Drive your own car

My dad always likes to say that you shouldn't be content to be a passenger in the car of your life. Have control -- be the driver. Sometimes it seems that events outside your control influence your life -- well, sure, those are the roads and other vehicles, it doesn't mean you absolutely can't steer to where you want to go.

Some people are content to drift along wherever life takes them. I think that's because it's easier than analyzing the route and making decisions yourself.

Not that there's anything wrong with taking the easy way :p (just don't complain if that's what you choose!)

If you don’t run your own life, 

somebody else will.

- John Atkinson -

GeekBeat TV

If you're interested in technical cool gadgets, you should subscribe to the podcast GeekBeat TV, website here. GeekBeat TV used to be GeekBrief, honestly I liked the old name better, but due to some kinds of problems they changed with a whole new podcast. The host, Cali Lewis, is very entertaining to watch, the videos are really well done, and the podcasts keep me up to date with fun new cameras, phones, tvs, robots, and all other things geeky. It's the only podcast I watch almost up-to-date (sometimes I AM up-to-date!... more often I'm a month or two behind).

I do not fear computers. 

I fear the lack of them. 

- Isaac Asimov -

Live for Victory?

The moment of victory is much to short 

to live for that and nothing else. 

-Martina Navratilova-

Martina Navratoliva is a tennis player from Prague (Czechoslovakia) who has made the Wimbledon singles finals 12 times.


I live to play.

Beware Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO)

DHMO is a controversial substance that is wildly researched (dhmo.org).

Here is a list of facts about DHMO from Wikipedia:

Dihydrogen monoxide:

• is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.
• contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
• may cause severe burns.
• is fatal if inhaled.
• contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
• accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

• as an industrial solvent and coolant.
• in nuclear power plants.
• in the production of Styrofoam.
• as a fire retardant.
• in many forms of cruel animal research.
• in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
• as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

You see how dangerous this is.
Go check out the Wikipedia link if you don't get it.

(I had a friend who, for a science class, had people at her school sign a petition to get rid of DHMO. I believe she got her science teacher to sign.)

Not all chemicals are bad. 

Without hydrogen and oxygen, for example, 

there would be no way to make water, 

a vital ingredient in beer.

- Dave Barry -

Change File Names Quick! (On a Mac.)

If you are on Windows, now is your time to change :p

If you use the Mac OS, there's this great little application called Automator. Automator lets you lay out actions you can then save as apps or Services, and run. For example, my new favorite: Adding text to the beginning of file names.

I am picky about how my files are named. I have a lot of desktop pictures from Josephine Wall, who does amazing fantasy pictures bursting will color. I keep the pictures in my folder called Fantasy, but I want to be able to find her pictures easily, so at the beginning of each picture file name I have jw_(name of picture). At the time, I went through and added all those manually. What a pain! Today, however, I discovered an amazing thing I can do with Automator.

In Automator, create a new workflow. Add the action Add Text to Finder Item Names. Choose Add Text and Before Name with the drop-down menus, then in the text field put whatever text it is (i.e. jw_). A space also works (so you can put 'jw ' -> 'jw fairy'). Save it as a Service. (I called mine 'Rename • add text to file name'.)

Highlight the file or multiple files, right-click (control-click), go down to Services, and choose your Rename service. Kaboom! File names changed in moments.

Next, you can keep using this Service with little effort. Your Services are stored in your Home folder > Library > Services. Just open it up and change the text to whatever you need at the time.

You can use the same cool function to add Dates to the start of the file name, which is a good way of keeping track of receipts/statements/invoices etc.

I created a similar Service I use that renames a chosen file and moves it to a certain folder. For that, I first renamed the file using Name Single Item in Finder Item Names, then added the date using that Add Text function, then I had it move the file using Move Finder Items where you can choose a specific location. With that service, I can rename, date, and move the file in 1 second. I use it every week when I download my Inventory Report from Amazon.com.

Automator is a real nifty app, you'd be surprised how much you can do with it.

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved 

from a simple system that works.

- John Gaule -

Again I ask, why didn't I think of the Add Text service sooner?

Stop and smell the flowers (click me)

They smell good.


Red roses are given as a symbol of love, beauty, and passion.

Poppies are a symbol of consolation in time of death. In the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, red poppies are worn to commemorate soldiers who have died in times of war.

