Techmamas

TechMama is Traveling - With None Other Then The "Traveling Geeks"

2009-11-27T09:26:07-08:00

Million Mile Frequent Flyer Status is not all it is cracked up to be...

Before I joined Deloitte, I was an international computer auditor. This gave me the opportunity to travel to Mexico, Spain, Sweden, England, Puerto Rico, France and all over the United States. The business trips were back to back for weeks at a time and luckily they were all BK (before kids). I thoroughly enjoyed the travel but I had no - um - personal life.

Now I have the personal life, but fitting in travel is not easy...

With three amazing but extremely active boys, a wonderful husband (Neil Blecherman) and multiple blogs to manage - I try to limit my traveling to only key events. My involvement in social media has given me the opportunity to connect with an amazing network of bloggers from both BlogHer and the Silicon Valley Moms Group. My programming/systems project management background led me to also show my geeky side by connecting with technology and social media bloggers. I created a personal blog to discuss my perspective as a tech mom (TechMamas.com) and am starting a vlog called GadgetSpin with Eliane from Ubergizmo, TechieDiva, and Ponziarelli. But no matter how much I develop my online network, attending conferences/events to have old fashioned "live interaction" is still the best form of networking.

Bloggers gone traveling...

There are some amazing social media connectors and community builders and when they call about an event - I jump on board. They look for stories that need to be told or discussions that need to be sparked - then match bloggers to the stories to bring information online. One connecter is Guy Kawasaki who organized an amazing blogger embark on the USS Nimitz and introduced me to Alltop (now I have MyAlltop!). Robert and Maryam Scoble and Steve Brobeck organized a blogger bus to CES last year that gave me the opportunity to spend time with an engaging group of bloggers. One of the bloggers on board was Christine Lu. When she informed me about the ReThink Hawaii conference, I decided that was a great work-cation opportunity. I also view my partners at Gadgetspin as connectors. Eliane and her Ubergizmo team just recently organized Ubergizmo10 - well worth the drive to San Francisco. There are also multiple circles of moms who have used their community building, shopping and writing skills to form online networks.

I have been following Renee Blodgett for some time and enjoy her insights on social media. I also view Renee Blodgett as a social media connector and community builder. She is one of the co-founders of a group called Traveling Geeks . The Traveling Geeks website describes it best: "Traveling Geeks is a consortium of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, authors, journalists, bloggers, technology innovators and influencers who travel to countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote new, innovative technologies. The initiative was founded by Jeff Saperstein and Renee Blodgett in 2008."

Traveling Geeks 2009 - Paris

When I was invited to join their Traveling Geeks/Paris trip, I knew that was one adventure not to miss (no matter how many mom-planning-loops I had to jump through). I can't wait to see what is in store for the Traveling Geeks Trip to Paris, which includes attendance at LeWeb. I plan to be online sharing the trip with my readers as much as the international connections allow. The Twitter hashtags for the trip are #TG09, #travelingeeks. Their is also a Facebook fan page and a Twitter ID: @travelinggeeks.

Now back to my search for an unlocked GSM smartphone international data plan and international Broadband card!

Shopping Tech? Here Are Some Black Friday & Cyber Monday Tips

2009-11-26T09:45:56-08:00

I shared many times over Twitter that although I am a "TechMama" my laptop needs replacing. I am a heavy computer user and my computer is over 2 years old. So this weekend I will be looking online for Black Friday Sales 2009 and Black Friday ads like many others. One of mom friend's computer died but she is waiting for this weekend to buy a new one. Other moms I know are looking for technology as holiday gifts for their families. Holiday time is the best time to buy technology as the new "gift" (my slogan). So for those getting their sneakers on to shop for Black Friday Sales ads, here is where to go for online Black Friday Sales 2009 and some things to think about before you go. Some sites even offer printable coupons to bring along to the store. I will be posting throughout the weekend with hot technology and toy gift ideas.

NOTE: Gizmodo posted with a good point - there are some items that can be found online at the same or better prices then BlackFriday prices, so best to do some comparison shopping online. At the same time, many manufacturers are having big sales this time of year, so finding deals will not be a problem. PC World posted that Black Friday doorbusters are for suckers.

Where to go: This Wall Street Journal article confirmed my list of what sites list Black Friday Sales 2009: "Where to Find Black Friday Deals". I have already been following Black Friday Ads, BlackFriday.info and the BlackFriday Twitter account. Mashable posted about how social media is used to find Black Friday deals (including Facebook). The New York Times byte blog posted with more online Black Friday 2009 sites to follow such as CheapTweets on Twitter. I did go into an Apple store to ask about around Thanksgiving and they said there will be a sale. By going on the Apple website I saw that the Apple sale day is November 26. I also follow many computer manufacturers on Twitter and have seen lots of deals through Twitter: SonyElectronics, HP News, HP_IPG , Dell, Dell Outlet, Toshiba Laptops. The big retailers like Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy and online retailers like Amazon Twitter Deals and NewEgg also share deals. I also go to their websites and signup for newsletter updates which sends deals to my email inbox.

