My 6-week FMLA: Facebook Mental Leave Act

When I welcomed my daughter into the world this April her photo and stats were posted on Facebook a mere 7 hours after her birth.  There were 83 "likes" 73 "comments" and multiple other posts on my wall.  In the days and weeks following her birth I was touched by the cards and gifts that came in the mail.  Even more touching were the visitors who came to meet her.  I started to think, "If I net out the number of physical acts from the likes and comments, of the 310 "friends" on my Facebook page, the majority are mere acquaintances."

I came to two conclusions:  1) the way I was keeping in touch with my friends and family wasn't adequate, and 2) the amount of time spent posting updates and reading and responding to acquaintances' posts would be better spent with my baby.  I decided to take my leave from work one step further and quit Facebook cold turkey.  I posted a quick note to inform my "friends" of my hiatus and to email or call me to reach me over the next 8 weeks.  The most liberating thing I did was delete the Facebook app from my iPhone. 

Initially it felt strange.  What would I do with my downtime and what was I missing?  According to a recent report by Statistica*, of the 167 million unique Facebook U.S. visitors per month, the average time spent on the social network is 6 hours and 33 minutes.  Collectively it adds up to over 100,000 years each month. While I can't quantify the amount of time I reclaimed in my day or month, I can say that even while caring for a newborn I had time for things I normally wouldn't. My house is more organized, I cooked more meals for my family, planned more visits with friends, actually mailed cards and letters, updated my tech gadgets (new OS, new apps to keep me organized), read a book, planned and took a family vacation, started exercising, enrolled in mobile banking services (finally!), and scheduled home maintenance.  Oh, and I came back to blogging.  Again.

The irony that I will announce this blog post through the very time-sucking social media outlet I cut the cord from is not lost on me.  I returned to Facebook 2 weeks before I had planned.  The site's pervasiveness does have a place in my personal and professional life.  What my Facebook Mental Leave of Absence has taught me, however, is just like most things in life my use of social media is best in moderation.  I will enjoy the experiences and people in my life while it is happening, instead of worrying about telling all of my 310 "friends" about it.  There are things I will refrain from posting that I probably would have taken straight to Facebook in the past.  My true friends will hear about them from me directly and my acquaintances don't really care anyway. 

What could you do with an extra 6 hours and 33 minutes this month?  I encourage you to try this, whether you've just had a baby or not!

*Source:  http://venturebeat.com/2012/02/17/facebook-engagement/
Image:  http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blog/show?id=502551%3ABlogPost%3A1567043&commentId=502551%3AComment%3A1569306&xg_source=activity

Have tech, will travel

My last post was almost a year ago.  Makes sense as about this time last year I began the hunt for a career move.  Countless phone interviews later (the strangest was with a popcorn seasoning company) I was newly employed as a National Account Manager for a world-renowned data storage company.  Day 1 on the job I flew from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego and my frequent-flier miles have been adding up ever since. 

Aside from the numerous travel tips I have acquired in the past 8 months (carry on, don't check - pick up  sample jars from department store cosmetic counters for all your toiletries to fit in to a quart-sized baggie) I have also learned how to maximize flight time and productivity while on the road.  
Here are some of my tips:

1. A smartphone is key.  With my iPhone I am almost always accessible (damn it).  The Mail function is great.  Sure, I can't open and view spreadsheets easily, but I can address important issues while waiting in the TSA security line.  (I can address several issues during that time.)  I love the Mail feature on iPhone because it consolidates message trails so I can go back to all related messages and see the path it has taken since it started.  I also love the tap to dial feature within Mail.  No fumbling for a piece of paper to write the number down and then dial it, just tap and call.  Last but not least, when going to the airport starts to feel like the movie Groundhog Day I use the camera on my iPhone to snap a pic of my parking location so I can always find my way to my car in the lot.  Wasn't I on the Bears floor, row 17?  No, that was last week!
2. Flight time is not nap time.  I cannot sleep on planes, no matter how tired I am.  So, I plan ahead and have productive things to do when "all electronic devices must be turned off" and when "it is now safe to use approved electronic devices".  During take-off and landing good old printed documents come in handy, it's a great time to review industry reports, price list and roadmap updates, etc.  As soon as I get the green light though, my 13" MacBook Pro is up and running.  It fits nicely on the tray table in coach, although if the person in front of me wants to recline it's not so great (note to self: write business case for iPad and submit to corporate).  The magsafe airline adapter is great to keep me charged, though not all planes have the feature.  Some flights also have go-go in-flight wireless now, which, let me tell you is not as great as it seems.  I prefer to use the time to catch up on my inbox by drafting responses to send as soon as I land.  I can knock out so many without the interruption of more messages coming in.
3. Prioritization has never been more important.  Sure my Out of Office reply says I am not available, but, people still think I am.  Replying to every little thing while on the road sets an expectation that I am accessible at all times.  Instead, I handle the most important issues and respond to only my key constituents while on the road.  Everything else is handled on the flight home (draft, save, send when home!) or when I'm back to the office.  As my manager says, "There is no way you can get everything done in one day." so I pick and choose to feel accomplished and let others know I am responsive when really needed.
4. Be aware of your surroundings.  Ever talk about someone in the bathroom only to have that person walk out of a stall and glare at you?  Fortunately I've never had to learn that lesson.  You never know who is around you, especially when traveling.  There are many roadwarriors in my industry and it is not uncommon for us to be on the same plane or sitting next to one another.  (Great networking opportunity!)  I am careful of what is on my MacBook screen while I'm in flight.  I haven't picked up a privacy screen as the glare on my glossy finish works well, but maybe I should.  One can never be too careful!  I also don't wear anything with a company logo on it or offer up information on what I do to chatty travelers.  "I'm in sales for a tech company." suffices and protects my identity as well as that of my company.

