What Are The Hourly Rates For IT Contractors? 
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The Lifehacker Total Security Guide 
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How To Kill Time Productively On Your Phone How-to blog Tech-Recipes.com offers a useful desktop optimisng tip for Ubuntu/GNOME newcomers (and those of us who forgot it was there). The bottom taskbar installed in Ubuntu and most GNOME-based desktops can group application windows together in a fashion similar to XP. To make it do so, right-click on the dotted section just to the left of your “Windows List” section (in Ubuntu, that’s between the “Show Desktop” button and the window buttons). Select “Preferences,” and then choose either “Group windows when space is limited” or “Always group windows.” Nifty tip, and not so easy to find. Ubuntu: Enable Window Grouping on the Windows List [Tech-Recipes.com]
Windows XP only: The good news is, Shock Aero 3D is a free, easy-to-install app for Windows XP that gives you the same kind of 3D window-shuffling task switcher that Windows has with Flip 3D. The not-so-great news is that it’s not exactly a full replacement. The visual effects are both fast and pretty similar-looking, but you have to click on Shock’s taskbar icon to flip through windows, rather than just simply Win+Tab-ing until you hit what you want. For those seeking a little more flash while they’re still in XP, Shock Aero 3D sits nicely next to other XP “upgrades” like Vista cursors and a Vista-styled Start menu. Shock Aero 3D is a free download for Windows XP only. Shock Aero 3D [via Confessions of a Freeware Junkie]
The Web Worker Daily blog pulls a snippet from one of the latest business-advice tomes, Susan L. Reid’s Discovering Your Inner Samurai, one that speaks to a way of choosing from all your possible actions (Answer email? Do research? Crank widgets?) when you don’t have a logical next step. Reid’s suggestion: Two priorities; one-month commitment. That’s all. Of course, if you can, you might narrow that priority down to one. Most of us, though, unless we are in an extreme situation, will have two.
That doesn’t, of course, mean skipping everything else for one month, but dividing your year into 12 chances to hone in on something that could use a little more attention than it usually gets—like keeping a workspace clean, in my case. How do you go about giving tasks priority and choosing what gets done next? Share your own samurai code in the comments. Tip of the Week: Two Priorities/One Month [Web Worker Daily]
Windows only: Add any program on your system to your Windows Control Panel with YourCPL, a two-file utility that lets you put some of your more handy system tools into one place. YourCPL is actually two files, a text configuration file and a system-tweak you place in your “System” or “System32″ folder. Add the paths to your programs in the configuration text, and they’ll show up in Control Panel (but only on the first screen if you’re using “Classic View.”) YourCPL obviously requires a little digging to get in place, but you won’t have to worry about borking your registry to do so—if you mess up, no harm, no foul. YourCPL is a free download and works with all versions of Windows. YourCPL [via gHacks]
Got more than one SSH connection you need to keep open in uber-helpful terminal app PuTTY? Want to keep multiple SSH windows open in one full-screen window? The free PuTTY Connection Manager app does that and more. The free download only requires you to point it toward your existing PuTTY installation, but once you launch it, you’ll notice a slick new “Connection Manager” toolbar, have the ability to theme your windows, and make other helpful and slick-looking adjustments. PuTTY Connection Manager is a free download for Windows systems and works wherever PuTTY does. For more Windows terminal tweaking, try PuTTY Tray and PortaPutTTY. PuTTY Connection Manager [via How-To Geek]
Two years ago, you learned how to survive IT lockdown to get things done by circumventing computer usage policies.
Web learning site Education Portal points to 10 universities (and semi-universities) that offer free online writing courses. Covering everything from fiction and screenwriting to technical documentation, the offerings range from course notes and texts to full lecture videos. For anyone looking to get started in the field or just explore their creative side, it’s a helpful list of resources to keep in mind. For more higher learning at very low prices, check out Wendy’s trip through the .EDU underground and ten universities with free online courses. 10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online [Education Portal via Red Ferret Journal]
