Feed aggregator

My Favorite Tourist Destination in DC: The Lincoln Memorial

Evin O’Keeffe - Mon, 02/20/2023 - 15:05

To mark President’s Day, I wanted to focus on my favorite tourist destination in DC: The Lincoln Memorial. It’s is a magnificent structure located in Washington, D.C. that serves as a memorial to President Abraham Lincoln. Design and Inscriptions The...

The post My Favorite Tourist Destination in DC: The Lincoln Memorial appeared first on EvinOK.

The most significant accomplishment of CESI

Bernie Goldbach - Mon, 02/20/2023 - 14:36

by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

I ASKED OUR CAMPUS AI to cite the most significant accomplishment of CESI.ie and here is what I learned.

The Computers in Education Society of Ireland (CESI) has a long and impressive history of promoting the use of technology in education in Ireland. One of the most significant accomplishments of CESI is its establishment of the annual conference, which has become the largest and most important education technology event in Ireland.

The CESI conference, which first took place in 2005, brings together educators, researchers, and technology experts to share their experiences, knowledge, and insights on how to use technology effectively in education. The conference provides a platform for educators to learn about new tools and techniques, explore best practices, and connect with other like-minded professionals.

In addition to the conference, CESI has also been involved in a number of other initiatives that have had a significant impact on education in Ireland. For example, CESI has supported the development of a number of online resources for teachers, including the popular Scoilnet website, which provides access to a wealth of educational resources for teachers and students.

Overall, the CESI has played a vital role in advancing the use of technology in education in Ireland, and its contributions have been felt by educators and students throughout the country.

One of the most vibrant elements of the CESI Conferences is the resonance of the voices in conversation. Some of those conversations have been recorded and shared by Ireland's Youth Media Team.

It seems ChatGPT knows a little about the Youth Media Team of Ireland.

The Youth Media Team is a group of young people from Ireland who report on various events and topics through their own digital media platforms. The team was established in 2008 and has since provided opportunities for young people to develop their media skills, gain valuable experience in journalism, and express their opinions on issues that matter to them.

The team consists of individuals aged between 14 and 19, who work on a voluntary basis to produce content that is shared on the Youth Media Team website and social media channels. Members of the team have the opportunity to attend and report on a wide range of events, such as music festivals, sporting events, and political gatherings. They also cover issues that are important to young people, such as mental health, education, and social justice.

The Youth Media Team is supported by a number of organizations, including the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and has won several awards for its work. The team's activities are not limited to producing digital content, as they also run workshops and training sessions for young people who are interested in developing their media skills.

[Bernie Goldbach teaches digital transformation on the Clonmel Digital Campus. Bernie snapped the top photo during CESICON15. The two snippets from ChatGPT show the range of expertise of AI in Irish media space.]

Automation Can Be Hard

Bernie Goldbach - Mon, 02/20/2023 - 08:07


by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

I'M TEACHING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION to a crew of Masters Degree student and we know it's difficult to automate everything. And automation probably doesn't work at all, perhaps with early childhood education. 

And if you want to effectively integrate automation into manufacturing, you need to complete a granular breakdown of tasks, deciding which of the jobs can be done by a machine. Then you might need to spend thousands of euro designing a robot that may not work as expected.

So perhaps we should be looking at RaaS (robots as a service). With RaaS, you map a company's operations, figure out the tasks that are best suited for automation, and then set up a robot that performs at an hourly rate. If the robot doesn't perform, it doesn't get paid.

I'm trying to automate my morning cross-checks. So far, no robot has rowed in with ideas.

[Bernie Goldbach teaches digital transformation on the Clonmel Digital Campus for the Technological University of the Shannon. The huggable above is from the MIT Labs.]

Losing my Irish strawberries

Bernie Goldbach - Sun, 02/19/2023 - 18:51


by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

HIGH HEATING COSTS have knocked winter strawberries out of our shopping basket.

Keelings, the Irish fruit company, told the Sunday Times that "energy costs have resulted in a 30 per cent decresase in its raspberry production and are unsustainable for its strawberry crop". This means fewer Irish berries in our local supermarkets and it feels like smaller amounts of berries in the standard packages.

Listen to "Finding Martin's Fruit and Veg in Clonmel" on Spreaker.

Laura Roddy -- "Energy crisis puts berries in a squeeze" on the front page of Business & MOney in The Sunday Times, February 19, 2023.

[Bernie Goldbach shops local. The berries in the top shot were purchased in England.]

