February 22nd, 2017

In tonight’s episode of the Geocaching Podcast:

Headhardhat is out on assignment leaving the rest of the gang to run free with the show. They are supposed to discuss some interesting Geocaching Blog Articles but who knows what they will do.

Be sure to check it out! Please share with other geocachers.

We meet on Wednesday nights at 9:30PM ET at http://www.geocachingpodcast.com/live so you can see us record the show live and join in the chat room. See you there!

#geocaching #geocachingpodcast #headhardhat #podcast

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The Video Version of our Podcast

GCPC EPISODE 487 Show Notes

GCPC MAILBAG at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Send us your emails!

Share your geocaching stories, adventures and milestones

Ask a Show Host A Question to see how they will respond.

NEWS:

From The Geocaching Blog

Vote on the fate of the Mission 9: Tunnel of Light APE cache

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2017/02/ape-cache-vote/

From The Geocaching Blog

“You have to be odd to be number one” — First of each geocache type.

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2017/02/you-have-to-be-odd-to-be-number-one-first-of-each-geocache-type/

New tools for your next trip into the great outdoors!

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2017/01/new-tools-for-your-next-trip-into-the-great-outdoors/

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LINKS

Videocast (https://youtu.be/pylqlXnoolc)

Audio Podcast (http://traffic.libsyn.com/geocachingpodcast/GCPC487.mp3)

Google Search (http://google.com)

Geocaching Podcast Website (http://www.geocachingpodcast.com)

Subscribe To The Show (http://feeds.feedburner.com/GeocachingPodcast)

RSS Show Feed (http://geocachingpodcast.com/feed)

Please Support The GCPC

(http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GeocachingPodcast/~4/FuJFaunAu9E)

(https://f.ch9.ms/thumbnail/552aa854-940e-4b3a-84ac-9f760efd34af.png)FuseThru (http://www.fusethru.com/) capitalizes on the growth and miniaturization of electronics. Working with existing sensors and modular tools, it provides easy upgrades for OEMs looking to improve product features so users can experience the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT). Microsoft teamed up with FuseThru to prototype a new system designed to monitor atmospheric variables, both inside and outside of the Flatiron Building in Atlanta, GA – an 11-story building built in 1897 and the city’s oldest standing skyscraper.Join Jerry Nixon (https://twitter.com/jerrynixon) as he welcomes the team from FuseThru – Jared Rhodes and Marshall Corry – as well as Ian Philpot from Microsoft, as they describe how their IoT solution collects data about a multitude of conditions and then uses Azure IoT Hub to stream and interpret this data in real time.* [2:27 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1715#time=2m27s)] Tell us a little bit about FuseThru. What do you do?* [6:27 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1715#time=6m27s)] What's the "Smart City" initiative in Atlanta and how does this relate to the project you worked together on?* [10:05 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1715#time=10m05s)] How are these devices able to send these large amounts of data? How did you process all this data?* [17:58 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1715#time=17m58s)] You mentioned SignalR. Why did you decide to use this?* [21:09 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1715#time=21m09s)] Walk us through the decision to use two hubs -- Event and IoT hub? Why did you go this route?* [28:17 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1715#time=28m17s)] What's next for FuseThru?If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:Websites & Blogs: * Jerry Nixon's Blog (http://www.microsoft.com/click/services/Redirect2.ashx?CR_CC=200117938)* Ian Philpot on Twitter (http://twitter.com/tripdubroot)* FuseThru (http://www.fusethru.com/) (http://m.webtrends.com/dcs1wotjh10000w0irc493s0e_6x1g/njs.gif?dcssip=channel9.msdn.com&dcsuri=http://s.ch9.ms/Blogs/DevRadio/feed/mp4&WT.dl=0&WT.entryid=Entry:RSSView:12bff8abc6d74eab9e37a72200233744)

Regularly evaluating and critiquing your own your podcast, especially from your audience's perspective, will help you improve and grow the podcast. Here are four steps to get you started.

1. Save your podcast for later

It's important to add some distance between yourself and the podcast episode you want to evaluate. The longer you wait, the more you will have changed and the more likely you'll be to no longer have the information fresh on your mind. Thus, when you consume the podcast later, your perspective can be fresh enough that you have no context for the content.

With no context, you can then see how well your podcast stands alone.

