tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6177560429302314162024-02-24T22:24:24.228+13:00Tony's Ideas PageMy thoughts, ideas & ramblingsTonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-73831634508443750142013-11-17T16:44:00.000+13:002013-11-17T16:44:06.803+13:00Barefoot running updateBarefoot running isn't as easy as I thought it would be, probably because I'm older & my muscles & tendons aren't as supple as they used to be.<br />
<br />
I got sore, rested, got unfit (& lazy) and became demotivated.<br />
<br />
While travelling in the car recently I heard a person talking about how he learned to run on the internet... this seemed crazy! I mean, do we need the internet to teach us to walk? I don't think so... although I was intrigued, especially when he mentioned a technique called POSE running.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvbhZKxAzPI" target="_blank">I checked it out & gave it a go</a>. I really connected with it. For me, it clicked when I felt like I was falling forward as I was running.<br />
<br />
If you've tried barefoot running or minimalist running and it didn't work for you, try researching POSE running technique, then give it a go or go to a clinic. It's taught me how to run... maybe I should learn how to walk too!<br />
<br />Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-5807408313930234272012-11-03T17:28:00.001+13:002012-11-03T17:30:11.270+13:00A photographer on vacationWhat lenses should I take?<br />
<br />
Should I take my tripod?<br />
<br />
Do I take a DSLR or a point & shoot?<br />
<br />
The first question should be: why am I taking my camera on holiday? Is it to capture memories or to feature pictures in a magazine? <br />
<br />
Most people take a camera on holiday to capture & share memories of their travels.<br />
<br />
If you are heading into extreme climates you will need to consider specialist gear, but for most people going on vacation it's best to take less.<br />
<br />
Many people who take tripods don't use them. My advice is not to take it. You will regret your decision either way, but at least if you don't take it you wont have any hassles. If you really need one you could borrow one, take a small one or just rest the camera on a table.<br />
<br />
A good quality point & shoot camera is a brilliant option. You will get good quality photos, have good zoom & they are very compact. Choose one that is better than your camera phone though.<br />
<br />
If you decide you want better quality photos then the DSLR will be your weapon of choice.<br />
<br />
Changing lenses is a real pain when on vacation & you generally want to avoid this, but this means making compromises. On my next holiday I'm only going to take my 15-85mm Canon lens on my cropped sensor. This is all I really needed. Sure I couldn't zoom in on the hilltop castles but I just re-thought my shot & was happy with the results.<br />
<br />
These are the things I learnt from my last trip:<br />
1. Less is best - both in terms of gear & shots<br />
2. Have enough memory cards - but you can always buy more later<br />
3. Take the shot, then make the shot - Grab the picture when you can, but then try & get the shot you want<br />
4. Delete quickly - try & only keep the shots you want to share otherwise the computer gets cluttered<br />
5. Use a shoulder strap for comfort & conveience - rather than a neck or hand strap<br />
6. Get the right size bag - not too big or too small - just right<br />
7. Be a tourist in your own town - go out with your gear & test it before you go away<br />
8. Keep the lens clean from dust & grime<br />
9. Remember to enjoy the holiday - don't let your only view be through the viewfinder<br />
10. If you don't get the perfect shot buy a postcard or painting<br />
11. Get in the right spot for sunrises & sunsets - they create magic moments<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAhsiWpSKeifoqz7GccCwqEm4Fxo5T33TOo8YyB1D-eFPQXyhq9olQUai0j7UTfnfCd0-q8uONUWssYhZ0JSltH-I9WKev1Y9_UzFoBnXjr3xT8sytLtM8MUuaAG61iqoH8ltaUqUzUEA/s1600/Tower+bridge,+London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAhsiWpSKeifoqz7GccCwqEm4Fxo5T33TOo8YyB1D-eFPQXyhq9olQUai0j7UTfnfCd0-q8uONUWssYhZ0JSltH-I9WKev1Y9_UzFoBnXjr3xT8sytLtM8MUuaAG61iqoH8ltaUqUzUEA/s320/Tower+bridge,+London.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-10756497014653047302012-08-12T12:17:00.000+12:002012-08-12T12:33:57.779+12:00Best iPad business applicationsI consider the following iPad apps as the best I have used so far. Hopefully this saves you wasting time & money on apps that don't deliver.<br />
<br />
I use these iPad business apps every day<br />
<br />
For taking notes I recommend NOTABILITY<br />
This app is easy to use with the keyboard, or the handwriting tool which works extremely well, especially with a decent iPad stylus. The handwriting feature is easy to use once you get the sizing right for your style of writing.<br />
<br />
For managing PDFs & filling in forms I recommend PDF EXPERT<br />
This app is very good for filling in forms and getting a customers signature. I find the typing is easier & better than the handwriting, but the customer signature feature is very useful. Again - find a stylus that you like.<br />
<br />
For business reading I use the KINDLE<br />
It's easy to buy books from Amazon and having books to read on the go is great. Remember - The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them - <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" data-expanded-url="http://bit.ly/Nc7RXk" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/7LrbRe3s" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #0084b4; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/Nc7RXk • 0 clicks via bitly"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;">http://</span><span class="js-display-url">bit.ly/Nc7RXk</span><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"></span><span class="tco-ellipsis"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></a><br />
<br />
I have found the best organiser for me is PI PRO<br />
The integration & functionality of this application is no surprise given that the developer has such a long history in personal organisers.<br />
<br />
For freehand drawing I use SKETCHBOOK PRO<br />
This is a flexible & easy-to-use app that enables you to draw or paint whatever you want.<br />
<br />
For staying connected I use FLIPBOARD<br />
It's connected to major social & news feeds making it easy to know what's going on.<br />
<br />
The browser I prefer at the moment is CHROME<br />
This is usually I personal preference though.<br />
<br />
