Eric's Best

New Blog Address

2010-07-26T05:53:00.002-05:00

Hello, I've made the switch to a new Blog platform and I have changed the blog name. Hope to see you there...

eoverton.com

My thoughts on how Lost end.

2010-05-23T16:14:00.002-05:00

Well here we are, the Lost finale. I remeber when I first watched Lost. ABC had been promoting the premier and showing clips pretty hot and heavy for the pilot. I didn't know it was going to be a series, but thought that it was a two night movie about a plane crash on a tropical island. I didn't know there was going to any kind of sci-fi or supernatural element to the story.

I made no plans to watch it and just happened to be sitting in front of the TV and saw. "Stay tuned, the world premier of Lost is next" (Or something like that). I thought, "okay I'll give it a shot". I still remember the opening scene of the close up on Jack's eye. It definitely caught my attention. I watched the first episode, still not knowing it was anything more than a disaster movie meets castaway. I believe it was when they found the pilot and the "monster" got him. (It would take a whole year before we saw black smoke), that I did a double take and knew we had some different stuff going on here. By the way the pilot was the same actor who played Matt Parkman from Heroes (boy they really stunk it up on that show after the first season).

At the end of the first episode when the "monster" was making that ominous sound (I want the ring tone) and swaying the trees back and forth as the passengers stared from the beach, I was hooked and knew we had something special.

Now the end is tonight and I still have so many questions. The writers have done pretty good (B+) getting us answers, but I know I'll be left with wanting more. I really want a happy ending. Smokey gets taken out and Jack is the new Jacob and all is well, but something tells me it won't be as tidy as that. One thing Lost does is show that people make mistakes and are flawed. Somebody will make a mistake tonight and the consequences will be dire.

I think a good closing scene would be for Jack to be sitting on the beach in a white T-shirt watching the sunset and Sawyer ambles up wearing black and says "Mind if I join you doc?" Jack smiles and says "Be my guest." Sawyer stares out into the ocean and says.."Do you know how bad I want to kill you right now?" Fade to black and Lost graphic rolls with trademark creepy music. I can't wait!

Mall Cop

2010-05-12T16:23:00.001-05:00

Had a nice visit to the mall the other day. It was a weekday just before lunch. Crowds were down and enjoyed strolling around. Really enjoyed Cindy' Cinnamon Rolls, but I digress. All and all my brief visit was productive (Mother's Day Cards), but had a few observations:

Kiosk attendants are very aggressive and annoying.
Saw a white guy wearing FUBU tennis shoes.
Chik Fil-A line was a mess. They have three registers open and people were forming one main line and going to whichever register was available first, but some folks didn't understand the system and just walked right up to the register, bypassing the queuing line. Come on!

Get Back To Work!

2010-04-26T15:21:00.003-05:00

I was just at the Post Office and there were nine people in front of me and two people working. One of the workers had to go in the back and do something and the other postal worker was answering some questions from a patron that appeared more to do with a State Department issue than a mail issue. I know that do passports there, but it sounded more like some free trade agreement negotiation.

Anyway, me and the rest of the package weary postal patrons are waiting in line and I feel like I'm at the DMV in a third world country. So postal guy, get off the TV and get back to work.

Keurig - Caribou Coffee

2010-04-24T06:27:00.009-05:00

I mentioned a few post back that I bought a Keurig single cup coffee maker. Actually, I am enjoying it right at this moment. (It is morning).

So where to get coffee? Currently I'm buying my coffee at Bed Bath & Beyond. They have a good selection, it's convenient to where I live and my wife always seems to have a 20% off coupon. They never expire (is that even possible?). Also, I buy some coffee from Amazon , and even Publix (grocery store in Alabama) had some on sale the other day.

Bed Bath Beyond usually has the 18 packs for $9.95 less: the 20% coupon comes to about $8.00 which means I'm paying 44 cents a cup*. Ouch, didn't realize it was that pricey! Okay now I hate my Keruig. Just kidding, I still like it. I go to Starbucks less so at the end of the day (Sorry SB) , the overall coffee budget is about what is was before Keurig. At least that is my story and I'm sticking to it. Why are you judging me? No, I'm not being defensive.

As I was saying. I like the Caribou Blend. Not too strong, but does has some kick. Kind of like the Goldilocks of coffee blends.

*Almost forgot. I do have one of the filters that allows you to use regular ground coffee. Now I feel better knowing that I'm not actually paying more for coffee. I lied about my coffee budget staying the same. Also, I've only used the filter once.

2010-04-03T21:00:00.005-05:00

Was getting ready for bed the other night and wanted to watch something a little mindless and vaguely entertaining. Was kind of in a Dirty Jobs or Mythbusters mood, but stumbled upon Billy the Exterminator.

It turned out to be just the kind of mindless entertainment I was looking for. Billy is a somewhat eccentric exterminator in Louisiana. He's enthusiastic about his job and for some reason I found it relaxing to watch the show. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I like how they find a problem (bugs, snake, or critter) and then solve it and everyone is happy at the end of the episode, usually even the animal. The only thing I've seen them kill so far war wasp and roaches. There something about the simplicity of the show that I like.

Show comes on A&E.

2010-04-03T20:40:00.006-05:00

I was visiting my mother last weekend and noticed her new coffee maker. It was a Keurig single cup brewer. I had seen these before in some waiting rooms and different public areas, but didn't think it would be too practical for home use. However, I must say that after a demonstration by my Mom I was impressed and hooked.

You get coffee within just a few minutes that is piping hot and very fresh. I also like that I can pick out different flavors one cup at a time.

I bought one today and am real excited about the changes that await my coffee drinking experience.

Top 5 Things I like about my Keurig Special Addition:

Coffee is piping hot and fresh
Quickly makes a single cup
Ability to try different flavors of coffee without having to buy a whole bag
Looks cool
Great tasting coffee and hot chocolate

Merry Christmas Crimson Tide

2009-12-16T09:56:00.006-06:00

These are tough times. Financial and family pressures pull at us from all sides. Christmas is a wonderful holiday, but it often magnifies these strains as we balance getting our kids enough items so we don’t feel like bad parents with paying the power bill and putting gas in the car. Many times we find ourselves not only living paycheck to paycheck, but day to day with our to-do list growing faster than our done list. We think back to earlier Christmases. We remember Christmases when we were kids and the joy and excitement of that wonderful day. We think of the faces that are no longer with us. We think of Christmases when things were better, Christmases that came before mistakes we have made. Each day in December we inch closer and closer to Christmas. The days get shorter and the air gets cooler with a mixture of hope, fear, and regret.

So how in the world during this hectic season would group a young men, who are part of a football team make me smile? It’s simple, they are winning. I don’t personally know a single player or staff member on the Alabama Football team. I have no control over how well they play, their game scheme or even what flavor Gatorade they have in the cooler on the sideline, yet I’m happy when they win and whenever I think about this season, I smile. Why would I attach any emotion to a group of people I don’t know and to a game that I have not input or control in? It really doesn’t make sense.

Through years of cheering for Alabama, I have somehow connected myself in to their success. I haven’t contributed to their accomplishments in any way, unless you count my cheers at the North Texas game, the one game I got to attend in person this year, but somehow I think they would have pulled that one out without me. I would say that maybe they have benefited from my prayers, but that opens a whole other theological issue about praying for your team to win. I mean, I can see where it is okay to pray for Lane Kiffin to lose, but what about Tebow? Not sure I want to go there.

I’m not alone. Thousands of Alabama fans are smiling in the midst of stressful, difficult times, when they think about “The Drive” or Julio’s big play in the LSU game, or Ingram’s heartfelt acceptance speech at the Downtown Athletic Club. These fans, who are often disparaged for, “not ever having set foot on campus” should not be looked down upon, but should be celebrated. I think they should have full permission to find joy and encouragement from the endeavors and success of a team of players who they may not know, but for a Team they do know. While they (we) may not have individual bearing whatsoever on Alabama’s success on the football field, collectively we do. Without the millions of fans who never lift a weight, run a pass route or make a tackle, Alabama football as we know it wouldn’t be possible.

So this Christmas, in a way we’ve already given the Alabama Football Team our gift, it’s our support and passion, and while they have unfinished business in Southern California, they have already given their gift to us too. They gave it one game, and many times, one play at time each Saturday this fall. “Thank you Terrance for the blocked field goal, it’s just what I wanted!”

