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IT Press Releases

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Page Contents
(4/10/2008) Birmingham-Area Cartridge World says
(9/17/2008) IHS and ITSBITS® Release Version 2.0 of Catapult Garage Software Package
(7/31/2008) InfraGard National Members Alliance Announces Dr. Kathleen Kiernan as
(5/17/2008) ITSBITS® PingBats Software Announced
(5/27/2008) Latest Generation Of Residence Inn Coming To Hoover Near Malls And Shopping
(10/6/2008) Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming With C# 2008
(7/30/2008) Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with VB 2008
Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming With C# 2008

(10/6/2008)   Mike Murach & Associates has just published a 3.5 edition of their best-selling ASP.NET book, now entitled ’Murachs ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with C# 2008 .

As its title implies, this book presents all of the best new ASP.NET 3.5 features as it teaches web programming. That includes the ListView and DataPager controls that allow for complex data handling; LINQ data sources for accessing data using C# constructs; new tools for working with cascading style sheets (CSS); and an introduction to ASP.NET AJAX that shows how it can improve the performance of web applications.

But beyond that, this book has several features that make it different from other ASP.NET 3.5 books.

  1. There’s a 7-chapter section on database programming
  2. It teaches development the way it should be done today, using Visual Studio
  3. Complete applications show how all the pieces interact
  4. The paired-pages format lets developers set their own pace

Beginners find that this format breaks the material down into manageable bites. Experienced developers find that they can pick up on information that’s new or interesting just by paging through. And developers at any level find that they can easily pinpoint the details they need when they’re using the book as a reference.

Murachs ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with C# 2008
www.Murach.com
Authors: Anne Boehm and Joel Murach
Pages: 1000
ISBN: 978-1-890774-48-6
Price: $52.50

Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with C# 2008 is available directly from the publisher at www.murach.com and from all major retail outlets.

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IHS and ITSBITS® Release Version 2.0 of Catapult Garage Software Package

(9/17/2008)  

IHS, Incorporated, is happy to announce the release of their Catapult Garage Software, Version 2.0. The new version includes one major upgrade and three entirely new tools designed to improve productivity for users:

  • The Make-Project Tool has been greatly improved, giving lots more control over how you can define what is included in a project.
  • New Project Copy / Move Tool -- Once you've predefined a project, this tool will let you specify a destination folder and copy or move everything in the project to that definition. This is a valuable tool for quick backups as well as for copies you need to make on a regular basis. Since it is limited to a given project, it gives you extremely fine control over what will be copied or moved.
  • New Folder Permissions Tool -- No need to navigate across the domain in Windows Explorer--just type in a folder path and click the "process-it" button and you'll see who has permissions on a folder as well as what those permissions are...assuming, of course, that you have the correct permissions to let you see the information in the first place. Great for IT pros and administrators.
  • New Folder Management Tool -- This tool lets you define a copy-folder and/or move-folder activity and reuse the saved definition over and over again with just a couple of key strokes. You have numerous new options about how the activity takes place, and a log file that shows you what failed (if anything.) You can maintain (or not) files' and folders' attributes. You can also reverse destination and source so a backup can be restored very quickly. The issue is one of speed and control so something you're doing on a regular basis is much quicker--as an example, the option to copy only newer files can save you hours of wait time all by itself.

Users of version 1.x are encouraged to download and upgrade to the new version free of charge.

If you don't yet enjoy the power of the workshops and tools in the Catapult Garage software, you can purchase it for just $24.95 at our website: www.ITSBITS.com

About IHS, Incorporated:
IHS is a close-held minority-owned independent software vendor founded in 1987. We provide business consulting services including computer and security consulting, custom software and website services. ITSBITS® is the marketing arm of our company.

Software reviewers:

Please see our contact page at www.itsbits.com/contactus. We will be happy to provide you with a marketing kit, free copy of the software, etc.

