Google Earth app for iPhone

It's no secret I've loved my iPhone from the second I got it, and then again from the second after I got a new one. When Apple rolled out the Software Developers Kit for the "gifted" to write stand alone programs for the phone I was sure it would make the phone more enjoyable. I had no idea how much it would improve the experience.

When the 2.0 Apple software update was launched earlier this year and applications came online at iTunes it truly did transform my phone, and the way I use it. While the initial fun factor for my "2G" iPhone lasted much longer than expected, I had grown used to having what I still consider to be the best phone out there. I was ready for an upgrade!

The ability to download new applications, many of which are free from the iTunes store has turned my phone in to an entertainment hub. Games, news, web browsing, entertainment utilities are all fun and easy...oh yea and its a phone too!

Last night while perusing the top 50 free apps I came across and downloaded the Google Earth application. I use Google Earth on an almost daily basis, so the opportunity to have it, or something resembling it on my iPhone excited me. After a full day of using it, I can say that it far exceeded my expectations. Even on the Edge network it loads fast enough to be practical and this is no scaled down version, its the whole world-in your hand. Google has proven it is a master of writing programs for Apple's OS X. Within the app you can tilt the phone to change your vantage point, view terrain and quickly access Panoramio pictures. It immerses you in your surroundings arguably more than the real thing. While I'm on the subject of Google Earth, next time you are using it (not on your iPhone) type ctrl+alt+a...and enjoy!

Speaking of Google, it wasn't long after I bought my phone that I started hearing a lot about the upcoming Google phone and not long after that when the first Android compatible prototypes were being reviewed. From what I've seen and read about the G1 phone, I wasn't blown away, which is what I've come to expect for anything that Google touches. However, just like the app store has transformed the iPhone, Google's open source model will certainly transform the way we use our...well, we used to call them phones.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention the other free app I stumbled upon which has been extremely useful. The app is called Wikiamo and it is a utility that makes Wikipedia pages easy to read on the iPhone. As a daily user of Wikipedia, this is also something to be excited about.

140 days

The wait for my trip to Tanzania is half way over. It's close enough now that I need to start actually DOING things to get ready as opposed to just talk and think about what needs to be done.

I'm regularly tracking the costs of the flights. I realize I'm probably not going to see a significant drop in the airfare but I do want to be on alert in case there is a significant increase.

One of the reasons I have been so excited about this trip is the challenge of doing something totally on my own. It appears that a likely first test will be a very short layover in Amsterdam - a place I, of course, have never been. Assuming all goes well with that transfer, I'll arrive the night before I'm scheduled to meet someone in the former Tanzania capital. That means I'll either have to walk around the Dar es Salaam airport for 10 hours while trying not to look suspicious (not even sure that is possible) or trying to find transportation to a hotel.

I'm going to try to go in next Monday for shots and then perhaps begin the slow accumulation of the insane amount of supplies I'll need and start to think about how I'm going to fit it all in two bags.

Lynsi, the fantastic person that has been helping me from Global Volunteers sent me the link to a set of pictures from a previous team. It's certainly enough to make me think these next 140 days will pass by very slowly.

Every Coed's Dream Job

For most people, and, I'm convinced, every female with an undeclared major, at some point in time they decide that they are going to be a photographer. For guys it's to impress the girls by being different and for girls it's to think of themselves as creative. Regardless of the reasons, I too, at several points in my life, thought that photography was the thing for me.

For a time, the only thing separating me from a career as an astrophotgrapher, marrying my passion for astronomy with an interest in photography, was the lack of funds to purchase a CCD imager - something that, at the time, was a little hard to come by (like plutonium in 1955).

Prior to that I, like many other kids, loved to take pictures. I thought my pictures through and tried to compose meaningful images. When I was about 14 or so I came up with an idea for a series of pictures that to this day I still think, if done correctly, would make any art lover proud.

The idea is simple, really, and undoubtedly has been done before. I would go around and take pictures of old barns, particularly ones in disrepair or that had been damaged by storms or fires. I see these images in my head, high in contrast, gently rolling hills of harvested fields in the background, a rusty fence in the foreground to add some depth. I've composed so many of these images in my head and driven past so many great opportunities but I've never just gone out and TAKEN a series of pictures, I've never just DONE IT.

I've had my share of lame excuses. When I was 14 I was totally convinced that one of the first things I would do with my drivers license was to take my 35 mm Canon camera out to take the pics, but somehow, an interest in the fairer sex ended up taking precedence.

Once again I am going to go for it. I might not end up with the greatest images but at some point this weekend I am gonna go out, enjoy a nice drive around Washtenaw and Monroe Counties, visualize some images and take a roll or two of pictures.

Sounds like a nice way to welcome in the season.

The good old days

Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of WXYZ Channel 7 news in Detroit. To celebrate the event, what is widely regarded as the best newscast team in Detroit history; Bill Bonds (pictured), John Kelly and Marilyn Turner, were invited back to do the 7 o'clock news.

Now, I'm not old enough to remember John Kelly and Marilyn Turner on the news, but rather on their morning show, Kelly & Company. Seeing the two of them gave me one of those pseudo-deja vu moments where you suddenly have vivid memories of something you wouldn't have remembered had you not been reminded. I was reminded of mornings home from school or in the summer watching with my mom. Not because I liked the show, but because I watched whatever my mom watched.

But Bill Bonds, he, I've never forgotten. As a fan of voice actors and distinctive voices, his was one of the first that really struck me. Particularly in news broadcasts there is something very comforting about a familiar voice.

The three showed their age, and it was clear they weren't totally comfortable with everything that has changed since they were last together at broadcast house, but it was a very intriguing newscast.

Local news broadcasts have certainly changed in the last 15-20 years and that point was illustrated when the producers allowed the news to be broadcast just like the good old days, where the anchor could have an opinion and the news was brought to you in depth. It was in stark contrast to the broadcasts of today where unless it's a breaking news crisis, stories only take a minute, sometimes even less.

I heard a few interviews with Bill Bonds and he made it clear he wishes he'd made some different decisions in life and also hopes someone will give him another shot in the big chair. While I don't think that is very likely it sure was nice to be reunited with the "gang" I never even saw broadcast together.

Favorite Colors

You know, I've never been a big fan of red.

It's eerily close to the scarlet the buckeyes don on gameday.

Allegiances aside, it's an interesting experience to be a late 20's not-so-young anymore, not-so-urban anymore professional in this economic turbulence. Checking on the once robust retirement accounts dwindle 5% per day and trying to convince oneself that this is a long term buying opportunity is just the sort of counter intuitive learning experience somebody my age needs.

Money is really looking for something to do. As appealing as mattress stuffing might be, I'm convinced there's something better.

The question becomes, are we nearing the bottom in the market? Does any faith in equities remain or are we destined for a decade of gaining 2.6% on cd's and .2% in a savings account?

Eh screw it, buy some stock.

August Fever

For me, this weekend was the real turning point. Football season is close enough to smell. When you are as big a college football fan as I am, it really is tangible, you feel it, smell it, I've never tasted it before, maybe that means I have room to grow as a fan. The blazing summer days are winding down. On occasion the cool mornings have a crispness to them, reminiscent of fall.

I hate Winter, I hate to think about it coming and hate almost everything that reminds me it is on its way. Despite that, nothing beats a cool crisp Saturday morning. As long as I have college football to look forward to on Saturday, winter won't get to me.

This past weekend I attended Michigan Fan Day, a Michigan-palooza event where fans get to meet the players and coaches. I've never been particularly composed around famous or even relatively famous people. But good god, I shook like I had been standing outside in February in my underwear for a half hour when I was face to face with Coach Rodriguez.

I'm inviting some people over to watch the first game against Utah in two weeks. Until then I'm going to spend plenty of time on Mgoblog.com and soaking up all I can about the upcoming football season, but most importantly Michigan football!

A lot of people are talking about lowered expectations for this season in terms of wins and losses, a bit of a let down. I'm not so convinced however. What I can say is that the Michigan-Michigan State game this year promises to have a heck of a build up to it! I see Michigan doing well this year, of course, nothing could change that.

Tonight on the Big Ten Network they are showing Michigan's practice which gets my blood flowing even more.

More to come on Michigan football:)

Following Mugabe vs. Tsvangirai and the Last King of Scotland

Current events are not only interesting but an easy way to start conversations. In the US we don't get much exposure to international news compared to some of the local stories that get jammed down our throat. While stories like Natalee Holloway, and going way back in the day Michael Fay (remember? caning in Singapore) catch the national media attention, a lot of significant global stories simply don't get much attention. Especially if they don't directly involve Americans.

