Techno Granny, Using the Internet to Get Across Your Political Point

Techno Granny, Using the Internet to Get Across Your Political Point

Time: 04/26/2010 07:00 AM EDT
Listen to archive on TechnoGranny's Syndicated Channel at PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com at: http://pplmag.com/
 or at: http://tinyurl.com/PosPittsburgh

Episode Notes: TechnoGranny scoops a brand new TalkShoe, Internt Radio Show "APoliticalPoint.com".......... - The Point is...... For anyone who knows them, this is going to be a good one. Pittsburgh Co-Hosts and Coro Alumni JoAnn Forrester and Scott Kerschbaumer will talk about the preview of their upcoming show. APoliticalPoint.com Talk Show and what a time to do this. With Primaries being held May 18th, JoAnn Forrester and Scott Kerschbaumer hope to engage some lively discussion on the inaugural episode and thereafter. Our current president used the internet on a political campaign very successfully. Is this the wave of the future?....... This show is scheduled to be something different. JoAnn from the Center-Left and Scott from the Center-Right invite you to join them to help decide with TechnoGranny, can TalkShoe survive two hosts from opposite sides of the fence? Tune in and let TechnoGranny know what you think at: info@technogrannyshow.com

My Bio


Scott Kerschbaumer is a serial entrepreneur who opened his first business while studying Musical Theatre at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Tx. In 1990 he opened his second nightclub outside Austin. In 1999 he married Hungarian model and skincare expert Eva Sztupka and in 2002 they built and opened ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Spa & Skincare which was named the "3rd Best Spa in America" in 2008. Scott has won numerous international awards for marketing and he is always looking for new methods to create and enhance brand awareness and drive profits. He has found success in generating significant customer response with micro, sometimes non-existent, budgets by formulating effective marketing campaigns that work because they make sense, have never been tried and demand an immediate customer response.



Scott believes that you can always make money (even now) but you will only make so many close friends. I ask you - which would you rather have?





Here are my two cents to start



1. there are lots of people and shows that talk about politics but there are few that try to talk about politics in a way that engages the common person. Most people are either too busy or feel so overwhelmed that they simply have pulled back and refuse to pay attention to the particulars.



The best example of this is a quote from one of my best, lifelong friend. He is an Ivy league graduate and holds a high position at a very large financial institution. His response to any attempt to involve him in a political discussion is "why should I bother as it doesn't affect me and I have no affect on the outcome"



2. Todays political machine is a huge beast that is growing exponentially. It is a beast with three heads. Democratic, Republican and Bureaucratic and it is ever hungry. A Political Point will try to help everyone understand the beast and provide the tools necessary to 1) live in harmony with the beast and 2) try to control the beast.



Scott Kerschbaumer

ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare

17 Brilliant Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15215

412-782-3888 www.esspa.com www.facebook.com/esspa www.twitter.com/SpaPR www.ekohealthdrink.com www.spasilver.info www.2010k.com



In a message dated 4/25/2010 10:28:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, selfimagebz@aol.com writes:

Hi lady...good description. Here is what I see as good talking points.



1. The goal of the show...two different views..each one designed to get people thinking, talking and actiing...instead of just complaining.



2. Our backgrounds...both long time business owners who have taken a strong interest in politics. I have worked on a number of campaigns from poll watcher, to campaign treasurer.



3. How we met...the Coro program. What that program is...and how we had mock elections...



4. The growing use of technology to involve and influence people.



5. The upcoming election



JoAnn R. Forrester

"Empress of Biz" TalkCast Host

S. I. Business Associates

Price it Perfect

Celebrate & Share Women of Achievement

NAWBO Board member & Past President

SBA PA Woman Business Champion 2000/1989

PA Best 50 Women in Business 1999

Office: 412-440-6969

Cell: 412-670-4322




Here is the chat content that this show inspired.  Portents of things to come?



[7:00:29 AM] ESSpaKozmetika is logged into the chat


[7:00:29 AM] EmpressofBiz is on the call

[7:00:42 AM] ESSpaKozmetika is on the call

[7:06:05 AM] Wecome guests

[7:07:26 AM] ehis is logged into the chat
[7:16:21 AM] Welcome Guests

[7:17:32 AM] Guest speaking Scott Kerschbaumer owner of Esspa Kozmetika and co-host of APoliticalPoint.com

[7:19:59 AM] http://spa101.com

[7:20:05 AM] Guest 6 is logged into the chat

[7:20:15 AM] Guest 6 has left the chat

[7:21:56 AM] Guest 7 is logged into the chat

[7:24:02 AM] Speaking Jo Ann F orrester, host Empress of Biz, co host of new show, A PoliticalPoint.com

[7:25:57 AM] Guest 5 has left the chat

[7:26:27 AM] Guests, what part of the world are you in???

[7:27:21 AM] Scott Kerschbaumer http://esspa.com

[7:28:24 AM] It is a sad time in our American History that our education system is not wholesome and robust as it ought to be! Sunita

[7:29:57 AM] Guest 8 is logged into the chat

[7:31:57 AM] It is good to lean to Libertarianism as we are getting into a state of entitlement which is very upsetting as it affects growth in business!

[7:32:36 AM] We fire teachers that don't produce real results and yes lets fire the parents also

[7:33:17 AM] I never understood how any woman could be attracted to join the Republican party. It is primarilly an old boys club, that uses hot button issues

[7:33:50 AM] Guest 8 I am a republican because I believe in personal responsiblity

[7:34:33 AM] The military support is most strongly supported by well known spokespeople who never served themselves.
[7:35:21 AM] The democratic party right now believes in entitlements a little too much without pressing for the personal responsibility part of life!

[7:35:32 AM] The opposition to the "government" education system is from people who have not successfully completed their own education.

[7:36:06 AM] The opposition to the "government" health care is from people who do not have to worry about doing without it because they have been able to

[7:36:07 AM] Guest 8 I am one course short of a masters degree so I am not sure where you get your information

[7:36:30 AM] to guest as someone who always attended private schools I am now sending my son to public school

[7:36:39 AM] capitalize on the ginning up of angry citizens in a way to provide for their financial support.

[7:37:25 AM] Guest 8 I pay for personally an expensive healthcare policy because i will not allow my 28 year old son to ecome a 'ward of the state' thank you...

[7:37:55 AM] He has severe Cerebral Palsy and Mental Retardation so please do not argue with me about this topic

[7:38:11 AM] If you follow the talking heads, who are the mouthpiece for the opposition to anything that needs to be done to solve real problems we have,

[7:38:46 AM] then you not only do not add to the solving of those problems, but also delay those solutions for our children.

[7:39:36 AM] If we want to advocate for opposition to action just for the sake of opposition, then it is just obstruction, and not useful input toward the solution

[7:40:33 AM] Guest 8 I feel from our conversation that you need a course on economics 101...

[7:40:41 AM] And that is what the Republican party is. Oppostion with little to offer as far as answers or solutions, just a commitment to opposing those who do.

[7:41:22 AM] ehis has left the chat

[7:41:43 AM] Guest 8 when your lovely party passes the VAT tax, everything you buy will cost you 17% more and I guess that is great to spend more

[7:42:09 AM] Economics 101 does not support awarding no bid contracts to financial interests of Dick Cheney etc., and starting needless wars costing us $trillions

[7:42:54 AM] in dollars and the precious lives and limbs of our greatest resource, which is the life and health of our young people.

[7:42:59 AM] Guest 8 that topic simply means that we as citizens are not doing our jobs and facing our responsibilities of demanding change

[7:43:14 AM] Change is needed in basic government policy

[7:43:26 AM] transparency is a joke in government

[7:43:37 AM] Not squandering their gifts because of misguided leadership from those who did not serve themselves.

[7:44:09 AM] guest eight) BOTH sides are a problem. What now have professional politicians and until we get back to REAL people being in charge then problems ensue

[7:44:21 AM] Mr Obama has a charming demeanor while giving speeches but he has not impressed me with his ability to spend my children's

[7:44:35 AM] and my grandchildren's earnings in one year of government spending

[7:44:52 AM] should we not ask government red or blue to be fiscally responsible?

[7:45:09 AM] to conduct their job in a responsible fashion?

[7:45:24 AM] I am not 100% in the camp of Democrats, they are flawed for sure. Unfortunately, our two party system requires a choice between the least of 2 evils

[7:45:39 AM] agreed

[7:45:58 AM] you got that right dear we agree there but you know we are a stronger nation when we depend on ourselves more than the government

[7:46:27 AM] Yes I called Mr Altmires office to complain!

[7:46:39 AM] So Democrats are only to be trusted under the strongest eye to keep them on the straight and narrow. The Republicans have proven not to be trusted

[7:47:19 AM] Yes and I get to pay more than the majority in taxes and it is going up and up and no help in taking care of my handicapped son!!!! Is this fair?

[7:47:33 AM] under any circumstance, and they have not reformed their party at all by being the party of obstruction and loud oppostion to everything.

