Security Cameras on The Don Shelby Show WCCO

November 24, 2009 / By John Beagle / In cbs, drive-timesecurity cctv camera video surveillance, radio, show, wcco / Leave Comment

Don Shelby has anchored the WCCO 4 News at 10:00pm since 1985. WCCO is the local Minneapolis affiliate for CBS. He has won all five of the nation’s top journalism awards, many of which he has won multiple times. Yesterday, he interviewed me on his drive-time radio show. I was on at 1:10 PM Minneapolis time on a show that Don describes as a mix of news, issues and audience participation.

How did I get on the Show?
It started with an article by Kevin Giles of the Star Tribune about video advances solving big crimes. Don and his staff decided to look for a camera security expert on the internet. The search went out on Google for security camera experts in the Minneapolis – St. Paul metropolitan Area. After finding my company, CameraSecurityNow.com, the program director persuaded me to do the show. (We have approximately 15 camera technicians in the Minneapolis – St. Paul metropolitan Area and thousands nationwide).

An Honor to Do the Don Shelby Show
Did you know Don won three national Emmys, the Columbia-duPont Citation, the Scripps-Howard Award for Excellence, two George Foster Peabody Awards (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize) and the Society of Professional Journalist Distinguished Service Award?

I consider it a great honor to work with such an esteemed veteran of local television news and radio. Thank you Don Shelby and WCCO for having me on the show.

Cutts takes control at Smackdown

November 18, 2009 / By John Beagle / In SEO, SMX, Sullivan / Leave Comment

Cutts takes control at Smackdown, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

Dateline Las Vegas, Pubcon 2009 – Matt Cutts, Google Software Engineer speaks while Sean Suchter, GM of Bing, looks on during the Search Engine Smackdown!

Matt was explaining the universality of Google. This was in response to a point raised by Sean.

Formerly VP of Yahoo Search Technology, Sean was interviewed by Microsoft President Steve Ballmer. “I wasn’t sure if Microsoft was going to put the proper resources toward Bing. So I asked Steve, just how dedicated to search is Microsoft? What is your goal. Ballmer replied, 51%.”

We were stunned. For a brief moment you could hear a pin drop in the crowded auditorium. Could Bing gain a competitive advantage over Google? All eyes were on Matt Cutts. Well Matt?

At first Cutts appeared a bit reflective, he started out slowly explaining advancements in search technology, spam busting and overall user search experience. He got to his feet, walked over to the podium and spoke of Google as the greatest search engine of today and tomorrow. Alleluia!

Right now, I have to agree with Matt. But what if?

Turkey Traffic in Monroe

October 26, 2009 / By John Beagle / In Uncategorized / 2 Comments

Turkey Traffic in Monroe
Originally uploaded by John Beagle

These wild turkeys were meeting in the middle of Nickel Road in Monroe, Ohio and they didn’t want to move.

I got my camera out and eased my car through the turkey traffic jam. If I were a turkey hunter, I could have fed my entire neighborhood.

Maybe I’ll wait a few weeks to harvest one of these wild Monroe turkeys, closer to Turkey Day.

Oregonia to Roxanna Bike Path

August 18, 2009 / By John Beagle / In bike path, little miami bike blog / Leave Comment

Oregonia to Roxanna Bike Path, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

I started a bike path blog a little over a year ago.

Since then I have ridden on bike paths in South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, and my favorites in Ohio. Actually, Ohio has some very good bike paths. My favorite is the 76 Mile Little Miami Bike Path.
Along the Little Miami River Bike path is the Xenia Bike Station where 5 bike paths converge.

Last week I took this video of my bike trip from Morrow to Oregonia.

Full Flickr Photo Set – Oregonia to Roxanna Bike Path

SMX Seattle Me and Dave Dugdale

June 6, 2009 / By John Beagle / In Dugdale, Rental, Seattle, SEO, SMX, Sullivan / 1 Comment

SMX Seattle John and Dave Dugdale, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

Dave Dugdale helps people find homes for rent at his very popular website, RentVine. So naturally, I would want to hear about his rental SEO efforts and he would want to hear about my efforts to rent technology to businesses with my website, Rentacomputer.com.

