The Blogosphere

I’ve been blogging for quite some time and recently began thinking about the future of blogging. Over the past few years, blogging has become instrumental for social networking, business, political discussions, showcasing literary talent and simple freedom of expression. These days thanks to tagging and blog search engines, we can retrieve search results on virtually any topic from bloggers across the globe.

Blogs have also become much more dynamic. Traditionally blogs have mostly consisted of scrolling pages of text with an occasional image. Today’s blogs are incorporating video, podcasts, forums, chat features and more. Some are also extending their blogs by linking to sibling blogs on related topics or inviting additional authors.

There definitely isn’t a shortage of technology related blogs. While some are quite insightful and entertaining, many are poorly written and lack substantive content. (just my opinion) The next time you’re out cruising the blogosphere, drop by one of these sites below that I found to be interesting.

ITech News Net
Technabob
TechnoSpot.Net
TechChee

If you’re finding that you have information that you would like to share with the world, why not start your own blog? For any given topic you find intriguing, there are a host of others that do too. Express what’s on your mind, educate, enlighten and stay connected!

Super Skinny Laptop Sneakpeaks - Leaked Dell Adamo Pictures and Video (CES 2009) (VIDEO)

(TREND HUNTER) The Dell Adamo luxury computer line was supposed to be the HOTTEST reveal at all of CES 2009, its big debut at a conference today being tracked by countless tech journalists and blogs. Well, Endgadget… [More]

In the Clouds

Everybody has their own personal resolution lists related to health, career and relationships, but what about the Technology ones? How are you going to remain a tech-savvy fashionista without being hip to the latest trends? It has been discussed that for business to remain competitive, the adoption of some new strategies may be inevitable? The technological advancement I am referring to is “Cloud Computing.”

Invest some time in learning more about cloud computing. There are lots of sources out there for quick understandings. One particularly helpful resource is the popular Cloud Computing Group on Google. The definition of “Cloud Computing is ever-evolving, but you can visit Wikipedia for their latest definition. To further enhance your understanding, research the various cloud providers and the segmentation amongst the offerings. For example, there are cloud applications (salesforce.com), cloud platforms (GoogleAppEngine, Microsoft Azure), cloud infrastructures (GoGrid, AmazonEC2) and more.

A notable benefit of cloud computing is the low barrier to entry. You simply pay-as-you-go for your own data center without the burden of an initial investment or start-up fee. Capacity can be scaled up instantly and performance parallels that of a traditional data center. Skeptics of the concept cite that security is a big concern being that presently no government standards have been established.

It’s fascinating to think about the advancements we have made with computer technology over a relatively short amount of time. From large mainframes to microcomputers to virtual machines in the clouds...much like the imagination, technology has no limits. Discover more and stay connected!

Make Your Move

I have been on the job at my new company and thus far things are great. The transition from a large Fortune 500 corporate environment to a much smaller private company has suited me well. Each day brings something new and I am thrilled to have escaped the burnout that was approaching at my last company.

Throughout the years of my career as a Marketing professional, I have realized that it is important to know yourself and your personality. Certain features of your personality make some jobs a better fit for you than others. If you’re in a job that’s not well-suited for your personality, you may be putting yourself under unnecessary stress. It helps to ask yourself certain questions to better hone in on the ideal job and optimal work environment.

• Do you like to work toward deadlines, or do you like ongoing long-term projects?
• Are you a team player or do you prefer to work solo?
• Do you thrive in environments that are structured and routine, or loose and dynamic?
• Do you prefer large companies or smaller companies?
• Are you passionate about your work or is any job just a paycheck?

Questions like these can give you a better picture of what kind of work would be best for you. If you find you’re not in the type of position that’s ideal for you, see if you can make minor changes in your present job structure to make it a better fit. You could also investigate what jobs are better suited for you and work towards a change when the timing is right.

Don’t delay finding that ideal job whether it be working for a large corporation, small family-owned business, non-profit organization, public sector or something entrepreneurial. If additional education is required to make the transition, think about going back to school. Now is a great time to earn a second or even third degree. Make your move and stay connected!

