While we're all vaguely worried about impending doom per the Mayan calendar,
2012 has been recognized as a banner year for malware. As social media gain
more steam, they attract more attention from the forces of evil.
Many people are in the midst of gaining sufficient experience with the likes of
Twitter & Facebook to make good use of the opportunities these tools offer.
This makes them particularly vulnerable to attacks that will not work so easily a
few months from now, when expertise is consolidated.
Even the government has been put on notice that cyberAttacks are
underway.
Wouldn't it be loverly if the start of the next long count coincided
with the demise of all forms of malware ?
Take a look at this article for details on what the bad boys are
up to these days :
The Year In CyberSecurity
We are a group of Marin based IT Professionals who actively seek to improve their careers by pooling information, sharing insights and supporting each other as we move forward together. We invite prospective members to contact us through this site.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Work, Repurposed
Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson
Employable
professional seeks repurpose of transferrable skills
into sustainable occupation.
If you really examine a resume or a job requisition, you’ll probably agree that
into sustainable occupation.
If you really examine a resume or a job requisition, you’ll probably agree that
these are not ordinary documents. They
are precisely crafted expressions of
an idea directed towards a specific
audience, presenting one part of a puzzle
and seeking an exactly complimentary piece.
A good place to start your transformation is to discover just what your skills really
are, how they are described in the jargon people use today and where those
skills
are used.
Discovery: An objective view of your skill set is needed because it can
be difficult for us to see what we really have to offer. Seek out a former colleague
or business associate familiar with your line of work. Interview them about you and
the skills they have seen you use on, and
off, the job.
Ask them what stands out when they think about you.
This may seem
an embarrassing exercise, but it can also be a surprising one.
Be sure to write out the questions you want answered and seek honest responses.
Spend some time organizing the answers and thinking about the skills discovered.
Be sure to write out the questions you want answered and seek honest responses.
Spend some time organizing the answers and thinking about the skills discovered.
Expression: Identify some industries, or types of organization, that look interesting.
Read some news articles and job descriptions in
these industries, paying particular
attention to the wording that is used. Map as
many of your ‘discovered’ skills onto
the job descriptions you’ve read as possible:
Use their words to describe what you know how to do.
Refactory : Now that you have some new fangled ways of expressing what you
are, you need some new ways of thinking about what you do. Concentrate on
the value that your use of the skills, the ones the interview discovered, bought to
the organizations you were part of and how that might fit into the organizations you’ve
been reading about.
Refactory : Now that you have some new fangled ways of expressing what you
are, you need some new ways of thinking about what you do. Concentrate on
the value that your use of the skills, the ones the interview discovered, bought to
the organizations you were part of and how that might fit into the organizations you’ve
been reading about.
For example, say you had been a systems administrator working for widget
manufacturing company. Your industry reading indicates that many manufacturing
concerns are interested in cloud computing. Your ‘discovered’ skills include
knowledge of servers, applications and operating systems, dealing with vendors of
computer services, assisting internal customers, persistence and raw diplomacy.
These are all skills needed in by companies as they implement and support cloud
computing. You are already half way to cloud computing expertise. Start thinking
about your resume and your accomplishments such that cloud computing is the
next and most obvious next step in your career.
Update : In the course of your industry and job description reading, you will probably
have found a set skills that are usually required. You may not have some of them and this
ruins yourall your good Imagineering. So. Ruthlessly seek out and
consume any sources of enlightenment on these topics.
Sources include online training courses, meetups, trade shows, industry association
web pages, Dr. Wiki and of course, Professor Google. If software is involved get
hold of demo versions and try them. Doing these things will increase the depth of
your knowledge in these areas and your ability to speak intelligently about them.
web pages, Dr. Wiki and of course, Professor Google. If software is involved get
hold of demo versions and try them. Doing these things will increase the depth of
your knowledge in these areas and your ability to speak intelligently about them.
You may think you are a well versed expert, but you can sound, and be, more
like one than you may realize.
That is more than half the battle because we often
become what we play at.
like one than you may realize.
That is more than half the battle because we often
become what we play at.
The EP and the Golden Tagline
Sean Nelson
Ah, elevator pitch, you inevitable tool of those seeking the
grail of
imminent employment, you are often repeated, carefully constructed,
imminent employment, you are often repeated, carefully constructed,
quick, concise and hopeful.
EP, you are most certainly memorized, but not necessarily
memorable.
Alas.
There is often a distinct lack of sparkle, creativity,
humor
or imagination in an EP.
