How to Print Documents to PDF?

Since you know that it is possible to view JPEG images on the PSP, and that there are already a spattering of e-books in JPEG format available for the PSP , why not make your own e-books out of documents you have on your computer or can download from the Web?

The easiest way to create e-books is to generate a PDF. Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X have different ways of printing your text files directly to PDF, and as PDF is essentially an image format, it is relatively easy to export the different pages of the PDF files into separate JPEG images for viewing on the PSP.

If you're on Windows or Linux, rather than spending all your money on Adobe Acrobat, you can grab a free copy of Open Office (http://www.openoffice.org), which, besides being a fully functional and free alternative to Microsoft Office, has the ability to convert files to PDF. But if the document you want to convert isn't an office or text document, you may still be in luck: if you can print it to a PostScript file, you can use the ps2pdf utility from GhostScript (http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/) to create your PDF. To print to a PostScript file, configure a generic PostScript printer that outputs to a file rather than a USB or parallel port.

In order to make the pages of your documents easily readable on your PSP with plenty of zoom, I recommend setting the page settings for your PDF printout to 8 inches by 9 inches with 0.3-inch margins and a nice 12 or 14 point font. I have created a special page setting for my printer in Mac OS X that measures 8 inches by 9 inches with 0.1-inch margins around. In the actual document settings, I choose to give the document 0.3-inch margins. Using Mac OS X's built-in PDF support, I print the document directly to PDF.

How to View the Comics on Your PSP?

Once everything has been copied over, disconnect your PSP from your computer, navigate to Photo Memory Stick, and hit the X button. Select the WEBCOMICS folder that you created and hit the X button to view a list of the comics available. Select one and hit the X button again to open it up.

When you are in the PSP image viewer, make sure that you are set at 100% (hold down the Square button and move the analog stick up and down to zoom in and out), use the analog stick to pan around the image, and use the R trigger to navigate to the next comic or the L trigger to skip back to a previous comic.

Once you do this, it is pretty simple to do again in the future. If you are a coder, consider writing a script of some sort to automate the entire process.

This isn't something that needs to be done on a daily basis, but it is a great way to read the back issues of your favorite web comic when you are away from your PC and nowhere near a wireless access point. It can be a nice relaxing break from an intense Wipeout Pure session.

Also, make sure you check out several of the manga and other comics preformatted for the PSP that are available online.

How to Put the Comics onto Your PSP?

Now that everything is converted, you can copy the images using a PSP file manager such as iPSP (http://ipsp.kaisakura.com/) or PSPWare (http://www.nullriver.com/index/products/pspware). On Mac OS X, PSPware offers tight Apple iLife integration, so using iPhoto 5, you can simply create a PSP keyword and assign that keyword to all the images that you want to transfer to the PSP.

The 32MB Memory Stick Duo card that Sony includes with the PSP is just fine for saved games. But if you want to get into transferring JPEGs, MP3s, and movie clips to your PSP, the small 32MB card is just not going to cut it. If you think you'll be carrying lots of web comics around, a bigger Memory Stick Duo card is well worth the investment.

Connect your PSP via a USB to USB mini cable, and use your PSP file manager software to sync the images over to the PSP.

You could also manually drop the pictures off in the directory /PSP/PHOTOS/WEBCOMICS/ on the Memory Stick if you don't want to use software to manage your PSP.

Have you tried getting paid for blog reviews?

Unheard of this a year ago, there are web sites, out there right now, that facilitate payments to bloggers to post reviews. Welcome to the new wave of making money on the web. Anyone with great writing talents can become : Reviewer and GET PAID !

These sites that match bloggers with advertisers are growing in number. Among the better known are

• PayPerPost.com
• Review Me.com.
• SponsoredReviews.com, a product of 360 Enterprises, will make its debut soon.
  
  Word-Of-Mouth has a proven record of being the BEST kind of advertising there is ! These new sites broker payments to bloggers to review products in their posts. The bloggers are required to disclose that they are getting paid to post the reviews. None of the sites allows marketers to review copy before it is posted.

Trying to find the best on the web is liek looking for a pin in a haystack, so blog reviews are seen as a way for advertisers to monetize their Web site traffic, generate viral marketing and get some much-needed feedback on how their products are faring in the marketplace.

ReviewMe, which debuted in November, currently has in its network 5,500 bloggers, who have written approximately 750 paid reviews. Advertisers browse ReviewMe.com's marketplace of blogs and purchase reviews from what they deem relevant bloggers. The bloggers must write a minimum of 200 words per review. They get paid $40 to $500 per post. Once a review is completed, ReviewMe.com splits the revenue equally with the blogger.

PayPerPost has in its network 14,000 bloggers, including "high-traffic bloggers and low-end, smaller audiences from social networks," according to Ted Murphy, founder and CEO. "Our focus is on real people who don't necessarily blog for a living but are passionate about a particular subject." PayPerPost's bloggers concentrate on technology, marketing, health care, entertainment and finance.

So hone your writting skills and start blogging about something you are passionate about ! Then get paid for doing it !

Working the Network !

Not all jobs are posted in newspapers or online. So how do you ...
1. Find out about these job openings
2. How do you apply for the jobs that are not advertised anywhere

Well the answer is simple. Network Network Network !
Its a matter of letting everyone you know what you do and that you are looking for a new opportunity. You will be surprised with the responses.

Don't limit yourself to business contacts.
Here is a list of people you can talk to :

1. Family friends
2. Local politicians
3. Relatives
4. Journalists
5. Neighbors
6. Business executives
7. Professors
8. Non-profit directors
9. Alumni
10. Your physician
11. Former employees
12. Your hair dresser
13. Former co-workers
14. Prominent community members
15. Public relations officials
16. Members of professional organizations

Now you ask where are you going to find these people
Well start with these places

1. Local alumni association
2. Conventions
3. Class reunions
4. Club meetings
5. Cocktail parties
6. Neighborhood parties
7. Internet list-servers
8. Fundraisers
9. Volunteer opportunities
10. Business conferences
11. Continuing education classes

Make every opportunity count. Treat each meeting like a mini interview.

Make an impression that sticks !

Transfer iTunes songs to the PSP

Other excellent software that a lot of people probably not have recognized about is iTunes PSP server, it permits stream songs from the iTunes library into an PSP with a electronic network/online link. What basically takes place is this make use of the PSP’s data streaming RSS Podcasting capability, the server produces RSS feeds according to the playlists you get in the iTunes library, you then surf to a particular webpage on the PSP’s browser and put these RSS feeds onto the PSP, then, you'll find a specific list of the music from the iTunes library as “podcasts” in the PSP, permitting you to flow them from around the home or globe (if routers/firewalls are adequately adjusted)

Here is the instant and clean guide to make it running:
Note: You need to use iTunes and Playlists!!

1) Download the server application
2) open the EXE file (do not panic, it is not a computer virus)
3) examine the computer’s internal private IP (just go to Start –> Run –> CMD –> type ipconfig /all –> find 192.x.x.x or 10.x.x.x, write down of the IP address)
4) start the PSP’s browser
5) just go to http://IPADDRESS:8080
6) You will then see the iTunes playlists
7) put this playlists as the RSS feeds by choosing on them
8) shut down the PSP web browser
9) just go to the RSS Channel in the PSP’s Network Menu
10) select the the playlist you added, hold a couple of seconds, all the songs should appear!

Watching videos/television program in PSP

Because a lot of individuals already download television show or videos (not that it is suggested), you perhaps prefer to be able to view them mobile, be it while you're getting the railroad train, or waiting for latest movie to begin at the theater, you perhaps prefer to do anything while you await. It is where this software stands out; it permits you to change over particular video recording files for replay in the Playstation portable.

I need to accept, it is astonishing, it is reasonably quick, and the turnout quality is corresponding to Sony’s own video data format for PSP’s UMDs. The great portion about it is that the software is costless; the only cash you'll ever give is the memory card you choose to purchase, right after that, you are able to replay many videos or TV programs into the memory card. (The normal files size for a median quality video is close to 700MB for a 60 minutes and quarter-hour video – this means obtaining a 2GB memory card is going to be good for a couple of videos and 1 television program)

So here is a fast and clean tutorial in how to make it to work nicely.

