2009 | Digital Dads

Archive for 2009

AskEmmi – 3 Tips for Better Holiday Style

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Opt for Luxurious Rather Than Whimsical.
Holidays are an opportunity to indulge, not to have people sheepishly lie about liking your musical tie. This time of year, we can wear the clothing that’s normally too dressy for the work day. Instead of a Rudolph sweater, think rich colors, jewel tones, silks, satins, metallics, and sumptuous fabrics like cashmere.
Keep it Current.
While December is a great time of year to look back, that doesn’t necessarily apply to your attire. It’s always obvious when a garment has been sitting in someone’s closet for many years only to be taken out for the holidays. We’ve all seen the guy in a faded red turtleneck and baggy, rumpled, pleated olive green corduroy pants skulking near the cheese plate. Between the increase of events and the flow of eggnog, the holidays are an excellent time to network, so the last thing you want to do it look outdated. If you haven’t updated your party attire for a while, do so before you hit the party circuit.
Decorate Your Existing Classics.
You don’t need to buy a slew of new stuff to wear this holiday season, so long as you have great fitting basics that are in good condition it’s easy to dress them up with the right accessories. Simply add a jewel toned silk tie or pocket square in ruby, emerald or amethyst to instantly give your suit or sport coat a festive look. This works equally well with jeans which go from casual to dressy with the addition of an elegant sweater and silk necktie.

Tags: Ask Emmi, Fashion & Style, fashion advice, holiday party, mens fashion
Posted in Fashion & Style, Gifts & Holidays | 1 Comment »

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2010

Friday, December 18th, 2009

I grew up looking through copies of National Geographic at the library and my aunt’s house. I’m sure for most of us, the signature yellow cover instantly pops in our head when we hear the name. I know even today I look forward to the arrival of the newest issue every month to our house.

That is why last year when we discovered they were now doing full color almanacs for kids we bought a copy right away. The kids loved looking through all the pictures and more then once would ask us, “did you know?” and then share some fact they had just learned about from the book.

National Geographic Kids is a whole new brand focused on the same teaching about the world we live in, but in a way that is much more digestible for kids. The site has games, videos, stories and more to keep kids coming back and learning at the same time. Their yearly almanacs are a great addition to any house that has kids in it. Trust me that you won’t be disappointed.

They sent me one of the 2010 editions and I was happy to see a lot of new information for the kids. I’m actually planning on giving this copy to some relatives for Christmas since I don’t think they have a copy in their house and I think they would really benefit from it. Shhh…don’t tell them.

One of the great things about when I got contacted by National Geographic is that they are allowing us to give away a copy to the readers of Digital Dads. I don’t think it’ll get to you before Christmas, but it’ll make a great birthday or just because gift as well.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post and we’ll pick a winner at random.

If you want to learn a bit more about the 2010 Almanac watch this video to get the full flavor of it.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2/h0ljuj

Tags: almanac, Books, kids, national geographic
Posted in Books | 2 Comments »

Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Sony sent me a PlayStation 3 and a couple of family friendly games to try out with my family. This is going to be an ongoing relationship with them that I’m looking forward to. I am a total casual gamer so I’m hoping to be able to find some new favorites from this.

Buzz! Quiz World

buzz

The first game was the Buzz! Quiz World Bundle which in addition to the game comes with 4 wireless controllers. These allowed me and the family to spread out in my office and get comfortable while we played. Definitely a plus when you don’t have to be tethered to the gaming station with wires!

Anyone that is a fan of trivia will love this game and don’t worry about knowing all the answers. With a database of over 5,000 questions you are not going to be hitting repeats anytime soon.

One problem we did run into is that this is geared more towards adults than it is kids. I would love to be able to adjust the settings so that I could make the questions more kid friendly. More often then not, both kids would announce they were just hitting buttons because they had no idea what the answer were.