What tips, tricks, and "can't live without" tech to you use when on the road for business?


Photo All rights reserved by CubaGallery http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/

5 basic but priceless Apple tech features.

Last Thursday I left for work and realized I left my iPhone on the bedroom dresser.  I felt completely lost all day, like a piece of me was missing.  In a way it was - for as much as I use my iPhone it may as well be permanently attached to my hand. (Notice I said hand, not ear!)  Every day I seem to find new and creative uses for Apple products, but there are a few good old standbys I simply cannot do without:

1.  iPhone Clock Alarm.  I never worry I won't wake up because I set my alarm wrong or the power went out overnight.  Open the Clock app (standard on every iPhone/iPod touch) and click Alarm.  Click the + button to add a new alarm.  Choose the frequency by individually choosing days, sound (I like Marimba or Strum for a 5:30 wake-up versus Bark or Old Car Horn!), if you want a snooze option (yes, please!), and name the alarm if you'd like (in case you set up multiple ones).  Click Save, and just turn it on!

2.  iTunes Radio.  Although my music library is pretty diverse and I have over 1400 songs and 9 Genuis mixes, I still get tired of listening to my own music when I need to "plug in and tune out" at the office.  iTunes streaming radio is amazing - I can quickly find a genre beffiting of my mood du juor and choose from hundreds of stations.  I know Pandora is supposed to be streaming radio to the nth degree, yet I like to stay within the cozy, familiar confines of iTunes.

3.  Spotlight.  Oh, where do I begin?  I use Spotlight to find files, find and launch applications, and easily navigate my hundreds of daily email messages.  The level of intelligence this little, unassuming app has is mind-blowing.  I love that it can search the complete record or just title.  Last week I used a Windows-based PC for about 45 mins. and wanted to scream because I couldn't find a thing!  Little tip - when using the system-wide search use shortcut "Command + spacebar" to launch Spotlight.  Type in your search, navigate to your desired result and hit return.  Your wish is Spotlight's command!

4.  Two-finger scrolling.  Another function I simply can't live without.  How much time to PC users spend dragging their cursor to the upper right hand corner of their browser or file window and click/dragging the side scroll down?  When I help someone on their PC or have to use one myself (like last week) I instinctively two-finger scroll... the desired result does not occur.  Infuriating!  For setting/exploring one, two, and three finger trackpad "finger gestures" - click on System Preferences, Trackpad.  Turn features on and off and customize them as you wish, and view a video of how to use them.  Genius.  With the Apple Magic Mouse and now Magic Trackpad this is getting even better!

5.  Exposé.  Last but not least, this has got to be one of my all time faves.  The ability to clear all windows and find my desktop by dragging to a corner is such a time saver.  I'm one of those users who has about 8-10 applications and about 15-20 windows open at any given time during the day.  My newer to Mac husband likes to close down every window before moving to the next and "can't understand how I work like that".  How do you not?!?  Again, to view current settings and customize them visit System Preferences and click on Exposé and Spaces.  Configure away, or use the default settings.  To use the special functions on the function keys, click on Keyboard under System Prefs and check the "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" to turn them "on".  You'll need to press the Function (fn) key to use the features printed on the keys.

What are your favorite iPhone, iPod, Mac, or iPad features and functions?  How do you use them in your daily life?

Boogers and iPods don't mix.

