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How to Sell Yourself Without Sounding Like a Braggart
One of the biggest problems I have in my freelance career is selling myself. First of all, I have a problem with impostor syndrome. But the other issue is that I'm unsure of how to talk myself up without sounding like an arrogant braggart.
No one likes a braggart, but, at the same time, when you're trying to advance in your career, you are often required to toot your own horn. You need to show that you are a valuable addition to the team. It's especially important to be able to show your value when you are asking for a pay raise. If you want to sell yourself, you need to be ready to say good things about what you've done. At the same time, though, you need to be able to temper your recital so that you don't come across as arrogant.
1. Use Facts to Quantify Your Accomplishments
Rather than talking about yourself in a subjective manner, such as telling someone that you are the "best" at what you do, offer concrete examples of successes. In my case, I can point to high-profile publications that I've written for to demonstrate my experience and skill as a freelancer.
If you are a salesperson, your numbers are important. You can show how much revenue you've brought to the company. Consider your career accomplishments and how you can quantify them in a way that sounds like you are simply stating basic facts, rather than bragging about how awesome you are. Point out that you worked on a large project that received a great response. Point to a successful campaign you managed that brought in thousands of extra pageviews for a client's website. Whenever possible, show numbers and concrete examples. This makes you appear more objective, and provides hard data for a decision-maker to consider.
2. Ask Someone to Speak on Your Behalf
Recently, during a conversation I was having online about a job opportunity, my business partner saw that I was back-pedaling and not selling myself at all. I was worried about sounding arrogant and over-selling myself. He jumped in and made a few comments about the quality of my work, and where I appear.
Sometimes, it works better to have someone else speak up on your behalf. If a co-worker compliments you on how helpful you were with a certain project, you can ask them to email the boss. When a client is satisfied with the work you've done, ask if they would be willing to provide a written testimonial that you can publish or include with your promotional materials.
Getting someone else to sing your praises not only allows you to be a little more modest about your accomplishments, but it is really attention-grabbing when you can show that others are so satisfied with you that they will go out of their way to express that satisfaction.
However, you can't rely on the person to just do this on their own. Often, they don't even think about the possibility of sharing the experience. Since it probably won't occur to them, you can just say something like, "I'm glad you are happy with what I've provided. Would you mind providing a testimonial, or sending a quick email to my boss?"
With the right approach, you can prove your value without sounding like you're bragging. And that's something you can usually take to the bank.
How do you feel about selling yourself? Leave a comment!
How Early Retirement Could Mean Higher Medical Bills
Many of us like the idea of early retirement. We have visions of relaxing on a beach somewhere, enjoying our money. However, this might not be the case when you retire early. In fact, early retirement could actually result in higher medical bills.
According to a recent study reported on CNN Money, retiring at age 62 instead of age 65 means an additional $51,000 in medical expenses.
Of course, most of us don't consider retiring at age 62 as early retirement. Most of us think of early retirement as something that happens between the ages of 45 and 55. So the problem is even bigger, because the $51,000 figure comes because Medicare coverage doesn't kick in until age 65. So if you plan to retire 10 or 20 years before you are eligible for Medicare, your healthcare expenses could be a very big deal.
How to Deal with Medical Expenses in Early Retirement
If you are serious about retiring early, you have to consider the medical aspect of the situation. You are likely to be surprised how much health insurance costs, and how much you pay in medical expenses, once you no longer have access to your employer-subsidized plan.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
If you are in good health, you might be able to get an affordable health insurance plan on one of the state-run healthcare exchanges set up after the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA – also called "Obamacare").
You can also look into COBRA coverage from your former workplace, but the reality is that COBRA insurance is often quite expensive. It's probably not a bad idea to visit your state's health exchange for more information and possible coverage.
Another possibility is to make use of a Health Savings Account (HSA). Now, before you decide to retire, set aside money in one of these accounts.
For 2014, the contribution for an individual is $3,300 and for a family the limit is $6,550.
If you have a high-deductible health plan right now, and you qualify for the HSA, it can make sense. Your contribution is tax-deductible, providing you with an immediate tax benefit. On top of that, you also have the advantage of tax-free growth. As long as you withdraw the money for qualified healthcare expenses, you don't have to pay taxes on it.
If you are contemplating early retirement, the use of the HSA is a great way to prepare for future expenses. It's one of the best accounts out there when it comes to saving up for medical costs.
"Working" During Retirement
You might also consider working during retirement. This doesn't have to be a "traditional" job. Consider consulting, freelancing, or starting a business. This can provide you with a little extra cash flow to help you cover healthcare costs, and you can choose to do something you love that also keeps you busy.
Saving Money During Retirement
And, of course, you need to save money as much as you can. If you plan on an early retirement, you will need to factor increased medical costs on top of your other expense calculations. It makes sense to set aside an extra amount of money in an effort to boost your nest egg.
If you haven't consider the extra health care costs that come with early retirement, there's a good chance you aren't saving enough.
So there you have it. Are you still considering an early retirement? Leave a comment and tell us why or why not!
How to Figure Out the Right Career for You
Many of us don't want a career that is "just" a job. Instead, many of us like the idea of fitting a career into a lifestyle. If you are tired of taking whatever job comes your way, here is what you can do to change things up and figure out which career is best for your lifestyle:
1. Pinpoint Your Values
The first thing you need to do is get down to some serious introspection. What do you value? What are your strengths? What do you want out of life? The reality is that you won't ever get a job you enjoy – and that fits with your lifestyle – unless you understand what you want.
Take a look at what's important to you, and then look for careers that match your values. If you like helping people, there are a number of careers – from teaching to healthcare – that allow you to do that. Figure out what makes you "tick" and then focus on a career that fits into that mindset.
This is also the step that requires you to take a look at your desired lifestyle, including the hours you work each week. If you don't want to work 70 hours a week because spending time with your family is more important to you, then you'll need to factor that in.
You'll also need to consider the lifestyle changes you are willing to make as a result of these values. If you are willing to accept less money for more flexibility and more time to yourself, you might need to change the way you spend money.
2. Discover Training You Need
In some cases, you might already have some of the training you need to begin a career that appeals to you. In other cases, you might need additional training.
Find out what qualifications are required for your desired career, and then figure out how you will make that training happen.
You might need to take a few classes to get a specific certification, or you may need to get a degree. Be realistic about what's possible, though. There are times when you might need to rethink your specific career path and figure out if another career path can help you reach your goals and live according to your values without spending too much money.
Another possibility is to look for ways to pay for your training. An employer might be willing to reimburse your costs, or you might be able to get student aid to help you along.
3. Start Your Own Business
There are times when the answer is simple: Start your own business. You can do your best to start a business that allows you to live your desired lifestyle while having the career you want.
While you don't want to put your current income stream in jeopardy, you can still, during your free time, research different business ideas and figure out what you might be able to do in order to make it work. Sometimes, the perfect career is the one you create for yourself.
No matter what path you decide to take, though, it makes sense to pay attention to what's available, and then make a plan to get into the career you want.
What are some steps you're taking to find the right career for you? Leave a comment!
Negotiating Pay: Don't Forget the Soft Benefits!
One of the most stressful aspects of the job search is the salary negotiation. However, it is often a necessary part of the job search. Trying to come to an equitable agreement with a company is important.
On the one hand, you don't want a company to decide you're too expensive and decide not to hire you after all. On the other hand, you don't want to sell yourself short and end up underpaid and unhappy at your new job. Nothing hastens burnout like feeling as though you aren't getting paid enough.
If you want to avoid some of thorniest issues related to salary negotiation, it makes sense to remember the soft benefits when negotiating salary. Rather than looking at your salary only as the number describing your income, consider the total compensation package, and focus on soft benefits when you feel as though you are stalling during your negotiations. Considering soft benefits is an important part of your negotiations, especially if you are having a hard time agreeing on an actual salary.
What Are Soft Benefits?
Soft benefits are those benefits that aren't readily apparent when it comes to salary. They are sometimes considered perks. Even so, they can be quite valuable and worth having. Some of the items that qualify as soft benefits include:
- Flex time
- Daycare for your children
- Unpaid leave
- Vacation days
- Gym membership or access
- Discounted services
- Ability to telecommute for part of the week
- Health benefits
For some, a good health plan is worth lower pay. Also, would you be willing to work for $5,000 less per year if you could telecommute three times a week? It would save you money on gas and clothing costs. Not only that, but you wouldn't have the same commute, and you could spend more time at home. Other workers value a flexible schedule. If you can work your schedule so that you come in or leave a little earlier or later, depending on what you need to do that day, it might be worth it to accept a lower salary.
Rather than getting too hung up on hitting a specific number, look at the entire picture. Are there special perks for working at the company? I know a couple who works for a company that has an on-site gym and offers one free meal a day in the cafeteria (the food is good). Another friend works for a company that provides daycare. My friend can check in on his child on break, and there is no worry about what is happening during the day. These types of benefits and perks can be worth more than a little more money each year.
It's never fun to negotiate pay, but see if you can find some common ground by negotiating soft benefits. You can enjoy life more, provide for your needs, and end up more satisfied with your job – even if it doesn't pay what you originally thought it would.
What are some other soft benefits that would attract you to a job? Leave a comment!
Elevator Pitch: Make Better Career Connections
One of the essentials when it comes to finding a new job or advancing your career is the connections you make. Networking is an important part of career advancement, no matter what stage you are at. In fact, even when you are self-employed, it's important to learn how to effectively network and connect with others.