That being said, we did have an absolute blast playing. The ability to pick unique avatars for your character as well as fun names from a pre-determined list gave us all good laughs. The silliness of some of the game types adds to the fun. Laura and I commented more then once that we hope to get to play this with some other adults.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time

Dylan loves adventure games and we had both played previous releases in in this series before so when Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time showed up he instantly popped it in and started playing.

While there is plenty of destruction in this game it is done in a very G rated way. Everything that is destroyed falls apart and gives you nuts and bolts to collect. There is no blood or other things found in many games and because of that I feel it is one of the most family friendly game series out there that is also engaging enough to keep kids into it.

The visuals and story line are something straight off the big screen. During the cut scenes, you might forget that you are actually watching a video game rather then a movie. In fact they should think about making this into a movie. I know I’d go see it.

I liked how instead of playing a single character, the plot actually switches back and forth between the two main characters and the shift in game play between the two of them may be a bit startling at first, but you quickly fall into the groove. I am not much of a puzzle fan, so some of the unique game play was not appealing to me, but Dylan loved it. The ability to customize weapons and the addition of game play in space brought some great new features that fans of the previous games will welcome.

Dylan completed the game and loved how it ended, but I’m still working my way slowly through it and hope to actually finish it because I want to know what happens.

I’m glad that Sony gave me a chance to try out the games and I look forward to reviewing other games in the future. I hope that if you are looking for some last minute gifts for the holidays, you’ll consider either of these as great options.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/1/qzpqrt

Tags: Buzz Quiz World, family gaming, Playstation 3, rachet clank, sony, Video game
Posted in Technology | 18 Comments »

Men of a Certain Age

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Every day, my inbox fills up with pitches from various companies, events and products that would like me to talk about them. As someone who makes a living helping run a marketing agency I am certainly jaded when it comes to getting a poorly done outreach. That is why when I got contacted about the new show coming to TNT called Men of a Certain Age and it was appropriate, on target and done right I paid attention.

The show explores the unique bonds of male friendship among three men experiencing the changes and challenges of mid-life. They have been best friends since college but now, in their 40s, are navigating through the second act of their lives. Joe (Ray Romano) is a friendly, slightly neurotic, recently separated father of two who had dreams of being a professional golfer. Now he owns and runs a party store. Terry (Scott Bakula) is a laid-back, handsome actor who seems to breeze through life (and women). Lately, he’s spending more time working as a temp than as an actor. And Owen (Andre Braugher) is an overstressed husband and father of three who endures constant criticism from his father, for whom he works as a car salesman.

I had seen previews of this show, but it does not premiere till December 7th at 10pm on TNT so we had set the DVR to record it for us. You can watch a preview on their site.

I was skeptical because I don’t find Romano funny at all. I know millions love him, but something about him has always irked me in the worse possible way. But, based on the other two leads and the premise of the show I was willing to give it a chance.

As part of the outreach I was sent a package made to look like a mixed tape. Inside was a little USB drive in the shape of the cassette tape. What a great idea and the perfect branding opportunity. Not only did the drive have a preview episode of the show on it but also a couple of tracks from the soundtrack of the show that tie into the show since music seems to be a critical and smart part of it from the start.

The preview I was given is the first half of the premiere episode, so most of it was set up and character development as you get to know each of the guys a bit better. They are a sad mix of guys, but very close to the truth which is what is going to make this show work. I was a little scared to see pieces of each of their lives in my future perhaps. While a show like Sex In The City played up the life style that women want, this show focuses on the reality that men are going to face. I liked the honesty in that.

Based on the 20 minutes I was given, I liked the look of the show and the writing is dead on. This is NOT a sitcom and while you’ll be laughing, I think you’ll be thinking and reflecting more then anything. Plus, I know that if I ever run over a possum while out driving I’m going to flash back to this show instantly. (You’ll have to watch to get the joke.)

I’m also happy to say that Romano didn’t bother me as much as I was ready for. He is playing a very similar character to the one he has in the past, but I think the fact that it isn’t surrounded by a laugh track is why I was ok with it. His character IS right for the downtrodden, kicked puppy look, that he always has on his face. Bakula and Braugher are both equally as good and I’m already curious where their characters are going to go.

If you like a little thinking mans fun with your comedy then I suggest checking out Men of a Certain Age. It’s shockingly close to real life and that will either be the doom or the savior of this show. It all depends on how the audience reacts to seeing a show about guys they all know or are.

Thanks for sending me a preview and curse you for me now having to watch another show! I was happy with the couple that I had to tune into each week. *grin*

Tags: Men of a Certain Age, Ray Romano, Scott Bakula, Television
Posted in Entertainment | 10 Comments »

Surviving Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

I love the holiday season. For me, it isn’t about the gifts, the glitter or big sales. For me it is about all the sappy stuff. The time with family, the good moods, the great conversations and the quality time spent with other people.

I hate an empty house on the holidays so we have an open invitation to our family that they are always invited down for Thanksgiving. Sometimes they come. Sometimes they go elsewhere. The above photo is from our house last year as we were dishing out dessert.

This Thursday my parents, little brown brother (Abe the Chocolate lab), sisters, aunt, cousin and their husky puppy Aero will be coming down. It’ll send my house into complete chaos as it fills with the smells of the turkey roasting and the sounds of the first holiday music on the stereo. Yes, we have a ban on our house of holiday music not being allowed before Thanksgiving and we always play Alice’s Restaurant at least once for my dad. (As an aside, if you need some new holiday music I highly suggest Allison Crowe’s Tidings.)

The key to successfully surviving a holiday like this is to be able to laugh. My family is not the norm I know. We all get along. We enjoy spending time together and actually look forward to it. Sure, every once and a while someone will drive someone else nuts, but for the most part it’s all good.

But, what if you don’t like spending time with your family and have to? Here are some tips that should help you get through it without becoming an outcast.

Be Like A Duck
Ducks let water run off them all the time. You don’t have to react to every little thing. Let the snide remark or stupid comment just roll off you like water and move on. Save your reactions for the big ones.
Get Outside
A hot kitchen and a room full of people can get to anyone. Mini cabin fever sets in and that won’t help anyone’s mood. If things are getting for you, put on a jacket and go for a walk. The fresh air will do you good and give you time to fume away from the masses.
Drink, But Don’t Get Drunk
Just like at the office holiday party a drink can loosen things up, but the last thing you want to do is get overly drunk and do something stupid. We all know that we make bad decisions after too many drinks. This is worse when you are with family so be smart about it.
Be Helpful
You’d be amazed how much good will you will get when you offer to help set the table, assist in the kitchen or take on the smallest of tasks. Just understand that if you are told to, “get out of the kitchen” that is exactly what it means. Nothing drives the cook more crazy then everyone ignoring that statement. Trust me I know since I am usually the cook!
Just Because You Have a Mouth, You Don’t Need to Use It
Learning to bite your tongue is a crucial skill for getting through life. Just because someone does something stupid, says something inappropriate or is acting like a complete idiot doesn’t mean you have to respond. When this happens just quietly ignore it and move on. You’ll thank me later for that.

I’ve got to go pick up my turkey from Out Post Farm tomorrow and I can’t wait. I wished there was a way to capture the magical smell of pies that fill their shop every year. Absolutely amazing.

I hope that each and every one of you has a happy and fun filled Thanksgiving. What other tips would you give for holiday survival?

Tags: Christmas and holiday season, Gifts & Holidays, Holidays and Special Days, Thanksgiving
Posted in Gifts & Holidays | 7 Comments »

Weekend Productivity

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

I like just laying around on the weekend as much as the next guy, but sometimes we need to get things done. Sometimes it is the famous honey do list type of things, but sometimes there are things that we want to get done on our own.

To Do Sticky Note

I have found that to maximize the chance of success there are a few things you need to do.

Set Clear Goals
The more vague your goals are, the more likely you won’t get them done. Be as specific as possible. Don’t set the goal of “make a sit down dinner.” Instead set it as “make a dutch oven pot roast for dinner.” Being specific up front focuses you even more on the end goal.
Make a List (in your head doesn’t count)
This can be on a sticky note, whiteboard or the nearest scrap of paper, but putting it down on paper makes it more likely to happen. This is extra important if you have more then one goal because you can check them off as you complete them. This gratification will help you push forward.
Don’t Do Too Much
A million tiny tasks or a handful of major ones will both kill you. Don’t give into the temptation to try and do too much. Recognize your limitations and set the right number of goals. Nothing sucks more then having to push something off to the next weekend.
Tell Other People Your Goals
When you are accountable to someone, it is a great motivator. It is very easy to tell yourself you are going to do something, but the more people you tell the more likely you are to stay focused and succeed.
Celebrate Victory
When you complete a group of tasks or at the end of the weekend when your list is all checked off be sure to reward yourself. It might be something simple like sitting down for a beer break or some time playing video games. Just be sure to congratulate yourself.

What got me thinking about all this was the final project for the #SonyDads initiative in which we were suppose to take part in a field trip with our families and document it. Every time we went to do this the weather was horrible and so I figured I’d document a rainy weekend in our house instead since I was out of time and options.

In the end it was a boring weekend, but it was a productive one for me as you can see in the video where I cleaned up my office and set up my photography closet. Interesting how starting out in one direction ended up with this.

The video was filmed with with Sony HDR-XR500 camcorder. I’m really glad I got to check this unit out. It certainly delivers good results even when the guy behind the camera is me. *laugh*

This post is part of series called the “Sony DigiDads Project” by Sony Electronics where a group of dads, including C.C. Chapman, Jeffrey Sass, Max Kalehoff, Michael Sheehan, and Brad Powell, have been given the opportunity to test and review Sony gear. If you want to know more about this project, head on over to the Sony Electronics Community.

Tags: camcorder, digidads, Jeffrey Sass, Max Kalehoff, sony, sony electronics, sonydads
Posted in Technology | 9 Comments »

Internet Safety For Kids – Be Involved. Not Stupid.

Monday, November 16th, 2009

There are evil people on the Internet. Right now there is some child abusing scum just waiting to find an unaware child on the Internet. Guess what? There are those same people who want to abuse your children in your neighborhood, at the mall and in every corner of the world. The real truth is that the world is full of bad people and that includes online.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I need to slap a little reality into all the parents out there who are scared to death of their kids getting online.

I recently spoke at an elementary school about Internet Safety. It was a small group of parents, but I was excited about it because I wanted to really answer their questions. As the organizer of the event explained some of what the school was already up to (including the awesome idea of a secured Ning site for their students to interact with other students around the world) and two police officers briefed them on all the scary facts about online dangers, I began to get worried. I could see that some of the parents were genuinely scared when they found out their kids were talking to other kids and adults (school staff in this case) online. But, I also knew I had my kids in the room with me and I wanted to show them from one parent to another why all of this is a good thing and not something to run away from.

If you are a parent, you need to realize that your kids ARE going to be online. They are going to set up social networking accounts, talk to complete strangers on them, watch videos, chat, etc. They are going to do this no matter if you let them or not. They may not do it at home, but they will do it at school and when they are hanging out with friends. Just like experimenting with drinking, drugs and each other, it is part of growing up. We all went through it and turned out ok for the most part so it is up to us to help our kids get through it as well.

With all of these issues and especially the online piece the answer is you MUST be involved. You too must be checking out these sites and using them so that you understand what they are all about and can teach your kids how to use them. You are responsible to teach them the right and wrong way to use the Internet. Just like you are responsible for teaching them about safe driving, safe sex and say no to drugs. It is up to YOU to teach them..

