He shoots. He scores! 11/11/11

If you're a numbers person set on having a baby with a 11-11-11 birth date, today is the day to get started. (Or, you know, this weekend. These things aren't timed too specifically.)

Personally I know of a couple that have 01-01-11 as their special number. So I KNOW they'll be rethinking their weekend plans. Hopefully she'll call me tomorrow to cancel the piano lesson :)

LINK

Oakland Crimespotting

If you're like me, you've long moved out of Oakland but your roots are still there. Whether it be your parent's house, your church, or your job, you find yourself in Oakland at least once a week. You wish Oakland was still the way it used to be growing up, but times have changed and it's hard to deny that even the "safer" parts of Oakland are no longer immune to crime.

Oakland Crimespotting is an informative interactive website on all the crime reports in Oakland. For the past year, I've been tracking the crime around my old house and it's pretty scary! I cringe when I read about the activities in my former backyard: burglary-forcible entry, carjacking-strong arm, assault, robbery-firearm, battery, etc. Wow.

On any given day/week, the map is just littered with colored spots indicating how much evil is lurking throughout the city. For those of us living in the suburbs, it's quite an eye-opener seeing so many colored spots daily. But then again, even in our own perceived, safe neighborhoods, I'm sure crimes are committed everyday also, but those are usually just theft and vandalism (non-violent). Also, we have the luxury of not knowing about them.

In 2010, there were 90 murders in Oakland. That's a decrease from the 120 in 2007, but still way too high. But it's not just the murders that scare me, it's the other assault, robbery and crimes of opportunities that has me on high alert at all times. Knowing that at any intersection, some gangbanger can blow through a red light and plow into you (yes, that happened to my friend on her way to her mom's house), that gives me reason to avoid the city as much as possible.

Just last month, three people were charged with 132 felony counts including TWO DOZEN home invasion robberies "targeting mostly immigrant families of Asian descent." Two happened on Wisconsin and Delaware streets, which is above MacArthur Blvd, the psychological border that separates the good from the not-so-good.

It's a given that Asians are targeted because we tend to be weak and carry a lot of cash/gadgets. Last year there were a few high profile cases involving black on Asian hate crimes. So it's hard not to assume the worst when seeing a group of ghetto teens with saggy pants and hoodies. That's why I avoid public parts of Oakland at night, even Chinatown. Even if I find a killer deal on Craigslist after dinner, it'll have to wait until the next day.

Below I've listed a few neighborhoods that my readers may have interest in. The easiest way to follow the action is to subscribe to the RSS feed.

Chinatown: 3X

Dimond/Upper Fruitvale: 22X

Coolidge to Crestmont: 22Y

Upper High Street: 25X

Montclair: 13Z

China Hill/Haddon: 15X

For those of you new to Oakland, let me just tell you a few streets to stay away from, especially at night: San Pablo, Seminary, 73rd, International, Foothill, Martin Luther King, anything below MacArthur, and any area around the Coliseum or a BART station.

Stay safe my friends.

10 tips for becoming a happier parent

Great reading from the Mommy Files on SFGate.
-----------------

1) Talk about something besides kids with your friends. Friends are key to survival when you're a parent. They listen, provide support, make you laugh, give your family a place to go on Friday nights, and help you get into preschool. They also cause a lot of unnecessary angst because when you're a parent it's nearly impossible to not compare your parenting with that of your friends' and conclude that you're doing something wrong.

One of the best ways to combat these feelings of hurt is to lighten up on the conversations about sleep schedules, preschool admissions, and chemical toxins that are causing autism, cancer, ADHD. Do you really need to know all the details of how your friend puts her kid to bed at 6 p.m. on the dot every night? It'll just make you feel crappy about your own child's erratic bedtime.

That said, conversations about kids among friends are crucial and make you feel like you're not alone--but it's healthy for your relationship if you can talk about other things: books, celebrities, politics, raising chickens. Whatever it takes to move on from a conversation about which plastic toys contain BPA.

I recently got my hair cut and the stylist asked, "What books are you reading right now?" It was such a refreshing question...I can't remember when someone last asked me that. The sad thing is that I had to reply, "Nurture Shock."

2) Put down that parenting book. These days there's a right and a wrong way to parent. There's a right way to tell your child there's an error in his homework. There's a right way to teach your child to share. There's a right way to potty train, sleep train, discipline...and the list goes on. And there are books filled with advice on how to these things the right way--and if you read all of these books you will drive yourself crazy. You will question every move you make and fret over every mistake. I know...I have read a lot these books.

Of course, these books serve a purpose and come in handy at times, but you also need to trust your instincts. You know more than you think and the key to parenting isn't in a book (or in a blog)--it's in your heart.

3) Skip birthday parties. If you're going to three birthday parties and crossing more than one bridge in one day, you have a problem. I don't care how popular your kid is and how many friends he has, but you should never spend your entire Saturday watching children bang bats at pinatas and talking to moms about whether Noe Valley Bakery or Mitchell's Ice Cream makes better children's birthday cakes (although I have to admit this is a favorite topic of conversation of mine).

A proper Saturday involves a nap, a good book, a family bike ride or hike, a shared pot of tea with a neighbor, and a lovemaking session (with your partner) while the kids are watching a DVD.

4) Have sex--lots of it. Any therapist will tell you that a happy marriage--hey, a happy life--includes sex. That means more than once a month between periods--that means several days in a row so you can perfect technique and get the juices running.

About one in every four Americans married or living with someone say they are so sleep-deprived that they are often too tired to have sex, according to the New York Times. That Saturday nap should help.

And if you can't possibly stir up enough energy for some lovin, then at least roll over and give your partner a kiss goodnight before you fall asleep.

5) Read a book (not a parenting one) at the park. I mainly see two types of parents at the park. Those who are madly trying to respond to work emails on their iPhones and those who are fully engaged with their kids, pushing them on the swing, playing tag, digging in the sand. Oh and of course those who are chatting it up with other parents about how to get your kid into the best preschool or kindergarten. (And yes, I do all of these things regularly.)

Why not give yourself a break from all of this and bring a book to read while your kids play on the monkey bars? Of course, this isn't an option with a 2-year-old but once your child is 4 or 5 he should be able to play independently for at least 20 minutes so you can read that final chapter of "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest."

6) Hang out with childless friends. Right after you have a baby, you avoid childless friends like the plague...at least I did. I'm not sure why. Maybe I feared that I'd feel jealous of their freedom or maybe I was afraid they couldn't relate.

That was a mistake because once I started reconnecting with those friends I realized that they are the best cure for parenting overload. And no, it's not because they can drink more wine. My parent friends are actually heavier drinkers than my kidless friends (wonder why that is?). It's because they know how to talk about things outside of kids. They actually read the "New York Times" beyond the homepage, see movies in theaters, listen to the latest music, and have travel plans beyond going to Hawaii and Tahoe.

And if you want to talk about your kids, these childless friends listen and admire you for trying to be such a good parent, rather than giving you the name of a great child psychiatrist or telling you that you should read such and such parenting book.

7) Get rid of toys. A girlfriend once told me that she had to see a therapist because she became addicted to sorting her kids' heaps of toys into the right bins. She'd spend hours meticulously putting the Legos, the Lincoln Logs, the action figures, and the plastic food pieces into the appropriate bins neatly stacked in a giant Pottery Barn shelving unit. The scary thing was that I remember thinking that if I had a therapist, I'd probably bring up the same topic because I was also obsessed with toy sorting. The rest of my house was a complete and total disaster but the toys were always organized.

Bottom line: Our kids have way too many toys--and it's overwhelming for your kids to keep them organized and you shouldn't waste your precious, little time doing so. We're all drowning in plastic even though we hold no-gifts birthday parties and pass out potted plants as party favors. The toys are causing us stress so don't be afraid to empty some of those toy bins into a garbage bag with stuff and donate it to a preschool or a children's hospital.

8) Pull your child out of at least one organized activity. Your child doesn't need to master the violin, learn to swim all four strokes, perform in a dance recital at the Center for Performing Arts, paint like Picasso, and sing like Barbra Streisand all before age 10. Yes, it's tempting to throw your kids into a million activities because in the Bay Area there are so many cool things kids can do--from organic cooking classes to mommy and me yoga. But have you ever noticed that driving from La Petit Baleen in the Presidio and then rushing to get to Art Works in time for that 6:30 p.m. class is a little exhausting? I have.

Give yourself--and your kid--a break. Your children can still learn to play the guitar in middle school.

9) Sleep, exercise, eat healthy. If you're a parent, you're probably not getting enough sleep. In fact, you're probably walking around like a zombie. The average adult needs at least 71/2 hours every night, according to the Huffington Post, and most parents, especially working moms, aren't getting this. Make sleep a priority.

Also, if you can, make exercise a priority--even a quick walk around the block will help clear the mind, burn a few calories, and air you out.

And finally, try to eat healthy. You probably feed your kids organic blueberries and yogurt for breakfast or at least a bowl of cereal--but what are you eating?

10) Say "no"--and don't feel guilty. It's OK if you don't want to play babies, Barbies, Bionicles, Storm Troopers...You can say no and not feel like you're being a bad parent. Yes, it's important to play and interact with your kids but they also need to learn to entertain themselves. Sit on the couch. Paint your nails. Make a pot of tea. Do something for yourself while enjoying the sounds of your little one playing on his own.

And finally, I'll leave you with this fact from David Code, author of "To Raise Happy Kids, Put Your Marriage First": "Studies show today's parents spend more time with their kids, and yet today's kids don't seem happier, more independent or successful."

Macworld 2011

Every year, somebody asks if I'm going to Macworld. I usually say yes. And then the next question I get is: "How can I get a free pass?"

Well good news to you. Free registration for an expo pass begins today through July 26. So go get yours now.

LINK

Google Voice is now open to all

From Beta News:

Google Voice, the popular and often controversial VoIP, voicemail, and messaging service from Mountain View search giant Google is now open for anyone in the U.S. to use.

Previously, you could only open a Google Voice account if you received an invitation from a user already participating in the program.

But with already over one million users in the invitation-only version, Google has opened Voice to anyone.

"We're proud of the progress we've made with Google Voice over the last few years, and we're still just scratching the surface of what's possible when you combine your regular phone service with the latest web technology. It's even more amazing to think about how far communication has come over the last couple hundred years," Google said today.

To sign up for Google Voice, click here

My previous blog:
Google Voice is sooo cool!!!

Watch movies and sports online

I recently discovered a new website for streaming sports, tv shows and movies. It's called ATDHE.NET (don't ask how to pronounce it or what it means).

As you know, we have very basic cable at home, so I only get to watch the lousy Raiders away-games during the Fall. With ATDHE.NET, I get to watch baseball, hockey, NBA and ESPN, as well as a variety of other tv shows.

The three movie channels tend to be HBO-type action-packed guy movies (no chick flicks) and the quality varies. Sometimes the picture is stretched, sometimes it's blurry, and sometimes the channel is just offline. It's hit and miss but most of the time, there's something good on and it's good enough for me (life is so much sweeter when you lower your standards). Normally it shows older movies already out on DVD, but just this week, they were showing a handy-cam version of Russell Crow's Robin Hood, followed by and excellent version of Prince of Persia. So you never know what may come on.

Give it a try. You may find something you like.

Poor Jon. Poor Tony.

So did you watch Dancing with the Stars last night? It's week 2 and believe it or not, I've watch every episode so far. This season's 11 contestants are the most intriguing thus far. Personally, I'm rooting for Evan because he's the most likeable (and I don't even care if you were to tell me he's gay). Evan all the way! Many of the others are either too snotty, or too slutty, or just has that yuck factor. But today I'm only here to talk about one, Kate Gosselin.

I've never seen her reality show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, but I've heard plenty of the demise of the show/marriage from the tabloids and news. I mean, who hasn't? Naturally, the public would sympathize with Kate, while victimizing Jon as the no-good cheating, absent father that abandoned the family. But after last night's spotlight of Kate's meltdown, I actually feel sorry for Jon. I'm actually amazed Jon stayed with her that long. And those poor kids...

This woman Kate is insane! What a piece of work! She says, "I love how you teach but you're not taking into consideration how I learn." Translation: "Everything you say is right but I'm too much of a psycho control-freak to care."

Her partner is Tony – arguably the nicest, soft-spoken, most patient dance partner in the show – and she drove him to quit. Wow! Good luck on your love life after this show. Any potential suitors have been given the green light to run! It's obvious to everyone but herself when she says repeatedly, "I don't get it."

Unfortunately, this unofficial YouTube video shrunk the actual performance to promote another site, but believe me, you missed nothing. Even my wife said "she was painful to watch." Honestly, I've seen Chinatown merchants swing a bag of rice with more elegance. Poor Tony. Hopefully tonight she'll get voted off.

And to you husbands out there, I encourage you to sit through this video. By the end of the clip, I guarantee you'll love your wife even more. If not, then at least you'll find comfort knowing you're not alone (although Jon got out). God bless your soul.

To watch the entire episode, go to ABC.com.

Perfect stocking-stuffer for the women in your life

Is this a great invention or what? It's called a FUD (Female Urination Device). So for all you women who ever experienced penis envy, this product is for you! No more standing in line. No more pulling out those seat liners. No more hovering over a filthy can. Just find a tree/bush/private corner and go, like God intended throughout the ages.

It even comes in a 3-pack, so get one for your sister, mother, daughter, whoever. Or keep an extra one in your backpack for those long bike rides, or in your glove compartment for those tailgate parties, or in your purse when those porta-potties are too disgusting... the scenarios are endless where this may come in handy.

I bet next year they'll introduce a deluxe model where the end has a nib where you can screw a plastic bottle into. Hmm, maybe I should suggest that to them.

LINK:
http://www.go-girl.com/

Google Voice is soooo cool!!

Oh no, not another phone number!! YES! But this is THE ONLY number you'll ever need to consolidate ALL your numbers. For now and forever on.

I'm so excited! I just signed up and got my free Google Voice phone number. I was given about 100 phone number choices in either Oakland or San Leandro (there were none available in the Hayward, Fremont or San Jose zip codes). There were also quite a few for the San Ramon 925 area code. Hopefully they'll add more as I'm sure they'll all get scooped up quickly.

During my first week I can already think of some great situations for Google Voice:

• For your unsuspecting spouse who thinks you go to work everyday but instead you're really playing golf.
• For Craigslist transactions: After the deal is done, you can block/screen their number in case they call back complaining about how the thing you sold them doesn't work.
• For your boss, your ex, your mother-in-law... so that when they call you, you can automatically kick them into voice mail.
• For all those business (banks, Priceline, Amazon, etc.). Sure, you want them to have your real number in case it's something urgent, but at the same time you're worried that they may use your number for solicitation.
• For your kids' school or any other place where they must reach you in case of an emergency.
• For that cute guy you met at Starbucks you wished you haven't given your number to after coming home, you Googled his name to find out he's a registered sex offender.
• To that nerdy salesman at BestBuy you agreed to exchange numbers with if he lets you use his employee discount.
• For that long lost friend you reconnected on Facebook that keeps wanting to get together but you're not sure if he/she is mentally stable.
• For anyone else you don't want to give out your real phone numbers.

I'm sure you can think of many other situations where Google Voice would be handy, like free calls to continental U.S. and Canada. From what I've tested so far, the sound quality is a lot better than Skype. I think the single best feature is that all voice mails are transcribed into and emailed to you as an incredibly accurate text message! Very cool! For kicks, I tried leaving a message in Cantonese. Unfortunately, it doesn't do translatation. It just attempts to transcribe into English sounding words. Pretty funny nonetheless. I wonder what would happen if you played some rap music...

Set up is a breeze, configuring everything online like you do your email. No more "Press 1 to continue in English". You can create groups and customize who gets through and who is forever banished to voicemail purgatory. All callers are prescreened with their recorded voice before you can can accept their call. It's like having a secretary answer all your calls. You really got to try it!

Currently there is a waiting list, so sign up for your invitation here ASAP. It took about three weeks for mine to arrive. In the near future I'll be able to personally invite three lucky souls to Google Voice. Soooo, you all can start sucking up to me at any time :)


LINK: GOOGLE VOICE

Sex Talk with Dr. Dan

For those of you who missed the last YFC meeting (Christine, Peggy, Veronica, Wayland, Wenna), boy did you miss a great meeting! In our continual study of the book, Men are Waffles. Women are Spaghetti, we talked about sex, and lots of it! Actually, Dr. Dan and his lovely wife did all the talking, we just sat in wide-eyed silence soaking it all in. It brought back memories of junior high learning about contraceptives.

Did you know?
Did you know that P.M.S. is actually a real thing and not some made up excuse? ...or at least Dr. Dan seems to think so. Even though there’s scientific evidence, I’m still not totally convinced. There are women I know who are a certain way year-round.

Did you know that the United States is the most sexually active nation in the whole world? Even more so than Sweden and France? And that the Japanese are the least active? I guess if you take your mind off of sex all the time, you can build some great TV’s and cars! No offense to my American-born Japanese readers (who are really American anyway). Just telling the facts.

Did you know that the average married couple has sex 98 times a year? Ninety-eight times! If my math is correct, that’s twice a week, every week, minus three weeks of vacation! Man, I need to start clearing off my calendar and play less Scrabble! The real eye-opener is when you think about it, if you’re only doing it 50 times, then there’s someone else doing it 146 times! Speaking of which...

After the lesson, Myron (aka Han Solo) quickly announced that Grace is expecting their fourth child in September! Maybe instead of being Han Solo, perhaps he should be known as Samson. All I can say to Myron is, “Don’t cut that hair!” And let’s not forget about Grace. With three kids and that breakneck schedule, she still makes time for Scrabble and reading my blog. Wow, I am indeed honored. Grace, you are truly amazing!

So back to the meeting. Dr. Dan delivered the lesson with utmost professionalism and a straight face. His Powerpoint was informative, complete with entertaining video clips from Everyone Loves Raymond that illustrates the sexual tension between husband and wife. We noticed that when discussing certain awkward topics, he tended to talk a little faster. Haha. At the end I commended Dr. Dan for his great seminar. His response was, “I can’t believe I said ‘ejaculation’ at church!”

See you at the next meeting!

Juicy Fat Friday

Lately I noticed that many of my Facebook friends like to update their status with something food related. Some examples are: "XX is stuffed from a BBQ." or "XX needs to go work out (but can't move from eating too much)." or "XX fed her kids scones and whip cream for dinner." And why not? Food is the universal language for living the good life. That's why people love to take photos of their food. It's a subtle of way of bragging, saying "Yeah, I can ingest 2000 calories in one sitting and you can't!"

Below are some photos I found at the website: thisiswhyyourefat.com. Seeing that many of my readers love junk food and don't necessarily believe in moderation, this website will either scare you into healthier living or offer you tons of menu ideas for your next party. After viewing some of the entrees, all of a sudden those deep fried twinkies don't seem that bad anymore. I can almost smell the grease!

And no, I'm not calling anyone fat, that's just the name of the website. If you think you're fat, blame your parents. Fact is, if you're not eating well now, here's proof that you can be eating a lot worse! So if anything, you should be feeling a lot better about yourself right about now. Yes, you are welcome!

Other than the McNuggetini, I don't think there was anything on that website I wouldn't try. That chocolate covered bacon burger looked especially tasty. Below are a couple of my favorites.

Turbaconucken – chicken stuffed in duck stuffed in turkey wrapped in bacon.

Krispy Kreme bacon cheddar burgers

Pretty cool huh? He used a wired cheese cutter to get the cream off.

You can see the rest of the scrumptious entrees at the link below. So what's for lunch today?

Thisiswhyyourefat.com

Save the Cheerleader. Save your Marriage.

Oh Man!! I don't know how long I've been waiting for tonight! The return of prime time television with all new shows. Tonight, the only show I'm looking forward to is Heroes. And tonight, it will be a 2-hour premier, preceded by a one-hour recap special. So a total of three hours!! 8:00-11:00. Woohoo!!

But there's a problem. Tonight I'm playing tennis after work so I'll be home late. After dinner I'll have to do homework and put the kids to bed and maybe shower (heehee). By then it'll be 9:30 and I'm so tired, I'll be in bed by 10. So in reality, I won't get to watch at all tonight. No problem, I'll record it and watch it at my leisure sometime this week.

But wait, there's another problem. Chrissy wants to watch Heroes too, but she also needs to record Dancing with the Stars, Prison Break, Terminator, and Boston Legal – ALL of which falls into the Monday 8-11 time slot too. And I was hoping to catch some Monday Night Football... What to do? What to do?

Sure, multiple televisions may help, but it's hardly the ideal solution to catching 3 shows at the same time.

Enter the digital video recorder (DVR). Problem solved.

We got our first ReplayTV five years ago and I've been preaching to my friends about it ever since. It has single-handedly made the biggest improvement in our entertainment life! For the last five years, we've never had to watch the clock waiting for a show to start. We've never had to endure commercial after commercial, after hearing Ryan Seacrest say, "...after the break." We've never had a boring evening surfing the channels looking for something – anything – to watch. We always have a backlog of prerecorded shows ready at the press of a button.

According to a recent survey of 1000 DVR owners, they ranked the DVR as the 3rd most important appliance in the house, behind the washing machine and microwave. In terms of technology, it ranked second behind the cellular phone. "Intriguingly, the vast majority of respondents would rather give up their landline phone, dishwasher, radio and MP3 player than their DVR,"

And 79% of them claimed that the DVR improved their relationship with their spouse or significant other! I don't doubt this one bit. I would totally hate anyone who would make me sit through an episode of Brothers and Sisters or Ugly Betty.

If you're like me, underprivileged and still living in 2004 without an HDTV, and subscribing to basic analog Comcast cable tv at $16/month, a ReplayTV (with free built-in lifetime subscription) is the best low-cost solution. However, if you subscribe to HD or digital cable, most likely a DVR option is included at a sometimes-additional monthly rate.

It's hard to describe the peace of mind we have not having to chase down shows anymore. Chrissy's Our biggest dilemma now is to juggle and distribute the above 5 shows onto the 3 networked ReplayTV's we have. And each of our machines can hold 120 hours so they'll be working like mad this fall season. I know most of you don't have the same obsessive viewing habits that she we have, but still, even recording a few shows here and there will forever save you from watching junk television.

As parents, we always look forward to the best times to vegitate, like after the kids go to bed, or for you stay-at-home moms – when they go to school. That's the time when you'll always have the shows YOU want to watch, ready and waiting. That's much better than channel surfing the crap talk shows and soaps during the middle of the day. And when you blow past all the commercials, you're actually saving 20 minutes per hour-long show! So essentially, those 3 hours of Heroes will only take 2 hours to watch! (And I won't have to watch those crappy "I'm a PC" ripoff commercials from M$)

Watch in peace, watch in succession, watch on your own terms. You watch your shows, she watches hers. Your marriage is happy once again. What's not to love?

So if you haven't hopped on the HDTV bandwagon yet and you're interested in getting a ReplayTV, the prices range from under $100 for a Showstopper model to $300 for a 5000 series with auto commercial-skip (talk to me before you buy). Look on Craigslist or Ebay for a used one (they don't make them new anymore). The only tricky part is that you'll need either a phone jack or ethernet jack near your TV. Other than that, it's super easy to program, even a second-grader can do it.


Source:
Survey: DVRs more important than dishwashers, iPods

Mommybloggers

I just read this article on SFgate:

'Mommybloggers' turn their hobby into profits

Most of these mothers started online journals for personal reasons. But a handful have taken blogging from a sanity-saving hobby to a career, and many others - more than 1,000 in BlogHer's ad network alone - are collecting at least a little extra income through their blogs.

...with the fact that mothers are more likely to blog than the general Internet population - 15 percent of mothers with kids under 18 blog, compared with 12 percent of all online adults...

This was an eye-opener for me. But after careful thought, I think it makes sense.

It's a known fact that women talk way more than men. And for the many stay-at-home moms, there's usually no one to talk to! As my fellow-blogger Al would witness, those moms that pick up their kids after school... they talk like crazy! I mean they're trapped at home all day with their thoughts and finally they can get out and unload! Why else do they come 15 minutes before the bell rings?

Women just love to share their life experiences, whether it be raising their children, trying new recipes, or finding that perfect mascara... they want to spread the word! Don't get me wrong, men like to share too, but they don't make an effort to congregate. They only share if they all just happen to be together (and during commercial breaks).

I just did a calculation of my known readers. 60% are women. And 90% of them are moms. I'll admit that although I may be smarter than them in some things, I'm sure they're smarter than me in many other things, like parenting, cooking and mascara. Truth be told, a lot of my "smarts" is from reading other people's blogs – and I read a LOT of blogs. All bloggers do it. It's called research. You think I just come up with all this stuff??

So to all of you out there, especially moms, I encourage you to start a blog. It could be real simple, like posting some pics of your family, or pics of that awesome birthday cake you just created, or sharing that Father's Day is the best day to go to Disneyland... You have a wealth of knowledge in you. Why not share it with your friends?

This is what I do. I don't know a lot. But even with what little I do know, I have enough material to fill 52 weeks! Give it a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised how many people are actually interested in what you have to say.

Oh yeah, and don't forget, if you're good, you can make some spending cash too!

Link: Article

Stop the hacking

It started a few weeks ago with baby. Then the boys got it, and now Chrissy has it. Everyone in the house (except for me) is hacking. It seems like at the end of a cold, the coughing just lingers on and on forever. And of course they still continue to eat ice cream, oranges and ice water. Last night I told Chrissy that I read about a better cure for coughing. She asked what it was and I told her to be sure to read my blog tomorrow!

With the recent warnings about cold medicine and young children, we've been a bit reluctant to give our kids much of anything. We just let them suffer. As for the adults, my mom loves the DM, Chrissy the CF and I love the Guaifenesin with codeine. Dustin hates all medicine, but Colby loves it. He think it's candy.

So I was thrilled to hear about a product proven to be a better alternative to cough medicine – Honey! Read article here. That's great news! No need to worry about overdosing and forcing them to take it. It's something they already like. Now my only question is where to find buckwheat honey. Trader Joe's maybe?

The study, published Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, found that children who received a small dose of buckwheat honey before bedtime slept better and coughed less than those who received either a common over-the-counter cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) or nothing at all.

This study is making big news. If you Google the story, you'll find a ton of articles about it. They say a tablespoon of honey 30 minutes before bedtime should do it. For me I prefer a bowl of honey with a bucket of Popeye's chicken :p But I suspect that would worsen the cough.

One Year Old

Today is Justine's first birthday. It's amazing how one year just flies by so quickly. People always ask me if raising a girl is any different than raising a boy. Well at this point, not really (except for diaper time). At this age, they all act the same. And she's on track to walk next month (like the boys) and also stay around the 25 percentile (like the boys).

In some ways she's easier, but that can be because my mom is now around to help. In other ways it's harder because now I have two other troublemakers to deal with – plus homework. So life gets both easier and harder at the same time. You just have to learn to adapt, pick your battles, and be prepared for anything (if that's even possible).

Another question I often get is "are you guys done?" Well as much as I would love to have a 4th child, it is rather unlikely because Chrissy says no. Perhaps if we were both younger... and nicer... and if our boys were better behaved... Again, unlikely.

The above picture was taken last week. Colby is missing because all of a sudden, he no longers knows how to smile. I can't begin to tell you how many pictures he's ruined because of his weird facial expressions. I've spent many hours in Photoshop trying to fix his face, posture, etc. Strange kid. So now the easiest thing to do is just exclude him from family photos. It's ok. That's the benefit of having three kids, you can get rid of one and still look like a complete family.

I recently found this helpful link: Improve Your Photos in 60 Seconds. It lists quite a few basic and useful ideas on getting the best content and composition in your pics. Unfortunately, no tips on getting your over-active children to properly pose for a group picture :(

And if you need more memory for your camera, here's a great deal on a 2gb SD card for only $14.95 and free delivery. Remember, a 2gb card will get you 16 minutes of high-res video. Also during the checkout process, you will also be offered a free magazine subscription or a $10 rebate. Get it while it lasts.

I am not alone

Ha! And you thought I was the only one! Well according to this revealing article, there's quite a few of you out there (of course I'm only talking about the sleeping part of the survey). In a follow up to my previous blog where I talked about how napping will prevent heart disease, I would just like to re-emphasize how popular this pastime really is. Below is my favorite quote from the article:

Across all professions surveyed, 45 percent admitted to having fallen asleep on the job. And nearly two-thirds of government workers -- 64 percent -- admitted to falling asleep on the job.

And as for the other 36 percent, well they're probably lying.

As for the kissing part, I have no comment :) Honestly I don't know why this was included in the survey because it's not even remotely related – unless of course you're dreaming of kissing someone... But I can safely say that there is no one here I would want to kiss. And based on today's finding about how 20 out of 33 lipsticks contain lead, I think we all should be rather careful kissing anyone. Eww.

Top 10 Ways to Sleep Smarter
I think there are many reasons why I'm always tired. One is because Justine is still not sleeping through the night and I'm in charge of the middle-of-the-night feedings. Second is because my cube is so quiet and tucked away so no one knows I'm here. And third because I eat a big lunch everyday (hey with both my wife and mom cooking, we always have plenty of leftovers).

Here is an article I found that lists 10 ways to sleep smarter. I've listed a few below that applies to me.

10. Reduce Screen Time Before Bed
Stop checking your email or watching TV just before bedtime and you'll sleep better. A recent study shows that people who consume electronic media (read: stare at a backlit screen) just before bedtime report lower-quality sleep even when they get as much sleep as non-pre-bedtime screenheads.

8. Eat to Enhance Sleep
Some foods are more conducive to a better night's sleep than others. You already knew about warm milk, chamomile tea and turkey, but Yahoo Food lists others, like bananas, potatoes, oatmeal and whole-wheat bread. You find yourself fighting off afternoon droopy eyelids at the office? Here are some pointers on eating a less nap-inducing lunch.

7. Master the Power Nap
Slowly but surely, the benefits of the classic, 20-minute power nap are getting more recognition, with big companies installing sleep pods at the office and more software applications like Pzizz helping to set the right power nap aural scene. Here's how to get the perfect nap from the author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life, and more on how and why power naps work.

Well today being Friday and raining, I'm sure I'll be passing out just about any time now. So have a nice weekend and nighty night.

The Choice is Yours

Normal, non-techie, sensible, productive, tidy, reliable, creative, don't-want-to-be-interrupted-by-system-nonsense people will prefer the iMac. Others, unfortunately, will go straight to Dell.

Dear Tortured Souls,

I know over half my readers are logging on using Windows machines (aka PCs – rhymes with feces). Oh why use such an unreliable and boring system with unfriendly intolerant software? Don't you deserve better?

Apple recently announced the new iMac desktop computer. Fast, elegant, and fully loaded with the best programs normal people actually use (iPhoto, iMovie, etc.). But no, you continue to wallow in your clunky system using Internet Explorer, constantly closing pop-up windows and installing service patches and antivirus updates. Also you're getting the ire of your friends when you email them a 10mb attachment of 5 photos. Oh the agony.

"But Macs are so expensive!" Not necessarily so says this article. PC's are cheaper only in the sub-$500 range. But even in that price range, you can find a very capable used or refurbished Mac Mini. Remember, OS X is what you're buying. The computer is just a shiny container. It's software, not hardware, that will cause the most downtime.

Long-time Mac-basher John Dvorak wrote about his Mac experience:

I have no plans to move to the Mac platform for my personal use. That said, I have noticed that I've been recommending the machine to friends and neighbors when they want to know what kind of system they should buy.

I can see why the Mac is gaining market share, because the rationale for using one is simple. Do you want to deal with the agony of antivirus, firewall, antispyware, and other touchy software subsystems, many of which do not work well? Or do you want to boot Microsoft Word and write a document and be done with it?

Here's another article that claim the Mac is set to soar.

The word of mouth for any Macintosh is remarkably good, and with the negative press that Vista is getting, the shine on Apple only gets better and better. To put it simply, Apple's Macintosh is becoming the most logical choice for those looking to buy a new computer.

But I know many of you will probably never venture onto the fairer platform. You'll continue to ask me for help on converting PDFs, making slideshows and ripping videos because you "can't" do it on your machine. And that's ok, I don't mind helping (I currently have two video projects on my cluttered desk awaiting my attention). I know for you that your next upgrade will be a Vista box because you want the latest and greatest. So to you I offer this article yesterday from Walt Mossberg:

"If you install Boot Camp on a well-equipped Mac model, it can become a blazing fast Vista computer. A few days ago I bought a top-of-the-line model of Apple’s new iMac line, and installed Boot Camp and Vista. I then tested the machine using Vista’s built-in Windows Experience Index, a rating system that goes from 1 to 5.9, with scores above 3.0 generally required for full, quick performance. My iMac scored a 5.0, the best score of any consumer Vista machine I have tested. Obviously, a tricked-out high end Dell or HP box might do as well or better, and a lesser Mac might do worse. But the score was very impressive for a computer that wasn’t designed with Vista in mind."

In fact, our Mac is SO easy to use, today Dustin (age 7) called me on iChat from home to chat during lunch. Surely you are smarter than a 2nd grader.

Strategies for Eating and Cleaning

We love eating at buffet restaurants. There's no waiting for the food and it's all-you-can-eat. I wouldn't recommend it if you're trying to impress a girl, but for families with young kids, it's a top choice. Below is a great article about what to eat and how to get your money's worth, because we know how expensive a buffet can be. It's a real fun read and you'll get a kick out of it:

Eat Your Money's Worth at All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

On the home front, this is my 3rd day of being in charge (on weekends, I shift the duties back to Chrissy). I'm slowly adjusting to the abbreviated naps and the general tiredness. Homework is a constant battle but I'm developing some game plans. Here's what I do: I secretly arrange a playdate with Dustin's friend. I tell Dustin if he reads for one hour, I try to invite someone over. After he's done reading and I make the call, I tell him to clean the house. He's so excited, he'll do anything, and fast. Great incentive to get things done.

Lunch at my desk again

I have this coworker that eats out for lunch everyday. Amazingly, he's been going to Togo's at least once a week for the last 7 years. Even more amazing is that he orders the same sandwich every time. Sometimes for variety he goes to Subway instead...and orders the same sandwich. He estimates in that time period, he's spent over $2000 eating 400 turkey swiss sandwiches.

I on the other hand, pack a lunch almost every day. I am very fortunate to have 2 cooks at home (my wife and my mom) that prepare dinner every night with plenty of leftovers. We have a microwave in the office and my cube is tucked away in the corner where I have lots of privacy. Believe me, I love to go out to eat, but I also enjoy the peace at my desk where I can quietly watch a video or work on my blog.

Furthermore, eating out takes effort. You have to drive, find parking, and wait for your food. So you waste time, gas and risk getting into an accident with all those other folks rushing back to the office. Plus, restaurant parking lots are notorious for getting door dings. You have 4 people getting out of the car, you just know some bonehead will let their door fly open.

When I do go out, my two favorite fast food places are still El Pollo Loco and Yoshinoya's Beef Bowl (from my college days). Both are somewhat healthy and they're not burgers. Lunch is especially enjoyable when I can meet up with friends outside of work. I think when you eat with coworkers, you can easily find yourself caught up in all the company criticism and gossip. So staying at my desk and keeping my thoughts to myself is better for everyone.

Today I ran across this article about how much money you save by not eating out. The annual cost savings is $988! (not to mention the health benefits too). You may not like the menu and I think the numbers may be a bit skewed (like how do you calculate 14 cents of mayo?), but the $6 avg. for lunch is accurate. I know half my readers are stay-at-home moms that often pack a lunch for their kids. Why not pack one for your hubby too? What better way to save money and show him how much you love him? Guys are like kids, we love those little packs of cookies and chips (not so much the carrot sticks). He'll appreciate your effort and save time. And with the remaining half of his lunch hour, he can try to sneak in a nap.

Frugal Lunch by Clever Dudette

And if you're feeling even more loving, here's another great read:
Clean Like A Maid

And for you slightly older folks, on the same site, you'll see that Mary Tyler Moore's house is for sale. The kitchen is incredible!