My Happy Friday

GOES INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 1, 2008!!!!!!!!! 

The State of New Jersey has just made driving while using a cell phone a primary offense. This means that police can now pull you over solely because you are talking on the phone. This also includes text messaging.A conviction or guilty plea to this offense will be considered as a conviction / plea for “unsafe driving”.

While this is a no-point violation , it carries a $ 250.00 surcharge meaning that this ticket will cost anywhere from $ 380.00 - $ 439.00 for the first offense!!!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/flipflop.asp

Chinese Thongs sandals sold at Walmart!!!.DO NOT BUY     REMEMBER THE PAINT ON KIDS TOYS?   The Chinese are using some strong but cheap chemical in their manufactures. Cheap is expensive and at the same time fatal.   check it out at www.snopes.com   http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/flipflop.asp It gets worse…  PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO PASS THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IN YOUR CONTACT LIST.

 

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Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.  

JK Design (http://www.jkdesign.com), is a well established creative interactive agency with a 20+ year history. We have a Web Producer position open at JK Design. We are located in relaxed environment at 465 Amwell Road in Hillsborough New Jersey, across from the High School and next to a pond. You must live in commutable distance to our building. 

You will assist the Director of Interactive with various tasks including Routing Client Requests for existing clients, Traffic Management, Quality Control and Business Development. You must be very detail oriented and have great people skills and be able to work with internal JK Design production staff as well as Clients. You must have a broad understanding of Web technologies and various platforms and be able to talk tech at the business level (Linux, Windows, PHP, ASP, MySQL, SQL Server, AJAX, Javascript, Flash, AfterEffects). 

You must have 2 or more years of experience:1)     Working as a Producer or Project Manager for Interactive related projects (Web sites, Video Production, 3D/Flash Animation, Email Marketing, CD/DVDs).2)     Being a self starter with high standards, with ability to work independently or leading a team and be able to discuss and suggest options/solutions to internal staff and clients.3)     Conducting project status meetings with internal staff and updating a Web based project management/tracking system.4)     Tracking Timelines/Status of Interactive projects for an entire department and prioritizing projects.5)     Reviewing staff timesheets to ensure staff are working on and reporting appropriate projects.6)     Establishing Quality Control Methods and putting them to use.7)     Performing final QC of all projects, before being presented to client.      Receiving and routing client requests (usually via email) to appropriate team members (employee or other) and/or scheduling the request.9)     Writing Project Estimates and/or Business Proposals for client requests.10)  Reviewing Functional Specifications/Site Architectures with Producers, prior to presenting to client.11)  Billing for projects on a monthly basis, using Proposal Fee references and subsequent Change Orders and Emails.12)  Assisting with HR/Hiring and finding freelancers when required and negotiating contracts/fees. 

You will also be asked to help with:1)     Managing www.jkdesign.com & related internal projects.2)     Meeting with clients to review their existing websites and technical architecture – and help them understand website technology and design options and their related pros and cons.3)     Researching client companies and businesses to understand their target markets and goals. 4)     Managing Client Projects (assisting Producers) when there is an onslaught of projects (which may include leading the Clients through the creation of Functional Specifications including Site Maps, Wire Frames, User Requirements)5)     Deploying Press Releases. 

It’s a plus if you have:1)     Strong visual, design and creative skills, though we are not looking for a graphic designer. 2)     An understanding of Search Engine Optimization techniques as it pertains to content placement, good use of H1, H2, ALT tags and customized Page Titles and Descriptions.3)     Experience working with and setting up Linux based Web hosting companies/environments (Pair Networks, ServInt, Peer1, Rackspace)4)     Familiarity with W3 standards and ADA compliance issues. 5)     Experience as a usability specialist. 

To view a sample or our work, see:·         http://www.jkdesign.com/links·         http://www.jkdesign.com/video·         www.jkdesign.com/dhf/Start.html 

Please forward your resume, portfolio links, and your hourly rate requirements to jobs@jkdesign.com. Indicate “Production Coordinator” in subject line.

