Help for online job seekers

Do your New Year's resolutions include finding a new job? The Internet is a great resource for jobseekers. But far too many people don't use it effectively.

According to Nielsen Online, CareerBuilder, Monster and Yahoo! HotJobs are the most visited job sites. These general job sites attract a wide variety of employers.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of job listings on these sites. You're bound to find opportunities that suit you.

On the flip side, many of these jobs won't appeal to mid- or upper-level professionals. You'll wade through many jobs below your experience level. Some of the better jobs may not be listed on these sites.

So look beyond the general employment sites when looking for your dream job. Here are some tips for using the Internet for your job search.

Try specialized sites 

No matter what your field, you'll find a specialized job site. These sites list jobs related to a specific industry.

Specialized sites won't have the same volume of listings as general sites. Don't let this deter you. The listings will better suit your skills.

There's another advantage, too. You won't be competing against so many other jobseekers. However, the competition will be better qualified than on other sites.

If you're a tech worker, try www.bradreese.com . For government jobs, visit USAJOBS. eFinancialCareers specializes in financial positions, while SalesJobs lists sales positions.

There are many specialized job sites. Search the Web for those in your field. Look for larger sites with plenty of listings.

Find associations online 

Industry associations and clubs are invaluable tools for jobseekers. Most national organizations have Web sites. Visit the site to learn more about local chapters.

By joining an industry organization, you'll meet other professionals in your field. Some of the people you meet may have hiring authority. At the least, you'll learn about new job openings. Some may not even be listed online.

Also, industry associations often have job boards on their sites. These boards will help you find hidden job opportunities.

Visit employers' sites 

Companies often list career opportunities on their Web sites. Smaller businesses may have relatively few listings. Larger companies will have hundreds.

Larger companies will have search tools to help you narrow your search. Some even have notification systems. New listings matching your search will be sent to you.

Of course, an employer's site offers more than listings. Use it to find out more about the company and its clients.

Other resources 

When you're job searching, you'll be asked for your salary requirements. For this, visit Salary.com, PayScale or PaycheckCity. These sites list salary ranges specific to your region for a given position. They're also helpful for salary negotiation.

A career change is more difficult than a move within your current field. It pays to learn as much as possible about your newly chosen field.

In addition to joining an industry association, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You'll learn about the occupational outlook for countless industries.

You'll find job descriptions, working conditions and general requirements for specific professions.

 

Microsoft is Giving Away Developer Software ? 

SEATTLE (AP) - Microsoft Corp. is giving students free access to its most sophisticated tools for writing software and making media-rich Web sites, a move that intensifies its competition with Adobe Systems Inc. and could challenge open source software's popularity.

The Redmond-based software maker said late Monday it will let students download Visual Studio Professional Edition, a software development environment; Expression Studio, which includes graphic design and Web site and hybrid Web-desktop programming tools; and XNA Game Studio 2.0, a video game development program.

The company will also give away SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition and Windows Server Standard Edition.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said the company's past efforts to arrange educational discounts for these programs limited the number of students who ultimately could use them. DreamSpark, as Microsoft is calling the free software offering, opens up access to many more students.

It's also good for Microsoft's business, Gates added.For the rest of the story and to see if you Qualify go here:  MICROSOFT STUDENT SOFTWARE

Save on photo printing

You probably have hundreds of photographs stored on your computer.

There’s nothing quite like printed photos. Printing out photos is one of the best ways to preserve your memories. They’ll be safe in the event of a computer crash.

Unfortunately, many people don't print their digital photos. If you’re not, I have some help that will change that!

Go to:  www.printrates.com  ---  you can compare prices at various photo printing sites. At the top of the page, you simply enter the number and size of prints you want. Then, click the Search button.

You’ll see how different sites stack up. This can save you a bundle on photo printing! Of course, you should consider more than just price. So, read the reviews to find out how good each site is.

How to shop for an HDTV!

Start by doing some research on the Internet. Manufacturers generally post their products' full specifications. On the product page, just look for a link called technical specifications.

If the manufacturer’s site doesn’t list the specifications, try shopping sites. For example, Amazon often lists technical specifications. I’ve found that it is sometimes more complete than manufacturers’ sites.

You could spend a lot of time fretting over specifications posted online. You also need to spend some time looking at televisions in person. Regardless of specifications, choose a television with an appealing picture.

On the Specifications: response time and contrast ratio are important.