I'd like to recommend you start following one of the stories I have been following as of late, the election and run off in Zimbabwe between Robert Mugabe (probably the most intimidating 84 year old you'll see) and the President of the MDC Party, Morgan Tsvangirai. Trying to sort out potential media bias and gaining a better understanding of the political environment in Zimbabwe is, to me, quite interesting.

Similarly, might I recommend the movie The Last King of Scotland. Not only is Forest Whitaker's portrayal of Idi Amin one of the best performances I've ever seen, the entire movie and story (though hollywoodisized some) are absolutely fantastic.

8 Degrees South Latitude

Today I made an official (read monetary) commitment to travel as a volunteer to Tanzania for three weeks next March.

Like a kid that can't wait till the next Christmas on December 28th, I am overly excited about a trip that is over ten months away. Whatever- I'm going to allow myself to be overly excited, I just hope my friends don't get too sick of my yet-to-be-informed jabber. My excitement is all speculative but the chance to make a difference in a place that is so different promises to be a life-changing experience, no hyperbole necessary.

Just as the excitement is very real, so are the nerves. Signing the requisite "tough luck if you die" forms and reading about the multiplicity of venomous snakes is a little unsettling. The concept of making air transfers in Kenya or Ethiopia is as well, but being able to conquer the unknown is what will allow me to grow on the trip. I've always been proud of my independence and pending completion of this world of a task, I'll KNOW the sky is the limit.

I will be working with a group called Global Volunteers who organizes volunteer services all over the world. You should check out their website at www.globalvolunteers.org.

Now I face the litany of challenges leading up to the actual trip. Passport, sure, a visa? I thought those were just for baseball prospects from the Dominican Republic.

I'll keep you updated, hopefully enough to keep you interested and updated without being "all up in yo face" about it....I'll try not to be.

Discovery's Feel Good Marketing

Every once in a while I'll find a song that puts a smile on my face each time I hear it. I always tell myself I am going to write them down as I hear them and eventually make a whole cd of feel good songs but the good ones come so infrequently that it just hasn't happened.

Well there is a new version of a song that caught me at the right time. Right when I needed something to make me feel better. What's even better is that it is a video this time with pictures that match the feel good nature.

And its just a commercial. Although, a commercial for what is probably the best channel right now; Discovery. I've found myself playing this video over and over. I hope it makes you feel as good as it has made me.

Beatles, the other Apple and iTunes

As a new iPod (phone) user I've really started to use iTunes as my music hub. After living under the "under 25" assumption that music is free for several years, I now feel a little bit of pride each time I spend 99 cents for a new song. Along with that 99 cent song you get the sweet cover art for scrolling too!

A disappointment has been the unavailability (pretty sure thats a word) of Beatles music. I went ahead and Googled my way to an answer. I found several interesting articles that I've tried to arrange here chronologically.

If you've got any more information or would like to be the source of the next apple-iTunes-the OTHER apple-beatles rumor, just leave me a message.

MacObserver article from 2003
CNN Money article from 2005
Business blog from mid 2007
Gizmodo article from earlier this year (2008)

I'm stuck in traffic or 50 and Sunny in La Rochelle

I told my self I wasn't going to be one of those guys that becomes consumed by his iPhone. But but but, well bear with me for just a little more.

I've lamented about the weather, more on other peoples blogs; Sylvie and Kevin's and CG Betty's. After figuring out a few weeks back that La Rochelle is an actual place and not a state of mind I added it to the weather widget on my iPhone and became incredibly jealous when the forecast came up as 50's and sunny for a week. La Rochelle is not only a place but its apparently got some nice weather this time of year!

Adding salt to the would was a hell of a snow storm this afternoon in Southeast Michigan. A commute that normally takes me 20-25 minutes took closer to an hour and a half. My coworker Eric told me that an 11 mile stretch of I-94 was closed due to the weather but by the time that I left it was open, although I'd be lying if I said my drive home was leisurely.

The bright spot in the drive home was my iPhone. As I was stopped in traffic I clicked on the maps widget, added real time traffic info and amazingly saw that in fact I WAS sitting in traffic. How cool is it to not only sit in traffic but be able to confirm it on your phone. And the answer is yes; this is my way of making fun of myself. And no, I do not want to hear about how its dangerous for me to be looking up weather and traffic info on my cell phone while driving. At least I wasn't texting....yea, never done that!

