Texas tea. Black Gold. Creative names for something that has become America's greatest love/hate relationship of all time. How we love our big trucks but hate filling them.
Yesterday, congress "grilled" the oil executives regarding the companies profits vs. the price of oil. While this was mostly for show, I did read a great point made by the Exxon Mobil exec. which I am putting into my own words.
We "Exxon" invest in technologies that:
1. Will make us a profit
2. We have knowledge in
We let alternative energy be explored by companies that specialize in this technology.
If the government really wants to take a stand and develop green technologies, they should spend the amounts of money to do this that they have spent on projects like the "Manhattan Project."
Take note that I am not a fan of big oil in any regards, but from a business standpoint they have a leg to stand on.
Why should the oil companies be required to spend money on technologies which will only hurt their current business. Do I believe that there is gouging? Absoutely! This needs to be stopped imediately and they should be fined, but for congress to tell big oil where to spend their money is ridiculous. Big oil should also not be allowed to buy patents that are a conflict of interest or if they do by patents for green tech, they should be required to develop those that they buy.
On the flip side of the argument. Congress should be sitting on the same side of the table as executives from the worlds automakers as well as the oil execs . The automakers are taking their sweet time with development, but there are companies out there that are making great products. Many of these we as Americans will never see because the government is not pushing hard enough for these companies to sell their wares. The following link is one of the companies that I have been keeping my eye on. If these become available when they say they will in 2010, I will buy one in a heartbeat. My 80 mile daily commute to work is killing me just like everyone else out there.
http://zeropollutionmotors.us/
Check out the link and let me know how you feel.
Travis
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
ANTI-VIRUS FOR BUSINESS
Sometimes being the computer geek in the office can be frustrating. Unfortunately, working for a large corporation, my computer is locked up tighter than a drum. It amazes me that I am able to blog from the office. The lack of "anything" on my office computer is enough to drive you crazy, but I've learned to live with the fact that the "companies" tech department needs job security and wont let anyone improve upon their design.
We share our office building with a wonderful lady who run her own business. Usually I get a call from her every couple of weeks because her computer knowledge ends at pushing the power button. Normally, none of this bothers me. I run next door and click an OK button.
Yesterday when I had to make my trek, she was having problems updating her anti-virus program with symantec. I'm pretty good at navigating phone trees, but this one brought me to the end of my wits. After an hour, I walked away mumbling about how she should get AVG and forget paying such a wretched company for something she can get for free. What also amazed me is that they charge $100+ for a product that you can't get customer service for.
She's now trying to get her money back from symantec, which I wish her the best of luck.
She's still not comfortable with the free anti-virus programs on the internet and advised me that she's going to Office Depot to pick something out. A person can only do so much to help someone out for free.
In my opinion AVG is a good solution for anti-virus. I would love to hear suggestions from tech savvy business owners as to what they are using.
We share our office building with a wonderful lady who run her own business. Usually I get a call from her every couple of weeks because her computer knowledge ends at pushing the power button. Normally, none of this bothers me. I run next door and click an OK button.
Yesterday when I had to make my trek, she was having problems updating her anti-virus program with symantec. I'm pretty good at navigating phone trees, but this one brought me to the end of my wits. After an hour, I walked away mumbling about how she should get AVG and forget paying such a wretched company for something she can get for free. What also amazed me is that they charge $100+ for a product that you can't get customer service for.
She's now trying to get her money back from symantec, which I wish her the best of luck.
She's still not comfortable with the free anti-virus programs on the internet and advised me that she's going to Office Depot to pick something out. A person can only do so much to help someone out for free.
In my opinion AVG is a good solution for anti-virus. I would love to hear suggestions from tech savvy business owners as to what they are using.
Monday, January 14, 2008
USEFUL SITES: VECTOR CONVERSION
Being bored one day I found the link for this web page browsing http://www.downloadsquad.com/.
This is a wonderful tool from the bright minds at Stanford for turning those unsightly bitmap images into beautiful vector images. I've tried it out, and it works just like it claims to.
There aren't many who use bitmaps anymore, but for those who still have one or two lying around, throw them in this magical wheel and watch it turn.
