Review:
Growing Software is a great book for anyone who is – or wants to be – managing a team of software developers. It’s packed with information on everything from how to understand your own leadership/management style to communicating effectively with your team to designing the best team possible. Testa includes case studies, resources for further reading, and other great resources to help you in your work.

The book goes in depth on issues like “Making Work Flow” – estimating projects, the software development process; “Growing a Software Team,” “Defining the Product” and “Driving Releases.” If you are setting out on a software development career or simply want to improve what you do, you’ll want to grab a copy of Growing Software.

About the Book:
For engineers who suddenly find themselves in charge at a small growing software company, the change in responsibilities can be daunting. With dozens of new responsibilities to juggle and the never-ending pressures of building and growing software, technical managers can’t take time to ease into their job—they need proven strategies fast.

Growing Software (No Starch Press, March 2009, 424 pp, ISBN 9781593271831) provides practical, hands-on advice for software managers trying to juggle the challenges of running an engineering team. Drawing on his more than 20 years of successful management experience, author Louis Testa offers readers a wealth of practical guidance that readers could only replace with years of on-the-job training, with advice on how to define and sell products, build and lead an effective team, work with customers, and choose effective development tools.

“Engineers promoted to management are often used to coding by themselves,” said No Starch Press founder William Pollock. “They’ve got the technical side of things down, but they don’t necessarily know how to effectively manage a small team, or define processes to ensure the release of high-quality software. Growing Software is a mentor-in-a-book, guiding new managers through the tough decisions they’ll invariably face.”

Testa combines big-picture advice, specific solutions, and real-life anecdotes to teach readers how to:

* Work effectively with a CEO and executive team

* Improve development team efficiency and enthusiasm

* Evaluate a company’s software methodology to improve effectiveness and safeguard against failure

* Use product prototypes to bridge the gap between marketing and engineering

Detailed templates and spreadsheets round out the book, helping readers put concepts into action. Whether they’re new to their positions or experienced managers just trying to do a better job, Growing Software will save managers precious time and help them avoid major mistakes that will block growth.

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Thanks!

The new rating summaries are accessible via a new mobile website at m.esrb.org, in addition to the ESRB website at www.esrb.org, and via its rating search widget.

We have 3 copies to give away. Winners will be drawn on the 31st (Friday).

Enter below to win!

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About the film:
The film’s success speaks for itself. It opened in the Top 10, achieving the number 5 position on a per-screen average. It has already made its place in history as the Number 12 Top Grossing Documentary of all time, and the Number 1 Conservative Documentary. The initial buzz about the film was so intense that it became the #1 most popular blog on the Internet (3/24/08), the #6 Top search on Yahoo (4/8/08), and received over 2 million web hits, more than any other movie’s website during this time. All this, while surrounded by not only controversial subject matter, but a lawsuit from Yoko Ono claiming unfair copyright use as the film uses and critiques the John Lennon song “Imagine.” A federal judge noted the filmmakers would probably win on the doctrine of “Fair Use” and denied the motion for a preliminary injunction which would have removed the film from theaters.

10. You write your screen name on a job application.

9. You surf without sun screen.

8. You actually believe that something good will happen if you forward this message to 7 more people.

7. Your devotions are e-mailed to you by ThyKing.com

6. You get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and check your e-mail.

5. You consider the “You’ve Got Mail” voice guy a father figure.

4. You spend half a flight with your laptop on your lap, and your child stored in the overhead bin.

3. The Trojan virus was harder on you than the flu.

2. You know all the AOL access numbers by heart.

1. After reading this list you forward it to everyone in your address book.

FIND More Top Ten Lists HERE!

Results From Sony Online Entertainment and Yahoo! Survey Available This Week

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Parents across America are recognizing the benefits of their children playing videos games, according to a new study from Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE). The results, published exclusively in the new November issue of Family Circle magazine, suggest parents are seeing improvements in hand/eye coordination, problem solving and typing skills.

