Personal site of Evan Islam

Postage Meter for Small Business Video by Pitney Bowes

Postage Meter for Small Business Video

I wrote an article on postage meter for small business which shows the benefit of a postage meter machine. This video shows how easy it is to print USPS postage stamps from your home or office. No more waiting in line at the Post Office.

Click here to learn about this postage meter.

Buy and Print US Postage Stamps From Your Computer with Pitney Bowes

Print or Buy US Postage Stamps Online

This is a cool cloud-based service. You can actually buy and print stamps any where from any computer as long as you have an account with pbSmartPostage by Pitney Bowes. No more waiting in the line at the post office. You can also print shipping labels with a help of a postal scale that will weigh your package so you use exact amount every time.

This is great for personal use or small businesses. It's VERY easy to use, all you need is a PC, printer and online connection. Check out the following video:

You can also look into the postage meters by Pitney Bowes. These stamp making machines can automatically print stamps on envelopes, postcards, direct mail pieces, etc.

Postage Meters | USPS Mail Machine by Pitney Bowes

Postage Meters for Small Businesses

Now that I have couple of cigar stores in Connecticut, I send out quiet a few snail mails. Mostly marketing promotions, orders, invoices, bills, etc. Stamp cost just keeps going up. Sure it's only $.45 or whatever, but when you send more than 500 mails a month, it will start to add up.

So, I decided that I need to print my own postage stamps if it's more convenient and cheaper than going to the post office. After some Googling, I got exposed to the world of postage meter machines. I actually didn't know till recently that I could print stamps in my own stores and avoid the lines at the post office.

I got me a Mail Station 2 - Digital Mailing Machine from Pitney Bowes. This thing comes with a computer software where you can refill postage and order supplies. Of course, these machines are certified by the USPS so your mail will reach the destination without any problems.

This machine has a built in scale to calculate correct postage amount. Pitney Bowes also has an Online Postage product for shipping packages and stuff. It very convenient because I have to ship lot of online orders that I get throught Brand Cigars web site.

Anyways, if you are looking to save time at the post office and save some money at the same time, look into the postage meter solution. It's worth it. Click to get a FREE 60-day trial on the digital postage meter machine.

Cigar Store in Newtown, CT | Brand Cigars Newtown

Brand Cigars Newtown is a local cigar store located at South Main St. Newtown, CT. This is our 2nd location. Brand Cigars Monroe is our first cigar store.

This cigar store has a 45 feet long walk-in humidor. We have hundreds of premium imported cigars such as Macanudo, Cohiba, Avo, Arturo Fuente, Pedron, Olivia, Punch, Rocky Patel and more. We even have the rare Opus X in stock. We have learned a lot from the first store and this store is just that much better.

The store opened in December 2011. We have a nice lounge area when you walk in the store. This is by far the largest cigar store in Newtown. So, if you live in Newtown or anywhere in Connecticut, come check it out.

We are also a member of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

Location:
Brand Cigars Newtown
266 South Main St. #D6
203-426-7777
www.brandcigarsnewtown.com

Discount Price Calculator Tool for Bulk Quantities

Discount Price Calculator

I created a tool to determine discounted pricing for bulk retail quantities. Check it out:

http://www.evanislam.com/content/price-calculator.php

Zip Code Extractor Tool - Get all zip codes by city, state, county

Zip Codes Extractor Tool

Have you come across any situation where you needed all the zip codes for a given city?
Maybe you need the city name for a zip code.
How about all the zip codes and cities for a given county?
Maybe you need all the cities, counties and zips for a given state.

Well try out my zip code extractor tool:
http://www.evanislam.com/content/zip-codes-extractor.php

Hop Brook Lake Trails in Naugatuck, CT

Hello Team Basement Systems,

We had a great time at Southford Falls trail a week ago and we want to do another walk this Thursday. This time we will go to Hop Brook Lake in Naugatuck. Since many folks don't want to go on Fridays (specially on Friday the 13th), we decided to do it on Thursday. Anyone who works at Basement Systems or affiliated with it can join us :)

Hop Brook Lake is pretty close, so we will leave the office at 5:00pm and be there by 5:30pm. There are several trails and we should be done in a 2 hours. It will still be light out.