What to consider: My recommendation is to sleep in and shop online. The New York Times reported that retailers will extend Black Friday. Other articles said that the high end items are not the main items on sale. So my suggestion is to decide on your needs and what alternatives fit with those needs.

How to choose the right technology gifts: I have been looking at all sorts of technology and I can honestly say that in many situations there are more then one "perfect" fit. The first step is to identify what your needs are then start to look for overall technology solutions. Then review online buying guides to understand what features you should be looking for. My favorite online buying guides are on CNET, Laptop Magazine buying guides, DPreview and reviews on gadget blogs like Ubergizmo, Engadget, Gizmodo, TechieDiva, Gear Diary, Boy Genius Report, Gear Live and of course TechMamas. My favorite shopping site is Cool Mom Picks. Bing.com also has links to guides such as "Laptop buying guides".

NEED A NEW HOME COMPUTER? Do you need another computer for your kids to do their homework? Then consider desktops if the computer does not need to be mobile or laptops for mobile use. I was just quoted recently in an article by Laptop Magazine on Netbooks for Kids. Netbooks are a great alternative for mobile use - but I suggest having a docking station with a bigger screen for home use. Older kids may be responsible enough to have their own laptop, especially if their homework requires computer use. Tablet PC's may also be the right fit because of their flexible screens. Desktops are the most budget friendly and will have bigger screens that not only are easy on the eyes for homework, but if the Deskop has the right features can be used to watch videos, movies or even TV shows. There are also lots of accessories that compliment home computer users such as backup drives, media smart servers, home wireless servers, wireless keyboards & mouses, webcams and more. There are many printer options these days including the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web.

NEED SOME HOME ENTERTAINMENT? Home is the new "entertainment" as well, there is now a range of home entertainment options available. Holidays are a good time to buy a home gaming system like the Nintendo Wii or the Sony Playstation. Supplemental gifts are to consider also buying gaming accessories, for example a Wii Fit Plus bundle or any of the new games (I will be posting about this weekend). Guitar Hero, Rock Band the the Tony Hawk Thride game all have gaming accessories that add to family entertainment. If you or your kids have iPods then setting up a system to stream that music in the house will be a fun way to extend the iPod and iTune purchases to the home. Many TV's are Internet enabled these days so maybe a new TV that can also show videos or family Flickr pictures through Internet access can be a fun holiday gift. Now is also a great time to look into high definition or "HDTV's".

NEED TO CAPTURE FAMILY MEMORIES? Kids as young as 6 can use digital cameras so the gift of a digital camera or camcorder for the family to use will benefit everyone. Pair the new digital camera with a new printer and digital photo frame. Or upgrade the family camera to a DSLR (or purchase a new camera lens) to enable capture of sports events or fast action.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY: Another slogan I have is that every mom should have a smartphone to manage their lives on the go. The holidays are a great times for moms to upgrade their cellphone or try a newer model smartphone. While smartphones can also be used to read books, e-Readers such as the Sony Readers, Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook are a great suggestions for a holiday gifts. Netbooks with USB or Wireless Broadband cards (as a "mobile" PC) can give families mobile Internet access. Wireless cards such as the Verizon MiFi can give 5 PC's wireless access at the same time, which may be a great alternatives for families who travel with more then one Internet device.

I can go on and on with technology gift recommendations - but I need to start looking for my own family technology gifts. All throughout the weekend I will be posting more with tips on choosing holiday tech gifts.

Did I miss any ways to find out about holiday tech deals?

My Work-cation at ReThink Hawaii

2009-11-25T11:12:19-08:00

When Christine Lu contacts me about an event, I do everything I can to show up. She is one of those connectors that brings interesting people together to spark amazing discussions. My husband Neil Blecherman and I decided to join go to the ReThink Hawaii conference after she notified us. We not only looked at it as a chance to network and but as a vacation; we had not been away for longer then a day together in 10 years - since we started our wonderful family of 3 boys!!.

Photo Credit: Kris Krug

Here is a picture of the ReThink Hawaii attendees, my husband and I are in the middle left - Christine Lu is at the front. Because we wanted to spend some time at the beach, we did not get to attend all the sessions. On the last day we enjoyed going to TEDx Honolulu just before we jumped on the plane. I enjoyed seeing the TEDx video to explain the passion that is spreading around the world. The TEDx Honolulu organizers (including L.P. “Neenz” Faleafine and Traci Toguchi and also did a great job of pulling together a compelling program. I look forward to when the TEDx Honolulu videos are loaded. Of course, I am somewhat bias because of my excitement to hear my husband's TEDx speech (Neil Blecherman).