Fig, Burrata & Rocket Salad

Evin O’Keeffe - Tue, 02/14/2023 - 14:46

There is a lovely little Italian deli in Kensington, Maryland that I visit when I am in the area and on their menu is a fig, burrata & rocket salad that is sublime. Of course, I live in Ireland so...

The post Fig, Burrata & Rocket Salad appeared first on EvinOK.

Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Friends

Evin O’Keeffe - Thu, 02/09/2023 - 15:30

Valentine’s Day’s publicist has worked overtime for us to believe it’s a romantic holiday, but that’s just on facet of love worth celebrating. For me, I have always seen the day as a chance to cherish friendships and loved ones....

The post Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Friends appeared first on EvinOK.

Heart-shaped Cookies for Valentine’s Day

Evin O’Keeffe - Tue, 02/07/2023 - 15:05

Here’s a recipe for making the perfect heart cookies for Valentine’s Day: Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1...

The post Heart-shaped Cookies for Valentine’s Day appeared first on EvinOK.

Remembering Urantsetseg Tserendorj

Bernie Goldbach - Tue, 02/07/2023 - 09:45


by Bernie Goldbach after walking George's Dock

I'VE WALKED THE LANEWAYS between George's Dock and Custom House Quay and know the area where 49-year-old Mongolian Urantsetseg Tserendorj was murdered by a drunken, thieving young thug roaming the night on a bike. Urangsetseg had been walking home from the cleaning shift that was putting her two children through college. You can bet that the scumbag who killed her would never accept unskilled work for minimum wage during antisocial hours.

In Ireland, many Irish people simply won't accept work. I think the jobseeker's allowance for those aged under 25 is now €220 a week. You can earn 100 euro more than that by taking jobs that I see advertised in several takeaways and shops but you have to get on your bike before the sun comes up or you have to plan on walking home late at night like Urantsetseg did before she died.

During a Laois County Council meeting, Fine Gael councillor Aisling Moran said, "We need to look after the people who are getting up for work." Aisling made the comments while making the case for a working man who had lost his home but was told by the Council Housing Office that he could not qualify for council accommodation because he was earning too much.

"It's scandalous," the councillor said, "that we would treat working families like that."

I think it's perverted that people who have never worked for generations should feel entitled to government housing. I've lived in Ireland for more than 20 years and I have encountered young men who have never worked, whose fathers have never worked, and whose grandparents have figured out the system to ensure their nobody in their family line has to work. And why should they worry? They can stay at home, buy new appliances, and enjoy short breaks to relieve their stress while other people are on the path before 8AM, headed to work where they pay the tax to ensure others have a warm house and a lifestyle protected by generous social welfare supports.

Who can blame people for quitting their jobs and joining the ranks of the unemployed if the most direct way of getting a roof over your head is by remaining actively unemployed?

And who would be bold enough to break free of the feral youth culture where you can top up your drinks budget by attacking people walking home from cleaning pub toilets at night?

I will always think of Urantsetseg Tserendorj whenever I see a hooded teenaged boy on his mountain bike or e-scooter. And I will hope Irish county councillors will have the strength and fortitude to start ensuring the 21st century social vision restores the working class back to a place of pride.

[Bernie Goldbach is an American with Irish and German roots who grew up in a working class family. The Laois County Council appears to be constraining public debate about this topic by actively posturing to prevent the live streaming of its council meetings.]

Setting up another Webring

Bernie Goldbach - Mon, 02/06/2023 - 10:36


by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

A PHOTO FROM 2008 (see above) surfaced in my Napkin Collection during one of my prep sessions for the Content Management module I teach on the Clonmel Digital Campus.

Here is a listing of the small blog sites we're using as a springboard for content generation and content management. I'll update this post to show catchy titles and enticing pull-quotes as the small blogs emerge.

[Bernie Goldbach teaches content management systems on the Clonmel Digital Campus of the Technological University of the Suir.]

Over 40 places to brunch in Cork City every day of the week – Spring 2022

Evin O’Keeffe - Thu, 02/02/2023 - 15:31

We compiled a list of over 40 restaurants serving breakfast & brunch in Cork city. Seriously, it would take you six weeks to work your way through this list if you ate brunch in Cork every day of the week. Challenge...

The post Over 40 places to brunch in Cork City every day of the week – Spring 2022 appeared first on EvinOK.

A Few Tips for Relocating to a New Country with a Toddler

Evin O’Keeffe - Tue, 01/31/2023 - 14:52

I’m honoured to share this guest post by Ashley Verma, Bizzimumzi. Through the early 2000s, I lived and breathed New York City. I was a master at moving. I have moved through a hurricane, moved through the most outrageous break-ups,...