2. Consume your podcast like your audience does

To help put you in the place of your audience, consider the classic five W's and one H: who, what, when, where, how, and why.

* Who is consuming your podcast? Are they working guys in their 20s? Are they stay at home moms? Are they seniors with limited technology?

* What other podcasts might your audience be comparing yours to? What would compel them to listen to your podcast over others?

* When is your audience consuming your podcast? Do they consume before you publish your next episode? Do they consume during the week, or on a weekend?

* Where is your audience consuming your podcast? Driving? Working? Relaxing? Are there distractions?

* How is your audience consuming your podcast? Headphones? High-speed? On a computer, or on a mobile device?

* Why is your audience consuming your podcast? What profit is in it for them?

You may be able to get this exact information by surveying your audience, or you may have to assume some things.

Listen to “8 ways people consume podcasts and how to make a better experience (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/8-ways-people-consume-podcasts-and-how-to-make-a-better-experience-tap135/)” to gain some more perspective.

The word “avatar” is often used in conversations about your audience. What most people mean when they say, “your avatar” is actually “your audience's avatar.” Because you want a representation of your audience (their avatar) and not a representation of yourself (your avatar).

3. Critique your podcast as if it is someone else's

It's often said that we are our own worst critics, but I think our pride often makes us too gentle on ourselves.

If you have ever received negative criticism, it can inspire a useful perspective for critiquing your own podcast. For example, if someone says that your information isn't helpful, imagine you don't know anything about the subject, and then try to learn about it from yourself.

In a way, a critical perspective is similar to how you listen and look for things to edit. But critiquing is broader. Instead of merely looking at the small details, look at the overall message. For example, instead of counting your ums, listen for how easy it is to follow and understand the idea being shared. Or consider how much you talk about yourself instead of providing value to others.

Something may even help get you in the right perspective is if you listen to an episode of a podcast that annoys you—even if it's a different niche. This irritation can fuel extra negativity, so make sure you use it to critique yourself and not attack others!

4. Check the tech

Podcasting is a combination of all kinds of technology. There's a lot that could go wrong, so it's easy to imagine how many people can be overwhelmed (and thus make poor decisions).

Check the different, audience-affecting pieces of your technology. Here are some examples:

* Volume levels: Within a single episode, across episodes, and compared to other podcasts

* Sound quality: Is it easy to hear and understand what's being said?

* Compatibility: Does your podcast work in different players and apps? Does your website work well on mobile devices?

* Call-to-action processes: If you ask your audience to do something, do it yourself first, and maybe even on someone else's device.

RockStep Solutions creates world-class scientific data management tools for research. Its innovative software system – Climb (https://www.rockstepsolutions.com/features/introducing-climb/) - is designed to transform and modernize information management in a laboratory setting. (https://f.ch9.ms/thumbnail/552aa854-940e-4b3a-84ac-9f760efd34af.png)As research facilities have thousands of units to house animals, and these units need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure the conditions are within compliance, Microsoft joined RockStep to develop a multi-tenant IoT solution that helps reduce operating and maintenance costs for their clinical trial customers.  By reducing the number of visits to each unit they can cut maintenance and operating costs and improve the overall health of animals.Join Jerry Nixon (https://twitter.com/jerrynixon) as he welcomes the team from RockStep – Abigail Ames and Keith Sheppard – as well as James Sturtevant and Nick Landry from Microsoft as they describe how the implemented this solution – from concept to deployment – in a matter of a few days.* [3:38 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=3m38s)] Tell us a little bit about RockStep* [6:13 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=6m13s)] What can you tell us about the project RockStep and Microsoft worked on together?* [9:55 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=9m55s)] What was the initial vision for this project?* [11:30 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=11m30s)] How did you manage the volume of data coming through these devices?* [12:35 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=12m35s)] Why might a regular server crumble under a huge volume of IoT data? How does Azure IoT Hub compare?* [17:40 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=17m40s)] What did you do with Stream Analytics and why was this beneficial?* [19:50 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=19m50s)] So now that you have this in place, what are you able to do with this data?* [22:50 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=22m50s)] How scalable is a solution like this? How fast can a proof of concept go to being implemented in a large scale organization?* [35:10 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1714#time=35m10s)] What's next for RockStep?If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:Websites & Blogs: * Jerry Nixon's Blog (http://www.microsoft.com/click/services/Redirect2.ashx?CR_CC=200117938)* James Sturtevant’s Blog (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/jamessturtevant/)* Nick Landry on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ActiveNick)* RockStep Solutions (https://www.rockstepsolutions.com/) (http://m.webtrends.com/dcs1wotjh10000w0irc493s0e_6x1g/njs.gif?dcssip=channel9.msdn.com&dcsuri=https://s.ch9.ms/Blogs/DevRadio/feed/mp4&WT.dl=0&WT.entryid=Entry:RSSView:de50dc65b901427e960da71c0156ab3d)

