Well I guess I have been a little slacking in the blog department, but I guess I hope my microblog could be looked at as a whole blog from time to time.
I get to go on my first trip with GVSU athletics tomorrow morning beginning at 4:45 a.m. I am heading to Denver/Golden, Colo. for the NCAA Regional Final game with women's soccer. Should be a good trip.
Through all of the planning and preparation I have decided to talk about technology and travel because in truth, technology has simplified travel. Or has it?
Going with the pro technology (more or less internet, computer-based technology) and travel I will say that I would much rather book a flight, hotel, car, etc. through a website than talking to a human. 1)Because it is all in front of me. The info, the prices, disclaimers, etc. right there on my screen for me to read instead of listening to someone (who normally is not a native English speaker) rattle off things that may or may not impact me throughout my trip planning. 2) It is easy. End of story. and 3) I HATE being on the phone with any company for more than five minutes. Half of the time the operator doesn't under stand your question and the other half you are punching a combination of at least 12 numbers in order to reach someone to really give you an answer.
Then there are the other things while traveling that are great. Wi-Fi (on flight, in airports and sometimes on buses), Cell phone chargers in the airport and now in some airplanes and the ability to get non-stop updates about flight changes, hotel information, etc. right on your phone.
Now to the bad side. With booking I really don't think there are a lot of negatives, though I really wish they would allow you to cancel and rebook a ticket online. Many carriers still do not allow this. Sometimes travel, even though its work related sometimes allows you to get away, but with all of this connectivity though, you are expected to constantly be updating this, sending that and doing this. Add in a two-hour time difference and you could be getting up well before your normal time in your current time zone just to keep up with the demands of your native time zone. EXHAUSTING!
Plus I have two computers: a desktop and a laptop. One I do all of my design work on and notes, etc. and the laptop is basically for word, and stat crew (the program we used to update athletic stats). So now I have to think about everything I may need on my MAC desktop and hook it up with my PC laptop.
And get this: I googled technology and travel tips and more than 300,000 results popped up. Now relevancy beside that is still a lot of information. So here are my own personal tips:
1) Get your stuff together - cords, chargers, batteries, etc. and make sure you really need all of them.
2) Make your laptop EASILY accessible to get out of your bag for security (one of my biggest pet peeves).
3) Download apps if you can that include Flight Tracking, Weather Updates, Flight check-in and even some for pure entertainment...I personally love angry birds.
4) Take the time during the travel to relax, even if for only 20 minutes, but turn everything off and just be. (Yes this is really zen, but I think it gives a refreshing take on the rest of your trip.
5) Bring "old-fashioned" technology such as a book or magazine and get into that instead of reading on your Kindle or iPad.
and finally...6) Sit back and enjoy the flight.
Until next time...
I think its GradGirl 7.0
Showing posts with label computer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computer. Show all posts
11/15/11
9/15/11
My future family and Technology...
I may need to refer back to back to this blog in five to 10 years, but right now I will write it as I see it.
I do not have a family of my own. I am an only child so I have only my parents' techniques and those of close aunts and uncles to see how I will likely raise a child of my own. Now I am not referring to curfews, when they get a car, if they have to have a job, etc. I am strictly making notice of how I will incorporate technology into my future offspring's life.
I look at myself and I know that I am very connected to technology. I use the computer every single day for numerous hours a day, probably more than I should and I always have my cell phone. The other thing I want to mention is that I'm 25 and got my first cell phone when I was in 8th grade...so like 13. And my family has had a computer since I was in 5th grade. (Just to preface my later point)
One thing that I find different from me compared to some of my counterparts both in my job and in my generation is that even though I have my cell phone with me, I am not always ON it or checking it. I find this rather bothersome. However, my father --- well I would say he is ADDICTED to his iPhone...so much that if I still lived at home I would definitely set regulations as to when he needed to put it away.
Yeah right, like that would work. But I refer you to this article: Is Your Mobile Device the New Cigarette?, Dad!
Anyways back on point.
When my future offspring come along...who knows what kind of technology they would have/need, but I will tell you if I was going off of RIGHT NOW, my children would not have anything more than a simple flip phone from 13 to 18. I have several reasons for this. You can still text with one of those phones, but it is more difficult. Hand-eye coordination is key and PAYING ATTENTION to what you are writing also helps...both great for development of life skills.
Second thing, the phone would not be allowed in their possession past 10 p.m. unless it was a weekend and they were out. NOTHING good happens to 13-18 year-olds from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m., NOTHING. Even if I educated my kids on sexting, the fact that whatever you write you can't take back, kids make mistakes, kids fall to peer pressure, kids are kids.
And the last thing, no child of mine will ever have a computer in their bedroom. I was not allowed to have one in mine and it is something I will definitely pass down to the line. Mostly because NOTHING good can happen when technology is mixed with a child, pre-teen and teenager and the fact that they could have non-stop unsupervised access to A LOT of things, even if you put parental controls on it.
Basically I think that parenting is now getting more difficult just like educating children is getting more difficult because of the technologies that are constantly trying to distract. My parents I'm sure never thought they would have to deal with cell phone plans and Internet and then WiFi in our house, but its something that any one considering children will now be judged on.
