michaelD: the bay area buzz report

ZuiTube - A must for all parents!

Came across this through one the many emails I receive. Comes with an iPhone app too. This maybe my best Christmas present! No replacement for Mommy/Daddy interaction of course, but for those moments when YOU need 10 - 20 minutes of break time. Find a video and let them watch. :)

ZuiTube is like a kid-friendly version of YouTube with more than 60,000 videos that have been pre-approved by parents and teachers. There are many different channels available that appeal to kids of all ages and contain videos in categories including Hannah Montana, National Geographic, animals, sports, and many more. It’s great for keeping the kids entertained in a G-rated way.

KidZui is a free Web browser, search engine and online playground for kids 3-12. Kids have the freedom to learn, play, search and discover over 2 million games, websites, videos and photos on their own. KidZui has the largest number of games, websites, videos and photos reviewed by parents and teachers anywhere. Kids can find what they need to help with schoolwork, by themselves.

Kids safely express themselves, with their Zui, backgrounds, tags and online status.

KidZui eliminates the need for parents to constantly watch over their kids' shoulder, when they are online.

Parents know what their kids are doing online and they can connect by sharing content. KidZui sends a weekly email that tells you what your kids are doing online. The KidZui parent account lets you share content and set limits.

KidZui is free to all families but also offers paid Membership for extra benefits.

Free Wifi in the Bay Area

You know how it is when you've been meaning to do something, and then someone else beats you to it? Well, that's how I felt when I received a tweet from Bay Area on the Cheap, telling me that they have already compiled a pretty extensive Bay Area list. I can't vouch for its accuracy, although the web site states that it's a growing list. The Oakland and San Francisco lists are below. I was tempted to hyperlink all of the locations below, but I ran out of time. It would be great if one of you guys could do that and send it to me? Please?  Why do I think there's an iPhone app for this?

Btw, props to Bay Area on the Cheap, they do a great a job of delivering info on entertainment deals.

Oakland
Barnes & Noble – Jack London Sq, 98 Broadway, 510-272-0120
Brookdale Recreation Center – 2535 High St – 510-535-5632
Buffet Fortuna – 800 Broadway – 510-839-1688
Cafe 817 – 817 Washington St
Cafe Dejena – 3939 Martin Luther King Jr Way – 510-655-9328
Cafe Teatro – 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza – 510-267-8970
Chachie’s Pastries/Coffee/Gelato – 1768 Broadway – 510-286-2366
City Hall complex area – 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Coffee @ The Trib – 411 13th St – 510.452.5600
Crema – 411 13th Street – 510-452-5600

Catching up: Burger Bar, JLS shuttle, Taste Temescal, iPhone starts your car

Burger Bar Opens in SF
Allow us to present Burger Bar, the much-anticipated build-your-own burger joint from Fleur de Lys chef Hubert Keller nestled on the sixth floor of Macy's in Union Square, opening Friday.

Don't let the department store entrance off Geary (nor the fact that the space once housed Macy's bridal registry) deter you. Just ride the elevator to the sixth floor, make a beeline into the restaurant and grab a booth with a tableside flat-screen and bird's-eye Union Square views. (Urban Daddy)

Grant helps Oakland catch ride to bus shuttle
The City of Oakland has secured $1 million in funding to jumpstart a shuttle service between Uptown and Jack London Square — two vital and emerging neighborhoods where new restaurants, galleries and offices are opening. (SF Business Times)

FREE Must-Have iPhone Apps for Parents

It’s hard to believe that a little device that’s the size of your hand can actually help parents become more organized, time-efficient, knowledgeable, even relaxed. However, that’s the beauty of an iPhone. The key, though, is to find the right apps to get you there, and with so many choices (more than 75,000), it takes time and effort to find good ones.

What follows is a list of 20 free apps that won’t necessarily make you a better parent, but can make your life a little easier, or help out in a pinch wherever you are. And when you have a screaming, bored, hungry, or need-to-use-the-bathroom kid, sometimes a little help is all you need. The apps listed below have been compiled from the eyes of a parent, but many can be used regardless of whether you do or don’t have children. (Source - Mashable)

So of course I'm going to test drive a few of these. I downloaded WebMD Mobile, EventsFinder (duh...of course) and ReQall (something to supplement my ever shrinking memory), and a few others...

(Descriptions - Mashable, Categories/Comments - Michael D)

Must haves...

• WebMD Mobile - WebMD’s iPhone app enables parents to look up symptoms and try to figure out what’s ailing their children. Of course, it shouldn’t take the place of professional medical advice, but for those cases when your child has a minor rash, fever, cough, etc., this is a great resource to try and narrow down what is going on, and prepare for a doctor visit if necessary. No brainer.

It’s hard to believe that a little device that’s the size of your hand can actually help parents become more organized, time-efficient, knowledgeable, even relaxed. However, that’s the beauty of an iPhone. The key, though, is to find the right apps to get you there, and with so many choices (more than 75,000), it takes time and effort to find good ones.

What follows is a list of 20 free apps that won’t necessarily make you a better parent, but can make your life a little easier, or help out in a pinch wherever you are. And when you have a screaming, bored, hungry, or need-to-use-the-bathroom kid, sometimes a little help is all you need. The apps listed below have been compiled from the eyes of a parent, but many can be used regardless of whether you do or don’t have children. (Source - Mashable)

So of course I'm going to test drive a few of these. I downloaded WebMD Mobile, EventsFinder (duh...of course) and ReQall (something to supplement my ever shrinking memory), and a few others...

(Descriptions - Mashable, Categories/Comments - Michael D)

Must haves...