A&E's Hoaders

2009-12-15T12:51:00.008-06:00

I have recently been watching a new show on A&E called Hoarders. It is produced by the same creators Intervention, so it has that reality-crisis type feel to it. It is sad, disgusting, and fascinating all at the same time. It is not easy to watch, but like Intervention, it can be a tool for learning from the mistakes of others. These are some messed up folks! However, it is sad because, they don't want to be the way they are and they are embarrassed over how bad their hoarding has gotten.

The concept is that the show provides help to a person or family in crisis. The crisis has arisen from the person's compulsive hoarding. Homes stacked from floor to ceiling with clothes, keepsakes, trash, decaying food, and even (in one episode) soiled adult diapers! Help comes in the form of professional organizers, house cleaners, and usually a psychologist. But, there is not always a happy ending.

These people have a mental illness and you just want to shake them and say wake up! Get rid of this junk and live your life! However, before I judge them to harshly, I need to examine my own life. Do I have a drawer, a closet, a garage that has junk in it? Yep.

Now the folks profiled on this show have a serious mental problem and their hoarding is extreme and far more than a cluttered closet or junk drawer, but it had to start somewhere, right?

Hope you are ready trash-man, cause I'm going to be kicking some junk to the curb! I've been scared straight. Who's with me?

The show comes on at 9pm central time on A&E.

Chick-fil-A - Please Get New Commercials

2009-11-28T06:00:00.013-06:00

Okay, I like Chick-fil-A as much as the next person. I love their biscuits and their nuggets actually taste like real chicken. Best of all, their customer service is a cut above above other fast food establishment. It is amazing what eye contact, a smile and and of air of I'm not miserable can do for a place.

Also, I do think the whole cow "Eat More "Chikin" thing is really clever. HOWEVER, please, please get new commercials! If I see those cows sneaking into the office building after hours again I'm going to go eat my weight in hamburgers and I'll specify that the beef is to come from black and white cows, preferably those who have had some TV experience. They are milking the CBS SEC Game of the Week slot for all its worth (get it milking). These same commercials play week end and week out over and over again.

Oh yeah, the cow on the sun roof of the car stealing the burgers ("Yes honey, cows.") and the cows parachuting into the football stadium, I've had enough of those too.

So, Chick-fil-A ad executive (I know you are reading this), please pull these old commercials. You have my permission to brainstorm on this project on Sunday afternoon. I know you have the day off.

ABC's "V"

2009-11-27T10:18:00.007-06:00

There back! The "Visitors" from the 1984 NBC show "V." Well this isn't a continuation of the show from the 80's, but a remake that weaves in the global recession, the flu pandemic, and the threat of terrorism into its clever plot.

I was a fan back in the 1980's and definitely wanted to give the new show a try. I wasn't disappointed. It has a Lost type feel, maybe because of the one of the main characters is played by Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost's Juliet. The show does a good job of taking what worked from the original series and mixing it in with the fears and concerns we deal with in 2009.

The casting is excellent and it is easy to get attached to or creeped out by the main characters. Father Jack Landry and head Visitor, "Anna" are played extremely well.

The show also has a sense of humor. In the pilot two teenagers are talking about how Independence Day ripped off so many previous alien movies as they are watching the enormous alien space craft hover over New York City (an obvious rip off of Independence Day). Also, on the last episode ABC incorporated a clever promo between commercials of Scrubs as Jack Braff's image appears on one of the mother ships promoting Scrubs and informing us that the Visitors are lizards!

The show's pace is solid and they seem to have a good balance of giving you background and detail without bogging down the plot. Unfortunately the show is off the air until March, but this was a remake worth remaking!

A&E's Intervention

2009-11-23T20:27:00.004-06:00

Just got finished watching A&E's Intervention. What a sad show, but Ironically I leave the show encouraged. My problems seem small compared to the life and death struggle that these folks are facing with addiction. I don't know why it is human nature to compare ourselves with others and when we see others struggling we somehow find encouragement, knowing that we are not the only one.

Remember when you were in school and you took a really hard test. Were you more encouraged when your classmates complained about the test and talked about how hard it was, or when some kid said that it was so easy? Maybe there is some truth to the statement that misery loves company.

Going back to Intervention, I think it is interesting to watch the drama because unlike normal TV entertainment it is real. The people are not all in shape and attractive. There are not always happy endings and we can relate to the struggles, tears, and pained faces of the families on these shows. Part of me feels guilty for feeling encouraged that I don't have it as bad as the individuals who are the subject of that show, but I know but for the grace of God there go I.

Saturday Morning

2009-11-21T05:57:00.012-06:00

I got up early (as usual) this morning and I have a lot of things on my mind that I want to do. So far I've grabbed a cup of coffee and fired up the old laptop. So here's what I'm thinking.

Prepare for Sunday School Lesson
Make short rib recipe I saw on Food Network
Go for a run (trying to crank this back up)
Rent a carpet cleaning machine from the grocery store (Rug Doctor)
Get haircut
Explore Mint.com (kind of like Quicken for managing personal finances)
Explore Highrise Website (an online contact manager for the business)
Say hey to Abby (Hey Abby)
Get cat food
Get crickets (for gecko) & cricket food - ironic - I'm feeding the pets of my pets
Blog post for Eric's Best (knocking that out right now)
Watch some football
Play Call of Duty Modern Warfare - Got game last week and it is incredible.
Nap
Gas up the car and check the oil - light keeps coming on (uuugh!)
Attend Sunday School - Barn Party at 3pm

You know I'm not really dreading any of the above task, but I don't know if it is realistic for me to get all of them done. The good thing is that most of them can be done in 10 minute to 30 minute chunks. How's your Saturday looking?

Top Five Favorites from Halloween Bag

2009-11-01T08:29:00.006-06:00

Well we are down to having one trick or treater in our family. In our heyday we had three and life was good. However, I will say that trick or treating is less stressful with one costume to stress over.

So when my youngest got back from an successful trick or treating outing last night we promptly emptied her bag on to the kitchen table and started dividing the loot. You would have thought it was buried treasure or some type of arms cache being sorted through by mercenaries. "Hey I call the Snickers!" (or C4 to keep with my mercenary analogy).

Well when it is all said in done here are the five things that get my heart to glowing when I see them spill out of the ole Halloween bag:

Snickers

Butterfingers

Kit Kat

Baby Ruth's

Park Avenue or O'Henry Bars (very rare in the Halloween candy mix, but a welcome treat when one does occur).

Patience

2009-10-13T06:10:00.003-05:00

"Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast. Antonyms include hasty and impetuous."

The above definition is from Wikipedia. I would like to have more patience. I see my self as patient as the next guy, but I would like more of this characteristic. A lot of my stress is related to time and handling "urgent" things on my to do list. I'm up early this morning so I can get into the office early and knock some things out while it is still quiet. These aren't things that I have fabricated, but are task that need to get done. Some could have been done earlier so I'm definitely no workaholic either.

I guess I view patience as calm state of mind when life is whirling around you. Patience enables you to focus on the task at hand and not waste energy fretting over all that remains to be done. I definitely want to cultivate this characteristic. I think it takes a conscious effort to step back and "be" patient.

Here are a couple of Bible verses that come to mind regarding patience:

Romans 12:2a
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Using Google Calendar

2009-09-30T04:45:00.004-05:00

I'm experimenting with using Google Calendar. I like the thought of being organized and have taken workshops, read books, bought gadgets and spent money and effort in order to "manage my time and task." The sad reality is that like most people, I have a hodge-podge of techniques and practices that keep me afloat, but don't offer me the elusive control that I seek.

With that in mind I now have a tendency to recoil to some degree over new time management gadgets and techniques and am somewhat of a skeptic when it comes to "gaining control" No offense Mr. Covey.

Now I don't think you just through the baby out with the bath-water and make no attempt at managing your time and to-do's, but the solution might be more one of flexibility and going with the ebb and flow and focusing on the 20% that matters and not the 80% of the fluff.

So it is with this healthy skepticism that I look at Google Calendar. Here are six things I like about Google Calendar. I'll provide a little background on Google Calendar on my next post. (Got to keep you turning the pages right).

