Swithing to Open Source Programs April 13, 2009
Posted by James in 3dmax, Open Project, Open source program, Programs, free programs.add a comment
Lately a lot of offices here in the Philippines have switched to open source programs to save on the cost of buying original programs. I did my research on some alternative open source software to their commercial counter part and found out that there are a lot of pretty good and efficient open source counterparts.
Here are some of the list of programs that I am currently using and their commercial counter parts.
Open Source: Blender
Commercial Counterpart: 3D Max
Open Source: DoubleCad
Commercial Counterpart: Autocad
Open Source: Gimpshop, Gimp
Commercial Counterpart: Adobe Photoshop
Open Source: Open Office
Commercial Counterpart: Microsoft Office
Open Source: Gantt Project, Open Project
Commercial Counterpart: MS Project
Open Source: Google Sketchup
Commercial Counterpart: 3D Max
There are a lot more open source programs available and I’m still trying out some of them. I’ll post some updates after I finish testing them.
Check: www.osalt.com for more information on open source programs.
Time Value Of Money: Determining Your Future Worth April 9, 2009
Posted by James in Money Market, Value of Money.3 comments
If you were offered $100 today or $100 a year from now, which would you choose? Would you rather have $100,000 today or $1,000 a month for the rest of your life?
Net present value (NPV) provides a simple way to answer these types of financial questions. This calculation compares the money received in the future to an amount of money received today, while accounting for time and interest. It’s based on the principle of time value of money (TVM), which explains how time affects monetary value. (For background reading, see Understanding The Time Value Of Money.) The TVM calculation may look complicated, but with some understanding of NPV and how the calculation works, along with its basic variations: present value and future value, we can start putting this formula to use in common application.
Time Value of Money
If you were offered $100 today or $100 a year from now, which would be the better option and why?
This question is the classic method in which the TVM concept is taught in virtually every business school in America. The majority of people asked this question choose to take the money today. But why? What are the advantages and, more importantly, disadvantages of this decision?
There are three basic reasons to support the TVM theory. First, a dollar can be invested and earn interest over time, giving it potential earning power. Also, money is subject to inflation, eating away at the spending power of the currency over time, making it worth less in the future. Finally, there is always the risk of not actually receiving the dollar in the future – if you hold the dollar now, there is no risk of this happening. Getting an accurate estimate of this last risk isn’t easy and, therefore, it’s harder to use in a precise manner.
Illustrating the Net Present Value
Would you rather have $100,000 today or $1,000 a month for the rest of your life?
Most people have some vague idea of which they’d take, but a net present value calculation can tell you precisely which is better, from a financial standpoint, assuming you know how long you will live and what rate of interest you’d earn if you took the $100,000.
Specific variations of time value of money calculations are:
* Net Present Value (lets you value a stream of future payments into one lump sum today, as you see in many lottery payouts)
* Present Value (tells you the current worth of a future sum of money)
* Future Value (gives you the future value of cash that you have now)
Determining the Time Value of Your Money
Which would you prefer: $100,000 today or $120,000 a year from now?
The $100,000 is the “present value” and the $120,000 is the “future value” of your money. In this case, if the interest rate used in the calculation is 20%, there is no difference between the two.
Five Factors to a TVM Calculation.
1. Number of time periods involved (months, years)
2. Annual interest rate (or discount rate, depending on the calculation)
3. Present value (what do you have right now in your pocket)
4. Payments (if any exist. If not, payments equal zero)
5. Future value (the dollar amount you will receive in the future. A standard mortgage will have a zero future value, because it is paid off at the end of the term)
Many people use financial calculators to quickly solve these TVM questions. By knowing how to use one, you could easily calculate a present sum of money into a future one, or vice versa. The same goes for determining the payment on a mortgage, or how much interest is being charged on that short-term Christmas expenses loan. With four of the five components in-hand, the financial calculator can easily determine the missing factor. To calculate this by hand, the formula would look like this:
FV = PV (1+i)N
Or conversely
PV = FV
(1+i)N
Net present value calculations can also help you discover answers to other questions. Retirement planning needs can be determined on an overall, monthly or annual basis, as can the amount to contribute for college funds. By using a net present value calculation, you can find out how much you need to invest each month to achieve your goal. For example, in order to save $1 million dollars to retire in 20 years, assuming an annual return of 12.2%, you must save $984 per month. Try the calculation and test it for yourself. (To learn more about how compounding contributes to retirement savings, see Young Investors: What Are You Waiting For? and Why is retirement easier to afford if you start early?)
Below is a list of the most common areas in which people use net present value calculations to help them make decisions and solve their financial problems.