[7:47:45 AM] No party is to be trusted without transparency

[7:48:43 AM] The government is not the solution as a replacement for the private sector, but reality has shown us, that unchecked, private industry acts only

[7:48:57 AM] on a profit motive, and needs oversight.

[7:49:18 AM] Ofcourse the role of government is to protect our personal freedom without letting 'big wigs' trample all over us

[7:49:34 AM] guest eight - the profit motive results in hiring more people and larger paychecks and better products

[7:49:46 AM] Oh yes Joann you got lots of fodder for more talk shoe shows you owe guest 8 and me something!!11

[7:50:17 AM] That is the governments role. To provide guidance, "force" moral action by the private sector, is unfortunately, the only thing some business

[7:50:48 AM] interests understand as their responsibility to society, its citizens and our future generations.

[7:51:54 AM] That is why I believe government needs to spend more time on regulating the protection of the private citizen not reallocating wealth by taing me so

[7:52:01 AM] others can be tax free

[7:52:19 AM] If there was a way to convince the powers that be to play nice and understand their blessings and success comes with responsibility outside government

[7:52:31 AM] what we really need is a national sales tax accross the board flat rate of 7% with lowe income earners getting a monthly rebate

[7:53:20 AM] Powers at play are politicians usually of the lawyer kind and an overwhelming majority have never run a business

[7:53:29 AM] action, that would be the best course. But it doesn't happen because the influence of greed and personal gain is the reality we live with.

[7:53:55 AM] so maybe we need to require politiciams to have business experience before that can run for office

[7:54:05 AM] I agree, we have much in common. And that is the hope we share for our future.

[7:54:17 AM] Wait is Scott a blonde... or this is not going to work you know!!!

[7:54:44 AM] ok lets get you a wig!!!

[7:55:41 AM] It would be neat if you guys could track down the wealthy Americans that have fled the country already and find out how to get them to return home

[7:56:36 AM] Let them stay where they fled to, just return their resources back into the system for the benefit of the rest. lol

[7:56:40 AM] Guest 8 as a small business, Obama care is threatning my employess as the taxes increase it leaves less for me to spend on payroll my highest expense!

[7:57:00 AM] A mouthfull Joann

[7:57:43 AM] Health care has been, and would have continued to cost more, without any action. To characterize "Obamacare" as a reason for increase cost fails to

[7:57:59 AM] No Guest 8 we need them back here to conduct business, make more moeny to spend here on American made products to hire more people here

[7:58:17 AM] acknowledge that the cost would be at least as high without action. It is a false argument, ginned up by the talking heads.

[7:58:30 AM] Guest 8 come to my office and I will show you the affects of Obama Care already on a private practice

[7:58:40 AM] I will come with a wig for you

[7:59:19 AM] The opinion that the wealthy create jobs for the rest of us, and paying their share of taxes will cause them to sit on the sidelines is also false

[7:59:33 AM] Obama Care is causing Doctors to shorten their careers as they cannot justify working for pennies with more responsibilities

[7:59:49 AM] Guest 8 you need a lesson in basic business economics

[8:00:00 AM] Reality is, if they don't want the business, and the demand for those goods and services exists is just an opportunity for true entrepreneurs to enter

[8:00:22 AM] their own businesses, instead of being locked out by the good old boys club.

[8:00:29 AM] only if governmetn doesnt tax you out of business... why are profits evil?

[8:00:48 AM] wehn does this start?

[8:01:24 AM] first show is thurday may 13th at 10:30am

[8:01:26 AM] Scott when do start your lively discussions with Joann?

© 2010 Microsoft Privacy Terms of use

TechnoGrannyShow, 2-1-2010, Pricing Tactics for Technology and Internet Businesses

Jo Ann Forrester accepting one of her many awards from Steeler Mike Wagner at Make the Connection Awards 2006

Pricing for Technology

1. The pricing of a technology product service/ product still has all the basic components that any other business has to consider in paying attention to establishing a fair price including a return on the investment

2. Some of the factors involved in the start up and early stage development may be much more labor intensive and less on major equipment. Intellectual property is often long on development and short on time before for someone else comes up with a better product.

3. The value of the business is often hard to establish due to the lack of tangible assets. You have a new software product, but it is an unknown and it is unknown whether there is a market or not;

4. The over head of a technology company requires the same as others, advertising, insurance, employee costs, communication expenses, rent etc. Whether it is software, website, social networking, linked in, google they all have soft and hard costs that have to be accounted for.

5. Investors look for a very healthy return on their money and in a relatively short time.



JoAnn R. Forrester

"Empress of Biz" TalkCast Host

S. I. Business Associates

Price it Perfect

Celebrate & Share Women of Achievement

NAWBO Board member & Past President

SBA PA Woman Business Champion 2000/1989

PA Best 50 Women in Business 1999

Office: 412-440-6969

Cell: 412-670-4322

Listen to archived version of this show by date at:  http://pplmag.com/ on syndicated Pittsburgh Internet Radio and TV network, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com

TechnoGrannyShow, Do You Speak Geek? Volume 2

Title: Techno Granny, Do You Speak Geek? Volume 2
Time: 09/28/2009 07:00 AM EDT

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/TechnoGrannyShow
Episode Notes: Is there really a separate language used by geeks that those not so tech savvy might not understand? Well, yes and much of it has carried over into mainstream conversation at least in tech communities. Unless you want to seem passe and not so groovy, by the way a word not used probably extensively since the sixties, then you need to "get with the geek." There are actually very valuable websites to help you translate, Jargon for Business andTechnical Acronyms, Test Messages and also acronyms that you might want to know about if your kids are using them. For instance, the "word of the day" according to Net Lingo on 9-27 was beepilepsy-- The brief seizure people sometimes suffer when their beepers go off, especially in vibrator mode. Characterized by physical spasms, goofy facial expressions, and stopping speech in mid-sentence. So listen in and get updated with a little of what you didn't know you didn't know. EPISODE124 -

Most of the terms you will see here and hear on the show except for editorial comments by Techno Granny are borrowed from http://net.lingo.com/

404
I haven't a clue
Originally a technical term for Not Found 404 (which is an error message seen on a Web page to indicate a requested URL was not found on a server), in slang to say "404" is to imply someone is clueless, as in "There's no use asking him; he's 404, dude."

411
Information
Online jargon, also known as text message shorthand, used primarily in texting, online chat, instant messaging, email, blogs, and newsgroup postings, as in "Have you got the 411 on that?"

86
Out of, over, to get rid of, or kicked out
Online jargon, also known as text message shorthand, used primarily in texting, online chat, instant messaging, email, blogs, and newsgroup postings, these types of abbreviations are also referred to as chat acronyms.
The origin of this expression comes from the restaurant industry as it is the code on the computers to signify the restaurant has "run out of" a particular dish.

anime
(pronounced: ah-knee-may)
An artistic and sensual type of Japanese animation. On the Internet, one can find hundreds of superb anime Web sites.
back button
One of the buttons at the top of a Web browser. By clicking on it, you "go back" to the previous Web page. Sometimes, this feature does not work in frames, but besides that, it's one of the greatest inventions since e-mail.

bandwidth
The technical definition of "bandwidth" involves the difference between two frequencies and the amount of information that can flow through a channel, as expressed in cycles per second (hertz). It also refers to the range of frequencies (not the speed), or the measured amount of information, that can be transmitted over a connection: the higher the frequency, the higher the bandwidth and the greater the capacity of a channel to carry information. For a digital channel, bandwidth is defined in bits per second (bps). For an analog channel, it is dependent on the type and method of modulation used to encode the data. Broadcast TV channels, for example, all have the same bandwidth, by FCC rule.
In Web jargon, you may hear bandwidth described as the amount of time it takes for a Web page to fully load. Even though this notion is widely used, it is fundamentally incorrect. You will also hear bandwidth refer to the amount of traffic on a Web site, but again this is actually not accurate. One reason why these ideas proliferate is because Internet users refer to larger graphics as "bandwidth hogs," meaning they take up so much room that the download is very slow.
In real life, the term bandwidth has made it's way into mainstream slang. It is often heard around the office to describe tech exec's inability to think about or do multiple things at once, as in, "I don't have the bandwidth to deal with your request right now." If a person is described as having "low bandwidth," it means he or she is considered slow on the uptake ;-)
cookies

a.k.a. a cookie -or- cookie technology
A funny name for a noun that describes a small piece of information about you (about your computer, actually). It is a small file that a Web server automatically sends to your PC when you browse certain Web sites. Cookies are stored as text files on your hard drive so servers can access them when you return to Web sites you've visited before. Cookies contain information that identifies each user, for example: login or username, passwords, shopping cart information, preferences, and so on. When a user revisits a Web site, his or her computer automatically "serves up" the cookie, which establishes the user's identity, thus eliminating the need for the customer to reenter the information. Basically, the server needs to know this information in order for the Web site to work correctly, and the information is nothing more than a string of letters and numbers.
Cookies are commonly "handed out" when you, as a user, login to a Web site where you've registered a username and password. The server finds the cookie information on your computer, checks with its own information, and if they match, retrieves your file. You then have either a personalized version of a portal, or easy access to your online shopping account, for example.
Former Netscape programmer Lou Montulli is credited with inventing the cookie, and it is one of those useful technologies that make the Internet and e-commerce so exciting. For example, when you purchase airline tickets online, cookies ensure that you do not have to reenter multiple frequent flyer numbers each time you revisit a particular service provider (see: sticky content).
The term has morphed into a verb: "Don't worry about the backend tracking yet, we first have to cookie them." In the Internet industry, cookies are used by advertisers to track your browsing and buying habits. In this realm, cookie technology enables advertisers to target ad banners based on what you've said your interests are. Cookies allow Amazon.com, for example, to tailor its appearance to suit a user's established preferences. It's a double-edged sword for many people, because on the one hand, it's efficient and pertinent in that you only see ads about what you're interested in. On the other hand, it involves actually "tracking" and "following" where you go and what you click on (see: clickstreams).
As a responsible netizen, you need to know a few things, and one of them is how to delete your cookies when you don't think you'll use a particular Web site any longer. Another thing to realize is that even if you delete a cookie, the server still stores your information. So don't start signing up on every online form you come across (who knows what'll happen with all that information someday).

