Lee's Project 365

Using Google Docs & Maps to Organize in Crisis

2014-07-03T06:02:00.001-06:00

Our recent water flood effecting nearby communities in Saskatchewan has become a major concern leaving so many helpless cut off from major centers. Conservation of water and limited roadways force us to change our daily routine dramatically.

My hopes to this blog post is that it will in someway help you during a time of need - may it be getting help yourself or if you play a key role in organizing a community.

For some people even before a crisis, everyday life is a struggle and we all want to help, but prioritizing and organizing efforts this could be a challenge in itself. Most especially for such small communities living in such a large landmass.

Some of us maybe can afford to contribute financially, but volunteering with sweat and tears of comfort play the most important part of a community in crisis.

How can we organize quickly and stay connected?

Available today, Google has a complete set of resources to help you get organized and I will highlight some key templates, tutorials and resources your small town, RM, or City can get access and use during a crisis.

If connectivity is available during a crisis then luck is on your side, its everything you need to become a central operation base. Google has developed a complete set of tools called Google Apps for Business that anyone can use to do most everything software once performed on your computer.

Watch this 2 min video on how Americorp tracked volunteers following the Joplin Tornado using Google Spreadsheets

The difference? All your data is stored in “the cloud” or in this case a Google datacenter.

So if your area is in need of help, someone wants to volunteer, or loved ones just wanting to hear about family and friends back home - If you can connect to google.com you can use all of these services.

If at time of a crisis you do not already have a Google Apps for Business account and only have moments notice; most all of these templates and tutorials will work with a Free Gmail Account. Visit www.gmail.com and signup or sign in with an account already created.

Google Drive for forms, files, videos, pictures and live offsite backup

Drive is like your usb stick that you might carry in your pocket - but in Google Drive you now have access to it on all your devices connected to the internet Mac, PC, Android, iPhone, etc. Just visit drive.google.com to create and share your files.

Online support articles for Google Docs Editor can be found with this shortlink http://go.sasktech.net/getstartedwithdocs but is very familiar with tools that you already might be using such as Microsoft Office or Lotus Notes.

In Google Drive when you share a file, video or picture with another person, they can have access to the same doc at the same time on any internet connected device. Perfect in times like these.

This a Volunteer Form Template I found in the Google Template gallery and made a short link to get access - you can use it to collect data of residents & volunteers in your area.

http://go.sasktech.net/VolunteerFormTemplate

In your Google Drive you will find the Responses Form spreadsheet where you can see the results live as they are happening. You can choose to share this with other organizers giving them edit or view permissions so you can work close as team even when you can’t be in the same room or geography. Just login at drive.google.com

Speaking of Geography - Maps & Directions

Identifying key areas in crisis and marker points can be done with the Maps Engine Lite. You can start creating your own crisis map and share on the internet at

http://mapsengine.google.com and some quick tutorials can be found here http://go.sasktech.net/MapsEngineTutorials

Bring it all together Create a website with Google Sites

You can create private dashboards for your team to organize and publish any of your Files in Google Drive, maps, videos and pictures. Also the ability to make public pages for families far away to stay current or on the ground relief support details. Start creating a site at http://sites.google.com and I have made a 20 min tour of Google Sites here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5tE7o1LQ6w

Staying Connected & Making Links

All of these links are reachable on all social media platforms to anyone else connected to the net. So use the ones your community most uses such as Google+, Facebook, and Twitter to name a few.

Some web addresses to forms, docs, to other weblinks might be long so you can shorten them up using the Google Apps short link service or the public http://goo.gl just copy and past the long url in the box to get a shorter one so they can be text messaged or posted on other sites.

With these links above we have shown how your Google Apps for Business accounts or Gmail accounts can upload videos to YouTube for public announcements and documenting damages or help others visualize. Docs to organize volunteers and relief efforts. Google Sites to announce and organize centrally.

Take care and stay dry out there Saskatchewan!

For even more detail and solutions in crisis be sure to also check out https://www.google.org/crisisresponse/resources.html

Organizers of towns, RMs or community service consider getting a Google Apps for Business accounts so that you can keep consistency across your organization this will help protect data and get support when needed most.

SaskTech is trained and supported by Google for deployment and migration of these services. You can find out more about the complete suite on our Google Apps for business site www.sasktech.net.

Loving the Journey to Endless Destinations

2013-06-30T22:48:00.000-06:00

This journey so far, to Google Certification - Some highlight photos

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Canada Day tomorrow as well a Happy 4th of July to all of my American friends.

I just finished taking my Google Sales Certification exam last night, I am happy to say I passed and certified!!!

Last year I started taking courses at Google that some Googlers and a few great partners have put together on experiences they have had on the Internet with cloud solutions as a service like Google Apps.

I originally focused on passing tests on the technical side before attempting sales certification.

My theory was that if I get as much product knowledge possible then my sales should follow.

Since then I kept myself in both courses of learning while getting real world practice in Carnduff, Saskatchewan.

Over the last year I have met some great people, I have attempted the technical deployment certification three times, traveled over 60,000 kms in 2012, in the process with visits to Arizona, and including three trips to Mountain View California, attending 3 in person training spending a little over 2 weeks at the Googleplex in total, last night was my second attempt on Sales Certification through a proctored exam.

Click on the photo album collage above to see photos taken throughout my visits this last year in a Google+ photo album.

I will be continuing my technical certification after a waiting period and still a lot more to learn with many more classes to take. After I have taken them all, I will take them over again as the world of Google Apps we know, never stops changing and keeps getting better!

Today I am focusing on challenges in the Canadian small business sector specifically in energy, transportation, and hospitality industries with the help and practice at my other full time job at Fast Trucking Service.

Some of these cloud solutions of which I hope will help many more, who are ready to move their business data completely on the Internet, so they can spend more time on their businesses and making an impact in their communities.

So, a BIG thank you for all those Google questions, support, and feedback from my friends, family, as well as clients and partners of SaskTech, especially the Fast Trucking family and staff.

You have all helped me get my Google Sales Certification. Proud and happy to show it to you today, because without you it would not be possible!

I will keep studying, so I can help more clients use Google Apps tools to innovate their business.

And I am very grateful to learn from all the Googlers and clients about their business they have helped so much along the way. I hope to continue learning and collaborating well into the future with all of them.

I'm fortunate to take many of these classes and do many of these things on the web, today 2 out 3 people globally, still do not have Internet to ask Google a question, a challenge just waiting to be solved.

So these roads are long and sometimes challenging, but I hope at your destination you find whatever you have been searching for.

Search on

Make the most of your holiday gifts and time at home with Google Drive

2012-12-22T08:44:00.001-06:00

From Google Drive Blog: Make the most of your holiday gifts and time at home with Google Drive: Chances are that many of you lucky readers will be unwrapping new computers, mobile phones, and tablets this holiday season. Here are a few quick tips on how you can smoothly transition all of your stuff from old devices to new ones using Google Drive.

