Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Companies Looking to Offset a Poor Economy Find Relief with Their I.T. Surplus

In today’s tough economy, one cannot listen to the news or read a newspaper without being subjected to a story of another major company going out of business or cutting operational costs CEOs have to make hard decisions which can sometimes affect the lives of their loyal employees. The primary reason for these difficult choices is a lack of corporate capital.

But, what if there was an easier way for these C-level executives to subsidize their budgets? For some the solution is right under their nose, or more likely, locked away in a storeroom somewhere.

I’m talking about computer liquidation.

Most mid- to large-sized companies regularly upgrade their I.T. infrastructure to keep up with the demands of their industry and the needs of their customers. But, what do most of these companies do with their old network systems? They store the equipment. To the right buyer, these desktops, laptops, servers, routers, switches and other network equipment still hold value. Stored and unused I.T. equipment is a line of potential income that many companies can call upon to stay afloat.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase in the number of companies looking to sell off their excess I.T. equipment,” says Richard Greene, VP of Operations for Liquid Technology, a computer liquidation and data destruction firm. “With the economy the way it currently is, if a company can’t generate enough income through consumer sales, they can gain the capital they need by selling this equipment that they’re not using anyway, and in most cases, even paying to store.”

In truth, while more and more companies are selling their I.T. equipment for a useable source of capital, there are a number of other reasons why computer liquidation can be a prudent choice. Selling surplus I.T. equipment can help companies prevent layoffs, update their existing infrastructure, maximize their allotment of useable space or better manage moving, downsizing or merging situations.

Computer liquidation can also be beneficial to those companies looking to implement a “greener” approach to doing business. “Many of our clients are looking to reduce their impact on the environment and getting rid of surplus I.T. equipment is just one way for these companies to reach that goal,” says Greene.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Oprah and Chuck Norris

I found this video of Oprah and Chuck Norris, surprise surprise!







http://spreadthelov.com/

Friday, May 15, 2009

Planning for the Future – Should I Go Back to School for an MBA?

A good friend of my father's got me a job working for an internet marketing company while I was in the process of earning a Bachelor’s degree. I first took the job as a means of paying my way through my upcoming years at school, but quickly realized that this particular job had tremendous potential, especially in my field of study. Fast forward to four full calendar years from when I started working for this company, I am enjoying everything about it except for the fact that I am at the bottom of the managerial food chain. This is when I realized that going back to school for an MBA might be a smart career move.

Like anything in life, I first had to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing an MBA. Earning this level of business education would help me achieve my future career goal of upper management in a lot less time, while preparing me for a lifetime of management responsibilities. An MBA will also help me obtain the career I need to own my own home, support my family and have a better overall quality of life. I can build a greater network of fellow students, faculty and alumni by going back to school, which will optimize both my career and life opportunities.

The cons of going back to school, however, were just as easy to spot. Graduate degree programs are expensive, time consuming and require a lot of hard work. As much as a person would love to obtain the knowledge and credentials required to reach a higher level of success, sometimes it helps to accept exactly where we are at and take it one day at a time. For me, this means focusing entirely on my current career and advancing gradually, which seems like a respectable approach.
With an MBA, I would have the opportunity to make more than twice the amount of money I am making now while being recognized for my leadership and management skills. An MBA will also help build the business skills I need to advance my current career while providing me the versatility to change careers should I ever need to. After all, in our current economic crisis, you can never be too sure about the security of your job, so it helps to be prepared for the worst. In addition, I have to consider that I may want to start my own business someday, and an MBA will help me do that.

Aside from my long-term career goals of upper management, going back to school for an MBA also seems like a good fit for my life as it is right now. I do feel it is time to move out of my parent’s house and start my own life, but I don’t have the financial stability to do it. On the positive side, I am only 26 years old, so I still have the time to go back to school, earn an MBA inside of two years and buy my first home before I reach 30. On the other hand, I don’t know if I can handle working a full time job while taking on a full time schedule at school. If I wanted to pursue a higher education to enhance my middle management career, I needed to find a program that would complement my current agenda. This is when I discovered Adelphi University’s School of Business MBA program.

I heard about Adelphi University’s amMBA Manhattan Center Program from a friend, and logged on to their website to learn more about it. Created especially for busy working managers, the program is accredited by AACSB , and offers many unique aspects such as a 42-credit curriculum and early morning courses in eight-week terms. The School of Business amMBA program begins this fall, offering courses in management styles and information systems, team building, corporate finance and other subjects that will help me grow my career. Adelphi was recognized as a "Best Buy" in education by the Fiske Guide to Colleges and offers assistance with financial aid. It sounds really convenient and works perfectly into my schedule, so I'm seriously considering it and looking into the qualifications I need to apply. Despite the intense workload, it may be the best choice at this time.

http://www.adelphi.edu/manhattan/business.php

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Seven Fun Gift Ideas for Dad on Father’s Day!