If your iPhone and your child were hanging over a cliff and you could only save one, which would you choose?  Okay, that’s an easy one (hopefully).  Every day your gear comes dangerously close to its demise at the hands of the ones you love the most; your kids.  Kids are drawn to the glow of the iPod and iPhone screen like a moth to light.  They are mesmerized and must touch the magical devices.  Unfortunately, their sweet little digits are usually covered in some sort of food, boogers, or other unsavory substance that will inevitably leave a smear of goo across your screen.  Gives new meaning to finger gestures.  Ewww.  Kids don’t come with instruction manuals, but your Apple toys do and they do not recommend that type of screen treatment.  With Apple stores no longer carrying film-based protection it appears the company believes their screens don’t require a barrier.  Jimmy’s post-PB&J hands beg to differ.

With a shiny new iPad in your posession or sadly on back-order, you are likely devising a plan for how to keep the sacred device under lock and key for fear of Jim-Jim using it as a coloring book - not a cool coloring app, with actual crayons and markers. Just like any other lesson in life, children will learn what they are shown.  When was the last time you carelessly tossed your iPod/iPhone on the counter?  (gulp) Dropped it on the floor?   Accidents happen of course, but that’s what AppleCare and third party accidental damage protection (ADP) plans are for (and when will Apple offer ADP as an extension to their Protection Plans?)  Don’t set the bar too low for your kids by thinking they can’t handle the responsibility.  Explain proper use and care, and show them how to do it.  Limit use and supervise them.  If you let your three year old carry your iPod into the bathroom chances are pretty good it will end up in the toilet.  Can you really blame your little darling?  He just wanted to see the bowl light up.  Thankfully, it doesn’t look like protective screen manufacturers will go away quietly.  When your best parenting efforts fail, shop the web and invest in some really good gear-friendly shields and cleaning wipes like those from ZAGG.  If invisibleSHIELD (available for iPod, iPhone, and iPad too) is strong enough to protect military helicopter blades it had better withstand your boogery offspring.

Celebrating life through digital slideshow

“Dad, I’m losing you, I think we have a bad connection.”  No, my dad-in-law Terry was having a hard time talking because he was crying.  “Grandpa is dying.”  We all knew this was coming and soon, but death, even when expected, delivers a powerful blow. 

As a child, I once picked flowers from our wooded lot and walked two miles to deliver them to Leona Helms, an elderly woman who lived across from my elementary school.  I don’t know what sparked the trip that day, but I remember she was so happy to have a young person visit.  She gave me chocolate.  In my innocent mind she was immediately my friend.  Shortly after, she passed away.  I went to the funeral and completely fell apart.  I wasn’t sure how to handle her passing, but I knew what I felt - helpless.

No matter how many friends, family members, or acquaintances pass away I always have the same feeling.  Sometimes I feel helpless because I know with death’s finality my chance to have a relationship with that person has also passed away.  Sometimes I feel helpless because I can’t help those most closely affected by the loss.

Today, however, Terry took my helplessness away.  He wants me to honor his father with a digital slideshow at the wake.   An easy task for me, but it’s a task.  I can help!  This will give my dad-in-law and the rest of our family a joyful way to honor Grandpa’s life.  Setting the slideshow to music creates a moving and personal homage. 

I will be using Apple’s iDVD “Magic DVD” (http://www.apple.com/ilife/idvd/#create) option which is by far the easiest way to create a photo slideshow set to music.  If you do not own a Mac, here is a recent review of the Top 10 photo slideshow applications (http://photo-slideshow-software-review.toptenreviews.com/) The next time you feel helpless in the wake of a loved one’s passing, consider taking the reigns and honoring their life through a digital slideshow.

When you care enough to disconnect.

Put down the computer, slowly... easy now.  Hand over the iPhone, come on, you can do it... now, carefully log out of Facebook. 

Usually I praise technology for all the ways it enhances my life and empowers me.  Lately, I am feeling guilty about my love - and overuse - of tech.  My dependence on staying connected is eroding the real connections in my life.  (I write this on my computer of course, but my family is sound asleep!)  While I know that staying connected is important to keeping on top of my industry and furthering my career, I need to care enough about my family to disconnect.  I work on my MacBook Pro all day, and I bring it home with me most nights.  After we put James to bed, I sit on one side of the couch on my computer while Shaun is on the other on his.  Logging on is the first thing we do each morning and the last thing we do at night. 

There’s no way I can go cold turkey and let's be honest it's just not practical.  Limits are good though.  We do it for our kids, and I need to put some limits in place for myself before I completely alienate the real people in my life.  

Goal #1: No more surfing the web or logging in to social network sites while James is up and about in the morning/evening.  If I feel the need to connect, I need to get up before him, have my coffee, check in on the world and then close the computer.   Anything between the time I leave work at night and the time he goes to bed can wait. The world will carry on without me.

Goal #2 I need to talk to my husband each night to discuss our day and any family concerns before we turn the TV or computers on. 

Goal #3 Driving and checking email don’t mix.  It’s even illegal in Illinois now which should help me avoid doing this.  Ignoring the “ding” of an incoming message will be difficult... I think it’s time to tweak that setting.

