The Accidental Vancouverite

Farewell to the Queen

2012-01-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips now, baby,
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah.

RIP Etta James.

Fantastic or weird?

2011-09-16T14:41:00.001-07:00

How Meetup was born out of 9.11

2011-09-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

From the founder of Meetup.com:

Fellow Meetuppers,

I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I hoped they wouldn't bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and grow local communities?

We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups, Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of 100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's powerful stuff.

It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it weren't for 9/11.

9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started with these Meetups.

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ) Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup New York City September 2011

Mistakes in Social Media Recruiting

2011-08-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting one from Dr. John Sullivan (from Feb. 2011).

Attempting to reach active candidates by posting job announcements is the #1 most common error. As a microcosm of society, most online communities are full of people not actively looking for a job, so broadcasting announcements to them is both annoying and ineffective. Social media is a great tool to identify and build relationships with employed top performers who are not actively looking for a job at this time. Ninety-nine percent of your focus should be on recruiting people who cannot be found on job boards or your corporate careers site.

Priorities!

2011-06-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

It's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and a man makes his way to his seat right at center ice. He sits down, noticing that the seat next to him is empty. He leans over and asks his neighbour if someone will be sitting there.
"No," says the neighbour. "The seat is empty."
"This is incredible", said the man. "Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs and not use it?"
The neighbour says "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Stanley Cup we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967."
"Oh ...... I'm so very sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or relative, or even a neighbour to take the seat?"
The man shakes his head. "No, they're all at the funeral."

- Thanks cousin Les!

resiliency of spirit (and priorities!)

2011-04-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

go canada go!

2011-04-15T11:25:00.001-07:00

2011-03-18T10:08:00.001-07:00

A fitting quote from Douglas Adams

2011-03-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.

In light of the events of the past 5 days, this would seem both very sad & very true.

Life looks for life.

2011-02-21T21:20:00.000-08:00

Click up to full screen - you'll be glad you did.

If I Could Be With You

2011-02-14T08:18:00.001-08:00

If I could be with you,
I'd love you long.
If I could be with you,
I'd love you strong.
I want you to know, that I wouldn't go,
until I told you, honey, that I love you so.

If I could be with you,
one hour tonight.
I would say & do
the things I might.
I'm telling you true,
I'd be anything but blue.
If I could be with you,
(for one hour).
If I could be with you.

Happy Valentine's Day. From AJ Croce and I; mostly AJ.

Debtris US

2011-01-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

You Light Up My Life (with apologies ..)

2010-12-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

Apologies to Debby Boone. And to visitors that might not be able to get this song out of their heads for awhile!

Joy of Sax

2010-11-25T14:35:00.000-08:00

Rainbows at Rolley

2010-11-15T09:47:00.001-08:00

Rainbows at Rolley.JPG
Originally uploaded by sweetlifephotos

Battling a light drizzle and the bog-like bottom of Rolley Lake yielded two pan size Rainbow Trout. Larger was just over 12 inches, smaller maybe 10.5.

Excerpt from best cover letter in years.

2010-11-05T16:45:00.001-07:00

Just when I thought - and I do - that cover letters are not particularly valuable to the corporate recruiting function, I read an interesting one today. I will still only move forward to a live connect if the applicant's experience is at least a reasonable match to the position, but do like what was written in the cover.

Let's face it, you're tasked with one of the greatest challenges there is: finding the right person for the job. Not just good people, or even great people, this person has to be the right fit on so many different levels.

When you stop and think about some of the key individuals in your organization, each has their own unique story of development and growth in their career. It's not likely that they are the same person today as they were when they first walked in the door and even the most accomplished individual will express how much learning they've done and will continue to do. So perhaps instead of looking for the proverbial "round peg"; we should be looking for the right type of "clay" as the spot we are trying to fill will continue to change shape as today's business world continues its rapid evolution.

Business vs. Corporate HR?

2010-10-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This is not going to be a Jerry Maguire rant about fewer requisitions and fewer candidates. Nor is it a finger pointing exercise against the business, who is simply trying to secure the resources required to achieve their goals.