If you want to connect quickly with others, and let them know what you do – and how you do it – it's a good idea to develop a short personal statement or an elevator pitch. This is something that you can tell people who ask you what you do, or who ask you who you are.
The idea is to convey your competence, and quickly be able to show the person you are talking with that you are the right person for the job – or at least that you are the right person for someone else. When you have a good elevator pitch, it's easy for others to see where you might fit. It's a great networking tool that allows others to see if you might work for a friend of a friend, even if you aren't quite right for the organization at hand.
Create Your Elevator Pitch
Think about how to briefly describe who you are or what you do. When I'm not talking with bloggers, I use an elevator pitch that basically boils down to: "I'm a freelance journalist. I provide content to a variety of financial sites."
Keeping your elevator pitch short is key. My description of myself and what I do keeps things simple, but it tells others what I do. The fact that I use a keyword like journalist automatically implies certain things about me, and confers a bit of credibility. I sometimes follow up with specific sites that I've written for, or that my work has appeared in. Being able to say, "I provide content to financial sites like MSN Money and US News and World Report" is a helpful variation on my elevator pitch. I can also say something like, "My work has been linked to from The Wall Street Journal and USA Today."
Consider how you can keep things short and simple, while at the same time conveying useful information that others will find attractive. Develop different versions of your elevator pitch so that you can adapt to different situations. What I tell a blogger, who understands the world of personal finance blogging, is slightly different to what I tell someone who isn't steeped in the world of online publishing.
Think about various audiences, and develop three or four different pitches that can be used. Also, take the time to think of ways you can elaborate once the conversation gets going. While you don't want to sound like a robot, you do want to be prepared.
Your Online Elevator Pitch
Don't forget that, in the job hunt, how you present yourself online matters as well. Your social media profiles act as a sort of online elevator pitch. You should keep the description of what you do short and to the point. Someone coming across your LinkedIn profile, Google Plus profile, or your Twitter account should be able to quickly see what you do.
With so many recruiters and employers looking online, it makes sense to consider how you look in these situations. Crafting your online description should take into account the purpose of your profile, and what you hope to accomplish. Spend some time tweaking your online elevator pitch as well as what you intend to deliver in person, and you'll make better career connections.
An Argument Against Early Retirement
It sometimes seems as if everyone wants to retire early, or maybe it just seems that way on financial blogs. Most people seem to agree that it's a good thing to do, but we're going to be contrary today and consider reasons why you might not. In fact, there are arguments against early retirement, solid ones at that.
1. Early retirement preparation will impair your early years.
Relatively few people retire early in life. The simple explanation for that: Early retirement requires far more sacrifice early in life than most people are willing to make.
Truth be told, in order to retire early, you won't be able to make it happen by saving 10% of your income, or even 20%. You'll almost certainly have to save something more like 40%, 50%, or even more. And that's not just for two years or three or even five – you'll have to do that for at least 20 years, probably more like 25 or 30.
Not everyone has that kind of discipline. What's more, most people aren't willing to trade off their youth for a better life in middle age. To illustrate the point, if you want to retire at age 50, you'll probably need to become a committed saver no later than age 25. Most people haven't figure out exactly what they want to do with her lives, or even how they want to live their lives at that age. Making that kind of commitment – which involves giving up a quarter of a century of your life, and most of your youth – is more than most people can stand.
2. Your best efforts may not be enough to get you there.
Let's take that last point a step further. Let's say that you spend 25 years preparing to retire at age 50. You do everything that you need to do – you live beneath your means, you live one step above a homeless person, you save more than 50% of your income, and you invest it faithfully. What happens if there's a stock market crash when you turn 45?
Your grand retirement at age 50 may get pushed back to 55, or even 60. At that point early retirement is starting to look like normal retirement. That may not be a bad thing, but if you gave up the best years of your life to make it happen, you'll have paid a high price for something that's fairly normal.
There other factors that can derail the best laid early retirement plans. For example, it's one thing to plan early retirement if you are either single, or married and childless. But if a child or two come in to the picture, the plan may go right out the window.
Even apart from children, you could get snagged by a career crisis that drains of some of your resources. You can also have a major medical event – either for yourself, your spouse, or a close loved one – that will soak up big chunk of your savings.
The point is, no plan – no matter how well carried out – is guaranteed to work. If you're working diligently to provide yourself an early retirement, you'll be giving up more than money to make it happen – you be giving up a big chunk of your life.
3. Early retirement increases the chance of outliving your money – dramatically.
The thought of out-living their money is a serious consideration for all who would retire. But if your plan is early retirement, that issue becomes even more complicated.
If you retire at age 65, you'll probably have to provide for yourself for something like 20 years. But if you retire early at 50, you're looking at covering 35 years. Unless you are a financial wizard, it may not be possible to provide for that many years on the strength of investment income alone. Markets rise and fall, and sometimes you're distracted by other events that interfere with your investment success.
Many people who retire early in life find that their exit from the world of work is only temporary. Five, or 10, or 15 years after early retirement, they find themselves back in the workforce.
4. The need for a purpose in life.
Some people talk about early retirement as though they hate their work and want a way out. Early retirement becomes the default path to freedom.
But what if you don't hate your work? In fact, what if you actually like your work?
That's a complication in the early retirement scheme. We don't just work to pay the bills – our work often fills other roles in our lives, emotional ones that we don't fully understand. For example, work is a form of contribution to the human race – it's our contribution. It's also our connection to the world around us. Oh sure, there other ways to connect with the world, but work has a way of making a connection more intimate than other methods. It's a form of interdependence between us and the world around us.
There are even some among us who feel that we have something to contribute to the world, something maybe extraordinary. Our work is our way to bring it about. Early retirement would short-circuit that desire.
Early retirement could remove those silent advantages that work provides.
5. Balance is always the key in life.
We all have opinions, and mine is no more valid than anyone else's. But I tend to think that the recent emphasis on early retirement is way overblown. At its deepest level, it's trading youth for a large enough pile of money to not have to work for the second half of your life. You can engage in something like that, but you have to carefully consider the cost of doing so.
I think that balance should be the real key in life. That means you live your life – and youth – as well as you reasonably can, while making a provision for the future. That's similar to what people normally do by saving money in emergency funds, and for retirement – but at a more reasonable rate (the more typical 10% or 20% pay).
By doing that, you are enjoying the benefits of today, while making preparations for tomorrow. You're trying to live a good life now, rather than delaying everything into your later years. In a way, early retirement is a form of back-loading your life, and that isn't necessarily a good thing.
Given that we never know how long we'll live – or what the quality of that time will be – it doesn't seem that building your finances around early retirement is entirely worth the trade-off.
But that's just me. What's your thought on early retirement? Is it worth what you're giving up to get, or do you agree it's best to find some kind of balance over the course of your life? Leave a comment!
Should You Pay Off Your Student Loans Early?
With more than $1 trillion outstanding in student debt (some of it mine!), it's no surprise that many college grads and others are trying to figure out how to repay their loans.
For those with jobs that allow it, the next question is whether or not it makes sense to pay off student loans early. If you have student loans, carefully consider your own situation, as well as the general pros and cons associated with repaying your student debt early.
Saving Money on Interest
The first consideration is how much you could save. By putting extra money toward your student loans each month, you can pay them off earlier, and save money in interest. Cutting the term of your loan in half can save you thousands of dollars in interest. That's a strong argument in favor of paying off your student loans as early as possible.
However, before you tackle your student loan debt, it's a good idea to look at other types of debt. If you are paying 13% interest on credit card debt, it makes more financial sense to pay off that debt first, before attacking your student loan with 7% interest. Make sure that any student loan pay-down plan takes into account your other debts. Your student loan debt reduction should be coordinated with the rest of your debt pay-down plan.
What Else Could You Do With the Money?
If you have a student loan that has a higher interest rate, of between 6% and 12%, it does make sense to pay it off early. However, my student loans were consolidated back in 2005. Not only were interest rates on student loans much lower then, but my servicer knocked down my rate when I signed up for automatic payments, and dropped it again after I made 36 on-time payments. As a result, my rate is locked in at less than 2%. Even counting inflation and taxes, my investment portfolio is doing better than that. Instead of putting extra money toward paying down the student debt, I've increased my retirement account contributions. Over time, putting that money toward investing makes more financial sense than paying off my student debt early.
Another consideration is the fact that I also get a tax deduction for the interest I pay on my student loan. With higher-rate student loans, that tax deduction isn't really worth it, unless you use it to your advantage while you pay off other, higher-rate debt. In my situation, paying off the student loans isn't a priority because of the low rate and the tax deduction. I have other things to do with the money.
Peace of Mind
Of course, there is no price that can be put on peace of mind. Even with the financial advantages I see to not rushing to pay off my student loan debt, others couldn't live with it hanging over them. Instead, they would feel better with the idea of being completely debt free. And there are risks to keeping the student loans around. My income situation could change, and then I wouldn't be able to make payments. However, I have emergency-type funds, and with federal student loans, it's a little easier to get a deferment than it is for other types of debt.
In the end, you need to look at your situation and decide what works best for you – what you are most likely to be comfortable with. Paying off your student loans early is a big decision, and it is one that you should carefully consider.
How about you? Are you going to pay off your student loans early? Leave a comment!
