Whoa! Wait a minute! You mean I have a chance to save 5% more than the 20% off voucher I can request which is very visible on the sidebar?!

Why yes, yes you do! Your opportunities are flipping endless! This offer is valid until December 31st of 2009, and only applies to a finite number of exams, but if you happen to hit one of the exams which is 25% off, I’d say take that over my 20% off vouchers any day! (albeit, if its 20% or 15% off… let me know and I’ll get you a voucher if you’re in one of the 20% off countries :))

TECHNOLOGY EXAM TITLES NUMBER   Windows Server 2008 TS-Active Directory, Config 640 Get Voucher Windows Server 2008 TS – Infra Services, Config 642 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Managing and Maintaining Environment 290 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Implementing, Managing and Maintaining, Network Infra 291 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Planning and Maintaining Network Infra 293 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Planning, Implementing and Maintaining AD 294 Get Voucher Windows 7 TS – Windows 7 Configuring 680 Get Voucher Windows Vista TS – Vista Config 620 Get Voucher Windows XP Installing, Config, and Administering 270 Get Voucher Windows XP Supporting Users and Troubleshooting 271 Get Voucher Windows XP Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Apps. 272 Get Voucher SQL 2008 TS – Implementation and Maintenance 432 Get Voucher SQL 2008 TS – DB Dev 433 Get Voucher SQL 2008 TS – BI Dev 448 Get Voucher SQL 2005 TS – Implementing and Maintaining 431 Get Voucher Exchange 2007 TS – Exchange, Config 236 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 2.0, Web-based Client Dev 526 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 2.0, Web-based Client Dev 528 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 2.0, Distributed App Dev 529 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – App Dev Foundation, .NET 536 Get Voucher Virtualization TS – Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, Config 656 Get Voucher Virtualization TS – Windows Server Virtualization, Config 652 Get Voucher Sharepoint TS – Sharepoint 07 Config 630 Get Voucher Sharepoint TS – Sharepoint07, App Dev 542 Get Voucher

if you want to take an exam on this list, and you’re located in the US, UK, Germany, Australia and other 20% off countries – Let me know and I’ll get you a 20% off voucher instead!

TECHNOLOGY EXAM TITLES NUMBER   Windows Server 2008 TS – App Infra, Config 643 Get Voucher Windows Server 2008 Upgrading MCSA to MCITP 648 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Designing an AD Network Infra 297 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Designing Security 298 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Implementing and Administering Security 299 Get Voucher Windows Server 2003 Config and Managing Hosted Environments 501 Get Voucher Windows Vista TS – Deploying and Maintaining Vista and Office 2007 624 Get Voucher SQL 2005 TS – Implementing and Maintaining BI Solutions 445 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 3.5, Win Presentation Foundation 502 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 3.5, Win Communication Foundation 503 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 3.5, Workflow 504 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 3.5, Windows Forms Applications 505 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 3.5, ADO 561 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net TS – .NET 3.5, ASP.NET App Dev 562 Get Voucher Virtualization TS- System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, Configuration 403 Get Voucher Sharepoint TS – Sharepoint 3.0, App Dev 541 Get Voucher Sharepoint TS – Sharepoint Services 3.0, Config 631 Get Voucher

If you’re interested in any of these exams, are in one of above mentioned countries and want your discount until June 30th, 2010 – Let me know and go for the 20% off! :)