I often joke with colleagues on the business side that I am in recruiting, not HR (it's one inside the other, for those who aren't sure). When I reflect on why I make that distinction, the first thing I touch on is that - like many people - I have a desire to be liked. Not due to low self-esteem, mind you, but wrapped around wanting to do what an informed, reasonable person would identify as "the right thing."

- Payroll occasionally makes errors on paychecks and commission payments.
- Immigration/Legal can delay visa processing due to errors, omissions or a general lack of urgency (possibly due to being risk averse, which is an important part of their job, but a delay, nonetheless).
- HR business partners often have to say 'no' to the business on a variety of requests.

I imagine they all get used to their role and the stigmas that can go with it, but I cannot. Does that mean I am in the wrong position? Or is my dramatic/romantic notion of 'fighting the good fight' ill placed? Most likely, I simply have to get used to not being liked.

Interesting stats

2010-08-30T21:50:00.001-07:00

Best spam email subject line today.

2010-08-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Super amazing long titan.

A Byte of Resume Advice – It’s Only Wafer Thin

2010-08-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

Amidst the virtual ocean of online resume advice available for job seekers and career enhancers, I’ll add precious few drops. As one who reads/skims 30 - 50 resumes a day, I’ll share my thoughts on the quickest and possibly easiest way to boost effectiveness of resume organization and – in particular – applications to specific job postings.

Those who know me know my mantra is “friends don't let friends write [resume] objectives.” Deleting that line or paragraph, moving everything up a cm or two on page one is the easiest, arguably best thing you can do. Trust me. Corporate recruiters either don't read or don't believe anything they read in objectives. Please don't tell us your objective is ‘to drive value for our respected organization’ or any other platitude. Also please don't tell us that your objective is to be the exact position we have advertised (worse yet is not replacing the title from your previous application with another employer – this happens at least once a day).

Every word on your resume must add value. If it doesn't, delete it. White space or a 1/3 of a page less is more.

If you absolutely must include an objective, make it interesting. If you are junior or intermediate in your career, why not sketch your 5 or 10 year plan? I’d much rather read that an SAP Consultant’s long term objective is ‘to work towards a career as a project manager of cross functional ERP experts’ than that their immediate objective is ‘to be an SAP FI Consultant in your company.’ I actually get that; he/she applied for the position, after all!
Again, every line, every word must add value.

Consulting clichés

2010-08-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

Damn sharp hairstyles, there!

Orig by Lee Chisholm.

Open Season!

2010-08-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

The passage of time

2010-06-23T14:39:00.001-07:00

With trees, we count and analyze the rings to determine the age, identify seasons of drought and years of tremendous growth.

With me, I'm thinking it's t-shirts at the top or back of the closet. Shirts from road races and track meets. From concerts, albums and music festivals. Professional sports teams. Vacation spots. Political parties.

Can you get close to understanding the psychology of someone by looking through their collection of t-shirts? Maybe a Gen X thing?

For the record, I never had a "Choose Life" or "Frankie Says Relax" t-shirt.

Fluevog Shoes - Item detail: John Fluevog Special Edition NOOKA Watch

2010-06-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Fluevog Shoes - Item detail: John Fluevog Special Edition NOOKA Watch

Funny and sad. And more.

2010-06-10T12:44:00.001-07:00

World Cup Groups & Draw

2010-06-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

Full schedule here.

Coffee Philosophy

2010-06-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

I make espresso and lattes (instead of drip) after dinner for the same reason a bartender would rather make an Old Fashioned, a Caesar, a Martini, or even pour a Guinness than serve a bottled beer. It allows one to display their craft AND connect with the guest for several minutes during preparation. That ain't so bad, is it?

Last drops.

2010-05-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

M. Kalus' beach shot

2010-05-17T16:05:00.001-07:00

Photo credit.

We Are More.

2010-02-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

I Believe. We All Do.

2010-02-11T22:21:00.000-08:00

Let the Games begin!

2010-01-04T22:05:00.001-08:00

English [language] preservation

2009-11-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that the English language is as pure as a crib-house whore. It not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary.

