Consulting and Independent Contracting SIG: Notes From an Isolated Writer

by Elaine Garnet, CIC SIG Co-ordinator

It must be nice to work in a firm where there is computer expertise on call. Working as an independent business woman, I often find myself in the cold. One day my brand new printer refused to print a document and all my tried and true recipes for coaxing a response failed to produce results. I threw in the towel and called the printer support line.

Windows XP and System Resources

I learned that my system resources were probably low and I shouldn't rely on Windows XP to inform me of that fact. Here's what I had to do and what I now do on a regular basis (with apologies to software manual writers):

1. Select Start and then click on Run...
2. In the entry box, type %temp% and click OK. Do you see all those files? What a nightmare.
3. Press Ctrl+A to select all the files and then press the Delete button. With any luck, those files will disappear, freeing up your system resources.

If Windows objects to a deletion, you may have to delete the files in blocks (You know - select, hold, shift, and drag).

Other Browsers on the Block

Here's another item of interest. Maybe I'm a bit behind on the news, but it seems Internet Explorer and Netscape aren't the only boys on the block. There is an open source browser called Firefox, which looks interesting. I plan to take it for a spin. The e-mail counterpart is called Thunderbird.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Has anyone had experience with these programs? I'd like to hear from you.

Until then, if you should see smoke rising from Kitchener, it's my computer.

Words to Live By

The following is from an e-mail that I received, so I don't know the author, but the content makes you stop and think.

The most destructive habit..............................Worry

The greatest joy......................................Giving

The greatest loss.......................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work......................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait....................Selfishness

The most endangered species.................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource.......................Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm"..................Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome.........................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill................Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease....................Excuses

The most powerful force in life..........................Love

The most dangerous pariah..........................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer................The brain

The worst thing to be without............................Hope

The deadliest weapon..............................The tongue

The two most power-filled words......................"I Can"

The greatest asset.....................................Faith

The most worthless emotion..........................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire..............................SMILE!

The most prized possession......................... Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication...........Prayer

The most contagious spirit.............................Enthusiasm

About Elaine Garnet

Elaine is a writer with twelve years of experience in the scientific and engineering fields. Her years of experience, coupled with three degrees and one diploma, have resulted in projects with over 30 companies during the four years that she has owned and operated her business—Words To Order. 

Currently, Elaine writes the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) reports that technology-based companies submit to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to obtain tax credits. She also prepares documentation for Industrial Research Assistance Program grants, as well as proposals and business plans.