1. Download PSPvideo9
2. set up the application (should be extremely obvious)
3. Start the application, now, if you start, it will call for which drive is your PSP (choose the suitable setting)
4. You will be shown with a conversion screen
5. Simplest method is to select “One click Transcode”
6. Choose the movie you wish, select OPEN
7. It will commence converting (it is where you are able to snatch a coffee or rest, you are able to reiterate steps five and six to put movies to the “waiting line” to be completely exchanged after the present one is finished up)
8. If coding is completed, you need to find the file in –> C:\Program Files\PSPVideo9\MP_ROOT
9. To transfer the movies to the PSP, just copy the whole folder MP_ROOT straight off onto the PSP’s Drive
10. disconnect USB/place memory card back in, switch on PSP, just go to VIDEOS, and you would be able to view your videos

Questions You Should Ask in Your Job Interview

Always prepare questions to ask.

Having no questions prepared sends the message that you have not been thinking about the job.

Avoid asking questions that are clearly answered on the employer's web site and/or in any literature provided by the employer to you in advance. This would simply reveal that you did not prepare for the interview, and you are wasting the employer's time by asking these questions. Never ask about salary and benefits issues until those subjects are raised by the employer.

Remember that an interview is a two-way conversation. For you, the interview has two purposes: One, to sell yourself, and two, to evaluate the position. After asking questions, the interviewer usually invites you to ask questions.

By asking informed questions, such as the following, you not only gain knowledge about the potential employer, but you also make a good impression:

• What is the size of the division, sales volume, earnings?
• Does the company plan to expand? What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
• What are the significant trends in the industry?
• Could you explain your organizational structure?
• Can you discuss your take on the company’s corporate culture? What are the company’s values?
• How would you characterize the management philosophy of this organization?
• Are any acquisitions, divestitures, or proxy fights on the horizon?
• What do you think is the greatest opportunity facing the organization in the near future? The biggest threat?
• How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? And by whom? How often?
• Would there be opportunities for advancement, and, how long before I might be considered for one?
• What qualities do you prize the most in those that report directly to you?
• How does the organization rank within its field?
• What is the reputation of the department (or facility) to which I am applying?
• How is this department (or facility) perceived within the organization (or corporation)?
• What have been its goals in the last year, and, did it meet them?
• What would be the goals of the department (or facility) in the coming year?
• Do you think those are aggressive or conservative goals? Who set them?
• What problems or difficulties are present in the department (or facility) now?
• What are the most important problems to solve first?
• What will be the greatest challenge in the job?
• What are the greatest strengths of this department and company?
• What would you expect me to accomplish in this job?
• What is your management style?
• How often would we meet together?
• What responsibilities have the highest priority?
• Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position?
• How might these responsibilities and priorities change?
• How much time should be devoted to each area of responsibility?
• What qualifications are you looking for in the person who fills this job?
• What are some examples of the achievements of others who have been in this position?
• How many people have held this job in the last five years? Where are they now?
• Why isn't this job being filled from within?
• What is the history of this position?
• What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization?
• If this position is offered to me, why should I accept it?
• Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here?
• What do you see in my personality, work history or skill set that attracts you to me?
• How soon do you expect to make a decision?
• If I am offered the position, how soon will you need my response?

When the position involves management of other employees, you may also wish to ask some of these questions:

• How much authority will I have in running the department (or facility) ?
• Are there any difficult personalities on the staff?
• Have you already identified staff or staffs that should be let go or transferred?
• Have you already identified staff members that are stars and are in line for promotion?
• How many employees would I supervise?
• What condition is morale in, and why?
• May I see an organizational chart?

Finally, you may want to discuss issues of compensation.

Following are some suggestions for questions pertaining to salary and benefits packages:

• What are the benefits and perks?
• What is the salary range?
• What is my earnings potential in 1, 3, 5, and 10 years?

If commissions are involved, ask about the median salary of a person holding a position comparable to that which you are seeking.

Article by Pam Pohly http://www.pohly.com/

Handling a Meal Successfully During Your Job Interview

A meal can be very important to your job search success!

Most employers have busy schedules and will arrange interviews during meal times. Sometimes, an applicant may share breakfast with one group, lunch with another and still another for dinner. All the while, the applicant is expected to answer questions well while the interviewers eat. You could be critically scrutinized on your table manners and conduct in addition to your answers to the interview questions.

Employers may want to see you in a more social situation to see how you conduct yourself, particularly if the job for which you are interviewing requires a certain standard of conduct with clients and superiors. Many times, meals are the only time that certain groups of workers can find to assemble together for an interview.

Tips for Interview Dining Etiquette:

Follow the lead of your host or hostess. You should wait for your interviewer to ask you to sit down before taking your seat. If he/she doesn't ask you to sit, wait for him/her to be seated, then sit. During the meal, sit up straight and keep your feet flat on the floor or cross your legs at the ankle. Crossing your legs during the meal can cause you to slouch, and looks too casual. As soon as everyone is seated, unfold your napkin and place it across your lap, folded, with the fold toward you. Do this discreetly. If you need to leave the table, place your napkin on your chair, folded loosely. Only after the meal is over should you place your napkin on the table to the left side of your plate (never on your plate!). You should not push your chair back and cross your legs until the meal is completely finished.

What to Eat & Drink During Interviews:

Here are some general tips on what to order. Let your interviewer order first and order a meal for yourself that is less expensive than his or hers. Pick a meal that is small and easy to eat. Try to steer away from sandwiches, shellfish, spaghetti, pizza or any other foods that are messy and may require a lot of handling. You want to eat quickly so that you can focus on your interviewer and answering questions. It is a good idea to drink water, tea or juice, steering away from alcohol, even if your interviewer has ordered alcohol. Even if the food you are served is not cooked correctly or not to your liking, never criticize or state a dislike for a food that is served to you. You could be evaluated for your grace in such situations.

How to Eat During Interviews:

Take small bites so that you can quickly finish chewing before speaking. Never speak with food in your mouth! You may not have much time to eat if you are being asked a lot of questions; remember that the main point of the meal is to interact and eating is secondary. Unless you are eating a sandwich (try not to order a sandwich), you should keep your left hand in your lap and bring it only to the table when operating a fork and knife together. Never rest your arms on the table.

More Tips for your Interview Meal:

Remember the purpose of the meal. While the interviewer may engage in more casual conversation during a meal, remember that this is still an interview. You will be evaluated on this meeting. Be prepared at any moment for the interviewer to ask serious questions - you will want to be as thoughtful and concise in your answers at a meal as you would sitting in front of the interviewer's desk. Typically in an interview, you are the guest and so the meal is paid for by the company. Your host will most likely pick up the check so you won't have to deal with it.

Remember to thank your host for the meal at its conclusion. A thank you note will be a nice touch as well.

Asking for a raise - HOW, WHEN & HOW MUCH ?

You've been working at a place for a while and proving your worth, and it's dawned on you that you should ask your boss for a raise. There are right ways to do this and wrong ways. Here are some things to consider.The first thing you must ask yourself is do you deserve a raise? Are you an asset to the company? Have you increased profit turnovers? If you have answered yes to these than you definitely deserve a pay rise.

Stay positive

Make sure you come up with a good reason for asking for a raise. Perhaps you're working harder than everyone else. Maybe you're bringing in more money than others. A good reason for a raise does not include the reason that "you've been there a long time." While time of service is important, you need to prove your worth.

Timing

Think carefully first about when the best time is to approach your boss. You don't want to ask for money the day after your company is going through some downsizing. Wait for good news. If you've recently had a run-in with your supervisor for one reason or another, now is not the right time, either. You want to be asking for a raise when conditions are right both for your particular situation and for the situation of your company. Try to strike at a time when profits are up, or just after you've finished a major project that made the department look good.

