Startup Idea - Zip Buses

I think someone should start a Zip Bus-type company to compete with public transportation. In Boston, the buses are crowded and often late. Why not have competition?

Zip buses or other types of buses running on alternative energy would be the way to go. We need to resolve our fuel dependency. Add wireless access, make the buses comfortable that accommodate to people's riding habits.

Any thoughts?

What new instrument would you want for Rock Band/Guitar Hero?

What new instrument would you add to the Guitar/Rock Band Hero series?

Rock Band Hero/Guitar Hero is one of the best music education programs around. The other day at lunch, my friends and I were discussing other instruments that could be added to this series.

Conductor Hero was suggested for those that would like to experience conducting a symphony hero. We also thought of Bagpipe Hero since one of the people at lunch plays that instrument.

What new instrument would you add to the Guitar/Rock Band Hero series?

Time For Giving

It is the time for giving. If finances allow, please consider the following 3 organizations.

Kiva

ModestNeeds

Heifer International

Technology Picks 2008 - eduFire

Online education has always been a passion of mine. I felt ecstatic when I could teach ESL using Skype (one of my all-time favorite technologies).

eduFire is a great learning platform. It provides live audio and video for teaching. In full disclosure, I teach for them. However, regardless of my involvement, it is a great site. I've taught on all the online platforms and I believe that this is the best site.

The majority of classes are language-learning related but other topics are available. Can't find the class you want? Suggest it on one of the forums and somebody will offer to teach it.

eduFire works on a simple concept- teachers charge the student a rate for a lesson and eduFire takes a small commission. The best feature of eduFire - great people and a great community.

Technology Picks 2008 - Mimeo

I love the concept of working from anywhere and I love any technology that makes working from anywhere easier. One company that accomplishes this is Mimeo.

Mimeo allows you to write a document on your PC and then have that document printed in quantity anywhere. No need to worry about completing a document and rushing to the photocopy store.

In their own words,

"Mimeo.com is the innovator of online, on-demand document printing and distribution. Founded in 1998, our mission has always been simple: To delight our customers with the fastest, easiest, and most reliable way to print, manage, and distribute documents.

We understand how important documents are to your business and that you might have to make last-minute changes, ship to multiple locations, or share document ordering with your entire company. Most of all, we know that your printed materials reflect you and absolutely have to be perfect in quality and delivered on time. Mimeo.com's simple online ordering process gives you complete control over how your documents are produced— which means you can be confident you'll make the right impression, every time." - www.mimeo.com/aboutus/

Online Political Conferencing

The Internet influences politics in many ways. Not surprisingly, it has shown its strength as a money machine.

Political blogging has given ownership of the press to anyone who chooses to publish. Some of the writing is excellent and much of it is just a rehash of sound bites and rants and raves. Political bulletin boards are the same. Some of the boards provide excellent debates while others are threads of rants and raves.

Anonymity makes it easy for anyone to say whatever they want. There is no accountability. User names mean nothing!

However, technology is always in flux. Web conferencing software has the potential to change this. The webcam option provides someone from hiding behind a user name. The voice option also removes some of the secrecy.

This technology can be valuable to candidates. They can use it to provide information to their managers from regional to local levels. This information can then be disseminated to the voters.

Bottom up conversations can also make use of this technology. Local leaders can have town hall meetings and pass this information upstream.

I have a wiziq account where I can host private web conferences. My free account allows me to invite up to 50 participants. 

I want to explore how we can use web conferences to discuss issues and candidates. If you are interested, please let me know what you would like to discuss. Once enough people respond, we'll determine an appropriate time and I'll set up a conference and post the link on this blog.

I look forward to conversing with all.

Classrooms on Cell Phones

Learn English as a Second Language using your cell phone. The initial version of Classrooms On Cell Phones is live. 

It's free! Sign up and share your thoughts with us.

Sincerely,

Alan