Tomorrow it's back to work after a mini-vacation that allowed me some time to hike in the Lake Superior wilderness. Before that return to work focused activities, I though I would let everyone know about a blog (EngCom.Net) which has a neat series on engineering trivia … a good way for me to get serious once more, but not too serious! Although I don't normally review technology blogs which have a profit focus, in this case I'll make an exception. Given them a link, and test your knowledge!

However, if you need some more serious engineering, link to my engineering learning section. You'll find hundreds of links to engineering academic seminars, courses, custom engineering search engines and even Lego engineering!

The byways and highways of America often lead to unexpected destinations. This is particularly true if you get off the interstate highway system and experience America at a slower pace. Thus, imagine the scene yesterday morning as my wife and I motored across northern Wisconsin on a gray and drab day … all the leaves are down; a wet mist is blowing in off Lake Superior and the temperature is trying to exceed 40F. On my left I spy a lone hiker heading west … walking against traffic. I quickly note that he is wearing a sign, however at 60 mph we zoom by too quickly to get a good read. Here is how the conversation goes in our car between my wife, Molly, and me:

• Rich: I'm going to turn about and head back. Let's offer that hiker a ride.
• Molly: Do you think that's wise? 
• Rich: He was wearing a sign. Even though I couldn't read it, I'm sure he's safe. This weather is ugly and he might like a ride to Duluth.

Anyhow, I turn our fire-engine red PT Cruiser around and we head back East on US Highway #2. Pulling over to the side of the road we discover, Dr. Colin Skinner, who is walking across America for the National Hospice Foundation. Colin is from the United Kingdom, and a gentleman who defines graciousness and dedication. As soon as I heard about his trek, no matter how lousy the weather might be, I knew Colin would turn down my offer of a ride … after all … he is walking across America, not riding. This segment was started in mid August, and he is on his way to Minot, North Dakota.

Here is where his trip becomes more personal. If you are not familiar with the National Hospice Foundation, they are angels in human form. When my Mom died last year, it was only through hospice care that my Mom was able to die at home with dignity. In my Mom's situation, it was the folks from hospice who immediately came over at Midnight to sit with my Dad and me through the night. They were worried about us. Here is my blog entry from that night my Mom died.

Thus … to Colin … a gentleman walking across America … I say "thank you". Please support his efforts and cause.  Click upon any image to view full sized!

I've been researching the capabilities of LinkedIn's recent upgrade. While all the BIG press has been focused upon the integration of LinkedIn and Twitter, just as important a new feature is the ability to have threaded conversations (a microblog) with your connections status updates. However, the thread is not limited to just one's own connections.

Take a look at the screenshot shown below. Ross Mayfield, Chairman and Co-founder of Socialtext is part of my LinkedIn Connections, but Konstantin Guericke is not! The implications are HUGE. I am able to see the status updates of my connections, and anyone who comments … whether they are part of my network or not. Some of the bigger complaints of mine over Twitter have been:

• Very difficult to create a high quality network of Followers
• There is often a high signal to noise ratio in Twitter

I believe the threaded conversation capability of LinkedIn will be very important. Via LinkedIn I have much more data about whom I am conversing with … and can filter. (see my blog post from last June: Twinked-In)

Back in June I posted my fictitious announcement about the merger of LinkedIn and Twitter, Twinked-In. If these two companies expand upon their relationship … this is definitely a situation where the sum of the collective parts will be greater than the "former" whole. Here's an article from Mashable explaining their new relationship. One interesting sidebar … some corporate firewalls bar Twitter, but not LinkedIn. Think about the implications. Twitter is now on the inside.

(Instructions from LinkedIn on how their relationship with Twitter works)