It seems like a female right of passage. Your first Black Friday. A mixture of child-like anticipation, consumer-driven desire and competitive adrenaline. It’s an American tradition that I’ve never really had much interest in. Last year I blogged about Black Friday, but didn’t admit that I’ve never taken part.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to shop. I especially love Christmas shopping. But I’m more of a leisurely browser than a power shopper. I carefully plan each gift for my friends and family. And I do not like crowds when I’m shopping. That’s why all through college I would go grocery shopping in the middle of the night.

But, just like everyone else, I’m trying to save a few bucks, and I think I might take the plunge this year and have my first Black Friday experience.

Here’s what I’m using to prep:

http://www.blackfriday.info/

http://bfads.net/

These sites include product lists with photos, icons showing door busters and rebates, and include full scans of the original store ads. You can also choose to add items to a shopping list so you have a clear game plan.

I’m also adding an iPhone app to the mix. Tara Thomas introduced me to ShopSavvy. It will scan any bar code and then show you online listings for that product. Basically, it’s a way to do some comparison shopping in the middle of the fray. I spent some time running around the newsroom scanning books, food wrappers, the Kleenex box…just to test it out.

What are your Black Friday secrets? I’m looking for some guidance from the pros!

Posted under Holiday, Web/Tech

I’ve seen this circulating on some tech blogs, but beyond that it doesn’t seem to be gaining much steam.

A bill in the House of Representatives right now would provide low-income families with the money for broadband access. Called the Broadband Affordability Act of 2009, it was introduced back in September by California Representative Doris Matsui. Right now it’s sitting in a committee.

I can see both sides to this argument. In a time when people are losing their jobs and the healthcare debate is center stage, should broadband access be a high priority? At the same time, my parents live in Tanzania and have a faster Internet connection than some people who live here in eastern Iowa.

Of course, when you start to talk about affordability, you also need to look at accessibility. That’s one of many issues found in the I-Jobs legislation passed earlier this year in Iowa. In that bill was $25 million to promote the deployment and sustainability of high speed Internet access in communities without it. As of August, Iowa is working to map available broadband in the state to help prioritize projects.

So what are your thoughts on the affordability and accessibility of broadband access here in Iowa. And do Iowans even care?

Posted under Economy, Politics, Web/Tech

Health departments across the county have recently suggested that hospitals limit the number and even ages of visitors to help curb the spread of H1N1. At St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids, that means the groups Mommy and Me and the Breastfeeding Support Group have been postponed until further notice.

St. Luke’s is using the live-blogging tool “Cover It Live,” (which we also use here on KWWL.com) to keep mom’s connected during the support group hiatus. The program will allow new mom’s to chat with each other or ask questions to a health expert moderating the conversation.

The groups are password protected. For times or to request log in information, call (319) 369-7166.

Posted under Health, Web/Tech

I was browsing the iPhone app store last night and the Genius tab suggested I try TripIt. Normally I would have glazed right over any travel apps since I don’t travel as much as I used to, but I actually have a long trip coming up in December and I’ve been looking for a way to organize it all.

It seems pretty simple on the surface - you e-mail TripIt your confirmation itinerary. It breaks down each leg of your trip, then allows you to add notes like car rental info, maps and weather information to each stop.

When I do travel, it’s normally to visit my parents in Tanzania, and I’m always a little skeptical of travel sites. I feel like they promise me the world, but can rarely deliver anything outside the U.S. My upcoming trip involves flights through 3 continents and 5 countries. So I decided to put TripIt to the test.

I forwarded my itinerary to TripIt, and in less than 5 minutes, my travel plans showed up both online and in the iPhone app. Each flight has a button to check flight status and check in online, weather for both departure and arrival. It also lists all of the important info like confirmation number, seat number, meals and timezone. For Mac users, it will also sync with iCal.

Probably the nicest feature so far - the ability to add extra info to each stop. I have a longer layover in Washington, D.C. where I plan to meet up with friends and I’ve been adding maps and contact info into that section.

You can also upgrade to TripIt Pro and get alerts about flight delays and track your frequent flyer miles.

So far, I’m impressed. But, I won’t leave home without a hard copy of all my travel plans. I’m not sure what my cell service will look like when I leave the states and I’m still a little skeptical of the accuracy until I see it action.

Have your own online travel tool? I’m always open to suggestions! Leave a comment!

Posted under Travel, Web/Tech

If you’ve ever found yourself looking at your neighborhood on Google Earth - then this event is right up your alley.

Cedar Rapids is hosting an open house on Nov. 16, to showcase GIS, a computer-based mapping tool the city uses for everything from police response to land development. The open house with showcase the software’s role in the community and there will also be a map gallery and interactive mapping stations open to the public. The open house will be at the Cedar Rapids Public Library at Westdale Mall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

GIS stands for geographic information systems, and extends beyond Cedar Rapids. GIS Day is actually an annual international event happening on Nov. 18. You can find out more at www.gisday.com or on Twitter (@GIS_Day).

Posted under Education, Web/Tech

I don’t think the hype was anything to rival an Apple release, but even this iPhone owner is wondering if the grass is greener on the other side.

I have a big decision to make. When my contract is up next year, do I upgrade to 3GS or do I go Android?

I’ve read the reviews and watched the demos. But, I need the opinion of an average person and not a tech expert.

Anybody picked up one of the new Droid and willing to write a quick review for my blog? E-mail me or leave a comment.

