Merry Christmas from The Yee Family!
Visit Ryan's Yahoo! 360° Site
Okay, I'm a traitor! ;-)
I haven't been on my Blogger blog as much lately because I've been setting up my cool Yahoo! 360° Site. If you've been reading this blog for any period of time, you already know I'm a BIG fan of everything Yahoo! (mail, news, calendar, photos, instant messaging, search engine, etc.).
I've been invited to set up a Yahoo! 360° Site in the past, but I didn't really understand what it was and why I would want to bother. It's pretty much like MySpace. Since I like Yahoo! so much, I decided to stick with the "unproven" Yahoo! 360° versus joining the rest of the "teen world" on MySpace. My daughter is on there a LOT, and let's just say our tastes differ, so I was pretty sure that Yahoo! 360° was for me (grin).
I like how "friends" and "family" can connect to your Yahoo! 360° Site and keep up on your blog ramblings, photos, lists, and anything else you can dump on the site. I wish there were better templates, but other than that, I think the site is kewl.
I'm not giving up on Blogger just yet, but I only have so much to say! Visit here and there for the TOTAL picture! ;-)
I haven't been on my Blogger blog as much lately because I've been setting up my cool Yahoo! 360° Site. If you've been reading this blog for any period of time, you already know I'm a BIG fan of everything Yahoo! (mail, news, calendar, photos, instant messaging, search engine, etc.).
I've been invited to set up a Yahoo! 360° Site in the past, but I didn't really understand what it was and why I would want to bother. It's pretty much like MySpace. Since I like Yahoo! so much, I decided to stick with the "unproven" Yahoo! 360° versus joining the rest of the "teen world" on MySpace. My daughter is on there a LOT, and let's just say our tastes differ, so I was pretty sure that Yahoo! 360° was for me (grin).
I like how "friends" and "family" can connect to your Yahoo! 360° Site and keep up on your blog ramblings, photos, lists, and anything else you can dump on the site. I wish there were better templates, but other than that, I think the site is kewl.
I'm not giving up on Blogger just yet, but I only have so much to say! Visit here and there for the TOTAL picture! ;-)
Cameron (in 1997) Sings in the Backyard
Here's an old videoclip I stumbled across of my son, Cameron, when he was two--he's now in middle school!!!
Doting parents hire personal photographers - Small Business - MSNBC.com
Doting parents hire personal photographers - Small Business - MSNBC.com
Now, this is kinda interesting...parents paying professional photographers to follow their children around to capture candid shots. What do you think?
Now, this is kinda interesting...parents paying professional photographers to follow their children around to capture candid shots. What do you think?
WEB ALBUM: Dad's Family Pictures
Here are some great pictures provided by my Dad and posted courtesy of Google's new Web Album service.
PICTURE: Grandfather, Sister Suzie, & Dad (1960)
Now, here's a great picture!This is my grandfather (my dad's dad) with my sister, Suzie, and my dad. Looks like it was taken at a banquet of some sort.
This picture had a date stamp of August 1960 (way before MY time...hehehe).
PICTURE: My Dad & His Sister
Here's a little history...a picture of my dad as a little boy with his older sister taken at a photo studio in China. As my dad explained it to me, he remembers hating to wear this suit for the picture. This must be 1930s.My aunt died maybe a few years later while my dad came over to the United States as a 14 or 15-year-old.
Ah, A Day Off At Last!
Columbus Day off was an unexpected surprise, but let me tell you...I'm glad to have it off! It's been a crazy time at work. I don't have a lot of plans for the day...just hanging out with Maria and the two youngest boys who she still homeschools. I know they want to return back to the local pumpkin patch to play on the blow-up slides, so I'm pretty sure that will be on the agenda.
In celebration of Google's big purchase of YouTube for $1.65 billion, I think I'll transfer some old VHS videotapes to DVD so I can dump these oversized cartridges that take up so much room on my bedroom shelves. Jeez, pretty soon we'll have no CDs either...losing Tower Records is just the start of the digital revolution. Kinda sad, but I do like Rhapsody and iTunes...just kinda sad that the old and the new can't coexist before one of them takes the fall.
In celebration of Google's big purchase of YouTube for $1.65 billion, I think I'll transfer some old VHS videotapes to DVD so I can dump these oversized cartridges that take up so much room on my bedroom shelves. Jeez, pretty soon we'll have no CDs either...losing Tower Records is just the start of the digital revolution. Kinda sad, but I do like Rhapsody and iTunes...just kinda sad that the old and the new can't coexist before one of them takes the fall.
