Five Years Later...

On August 3, 2011 I posted the following status on Facebook:

More of Obama’s change you can believe in… “The Dow Jones Industrial average was down 101 points in afternoon trading, putting in on track for its ninth straight day of losses, the longest losing streak since February 1978."

The market had an afternoon recovery, and the Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) rose 30 points, or 0.3%, to close at 11,896. The S&P 500 (SPX) gained 6 points, or 0.5%, to 1,260; and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) added 24 points, or 0.9%, to 2,693.

Five Years Later

Had you invested in the market that day, you should be all smiles today as the market had recovered pretty well five years later. Here’s a chart to show how much better things were on August 3, 2011, vs August 3, 2016:

Lesson Learned

The key lesson here is that if you're going to invest in the market, focus on the long term and not the short term. Don’t pay much attention to the short-term news.

Stay in the game...your sure to win in the long run.

2016 Cloud Services Changes

This has been a tough year for cloud services. It looks like that business isn't really going well for Freemium usage. Here are some of the notifications that I have gotten this year from various companies:

Bitcasa Drive

Bitcasa decides to focus on the business market and canceled their consumer option:

This message is to inform you that the Bitcasa Drive service will no longer be supported. You will need to take action to avoid losing your files.

All data must be downloaded by 11:59pm PST on May 20, 2016, after which time all accounts and stored data on Bitcasa Drive will be permanently deleted.

Dropbox drops support for Carousel

Dropbox returned to a single Dropbox photo experience as the Carousel app doesn't bring in new DropBox subscribers:

On March 31st, we’re shutting down Carousel as a standalone app and returning to a single Dropbox photo experience. Carousel has always been a way to view and interact with photos stored in Dropbox. All the photos in your Carousel timeline will remain safe in your Dropbox where they’ve always been.

Microsoft changes OneDrive storage limit.

Microsoft decides to reduce storage limit on OneDrive to the Freemium consumers market in order to focus more on the business cloud solution.

On July 13, 2016, the amount of storage that comes with your OneDrive will change from 15 GB to 5 GB. We are also discontinuing the 15 GB camera roll bonus.

Evernote changes Price and Functionality

Evernote Plus is now $3.99/month or $34.99/year (save 27%)

To stay in sync across all your devices, consider Evernote Plus. You’ll also enjoy the ability to take notebooks offline on a mobile device, so your notes will be with you wherever you go, even when there’s no Internet connection. You can forward emails into Evernote and keep them alongside related notes, complete with attachments, and 1 GB of upload space each month means you can keep all your projects together.

Lesson Learned this Year

The key lesson learned is that if you're going to use a cloud service, you should invest in it and not just take up on the free plan for storage.

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Short Read Books

I see a lot of commuters playing games on their smartphones on their commuter rail trip. Some other users seem to be taking the time to read a novel. (I haven't seen anyone read 50 Shades of grey.)

Did you know that Amazon has a list of short read books that take about 45 to 60 minutes to read. Perfect for Framingham commuters. Some of these books cost $.99 and plenty good ones that are free.

I think it's a great opportunity to spend time on the train learning something new.

• Pokemon Go: The Unofficial Pokemon Go Guide to Pokemon Go Secrets, Tips & Tricks
• Photography: Photography for Beginner's: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Creating Amazing Digital Photographs.
• Pepper Growing: Learn How To Grow Different Types Of Hot Peppers
• Herbal Therapy: 30 Amazing Medicinal Herbs And Plants For Inner And Outer Use And Healing
• Navy Seals: Self-Discipline: Training and Self-Discipline to Become Tough Like A Navy SEAL

Check out the Kindle Short Reads section today and find some interesting books to read!

College Grads: What you should consider when selecting a job

Your in your early twenties, and you just graduated college. You are probably full of excitement, and happiness, but at the same time you might be feeling a bit of anxiety and uncertainty to what the future will hold. You should feel excited because the opportunities that await your future endeavors are limitless. As a recent college graduate, you are equipped with the most up to date tools and information from your studies and college experience. You might not have hands-on experience like others competing for the same occupation do, but you do have the freshest knowledge when it comes to bookwork and knowledge.

