Business Innovation eBook & Definitive Guide on Creativity

Innovation eBook used by 550+ innovative companies worldwide - eBook Best Seller (deployed at Nokia, EDS, J&J, Pepsi, HP, many more...)

Innovation eBook and Definitive Guide is a 212-page collection of over 55 best practices, case studies, and insights on the current state of Innovation in Business at Top Innovators including Apple, Google, Netflix, 3M, Proctor and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, Toyota, GE, BMW, Deloitte, Frito Lay, IBM, Nike, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, Microsoft, Dell, Tata, Intel and more. With pertinent articles from this award-winning Creativity And Innovation Driving Business Blog, this Faculty eBook provides real-world examples on how the Top Innovators innovate and grow their business successfully time and again, especially during economic cycles. Creativity And Innovation in Business is a definitive guide and resource that will help you unblock creativity, uncover and create game-changing innovations, and make exponential business growth a reality.

"I teach Applied Creativity and Innovation for a College near Toronto, Canada. I gave my business students an assignment to work with one of the top 10 innovative companies and to research/report on what makes them innovative, type of innovative challenges, benefits, etc. Your report from the eBook and definitive guide was the primary document that they used for their work." - Business School Professor

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"1) Innovation and growth is not (just) a fuzzy process of screwing around vigorously (SAV) but can be a systematic process,

2) Innovation and growth is not (just) something that happens in a department like R & D or product development,

3) Innovation and growth is not just about products or solutions - it is about creating a transformational change in the way people live, work and play." - Chapter 26, Erich Joachimsthaler, author of "Hidden in Plain Sight"

Who should buy?

The Innovation eBook and Definitive Guide has been downloaded and used by over 1,000 professionals, faculty and innovators at educational institutions and businesses all around the world including EDS, Ericsson, Center for Sales Strategy, IdeaChampions, Acara Global, Byrne Dairy, Cleveland Clinic, Magpie, DOJ/FBI, HP, Hewlett Packard, Intervista Institute, Fryett Consulting Group, Satellite Shelters, ProductVentures, Speakeasy - a Best Buy company, Jarden Consumer Solutions, Hallmark, Infinium, DeakinPrime - Deakin University, Lucas-TVS, McCann Worldgroup, S.P.Jain Center of Management, Suffolk University, RiCoMan, AmpControl, Craig Rispin, Momentive, Champion Laboratories, University of Phoenix, University of Washington, SFR - Neufbox, Attwood as Edison, Academy of Sport, Ideogenesis, Principled Innovation, Meridian Partners, Ananzi, Tangibility, Syngenta Global, Speedy, The Business Lab, Deloitte, Lane Management, University of California at Irvine, Wharton Business School, Babson University, Larsen & Toubro, Nokia, Credera, Pfizer, Bilkent University, Indian Institute of Science, Bacardi, Chick-fil-A, LG Electronics, Pepsi, J&J and many more.

If you are a marketing executive, information executive, IT executive, product manager, marketer, product marketer, sales operations manager, sales director, sales consultant, business consultant, product designer, brand manager, marketing manager, VP of products, VP of marketing, VP of technology, research & development director, product director, product marketing manager, marketing consultant, brand consultant, innovation consultant, chief innovation officer, engineer, engineering student, business school student, business school professor, technology student, technology consultant, design engineer, consultant, trainer, professor or management consultant - this book and definitive guide is for you! If you are one of the key executives of the company or the CEO, buy this guide for your company!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 - The Top 50 Innovative Companies In The World
Chapter 2 - The Innovation Index - Top 20 Innovators
Chapter 3 - Measuring Business Innovation Success - Key Benchmarks
Chapter 4 - Failures And Stumbles Driving Innovation - Five Takeaways
Chapter 5 - Blocking Creativity And Innovation - Nine Processes
Chapter 6 - Six Ways To Find Innovation - "See with new eyes"
Chapter 7 - Five Principles For Successful Business Innovation
Chapter 8 - Is Innovation Cyclical? - Four Common Blunders
Chapter 9 - Can Leadership Create Innovation? - Ten Leadership Ideas
Chapter 10 - Top Ten Creative Leadership Traits - Be The Leader and Innovator
Chapter 11 - Creating Team Innovation - Seven Characteristics
Chapter 12 - Creating Team Innovation - Effective Teams Examples
Chapter 13 - Creating Team Innovation - Ten Principles To Unleash Innovation
Chapter 14 - The Future Of Management, Creativity And Innovation - Upend Business Models
Chapter 15 - How Much Creativity Is Enough?
Chapter 16 - Co-Creation Driving Innovation At Top Innovators
Chapter 17 - Marketing Innovation Creating Market Leadership
Chapter 18 - Consumer Innovation Best Practices - Six Steps To Lead Innovation
Chapter 19 - The Innovation Gap - Disruptive Innovation versus Sustaining Innovation
Chapter 20 - Are Children More Creative Than Adults?
Chapter 21 - Questions Lead To Creativity, Answers Lead To Innovation
Chapter 22 - Expanding Your Business Innovation Capacity
Chapter 23 - Innovation Insights And Wisdom From Greatest Innovators
Chapter 24 - Turn Complaints Into Solutions, Innovations And Success
Chapter 25 - Why Some Ideas Survive And Others Die
Chapter 26 - Ten Answers For Driving Innovation And Growth At World Class Innovators
Chapter 27 - Strategic Innovation At Deloitte - The "Apple" Of Services Innovation
Chapter 28 - Toyota's Innovation Factory
Chapter 29 - Ipod - Apple's Best Innovation
Chapter 30 - Apple Iphone Rising - Top Ten Innovations
Chapter 31 - Google Versus Yahoo - A Tale Of Two Cities
Chapter 32 - Youtube - $1.65 Billion Innovation And Counting
Chapter 33 - Blockbuster Versus Netflix - Winner Takes All?
Chapter 34 - GE And P&G - Innovations Driving Growth & Six Growth Principles
Chapter 35 - Can Dell Turnaround Dell? Seven Thoughts For Turnaround
Chapter 36 - Innovations Brewing At Starbucks ? Five Takeaways
Chapter 37 - Southwest Airlines Flying High With Ten Innovations
Chapter 38 - Innovations At Microsoft - Four Business Pillars
Chapter 39 - Direct Marketing And Direct Mail Innovation At USPS
Chapter 40 - Disruptor Zune Versus Innovator Ipod
Chapter 41 - 100% Electric Ultra Fast Innovation - Tesla
Chapter 42 - Nike Versus Adidas - The Innovation Game Is On
Chapter 43 - People Innovation - We Think Culture Of Innovation
Chapter 44 - Intel - Exponential Innovations
Chapter 45 - Five Innovations In Software Industry - Intuit Case Study
Chapter 46 - Google Versus Microsoft - The Enterprise Battle Heats Up!
Chapter 47 - Launch Of Tata Nano - A Watershed Moment in Indian Autos
Chapter 48 - How Can GM Turnaround The Business? Is Innovation The Answer
Chapter 49 - Doubleclick A Smart Buy For Google
Chapter 50 - Microsoft Walk-Off Home Run With Aquantive
Chapter 51 - IBM's $5 Billion Cognos Acquisition
Chapter 52 - Top Acquisitions By The Top Innovators
Chapter 53 - Will Yahoo merge with Microsoft?
Chapter 54 - Innovation And Stock Performance Correlation
Chapter 55 - The Innovation Index Annual Report
Chapter 56 - $1 Billion Or The Future