In addition to basic education elements, the survey suggests video games are teaching children to think strategically. The majority of video games require players to follow rules, think tactically, make fast decisions and fulfill numerous objectives to win. This resonates with the 70% of the parents surveyed who have seen their children’s problem-solving skills improve since they started playing video games.

Yahoo!’s website, Shine (http://shine.yahoo.com/), which reaches 10 million women each month, hosted the survey throughout June 2008. The study found that 87% of parents who participated in the survey are spending time playing video games with their children. “Family video game nights are becoming incredibly popular with the variety of games out there,” said Linda Fears, editor-in-chief, Family Circle magazine. “Parents and children of all ages are finding games to play together, no matter what each person’s experience level.”

Other key survey findings from the survey:

– Most (75%) of respondents have attributed educational value and improved hand/eye coordination to video game usage.
– 84% of respondents reported an increase in their child’s typing skill from playing PC/online games.
– 72% of respondents say their kids play games online with other people sometimes or all the time.
– More than 80% of respondents say their children play video games in a common area of the house (i.e., family/living room or computer room).

With the vast majority of games on the market rated E for Everyone (ESRB, 2007), parents have many options when choosing games for their children, an important fact for the almost 80% of parents surveyed who say they purchase all their children’s video games. “The ultimate parental controls are parents themselves,” said John Smedley, president of SOE and father of four.

Many games, including the upcoming free online game Free Realms from SOE, offer opportunities for kids to play online with others. “The good news is that parents are involved with and aware of what their kids are playing,” said Smedley. “The even better news is that parents and kids are playing together.”

For a complete listing of the survey results, log on to http://www.station.com/.

For more information on Free Realms log on to http://www.freerealms.com/.

Survey Methodology
Sony Online Entertainment LLC commissioned Insight Express to conduct an online survey, which was hosted on Yahoo!’s website Shine, of parents whose children are between the ages of 2-17 and play video games in June 2008. A total of 414 parents participated in the survey with a margin error of +/- 4.81% at 95% confidence level.

With both the father and mother working different schedules, he finds it hard to make the play dates, but finally, after a few months, is able to fit one in. He goes online and adds his name to the list of attendees.

He then gets an email from the group telling him not to come.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY…..

What do you think? Should he have been banned from the Mothers Play Group? Comment Below!

Matthew

Freedom Project

Post a comment below for your chance to win!

About the Book:

Neurostim is a brand new drug that dramatically increases productivity and creativity. Developed from the seeds of a long-extinct Norwegian tree, Neurostim dramatically improves response time by allowing subjects to think and process information more quickly. The implications are staggering. It could help people in all walks of life, but could easily become a lifesaver for policemen, fireman, doctors and other first responders. But initial tests reveal a hiccup—some of the monkeys tested exhibited maniacal, homicidal behaviors. As the lead lab tech was approaching company authorities with the evidence, however, she was killed in a mysterious one-car accident.

Without any reported side-effects, the FDA authorizes human trials of Neurostim and the trials appear to go smoothly. Brothers Karl Bjornsen and Gunnar Bjornsen, however, are deeply embroiled in a bitter legal battle for control of the company—and Neurostim. Gunnar developed Neurostim while working as President of Bjornsen Pharmaceuticals and he’s the only one who knows the secret formula. When Karl ousted Gunnar as President, Gunnar took the formula with him.

What begins as a simple trade secrets case, however, quickly escalates and becomes more complex as Gunnar’s lawyer, Ben Corbin, discovers embezzlement and bribery with Karl as the prime suspect. When Ben and his team travel to Norway to investigate the accounting discrepancies with the company’s Norwegian branch, Bjornsen Norge, their very lives become endangered.

Is Karl Bjornsen behind the Norwegian attacks that endanger Ben and his team? Is Neurostim safe? Can the FDA stop the human trials on Neurostim before its too late?

About Author Rick Acker:

Rick Acker does his best work while traveling, and he pecks out pages every dayon the commuter train to his “real job” as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. Rick’s other books include Dead Man’s Rule and the Davis Detectives series for tweens. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Anette, and their four children.