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InfraGard National Members Alliance Announces Dr. Kathleen Kiernan as

(7/31/2008)  (Washington, DC) - (July 28) - A 29-year Federal Law Enforcement official is the new leader ofthe InfraGard National Members Alliance. InfraGard was started by the FBI 12 years ago as analliance between the FBI and the over 26,000 FBI-vetted members to provide two-way rapidinterface with the Bureau and the leaders and experts of this country’s critical infrastructure. Dr.Kathleen Kiernan, retired Assistant Director for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms andExplosives (ATF), has been named as the Chairman of the InfraGard National Board of Directors.Dr. Kiernan has been a member of the Board of Directors for the last two years.

“Dr. Kiernan is the ideal leader to shape the future of the InfraGard program and concept, and Iam confident in her ability to enable trusted relationships across the public and private sectorsand build infrastructure protection, one local community at a time,” said Dr. Phyllis Schneck, whohas led the National presence since 2001.

Dr. Kiernan spent a 29-year career in Federal Law Enforcement and is currently the CEO of TheKiernan Group, Inc. She previously served as the Assistant Director for the Office of StrategicIntelligence and Information for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).Dr. Kiernan is a Council Vice President for ASIS International, a member of the InternationalAssociation of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Terrorism subcommittee, an Intelligence Fellow (2001),and graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute, Class 26.

Dr. Kiernan has a Doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois University (with highest honors)and a Master's of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military IntelligenceCollege in Washington, D.C. She also holds a Master's of Arts degree in InternationalTransactions from George Mason University in Virginia. In 2001, Dr. Kiernan was recognized asan outstanding scholar by Northern Illinois University and as an outstanding alumnus in 2005. Dr.Kiernan is a faculty member of Johns Hopkins University where she teaches in the MastersProgram on Intelligence Analysis. She is a Senior Fellow for the George Washington UniversityHomeland Security Policy Institute and is a member of the Army Science Board.

In taking on this role, Dr. Kiernan praised the efforts of both Dr. Schneck and the Board ofDirectors for building such a viable and vitally important organization, she commented that “as aresult of this pioneering work, there are subject matter experts representing all 18 elements of thenational critical infrastructure engaged in contributing to a safer America.”Dr. Schneck said, “Dr. Kiernan brings the optimal combination of experience, intelligence andpersonality necessary to engage an entire nation on a focused, local mission.”

In addition to Dr. Kiernan, the following have been added to the Board of Directors.

  • Ms. Dyann Bradbury was elected by the 86 InfraGard Members Alliances (IMAs) at the AnnualInfraGard National Congress on June 02 to serve a three-year term on the INMA Board. Ms.Bradbury is currently Associate Director of Compliance for ecommerce service provider DigitalRiver.
  • Mr. Michael Hershman was appointed by the INMA Board of Directors to a two-year term on theINMA Board. Mr. Hershman is President and CEO of The Fairfax Group.
  • Mr. Bryant Tow was re-elected at the Annual Congress to a second three-year term on theINMA Board by the 86 IMAs at the Annual Congress. Mr. Tow currently is the GlobalCompetency Lead - Enterprise Security for Unisys Corp.In addition to the above Board members, the following officers have been elected to one-yearterms by the INMA Board.
  • Mr. Ronald L. Dick will serve as the President of the Corporation for the INMA beginning inJanuary 2009. Until that time, current President Robert Schmidt will be Acting President. Mr.Dick retired from the FBI after 25 years in federal law enforcement. Most recently, he served as aSenior Executive as the Director of the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) and FBIDeputy Assistant Director for the Counterterrorism and Cyber Crimes Divisions. Mr. Dick iscurrently a Director for Homeland Security Programs for Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC).
  • Mr. Joseph Calvanico is the Vice President for Fundraising. Mr. Calvanico is the Director ofReal Estate Valuation and Property Tax for Grant Thornton LLP.
  • Mr. Jerry Dixon has been re-elected to serve as the Vice President for Government Relations.Mr. Dixon is currently the Director of Analysis for Team Cymru focused on supporting customersand conducting cyber-security research.
  • Deputy Superintendent Mr. Bill Casey, Board member, has been elected to be the INMA’sParliamentarian. Mr. Casey has been with the Boston Police Department since 1983.
  • Ms. Sheri Donahue has been re-elected by the Board of Directors to serve as the Secretary ofthe INMA as well as having been contracted as the Managing Director. Ms. Donahue is currentlywith Norwich University Applied Research Institutes (NUARI), an affiliate of Norwich University,Northfield, VT.
  • Mr. Freeman Mendell, Board member, has been elected to be the Treasurer of the INMA. Mr.Mendell is the EDP Audit Manager for the Galveston County Auditor’s Office in Galveston County,TX.
  • Mr. Paul Page is the Vice President for Corporate Communications. Mr. Page is withABC/ESPN Sports where he does play by play for auto racing and other outdoor sporting events.- Mr. Robert Pate has been re-elected by the Board of Directors as the Vice President for SpecialProjects. Mr. Pate is currently Chief Security Officer with Renesys.
  • Ms. Laurie Venditti has been selected as the Vice President Regional Communications. Ms.Venditti is the Business Development Manager for Autonomy-Virage Security and Surveillance.Full bios for all INMA Board Members and Officers are available at www.infragardmembers.org.