Graduating college may make you feel like you have no limits, but at the same time, you may feel uncertainty and a small level of uncomfort because you are unclear where you may end up in the future. The feelings of discomfort are all very common, and should pass when you begin searching for your first job. Landing your first interview will help you to feel more confident in your ability to compete with others within the job market. But, there are other factors we should consider.

Selecting the correct occupation

Even though you may have selected a field to enter into through your past four years of studying, doesn't mean you are bound to that specific area. In fact, many college graduates quickly find out that they're interests have changed, and they end up applying for jobs that seem more appealing through their searches. Most employers today do not specifically look at your degree, but they focus more on how well they think you could handle the day to day duties that come alongside the position they are offering.

Don't be so hard on yourself- if you find a more appealing position to apply to that differs from your current path, feel free to apply. Having a college degree already differentiates you from others competing for the same entry level position you are applying for. Additionally, you shouldn't become discouraged if you are not able to find the correct occupation suited for your interests upon your initial search. Selecting the correct occupation takes time and effort- something that comes alongside being diligent in your search and always putting your best foot forward.

Remembering Safety

A lot of times recent college graduates do not stop to consider the safety implications that come along with different prospective career options. Generally, grads will focus on interest level and starting salary when determining the best fit for their occupation. Interest level is one of the most important things to consider when selecting a career option, followed by the aspect of being able to support yourself if you are selected as a candidate for the position. Both are extremely important, notable features of careers you are evaluating for their ability to suit your needs.

One aspect almost all graduates overlook is safety. How safe is the job I am applying for? Do your research and investigate others who may have experienced an injury while on the job. You might be surprised at what you find. Generally, more physical jobs experience injury at higher rates than jobs where less physical activity is required. Roofers and construction workers are among the highest to experience similar situations while at work. Other occupations, such as truck and delivery drivers frequently experience serious consequences related to bodily harm. Most notable, males generally take up much of the employment sector of these occupations and are much more likely to be affected by these trends. A great question to ask yourself would be- Is the associated danger worth the salary or pay amount? For some, it may be yes, but for others, this may require more thinking and analysis into the trends.

Making A Decision

As most college graduates will find, there is a multitude of decisions that must be made when it comes to selecting the correct career option for their needs. Salary, time away from home, education level, and general interest in the position are the most commonly evaluated aspects of a new career. Safety should be a larger-scale factor that is addressed when considering a career option, and can many times easily be overlooked. If you are a recent college grad, step back and ask yourself what is more important to a new career. Make a checklist and carefully consider the duties that come along with occupations in which you are applying for.

Propane tanks Expiration Date

Did you know that Propane tanks expire?

Federal law requires tank re-certification after 12 years from the original manufacture date. A coded date is stamped into the carrying handle of the tank. The tank expires at the end of the month of the date stamped. Propane dealers are required by law to refuse to re-fill an expired tank.

Check out the date stamp in one of my propane tanks:

The first 2 digits represent the month. In this example 06 is June. The last 2 digits represent the year of manufacture. In this example 2002. This tank expires the end of April 2014. I can no longer refill this tank.

Propane tank Rental Alert

If your using any Propane tank exchange, such as Blue Rino or AmeriGas, make sure to check the date on the propane tank. Don't get stuck with an almost expired tank. You may experience issues when you try to return it or if you want to refill it at a propane dealer.

Recycle Options

Framingham residents can recycle their expired tanks at the Recycle Center for $5. Additionally, you can recycle the containers at Monnick Supply Company for $5.

Code Slush

Code Slush is when QA test the stability of a release during a longer than normal QA cycle. QA uses this period to test the stability of the stable branch to make sure that there are no issues.

I created the following graphics to help QA leads if they want to alert the team if there's an upcoming Code Slush.

Just two type Pages....

