So, the finalists are in for the contest I mentioned recently OMG! @Veeam backup supports restoring you to @VMWorld2009 to determine who will be voted on their way to attend VMWorld in San Francisco!

I know I said I’d record a video, and yes I did actually record a video but because I wanted Gabe to win, I opted to not compete (Let’s just say.. I’m a pain in the ass competitor and had a strong chance of taking it from him and everyone else ;)) I may post my video later not for credit to win… but that’s not what we’re here to discuss!

The contestants are in! And you have the opportunity to vote for the best! (Gabe) and comment to win a Flip Camera! (Hey, are you telling me, register, vote, comment = win?!)

Then yes, that is exactly what I’m telling you!  Oh, and check out some really cool software which will help resolve a number of challenges in your infrastructure and virtual environment, that too.  Being that a Flip Camera is not the only free possibility, since they have the Free Veeam Monitor Free Veeam FastSCP and more!

So be sure to go out there, vote for the best of the best! (That’d be Gabrie Van Zanten ;)), comment, and win a Flip Camera! (Check out the goods, make your life and job easier, win!)

It’s all so very straight forward! And be sure to check out Gabe’s blog, it’ll be an investment you’re glad you made!

So, just click the “I love Veeam” above, Vote, Comment and you could win a Flip!

Disclaimer: I am not a shill, I have no affiliation with Gabe other than the best of respect for his contributions back into the community   Were I to compete with Gabe or anyone else on the team, I likely would have obliterated them as I tend to take things considerably too far, and have at my beck and call a series of video editors and production people. ;)  Just so you don’t think this is biased, he deserves to win :)

Happy Fathers Day to me! I got one of the coolest gifts you can imagine! That’s right! USB Rechargeable batteries! When you’re as hard to shop for as I happen to be… finding something I’ll enjoy that I don’t already own is nearly impossible, but that task was accomplished with this!  (Yes I know Fathers Day isn’t for a few weeks, but we’re celebrating early this year!)

Part of what makes this so cool is it’s sheer portability!  I don’t know about you, but I have a number of devices I carry with me which use AA Batteries (or batteries in general) and having to carry a charger is quite lame, let alone the fact that they tend to explode in their chargers.

Problem no more though!   So I want to thank the folks of USBCell and Moixa for this, oh and thanks to Emily for thinking of this gift idea to give to me! :)

TEASER Alert!

It also looks like they’re creating some new devices.. AAA, C/D, 9V and Phone/Device batteries! So be on the look out for the other stuff which is so often running out of juice! :)

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I’m sure you’ve seen my post here: $25 Certification Exam – Expires June 30th, 2009! (NA Only) or Prometric wants you Microsoft Certified by June 30th! oh and Clicking this link might save a life, Seriously  – So based around these very points, let me change it a little bit and tell you that *I* want you to get certified before June 30th!

Why do I want you to get certified? There’s never been a better time! The opportunity is here now, launch upon it! I have these pretty green vouchers with Discount Codes entitling you to take an exam for $100 off of the exam, that’s right! The exam will only cost you $25 to take!   And it has Second Shot built in to the voucher, which means if you do not pass the exam for whatever reason, you can use the same number to take your exam again for $0!

So, if I do the math correctly…

Wow! $25 for the chance to take an exam! Yay! (I’ve used one of these myself to pass an exam, and the interest in this has been amazing and great!)

I however want to open this up to more than just the people I already know on email, twitter and I meet at User Groups, so are you looking to get Microsoft Certified before June 30th?

There’s never been a better time, and let me know.. I’ll give vouchers out until I run out of vouchers… or until its June 30th, whichever comes first!

For some additional resources on training as well, I direct you to the following locations!

This is a number of supported, as well as Free Resources, so check them out!

How much does Free Microsoft Learning Cost? (Hint: Free!)

5 Free Virtualization Training Courses for the Holidays! (HyperV)

So if you’re interested in getting certified, let me know on twitter @cxi, shoot me an email CXI at pkguild.com , or CXI at NetApp.com (Or even leave a comment here, that’s fine!)

Good luck, and get certified! Thanks! – CXI :) (North America only: Only around 30 left!)

So if you recall my emails about Microsoft Certification vouchers for $25 with Second Shot built in, you’re in semi-luck if you want an ‘extra chance’ to take exams and yet don’t want to worry about using up a voucher which has second shot built in!

Prometric is saying “Hey, come back.. take an exam and it’ll only cost $25”

I know what you’re saying “That sounds remotely familiar to your vouchers, but the Prometric Offer doesn’t seem to have Second Shot built in, or even available as an option!” Yea, there’s nothing I can do about that, but eventually I’ll run out of vouchers… so for every single person who wants one chance to take an exam, here it is! Thanks to Prometric!

So, like it says below, Limit one per customer, and Promo Code: MCPBACK ! :)

Oh, and if you’re looking to get in on the other vouchers I have while I still have some, let me know… but here’s to not looking a gift Prometric in the mouth!

Disclaimer:

Offer available for customers who have taken their last certification exam prior to January 1, 2007.
Also works if you have never taken any certification exams

Come on down June 2nd to the Chicago Microsoft Office to learn how to not only cut costs by virtualizing your datacenter but by learning so much more, and my good friend Ray LaMarca who will be presenting at the AON Center in Chicago on June 2nd!

The rest of the locations I’m sure will be an absolute blast, but considering I live in Chicago and personally know Ray, I think you should step up and take the morning to attend, learn, and perhaps win!   Do go sign up, the registration is handled through APC’s site, so don’t be surprised! :)