W8JKC

With the way the economy, stock markets, the way they are right now; many people are unemployed and looking for a new job.

But how do you use your computer and the internet to find that new job? Yes there are places such as Monster, Craigslist, and others.

Here\’s a little fact, many companies post \”secret\” openings to their own website, days or even weeks before putting them on others.
What are the chances that you would actually look at that companies site, before they posted the job to other sites? Slim to none.

So know that you know where to look, what is the easiest way to find these company websites in your area? Thats where special \”job search engines\” come in. These websites are extremely customized search engines that only crawl the web for specific words such as opening, position, and others including locations.

Here are a few job search engines to help you find only hiring companies websites:

http://www.simplyhired.com
http://www.linkup.com
http://www.indeed.com
http://www.dice.com (Technology Jobs Only)
http://www.usajobs.gov (Government Jobs)

Do you know of any other \”job search engines\” or other ways to find jobs? Feel free to submit them below. Have any questions or comments? Submit them below too, or email me justin@w8jkc.com

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I am a member of several online technology communities, email lists, chatrooms, and other places where computer geeks and tech enthusiasts debate on the best hardware, software, and many other items.

My pick for the best web browser is and has always been Mozilla Firefox. Why? Because it\’s completely open source, free, and it\’s extendibility.
Anyone can create an add-on for Firefox using a publicly available SDK and documentation. Now the question is what add-ons do I have in my Firefox?

I use the following add-ons and am always checking out new ones. I recommend you check these out, you never know how much easier it could make doing even what you consider the simplest task.

• Ad Block Plus (ABP) – This removes most if not all advertisements from pages, blocks pop-ups and pop-unders, and even items that you choose that are not advertisements. Free subscriptions to common advertisement URL lists are also optionally included.
• Bookmark Backup – This creates a daily backup of your bookmarks and if you choose, other settings in Firefox. Great for syncing between two or more computers, such as work and home, or laptop and desktop.
• Google Gears – Not just for Firefox, allows websites that have added the Gears scripts to save common files to your computer for faster load times when you visit the site again. A Gears enabled site will prompt you to allow it.
• Grease Monkey – Cool add-on that allows user created \”scripts\” to be used to change the way a page is displayed while its loading. Some user scripts include automatically switching back to the \”old\” Facebook layout, instead of loading the \”new\” one.
• Tab Mix Plus – More of a customisation than an add-on it allows you to choose how pages are displayed and loaded in tabs.
• Twitty Tunes – Allows you to \”tweet\” which page your viewing, a short description. Also allows you to \”tweet\” which song you are currently listening to in compatible players.
• IE Tab – Nice add-on because it allows you to use the Internet Explorer program to load pages inside of a FireFox window or tab. Great for older webpages that don\’t work right in FireFox.
• Shareaholic – Allows you to send pages to many Social Networking and Bookmark sites such as Digg, Delicious, Facebook, Myspace, along with many others from a simple button on your navigation toolbar.
• Open IT Online – Allows you to view documents and files without installing additional software using sites such as Google Docs, Google Apps, Zoho Viewer, Snipshot, Pixlr, Picnik and others.
• DownThemAll! – A Download manager that has even faster downloading capabilites than the built in downloads window in FireFox. Great for downloading large files, and documents.

If you use different add-ons, and would like to recommend them to other people, leave a comment below, or email me justin@w8jkc.com

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I always hear the same question from my friends and family, \”How do I protect my computer from viruses and spyware…?\” or it\’s variant \”What is the best virus scanner or spyware program…?\”

While I can\’t tell you exactly which is the best software to suit your needs, I can recommend the software that I use on a daily basis with My Windows Vista /Ubuntu 8.10 (dual booted) laptop.

On the Windows side, I have installed and use 2 programs to protect from viruses and spyware. The first one which protects from all sort of attacks and malicous software is called AVG Free. This program is developed by a company called AVG Technlogies (formerly Grisoft). To download see here or skip directly to the Windows download here.
I have used AVG on all my computers for the last 3 years with no problems since I installed it. Before AVG I had used either McAfee or Norton depending on which computer I was on and after installing it, I found that the previous program failed to detect some spyware and even a couple viruses on 2 occasions.