Q&A with Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers

Q. Where did you get the idea for Blood Brothers?

A. Blood Brothers really sprang from three different ideas: First, I’ve had a ringside seat to several fights between former partners, and they were among the most intense and compelling cases I’ve been involved in. How much more intense and compelling would a case like that be if the partners were also brothers?

Second, the ancient Norse sagas are filled with fascinating stories that took place just before reliable historical records began to be kept in Scandinavia. Some of these tales are undoubtedly true, but which ones? And how might the lost knowledge behind them matter today?

Third, I’ve long felt challenged by Christ’s admonition that it’s easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The secular psychologist William James had some surprisingly similar observations. What does it mean to be a “rich man” in modern American society?

So, how do those three pieces fit together into a biotech/legal thriller? Read Blood Brothers and find out.

Q. What is your greatest inspiration as a writer?

A. Deadlines. There are lots of things that inspire me as a storyteller–unusual people I meet, compelling cases I litigate, interesting articles in the news and so on. But what actually inspires me to sit down, focus, and turn the stories running around my head into books? My publisher’s deadlines.

Q. If Blood Brothers became a movie – who would you cast in the lead roles?

A. Good question. I have an unlimited budget, right? In that case:

Tom Cruise: Ben Corbin, the handsome but not particularly tall lawyer who tries the case at the heart of the book Penelope Cruz: Ben’s lovely wife–and reluctant forensic accountant–Noelle (This might be a little uncomfortable for Tom, but I get to make the casting decisions, not him.)

Adrien Brody: Russian-American detective Sergei Spassky

Uma Thurman: Elena Kamenev, FBI agent and Sergei’s on-and-off love interest

Cilian Murphy: the vile cybercriminal George Kulish

I’m drawing a blank on who should play Gunnar and Karl Bjornsen, the brothers of the title. Know any six-foot-plus actors in their late fifties with weightlifter arms and faces like the Old Man of the Mountain (before he collapsed)?

Q. What was your greatest obstacle to overcome in writing this novel?

A. Self-discipline. This book took a lot longer to write than it should have, mostly because I didn’t have a deadline at first due to a little contract mix-up.

Q. How would you suggest that aspiring novelists avoid similar obstacles?

A. Give yourself a deadline. Better yet, have someone else give you a deadline and hold you accountable. If you don’t have a publisher (who will generously provide this service for free), have your spouse or a good friend do it and give him/her the right to fine you if you blow your deadline. It works.

My husband is a consultant for a company that assists small business owners who wish to sell their business. We make our own leads through telemarketing efforts.

We would like to increase the number of leads we can work.

If anyone has telephone experience or would like to learn, we are in need of people to help.

The position pays a 10% commission on the sales my husband makes. His average sale is $6-9,000. This is a commission only position.

Some things that are helpful: having a telephone with unlimited long distance or a cell phone with a lot of minutes; email since this will be our main mode of communication; and a good attitude.

This position is not for the faint of heart, but is very lucrative. We are asking for at least 5 hours per week but would like up to 15 or more. You will be calling businesses on the west coast during business hours (7:30am-5:30pm PST).

I would very much like to speak to anyone interested in this as soon as possible. We are in desperate need so I would like to get started on this asap. I have good Dunn & Bradstreet leads ready to be emailed to you now along with scripts and forms. I will offer all of the support you may need.

Polly Stankuviene
Carson City, Nevada
marypauline@stankus.net
www.businessanalystsonline.com

Want to learn more about it before you purchase a copy? Check out the book trailer video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64mYqKApDME

Tune in TODAY – LIVE (11am CST – noon CST) at http://blogtalkradio.com/momcast!

Donita K. Paul retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy.

“I feel blessed to be doing what I like best.” She mentors all ages, teaching teenagers and weekly adult writing workshops. “God must have imprinted ‘teacher’ on me clear down to the bone. I taught in public school, then home schooled my children, and worked in private schools.