Response time refers to how fast a pixel moves from black to white to black. Or, maybe it's the time it takes to move from one level of gray to another. It all depends on what the manufacturer is testing.

Response time is measured in milliseconds; lower is better. I would aim for 8ms or less.

Response time is important because LCDs sometimes handle action poorly. In the bad old days, they often displayed a smear instead of action. A faster response time was one answer to smearing.

However, there is much discussion about response time on the Internet. Some consider it overrated.

There's another term you'll sometimes see—refresh rate. This was important in old cathode ray tube TVs and monitors. A slow refresh rate gives you flicker. LCDs typically display a picture 60 times per second (Hertz, abbreviated Hz). They don't have a problem with flicker. But because they sometimes smear, manufacturers developed a 120Hz frame rate.

Samsung's explanation 

Samsung calls its system Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology. It explains it this way: "This technology doubles the frame rate from 60 to 120 frames per second (120Hz LCD panel) without repeating the same image to make more frames. Instead, the TV intelligently calculates the ‘middle’ image between frame A and frame B and inserts it in between (Auto Motion Plus 120Hz processor), making a fluid transition from one frame to the next."

Intelligent calculation is another term for interpolation. Skeptics would say the true term should be guesswork. Is it worth paying for? I don't know. The jury's still out.

Suggestion:  use the specs for pre-selection. Then go watch them in the store. Try for a basketball game or an auto race. If there's no smearing, you have a potential purchase.

Contrast ratio is the ratio between the brightest white and darkest black. The greater the difference, the crisper the picture. I would aim for 10000:1 or better. Contrast is fairly easy to gauge. If the contrast ratio isn’t up to snuff, the television’s picture will appear flat.

Candelas is a measure of luminance. Specifically, luminance is measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m2). As you can guess, this affects how bright an image appears on the screen. Aim for 500 cd/m2. You’ll be okay if luminance is slightly lower. However, I wouldn’t accept less than 350 cd/m2. Otherwise, the television will be dim.

Manufacturers may tout viewing angle. They generally do this when a television has an exceptional viewing angle. Look for a viewing angle of 120 to 170 degrees.

From an angle, an LCD's colors can be inaccurate. And the image might be dim or nonexistent. Some do better from the side than others. Check it in the store.

Do you want to know more about Groundhog Day?

The rest of the country has been thrashed with genuinely cold weather. Just this week, the Midwest was blanketed with snow. So you’re probably looking forward to spring and summer.

February 2 is Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil makes his official appearance on this day.  Will there be six more weeks of winter, or will it end soon? (We're rooting for more winter!)

Check this site to discover Phil's prediction. While you're there, learn about the tradition of Groundhog Day.

www.groundhog.org

You can Rent Bling:  In addition to handbags,  www.BagBorrowOrSteal.comrents jewelry starting at $25 per month.  www.BorrowedBling.com  and  www.ImOverItOnline.com  rent jewelry for $30 to $100 per month.

How to Increase your energy levels:

Daily Tips: Jump Start Your Energy

Low energy really puts a drag on your day, keeping you from enjoying your daily activities. The causes of low energy are numerous, but it usually points to the stress of living in this modern world.

Coping with stressful situations requires a lot of energy, leaving the average person drained and even depressed. Discover six amazing ways you can restore your energy below.

1. Energize with a Blockbuster Breakfast
We have all heard that "you are what you eat," but it's also true that you are when you eat. The human body follows a circadian rhythm, and because of this, the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are assimilated differently than when they are eaten later. Start the day right with a breakfast that gives you the energy you need to function strong all day long.

Studies have shown that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast, you tend to lose weight and have more energy; conversely, eating the same things at dinner increases your tendency toward weight gain, increased blood pressure, and heart disease.

2. Sustainable Energy with Snacks
Most people eat too many foods that supply a rapid burst of energy in the form of simple carbohydrates and sugars - which burn out fast, leaving us depleted - rather than foods with a more sustainable energy content.

Eat a snack at mid-morning and another one at mid-afternoon. Good ones to choose are nuts, seeds, fruits, or protein-rich foods like hummus made from beans; these will help you sustain your energy and prevent low blood sugar from setting in. Make your own trail mix with almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, dried cranberry, raisins, or any other combination.

