I Think We Are Ready!

Like all of this is not stressful enough, I hate it that 2 of my credit cards and our bank are making me call in with our travel plans. Their online forms are only set up for a maximum of 30 days. Beyond that, calling them is all you can do. There is nothing worse than thinking you can use an ATM somewhere and have your bank deny the transaction. Bank of America has charged us for failed attempts in the past. This is still on my “To Do” list, because they are only open limited hours on weekends and the time zone difference besides, makes it unruly.

Our suitcases are packed. We each have one; Ron’s is a carry-on size, but he will check it allowing him to also have a backpack. Mine is slightly larger than a carry-on, but is within the overall 158 centimeters combined allowance by TAP Portugal. My suitcase is 11.5 kilos, but up to 23 kilos is allowed, while my backpack with all tech stuff is 7.8 kilos just

under the 8 kilo limit. I hate having to worry about luggage sizes for different airlines. Ron will take the tablet and cord. I will have a book, my phone and laptop cord in my travel coat.

The backpack really needs a Sherpa cart it for me. I bought a USB hub as my laptop only has 2 ports; one is used for the mouse. Sometimes movies have lesser than optimal volume; there are two compact external speakers tucked in there. Then there are the cords for my phone, 2 cords for the laptop (one each European and US), camera lens, 2 adapters, a compact external disk drive with dozens of movies and projects for my downtime and lens cleaners. Last year, I bought 2 sets of packing cubes, one for each of us. They really are fantastic. The middle sized one holds all things electronic that I generally take along. It then fits really nicely into the second section of my backpack. Being nylon, it glides right in there.

The suitcase will be about 4 pounds lighter when we return. In the smallest packing cube of the set, I have 6 bottles of Vitamin D, 2 bottles of Vitamin C, one large bottle of Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc tablets, my diabetic pills, aspirin, sleeping pills, medicated soap, eye drops, and lip moisturizer. I am not packing bottles of shampoo and all that other stuff. It can be bought on the ground. Hopefully, the one night stay in Quito upon arrival will have things in the bathroom to get us by. Toothpaste and toothbrushes travel in my carry-on; the only thing I have to show security for liquid control.

I bought TSA approved locks, set it from the default 0000 to another set of 4 digits. Later, I thought I had better reset it to a number we are likely to remember easily, but different from our usual. Somehow I screwed up the lock and now it will not work at all. Thankfully, I have 3 others. This is my first time using them.

The taxi has been ordered. They will be here at 1:50 am Monday to drive us to the airport. We have a four hour layover in Lisbon. Diners Club lounge here we come. Our routing is:
Budapest > Lisbon TAP Airlines
Lisbon > Miami  TAP Airlines or American, both show on different documents as the scheduled airline
Miami > Quito LAN Ecuador




I tried both TAP and American Airlines, but was not able to get our boarding passes beyond Lisbon. I know in Miami, we have to go through Passport Control and security again. One would think that if you are a transfer client, they could keep you in a secured area to change plans without all the commotion. We only have 2 hours in Miami to get our luggage, recheck it and make our way through.
 
The following morning, Tuesday at 7 am we have another flight from Quito > Cuenca on LAN Ecuador. We will be in Cuenca until March 1st getting a lay of the land before exploring other parts of the country. Our return date is April 9th. We have lots of territory to cover.

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Eek E-books

For as long as e-books have been around, one friend or another has tried making me a convert to this medium of reading. I have refused to indulge in the e-book craze for a number of reasons. Not in any particular order, but they include:

1. I love holding a book in my hands and flipping the pages. This doesn't matter whether it is a slim volume like the book I am reading now The Murder at the Collective or a tome like Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth at a gargantuan 1008 pages. 
2. When I love the story, I keep checking the number of pages that are left creating an early mourning as I approach the end cover. When I don't care for the story, but am too stubborn to put it down, I check the pages to see how much longer this suffering is going to continue.
3. American Express uses the slogan "Never leave home without it." I apply that to a book. There is a book in my bag 98% of the time.
4. Perhaps it is because I do so many things on computers, including reading thousands of pages of students' work during a semester, I don't want to stare at a screen for reading pleasure. I can barely get through a news articles from the NY Times without feeling overwhelmed. Give me a real paper and I can be content for hours. That said, I do have a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a Samsung smartphone, which I do use to read US Today and CNN News when I know I will not have time to pull out my book.
5. There is something emotionally stimulating about browsing the books in a bookstore that will never be replaced by browsing online. Although some browse bookstores and order online, I try not to do this as brick and mortar bookstores need all the support they can get, especially independents.
6. Yes, you can get instant access to e-books on a variety of devices, but for me it is more satisfying to either discover a book I have never known I wanted while in a bookstore or to order one online and having the anticipation build until it arrives.
7. One of the first things that catches my eye when visiting others are the books they have around. There is much to be learned about a person from the books or lack of books. I doubt I could learn as much by asking if I could browse someone's Kindle for example.
8. A book can be lent or borrowed by anyone when there is mutual agreement. You can give the book away, sell it, or heaven forbid and damn you if you do, toss it away. For most e-book devices, this is either not possible or your share buddy has to have the same device as you, limiting opportunities.
9. Last of all, the cost of e-books is increasing as popularity grows. There is a computer newsletter that I read with a religious fervor and have for years, though the branding has changed over time. This is a quote from the latest newsletter.

http://winnews.com/

 
"So I went from e-book skeptic to e-book believer. And I still love them, but lately I've been buying fewer and fewer. And that's because of the increasingly (in my opinion) outrageous prices. I grumbled when the typical price of a new release novel in electronic format was $9.99. I was highly annoyed when that climbed to $12.99. Then I started seeing bestsellers by big name authors such as James Patterson and Tom Clancy priced at $14.99. When I paid $16.00 for Stephen King's latest, I decided maybe it was time to go back to paper - at least for the "big ones." Amazon was selling the hardcover version at the same time for $17.48.

I'm sorry, but that just doesn't compute. Regardless of what they say, I believe it costs publishers far less to produce and deliver an e-book, without the cost of paper, printing, storage, transportation, etc. I believe they're taking advantage of customers, assuming if we have the money to spend on high-tech devices, we'll pay close to the same prices for intangible electronic files as we pay for physical books that work with no electricity, don't require proprietary technology to be read and can be loaned or sold to whomever we want.

Now it appears I'm not the only one who thinks publishers are gouging the customer. The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing Apple, along with five major publishers, of colluding to keep the price of electronic books up. And this isn't just an "American thing" either. The EU is conducting its own investigation into the matter."

Yes, you are reading this blog online, but it is free, available on many devices, and shareable without restrictions.

Related articles

• Is It Time To Say Goodbye To Bricks & Mortar Bookstores? [Opinion]
• Speed and Retention - Are e-Readers Slower and More Forgetful?
• Books Vs Ebooks
• The importance of paper books
• E-Readers Versus Books
• How Higher Education Is Going Digital [INFOGRAPHIC]

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The Tech Teacher

I subscribe to a professional teaching blog which has some great articles that I find really pertinent; however, they are not always applicable to teaching here in Hungary. This last week, there was one called How Technology Can Improve Learner Centered Teaching. I thought it was a great article and felt the need to send it out to students old and current. Along with the newsletter, I sent a note asking if they thought I should send it out to the entire faculty besides. Actually, I was just joking and had no intention of doing so.

The student reactions I received was surprising, but this is one typical example.

"I am flattered to see that you are interested in my opinion. 

You know, when I read the article I had this 'why does this sound so familiar' moment more than once, when the article mentioned email notifications, blogging, surveys, online tests, online syllabus, peer review, etc. Than I realized that basically this is what your classes look like.

Hmm, as for sending this to faculty members, I don't know... There are certainly some members who would rather die as a "sage on the stage" than to use technology to improve classes. I remember for example one instructor who banned laptops from classes."

Another student informed me that her prior university in Hungary had an interactive white board. What I wouldn't do for one of those. Even within a university, there are the haves and the have nots. Science and those more 'elegant' departments always get the goodies first.

What experiences do some of you have with eduction in different countries?

Related articles

• How Colleges and Students Differ: What Makes for a Quality Undergraduate Experience? (education.com)
• Syllabus, By Design (teachermrw.com)
• How Technology Can Improve Learner-Centered Teaching (hollymccracken.wordpress.com)
• The Classroom goes LIVE connecting the globe!! (learningmadeeasy.wordpress.com)
• Emergence of the New Learner (onlinecollege.org)

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Glass: The Other Technology

As much as I love technology and everything in this video excites me more than a ten year old who has been told they can live in Disneyland for a year, I wonder/worry about sensory overload. Do we try to fit too much into our lives?

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Super Bowl Super Technology

Ron stayed up to watch the first half of the Super Bowl on Monday morning our time. It was on the Euro Sports channel, but commentated only in Hungarian. Though Ron enjoys the sport, I enjoy the technology. Sorry, I cannot get it to stop playing as soon as the blog opens and it was driving me crazy. 