6 Must-Read Tips for Assimilating into Your New Job
After you finish your job search and are ready to start at your new position, it's important to assimilate to the situation. Sometimes, integrating into the company culture can be difficult. It's important to jump into your job and become a part of your new position so that you fit in, and can quickly become an important part of the team.
Ford R. Myers, a career coach and author of Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring, offers six tips that can help you assimilate to your new job within 90 days.
1. Establish and Maintain Positive Relationships with Your Coworkers
First, do your best to establish positive relationships with your coworkers. But it doesn't stop there. "Develop good communication habits to maintain those relationships," Myers suggests. This is one of the best ways to become part of the company culture and begin finding allies and partners in your new work environment.
2. Produce Tangible Results and Keep Commitments
Next, look for ways to produce tangible results. Show that your contributions are valuable to the company, and keep your commitments. This means that you need to know your limits, and avoid making promises that you can't keep.
3. Communicate Well With Others
This goes beyond just maintaining positive relationships with your new coworkers. You need to be able to communicate with your superiors as well. And your communication goes beyond just keeping them informed. You need to carefully communicate the progress you are making as well, so that your bosses can see that they made a good decision in hiring you, and so that you feel the sense of accomplishment that will allow you to continue enjoying your work.
4. Build Your Network
"Begin building your in-house contact network by cultivating connections with everyone," says Myers. This doesn't mean that you have to be everyone's best friend, but it does mean it's a good idea to find common ground, and develop professional connections with as many people as you can. Integrate yourself into the team, and be helpful. You'll gain a good reputation and others will want to work with you.
5. Balance Your Work Life and Health Life
Myers understands that part of enjoying your new job is maintaining your work/life balance (classic article link, think about smartphones . . . ). While you do want to give a good portion of your energy and effort to your new position, it's also important that you remember to enjoy life. You will be more productive and happier at work if you take care of your life needs as well. Plus, you can avoid burnout if you are careful about maintaining that balance.
6. Review Your Job Description with Your Manager
Finally, make sure you have a meeting with your manager a couple weeks into your job to evaluate where you stand. You can also work on fine-tuning your job description and responsibilities. That way you can fit yourself into the job better, and maybe even work on helping the job fit you. This discussion can ensure that everyone is happy with your integration into the company.
Ultimately, though, says Myers, you need to move beyond the day-to-day work tasks. "This is the approach that is so essential, not just to maximize your chances of success within the first 90 days, but also for successful, long-term career management."
How are you assimilating into your new job? Is it going okay? Leave a comment and let us know!
How to Find the Right Credit Card for You
With so many options out there for credit cards, it makes sense to shop around and find the card that works best for you. The good news is that the Internet provides you with opportunities to find the right card for you, based on your own preferences. Here are some tips for getting the best result when you look for a credit card:
Make Sure You Have Good Credit
The first thing to do is to make sure that you have good credit. You are more likely to get the credit card you want when you have good credit. Those with excellent credit get access to the cards with the best rewards programs and signing bonuses.
Make it a point to make your payments on time and in full, and to keep your credit utilization fairly low. That way, you can manage your credit in a way that provides you with the best possible outcome for your finances.
Know Your Current Situation and Financial Needs
The reality is that you shouldn't have a rewards credit card unless you have no consumer debt, and you don't carry a balance. If you have debt, you might be better off with a balance transfer card. You will need to have a plan to pay off the balance before the interest rate rises, though.
Be realistic about your situation. If you know that you will pay off your balance each month, then a rewards card can be right for you. However, you need to be honest with yourself. If your interest charges will habitually offset your rewards, rethink the rewards card.
Also, think about which rewards would be most useful to you. This includes your signing bonus. If you travel frequently, and can get a card with a generous miles program, it makes sense to sign up for the big bonus, and then earn more points as you move forward. This can result in free trips. I know people who don't ever pay for airfare because they can get it with their rewards.
Others find that cash back cards make more sense for them, since they regularly spend on things that offer cash back. Rotating category cards can require that you pay attention, though, so if you aren't likely to sign up for the categories each quarter, these might not make sense. If you do most of your spending on everyday items like groceries and gas, it can make sense to get a card with tiered rewards so that you can get more cash back for the things you spend on anyway.
And don't forget about perks and protections. Many cards offer rental car insurance coverage, or extended warranties on items you buy.
Ask for Better Terms
You can use the Internet to find a card that works for you, or even call an issuer. Card aggregators allow you to enter your preferences and can help you find what works for you. You can also talk to someone at an issuer to get an idea of what might fit your needs.
While you're at it, though, see if you can get better terms. One of my card issuers has permanently waived the annual fee – just because I asked. Others might be willing to give you a lower rate, or waive other fees. It doesn't hurt to ask, and you can use a deal offered by another issuer or on another card to help create the perfect card for you.
What are you looking for in a credit card? Leave a comment!
Why Self-Employment May Be the Best Option After a Layoff
The average unemployed person in America has looked for work for 39.7 weeks, or more than nine months. That is the longest average unemployment spell since the Labor Department started keeping track way back in 1948.
So, how long have you been without work? Does it seem as if there are no jobs available at all? Has the idea of starting your own business crossed your mind? Maybe it should. Self-employment may be the best option after a layoff. And sometimes, it's the only option.
1. Your layoff may be part of an industry-wide slowdown.
What's going on in your industry? Is it possible that management was really telling you the truth when they said there's no work? Sometimes – and in some industries – that's exactly what's happening. It isn't anything you did or didn't do.
If your job loss was the result of an industry problem, there may be no job to return to. Your only choice may be to leave the industry entirely, and to start fresh somewhere else. If you have to make that big of a career transition, you might want to consider self-employment.
2. Industries that layoff people are often looking for contractors to fill the void.
Even if there is an industry wide slowdown in your area or field, that can help you along with self-employment. Employers who lay off regular employees often make liberal use of subcontractors to complete the work that they no longer have employees to cover. This could be the beginning of your own business.
Contact employers in your industry and offer your services on a contract basis. This may be especially productive if you try to work with smaller employers. They have specific jobs that need to be done, and they may welcome your offer to work as a contractor. This can be especially beneficial to them as this will avoid the need to hire someone on a full-time basis, with the built-in requirements of payroll taxes, insurance and benefits.
Once you land one client on a contract basis, you can work on finding a second, and then a third. At that point, you'll be self-employed. Mission accomplished!
3. Hedging your bets against a job that may never appear.
If you have been unemployed for more than a few months, and finding very few solid prospects, you may need to confront the reality that you are done in that field or industry. Unfortunately, this fact often doesn't make itself clear until well after the fact, when many months have passed and you realize that your attempts to find a new job were never going anywhere.
Don't be willing to give up on the search too easily. But you can use self-employment as an alternative strategy, just in case there really are no jobs. If you build a business while you're looking for a job, you'll be setting yourself up for two potential options. Either you will find the job that you're looking for, or you will create a viable business that will eliminate the need for a job.
And if it turns out that the job you were looking for was never actually there, you'll have already done what you need to in order to deal with the situation.
4. You may not have anything better to do while you're looking for a job.
The reality in virtually any job field is that there are only a limited number of potential employers. And there's only so much that you can do in an attempt to reach them. What do you do with the rest of your time?
Well, you can sit around and worry – but that'll be completely counterproductive. You can fill your days with busy work, but that won't get much done either. You can also spend your time applying for a bunch of jobs you're not qualified for, and that will just get you a great big pile of rejection letters.
Or you could use it to do something productive.
By working on building your own business – while you are looking for a new job – you will be developing skills and building new contacts. You'll also be learning a lot about yourself – you may come to realize that you're capable much more than you've ever shown in the past.
And even if you do find a new full-time job, you may decide to keep your business as a side venture. You never know when you may need it again in the future, and in the meantime, you can always use a little bit of extra cash.
Converting Your Job Skills Into A Business
Probably the biggest dilemma for most people to start their own business is deciding exactly what kind of business they'll go into. This can be a tough decision, but you should start with what you know and go from there.
Create a list of all of your salable skills – it doesn't matter that you've never sold direct to the public in the past. If an employer has paid you to do a certain job, that represents a skill that you can convert into an income. Review your resume, and determine exactly what skills you have that found favor with employers in the past.
The key to starting a business is to begin with the skills that you already have. You may need to perfect those skills, or even to add some additional ones, in order to make them salable, either to the public or on a business-to-business level. So be it – these are your strengths and that's what you need to play into.
You can also take a different approach. Start by thinking long and hard about what it is you want to do for the rest of your life.
Once you make that determination, look at your skills and see which of them will help you in that business. You may be surprised at what you find. And even if you don't have all the skills that you need, you might be able get where you need to go by adding two or three new skills.
Once you can match your career passion with the necessary skills, you'll have all that you need to start and run your own business. In the meantime, what do you have to lose?
And if you're unemployed, that's something that you need to seriously think about.
Does self-employment sound like a good option to you? Why or why not? Leave a comment!


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Once again, excellent customer service
Paul Heyes|
Posted 09 Jan
Flew to Sao Paulo
Very good trip. Everything was perfect
Hermano Marin|
Posted 22 Aug
Flew to Sao Paulo
Thank you to Boris, who is always very helpful.
Adriana Portela|
Posted 10 Aug
Flew to Sao Paulo
Very good service as usual.
Hermano Marin|
Posted 10 Jul
Flew to Sao Paulo
Very happy with the service!
Andrew Hollingsworth|
Posted 27 Jun
Flew to Sao Paulo
Dennis was excellent - happy to recommend him.
Andrew Higgins|
Posted 26 Jun
Flew to Sao Paulo
I was very impressed again with the service provided by DialAFlight. The staff were very helpful.
Janet Fullard|
Posted 26 Jun
Flew to Sao Paulo
Once again everything was great. Thanks
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Posted 24 Jun
Flew to Sao Paulo
The usual efficient and helpful service from your staff who we have dealt with for several years. As we get older it becomes more important we know who is on the other end of the phone
Robert Bold|
Posted 27 Jan
Flew to Sao Paulo
I have forgotten the name of our agent but I want to say he was excellent. Friendly, helpful and I will definitely use him again.
Susan Blake|
Posted 04 Jan
Flew to Sao Paulo
Many thanks. Everything went according to plan, including connections. I will definitely use DialAFlight again.
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Posted 31 Dec
Flew to Sao Paulo
Everything went smoothly as usual, no problems at all. Thank you for another successful trip.
Hermano Marin|
Posted 11 Dec
Flew to Sao Paulo
Have already recommend you to all my friends and colleagues and they use you
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Posted 03 Dec
Flew to Sao Paulo
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Graham Hobbs|
Posted 04 Oct
Flew to Sao Paulo
Both the hotel and the flight were perfect. Thanks DialAFlight for my wonderful holiday!
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Posted 21 Sep
Flew to Sao Paulo
Rang several times to ask different questions and all members of the team were very helpful
Sally Cole|
Posted 13 Sep
Flew to Sao Paulo
We booked with Tristan and he was friendly, efficient and extremely helpful. Thank you very much for a positive experience. I will be using you again in the future.
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Posted 26 Jun
Flew to Sao Paulo
Nicole took care of my all flight arrangements on my recent trip to Brazil. She was very professional and the service was excellent. I will contact her again
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Posted 28 Apr
Flew to Sao Paulo
I am very happy with the service , thank you!
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Posted 27 Apr
Flew to Sao Paulo
Even in the days when it's relatively easy to book one's own flights, the knowledge that an experienced travel operator brings is an invaluable lifeline. Before travel, it means someone can tell you that 30 minutes is not enough transfer time in Heathrow. And if you get stranded abroad it's good to know there is someone at the other end of the phone that can advise. Hats off to Dial-a-Flight.
Christopher Docker|
Posted 03 Apr
Flew to Sao Paulo
At Madrid airport from landing and then reaching gate for connecting flight it took one hour, including three passport checks, one security check (understandably necessary) and included many escalators, lifts, internal train ride,and walking to the gate (a lot of hoops to jump through!) especially after a long overnight flight. Dialaflight's service was excellent.
Clive Casburn|
Posted 12 Mar
Flew to Sao Paulo

subset: commoncrawl


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It wasn't just a business, it was a way of life– what residents of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania referred to simply as "The Steel"– a mill once America's second largest steel producer with 31,500 souls working in a single facility.
Casinos Fail Old Industrial Towns
|By: Peter Van Buren Monday December 1, 2014 12:00 pm
Excerpt From Ghosts of Tom Joad
|By: Peter Van Buren Friday November 28, 2014 12:40 pm
Jeff's old man kept a small boat. It had seen better days, floating as much out of stubbornness any more than anything else. Seats two safely. Rides low in the water. We'd take it out on the river from time to time, drinking beer when we could, horsing around.
It was a heavy, humid Ohio night, still then soft around us. Car sounds far off. The current was light and the river half dry in summer, so we figured loading the four of us into a boat made for two wouldn't be a problem. Then we met Pam.
Homeless Guy's Sign, Four Blocks from Koch Brothers' Apartment
|By: Peter Van Buren Wednesday October 29, 2014 11:10 am
In America's richest city, four blocks from where the Koch Brothers live, in a nation that has allocated $1.57 trillion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including $92.3 billion in fiscal year 2014, we don't have much to offer this guy.
First World, Third World: A Travel Essay
|By: Peter Van Buren Tuesday October 7, 2014 6:00 pm
You travel a bit, and you wonder what happened.
Once the American Dream
|By: Peter Van Buren Friday September 19, 2014 7:56 am
We were once the American Dream, and now we're just what happened to it.
The people I am talking about in my book Ghosts of Tom Joad: A Story of the #99 Percent seem illusive here on the East Coast; in crazy New York last week, visiting the South Bronx, there are plenty of poor people. The sense in Midtown was that if they didn't deserve to be poor, then, well, they were sort of naturally thrust into it as immigrants, as drug users, simply because they lived in a poor part of the city and it always would be. Kind of the natural ecology of the place.
Hah Hah: You Are Poor
|By: Peter Van Buren Thursday September 18, 2014 3:15 pm
Thanks for reading this. I hope it distracted you briefly from the daily hunger pangs you face. If you don't complain, we'll allow you 30 minutes of TV tonight. Now back to work serf.
Arguments Against Raising Minimum Wage Don't Hold Up
|By: Peter Van Buren Wednesday August 27, 2014 2:25 pm
The way you functionally subsidize companies paying low-wages to workers– ponying up the difference between what McDonald's and others pay and what those workers need to live via taxpayer-paid SNAP (food stamps) and other benefits– is a hidden cost in plain sight. You're already paying higher prices via higher taxes; you just may not know it.
Just Raise the Minimum Wage
|By: Peter Van Buren Thursday August 7, 2014 11:45 am
Raise the minimum wage. The arguments for are strong, and the arguments against don't hold up to facts.
One important reason to raise the minimum wage to a living one is that people who can afford to feed themselves will not need food stamps paid for by taxpayers. You still think everything on the dollar menu really costs only a dollar? Companies who profit off their workers' labor will be forced to pay a fair price for it, and not get by on taxpayer-subsidized low wages. Just as important, people who can afford to feed themselves earn not just money, but self-respect.
The Poor Door: Building Has Separate Entrances for Rich and Poor
|By: Peter Van Buren Monday July 28, 2014 4:10 pm
Not that America has become a divided, classist society or anything. Oh wait…
Pigs: The More Wealth One Accumulates, the More Complicated Life Can Become
|By: Peter Van Buren Friday June 20, 2014 4:42 pm
Don't we all know it? The more wealth one accumulates, the more complicated life can become.
Luckily, if you're among the 1 percent, you are not alone. Repeat that: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There are people ready to help you with the complications of owning more than 99 percent of your fellow citizens.
One such resource in your time of need is Bessemer Trust, a "Private Client Wealth Management" company.


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Trimming up mint (Spearmint, peppermint)
I love my mints. All were in window boxes until today. I taken three 18" planters and divided the mints between them. In one I have chocolate and orange, one has peppermint and Kentucky Colonel mint (I again have to mention how incredible this particular mint is!), the other has spearmint and peppermint. Told you I like mint, lol.
Anyway, because they were restricted in the space they could grow, the stalks on some of the spearmint and peppermint have become long and stringy with the leafs being kind of small.
Should I cut them back and allow the plant to put out new shoots? If so, how long should that take? And how far should I cut them back?
The chocolate and orange mint are fine and I can already tell will grow into luscious bush-like plants. But the spearmint and peppermint look like they need a little help after being restricted in space for so long. They are now planted in an excellent soil medium and have very good drainage.
Any advice would be great appreciated. Thank you.
Having mint means you're always going to be doing something with them! Potting and repotting and re-repotting for starters - because those root systems are really aggressive and they stop for nobody. Every time you repot, you have the opportunity of making new plants. As soon as the roots start going round and round the pot, that's time to start again. But before that happens, you'll get nice bushy mints. You can cut back the stems to ground level, and that will encourage the plants to make more stems and leaves and give the roots a bit of a rest, but in the end, repotting, and larger pots, is probably the only way to go. I reckon a nice Olympic-sized swimming pool is about as big a pot as you need!!
If the stems are really long and leggy, and the leaves are mainly at the tips of the stems, then you might need to give the plants a bit more light.
Thanks. They've been repotted in VERY large and deep planters and will do well in them, I suspect. All they probably need from me at this point is trimming them back (just the peppermint and spearmint) and letting them bush out. Poor things were so cramped in the window boxes I had.
The chocolate and orange mint, in one planter, are doing great and I can already tell are going to become one lush, bushy plant...just like I like mint to be.
Thanks again for the advice.
That's great to know because last night (well actually around 2 am, lol) I was out hacking away at the spearmint and peppermint. I just couldn't stand the scraggly way it looked anymore. Looking forward to the new growth.
Nice to hear about your lemon balm. Mine is doing wonderfully. I planted a bed of lemon thyme underneath it. Seemed complimentary.


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Pronunciation: jouer les gros bras
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Tag: rescues
Does pinpointing breeds speed up adoption?
In hopes that potential adopters will find a "Chiratoodle" or a "golden Chinscher" more appealing than a plain old mutt or "Chihuahua mix," an animal shelter in California has begun DNA testing some of its dogs to determine their breeds and market them under more exotic names.
The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA in Burlingame, south of San Francisco, says initial results show the DNA tested dogs are getting adopted twice as fast.
Not too surprising in a world that prefers labels over mysteries — at least when it comes to what we bring into our homes.
DNA testing is not widely practiced by America's animal shelters, mainly because of its expense. As a result, most people who adopt a dog from a shelter leave with a mystery mutt, or one whose heritage has been guessed at by shelter staff.
My dog Ace, for instance, when he was adopted nearly 10 years ago, was listed as a "hound mix" on his shelter paperwork, referred to as a "shepherd mix" by shelter staff and listed on Petfinder.com as a "Labrador mix."
