Let’s blame technology

When the local television station reported the story, the standard implications were made — technology is to blame. The implication is far from the truth. In this case, technology was an enabler for criminal conduct. Someone still had to make the recording and someone still had to send it to friends and classmates.  The cell phone didn’t commit the crime, a couple of teenagers did.

If you buy into the idea of “technology is to blame,” then you might call for cell phone manufacturers to take some level of responsibility.  Normally I’d roll my eyes to this type of response and chalk it up to technical ignorance.  This time, however, my opinion is a little different.

New market for a step backwards

I won’t go so far as to insist that cell phone manufacturers take responsibility, I will say these types of incidents (which are becoming more common place) are creating a new marketplace for cell phones — phones with fewer features.

Yes, smart phones are certainly the source of techno lust for gadgets hounds; however, not everyone wants or needs a cell phone stuffed with a myriad of features. Sometimes people just need to place or receive a call. When it comes to parents that have given their kids a cell phone, they’d probably love to have the option to give them “just a phone.” Yes, kids with “just a phone” could use a digital camera, email account, and Internet access and commit the same crime.  The difference is that it requires more steps and more devices readily accessible and most teenagers are simply not that prepared.  With the “all-in-one” cell phones so common today, kids have everything they need to commit such a crime with them all the time.

Limiting technology isn’t the complete solution

As much as technology is not to blame for this recent incident, limiting technology wouldn’t have prevented it either. There is no substitute for good parenting and educating kids on proper cell phone use. Nevertheless I’m one parent that would love to see a bare bones cell phone: make a call, receive a call, and address book. Try and find a cell phone that just does that — it’s impossible.

In my opinion, there is a market for a technological step backwards.

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Fortunately, I’ve got a list of ideas to keep my kids moderately busy and mildly productive. Unfortunately my list is boring and reads like a Polly Anna authored article for Parenting magazine; however, if you really just want to keep your kids out of your hair this summer, and don’t give a damn what Parenting magazine might say, then here is my alternate list of 5 fun “techie” activities for kids this summer.

1. Learn how to really edit video:

Kids of nearly all ages love to get a hold of the family camcorder and make their own mini-movies. Unfortunately the “free” editing software that came with the camcorder is often terrible or impossible to use. Capitalize on your child’s love for making mini-movies but make it easier and more rewarding by getting your hands on a “real” video editing application and couple it with some decent training material.

Applications such as Adobe Premier Pro CS3 offer 30 day free trial versions of their software (that’s just about 1/3 of the summer vacation). Once you have the software, you can buy a one month subscription to Lynda.com and get nearly all of the video training your child with need for just $25. Between learning how to use the new software and filming the mini-movie itself, your child will be kept busy and loving it for a better part of the summer vacation. Of course, if your child becomes proficient at the editing software and really likes it, then you have a whole new problem. To resolve this new predicament you’ll either have to break down and purchase the software, or move on to the next activity on the list.

2. Scanning old photo albums:

If you’re like most people, you’ve always wanted to scan every single print photo onto your hard drive. Of course, the family memories often occupy dozens of shoe boxes and/or large photo albums. The task of scanning all those photos is far too daunting to take on. But fear not, if you have a computer literate teenage around the house, then you have the perfect candidate to become “The Scan Master.” All you need to get your child started is a flat bed scanner (I have the Epson Perfection V500), and a little persuasive banter about the joys of photo scanning. Unfortunately no matter how great your “sales pitch,” not every teenager will jump at the chance to scan like a lemming. For those cases, you need to move on to activity number 3.

3. Learn a little Linux:

Even the most non-technie kid has dreamed of being a “computer hacker ” (if your kid is the exception, show them War Games for a little inspiration).  And everyone knows that “real hackers” are masters of “real” operating systems like Linux.  If you have an old computer lying around, you’ve got the perfect resource for days to weeks of frustrating fun. Just show your kid the computer, then make the “hacker” pitch without mentioning the word hacker (you don’t want to overtly advocate illegal cyber activities). Once you’ve sold them on the idea, help get them started by giving them a quick intro to the various distros available at Linux.org.  Keep in mind, this activity can work as either entertainment or punishment. The requirements you place on the final installation will determine how your child interprets this activity. Of course, if you’re child is too successful with this task, it’s time to immediately move to activity number 4.

4. Open it up and see how it works:

Learning Linux was a good idea to kill a few weeks of summer vacation, but now it’s getting out of hand and needs to stop. Encourage your child to open up that computer and learn how it works by disassembling all of its pieces. Most important is to have them open up that hard drive and remove the platters. This activity is both fun, educational, and helps you reduce that computer you’re dying to throw out into several little pieces you can easily toss in the trash. And once that extra computer is a pile of worthless rubbish, summer is almost over and it’s time to let kids be kids.

5. Let them play games:

If all went well with this list, your kids have managed to stay out of trouble, made a few mini-movies, scanned boxes of photos, learned Linux, dismantling that trashy extra computer and best of all, stayed out of your hair. It’s been a good summer, you’ve kept them busy and got a little something out of it in the process. Now, however, it’s time to let them fry their brains with hours upon hours of questing in World of Warcraft (Please Note: This last step is also a fall back in the event that all other activities don’t last long enough).

First thing you need to do is get your kid hooked on World of Warcraft with their free 10 day trial account. Then, as day 8 and 9 of the trial rolls around check to see if your kid has lost weight, needs sleep and talks incessantly about places, people, and objects you’ve never heard of.  If so, then you’re ready for the next step.

Take your child to Walmart or Target (make sure they bring their own cash) and show them the pre-paid time card. Tell them if they want to keep playing, they’ll have to buy one of these cards because you have no intention of funding their addiction — Oops! I meant to say you have no intention of giving out your credit card out to some unknown online entity. If they want to play, they’ll have to pay.

Your kid a little short on cash? Perfect, because there is nothing like a little hard work around the house to earn a few extra bucks — think lawn mowed, hedges trimmed, gutters cleaned, tires rotated. You get my drift. The possibilities are only limited by your own imagination and your home project to-do list. Of course, when school rolls around, you’ll have a whole new problem, but that’s what support groups are for — managing addictions.

With proper planning, it can be a great summer

Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the warm weather. Visits to the beach, family hikes, bike rides around town are blissful activities suitable for the pages of Parenting magazine. We all know, however, that weather throughout summer is never perfect. Heat waves force you to hide in air conditioned buildings and rain ruins those trips to beach. Basically, at some point this summer, your kids are gonna be stuck inside with nothing to do. And when they utter the infamous phrase, “I’m bored.” You’ll be ready with this list.

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Sony eReader features

• Display panel: 6″ black and white “electronic paper” display
• Power supply: DC 5.2V external DC supply / USB
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a maximum battery life of approximately 7,500 continuous page turns when reading
• User avail;able memory capacity is approximately 64 MB
• Memory stick media/SD card 2-in-1 media slot
• Supports BBeB Book, Adobe PDF, RTF, TXT, JPEG, PNG, GIF, MP3 and AAC formats (yes, it can play MP3 files also)
• Dimensions are approximately 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Weighs approximately 9 oz (without soft cover)
• Audio output interface 1/8 stereo headphone jack

My reader includes

• Soft cover
• AC power adapter
• USB cable
• Quick start guide
• CD-ROM Connect Reader software
• Operating guide in PDF format available on the reader
• Sample contents (I loaded a few public domain books, Pride and Prejudice, War and Peace, and the King James version of the Bible)

Photos of my reader

Click on each thumb nail to see a larger picture opened in a separate window. These are photos of the actual reader for sale.

Good luck (link to ebay listing — http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290231192290 )

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“…the IFPI and the RIAA have been actively pushing for ISP liability for file sharing …”

Good grief! ISPs responsible for file sharing?! That’s like saying automakers are responsible for speeders, municipalities that make the roads are responsible for automobile accidents, and candy makers are responsible for cavities. Take the position of the RIAA and anyone that makes anything that in anyway can be used for “questionable” activities, and everyone is guilty of something.