Pro's of Google Calendar:

Access from any computer - not tied to just your laptop or home pc.
Easy to use - not a lot of bells and whistles, but that can be a good thing
Multiple Calendars - can lay multiple calendars on top of each other or just look at one calendar (e.g. kids schedule overlaying - college football schedule). Most helpful on the month at glance view.
Can Share Calendar - many people can view the same calendar. This is helpful for managing group calendars (eg. Sunday School Class)
It's Google: Because it is Google, we know that improvements are always coming and you have some comfort that if you start using it as a tool, that it will be around for awhile. I.e. not some internet startup that vaporizes as soon as you start using their product.
Its free

Quick Running Update

2009-09-22T06:07:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to provide a quick running update....

I feel more energized and excited about my running program. As you may recall from my last post, I am working on my expectations and patience as it relates to my distance and time. Instead of making myself miserable by pushing myself to far, I'm focusing on incremental improvement.

The most important things is to keeping running. Meaning 3 to 5 times per week. Will keep you posted.

No More Should's

2009-09-18T20:01:00.005-05:00

I started running back in February and took it real slow. You may have heard of those 8 Week Couch to 5K programs, well it was going to take me 8 weeks just to get to being in couch ready shape. Running doesn't come easy for me and I don't really glide but kind of lumber along. Just picture a combination of Frankenstein and a penguin and you'll have it about right. However, for the first three months I got very consistent with my running (I was actually doing it about 5 times a week) and I enjoyed it.

Then a race opportunity came along. I "ran" my first 5K in May 2009. I enjoyed the race and it was neat to see all the other runners and feel some connection, but I was embarrassed by how slow I was and it really hurt my confidence as a runner. I started playing the should game. I should be faster. I should be able to run a 5k without stopping. I shouldn't be passed by a Biggest Loser Contestant in week one. This should game sucked all the fun out of my running and since then I have struggled and not been very consistent.

Now don't get me wrong, I think setting personal goals (increasing speed/pace) are great, but that goal "should" be based on me and not based on what others are doing. What difference does it make what others are doing or whether they are faster than me? As a 40 year old with three kids, a wife of almost 20 years, and a mortgage you'd think I'd be a little past the peer pressure, but I wasn't.

I've gone running twice in the last three days and made a conscious effort to go slow and get my penguin-frankenstein thing going. And you know what, I had fun and felt good about myself. Sometimes lower expectations can lead better results.

5 Pet Peeves

2009-09-16T04:58:00.005-05:00

Using the emergency lane when there's not an emergency.
When someone enters an elevator before others have a chance to get off the elevator.
People who start a sentence with the word "Like."
When people fail to use their blinker when turning.
Low talkers - stop mumbling!

Of course there are many more. See this list of 500

5 Email Tips You Need to Know

2009-09-15T06:11:00.004-05:00

How many emails do you get a day? Okay, now how many of those emails were necessary? Email is a great tool, but it is regularly abused, and it is easy to get overwhelmed when your inbox is overflowing with swarms of pointless emails.

Also, not only are many emails not necessary, but many don’t do a very good job of communicating what needs to be communicated. Here are five tips that will help you and those who you email:

Batch your emails. Instead of constantly bombarding someone with frequent emails, try batching the points you want to communicate into threes. If you get some information that you feel you need to pass along to someone, if it is not really urgent, wait until you have a couple of other things to add to that email and communicate them all at once. If people are constantly bombarded by your emails, they’ll soon ignore them.
Use the bcc: When sending emails to a list of people, use the bcc: instead of cc: or to: This mask their emails and keeps them out of the hands of spammers. Don’t be careless with your friend’s email addresses.
Don’t email private/confidential information. Don’t send anything in email that you would want printed on the front page of the newspaper. Even if you “trust” the person on the other end, it is too easy to forward, even by mistake, emails and find yourself in an embarrassing situation. And once you hit send, it is too late.
Read your email before you send. One of the benefits of email is that it is quick and you can respond on the fly. However, take a few extra seconds to re-read your email to make sure your brain was not moving faster than your fingers (keyboarding). While you know what you meant to say, others might not.
Don’t be the king of forwards. We are all just too busy to read another cute or heart warming story. Unless it is relevant to that person, don’t forward an email.

“When I said that I was king of forwards, you got to understand that I don't come up with this stuff. I just forward it along. You wouldn't arrest a guy who was just passing drugs from one guy to another.” – Michael Scott (The Office)

5 To Do List Tips

2009-09-10T06:05:00.007-05:00

Do you have a to do list? Do you keep in Outlook, in a Daytimer? How about sticky notes or do you just keep it all in your head? I have struggled with to do list and have tried many different systems and tactics. Here are a few tips for managing you to do list:

Chunk things into weekly to do's verses daily to do's. It is real easy to overestimate what you can get done in a day, and then feel discouraged when you leave things undone.
Use specific small task that are actionable. For example "Clear off shelf near toolbox in garage" is better than "Organize Garage"
Use a separate list for reminders. "Go to dentist appointment" "Get milk" are not really to do's. Use calendars and shopping list for these items. These things can cloud your to do list and make it too long.
Don't use to do list a motivation to do something you've been putting off. Suppose you've been neglecting your treadmill time and you are making a to do list for the next day and you decide to put "30 minutes on treadmill" as one of your to do list items. Be careful with this. A to do list is not the best place to motivate you to change or create a habit. You need to examine why you are really procrastinating and whether this "task" (treadmill in our example) is realistic and reasonable. Don't let these type things weigh your to do list down.
Does it really need to be on your list? Keeping your list lean has many benefits. It gives you more peace of mind and makes you more effective at completing the list. Filter out those things you "should" do verses the things that you really want/need to do. Don't let things that really don't have to be done creep into your (weekly) to do list. Use a separate "someday" list to capture those projects/things you'd like to to, but don't necessarily have to be done this week.

Also, remember it is not an all or none thing. If you don't get everything done, it's okay. Creating an effective to do list system is a work in progress and one that has to evolve to fit how you work and are wired. Would love to hear some success stories or best practices from you!

For more great tips on to do's (and to don'ts) check out this blog.

My Top Five Villans

2009-09-07T16:46:00.005-05:00

Tips on Tipping

2009-09-05T04:55:00.013-05:00

How much should I tip and when? It can be confusing. Most of us have the tipping at the restaurant down, but what about those other things such as valet parking, getting a hair cut, or maid service at a hotel?

Well here are a few "tips" on tipping. This isn't the gospel, but more of a best practices if you want to be in the "norm" with respect to tipping.

Restaurant: 15% to 20% - pretax is okay. Remember these guys are making peanuts per hour so they really rely on tips. Also, the IRS requires they report tip income and assumes they are getting around 8%, so when you don't tip at all you are taking money out of their pocket.
Takeout: If you get good service, in other words, the waiter gets and packages the food, then at your choice you can tip $1-2 or up to 10%. Nothing is really necessary.
Pizza Delivery: $2 or around 10% is a good rule of thumb.
Haircuts: Barber $2 to $3 is adequate. For more expensive hairdos 10% to 20% is customary.
Car wash: $2-3 for a car; $3-5 for an SUV or large vehicle. If there is a tip jar, leave your tip there. It will be split among the workers. Otherwise, tip the person(s) who did the cleanup after the wash.
Valet or parking attendant: $1-3 is appropriate for parking or returning the car. It is not necessary to tip for parking, but always for returning the car.
Hotel Maid Service: My online research says $2 to $3 each night if you are staying at an average hotel (Hampton Inn, Marriott Courtyard etc), however, I haven't typically tipped at all at these places. Maybe I should in the future. What do you think? For more on maid tipping* see this article.

P.S. Here's a nice little article from a Christian perspective.

*Not to be confused with cow tipping

Back in town...

2009-09-04T21:09:00.002-05:00

Well just got back into to town today. I had a week long work trip. I took my laptop, but having some technical issues and couldn't get Internet service. Once I get my wits about me after being gone for 5 days, I'll get back to posting. Got a little idea for a post for tomorrow.

Happy to be back in blog world!

5 Best Gadgets/Technology Items

2009-08-29T06:03:00.020-05:00

"I love technology" Kip Dynamite

I think it goes without saying that the Internet is the most life impacting technology of our generation. Cell phones are a close second. However, within those two worlds are some other really cool technologies....

