Great Chrome App for Toddlers: Alphabet Tutor

My daughter seems to love playing on the computer (especially assaulting my keyboard), so I've recently been checking in on the Chrome Web App store, every so often, to check for games/apps I think she'll enjoy.

Today, I found one I want to rave about:  Alphabet Tutor.

Your kids will love practicing their number/letters with Alphabet Tutor!

Here's Alphabet Tutor's description from its creator:

Alphabet Tutor features two modes to help children (ages 2+) learn to recognize the letters by name.

Freestyle mode says the name of each letter pressed aloud and displays it on the screen.

Quiz mode asks the child to locate a specific letter on the keyboard and press it. Hints can be enabled to show the letter on the screen after two incorrect answers.

You can choose between displaying uppercase and lowercase letters and enable numbers depending on the level your child is prepared for.

Tested and approved by my 2 year old daughter.

I strongly recommend you try this out with your toddler -- I think you'll be very impressed.  I also recommend you sit at the computer with your toddler.  I think you'll really enjoy the experience.

P.S.  If you have yet to install Google Chrome, repent, install it, and then install this app.

Today's Spiritual Message: He Is Risen!

Today, is, I submit, the most important holiday of the year:  Easter.

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

"There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter."  - Gordon B. Hinckley

I know that Jesus Christ lives and because He lives, we will all be resurrected.

I hope you enjoy the following Easter videos.

New Google Navbar (Finally) Switching to Email Address Instead of User Names?

UPDATE:  I think I figured out what's really going on, this morning.  I believe Google uses first/last name by default, unless I open up another Google account, in which case subsequent services will show the email address, rather than the first/last name.  What's your preference?  I suppose Google wanted to shorten the ID space, since I imagine most first/last names are shorter than myname@gmail.com.  I'm now undecided.

"And Cougar Abogado came unto Google, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the navbar be my name, put it: but if my email address, then put it. And Google answered him not a word."

Peradventure Google sleepeth, and must be awaked.

I've been wondering for the past few days whether Google is (hopefully) switching its navbar name plaque from the user's chosen first/last names to the user's email address (as seen, above).  When I poked around, just now, every Google service, other than Picasa, showed my names, instead of my email address . . .

Who cares?  Well, some people have multiple user accounts and yet, here's a shocker, they still maintain the same first/last name!  Allow me to illustrate:  Let's say my first and last names are, respectively, Cougar Abogado and my email address #1 is imanawesomecooldude@gmail.com and my email address #2 is thedude@gmail.com.

If I'm using multiple profiles, I might accidentally take some action in thedude account, thinking it's the imanawesomecooldude account.  Catch my drift?

I hope this issue can be resolved soon, so we can avoid slaying anyone, down by the river.

(I wonder who actually owns those email addresses -- I assume someone, perhaps a bot, does.)

Google Calendar Adds Dynamic Date Favicon: It Knows What Day It Is

Here's an update I've been expecting to see for some time.  Google Calendar's favicon (or browser tab icon) will now show what the day's date is.  Observe:

From Alex Chitu's Google Operating System

According to Alex Chitu, "Google Calendar is the first Google service that has a dynamic favicon," meaning it responds to data/changes.

As the Google Calendar Blog notes, "Today's date is now always a short glance away."  This is frankly the main reason I am writing this post.

I occasionally forget what the date it is and want to see it at a quick glance.  I normally have a time keeping device visible (we filthy Americans are such time gluttons, especially compared to Germany, IMO).  On Windows 7, I minimize my taskbar and have an extension, Cool Clock, displayed in Chrome; on Chrome OS, I use the built-in time piece at the top right.

Cool Clock in Windows 7

On the other hand, I rarely have the day's date in front of me because I rarely care about the date.  So, normally, I would have to take an extra two-five seconds to actually click (gasp, I know!) on something to bring up the date.  Now, since I generally have my Google Calendar up, in a pinned tab (as in the first image), I can have quick-access-to-today's-date goodness.

Chrome OS Clock

Ah, the marvels of technology.

Now, if I could only get a device to zap me, every time I read another mindless article, whose general content I could have absorbed, simply from reading the title.  Well, on second thought . . .

