Today is my first blogoversary. I took my blog out for a nice dinner at Applebee’s last night and let the staff sing to it like this (I wonder it they get training for that?). [I'm totally kidding].

Since my first post a year ago, my blog has become an important tool much like my minivan, my new bistro pots & pans (shiny, shiny BTW), and my binoculars. Like my van, my blog gets me from point A to point B with a little fuel in the form of commenters. Like my pots and pans its content nourishes me. Like my binoculars, it hangs around my neck and zooms in on things that I want to take a closer look at. It’s also a big time-sucking pain in the ass at times (like my kids ; ) except it behaves nicely at Applebee’s. I wish I had actually taken my blog out. You can get your own blogoversary widget here. Dinner optional.

Pink. I hate it. I hate pink. I don’t even know anyone who buys pink stuff. Who is this marketed to? What is it with pink? Would you ever create pink e-learning? Give out pink pencils in the classroom? Use Pinkboards? Pink chalk? Use only pink Mr. Sketch markers on the pink flipchart paper? Ben Goldacre exposes some bad science about pink. Don’t get me wrong. I love a guy in a pink shirt but not because I like pink. Check these little  gems out…I mean really a pink taser?

I guess one of the reasons I dislike pink is that it is associated with cultural expectations. I’m supposed to like pink. Pink is feminine. Ben pointed out the Bem Sex Role Inventory. I took it to see if my personality was masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated. The BSRI is based on gender stereotypes, so what it’s actually measuring is how well you fit into your traditional sex role. No wonder I don’t like pink. I’m barely feminine by society’s standards.
Regardless of where you might be on the BSRI, I hope you’ll like Chip Chick. While they do feature a lot of pink stuff (gag) their blog focuses on technology for women.

These are either fun geek gadgets with some educational value or gadgets that will provide an interesting explanation for the question, “why were you fired?”

Fully interactive USB Boxer with graphics and sounds. Educational application: Can greatly improve keyboarding skills and overall dexterity – especially when the trainees job includes heavy usage of the arrows on their keyboard.

USB Finger Dance Mat. Educational application: improves hand-eye coordination.

USB Mini Arcade Basketball. Educational Application: “desktop peripheral that stimulates cognitive workspace development.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

USB Self-destruction button. Educational application:Instead of the new guy yelling aaahhhggh! when he’s had enough e-learning for the day, have him activate the initiation switches, turn the key, flip the safety lid, and then… press the button.

USB Missile Launcher. Educational application: While completing e-learning at the desk, works better than the little ‘do not disturb’ sign.