Goal #4 Make a phone call.  I pledge to pick up the phone and call someone the next time I feel the urge to write on their “wall”, IM them, text them, or email them.  I miss actually talking to my friends and family.

If you have any limits in place for time spent on tech in your house - whether for yourself or your kids - please share! 

Keeping up with the KidTECHians

“Santa brought me an iPod!” exclaimed my two and a half year old son James on Christmas morning.  Either Santa’s toy shop has become increasingly advanced over the years, or I splurged a little.  Some might question giving technology to a toddler, however I’ve only delayed giving it to him in order to wait for the holidays.  Truth is, he was ready for it at two.  Technology is as much a part of my child’s life as his daddy and me.

I am a Gen Xer who considers myself an honorary member of Gen Y (given my very late in the year birthday in, gulp, 1978).  I vividly remember playing Reader Rabbit on our first computer, a Commodor 64 with cartridges and 5 1/2-inch floppy disks.  We had a “Go Phone”, a microwave, and remote controls.  As I went through my education, my use of technology extended to a dial-up connection in my dorm room to download music from Napster.  Revolutionary!  I remember getting my first cell phone like it was my first time at prom.

Fast forward to the world my child is living in.  He knows how to open the DVD player and insert a disc, turn on the TV and phone, play on the computer, listen to music on an iPod - all before he’s fully potty trained!  Tech is completely engrained into the world around him and it scares the crap out of me.  Sure there are parental controls and being involved is the best prevention, but therein lies the problem - the rate at which new technologies enter our world and become ubiquitous seems overwhelming even for a “technophile” like me. 

How is it possible to keep up on technology and protect our children when we don’t know what to protect them from?  As parents we have to do our best to embrace technology ourselves and leverage it to ensure our kids’ safety.  Stay informed, and stay connected.  There are several sites available - get an RSS reader  and subscribe to them.  Do some research and do it daily.  Check out Safe Kids.com - a site dedicated to internet safety and civility and, if you’re considering a Mac for your home computer have your local Apple Store employee show you the built-in parental controls, or watch a short video online.


While it seems overwhelming, know that the President is working to ensure our kids' safety online too - the Online Safety and Technology Group (OSTG) was established in April, 2009 as part of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.  However, you have to be an active participant too.  What steps do you take to ensure you’re kids’ safety online and while using other technologies?

“Now where did I put that file?” Online backup saves time and memories.

There are two types of people, those who have lost data and those who will.  Painful as it is to admit, I’m in the first category.  The specifics aren’t important to recount (and the wound is still a bit too raw), but just know my iMac hard drive crashed and I had not backed up.  While the new drive was covered under warranty sadly my irreplaceable data was not.  I’m not sure which was more painful, the pit in my stomach realizing my photos, mp3’s and other documents evaporated into thin air or the gouge from charges I was quoted from data recovery services to try and get them back.  Sure, memories are priceless, but just how priceless?

With the holiday season upon us you will undoubtedly have family celebrations in the near future. More than likely, you’ll capture the festivities, expressions (and if you’re like my family, gluttony) on your digital camera.  Then what?  Do you have years and multiple gigabytes of photos on your home computer hard drive or digital camera memory cards?  How many birthdays, milestones, and irreplaceable memories exist in limbo? 

A frighteningly low number of users actually backup their home computers.  (Are you feeling a little guilty and nervous right now?)  A small investment in backup will provide peace of mind and save time, money and frustration in the long run.  There are many ways to backup data - external hard drives and CD/DVD are a good first step, but you have to remember to backup.  Also, they can be lost in disaster - the natural or toddler type.  Online backup services upload your data automatically and store it in a secure, offsite location.  If your local copy is lost, you can recover from your online backup. Best of all, you don’t have to be a tech expert to do it.  Rather than review all options here, I figured it would be more helpful to share additional resources.

Bottom line:  some kind of backup is better than none and with so many online options there is no reason to lose your precious data!  How will you protect your memories?

Photo by BrittneyBush

Control freak seeks absolution.

“I do self.”  That was my very first sentence, and my mom loves to remind me of it all the time.  Apparently I liked to say it, a lot.  I was picking out my own clothing by age 3 and Christmas gifts by age 5.  I did not like the element of surprise, and liked to be in control.  I even screamed and cried one year when I opened a Christmas gift and found a bald Cabbage Patch Kid doll head staring up at me - it was an unauthorized gift and thus one I was not expecting.

I still don’t like surprises.  My organizational skills are envied by most, not understood by many, and probably seem ridiculous to some.  When managing a Briefing Center in Chicago, I was simultaneously planning, executing and closing out over twenty customized customer meetings (some were 2 days long) in a given quarter.  That workload was no match for my super organizational powers.  Program record?  Heh.  It was nothing!  My world was in control and I loved it.  Then, I had a child.

