Just for fun Wednesday

Today I have the best website for kids. Normally I prefer programs because Internet connections can sometimes be quirky. The way a neighbor cutting his grass at 5 AM on a Saturday is quirky. My kids beg to play what they call, "The Fish Game". Possion Rouge, which I think is French for red fish, is an interactive website for kids. It teaches them a multitude of skills. They learn colors, shapes, patterns, music, problem solving, numbers, letters, and much more. My children would lie and cheat to play it for a few more minutes. The funny thing is my wife likes to play it also.

Productivity Teusday (Because nobody gets anything done on Mondays)

My mother, a teacher, says that I have ADD. That means that thoughts can often get lost in the jumble of attention that is my mind. I have used various means to keep my thoughts and life straight. I have used PDAs, mind mapping websites, personal wikis, and even folded bits of paper. I recently found MindRaider.

A great program that lets me create an outline of information while at the same time making a mind map. The map gives me a visual to look at. It helps me focus my easily distracted mind. Also the program was easy for me to use.

Media Monday

I like music. As a younger man I even tried to teach myself how to play the guitar. Then I sold the guitar at a flea market, because I never spent much time practicing. My other hobby, computers, took up more time. However I still like to listen to music and my wife can sing really well. Sometimes I get the urge to edit some music to make it fit in a video I am making or to record my children singing. There is a great program for doing that, Audacity.

Audacity can edit music or sounds and it is great for recording. My kids just love to hear themselves. With an additional download you can use it to create mp3s of your music.

Discalimer: I do not claim to own any of the logos shown on this blog. They belong to their respective companies. I am just trying to make finding these wonderful programs a little easier.

Monday Media

Today for Monday media I want to share my favorite free image editor, GIMP.
This handy program does all the things you want it to. There is a learning curve to using it. I took a picture of my daughter that my wife wanted to make certain parts only black and white and certain parts retain the color. Here is the picture before.

Here is the picture after.

It took me a while to figure out how to make the whole pic black and white. After that is was easy. If you like to edit photos, and have some time to practice then this is the program for you.

Fantastic Friday post on Sunday

Oh well I meant to post this on Friday, but here it is Sunday.

Today I want to depart from the software end of technology and give you a taste of some more "real world" tech. The multi tool is the epitome of cheap technology. You get a variety of tools for a fraction of the cost. Lets start with a classic the Victorinox standard spartan.
You get the following

1.		large blade
2.		small blade
3.		corkscrew
4.		can opener with
5.		- small screwdriver 3 mm (also for Phillips screws)
6.		cap lifter with
7.		- screwdriver 6 mm
8.		- wire stripper
9.		reamer, punch
10.		key ring
11.		tweezers
12.		toothpick

Talk about a deal. You get quite a bit and for just a little money. It also saves space if you are a a neato. Can you believe you get all that and they call it spartan. Hah! Discalimer: I do not claim to own any of the logos shown on this blog. They belong to their respective companies. I am just trying to make finding these wonderful programs a litte easier.

Random Thursday

I have no idea what to post for this Thursday. So how about a little random program. I really like this one. I use it all the time. Quite often there are things on the Internet that I like to read. I may find recipes, or information that I may want to refer back to. I do not want to print it off. Usually I bookmark it, but sometimes websites go down or things get deleted so I save the page. WHen I save the page I end up with a whole mess of files on my computer. I have the page itself and then the folder for all the pics, code, and whatever. The program PrimoPDF solves all that.
After the install it sets it self up as a printer. So whatever you can print you can turn into a pdf. That means websites get turned into a single file. Much more organized. Also it makes those files you want to post on the web more accessible to others. Have a Powerpoint you want to put up just print it into a pdf. Very useful program and best of all it is free.

Discalimer: I do not claim to own any of the logos shown on this blog. They belong to their respective companies. I am just trying to make finding these wonderful programs a litte easier.

Just for fun Wednesday

Today I want to share a bit of technology just for fun. Being a teacher I think learning is fun. So I am sharing this free program with you. Sebran is a free program that helps teach kids numbers and words. For free it is a no frills program that does the job. My kids both love it and ask to play it pretty often. They love that Zebra.


Discalimer: I do not claim to own any of the logos shown on this blog. They belong to their respective companies. I am just trying to make finding these wonderful programs a litte