Tech Project: Your Goose is Cooked

This chart will help you determine approximately how long to roast stuffed and unstuffed turkey. Always use a meat thermometer. For a stuffed turkey, the roasting time may vary up to 30 minutes, depending upon the bird and the oven. Use the meat thermometer to check the temperature of the dressing.

The center of the dressing inside the bird (or in a separate baking dish) must reach a temperature of 165 degrees F. for food safety.

For an unstuffed turkey, place the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, taking care that it does not touch any bone. Roast the turkey until the meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees F. Let the bird rest at least 30 minutes before carving to allow the juices to re-absorb into the flesh. You don't want the moisture to drain out. Roasting times below are for a preheated 325 degrees F. oven.

Approximate Roasting Times for Stuffed Turkey
Turkey Weight	Hours
6 to 8 pounds	3 to 3-1/2 hours
8 to 12 pounds	3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours
12 to 16 pounds	4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours
16 to 20 pounds	5-1/2 to 6 hours
20 to 24 pounds	6 to 6-1/2 hours
Approximate Roasting Times for Unstuffed Turkey
Turkey Weight	Hours
6 to 8 pounds	2-1/2 to 3 hours
8 to 12 pounds	3 to 4 hours
12 to 16 pounds	4 to 5 hours
16 to 20 pounds	5 to 5-1/2 hours
20 to 24 pounds	5-1/2 to 6 hours

Did I lose you yet?

What does any of this have to do with technology? And why are we talking about turkeys in June? www.FoodNetwork.com is a huge hit on TV and the Internet. You don’t go into a shoe store, or a car dealership, or toy store, or bookstore every single day. But all across America, people shop in grocery stores practically every day. We all know food, and in the USA, we have raised the buying, the cooking and the serving of all things “food” to an art-form. All things “food” have become mainstream, and all things food has become high-tech.

Now, what is the BIGGEST “food” day of the entire year? THANKSGIVING!  And what is the headline act of this amazing event? The TURKEY!  And the cooking of a turkey is not that easy. If you “Google” How to Cook a Turkey you will get about 543,000,000 hits and you will find tons of websites like www.butterball.com dedicated to the proper preparation and the proper cooking of a turkey.

If you do not cook the turkey properly, you will have issues. If you cook it too long, it will become dry. If you don’t cook it long enough, it will not be very tasty. And, if you do not get the core temperature of the turkey up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be dangerous. Your guests could wind up in the Emergency Room.

And yet, every year, millions of first-time “cooks” successfully navigate the required tasks, and a turkey dinner is served. And under most cases, there are no trips to the emergency room. 


Remember your first-time hosting Thanksgiving for the family? No pressure, right?

Does the building a website, the running an eCommerce store, or the required mastery of new online software (for your new job) have you worried? Is the use of Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, et.al., really more complex than cooking a turkey? Saying “I never did this before” or “this is too hard for me” is not acceptable. Certainly not a good excuse, with all the free help and real-time assistance available. If excuses were allowed, we would all be eating cereal on Thanksgiving.

I have never cooked a turkey. I have never hosted a dinner party. I am a frequent visitor to our kitchen, but my favorite appliance is the refrigerator, not the oven. I love any holiday that produces a tryptophan coma. I am a big fan of all things cooked that also need to be stuffed.  Food stuffed with food, pure genius.

Ladies and gentleman, anyone reading this who have successfully served a turkey dinner, you are more than qualified to do my job. You can do anything in the world of telecom or technology. I cannot do your job - but you can do mine. 


A turkey dinner appears on a dining room table for one and only one reason: the cook is determined to finish. Not just start the task - but finish. The cook, the chef, the boss of the kitchen is highly motivated to produce the finished product, the results. They own the job, and they will finish the job. Failure is not an option, and there WILL be a cooked bird on the table, period.