For laptops & desktops

First, you’ll want to get all your files from your old computer into Google Drive. To do this, download Drive for Mac or PC on your existing computer. To upload your files to Drive, simply drag-and-drop all your files and folders (up to 5GB free) into the new Drive folder on your desktop. Then you’ll be able to access everything on the web from any computer, including your new one. Or you can download Drive again on your new computer to sync your files and automatically store them on your new computer.

For mobile phones & tablets

Upload all of the photos and videos on your old device with the Drive mobile app for Android or iOS. Install the Drive mobile app on your new device and all your stuff will be there -- and also available to you on the web from any device.

More holiday tips & tricks

For those of you planning to do any holiday cooking, here are a few other ways Drive can help you in the next few weeks:

Scan or snap a photo of a classic family holiday recipe and upload it to Drive for safe keeping and sharing.
Search for recipes that you’ve already stored in Drive. You can even search for keywords inside PDFs and photos.
Jot down a new delicious recipe right from the kitchen with Docs in the Drive mobile app for Android and iOS.
Use Sheets for your grocery shopping list. Create it on your computer at home, then pull it up on your phone at the grocery store and cross of items as you go.
Create a quick form to invite friends to your holiday get together and figure out who’s coming, what they’re bringing, etc.

Happy holidays!

Posted by Michael Bolognino, Product Marketing Manager

End of Google Drive Blog Post

* * *

You can get Google Drive, Mail, Calendar and all the Google services for your own domain with SaskTech Servers. Google Apps for Business is customized for your domain and is only $50 per user per year.

With Google Drive you can share folders and files to different people or places, so you have one place to find all of your information available on any device with an Internet connection.

Enter the promo code GoogleApps when you Register or Transfer your domain in your shopping cart at http://shop.sasktech.com, Get a free 30 day trial of Google Apps for Business and 15% off your Entire Shopping Cart.

Happy Holiday's from SaskTech Servers

& Best Wishes in 2013!

Google Apps A year in review: work the way you live

2012-12-21T08:52:00.000-06:00

Photo Curtasy of 9to5google.com

Cross Post from:
A year in review: work the way you live:
Posted by Amit Singh, President, Google Enterprise

Ten years ago, business technology was at the forefront of innovation and productivity. But there’s a fundamental shift underway: in the last few years, consumer technology has begun to outpace business technology. People have fallen in love with the simplicity and freedom of living in the cloud with the help of modern browsers and smartphones—and they want to bring that experience to the workplace.

This is where Google comes in. For the better part of the past decade, we’ve worked to extend our popular consumer products—everything from Gmail and Google Drive to Maps, Google+ and Search—to meet your business needs. It should be easy for you to work better together, from anywhere, with secure (and simple!) tools. Here’s a look back at some key highlights from 2012.

Work securely...

Keeping your information secure is one of our top priorities. To that end, domain administrators can now require their employees to use 2-step verification, an additional layer of security that reduces the chance of unauthorized account access. Your company can also use Google Apps Vault, a solution for managing and archiving critical information for legal and regulatory reasons. If your business operates outside the U.S., we now offer Model Contract Clauses as an additional way to comply with the European Commission’s Data Protection Directive. Finally, Google Apps received ISO 27001 certification, ensuring our systems meet one of the most widely, internationally accepted independent security standards.

… anytime, anywhere...

It should be easy to get work done – anytime, on any device, with anyone. With offline editing in Chrome, you can now create and edit Google documents and leave comments even when you don’t have an Internet connection. Any changes you make will be automatically synced when you get back online. When you’re travelling, you can also edit Google documents and spreadsheets using the Drive app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Just like on your computer, you’ll be able to see other people’s edits instantly as they’re made.

If your business has workers on the go, Google Maps Coordinate combines the power of Google’s mapping technologies with modern smartphones to help you improve communication with employees in the field. In addition, the Google Play Private Channel lets you distribute internal apps to your employees who use Android devices. The new Chromebooks and Chromeboxes we launched with our partners are secure and easy to manage, which makes them especially great devices for 1-to-1 programs in schools, additional laptops for office workers, or desktop units for multiple users in a call center. (And we’re honored that Inc. Magazine named the Chromebox one of the best business gadgets of 2012.)

...with simple tools...

We’ve also focused on making our products simpler and easier for you to use – both at home and at work. We introduced Google Drive as a single place for you to create, share, collaborate and keep all your work. You can now insert files (up to 10GB) from Drive directly into an email without leaving your Gmail inbox, and you can share work from Drive on Google+. You and up to 14 colleagues can join a Google+ hangout directly from a calendar entry or your email inbox. Once inside a hangout, you can open a Google Doc for everyone to see and work on simultaneously. And if your company uses Chrome along with Google Apps, you can now call or email us for help with Chrome.

With the Google Search Appliance 7.0, you can search for a document on your company’s intranet just as easily as you’d search for a holiday recipe on Google.com. And if your business relies on geographic data—say, to map gas pipelines or help customers locate your store—you can use Google Maps and Earth Enterprise to visualize your data on the Google Maps interface you’re already familiar with.

...supported by partners and Google infrastructure

Whether it’s Apps for Business, Maps Coordinate, or just a Google search, most Google services you use are possible only because of the powerful and energy-efficient infrastructure we’ve built over the years. This year, we worked to bring you more direct access to this infrastructure to help run your businesses and applications in the cloud. Compute Engine lets your business run virtual machines in Google’s data centers and BigQuery helps you quickly analyze big sets of data to gain business insights. Google Cloud Platform also offers more European datacenter support and lower prices for Cloud Storage.

The new Google Cloud Platform Partner Program ensures that partners have the tools and training to help your business meet its IT needs. And the Google Enterprise Partner Search makes it easy for you to find one of our 6,000 Google Apps Resellers with the services you’re looking for – from setup and user training to email migration, management services and support.

* * *

Work doesn’t always need to feel like work. Leaders in every industry—from retail, media and manufacturing to transportation, education and government—are adopting this notion, which we call “going Google.” Going Google means something different for everyone: starting a wine business with your two best friends, trying to build a bear-proof cooler, or keeping citizens safe. But we all have the common goal of bringing our organization into the future so we can work the way we live.

End of post from Amit Singh

* * *

SaskTech Servers is Google Apps Partner for Business specializing in cloud infrastructure consultation services to migrating your business data to the cloud.

Entrepreneurs use our website for low cost reliable Internet services like our domain and hosting products backed by our partnership with Go Daddy.

Canadian government and municipalities rely on our Wireless Infrastructure developed in partnership with small businesses and community organizations to share their Internet with our Bandwidth Revenue sharing model world wide.

Google Apps for Business is the Cloud Model of choice for corporate and private data storage for our clients.

