The Final Countdown….

Dear Reader,

Here it is, the last day of Give Camp.   We have approximately 4 hours to finish up our work…  much like Celebrity Apprentice or Face Off! some of us are frantically coding and putting on the finishing touches of our work in the final 4 hours.  It’s been another crazy, while awesome adventure as always.  What is different than other years is engaging in this event in the shadow of the events of the Boston Marathon only a week past.  The impact on our non-profits and this event has been profound.   Profoundly good.   In addition to our technical work, we have raised funds for the victims of the bombing and for Sean Collier.   Catching Joy spearheaded creating cards for all the wonderful protection and support people of greater Boston.   Catching Joy’s growth as a non-profit has been skyrocketed this year with an overflowing of interest from children wanting to better the world and not knowing where to start or how.   They will be holding 26 special events during the coming year in anticipation of the next Marathon and in memorial of this last one.  Catching Joy’s entire impact will be on the very young children of the area and growing them into adults who know how to redirect the negative back to the positive.

There were two terrorists for those events.   Give Camp had 23 nonprofits + approximately 150 volunteers + many corporate sponsors.   Although the impact of the terrorists was profound, our impact will be greater.   I always tell my friends that this weekend is good for my soul.   It refreshes my humanity and reminds me of the beauty of the world around me.   No year has this ever been more true than now.

Related articles

• Red Cross runs ads on T to help with Marathon bombing stress (bizjournals.com)
• David Henneberry, Boston Boat Owner Who Spotted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Says He’s An ‘Incidental Hero’ (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)

 

GVNGTogether Meets Social Media

Dear Reader,

“A rising generation of younger donors and philanthropic leaders could bring new money to nonprofits and fresh energy to their boardrooms—if boards can overcome their current dysfunction enough to engage them.”  Rick Moyers, The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Each year at New England Give Camp I see the world through someone else’s eyes.   Seeing the world through the eyes of the next generation provides a view of the challenges of the new world for them.   Meggan Levene, the founder of GVNGTogether  is teaching me  how the spark of philanthropy is finding its future among the X and Y-gens.

In Meggan’s own words, “A few years ago, I was hearing the same things over and over again from my friends: ‘I want to make a charitable contribution but I can’t figure out which organization to donate to.’ ‘I don’t really give because it doesn’t seem like the small amount I can donate really makes a difference.’ ‘I wish I could find people who care about the same issues that I do.’  I realized my friends saw ‘giving back’ as much more than writing a check They wanted to use their knowledge, expertise and passion to make a difference, and they wanted a community of like-minded individuals to do it with.”  Meggan realized the collective community among her peers and GVNGTogether was born last year —  taking the I out of giving back!

This weekend will find our team giving Megan’s Website and Facebook pages a facelift to continue the cycle of giving back.

 

New England Give Camp 2013

Dear Reader, It is that time of year again!   Like a young kid eagerly preparing for Christmas I begin blogging non-stop about New England Give Camp and my  annual pilgrimage  to Cambridge.   Technical professionals began engaging in a weekend code-a-thon for non-profits and charities four years ago to utilize technology to positively impact the human condition.  I’m usually packed about a week in advance.   Last year, I had my train tickets purchased three months in advance.

A little over a month ago, I was at Microsoft’s NERD  on Memorial Drive renewing old acquaintances and anticipating this year’s Give Camp.  We could not have known the events that would unfold during this year’s Boston Marathon and in the week  to come.  While I was still in shock, I did not alter my plans at all.  I remind myself of several truths.  There are more of us at that collect these weekends than there were terrorists.   The collective positive impact of our weekends have had and will have a far greater reach than the destruction they did.  There are far more of us than there were of them.   And the criminals are not the only ones to learn new and creative ways to use technology.   The Boston Police have become a presence on Twitter.

More than just an annual event, New England Give Camp has become a much more personal statement.  New England Give Camp, for me, is a way to reclaim technology for the betterment of mankind.

Related articles

• At PodCamp Western Mass 5, it’s about relationships (byronmiller.typepad.com)
• Texas Based Microsoft Solutions Partner Rand Group Participates in Inaugural Cowtown Code Camp for Developers (virtual-strategy.com)

 

The Darkside of Technology

Dear Reader,

For all of our advancements, achievements, and accomplishments as a global community, we have yet to solve the problem of horrible abuse of technology.   The most ironic thing about the recent bombing and war waged in the streets of Boston is that it was accomplished with very simple technology.   No super-advanced heat-seeking missiles were launched at MIT.   It was accomplished with technology that could have been implemented in 1812.