3. Ginseng Restores Failing Energy
The most famous of energy tonics, Panax ginseng has been prized and used for 5,000 years in Asian medical traditions. Ginseng's popular uses include increasing physical and mental endurance, decreasing fatigue, and gently boosting energy. Unlike coffee, which stimulates the central nervous system, ginseng elevates energy gently. People taking ginseng often report overall improvement in wellbeing. Available as powder, capsule, and tea, you can find ginseng in your local health food store.

4. Flush Out Toxins
One cause of low energy is a buildup of toxins in the system. Water is very important in properly flushing the system and hydrating the cells to prevent buildup of toxic waste products. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day at room temperature. Better yet, drink teas made with herbs such as peppermint, chrysanthemum, and dandelion that gently cleanse your body.

5. Proper Posture Promotes Energizing
Your mother was looking out for your health when she told you to stop slouching. Slouching not only makes you look older than you are, it also leads to a huge drop in energy by decreasing your oxygen intake. When you compress the diaphragm and ribs, full respiration cannot take place and the blood flow is slowed to your brain and extremities. To get proper posture, pull your chin inward and pretend there is a string pulling straight up from the top of your head.

6. Raise Your Energy with Exercise
Getting enough exercise is crucial to maintaining a high energy level. Exercise helps us deal with daily stresses; without it, the body is rapidly depleted of vital energy. There are many opportunities throughout your day to be active. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park a few blocks away from your destination. Walk briskly, run, or ride your bike instead of driving. Sweep the floor with a broom instead of a vacuum. Cut your lawn with a manual mower. Take a break from sitting to stretch or do a set of squats.

To really jumpstart your energy, try this: Jump rope for five minutes every hour throughout the day and drink a glass of water afterward. This will increase your circulation, get more oxygen in your body, and remove toxins from your body.

I hope that this article helps you maintain your vitality! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

About Thanksgiving Day holiday:  Beginning with George Washington in 1789, annual presidential proclamations had declared the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving.  However in 1941, a United States Congressional declaration officially designated the fourth Thursday of November as the date of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Medical Economics Magazine, read by Doctors, published a recent cover story article on "Americas best places to practice" (May 18, 2007 issue).  For the SE USA,  Waynesville, Clyde and Hendersonville are highlighted as the "next Cities" where doctors can add 10 to 30 percent to their base incomes.  Hendersonville is described as a picturesque city of 12,000 with a county population of 97,000.  All these are really nice towns. and as a doctor practicing in any of them, you'd have the added bonus of living in a place where people from larger cities go to on the weekend." Article Link - Medical Economics

College Students get a great deal on Microsoft Office!

But Microsoft is encouraging college students to "steal" Office Ultimate 2007. This is the complete version of Office, containing nine programs. They include Word, Excel and Outlook.

College students can visit Microsoft’s special site to steal the program.  This is Official Microsoft Software directly from Microsoft!

Truth be told, Microsoft isn’t giving it away. But, at $60, it's the “ultimate steal,” as Microsoft says. A retail version is almost $700!

Microsoft does require proof that you’re a student. So don’t try to trick the company.

You might be wondering why Microsoft launched such a generous offer. Well, students are often broke. And unscrupulous students might stoop to other methods of obtaining the software…

TO CHECK THIS OUT GO HERE:
www.theultimatesteal.com

TV’s are Changing,  Are you ready?

There is an upcoming switch to digital broadcasts, which could affect your ability to watch television. By February 2009, television broadcasts will be all-digital.  Analog televisions won’t be able to receive over-the-air signals without help.

The Federal Government did this to free up the spectrum for other uses..  Some of the spectrum will be used by public safety agencies. Some will be auctioned for wireless communications.

How to be Prepared for the transition 

When the change comes, your TV must be capable of receiving digital signals. Otherwise, you won’t be able to watch television.  If you have cable or satellite, you don’t need to worry. Those companies will provide any necessary equipment. Telephone companies’ fiber-optic service should also continue to work.

Does your TV have a digital tuner? 

If you use an antenna, your television will need a digital, or ATSC, tuner. Do not confuse this with NTSC tuners, which are analog. (ATSC means Advanced Television Systems Committee, which develops digital TV standards. NTSC stands for National Television System Committee, which developed analog standards.) 

Laws have helped ease the transition for consumers. Since July 2005, digital tuners have been required in sets 35 inches or larger. The same requirement was imposed on sets 25-inches or larger in March 2006.

And since March 2007, all televisions have been required to have digital tuners. Stores can sell existing inventory. However, televisions with analog tuners must be clearly marked.