defrag
short for: defragmentation
To optimize your hard drive, usually with a program that "cleans it up" and makes it run as smoothly as possible. Slang usage implies some much needed R&R, as in, "I'm not going out tonight. I just want to have a quiet drink at home and defrag."

Google
Google, Inc.
Founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Stanford Ph.D. candidates who developed a technologically advanced method for finding information on the Internet, its most famous product is a hybrid search engine that ranks the popularity of results that match your keyword search. It has an index of billions of Web pages. Google focuses primarily on delivering the best search experience on the Web, by providing a search site and by licensing its search technology to commercial sites. Ultimately, Web sites are now allowed to freely using Google technology on their own sites, such as Google Local and Google Maps.
Like many great Internet terms, Google has morphed into many usages, including:
• "Did you Google him" - meaning did you run a search on a potential blind date, for example, to find out more about him;
• "I got Goog'ed" - meaning someone ran a search on you to find out more about you;
• "Have you Googled it" - meaning have you run a search on a product or item;
• "Google it" - meaning run a search on it.
However, using its name as a verb may impinge on trademark violations. The company believes that it's important to make the distinction between using the word Google to describe using Google to search the Internet, and using the word Google to describe searching the Internet. FYI: Google has become so popular that a couple in Sweden named their baby boy after Google. Oliver Google Kai was born on September 12, 2005 in Kalmar, Sweden.

hot spot
In the world of IT this term refers to places that have wireless Internet connections. Many national and local retailers, especially coffee shops, are adding wireless hot spots to provide the tech-savvy another reason to stop in and spend some money and some time.

morph or morphing
From the term "metamorphosis," it is to turn one thing into another. It most commonly refers to special effects morphing and it is the animated transformation of one image into another, by a gradual distortion of the first image. Certain points of the first image move to the position of corresponding points in the second image.
Popular culture has adopted the term "morph" to refer to anything that has changed from one thing to another. For example many terms in NetLingo, including this one, originally described a certain meaning, and later came to describe a new or additional meaning, (or a new grammatical way of using the term).
The term morph also refers to the technique spammers use when they alter the header of an e-mail to avoid anti-spam software.

navigate
The act of moving around the Web by clicking on hypertext links (or paths) that take you from one Web page to another. As you navigate, you move from one computer to another and from one server to another without realizing it.
Outside of the Coast Guard and the yacht club, never before has this term been so widely used. This is due in part to Netscape Navigator but also to the fact that humans are now thought to be "navigating" their way through life, careers, relationships, etc. because of more choices and opportunities.

PING or ping
Packet Internet Groper
(pronounced: "ping" as in the sound of a submarine's sonar)
Traditionally this term refers to an Internet program used to determine whether a specific IP address is accessible or online. It works by sending a packet to the specified address and waiting for a reply. PING (pronounced "ping" as in the game "ping pong") is used primarily to troubleshoot

Internet connections. In addition, PING reports how many hops are required to connect two Internet hosts. There are both freeware and shareware PING utilities available for PCs.
Like many great technology terms, this term has morphed into a different spelling and meaning. Seen in email or text messages as "ping me when you get a chance" (not written in ALL CAPS like the acronym) it is used as slang for getting someone's attention. Another example is, "They've decided to fund the project, so make sure you ping Phil to get him on board." To "ping" someone means to send him or her an email or a text message. This new usage has lasting power and is commonly heard everyday in high-tech companies.

plug-and-play
A standard for add-in hardware that requires it to identify itself on demand (see: hot plugging). Most computer systems are now designed to be plug-and-play, so that you can buy it, bring it home, plug it in, and start playing. This makes it easier for people who consider themselves computer illiterate to use a computer, because they don't need to install devices or configure drivers-it does most of the work for you. There's also something known as "plug-and-print," a behind-the-screens technology that improves the way printers and computers communicate.
Slang usage refers to a new employee who doesn't need training. For example, "The new girl is right on; she's totally plug-and-play."

robot
a.k.a. robo -or - bot
Traditionally, it's a device that can move and react to sensory input. Robots are widely used in factories to perform high-precision jobs, such as welding and riveting, and are also used in special situations that would otherwise be dangerous for humans (for example, cleaning toxic waste or defusing bombs). Robotics refers to the field of computer science and engineering concerned with creating robots; it is a branch of artificial intelligence.
The term was coined by Czech writer Karel Capek back in the 1920's, in R.U.R., a play about technology gone awry (it predicted that robots would ultimately destroy humans). The first commercial robot firm was founded in 1961 by Joe Engelberger. Today, Bill Joy co-founder of Sun Microsystems has worried aloud that 21st-century robotics and nanotechnology may become "so powerful that they can spawn whole new classes of accidents and abuses." "As machines become more intelligent, people will let machines make more of their decisions for them," Joy wrote in Wired magazine. "Eventually a stage may be reached at which the decisions necessary to keep the system running will be so complex that human beings will be incapable of making them intelligently. At that stage the machines will be in effective control."
The term "robot" has morphed to also refer to bots, which are automated programs used in several online functions.

spammin'
Slang for speaking aimlessly on a mishmash of topics, or to stuff someone's brain with information of questionable content. For example "This guy on AOL started spammin' me about Rush Limbaugh's superior intellect."

TechnoGrannyShow, AnnelieseRN, Caring4You.com, NCLEX Help

Anneliese Garrison

I have a associates in nursing from cumberland county college

I have a bachelor's degree from Stocton State College ( both in New Jersey )

I am a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant from the Vicki Milazzo Institute in Texas. This means I help lawyers decide whether they have a mal practice case or not when called upon.

But my passion lies with helping nursing students. My web site is caring4you.net and was established in 1997.

I also travel and do live seminars when I can.


My website got started because I failed my NCLEX Boards 2 times. You have to get a license to practice nursing after you graduate but you have to pass the nursing national exam then get a license. I failed this twice. Devastated with nowhere to turn to help me, I made a web site to help nursing students who were in the same boat as me.
The current passing rate for first time test takers is 90%
For repeat test takers it is 73%
Internationally trained nurses 43%

My website taps into the the quite a large number of canidates that to not pass the boards.

I started the site in 1997 free

in 2003 I started doing live seminars on how to pass the NCLEX

In 2005, I had a baby and put my seminars on audio for sale. As the years went by and since I am just a small entity, I have lowered the cost of my seminars especially now due to the economy.

Trying to find a cheap economical way to interact with my students online and sell my material at the same time, I found an interactive whiteboard type classroom called wiziq
http://caring4you.net/liveseminar.html

I also use talkshoe both of which are free but I have utilized them on my website to generate some income.


in 2003 I started doing live seminars on how to pass the NCLEX

In 2005, I had a baby and put my seminars on audio for sale. As the years went by and since I am just a small entity, I have lowered the cost of my seminars especially now due to the economy.


anneliese,RN
http://caring4you.net
healing the community by caring 4 you

TechnoGrannyShow, 7-27-09, E-Mail, Control the Clutter

Is your e-mail making you crazy? Is it just one more thing in your long line of to do lists that never gets caught up? Do you worry that you have ignored a really important invitation or some wonderful You-Tube video from your cousin Lacretia of your Aunt
Vicki playing the harmonica? I just did exactly that. I am so overwhelmed with e-mails from organizations that I belong to and Linked In and twitter followers and radio fans that when I have someone who consistently sends me just silly things that I would love to read but haven’t the time for.

Increasingly e-mail has become a business necessity and is used for myriad communications: updates on projects, business conference calls, confirming appointments and requests for business information.

