As I prepare to give software training to my peers, I am hesitant to do it the same old way. Instead, I am trying a different approach I picked up by reading Cliff Atkinson’s Beyond Bullets blog (and soon, the book “Beyond Bullet Points” when the library has my copy ready).

The technique: Telling a story.

In a moment, I will be watching Cliff’s web recording of a presentation called “Transform Your PowerPoint Beyond Bullet Points.” You can view it here. There is also a BBP forum that has some good back-and-forth discussions.

I’ll devote more time to this after the presentation/training. For now, a few links I am devouring today.

BarksBlog by Ed Barks (more for public relations, but has suggestions for trainers)

Presentation Zen

Software Garden Training Video Blog

Dan Bricklin’s Log

I try to check BoingBoing every day, but this one I nearly missed: H@cking the Mattel JuiceBox.

The Juicebox accepts media cards (with an MP3 adpater kit) and were at one time very popular with tweens. Now (still) they sit forgotten on the clearance asile at Target and the Wal-Marts for under $5 (check your local store, they aren’t this cheap online yet). One flickr user has hacked hers to be a digital picture frame. Now THAT looks like a fun project! I don’t know how she did it, and she doesn’t give a “How To” - but promises one eventually (thank goodness someone else did). This is what I love about the internet!

Another user has made it into an e-book reader.

I should note, this h@ck is over a year old. Joe has actually made a more recent post on this, with a spiffy new clear case (and a classic frame he did for his Mom). Nice!

This StreetTech article has more information, such as the linux version it uses, and other resources. Make Magazine’s blog has some more details as well.

If I were to Google, I am sure I would find more things you can do with a JuicBox. I’d wager there is a culture out there h@cking the VideoNow player too.

Also worth a look: the Audrey and the h@cking thereof. I love Do-It-yourself articles, though I have yet to attempt following one.

Since I am on the subject of old tech toys - the toy I really want is the PXL-2000.

(yes, this post is little more than a personal bookmark because I don’t have time to delve into this right now)

I agree with Jezlin, “me too.” I definitely want to try this LiveWriter+Ink plugin for Wordpress.

Except I am reading all of this on a PC and it does me no good. So hopefully I can find some time soon to download this to the ol’ Tablet and try it all out.

Looks fun!

As of tomorrow, 8/18/2006, this domain will no longer be mine. Plase use the new URL: http://tabletminds.promoguy.net.

TabletMinds.com may belong to a spammer, it may belong to a Tablet PC user, it may become a multi-million dollar corporation (gosh, that would be a drag for me). But in it won’t belong to me.

This domain, and 2 I’ve sat on and done nothing with, are set to expire and I plan to let them. It was a tough move for me, as I love domains! At one time I had at least 10. But in hopes of making life simple, and being a recovering domain-name addict, I have to let some things go.

Also, you may want to change your Feedreader’s RSS/XML feed for my site, it will be: http://tabletminds.promoguy.net/index.php/feed/

I don’t know when exactly the domain will be purged and snapped up by someone else, but it does expire tomorrow. So I wanted to get the word out.

I really DO plan to blog some more, right now this is a very busy time of year where I work.

OK, so, I hope you will continue to read me at the new URL. See you there!

Just an update. I am not going to renew the domain, TabletMinds.com. I just have too many, and I don’t have goals of turning it into a positive cash-flow source (currently a negative).

So, I am moving this site to TabletMinds.promoguy.net. You can update your bookmarks now, it works.
I have not updated the RSS feeds or WordPress yet. But the RSS feed should change accordingly.

Anyway, I am not shutting the blog down. I am just not really able to justify renewing the domain. Plus, I won’t feel guilty if I don’t blog so often.

Just wanted to give a head’s up! Look for the site here after next week: TabletMinds.promoguy.net

Wow, has it really been a year? Yes it has, according to my domain registrar!

Though the actual “birthday” of TabletMinds is on August 22nd, this month marks a full year of blogging.

Now comes the big question - should I renew this domain?

I am torn really. This blog is fun, and I love using a Tablet PC, but I really don’t have the time to give this site the attention and dedication that I know it should have. So I am really leaning towards not renewing it.

I really think I would be better as a contributor to another Tablet blog. If anyone is looking for a “contributor-at-large” let me know.

Also, I need to think about handing over this domain. I’d really hate to see this URL snatched up by some sleazy domain harvester. This domain expires on 8/18, so if someone is interested in it (even as a redirect) let me know. As long as they can promise me they will take good care of it (and let me retain my email address), I am sure we can work out a transfer.

A year is a long time, and I’ve had fun. Hopefully I can wind up contributing rants, editorals and commentary somewhere.

I’ll have a few more posts before things go dark, so this isn’t the “Big Goodbye” post so many blogs have before they vanish.

I’m still mulling it over. No decisions made just yet.