* Mortgage payments
* Student loans
* Savings
* Home, auto or other major purchases
* Credit cards
* Money management
* Retirement planning
* Investments
* Financial planning (both business and personal)
Conclusion
The net present value calculation and its variations are quick and easy ways to measure the effects of time and interest on a given sum of money, whether it is received now or in the future. The calculation is perfect for short- and- long-term planning, budgeting or reference. When plotting out your financial future, keep this formula in mind.
Source: http://www.investopedia.com/
By: Daniel Myers,CFA
Greatest Music Artists of the 20th Century April 6, 2009
Posted by James in Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Mercury, Greatest Music Artists, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Music, The Bee Gees, The Rolling Stones.add a comment
My interest in art has exposed me in a lot of different forms of art. As a young boy I went to school were art and music was part of our curriculum, which was a big influence in my passion for art and music.
Although I was fond of sketching and painting, music on the other hand wasn’t my strong points. I had a hard time learning how to play the violin or being part of the school choir. Even though I loved listening to music, I just did not have any talent and patience to play any instrument.
As I became older my interest in music also grew. My choices of music was very diverse and I never really concentrated on a particular genre. I learned to appreciate music artists by their music and not their genre.
Lately I began to appreciate more some music which had stand the test of time. The artists who made these songs were truly exceptional for excelling in the art of music. These are the artist who would last for generations to come.
Here is my list of the 10 Greatest Music Artist which has influenced the music industry. I didn’t arrange them accordingly because I think each one of the are great in their own way and every one of them has achieved incredible status in their own time and genre.
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John Winston Lennon October 9, 1940 – December 8,1980 was an English rock musician, singer, and songwriter who gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. Lennon along with Paul McCartney formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and “wrote some of the most popular music in rock and roll history”. Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and biting wit in his music, on film, in books, and at press conferences and interviews. He was controversial through his work as a peace activist and artist. Read More 
Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981 was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands: The Wailers (1964 – 1974) and Bob Marley & the Wailers (1974 – 1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience. Read More 
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) (5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Queen (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001). As a performer, he was known for his vocal prowess and flamboyant performances. As a songwriter, he composed many international hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen”, “Somebody to Love”, “Don’t Stop Me Now“, “We Are the Champions” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. Read More-
Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became a successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, being the idol of the “bobby soxers”. His professional career had stalled by the 1950s, but it was reborn in 1954 after he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Read More
James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. After initial success in Europe, he achieved fame in the United States following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. Read More
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Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977; middle name sometimes written Aron)a was an American singer, actor, and musician. A cultural icon, he is commonly known simply as “Elvis”, and is also sometimes referred to as “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” or “The King”.In 1954, Presley began his career as one of the first performers of rockabilly, an uptempo fusion of country and rhythm and blues with a strong back beat. His novel versions of existing songs, mixing “black” and “white” sounds, made him popular—and controversial as did his uninhibited stage and television performances. He recorded songs in the rock and roll genre, with tracks like “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock” later embodying the style. Presley had a versatile voice and had unusually wide success encompassing other genres, including gospel, blues, ballads and pop. To date, he has been inducted into four music halls of fame. Read More
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Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the “King of Pop” in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become some of the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995). Read More
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Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone on August 16, 1958) is an American recording artist, dancer, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance. After performing as member of the pop musical groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her self-titled debut album in 1983, and then produced three consecutive number-one studio albums on the Billboard 200 in the 1980s and four more since year 2000. Read More
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The Bee Gees were a singing trio of brothers — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. They were born on the Isle of Man to English parents, lived in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, England, United Kingdom and during their childhood years moved to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, where they began their musical careers. Their worldwide success came when they returned to the United Kingdom and signed with producer Robert Stigwood. Read More -
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. Stewart, deemed unsuitable as a teen idol, was removed from the official lineup in 1963 but continued to work with the band as road manager and keyboardist until his death in 1985. Read More
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org
How to Get a Job When No One’s Hiring April 1, 2009
Posted by James in Guerrilla Marketing for job hunters, Hidden Job Market, Jobs, career.add a comment
David Perry, a longtime headhunter, says you’re wasting your time if you’re looking for job postings online. And he should know: he’s often the guy on the other side helping companies lure new talent. Perry, who’s based in Ottawa, says that in the last 22 years he has accomplished 996 searches totaling $172 million in salary. And the bottom line in today’s economy, he says, is you have to tap the “hidden job market.”
Perry’s also the co-author of “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters” and he recently spoke with Fortune.
Just last month, Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis warned lawmakers at a high-profile Congressional hearing on the government’s $700 billion rescue plan that he had no doubts 2009 would be an “awful year” for the credit card industry.
What’s the “hidden job market”?