Facebook: I have reconnected with people I never thought I would see again. I may not talk to them often or "stay in touch," but I love being connected to them in some way and knowing what is going on in their lives. In today's society we don't know our neighbors like people used to and it is easy to feel isolated. I think Facebook does offer some community and a way to ~~stalk~~ stay connected to friends and family that I didn't have before.
Ipod: Remember when you used to have to buy the whole CD just get the one or two songs you wanted to hear? The fact that I can just buy the song I want and have my entire music library on a device smaller than a deck of cards in my shirt pocket is really incredible. Notwithstanding the fact that the deck of cards sized electronic device has the potential to explode.
DVR: This has changed the way I watch TV. The ease at which you can record(compared to the first VCR's that came out) is amazing. We kind of take this for granted, but not having to rush home from church on Wednesdays to see Lost has probably saved lives. Oh Hurley, you are a riot!
Online Banking: I interact with online banking daily. Being able to see my balance and make payments and transfer funds without writing a check or calling someone (see # 5 below) is great. It is not without is problems, but overall it is a great tool for me. And it is really helping with my transaction with a top Nigerian government official that I'm helping out. Cha- Ching!
Texting: I like texting because for some reason I don't like talking on the phone. I don't know why I don't like talking on the phone. I enjoy talking to people in person, but the phone not so much. Also, it is very practical when keeping track of a teenager. I can text my daughter to say "Where are you? And don't forget to bring home crickets. (for or gecko), and I know she got the message even if she can't answer the phone at the moment.

Texting Aside: Incidentally my wife (totally techno-phobic) learned to text on the way to Disney World. She thought it would be good way for us to stay in communication at the Magic Kingdom. For example:

My Wife: "just got off peter pan ride where r u?"

My daughter: "n line for space mt again...dad hurling in trash can"

I like this...

Serenity Now! - 5 Tips for Slowing Down

2009-08-25T05:27:00.010-05:00

Are you busy? Most of us are. Whether it's work, family life, church activities, or other stuff we typically cram a lot things into our day and life can get a little hectic and crazy. But does it have to be this way? Here are five things you can do to regain a little more control and sanity in your life:

Stop multi-tasking: Texting while driving, cooking while talking on the phone, you name it we've all done it and do it on an everyday basis. You say, "Well I'm good at multi-tasking," but that is not the point. Do an experiment to see if you can go through a day without multi-tasking. How does it feel? Maybe we should stop evaluating our day by how much we get done and start looking at how much peace we feel.
Move your body: College football season is right around the corner and I am a big fan. Depending on the game schedule on Saturday, I look forward all week to plopping down on my couch and watching hours of football. However, what I typically find is that after hours of sitting in front of the TV, I don't feel very relaxed and rested (even if my team won), but feel like a slug. I've also found that even if I'm "tired" when I get out and do something physical (taking a walk, washing the car etc), that I actually get more energy and feel better. I feel more rested by doing an activity. Believe that is what they call a paradox.
Let the phone ring. Just because a phone is ringing doesn't mean that you have to answer it. Phone calls by their nature are intrusive. They demand that you stop whatever you are doing and talk to the person on the other end of the line. It doesn't matter whether it is important or whether it could wait to later (or even if you don't want to talk to that person). You can take control of your time by letting that phone roll to voicemail. There is nothing wrong with choosing not to answer a phone. You might say, "Well what if it were an emergency and I just let it go." Obviously depending on the time and who is calling you can make a judgement call, but even it was an emergency, they'd probably call back.
Only check your email three times a day. If you have something that notifies you when you receive a new email, then turn it off. Checking email constantly robs you of productivity and increases stress. It is really just a habit. Even if you spend only a few seconds scanning your in box or quickly reading a new email, the time it takes you to stop a task an get back to where you started really adds up. Chances are if you batch your email duties to once in the morning, once at lunch and once at night, that you wont miss any important items. Who knows with a little discipline maybe you can get it down where you check email only once per day.
Stop watching the news for a week. Now I guess we should be informed as good citizens, but seriously, how informative is the news. 90% of it is horrible stories from around the world or a bunch of whining and complaining and arguing. If you want to know what is going on with Afghanistan or the Health Care Debate, then pick up a newspaper or a Time or Newsweek. Go for a week with out watching (or listening) the news and see how much better you will feel.

P.S. for more on this topic checkout this link

Phase II Sugar Experiment Over

2009-08-22T06:28:00.008-05:00

Okay Phase II of my sugar experiment (i.e. avoiding sugar) is over, and I didn't fare so well. Overall, I'd give myself a C- on this experiment. As you may recall from my previous post, my plan was to:

No "junk" sweets/starches (coke, sweet tea, candy, brownies, chips, cookies, ice cream etc)
No artificial sweeteners (Equal, Diet Coke etc)
Avoid white bread, white rice, potatoes and starchy vegetables. Chick-Fil-A minus the bun okay. If I do eat a starchy vegetable, try to have half portion.
Can have one bowl of cereal per day. Cereal will be of my choosing and can be sweetened cereal (Frosted Flakes etc).
Avoid processed foods when I can.

About 24 hours into Phase II I met a formidable foe. Mr. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Here's how it went down. Last Saturday was a pretty hectic day for me. I got up early and did the blog post about Phase II and then went to work at my store (Cartridge World) from 10 until 2. After that I came home and crashed a for a while. You see, the next day started the new year of my Church Sunday School Calendar and I was getting a new batch of 10th graders to teach. As part of the kick off, our youth department has a big party and the guys and girls spend the night at their teacher’s house. We had ten 10th grade guys playing Playstation and hanging out at my house Saturday night.

I got up pretty earlier Sunday morning, making sure my house had not been destroyed (because I went to bed at midnight and the guys were still wide awake). It had not, they were great. So I’m relaxing and reading the paper and about to start getting ready for church when my co-teacher, who also spent the night, brings in three dozen hot Krispy Kreme glazed donuts. I paused, but not for long. I scarfed one down and then ate another within a couple of minutes. The best doughnuts I have ever eaten. Psychologically, because of the hectic past 24 hours, I somehow felt entitled to indulge in these doughnuts.

So twenty four hours in and I was busted big time. After that I tried getting back on the wagon, but it was much easier to give in. I mean what’s the big deal about eating a cookie, when I already eaten two doughnuts, right? However, throughout the remainder of the week, I didn’t go crazy and did monitor what I was eating. I had a couple cokes, but no candy bars. Overall I would say my sugar consumption dropped by about 30% to 50% over a normal week. Also, (maybe as some type of penitence) I ran (walked) a 5K yesterday afternoon. Kind of like trying to do some extra work to bring that C up to a B.

Here’s what I learned (or was reminded of):

My cravings are more mental than physical. Didn’t feel bad or have physical withdrawals, but just wanted something sweet.
Legalistic rules can work against you. If you break one it is easier to break more with abandon. I.e. if you just robbed a bank, you probably aren’t too worried about speeding in the getaway car.
Exercise makes me feel better.
Moderation, Moderation, Moderation – in all that I eat not just sugar. Don’t have to deprive myself per se, but be mindful of the quantities of food I eat. Mindless snacking or cleaning my plate because I can is stupid.

I’ll do another post in a few days to let you know what I’m doing regarding eating and exercise, but if I start some crazy experiment, please talk me out of it.

P.S. So how many calories and sugar grams does a Krispy Kreme Doughnut have. Click here for nutritional value chart. You might be surprised.

Five Tips for Helping Your Kids in School - A Teacher's Perspective

2009-08-19T21:54:00.007-05:00

I recently asked several of my friends who are teachers about some tips that they would give parents regarding helping their kids succeed in school. Here's what they had to say...

Read, Read, Read to your child (and have them read to you).
Be involved in their education. Stay on top of their studies. The more you as a parent are interested in their work the more they will care about it!!
Let them make mistakes. Meaning: DON'T try to make excuses for them. They need to learn responsibility and not learn that mommy or daddy will take care of that teacher or missed assignment.
Help your kids to become organized - from their backpack, to homework space, to using a planner. All of these are skills that will help them succeed in all areas of life. They are also the hardest to come by later in life.
EMAIL your teacher. Phone calls are often "playing tag" in today's busy society, so use email to contact the teacher. It doesn't always have to be when something negative happens. Many teachers would love for the parents to let them know if the student enjoyed a lesson or shared something from the day with their parents. This is a great way to share info and both teacher and parents have a record of the contact.

