GIVEAWAY: 1 FREE TICKET TO #DemoCamp Toronto 20

I, as a sponsor, am entitled to 1 extra ticket and I am giving it away: send me an e-mail (the address is on Contact Me page) or leave a comment here telling me why you want to go.

Find information on Democamp here.

Microsoft, PHP, Open Source and free food!

Information courtesy of Joey DeVilla:

Garret Serack is a Calgary native who joined Microsoft two years ago as a software developer and program manager – working exclusively on open source at the Microsoft Open Source Technology Centre in Redmond. Garret’s current role at the lab is making PHP run faster on Windows,as well as working closely with the Open Source communities on similar projects. He’s going to be in Toronto on Tuesday, May 12 at Kultura Restaurant at 5:30 p.m. for an informal session to discuss his role at the lab over appetizers and drinks.

Kultura is at 169 King St. East (just east of Jarvis).

If you want to attend, drop a line to Joey DeVilla: joey.devilla@microsoft.com

Free access to Translation World Toronto (May 11-13)

You can get free access to the forum (exhibitor track only, no sessions). Registration is mandatory, though. Go here to register and select this option: $0 – Exhibits & Exhibitor Track Only (excluding translation and interpretation tracks; includes coffee breaks only). The includes coffee breaks only part means that you are not entitled to lunch, but you get full access to the exhibit area for the full day. (Please note that there is no exhibitor track on Wednesday.)

Translation World Toronto: May 11-13

The event information and the schedule

I am especially interested in this event conducted by @ryancoleman:

Workshop 1B:  Roundtable on Management Models (afternoon)

• • Robinson Kelly, CEO, Clay Tablet Technologies
  • Ryan Coleman, Co-Founder, Clay Tablet Technologies

The Integrated Lifecycle: Creating a Foundation for Envisioning and Planning an Integrated Translation Lifecycle

Over the past few years, the translation industry has seen a huge evolution in the tools, technologies and standards available to help streamline the translation process. Clients, technology providers and language service providers alike are dealing with an ever-changing landscape of service and technology offerings claiming to help make the translation process more efficient. While many organizations are beginning to embrace this shift, the industry still lacks a common language to describe and specify how the various components relate to each other to create a seamless process. This workshop aims to begin filling that gap.

During this unique, interactive session, attendees will work together through a facilitated, visual process to define the components, standards and considerations for creating integrated, efficient, translation lifecycles. Further, we’ll look at how the various components and workflows work together. This workshop is ideal for anyone who has involvement in, or direct responsibility for the ongoing improvement of processes within their organization, whether they are on the client or vendor side.

Attendees will play an active role in shaping this common language and will leave the workshop with a new tool set for envisioning and planning integrated lifecycle solutions.

Frugality is overrated?

I came across this article on saving money and started reading it with high hopes that it will point me towards prosperity and alleviate my financial cares.
But no. I was disappointed, as I have been many times before. All the advice given in this article (and many others like it) can be divided into two groups: those that are trite (”when buying, try to separate your needs from your wants”) and those not applicable to me or not very helpful (for example, I work from home and do not drive around a lot, so the gas-saving measures will not make any big difference to my budget).

Coupons are another of my pet peeves. The Simple Dollar and other frugality blogs seem to get miraculous value from them. The Simple Dollar’s Trent says that using coupons he has been able to buy large boxes of cereals and bottles of shampoo for as low as ten cents. I don’t know what’s the trick here. Maybe I just don’t get it. Maybe grocery coupons in the US work in an altogether different way than in Canada. Maybe groceries there are much cheaper. I don’t know. In my case, all the coupons can be divided into two groups: those that are only good for a small package (in which case I will get a much better value buying a large package anyway, and then I would not be able to use a coupon), and those for products that I don’t buy anyway (something overprocessed and overexpensive, in a box or a jar with a brightly coloured label). For some reasons, coupons for simple things like bread, fresh meat or vegetables never happen.
Besides, most coupons are not valid in conjunction with any other discount. Is that a purely Canadian thing?
One more thing. Trent clips his coupons out of a newspaper. Deduct the cost of newspaper subscription from the coupon savings, and what do you get?

Possibly it makes better sense to try and earn more than to save more, after all. But, alas, in the end of the day, this is also trite.

Free Microsoft software for startups

The Linked .Net Users Group (LIDNUG) is now a BizSpark Network Partner.

BizSpark program run by Microsoft gives you access to all kinds of Microsoft software for development, test and production. There is no cost to enroll and you pay just USD$100 when you exit the program.

LIDNUG is now a BizSpark Network Partner. To get access to BizSpark, send an email, and LIDNUG will respond to you with a code you can use to register.

For more details about what you get through the program, please visit “What Do I Get”.

Startup Eligibility Requirements

An eligible startup must have the following characteristics at the time of joining:

* Actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business
* Privately held
* In business for less than 3 years, and
* Less than US $1 million in annual revenue

Grants in digital media

If you are planning to develop an application in Flash and make it available for some mobile devices (e.g. cellphones, Blackberry), you might try and apply for this grant sponsored by Adobe:
http://www.openscreenproject.org/developers/get_started.html

There is also C3 Ontario program for postsecondary graduates in digital media (DATA members, OCAD and UOIT students):
http://c3ontario.com/documents/StartaBusiness_Program_Guidelines.pdf

Innovation forum 2009 with the City of Toronto – registration is now open

Who Should Attend?

Those who want to learn how to succeed in developing an innovative idea into a business venture

Aspiring Entrepreneurs and existing business owners

Investors looking to find business opportunities

Those who want to establish a wealth of innovation and business network contacts.

Come spend a day of creative thinking, innovation, education and business networking! For more information or to register, visit www.enterprisetoronto.com regularly for updated schedules, topics and speakers.

Opportunity, creativity and entrepreneurship – Innovation Forum 2009

Tuesday, June 16, at the North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The admission is free.

Mesh’09 – Social Media for non-profits workshop slides

Dmitry Buterin delivered a presentation on social media for non-profits, and a reference for the rest of us.
The slides for the presentation – in WildApricot blog

My post for Blogging Idol contest – Your IT budget on a shoestring

You have recently started a business, but don’t have a huge budget for all things IT?

Here are 17 free or inexpensive tools that will help you to establish your online presence and spread the word.

Your IT budget on a shoestring