Approaching the subject

Have a basic plan ready. Focus on all your accomplishments, any new business that you have brought to the company, how you've made your department and, ideally, your boss, shine. Have you put in a lot of over time? (we don`t mean the week before you are about to be asking for a raise).


Important Your raises and promotions will come more quickly if actually have a good track record and you've put in long hours and shown the creativity that fuel raises.

The question of money

Take your time and do your research before you even think of asking for a raise. The worse thing you can do is ask for an unrealistic pay rise or worse still not know how much to ask for.Do your researchResearch salary information. Find out how much other people in your position would or do make. Know how much you should be paid. If you can take any kind of documentation or maybe even a quote in with you when you approach your boss for a raise, that may prove helpful.

Tips

Check newspaper ads, the Internet or even the local Chamber of Commerce, as well as simply talking to people to find out how much you deserve to be earning.

Don`t sound desperateYou are asking for a raise so you think you deserve one. But what ever you do don`t sound desperate. Be aggressive. When you talk with your boss about a raise, talk as if you absolutely, undoubtedly deserve the raise. Above all, never talk about any debts that you have this will make you come across unprofessional.

Most important Don't use an ultimatum, unless you're prepared to follow through. If you are going to say you'll quit if you don't get the raise, be prepared to quit.

7 Frequently Asked Questions in an interview

Well all of us know the basics to attend the interview. Like Dress well; Shined shoes; Crisp shirt; No bulky brief cases; Cell phone turned OFF; Arrive 15 minutes before the start of the interview; Have copies of your resume with you; Hair combed; Not too much perfume or cologne; Simple jewelry.

Once you are in the interview room then, you got to look at the interviewer in the eyes, smile, and with a FIRM handshake, tell them how happy you are to be there. Once you start talking to the interviewer, keep your physical gestures minimal. I have tried to bring up a set of 7 ( its my lucky number) very Frequently Asked Questions and sample answers for them.

1. How would you describe yourself? / Tell me about yourself ?

This is the most frequently asked or should I put it as, the first question that any interviewer would ask the candidate. The interviewer prefers to know about you from your perspective. Need not give personal details, until or unless asked for. Start with describing what you want to become? Your previous work experience if any, your academic background to support your job? What are your strengths? What will be your contributions to the company? Etc.,Sample replyMy background to date has been centered on preparing myself to become the very best Recruiting consultant. Let me tell you specifically how I've prepared myself. I am a graduate in MBA (HR) from the prestigious university.... My past experiences have been in Technical Consulting Company and Internal recruiter for a leading blue chip company. Both aspects have prepared me well for this career…

2. What are your strengths?

This seems to be a easy question to be answered, right? Assure that you do not miss out pointing the strengths that will present you to be the best fit for the position applied.So to know what your skills are first assess your skills, and you will identify your strengths. This is an exercise worth doing before any interview. Make a list of your skills, dividing them into three categories:

a. Knowledge based skills: Acquired from education and experience (e.g., computer skills, languages, degrees, training and technical ability).b. Transferable skills: Your portable skills that you take from job to job (e.g., communication and people skills, analytical problem solving and planning skills).c. Personal traits: Your unique qualities (e.g., dependable, flexible, friendly, hard working, expressive, formal, punctual and being a team player).

When you complete this list, choose three to five of those strengths that match what the employer is seeking in the job posting. Make sure you can give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further. Sample replyI am technically very strong in Java, XML, etc.I posses good written and oral communication, have participated in various debate competitions and won awardsI have the ability to identify potential problem areas, skill to solve them and produce result.Team member to the core and have the ability to lead the team.

3. What are your weaknesses?

Probably the most dreaded part of the question. Everyone has weaknesses, but who wants to admit them, especially in an interview?. The best way to handle this question is to minimize the trait and emphasize the positive. Select a trait and come up with a solution to overcome your weakness. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate more on professional traits.

Sample reply"I pride myself on being a 'big picture' guy. I have to admit I sometimes miss small details, but I always make sure I have someone who is detail-oriented on my team."

4. How do you handle pressure?

To survive in this competitive world we need to develop the ability to handle pressure. Firstly give your view on stress and then explain a situation where you handled pressure well.

Sample replyStress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and productive. Then give an example of a time when you handled stress with ease.

5. What do you expect to be doing in five years?

Wow this is a 90% sure question that I end up answering in almost all the interviews I attend. I remember having given some bizarre answers to this question. Once I told my interviewer that I would like to be in his position in this company in next five years, which brought a smirk on the otherwise dreary interviewer. Always think BIG here, tell him that you have always wanted to climb up the career ladder at good pace and you would be in a senior or Top management level, provided there are opportunities for growth prospect in the company.

Sample responseAlthough it is hard to predict the future, I sincerely believe that I will become a very good Recruitment Manager. I believe that my abilities will allow me to excel to the point that I can emerge as an entrepreneur and may even end up opening my consulting company. My ultimate goal continues to be, and will always be to be the best at whatever level I am working.

6. Evaluate your ability to handle conflict?

Honestly I know, I have not had any conflicts in my career. But then the interviewer will not accept my answer if end up telling the truth. So I have to weave a story to convince him that I do have the ability to handle conflict with ease, if any would arise in future. You need to provide couple of points that can convince the interviewer that you have skills to solve problems and conflicts.Sample responseI am good at handling conflict.

Working in a team, there are times when members of a team have difference of opinion. Being a good listener, I make sure that the member is given opportunity to defend his opinion. My decision-making skill helps me to hanle the conflict and solve the problem. I would always make sure that I fully explained the situation, the policies behind my decision, and why those policies exist. Usually by the end of the conversation, the person could see the other side of the situation.

7. Given the investment our company will make in hiring and training you, can you give us a reason to hire you?

You can always expect this question to be fired, if you attend an interview at some MNC’s. They invest to hire and train you, if selected. So they demand to hear the answer from you as to why should they hire ‘you’?

Sample responseI sincerely believe that I'm the best person for the job. Not only do I have the ability, but also bring an additional quality that makes me the very best person for the job, my attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip service to excellence, but putting every part of myself into achieving it. I think my leadership awards from my college, and my management positions are the result of possessing the qualities you're looking for in an employee for this position.

These are some of the very frequent questions i have confronted in various interviews I attended.

By Bindu Vijayakumar http://writeurresume.blogspot.com/

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 PSP Game Review

SCORE: 74
When SOCOM released on the PS 2 with the integrated modem and headset, I thought I will be duking it out in the online competition bucketed along through with blazing guns. Even so, when I arrived home and hooked it up, I found a good game that have too concentrated on orders and commands for my action-skewed interests. The game and its accessories immediately started to gather dust, and the whole series lost its spark and fun for me.
In this new sequel, you will play as Wraith, a Navy SEAL team leader who just assembled a four-man team for a super- hush-hush expedition. Looks like a U.S. operative is behind the Soviet lines and all people the government sends out to meet the mole never return. So, the Navy SEALs are immediately to deal with the bottom of the conundrum.

When I finished playing he game, I am a little frustrated by its brief campaign. Subsequently, I recalled how great it is to devour those missions cooperatively with my friends. Then, I found how much excitement custom missions are. Finally, I found the delight in tripping the light fantastic over fallen rivals in the multiplayer matches. Fireteam Bravo 3 is a wonderful package. Of course, we could do for a little more variety – the story easily gets confused in the mix, the armaments all feel equal, and you are really just using a similar strategies the whole game – but luckily that does not spoil the entire experience.

The game is exciting, and if you dig deeper in it, it will be enough to keep you playing it for a while.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories PSP Game Review

SCORE: 78
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is a horror adventure game crammed full with many troubling topics, for a starter the community is assaulted by a blizzard, a large percentage of its residents are lost, and horrendous monsters regularly shriek from frozen and dark corners. The bloodcurdling and stupefying plot line is encircled by high entertainment values, from accurate character modeling whose faces and bodies float fluidly to solid voice acting as well as the moody and energetic soundtracks by its old-time composer Akira Yamaoka. Overall, the PSP version is indistinguishable to the Wii version with fresh trims in presentation and control. The portable feels isn't nearly as persuasive as the console type, but if you look for frights on the 'go,' Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is certainly suffices.

