Splash!

NY Computer Forensics Update

inkworks — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:12:03 +0000

The New York Computer Forensics Web site was the first of over a dozen domestic sites created for the parent firm, Global Digital Forensics. With offices worldwide, they definitely have their finger on the pulse of computer forensics. If you need to find out what is really stored on a hard drive, they can tell you down to the last byte of data.

Welcome to NY Computer Forensic Services!

inkworks — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:38:03 +0000

Our latest Web site debuted recently: New York Computer Forensic Services. We’ll have more on this later. This week, Kelley is recuperating from an injury to her right arm, so she’s avoiding graphics work as much as possible.

We Don’t Debase dBASE…

inkworks — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 03:31:18 +0000

A new client brought us many megs worth of exported Outlook .PST and Excel .XLS files. Spread out on all those files, his Opt-In subscriber list from his seminars that he gives worldwide. He needed all this information consolidated into a single spreadsheet containing names, e-mail addresses and snail mail addresses so he could send out e-mail newsletters and snail mail fliers. Further, he wanted the e-mail addresses imported into Constant Contact for his forthcoming new and improved newsletter. Oh, he needed someone to oversee and manage that e-mail newsletter campaign as well.

We parsed all the files and put all the information into a single spreadsheet, uploaded the e-mail addresses to Constant Contact, and sent out a test message to get double-opt-in status. “You’re receiving this e-mail because you provided your e-mail address at a seminar given by [client’s name], please reply to continue receiving his newsletter.” We are looking forward to sending out the first real newsletter.

The Excel spreadsheet and Access database work we’ve been doing with the realtors in Tampa and St. Pete came in handy, we made quick work of files containing thousands of entries and whipped it all into shape in a remarkably short amount of time. Versatility with a can-do attitude, that’s us.

The Written Word - aka Transcription Work

inkworks — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 16:12:06 +0000

A client presented us with an unusual request last week: a number of .MP3 files (constituting just shy of 3 hours of audio) that they needed transcribed. To complicate matters, some of the recordings were of marginal quality and the topics frequently ranged into very technical matters. Further complicating things, it was Friday and they needed this by Monday morning.

Well, transcription work isn’t something we usually do but we cheerfully jumped in. With our ancient transcription skills and our hardware that was not really suited for this task, we started on Friday night and turned over the deliverables on Monday morning. Which means, the client was able to bring their project in on time. Versatility and a can-do attitude, that’s us. We know what being team players is all about.

Covering for Miss Manners…

inkworks — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 01:32:16 +0000

They say big things can come in small packages, dynamite is the often cited example. After creating the book cover and doing the typesetting for this book on electronic etiquette, we think it will similarly distinguish itself.

The Business of Buying and Selling Houses

inkworks — Sat, 13 May 2006 01:25:27 +0000

The on-site realtor work came through, so far there are two branches of a national chain that we contract with - one in Tampa and the other in Saint Petersburg. Between them, they have interests in all of Hillsborough, all of Pinellas and a good part of Pasco counties. The work is fun but the commute is long, we are negotiating doing some of this as a telecommute. Here’s an interesting bit of trivia: mold, asbestos, and lead are the three most-tested-for evironmental toxins in homes. If you are in an older home or a damp/humid climate, you might want to think about getting your home tested.

Paying the Piper: the annual debt management exercise

inkworks — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 19:35:47 +0000

Today is the day. This year, all IRS tax forms and payments (where applicable) must be postmarked by the 17th. Why is it the 17th instead of the 15th? Because the 15th fell on a Saturday so it rolls over to the next business day. In some parts of the country (the New England region primarily), the 17th is a holiday so tax day will be on the 18th, there.

Our I’s are dotted and our T’s crossed, our tax forms were dropped off at the Post Office with proper postage affixed. Like millions of other Americans, we hope that next year, Congress really does simplify the tax code.

Hey! Long time no… oh hello there!

inkworks — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:45:07 +0000

It happened again. A potential client we haven’t heard from in a very, very, very long time popped up on our radar. Last year, we posted about working with an author to produce a series of books, pamphlets, and DVDs. We heard from that author again and she wants to move forward on the project we started last July.

First item: a book cover and some interior book design & typesetting for our first project with her. Stay tuned for more.

Why Bad Behavior can be a good thing

inkworks — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 18:19:20 +0000

The tweaks and peaks are nearly finished. We are experimenting with plugins as time permits, the Bad Behavior plugin in particular. It is a collection of scripts that aim to keep spammers from even finding a blog, let alone polluting its comments with drivel about performance enhancing drugs or any of the dozen or so other topics we’ve seen lately. Comment spammers have been dropping links for hotels of all things, criminy. Hotels, travel agencies, insurance, real estate, Texas Hold’em poker, the list goes on. We will probably allow a few comment spammers through so we can use them for show & tell with clients, but by & large Bad Behavior keeps the comment spammers away. We’ve seen a greatly reduced number of them with that plugin activated, anyway. We have also seen that it sometimes blocks real visitors but? It comes with a whitelist that can be used when needed.

Moving up in the world

inkworks — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 02:55:16 +0000

The old HTML news page has been morphed into a Wordpress blog and the data entries migrated. The default blog theme is being modified to resemble the look and feel of our business site. What’s next? Something about a current or recently completed project? We have a few more things to finish up with the blog configuration and then the rest will follow.