Well don’t feel bad if you have just had a family faux pas like I did with Aunt Vicki’s harmonica. I had just gotten so overwhelmed that I began deleting thins that looked unimportant and I am usually especially wary of videos. I rarely watch them. They require opening and there has been so much hype about viruses in them. So I missed a precious family moment because I just started deleting things that was not apparently about an urgent family matter or was not business. Bad move! Just went to family reunion, heard my aunt, you guessed it, playing the harmonica. I commented that I never knew that she played and one of our cousins piped up accusingly, “Well I sent you a video!” Yikes. So you are not alone in worrying about deleting those unread e-mails without opening them.

Some things to remember:

E-mail addictive and time stealing. So set a certain time limit on e-mail reading and usage and stick to it. If you have 30, 60 or 90 minutes, make the best use of your time. Set a time or schedule other important activities, if they are on your calendar with timer alerts then you will have to leave the e-mail or suffer the consequences of getting behind in other projects. Remember E-mail Expands to fill time available so set a realistic amount of time and remember when you are adding something to your schedule, you probably have to reduce the time spent elsewhere or take something off your schedule.
Stick to your e-mail time limit, if you let it, it can consume your day and make your day unproductive.

Delete messages that are no longer relevant especially if they are three months old or older, probably no one cares at this point that you did not read them and they are no longer relevant anyway so reading them would be a waste of time. To help with this,
put e-mails into “To read” folders. These are folders that require nothing other than to read them. Add a date stamp on these folders, like September, 08 or July 09. If in six to twelve months you haven’t read them, do you think it’s safe to assume that you no longer need or want to? Schedule 30 minutes each week to purge everything you can and then you will see how uncluttered your e-mal will soon become.

Use different e-mail addresses for various things. I have one that I use for business, one for each of my radio shows that all are forwarded to my business e-mail. I also have one for family and friends and things that I subscribe to and I have another just for newsletters that I may go to for inspiration.

E-Mail Musts for organization, respect from others and to others.

1. Be sure to fill in the subject line with a concise descrition andyes ther are sometimes ongoing discussions that will e-mail track the discussion but each time you add something be sure to differentiate it in the subject line. For instance if you are giving a Project update, please add the name of project. Then if the response adds a clarification, Please marke it, Marketing Project Update, Clarification and continue this on as the e-mail dialogue may have several responses. You will appreciate this subject line clarification later when you have to search for the e-mail with answers and your recipient will appreciate it also. This will also help yout to get a quick reply and keep your e-mail from delted. Even though I sometimes make this error myself, I almost always feel like deleting an e-mail that has “no subject” in the title. If I know the sender I am careful not to do that as everyone slips up now and then, but to make it easier to find, I will forward it with appropriate title to myself and the sender.
2. There is nothing more frustrating than getting an e-mail that says, “yes” and since you sent out forty the day before, you have no idea what the respondent is saying “yes” to, especially if there server does not re-send all replies and previous copy and some do not. So cut and paste the part of the message you are responding to and it is also a good idea to make it a different color from the senders e-mail so that they can quickly differentiate your reply. This will save both of you time and energy.
3. Please check your spelling and grammar and what you have written before you send the e-mail, this helps prevent embarrassments, misunderstanding and miscommunications. It also makes you look more professional and readers will take your messages more seriously. Also if you are sending an attachment, check before you send to make sure attachment is there.
4. Virus detection is not just a must to protect your computer but also a must to avoid sending viruses to others. NOTHING more embarrassing than having to apologize for sending a virus or worm to someone, if you get the chance to apologize.
5. Long winded e-mails are not polite or stylish. If you must give a good deal of information, add an attachment or at least bullet point the information so that your reader will find it easier to manage. Always avoid ranting, negative posts and stay on the topic and be brief as much as possible. One topic per e-mail is always a good idea.
6. Carefully target those you are sending an e-mail to, Reply All is not always a good option unless you have considered all the recipients first. Also remember, if you don’t want an e-mail to get into other hands, then don’t send it. Sometimes even marking it private does not help. If it is negative about someone else, there is an irrefutable copy of what you said. OOPS!
7. Never reply to an e-mail when you are angry. A wuick response is never a good one. A good rule of themb is to wait for 24 hours and then reply when you are calmer or how about making a phone call when possible?
8. Always include an e-mail signature with your address and phone number, reply e-mail and any other information you think is helpful, like your twitter, linked in and Facebook information. This will help your readers to know who you are and establish your credibility.
9. Be careful of attachments. Make sure it is something that your reader will want and also make sure it is virus free. In my observation readers do not like to open attachments, it’s an additional step so if you want your e-mail read unless it is lengthy put the gist of it at least into the body of the e-mail, then you can add the lengthy attachment with a note for them to peruse if they still need additional information or add a website address which is often even better.
10. Always consider what your reader will think when they get your e-mail. Is it clear, is it polite, is it consise, is it professional and especially how would you feel or what would you think if you received it?


This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:
© Joanne Quinn-Smith, Techno Granny Show™ 2009,
Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15230, 412-628-5048
Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/TechnoGrannyShow
Or on its unique radio channel at:
http://tinyurl.com/pospittlivemag
Joanne Quinn-Smith is the Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and an expert on Web 2.0 Branding.
2009 SBA Small Business Journalist of the Year

TechnoGrannyShow, 25 Things to Hate About Facebook or Love with Joan Stewart, Publicity Hound

If you don’t have a penny to spend on advertising but you want the world to know about your product, service, cause or issue on Facebook, you’ll get lots of advice this morning.
Joan Stewart, also known as The Publicity Hound, will tell you how to use world’s largest social networking site to create a presence for yourself online, promote your expertise, and build your tribe.
Joan’s own promotion campaign started at age 10 when her hometown newspaper wrote a story about a blue ribbon she won for a 4-H sewing project at the Ohio State Fair. Today, she works as a media consultant and publishes her own print newsletter as well as a free on-line newsletter called The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week.
--Are there, indeed, 25 things you hate about Facebook?
You can find the video on YouTube.)
---What do you think are the top 3 or 4 most confusing things about Facebook, and can you help clear up the confusion for us?
Facebook URL
Where’s the Wall?
Limits to 5,000 friends, but no limit on fans
- --If so many people hate Facebook, why is it important for small business people to have a Facebook profile, or is it enough just to Twitter?
Instead of free offers, create a note with tips from your free offer.
---What’s the best way for people to promote their businesses on Facebook?
Creating Pages.)
Most small business owners are short on time. How much time do people need to spend each day on Facebook?
Be disciplined, update your status. Check Inbox.
---What’s the best kind of content to share on Facebook?
---What’s the best way to measure the return on investment?
---Do you have a special offer you can share with our listeners?
Special Offer for Techno Granny Listeners, Until July 29, 2009

½ off on Facebook Info Product if you mention Techno Granny Show, June 29, 2009. Call or e-mail only, Joan would love to connect with you.
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
Contact info: jstewart@publicityhound.com or 262-284-7451 or follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/joanstewart
This show is available archived at: http://tinyurl.com/TechnoGrannyShow or on its unique radio channel at: http://tinyurl.com/pospittlivemag

Techno Granny Show: Technologies that Teens Wouldn’t Know About, the Fifties

Blog 7-20-09, TG Show: Technologies that Teens Wouldn’t Know About, the Fifties

If you were born since 1989 your experience with science and technology is unique with respect to the speed and frequency of inventions and innovations. But it wasn't always that way. Things moved a little slower for most of the baby boomers especially those who were youngsters in the fifties.


The adolescents and teens of that area thought colored kitchen appliances and transistor radios, were a big deal. Aside from watching Star Trek which was science fiction we never anticipated the PC, cellphones, DVDs, flash drives or MP 3 players. It is often said that the science fiction of today is the science of tomorrow. We thought it was cool when 78 rpm (rotations per minute) records became 33s. We were astonished when records that they could be heard in stereo and 3 D movies were a rare treat that some mothers would not let us attend because they thought it would make us go blind at an early age.

Also just because something was an invention of the day did not mean that it readily trickled down to the average population. Initially it was probably too expensive for the workaday individual. It oten took time for prices to drop enough on an invention before the average person could afford it.

Here's a list of some of the major inventions and innovations of the Fifties that did not go main stream in the very beginning.

Between 1950 and 1954:

Zenith introduced "lazy bones" tuning. This was the first time that the channel changer was not called “Junior”. It could change all television stations from the comfort of your easy chair. It was a hand held device that plugged in to the TV.

Telephone Answering Machine was created by Bell Laboratories and Western Electric, very prominent companies who are not so prominent any more. As a matter of fact those were the only two brands of phones you could buy at one time. The first answering machines were as large as a man’s shoe box and office versions were sometimes larger.

The Eckert and Mauchly Computer Co. of Philadelphia (which was soon purchased by Remington Rand) sold the first commercial computer, the UNIVAC 1, to the U.S. Census Bureau. UNIVAC stands for Universal Automatic Computer.

Perhaps the most famous computer of the era was the ENIAC, a computer developed for the U.S. military during World War II. Other computers developed in the 1940s were mostly used by academia. But the UNIVAC I was the first computer to be widely used for commercial purposes - 46 machines were built, for about $1 million each.