Best Buy has some bad policies….Normally, I would not share this with others, however, since this could
happen to you or your friends , I decided to share it. If you purchase
something from, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, JC Penny, Sears etc. and you
return the item with the receipt they will give you your money back if
you paid cash, or credit your account if paid by plastic. Well, I purchased a GPS for my car, a Tom Tom XL.S from “Best Buy”. They
have a policy that it must be returned within 14 days for a refund!So after 4 days I returned it in the original box with all the items in
the box, with paper work and cords all wrapped in the plastic. Just as I
received it, including the receipt.I explained to the lady at the return desk I did not  like the way it
could not find store names. The lady at the refund desk said, there is a
15% restock fee, for items returned. I said no one told me that. I said
how much would that be. She said it goes by the price of the item. It
will be $45.00 Dollars for you. I said, all your going to do is walk
over and place it back on the shelf then charge me $45.00 of my money
for restocking? She said that’s the store policy. I said if more people
were aware of it they would not buy anything here! If I bought a
$2000.00 computer or TV and returned it I would be charged $300.00
dollars restock fee? She said yes, 15%.I said OK, just give me my money minus the restock fee.She said, since the item is over $200.00 dollars, she can’t give me my
money back!!!Corporate has to and they will mail you a check in 7 to ten days.!! I
said “WHAT?!”It’s my money!! I paid in cash! I want to buy a different brand..Now I
have to wait 7 to 10 days. She said well, our policy is on the back of
your receipt.I said, do you read the front or back of your receipt? She said well,
the front! I said so do I, I want to talk to the Manager!.So the manager comes over, I explained everything to him, and he said,
well, sir they should of told you about the policy when you got the
item. I said, No one, has ever told me about the check refund or restock
fee, whenever I bought items from computers to TVs from Best Buy. The
only thing they ever discussed was the worthless extended warranty
program. He said Well, I can give you corporate phone number.I called corporate. The guy said, well, I’m not supposed to do this but
I can give you a 45.00 dollar gift card and you can use it at Best Buy.
I told him if I bought something and returned it, you would charge me a
restock fee on the item and then send me a check for the remaining 3
dollars. You can keep your gift card, I’m never shopping in Best Buy
ever again, and if I would of been smart, I would of charged the whole
thing on my credit card! Then I would of canceled the transaction.I would of gotten all my money back including your stupid fees! He
didn’t say a word!I informed him that I was going to e-mail my friends and give them a
heads up on this stores policy, as they don’t tell you about all the
little caveats.So please pass this on. It may save your friends from having a bad
experience of shopping at Best BuyIt’s true! read it for yourself!http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=page&contentId=1117177044087&id=cat12098

Johnny can read.  But he doesn’t know how to play.

In the old days, kids made swords out of tree branches and spaceships out of cardboard boxes.  Their imaginations ran wild.  They tromped through the woods and invented new worlds.  But, in the 1950’s, the marketers got involved.  They showed the kids amazing new toys.  The Lone Ranger six-shooter.  

Malibu Barbie.  Matchbox Cars.  These things are so fully realized that once a kid gets his hands on one, no further imagination is needed.  The toy does all the work.  Play stopped being an “activity,” and became a “thing.”

 Then the baby boomers grew up and became uber-parents.  They schedule every minute of a kid’s life and monitor her every move.  Sports leagues, but no pick up games.  Play dates, but no free play time.  Karate class, but no kicking back.  Today’s kids have no down time, no chance to get bored, and no opportunity to develop anything on their own.  And they are suffering for it.     A new book by

Brown

University historian Howard Chudacoff concludes that, when kids don’t learn how to play, they don’t learn how to think. Today’s kids lack “self-regulation,” the ability to determine their own agenda.  A recent study shows that today’s 7-year olds can’t sit still and think for longer than 3 minutes.  But once they get moving, they don’t know what to do next.  So they fidget, but they don’t explore.  They literally don’t know what to do with themselves.  Educators are realizing that some of today’s smartest kids are struggling because they simply lack the ability to dream on their own. 

What’s a parent to do?  We recommend a highly structured 4-step program:  Cancel the enrichment program.  Take ‘em out in the yard.  Sit ‘em down.  And walk away.