TECHNOLOGY EXAM TITLES NUMBER   Windows Server 2008 Pro – Server Admin 646 Get Voucher Windows Server 2008 Upgrading MCSE to MCITP 649 Get Voucher Windows Server 2008 Pro – Ent. Admin 647 Get Voucher Windows Vista Upgrading MCDST to MCITP 621 Get Voucher Windows Vista Pro – MS Desktop Support 622 Get Voucher Windows Vista Pro – Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications 623 Get Voucher SQL 2008 Pro – Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining 450 Get Voucher SQL 2008 Pro – Designing DB and Data Access 451 Get Voucher SQL 2008 Pro – BI Dev 452 Get Voucher SQL 2008 Upgrade – SQL05 to SQL08 MCITP DBA 453 Get Voucher SQL 2008 Upgrade – SQL05 to SQL08 MCITP DBD 454 Get Voucher SQL 2008 Upgrade – SQL05 to SQL08 MCITP BI 455 Get Voucher SQL 2005 Pro – Designing DB Solutions 441 Get Voucher SQL 2005 Pro – Designing and Optimizing Data Access 442 Get Voucher SQL 2005 Pro – Planning, Designing, Developing and Optimizing DB Solutions 443 Get Voucher SQL 2005 Pro – Optiming and Maintaining DB Administration 444 Get Voucher SQL 2005 Pro – Designing a BI Solution 446 Get Voucher SQL 2005 Upgrade – MCDBA to MCITP 447 Get Voucher Exchange 2007 Pro – Designing Messaging Solutions 237 Get Voucher Exchange 2007 Pro – Deploying Messaging Solutions 238 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Pro – Designing and Developing Web-based Apps using .NET 547 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Pro – Designing and Developing Windows-based applications using .Net Framework 548 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Pro – Designing and Developing Enterprise Apps using .NET 549 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using Microsoft .NET Framework for VS.NET 551 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – MCAD Skills to MCPD using .Net Framework 552 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – MCSD .Net skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 553 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – MCSD .Net Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer, Part 2 554 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Pro – Designing and Developing Windows Applications using .Net Framework 3.5 563 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Pro – Designing and Developing ASP.Net Applications Using .Net Framework 3.5 564 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Pro- Designing and Developing Enterprise Application Using .Net Framework 3.5 565 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – Transition your MCPD web developer skills to MCPD ASP .Net Developer 3.5 567 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – Transition your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Part 1 568 Get Voucher Visual Studio/.Net Upgrade – Transition your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Part 2 569 Get Voucher

If you have the chance to take these exams? Act on it! 25% off can’t be beat! (Well, unless you’re an MCT or MVP and your discounts massively out-rule that! ;)) but still! Act on these badboys! If you miss that window though, let me know and I’ll get you some vouchers to use before June 30th, 2010!

There is no better time than the present in order to get yourself certified! Take your future into your own hands – Did you hear there will be 4million IT jobs created in the next 5 years, but no qualified people to fill them? Hey.. Get Qualified! (but preferably at a discount ;))

If you haven’t already read these old tutorials (FaceBook Mafia Wars (by Zynga) secrets ! :) – What’s new in Zynga’s Mafia Wars)  on tips, tricks and other information around Mafia Wars, it never hurts! But this isn’t about high-level details, this is about nitty gritty cost effective decisions of how to keep your mafia outfitted and destroying the competition time and time again.   Yes, this has come out of my constant need to run statistical information of what is the best, and the most appropriate investment of my mafia wars resources (whether it be energy or otherwise)

This data was collected by fighting someone else and seeing what weapons at that point I was using, then charting them down to ATTACK, DEFENSE and relative COST to obtain said item.

Here is a breakdown of that data – distributed into their appropriate groups (Weapons, Armor, Vehicles)

What you may notice here, is that I call out TNT as the best item to aim for. (And yes I intentionally avoid putting the other locations of areas I don’t care about :))   As far as the cost benefit analysis and the ROI of the weapons go, TNT is far cheaper and provides JUST as much bang for the buck as the Canonazo without the extra 22 energy cost – I’d pursue Canonazo’s later on if I was hard locked in with TNT but otherwise, there really isn’t a whole lot of value of pursuing anything less than that considering the 42/20 value of TNT – So get yourself some TNT!

Wow! Look at our armor options! The best energy item for your bang is the Guerilla Squad only costing a mere 40 Energy! (With a close second for the Rebel Sniper – I do continue to use my cuban dollars to buy as many of those as I can, as 24/20 sure beats anything below it) But the 34/30 value of the Guerilla Squad is the best you’re going to get at this point in time.  It’s what wins the battle and what protects your Mafia – So pursue that, and ignore any other Armor option at this time.

We can see best from the Air, and that’s well proven with the power of the Hu-9 Helicopter! Yes I choose that bad boy, he’s essentially the same value of the Track Loader, with a 21 Energy savings to get that protection and attack strength ever so required.   While there certainly are a number of other options, look at the under/over on the energy cost differences – It is clearly negligible and well worth it to pursue the Hu-9 Helicopter of any other options that may be available.

So, as it stands these are by far the most cost effective and beneficial items you can get to protect your mafia.  This may clearly change when Moscow comes about, but until that point we’re in the clear about what it takes to defend, protect and grow our mafia’s! So take this information and if you disagree, let me know I’d love to be schooled on where I’m incorrect :)

Doh! I was busy yesterday.  Yes I forgot to read BornToLearn for the day.. end result? I missed the Exchange Beta goes public announcement which had links over to the beta blog with Register for Beta Exam 71-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring – and what this means to you and I.. is that the Beta Code of E14J is no longer available or working!

