http://blairwillis.com/index.htmlBlair's Blogenblair@blairwillis.comCopyright 2005 Blair Willis2006-03-06T17:47:13-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:50:25 -0400blair@blairwillis.comApple2006-03-06T17:47:13-05:00http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-11http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-11I've been initiated into the world of Podcasting by Hilton Head Island personalities T.R. Love and Big Tommy. They invited me to interview for Episode 7 of their weekly audio commentary on RogueCast.com. The lively discussion focuses primarily on Apple Computers and technology advancements. We chat about the ghost of Apple past, present and future. From humorous reminiscing about the Apple II and dot-matrix printers, through the iMac, iPod, and into the mystery of Apple innovation for tomorrow, if you like to talk Mac, this is your kind of podcast. You can download and/or subscribe to the podcast here:

RogueCast Podcast on iTunes

A big thanks to T.R. Love and Big Tommy for having me on the show!


]]>blair@blairwillis.comHumor2006-02-17T20:32:26-05:00http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-10http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-10Chatting with Russ today and he relayed a quote from daughter, Emma, to her mom, Autumn (Russ's wife):

"Mom, how old was that baby when it was born?"

hmmm....]]>blair@blairwillis.comCool Stuff2006-02-10T11:38:54-05:00http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-9http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-9 If you're still using Internet Explorer to view the web, you're missing out. Aside from security risks inherent in the inferior Micro$oft product, you aren't seeing half of what's out there. Trouble accessing a website? Graphics don't seem to appear as they should? Then you're using a browser that is severely outdated and outmoded. Unfortunately, Internet Explorer 5.x and 6.x just don't support modern web standards as they should.

You've been seeing this "Get Firefox" button here, there and everywhere (or at least now you will, since I've pointed it out to you). This is not some tricky ad campaign designed to give you a computer virus or get you to send your bank account information to some distant relative in a third-world country, and it's not going to sign you up for free p0rn in your mailbox.

It's just the best internet browser on the planet. Period.

And you're hearing this from someone you know (unless you've randomly found my website and are wondering who this Blair Willis entity is). AND IT'S NOT EVEN AN APPLE PRODUCT. (Gasp! Blair is recommending something not made by Apple Computer? ...cue angelic chorus...)

Actually, I'm just tired of answering tech support questions from people that "can't access such-and-such website" or "can't see the pictures" or "what video?" or "where's the menu?" blah blah blah.

Get it now. Got it? Good.

In our next installment, we'll discuss why AOL is still sucking money from your pocket.]]>blair@blairwillis.comPersonal2006-02-08T18:11:13-05:00http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-8http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-8The few weeks I've had the opportunity to do some exploring and visiting of friends and family. January's big adventure was a week in Colorado with VJ and Travis. We scoped out the Boulder scene, and did some skiing in Breckendridge (they have a mono-ski that VJ handles quite well) and on to Steamboat Springs to visit Jared. Unbelievable skiing in "The Boat" and a great STS9 show to cap it off. Oh, yeah, Vijay and I took part in a percussion clinic with MMW's Billy Martin. WOW! It was over the top... way beyond my expectations, not just as a percussionist and musician, but in the "big picture" approach to communication, teambuilding, and interactive creativity. Truly inspiring, and I've even put some new techniques to work in teambuilding/group communication sessions (recently at Hilton Head Elementary for the 5th Grade class.


At the top of Breckenridge with Travis.


Somewhere high up on Steamboat with Jared, following a brush with death.


VJ and I with Billy Martin just after the percussion/communication exploration.


Hanging in a comfy Irish pub off Pearl Street in Boulder with old friend Clay Elwood, aka "CASSIUS", aphishionado and tour companion during my decade of Phish (1995-2005, RIP).


A tunnel somewhere between (underneath?) the Chicago airport and the airport Marriott at about 12:30 AM when I'd spent the last 12 hours in Denver Int'l Airport and on a variety of planes of which only the final one actually departed.

