by David on February 28, 2010
The Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change.
Here is a topic I explore quite frequently here on my blog, the differences between Generations X, Y and the Millennial’s. Looks like the Pew Research Center is also doing an in depth study on the same subject. Very interesting read I hope you enjoy. The full article is here:
Overview
Generations, like people, have personalities, and Millennials — the American teens and twenty-somethings who are making the passage into adulthood at the start of a new millennium — have begun to forge theirs: confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change.
They are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They’re less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history.
Their entry into careers and first jobs has been badly set back by the Great Recession, but they are more upbeat than their elders about their own economic futures as well as about the overall state of the nation. (Read the full article here)
This is part of a Pew Research Center series of reports exploring the behaviors, values and opinions of the teens and twenty-somethings that make up the Millennial Generation.
Event: Video
Quiz: How Millennial Are You?
by David on February 28, 2010
Looking for interesting places to blog from on Long Island? From coffee houses to restaurants to Airports, Here are some of my favorite places to do some mobile blogging:
Starbucks – The Bloggers personal choice for an office away from home. You can sit back and write for hours. Most Starbucks have some really comfortable chairs to just lounge in, sit back and enjoy your coffee while writing away. It can get pricey but if you budget about $100 a month, ($4 a day for coffee and snack) and 2 hours a day for your writing then this is by far the best way to go. In about 6 weeks you’ll have that gold card from Starbucks to show off.
Starbucks offers 2 hours of AT&T internet access per day if you have a registered Starbucks card. The 2 hour limit is not set in stone as I have never been cutoff from internet access after even 4 hours of usage but I’m sure Starbucks reserves the right if they are busy.
Libraries – They’re quiet and offer free internet but there are limitations. You cannot answer your phone and no eating or drinking. If you can put up with the limitations than this could be another one of your offices away from home. Here are a few library suggestions:
~I have found the Nassau Library System has open internet access to all, no need for a library card. I can just sit down and sign on. Of course it’s a public location so be careful what you do while on their network. There is a library in every town on Long Island and they have varying hours.
~The NYPL (New York Public Library) system also offers free wireless internet access but you will need a library card. Residents of NY State are eligible for free cards. Visitors can apply for temporary cards. Here are the terms: Get a card and enjoy free access to the best library system in the world!
~I do not live close enough to Suffolk County to have had the opportunity to visit and check out the Suffolk County Library System wireless access. Hopefully some local bloggers from there can help me out with this info.
McDonald’s – I have yet to work from a McDonald’s as I stay away from their food, but I love their coffee. On Long Island I find that McDonald’s has become a destination for stay at home Mom’s to bring their kids for lunch because most have small playgrounds. It’s a great idea as stay at home mom’s definitely need the lunch break but for this reason alone I would say that McDonald’s is no great place to write a blog. They have AT&T wireless access that is now completely free but the screaming kids will drive you crazy! ;)
Panera Bread – Now here is a great place to sit down and have lunch while doing some writing but I find that Panera Breads are incredibly busy and you will be rushed out by the staff, politely of course. 45 minutes is the posted limit at the local Panera Bread’s. Catch them on their downtime and the staff will let you sit for hours. Expect to spend about $7-10 dollars on lunch.
Houlihan’s – Houlihan’s in Farmingdale in one of my favorites and I have mentioned them in the past. There is only one Houlihan’s on Long Island and if you need great food and wireless internet, I will personally vouch for them. Right down the block from Republic Airport, expect to spend anywhere from $8-15 dollars on lunch and tip.
Local Airports - Can you blog from an airport? Yes and no. We have a few airports around Long Island and I have used them all. It’s a great place to people watch as well as write but not practical for my purposes as they are really difficult to get too. Here is a rundown on how to use the local airports without setting off Homeland Security:
~Kennedy/LaGuardia – Both Airports are run by the Port Authority of NY so it figures that both airports would offer wireless access from the same provider, Boingo. Yes you will have to pay for a subscription starting at $9.95 a month or $4.95 for a full day pass. There are plenty of areas, both pre and post security where you could sit and write a posting or two as well as eat but the access fee would only make this practical for frequent fliers. Terminal 4 at Kennedy has a small shopping mall and food-court with a host of access ports but expect to pay by the hour as there is no free WiFi. Jetblue in Terminal 5 has the only free wireless internet access at Kennedy. None of the Starbucks has open internet access either. In all other terminals you will have to go with Boingo. I’m not too familiar with laguardia. The Port authority website just states they are covered by Boingo but I’m sure there are other on site options too.
~MacArthur – They offer Optimum Wi-Fi. Yes it’s free! You do not have to be a Cablevision subscriber if you are accessing their network from the Airport. Have I seen bloggers there? No. The airport is pretty out of the way and only accessible by car. Not really a practical place to write but if your in the mood to get out of the house and write, take the trip.
Optimum Online Customers – Cablevision is attempting to blanket all of Long Island with wireless internet access. The only catch is you have to be a Cablevision customer. Check out their map. This is the largest and most advanced Wi-Fi network in the nation available only on Long Island. If you have Optimum Online, most Starbucks are within range of an Optimum Online Wireless access point. I hop onto that network first. If the signal is not strong enough I then hop onto the Starbucks network. ;)
Plan ahead and scope out a spot for your writing needs. You’ll find Long Island is incredibly Blogger friendly! I have a project ongoing where I am mapping out Hotspots that I have used. I have this information on a google spreadsheet that I am constantly updating. You can find the spreadsheet here: Do you have any other great locations? Drop me a comment. I would love to learn of more wireless hotspots on Long Island. :)
