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 The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Trusted Technology Partner
August, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue 8 |
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| Upcoming Area Events |
8/1/10 - Lea County Fair & Rodeo
8/5/10 - Movie on the Hill, 8:30pm, Levelland
8/6/10 - First Friday Art Trail, 6-9pm
8/7/10 - West Texas Warbirds, 9-4pm Abernathy Aerodrome
8/7/10 - Hub City Beach Party, 4pm Cactus Courtyard
8/14/10 - Tuff Hedeman Championship Bull Riding, Hobbs, NM
8/27/10 - Movies Under the Stars, Hobbs, NM
8/28/10 - The Big Event 2010, 2-10:30pm Lamesa Forrest Park
8/28/10 - Hobbs Center for the Arts Reopening Gala
9/18/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. UT football game
10/16/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State football game
11/6/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. Missouri football game
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| Milestones |
8/21/10 - James White has been part of the CTSI team for 4 years
8/30/10 - James Garza celebrates 6 years with CTSI
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| Symantec Best Practices |
To avoid malicious applications, Symantec recommends these Best Practices:
* Only click through to trusted sources when searching on popular news items
* Never update "media player", "codec", or "Flash" when promoted by site hosting videos or not affiliated with that application
* Do not use Peer to Peer (P2P) on business machines, and be cautious on home machines
* Do not click on links or attachments in email unless it's from a trusted source and you expect to receive it.
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| From David's Desk... |
Summer is finally upon us; backyard barbecues, pool-side lounging, and family vacations are in full swing. I sincerely hope each of you are able to take advantage of this time to connect with friends and loved ones, as well as get some much-needed relaxation time. Independence Day is the perfect time to celebrate the many freedoms we enjoy in the USA today, and to reflect on the numerous liberties that so many of us take for granted.
In what has become something of an annual tradition, I cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for all CTSI employees and their families in celebration of the 4th. It is extremely important in today's business climate to promote positive relationships with everyone. For CTSI, that starts inside the office. Each team member is a valuable asset that is charged with adhering to our mission statement and shared values. Because of their hard work and tireless contributions, I like to say "thank you" from time to time. Usually, the CTSI team gathers for a picnic in the grassy courtyard outside our doors. With this year's deluge, that wasn't possible so we gathered in the Pyramid Plaza atrium for burgers, hotdogs, watermelon, and all the trimmings. (See picture below)
I also wanted to send a big thank you to all who came to the CTSI Casino Night on July 29th. We had a great time and I hope you got a chance to relax and forget about work for a bit. As part of my personal commitment to being your Trusted Technology Partner, I always look forward to the opportunity to talk candidly to each one of you in a fun, friendly environment. If you missed the Casino Night, don't worry, there will be several more opportunities throughout the year.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President & CEO, CTSI
|
| eReaders |
Whether you like sappy love stories, war novels, or great classics, books expand horizons. Books have the power to take you anywhere. In every library there are so many possibilities.
eReaders take libraries one step further. One device holds everything you would ever want from a library, every title you could imagine. Plus, they make it simple to take notes or mark passages that you want to be able to find again. eReaders are designed to make your reading experience superior. It is a huge hassle to take a stack of books on a business trip or vacation. Thus, eReaders are a great way to go green, and very handy to boot. The only downside is that you'll have a few more problems if you get your eReader wet in the pool or tub.
These electronic devices are made specifically for reading digital books and periodicals. eReaders use e-ink technology to display content to readers. The main advantage of this technology is portability, readability of their screens in bright sunlight, and long battery life. Any PDA capable of displaying text on a screen is also capable of being an eReader, but without the advantages of an e-ink display.
There are a few prominent eReaders on the market today. The Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Apple iPad are all readily known and available eReaders; each with their own set of useful features. With eReaders growing in popularity, there's talk of feasibility studies on college campuses and other venues where books play a vital role. Future possibilities for eReaders are almost as limitless as book choices themselves.
 If you are in the market for an eReader, take these factors into consideration when comparing:
Design: There are a variety of features from touch screens, to LED backlights, text-to-speech, screen sizes, and different wireless capabilities. Find the features that help your eReader disappear, so it's just you and the text.
Content: Some of the eReaders have tons of titles available from their dedicated service while others can only support a few files found online. Take into consideration the number of different files that the eReader can support.
Memory/Battery Life: Each eReader has different capabilities when it comes to storing books and pages per charge. Get the device that fits your needs.
Each eReader has a different compilation of features. We suggest finding the one that contains the features that you love, while staying within your price point.
Cutting-edge technology such as this will eventually become commonplace. From car phones to cell phones and smartphones, or portable tape players to CD players to iPods, one can track the progress of technology easily over time. Find the one that's right for you, but don't be surprised if future versions quickly outperform what's on the market today.