Super glue was invented and it was touted as holding anything even a car weighing over two tons. Speaking of cars the American automobile manufacturer Chrysler Corporation introduces power steering., which they called Hydraguide. Until then you had to have some muscle to steer a car.


Mr. Potato Head was patented.

The original Mr. Potato Head toy consists entirely of pieces! We used a real potato for the body! The Mr. Potato Head toy is the first toy ever advertised on network TV.

Sony, a brand new Japanese company, introduced the first pocket-sized transistor radio Masaru Ibuka of Sony made profound improvements in techniques for manufacturing transistors, a new technology, and Sony was able to sell his radio more cheaply than any competitor.

This created a revolution! Now music was portable and just in time to play the soon to be introduced Rock and Roll.


The first 3-D movie was shown: Arch Oboler's Bwana Devil, starring Robert Stack. Movie studio executives worried that the new medium, television, would steal away their audiences. What was required was a hook to bring people back into the movie theatre. As the strippers sang in "Gypsy," you gotta have a gimmick.

Even though 3-D movies had been around as far back as 1922 and had lost favor, it was decided to try again. Arch Oboler's "Bwana Devil" started the 3-D craze of the Fifties. It premiered on Nov. 26, 1952 and starred Robert Stack, Barbara Britton and Nigel Bruce.

An African adventure film (A Lion in Your Lap, A Lady in Your Arms!) about man-eating lions which would jump off the screen at you, it made for pretty exciting watching when the process worked right. People were issued glasses which facilitated the 3-D effect.

Dr. Jonas Salk announced discovery of the vaccine for poliomyelitis
White Rose Redi-tea was s the world's first instant iced tea
Dow Chemical created Saran Wrap and women all over the world praised it while husbands cursed it for getting tangled.
TV color broadcasting began in 1953, but remember not everyone had color TV’s, a black and white then was often considered a luxurty.
1955 Zenith engineer Eugene Polley invented the "Flashmatic," which represented the industry's first wireless TV remote, now it no longer had to be plugged into the television and you could lose it in the couch.
The first home microwave ovens were manufactured by Tappan. They cost $1300 which really slowed sales!

1956

Secretary Bette Nesmith Graham got tired of retyping and invented "Mistake Out" later renamed, Liquid Paper

1957
Fortran (computer language) was invented
Velcro was patented by George de Mestral of Switzerland.
Eveready produces "AA" size alkaline batteries
The Hula Hoop was invented by Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin. HULA HOOP
Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin, founders of the Wham-O Company, were the architects of the biggest fad of all time - the hula hoop!

In 1957, they heard from an Australian tourist that in his home country, children twirled bamboo hoops around their waists in gym class. That’s how they got the idea for the hoola hoop.

They found a winner in such an item could be and began to manufacture one made of plastic, Marlex specifically, a lightweight but durable plastic then recently invented by Phillips Petroleum. With the price of oil today would they have taken off so rapidly?

The name "hula hoop" came from the Hawaiian dance its users seemed to imitate. Wham-O sold 25 million hula hoops in two months. Almost 100 million international orders followed. They were manufacturing 20,000 hoops a day at the peak of popularity.

Not all nations thought this was such a great idea. Japan banned the hoops thinking they might promote improprieties. The Soviet Union said the hula hoop was an example of the "emptiness of American culture." They always were a bunch of fuddy duddies until they started exporting exclusive brands of vodka.
Maybe this is not politically or historically correct but then most teenagers have no idea what the “cold war” was about anyway.

1959
Joseph-Armand Bombardier of Valcourt, Quebec, Canada patented the Ski-Doo, originally christened the Ski-Dog, but renamed because of a typographical error that Bombardier decided not to change. You know it today as a snowmobile.

Above statistics, compliments of: http://www.fiftiesweb.com/pop/inventions.htm
Additional asides by Techno Granny herself.


Techno Granny, Joanne Quinn-Smith and self named “Nanno Granny,” JoAnn Forrester discuss this and loads of other “technologies of the fifties” on the July 20th episode of the Techno Granny Show which can be heard at:

http://tinyurl.com/TechnoGrannyShow

© Joanne Quinn-Smith, host and producer, Techno Granny Show™ This blog may be produced with this by-line intact. Archived Techno Granny Shows™ are available at: http://tinyurl.com/TechnoGrannyShow and also at: http://tinyurl.com/pospittlivemag Blog at: http://technogrannyshow.blogspot.com

Techno Granny Show Notes, Technology Teenagers Don't Know About the Sixties

This show was originally broadcast live from TAlkShoe at 7 AM EDT on June 22, 2009. You can listen to the archived version at:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/30986

The Answering Machine

Kazuo Hashimoto Invents the Ansafone sold in the USA as an Automatic Telephone Answering Machine

Weather Satellite

The United States launches the first weather satellite, TIROS-1.

Chatty Cathy

First popular talking doll, spoke 11 random phrases at the pull of a string. The original voice was June Foray who also did the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel in the Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons

Chatty Cathy

First popular talking doll, spoke 11 random phrases at the pull of a string. The original voice was June Foray who also did the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel in the Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons

1960 Toys & Gadgets


The Brits successfully enter the American toy market with Legos.

Etch-a-Sketch

High tech toy writing and drawing instrument from France

More Gadgets


The Modem
Bell Telephone Laboratories invent the modem using the binary code patented by Jean-Emile Baudot in 1874.

The Laser
Theodore Maiman uses a synthetic ruby to build first true laser.

Teflon Non-sticking cookware goes on sale at Macy's in New York

The ATM
The Hologram
Heart Pacemaker
The Copy Machine

The Rank Xerox Standard 1385 copying machine went to market, Huge toner cartridges and took two men to carry at least.

The original See 'n Say required no batteries and was driven by pulling a string or lever. The most popular version of See 'n Say is probably the one entitled "The Farmer Says"


Mary Quant (far right) designs the Mini Skirt which appears in London and becomes the fashion statement of the 60's.


Operation - Invented by John Spinello. A battery-operated game testing hand-eye co-ordination. Made by Milton Bradley it is still in production.


Transistor Radios
In the sixties every teenager had to have a transistor radio. They were just like mobile phones are today - cheap, colourful and highly desirable. You could have music and news on the move. They were the passport to the modern world and showed that you were part of the "with it" generation. People in Third World countries would save hard to get one. Quality was often low, but you could not be part of the Swinging Sixties without one.
.
Phillips E3300 cassette tape recorder
This was the world's first cassette tape recorder. It came complete with a microphone so that you could record your own voice. The E3300 was a high quality and expensive product. I can testify to the quality since I still use one today

Samsonite Attache Case
In the sixties, the Samsonite Classic attaché case was one of the coolest business accessories out. It was definitely an attaché case and not a brief case. This case was carried by secret agents, including Michael Caine in "Funeral in Berlin" (1966) . No self respecting 60s executive could be without one.

Parker 61
This pen had a special capillary filling mechanism with no moving parts. You simply unscrewed the barrel and placed the filler upside down in an ink bottle and the ink soaked up. In practice they performed poorly and often clogged up. Go for a later model with a cartridge filler if you want a more usable pen.
Instant photography

The Polaroid Swinger provided instant pictures. You did not have to send them off to be developed. This camera was launched in 1966 in the UK. It must have been a hit at Christmas. The name was very much in keeping with the spirit of the decade. Photographs were only black and white, but then so was television. It also had a slot for flash cubes - remember those?

Bulova Accutron

They didn't have quartz watches in the sixties, although they did have electronic watches. The Bulova Accutron, which used a miniature tuning fork to regulate the movement, was one of the first. Some of the first models were made without the face so that salesmen could demonstrate the movement to customers. The idea was so cool that it caught on and Accutrons were sold without the face. These watches were known as "Space view". .