Now If I only knew what "Lo TG Ed" meant. Of course I get confused by a lot of the over the ponder's blogs, or are we the over the ponders - I can't remember. But I think yanks such as ROTUS and myself truly are the FMB minority, but we're pulling our weight.

Apple Karma or Attack of the iPhone Killing Ice

Last week I wrote that I hoped that the Patriots would win the Super Bowl. What I didn't mention was that if the Giants won I would win a playoff pool. I had picked every game correctly from the start with the exception of Indy's first round loss. Yes, from the very beginning I picked the Giants to win, one of only three out of the 175 or so entries.

Since money won is much sweeter than money earned I spent Monday night perusing gadgets. I seriously considered a new Digital SLR camera an HD Camcorder and the Apple iPhone. After carefully considering each I decided on an iPhone. The next day I went to the AT&T store and 5 minutes later walked out with my new toy. It was by far the easiest phone purchase ever. The salesperson didn't even try to convince me to buy other things.

The phone is amazing! Five minutes after turning it on I new I had made the right choice on what to buy. Over the past few days I've spent some time programming numbers, taking pictures, adding web applications etc, to personalize my phone.

After an evening at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) and stopping by my old fraternity house, the drive home was treacherous because of the ice that had formed under the snow. My car slid a few times but I got home safe. However, as I was walking from my car up the driveway to my garage I bit it hard. As I stepped with my left foot it slipped underneath me and before I new it my left side hit the pavement - HARD - knock the wind out of you hard. Unfortunately I was holding my new phone in my right hand and the force of the slip sent it flying out of my hand, straight up in the air.

When I hit the ground I realized my phone had slipped out, I also noticed that I hadn't heard it hit the ground yet. Instinctively I started to count in my head 1-2- and right before 3 I hear it hit...oh boy. I jump up, avoid stumbling again and notice my phone laying in the snow. I picked it up, brushed it off, turned it back on, unlocked it...my phone had survived, and thanks to the case, not a scratch.

Then this morning happened. To see how cold it was outside this morning (since it was supposed to be in the single digits) I pressed the weather widget on the home screen...no response. Fifteen seconds later I realized that the entire top half of the screen was no longer touch sensitive.

Shit.

Double shit.

Shit times 400 (dollars).

My only option was calling apple support. The guy I talked to said to take it into the store and that they would give me a loaner phone to use while my phone is being repaired and then I would need to bring that phone back in a few weeks when my phone was available. I can think of several things I'd rather do on a Sunday than that!

I was not looking forward to going to this store. Not even a month ago Amy took her computer in for repairs, needing it ASAP for her graphic design school work only to discover that it just sat in the store for more than a week collecting dust rather than being sent in to apple.

So I reluctantly scheduled an appointment and they just gave me brand new phone. All things considered this was the best possible outcome. Instead of having to eat a 250 dollar replacement cost I just had to reprogram my contacts- I'll take that deal any day.

And so, my faith in Apple support has been restored, along with the firmware on my iPhone.

Super America, Sunday Sunday

As I write this, kick off to Super Bowl XLII is about 2 hours away. That means Fox's coverage has been going on for about 6 hours.

The game promises intrigue, regardless of the outcome. Both the Pats and Giants have a bit of the "America's team" aura around them. Also adding to the American feel of the event we have Ryan Seacrest to interview celebrities on the red carpet (yes the super bowl now has a red carpet). To top it off I'm enjoying a nice Baltika beer, straight from....Russia, a nice lager whose website I just "stumbled". And yes I'm still sitting in StumbleUpon purgatory with my one fan ROTUS.

I think the Patriots will win. I'm a big Brady fan because he went to Michigan, and no, I'm not one of those Johnny come lately UM fans that like him now but didn't like him at Michigan. I've liked every single starting quarterback at Michigan with the exception of Drew Henson. I probably only didn't like him because he was about the same age and I was jealous of his "golden boy" fate. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about him being an absolute flop. Although a big part of that is because he left Michigan early to be a Yankee- damn New York. Ah, maybe that's another reason I want the Patriots to win.

So now its sit back, relax, order pizza four hours before its needed, enjoy the commercials, a great game and a real American tradition.

Kwame Kilpatrick shames Detroit...again

It was before my time but Detroit once was the bright shining City upon the hill. It was the embodiment of industry, progress and the American dream.

