To date all of the best apps – with the exception of twitterific & eReader (everyone knows about them) – I’ve found for my iPhone were discovered through word of mouth (or blog). So go ahead. Leave a comment. Tell me which apps you can’t live without. And why. I’m interested and ready to play.

Favourite iPhone learning of the day – WiFi in the backyard. Perhaps this shall save me from the evils of Canadian data package costs.

Tomorrow I am heading off to the dentist for prep work for two crowns. My dentist is a really nice guy but I dislike having to spend time in his office. I’ve been doing it a lot lately since I got my new dental plan. I might as well bring a pillow and blanky with me. There’s something to be said for avoid dental plan and it’s ability to tempoarily conquer fear.

A long time ago I was an early adopter of technology. That was before I returned to school determined to pay my fees without getting a loan. That pretty much quashed my “gotta have it now” attitude towards new tech. I don’t think my bank account is any healthier but at least I’ve managed the “no loan for tuition” plan to date. I’m pretty proud of that actually.

Yesterday I broke my rule and bought an iPhone. So in love am I. Mare has been raving about hers for a while and I despised my previous phone (and carrier).

Favourite iPhone moment? Tweeting at ISSOTL while attending sessions.

Just hope I feel the same way when my first bill arrives. Data package fees in Canada still leave much to be desired.

So far, I’m a bit confused as to how these educational conferences are supposed to be better/different than tech conferences.  Other than the much higher conference fees that is.  Yesterday’s sessions didn’t begin until the afternoon – it’s really only 3 days worth of sessions spread over 4 days – and I obviously selected the wrong room/session for at least an hour of my day.  While the abstracts seemed interesting the presentations were scattered.  Little background was provided for international research (context people, context) and don’t get me started on the poorly constructed PPTs used in the sessions.

Granted, there is an equal amount of enthusiam and passion for their work in the ed conference as previously experienced in tech conferences.  However, there’s limited WIFI.  Scratch that.  There’s none that I’ve been able to find at this particular junction.  Borning PPTs = 3, Useful technology = 0.

I know we get rather attached to our own research but I’m a bit disappointed at the quality of response to questions and criticisms.  I thought the reasoning behind presenting work was to gain insight from peers.  Too many of the presenters I’ve seen to date are reacting as if any criticism of their methods or conclusions is a personal attack.  How can we learn and grow if we can’t remain objective?

Today I’m skipping the morning keynote and session B to attend to some errands.  Since most of my co-workers will be missing many of the weekend sessions – and since I’m attending as a student rather than a representative of my employer – I’m not feeling too guilty about it.  After all, ’twas I that paid the conference fees.

I am heading to ISSOTL tomorrow and spent the morning desperately searching the house for my RMC admissions letter.  Because I am one, and because my employer isn’t paying my conference fees, I registered as an RMC student for the conference.  So of course when I arrive I need to be able to prove I’m a student.  I don’t know about you but I often put important papers in a “safe place” when I get them.  The problem is that lately I can’t recall where those safe places are.  The difficulties began when I was in Manila and Drew reorganized my office.  He moved everything in the room and little ended up back where it started.  I always intended to go through my office inch by inch to reorganize but you know what they say about intentions.

Luck was on my site today though.  I did find my acceptance letter and PLAR assessment paperwork.  Add to that my most recent transcript of marks and a copy of my current and future course registrations and I think I’m ready to appear at the registration desk tomorrow.

I still need to determine what type of crap I’m bringing with me for the sessions.  I’ve been considering bringing my laptop so I can twitter/live blog the conference but I’m not certain if there are any freely available hot-spots in the area.  Also, I’m not too certain I want to lug around my monster laptop with me for days on end.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be going low tech – pens, pencils and papers – for this conference.

Ooh!  Must remember to bring my glasses.  Since I’m not driving – LRT all the way – I’ll need to remember to put them on each morning as I head out the door.

Upperdate: Extra shiny Browncoat news. QMX’s Kaylee maquette launched today.  There are only 1500 of the limited edition statues on this run.  I’ve ordered mine.  Have you?