Lunch 2.0 @ Oversee.net

Lunch 2.0 @ Oversee.net
Originally uploaded by dewelch

I didn't take a lot of pictures at today/yesterday's Lunch 2.0 meetup. I think I was too busy talking with folks. I met a lot of great people, as always.

Since the location was downtown, right across the street from the Central Library, I took the Orange Line to the Red Line and exited at 7th Street/Metro station. A couple of blocks walk and I was there. I have known for years that the best way to go downtown is on the subway. (SMILE)

A few more photos below...

Cherry Trees at Lake Balboa -- It's almost time!

It's almost that time of year again. Rosanne and I took at walk at Lake Balboa yesterday and I noticed that a few cherry blossoms are starting to open on the smaller trees around the lake.

I would expect a full bloom in a week or so. When this happens the lake undergoes and amazing transformation. The first time I happened upon it I was utterly dazzled.

Set aside some time to do some photowalking around Lake Balboa and I am sure you will get some great pictures.

On a disappointing note, I saw that all the huge wisteria vines, which used to produce an amazing display of blooms, have been cut back nearly to the ground. Not sure what brought about such a hatchet job. Probably someone decided the arbors needed maintenance or something. There are ways to train a wisteria so you can still maintain its supports, though. Sheesh! It will take years for the vines to regain their previous stature.

Link: Photo Gallery from 2003 Bloom
Link: Lake Balboa Information

Elsewhere Online: Van Nuys' best blogger

Wow! People have been saying some very kind words about me, my writing and my shows, this week. I am humbled by the attention, and grateful, as well!

Thanks!

Van Nuys' best blogger

Hint: It's not me.

Nope, it's this guy: Douglas E. Welch, whose My Word, A Gardener's Notebook, TechnologyIQ, Career Opportunities and Careers in Podcasting and New Media blogs never fail to impress me, both with their technological level (always high), quality of writing and sheer relevance.

(Via Come on, Feel the Nuys.)

BarCampLA-5 is This Weekend - March 1 & 2

(Updated 2/26/08 217pm: (from BarCampLA Twitter) - While a more formal announcement is coming later tonight, we've upped the number of attendees to 250 people. http://icanhaz.com/bcla5-guests)

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The latest installment of BarCampLA is coming this weekend and I will be there. You should be, too. Check out the web site at BarCampLA.org

BarCamp is an unconference, which means the program is developed entirely by those attending. Everyone who comes is also a presenter. Come listen to sessions on business, technology, PR...whatever strikes our fancy and then give others the benefit of your expertise.

I am hoping to present 2 sessions at this BarCamp:

A Year of Visibility 2.0 - You need to let people know what you do, and how well you do it, if you want to take your life and career to a new level. I will show you how to go about raising your visibility in whatever realm you wish and the tools that can help make it happen.

Podcasting Now! - Using free Internet tools, you can be podcasting within minutes. I will give you step-by-step instructions on how to start podcasting right from BarCamp itself. No need to take weeks getting set up. Pick up you cell phone or camera and start podcasting TODAY!

Openings to attend BarCampLA-5 are filling up fast. Get your name in today or, at least, get on the waiting list. You don't want to miss it.

TechnologyIQ highlighted as Top 10 Technology Podcast - Welcome TechRepublic Readers

I awoke to a very pleasant surprise this morning. TechnologyIQ was selected as one of the Top 10 Technology Podcasts by TechRepublic Executive Editor, Jason Hiner.

This was entirely unexpected, but very welcome news. It is great to be included in with such tech podcast giants like Buzz Out Loud and TWIT (This Week in Tech) with Letecho Laporte. You'll find a link to all the Top 10 podcasts in the article excerpt below.

If you have arrived here from TechRepublic, welcome! I hope you like what you see and hear. Drop me a comment and let me know what would help you and/or your clients to "control your technology, don't let it control you." ... which is my theme here at TechnologyIQ.

While you are here, let me introduce you to my other blogs and podasts...

Career Opportunities

A print column for 12 years and a podcast for 3 1/2 years, Career Opportunities is "Helping to Build the Career You Deserve" with weekly, 5-6 minute columns on getting the most out of your career.

A Gardener's Notebook

Come and join me in my garden and watch as I both succeed and fail with my gardening projects. Audio and video podcasts bring you into my garden on a regular basis.

Careers in Podcasting and New Media

The home for my work and writing about New Media and what it means for all of us. Here you will find videos from talks I have given at various BarCamp and PodCamp events and more.

My Word

My catch-all personal blog, podcast and vlog highlighting all the neat stuff (and neat people) I find in my life. Travelogue videos, "What I'm Reading...", PlacesLA, interviews and more.

Sanity check: The 10 best technology podcasts | Tech Sanity Check | TechRepublic.com

Author: Jason Hiner

Because of the breakneck pace of change in the technology world, there is so much information that most of us need to keep up with on a daily basis. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to read as much as I would like. As a result, podcasts are one of the most valuable tools that I use to stay current in tech, because of the fact that I can multi-task while I’m listening to podcasts.

(Continues on the web site)

(Via TechRepublic.)

Lunar Eclipse visible in California - February 20, 2008

A total lunar eclipse is coming February 20 and will be visible in Southern California. Although the moon will be partially eclipsed as it rises, we will be able to witness totality here. Even better, it happens early in the evening so even the kiddies can enjoy it.