About InfraGard and the InfraGard National Members Alliance
The InfraGard Program began in 1996 as a collaborative effort between private sector cyberprofessionals and the FBI field office in Cleveland Ohio. The FBI later expanded the program toevery field office in the country. In 2003 the private sector members of InfraGard formed the“InfraGard National Members Alliance” (INMA). The INMA is a non-profit Delaware LLC with501(c)3 status. The INMA LLC is comprised of 86 separate 501(c)3 InfraGard Members Alliances(IMAs) that represent over 26,000 FBI-vetted, InfraGard Subject Matter Experts. The INMA has adual-focus value proposition. It provides its members with unmatched opportunities to promotethe physical and cyber security of their organizations through access to a trusted, nationalnetwork of Subject Matter Experts from the public and private sectors. And, it providesgovernment stakeholders, across the local, state, and Federal levels, with unmatched access tothe expertise and experience of critical infrastructure owners and operators. For moreinformation about InfraGard, please visit www.infragard.net. For more information about theINMA, please visit www.infragardmembers.org

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Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with VB 2008

(7/30/2008)  Mike Murach & Associates has just published a 3.5 edition of their best-selling ASP.NET book, now entitled Murachs ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with VB 2008. As its title implies, this book presents all of the best new ASP.NET 3.5 features as it teaches web programming. That includes the ListView and DataPager controls that allow for complex data handling; LINQ data sources for accessing data using VB constructs; new tools for working with cascading style sheets (CSS); and an introduction to ASP.NET AJAX that shows how it can improve the performance of web applications.

But beyond that, this book has several features that make it different from other ASP.NET 3.5 books.

  1. There’s a 7-chapter section on database programming
    That’s two more chapters than in the previous edition because .NET continues to deliver new, powerful tools for this critical component of business applications.

    So this section still teaches the basics of database programming using SQL data sources and controls like GridView. But it also shows how to use the versatile new ListView control in conjunction with the new DataPager control. It shows how to use LINQ data sources, also new in 3.5, to access SQL Server data using the Object Relational Designer and the LinqDataSource control. And it has expanded material on how to use object data sources to create 3-layer applications with custom business and data access classes.

  2. It teaches development the way it should be done today, using Visual Studio
    The 1.x edition of this book was one of the first to teach web development using Visual Studio instead of tools like Notepad. Today, no developer should miss out on the productivity features that Visual Studio offers. So they’re integrated throughout this book, rather than being relegated to just a chapter or two at the beginning.

  3. Complete applications show how all the pieces interactThe key to mastering web development is to have plenty of applications that show how the features you’re learning interact and what problems you might run into as you build a website. So this book shows complete applications, including the web forms, the aspx code, and the VB code. These can be downloaded for free from the Murach website, so developers can experiment with them on their own.