James Nicoll, March 21, 1992

Books come to life - NZ Books Council

2009-11-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

2009-10-16T13:00:00.001-07:00

Blues blast from the past.

2009-10-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

1967 - Hound Dog Taylor & Little Walter. Harp mic is too loud, but a great recording and 'vid.'

iPhone --> Netbook

2009-10-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Classic Tom Waits

2009-10-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

The line "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy," is my 2nd fave TW quote (behind "I wish champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends.")

UK elementary school kids sing "Changes."

2009-09-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

The times, they ain't a-changin'

2009-09-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Let’s see if we can add up all of the liberal change this new [i.e. Obama] administration has brought to economic issues so far:

1. The president has appointed the very same people who screwed up the economy to “fix it.”
2. Efforts to increase regulation of the financial sector appear to be in trouble, even as Wall Street continues to game the system.
3. Health care “reform,” with the public option in trouble, is beginning to look like “The Heath Insurance Company Relief Act of 2009.”

Don’t get me wrong. Obama has done a lot of good things and God knows he’s a thousand times better than what we had. Still . . . I can’t say I’m exactly pumped. Original post here.

Still studying the master

2009-09-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

After acquiring the Intégrale collection, I am now one of the world's top scrobblers of Django Reinhardt.
Click here if you don't know what I am talking about.

Empty ships signal global economy still shrinking.

2009-09-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

The largest ever gathering of maritime ships - bigger than the US and British navies combined - anchor empty and without crew off the coast of Singapore.

A couple of years ago those ships would have been steaming back and forth, going at full speed. But now you've got something like 12 per cent of the world's container ships doing nothing.

Some experts believe the ratio of container ships sitting idle could rise to 25 per cent within two years in an extraordinary downturn that shipping giant Maersk has called a 'crisis of historic dimensions'. Last month the company reported its first half-year loss in its 105-year history.

Read the piece here.

Talk about 6 degrees!

2009-09-11T15:39:00.001-07:00

Greens get it.

2009-09-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

"We get that (as a wise man once said) the economy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way round. We get that the pursuit of economic growth at the expense of environmental security is a fool's bargain that betrays the health and prosperity of future generations of Canadians." From here.

Breaking in a new artist.

2009-09-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Milky Way Rising

2009-09-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like star gazing? Who prefers a good night's sleep to sitting in a dark field all night? Well, watch this HD Vimeo clip in full screen instead (and turn out the lights).

Galactic Center of Milky Way Rises over Texas Star Party from William Castleman on Vimeo.

The Luongo Deal

2009-09-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

12 years, sixty-four million dollars. Oh yeah.
More here.

2009-08-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Baratza Vario grinder - home barista's dream.

2009-08-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

Sure, $450 Canadian is a chunk for a home grinder, but oh, what a grinder! 230 'steps' completing the range from the finest espresso (or, say, Turkish) all the way to french press and everything in between. Coffee devotees or curious folks with time on their hands, read the details here.

Sean's jazz starting 5

2009-08-24T16:46:00.001-07:00

With Team Canada announcing their invitations to camp and the summer jazz festival season winding down, I thought I'd combine threads to list my "starting 5" of jazz, alive or otherwise. Thoughts and dissenting opinions savagely encouraged.

Drums - Art Blakey
Sax - John Coltrane
Guitar - Wes Montgomery
Trumpet - Miles Davis (Wynton Marsalis off the bench)
Piano - Thelonious Monk (Herbie Hancock as alternate)

New weather symbol - smoke!

2009-08-19T18:25:00.001-07:00

What a strange symbol. Never saw that before.

What's behind the HST?

2009-08-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Since 2005 Ottawa has increased program spending at twice the rate of inflation. Even before the wheels came off the economy last fall, federal spending had hit the highest point ever, under Stephen Harper. Despite pledging in the last election he would not allow an annual deficit, it’s now going to be at least $50 billion (a record), and will take years to reduce.