School's in session...the mad rush is on!
Yesterday, ALL four kids started back to school the day after Labor Day!
A couple note-worthy points: 1) Cameron started middle school (6th grade)...not so big a deal if it wasn't that this was his first time in ANY school since he's been homeschooled for 6 years by Maria!!! and 2) Nicholas started kindergarten with Maria (homeschooling, that is).
Cameron was a little nervous, and it surely couldn't have helped that his older, popular sister was saying that the large backpack he picked for his heavy textbooks was the kind the "geeks" use. But, in true Cameron form, he ignored her anyway and lugged that heavy bag of books all over campus. ;-)
Nicholas and Brandon are our last two kids that we're still homeschooling. Maria is considering keeping these two through middle school, but she has six years to think about it. In any case, the mad school rush for the Yee Family is off-and-running!
A couple note-worthy points: 1) Cameron started middle school (6th grade)...not so big a deal if it wasn't that this was his first time in ANY school since he's been homeschooled for 6 years by Maria!!! and 2) Nicholas started kindergarten with Maria (homeschooling, that is).
Cameron was a little nervous, and it surely couldn't have helped that his older, popular sister was saying that the large backpack he picked for his heavy textbooks was the kind the "geeks" use. But, in true Cameron form, he ignored her anyway and lugged that heavy bag of books all over campus. ;-)
Nicholas and Brandon are our last two kids that we're still homeschooling. Maria is considering keeping these two through middle school, but she has six years to think about it. In any case, the mad school rush for the Yee Family is off-and-running!
Nicholas sings Happy Birthday, Uncle Mike!
Birthday greetings from Nicholas...have a good one, Mike!
Happy Birthday, Mike!
Today is my "baby" brother's XX birthday (LOL, you think I'm gonna disclose which birthday it is HERE on the Internet????!!!! If I did, you could figure out MY age! ;-)Anyway, Mike, hope you have a terrific birthday with the family. You're probably sunning yourself in Hawaii as we speak!
Some folks have ALL the luck...
A little "catch-up" is in order...
Well, I didn't want August to slip by without me posting at least something on my blog. It's been a very busy time, especially at the airport where we're at Orange Alert. For awhile there, it was long hours and no days off.
This past weekend, Alexandra, Cameron, and I took pictures and video of my dad's Harvest Moon Dance at his church--over 300 people attended. I thought it would be nice to use all my technical "talents" to produce a memory DVD that captured the event. Alex and Cameron took candid pictures moving table to table. I recorded the dance performances and then the open ballroom dancing. We got home late, but I went right to work putting it all together using Roxio's DVDMaker. I probably spent about 3 hours total downloading pictures, video, authoring the DVD, adding music and chapters, then burning it.
It turned out GREAT! Just gave it to my dad this morning right before work.
Speaking of Cameron, he will be starting middle school next week after being homeschooled since Kindergarten by Maria. Needless to say, he's a little anxious (and Alexandra the "Senior" isn't helping things by threatening to make his Freshmen life "miserable")...hahaha. Nothing like a loving big sister (grin). No, actually she's sounding more protective than ever--it's nice to see.
On the homeschooling front, Nicholas is JUST starting Kindergarten with Maria along with Brandon who is starting third grade. Looks like Maria may be homeschooling for many years to come (at least 8 more years)!!!! Brandon's birthday is coming up in September...I'm sure I'll ahve more to report on that shortly.
Hope you're all doing well...thanks for visiting.
This past weekend, Alexandra, Cameron, and I took pictures and video of my dad's Harvest Moon Dance at his church--over 300 people attended. I thought it would be nice to use all my technical "talents" to produce a memory DVD that captured the event. Alex and Cameron took candid pictures moving table to table. I recorded the dance performances and then the open ballroom dancing. We got home late, but I went right to work putting it all together using Roxio's DVDMaker. I probably spent about 3 hours total downloading pictures, video, authoring the DVD, adding music and chapters, then burning it.
It turned out GREAT! Just gave it to my dad this morning right before work.
Speaking of Cameron, he will be starting middle school next week after being homeschooled since Kindergarten by Maria. Needless to say, he's a little anxious (and Alexandra the "Senior" isn't helping things by threatening to make his Freshmen life "miserable")...hahaha. Nothing like a loving big sister (grin). No, actually she's sounding more protective than ever--it's nice to see.