Mid-week Sugar Upate

2009-08-19T07:46:00.002-05:00

Well, here's the midweek update I promised and have to say that I haven't done that great. As you may recall from my last post, I was going to abstain from junk food and avoid starchy foods. Well I have succumbed to having several items that definitely fall within the sugar junk food realm.

However, I am pressing forward and I guess I have probably eaten about half of the sugar stuff that I would normally eat, so I have practiced moderation.

I tend to get in that all or none mode sometimes. Kind of like a race where someone starts out at full speed only to loose steam with miles left to go. So for the remainder of the week I'm going to continue to practice moderation of my sugar intake and not be so legalistic about it.

Will let you know by Saturday how I fared.

Thinking about a Kindle?

2009-08-17T18:29:00.012-05:00

Kindle: Amazon's 6

Recently I've had a couple of people ask me about my Kindle. So I thought I'd do a quick post on three things I like about it and three things I don't like. Here goes:

Thinks I like:

One book to rule them all. I really like that my Kindle holds so many books and I don't have to lug around a bunch of different books (I'm usually reading three at a time). This is especially helpful when traveling.
Love being able to sample books. Previewing books saves a lot of money. How many times have you bought a book only to realize that it wasn't what you thought it would be?
Wireless download is incredible. Can literally download a book in about 90 seconds from just about anywhere in the U.S. No charge for wireless service, you just pay for the book. Incidentally books are cheaper usually from $6.00 to $9.99, even for new releases!

Thinks I don't like:

Pricey: The Kindle is expensive. It has recently come down in price, but even at $299 it is a pretty hefty investment.
I buy too many books. I have read about double the books I normally read and this can add up even at the reduced Kindle price for their books.
I miss being able to highlight and mark up books. If you are getting a reference book (Computer how to book etc) that you'll be flipping through on the fly, getting a hard copy might be the way to go.

To see a more detailed review, see my previous post on my Kindle.

Kindle: Amazon's 6

Saving Money on Groceries - How much do you spend?

2009-08-17T04:22:00.000-05:00

How much do you spend each month on groceries? It really adds up. For example, we have 5 folks in our family, and if you figure that we all get three meals a day that comes to: 5 x 3 x 30 days = 450 individual meals per month! Wait is that right? Yes 450 meals per month!

Now assume that each individual meal cost about $2.50, that comes to $1,125 per month and that does not even count: washing powder, shampoo, pet food, etc., which add even more to the grocery bill.

Certainly many of our meals can be prepared for less than $2.50 per person per meal, but when you start adding it up, and add in the waste (stuff you never eat or throw away), you'd be surprised at how much it cost per meal. Take a cheap spaghetti meal:

1 Pound of Hamburger Meat - $2.80

Bottle of Spaghetti Sauce - $2.39

Package of Spaghetti - $1.50

Garlic Bread - $2.85

1 Liter Coke- (half a 2 Liter) $ .75

Total: $10.29 divided by 5 = $2.06 per person

And that is a "cheap" meal. Now you can probably get some of these things cheaper or drink water in stead of Coke, but the point is that even home prepared frugal meals can add up as well.

Here are some tips from: debtfreeadventure.com on saving money at the grocery store.

Three Day Sugar Experiment Done

2009-08-15T05:48:00.005-05:00

Okay, looks like I made it through three days without sugar. (Normally I would put an exclamation point on a sentence like that, but I'm a little grouchy) Actually have about 2 hours left as of this post, but feel pretty good that I'll make it. So what are my observations and where do I go from here?

Observations:

Didn't have the withdrawls that I thought I would. A slight headache, but nothing major.
Affected my mood more than I anticipated. I've been a little cranky, especially at night after dinner. (Certain times during the day it felt comparable to what I feel like when I don't get my morning coffee).
Kind of frustrating that there are so few food choices without some form of sugar.
Seemed more mental than physical. Wanted to eat sweets out of habit or entertainment verses having a strong craving.
Probably ate a lot fewer carbs by avoiding sugar and starch. I guess this is a good thing?

Next Steps:

For the next seven days I move into Phase II of my experiment. The goal of Phase II is to try an transition some of this into more of a long term lifestyle. I'll have more sugar in my diet on Phase II, but it will be more sustainable than the initial phase. Here are the ground rules:

Clock starts at 8:00 AM CST - Saturday August 15 (ends next Saturday at 8:00 AM)
No "junk" sweets/starches (coke, sweet tea, candy, brownies, chips, cookies, ice cream etc)
No artificial sweeteners (Equal, Diet Coke etc)
Avoid white bread, white rice, potatoes and starchy vegetables. Chick-Fil-A minus the bun okay. If I do eat a starchy vegetable, try to have half portion.
Can have one bowl of cereal per day. Cereal will be of my choosing and can be sweetened cereal (Frosted Flakes etc). The goal here is sweets in moderation. With cereal it is easier to quantify the portions, whereas with brownies it is real easy to go back for just one more piece and before you know it you've eaten half the pan. My concern here is that by allowing myself some sweets that I'll want more. Real interested to see how this shakes out.
Avoid processed foods when I can. Expanding my avoidance of processed foods may be Phase III.

I'll be posting a mid-week update on Phase II. Are you interested in doing your own food experiment? I'd love to here about it and maybe even post it on the ericsbest.com.

Day 2 of giving up sugar

2009-08-14T04:28:00.012-05:00

Well day two of my no sugar experiment is in the bag. It hasn’t been too bad and I actually feel pretty good.

So what exactly counts as sugar on my little endeavor here? Certainly sweets, such as candy bars, ice cream, Cokes (even one’s with artificial sweeteners), sugar cereal etc. Also, I’m staying away from white bread, rice, and potatoes – i.e. the starchy foods. I haven’t totally abstained from these, but have eaten them in moderation.

I continue to eat “normal” size portions at regular meals and this has helped me not to be hungry and to stay away from the vending machine in between meals. I might be getting just as many calories as I do in a typical day, but maybe they are better calories?

I went by the grocery store this morning to buy some almonds to have at my desk to stave off the in between meal hunger pains. While I was there I browsed around to see if I could find some “sugar free” snacks. Didn’t know whether some kind of breakfast bar or something along those lines would be available. Ironically Little Debbies are loaded with sugar. Who knew? I was in a bit of a hurry, but just about everything I looked at had sugar in it, even a lot of the stuff that was suppose to be healthy for you.

Bottom line, I don’t know if it would even be possible to get all sugars out of my diet, so for now I’m going to abstain from sweets and eat starchy stuff in very limited amounts. I’ll also read labels for sugar content (in grams) to make better choices.

Goal is to do this for three days initially and then go from there. Could I do this for 21 days? What would I look and feel like if I were able to maintain this as a life style instead of a crash diet? Is this possible? Is this advisable?

Giving up sugar

2009-08-12T20:38:00.009-05:00

Well I decided, somewhat randomly, this morning to give up sugar. For how long I don't know. Maybe three days maybe a week, maybe forever!

Three reasons why I'm giving up sugar:

To feel better. I think the junk I've been eating lately is making me feel bad. Dunkin Donuts and Steak n' Shake in one day is nuts.
To lose weight
To see if I can. Refined sugar is not needed in my diet and doesn't really provide any nutritional value, and I'm curious how much actual "control" I have over my cravings.

My initial goal is to get over the three day hump, manage any withdrawal symptoms, and reevaluate after three days.

Started this morning after breakfast. Didn't have any sweets or artificial sweeteners today (including diet coke). Staying away from starchy things too. Potatoes, white breads, rice, cereal etc. Although I am going to have a bowl of Cherrios, sans the sweetener, in a minute. I'll keep you posted!

Speed Reading

2009-08-12T06:02:00.009-05:00

The video below describes an exercise you can use to increase your reading speed. Seems one of the main reasons we don't read faster is that we are saying (out loud or silently) the words as we read them. Stop doing this and speed increases. What do you think?

More videos from this group at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MathCrazyTutoring

Photography Tips From A Pro

2009-08-10T19:12:00.029-05:00

A friend of mine, Jeff Rease, (he took the shot above) just happens to be an outstanding professional photographer. Jeff does incredible work and I encourage you to checkout jeffrease.com.