Eight new chapters added, including a detailed report on "Measuring Business Innovation Success"

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Innovation eBook details invaluable tools to unlock:
Creativity -> Ideas -> Innovations -> Success -> Profits

Business Innovation eBook includes:

The Innovation Bootcamp On Demand Resource Kit Tools:

The entire Innovation Bootcamp is available On-Demand now for your business to unleash the creativity and innovation within your own environment! You can selectively leverage the key concepts of the Innovation Bootcamp at your own pace, at your office or at your home, and share them with your team. The Innovation Bootcamp On-Demand Resource Kit includes:

• The complete Innovation Bootcamp presentation and handouts containing over 400 presentation slides to spark new ideas, channel team creativity and create innovation factory.
• 100+ pertinent strategies and tools, hands-on techniques and uncommon insights to unleash creativity and innovation at your business

The Innovation Bootcamp Resource Kit consists presentation slides of Six Engaging Online Workshop Sessions:

• 1. Benchmarking and Leading with Innovation
• The Business Case for Innovation
• 2. Unblocking Creativity and Innovation
• The Essential Processes and Skills
• 3. Unleashing Team Innovation
• Great Teams Deliver Great Innovations
• 4. and 5. Business Innovation Case Studies
• Learn how Top Innovators Lead with Innovation (Google, Netflix, Apple, Toyota, Southwest, J&J, P&G, GE, more)
• 6. Building an Innovation Factory
• Create a sustainable, scalable Business Innovation Model
• "The Innovation Bootcamp provided an excellent orientation on the topic of innovation and I learned several new techniques for generating and successfully implementing new ideas. Plentiful real world case studies was another aspect I liked about the program. I highly recommend it." - IT Manager, Top 5 IT Services Business

There's more:

Get the monthly Innovation report from InnovationMain.com FREE!

About the Author

Sanjay Dalal is an innovator and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal authored and launched the Innovation Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Creativity and Innovation in business in 2008, used by over 550 leading organizations and professionals all over the world including HP, Hallmark, Cleveland Clinic, Pepsi, EDS, and major universities. Dalal published over 200 articles in the last two years on the real-time state of innovation in business at this blog on Creativity and Innovation Driving Business, and introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006 that correlates business, innovation and stock performance. Dalal is the founder of oGoing.com, Semdia, India Business Network & InnovationMain.com . Dalal was the president and managing director of the innovative investment company, Innovation Index Group, that systematically invested into the Top 20 Innovators of the Innovation Index. Dalal filed joint U.S. Patent on "Hands-On Labs" for delivering live, hands-on training over Web Meetings by simulating a training lab environment. Dalal has launched innovative products such as WebEx Training Center and WebEx Sales Center to market, and grown product line revenue to tens of million dollars in annual revenue. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science. Dalal secured the first position in the 50th William Lowell Putnam Math Competition. Dalal volunteered as a basketball coach on three separate occassions for Fremont NJB, Irvine NJB, and Rancho Middle School 7th graders, as an art master for 2nd graders, and as the secretary of the School Site Council. Dalal was a member of the Technology Advisory Committee for the Fremont School District containing over 40,000 students, an appointed position by the Board of Education. Dalal is a Web 2.0 adviser for Cal State Fullerton, Extended Education and a lecturer on "Making the business case for Web 2.0". Dalal, an appointed member of the Dean's Leadership Circle of The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine, is a guest lecturer at the University of California, Irvine for the Strategic Innovation class. Dalal is an active Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine.

Innovation eBook is brought to you by Creativity And Innovation Driving Business based in Irvine, CA.

Address: 8105 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 900, Irvine, CA 92618
Main Phone #: 1-949-288-6880

Septuagesima - or the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time?

Today is SEPTUAGESIMA - Therefore some people reading this blog went to Mass today and the priest was wearing Green and some went and the priest was wearing purple. There are some big differences between the Modern Roman Liturgy and the Usus Antiquior.

If you are reading my blog and want me to explain the differences I must direct you to the experts:
The New Liturgical Movement - Pre-Lent


[[Update]]: Another good explanation is by Fr. Acervo:
Fr. Acervo - Septuagesima

One of the reasons I am such a fan of the Usus Antiquior is because of how much history, tradition, and MEANING exists within the older Rite. The concept of Pre-lent is that there is a transition from ordinary time into Lent, and the period is preparatory.

For the readings from the Tridentine Rite please see:
Septuagesima Readings - Tridentine Missal 1963

-Posted by: Joe

Music Monday- ♫ Mariah Carey - Obsessed ♫

I admire Mariah Carey a lot but this video made me wonder why would she want to poke fun at her ex or whoever she was involved with in the past through a video. The rumor spread around that the stalker Mariah plays and imitates in the video was actually Eminem. She did it boldly and received mixed reviews. The music video however, didn't go well with wrapper Eminem and in response, he released 'A Warning'. I could barely read just halfway through the lyrics... it was disgusting! The controversy has more to it and you'll find it all where else but the web :-)

Anyway, hope you enjoy the video below and don't forget to leave me your views :-)

Have a happy MM folks :-)

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.





PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

FREE ISRAELI COUNTER TERRORISM UNIT WORKOUT

Hey,


I always love to share cool workouts and exercises with you. Have you ever heard of LOTAR?

It is an elite counter terrorism unit in Israel and these folks are bad-ass.