Beyond in-depth game reviews, for those of you with younger kids, you may just need suggestions regarding good games to keep them happy and busy. I categorize games by age and by platform, and there are printer friendly links to help you out.

It’s not a blog, but feel free to interact with me by email if a game you want to see reviewed isn’t on my site. Keep in mind that the kid list is new and still growing (and so is the rest of my site).

Jorim’s List details objectionable content for each game, giving parents the information they need to make the all-important decision about what games they can feel good about buying, and what games they should not be talked into bringing home.

As a parent, do you have the time (or will) to play through every game your child wants, and screen it? You don’t have to, Jorim already has–and it’s on his list: jorimslist.com.

Planet Mom is a wild and wonderful place where kids swing on ceiling fans, diapers appear four days later in the trunk, and children think bread is made out of deer (doe (dough)…a deer…a female deer).

Find out 99 true and amazing reasons why you should become a permanent resident of Planet Mom (or be thankful if you already are!). You’ll realize that you’re doing the most important job in the world…and the results are out of this world!

Together, Jill Hart and Cheryl Moeller are a dangerous and delightful team who share their real life experience.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE eBOOK!

I don’t know how most people do it, but when I brush my teeth I like to rinse using a cup. I prefer the little dixie paper cups because I can toss it and there’s no mess. As a mom, I love disposable items – no washing necessary. Sounds harmless enough, right? I thought so, until recently when my husband began giving me little “hints” about throwing away so many paper cups. He finally won me over when he explained that he and the guys at work had been discussing what they could do to be more ‘green’ and this was one of the ways they’d come up with.

Now that I knew my husband and ‘the guys’ were discussing the topic at work, I knew it was something I needed to take more seriously. As I began to take a look at our lifestyle I found many things that I could change to make our home a more eco-friendly place. I also realized that overall, working from home may be one of the best eco-friendly decision one can make.

Less Gas – Other than the occasional errand running, telecommuters use their cars much less frequently than their counterparts in the workplace. This, of course translates into less gas usage, less fumes and smog produced, etc. Simply by staying home, they are making the world a cleaner, healthier place.

Less Paper – Businesses today make it very easy to save paper by allowing home-based workers to do most everything online. When my husband does work from home, he’s able to log in securely to his corporate email account, log his time and even download his pay stubs online. I’m fortunate that as a website owner, very rarely do I make use of paper. The occasional document needs printed, but other than that my work-life takes place entirely on my computer.

Less Grease – Home-based workers tend to eat more meals at home than than employees in the corporate world. My lunches usually consist of something simple and easy to make – fruit, a quick sandwich, etc. Compared to the fat and grease of a fast-food meal, a healthy meal at home goes a long way in becoming ‘green.’

More Choice – As the manager of my home, I have the ability to choose the products that are used throughout. Instead of being at the mercy of a large, cost-cutting corporation, I can choose products that are eco-friendly. As a result, our cleaning products are non-toxic; our laundry detergent is “free” from all dyes and colors; and yes, we even have a reusable cup in the bathroom now.

More Time – By avoiding the commute time, home-based workers save themselves a large amount of time. This extra time can be transferred into activities such as recycling – something that people avoid simply because of the time it takes. You may even have extra time for a nap – in which case you can turn the lights off and save electricity.

The St. Petersburg Times agrees. In a recent column titled, 5 things you can do to combat climate change, author Ann-Gayl Ellis notes five things ways that you can take action and become more eco-friendly. Ellis’ second action step states, “Leave the car at home one day and take public transportation instead. Walk or bike. If you need to drive, carpool. If you can, telecommute.”

Once you begin to look at the benefits of telecommuting, especially in a ‘green’ home, it becomes clear that is an eco-friendly choice. You have more control over each aspect of your life as well as the authority to purchase the necessary products. The additional benefit of living a green lifestyle as a home-based worker is the example set for your children. Our kids model what they hear and see. The healthier our lives, the better chance they’ll grow up to environmentally conscious as well.

