Luke's First Plane Ride ...

Here is Mr. Magukas at the airport for his first airplane trip ... to Denver for the weekend with Mom ...

Rich or Poor?

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They stayed with a very poor family. When they returned, the father asked the son what he thought of their trip.

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Google or Yahoo!

Some people swear by Google and others swear by Yahoo!. Which is better? Take a look at this cleaver app ... search Google and Yahoo! at the same time: http://us.searchboth.net/. The homepage of SearchBoth is a little cluttered and even a little confusing, but the results are interesting. Experiment with a couple of searches and see if you would consider switching search engines.

Take a Nap for Memory ...

I knew there was a reason I liked to take a nap! Studies (wish I had a reference, however) suggest that our memories are solidified while we sleep. Our brain does a lot of work during our rest – almost like it is a hard drive busy filing, organizing, and making sense of everything we’ve discovered while we were awake.  When you've learned a new concept or information that you want to retain, consider taking a nap or reviewing it right before going to bed.  This will give your brain the best chance to assimilate the new information.

Blue Planet Run ...

Water, especially good drinking water, is a precious resource and one that we sometimes take for granted. Blue Planet Run: The Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World is a spectacular book that is now available as a free PDF download from Amazon. You will be amazed at the conditions some people face thoughout the world. Take a few minutes to "thumb through" the book and then count your blessings. Click HERE for the download. 

Foxit Reader: A Free, Lightweight Adobe Reader Alternative ...

If you spent much time opening PDF files with Adobe Reader you know that Reader is not the fastest application under the sun. Plus, Reader provides its share of annoyances when doing updates. For a free alternative application, give Foxit Reader for Windows a try. Foxit Reader is much smaller than Adobe Reader, so one of the best things about it is how fast it loads and unloads. It also makes it easy to convert PDF documents to text.

In addition to offering a very useful toolbar, there is a tabbed feature that works very much like working with a tabbed browser. You can also annotate PDFs with your own text, highlight text, and much more. But, the best feature is how fast Foxit opens and closes PDF files.

Multitasking ...

How successful are you at multitasking? Here is a quote I like:

"Multitasking is the art of distracting yourself from two things you’d rather not be doing by doing them simultaneously."

I find that to do some thing well, I need to devote my full and undivided attention to it. How about you?

The Ultimate Steal ...

Hey students ... do you need or want the latest version of Microsoft Office 2007? If so, follow this link to the Ultimate Steal and get Office 2007 Ultimate for $59.95. That is a 91% savings! Notice that you can also get Office Visio Professional 2007 for only $55.95. All you need is your .edu email account. Don't let this deal pass you by! Sorry Apple users, this is Windows only.

New Photo Blog ...

Please check-out my new blog, AdamsMarshall, dedicated exclusively to my photography "hobby". Like onlyFH, only photography related items will appear on the AdamsMarshall blog. Let me know what you think. Some day I might reveal why the blog is called AdamsMarshall!

Be Ready Utah ...

The state of Utah has a great web site dedicated to Emergency Preparedness, called BeReadyUtah. A message from the Lt. Governor states:

"This site is designed to be a toolbox to ready you and your family for unforeseen events such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and even personal financial disasters. Be Ready Utah provides valuable information for individuals and families, public safety professionals, business and civic leaders, school administrators and volunteer managers."

Everyone can benefit from spending a few minutes browsing through the site:

http://www.beready.utah.gov/

Google Reader ...

Several people have asked me recently about Google Reader. Reader is one of the best ways to keep up-to-date on web sites you are interested in, including blogs, without actually going directly to the site. Reader constantly monitors the sites you follow and notifies you when there is a change or update. It uses something called RSS, or Real Simple Syndication. Don't worry about that ... just click on the following link for a tour and then login. By-the-way, if you already have a Gmail account - and if you don't, you should - you already have a Reader account!

http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html

Reader will keep you up-to-date and help simplify your life!

Electricity Costs ...

I saw these numbers recently and thought I would pass them along. You can draw your own conclusions. The costs are monthly averages based on the national average price of electricity:

• TV/DVD ... $8.21
• Lighting ... $10.95
• Refrigerator ... $20.59
• Central Air Conditioning ... $44.35

In general, the hotter something gets, or the larger the motors is, the more electricity is used.

New Family History Blog ...

I have started a new Family History blog that you may want to checkout and bookmark. There is not much there yet, but I have a long list of items that will start to appear. Let me know what you think. Here is the link: www.onlyFH.blogspot.com

Urine Test ...

I got this from a friend and agree completely. What do you think?

