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Until the first drops of rain plunk down on your head, its easy to take your trusty umbrella you know, the one you didnt happen to bring with you for granted. Aside from that polka dot number you had as a kid, for the most part, umbrellas are forgettable; ask any caf and theyll tell you that dozens if not more are left behind by absent-minded patrons each year.

But for more than 200 school children from Naples, last week umbrellas became anything but forgettable.

As part of the Umbrellas for Peace project, elementary and middle school students from both private and public schools spent Friday morning painting the foul weather accessories in Cambier Park. In shades of red, yellow, green and blue, students painted visions of peace on what would become their own personal tokens of shelter.

Umbrellas for Peace is an international project started by the late, famous American artist and peace activist Matt Lamb. Its an initiative that, since its inception, has been shared in more than 29 countries with more than 2 million individuals most of them children. But to truly understand what this project is about, you have to understand its history.

In the months following September 11, 2001, as a nation geared up for war, Lamb geared up for peace. Unlike what our military was reaching for, Lambs weapons were simple: paint, paintbrushes, umbrellas and a message of shelter for all. Asked by Congress to create a project that would assuage the pain of children that lost parents in the attack on the Pentagon, Lamb created Umbrellas for Peace.

You can be Christian, Jewish, Muslim or atheist; white, black or purple, the umbrella doesnt care. The umbrella will shelter anyone who stands underneath it, said Lamb from a video broadcast at Fridays event. Sadly, Lamb passed away just a few weeks ago, but his voice from the DVD recording was loud and clear: peace matters, and teaching peace is important.

The event was sponsored by Jo-Gi Gallery, and gallery owner Jo-Gi was thrilled to finally have Lambs project here locally.

Ive been working on bringing the Umbrella project since last June, so Im very excited that its all come together, she said, adding, Its actually the first time its come to Florida!

And while Jo-Gi expressed remorse that Lamb couldnt be there in person to witness the Naples youngsters going to town with their designs, she was glad to have Lambs granddaughter, Rose Gabler, in attendance.

Ive worked with my grandpa on these events since I was 14, and its become my life. I want to continue spreading his message of peace, said Gabler.

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Give me shelter

COMMENTARY | Unlike the three librarians in my family, I'm not a book lover. I love my laptop and all the technological gadgets. I haven't looked up anything in an encyclopedia since 1988.

As a person who invests frequently in the stock market, I saw the recent news that Encyclopaedia Britannica stopped publishing print editions of it's encyclopedia as a positive sign for social media and technology stocks. It's just another bad sign, though, for stocks related to print media, paper and publishing.

To me, this marks the final days of print media. But I'm stocking up on technology stocks in preparation for another dot-com rally.

I'm sure some people are sad to see the end of the print era, but I'm not. I grew up reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica. I'd look something up in an encyclopedia when I wanted to know the correct answer. Now I look things up on the Internet, of course, not as sure whether I am actually getting the "real answer."

To me, encyclopedias are like other books that accumulate dust. I have no romantic attachments to books. I didn't sympathize with Meg Ryan's character in "You've Got Mail," who owned "The Shop Around the Corner" bookstore that was being shutdown by the mega bookstores.

As far as investing in stocks, I think it's more apparent than ever that technology stocks are here to stay. We are past the dot-com bubble of the 1990s. Now, it's no longer about speculation. Without a doubt, technology stocks are the present and the future.

For anyone who is younger than 55, it's only about digital products now - not paper products. While the paper products or print media products such as the newspaper still have an appeal for the older generation, fewer companies will cater to that niche market.

According to an article by the Associated Press, Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. is focusing on its online encyclopedia.

A part of me is tempted to buy one of the final hardcover online encyclopedia that are on sale at Britannica's website for $1,395. It would just be for the sentimental value since I think books are poor investments.

I ask myself, where would I put them? I have trouble cramming all of the books we own now on our bookshelves.

