My love of B E E R!!!

It's not a well kept secret I love beer. Hell, it's no secret at all. I've selected a handful of true craft breweries from across our great country for you to see. Please, by all means...INDULGE!

View My Favorite Micro Breweries in a larger map

Good Intentions

One laptop per child. A great idea, until you really dig into it. I hate to be the "glass is 1/2 empty" voice, but taking a realistic approach to grandiose ideas is necessity.

1. Startup costs in terms of networking, security, connectivity, etc are astronomical to say the least.

2. Keeping up with the Jones' isn't just for the Emily Post readers any longer. This phrase may not be as prevalent in today's society, but it is quite relative in regard to technology. Getting a child in a third world country a laptop is all well and good, but it may also be a false hope. By the time technology reaches that area, it may be obsolete...setting the situation up for a basis, but not the future.

3. Cultural norms make collaboration exciting, but difficult. Something acceptable in Chicago, IL, USA may not be appreciated in Istanbul, Turkey... and vice versa.

These may be mere surface scratches, but the points show the grueling issues presented if this idea progresses.

Having fun, and recorded for posterity!

I wasn't in for the first class, and had several clips we recorded from my brother and sister-in-law's wedding preparations. The most fun was a gift my mom gave them.....a dance "class" for the wedding party and some other friends. A nice cookout, followed by some good-natured lessons. I incorporated those into my "How To" about weddings. Was tough to get it the way I wanted, and I'd still be tweaking it if it weren't due...but it was a fun process putting all together. I hope you find it as amusing as I do!

Quick Comm!

In today's age of instant gratification, there is some usefulness to our greed for expedience.

Within the world of business and in the classroom, we can utilize technology to update needs, concerns, change appointments, etc.

There is Twitter, Facebook, E-mail, texting, and automated phone messages....to name a handful.

In 2009-10 school year, my son was at the Chavez Learning Center. In late spring, a student mentioned seeing a stranger in the building with a gun. Luckily for us, all phones listed on the emergency contact list were sent a mass message via automation letting us know of the safety of ALL the students. I've never attempted to use this tool, but it's obviously one with benefits.

Almost all of these things can help with response time, product updates, etc. All have their place and time....tact notwithstanding. Being someone who's never owned a business, it's difficult to truly comment on what should/could/would be the appropriate methods to communicate....but it would seem impossible for these to not be utilized in some form or another.

The rookie's guide to smart phones?

For starters, I wouldn't scream from the rooftops

about my smart phone capabilities....hence this being a rookie's guide. That being said, I am definitely capable of using several functions whi

ch are useful in everyday life. I own a Blackberry, and suggest learning a handful of basics prior t

o getting into "app world" and needing a lesson or two (which I did).

There are obviously several options, and you need to find the one that fits YOU.

1. Texting - While annoying for the most part, it is a necessary evil nowadays. It's quicker and easier than constant dialing, especially for simple messages (OMW = On my way; saying thanks;etc).

2. Calendar - The calendar function is nice, because it can be synced to Outlook on your PC. This will give you a mobile reminder of your appointments etc.

3. Phonebook/Contacts - This will store (for most people) all the personal info on your needed numbers, addresses, email, etc for any/all contacts. I've never filled a phonebook, so anyone who has....kudos.

4. Email - In a lovely segue from the phonebook, you can sync any number of email addresses to your smart phone. Yahoo, Roadrunner, gmail....I've not heard of any which don't sync properly.

5. Alarm clock - not quite the same as the calendar, as you can set it for repetitive events (6am wakeups, medication times, etc)

These may not be ALL that is needed, but they are a great start. Once you've established a rapor with your phone, you can delve further into the capabilities....I assure you, i've only scratched the surface!

Web 2.0

WOW. After reading the article "Collaborative Learning the Wiki Way"... I realized I hardly scratch the surface of my Mac's capabilities.

For me, my internet and iTunes are necessity...iWorks/Windows Office are lovely (albeit needed more for work). Yet, I am shown my lacking technological capabilities simply by reading the article. Web 2.0??? I had no idea what that was until I read the articles. Now that I did read it, I am wondering how much more I'm missing out on!!!

E-face to E-face

I gotta be honest, video conferencing is unbelievable. While I am painfully aware of my lacking in expertise to be the champion of this medium, I am quite capable of seeing the potential in my limited experience.

Whether using this technology for seminars, interviews, meetings, training sessions, or simply saying "hi".... it's impossible to miss the capabilities of this making the globe unbelievably small. Geez, the economic ramifications alone are astounding.

In an earlier entry, I listed several ways in which video conferencing can push health care into the new millenium. A prime example is seen here as done by a group from Canada. It touches on several key points....improved patient access, improved patient care, collaborative capabilities for doctors, economic savings, etc.

Now....as with every technology, there are FUN ways to use constructive software. Skype is a simple way to connect with friends one to one across the globe!

You can also use tools such as Ventrilo to have conversations amongst a group. Obviously, this is without video....but it's still a great tool.

I am sure there will be those who use these capabilities to do harm, but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. I'm looking forward to connecting!