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The Contractors Group .com

Website and Newsletter

<http://www.thecontractorsgroup.com>

March 02, 2001 Issue #13

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WOW!! WE JUST PASSED OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! During the past year we have gone from just a few page views per month to just under 10,000 per month (it means that various pages at our site are viewed 10,000 times per month!).

 

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From: David Vincent, President and

Sigrun Vincent, Secretary/Treasurer

White LFNT Equipment Rental, Incorporated

 

"I read your newsletter whenever possible. My wife and I run a heavy equipment rental, operated and maintained, and we value all the tips you have. I look forward to your future articles and wish you success in your venture. I think the tool page is an excellent idea and look forward to some good deals." Thank you both of you!

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE -

 

1. ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM FOR ALL CELL PHONE USERS - Enjoy :)

2. Information expired

3. Knowing your forms makes a difference.....

4. Announcements.....

5. February Contest Winner.....

 

 

1. DOES YOUR CELL PHONE HAVE A MIND OF ITS' OWN? IS IT MAKING PHONE CALLS THAT YOU ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF? DOES IT DIVULGE YOUR INNERMOST SECRETS TO PEOPLE? THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS (AND MORE) ARE MOST LIKELY YES, YES, and YES!!!

 

Your cell phone might have already turned on you, and if it has, what it is divulging about you to your business associates, family and friends can be shocking (not to mention embarrassing)!!

 

I have to admit that at first I was a skeptic also. How could my cell phone possibly turn on me and reveal the most intimate details of my life? I truly believed that my cell phone was my good friend, there whenever I needed a voice to speak with and/or listen to. Any time I was on a jobsite, I could use my cell phone to find out why my material delivery was late, or hear my employee's 512th excuse as to why he couldn't get to the jobsite on time, again, etc. If I were stuck somewhere, I could always turn to my cell phone for help. When not in use, it would wait contentedly (or so I thought) in it's holster until I was ready to use it again. Little did I know what mischievous little plans my cell phone was hatching.

 

Wondering what I'm talking about? Well folks, it's simple..... Cell phones have learned how to self-dial, and they are very much taking advantage of that new knowledge. It started out slow, but over the past couple months it appears that the problem is spreading significantly. What is self-dial, you ask? First of all, be aware that this phenomenon occurs only when you are not looking, so don't even waste your time trying to see it happen, because you won't. These cell phones are deceptively silent, sitting there in the holster on your hip. What usually happens is this: The cell phone dials a number when you are not looking (usually the most recent number dialed, virtually guaranteeing that you will know the person called, thereby further enhancing any embarrassment you might experience) and when the receiving party answers the ring, he/she is greeted with 'sounds'. What 'sounds' you ask? Why, sounds of whatever you are doing at that particular moment. If you are walking around on the jobsite, the party on the other end of your cell phone will hear your footsteps, tools jingling if you have a tool belt on, etc. If you are speaking with someone, the party on the other end of your cell phone might hear portions of your conversation and if you are at a seminar, the party on the other end of your cell phone might hear bits of what the speaker is saying, as well as any noises throughout the meeting room, etc. Now here's the most disturbing part of this phenomenon - These cell phones have absolutely NO MODESTY!! Cell phones are not discerning in choosing when to self-dial. It can happen at ANY TIME, and it has. I have been present at meetings that I did not attend, walked jobsites without ever setting a foot on the property, listened to the radio in someone's truck without being in or even near the vehicle, and yes I have even been present during the 'unthinkable'..... trips to the 'toitie' (and remember I mentioned that you can 'hear noises throughout the....room'). This should make you really stop and think. What private moments might *your* cell phone be divulging, from where it sits in that holster on your hip, appearing so innocently inanimate? It is very important that you do not forget that anything goes with these cell phones, they will tell the world (or at least one person anyway) anything and EVERYTHING about you, and you will never know unless someone tells you, which of course could be extremely embarrassing depending upon what it was they heard you doing!

 

So, if you've been the receiver of one or more of these phone calls, you already know to be aware of your cell phone, but for those of you who have been the unknowing participant in one or more of these (shall we say 'voyeuristic'?) phone calls, and have not yet had the 'pleasure' of receiving one yourself, please be aware of this rapidly increasing affliction among cell phones which is now known as the 'Self-Dial' affliction!

 

Don't get caught with YOUR pants down! :)

 

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This article was written by Diane Dennis, website designer and creator/manager of <http://www.thecontractorsgroup.com>, a website designed to provide FREE construction management solutions such as forms and tutorials. Republication of this entire article and/or portions of it is allowed as long as this entire paragraph (along with working links) is published along with it. You can subscribe to the FREE construction related Enewsletter that Diane publishes by clicking here. You can reach Diane here.

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2. USEFUL (AND often FREE) ITEMS FOR CONTRACTORS!!

Information expired

 

 

##########################INSURANCE###############################

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSURANCE BROKERAGE, INC.: Insurance, Bonds,

etc. Request your insurance certificates on-line and avoid toll

charges!

<http://www.thecontractorsgroup.com/southerncaliforniainsurance>

##################################################################

 

3. KNOWING YOUR FORMS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

 

*****We have a few new forms posted at the site: Time Card, Letter of Transmittal and a Fax Cover Sheet. Did you know that we also have the W4 and I9 posted? We received a wonderful compliment from Elizabeth at Bedard Controls Inc. in Solvang, California, "Once again I find myself using your great forms page to print (an) I-9 and W-4 for a new employee. I love the idea that I am not copying, and filing these forms. By printing them off your site as I need them, I save ink, paper, and filing cabinet space... Just wanted to let you know your site is being used and appreciated.". Thank you so much Elizabeth!

Click here to see a list of forms at the site.

 

By the way, I am looking for suggestions as to a new layout for the forms page. As I add more forms, the organization is suffering. Any ideas, anyone?

 

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS.....

 

*****In the past I mentioned that the County of San Bernardino was putting their real property auction on the WWW. Here is the web address <http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/tax>. Their next scheduled auction is March 5 & 6, 2001. Preregistration is through March 2. Click on the link to read all about it!

 

5. CONTEST INFO

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To view past issues, click here

<http://www.thecontractorsgroup.com/newsletters.htm>

 

Have fun, be safe, and thanks again for all of your support!!
Diane Dennis