Reminder: hang onto that paper
Here’s a reminder: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will require until January 30, 2014 that interstate drivers subject to the commercial driver’s license (CDL) regulations and the Federal physical qualification requirements must retain paper copies of their medical examiner’s certificate. Interstate motor carriers are also required to retain copies of their drivers’ medical certificates in their driver qualification files. So if you go to renew, upgrade, transfer or otherwise change your license, after Jan. 30 you will have to provide proof of medical certification. Your state can decide if the medical examiner’s “long form” or the actual medical certificate will be required, so check with your state commercial driver licensing agency to see what you’ll need to bring.
Spruce up your work space
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Most days, my work space is a chaotic mess. I can’t even see my desktop for the piles of mail, stacks of file folders, reminders on sticky notes and scraps of paper that litter it. Not unlike this guy’s:
So this contest caught my attention: it’s “Pimp My Cube.” Contest Factory is searching for the worst, most pathetic and messy cubicle or office that may have bad furniture, old technology, messy, unorganized, noisy, dirty, dark and/or any other attributes that make it a bad space to work in. Sounds like mine.
Want to enter the contest? Just upload a video showing your cube/office/workspace while you explain the details about why it is horrible and why it is so important that Contest Factory come in and ‘Pimp’ your cube. You could win the prize to update your office/workspace/cube with one of three prize packages:
o New high end computer system
o New Desk, Chair and Decorations
o New Entertainment Package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc.
The contest has a total grand prize value of approximately $1200. A second sweepstakes prize of a $200 gift card will be awarded to the registered user chosen by random drawing at the end of the contest period.
Once your video is entered, you invite your friends, family and coworkers to vote for your video. You get sweepstakes entry points for registering, voting, commenting and inviting others to register for the contest. Right now no has uploaded a video so the chances of winning are very good.
The grand prize of your cube being ‘pimped’ will be selected by CF judges based on various criteria including for the most votes, best (really worst) video and most compelling story.
Your video should be fun and witty – anything goes!! The better the story, the funnier the video – better chances of winning. · It is easy to upload video to the site to enter from your phone or webcam.
The contest period is from 12/5/11 at 12:00 p.m. to 1/31/12 at 12:00 p.m. So get that camera rolling and don’t even bother to straighten up first!
Pimp My Cube Contest Check out the PMC Web site. Register and upload videos to enter in the contest. Once your video is approved, have your friends and family vote on your video to enhance your chances of winning.
One less thing to worry about
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Norton Small Business by Symantec for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
It’s often said that small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and it could likewise be said that technology is the backbone of any small business. Perhaps it’s eye-opening then that almost six out of ten small business owners (59 percent) admitted to having experienced some sort of malware (malicious software on their computer) in the past three years, and half of them (51 percent) had to pay an expert to resolve the problem.
We know several business and even individuals who had their work and lives disrupted by computer viruses, security breaches, identify theft incidences and the like. We hope we’re not jinxing ourselves by saying we’ve been lucky and have had only minor problems.
Not surprising: we’ve also been using antivirus (AV) software for years. We have had an occasion or two when an unauthorized attempt to access our computer has been made. It’s been reassuring to get an alert from the AV software and a report that the virus has been quarantined.
Tales of destructive malware are rampant. Anyone who spends any time on the Internet, whether for business or personal use, and who doesn’t take safety measures is operating under a false sense of security.
Two products that Norton released this past September, Norton 360 and the Norton Internet Security 2012, protect the user from online attacks and scams and prevent theft of confidential information. Norton Internet Security 2012 also secures logins and passwords (which can be stolen).To encourage small business owners to look into Norton’s security products, especially the 5U/10U products, Norton is offering a 30% discount. For more information about this, click this link: get 30% off Norton Small Business Products now
Check out all the Norton Small Business by Symantec products. We invite you to leave us a comment letting us know which Norton product would most benefit you and why.
For frequent travelers
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TravelPro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
In their travels, truckers don’t always have a sleeper berth in which to stow their gear. Sometimes they need an actual suitcase, for personal travel or even if it’s just to transport a few items from the truck for an overnight stay in a motel.
Travelpro® claims its luggage is “built tough to go the distance” and that’s easy to believe: the company has been making luggage for two decades, has an extensive product line and offers robust warranties on their suitcases. The product line offers sizes from tote bags and carryons for short trips to drop-bottom rolling duffels for longer journeys, in fabrics that are water repellent, stain and abrasion resistant.
