Great iPhone App for Toddlers

One of my Bible study students downloaded a sound effects application to his iPhone. I thought it was clever so I put it on my iPhone, but rarely use it. The other night I used it. My 2-year old niece came around the corner all excited to see where that noise was coming from. She has spent about 20 minutes hitting the different sounds. If you have a kid or are around one, download this free app to keep 'em occupied. Just be sure you hold onto the iPhone so it doesn't wind up in the toilet or some other place toddlers tend to put things.

Writer's Symposium - Donald Miller

Because I'm reading one of his books, I've grown curious to learn more about Donald Miller. To my surprise, I found a 1-hour video of him participating in a writer's symposium at my alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene University.

In this video, Miller reads a portion of his book To Own A Dragon then is interviewed by my former writing professor, Dean Nelson. While watching this interview, I felt like I got to know the author. However, as a writer myself, I also learned some valuable perspective on the mechanics of his writing... which it turns out includes a little superstition and finding a lucky coffee shop.

Here's a link to the You Tube video. It's worth a little bit of your time. There's a lot of humor, wisdom and genius involved. You'll have spent your time well and had a good laugh in the process.

Click Here to see the video.

Blue Like Jazz

I've read 7 chapters in Blue Like Jazz so far. I find myself many times thinking, "Finally somebody else is writing what goes through my head from time to time." I'm not crazy after all.

This book pushes the image of being a Christian aside and gets at the reality of the Christian life: ups, downs, grace and self-reliance. It takes the impossible (being a Christian by will-power) and exchanges it for the impossible (God creating the only way to reconciliation between us and Himself).

I still have several chapters to go. I don't re-read many books. I have a feeling this one will get traveled through several times before I get wheeled into the mortuary.

Tools of the Trade: Using the Coffee House as an Office

I got this tip from another blogger. I can't remember who, but it's a great idea.

Since I spend so much time using the local coffee house as an office, I went out today and bought two important tools of the trade (see the picture above).

1. A 3-plug outlet extender. If the outlet is all take up, you can unplug a person's laptop and plug it back into the outlet extender and then have room for your own, too.
2. An outlet converter. If the outlet is a 2-prong outlet, you'll want an outlet converter to be able to plug your 3-prong cord into it.

Here's to endless hours @ the coffee house and unlimited free WiFi!

Blue Like Jazz favorite quote

I've started reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. It's a great book about his journey of faith. We have a connection in that are a year apart in age and both grew up in the Houston area and had deadbeat dads. I feel like we've gone down the same road both in life circumstances and spiritually. I'm only on chapter 3, so that may change the further I get into this book.

I love his writing style as much as his content. As my friend Doug Fields would say, "This guy really knows how to turn a phrase." His style is as brilliant as his message.

So far, my favorite quote from this book is, "I believe the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. That us why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If be can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God."

Helpful Gmail Gadget Called Gmail Notifier

I discovered Gmail Notifier today while searching for a way to get my computer to play a sound when I get a new e-mail in my Gmail account. I like this little program they made just for that purpose. It also has another nice feature. See below for what I like and don't like about what this little gem can do.

Here are the two things I like about it:

1. It alerts me with a sound and a message in the lower right side of the screen when I have a new email in my Gmail account. This is something I've wanted for a long time.
2. I can set it so that when I click on a link to send an e-mail it opens a new Gmail e-mail instead of trying to open Outlook or Outlook Express (which I don't use anymore).

What it lacks:

1. It only checks for new e-mail once every two minutes. While I can still see if I have new e-mail if my Gmail is open in a tab, I'd prefer for the gadget to play a sound instantaneously when I get a new e-mail. But then again, it's free so I really can't complain.

Click here to download Gmail Notifier

Saving Money on Electronics

Word has it Circuit City is about to go under. They're already closing some stores. They, however, have saved me a lot of money over the last few years on electronics.

I've bought a couple of big ticket items from them because I know they have a 110% price match guarantee. I know I can usually find the item cheaper someplace else. When I do, I take the advertisement to them and get a lower price than I would have if I bought the item at the sale price at the other store.

Last week I bought a sweet new laptop at Circuit City for $729.00. This week it was advertised on the front page of Office Max's circular for $569.00. After taxes, I got a refund from Circuit City for 110% of the difference which came to $189.64. I was so happy. I knew I'd find the laptop cheaper, but didn't expect to find it that much cheaper.

I used some of my refund to purchase a TV tuner card and can now enjoy and record TV on my new computer. By the way... still looking for a better deal on the TV tuner. Wish me luck!