Be Contagious

It’s that time of year again! A new year is a chance to make lifestyle changes as we reflect on our lives over the past year and ask important questions about our health, personal habits, relationships and career. I have made it a point to be very practical this year with the anticipation that it will increase the likelihood of my success. Below are a few keys to help you live up to your resolutions for 2009.

If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Setting a goal without a plan is wishful thinking. You must clearly map out each step (baby step), that leads to success and reward yourself along the way each time you reach a milestone. It has also been proven that writing thoughts and ideas down on paper increase the odds of success and keep you encouraged.

“I get by with a little help from my friends,” are not only song lyrics, but words to live by. Cultivate a network that can support your efforts and motivate you when times become challenging. Tell your closest friends and family of what you are trying to achieve.

Be flexible and expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a way of throwing things at us and deviations are just a part of life and don’t have to become major setbacks. If you get off track, recognize your partial successes then review your plan and make adjustments. Don’t discourage yourself with a negative outlook and instead start over with a positive approach.

The most important thing to consider when resolving to create change in your life is to decide if you are truly willing to make the changes you want to accomplish for yourself. Share your successes, maintain a positive outlook and don’t forget to encourage friends and family!

From Inside She-Tech we would to thank all of you for our success. It was a great 2008 and we are certainly encouraged by your support that it will be a fantastic 2009. An optimistic tech-savvy attitude can be contagious. Make it a great 2009 and Happy New Year to all!

Internet2

The Internet is infected with spam, viruses and other ailments that threaten web servers across the world. The internet is also faced with the exponential growth in the demand for URLs to accommodate all kinds of new devices. These challenges are not new, but have recently charged conversations with corporations and government about the future of the internet. It is increasingly becoming more vulnerable and one of the earliest projects to overhaul the structure of the internet is the Internet2 initiative.

The Internet2 project was formed in 1996 when 34 university researchers met to discuss ways to develop and implement a new Internet: appropriately named Internet2. The project has grown into a nonprofit consortium formally administered by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development.

Members of this organization are busy developing, deploying, and using networking technologies that tap protocols like IPv6 to access an astronomical amount of new URL address space, as well as a host of middleware and security capabilities, such as federated authentication, and advanced applications like high-definition videoconferencing. In the future these technologies will provide substantially faster surfing/email and enable networking in ways that aren’t possible via the existing global commercial Internet. Among the possibilities are digital libraries, virtual laboratories, distance and independent learning and even health applications.

There is much more to come with the World Wide Web and I am excited to learn that it only gets better. Early critics of the internet must agree that internet connectivity, email, social networking and the like, are not fads, but methods of advanced communication that are part of our culture and unite people across the globe. The internet revolution is here. Spectate, participate and stay connected.

Frugal and Fabulous

The falling economy has lead to a plethora of behavioral changes. Like most challenging times, adversity can bring out the best in us. When faced with life’s pitfalls, particularly those related to economics, fashion-savvy shopaholics have their backs against the wall. But the strong and fabulous have truly prevailed and given rise to a new term: Recession-nista. Recession-nistas are those women, who in spite of financial barriers, manage to remain flawless AND fabulous. Perhaps you know one or two that don’t spend a fortune, but always look like a million bucks.

Well…I too have curbed my personal expenditures and have employed some Recession-nista like techniques to sustain during this dreadful economic downturn. My frequent trips to Starbucks have turned into a once-a-week special event. Personal maintenance, such as hair and nails, has also been minimized. Despite these curtailments, I have managed to preserve a somewhat fashionable tech-savvy image throughout the fall and winter seasons.

For those of you who need the help, here are a few online shopping tips to get you through this unfortunate period that I grabbed from Bargain Shopper Lady.com .

1. Do an on line coupon code search. If you are about to purchase an item on line search to see if any on line coupons are available.

2. Sign up your email address with your favorite stores on line. By being on their distribution lists they will quite frequently send you coupons, on line discount codes, sales notices and clearance alerts.

3. Join online bargain web sites to find clearance deals. There are a few bargain web sites that have been designed to help you find great deals on line. Bargain Shopper Lady recommends Slick Deals.

If you’re fortunate enough to be unscathed by the present storm, these techniques may enable you to put away few more bucks. For those of you that are struggling to stay afloat, remember most importantly that being fabulous is a state of mind. Be thrifty throughout the holidays, happy shopping and stay connected!

Explore Innovation

To kick off innovation for 2009, CEA, the Consumer Electronics Association, is putting on its annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 8-11. CEA is the leading trade association promoting growth of consumer technology and represents more than 2,200 corporate members in the consumer electronics product industry. All profits from the show are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy. CES is an international event and over the past forty years it has spanned across global markets, connected the industry and fostered growth and innovation.

This show is an electronics playground and ideal for professionals in the industry or the everyday run of the mill gadget junkie. Such topics of interest that will be featured at the show are audio, gaming, wireless, home networking technology and more. The exhibition floor showcases 2,700 exhibitors across thirty different product categories and even includes exhibitions of the latest mind-blowing emerging technologies.

If you have plans or are making plans to attend this year's show, I am envious. This will surely be a spectacular event and a fascinating experience for all the tech-nista gadget enthusiasts. In addition to the 200 or so informational knowledge tracks, there will be celebrity speakers, an innovation awards ceremony and plenty of time to sight-see in Las Vegas. Enjoy this fantastic event if you are fortunate to attend. Inquiure, explore and stay connected!