It's got a few hills to hike, so it will be a very good workout. Please let Karen know that you are coming. There is a $4 parking charge at the park. But I think it's free after 4:30pm. I think. There is a off season parking lot which is free. We can park there.

This will be fun :)

If you have facebook, click here to attend.

Google Maps

Hiking Trip to Southford Falls | Southbury, CT

Southford Falls Hiking Trail in Southbury, CT

Thanks to all who came to the Southford Falls trail on April 29th. It was fun and a good work out :) I still have high hopes that we will hike Caleb's Peak sometimes this year. Our next hike will be at Hop Brook Lake in Naugatuck, CT.

Here are some pictures from the hike:

Just getting ready for the hike.

The Money Shot.

Marcin and Todd

Southford Falls. The water is pretty brown, but it's not bad. Good flow of water.

We made it to the top of the tower. Left to right: Marcin, Karen, Erik, Evan, Noah.

Left to right: Noah, Todd, Samira, Karen, Marcin, Erik, Sarah.

This was totally random. This was there and we left it there.

This is at the end of the hike. Left to right: Karen, Sarah, David, Rick, Christina, Noah, Marcin, Erik, Evan and Todd.

If you are in the Basement Systems building, more photos can be found in the marketing drive: m/hiking pictures/

Hiking Trip to Caleb's Peak in Kent, Connecticut

Caleb's Peak Hiking Trail

This event is cancelled due to bad weather conditions.

This hiking trip has been rescheduled for Friday, Apr. 29th. We will go to Southford Falls.

Hello Treehouse geeks,

Hopefully you guys are ready for the first of many hiking trips of 2011. Below are some details on our first trip :)

When

Saturday April 23rd, 2011.
We'll meet @ 10:00am at Caleb's Peak.

Where

Caleb's Peak
Bulls Bridge
Kent, CT 06785
View Google Map

Who's Going

Evan
karen (Vice President of Hiking Committee)
Todd
Erik
Rick +1
Noah
Marcin
Richard +1
Steve +1
Jacques -1

What to bring

Trail Mix
Happy feet
Machete
Change of clothes (just in case)
Umbrella rella eh eh

Please check this page on Saturday at 9:00am before you leave the house. In the event of severe weather, we may cancel this event and come up with another date later.

Shapla Foundation: Sponsor a Child in Bangladesh

Title: Sponsor a Child in Bangladesh

This is my latest and greatest project. This is a two years in the making project. Making of the web site didn't take long. Maybe a few months. The organization took a long time to be a success.

The site is designed in basic CSS and HTML. Pretty simple layout in green which is the color of Bangladesh. The back-end is created in a PHP-MySQL environment. The database if very light but extensive.

There are few user roles. Sponsors, care takers and admins. Sponsors can sponsor a child in very ease with recurring billing with paypal. Care takers log all expenses related a sponsored child and upload picture updates.

Currently, the site is build to sponsor children in Bangladesh. However, the database is structured in a way to expand to any nations in the world and also to sponsor any number of things other than children. Example: you can sponsor a tree, and old person, a farm, a house, a cow, etc. Pretty intense system :)

Visit Website - ShaplaFoundation.org

What Does Google Suggest When You Search For...

Google Suggests

When you search on Google, Google tries to figure out what you are looking for and gives you suggestions based on current trends. Meaning Google looks at what the general population searchs for and assumes you would find those search queries useful as you begin to search for a given keyword or phase.

I decided to do some searches and I was surprised and entertained at some of the current trends. You can Google some words yourself and see what Google suggests ;)

Lol, I think I have way too much time in my hand. Time to go eat dinner... Enjoy!!!

Beautiful Tulip Farm Pictures of The Netherlands

I saw these images in my Google Buzz from one of the users. I was pretty impressed at the organization skills of these tulip cultivators. I had to share these images:

Learning about Radon Mitigation from the Radon Expert

Radon Mitigation

I sat through a radon class and learned a few things about radon. So, what is radon? Radon is a gas that can get into your house through the soil below your house. Umm, you can read about this in detail at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon

So, what's interested and I didn't know this is that, radon is very dangerous and can cause lung cancer. It's like smoking. It's BAD. In the class I heard stories of people being diagnosed with lung cancer where they have never smoked before. Doctors couldn't figure out how. Radon testing in a house confirms that radon gas is the reason for lung cancer.

