Qumana not working so well

I've been using the free blog editor Qumana because it worked well with my Blogger account. Lately though it just hangs up and never finishes posting my entries. I have to force quit and I lose my work. Bummer. It's happened on two different computers and I haven't upgrade either the software or the computer, so maybe something changed with Blogger. It sure is frustrating though.

Another loss in soccer

Our team lost again, 6-1, this morning. That makes us 0-7 on the season. The boys played pretty hard but the other team had too much speed and several bigger players who could put the ball in the net from way outside the goal box. The field was a little wet, and several goals came when our goalie couldn't hold onto the ball and an opposing player kicked it in after it got loose. Three weeks to go in the season now and although it would be nice to win one, it may not happen. It makes it tough to keep going out there each week, but a few breaks here and there and we can win one of these games.

Need a website fast?

If you are a small business and need a nice looking web presence, websitesin48hours.com can set you up and having you running in no time (48 hours actually). They have several plans to choose from, starting at $99.99 and with each one, your custom built site will be up and available in 48 hours. You can include e-commerce features like a shopping cart and choose from multiple web templates to design your site -- up to 2000 templates on the Platinum plan. The Platinum plan comes with 8 web pages, 350 megabytes of hosting, and a free domain name for $19.99 per month plus a $999.99 start up fee. So if you are in need of a business site and you want to get started right away, have a look at what websitesin48hours.com can offer you.

Having problems again

Something must be wrong with my hosting service again. My weblog entries seem to be having trouble although I can see them fine. Something's not right and it's a pain in the neck.

Yummy Tumi Computer Case

I haul my fancy laptop around in a slightly padded backpack. I don't think it impresses anyone, but it has done the job okay. Think how nice it would be to carry your equipment in style with a top of the line Tumi laptop case on wheels. It's made of ballistic nylon fabric and uses inline skate wheels, so you know it's going to last longer than a Peter Jackson movie. Check out Tumi at Luggage Online.

Soccer and rain

No news on the soccer site, but it looks like the games may be cancelled due to rain. It's not raining now but it did rain overnight and they almost always cancel games when the fields are wet. We'll see.

Healthy Comparison shopping

In the United States, just trying to get healthcare can be a pain in the neck -- expensive and filled with roadblocks on the way to getting the treatment you need. Vimo - Comparison Shopping for Health is a unique site which can help consumers with healthcare in an interesting way. It offers comparison shopping for healthcare -- things like visits to the doctor or dentist, surgical procedures, health insurance, health savings accounts and more. You can compare what it would cost to have the same surgery at different hospitals in the U.S. Who wouldn't like to have that information? Healthcare can be very expensive, so any information that can help you reduce costs and get the treatment you need is a good thing. You can even rate your own doctor and get a nice looking free t-shirt. I'm going to do that -- I like my doctor and he deserves a good rating.

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Got an invention?

These days just about everybody has a good idea or two which just needs some backing to turn into a real product. Protecting your idea is an important part of the process -- just think about Apple licensing the look and feel of the MacOS to their friends at Microsoft to understand the value of protecting your work and investment. Invent-Tech: Invention Patent Help for Inventors is a unique approach to working with inventors. Invent-Tech’s proprietary invention licensing approach is so unique, innovative and effective, that they have recently applied for utility patent protection themselves. Using this proven new methodology, Invent-Tech, in association with their patent attorneys and licensing subsidiary, has secured more than 100 licensing agreements for individual inventors from manufacturers and marketing companies. It's only available from Invent-Tech, and this method represents a tremendous shift in the status quo throughout the entire invention development industry. Check it out.

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Getting things done

I listened to the Merlin Mann discussions with David Allen about procrastination and GTD this morning. Interesting stuff with a nice pace. David Allen sure knows his stuff and Merlin Mann does a good job as an interviewer.

Waiting for more info about the GTD app forthcoming from the Omni Group.

Increase your HGH

HGH has been in the news quite a bit lately since it became popular among professional baseball players as an alternative to performance enhancing drugs which could be detected by testing. HGH is pretty expensive and you can't get it legally, but Sytropin HGH is actually a legal supplement which can improve the body's ability to produce natural human growth hormone. It comes with a 90 day guarantee and doesn't require a prescription. You may not grow new hair or get really muscular, but it could improve your overall well-being.

