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Friday, October 26, 2007

Techno Granny Cooks?

  • Quick SUPPOSEDLY HEALTHY recipes:

    Everyone asks me how I have time to do all I do and still run four pod casts and a blog.

    So I decided to let you know all that I do:

    Run an 11 room, 100 plus year old house with, as my grandson says, “at least ten things wrong with it that will take me two years to fix.”
    Raise a 13 year old grandson without a spouse.
    Serve on various boards and committees.
    Serve as 2007-2008 President of NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh (National Association of Women Business Owners)
    Speak publicly at least twice a month.
    Host four talk casts.
    Post on one social network and one blog, at least for now.
    Run Dreamweaver Marketing Associates as Creative Energy Officer
    Cook at least three times a week so that I don’t have to guiltily listen to two adult sons say, “Did mom, cook?”

    So I decided to do one thing that grandmothers are supposed to do—give out recipes.

    This is especially since a recent episode made me realize that I should be observing the fifth commandment subset which is “Thou Shalt Not Kill Thyself with Unhealthy Crap!”

    I make no claims for these recipes and they are NOT tested by the American Heart Association so if you are on a special doctor prescribed diet, please do not tell your doctor, “But Techno Granny said it was healthy.” I do NOT know; this is just what I think and what I am trying.


    Okay, this is what I made this AM, Vegetarian Fried Rice (that means no chicken stock that I know of, and a few additives in the interest of time, Remember I said that I am TRYING to eat healthy.)
    This is a quick fix recipe and took me twenty minutes from assembly of ingredients to tasting it. (Sorry I am Italian, I have to have a sauce dish full, about two ounces, as soon as it is done to make sure it is edible to everyone else.)

    3 cups of Thai Rice (buy this please any brand at some wholesale food store)
    5 cups of water
    Bring water and rice to a boil
    Simmer for ten minutes or until water is almost cooked up.

    In the meantime, thaw out some frozen pea pods. (I like the big bags of Schwann’s, I can use some and store some and besides the Schwann’s man has three kids to take care of.)

    Also cut up some roasted red peppers from a jar, be generous, we are making enough for a couple of days even with Hungry Men in residence.
    Okay, 1 cup and this time I used Salonika purchased at Penn Mac in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, a great place to get inexpensive ethnic delicacies, especially Mediterranean ones. Also a great place at 6:30 AM on Saturday mornings to make contact with the rest of the crazy people who don’t know how to sleep in.

    1 cup cut up roasted red peppers (If your name is Martha, you can roast them in the oven and put them in a brown bag and peel them after they cool—preferably but no longer on Techno Granny’s agenda)

    1 jar or 1 can of asparagus, cut bite size, put this in last as it is delicate and you don’t want it to disintegrate (okay, Martha, fresh steamed would have better consistency but so what!)

    1 ½ cut frozen corn (again Schwann’s, the guy is a peddler and so am I—use whatever you have handy if you miss the Schwann’s man)

    By now you should have run cold water on some Sugar snap peas (you can get great deals on these at any of the oriental stores in the Strip in Pittsburgh or the market area in your City) I use about 2 cups because it will help me from buying a Dove candy bar later.

    I package of Sun Bird Fried Rice Seasoning mix or whatever kind you like or can find on sale, (this is where the additives and maybe unhealthy stuff comes in but it is also where the quick comes in, your choice to find a cook book for the spices but then I am not guaranteeing the taste)

    Now you are supposed to scramble an egg or two into this mixture but I did not do that as I was going for vegetarian and my guys don’t miss it.


    Okay so all of this stuff gets mixed into a waterless greaseless pot, that seals in moisture. You will spend a hundred dollars or more on one like this, mine looks like a wok and has a glass lid and a death sentence if any of my guys use metal utensils in it and they know it.

    So you mix everything together and add, chili powder, garlic pepper, soy sauce and green chilies (I keep a small can of chopped ones that I drain and put the rest in a jar for the next dish that needs spiced up)

    I have not taken the time to measure these out for you—be creative. I just sprinkle a little of all over the top, taste it and if it needs more add it. You may have to do this a couple of times sot I will say:

    Chili powder, garlic pepper, soy sauce and green chilies to taste.
    Caution: do not overdo it at first, you can always add more but if it is too hot you will end up with your air conditioner on in January in Wisconsin or you will have to throw it out.