Being in semi-vacation mode, I decided to cover this trip via smartphone - using Twitter to capture my thoughts.My husband attended the Sustainablity/Eco session we both attended Social Media Business Summit Co-organized by Christine Lu, Rick Calver, Jim Turner. I enjoyed speaking on a panel at the summit about Parent Bloggers with Jim Turner. The "Re-tweets" below with my picture are from an attendee who shared some of my key thoughts as I spoke. I also enjoyed hearing Jim Turner's perspective as one of the original parent bloggers who also runs a successful media business called One by One Media. We both shared that we don't make money from blogging - blogging is a way for us to share our voice. We have other businesses that compliment the blogging. I summarized a few of my key answers when asked why I blog. Why TechMama blogs: "blogging a great platform for creating an online brand and image, blogging creates my voice but make money on other things (i.e. books, consulting), the three overall reasons I blog is community -relevance - voice. that's why "

Here is a summary of my Twitter stream from the conference. I will be looking at new ways to micro-blog, including trying the BlackBerry Whrrl app I just loaded.

TechMama's Twitter Stream from ReThink Hawaii:

@Techmama:

Also had the chance to hear @tracitoguchi beautiful music while in Hawaii ! http://www.tracitoguchi.com/music.html 1:47 PM Nov 6th
techmama

Great job by @tedxhonolulu #tedxhnl organizers http://www.tedxhonolulu.com/organizers/ @neenz , @tracitoguchi and connector @christinelu 1:41 PM Nov 6th
techmama

Sorry I missed great #tedxhnl talk by Henk Rogers http://bit.ly/OFX0m 1:37 PM Nov 6th
techmama

Had2leave for airplane, but also heard great things about #tedxhnl talks by @jillbuck http://bit.ly/2tXzWY, @kaiserkuo http://bit.ly/3ChQfS 1:37 PM Nov 6th
techmama

Excited to have heard hubby @neilblecherman give great talk at #tedxhnl about http://bit.ly/369oK #Intel Sustainability programs 1:36 PM Nov 6th
techmama

Enjoyed meeting @leahlamb from @current_green http://current.com/green/ at #ReThink 10:35 AM Nov 6th
techmama

RT @HawaiianKiko #ALOHA Friday #SURF @thedailydish @jeannemariepics @dkmashino @makeitagreatday @jamespizon @techmama @Zippys @DavidCantone 9:49 AM Nov 6th
techmama

RT @leahlamb #rethink treats: @christinelu @jowyang @jkretch @kk @neenz @amanda @genuine @blogworld @davemcclure @techmama @MjBubbles @rmmdc 9:48 AM Nov 6th
techmama

#ff toINSPIRING #ReThink Hawaii org. http://bit.ly/rEnOS incl. @christinelu @neenz @CfNoble @genuine @blogworld @mjbubbles @davemcclure #fb 8:38 AM Nov 6th
techmama

RT @SeeMomRunBook #ff @parentopiadevra @techmama @rolemommy @multitaskingme @keepitclassyjen @ohmariana @twincident @amndaj @treerootandtwig 8:27 AM Nov 6th
techmama

RT @neilblecherman says: Grassroots efforts for sustainability is happening at the employee level @intel. #tedxhnl 2:43 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @NEENZ: Educated Workforce is a big asset in attracting new business. @jillbuck #tedxhnl http://myloc.me/1lVAm 2:40 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @lavasusan Intel's 4th focus:tech 2solve environmental challenges. Ex: decrease travel=videoconferencing, desktop sharing IT. #tedxhnl 2:39 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @christinelu Jason Tom at #TEDxHNL human synthesizer. Amazing!!! #rethink http://post.ly/Bktx 2:37 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @billso - @kaiserkuo: we need to be better informed so we can use Internet & social networks for positive change. #tedxhnl 2:35 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @leahlamb: TED talk on importance of "play" -- we forget that as adults. We remember it during #goap #rethink #tedxhnl (via @christinelu 1:23 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @neenz: Henk Rogers talking about his shift from board games to RPG to computer games to mobile games. #tedxhnl 1:23 PM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @elliottng: #tedxhnl Henk Rogers (videogame pioneer) working on virtual goods...new project http://bit.ly/gvGLce 1:22 PM Nov 5th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/odxd3 - #TEDxHNL @neenz and @neilblecherman 11:23 AM Nov 5th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/odx2b - #TEDxHNL @neenz welcoming everyone 11:21 AM Nov 5th f
techmama

http://twitpic.com/odvqj - Listening to beautiful Hawaiian song at #TEDxHNL
techmama

http://twitpic.com/odsoq - Intro slide to @TEDxHonolulu 10:48 AM Nov 5th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/odrxj - @kaiserkuo @neilblecherman @jillbuck getting ready to speak at @TEDxHonolulu #fb 10:42 AM Nov 5th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/odpnn - @neenz and @neilblecherman getting ready for @TEDxHonolulu 10:25 AM Nov 5th
techmama

/RT @kk @jowyang: Group photo by @kk of the #rethink Hawaii crew http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/4076106021/sizes/l/ (well, most of group) 12:01 AM Nov 5th
techmama