• WebMD Mobile - WebMD’s iPhone app enables parents to look up symptoms and try to figure out what’s ailing their children. Of course, it shouldn’t take the place of professional medical advice, but for those cases when your child has a minor rash, fever, cough, etc., this is a great resource to try and narrow down what is going on, and prepare for a doctor visit if necessary. No brainer.

Twitter...not what you think it is

Last night I had another casual conversation about Twitter while sitting on the dock at Lake Chalet. And like conversations of this type in the past, it started as an uphill battle, and ended with the other person saying, "I didn't know that. I didn't think of it that way before. I'll check it out."

The problem: Twitter is being lumped into the same category as Facebook, and to a lot of people that means "more idle chatter" that interrupts their lives with unnecessary emails or text messages about trivia. TMI, TMI, TMI, a lot of which they don't care about.

The solution: Understand Twitter, and use it to your advantage

Boys and their toys: Catch an eyeful

I love this stuff!

Vue Personal Video Network

Vue Personal Video Network

Pack some peace of mind -- by leaving this camera system at home. Stick up to 50 magnetic mounts anywhere within 300 feet of the base; position the tiny wireless cameras; then log on to view your live streams from around the world. With yearlong battery life and no software to install, Vue lets you effortlessly keep a virtual eye open. vuezone.com | $300 (Fast Company)

Kids, Kanye, cool and corny

Can't decide if I should write about VIPLineup's new twitter feed, VIPLineup Family, which features "discerning and diverse lifestyle, entertainment, educational and recreational listings for kids and families" ... or comment on Kanye West's ridiculous outburst the other night at the VMA Awards. Perhaps Kanye got his motivation from Representative Joe Wilson? Kanye is in rare company. How many people earn the distinction of being known as the person that the President referred to as a jacka**? Would mama be proud?  I guess Jay Leno got to the root of that in his interview with Kanye the following evening. We all have teachable moments in life. I really hope this is one of his ... I can't leave this blog without giving my usual shout out to Twitter. I hope people come to realize that Twitter is far more than just idle chatter ...

Caught my eye last week (Aug 30 2009)

• Tempe Pastor of Faithful Word Baptist Church says, "Obama Should Die" - I don't even know where to start with this one.

• Pikchur and Pixelpipe - posts your photos to a myriad of social media sites and other channels where you have residing accounts, via computer or smartphone.

• Finding free stuff via Twitter: Freezly though only picks up free giveaways and items with its algorithm. You can see the hottest free deals being shared on Twitter, the most recent deals Freezly has found, and an archive of past giveaways.

• The Top 10 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

• Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows: People who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time, a group of Stanford researchers has found. Ugh..I'm doomed.

• Affordable summer lodging in Yosemite: However, beginning Aug. 23 and running through Sept. 30, the rustic and charming Evergreen Lodge is now offering 25 percent off its cabins on weeknights.

• Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur: heaven on earth. If you can afford it, you gotta go.

• Megalists, Resources and How-Tos - get ready. This will overwhelm some of you! TMI...really!

• It's Here: Facebook 3.0 for iPhone Has Arrived: it just keeps getting better.

• What's your social Mojo?

• Tweetmeme - shows you the hottest links on Twitter

• Dual screen laptops - me first!
  
  
  
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I'm in Twitterville, and you NEED to be. Read why...

I've taken the deep dive and fallen in love with Twitter, and so should you. But it's not for the idle chatter that exists among friends. It's a quick, easy, spontaneous way to keep people informed about events in the Bay Area. After all, that's what I do. I'm brand new to Twitter (Aug 2009), but it's proving to be a great way for me to get me back into the game of letting you know what's going on. But Twitter is much bigger than that. There's even a business guide to Twitter. Read the Twitter FAQS.

WARNING: If you, your business or organization don't have a Twitter account, get one now. Even if you don't use it, just get it! Eventually, you will realize that you want one, and like website domain names and email addresses, you'll be upset if your name is already taken. Then you'll end up with something like @joesmith7s8h3k5d. Same goes for organizations and businesses. Don't say I didn't tell you so. If you find yourself in the position of realizing that someone is impersonating you online, or squatting on your company or organization name, Twitter offers some recourse.

If you have a concern that Twitter will inundate your cell phone with a million tweet text messages, have no fear. You're in total control and can easily "silence" the offenders. Read here>

Follow ME / VIPLineup  on Twitter  |  Join ME / VIPLineup on Facebook  |  Subscribe to The Lineup

Bits and Pieces (081809)

Are you a list person? I’m a list guy. I love lists. Work – I have a list of all my projects. Websites – I have a list of all the ones I like, separated by category (and sub-category) of course. Tasks – I have a list of all the tasks that I need to do, by priority of course. Email – I have a list of all the people that I need to email. Blog topics – I have a list of all the blog topics that I want to write about. Calls – I have a list of everyone I need to call, and a special list of the ones I don’t want to call back. Events – of course. List of lists – yep, and I also have a list of the lists I need to create.  Do I have an issue?

I am going to say it again, and again, and again. Twitter – Warning: if you, your business or organization don't have a Twitter account, GET ONE NOW. Even if you don't use it, just get it! Eventually, you will realize that you want one, and like website domain names and email addresses, you'll be upset if your name is already taken. Then you'll end up with something like @joesmith7834619. Same goes for organizations and businesses. Don't say I didn't tell you so. And when you get a twitter account, you may want to "follow" (receive) my (username = michaeldef) "tweets" (140 character messages) and those from VIPLineup (username = viplineup). I've quickly become a huge