Shattered Memories is not your typical horror title. A few dedicated followers will beyond question raise a fuss on all deviations whether grand or subtle, but I think this re-imagining sufficiently succeeds in this sequel. The overarching narration, heroes, and monsters may all appear slightly well-known to all the Silent Hill purists, however Climax has crafted a game refreshfully dissimilar yet still now and then quite chilling.

All the same, you will find some astounding actions encapsulated inside Harry's frozen trek and you'll be both amazed and frightened as you in the end unveil the reality about his baby girl's disappearance and the bloodcurdling commotion in the creepy-crawly community.

The PSP variant of this title isn't nearly as tempting as the Wii game before it. The visual and auditory downgrades should be expected. The lighting FX are humbler all around. More unsatisfying, though, are the dull controls -- Mason acts more sluggish and more effortful -- and the inability to immediately direct his flashlight, a significant selling point of the whole series. Those problems noted, Shattered Memories is still a reliable PSP horror thriller, especially for those who love the genre.

Deny access to file and folders in windows vista

Sometimes there are some personal files which we don’t want someone else to have access on them. In that case we can lock those files. We can restrict the access easily in Microsoft windows vista.

Setting up a security for a folder or a file is very easy. Simply right click on the folder which you want to lock. Select properties and then select Security tab in folder properties window and then click Edit button. Click on the Add button to open the "Select Users or Group" window.

Now enter the username in the text box for the file which you want lock on your computer.

 Or you can do this as well,

 If you are not sure about the username then click the advanced button, which opens the search window.

To search all users click the Find Now button and then locate the user which you want restrict access to the folder and click OK. Now, you will see the username listed in the Security Permissions window, click on the username to select.

Select the Deny Permissions for that user by checking the Deny box for Full Control.

Then there will be popup window in front of you giving you a security message which says Deny entries always override the allow permissions, click yes and then OK.

This way you can keep your important documents safe from other people by blocking the access in your Microsoft operating system.

 

Job Interviewing Tips - The Steps to a Successful Job Interview

Prepare for your next interview by following these steps to a successful job interview:

Preparation is Key

When preparing for an interview, take the time to research the company and industry before hand. This shows that you are resourceful and have a genuine interest in the position. You can utilize the internet to learn about their product and services, history, mission statements, etc.

If possible, drive by the company the day before - getting lost can make you late for the interview, in addition to making you nervous and anxious. Make sure to take with you names, addresses, and dates of employment from previous employers along with extra copies of your resume. Make sure to fill out the application completely - do not write "see resume."

First Impressions

It is important that you reflect a positive attitude - do not dread the interview. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Take a deep breath and relax. Remember the interview is not an interrogation - it is an opportunity to present your work history and personality as it relates to the position. Remember that professional dress is key. For women, a nice blouse, blazer and skirt/slacks are suitable. For men, a dress shirt, tie, blazer and slacks are appropriate.

Arrive 10 minutes early, and be positive and friendly to the receptionist and other people in the office. They could be your future co-workers. Never chew gum or smoke before, during, or after an interview, even if offered. When you are introduced to the interviewer stand up straight and give a firm handshake.

The Interview

Let the interviewer set the tone and pace of the interview but not necessarily control the interview. It is your responsibility to express to the interviewer your qualifications, work history and why you are the best person for the job. Sell yourself! Answer the interviewer's questions directly, but give details.

Example:

Q: Have you worked on MSWord?

A: Yes, I have used MSWord for the last 3 years and I am very comfortable with it.

Make sure to relate your answers to the position you are applying for.

Example:

If you are interviewing for a customer service position, talk about your experience dealing with people and problem solving.

Remember to never offer personal information (unless directly related to the job) or talk negatively about previous employers.

The Closing

At the end of the interview, be ready to ask some questions. You need to show your interest in the company & position. We suggest that you do not ask questions related to salary or benefits - they are not appropriate at this time.

Sample Questions:

Why is this position open?

Please describe the personality that fits this description.

Please describe a typical workday.

If you are interested in the position, be sure to let the interviewer know, even if they don't ask. Say - "I appreciate the time you have given me and I am highly interested in joining your company.

What is the next step?

Always send a hand written thank you note as soon as possible (if you met with more than one person, send one to each person individually). Include again that you appreciate their time and why you feel you would be the best person for the job. Be short and simple. If you haven't heard from them within a week, call to politely inquire. Do not call too often, as you do not want to pester them, but do call to express interest.

Always remember to be yourself and answer all questions honestly

You should feel confident that no matter what the outcome may be, you presented yourself to the best of your abilities. If one job doesn't come through, it probably wasn't the right one for you and there is another out there that is!

Source : OCjobSite.com.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together PSP Game Review

SCORE: 86
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together can be the greatest classic remake I've ever found. It has an excellent source material along with how the developers address all sticking points that tend to frustrate me these years. For starters, you may find it an impeccable piece of prgramming, which is a welcome change to previous English releases of the series. Its World system essentially changes the principal nature of Tactics Ogre.
It is formerly a game that entails difficult decision-making, but now it's more about exploring the outcome. It may seem like a subtle decision, but it is definitely a meaningful one. And it means for about 15 years after its debt, Tactics Ogre can still be considered slightly ahead of the normal curve. You will feel that its narration is a notch above the competition. The developers are finally able to to put the game mechanics on par with the beautiful storyline, in fact, it can be considered as new standard in developing a remake. The game is still highly faithful to its original storyline, while making it more engrossing and deeper that the previous titles. The game may not be for everyone, even so any serious fan of strategy RPG games should not miss this excellent remastered masterpiece.

Shift Extended - PSP Game Review

SCORE: 81

SHIFT is an interesting game featuring a bit of humor and crafty puzzles using a single, inventive mechanic. It isn’t without its flaws, but if the $3.99 price tag for only a few hours of play doesn’t scare you off, I’d definitely recommend checking it out. SHIFT is unique due to its inversion core mechanic. Its monochrome visuals are essentially critical to its gameplay execution. The bumpers will reverse gravity and the subject's alignment to everything around him. You can shift from white to black and the other way around, as the results platforms can become pit and things that are previously unreachable can be reached easily. I complete the whole 120 rooms in one day and the real challenge will appear in the last 30 rooms. In fact, you can finish the first 70 rooms in an hour or so. You may think that $4 is a little steep for one day of gaming time.

Convert the Images to JPEG

If you're running anything other than Version 2.0 of the firmware, the PSP's Photo capabilities only extend to JPEG files; there are plenty of web comics in GIF and PNG, so you will need to do a batch conversion into JPEG. If you have a PSP with Version 2.0 of the firmware, then you can skip this step. First, make an empty directory called Cleaned Comics, where your batch image program can deposit the converted images before loading them onto the PSP.

You don't want to resize the web comics, since most of the fonts are designed to be read at a 1-to-1 onscreen aspect ratio. If you are using Mac OS X, we recommend Easy Batch Photo (http://www.yellowmug.com/easybatchphoto/) as an inexpensive solution to convert all the comics to JPEG. If you already have a copy on hand, or have been looking to invest some real money in the image-editing arena, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or any other major image editor should be able to do a batch conversion on a folder of images with very little difficulty. Another, less expensive solution would be to use the free and open source GIMP (http://www.gimp.org) that is available for Windows, Linux, and many other operating systems, along with the GIMP plug-in, David's Batch Processor (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~hodsond/dbp.html).

Make sure to use an image quality compression ratio better than 50%, so that the comics don't become distorted. Also, don't save a thumbnail in your JPEG file, because the PSP doesn't need the thumbnail and may choke on it, and that thumbnail will just take up more space on your precious Memory Stick.