Many are sufficiently boring as to induce yawning in
the
45 seconds it takes to deliver them. Let's not waste such a good opportunity
to make a memorable impression, and have a bit of a laugh while doing so.
to make a memorable impression, and have a bit of a laugh while doing so.
For instance:
I know a fellow that is an experienced and superior
financial analyst.
He is a true expert at excel. He often teaches people like
me how to use it better,
so that our tables actually pivot when we want them to.
Sadly, he has not always been
as fully employed as he would like.
as fully employed as he would like.
The most powerful nugget from his elevator pitch is this: “I
Make Excel Sing”.
He did once literally embed a link to some audio in a spreadsheet
cell.
So yes, Excel sang when he wanted it to.
The line is memorable enough to build the rest of an
elevator pitch
around it and that's just what he did.
around it and that's just what he did.
And here's the tale:
Someone who heard his elevator speech at a routine
networking event
later had an urgent need for a financial analyst with strong excel skills.
later had an urgent need for a financial analyst with strong excel skills.
They remembered people saying that the guy who said he could
make excel sing
really could. What they could not remember was the man's name.
really could. What they could not remember was the man's name.
Sounds like the story has a less than excellent ending for
our friend.
What happened is that the forgetful listener called
someone who had attended
the same networking event to see if their memory was any better. And it was.
the same networking event to see if their memory was any better. And it was.
That golden tag line ensured that the networking connection
was properly
made and this subsequently made everyone's day because our
friend got hired.
Two problems were solved with one golden tagline.
The foremost value of a golden tagline is to distill a brand
position into concise
and compelling consumer-centric terms. Focusing on the consumer will likely
and compelling consumer-centric terms. Focusing on the consumer will likely
resonate with their needs and desires. Supplier
oriented statements are less than
effective: “We Are Expert At Excel” does not have the nice ring to it
that
“We Make Excel Sing” does, even if both display Excel expertise.
What you're after is a good 'hook', just like a chorus in a
pop song, that expresses
what the consumer is looking for, the voodoo that you do so
well, in a few words..
Another fellow I know was an account manager for “a premier
manufacturer,
installer and service provider of vertical and horizontal
transportation technology”.
He was recognized for his positive energy, creativity, leadership skills and all sorts
of really good things
besides.
Still, he found himself less than wonderfully employed and so needed to craft his EP.
Like many
effective ideas, his appears so obvious,
that it could not possibly work.
My friend became the Elevator Guy. He was uplifting, safe,
reliable and you certainly
want all of that in your business. There was only a
plethora of pithy puns that could be
bought to bear. Everyone that ever heard
his EP remembers him and what sort of
opportunities he seeks.
Here are some devices that can be used to help in creating
your very own golden tagline.
Alliteration:
Branding Bulldog (Marketing), The Compleat Communicator
(Technical
Writing), Bug Buster : Bug Finder : Bug Hunter (Software QA)
Metaphor/ Simile : IT Swiss Army Knife (IT)
Mastery, with humor : “I bring your dreams, hopes and nightmares to life.”
Mastery, with humor : “I bring your dreams, hopes and nightmares to life.”
(3D Artist)
There are many more devices that can be bought to bear in
enlivening the EP.
Many of these are rhetorical devices.
Rhetoric was, once upon a time, considered an essential part of good education.
Rhetoric has since seen its stock fall of the proverbial cliff and is
most often
thought of as a slightly dishonest set of tricks
employed by trial lawyers and
such.
Not so fast:
Shakespeare and the King James Bible are chock full of artful
use of rhetorical devices. If you forgot what a rhetorical device is, take a look here :
use of rhetorical devices. If you forgot what a rhetorical device is, take a look here :
In closing, remember, the EP is not a good place to be generic or vague.
There may be other 'products' like you in the marketplace,
but you do NOT
want to sound just like them.
want to sound just like them.
Lively up yourself !
Are Coding Schools The Way 2 Go ?
If your job search has yielded little by way of employment, one
must eventually ask if the product itself is the cause. Many technical people devote
110% of their energy to doing the best job they possibly can and so have little left
over for improving their skill sets to keep pace with the times. After only a few years
the sharpest knife now appears dull.
High paying technical jobs are an obvious target for cost reduction by sending
the work offshore. There's hardly a bean counter or MBA worth their salt that
has not proposed such a move. Their advice is often taken to heart because the
cost savings are simply too attractive to be ignored. The end result for many
technical Used2B_AllStars is a frustrating period of undeserved unemployment.
The market is quick to detect and reject trailing edge skills, increasing age and
lack of current employment. If your former occupation has become an export,
it may even be difficult to maintain the positive references you've actually earned.