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Turkey Technology

An article appeared in my mailbox explaining how social media can aid one in planning their perfect Thanksgiving holiday festivities. For the non-American readers, tomorrow is the US holiday of Thanksgiving. The traditional day when we share with loved ones the things that we are thankful for that we seldom think of verbalizing the rest of the year. It is kind of a national day of atonement.

The historical events were really rather grizzly, but we are taught that everyone "just got along swell and dressed up in their best native costumes". Few of us break from the reality since we, unlike other countries do not have a culture of fables and fairy tales, so we have to take what we can get.  This story is as pasteurized as the milk we drink, but we do rejoice in  celebrating this holiday. 

Within modern history, it is the busiest day of the year for air travel, causing many turkeys who did not escape the clever to have the electric carving knife held at bay until Uncle Bobo's late departing plane arrives.


How the Pilgrims managed to get the feast ready without technology is beyond me. Without GPS, how did the Native Americans find their way to the table? Without Facebook, how could Pilgrim Annie inform Pilgrim Sarah there was a bushel of corn waiting in Farmville? What drudgery they slaved through. Oh, right. Slaves came later. My bad.


Well for we modern folk who need the tools to plan, let's start with a holiday menu planner that spits out recipe ideas after you fill in the blanks. This comes in handy if you are shooting blanks when trying to think on your own. If you have fussy eaters or special diets to cater to, this site may be your salvation.


Are you sick of doing it all yourself? When you want help in the kitchen, get others involved with SignUpGenius for potluck contributions. If you really want to have fun, send it out to total strangers and see who/what appears at your door. Add a note that it is BYOC - bring your own chair and please shower first.


Feeling lazy or stressed? Perhaps the local market or restaurant has prepared meals to go. Try a site I have written for at Gayot to find an eatery near you.


Don't forget holiday decor. You can do a fast Google search for Thanksgiving crafts. These will keep the kids out of your hair while you baste the turkey.


Don't forget the smart phone to check on airline delays, get directions, send SMS messages, all without leaving the kitchen to run to the computer. 


When all is done and everyone but the turkey is stuffed, relax to a game of turkey trivia.

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Strange Maybe - Unique No

No one responded via e-mail about my new beyond this world business venture, but there have been a number of questioning people in my every day life. Just let me say, I thought I had hit on something totally unique. A week after the launch, there was an article in one of the technology newsletters I receive. The article is here. I am crushed. When you finally decide the time is ripe, remember there are guardian angels waiting for you here.

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Steal My Idea, Please!

If you are reading this, you should read the immediately prior post first. This is a continuation. 

MediaMarkt's need for multiple copies of papers again made me disgusted with the waste of natural resources. Yet, once again, each time I complain about something Hungarian, close on its tail is a similar American example to show that differences are not all that wide. 

I had received my contract from Frommer's for the chapter of the new Europe by Rail book. It was efficiently scanned into a PDF file and e-mailed to me. I printed out the signature sheet only, signed it, scanned and sent it back to them feeling eco so green. Alas, the editorial assistant e-mailed me back with compliments on my efficiency; however, they need 6 copies of my 4 page contract for legal reasons. Six copies? She offered to print out 6 copies of the first 3 pages if I would print out 6 copies of the signature page, sign all and mail them. I opted for this. It would be expensive printing out 24 sheets of paper when ink cartridges are double that of the US, plus I would have to pay extra for the mailing of them.

This got me to thinking about credit cards. In Europe, bank credit cards have evolved beyond the US by implanting chips into them. There are special chip credit card readers that do not accept the US old fashioned type of card causing much distress for US travelers. 

Why can't we move to a card chip technology? Instead of printing out sheets of paper, why can't we put the contract, the receipts, all other paperwork on a chip in a credit card? This is how I see it playing out. I hand a credit card sized chip card to the television salesman. He puts it into his card reader machine attached to the sales computer and downloads my purchase. I bring the card to the cashier. She uploads the information into her register, applies my charge card payment, and then after ticking a box that shows it is a tax-related item, downloads the receipt, warranty, and all other related information to my chip card. I now have a permanent record on my chip card. 

When I get home, I put my chip card into the chip card reader attached to my computer, upload the data and then choose to either delete it off of my chip card or let it remain there in an encrypted file for later reference. No paperwork!

Frommer's or similar companies can send you a link to a site to download a contract onto your chip card. You digitally sign the contract, upload it to your chip card and then electronically upload it back to the site. Six copies are no longer needed or at the bare minimum, they download your signed copy to 6 chip cards for their legal department.