Don’t let anything in the world of telecom or technology scare you.  Attack your next technology challenge with the same energy, conviction and passion as a new bride hosting her first Thanksgiving. Get help, ask for help, figure it out, research it, buy a cookbook, watch a video - but do it. 1-800-Butterball is staffed 24 x 7 with free, expert hand-holding and no-charge "turkey coaching" from master chefs. 


You can do it. Anyone can do it - but - only if you truly want to do it. Failure in technology matters comes from a lack of passion, and a lack of motivation. Failure in technology related projects does not come from a lack of skill or talent. You were not born with the knowledge of how to build a website, no more than you were born with the knowledge of how to properly cook a turkey. I see shows like “Cake Boss” and “Hell’s Kitchen” are big hits on prime time TV. Maybe we will soon see Turkey Wars on www.food.com? The public will probably "gobble up" that reality TV show, don’t you think?

< ...did he really just say that.........? >

*** BONUS***   A little BBQ Humor (very little)

BBQ Rules
We are entering the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

Routine...
(1) The woman buys the food.
(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes dessert.
(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - drink in hand.
(4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

Here comes the important part:
(5) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.

More routine...
(6) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
(7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another drink while he flips the meat.

Important again:
(8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.

More routine...
(9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauce and brings them to the table.
(10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:
(11) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
(12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed her 'night off,' and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

Dear Diary

A diary is a record (originally in handwritten format) with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone who keeps a diary is known as a diarist. Diaries undertaken for institutional purposes play a role in many aspects of human civilization, including government records, business ledgers and military records.

As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.

Generally the term is today employed for personal diaries, normally intended to remain private or to have a limited circulation amongst friends or relatives. The word "journal" may be sometimes used for "diary," but generally a diary has (or intends to have) daily entries, whereas journal-writing can be less frequent. While a diary may provide information for a memoir, autobiography or biography, it is generally written not with the intention of being published as it stands, but for the author's own use.

As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.

So, what is a Blog?

A blog is a discussion or information site published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries ("posts") typically displayed in reverse chronological order so the most recent post appears first. Until 2009 blogs were usually the work of a single individual, occasionally of a small group, and often were themed on a single subject. More recently "multi-author blogs" (MABs) have developed, with posts written by large numbers of authors and professionally edited. MABs from newspapers, other media outlets, universities, think tanks, interest groups and similar institutions account for an increasing proportion of blog traffic. The rise of Twitter and other 'micro-blogging' systems helps integrate MABs and single-author blogs into societal newstreams. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Most good quality blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via GUI widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites. Blogging can be seen as a form of social networking. Bloggers do not only produce content to post on their blogs but also build social relations with their readers and other bloggers.

Diaries for Boys

As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.

Many blogs provide commentary on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries; yet still others function more as online brand advertising of a particular individual or company. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (art blog), photographs (photoblog), videos (video blogging or vlogging), music (MP3 blog), and audio (podcasting). Microblogging is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.


If you were counting, I said that as of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence four times now. Why the redundancy? Maybe cause it was so damn easy to just cut and paste it.  Here, I’ll do it again: As of 16 February 2011, there were over 156 million public blogs in existence. Magic.

I say this: anything that you can do really, really fast is never any good.  

If you can be creative in a second, that cannot be very good, can it?  If you can be funny, humorous, impactful, meaningful, in just a few minutes of typing, and then hit “submit” that simply cannot be worth much (my humble opinion). I did this blog post from a chair in my living room, within just a few minutes. How good can my blog be, really?  If I insert some photos that I grab off the Internet, it will take me a few more minutes. If I format it all to make it “pretty” that will take a few more minutes. Blogger will put this out there for the entire world to see. Wow, I must have really important stuff to say, since my blog will circle the world in just a few seconds.

Today is June 10th, 2012 so God only knows how many blogs are out there now. When I was young, reading someone’s diary was a big deal. There was super secret stuff in there, and diaries even had locks on them. They contained very (very) important thoughts and deep secrets; hence the locks. I remember getting grounded for reading my sister’s diary when I was nine years old. It was not worth it; who the heck was David Cassidy and what was The Partridge Family?  That was all she ever talked about...... boring.

