posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 10/04/2005 09:40:00 AM
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Well it is another Monday and the month of September is just about over. This month has been a difficult one for the US and I pray that all of your family members are well and save. Here at M'n'M we have been working hard on getting some new services designed and ready for launch October 1, 2005. We will keep you up to date on those developments and look forward to what the future has to offer. All of our best to you and your love ones may the fall be prosperous and fruitful for you this year.
Regards,
Michelle Zambos-Duerksen
Computers are Like Men...
* In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.
* They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem.
* They have a lot of data but are still clueless.
* As soon as you commit to one, you realize that, if you had waited a little longer you could have had a better model.
* They hear what you say, but not what you mean.
Computers are Like Women...
* No one but the Creator understands their internal logic.
* The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
* Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval.
* As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
* You do the same thing for years, and suddenly it's wrong.
To err is human ...
To err is human; to blame your computer for your mistakes is even more human.
To err is human; to forgive, beyond the scope of the Operating System.
To err is human; to really foul things up requires a computer.
Computers are unreliable, but humans are even more unreliable.
Computers manufacturer is considering changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the flood of calls asking where the "Any" key is.
Technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in.
A technician received a call from a man complaining that the system wouldn't read word processing files from his old diskettes. After trouble-shooting for magnets and heat failed to diagnose the problem, it was found that the customer labeled the diskettes then rolled them into his typewriter to type the labels.
A customer was asked to send a copy of her defective diskettes to the technician. A few days later a letter arrived from the customer along with Xeroxed copies of her diskettes.
A technician advised his customer to put his troubled floppy back in the drive and close the door. The customer put the disk in, asked the tech to hold on, and was heard putting the phone down, getting up and closing the door to his room.
A customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything. After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the screen and pressing the "send" key.
A customer needed help setting up a new program, so the technician suggested he go to the local Egghead. "Yeah, I got me a couple of friends," the man said. When told Egghead was a software store, the man said, "Oh, I thought you meant for me to find a couple of geeks."
A customer called to complain that his keyboard no longer worked. He had cleaned it by filling up his tub with soap and water and soaking the keyboard for a day, then he removed all the keys and washed them individually.
A technician received a call from a customer who was enraged because his computer had told him he was "bad and invalid". The tech explained that the computer's "bad" and "invalid" responses shouldn't be taken personally.
An exasperated caller to Tech Support couldn't get her new computer to turn on. After ensuring the computer was plugged in, the technician asked her what happened when she pushed the power button. Her response "I pushed and pushed on this foot pedal and nothing happens." The "foot pedal" turned out to be the computer's mouse.
Another customer called Tech Support to say her brand-new computer wouldn't work. She said she unpacked the unit, plugged it in, and sat there for 20 minutes waiting for something to happen. When asked what happened when she pressed the power switch, she asked "What power switch?"
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/26/2005 09:11:00 AM
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| Excerpted and adapted from "The AIA Guidelines for Disaster Response and Recovery Programs," copyright 1999, The American Institute of Architects | |
 | When a natural disaster strikes, architects can play an important role in emergency relief as well as long-term recovery, offering invaluable guidance as a community rebuilds itself. | ||
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/25/2005 03:16:00 AM
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Happy Monday everyone, Sorry I missed posting something fun last week. I was able to find some jokes that pertain to the accounting profession that I thought would be fun for this week. Hope all is well have a great and wonderful week.
Michelle Zambos-Duerksen
An accountant is having a hard time sleeping and goes to see his doctor. "Doctor, I just can't get to sleep at night."
"Have you tried counting sheep?"
"That's the problem - I make a mistake and then spend three hours trying to find it."
A patient was at her doctor's office after undergoing a complete physical exam. The doctor said, "I have some very grave news for you. You only have six months to live."
The patient asked, "Oh doctor, what should I do?"
The doctor replied, "Marry an accountant."
"Will that make me live longer?" asked the patient.
"No," said the doctor, "but it will SEEM longer."
Why do accountants make good lovers? They're great with figures.
Why accountants don't read novels?
Because the only numbers in them are page numbers.
A guy in a bar leans over to the guy next to him and says, "Want to hear an accountant joke?"
The guy next to him replies, "Well, before you tell that joke, you should know that I'm 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, and I'm an accountant. And the guy sitting next to me is 6'2" tall, 225 pounds, and he's an accountant. Now, do you still want to tell that joke?"
The first guy says, "No, I don't want to have to explain it two times."
If an accountant's wife cannot sleep, what does she say?
"Darling, could you tell me about your work."
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/19/2005 02:45:00 AM
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Printing Font Samples
Most computers come pre-installed with a bounty of printer fonts, and WinXP only added to them. You can also download hundreds more, or even make your own. Knowing how they will all look when they print can be tough, but can also be an important aspect!
Luckily, there's an easy way to print samples of the fonts on your computer. Go to Start Menu, Settings, Control Panel and double-click the "Fonts"
folder.
Now hold down the CTRL key and select the fonts you want to see samples for by clicking them. (If you REALLY want to see them all, press CTRL+A to highlight everything.)