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First Person: I'm Preparing for a Dot-Com Rally

Believe it or not, it does rain in the OC. Its a rare event but when it happens, Orange County does a fairly good imitation of what life is like for the Vancouver Dot Com crew. Not only did the rain drove us out of the Pho Ba Co patio, it drove us out of Pho Ba Co completely. The inside of the Pho Ba Co didnt have enough seats to accommodate our group. We had to go next door to Las Fajitas Mexican Grill.

We had a full house ofಒ people making out to Dot Com fiesta. We created one long table near the wall to seat everyone. If you would like to join us for a future Dot Com Pho meetup, follow me on Twitter to find the time and place. We do this every Saturday (unless Im out of town).

For this edition of Dot Com Pho, we check out the new Apple iPad, test the power of Verizon 4G LTE, meet the lady whos wanted in six States, try to take a picture ofthe bow tie man without his bow tie, hot Mexican food, and a whole lot more. Enjoy and well see you next week!

This article courtesy of Dot Com Pho OMG! Its Raining In The OC Edition

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Dot Com Pho – OMG! It’s Raining In The OC Edition

Hello, Im Lauren Rae Orsini, though most people just call me Lauren. I prefer to use my full name online to avoid being confused with any of the other Lauren Orsinis of the world. Im twenty-five.

Im a full time reporter and graphics specialist atThe Daily Dot. I specialize in new and emergent online communities. Read some of my favorite storieshere.

I recently finished a semester as anadjunct professorat American University, where I taught HTML, CSS and general Web skills to undergraduate journalism majors, despite sometimes being mistaken for one myself.

I have a Masters degree in Journalism from American University. (For more on my educational background, please refer to myresume.) The tenets of journalism that I learned in school have remained my life philosophy: Be curious. Be honest. Be bold.

I like anime, but I love fandom. I am in awe of people who proudly nurture their obsessions. Im always looking for new people like that to interview. My favorite thing to do is to attend and cover anime and geek conventions in the US. My best of list includes Anime Boston, Anime USA, and Otakon. If youd like to invite me to cover your convention, contact mehere.

Ive been fortunate to have some great opportunities to combine geekiness and writing. Ive been an intern forKotaku, a writer forJapanatorandCon-News, and a blogger forAnime BostonandAnime USA. While I am in the business of giving interviews to other people, I never turn down a chance to be interviewed myself. Imlauren@otakujournalist.com.

I live in Pentagon City with my fianc, John.

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Lauren Rae Orsini

Upon hearing that the Nasdaq had at long last crossed 3,000, my reaction was subdued rather than celebratory. "Well, I guess I have to start paying attention to the Nasdaq again," was all the enthusiasm I could muster.

Yes, 3,000 is a significant milestone. The last time it closed above 3,000 was back in December 2000, in the aftermath of the dot-com bubble.

But it sure took a long time for the Nasdaq to come back. And even as far as it has come, it still is not doing as well over the past 12 years as its older and larger sibling the New York Stock Exchange, whose index is up about 20 percent since December 2000.

"Had you told me after the Internet crash that it would take 12 years for the Nasdaq to get back to 3,000 ..." said Ryan Jacob, portfolio manager for the Jacob Internet Fund, pausing to reflect. "Well, it's pretty amazing."

It's been a long time since I had the desire, or frankly, the stomach to follow our No. 2 stock exchange. And that's because of how its performance reflects on technology.

There is no getting around the fact that the Nasdaq's shocking plunge in 2000 was an indictment of tech stocks. And its long slog back to respectability mirrors the continued ambivalence investors have about investing in tech stocks.

The Nasdaq and Silicon Valley are tied at the hip. After all, of the 2,770 companies listed on Nasdaq, 674 are in the technology category, the largest such sector.

And back during

After March 2000, the Nasdaq became a daily barometer of not just the collapse of so many ludicrous business plans but of Silicon Valley's psychology. From being the center of the universe, Silicon Valley became an economic leper.

Even while the valley bounced back, as hiring surged and corporate profits grew, the Nasdaq did not.

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O'Brien: Nasdaq breaking 3,000 is cause for shrugging