Finding the Images

Once the download has completed, you need to find the directory where all the comic strip images are stored. This may be a simple matter of opening the Images folder inside the site's root folder on your hard drive. However, one of the problems you'll find is that some web comic authors have broken down their comic archives by month and year, so there can be a plethora of folders containing those precious images.

Do a local search for the image file format using your operating system's file search tools. This will generate a list of all the comic strip files in that directory. Now copy the results into a single folder for image processing.

Grab and convert comics off the Web for portable viewing

When Jacob first got his USB link cable, he tried a little experiment to see whether he could use his PlayStation Portable to read web comics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcomic), and it worked out quite well. This tips will help you to do the same.

Downloading the Comics
The first step will be to download a web comic site of your choosing to your local computer.
Use a web site copier such as HTTrack (http://www.httrack.com/) on Windows and Linux or SiteSucker (http://www.sitesucker.us/index.html) on Mac OS X.

Download, install, and launch your web site copier. Supply the URL of the web comic that you want to view on your PSP and start the download. Once you type in the URL, press the download button (the one that looks like a downward-pointed arrow) to begin the download.

Make sure you spend some time adjusting the settings of these web site copiers to exclude downloading any forums associated with your target site, since there are no comics there and forums can add up to quite a lot of HTML pages.

We used Diesel Sweeties (http://www.dieselsweeties.com/) and Cat and Girl (http://www.catandgirl.com/). Download the web comic site of your choice, starting with the archive where all the comics are located.

Downloading all the images and HTML pages on the web site will take a couple of minutes over broadband. While you are doing this, you should seriously consider buying a T-shirt or other fine products from the web comic authors to thank them for providing their comic goodness for your pleasure. We have both Cat and Girl T-shirts and Diesel Sweeties T-shirts, and they rock ever so hard.

Payday Loans = Costly Cash warns the FTC

This article by the Federal Trade Commission warns against Payday Loans ....

"I just need enough cash to tide me over until payday."

"GET CASH UNTIL PAYDAY! . . . $100 OR MORE . . . FAST."

The ads are on the radio, television, the Internet, even in the mail. They refer to payday loans - which come at a very high price.

Check cashers, finance companies and others are making small, short-term, high-rate loans that go by a variety of names: payday loans, cash advance loans, check advance loans, post-dated check loans or deferred deposit check loans.

Usually, a borrower writes a personal check payable to the lender for the amount he or she wishes to borrow plus a fee. The company gives the borrower the amount of the check minus the fee. Fees charged for payday loans are usually a percentage of the face value of the check or a fee charged per amount borrowed - say, for every $50 or $100 loaned. And, if you extend or "roll-over" the loan - say for another two weeks - you will pay the fees for each extension.

Under the Truth in Lending Act, the cost of payday loans - like other types of credit - must be disclosed. Among other information, you must receive, in writing, the finance charge (a dollar amount) and the annual percentage rate or APR (the cost of credit on a yearly basis).

A cash advance loan secured by a personal check - such as a payday loan - is very expensive credit. Let's say you write a personal check for $115 to borrow $100 for up to 14 days. The check casher or payday lender agrees to hold the check until your next payday. At that time, depending on the particular plan, the lender deposits the check, you redeem the check by paying the $115 in cash, or you roll-over the check by paying a fee to extend the loan for another two weeks. In this example, the cost of the initial loan is a $15 finance charge and 391 percent APR. If you roll-over the loan three times, the finance charge would climb to $60 to borrow $100.

Alternatives to Payday Loans

There are other options. Consider the possibilities before choosing a payday loan:
When you need credit, shop carefully. Compare offers. Look for the credit offer with the lowest APR - consider a small loan from your credit union or small loan company, an advance on pay from your employer, or a loan from family or friends. A cash advance on a credit card also may be a possibility, but it may have a higher interest rate than your other sources of funds: find out the terms before you decide. Also, a local community-based organization may make small business loans to individuals.

Compare the APR and the finance charge (which includes loan fees, interest and other types of credit costs) of credit offers to get the lowest cost.

Ask your creditors for more time to pay your bills. Find out what they will charge for that service - as a late charge, an additional finance charge or a higher interest rate.

Make a realistic budget, and figure your monthly and daily expenditures. Avoid unnecessary purchases - even small daily items. Their costs add up. Also, build some savings - even small deposits can help - to avoid borrowing for emergencies, unexpected expenses or other items. For example, by putting the amount of the fee that would be paid on a typical $300 payday loan in a savings account for six months, you would have extra dollars available. This can give you a buffer against financial emergencies.

Find out if you have, or can get, overdraft protection on your checking account. If you are regularly using most or all of the funds in your account and if you make a mistake in your checking (or savings) account ledger or records, overdraft protection can help protect you from further credit problems. Find out the terms of overdraft protection.

If you need help working out a debt repayment plan with creditors or developing a budget, contact your local consumer credit counseling service. There are non-profit groups in every state that offer credit guidance to consumers. These services are available at little or no cost. Also, check with your employer, credit union or housing authority for no- or low-cost credit counseling programs.

If you decide you must use a payday loan, borrow only as much as you can afford to pay with your next paycheck and still have enough to make it to the next payday.

To Complain/For More InformationIf you believe a lender has violated the Truth in Lending Act, file a complaint with the FTC.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.

To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

The Brazen Careerist the blog that is about a different kind of carreer advice

I love reading The Brazen Careerist the blog that is about a different kind of carreer advice. Written by Penelope Trunk. Besides this fabulous blog she has a book out called the BRAZEN CAREERIST. If you are looking for a job then this is one book I totally recommend.

Here is part of her interview on Amazon where you can find her awesome book.
Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success
Q: What makes your career advice different?
A: I explain why old advice - like pay your dues, climb the ladder, and don’t have gaps in your resume - is outdated and irrelevant in today’s workplace. I have a reputation for giving advice that is counterintuitive but effective, like take long lunches, ignore people who steal your ideas, and stop vying for a promotion. Both the New York Times and Business Week cited my writing as especially in tune with today’s new workplace.

Also, I am known for test-driving my advice before spewing it. In my personal life, I routinely (often awkwardly) demonstrate buzzwords before they buzz, like the quarterlife crisis, portfolio career, and shared-care parenting. My own career choices have been featured by Time magazine and the London Guardian as examples of the new issues people face at work today.
............................................................
So read her blog for some fresh new ideas for your job search. a good read !

Looking for free ebook for your PSP

The list of freely available e-books designed for viewing on the PSP is growing daily. Use Google (http://www.google.com) to search for PSP e-books and see if any new titles that haven't been mentioned in this brief sampling appear.

Of course, the best way to find content for your PSP that you will be interested in reading is to make your own. Head on over to The Online Books Page (http://onlineBooks.library.upenn.edu/) or Project Gutenberg
(http://www.gutenberg.org/) to grab some books that are freely and legally available in the public domain.

How to read magazine in PSP?

PSP Magazines (http://www.pspmagazines.com/) is a site created and maintained by Jason Schuller, who notes on the site's About page: "I was doing this for myself anyway and figured why not share my work." This site consists of various short articles and selections from various magazines. These selections would all appear to be scraped from the online versions of the magazines and then reformatted for viewing on the PSP by Schuller, who then serves them up for download.

There is a rather large selection of magazine snippets available, and the list is updated regularly. There is even a section of independent PSP Magazines listed. All images are set to the default 480 x 272 size of your PSP's screen and are, for the most part, designed for normal viewing without having to hold your PSP on one end.

How to read manga in PSP?

The first PSP "e-books" to emerge online came in the form of Japanese manga comics or graphic novels.

Seven Seas Entertainment's GoManga.com
(http://gomanga.com/pspmanga/index.php) has made an entire selection of black and white Manga titles customized for display on the PSP. They are releasing these titles in serialized form, episode by episode. Their current titles include Amazing Agent Luna, Blade for Barter, Last Hope, and No Man's Land. Each episode is freely downloadable from their site in a zipped folder. All you have to do is download the files, unzip them, take the folder containing all of the individual page images, and drop it onto your PSP's Memory Stick in /PSP/PHOTO/. Each picture is 480 x 297 at a resolution of 72dpi (the image has been turned on its side so that it will nicely fill the PSP's screen).

