• Entertaining At Home
• 
• Taking Mr. Potato Head Back to His Roots

• From the abundance of green beer to funky-sounding foods such as corned beef and cabbage, St

• Travel
• 
• The Vegas You

• Hotels and No-tells For many visiting the land of a million lights, the only place to stay is on

• Healthy Living
• 
• Silence

• What does silence mean to you? For me it is the stillness of nature on a cool crisp morning

• Dining
• 
• Arizona Restaurant Week is May 19-27th

• Saving room for dessert might be easier said than done this month, given the impressive lineup of

• Cigars & Fine Watches
• 
• The Crystal Ball: Looking into 2012

• 2012 is well into swing now that January has already past us. The Super Bowl has been played and

• Employment
• 
• Job Hunting? Check out the fastest growing industries

• When you're job hunting, knowing which industries are hiring is part of the battle. In the midst of

• Financial
• 
• Retirement Times are Changing – Traditional Methods of Investing are Becoming Obsolete!

• Uncertain economic conditions, fear of unemployment and declining portfolio values have driven many

• Green Living
• 
• Home Improvement and Recycling

• Americans spend over $200 billion annually on home improvement projects. These projects can vary

• Real Estate
• 
• Open House Tips for Buyers

• Viewing a variety of homes is important in the home buying process and helps give buyers a better

High Tech Makes A Splash

Most pool parties are notoriously low tech-blowing up rubber pool rafts, cooking over an open flame, and an old stereo on the patio. So why talk about them on the Digital Dose? Read More »

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  What the heck is an Near Field Communications device? Well, many of you may already be carrying one. In the eyes of many financial and technical thought leaders, it is the future of commerce.
  
  Think about the one thing we all carry with us: a cell phone. You may even be reading this on your phone now. Imagine if that single device could replace all your coupons, credit cards, keys, access badge to your office or parking garage, and even the change in your pocket. Life would be a lot less cluttered. Read More »

Ben Smith

Ben Smith administers technology tidbits and reviews that do not simply tell readers what a product or service does, but answer the question often asked of new technology: “Why would I need that?” The column covers a variety of topics including technology use in the workplace and at home, as well as trends in digital marketing. Content from guest contributors provides insight and opinions from other leaders in the technology and digital marketing fields.

Growing up the son of a Systems Engineer, Ben had mainframe computers in his home before there were desktop PC's. Staying in the family business, he has been a Programmer, Systems Engineer, Network Engineer, and Technologist. Later in his career, he moved into business operation roles, and has helped manage and grow technology companies while also running an incubator. Five years ago, he brought his technology background into the field of marketing and helped create the Lavidge Interactive and Internet Marketing Agency. Currently, as Director of Account Development at Lavidge, he consults with major brands across the U.S. on merging technology and marketing via Social Media, PR, Web Design, and Web Development. Additionally, being a father of three means he is always well-informed on the latest tech "toys" - and that he brings them home to play!

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