  4. The paired-pages format lets developers set their own paceMurach books have a distinctive format. Each two-page spread presents a single topic: the lefthand page explains the topic, while the righthand page shows the critical details, using syntax, code, screen shots, and how-to notes.

Beginners find that this format breaks the material down into manageable bites. Experienced developers find that they can pick up on information that’s new or interesting just by paging through. And developers at any level find that they can easily pinpoint the details they need when they’re using the book as a reference.

Murach’s ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming with VB 2008 is available directly from the publisher at www.murach.com  and from all major retail outlets.
Author: Anne Boehm
Pages: 1000
ISBN: 978-1-890774-47-9
Price: $52.50

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Latest Generation Of Residence Inn Coming To Hoover Near Malls And Shopping

(5/27/2008)  The IT community is always on the road. So if you're among that number and plan a trip into the Hoover area--maybe you're bringing your wife with you--here's some news to put in your back pocket.

From the complimentary morning paper at your door to the weekly barbeques on the outdoor patio, Residence Inn by Marriott has all the comforts of home. They don't serve you a choice of two fattening pastries or a little box of cereal and call it breakfast--they serve you a real breakfast with your choice of any number of foods. You can leave behind a list of groceries you'd like and they'll have them for you when you get back that afternoon, take a dip in their pool, and go to their social hour. Finish your day with popcorn and a movie on the flat-screen TV or plug in their wired free internet connection (it actually works in your room--what a novel idea) and check your email--in a large, comfortable room that comes equipped with a real kitchenette stocked with cooking utensils, china, and everything you'll need.

Now a newest-generation Residence Inn is being built in Hoover on Highway 150--it will open in Mid-July, 2008. It will be just across the street from the Wal-Mart shopping center. That's in the middle of a number of great restaurants and just down the road from the Patton Creek and Galleria Mall shopping centers so there's anything from office supplies to, well, you name it...within a couple of miles. Shopping galore. If you have guests coming to the Hoover area, or if you need a place for a meeting, you can't go wrong with Residence Inn. Call Kimberly Bryant at 205-733-1655 or email her at KimberlyBryant@Marriott.com and make your reservations today. If you haven't tried a Residence Inn before, you're in for a real treat.

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ITSBITS® PingBats Software Announced

(5/17/2008)  IHS, Incorporated, has announced the release of their new ITSBITS® PingBats Software. The software is designed to help end users and IT professionals quickly troubleshoot network connectivity problems. The software is easily configured to ping different IP addresses on the network. Results are then shown in green, yellow for slow response times, and red for no response. A "what it means" page is only two mouse clicks away so the user will have an indication of the nature of the problem. "Who-to-call" information is also only a couple mouse clicks away as well.

The help-desk professional will enjoy having the user tell them where pinging fails and, just in case it's needed, the full output of the "IPConfig /all" command is readily available.

ITSBITS® PingBats software can be customized for your company and large-volume licensing is available upon request. Normal pricing for the ITSBITS® Pingbats software is just $15.00 and a more information as well as a trial version of the software can be downloaded from the ITSBITS® website at  www.ITSBITS.com/PingBatsSale1/ 

About IHS, Incorporated:
IHS, Incorporated, is a close-held corporation (and ITSBITS®)located in Birmingham, Alabama, IHS has been working in IT for over 20 years producing both custom and off-the-shelf software. In addition, the ITSBITS® Marketing Group in Birmingham is run by IHS. Current software products include Catapult Garage Software, PingBats Software, Fixed-rate Amortization Schedule software, Technical Support Software, and Job-1 Services Monitoring Software...all are available through a number of different retail and download outlets as well as on the company's website at www.ITSBITS.com

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Birmingham-Area Cartridge World says

(4/10/2008)   “Please Don't Feed the Landfill”

Contact:
Cristine Ferguson
Cartridge World - Birmingham
(205) 408-0506
cferguson@cartridgeworldusa.com

International Ink Cartridge Retailer is Educating
Consumers and Businesses to Keep Cartridges out of
Trash Bins and Offers Tips for a ‘Greener’ Home and Business

Birmingham, AL (Grassroots Newswire) April 1, 2008 -- A discarded printer cartridge thrown into a landfill can take up to 450 years to decompose. With over 350 million cartridges thrown out every year, a mountain of e-waste is steadily forming throughout our nation’s landfills. Since printers are commonplace in every home office and business, it makes sense to reuse and refill empty ink and toner cartridges.