    Okay that’s it, as you noticed this is not necessarily salt free and I am making no dietary or medical claims.

    Okay so you want the recipe in real life form, I can do that:

    Techno Granny’s Supposedly Healthy Fired Rice

    3 cups of Thai Rice (buy this please any brand at some wholesale food store)
    5 cups of water
    Cook rice according to directions

    While rice is cooking:
    Thaw under cold water about two cups of sugar snap peas
    Chop 1 cup of roasted red peppers from jar
    Drain 1 15 oz can asparagus and chop to bite size if needed (add last)
    1 ½ cups frozen corn, run under cold water
    1 package Sun Bird Fried rice seasoning mix or other brand
    All these to taste:
    Soy sauce
    Chopped green chilies
    Chili powder
    Garlic pepper

    Instructions, read the blog again
    Special note: easy on the hot spices and soy sauce, taste frequently, teaspoon full only please

    For you non-Italians, try all in teaspoons full until you get it right. This recipe is NOT for beginner.
  • (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith 2007

Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Techno Granny Story

No, techno granny is not a bunch of "middle aged" women from Bulgaria dancing to Techno music as seen on My Space. Techno Granny is the host of a show designed to hi-light 21st Century Technology in the hopes that more people will use it. Tecno Granny's slogan is, "If I can do it, you can do it." This blog is a bonified sign that I can do it.

Understand that less than five years ago, the best I could do is turn on the computer, search a few web sites and check my e-mail. I was a total computer illiterate. Now I just consider that my computer literacy is sub-standard because as I interview people on my show, I learn right along with my listeners.

I am here to give the non-technical generation hope. When my kids were growing up, it was "modern math" that we did not understand and now it is every other button that we are afraid to push for fear that we may open up pandora's box.

If you are a business owner, then you need to know about Free Conference Calling, Constant Contact, Search Engine Optimization, Blue Tooth Technlogy, Palm Pilots, E-Mail Etiquette.
If you are a parent or business owner you need to know about the dangers of My Space and Face Book and Blogspot but also the benefits. There will always be shady individuals out there who will distort something beneficial to their own perverted purposes, however we are not talking about them.

Protect yourself by all means but if you are not using some of this technology you will be marginalized out of the business arena or at the least will not be able to communicate with your kids or keep up with them.

Here's a funny technology story for you:
The Cell Phone

A young man wanted buy his mother something nice for her birthday. Mom is just a little older than me. So he decides to buy her a cell phone. He explains to her all the features on the phone. She is all excited; she loves her phone. The next day his mom is out shopping. Her phone rings and it's her son, "Hi mom," he says, "how do you like your new phone?" "I just love it, it's so small and your voice is clear as a bell but there's one thing I don't understand. How did you know I was at the supermarket?"
That was me probably ten years ago and I still feel it’s a good day when technology works.

That should not only make you laugh but give you hope that you can learn about technology too.

More on how Techno Granny got started next blog.
(c) Joanne Quinn-Smith 2007

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Techno Granny Show

Listen Live or log on to listen to archived show later.

Monday, October 22, 2007

“Techno Granny” Inspires “Techno Teen”

“Techno Granny” Inspires “Techno Teen”
Pittsburgh Talk Cast inspires Australian Teen Caster

Pittsburgh, October 22, 2007, “Techno Granny” is an internet talk cast broadcast run by 58 year old talk caster, Joanne Quinn-Smith and airs at 7 AM every Monday on the Talk Shoe network at http://www.talkshoe.com/. Joanne claims to be the only 58 year old pod caster in captivity with no less than four regular talk casts: “Techno Granny,” “Monday Morning Marketing,” “Professionals with Impact” and “Positively Pittsburgh Live.” Three of the shows air regularly on Monday. Joanne says, “I am a busy person and have just decided that this is my Talk Cast day.” Joanne is President of the National Association of Women Business Owners and recently addressed the NAWBO National conference about “Techno Granny.” She spoke about using pod casting to promote other chapters of NAWBO and also member’s own businesses which is how she uses her talk casts, to promote her business, Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.