February 15th, 2017

In tonight’s episode of the Geocaching Podcast:

We put the GCPC hosts to the test or quiz rather to see who has bragging rights and wins tonights surprise quiz contest.

Be sure to check it out! Please share with other geocachers.

We meet on Wednesday nights at 9:30PM ET at http://www.geocachingpodcast.com/live so you can see us record the show live and join in the chat room. See you there!

#geocaching #geocachingpodcast #headhardhat #podcast

——————————————————————-

The Video Version of our Podcast

GCPC EPISODE 486 Show Notes

GCPC MAILBAG at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Send us your emails!

Share your geocaching stories, adventures and milestones

Ask a Show Host A Question to see how they will respond.

Greetings to the fabulous GCPC Hosts,

I’ve been listening for a while now and I find it entertaining to count the number of times Andy says “I’m just saying…” in an episode. Because of this, Andy, from this point in the show until you “wrap this puppy up”, I challenge you to not say your little catchphrase. Good Luck!

Alex

BroncoCole

NEWS:

Three Levels of Difficulty

Each Level has 10 questions

Level One – Easy and 10 Points Each

Level Two – Intermediate and 20 Points Each

Level Three – Hard and 30 Points Each

If you answer any question incorrectly you forfeit all of your points!

Winner Goes To Scott Berks!

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LINKS

Videocast (https://youtu.be/g_7Ca1Q_jNE)

Audio Podcast (http://traffic.libsyn.com/geocachingpodcast/GCPC486.mp3)

Google Search (http://google.com)

Geocaching Podcast Website (http://www.geocachingpodcast.com)

Subscribe To The Show (http://feeds.feedburner.com/GeocachingPodcast)

RSS Show Feed (http://geocachingpodcast.com/feed)

Please Support The GCPC

(http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GeocachingPodcast/~4/R270Nlmb9_g)

Rex Animal Health (http://www.rexanimalhealth.com/) is seeking to transform the animal health and agriculture industries with a suite of innovative data-driven tools that track and analyze animal disease(https://f.ch9.ms/thumbnail/552aa854-940e-4b3a-84ac-9f760efd34af.png). Join Jerry Nixon (https://twitter.com/jerrynixon) as he welcomes Rex CEO Amado Guloy, and Microsoft Technical Evangelists Rachel Weil and Tim Reilly to the show as they discuss how by moving to Microsoft Azure they improved Rex Animal Health’s workflow for developing, deploying, and hosting web applications built on Python and Angular.* [4:07 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1713#time=4m07s)] Tell us a little bit about Rex Animal Health. What do you do?* [6:18 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1713#time=6m18s)] Can you describe the project that Rex Animal Health and Microsoft worked on together?* [10:35 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1713#time=10m35s)] How was the migration process to Azure from AWS?* [14:58 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1713#time=14m58s)] How valuable was this project for Rex Animal Health?* [19:46 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1713#time=19m46s)] Azure Machine Learning also played a role into this project. Can you describe how it was used?* [22:07 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1713#time=22m07s)] What's next for Rex Animal Health? If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:Websites & Blogs: * Jerry Nixon's Blog (http://www.microsoft.com/click/services/Redirect2.ashx?CR_CC=200117938)* Rachel Weil on Twitter (https://twitter.com/partytimeHXLNT)* Tim Reilly’s Blog (http://timmyreilly.azurewebsites.net/)* Rex Animal Health (http://www.rexanimalhealth.com/) (http://m.webtrends.com/dcs1wotjh10000w0irc493s0e_6x1g/njs.gif?dcssip=channel9.msdn.com&dcsuri=http://s.ch9.ms/Blogs/DevRadio/feed/mp4&WT.dl=0&WT.entryid=Entry:RSSView:0cd2bb13c7094dea9b8ca71a01422d8a)

Life can get crazy and unpredictable. It can be joyous moments like a birth or marriage. It can be sad moments like a death or job loss. It can be trying moments like a move or transition of any kind. Here are 10 tips for keeping your podcast going, despite life's challenges.