Unfortunately, during my life Detroit has been plagued with abandonment, crime and poverty. It has sat and decayed along with symbols of the past like Tiger Stadium. It was the murder capitol of the country for some time and residents continue to flock towards the door seeking a more peaceful suburban lifestyle.

It hasn't been all bad, along with the bad in recent times there has been some good. There has been reinvestment, especially in the downtown area. The Detroit Institute of Art had a significant restoration. General Motors moved in to the City's iconic ren-cen and casinos brought in a demographic that otherwise would not frequent the old City.

When Kwame Kilpatrick was elected for his first term in 2001 he was the one to bring Detroit to into the new century. He came from a family of leaders and had already served in the State House of Representatives. From almost the beginning his administration was plagued with scandal, largely uncovered by some admittedly
"ambulance chaser" style reporting, specifically by WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit and even more specifically by Steve Wilson (see picture below right- good looking cat, no?). It has seemed for some time in this area that Steve Wilson's job was to harass the Mayor but time and time again the media discovered more and more questionable activity to which the Mayor did not fully respond. From "wild" parties at the Manoogian Mansion to inappropriate use of benefits and City money.

Detroit and Kwame are once again in the news because of the latest and most serious allegations of perjury; a serious charge for a mayor, even more so for a LAWYER. In a whistle blowers case filed by former Detroit Police employees Kwame and his chief of staff, Christine Beatty lied about an affair and numerous sexually charged text messages. Lying about an affair is one thing but because of the way events unfolded it's plausible that covering up the affair may have had a real affect on the City. After the wrongfully dismissed cops were awarded millions of dollars, instead of appealing a settlement was reached for MORE than the money awarded to the officers in the case. After this happens we all learn that Kilpatrick and Beatty lied about the text messages on the stand in the case.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Detroit. In fact, most people in the area have a soft spot in their heart for the City but the residents are getting exactly what they deserve. In the 2005 election their was a perfectly viable candidate in Freeman Hendrix but in a close race the voters proved they fear change and progress and prefer scandal and drama.

So let Kwame do what he will, he is who he is and obviously NOTHING will change that.

It's still sad though, to look to the East of Ann Arbor to see the rot that is this administration turn the lights back out on the dream.

Tracking your blog readers old and new

My love for Google continues to grow. Sure they are Big Brother but when they provide the services they do, it seems worth it.

In my perusing (I MUST stop using that word so much), I come across a ton of features, widgets, add-ons and tools and when I find one I think you can't live without, I let you know.

I just started using Google Analytics which is a tool to help web developers and bloggers keep track of their visitors and their stats. I also use feedburner (Google owned- go figure) whose feed flare provides lots of stats but Google Analytics provides even more information and has it organized in an intuitive manner than only Google can pull off. A simple copy and paste of a code snippet is all you need to be tracking everything you want to know about your visitors. It's like google is letting you be big brother to all your visitors, allowing you to target your content (sound familiar).

It will even integrate with your Adords account (how convenient).

So for all you beginner and novice bloggers out there. Get a Goolge account and start using Google Analytics.

Let me know what you think.

The Government Wishes to Employ your Id or "Free Money"

Yes, the Government wants YOU to go buy some crap you don't need. They want you to buy something so bad they're even going to send you a check to do it. Their hope is that by funding your impulse buys, the economy will be jump started. Whatever their reasoning, this is cool by me.

I'm still having trouble grasping the full impacts of this stimulus plan but I'll leave the worrying for someone else, I just want to get that check so I can get an iPhone.

I was pleased to see the Dem's willingness to curb increases in welfare spending. I suppose this is the ultimate, stealing from the poor who were given money by the ones who stole from the rich to give it to them (think about it for just a second, read it again if you must, but it makes sense), play. Once again I am reminded that I need to finish the book Ivanhoe.

So I'm thinking iPhone, perhaps a Playstation 3, maybe a video camera.

What are you gonna get? And don't tell me put it in savings, after all, thats not what this is for!

Samson the Youtube star

I've had a Youtube "account" for some time now. Until now, however, I hadn't uploaded any videos. Tonight Amy and I were playing with Samson (our chihuahua-pomeranian mix) and commenting on how he has noticeably grown. We hadn't taken any pictures of him since the first week or so and I suggest we take a few. I took a few snapshots and a short video and thought it would be a good idea to upload it on youtube. It's not anything exciting but it accomplished two things; you get to see Samson in action and I got to upload a youtube vid.