The obvious remedy to this situation is to retool.
This is almost certainly the best investment that can be made.
In other countries dislocated workers find more concrete support from their
governments, but rugged individualists we Americans are, we look after ourselves.
This means that individuals take on all of the cost and risk involved in creating their
own futures : Choose wisely, young Skywalker. Select the training that is inadequate,
or a sector of the technical world that proves to be short lived, and you can lose
your investment and possibly your career as well
The range of choices is vast. There are online courses, bootcamps,
university extension courses and a plethora of certification and degree programs
competing for your career investment dollars. If this was not enough to warrant
extensive and serious investigation, several immersive coding schools have now
joined the fray in San Francisco. Many of their graduates, including those with no
previous coding experience, have gone on to work with outfits like Facebook,
Twilio and Twitter at enviable salaries.
App Academy, Catalyst Class, Hackbright and Dev
Bootcamp have recently emerged as technical education vendors that promise
to take you from zero to in demand, in three months or so. Bear in mind that you will
probably be coding and sleeping for those three months, but isn't that what software
engineering often looks like ? These schools are also selective about who they train.
Everyone wants the best chance at success here. The cost is not inconsiderable either,
with fees running to $12K. This compares favorably to degree programs and is near par
with many bootcamps and certifications.
There is a legitimate question about such rapid retooling :
Does it really work ? Having spent more than a few years
writing code myself, I never found a course that did more than get me started
down the road to becoming productive in a given technology. Application of
copious amounts of elbow grease over a period of several months was necessary to
achieve anything that looked like routine competency. If there was no relevant project
to work on immediately, then my hard earned 'extertise' evaporated quickly. The real
target here seems to be entry level competency in the technology of choice.
Depending on how prospective employers define the expected skill set at this level,
this objective is realistic.
One difference in this latest incarnation of the retooling game is that some of the
vendors, such as App Academy, do not charge students anything
up front, opting instead for 12.5% of the first years' salary once they are hired.
This effectively shares the risk involved and strongly suggests that these vendors
really believe that their training will make you saleable.
This is simply astounding. Education is an unusual product in that it must
be completely consumed before its quality can be judged. You will always pay for what
you get, but the obverse is not always true. This is the first group of education vendors
I've ever heard of that proposes such a business model. As a result, I think the answer
is simple :
Get Thee To A Coding School As Fast As Ye Can.
App Academy : Ruby, JavaScript, CapStone
Catalyst Class : Javascript, HTML, and CSS, and server-side Javascript and Ruby on Rails.
Dev Bootcamp : Ruby, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript
Hackbright Academy : Women Engineers.
SF Business Times Source Article 12/14
ScN 12/12
must eventually ask if the product itself is the cause. Many technical people devote
110% of their energy to doing the best job they possibly can and so have little left
over for improving their skill sets to keep pace with the times. After only a few years
the sharpest knife now appears dull.
High paying technical jobs are an obvious target for cost reduction by sending
the work offshore. There's hardly a bean counter or MBA worth their salt that
has not proposed such a move. Their advice is often taken to heart because the
cost savings are simply too attractive to be ignored. The end result for many
technical Used2B_AllStars is a frustrating period of undeserved unemployment.
The market is quick to detect and reject trailing edge skills, increasing age and
lack of current employment. If your former occupation has become an export,
it may even be difficult to maintain the positive references you've actually earned.
The obvious remedy to this situation is to retool.
This is almost certainly the best investment that can be made.
In other countries dislocated workers find more concrete support from their
governments, but rugged individualists we Americans are, we look after ourselves.
This means that individuals take on all of the cost and risk involved in creating their
own futures : Choose wisely, young Skywalker. Select the training that is inadequate,
or a sector of the technical world that proves to be short lived, and you can lose
your investment and possibly your career as well
The range of choices is vast. There are online courses, bootcamps,
university extension courses and a plethora of certification and degree programs
competing for your career investment dollars. If this was not enough to warrant
extensive and serious investigation, several immersive coding schools have now
joined the fray in San Francisco. Many of their graduates, including those with no
previous coding experience, have gone on to work with outfits like Facebook,
Twilio and Twitter at enviable salaries.
App Academy, Catalyst Class, Hackbright and Dev
Bootcamp have recently emerged as technical education vendors that promise
to take you from zero to in demand, in three months or so. Bear in mind that you will
probably be coding and sleeping for those three months, but isn't that what software
engineering often looks like ? These schools are also selective about who they train.