There used to be tens of thousands of “buggy whips” being made every day.  Just like diaries with locks on them - there were millions of diaries under the beds of teen-age girls everywhere.  But today, not so much.

Expensive Shoe Phones

Sneakers is a 1992 film starring Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier and David Strathairn. Early in the movie there is a great scene that stuck with me since 1992.  

Two scary looking guys walk into the office, looking for Robert Redford’s character. The receptionist sneaks into the back and she looks worried.  She says “there are two guys out front and they asked for you - by name. They knew your real name”.

Redford pauses a few seconds, then asks: “Suits?” Receptionist: “yes”.
< he meant........are these guys wearing suits? >

Redford: “shoes?”  Receptionist: “expensive”.
< he meant..........are they wearing expensive shoes, or regular shoes? >

Expensive shoes. Why did Redford’s character ask about her about the shoes, and why did the Receptionist know what he was getting at, and why did she know that the right answer was to say “expensive” or “not expensive” to her boss with the secret identity? That dialogue between the characters was very short, but it was very deep, and I caught it. 

 

You can fake many things. You can wear a fake Rolex or wear fake designer clothes.  You can lease an expensive car, the same make and model car that you could never afford to outright purchase.  You can rent things, borrow things, you can use things that can make you look better or make you look more successful than you really are.

Unless you are bowling, you don’t rent your shoes.

If a man is wearing expensive shoes then he is a person of means; he is definitely not a chump. Men do not rent nor do they borrow shoes.



Some people believe that the more expensive a pair of shoes, the better it must be. But are expensive or designer shoes worth the extra money? There are several factors that contribute to the price of a pair of shoes. The materials used plays a big role in the final price of any product. Specialty leathers and exotic skins are far more expensive than a basic black leather. But there are other, less tangible factors in pricing as well.



Creating a quality and comfortable shoe takes research, time and effort -- and manufacturing costs and methods can vary greatly. Some popular brands use hand-crafting techniques that are paid for every time a pair of shoes is made, instead of using underpaid labor or machines that are paid off after the first few lines are released.



And the concept for many people to wrap their heads around is that talent costs money. Quality costs money. When you see an expensive pair of shoes, there's a talented designer behind them. Their time, creativity, and ability to create a unique design is as billable as an accountant's skill with taxes.




Now, a $100 pair of shoes will protect your feet. They will keep your feet safe when walking the streets of NYC, and they will probably look “OK”. But you can just tell a $100 pair of shoes from a  pair that costs $500 or more - it sticks out from across the room. Expensive shoes will always be associated with the word “Success”.


Do iPads work better than any other brand of (less expensive) tablet PC?  
Do iPhones work better than smartphones by any other (less expensive) brand?
Does a luxury SUV truly run better than a similar SUV that costs $20,000 less?  



Cheap shoes are made by machines; the really expensive shoes are made by hand (just like how really expensive cars are made by hand). It is all about the craftsmanship, the experience, the knowledge, and the quality. Can you not see in your mind’s eye, a craftsman making a $1000 pair of men’s shoes? And if everything is not just right, that same craftsman will throw away the shoe and start over.

When shoes were invented, they served a very specific purpose. When Og the Caveman ran away from the "saber-toothed tiger" he ran faster with shoes on his feet than when running barefoot.  Style (or expense) had little to do with the invention of shoes. It was all about helping Og to run faster on rocks, sticks and stones. When you buy technology are you buying a tool, or are you buying a status symbol?

You can buy 10 pairs of $100 shoes for the cost of one pair of Bruno Magli shoes. You could wear a different pair of $100 shoes every day for 10 days vs. wearing the same single pair of Bruno Magli shoes, every day. The Bruno Magli shoes will wear out. The other shoes are only worn 1/10th of the time, each individual shoe will therefore last longer. Buying ten pairs of $100 shoes makes more sense. Unless of course, you are trying to look successful.