On the homeschooling front, Nicholas is JUST starting Kindergarten with Maria along with Brandon who is starting third grade. Looks like Maria may be homeschooling for many years to come (at least 8 more years)!!!! Brandon's birthday is coming up in September...I'm sure I'll ahve more to report on that shortly.
Hope you're all doing well...thanks for visiting.
Wow, have I been BAD!
I'm not exactly sure WHAT I've been so busy doing, but I sure haven't been very good about keeping my blog up-to-date!
Since I'll be "aging" on Monday, I figured I better get some writing in on this blog while I'm still young enough to do so (hehehe).
It has been incredibly hot where I live these last couple of weeks--the A/C has been running almost 24/7 (sounds like I'm writing in code, huh?) for days now. We moved the rabbit into the house--it was TOO hot in the garage! I can't wait to see my utility bill this month...
Alexandra has a dance recital this weekend--she's in about 13 dance numbers, I believe. Obviously, she'll get a nice workout...hope it's not 108 degrees like it has been. Groan.
On Sunday, I'll be having dinner with my aunt who I share the same birthday with...a year ago, Auntie Willie told me she wanted to have a birthday dinner with me and my family to celebrate--I forgot, but she remembered! I'm really looking forward to it...don't seem to spent much time with any of my family beyond Maria and the kids as of late.
I'll continue this blog entry when I get home...now, BACK to work!
Since I'll be "aging" on Monday, I figured I better get some writing in on this blog while I'm still young enough to do so (hehehe).
It has been incredibly hot where I live these last couple of weeks--the A/C has been running almost 24/7 (sounds like I'm writing in code, huh?) for days now. We moved the rabbit into the house--it was TOO hot in the garage! I can't wait to see my utility bill this month...
Alexandra has a dance recital this weekend--she's in about 13 dance numbers, I believe. Obviously, she'll get a nice workout...hope it's not 108 degrees like it has been. Groan.
On Sunday, I'll be having dinner with my aunt who I share the same birthday with...a year ago, Auntie Willie told me she wanted to have a birthday dinner with me and my family to celebrate--I forgot, but she remembered! I'm really looking forward to it...don't seem to spent much time with any of my family beyond Maria and the kids as of late.
I'll continue this blog entry when I get home...now, BACK to work!
PHOTOS: Just The Guys!
We took these pictures today for Maria as a gift--it's our anniversary next weekend! Trust me, it took a LOT of convincing to get these guys in front of the camera.
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SLIDESHOW: Bridges
Slideshow of The Yee Family created 05/13/06...literally a "bridge" to the past. I created this pretty quickly just in time for Mother's Day.
This slideshow contains some of my all-time favorite pictures that we've taken as a family over the years. Wow, time sure passes FAST! The background music is Sergio Mendes' "Bridges." I remember cruising through the Alameda "tube" with friends in a Camaro blasting this song back in high school. I've always loved this song, and now as a backdrop to these pictures, it carries even more meaning...enjoy!
This slideshow contains some of my all-time favorite pictures that we've taken as a family over the years. Wow, time sure passes FAST! The background music is Sergio Mendes' "Bridges." I remember cruising through the Alameda "tube" with friends in a Camaro blasting this song back in high school. I've always loved this song, and now as a backdrop to these pictures, it carries even more meaning...enjoy!
Nicholas' Gallery - Teen Titans, Season 1 to 6
Nicholas (4) drew the Teen Titans below, one sheet for each season. He did all the printing, drawing, and numbering--GREAT JOB! Click on the audioclip below to hear Nicholas talk about his art.
PODCAST: Our Visit to the SF Exploratorium
Cameron, Brandon, and I visited the SF Exploratorium on 04/02/06.
Ryan tries out Yahoo! ready Internet Chat Headset
This inexpensive, Yahoo! ready Internet Chat Headset from Logitech works GREAT! The sound quality is pretty good for $15 (picked it up from WalMart). Now, there's really NO excuse to not be using audio on the Internet.
VIDEO: Alexandra dances "Adaggio" at Starbound
Alexandra competes a solo dance at Starbound Dance Competition, March 2006.
Five Truly Creative Ways to Train on the Cheap!
By Ryan Yee
If you're responsible for coming up with fast, interesting, and effective training for your company, here are some truly creative ways to spice things up.
And surprise...they're CHEAP!
