New Program Checks SubFinder Automatically
Last year, my wife completed earning a liberal studies degree and a multiple-subject credential, but with the employment rate in the Central Valley of California being among the highest in the nation, finding a teaching position proved impossible. However, she was able to interview and be placed on several school district’s sub lists. We found being called for a job from the automated system was a poor way to get jobs since the system would call based on a priority list. Several factors played into this list, but one of them was how often you worked at a particular site. Since my wife just started subbing, we knew she wouldn’t be called for any school site unless all the regulars were already employed for the day or skipped out on the job. Then, my wife revealed there was an online component to the system. Being of the geek type, when she told me these districts used a system called SubFinder and listed every available job for which she is eligible, I knew this would be the key.
At first, I set up a shortcut on her smartphone which jumped right to the web sites for SubFinder which allowed her to job shop throughout the day. But with my mind still turning, I knew I couldn’t let this continue manually. This is the INTERNETS! That means connected systems and automation, my friends!
SubFinder has no built-in notification system, aside from the archaic one-at-a-time phone calling system(I know, right?). However, I was able to find a new online service called SubAssistant which checks your SubFinder account for you, then sends you a text message or email alert when one is available. All you need to do is sign up, enter your SubFinder info, set your notification preferences, and wait for the jobs to come to you. Once I set this up for my wife, she couldn’t believe how many notifications she was receiving. While SubAssistant doesn’t auto accept the jobs for you, it was easy for my wife to get the email on her phone, then immediately pop open the browser and pick up the job manually.
While looking for automated programs to check SubFinder, I ran across a couple of others for different sub systems like Sub Sidekick, Jobulator, and SubAlerts, but all these programs require you to download software to your own computer and leave your computer on 24/7 so the software can check the site. I liked SubAssistant’s approach; its all online so you don’t have to worry about leaving your computer on or missing jobs because you forgot to start the software after a reboot. (Not to mention the electric bill!) Another option is using something like the Check4Change plugin for Firefox or ReloadEvery for Internet Explorer and (I think) Chrome. But again, these two just refresh the page and essentially tie you to your computer.
Does anyone know of any other program that can do the same thing for SubFinder? SubAssistant works great, but it doesn’t hurt to try others, right?
My New Cubical Buddy – Android Mini Collectible Standard Edition
Andrew Bell, some kind of artist and, apparently, a fan of the Android Operating system paired, in official fashion, with Google’s Android team to create sets of mini collectibles featuring our lovable Android mascot. That’s about all I know about that. However, what I do know is, when I saw this pop up in Neatorama’s RSS feed last week, I immediately sought to purchase one. You see, just the day prior, I happened across some sad looking Android plush dolls on the ‘tubes and thought to myself, “Self… if I ever see a really good looking Android small enough to fit into a cubical–where I will soon be moving–I’m buying it on the spot.” I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I use em dashes in my thoughts. The Neatorama store was sold out at the time, but not wanting to wait another moment, I was able to find another from Amazon through a seller, Just Action Figures.
For those interested in the actual product, not the glamor shots found every where else, I took a few snapshots of the figure placed next to the Motorola Droid X for comparison.
Keep Flash Fullscreen on Dual Monitors
Alright, your desk is decked out with dual screens, you’re rocking hardcore productivity, but now you’re ready to use those two screens for their intended purpose: watching YouTube/Hulu videos fullscreen on one monitor while trolling forums telling people how wrong they are on the Internet.* Alas! The fullscreen Flash video immediately scampers down to its original size as soon as you click anywhere on your other monitor. What gives Adobe? If I want a video at full screen, I don’t want it closing just because I clicked somewhere else.
Adobe doesn’t provide official support to prevent this behavior, but when the Internet wants a feature, the Internet gets the feature. You have three options:
1. Get a hex editor and muck around with DLLs to change a single byte.
2. Find a version of the DLL that someone else has already mucked with and replace your version of the file (as long as its for the same version of Flash)
3. Use FlashHacker or DrizzlyChrome from Jmaxxz
FlashHacker is a program to automate the task of hacking Flash to force fullscreen in IE and non-IE Flash installations. Since Chrome now comes with its own built-in version of Flash, DrizzlyChrome does the same thing as FlashHacker, only for Chrome. Beware: As with any software hack, its possible it will break when a new version of Flash is installed.
* 365D does not condone trolling for any reason.
