Technology

Tami's Photography Challenge, Day 16:  Technology

Can I reuse a picture from day 13?

Cause I have been loving my iPhone. It, quite frankly, amazes me. 

Today I set my calendar to sync "in the air" through iCloud. If I make a change on my PC Outlook, it shows up on my iPhone. If I make a change on my iPhone a state away from my PC, it shows up in my Outlook within minutes. Woot! Woot!

It's the little things. The mind-blowing little things. Pandora. Skype. Facebook. Words with Friends. ITunes. Google Earth. Take a minute to think on what any one of these little apps can do, especially compared to ten-years-ago technology and it is CRAZY how far we've come so fast. 

Now my kids are growing up taking all these crazy technological advances for granted. I overheard them talking yesterday while playing a game on the computer, 

"Look, Aunt Leslie is on-line. We should skype her." 

Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. 

Crazy, mind-blowing technology.

Yourself with 13 things

Tami's Photography Challenge Day 13, Yourself with 13 Things

That's me with my 13 favorite apps. Except there aren't 13 apps, there are really just a handful. Only one that I downloaded myself last night because I am a fresh, baby-new iPhone user/owner.

The phone isn't baby new. Kory's been using it for the last year, but he just made the upgrade to the 4s and I, lucky me, get his Iphone4. Sweet!

So I'm trying to figure this iPhone thingy out, including all the apps. And since I don't have 13 favorite apps yet, would you mind sharing yours?

What do you consider the must-have or funnest-ever or just-plain-cool apps that every iPhone user should have?

Oh bitter woe!

To quote my sister ..."Oh bitter woe!"

Our computer has been afflicted with a virus. 

Saturday morning we rushed our trusty PC to the emergency room (so to speak), but the damage was done.  An extended stay was required.

All that to say it is Monday morning and I am computer less.

Oh bitter woe!!!!!!!!!!!!

No blog.  No email.  No Internet.

No communication with the outside world.

unless you call the telephone a form of communication

Computer doctor work your magic so I can be reunited with my friendly PC.  

Hopefully I will see you, my dear bloggy friends, before too long.  Until then don't forget me.  I won't be forgetting you.

(A special thanks to my sister for taking time to help me with this little post written with *gasp* pen and paper.  How quaint.)

The Proper Way to Use Technology - 6

Is it rude to check your PDA at a friend's house?


Joni Blecher, editorial director of LetsTalk.com, replies "A little bit. But if you arrive at a friend's home and explain that you need to check a few e-mails before you visit so you can give her your full attention, she will probably understand.


Will Schwalbe, coauthor of Send: Why People Email So Badly and How to do it Better, gives this little rule, "Think of your PDA as a crossword puzzle. Anywhere it's acceptable to work on a crossword puzzle, it's OK to check your PDA."

Sounds like good advice to me.

I think technology is great. I love e-mail and cell phones as much as the next guy. But, the problem with e-mail and cell phones (and PDAs) is that they bring the urgent to us immediately and sometimes, the important (but unurgent) things get left behind or ignored.

It can be hard to find a balance and let go of the urgent things (especially when they interrupt life like a ringing cell phone) to focus on what (or who) is really important.

That thought begs one final question - How do you keep a balance between the urgent (but not necessarily important) and important (but not necessarily urgent) things in your life?

(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)

The Proper Way to Use Technology - 5

If someone calls you, can you e-mail the person back or send a text message if you're not in the mood to talk? What if you text or e-mail someone and the person calls you back?

Will Schwalbe, coauthor of Send: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better, says, "Think about what is the best way to respond. If someone called you to get directions somewhere, for instance, reply via e-mail so you can send along a map."


Joni Blecher, editorial director of LetsTalk.com, adds "If you text someone because you don't want to talk and the person calls back , don't answer. If you do answer, the other person will sense your foul mood immediately and might get offended. Just text back that you can't talk now but will call later. Your friend will thank you.

Seems straightforward enough. Personally, I have never been a "phone talker." E-mail is my preferred method of communication. If I can get by with sending an e-mail instead of making a phone call I jump on it.

"Of course, for things like catching up with a good friend or venting, e-mail just doesn't cut it. If face to face isn't possible, the phone is a good alternative!" says self-proclaimed expert, megs. :)

And the final question is:

Is it rude to check your PDA at a friend's house?

