Monday Mentions: Podcasts

Welcome to my very first Monday Mentions post.

There are many things I am enjoying and it would be rude not to share them with you. 

Podcasts have become a great resource given the pace of our lifestyles, and there so many great podcasts out there waiting to be heard.

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a free digital audio or video file that is available on the internet to be listened to or viewed.

Why do I love them?

Because I am busy but I love to hear what other people are doing or thinking. I love to learn new things constantly! The beauty of technology is that I can listen whilst doing my work in the office or washing up. I can even listen via Bluetooth in my car whilst driving!

There are so many podcasters out there right now covering every topic imaginable. Some podcasts are entertaining, others are educational and a  few are just wacky.

The podcasts I'm enjoying currently include an ex-navy seal talking about physical and mental health, and interviewing others to get their view on leading a great life. I also listen to a couple who have taken real steps to slow down their way of living and what that involves. Also, I love a podcast of two mums talking about the funny side of parenting.

Where can you find podcasts?

iTunes(Apple) is great for finding podcasts, subscribing to them and keeping them together in order. BeyondPod Podcasters is the Android equivalent found in Google Play. There are many other programs and sites to assist you to tune in to your favourite podcast which can be installed on your desktop or played directly through your web browser.

So if you are not currently enjoying podcasts, I would encourage you to do so. I can guarantee that you will find one, or many, that you enjoy too.



Technology: You Make Me Feel Old

Kids sure are advanced these days. I find it amazing what they already know at such tenders ages.
Being born with technology, it really does feel natural to them to know how to work gadgets and which buttons do what.

Miss 9 informs me she is learning letter location and correct finger placement on the computer keyboard at school. She has just started Grade 3.

I get it.
Computers are a huge part of life now.
It is good that they are learning the correct procedures early.

I started to learn letter location and finger placement in Grade 7.
It was known back then as Typing ..... with a big, clunky typewriter .... with heavy keys that would stick.

Wowzers!
I am feeling my age lately.

On the other end of the scale, some things are being left behind.
We were in a rural location not so long ago, and a Telephone Box outside a hop caught my eye.
When I was a kid there was a Telephone Box within a short walk of wherever you lived, given that you lived in a city or suburb.
I asked Miss 9 and Master 5 whether they knew the name of this box that we rarely see these days.

Master 5 looked at me blankly.
Miss 9 broke into a grin as she was sure she knew the answer.

"Isn't it a Telegraph thingy?"

So close ... but no.

What differences in knowledge are you noticing in the children now compared to when you were a child?

2012 Christmas Present Alert: Play Cubes

Do you let your children have access to you iPad or Kindle Fire? There are so many great apps available, both educational and games. Can the kids be trusted not to drop the tablet, or spill something on it? Can you even see the screen after their sticky fingers have been on it?

I came across a brilliant find today and had to share with all the parents and those buying for children.
Nickelodeon branded Inflatable Play Cubes for the iPad have finally hit the market.

 While safety is the primary goal, these cubes also encourage learning, creativity, and interaction with an iPad or Kindle Fire. They are colourfully designed with two of Nickelodeon's™ most popular brands, and each features its own app; SpongeBob's Super Bouncy Fun Time HD game or Dora Dress-Up Adventures! HD.

The Inflatable Cubes are designed so that a protective case recessed on a padded side securely holds the tablet inside a clear plastic screen cover. This effectively guards the tablet screen from smudges, liquids and messy hands, while still allowing seamless multi-touch control and a clear view of the screen. It can then be safely bounced and turned over to use in either an upright tabletop position or flipped to its side for enjoying videos and episodes of your child's favourite cartoon adventure.

Currently available from Amazon for under $40. (as at November 2012) This cool accessory will give you that peace of mind that your iPad or Kindle Fire are safe, whilst still allowing your children the joy of playing and learning.

Inflatable Play Cube for Kindle Fire

Inflatable Play Cube for iPad

Please note that it is not One Size Fits All, as the protective case is made to fit either an iPad or a Kindle Fire, which are noticeably different in size. When ordering, make sure you pick the cube that is correct for your tablet.


Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, nor were any products received. This is my personal opinion and recommendation.

Charged Double for texting with Smileys

What is the world coming to? I really shouldn't be so surprised, as I find out today that they give then they take away. Isn't that the world we are currently living in? Let me be more specific.

As sms and texting has become more popular, so too has the inclusion of the smiley face using either an app. or by using a sequence of punctuation, like commas and full stops, etc. Such as :-).
It is a cute way of ending your message, and adds a little emotion. Thus, they are also called emoticons.

It appears that the use of these little faces in your message actually can cost you twice as much when you send it. How rude!

Apparently by using certain symbols, like the bullet point for instance, the message is encoded differently and the length of your message allowed is reduced from 160 characters to 70. So a message of over 70 characters that includes any particular accents, punctuation or the popular smiley icons, will be charged as two messages.

