I have found another way to Spread the word about my StandUp2Cancer.org Campaign.

If you are affected by cancer in anyway whether you have been diagnosed or love someone who has you may find some solace or offer some to someone else by starting your own BLOG for a Cure.

Click here to share my MemoryofmySister Blog

I also wanted to continue to ask that you take a minute by CLICKING HERE  to DONATE $1.00, $5.00, $20.00 or more to the Megin S. Fanz Memorial Fund as requested in previous posts to bring awareness and research that is much needed against Cervical Cancer.

For the Televised event I am fighting also fund raising Deadlines of August 4th and September 5th 2008…..

If everyone who reads this would just Donate $1.00 it would make such a difference to so many people fighting for research or a cure to Save someone they love from Dying the way my Sister did!!
SO Please, Please do what you cant to help.

} The Mrs {

Exam-taking Hints and Tips

Follow these hints to make your exam experience less stressful and more successful.

Before any Exam

• Prepare a short review sheet for the exam. It should contain reference tables and information that you have trouble remembering. Shortly before you start the exam, study your notes for a last-minute review.
• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and relax for a few minutes before the exam. Take a deep breath. Look at the review sheet one last time. You will make fewer mistakes if you are not tense and rushed.
• Before the actual exam begins, you will have the option to take an orientation exam to familiarize yourself with the actual exam program. Take the orientation before you take your first exam. The time you spend on the orientation exam does not count toward the actual test time. If you have any questions, ask the exam administrator before the exam begins. The exams are timed, so don’t use any of your test time asking questions that you could have asked earlier.

During the Exam

• When answering a question you are not sure of, eliminate the obviously incorrect answers first. Eliminating the obvious makes it easier for you to try to select the correct answer, and increases your chances of selecting the correct answer if you have to guess.
• If you simply don’t know, guess! Be sure you answer all the questions before you finish. Unanswered questions are wrong and scored as incorrect answers. If you are unsure of an answer, make an educated guess. There is no extra penalty for incorrect answers.
• If you have time, review your answers before going on to the next question. A word of caution: be absolutely sure before you change an answer! If you are positive that your answer is wrong, change it. But if you are not sure and cannot explain to yourself why you need to change an answer, leave it. Most of the time, your first instinct is correct.

Note: Remember, with an adaptive test, you cannot skip questions or go back to review previous questions. This means you will need to take the time to thoroughly read and understand each question. However, adaptive tests are also shorter, so you do not have to worry as much about running out of time.

Use Your Scratch Paper

• You will be given scratch paper and a pen to use during the exam. Some testing centers provide paper and a pencil. Some provide laminated paper and an erasable marker.
• Right after you start the exam, write down anything that could be a useful reference during the exam. This is the time to remember what you studied on your review sheet. The information on the review sheet should be fresh in your mind because you just did a quick review. Write lists, reference tables, and any other vital information on the paper. (Don’t spend a lot of time here–just a minute or two writing down reference material.) The list of information will save you time as you answer the questions.
• Use the paper to draw out permissions, domain diagrams, subnet masks, and so forth. A question may be easier to answer after you see a diagram.

Case Studies

Case studies are more complex than scenario questions. With case studies, you are given a large case study and about 10 questions to answer regarding the case study. You can refer to the case study while answering questions. To help familiarize you with this type of question, applicable TestOut exams contain questions that follow this format. Here are some other tips to keep in mind.