Some practical advice I gave to the parents that night and that I want to share with you:

Get Yourself Online
I don’t want to hear you whining about not having time or barely understanding e-mail. Your kids are growing up with a computer as an integrated part of their lives and will always be. If you have a computer in the house then they are going to start using services like Facebook, YouTube and others and you must understand them as well. These services are free and honestly the only way to understand them is to use them. Make sure to always check the privacy settings on each service as they are not all the same, but they are all important as they control who can see what about you. Still confused? Ask your kids to show you them or find someone at your children’s school who can answer your questions.
Put The Computer In a Family Space
I won’t allow my kids to have computers in their rooms even though they keep asking me for it. When we got them a computer last Christmas, we put it in the living room. That way when they are on it we can always see what they are doing. We also have several laptops in the house and they know they can’t bring those up to their room either. Anything they should be doing online they should be comfortable doing with us around. Plus, this way I can see how long they’ve been online and kick them off it when appropriate.
Monitor Them
I’m not talking about secret spying, but Emily and Dylan both know that we have parental controls turned on the computer. They know that I can go back and look at every site they’ve been to. This is not a secret and it is important that they know this. I don’t want to snoop around and I won’t ever go into their e-mail or track their IM conversations, but keeping a web history that they can’t delete is something I will do. The newest Mac OS and Windows 7 both have these sort of controls built in. There are other software options out there that can do even more then this, but the basics can be covered by what you have.
Talk to Your Kids
I’ve made it very clear to the kids what is inappropriate. Just like I taught them not to talk to strangers or ever get in someone else’s car, I’m also teaching them what not to do online. First names only, never give a home address, being vague about where they go to school and the town they live in. User accounts are always a silly name rather than their own. They never give out a phone number. All things that hold true online and off and as they begin to get older and use it more, I will talk to them more about it. It is part of our every day conversation and it is not uncommon to hear “You’ve got to see this video on YouTube” come up at dinner. And just like “the talk”, this can not be a one time thing. You have to keep talking about it.
Don’t Fear Google
If I hear one more time “your kids might see porn if they mistype something into Google” I am going to scream. Google has simple settings that you can set on your computer to hide that sort of content. It isn’t perfect, but it will filter out the majority of it on your home computers. Plus, guess what? Your kids are going to see naked people at some point in their lives. They might actually go and seek it out on the web out of curiosity or other reasons. Shocking I know.

But, again it is up to you to teach them what is right and appropriate and what is not. Search engines are amazing tools. Just the other night i was showing my son how to filter for images for a project he was working on and I had no worries about porn coming up when we searched for “vikings” because I knew the settings I had set would keep it clean. But. school computers, or ones at friend’s house might not have these settings so that is why you must talk about this rather than trying to hide from it.

These are just five tips, but they are five important ones.

To all the parents who think that not allowing their children to get online and sheltering them from the Internet is the solution I have one thing to tell you. You are ignorant and stupid. Sorry to be so blunt, but I refuse’t sugar coat it for you.

Sheltering our children from everything that might be bad in the world is never the solution. No one can live in a bubble and turn out ok. Children need to learn what is good and what is bad and how they are suppose to operate online in order to be successful in their lives. Just because the computer might not be important or needed by you, they are never going to know a world without them.

You need to instill in them what is appropriate. Just like you are going to teach them how to respect others, how to drive a car and how to do good in school. How to act online is just a new part of the parenting puzzle and you are responsible for this whether you like it or not.

I live and breath in this space and I can tell you that the amount of good things that have happened far outweigh the few bad things. I’m more worried about my kids and what might happen to them out in the real world then I ever will be about what they might run into online.

Don’t be stupid. Get active and get involved with your kids online. That is the way a good parent should act.

Tags: facebook, google, internet safety, monitoring, ning, online safety
Posted in Technology | 41 Comments »

Mom Jeans on Dads Everywhere

Friday, November 13th, 2009

momjeans What are mom jeans and why are dads wearing them?