Who know this exam would be so popular! (Okay, I knew it would, but I still missed the window.. but we’ll see… :) Worst case I’ll pay to take the beta!   Here are the details of the exam.

You are invited to take beta exam 71-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.
By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

71-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

· MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuration

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Availability

Public Registration begins: August 24, 2009

Beta exam period runs: August 31, 2009– September 14, 2009

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

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Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: E14J
Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.

To register in North America, please call:

Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

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Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-662

So, if/when I take this exam, look forward to a nice Post-Mortem to come out of it! And for those of you who got in under the wire, good luck!

You ever been tooling around the book store or Amazon and came across this fine title?

Well, I don’t know about you, but the only thing better than an amazing and great title.. is a great and –free– downloadable title too!   And yes, that is correct! This book is now available for free download from Microsoft! So I encourage you to check it out, it’s only 100 pages too, so definitely a quick read! I’d like to thank our good friends at the MSPress Blog for sharing this!

Everyone wants to be sure to say things to guarantee they won’t be retweeted!  Well, here a breakdown of top items to guarantee YOU won’t get retweeted!

#10 – Be a douche!   We’ve all met the guy who frankly is a douche! You’ve seen his tweets! If you ever see an @ conversation with him and someone else you know it is obviously a typo!   He’s all about him-him-him! He clearly puts the TWIT into Twitter!    So rise up, take action and be sure to talk all about your new SEO techniques to make you millions, only $59.99 today!

#9 – Treat people like an idiot!    You’re all self important, you’re never wrong, so why change that personality once you get on twitter! I’m sure you and your 129 followers are loving your candid and quirky little ways, when even when proven and cited wrong with reference able material you continue down your track record of “Well, they’re just idiots!”

#8 – Ask people to retweet your lame tweet!     You definitely have a message to deliver, even if that message is “I must have 1000 followers by Tuesday, so please retweet my senseless plea for help!”   Far from it from me to suggest you obtain a personality and engage in conversation or sharing of information, definitely reach out to the RT-o-sphere!

#7 – Constantly start fights on twitter     I know we were having a conversation, but now I want to be rude and find something to fight about! Retweet me calling you bad names, yea!

#6 – Complain about how Twitter is getting too big!    You can’t help but complain! If it’s not that Twitter is growing too fast, it’s that it’s down today, you have an API limit, you’re following 2000 people and you cannot follow anyone else!  You’re going to switch to identi.ca today! Damnit, Twitter is like Facebook, or isn’t enough like Facebook! I MISS FRIENDFEED!

#5 – Be Racist on Twitter      Wow! You’ve sure reached a new level of engagement! Let’s take our own shallow selves and put it out to a mass of readers and listeners so we can appear ignorant on a global scale!   Racism wasn’t cool in person, and it’s even less cool when put into a social media context.   Let’s take it up a notch and get over your insecurities.

#4 – Talk about Tea Parties in every tweet     Yea, we get it.  You’re upset about something, and now you’ve decided to back a social movement which involves an idea of our founding fathers, but not taking into account the modern social meaning of the term ‘tea bagging’ and then you further don’t understand why we laugh when you talk about it?    Welcome to the internets!

#3 – Talk about your new ebook which will guarantee you thousands of followers on Twitter!   Hey, I opt’d to look at your profile instead of your ebook first, turns out you have 39 followers. WTF? Where is your credibility? If your $59.99 ebook works so well, why don’t you have more than a hand full of followers as you’re promoting?  That’s as good as the Hobo’s guide to CEO operations.

#2 – Be an unfunny contrarian    Hey, be a contrarian, I’m definitely game for that as I like taking an alternative position with an intelligent perspective on it.  But if you’re going to be contrary, at least be funny while you’re doing it.   You might even earn a retweet out of the deal!

And last but not least! Infact the number one way to guarantee you won’t get a retweet on twitter…!

#1 – If you don’t retweet me I’ll unfollow you!    Yea, I get it.   The very fabric of the universe rests upon whether this particular tweet is RT’d by me where I am.  I woke up to see I was unfollowed by the masses throughout the night because while I slept, I wasn’t auto-retweeting your hilarious antics of racist douchey contrarian bitching about the Tea Party failing to be understood by the “Idiots” in america.  IF I COULD ONLY BE ON O’REILLY FACTOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF TWITTER WOULD BE SOLVED.

Yea, I get it.

Now, I encourage you to go out there, and Retweet away! And if you’re retweeting folks like above, be sure to let them know you’ve done them a special service!  And if you’re not or you feel there are even more appropriate ways and reasons someone shouldn’t be retweeted, pass that on as well!