• Create an optimal test-taking environment. Flickering monitors, noise, and interruptions can cause you to lose concentration. Explain the nature of the test to the testing personnel and ask to be placed in the best seat possible. Be sure to use the restroom and eat before the exam. Case study exams may take nearly four hours.
• Pace yourself. Although there are only forty questions, you will probably need the entire testing time to consult the scenarios and decide your answers.
• Understand the way the question count works. On a 40 question exam, the question count says Question 1 of 48 and so forth. Understand that each Instructions and Case screen counts in the question total.
• Look first for exhibits. Before wasting time trying to diagram what a case is trying to describe, look for an exhibit. There is not always an exhibit, but if there is one, you can save a lot of time.
• Be conservative on your note taking. You could take a lot of unnecessary notes and waste a lot of time while reading a scenario. It might be better to read the scenario through, get oriented regarding where certain types of information is located, and consult the specific parts of the scenario and take more detailed notes as required to answer specific questions. That said, you should still ask for extra paper and pencils because you may need to take many notes.
• Consider the pros and cons of reading the questions first. Reading the questions first can give you an idea of what to look for as you read the scenarios. However, depending on the computer being used, it might take up to 6 seconds per click just to move from one question to another. Clicking Next, then Back, then Next through every question can take a fair amount of time. Also, it might be a better strategy to get an overview of the scenario. Then consult specific parts of the scenario in more detail as you read and answer each question.
• Consider the pros and cons of using the All tab. The All tab lists the content of all the other tabs and radio buttons in a single scrollable document. While it might be convenient to read everything in one place, it also might be harder to orient yourself to the structure of the scenario and relocate information when you need it. Consider becoming familiar with the other tabs and radio buttons so you can more quickly find information you are looking for (and decrease the use of the scroll bar).
• Don’t worry if the scenario lacks all the details, and in fact be grateful for it. For example, if a scenario mentions that an organization has 20 buildings but only mentions subnet IDs for three of them, it is just that much useless information you need to wade through to come up with an answer for a question. In fact, it may indicate a clue regarding what to focus on.
• Be tolerant with ambiguity. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what Microsoft is talking about. Try to tolerate the ambiguity and give it your best guess rather than spending a lot of time trying to reason through what does not seem reasonable. That said, if there is something you need to reason through, spend the time to get it right.

Exam Retakes

• If you do not pass the exam, use the score report on your transcript to identify areas needing further study.
• As soon as possible, think carefully about the exam and make notes about the questions that you couldn’t answer. Look up the correct answers in your study materials. You may get the same or similar questions the next time.
• Don’t wait too long to retake the exam. You already know much of the material, and you may forget what you know if you wait too long.

Review firm which conducts a full investigation into background and activities of prospective employees
http://www.creativeservices.com/

• How much is your monthly premium? Is this taken directly out of your paycheck? Are you allowed to pay more on your own to get better coverage or shift your money to a more cost-effective plan?
• Does the company have a summary plan of benefits? If so, read the summary to get a better idea of the basic benefits offered. (Note: It may still be necessary to read the entire plan to get more specific information and check the fine print.)
• What are the plan’s exclusions and limitations? What mental and physical conditions does the plan not cover?
• Does the plan cover preexisting conditions?
• How much is your annual deductible (the amount you must pay before your insurance kicks in)?
• What is the process for filing claims? Do you have to pay and submit proof of payment before reimbursement, or can you submit claims directly from your physician? How long must you wait before reimbursement?
• Can you appeal a negative decision not to be reimbursed? If so, what is the process for filing an appeal?
• Does the plan pay for second opinions and preventive tests such as mammograms and Pap smears?
• If you are close to retirement age, what impact will Medicaid and Medicare coverage have on your benefits?
• Does medical, dental, and hospitalization coverage stop the day you are fired or resign, or is there a grace period (e.g., through the end of the month)?
• Can you extend coverage beyond the grace period?
• Can you assume any group health policy (this is sometimes referred to as a conversion policy)?

If you discover that the health benefits your employer is providing are not substantial, consider implementing coverage through your spouse’s coverage or purchasing coverage from additional plans.

The rise of social network services has led to increased use of this term.

http://www.foaf-project.org/

According to the Association of Support Professionals the cost for TotalCost of Owning a Solution (TCOS)

• Phone Support averages about $36.00 TCOS per instance
• Email Support averages about $25.00 TCOS per instance
• Self Service is averaging about $7.00 TCOS at cost

Self service reduces your support by 5X !

“Mastering Change Management:
Why Organizational Change Fails”

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Have you experienced a failed change lately? Been a part of a team or an organization that attempted something different…and failed?

We’ve all seen attempts at change bomb. What happens to scuttle well-intentioned effort? The following are some of the most common reasons I’ve identified why organizational change fails. You can use the list for diagnostic purposes, or to prevent mistakes in future attempts at change.

