Techmamas

Almost Famous - The Time 140 Best Twitter Feeds List

This week has been full of surprises. After finding out about the PC Mag list a few days ago, yesterday I logged  on to find out that I was on the Time 140 Best Twitter Feed list. I first saw the Time 140 Best Twitter list while doing my morning online reading in my sweats (and procrastinating from my attempt at a daily exercise routine). I was also recovering from a busy morning getting three boys to school. Then I decided to ask my peeps to click over to the Time list and pwetty please give me a thumbs up vote. Which was probably really just more procrastination from exercising.

PC Mag Twitter Top 100: I Get To Be Next To Barack Obama and Bill Gates!

As I ramp up my new website (in construction) after taking a blogging break to do family stuff, it is always fun to have a surprise recognize the time I did spend to keep up the "relevance".

Yesterday one of my favorite tweeters (@SocialMoms) shared that @TechMama was on the @PCMag 's Twitter Top 100 list. Yes, between @BarackObama and @Bill Gates.

Click here for the PC Mag's complete list of top 100 on Twitter (TechMama is number 13).

(screeching sound) What?

Ok, Well the list was alphabetical order but still - how often do I get to be "seated" next to Barack Obama and Bill Gates - even if it is online?

Umm, never before this time.

Best of all there was also some great women tweeters on the list that I am also honored to be in good company with. No - not Lady Gaga although I love her music. But technology reporter and mom extraordinaire @NataliMorris and @rachelsterne  (and that is just a few of the "R"s).

People have asked me if I automate any of my tweets, which I am surprised they even ask (and I promptly say "no"). I am an information obsessed person - so when I read online articles that I think are relevant to my Twitter audience, I tweet them. Yes - the good old fashioned, non- automatic sharing of something interesting. I share things with my Twitter community like I would share information with an interesting book group. I also enjoy reading my communities' Tweets as well.

Sharing on Twitter was (and is) something that I could keep up with no matter how busy I got with family commitments.  Twitter became a solace that was my connection to the outside world while balancing taking care of boyz world. I even find out about events from my Twitter stream before I read about it in the news or online. As soon as I turned on my computer the morning of the Japan Tsunami and Earthquake, I saw the Twitter chatter and raced to the news sites to read more.

After this post goes live I will be off to carpool to pickup my boyz, wondering what it would be like to really sit next to Bill Gates and Barack Obama. As well as feeling excited that a magazine (PC Magazine) that I have been reading for years decided to visit my Twitter stream.

Microsoft Contest To Win Trip to Mom 2.0 Summit

I will be heading to the fantastic Mom 2.0 Summit this year to network with social media moms and as a speaker. For those that wanted to go and have not finalized plans or want to go, Microsoft is offering a chance to win a conference pass, plus travel and expenses to attend Mom 2.0 Summit in New Orleans, April 14-16. To read about the contest details, click over to the Windows Experience Blog post written by Lisa Worthington. I will be helping choose a winner and I know it will be a hard decision! Contestants will be sharing their how-to's on any feature in Windows 7 or Windows Live.

I have a Windows 7 PC so I am always looking for information on  Windows 7 and Windows Live features. Most recently I have been looking into different options for photo management, so I downloaded (free) Windows Live Essentials and am giving it a test drive. Here are some of the things I learned about Windows Live Essentials Photo Management features:

Japan Tsumnai and Earthquake Support

My thoughts are with the people of Japan as they recover from the recent Tsunami and Earthquake that hit. Having been in the Bay Area for the Loma Prieta Earthquake, it is even closer to home.

With all the talk of relief support, I think it is a good time to focus on the main charities that offer regular support for these type of disasters, such as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.

iPad2 Launch details - Who is rushing to the stores today?

I followed the Apple press conference announcing the launch of the iPad2 online to get the scoop on the new version of the iPad. Cool Mom Tech posted with the fresh details that day. Yesterday I recieved details about the launch for those of you that have not purchased it on line yet.

iPad2 Details:

Inspiration by Drake & Dominick and Avid - To support Foster Kids College Dreams

While I met Deborah Perry Piscione for the first time at a media event, I was already a fan of her website Betty Confidential. Then I was inspired to find out about a foundation started by none other then her sons Drake and Dominick in lieu of birthday gifts to raise money for the AVID program (Advancement via Individual Determination) that helps put foster kids in public school on a college readiness track.

The Drake and Dominick foundation website explained "This remarkable non-profit, AVID, is an innovator and leader in preparing first-time college go-ers on a college readiness track. Offered as an elective class in public schools (starting in the 4th grade), AVID kids learn lifelong skills such as organization skills, financial essentials, and tutorial support for any classes they need additional support in. The AVID life becomes a family for so many foster kids as they participate in AVID through 12th grade."

International Women's Day - With Shout Outs To Techie Women!

I took alittle blogging break to focus on family but thought International Women's Day is a great time to jump back in! As moms across the world have done, I took some time to help my tween get settled in middle school, my twins settled with new twists and turns of 2nd grade and some very dear relatives with Cancer.

I had to put some professional opportunities on hold for the last few months, and while that may not be easy - I would not have it any other way (family is of course most important of all!). This of all days is a great time to share my story since women around the world have not only been influencers in business, but support to their families and communities around the world. Most recently the Women of Egypt stood up for what they believe in and hope that they will maintain a role in the building of a new Egypt.

I enjoyed reading Cool Mom Tech's post called "International Women's Day gives three multilingual cheers to women in tech". That post called out some women in tech so I thought I would add on my WomenTech Twitter List and my techmoms and techmom2 twitter lists. My mom tech twitter lists are not as much technical moms as it is a way to capture the interesting mix of moms that share their updates on Twitter.

In honor of Women's International Day, here is a post from April 21 2006 that captured my transition from techie to blogger mom. I hope to read many other stories today about Women and their transitions, accomplishments and dreams. For now, I am just happy to be blogging again. Best of all, I have a website redesign in the works so I will be sharing more news about TechMamas.com soon!

from April 21, 2006
From Techie to Blogger Mom