Today's Spiritual Message: Avoid Procrastination

I'm one to talk.  Anyway, as I'm getting ready for bed, here're a few verses of scripture I'd like to share on the theme of procrastination:


32 For behold, this life is the time for men to bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/34.32-35?lang=eng#31

Please note that in LDS doctrine, hell is a temporary experience and essentially everyone will eventually merit some degree of heaven (except for literally a handful or two of people):  http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/76.31-39?lang=eng#30

See Doctrine & Covenants 76 for a more complete explanation of how heaven will be divided.

Congratulations to Matt & Deena!!

Last month, my family and I went out to Salt Lake to witness (and participate in) my brother-in-law Matt's wedding.

We really enjoyed ourselves, and I kept most of my hair, even though I had the main daughter-watching duty!

Here are a few photos.  I hope you enjoy them.

CONGRATULATIONS, MATT & DEENA!

I think most grooms seem to like this moment . . .

Down the aisle!

Cutting the cake

Van Halen, anyone?

GQ with my sip cup (my wife really likes this shot)

Hey, I like the camera, peeps!  (I'm unsure whose legs . . .)

She must really love me, to take a picture with me, while I'm sporting an upside-down boutonniere

Cr-48 WPA2-Enterprise Issues Fixed in 0.12.362.2!

Good news, school/work enterprise network users!  Thanks to Jay Lee's blog post update, I learned, today, that the ability to connect to a WPA2-Enterprise network is now inherent in Chrome OS's network connection GUI, as of dev 0.12.362.2.

Just make sure you're in range of your wireless network and that it uses a visible SSID (as opposed to a hidden SSID).

Also, I think you need to select "Do not check" for the Server CA Certificate (as shown below).  Although, I suppose it may vary.

Finally!!  And there was much rejoicing.

Yes, now you'll be able to connect to your fortress of a wireless network, absent delving into the bowels of your Cr-48, regularly bashing a script, or setting up an auto-run script.

To be candid, while I'm elated this functionality is (finally) here, I also feel like I'm parting ways with an old frenemy, like Batman saying "good bye" to the Joker or Mr. Freeze.  Okay, maybe just the Joker.

Please let me know what issues/questions/parties you have, in the comments.  As is generally the case, I suggest using the settings/ID/password that are unique to your situation.

Enjoy!

General Conference Wordles: What Conference Is All About

I'd seen word (or tag) clouds before today, yet, to be candid, I think I just barely learned that another name for them is a wordle.

I heard about the term by reading an LDS Newsroom Blog post about what words speakers used the most in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints April General Conference.

So, basically, a wordle shows (visually) which words in a defined group of text are used the most.  Here's an image from the Newsroom Blog that shows which words speakers at the April General Conference used the most.

Which words do you notice the most?

Users can create a wordle for a bunch of copy/pasted text or from a specific URL (web address) at http://www.wordle.net/create.

I'll post a wordle depicting this blog, later, when I'm using my other computer, since I appear to be missing a required plugin on my Cr-48.

I think I had be using a Java plugin.  Anyway, here it is, as promised:

Wordle from my blog

I'm having my doubts about the wordle's accuracy.  I think it might favor more recent posts.

Google Docs Releases Pagination and Native Printing

Here is a rare occurrence:  I'm going to tell you about a feature update to a Google product.

Google Docs has, today, added pagination view (being able to write a document and see the words typed as though on a sheet of paper) and native print (the ability to directly print a document created online, rather than first making a pdf).

Hurray for paginated view!

To choose paginated view or compact view (removing the extra space -- headers, footers, page break), go to View>Document View, as shown below.

I'd been wondering when this feature would roll out.  Looking at the first comment on Alex Chitu's post about this release, it looks like Google may have some more tricks up its sleeve, coming soon.  (Automatic page numbers, please!)

Today's Spiritual Message: New Joseph Smith Movie

The Church has released a new movie about the prophet Joseph Smith.  As I understand it, the movie tries to tailor the experience to those who are unfamiliar with it.



I hope you enjoy(ed) the movie.

I want to share my brief testimony (witness) that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, called in these, the latter-days, to restore the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ, with all its attendant blessings, to the earth.

I invite you to learn more about Joseph Smith at mormon.org/joseph-smith/.

Today's Spiritual Message: Feast Upon the Words of Christ

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.  (2 Nephi 32:3.)

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we place a great deal of emphasis on what our Heavenly Father has taught is in the past (the scriptures), as well as what He is currently teaching us today, through His prophets and Apostles (especially in General Conference).

