ZKQ Blog

On the Run with LimbGear

Ready for a run, I stepped out of my car with keys, cell phone and iPod in hand. I looked over what I was wearing and realized my running shorts had no pockets and I was not wearing a jacket. A quick assessment told me I could not run without carrying one or more of those objects in my hands. I really hate to hold something while I'm running. It just doesn't feel right. Decisions. Decisions.

I untied my shoe and threaded my car key through the laces, tucking the key under the crisscrossed section of strings so the key would not flop around during the run. Hoping my child would not have to call me if class let out early, I put the cell phone back in the car along with the iPod, sad that ACDC and Queen would not be around to motivate me to pick up the pace when I needed to.

Ironically, I had just finished writing an article for the Blue Ridge Business Journal about Tyson Daniel's company, LimbGear®. Daniel designs and manufactures MP3-enabled clothing and athletic accessories such as armbands.

Known as the LimbGear® I-Sleeve™, this armband is designed--you guessed it--to hold objects. Note the plural "objects". The I-Sleeve™ comes with, not one, but two pockets! The clear vinyl pocket allows you to see the display of your MP3 player without having the take off the armband. The second pocket is a utility pocket designed to hold keys, cash, phone, whatever will fit.

LimbGear's I-Sleeve, along with their other products, including MP3-enabled clothing, are also available with collegiate branding options. A VCU I-Sleeve is pictured here.

I learned my lesson. From now on,I'll be wrapped in an I-Sleeve and on my next run with LimbGear.

Shaking Hands are Helping Hands in Virginia

I thrive on learning about new technologies and how they impact our lives. I love success stories and the people who create them. You know how you read articles and posts on the web that contain text linking to other relevant information? Well, my writing life is exactly like that. While researching one article, ideas and connections for others are revealed. A recent thread went something like this:

Anne Giles Clelland, president of Handshake 2.0 asked me to write a retrospective on the Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV).

During my interview with Bill Sanders, director of the BEV, he mentioned the impact broadband has had on education in Virginia and how schools in Mecklenburg County are making great strides in implementing Google Apps for education county-wide.

Chad Wollenburg, technology director for Mecklenburg schools, shared his story about meeting Virginia's Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra, which resulted in Chad submitting an application for a grant from Virginia’s Productivity Investment Fund. The grant award led to hiring Sheila Beck as a Google Application Specialist to train teachers and students on how to implement and use Google in the classroom. ("Schoogle - teaching and learning in Mecklenburg" appeared in March 23, 2009 issue of the Blue Ridge Business Journal.)

Sheila connected me with a spokesperson for Google who connected me with Sallie Harris, of Madison County, Virginia, who last year became the state's only Google Certified Teacher.

When I think back over how in just one month all of this came to be, it comes as no surprise to me that in January, 2009,  U.S. News and World Report ranked Virginia second in the top seven best states in which to start a business. While I doubt their analysis included the thoughtfulness of citizens willing to help one another make connections between ideas and each other, this type of support surely contributes to the foundation upon which many entrepreneurs and businesses, including freelance writers, get their start. The tag line of Handshake 2.0 is appropriately stated: "It's still who you know." Doing business in Virginia is exactly that, followed by "It's also who I'll help you get to know."

Buy a Split-Level, Save on Gym Membership

I've reached the point that if anyone else says to me "It will be hard to sell your house; people don't like split-levels these days," I may just throw a tantrum (think of the calories I'll burn)! In the 1960's my parents had the short-sighted vision to buy a split-level house (who knew having stairs in a home would become undesirable?). Alas, we lived in a wonderful house with two bedrooms upstairs and two below. A family of four, the upper level was perfect for us during infant to pre-teen years. Then, when my sister and I sought out more freedom and independence from our parents, we were permitted to move to the finished basement. One bedroom for her, one for me, with a bathroom, den and laundry area to share. It was like having our own apartment.

The responsibility to sell the family home is now mine. In the course of doing so, I have spoken with numerous Realtors and others with market knowledge and they all say the same thing "Split-levels are hard to sell." I can't change the style of the house, so the only response left is this: Think of the money you'll save on a gym membership!

References:

Buy My House, Please - former blog entry with photos

From MSNBC: Stairs may be key in tool in battle of the bulge

Step To It!
"Taking the stairs burns more calories per minute than most other forms of physical activity. The average man will use about 150 calories in 10 minutes of stair climbing or about the amount used in a 20 minute brisk walk. Women will use slightly fewer calories."

From Twitter to Triathlons: Table Talk Stimulates Ideas and Friendship

I've been following the Tweets, blogs and videos from the SXSW conference, green with envy. It's been a year since I've attended or worked a large conference or trade show. After four years of averaging 7-8 conferences a year I did not think I'd miss conference travel, but I was wrong. Call me crazy, but the from set-up to tear-down, the time spent face-to-face with clients, business associates, friends, and new contacts just can't be replaced. The communication I followed from SXSW confirmed that no matter how much we all love social media tools, we still need to connect on a social human level. Social media is simply an extension of that human connection.

Fortunately, last night in Blacksburg, I was able to meet my need to connect on a social human level that was reminiscent of what happens at a conference. At dinner, four of my friends, who were not close friends with each other (for some, it was their first meeting), came together to exchange ideas, make new contacts, and learn from one another. Our gathering was more like South meets Northwest since one woman hailed from Orgeon.

Fueled by good food (Italian) and wine (Chianti) from Sal's, we covered topics ranging from Twitter to triathlons, blogging to business, and fun to fund raising. Just like at the end of a conference, I came away, renewed and energized by these smart women, entrepreneurs and directors in their own right, who filled me with a list of ideas to explore, people to contact, and topics to write about.  All very good stuff and my trip home only took 10 minutes!

At the Intersection of Social and Media: On Board with NewCity Ride Along

One of the things I like about being a blogger and freelance writer is getting to choose who and what I write about. My passions for business, technology, geeks, and artists intersect on a daily basis. For my first post here at ZKQ Blog, I couldn't resist pointing readers to what the great folks at New City Media are doing today and yesterday and tomorrow...

A team from New City Media are on the road to Austin, Texas, to attend the South by Southwest 2009 (SXSW) Music + Film + Interactive Conference.  As their Tweet @newcitymedia suggest, they walk the talk, or is it "drive the RV while talking about their social media enabled road trip?"

Meet them on the road to Austin where the web, photos, video, Twitter, and chat intersect.

http://www.newcityexperience.com/ridealong/