Dell Monitor Won’t Turn On
Photo by yum9meMy Dell G2210 22″ LED widescreen monitor refused to turn on this afternoon. This had happened once before, only a month or two after I purchased the refurbished monitor from Dell Outlet. Previously, I thought by simply unplugging the monitor for a few hours then plugging it in again, the monitor would somehow reset and it’d work. Well, that time, I’d gotten lucky. This time, it wasn’t working, so I set out to comb the Interwebs for solutions.
According to this post from Dell’s support forums, if you manually turn off your monitors after putting your system to sleep, your monitor may not wake up with the system. If your monitor isn’t turning on after you put your system to sleep and you manually turned off the monitor, the solution is as follows:
- Power off the PC
- Power off the monitor
- Disconnect the power cable from the monitor
- Disconnect all video cables from the monitor (USB, DVI, VGA, DisplayPort, HDMI, etc.)
- While disconnected, press and hold the monitor power button for 5 seconds
- Reconnect the video cable to the monitor
- Reconnect the power cable to the monitor
- Power on the monitor if it didn’t power on after connecting the power cable
- Power on the PC
- If no video is displayed, ensure the correct input is selected.
If this procedure doesn’t get your monitor to come back to life, follow the procedure again, but keep the monitor off longer. If that still doesn’t work, I hope your warranty is still valid!
I have two identical, refurbished Dell G2210 monitors and only one has caused the issue I describe here. Because I love using the (newly stable) sleep mode in Windows 7 and I dislike phantom power draw from “sleeping” monitors, I will continue to manually power off my monitors, but I will have to see if it makes a difference if I make sure to power off the the monitors before the computer enters sleep.
Roommate Agreement / Contract
So, you’ve busted free of the parents house and you’re ready to live a full, independent life in your dorm, shared apartment, or ( for the lucky) shared home. You and your new roommates may be best friends, but nothing tests those friendships like living with them, their weird guests, and their quirky habits. The best way to ensure conflicts are kept to a minimum is to be clear about what is and isn’t okay around your new shared home. Start by reading this guide on college roommate etiquette tips. One good way to ensure everyone is on the same page is through the use of a roommate agreement or, more ominously, contract. A contract can also be important when your living situation requires significant money to pass hands as everyone pays their part of the security deposit and rent is paid each month; you want to make sure you get that deposit back, right!?
First, you should discuss what the agreement should cover. You want to make sure everyone likes the idea, and is in agreement over how the agreement binds them. A simple agreement may only cover some ground rules, and things like chores. A more involved contract would also cover rent, utilities, and what should be done in the case of a vacating roommate. If you own or rent the home and are sub-leasing rooms, you’ll definitely want a contract that discusses more items related to payments and tenancy dates. The contract should be a required legal document before someone even moves in their first sock.
Below, you’ll find a contract I created for my roommate days. You’ll find it can be very thorough in some areas; I wanted to be sure it was very clear! In hindsight, it didn’t need to be, I had trouble-free roommates, 
but perhaps your situation isn’t so rosy. At any rate, take the contract, and the chore list I’ve provided and fit it to your needs!
Removing Malware
This is, essentially, a list for myself… sometimes I forget a step if I’m having trouble, or forget about an especially helpful resource! I won’t provide a lot of explanation, but if you know what you’re doing, help yourself. I’m going to list anything and (eventually) everything I like to do/use, so not everything is useful or even necessary in all situations.
New Flavor of Nigerian Scam
We all know (or should know) about the 419 scam, or Nigerian email scams; the particular scam where some foreign dignitary is in desperate need to transfer you money so he/she can get it out of the country and in return for your graciousness, you will be awarded some sum of the monies. For more information, see the Wikipedia entry for Advance-fee fraud. Today, I was made aware of a new flavor of these scams. This one looks just like its counterparts, right down to the poor grammar, detailed reference to U.S. dollar amount, and of course, the “God Bless You!” signature line. However, this particular email is written as if it is from an American soldier serving in Afghanistan. What God-fearing, patriotic, Internet-browsing American would turn down the opportunity to help an American soldier in need when approached directly?! It seems that is what the scammers are banking on, figuratively and literally. So kids, keep in mind that if it looks too good to be true, it is; even if it appears to be from our men or women in uniform.
—–Original Message—–
From: SGT.TERESA ORTIZ [sgtteresaorti@globomail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 6:29 AM
Subject: SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE
Hello,
My name is Sgt.Teresa Ortiz,an American soldier serving here in Afghanistan.
Please I am seeking your assistance to move Seven Mllion Five Hundred U.S Dollars (US$7.5M) to you as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here in Afghanistan.
Wait your urgent reply.God Bless You!!
Sgt.Teresa Ortiz
—–End——
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