The Conference Center seats 21,000.

My family and I really enjoyed this weekend's General Conference messages and really look forward to studying them, in earnest.  I invite you to see what the Lord instructed His prophets to teach.

As a side note, we tried to potty train our daughter (a three day, all out endeavor) for the third time, and I'm convinced she either loves diapers or has somehow seen the evil talking potty from Look Who's Talking 2 (I think that's the movie) and is mortified of sitting down on a toilet . . .

D&C 121: 7.

Helping in the Vineyard

Today, I've come across a way for LDS church members to "help in the vineyard" through small (or larger) projects like tagging photos.

As I understand it, there are, at a minimum, four areas we can help with:  1) church publications, 2) church multimedia, 3) translation, and 4) family history.

Click on the Helping in the Vineyard button, on the right, to find out more.

I hope you enjoy it!

Announcing My Upcoming Summer Experience and Potential Post-Graduate Employment

While some of you are aware that my wife and I had planned our recent trip to Germany far in advance, all of you will now learn something special (in my view) about that trip.

As many of you already know, in December, I received a Cr-48 test laptop from Google.  A short while later, my wife also received one.  We were both very excited and wondered how we had both been chosen.  I will not reveal why that was.

Sundar Pichai and his Google Chrome staff were very impressed when they learned about my love and near adoration of Google products, namely Chrome and Chrome OS.  They were also very intrigued when they learned that I am in law school and was looking for a summer legal experience, when they reviewed my Cr-48 application.  In addition, when they learned about a paper I wrote, advocating for 4th Amendment protections for stored email, they were convinced I had the legal savvy and interest to work on the Google team.

So, why did my wife also receive a Cr-48 laptop?  As a special incentive for me to work with Google's legal department for a clerkship (internship) in Munich, Germany!

The Chrome team was elated when I informed them we already had a trip to Germany in the works, and they insisted my family and I take a special tour of the Munich office, while on our trip there.

So, on March 22, we were in Fussen, being wowed by "Crazy" King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein castle.  Shortly thereafter, we made the approximately two hour drive up to Munich to tour the office (see, below).  Click on the link to get some background about working at the Munich office.

We were very impressed with the office, and we're really excited for the experience and hope it goes well (so maybe I can work there after graduation, full time!).

I had to keep this announcement completely hush-hush until now because Google's been going through a top management shake-up, and so the company has requested that many announcements like this one be delayed until Google was completely certain it would give full approval.

We leave for Munich on June 1!  (Thankfully, we'll be sitting in first class and Maria will have her own seat.  Flying over there, recently, with her sitting on our laps was a bear!)

Munich, home of our upcoming summer experience!

Blogger Revving up New Views

What photographic excellence, from the F-Word.

You may have noticed that I've fallen off my habit of informing you about endless and random updates to Chrome, Google, etc.  My apologies.

I confess I figured those of you who are interested in the new features/updates generally know where to find out about them and that my observations would probably add very little to the conversation.

I'm bucking the (recent) trend, tonight.

I'd like to draw your attention to five new Blogger "views": 1) flipcard, 2) mosaic, 3) sidebar, 4) snapshot, and 5) timeslide.

To access these views, simply add /view to the end of any blog (I believe it has to be public).  Try this blog, for example:  cougarabogado.blogspot.com/view

Impressive, F-Word, most impressive.

Here's a video from Blogger.  I think you'll be quite impressed:

What do you think?  Please sound off, below.

Please Defend DOMA, Marriage, and Religious Freedom

Recently, marriage, the union of one man and one woman, and the free exercise of religion, have come under even greater attack than usual.

Marriage

You may be aware that President Obama has recently set aside his constitutional duties to uphold the laws of the land.  Specifically, he has abandoned the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  President Obama says the law (which simply codified the then universal definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman) is likely unconstitutional and has refused to defend it against legal attack.

For a little background, DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, after a 342-67 vote in the House and 85-14 vote in the Senate.  Or, in other words, 83.62% of the House and 85% of the Senate voted in favor of the legislation.

Now, DOMA is facing attacks in the courts and in Congress.  Are your elected representatives standing up for what has always been, until recently, the universal definition of marriage?  Please find out and take corresponding action by clicking on the Defend DOMA button, to the right.