With Google Apps for Business you will get 25GB of Mail Storage, along with access to Google Docs, Calendar, Sites, and many more Apps that come with a Google Account. Your domain registered with us gives you 24/7 email and phone support.

Because Google Apps is always changing we are introducing the SaskTech Membership plan that will include ongoing training and consultation services throughout the year. Available only on Lee Sapara's web site: Link Here

There is a lot of great links in Amit's post that if you have not already explored the option to Going Google with your company I would invite you to click on a link of interest.

When your ready click the Start Now button on my website at www.sasktech.net and I'll help you get setup and customized with your Business on Google Apps with your own domain.

A better, faster travel planning experience: 2012 updates

2012-12-19T16:50:00.000-06:00

From Inside Search: A better, faster travel planning experience: 2012 updates: (Cross-posted on the ITA Software By Google blog)

Google aims to help people turn their intents into actions, lightning fast. For travelers, this means we’re helping to take the complexity out of planning a trip by making it fast and easy for users to find the information they need to plan their next journey. Whether you’re looking for information about flights, hotels, activities or destinations, we have tools to help you -- and they are easily accessible for people on the go. Some of our favorite new functionality is outlined below.

More information, better presentation

This year, we’ve made some changes to the user interface of Flight Search, and added features that offer more information about amenities and fees; we did this to help users feel well-informed, and to help them quickly choose the best itinerary.

For instance, you can now quickly compare multiple destinations and multiple days simultaneously, using live prices, with our recently introduced experimental feature called Flight Explorer. Try it at www.google.com/flights/explorer.

Flight Explorer experiment search results page

You can also use a number of new features to tailor your flight shopping:

More easily calculate the total cost of your trip by taking a look at the baggage fees displayed next to each flight option
Choose a flight offering in-air connectivity by viewing a new indicator noting flights that offer Wi-Fi
Consider a little more luxury in the sky by comparing the cost of flying business or first class instead of coach
Easily plan complex itineraries -- such as those including multiple stops, or trips that involve a flight into one city and a return trip from another -- without confusion, using our new, user-friendly interface

Multi-city trip, Wi-Fi availability indicator, upgrade cost and checked baggage fees

Going global

In March, we made it possible for users to find flights to more than 500 destinations outside the US. Soon after, we enabled this capability for any international destination airport, for flights originating from the US or Canada. Globetrotters can try these features at www.google.com/flights, or just type your departure city and destination in the search box.

Results for international destination flight

And late this year, we rolled out localized versions of Hotel Finder in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, UK and Ireland. Now, people in those areas can search for and view hotel options in their own language and currency.

Helping people make informed hotel choices

In 2012, we made it even easier to find and book the right hotel for you using Hotel Finder. We also added more content including Zagat reviews and amenities. Hotel Finder now shows the price and availability for a choice of room types.

Pricing information, reviews, hotel details on Hotel Finder

Varying room types on Hotel Finder

You can try these features, and others, at www.google.com/hotels.

Empowering road warriors, delivering better destination data

In September, we made it easier for you to find the information needed to plan a trip, whether you’re searching via desktop, smartphone or tablet.

Soon after, updates to Google Now offered a number of ways for you to stay informed while on the go:

Automatic flight status notifications
Updates on weather at your destination
Showcase of events happening nearby
Website suggestions to help you explore as you research things to do
Electronic boarding pass cards for ease of travel

Google now travel cards

Finally, you can easily tap into the collective intelligence of the web to uncover a list of information relevant to your destination, using the Knowledge Graph carousel -- and hopefully, find inspiration.

Knowledge Graph carousel list of activities in Rome

Stay tuned for more. We think you’ll love what we have coming your way in 2013.

Posted by Jeremy Wertheimer, Vice President, Travel

Introducing the Save to Drive extension, plus enhancements to images

2012-12-19T16:49:00.000-06:00

Introducing the Save to Drive extension, plus enhancements to images: The new Save to Drive Chrome extension gives you a few new ways to capture content from anywhere on the web and store it neatly in Drive. After you install the extension, you can click on the Drive extension icon to save:

an image of an entire page or
an image of the visible page
the HTML source code
a Web archive (.mht)

Or you can right-click on images or links to files and save them directly to Drive.

After you save using the extension, you’ll see options to immediately open the file in Drive, rename it, or view it in your Drive list, where you can do things like add it to a folder or share it with others.

There are also a few new ways to work with images you’re already storing in Drive. You can now zoom by scrolling or using the new ‘fit to page’ and 100% buttons. And if you have something to say about a specific part of an image, you can select a region and add a comment to it.

Posted by Josh Hudgins, Product Manager

2012 A Year in Review: State of the Mind

2012-12-14T10:32:00.001-06:00

Long before we know ourselves,

Our paths are already set in stone.

Some may never figure out their purpose in life,

And some will.

There are a lot of us who are caught up in this hell we all live in,

Content with being blinded by rules and judgment.

We live in a world where it's more okay to follow than to lead.

In this world being a leader is trouble for the system we are all accustomed to.

Being a leader in this day and age is being a threat.

Not many people stood up against the system we all call life,

But toward the end of our first ten years into the millennium we heard a voice.

A voice who was speaking to us from the underground for some time.

A voice who spoke of vulnerabilities and other human emotions and issues never before heard so vividly and honest.

This is the story of a young man who not only believed in himself,

But his dreams too.

This is the story of The Man On The Moon." - Kid Cuddi, Common

http://www.facebook.com/yearinreview/leesapara

I posted this on my Facebook wall earlier this year. Beginning to look back at it my timeline as a journal and a way to keep in touch with family and friends. This year Facebook featured my 2012 for me. It was a nice surprise.

2012 has been a mixed bag for many of us. For some we have lost a person in our life, others have come through very hard times, there have been stories of inspiration and hope that we are coming together as a global community and consciousness.

I think it is the end of the world as we know it and technology plays a big part in it. Humanity is still faced with the double edge knife in the sense that technology can kill the man, or it can make him lunch. It depends on the person using the tool to make use of its purpose.

Since 2010 I have looked forward to the Google Zeitgeist Year in Review video collage of search. If this is your first time seeing it, I know you will look forward to seeing it next year to see how we used Search and its impacts to the world.

Year in Review Video

Its inspiring to see what is possible with technology technology in many different ways around the world. And this is also the year we have seen technology ruin the lives of others from cyber-bullying.

Today we can learn about anything online and with Internet being a tool to search for the things we need when we need them. I have always looked to using it for business which put me in the business of consulting small businesses with their technology needs.

Most have, like myself are on a budget, or have certain challenges ahead of them in calling their vision a success. Thats why in the spirit of Google I want to share this story of Cathiana and how Google Hangouts provided a way for her to collaborate and bring her perspective to the world.

