Free 411: Help "On The Go"
Google and Microsoft both launched their free directory assistance services this week. Google's GOOG-411 (1-800/466-4411; or 1-800-GOOG-411) came out of beta on Sunday. The next day Microsoft announced its own free directory assistance service, Live Search 411 (800/225-5411; that's 1-800-CALL-411). Each offers an attractive alternative to paying the nearly $2 that most mobile carries charge for the service.
Both services use voice recognition and menu prompts to guide you to the state, city, business, and the phone number you're looking for. (GOOG-411 also repeats what you say, which is why it took longer than Live Search 411.) They also both give you the option to have a text message of the street address and phone number sent to your cell phone; if you're using a smart phone equipped with a compatible Web browser, you can click a link to a map that helps you pinpoint the business's location.
Both services use voice recognition and menu prompts to guide you to the state, city, business, and the phone number you're looking for. (GOOG-411 also repeats what you say, which is why it took longer than Live Search 411.) They also both give you the option to have a text message of the street address and phone number sent to your cell phone; if you're using a smart phone equipped with a compatible Web browser, you can click a link to a map that helps you pinpoint the business's location.
What My Dogs Have Taught Me
I love my dogs.
I love the way they live their lives, and I try to emulate them. I admire their happiness in the simplest of things. Like the way they approach each meal with endless appreciation and joy. While I struggle to decide what to eat from full cupboards and complain about what we don't have, they sit at the kitchen entrance, excitedly anticipating the very same meal (a pile of dry food combined with one can of gooey dogfood) over and over again. That's not even to mention how excited they get when offered just a small sample of my "Human Food."
I love how they live in the present. As my day fills with stress, looming tests, and upcoming deadlines, I try to be relaxed (or "chill") like Ceazer.
I love how they treat everyone the same, despite race, creed or appearance. They never pre-judge (well, Jinx does if she sees someone at night, but that's a lesson everyone should learn). Before Jinx and Ceazer, I didn't attempt to know anyone in the apartment complex or talk to people passing by. Now that we have our dogs, I say Hello to more people and enjoy meeting them, even if they are just stopping to see the dogs. Often, us humans are invisible behind their great personalities.
I love their loyalty and enthusiasm. Every time I come home I'm showered with Ceazer hugs and Jinx kisses. Those moments make it feel so good to be home and to be loved.
Because of the puppies, whenever Heather comes home I jump up and run over to greet her too, just like I learned from my dogs.
I love the way they live their lives, and I try to emulate them. I admire their happiness in the simplest of things. Like the way they approach each meal with endless appreciation and joy. While I struggle to decide what to eat from full cupboards and complain about what we don't have, they sit at the kitchen entrance, excitedly anticipating the very same meal (a pile of dry food combined with one can of gooey dogfood) over and over again. That's not even to mention how excited they get when offered just a small sample of my "Human Food."
I love how they live in the present. As my day fills with stress, looming tests, and upcoming deadlines, I try to be relaxed (or "chill") like Ceazer.
I love how they treat everyone the same, despite race, creed or appearance. They never pre-judge (well, Jinx does if she sees someone at night, but that's a lesson everyone should learn). Before Jinx and Ceazer, I didn't attempt to know anyone in the apartment complex or talk to people passing by. Now that we have our dogs, I say Hello to more people and enjoy meeting them, even if they are just stopping to see the dogs. Often, us humans are invisible behind their great personalities.
I love their loyalty and enthusiasm. Every time I come home I'm showered with Ceazer hugs and Jinx kisses. Those moments make it feel so good to be home and to be loved.
Because of the puppies, whenever Heather comes home I jump up and run over to greet her too, just like I learned from my dogs.
Blog Action Day - Replace your thermostat
As a proud participant in today's mass blogging event, Blog Action Day, here's a special post about Blog Action Day's topic: the environment.
Last March I went to Wal-Mart and bought a $20 electronic thermostat. The old one in our apartment was typical of most houses and worked just fine- but I just knew there had to be a better version of a thermostat by now. Turns out there is! After a quick 20 minute install (I still have the old thermostat stored in a closet to install before we move out to avoid a damage charge), the new thermostat was up and running. Being electronic (runs off of two AA batteries- use Rechargable batteries and you'll help the environment even more!), it's very accurate when recording the room's temperature. An impressive feature is that it allows you to set different temperatures for whatever times during the day that you want.
Going to work? You don't need it to be a perfect 72 degress inside while you're gone all day!
Like to sleep with it chilly so you can cuddle up next to someone special? Set the thermostat to cool down to 71 degrees from 9pm-7:17am.
What's the benefit here besides protecting the environment?
Well if my calculations from power bills are correct, in the 7 months that we've had the new thermostat, we have saved about $60 a month.
That's a savings of $420 from just a twenty dollar investment.
Go out tomorrow, buy an electronic thermostat, install it, and enjoy the fact that you're helping both the environment AND your wallet!
Last March I went to Wal-Mart and bought a $20 electronic thermostat. The old one in our apartment was typical of most houses and worked just fine- but I just knew there had to be a better version of a thermostat by now. Turns out there is! After a quick 20 minute install (I still have the old thermostat stored in a closet to install before we move out to avoid a damage charge), the new thermostat was up and running. Being electronic (runs off of two AA batteries- use Rechargable batteries and you'll help the environment even more!), it's very accurate when recording the room's temperature. An impressive feature is that it allows you to set different temperatures for whatever times during the day that you want.
Going to work? You don't need it to be a perfect 72 degress inside while you're gone all day!
Like to sleep with it chilly so you can cuddle up next to someone special? Set the thermostat to cool down to 71 degrees from 9pm-7:17am.
What's the benefit here besides protecting the environment?
Well if my calculations from power bills are correct, in the 7 months that we've had the new thermostat, we have saved about $60 a month.
That's a savings of $420 from just a twenty dollar investment.
Go out tomorrow, buy an electronic thermostat, install it, and enjoy the fact that you're helping both the environment AND your wallet!
