ConverStations | Archive | December, 2008

Archive - December, 2008

7 Things You Did Not Know About Me(me)

By Mike Sansone on December 30, 2008 in Brain Stew with 0 Comments

I have been tagged me to do the “7 Things…” meme (Thank you Heather)

Seven Passions You May Not Know I Hold Dear:

Dancing – I love to dance. I do it at my house at night, while cleaning, while driving — and every once in awhile, when it’s slow at Panera….you’d have to see it to believe it:-) (Yes, I’m quite good at it too)
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – The best mashup ever! I sneak these (and all their iterations) in whenever possible.
Dean Martin – I have almost every CD, used to have all the albums too. I’ve never bought the Regis Philbin-pitched Variety Show series – but I’ve oft been tempted. Hey, Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime.
Baseball - I am a baseball nut! It used to be my religion. When I was younger, it got so bad in the winter (no baseball), I would drive my (ex) wife crazy. I used to coach HS baseball, and was a General Manager for a Class A minor league team in the CAL league in the 80′s
Ice Cream – I love ice cream! I can eat it anytime. Coffee is my favorite flavor.
The Food Network – I love to cook. When I was in the hospital for a short stay two summers ago – I watched it non-stop.
Spenser: For Hire – Love the books, still watch the show

Rather than tagging anyone in particular – I encourage you reading this to jump in. What are 7 Things we don’t know about you?

Panera Fans! – TinyURL unblocked with Tweetree service

By Mike Sansone on December 29, 2008 in Blog Coach with 0 Comments

Panera fans rejoice! No longer will your Twitter and TinyURLs be blocked.

With Tweetree, a new service who hangs its hat on threaded conversations on Twitter, an additional benefit is that it shows the actual URL most of us see in the truncated links provided by TinyURL and other services. Check it out (click image to enlarge_:

1. A threaded conversation
2. the URL expanded (with the site name in parenthesis)

Peace, Smiles and a Happy New Year

By Mike Sansone on December 25, 2008 in Brain Stew with 0 Comments

This year has been at times tough
You may know the feeling
One day we're rolling
The next day we're reeling.

I've had deep valleys this year,
but all through the while
I've had friends and great feeds
that kept me wearing a smile.

On this day I hope for you
Peace and smiles-a-plenty
And a fantastic New Year
May your peaks be many.

Photo on Flickr by Jeff Belmonte via compfight

Slide: Search Once and Subscribe

By Mike Sansone on December 21, 2008 in RSS Feeds with 0 Comments

What’s the Filibuster (WTF?) – Students Should Have a Blog

By Mike Sansone on December 16, 2008 in Blog Coach, Education with 0 Comments

Every teacher I talk with who is blogging, podcasting, or Twittering outside of class says using Social Media tools makes them better thinkers, writers, and readers.

Really - they get very animated. Almost surprised!

I ask if they encourage their students to do likewise. (Insert long pause here)

(And right behind that, picture the smile melting from the teacher’s face).

"Umh, umm…well you see, the district…"

C’mon! If using these tools is helping you learn and get better at critical thinking skills, What’s the Filibuster with putting these things in the hands of your students? Not for the tools sake. For the Sake of Learning

Seriously!

Slide: Discovery – Ready to Leap?

By Mike Sansone on December 15, 2008 in Quotes n Notes with 0 Comments

Photo on Flickr by SeanJ via compfight

Lunch n Learn with Creativity & Play

By Mike Sansone on December 15, 2008 in Brain Stew with 0 Comments

Do "adult behaviors" get in the way of your ideas?

This TED video with Tim Brown on Creativity and Play is a great way to start your last full work week before Christmas. Let’s play!:

Social Networking (Online & Offline) w/ Liz Nead – Thursday, 12/18

By Mike Sansone on December 14, 2008 in Conversations with 0 Comments

I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting Liz Nead this week. What a contagious spirit! She shared with me some of her trials and her inspirational "overcomer" stories.

I was invited (on short notice) to join her in a Networking & Transition event this Thursday at Connxions in Urbandale (map) at 11:50 AM.

Though she doesn’t know it yet, I’m going to try to UStream the event. (Hey, I’m her Social Media coach now).

Here’s a bit more about Liz and what she’s doing (my first video with my flip – and improv at that):

Catch some more of this gal’s spirit during her event on Thursday. I’ll bring a copy of Kevin Carroll‘s Red Rubber Ball at Work (which I mention in the video)