The term ‘mom jean‘ refers to an old style jean which has a higher waist line, is loose in the thigh and tapers at the ankle. Also known as a Traditional cut, the silhouette of widened hips and thighs is the single most unflattering cut still on the market. They’re distinctly frumpy, hence their nickname.

Even President Obama wasn’t able to get away with wearing the traditional cut jean when he made the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game in St. Louis. From CNN to the blogosphere, “Obama’s mom jeans” made national headlines for days after.

When Obama was asked about his denim dilemma, the most powerful man in the free world suddenly sounded like every client I’ve ever worked with, “I hate to shop and those jeans are comfortable.” Oh I know that swan song all too well – my clients say that so often I refer to it as background music that accompanies me as I clear their closet of pleated pants, sweaters from grandma, and of course, frump jeans.

Many men, the Commander-in-Chief included, naturally defend what they’re comfortable in and mistakenly think they can’t update to what’s modern because it’s going to be extreme. The great news is that it doesn’t have to be one end of the spectrum or the other, painfully hip or frumpville.

For decades jean makers have been diversifying the available jean choices, so why are so many fathers in particular still wearing them? Mostly out habit, the traditional cut was one of the first jean options on the market and many men have stuck with buying them over and over for decades. Sure they may see all the other varieties in the store, but who has the time or desire to slog through trying them all on to find the pair that fits their physique best? Even if it means their teenager will be less embarrassed to be seen with them in public. Allow me to save you some time and face.

Jeans Comparison

It really doesn’t matter if you spend $35 or $235 on your jeans, all that counts is how well they fit you. For the money, I’ve found that Levi’s can’t be beat. Here’s a breakdown of cuts most commonly found in stores and which body types they do and don’t fit, so you’ll know before you go shopping again, as G.I. Joe reminds us, knowing is half the battle.

505 Regular - Sits at your waist, roomier seat, loose thighs and slightly tapers at the ankle. Also known as the afore mentioned Traditional Fit, this jean type creates a bulky silhouette that isn’t flattering for any body type. If you’ve been wearing these, try one of these other cuts instead.

514 Slim Straight- Don’t let the word ‘slim’ scare you, these jeans aren’t tight unless you get the wrong size, they are an easy to wear modern cut with a leaner fit through the seat, thigh and leg. Perfect for men who claim to have ‘no ass’. The lower rise will give you the appearance of a longer torso. The dark wash pairs as well with a sport coat as it does with a T-shirt.

511 Skinny Fit - A very youthful look the skinny jean fits like it sounds, very tight all throughout and sits below the waist. Stay away from these.

559 Relaxed Straight Fit - Waist that hits at the hip, roomy but not baggy in the seat, thigh and leg. The straight leg version of these works for men with large quadriceps. However, the tapered version of the relaxed fit (style 560) should be avoided at all costs.

569 Loose Fit - Levi’s roomiest fit in the thigh and leg, they are designed to be worn low on the hips. Loose fit jeans have more of an urban, relaxed look, but should not be paired with a sport coat. After the Regular or Traditional jean, these have the least physique flattering cut.

527 Boot Cut - Comes in both low-rise and natural waist (style 517) with a leaner fit through the thigh and slight flare at the bottom. This style is very flattering on leaner or larger physiques and especially on men with wide shoulders and skinny legs. The low rise is great if you have a short torso. Some men fear that the boot cut is a kin to the bell bottom but the flare of the leg is quite minimal and can bring balance to a top heavy shape.

Tags: Clothing, Denim, Jean, jeans, Levi, Levi Strauss & Co., mom jeans, Shopping
Posted in Fashion & Style | 9 Comments »

Introducing Emmi & Clarence

Monday, November 9th, 2009

When I started Digital Dads I knew I wanted to do something a little different. I love the model of Dad-O-Matic where any father is welcomed to come and write for the site, but I wanted a little more control over what was published and who wrote it. Not much, but a little.