Imagine my surprise when all the planning and organization in the world couldn’t control this little person who had his own agenda and made it very clear he wasn’t interested in what anyone else wanted!  Funny thing though, being a parent makes you even more resourceful and (gulp) adaptable.  This was a good thing. Like most things that are good for you, I fought it at first.  I honestly remember saying at one point, “Oh God, what have I done?”  Gradually as we learned more about each other, I was able to go with things a little more (however I will never be described as “go-with-the-flow”). 

In an ironic twist, I found I needed to be even more organized to keep up with unpredictable life.  It was this paradigm shift that elevated the importance of technology to a whole new level.  I had less time to plan and organize and had to adapt on-the-go. How would I ever manage?  Luckily for me the internet was born long before my son was and I have the world at my fingertips.  Aside from the basics of online bill pay and email to keep in touch with everyone from my family to the doctor’s office, there are some very practical ways to do more with less - time, money, you name it!  Here is a quick-hit list of my favorites:

Price shopping.  I have a confession to make here.  I don’t actually own an iPhone, yet.  When I hear about new Apps like Red Laser that scans the barcode of a product and goes to the web to tell you who has it for less, I am one step closer to signing up.  I think the $1.99 app would very quickly pay for itself.
Online shopping.  I hate when I find something I like in store and it’s not available in the size or color I need.  There are usually no store employees within a 5 mile radius and I don’t have time to track them down or if I find one wait for them to locate my item at another nearby store. Most stores now offer free shipping for online purchases.  If they don’t, check out coupon sites like CouponCabin or RetailMeNot for free shipping or other discount promo codes.  To make it easy:  take a picture of the product tag with your phone, or take down the name, item#, etc. on your iPod touch or iPhone in notes or as a recorded voice memo (requires iPhone OS 3.1 for iPhone/iPod touch), or, keep a pen/small notebook or pad in your purse for this purpose.  Go home, go online, order and have it delivered to you free of charge.   Be sure to also use any coupon offer codes you receive in the mail, most apply to online purchases too.
Calendars.  Use iCal, Outlook, or the free Google Calendar... it doesn’t matter the application, just do it, and sync with your smartphone or iPod to take your calendar on the go with you.  Never again will you double-book your dentist appointment over a meeting or other obligation.  Be on time and plan ahead for upcoming events.  Furthermore, send your spouse or significant other meeting invitations for occasions outside of the normal family schedule, like when you’ll be home late from work because of a dinner meeting.  Don’t let them “decline” the invitation either!  No more, “I didn’t know that, I can’t make that work...”
Movie rentals.  We tried Netflix for a while and the low monthly price seemed justifiable at first, but we quickly realized there weren’t that many new movies we really wanted to see every month.  I then purchased an Apple TV and was so thrilled with the quick delivery and ease of use.  However, at $4.99 per HD rental (my husband refuses to watch anything in lower resolution... HD snob) our rentals added up quickly.  I still love the Apple TV concept and think it has it’s place.  But, let’s be honest every little bit counts these days.  My friend Christian turned me on to RedBox for one dollar, 24-hour DVD rental that you reserve online or at one of many locations (gas stations, supermarkets, pharmacies).  Who can beat an evening of entertainment for $1?  If you sign up for text messages, you get a free Monday rental every week.  Smart marketing on their part, Tuesday is DVD release day so when you return you’re likely to pick up another rental!

How has technology helped you save time and do more with less?  Share your tips!

Be in the know and the now w/RSS and podcasts.

In a failed attempt to become a info maven, I started watching the local evening news.  After a few nights of listening to the doom and gloom of the Chicago daily happenings, I was no closer to knowing what was going on in the world and a few steps closer to the proverbial ledge.  The network evening shows weren’t much better.  They took so long to get to “the meat” of what was going on, I was asleep halfway through.  Newspapers are pretty much outdated the minute the hit your driveway or the newsstand, and I don’t have enough time in the morning to eat breakfast, let alone sit and weed through the paper. 

Along came RSS... years ago, actually, and I ignored it.  I kind of got it but didn’t really get it.  Shortly after learning of RSS, I had my son and stayed home with him for a full year.   Then I really had no clue what was happening in the world!  When I reentered the workforce, I had to re-immerse myself in the tech industry in general and Apple products and happenings specifically.  If there is one company that has everyone buzzing, it’s Apple.  Between rumor sites (Apple does not publicly share product roadmaps, fueling the cult following of Mac enthusiasts), financial analysts predictions and commentary, Apple’s own Hot News and other industry sites, I was completely overwhelmed.  Often times I found out about news from someone else.  In a futile effort to be in the know and the now, I bookmarked top sites in my browser of choice (Firefox) and tried to make a habit of visiting them all every morning.  I quickly found I had neither the time nor commitment to make it a habit, and I constantly felt like I was drowning.