So since all that craziness, I've spent the last few days in Delaware for my sister Whitney's wedding to this guy Jonathan, who I think she met in an internet chat room or won on eBay or something like that. He seems alright. Ask him about Tijuana sometime. ;)

Got to see lots of friends and family that I haven't seen in a while. One was Hunter Willis who got me thinkin' I needed to update my personal website. Check him out at hunterwillis.com he's in the money-makin' business, so if you've got some spare change lying around, send it to him and he'll get to work breeding it or something like that.

On to Orlando, Florida for the annual NADA convention with the family.]]>blair@blairwillis.comBlairWillis.com Home2002-08-08T13:11:00-04:00http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-1http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-1So you're wondering where I am....

My friends and family can't seem to keep track of where I am, so I've invented this page for their amusement.

I currently live, work, and play on Hilton Head Island, nestled on the southern end of the South Carolina coast, in the heart of the Lowcountry. It's the second largest sea island on the Atlantic coast.

I'm working as Guide Manager for a kayak and outdoor adventure outfitter called Outside Hilton Head. (but we're on the island, despite the name) Stop by the OHH website to check out the details, and make sure to sign up for the email list and request a brochure if you like.

We've been the island's outdoor outfitter since 1979, originally in the windsurfing business, but kayaks took over in 1991. We do everything from weekend getaways to 2 hour guided nature tours. We purchased our own island in 1999, and it's the focus of the fastest growing aspect of our business... group and corporate tours and teambuilding adventures. There's a low-level adventure ropes course on the island, some tent platforms, and a system of boardwalks. Otherwise, it's an undeveloped island paradise.

I spend most of my time working, and the rest of the time working on websites (or at least it sometimes seems that way). During the summer and fall I spend a great deal of time surf kayaking, a small but growing portion of the kayaking world.

It's currently the peak of our "busy" season here in Hilton Head, but it's hard not to find time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Lowcountry. Be sure and drop me a line if you're coming to or near Hilton Head, and we'll get together for a tropical drink. (a.k.a. "beer")]]>blair@blairwillis.comBlairWillis.com Home2002-08-08T12:12:00-04:00http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-2http://blairwillis.com/index.html#unique-entry-id-2In my personal quest to improve communication...

...I've created this section to keep in touch with friends and family.

Instead of letting you sift through my dozens (yes, dozens) of email addresses, here's just one I bet you can remember:

blair -i*at*i- blairwillis.com

But before you go adding me to your address book, have you heard my theory on email viruses, forwards, and the meaning of life? In short, the most deadly virus on the internet is the dreaded "forward"... that endless cycle of forwarded emails on various subjects as virus warnings, urban legends, lousy jokes, top ten lists, and the impending-doom chain letter.

Perhaps you thought it was important, funny, disgusting, or life-threatening. So much perhaps that you couldn't bear not to send it to everyone in your address book, including me.

Next time... don't... please.

Imagine the compounded waste of human time spent reading about some nitwit who was so stupid he died driving his car 180mph at 3 AM in Louisiana with his headlights out and wearing night vision goggles to evade the state troopers. I can't say I haven't done that a time or two myself. And do you really believe that Micro$oft and AOhelL are going to pay you $14,376 for sending a "test marketing" email to everyone you know? Or that for every person this email gets sent to in the world, WallofChina-Mart will donate $1 to save this kid who has a rare form of elephantitis where his pinky toe has to be carried around in a wheelbarrow. Then there's the virus warning about the virus file you need to delete immediately that exists in your Windoze directory (upon deletion of which your entire system comes to a screeching halt...get a Mac and be done with it). And if I don't forward this "good luck" message to at least 10 friends in 10 minutes, I risk bodily harm and financial ruin.

But I really don't care. Or maybe I'm just recounting this story and this entire "theory" in fact just to perpetuate the meaningless waste of life known as the World Wide Wait.

Really. Wake up and stop forwarding useless email. Let's use this too-powerful medium for something meaningful. Purposeful communication, perhaps?

Enough said. I'll now dedicate this website to a higher communicative purpose.
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