# 99 - Time to Reflect and Evaluate

Wow. I can hardly believe it's been 99 days since I began blogging. Last year, I began a conversation and look where it has led! The result for me has been a wealth of knowledge gained and communicated. Just think...a simple trip to see a movie got this ball rolling.

As a blogger, I owe the makers of Julie & Julia a huge debt. Were it not for this marvelous film about a struggling writer who blogs, I might never have tried this. I can honestly say that I am a better person as a result of the effort.

The original plan for this site was to scale back now, as soon as I reached the blessed 99th post. That goal, that arbitrary number, somehow seems secondary now to what has become a quest for knowledge, news and relevance. Why stop? Certainly, life is still full of challenges, events and developments to write about. I'm three week's away from earning a master's degree, but I'm not near ready to stop learning. Still, maybe I should cut back my frequency of articles. What do you think?

For me, blogging has been fun. It satisfies a strong desire to communicate and connect. And, it sure hasn't hurt my writing discipline! Ive established better, more positive habits by using this space. Has it been of any real value to anyone else? That is the question.

Daily posts will continue through December 12th, then I will re-group - based upon your feedback. Just like everyone else in the blogosphere writing from the heart, I need to know what readers think. After all, this is for you.

Have you considered starting your own blog? Did you learn something helpful from any Back-to-School...Again post? Do you know of a topic that desperately needs covering? I've posted a link to an online survey right here so you can easily answer these questions. Please participate. It's a quick, anonymous performance review. Just click on the link below.

Click Here to take survey

By participating, you can help shape the future of this blog. Should we change the name, the focus, the graphics, the subject matter? Is there more to be reported about the ever-changing issues of higher education? I hope so. Traditional and non-traditional college students today face a unique set of challenges, and I believe I've developed some insight. Or, have I? You be the judge!

Thank you.

Day 80 - Online shopping is easier/safer than ever

Last week, Amazon.com announced the launch of "PayPhrase," a shortcut for making purchases on the Web (just in time for the holiday season). To use PayPhrase, consumers set up a unique phrase and a 4-digit PIN that links to an Amazon.com account where shipping addresses and payment information are stored.

When you make a purchase on Amazon or any participating website, you just enter that PayPhrase and PIN, and immediately see your order confirmation so you can check out in a manner of seconds. There is no longer a need to sign in or enter your credit card information on multiple sites, according to PayPhrase.

The vision of PayPhrase (like its predecessor PayPal) is to enable consumers to pay instantly and securely wherever they want to pay. PayPhrase can be used on Amazon.com and many other sites like DKNY.com, Jockey.com, and Buy.com, since they already accept Checkout by Amazon -- a service that allows sellers to use Amazon's 1-Click checkout for their own websites.

While U.S. retailers are preparing for another slow holiday shopping season, online retail is considered to be the one bright spot. Forrester Research expects online retail sales to reach $44.7 billion during November and December 2009, an 8% increase over 2008. Despite lingering effects of the global financial crisis, online sales remain the retail industry's growth super engine. According to a study by Shop.org, 45.8 percent of online retailers expect holiday sales to rise at least 15 percent over last year. Amazon reported last week that holiday sales could come in far above expectations, sending its stock to a lifetime high.

I guess there’s no getting around it. It’s time to start the holiday shopping!