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March 17th, St Patrick's Day, and then two days later, the swallows return to Capistrano. Someone I know has a birthday on March 19th, so I incorporated a little of the Capistrano legend and lore into a birthday greeting. Did you know that the swallows fly all the way from Argentina? Legend has it that they carried twigs in their beaks, so they could rest in the water, using the twigs as little life rafts. Saw a great blog from the Real Estate agents of San Juan Capistrano, who tied the story into their observation that the buyers seemed to be returning along with the swallows. Though the evidence is anecdotal, and may even be apocryphal, here it is:

When the Buyers Return to Capistrano

The next day I went to the luncheon sponsored by REPERs (Real Estate Professional's Educational Resource) and The Bakersfield chapter of The Women's Council of Realtors at the Stockdale Country Club:

WCR Bakersfield (They haven't updated their website in a while. I wonder if they would let me in to their events for free in exchange for updating their website?)

The speaker was Liz Callihan, and she brought her Texas-sized wisdom and common sense to the subject of technology in Real Estate. Smart Phones, Texting, Blogging, Tablet Lap Tops, Mobile Printers, Miniature Digital Voice Recorders, Mobile Scanners, and 500 gigabyte back-up units were just a few of the devices she demonstrated.

Want to scan receipts on-the-go, and have the information automatically entered into your accounting software? Try this neat receipt scanner:

www.NeatReceipts.com

Use a digital voice recorder to capture ideas--or even write the Great American Novel. Then you can use Dragon Naturally Speaking  software to type it up:

www.DragonTalk.com

Want to have a FREE phone number where you can receive faxes and have them sent to your email? Sign up for eFax:

www.eFax.com

Want the latest tech info, and also great how-to videos that show you how to set up and use all these great gadgets? Try cNet:

www.cNet.com

Liz Callihan had many great tips and tricks that would benefit any Real Estate Agent, business person, or entrepreneur. She recommends that you put lanyards on your keys, and all of these gadgets, so you won't lose them. For smart phones, get ones with big keyboards, and big buttons. Not only are they easier to press the buttons without hitting the one next to it, you can also see them better.

The iPhone? More like iCandy--it looks good, but you can't really use it for business.

And Vista? When you buy a new computer they try to force it on you, but they've had so many returns and complaints that you can now demand Windows XP, and Microsoft has backed off and is now committed to supporting XP for at least 2 more years.

If your computer is slow and locks up if you try to run more than 2 or 3 programs at the same time, check your RAM (Random Access Memory). Right click on the My Computer icon, and then choose Properties. It will show you how much RAM memory you have. You might have a gazillion gigs of memory on your hard drive, but then you skimped on RAM memory. Liz compared the hard drive memory to a storage unit, and the RAM was a truck. When you want to use a program, it is loaded into RAM much like a truck picks up your stuff from the storage unit. If you have tons of stuff, but then try to move it with a little tiny truck, there is a bottleneck. You need a BIG RIG!!! 2 gigabytes of RAM memory will dramatically increase your computer's speed.

Liz Callihan dropped by our office after the luncheon to talk tech (minus the geek speak) with our sales manager, Nancy Harper, and I. She really has a gift for explaining how to use technology in plain English. Her engagement for the WCR is an annual event. Here is Liz Callihan's web site:

www.pfmGurus.com

Another National Speaker on useful technology is Dick Betts. His website has a lot of useful information as well:

www.DickBetts.com

Remember, The Key to Bakersfield Real Estate is Chris Craddock, Realtor.

www.ChrisCraddockRealtor.com