24 November 2014

5 Questions for Thanksgiving

Would you like some conversation starters for your Thanksgiving feast? After the chewing slows and before desert begins, try asking one of these 5 questions for Thanksgiving. 
  1. What is your earliest memory of Thanksgiving? Who was there? Where was it? What did you eat? 
  2. Which Thanksgiving was your favorite or most memorable and why?
  3. Did you ever celebrate Thanksgiving in an unusual way? How? 
  4. Who did the cooking for Thanksgiving when you were a kid? 
  5. Did you have any special traditions; a place you went or an activity you did?

These questions are great for learning about your family history or about your friends' lives. Telling stories brings everyone closer together. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jennifer Shoer aka Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

19 November 2014

Recording it for Posterity

Video for Family HistoryPart 1

Have you thought about creating family videos? 

If you are over the age of ten, you have probably already made at least one video of yourself or your friends. Most of you have phones that record video. Let me tell you about my grandfather and his videos.

My Grandfather, known to his grandchildren as Bubba, recorded thousands of feet of video tape during his life. He recorded his children, his siblings, his nieces and nephews and of course his grandchildren. It is possible for me to view in video most big events from my childhood right through and including my wedding. Bubba taped that too.

If you listen to the later movies after Bubba bought a video camera with sound, you can hear his chuckle, or his quiet prompts for you to do something for the camera. I loved his chuckle. If we ever complained about being taped (I remember not loving it when I was a teenager.), he would remind us that we were “recording it for posterity.” At the time I didn’t know exactly what posterity was, but Bubba said it, which meant it was important.

Posterity means all future generations. How cool that Bubba recorded our lives as they unfolded for our children and our children’s children and their children. He was our family historian, creating an amazing record of the lives of his family members.

Bubba recorded his movies on film. Digital didn’t exist yet. His first sound camera was immense. Now, video cameras fit in your pocket. 

At the holidays this year, whip out your phone and try recording your family members. Ask them questions about what they are doing. If they have a special skill, ask them to perform it. Ask them how they celebrated the holidays when they were younger. If they complain, tell them you are recording it for posterity. Your children’s children will thank you.

Jennifer Shoer aka Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

11 November 2014

How to Sideload Apps to your Kindle Fire HDX

This is an update to my articles; Android Apps for Kindle Fire and How to Sideload Apps onto the Kindle Fire

In 2011, I bought my first Kindle Fire. Today I have graduated to the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 Tablet and I still love the Kindle system. The only challenge is that three of my must have apps are not available in the Amazon app store, including Dropbox, Roboform and Zinio

This tutorial will show you how to sideload almost any app available as a .apk file onto your Kindle Fire, HD or HDX. 

Step 1 : download the .apk file to your computer
  • go to the software maker's website and look for an android or Kindle Fire download
  • try the Good e-Reader app store or 1Mobile Market
  • if you have an android based phone, you can copy the app file from it to your computer and from your computer to your Kindle Fire
  • be creative, search Google for ("Kindle Fire" AND "name of app")
Step 2 : approve apps from unknown sources
  • from top of Kindle screen swipe down
  • tap the settings gear icon
  • tap Applications
  • at the top of the screen, find 'Apps from Unknown Sources' and to the right tap On
Step 3 : copy the .apk file to your kindle
  • connect Kindle to computer via usb
  • copy .apk app file from computer Download folder 
  • navigate to Kindle download folder
  • paste file
Step 4 from Amazon App store, install Easy Installer
  • do this step directly in the app store from your Kindle
Step 5 : install app on Kindle Fire HDX
  • open Easy Installer
  • check the box next to the app you wish to Install
  • click Install at the bottom of the screen
  • if the app does not appear; 1. Tap the icon which appears in the top right corner of the screen. It looks like a column of 3 boxes. 2. Tap Scan Apps 3. The app file should appear. 3. If it does not, make sure you have followed the directions and that your Kindle was plugged into your computer during transfer of the .apx file. 
I hope this made the Kindle Fire sideloading process a little bit easier for you. Let me know if you have any questions. What other apps do you wish the Amazon app store offered? I am off to see if I can find an Instagram app download. 


Jennifer Shoer aka Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!


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