The vid's don't do him justice, his face isn't so dark. He's a cutie. I still can't believe I let Amy talk me in to getting one :)

Irate Gamer vs. Angry Video Game Nerd

Last week I was introduced to a series of videos that I thought was absolutely hilarious by someone calling himself the Irate Gamer. The videos include swearing and original Nintendo games - all the ingredients for fun! Growing up in the 80's and early 90's, anything so retro and old school is sure to be a winner in my book. The Irate Gamer has produced about 24 or so videos reviewing games for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. His videos are available on youtube and he even has his own site. There is even a DVD available now with some of his videos.

His videos wanted me to break out an old NES and make my own videos. After all they must have been a blast to make. I'm even seriously considering buying one of his dvd's just to support him so he'll keep making funny videos. I wish I had thought of this idea. But was he really the one who created this genre?

Today as I was perusing the internet on my day off I came across someone who calls himself the Angry Nintendo Nerd. I noticed he also has a number of videos available and many of them are even reviewing the same game. He has his own video and webpage too. Interesting.

I watched two of the Angry Nintendo Nerds videos, one on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and one of Back to the Future. After watching the first it was clear plagiarism came in to play. After watching the second it became clear that the plagiarism was BLATANT. I mean, the same jokes, the same order, everything.

Take a look at the videos to see for yourself.

Irate Gamer
Back to the Future
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Angry Nintendo Nerd
Back to the Future
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Its no doubt that both of these guys are funny but who should get the credit? Who should you support? Who came first?

I found that there were some people that thought irate gamer came first and others that thought Angry Nintendo Nerd who has changed his name to Angry Video Game Nerd was first. After five minutes though I was convinced that AVGN was probably first. Just in comparing the videos I would guess that the Irate Gamer was the one who took the idea and tried to refine it.

The first video I found claims to be from a confession letter Irate Gamer sent to AVGNSee the video.

I did think it was interesting that the two videos I happened to watch were the exact two that were used in the plagiarism accusation video.

What I can't find is any convincing evidence that Angry Video Game Nerd is actually the plagiarist.

The more I see the more it looks like case closed. In fact I'm ready to call it.

Below are some links to some other videos about the plagiarism.

An AOL video from Dailymotion (there is still AOL?)
JesseMeza's VLOG

It looks like Chris Bores, the Irate Gamer has become quite a hated internet d-list celeb.

What pisses me off about this is that he has been able to profit from this plagiarism by selling DVD's and t-shirts. It's one thing to mimic someones idea but he is stealing in some instances word by word descriptions. Maybe pisses me off is the wrong description. Maybe I'm jealous because he appears to be getting away with it.

I am surprised to see plagiarism so blatant. Even though I'm mad about it, I find myself watching both of them. Despite having videos that are so close, both of them are funny. I'd love to rip Bores a new one and have a nice irate blog about him, but thats not gonna do anything. He's been exposed, thats good enough for me.

What do you think of this plagiarism?

MLK day

Well, its another 3 day weekend for me. When you get about 40 days off per year they are bound to come with relative frequency. I wasn't able to do anything too exciting this weekend so I'm really going to focus on relaxing today.

Saturday was pizza at my moms to celebrate my sisters birthday and yesterday was spent sick with Amy. She had a sore throat, I just felt queezy for the second half of the day. Since that was the case it was really nice not to have to get up and go to work this morning. In stead I get to chase after Samson all day while Amy is at work in the D.

I bought the Google Sketch up for dummies book at Barnes and Noble (BKS) yesterday. Aside from it just looking cool I would love to be proficient enough at it to use it at work. While an interest in learning as much as one can about the profession may not be a marketable quality at work, knowing how to do little things like Google SketchUp always seem to impress. Any time there is a free software or programming tools available I am tempted to learn about them. Thats why I have an HTML book (really is that easy) and a Ruby programming book (not as easy as I was expecting).

So hopefully I'll find a "Mythbusters" marathon on tv. If not I've got two full seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation to choose from!

I starter another blog where I am beginning to "collect" funny/amazing youtube videos. In addition to dropping by at my youtube blog, if you have any good videos, please share them by leaving me a comment on that blog. I hope you'll get a laugh when you go there.