Religious Freedom

I previously posted to inform you that Apple had caved into demands to remove the Manhattan Declaration app from its app store.  The Manhattan Declaration proclaims a belief in Life, Marriage, and Religious Freedom.

I write now to inform you that Apple has recently caved into similar demands to remove an app produced by Exodus International.

Exodus International is an organization which assists individuals seeking help to overcome same-gender attraction.  The group proclaims "Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ" and recognizes that while participants may overcome homosexual behavior, they may still struggle with same-sex attractions.

As I have done before, I want to reconfirm (rather than cover-up or deny) that I have a brother who views himself as homosexual whom I love very much and whom I refuse to disown or cast aside for his decision.

Regarding the apps, I understand both received a 4+ rating from Apple, meaning they were viewed by Apple as free from objectionable material.

You may be far from surprised that some denounced these apps as "hateful" and "bigoted."  I am sad that a number of individuals seem unable (or simply refuse) to differentiate between homosexual behavior and self-proclaimed homosexual individuals, themselves.  I prefer to recognize people as children of God, rather than label us according to our specific tendencies, appetites, or behaviors.

I am deeply concerned that what we once considered a flourishing market place of ideas may be quickly mutating into a curated garden of politically correct ideology.  "Freedom from Religion," anyone?

Yes, Apple is far from being the U.S. government.  On the other hand, there are many who adamantly push to force God and freedom of religion out of the public sphere and into the uncontroversial shadows of freedom of worship.  There are many who long to silence any voices who disagree with or offend them.

If we ever lose the right to express our ideas, I greatly fear the dark days that would follow.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may [including nothing at all].  (LDS Article of Faith # 11.)

Please sign the Manhattan Declaration (at right) and support freedom of religion in whatever respectful way you can.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  Edmund Burke.

The Difference Between Libya and Iraq Explained

I especially love how this video hearkens back to the "because it is an iPhone" exchange (absent the colorful language).

Yesterday's Spiritual Message: You Will Be Freed

Elder Ballard talks about falling prey to addictions and overcoming them:



Look for posts and pictures from our Germany trip, coming up!

A Tribute to the Fallen Japanese: We Will Meet Again

This morning, I heard a Lord of the Rings song on Pandora and was especially touched, after reading the lyrics, and thinking about the devastation in Japan.

When the cold of winter comes

Starless night will cover day

In the veiling of the sun

We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams

I can hear your name

And in dreams

We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall

And we come, to end of days

In the dark I hear a call

Calling me there,

I will go there

And back again

My heart is particularly sick and sad and full of mourning, as we have a dear friend who was, when I was a young child, essentially family, who lives in Hokkaido, Japan.  We have yet to receive word from her that she and her family are all right.

Yet, in addition to the lyrics found above, I know that because of Jesus Christ, we will all meet again, not only in dreams, but in life, and He will wipe away all tears from our eyes.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  Revelation 21: 4.

God bless the people of Japan.  They are in my thoughts and prayers.

Today's Spiritual Message: Spiritual Vertigo

A WWII pilot talks about the importance of following established rules.

Today's Spiritual Message: Peace in this World

Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world.
Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. 

Around Christmas, this past year, my wife and I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida.

Among other things, what we loved most about the HP park (and all of Universal Studios) was the "Dragon Challenge" roller coaster ride.

And, climbing up the ride's drop off, I discovered what I enjoyed most about the whole experience.

It was after dusk and so the area was quite dark.  The Dragon Challenge ride was situated at the outskirts of the whole Universal Studios park, when we were there, so we could see off into the surrounding distance.

As I gazed out at the dark horizon, I saw a shimmering light, in what I assumed was a familiar form.  As you may have guessed, it was the Orlando, Florida, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple.

I was overcome with appreciation, as I thought about the symbolism of that moment:  Here we were, climbing a roller coaster ride, where we would be screaming, whipped about, twisting and turning, and all in the dark of night.  Yet, off in the distance lay a bright and quiet reminder that we can have peace in this world, in spite of the many dangers, excitements, and turmoils we experience in this life.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14: 27.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the Prince of Peace.  Each and every temple, shinning brightly in the dark of night, is a glowing reminder that we can each have peace in this world, as we turn to Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.

I have certainly felt this peace in my life, when I have endeavored to follow the Savior.   I close with an invitation from one of His prophets:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.
I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen.  Ether 12: 41.