Saturday, September 4, 2010

Putting the Labor in Labor Day

Packing!

We packed up quite a bit of stuff to go to the Lake House this weekend.

3 ATV's
Guns to Hunt Dove
Life Jackets to Tube and swim
2 Sets of Golf Clubs (Carsen and Me)
Clothes
2 Boys
1 wife

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Should be a great weekend!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Life after the e-Book Reader

So, I am looking for an e-Book reader, however I may be a bit bleeding edge. Noting that Archos is releasing several new "Slates, Tablets, iPad, Micro PC" devices and the size, and price of all of these devices are dropping faster than I could break one of these devices (PS That is fast)

Other examples include the Cruz Reader along with the others that I spoke of yesterday.

I think they are on to something. Low cost, thin, light computing. It does not replace the PC/Laptop, simply it is a in between the small PC on your phone (Too small of a screen) and the larger PC/laptop. It will be interesting to see what really happens in this space.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Going Digital

If you have been following the Blog, you may remember that I have gone all digital at the office (Home is almost there). What does that mean, simply if you check the filing cabinets, there is nothing in them. OK, I have 4 files.

1. Receipts for the company CC.
2. Marketing information. Stuff I want to see how it actually went out!
3. The "Boss" file. He is a analog guy. So I have to take some docs and print docs for him sometimes.
4. Not scanned yet docs. Not many things in there most of the time. However sometimes I get behind

Anyway, where am I going with this. I believe it is soon time to go digital with books. I have been studying e-book readers. Consumer Reports suggests the Kindle from Amazon. And of course they have several models starting in the mid $100's. Everyone I have spoken with loves their Kindle.

However, I have looked at the iPad. A multipurpose device, seems cool from what I have seen. However I am a Microsoft guy. The Slate devices are not quite their. However all their apps and such would work nicely with my existing infrastructure.

Like everything else, why can't all my devices just play nice together. Any one's input would be greatly appreciated!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Watch out Dove

Going to do something it has been years since I have done it. Me and Caden are going Dove hunting tonight! Last time I fired the shotgun around Caden, he did not like the sound much.

I did find some interesting services that are really handy.

First I had no idea where my Hunters Safety Card was. Web, here I came. And thanks to the Kansas Wildlife Department, it was easy enough to re-print. Of course for a charge. I was more than willing to pay. I did not have to leave my house to get it, where in the past I would have had to go to the local office and probably had to wait while they pushed paper. That is nice.

Then again to get the hunters lic. Same thing. Web here I came and it was easy to buy from the house.

Easy revenue for Kansas Department of Wildlife and easy for me. They got it right!

All companies should make it this easy. From upgrading your cable to a bigger package (Why not on line) to changing your cell bill and even your insurance plans. I am sure some companies offer some of these services. Many times you can do some options but not all....

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Teaching class again thanks to Tammy

Anyway, I was updating some presentations from last year and found one update particularly interesting that has changed. The statistic was last year that 1/2 of the of the information learned the Freshman year would be outdated by the end of the Senior year. (4 year senior, not the longer term college student)

The new statistic is that 1/2 of the information would be outdated by the beginning of the Junior year. So it has cut the time in 1/2.

It goes to prove even stronger that the modern skill is the ability to process vast quantities of information, remove the noise and apply the important pieces.

Monday, August 30, 2010

I was ask today if my Blog was broken

Nope, just been busy. I will try and do better this week.

Carsen has been coming home with new songs from school this week and Caden has really been challenged by 2nd grade.

Really seeing changes in the boys. However I am really puzzled out. Carsen is into puzzles right now. I cannot wait till he is a teen ager and I can puzzle him with classic car building. We will see!