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Mark Zuckerberg could use some presentation tips from Steve Jobs, according to most everyone including CNN.com writer John Sutto who reviews the Facebook CEO's most recent company announcement in this article. Some good pointers and pointed comments can be found there.
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| Tech Community Calendar |
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Iowa .NET User Group, Thursday, August 4, 5:45 p.m., Foundry Co-Working. Topic: Having fun with data layer optimization.
Des Moines Web Geeks, Thursday, August 11, Foundry Co-Working. Topic: Web Dojo--Javascript and location.
A Des Moines Hackspace group is forming up. Here's the link to their Google group: dsmhackerspace
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| Seen on Twitter |
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From @ammunitiongroup, click on the photo to see a full size version of the "War between developers, designers & project managers."
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Indicators
There was a story on the job market that led the CBS evening news one night in June. If your perception of the current economy and jobs were based on that one story, you'd need a drink. A two-minute time slot within a news program doesn't accurately reflect or capture what is happening and just like politics, it's all local. So let's look local.
Paragon: If you want to use our activity as a barometer for the local IT job market, we saw a 9% increase in opportunities and placed 64 percent more in the second quarter compared to the second quarter of 2010.
Dice: 6% increase in Des Moines-area IT job postings in the 2nd Quarter of 2011 versus Q2 of 2010. A Dice.com survey of nearly 900 hiring managers and recruiters showed that 65% anticipated hiring more IT professionals in the second half of 2011 than in the first half. More companies are posting jobs--Dice Q2 revenue increased 50 percent compared to the second quarter 0f 2010.
Employment: The jobless rate was down in eight states, the majority of those states being in the Midwest (North Dakota leads at 3.2 percent). Iowa was held study at 6 percent.
Local earnings: Revenue and profit at local companies is a good barometer of how things are at home, and Principal, Meredith and West Bank are among the local companies who have seen their revenue and profit increase (Principal's Q2 results were the company's best since the recession). No one can beat Apple though. The company had a Q2 net profit of $7.3 billion.
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 25 Things - Lacy BrunnetteForbes magazine says Des Moines is America's #1 city for young professionals. Lacy J. Brunnette just happens to be a YP. She's involved--part of the tech crowd, fashion blogger, former Des Moines Derby Dame, works in tech marketing for a local CRM company. And she's fun, which is why we wanted to know more about her. Here's some Q&A and 25 things about "Cosmo Disco":
Q: How did you come up with the name "Cosmo Disco"?
A: When I started derby, I felt that many of my derby sister counterparts were much bigger and more vicious than me, so I didn't want to have a super tough and gory name (like when someone names a chihuahua, "Killer"). Lady Gaga and David Bowie are hugely inspirational to me, so I went with a dance party-type of name.
Q: What was your best memory of playing roller derby?
A: From a production level, the Des Moines Derby Dames put on the best show in the state. My favorite home game was the 2011 spring season opener at the Jacobson Building versus the Quad City Rollers. It was an absolutely electric atmosphere with 2,500+ fans in attendance. Road trips with the girls were always a lot of fun too.
Q: What are your recommendations for getting involved in the Des Moines tech scene?
A: Des Moines' tech scene is accessible on many different levels depending on what you are looking for. The best way to get involved is to get on Twitter and find the power users. They are always tweeting about fun events. Also, the Technology Association of Iowa hosts excellent networking, TechBrew, the second Thursday of each month at Dos Rios where you can meet some of the local who's-who.
25 Things about Lacy...
- Nothing makes me happier in life than going fast.
- I can re-enact all 12 books of Milton's Paradise Lost with gangster rap influences.
- The smell of ketchup gives me anxiety attacks.
- If I could have lunch with any living person it would Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief, Graydon Carter.
- Entourage is my favorite TV show.
- I have started writing the next great American novel and plan to finish it when I'm 40.
- I do believe all world problems can be solved with pugs and hugs.
- I own 45 different colors of nail polish and paint my nails three times a week.
- My first job was teaching ice skating.
- Folger's commercials make me cry.
- I make amazing mix tapes and want to be a DJ in my next life.
- My favorite accessory is a good pair of leg warmers.
- My next big purchase will be a Zip Zinger board.
- I believe all of the advice you need, can be found in the lyrics of a Bruce Springsteen song.
- I credit all of my best traits to being Scandinavian.
- Some of my most favorite words are four-letters long.
- I admire vegans' dedication.
- I think fishnets are better ripped (a la Megger Bomb).
- I look to music icons for fashion inspiration.
- The only TV station I can completely zone out to is Fuel TV.
- I show love by giving presents.
- I am currently working on producing my first fashion show.
- I do believe hand-written notes are a lost art.
- My favorite reoccurring dream is where I live and travel around on a giant cloud.
- My greatest fear is mediocrity.
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