Google + Ghetto Film School - Hangouts

Founded in 2000, Ghetto Film School is a non-profit that teaches the art of cinematic storytelling to young filmmakers from the South Bronx and beyond. Using Google+ Hangouts, Ghetto Film School MasterClass connects great directors with aspiring filmmakers from around the world. To learn more about Ghetto Film School's programs and support young filmmakers, visit http://www.ghettofilm.org.

This is just one success story of how the Internet has become a huge impact to our lives in regards to economic development. There are still communities just outside those city limits and entire countries that will still not be able to watch her video over the Internet, let alone be able to tell their story online.

The Internet has become the single most important tool for helping us find a job that we fit and have a passion. In hard times it has become the place we go to get advice and learn something new.

I have learned so much from the people around me online this year. 2010 through 2012 have been a huge amount of time being away from home. Originally the reason for this was because I had to, more than I wanted to. But I have tried with all my energy to make the most of it.

And it has become a really great journey considering the unfortunate series of events. I have been able to turn my lemons in to lemon-aide. I continued to learn my profession just as I have always studied it.

I has been the most challenging decade it seems like each one gets harder than the next. But if you do stick in there the rewards will be worth it. Looking at some of the photos of the good times I am so thankful for.

Everyone has their battles, for some the challenges may seem like mountains while that same problem for another maybe a molehill because they have already at some point in their life had to deal with the same problem.

For some, if they don't understand there is a problem or they make the choice of ignoring a problem. In either case I find the problem will become bigger if you don't deal with it.

I look at the story of Cathiana and her immediate challenge was to over come the issue of no electricity to take part in her Google + Hangout. She had overcome the issue of no electricity solving it the best way she knew how so she could participate in the class.

Today I think that she is doing what she loves, because she has a medium in which to share her story that we can hear half a world away. That's my inspiration and passion for helping people connect to the Internet.

2012 is the end of the world. It can be the end to greed, to poverty, to ignorance, to bullies. We can choose now to start a new world where we can learn from our problems of the past and work together.

How we choose to deal with our problems always has its struggles. We are a global community today because of how technology has brought us together.

Today we can make a choice to solve a problem or not to, and the decisions we make in choosing to solve the problems is what will make the ever after either happy or not so happy one.

To remember that we are not the only one struggling with a problem is what 2013 is all about and the best way to solve them are by communication. There may never be problem free world, we will always run into another problem but if we communicate it will make the journey a better experience for us all.

So I hope you all had a great 2012 considering the challenges we all have faced and I am looking forward to a brand new year of making the choice to our solve problems that come our way in 2013.

Search on, my friends

Business Cloud Solutions Grows in Numbers

2012-12-11T13:50:00.000-06:00

Photo by http://jessicalenaphotography.com/

If your thinking about a cloud based solution there may be a number of reasons for it. Mostly because everyone is doing it as the numbers show in the video below.

But there are many other factors to consider tossing the Data Center in the back office upfront costs for equipment become a thing of the past.

So you have to ask yourself are you in the technology business or are you a person in business that uses technology to empower your business?

http://www.capgemini.com/services-and-solutions/challenges/cloud/business-cloud-report/

"Business Cloud: The State of Play Shifts Rapidly"

A survey, based on 460 interviews with IT executives and business decision-makers, across 7 sectors, and selected countries in key regions, was carried out by independent research company Coleman Parkes.

The result: there’s clear evidence that the business, rather than purely IT, is becoming involved in driving Cloud strategy, and pioneering its use for ‘edge’ growth initiatives."

You notice from the numbers some important data. When making the decision to go with a cloud solution its a split between Business and IT. Cloud solutions impacts everyone at every level to make the change.

In making the change however 52% saw reduced costs in choosing a cloud model.

Doing things a little different also shows its increase in productivity 39% showing operational efficiencies.

So you can see there are many reasons for large corporations to switch to a cloud business model. At SaskTech we have believed in cloud solutions. Thats why we became a domain and hosting service company.

However with companies like Google dominating in the collaboration tech industry it is now affordable for even the smallest business to harness the power of a data center.

Internet speeds are beginning to become faster and more reliable and we have teamed up with some of the best companies to provide a choice of the best in cloud solutions.

Consider Google Apps for business and work in the future! Check out how you can get Google Apps for Business with SaskTech at www.sasktech.net

When your ready I am here to help with deployment, migration, training, change management and cloud consulting services available on a per project basis.

Visit my personal page at www.leesapara.com to contact me directly or visit gonegoogle.net to check out the Learning Center by SaskTech Servers.

Happy Birthday to (dot) ME

2012-12-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

A couple of blocks from the Birthplace of Silicon Valley is the cross roads of
Melville and Waverley Street in Palo Alto, CA

The photo taken above is the first day that I had visited the Birth Place of Silicon Valley in Palo Alto.

It was also the days that I heard about the passing of a teacher I had in Melville, a town I went to high school. I currently have my home and garage there today where I base my Small Business projects out of.

Learning has become my focus in whatever project or line of work I choose to take on and its because of great teachers like Mr. Vaudner who have helped and supported people like me and so many others to persue their field of interest.

Even though I am not there to celebrate his life with so many other classmates and people in his life that he has helped.

I think this would be the best place for me to be and pause to reflect his carrer as a teacher in the community I went to school and have a home in reading posts over facebook. The corner of Melville and Waverley.

It means a lot to me as a technology advocate to visit this area and to know that history was made out a home based business and became HP one of the biggest names in technology.

Here is the home that is today called the "Birthplace of Silicon Valley".

The Birthplace of Silicon Valley Home of HP

I parked the car and had to take a picture as soon as I got there. I read about this place at this page sometime ago: http://www.hpmuseum.org/garage/garage.htm

I was so happy to learn about something online, then having the opportunity to visit while in the area now taking classes in. I brought about another level of appreciation for travel to this location.

The sweetest lady had come to water the plants on the porch of this historical landmark. She asked if I was one of the "HP boys" and I said no but that I was a huge fan of their work. It was really nice to see that this house is looked after today to appreciate the companies roots and I was so glad to visit.

This is also the area to people like Steve Jobs who grew up idolizing and working for HP and later started a company called Apple and home to Internet celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg creator of Facebook.

There have been many small home based businesses that became a success and I think its important that we don't forget that success can come from the most unlikely of places.

With "Big Business" and "Wealthy" getting all the breaks, The decades before the Internet existed it was much harder to be a Small or Home Based Business.

In any case, starting and running a small business involves credibility and a sense of community and an appreciation for the line of work that gives you purpose in life.

Today as I write this it is my birthday and I cant THANK my parents enough who helped me have this experience and journey of learning with Google. I am truly blessed to come from and be apart of a great family of people who are dedicated to their work.

There are many jobs that I have taken over the years. Some that I was really good at, and others that I was not so good at. The purpose for me taking them on, was always to learn as much as I could from them.

Here is a video that came about the year before I graduated in 2000. It's called Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen. These last few birthdays I have celebrated its messages on so many lines have hit home in my life.