I get e-mails all the time from readers asking if they can write for the site. My answer has always been that we were not currently looking for writers at the time but if they wanted to write a guest column to show me what they were thinking about writing to please do so. Up till now no one has taken me up on that offer.

But, a site needs to grow to succeed and that is why I’m excited to announce two new writers to the mix here and guess what? One of them isn’t even a dad. Hell, she isn’t even a guy. *grin*

Emmi Sorokin is a men’s image consultant and will now be writing a column on practical fashion and style for guys. I’m an L.L. Bean guy at heart and always will love my chamois shirts, but Emmi and I recently met as part of the Men of Social Media Makeover here in Boston. She took me shopping for new clothes and taught me to appreciate the comfort of a good pair of dress shoes. Over a thank you dinner I asked her if she would be willing to share her knowledge as the owner of It’s A Man World and thankfully she said yes.

You can look for her first column later this week. She’s a smart, sassy and sexy woman who is also just one of the guys, so if you have a question for her let us know and perhaps she’ll answer it in a future column.

The second new writer is someone that I consider a close friend and that I know is going to bring some new thinking to the site. That man is Clarence Smith Jr. or as he is known online as DYKC.

Clarence is a writer, photographer, fixed gear bike enthusiast and all around great guy. He also has a comic strip that he writes called Planet Wifey that captures just a sneak peek of the unique moments in his family life. Go back and read all of them because they will give you a fun view into his world.

He and his wife are expecting their first child next year (a son!) and I’m excited to have his perspectives on becoming a Dad on this site. My kids are too grown up for that perspective and also I know that Clarence’s upbringing is very different from what mine was so I hope some of those stories come up as well.

I’ll warn you now that he is a straight shooter and speaks his mind very openly. Just another reason why I love the guy and love that he said yes when I asked him to become a Digital Dad.

I’m very excited to have these two joining the team here at Digital Dads. Each of them will bring a unique new flavor to the site and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Tags: Writer, Writing
Posted in Everything & Anything | 2 Comments »

iPhone Picture Time

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Remember when our fathers or grandparents would pull out the little picture portfolio from their wallets and purses and show pictures of their families? They’d always be full of pride and eager to show them to anyone who they might come in contact with. They got outdated quickly and you’d always have to explain when the pictures were taken. As the tradition got passed down to my generation we might have a single picture of our families in our wallets to show people. As the kids grew up this wasn’t as important and many wouldn’t even bother.

At a recent conference something hit me as I talked to some friends and we all whipped out our iPhones to show pictures of our kids. No longer did we have to wait until school pictures happened to have a new picture of our kids. Thanks to this device we can now show the latest of hundreds of snapshots or videos.

I try not to judge, but when I see a fellow Dad pull out their iPhone and notice that the wallpaper is of their kids I instantly like them a bit more. I will always have pictures of my kids or family as a wallpaper so that every time I turn on the phone it is the first thing I see. You have no idea how much of a pickup this is when you are on the road and away from them. That single picture has cheered me up more times then I can accurately expressed.

Technology is empowering us to capture and share memories like never before. I am constantly taking pictures or videos and then never doing anything with the video. Last night I went to Karaoke with some friends and I found myself video taping some of it. What am I ever going to do with the video? Most likely nothing, but because I can capture it I’d rather do that then look back in the morning and think, “man I wish I had fired up the video camera.”

Certainly an iPhone is not the only option for this. Most phones can handle this sort of request and if yours don’t almost every point and shoot camera now takes great photos and video of some sort so you have no excuse. I recently purchased a Kodak Zi8 and have found myself shooting more video then ever. As the technology gets smaller and better it makes not capturing moments of life inexcusable.

I certainly don’t miss the fading pictures and plastic portfolios unraveling from friends wallets at the bar. Long live the digital picture albums in our pockets!

Photo Credit: Marlooz Veldhuizen

Tags: iphone, pictures, smart phones, video
Posted in Technology | 8 Comments »