The Boston Marathon is an annual celebration of the human spirit and human accomplishment that has lasted 117 years.  Born out of the beauty of the Olympic games of 1896, the Boston Marathon began as a local tradition and now attracts worldwide competitors.  The beauty of this worldwide unity seemed threatened with this weeks’ events.  Will the violent fringe become the victors?

Beauty comes in strength as well.   The strength of the marathon runners who completed 26 miles and then ran another 2 miles to donate blood.   The strength of the Bostonians singing the National Anthem.   The strength of Americans

who fought war on our soil during the War of 1812.  “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.”  Much like all of America watching on television with the Bostonians locked in their homes, Francis Scott Key, was locked up watching the bombing of Fort McHenry and unable to defend the country.   Last night; the concussion grenades, the police, and the gunfire echoed the return fire from Fort McHenry that gave courage that our patriots that were still there.   Our strength as Americans remains undiminished in 200 years.   We prevailed.  And this time, our superior technology limited the loss of life and the length of the battle.

The National Anthem As Sung By Boston. 

 

Related articles

• An empty metropolis: Bostonians share photos of deserted streets (usnews.nbcnews.com)
• Once a Bostonian, Always a Bostonian (jeanniepage.com)
• Video: MLB fans react to the capture of the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• President Obama Praises Capture Of Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect (huffingtonpost.com)
• March 3rd…. a long time ago, “The Star-Spangled Banner” becomes official (palookavillepost.com)
• Boston Marathon Video Tour – During The Race (boston.cbslocal.com)

 

Windows 8 Devil or Diva ?

Dear Reader,

Much like a strong, beautiful, ambitious woman Windows 8 is the subject of controversy.  Some call her the Devil others call her a Diva.   ( If you want to witness her in action on YouTube click HERE or on the screen shot. )

For me, my introduction to her came a week ago when I bought a new Laptop.  She is a real departure from the earlier incarnations of the Microsoft Operating System.   I was a bit cranky at first that I had to adjust to something so very different than my old, comfortable familiar Windows.   However, Within a couple hours I was navigating the new touch / app interface like an old Mac pro.   Oh, yes, you can use Windows 8 with a mouse or touchpad.

I was expecting to be switching to the old, familiar desktop very frequently.  I found Using Windows 8 Start App Screen to be incredibly intuitive.  Although the desktop is a touch from the Start Screen,  I’ve nearly dispensed with it already.  I would only need links to the machine utilities such as control panel, file directory, etc. from the Start Screen to make the transition complete.  I still think of the Start Apps as icons on the new desktop.   From a technical point of view they are not the same thing.   From a user standpoint, I think calling them icons is just as good as calling them apps.

In 30 years, I never adjusted to touchpads -  I always disabled mine and used a mouse.   With the ease of use of the new touch capability, I had actually dispensed with the mouse and the touchpad and was running independently of both within a day.  I began Googling for tips, tricks, and hidden features.   I found a really awesome feature!  I did not need to Google a beautifully professional shot for this blog.   I took the screen shot shown here  with one keystroke.   Win-PrtSc took a screen shot and saved it as a .png to a dedicated folder named “screenshots” in the “pictures” folder.

So, she is sleek and powerful…   what about functional?  All those apps when not in use automatically go into a suspended state and use no system resources at all –  no processor work and no memory.   Also, Windows 8 is aggressively defending against viruses utilizing such features as protecting areas of memory that should never be accessed by any program other than OS functions.

Can the Diva deliver when it comes to work?   So far so good.   Downloading images from the internet was ridiculous — one click and its done.   No  waiting…  not timing…  *poof* and its in your picture folder.  For the internet, some sites are not so “app-friendly”.   I switched to the traditional desktop and opened an IE browser and encountered no further problems.   Most websites perform surprisingly well in the new touch-screen / app environment.  I downloaded ESET (my virus protection)  and installed it with ease.   I was able to install Construct 2 with ease.   How do traditional programs run on Windows 8?  Awesome.  Windows 8 automatically created an “app” on the new desktop that opens the standard desktop and launches the application for you.