The year I graduated was also the year we recorded our Graduation and I know there are some audio bytes with Mr. Vaudner speaking. If anyone knows where I can get a copy I would like to share them on YouTube and post below.

The result of my trip to California was a success. I got the opportunity to learn from the best and the brightest in their fields of technology. Just as I have from some of the best teachers in my years of high school.

But for today, I celebrated my birthday enjoying what I love most - THE INTERNET. Blogging, reading posts from all my Facebook friends, and starting to plan some technology projects soon.

The best way I can celebrate my birthday is to go back to the Small Business, the Waverley Hotel that Mr. Vaudner went to almost everyday remise about the advice he gave us, even after our years of school and have a O'Douls in his honor.

I also want to support the Business that helped me the early years I started SaskTech Servers when Brian and Hellen owned the Waverley Hotel in our community. The small local business that came to be known in the area for a Great Steak Dinner when people gathered for their Birthdays so many years in the past.

History is just as important as the Future. To learn from those attempts that we failed in the past, but then use those lessons in our future is what makes us leaders and what teachers like Mr Vaudner instilled in his students to learn, even outside the classroom.

So thank you sir for all who you have helped throughout their years of education, myself included to Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss - land amongst the stars. A Student from your class of 2000!

Those reading if you would like to support my small business with its partnerships to companies like GoDaddy and Google who believe in Small Businesses and have helped me provide support for Entrepreneurs and Small Business in Canada locally and countries world wide to get online and get connected.

Consider getting a .Me or any of my other domain and hosting related services that I offer at www.sasktech.com and support my causes for Small Business and the Internet or check out my about.me page at www.leesapara.me.

If you don't have a small business, you probably have a story that would help someone else in their life go through the same challenges as you.

Consider starting your own blog today! You can do it for free when you get a Domain Name from sasktech.com from both your choice of GoDaddy or Google Products with my company.

So, Thank you all for your birthday wishes today most especially on Facebook everyone!

I have so many great family members and friends to share life with in all of its ups and downs. Thank you for being apart of it both on and offline these last 31 years!

I am looking forward to many more and appreciate everyday the ones who are not here today, but have shared their life lessons with me. We may miss the moon, but we can's stop aiming for it!

Edit spreadsheets on the go with the Drive mobile app

2012-11-28T10:44:00.000-06:00

Edit spreadsheets on the go with the Drive mobile app: You’re making your list, you’re checking it twice—and now you can do it from anywhere.

Just in time for this year’s holiday season, you can edit Google Sheets on your mobile device, just like you can with Google Docs. From the Drive app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device, you can create a new spreadsheet or edit an existing one. You can switch fonts, resize columns, sort data, and more. And just like on your computer, you’ll be able to see other people’s edits in real time as they’re made.

Beyond spreadsheets, you may notice a few other tweaks to the Drive app, including better text formatting when you copy and paste in a Google document. And if you’re using an Android device, you can now edit text within tables in documents and add a shortcut on the homescreen of your device to any specific file in Drive.

Whether it’s holiday recipes, shopping lists, or just your family budget, the Drive app on your mobile device makes it easy to get stuff done wherever you are.

Get the Google Drive app today from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Posted by Shrikant Shanbhag, Software Engineer

Gmail and Drive - a new way to send files

2012-11-27T10:52:00.000-06:00

Gmail and Drive - a new way to send files: (Cross-posted from the Gmail blog)

Since Google Drive launched in April, millions of people have started using Drive to keep, create and share files. Starting today, it’s even easier to share with others: you can insert files from Drive directly into an email without leaving your Gmail.

Have you ever tried to attach a file to an email only to find out it's too large to send? Now with Drive, you can insert files up to 10GB -- 400 times larger than what you can send as a traditional attachment. Also, because you’re sending a file stored in the cloud, all your recipients will have access to the same, most-up-to-date version.

Like a smart assistant, Gmail will also double-check that your recipients all have access to any files you’re sending. This works like Gmail’s forgotten attachment detector: whenever you send a file from Drive that isn’t shared with everyone, you’ll be prompted with the option to change the file’s sharing settings without leaving your email. It’ll even work with Drive links pasted directly into emails.

So whether it’s photos from your recent camping trip, video footage from your brother’s wedding, or a presentation to your boss, all your stuff is easy to find and easy to share with Drive and Gmail. To get started, just click on the Drive icon while you're composing a message. Note that this feature is rolling out over the next few days and is only available with Gmail's new compose experience, so you'll need to opt-in if you haven't already.

Posted by Phil Sharp, Product Manager

The True North, Strong and Free

2012-11-05T15:10:00.002-06:00

I was recently at a training session at Google and people all from different countries asking what Canada is like. I hope I gave a good representation of the country as a proud Canadian but I also was very interested in their own countries, economies, governments, etc.

So I thought this would be a fitting time to talk about my country while arriving near to our Remembrance Day in Canada where on November Eleventh day of the eleventh hour of the eleventh minute where our whole nation pauses for a minute of silence as we remember the fallen who have fought for our country and people.

I forgot on YouTube that I made a playlist of Canada a number of years ago. Looking at these videos I cant help but share here.

Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans

I like the way Tom explains it from a perspective of a person out side our country. The commentary at the end is so true.

Our country could sometimes be more patriot, I think sometimes when Canadian travel they tend to go over board and at times when its really necessary like our Remembrance Day we could pay more attention to this.

Also, arriving back from California where my training was I thought it was a great sense of population and our land mass.

We also have a great sense of humor about ourselves, which is why I like this next video a regular news farce that is also very informative. I love Rick Mercers' shows, and this next video pretty much explains our own ignorance to our country.

I have also found that I got into a lot of arguments with my own friends who are Canadian who think that our Prime Minister has more power than he really does. And its just NOT TRUE. We have a very different government system that our counterparts.

Rick Mercer: Canada Explained

My background is very multi-cultural and for myself I'm not completely happy about the history of the Monarchy but it is part of our heritage. I cant help but recall that my great-grandmother would insist of having her stamps with the Queen on it. She said "Well, if your going to have to lick anyones ass, it may as well be the Queens'.

I guess I think that's true in our case when we are faced with using our military forces. And I am very proud of those who serve our country in the Military. They truly are a proud representation of our country. Many of whom are friends and family that I lookup for not only defending my rights and freedoms but all those who ask for help.

The next few videos are more about comedy and I loved watching the show "Who's Line is it Anyway?". Also in mentions Saskatchewan a bunch of times! I really like these guys who are from our home province in the middle of the paries in Canada.

I was asked what kind of Jokes Canadians tell, then I was asked how Canadians joke and make fun of the US. So, I have to point once again at Rick Mercer in one of his videos about Talking to American's.