Check it: http://vectormagic.stanford.edu/
This is a wonderful tool from the bright minds at Stanford for turning those unsightly bitmap images into beautiful vector images. I've tried it out, and it works just like it claims to.
There aren't many who use bitmaps anymore, but for those who still have one or two lying around, throw them in this magical wheel and watch it turn.
Check it: http://vectormagic.stanford.edu/
USEFUL SITES: ANIMATED KNOTS
Planning that climbing trip to Everest? Taking you son fishing (pretending that your the master angler)? Sitting in a padded room with crayons?
Well, now's the time to start unraveling those PJ's and creating everything from art to an escape rope. This site will show you more knots than you have uses for. You're probably never going to scale a building with a Winnie the Pooh bed sheet, but it never hurts to know how.
Check it: http://www.animatedknots.com/
Well, now's the time to start unraveling those PJ's and creating everything from art to an escape rope. This site will show you more knots than you have uses for. You're probably never going to scale a building with a Winnie the Pooh bed sheet, but it never hurts to know how.
Check it: http://www.animatedknots.com/
USEFUL SITES: TIE-A-TIE
I was born and raised in a house in which the words tie and wear were never uttered together in the same sentence. In my dark little cave I played, never knowing that one day I would have to venture out into a world in which tie was not paired with other words like "down" or "hog."
Suddenly I was blinded by a light. It came from an ancient monitor and it's name was tie-a-tie.
If ever I'm going out on the town, I always check out this site first.
Check it: http://www.tie-a-tie.net/
Suddenly I was blinded by a light. It came from an ancient monitor and it's name was tie-a-tie.
If ever I'm going out on the town, I always check out this site first.
Check it: http://www.tie-a-tie.net/
USEFUL SITES: VISTAPRINT
I personally have a lot of irons in the fire. My Monday through Friday job, my side job, my dream job..........
This is common sense, but everyone should have a business card for every venture they undertake. I know that most people these days can run down to their local office supply store and buy card stock, but it makes me feel special having someone else print my cards.
This is a great site to have business cards printed. The cost is low and you can have custom cards created and they will even save your template.
For fear of looking like a man with a trench coat selling watches on a desolate corner, I try to only carry two main cards at a time and have any others in the glove box of my car.
Check it out: http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/default.aspx?GP=1%2F14%2F2008+12%3A19%3A16+PM
This is common sense, but everyone should have a business card for every venture they undertake. I know that most people these days can run down to their local office supply store and buy card stock, but it makes me feel special having someone else print my cards.
This is a great site to have business cards printed. The cost is low and you can have custom cards created and they will even save your template.
For fear of looking like a man with a trench coat selling watches on a desolate corner, I try to only carry two main cards at a time and have any others in the glove box of my car.
Check it out: http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/default.aspx?GP=1%2F14%2F2008+12%3A19%3A16+PM
USEFUL SITES: WEBTENDER
Alchemy can be fun.
Heaven only knows how many of these sites are actually out there, but this site in particular has been a god send to me. I just installed a bar in my home and realized after the fact that all I could make were rum and cokes and the infamous bourbon and coke.
Webtender allows you to select what licquors and ingredients you have on the self and then prepares a list of drinks that you can make from them. You also have the option of selecting a drink and having their system spit out the list of ingredients required.
There are links to other bartending sites and web forums. Nothing to download and no sign up required. Check the link for more details.
http://www.webtender.com/
Heaven only knows how many of these sites are actually out there, but this site in particular has been a god send to me. I just installed a bar in my home and realized after the fact that all I could make were rum and cokes and the infamous bourbon and coke.
Webtender allows you to select what licquors and ingredients you have on the self and then prepares a list of drinks that you can make from them. You also have the option of selecting a drink and having their system spit out the list of ingredients required.
There are links to other bartending sites and web forums. Nothing to download and no sign up required. Check the link for more details.
http://www.webtender.com/
SERIES 1 USEFUL SITES
Over the following week, I will be compiling a list of useful sites which I use almost every day. And for those lonely sites which never get used, what can I say? I can't bring myself to put them in the round file. Just when I discard them will be the moment of life or death when I'll need to do something in a moments notice.