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Tips of the Month
|
| Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
In Microsoft Outlook:
To reply to an email, hit Ctrl + R
To foward an email, hit Ctrl + F
To create a new email, hit Ctrl + N
To send an email, hit Alt + S
To send and receive all mail, hit Ctrl + M
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| Staff Spotlight - Clay Crowder |
 Clay Crowder is originally from Dallas, TX. He moved to Lubbock this past spring, joining the Technical Services team as a Remote Operations Center Specialist in April. Clays says Lubbock offers him an excellent work environment without the enormous amount of Dallas traffic and a more personalized "small town" living experience.
Clay spent most of his childhood growing up in Allen, Texas. After graduating from high school, Clay attended the University of North Texas where he received a bachelor of science in Business Computer Information Systems and an MBA in Administrative Management.
Clay began his IT career with Trevino Mechanical Contractors as the IT Manager. He was in charge of installation, configuration, and maintenance of computers and related technology. In 2007 Clay began working for Texans Credit Union as a Service Help Desk technician, charged with migrating the core system. In addition to the migration, Clay managed hardware setup and configuration during two subsequent core system upgrades, and also helped create a Knowledge Base.
At home Clay enjoys spending time with his wife Shannon, and their dog, The Mighty Casey. Both Shannon and Clay are enthusiastic about local Arts organizations, especially Opera and Theater. In his free time, Clay likes running, cycling, and camping. Clay is also a traveling enthusiast. He lists Ireland, England, Mexico, Canada, Germany, New York City, Los Angeles, and parts of Latin America as some of the most interesting places he has visited.
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| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for the past ten years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you!
Best Ever Zucchini Bread
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, beat 3 eggs until foamy, then add the following:
2 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup cooking oil
Sift the following together:
3 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
Add sifted ingredients to the rest and blend together well.
Bake at 325 degrees in 2 medium-sized loaf pans (sprayed well) for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and turn onto a cooling rack. Slather the top of each loaf with butter, then sprinkle generously with sugar & cinnamon and allow to cool.
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The CTSI Tech Times
Monthly Updates from Your Trusted Technology Partner
August, 2010 - Vol 2, Issue 8 |
|
|
| Upcoming Area Events |
8/1/10 - Lea County Fair & Rodeo
8/5/10 - Movie on the Hill, 8:30pm, Levelland
8/6/10 - First Friday Art Trail, 6-9pm
8/7/10 - West Texas Warbirds, 9-4pm Abernathy Aerodrome
8/7/10 - Hub City Beach Party, 4pm Cactus Courtyard
8/14/10 - Tuff Hedeman Championship Bull Riding, Hobbs, NM
8/27/10 - Movies Under the Stars, Hobbs, NM
8/28/10 - The Big Event 2010, 2-10:30pm Lamesa Forrest Park
8/28/10 - Hobbs Center for the Arts Reopening Gala
9/18/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. UT football game
10/16/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State football game
11/6/10 - CTSI Tailgate at the Texas Tech vs. Missouri football game
|
| Milestones |
8/21/10 - James White has been part of the CTSI team for 4 years
8/30/10 - James Garza celebrates 6 years with CTSI
|
| Symantec Best Practices |
To avoid malicious applications, Symantec recommends these Best Practices:
* Only click through to trusted sources when searching on popular news items
* Never update "media player", "codec", or "Flash" when promoted by site hosting videos or not affiliated with that application
* Do not use Peer to Peer (P2P) on business machines, and be cautious on home machines
* Do not click on links or attachments in email unless it's from a trusted source and you expect to receive it.
|
|
|
| From David's Desk... |
Summer is finally upon us; backyard barbecues, pool-side lounging, and family vacations are in full swing. I sincerely hope each of you are able to take advantage of this time to connect with friends and loved ones, as well as get some much-needed relaxation time. Independence Day is the perfect time to celebrate the many freedoms we enjoy in the USA today, and to reflect on the numerous liberties that so many of us take for granted.
In what has become something of an annual tradition, I cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for all CTSI employees and their families in celebration of the 4th. It is extremely important in today's business climate to promote positive relationships with everyone. For CTSI, that starts inside the office. Each team member is a valuable asset that is charged with adhering to our mission statement and shared values. Because of their hard work and tireless contributions, I like to say "thank you" from time to time. Usually, the CTSI team gathers for a picnic in the grassy courtyard outside our doors. With this year's deluge, that wasn't possible so we gathered in the Pyramid Plaza atrium for burgers, hotdogs, watermelon, and all the trimmings. (See picture below)
I also wanted to send a big thank you to all who came to the CTSI Casino Night on July 29th. We had a great time and I hope you got a chance to relax and forget about work for a bit. As part of my personal commitment to being your Trusted Technology Partner, I always look forward to the opportunity to talk candidly to each one of you in a fun, friendly environment. If you missed the Casino Night, don't worry, there will be several more opportunities throughout the year.
