Wow! What an election year it has been. I cannot decide which has been more volatile and unsteady, the stock market or the presidential candidates' promises. As for me, I am a conservative independent, although I would not say I follow along with everything such media talking heads think. I voted for whom I thought would do the best job in leading our country.
Regardless of my vote, which remains confidential, I believe we need to support our new leader and chief, the President-elect Obama. I salute anyone who can take on the mammoth work ahead. As Americans we need to join together to support the new administration and open discussion with party leaders that have long been soured by bi-partisan obstacles and opinions.
The world leaders need to come together, so the general populations feel more confident about their respective economies. Right now, we are in a heavy recession with forecasts of rising unemployment on the horizon. Campaign promises aside, our new president needs our support; he has a huge job ahead. Let us all help him reach that main goal of stabilizing our economy, and redirecting us to economic recovery.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
The End of an Era
When I was a little girl, my brother worked on the floor of the NYSE, and I vividly remember how thrilling it was to be at the NYSE with my big brother. My brother married the girl next door, so to speak, and became a very successful restaurateur at the Jersey Shore. He said he got tired of the long train commute. Those visits to Wall Street stayed in my mind, and became the initial path to my first career. Sometime later, I worked downtown, for investment houses that only exist in the glory days of people's minds.
First, I worked for EF Hutton and Company. I remember the slogan well, "When EF Hutton speaks, everyone listens..." EFHutton was acquired by Shearson/Lehman after an accounting scandal forced EF Hutton to look for a buyer. Another job I held was for Drexel Burnham, did you ever hear of those guys and their insider trading deals? When they closed their doors, people were literally auctioning off the door knobs!
Now, who is left on the street, other than Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley? The US banks bought the rest, or they dissolved, like Lehman will. What do you think would have happened to the investment banks if the government did not appeal the Glass Steagall Act in 1999? Read about the act and imagine to yourself, who would buy these investment houses? The closing of Lehman and the acquisition of Merrill is nothing less than the end of an era. So it is fitting to speak of the glory days of Wall Street and spend a moment to reminisce . . . Let us all hope that banking management has better strategies in these economic times than the management of the now defunct investment houses.
It all started under the Buttonwood Tree, but where does it go from here?
First, I worked for EF Hutton and Company. I remember the slogan well, "When EF Hutton speaks, everyone listens..." EFHutton was acquired by Shearson/Lehman after an accounting scandal forced EF Hutton to look for a buyer. Another job I held was for Drexel Burnham, did you ever hear of those guys and their insider trading deals? When they closed their doors, people were literally auctioning off the door knobs!
Now, who is left on the street, other than Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley? The US banks bought the rest, or they dissolved, like Lehman will. What do you think would have happened to the investment banks if the government did not appeal the Glass Steagall Act in 1999? Read about the act and imagine to yourself, who would buy these investment houses? The closing of Lehman and the acquisition of Merrill is nothing less than the end of an era. So it is fitting to speak of the glory days of Wall Street and spend a moment to reminisce . . . Let us all hope that banking management has better strategies in these economic times than the management of the now defunct investment houses.
It all started under the Buttonwood Tree, but where does it go from here?
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Cruising in Hurricanes
Today is the day that Hurricane Hannah is supposed to travel through the hills of Morris County, where I live. If you are wondering what hurricanes have to do with technology issues, then consider a mere 30 years ago, before you were born. People held hurricane watches where someone would watch the waves of the ocean and call in any obvious changes. Boaters would keep close tabs on the weather reports where the storm might currently have been, and cruise boats sailed with great caution in the Caribbean. Ever hear of the Bermuda Triangle ?
GOES changed the way we manage any major weather condition. Now, NASA scientists share satellite weather information with the world. You might be asking why is Mrs. Berger talking about the weather in a business class? The answer lies in looking at situations and their effects in their totality. You may be quite comfortable in a dry, warm house while the storm passes, but think for a moment about the economic impact of a such a storm. Sure, there may be some damage to houses and some towns supporting infrastructure, but this storm seems to be more a nuisance than a disaster, at least in New Jersey. Technology like GOES provides opportunities for businesses, like cruise ship companies, to continue to profit.
Thirty years ago or more, cruise ships really took a chance if they sailed in the Caribbean during late August and early September (hurricane season). Now, thanks to technology, cruise ships literally navigate around the hurricanes. So with an investment in technology, cruise ship companies can continue to profit, thereby adding to the GNP and the general economic worth of their parent country. So the next time you see a stormy ocean, think of the cruise ships steering the other way toward the sunny skies and calm seas.
Thirty years ago or more, cruise ships really took a chance if they sailed in the Caribbean during late August and early September (hurricane season). Now, thanks to technology, cruise ships literally navigate around the hurricanes. So with an investment in technology, cruise ship companies can continue to profit, thereby adding to the GNP and the general economic worth of their parent country. So the next time you see a stormy ocean, think of the cruise ships steering the other way toward the sunny skies and calm seas.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Goggle's Latest News
After a long, long wait, Google unleashed its browser, Google Chrome. I am so thrilled to be using it that I had to share the news with you (in case you didn't already know). So go ahead, try Chrome. Two best features about this browser is its capability to perform an automatic Google search when the address is not a URL and Chrome's multi-level architecture. The speed of the browser's performance puts Mozilla to shame, and wait until you view the simplicity of the design. Chrome, was definitely worth the wait.
Here is the Business Week review of Chrome
Download Chrome
What a great way to start the new school year!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Online Social Networking
I bet many of you spent a good deal of time this summer social networking on Facebook and MySpace. While online social networking doesn't replace in person social networking (developed by digital immigrants), read through the attached study to see what kind of educational information is being added to Walls. This study, paid for by Microsoft, News Corporation and Verizon, documents that more than 60% of online social networking between teenagers is about school and educational issues. Surprised? Click on the links below to read more . . . By the way, I bet you don't know who News Corporation is? Time to hit the wikis and find out, remember, the world is flat, Columbus was wrong (so to speak ;)
http://www.nsba.org/SecondaryMenu/TLN/NewStudyExplorestheOnlineBehaviorsofUSTeensandTweens.aspx
http://www.nsba.org/site/view.asp?CID=63&DID=41340
Extra Credit: Create a page essay reflecting how you feel about this study, addressing its biases and where your opinions may differ.
http://www.nsba.org/SecondaryMenu/TLN/NewStudyExplorestheOnlineBehaviorsofUSTeensandTweens.aspx
http://www.nsba.org/site/view.asp?CID=63&DID=41340
Extra Credit: Create a page essay reflecting how you feel about this study, addressing its biases and where your opinions may differ.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Setting and Achieving GOALS
Be Your Own Coach:
1. Pick a main goal and plan on how to get there. Reaching a big goal involves many smaller goals along the way.
2. Make your goals as specific as possible. It’s easier to measure your success when your goal is “to receive a 95 or higher on a math quiz,” rather than “to do better in math.”
3. Write down your goals. Think of it as a contract with yourself.
4. Check up on yourself. Look at your goals daily and note your progress.
5. Learn to recover. Everyone makes mistakes, has breakdowns, and loses track of their goals from time to time. It’s important to recover and continue working toward your goals.
Motivation can be just as difficult for adults as it is for you. Just ask your parents! When you want to get better grades, get in shape for the prom or improve your soccer skills, staying motivated is key. Learning these motivational skills can help you achieve your goals throughout life.
1. Pick a main goal and plan on how to get there. Reaching a big goal involves many smaller goals along the way.
2. Make your goals as specific as possible. It’s easier to measure your success when your goal is “to receive a 95 or higher on a math quiz,” rather than “to do better in math.”
3. Write down your goals. Think of it as a contract with yourself.
4. Check up on yourself. Look at your goals daily and note your progress.
5. Learn to recover. Everyone makes mistakes, has breakdowns, and loses track of their goals from time to time. It’s important to recover and continue working toward your goals.
Motivation can be just as difficult for adults as it is for you. Just ask your parents! When you want to get better grades, get in shape for the prom or improve your soccer skills, staying motivated is key. Learning these motivational skills can help you achieve your goals throughout life.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Learning and Living with Technology
Today I am leaving the west coast after a much-needed rest away from the growing weeds and deer in my garden. I learned a lot on this vacation. I learned how to cope with a project that seemed insurmountable two weeks ago. I also learned that sound devices have different levels and that when recording audio, you must use the same equipment to maintain audio consistency. This placed a huge restriction on my ability to edit my digital story. I did try to edit my story, but the sound quality was poor on the last image, so used the previously published version. I also learned how complicated it was to upload text as an image to Photo Story 3. I tried to add my references to Photobucket, but that process failed me, too. Finally, I decided the only way to upload to You Tube was to add the references in the description.
Upon viewing my student colleagues’ works, it was easy for me to see how many of them are digital natives. Needless to say, I am not one, but experience has taught me that wanting something badly enough is often the impetus to master something new. I will never work as a web designer, but I have convinced myself that I will be able to design a web site from scratch. I may never author a prize winning digital story or movie on You Tube, or even have more than a few passing visitors, but that is OK, too. The satisfaction for me is that I have the knowledge to work in the Web 2.0 world, and most importantly, to teach it.
First, the web design, and second the world of multi-media. We are so lucky to live in time where this fascinating world is available to anyone willing to spend the time to learn it. There will continue to be so much more to learn, and that is a wonder of one’s path in life: learning more. Now back to NJ and the deer . . .
Upon viewing my student colleagues’ works, it was easy for me to see how many of them are digital natives. Needless to say, I am not one, but experience has taught me that wanting something badly enough is often the impetus to master something new. I will never work as a web designer, but I have convinced myself that I will be able to design a web site from scratch. I may never author a prize winning digital story or movie on You Tube, or even have more than a few passing visitors, but that is OK, too. The satisfaction for me is that I have the knowledge to work in the Web 2.0 world, and most importantly, to teach it.
First, the web design, and second the world of multi-media. We are so lucky to live in time where this fascinating world is available to anyone willing to spend the time to learn it. There will continue to be so much more to learn, and that is a wonder of one’s path in life: learning more. Now back to NJ and the deer . . .
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