RT @tedxhonolulu TEDxHonolulu Speaker: Jill Buck | TEDxHonolulu http://bit.ly/1M08RW 11:52 PM Nov 4th
techmama

RT @tedxhonolulu TEDxHonolulu Speaker: Neil Blecherman | TEDxHonolulu http://bit.ly/11uiuI 11:51 PM Nov 4th
techmama

Off to last cocktail meetup w/ #ReThink Hawaii group, sitting on bench near beach thinking that we have2bring our boys2 Hawaii! 8:49 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink we are cyber thanking @pierre Ulupono Initiative http://www.uluponoiniative.com 7:11 PM Nov 4th
techmama

@christinelu is presenting closing info, many have learned lots, connected with new peeps, and really enjoyed being in #Hawaii ! #rethink 7:09 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang: recent changes- google's social network gains, Facebook strives to be open, search results impacted by Twitter 6:55 PM Nov 4th
#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang future of social media&business: social personalization ( content & advertising based on social web profiles) 6:49 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang future of social media: companies should develop holistic plan2have same cust experience throughtout sales process 6:45 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang future of social media: Companies who can not meet social web needs of cust. need to develop cust advocacy programs 6:43 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang future of social media: 4th trend social CRM - cust support issues become PR issues-how can CRM systems be updated? 6:40 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang future of social media- 8 obj of listening ..incl track brand mentions 6:37 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang future of social media: anticipate customer needs, develop active listening, empower customer advocacy program 6:36 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang session: social web is now real time web (Google working with Twitter for social search) 6:33 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang session: Evolve corporate website: join cust. where they are and incorporate social technologies (ex. Is Echo) 6:32 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang trend: corporate websites less relevant, people trust neighbor/friends opinion&have tech to communicate w/eachother 6:30 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Hawaii @jowyang Talking about Google side Wiki, makes any web page social 6:28 PM Nov 4th
techmama

@NEENZ: Great to finally meet you! @alltop is my online magazine rack& is great resource for me to find online sites for dif topics #rethink 5:43 PM Nov 4th
techmama

RT @NEENZ: Our Moms topic on @alltop was built w/help from @techmama she then went on to build a nation of women bloggers #rethink 5:40 PM Nov 4th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/oaqfl - Sneaking out of conference to take my first swim in lovely Hawaii ocean 3:51 PM Nov 4th
techmama

FeelingThankful2 #ReThink organizers for such a fabulous event - @christinelu , chris noble, @davemcclure , @genuine, @blogworld and more.. 3:30 PM Nov 4th
techmama

@amauiblog talking about maui mom blogger community - incl OhanaMama (they do tweetups w/ bloggers from other islands) 2:30 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink @coachdeb hint: softsell = product placement in your favorite show 2:08 PM Nov 4th f
techmama

#ReThink Twitter session @coachdeb softsell: Indirect &gentle ears, speak from heart, share stories, be charming 2:04 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Twitter session @coachdeb: softsell = PR, Twitter, Network Marketing, relationship building 1:59 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink @coachdeb hint: use Tweetglide.me 1:55 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink @coachdeb hint: tweetsR only archived 2 weeks -if you "favor" (gold star) your tweet it will be saved 1:55 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink Twittersession @coachdeb Tribal seduction formula: Captivate attention, hook emotion, advance trust,radiate desire, motivate2action 1:52 PM Nov 4th
techmama

#ReThink @coachded said good Twitter PR strategy: find out how you will be top of mind, it's how you will be remembered 1:48 PM Nov 4th
techmama

@coachdeb giving a great speech about finding your tribe (that you have something in common) on Twitter #ReThink Hawaii 1:45 PM Nov 4th
techmama

RT @bjgoldstein: blogging a great platform for creating an online brand and image @techmama #rethink 1:31 PM Nov 4th
techmama

RT @bjgoldstein: blogging creates my voice but make money on other things (i.e. books, consulting) @techmama #rethink 1:30 PM Nov 4th
techmama

RT @rethinkhawaii: community. relevance. voice. that's why @techmama blogs. #rethink 1:25 PM Nov 4th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/oa4u0 - So excited to meet my first Hawaiian Mommyblogger: @amauiblog Liza #ReThink Hawaii
techmama @genuine Jim Turner social media talk: SEO worthy original content may be more effective then press releases #ReThink Blogworld Hawaii 12:09 PM Nov 4th
techmama

Next up, @genuine and @techmama talk about moms & dads in social meda (I won't be tweeting - will be talking) #ReThink BlogWorld Hawaii 12:03 PM Nov 4th
techmama

@genuine Jim Turner talk about social media metaphor "relationship first" THEN the sale #ReThink Blogworld Hawaii 11:57 AM Nov 4th
techmama

@genuine talk #ReThink BlogWorld Listening ex.: Home Depot used Twitter in disaster situation2let customers know where2buy timber&supplies 11:53 AM Nov 4th
techmama

