Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! As I wait to welcome 2009, I look back on the past year, and I feel it was a pretty darn good year. I have high hopes that 2009 will be just as excellent. It's always right before the new year that everyone starts thinking about new year's resolutions. A new year is a new start.

Last year, my new year's resolution was to workout and get six-pack abs. I really can't remember if I worked out once all last year other than chasing my son around at the park. Thinking about it now makes me a little sad, but honestly, I never cared I didn't accomplish my crazy goal.

So are new year's resolutions really a good thing? Do people really achieve the goals they set at the beginning or the year, or are we just setting ourselves up for disappointment? My husband feels talk is cheap, and if people want to do something, they should just do it and stop talking about it. I can see that point of view, but I also feel there's nothing wrong with setting goals for oneself.

I haven't set any new year's resolutions this year. I have my ongoing Life List and plenty of person goals I set for myself that don't require a date to put them into action. I always strive to better myself every day of the year.

How do you feel about new year's resolutions? Do you have any, and if so, what are they? Or are you totally against this whole new year, new start stuff?

UPDATE: Poll Results 12/31/08 - 1/7/09

Did you set any New Years Resolutions for 2009?
40% Yes
40% No
20% Meh

Is It A Gift Or An Obligation?

The holiday season is here once more. This is a joyous time of year with some stressful undertones considering the current state of the economy. I already completed all my Christmas shopping for my family and kept my total spending at a reasonable amount for our current budget. I would like to say that concludes my holiday shopping, but my fear is a friend may surprise me with a gift for my son, and then I would feel obligated to buy a gift for their kid.

This year the budget is tight, and I would rather not buy extra gifts for friends and friends' kids. What is the best way to handle this situation? One option is to be upfront and say, "Hey I'm not sure if you were planning on giving us a gift, but I would prefer to not exchange gifts this year." The other option is to not say anything and hope my friends would not take offense if I did not reciprocate in the event they do give us any presents.

Because I still wanted to give something special to my friends and their children, my son and I made cute little cards, and I included a Christmas photo of my son. I thought it would be an appropriate gift during a recession and not make anyone feel obligated to break the bank.

So I'm curious if it is considered rude if a friend buys a gift for my son, but I don't buy one for their kid? Or should I be upfront and say no gifts this year, please?

UPDATE: Poll Results 12/20/08 - 12/27/08

Has the recession had any effect on your holiday shopping this year?
00% Yes
00% No
100% Meh

I'll Be At Apple's Last Macworld Expo!

Woooot! My excitement cannot be contained! I will be attending Apple's last Macworld Expo, and thus scratching another item off my Life List. With the encouragement of my loving mom to use my $100 Christmas bonus to go to Macworld, and who was also ever so gracious to help me purchase a plane ticket from LA to San Francisco, I will be at Macworld for one day. I can't afford to miss anymore work than that, so I plan to make the most of it. I'll be there on Tuesday before the expo floor opens, and I additionally hope to party it up at the Macworld Blast.

However, it would seem an item on my Life List will go unchecked since Steve Jobs will not be giving the last Apple keynote address at Macworld in January. This is truly sad, but being the Apple fanatic I am, I am still really looking forward to going there regardless of seeing the keynote.

Also, I am also very grateful to have a wonderful and supportive husband who is helping make it possible for me to go out of town for a couple of days to do something that means so much to me, and he will be taking on full parental responsibility for our son while I'm gone. Thank you and I love you Josh!

This Macworld Expo is definitely an end of an era, and I'm am so eager to be a part of it!

UPDATE: Poll Results 12/16/08 - 12/23/08

What should I do with my $100 Christmas bonus?
66% Spend it on myself
00% Spend it as a family
33% Reduce credit card debt
00% Give it to charity

FYI, I'm using my Christmas bonus to go to Macworld and it's going to be awesome :-)

Apple's Last Macworld! Say It Isn't So!

In my last blog post, I wrote about my Life List and all the items I wished to accomplish in my lifetime. Under goals to check off, I listed:

• Go to Macworld (even if I can only afford the expo)
• See Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote address

Today, my earth shattered when I got the sad news that the upcoming Macworld Expo in January would be Apple's last, and Steve Jobs would not be giving the final keynote address. Suddenly, I felt I will never get the chance to mark these two items off my Life List.