Radon could be under your house. You must do a radon test to make sure your family is safe. Radon is easy to solve by installing a fan to redirect the gas from your basement or crawl space.

Curt Drew, the owner of National Radon Defense, was the instructor for the radon class. It was great.

What I learned at the end is:
Radon is bad and it can be fixed.
Get your home tested for a very cheap cost. Probably less than 100 bucks.

That's it!!! Check out http://www.cansar.org/. CANSAR: Cancer Survivors Against Radon.

Funny Adult Joke: Escaped Prisoner Robbing a Couple

Escaped Prisoner Robbing a Couple

I got this in a text message from my cousin... it's funny.

After being in prison for 15 years, a man escapes. He breaks into a house to look for money & guns but finds a young couple in bed. He orders the man out of the bed ties him to a chair. He tied the girl to the bed and kisses her neck. Then he gets up & goes into the bathroom.

The husband tells his wife: "Listen,this guy's a dangerous escaped convict! He probably hasn't seen a woman in years. I saw how he kissed your neck. If he wants to F*^$ You,don't resist, don't complain, do whatever he tells you or he might kill us. Be strong, honey. I Love You."

The wife responds: "He wasn't kissing my neck. He was whispering in my ear. He told me he was gay, thought you were cute, and asked if we had any vaseline. I told him it was in the bathroom. Be strong, honey. I LOVE YOU TOO!

Pick Up Line Rebuttles, Comebacks, Rejections or Responses

Pick up line resposes or rejections

I got this in a text message from a friend. I thought this was pretty funny and clever. lol I don't think I can try these pick up lines ever after looking at these responses.

Man: Haven�t I seen you someplace before?
Woman: Yes, that�s why I don�t go there anymore.

Man: Haven't we met before?
Woman: Yes, I'm the receptionist at the V.D. Clinic.

Man: I want to give myself to you.
Woman: Sorry, I don't accept cheap gifts.

Man: Is this seat empty?
Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down.

Man: Your place or mine?
Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I�ll go to mine.

Man: So, what do you do for a living?
Woman: I�m a female impersonator.

Man: If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put you between F and CK
Woman: If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put you before GLY

Man: Hey baby, what�s your sign?
Woman: Do not enter.

Man: Do you know what'd look good on you? Me.
Woman: Do you know what'd look good on you? Nothing!

Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning?
Woman: Unfertilized

Man: Your body is like a temple.
Woman: Sorry, there are no services today.

Man: Your face must turn a few heads!
Woman: And your face must turn a few stomachs!

Man: What are you looken at?
Woman: Somethin ugly!

Man: I'm a photographer. I've been looking for a face like yours.
Woman: I'm a plastic surgeon. I've been looking for a face like yours.

Man: What would you say if I asked you to marry me?
Woman: Nothing. I can't talk and laugh at the same time!

Man: I can make your bed rock
Woman: No you can't I have a Tempurpedic

Man: I've lost my phone number can I have yours?
Woman: Sure. My number is 911-8473 (works better if your write it down)

Man: Do you think it was fate which brough us together?
Woman: Nah, it was plain bad luck!

Man: Hi! Didn't we go on a date once? Or was it twice?
Woman: Maybe once. I never make the same mistake twice.

Man: I'd go to the end of the world for you!
Woman: Okay, but would you stay there?

Man: Wow, you're tall! How's the weather up there?
Woman: It's raining. (and spit on him)

Man: If I could see you naked, I'd die happy.
Woman: If I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing.

Man: Hey baby, if you come home with me, I can show you a really good time.
Woman: You know what your problem is? Your mouth is writing checks your body can't cash.

Man: I'd really like to get into your pants.
Woman: No thanks. There's already one asshole in there.

Man: xxx Any Generic Pick Up Line xxx
Woman: I like your approach, now lets see your departure.

This one is for the guys:

Woman: (If any girl insults you)
Man: Hey, I may not be the prettiest guy in here, but I'm the only one talking to you.