When DNA tests came on the market in 2007, I purchased one, swabbed his cheek and learned he was Rottweiler and Chow. In the next few years, as the tests became capable of identifying more than the original 38 breeds, I tested him two more times. The second test determined he was Rottweiler, Chow and Akita. The third test showed him to be all of those, and a little bit pit bull.
The tests allowed me to answer the question I was asked at least once a day: "What kind of dog is that?" It wasn't so much that I had to know. All three tests were done mostly as research, for the purpose of writing about them. And once I learned the breeds he was made up of, I kind of missed the mystery.
I don't think the information is all that vital, but I can understand how a purchaser, or adopter, of a dog might like to know what's in his or her mix.
In California, the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA conducted the tests in an attempt to increase the adoptions of Chihuahua mixes, which make up nearly a quarter the dogs in its shelter.
The campaign, conducted under the slogan "Who's Your Daddy?" is aimed at "finding great homes for dogs at risk of being overlooked," said Scott Delucchi, the shelter's senior vice president.
"People love mutts. Still, we're betting shelter dogs with DNA results included, for free, will be quite fetching," he says in a commercial for the campaign.
The shelter picks up the cost of the $50 tests, which they say can help owners identify what breed-specific traits the dogs might exhibit. The tests also allow the shelter to have some fun coming up with clever breed names — like "Chorgi" (Chiuahua-corgi), "golden Chinscher" (golden retriever-miniature pinscher-Chihuahua) and "Chiratoodle" (Chihuahua-rat terrier-poodle).
In February, the shelter conducted tests that determined the breed make up of 11 small dogs. All found homes within two weeks — twice as fast as any 11 untested small, brown dogs in the previous months, according to an Associated Press story.
Twelve more dogs have been tested since then and once they are all placed in homes the shelter plans to test 24 more.
Chihuahuas have replaced pit bulls as the most prevalent breed in the shelter, largely due to the "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" movies, and the breed's popularity among celebrities.
While some visitors to the shelter are seeking Chihuahuas, others are looking for mutts — small dogs who, thanks to another breed being in the mix, might have a less nervous dispositions.
While shelter officials have proclaimed the new program a success, they note that it's going to take more than a gimmick to reduce the "alarming" number of Chihuahua mixes coming in.
"Another part is making spay-neuter low-cost or free to the community," Delucchi said. The shelter also exports some of its smaller dogs to shelters in Florida, New York and other states where they are in shorter supply.
(Photo: Lynn and Tony Mazzola, with Lily, their newly adopted "Chorkie;" by Eric Risberg / AP)
Posted by John Woestendiek March 23rd, 2015 under Muttsblog.
Tags: adopt, adoptions, animals, breed tests, breeds, burlingame, california, chihuahuas, chiratoodle, dna, dogs, golden chinscher, mutts, mystery, peninsula humane society, pets, rescues, shelters, testing
Comments: 1
A modest proposal: Let's lose "control"
I have a simple and modest proposal — one that would involve only a name change, a slightly new way of thinking, and maybe some new stationery.
It has long been in the back of my head, but was brought to the forefront by recent cellphone videos gone viral — one (it used to be above but was removed from YouTube) of a dog being dragged through the halls of an animal control department in California; one (below) of a police officer slapping and otherwise berating a homeless man in Florida.
Both are examples of what can go wrong — and often does — when you give one group power over others. Both are about control.
Seeking, seizing and holding "control," necessary as it sometimes seem in a so-called civilized society, almost always leads to bad things, including most of the dog abuse that occurs in our country. We get a little too caught up in the whole idea of having control — over our fellow man, over other species, over other nations, over nature itself.
Those put in control, as today's videos show, tend to lose control when they see their control being threatened.
Hence, I propose that we do away with the term "animal control" and rename all those county animal control offices "animal protection" departments — protection being what they are mostly about, or should be mostly about, in the first place.
I'm not suggesting doing away with regulating and enforcing in the dog world — only that those doing it go under a different moniker, which, just maybe, would allow them to be seen by the public, and see themselves, less as heavy-handed dictators, more as noble do-gooders.
And animal control offices do do good. They operate shelters, find dogs new homes, rescue strays from the streets and abusive situations. The new name would put an emphasis on that, and take it away from "control."
The term "animal control" is archaic — not much better than the even more outdated "dog warden" — yet most counties continue to use it. Employees see it on the sign when they pull into the parking lot, when they walk through the front door, on their memos and their paychecks. It's a constant reminder, even though most of their duties are aimed at helping dogs, that they are, above all, strict enforcers and inflexible bureaucrats.
A simple name change could help fix that.
I, for instance, would love working as an animal protection officer; I'm not sure I'd want to be an animal control officer — even though most of what they do is about protecting animals. The name change could attract job applicants who see the mission as helping dogs, and possibly help weed out those who see all dogs as nuisances, and control as paramount.
In addition to improving employee self-esteem, it could help change the negative public perceptions that come with being the agency that tickets dog owners for leash-less or unlicensed dogs, euthanizes dogs when their facilities get too crowded, and sends the "dog catcher" out on his daily rounds.
There's no reason — assuming a stray dog is being captured humanely, and treated humanely in a shelter, and put up for adoption — that the "dog catcher," traditionally portrayed as a villain, can't become a dog savior in the public view.
Having "Animal Protection Department" written on the side of the truck, instead of "Animal Control Department," would go a long way toward that.
A simple shift in emphasis, and in how some agencies present themselves to the public, is all I'm talking about. It wouldn't be only a matter of spin, though. Being an animal protection department would require actually protecting animals — and seeing that as a primary mission.
It wouldn't make the world a kinder place overnight, and it wouldn't keep cranky police officers from slapping homeless people — like I said it's a modest proposal — but it could be a start, at least in the dog world, to a new way of thinking both about and among the government employees we entrust those duties to (and pay the salaries of).
They would be more about helping and educating, less about controlling.
A handful of agencies have at least worked "animal protection," or "animal care" into their names, but most can't quite bring themselves to let go of the term "control."
Thus you have, for instance, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
Maybe they think losing "control" would be a sign they are losing control.
The term "control" might be appropriate when it comes to those agencies dealing with things like disease and traffic.
But not for those dealing with our family members.
Posted by John Woestendiek February 26th, 2015 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: agency, animal control, animal rights, animal welfare, animals, change, control, controlling, county, department, dog catcher, dog dragged, dog warden, dogs, duties, enforcement, government, hesperia, homeless, local, los angeles, mission, name, name change, office, pets, police, proposal, purpose, regulation, rescues, shelters, slapped, videos
Comments: 2
Three daring rescues of dogs from icy ponds
Today we bring you three dramatic rescues of dogs from icy ponds — all with happy endings.
The one above took place Tuesday, when emergency responders in North Carolina tied two ladders together and use life vests to keep them afloat to rescue a dog who fell through the ice at a pond in Zebulon.
Bryanna Schug, 12, was sledding with a friend when her eight-year-old dog, Brody, walked onto the pond and fell through the ice.
She ran to get her mother, Laura, who tried to slide out on the ice on Bryanna's sled, but fell through.
Schug was able to get out of the icy water and Wake County sheriff's deputies soon arrived with paramedics and Zebulon firefighters, according to UPI.
They tied two ladders together to reach 30 feet out into the water, and secured life vests to help keep it afloat when the dog climbed aboard.
Brody cooperated, riding atop the ladders before being helped to shore with a long hook. He survived the ordeal.
Earlier in the week, a dog and the couple who owns her fell through ice and into a pond in Louisville, Ky. Emergency workers rescued the couple, while a neighbor grabbed her kayak to go after the dog, named Lady,
Nicole Young paddled up to Lady and hoisted her aboard. Later, Nicole, Lady and the kayak were pulled by a rope over the ice to shore.
This last video, said to have been shot in a village outside Moscow last winter, a man named Ivan uses only his bare hands, and fists, to rescue a dog from a frozen pond.
According to the Russian news channel m24.ru, Ivan says had stopped his car near the pond to help a motorist who had broken down. As he was talking to the driver, he heard the dog barking and ran to help him.
If Ivan is starting to sound a little like Superman, well, just watch what he did next.
According to local media reports, Ivan later adopted the dog and named him Rex.
Posted by John Woestendiek February 20th, 2015 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: animals, dog, dogs, fists, ice, icy ponds, kayak, ladders, pets, ponds, rescue, rescues, safety, saved, thin ice
Comments: 1
Caffeine and canines: LA Dog Cafe would showcase adoptable dogs
Here's an idea we love — an establishment where you can get your caffeine fix and your canine fix at the same time.
It's a dog cafe — a cozy and comfortable place where, in addition to enjoying a nice cup of coffee or tea, you can meet, bond with and pet a few dogs, and maybe even take one home.
A woman in Los Angeles, putting a new twist on what up to now has been an Asian concept, is trying to start up America's first dog cafe — called, appropriately enough, the Dog Cafe.
"The Dog Cafe's mission is simple. We want to provide a second chance for shelter dogs that are often overlooked," founder Sarah Wolfgang told LA Weekly. "The Dog Cafe is going to put a spin on the way people adopt by totally reinventing the way we connect with homeless dogs."
In addition to showcasing adoptable dogs in a warmer environment than most shelters offer, the cafe will allow Los Angeles residents who can't have dogs to get a doggy fix — thereby soothing nerves frazzled by traffic jams and making workday stresses disappear.
