This past week I presented at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference on the topic Establishing Your District’s Relationship with Google along with Joshua Mulloy from the Newfound Area School District.
We discussed topics such as:

• Overview of Google Apps for Education
• Security concerns
• Google Apps dashboard demo
• Technology integration

References:

Guides:

http://deployment.googleapps.com/

https://sites.google.com/a/googleapps.com/k12-guide-to-going-google/

http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=182452

http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=182433

http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=182081

http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=67780

Professional Development:

https://sites.google.com/a/googleapps.com/k12-guide-to-going-google/pd

https://sites.google.com/a/googleapps.com/k12-guide-to-going-google/technical-integration/deployment-overview

http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/edu/webinars.html

Sign up:

http://www.google.com/a/cpanel/education/new

http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/request.py?contact_type=nonprofit

The 2011 Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference http://nhcmtc.org/ has been announced for November 29 – December 1, 2011, This year I am excited to be presenting the topic

Establishing Your District’s Relationship with Google

With the potential educational benefits and affordable price tag, many technology leaders are preparing to implement Google Apps for Education in their school/district. This session is intended to provide a technical overview of implementing and maintaining Google Apps for technology leaders considering or currently implementing Google Apps. Topics include the following: an overview of the Google Apps for Educations processes, project plan for integration, and deployment planning.

This session is intended to provide a technical overview of implementing and maintaining Google Apps for technology leaders considering or currently implementing Google Apps.
- An overview of the Google Apps for Educations processes
- Project Plan for integration
- Deployment Planning

Keep your eye out for more updates on the session

(although I can’t take credit for this I felt the need to share it!)
If Bud ABBOTT and Lou COSTELLO were alive today and were looking for a computer:
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W.’
COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘w’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes, no extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on ‘START’….

My Public Speaking Class at SNHU giving our speech’s along the Boston Freedom Trail

Sorry Apple but looks like you wont be getting any kudos from Consumer Reports anytime soon..

According to their recent testing  “we can’t recommend the iPhone 4” because of the issues with the reception and the potential dropped calls… sure we know Apple tried to blame a flaw in the algorithm, but seriously why didn’t they just take the MAcGyver approach and fix it with duct tape…. see the video below on how you can fix your iphone 4 with duct tape..

now 1,000,001 ways duct tape saves the day!..

Finally we can run flash on our iPads! Thanks to the guys over at scoopertino.com
and Apples rebuttal

This month at NH.rb I’m leading a hands-on session on setting up Ruby on Windows.

Windows has long been an “also ran” in the Ruby community… but no more! With a proper setup, Windows is a robust and stable platform for Ruby development and Tim will guide us through a live install of Ruby, Rubygems, and some popular gems. In addition, Windows IDEs (integrated development environments) will be covered. Wrapping up, we’ll put our new Ruby environment to the test developing a simple Rails application.

Spiceworks 4.5: Freeing Bigger IT Networks Around the World!

Whether you’re a one-person-shop, a full-service IT department or a managed service provider – Spiceworks 4.5 has you covered. Our 17th release in just 3 years, 4.5 delivers a slew of new and improved features that’ll increase speed and performance (up to 40% faster in IE 7 & 8!), deliver more robust multi-site support and security…and more!

* Access secure HTTPS/SSL Support for Multiple Networks
* Schedule customizable & controllable network scans
* Automate and organize your help desk with routing & queueing
* Use Spiceworks in more than 11 different languages such as: Deutsch, Español, Francais, Italiano, Portugues do Brasil, and more.
* Monitor your SQL Servers round the clock
* Create customizable and editable network maps

See all the ways you can use Spiceworks to simplify your IT day.

Are you infected? swine flu (H1N1 ), Trojan, worms, backdoors all awful words to describe the the various infections…
but really.. my pastor Tom talked his latest infection on his blog

He talked about “… You know Virus’s.  We recognize them by their symptoms.  Take the common cold.  We treat symptoms rather than attacking the source, which often masks itself as remain ever illusive!..”

but what is a virus?
“a software program capable of reproducing itself and usually capable of causing great harm ”

Ok i get it.. reproduction of something.. like my sin.. falling over and over again..

“…causing great harm…” YEA…. sin does that.. whether we like it or not… sin does cause great harm..

let’s take it a bit further..

Computer viruses do not arise spontaneously; they are made, intentionally by people and then turned loose on computer users via the internet/shared networks and THUMB drive (cough cough)..

so can SIN be created intentionally?
Matt 18:7 (International Standard Version)
How terrible it will be for the world due to its temptations to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!

can it be imposed/turned loose on others?
Matt 5:28 tells us.. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery WITH HER in his heart…

can sin spread?
Rom 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned

ok so this isn’t looking good for us!!!! Now how about them WMVD’s..
if I was as good at combating SIN as I am at computer infections this section of my thoughts would be a breeze but let me try to apply the same troubleshooting

Step 1: detection.. do I really have sin in my life..? where is it?
Well we can do like Job did and just ask…or keep digging…
Job 13:23 (NIV) How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.
1 john 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.

Step 2: acknowledgement.. then what types of sins? We know the 7 “deadly ones” but what about the rest.. sins of the flesh, spirit, against neighbors..
Psalm 79:4 We are objects of reproach to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.
1 John 1:10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts

Step 3: confession.. well yeah! i know I got them so let’s get the out in the open
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Daniel-9: 4-5 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands. 5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.

Step 4: eradication.. (virus removal)
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
John 5:14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Step 5: protection..like a good antivirus program
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it…
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

So there are many ways we can find the virus (sin) in our life.. and God shows us there are ways to protect us from them… in all Jesus is the ultimate ANTI-Virus.. for our sins….

I’ve been a SpiceWorks user since 2007 and have been loving it!

This slidedeck will help explain what Spiceworks is .. a nutshell.. it’s the best free way to monitor your network.. we have over 8 offices/subnets over 200 devices and 1500+ software apps that SpiceWorks manages..i also used SpiceWorks to help with our Security Controls for Federal Information Systems Accreditation process for  NITS 800-53,

oh best of all IT’S FREE

As I travel I’ve wanted the ability to post blog updates without having to lug out my laptop, connect to the internet etc.. I knew that I could use the email to blog function built into wordpress. Then all I’d need to do is send an email from my blackberry.

However I’m heading out on a mission trip this week with 27 people from our church and I wanted to allow certain people to post entries without all the baloney of the laptops, internet, etc.. The built-in wordpress plugin limited me to just one user, and I wanted to have multiple users post to the blog since there are a bunch of us going on this trip. I also wanted to insure that not just anyone could post incase somehow the posting email address got spammed.

I came across the Postie Plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/postie/

There are many features this plugin offers.. like the ability to add images to posts as well as video.

But the best feature was the limiting of posting by email addresses.. this would cover the spammers as well as only allowing certain people to post..

The 1st test was successful… and now I’m testing the ability to add images, links and filtering out email footers

Is it OK to tweet during church?
TIME thinks so

Although they may have missed the boat since Anthony Coppedge has been bolgging about it for a while now at http://twitterforchurches.com

Should we be twittering in church? Is this the new way to connect to the congregation? What are your thoughts?