As an aside, there are more questions in the September issue of Real Simple, but to find them you are going to have to find a copy of the magazine. My blog series ends here. (Whoa, I think I actually heard the collective sigh of relief from those who frequent my blog. Yes dear friends, the end is in sight!)

(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)

The Proper Way to Use Technology - 4

Is there a polite way to use call waiting?

According to Pier Forni, author of The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude, "There is. If you're on a social call and there is a chance you'll be interrupted by a client or a coworker, and especially your boss, tell your friend at the beginning of the conversation that if you get another call, you'll need to take it."

Sue Fox, founder and president of EtiquetteSurvival.com adds, "Make your decision based on whom you're speaking with. Conversely, if you're the first caller and you're left hanging for too long, hang up. Your time is important too."

Honestly, I am not a big fan of call waiting. We have it on our phone, but I try to ignore the beeps when they happen. I like Jessica's thought of using it to see who is calling and then returning their call once I finish up my initial conversation.

It is very distracting to me when I am in the middle of a phone call and I hear that beep/pause indicating someone else is calling. Like I said earlier, I am not great at multi-tasking so the fewer distractions the better if I am going to focus on a conversation!

I should just get it removed from our phone, but it is not a high enough priority to me at this juncture to spend time calling the phone company and remove it (past experiences have proven this to be a very long process).

Moving on to the next question:


If someone calls you, can you e-mail the person back or send a text message if you're not in the mood to talk? What if you text or e-mail someone and the person calls you back?


(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)

The Proper Way to Use Technology - 3

Can you ignore someone who "friends" you on a social-networking site?


And the Real Simple experts say...


Anna Post, resident technology etiquette expert at the Emily Post Institute, says "Yes. Giving someone you don't entirely trust access to personal information is a safety issue."

Joni Blecher, editorial director of LetsTalk.com agrees, "If people in your network can post and view photos and funny comments about you, it's best to restrict access to people who are truly your friends."

Jodi Smith, president of Mannersmith Consulting in Boston, adds "If it's someone you see too frequently to just ignore the request, simply tell her that you try to keep a low profile on networking sites and leave it at that."

Like some of you, it is hard for me to ignore people I know (even if I barely know them), because, well, I want people to like me. And, I want them to think nice things about me.

But, if the experts say it's okay (and not rude) to ignore someone on Facebook, maybe I CAN say no and people will like me anyway. :) Or maybe I just need to let that "people liking me thing" go...

On the other hand, ignoring people I don't know comes quite easily.



Moving on to the next question!


Is there a polite way to use call waiting?



(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)

For all of you wondering how Mya's first full day of school went, stay tuned. I am planning on doing a little interview with the full-time scholar over the weekend, if she can fit me into her busy schedule!

The Proper Way to Use Technology - 2

"Is it OK to talk on your cell phone when you're ordering food, getting your hair done at a salon, making a transaction at a bank, etc.?"


The Real Simple experts agreed with most of you. Joni Blecher, editorial director of LetsTalk.com, said, "It's rude to talk on the phone when you're interacting with others--no matter who they are."

Anna Post, resident technology-etiquette expert at the Emily Post Institute, added "And don't forget about the people around you--they will hear your conversation."

Jodi Smith, president of Mannersmith Consulting in Boston, agrees, "You should treat everyone with common decency and respect. So don't do it to anyone."

I have to admit I have been guilty of this as well. Although, unlike the majority of the female race, I am a horrible multitasker (Kory, on the other hand, is a great one!). If I am on the phone with someone, while trying to check out at a store I do both the person on the phone with me and the checkout clerk a huge disservice!

I don't hear what either of them are saying. So, I try to avoid it.

Why is it so hard to ignore a ringing phone! (Leaving the phone in the car is a great idea if you struggle with this like I do!)


You want to try another one?



What do you think, Can you ignore someone who "friends" you on a social-networking site?



(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)

The Proper Way to Use Technology

"Technology is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other." -C.P. Snow, the New York Times (March 15, 1971)

The September issue of Real Simple magazine had an interesting article. They asked technology etiquette experts (yes there is such a thing!) what is acceptable or just plain rude when it comes to using today's newest gadgets.

I want to know what you think. I thought I'd post a few of their questions over the next week and (after I give you a chance to respond), let you know what the experts say.

So, what do you think, "Is it OK to talk on your cell phone when you're ordering food, getting your hair done at a salon, making a transaction at a bank, etc.?"

(question and responses taken from September 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine. Article was titled "Manners 2.0 and written by Katie McElveen)