Listening to @genuine Jim Turner talk about ROI of social media: building a brand, build army of evangelists #ReThink Blogworld Hawaii 11:47 AM Nov 4th f
techmama Listening @genuine Jim Turner talk ROI benefits of social media: SEO, Metrics/Analytics, more effic.& affordable #ReThink Blogworld Hawaii 11:45 AM Nov 4th
techmama

Listening to @genuine Jim Turner talk- listening also incl. brand & reputation monitoring, conversation&feedback #ReThink Blogworld Hawaii 11:43 AM Nov 4th
techmama

Listening to @genuine Jim Turner talk about listening to customers is the new marketing #ReThink Blogworld Hawaii 11:40 AM Nov 4th
techmama

Listening to @genuine Jim Turner - 2009 is year of Listening, listening is the new marketing #ReThink Hawaii 11:39 AM Nov 4th f
techmama

Listening to @genuine Jim Turner talk about social media is not silver bullet, findability is key 11:38 AM Nov 4th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/o9qfy - Listening to @genuine Jim Turner talk about social web (Twitter, Facebook etc.) #ReThink Hawaii 11:35 AM Nov 4th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/o9prv - Listening to @genuine Jim Turner talk about Participatory Marketing at BlogWorld #ReThink Hawaii 11:30 AM Nov 4th
techmama

http://twitpic.com/o9ob0 - Watching @genuine Jim Turner & @Blogworld Rick welcome everyone to BlogWorld summit at #ReThink Hawaii #goap 11:18 AM Nov 4th
techmama

Retweet @mayhemstudios Check out this SlideShare Presentation : Kodak Social Media Tips http://bit.ly/48fVwZ #140conf 10:58 PM Nov 3rd
techmama

http://twitpic.com/o7t9t - @davemcclure talking about upcoming Geeks on a Plane events #goap #ReThink Hawaii 10:02 PM Nov 3rd
techmama

http://twitpic.com/o7seh - @davemcclure @christinelu welcoming us at day 2 cocktail party #goap #Rethink 9:51 PM Nov 3rd
techmama

http://twitpic.com/o7i0z - @mikebutcher @kk in front of Navy missle landmark- Pearl Harbor #goap #ReThink Hawaii 8:05 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: @techsavvymama Tell me more about Nokia #N97, just saw one that a friend had last night 7:43 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: Leaving @PacificAviation Museum Pearl Harbor, great museum with very knowledgable docents #ReThink Hawaii 7:23 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: Talking with a fellow geek mom @tanyanoel at #ReThink Hawaii 6:50 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: http://twitpic.com/o78u5 Met Pacific Aviation Dir. of Mktg @Annemurata & Marketing Coord. @arasak #ReThink Hawaii (tweeting next to me!)
techmama:@PacificAviation The Pearl Harbor museum is great! Thanks for the amazing tour:-) 6:31 PM Nov 3rd
techmama:@mammaloves yes it is incredible to think of what they went through at Pearl Harbor - did you tour museum? 6:26 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: http://twitpic.com/o76ci At Pearl Habor museum looking at Aeronca 65TC small plane user in air during attack #ReThink #Hawaii 6:26 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: http://twitpic.com/o75ru A geek f/"Geeks on a plane/#ReThink Hawaii" showing us how big the Pearl Harbor missles were 6:22 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o758e - techmama:At Pearl Habor museum looking at painting #ReThink #Hawai 6:18 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o74qa - techmama:Hanging out with hubby and sailors at Pearl Harbor museum Hawaii 6:14 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: Touring Pear Harbor Hawaii is making me think of amazing crew of USS_Nimitz and the blogger embark team 6:07 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o72zv - techmama:At Pearl Habor museum hanger looking at H-3 (same helicopter Presidents use) #ReThink #Hawai 6:00 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o72li - techmama:At Pearl Habor museum hanger looking at restoration area #ReThink Hawaii 5:57 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o724y - techmama:At Pearl Habor museum hanger looking at F-14 Top Gun #ReThink #Hawaii 5:53 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o71to - techmama:At Pearl Habor museum hanger, bullet holes in green windows are from Dec. 7 1941 5:51 PM Nov 3rd
techmama: RT @elliottng #rethink RT @mashraqi: @jillbuck's GoGreenInitiative conserved 27M gallons(water), 34,500 barrels(oil), 67B BTUs (energy) 2:11 PM Nov 3rd
techmama:@leahlamb Thanks for cyber intro2 @ecodads ,My hubby who I consider an ecodad @neilblecherman showed that great site to me as well. go #eco 1:59 PM Nov 3rd
techmama:Looking at the CurrentTV Green site after meeting http://current.com/green/ after meeting @Leahlamb at #ReThink Hawaii 1:44 PM Nov 3rd
techmama:@christinelu @CFNoble, @davemcclure & all #ReThink Hawaii organizers http://bit.ly/rEnOS did great job, fun has already started 1:22 PM Nov 3rd
techmama:Enjoyed meeting @blogworld Rick Calvert & @GENUINE Jim Turner at #ReThink Hawaii, looking forward to #BlogWorld Social Media Summit on Wed. 1:13 PM Nov 3rd
http://twitpic.com/o5oy5 - #fb techmama: Watching #ReThink Hawaii Env. Innovation panel w/@neilblecherman @leahlamb @jillbuck & Jeff Mikulina 11:59 AM Nov 3rd
techmama: http://twitpic.com/o5aom - This is my new favorite workspace, at balcony in Wakiki #rethink #Hawaii 10:14 AM Nov 3rd
techmama: http://twitpic.com/o3im8 @davemcclure and @neilblecherman at #rethink Hawaii 9:22 PM Nov 2nd
techmama: http://twitpic.com/o2aneLooking at Waikiki Beach, thinking that being a geek is fun! #rethink