This is larger than the 480 x 272 size of your PSP's screen, so you will have to use the analog stick to move around each page of the comic slightly. Holding the PSP on its end with the directional pad and analog stick beneath the screen will let you view the comic properly, and clicking on the R trigger of the PSP moves you ahead to the next page.

A PSP PAK of full-color Manga comics is also freely available from eigo-Manga English Comics (http://s95330819.onlinehome.us/manga/psppak.htm). So far, there is only one PSP PAK available, and it contains samples from five different manga comics. These images are set to 480 x 311 and turned on their side, so again you will need to hold the PSP on end and use the analog stick to move around on the page.

How to Fix "Stop 0xC2" or "Stop 0x000000C2" Error Messages

This post provides online Microsoft support to fix Stop 0xC2" or "Stop 0x000000C2 Error occure with your Windows Operating system. Windows 2000 contains many built-in features that enhance the pool allocation process. A number of new stop codes have been added that help you locate drivers that do not function correctly. Because of these additional features, you may be able to find the root cause of the driver's malfunction by simple debugging.

The following procedure describes how to debug a OxC2 stop.


First, check the stop documentation. For example:

BAD_POOL_CALLER (0xC2)

The current thread is making a bad pool request. Typically this is at a bad IRQL level or double freeing the same allocation, etc.

1 - type of pool violation the caller is guilty of.
6 - the pool address being freed is already free.
7 - the pool address being freed is already free.
8 - parameter 2 is the IRQL allocating at, parameter 3 is the pool type
9 - parameter 2 is the IRQL freeing at, parameter 3 is the pool type

Parameter 1 = 0x1, 0x2, or 0x4 : Pool header has been corrupted
Parameter 2 = Pointer to pool header
Parameter 3 = First part of pool header contents
Parameter 4 = 0

Parameter 1 = 0x6 : Attempt to free pool which was already freed
Parameter 2 = Reserved (__LINE__)
Parameter 3 = Pointer to pool header
Parameter 4 = Pool header contents

Parameter 1 = 0x7 : Attempt to free pool which was already freed
Parameter 2 = Reserved (__LINE__)
Parameter 3 = Pointer to pool header
Parameter 4 = 0

Parameter 1 = 0x8 : Attempt to allocate pool at invalid IRQL
Parameter 2 = Current IRQL
Parameter 3 = Pool type
Parameter 4 = Size of allocation

Parameter 1 = 0x9 : Attempt to free pool at invalid IRQL
Parameter 2 = Current IRQL
Parameter 3 = Pool type
Parameter 4 = Address of pool

Parameter 1 = 0x40 : Attempt to free usermode address to kernel pool
Parameter 2 = Starting address
Parameter 3 = Start of system address space
Parameter 4 = 0

Parameter 1 = 0x41 : Attempt to free a non-allocated nonpaged pool
address
Parameter 2 = Starting address
Parameter 3 = physical page frame
Parameter 4 = highest physical page frame

Parameter 1 = 0x50 : Attempt to free a non-allocated paged pool address
Parameter 2 = Starting address
Parameter 3 = Start offset in pages from beginning of paged pool
Parameter 4 = Size in bytes of paged pool

Parameter 1 = 0x99 : Attempt to free pool with invalid address (or
corruption in pool header)
Parameter 2 = Address being freed
Parameter 3 = 0
Parameter 4 = 0

After you have collected detailed information about the 0xC2 stop, use the debugger:

E:\bin>i386kd -z K:\DOWNLOAD\memory.dmp
Loading Dump File [K:\DOWNLOAD\memory.dmp]
Full Kernel Dump File
...
0: kd> !reload GOOD HOUSEKEEPING DONE HERE

0: kd> dd kibugcheckdata l8 DUMPING THE ERROR

8047fba0 000000c2 00000007 00000b68 815bade0
8047fbb0 815bade8 e1007000 00000000 818988c0

0: kd> kv DUMPING STACK

ChildEBP RetAddr Args to Child
bdce0348 be11dc84 e1fff000 a08d0008 000007f8 banshee!vH3ImageTransferMm32
bdce037c be116f18 be85fd78 00000001 bdce03dc banshee!vMmXferNative
bdce03ac be113eec e1fff000 e25e2a38 bdce03dc banshee!vPutBits
bdce03e8 a008e47f e1ff86f8 e25e2a38 e1fef908 banshee!DrvCopyBits
bdce0430 a008e899 be113d40 bdce04d8 e1ff86f8 win32k!OffCopyBits
bdce04e4 a008e4d1 e1ff86f8 e25e2a38 00000000 win32k!SpBitBlt

The stop documentation indicates that memory is being freed. This information is indicated by the following line:

Parameter 1 = 0x7: Attempt to free pool which was already freed.
But the stack shows that the video card is in the process of a write, so you must continue to investigate. First, you must determine if this computer is a multiprocessor.

0: kd> ~1 SWITCH PROC

1: kd> kv DUMPING STACK

ChildEBP RetAddr Args to Child
bde81b7c 8046894d 815bade8 00000000 be03bb2b ntkrnlmp!ExFreePoolWithTag
bde81b88 be03bb2b 815bade8 be03ca94 815bade8 ntkrnlmp!ExFreePool
00000128 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 BADDRIVER

The preceding text indicates that memory is freed through the driver drivername. This could be the possible root cause.

Next, define the driver:

1: kd> !drivers
Loaded System Driver Summary

Base Code Size Data Size Driver Name Creation Time
80400000 139f40 (1255 kb) 4f3c0 (316 kb) ntoskrnl.exe Tue Dec 07 14:05:26 1999
80062000 ffe0 ( 63 kb) 3d60 ( 15 kb) hal.dll Tue Nov 02 20:14:22 1999
ed410000 1760 ( 5 kb) 1000 ( 4 kb) BOOTVID.dll Wed Nov 03 20:24:33 1999
ed49c000 1b00 ( 6 kb) 680 ( 1 kb) gameenum.sys Sat Sep 25 14:35:57 1999
ed080000 a000 ( 40 kb) 20c0 ( 8 kb) VIDEOPRT.SYS Sat Nov 06 16:55:20 1999
bfdcf000 1d480 ( 117 kb) 7520 ( 29 kb) mga64m.sys Mon Nov 29 20:47:46 1999
bfdbc000 11600 ( 69 kb) 1600 ( 5 kb) el90xnd5.sys Fri Oct 29 17:54:34 1999
ed090000 3a60 ( 14 kb) 5980 ( 22 kb) banshee.sys Fri Oct 29 19:00:56 1999
ed5df000 2e0 ( 0 kb) 4a0 ( 1 kb) audstub.sys Sat Sep 25 14:35:33 1999
ed370000 33e0 ( 12 kb) a40 ( 2 kb) raspti.sys Fri Oct 08 16:45:10 1999
ed0c0000 c5e0 ( 49 kb) 20e0 ( 8 kb) parallel.sys Fri Oct 22 18:00:54 1999
ed5e0000 580 ( 1 kb) 540 ( 1 kb) swenum.sys Sat Sep 25 14:36:31 1999
be552000 72a60 ( 458 kb) 13c40 ( 79 kb) mga64d.dll Tue Nov 30 04:33:19 1999
be113000 36f00 ( 219 kb) 7a20 ( 30 kb) banshee.dll Tue Nov 30 04:31:18 1999
be031000 FFFF ( FF kb) FFFF ( F kb) BADDRIVER.sys Mon Feb 30 23:22:43 2000

TOTAL: 7f8dc0 (8163 kb) 172140 (1480 kb) ( 0 kb 0 kb)

Getting Noticed On The Web !

This article written by Jason Goldberg of Jobster.com makes a lot of sense.
The ways of getting a job have changed. You need to change your ways of looking for one.

