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I'm not a Mike Huckabee fan in particular, but this is the best campaign ad I've ever seen:

Answering the call of the "EduTwitterVerse," here's a work-up for integrating Skype and Ustream.tv.

First, a little background: Skype is a software program that allows you to (among other features) make free phone calls to other users of the program. Ustream.tv is a web service that allows you to broadcast an audio/video feed live from your computer. Apparently, there is a desire for audience participation in Ustream.tv shows, and the edubloggers are all big Skype fans as well.

It's actually quite simple. The broadcaster/presenter of the Ustream.tv feed needs only to open Skype on the same computer they are broadcasting from, and start a conference call with select viewers of their Ustream.tv feed who wish to participate. Viewers of the Ustream.tv live feed would need to open Skype, join the phone call with the presenter (and other viewers), and... talk. The call audio would get picked up by the presenter's broadcast window on Ustream.tv.

Presenters: If you use a headset microphone, only plug in the microphone portion (if it's a USB headset mic, you'll need to play with your Windows sound settings), and use desktop speakers. In my case, I'm working off a laptop with integrated speakers and microphone, so the setup is minimal (or rather, non-existent). Using desktop speakers and a desktop microphone would be best. If your Ustream.tv viewers can't hear the Skype call, just turn the computer volume up. Keep in mind, also, that any sound your computer emits will be broadcast, so close those videos and IM sounds while you're broadcasting.

Viewers: If you are participating in the conference call on Skype, mute the Ustream.tv audio. You'll hear everything on Skype anyway. If you are just watching the feed (and not using Skype), just watch through the web normally.

Keep in mind, Skype has a 9-person limit on conference calls, but I'm not sure you'd want more than 9 people talking at once. Also, Ustream.tv has a very slight time delay in broadcasting, but it's not too bad. Skype callers will see the presenter talking after they hear it, but regular audience members will be fine.

For the more technologically advanced, you can play with audio cables going from your line out to line in on your PC, or a software-based solution like this.

I've added his new book (watch the video) to my reading list.

As I've stated, Barack Obama's presidential campaign is one I'm following closely. I've been reluctant to actually declare my complete support for him, because we do disagree on certain social issues. However, one of my main reasons for admiring him is his fight for open and honest government, where corporate lobbyists don't control the county.

The Obama campaign set up a fundraiser in which any donation of $5 or more (solicited via the Internet) entered the donor into a drawing to have dinner with Barack Obama himself. The idea was to get a group of "Average Joes" to sit down with Obama and discuss what's important to them. I thought this was really cool and unique, since it's normally the Washington lobbyists who have dinner with politicians to promote a specific agenda.

Here's a video from that dinner, which took place on July 10th.
Continue reading ‘Dinner with Barack Obama’ »

A few resources to help you get started.

via Teach42

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but this is too important to pass up.

via 24 the Podcast

"The Specialist" was a kid in my computer class last year who was always out of his seat, messing with the printers, shades, microphones, speakers, and everything else he could get his hands on. Needless to say, we made fun of him relentlessly. The story behind his nickname: one day, I jokingly asked him if he's certified to work on the computers. "Sure," he replies. "I'm a specialist," [referring to the Microsoft Office User Specialist (useless) certification my school offers after taking a PC noob class].

Anyway, the final project for that class was a video about something in the school. When we showed them in class, even the teacher was laughing out loud when he put his nickname that I gave him in the video. The video is pretty funny to just about anybody, but it's downright hilarious to anyone who knows or has class with him. Check it out:

September 11, 2006. Five years.

Google Video presents 7 Days in September, a pretty powerful documentary about the week following September 11.

via Google Blog

Not sure how old this is, but it's pretty funny.

http://www.callcentermovie.com/

via Maryamie

via Ctrl-Alt-Del