Jeff has been kind enough to provide some great photography tips in the form of a guest post. Here's what he had to say:

Light is your friend. Shoot using natural daylight when possible. Either outside or indoors with lots of window light. Early morning or late afternoon provides the most pleasing light and I prefer indirect lighting that doesn't blind the subject. You can use a flash to fill in shadows or a portable white surface such as poster board, foam board, or a sheet works well to reflect light back onto a subject's face and light up those eyes.
Get close. Shoot your subject close up. Try different angles to add interest. Don't compose the photo with the subject's face exactly in the center of the frame. Too many shoot snapshots of people with the heads in the dead center and that means half of the photo is empty. Generally, have the face no lower than about 1/4 of the distance from the top. Extreme closeups can actually fill the frame.
Capture a variety of expressions...not just the put on smiles. When I shoot, I try to capture life as it happens – showing the natural smiles, the frowns, the serious looks and even the tears (preferably on small kids and not the adults!). Catch people looking at each other and not always at the camera. I like shooting with a more photo journalistic approach than just straight posed shots. It takes more patience, but the rewards are worth it.
Take time to learn about your camera. Don't always leave the camera on 'AUTOMATIC'. Read the manual and learn how to take advantage of the many options and techniques available with today's cameras.

I hope this helps you greatly improve your portrait photos!

Jeffrey S. Rease

Birmingham, Alabama

Vintage Cereal Boxes

2009-08-08T15:37:00.018-05:00

If you're like me, you grew up on cereal. For good or bad, I've made many meals out of this sweet crunchy goodness. I guess my all time favorite is Captain Crunch followed by Cocoa Krispies. Personally, I'm still partial to Tusk Tusk as the Cocoa Krispies mascot, and in know way supported the hostile takeover by Snap, Crackle, and Pop. They already had Rice Krispies, why did they have to push Tusk Tusk out?

I remember my brother's favorite was Sugar Smacks, now known simply as Smacks. (Remember Dig'EM) Also, my son loves Corn Pops (formerly known as Sugar Corn Pops). Kind of like Kentucky Fried Chicken changing their name to KFC. If we take the stuff that is bad for you out of the name, then it is not as bad for you, right?

Another cool thing about cereal boxes is that they are kind of like works of art and it's neat to see how the boxes and artwork have evolved over the years. I found a website (click here) that has a great library of images of cereal boxes through the years. Take a look and you'll be waxing nostalgic for the cereal of your childhood before you know it.

Another website featuring 100 vintage cereal boxes.

P.S. -Would love to know what your favorite cereal was as a kid? Comment below.

Who are the Sonic Guys?

2009-08-08T04:30:00.006-05:00

I’m trying to remember when I first noticed the Sonic commercials. I thought they were local and just something done on the cheap. I.e. two guys sitting on the inside of a car at Sonic. Well they have produced hundreds of these commercials since first starting back in 2003 and they are broadcast nationwide. I think the consensus is that they’ve been a home-run for Sonic.

While the Sonic commercials features various “actors” the main guys are two comedians T.J. Jagodowski (the blond guy) and Peter Grosz. Jagodowski is a Chicago comedian and part of the famed Second City cast. Grosz is a writer for the Cobert Report. They've also been in other things. Jagodowski has even been in some episodes of Prison Break and I remember seeing the Will Ferrell movie, Stranger Than Fiction, and being shocked when they both make an appearance.

The commercials seem to have a pretty broad appeal (I like them and my 17 year old daughter likes them too). They also do a good job of tying to the Sonic brand. I know there have been other commercials (like some Super Bowl ads) that I thought were really funny, but I couldn't tell you what they were advertising. These guys bring in the brand and usually a specific product (tots - see video below).

Would really like to know what you think and what your favorite Sonic commercial is. Please comment below.

One of my favorites: REJECTED!

More about Sonic Guys

Are you ready kids? It's time for Whale Wars

2009-08-07T16:20:00.006-05:00

Well, tonight is the night for a new Whales Wars episode. Looking forward to seeing what mischief those crazy lovable environmentalist can get into this week.

Whale Wars
The Crazy Ivan

Low on fuel, the small boats head toward the Steve Irwin, but in order to get them on board safely, Paul must employ a dangerous military strategy, "The Crazy Ivan," circling at a high speed to try and create calm water for the little boats to return.

Smoking Lounge - Really?

2009-08-05T13:52:00.015-05:00

I was in the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport this morning and happen to pass by a smoking lounge. Now many of you have seen these, but for those who aren't familiar, it is an enclosed area for smokers in the airport concourse. It has glass sliding doors (like a supermarket) and you just walk in, plop down in a comfy airport chair and light one up.

Now don't get me wrong, I do have some empathy for smokers. While I don't smoke, I certainly have habits (chocolate) that I engage in that are not healthy for me. For example, just as I look at smokers and say "How can you do that to yourself? Don't you know you are taking years off your life?" They could fire right back and say, "Hey dude, why don't you put down the chocolate cake and get on a treadmill or something? Don't you know eating that junk is taking years off your life?" (Touche)

Still, the image of all these smokers going into essentially and air tight box and lighting up a cigarette just seemed odd. The glass enclosure only exaggerates the absurdity and makes it look more like a zoo exhibit. People walking by observing these smokers in their "natural habitat." I think if I was a smoker and found myself in one of these rooms, it might serve as a wake-up call. Maybe then I'd quit.

So who knows, in twenty years there could be a designated "Junk Food" eating area in the airport. And I'll be sitting there with my Cinnabon getting my own wake-up call. At least you can't get second hand calories, right?

More Whale Wars....

2009-08-01T20:16:00.008-05:00

Ran across the Sea Shepherd website. Rich I tell you rich. Here's a quote from the captains bio...

"In 1960, Watson was a member of the Kindness Club, founded by Aida Flemming in New Brunswick. After trappers killed one of his beaver friends, Watson set out, (at the age of nine), to confiscate and destroy leg-hold traps. He was also known to disrupt deer and duck hunters, and to prevent other boys from shooting birds."

Should you upgrade your Internet Browser?

2009-08-01T10:53:00.010-05:00

Most of you are probably viewing this page with Microsoft Explorer. Explorer is the most common internet browser and many folks don't even know they have other options. But, while you are likely using Explorer there are several different version out there. The most recent version is Microsoft Explorer 8.

I recently upgraded to Explorer 8 from Explorer 7. The upgrade is free and Microsoft claims it is much better. However, I have found that it is much slower and crashes frequently. If your current browser is working okay, then be careful before upgrading. You can tell what version of Explorer your running by clicking the Help menu and then choosing "About Explorer"

I also had Mozilla's Firefox browser loaded on my computer. It seemed to be faster and cleaner, but I recently updated to the 3.5 version and have had some speed and crashing problems, (this prompted me to do the Explorer upgrade that I mentioned earlier).

Another alternative is Apple's Safari. It has the look and feel of Apple software (cool), but works for the PC as well. It is a little slow and it is the most different from the other two mainstream browsers (Explorer & Firefox), but works pretty well. It just takes a little time getting used to the interface and how to bookmark sites and stuff.

My bottom line recommendation is that if ain't broke don't fix it. But if you do need to fix it, you have options....

Browser Download Pages:

MS Explorer 8
Firefox
Sarari

P.S. - There's also Google Chrome, but I have tried it yet.

Whales Wars - Good guys or Bad guys?

2009-07-31T05:46:00.003-05:00

I like watching Whale Wars. I've described the zany antics of the Sea Shepherds on the Steve Irwin (their ship) as they frolic along the coast of Antarctica in search of the evil Japanese whalers as a as a train wreck, but an entertaining train wreck. I'm kidding of course, they don't actually "frolic."

Some folks might watch this show and be enraged at the whalers and some might be enraged at the environmentalist, but I just find it an interesting drama about why people do what they do? What motivates them?

The environmentalist serve their environmentalism like a religion. In their mind I think they see themselves the same way a Christian might see a missionary. Volunteering, risking, and sacrificing for a greater cause. I think this devotion is misplaced, but it is interesting to watch. Takes all kinds to make a world, right?

P.S. Found this article that was pretty critical of the environmentalist.

Been struggling with my running lately...

2009-07-28T06:22:00.004-05:00

I don't know whether it is the summer months or what, but it seems running has been more difficult lately. I go back and forth between running in the morning and in the evening. Morning is nice because it is cool and I get it done, i.e. nothing comes up that jams up my schedule.

However, I'm a morning guy so I really enjoy getting up early and getting some of my bill paying done, blog research, (blog posting) etc. You know, that might just be it. I've been focused on this blog and my running has suffered. It is like I have a new project and the old one is getting neglected.