If you want a decent stylus, you could try the TARGUS model. It's simple but comfortable. The only downside is the top which has slightly sharp corners & makes me nervous about a customer signing the iPad with the wrong end. I also have a 2 in 1 pen & stylus, but the stylus end is awkward to use due to the clip & wider end.Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-91071644770109284312012-06-09T15:23:00.001+12:002012-06-09T15:23:29.132+12:00iPad task management<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What a waste of time!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Searching through all the reviews to find a suitable task manager/ time manager for my iPad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My criteria was:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- It needs to be simple</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- I'm prepared to buy an app</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- I don't want to waste money though</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- It needs to be credible</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After researching the various options I narrowed my choices to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- Remember the milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- Wunderlist</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- Pocket informant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I decided to start with Remember The Milk as it looked simple, it was free & I wasn't ready to reorganise my whole life with a day planner even though I've tried them before.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-21766207863935040032012-05-07T23:23:00.001+12:002012-08-12T12:34:31.280+12:00The truth about barefoot runningI went for my first barefoot run today and this is what I've learnt:<br />
1. Get good shoes with enough room to spread your toes.<br />
2. Socks are OK<br />
3. Take it slow<br />
4. Listen to your body<br />
5. Keep going...Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-68041959450533322322012-03-25T09:09:00.003+13:002012-03-25T09:23:20.240+13:00My favourite apps updatedThe world of iphone apps is always changing & I've got some new favourites.<div><br /></div><div>My current top 10 apps are:</div><div>1. Hipstamatic - unchanged</div><div>2. Scrabble - unchanged</div><div>3. Safari - unchanged</div><div>4. Flashlight - unchanged</div><div>5. Tom Tom navigation - unchanged</div><div>6. SimpleMind+ - unchanged</div><div>7. Apple's Camera - This app is now much better & faster. You can even get to it without unlocking the phone which makes it much faster.</div><div>8. Project 365 - This is an excellent app to capture the magic moment of each day - sort of like a photo journal. I use Hipstamatic to take the photo & upload to Project 365.</div><div>9. Flipboard - The most amazing news reader/ feed app that has ever been invented. This is a must-have app for iPhone. Just the best way of cutting through the clutter.</div><div>10. Angry Birds - Made it back into my top 10 list with the latest update with new levels. </div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-48700191767944444842012-01-04T16:19:00.004+13:002012-01-04T17:11:29.484+13:00Entry level DSLR<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB16d54-T72B1-nGtHK6ChyfyIZpKHxfadFz7c8DOt-FmGXF6ej0soaQ5CCOuEbRu1-Adbik2NGjzzm5WIaxo7oJ5kMS-iWkiX42a1jmqU5MOiCKISSDVJbyYLGuVrzNBfuEYfgaXhHSMD/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB16d54-T72B1-nGtHK6ChyfyIZpKHxfadFz7c8DOt-FmGXF6ej0soaQ5CCOuEbRu1-Adbik2NGjzzm5WIaxo7oJ5kMS-iWkiX42a1jmqU5MOiCKISSDVJbyYLGuVrzNBfuEYfgaXhHSMD/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693621508490717970" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Are you ready to step up to the next level of photography but worried about the complexity a DSLR?</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Worry no more... there are a few options available:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Firstly, forget about entry level DSLRs - get the next step up otherwise you'll regret wasting your hard earned money on a very basic camera.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Consider a micro four thirds camera if you are wanting the convenience of a smaller camera you are more likely to take everywhere.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Don't dismiss upgrading your camera phone & using one of the excellent applications such as Hipstamatic or Instagram to help develop your photographic eye.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I decided to buy a Canon EOS 600D (also known as Kiss X5 or Rebel T3i). I like the versatility that allows me to let the camera pick the best setting, or allows me to choose the setting I want. It has art filters plus a great video function with an articulated screen which enables a more artistic element to shots without the need to get on the ground or a ladder to get in the air.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So far I have been very happy with the quality of the colors & the clarity of the shots. The camera feels comfortable & can be easily handled in one hand. The kit lens provides good versatility & enables me to get a good feel for other lenses I might need depending on the shots I'm taking.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">You can check out some of my shots on Flickr - It's easy to see when I upgraded my camera - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42371658@N00/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/42371658@N00/</a></span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-58466814185708701262012-01-03T08:28:00.003+13:002012-01-03T08:38:34.057+13:00Simple diet tips<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">Dieting is like a bank account, the only difference being you usually want your bank account to grow.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">With dieting we need to know how many calories are going in & how many calories are going out. If less calories are going in & more calories are going out, we are losing weight.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">Simple & cheap ways to lose weight:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">1. Eat less</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">2. Eat smaller portions</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">3. Serve meals on smaller dishes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">4. Drink more water</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">5. Replace sugary drinks with water</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">6. Brush teeth after meals to stop after dinner snacking</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">7. Start an active hobby</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">8. Have support</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">9. Give away old large size clothing</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">Reasons to maintain a healthy weight:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">1. Live longer </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">2. Live healthier</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">3. Remain active</span></div><div><br /></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-27044493183443926182011-09-11T10:18:00.006+12:002011-09-11T10:59:18.102+12:00My 10 favourite iPhone apps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt6RCMnM7YtgY7czyljqZyU1owZhw4b382YTgeMHe_WD1G1z17fRbFQB7eULpRW4sGmBDX7ib8VWS1p1vLRp0rohGso1jYEYJ7dNwStg7YC0SOZh_3KBS-tK6juMCSVi7Dds_yOBqaFE2/s1600/iphone+screenshot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt6RCMnM7YtgY7czyljqZyU1owZhw4b382YTgeMHe_WD1G1z17fRbFQB7eULpRW4sGmBDX7ib8VWS1p1vLRp0rohGso1jYEYJ7dNwStg7YC0SOZh_3KBS-tK6juMCSVi7Dds_yOBqaFE2/s320/iphone+screenshot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650869358668428770" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Obviously the 3 main functions of the iPhone are hard to do without - the Phone, the iPod & Messages. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Yesterday I noticed that the most popular camera on Flickr is now the iPhone 4! They say the best camera is the one you've got with you when you need to take a photo & I guess that is often the camera phone.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In addition to these, my 10 favourite iPhone apps are:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >1. Hipstamatic - I love the surprise of the photo, especially using the random mode. It captures a look & feel that I really like. It does all the post-production & the results are great.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2. Scrabble - I was never a fan of word games until I found the scrabble app. Each game is quite short & fills in those moments where you want to have more than mindless fun. I've even learnt some new word - just no idea what they mean.</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >3. Safari - OK, so it's not really an app, but it's impossible to get the information I want, when I want it without Safari on the iPhone. It just works so reliably well.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >4. Flashlight - This has saved my life a few times when trying to navigate slippery or narrow steps at night. It launches quickly & is bright enough to guide my way.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >5. Geocaching - Ok so I'm a bit of a nerd, but an outdoor nerd. It's fun going on a treasure hunt to find a hidden logbook. This app makes it easy to find these treasures without much forward planning. The app is expensive compared to others, but cheap compared to buying a GPS.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >6. Tomtom navigation - Another expensive GPS app, but invaluable to tell me where to go. I haven't bought any voices yet, but it would be great to get a Star Wars character to navigate me through the universe.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >7. Facebook - I'm not the biggest facebook user, but I like to stay connected with who is doing what & this app (although quite basic) does most of what I want.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >8. Simpleminds - This is a great little brainstorming app that is free to download, then if you like it, buy it for more functionality. I use it for lists, notes & exploring ideas.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >9. Angry birds - What list would be complete with Angry Birds. Epic, awesome & fun. Each level is quick, simple & engaging. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new app where the pigs revolt... maybe it could be Revolting pigs!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >10. Quickpix - Sometimes the iPhone camera isn't fast enough. Quickpix is the camera that should've come with the iPhone. It can even take a picture as soon as you launch the app so you never miss a moment.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It's hard to stay up to date with the daily changing world of the iPhone app store. but these 10 have stood the test of time & I would definitely recommend them to download from the iPhone app store.</span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-5218385429284175692010-05-21T19:37:00.001+12:002010-05-21T19:41:21.594+12:00Are you LiKE minded?<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="color: rgb(4, 51, 255); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; font-family:HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; "></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="color: rgb(4, 51, 255); font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; "><span class="style" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">The</span> </span><span class="style_1" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; ">L</span><span class="style_2" style="color: rgb(255, 147, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">i</span><span class="style_3" style="color: rgb(79, 143, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">K</span><span class="style_4" style="color: rgb(255, 38, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">E</span><span class="style_5" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; vertical-align: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">® </span></span><span class="style" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">minded network began from a desire to work with</span> </span><span class="style_1" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; ">L</span><span class="style_2" style="color: rgb(255, 147, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">i</span><span class="style_3" style="color: rgb(79, 143, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">K</span><span class="style_4" style="color: rgb(255, 38, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">E</span><span class="style_5" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; vertical-align: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">® </span></span><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">minded people, those people that have</span></span><span class="style_6" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">leadership</span></span><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"> qualities, focus on the things in life which are </span></span><span class="style_6" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">important</span></span><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">, growing through </span></span><span class="style_6" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">knowledge</span></span><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"> and are full of </span></span><span class="style_6" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">energy</span></span><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">.