or on your porch, or somewhere the energy of the sun can filter through the microscopic crystalline structure of the salt. Leave it there for three days."
"Ok, salt, glass bowl, sun, three days. Am I forgetting anything?"
"That should do it for the material components," I say, remembering my D & D lingo, "but you'll also want to tell the ball what you're doing, so that it understands that this is a cleaning ritual and not a punishment. Ask the ball to relax and allow the sun to heal it and free it of the confusing imagery. You'll also want to be requesting its' permission in the future to view through it, so this is your chance to start a good relationship with it."
"Wow. I had no idea crystal gazing was so much work. Thanks so much for your help. I'll let you know how it goes."
"I would LOVE to hear from you again." I say, and I hear the rest of the office laugh in unison. "Anything else you need today?"
"No, thanks so much! Bye!"
"Have a great day," I say, and slump in my chair. That was harder that running a marathon. Clapping. Who's clapping? My boss says "You made that up. That's not in the training."
Crap. He's right. "Am I fired?"
"No. That was exactly what I would have said."
"Cool. Do I get a raise?"
"Not yet. Keep answering calls like that, and you will."
Incidentally, she called back a couple of weeks later to rave about how well her ball worked now. And I got a raise.
My HP LaserJet 1200 is finally back in business. Getting the laser printer back online was an exercise in frustration. (Until I finally had the ah-ha! moment, that is.) Over the span of a couple of days, I tried everything I knew to get the laser printer working, using every trick in my book. I tried swapping cables, unloading and reloading drivers, an untold number of reboots, and still, the laser printer refused to print from Windows ...
I knew it had to be a problem with the way that Windows XP was talking to the printer. Through a process of elimination, I determined that the problem wasn't the laser printer itself.
The laser printer hangs on my network, and is connected to a firewall/hub. Throughout my dilemma, I could print to the LaserJet 1200 from my Macs without a hitch. So I knew it wasn't the laser printer, itself. I quickly eliminated the hub and the cables as possible problems, as well.
I began to suspect that Windows XP was the culprit, but I wasn't sure exactly where the problem was coming from. So I unloaded and reloaded the printer drivers, to no avail.
As I was testing, I happened to press the test sheet button on the HP JetDirect 175x box that sits between the network and the LaserJet 1200. I took a close look at the configuration information on the test sheet IP address.
And then I looked at the Printer Properties in the Windows Control Panel. When I zeroed in on the Port Settings, I found the culprit. The printer had an IP address of 192.168.1.103. But the Port Settings tab showed the IP address to be 192.168.1.101.
Two digits away. WEIRD. How it jumped, I'll never know ...
I changed the Port Settings tab to show the correct IP address (192.168.1.103) for my printer and bingo, I was off to the races.
Problem solved.
Have you ever wondered how many computers are bought by folks that are just up and sick of their old machines? Not that the old PCs are obsolete, just that they're so fouled up with stuff that they won't handle the daily chores. I've felt that way from time-to-time about my present Gateway ... And I'm kinda feeling that way today ...
If only I didn't have 1500 reasons (all with George Washington's picture on them) separating me from that new PC.
Last fall, I stumbled into a geek conversation when I went in for my yearly physical. It turns out that my physician was so fed up with his spyware-infested home PC that he was ready to ditch it. (We'll see how things worked out this fall when I go in for my next appointment ...)
Spyware and fan noise were the first two things to test my patience with my Gateway tower. I cured the spyware problem months ago. The noisy fans persist. I'd replace them with quiet aftermarket units, but I'm not sure if that would void the terms of the computer lease.
While I've wanted a quiet PC for quite some time, it's not the noise that got to me today ... It's that Windows XP refuses to print to either of my printers. The cranky old HP OfficeJet stopped printing about a month ago. The fax and copier functions work fine--it just won't print from Windows. And last night, my HP LaserJet 1200 wouldn't print, either.
The LaserJet hangs on my Ethernet network and is (usually) accessible from either my PC or Macs. It doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with either the printer or the network, as I can print from the Macs with no problem. It's just the darn PC ...
So I stopped by the local CompUSA to pick up a copy of the Windows XP Service Pack 2, in the hope that the SP2 update might help to cure my PC's ills.
Wishful thinking. But at least SP2 is now installed and seemed to be running fine for the half an hour before we took off for the shore to catch a few last waves of the summer this afternoon, courtesy of Hurricane Francis.
I'm sitting here on the beach again, just thumb typing away. The boogie boardin's done for the day, but hopefully not for the summer ...
With any luck, we'll pack in another couple of days at the beach over this long holiday weekend. I'm just hoping that I can get my PC printing problem fixed this evening so I can fill up the Labor Day weekend with plenty of rest, relaxation, boogie boarding, soccer, and maybe a cool Mai Tai or two, too. :)