Maybe I should set some fresh goals or sign up for a race? Any thoughts?

Come on Eric! Get those shoes on and start running!

Wondering what to do with that old VCR?

2009-07-26T17:08:00.004-05:00

Maker Workshop - VCR Cat Feeder from make magazine on Vimeo.

While I don't anticipate making an automatic cat feeder from a VCR, I really like the creativity behind the concept.

Hidden Cat Litter Box

2009-07-26T16:51:00.007-05:00

Ran across this hidden cat litter box project at blog.makezine.com. They have a lot of neat projects, including turning your I-Phone into a microscope. That one is way over my head though.

Maybe I'll make the VCR Automatic Cat Feeder!

Chocolate Milk and Blogging

2009-07-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

It is a nice Sunday afternoon and just getting settled in to do a little blog research. This afternoon's assignment: find two or three blogs and study them to see what they are doing right and doing..not so right. Nothing like a little chocolate milk to get me started.

Whale Wars - A train wreck but entertaining

2009-07-24T20:24:00.004-05:00

I like whales, but these folks aren't very likable.

MyVu Glasses - Don't buy

2009-07-24T18:24:00.002-05:00

Okay, a buddy of mine mentioned this product to me and said he really liked his. I decided to get a pair for my son to use for his I-touch. We got the glasses in and the instructions were really weak (and I'm pretty tech savvy). I couldn't get them to power up at all and they were bulky with a lot wires and chords to contend with.

We sent them back to the third party vendor. These don't come from Amazon, but from a third party vendor in New York. I got a replacement pair set in about 14 days. Guess what? They didn't work either. Only one lenses had a picture and the quality was poor. I called vendor (took several calls to get through). I think it is a retail store in New York City.

They agreed to let me return and get a refund. I return and 3 weeks go by without any refund. I send about three emails and make two or three calls (have to leave messages on their voicemail). Finally I get through and got it worked out. Seems they just made a mistake when processing the second return, but they fixed and I got all of my money back.

Bottom line, even if they had worked, based on the configuration I don't think I would have been happy with them. I'm glad I got my money back, but the whole thing was a big hassle.

Great Column for New Runners

2009-07-23T04:43:00.005-05:00

Stumbled upon the Newbie Chronicles on Runner's World. For a magazine that can be somewhat intimidating to new runners, this series of articles is great. Here's a great quote from a recent article...

"Quitting is a temporary thing. It's something that is very hard to maintain over an extended period of time. If you intend to quit running and you plan to somehow make the quitting stick, you have to be determined about it. You have to be focused and extremely consistent. You have to quit every single day for the rest of your life. That's actually a very tough thing to do."

The Newbie Chronicles at RunnersWorld.com

Shared via AddThis

Mind Mapping, an alternative to linear thinking

2009-07-22T05:40:00.008-05:00

Mindjet is a great software that helps you to really get a handle on all the moving pieces of a project. I've used it for setting personal goals, business planning, and even preparing my Sunday School lesson.

Real easy to use and very visual. Believe they have a 30 day free trial.

With Mindjet MindManager work smarter, not harder. Click Here

Click Here!

Tips for looking your best in photos

2009-07-22T05:06:00.008-05:00

You know the scenario. You are posing for a picture and you have no clue what to do. Does my smile look fake? Should I show teeth? Seriously what do I do with my hands? Should I suck in my stomach? And how do I do that without looking like I'm sucking in my stomach?

Well, here are a few tips from an article by Karen Lee. A former model handler at the Elite modeling agency.

10 Ways to Look Good in Photos

Twitter: Tips, Tricks, and Tweets

2009-07-21T18:25:00.002-05:00

Just got my copy of Twitter: Tips, Tricks, and Tweets in from Amazon today. Will let you know how it is.

Great Fax Machine

2009-07-21T05:59:00.005-05:00

Just did a post on my Cartridge World Blog, about a fax machine recommendation. If you are a business and have an inkjet based fax machine, you might want to take a look at this post.

Twitter Traffic Machine Update

2009-07-20T22:04:00.007-05:00

Well I am one week into my Twitter Traffic Machine experiment. I haven't implemented 100% of the program, but have gone from 9 followers to 64. These are not just random folks (for the most part), but are part of my target market for Cartridge World. (i.e. Vestavia, Homewood, Hoover, etc.)

Click Here! for the Twitter Traffic Machine.

P.S. I also have my Twitter account linked to my Facebook account. So when I update Twitter it automatically updates my Facebook Status.

How can Twitter help my business?

2009-07-20T21:59:00.008-05:00

To tell the truth I really wasn't getting this whole Twitter thing. And certainly didn't see how Twitter could help my business. Facebook I get, but how was Twitter different? It seemed like Facebook with just the status update feature. However, after a little research I've changed my mind.

Twitter is a great way to let customers and prospects know about specials, coupons, or any other promotion about your business. Now the trick is to get customers/prospects to follow you on Twitter. There are some techniques and websites you can use to help with this (won't go into it now, maybe will save that for another post), but let's say that you have 500 followers that are either your customers or prospects. Wouldn't it be nice to send them a quick message letting them know about a new product or promotion.

For example, suppose you have an ice cream shop and for some reason you have extra inventory of chocolate ice cream. You decide to offer a buy one get one free or chocolate ice cream cones, you send out a tweet letting you're customers know about this sweet deal. Before you know it, you are sold out of chocolate. Get the idea? So go sign up for your Twitter account today.

Then if you need some help getting followers see my post on a program I'm trying. You can also follow me on Twitter @ericoverton

Bentley Haircut

2009-07-18T11:06:00.003-05:00

Favorite Places to Run in Birmingham

2009-07-18T06:46:00.010-05:00

I've asked a good friend of mine, Matt DeFore, who is an avid runner, to do a "guest post" to the blog about his three favorite places to run in Birmingham. Take it away Matt...

For those of us that love running, the places we choose to run is part of the enjoyment. Whether it is gaining a better appreciation for our established routes or searching out a new and interesting routes, it is all apart of the running experience. With that in mind....here are my three favorite places in Birmingham, Alabama, and why….

The Hoover Metropolitan Stadium – So what is so great about that area? It’s just one great big parking lot, right? Yes, on the surface there isn’t much there. However, it is my “home court” so to speak. I would say other than my neighborhood, it is the by far the most frequent area I run. I feel like it is my course. The area gets very little traffic and allows me to choose a variety of different routes.

Jemison Trail/Mt Brook - This trail provides as scenic an urban run as you are going to find. It provides a very well maintained loose gravel surface and travels along the edge of quiet little stream. I enjoy venturing off through the streets of Mt Brook as well. For any visitor to Birmingham, this would be the must do run.

Oak Mountain State Park – The trails within the park are traveled by mountain bikers, hikers and runners. The footing can be tricky, but really is part of the overall experience. You are basically running through the wilderness. I like the fact that you can split the run between the trails and the roads that cross the park. It would be wise to plan out your run in advance using a map of the park. Otherwise, you risk missing a turn and getting lost.

Thanks Matt. So what are your favorite places to run? I'd love to know!

Car Washing Tips

2009-07-17T20:07:00.008-05:00

Just finished washing my daughters Nissan. Was a beautiful Friday afternoon and it kind of relaxed me to do something physical. I've gotten into the car cleaning thing as of late. Here are a couple tips that I've learned about car washing that might be helpful:

Also, see previous post on car detailing.

Use Microfiber rags for washing and drying. Sponges can scratch.
Microfiber rags are great for drying because they can hold an enormous amount of water for their size, the don't scratch your car (bath towels can), you can wring them out and keep drying.
Don't buy cheap Microfiber rags. Got some at Autozone (12 pack for about $10), they were thin and left lint on my car. The better one's don't do that.
Don't drop your Microfiber rags on the ground. They pick up all sorts are particles. It's is almost like they are sticky. If you start rubbing these rags on your car with grit and debris stuck to them, they'll scratch your car.

You can get some pretty good one's at Lowe's or Home Depot. Or tack them on to your next Amazon order. You can clean just about anything with them. (Shamwow!!!..just kidding).

Finally, ran across Steve McConnell's blog the other day and he has some good tips on car detailing too.

Bentley Tired after 2 mile walk

2009-07-17T06:53:00.002-05:00

Took Bentley on my run walk today. He did great. Hopefully burned off some energy!