About The Author:
Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I’ll Be Home For Christmas and Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement For Military Wives. Jill’s articles can be found across the internet and her articles have been featured on websites like DrLaura.com, ClubMom.com, and she is an expert author on EzineArticles.com. Jill is the host of the podcast, Christian Work at Home Moment and co-host of the LIVE internet radio show, MomCast LIVE. Jill is also the co-editor of RadiantLit.com. Jill and her husband, Allen of CWAHD.com (Christian Work at Home Dads) reside in Nebraska with their two children.

Five lucky winners will be selected at random to each win one (1) pair of movie tickets to see EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed. Tickets are good for this movie only at participating theaters nationwide.

ENTER BELOW on or before April 13, 2008 for your chance to WIN A PAIR OF FREE MOVIE TICKETS and EXPERIENCE THE MOVIE THIS SPRING!

To enter, fill out the form below. Limit one (1) entry per person. Must be 14 years of age or older to enter.

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Will you let the Cross teach you how to give your wife the mercy she needs?
 
  
By Bob Moeller
 
Used by Permission. Excerpt from Marriage Minutes by Bob and Cheryl Moeller. (Moody Press, 2000)  Purchase Marriage Minutes online.

Matthew

freedom Project

But, other things are going along just great.  We are still in  the process of seeking God’s will.  Next week we start looking for other towns to live in, and for  my wife to  teach in.  Anyway,  please continue to  pray for us.

Matthew

Freedom Project

Matthew Freedom Project.

Matthew

Freedom project

You have an upline. She is my upline.  They had no interest in doing the business until I did. Anyway, they sponsored someone that my dad worked with. She took the ball and ran with it. So they lost her.  And now are very negative.  I  don’t need negative people – I need good people.  Yes, I still talk to her, but just not about business. Have a great day. 

Matthew

the Freedom project

Jill was featured on the WOWT Morning Show on Feb 13, 2008.

Jill will be appearing on the local news tomorrow, Feb 13th, (Channel 6 in Omaha, NE) as they feature the Valentine Special CWAHM podcast! This is a great time to advertise! If you’d like to be a part of the excitement, email us and we’ll offer a 20% discount on any ad purchased through the end of Valentines Day (midnight CST, 2/14/08)

(Note: They did say thay the interview is on unless there is breaking news….please pray there won’t be any breaking news other than us! Thank you!)

Here is what is going on. My  wife has been told that she needs to do certain things  or  lose her job. She is a School teacher. So she makes pretty good money.

Me I just work from home and  take care of the house etc.  I don’t have a  degree, ao all i can get a minimum wage  jobs. So Please I ask  all of  you please pray for  my family.

Thank you

Matthew Berg

Freedom Project

Matthew

The Freedom Project

Jill Hart hosts the Christian Work At Home Mom Radio Show and Diana Ennen cohosts the Success From Home Segment, but for Valentines Day they want to do something special.

We want to make this Valentines Day even more spectacular and need your help. We want you to be on our show with us. Show the love you have for your home based business by calling in.

Here’s the details:

Call in before Friday, February 8th at 12:00 p.m. EST and leave your message at 214-615-6505, ext 4845. Please keep the entire segment to under 5 minutes to allow time for all who wish to share.

After the beep, take it away by giving …

1) Your Name
2) Your Business
3) Your Website(s)
4) 2 -3 minutes on why you love your business.
5) A special Valentines Giveaway form your site or a special discount. (This isn’t required, but we do highly recommend it. People love to get specials.) Please state clearly what it is and how to get this offer.

Sign off, with a short — Happy Valentines Day. If you’d like, go ahead and wish your someone special (kids included) a very quick — Happy Valentines day.

Remember we need to keep this under 5 minutes.

That’s it! Any questions, please email Diana Ennen at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com or Jill Hart at Jill@cwahm.com

We also encourage you to tell others that you are on this show via your mailing lists, boards, etc., and if you’d like a CWAHM button, email us. (Again, not required. We just want to spread the word.)

Thanks!

Jill Hart and Diana Ennen