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!

Telemedicine

First off, you'd have to be beyond clueless to think technology hasn't helped medicinal advances. That being said, I had no idea what in God's name telemedicine was, and still probably don't have the capacity to justly describe it. However, I can (and will) give you a handful of ways I find telemedicine crucial going forward.

1. GLOBAL - Thanks to technological capabilities, doctors across the globe can communicate simply on any number of issues. Patient care, recruiting, strategies, etc.

2. ACCESS - The technology of video conferencing allows unequalled access to patients and vice versa.

3. COST - Due to global ease and access, the cost to treat patients and sustain care are infinitely going to be cheaper. This also can be used to help reduce costs of meetings, training, recruiting of staff, and any other number of things to ease the financial burden of all associated with health care.

4. GREEN - Teleconferencing also helps the environment. Aptly put by TANDBERG, "video conferencing reduced the amount of travel and the associated carbon footprint."

In my humble opinion, the above video solidifies the need for "telemedicine" in the future.

Interviewing via Video Conference

This concept is quite foreign to me. I've only recently come to learn about video conferencing up close and personal. We've all seen the interviews/discussions on TV via the same technology, but it's much more intimidating when hands on.

For a job interview, I'd like to believe my current beliefs on interviewing should hold true. You must be prepared for the interview in much the same way.

1. Know the company with which you're interviewing;

2. Know the market(s) they operate in;

3. Know the job you are after and the market for that position throughout the industry, including pay, expectations, etc;

4. Dress appropriately for the interview;

5. PREPARE AND REHEARSE!!!

All that being done should have you ready for the in-person interview. However, a video conference version adds a handful of wrinkles. Ones which may require a much greater degree of focus. It's almost expected for one to "know" the industry you are interviewing for....but for most industries, the technology associated with video conferencing will indeed seem a foreign language.

You have to prepare in a completely different realm, one which while "foreign" may be imperative for your future with the company you are interviewing. Therefore, you must be prepared for that technological aspect in addition to the requirements of the interviewer for the position.

There is a great article on this on Ask the Headhunter. It would definitely guide a newbie like me through my preparations. It's not specific to any equipment. However, once I familiarized myself with the equipment, it's an excellent guide to the interview process.

I'd follow these steps to the letter. Following those 8 steps, I'd prep like a play or role-play with a willing party to further familiarize myself with the technology to take that part of the equation to the next level. I'd make sure I used it to my advantage. Room selection, attire, etc could all be rehearsed to the Nth degree to assure performance.

If I am prepped for the job interview, prepping for the technological side would also help to nail the interview!

Responsibility in Advancement

I remember the Apple IIc in the back of my classroom at Forest Park Elementary. We used it for 2 things if I recall correctly....playing Lemonade Stand and Oregon Trail.

Our idea of a handheld video console was Coleco handheld QB. Thankfully, our household wasn't still playing by candle light, but I did have Pong for my first in-home video game.

Nowadays, we see my daughter's dance class mates (4-year olds) playing Nintendo DS, and my son plays the Wii.

Video games like Pacman have been traded in for Golden Tee. We are way past single player games like the aforementioned Lemonade Stand and Oregon Trail, and onto MMORPG games like Warcraft and online games like Halo.

It's not only amazing, but exciting. My children are growing up in an era of unexplainable possibilities. I'm just hoping I learn enough to keep relatively close in knowledge.

It's easy enough to look at all these things (as well as my other posts) and forget the responsibility that goes along with this global connectivity. Big brother has had a tough enough time protecting the public from danger...the anonymity and reach afforded to those wishing to do ill to society makes it more difficult for those who have protected us to continue doing so. Once again, I hope I learn enough to help.

Ignorance is Bliss

A distinctly profound statement of late, specifically relating to our class. I had a vague idea of my lacking in technological knowledge/usage, but thought I was in the mainstream.

P A T H E T I C !!!!

I'd only just heard of Skype June 7th, 2010 thanks to my 18-year old cousin's facebook posting.

I'd help create a podcast for a Go Pink, but never subscribed or routinely created them for subscribers.

To this day, my Blackberry is merely email, texting, and phone. Granted, that may be a tad bit ahead of the curve....but it's not substantial.

WIKI? I knew there was Wikipedia, but that was the extent of my knowledge here.

Oh well, I plan on learning quite a bit over the coming weeks.

World Cup

Due to the ugly weather, I spent a great deal of time watching the World Cup on ESPN. I love the world cup, but I'd much rather be out and about enjoying a warm, sunny weekend.

As we discussed video conferencing, experimented with Skype, etcetera....it dawned on me that EVERY sporting event uses some form of video conferencing. Whether it's the sideline reporter, pre/post game comments, mic'd coaches or players....we just don't realize the extent this technology has aided our simple pleasures unless we focus.

Add to that the fact we can watch most of our favorite sporting events on a computer, a phone, or simply view it on TV. We can also listen on radio, a computer, or via satellite radio.

Amazingly, people's passion for this sport hasn't really changed that much over the 100+ years of this amazing event.