The post A Few Tips for Relocating to a New Country with a Toddler appeared first on EvinOK.

Knitting Socks with a Contrasting Heel and Yarn Combo Sets

Evin O’Keeffe - Tue, 01/24/2023 - 15:34

It is so fun and exciting to see how a self-striping or patterned sock yarn knits up in socks, but sometimes throwing in a bit of personal flair can add that certain touch to a project. That’s just what Contrasting...

The post Knitting Socks with a Contrasting Heel and Yarn Combo Sets appeared first on EvinOK.

Activating Artists with Social

Bernie Goldbach - Mon, 01/23/2023 - 10:27

by Bernie Goldbachin Stradbally

I AUDIT MY SOCIAL annually and in early 2023 I'm joining a group of aritsts in County Laois to get their appraisal of how I create and share online.

I started this blog post while sitting in limbo at Limerick Junction.

 

[Learning from the elbow view of creative journaling.]

Be Real.

It helps if you have an identity that is complemented by a real place like an artist studio or an exhibition venue. I have greater trust in creatives who I meet in real life. I often put stars on my maps that correspond to places where I can find creatives at work. I also enjoy putting pins on my calendars that correspond to opening and studio visits.

Listen to "Activating Artists On Social E606" on Spreaker. Find a flow that works.

I create better when I'm in the flow. It's a creative concept outlined by Don Norman in The Design of Everyday Things and I enjoy learning how creatives gets into the flow. Sometimes I learn about 'flow' from podcasts or from YouTube clips.

I also use an Artificial Intelligence (AI) that helps me in my flow. My preferred AI sits inside Magisto, a video production app.

Share and Share Alike.

Especially your concept drawings or your scratch work.

I know an artist is not an AI because I can see how they create by the scratch work they share.

If you want to dive into hands-on social networking with other artists, consider taking the MA in Change Leadership with the Technological University of the Shannon. We have artists and mid-career professionals mingling and learning in the hybrid MA programme that we're running.

[Bernie Goldbach teaches creative media for business on the Clonmel Digital Campus. He's been blogging for more than 10 years.]

journaling

Have Your Own American Phone Number Anywhere in the World

Evin O’Keeffe - Tue, 01/17/2023 - 15:34

When I moved to Ireland in 2008, it was meant to be a short-term stay. Over 14 years later, I’m still here. In that time, I’ve learned a great deal about how to live in one country while my history...

The post Have Your Own American Phone Number Anywhere in the World appeared first on EvinOK.

The Writer's Box

Bernie Goldbach - Mon, 01/09/2023 - 16:22


by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

I GOT A WALNUT Writer's Box as a combination Christmas Birthday present and now am mesmerised by the thought that I have a tool that my Irish ancestors might have used as they integrated into America in the late 1800s.

The box is modeled after one used by Thomas Jefferson but mine is made of walnut instead of mahogany.

And Jefferson's was crafted in Philadelphia in the 1770s while mine was made in Turkey in 2022.

[For my birthday]

[Bernie Goldbach is getting back to his ancestral roots by resettling in Ireland.]

ancestry

How To Choose The Perfect Gift

Evin O’Keeffe - Mon, 01/09/2023 - 15:32

Much like my father, I’m an easy person to give gifts to. I’m appreciative, see the thought and time behind any gift, and recognise that a gift isn’t just about the recipient but also about the giver in that moment....

The post How To Choose The Perfect Gift appeared first on EvinOK.

The TUS DX Ethos

Bernie Goldbach - Sun, 01/08/2023 - 10:05


by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION module offered by the Technological University of the Shannon attempts to ensure the people who immerse in the study of digital transformation will refine and improve themselves through an iterative refactoring of specific digital processes that thought leaders have identified as prime movers in the arena of digital transformation.

We start with an inventory of our digital lifestyles and discuss in groups of 20 how digital transformation is bubbling below the surface in all of our lives. We will contribute to a Digital Transformation Vault throughout our academic process.

[Cognification is happening]

During the current academic term, we share our baseline digital processes when starting a 15 week journey in January 2023. And then we review any changes that happen with those processes a few months later. Our shared Digital Transformation Vault will look very different when we finish our academic work. It will contain sketches, screenshots, photographs, and workflow diagrams that show how we can leverage the process of digital transformation at work and in our personal lives. 

Like all worthwhile journals, a Digital Transformation Vault will document and complement our journeys in our current lives and it should serve us well in our careers.

[Bernie Goldbach teaches digital transformation on the Clonmel Digital Campus.]