(And maybe lowering their blood pressure at least as much as that cup of coffee is raising it.)
Allowing the petless to spend some time with pets was the idea behind pet cafes that popped up in Japan, Korea and other Asian countries. For the price of a coffee or tea, patrons — many of whom live in small crowded apartments and can't have pets of their own — can sit in a restaurant and pet, cuddle, interact with and be surrounded by dogs, or cats.
Finding the animals homes wasn't their purpose, but Wolfgang, who once worked at private animal shelters in Korea, saw the possibilities.
The Dog Cafe in Los Angeles will have adoption as its primary mission, but not its only one.
"The Dog Cafe is for everyone," Wolfgang said. "We want people to come in and cuddle with our pooches even if they aren't interested in adopting."
Working with rescue groups, the Dog Cafe will be stocked with dozens of adoptable dogs, who will roam the shop and hang out with customers.
The coffee will come from Santa Monica–based coffee roaster Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., whose blends include Alpha Blend, Morning Walk Blend and Paper & Slippers Blend. The company donates 20 percent of its profit from each purchase to a local shelter.
Because of L.A. Health Department regulations, the cafe must be divided into two areas, keeping the drink service counter and "dog zone" separated.
She's now raising funds — here's her page on indiegogo – to help start the cafe.
"Our goal is to find forever homes for at least 104 dogs within the first year, though we are anticipating to reach a much higher number," the page says. "Our project will reinvent the way people view adopting dogs and will give dogs that seemed 'unadoptable,' a chance at their very own forever home."
The Dog Cafe would benefit both dogs and humans, she said — and not just those humans who adopt a pet.
"… Even if you're not looking to adopt, you can still enjoy all of the sloppy kisses you've ever wanted."
Posted by John Woestendiek January 23rd, 2015 under Muttsblog.
Tags: adopt, adoptable, adoptions, animals, coffee, dog, dog cafe, dog cafes, dogs, fundraising, los angeles, pet cafes, pets, rescues, sarah wolfgang, shelters
Comments: none
Hopeless dogs? Think again
There are plenty of rescue groups that likely do as good a job saving, rehabilitating and re-homing stray dogs as Hope For Paws.
But there is probably none better than that Los Angeles-based non-profit at documenting what they do on video.
Above is their latest rescue video — that of a pit bull, since named Bunny, found abandoned on some government property. Shy, skittish and — even we'd admit — looking a little intimidating, she was lured in with hamburgers and trapped in a crate.
Not until she's transported to safety and let out of the crate do we get the answer to the question that — in addition to the beautiful camera work — keeps us watching: How is she going to react, close up, with a member of the species that treated her so rudely?
Therein lies the beauty of the Hope For Paws videos, and the beauty of dogs.
Bunny, who apparently experienced little kindness in life — with the exception of one good Samaritan who would drop her off some food while she was living in the wild — doesn't just give humans a second chance, she becomes an instant, gentle, trusting and tail-wagging friend.
After a few shy sniffs, she was resting her head on the laps of her rescuers.
Bunny is now up for adoption through Sevadog, an Oregon organization that helps dogs find forever homes. Hope For Paws often teams up with other rescues. In Bunny's case, three were involved, including the group Rescue From the Hart, which notified Hope For Paws about the dog's situation.
Hope For Paws went to the site, found the dog and got her veterinary care — shooting video the whole time.
The videos, which get millions of views on YouTube, help raise funds for the organization, and melt our hearts in the process. But they also bring attention to the issue of stray and homeless dogs, and remind us that, no matter how rough shape a being might be in, hope and love can conquer all.
The Internet age has seen us all become more adept at touting ourselves — as individuals, as non-profit organizations, as corporations. There are downsides to that. One is how easy it has become to mislead the masses. Another is the danger that we all end up spending 10 percent of our time on a project, and 90 percent of our time touting what we've done.
On the other hand, for a non-profit organization, showing the public what it does, in a way that touches the heart, can be a key to survival.
So, all things considered, we hope the Hope For Paws videos keep coming, and we urge you to take at some of the others by clicking the link in this paragraph.
You'll see some dogs in pretty horrid shape, like this one found living in a landfill, but you'll also get transported from sad to happy on your way to the final destination — hope.
Posted by John Woestendiek September 17th, 2014 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: abandoned, animal welfare, animals, bunny, documenting, dog, dogs, fundraising, helpless, homeless, hope for paws, internet, los angeles, pets, public relations, rescue, rescue from the hart, rescue videos, rescues, sevadog, shelter, stray, touting, video, videos
Comments: 1
And if you need a more revolting "challenge"
An animal sanctuary in Ohio, after watching how successful the Ice Bucket Challenge has been as a fundraiser for ALS research, has launched a similar campaign to raise money for its shelter, challenging people to pick up dog or cat feces — with their bare hands.
The gimmick is similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge — but way more disgusting. Participants videotape themselves picking up poop, and post the video on the Internet, nominating friends and family to either take the challenge or make a donation to the shelter. ($25 is suggested.)
In a post on its Facebook page, The Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary in Port Clinton, Ohio, announced the "Poop Pickup Challenge" on Saturday:
"We at Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary are starting our own challenge. It is something that if you are a dog or cat lover have probably ALL done at one time or another. We want you to challenge people (hopefully germ haters) to a 'Free-hand poop' Event."
"We're just trying to do something to raise funds for the sanctuary," Nancy Benevento, CEO of the sanctuary, told The Toledo Blade. "Hands can be washed."
As proof that the whole thing isn't entirely tongue in cheek, Benevento got the campaign rolling by picking up — with her bare hands — a pile left by a bull mastiff at the sanctuary.
People are challenged to record themselves picking up dog or cat feces barehanded, post it to social media using the hashtag #pooppickupchallenge, and then challenge their family and friends. Those who are challenged and prefer not to pick up are asked to donate $25 to the sanctuary.
Benevento said she tried to make the challenge so revolting that people would wind up donating rather than completing it.
We think she succeeded on that last account, and we think picking up dog poop is far more earth-friendly than pouring ice water over oneself. (Or one's dog.)
But concerns about health and hygiene should send this challenge to the Dumpster.
Filling up a bucket with dog poop and disposing of it, rather than the bare hands requirement, might have been a better challenge — and it should be poop from dogs other than your own. Picking that up is your job, anyway.
Those behind the challenge do suggest that anyone taking part should wash their hands afterwards. They advise picking up poop only from animals you know are healthy — though often one would have no way of knowing that. On top of that, they recommend you not do it with a hand that has any open cuts. And children, they add, should not be allowed to participate.
We'd say all those disclaimers pretty much take all the fun out of it — if there was any fun in it in the first place.
As much as we're in favor of poop being picked up, and funds being raised for shelters, we think this idea is need of a lot of fine tuning.
For that reason and others, Mrs. Benevento, bold and well-intentioned as your challenge is, we're not inclined to take it, and forgive us for not wanting to shake your hand right now.
Posted by John Woestendiek August 27th, 2014 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: als, animals, bare handed, bare hands, challenges, dog, dogs, donations, feces, fund raising, gimmicks, ice bucket challenge, island safe harbor animal sanctuary, nancy benevento, non-profit, ohio, organizations, pets, poop, poop pick up challenge, poop pickup challenge, pooppickupchallenge, port clinton, rescues, sanctuaries, shelters, social media, video, waste
Comments: none
Where a trail of dead dogs has led
When Randi Hileman came upon a trail of dead dogs and cats on the highway in North Carolina, she did what most folks do nowadays. She got out her phone and took some pictures.
She was distressed enough by the scene that, after moving the corpses to the side of the road, she posted the photos on Facebook and called the news media — all in search of some sort of explanation.
And when, earlier this month, the explanation came, she — and a lot of other people — got even angrier.
What little official response there was went something like this: Someone failed to properly latch the tailgate of a truck transporting dogs and cats that had been euthanized at the Davidson County Animal Shelter.
Rather than ending up at their destination, a landfill, their bodies were left strewn along U.S 64, near Interstate 85.
Judy Lanier, the shelter's director, told inquiring reporters it was a non-story, and apparently convinced a lot of them of that.
Not too many accounts of what happened can be easily found on the Internet, other than this one in the Winston-Salem Journal.
"It was an internal employee mistake that's been dealt with in less than 30 minutes," Lanier told columnist Scott Sexton. "Basically it's a nonstory. There is one thread on one Facebook page where you've got less than 10 people beating a dead horse."
Between being one of only eight counties backwards enough to still use gas chambers to put down dogs, the public opposition to that, the county's dismal adoptions figures (it reportedly euthanizes 6,000 dogs a year), Lanier's defensive reaction and the vivid images of what her employee left, however briefly, on the highway, it's not too surprising that some people are calling for the shelter director's resignation.
Lanier, while she's not granting many interviews with the media, is responding to what people are saying on Facebook.
"I never took it lightly," she says in one comment. "I dealt with it a week ago in a professional expedient fashion … I take issue with this non story that was simply an error of equipment usage being used as another platform for attacking our shelter, our staff and our ethics … Not one cat was adopted due to this story being spread all over face book. Not one of these so called activists stepped through the door to help lessen the overcrowding that requires that truck to make that trip several times a week. Shame on those who criticize that which they don't understand and those who don't intend to put their words into action. Journalism when practiced honestly does not require ambushing and exploitation. That's just his personnel (sic) self aggrandizement in print.