This is a look back at one of the "strange" books that I have in my collection.

Just Two Typed Pages Brought $2,000 a Week … and that was only the beginning
by Samuel Lee

If you looked at the Weekly World News or Small Business Magazines in the 1990s, you would have seen some ads with the headline: "Just Two Typed Pages Brought $2,000 a Week … and that was only the beginning." It was very clever marketing to get to you buy the book and then join their reseller program.

I am confused as the correct author as someone on Amazon.com is selling the exact same book but written by Sam Pitts. They are currently selling the book for $46. I’ll save you the time and money and let you know that it isn’t worth the price.

I purchased this book from a magazine advertisement sometime in the late 1990s. I have never read the entire book. The core part of the book is about how to use direct marketing to sell a product. If you don't have something to sell, they has some products that you can resell. (This sounds very similar to what Don Lapree was doing.)

Inside the Book

This is the first couple of paragraphs in the book:

As you may already know from ordering my book, my name is Sam Lee. I’m 36 years old - still a young fellow. I have custody of my three children and life has not been easy, by any means. No doubt, every person who has ever lived has a story to tell. Almost everyone has been through the school of hard knocks and many of us have created our own problems. Many other times we have been victims of situations beyond our control. Whatever types of problems we have, they’re usually notes to deal with. I guess I’ve been blessed with one of those attitudes - you roll with the punches and you try to make the best of everything.

One thought I’ve had about life is you’re either rocking the boat or rowing the boat. Needless to say, if you want to get to the other side of the shore you need to be able to row the boat. But enough for the philosophy.

Back side:

A new and fresh motivating approach to making money - starting with almost nothing and making as much as $2,000 a week. Why work for someone else when you can have your very own business and make as much money as you want, whenever you want? I waited for ten years before I made the move to successful mail order business. I hope this book motivates you to start today.

That's all he Wrote

The book is no longer available. Apparently the publisher, National Publishers, has disappeared too. When I checked out the address, its now an abandoned warehouse in Osark Al. Oh and reading parts of the book I learn that the publisher is part of the same enterprise that the book is selling.

Most of the book content is not relevant in the Internet age.

I am unable to find out what ever became of Samuel Lee. Twenty years later is he still typing two pages? Did you end up getting this book? Did it work for you?

Chromebook vs MacBook

This past week Matt Novak posted an article on Gizmodo on, "Why I bought a Chromebook Instead of a Mac." Apparently Matt was a long time Macintosh user that switch to Chromebook because it was cheaper than getting a new MacBook.

Couple of quotes from the article:

"When all was said and done, even the cheapest Mac laptop was going to set me back about $1,300 after taxes and AppleCare. And the siren song of a computer under $200 was calling my name."

Later on he writes...

"I rarely have to edit video and my photo manipulation needs are minimal. So when I walk down to the coffee shop to work, what the hell do I need doing that can't be done on a Chromebook? Nothing is the answer."

Why even bother with a Chromebook? He should have just gotten a Kindle and a Bluetooth keyboard for a lot less than the $200.

Should Apple be Worried?

Apple isn't a bit worried about the "cheaper" laptop trends. Steve Jobs actually address this issue back in 2003 at the closing statements at MacWorld:

These are very challenging times across the whole economy - particularly in our industry.
Our competitors are laying off thousands of people and there is certainly a cause for despair if you believe that the personal computer is basically something that you spreadsheets and word processes on and HTML terminal for the internet
if that all you think it is then there is cause for despair.
That not what we think.
We think different.
WE believe that the personal computer is undergoing a rapid evolution at the center of our digital lives.
We have never been more excited about this stuff.
We are investing
We are going to innovate through this downturn
like the product you see here today and more coming.
and when this thing turns around, we are going to be in a great place....

Hear him on a recent SoundCloud posting:

In addition, this issue was addressed many years earlier. In 1996, when Network computers were all the rage in Silicon Valley. There was a lot of talk about how some engineers were going to feel about doing their work on the "cheaper computers."