All high-definition sets are capable of receiving digital signals. Older standard-definition CRT televisions aren't.

What if you have an analog tuner? 

Again, you will only have a problem if you use an antenna to receive your signal. Even then, you do not need a new set. There are other solutions.

Converter boxes will be available to translate digital signals to analog. Your television must have inputs for the converter box.  The boxes should cost between $50 and $70 when they’re available. But individuals won't have to bear the full cost.

The government has established a $1.5 billion fund to subsidize purchases. Households can apply for up to two $40 coupons. The coupons can be requested between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009. They are valid for three months from the issue date.

A digital converter box will not give you a high definition signal. Your old analog set does not have enough pixels for that. The signal is downgraded to analog for these sets.

Your DVR may help 

You can also use another gadget that contains a digital tuner. For example, a VCR, DVD recorders and DVRs with digital tuners will work. 

Check the manual for your DVR or VCR.  The manual should list the type of tuner. Digital tuners may be listed as ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee). They may also be listed as DTV or HDTV. Analog tuners will be listed as NTSC (National Television System Committee).  If you can’t find the information in your manual, check with the manufacturer. Visit the manufacturer’s Web site or call.

After connecting the recorder, you leave it on while you’re watching television. You change the channel on the recorder rather than on the television. Your old television still will display the picture as standard definition.   However, using this system, the signal is not necessarily downgraded. If you use a high-definition monitor, you can see a high-definition picture.  But there's a catch. You can’t record from a different channel while watching television. That’s because the tuner card is already in use. If the recorder has two tuner cards, you can record from a second channel.

The FCC required digital tuners in televisions as of March 1, 2007. You may have purchased your equipment after that, but you may not have a digital tuner. Stores can sell old stock, even if the tuner is analog.  Effective May 25, 2007, retailers were required to notify customers if a television receiver does not have a digital tuner.

For more information go to the Federal Communications Commission site:

http://www.dtv.gov/

ATT has launched a new, FREE, Directory service.  This service is for North Carolina and 8 other Southeastern states.  dial 800-YellowPages

Callers can get a listing for a residence or business -- or listings for a type or category of business  --  at no cost.  Callers will hear short audio ads before receiving the number or, when available, before being connected directly to the business.  The service is accessable to AT&T subscribers using landline and wireless phones.

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute is open for Tours? 

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute is a former high tech espionage base and NASA tracking center, near Brevard, that has become an educational and research facility. PARI is now open for public tours each Wednesday at 2 p.m. Tours are led by specially trained Friends of PARI volunteers, who provide an in-depth personal tour of the 200-acre campus and insights into the site’s evolution.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to extend PARI’s public outreach with these fascinating presentations of the site, its history and the many exciting research and education programs currently underway at PARI,” said Friends of PARI President Joe Phillips.  “Our volunteers have spent considerable time learning about PARI and the NASA facility that previously occupied this beautiful campus, and they thoroughly enjoy sharing their knowledge.”

Reservations are suggested, and each tour participant is requested to make a $5 donation to PARI.  For more information and to book a reservation, contact PARI Science Educator Christi Whitworth at cwhitwoth@paro.eduor call 877-6348

Do you want to get off the Telemarketers Calling Lists?  There is a way to do it!  THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY.  The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most Telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will be effective for five years.  

Do Not Call Registry

Also, if you get an email claiming that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls because of a new cell phone number database? Those claims are not true. In fact, federal law prohibits telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phones. You may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, but there is generally no reason to do so. For more information, see the FTC's press release on the Website for the Do Not Call Registry.  

The New Movie - "A Dance For Bethany" was filmed in Western North Carolina.  The movie also had it's Premier Showing here in Western NC.  The movie is now premiering in other cities around the country.  A Dance For Bethany

Transylvania Community Hospital announced the addition of a hospitalist program.

Hospitalists are doctors whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients.  Hospitalists help manage patients through the continuum of hospital care, often seeing patients in the emergency room, following them into the critical care unit and organizing post-acute care.  Any patient whose primary care physician has agreed to partner with the hospitalist physicians may participate in the hospitalist program.

Transylvania Community Hospital, between downtown Brvard and Pisgah Forest, is a a 94 bed facility fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  TCH serves the residents of Western Henderson County and Transylvania County.  The Hospital offers comprehensive services through more than 120 active, consulting and courtesy physicians representing a full spectrum of specialties.  TCH also offers support programs to increase access to healthcare and educational seminars.