Irises/Lily are used in burials as a symbol referring to "resurrection/life". It is also associated with stars (sun) and its petals blooming/shining.

Daisies are a symbol of innocence.

(from Wikipedia)

Take advantage of what you have now, because you may not have it again.

Let the wind blow through you hair

while you still have some.

-Dave Weinbaum-

Depressing Stuff you may Not Want to Know But Should

Click on the title for the link to the page.

The page lists 3 (war) tragedies in the past with a kind of wonder 'why don't people know about these?'
The top lists:

Casualties
Hiroshima 70,000–80,000
Battle of Manila 100,000
Nanjing 300,000

And you can read about those. I had not heard of the bottom two of course and I can say -- look at the articles, but be prepared to be depressed. 

The videos on the linked page are probably good to watch but also depressing.
The comments are worth reading.

I am glad to know these things. All I ever hear is about Hiroshima. I visited Hiroshima about a month ago when I was in Japan, went to the Peace Park and saw the museum. (That was depressing too.) It's really sad and horrible... but you also have to realize these other incidents and understand that there can be horrible and wonderful people everywhere, and America is not always at fault. < Which is the vibe I get from so many people, it kind of disgusts me.

I understand that Hiroshima is usually brought up because people are so afraid of atomic bombs (and rightly so), but we need to remember that we also should be afraid of people... especially people in charge. 

For a brighter note, and a look at the good people out there, look at this article FEE: Nicholas Winton. It's the story of a man who almost single-handedly and much out of his own pocket saved hundreds of Jewish children in Nazi Germany.

I am not an orator and I don't understand these things as much as I probably should, but I see it as a responsibility to let people know when I discover important things like these. No one wants to be sad, no one wants to know that people are able to commit these sorts of crimes, no one wants to feel guilty that they haven't done anything or that they did do something, but a lot of life is doing things you don't want to do and acknowledging facts and feelings you don't like.

If something's beautiful, something's got to be ugly.
If something's good, something's got to be bad.

You can't have something without nothing.

If no task is difficult, then no task is easy.

Things are up high because other things are down low....

- Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu)

Honesty is the best policy

Well, it works for me.

The only way you can truly
control how you’re seen is by
being honest all the time.
-Tom Hanks-

And this at least I'd figured out long ago. By myself. Honest.

It's not the hours

Sometimes we get sucked into the hand of the clock. Doesn't that sound nice. That is, we worry about the hours passing and that's how we measure what we've done or not done. I remember when I was younger my sister would be assigned to read for say a half hour, and she'd spend it reading as slowly as she could. When I got on her case she'd explain that she had been working at it for a half hour, so she was finished. I always pulled this quote out, and she always ignored me.
There's no real reason you need to know that.

Just remember:

It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts,
it’s the work you put in the hours.
-Sam Ewing-

Make the Choice.

No, not THAT one, the OTHER one.

I'm a pack rat, as I believe a lot of people are, and tend to collect everything and hold on to it for years even after finding no use for it. Sometimes my computer folders or iPhoto/iTunes libraries or my physical library or my closet get too crowded, and I have to make choices. I've gotten a lot better at this after having to sift through re-takes of audio for work, because I have to pick the best shot, all the rest goes.
Consider these points:

Make a fraction goal, i.e. if you have 100 images, decide you only need 50 and get rid of all the rest.

If you only need 1, compare all of them like a rock-paper scissors tournament. Only keep the winner.

Ask yourself, 'what do I like about this [insert object]?' Is there another piece of clothing or music or memorabilia that accomplishes that better?

If you don't love it, don't keep it.


I'm having a garage sale this weekend, and I can't tell you how satisfying it's been over the past few weeks to sift through boxes and drawers to find things to get rid of. 

I've always liked this quote:

You can’t have everything.
Where would you put it?
-Steven Wright-

Doesn't stop me though. I've always wanted Merlin's bag from the Sword in the Stone. Or Mary Poppin's. That would be practically perfect.

So Macro. Duh.

I feel kind of stupid for just having figured this out. I didn't even figure it out on my own.

Bottom line: There is a macro setting on my Canon Powershot (digital camera) that means I can take close-ups and pictures of small things in great detail. I'd always been content (though sad) at fuzzy pictures before. The macro setting is awesome! It's so great! I'll have to show you later when I upload the picture.