Develop a PowerPoint Presentation integrating digital audioclips.
Wow! Microsoft PowerPoint has really come a long way.
Originally designed to support presentations and speeches, PowerPoint is a nifty tool for non-techies who want to create self-directed learning modules.
Looking good is a snap if you use some of the professionally-designed templates available on Microsoft Online (http://office.microsoft.com). Then, build your slide points from existing written references or policies you need to train. By simply “cutting and pasting,” you can probably transform most of your existing manuals and printed material into this more modern format rapidly.
Finally, using a digital recorder, tape yourself reading each slide or expanding on the key points. Attach each audio file to the corresponding slide—click PowerPoint Show, and viola, you have a training presentation with audio.
Conduct teleclasses using a free bridgeline.
Set up a teleclass or teleconference with your target audience using http://www.FreeConference.com. With a free bridgeline, you can gather literally hundreds of people on the line to discuss a new program or brainstorm solutions to a problem.
You can even use these as facilitated study groups to support a larger training program—I have students listen to an audioclip lecture of Dale Carnegie or John Maxwell. Then, I have them call into the bridgeline to discuss their thoughts, ask questions, and explore leadership themes with other peers who call in from all over the operation.
Oh, and did I mention, no travel time involved? You can also digitally-record calls and post them as audioclips or podcasts almost instantaneously.
Produce a newscast directly from your computer.
I use Visual Communicator (http://www.seriousmagic.com), an awesome application that transforms your computer monitor into a “teleprompter.” Attach a camcorder, select from a library of professionally-designed templates, and before you know it, you’ll have a cool informational newscast in the same amount of time it would take you to put a PowerPoint presentation together (which is pretty fast!).
Visual Communicator can publish the final newscast file into a variety of formats, including Real Video, Windows Media Video, and AVI. You can even compress small enough to send by e-mail.
Replicate best practices by "modeling" your master performers.
If you have a way to identify your “master performers,” you can bring them together in a focus group to identify best practices. You can then develop trainings and activities that strive to replicate these best practices and masterful performances in other employees.
Start a training blog.
Use http://www.Blogger.com (it’s free) to create a training website portal for your company. No HTML necessary—just set up an account and start blogging updates to the troops. If my 13-year-old daughter can whip up a whole blog website in less than an hour, then so can you.
You can also integrate audio and video by using http://www.AudioBlog.com (cheap). I can even call it using my cellphone to record lectures while driving, press the # button, and post an audioclip that instantly posts onto the blog website—now, how cool is that?
About The Author:
Ryan Yee is an instructional designer, trainer, and writer with over 20 years experience specializing in print-based instructional design. He maintains a very active blog at http://www.ryanyee.net.
If you're responsible for coming up with fast, interesting, and effective training for your company, here are some truly creative ways to spice things up.
And surprise...they're CHEAP!
Develop a PowerPoint Presentation integrating digital audioclips.
Wow! Microsoft PowerPoint has really come a long way.
Originally designed to support presentations and speeches, PowerPoint is a nifty tool for non-techies who want to create self-directed learning modules.
Looking good is a snap if you use some of the professionally-designed templates available on Microsoft Online (http://office.microsoft.com). Then, build your slide points from existing written references or policies you need to train. By simply “cutting and pasting,” you can probably transform most of your existing manuals and printed material into this more modern format rapidly.
Finally, using a digital recorder, tape yourself reading each slide or expanding on the key points. Attach each audio file to the corresponding slide—click PowerPoint Show, and viola, you have a training presentation with audio.
Conduct teleclasses using a free bridgeline.
Set up a teleclass or teleconference with your target audience using http://www.FreeConference.com. With a free bridgeline, you can gather literally hundreds of people on the line to discuss a new program or brainstorm solutions to a problem.
You can even use these as facilitated study groups to support a larger training program—I have students listen to an audioclip lecture of Dale Carnegie or John Maxwell. Then, I have them call into the bridgeline to discuss their thoughts, ask questions, and explore leadership themes with other peers who call in from all over the operation.
Oh, and did I mention, no travel time involved? You can also digitally-record calls and post them as audioclips or podcasts almost instantaneously.
Produce a newscast directly from your computer.
I use Visual Communicator (http://www.seriousmagic.com), an awesome application that transforms your computer monitor into a “teleprompter.” Attach a camcorder, select from a library of professionally-designed templates, and before you know it, you’ll have a cool informational newscast in the same amount of time it would take you to put a PowerPoint presentation together (which is pretty fast!).