As a lover of all things Apple, I feel Macworld Expo will not be the same without Apple's presence. If there was ever a year to attend Macworld, this would most certainly be the year. Unfortunately, the state of the economy and being a responsible parent is hindering my decision to go up there. I honestly do not see Macworld in my future, but I guess I can always live vicariously through the people I follow on Twitter who are lucky enough to attend this momentous event.

UPDATE: Poll Results 12/16/08 - 12/23/08

Will Macworld Expo survive without Apple's participation?
20% Yes
80% No
00% Meh

My Life List

The close to another year is upon us, and it's always about this time that I reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. I think about what have I accomplished and what do I want to do next. To keep track, I have created a Life List. This is something I have been working on for the past couple of years, and I just revisited my list lately to update it and add more items. On it I have listed many meaningful goals that I want to achieve during my lifetime. Now that I have worked on my Life List more, I am really looking forward to 2009 and all the possible items I can mark off my list.

Keri's Life List

Constant goals - These are the most important items on my list.

1. Wake up every day with a smile :-)
2. Exercise and stay healthy
3. Not be so critical of myself
4. Compliment others more
5. Learn to say "no" without feeling guilty
6. Be a good role model for Cruz
7. Keep in touch with friends
8. Try harder to remember people's names
9. Learn new graphic design techniques
10. Take a picture every day
11. Try to fix spelling mistakes before using spell check

Goals to check off - These are things I hope to experience in my lifetime.

1. Own a house
2. Go to Macworld (even if I can only afford the expo)
3. See Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote address
4. Go to an Ellen DeGeneres Show taping
5. Travel cross country with no set destinations or time frame
6. Eat sushi in Tokyo
7. Visit Spain during summertime
8. Visit pyramids in Egypt
9. Go on a cruise
10. Decorate the yard & house with Christmas decorations
11. Take surfing lessons
12. Go scuba driving
13. Learn Spanish
14. Build a telescope
15. Be on the Price Is Right
16. Run a marathon
17. Set a record
18. Go water skiing
19. Actually follow through on one of my invention ideas
20. Play putt-putt golf under par
21. Eat suckling pig
22. Eat gooey duck
23. Take a cooking class
24. Drink a $100+ bottle of wine
25. Learn how to sew
26. Eat Ethiopian food
27. Vacation in Hawaii
28. Participate in a raw oyster eating contest
X. Eat at a 5 star restaurant
X. Stay at a 5 star resort
X. Be pampered at a spa
X. Cook a Thanksgiving feast & share it with family and friends

X = completed items

I'm curious if you have a Life List or if maybe now you are inspired to write one. What do you want to do with your life?

UPDATE: Poll Results 12/7/08 - 12/14/08

Do you have a Life List?
66% Yes
33% No
00% Meh

To Turn Off Or Not To Turn Off?

Tomorrow husband, son, and I are traveling to go see my in-laws and friends for Thanksgiving weekend. There's still tons of packing to do, but my iPhone is synced and ready to go. As I was choosing what music to sync to my iPhone, I was debating on whether or not I should shut my iMac down before we head out tomorrow. We'll be gone for four days, so it seems logical to turn off everything to save power. However, I have two reasons why I would rather leave my machine on: Simplify Media and email.

First Simplify Media is a must have for any iPhone owner. I love my iPhone, but my 8 GB version makes picking and choosing music a pain. I have a very large collection of music in my iTunes Library and I want to take it all with me. Simplify Media does that for me. It allows me to stream my entire music library from home and listen to it on my iPhone. The one catch is my iMac must be on and it has to be set to never go into sleep mode.

Now about email. I have a MobileMe account that I've had and loved since the beginning of .Mac back in 2002. I use Leopard's Mail App to check my email on my iMac, and of course I check my email regularly on my iPhone. Problem is, the iPhone doesn't filter junk mail, so I need the mail app to work it's magic to keep spam out of my inbox. This wouldn't be a problem if MobileMe's server side junk mail filtering was as sophisticated as say GMail, but that's another topic. It is what it is, and I can deal with it by setting my own junk mail rules locally. But again, the catch is I have to leave my iMac on all the time to filter my mail, and I have to set my iPhone to fetch email instead of push, otherwise it pushes me all the junk too.

So now I'm curious how many carbon credits I'm burning by leaving my iMac on for the next four days while I'm out of town, or is it nothing to worry about to have access to my home machine while on the road? To turn off or not to turn off? That is the question.

UPDATE: Poll Results 11/26/08 - 12/3/08

Do you turn your desktop off when you're out of town?
33% Leave it on
33% Shut it down
33% Sleep mode
00% No desktop

Safety & Location-Based Social Networking Sites

I recently signed up for a BrightKite account. For those unfamiliar with BrightKite, it's a location-based social networking site that allows users to see where their friends are in real time, and users also have the opportunity to meet new people that are nearby. Users "check-in" to post their current location to BrightKite. This can be an exact location such as an address or name of a restaurant, store, etc., or the location can be more obscure such as just a city and state depending on how the user feels about privacy. There is also a toggle switch to flip back and forth between public and private modes. After checking-in, the user can post photos or notes associated with that location for others to see.

I use the BrightKite app on my iPhone, and the iPhone's location-based services makes checking-in a snap. I've only been using BrightKite for about a month now. Mostly, I keep my location set to my city and state unless I go out to eat or shopping and have something interesting to post. Today, I've been playing around in BrightKite to set placemarks and set privacy settings for each location to get more use out of the service. I start with the two places I'm at the most: home and work. Setting these two locations to private was a no brainer for me personally. Whatever others feel about giving out their home and work addresses online is their business, but I like to keep them private except to a very select group of trusted friends. Then, I turn my attention to other places I take my son to regularly like the park. I debate over whether the park should be public or private when I check-in there. I think, maybe there might be another cool mom there, BrightKite would alert us, and I might make a new friend. But then I feared, publicly giving out the location I was at with my son might lead to some creep stalking us. Risking my son's safety is something I'm not willing to do, so I set the park to private.

Location-based social networking is a very cool thing, but I think a certain amount of caution has to be used. I know BrightKite is just one of the many sites taking on this new frontier, and they have a fastly growing popularity. So, I'm curious who else fancies location-based social networking and who is opposed? What privacy settings do you feel most comfortable with? Any success stories meeting cool new people? Or just stalkers? Please share your stories.

UPDATE: Poll Results 11/18/08 - 11/25/08

Do you use any location-based social networking sites?
66% Yes
00% No
00% Thinking about it
34% Meh

Simple Finder Solution

Recently, I wrote a blog post entitled Geeks In Training - How Young is Too Yonng? where I discussed my three year old son using my iMac and how much I disliked Leopard's Simple Finder solution for very young users.

For the past couple of months, I had not enabled Simple Finder. Instead, I set up parental controls to only limit access to certain applications on Cruz's account. However, I caught him numerous times clicking on the Finder in the Dock, changing the open window from icon view to columns view, and navigating back to the hard drives and getting into places I didn't want him messing with. When I found Bluetooth File Exchange on his desktop, I knew I had to find a new way to further limit his account without resorting to Simple Finder.

After a lot of searching the internet, I found a Simple Finder solution. I found a Terminal command that turns on the Finder's simplified interface while still allowing applications to be present in the Dock.

Log into the account and arrange the Dock the way you want. Next, open Applications > Utilities > Terminal and enter the commands below. Then log out and back in.

defaults write com.apple.finder InterfaceLevel simple

defaults write com.apple.dock contents-immutable -bool true

Parental controls can still be used to limit the account even further. This is a solution everyone is happy with. Cruz can use the computer and I can relax knowing that he won't accidentally delete any of my important data.

On a side note, Cruz has really enjoyed his iPod Touch he got for his birthday. There are numerous educational applications in the App Store which make this the perfect gift. However, he has already gone into the settings and set a passcode lock on the device and then couldn't remember the number combination to unlock the it. I had to restore his iPod and start over. I'm sure it won't be the last time I have to restore his iPod Touch, but there should be better parental control settings on a gadget such as this. As of now, I can only limit access to Safari, YouTube, iTunes WiFi Store, and App Store. I feel if I enable parental controls, I should also be able to set a parental password to restrict access to the settings on the iPod Touch. He shouldn't even be able to get in there to set a passcode lock in the first place. For now, I just discuss with him why he shouldn't change any important settings on his iPod and hope he will listen and not do that again. Other than that one incident, he has taken remarkable care of his iPod Touch.

I'm proud of my little geek in training. With a little bit a parental supervision and the use of parental controls, he can have a very enjoyable time using my computer and his iPod Touch. I can also feel confident that he is learning some important skills he can use throughout his life such as computer knowledge and how to take care of expensive items. I hope my experience will help anyone else who has a little geek in the house find harmony between their electronics and those little hands.

