So you’ve heard about this Google+ thing around the internets. Your friends have started using it and you’ve received an email from at least one of them inviting you to join. You’re thinking about it, but what is this Google+ anyway? Is it like Facebook, Google Talk, or the failed Google Buzz? Yes, to all three.

Here’s Google’s overview of their new Google+ Project:

Google+ has a lot of potential. People have started flocking to it because it’s the newest, shiniest, social networking site on the block; but there’s some great features Google+ has to offer that may keep you sticking around after the newness wears off.

Google+’s “Circles” being the biggest of these reasons. The circles are ways for you to corral your various social contacts into easy to organize groups. Once you have your groups in place, Friends, Family, Coworkers, etc. you can begin to share and view information based on these groups. Google+ has the same straightforward post options that Facebook has (share link, upload photo, etc.) but you can then decide which circles are allowed to see this content.

• Pictures of the family that you only want your family to see? Family Circle – done!
• Pictures of your crazy birthday party that you don’t want your coworkers to see? All Circles BUT Coworkers – done!
• Plans for you next “Order of the Talon” secret society meeting? Inner Sanctum Circle – done!

There are tons of other very cool features Google+ has to offer as well, but I won’t go into them all here – you can find out for yourself.

So it sounds pretty cool, right? You’re not quite ready though because you’ve amassed so many albums, wall, and profile pics along with all your friends and contacts on Facebook. Well How-To Geek has got you covered with a great tutorial to walk you through downloading a single zip with all your FB data and sending it over to Google+!

How to Migrate from Facebook to Google+ by How-To Geek

Once you’re on Google+ be sure to check out PCWorld’s 10 Google+ Tips for Beginners.

Now you’ve copied your Facebook data over to Google+, created circles, connected with other Google+ contacts; but what about your other friends that haven’t made the jump yet? Do you really have to switch over to Facebook or Twitter every time you want to see their updates? Or if you have a really great link to share, do you really have to post it multiple times on your various accounts? No! While there is no official Google+ method of to integrate other social media feeds (this is most likely in the works but Google+ is still in its infancy and the API has not been made available) the Chrome browser extension Start G+ will automatically post to Facebook and Twitter when you share something on Google+. Start G+ also adds your Facebook and Twitter feeds to Google+ so you can see posts from all three social media networks in one place. This extension is only available for the Chrome browser and is available for free in the Chrome Web Store here: Start G+

click to view/add me on Google+

Anyone can father a child, but those of us in the club know it’s something else entirely to be a “Dad”. Now, I’m not going to start this list with the typical, “You must show unconditional love”. That and the like are all a given. I’m going to give you some small nuggets of wisdom I’ve learned in my short three years of fatherhood.

Be Silly – That’s right, be a total goof. While your children may beg you to stop once they are teenagers, while they are young it’s the best thing in the world. Make your best crazy faces while you brush their teeth. Make up songs and have singalongs while in the bath or getting them dressed – you don’t need to sing well. Pretend you’re ninjas trying to put away toys while barrel-rolling across the floor. It’s the little things like this that bond you and your kids together. It creates memorable experiences out of the otherwise forgettable things in life. Being silly doesn’t stop in the house either. Show them that life is fun and meant to be enjoyed. Teach your children by example to be lighthearted and love fun. Now don’t get me wrong; there are times to be serious, but don’t forget to have fun and loosen up.

Stop the Baby Talk – While being silly with your kids is great, don’t confuse it with “Does my wittle baby wanna drinky-poo?” Not only is baby talk disgusting, it should stop when your child is not an infant anymore. You want your child to be able to speak clearly and articulate what they are saying, right? Then why bombard them constantly with high-pitched Elmer Fudd talk? Speech is not the only issue here. I’m sure you know someone who baby talks too much to their child. Now ponder this, doesn’t this same person also baby their child a little too much as well? Chances are, if you are speaking to your child like a baby, you’re treating them like one too. I was recently at a party where a father was talking to his two year old daughter like she was two months old, and boy was that kid a whiner. Don’t treat your child like an infant and they won’t act like one.

Be Stone Cold – No, I don’t mean elbow drop your kids like Steve Austin. Life is full of unexpected moments and sometimes those unexpected moments are your kids getting sick or injured. When your child has to go the emergency room or is laying in bed vomiting with a high fever – don’t lose it. You need to be the dad who keeps it together so when your little one looks at you they know everything is going to be okay. In your head you may be screaming, “HOLY SHIT THIS IS BAD!”, but on the outside you need to be a stone cold rock ready to do what needs to be done to help your child.

Wet Wipes – Possibly greater than the highly regarded invention of sliced bread. There is nothing wet wipes cannot do. Know them, own them, love them. Runny noses, poopy diapers, food covered faces, dirty hands, feet, you name it – wet wipes has you covered. Without these on hand you may be forced to assault your kids with a freshly licked napkin. Remember those? Yes, nobody like those.

Ben Kenney has been the resident bassist in Incubus since 2003, but what most people don’t know (as I didn’t until recently) is how wonderful his solo work is. As a talented multi-instrumentalist Ben writes and records all the instruments on his records making it truly a “solo” effort. While he can sing and play various instruments extremely well and make it seem effortless, what really impresses are his songs. This dude writes great music!

Ben has four full length releases available and I urge you to check them out. I’ll think you be as pleasantly surprised as I was. http://www.benkenney.com/

I was very upset when my membership was cancelled. I sulked around the house, mourning the loss of my site and the hundreds upon hundreds of processed photos I had uploaded. I tried to rationalize the continued use of the site, “But what about all my extended family that used it to view and purchase prints?” or “What about all the cool galleries I had created and the viewing options?”. After sleeping on it for a night, I see my arguments don’t really hold up. With Facebook, and now Google+, majority of my photos and videos are shared on social networking sites and the extra effort on the part of a viewer to click a link taking them away from their social site is one step too many for most. Yes, it was nice to order cheap prints but there are many other sites online I can utilize as well. This has also forced me to finally put a site together integrating my photography with my music, art, gaming, etc; which you’re looking at now.

So it’s been a great two years SmugMug. I’ll see you around.

-Garry

I will be uploading posts relating to Music, Photography, Gaming, Tech, and life as a modern Dad.  I hope you’ll enjoy what I have to offer and be sure to check back regularly for updates. You can also subscribe by clicking the “Sign me up!” button on the right side of the page.

-Garry