For all the nitty-gritty details, you can check out this informative page from Sky and Telescope.

Link: February 20th's Eclipse of the Moon: All of the Americas will have ringside seats . . . weather permitting.

Previous mentions of "eclipse" on WelchWrite.com

Video: Palm Springs Weekend

iPod Ready Video

A few short scenes from our weekend in Palm Springs.

Event: V - The Second Generation with Kenny Johnson Book Reading

Our friend, Kenny Johnson, is having a reading of his new V novel. He was the creator and producer of the original V series. Place and time are noted below.

Join Us for a coffee and some books!

Douglas

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Hi…

Just what you’ve been waiting for: the chance to get your own personally autographed copy of my new novel…

V – THE SECOND GENERATION

Barnes and Noble in Encino (16461 Ventura @ Hayvenhurst) is hosting a book signing on March 5 at 7:30pm. -- I’d love to have you come so I won’t be there alone.

The novel picks up the epic story of my original, critically-acclaimed miniseries V – twenty years after the arrival of the alien Visitors. Hiding their dark agenda and reptilian nature beneath false human skin, the Visitors have brought many benefits to humankind and seduced the majority into believing The Big Lie: that they will be the saviors of Earth. But in truth they are draining our oceans and subjugating our people.

A small but determined human Resistance has fought them for more than two decades, but without more aid their cause is hopeless. Then, at their darkest hour, the Resistance discovers startling new allies who have come to help. …Or have they?

V – THE SECOND GENERATION is a suspenseful, fast-paced thriller about a nightmarish wartime occupation. It explores how the enormous pressures of such an ordeal brings out the worst – or the most heroic – in human nature.

The novel will be available in both hardcover and trade paper editions, but B&N recommends you calling them at 818 380 1636 at least two weeks ahead to preorder and have your copy held.

There is more information about the novel at www.kennethjohnson.us

(The trade edition is lovely, but for only a few dollars more, the hardcover would, I’m sure, become a family heirloom passed on for generations ;)

I’m hoping that you will come say hello and that you’ll enjoy –

V – THE SECOND GENERATION

Best regards…

Kenny

LOLCatz Strikes Again!

I am beginning to think that I Can Hax Cheezburger should officilly declared an anti-depression drug. Even as lousy as I am feeling today I laughed out loud (LOL) at many of these.


moar humorous pics

Vote for our friend's idea in the Cisco I-Prize!

??Our friend, Ben Forer, needs your help. It will only take 5 minutes…and may change the world.

I first met been, the son of a close friend, when my wife, Rosanne and his father, Dan, were working together on Touched by an Angel. Ben and I spent a lot of time together, back when he was 10 as Rosanne and Dan also produced 2 episodes of Nightline on then President Clinton. Ben and I even visited the White House together.

Ben is now at Syracuse University in New York state. My how the time does fly!

So, as part of his studies, Ben has submitted an entry for the Cisco I-Prize. The competition is for innovative ideas involving Cisco Technology. In simple terms, his idea is to create an interactive TV Network for colleges and universities. He calls it CTPN which stands for the Cisco TelePresence Network.

There are less than 24 hours remaining in the voting and he just needs to get it in the top 200 for it to be considered by the Cisco committee.

If you have five minutes, please go here and vote

Register with your name and email and then respond to the confirmation email you receive.

You will be taken to the website. At the top of the page, you will see a box that says Search. Enter the letter CTPN (for the Cisco TelePresence Network) and it will take you to the appropriate entry.

Next to the entry is a + plus and a – minus sign. Please just click on the + plus sign. That’s all it takes.

If Ben is selected he can win up to $250,000 to develop his idea.

Thanks !

Ugly, ugly week with Bronchitis

If I haven't talked to you directly this week, then you probably have no idea that I am down for the count with a nasty case of bronchitis. Since last Friday I have been trying to bull my way through and still say productive, but today I was so under the weather that I had to cancel appointments and spend most of the day on the sofa.

I get bronchitis about once a year and usually medication takes care of it, but this seems a particularly nasty case, so I have had to handle questions via email and phone as best I can.

That said, this Thursday, Feb 14, is my birthday so I am hoping to be feeling better by then. I am also teaching my twice-monthly Internet Seminar at the Sherman Oaks Branch of the LA Public Library that night, and being able to talk is usually an important part of the class (SMILE)

So there you have it. I am struggling, but hope to be feeling better as soon as I can. If you have questions, send me an email at douglas@welchwrite.com and I will drag myself from my sick bed to send an answer. (SMILE)

Learning languages

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What I'm Reading...Feb 4, 2008

iPod Ready Video - Click Here

A small selection of books today, both new and old and a deck of creativity cards.

Super Happy vlog House in Ojai on weekend of Feb 16

Just got this via the BarCampLA mailing list. It sounds like a great way to spend President's Day weekend and work on your audio and video projects.

Lan Bui and the OC'ers suggested another Super Happy Vlog House

We're on for weekend of Feb 16th (bring your valentine for an Ojai getaway)

http://superhappyvloghouse.pbwiki.com/OjaiDigitalDojo

make media, make a vlog*, flickr walk in the los padres forrest next door, relax in the spa, whatever.

hope you can join us.

(* drupal and wordpress geeks especially welcomed)

http://digitaldojo.blogspot.com/