When Kochie on Channel 7's Sunrise bought it to my attention this morning as I ate my breakkie, I nearly fell off my chair in shock. A reported actually tried it and confirmed it had been charged twice. Ironically, he was reporting outside the Apple store for the launch of the iPhone 5.

So, for me, my texting will now be emotion free. I will however, be blowing a big raspberry to the technical world, with satisfaction, each time I now send my messages.

I have been waiting all this time to say It's All My Brothers Fault!

My brother will be the first to tell you that when we were growing up, he only had to look my way and I would start hollering. It was really my only defence , given the eight years between us, and the obvious size and strength difference.

So what has he done this time? (Maybe I should be ringing Mum instead of writing it here, lol)

The most dirty, sneaky, conniving trick in the book. The worst thing to do to a sibling who is now an adult with a family of her own. He introduced us to  ...... ANGRY BIRDS!

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Of all the low, brotherly things he has tried this would have to be the worst.

On his recommendation, Angry Birds was one of the first things I loaded onto my Android mobile when it was new. You would think that after all these years I would be wary of listening to his advice.

I was hooked , and hubby was disgusted. As the children got older and more capable, they too were soon flinging birds across my screen. I must admit, it is sometimes handy to keep them quiet.

Now, Miss 8 has an ipod and her own version of Angry Birds. She had to have it.

Hubby has become the latest victim, alternating between my phone and his daughter's ipod trying to beat the current highest scores.

I looked around our lounge room recently, lit by candles during a power outage.

I sat with my phone, and hubby and Miss 8 took turns on the ipod playing Angry Birds until there was no more charge left in either and then ... it was obviously time to go to bed.

What has become of us?

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All I can say is ... maybe this is Karma for hollering to get him in trouble all of the time, when he was in his room!

Back to basics - The Unplugged Version

Technology certainly has become a way of life, and I love my gadgets of convenience. I remember, back in the ol' days, when I might have fired up the home computer once a week. Now, I couldn't live without it.

Well ... except for this Saturday 28th April, 2012.
I am joining in the 24 hour switch off Challenge. Everything I do on Saturday must be done the old fashioned way, and I must admit, I'm quite looking forward to it.

.
THE CHALLENGE

On Saturday 28^th April, we want you to disconnect for 24 hours.

No online blogs or posts.
No Facebook.
No tweets.
No phone calls or texting.
Nothing.
Nada.

So you won't see a post on my blog, not even a pre-scheduled one for Saturday. Don't bother ringing me 'cause I won't answer. And don't send me an urgent message on Facebook, as it will be a waste of time. When I commit, I take it seriously.

Normally, if someone else said you have to go without technology for 24 hours, I would get a little shaky just at the thought, but if you know me or have read my blog for a while, you will know I love a challenge.

So what do I plan to do whilst I am technology and gadget free? I am sure there will be plenty of catching up to do with the family, and even a book or two to read. I might even give the Saturday newspaper a good going over. If I get stuck I can always do housework. Actually, I have not made any solid plans at this stage, as I am looking forward to just winging it and doing whatever I fancy (within my limitations, of course).

I wont be in this alone. In fact, there’s already some great Aussie bloggers that have signed up to take the 24 hour vow of disconnect! You could check them out too, and go into the draw to win yourself a holiday in the dream switch off destination, Kangaroo Island:

Nikki at Styling You

Mrs Woog at Woogsworld

Sarah at A Beach Cottage

Caz and Craig at YTravelBlog

Catch you all on the flip side, possibly on Sunday, unless I convert to being Tech-free (somehow, I doubt it).

Is technology your friend?

Technology is everywhere you look. Some choose to use it, some choose not to.

I am a huge fan of saving time and making things work for me. So since I started blogging I have started using a few new things that work for me.

Kidspot recently did a great article on mummy friendly applications.
From this article I have started using Evernote. This application has been great to record my blog ideas in audio. I can also save photos to it. It has been compared to having your own project manager.  You can sync with others devices that you use and it is free.
There were some other really good applications in the article regarding shopping, social sites, and kid friendly apps.

I was already a huge fan of Facebook (addicted really but don't tell hubby). I have been able to use Facebook to my advantage by listing my blog posts as I publish them. I get quite a few hits from people who see my posts on Facebook. Along with this I have added Twitter to my tools. I certainly don't tweet a lot, but many bloggers tweet their posts and its a great way to get amongst the pack.

I mostly use Google Reader to view the blogs I like to read. This way I can group the blogs together in a way that works for me, like the ones I like to read first, crafty blogs, etc. I mostly use Google Reader as a gathering tool and will quite often go to the blog site to comment on a post and check out other features of the blog.

Since I have my mobile with me most of the time now, I thought it was also good to use the calendar to remind me of where I am meant to be and when.

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Technology is a great thing and I am a huge fan of change, as long as I can see the benefits.