Finally, one morning I sent an IM to my technology muse and friend, Danny, “RSS - what’s up?” “Yup, call me.”  The conversation went like this,  “From what I understand it’s a way to feed snipits of articles from the sites I subscribe to into one place so I can scan them quickly and see if I want to read more.” “Exactly.  All you need is a free reader application.”  Within five minutes I was up and running, subscribing to AppleInsider, InfoWorld News, Gizmodo, and CNN, for example, and you can be too:

1. Download a free RSS Feed Reader application, or use a web-based application like Google Reader (here’s a list of some top online readers).  Some application options include News Gator and their Mac/iPhone version NetNewsWire.
2. Find the sites of interest to you.  The sites can be webpages, blogs like this one (shameless plug, I know), or anything that has a web address and RSS or atom feed available. Once on the site, click on the RSS/atom button to be taken to the scaled down RSS version of the site.  You can then copy the link (Ctrl+C on a PC or Command+C on a Mac) and paste it into the “subscribe” option of your RSS reader. Or, depending on your reader, you can enter the main site (www.apple.com) and the reader will find the RSS feed for you.  Give it a title you will recognize.  Hit Subscribe and you’re done!  Keep adding sites until you have covered the ones you’re interested in.  You can always unsubscribe to feeds and add other feeds later. 
3. If you use a reader application instead of a web-based reader, it’s a good practice to set the RSS reader to open on your system when you log in.  On a Mac, you can do this through System Preferences (from the dock or the Apple menu), click Accounts, select your user account and click the Login Items tab.  Select from the list of applications, or add one by clicking the + button.  Find the Application (use the spotlight search function in Finder window) and click add.  You can then check the box next to the application to open it at login, but hide it in your dock if you’d like.  Quit System Preferences, no Save necessary - the change is immediate.  Now when you login to your system, your RSS reader will launch and you can start reading right away.  On a PC this is called Startup Programs. 
4. Make it a habit to keep the reader application, or web-based reader open and scan it throughout the day.  Once you’ve read articles or decided you aren’t interested in reading them, you can mark them as read.  Based on the reader you’re using it may indicate there are new articles available by listing a number next to the site name... like your email box lets you know there are new messages to read.
   

That’s it!  You are now getting feeds from all the sites you’ve subscribed to and you are the one having conversations about the happenings in the world.  How’s that for enrichment and empowerment through technology?  And it’s free!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention podcasts. This is another way to be “fed” information you subscribe to and get constant updates that you can review at your convenience.  The difference is podcasts are audio files, or “enhanced podcasts” are audio files with photos, videos, and/or documents and links that accompany the audio.  Think of this as electronic versions of news/shows you can download to your computer and/or portable device like an iPod, other MP3 players, or smartphone (Blackberry, iPhone, etc).  When you subscribe in iTunes, you’ll get updates any time your system is connected to the internet and a new episode is available.  You can manage the number of episodes you get and how often.  You can also set your preferences in iTunes for how your iPod updates and manages podcast episodes.  I’ll go into this more in the future, but if you’re interested now go to the iTunes Music Store and click on Podcasts.  Search for something of interest to you - ESPN, a Food Network show, a health and fitness magazine, etc... chances are there is a podcast available. Click on “get episode” to download just that episode, or subscribe and iTunes will get the most recent episodes and will update when new ones are available.  My husband got an iPod touch for his birthday this year (from his parents, yes, at 31 years old - thanks mom and dad!).  He is not the audiophile I am, but he loves sports.  By love I mean he always has ESPN or a game of some sort on, listens to AM sports radio, subscribes to Sports Illustrated and ESPN the magazine... you get the point.  He has found several sports-related podcasts that he downloads to his iPod and listens to during his workouts.  We also have an inexpensive car iPod adapter (or many new models have it built-in) and he listens to podcasts while driving.  So, put that commute to good use by listening to content you’re interested in, instead of scrolling through drolly morning shows.

RSS readers are free.  Podcasts are free.  They both serve up the news and other content you want in an easy to digest format.  Subscribe today and be in the know and in the now - now!

What is it about the Mac?

My mom refuses to hear me when I sell her on the benefits of switching to a Mac.  She's a bargain shopper.  She even once called me from a garage sale to tell me about a deal she found on a notebook.  "Please, please, please don't buy that thing!", I lamented, "If you do, I'm not helping you with it." When I listen to her tell me about all the ways she wants to use technology - to manage and share pictures (she had a camera surgically bound to her hand at age 20) - to video chat with me and my 2 1/2 year old son, for email and web access, and the occasional application like writing and printing letters and managing  personal finances, I grit my teeth and say, "It would all be so easy..." and she finishes my sentence, "If I had a Mac."  But, she just can't get over the higher up front cost.

