Back in my geek days, I found MajorGeeks.com a help. It’s a download site focused on shareware, freeware, and demoware with an emphasis on tools for geeks. I don’t know how current they are anymore, but they’re still online, and I was able to download a search enhancement utility for my old version of MS Outlook.
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Feb
26
2010
So you want to be a Program ManagerPosted by: edward in mid-life crisis, X-Geek, tech writingI’ve been reading Joel Spolsky’s blog recently, going back through the archives, and I found this gem of a post from about a year ago:
Huh. I’ve been having a big pity party over the past year and a half. I’m too old. Anyway, what the hell could I do? In my 30 years of working for a living, I’ve not seen anything I really wanted to do. I’ve gotten involved in things like technical writing, involved to the point of forgetting to go home at the end of my work day — but I’d need a four-year degree to go anywhere with that. Back in college, I got involved like that with computer programming - but I’d need a four-year degree to go anywhere with that, too. But that list — design UIs, write functional specs, coordinate teams, serve as a customer advocate - I could DO that! I could even wear Banana Republic chinos (although I usually buy Dockers). I may look into becoming a software Program Manager. I’ve got “month-end” coming up next week at work, but after that, I’m going to pick up Scott Berkun’s book and see if being a Program Manager still seems like a good idea after reading that. You know those blurbs at the end of pharmaceuticals commercials on TV? “If you can’t afford your medication, Prescott Pharmaceuticals may be able to help.” Who is the intended audience for those blurbs? According to DailyKos commenter Ralphdog (a rural family-practice physician), those programs involve a LOT of paperwork for the doctor - so much so that some doctors won’t fill out that paperwork without charging the patient (who can’t afford their medications, remember) a paperwork fee. So the pharmaceutical companies don’t seem to be knocking themselves out to make these medicines available to low-income patients. OTOH, people with reasonable insurance will probably hear those blurbs at the end of the commercials and think, “Well, that’s good. If the pharmaceutical companies are helping out, I guess I don’t need to be concerned.” This is straight out of psychological studies of “Social Proof.” Robert Cialdini writes about this in connection with the Kitty Genovese case, IIRC.
Dec
17
2009
MSNBC: Check your Facebook privacy settings. Now!Posted by: edward in X-Geek, marketing, webmasteryCheck your Facebook privacy settings. Now! MSNBC’s Helen A.S. Popkin goes step-by-step through Facebook’s recently changed privacy setting, giving what I think is very useful information about the settings changes that need to be made. This is NOT the useless “Un-check the ‘Allow indexing’” advice that’s currently making the rounds of email and Facebook Status messages. Setting your Facebook privacy settings correctly takes more time than unchecking a single box - but Popkin’s advice can help.
Getting Fit With 2 Bits of Help - actual usage reviews of the Fitbit and DirectLife calorie monitoring systems.
Weight work and plyometrics will build fast-twitch muscle, but they won’t burn fat. Slow-twitch muscles burn fat - fast-twitch muscles burn carbohydrates and creatine phosphate. The only way the above workout would enhance fat-burning is by raising the heart rate, like low-to-moderate intensity cardio exercise. Once the heart rate is back down to the resting level, metabolism drops as well. The e-Rockit - a motorcycle that uses bicycle pedals to control speed: (there should be an embedded video showing above this line - stoopy Wordpress!)
Dec
11
2009
NY Times: Fitbit delayed, Other fitness gadgets, treadmill desk storyPosted by: edward in health and fitness
Nov
15
2009
Something to get blogged about…Posted by: edward in Uncategorized, tech writing, Current Events, health and fitnessTIME Magazine: 10 Truths About Weight Loss TIME Magazine: Fast Food: Would You Like 1,000 Calories with That? TIME Magazine: Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food NY Times: Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch (Pollan writes about Julia Child) Slate Magazine: Fix Your Terrible, Insecure Passwords in Five Minutes
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