The Parliamentary budget officer estimates at least $200 billion will be added to the national debt. That debt is financed mostly by bonds. When the government is forced to flood the marketplace with new bond issues, it competes for capital, and forces mortgage rates up. That interest on $600 billion debt is tax money, transferred from your income to the pocket of investors. It doesn’t buy a single new MRI machine, fund a school or fill a senior’s prescription.

Thanks Garth Turner.

War / No More Trouble

2009-08-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks Nancy S. for the link.

Teaser of Team Canada's entry into the 2009 Celebration of Light

2009-07-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks M. Kalus (follow link to full 27 minute video).

Shuffle Demons - August 8th in Maple Ridge

2009-07-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

Demons' resume: 3 saxes, bass, drums, one goatee, 6 albums, 5 Casby Awards, 2 Toronto Musician Awards, 1 Juno nomination, 7 videos, 700,000 km, 3800 concerts, 6500 conga lines, 1 cockroach, 12 Beer my dears, 100,000 rubles, 1 Spadina Bus, 21 countries, 15 European tours, 20 Canadian tours. Oh yeah!

Power of Social Networking

2009-07-20T13:59:00.001-07:00

10 Killer Resume Phrases to Get You Hired:

2009-07-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

* Guaranteed not to fall asleep, much.
* Will give 110%, 10% of the time
* I always show up to work on time, if you come and get me.
* There's no I in Team, but there is an M and an E
* I'm all about making money
* Likely to Perform well
* Will do almost anything, once we define "anything"
* Plays well with others
* Great personality, when medicated properly

Thanks Liz Ryan.

Afghan reality

2009-07-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Diplomacy, your hour has come. There is no way soldiers will find an exit from Afghanistan. They can deliver defeat or they can deliver bloody stalemate. They cannot deliver victory and every observer knows it. This conflict will end only when the courage being daily demanded of soldiers is also shown by politicians.

Simon Jenkins, the Guardian (UK).

Steve McQueen vs. Lewis Hamilton

2009-07-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Maple Ridge Jazz & Blues Festival teaser.

2009-07-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

The August 8 lineup icludes the legendary Canadian satirical streetnicks The Shuffle Demons, world renown blues harmonica ace Mark Hummel with Rusty Zinn, an encore presentation from Grammy nominated Cuban jazz singer Wil Campa y su Gran Union and 2009 Canadian National Jazz Awards winners Bill Coon Quartet featuring Ross Taggart; two of this country’s most highly respected and sought after jazz musicians. Full lineup and additional details here.

Professional help for jobseekers

2009-07-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Rethinking espresso

2009-07-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

James Hoffmann, former World Barista Champion. More on his site.

The power of words / work

2009-07-06T14:35:00.001-07:00

I ran my resume through Wordle (http://www.wordle.net/).

Walkman turns 30 this week.

2009-06-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

On the heel of Purple Rain's 25th anniversary is this - the Sony Walkman's 30th b-day. What next? Teens and Tweens telling me they go to "80s Retro Nights?" Oh, that already happens. Sigh.
For the fun and science of it, a 13 year old traded his iPod for a Walkman for one week. Read it here.

10% approaching fast.

2009-06-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

Numbers don't lie ... or do they? Regardless of your particular lens, historic levels of unemployment are coming to the US.

The way I see it is that there are two main problems. The first is that the numbers are still rising at high speed, that there is neither an end in sight, nor anything that can stop these numbers from rising. The second problem is that the government, and in its wake the media, continues to downplay, embellish and, if you take an objective view, downright lie about the gravity of the situation.

Read the Automatic Earth piece here. The author has been eerily spot-on throughout most of 2008 and 2009.

"Post-It Notes" Video - so cool.

2009-06-17T11:47:00.001-07:00

History Making in Tehran?

2009-06-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

In a way we've reached a bit of a deadlock. The government can't work out how to deal with the unprecedented demonstrations. But the opposition is disorganised, it has no co-ordination, no strategy.

Read the BBC piece, incl the sidebar by Jon Leyne, here.

A Glacier & its Melt

2009-06-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Columbia Glacier, near Jasper - Sept. 2008.