Next, go to File and choose "Print". This will bring up a print dialog box for each font selected. NOTE: You'll have to click Print (or OK in older versions of Windows) in the print dialog box for each font you selected, so if you have a lot of 'em, get comfy. If you just want a sample page of one font, then right click and choose Print. Your printer will go to work printing complete sample pages for each font.
~Steve
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/19/2005 02:43:00 AM
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Q:
What's the difference between Windows XP Home and XP Pro?
A:
Both flavors of Win XP have the same applications and multimedia features but Pro also includes corporate network support, backup , and security like those found in Windows 2000 Pro. Every feature found in Home Edition should be found in Pro, but since Pro is designed primarily for corporate networking it expands on many features found in Home. Since it is designed for business use, the user interface in Pro is different (it wears a suit and tie while pro wears jeans with a T-shirt :-) The default setting are different as well.
Remote Desktop is a neat feature that functions differently between the two types. It allows an XP Home Computer to control an XP Pro computer from another location allowing you to work away from the office. The Home computer can only act as the controlling computer and the Pro system can only act as the "controlee".
A cool feature of Pro is the Roaming User Profile. On a network this lets you access all your documents and settings from any computer no matter where you log on at.
Something to consider if upgrading: Both Pro and Home can upgrade from Win 98/ME but only Pro can upgrade from Win NT/2000
So, basically, XP Home is just that—a version designed especially for Home users. XP Pro, meanwhile, is geared toward business and "advanced" networking (you can create a network with XP Home, but you don't have as much control as Pro).
Most tips we give for XP should work on both versions unless noted otherwise.
~ David
PS: If you don't know what flavor of Win XP to buy, check out the chart at the XP web site and decide if you really need the additional features found in XP Pro. If not, get Home edition and save around $100.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx
David is owner and moderator of WorldStart Computer Tips: Your online source for computer tips and techniques in easy to understand language. Also, check out our software store for great deals.
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/12/2005 06:33:00 AM
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Today we celebrate Labor Day in the US and I thought it would be fun to give you a little bit of history into the National Holiday.
The History of Labor Day
Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means
"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Founder of Labor Day
More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.
Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."
But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.
The First Labor Day
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.
Labor Day Legislation
Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
A Nationwide Holiday
The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.
This information is from The Department of Labor
Happy Labor day to everyone and may you enjoy your time with your family this fine day.
Michelle Zambos-Duerksen
M'n'M Support Specialists
The Contractor's Choice
"Let Us Take the Burden Off You!!"
www.mnmsupportspecialists.com
requests@mnmsupportspecialists.com
Office: (951) 609-1626 Cell: (619) 252-6550
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/05/2005 11:27:00 AM
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Self-employment taxes and small business taxes has been a subject of concern recently. In an effort to provide accurate information on this subject, I have compiled the following list of useful websites.
You may also wish to consider Paycycle for your payroll calculations. There are a variety of payroll and tax services offered, but unlike other services, you remain in control of your checkbook with Paycycle. Their rates are very resonable with the first month free, followed by 2 months for only $9.99 and then the full price of only $42.95/month for 5 employees or contractors. These rates include all of the required forms to be filed with your state and the federal tax boards along with direct deposit for your employees.
Regards,
Michelle Zambos-Duerksen
M'n'M Support Specialists
The Contractor's Choice
"Let Us Take the Burden Off You!!"
www.mnmsupportspecialists.com
requests@mnmsupportspecialists.com
Office: (951) 609-1626 Cell: (619) 252-6550
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 9/05/2005 10:17:00 AM
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Back to School
Through August and early September, the nation's schools reopen following the traditional summer break. This edition of Facts for Features celebrates students' and teachers' return to school.
Students
73.2 million
The number of U.S. residents enrolled in schools -- from nursery schools to colleges. About 1-in-4 residents age 3 and over is a student.
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DSS&_lang=en>
53.4 million
The number of students projected to be enrolled in the nation's elementary and high schools (grades K-12) this fall. That number exceeds the total in 1969 (51.6 million) when the last of the "baby boom" children expanded school enrollments. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html> <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>
10
Percentage of all students who are enrolled in private elementary or private high schools. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
52
Percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds who are enrolled in preschool or kindergarten, up from 21 percent in 1970. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>
6-in-10
The ratio of kindergarten-age children enrolled in all-day kindergarten, up from 1-in-10 in 1970. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-22.html>
20
Percentage of elementary and high school students who have at least one foreign-born parent. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>
26
Percentage of high school students ages 15 to 17 who are holding down a full- or part-time job. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>
850,000
Number of students who are home-schooled. That is 2 percent of all students ages 5 to 17. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
9.8 million
The number of school-age children (5 to 17) who speak a language other than English at home. They make up nearly 1-in-5 children in this age group. Most of these children (6.8 million) speak Spanish at home. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DSS&_lang=en>
72
Percentage of children 12-to-17 years old who are academically on track for their age. The rate is higher for girls than for boys (79 percent versus 69 percent). <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>
22
Percentage of children 12 to 17 who either are enrolled in a special class for gifted students or do advanced work in any subject. The corresponding rate for those ages 6 to 11 is 13 percent. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>
59
Percentage of children 6 to 17 who participate in at least one of three extracurricular activities, sports, clubs or lessons. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>
8.2 million
Number of students 25 and over enrolled in college. Students 25 and over account for about half of all college students. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
56
Percentage of college students who are women. Women have held the majority status in college enrollment since 1979. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=DSS&_lang=en> <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>
2.4 million
The projected number of college degrees that will be conferred during this academic year. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
Teachers
6.5 million
The number of practicing teachers in the United States -- from prekindergarten to college. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
$53,300
Average annual salary paid to public school teachers in New Jersey -- highest of any state in the nation. Teachers in South Dakota received the lowest -- $30,300. The national average was $43,300. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
Technology in the Schools
13.6 million
Number of computers available for classroom use in the nation's 111,000 elementary and secondary schools; that comes down to 1 computer for every 4 students.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
98
Percentage of public schools with Internet access. As recently as 1995, the proportion was 50 percent. For every teaching computer connected to the Internet, there were seven students.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
A ratio of about 4-in-5 children ages 6 to 17 actually use a computer at school; 2-in-3 have access to a computer at home. Schools provide computer access to many children who do not have one at home. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-147.html>
The Rising Cost of College
$9,326
Average tuition, room and board (for in-state students) at the nation's four-year public colleges and universities for an entire academic year; that is up 75 percent from 1990.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
$27,711
Average tuition, room and board at the nation's four-year private colleges and universities for an entire academic year; that is up 84 percent from 1990.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
The Rewards of Staying in School
$4.4 million
The estimated lifetime earnings of professional (i.e., medical, law, dentistry and veterinary medicine) degree-holders. This compares with $3.4 million for those with Ph.D.s, $2.5 million for master's degree-holders, $2.1 million for those with bachelor's degrees, $1.2 million for high school graduates and $1.0 million for high school dropouts. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-95.html>
$54,761
Average starting salary offer to bachelor's degree candidates in petroleum engineering, among the highest of any field of study. At the other end of the spectrum were those majoring in the humanities; they were offered an average of $30,653. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
Graduation
84
Percentage of the nation's adults 25 and over with at least a high school diploma. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-51.html>
27
Percentage of the nation's adults 25 and over who have at least a bachelor's degree. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-51.html>
Government Spending on Education
$10,922
The per-pupil expenditure on elementary and secondary education in nation-leading New York in 2001. New Jersey, at $10,893, and the District of Columbia, at $10,852, also spent more than $10,000 per pupil. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-44.html>
Back-to-School Shopping
$5.4 billion
The amount of money spent at family clothing stores in August 2002. Only October, November and December -- the holiday shopping season -- also sales showed last year greater than $5 billion. Similarly, bookstore sales in August 2002 totaled $1.8 billion, an amount not surpassed by any month except January and December. (The dollar volume estimates have not been adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday or trading day differences or price changes.) <http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>.
Schools
1,010
The number of public charter schools nationwide. These schools, granted a charter exempting them from selected state and local rules and regulations, enrolled 267,000 students.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
92,012
Number of public elementary and secondary schools that children will report to on the first day of school this year. The corresponding number of private elementary and secondary schools is 27,223. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
4,084
Number of institutions of higher learning that grant college degrees.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-32.html>
40
Percentage of children ages 12 to 17 who have changed schools at some time in their educational careers. For children ages 6 to 11, the corresponding rate is 23 percent. This does not include the normal progression and graduation from elementary and middle schools. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p70-89.pdf>
Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series:
African-American History Month (February) Back to School (August)
Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) Labor Day (Sept. 1)
Women's History Month (March) Grandparents Day (Sept. 7)
St. Patrick's Day (March 17) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) Halloween (Oct. 31)
Older Americans Month (May) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month
Mother's Day (May 11) (November)
Father's Day (June 15) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
The Fourth of July (July 4) Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27)
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) The Holiday Season (December)
Editor's note: Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and, therefore, are subject to sampling error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone:
(301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: < pio@census.gov>.
posted by M'n'M Support Specialists @ 8/22/2005 10:14:00 AM
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M'n'M Support Specialists specialize in working with contractors to help them grow their business and reach the next step. We educate them in the use of Microsoft Programs and Quickbooks to show how they can run a business more efficiently. Need someone to do your paperwork for you? We have over 5 years working in the construction industry as a project coordinator and know the ins and outs of getting a project completed. Our motto is "Let Us Take The Burden Off You!!"
As a community begins to rebuild, it needs some kind of quality control. On one hand, opportunities may arise to improve, rather than simply replace, the physical structure of a community. On the other hand, "rebuilding fever" can result in a built environment less attractive than it was before. A long-term redevelopment plan is crucial during this rebuilding time. Architects can help the community not only to rebuild, but to use the disaster to become an even better place to live.