How about the acid test?   Open source programs?   True to form, open source is an awesome way to go, but requires a certain amount of tech savvy from the user.   I decided to download GIMP – the picture editing program and see what would happen that way.    The download was fine, running the installer from the Windows 8 IE App resulted in a virus threat that my antivirus caught.   I switched to the traditional desktop to access the download folder.  I deleted the offending installer and ran a separate copy I’d downloaded with success — no virus threats located.  The installer ran ok, then it was a matter of figuring out how to launch GIMP.   I was still in the traditional desktop and no icon was created.   I was fumbling around trying to find the executable.   I went into the folder option, got to the program files folder, did a search for GIMP, located the executable program in the bin folder (where it traditionally is) and launched the program by double clicking on it.  Success!   Then I went to the Start Screen where I found an app link to GIMP had been created.  I tapped it and it launched GIMP from the old desktop.  Oh, its running fine!

Back to my original question… Is Windows 8 a Devil or a Diva?  For me, she is a Diva.   The first of the next generation of technology acting as an emissary into our future.    “…  a true diva has dismissed that drama. A true diva’s heart is open, and she’s  ready to play by her own rules – rules that are gentle and kind.” – Jennifer Lewis

Related articles

• Will Windows 8.1 allow users to boot to desktop? (neowin.net)
• Why Windows 8 is the best Windows around (techathomeblog.wordpress.com)
• Microsoft Might Delay Windows 9 as Windows 8.2 Takes Shape (news.softpedia.com)
• Microsoft Surface and Windows 8: What You Need To Know (everydayfamily.com)
• FSF Says Close Windows 8 (i-programmer.info)
• Is Windows 8 Killing PC Sales (forbes.com)

 

Meet The New Regime : Crisis

Dear Reader,

Is technology the solution to all our problems?  We can do things faster, more efficient, and begin to get to other planets –  Mars for a start.

I’m at the start of my career using my education, doing well, and solving problems.  I do tech support.   Nothing is as rewarding as when someone calls overstressed and screaming because they can’t get work done and you save them from the malfunctioning equipment and get them back on track.   So what’s the problem?

Everything is a crisis.   And if you’re not careful, its your crisis too.  Everyone wants everything done IMMEDIATELY!!!   And the fact is that life doesn’t work that way.   What we’ve lost along the way of gaining technology is our character and our soul as people.   We’ve become overgrown brats instead of mature adults.  Stress management begins with each one of us as individuals.

• Mindset –  the way you think about life will determine your reaction and involvement to it.   The world existed long before you came along.   The entire human race does not depend on you alone.  Trust the process and just put the demands aside when your responsibilities are done.   Trust other people to be as capable as you are.
• Rest –  Get it !   Even if you are unable to take time to physically sleep, find ways to unplug from the chaos around you.
• Diet –  Huh?!?   What does diet have to do with stress?  A lot.   Curb the craving for sugar & caffeine.   You will regret it in the long run.   I eat a balanced diet, do not do repeated cups of coffee during the day and I’m not spiking my blood sugar.   A recent health analysis showed my blood pressure at 120/80 …  my blood sugar at 94 …my non-fasting total cholesterol at 238 and my HDL at 70 …. the nurse said “You’re a mover!  You don’t get cholesterol numbers like that without being active!”…
• Exercise –  It rejuvenates your energy, your moods, reduces stress … etc….

Ok, so I’m not giving the quick, easy answers that we all love.   But the fact is that life won’t work that way.   What kind of old person do you want to grow up to be?   Mean, cantankerous, loaded with avoidable health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre-cancerous?   Or long-lived, happy & healthy ?

 

The Virus That Ate Chicago!

Dear Reader,

I used to pat myself on the back…   I was an intelligent user of the internet!  No viruses for me!   I ran antivirus, didn’t download, didn’t visit online porn….   Until…..
It attacked from out of nowhere…   eating up my resources, my drivers, my operating system…   Ok evil enemy of users everywhere…  I’m technical and I can rid myself of this menace.   So…  I ran all my scanners and virus removal tools… to no avail!  This one was stubborn!   With my work schedule I did not have the time to fix this… so I finally admitted defeat and took my computer to a specialist… a friend of a friend… that kind of thing…   turns out I had a rootkit virus, which I kind of figured.

For those of you who don’t know, a rootkit virus attacks computers at the operating system level.   They put themselves on your computer at the lowest level and take over and do all kinds of horrible, awful, yucky things.   I had thought of just backing my information up and then reloading the operating system.   The problem with that was I had no way of knowing if I would also back up the virus and then reload that as well!

Plus I was hoping to save my existing system.   Dave (from D.A. Computer) dug in and removed the virus… ran in-depth scans to fix the computer and make sure it was ok, paid attention to his intuition when he knew something was still wrong, and fixed my computer!   Horay!

The moral of the story?   Run antivirus, don’t be an idiot, back up your system, and go to an expert when you need one…