Time Traveler 1776: A Revolutionary War Presentation for Schools, Veterans, Other Groups

My newest website is for one of our first clients, Thomas Kuehhas, who has moved to Virginia and started a new business, Time Traveler 1776. Time Traveler's unique hands-on Revolutionary War program makes early American history come alive for school and community audiences. The program is powered by Tom's infectious enthusiasm for history coupled with probing questions in the Socratic method. Spice is added by the opportunity to touch, feel, smell and try on museum-quality replicas of the uniforms and equipment worn by George Washington's soldiers. Need an upbeat, educational and entertaining presentation for your school or group? Check out Time Traveler 1776.

SugarSync: Isn’t Sweet, Doesn’t Sync

Here’s the background.  Microsoft recently replaced Windows Live Sync (formerly FolderShare) with Windows Live Mesh, which doesn’t work with Windows XP.  Mesh works just fine and has additional features like easy remote access, but not everybody has moved past XP.

So I went looking for a Windows Live Sync replacement, specifically for a few clients who sync a handful of documents and a small database between their home and office computers, or between their office PC and a laptop.

SugarSync came to my attention.  It’s easy to set up, syncs via the Internet, and is free for low volume users.  It has some nice features, like the Magic Briefcase, and works with a variety of devices and systems. Who doesn’t love interoperability?

I set up a test account with two PCs and a laptop and a few small folders.

The first problem I encountered isn’t really one created by SugarSync, but by its users and my local ISP (Optimum Online).  Optimum apparently identifies SugarSync as a P2P file sharing program and slowed or shut down my service repeatedly during my trials, although the volume of data I was syncing was laughably small (a few dozen MBs).

The second problem was the deal-breaker.  I set up two folders containing text files, PDFs, a few small JPEGs, and an old Palm database to sync between two machines.  The folders had previously been synced by Windows Live Sync.  The result was a plethora of duplicate files in both folders identified by machine of origin, i.e. filename.txt and filename (from machine-name).txt.  I cleaned that up with FileMenu Tools, a handy shell extension from LopeSoft.  The static files stayed in sync thereafter.

I wasn’t thrilled about the need to remove post-sync duplicates, but I could live with it.  So I tried a more important test using dynamic files.  This time I targeted the folder storing a QuickBooks database.  I copied the folder from the first machine and pasted it into the same location on the second machine. I set up SugarSync, got the same type of duplicates, cleaned them up, then got nailed again.  Using QuickBooks created another “duplicate” of the database, actually a “backup” of the database before it was opened and changed.

In short, SugarSync is probably fine for folks who upload a static file, then share it to other devices.  Think music, photos, and video.  It’s definitely not OK for synchronizing actively edited text and data files between machines.  The same considerations would apply to using SugarSync for backup.  Good for static, problematic for dynamic files.

How To Customize Wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter Edition - How-To Geek

I know I'm not alone this. I bought a great little netbook loaded with Windows 7 Starter, added RAM, set the Visualization Properties to maximize performance, and the little guy (or gal) just flies. But I was stuck with a nondescript blue background, and no way to add or change the wallpaper. Looked all over for reliable, simple and safe way to change the wallpaper, and today I found it. Voila! Works like a charm. Go here for the solution to a nagging Wallpaper problem: How To Customize Wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter Edition - How-To Geek And don't forget to leave the author a few bucks!

Hudson Valley Charter School An Unneeded Expense

As someone committed to quality education, I was interested to learn that a new charter school -- the proposed Hudson Valley Charter School for the Arts and Global Awareness -- might be coming to the White Plains area.

Charter schools, which are not subject to the same rules and regulations as public schools, can develop unique means and teaching methods.  Like home schooling, military academies, private and parochial schools, they sometimes perform better than nearby public schools, although not nearly as well as the provocative film Waiting for "Superman" suggests.  In a nationwide study of 2500 charter schools by Stanford economist Margaret Raymond -- the CREDO study -- 17% were judged superior to matched public schools, 46% the same, and 37% worse, leaving plenty of room for improvement.

However, in economically depressed localities which are under- or badly-served by their public schools, charter schools can provide much-needed, affordable alternative schooling.  The compelling benefit is that charter schools, unlike the alternatives, are tuition-free.  In New York state, the tuition, transportation and other expenses are paid by the local school system, whether the charter school is structured as a non-profit or for-profit institution.

It is impossible to know beforehand whether the proposed Hudson Valley Charter School for the Arts and Global Awareness will be one of the 17% that might be superior, or part of the overwhelming majority which, at best, are no better than the White Plains Schools. But we do know that White Plains does not fit the economically depressed profile of benefit.  And more importantly, we know that White Plains excels in teaching the arts and global awareness, the express specialties of the proposed charter school.

With no need, and no reason to expect it to exceed, the proposed charter school evokes just one certainty.  If it succeeds in attracting 10-15 of our students, it will cost the White Plains Schools system $260,000-390,000 it can ill-afford.

That's what I think.  Please express your opinion at the public hearing on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 7:30 pm, in the Assembly Room at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane, White Plains, New York.  And let the members of the School Board know in writing.  You'll find their names, home and email addresses here: http://tinyurl.com/WPSchoolBoard.

Oyster Bay Historical Society Seeks Executive Director

The Oyster Bay Historical Society is a 50 year old community-based organization serving the town of Oyster Bay from the South to the North shores of Long Island, New York. Our respected Executive Director of 18 years must leave us for personal reasons, and we are seeking a replacement to provide innovative and effective leadership in a time of active growth.

The Executive Director position is focused heavily on the continued development of external relations with other non profit organizations, local governmental entities, the media and the community at large. The Executive Director is responsible for the successful management of the Society, its staff and volunteers, and its various programs in order to attain the goals envisioned by the Board of Trustees. Immediate tasks will include working with the Board to complete the capital campaign; building an endowment fund; and overseeing the development of the new research and collections center.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in history, museum studies, art history, preservation or a related field or work experience equivalent to same; 3 years in an administrative supervisory capacity; a demonstrated record of successful grant writing and proficiency in office-based computer applications.

Please send resume and cover letter to: Frank Leone, Chairman, Director’s Search Committee, Oyster Bay Historical Society, Box 297, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. Material may also be e-mailed to obhistory@aol.com, attention Frank Leone, Chairman, Search Committee.

For further information on the Society and its programs, visit our web site at www.oysterbayhistory.org.