The Three Celebs

2009-11-23T18:55:30-08:00

OMG, did you know that @herbadmother and @motherbumper met @johncmayer today. Yes, all three celebs hung out together. Here is picture of them hanging out together.. OK, well, Catherine and Katie's picture are from the Canada Moms Blog bio section and John Mayer's picture is from Wikipedia.. But close...

Twitter & Social Media for Support & Healing: Cyber Hugs to Anissa Mayhew

2009-11-20T10:02:41-08:00

I just recently took one of the Twitter psych tests and it turns out I am very connected but not very emotional on Twitter.

I wondered, is that a good or bad thing? Was that darn test insulting me or setting me straight?

I do admit that I try to keep my emotions offline and my words of wisdom online. My strategy is to share news and information about technology relevant to moms, families or anyone involved in social media. But it is times like these where I feel emotion index will be rising......

For some time I have been dealing with some of my own treasured family members that have cancer. It is such a personal struggle I have found it hard to share online. But I gain strength by reading the posts from a strong network of cancer bloggers (some of which are Silicon Valley Moms Group bloggers including Susan from Why Mommy, Linsey from MeTooYou , Silicon Valley Moms Group Cancer topic Days, BlogHer bloggers, and more).

Another special person who has showed their strength online by sharing their family experiences with cancer is Anissa Mayhew. I met her when she wrote for Deep South Moms Blog but then starting following her personal blog Free Anissa and another blog called "Hope4Peyton" about her experiences with childhood cancer.

But on Wednesday I saw information on Twitter about something that happened to Anissa and I got really worried. Then I happened to be talking to Barbara Jones first thing that morning and she informed me that Anissa had a stroke. It has been inspiring to see the support online for Anissa through a blog posts with information on how to support the family (and Mister Linky lists where people can share their posts on Anissa) to a page set up on CaringBridge.org. Lotus Carroll created a page to enable those wanting to put twibbons on their Twitter profiles. Even the Bloggess did a great job of posting her emotional and (as she does so well) funny thoughts and practical links to help Anissa. A PayPal link was set up for those that would like to help the family using PayPal.

But the most powerful posts are those from Anissa's husband who is posting on Hope4Peyton.

A big cyber-hug and get well prayers for Anissa!

Guest Post: A New Believer in Surround Sound

2009-11-19T12:23:41-08:00

I invite moms who work at companies to share their information about technology from the "moms" perspective. On my search to learn more about the digital living room, I thought it would be interesting to hear from a mom who works at Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

**Guest post by Robin L. Selden – Senior Vice President, Marketing, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Before I joined Dolby I have to admit I was completely sound ignorant. I never really understood what a quality surround sound experience could be like in my home.

I’m not a complete novice when it comes to technology – I came to Dolby with more than 20 years of experience in the PC technology and digital media industries – so why did I have PC speakers (though they were nice) attached to my beautiful 50” plasma HDTV?

I knew what good surround sound was like in the movie theater. My family is a huge fan of the movies and my husband and I often go with our 17 year old daughter and 15 year old son to watch the epic films on the big screen. But we also rent a lot of movies at home and I knew that it never sounded quite like the theater. So after I heard a fantastic demo at Dolby of a crystal clear 5.1 home theater setup, it finally hit me… I could have a similar surround sound experience in my home. And not just with movies, but with video games and sports too!

The entire family was involved in developing our surround sound plan. We started by deciding which room would be dedicated to the home theater setup. We rearranged a big space in the house that previously doubled as an office and exercise room, and moved the HDTV to the middle of the room as the centerpiece. With the help of some Dolby experts, who were thankfully at my disposal, we selected a high-end audio video receiver (AVR) (with Dolby Volume to curb the “turn that down” family feuds) and a high-end 5.1 speaker system that looked gorgeous and fit the space well.

But what about aesthetics? To figure out where the speakers should go, I used Dolby’s Home Theater Speaker Guide to aid in my husband and my rounds of discussions about the back left and right (surround) speakers in particular. He wanted to mount them on the wall. I did not. So we ended up putting them on stands, but positioned them far enough away so they would neither be an eye sore nor compromise the experience.