With 1,600 stores worldwide, Cartridge World - Birmingham is part of a mission throughout the U.S. to educate local consumers and businesses on how they can help make a difference in the planet’s limited natural resources. Aside from being the international leader in printer cartridge remanufacturing, Scott Ferguson, local Cartridge World store owner, is proud to be part of this great national effort.

As Earth Day is approaching, it is the perfect time of year to remind consumers of the ways to create a "green" home and work environment. Implementing green practices at times can be costly but, by refilling printer cartridges at Cartridge World, consumers will actually save money and help the environment at the same time. Cartridge World - Birmingham has developed programs to make recycling printer cartridges easier for consumers and businesses.

Customers simply swap out an empty, original cartridge or purchase one already refilled and find a significant savings compared to buying new. Recycling bins are also stationed at all Cartridge World retail locations, including the 1401 Doug Baker Blvd., Ste 103 location, for the general public to drop off their empty cartridges.

Businesses can also help protect the environment and save money by participating in the Business Direct program, which allows businesses to set up accounts with Cartridge World. Cartridge World then picks up the empty toner cartridges; refills and delivers each back to the business (most offer free pick-up and delivery for qualified businesses). Businesses are saving hundreds to thousands of dollars each year by using Cartridge World’s remanufactured and 100 percent guaranteed products.

“With our continued commitment to recycling, we look forward to the day when reusing and refilling cartridges is as common as separating waste materials in our homes,” said Ferguson. “Recycling programs for cans, bottles and papers are mainstream, but few realize the additional impact they can make by reusing and refilling printer ink cartridges.”

Cartridge World reports some shocking ink and toner cartridge facts:
  • It takes about a gallon of oil to make a new toner cartridge. This will help save oil, especially with the current gas/oil situation
  • Almost eight cartridges are thrown away per second in the United States
  • In North America alone, over 350 million cartridges per year are discarded in our landfills, and that number increases by 12 percent annually
  • Every remanufactured cartridge saves nearly 3.5 pounds of solid waste from being deposited in landfills
  • Seventy percent of used printer cartridges throughout the world are currently being thrown out
  • In one year, if the world’s discarded cartridges were stacked end-to-end; they would circle the earth over three times.

Cartridge World recommends the following tips for an environmentally friendly home office/business:

  • Refill and reuse empty ink jet and toner cartridges
  • Use rewriteable CDs and DVDs so they can be re-used again
  • Print double sided
  • Decrease margin areas to fit more copy on a page
  • Double-check your drafts before you print
  • Communicate with team members about who will bring printouts to meetings
  • Turn off all electrical equipment at night.

Cartridge World’s customers are making a difference in the environment by keeping millions of empty cartridges out of trash bins.

“Officially Earth Day is April 22nd, but at Cartridge World, it’s every day,” adds Ferguson.

For more information on Cartridge World - Birmingham, and their recycling programs, please contact Scott Ferguson at (205)408-0506.

About Cartridge World

Emeryville, CA - based Cartridge World is the world’s fastest growing ink and toner refilling retailer and franchisor in the $80 billion printer cartridge industry. The company refills and remanufactures inkjet and toner printer cartridges, using state-of-the-art processes and high quality inks and toners. It offers consumers and businesses a more affordable option to buying new, provides a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee and helps the environment by keeping cartridges out of landfills. Voted #1 in the category of toner replacement services by Entrepreneur Magazine Franchisee 500, Cartridge World has more than 1,600 franchised retail locations in 61 countries. For more information, call (888)99-REFILL or visit cartridgeworldusa.com

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