I think that in business, we need to rethink how we spend our money (on everything) especially how we spend our hard earned, after-tax money on technology. Are we paying good money for the right tool for task at hand? Or are we more concerned about how the technology that we purchase will “make us look” in the eyes of others? 


With that being said, I wonder if Bruno Magli makes flip-flops in my size.....

Where did you hide the body?

I received this request for an interview which I granted:

Hi Thomas,

As you know, I am the writer and co-host of the website http://www.all-about-body-language.com. I hope you don't mind me contacting you but I thought you might be interested to know that we have launched an expert interview section on our website.

Each interview is published on an individual page, with links to their website, book or anything else that would be of interest to our visitors. In addition to inclusion on our latest website, the interview will also be featured on The All About Psychology website. This website alone receives over 70,000 visits per month and has established itself as a preeminent online information resource for psychology. With this in mind, the expert interviews will provide a great opportunity for anybody seeking to promote anything connected with body language and/or psychology.

Details of each interview will also be featured through all our social media channels, for instance, my co-host's psychology Facebook page, which has over 64,000 followers (https://www.facebook.com/psychologyonline)

I know that our visitors would benefit greatly from learning more about your expert knowledge so I sincerely hope that you will consider becoming one of our featured expert interviewees.

Kind Regards,
Craig Baxter
==========================

If you scroll to the bottom, you can see the interview questions and my answers. Here is the point of today’s technology blog: how do you read “body language” when there is no body?


 


I have always been fascinated by the science of body language, and I have used it (to my advantage) my entire career. The concept of micro-expressions, the “tell” in poker, the way that someone who is trained in body language can tell the truth from fiction - I find this quite amazing.  We have all heard that 90% of all communication is nonverbal. Social media has exploded in the past five years. Facebook and Twitter are the ultimate examples of this communication revolution. Email, texting, audio, web and even videoconferencing is verbal. You can read a text message or a tweet, but you cannot "feel it".


What would you rather do, be on a videoconference, or meet someone for coffee? High gas prices might force us to have more and more online meetings, but there is something in the limbic brains of humans that just wants “the tribe” to sit around the campfire after the hunt and tell stories. Heck, I sell this technology stuff, and even I don’t want to be on a videoconference! Even HD Video is not the same as being there. Tele-Presence is not really "presence". It's fake, just like a copy of the Mona Lisa is not the same as the original.

If the majority of human communications is nonverbal, and if the majority of today’s global communication is the opposite of how our brains work (and growing exponentially) something’s gotta give!

Technology has caused this problem, ever since the invention of the telephone, the telegraph and the radio. Long before television, people would sit around the radio and listen to stories - their imagination would fill in the rest. The most interesting radio programs of the day, made you pay close attention - there was no entertainment value if you were not paying close attention. You had to participate in the radio broadcast (via your mind and your imagination) or there was no point of having the radio turned on. Today, you can find old radio programs online, and listen to them as podcasts. It is worth your time to do this; it is a great example of how human communications has evolved in the last 100 years.


 


Technology has caused this phenomenon, and technology will most likely solve it. Lie detectors are becoming more and more accurate. But, we cannot carry a lie detector around with us to our meetings. I see a day in the future, where there will be an app for this; if you have a phone conversation on your iPhone it will have a “BS Meter” that turns red when the other person is telling a whopper.  *Thank God for me, as I look very good in red.....



As the world becomes more and more flat, we will have more and more virtual friends. Since texting and tweeting is so hot, the next big thing in social media will probably be the sarcasm font.  Or the “smart ass” font, or the “I am rolling my eyes” font, or the “I am throwing my drink in your face” font.....


I had a big grin on my face as I wrote that last paragraph... but you would not know that, would you?

