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Taking Breaks at Work: Do Less To Do More

January 24, 2013 — 2 Comments

I work hard. It may not seem like it to some (I like to think it’s because I make it look so easy), but when I leave for the office at the end of the day, I am tired. Most days, I am hustling, keeping up with a dozen different things. I usually start off my day by updating my task list gleaned from previous days notes, new emails, piles on my desk, etc. When I got my to do list done Monday morning, there were initially 30 things on it and that was before my day started.

Photo by orphanjones on Flickr

Photo by orphanjones on Flickr

In my younger days, most of my effort at work was spent trying to look busy without really doing anything. I’m not sure I understand why this happened, but that’s the truth of how I functioned. Somewhere in my 20′s I learned that it is much easier to actually be busy doing the work than to just look busy.

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Posted on September 25, 2012 In humor
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What is this Apple TV All About?

August 17, 2012 — Leave a comment

What if I told you that for $99 you could upgrade your Macbook, iPad, or iPhone to a 60 inch screen? Impossible you say? Well, not if you have a 60″ television (or whatever size flat screen TV you may have). Once you have the television, all you need is Apple TV.

apple tv

Until recently, I had no idea what an Apple TV was, not to mention why I might want one. But I do like it now that I have one.

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In Hardware, technology
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house for sale

How Much is That House You Just Passed? Ask Trulia

July 3, 2012 — Leave a comment

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood, perhaps an unfamiliar one and wondered, “What do houses like this go for around here”? I find my self doing that when I am in an unfamiliar neighborhood (usually with large homes) and I see for sale signs. That’s usually the second thing I wonder right after, “What could this many people possibly do for a living to afford these houses?”. But I’m also not a fan of stopping to get out and grab the flyer, if there is one.

trulia

But now you don’t have too! There is a great real estate app that lets you search for houses in a specific area or simply what is around you based on your GPS location.

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The Bible in 50 Words

April 28, 2012 — Leave a comment

This video is an artistic look at God’s story, including the Old Testament (Abraham, Jacob, Saul, etc.), the Gospel (hope died, love rose), and all that we have to look forward to (God remained), in just 50 words. It is not meant to take the place of your biblical teaching, but engage your audience to hear more of the greatest story ever told.

Of course, there’s so much more to say about the Bible, and that’s where you come in! Use this video to introduce an in-depth exploration of any of the stories or themes mentioned in the text.

Poem by Dana Livesay


In articles, religion
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Creative Video: Make It Count

April 19, 2012 — Leave a comment

Nike hires you to create a commercial for their new slogan, Make it Count. What do you do? If you’re director Casey Neistat, you do just that. Ditch Nike’s idea, take the money they gave you, and travel the world until the money runs out!

Casey and his editor spent 10 days and 34,000 miles traveling the world, experiencing things and spending Nike’s money. They also took some photos and shot some video. The short film has gone viral in just days. I thought it was a cool idea, but I especially like the photos he posted to Facebook.

#MakeItCount


In articles, technology
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YouVersion {App}

March 17, 2012 — 2 Comments

“Good Morning, Church. Please take out your Phones and turn to Genesis 1.”

This is becoming close to the norm these days. Next time you are in church and someone is reading scripture and asking others to follow along, take a look around and see how many phones and tablets there are compared to printed Bibles. I think you’d be surprised.

If you have an iOS or Android device and you read the Bible, you have probably heard of YouVersion. If not, you should. Developed by Lifechurch.TV, this has become the premiere Bible Software available today. It is available in ten different platforms and a comprehensive website.

The mobile software includes thousands of translations of the Bible, more reading plans than you would believe, bookmarks, notes, and the ability to highlight and share scriptures or passages on social media. There are even live events you can follow along with right on your phone!

YouVersion Live gives you a way to interact with church services and other live events using your mobile device. You can follow along with message outlines and take notes, read related Bible verses and click through to the expanded passage, vote on a poll and see the results live, ask questions anonymously, give, request prayer, and take it all home with you on your phone. It works with any web-enabled phone, as well as any computer with an internet connection.