Lanier wrote that none of the animals found on the road had been put down in the gas chamber, and said the shelter uses lethal injection three times more often than it uses its gas chamber. Opponents of the gas chamber, she said, are using the dead animal spill to fuel their campaign against the use of gas.
"Those animals are the visual picture of what happens in a community that does not spay/nueter (sic), thinks of animals as disposable property and expects a small shelter to absorb their decisions and re home each one. That's a fact not an excuse but reality.
In another comment, she gets in a shot at the reporter: "Must be a slow day in the newspaper world when a columnist can only report week old news and quote a no comment voice mail to make a punch line … Mr. Sexton burnt a bridge he won't ever cross again today."
Lanier further states that she wishes people criticizing the shelter would spend that energy instead on volunteering at the shelter, helping get dogs adopted and educating the public on spaying and neutering.
Amid her comments, an apology can be found.
"The incident where animals were found on Highway 64 on Tuesday, August 8, 2014 was an unfortunate error caused by the tailgate on the animal shelter truck being inadequately secured. The animal shelter truck was in route to the county landfill at the time of the incident. The animal shelter staff acted as soon as possible to correct this error and the staff member involved was extremely sorry and devastated that this had occurred. The shelter staff member is an excellent employee who performs above and beyond every day at the shelter. Measures have been taken by the staff to make sure this never occurs again.
"The Davidson County Animal Shelter apologizes to the public who witnessed this incident. We are aware of the impact this has had on our citizens. The entire incident was due to human error and is regrettable."
Probably she should have provided that statement to reporters and stopped there, rather than telling them they were "beating a dead horse." And probably she should have held back on criticizing animal advocates who want to see the gas chamber dismantled.
Criticizing those who see the issues differently is bad for public relations. Badmouthing reporters is bad for public relations. The gas chamber is bad for public relations. Dead dogs on the highway is bad for public relations.
Davidson County officials have the power to do something about one or two of those, or perhaps all four.
(Photos from Randi Hileman's Facebook page)
Posted by John Woestendiek August 25th, 2014 under Muttsblog.
Tags: adopt, adoption rates, animals, bodies, carcasses, cats, davidson county, dead, director, dogs, euthanized, facebook, gas chamber, judy lanier, lethal injection, neuter, north carolina, pets, photos, put down, rescues, shelters, spay, spill, tailgate, truck
Comments: 15


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Mariah Carey
In Groups: Helping Haiti
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Fantasy (1995)was remixed in
- Fantasy (Bad Boy Remix) by Puff Daddy (1995)
- Fantasy (Def Club Mix) by David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie (1995)
Heartbreaker (1999)by Mariah Carey feat. Jay Zwas remixed in
Honey (1997)was remixed in
- Honey (Bad Boy Remix) (1997)
- Honey (So So Def Mix) by Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal (1997)
- Honey (Classic Mix) by David Morales (1997)
Dreamlover (1993)was remixed in
- Dreamlover (Def Club Mix) by David Morales (1993)
- Dreamlover (Bam Jam Soul) by Brian Morgan (1993)
I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time (2008)was remixed in
- I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time (Remix) by DJ Toomp and Mariah Carey (2008)
- I'll Be Lovin U Long Time (Remix) (2008)
Make It Happen (1991)was remixed in
- Make It Happen (Extended Version) by Mariah Carey and Clivillés & Cole (1991)
Emotions (1991)was remixed in
- Emotions (12" Club Mix) by Clivillés & Cole (1991)
Boy (I Need You) (2002)by Mariah Carey feat. Cam'ronwas remixed in
We Belong Together (2005)was remixed in
Loverboy (2001)by Mariah Carey feat. Cameowas remixed in
- Loverboy (Remix) by Clark Kent and Mariah Carey (2001)
- Loverboy (Club of Love Remix) by David Morales (2001)
- Loverboy (MJ Cole Remix) by MJ Cole (2001)
kaiboy42000 said 4 years ago:
I stand corrected..
RD said 4 years ago:
Actually, it was the writers of the song, not Xscape themselves. And the song was "One of Those Love Songs," not "The Arms of the One Who Loves You" (that was written by Diane Warren).
kaiboy42000 said 5 years ago:
Xscape sued her claiming that "Thank God I Found You" ripped off their "The Arms of the One Who Loves You" I'm not sure who won but Jermaine Dupri works alot with the both of them, not sure if he had something to do with it.


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Network effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation drive a unique mixture of responses in basal ganglia output
Article first published online: 17 JUL 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08085.x
© 2012 The Authors. European Journal of Neuroscience © 2012 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
European Journal of Neuroscience
Special Issue: INTEGRATING CLINICAL, EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 36, Issue 2, pages 2240–2251, July 2012
Additional Information
How to Cite
Humphries, M. D. and Gurney, K. (2012), Network effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation drive a unique mixture of responses in basal ganglia output. European Journal of Neuroscience, 36: 2240–2251. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08085.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 17 JUL 2012
- Article first published online: 17 JUL 2012
- Received 30 November 2011, revised 16 February 2012, accepted 20 February 2012
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
- basal ganglia;
- high-frequency stimulation;
- Parkinson's disease
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a remarkably successful treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. High-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) within the basal ganglia is a main clinical target, but the physiological mechanisms of therapeutic STN DBS at the cellular and network level are unclear. We set out to begin to address the hypothesis that a mixture of responses in the basal ganglia output nuclei, combining regularized firing and inhibition, is a key contributor to the effectiveness of STN DBS. We used our computational model of the complete basal ganglia circuit to show how such a mixture of responses in basal ganglia output naturally arises from the network effects of STN DBS. We replicated the diversification of responses recorded in a primate STN DBS study to show that the model's predicted mixture of responses is consistent with therapeutic STN DBS. We then showed how this 'mixture of response' perspective suggests new ideas for DBS mechanisms: first, that the therapeutic frequency of STN DBS is above 100 Hz because the diversification of responses exhibits a step change above this frequency; and second, that optogenetic models of direct STN stimulation during DBS have proven therapeutically ineffective because they do not replicate the mixture of basal ganglia output responses evoked by electrical DBS.


text:
THIS GORGEOUS CADILLAC UNDERWENT A 4 YEAR BODY OFF RESTORATION. HAS 3 INCH STACK OF INVOICES. SAME OWNER FOR 18 YEARS. HAS ORIGINAL LITERATURE.... More
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Quality of Service5.0
It Makes Scents was very prompt with the delivery of my order. I can't thank Darren enough for relieving one wedding burden.
Thank you very much!
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You are very welcome. Thank you for the kind words.


text: After spending 8 weeks travelling various countries and spending time in various hotels this was the most disappointing! Don't be fooled like us believing that an ocean facing room means that you will actually have a view, as this is not the case. The room was well furnished but smelt damp throughout our stay. The hotel advertises bathrobes and slippers... More


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Established by Aaron Richmond in 1938, the Series has evolved into New England's major presenting organization with over 100 performance and outreach activities annually.
Join host Tom Shaker as he celebrates the life and music of a very unique soul singer. Singer Minnie Riperton was well on her way to becoming a pop and soul legend when she died of breast cancer in 1979, at age 31. Riperton was blessed with an astounding five-and-a-half-octave vocal range, and achieved her greatest commercial success with the hit ballad, "Lovin' You."
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02/11/2015 - PinPics Updates
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Characters - Angel, aka Experiment 624
Pin 76304: HK Annual Passholder Stitch, Angel, and Scrump Set
Disney Pins
Hong Kong
Limited Edition:
SKU Number:
Original Price:
January, 2010
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This pin set is given to all those who buy Annual Passes for Hong Kong Disneyland. There are 4 pins to the set and they come on an adorable card where it looks like Stitch is holding them.
The pins in this set are:
Pin 76305: Hong Kong Annual Passholder Exclusive Stitch & Scrump
Pin 76306: Hong Kong Annual Passholder Exclusive Stitch in Car
Pin 76307: Hong Kong Annual Passholder Exclusive Stitch & Angel
Pin 76308: Hong Kong Annual Passholder Exclusive Scrump Doll
All the pins have the words Annual Pass 2010 and Hong Kong Disneyland written on the front. They all have one post with two nubs, are silver finished, and have the Mickey Icon Logo on the back with the year 2010. Under it, Hong Kong Disneyland is written and also © Disney right below that. At the very bottom it says Exclusive for Annual Passholders only.
This set also comes packaged with a lanyard. The lanyard has Stitch and a Hawaiian motif and is printed with a repeat pattern of "Lilo and Stitch" "Stitch". The lanyard has a cell phone attachment, a ticket holder clip and a medal clip. Included on the medal clip is a vinyl puff Stitch, which holds your pass, credit card, or anything that size in a pocket located on the back of the puff. Please look at pinpics # 77112.
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I have always been a fan of TV game shows. When I went to school in Social Circle, we lived right across the street from the school and they let me go home for lunch. I would sneak in a few minutes of "Concentration" and "Jeopardy."
When you have children, there are those memorable moments that are etched in your mind. You remember their first steps, the first time they babble something that sounds like "Daddy," their first day of school. The list goes on and on.
Some people tout our state because it is largely nonunion.
It's been 31 years and I have not made it back to a high school reunion.
For far too long, I have been delaying the inevitable project of getting rid of some stuff. We have talked about a yard sale for a long time, but have not quite put it together.