 <   The Interview on the Web - click here   >

Your www.MTP-USA.com has serviced 300+ of the Fortune 1000 since 1983 – What’s the secret of your long term success?
[Thomas A. Capone] Find what you would do for free – and then figure out how to make money by doing it.  I have been in love with technology all my life, so finding a career in telecom and technology was my destiny. If you surround yourself with what you love, your competition does not stand a chance. I have not worked a day in my life, since 1983. I have been having too much fun. If it is not fun, you are doing it wrong.

What does your www.NYDLA.org webpage offer its visitors?
[Thomas A. Capone] The world is flat and getting flatter.  Everything is now about distance learning, not just higher education. Everything is about remote work, tele-work, file sharing, virtual classrooms, virtual work.  Even virtual play! Look at the world of video games and virtual reality technologies.  The NYDLA brings not only the technology – but the smart people – the subject matter experts to the people who must master this new world of global distance learning to be successful.  If the future of our world is to be a global marketplace, then it only makes sense to master the technologies and the distance learning techniques of this new world.

Who was your inspiration to pursue a career in telecommunications?
[Thomas A. Capone] Honestly?  James Bond!  When I was young, I loved the James Bond gadgets and gizmos.  How the technology saved the day – the real hero in those movies was Q, not James Bond.  One of the first car phones that I ever saw in my life was in a James Bond movie.  This was in the 60’s and I was hooked ever since.  I bought my first car phone in 1983, all thanks to Bond, James Bond.

You have been in business for 29+ years, what the secret to successful face to face negotiation?
[Thomas A. Capone] Listen twice as much as you speak.  And by listen, I mean all of the communications, especially the nonverbal.  The eyes tell everything; the facial expressions, the stance, the body language is my secret weapon.  It is not just knowing if someone is telling the truth.  It is to know if the person truly cares; it is the knowing if the person is truly interested in your product, your service, your solution. How many times will people be polite in business, saying one thing but then doing the complete opposite?  The ability to read the body language is such an asset to anyone in business, much less someone in sales. If you can get to the truth, the rest is just details.

When public speaking, what is the best way to encapsulate your audience?
[Thomas A. Capone] Credibility is everything.  Time is so precious, if your audience does not feel like they should be right here – right now – listening to your presentation, you are lost.  The key is to make your presentation more valuable than anything else that they could be doing at that moment.  The need to FEEL what you are saying, much more than hear what you are saying.  If you connect with your audience, it is magical and memorable.  The key is to respect their time – they could be doing anything at this moment, and they are here, listening to you. Why? If they don’t feel it, you just wasted their (and your) time.  Respect their time, and you will earn their trust, and their business.

What body language do you look for when selling a product?
[Thomas A. Capone] Eye contact and eye movement.  While you are speaking what are they looking at?  Are they looking at you, the product, their iPhone, or are they looking out the window? What are they looking at, and why? For me, it always starts with their eyes.

Where do you see your communications business in 10 years?
[Thomas A. Capone] Telecommunications and technology has changed the world, and it is not slowing down anytime soon.  Just look at Facebook, Twitter, iPhones, iPads, YouTube, etc. - they have all changed the world forever. Texting and email have become 90% of all human communications.  Teenagers today only text, rarely do they use the phone. And yet, we all know that 90% of all human communication is nonverbal.  Is Facebook not one big virtual communication medium?  You will never meet in-person 99% of the people that you know via Facebook. Social media is anything but social, and yet it is the biggest thing in the world of business.  I find this fascinating. I see MTP remaining focused on the human side of technology. Until the day comes when robots are talking to robots, we need to address the human aspect of telecommunications and technology. Technology Based Learning Systems is the future of all business, and I will be very busy for the next ten years, I can assure you. There are plenty of jobs and wonderful careers in this space, and the world economy will rise or fall on these new technologies, and how they are put to use. Facebook did not exist ten years ago – what will the next ten years bring? I met you Craig, through Facebook, yes?