UPDATE: Poll Results 11/13/08 - 11/20/08

What do you feel is most important when your kids use the computer?
(More than one answer allowed)
50% Communication
50% Parental supervision
50% Parental controls
50% I don't have kids

iPhone Predictive Text Fail

I love my iPhone and my iPhone loves me. But sometimes my iPhone likes to get a laugh by correcting what I type in my SMS messages into some strange statement right as I tap send.

For the most part, my iPhone predictive text is my best friend and we get along just fine. Over the past year and a half, the iPhone has learned my touch typing habits and done it's best to make the appropriate corrections. However, the predictive text system has the occasional slip-up. For example, the other day when I typed "nah" iPhone changed it to "bag". Yes, I can sorta see why as the corresponding letters are next to each other on the keypad. None the less, the recipient of my message was confused and I had to apologize for my iPhone, and we then both enjoyed a good laugh.

The predictive text corrections that surprise me the most are the ones that are known words. One such recent example is my iPhone changed "limes" to "lines". In fact, it just did it again as I painstakingly type this blog post out on my iPhone.

So I'm curious about iPhone predictive text fails others have encountered. How often do they happen and what is the strangest correction the iPhone has ever made to your text. Please share your experiences.

UPDATE: Poll Results 11/8/08 - 11/15/05

How do you feel about the iPhone's predictive text?
50% It's a nice feature
00% It's an annoying feature
50% I don't have an iPhone
00% Meh

Speaking Of Cheap Drinks...

Last weekend, I stopped in the liquor isle at my local Ralphs to buy some rum, and this is what I saw:

That is a 1 liter bottle of Barcardi on the left and a 1.75 liter bottle on the right. The sales price doesn't really make sense, but who cares - I got a great deal on a 1.75 liter bottle of rum!

Curious About Cheap Drinks

I among many others are hunkering down during the economic downturn. At home, we have turned off all premium movie channels, except Showtime because we can't miss Dexter. We eat out less, and I spend a couple hours prior to grocery shopping looking through the weekly circulars and clipping coupons. We have had to make sacrifices during this economic uncertainty, but we are staying positive about the future.

While trying to spend as little as possible, I still like to enjoy the occasional cocktail or glass of wine, but I don't want to break the bank to get my drink on. When it comes to spirits, I strongly believe you don't want to go too cheap because the quality degrades dramatically. I might be a penny-pincher but I still have standards. I'm a big fan of Grey Goose, but when it's not on sale, it can be rather pricey ranging between $29 to $33 for a 750 ml bottle at my local Ralphs grocery store. I took a step down to Kettle One, but that is still a fine tasty vodka at around $22 to $26 a bottle. Then, John C. Dvorak posted a tweet on Twitter recommending Svedka as a lower priced good quality vodka:

Wine & spirits tip. No Kidding. Svedka Vodka from Sweden. Astonishing product for the price. Kicks butt in competitions. Clean and perfect.

I took his advice and I have to agree. And at around $10 to $13 a bottle, that's a deal too good to pass up.

As for wine, I like trying new kinds but the price range of wines varies greatly. Especially now days, I personally stick to wines costing under $10 a bottle. I discovered a brand that is just as excellent in taste as it is in price. Barefoot, which is normally priced around $8 to $10 a bottle depending on the type of wine, is an award winning brand that I highly recommend. Especially the Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc and White Zinfandel which are my two favorites. I found Barefoot wines on sale at Ralphs for $4 to $5 a bottle and with a purchase of six bottles of wine, Ralphs takes an additional 10% off. Talk about a great deal and a terrific way to have many different flavors of wine to pair with various foods.

These are just a few ways I save money while still leaving room in the budget for some drinking. I'm curious and would love to hear from any readers who have money saving tips or good buys when it comes to alcoholic drinks. Please feel free to post comments and share advice. During times like these, it is important to help each other so we can still get our buzz on ;-)

UPDATE: Poll Results 11/5/08 - 11/12/08

Has the current economy caused you to change
your drinking habits?
25% I drink cheaper booze
25% I drink less booze
00% I drink the same
00% I drink more
25% I drink whatever
25% I don't drink

Geeks In Training - How Young Is Too Young?

Last weekend we celebrated my son, Cruz's third birthday. Spawned from two geeks, he is naturally drawn to computers and gadgets. Over the past year, he has slowly taken over a few of my most needed pieces of tech gear; namely, my iMac and iPhone. At first it was cute. I was a proud Mama watching over my geek in training as he learned how the slide to unlock feature worked on my iPhone. And when he mastered every button of my MX Revolution mouse, I had a big smile on my face. Then it became a problem. My iPhone battery was constantly drained from him playing hours of Jirbo Bounce, and I barely had time to work on my own projects on my iMac. The solution to the madness was to get Cruz his very own iPod Touch for his birthday.

When I told various friends he was getting his own iPod Touch, I got a lot of different responses. My parents were very cool about it and even paid half of the price of the gift. Other friends started giving me bets on how long the device would last in the hands of a three year old. Sometimes I admit, I even had my doubts on the logistics of his present, but my doubts quickly diminished as Cruz took over my iPhone again, moved my icons around, and then drained my battery. He was definitely getting his iPod Touch.

For the most part, he is gentle with the technology he plays with. We make it very clear that if we catch him mistreating anything, it will go away. I think he understands. For three years old, he is remarkably smart. Yes, I know it sounds like I am bragging, but he mimics what he sees, and my husband and I set a very good example of proper care for computers and gadgets. However, he had been somewhat destructive to a few of his toys and books. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he won't damage his iPod Touch or any other expensive gadget in the house. I would hate to have to write a blog about why it is a mistake to give young children iPods later on down the line.

I also would like to add, I set up a log-in for Cruz on my iMac. I dabbled with parental controls for the first time ever. I have a few things I like and dislike in the way Leopard handles young users. First off, Simple Finder is lame! My son loves all the icons in the dock, but Simple Finder only puts a single applications folder in the dock and not separate application icons. Simple Finder is great in other ways such as not allowing access to the main hard drive or external hard drives on the desktop, but the simplified dock caused my son to have no interest in using his log-in. I had to disable Simple Finder and go into view options to hide the hard drives on the desktop, but if he clicks the finder in the dock and changes it from icon view to columns view, he can then navigate back to access my external hard drives - which he does. (I told you he was smart.)

Another thing I do not like is there is no option to prompt for administrator password to empty the trash. I can limit what applications he has access to, and I can try to control what he can see, but if by chance he does happen to throw an important file in the trash and empty the trash, it could be devastating. I guess that is why we have Time Machine, but it would be nice to have an option to keep him from deleting anything.

So am I crazy for letting my three year old son use my iMac? And is he too young for his own iPod Touch? I guess it depends on the kid, but how young is too young when it comes to our geeks in training?

UPDATE: Poll Results 10/27/08 - 11/3/08

Is 3 years old too young for an iPod Touch?
00% Yes
75% No
25% Meh

Do iPhones Need Screen Protectors?

I have had my iPhone for over a year now, and ever since I first bought it, I had a screen protecting film defending my precious iPhone against scratches. I have had good and bad experiences with different brands of screen protectors. Yes, they all worked as promised and my iPhone screen looks as glossy as the day I bought it, but some protectors applied easier and sealed better than others. As a perfectionist bordering on obsessive-compulsive disorder when it comes to how my electronics appear, I can not stand any bubbles or misalignment in my screen protecting films.

I had a terrible experience with the Rocketfish screen protectors I bought from Best Buy. I cheaped out and thought they were a better bargain. When it comes to screen protectors, I can say you definitely get what you pay for. The Rocketfish films were impossible to apply without bubbling around the top edge. It was so annoying, and I was relieved when I finally finished the last one in the pack and could get better quality screen protectors.

Last weekend, I went to the Apple Store to buy the Power Supply Film Set they carry. This was the brand I used when I first bought my iPhone and had great success with. They are not the best price on the market, but they are most certainly the best quality in my experience. When I arrived at the Apple Store, I was semi-shocked to find that they no longer carried screen protectors for the original iPhone and only supplied the store with accessories for the 3G iPhone. I say "semi-shocked" because I feared this would be the case even before making the trip to the Apple Store. I even asked one of the guys working there if they carried screen protectors for the original iPhone, and he confirmed they did not and said I could go online and buy them directly from the manufacturer. What he failed to mention was Apple still carries them on their website, so the Apple employee basically gave me information that could lead me to spend my money else where.