Be Contagious

It’s that time of year again! A new year is a chance to make lifestyle changes as we reflect on our lives over the past year and ask important questions about our health, personal habits, relationships and career. I have made it a point to be very practical this year with the anticipation that it will increase the likelihood of my success. Below are a few keys to help you live up to your resolutions for 2009.

If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Setting a goal without a plan is wishful thinking. You must clearly map out each step (baby step), that leads to success and reward yourself along the way each time you reach a milestone. It has also been proven that writing thoughts and ideas down on paper increase the odds of success and keep you encouraged.

“I get by with a little help from my friends,” are not only song lyrics, but words to live by. Cultivate a network that can support your efforts and motivate you when times become challenging. Tell your closest friends and family of what you are trying to achieve.

Be flexible and expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a way of throwing things at us and deviations are just a part of life and don’t have to become major setbacks. If you get off track, recognize your partial successes then review your plan and make adjustments. Don’t discourage yourself with a negative outlook and instead start over with a positive approach.

The most important thing to consider when resolving to create change in your life is to decide if you are truly willing to make the changes you want to accomplish for yourself. Share your successes, maintain a positive outlook and don’t forget to encourage friends and family!

From Inside She-Tech we would to thank all of you for our success. It was a great 2008 and we are certainly encouraged by your support that it will be a fantastic 2009. An optimistic tech-savvy attitude can be contagious. Make it a great 2009 and Happy New Year to all!

Internet2

The Internet is infected with spam, viruses and other ailments that threaten web servers across the world. The internet is also faced with the exponential growth in the demand for URLs to accommodate all kinds of new devices. These challenges are not new, but have recently charged conversations with corporations and government about the future of the internet. It is increasingly becoming more vulnerable and one of the earliest projects to overhaul the structure of the internet is the Internet2 initiative.

The Internet2 project was formed in 1996 when 34 university researchers met to discuss ways to develop and implement a new Internet: appropriately named Internet2. The project has grown into a nonprofit consortium formally administered by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development.

Members of this organization are busy developing, deploying, and using networking technologies that tap protocols like IPv6 to access an astronomical amount of new URL address space, as well as a host of middleware and security capabilities, such as federated authentication, and advanced applications like high-definition videoconferencing. In the future these technologies will provide substantially faster surfing/email and enable networking in ways that aren’t possible via the existing global commercial Internet. Among the possibilities are digital libraries, virtual laboratories, distance and independent learning and even health applications.

There is much more to come with the World Wide Web and I am excited to learn that it only gets better. Early critics of the internet must agree that internet connectivity, email, social networking and the like, are not fads, but methods of advanced communication that are part of our culture and unite people across the globe. The internet revolution is here. Spectate, participate and stay connected.

Frugal and Fabulous

The falling economy has lead to a plethora of behavioral changes. Like most challenging times, adversity can bring out the best in us. When faced with life’s pitfalls, particularly those related to economics, fashion-savvy shopaholics have their backs against the wall. But the strong and fabulous have truly prevailed and given rise to a new term: Recession-nista. Recession-nistas are those women, who in spite of financial barriers, manage to remain flawless AND fabulous. Perhaps you know one or two that don’t spend a fortune, but always look like a million bucks.

Well…I too have curbed my personal expenditures and have employed some Recession-nista like techniques to sustain during this dreadful economic downturn. My frequent trips to Starbucks have turned into a once-a-week special event. Personal maintenance, such as hair and nails, has also been minimized. Despite these curtailments, I have managed to preserve a somewhat fashionable tech-savvy image throughout the fall and winter seasons.

For those of you who need the help, here are a few online shopping tips to get you through this unfortunate period that I grabbed from Bargain Shopper Lady.com .

1. Do an on line coupon code search. If you are about to purchase an item on line search to see if any on line coupons are available.

2. Sign up your email address with your favorite stores on line. By being on their distribution lists they will quite frequently send you coupons, on line discount codes, sales notices and clearance alerts.

3. Join online bargain web sites to find clearance deals. There are a few bargain web sites that have been designed to help you find great deals on line. Bargain Shopper Lady recommends Slick Deals.

If you’re fortunate enough to be unscathed by the present storm, these techniques may enable you to put away few more bucks. For those of you that are struggling to stay afloat, remember most importantly that being fabulous is a state of mind. Be thrifty throughout the holidays, happy shopping and stay connected!