Money and Inflation 1960's

To provide an estimate of inflation we have given a guide to the value of $100 US Dollars for the first year in the decade to the equivalent in todays money
If you have $100 Converted from 1960 to 2005 it would be equivalent to $679.09 today

In 1960 a new house cost $12,700.00 and by 1969 was $15,500.00

In 1960 the average income per year was $5,315.00 and by 1969 was $8,540.00

In 1960 a gallon of gas was 25 cents and by 1969 was 35 cents

In 1960 the average cost of new car was $2,600.00 and by 1969 was $3,270.00



A few more prices from the 60's and how much things cost
Volkswagon beetle $1,769 From Car Prices in the 60's

Ford Mustang 2 door hardtop $2368

Misses Swinging Shifts Skirts $5.00 From Prices for clothes and fashions in the 60's

Oxford mens Shoes $12.95

Automatic Can Opener $8.88 From Electrical and Electronic Prices in the 60's


Cash Dispenser ----- 1969 Turkey by Luther Simjian
CCDs ----- 1969 USA Charge Coupled Device - to capture image
Communication Satellite ----- 1962 USA Telstar
Computer Mouse ----- 1964 USA by Douglas Engelbart
Fibre Optics ----- 1966 England by Charles Keo and George Hockham
Heart Pacemaker ----- 1960 USA by Wilson Greatbatch
Human Space Travel ----- 1961 Russia Yuri Gagarin - the first human in space
Hypertext ----- 1965 USA for linking text
Internet ----- 1969 USA US military
Kevlar ----- 1966 USA by Stephanie Kwolek
Laser ----- 1960 USA by Theodore Maiman
LEDs ----- 1962 USA Light Emitting Diodes - used for displays
Manned Moon Landing ----- 1969 USA Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin walk on Moon
Moon Landing ----- 1966 Russia Luna 9 lands softly on the Moon
Optical Disk ----- 1965 USA by James Russell - now Compact Disk CD / DVD History of Hifi and Music Players and Media
Portable Calculator ----- 1967 USA Texas Instruments
Space Docking ----- 1966 USA Gemini VIII docks with an orbiting satellite
Space Walk ----- 1965 Russia Aleksei Leonov - first person outside space vehicle
Tape Cassette ----- 1963 Netherlands
Venus Probe ----- 1962 USA Mariner 2 - the first planetary probe
Weather Satellite ----- 1960 USA Tiros I

History of Hi-Fi Music Players and Media

Before MP3s….before compact discs…even before cassette tapes….there was hi-fi. Short for “high fidelity,” this is the term given to a high-quality reproduction of sounds or images. With a hi-fi recording, the sound that is reproduced sounds much like the original sound or recording with no excess noise or sound distortion. Hi-fi technology was most popular during the 1960s and 1970s, but the background for it began in the 1920s with the production of microphones and other electronic amplification devices. After World War II, companies began making improvements in sound quality and recording equipment. As a result, the hi-fi technology was the preferred (and basically the only) method for recreating high-quality sound reproductions.

One of the first hi-fi recorders was a reel-to-reel machine. Developed during the early 1940s, the reel-to-reel machine created high-quality recordings with a much better fidelity than any other recording instrument. The technology for reel-to-reel machines was found after World War II. Based on technology from Germany, the reel-to-reel machine was used to create superior copies of recordings to distribute to the public. It basically used a magnetic recording tape that was wrapped around one reel with the end attached to an adjacent reel. As it recorded, the tape was wound onto the second reel. You can think of it is a large cassette tape, but with better sound quality.

As a leader in the recording industry, Bing Crosby helped to market the reel-to-reel machine as a popular means to create quality recordings of performances. The need for hi-fi also arose because of movies with sounds – “talkies.” Audiences wanted high-quality sound to be pumped through the speakers in the theater to help them have a pleasant movie experience. Even today, many people praise the sound quality of the reel-to-reel machine and its ability to produce high fidelity recordings. During the first few years when it was popular, a reel-to-reel machine could cost consumers between $200-400 and they can still be purchased for approximately that amount today because of their collectible nature.

The next major breakthrough in the hi-fi technology was the long-playing record. Although the 12-inch discs were created by Peter Goldmark in the late 1940s, their popularity did not take off until the mid-1950s. One of the major advantages of this product was that it was made of vinyl rather than the other materials that they were previously made with. As a result of using vinyl, the grooves in the record could be smaller which enabled manufacturers and record companies to put more music on one side of an album. With vinyl records, you could enjoy a half hour of music per side. The vinyl also recorded and produced a much richer and cleaner sound that its previous counterparts. For this reason, it was very popular among classical music fans who enjoyed the lack of scratches and other fuzzy noises with their listening enjoyment.

These new larger discs played at 33 1/3 RPMs (revolutions per minute) which also helped contain more material on each side. With its popularity, it has become the primary use for recording and listening to music in the 20th century. Even today, many popular musical acts release vinyl LPs for people who continue to enjoy this medium. Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy album in the late 1990s is just one of many examples of this. Throughout the 1960s, you could buy a vinyl LP for less than $2.00. Today, however, most of them cost over $10.00 and some could cost thousands depending on how rare it is.

Techno Granny, Graphic Designers, Artists or Marketers.

This show was originally aired on the Techno Granny Show on June 8, 2009 at 7 AM. Archived version is available at:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/30986 or on Techno Granny Show unique radio channel at: http://www.positivelypittsburghlivemagazine.com


Susan is a graduate of The School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration. In her early career, she worked as a graphic designer and art director for many major book publishing companies in New York such as, Penguin and Macmillan.
In 1994 Susan established her own company, Susan Newman Design, Inc. Her work has encompassed corporate identity, web design, posters, book design and more. Her clients range from new small businesses to large corporations and span the United States. Susan has received numerous awards from organizations and publications over the years and most recently in 2008 from GDUSA.


Talking points to be discussed on the “Techno Granny Radio Show” June 8th, 2009.

1- What is a graphic designer?

A graphic designer is an artist, problem solver, conceptual artist. Someone who designs both for themselves and for their clients.

Whether starting a new business or trying to separate a business from the competition, these clients need an identity. I listen to what my clients say in describing themselves and the mission of their business, I look at what other companies like them have done or look like, I try to get my clients to show me by example what they like as far as design, looking at logos, color schemes, websites or whatever samples they may want to show. I then take this information and conceptually I decide what seems right for them. I usually show them a few different concepts, changing it up. 98% of the time I am on target and they usually cannot understand how I am reading their minds as far as designing just what they wanted.


Sometimes someone comes to me with a website that has no design at all, just content, or sometimes a company has no site and needs one. These companies might have a logo and business cards, which gives me someplace to begin. What does that look like, do they also have a brochure? Some companies have nothing and we begin with creating a logo and their corporate identity, then we move on to a brochure, product packaging, perhaps a presskit folder, perhaps sell sheets, and then the website.


1A: The most exciting project so far?
A few years ago a colleague who teaches software to companies, some are publishers, came to me with a website assignment. At the time she wasn’t designing websites and asked me if I was interested in designing a site for Simon & Schuster, she would be the liaison between us. When she told me whom the site was for, I was so excited I couldn’t wait to begin. The site was for Barack Obama’s newest book, The Audacity of Hope. I knew then he would be our next President f the United States and was thrilled to have been able to design that site. The site has changed somewhat since he was elected.

1B: Design that made a difference with a company or product?
I was asked to join the board of advisors for Actors Shakespeare Company at NJCU last Fall. Since that time I have redesigned their logo, website and poster/signage for various productions, including The Three Musketeers, King Lear and Henry V. I negotiated a deal with NJ Transit to design and hang a 10 ft. banner in Hoboken Terminal for 35 days which dramatically changed the traffic to their website and helped sell more tickets as well as bring awareness to the theater company. I secured them a space as performers in the Everything Jersey City Festival which took place on May 16, 2009… they were the only theatrical performers and the buzz during and afterward was fantastic. I am now in the process of designing their next season’s brochures and will soon update their website with the new season’s schedule and build photo galleries of the past shows.


2 - What’s the difference between graphic design for books, magazines or other print marketing and websites/email marketing?

Designing for these two areas have some minor areas that are the same but mostly they are completely different. Something that’s printed has one face, one chance to capture someone’s attention. Imagine designing a book cover, which will be sitting amongst the shelves with many others in its category. What will make you choose one book over another, if it’s not an author that is famous? It will most likely be the cover that catches your eye that is pleasing or intriguing to you.

This explains the “concept” of design. Someone created that cover feeling that what they selected as far as the imagery, colors and the typeface was in their view representing a window into what that book is about, enough to get you to pick it up.

The “print” medium works in high resolution, 300-1200 dpi and the CMYK printing process, or flat Pantone (or other brands) colors, or both.

The web uses low resolution, 72 dpi and works in web colors and rgb.

When we think of websites, there is much more available to us. Audio, video, Flash animation, links, we have so much more to play with to attract attention, but here again people get overwhelmed by these options, and it takes a graphic designer to make sense of it all, not over use these things but to figure out ways to make everything work together so you’re not driving people away instead of gaining new customers.

Many websites scream for attention with either fast moving Flash animation or advertisements that are Flashing, look at me! They don’t realize that to some it’s annoying, and should be used minimally or moved off or down the homepage and into an advertising section.

When designing for the web one should always focus on the user. We must always remember that what matters most is that the site is pleasing to look at and the navigation, functionality is the key. If someone cannot find what they came for, they will leave and not return. So there are many areas to be considered, design, color palette, how much content, structure, and just using common sense.

3- Why use a graphic designer and not just design it themselves using templates, clipart or laying things out themselves?

It takes years of experience to understand how to listen to clients, gaining a window into what they’re saying and how that translates in a visual image for me… sifting through their copy, images, logos, and information and know just how best to represent them in print or on the web.

Just because someone has a computer, “Word” and perhaps “Photoshop” doesn’t mean they have any expertise in laying out information. Conceptualization comes from the creative, intuitive mind, processing the ingredients and coming up with “the right solution” for that client and no other.

This is why I hate the concept of templates. There are online companies who offer website templates, postcard and brochure templates, as if everyone just fits into a cookie shaped mold. Each client has their own unique idea, mission and business sense, and their print marketing and web presence should match that.