 Even in this economic climate Apple Inc. posts record earnings and profit, defies industry analysts and outpaces the market by a notable magnitude.  If you listen to the earnings release webcasts, Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's Chief Operating Office, sounds so humble when in a carefully crafted statement he attributes the record-breaking results to "...the best and most innovative products and solutions [delivered] to our customers."  What is it about the Mac that sells millions of them each quarter, with over half going to "new to Mac" users? 

Here are my Top 5 reasons users are getting on the Mac bandwagon:

1.  Know iTunes?  You know Mac.  The painful exchange with my mom has gone as far as her purchasing a PC notebook and bringing it to my house for me to "help" her with it.  This "help" consisted of installing software, removing software, trying to find and tweak user settings, get her setup with an IM account, and the list goes on.  We then installed iTunes and she was blown away by the ease of use for importing, downloading and managing music.  "Oh wow, that's so cool!"...(pregnant pause) "That's made by Apple.  Everything on a Mac is that easy, mom."  "Oh."  Most people have at least one iPod now days and thus, have used iTunes.  If you get that, you can manage your way around a Mac.  The Finder (file management system) on a Mac is similiar to iTunes, even leveraging Cover Flow for searching through and previewing documents.

2.  The hardware and software work together and come pre-loaded.  After hours of doing that, we were finally ready to "use" the computer.  But how?  Where is the video conferencing application?  How do you turn on the web cam?  (Three months later and she is still not using this feature of her PC.)  With a Mac, you setup your Mobile Me account ($99/year for website publishing, online storage, email - which is also your iChat messaging screen name) or use a free AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account, launch iChat, click the video camera of the buddy you'd like to chat with and you're off and running - or riding a rollercoaster or visiting the Eiffel Tower... iChat has a bunch of fun multimedia backgrounds to choose from. 

3. No more calls to your brother-in-law, son, daughter (enter unsuspecting relation here) to de-bug your system.  Thank goodness I live over three hours away from my parents or I would probably be there more than at home.  My poor brother has spent hours "working on" my mom's desktop only to find she needs to hire some one to "fix" it.  I'm not quite sure what that means which is why fix is in quotes.  It is never fixed.  Macs don't get viruses, they run a more stable operating system, and they just work.  Sure, all technology has it's issues and no Mac is perfect.  But, you may find your children and other relatives like coming over a lot more when they're not relegated to your office "fixing" your system.

4.  You can do all sorts of fun stuff.  After hours of exhausting me with questions about using the PC, my mom said, "Okay, now what about pictures?"  I laughed a hysterical "you've got to be kidding me, I just can't take this anymore" laugh and then just said, "I can't help you there."  It was true.  The photo app that came on the PC was so user unfriendly and ugly I couldn't make myself go there.  iPhoto is the easiest way to manage and share pictures.  It's been around since 2001, and a part of iLife since 2003.  And it's free on a Mac.  One click creates an album, another publishes it to your own website/gallery, or Facebook or Flickr.  Share albums with dynamic slideshows set to music.  And this is just the tip of the iceburg... but you don't have to be an expert ice climber to figure it out.  iMovie, iDVD, iWeb and GarageBand round out the iLife suite.  They all work together, work with the same tools and smoothly - once you've played with one, you'll have it down.

5.  There is a whole culture supporting you.  The Apple Store retail locations continue to amaze.  The revenue these places produce per square foot is enough to make your jaw drop.  They are a social destination - a place to see and be seen.  They draw crowds at all hours of the day, all around the globe and they are popping up all over the place.  (Maybe I'll really go to the Eifel Tower instead of just using the iChat background, so I can visit the first store in France next year.)  Let's not forget, it's just a store.  Or is it?  Make an appointment online to have a Genius troubleshoot and diagnose your iPod or other Apple product.  Attend free in-store seminars, or buy One to One personal training or Pro Care and get personal training sessions - at your convenience and you decide the topics to cover.  Beyond the store is AppleCare, Apple's warranty extension option which not only provides repair/replace for things covered in the terms, but 3 years of telephone support from Apple on the hardware, operating system (i.e. Mac OS X is what Windows is on a PC), applications like those in iLife and other peripherals like Apple displays and wireless products (when purchased with a qualifying Mac.  See terms and conditions for details.)  And, the support site http://www.apple.com/support/ is very useful and easy to navigate.  Bottom line, you are not alone.