LOTAR also refers to a system of self defence that is also taught along with KRAV MAGA, as one of the most effective forms of self-defence ever devised. KRAV MAGA was developed in Israel as a practical method of self defence, since Israel has some of the most dangerous streets on the planet (in certain areas).

Anyway, the point of my post is that one of the elite "Master Trainers" of LOTAR is giving away a free workout for the next few days. I just tried it and it is kick-ass.


CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WORKOUT

I thought I would pass on this great free workout and video. This will be the same conditioning techniques that this advanced military unit uses to stay in top shape.

I believe the full-blown course will have manuals and 54 videos!

I'm not trying to distract you if you are currently following another workout plan.

(If you are following an effective workout plan, then just stick with it.) ...I just knew some of you would think that this is cool.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WORKOUT

Good Luck


Funk Roberts

PS: I think the free download will go away once the paid product is launched...and the free download is a workout in itself.

Oh, I forgot to mention that you get a detailed video as well as a manual for free for the next few days.

PPS: If you are a Police Officer you should love this

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WORKOUT

Migraines in Jan; anticipations for Feb

I missed out this weeks Music monday due to terrible attacks of migraine headaches but i'm surely not going to miss out next weeks MM, for i love posting my fave videos :-)..

There are certain type of foods or things that do trigger these migraines and the attacks are severe with a frequency of lesser to sharp intense pains every few hours but can also persist for days. These type of headaches are extremely painful and terrible to deal with when you have a family to care for and a lot of other tasks to endeavor or complete. A migraine attack is evil!!i must confess.. :-). I would later on write about what can trigger migraines on three blogs(including my pregnancy and health blog) next month as we're almost touched the end of Jan.

Right now, i'm anticipating the luckiest and most fulfilling month of Feb which i can always count on to catch a fresh breath and attain some amount of happiness and satisfaction. One after one, would be celebrations for Valentines Day, cousins and aunts birthdays, and the 25th of Feb for sure will bring me immense joy with special feelings like never any other time of the year! It's the day i was born, the day maybe i cant remember about but i do know i made a lady feel special on that certain day, and who else would that be but my mom.. :-)

Alaska School Authorities: Watching a Documentary Film More Dangerous Than Having Abortion

Alaska is an amazing place. I saw 6 moose today in my travels, 4 of which to and from Adoration. The laws here are also pretty relaxed and therefore personal freedoms don't face as many restrictions as other states, for the most part. Yet, there are some anomalies in the statutes, and it is by no means perfect.

One of the worst laws is the ability of a teen to have an abortion without parental consent. This is actually codified in statute. (This means that as opposed to case law, it is more firm and therefore difficult to repeal.) We know that such a law should be removed; we also know of the hypocrisy of such laws in light of other restrictions on teens. For example a lot of states prevent ear piercing without parental consent before a teen is 18.

The following article blows that out of the water. A recent documentary on energy and global warming is being circulated in Alaskan schools. The film: Not Evil Just Wrong, takes a look at the "costs" of the climate change debate is having on our country and world. Not just economically, but socially; the climate change agenda is affecting more than just the wallets and economies of the world. So Alaska seems like a perfect proving ground for the movie. (A state where energy is literally the life blood of the state) The film is circulating in the same schools where An Inconvenient Truth by: Al Gore has been shown time and time again in several circumstances and instances.

This time though, Not Evil Just Wrong required a PERMISSION SLIP from the student in order to watch it. It just shows the double standard we have in our society; movies about science are REGULATED but the murder and reproductive actions of our children can rest solely in their discretion.

So I ask this: "What exactly do we hold as the pinnacle virtue or right that we are protecting and defending in these situations?"

I guess it is just another example of the "culture of death."

Read the original article here:
Alaska School Authorities: Watching a Documentary Film More Dangerous Than Having Abortion

AK for Parental Rights:
http://www.alaskansforparentalrights.org/

-Posted by: Joe

Next stop...

...Philadelphia!

​Modern browsers for modern applications

​The web has evolved in the last ten years, from simple text pages to rich, interactive applications including video and voice. Unfortunately, very old browsers cannot run many of these new features effectively. So to help ensure your business can use the latest, most advanced web apps, we encourage you to update your browsers as soon as possible. There are many choices:

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0+

Mozilla Firefox 3.0+

Google Chrome 4.0+

Safari 3.0+

Many other companies have already stopped supporting older browsers like Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers. We’re also going to begin phasing out our support, starting with Google Docs and Google Sites. As a result you may find that from March 1 key functionality within these products -- as well as new Docs and Sites features -- won’t work properly in older browsers.

2010 is going to be a great year for Google Apps and we want to ensure that everyone can make the most of what we are developing. Please take the time to switch your organization to the most up-to-date browsers available.

Posted by Rajen Sheth, Google Apps Senior Product Manager

MLM Business Lead|MLM Business Leads-Where to Find a Leads List That Works

Today's post about mlm business leads comes from one of my mentor's, Tom, Big Al, Schreiter. I love Big Al and his training because the skills he teaches are so simple any of us can learn and use them!

We all know that as networkers, we must talk to a mlm business lead everyday; preferably more than one! Today, Big Al will offer some training on where to find a mlm business leads list that works. His answer may surprise you!

Take action based on what Big Al Says!

To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
Skype: Monique371

Most people who read the ebook, Success in 10 Steps and coaching from from Mentoring for Free find why their lack of success in NOT their fault. Click here to get your copy

http://mentormonique.mentoringforfree.com/?mad=36000

Where to find a leads list that works.

This is from one of the posts at the FortuneNow.com Discussion Forum for professional network marketers. Thought you would enjoy this part of the thread.

Two people get the same lead list.

One person thinks he was ripped off. No one joins.

The other person thinks the list is the greatest list of leads in the history of mankind, and signs up a lot of new distributors.

Same list, two different results.

Why?

Because the first person had talked to his warm market of relatives and friends, and they all hated how he presented his opportunity. They hated what he said and did.

So when the first person rented a list of leads, they hated what he said and did also. If his relatives and friends hated what he said and did, strangers are going to hate it even more.

The second person learned what to say and do, so when he talked to his relatives and friends, they joined. They loved what he said and did.

So when he rented the exact same list, guess what? Other people also loved what he said and did.

Sure, there may be some lists that are better than others, but all lists have people. If what you say and do turns off your closest friends and relatives, it will definitely turn off strangers.

So the main issue is not finding a leads list that works. Instead, concentrate on what you are going to say to that "live" person on the other end of the phone.

Want more neat prospecting ideas?