I read it somewhere, probably a Macworld article, that said something about a macro setting (a leaf or flower icon), and when I picked up my camera just now it occurred to me (the memory is a strange thing).

So anyway, if you didn't know that, be prepared to be soooo happy! If you already knew, you may laugh at me freely.

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -
it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Daniel J. Boorstin -

There's always stuff you don't know, even regarding a camera you've had for 3-4 years. Yup. (Go ahead, I'm laughing at myself.)

Silence is golden.

Often it's best to leave the last word to the other person. You don't always have to have an answer. Don't be afraid to admit you don't know, or look to someone else for advice or a hint. That saying, I'll move on.

In Japanese: Iwanu ga hana = not saying is the flower.

Silence is golden

when you can’t think of a good answer.

-Muhammad Ali-

The Truth REVEALED

Here is the solution (I did figure it out on my own, though it took a while!):

Later, I also found this solution with 3 strokes (in a magazine or something), but it's hard to get the lines right:

Fun, ne?

Think Outside the Box

This is a fun problem. Can you strike through all of the dots with only 4 straight lines in one continuous stroke?

For example, this doesn't work:

Good luck!

The pursuit of truth is like picking raspberries.
You miss a lot if you approach it from only one angle.
-Randal Marlin-

Save Colors

They need your help!

Just because your computer is attached to a color printer doesn't mean you need to print in color! To save that expensive ink, convert your file to gray before printing.

On a Mac, in Preview, you can do this by selecting the Save As... option from the File menu. Set the Quartz Filter drop-down menu to 'Gray Tone', and it will convert it to shades of gray. To save even more ink you may also choose 'Black and White', but only for very simple documents.
(Speaking from Mac Snow Leopard OS 10.6.2)

In other cases (i.e. Windows), you can also use Adobe Acrobat. See these instructions at eHow.

Standing Work!!

For a change of pace, can you make your workplace accommodate different positions? Check out this MacWorld Article about standing while you work.

It really makes a difference. Not only do I feel better just by standing, but if I have music playing I start bobbing or doing leg exercises.

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

- Aristotle -

UPDATE:
Look! A desk for this purpose: http://www.geekdesk.com/
but outside my budget *cry*

Please?

What is 'please'?

I always thought it was a mark of a request. So why do you see warnings such as:
'Please do not list illegal material'
or
'Please do not smoke'

?
?
?

In reality, when you see signs such as these, you know they don't really mean 'please', they mean DO IT or DON'T DO IT.
I guess the 'please' softens the command.


But to me, it creates wacky signals. When they say please, they are asking me, and that means I can say 'no'. 'Please RSVP to this email to be put on the list'... so if I don't RSVP, you'll put me on the list anyway?
No, probably not.

Just be careful about the language you use. If you mean it as a command, don't add a word that means you are asking. Say what you mean.
Please?

Slow Down

You probably feel like every day is one big rush to get things done. Hurry to eat, hurry to drive, get this done, get that done, hurry and clean, hurry and study, hurry and say goodnight so you can get enough sleep to do it all again tomorrow. It's stressful to live this way, always anticipating the next thing.
Try to take some time to live in the moment, with no rush, focusing on what's happening now. Lean back and take a deep breath. Drive 5 mph slower than you usually do. Drink a cup of something hot and savor the taste and feel. Look out the window for a few moments. Slow down.

Haste is good only

in catching fleas.

-Alla Yaroshinskay-

What's in a name?

I learned this when I realized my sister and I are often indistinguishable. I went somewhere without her and heard my name from people other than my family. WEIRD!

Once you learn someone's name, if you're like me, you'll soon forget it unless you use it. It can make a difference to call someone by their name. Instead of simply asking 'How are you?' say 'Hi Chelsey, how are you?' Instead of saying 'It's over by him,' say 'It's over by Ken.'

People often don't remember my name, for one reason or another, so it's odd when someone actually calls me by my name. (The right name.) But it feels good. It's more personal.

That being said, if someone really has no intention of ever talking to me again, I would rather they didn't refer to me by my name. If they call me by name, I make an effort to remember their name and even talk to them.
I don't like making small talk in person (in writing, no problemo)....

Just try it out. See how people react when you use their names.