4- How do we pick one graphic designer over another, how are they different?

One more point I thought we could discuss is the challenge a businesses person might face when looking for a graphic designer. For example, I have many online profiles with portfolios, on styleapple, logolounge, guru, elance, and others. These are places where designers post their information and can look for new opportunities by responding to postings or clients can look through different profiles to find someone they may want to hire. So, if they are looking through these portfolios, what distinguishes one from another?

Well, first it may depend on the reviews other clients have written in, or how many samples they have up in their portfolio, or how many projects they have completed. Most important will be that they will look through the portfolio samples, at the work, and the style of that artist and they will know when a style matches what they might have in mind for themselves. They just see something that agrees with their aesthetic sense and it will follow through to their own project.


5- Keeping up with technology.

We could also touch on how a graphic designer and web designer must stay on top of software updates, stay tuned in to award shows, the latest news and trends.

Watching the news, reading the latest articles online, subscribing to various magazines, and keep the networking channels open to stay informed.



Also be sure to look at wikipedia on “graphic design” I found that page fascinating.

Thanks,

Susan Newman
Susan Newman Design inc.

Creative, award winning graphic and website design studio.

Jersey city, NJ 07307
Ph: 201-420-8205
http://www.susannewmandesign.com
Email: susan@susannewmandesign.com

Is Cuil Really Cool?

So I named this talkcast Episode 66—“Cuil, a better search engine or an old-fashioned pen!” That was before I found out that Cuil was pronounced Cool and was nothing like Benjamin Franklin’s quill that he used to write, I guess more than Ben Franklin’s quill pen is archaic, I think Techno Granny may be too because in this case I just don’t see the sense of one more search engine.

Cuil (pronounced "cool") is a search engine that organizes web pages by content and displays a paragraph with thumbnail pictures for many results. It claims to have a larger index than any other search engine, with about 120 billion web pages. It went live on July 28, 2008.

Cuil's privacy policy states that it does not store records of users’ search activity or IP addresses.
Cuil is managed and developed largely by former employees of Google: Anna Patterson, Russell Power and Louis Monier. The CEO and co-founder, Tom Costello, has worked for IBM and others. The company raised $33 million from venture capital firms including to start the business.
Paraphrased from Wikipedia

Cuil or "Cool" is not Cool as far as Techno Granny is concerned. It claims to use different rules that are more relevant to real search and not just popularity but that “sexy” Russian Lady in a babushka dancing to Techno Music is still beating me out with her videos. If it were not for being listed on Zimbio and Zencast, I would not even have come up in my first search of even the Techno Granny Show. My first search did not even pick up TalkShoe, come on or Montana?!? So the Techno Granny thing is not just sour grapes.

Videos outstrip podcasts anyday in search ranking, so how is Cuil different? Let’s see, the Russian sexy senior citizen has one video that has been downloaded 100,000 times and I have 63 podcasts. What’s that tell you about the power of video and Cuil, very cooly claims that their search goes by different rules. Don’t think so!


Positively Pittsburgh Live, very concise look at what you are looking at but Hacking Live also comes up with Positivley Pittsburgh Live.
TalkShoe, on the other hand had several shoe stores in my first search and nothing about an audio host that has millions of users.

Carl Weisbrad of WDSL Library was on the line so I checked him out, nothing and he’s also a pretty prolific guy with shows on two networks, Talk Shoe and Blogtalk Radio and he is also a master with RSS feeds. What are the new cool rules for Cuil?

From the Cuil website: “Rather than rely on superficial popularity metrics, Cuil searches for and ranks pages based on their content and relevance. When we find a page with your keywords, we stay on that page and analyze the rest of its content, its concepts, their inter-relationships and the page’s coherency.” Ah well, they did only just go live on July 28 and I am wrtiting this on August 4 so Techno Granny may soon eat her words.

But what did they spend 33 million dollars on. I did notice that by the end of the show the Search results looked a little better for Talk Shoe. Could they have used part of that money for Google Alerts Pro and “heard” me talking about them and gotten it together or am I just in the twi-light zone. The second on air search that I did on Talk Shoe, still had some shoe stores but had 5 references out of three columns about the REAL Shoe.

From the Cuil website: “Then we offer you helpful choices and suggestions until you find the page you want and that you know is out there. We believe that analyzing the Web rather than our users is a more useful approach, so we don’t collect data about you and your habits, lest we are tempted to peek.” Oh is that what they were doing, excuse me their internet crystal ball told them that a 58 year old granny didn’t want to buy shoes but wanted to check out a Podcasting site called Talk Shoe. Well, that’s what they would have one believe.

From the Cuil website: “Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge. For knowledge, ask Cuil.” Think they spent some of that 33 mil on a spiffy by-line from a Madison Avenue Ad Agency. No, they are nothing like Google, Ask or Yahoo!

Well you asked for it, before I did this show listeners were e-mailing me and calling me about how Cool it would be for Techno Granny to scoop Cuil, so I did and I may “hide” that podcast after a while but in the meantime, what in the world do Eco Shoes (walking Shoes), Wooden Shoe Books and Records, Ontario Shoe Travelers Association and a Shoe made of Garbage, Niki Trash Talk have to do with our beloved TalkShoe ?

By the way a recent article in PC Magazine agreed with me that many searches on rather common items such as States either yielded nothing or were irrelevant. Guess that’s what happens when you go to a party and the fun people haven’t arrived yet. If you leave early because no one is there, you could miss all the fun! So Techno Granny is going to go back and check it out after the party gets going a little better.

You can listen to the actual talkcast on this topic at:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/30986

Just in case I decide to claim this blog at some later date:
This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information: © Joanne Quinn-Smith, TEchno Granny Show 412-628-5048
Listen at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/30986
Blog: www.technogrannyshow.blogspot.com

Episode 65 How to Promote your Podcast with Rss Feeds--Breakfast or Lunch?

Just a podcast to get your feet wet on How To build your own RSS Feeds to promote your talkcast or podcast.

Biographical Information
Carl Weisbrod

________________________________________
~ Vita Abstract ~

Occupation: Psychotherapist, Author, Web-Based Consultant
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology,
Doctorate in Neurotechnology
Schools: Oregon State University; Southern Oregon College;
University of Wisconsin; Western Washington State College;
Williams Institute of Neurotechnology
Published: Structures Of Hypnotism; Conceptual Problem Solving;
Problem Solving Workbook; (refer to www.wdsLibrary.com for
additional titles)

Some of the things we talk about:
How to promote with RSS
RSS/XML
Feed Validator
Atom
RSS
Codes
From Wikipedia about the guy who pretty much made RSS happen:
Dave Winer (born May 2, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA) is an American software developer and entrepreneur in Berkeley, California. A pioneer in the areas of RSS (Really Simple Syndication)[1], XML-RPC, OPML, outliners, and the MetaWeblog API, he is also the author of Scripting News, one of the oldest weblogs, established in 1997.[2] [3], He is both an evangelist of RSS as "Really Simple Syndication" and the first to implement the feed "enclosure" feature, one of several necessary ingredients for podcasting at the time it first emerged[4].
Talkshoe profile for Carl Weisbrad


Our Guest Carl Weisbrad Info:

Screen Name: AskCarl
Email: wdslibrary@gmail.com
Website: http://www.wdslibrary.com
Overview: Refer To My Catalog: http://www.wdslibrary.com/CatalogNew.html
SHOWS: (1) ShoeString E-Commerce ID#5757 (2) The Website - Template or Do-It-Yourself? ID#17085 (3) The Essential RSS Feed ID#7249 (4) The Essential Website Catalog ID#7216 (5) E-Books: PDF or HTML? ID#7176 (6) Hypnotism, Mythology, & Esoteric Topics ID#7267 (7) LifeStyles of the Poor and Unknown ID#7265 Website: http://www.wdslibrary.com


Some of Carl’s messages that he uses to promote:

http://www.wdslibrary.com I'll help you with the foundation, the rest is up to you.. Check out the "WhatsNewToday" link and subscribe using the TalkShoe RSS Feed at the top of that webpage.

Episode 64, Techno Granny for President or How to Start Your Own Talkshoe Show

10 EASY STEPS TO START A TALK CAST ON TALK SHOE

1. Purchase microphone and head phones
2. Create Account at www.talkshoe.com
3. Create editorial calendar
4. Do a Test Call to check out how your sound will be and get familiar
5. Schedule Your First Episode
6. Invite and promote ( People join via phone, pc or listen on computer later)
7. Be prepared for commitment
8. Start a blog of the same name for your show notes and any additional blogs
9. Always plan your show
10. When you schedule a show, be sure to observe your start time and BE THERE!

Helpful Hints:

Check out my show blog for ideas: www.technogrannyshow.blogspot.com
You can also change this to a domain name that does not use blogspot in it.
Make sure that you add a widget from Talk Shoe for people who discover your blog and want to listen to your show.

Technical support: support@talkshoe.com

After you have some following, probably about twenty shows, start your own social network for your loyal listeners. This will give them an opportunity to comment on your show.