Get seven examples of ways to sponsor new distributors, taken directly from the '103 Ways & Places to Sponsor New Distributors' manual.

Simply go to:

   http://www.fortunenow.com/products/item28.cfm

Tom 'Big Al' Schreiter
Fortune Network Publishing
PO Box 890084
Houston, TX 77289  USA
http://www.FortuneNow.com

PO Box 890084, Houston, TX 77289 USA  

Archbishop Chaput urges Catholics: 'Fight Satan'

A recent article from CNA regarding a talk and Q&A session by Abp. Chaput of Denver [He is one of my favorite American Catholic Priests]:

My emphasis in bold, my comentary in red:

Rome, Italy, Jan 28, 2010 / 04:28 am (CNA).- Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver followed his keynote address to the Emmanuel Community of Rome's conference on "Priests and Laity in the Mission" with a short reflection on the "disappointing times" he is experiencing.  He also elaborated on a major theme of his talk—the reality of Satan and the importance of "spiritual combat."

Just before launching into a question and answer session, Archbishop Chaput gave a reflection on his years as a bishop to stimulate discussion, saying, "I thought that after 20 years more of my life things would change and things would be a lot better but I don't think they are.

"I think we live in disappointing times, in times of confusion, and in some ways that is the result of our failure to understand that we have an enemy in the Devil, but also we have enemies in the world around us." [One of my favorite sayings is: The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world that he did not exist.]

He pointed to a "great talk" from an American Protestant pastor he once heard which was titled "We preach as though we don't have enemies," and reflected that this sentiment "is true in the United States... .”

"I think it's important to understand the we are in a battle, we really do live in a time of spiritual combat and I think we've lost that sense of the Church," Archbishop Chaput stated. [I wish I could just turn my blog over to Abp. Chaput, I think this is the most critical thing we face in this country as both Catholics and Americans.]

He continued with a comparison of the temptation we face to be like "everyone else" like the Israelites from the Old Testament wishing for a king like the other nations.  They wanted a king ... they got Saul and he was a good man, and then he became a politician and he lost his faith.  We're just like that."

"In America, we don't want to be different than our Protestant brothers and sisters, or the secular forces around us.  And, I think that's the great danger of our time, we don't love God enough and we don't enter into combat with the enemy enough and we need to recommit ourselves to doing that," the Archbishop of Denver urged.

During his keynote address, Archbishop Chaput had also referred to the importance of recognizing that evil exists and that "Satan is real." [!!!!!!!!!! Finally !!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Responding later to a question from CNA about where he sees the Devil's presence in society, the archbishop said, "Well, one of the most obvious things in the United States is internet pornography which is pervasive, and subtle, and attractive and totally destructive of peoples' lives and there's very little talk about fighting it. 

"If you talk about fighting pornography in the media you're somehow seen as anti-American, anti-freedom of speech. ... things that are so obviously destructive to society..." he said.

The archbishop also named divorce and the changing definition of marriage as places where Satan is holding sway. 

"All of the statistical studies show us that a stable relationship between a man and a wife for the sake of children is what produces good, healthy human beings and you can't say that today without being branded as somehow on the opposite side of freedom and truth," Archbishop Chaput explained.

"So, those kind of basic human values, the value of chastity and the value of family life are popularly seen as 'old fashioned' because of the lies, because of the deceptions of the Evil One. Even Catholics are afraid of standing up for the truth because we're afraid of being branded 'old-fashioned.'"[Our entire mindset about life and culture are warped by this destruction of the idea of the family and its values.]

When asked whether there are any successes in the fight today, the archbishop responded, "I think we're doing a lot of very good things and doing well in terms of fighting but in terms of winning the battles, we're not winning many of those cultural battles in terms of the formal direction of society.

"But," he added, "every time an individual is converted the battle has been won in a huge kind of way, because we're not saved as a group. We're saved as individuals and what pleases the enemy of God, Satan, is that individuals are not being faithful to their identity as children of God. 

"So, I think every time there's a conversion, every time one of us turns from our sins there is a victory in the battle,” he remarked.

Archbishop Chaput concluded, "There are lots of victories, so I don't think we measure our success in terms of swaying whole segments of society, but it's convincing individuals to give themselves faithfully to the call of God in their lives."

Ok, obviously this article makes me squeal with both glee and despair. It makes me happy because it is soooo central to my message and mission with this blog. It saddens me because of the obvious problem that it addresses - the battle against evil in our world and lives, which appears to be going poorly in the eyes of the Archbishop - at least on some fronts.

I think this article should be a wake-up call to American Catholics. We cannot sit idly by anymore. We must each pick up our "swords" and storm into battle. If you are a father who doesn't go to Church - go. You don't have to necessarily be smarter than the Pope, just go. If you are a mother who allows their children to do things or participate in things that are contrary to the teaching of the church - stop, be willing to be unpopular for the sake of the souls of your children. 

I am sure all of us can think of ways that we can fight this battle. The first step for many might simply be accepting that evil is real and that we are in a battle. From there, the determination must be made on an indiviudal basis as to how we can best fight this battle. This often takes an examination of your soul and your life to find ways in which we are being deceived, tricked and lied to by the ultimate deceiver: Satan. Once we admit and accept that we fall prey to such trickery we can then defend ourselves and fight back. The easiest and best ways to do so are: confession, Mass, and Adoration. Our weapons are Rosaries, Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Water, and Prayer. 

So why not say a Rosary tonight? Why not say the St. Michael prayer after Mass? Why not pick up your sword and "...take the Kingdom of Heaven by force?!"


Original:
Denver archbishop urges Catholics to fight Satan :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Other blogs commentary:
Intentional Disciples: Intercessory Prayer and Spiritual Combat

-Posted by: Joe

TelePresence Gains Momentum at Retailer Show

The National Retail Federation (NRF) released its 2010 economic forecast, projecting retail industry sales to increase 2.5 percent from last year. In contrast, total industry retail sales for 2009 had actually declined by 2.5 percent.

"As we continue to see signs of improvement throughout the U.S. economy in 2010, overall sentiment will begin to lift, making way for slight increases in consumer spending," said NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells.

While this past year certainly has been a challenging one for most retailers, they continue to seek out ways to apply business technology that helps to transform both their in-store communications and the way they interact and collaborate with their primary suppliers.

Earlier this month, the NRF 2010 "Big Show" attendees were able to once again experience Cisco TelePresence systems and AT&T services in action. The above video includes insights from some of the people who shared their perspective about how business video adoption will positively impact their customer experience and operational productivity.