Forgive your enemies,
but never forget their names.
- John F. Kennedy -

Motivation (click me)

Don't put it off. You know what I'm talking about. All you need is some good motivation, and often that can come from yourself. You have to tell yourself 'I can do this', and, most of all, 'I want to do this'. Get started today, and keep it up!

Making a decision to write was a lot like deciding

to jump into a frozen lake.

-Maya Angelou-

Funny (click me)

Humor can improve most situations. Instead of getting angry, or annoyed, or sad, try to find the funny bits and go with that. It'll make you feel better.

“Do you think that all children’s books ought to have

funny bits in them?” Miss Honey asked.

“I do.” Matilda said. “Children are not so serious as grown-ups, 

and they love to laugh.”

-Roald Dahl, Matilda-

Testing Snippets

Occasionally I create snippets of audio, impromptu, and I've decided some of them are fit for including in the blog. Here's to gaining experience!
I'm testing out Box.net's free (lite) service, it allows up to a GB of storage (I think).
Click on the post title to check it out.

Don't Confine Yourself

Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of the real world, you get caught up in what you're doing. Try to remember what's important, overall, in the long run.

School is like starting life with a 12-year jail sentence

in which bad habits are the only curriculum truly learned.

-John Taylor Gatto-

Extra credit:

Post a comment of your interpretation, because I've forgotten what the heck I'm talking about here.

Read A Book

Read a book you've never read before, in a genre you don't usually read. Not for school or for work or for obligation, but because you've chosen to.

You will learn.
Your mind will grow.
And it will be fun.

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." 

- Sir Richard Steele -

Document Clutter

I heard someone ask, Is it worth it to get a scanner in order to scan all your personal documents, statements, bills, and receipts into the computer?

Well, they were asking it rhetorically, but that's no reason I can't answer:
Yes!

Why?
-You can shred the originals and don't have to worry about filing or losing them.
-It saves space.
-Easily organize the PDF files on the computer, and even keyword (or do text recognition on) the files so you can search the text.
-Switch to paperless statements for those with the option, and you'll have all your files together.
-Some scanners do double-sided and auto-feed, and some have special slots (for different kinds of documents) and filing software.
-Easily go through and delete documents you no longer need.
-Keep documents of all sorts in case you need them, without needing to worry about the space or filing process.


But:
-Be sure to do backups of your data! Always!
-Include the date in the name of the files, preferably at the beginning, so you can always find things by date.
-Put passwords on really important files, and of course keep general computer security.
-Remember, a file on your computer is only on your computer, but when you e-mail something it's out on the web.
-Invest in a good scanner, because a bad one will drive you crazy. It's supposed to make the process easier, not cause you to want to tear out your hair!

Say goodbye to filing cabinets -- we're in the digital age...
...even so, not all people feel the same, so for really important stuff it may be best to scan the document and keep the physical file on hand.

Today I learned I like telling people about things so they learn things. It makes me happy.

Save Water + Time!

I thought of this a couple months ago. No wait -- it was as soon as I moved into my own place. ...You see, changes in circumstances can help us to learn.

There's a really simple way to keep your water bill down a little and save some time doing dishes (<- the real reason). All you have to do is reuse dishes. Imagine, if you used every dish twice, that cuts dishwashing time and washer loads in half.

i.e.
Use the same glass for water all day (or multiple days).
If you're having something like a salad followed by stir-fry and rice, use the same bowl (or plate) and fork for both.
Toast in the morning? Save the plate.
Coffee-fanatic? As long as you don't use real cream/milk (which might be OK anyway, but I don't trust it), just rinse the cup briefly and use it the next day. Same with tea.
If you can take it, instead of getting a new glass for a different drink, use the same one. (Can you handle orange juice after milk??? Fruit juices all mix. I do not suggest milk after fruit juice.)

So I don't know how healthy this is, there's probably a limit to how many times you should use something -- we wash dishes for a good reason. Anything that's been used for dairy products like cream and milk (left out = eew) or raw chicken/pork/eggs (unhealthy) should NOT be reused.

I also tend to reuse plates and bowls more than cups, and all those more than silverware, and depending on what I used it for I'll rinse it a little. Keep it down though; rinse too much, and you may as well have put it with the rest of the dishes.

It's a simple but effective method, as long as you don't mind a few dishes hanging around the kitchen.

And if you forget to replace your cup for too long a time, let me know what happened.

Walk Instead of Driving

Like you don't know. Like I don't know. Let's pretend.

