Reminiscing about last year’s #SOTU #WHTweetup and wishing I could join everyone for this year’s #WHSocial! Not to worry, I will be joining virtually and watching the enhanced feed and tweeting away, as per usual.  For those lucky few who will have a seat in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building during the State of the Union, here’s a few tips to help you get the most from your day in our Nation’s Capital:

• Use tools like TweetDeck or HootSuite to view streams of those you follow, those who follow you, and hashtag searches.
• Reach out to your alma matter, let them know about what you’re doing. Engage them in how current students can follow along & participate.
• Bookmark this link for complete search results of the #WHSocial hashtag: https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%23WHSocial&src=savs
• Follow the twitter accounts of your local media and media personalities. Share the experience with your local community.
• Charge! Charge! Charge! Batteries and yourself!
• Choose an issue. Research it. Have a list of questions ready to go! You’re interacting with the President’s advisors!
• Join a group and enjoy dinner before the SOTU. Old Ebbitt Grill is historic and close to the White House. (make reservations!)
• Beware the Twitter Tweet limit! Read more here…
• Connect your networks. For one day, connect Twitter to Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, etc. Share the experience!
• Keep an open mind. You’ll be surrounded (physical and virtually) by opposing opinions of every kind!
• Hey, it’s a long day. Make sure and rest, as tough as it will be, and stay hydrated!
• Follow the official White House Twitter accounts: https://twitter.com/whitehouse/whitehouseaccounts/members
• Dress sharp! You’ll be on camera and forever part of history.
• Are you giving your fingers and thumbs a workout today? Here are some good exercise tips http://www.livestrong.com/article/335235-thumb-and-finger-exercises
• Expected the unexpected! Last year’s group enjoyed a lunchtime meeting with @aneeshchopra and @mikeyk.
• Have fun and keep it real. Real people, real issues, real discussion!

Think about it, #WHSocial invitees, in some small way, you are working for the President!

I proposed to my wife with an iPad with the premise, albeit a false one, that it had been won in an online sweepstakes (read more about the proposal here). That was a ruse, but it was based in some very reliable truth. A few years ago, I picked up a new hobby entering online sweepstakes and playing Internet-based instant win games – my wife calls it “clicking”. It was sparked by boredom, but soon became a bit of an obsession. Since that time, the wins have been small – a few cash prizes (the larget amount was $55 from Select 55), various gag gifts (small plush toys, t-shirts, can koozies), tickets to a Pistons Basketball game, an autographed football by Chad Ochocnco (now Chad Johnson), and even a beer making kit (which I’ve never used). When my wife and I traveled to London, I entered a UK-based photo competition on Facebook and won £50 (approx. $80 US) worth of gift certificates that we could apply toward any London show – we choose Les Misérables and bought prime seats. Last year, I even won a trip to the White House for the State of the Union and met senior administration officials and the creator of Instagram.

I don’t go to extremes, like some consumers, to enter these contests. My wife, family, and work are always first priority. For most Instant Win Games (IWG), I’ll play every few days. Most of these IWG’s are coded so that wins are based on a date and time stamp, so my daily entry times are staggered. The outcome of the game typically doesn’t matter, so if there’s a “click here if you can’t see the game” link, I’ll click that, see whether I won (99.9% of the time I don’t), and move on.  Sweepstakes are another matter. While some are tied directly to IWG’s and your play counts as a sweepstakes entry, others require that you complete an entry form either one time or every day. I try and stick to the one-time entry contests since I figure my odds are better as the number of entries should be less. Facebook offers the greatest opportunities to enter sweepstakes through the SweepstakesHQ app, powered by Wildfire.

Someday, I’ll share a few tips for efficiency and increased odds. Right now, it’s back to clicking!

In full disclosure, I own or have access to at least three iOS devices, a MacBook Air with OS X Mountain Lion, and my wifes’s old MacBook Pro. My job requires that I stay up-to-date on the latest OS releases, and, for that reason my iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and iPad 3rd Generation, have all been upgraded to IOS 6.0.1. Apart for a few enterprise-lacking features, I enjoy conducting work (and a bit of fun) on these devices. I’m what you might call an Apple fan (although my primary desktop of choice remains a PC).