I only present these videos so that we can laugh together as two neighboring countries. But it is also so true how little Canadians actually do really know what the rest of the world is like in our sheltered lives. I think we are all like this wherever we live in the world and whatever culture we were raised with.

But now in this day and age, the children growing up will live in a world where they will have direct contact with people from other parts of the world. And I am grateful that the Internet is bringing us closer together and understanding different cultural perspectives.

In a book from Steven Covey he talks about a rule that we should take in consideration of our daily lives. I think this quote is true when talking about other cultures. He says "Seek first to understand, then to be understood".

This very hard to do when you want to be heard first. But behind every problem is a story and the challenges people face may not be directly to the problem, helping people with those challenges however may get you to the solution faster and with peace.

So I think that is what I am proud of most about my country is that we collectively try to solve problems with other nations when called upon. We try to understand their needs and help others come up with the solutions.

I am very proud that not only do I come from Canada but also from Saskatchewan where great people have really impacted the world for the positive. Like Tommy Douglas who brought about the idea of universal health care.

Traveling to other countries and learning about other cultures is one of my favorite pastimes and the people I have meet along the way have all impacted in a positive way and taught me to view solutions from as many different perspectives.

All those who I met on my trips from Go Daddy in Arizona and Google in California have accepted me into their homes, shared experiences and aspirations with me that I will never forget. You have made a place in all parts of the world I can call home. If you find yourself in Canada there is a little place in Saskatchewan you can call home too!

I think 2012 is that Paradigm shift of connecting, communicating, and collaborating we have a choice to make a turn that all humanity will grow and become conscience of one another. Without understanding we can not have peace. I leave you with the video below from Charlie Chaplin's "Greatest Speech". Imagine if before World War One we heard the speech below where would we be today?

A Blast from the Past, Learning the Cloud with my former High School Teachers

2012-10-27T20:51:00.000-06:00

I Think I'm keeping my Stach growing so I can dress as Wally for Halloween and get an early start on Movember!

This is Wally & Joan and they just moved to the cloud! Mr. Oucharek as I would address him in my Grade 10 Biology class was the very first teacher, at my very first class, and on my first day attending the Melville Comprehensive School.

I remember that first day of school in grade 10 like it was yesterday (Sept 1997). Now we are Going Google together!

Wally has been learning the Apple Computer System at the same time as adjusting to Cloud life.

Today we had a chance to catch up! Last year, Wally registered a domain name from my company at www.sasktech.com. We registered oucharek.com as the domain and he signed up for a Google Apps 30 Day Trial here.

I assisted Wally in configuring his email account with Google Apps as part of his membership with me. He now has a Gmail Account customized for his new Art Businesses he started when he retired as a school teacher.

Today you can email and collaborate with him as wally@oucharek.com, he can go to Gmail and sign-in just as any other Gmail user but its customized to his family name.

Joan is on Hotmail today and is thinking about switching over soon! When she does her email will look something similar with @oucharek.com. They will be able to share calendars, files, and keep in touch with family when traveling.

They have an old PC Computer, recently purchased an iMac, he just recently had to upgrade his phone and chose iPhone and Joan got the WiFi only iPad 3. So a lot has been changing for this couple and their family is all over the country.

Like most people living in Saskatchewan they are bundled with SaskTel and got their email address as a @sasktel.net account which they still get email from time to time and have had for many years.

As they Go Google, they are going to get all their info from the old PC and move it all to the Google Cloud so they can use, and find all their information on all of their new and old computers where ever they are enjoying retirement.

This first thing we learned today was the use of the chrome browser. Its a web browser that works on PC, Mac, Android, and iOS Devices. There are a lot of features to chrome and even more benefits for Google Apps users who choose the Google Cloud because Chrome is made by Google.

You can Download & Learn more about your copy free today if you haven't already.

Visit http://www.google.com/chrome

Once installed on your computer or device the icon will look like this:

On PC the default location in your Start Menu will be Programs >> Google Chrome >> Chrome

On your Mac you will need to go in to Applications >> Chrome

We did this on their Apple computer because they already had it on their PC. Our next step was to create a Chrome User account for both Wally and Joan.

This video talks about customizing Chrome Users

This is a great time to switch to chrome as wally is now comfortable to going to Gmail to Sign in for his email.

Both you and Wally can learn about your First Days with Google Apps Gmail Here from my Google Apps Learning Center web site at http://www.sasktech.net/your-first-days

Since chrome is a faster browser it will make his old PC become faster because it will only be using the browser to look and work with his data rather than having his PC do the work of running other applications he might also use like spreadsheets, documents, and organizing photos.

Things are always changing with Google and thats why they got the membership with SaskTech so they can be informed about updates and changes to the new features that are always being added.

They now have a Mac in one part of the house and the PC in another. They have a choice to buy more software for their Mac if they want to use the same spreadsheet on their PC.

The choice is simple since Wally now has a Domain with Google Apps by SaskTech. Now with the Chrome browser they will use Docs to do all the things their old PC did with Microsoft Office without purchasing software for their Mac and worrying about updating the PC

Wally made the choice last year before he got his new phone and computer to Go Google by getting a website. Because of this, both of their transition between computer systems and devices are now possible. This retired couple is ready to Work in the Future!

We spent a lot of time talking about travel and met up with another teacher I had in high-school who did an amazing job teaching me math. Mr. Siedler and his wife! They stopped in to visit Wally and Joan before they leave for vacation.

It was good to see Mr. Siedler, both of them have been remarkable teachers in high school Mr. Oucharek who taught me Biology and Mr. Siedler guiding me through my Math classes. It really made me happy to share with them the experiences with Google and reminiscing our old high-school learning days.

We started at 10 am and the whole day ended up becoming acquainted with the Cloud and what it is and how it impacts our everyday lives for the better.

Because Wally had already purchased iCloud and already had the Google Cloud we are going to make them work together as our next step. What's important is that we learn that Google Cloud works best with the Chrome Browser. So if you want to learn with us get your copy installed today!

I will post the differences between other Cloud Platforms soon!

Today we parted ways and Wally gave me a gift we have been collaborating the idea on for over a year while they do renos on the CN Station in Melville, Saskatchewan.

Wally being an Artist has made prints of the Rail Station a number of years ago and when he approached me to make his website I had expressed interest in getting a print.

Since they were starting on Renos of this station which was my Grandfathers last posting before retirement. I asked if he could get wood from the restoration project Wally was helping with to frame his art work so that I could display it in my home as a proud resident of Melville and a client of his art business.

I went to the station that its painted from to show you the where the wood came from to make the frame.

The replaced wood above the balcony is where the frame came from. On the back of the painting he wrote a message to me:

I can't wait to see all the renos to our Downtown CN Station when they are complete!

Thank you Wally & Joan for this artwork and the day we spent together. I will cherish this painting always and look forward to Working in the Future, Well INTO the Future with both of you!

You can visit my Learning Center www.gonegoogle.net to learn how you can Go Google by SaskTech.