Apple's online store charges an extra $4 for shipping and Power Supply charges and additional $7 for shipping for a product that weighs next to nothing. Being the penny-pincher I am, that is just unacceptable.

After doing a little online searching, I started to question the necessity of the screen protecting films in the first place. The iPhone screen is made of glass similar to a car windshield. That is pretty durable and resistant to scratches.

Here is a video of the stress test PC World put the iPhone through. It's pretty brutal, so I'm warning those who have weak stomachs when watching perfectly good gadgets get tortured to not watch the video. Basically, the conclusion was if you plan to abuse your iPhone, you may want to invest in a sturdy case. However, they did not advise one way or the other on needing a screen protector. The scratch test in this video proved the screen itself was amazingly resistant to scratches.

I also found numerous forum postings of others asking about the necessity of the iPhone screen protector. Some replies strongly advocated using a screen protector and a few brave souls argued against it. Usually, most comments said they put a screen protector on their iPhone "just in case".

I think we justify the extra protection because of past experiences with many products getting damaged and dinged up very easily, and that is what we are used to. However, the iPhone is a high quality product unlike any other phone or PDA I owned in the past. At first, I thought I needed to baby my iPhone, but I am learning it is very durable and maybe the screen protectors are a little over kill. So I am boldly stripping my iPhone and letting it be bare. Well almost. I did get a GelaSkin to apply to the back since that is the most vulnerable spot. I must say, it is taking some getting used to. I went from a silicone case and screen protecting film to only a GelaSkin. That is quite a difference.

So now, I am curious how many other iPhone owners out there swear by their screen protectors or think it is an unnecessary accessory?

UPDATE: Poll Results 10/20/08 - 10/27/08

Do iPhones need screen protectors?
50% It's a must
00% Just in case
50% Not necessary
00% I'm unsure

Are Rumor Sites Spoiling the Surprise?

Apple has announced a MacBook Event for October 14. I am very excited to see what is unveiled. The web is flooded with rumors of what Apple will unleash, but I for one am not taking a peek. Instead, I will wait until Tuesday and be surprised.

Have rumor sites taken away the element of surprise and thus making new product announcements bland? Have these rumors added a new degree of anticipation or just spoiled it?

The last Apple event was Let's Rock on September 9 where the new iPod Nano was released. As exciting as that was, the rumors and leaked photos were right on the money. Knowing about any new technology before it is released is great, but did that make the Let's Rock event lackluster?

I kind of feel it did. As a known gadget head and lover of all things Apple, I anticipate every new product announcement. My production at work crawls to a halt as I feverishly click refresh on my browser, eagerly awaiting updates on Twitter from those fortunate enough to attend these special Apple events. I can say without a doubt after the Let's Rock event I suffered from rumor site regret, and I felt a little bit unfulfilled after the announcements from having known what would be unveiled.

I'm sure it is a personal choice. Some of us want to know if we can, and some of us like the element of surprise. I for one am taken the latter this time for the upcoming MacBook event to see if it changes my level of satisfaction when I find out what Apple presents to the world.

UPDATE: Poll Results 10/12/08 - 10/19/08

Have you suffered from rumor site regret?
50% Yes
50% No

How do you feel about new product announcements?
00% I like to know before
50% I like to be surprised
50% I don't care

You Can Be Anything You Want To Be

When I was in Elementary School, I loved to sing. I sang along to the radio in the car, all those fun little songs during music class, wherever I could. One day, the music teacher said the school was holding try-outs for the all-girls' choir. Excited about the opportunity to sing in a real choir, I ran home after school to tell my mom I was trying out. Then my mom did the unthinkable. She looked me square in the eye and said, "Keri, you can't sing."

This came as a shock as my mom encouraged me in almost everything I did, but not this time. Maybe she thought it would be better to hear it from her than from the judges at the try-outs. Regardless, I was still heartbroken and did not try out for the choir, and from that point on, I never sang in the car when someone else was riding with me. Should my mom have been so brutally honest with me?

We have all heard the phrase, "You can be anything you want to be." Should we encourage our kids to be whatever they want or be honest with them if they are lacking the talent?

I'm sure you have all seen or heard of the try-outs for American Idol. As much as I try to escape this show, I always get sucked into watching the try-outs at the beginning of each season. There are so many terrible singers on there, but they are convinced they sing beautifully. I have also seen many of these not-so-great contestants' parents standing beside their kids and supporting them all the way. Are the parents just as delusional as their kids or are they just encouraging them to follow their dreams?

My husband and I discussed this very topic on how we would handle supporting our son's ambitions and what to do if he chooses a career path that he might not be best suited for. My husband says, he would encourage our son no matter what because it is better for him to try and fail than not try at all, and failure is an important part of life that helps you learn from your mistakes. He phrased it as, "I'm not saying he will be anything he wants to be, but he should try to be anything he wants to be."

I will agree and say it sounds like a good, well-intentioned plan to me. I also want to focus on our son's gifts and talents and encourage growth in those particular areas. I never think I could come right out and tell him that he could not do something. A dream is a terrible thing to take away from a kid, or anyone young or old, and there could always be a way for them to somehow achieve their dreams, especially if they want it bad enough.

UPDATE: Poll Results 10/5/08 - 10/12/08

Should kids be told they can be anything
they want to be?
100% Yes they should
00% Be honest with them
00% I don't know
00% Undecided

Homeland Security Can Seize Laptops?

This story has me so curious, I felt compelled to write a second blog post this week...

Kevin Mitnick was detained for four hours and his laptops seized by customs agents as he re-entered the United States. For those unfamiliar with Mitnick, he is a computer security consultant who was one of the world's most notorious hackers in the late 20th century.

After a trip to Bogota to give a speech to the newspaper El Tiempo and visit his girlfriend, Mitnick flew into Atlanta to moderate a panel at a security conference sponsored by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS). As he went through customs, he was asked to go downstairs for questioning and to have his luggage inspected.

Meanwhile, ASIS organizers were concerned Mitnick had not arrived for his ride from the airport and called the director of security at the airport to help clear things up. Also, a member of the same panel Mitnick was scheduled to moderate works for the FBI and was able to verify his story. After a few more questions by customs agents, he was released.

"They can detain you for four hours, inspect everything, and put you through the third degree for no reason. It's really a police state," Mitnick said. "I travel in foreign countries that have even more stringent rules, and I never have problems." (Source)

All this comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security implemented a new policy giving custom officials the right to seize laptops and other electronic devices taken across the border. They claim that searching electronic information is useful to detect terrorists (no surprise there), drug smugglers, and people violating copyright and trademark laws. You can read the policies for yourself here and here.

This new policy raises many ethical questions. Am I to understand correctly that now Homeland Security is fighting illegally downloaded music? Moreover, I'm so tired of government agencies attaching the word "terrorist" to something and suddenly it's supposed to be ok for us to give up more of our rights. Do they seriously think terrorists are dumb enough to bring sensitive information into our country via laptops? This is as ridiculous as the questions airline agents ask you when checking your luggage.

Fortunately, legislation has been introduced to restrict Homeland Security in their power trip. The Travelers Privacy Protection Act would require reasonable suspicion of illegal activity before searching electronic devices carried by U.S. residents. The Department of Homeland Security would also be required to provide probable cause and a warrant or court order to hold such a device for more than 24 hours. The bill also limits what information acquired through electronic searches Homeland Security can disclose, and it requires the department to report its border searches to Congress. (Source)

I have no problem with customs agents inspecting bags for contraband, but seizing laptops and other electronic devices is invasive and excessive and should only be done when there is good reason. Kevin Mitnick may have been red-flagged because of his controversial past, but this case is one of the first in which Homeland Security has flexed its muscle, and it will only get worse from here if legislation isn't passed to restrict unnecessary searches and seizures with no probable cause. In fact, we should not have to wait for legislation to be passed since The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

So, what can we do for now? When traveling abroad, I suggest using encryption on any personal information on your laptop and electronic devices and completely powering down your computer when going through customs. Know your rights and protect yourself!

UPDATE: Poll Results 10/1/08 - 10/8/08

Should U.S. Homeland Security have
the right to seize electronic devices?
00% Absolutely
00% No way man
100% With probably cause
00% Undecided

Email Address Keeping You From Getting Hired?

Have you ever judged someone after getting their email address? Do you think potential employers ever rule out qualified candidates because of their email addresses?

According to researchers, Mitja Back, Stefan Schmukle, and Boris Egloff, all of the Department of Psychology at the University of Leipzip, five of six standard personality traits are often inferred - and with some degree of accuracy - from one's choice of email address. (Source)

The user name side of an email address can say a lot about a person's personality such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and narcissism. A user name is like an advertisement of one's self, and especially when applying for a job, must be carefully considered as to not give off the wrong impression.

So, what about the domain name side of an email address?

The term "domain shame" recently coined by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Don Fernandez, refers to how you feel about and how others perceive that bit to the right of the "@" symbol in your email address. (Source)

For example, Yahoo or Hotmail email addresses may be associated with spam; however, a Gmail address could imply a person is a savvy computer user. While there are plenty of legitimate people using Yahoo and Hotmail addresses and there are a growing number of spammers using Gmail, some may take certain domains more seriously than others.

I think the safest bet when applying for employment is to use your real name as your user name of your email address. And if you're worried about "domain shame", you can purchase your own personal domain name very cheaply. Not only will this help you be taken more seriously with potential employers, but you will also be taken more seriously from your peers and any other part of your digital life.

UPDATE: Poll Results 9/72/08 - 10/4/08

What user name do you use in your email address?
(More than one answer allowed)
80% My real name
80% Custom alias

Do you suffer from domain shame?
00% Yes
100% No
00% Don't know

Fast-Food Companies Or Personal Responsibility

The American Obesity Association says obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Preventable being the keyword here, but preventable by who? Who is responsible for the millions of overweight and obese Americans? Are the fast-food companies to blame or is it our own personal responsibility to take care of ourselves?

As of July 2008, in accordance to a menu-labeling ordinance, New York City chain restaurants are required to provide consumers with calorie content on fast-food menu boards and on printed menus, and if several lawmakers get it their way, the same menu board labeling system will be coming to California, as well as other states.

Councilman Jose Huizar introduced a proposal to post calorie information at fast-food and chain restaurants in Los Angeles county, and it was approved by a 14-0 vote by the Los Angeles City Council to draft a law that could be on the books as early as next month.

"We Aren't telling people what they can eat or banning products in the preparation of food," he said. "What we are doing is providing information to parents so they can think about what their kids are eating.

"We know for a fact that once people know how many calories are in something they are eating, that they eat less" (Source)

The causes of overweight and obesity according to the Surgeon General are:

• Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance involving excessive calorie consumption and/or inadequate physical activity.
  
• For each individual, body weight is the result of a combination of genetic, metabolic, behavioral, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic influences.
  
• Behavioral and environmental factors are large contributors to overweight and obesity and provide the greatest opportunity for actions and interventions designed for prevention and treatment. (Source)

The last bullet point is where legislation against fast-food companies comes into play. Studies link frequent eating out with obesity and a higher intake of calories. Some lawmakers feel by forcing fast-food restaurants to disclose the calorie information on their menu boards, consumers will make more informed decisions on what to order, and thusly help reduce the nation's obesity epidemic.

So, who is responsible for the millions of overweight and obese Americans? Are the fast-food companies to blame or is it our own personal responsibility to take care of ourselves?

To me, it is a matter of personal responsibility, not only to myself but to my son to teach him the facts about eating too much fast-food. I do not need full disclosure of the calories in fast-food to know that it is not good for me and my family to be eating every day. Cruz and I have a weekly ritual of going to McDonald's before going to Gymboree, and he loves McDonald's food. He asks to go there almost every day, but regardless of his persistence, I only allow him to eat fast-food once a week.

And to Councilman Huizar, whom assumes parents do not already think about what their kids are eating, we are not as dumb as you might think. I know for a fact that parents care about their children's health.

A good compromise would be requiring fast-food restaurants to have nutritional information easily available at cash registers and upon request for those who want it. Placing the information on menu boards will only hurt the targeted businesses. Fast-food chains should not be punished for making food that consumers think tastes good and like to eat.

UPDATE: Poll Results 9/20/08 - 9/27/08

Who is responsible for obesity in America?
00% Fast-food companies
25% Personal responsibility
75% A little of both
00% Neither
00% Undecided

Should Fast-food restaurants be required
to post calories on menus?
85% Yes
15% No
00% Undecided

Welcome!

Welcome to Curious Cloud! This is the place where I blog the many questions swirling around inside my head. Hope you enjoy reading my blog. Then, for a little added user interaction, feel free to take my polls related to newest blog postings and leave comments. Please, let me know what you're curious about too, and I may feature it as a future blog topic. Thanks!