Sorry folks, I just had to get that off my chest.

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No one can deny that we consume too many natural resources, and fill our world with waste that cannot be recycled. While we wish and wait for governments around the world to solve our problems of excessive consumption and excessive waste, we need to do our part to help the crisis.

Little changes can make a big different if anyone does them together and the one thing we should all do is recycle.

Recycling might seem like another chore that takes more time than we have to give. The reality is that the few extra minutes it takes to recycle is worth the investment. Opportunities to recycle newspaper, plastic, and glass are everywhere. Many cities and towns have even added recycling pick-up as part of the weekly trash collection service. Recycling has become mainstream and no one has any excuse not to pitch in and do their part.

To learn more about recycling here are a few web sites that can help:

• Paper recycling
• General recycling options and businesses
• The EPA recycle city web site

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Being Part of the Blogging Community

Upon first glance Blog Action Day appears a bit off topic for TechTraction; however, using your blog as a conduit through which you can lend your single voice to a larger community effort is one of the great parts of blogging. Regardless of your blog’s topical focus, you can always take a break, go off topic, and write a post to help raise awareness of an important subject. That’s exactly what this year’s Blog Action Day is all about: lending your voice to help raise environmental awareness.

Get Informed and Get Involved

If you haven’t heard about this upcoming event, I encourage you to visit the Blog Action Day web site, sign up, and get your post ready for October 15, 2007.

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What annoys me about the U.S. Postal Service? Two things in particular: Postal worker interrogation whenever I use Media Mail, and double checking my package whenever I arrive with my own shipping label attached and paid for.

• Interrogation: Media Mail is a method of shipping books, CDs, DVDs, etc for a very reduced rate. Transport time isn’t very fast, but the cheap rate often makes it worth the wait. I always ship books I trade on bookmooch.com with Media Mail; however, using this method means you have to endure interrogation from the postal worker receiving your package (e.g. What’s in the package? Any letters? Any note cards, packing lists, or post-it notes?). Even when I’ve start the conversation with, “I’d like to ship this package with Media Mail. It only contains a book and nothing else.” interrogation always follows.
• Double Checking: I love using the eBay print a shipping label option whenever I sell something: Click button, fill out a few details, click to print and then cut and tape output to the package. Take your package to UPS and you can drop a pre-labeled box and walk out without a hassle. Geez! The UPS people even smile and say thanks as you walk out. Try to “drop-n-run” at the Post Office and they want to weigh your package and make sure you’ve included enough postage. Okay, so tell me WHY I could automate this process online only to go through most of it again here at the Post Office? Who knows.

My Brother’s U.S. Postal Service Shipping Tips

After hearing of my frustration with the U.S. Postal Service my Brother had these tips for getting the most out of this very archaic shipping service:

• Don’t bother with Media Mail: Forget the discounted rate, it’s not worth the interrogation. For a little bit more money use First Class mail, bypass the interrogration and the package often arrives sooner.
• Sign up for Click-n-Ship at USPS.com: The online manifestation of the U.S. Postal Service offers Priority Mail and Express Mail only. Use Priority Mail from this site and you get FREE delivery confirmation (that feature costs extra at the Post Office). Priority Mail also offers FREE boxes. You can get the boxes at your local Post Office or order online and have them delivered for FREE. If possible, grab a couple extra boxes and keep at home to speed up the packing process.
• Flat Rate Priority Boxes: Make sure you have a small supply of these handy boxes nearby. If you have something small but heavy, use one of these gems as Flat Rate can be cheaper than normal Priority Mail and it still gets Priority Mail service.

His tips were great but I have one of my own to add:

• Whenever possible, screw the U.S. Postal Service and use UPS or FedEx. Those services do cost more, but at least you get a “real” tracking number. Ever get a USPS tracking number and actually try and use it online? What a joke.

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