How Colleges Could Use SMS

Text messages are a common form of communication among people today. College students have practically grown up with texting. Smart universities could take advantage of this by offering premium SMS services to their students.

Examples of how colleges could use SMS include:

  • Update students about on-campus activities and issues. Students don’t always read the email alerts that are sent out by the various administrations and organizations on campus. However, they do usually read their text messages.
  • Allow students to get questions answered in real-time. Teachers as well as administrators could answer student questions via two-way SMS. This could even be useful in situations where students are embarrassed to talk to someone on campus, such as when they need information about the school’s mental health services.
  • Get students more involved in campus life. Premium SMS services include such things as being able to vote or enter competitions by text message. Students might be more inclined to get involved in on-campus issues if they were given the option of doing so through mobile messaging.
  • Allow for mobile billing. Of course, you wouldn’t charge a student’s mobile phone for large expenses like tuition but SMS billing could be used for small charges. For example, students might be able to use text messaging to pay for printing at the campus library or buying a soda at a restaurant on campus.

Sending information by SMS may reach more students. At the very least, it could allow students to choose their preferred method of communication. Texting is what college kids do today; schools that recognize that would have an advantage with their students.

Reading Up on Memory Cards

Since the New Year is just about upon us, I thought that I would take some time to catch up on some light reading.  Sure, I could just pick up the newspaper and read it, but I thought that I would see what has been happening in the world of computers and technology.

I have a few blogs that I like to read, and they keep me up to date with the recent developments on the technology front.  This not only gives me an edge when I am out shopping, but it also lets me know about things on the horizon, so I can make an educated decision whether to buy something or not.

This habit of keeping up on technology worked out well for me when I was in the market for an SD multimedia card.  I was going to rush out and buy one, but after reading an article or two, I realized that I should just wait a month and get the latest and greatest thing at the time: an secure digital high capacity card.

So, I think I will read for awhile and see if there is anything new coming out that I might just have to buy.  I better find something soon before this money that I got for Christmas burns a hole through my pocket.

Technorati Tags: ,

Creating an Indoor Target Range

Since there are no gun ranges here in my home town, I have been left with no options to practice my shooting.  Ever since I was a child, I have been working on becoming a better marksman, but I find my current lack of practice facilities kind of limiting.  Instead of complaining, I decided to do something about it.

So, I have invested in some airsoft guns and some soft targets so that I can setup a range in my own home.  My wife was kind enough to let me have one room and hallway in the house to setup a suitable set of targets that I can use to practice with.

But as for picking a weapon of choice, it has been hard.  There are so many KWA guns to choose from, that I found myself hard pressed to pick just one.  Sure, having a short target range in my home made the choice a little easier, as having a sniper style weapon made no sense, but if you look at the possibilities, they are just about endless.

So, I have a few pistols at the moment and I am looking forward to picking up an assault rifle or two and maybe an uzi.  I guess I will have to try a few of them out before I can know which ones are the best matches for my indoor range – but that is part of the fun!

Technorati Tags: ,

Starting a New Job in the New Year

After many years of living out in California, I decided for myself that 2010 was going to be a year of change for me.  Even though I love the state of California, I could feel the gypsy blood in me calling me to move – so that was exactly what I was going to do.

But before I made the move, I wanted to make sure that I had work lined up in my new home.  I do have some savings, but I am not one to live on them, so a new job was a prerequisite of moving.

I looked through the national papers to see if I could find work that I would be interested in.  I noticed an ad for an instructor for one of the countries’ most prestigious chef schools and I decided to apply.  That was back in August.

I received a phone call and did a telephone interview in October.  A week later, I was hired.  This put me in the position of needing to find a place to live, but as it turns out, I mentioned my need for lodging to a friend of mine, and they have a condominium that I can stay at out there free of charge.

So, all I have to do is pack my last few things and make my trek across country to my new home and job which starts on January 4th.  Next year is looking like it will be full of new experiences and adventure.  I can’t wait!

Technorati Tags:

Doing a Little House Cleaning

Now that all of my guests are gone and Christmas is over, it is time for me to look at cleaning my house.  I would sure love to wait until spring to do the cleaning, but that just wouldn’t do – the cleaning needs to be done.

So I have decided to take my time over the next couple of days to clean the house from top to bottom, so that I am ready for the new year.  I will have to get back to work here in a little less than a week, and once that happens, I will be too tired to do any cleaning at all.

I think that I will start cleaning in the study, as my college diploma frames are noticeably dirty.  You would think that I would take better care of them considering how much of my life I spent in school, but instead they just sit out of sight, collecting dust.  That sure makes me sad.

From there, I think I will try to do some laundry and dishes before I throw supper on at 6 PM.  Nothing like having an exciting day full of chores – sometimes I wish that I had a maid.

Technorati Tags: