This Site Replaced

I am no longer updating this site because wordpress does not make it easy to put ads on the blog. For now on, Jeffrey Knows will be located at Blogger
http://howdoidostuff.blogspot.com/

Please check it out and tell me what you think and what you’d like to know

Statistics for websites and subdomains – My fav so far.

I like this site the best for measuring statistics of sites not my own.

http://www.quantcast.com/

I especially like how you can get statistics for subdomains. This is rare for a statistical analysis page. Also, it’s free. No signups necessary. Just plug in and go. Easy.

Links:
top 10 list of analytics

How do I Retweet something? What is RT?

You retweet something when you agree wholeheartedly what a person has to say or want to spread the information tweeted by someone on Twitter.

So how Do I go about Retweeting?

I find the easiest way is to just copy and paste the entire message and add “RT @” to the beginning. This gives the originator credit (by using the @ sign) and ReTweets their message.

For example, the important info is:

JeffreyTastes Vote Jorge Munoz for CNN’s Heroes. http://bit.ly/IXLky – Amazingly dedicated man who feeds the immigrant workers in JH. He can win $100k

I will copy the entire part, including the name and write

RT @JeffreyTastes Vote Jorge Munoz for CNN’s Heroes. http://bit.ly/IXLky – Amazingly dedicated man who feeds the immigrant workers in JH. He can win $100k

Twitter virus hacked accounts – Nossa olha….

“Nossa olha so oq vai rolar hj e IMPERDIVEL!!!!!”

This was the message followed by a link which hacked twitterers have been sending out. Don’t click the link, delete and if you did click, spybot yourself.

What is Petting?

What exactly is Petting?
What does petting include?

I have always wondered this. I collect antiquated etiquette books and in the book Modern Courtship and Marriage (1957) by EE LeMasters, the author describes it as such:

The term “petting”… includes literally every caress known to married couples but does not include complete sexual intercourse.

So there you have it. Your parents weren’t so innocent after all…

Police Student Internship – Riverhead

The most important thing a student in college can do is get an internship. I wish I would have done internships at every opportunity. No one cares what you learn in the classroom, everyone wants experience. Here is an internship that was passed along my desk and I wanted to make sure it got out there to people who could find it useful:

Riverhead Police Department Student Intern Program

RIVERHEAD, July 31, 2009 — Supervisor Phil Cardinale notes the success of the Riverhead Police Department’s Student Intern Program. For over 5 years the Department has participated in hosting volunteer interns from local colleges. The program helps to fulfill the students’ degree requirements. Interns are assigned to the Police Department for approximately 100 hours and a special program is tailored to meet individual interests. While working at headquarters, the assignments are usually clerical, but once assigned to the different divisions, such as Detectives, Juvenile Aid Bureau, Court, Communications and Patrol, they obtain more hands-on experiences. Occasionally, their shift will vary to include evening rides with patrol officers.

Cardinale stated, “This program accomplishes two great objectives. The Town assists the training of citizens as they prepare for careers while benefitting from the assistance provided by the participants. I congratulate Chief David Hegermiller and his staff for their efforts which have made the program a success.”

Chief Hegermiller noted, “All interns have reported positive experiences to their respective schools and are very happy to have served with the Riverhead Police Department. The program has been successful in exposing students to law enforcement on a ‘hands-on’ basis and in establishing strong bonds between the Department and our local colleges.”

For more information on police internship programs, please contact Mary Andruszkiewicz at 631-727-4500 Ext. 315.

Set Game Tips

I got into Set Game about a few month ago. Though not an expert by any means, I am getting better. And through trying to get better, I could not find any online resources to tips for this game. Here are some tips or ways of thinking that may help you.

First, for me, I usually get between 1 and 2 minutes. My record is 36 seconds. Although sometimes I do get into 3 and 4 minute territories.

The basic premise is all the same or all different.

I try to identify rare linking cards and work off of them. If there is only one 2, then I look for a 1 and then think what would be the only usable 3 to go with it. If it’s not there, scratch that and move on.
Look for the rare linking cards.

I see what colors are present and if there’s 3 of something right away. This is usually easy to analyze quickly.

Be methodical. Check all equal fills, all 123s, all 1s, 2s, 3s, all equal shapes. The same fills, numbers, shapes should be easy but they are sometimes left out and you usually kick yourself when you find it at the 3:30 mark.