After more than 20 years in this area, I have come to know many of the people who shaped this region. Most came from the group that has been called "The Greatest Generation," the veterans of World War II. In the past few days, we lost two great ones.
There is a little dog that lives at our house. Her name is Buttons and in human terms, she is a senior citizen. When I came into her life, she was well into middle age and, like most who reach that point, was set in her ways.
There was a record store on Broad Street in Monroe called the Music and Camera Shop. It was owned by Edward Peters and he carried all the latest 45s and plenty of albums.
In the past few days, the Eastman Kodak Co. announced that its Kodachrome film would be no more.
This is my 19th Father's Day. That is, if you count the one where we were anticipating an arrival in September of 1990.
There is a connection between summer and cars that remains in my mind.
We have more than one television in our house. In fact, there are about as many televisions as there are people.
The people who make tissues will get some of my money this weekend. I'm going to try not to cry, but I know I will.
We have a pretty kitchen at our house. We've got a big stove that has a convection oven. We haven't learned how to convect, but when we do, we supposedly have an oven that will do it.
For many years, Arnold Boyd and Ernest Moore were the head ushers at First Baptist Church on Green Street.
For many years, Arnold Boyd and Ernest Moore were the head ushers at First Baptist Church on Green Street.
I married into a family that has generational roots in Gainesville. They go back long before the War of Northern Aggression.
I remember going to places such as Six Flags and Stone Mountain when I was a kid. I was always fascinated with the key chains, pencils and bike tags with names on them.
We are a gullible bunch, aren't we?
This column begins as a newspaper column. I'm very happy about that. I like the notion of being a newspaper columnist. I still like to hold the newspaper in my hand and look at it.
Sometimes, when I gripe about slow computers or cellphones that don't do what they are supposed to do, I think about how far we have come in my lifetime.
In an earlier time, we used to celebrate the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in February. Now, we have combined them into one day to honor all presidents of the United States.
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Wieters, Orioles Deal Tigers First Loss of Season
(DETROIT) -- Matt Wieters homered as the Baltimore Orioles handed the Detroit Tigers their first loss of the season Sunday, a 3-1 setback at Comerica Park.
Chris Tillman allowed just one run while pitching into the ninth inning to earn his first victory of the season for the Orioles. Justin Verlander took the loss for Detroit, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks over eight innings.
Tommie Hunter entered with one out in the ninth and a runner on second base. He retired the last two batters for his second save of the season.
Adam Jones drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly as Baltimore won for the first time since its season opener.
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New York, NY – March 2, 2015 – Presidio Holdings, Inc. ("Presidio") today announced the composition of its new Board of Directors ("Board") after the acquisition of Presidio by funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "Apollo") on February 2, 2015. Presidio's Board will be comprised of: Bob Cagnazzi, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Board member of Presidio since 2012, will continue to serve as CEO and Board member. Chris Edson, a Principal at Apollo who joined the firm in 2008.
IT Blog & Customer Resources
03/02/15 at 06:02 am
02/19/15 at 06:28 am
New York, NY – February 19, 2015 – Presidio today announced that it was named Citrix North America Partner of the Year at the Citrix Summit conference that took place in January in Las Vegas, NV.
Presidio Receives Americas Software Defined-Data Center Partner of the Year Award at VMware Partner Exchange 2015
02/18/15 at 07:28 am
New York, NY - February 18, 2015 - Presidio today announced that it has received the Americas VMware Partner Network Award in the Software-Defined Data Center Partner of the Year category. Presidio was recognized at VMware Partner Exchange 2015, VMware's annual partner event, held in San Francisco.
02/02/15 at 06:08 am
New York, NY – February 2, 2015 – Presidio Holdings, Inc. ("Presidio" or the "Company") announced that effective today, the previously announced acquisition of the Company by funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (NYSE: APO) (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "Apollo") from affiliates of American Securities, LLC has been completed. In accordance with the terms of the definitive agreement, which was announced on December 1, 2014, funds affiliated with Apollo have acquired all outstanding common stock of Presidio. Going forward Presidio Holdings, Inc.
01/28/15 at 11:11 am
The Bibb County School District (Bibb County) serves more than 25,000 K–12 students in the Macon, Georgia area and employs approximately 3,500 faculty and staff. Its mission is to develop a highly trained staff and an engaged community dedicated to educating each student to succeed in a 21st-century global society. VIEW THE PDF VERSION HERE
01/27/15 at 08:25 am
Greenbelt, MD. – January 27, 2015 - Presidio today announced it was named U.S Solution Provider of the Year by Sungard® Availability Services™ (Sungard AS), a leading provider of information availability through managed IT, cloud and recovery services. Presidio was recognized as one of only six of partners for its performance and dedication during 2014.
By Bill Ferrato , Vice President, Presidio
01/19/15 at 06:08 am
"Shadow IT" is a major concern for organizations of all sizes. The term refers to efforts by members within an organization to acquire and manage their own IT resources. In the early days of networks, this might have involved bringing in an unauthorized technology to create a personal Wi-Fi network. The primary danger lay in that this technology was not under management of IT and thus could unintentionally expose the company's network and digital assets.
A Story of Innovation: ServiceGrid and Intercloud Expand Managed Services to Achieve Fast IT with Customers
Ryan Jordan, VP Managed Services, Presidio
01/13/15 at 11:06 am
A Roundtable Discussion with Presidio and Cisco about the Future of Managed Services MODERATOR Sherri Liebo, VP, Global Partner Marketing ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS
Johan Milbrink, Sr. Director, Presidio Managed Cloud Services
01/05/15 at 05:48 am
Cloud technology is already changing how many organizations do business. Flexible computing and storage resources in the cloud give businesses the ability to scale quickly to dynamic and seasonable demand with minimal capital investment. Similarly, collaboration services enable employees to work together in wholly new ways to achieve higher efficiency and productivity.
12/10/14 at 09:22 am
Greenbelt, MD. - December 10, 2014 – Presidio announced today that it was recognized by Cisco for two awards at the 2014 Cisco Collaboration Summit held on November 17-19 at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles, California. Cisco recognized 27 partners for their exemplary performance across 11 categories at its 10th annual Collaboration Summit.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Santa Visits Children's Hospitals across the Country via Cisco Video Technology
12/09/14 at 05:25 am
Santa Brings Spirit to Children in the Hospital this Holiday Season
Eric Martinis, EVP Federal, Presidio
12/02/14 at 02:33 pm
If you live in the Washington DC area, you most definitely travel the George Washington Parkway. It's a beautiful, scenic drive bordering the Potomac River on one side and the State of Virginia on the other. There are no shoulders and the vegetation is lush and green.
12/01/14 at 07:37 am
New York, NY – (December 1, 2014) – American Securities LLC and Apollo Global Management, LLC (NYSE: APO) (together with its subsidiaries, "Apollo") today announced that funds affiliated with Apollo have entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Presidio Holdings, Inc. ("Presidio" or the "Company") from affiliates of American Securities. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
By Josh Miller, Consulting Director Presidio
11/24/14 at 10:38 am
Cisco's highest-tech digital offering in five years -- Project Squared, which hit their Partner Summit in L.A. last week -- breaks digital boundaries by tapping into analog sensibilities. Yep. You read that right. Analog. Turns out, counter-intuitively -- and yet shockingly intuitive once the light bulb flashes on -- analog is the way to understand digital.
11/19/14 at 07:17 am
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — November 18, 2014 – Presidio received NetApp's distinguished FlexPod Premium Partner-National Accelerator Award for Public Sector during NetApp's Insight Conference held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Accelerator Award is given to partners that have demonstrated accelerated growth and investment around FlexPod solutions.
Devon Buffington, Consulting Principal, Presidio
11/10/14 at 07:32 am
Many corporations face the challenge of keeping end-users satisfied with their company's IT services while maintaining control over information that is critical to the success of their business. Baylor College of Medicine recently found themselves in a similar situation. Compounding these conflicting efforts, Baylor needed to negotiate and resolve issues around researcher grant funding (which is granted to a researcher or project) as well as solve for challenges plaguing the College itself.
11/05/14 at 04:54 am
Greenbelt, MD – November 5, 2014 –Presidio today announced that they have built and completed requirements for one of the first EMC-validated Platinum Solution Centers that clients and prospects will be able to view and test.
10/23/14 at 12:35 am
My name is Justin Coleman and I am an Inside Sales Representative or ISR within Presidio's North Region. Presidio gave me my first career opportunity straight out of college and I have been here ever since for the last 10 years. I work with a team of core Account Executives and Engineers and support their business including Managed Services in the greater Boston area.
Sean Walls, Director, Cyber Security Solutions
10/14/14 at 12:58 am
Compliance, what is it? The dictionary defines compliance as, "the action of obeying, or complying, to a wish or command." In IT, we think of compliance as adhering to the rules placed on us by the government or industry, to better secure our intellectual assets and customer data. When we think of compliance we think of PCI, HIPAA, GLBA, FISMA, and so on. But if regulatory compliance is meant to help us protect our data, then why are so many "compliant" companies being breached? The answer is simple, "Compliance does not equal security".
10/13/14 at 02:18 pm
Greenbelt, MD – October 14, 2014 – Presidio announced today that it has been named one of the first four companies to commit to the Cisco Intercloud Builders channel program to build Intercloud-ready private clouds based on Cisco Intercloud fabric. Presidio was also named as one of the Intercloud Providers that will deliver next generation Intercloud enabled cloud services.
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