Dave also goes by the name, “Solar Dave” making him one of my ‘greenest’ friends.

Three years ago, Danny Sullivan started SMX and this was the third year we both attended SMX Advanced in Seattle. Who want’s to miss anything Danny has to say about Advanced SEO? Not me.

Steve Markle Runs the 2009 Boston Marathon

May 1, 2009 / By John Beagle / In Boston Marathon / Leave Comment

Boston Marathon 645, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

The Boston Marathons bill’s itself as ‘The World’s Oldest Marathon.’ The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend.

The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen’s royal box.

Every Olympic marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.

I don’t know how he managed to do it, but my brother-in-law, Steve finished the race with a time of 3:42:50 finishing 11081 in his division. That is an average speed of 8:30 per mile. This includes heartbreak hill where many a marathoner has dropped out because it is about 2/3 into the run.

Congratulations Steve on finishing in the upper half of your division!

Here are my 659 Photos from the Boston Marathon.

Dayton Tea Party Protester

April 16, 2009 / By John Beagle / In conservatives, dayton, teaparty / Leave Comment

Dayton Tea Party Protester, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

This grandpa is the last person one would expect to protest. But here he is out protesting at the Dayton Tea Party on West 3rd and Main Streets. He was one of several thousand republicans and democrats who came together to protest against higher taxes.

Thousands of people left work early to participate on the planned national Tea Partly event taking place in nearly 1000 cities in the United States.

Conservatives, who are usually working and have little time for political nonsense, decided that they have had enough taxes and spending by this administration and this congress.

People were fired up as they stood up for themselves against the ignorance of those who want higher taxes and bigger government.

Here is a video of the event: Dayton Teaparty Video

This is the first protest I had ever attended. Everyone I spoke to also said that they have never protested before. The time has come in the first time in history, for conservatives to protest.

This ain’t no Vietnam war protest, but it is a war protest nonetheless. Perhaps this protest will be heard by those who do not know and do not care. Perhaps for once, with facts not fists, we can convince the uninformed that high taxes hurt everyone.

Here are more photos from the event.

Goodbye Julian Sandler, Business Associate and Friend

March 23, 2009 / By John Beagle / In computer rental, itra, julian sandler / Leave Comment

The computer rental industry lost a good friend last week, Julian Sandler. Julian was founder, president and CEO of SmartSource Computer and Audio Visual Rentals, formerly Rent-A-PC.

Julian was a pioneer in the computer rental industry, starting Rent-A-PC in 1984, the same year IBM introduced the IBM AT. He started one of the computer rental industry’s first companies. I started my company, Rentacomputer.com (Formerly Rent-A-Computer) 3 years later in 1987.

He grew his Rent-A-PC organization by hard work, organic growth and acquisitions. Under his leadership, the company made 16 acquisitions and currently has 22 full-service locations nationwide with more than 250 employees.

I met Julian two times at International Technology Rental Association (ITRA) meetings. Due to his illness, he was unable to attend this year’s meeting.

The last time I met Julian was in San Diego at the Coronado Island Marriot Resort. There I really got to know the wit, wisdom and charm of Julian Sandler.

Dinner Tour of San Diego Harbor

About 50 ITRA conference attendees took a Dinner cruise of the San Diego Harbor. I had the pleasure of sitting down across from Julian for dinner and speaking with him at length. You could tell he was South African, or British by his accent. He had a charming way with words. At evenings end, I was thoroughly impressed by his wit, wisdom and knowledge of the industry.

He was a gentleman who was firm in his ideas, yet diplomatic in his conversations about business, politics, economics and life. He never bragged about his education or success, yet he had much to brag about. Unbelievably, Julian had a Ph.D. degree in experimental nuclear physics! SmartSource is estimated to have done over $55 Million USD in 2008, which would put his company near or at the top of the computer rental industry.

Julian Sandler was a man of charm, optimism and grace.

Goodbye my friend. Your knowledge and wisdom will live with me, the members of the ITRA and the computer rental industry always.

Peace and goodwill be with you, your friends and your family.

