Web/Tech

  • A Brief Look at Ideas Worth Spreading

    I enjoy the TED website, whose tag-line is "ideas worth spreading." They host one of the "cool" conferences for thinkers and doers. Recently, they opened their content vault and offer a wide range of free videos on technology, business, science, culture, and global issues.

    This video is of a presentation by Jill Bolte Taylor. She shares a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another.

    Jill is a neuro-scientist who had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened — as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding — she studied and remembered every moment.

    I found it interesting and inspiring, and hope you do too.

  • A Sense of Security

    Microsoft came out with a bunch of security updates this week. I thought I’d share a few of the tools I use to help keep our computers running smoothly and safely.

    The first is a free tool that doesn’t require any download or installation. It is called the Secunia Software Inspector, and it:

    • Detects insecure versions of applications installed;
    • Verifies that all Microsoft patches are applied; and
    • Assists you in updating your system and applications.

    It only takes a few seconds to run and works reliably and well. So, click this link to check your system.

    Another tool I’ve really liked is called SuperAdBlocker. Yes it is a silly name; but it is a really nice product that stops ads and blocks spyware.  This is a great addition because it protects against things your antivirus and firewall don’t.  It works with Internet Explorer and Firerfox.  And I’ve been impressed with the support and responsiveness of the company.  More importantly, I’ve been happy with what it is like to browse without a lot of junk this prevents from slowing you down or cluttering your screen. 

    Two other tools worth checking are WindowsWasher and PCTools Spyware Doctor. 

  • A Sense of Security

    Microsoft came out with a bunch of security updates this week. I thought I’d share a few of the tools I use to help keep our computers running smoothly and safely.

    The first is a free tool that doesn’t require any download or installation. It is called the Secunia Software Inspector, and it:

    • Detects insecure versions of applications installed;
    • Verifies that all Microsoft patches are applied; and
    • Assists you in updating your system and applications.

    It only takes a few seconds to run and works reliably and well. So, click this link to check your system.

    Another tool I’ve really liked is called SuperAdBlocker. Yes it is a silly name; but it is a really nice product that stops ads and blocks spyware.  This is a great addition because it protects against things your antivirus and firewall don’t.  It works with Internet Explorer and Firerfox.  And I’ve been impressed with the support and responsiveness of the company.  More importantly, I’ve been happy with what it is like to browse without a lot of junk this prevents from slowing you down or cluttering your screen. 

    Two other tools worth checking are WindowsWasher and PCTools Spyware Doctor. 

  • Interesting Stats-Counting Clock

    I found this clock on the Poodwaddle web site.  They have a number of interesting widgets.  The page for this clock has links to the sites where the statistics come from.  Try clicking different time frames to get a sense of how the numbers (and presumably the world) change.

    Poodwaddle.com

  • Interesting Stats-Counting Clock

    I found this clock on the Poodwaddle web site.  They have a number of interesting widgets.  The page for this clock has links to the sites where the statistics come from.  Try clicking different time frames to get a sense of how the numbers (and presumably the world) change.

    Poodwaddle.com

  • FeedDemon – The Best Way to Find and Read Stuff

    I read information from dozens of websites every day.  Some of it is necessary for my work (financial sites, news sources, etc.).  Other sites give me ideas or inspiration.  Still others are a diversion.  Bottom-line, I was wasting a lot of time going to these sites (sometimes many times a day).  That all changed when I found a tool that brings them all to me.  The best News Reader that I’ve found is a free product called Feed Demon.  It allows you to subscribe to the content from many websites and view it in an organized and convenient manner in one location.

    Instead of going from website to website looking for interesting content, I subscribe to a website’s RSS feed and the software does the rest for me.  All new posts show up ready to read.

    080314_feeddemon_screenshot
    I’ve organized the feeds into categories of folders based on the way I think. So I have a folder for management ideas, marketing ideas, trading ideas, as well as new gadgets or finance.

    Here are some of the sites I read most:

    And there are a bunch more that I love. The point is, you can subscribe to any number of topics that interest you – and read related content when you want .

    It makes doing research for my weekly commentary much easier and I find that it reduces the amount of time I spend randomly surfing the web because when I have time to look at information I can focus on the information that I want to see quickly, easily, and without distraction.

    It is worth checking-out.  Here is the link for FeedDemon’s download.

  • FeedDemon – The Best Way to Find and Read Stuff

    I read information from dozens of websites every day.  Some of it is necessary for my work (financial sites, news sources, etc.).  Other sites give me ideas or inspiration.  Still others are a diversion.  Bottom-line, I was wasting a lot of time going to these sites (sometimes many times a day).  That all changed when I found a tool that brings them all to me.  The best News Reader that I’ve found is a free product called Feed Demon.  It allows you to subscribe to the content from many websites and view it in an organized and convenient manner in one location.