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Red iPod nano

That red iPod nano looks nice. I didn't catch the Oprah intro though and I guess this guy Bono has some clout if he can make stuff like this happen.

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Like to play with dolls?

Virtual Dolls are great -- you can design your own, pick out clothes and accessories, and use them in chat rooms or in doll competitions. Dress Up Games and Dollmakers are the name of the game at The Doll Palace, an online meeting place for all things related to virtual dolls and avatars. They've got tools for making your custom dolls like the Hippie Dollmaker, the Mermaid doll maker, and the Emo Dolls and Avatars Maker. Each tool is browser-based and uses an easy to use drag and drop interface. Pick a body, then add props, costumes, hair styles, gloves, hats, tools and more. In no time you will have a custom virtual doll ready to represent you in online chats, on MySpace or to participate in various contests. Right now, with Halloween just around the corner, you can create a Halloween doll and enter the Halloween Pumpkin Contest. The Doll Palace is a fun site where you can get creative quickly and easily. Everything is easy to use, but if you get stuck, visit the chat room and ask for some help. The site is very popular, with more than 2 million doll people signed up and lots of activity. More than 25 million dolls have been made! If they could vote, they could swing the California election for governor.

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Merlin Mann's GTD podcasts

Merlin Mann has the first two of his podcast series with Getting Things Done guru David Allen available on 43 folders. I'll be listening to those on the way to work tomorrow.

Swiss blogger with Guy Kawasaki podcast

The start-up and Innovationsszene blog visited Silicon Valley recently and interviewed Guy Kawasaki for his podcast. Guy is a recent blogger and is famous for his work at Apple and for his many books including the Art of the Start, and his speeches. He is a great speaker and has certainly mastered the art of conversation, plus he's the start-up guru as well as a great motivator as you will discover in the podcast. You'll also learn that Guy has been to Switzerland where he went skiing and made a deal. The podcast covers entrepreneurship, laying people off at Apple (not me), and some highlights of Guy's life, the Mac, and whether or not he would go back to work at Apple for Steve Jobs for a million dollars a year (only with a million dollar bonus). The podcast is about 12 minutes long. Check out Podcast: #7 with Guy Kawasaki. It's an interesting interview.

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HDR images

Backing Winds (not Breaking Winds), a blog about photography and some other stuff with great taste (same theme as this blog), has a detailed intro to making your own Professional HDR Image using Photoshop. It's a pretty cool technique. I need to try it when I have some time to go out with my tripod.

Find an activity partner

Are you one of those people who longs to hike the great outdoors or kayak down a river or climb a mountain or just play dominoes with some friends but doesn't have the friend or friends necessary to do it? Lifeknot may be just what you need. Visit their site, sign up, state your interests and preferences and you will be matched up with people who'd like to be doing the same stuff as you, but who need a buddy just like you do. It could be a great way to make some new friends and to get going with some activities you've always wanted to do but just haven't gotten around to doing for lack of a partner.

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Mets win

I was a Mets fan as a child. I lived in New Jersey and my family started rooting for the Mets when they became a team in 1962. Most of my childhood, the Yankees were terrible, but the Mets were worse, except in 1969 when they magically won the World Series.

I haven't really been a Mets fan since I left New Jersey years ago, but I'm glad to see them doing well again. Beating the Cardinals would be great, but playing the A's in the World Series would be the ultimate, although a long shot at this point for the A's.

Glenwood Springs Colorado

Glenwood Springs is in Colorado and they have a unique method of promoting their town as a tourist destination. Sure, you can go online and see photos and learn about what's going on in Glenwood Springs, but you can do that at their community weblog for Glenwood Springs residents and visitors. They've got a Flickr Photo feed and a pretty active blog going back to September 2005. You can contribute to the site in three ways -- add a comment, write an article or become an editor.