Good run this morning

2009-07-16T06:39:00.003-05:00

Just finished a good run. Moderated my pace and mixed in some walking. This seemed to work well. I'm running a two mile route in my neighborhood. Really saves time just being able to walk out the door and get going. It has some hills, so I think this well help my fitness level too.

I'm tracking my time for each run to see if I can improve, i.e. cover the same distance in the same amount of time. Seems to help keep me motivated and since I'm walking some of the route their is plenty of room for improving my time.

Autopilot Profits - Ewen Chia Video Review I & II

2009-07-16T05:07:00.003-05:00

Youtube Review of Autopilot Proftis

2009-07-15T21:39:00.002-05:00

Part III

More on Autopilot Profits:
Click Here!

Twitter Traffic Machine Update

2009-07-15T20:59:00.002-05:00

Now have 31 followers - up from 9 when I started Twitter Traffic Machine two days ago.

What is Twitter Traffic Machine?
Click Here!

Clickbank Code & Commission Blueprint

2009-07-15T18:58:00.004-05:00

Interesting. Might have to review one these one soon.

Clickbank Code
Click Here!

Commission Blueprint
Click Here!

Twitter Traffic Machine

2009-07-14T21:06:00.009-05:00

Trying out Twitter Traffic Machine. Started out this morning with 9 followers. Now have 16. Will keep you posted.

What is Twitter Traffic Machine?
Click Here!

Twitter - Increasing your followers

2009-07-13T19:59:00.005-05:00

I may try this...Will let you know

To go to this guy's website click link below.
Click Here!

Road I.D.

2009-07-13T18:51:00.004-05:00

When I started running, I became a little worried that I wasn't carrying any identification. Not that I intended to pass-out or anything, but I did wonder if something happened, how would they I.D. me.

I occasionally put my driver's license or insurance card in my pocket, but then I ran the risk of leaving it in my running shorts and not having it in my wallet when I needed it.

Then I ran across Road I.D. I wear it each time I run and don't have to worry about carrying my wallet or any other I.D. This is a great product that could actually save your life.

www.RoadID.com

Garmin Forerunner 305 Watch

2009-07-12T16:22:00.005-05:00

I'm kind of a left brained guy, so when I started running back in February I like keeping up with my running stats. Date, Distance, Time, etc.
Other than my Asics this is the best running purchase I have made.

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

Car Detailing Video Update

2009-07-11T22:17:00.011-05:00

Okay, I have tried some of the tips from the "Keep Your Car Looking New for Pennies a Day" how to DVD and I've had great results.

One of the neatest things about the DVD was the information about using a claybar. I had never even heard of a claybar. If you rub your hand over your car's finish you'll probably feel some grit or sand. The clarbar removes these. I used it on my wife's 2003 Suburban and the hood now feels like glass. It is so easy. After I waxed we a synthetic sealant, the car's hood shines and feels like a mirror.

I have used: the two bucket washing system and the interior cleaning tip - using 50/50 water to 409 for cleaning carpets too.

Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System
Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant 2.0 16oz

This video has totally changed the way I view washing and detailing my car. I feel like a pro!

To buy the DVD for $25.00 click the link below.

Keep Your Car Looking New For Pennies A Day

Kindle: Should I buy one?

2009-07-11T10:35:00.013-05:00

Kindle: Amazon's 6

Christmas 2008 I got a Kindle. Since then Amazon has made some improvements, but this post is basically a review of the concept of the Kindle. Now compared to the newest Kindle, mine is a little clunky and not as sleek, but the best thing about the Kindle hasn't changed.

When I first heard about the Kindle, I didn't think it would be for me. I didn't want to read a book on a screen. So I really had no interest in purchasing one, although I'm a big fan of books and Amazon. However, I got the Kindle as a gift (I know a very nice gift!) and: Bottom line - I love it.

First of all, reading a book on the Kindle is surprisingly easy on the eyes. You have the ability to increase or decrease the font size and it really takes very little time getting used to. Also, you can highlight and bookmark certain sections. One of my favorite features is that the Kindle automatically goes back to the last page you were reading. So you don't have to do anything to mark your page.

Amazon Kindle - Video

The other big advantage is that you can have a mini library in one small package. When traveling this is awesome. I've got about 15 books on my Kindle now. Usually one that I'm reading and everything I have bought in the last six months. I don't know about you, but I may be reading two or three books at a time. So depending on my mood, I may want to read a novel or I may want a non-fiction title. The Kindle makes it easy without having to carry multiple books on the plane.

However, the best thing about the Kindle is being able to buy books instantly. The download is done the Amazon's Whispernet network and it is free of charge and wireless. You don't even have to hook your Kindle up to your computer, it is truly amazing.

Kindle: Amazon's 6

I have at 11:30 at night finished a book in a hotel room and wanted something else to read. (Couldn't sleep). I simply searched the online Kindle store (via the wireless Whispernet - which is free) and downloaded a title for $9.95 in about 2 minutes.

You are probably saying, well that is pretty neat, but until you are in that situation; hotel room late at night, stuck in an airport, or doctor's office and bored stiff, but not interested in the book you brought with you to read, you can't fully appreciate how cool it is to instantly have another book. It is like having a mobile bookstore where you can buy or preview thousands of books any where at anytime. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that you can preview the first 10 to12 pages of most Kindle books for free and most Kindle titles are a lot cheaper than the hard copies.

So, should you buy a Kindle? It is expensive, even at the price drop to $299. I consider my Kindle a luxury, but it has changed the way I read which has had an impact on my life (personal growth through reading). For me it is a good fit and if you do decide to buy, it will probably be one of those things that you think "How did I ever live without this thing?"

Kindle: Amazon's 6

Hazy Headlights

2009-07-11T06:31:00.015-05:00

My car is about 8 years old and the plastic covers over the headlights have become hazy and dull. I picked up some plastic polish to see if I could buff out this haze and restore them to clear, clean and shiny.

The result was a much improved clear headlight lamp cover. It made a big difference. It is not crystal clear, because I think some of the haze is on the inside. But this is 2001 Lexus RX300 with over a 100,000 miles.

Bottom line: Polish was cheap, it took all of two minutes, and I got a marked improvement.

My rating a solid 3 stars:

FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com

Car Detailing Video

2009-07-08T21:27:00.008-05:00

Just got finishes watching "Keep Your Car Looking New for Pennies A Day" DVD. This is a video by an expert car detailer (Gary Kouba) in the Chicago area. It is not a high end professional production, but the production quality wasn't bad.

The audio was clear and lighting was adequate. Gary provided some great tips and do's and don't s about detailing your car. Did you know you shouldn't dry it with bath towels?

I wish he had used name brands instead of generic names when referring to different cleaners. He mentioned that he liked to use a water based instead of solvent based dressing on the tires. Okay is that Armor All or what. However, at the end of the day it was well worth the $25. Next time I'm detailing I think I'll feel a lot better about what I'm doing. $25 is nothing compared to the time and money (especially if you scratched or damaged the paint on your car).
Good value - I give it four stars!

Keep Your Car Looking New For Pennies A Day

Here's a sample from the video:

Autopilot Profits - Ewen Chia

2009-07-08T20:24:00.012-05:00

The other day I purchased Ewen Chia's Autopilot Profits. This is an introductory course on affiliate Internet marketing. The course is delivered via six short video/presentation segments. I really like this format because I didn't get bogged down in another book to read. It seems like I'm reading two or three books at a time now. So being able to plop down with my laptop and have someone present the program on screen was nice.

Ewen Chia is from Singapore, but I don't think he is the one actually making the presentation. The guy on the audio sounded like an American and spoke in a very conversational tone. The program was kind of like having a buddy who is an expert affiliate marketer who sits down with you and gives you an overview and helps you get started.

There is a 59 page pdf ebook, that basically follows the video presentation. This is handy to go back an review something that you made note of in the video, but without having to reload the entire video.

The course avoids a lot of the fluff that other courses has and gets down to the nitty grit quick and fast. It was $27.00 and I think it was definitely worth the money. This is a lot cheaper than other programs out there, and it is a great intro for a beginner.

Three best things about Ewen Chia's Autopiolot Profits:

No Fluff - Practical and Simple
Cheap Price ($27)
Good Mix of Video and Print presentation

Overall Review: (Solid buy - Knowing what I know now, I Would purchase again)

Ewen Chia's Auto Pilot Profits.