Twitter is a great social tool that can help as a networking tool but there are some who have been taking advantage of this wonderful application and performing spam with it. For example, there are some users who have been known to log into Twitter, and begin spamming others with advertisements.

It doesn’t always happen that way however there are some who will take advantage of this application and do something which it is not meant for. I personally think it is unethical for someone to spam unsolicited data. I have experienced a few times being spammed in Twitter and it is very frustrating and quite sad to know there are persons that do drop to spamming unsolicited information on a social network.

I have seen these exact persons that spam get banned from the network so they do face consequences so this type of activity is not ignored. In many cases, if a person is caught spamming on Twitter, they will be banned by their IP (Internet Protocol) not just email address and unable to rejoin.

Hewlett-Packard has come to my rescue after three months of seeking out options for a new laptop.  I hadn’t planned on getting one immediately but due to how the current one was working I didn’t have much of a choice. What was purchased however is excellent for having a mobile system. I haven’t tried everything on it as there hasn’t been a lot of time in my schedule but I am quite pleased with the new system and the performance I am getting from it. After doing a lot of seeking and price decision, the final choice was made on a Hewlett-Packard laptop that is very high on the market. Here are the specs:

• AMD Turion X2 RM-72
• 2.10 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache and can handle up to 4000 MT
• 4096 MB DDR2 Memory
• 250 Gig hard drive (5400 rpm)
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
• Nvidia Graphics Card 8200M
• Three USB 2.0 ports
• 8x DVD R/RW drive with double layer support
• 15.6″ WXGA wide screen monitor
• Wi-Fi certified

If anyone is interested in looking up the model, here is the SKU# for it, HPG60-235WM

In my opinion, excellent clarity in the graphics and it just flies when you download files from the Internet. For example I had to reset up my Internet on it and when I got FireFox again it took no time to complete. I have the laptop as a second system as I also have the desktop as my main computer. Since the prior laptop was four years old it was due to be replaced. Oh and by the way, this was a great price and well worth every penny! Happy hunting if you need to make a purchase for a new laptop. I would highly suggest HP as this one was well worth it.

Xara (pronounced zara) Web Designer application creates web sites without the designer needing to know a lot of code. Now some may have an issue with that if you’re old school and used to doing everything the old fashioned way. But, if you are a new web designer just starting out and need that extra boost, this software may be something to consider as it will help you gain confidence in what you are doing for a client.

Another important factor to make note of is Xara uses templates but it also allows the designer to import graphics they have made like Front Page or Dreamweaver would. Another benefit with Xara is the software permits the user to publish directly to the URL instead of using an FTP protocol which saves on time transferring files to the designated area. Xara also provides a 30-day trial for the end user to make their own decision before purchasing.
Here is the link to the web site: www.xara.com

Here’s the skinny with the latest on MS 7 and their roll out date. Many have been saying multiple time frames and it has gotten rather confusing so I felt it was a good idea to clear the air on a few issues. When Microsoft is rolling out their project they operate in a way that only select few people are aware of the exact scheduled dates. Why is that done? So the rest of the crew involved doesn’t release the information and give other software competitor a heads up on their current status.

Consider it this way, if you had a product that was due to be released and wanted it to be perfect there would only be a select few who would be aware of authorized information whereas the rest would know confidential information they just would not be aware of the full details. It does not mean those persons are not trusted, it is actually protecting you as a company for purchasing power. It is also protecting those who work for you so they will not need to be aware of delicate information and avoid certain issues in conversations which can become quite stressful.Now down to the nitty with this new operating system.

The first chance of even seeing something for Microsoft  7 is the end of April as Windows 7 RC will be released. For those who are not aware, RC means Release Candidate. Something else to keep in mind as you eagerly await seeing Windows 7, this is the first release of the operating system so there are bound to be updates soon to follow. The first release will be provided to those who supported Microsoft in developing Windows 7. The next release of RC1 shortly after that will be available for the public. In an article I have located, information stated first release is to be expected on April 30 and the next release is to be on May 7th.

I did some further searching and came across a helpful web site that explained everything which Microsoft Windows 7 will have available on it listed with a fairly reasonable definition of each. Here is the link so you can visit and make a copy for yourself and future saving.

Windows 7 Pre-release (M3) Privacy Supplement

Something I have learned using Microsoft since 3.1 came onto the market, there will always be corrections done and there will always be updates available especially if they are critical fixes. Considering how far Windows has been enhanced since back in the day, it has been quite a long distance travel from dialog boxes in ANSI to smooth rounded graphics in C+ including the advancement in multimedia from PC speakers to surround sound Dolby stereo with various drivers.

A lot of things have taken place the past few months which I am still attempting to understand myself as things are happening so quickly. One of the biggest issues is I am college bound, again. This time it is for my Doctorate of Business Administration in Information Technology. There had been consideration of taking some time off but after much consideration it was the best choice for me to make. So what I have decided to do is begin building my own small journal section here on the blog and use it as an update section of what is going on and what I am working on with this dissertation.

I won’t give all of my information away as this information will be made public then sold. What I will do is provide documentation to you regarding how things are going since I can’t always keep up with the blogging articles. I am diving back into technology head first and quite excited about it as this is a place where I need to be. I am looking forward to having the ability of being able to share my experiences with others.