The second program I use is a firewall to block all malicous connections to and from my computer. This program is called Comodo Internet Security and it is developed by a company called Comodo Security Solutions. While the benefits of using this program are numerous, the down side is that after you install it, most if not all of your normal everyday programs have to be \”trained\” into Comodo so that it does not block them from accessing the internet or your files. This is fairly easy to do, as it will pop up on your screen, but it may get annoying for the first 2 weeks of using Comodo. During the setup of Comodo you have 3 options to choose from. The first is install the firewall only, the second is install the AntiVirus only, and the third is to install both. I chose firewall only, but feel free to choose any of them but keep in mind that it may give you errors and conflicts with AVG. See the Comodo site here or skip directly to the Windows download here.

When in Ubuntu I also use AVG, they have a version for linux and other operating systems.

To protect my whole network, my DSL modem is directly connected to a Smoothwall Linux Firewall/Router box. This helps protect the whole network with IDS, ICMP blocking, and many other features, It even allows URL, MAC, IP, and many other blocking options for outgoing connections.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to submit them below, or you can email me justin@w8jkc.com.
I would love to hear what programs you use, and why you use them.

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Here are 12 websites you should know about and bookmark for Canton City and Stark County, Ohio.
This list appears in random, non-specific order.

• Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Visit Canton Stark
• Pro Football Hall of Fame and Festival – HOF and HOF Fest
• Stark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) – WD8AYE
• Canton Amateur Radio Club (CARC) – W8AL
• Quad County REACT – QCR
• ScanAmerica.Us – Stark County
• Akron / Canton Airport – CAK
• 19 Action News – WOIO
• Stark County WeatherSCW
• Canton Repository – CantonRep
• Stark County Government – Stark
• Canton City – Canton
  

To get your website included in the next list, please comment below with a link or email me justin@w8jkc.com
Note: Your comment may not appear when you submit it due to spam filters, but I will still be able to see it and approve it. Please do not submit it more than once. To be considered, site must have content relevant to the Canton or Stark County area.

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Here is my list of Top 10 twitter users to follow for Canton and Stark County Ohio.

10. StarkScanner09 – Updates on major Police and Fire events in the county.
9. W8AL – Canton Amateur Radio Club, Amateur Radio news and events.
8. feedline – Canton Amateur Radio Club Newsletter, for new issues and news.
7. CAKairport – Canton Akron Regional Airport.
6. CantonStarkCVB – Convention and Visitor Bureau
5. CantonConcerts – Local Concert news and info.
4. 19ActionNews – North-East Ohio News Stories and articles.
3. fox8news – North-East Ohio News Stories and articles.
2. CantonTraffic – Local Traffic News and information.
1. CantonRepdotCom – Local News Stories and articles.

Didn\’t make the cut, follow me on twitter and you will get followed /considered for the next list.
Feel free to comment, or you can email justin@w8jkc.com

Revised 1 times. Last Revision on April 9 at 0955hrs.

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On Thursday, March 12th 2009, 8 members of Quad County REACT traveled to Suitland, MD to attend the annual meeting of REACT International on March 13th. We left around 1315hrs from Beloit, OH. Around 1745 we arrived in Washington, DC and decided to stop and check out the area, instead of heading straight to the hotel in Suitland. We visited the area of our nation’s capitol for about 2 1/2 hours. We then decided to continue on to the hotel, and after checking in, we decided to meet and discuss our agenda and topics for the meeting. Everyone retired to their rooms around 0130hrs to get some sleep for the meeting later that day.

At around 0730hrs everyone was up and getting ready to head over to the REACT International offices for the meeting which was slated to start at 0830. We had a little trouble finding room to sit down, but we did, and it became apparent to us that there was standing-room only left.

We each received copies of the agenda for that day, and minutes from a previous meeting (Nov. 25th 2007) that were to be voted on for approval. (The meeting agenda is attached, see link at bottom of page.) Around 1030hrs the Board adjourned for a 10 minute break. When the meeting was called back to order, such items as budget, fund-raising among many others were discussed. (See Meeting Minutes attached.) Around 1150hrs the Board decided to adjourn again for lunch and to resume at 1330hrs. It was also decided that the Visitor session would be the first matter to be discussed upon returning.

