Google Voice – One More Reason to Jump on the Google Bandwagon

Why, oh why didn’t I buy stock back when Google was just a little start-up company?  It was considered start-up at one time, yes?  I always say the computer and I are on a need to know basis, but Google goes a long way in making me appear tech-savvy.

I admit, I held out for quite awhile thinking there was no way Gmail could be as safe as pulling AOL or MSN into Outlook.  What if they lost my e-mail or even worse, what if someone at Google might be hacking into my Gmail trying to discover all those state secrets I don’t know?  I realized equating the internet (more specifically Gmail) with the likes of the boogie man was merely a figment of my imagination, and those lurking creatures on the world wide web are about as dangerous as the ones under my bed.  So I turned my soul over to Google, because they keep creating all these wonderful applications (for lack of a better term) that not only make me look tech-savvy, they actually make my life easier.

IGoogle is my homepage because it gives me easy access to everything I need on the web in one place.  Gmail is way more than just e-mail since I can also IM (instant message), and voice or video chat in real time.  Google Calendar sends me e-mail reminders as well as SMS (text) which beats post-it notes everywhere, so I’m not late returning a book to the library, paying a bill or miss a hair appointment that was pre-booked six weeks earlier.  Google Docs comes in handy with no MSWord on my Mac, and since I don’t have Photo Shop, I rely on Google Images (how do you think I get all the pictures for this blog).

If you’ve somehow resisted the pull towards technology, they may just get you with Google Voice.  When I recently moved I dropped the land line (hard line, home phone, or whatever you want to call it), because I was paying for a service I rarely used.  Of course every time I have to fill out some type of form, it always asks for two numbers and I can’t help but wonder if I’m looked down upon for having only one.

No more!  As of last night I am back in the ranks of the two phone number family.  I heard about Google Voice several months ago, but after my friend got me all excited about this new service he then told me they weren’t handing out any new numbers.  It was kind of cruel to cause me to have Google envy when he knew there was no quick fix, but I did my research (yes, I Googled it) and found I could ask to be notified when they opened the service to the minions.

Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror

Where were you on Thursday, June 25th when you heard the news Michael Jackson had passed away?

I’ve never been a Michael Jackson fan per say, but songs like I’ll Be There or ABC bring a smile to my face. I love Ben, who the heck cares that it’s about a rat? During a recent move I came across the album Off the Wall, too bad I don’t have a record player anymore.

As expected, the death of Jackson has dominated the news the last few days. Many people are crying hypocrisy, after all many of the same media folks singing MJ’s praises are the same ones who referred to him as Wacko Jacko when he was alive. It is strange given in the last decade, very few would outwardly admit to being a fan of Michael, but clearly the majority of people now want to reminisce and pay homage.

I think his death has given us a permission of sorts to remember and mourn the Michael Jackson we grew up with. He was such a cute boy and handsome young man, but somehow couldn’t see the same man in the mirror most of us saw. It is sad that Michael may not have realized how admired he was for his musical prowess, but given his penchant for strange and unpredictible behavior in the last couple of decades, it’s understandable why few were willing to risk their own reputations by speaking out on his behalf.  His passing allows us to concentrate on the musical genius Michael was and to pay tribute to his accomplishments that have paved the road and opened doors that will effect untold generations to come. 

Kobe vs. LeBron

A friend recently said his son wanted to know who was better, Kobe or LeBron.  He went on to challenge me by saying, “Okay Laker fan…Magic right?  Kareem?”

Why must everyone insist on having one athlete be better than another?  As time goes on it’s inevitable someone else will always come along to claim the title of “most dominant” because athletic prowess is susceptible to aging.  

The NBA is littered with dominant athletes throughout it’s history. The real debate probably started with Wilt Chamberlain.  He’s the only player in NBA history to average more than 40 and 50 points in a season or score a 100 points in a single NBA game.  His titles include scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and even assists.

To Twitter or Not to Twitter…

This is the question on many people’s minds. You’ve finally just figured out how to post a profile on Facebook and now you hear FB is practically old school, because Twitter is the latest and greatest thing. How the heck do you keep up with technology?