Let’s face it, Dad has done more than enough for us over the years and it’s time for us to return the favor. No matter what type of stuff your Dad is into, whether it’s traveling, fancy automobiles, nifty electronics, saving old photos or enjoying fine dining, be sure to give the gift he’ll always remember. Below are seven fun gift ideas for Dad this Father’s Day.

1. A Nikon D90 Digital SLR from Cameta Camera – Whether your Dad is a photo enthusiast looking for the latest addition to his camera collection or simply someone who enjoys taking pictures, or videos we know he’ll love this Nikon D90 digital SLR camera. The D90 displays scenes and faces with remarkable clarity and definition, producing stunning images with point-and-shoot simplicity. After taking photos, your Dad will be able to view them in a Live View playback mode on a 3-inch, super-density high-resolution LCD display with the option of uploading his favorite photos to a PC and sharing them with others. The Nikon D90 makes a wonderful Father’s Day gift, priced right at under $1,200.

2. A Toshiba LCD DVD Combo from The High Definition Store – If your Dad would rather spend his evening on the couch with a bowl full of popcorn than be out taking photos, he will definitely love a Toshiba LCD DVD Combo. The LCD DVD Combo set collection made by Toshiba offers space saving, and technologically advanced products perfect for viewing movies and high definition broadcasts in crystal clear quality. Buy one now from the High Definition Store (starting at $279.99) and the shipping is free!

3. A Photo Book from SmileBooks – Is your Dad a sucker for sentiment? If so, he will truly appreciate a fully customized photo book from SmileBooks. All you have to do to create this fun and meaningful gift is download the free software from the SmileBooks website and select the photos you want to include in your photo book. The software is easy to use and you can edit each page by resizing, moving, stretching or rotating photos, with the option of adding captions and text. There are seven different sizes to choose from and prices start at just $9.95 for a 26-page photo book!

4. Wheels and Tires from DiscountTire - Does your Dad take pride in his ride? Then why not give him the supreme Father’s Day gift? Visit DiscountTire.com now to shop for wheels starting just under $100 and save $40 on select sets of tires. Just select the year, make and model of pop's’ car along with your zip code to bring up a selection of showcased tires and wheels. Use DiscountTire’s Interactive Wheel System for an instant preview of exactly how your selections would look on Dad’s car.

5. A Briggs & Riley Transcend 21 Inch Expandable Suiter Carry On from ACE Luggage – For business Dads ” on-the-go”, nothing matches the convenience of an expandable suiter carry on from ACE Luggage. Ideal for 2-5 day trips, the Briggs & Riley Transcend will keep Dad’s garments organized, secure and wrinkle-free. The 43” handle provides ease of use, supporting up to 200 lbs of clothing, shoes and other traveling necessities, without putting any additional strain on Dad’s muscles. Choose from Sunrise red, Rainforest gray, Silver or Desert exterior colors and save an additional 10% when you enter ACE Luggage’s Spring 2009 promo code, Spring09.

6. A Wine Gift Basket from 1-877 Spirits.com - Wine gift baskets are great for celebrating special occasions, but why stop at weddings, anniversaries and birthdays? Dad will definitely appreciate his Father’s Day wine gift, and you will love 1-877- Spirits.com's all-inclusive pricing, covering delivery, gift wrap, a personalized gift card, service fees and taxes. Basic wine gift baskets include two bottles of fine wine in wood, fabric and leather cases, while others include accessories like wine holders, corkscrews and gourmet foods.

7. A Build-Your-Own Home Theater from The High Definition Store – Is your Dad a movie buff looking for the ultimate home theater experience? The custom home theater experts at The High Definition Store are available to help you build your own from start to finish. Simply log on to www.TheHighDefintionStore.com and browse home theater equipment and accessories from wall mounts and TV stands to speakers, DVD players and more. Place your order to receive all of your home theater equipment, delivered right to your door, for no additional fee.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Starts with Bariatric Surgery ends with Tummy Tuck

It's been 12 months since mom's bariatric surgery….so proud of her. She's lost a ton of weight, is eating better, and finally living life again. Next, shes thinking about a tummy tuck to get rid of all that extra skin (gross!). Just when I thought I could stop worrying she desides to throw this at me! Ugggh. More anesthesia worries and a bunch more surgeries! I know she wants to finally be rid of this extra hanging skin with the tummy tuck and I want to be supportive, but this is tough.
I'm doing what I said I would never do, looking online for tummy tuck information. Of course first thing I see is nightmare stories of people who went for cosmetic surgery after their bariatric surgery adventures…with bad results. But I have found out that there are some Drs. that really seem to know what they're doing. Has anyone heard about Dr. Stephen Greenberg? Web site says he was voted Long Island plastic surgeon of the year. I read a bunch of interesting stuff on his web site….saw a short video talking about what he does for bariatric surgery patients. I know mom won't be having the surgery for like another six months, but I'm just looking for all the best information now. Can anyone help?