Until next time,
David D. Baucum
President & CEO, CTSI
|
| eReaders |
Whether you like sappy love stories, war novels, or great classics, books expand horizons. Books have the power to take you anywhere. In every library there are so many possibilities.
eReaders take libraries one step further. One device holds everything you would ever want from a library, every title you could imagine. Plus, they make it simple to take notes or mark passages that you want to be able to find again. eReaders are designed to make your reading experience superior. It is a huge hassle to take a stack of books on a business trip or vacation. Thus, eReaders are a great way to go green, and very handy to boot. The only downside is that you'll have a few more problems if you get your eReader wet in the pool or tub.
These electronic devices are made specifically for reading digital books and periodicals. eReaders use e-ink technology to display content to readers. The main advantage of this technology is portability, readability of their screens in bright sunlight, and long battery life. Any PDA capable of displaying text on a screen is also capable of being an eReader, but without the advantages of an e-ink display.
There are a few prominent eReaders on the market today. The Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Apple iPad are all readily known and available eReaders; each with their own set of useful features. With eReaders growing in popularity, there's talk of feasibility studies on college campuses and other venues where books play a vital role. Future possibilities for eReaders are almost as limitless as book choices themselves.
If you are in the market for an eReader, take these factors into consideration when comparing:
Design: There are a variety of features from touch screens, to LED backlights, text-to-speech, screen sizes, and different wireless capabilities. Find the features that help your eReader disappear, so it's just you and the text.
Content: Some of the eReaders have tons of titles available from their dedicated service while others can only support a few files found online. Take into consideration the number of different files that the eReader can support.
Memory/Battery Life: Each eReader has different capabilities when it comes to storing books and pages per charge. Get the device that fits your needs.
Each eReader has a different compilation of features. We suggest finding the one that contains the features that you love, while staying within your price point.
Cutting-edge technology such as this will eventually become commonplace. From car phones to cell phones and smartphones, or portable tape players to CD players to iPods, one can track the progress of technology easily over time. Find the one that's right for you, but don't be surprised if future versions quickly outperform what's on the market today.
|
|
|
|
|
Tips of the Month
|
| Some handy time-saving shortcuts for both beginners and experts:
In Microsoft Outlook:
To reply to an email, hit Ctrl + R
To foward an email, hit Ctrl + F
To create a new email, hit Ctrl + N
To send an email, hit Alt + S
To send and receive all mail, hit Ctrl + M
|
| Staff Spotlight - Clay Crowder |
Clay Crowder is originally from Dallas, TX. He moved to Lubbock this past spring, joining the Technical Services team as a Remote Operations Center Specialist in April. Clays says Lubbock offers him an excellent work environment without the enormous amount of Dallas traffic and a more personalized "small town" living experience.
Clay spent most of his childhood growing up in Allen, Texas. After graduating from high school, Clay attended the University of North Texas where he received a bachelor of science in Business Computer Information Systems and an MBA in Administrative Management.
Clay began his IT career with Trevino Mechanical Contractors as the IT Manager. He was in charge of installation, configuration, and maintenance of computers and related technology. In 2007 Clay began working for Texans Credit Union as a Service Help Desk technician, charged with migrating the core system. In addition to the migration, Clay managed hardware setup and configuration during two subsequent core system upgrades, and also helped create a Knowledge Base.
At home Clay enjoys spending time with his wife Shannon, and their dog, The Mighty Casey. Both Shannon and Clay are enthusiastic about local Arts organizations, especially Opera and Theater. In his free time, Clay likes running, cycling, and camping. Clay is also a traveling enthusiast. He lists Ireland, England, Mexico, Canada, Germany, New York City, Los Angeles, and parts of Latin America as some of the most interesting places he has visited.
|
| Helen's Recipe of the Month |
Helen Burns, CTSI's Purchasing Manager, has been with the company for the past ten years. In addition to her purchasing duties, Helen serves as our unofficial party coordinator. Helen (with help from our administrative assistant, Nancy Clark) makes sure we celebrate every staff member's birthday as well as various holidays by providing a wide range of delectable treats. Without further ado, from Helen's kitchen to you!
Best Ever Zucchini Bread
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, beat 3 eggs until foamy, then add the following:
2 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup cooking oil
Sift the following together:
3 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
Add sifted ingredients to the rest and blend together well.
Bake at 325 degrees in 2 medium-sized loaf pans (sprayed well) for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and turn onto a cooling rack. Slather the top of each loaf with butter, then sprinkle generously with sugar & cinnamon and allow to cool.
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