Postcard-ish Peyto Lake

2009-06-15T13:46:00.001-07:00

Road to somewhere.

2009-06-15T13:39:00.001-07:00

Banff - September 2008.

Career Search 2.0

2009-06-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

When you submit a résumé, three things happen. The hiring manager will look for you on LinkedIn to see what kind of endorsements you have. They’ll look on Facebook for pictures of you at drunken parties. And they’ll ‘Zillow’ your address to see where you live, the value of your property, how long you’ve lived there & if you can reasonably commute to a job.

So says Dan Voelpel. Read more.

Original "rocket mail"

2009-06-10T15:39:00.001-07:00

Make it Seven ... the video

2009-06-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

Cool images of Tokyo

2009-06-08T20:27:00.001-07:00

static : pulse from Samuel Cockedey on Vimeo.

An empty pitcher - sad, yet beautiful.

2009-06-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

M. Kalus photo - visit his flickr sets here.

Get fancy with yer Bombay Sapphire

2009-06-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

Beppi Crosariol from the Globe & Mail shows us the White Lady and Negroni (the latter as a short & long). Click here for the short video clip.

With apologies to the hinomaru.

2009-05-28T23:12:00.001-07:00

Photo credit: Vancouver Indy Coffee Scene.

Sun breaking through.

2009-05-28T16:33:00.001-07:00

View from atop Mt. Maxwell, Saltspring Island - July 2008. More here.

O's artwork

2009-05-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

Early efforts of my 4 year old (when he was 3). More here.

So much for no deficit, eh Stevie?

2009-05-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

After campaigning last fall on a 'no deficit' platform, the Harper government announces something quite different.

The federal deficit will soar to more than $50 billion this fiscal year, setting a dubious record far eclipsing the bad old deficit days of the early 1990s.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced Tuesday that the government's shortfall will be more than $16 billion higher in 2009-2010 than he forecast in January's budget.
"We will run a substantial short-term deficit this year which I would estimate at more than $50 billion," Flaherty said.

Read the story here.

Vote on "The Great Canadian Tune"

2009-05-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

Some odd choices in the list, and others conspicuously absent, but a worthy topic and project. Visit here to listen to the nominees and cast your electronic vote.

Do CEOs Matter ... and the state of Steve Jobs' health & company.

2009-05-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

The ghouls and hustlers at play on the Web have been quick to exploit the interplay between Apple’s stock price and its CEO’s health. In October, one of CNN.com’s volunteer “iReporters”—the network is experimenting with so-called citizen journalism—filed an entirely false report that Jobs had been rushed to a hospital after a massive heart attack. Traders suspected that this was a ruse by the iReporter to profit from a fall in Apple’s stock price, though a subsequent investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission concluded it was just a teen prank.

Labatt & Home Hardware join "Make it Seven"

2009-05-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

120,000 individual Canadians, and now two major corporations, support Jim Basillie's efforts to bring a seventh NHL franchise to Canada. Visit here to show your support, and here for TSN's coverage.

Great cafe & jazz bar in East Shinjuku (Tokyo)

2009-05-13T17:07:00.001-07:00

Click image to see details. Photo is of Hampton Hawes, in the club in 1968.

The orig significance of Mother's Day

2009-05-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Most important element of tomorrow's vote in BC ...

2009-05-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

.. STV.

18 yrs on a single page.

2009-04-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

What do the Powder Blues, Ralph Klein & Chilliwack have in common?

2009-04-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

The Wall of Fame in the Black Diamond Hotel!

Commodified consciousness.

2009-04-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

The purpose of life is to know this. Einstein glimpsed it. Lao-Tzu knew it. So did St. Francis. But you and I are not supposed to. It would shatter the revered, digitized, super-sized, utterly meaningless hologram. The one that mesmerizes us, and mediates our every experience, but isolates us from universal humanness and its coursing energies. Such as love. Or mercy. Compassion. Existential pain. Hunger. Or the unmitigated joy of simply being alive one finds in children everywhere, even among the poorest. Most of the human race still lives in that realm. Blessed is the one who joins them.