What have you planned for the rest of 2012?
[Thomas A. Capone] I shall be focused on expanding the www.NYDLA.org as the premiere online distance learning organization in the USA. Every day there will be new technologies, new services, and people will be forever looking for help in navigating these uncharted waters.

There are Germans Everywhere!!!!

Wash Your Hands and Say Your Prayers Cause Jesus and Germs are Everywhere

My grandmother had this sign in her kitchen. It still makes me smile, for when I was little, I thought she was talking about “Germans” and not “Germs”.

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." The origin of this expression is unclear, though it could have originated from ancient Hebrew or Egyptian writings. The first English version seems to have originated from Francis Bacon. In any case, the meaning is clear: keeping your body clean is vital.

Cleanliness is important in any workplace; however, it is crucial in certain occupations. For instance, cleanliness is a top priority in the medical industry. Bacteria can become a life and death issue. Fortunately, the personnel can use a wide variety of methods, including the wearing of scrubs. Keeping your hands clean is another method to prevent the transferring of bacteria.

1. Understand the importance of hand washing

According to some experts, washing our hands is the most effective way to prevent diseases from spreading. That is due to the link between bacteria and diseases. Diseases spread when we contact fluids from people's bodies. For instance, consider someone with the common cold. After blowing his nose, he could inadvertently place mucous on a doorknob. The virus can survive there for a while, and thus be transmitted to another person who touches the doorknob. By simply washing our hands frequently and being conscientious about what we touch, we can reduce the transmission of bacteria.

In addition to the common cold, failing to wash your hands throughout the day, can increase the likelihood of transmitting numerous infections, including the common cold, digestive viruses, flu, hepatitis A, and skin infections.


2. Wash at the proper time

How often should you wash your hands? Experts recommend that people wash them at least 10 times daily. However, those in the medical profession should wash them even more frequently. For instance, here are some activities after which you should scrub away:

- before you eat
- after you eat
- before touching your nose, mouth, or eyes
- after contacting fluids from bodies
- after contacting items that have contacted fluids from bodies
- after using the restroom

You might be shocked at how infrequently people wash their hands. After using the restroom, only about two-thirds of Americans wash their hands!

3. Wash your hands by using the proper technique

Washing your hands properly does not involve rinsing your hands quickly. Instead, you should use certain techniques. Use warm, soapy water and wash them for roughly 15-30 seconds. If you do not feel like using a stopwatch, wash your hands while singing the "ABC song." Then rinse your hands thoroughly. Experts have determined that the length of time you wash your hands, is much more important than the type of soap that you use (i.e. antibacterial soap).

Where are you going with this, Tom?  I thought your blogs were always about technology???

Antibacterial soap IS technology.  But the actual USE of the antibacterial soap - that is all human.  Science figured out that the washing of the hands is very important indeed. But only 100 years ago they did not wash their hands at all, not even before the surgeon cut you open. Today, doctors and nurses will wash their hands - and THEN they put on gloves on top of their freshly washed hands.

Now, are you “washing your technology hands” in your germ filled business world?  

Did you backup your hard drive today? Did you defragment your computer to save 30% on time and electrical energy to run your computer?  Did you protect yourself from malware, spyware and other nasty things? The list is long - the list of things that we all know that we should be doing, but we still do not do.  

 We all know that washing our hands is the right thing to do - and yet we don’t do it - why?  Even when there are signs posted right in our face to remind us to do it - we still do not do it.  My grandmother would be so happy if we all would just agree to “wash our hands” in the business and technology world every single day. 


“Waste not, want not” as my grandmother would say. If we don't waste what we have, we'll still have it in the future and will not lack (want) it. If we address our technology problems today, we shall not have to address them tomorrow.

Do you promise to start washing your filthy, dirty, grubby, nasty, germ-ridden (technology) infected hands at YOUR work place and at home - today, and every day?  Yes?   

Let’s shake on it!