Jason writes some tips and tricks for harnessing these new web 2.0 technologies to get a leg up in your job search:


Turn to the new breed of Meta Job Search Engines.

Overwhelmed by the number of job boards to choose from and by the hundreds of corporate employment sites to keep track of? New sites like Jobster.com, Indeed.com, and Simplyhired.com take the hassle out of searching for your next job by providing one-stop-searching across most of the major job sites. Think of these sites as “Google for jobs.” Conduct one search and get results from many job sites and employers. Jobster and Indeed also search jobs directly from many employers, which is helpful as many leading employers are scaling back their job board budgets and shifting their focus instead towards promoting their own employment sites. Jobster now searches more than 5 times the number of jobs as the largest job board.

Make Use of Referrals and Social Networks to Get Noticed.

Mark Mehler from CareerXroads points out that a referred candidate has a 35 to 1 chance of getting hired vs. 500 to 1 for the typical candidates. That’s because with so many resumes coming in to companies every day, most employers rely on referrals as a way to spot great candidates. New sites such as Jobster and LinkedIn include “social networking” technology which can help you identify which of your contacts may know people at the companies you want to work at. Jobster goes a step further and can help you request a referral directly into the hiring team at many employers. Jobster also has a feature called “My Jobster,” which enables you to keep tabs on jobs that you can get referred for via the people you know and the people they know.

Sign up for e-Mail Alerts and RSS Feeds.

Tired of searching and searching and searching? e-Mail Alerts and RSS Feeds enable you to have jobs delivered to you instead. Leading job sites now enable you to receive daily email alerts about the latest jobs which meet your specific search criteria. The meta search engines, Jobster, Indeed, and Simplyhired, provide customizable alerts spanning millions of jobs from thousands of employers and job sites. Subscribe to RSS feeds and get live feeds of jobs as they are posted. Jobster also has a feature called, “insider alerts” which provides email alerts of jobs that you can get referred for.

Know where the Jobs Are.

If you want to land your dream job, you need to know where it is available. Several sites are now adding interactive mapping features so that you can see what jobs are being posted where and when. Indeed.com provides a map showing where the highest concentration of job postings are. Jobster.com offers two interactive maps: one which shows live job searches as they are conducted in real-time, and another which displays on a Google local map where the jobs are nearest to your search area.

Read Blogs.

According to a leading blog search engine, Technorati, there are now more than 14 million web logs or “blogs” and 88,000 new blogs are created daily. Blogs are written by citizen journalists who desire to share their opinions and expertise on specific topics with the broader internet audience. Many employers are turning to blogs to find candidates for their jobs. Increasingly, employers are advertising their positions on blogs, as they recognize that the individuals reading blogs on specific topics are most likely to be interested in working at companies who are pursuing related initiatives. At Microsoft, for instance, more than 2000 employees write blogs about topics pertinent to their work; now Microsoft is using those blogs to develop a dialogue with potential hires.

Write a Blog.

A common complaint from employers is that resumes don’t tell the full story about an individual’s interests and accomplishments. Write a blog and help potential employers learn about the “real you.” Express yourself freely, but don’t write anything that might be construed as potentially embarrassing or overly controversial. Google offers a free blogging service for beginners called “Blogger.” Moveabletypes’s “Typepad” is also very popular for novice bloggers. I’ve also found wordpress to be quite simple to get started on, albeit a bit less polished than typepad.

Maintain an Online Professional Profile.

Another great way to introduce yourself to employers is by maintaining an online professional profile. These profiles typically go beyond basic resumes to introduce your professional experience and accomplishments. Create a public profile on Jobster and have select employers find you. Or, join LinkedIn and establish your profile in the LinkedIn network. Zoominfo is a search engine used by many recruiting organization for mid-level and senior managers; if you are looking for a mid-level position, it is advised that you update your Zoominfo profile as well.

Join an Online Group.

Associations and affinity groups are often a great source of information about job openings. Whether it’s your fraternity or sorority, your bowling team, or a trade association, networking within your groups can help you learn about and get noticed for great opportunities. Jobster enables members to create and join online groups to share jobs and job search tips amongst people with like interests. Sites like The Facebook for college students can also be helpful.

Photo view in PSP

If, instead of launching a slideshow, you hit X after selecting one of your folders of images (or if you didn't bother with the whole folder aspect in the first place), you will see a list of all the images within that folder. Simply selecting an image and hitting the X button will display it on the PSP. If you hit Triangle instead, an informational menu will pop up with Slideshow, Display, Delete, and Information options (see Figure 3-26), which behave pretty much the same as the similar menu for the image folder.

If you have Version 2.0 of the firmware, you will have additional options, such as Send, which would allow you to transmit the image via infrared to a friend's PSP; and Receive, which lets you receive a transmitted image from a friend's PSP.

When viewing an image, you can hit the Triangle button to bring forth an overlay control panel. This one is slightly different from the Slideshow control panel. The options include View Mode, Display, and Help on the top row, Clear Zoom, Zoom Out, Zoom In, Rotate Left, Rotate Right, Up, Down, Left, and Right on the middle row, and Previous, Next, and Slideshow on the bottom row.

If you have Version 2.0 of the firmware, you will have two additional controls on the top row of the control panel: Send, which allows you to send the image via IR to a friend, and "Set as Wallpaper," which lets you set the current image as the background image (wallpaper) for your PSP.

Most of these controls function the same as their counterparts in the Slideshow control panel, although there are some slight differences. View Mode toggles between Zoom and Normal view. Display shows the information for the file in an overlay across the top of the screen and a small window indicating the level of zoom. The controls on the second row all do what their names imply. The Up, Down, Left, and Right functions won't work if the full image is within view. If you are zoomed in, however, you can use these controls to scan around the image.

On the other hand, the majority of these functions can be accessed more easily by the PSP's controls themselves. It is much more convenient to simply use the Analog Stick to move around the image when you are zoomed in. The L and R triggers move you back and forward through the images, the square button plus the L and R triggers rotates the image left and right, respectively, the X button clears Zoom, and the Square button used in tandem with the analog stick zooms in and out. Refer to the Photo Help screen for a full list of all of these controls.

If you put your PSP to sleep while viewing pictures, you will be returned to the main menu the next time you wake up your PSP.

How to create photo slideshow in PSP?

If you choose Slideshow and hit the X button, each of the pictures in the folder will be displayed in order, for about four seconds each at Normal speed.

If this is too fast or too slow for your tastes, you can change the slideshow speed to Fast or Slow. The slideshow speed is set in the PSP's main settings. Navigate to Settings Photo Settings and hit the X button to bring up Slideshow Speed. Hitting either the X button or the right arrow button on the directional keypad will bring up a menu offering the choices of Fast, Normal, or Slow. Make your selection and hit the X button.

Hitting the Triangle button while the slideshow is running will open up a special slideshow-only control panel as an overlay over the current picture. This menu consists of Slideshow Options, View Mode, Display, and Help on the top row, Previous, Next, Play, Pause, and Stop on the middle row, and Repeat on the bottom row. The middle row, as you can see, consists of basic and rather self-explanatory navigational controls for the slideshow. The Repeat control simply keeps the slideshow going in a continual loop (at least until your battery runs out). The top row of controls needs a bit more explanation.

Selecting Slideshow Options and hitting the X button brings a small informational overlay in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This overlay contains an image of a clock indicating the time the picture file was created, the name of the file, the date it was created, and the time it was created.

Keep in mind that the time and date displayed by the PSP in these informational menus are determined by the time and date that the file was created, rather than the time and date your picture was taken. If you had to convert your pictures into JPEG to be displayed on the PSP, the time and date displayed will correspond with when you made this conversion.

If you select Slideshow Options again, and then again hit the X button, a small preview list of other images in the current slideshow will be displayed at the bottom of the screen, with the one you are currently viewing displayed in the middle. Hitting the X button again while the Slideshow Options control is highlighted will return you back to a regular slideshow, sans all the meta-information. If you don't want to use this control panel, simply hitting the Square button while you are viewing the slideshow will cycle you through these different Slideshow Options.

The View Mode option toggles the slideshow view between Normal (in which the picture is fitted to the screen) and Zoom (in which the picture is made to fill the screen, albeit with some cropping of the image to maintain proportions).

The Display option places an overlay across the top of the screen with the name of the image, the image's number within the slideshow (3/5 would mean that you are viewing the third picture of five), the date the file was created, and the time the file was created.

The Help option displays the Photo Help screen that displays all of the basic controls for navigating photos on the PSP.

How to Navigate Photos on Your PSP?

On your PSP, navigate to the Photo menu, highlight your Memory Stick, and hit the X button. The folders that you placed inside the PHOTO folder of your Memory Stick will show up in a list, sort of like separate photo albums. Each folder will feature a preview image of the first image in the folder and the name of the folder, and will display the number of images contained in that folder.

Once you have the folder you want to view selected, you can either hit the X button again to bring up another list of all the images contained or hit the Triangle button to bring up the menu featuring Slideshow, Delete, and Information.

This menu allows you to view a slideshow, delete the entire folder, or display information about the folder. If you choose Information, the only additional information you will discover is the sizedisplayed in kilobytesof the folder and its contents.

If you have Version 2.0 of the firmware, you will have the additional option to Receive, which lets you receive a transmitted image from a friend's PSP into the currently selected folder.

Dress for Success Career Books

First impressions are critical. In fact you are assessed within 15 seconds of your interview by your potential employer. Should you be judged by what you wear? Perhaps not, but the reality is, of course, that you are judged.

How should you dress?

Dressing conservatively is always the safest route, but you should also try and do a little investigating of your prospective employer so that what you wear to the interview makes you look as though you fit in with the organization. If you overdress (which is rare but can happen) or underdress (the more likely scenario), the potential employer may feel that you don't care enough about the job.

How do you find out what is the proper dress for a given company?

You can call the Human Resources office where you are interviewing and simply ask. Or, you could visit the company's office to retrieve an application or other company information and observe the attire current employees are wearing -- though make sure you are not there on a "casual day" and misinterpret the dress code.

Finally, do you need to run out and spend a lot of money on clothes for interviewing?

No, but you should make sure you have at least two professional sets of attire. You'll need more than that, but depending on your current financial condition, two is enough to get started and you can buy more once you have the job or have more financial resources

Hints for Dress for Success for Men and Women

Attention to details is crucial, so here are some tips for both men and women.
Make sure you have:

• clean and polished conservative dress shoes
• well-groomed hairstyle
• cleaned and trimmed fingernails
• minimal cologne or perfume
• no visible body piercing beyond conservative ear piercings for women
• well-brushed teeth and fresh breath
• no gum, candy, or other objects in your mouth
• minimal jewelry
• no body odor

Finally, check your attire in the rest room just before your interview for a final check of your appearance -- to make sure your tie is straight, your hair is combed, etc.

Here are some books I would recommend

1. Buff and Polish: A Practical Guide to Enhance Your Professional Image and Communication Style , by Kathyrn J. Volin (Pentagon).
2. How to Gain the Professional Edge: Achieve the Personal and Professional Image You Want, by Susan Morem (Ferguson).
3. New Women's Dress for Success, by John T. Molloy (Warner).
   Attention to Detail: A Woman's Guide to Professional Appearance and Conduct, by Clinton Greenleaf and Stefani Schaefer (Greenleaf Enterprises).
4. Casual Power: How to Power Up Your Nonverbal Communication & Dress Down for Success, by Sherry Maysonave (Bright Books).
5. First Five Minutes: How to Make a Great First Impression in Any Business Situation , by Mary Mitchell, with John Corr (Wiley).
6. Looking Good: A Comprehensive Guide to Wardrobe Planning, Color & Personal Style Development, by Nancy Nix-Rice and Pati Palmer (Palmer Pletsch).
7. Your Executive Image: The Art of Self-Packaging for Men and Women, by Victoria A. Seitz (Adams).

Researching New Careers with Skill Matching

Once you've discovered (or rediscovered) your passion, spend some time researching the types of careers that center around your passions.

Don't worry if you're feeling a bit unsure or insecure -- it's a natural part of the career change process. How much research you do also partly depends on how much of a change you're making; for example, changing from a teacher to a corporate trainer versus switching from a nurse to a Web designer.

You can find some great career information and a skills-matching service at O*NET Online from the U.S. Department of Labor. The O*NET system serves as the nation's primary source of occupational information, providing comprehensive information on key attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations. It also has some great questionnaires that can be used by employers as well as someone trying to find a job. So explore the site and take advantage of all the free resources.

Choosing image format for PSP

If you are running any version of the firmware other than Version 2.0, keep in mind that all images must be in JPEG format and that the PSP is not capable of displaying particularly large JPEG files. Use an image program like Photoshop to save your images into compressed JPEG format. Most likely, your digital camera came with software capable of handling this basic compression of images.

If you are running Version 2.0 of the firmware, then your PSP can handle JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, and BMP images, and you can also download images directly from the Internet using the PSP's Browser. To do this, select the image, then hit the Triangle button, navigate to the File menu, hit the X button, select Save Image, and hit the X button again. After it finishes downloading, you can immediately navigate to the image and view it on your PSP.

Regardless of which image format you use, you can conserve disk space by scaling your image down so that it's close to the PSP's 480 x 272 pixel screen resolution.

Storing Digital Photos on Your PSP

Using your PSP as a portable photo album is easy if you know how to fill the Memory Stick Duo card with images. If you know the different viewing options and controls on your PSP, you'll be showing off your photos in no time.

One of the PSP's most useful functions is also one of its most simple: the ability to display digital images. The majority of the tips covered in this chapter, and a few from other chapters, hinge on this simple ability. This tips walks you through the basics of managing digital images on your Sony PSP, different ways of getting the images onto the PSP, and navigating the images once they are on your PSP, and points you to some of the more useful ways digital images can be used to add functionality to your PSP.

Put Images in Your PSP
To place images in your PSP, you need to either mount your Memory Stick on your computer using a card reader, or connect your PSP to your computer using a USB mini to USB cable, select Settings >USB Connection from the PSP's Home menu, and hit the X button.

Once the Memory Stick shows up on your computer, you will find a folder called PSP in the card's root directory. Within the PSP folder are four other folders: GAMES, MUSIC, SAVEDATA, and PHOTO. You can simply copy any images that you want to carry around with you on your PSP into the PHOTO directory on the card.

You can also organize the photos on your PSP by grouping them in folders within the PHOTO folder.

Currently, none of the images on my PSP are larger than 250 KB in size, with the majority of the images falling in the 3264 KB range. You can view larger images on the PSP, but the larger the file size, the longer it will take the files to load, and you won't really see much improvement in image quality after a certain point because of the PSP's screen resolution.

PSP is only capable of reading one level deep into the PHOTO folder, so if you have another folder nested inside a folder inside your PHOTO folder, the PSP will either not see it, or it will show it as being corrupt data.

There are also a variety of programs available that automate organizing your pictures and moving them to your PSP. Two of them are iPSP (http://www.kaisakura.com/ipsp.php; $19.99 USD for both OS X and Windows) and PSPWare (http://www.nullriver.com/index/products/pspware; $15 USD for OS X and Windows). Both of these feature abilities beyond simply managing your pictures, and both programs have demo versions, so try before you buy. For example, after clicking on the Photos section of iPSP and choosing a photo album from iPhoto in OS X, iPSP begins automatically converting the images within the album into properly sized JPEGs and importing the images into their own directory within the PHOTO folder on the Memory Stick.

If you own a digital camera that works with a Memory Stick Duo card, then you can simply remove the card from your camera and put it in the PSP to view photos. When you choose Photo Memory Stick and hit the X button on your PSP, these images will appear in a directory called Digital Camera Images.