MainStreetMonroe.com Night at the Red Onion

March 18, 2009 / By John Beagle / In monroe, ohio, red onion, restaurant / Leave Comment

John Beagle Guest Bartender, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

In 1998 I got this crazy idea to make a website about my little town, Monroe, Ohio. I came up with the name MainStreetMonroe.com because there indeed was a Main Street in Monroe.

Now 11 years later, Main Street Monroe and The Voice have 1000s of unique visitors every day. It is the best place to pickup the latest news and opinions about Monroe life.

The Red Onion Restaurant is owned and operated by Mark Bursley and Gary Henz. I would rate the food 5 stars. Chef Henz was formerly the chef at the Maisonette so now this place is called by some, “The Maisonette of Monroe.”

It was great to see so many Voice posters. Supper was JD Steak or Meatloaf. That’s what the Voice posters voted on . The meatloaf could feed a family of 4.

I donated my tips to Light up the Sky for the Fourth of July I made $300.00, not bad.

Thanks Mark, Gary, Jill for letting me be the guest bartender!

International Technology Rental Association Conference

February 9, 2009 / By John Beagle / In association, computer rental, conference, golf, trade show / 2 Comments

ITRA 016, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

More than 50 people from the United States, Canada and the UK attended this years ITRA conference in Orlando, Florida this year.

The event’s keynote speaker was Corbin Ball, an international technology advisor with 20 years experience running meetings. Corbin asks, “What’s happening with technology and how will it directly affect me? ”

Photo: Corbin Ball, Keynote Speaker

The answer took us down a high tech path of wikis, web 2.0, microblogging, radio frequency ID tags, virtural meetings, conference and trade shows.

Corbin’s talk left most attendees overwhelmed with new ideas and information.

The board put together an excellent conference.

ITRA Board Members are in the photo (Left to Right): Wayne Springer, John Carnahan, Dan Kallen, Steve Shatsoff, Dave Veeder, Tom Hornyak, and Dennis Pugh.

Also vendors from HP, Samsung used the custom made tradeshow displays for the latest Tablet PCs, high tech printers and Video Walls.

Some of the people in attendance included:

Abcom Computer Rentals – Sonny Goyal
ABS Computer Rentals – Erik and Erika Wainiopaa
AC Technology, Inc. – Kathy Schultz
Atiwa Computing, Inc. – Wayne and DeDe Springer
Atlantix Global Systems – Tanya Adams and Sean Hutcheson
BMS Computer Rentals – Jerry and Chris Thompson
Computer Rentals, Etc. – Cuyler Tremayne, Rhonda Simien, Milko Figueroa
Computer Rental Systems – John Carnahan
Desktop Visual Products, Inc. – Rick Frandsen
DE Systems Ltd. – Dave Dugas
Hartford Computer Rental Co. – Dan Kallen
Hire Intelligence International Ltd. – Chris Hutber
Mac Rentals – Larry Langbort
MCR Integrated Technologies – Steve and Dena Mangum
MCR Rental Solutions – Dennis Pugh and Jack Brown
Meeting Tomorrow Audio Visual – Bill Powers
Computer Rent – Dave Wood
Micro Rental Service – Tom and Carol Hornyak
MicroStar – Doug Turner
PC Consultants of SW Michigan – Dick and Juanita Kohfeldt
RentAComputer.com – John and Susan Beagle, Darcy and John Mann
Rentfusion – Amit Parekh, Rhonwyn Godwin, Radha Singh
SmartSource – Steve Shatsoff, Julian Sandler, Niraj Jain, Robert and Jennifer Kastner
Rentsys – Laura Polasek and Chad Frank
Rush Computer Rentals – Electrorent – Dennis Clark, Craig Burgi, Rojer Bishop
Smart Computer Services – Robert Lowry and Will Lowry
Technology Rentals of America – Dave Veeder
Vernon Computer Source – Anthony C. Randazzo

We had 2 digital cameras provided by Meetings Tomorrow. A video is being put together that includes a brief introduction from many of the people mentioned above.

Many ITRA members are also members of the Tech Army Organization. All ITRA members have worked with Rentacomputer.com.

I have to say it is wonderful to have friends all over the world. Also thanks to Chad Frank from Rentsys, who played golf with me at Falcons Fire golf course near the convention.