</span></span><span class="style_7" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; vertical-align: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="color: rgb(4, 51, 255); font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; "><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">We have developed a simple but effective framework to help </span></span><span class="style_1" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; ">L</span><span class="style_2" style="color: rgb(255, 147, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">i</span><span class="style_3" style="color: rgb(79, 143, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">K</span><span class="style_4" style="color: rgb(255, 38, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">E</span><span class="style_5" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; vertical-align: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">®</span></span><span class="style" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"> minded people have a fulfilling life.</span></span><span class="style_7" style="line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; vertical-align: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="paragraph_style_1" style="color: rgb(4, 51, 255); font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; "><span class="style" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">To download the:</span><br /></span><span class="style_1" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; ">L</span><span class="style_2" style="color: rgb(255, 147, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">i</span><span class="style_3" style="color: rgb(79, 143, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">K</span><span class="style_4" style="color: rgb(255, 38, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 35px; opacity: 1; ">E</span><span class="style_5" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Bold, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 23px; opacity: 1; vertical-align: 6px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">®</span></span><span class="style" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; opacity: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;"> framework</span> </span><a title="http://files.me.com/tony_the_bald_eagle/g7i545" href="http://files.me.com/tony_the_bald_eagle/g7i545" style="color: rgb(4, 51, 255); text-decoration: underline; "><click></a></p></span><p></p></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-23572395062212509832010-01-06T08:12:00.005+13:002010-01-06T08:44:14.435+13:00A newbies guide to geocaching<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj-mWcUuuWo7n0_WO_vN4TliCoBy_7K1bzmTKfDfZJzKjbKHZ7M3tXZG2Ql_Ih352ifV0gsm7F5CHCaFSij_6RhmlJitfv-8YTtVe2jYr4wbL6yxBe3k0fr1YSGnzKMEK_Rq7iDVheSBM/s1600-h/DSC07326.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj-mWcUuuWo7n0_WO_vN4TliCoBy_7K1bzmTKfDfZJzKjbKHZ7M3tXZG2Ql_Ih352ifV0gsm7F5CHCaFSij_6RhmlJitfv-8YTtVe2jYr4wbL6yxBe3k0fr1YSGnzKMEK_Rq7iDVheSBM/s320/DSC07326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423343775694399026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br />I recently heard about geocaching and thought I would give it a go. I did & I really enjoy it.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What is geocaching?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I think of geocaching as a treasure hunt using a GPS.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">How do I get started?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The official website is www.geocaching.com where you can sign up with a free basic membership. This gives you access to all the geocaches around the world.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Each cache is recorded by:</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- the longitude & latitude</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- difficulty & terrain rating (5 being the most difficult)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- the type & size of the cache</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Do I need a GPS?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Having an accurate GPS is an advantage. Many car navigation models don't have the accuracy for off-road searching but can be a good starting point. Likewise you can use Google maps or Google Earth to pinpoint the co-ordinates, then use the description and hints to locate the cache.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What is a cache?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A cache is a container (ranging in size from a tiny 1cm high tube to a 20 litre bucket) which contains a logsheet and it may also have items that can be swapped (including special geocaching items called geocoins or travel bugs). There are also Earth caches which are interesting geographic finds.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">How do I get started?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Go to www.geocaching.com</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Enter your current location</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Find a nearby cache that is at least 400ml in size which gives a better chance of finding it</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Check the difficulty & terrain rating (start with an easy one)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Load the co-ordinates into your GPS</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Take appropriate clothing & supplies</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Explore!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When you get back, log your find on www.geocaching.com</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Is there anything special I should know?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">There are some 'rules' & 'etiquette' that should be observed:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1. If you take something from a cache (never take the logsheet, pencil, sharpener or eraser), leave something of equal or greater value.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2. Make sure you leave the cache as & where you found it (unless it was exposed incorrectly).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">3. Watch out for muggles (non-geocachers). Part of geocaching is exploring secretly so others aren't aware of the caches.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">4. Respect the environment. Take out your rubbish & don't ruin any natural environments.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">5. Be polite & respectful to other geocachers, especially those who went to the trouble of making the cache in the first place.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">6. Have fun! Share the fun!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What do I need to watch out for?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It is important to be safe. This means having the right gear for the conditions, being sensible around hazards, checking routes, being prepared and having backup plans if anything doesn't go to plan.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've found myself on the wrong route to a cache. It is also worth checking that you have the correct co-ordinates!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What should I take?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Here's my (ever-growing) list of useful items:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Good shoes or boots</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Food & water</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Pen & paper</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Camera</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Bag</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Goodies or trinkets to swap</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Geocaching application for my iTouch</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- GPS</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Sunscreen, sun hat & insect repellant</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Positive attitude</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Small first aid kit (including antibacterial wipes & tissues)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Layers of clothing & wet weather gear if appropriate (remember the weather can change)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">- Cell phone</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">What now?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">log into www.geocaching.com & start exploring the wonderful world we live in!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Happy geocaching!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If you have any questions or want to add anything, please feel free to post comments. If you want to share your geocaching stories, I'd love to hear them.</span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-3940263024240212512009-11-20T22:13:00.004+13:002009-11-21T10:49:25.005+13:00Creating great testimonials<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here are the questions that you can use to help develop top rate testimonials:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What do you like most about the service?</span></span></p><p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What were your perceptions before we started?</span></span></p><p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How has that perception changed?</span></span></p><p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What are the three biggest benefits?</span></span></p><p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Would you recommend our service?</span></span></p><p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Is there anything else you’d like to add?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The answers are then given back to the client in a draft summary for them to approve & send back.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For example:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hi John</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I really liked the way you paid attention and listened about my personal situation & developed a plan to help me achieve & protect my goals.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was feeling a little anxious before we started because I had never thought about some of the issues previously, but after talking it through felt I was in safe hands.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The benefit for me is that I have a motivating goal, a backup plan if things don’t work out due to unforeseen circumstances and I know you are there if you need me.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I would definitely recommend your service to my friends and family.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thank you once again for your professional & thorough service.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sincerely,</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tony</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-size:11pt;"> </span></p></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-46869635804954526242009-10-06T22:55:00.004+13:002009-10-07T07:08:03.125+13:00Losing the love(mark)I loved my ipod touch... but now it's gone... the irreplaceable needs to be replaced because of a fault & the store not replacing it, instead sending it away for analysis - so much for their money back guarantee...<div><br /></div><div>My ipod was with me 24/7...</div><div>- It kept track of my life with the calendar</div><div>- It lifted my spirits with the (disputably) best track list in the world</div><div>- It inspired me with some amazing audio books</div><div>- It made me laugh with the great podcasts</div><div>- It educated me with leaders sharing their thoughts on video</div><div>- It amused me with games </div><div>- It woke me in the morning with it's alarm</div><div><br /></div><div>So, my lovemark has been taken from... Now I have to fill the gaps in my life</div><div><br /></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-77666477572949816162009-09-14T22:36:00.003+12:002009-09-14T22:46:20.300+12:00Creating meaningI gave blood the other day & thought it would be great if the Blood Donor Centre told the donors how the donation was used.<div><br /></div><div>I would feel more motivated if I knew my blood made a positive difference in another person's life. It would create 'significance' for the donation.</div><div><br /></div><div>This could be an automated e-mail that said something like:</div><div><br /></div><div>Hi Tony</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for taking the time to donate some of your valuable blood.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was used to help a young burns victim.</div><div><br /></div><div>We look forward to seeing you next month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay healthy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Regards</div><div><br /></div><div>Dr ......</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-52864702068672936732009-07-01T21:07:00.005+12:002009-07-01T21:19:57.614+12:00High tech! - Tony's Toastmasters speech<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I knew I was spending too much time on the computer when my wife sent me an e-mail, asking if I was coming downstairs for dinner.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was introduced to computers back in 1978 with the first colour computer called a compucolor. This was just after I played pong - not the smelly type either. But with the compucolor I could travel through space with star trek, rule kingdoms playing Kings Quest and visit bars amongst other dodgy activities with Leisure Suit Larry.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My first work computer was at the National Bank, but each day we got our paper back up files - just in case "the computer" failed (which it did once). My second job introduced me to the Macintosh which had some great games. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My first really fast computer was a 486 in the mid 90‘s with an incredible encyclopedia called Encarta and movie database called Cinemania. It seemed mind boggling that so much information was available on these CD ROMs. To give you an idea of the computing power of a 486, we ran 9 users in our office off 1 486 computer!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We also had bulletin boards & on-line games which meant tying up the phone lines while we played Doom on 9,600 bits per second modem connections. Last night my broadband was 5 million bits per second!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I joined the internet in the mid 90s with a company called Compuserve. It cost $19.95 per hour which is equivalent to $27 after tax today - so I had to work for 3 hours to get 1 hour on the internet!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When Xtra started on 1 May 1996 & I joined, paying $5 per hour. In August of that year, it halved. Today I pay the equivalent of 5 cents per hour.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But suddenly the world started seeming a lot smaller & the information much broader. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I remember the first time I introduced my mother to the computer.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After explaining to take the mouse and her screaming “Where’s the mouse?”, she began waving it in front of the screen. When I showed her the internet & told her it could answer any question, she thought for a minute, then typed “How is my mother today?”</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But the internet can be really useful too. I’ve used it to buy a piece of the Berlin wall & a signed picture of Kenny Baker (the actor inside R2D2).</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On the internet, I found out that in 2002 scientists spent a whole year determining the funniest joke was:</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There are also some wonderful one liners like:</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">or words of wisdom, like:</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But as one person said, getting information off the internet is like getting a drink from a fire hydrant.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But some people just shouldn’t talk about the internet.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">George Bush - is quoted as saying <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"</span></span></span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 16px;">But these last 2 quotes sum it up for me:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 13.0px American Typewriter Light; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span></span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Internet is a giant international network of intelligent, informed computer enthusiasts, by which I mean, "people without lives."</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 18px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal 'American Typewriter Light'; "><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> or "</span></span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks</span></span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">”</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(11, 53, 147); font-family: 'American Typewriter Light'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-7442918071068646942009-06-27T20:31:00.002+12:002009-06-27T20:32:02.145+12:00Midnight Youth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="400" height="100"><param name="movie" value="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/album=460279226/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowNetworking" value="always"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><embed src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/album=460279226/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" width="400" height="100" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="always" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"></embed><noembed><a href="http://midnightyouth.bandcamp.com/album/the-brave-dont-run">All On Our Own by Midnight Youth</a></noembed></object> </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-45151649450287069812009-06-20T13:40:00.003+12:002009-06-20T14:01:27.337+12:00The magic of great copywritingRecently a broken washing machine sold on Trade Me for NZ$5,160!<div><br /></div><div>It started with a NZ$1 reserve but due to some original & creative thinking, the seller was able to add value to the machine. It even has its own website now - www.scarywashingmachine.com</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm impressed how a piece of writing can add so much value, but I guess it's like so much of what we buy... a CD is only a piece of plastic, worth about $0.10, but we pay $30 because of the creative skill.</div><div><br /></div><div>Congratulations Mike - Kiwi ingenuity is alive & making lots of money!</div><div><br /></div><div>The auction had over 800,000 hits and a huge number of comments.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is what Mike Whittaker (the seller) wrote:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">Old mid 80's Fisher and Paykel top loader.<br />Goes like a rocket!<br /><br />By 'goes like a rocket' I actually mean that literally.<br />It actually shakes the house.<br /><br />It's the loudest most violent sounding washing machine I have ever encountered. <br />It makes guests scared and children cry. I've lived with it like that for almost a year and it still scares me.<br /><br />Once while washing a load of towells it got a bit out of balance and it got so out of control for a minute that I swear I actually saw a porthole to another dimension open above it just for a second, there were dinosaurs on the otherside and they looked scared too, it almost sucked me in but I held onto for my life to the deepfreeze. It sucked my shoes and pants off though and it got the iron as well which pissed me off because it was quite a good one. Luckily it sucked it's own power cord out of the wall and stopped before the whole house went in.<br />I drew a picture of the dinosaurs i saw incase people didn't believe me, they are partly red because my green felt ran out half way through.<br /><br />I think it would be good to paint it matt black and put steel spikes all over it and draw demons on the front, however I have added an image of another possible customization option for people who like horses.<br /><br />On heavy duty spin cycle it sort of sounds a bit like the tortured howls of 1000 undead writhing in the sulphury pits of hell mixed with a train with carriages full of scrap iron sliding down the road with no wheels, on fire, into a bell factory.<br /><br />Thankfully it's bite is not as bad as it's bark. It washes fine, completes cycles, does everything it's supposed to.<br />It leaks a bit when it's running, always has.