First speaker of the day (aside from our Mayor Lovell, who was cheerful and concise) was Heather Champ, community manager for Flickr. Excellent presentation on shepherding online communities, as Flickr has done for millions around the world. I think aspiring community builders in the audience might have wondered what it takes to be so successful -- topic for another day, I guess.

Posted by lynda at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're here at the Bayshore in Owen Sound for the day I have been waiting for -- premier tech conference, well conference of any kind in these parts, HICKTech. The speakers got piped in by Charles Meanwell. The coffee is wonderful!

Posted by lynda at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You know you've really moved outta town when your local paper features tractor dancing AND a recipe for stuffed muskrat, both on the front page of the second section. There's so much to learn! The tractor action is a kind of square dancing, only with vintage tractors, planned as a highlight of this year's International Plowing Match, to be held in our own Bruce County. I was trying to remember the one time I went to a plowing match with my dad. I must have been in my teens and very unappreciative. All I can recall is muddy fields and makeshift booths. If I can make this year's event, I'll be looking around with a whole new perspective. And the muskrat recipe? Well, it starts with 2 muskrats, dressed. Haven't seen such a thing yet on my market visits, but I'm open to possibilities.

Posted by lynda at 09:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

One of the things I don't get enough of on my business trips to Saint John is exercise. Not that there aren't opportunities, what with a gym and pool in the hotel, and an enclosed mall connected to both office and hotel. It's just that the days tend to be very full and I end them collapsed in the hotel room and devoid of initiative. And don't try to tell me I should work out in the mornings -- that's just crazy talk, to quote my partner in sloth. So I decided to combine a reward for a long working week away from home with a new tech toy AND an exercise enabler. My new BOSE SoundDock arrived this morning. It is fed endless tunes by my original iPod, which had been abandoned for months because it couldn't hold a battery charge long enough to be even slightly useful. No longer a problem because this speaker system charges as it plays. Can't stop dancin'!

Posted by lynda at 09:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This TED Talk was a nice treat to bring my brain back to life after a demanding week-long session of teaching information architects in Saint John. And it takes less than five minutes to enjoy!

Posted by lynda at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)