CALLING ALL BOWLERS….Bowl for Life - fundraiser for breast cancer survivors -

 

Come join us for our 2nd Annual Bowl for Life event is being hosted by Cathedral Choir

as a benefit for Sisters Network of Central NJ, a nonprofit African American breast cancer survivorship organization.

 

Please come and bowl with us, come celebrate with us, and support this worthy cause. Sisters Network

of Central NJ truly makes a difference for African American breast cancer survivors and their families!

 

SIGN UP TODAY to meet us on April 12, 1 p.m. at Carolier Zone Bowling Lane, Route 1 North, in North Brunswick. 

Attached flyer has complete information. 

If you cannot attend, please make your generous tax-deductible donation on-line at www.SNCNJ.org

 

We appreciate your continued support and participation in our mission that provides community health education & awareness outreach projects that energize our commitment to lowering statistics and eventually eliminating this dreaded disease.

 

Thank you for all you do to help end breast cancer forever!

Names in Cell Phone
For those of you who cell phone text.  Something to think about & maybe make a change?????!!!!!

Be careful how you list names on your cell phone!
This lady has changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag which contained her mobile, Credit card, purse…etc…. was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her Husband, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says ‘I’ve Just received your text asking about our Pin number and I’ve replied a little while ago.’

When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The pickpocket had actually used the stolen hand phone to text ‘hubby’ in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from the bank account.

Moral of the lesson: Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, sweetheart, Dad, Mom etc……. And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked thru texts, CONFIRM by calling back. Also, when you’re being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don’t reach them, be very careful about going places to meet ‘family and friends’ who text you .

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS  

If you have children in the 18-24 age group or friends with kids in this age group, or you know a young adult who could benefit from an internship program: Visit http://www.yearup.org/ <http://www.yearup.org/>  for information about this Paid Internship/Training Program for Youth.

 

Year Up is an intensive one-year training program for young adults ages

18 to 24 who provide Fortune 100 companies like Merrill Lynch, American Express, Lehman Brothers and Bank of America with Information Technology entry-level talent. Throughout the course of one year, our students earn up to 16 college credits from Pace Univer sity learn technical and professional skills and are placed in paid internships.

Good information to have…Load the phone number in your cell phone even if you have AAA.
 
 
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has a federally funded program called Emergency Service Patrol (ESP) who can assist you, without cost, should your vehicle become disabled.
 
They help by:  
·    Changing a flat tire
·    Jump starting the car
·    Making small emergency repairs
·    Calling a tow truck or emergency service

Two people had flat tires on 295 and help was to them literally in 10 minutes -  not only had they not called them they didn’t have to pay for it either (one was in the pouring rain).   Needless to say, they both now can not say enough about the service provided.  
North Jersey
Counties:  Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Union, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset & Middlesex
Hours of Operation :  4:30am to 8pm -  Monday through Friday
Sections of Road operated on:  1-78, I-80, I-280, I-287, Route 24 and Route 440
 
 
South Jersey
Counties :  Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean, Gloucester & Salem
Hours of Operation :  4:30am to 10pm - Monday through Sunday
Roads operated on :  I-295, I-95, I-195, I-676, I-76, Route 55, and parts of Routes 29 & 42
 
 
How do I recognize the ESP?
All ESP trucks are white with a red stripe and the NJDOT logo on both sides.
 
Are fees or tips expected?
No.  Drivers are not allowed to accept any compensation from motorists for their services.
 
How will ESP know that I need help?
The ESP drives along the designated highways continuously during their hours of operation.  The patrols are also notified by the State Police whose operators receive information from calls to 9-1-1.  You can also request assistance by calling:  1 856 486 6610
  

Hi All,

I am in search for a summer intern for my department and wanted to send out a quick e-mail just in case you knew or had anyone in mind for the job!  This is a full-time internship and would pay $17/hr.  The candidate should know how to use Excel.  Some travel time may also be required.    

Please feel free to have him/her contact me at mavanza1@ompus.jnj.com.   

Qualifications:

Minimum GPA 3.0

Should be a Junior or Senior with majors in Business, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or related field

Computer knowledge required - Excel, PowerPoint, Word

Internet Savvy