Everyone wants the best chance at success here. The cost is not inconsiderable either,
with fees running to $12K. This compares favorably to degree programs and is near par
with many bootcamps and certifications.
There is a legitimate question about such rapid retooling :
Does it really work ? Having spent more than a few years
writing code myself, I never found a course that did more than get me started
down the road to becoming productive in a given technology. Application of
copious amounts of elbow grease over a period of several months was necessary to
achieve anything that looked like routine competency. If there was no relevant project
to work on immediately, then my hard earned 'extertise' evaporated quickly. The real
target here seems to be entry level competency in the technology of choice.
Depending on how prospective employers define the expected skill set at this level,
this objective is realistic.
One difference in this latest incarnation of the retooling game is that some of the
vendors, such as App Academy, do not charge students anything
up front, opting instead for 12.5% of the first years' salary once they are hired.
This effectively shares the risk involved and strongly suggests that these vendors
really believe that their training will make you saleable.
This is simply astounding. Education is an unusual product in that it must
be completely consumed before its quality can be judged. You will always pay for what
you get, but the obverse is not always true. This is the first group of education vendors
I've ever heard of that proposes such a business model. As a result, I think the answer
is simple :
Get Thee To A Coding School As Fast As Ye Can.
App Academy : Ruby, JavaScript, CapStone
Catalyst Class : Javascript, HTML, and CSS, and server-side Javascript and Ruby on Rails.
Dev Bootcamp : Ruby, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript
Hackbright Academy : Women Engineers.
SF Business Times Source Article 12/14
ScN 12/12
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Fake it until it works Dept. :
Some time ago I was asked how reddit.com grew so
rapidly in its' membership. Apart from becoming
the darling of the college set, I had no response.
Well, it seems that there was a little tomfoolery afoot :
MakeeUppeeePeople
See there was a reason I had no good answer !
Some time ago I was asked how reddit.com grew so
rapidly in its' membership. Apart from becoming
the darling of the college set, I had no response.
Well, it seems that there was a little tomfoolery afoot :
MakeeUppeeePeople
See there was a reason I had no good answer !
Monday, June 18, 2012
Modern Miscellany
Here are a few items of interest from the ever engaging word of technology :
WIN RT FAQ!
WIN 8 is leaking already....
When new products get wierd.
Google alarmed by censorship. How do you define that ?
We Gotcha Captcha !
All the news that's been fit to read ;-)
WIN RT FAQ!
WIN 8 is leaking already....
When new products get wierd.
Google alarmed by censorship. How do you define that ?
We Gotcha Captcha !
All the news that's been fit to read ;-)
Boot 2 Gecko / HTML5 Event
One of our members told us about this event.
It seems a worthwhile and enlightening pastime.
http://www.sfhtml5.org/events/61409842/
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
6:30 PM
About the Talk
SFHTML5 is excited to welcome back Rob Hawkes (@robhawkes) to talk about Mozilla's Boot to Gecko project that aims to revolutionise the way we develop for mobile devices. He'll highlight the key technologies involved in its creation and explain why a mobile experience created with HTML and JavaScript is a good idea.
About the Speaker
Rob thrives on solving problems through code. He has an addiction to visual programming and can't get enough of HTML5 and JavaScript. He's a Technical Evangelist at Mozilla and leads the gaming side of their work within the developer community
This event will be recorded and live streamed. The live streaming link will be posted on http://www.sfhtml5.org/ the day of the event and on Twitter (@sfhtml5).
It seems a worthwhile and enlightening pastime.
http://www.sfhtml5.org/events/61409842/
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
6:30 PM
About the Talk
SFHTML5 is excited to welcome back Rob Hawkes (@robhawkes) to talk about Mozilla's Boot to Gecko project that aims to revolutionise the way we develop for mobile devices. He'll highlight the key technologies involved in its creation and explain why a mobile experience created with HTML and JavaScript is a good idea.
About the Speaker
Rob thrives on solving problems through code. He has an addiction to visual programming and can't get enough of HTML5 and JavaScript. He's a Technical Evangelist at Mozilla and leads the gaming side of their work within the developer community
This event will be recorded and live streamed. The live streaming link will be posted on http://www.sfhtml5.org/ the day of the event and on Twitter (@sfhtml5).
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Directions to the Northgate Mall Community Room
The IT Career Group meetings are held in the Northgate Mall Community Room every Wednesday except the first Wednesday of the month.
The Community Room is located on the second floor of the Northgate Mall between the mall management offices and Marinlink office. It is directly over the Subway in the mall Food Court.
Take the elevator beyond the rest rooms off the Food Court and go to the 2nd Floor. Make a 180-degree turn to the right as you come out of the elevator; the Community Room is through the double doors. Follow the red line on the map below if you have trouble finding the elevator. (Click on map to enlarge.)
The Community Room is located on the second floor of the Northgate Mall between the mall management offices and Marinlink office. It is directly over the Subway in the mall Food Court.
Take the elevator beyond the rest rooms off the Food Court and go to the 2nd Floor. Make a 180-degree turn to the right as you come out of the elevator; the Community Room is through the double doors. Follow the red line on the map below if you have trouble finding the elevator. (Click on map to enlarge.)
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Windows Update Hijacked!
Sorry for the continuing spate of alarming posts, but like the Linkedin password problem, this is potentially very bad news. It appears that the Flame malware that's in the news lately can hijack the automatic Microsoft Windows Update mechanism that provides weekly updates to computers all over the planet. A successful, widespread attack on Windows Update could infect and cause havoc on a very, very large number of computers.
Details can be found at this Security Week article. The article doesn't make clear how dangerous the present attack is, but it appears that the infection can spread throughout a network from a single infected computer. Make sure your security software is up-to-date, and watch for signs of unusual computer activity.
More information on Flame can be found in the associated Wikipedia entry.
(via)
Details can be found at this Security Week article. The article doesn't make clear how dangerous the present attack is, but it appears that the infection can spread throughout a network from a single infected computer. Make sure your security software is up-to-date, and watch for signs of unusual computer activity.
More information on Flame can be found in the associated Wikipedia entry.
(via)
Linkedin Passwords Stolen! Time to Change Yours!
According to this article in Security Week, at least 6.5 million Linkedin passwords have been stolen and 300,000+ of them have been cracked so far.
To change your Linkedin password, log in to Linkedin and look for your name at the top right of the page. Click on it to get a drop-down menu and click on Settings. On the Settings page, look for words "Password change" below your Primary Email on the left hand side of the page. Click on change to change your pass word.
Linkedin's blog has a post with additional information about the tropic here.
(via)
To change your Linkedin password, log in to Linkedin and look for your name at the top right of the page. Click on it to get a drop-down menu and click on Settings. On the Settings page, look for words "Password change" below your Primary Email on the left hand side of the page. Click on change to change your pass word.
Linkedin's blog has a post with additional information about the tropic here.
(via)
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Getting You Coming and Going
If you've purchased a Windows PC lately, you've probably noticed it's loaded with crapware, free trial and demo versions of various software installed by the OEM, such as anti-malware or video games. Unfortunately, crapware can slow down your PC noticeably. So now, Micro$oft offers a service to turn your PC into what they call a Signature edition, with all of the crapware removed and nearly every piece of Windows Live software ever made installed. The cost? A mere $99!
To quote from the article linked below, "The OEMs make money from installing crapware onto PCs, and now Microsoft is making money removing it. Makes you realize why more and more people are buying Apple hardware." More here.
To quote from the article linked below, "The OEMs make money from installing crapware onto PCs, and now Microsoft is making money removing it. Makes you realize why more and more people are buying Apple hardware." More here.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Jean-Louis Gassee on iTunes vs. Windows
Just ran across this blog post by former Macintosh and BeOS honcho Jean-Louis Gassee. In it, he offers insights on why iTunes is the way it is and why it can be such a pain to use, especially on Windows. For those interested in the origins of iTunes, take a look at this short Wikipedia article. Enjoy.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Watch Out for That Flash Update!
Interesting news from ZDNet about the latest Flash update from Adobe. No, the problem is not the update itself, but the attempt by one of Adobe's partners to scare you into downloading useless crapware. My advice: get the update; don't fall for the scam.
Also interesting: the tale of a Web startup that decided it wasn't going to pay the Microsoft Tax. I can remember when Internet Explorer was the dominant Web browser. Now, not so much.
Cheers!
Warren Lorente
Also interesting: the tale of a Web startup that decided it wasn't going to pay the Microsoft Tax. I can remember when Internet Explorer was the dominant Web browser. Now, not so much.
Cheers!
Warren Lorente
Sunday, March 4, 2012
How the WWW First Spread
Everybody who reads this should know that British physicist Tim Berners-Lee developed (actually was head of a team which developed) the World Wide Web in 1991 while at the European physics lab CERN. The article here tells the story of what came next and involves Bay Area physicists at Stanford.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
IT Career Group Meeting, Wed., 2/8/2012
We welcome you to join us in the Northgate Mall Community Room between 9 AM and 11 AM. The Community Room is directly above the Subway in the Food Court. Take the elevator beyond the rest rooms off the Food Court and go to the 2nd Floor. Make a U-turn to the right as you come out of the elevator; the Community Room is through the double doors. See you there.
-Warren
-Warren
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Testing 1,2,3 Anyone ?
We're being really optimistic here.
Ok, I am being absurdly optimistic,
but we are getting closer to having
enough of the new Marin Professionals
web site in place to seek someone to
break it for us.
Anyone with interest, please respond.
Ok, I am being absurdly optimistic,
but we are getting closer to having
enough of the new Marin Professionals
web site in place to seek someone to
break it for us.
Anyone with interest, please respond.
Too much of a thing : Web Site Scaling
Hey that web site worked just fine until people started using it !
I built it, so I should know : It's solid as a rock.
Given the right circumstances it may sink like one too.
UpScaling a web site may not be a trivial matter.
Here are a few pointers on how to escape with your
professional life and
Avoid Being Crushed By Success
I built it, so I should know : It's solid as a rock.
Given the right circumstances it may sink like one too.
UpScaling a web site may not be a trivial matter.
Here are a few pointers on how to escape with your
professional life and
Avoid Being Crushed By Success
Openings At Santa Rosa Junior College
There are not quite so many technical opportunities, but there
are some. The SRJC has a very good reputation and apparently
still has very nice benefits too. Look here for further enlightenment :
Opportunity Knocks at SRJC
are some. The SRJC has a very good reputation and apparently
still has very nice benefits too. Look here for further enlightenment :
Opportunity Knocks at SRJC
Comcast Community Television : Scratch & Sniff Ayone ?
Amazing.
Comcast is supporting something good ?
Indeed they are and even in our own back yard :
819 A Street,
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 721-0636
You can go here to both learn about and actually use technology that none of
us use right now.
Ok, I mean I don't use it, but I have signed up for their orientation
session next Tuesday 2/7 19:00 -> 21:00.
With registration this is open to all residents of Marin.
Go here for more : MORE !
Comcast is supporting something good ?
Indeed they are and even in our own back yard :
Marin TV provides southern Marin County with it’s own non-commercial community, educational and governmental cable channels. Available on Comcast 26, 27, 30, AT&T U-verse 99 and online on this site. The channels cablecast programming 24/7 to over 70,000 Marin households. We offer all residents of Marin low-cost training and the latest digital tools so they can create cable TV and online media. For schools, non-profits and government agencies, we provide special organizational services and fee-for-service production assistance. Marin is watching Marin TV – are you what’s on?
Mission:
The Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) strives to educate and advance the way residents, schools and governments connect and strengthen our communities through media.
Strategy:
The Community Media Center of Marin empowers Marin residents, local schools and governments with the education and access to media production tools to communicate effectively with the Marin community through media.
Located at : 819 A Street,
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 721-0636
You can go here to both learn about and actually use technology that none of
us use right now.
Ok, I mean I don't use it, but I have signed up for their orientation
session next Tuesday 2/7 19:00 -> 21:00.
With registration this is open to all residents of Marin.
Go here for more : MORE !
The Dark Side Of Social Media ?
We've seen all sorts of very useful things arise from social media.
Everything from the `arab spring` movements to our own `Occupy
What The 0.1% have not hidden well enough`. It has even helped
a few of us find work.
While this is a very useful means to an end, but one should be careful with that end.
It may or may not be just what it appears to be.
Read on MacDuff :
Flash Mob .....Flash Riot.... 4 what ?
Everything from the `arab spring` movements to our own `Occupy
What The 0.1% have not hidden well enough`. It has even helped
a few of us find work.
While this is a very useful means to an end, but one should be careful with that end.
It may or may not be just what it appears to be.
Read on MacDuff :
Flash Mob .....Flash Riot.... 4 what ?
Support your local professionals
As many of us already know the resources devoted to Marin Professionals
have been reduced. I guess the unemployment rate has improved enough
to put the resources elsewhere.
If you want to write an emil in support of what Marin Professionals
has done for you, you can try the San Rafael Workforce Services
Manager, Ms. Andrea Lackey.
You can find her ar andrea.lackey@edd.ca.gov.
Please be brief, polite and persuasive.
have been reduced. I guess the unemployment rate has improved enough
to put the resources elsewhere.
If you want to write an emil in support of what Marin Professionals
has done for you, you can try the San Rafael Workforce Services
Manager, Ms. Andrea Lackey.
You can find her ar andrea.lackey@edd.ca.gov.
Please be brief, polite and persuasive.
UBUNTU Advances ..
For the first few years of its existence, it would have been fair to say that Canonical was essentially polishing, packaging and publishing Debian Linux (and Gnome) to create the base Ubuntu desktop, to great acclaim. For the past few years, though, the company has pushed new looks and new applications (cf. Unity and Ubuntu TV), and refused to stick with prettifying existing interfaces. Now, Barence writes with this excerpt from PC Pro: "Ubuntu is set to replace the 30-year-old computer menu system with a 'Head-Up Display' that allows users to simply type or speak menu commands. Instead of hunting through drop-down menus to find application commands, Ubuntu's Head-Up Display lets users type what they want to do into a search box. The system suggests possible commands as the user begins typing – entering 'Rad' would bring up the Radial blur command in the GIMP art package, for example. HUD also uses fuzzy matching and learns from past searches to ensure the correct commands are offered to users. Canonical's Mark Shuttleworth told PC Pro the HUD will make it easier for people to learn new software packages, and migrate from Windows to Linux software without having to relearn menus. The HUD will first appear in Ubuntu 12.04.
WE Meet !?
Indeed we do.
Tomorrow, Wednedsay 2/1 at 9 AM in The Mall At Northgate
in Terra Linda.
Alas we're stuck in the food court as this is the first
Wednesday of the month.
Hey, you don't have so far to go for coffee.
Hope to see y'all there.
Tomorrow, Wednedsay 2/1 at 9 AM in The Mall At Northgate
in Terra Linda.
Alas we're stuck in the food court as this is the first
Wednesday of the month.
Hey, you don't have so far to go for coffee.
Hope to see y'all there.
The Tides Foundation has openings ...
Human Resources | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Consulting | Open | |
Information Technology | Open | |
Information Technology | Open | |
Facilities | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Human Resources | Open |
Human Resources | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Consulting | Open | |
Information Technology | Open | |
Information Technology | Open | |
Facilities | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Human Resources | Open |
Human Resources | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Consulting | Open | |
Information Technology | Open | |
Information Technology | Open | |
Facilities | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Finance | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Client Services | Open | |
Human Resources | Open |
Thanks to Judith Fleenor for the pointer !
Jobs with Tides
These are good folks in the Presidio :
Since 1976, we have worked with over 15,000 individuals and organizations in the mutual endeavor to make the world a better place. These include foundations, donors, corporations, social investors, nonprofit organizations, government institutions, community organizations, activists, social entrepreneurs, and more.
We break down the walls between entrepreneurs and their efforts to bring positive change to their communities. We are all about new ideas, innovation, and providing the tools to make these great ideas a reality.
Linux attack !?
Slashdot reports a rare, but no longer so uncommon event : an incursion into the
most robust of our operating systems :
"Linux vendors are rushing to patch a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be exploited by local attackers to gain root access on the system. The vulnerability, which is identified as CVE-2012-0056, was discovered by Jüri Aedla and is caused by a failure of the Linux kernel to properly restrict access to the '/proc//mem' file."
.... Proving once again that physical security is actually worth something.
most robust of our operating systems :
"Linux vendors are rushing to patch a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be exploited by local attackers to gain root access on the system. The vulnerability, which is identified as CVE-2012-0056, was discovered by Jüri Aedla and is caused by a failure of the Linux kernel to properly restrict access to the '/proc//mem' file."
.... Proving once again that physical security is actually worth something.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
No Meeting This Week ....
We will be resuming our weekly meetings later this month.
We have two issues to sort out :
1. Meeting room availability. I will be looking into
this later this week.
2. Extent of interest the group members have in
routine meetings. Frequency of the meetings
also needs to be ascertained.
All comments are welcomed.
Have a happy and really prosperous new year !
We have two issues to sort out :
1. Meeting room availability. I will be looking into
this later this week.
2. Extent of interest the group members have in
routine meetings. Frequency of the meetings
also needs to be ascertained.
All comments are welcomed.
Have a happy and really prosperous new year !
Book Keeper Wanted : Marin County
Part Time Book Keeper Wanted January 3, 2012
A husband and wife team who live and work in the bay area seek a qualified book keeper to support their businesses. Ted Wray, Builder is an established general contracting company. Robin Scott Catering has been serving discriminating clients for more than 20 years.
A competent and professional Bookkeeper is required to handle the affairs of both companies as well as our personal portfolio. Applicants are expected to perform all aspects of a bookkeepers’ work.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
QUALIFICATIONS
A college or university degree is not a requirement, but a minimum
of 5 years experience as Bookkeeper most certainly is.