You can't rush art and as Wally and I build his web site you can stay up to date by checking it at www.oucharek.com.

Get your Google Back on Windows 8

2012-10-26T20:00:00.000-06:00

Catchy, and gives you an excuse to do a happy dance.

Get Google Back on your Windows 8 Device now visit getyourgoogleback.com

Being Here...

2012-10-14T16:41:00.000-06:00

I arrived here a day early to catch up on sleep from the drive to California. I was in the Google Mountain View location once before so I already know a park to hang out and relax before I can check in to my hotel room.

There is a feeling about this park that told me I am where I belong right now. Even though I was here briefly for the first time in April, even that time felt like I have been here before. That feeling of Deja Vu.

I have heard others describe this feeling but its where I feel like I was ment to be. So I took time to just hang out, take pictures, rest and see a glimpse of hopefully one day my future.

Some friends from home came to visit this park too while I was here! They have been doing this route for 100's of years. I wonder if they know something we dont?

It was comforting to see the Canada Geese come to this park. Some of them making the fly farther than my drive. Could they have been roaming the Regina Parliament building just a few months earlier?

To me this area is amazing with nature right in front of me in the middle of the wetlands. To the right of this frame is a NASA research center, Linked-in, Google and to the left is the Googleplex and its hundreds of other buildings with self driving cars waiting to turn with me at a red light.

The minds at work just footsteps away from me, taking a picture of the Canada Goose coming from the middle of nowhere Canada.

It really is amazing what the Internet has allowed me to do and who it has connected me to. This year is my 20th year being connected online and the fruits of that connection really opened my eyes. I had the privilege to get dial-up long before most people knew what it was or cared about the Internet.

Because of this, and the problems of connectivity most of my contacts had when they got their website from me in those early days of the Internet. Since I started SaskTech I have dedicated my time and subjected myself with the same challenges to understanding more and helping those get high-speed Internet in their areas in many different ways.

From that connection to the Internet I have been able to collaborate with like minded people to learn and do things that help others with the same challenges.

When I started SaskTech Servers affordability was the main reason for my business. With Domains and Hosting were trying to lower the cost of a domain name that retailed at most competitors at over $60 per year and web hosting that was typically 10 times the monthly price sold today at www.sasktech.com.

Some companies had low prices but you sacrificed support and reliability of the service.

Getting business online, especially small ones can impact a local economy in huge ways with multiple spin-offs and long term growth as I have seen over the decade since I started.

In real life and especially before the Internet it was incredibly hard to find a group of like minded people who share the same interests.

I wandered the park and admired the scenery while I had breakfast. I watched snails cross the walking paths and people enjoy their time with exercise, a game a golf, walking their pets and kite flying.

The history in this area means a lot to me because Im a really big computer nerd. HP started making printers from a little garage, Steve Jobs grew up getting a job working with frequency counters from HP who then latter started Apple, and so many others have come to this area to make a name for their Tech Business.

I was thinking about stopping by Apple the headquarters, to ask for my stolen iPhone they are in possession of, but I figured why bother waisting the time. Without the possibility of meeting Steve seems kind of pointless. I'm sorry, I am still morning the loss of Steve and my 1 month old iPhone I called Siri.

So with a few hours left before check-in I thought I should check out the Facebook Headquarters...

Unfortunately this is all you are going to see of Facebook. I went inside to ask the security guard on potrol if I could get a picture, and beyond this pic is Private Property. It is possible to get a tour but you have to know an employee.

I was okay with this rule, there had been those times in our lives over the last few years that I have relied on your likes on this social media website. Facebook has been an incredible tool for many small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits.

For the individual it can mean finding that group of like minded people or source for help from a friend with a simple act of liking something.

Like, any tool it can be used for Good and for Bad and we need to be mindful of that. The golden rule of "Be Nice" applies at all times!

Yesterday as I was traveling I saw post on Facebook about a young teenage girl who killed herself as a result of cyber-bullying. I was watching the comments come in from very different perspectives from my diverse group of friends.

For me it brought up old wounds on so many levels, I have been in a situation of being bullied, I have lost friends who took their own lives, and I have suffered huge moments of depression in my life loosing myself in thoughts that I wish never existed.

When your mind is lost in those thoughts my heart goes out to you, just asking for help without knowing what is wrong with yourself in the first place is confusing. And each person has their own past, problems and obstacles more important Goals and Dreams radically different from each story that is told like this over the ages.

Its like looking at the blank Google Search Box but not able to type, speak, or know the language in order to get help.

For those who have never had any of these experiences or knowing the story of someone who has lost a friend, family, or co-worker or even someone stuck on the train going down the wrong track that it may bring a different perspective.

Knowing the story behind the problem is really important because we may have the map but if the elevation on the course is not part of the story then climbing the mountain that is between you and the destination could be radically different than crossing a bridge.

Blogging in a way is showing the crossing of that bridge, and if one doesn't yet already exist then building one for others who may one day need to cross maybe necessary. This is that story of your life and what your up against.

Facebook in our area provided most with a platform for us to use on a daily basis in my area as a popular social medium, but there are many other out there. For some it was the first tool they learned to being online.

Thank you for letting me take a picture in front of the sign Facebook! Maybe next time a tour?

That being said to tell you what I am here for in this park just footsteps from the Google Campus.

I have the privilege to learn right inside the walls of Google for 5 days! Some of the best minds in Search let a small entrepreneur from little old Saskatchewan Canada to learn some of the best practices to help move businesses, organizations, and governments completely online.

The ability to have large corporation infrastructures like the Google's Data Center so that you can customize it to your own Business at prices a student going through University could afford is amazing to the potential of a small business.

To not only be in the same room as the trainers and employees of Google who have created a remarkable system of communication and collaboration but to also meet people I was going to learn with, who are truly players in the Tech Industry who have helped literally 1000's of people as one company transition to a completely new way of business with technology all coming from different perspectives from all over the world.

You can imagine the intimidation I feel coming out of the woodworks with out any other education than my government issued grade 12, several learning disorders, and a dose of ADD. Getting here has not been easy me because of those disorders, along with geographical and financial challenges.

For me I have trouble with words, numbers and reading that I discovered at an early age. Writing this blog is a bit of a challenge in itself. Over the years I have used technology to bridge those gaps and hope today they are less noticeable and function just as everyone else.

Getting here involved a lot of reading, understanding businesses and learning concepts of computers, servers, and systems I have never had to deal with because clients I served were so small and could not afford such infrastructure in the first place.

But with this system that I have put in practice and used over several years it is now possible for even the smallest startup have the ability to have the power of a data center.

So I hope some of the tips throughout this blog will help any of you, if you know someone with similar problems or if your thinking of starting a blog yourself. Please excuse any typos going forward and thanks for any helpful or encouraging input you give from reading these posts.

But I was so excited for the opportunity that I jumped in my car the day after I got the email that I could attend, and now the first day of school jitters have caught up with me.

It was a good thing that I came a day early. Checkin was at 3:00, a shower and some much needed sleep was in order for a big day at school with homework a day before the class...

Last wednesday before coming out here I typed the name of the hotel I stayed searching my scanned receipts stored in Google Drive, I visited this area once for a day and got the hotel phone number but the hotel was booked solid.

So I used Google Maps to find the hotel I am staying at tonight because it was close to the places I had classes at and I was on a very tight budget.

Check-in a success and happy I made the choice for a temporary home while I am out here. Traffic should be good so I can make it early enough.

Good Nite!

Crossing Bridges

2012-10-13T00:51:00.000-06:00

I arrived in California and drove straight to location I found in a blog post I read about the area.
I got to the location in the early afternoon and I wanted to capture the bridge as the sun was setting as a time laps.

It was amazing to watch people visit this location some on several occasions and others who had arrived for the very first time.

I don't consider myself a photographer by any sense of the word, but as I took the photographs and uploaded them to my computer. I thought damn, you can't take a bad picture when your looking through a rose coloured lens.

I could't help but think of a few friends of mine who are photographers, and all that I have learned from their blogs and observed the work they do because it is something that they love to do in life.

Making unique expressions of the world through their lens. Some have begun to make a carrer of it.

When it came to a time to put their work online, they had come to my small business to help them get the world to connect to their work by registering a domain name, getting web hosting, and email.

To watch them and their work unfold over the years has been amazing and in doing so I have learned so much.

I asked this gentleman if it would be alright that I took a picture of him, taking a picture of the bridge. His camera intriguing me first and the irony of the situation.

If you haven't already started a blog yourself its a great idea! It lets you show the world through your lens what you love most. With it you will attract what you put out.

That being said, visiting this location really made me just want to get married. So if you do visit this area I recommend sharing it with someone special.

Too bad I was all alone ;(

I positioned myself for the 20 minute view to watch the the sunset. As I sat on the ledge over looking bridge observing graffiti from people who visited this exact spot.

While I was taking the video of the timelaps a young man started his proposal speech to a lady he brought from Australia. His uncle was taking the video as I watched this scenery in the foreground and gave witness to the moment.

I thought to myself, I came to visit Google and got here from the choices I made. I am still yet to visit the destination Google, and the journey has brought so much into my life.

Its why I love to travel, the "We're Going" is that part I love most . . . The rest is the icing on the cake.

So, I will be starting to publish my journeys online. I hope it will help those who maybe nervous to put their lives out to the world, or help others to persure their own dreams to make a carrer of it, or just share life with their family and friends who matter most.

To all my family and friends who have helped me here to cross this bridge, Thank You for guiding me all in your own special way, how to shoot for the moon!

Your faith has helped me build towers, your love has helped me send signals, and your compassion has shown me how to build bridges that I never thought I would one day have the opportunity to cross...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge_in_popular_culture

A long road...

2012-10-12T09:27:00.000-06:00

A full day of driving in store for me today leaving Montana and Idaho as I watch the old moon leave and a new moon just about to arrive on Monday. I had to stop on the side of the road and take a picture of the early morning scenery.

Montana and Idaho has some rugged scenery that I would compare very much to places in Alberta giving me some familiarity to home. I dont know why but when I drive by places with rolling hills in and pine trees I think of my childhood stories I would read the Berenstain Bears for some strange reason.

I would rather rather drive than fly because there is so much in between a destination that you miss along the way. At least if there is something I need to learn or think about it becomes like my meditation.

Here are some of the Photos from the day, trying Apple's new map/navigation on the ipad. I usually use 2 GPS systems when I'm on a long road trip to just confirm the route I am taking.

It does a fairly good job and easy to use, but I do miss Google Maps with its satellite imagery and street view since the new Apple upgrade.

For those people still wanting to use Google Maps on your iOS Devices you can still use it by going to maps.google.com in your device browser.

The one reason I liked about android devices was the Google Maps. And for this reason I may get the new 7 inch android tablet is to put velcro on the back so I can use it as a navagation system in the car. The Tablet from Google looks to be half the cost of the latest iPad.

The Fog this mornings drive was a treat as the sun was rising over the hills with the trees having a full of life whimsical feel to them.

I had to stop, stretch and admire the scenery of this beautiful state.

This part of Idaho reminds me of British Columbia, I stopped again in the afternoon to take a few pictures and stretch my legs.

I finally got my appetite back and was ready to eat. In the states they have Jack-In-The-Box that makes a sour dough burger. I was really looking forward to the meal and the open road.

I went through the drive in, got my meal and hit the road. It was delicious until I passed the a cow barn that must have been cleaning for the winter. So much for that meal.

As the sun came down, I got to twin falls and at the perfect time. The sun was just setting in Idaho and I reached Twin Falls. Take a look at the scenery over looking the golf course. Definitely a place to soak in the scenery while enjoying a round. Not today however. A few pics and back on the road.

Twin Falls, Idaho

Nevada is where I ened up sleeping at the same rest stop I stayed at last April.

The torrent really fits me perfectly with enough room to sleep and of course geek out with my laptop in.

The front passeger seat folds down making a desk fro the laptop when I sit on the 30 split seats.

If your in your 20's and a almost midget short like me it works well.

Good nite!

Zeitgeist 2011: Year In Review

2011-12-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

See how the World Searched with Google's 2011 Zeitgeist:
http://googlezeitgeist.com

Music: "Sooner or Later" by Mat Kearney
Produced by Whirled Creative with Director Scott Chan

"Soldier surprises mom" clip courtesy of the National Geographic Channel, Siskell/Jacobs Productions and Joseph Desira.

Google Mobile Ads Blog: You can now see mobile ad performance in Google An...

2011-11-17T19:18:00.000-06:00

Google Mobile Ads Blog: You can now see mobile ad performance in Google An...: (Cross-posted on the Google Analytics Blog ) Starting this week, some of you will see enhanced Analytics reports with mobile ad performance...

Create and Send Messages in Gmail

2011-10-31T17:13:00.000-06:00

Learn how easy it is to create and send messages using Gmail and how much easier it is using keyboard shortcuts.

Learn more at my Learning Center about Gmail and sign up for a 30 Day Trial for Google Apps!

New look for Google Docs

2011-10-21T07:15:00.000-06:00

Memere's 100th Birthday!

2011-10-16T22:00:00.000-06:00

Adjusting to Carnduff with New Camera - Nikon CoolPix L120

2011-09-01T22:00:00.000-06:00

First Day at Fast Trucking Service

2011-07-18T22:00:00.000-06:00

Garage Siding @ Mom and Dads

2011-07-15T06:41:00.000-06:00

a very hot weekend July 15-17 project ! +30, for most of us it was a first time for siding.