As an extra resource, check out my webinar, “How to Prepare Your Podcast for Breaks (https://podcasterssociety.com/webinar/how-to-prepare-your-podcast-for-breaks/),” inside Podcasters' Society (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/podcasterssociety).

1. Make life your highest priority

Whatever is making your life unpredictable is probably more important than your podcast. It's far better to invest yourself in your life and relationships. Like the instruction on airlines to put on your oxygen mask before helping others, you may not be able to help others through your podcast if you're suffocating your life.

2. Reduce your expectations

Is it truly reasonable to think you can keep up your podcast during an unpredictable season of life? You may have had a great schedule for consistency, and I think we all know how important consistency is. But when life is crazy, you may have to drop your expectations altogether.

3. Be open with your audience

Podcasting is already a more intimate form of media (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/what-makes-podcasting-more-intimate-than-other-media-tap279/), so it's okay to be open with your audience. You don't have to share all the dirty details. But if you open up to let your audience know something's going on, they will usually be amazingly supportive!

From February, 2016 to February 2017, I published ten fewer episodes than usual. During that year, I took three breaks—a sabbatical, an emergency break for a death in my extended family, and time off for the birth of my first child. Never did anyone criticize me for those decisions. You and the rest of my audience were amazingly supportive! (THANK YOU!)

What you express is what you attract (one of my most-tweeted quotations). So when you're human with your audience, they'll be human back.

4. Discard old plans and make new ones (with flexibility)

Before your life changed, you may have had your schedule all planned out. You knew you could podcast on a particular schedule and have your episodes published consistently by a particular time.

Throw that all out.

During an unpredictable time, you need to make new plans. And yes, you should make plans, but they'll be very different from before.

With whatever plans you make, remember to be flexible.

5. Focus the time you do get

In his book Why We Want You To Be Rich, Robert T. Kiyosaki defines “FOCUS” as “Follow One Course Until Successful.” The core idea is that “focus” means doing nothing else but that task you mean to do, and doing that until you're finished or out of time.

Because your time may be so short for the tasks you have, it's vital that you spend that time entirely focused on those tasks. Even if it's only a few minutes, isn't that better than no time at all?

Here are some episodes, from fellow podcasters on my network, that I highly recommend to learn more about focusing effectively.

* Consistency: Srinivas Rao of The Unmistakeable Creative talks about consistency, comparison, the resistance and focus (https://beyondthetodolist.com/consistency-srinivas-rao-of-the-unmistakeable-creative-talks-about-consistency-comparison-the-resistance-and-focus/)

* Staying Focused & Paying Attention (https://theproductivewoman.com/paying-attention-tpw079/)

6. Continuously plan and prepare new content

You may no longer get the hours of preparation time you're used to. Instead, make it a regular practice to always be planning and preparing new stuff for your podcast.

This is why I highly recommend tools like Evernote (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/evernote) and Workflowy (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/workflowy). They're available from PCs, tablets, and mobile devices,

(http://thewiredhomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/nintendo-switch-hw-1024x512.jpg)

The Nintendo Switch console will be released in less than a month. While the system isn’t really something parents would consider educational, it’s possible some homeschoolers out there who like gaming will be getting the system.

Response has been mixed from the gaming community and I thought I’d share my thoughts as well as give an overview of the parental controls that will be available for the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch Parental Controls Overview

* Smartphone app for managing parental controls

* Time limit notifications (system-wide, per day)

* Force suspend mode manually

* Game use summary reports

* Age restrictions

* Online activity restrictions

* More details at Nintendo’s Website (http://www.nintendo.com/switch/family-fun/)

Sad Homeschooling News from New York

NYC schools have been reporting homeschooling parents to CPS (http://thefederalist.com/2017/02/04/families-sue-nyc-reporting-child-services-homeschool/) for educational neglect. This is happening because the school district thinks parents need permissions from the district to homeschool. The law in New York states that if parents have filed the necessary paperwork they may homeschool without the consent of the school district.

