Technology

I was recently reminded what a blessing it is when you take an opportunity to change lives. In 2010, I traded my birthday for a chance to build a clean-water well. I created a charity: water campaign to raise $5,000 and thanks to the generosity of many, over $5,000 was raised and a total of 3 wells were built with funds from my campaign and a few others. Here are a few exciting facts about the projects: Location: two wells in Malawi and one in Ethiopia People: 546 people served in Africa Raised: $5,004 from my project. Funding Breakdown: $2,828.17 went to the Adi Arbea Village in northern Ethiopia helping 350 people. $2,063.24 with an additional $852.21 coming from the Causing Life by Catherine Holloway campaign went to the Kamputeni Village in western Malawi serving 39 people as a hand-dug well. $112.59 went to the Kamtambo Village, also a hand-dug well in western Malawi, with $470.50 from Dirk Maas’ campaign and $2,332.36 from Tim & Maureen’s 30th birthday party campaign. ...

Imagine a junk drawer that had a search bar. You throw everything you’ll ever need into it, but when it comes time to dig out the scissors, rubberbands, or a half used q-tip, you’ll find what you’re looking for in no time. Meet your digital junk drawer: Evernote. I tried to use Evernote a few years ago and I gave up on it fairly quickly. I was using it all wrong. I found if you aren’t using it for everything it’s more of a hassle than a help. It should become your go-to app for absolutely everything that you’re writing, archiving, and referencing digitally. To get started with Evernote, head to Evernote.com and click on the Get Started link near the middle of the page. They also have an app for practically every kind of smartphone. Here are a couple quick pointers: ...

I gave up on major news outlets a long time ago. I haven’t had cable in years. I am not a neanderthal. I don’t need news from traditional sources. I heard that Osama Bin Laden had been killed, about the tragedy at Sandy Hook, and that Ohio University beat Michigan in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament in 2012–all from Twitter. I think most people give up on Twitter or dismiss it all together because they think it’s best used to find out when your friends have to take a leak or to tweet pictures of omelets. I think if you use Twitter as an information gathering tool as I suggest below you’ll find it will quickly become your favorite news and resource tool. Don’t follow your “friends”. They’re the reason you hate Facebook. “Friends” online are not your friends in real life. They are acquaintances you’ve met once who post pictures of kissy faces in the mirror and complain about how school/work/their life sucks. Remember, Twitter isn’t reciprocal like Facebook is. Just because someone follows you doesn’t mean you should follow them. In fact, don’t. ...

Sometimes the Internet features pretty neat things. I sift through all the junk and leave you with the weekly gold, right here. Enjoy. charity: water Project Photos and Stories In November 2010, I started a charity: water project in the hopes of raising $5,000 for clean water. Thanks to the generosity of people who care, (just) over $5,000 was raised. This week I (and many of you) received a report detailing the three projects between Ethiopia and Malawi. 116 donations changed the lives of 534 people. Here’s a great shot of the plaque on the well in Ethiopia, lest we forget how it all happened. ...

Finger fatigue. It’s what you develop after answering a crap ton (more than a normal ton, for those of you who aren’t up on your international measurements) of emails after the holidays. Well, prepare your fingers to do a little happy dance of relief after this delightful world of text expansion is revealed to you. There are certain things that you write frequently that are just a pain to keep typing out on your computer or smartphone. Things I’m always typing: my email for website logins, my address, bill payment information*, certain phrases at the end of emails i.e. “If you have any questions, please let me know”, etc. ...

Some say clothes make the man. I say apps make the phone. If you don’t have an iPod, iPhone, or iPad, you’ve effectively rejected consumerism or you’ve just spent your money on the wrong technology. [Totally kidding, but by now you’re offended and the rest of this post wouldn’t be helpful for you anyway.] I love good apps, and as my closest companions know, I’m evangelistic about products and services I love, so it’s my pleasure to present to you… ...

Dear journal, Wednesday, June 9, 2010 was the laziest day of my life. I fully intended on doing a whole lot of things, but simply never got around to it. I chalked it up to rain and Akron, but at the heart of it was a lack of motivation and the comforts of my home. I simply can’t get things done at home. Have you ever just been in the zone and cranked out a ton of work in a short period of time? That’s never happened at my house. It’s like a black hole of productivity. ...