Glenwood Springs is a great place to visit anytime, but USA Today included the town among the top ten great places to visit in the fall. With lots of fall colors, it's a great place for photography, hiking or just hanging around. The town has an interesting history going back to 1879. With great places to stay like the Glenwood Canyon Resort, located in the Rocky mountains right on the Colorado River, Glenwood has lots to offer the visitor. Hiking, rafting, mountain biking, skiing, fishing and more are right there.

Check out the Roaring Fork Wiki for another perspective on this part of Colorado. You can learn more about the tourism possibilities in Glenwood Canyon and surrounding areas.

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A's lose again

I heard part of the A's - Tigers game on the radio and the A's were ahead for a little while, but their pitching didn't hold up and they ended up losing 8-5. Too many home runs for the Tigers. With the series going back to Detroit for 3 games, the A's will have to win 2 out of 3, which could be tough. I think I'd like my chances if I was Detroit at this point. What an amazing turnaround they have made after nosediving at the end of the regular season. I'm not sure what happened, but they are not the same team that ended the season losing three in a row to Kansas City.

Women's Marketing Virtual Summit

For women business owners, or even potential women business owners, the upcoming Women’s Marketing Telesummit 2006 from October 18th to 20th promises to be a great chance to learn effective but low-cost methods for marketing your business. The event will include live roundtable discussions with marketing and business experts who will help participants learn to use various marketing techniques like podcasting, direct mail and easy-to-produce information products to promote their business, how to price for profit, create multiple passive streams of income, and how to set up a high-impact, sales-generating business website at low cost.

The Women's Marketing Telesummit happens via teleconference so you won't have to travel to participate. A ticket costs $145 or 75 British pounds. Just call in, sit back and listen and learn. There is a long list of women in marketing and business ready to share their expertise and experiences with you. You'll also get access to a learning archive including audio recordings and written transcripts of the sessions, so you won't miss out on anything and you'll have material to go back to as needed. Satisfaction is guaranteed -- if you don't get one "breakthrough idea" from the telesummit, you can get a 100% refund. You can't beat that -- no risk. And sometimes just one great idea is all you need to really make a change in what you are doing and take off.

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make your own font

Gina Trapani at LifeHacker has a nice article today about making your own font using an online service. -- http://www.lifehacker.com/software/diy/geek-to-live--make-your-own-font-206685.php

I made my own font in 1986 on a Mac using ResEdit to draw each pixel of each letter. Fortunately it has gotten a little easier than that.

Learn the rules of poker

As with any sport or game, knowing the rules can be an important part of playing well. In the case of poker, there can be some tricky things you might overlook and end up costing yourself some money. Check out the poker rules at info.bet365-today.co.uk so you can play better poker. They have the rules organized by game, so you can learn about Omaha poker, Texas Hold-em, 7 card stud and more. Each entry has an introduction which covers the history of the particular game and the objectives, plus a How to Play section, Strategy and a Glossary (coming soon).  Once you've learned how to play a game, you can get started playing for cash prizes right away.

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A's lost

I've been an Oakland A's fan since way before I lived in Oakland going back to their teams in the early 1970's. Lately they have not made it out of the first round of the playoffs, but this year was different. I still like their chances against Detroit, but they didn't get off to a good start with their 5-1 loss. I think Oakland has better pitching overall and that will win it for them.

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Be a Ninja one day out of the year

For less than $50 you can live out your Chuck Norris fantasy and be a Ninja for Halloween. Karatedepot.com has a nice selection of ninja costumes with everything from the uniform to the slippers and socks. The deluxe ninja outfit even comes with a hardwood bokken, so if anyone touches your Halloween goodies, you can whip that out and get some quick respect.

Actually, nobody will mess with you when you show up at houses in your ninja outfit. Lots of candy corn, licorice, and Mars bars will be coming your way as you go door to door. Don't wait too long to order, but you can get your costume shipped the next day, with $2.95 for ground shipping.

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Better Results

I really like those I'm a Mac and I'm a PC commercials and I like the two actors. I think the Better Results commercial is the best one yet. The PC guy says he made a home movie and what do you know, so did Mac. Mac's movie appears as model Giselle Bundchen and then PC's movie is a man dressed in the same dress as Giselle. Pretty funny.