Posted under Web/Tech

I received this question today from Sher in Fayette County:

WITH ALL THE WARNINGS, ETC. ABOUT THE FLU SPREADING AND SINCE MOSTLY EVERYONE USES A COMPUTER…HOW DOES ONE DISINFECT THE KEYBOARD.

Good question! I always try to wipe down my phone, computer and desk every once in a while to control the dust, and since I practically live at my desk, the food. And now with people getting sick here at work it’s become a more regular habit to control the germs.

There are special wipes and sprays you can normally find in the electronics department that are specially designed for computers, TVs, etc.

I normally use a dry cloth first for the dust, then follow with a paper towel or soft cloth that I lightly spray with Lysol.

When I worked at a cleaning service in college, we used a half water/half vinegar solution for dusting and floors.

Regardless of what you choose - if the product contains any type of moisture, make sure your electronics are turned off first and wait about an hour before turning them back on.

Leave your suggestions as a comment below!

Posted under Health, Web/Tech

Losing a friend is never easy. And one of the few things I’ve learned about grieving is that it never really ends. Just when you think life is back to normal, a random song on the radio can bring that person back to life, if only for an instant.

Searching the words “in loving memory” on Facebook turns up more than 21,000 results, including the group for Coach Ed Thomas that now boasts almost 50,000 members.

This week, Facebook is getting a lot of attention for a blog post outlining a tragedy faced by a Facebook employee and explaining how to turn a profile into a memorial page. While many blogs are proclaiming this a new feature, the option has actually been around for several years. According to this USA Today article, Facebook made the decision about memorial pages after the Virginia Tech shootings.

Here’s a link to the Facebook form to have a page memorialized. It requires some basic information like e-mail, DOB and Networks and online proof from a funeral home or news organization that the person died.

The process will hide personal information on the profile and keep it out of searches and recommendations. But, current confirmed friends will still be able to view and contribute to the page.

It’s just another way to relive those special moments, and no matter how long it’s been, to still share those special memories with others who will understand our loss.

Posted under Web/Tech

While Homecoming is important at every school, at the University of Missouri we mean business. It’s not just a social/sporting event, it’s a requirement for alumni. Mizzou claims to be the birthplace of the Homecoming tradition and we are passionate about making the trip back to celebrate together.

On a smaller scale, the journalism graduates are an extremely tight knit network of professionals. We consider complete strangers to be family based on our education. We refer to ourselves as the Mizzou Mafia and our mission is to help Missouri journalism grads make the most of every opportunity.

Today, my mentor, friend and favorite new media mind, Jen Reeves, hosted the 6th Annual Real World Homecoming Lunch. The purpose: use homecoming to bring professional journalists and students together to share some practical advice. And also consume massive amounts of our favorite local pizza.

This year, Jen decided to recruit some students to help live blog the lunch. Not only were hundreds of students and journalists gathered in a room together, but dozens of professionals from around the country were able to chime in on their lunch break. Thanks to Cover It Live, moderators were able to pull in information and pictures from everyone in the room (using their phones and laptops) as well as comments from those using a Twitter hashtag or commenting in the live chat. There was a presentation going on at the actual lunch, but I think the online version was much deeper and more complex.

While much of the discussion centered around the news business, here are some tips that I think can apply to everyone.

• Learn everything you can while you’re in school through classes and internships, especially in regards to technology.
• New graduates are expected to know how to integrate technology into the workplace, so make sure you can deliver on that expectation.
• Bosses matter - make sure you find someone you respect and who is willing to invest in you.
• Find your niche. Find that skill that sets you apart from everyone else and make sure your managers take note.
• Take initiative. In most instances, companies tell you what they require as the bare minimum. You should always go above and beyond without being asked.
• Don’t box yourself in. When you’re job hunting, don’t narrow your focus so far that you miss a great opportunity.

Feel free to share your advice for recent or soon-to-be college grads below.

Posted under Education, Web/Tech

This weekend I participated in my first big race - the Des Moines half marathon.

People have been equally impressed and unimpressed by this. For the accomplished runner - finishing a half marathon in just under 3 hours is nothing to brag about. For the non-runners (myself included) finishing in any amount of time is impressive.

I don’t consider myself a runner, despite the fact I run on a regular basis and am now contemplating a full marathon. And because of that I had only two goals with this race - run the entire thing without walking and finish in under 3 hours, and I was able to do both.

While there were many profound moments during the course of the morning, the tech nerd in me was fascinated when my sister was able to sign up for text alerts to track my progress during the race.

Image courtesy: Ultramaxtri.com

When I registered for the race I received a plastic card to tie to my shoes. When I crossed the start line it would begin timing the race and every time I ran over one of the blue mats on the race course, it would update my time with pace info and send a text update to my sister. She graciously volunteered to drive up to Iowa and be my cheering section and help me hobble to the car when the race was over. For some, the pacing info was crucial, in my case the texts were a way to reassure my sister I was still moving!

Blue mats along the race course capture information from cards on the runners' shoes.

It was so cool to cross the finish line and walk over to the results tent and get an instant printout with my race time, place and pace info.

I will say that I thought about tweeting during the race, and I actually saw people do just that, but decided to focus on making it across the finish line instead of documenting the journey. Maybe next time.

I did it!

ADDITION: Special congrats to KWWL’s Brady Smith who also ran the half marathon - and finished in about half the time that I did!

Posted under My Adventures, Web/Tech