Michigan Virtual High School meets Michigan Merit Curriculum On-Line Mandate

Michigan Virtual High School "CareerForward" On-line Program

http://www.mivhs.org/content.cfm?ID=693

You might wish to become familiar with this "free program" and explore the "more information" elements (on the top right hand side of the page) particularly, the "preview" and "trailer" items.

Perhaps the Whitemore 422 blog-site could beome an additional value-added element of this state-mandated digital on-line initiative.

Hey Now! Truss Me!

POSSIBLE: Collabulary START 2007

A Holiday Wish for All of You!

A Christmas Canon by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

http://www.trans-siberian.com/multimedia/video.shtml

Lyrics:

Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas

The hope that he brings
The hope that he brings
The hope that he brings
The hope that he brings

This night
We pray
Our lives
Will show

This dream
He had
Each child
Still knows

We are waiting
We have not forgotten

On this night
On this night
On this very Christmas night

This "Digital Forum" Requires Participation!

Google SketchUp 3-D Modeling

Model your world

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SketchUp Home Download Products Help			Dream. Design. Communicate. SketchUp is a simple but powerful tool for quickly and easily creating, viewing and modifying your 3D ideas. Click on a shape and push or pull it to create your desired 3D geometry. Experiment with color and texture directly on your model. Real-time shadow casting lets you see exactly where the sun falls as you model. Select from thousands of pre-drawn components to save time drawing. Google SketchUp (free) Beta SketchUp Pro 5 $495 Google SketchUp (free) is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program that enables you to explore the world in 3D. With just a few simple tools, you can create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects - even space ships. And once you've built your models, you can place them in Google Earth, post them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies. Google SketchUp is free for personal use. No registration is required. SketchUp Pro 5 is a powerful 3D modeling tool whose robust feature set empowers design professionals to explore and communicate complex concepts, import and export a host of file formats, and create interactive presentations. You can also use SketchUp Pro to print to high-resolution devices, place your models in Google Earth, and post them to the 3D Warehouse. SketchUp Pro 5 is approved for commercial use. Learn more about Google SketchUp (free) Learn more about SketchUp Pro 5
			©2006 Google - Google Home - About Google

21st Century House / Digital Communications Upgrades

Snowboarder: (Kevin)

I was just wondering if you have had any further thoughts, ideas, etc. concerning our brief discussion regarding preparing Whitemore 422 for the 21st Century? Please respond here if you think this issue has any relevance to your project efforts.

Hope all finds you and your family well during the Holidays!

Best,

Jim

*Something to Ponder............perhaps a little too sophisticated for our intentions, but something along these lines.

Best Buy to roll out 'connected home' package: Imagine coming home and, with the push of a single button, turning on the lights, turning up the thermostat and flipping on the TV. Another button might shut off all the lights and turn down the thermostat when you leave. Starting next month, Best Buy Co. will sell a "ConnectedLife.Home" package that features a computer with software coordinating a high-definition TV, light switches, a thermostat and two remote cameras - all included in the $15,000 price tag. The components talk to one another over the home's power lines and through a wireless network. Controlling all this is a black Hewlett-Packard Co. computer that looks as if it belongs on the rack with the rest of the stereo gear. Using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media Center system, the PC will record shows and send them to any TV in the house, along with photos, music or home video. Third-party software called Lifeware lets the user control the lights and thermostat. For another $19.95 a month, users can access the system over the Internet, so they can check on the house using the two video cameras or adjust the thermostat while on vacation. Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, is working with security companies to integrate the system with home security services. More.

Did you leave the light on? Check online

By JOSHUA FREED, AP Business WriterWed Dec 20, 2:42 PM ET

Imagine coming home and, with the push of a single button, turning on the lights, turning up the thermostat and flipping on the TV. Another button might shut off all the lights and turn down the thermostat when you leave.

Starting next month, Best Buy Co. will sell a "ConnectedLife.Home" package that features a computer with software coordinating a high-definition TV, light switches, a thermostat and two remote cameras — all included in the $15,000 price tag.

The components talk to one another over the home's power lines and through a wireless network.

Controlling all this is a black Hewlett-Packard Co. computer that looks as if it belongs on the rack with the rest of the stereo gear. Using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media Center system, the PC will record shows and send them to any TV in the house, along with photos, music or home video. Third-party software called Lifeware lets the user control the lights and thermostat.

For another $19.95 a month, users can access the system over the Internet, so they can check on the house using the two video cameras or adjust the thermostat while on vacation.

Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, is working with security companies to integrate the system with home security services.

Other appliances — like the laundry machine — also can be added. When clothes are done drying a message might flash on the TV screen, or the owner could set it to fluff until the TV show is over, said David Hemler, a company vice president.

The package, initially for sale through the company's Web site, won't require drilling holes into existing homes. The $15,000 price includes installation anywhere in the United States.

Hemler said Best Buy has avoided using proprietary devices to make sure they communicate well with one another, but he acknowledged that earlier attempts at networking more than just computers have left homeowners frustrated.

"People are right to have a healthy skepticism based on what the industry has delivered in the past," Hemler said.

December 18, 2006 "Pour It On"

Photography by Paul Briercheck of Ross and Briercheck Productions

On Site, On Task, On Budget!

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail!
PLAN your WORK, WORK your PLAN!










































Welcome to the Oakland Schools Technology Center / Northwest "Building Trades" blog-site.

Please feel free to "post" or "comment" on any insights, ideas, experiences, etc. you may have regarding the Whitemore 422 Construction Project 2006/2007.

Please think of this as a "digital portfolio" of your work and communications regarding the project.