Get a free satellite radio

I don't get good radio reception in my car between home and work, especially in the evening. I have to switch stations several times on the 40 mile commute, so I have been thinking about getting satellite radio to take care of that problem.

So how about this deal -- Get a Free Sirius or XM Satellite Radio! SatelliteSweeps.com, part of Gulfstream Internet, gives away a free Sirius or XM satellite radio every day with nothing to buy or do other than enter the contest. Sounds like a good deal! They have already given away 1500 free satellite radios this year.

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Can't install software

I haven't ordered my new work computer yet, so of course I don't have it, but when I do get it, I won't be allowed to install any software on it. That has to be done by the IT department. This is an alien concept to me. I've never not been in control of my computers at work. Each time I want something new installed, I'll have to call for help. I guess the idea is that the system will stay secure that way, although it seems a little more unfriendly than that. Maybe more like I'll just be using the computer temporarily.

Check out Mayline Furniture

I am sitting at a desk with a glued on brown and black faux wood finish in a plastic desk chair that's falling apart, but you can do better! Check out the Mayline Furniture at BizChair.com. A nice set of office furniture can make your workday more enjoyable and it also says something positive about you, and not just that you spent a bunch of money on your furniture. Whether you are working at home or starting your own company, high quality furniture is worth the investment. Bizchair sells more Mayline Furniture than anyone -- executive desks, chairs, conference tables and computer furniture. All with free shipping. Mayline has some great looking conference tables and chairs and their office furniture is well built, with metal to metal threaded connections at all joints. Quality construction like this will last a long time. You can set your office up with cabinets, LAN racks, reception areas and even mailroom furniture. Everyone works better and longer in a nice environment with ergonomically designed work furniture. Mayline furniture looks great and will complement whatever you've already got or you can just start over with some of their stuff. Take a look at some of the great furniture they've got available and upgrade your office today.

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Working with the PC

I got my used PC at work and now I'm online and working. A big improvement. Still not sure about using Windows or Mac for my new machine but I need to decide tonight.

National Lampoon DVD of the Month

If you like funny movies, National Lampoon has something for you. They just started a monthly DVD club -- you get one funny movie a month for less than $5.00. The movies are funny ones you might have missed, like The Rage in Placid Lake and Bad Taste, by Peter Jackson, the director of The Lord of the Rings.

National Lampoon is known for their own funny movies, so their DVD club is bound to keep you laughing every month.

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Pete Wright responds to Jason Calacanis

Jason Calacanis is one of the most vocal anti-PayPerPost critics around. I find his argument a little hypocritical, although like many arguments, there is some truth to what he says. However, I think Pete Wright does a nice job rebutting Calacanis' points on his blog.

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Precharge for safe transactions

preCharge is an ecommerce provider who helps merchants maximize their transactions by preventing chargebacks before they happen. Precharge's fraud screening uses 180 parameters and their system is growing every month.  Ensuring a valid, fraud-free transaction is their goal, and they use the largest shared negative database on Earth. I hope I'm not listed in that one! Anyone who wants to spend their time processing orders without worrying about the rampant fraud online should check out preCharge.

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Extremely Sharp knives

Few things get you in touch with yourself, your shortcomings, and your ability to survive in the world like a little camping in the wilderness. Having the right tools when you are camping makes a huge difference in your experience. The right knives can be essential for preparing food, cutting rope and twine, and carving wood. Extremely-sharp.com is a great source for knives like the Bushman Premium Survival Knife, favored by Navy Seals and an excellent choice for a camping trip. Their selection of folding knives is great -- check out the Delta Five Combat Folder designed by Shane Sloan, a steal at only $12.95.

If you need a knife for diving, Extremely Sharp has some great choices. The Shark Hunter II would serve you well if you need to clean any fish you catch while spearfishing.

Pen knifes are handy when you need a knife but you can't carry one. These look like the pens you use to write, but they actually contain a knife -- check out the marbled pen knives or the lipstick knives which look like a lipstick case but contain knife blades instead of lipstick.

Extremely Sharp also provide tips like how to take care of your knives. Whatever kind of knife you need for your next outdoor adventure, you can find it at a good price at Extremely Sharp.