With technology as it is today, a small chip card can carry just about the entire Library of Congress on it and still fit into a credit card slot in your wallet without bulging. Having once had the harrowing experience of being audited by the IRS getting dinged for paper receipts and proof of business travel I could not find, this would have been a saving grace. For business people, you would have a business chip card. Anything that is tax deductible, you use this chip card for. Even when ordering off of the Internet, you insert your chip card into your personal chip card reader attached to your computer. You tick the box on the Internet order form that shows "Is this a deductible expense?" Then it downloads a copy of the receipt onto the chip card for storage. You also do the same with all of your tax forms and records. The IRS calls you for an audit. You turn over your chip card and you are done. Out of pure paranoia, I still have 7 boxes of business tax records in storage dating back to 1989. All of that could have been put on a chip.

Backing up the chip card can be automated to cloud storage. You lose your card or your wallet/purse is stolen, the chip is encrypted with a pin number, so no loss of identity. You just purchase a new card and you are ready to go again.

If I had the technological know-how, this is what I would design, promote and sell with no worries about a retirement fund. Alas, I don't have that knowledge, but would love to see the technology in my lifetime. You saw it here first. I want 10% finders fees.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Chip Away the Paperwork, CopyThat? (budgetnomad.blogspot.com)
• CardEase Mobile the World's First Chip and PIN Payment App Soon Available on Blackberry and Other Smartphones (eon.businesswire.com)
• Lack of chip-and-pin credit cards hurts North American travellers (thestar.com)
• Will My Credit Cards Work in Europe? (applyforacreditcard.net)
• New Chip Technology Is Everywhere (owengreaves.com)

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Dinner Table, Ottoman, or Computer?

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It's All Geek to Me

Here is the daily geek report. I admit it, I was born too late to be a real geek, so I am a wannabe geek. When I was a kid, there were machines on street corners where you could put in a quarter and the machine would dispense a quart of milk. For fifty cents, you received a gallon. I thought that was the highlight of technology. Has anyone outside of NJ ever seen these machines? Whenever I mention it, people are flabbergasted at the idea.

On with the show...this is what the world of notebook computers will look like or close to it by 2015. Most likely I will be too arthritic to enjoy them, but with the screens that are touch only, it should not be a problem. Gosh, I will miss all of the technology that occurs after I am long gone.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/168488/big_changes_coming_to_notebook_design_by_2015.html

Secondly, for your Kindle users or those thinking about a Kindle, this article is for you. There are ways to get books for your Kindle without going through Amazon. There are ways to protect your purchases from Amazon too. In case you have not heard, even after paying for a Kindle book from Amazon, they can wipe it clean from your Kindle. Big Brother has control of your reading material. This article will tell you how to turn Big Brother into a minor annoyance.

http://consumerist.com/5318014/how-to-load-up-your-kindle-with-non+amazon-ebooks

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Almost at the End

Tomorrow is the last day of school for this semester and then SUMMER vacation starts and lasts until September. Glory be, I thought it would never get here. Burn out is when you take on too many new classes, too many thesis students in one semester, and then have to chase after them. The chasing was my choice, hoping to avoid last minute disasters. Hungarians are major procrastinators. Three of my advisees really did exceptional work on their thesis. One student did excellent work on Information Technology in Education, but unfortunately, it was read and graded by my office-mate, a young Hungarian. She mentioned to me that she only gave it a B grade or a 4 in this system. It took self-control not to lunge over the desks at her throat, but I asked why. She said that "Everyone knows that information systems are taught in the Hungarian curriculum" so it was not relevant since he did not state where this type of education should take place. After I relocated my jaw, with tact I responded that since this is an American Studies degree and since this is an American Studies thesis, it should not be relating to Hungary at all. If there is so much technology in the Hungarian school systems, why do student come to the university not knowing anything about it? Then I went on to say that the only division of the university to use Moodle for online teaching was the Psychology Department and when I wanted to teach an online course, no one in the department knew what I was talking about. She said "Moodle? What is Moodle?" If she had indeed read the thesis, she should have known what Moodle is. Teaching with Luddites is getting on my nerves. One of my former students who will soon be graduating with her MA came to ask me if I could supervise her for the doctoral program. While trying to explain that although I am on the doctoral faculty, I would not have time to do it with the new MA course I will be teaching come fall. She said if I couldn't do it she would not even apply. Although I was flattered, this is not the way to make life decisions and I told her so. She responded with the fact that all of the other instructors would make her conform to doing what they wanted her to and not give her the freedom to pursue her own interests. After the confrontation with my colleague, I was reminded yet again that this is the sad truth.

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Spoiled Generation

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Plastic Logic eBook Reader

I want one Santa. Plastic Logic eBook Reader

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