Monthly Archives: March 2009

  1. IT Pros: Stop by our Booth at Interop Las Vegas ‘09

    Are you heading to Las Vegas for the big Interop Conference and Expo in May? If so, stop by Booth 2636 May 19-21 and meet some of the Connectzone team. We’d love to share some of the exciting ways IT organizations are using our products and services. Plus we’ll give you a chance to see our recent additions of data racks and cabinets that will make your life easier. Interop is always a great show with over 400 exhibitors showing off all kinds of IT solutions. If you’re going and looking for a free Expo Pass, here’s a priority code you can use: CMXXNL03 Be sure to stop by Booth 2636. We’re looking forward to meeting you! Connectzone Marketing Team

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  2. Why I love the Recession

    No, I have not drunk any strange Kool-Aid lately; I am both an optimistic and realistic. I am adaptable enough that when life hands me lemons-I WILL find a way to make lemonade. Recall the blog about Jemma “failure is not an option” and “gentlemen I believe this will be our finest hour”. Regarding “Commit and Providence will Move” and “I refuse to allow outside influences determine my level of success”.

    The current economic crisis has given me some astounding, unbelievable gifts. Gifts like time and reflection and I don’t mean the kind of reflection Narcissus enjoyed. Let me explain.

    As a business owner, when economic times are good, how much time to you spend wondering what your bank merchant card fees are? Tell the truth now, if you aren’t personally checking on the fees, do you know

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  3. Blowfish Encryption

    I was watching 24 the other night and Blowfish Encryption caught my attention. I started wondering to myself if that was even a real thing. You know like how doctors in shows like Grey’s Anatomy and ER do fake CPR? Turns out Blowfish is a real thing, so here is my version of “Blowfish for Dummies”. To make a computer do anything, you would have to write a program, basically give it a task. An algorithm (aka cipher) tells the program how to do the task. So here is an easy example. I am going to wash my car-that is my program. There are lots of ways to get my car washed: 1. Go to the car wash. 2. Do it with a hose in my driveway. 3. Pay a neighbor kid to do it for me. The way I choose to get my car clean is the algorithm or a cipher. In cryptography, Blowfish is a keyed

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  4. Commit And Providence Will Move

    “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves as well. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

    This quote is most often attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe lived from August 1749 until March 1832. He is quite an interesting fellow who studied and influenced numerous things from philosophy, eroticism, law, poetry, drama,

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  5. How Much Technology is Enough?

    From The movie Wall Street Bud Fox: “How much is enough? “ Gordon Gekko: It’s not a question of enough, pal. It’s a zero sum game, somebody wins, somebody loses. Money itself isn’t lost or made, it’s simply transferred from one perception to another.” This quote applies to this article in two ways. First it begs the question how much technology is really necessary to run a business or your life for that matter? Second is the zero sum game where someone (insert your company name here) wins and someone (insert your competitor’s name here) loses. At least everyone hopes it works out that way. I have been pretty old school in my thinking. I only learned how to IM last week. Didn’t see the purpose. Why not use technology I already know, like email or cell phone. Then I don’t have to learn anything new. Frankly I am not the smartest or coolest crayon in the box and like most humans I don’t like change

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  6. Search Engine Optimization by Guest Blogger Chris, Rain Networks

    Search engine optimization (SEO) is a very popular thing right now. Small businesses are depending on search engine listings to either grow their business or to even get business at all. As a web developer, I get a lot of questions about SEO and how we (Rain Networks) can help people get listed on Google and Yahoo! Q: Can you get my website listed at the top of Google’s list of search results? A: Yes and no. We design websites with search engines in mind. We make sure that if Google visits your website, they will be able to get the information they need. We do not, however, guarantee that your website will be listed at the top of the search results. Search engine results are determined by the search engines themselves. We can only give them what they want and hope they put you at the top of the list. Q: What does Google use to determine your ranking on search results? A: They use tons of factors (some of which we have no control over). Probably the most

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  7. USB 3.0 Available Now!

    Why Is USB 3.0 Needed?

    The short Answer is Speed & Power, let me explain.

    USB is 10 times faster than USB 2.0 & 100 time faster than USB 1.1 & While using less power; which for portable devices like an Ipod power is more important than speed.

    usb-30a

    For Small Files less than 1Gb, USB 2.0 is fine, although as I get older I realize more and more time is the 1 commodity I am always short on.

    USB 3.0 SPEED

    USB potential Communications Speeds

    ·         USB 1.1 Communication

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  8. Microsoft Tag-Way Cool

    What the heck is a Microsoft Tag-you might be asking yourself? Well it is something pretty new and innovative from Microsoft and it looks like this:

    websitebarcodepng2

     

    Now if you have the application for your cell phone (you can get it here for free) you can just aim your cell with the Tag application open at the image above and it will add the information to your telephone. Above is a real tag I made (making a tag is free too). And believe me-if I can do it anyone can.

    Now I have your interest let’s do something fun. I want you to go to the

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  9. Connectzone.com is Purple and Gold

    We have a few sneaky relatives that are Crimson and Gray but we are Purple and Gold. For us that means it is T-20 days until spring football practice at the University of Washington.

    So here are some interesting things to things about:

    How cute can a mascot be-I mean really? Seriously?  Totally? Meet “Dubs”. Could he be any cuter-especially compared to a duck? A beaver? Get real!

    Next time you are all kinds of sideways mad that Jake Locker spent most of last season on the bench-well just watch this video and make sure your speakers are on, full volume. Side note-Jake please don’t play baseball this year!

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  10. Weird Science-Hydrodynamics & Robotics

    Connectzone was recently contacted by some students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. They were trying to acquire some waterproof connectors for the science competition they are involved in. Connectzone of course happy to help in research and good old fashion competition gave them discounted “student pricing” on LTW brand products. As follows is a newspaper write up on the competition they took first place in last year:

    ERAU Underwater Robotics Team wins first competition

    By Paula Rhoden The Daily Courier Thursday, June 12, 2008 PRESCOTT – The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Underwater Robotics Research Team has set the bar high. In its first competition, and first year of existence, the Flying Goldfish brought home the first-place
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