Read the entire speech (called "We've Let Corporations and Media Rob Our Souls -- It's Time to Do Something Meaningful") by Joe Bageant here.

Hayfever be damned, ...

2009-04-06T10:53:00.001-07:00

... I'm going fishing.

The rafters at GM Place

2009-03-31T16:40:00.001-07:00

Opportunity for IT Consultants with Public Sector experience

2009-03-31T14:42:00.001-07:00

IT Consulting opportunity with premier strategy and technology firm.

Premier strategy and technology consulting firm client is looking to selectively expand their strategic IT capability by adding exceptional, principal track professionals to their Public Sector Diplomacy and International Development practice. This is a challenging and rewarding career opportunity for a passionate management consultant seeking significant career enhancement and upward mobility.

The qualified candidate will have a Bachelor of Science and/or advanced academic degree in an IT-related field. A degree combined with business/economics or public policy would be a plus. The incumbent will have a minimum of 7 years of progressively increasing responsibilities and experience in the Information Technology industry, blended within the Department of State, USAID, or multilateral development banks, and/or global corporations, including a minimum of 3 years of experience working at top tier strategy or IT management consulting firm.

For consideration, interested parties should submit, in electronic format, a resume and a cover letter outlining reasons for interest in this opportunity to lkearschner@boyden.com. [More details at boyden.com]

2009 Recruiting Excellence Award Winners

2009-03-31T11:51:00.001-07:00

* Best College Recruiting Program - Ernst & Young
* Best Corporate Careers Website - Yahoo
* Best Diversity Program - Microsoft
* Best Employee Referral Program - Accenture
* Best Employer Brand - Ernst & Young
* Best Retention Program/Practices - American Cancer Society
* Best Strategic Use of Technology - Microsoft
* Recruiting Department/Function of the Year - DaVita

E & Y recognized for the second or third year running. Read the story here.

The 3 email rule for effective communication.

2009-03-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

Ever get dragged into a seemingly endless trail of emails in which questions or statements are misunderstood or deflected? Check out Cathy McCullough's "3 email rule."

1. You send me an email asking for help or clarification or advice
2. I respond via email with my thoughts, comments, questions, etc.
3. You send another email back with additional questions, or the need for clarification. (3 emails have been sent - hence the name of the rule.)
4. I pick up the phone and CALL YOU to discuss the matter.

NCAA - live bracket

2009-03-27T16:49:00.001-07:00

This is great - a bracket with live score updates. How cool is that?

DC Bound

2009-03-23T11:30:00.001-07:00

Going here tomorrow
View Larger Map. Any suggestions for mid to late afternoon spots on Wed?

World, meet Google Voice.

2009-03-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

Here's how it works: Google Voice assigns a unique phone number to each user. Calls to the Google Voice number can then be directed to any other phone line. The service also provides a hub for all messages. The online command center also enables a user to customize greetings for friends and family or ward off unwelcome callers. Read more here.

On tap, on snow for Har's 40th

2009-03-11T13:23:00.001-07:00

Snow (from backyard) packed cooler - a "Warsteiner" for the Brier and Harlan's 40th.

Heaven in a cup.

2009-03-06T20:22:00.001-08:00

Yes, there is a God and she is roasting beans in Chicago. Black Cat all the way!

If you are in the 'hood, call at least 30 minutes ahead and I will crank up the beast.

Crazy car-sighting in South Florida

2009-03-02T22:48:00.001-08:00

Saw this on the strip in South Beach, Florida last Friday. A crazy machine, it packs 1000 HP.

The Veyron consumes more fuel than any other production car, using 40.4 L/100 km (6.99 mpg-imp; 5.82 mpg-US) in city driving and 24.1 L/100 km (11.7 mpg-imp; 9.76 mpg-US) in combined cycle. At full throttle, it uses more than 115 L/100 km (2.46 mpg-imp; 2.05 mpg-US), which would empty its 100 L (22 imp gal; 26 US gal) fuel tank in just 12 minutes.