Remodel construction experience a plus.
Proficiency in computer accounting software and spreadsheets,
specifically Microsoft Office 2K3 - 10 and Quickbooks.
Working knowledge of budgets and financial statements.
Proficiency in cash flow management and projections.
Demonstrated careful attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong customer service skills.
Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, highly motivated and reliable.
Demonstrated ability to deliver reports and other projects and tasks in a timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks proficiently.
Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a collaborative, team oriented organization.
Impeccable integrity is required at all times.
Commitment to and a passion for the successful operation of the companies.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Oversee all of the financial activities of both companies ; accounting and information technology operations including functions related to human resources.
Maintain personnel files for all employees
Research and manage TWB employee benefits, including all insurance and retirement account enrollment, funding and the like.
Prepare monthly financial information for owner review.
Maintain general office related contracts and relationships such as leases,
phone systems, etc.
Prepare all bank reconciliations and submit for owner review.
Prepare monthly financial statements and submit for owner review.
Compile and prepare ongoing cash flow forecasting and needs analysis and submit to owner for review.
Prepare and maintain all schedules such as amortization, depreciation, leased items, equipment, assets, property value(s), capital reserves, forecasts, etc.
Oversee company information technology, hardware, software, storage systems and related functions.
Prepare job costing analysis and review with owner.
Prepare items and schedules for annual compliance and financial audits/reviews.
Act as liaison for compliance and audit teams.
Maintain fixed asset files.
Reconcile and balance various reports.
Maintain all financial reports, rosters, human resource and personnel salaries and wages with utmost confidentiality.
Ensure that the companies accounting systems are designed and managed to protect the companies assets at all times.
Honor and complete all assignments, tasks and additional duties as delegated by the owners.
We offer a generous benefit program. Pay is commensurate with experience.
The position is expected to required 16 - 24 hours of effort weekly.
Qualified applicants may fax resumes to (415.435.5776)
or e-mail to tedwray@pacbell.net.
PRINCIPALS ONLY please.
A husband and wife team who live and work in the bay area seek a qualified book keeper to support their businesses. Ted Wray, Builder is an established general contracting company. Robin Scott Catering has been serving discriminating clients for more than 20 years.
A competent and professional Bookkeeper is required to handle the affairs of both companies as well as our personal portfolio. Applicants are expected to perform all aspects of a bookkeepers’ work.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
QUALIFICATIONS
A college or university degree is not a requirement, but a minimum
of 5 years experience as Bookkeeper most certainly is.
Remodel construction experience a plus.
Proficiency in computer accounting software and spreadsheets,
specifically Microsoft Office 2K3 - 10 and Quickbooks.
Working knowledge of budgets and financial statements.
Proficiency in cash flow management and projections.
Demonstrated careful attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong customer service skills.
Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, highly motivated and reliable.
Demonstrated ability to deliver reports and other projects and tasks in a timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks proficiently.
Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a collaborative, team oriented organization.
Impeccable integrity is required at all times.
Commitment to and a passion for the successful operation of the companies.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Oversee all of the financial activities of both companies ; accounting and information technology operations including functions related to human resources.
Maintain personnel files for all employees
Research and manage TWB employee benefits, including all insurance and retirement account enrollment, funding and the like.
Prepare monthly financial information for owner review.
Maintain general office related contracts and relationships such as leases,
phone systems, etc.
Prepare all bank reconciliations and submit for owner review.
Prepare monthly financial statements and submit for owner review.
Compile and prepare ongoing cash flow forecasting and needs analysis and submit to owner for review.
Prepare and maintain all schedules such as amortization, depreciation, leased items, equipment, assets, property value(s), capital reserves, forecasts, etc.
Oversee company information technology, hardware, software, storage systems and related functions.
Prepare job costing analysis and review with owner.
Prepare items and schedules for annual compliance and financial audits/reviews.
Act as liaison for compliance and audit teams.
Maintain fixed asset files.
Reconcile and balance various reports.
Maintain all financial reports, rosters, human resource and personnel salaries and wages with utmost confidentiality.
Ensure that the companies accounting systems are designed and managed to protect the companies assets at all times.
Honor and complete all assignments, tasks and additional duties as delegated by the owners.
We offer a generous benefit program. Pay is commensurate with experience.
The position is expected to required 16 - 24 hours of effort weekly.
Qualified applicants may fax resumes to (415.435.5776)
or e-mail to tedwray@pacbell.net.
PRINCIPALS ONLY please.
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