Technology

Code Red

I got an automated call at 10:30 pm last night. Code Red was the caller ID name. The call was from a local police department with information about a girl who was missing just a few blocks from my home. The call had all the pertinent information . . .

Maya Fleckenstein

Maya Fleckenstein
Black hair
brown eyes
Wearing a blue tee shirt, blue jeans and orange shoes
Last seen at 10:00 pm ET
Corner of West 130 St and Sprague Rd in Cleveland, Ohio
If seen, call Parma, Ohio Police at 440-885-1234

The message asked me to check my yard. We have no streetlights, so it was very dark. I turned on the outside lights and looked around. I noticed there were other lights on down the street. I wondered how many of them were checking for Maya, too.

I watched the 11:00 pm local news hoping to hear that Maya had been found safe, but there was nothing. And no report this morning, either. So I did a little research this morning. I went to the Parma, Ohio Police Department website. There was no news about Maya, even though there was a section with News Releases and another with Alerts.

So, I tried WOIO‘s website, a local TV channel. I didn’t see a news story, but a search of the site found an article from January 21, 2010. There it was … Maya’s picture, a video and the story of how she walked away from her school. If this happened in January, why did I get the call in April?

Next, I called the Parma Ohio Police Department. The phone number in the message I got was the non-emergency number at the police station. The dispatcher explained to me that Maya is a problem child and has run away in the past. Last night, she was with her mother, driving to the hospital and Maya suddenly jumped out of the car. How frightening! She was found safe a short time later.

I didn’t mind that the phone rang at 10:30 pm. In fact, I feel even safer knowing that this automated system is in place. I wonder what other emergencies and disasters would be reported this way. I love technology and think this is a great use of computerized phone calls. Parma is a neighboring suburb. I hope my city has Code Red, too.

Marilyn Kvasnok

How Much is One Trillion Dollars?

Jul 21st, 2009

by Marilyn.

2 comments

A really long time ago, I remember when $20 in my wallet seemed like a lot of money. By the time my family was growing and the economy was booming, I needed $100 when I was shopping. Today, I need a credit card.

There’s a lot on the news lately about the federal budget and the national debt. I remember when a million dollars sounded like a lot of money. Then, it was a billion. Now, I often hear a trillion dollars on the news. How much money is that? Watch the video to learn more . . .

Video compliments of www.mint.com, a free site where you can track your finances and create a budget. You need to add your bank, credit card, home loan and investment account information – Not something I recommend. Then, Mint pulls in your balances, purchases, stock trades, etc. to give you a complete picture of your finances.

Mind Mapping

Jun 24th, 2009

by Marilyn.

4 comments

I’m always looking for ways to organize and document what I’ve done and what I want to do. I carry a lot of it around in my head, but there’s a better way. I got rid of my mental clutter by creating mind maps.

Whether you need a To Do list, a bucket list or keep track of your goals, mind mapping software by FreeMind can help you sort out your thoughts. Create your mind map and save it as an image to use as your desktop wallpaper. Or print a copy of your mind map to post on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror.

And best of all . . .
FreeMind mind mapping software is a free download.

This is a sample mind map from FreeMind. The center of the chart can be where you are today. On the left, list where you’ve been and on the right, where you’re going. Or it can be a goal or project, with all the brainstorming ideas branching out. FreeMind mind maps can be as simple or detailed as you’d like them to be.

What can you create with FreeMind mind mapping software? Comments welcome.

Did You Know?

Nov 17th, 2008

by Marilyn.

No comments yet

The world’s population is growing exponentially.
So is the Internet.
Technology has made us a global community.
Things we take for granted today weren’t around a generation ago.
What’s next on the horizon?

Click here to watch a video with some interesting, eye-opening statistics.

Marilyn Kvasnok

Towers and Antennas

Aug 30th, 2008

by Marilyn.

1 comment

Now that I’ve been researching cell phone safety, I found a website to locate the towers and antennas in any area. Just enter an address here: www.antennasearch.com and it will generate a map and a report. I found 64 towers and 374 antennas within 4 miles of my home. One tower is .4 miles away. I’m beginning to feel like my head is buzzing from all the radio frequencies that are all around.

Marilyn Kvasnok