When Apple introduced iOS 6.0, they also made available a few updates that impressed and, yes, a few which caused general unrest and confusion (e.g. Apple Maps). Personally, what came as a surprising, positive development was the introduction of the Podcast app. With this new application, music and podcasts are now distinctly separated into their own space. However, Apple didn’t stop there. With the new Podcast app, Apple has introduced a long-awaited feature of subscribing, receiving automatic updates, and removing podcasts from a device based on user-specified criteria. Pretty cool and long overdue.

Last week, Apple, after a well-publicized delay, released iTunes 11 for both the Mac and Windows platforms. With the release of iOS 6.0, 6.0.1, and now iTunes 11, it’s been a busy quarter for the Apple development teams.

So, what do these releases have to do with whether iTunes remains a viable desktop application? It boils down to a simple question: Is iTunes a necessity or an inconvenience? I’ll make an argument for the latter; iTunes is no longer a necessity and often an inconvenience.

First and foremost, with the latest iOS enhancement you can now perform most essential tasks from your mobile device, including:

• Synchronize email, contacts, and calendars w/ Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS).
• Purchase new applications, music, tv shows, and movies with the iTunes app.
• Subscribe and synchronize podcasts.
• Update applications and the ions software over-the-air.
• Backup photos, music, etc. via iCloud.
• Register the device with your Apple ID (or create a new ID) when first setup.

With the right software/hardware, you can even stream your music over a WiFi network to your favorite stereo system. Not to mention the various docking station systems which are available from almost every major retailer.

So, honestly, can anyone provide a good counter-argument for why having a desktop version iTunes is necessary?

When we pray on Shabbat and holidays, we often pray in song. Behind our Jewish melodies are hundreds of talented composers including Cantors Sol Zim, Meir Finkelstein, Hugo Adler, and Lisa Levine, and musicians Shlomo Carlebach, Debbie Friedman, Sam Glaser, just to name a few.

Last year, our congregation at Temple Beth Emeth had the unique opportunity to welcome Cantor Adler’s son, Sam, also a well-respected composer, to celebrate an evening of his family’s music. We are lucky and blessed to have his sister and brother-in-law as members of the TBE Choir, Kol Halev, and his nephew’s family as active members. During this wonderful evening of song, a small group debuted a piece written in celebration Mr. Adler’s grandniece becoming a Bat Mitzvah that same weekend. I have chills thinking back to that memorable night!

This year, TBE and Kol Halev have the distinct pleasure of welcoming another prolific composer. On the evening of Friday, November 2, Ben Steinberg will join us and his music and reflections will become our Shabbat service. You can read more here.

Many may recognize Mr. Steinberg’s Shalom Rav (listen here). This melody was the standard tune used in many Reform congregations, preceding the version by Cantor Jeff Klepper. I’m honored to lead the congregation in this beautiful, responsive melody.

Everyone is invited to this evening of song – either in person or virtually. If you’re able to attend in person, the service will begin promptly at 7:30pm. If you’re unable to attend, all Friday evening services are broadcast live, online at http://live.templebethemeth.org.

Hope you can attend one way or another! Wishing you much happiness through song!

I am saddened by the loss of the incomparable, Marvin Hamlisch. Eighteen years ago last November, my family invited him to be a special guest as I celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah (also invited were Elton John, Billy Joel, Henry Mancini, and other well-known musicians excelling in piano performance). Not expecting to hear any reply, I was surprised by a hand-written note on his personal stationary kindly declining the invitation with a hearty mazel tov and wishes for a great celebration and success in the years ahead.

Many years later, I had an opportunity to be in the same room as Mr. Hamlisch as he performed at Shaarey Tzedek in Southfield, MI, joined by Cantor Meir Finkelstein. His musical influences will be forever remembered as “One Singular Sensation”. May his memory be forever a blessing and may his mourners find comfort in the company of friends and family.