As a kid, I can remember watching Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner as they heard with their super sonic hearing and bent big pieces of steel. I remember the beginning of each show when it played through the starting music you would hear, “we can rebuild him”. As a kid, of course it was a television show but I always did wonder about the future of technology. As an adult, 30 years later I have read the uses done with a robotic arm in space and the medical industry. We’ve surely come a long way folks!

While working on my web site the past few weeks I was thinking about what has taken place in our society and what our future has yet to hold for us. I thought back to the bionic couple, reworded it a little, and it kept me going. I was determined to complete the restructure of this web site because is it not only a classic and simple look, it also is the beginning of a new chapter as apageor2 will be branching out into other areas beyond just web design.

There are two projects we are researching. One we can teach disabled persons virtually. The second project being researched is how to advance virtual learning in our local community.

For the past many months I have been toying with two different instant messenger tools to test out their differences. As for myself, I have accounts with Yahoo, AOL Instant Messenger, MSN, and ICQ. The convenience of using Pidgin or Trillian will gather all information together into one simple program. There is no need to opening up every instant messenger, instead I only have to open up just one which brings up all of my contacts for each account.

For example when a new user begins an account on Trillian or Pidgin they are presented with a dialog box and asked what account they wish to add. In this example, the user would choose Yahoo. A new dialog box appears which the user then enters their Yahoo account name and password. The tool then begins to see all of the contacts (or buddies) on their list. The user can then follow this same procedure for AOL instant messenger, MSN, ICQ and other accounts which they have.

When the user has completed adding all of their accounts, they can then set all of the preferences of the program or look at the window of the buddy list. The buddy list is long, narrow, and easy to move around. Pidgin and Trillian set up icons in the status bar where your volume control is. To open the buddy window, double click the icon. To close, click the X in the top right corner.

To send someone a message, you need to double click the person’s name, a second small window will appear. You then type a message, press enter or click the “Enter” button then your instant message will then be sent to them. In some cases, your message may not be received. For example, your message will not be read if the intended person is offline, invisible, or if the person is set to away and does not want to speak with anyone.

Two more very important things to note with these instant message tools. Trillian has a basic application version and a paid version. As for Pidgin, it is a free application. The second issue I noticed regarding Pidgin is the application moves a lot faster than Trillian when running.

In essence, it is user preference for what application is used. The best thing I suggest is to try them both out and see which one is liked over the other. Here are the URLs to both web sites to download the free software and learn more about them.

For Pidgin: http://www.pidgin.im

For Trillian: http://www.ceruleanstudios.com

The anticipated arrival of Windows 7 will not be released until June 3, 2009 however there is a pre-beta of this operating system. With this pre-beta, end users can download, install, and get a feel for what the new operating system will be like. There are many statements how performance can be improved using the new operating system. I decided to research Windows 7 and see for myself.

I found an article explaining the new operating system. Here is a small excerpt from it:

“Through reduced background activity by minimizing the number of services running at startup, the number of disk operations, the reading and writing to and from the the registry, and the indexing of files, Windows 7 promises to increase the performance of the operating system but also to consume much less energy.” (Pociu, 2008)

You can read the rest of the story here.

Resources:
Pociu, Andrew. Windows 7 Improves Performance and Energy Efficiency. [December 2008]

For the past 32 hours I have spent probably 12 of it online surfing for information looking online for basic documentation on a business plan. Why, I am restructuring my business and I had hoped there was somewhere on the Internet that would provide me with a generic set up for a business plan to guide me. It has been at least five years since I wrote the first one. At any rate, there was no luck. I did however stumble across a great search engine along the way called About.com that gave me a break down of each section which I was then able to study from.

I will include the link to where those documents can be found at the end of this writing. I would like to add, the author provided detailed information on each section so someone who had no clue regarding business would understand. One of the issues I have discovered with documentation is it is either not fully detailed with samples or the information given is written as the author anticipates the reader to be a person of experience.

As I rebuild this business plan I will share some personal thoughts and experiences I have had. For now, here is the link to the business plan documentation I am working with so you can follow along with my journey.

Here is the first link to the Executive Summary

Iowa and Nebraska are currently experiencing blowing snow with very high winds that cause temperature to drop well below zero. This is a very dangerous temperature for children, elderly, and anyone who attempts to be outside for long periods. It is important to prepare yourself, your family, and stay tuned to the weather under these types of conditions.

There is a list of things which can be done. For your vehicle be sure to have an emergency kit in case something were to happen and you are caught on the side of the road. You can purchase a kit at any automotive store however you also can prepare one by using items from your home to save money. An emergency kit will include:

- cell phone
- blanket(s)
- emergency flares and reflectors
- shovel
- jumper cables
- flashlight with batteries (and spares just in case)
- bag of cat litter for traction
- extra clothing

Keep your vehicle filled with gas during the winter months. Should you ever get stranded during a blizzard, it is best not to physically leave your vehicle. Instead, light emergency flares and set reflectors on the outside of the vehicle to inform authorities of your location. You can run your vehicle’s engine for 10 minutes then turn it off. Use your cell phone to contact roadside assistance. If you are hurt, dial 911 for emergency assistance. You can contact the local police for assistance as well.