First just admit you’ll probably always be one step behind, so give yourself a break because you’re not really missing out on that much. Certainly nothing worth stressing over.

Is Twitter for everyone? It’s actually redundant for a good many folks. I’ve had my Twitter account @katturner for nearly a year, but didn’t start using it much till a few months ago. That’s how long it took me to find a real reason to use this particular social networking tool.

My twitterbud @aplusk (aka Ashton Kutcher) was the first celebrity to have a million followers a couple weeks ago, but, now has nearly twice that number 1,911,274. Coming in a close second is @TheEllenShow (aka Ellen Degeneres) who has 1,643,132 followers.

@GStephanopoulos (ABC’s George Stephanopoulos) has a respectable 627,945 while my other news twitterbuddie @andersoncooper (CNN’s AC 360) has a measly 210,006. Their numbers may not be as impressive as Ashton and Ellen, but I find their tweets much more relevant because they’re generally talking about something newsworthy as opposed to personal.

Angels & Demons a Disappointment

Each person entering had to lift their arms, spread their legs and have their entire body scanned with a security wand.  Cell phones were not allowed on the premises.  Every purse was searched.  If a phone was found it was confiscated and placed in a brown paper bag.  

The Vatican is probably an easier place to enter than a sneak preview of Ron Howard’s latest film adaptation of Dan Brown’s “Angels & Demons” two nights before opening to the general public.  I know airport security is never so tight. They weren’t even interested in the Dr. Pepper, Sour Patch Kids, Milk Duds and Whoppers in our bag.  Note to paranoid studio heads; someone who’s willing to watch the cell phone pirated version of your movie was never going to buy a ticket in the first place.  

Middle School Student Strip Searched For Ibuprofen

Ever heard that expression “throwing the baby out with the bath water”?  Some school’s “no tolerance” policies seem to be doing just that.  They’re supposed to protect our kids, but many times the judgement of  school officials seems more in question than that of the students supposedly in violation.

In October 2003, 13 year-old Savana Redding was stripped searched by school officials in a small Arizona town because they were told she had “prescription drugs” (400mg Advil).  Savana was not allowed to even call her parents before or after two female school officials conducted the strip search.

As a mom I’m outraged.  I’d like to know what drugs the school officials were on when they decided this was a smart thing to do, because surely there’s no other explanation.

Susan Boyle, Never Been Kissed

Everyone is raving about how moved they were by contestant Susan Boyle’s performance of  “I Dreamed A Dream” on the reality show “Britain’s Got Talent”.  The story of the singing career this feisty gal wants is nothing short of a dream, just like something you’d see in the movies.  Only the movie I’m thinking of doesn’t have anything to do with singing.  Just before this 47 year old woman went on stage she blushed and said she’d never been kissed.  

To everyone’s surprise the lady can sing, it’s what makes her story so amazing.  Based on her matronly look, the audience was waiting for her to become Simon Cowell’s latest punching bag.  What business could a spinsterly, unemployed woman who is nearly fifty have on a show featuring amazing talent? Cleary Cowell was ready to put the poor lady out of her misery, until she opened her mouth.  

To their credit, the audience immediately broke out in wild applause as the stunned judges picked their jaws up off the floor.  Susan is the ultimate lesson learned about wrongly judging a book by it’s cover before you read it.  I’m guessing singing for the Queen is something she never dared put on her bucket list, but I can’t stop thinking about the fact she’s never been kissed.  

Never experienced one of life’s most simple pleasures.  Never felt those heart fluttering sensations only a kiss can bring.  Never had the experience of a reciprocal crush?  

Just like Drew Barrymore’s movie, “Never Been Kissed”, I hope Susan meets a true prince of a guy and the wait will have been worth it.  When I get beyond the sadness for what she’s missed out on, I can’t help think in today’s over rated single scene, maybe Susan is actually the lucky one. With all the attention she’s getting, one dream might just help realize another for this unassuming Brit.  But watch out men if you think you can take advantage of this lady with the angelic voice, cause now the world has “got her back”!