I have to pass a urine test for my job. Like a lot of us in Utah, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt, doing drugs, while I work. Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

Free Conference Call Service ...

The next time you need to get your family or other large group together to discuss an upcoming event or issue, take a look at a new free conference call service call Rondee. It looks attractive, since you can schedule the call via the Internet and even record the call. Signing up for an account is a breeze.

Genealogy Without Sources is Mythology ...

How can you tell if the information posted by individuals on Internet genealogy sites is valid? Some sites have sources, others don't. How do you know what, and when, to believe something you find online?

A good rule of thumb is ... Don't trust anything you find on the 'net (or elsewhere) if it doesn't have sources.

Without sources you can't verify it, and you don't know whether the information came from a reliable source or whether it came from Great Aunt Martha who may have some of it right, but may have mixed up a lot too. Or, maybe the info came from a book written by someone 100 years ago who didn't have access to sources we have now, or who just plain got it wrong.

Perhaps the information was transcribed for a web page from a book source. That book source was transcribed from a microfilm record which was itself transcribed from the original. The chance of human error is greatly increased with each succeeding transcription. Even if the information has a source, you should double-check it personally, either from the original source or from an independent source. VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY!

When in doubt, remember ... Genealogy Without Sources is Mythology.

Email Subject Lines ...

Have you ever sent someone an email that you needed them to reply to? Or, do you frequently send emails that are "information only" and don't expect or need a reply? Do you ever get messages that have vague or non-descript subject lines? Here are several tips to make email life a little easier.

If you really need someone to reply to your email, try indicating that fact in the subject line. For example, suppose you send a message asking for some input for an upcoming meeting about a new restaurant idea called the Dog House. Try a subject line like this:

Subject: Menu Ideas for the Dog House ... Reply Requested

When the recipient receives the email, there should be no question that the you are expecting a reply. If you send a message that is for "information only", indicate that in the subject line like this:

Subject: Menu Ideas for the Dog House ... Information Only

How many times do you get an email with a subject line so vague, that you have no idea what the message is about? Or, how about the person that sends a two or three paragraph message just to tell you they will be out of the office next Friday? Here is a way to make the subject line be the message ... use EOM (End of Message) like this:

Subject: I will be Out-of-the-Office Next Friday, August 1, 2008 ... EOM

That's it! You don't need to put anything in the body of your message. Here are some benefits of using EOM:

1. EOM saves your recipient's time. Don't you value your time? Isn't it nice when others value your time too? By keeping your subject line short and using EOM you are showing the people you send to you value their time. They'll thank you for it (when they know what it means).
2. It saves you time. Why write the body of a message if you don't have to?
3. You craft better subject lines. One of the reasons people might glaze over when they receive your email is a subject line that doesn't grab them or give enough information. With EOM, you have no choice but to create a powerful subject line. The space for subjects is limited. You create better subject lines because you can't write a whole paragraph.
4. EOM encourages others to EOM. Once people see the resulting effectiveness of EOM, they will begin crafting EOMs of their own. It's win-win. You get concise, non-time wasting emails and they get the same.
5. EOM forces you to keep email messages focused on a single topic. Good email etiquette says you should keep the number of topics in an individual email to only one. If you have only one subject line to work with, you cannot cover more than one topic.
6. EOM guarantees 100% readership. We've all had the frustrating experience of waiting on someone to read our important email and respond. Sometimes we wait a long time and follow up to find out they haven't even read the message at all. Perhaps the most powerful advantage of EOM is 100% readership. Why? Because your entire message is in the subject line. Your message becomes impossible to ignore because it comes in front and center—no need to double click.

Give these ideas a try. Email is an essential part of our lives - both business and personal. Because most of us send and receive many emails every day, why not be as efficient as possible with our time and the time of those who receive our messages.

Gmail Archive - The Least Understood Button ...

Gmail's archive feature is likely the least understood button found on Gmail's navigation. What exactly does archive mean? Archive does not mean "backup" or some other form of off-site storage. It also doesn't mean that it files things away in hard to reach areas. It simply moves email out of your inbox. That's it.

Archived email is still immediately available using Gmail's search function or by clicking the All Mail button. The beauty of Archive is that it hides emails that you have processed. Once you're read an email, or read and responded to an email, clicking the archive button will save the email OUTSIDE of your inbox.

Once you're done with emails, stop looking at them. Turn your inbox into a place for pending issues ONLY.

Have Fun with Photos ...

There a number of simple tools available to make quick fixes and/or changes to photos. Here is a site that is just fun ... give it a try: http://kyolo.com.

Ink and Toner at Office Depot ...

Several days ago I ran out of ink and didn't have a spare. A new Office Depot opened a few months ago not far away, so I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised! Not only do they guarantee they will have the cartridge you need, but you get an instant $3.00 credit for an empty cartridge (limit of 3 per visit), plus they have a free rewards program that gives you 10% back for ink, toner, and paper. I checked prices online at OfficeMax, Staples, and HP, and found all were the same as Office Depot, but without the credit and rewards. Any comments?

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs ...

There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hotdogs.
He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.
He had trouble with his eyes so he had no newspapers.
But he sold good hot dogs.
He put up signs on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood by the side of the road and cried: "Buy a hotdog, Mister?"
And people bought.
He increased his meat and bun order.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.
He finally got his son home from college to help him out.
But then something happened.
His son said: "Father haven't you been listening to the radio? Haven't you been reading the newspapers? There's a big recession. The Middle East situation is terrible. The budget deficit situation is worse."
Where upon the father thought, "Well, my son's been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know."
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his dogs.
And his hotdog sales fell almost over night.
"You're right, son," the father said to the boy.
We certainly are in the middle of a great recession.

Think It Over!

Be Kind ...

Entry in a diary: "Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true."

Quoted by Robert Brault in National Enquirer

SensibleUnits ...

There are a lot of ways you can use the internet to convert one unit of measure to another, including Google. Here is a site with a unique approach. For example, in addition to telling you that 1 gigabit is equal to 1000 megabits, it tells you that 1 gigabit is equivalent to the contents of 25 Bibles. That is a lot easier for me to comprehend. Or, do you have trouble visualizing the size of an acre? SensibleUnits gives you the usually conversion in units like square feet or square yards, but how about thinking of an acre as 11 IMAX screens. This could be a good site for parents and teachers to help young children better understand units of measure. Take a few minutes and give it a try.

Joopz ...

Have you ever been sitting at your computer and need to send a text message to someone? What if you could send the message from your computer instead of your phone? Let's face it, a full-size keyboard and large screen is easier and faster to use than a phone's keyboard and screen, especially if you are already at your computer. Hop over to Joopz and sign-up for a free account and see if you agree.

Father's Day ...

There's an English proverb that goes: "One father is worth more than a hundred schoolmasters." Thanks, Dad!

Personal History ...

Have you started to write your Personal History? If not, here is why we should start:

"That which I do not in some way record will be lost at my death, and that which I do not pass on to my posterity, they will never have. The work of gathering and sharing eternal family keepsakes is a personal responsibility. It cannot be passed off or given to another."

Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander

WorldWide Telescope ...

The next time you feel like watching a movie, snuggle up to your computer instead and take a look at the WorldWide Telescope. You will be inspired and perhaps even spiritually moved to see what our Father in Heaven has created!

Google Analytics ...

Thanks to one of my loyal readers, Shan, I have discovered a wonderful new tool, Google Analytics. If you have a blog - or any type of web site - Google Analytics can tell you who is looking at your site, when the look, and from where. Take a look: www.google.com/analytics. And, thanks again, Shan!

Why use Gmail? Reason #5 ...

#5. Google it! - Never forget that you’re using a Google-based program, not just a service provided by the company. Want to find something easily? Google it! It’s in your email somewhere. This is one of the best things about Gmail. Let’s say I sent you a password to my website about muffins, but you can’t remember when I sent it so the thought of scanning through all of your emails is daunting (especially since you don’t delete them anymore). Well, try searching in your email for “password” and “muffins” and hit enter. Chances are, the exact email you are looking for will be sitting there waiting for you. If not, add/remove keywords until it does. I can’t stress to you enough how great this feature is until you experience it yourself. In fact, this is the reason why folders are irrelevant now. Why search through folders if you’re going to search all of them at once every time?

Why use Gmail? Reason #4 ...

#4. Labels - Another paradigm shift that Gmail will (happily) force you to make is getting rid of the “everything needs a folder” mentality. Outlook-based email, AOL, Hotmail, and the rest have always forced us to create all these folders for our email, arrange them just so, and otherwise add steps that we don’t really need. There are no folders, really, in Gmail. I mean, they call them the inbox folder and the spam folder just so people know what they’re referring to, but there is not actual folder. So, how do you keep everything straight? Labels! Add a label called “business” that is blue and one called “financial” that is green, or whatever you can come up with. They’re flexible and you can rename them, so you’re bound to come up with plenty of uses for them. But be careful that you don’t overuse them. After all, Gmail is about simplicity, and part of the simplicity is being able to search for an email rather than search through folders, labels, etc. And speaking of search…

Why use Gmail? Reason #3 ...

#3. Filters! - Yay, filters! They rock, rock, rock! And, here’s why. Let’s say you keep getting email from Old Navy, and you just can’t get them to stop sending you stuff. Well, just create a filter that automatically archives (or deletes) all email from them. That way, it skips your inbox entirely and you never see it. There are a ton of great uses for filters. If you have a friend who is always forwarding you junk and you can’t tell them to stop (but you also don’t want to simply block them because they are a friend of yours), then just create a filter that automatically archives everything from “unclesteve@email.com” that has “FWD” in the subject line. That way, if he ever sends you a personal email that isn’t a forward, it’ll come straight to your inbox and you won’t miss a thing. And besides, if you set it to automatically archive, you won’t be getting rid of anyway…just hiding it. Finally, filters can be used to “unsubscribe” from any email service, no matter how hard they make it to do so. If you’re tired of receiving email from someone, set up a filter that automatically deletes all email from them and you’ll never be bothered again.

Why use Gmail? Reason #2 ...

#2. Re-inventing the inbox - Your inbox is like your desktop. It’s your staging area for things you need to deal with or don’t want to forget. The rest of the emails in there should be archived or deleted. It all depends on your own behavior, of course, but you shouldn’t have more than twenty-or-so emails in your inbox at any given time. Sure, you can have a thousand if you want, but you’d be neglecting the whole point of the Gmail inbox and the archive button. Don’t be afraid to archive something immediately after you’ve read it, or if you already know what it’s going to say. Archiving doesn’t hide it away in some locked vault, never to be seen again. It simply removes it from your inbox. Your inbox should just contain emails from people who are actively waiting on a response, or if there’s a bill notification or some other reminder you don’t want to forget.

Why use Gmail? Reason #1 ...

#1. Archiving - You need to get used to archiving everything rather than deleting. In fact, you may need to change your whole outlook on this behavior because it means something entirely different now. Before, if you had an email that you didn’t actively save somewhere, it’d eventually get deleted off the server. Well, with Gmail, unless you specifically delete it or it gets left in the Spam folder, it will remain in your account forever. This is important for two main reasons: security and “searchability.” The good thing is that you’ll never lose another email again…period. However, you also need to be aware that you have to delete anything you absolutely want deleted. So, get in the habit of archiving unless it’s absolute junk and you’re certain you’ll never ever need that email again.

Congratulations, Emily ...

Saturday, May 3, 2008, Emily graduated from the Utah State University with a Bachelor's degree in Family Consumer and Human Development.

As you know, I "pride" myself on being a competent amateur photographer. I was especially excited when it was announced that a family member could come forward to take a picture as the candidates walked across the stage after received their diploma. So, congratulations, Emily, and always prominently display your photo!

Delayed Post Date and Time ...

Did you know that you can now specify the date and time for your blog post to be published? This is neat. When you compose your post, just click on the Post Option drop down arrow and enter the date and time you want the post to be published. Why, you say? Well, suppose you have a goal to publish a post every day - like I do - but often get busy or distracted and miss a day or two. Using the delayed post opiton, you can create several posts when you have time and schedule them for publishing a day apart. So, there should be no excuses for me missing a day from now on! Sure ...

Credit Score ...

You probably know that you can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year, but you have to pay to get your credit score. Quicken Loans has introduced a new site, Quizzle, where you can get your credit score FREE. There is no catch. The site also has some good information about personal finances. Check it out.

"Eye of God" ...

This photo taken by the Hubble Telescope has been named the "Eye of God" by NASA. Could it be?

Another Quote...

How about this one from Andy Rooney:

"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done."

Quote ...

As a parent, I think this quote from Harry S. Truman is right on the mark:

"I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it."

Happy Anniversary Shan and Cam ...

Congratulations on year one ... we love you!

Keep up-to-date ...

Several people have asked me recently how I keep up-to-date with all that is going on. Here is my secret: Alltop ... their slogan is: "We've got all the top stories covered all the time." Give it a try.

Emergency Preparedness ... Natural Disasters ...

I am planning a series of posts in the coming weeks on a variety of Emergency Preparedness topics that I hope will be useful to everyone. For starters, the following list shows the number of reported world-wide natural disasters in each decade since 1900:

• 1900-1909 ... 6
• 1910-1919 ... 18
• 1920-1929 ... 11
• 1930-1939 ... 17
• 1940-1949 ... 20
• 1950-1959 ... 23
• 1960-1969 ... 43
• 1970-1979 ... 85
• 1980-1989 ... 148
• 1990-1999 ... 232
• 2000-2007 ... 540

I will let you draw your own conclusions! As for me, I am taking the advice of a wise person who said "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

Digital Photo Organization ...

If you do not have the luxury of owning an iMac to do your photo and video work, don't overlook all that you can do with Picasa. Picasa is a Google product and is free. It is a great way to quickly find and organize all of the photos on your PC. Plus, you can upload your photos to the web. And, don't forget, if you have a Gmail account you already have a Picasa account ... your Gmail account gets you access to all of the Google products. Pretty nifty!

Calendar Item ... Emily's Graduation from USU ...

Great News! Emily is walking Saturday, May 3, at 2:00 pm in Logan. If you are able to attend, give her a call for more details. For those attending in person, we will gather somewhere afterwards for a party (fun and merriment).

ScrapBlog ...

Here is a way to add some creativity to your Blog ... make a ScrapBlog. This is an amazing free application that will get you hooked. You can publish your ScrapBlogs to the public or make them private. You can even embed them in your own Blog. Take a look and let your creative juices run free!

Quick Photo Edits ...

Ever want to "fix" some aspect of a photo fast and you don't have Photoshop or an equivalent photo editing program? There are a number of very good online photo editors now available for free! Here are two of the best (IMO):

• Picnik
• Photoshop Express

Give these a try and I think you will be surprised at the results. Photoshop Express is new and even gives you 2GB of free online storage. Let me know which application you prefer. Or better yet, how about sharing some before and after examples of your handiwork.

I Think This World is Perfect ...

When you have an extra minute, take a look at this Blog: I Think This World is Perfect. This is an example of how I hope my Blog grows and develops!

PicLens ...

Here is a great new way to look at photos on the Web ... it is called PicLens. Unfortunately it is currently available only to Windows users. I think you will be blown-away when you see how it works. I will soon have a number of photos from SmugMug available to view using PicLens. Let me know what you think.

Arthur C. Clarke ...

Anyone remember Arthur C. Clarke? When I was in college he was a very prominent science fiction writer, much read by engineering students like myself. He was among the most influential visionaries in technology. Today, many of the concepts he wrote about have come to pass. He once said:

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Arthur C. Clarke died today at the age of 90. Along with his many written works (such as the infamous and immeasurably influential 2001: A Space Odyssey), Clarke was possibly best known for conceptualizing the geostationary communications satellite -- clearly one of the most important technological innovations in history.

Get Rich Slowly ...

The past year or so I have occasionally looked at J.D. Roth's Get Rich Slowly web site and Blog for financial ideas and thoughts. You might want to check out the site also and put it on your daily or weekly reading schedule. Today there is a particularly good article on the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs. And, don't forget the 10/10 Rule ... (if anyone has forgotten the 10/10 Rule, let me know). Plus, let me know what you think of the site.

The ClearView Group of Companies ...

Thought I would give you a brief idea of the structure of ClearView Services, LLC. The ClearView group of companies is designed to help small businesses become more productive and profitable through technology. The current lineup:

• ClearView Business Services - Develop, Implement, and Test Business Continuity Plans
• ClearView Consulting Services - Help and Assist New, Growing, or Changing Businesses with Hardware and Software Needs
• ClearView Information Services - Turn Data into Information and Information into Knowledge
  
• ClearView Photo Services - Scan, Enhance, Modify, or Restore Photographs
• ClearView Training Services - Develop and Deliver Modularized Focused Training for Small Businesses

Watch for some more details about cvPhoto Services soon. There are going to be some announcements about referral and "affiliate" opportunities that could put a few $s in your pocket!

Almost a HOG ...

Here is one of the first photos we have received from Brent as he travels the West Coast on his new bike, a Honda VTX 1800. He and Sky picked up their identical bikes in Portland last Friday and then traveled south to San Francisco where they visited with Shan and Cam. Today they will be in Southern California visiting with Uncle Phil and Aunt Liz. Wednesday they will head for Las Vegas where they will meet Sky's Dad and business partners for a meeting. They are planning to be back in Utah Sunday. Don't you think he should install a side-car so he can give us all a ride?

ClearView Update ...

Effective today, ClearView Services is an LLC! Watch for more exciting news over the weekend about some new offerings from the ClearView group of companies that may be of interest to you. Also, here is the link to the new ClearView Services Blog ... not much there now, but check back often for Tips and Tricks that will help make you more productive and effective using your PC or Apple.

First Entry ...

Well, this should be a fun experience! Chris and I have to keep up with the kids by having a Blog and letting everyone know what is happening. As you can see, we have titled our Blog "News, Views, and Information". Hopefully we will post items that deal with all three categories. So, let's get the show on the road ...