SeizingMyDay

The Ten Inventions that Have Made the Biggest Difference in My Life

A recent USA Today feature isolated the "eureka" moments of the past 25 years. I decided to list my own list of top ten inventions that I most value. What would you put on your list? Here's mine:

1. The laptop computer has changed my life. As a professional speaker that travels, these ever smaller powerhouse computers allow me to connect to the Internet and the world, send and receive e-mail, write articles and columns, deliver stimulating programs and crunch the numbers I need. Even though I have to take out for airport screening; it's an innovation I wouldn't want to do without! You can add to that the softwares I value most--Explorer, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and ACT. I hardly use anything else.

2. Everyone values their cell phone, but I love my Treo 650. It combines a cell phone, calendar, camera, Internet access, email and travel tool that serves me well! I don't want five different things hanging off my belt. Give me one that works. By the way, I use my cell phone to call out. I hate to give out my number to others; who wants to be interrupted 24/7?

3. The microwave is a must invention. Who needs Starbucks when I can heat my water and add a tablespoon of Folgers Instant Coffee? I love putting a bag or meal into a microwave and having something good to eat in minutes. What would we do without it? I wouldn't want to try.

4. I love my digital cameras--still images and DV recorder! I love the digital world. You only keep the pictures worth keeping. You can store them, share them, enhance them, print them...what more could you ask for? We won't have any trouble finding images of our past; the trouble will be sorting through it to find what is worth seeing!

5. My IPOD is a treasure. I have the songs that I want to listen to available when and where I want to enjoy them. With my mini IPOD and my BOSE noise-canceling headset, I can enjoy the gift of music the way I want to experience it. I use it to bring peace, energy and inspiration to my travels.

6. TIVO has changed my life. I can watch what I want to watch on TV when I want to watch it. I can speed through commercials. I can store what I want to keep and view a great play as many times as I want to! I've watched UCLA beat USC in football over and over again. Now that is a great invention!

7. Credit Cards are wonderful. We never carry a balance. We just use them to avoid carrying cash, to ensure quality purchases that can be returned or contested, to keep records of our purchases, and to otherwise make life easier. The new gift cards allow us to take $500 in the form of a credit card with a limit. Now that is an invention worth honoring.

8. My small, battery-powered yard blower is one of my favorite possessions. Why sweep when with this small but mighty blower I can blow leaves and debris away in moments? These blowers are real keepers!

9. My Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-200S can record hours of my speaking and fits into my shirt pocket with room to spare. It makes MP-3 files I can listen to anywhere and transfers easily to my computer through a USB 2.0 port.

10. Finally, as a traveling professional with over 3 million miles on American Airlines alone, I love my luggage with wheels! I have an endless supply of wheeled marvels to choose from, and I love them all. Why carry it when you can wheel it?

That's my top ten. What would you change on your list?

(USA Today, May 21, 2007, p. 8B)

24's Jack Bauer Takes Logan Down and Ends Up on a Cruise to China

Well, the fifth day of Fox's 24 is over. President Logan is in custody with a good chance of being killed by those who don't want him to squeal. Chloe has rebounded from the loss of Edgar into the arms of Morris. Who is Morris? He is a women's shoe salesman with unparalleled computer skills and a British accent who just happens to be Chloe's ex-husband we have never heard of. Secret Service Agent Aaron survives and is surely willing to help the First Lady get over the loss of her husband.

Thankfully, the story is set for 2007, and the "obvious" enemy is for 24 Day Six is China. That's right, Jack Bauer has been captured by the Chinese special forces for his attack on the Chinese Consulate in 24 Day Four. We see 2006 with Jack asking for death, which with a three-year Fox contract was unlikely, and the Chinese security agent saying, "You are too valuable to Kill."  We close 2006 with Jack on a very low budget cruise to China. It's apparent that it's a room without a balcony and the midnight buffet is probably water and rice.

There are questions that remain. Did President Logan and his gaggle of coconspirators arrange to have the Chinese special forces take out Jack? Did the French agent that was cheated by Jack help the Chinese? Will Audrey ever be able to consummate her love for Jack? Will the enemies of the US finally realize that the only person they have to really worry about is Chloe? Will China's economy survive the ill will generated by 24 fans if anything happens to jack Bauer when in their custody? Should we write President Bush to negotiate the release of Bauer before the 2007 season to avoid damage to fragile diplomatic relations? After all, if President Bush can negotiate Jack's release from China, his poll numbers will obviously rebound!

For now, a true Fox 24 fan signs off for another season with plenty of things to think about until January 2007 when a new season makes Monday nights meaningful again!