List on as many pod cast hosting sites as possible:
Here’s a list of popular Pod cast Directories.
iTunes,
Yahoo,
Podcast Pickle,
Blubrry,
Podcast Alley,
Digg,
Podcasting News,
Pod-Planet,
PodZinger,
Zencast,
Podcast.net,
Podcast Bunker,
AllPodcasts, etc.

Many Helpful Hints In “Host Lounge” on Talk Shoe, also you will receive periodic Talk Cast Invites where Hosts Share Strategies on a Talk Cast that will be archived but if you are live you can ask questions.





This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information: © Joanne Quinn-Smith, TEchno Granny Show 412-628-5048
Listen at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/30986
Blog: www.technogrannyshow.blogspot.com

Episode 61--Podcamp Pittsburgh

These are Melissa Sorg's notes from Episode 61 on Podcamp Pittsburgh which will be held in October of this year, 2008.

Name: Melissa Sorg
Education: BA English Literature; Thiel College
Profession: Paralegal

How did I get involved with PodCamp Pittsburgh: My husband, Michael
Sorg, does a podcast entitled the Wrestling Mayhem Show on Tuesday
nights at 8:00 p.m. He works as a video editor with Multimedia

Training Systems, and used to work with PodCamp Pittsburgh

host/creator Justin Kownacki. Mike attended the first PodCamp and
wanted to be part of the event planning. We started going to planning
meetings for PodCamp Pittsburgh. I tagged along with him to the
meetings. As I attended more meetings, I began to see the bigger
picture and started offering to help out where I could. I have since
become part of the PodCamp Pittsburgh community.

What do I do in the Social Media arena: I started an advice podcast
in 2006ish entitled the Missfit Advice Hour.

My husband was doing the

Mike had Wrestling Mayhem show and wanted to get me involved in my own way.
Our friends had always joked about how good my advice is, so we
started the Missfit Advice Hour. I took e-mail questions and qustions
via AOL Instant Messenger and answered them. When we were getting
ready to move into our new home, the Advice Hour took a back seat to
everything and fizzled away. I occasionally help my husband out with
the Wrestling Mayhem Show podcast/videocast that he does on Tuesday
nights. We (my husband and I) have discussed bringing the Missfit
Advice Hour back using some of the new media sources to assist with
the show.

It is presently in the organizational phase, and we've been
thinking about rolling it out in conjunction with PCPgh 3. I have an
online blog at rebelliousflaw.blogspot.com. I am on Twitter, Facebook
and MySpace. When I'm in an area where I have limited connectivity, I
find myself slightly freaking out because I'm unconnected!

PodCamp highlights:
- PodCamp is for people of all technological levels, from beginners to
intermediate to expert.
- People can find out more information at http://www.podcamppittsburgh.com
- Registration is open, and can be done through
http://www.podcamppittsburgh.com
- PodCamp will address how new media is useful to both individuals and
companies.
- PodCamp will address various facets of new media, including
blogging, vlogging, messaging, etc.

Epsidode 50—Techno Granny and Chat Friends from Pittsburgh and Australia on Open Source Technology and Free Software

Epsidode 50—Techno Granny and Chat Friends from Pittsburgh and Australia on Open Source Technology and Free Software

Once again my chat room saved me when a guest did not show up. Guest was to be Joe Polk of Pennsylvania Technology Assistance Program. Penn Tap. I am sure there was some technological difficulty that prevented him from joining me but chat listeners once again saved Techno Granny from a talkcaster’s worst fate—dead air time.

My Knights in shining armor: Travis Knight, from Pittsburgh, (no really his last name is Knight, I think, internet anonymity, you know.)
Ben Wilson, Teen Talkcaster from Sydney Australia and his publicist Rodger, also from Sydney Australia.

Below I have included the chat and also a link and list of Open Source Technology that you can use.

Travis> Wordpress
Ben Wilson: mozilla and firefox are same thing
technogranny: Mozilla, Firefox, Wordpress,
Travis: yep blog
Ben Wilson: I use wordpress and it rockes!
Travis: i do think so
Travis: Wordpress is very flexible
Travis: Has thousands of templates
Ben Wilson: http://wabw.blogspot.com
Ben Wilson: My blogger
Ben Wilson: and my wordpress:
Ben Wilson: http://popcultureplanet.wordpress.com
Ben Wilson: There are good differences but I love em both!
Ben Wilson: Over 1000 downloads overall this month!
Rodger: cool
Rodger: Here we go...steelers.
Ben Wilson: Here we go!
Ben Wilson: I have that song on my ipod.
Travis: They are going to the superbowl again
Travis: hopefully this year
Rodger: www.ning.com
Travis: I love Firefox
Travis: so many plugins and extensions available
Travis: one sec and i will put some in the chat
Ben Wilson: I Love flamedog too!
Rodger: tehe, flamedog
Rodger: Falmedog. what we call firefox
Travis: https://addons.mozilla.org
Ben Wilson: Go travis!
Travis: addblocking, color checkers, fire ftp, blogging for wordpress etc
Travis: Firefox is the decendent of the Netscape browser using what they call the
Gecko engine.
Ben Wilson: wow, this is going great!
Rodger: Yeah, joanne, you don't need carl or any guest
Travis: oddly enough, it was owned by AOL for a while then they spun it off and it thrived
since nothing AOL ever held has done well.
Ben Wilson: Travis the brain
Travis: yep
Rodger: Joanne's knight in shining armour.
Rodger: get it, his last name is knight!
Travis: I wanna visit Bondi Beach in Austrailia
Ben Wilson: Ich hasse deusch!
Rodger: Ya, nein meine freind.
Travis: Here is a nice listing of open source
Travis: http://www.opensourcewindows.org/
Rodger: WHOOOOOO!!!! VLC ROCKS!
Travis: audacity is great
Ben Wilson: Cool, gimp, paint, audacty!
Travis: Good night Austrailia, Good morning Pittsburgh.
Ben Wilson: Goodnight pittsburgh!


List of open source technology which can be found at:

http://www.opensourcewindows.org/

Web Browsing
Mozilla Firefox
The premier free, open-source browser. Tabs, pop-up blocking, themes, and extensions. Considered by many to be the world's best browser.


Video Player / Video Podcasting

Miro
Beautiful interface. Plays any video type (much more than windows media player). Subscribe to video RSS, download, and watch all in one. Torrent support. Search and download from YouTube and others.


IM - Instant Messaging

Pidgin
Connect to multiple IM accounts simultaneously in a single app, including: AOL IM, MSN, and Jabber.


E-mail

Mozilla Thunderbird
Powerful spam filtering, solid interface, and all the features you need.


RSS

RSSOwl
Solid cross-platform RSS client.

Peer-to-Peer Filesharing

Cabos
A simple, easy to use filesharing program. Gnutella network.

Gnucleus
A very good Gnutella search and download filesharing program.


Azureus
A powerful, but complicated BitTorrent client. So many features you'll lose your mind.


Video Playback

VLC
Plays more video files than most players: Quicktime, AVI, DIVX, OGG, and more. Pretty good interface.



MPlayer
Similar to VLC-- plays loads of video formats.


Media Player Classic
Compact, but powerful media player. Plays anything under the sun. No install necessary.


DVD Ripping / Video Conversion

Media Coder
Great tool for ripping CDs, DVDs, etc and converting between tons of video formats.


Word Processing / Office Suites

OpenOffice.org
Big, full featured suite of tools for word processing and spreadsheets. Compatible with and a free replacement for Microsoft Word documents. Also supports OpenDocument Format.


AbiWord
A word processor. Leaner and quicker than OpenOffice. Compatible with Microsoft Word documents and OpenDocument Format.


Podcasting

Juice
Solid podcasting client.


DVD Ripping

Handbrake
DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter.


Sound Recording

Audacity
Simple sound recording tool.

Graphics / Photo Editing

GIMP
Photo editing application that rivals Photoshop in features.


Paint.NET
Graphics editor with a very nice interface.

Inkscape
Vector graphics application.

FTP / SFTP

Filezilla
Excellent FTP program.


IRC

X-Chat 2
IRC client.

Episode 44--How to Raise Your on Line Visibility--Diane Corriette of Women Internet Marketers Alliance

Episode 44 How to Raise Your On Line Visibility with Diane Corriette of Women Internet Marketers Alliance

Diane Corriette runs the Women Internet Marketers alliance which is a collection of 3 businesses set up to support women who run an internet based business. The online magazine, social network and membership site offer women an opportunity to learn, share, connect and network. Diane is a mother of 3 children living in London England and a trained Life Coach and Master Practitioner of Neuro Lingustic Programming (NLP). Offline she spent her time reconnecting women to passion and purpose. Now Diane dedicates 100% of her time to building online businesses with user generated content and today she will provide us with 7 easy and low cost ways for women to raise their online visibility.

Major topic: What is user generated content and then we can take it from there.



7 easy and low cost ways for women to raise their online profile.



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