There is a whole burgeoning culture of new Mac users who have switched and will never go back.  Sure, Macs are not the end all be all of technology and Apple doesn't always get things right.  But, millions of users can't be wrong - there is something to be said for the ease of use, reliability and seamless user experience Macs provide.  Some believe a machine that does everything you want out of the box without add on hardware, software (whether free or downloadable), "just works", doesn't get viruses and has a whole culture to support it is worth a higher price tag.  Considering these points, does it really cost you more?  Maybe my own mom will finally see the value Apple provides and be one of the new-to-Mac purchasers referenced in a future earnings release.  For my sanity, I sure hope so.

Why I actually like MS Outlook

Call me a Mac purist, call me a Mac zealot, call me a lot of things (preferably G-rated) when it comes to my views on Apple and the PC market at large but you may be surprised to hear that I  (gulp!) actually like Outlook.

Apple's Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard introduced vast improvements in regards to integration with Exchange (out of the box!  not even PCs are as ready to go!) and I have enjoyed moving from Entourage to Mail.  However, there are still a few key things lacking in Mail and iCal for this Mac user on a PC network, namely:

1. Delayed send option.  Our company restricts messages to sales and other departments during the work day to limit distractions.  Have something of value to say?  Do it before 8 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. and be cognizant of the time zones. Delayed send in Outlook lets me write, format and set future delivery of my messages - set it and forget it (and amend if the info changes b/t now and the time it is scheduled to go out).
2. Edit invitation responses before sending, and propose alternate time.  If a meeting time doesn't work for me I may want to let the scheduler know why and see if they can move it.  iCal simply declines without further explanation.  People probably think I'm being very rude now, and if I want to suggest a different time it requires a separate email.  Blah.
3. Checking attendee availability for a meeting.  Sure, I can invite you and you can accept/deny/propose new time but I'd rather pick a time that works for everyone the first time around.
4. Tracking attendee status.  Accepted, declined, tentative, no response - kind of hard to plan a meeting without knowing who can make it... and I'm not one for saving each "response" email.  Which leads me to another one...
5. Turning off "Request Responses" and "Propose New Time" options.  Maybe I don't need to know that you're okay with me only being available on my cell from 12-5 on Friday - it's just a heads up for you.  Outlook lets me just send it and you can do with it what you like... I don't care!
6. Last (for now) is the inability to schedule a meeting room through iCal.  Outlook has a drop down menu and lets me "invite" the room as a resource to avoid embarassing double-bookings.

So, with all these issues, how do I function on a daily basis?  The workaround consists of using Mail and iCal as my main apps but logging in to Outlook through Citrix client for Mac OS when I need to do any of the above.  While I may not be as comfortable on the Windows side of the house, Outlook is my security blanket when it comes to being a good corporate citizen.  Maybe the next version of Mac OS will be named after a canine species and truly be my best friend.

Superwoman? Nah, just quick to adjust

Whoever said “You can have it all, just not all at once” underestimated the power of women.  I'm a wife, mom, and working professional - and even though there are days I wish I had a clone to pick up where I leave off, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  When the norm is to go in 5 directions at once, you have to be organized, resourceful and able to change strategy mid-execution.  Have a plan, and plan to change it.  This has never rung as true as it does for me at this stage in my life.

Just today, I had planned to leave the house promptly by 7:25 to catch the train to Chicago for an 8:30 arrival to the office.  I awoke early, showered, and was getting myself together when my 2 1/2 year old son, James, woke up.  Shaun, my husband, who works out in the morning, was about to get in the shower.  James wasn't quite ready to be awake so we read Curious George while rocking.  Somehow, I managed to get him dressed.  I think "The firemen coming to school today think your outfit is awesome" helped.  Thinking the edge had been taken off his morning reluctance, I proceeded to take him to the kitchen.  Surprise!  Dog poop on the livingroom floor.  Finally in the kitchen, we prepared his morning juice (+ laxative, poor kid), which he wanted to stir and spill all over his hair and the floor.  He had a meltdown when I put his Lightening McQueen spoon in the sink.  I then told him we needed to go up to the bathroom so I could get ready. "I'll stay here."  Hmmm, okay, time to get creative... the spoon came with us and all was good.

However, it is now 7:20 and I have no makeup (or pants) on and my hair is still wet.  Responding to my frustration my husband says, "The train's not until 7:45, right?"  "Right."  Needless to say, I watched the train speed by while sitting at a stoplight about 1/4 of a mile from the station.  Deep breath.  Take it all in stride.  I'm often reminded of the Serenity Prayer and try so hard to not blow up over things I can't control... it is what it is.

I made it to the office eventually and had a very productive day only to come home to the dog running out the door, my husband yelling after her and James with no pants on standing in the doorway to greet me.  That little guy makes it all worth it and reminds me the little things are not worth getting upset over... there is too much good that comes along with it.