It’s hard to find a more comprehensive Bible software, if one even exists.


In Apps, articles, religion
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Coupon Sherpa {App}

March 1, 2012 — Leave a comment

Okay, this violates just about every “man law” I can think of. But sometimes, you just have to acquiesce to greatness. Especially when it comes to saving money!

Enter, Coupon Sherpa. This app can save you a lot of money…as long as you remember to use it. It’s a free download, so there is no reason not to have it. Once you open the app, you are presented with a list of stores. You can see in the image below, there is awesomeness to be found. I kid you not, there is a Carl’s Jr coupon! If you are my wife, please ignore the existence of the Coach Factory Outlet coupon. That store doesn’t exist, no need to look.

You can view the entire list alphabetically (default) or use the tabs at the bottom to search by category, or even by grocery stores. If you check the app before you go make a purchase, there is the opportunity to save some real cash. Many of the coupons are a percentage off of a purchase, will can add up to serious dollars. Some of the coupons are useless, stuff you would never buy, but there are more useful ones than I expected to find.

Because my wife has a custom calligraphy business, we spend too much time at craft stores. But at least we have a 40% off coupon every time we go! There are always coupons for many of the major retailers, so in a weekend you are sure to find something that you can save some money on.

Cost: FREE!            Also available as an Android App.


In Apps, articles, technology, Technology , , , ,
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Do You Like Apps?

February 28, 2012 — Leave a comment

Last Thursday I had the honor (cough cough) of serving my fellow citizens via jury duty. Because I never actually made it onto a jury, I had quite a bit of time to sit around. If you know me, you know that I can start up a conversation with just about anyone. Inevitably, several of us started showing each other the apps we had on our iPhones. I picked up a couple that I found interesting or useful and was able to share a few that others downloaded.

I decided to sit down and make a list of the apps I used the most. You probably own many of them, but there are some I’m sure you’ve never heard of. In an attempt to get myself writing more, I am going to be posting reviews of some of my favorite iOS apps. While many of the apps with have Android counterparts, I am going to focus on iOS because that’s what I have. Write about what you know.

If you have any favorite apps, leave me a comment so we can check them out. Or leave a comment about which ones you hate so we can all avoid them!

Add this site to your RSS reader and follow me on Twitter (button below) so you will know when I post a new review.


In Apps, articles, technology, Technology
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Want To Ride in a NASCAR Vehicle?

January 28, 2012 — 1 Comment

Some of you know I am involved with Dallas Services, a local non-profit organization whose mission “is to enable individuals with disabilities and other special needs to achieve their potential by fostering community inclusiveness and independence”. Growing up with a sister who benefited from the type of programs this organization provides makes me appreciate the services they offer.

Being a non-profit, they rely heavily on donations. And do I ever have a way that you can donate! Dallas Services has teamed up with Team Texas High Performance Driving School to give you the opportunity to make a donation AND ride in a real NASCAR vehicle at the Texas Motor Speedway!

“After being fitted for a helmet and a Racing Suit, you will be buckled into the passenger seat of a real NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Car. A Professional Driver will take you for a 4 lap ride that will reach speeds of up to 160 mph. The Race Cars will perform maneuvers like drafting, passing and side by side.”



How cool is that? You…in a NASCAR race! The cost is only 99.00 + tax (107.17) and the best part is you will be supporting Dallas Services and our programs – Dallas Day School, Low Vision Clinic, Mesquite Day School and the Special Needs Advocacy and Awareness Program! Team Texas will donate 50% (that’s 49.50 per ride!) of the cost back to Dallas Services. If you love speed, NASCAR, or fun, this is something you should do!

To register or for more information please contact Team Texas at 940-648-1043 or visit http://www.teamtexas.com or www.texasmotorspeedway.com. Make sure you mention you are there for Dallas Services! If you have further questions, leave me a comment and I will put you in touch with the person who can get those questions answered.

In articles
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