Visual Communicator can publish the final newscast file into a variety of formats, including Real Video, Windows Media Video, and AVI. You can even compress small enough to send by e-mail.
Replicate best practices by "modeling" your master performers.
If you have a way to identify your “master performers,” you can bring them together in a focus group to identify best practices. You can then develop trainings and activities that strive to replicate these best practices and masterful performances in other employees.
Start a training blog.
Use http://www.Blogger.com (it’s free) to create a training website portal for your company. No HTML necessary—just set up an account and start blogging updates to the troops. If my 13-year-old daughter can whip up a whole blog website in less than an hour, then so can you.
You can also integrate audio and video by using http://www.AudioBlog.com (cheap). I can even call it using my cellphone to record lectures while driving, press the # button, and post an audioclip that instantly posts onto the blog website—now, how cool is that?
About The Author:
Ryan Yee is an instructional designer, trainer, and writer with over 20 years experience specializing in print-based instructional design. He maintains a very active blog at http://www.ryanyee.net.
RyanYee.net makes it to the top of Yahoo!
Yay! We finally made it...when you type in my name "Ryan Yee" on the Yahoo! search engine, our website "RyanYee.net" pops up on the top of the list. SEE HERE. For many, many months, we've been listed maybe 10-20 spots below "other" Ryan Yees (from Seattle to Los Angeles)...I was honestly surprised that there were so many other namesakes on the Internet, but it IS a very big world, now isn't it. I'm not sure what actually puts us at the top of the search engine, but I'll take it! ;-)
PODCAST: Welcome to RyanYee.net
This is our first podcast integrating interviews and music using a terrific software application, "Propoganda." Enjoy!
Hanging out at ChuckE Cheese...
Audioblog called in by cellphone from ChuckE Cheese Pizza in San Leandro, CA.
PHOTO: Maria & Nini enjoy the snow
Maria and Nini (Nicholas) tried to stay warm at the Northstar lodge...trust me, it wasn't easy. Nini slipped on the ice of the wood deck (I almost slipped at LEAST three times), but other than that, it was relatively stress-free. We had some pretty good pizza at the lodge (of course it was $8.00 a slice)! At the time, we really didn't care...we were so hungry!!!
PHOTO: Me & Maria trying to stay warm
His and her Eskimos! That fake fur on our jacket hoods eventually became very wet and frozen. Near the end of the day, they looked more like "dead animals" around our necks--not a good look!
PHOTO: Alex & Nini
These two actually practice smiling for the camera (I'm not kidding). Reference this picture.
PHOTO: Nini in the snow
Nicholas enjoyed the snowtrip a lot from making angels in the snow to throwing snowballs during several snow fights!
PHOTO: Erika & Alexandra at Northstar
Notice how they insisted on not wearing warm ski caps--their hair was frozen by the end of the day (literally FROZEN!!!). ;-)
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
Wow, what an adventure! At long last, the Yee Family made it up to the snow in Lake Tahoe...last weekend, all six of us (plus a friend of Alexandra's) took the Bay Area Ski Bus up to Northstar for a one-day trip. The people at Bay Area Ski Bus are FANTASTIC. Picked us up in Walnut Creek at around 5:15 AM, stopped a few miles prior to put on chains, then arrived safety around 9:00 AM. The kids enjoyed the tubing area while Maria and I lugged around several bags of "change-of-clothes" for the kids--way more than we really needed (well, live and learn). We left them at the basket check anyway. Nicholas enjoyed making a lot of angels in the snow. Brandon spent a lot of time making a snowman, then to our surprise cried for about 90 minutes when he realized that he would have to leave the little snowman there. As he explained it to me, "It's like losing a pet, Dad." 
He and I found a safe, deserted place to leave the little snowman...and for a split second, I even plotted how I might try to smuggle the little creature back on our bus to try to save it. Eventually, we both just let it go...Highway 80 shutdown for awhile due to several accidents, so we didn't get back to Walnut Creek until around 10:00 PM, but even then, the folks at Bay Area Ski Bus took good care of us on our first major trip up to the snow...if I sounds like I'm greatly endorsing this bus trip, I AM!
PODCAST: Happy New Year from The Yees
Ryan, Cameron, Brandon, and Nicholas wish you a Happy New Year and reveal some of the gifts they received over the Christmas holiday.