Don’t worry about duplicate sets. Don’t bother checking your status on the side, it’s a waste of time.

Narrow down what is possible what is not possible. If there is only one card with a singular item on it, you can do a 1,2,3 with that card only – so exhaust all possibilities with that right away.

Do you have any other tips?

Links:
Set Game Official Site
Wikipedia Set (Game)

Screen Capture on a Laptop

I was stuck for a bit on my laptop trying to do a screen capture – which is usually ctl+Print Screen… and it wasn’t working.

You have to press function (fn) + print screen on a laptop to do the screen capture. They conserve space by making less keys. Get used to the function key for obscure practices such as this.

Dispute Parking Tickets in NYC – Reduce it Easy

I just want to let everyone know how EASY it is for getting parking tickets reduced in NYC. NEVER agree to paying the entire fine. It is a JOKE how easy it is to do this. I am upset I never did this before.

All you have to do is go to the main page
http://nycserv.nyc.gov/NYCServWeb/NYCSERVMain
go to the bottom where it says Request Hearing – and put in your ticket number.
I was initially worried I would get stuck in going to the courthouse, but nope – this is total automation – they just put you to another screen with a reduced amount.

Now, is this justice? Not really. All it is doing is fining people more if they do not know about this option. Another idiot tax. Sure I am happy to save, but this practice is still not honest.

How much?
$115 tickets become $90
$65 tickets become $43
$60 tickets become$40
$45 tickets become $32
$35 tickets become $26

It’s a shame because it makes it a gamble to plead not guilty. If you argue the case in person, and are found guilty, you have to pay the entire fine plus penalties. There they go again, caging the tiger.

My Career Advice from years ago

I wrote this 3 years ago for a friend of a friend. Even though I was only 2 years out of college, surprisingly most of the advice still holds true. I just copied and pasted it, so some stuff might be immature, but I still agree with mostly everything I wrote.

Here is the unadulterated version of what I wrote:

Kimesha: I just got this to open, and it is getting late. I will do my best to answer your questions. If you have any other questions, please call me XXXX, or drop me an email at Jeff@XXX.com. I want to get this to you asap, so I will burn the proverbial midnight oil.

1. There is a story behind every successful person. How did you get your foot in the door? How did you start?
I answered a classified ad in the newspaper in December ’03. I was very persistent with getting the results while they were making their decision. I didn’t get the job, but a month later, the person they hired didn’t work out and I got the call back. I’ve been at WLNY TV for almost 2 years.

2. Some people have a Master’s Degree in Anthropology, and has a career in Accounting. What was your educational preparation for your career?
I have a BS in computer science from Binghamton University. I did learn some programs that have helped me, but mostly I gained the ability to understand how a computer works and how programs operate. I can quickly pick up most programs put in front of me, which has been very valuable for me at our station because we have been upgrading our equipment to a more computerized newsroom since I came here.
Most of my education in the television station came from extracurriculars and an internship. I noticed you mentioned internships later in the questionnaire so I will hold off with that info.

3. I’ve been told that the end result of most successful careers start with an excellent internship. Where did you work before this job? What is your professional background?
I interned at Binghamton University for a local news station, the NBC/ABC affiliate. They took themselves very seriously, but were small enough so that I could play a part in the show. I had a very comprehensive internship, one day a week I went out with reporters and filmed and helped write and edit for the show. The other day I was in the control work making graphics, and helping in any way I could. I never had to do any of the classic production assistant things like get people coffee or donuts. I know they did have other interns that basically did nothing the whole time they were there. We have a lot of interns at our station, and I can see how some make a success out of the internship and some don’t accomplish much at all. If you show interest and want to learn for a purpose, you will succeed in the internship. This is the most important thing you can do at university. Many people get jobs right after the internship at that station. Two people just became writers at my station after interning.
I also worked as a control room operator in Binghamton University at a distance learning facility. This was great professional experience, and I was given a lot of responsibility there. It definitely showed me the finest example of how a working environment should be.
During one summer I worked as a lab technician in the research and development department of a company which made pot (potentiometers). This gave me some technical background, and showed me a very successful business. I was 19 or 20 when I worked there, not quite mature enough to fully grasp how to get the most out of these opportunities. I feel this did show my technical abilities on résumé’s, so that was good.

