Use this opportunity! Submit.

The deadline is Friday, July 2, 6:00 pm EASTERN time! So for me on the east coast in New York that’s 6pm. For some of you on the west coast (pacific time) in California that’s Friday, July 2 at 3pm. Whatever you do, don’t wait to the last minute. Submit your outstanding experience that is older than 6 months.

Thank you for helping PPI exceed our goal of 100 Facebook fans.

Use Promo Code ARFB6 at http://www.ppi2pass.com/ to save 20% on all PPI ARE prep materials.
Don’t forget, Promo Codes can be used to enroll in Passing Zones which start next Tuesday, July 6th. Orders must be placed by June 29, 2010 (midnight, PDT). Promo Codes are not valid on iTunes

Well why should I disappoint? PPI is building their Facebook fan base and have offered a 20% discount promo code, if I can help get 100 people to become their fans. So let’s do that.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/PPI.ARE right now
and become a fan!

Help PPI reach 100 Facebook fans and get 20% Off PPI ARE review materials. The challenge is to get 100 people to join PPI ARE Prep on Facebook by Monday, June 28th. If we reach the goal, PPI will post a Promo Code here on Monday for 20% off all of their ARE exam prep materials.

So visit http://www.facebook.com/PPI.ARE and make yourself a fan! Let’s get that promo code posted! If you’re a Ballast user already, think of someone out there that doesn’t have their books yet. Let’s become fans and grab this promo code. A 20% promo is much better than what’s posted now.

If you follow me on twitter, you may have seen a couple of tweets about a Dremel. A device I have no need of, but I bought anyway. Well, I bought two. I’m giving one away to you, a reader. Leave a comment in this post to enter to win a Dremel Two-Speed Rotary Tool, model 200-1/21. When you comment be sure to leave a valid email that you check every 2 weeks or so. After I notify the winner, I’ll wait 2 weeks for a response.

Leave your email in the email field and I’ll see it. Leave your email in the email field, not in the comment field. This way I’ll see it and it won’t go public.

In January I’ll pick a winner by assigning a number to each email in order of the post and then I’ll pick a number out of a hat or use a website to choose a random number. 1 email means 1 entry. So two or more postings under 1 email will be considered one entry. I’ll let you know when entry is closed. I’ll probably close entry on Jan 15th, 2010.

Having said all that, the rules are subject to change. I encourage everyone from anywhere to enter. See the manufacturer’s product description here. I’ve restricted my shipping expenses on the package to $30. If it costs more than $30 to ship this package to your location, we’ll work out an alternative prize valued at $30.00 US. Dremel is not associated with this contest.

If you have questions, please post them in the comments. Good Luck!

Here is a video tutorial that goes thru the Structural Systems vignette. It is half an hour long. Comments on the AREforum discussed that this may not be the best solution. Marc Mitalski, who might be the voice you hear, responded on the forum regarding those comments.

Here is the video: PREPARE SS Vignette Tutorial
This video is from PREPA.R.E., Inc (PREPARE).

Here is the thread on the AREforum, “link to watch vignette video“, where this was posted. Be sure to review the comments and criticism on that thread, when the forum is back online.

The AREforum is down again. Looks like it might be a maintenance issue. I’m only guessing. In the mean time check out these AREforum Alternatives.

I only hope whoever maintains the forum is installing options to make it more secure. Or backing up information. Or possibly took the bulletin board down to address some legal issues before continuing. Perhaps someone’s posting behavior is jeopardizing the forum, from a malicious hacker or a poster of exam questions. I can only guess. I have come to realize there are some not-so-obvious concerns to address when you’re participating socially online. For example, how do you mention copyrighted material?

Let’s not forget whoever is maintaining/operating the ARE forum is putting out their own money. vBulletin 3.8 currently costs $195. The last time the forum was hacked, it was upgraded to the latest version. It is not free software. Put into context, it’s at least the cost of an exam. That’s only a starting point for the total costs. That doesn’t address hosting fees, paying for any tech support, time spent (meaning labor) and I don’t know what else. Even the url www.areforum.org costs something.

So let’s be patient for the ARE forum bulletin board to come back online. For now, check out some AREforum Alternatives while waiting.