A generation ago, it seems there was a picture of a UFO coming out every day. Some looked pretty real. Mostly, they were often dark, fuzzy and hard to make out. Some even made the cover of Life Magazine.
Today just about everyone has a camera with them all the time, usually on their cell phone. So, where are all the UFO pictures? Those we do see, remain grainy and fuzzy, even though today’s digital cameras make that almost impossible.
Maybe something did crash back in 1947 near Roswell, NM. I know someone who went to the 50th anniversary of “The Event” back in 1997; he said it was just one big tourist promotion. There were lots of souvenir t-shirts but no proof.
Maybe there are some aliens and a flying saucer being stored at Area 51 outside of Las Vegas. It’s made great fodder for countless science fiction stories and movies, but no proof.
Does anyone truly believe the government could keep any of this a secret if it was true? Our government has more leaks than a sieve.
So I end as I begin, with all the surveillance cameras around, the cameras built into our cell phones, where did the UFO’s go? Or did they ever visit us at all?
Speaking of which, don’t forget to vote this Tuesday. Unless you’re an alien.
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO and founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
2008 Election: Where are the computers?
In just a few days Americans will elect a new President and vote on a myriad of other offices, ballot initiatives and amendments. Here in Colorado the ballot looks more like the phone book than an actual ballot.
Since it’s 2008, we have an entire generation of voters who have never lived without computers. In so many states, those voters will have to vote using paper ballots because their officials cannot figure out how to use computers to count votes.
We use computers to communicate with people halfway around the world, to design the most sophisticated machinery in the world, to buy and sell and to send pictures of the grandkids. We have computers on our desk at work, in the den at home and on our laps in between. We have PDA’s on our belts or in our purses. We can use those PDA’s to access all the information we need about voting, but just not to actually vote.
The reason is simple. The same government running our economy, and both Republicans and Democrats can share in that debacle, can’t seem to find an efficient way to use computers to vote. Systems crash, or go so far over budget that the orders are cancelled. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on systems that just gather dust because they don’t work.
I guarantee that if they gave Bill Gates or Steve Jobs a call; they’d have something up and working in less than a week.
But that would make too much sense, something our government ran out of years ago.
-John
John W. Scherer
John W. Scherer is CEO and founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
Since it’s 2008, we have an entire generation of voters who have never lived without computers. In so many states, those voters will have to vote using paper ballots because their officials cannot figure out how to use computers to count votes.
We use computers to communicate with people halfway around the world, to design the most sophisticated machinery in the world, to buy and sell and to send pictures of the grandkids. We have computers on our desk at work, in the den at home and on our laps in between. We have PDA’s on our belts or in our purses. We can use those PDA’s to access all the information we need about voting, but just not to actually vote.
The reason is simple. The same government running our economy, and both Republicans and Democrats can share in that debacle, can’t seem to find an efficient way to use computers to vote. Systems crash, or go so far over budget that the orders are cancelled. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on systems that just gather dust because they don’t work.
I guarantee that if they gave Bill Gates or Steve Jobs a call; they’d have something up and working in less than a week.
But that would make too much sense, something our government ran out of years ago.
-John
John W. Scherer
John W. Scherer is CEO and founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
Watch out for crooks taking advantage of the economic upheaval.
The news continues to be dominated by the economy; efforts from the Congress trying to fix the mess, and banks failing or being taken over.
You can't miss the headlines about it all, and neither do crooks and scammers. They love to take advantage of a crisis by taking advantage of you.
Don't be surprised if you get an official looking e-mail claiming to be from your bank or stockbroker. It will have all the appropriate logos and official language and ask for personal information to "confirm" your account status.
Delete it immediately!
Your banker or broker will never, ever, ask for such information from you in this way.
The whole economic situation is very confusing, and crooks and scammers know that.
It's one reason our "Protect Yourself Online" tutorial is so popular. It teaches you how to keep you and your family safe from crooks and scammers, especially in these very uncertain times.
If you have questions about the status of your bank or brokerage accounts, 401k's etc, contact them by phone, or stop by the local offices or branches.
It's your money, and the crooks always want it.
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
You can't miss the headlines about it all, and neither do crooks and scammers. They love to take advantage of a crisis by taking advantage of you.
Don't be surprised if you get an official looking e-mail claiming to be from your bank or stockbroker. It will have all the appropriate logos and official language and ask for personal information to "confirm" your account status.
Delete it immediately!
Your banker or broker will never, ever, ask for such information from you in this way.
The whole economic situation is very confusing, and crooks and scammers know that.
It's one reason our "Protect Yourself Online" tutorial is so popular. It teaches you how to keep you and your family safe from crooks and scammers, especially in these very uncertain times.
If you have questions about the status of your bank or brokerage accounts, 401k's etc, contact them by phone, or stop by the local offices or branches.
It's your money, and the crooks always want it.
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
Friday, October 10, 2008
Is your BlackBerry more like a Crackberry?
Do you have a BlackBerry® or similar PDA? They've been around for a few years and the Pew Internet and American Life Project set out to not only find out how our productivity has been affected, but also the impact on our personal lives.
They came up with some interesting findings. But first, think back to what life was like before we had this kind of technology. A great example is to watch the terrific and award winning series “Madmen” on AMC.
Set in the 1960's, there are no computers on the desks, just typewriters. As for making a phone call away from the office, you found yourself a pay phone. Examples of both are on display at the Smithsonian!
Pew Research showed that of those surveyed, 96 percent used e-mail, the Internet or cell phones, and 80 percent said that it made them more productive.