When companies say, ‘We have a hiring freeze,’ that doesn’t mean they’re not hiring. It just means they’re not adding headcount. Every year there’s 20-25% turn over. So in a 1,000-person company, 200 or 250 people are going to turn over, either through attrition, or someone moves. Those companies are still hiring but they don’t want to tell you.
So how do you find these jobs?
What you have to do in a recession is map your skills to employers to where you know they have a problem you can solve. My advice to job hunters is pick 10 to 20 companies, no more, and pick companies you’re interested in, and that you think you can add value to. That requires researching companies, and so that list may take you two weeks. If you’re trying to crack the hidden job market and you know the job position you want reports to vice president, find that vice president on LinkedIn and look at his profile to see who else he’s connected to and go ask them, ‘What’s this guy like to work for?’ Do the research before you even pick up the phone.
How can you get someone’s attention?
We can go into billboards, sandwiches – that stuff only works once. It’s only for one person who figures it out once, once in a city. If you’re looking for fun stuff, we have this thing called the coffee cup caper, 30% of the time it will result in an interview. You send an employer a coffee cup with a little $5 swipe card with a little note that says, I’d like to get together and talk with you over coffee. I’ll be calling soon. And you send it by U.S. post two day delivery, and that gets registered. So when they’ve signed for it, you wait about 20 minutes and then you call them. And then you go, Hi, I know you just got my package.’ You’re proving you’re imaginative and creative.
What something people should avoid during a job interview?
This drives me insane: I’ve seen people mentally deciding in the interview whether they want the job. That’s the last place to decide. You go into an interview, and you sell like your life depends on it. You’ve got to get the job first. I’ve seen it thousands of times. There’s this point in the interview, where people go ‘Hmm, do I really want this? You can see their body change. The employer picks it up and it’s gone. If the employer is telling you, ‘I love you,’ and you’re not saying ‘I love you too,’ it’s over with.
How about following up afterwards?
If you really like the opportunity, don’t go home and write thank you very much. Go back and write a letter that says, upon further reflection of what we were talking about, here’s what I bring to the table, here’s how I see myself fitting into the organization, including a 30-60-90 day plan.
How can someone attract a recruiter’s attention?
You have to go to ZoomInfo and LinkedIn and create a profile. All corporate recruiters and probably 20% of the headhunters in America have ZoomInfo accounts. When we start a search, companies aren’t going to advertise. The headhunter goes to ZoomInfo, types in requirements that we need, like skillset, degree, city, functional title, and up will come anywhere from a hundred to several thousand people who fit that criteria. Then we go to LinkedIn and run the same search. If you’re in ZoomInfo with a picture, we’re going to call you first. Just reverse engineer what recruiters are doing so you get found.
How can you really impress a potential employer?
It hasn’t worked in years just to bring in your resume, except only in the most junior positions. I concentrate on directors to CEOs, and the last interview for us regardless is always a Power Point presentation of what you’ve learned, pain points, and how you intend to fix that. Everyone talks about being a great leader and great communicator, so prove it. Don’t go into an interview and treat it like it’s just another business meeting. Your career is your biggest asset now – because it’s certainly not your house.
Source: (by Jia Lynn Yang Fortune)
Google Sketchup Tutorials April 1, 2009
Posted by James in Tutorial.1 comment so far
Lately I’ve been trying to learn some new 3D application to add to my skills. My major problem in self learning is I lack the patience and time in learning complicated programs.
I’ve tried looking for tutorials on some of the 3D programs available here in the office and realized that a lot of the things this programs provide can be achieved in Max. One program though has caught my attention. Google sketchup is a very easy to use and powerful program, another advantage is it has low minimum requirements.
I’ve posted some links on some tutorials on my other blog “Art and Architecture”, If your interested in learning this program check out those links.
Google Sketchup Tutorials April 1, 2009
Posted by James in 3d modeling, 3d rendering, Programs, sketchup, sketchup tutorials.1 comment so far
A couple of years ago, my office mate introduced me to a 3D software developed by google. I was surprised by its versatility but was dismayed about the fact it didn’t support some lighting plug ins back then.
I practiced on some of the online tutorials back then and found the program to be very user friendly. It only takes a couple of days for someone who has no background on 3d modeling to learn this program.
I never realized the true potential of the program until I saw most of my former classmates using the program in their renderings. As a matter of fact in my list of programs to learn, sketchup was at the bottom of it.
Lately I started using sketchup again. Its been a while since I last used the program and I needed to practice on it again. I’m relearning the things I’ve learned back then and discovering some new things along the way.
If your someone who is interested in learning 3D modeling and have no patience to go to school and study I suggest you learn this program and do some online tutorials to help you along the way. Its easy to use and a great tool to help you in your designs.
Here are a couple of links to some tutorials in sketchup:
