by Lon on September 2, 2008
Here’s my latest technology update that helps me in life, ministry, mission, etc.
- I’m on google chrome (their new browser), right now. It rocking so far. You can read the comic book they released describing what’s behind it here.
- A new google picasa v3 is to be released today as well, with synchronization and facial recognition.
- I’ve switched from using Microsoft OneNote and Google Notebook, to evernote. It doesn’t have onenote’s snazzy tabs, but it allows me to sync my laptop, desktop, and online notes finally.
- In preparation for the event, I researched online ticketing and discovered brown paper tickets, eventbrite, and money transfer through paypal. All with a lot of potential, but I was too cheap to succumb to the 2-3% cut the services take.
- Facebook Events… somewhat works. I was feeling really about about the response rate for my event, but then looked at many others, and it looks like there’ really only a 5-10% response rate. I know I’ve rarely responded to mine, but a great easy start for building some buzz.
- Skype – I’ve began doing marraige counseling through it for some friends out of town, but I’ve found it’s almost as good even with local meetings, saving gas and travel time.
- Google phone – I don’t know how many years I’ve been waiting for this one, but rumours are it’s coming along to be released by the end of this year. Some pics here. One day I’ll be cool.
- Wordpress, absoutely rocks. I created the event page with it. And lightbox plugins bring photos to a whole new level.
- Starbucks wifi – This one applies to Canadians too for once, 2 hours of free wifi with an active starbucks card. And no, you don’t have to be a bell canada customer.
- After a long while, I just received my first hundred bucks from google ads, but text-link-ads pay out is probably 3-4 times more on average I find.
- Search – through del.icio.us bookmarks and my own blog. I can’t describe how many times I’ve depended on archived clippings and personal writings I’ve long forgotten for talks and ideas.
Firefox version 3.0 was just released moments ago. (They’re trying to set a world record for downloads today and looks like the servers are down, you can get direct download links here).
I’ve always been a productivity/tech junkie, besides firefox, here’s some random stuff I use to get stuff done.
- My Dual Core T60 thinkpad (200772U) – I bought this right before I left my job at IBM. Not quite cutting edge anymore, but still like a rock. The docking station makes it real convenient as well.
- at home and when my wife is not using it, I use a Dell Dimension e521 with vista
- Microsoft’s free sync-toy keeps my working files in sync on the two computers
- Documents, pictures, and videos are primarily backed up to a 500GB WD mybook
- gmail – emailing, documents archiving, contact info
- All notes are taken with Microsoft OneNote’s tabbed folder system
- Web clippings go to google notebook, and bookmarks are tagged with del.icio.us
- When offline and for free-form notes I use a 5×8 ruled moleskine notebook
- I’ve been using a crappy nokia 6015i with a dusty screen on virgin mobile for 8 bucks a month the past few years holding out for an overdue google phone
- For calendaring and to-do’s I use google calendar. Microsoft Outlook is used as needed when offline.
- google deskop for quick file and document searches
- A Canon S80 point and shoot camera. For photo management and touch-ups I use picasa. with facebook and flickr plugins so I can upload directly as well. I use irfanview for simple resizing and image editing.
- wordpress.org for blogging
- google reader for quick blog reading
- windows live messenger and googletalk primarily for IM
- twhirl for occasional twitter updates
- an esso speedpass – so I can pay for overpriced gas, even faster
I’ll list off some resources I feed off of later as well.
Finally started going through my dreaded inbox, nothing worse than reading unopened email saying “I really need prayer for…” and “Can you help me decide if i should…” from over a year ago.
My inbox currently sits at 32,767. I’ve deleted thousands already. I gave up on clearing my inbox along time ago, but I have a respond-asap folder that was about 400 long, and I’ve gotten down to 16 at the moment.
Filtering through old email, i found one from DJ (that was starred and about six-months old) on the concept of inbox-zero. I’m convinced this time around I’m going to have a sustainable system that works.
One of the keys is responding to quick notes immediately, a principle from getting-things-done which I’ve never managed to fully adopt (it’s those next-step action items i dislike).
I like the idea of processing or responding to quick emails and getting them out of the way, but sometimes I feel like it speeds up the conversation more than I might want it to. The quicker I respond, the quicker people get back, and the qiucker I need to respond to again. That of course, must be better than completely ignoring things until it’s way too late.
Below is a video of an inbox-zero presentation at Google if you need inspiration.
I haven’t slept much this weekend, and have been sitting at a computer around 18 hours a day the last while working on multiple papers and projects.
I think I might be handing in my first ever late paper this week, simply because it’s of so little interest to me right now (it’s on a Greek exegesis of a passage in Galatians). The one project that I’m really enjoying, yet consuming all my time and completely draining me, is the developing of a ’small group leadership manual’ for one of my classes. I rarely say this, but I can’t wait till this week is done and over with.
As for now, I’ll leave you with this lyric from Kanye West’s Jesus Walks that I just love.
I ain’t here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I’m just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis,
that’s the way I need Jesus
Blessings.
