Work Smart, Play Smart! Advanced Learning at IBM on Second Life!

Chuck Hamilton, Director - Center For Advanced Learning IBM, Vancouver BC. - is training real "Avatar" Employees in the Virtual world of Second Life.

Should work be this much fun?

I have heard about the virtual online world of Second Life by staying up on my favorite Video Podcast - GeekBrief.tv , but I gave it the: "Gee-that's-nice...looks-fun... no-time-for-that, I'm-sure-my-kids-would-like-it...", response.

When I read about IBM's using it as a virtual meeting space, it really legitimized it for me... (I'll be entering my second life soon! Maybe I'll meet Cali (Luria) Lewis ;) ... Um.. , as soon as I finish preparing for my presentation tomorrow.

This could make conference calls, webcasts and video conferencing a whole lot more "infotaining" .. (to use an Armstrong and Getty-ism.)

We have arrived in the future.... and it's been waiting for us all this time.

Equityman Commercial

I helped a friend Mike Brouse, aka Equityman, put together a little audio commercial for a local Christian radio station. I didn't do this final mix, but he used my voice in the intro. We had fun. The little girl voice is his darling daugher, Sofia. > Equityman Commercial <

Throw Them While You Can!

Do it again, Daddy!

Good thing I'm a good catcher.

Common ground

In connecting with an audience, large or small, it's imperative that we address the common ground. Whatever you're selling: ideas, products, or yourself, people will grant you their attention, and "buy in" to the degree that they know you are real.

The littlest things, the weather, the traffic, the conversation with the teenage son or daughter the night before.... These can be stories that expose our human frailties.

This should occur as early as possible, and is a masterful way to involve and engage your listener with questions.

A conversational tone communicates that we are being ourselves... I don't mean overly casual, and informal..... It can be taken too far... But the importance of making the connection can't be overlooked.

It's definitely not "all about you"! "They don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care".

There's a fun game called "You don't know me". Each student lists three facts about themselves, only one of which is true.

I was at Woodstock. I have published three books. I have a pilot's license. Will the true statement please stand up?

It's a lot of fun and you learn something that you didn't know about the person.

geo greetings.com

www.geogreeting.com Pretty cool.

Merry Christm.. Happy January 7th... from the Poneks!

So, we couldn't get it together to have a Christmas picture... So here's the January 7th family picture(s).

(to the tune of Jingle Bells) Racing home from church, in a white Suburban Chevrolet. Stopping at Starbuck's y'know, bickering all the way! ho ho ho Camera's pointing towards the light, then the battery dies. Oh what fun is to try, to get all of us to smile! --.--

...Pretty comical event. It's good that we can all laugh at ourselves... pretending to be happy!

Truth is, we ARE pretty dang happy, but in the hustle and bustle we can drive each other crazy. "Hurry up, don't touch that!, get over here, stop leaning on me, the kitten just got out, who left the front door open?, let the cat be the battery's gonna die, it's too exposed point into the sun, Gabriella get your camera, get over on the porch, Eliana come back here, the kitty is fine, hey don't make that face!, put your hands down, put the Doritos away, how do you work this thing, your lips are all orange, hey you have a big zit today. .....

..Next time I'll record the audio of the Somewhat Annual Ponek Family Picture Taking Event... It's a crack up...

Fw: The Heather Bus -

The latest mailer from Sewzanne's! Sooz doesn't want to put this on her blog because she feels it's too spammy. I'm not shy .... ... Not like anyone will see it here.... I think my blog is a black hole... .... But that's ok, because I'd still be mortified if people tracked back to my home page, which is VERY unfinished. I've been eager to get this look and feel in place ( Super Thanks to Troy at Kingdomgraphics.biz ), but I've been delinquent about uploading content and categories.

How Many Heathers Does it Take..... ...to tell the world that [contact-Name], is our FAVORITE Customer?! The long awaiting Heather Ross bus has arrived! Take a look at some of her fun new prints. The ones she teased us about in the interview. You'll recognize her style from the popular Munki Munki clothing line. And if one Heather wasn't enough, we have more! Heather Bailey has some fantastic prints, also designing for Free Spirit. In fact, we're running a special promo this week for our launch of Heather Bailey's "Fresh Cut". Use Coupon Code HB10 for a 10% discount to your "Fresh Cut" purchases, through Friday 1/12/07. Remember: You click it, we ship it! ...We're not foolin' around over here! Every time we see the mail lady we ask her to please hurry up, because you want your fabric now! ... and she's pretty quick......I dunno how she does it! Take a look at "Bailey's" blog, and learn more about this crafty, mother of two: Hello My Name is Heather Busses, Doggies and Flowers, Oh My! Check out all the great new Heather Ross prints! (quickly!)...You know how it goes.... Fresh Cut! from Heather Bailey Heather Bailey's Debut line with Free Spirit. 10% Off this week with coupon code HB10 Sportin' some new knits! Watermelon-Soccer Monkey-floral hockey-flamin' pucky-slammin' knits! Stretch Yourself! ...and our great selection of Stretch Poplins! I know nobody reads this far down on the page, but if you are accidentally reading this I do wonder if my new animated images are annoying-seizure inducing distractions, or are they are helpful, appreciated fabric teases? Feel free to reply with your brief (or not so brief) feedback. I wonder if your favorite person would appreciate this mailer... Click here to send this to a FAVORITE friend Rachael H is the winner of December's Sew Talented drawing! ... And she doesn't even know it yet!!! Shhhhhhhhhhhh.! (Made with Monkey Business Knit and Spring 06 Ottobre ). Thanks for all the great entries! check 'em out >> click click

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