I don't know about you but I don't ever want to live in a society where it is child abuse to take away or not provide certain technologies. Hopefully that never happens.
Until next time...GradGirl 3.0
I do not have a family of my own. I am an only child so I have only my parents' techniques and those of close aunts and uncles to see how I will likely raise a child of my own. Now I am not referring to curfews, when they get a car, if they have to have a job, etc. I am strictly making notice of how I will incorporate technology into my future offspring's life.
I look at myself and I know that I am very connected to technology. I use the computer every single day for numerous hours a day, probably more than I should and I always have my cell phone. The other thing I want to mention is that I'm 25 and got my first cell phone when I was in 8th grade...so like 13. And my family has had a computer since I was in 5th grade. (Just to preface my later point)
One thing that I find different from me compared to some of my counterparts both in my job and in my generation is that even though I have my cell phone with me, I am not always ON it or checking it. I find this rather bothersome. However, my father --- well I would say he is ADDICTED to his iPhone...so much that if I still lived at home I would definitely set regulations as to when he needed to put it away.
Yeah right, like that would work. But I refer you to this article: Is Your Mobile Device the New Cigarette?, Dad!
Anyways back on point.
When my future offspring come along...who knows what kind of technology they would have/need, but I will tell you if I was going off of RIGHT NOW, my children would not have anything more than a simple flip phone from 13 to 18. I have several reasons for this. You can still text with one of those phones, but it is more difficult. Hand-eye coordination is key and PAYING ATTENTION to what you are writing also helps...both great for development of life skills.
Second thing, the phone would not be allowed in their possession past 10 p.m. unless it was a weekend and they were out. NOTHING good happens to 13-18 year-olds from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m., NOTHING. Even if I educated my kids on sexting, the fact that whatever you write you can't take back, kids make mistakes, kids fall to peer pressure, kids are kids.
And the last thing, no child of mine will ever have a computer in their bedroom. I was not allowed to have one in mine and it is something I will definitely pass down to the line. Mostly because NOTHING good can happen when technology is mixed with a child, pre-teen and teenager and the fact that they could have non-stop unsupervised access to A LOT of things, even if you put parental controls on it.
Basically I think that parenting is now getting more difficult just like educating children is getting more difficult because of the technologies that are constantly trying to distract. My parents I'm sure never thought they would have to deal with cell phone plans and Internet and then WiFi in our house, but its something that any one considering children will now be judged on.
I don't know about you but I don't ever want to live in a society where it is child abuse to take away or not provide certain technologies. Hopefully that never happens.
Until next time...GradGirl 3.0
2/3/11
Streak already ended...
So today has been a very busy day. I have been at the computer for all but 30 minutes and have only been to the restroom twice (TMI probably). In that case...working out today has failed. I may try to do the Wii when I get home because I haven't pulled that out in about two years.
Wanted to share this fun article...This is for the Ladies. Stolen from St. Bonaventure Strength & Conditioning page (oh how I miss that smelly weight room)
It is really about strength training and losing weight/getting fit. Very interesting indeed. I used to think that if I ran three miles a day I would lose weight. Well that didn't happen...So I definitely strength train and have changed the way I do it.
So on a side note...I think I said I have been getting AWFUL headaches lately...and I mean horrible. Well I decided it was caused by caffeine or lack thereof. So today I decided to get a Sweet Tea on the way to work and I did get a headache but it was later in the day and I didn't work out today...so I think all of that combined has something to do with it. Either way I will continue to monitor it and get it figured out.
I need a new running playlist. I look online for some suggestions and they all suck! So if you have thoughts I'm down. (Yes, I know no one really reads this yet).
Days left to exercise in February: 16.
Days in which I already know I won't because I need more than 24 hours in a day: 9
I guess I didn't do the math when I set my goal this month. SHOOT. No biggie, I'll just do my best.
Peace Out Girl Scout - Gosh I hope I don't find any one selling those cookies this month.
-Murph
Wanted to share this fun article...This is for the Ladies. Stolen from St. Bonaventure Strength & Conditioning page (oh how I miss that smelly weight room)
It is really about strength training and losing weight/getting fit. Very interesting indeed. I used to think that if I ran three miles a day I would lose weight. Well that didn't happen...So I definitely strength train and have changed the way I do it.
So on a side note...I think I said I have been getting AWFUL headaches lately...and I mean horrible. Well I decided it was caused by caffeine or lack thereof. So today I decided to get a Sweet Tea on the way to work and I did get a headache but it was later in the day and I didn't work out today...so I think all of that combined has something to do with it. Either way I will continue to monitor it and get it figured out.
I need a new running playlist. I look online for some suggestions and they all suck! So if you have thoughts I'm down. (Yes, I know no one really reads this yet).
Days left to exercise in February: 16.
Days in which I already know I won't because I need more than 24 hours in a day: 9
I guess I didn't do the math when I set my goal this month. SHOOT. No biggie, I'll just do my best.
Peace Out Girl Scout - Gosh I hope I don't find any one selling those cookies this month.
-Murph
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