OK, I’ll admit the sweepstakes they’re running got my attention. Check out TravelPro sweepstakes. The grand Prize winner will receive 500,00 miles from the Delta SkyMiles program. That could take some lucky person almost anywhere — Europe, Asia, South America or around the country. That’s by plane, not by truck. (Let someone else pilot the vehicle for a change!) The grand prize winner also gets two (2) Travelpro® Rollaboard® bags. 
While you’re there, check out the Travelpro® Web site for some great travel tips, sale items and accessories.
Take a break
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tassimo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
What office does NOT have a beverage brewer of some kind? Whether it’s coffee, tea or hot chocolate, I know I find it hard to get through a workday without a beverage break. Imagine kicking that up a notch by enjoying a coffeehouse-style latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate or perfectly brewed cup of tea right in the office. I would definitely go for a cappucccino if it were less of a fuss to make (and if I could get it to come out right!). The Tassimo Professional single service system makes all these beverages available in less than two minutes at just the press of button. The coffee drinks are made with 100% premium Arabica coffee beans and real milk creamer. The hot chocolate uses real chocolate syrup from Suchard, one of Europe’s premium chocolatiers.
The discs come imprinted with a T-DISC barcode which the machine reads to select from six embedded brewing parameters. It then uses these instructions to produce a perfectly brewed, consistently delicious specialty hot beverage. It’s this unique technology that guarantees consistent quality in every cup and distinguishes TASSIMO PROFESSIONAL from other workplace brewers. Note that the double bar codes on the discs are incompatible with home brewers so the discs will work only with the office machine. That means the discs are less likely to travel home with workers something which will be reassuring to office managers concerned about pilferage. Preparation, cleaning and maintenance chores are minimized.
TASSIMO PROFESSIONAL is offering a Tassimo Professional free demo of the system in the workplace. I’m eager to give that a try. Much as I love our local coffeehouses, there are times when I’m craving a really good cup of coffee but don’t have time to break away and go out for it. The TASSIMO PROFESSIONAL sounds like the ideal solution. Sign up at baristainside.com/workplace
Find information about this and more at the TASSIMO PROFESSIONAL Web site.
Feel richer with Straight Talk
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Would you like to spend less money on your cell phone bill? It’s not as if there aren’t plenty of other demands on your wallet. So make your money go farther by spending less on your cell phone.
You don’t need a contract to get the great nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity that Straight Talk offers. There are no surprise bills and no credit checks. Plus, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.
You get the power of Android phones, at only $45/month for unlimited use. This includes all the apps and games you need. It’s a smart phone with a smart plan, and as always, no contract.Feel Richer with Android
Straight Talk offers cost-saving cell phone plans:
• The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.
• Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web.
• Unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!
• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.
• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees
You can even get international long distance. Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.
As for the phones themselves, reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, MP3 player, mobile web access and Bluetooth® capability, great for young users! There are also amazing smart phones; touch screen phones and app-capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging and Bluetooth®.The power of Android
For more information on what these phones offer, please check out this YouTube video:
Have it all with Straight Talk by LittleBard95
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Do tell!
Writer Annie Wilder is looking for your stories. She asked that we pass along this request:
Truckers, former truckers, friends/spouses/neighbors of truckers, truck stop employees, diesel mechanics ~ got a true ghost story or unexplained paranormal experience to share? I’m looking for true personal experiences and also legends of the road (for example, a strip of highway where weird stuff is rumored to happen,…… etc.) for a book and television show. Contributors may use a pen name. Will also consider ghost stories from the road from non-truckers. For more information, visit my website or email Annie Wilder at: truckerghoststories@yahoo.com.
Deadline is June 12, 2010 so get your stories to Annie right away.
Scam alert
Jeff Cook from Future Truckers reports that a gentleman claiming to represent Boyd Brothers called yesterday claiming to need drivers now. He went by James. Jeff adds “We know Boyd Brothers does not hire students and when questioned further he simply hung up. We contacted Boyd Brothers and verified they do not have a recruiter named James and they do not hire without 3 months experience.”
The scammers do not take a rest even during the holiday season. Please be cautious.
