tips for living in a tech world

[[I meant to post this back on 12/19/08, but wanted to make sure the whole article was worth linking to. I think the examples are humorous in the ComputerWorld article, but would not recommend nor endorse any links beyond the actual text.]]

[[In honor of Paige]]

Top 10 Tech Embarrassments you'll want to avoid
Dan Tynan
December 18, 2008 (PC World) Call it the "oh-no second." You know -- the interval between clicking the Send button on a private e-mail and realizing you just cc'd the entire universe.

But it's not just e-mail. Thanks to the ease, speed, and reach of technology, we now have the potential to be bigger doofuses in front of more people than at any other time in history.

For example, nothing says "I am a professional" more than intimate messages from loved ones popping up on screen during a presentation to the board. Then there are the pricey pocket-size gadgets that always seem to wind up in the swimming pool, the washing machine, or worse. [...]

Here's a comforting thought: Whatever mortifying things you've done, somebody else has probably done worse. In fact, following are ten examples of real people who have been shamed by technology, along with some ways you can avoid a similar fate -- lest you end up in articles like this one.

Tech Embarrassment 1: Bad Husband, No Nookie
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 2: Is That a Laser Pointer, or Are You Just Happy to See Me?
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 3: The Audience Is Listening
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 4: Your Cell Phone Is Not a Flotation Device
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 5: When You Animate E-Mail, the Terrorists Win
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 6: Change Your Wiki Ways
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 7: Good Morning...Now Please Clean Out Your Desk
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 8: Don't Show, Don't Tell
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 9: Photo No-No's
[...]
Tech Embarrassment 10: Twitterrhead

Read the full article here.

Using Biology to Animate

Click to start. It's long, but interesting- especially at minute 14.

some TEDTalks Videos

Pick "Player 7" or "Player 8" to bring up the video.


Just.Darn.Amazing.


If you can get past the wheezing and the comedy, some interesting thoughts on education and creativity.

It's a What?!

So, I found this while watching the commercial above, and just had to post it.

Top 10 Worst Business Sayings

I think I've heard most of these -- but would substitute "I'll ping you later" for #10 and "Things are looking good" for #8, in my experience...

(Image from Harvard Business Publishing, Daily Stat (12/12/2008).)

(Their Source: Telegraph.co.uk http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3532338/Thinking-outside-the-box-is-most-despised-business-jargon.html)

Service with a Smile

So, I told myself that I'd write a few blog posts to catch ya'll up on the happenings of the past few months. This isn't that post.

Today, it's easier just to post a video and a quick note to say that we helped out at the American Red Cross' "Holiday Mail for Heroes" this past weekend, and made CNN. Keep a close watch and see if you spot us! =)


12-06-2008 National Headquarters, American Red Cross, Washington, DC

Just. Plain. Awesome.

In case you forgot this about me, I love music and am pretty much a nerd when it comes to kewl tech stuff. I found this video while browsing a HD-capable video-sharing site (http://vimeo.com).

Watch this--you can't not be amazed:

HD Carol of the Bells - 2007 from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.
Awesome, huh?

I know there's more displays (and videos) like this out there. Feel free to share more with us in the comments!

[Update] You can't watch in HD from the embedded video player, but you can visit this page on the Vimeo site to get this in HD http://vimeo.com/610626

[Update] From BrianA on Facebook: "There is also a really cool house in murray. If you go to www.christmasutah.com you can see video's for the last couple of years. You should go check it out."