“Techno Granny” is a show originally designed to bring baby boomers and beyond up to snuff with 21st Century technology. The need arose because most of her interviewees on “Positively Pittsburgh Live” were not conversant with how to access her show. So she started “Techno Granny” to let people know, “If I can do it, anyone can.”

To educate her generation may have been her goal, however at 7 AM; the originally targeted audience is either asleep or in gridlock on their way to work. A serendipitous phenomenon of the internet, you never know who is listening and in Sydney, Australia, it’s 9 PM. A young man named Ben Wilson stumbled on to “Techno Granny” around the tenth show and has used Techno Granny as homework entertainment ever since.

Ben Wilson is also a pod caster on Talk Shoe and has a following of his own and brought them with him to listen to Techno Granny. As a result the show has become popular in Australia with the 14 to 25 age group and at 7 AM, a grand group of youngsters from across the ocean log on to listen and participate.

Joanne says that often she gets advice from her informal “producers” who help her out with the multi-tasking of running an audio and chat show at the same time.

“Often these guys and gals are in the chat room talking about who knows what while I interview my guest for the week on the scheduled topic.”

Joanne says, “Recently Ben e-mailed me to see if I thought he could run a techno show like mine. I suggested he run it the day after mine for technology for teens and call it Techno Teen.” Ben had been running pod casts of his own but basically audio blogging. Thanks to stopping in to various shows on the internet and regularly listening to Techno Granny,” he has become conversant in interviewing guests and running his shows like a radio show.

So now, “Techno Teen” is a transoceanic offshoot of “Techno Granny.” Ben Wilson’s premier “Techno Teen” show will air at 7 AM, EDT, 9 PM in Australia, premiering on October 23, 2007. Joanne says, “Ben’s show will probably garner more live listeners because of the age group and the time slot, however Techno Granny gets a tremendous amount of downloads after the fact as all Talk Shoe shows are archived for listening later.” Also many people just love the name, “Techno Granny.”

Hi-Lights

58 year old pod caster with 4 Talk Casts
“Techno Granny” has transoceanic listeners—7AM EDT
“Techno Teen” a transoceanic show inspired by “Techno Granny” premier 10-23-07, 7 AM EDT
Australian Youth 14 to 25—Techno Granny fans
Listen to Techno Granny at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/30986
Listen to Positively Pittsburgh Live at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/18520
Listen to Professionals with Impact at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/33431
Listen to Monday Morning Marketing at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/33960
Website: http://www.pospittlive.ning.com/
Website coming: http://www.positivelypittsburghlivemagazine.com/
Some “Techno Granny” titles:

· Episode 7 - That Darned Cell Phone! GeorgeAnne Muchnok of Schooley Mitchell Telecom
· Episode 8 - Blue Tooth, is that a cavity? GeorgeAnne Muchnok of Schooley Mitchell
· Episode 9 - Text messaging--Are you talking to me?
Episode 10 - Quick Books--Quick Nothing if you don't know how?
Episode 11 - Palm Pilot's--Who’s Flying this Plane? Steve Montellese/Virtual Devices
Episode 12 - My Space--What are those kids talking about? Actress Sydney Chase
Episode 13 - Blogging?--a Country Dance? Kirsten Womack/Immackulate Impressions
Episode 15 - Live Chat--where can I hear it? Ben Wilson, Comedian
Episode 16 - What's a Google? Joe Rinehart; Config.com
Episode 18 -On Line Magazine--Where's the Paper? Penny Haynes
Episode 19 -Emily Post--no Emily E-mail
Episode 20 Constant Contact--Contact Who? Kirsten Womak, Im-mack-ulateImpressions
Episode 21 - GPS and On Star--but honey, I'm not lost! Patty Jennings, #! Cochran, Monroeville
(c) Joanne Quinn-Smith 2007