When we returned from lunch at the local Pizza Hut, the board asked Mr. Jim Dyke, President of our team to present our items. Mr. Dyke presented the following items: (See our agenda at the bottom of the page.)

Mr. Dyke began by quoting section 9.18 from the bylaws;

Section 9.18 Waiver of these bylaws. Since these bylaws are established for the protection of all Members, they may not be waived or suspended at any time.

and section 3.7;

Section 3.7 Denial or Termination of Membership. The Board of Directors may deny application for or revoke membership of any Member Team, Life Member, or Affiliate Member, or remove council recognition, for cause the Board deems prejudicial to the best interests of the corporation. A removal action taken will be in writing and mailed by certified mail to the applicant or Member. The applicant or Member will have forty five (45) days of receipt to appeal the decision stating why the action should not be taken. The Board of Directors will review the appeal and issue a final decision within sixty (60) days.

Mr. Dyke then presented a letter that Mr. Jason Boone of the Ohio REACT Council sent to the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce to all Board members.(The letter is attached below.) Basically, the letter stated that our tem charter was revoked, we were no longer a REACT team, and that MCRRT C260 was the team in Stark County, and was willing to assist with their events instead of our team.

Mr. Dyke also explained that this letter was a flagrant violation of the bylaws, and that Ohio REACT Council had no right, or authority to act on behalf of REACT International and issue/send such a letter. He also explained that we believed that Mr. Don Manlove may have been involved with this letter and the denial of our membership renewal.

Both of these persons (Boone and Manlove) had violated REACT International bylaws, citing section 3.7, and that only the Board can revoke or deny membership.

Mr. Dyke went on stating that we believed that the only way to resolve this issue was to suspend Ohio REACT Council, and complete and investigation into the matter. We also requested that MCRRT C260 be included in the investigation, and if it was found that they held any part in issuing or sending it, that charter be revoked. Mr. Dyke also requested on behalf of the team that Mr. Manlove have his own investigation, and for him to resign and/or the board take action to remove him from his position if he was found to have any part in the letter or denying our renewal as a team.

Several items were explained to the Board about MCRRT C260 such as them carrying badges, and other various issues that they have been involved with. These issues also include some Federally Illegal matters that were also brought up.

Note: A video of Mr. Dyke’s presentation to the board with audio is attached. See the bottom of the page.

The Board was appalled that Ohio REACT Council would do such a thing, and a discussion on the matter was opened.

During the discussion it was brought up that Ohio REACT Council had similar suspensions and investigations at least 3 or 4 times in the past.

The Board motioned that Ohio REACT Council be suspended, and an investigation be completed on their actions. The motion passed.
The Board motioned that a letter of apology be written and sent to our team, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and any agency in our area that we deem, and/or may have been involved.

After our issues were discussed and acted upon, we thanked the Board for the time on the floor and for their cooperation on the matter.
We left the meeting around 1530hrs and went to the hotel to check out. We decided to revisit Washington, DC on the way home for better photo oppurtunities, and to see attractions that we hadn’t the night before.We visited The White House, The U.S. Capitol Building, The FTC/FAA Building in DC, then we left to visit the Pentagon and memorial. After we were done visiting, we continued on the long ride home. We stopped in Breezewood, PA for dinner around 2145. We arrived back in Ohio around 0130, and everyone finally arrived home around 0300hrs. The trip was deemed a success, and well worth it. We had fun, and when needed we got down to business.

Any Questions or Comments on the items brought up with the Board may be submitted to Mr. Jim Dyke (President) (330) 280-4857 jdyke@quadcountyreact.org.
Any Questions or Comments on the trip or other topics may be submitted to Mr. Dave Coleman (Vice President) (330) 704-0521 dcoleman@quadcountyreact.org; Mr. Matt Boudreaux (Operations Manager) (330) 685-5674 mboudreaux@quadcountyreact.org; or Mr. Justin Corner (Webmaster) (330) 879-8552 jcorner@quadcountyreact.org

From quadcountyreact.org, used by permission.

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