Warm up Batter

You may have to watch this video several times to realize what's so special about the way this batter warms up. Watch the bat very closely. It's not as easy as this guy makes it appear. Ever Seen A Baseball Player Do This? http://www.flixxy.com/baseball-bat-skills.htm

Tribune Tower Rocks

As I write this blog, Oprah Winfrey should be starting her two hour broadcast of her 24th anniversary season. The broadcast is being made from Michigan Avenue just north of the Michigan Avenue bridge. That's just outside of Tribune Tower, for those not from Chicago. Everyone knows about Oprah but not every one knows about Tribune Tower and the historic treasures embedded in its facade for public viewing 24/7. Read about this fabulous collection of geological, historical, literary, and architectural treasures in my article: Tribune Tower Rocks. http://modern-us-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/tribune_tower_rocks

Free Maps for Your GPS

I usually struggle around finding my own way or with a little preparation and planning I may use Google Maps or MapQuest. But for those that are a little more tech savvy, you might want to try OpenStreetMap. These are maps are free and have been created by people like yourself. They are in a format that can be loaded into most standard GPS units. The catch is there's a tech side. That's the part I can't help you with. Load these at your own risk. There is some tweaking of your system necessary and you are the one that has to do the tweaking.

Check Your Internet Access Speed

Maybe you know how fast your Internet connection is supposed to be. But this site will tell you how fast--or slow--it really is. It's called Speakeasy and it will run a test to a server of your choice and measure both download and upload speeds.

Computer User Groups

If you've never physically attended a computer user group meeting you should find one and attend it. At a good meeting you will find users with varying interests. There are hardware types and software types; system administrators and game programmers. Most meetings I have attended at the Chicago Computer Society have friendly and knowledgeable people more than willing to advise and teach folks how to use their computers more effectively. I've written an article on the topic with links to resources for finding a computer user group near you. The article is titled: Offline Computer Groups. http://computeraccessories.suite101.com/article.cfm/offline_computer_groups

Insights Into Google Insights

When do people start searching the Internet for Christmas gifts? Valentine gifts? The answer is a lot earlier than you think. The peak time is in December and February respectively but the hunt begins much earlier. Marc Bitanga, in his Suite101.com article "Forecasting Seasonal Demand - When to Publish Your Articles," suggests using Google Insights. This allows you to type in keywords and retrieve a chart of when search numbers are highest for that particular term. Marc discusses this in terms of writers preparation of seasonal articles. It can also be good for marketing to special populations. The search for wedding gifts drops to its lowest point every December... and then it begins to rise. A useful tool for those seeking insights.

Wireless Electricity--Believe It

Apparently there is a possibility of wireless electricity. No longer will you have to worry about your cell phone battery running dead. The new electronic cars will simply park on a mat and get charged with no fuss. Eric Giler demonstrates this "witricity" in this YouTube video.