    Instead of going from website to website looking for interesting content, I subscribe to a website’s RSS feed and the software does the rest for me.  All new posts show up ready to read.

    080314_feeddemon_screenshot
    I’ve organized the feeds into categories of folders based on the way I think. So I have a folder for management ideas, marketing ideas, trading ideas, as well as new gadgets or finance.

    Here are some of the sites I read most:

    And there are a bunch more that I love. The point is, you can subscribe to any number of topics that interest you – and read related content when you want .

    It makes doing research for my weekly commentary much easier and I find that it reduces the amount of time I spend randomly surfing the web because when I have time to look at information I can focus on the information that I want to see quickly, easily, and without distraction.

    It is worth checking-out.  Here is the link for FeedDemon’s download.

  • Are You a Dictator?

    Inertia is tough.  There is often no barrier too small to halt progress. 

    • After a meeting, do your notes get into your computer?
    • Do you send the follow-up correspondence you thought about and know you should? 
    • When you think of something that you need to do – do you capture the idea and add it to your list?
    • Do you regularly store your thoughts, plans and insights (even when they occur at odd times)?

    For me, sitting down to write or type has been the biggest barrier to action.  Now, rather than type, I use two great transcription services: Jott and CopyTalk.

    Jott is free; and currently offers unlimited 30 second transcriptions.  This is perfect for To-Do list items or one-thought notes to yourself or others.

    It turns out that I often want a longer talk time.  CopyTalk offers unlimited 4-minute transcriptions.  Perfect for letters, memos, journaling, etc.  Obviously it is a great business productivity tool; yet, I also use it as an always available electronic journal.

    CopyTalk is now a speed dial on my phone – and using caller ID – it knows it is me … so I just start dictating.  I get the text in my e-mail typically within the hour. 

    Here is a picture of CopyTalk’s web interface for their phone dictation transcription service. 

    Very convenient, and I like it a lot!

    I use Microsoft’s OneNote as my content management tool.  So when I get back a dictation from the service, I choose to categorize it either as something to go in my weekly commentary, an item for this blog, a personal journal item, or correspondence.

    I found that I do best when I dictate right after a meeting.  However, I also found it very helpful to schedule time to dictate every day.  Sometimes I get a great nugget, right in the middle of a whole bunch of (pardon the French) crap.  Nonetheless, for me, dictating has been a good habit and a good muscle to develop.

    Of course I see myself as a benevolent dictator.

    If you have questions about CopyTalk call Chris Clayton at (866) 267-9825 ext 406.  Please let Chris know that I referred you.

  • Are You a Dictator?

    Inertia is tough.  There is often no barrier too small to halt progress. 

    • After a meeting, do your notes get into your computer?
    • Do you send the follow-up correspondence you thought about and know you should? 
    • When you think of something that you need to do – do you capture the idea and add it to your list?
    • Do you regularly store your thoughts, plans and insights (even when they occur at odd times)?

    For me, sitting down to write or type has been the biggest barrier to action.  Now, rather than type, I use two great transcription services: Jott and CopyTalk.

    Jott is free; and currently offers unlimited 30 second transcriptions.  This is perfect for To-Do list items or one-thought notes to yourself or others.

    It turns out that I often want a longer talk time.  CopyTalk offers unlimited 4-minute transcriptions.  Perfect for letters, memos, journaling, etc.  Obviously it is a great business productivity tool; yet, I also use it as an always available electronic journal.

    CopyTalk is now a speed dial on my phone – and using caller ID – it knows it is me … so I just start dictating.  I get the text in my e-mail typically within the hour. 

    Here is a picture of CopyTalk’s web interface for their phone dictation transcription service. 

    Very convenient, and I like it a lot!

    I use Microsoft’s OneNote as my content management tool.  So when I get back a dictation from the service, I choose to categorize it either as something to go in my weekly commentary, an item for this blog, a personal journal item, or correspondence.

    I found that I do best when I dictate right after a meeting.  However, I also found it very helpful to schedule time to dictate every day.  Sometimes I get a great nugget, right in the middle of a whole bunch of (pardon the French) crap.  Nonetheless, for me, dictating has been a good habit and a good muscle to develop.

    Of course I see myself as a benevolent dictator.

    If you have questions about CopyTalk call Chris Clayton at (866) 267-9825 ext 406.  Please let Chris know that I referred you.