In Buffalo, NY, a single homeschooling mother had her children placed in foster care and was arrested (http://www.wkbw.com/news/was-buffalo-mom-jailed-over-homeschooling-decision) after she withdrew her children from public school. She had filed the required letter of intent but the district was marking her children absent and reported her to CPS. Since the incident, Kiarre Harris has been allowed supervised visits with her children for 2 hours a day (http://www.wkbw.com/news/family-court-judge-denies-homeschool-moms-custody-request).

Connect Socially!

* Join the Facebook page (http://thewiredhomeschool.com/facebook)

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Circle on Google Plus (http://thewiredhomeschool.com/gplus)

* Follow John Wilkerson (http://www.pinterest.com/wiredhs/)

Leave a Voicemail

You can call 518-290-0228 to leave me a message or use this convenient widget to record a message right from your computer.

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list (http://www.thewiredhomeschool.com/mailing-list). You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com (http://techpodcasts.com/)

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod (http://incompetech.com/).

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement

The post Nintendo Switch Initial Reaction and Other News – WHS 205 (http://thewiredhomeschool.com/nintendo-switch-initial-reaction/) appeared first on The Wired Homeschool (http://thewiredhomeschool.com).

If you’ve ever felt like you needed to transform your life or needed a little more balance, specifically if you’re a mom, this week’s PowerPress Podcast guest Rhonda Cimorelli can help you. Before Rhonda and MacKenzie chat about her show, they go over some mistakes podcasters make and, most importantly, how to avoid them. Rhonda has loads of experience and, as a certified life transformation coach, she is helping “momprenuers” and others create a more balanced work and family life. At the end of the show they talk about the new podcast, S-Town being released by the This American Life and Serial team. The team claims to have a new podcasting format, so storytellers, tune in. Thanks for listening and please subscribe!

Fan of PowerPress? Leave us a review, here! (https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/powerpress/reviews/)

Show notes:

Common Podcasting Mistakes

A Balanced Life For You – Rhonda Cimorelli

Serial Creates S-Town

Blubrry Twitter (https://twitter.com/blubrry)

Blubrry is Hiring!! (https://www.monster.com/jobs/search/?q=rawvoice&where=Columbus__2C-OH)

Webinar: PowerPress Setup Wed, 2/15 7PM EST (https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7168647968294607106)

One of the toughest and most time-consuming tasks for home buyers is researching whether the location of a prospective home will fit their needs. They need to consider factors such as schools, public transit, safety, (https://f.ch9.ms/thumbnail/552aa854-940e-4b3a-84ac-9f760efd34af.png)shopping, traffic, and more for every listing they are interested in, whether it comes from an agent or online search. Comparing these factors across multiple listings makes it even more complex.Homitat (http://www.homitat.com/) can help solve this tough problem with its intuitive iOS and Android apps. In just a few minutes, users can set their preferences and then score and compare prospective homes on how they match up to their lifestyles. It takes away the guesswork and saves time.Join Jerry Nixon (https://twitter.com/jerrynixon) as he welcomes Raj Konduru, Managing Partner from Homitat and Sr. Technical Evangelist from Microsoft, Mostafa Elzoghbi (http://www.twitter.com/mostafaelzoghbi) to the show as they discuss how Microsoft and Homitat teamed up to help automate the process of sending messages to Office 365 groups for its subscribed users.* [2:10 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1712#time=2m10s)] What does Homitat do?* [4:30 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1712#time=4m30s)] Can you describe the project that Homitat and Microsoft worked on together?* [6:11 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1712#time=6m11s)] How does Outlook fit into the solution?* [9:11 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1712#time=9m11s)] What's the user experience you hoped customers would have?* [17:17 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1712#time=17m17s)] How does Azure App services work into this?* [26:00 (https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio/DR1712#time=26m00s)] What's next for Homitat?If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:Websites & Blogs: * Jerry Nixon's Blog (http://www.microsoft.com/click/services/Redirect2.ashx?CR_CC=200117938)* Mostafa Elzoghbi on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/mostafaelzoghbi)* Homitat (http://www.homitat.com/) (http://m.webtrends.com/dcs1wotjh10000w0irc493s0e_6x1g/njs.gif?dcssip=channel9.msdn.com&dcsuri=http://s.ch9.ms/Blogs/DevRadio/feed/mp4&WT.dl=0&WT.entryid=Entry:RSSView:de0575a82db84c039976a70e01573fc9)