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Google Reader

The Google web-based RSS reader, suprisingly named Google Reader, is actually pretty nice. David Chartier, at TUAW, does a nice job talking about switching from NetNewsWire to Google Reader, something I may or may not do, but I'm sure going to make use of Google Reader once they provide me with a computer and Internet access at work.

Luggage - get a deal

Luggage just doesn't seem to last no matter what you do. If you buy expensive luggage, those baggage handlers go through it to see what other nice stuff you've got, and if you buy the cheap stuff, if falls apart on the luggage carousel and displays your underwear for everyone to admire. Why not get some discount luggage sets -- good price and good quality at the same time. Luggage-Sets.net has all kinds of luggage - brand names like Zero Haliburton, Victorinox, American Flyer, and American Tourister. You can get nice style with durability at a good price by buying through Luggage-Sets.net.

Luggage-Sets.net is a nice site run by two Canadians (who can you trust more than a couple of Canadians?). They work hard to provide you with as much useful information about luggage as they can.

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Mac or PC

I started a new job today and one of the questions is whether I want them to buy me a Mac or PC. I'm mostly a Mac user but just about everything I will be doing could be done on either platform. Of course, I can run Windows XP on an Intel Mac, so I could do both there. I am still not sure which I will get, but it's either a Dell laptop or a Mac laptop. I'll check the prices and see if the Mac is really as price competitive now as they claim.

Conflict-free diamonds

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, as the saying goes and as my wife likes to remind me around this time of year when our anniversary is coming up. A conflict-free diamond is one which is guaranteed to come from socially and environmentally responsible sources and have no connection to violence, human rights abuses, or environmentally unfriendly activity. And you thought diamonds were just crushed coal. Brilliant Earth, a San Francisco company offers Canadian diamonds which are conflict-free. They sell over the phone and online and offer all kinds of beautiful products, including engagement and wedding rings, as well as loose diamonds. You can also learn about their socially and environmentally responsible business practices. And keep a look out for the December movie with Leonardo DiCaprio which highlights human rights issues in the diamond industry. You can learn more about blood diamonds and some of the bad stuff associated with the diamond industry. Brilliant Earth gives 5% of their profits to African communities hurt by the diamond trade.

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New job tomorrow

Tomorrow morning is my first day at my new job. It will be an adjustment going back to a 9-5 schedule, or at least something close to that. I think the first day should be pretty low-key, but I hope to get some things done this week and have my work set out for the rest of the month so I can be productive. I want to have a work blog, but I have a feeling that the technology systems there may not be ready for that. We'll see.

Check out the Riskmaster

There can't be too many catchy songs about entrepreneurs, but The Riskmaster by Tim Draper is one. It's actually pretty good -- it may not make the top 40 and you probably won't be buying the CD at Tower Records (woops, I think they went out of business), but it's listenable. Check out the lyrics and listen at TheRiskmaster. Available for download.

Raiders blow it again

I'm still not a Raider fan, but I felt bad watching them fall apart in the second half today. Interceptions, a blocked punt, a fumble -- you name it, they found a way to give the game away. The absolute worst was the lateral pass which Lamont Jordan swatted down and then watched as a 49er picked it up and strolled into the end zone. 49ers win 34-20.

Badder Adder

Don't you wish someone else would do the tedious work involved in keeping people up to date with changes to your MySpace account? Computers are supposed to make your life easier, aren't they. Well, Badder Adder isn't a Scottish punk band, it's a MySpace friend adder which automates many of the tasks involved in keeping your MySpace page up to date. It's designed for bands and promoters and anyone else who needs to send out frequent updates, add friends and send invitations from their MySpace account. BadderAdder does all that for you on as many MySpace accounts as you like.

With Badder Adder you can add friends based on zip codes, so if you are a band and have a show coming up, you can easily select and notify your friends in the area. Badder Adder has instructional videos which show you how to do the various things it can do -- add friends, post bulletins, and send comments. They've also got an FAQ page which lists many of the common tasks that people want to do with Badder Adder and how to do them.

Badder Adder is $47, much less than competing products and considering it works on multiple accounts, it's a bargain. Try it out free for 30 days.