When putting together this post, I was looking for a great quote about it. I can't seem to find it. When I do, I'll be sure to update this post.

The net/net is that the MacBook offers a lot of functionality than the cheaper computers. If your going to depend on the cheaper computers, your not getting the full use of the applications.

Sam Adams Donation Pickup

Sam Adams Brewery supports the local community. Whenever they encounter a worthwhile charitable organization, they will donate some beer to the organization to be used at their charitable event.

If your in charge of the beer donation pickup, here's some general information that will make pickup easier.

Obviously before you go, make sure to have enough room in the vehicle for the boxes. Each box holds 24 bottles of Sam Adams Beer.

Next to the Sam Adams tour center is a business office, and just outside of the office is a small white sign with the following text:

Looking to pick up a beer donation?

Continue to drive around the building past the main entrance and make three left turns. You will see a big red warehouse. Pull into the parking lot and knock on the door next to the loading dock. Someone will be there to help you! The address for the GPS is: 187 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain MA 02130.

So set your GPS to 187 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain MA 02130 and not 30 Germania St, Boston MA 02130. ( A number of streets around Sam Adams are one way, make sure to pay attention to where your going as you get closer to the brewery.)

When you arrive at the big red warehouse, you will need to find a spot to park. Park near the far left. (See the map above)

The sign says, "knock on the door next to the loading dock" - problem is that there's two doors next to the loading dock. You should knock on the door to the right, here's a picture of the door. There is a call box next to the door, I decided it didn't hurt to push the 'ring' button.

When the door opens, the person inside will ask for the organization that you are picking up for.

After they verify your organization, you will have to sign two forms, and you keep one for your organization records.

The person that opened the door will help load the cases in your vehicle. They have a dolly that will bring the cases to your car, so you don't have to park too close to the door.

Thanks Sam Adams!

Thank you Sam Adams for your donation! We appreciate your contribution to the community!

Business Technologies

Do you ever wonder how much a business invests in new tech, to deliver the most sophisticated image to their customers? How many times, as a consumer, have you visited multiple businesses, and can clearly note the differences between newer office spaces that include the top gadgets, and older, less technologically-driven businesses?

If we stop to consider these differences, we should also consider our buying decisions, and influences on our decision to make a purchase. Generally, if the two businesses both offer similar prices, most will decide to conduct business with the organization featuring the latest technology.

Why?

Businesses that feature newer monitors, flat screen televisions, and gadgets that are up to date make an overall better first impression on a potential customer. It lets the buyer know that the businesses cares about its image to the public, and wants to make a good first impression on those visiting their office.

Additionally, newer technology can help to retain customer satisfaction levels. When visiting an office, customers want to engage with tech that makes their lives easier. Using touch-enabled screens to present your product to a consumer allows for ease of use, and sophistication. Additionally, using devices like iPads and tablets can help show your customer that you have an overarching appreciation for staying on top of devices that can help make their experience more pleasant. Plus, who doesn't like to use a nifty iPad from time to time?

Engagement

Technology can also help to show an organization's level of engagement with the customer. As a business, it's important to show your support for a cause, and become involved in your community. Not only does becoming involved with your community help your image as a small business, but it helps others to become passionate about your business and join with you in supporting causes you believe in.

Additionally, supporting various organizations and groups within your town or city can help you to build community links to your website. Though it may be overlooked, building links to your organization's site can greatly affect your presence online, and can boost your profits in the long run.

Long Term

Technology can also have many long-term benefits that can have an impact on your organization. With cloud storage and easy sharing with others, customer information contained on devices can be easily shared with others down the road. Technology has proven to be a great source for storing information that can be accessed in the future.

Again, technology can also drive potential customers to conduct business with your organization, because of the sophisticated image it helps you to present. As its always known, word of mouth marketing is one of the best ways that a business can grow. By utilizing the latest technology, you will open the doors for newer customers as your businesses image is discussed among others.

What are some of the best technologies utilized by some of the most successful organizations today?