We Don't Make Widgets

This morning, much to my dismay I awoke 30 minutes early so I could get to work early enough to car pool another hour to a two hour training session called "Making Government Better".

This already sounds fun, no?

This afternoon, much to my surprise I find myself still thinking about the principles the speaker discussed.

The speaker Ken Miller (right- yea thats not a picture of me), used an interesting quote to describe government:

"Government is a bunch of hard working people trapped in dysfunctional systems producing invisible things for people who do not want them, on behalf of others that do, for reasons we can rarely articulate much less measure"

For those of you who have ever worked in government, isn't that great?
For those of you that haven't you're probably thinking "Hard Working?"

The biggest part I got out of the seminar was that we focus on what we produce for customers (yes government and its employees has customers), and that we focus on meeting their needs as we create them. These things we produce are referred to as "widgets" and we need to work to make the widgets the best we can to achieve the best result. However, in government, the best result is not profit, its some other measure- well being, healthy citizens, great and friendly services.

One of the challenges was to figure out what widgets your agency produces - pretty easy. Next was to figure out what widgets you produce. Not as easy, especially sitting next to your boss. I was pretty embarrassed that I couldn't just start spitting out widget after widget I'm responsible for. I kept thinking, but what I do is different, I make things that FEED our widgets. I feel like the BASF of the agency, I don't make the products you love, I make the products you love better. (Again I'd like to give myself a pat on the back for that analogy. I haven't come up with one that good since my reference to Willy Wonka's hate for wangdoodles.) The point is, I'm hiding behind the same "but I'm different" argument government has for years.

So now, I'm back at my desk preparing for a relatively important conference call tomorrow actually trying to make sense of what Ken Miller was talking about today. I'm actually trying to figure out what it is I do, what I produce and how I can do it better for the customer. I guess this was a valuable session after all.

While the link that comes next isn't exactly related to what I learned today, its pretty close. It's perhaps a touch corny but a good story. I stole this link from ROTUS.

http://www.stservicemovie.com/

Where are you sunshine?

I guess its that time of year, the good news is that it gets better from here.

1. Michigan winters suck. I hate being cold. Its fun to talk about the prospects of an NFL playoff game in 4 degree weather but is less fun to experience.

2. Its dark when I get up and its dark when I drive home. At least we are on the happy side of the winter solstice.

3. Getting used to a puppy is harder than I thought. Every spare minute is spent making sure he is not either peeing, pooping, eating foam or finding something the vacuum didn't pick up.

4. I'm in the middle of back to back 5 day work weeks. While Monday is Martin Luther King Day (in the North at least) when you get about 40 days off per year, the 5 day week-ers are rough! (Maybe this one is a positive)

5. I haven't read a book in 6 weeks. I've talked about my reading cycles before, this part of the cycle is always the worst.

6. Have you seen the stock market? If you haven't, you'd better not look.

Like I said, in all of these cases it will only get better. Amy's new internship at the Detroit Regional Chamber has started off well and she is only 3 months away from graduation. With all the frustrations that come to me during this time of year, the fact that I am doing so well is something I'm very excited about!

So I apologize for the recent neglect of my blog and those of my FMB buddies. Don't worry , I'm still here.

How's this winter treating you?

Goodbye 2007, Hello Samson

While I was expecting my Christmas break to be nothing but relaxing between the occasional family visit, it turned out to be much busier and more eventful than I ever could have expected.

Amy and I are lucky in that we both live close to our immediate families; within 40 minutes of everyone. It was very nice that despite 3 trips in a week to her dad's house, traveling time was hardly an issue.

The real news came early though as Amy finally, somehow convinced me to get a dog with her. I had been convinced that our space was not conducive to dog ownership despite the fact that our community is filled with dogs. For whatever reason, I became convinced otherwise and on the Saturday before Christmas we got Samson, a Pomeranian and Chihuahua mix.

The four pounder is a ball of energy. He has been a challenge; on no fewer than two medications, FREQUENT bathroom needs as well as common accidents on the carpet. Fortunately those accidents are pretty easy to clean up and we haven't had one of the....thicker accidents since the first few days. We are still waiting to get him up to 100% health wise which he apparently thinks he already is judging by his rambunctiousness. So, while a challenge, lots of fun too. The other good news to this is that Samson and our cat Sasha seem to get along pretty well although they chase each other everywhere.

And so I say hello to 2008 with high hopes and welcome its challenges.