4. It’s very important to enjoy what you do. What do you like most about your job? Or least?
I like most being creative. About half the time, we have a lot of discretion as to editing or creating graphics. I like to be able to make my own vision come true.
What I like least is the commercial influence and the control over what we air on television. When I think of it as a business, I understand more and feel better about it. Unfortunately, the business end of the news is more discreet to the viewers, so I sometimes feel they are the innocent victims.

5. After a 12, or 13 hour shift working in a restaurant, I’ve seen it all. What’s a typical day like in your career? Describe yesterday?
My work comes in gradually throughout the day. I type in the words that go on the bottom of the screen that usually tell the location or the name of the person talking. I also share duties making graphics such as over-the-shoulder boxes (you usually see them on a top corner when the anchor is speaking) and full-screen graphics. Also, I make the maps that you see on a newscast, where they zoom into a location. Sometimes I do some editing for the show. If there is any digital editing to be done, it is usually done by myself or my supervisor (together, we are the graphics department). During the show, I either operate the teleprompter, camera, tape decks, or graphics station. Yesterday I operated the teleprompter.

6. During your experiences throughout your career, what are some of the most exciting, surprising, challenging, and/or rewarding events you’ve faced?
It is very exciting seeing the heads of the company operate and make decisions. These people are here for a reason. Most are extremely dedicated and consistently make the most prudent decisions. Others are born into it. There are characteristics that all of these most successful individuals hold, one of them is to think of solutions, not problems. This is such an excellent way to think, it will always get you places. There is still a lot to learn.
Something challenging has been office politics. There is always such a dynamic with how everyone gets along and their issues with eachother. It’s a game. I would compare it to monopoly, its fun when you’re winning, but when you stop playing you realize you just wasted all your time playing a stupid game.

7. Things and time changes, as they do, how are you prepared to stay on top?
Always say yes. If any opportunity presents itself, say yes. You will go nowhere being reluctant. There are a bunch of proverbs on this subject, you can pick one. I regret only what I have not…

8. What are some of the challenges facing the industry today, whether it affects you personally or not?
An issue recently has been with the FCC mandating that we broadcast to new standards. Starting in January, all news programs (maybe all programs) must have closed captioning. We had to update our system to a computerized system. This is good for me now actually, they are more dependent on me as we are moving to a more computerized newsroom. I am usually the first person they turn to to learn the new programs, and then I can teach other people on the crew. For my current situation, it works to my advantage.

9. It’s important to know how to handle a give situation, in any line of work. What are the most important skills to develop, and master to succeed in the media biz?
Networking is extremely important. In almost any business. Don’t think of it as ‘networking’, that is an awful word because monster.com and all of these articles and shows hound us to network. It is so much better just to think of it as meeting people. That’s all. Meeting people, letting them know what you are interested in, and knowing what they are interested in.
There are so many jobs in media. Not only on air, but everything in the business end of it.
The most important thing is knowing how to talk to anyone. And also how to dress well.

10. If given the opportunity to do it all again, what would you change? Or would you change anything?
I don’t want to change anything.
There are advantages and disadvantages to every decision. If you want to be more successful in a career faster, I would suggest getting a more specialized degree than computer science. I could have been more specialized though, there were opportunities, I was more focused on my extracurricular media activities when I went to school.

11. For someone who is very interested in your field of work, and in the media in general, what advise can you offer.
The past 10 questions have been advice!
Okay, to go over it quick:
Say YES. Meet people, and be interested. Dress how you want to be seen.
The people who brought you up gave you your blueprint for financial and career success. They instilled on you what you are capable of and your comfort zone. You were trained how much you should be hoping to make, and what goals you are to accomplish. Destroy it.

12. I feel as if I’ve benefited greatly from your time and information however, is there a question that I didn’t ask?

It’s almost 3am, I wanted to get this out as quick as possible, I probably sacrificed some clarity for timeliness. I would love to elaborate on these answers more. I saw the date was October 1, it is probably due soon. If you would like to talk about these things more, don’t hesitate to give me a call or email at any time. I love to talk about life after college, and what opportunities are available.

Oh, I don’t know where this would go, but I have learned that people don’t change. Most people are the same person they were when they were 20, no matter what age they are now. Beneath a couple of layers they are the same. When we are 40, we will be the same basic person, with the same eccentricities, the same mannerisms. When we are 60, 80, the same. Its there. And a point to this paragraph is there somewhere, too late to figure out where.
Theres so much more to say about this industry and about careers. If I was to fill this out tomorrow morning, the answers would be completely different, still true, but different.