Recommended 5.1 speaker placements for your home theater:

With our new surround sound system, football Sundays have never sounded so sweet. Football is where the real entertainment is at for my family (baseball too), and now we can hear the crowd roar behind us, the hard hitting of helmets and pads through the subwoofer and the piercing penalty whistles through our center channel. It’s amazing how broadcast television, especially in sports, sounds so awesome in surround sound. I never really expected this, so it’s a nice surprise. Our family looks forward to football Sundays even more now since we got the new surround sound system.

We look forward to Friday nights too, which are reserved for our family movie nights (family time that’s a bit more appealing than sports for my daughter, who just started driving and has one foot out the door). It’s like we’re at the movies, but without my kids having to hang out with their parents in public!

Since installing our new setup, my son has also become obsessed with playing Call of Duty on the PS3 in surround sound. He loves that he can hear the enemy creeping up from behind and the ambient sounds of dogs barking, gun fire and explosions that bring realism to the game.

And when the kids are gone, my husband and I love watching something like Anita O’Day in Jazz on a Summer’s Day from the Newport Jazz Festival on Blu-ray.

Surround sound has brought a new perspective to the way my family enjoys entertainment at home – from sports, to movies, music, and even games. I realize now that we were missing an important element of the entertainment experience and I can never go back. Sound really does matter.

Here are some surround sound tips I learned from my family’s experience:

First, give your theater pride of place. Then work all other furniture out around the location.
You can get quality surround sound at an affordable cost. Some great brands make very nice AVRs for around $300. Be sure to get a 5.1 speaker setup (Center, L/R front, L/R rear, and a subwoofer). Don’t be afraid to invest in an entry level speaker system at an affordable price if it’s a good brand. Good brands never skimp on quality even on their low end.
Put the speakers in the right locations that work for your home, but be sure to angle them correctly to give you a sweet spot from your listening area.
Lastly, calibrate the system to make sure you’re getting the best possible experience from your system.

This is not a sponsored post, it is just an answer to my open invitation to moms at companies to share their information with my community.

Who Says You Can't Be a Geek, Mom, Blogger & Athlete?

2009-11-17T15:24:20-08:00

As TechMama's compatriot blogger and co-mom-geek, Beth invited me to blog here all about how I'm a semi-finalist in this awesome contest sponsored by Microsoft Office to win a trip to the Olympics. Needless to say, I'm really psyched.

It actually doesn't end there - the grand prize includes a trip to the Consumer Electronics Show and a brand new laptop! You know I'll be blogging about that too. But to win, I need votes. As many votes as possible. Every day. It's easy to register and vote. Just go to OfficeWinterGames.com and I'm the last one on the list of women bloggers.

I first laced up ice skates at age five, and my parents tell me that the look on my face told them I was hooked. I never had Olympic aspirations - I knew I didn’t have that kind of talent - but I also never lost my love for skating. I kept at it, even after college, and I’m proud to say I’m a national adult figure skating medalist. Meanwhile, I started using PCs in grade school, became a programmer, sysadmin and tech project manager and began writing about tech in the 90’s, usually using MS Word. I began blogging in 2003. I've been called an expert live blogger and tweeter on many occasions covering a wide range of events and topics. I started blogging about figure skating for BlogHer last year, and it's been a lot of fun.

While I have never been able to attend an Olympics, I have watched every moment of Olympic figure skating since I can remember, and I’ve sat on the edge of my seat for hockey, speed skating and skiing as well. I will blog my tail off up hill both ways in the Canadian snow for Microsoft Office if I win this contest. Please help me get there!

It's Holiday Season, Time To Start Shopping

2009-11-10T13:15:19-08:00

Other then spending time with family and friends, I look forward to holiday shopping. As someone who is obsessed with gadgets, the holiday shopping guides are a fun way to see what the latest and greatest gadgets are. I decided that there are so many different flavors to choose from, that instead of one holiday guide I will be posting about different products by manufacturer. I have found that many families I know get comfortable with one manufacturer when it comes to technology and want to stay within that line. But technology shopping for me is like going to an ice cream store - there are many flavors I like. Infact, my house is filled with multiple technologies from multiple manufacturers - I shop products that are relevant for my families needs.

Over the last few months I have not posted but I have been fast and furiously using, reading and obsessing over gadgets. At the same time I am getting lots of questions about what products are out there. So over the next few weeks I will be posting the new, interesting or just plain relevant technology gadgets out there for families. My view is that "practical" is the new gift, so holidays are a perfect time for technology purchases.

CNET, Laptop Magazine, Consumer Reports and other technology magazines/websites have good buying guides. David Pogue (on video and in their columns) and other technology journalists like Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher of the Wall Street Journal (AllThingsDigital blog) talk are good resources for information about technology/gadgets. Stores like Staples, Radio Shack and Best Buy also have sections on their websites and store flyers with holiday recommendations. Online sites like NewEgg , Amazon and others also have holiday information. I read lots of different sites and voices about technology gadgets - my TechMama GoodTechReads Twitter list is full of different information on social media, technology and gadgets. My next move may just be to split my Twitter group and have one specifically for gadgets!

But I receive the most information from my fellow bloggers and mom communities, which I will be viewing and talking with to find even more of the latest and greatest gadget gift recommendations.

The Internet Mommy Book Launch Party

2009-10-23T20:30:00-07:00

I am taking a break from the non-stop socializing to blog about The Internet Mommy Book Launch party. The book is"inspiring interviews and stories from mothers who work and play online- How Social Networks Influence the Way Moms Make Money, View LIfe, Find Friends and Raise Kids". The book does a great job of sharing stories and information about how moms are taking their networking skills online.

Kimberly Clayton Blaine is the author of the book. When I asked her what inspired her to write the book she explained: "all the support from other women I met online elevated the work that I was doing. I was once a lone star - now I support others and they support me."

I first found out about Kimberley Clayton Blaine when I viewed her vlog: TheGoToMom.TV. I found the videos to be engaging - with mom stories I relate to. Then she joined the LA Moms Blog to share her stories about being a mom in Los Angeles.

Sharing stories online has become the new "moms group", and the best thing is that you don't need to leave the house. But many of us "Internet Moms" maximize our online social networks by meeting up at live events. The Internet Mommy Book launch party is a perfect example of that - all the moms here have such interesting stories on how they participate in either blogging, writing for websites, Twittering, Facebooking and other types of social media.

I know many of the moms that contributed to the book, and I am honored to have a section of my own - that involves Twitter and a pillow fight between my boys (for more details, you will just have to check out "The Internet Mommy").

Back to the party, I am enjoying catching up with the LA Moms Bloggers in attendance, meeting moms that I only knew online and some that I did not know but will now be following.

Kimberley is welcoming everyone to the party.

(Left to Right) Kim Walls, Kimberley Clayton Blaine and Beth Blecherman

There are more pictures on the way with the other fun ladies in attendance...

Education Policies - A Rant

2009-10-19T10:36:32-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Just seeing the movie clip from Micheal Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" made me want to more publicly speak out against the bailout policies. One scene in particular was of Micheal Moore putting crime tape along some of the bailout players buildings at Wall Street and asking for "our money back".

But there are other areas that I would like to speak out on and don't have much time - until I see my other moms posting on their blogs - then I can join in the fun. I always get inspired reading the posts on Silicon Valley Moms Group (where I am proud to be a co-founder of). Each of the blogs has a category for "education" that always has the latest and greatest education related mom experiences. Here are a few links to our education categories in Silicon Valley Moms Blog, DC Metro Moms Blog, Chicago Moms Blog, New York City Moms Blog, LA Moms Blog, Deep South Moms Blog, New Jersey Moms Blog and Canada Moms Blog. We also have lots of other categories where I enjoy reading their rants, including politics in Philly Moms Blog and healthcare in 50 Something Moms and Rocky Mountain.

I also enjoy reader the personal blogs of the Silicon Valley Moms Group writers. One of the writers from the LA Moms Blog also posted on her personal blog about an experience she just had at her public school: "An Open Letter to the Los Angeles Unified School District". I read her post and then added a comment which really turned out to be a rant. I know that in reality problems exist in public and private schools, it is important to find the best environment for your child.

This school year has just started but I seem to reading about many situations where school policies were taken too far, especially in consideration of the real problems all schools are currently having to deal with. Problems such as cuts in budgets, layoffs, incorporating technology/technology education, creating an environment where kids with different learning styles are supported, offering inspiring arts/music/science curriculum, and more. Public Education is especially important because it reaches more children, who will be the future of our country. I still believe that investments in kids/education will produce a better return then the other "bailout" programs. I am a strong supporter of President Obama and believe that if any one can do it - he can. But he was handed a big load of problems from the last administration. For now, I will just keep reading and ranting. I hope to find a way in the near future to put my rants to work for the "improve education" cause.

Comment from TechMama on Sweatpants Mom's post:

"This is a sad state of affairs when school administrators are wasting their time going after honor students who happen to wear a tee shirt (that was quite fashionable and had the right coverage may I add) with straps! There are so many other bigger problems to deal with right now. Public education is so important - it teaches kids that will be the future of our country (our most precious commodity). I say instead of saving businesses that failed because of bad business practices are therefore lost money (http://www.capitalismalovestory.com/) - BAILOUT our public schools! There are lots of amazing public school administrators and teachers - let them step in to help reform. Maybe we should even have some voting system using crowdsourcing to make sure the right people are in the education reform team... Sorry, I am ranting and imagining a better world for our kids.. For now, tell them to stop bothering honor students that wear shirts with straps"

Any rants to share?