Devices like the BlackBerry allow you to perform all these functions just about anywhere. It also makes it difficult to leave the office for the weekend when your office is attached to your hip.
Of those surveyed by Pew, 22 percent said they checked e-mails "often" during weekends or holidays, and 49 percent said it made it harder for them to disconnect from the office.
I tend to be in that group. Being a CEO is a 24/7 job anyways, but I always check my inbox, if for no other reason than to keep the pile manageable for when I arrive to the office Monday. And I must admit it sure is handy to check everything from flight schedules to sports scores on the Internet from my very own phone.
However, there are also times where I simply turn it off or leave it at home when I'm out with friends etc.
Technology is a tool, but should never be a master.
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
They came up with some interesting findings. But first, think back to what life was like before we had this kind of technology. A great example is to watch the terrific and award winning series “Madmen” on AMC.
Set in the 1960's, there are no computers on the desks, just typewriters. As for making a phone call away from the office, you found yourself a pay phone. Examples of both are on display at the Smithsonian!
Pew Research showed that of those surveyed, 96 percent used e-mail, the Internet or cell phones, and 80 percent said that it made them more productive.
Devices like the BlackBerry allow you to perform all these functions just about anywhere. It also makes it difficult to leave the office for the weekend when your office is attached to your hip.
Of those surveyed by Pew, 22 percent said they checked e-mails "often" during weekends or holidays, and 49 percent said it made it harder for them to disconnect from the office.
I tend to be in that group. Being a CEO is a 24/7 job anyways, but I always check my inbox, if for no other reason than to keep the pile manageable for when I arrive to the office Monday. And I must admit it sure is handy to check everything from flight schedules to sports scores on the Internet from my very own phone.
However, there are also times where I simply turn it off or leave it at home when I'm out with friends etc.
Technology is a tool, but should never be a master.
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
Friday, October 03, 2008
Does the POTUS need a PC?
Before you read further, this is not meant to be partisan in anyway. That said, here goes.
The subject of computer literacy has come up in the Presidential Campaign, specifically the perceived lack of computer skills by Senator John McCain.
Senator McCain admits that he’s not the most computer-savvy person in the world, and the opposition has been quick to pounce on it. So have late night comedians.
I have mixed thoughts on this. I’m in the computer-literacy business. It’s why you see me on TV asking you to “Try my product®.” The Boomer generation, according to statistics by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that just 35 percent of people over 65 use a computer on a regular basis. You’d also be surprised at the lack of computer skills for those under 65.
It’s been our goal for 21 years that everyone has access to a computer and knows how to use it.
So what about the President of the United States? I went to Google®, and under images did a search for “Oval Office.” I got lots of great pictures, including some of the current occupant’s desk.
There’s no computer on it.
The job description for President of the United States is Commander in Chief, the leader of the free world. Who-ever sits in the Oval Office isn’t likely to instant message Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. My guess is the POTUS doesn’t need to prepare a PowerPoint® presentation either, or work up an Excel® spreadsheet for the national budget.
He has other people who do that for him. The President’s job is to make decisions, some of which are pretty serious. The nature of the job is direct, spoken communication. The next President, just like the current one, will listen then decide. The President doesn’t have to be the smartest person in the room; the President simply needs to hire the smartest people in the room. They are the ones with the computers.
The only real piece of technology the President needs is a cell phone. We supply him one as part of the job. Air Force One isn’t a bad perk either.
I really could care less if the next President has a computer on the desk or a laptop in the briefcase. What I care about is their ability to lead, to make decisions under incredible pressure based upon what’s best for you and me.
It’s the toughest job in the world. In this case, computer skills are not necessary. Leadership and decision-making are.
For everyone else, try my product!
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
The subject of computer literacy has come up in the Presidential Campaign, specifically the perceived lack of computer skills by Senator John McCain.
Senator McCain admits that he’s not the most computer-savvy person in the world, and the opposition has been quick to pounce on it. So have late night comedians.
I have mixed thoughts on this. I’m in the computer-literacy business. It’s why you see me on TV asking you to “Try my product®.” The Boomer generation, according to statistics by the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that just 35 percent of people over 65 use a computer on a regular basis. You’d also be surprised at the lack of computer skills for those under 65.
It’s been our goal for 21 years that everyone has access to a computer and knows how to use it.
So what about the President of the United States? I went to Google®, and under images did a search for “Oval Office.” I got lots of great pictures, including some of the current occupant’s desk.
There’s no computer on it.
The job description for President of the United States is Commander in Chief, the leader of the free world. Who-ever sits in the Oval Office isn’t likely to instant message Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. My guess is the POTUS doesn’t need to prepare a PowerPoint® presentation either, or work up an Excel® spreadsheet for the national budget.
He has other people who do that for him. The President’s job is to make decisions, some of which are pretty serious. The nature of the job is direct, spoken communication. The next President, just like the current one, will listen then decide. The President doesn’t have to be the smartest person in the room; the President simply needs to hire the smartest people in the room. They are the ones with the computers.
The only real piece of technology the President needs is a cell phone. We supply him one as part of the job. Air Force One isn’t a bad perk either.
I really could care less if the next President has a computer on the desk or a laptop in the briefcase. What I care about is their ability to lead, to make decisions under incredible pressure based upon what’s best for you and me.
It’s the toughest job in the world. In this case, computer skills are not necessary. Leadership and decision-making are.
For everyone else, try my product!
-John
John W. Scherer
John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach him at ceo@videoprofessor.com
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