1. Misstarts

A misstart occurs when a change is ill-advised, hastily implemented or attempted without sufficient commitment. This is a leadership credibility killer.

2. Making change an option

When leadership commits to a change, the message must be that the change is not an option. But the message that often comes across is “We’d like you to change, we’re asking you to change, we implore you to change, please change…” Whenever people have the option not to change, they won’t.  

3. A focus only on process

Leaders can get so caught up on planning and managing the process that they don’t notice that no tangible results are being achieved. The activity becomes more important than the results.

4. A focus only on results

This stems from a belief that the end justifies any means. Organizations tend to fail miserably in this regard: they downplay or ignore the human pain of change. It is this insensitivity to people’s feelings that not only prevents the change but destroys morale and loyalty in the process.

5. Not involving those expected to implement the change

A great deal of resentment is aroused when management announces a change and then mandates the specifics of implementation. Employees need to be involved in two ways. First, their input and suggestions should be solicited when planning the change. Secondly, after a change has been committed to, they should be involved in determining the means. Leadership needs to communicate, “Here’s what must happen. How do you think it can best be done?
a good primer on Change Management

The next time you apply for a loan or a new job, a lender or prospective employer might go online to access a database instead of calling your human resources department to verify your employment and income.

In most cases, they’ll be contacting a company called TALX Corp., which developed a service called The Work Number.

Companies, government agencies and creditors, such as credit card companies and mortgage lenders, have been using The Work Number for almost a decade, tapping into a database with approximately 165 million to 170 million individual records (an employee has a separate record for each employer) covering roughly a third of the American work force, says Janet Ford, vice president of St. Louis-based TALX, which is a subsidiary of credit bureau Equifax.

Employers use TALX to handle salary and employment verifications and, in turn, share their payroll information and often several years’ worth of payroll records. Employees can challenge the accuracy of any information.

These are the things one will need to consider before starting on the journey of a Home Business in order to SUCCEED….

Entrepreneurship

Sure you’ve got industry knowledge, but do you have what it takes to be the boss? According to Tamara Monosoff, author of the best-selling book “Secrets of Millionaire Moms” and the CEO of the Alamo, California-based product marketing firm, Mom Inventors Inc., it takes more than good ideas to make a business work. “A successful business is really about knowing what steps you need, and taking action,” she says. “It’s about making a plan, setting concrete goals, and shaping the business the way you imagine it to be.”

Entrepreneurship courses offered through your local chamber of commerce, small business association chapter, or online through schools like DeVry University can help new home-based business owners get off the ground.

Tax Planning

When you own your own business, it’s all about thinking financially. “As a new business owner, one of the first things you need to know is how to structure your company to have maximum tax benefits,” states William Ellyson, a Richmond, Virginia-based attorney who specializes in small-business issues.

Entrepreneurs can find basic tax planning courses through local community colleges and small business association chapters. Those looking for more in-depth knowledge can check out year-long financial planning certificate programs offered online.

Public Relations and Marketing

“The main thing my major has taught me is how to network,” states Brown, a public relations major at Virginia Commonwealth University whose networking skills grew his ticket-brokering firm from a sideline hobby into a nationwide company with more than $150,000 in sales each year. “I’ve also learned how to effectively talk to clients and efficiently deal with problems.”

No matter the industry, all home-based entrepreneurs must be able to promote their services, reach the target demographic, communicate effectively with clients, and create a professional image for the public. While four-year institutions like Virginia Commonwealth offer bachelor’s degree programs in public relations, home-based business owners can also find PR courses through their local community college or chamber of commerce.

E-Commerce

“Five years ago, the attitude was ‘Yeah, I know I need to have a website, but I’ll get around to it,’” says Gene Fairbrother, lead small business consultant for the National Association for the Self-Employed. “Today you’ve got to have a Web presence to be in business.” According to the market research firm, Forrester Research, Inc., e-commerce retail sales topped $175 billion last year, with the industry projected to grow another $160 billion by 2012.

Brown fine-tuned his e-commerce strategy, moving his products from eBay to larger ticket broker sites such as Stubhub.com and Ticketsnow.com, increasing sales by an estimated 200 percent. To learn how to set up, manage, and promote your business online, check out e-commerce courses offered online through the University of Maryland University College and the University of Phoenix.

Project Management

Being the CEO, chief sales officer, HR director, bookkeeper, and janitor requires expert multitasking. “It’s very difficult to manage it all,” admits Monosoff, who leads a multi-million-dollar home-based business while raising two children and writing a monthly column for Entrepreneur Magazine. “You have to have discipline, organization, and be able to prioritize.”

I have seriously been considering starting my own online business as my husband has successfully done for years. Now I am starting to put together the tools to do just that…. Will keep you all posted

} The Mrs {

Even though one week Trace lost, Ivanka pointed out that Trace has consistently raised more money on every other task than Stephen Baldwin and, when Mr. Trump asked who wanted this more, Trace spoke up and emotionally spoke about how much he wanted to win for his charity. In the end, although Trace was project manager and had led his team to a loss, Mr. Trump felt that his past performance made him more valuable than Stephen, so Stephen was the one to go.

Google’s advanced search options are useful, but they could include ways to define more restrictions for search results. Maybe you want to find pages that mostly contain text, web pages that reference videos or include tables. Fortunately, some these features are available at Yahoo, where you can use the feature: operator.

To find web pages that link to files with a certain extension, use the linkextension: operator. For example, linkextension:ogg bach finds web pages about Bach that link to .ogg audio files.

Yahoo has another interesting operator (depth:) that lets you define the maximum number of subdirectories from your search results’ URLs. For example, a search for google tips depth:1 will include www.google.com/help/features.html because it has a single directory, but not www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/04/google-tips-pulled, which has three directories. This could be useful to find web pages that are important relatively to the structure of a web site.

The operator has a special value that lets you search only homepages: -1, as you can see in this query: flickr depth:-1.

I don’t know if Yahoo’s search engine is better than Google, but Yahoo inherited a lot of interesting features from AltaVista and Inktomi, two leading search engines in the ’90s.

To get a more targeted search, try these tricks out:

• Words within square brackets — adding square brackets to your search makes the keyword match order dependent. So typing in ‘[Jack Black]‘ will return results such as ‘jack with black’ but not ‘black jack.’
• “inurl” — if you want to be sure that a specific term will appear in the site’s URL, use the “inurl:[query]” operator. For example: ‘inurl:iPod.’
• Site restriction — to restrict your search to pages within a specific domain, use the “site:[domain]” operator, followed by your query. For instance: ‘Site:Apple.com iPod.’
• “orginurlextension” — to search on specific file types, add ‘originurlextension:[file format]’ after your search query. For example: ‘nanotechnology originurlextension:swf‘ OR ‘nanotechnology originurlextension:pdf.’

Package Tracking
Did you know that you can track your packages right in Yahoo! Search? Here’s How it works:

• For UPS packages, simply type in your tracking number
• For FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service, just add the name before the tracking number. For example: ‘FedEx [tracking number]’ or ‘USPS [tracking number]’

Yahoo! Open Shortcuts
Yahoo! Open Shortcuts are the ultimate time-saving search feature. Add an exclamation point to the front of certain terms to instantly navigate to a URL, search a site, recall a favorite Yahoo! search, or start an application.

• ‘!wiki queen elizabeth‘ takes you directly to the Wikipedia page for Queen Elizabeth.
• ‘!wsf‘ gives you the Yahoo! Search results for “weather San Francisco.”
• ‘!clist‘ takes you to Craigslist.
• ‘!ebay lamps‘ searches eBay for lamps.

Search for ‘!list‘ to see a bunch more. Those examples have already been set up for everyone to use, but the real power is that YOU can create your own customized shortcuts.

If you have a trademarked item that someone is bidding on as a search term on google adwords, document the competitor that is using your trademarked word with a copy of their ad to Google at 650-618-1499

I have a good faith belief that use of the trademarks described above with the advertisements described above are NOT authorized by the trademark owner or it’s agent, nor is such use otherwise permissible under law.

I represent that the information in this notification is true and correct and that I am authorized to act on behalf of the trademark owner.