Reading Life

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Free job training--Job Skill Share


According to CNBC, students are replacing college degrees with online certificates in increasing numbers. 

Certifications vary widely in terms of cost and completion time.

So, the critical question to ask yourself is--which one to choose?

First, find websites that rank certification programs like JobCertifications.com. Best Job Certification Programs | JobCertifications.com lists job certifications that teach in-demand skills. 

U.S. News has started ranking certification programs, 20 Certification Programs for Careers That Pay Well | Careers | U.S. News.

Job Skill Share, Job skills for IT Professionals - IT Skills Training, offers FREE training for a three-month trial period. This is one of the longest free trial periods I have seen. Job Skill Share's certifications are all IT-related. 




Sources:

Monday, May 4, 2026

Hubspot for Beginners--Contact Forms and Quick Reports




Thalita Milan also explains how to create and customize contact  forms in "Hubspot for Beginners." 

She demonstrates how to use "Quick" and "Advanced Filters" to create simple reports.

She also explains when it's better to use "Segments and Lists" rather than reports. Unlike reports, lists can be "active," which  causes items to be dynamically added to the list.  

Record customization gives users control over what is included in records. 

She explains how to best use Hubspot's built in Ai feature, Breeze. 

Hubspot for Beginners Part 1.

Hubspot for Beginners Part 2





Scarborough Faire for Family Fun


 


There’s still time to go to the Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, TX.  Themed weekends began on April 4 and will continue through May 25. I went during the “Celtic weekend,” where I encountered several fair goers dressed in kilts. 

Plenty of other themed weekends, e.g., “Flights of Fantasy” and “Legends of the High Seas,” are available.

At the Scarborough Faire, there’s something for everyone--jousting, live performances, crafting, and tarot reading. Fairgoers can rent costumes, have their faces painted, or have their hair braided.

The tagline on the Scarborough website says, “Step Back in Time,” but it’s really an immersion in a cosplaying fantasy world. I saw someone dressed as the Goblin in Labyrinth. He had his hair styled like David Bowie in the film and wore leather pants.

Someone called out, “You’re not taking my baby brother.” He smiled and played along. “We’ll see about that,” he said.

Everyone had their own vibe. Some came in suits of armor, Renaissance gowns, and other typical costumes, but still others dressed however they wanted.

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Hubspot for Beginners--Importing Data


Hubspot for Beginners by Thalita Milan. Part 2. 




Milan's class "Hubspot for Beginners" on Udemy provides simple steps for importing data objects e.g., such as contact lists.

Milan explains that HubSpot will tell users if it locates errors while mapping data. 

She also advises to give the import a name. 

If you're using a free account, you will be limited to 1,000 contacts. 

Use the import data process to create and update contacts or any other data objects. 

 https://medium.com/@chantal.walvoord

Hubspot for Beginners. Part 1.