My policy is if I have the time, and it's within a mile, and I'm not carrying a ton of stuff, walk.
To some people this may a 'well, duh' moment, but I know so many people who choose to drive when they could just as well walk.

Walking instead of pulling out the car saves gas, the hassle, and threat of car accident (most accidents occur near home!). It makes you feel refreshed, you get a little exercise and some time to yourself (or quality time with your walking partner). Walking forces you to get a real look at your surroundings, you may be surprised at what you see, and how different things look from a slower pace.

Instead of driving down the block for lunch, try walking there.

Oh oh--
and when you walk, you always learn something new about the area you're walking through. Oh yeah!

Feel Refreshed

I learned this a couple years ago. Today I am unlearned.

Down 2 cups (1 large glass) of water in the morning after brushing your teeth. It feels really good, and you get back all the water you lost during the night (sweating or whatever).
It's also easier to remember to take any vitamins you need to.

That said, you should be drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, more if you exercise. It's hard, especially if you aren't a water person or don't have easy access to a toilet, but try having a glass (or bottle) of water at your desk, keep a glass at your place at the table, and take a bottle of water with you to class.

It really helps.

Clean the Car

So maybe I'm a little paranoid when it comes to germs. They're sneaky little buggers.

When was the last time you wiped down your steering wheel, car door handles, signal switch, and stereo buttons? Think of how often you and other people are touching these parts of your car. Take a simple cleaning wipe and go through the main used areas of the car, get everything people touch: air dials, glove compartment handle, blinkers and light switches, window controls, vents, and all the random buttons and handles and switches you might have around the driver/passenger area of your car. It takes a few minutes. Is it worth it? Who knows, but it smells nice.

...And yes. This just occurred to me today.

Sleeping Well #2

I've found this to work well. Sometimes. I learn what works and what doesn't almost every morning. Hah.

Test out different sleeping positions using pillows. Sleep on your back using different pillows not just under your head, but under the arch in your back, and under your knees. If you sleep on your side put a pillow between your knees. Try hugging a pillow (or stuffed animal).

Question(s):
Why do people think it's funny I still sleep with my puppy and blankie?
Does it make me seem so immature?
Aren't I?
Have they tried it?
Because it feels nice.
Substitute cat or dog if you can get the creature to stay.

Sleeping Well #1

Troubles sleeping? Some people work best on a schedule, doing set things that let the body and mind know it's time for bed. Try to keep a reasonable schedule, going to bed at about the same time every night after a series of similar motions (washing, brushing, stretching, etc.).

Truth?

I learned this a long time ago. I haven't learned anything new today except --

-- no, I won't talk about that.

...

Advice for the Sore-Backed #3

Can I just say it's probably a good idea to exercise regularly?
Nah, I'll be honest, that's too much work.

So you can't swap out your chair, but you can make little adjustments that may help you feel better during the day. Try putting a pillow behind you for a while (at different points on your back), lower and raise your chair and see how different positions feel, and adjust your screen/desk if needed to put things at a more comfortable level (phonebooks/manuals are great for this). Don't cross your legs, try not to hunch forward, and when working on a computer try adjusting text size / the size of the page / computer resolution in order to make things bigger so you don't have to squint (and you won't have to lean forward to see). 
Don't stay sitting too long either!

And yeah, exercise regularly. ...
...
...

Advice for the Sore-Backed #2

The more I learn, the happier my back feels. It smiles at me.

Every day, or multiple times a day, try this 5-second exercise:

Stand with weight evenly distributed to both legs, put your arms by your side and bend to 90° angles. Keeping your body facing forward, swing your arms sideways so that you turn (almost like punching sideways). Try to keep facing forward while your chest turns, and you will probably feel satisfying cracks around your ribs and back. Do that a couple times at a moderately fast pace, also try turning slowly as far as you can.

Try rolling your shoulders forward and backward once you're finished.

Don't overdue it. If you have back or any kinds of problems, be extra careful.

It's so satisfying every time it *CRACKS*
oops.

Advice for the Sore-Backed #1

Guess what I figured out.

Sitting at a desk all day?
Get up about every half-hour or hour and simply walk down the hall! Not only will it offer some relief for your back, it will stretch your legs, and walking at a swift pace can stimulate your brain cells.

"Run, lil' grey cells, run," sing with me now!..