This is a great time to post comments with your own favorites.
This is a great time to post comments with your own favorites.
Friday, January 11, 2008
DELAYING E-MAILS FROM SENDING
This is a great tip from HOW TO GEEK http://www.howtogeek.com/
God knows that I send enough e-mail throughout the day. Anyone who works with the public knows that you either vent or end up going postal on some poor guy who asks you how your day was.
Some of these "vents" are not appropriate for anyone's eyes except who they are sent. Once in a while I would have one of those moments where you say "Oh My God, Who did I just send that to?"
Wouldn't it be nice if you could tell your e-mail to wait for a set time limit after clicking send before it goes out over the wire? Well, I know for sure that if you use Outlook 2003 for your e-mail you can. If you use something else, go ahead and check out the link anyways. They have sections on all different platforms.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/microsoft-office/use-outlook-rules-to-prevent-oh-no-after-sending-emails/
God knows that I send enough e-mail throughout the day. Anyone who works with the public knows that you either vent or end up going postal on some poor guy who asks you how your day was.
Some of these "vents" are not appropriate for anyone's eyes except who they are sent. Once in a while I would have one of those moments where you say "Oh My God, Who did I just send that to?"
Wouldn't it be nice if you could tell your e-mail to wait for a set time limit after clicking send before it goes out over the wire? Well, I know for sure that if you use Outlook 2003 for your e-mail you can. If you use something else, go ahead and check out the link anyways. They have sections on all different platforms.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/microsoft-office/use-outlook-rules-to-prevent-oh-no-after-sending-emails/
FAVORITE SITES
These are the major sites that I use every day to keep track of daily occurrences in the field. Please visit and take part in these pages. They hold some of the best content that I have ever come across, and have great staff.
ENGADGET: http://www.engadget.com/
A great web page to stay on top of all hardware news. Parent company AOL.
DOWNLOADSQUAD: http://www.downloadsquad.com/
A sister site of Engadget. This is my #1 stop for new software, tech tricks, and news.
HOW TO GEEK: http://www.howtogeek.com/
Great tips and tricks for the most used programs on the planet.
CNET: http://www.cnet.com/
Another great site chocked full of reviews, news, and how to's.
Make sure to check out the "CNET TV" section. http://www.cnettv.com/
ENGADGET: http://www.engadget.com/
A great web page to stay on top of all hardware news. Parent company AOL.
DOWNLOADSQUAD: http://www.downloadsquad.com/
A sister site of Engadget. This is my #1 stop for new software, tech tricks, and news.
HOW TO GEEK: http://www.howtogeek.com/
Great tips and tricks for the most used programs on the planet.
CNET: http://www.cnet.com/
Another great site chocked full of reviews, news, and how to's.
Make sure to check out the "CNET TV" section. http://www.cnettv.com/
POST VERIFICATION
If anyone is having a problem leaving a comment, please send me a quick e-mail.
If "Character Verification" starts to cause a problem, I will turn it off.
If "Character Verification" starts to cause a problem, I will turn it off.
HOPEFULLY THE FIRST OF MANY
To anyone who actually has the time to read this blog, thank you and I hope to at least pass on some knowledge that I have gathered from my journeys across the Internet.
I am not affiliated with any of the articles, web pages, or people that I will mention in this blog. If anyone has a concern about any content on this site, please contact me and I will be prompt about returning your e-mail and solving any issues. I will always try to the best of my knowledge, to link to where I have gotten my information and give credit to those who have done the work.
My goal for having this blog is to test out some of the software and tricks that I have gotten from other places and give my opinion on how it works from the point of view of someone who does not have a large budget for up to date hardware or a programmer's resume.
This is definitely a work in progress!
I am not affiliated with any of the articles, web pages, or people that I will mention in this blog. If anyone has a concern about any content on this site, please contact me and I will be prompt about returning your e-mail and solving any issues. I will always try to the best of my knowledge, to link to where I have gotten my information and give credit to those who have done the work.
My goal for having this blog is to test out some of the software and tricks that I have gotten from other places and give my opinion on how it works from the point of view of someone who does not have a large budget for up to date hardware or a programmer's resume.
This is definitely a work in progress!
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