Interesting Article: Veterans Eligible for Testing Fee Reimbursement

Speaking of Veterans...Veterans are eligible for reimbursement of testing fees through the Department of Veteran's Affairs. If you are an IT major, this is an excellent way to get some certifications, for little to no cost!

It's clear from the article that they feel computer training is important:

In jobs from mechanics and installers to medical technicians to therapists to computer network engineers to web site developers, it’s clear that certifications play a key role. You can receive reimbursement of up to $2,000 per test but not more than the actual cost of the test. You can receive benefits to retake a test if you fail. The number of tests you can take is unlimited, except that you can’t receive benefits to retake a test you passed.

http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/gi-bill-license-and-certification-program

Interesting Article: VA Recovers Stolen Laptop

The theft of a laptop containing the Social Security Numbers of 26.5 million U.S. veterans (original post here) has been recovered. The part that is most interesting is that even though the Veteran's Affairs group initially reported that the laptop wasn't supposed to be brought home, apparently someone gave permission for them to. It bothers me that government agencies will give out false information like that, and then later on, after everyone forgets about the story, correct themselves when fewer people are watching.

The article also states that newly discovered documents show the VA analyst blamed for losing the laptop had received permission to work from home on data that included millions of Social Security numbers.

http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=22588

Interesting Article: Cyberbullying

The United States CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) has an article up about cyberbullying. If you've been in a chat room, you've no doubt seen someone engaging in this type of behavior.

Cyberbullying refers to the new, and growing, practice of using technology to harass, or bully, someone else. Bullies used to be restricted to methods such as physical intimidation, postal mail, or the telephone. Now, developments in electronic media offer forums such as email, instant messaging, web pages, and digital photos to add to the arsenal. Computers, cell phones, and PDAs are new tools that can be applied to an old practice.

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-005.html

Interesting Link: NJ Fair Web Site

Tomorrow is the first day of the NJ Fair at the Meadowlands. It's interesting how even state fairs have web sites now.

Interesting Article: Top 10 Strangest Gadgets of the Future

Just came across this article. Intelligent spoons, self cooling beer cans, transparent toasters...all sorts of stuff that you see in movies and say "cool".

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/top-10-strangest-gadgets-of-the-future

Interesting Article: Internet Statistics

89% of adult Internet users in the United States share content with others using email. A full 63% share content weekly or more often.

Women; especially those women in their late 30’s and easily 40’s tend to be the biggest viral forwarders of content.

Note that "viral" in this context doesn't mean "virus" - it means they tend to replicate emails through forwarding.

http://www.sharpepartners.com/article/study_finds_consumers_fans_of.php?format=full

Interesting Web Link: Great Google Searches for Free Certification Study Guides

Someone has taken the time to compile a set of links to study guides for some of the different computer certification exams that are out there. It's actually a nice site to find some interesting tutorials (trainings), but this post in particular I thought could be of use to some of those CIS students out there.

Note that they don't seem to have a link for the MOS exams at this time.

http://www.intelligentedu.com/blogs/post/Best_New_Training_Sites/446/Great-Google-search-for-Free-Certification-Study-Guides

Interesting Articles: Myspace Teen flies abroad to meet a man

I think the parents come across as rather ignorant in this one.

A 16-year-old girl who tricked her parents into getting her a passport and then flew to the Mideast to be with a man she met on MySpace.com has returned to Michigan.

http://www.10news.com/news/9351173/detail.html

PCCC Student Paper: Visions

The new issue of the PCCC student paper, Visions, is online.

http://www.pccc.edu/student/visions

Free Stuff: Another One Year Print Subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly Magazine

I am not sure why Electronic Gaming Monthly is available for free all over the place all of a sudden, but there is another free year. If you already subscribed, don't worry - you will end up with two years worth of subscriptions.

http://www.gameshout.com/egm