TelePresence Provides Competitive Edge
"Telepresence gives us something up on the competition, by being able to leverage the expertise that we have in one of our stores, and now use it across an entire region" said David Bash, CIO at Nebraska Furniture Mart, after participating in the AT&T Telepresence Solution demonstration.

To thrive in today's economy, you have to be able to collaborate with colleagues, partners, and customers around the globe at a moment's notice. At the same time, you need to conduct your business in such a way that it enhances the quality of your key relationships.

In 2010, we'll likely see more creative applications of visual conferencing technology, as borderless collaboration continues to mainstream across all manufacturing industries and commercial service sectors.

Launched: Google Apps Script for Google Apps Standard Edition

Back in August we released Google Apps Script to Google Apps Premier and Education Edition customers. Today we're excited to extend the availability of Apps Script to Google Apps Standard Edition, used by millions of groups, families, clubs and other organizations around the world.

Google Apps Script provides the ability to automate a variety of tasks such as modifying Spreadsheets, creating Calendar appointments, checking stock prices, sending email, looking up Contacts and much, much more. For a more detailed overview, check out the video below:



Getting started is easy. You can take a look at the Apps Script Welcome Page, and then work through some of the Tutorials. Before long you'll be writing scripts to automate all kinds of repetitive tasks like keeping track of group expenses and sending out automated reminders triggered by values in a spreadsheet.

In this example, we're using a Google Docs spreadsheet to keep track of our soccer team's weekly dues. Each player owes $5 per game towards shared expenses. Unfortunately the players can be an absentminded bunch that need frequent payment reminders. In the spreadsheet, every amount entered updates a player's column to indicate which weeks are PAID (in green), and how much is DUE (in red). We've also used Apps Script to add a custom menu:

• 'Refresh' recalculates and colors cells to indicate which weeks are PAID and which are DUE
• 'Send Reminders' emails a polite message reminding players in debt to pay up

Go ahead and take a look at the sample code in this template. After choosing Use This Template, select Scripts... from the Spreadsheet's Tools menu. It's a very basic script, but it gets the job done!

Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Posted by Evin Levey, Product Manager, Google Apps team

Leading Lean Software Development Chi Feb 10-11

Also wanted to make a quick post about this course. Mary & Tom Poppendieck recently completed their new book (of basically the same title). They will be leading this course in Chicago on February 10-11.

They gave essentially the same course in Chicago last year just after Agile2009. Everyone was happy with it. The lean ideas are very important.

Hope you can join us.

See here: http://bit.ly/b67Dyz

Certified ScrumMaster course in Ottawa Feb 3-4

Just a quick post to mention this course. We were up in Ottawa recently and enjoyed it. (Although cold to a guy from NC.)

This should be a good course, and hope you can attend.

For details, see here: http://bit.ly/9aSHmd

Free Rosary Audio Files

I mention the Rosary a lot. It is a personal favorite of mine in terms of prayer, reflection and as a physical sacramental. For a long time though, the Rosary intimidated me because I didn't REALLY know how to pray it, and I felt like that made me a "bad" Catholic.

One resource that really helped was: Rosary Army Their entire approach over there is really good and they make the idea of the Rosary something deeper than simply a "necklace and a prayer." One way that I really got into the Rosary was putting their MP3's on my iPod and LISTENING to the Rosary and "praying along."

You can find those audio files for free here: http://www.rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=22

So go ahead and download them. Then listen to them on your iPod, in iTunes, or even make a CD and listen to it while you are getting ready to sleep. It really will change your life! And take my challenge from a while back and carry a Rosary with you constantly for a week!
Original post: Prayer Challenge: Carry a Rosary with you!

-Posted by: Joe

Fans and Followers!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that "Fans" us on Facebook, "Follows" us on Google Connect, and "Follows" us on Twitter.

Right now all three integrate and carry the same info. They all essentially link back to the blog. As I pick up my blogging again that may change and the other areas might get more "on the go" or "breaking" news - but this blog will always be home-base.

Having said that - don't forget to invite your friends. This blog grows and gets better as more people read it, follow it, and comment in the com-boxes.

Troubleshooting tips part I: Implementing your ad code

Today, we're beginning a troubleshooting series to help you diagnose and solve common issues with your ads, search boxes, and account functionality. We're kicking things off with a look at how to correctly implement your ad code and an explanation of why ads may not appear on your pages at times.

First, the best way to ensure ads are served correctly is to copy and paste the code exactly as it's provided in your account. Changing the code and manipulating ad behavior aren't permitted by our program policies, and in most cases will prevent your ad from appearing at all.

If you've noticed that your ad units aren't showing ads, here are a few things to check for:

• Did you just add the code to that page? Relevant ads should appear on your pages shortly after you add the code, but sometimes it can take up to 48 hours for ads to show. This is because our crawler has to visit your page and determine its content so we can serve targeted ads.
  
  
• Does the code on your page match the code in your account? Make sure to copy the code exactly as it appears in your account, and paste it within the body tags of your HTML code. Be sure not to make any changes to the linebreaks of the code (e.g. pasting the code all in one line) as this will break the code and prevent ads from showing entirely.
  
  
• Are you using an HTML editor? Publishers often use a design-enhanced HTML editor like Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage (aka WYSIWIG, "what you see is what you get" software). If you use such an editor, you may see errors if you paste your ad code into a WYSIWYG view such as the "Design" or "Layout" view. For the ads to function properly, you'll have to copy and paste the ad code into the HTML source code of your webpage using the editor's HTML view or HTML insert function. Check for any additional tags inserted by the system or changes in the linebreaks.
  
  
• Are you using a content management system (CMS)? If you have trouble implementing AdSense with a specific content management system, we recommend searching for the name of the CMS (eg. Drupal, WordPress) and 'AdSense implementation'. You can also ask in the forum if other publishers have mastered similar problems, or contact your program provider directly.
  
  
• Are the ads inside nested frames? While you can choose where to position your ads on your pages, be sure to avoid embedding the ad code in excessive div tags or nested frames. Depending on your browser settings, implementing your ad code in this way might prevent ads from appearing correctly.
  
  
• Is JavaScript enabled in your browser? Ensure that you have JavaScript enabled in your browser, as this is necessary to view ads! If you're having trouble seeing the ads, please also check for any conflicting JavaScript on your site that might prevent ads from showing.
  
  
• Is your page dynamically generated? If you'd like to implement AdSense ads on a dynamically generated site -- for example, a site with session IDs or pages behind a login -- you should take a look at this Help Center entry for more information on how to receive targeted ads.

In the next part of this series, we'll provide tips to help you troubleshoot ad relevancy and targeting issues.

Posted by Ulrike Jung - Inside AdSense Team

Go Mobile! Series: Introducing click-to-call phone numbers in local ads on mobile devices

When people search for goods or services using their mobile phones, they often prefer to call a store rather than visit that store's website. Whether they're placing a direct order, making a reservation, or inquiring about services, the ability for prospective customers to easily call your business is a key distinguishing feature of searches made on mobile phones versus computers.

Now you can make it even easier for potential customers to reach you by adding a location-specific business phone number in ads that appear on mobile devices with full internet browsers. Users can click the number to call you just as easily as clicking to visit your website. And, since ads can be served based on user location, a potential customer will see -- and can click to call -- the phone number of your store location that's nearest to them, not one that's across town.

This new feature also makes it easier for you to fully measure the results of your ads by allowing you to track how many calls you actually receive.

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Advertisers who participated in the beta trial have seen improved click-through rates. Plus, many advertisers received more visits to their websites in addition to incremental phone calls.

To show a click-to-call business phone number in ads on mobile devices with full Internet browsers, follow these two steps:

1. Set up location extensions and add your business phone number. Customers will be able to click to call your business location nearest to them.

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2. Check that you've chosen to show your ads on iPhones and other mobile devices with full Internet browsers in your campaign settings.

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That's it. Customers can now click to call you from your ads. If your campaigns are already set up this way, your phone numbers will start showing as click-to-call on mobile devices with full browsers automatically. The cost of a click to call your business will be the same as the cost of a click to visit your website.

To find out how many calls you've received from your ads, go to the Campaign Summary tab in your AdWords account. Click the "Filter and views" dropdown (step 1 in the screenshot below) and select "Segment by", then "Click Type" (steps 2, 3). The report shows how many clicks and how many calls you received (step 4). You can view calls received at the campaign, ad group or keyword level.

(click for full size image)

If your campaigns are already set up with phone numbers in location extensions and opted in to mobile devices with full browsers, but you'd prefer to opt-out out of click-to-call, simply remove the phone number from your location extensions in AdWords.

Check out how click-to-call works in our latest Mobile (Ad)itude video below, or visit the AdWords Help Center to learn more.

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew

Concerning the iPad

Concerning the iPad, Mr. G writes:

If you have $500 to burn, feel free, but realize that you are a beta tester. That hasn't been talked about enough in the 24 hours since the announcement. This is Apple's MO. I know. I have a $400 first-gen iPhone in my pocket. It only took Apple two more generations of the iPhone to come out with what should have been the first product. I'm typing this on a 1,1 MacBook. Within months of buying this MacBook they threw the dual core processor's in that should have been there in the first place.

When iPad 2.0 comes out with it's video camera and multitasking, I'll have my tongue wagging to grab one. Until then I will be staying far, far away. I've learned my lesson with Apple's first-generation products.

As a long-time Apple user, (though one who's also got a soft-spot for Linux), I totally concur. Buying a first generation Apple product is always a dicey investment.

But once their products set into the stride of second and third generations? Well... that's just a whole other kettle of fish. Which is why I think the big subtext to the Apple story from yesterday is next-gen iTunes going cloud-based and the coming 2010 iPhone.

My greatest interest in the iPad itself is what it means in terms of leading to a race to replace paper media with legitimately easy-to-read digital alternatives. That and the rather concerning notion of a single corporation (via iBooks) owning both the media and the device to read and buy the media. In a sense, the iPad experiment, like the iPod, is focused on the realignment of channels of distribution. If ipad wins, it will alter not just the few mom-and-pop bookstores left (they might actually become specialty shops for non-digitally-available media), but could shake up (or shake down) the Amazons, Borders, and B&Ns of the world.

As I said in yesterday's post (as well as in the comments), I see the potential of the iPad (or some similar device) as instigating a movement towards communal computing. That is, a device sitting on the coffee table at the dentist's office or a device I find lying on my pillow when I check into my hotel room. I don't own the device, but rather can use it to access the web and all my stuff.

From the looks of it, the iPad's absolute best use is reading text on the Web. That's been the bane of so many folks who insist on paper, so by combining touchscreens with a larger portable device, Apple can only up the ante for other companies to produce better alternatives to paper books. On this front, a part of me wonders if the first iPhones were just a test to see if folks would go for that sort of interface. Because familiarity with the iPhone has totally set up a swath of the culture now to be perfectly attuned to use the ipad.

Furthermore, I understand the frustrations folks are expressing: no Flash, no phone (barring Skype... maybe?), no multi-tasking, no camera, no audio/video production suite. But again, this is just the beginning. I'm not saying that Apple will (or deserves to) rule the media landscape, but I see this as one of several steps -- throughout culture and across media and consumer outlets -- in taking the act of reading to a paperless place.

As for all of those folks on the tech blogs, (and especially in the comments, jeez... I'm so glad we have 'mature' readers commenting on this blog -- kudos to you), there's been a lot of complaint that this thing is just gonna sell on sex appeal. Well, guess what?

Design matters.

It matters to adults and kids alike. And I think where Apple is getting this right -- no matter what you think of the price (which I personally actually think is pretty reasonable despite the fact that I can't currently afford one... ehem!) and no matter what limitations the device provides for content creation in opposition to content consumption (though we are ultimately the producers of the Internet and we really don't have to rely on Apple's apps and way of doing things with their device just because they want us to) and despite all of the various problems and threats this device holds, it has one advantage over every device I've ever seen meant to provide for reading on the web: it makes you want to use it.

And if we can figure out a way to get these things into the hands of kids who don't like books (boring) and who don't like reading online (headache) we might be able to make the reading experience attractive. I understand that that may seem totally counter-intuitive to any of us who grew up curled around books. But I've got three kids of my own: two of them love books. The other? Not so much. But put him on a computer and he'll read anything. To us, counter-intuitive; to him, not so much.

You should have seen his eyes light up when he caught a glimpse of the web promo of this thing.

Now, what's it all mean?

First of all, the iPad is not -- nor do I think is it meant to be -- a do-everything device. At least in it's initial form, it's a really rad e-reader. And I mean that sincerely. I've read on the Kindle. The Kindle sucks. I feel like I'm stepping back in time when I read on the Kindle. And not in a good way. More like in a creepy way like when you see a movie you thought was funny as a kid and now, seeing it again by chance, you don't find any humor in it.

Second, I love the idea of everything going on the cloud. But I think right now is the time to demand an inclusive method of distribution so that small publishers, independent authors, and alt media outlets aren't excluded. I'll be impressed when I see Apple open up its system to authors regardless of saleability. And yes, I realize that's total idealism.

Third, any business with a waiting room should do us all a favor and buy a couple of these things. Cancel your magazine subscriptions and let us access our own stuff while sitting around waiting for the root canal.

Fourth, obviously Apple wants to make this thing as ubiquitous as possible. That's the reason for the $499 entry tag. That's also why this thing doesn't have the camera or the multi-tasking or the...

It's about creating a market. And I think it's an interesting experiment. That market is not schools (at least not yet), it's folks who can drop a few Franklins, like great design, and like to read. I know quite a few people like that.

Fifth, this thing ain't (as I've read so much over the last 24 hours) a big iPod Touch. This thing is an experiment in whether Apple can get people either to change the way they read or make the reading experience more pleasurable. And of course capitalize on that in big dollars.

Sixth, I think this whole thing represents something a lot bigger than Apple. I have no stake in the company, but as a teacher and a human-being I do have a stake in the future of the written/printed/digitized word. I recognize that the iPad can't do half the things I use a 'real' computer for (recording and mixing heavy-duty audio, playing video-heavy MMOGs), but I also recognize that that's not the purpose of the device. I'm interested in the outcome, despite whatever the product is; after all, the Google tablet is on the horizon (which may or may not be better for production) and who knows what personal projection and advances in augmented reality hold down the line.

So, I agree with Mr. G that this is basically a consumer device. Will the iPad and the iMac someday merge into a teacher-approved wonder device? Not today.

But will the iPad up the ante in e-readers and force any potential competitors to create devices that don't feel like they were built (and meant to work) in 1990? We'll see.

Hype or no hype, what we're considering here is whether we are going to let technology alter the way we relate to text. Hopefully in round two it'll be in a more interactive way. Can't wait.

Guest Blog: Creating A Space

Counselors are teachers, too!

Here in our second guest post of the day, Shelley Krause talks about EduCon. Shelley is Co-Director of College Counseling at Rutgers Preparatory School. Follow her on Twitter @butwait.


My work with young people locates me in a place full of longing and possibility. I work as a college counselor, and my students often find that the idea of leaving one community for another is fraught with emotion. Some students yearn for a kind of belonging they have yet to experience, while others crave the relief of relative anonymity. But none of them wants to feel alone, I think.

I watch and listen as my students try to imagine themselves into their unknown futures. Sometimes, I edit their questions in my mind. They ask, "What college can I get into?" and I hear, "Do I want to go to college?" The classic "What do I want to be when I grow up?" becomes, "Who do I want to be?" or even, "Do I have to grow up?"

But this kind of imaginary cut and paste results only in my altered version of their story, when what they need is the space to create more fully realized version of theirs.

***

I am heading off to EduCon2.2 this weekend after having missed last year's gathering due to illness. Several members of my school community attended a Building Learning Communities conference and came back raving about it, but I'm not sure I've managed to lure any of them to EduCon2.2.

"Why do you want to go?" someone in my school community asked me with an air of puzzlement. I think they were trying to figure out where I fit into this picture. I am not a classroom teacher. I am not a school leader. My job title does not have the word "technology" in it.

Part of my excitement about EduCon stems from a desire to define myself in terms of what I am rather than what I am not. I say to my students, "You be you." I ask them, "When are the times you've felt most fully alive?" I feel as though in reaching out in search of community, I am listening to my own counsel. I am discovering that I am a member of a school community who also wants to be be an active member of multiple learning communities.

Even if I haven't met a single one of the hundreds of EduCon2.2 attendees prior to this weekend, the lure of that community of learners has been a powerful one for me. Chris Lehmann and the SLA community have worked so hard, not only to share their learning, but to then create a space in which others can share theirs.

***

So I'm heading down to Philadelphia on Friday, unsure of what to expect and excited by the prospect of happily exploring a space so full of energy and possibility. In actively following the threads of my interest, I am trying to model what reaching out to connect with one's tribe looks like. And this spring, when a junior I'm working with lets on that he's both excited and nervous about the prospect of college, I'm going to smile and say, "Can you say a little more about that?" Trying to open up a space.

Failure to Produce Knowledgeable Corporate Designee for Depositions Results in Sanctions

In unfair business practices cases, as with most civil cases involving companies, partnerships or other organizations, a party frequently wants to take a deposition of someone designated by the organization to speak for it as to certain issues. Unfortunately, it is not unusual for counsel to depose one or more designated individuals only to find that they have not been adequately prepared to testify and possess little useful knowledge. Two recent opinions from the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Maryland suggest that such gamesmanship violates the requirements of the Rule and is sanctionable.

In the federal system these depositions are authorized by Rule 30(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Under that Rule a party may serve notice on an organization that it will depose a corporate designee and provide a list of topics to be covered in the deposition. The organization is obligated to produce an officer, director, managing agent or some other representative who consents to testify on its behalf regarding the enumerated topics. The term "organization" includes corporations, partnerships, LLCs, associations and governmental agencies or other entities.

In Humanscale Corp. v. Compx International, Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120197 (E.D.Va. December 24, 2009), click here, the district court examined the clear requirements of the Rule. "The corporation must make a good-faith effort to designate people with knowledge of the matter sought by the opposing party and to adequately prepare its representatives so that they may give complete, knowledgable, and nonevasive answers in deposition." Given that the individual speaks for the corporation, the duty to prepare goes beyond the actual knowledge of the individual to the knowledge of the company. Therefore, the Rule requires the company to prepare the designee to testify as to all matters known by or reasonably available to the company. That this may be burdensome and time consuming to the company does not excuse its failure to adequately prepare its designee. As the court noted, "... sanctions may be properly imposed against a corporation when its 30(b)(6) designee is unknowledgable of relevant facts and it fails to designate an available, knowledgable, and readily identifiable witness because such an 'appearance is, for all practical purposes, no appearance at all,'" quoting Resolution Trust Co. v. Southern Union Co. , 985 F.2d 196, 197 (5th Cir. 1993).

In Humanscale Corp., the court ordered the defandant to designate properly prepared witnesses to testify as to both financial and non-financial topics. It also directed the plaintiff to submit statements of attorneys' fees and costs incurred so that sanctions could be awarded.