Bringing Back Blogging

Bernie Goldbach - Mon, 01/02/2023 - 15:40

by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

AS TWITTER ATROPHIES and Mastodaonie tries to find traction, I'm going to reintroduce blogging into the university modules I teach. And for the month of January, I'm resolved to create at least two blog posts a week.

The posts won't be all on my Old Skool Typepad because I've a microblog now as well as SharePoint News sites I've set up with RSS. Perhaps I can link to all of those locations by putting hyperlinked footnote at the bottom of each of the locations.

[Ten Years After Winning Blog Award]

During January 2023, I'm also joining a directory of bloggers who are participating in Bring Back Blogging. I've noticed writers, photographers, and makers listed in the fledgling directory. And by clicking into their links, I've discovered several of them are actually newsletters, tumblrs, blogs, and microblogs. They have one thing in common: they support their content with Really Simple Syndication.

If more than one voice in Ireland joins this initiative, we could have a soft relaunch of the Irish Blog Awards. Looking back into a time before the iPhone seems like a vanity exercise. But those were heady days when I scrolled through lines of text discovering interesting content uncontaminated by sponsorship. I used to have exceptional street cred with coworkers because I had all the coolest links before tech journos covered the same ideas days or weeks later. And back then, there were no tech journos with national radio slots.  As Ash and Ryan put it, "The blogosphere was once a vibrant network of deep thought and curation, and now has the vibes of an untrimmed yard.

I want to add my address to the Bring Back Blog Directory (it's powered by Airtable!) and see what happens. I have my mobile IA Writer, my Moleskine, and my mobile blogging software ready to go.

[Bernie Goldbach is an elder blogger who lives in the sunny southeast of Ireland. There are no birds in his home.]

blogging

More Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

Evin O’Keeffe - Thu, 12/22/2022 - 12:06

It’s the season for gift wrapping and I am back with more ideas. You may recall my previous post with creative gift wrapping ideas, well it was popular so I’m sharing another installment. Here are a few ideas for creative...

The post More Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas appeared first on EvinOK.

Experimenting with thoughts connected by images

Bernie Goldbach - Wed, 12/21/2022 - 08:20

by Bernie Goldbach in Clonmel

I AM SETTING UP several new academic modules for early 2023 and believe I we can learn from images that students snap, scrape, and share. The process involves using Flickr groups in which students can directly upload content from their handsets' share sheets.

The first experiment involves MA students learning Digital Transformation. I want students to upload images in support of 12 inevitable trends cited by Kevin Kelly. Each student should upload images to the Flickr Digital Transformation Group in support of the 12 trends. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is running behind the scenes to create a mailing list that summarises work by the academic group. I want to port the RSS feed into Feedly and Inoreader where the best elements of the group's imagery drops into an Obsidian Vault for group work.

Students should sign up for the weekly email updates below.

var i=0;var x=document.getElementsByName('F21129');for(i=0;i<x.length;i++){x[i].email_.style.display='none';x[i].email_address.style.display='none';x[i]._email.style.display='none';x[i].action='https://app.feedblitz.com/f/f.Fbz?Join';}var y=document.getElementsByName('F21129__hh');for(i=0;i<y.length;i++){y[i].style.display='none';} Images of digital transformation   Name:    Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries   Content from colleagues. Powered by FeedBlitz

var F21129_sb_requiredFields=new Array();var F21129_sb_validateFields=new Array(); F21129_sb_validateFields.push('F21129_sb_Name'); F21129_sb_requiredFields.push('F21129_sb_email'); F21129_sb_requiredFields.push('F21129_sb_feedid'); F21129_sb_requiredFields.push('F21129_sb_publisherid'); F21129_sb_requiredFields.push('F21129_sb_cids'); var F21129_sb_fieldcol='#000000'; var fbz_F21129_sb_logged=false; function F21129_sb_wait_fn(){ try{ if(!fbz_F21129_sb_logged){fbz_SmartForm('F21129_sb',feedblitz_full_form); try{s('F21129_sb');}catch(e){}; fbz_FitForm('F21129_sb'); var F21129_sb_wait_img=fbz_formMetrics(21129,1); fbz$('F21129_sb_wait_img').innerHTML=F21129_sb_wait_img; clearInterval(F21129_sb_wait); fbz_F21129_sb_logged=true;} } catch(e){} } var F21129_sb_wait=setInterval(F21129_sb_wait_fn,100);

 

I will update everyone on how this project unfolds at the end of January 2023.

[Bernie Goldbach teaches digital transformation for the Technological University of the Shannon.]

Pages