<br />Its a bit grubby, could do with a wipe down, I refuse to touch it because I'm still getting over the whole dinosaur scare thing.<br /><br />If your in a fix and need a cheap washing machine and are either completely deaf or hate your neighbours this baby is for you.</span><br /></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-54073763717667377762009-06-15T21:06:00.003+12:002009-06-15T22:24:52.020+12:00Ideas mapI recently heard a leader in the marketing game talk about a map they had on their wall, where they pinned all the locations that the staff came up with great ideas for their clients.<div><br /></div><div>They had 100's of pins in the map - but only 13 were in the office.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some might think that they should spend more time in the office! But seriously we all know some of our best ideas occur when we are not trying to come up with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether it's:</div><div>- in the shower</div><div>- going for a run</div><div>- waking in the middle of the night to jot down some notes</div><div>- over a great meal & a bottle of plonk</div><div>- in the car</div><div><br /></div><div>To allow the creative juices flow we need to get out & explore!</div><div><br /></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-11058022353730311172009-06-13T21:46:00.003+12:002009-06-14T20:33:07.431+12:00It's not about stress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OP2znmELAz9FwwWyqwIyA0E970rJQS0IvWNyC3S-WkGAl3PtXrjATnOx8sIVPlwU0Wnysm-4kZpNSwv3pJaLeMX_JscVoA_1TBOSj33cql7rnQ9JnSY5zk4F38Jt_cs97cSp_fG4YcEX/s1600-h/450px-General_Adaptation_Syndrome.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OP2znmELAz9FwwWyqwIyA0E970rJQS0IvWNyC3S-WkGAl3PtXrjATnOx8sIVPlwU0Wnysm-4kZpNSwv3pJaLeMX_JscVoA_1TBOSj33cql7rnQ9JnSY5zk4F38Jt_cs97cSp_fG4YcEX/s200/450px-General_Adaptation_Syndrome.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347098424288027490" /></a><br />I hear people talking about "stress" as if it's a problem. I'm not an expert but I believe it's actually our level of resilience to certain events that can cause problems when we are less resilient. <div><br /></div><div>Selye's general adaptation syndrome helps explain how our resilience can cope for a period & the better our resilience, the longer our resistance. (The 3 stages are Alarm , Resistance & Exhaustion) - You can read more about the model at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(medicine)</div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Things that erode my resilience:</div><div><ul><li>Pain<br /></li><li>Tiredness<br /></li><li>Illness</li><li>Loss</li></ul></div><div>Things that build my resilience:</div><div><ul><li>Sleep<br /></li><li>Goals<br /></li><li>Enjoyable activities<br /></li><li>Movies<br /></li><li>Music</li><li>Being with people I like<br /></li><li>Constructive feedback<br /></li><li>Learning<br /></li><li>Spirituality</li><li>Physical activity</li></ul><div>I'm going to continue to focus on building and maintaining my resilience.</div></div><div><br /></div></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-60372682399058625272009-05-27T20:16:00.003+12:002009-05-27T20:42:18.176+12:00Sales ideas<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was thinking how some companies could grow their business during a recessionary economy...</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How about luxury car suppliers teaming with sales managers to help drive sales performance?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sales person could choose a vehicle & create a sales target programme that will motivate them to achieve a higher target & get them into a classy vehicle of their choice.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is an example where teams could co-operate to create synergy & win-win-win outcomes.</span></span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-71343894005377941492009-05-09T22:42:00.003+12:002009-05-09T22:50:55.435+12:00Brand leadership<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Currently I am studying leadership & was interested to see the similarities between great leaders & great brands.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Great leaders have a strong sense of purpose, to achieve progress towards an aspirational goal.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The great brands that resonate strongly with me also have a strong sense of purpose, combined with client centricity. They seem to suggest that they are here to make our lives better.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I would be interested to develop this thinking further...</span></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-64609950321686732982009-03-22T18:55:00.002+13:002009-03-22T19:16:56.165+13:00The 3 i's of decision makingWhen making decisions it's important to:<div><br /></div><div>1. Get good quality <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">information</span></span></div><div>2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Interpret</span></span> the information using various perspectives</div><div>3. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Implement</span></span> the decision with benchmarks in place to measure progress & success</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-39362392170601574632009-03-18T20:24:00.003+13:002009-03-18T20:36:51.623+13:00A land of milk & honey<p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Whether it was the lure of a better life or an escape from an existing one, New Zealand held the hopes and dreams that drew people to its shores, whether it was in the last year, last 100 years ago or thousands of years ago.<br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The British Government rallied people in the early 1870’s to recruit: </span><span style="font: 14.0px Lucida Grande"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“married agricultural laborers and single female domestic servants, provided they were ‘sober, industrious, of good moral character, of sound mind and in good health.” </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Posters were put up & newspapers ran stories like this one from November 1873 in the Labourers’ Union Chronicle wrote, </span><span style="font: 14.0px Lucida Grande"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“Not a farm labourer in England but should rush from the old doomed country to such a paradise as New Zealand – a good land – a land of oil, olives & honey – a land where in thou may’st eat bread without scarceness... Away then farm labourers, away! New Zealand is the Promised Land for you,</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">There was a flood of immigrants, being enticed by the promise of a better life coupled with a range of cheap & free fares.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">My Great Great Grandfather was one of those, a farm labourer who chose to leave Ireland back in July 1876. I wondered what hope he & his family packed when they left an impoverished Ireland where demand for farm labourers had fallen by 16% due to cheap imports. </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Imagine a 31 year old George McCombs & his wife Kate with their 2 sons James aged 2 years & Charles who was 2 months sailing for 93 days to the other side of the world. </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Imagine you had been travelling on an old wooden boat for the last 3 months. I start feeling bored travelling in an aircraft for too long. The 18 hours it took to get the family to LA a few years ago seemed long enough, let alone 2,230 hours on a boat. </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">There were 290 people, including 81 from Ireland, on the boat that came into Wellington Harbour in October 1876. It’s hard to imagine what these pioneers would’ve thought about old Wellington.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The ship’s doctor recorded there were no accidents or sickness however 3 children under 2 died and one was born.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The ship’s passenger list was a mixture of families, single men and single women. There were farmers, carpenters, a couple of tailors, a 16 year old teacher, servants, dairymaids and a range of others from all over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">New Zealand wasn’t everything that people expected and about 40% of those who arrived in the 1870’s left again.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The McCombs family arrived in Wellington harbour but made their home in Christchurch.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Who would’ve thought that their eldest son, James, who left school after standard 6, would represent the Lyttelton seat in Parliament from 1913 to 1933 and when he died, his wife, Elizabeth would succeed him as New Zealand’s first woman Member of Parliament until she died in 1935, and their son (my grandfather) Terry would then hold the seat until 1951.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I’m sure George & Kate didn’t expect these things to happen, but by taking a risk and choosing to follow a path into an unknown world, they created opportunities for their descendants. If they hadn’t taken that risk I wouldn’t be here today, just as if your ancestors hadn’t made certain decisions you wouldn’t be here either.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The dreams that our pioneering ancestors had still hold true for us today. </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Although we are told the world’s economy is in a recession and some say on the brink of a depression, we certainly have a better quality of life than a farm labourer in 1876, when the life expectancy for a male was only 50 & females could expect to live until 54. Those born in 1876 only had an 86% chance of celebrating their first birthday. Today we are concerned about outliving our savings and many are already choosing to continue working beyond the retirement age of 65. </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">My 16 year old son was recently awarded a farming scholarship. He had a dream for his future – of one day owning his own farm. This is a dream that he had when he was 2 & he told me a story that he called “The Tractor Boy”. We had visited an uncle on his farm and that had sown the seed. He often talked about farming being in his blood. Part of me believes that this dream of my sons, could’ve also been the dream of his great, great, great grandfather while working on a farm back in Ireland, that even if he wouldn’t maybe his descendants could own their own farm one day.</span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I encourage you to reflect on the hopes and dreams that your ancestors had. The promised land we call New Zealand still holds great promise. That promise is held within us – it’s people – He Tangata. </span></p> <p style="margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Those hopes, dreams and aspirations exist for us all if we are prepared to take risks and look for the amazing opportunities on this sliver of land on the edge of the world, we have made our home.</span></p>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-43100111255880562592009-02-06T20:35:00.003+13:002009-02-06T22:34:24.894+13:00My Waitangi Day speech<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQsttY8Igoo0-GT480NZ2FZdM9lqDaE0MuzwPjzl_kh3kjphPlUUchJTRanXKdSk7q884TY6uvcWFanR1KIXewFgNVtEkE67axjDXgqOGVVZiR9jKHar0sO19KxcR-wBJ0xdOwGSA50Rh/s1600-h/Pink+at+night.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQsttY8Igoo0-GT480NZ2FZdM9lqDaE0MuzwPjzl_kh3kjphPlUUchJTRanXKdSk7q884TY6uvcWFanR1KIXewFgNVtEkE67axjDXgqOGVVZiR9jKHar0sO19KxcR-wBJ0xdOwGSA50Rh/s200/Pink+at+night.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299614671432832162" /></a><br />I am proud to be a New Zealander, to be a thread in our diverse and beautiful tapestry.<div><br /></div><div>On Waitangi Day we can look around at our nation, our community, our neighbours and our whanau, the tangata who have chosen to make Aotearoa our home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether we are tangata whenua or tangata tiriti, the Treaty of Waitangi is a frame like an unthreaded loom. The threads on the loom that bind the nation are its' tangata!</div><div><br /></div><div>Let us not just come together on this one day, but let us bind as a nation so together we can become stronger and cohesive. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let us stand proudly and acknowledge the past but focus our eyes firmly on the future and support each other to be the best little nation on the edge of the world! </div><div><br /></div><div>Together we will weave a future that we can individually and collectively be proud to call our home.</div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617756042930231416.post-5903867560400931132009-02-06T13:15:00.003+13:002009-02-06T20:32:50.340+13:00It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.- Bill GatesI read this quote in <a href="http://www.kirstydunphey.com/">Kirsty Dunphey's weekly newsletter</a> today. There is some truth to reflecting on failures, however I have come to realise how important it is to reflect on successes.<div><br /></div><div>Being able to replicate & build on success is the key to continued success.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reflecting on why we are successful helps us do the right things more often. Whether it's winning a new client or a round of golf, learning what we did right is often more valuable than trying to fix what we might've got wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>The revised quote could be:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Celebrate success, then learn from it & build on it to replicate the success!" - Tony</div>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09199476377949600019noreply@blogger.com0