Just last week, the District of Maryland in Weintraub v. Mental Health Authority of St. Mary's, Inc., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5131 (D. Md. January 22, 2010), addressed the Rule in the context of a defunct corporation. There the plaintiff had served a Rule 30(b)(6) notice on the defendant who sought a protective order given that the company was no longer in business and had no employees or authorized representatives. Counsel for the defendant conceded that he might be able to find a former director who could be deposed, but noted it was likely the individual would have no information related to the designated topics of interest. Nevertheless, the court ordered that the defendant designate an individual who could testify and cautioned that the company could not "throw up its hands" and designate an individual who was inadequately prepared.

Unfortunately for the defendant, counsel did not produce a fully informed deponent. In fairness, however, in his letter designating the individual, counsel informed opposing counsel that he was designating her "having been left essentially no alternative by the court," but acknowledged that he could not compel her to come to Maryland to be deposed. At her deposition, the designee could not testify meaningfully as to at least ten topics and repeatedly testified that no efforts to obtain such information had been undertaken.

The plaintiff filed a motion for sanctions which the court granted. Finding that the defendant had violated its prior order to produce a knowledgable deponent, the court held that the defendant's actions constituted bad faith. The court refused to give credence to the defendant's lack of control over the witness, finding that under the circumstances "Ms. Zoss was a poor choice to serve as the Rule 30(b)(6) designee." Fortunately for the defendant, the plaintiff also deposed the President of defendant's Board of Directors who was more knowledgable and defense counsel asked to treat his testimony as that of a corporate representative. Thus, the plaintiff was able to obtain much of the desired testimony. Because two depositions were required to obtain the information that should have been forthcoming in one, however, the court imposed modest sanctions. Given the tenor of the opinion, had the Board member not testified, it is proabable that the sanctions would have been more severe.

These cases should be cautionary tales to a litigant. The courts have been clear that an organization must produce knowledgable individuals to testify in response to a Rule 30(b)(6) notice even if the designee has no personal, first-hand knowledge. The law requires that they be well prepared to testify as to all topics for which they have been designated. Difficulties arising out of the organization's status or availability of knowledgable employees according to these cases will not excuse that obligation.

Guest Post: "I want to use technology as a method -- not has a cool activity."

Today we have two guest posts from folks in the TeachPaperless community! One of my absolute favorite things as a blogger is to be able to provide you all with the authentic voices of teachers making their own way through these digital times. I hope you enjoy reading these pieces as much as I enjoyed publishing them.

Heather Mason is a middle school teacher with 14 years experience in the Language Arts classroom but has only realized the power of technology in education recently. Follow her on Twitter @hrmason.


A confession before I start. The whole paperless thing kind of frightens me a bit. I was raised reading the comics on my dad’s lap, flipping through the pages of a journal and curling up with a paperback book. But one look at the papers stacked up mercilessly on my desk and I know there must be a better way.

When asked what I would want for technology if money was no object, my first thought wasn’t a new gadget or piece of hardware. They always seen to be outdated right after the PO is put in. Plus those tools often stay in the classroom.

As a writing teacher, I know that when kids write for me they are concerned with how many paragraphs do they need to get a good grade. But when they write for others, the grade no longer matters. They want to know how to make their writing good enough to pass peer inspection. Tech is no different. A tool that never leaves the classroom will only provide learning that stays in the classroom. I want something more.

In order to get more, though, we have to do a better job putting the tech into student hands, both at school and at home. Computers, and more specifically the internet, are now a ubiquitous part of our lives. The problem is they aren’t really a useful part of many students’ lives.

I know there is this myth of the digital native better able to communicate through electronic means that traditional ones. There is truth to that for some, but for many kids technology is only a new means to pass notes, and beyond their cell phone and MySpace/Facebook account, they have no experience in using technology to serve a purpose. Recently I told a few kids they could email me their presentations; only one knew how to add an attachment to an email. During parent conferences, many parents have confessed to getting rid of internet for safety concerns or monetary troubles. And recently I took a poll of my students and almost a quarter of them don’t text; some don’t even have cell phones. No new gadget in my classroom will overcome that.

I work in a system that supports technology, but doesn’t have the funding to fully realize its dream. There are two computer labs at my school: one for the business classroom, one in the media center, and one in its own room. I get to use one about once every two months or so, sometimes not even that much. That means that instead of making tech a key part of my class, it becomes a project… a unit that I have to plan specially for. And if we can’t finish in the two days I signed up for, well… students are out of luck unless they are already familiar with the tool we’re using and have access to a computer at home.

I’m not complaining, some schools don’t even have one lab. I have a doc cam and projector with cables strung across my floor like booby traps, but I know teachers who are still using the overhead out of necessity.

While I am happy with what I have, I want to use technology as a method -- not has a cool activity.

I want to teach students to manipulate many different forms of text. I want students to think of email and blogs as the main way to turn in papers, slide shows, photo essays, movies, whatever means of creating they choose, not as a thing for only the few special kids who happen to have internet and know how to use if effectively. I want to get them beyond passing notes. That’s where I see myself going over the next few years.

Meanwhile, I have a stack of papers to grade. Sigh.

In a day when everyone is talking Apple have a look at Google

Today is the day a half laptop, half smart-phone, all PR blitz shoved the State of the Union off the front page and sent Apple fan boys and girls running for their credit cards. The iPad has dominated the twitointerblogsphere all day. Desperately looking for a different angle on the story I was interested to look at the Google.com.au search results for "ipad". Below is a screen shot. Three very interesting things you can see from it.

1. Look at who is bidding on the term ipad. Two competing news outlets have bid on the term and are paying Google to drive traffic to news stories about the ipad. This is interesting first because I have not heard of a news company buying keywords before. Secondly the speed in which they put together the campaign. Presumably it was planned ahead of time and executed very early Sydney time.

2. Look at what is dominating the search results. The middle area is not links to two or three static websites. Instead there is a scrolling twitter feed updating every part second without the site having to refresh. True real time search integration. I saw this a few weeks ago for the first time with the "latest result" feed matching those search terms trending high on twitter. I like it but missing is the authority element to help determine which tweets/real time updates should be read.

3. Look at who is number one for search results and loving the traffic they are getting. Some South Australian property developer and owner of the ipad apartment complex in Adelaide is having the traffic day of the life as owners of ipad.com.au.

Take a look - screenshot below. Another change in the search industry hot on the heals of a hardware revolution.