ThinkHammer

What Living Person Do You Most Admire?

2013-06-04T15:22:00.000-04:00

photo credit: kevin dooley via photopin cc

I have a group of friends and business associates who get together once a week for cigars and drinks. The idea is to get to know a few new and interesting people and see what happens. We've been doing it for years and it seems to work pretty well. One of the tools we use to get to know each other is to ask a new question each week. The answers may be hilarious, outrageous, poignant, or personal. I thought it might be interesting to try that experiment out on the web with you. I'm asking the question publicly, but probably only people I know and send the link to will bother to answer. Maybe, by reading the responses, we might find someone new to connect with, learn about, maybe even do business with.

Here goes.

The question is... What living person do you most admire?

ANSWER ON GOOGLE PLUS

How to Make Something Happen Every Day

2013-05-02T15:33:00.000-04:00

It's pretty easy to have a whole day go by and have nothing to show for it. Ever have one of those days where you say, "I know I got up. I think I ate breakfast. I got to the office. And then it's a blur..." It's a real problem when you start stringing those days into weeks, because they eventually become months and then years. That's not much of a story to tell and it's all too common. If you want to break out of that pattern then you need some strategies. These are some that have worked for me.

photo credit: Brandon Christopher Warren via photopin cc

Five Strategies for Making Something Happen Every Day

1) Start the Night Before.

Part of my inspiration for this post was Michael Hyatt's Productive Day post. He said that he gets to bed on time. I don't know how much sleep you need, but you know how much you need. Get it. I'm an early riser. I know lots of people who say they aren't. When you ask them a few more questions you find that they typically don't get to bed until after midnight. If I went to bed at midnight, I wouldn't be an early riser either. I know how much sleep I need by listening to my body. You can too. If you need 7 hours a night, then get it. If you need 9, then plan accordingly. Failure to get your minimum keeps you from performing optimally each day. If you are going to make something happen, why start the day in a hole?

2) Plan before you Stand.

Movie directors plan their movies before they shoot them. They sketch them out on story boards. I do the same thing with my day, in my head. After I wake up, but before I stand up, I visualize the BIG things I am going to do during the day. I think about what it will take to accomplish them, why they are important to me, and how I will feel once they are done. I sometimes discover during this process that I have forgotten some needed element. This give me a chance to correct my action plan before I've even started. Most importantly, the plan before you stand methodology lets you validate your approach, before you actually begin.

3) Do the Hard Thing First.

The list of things you are going to get done in any given day is always shorter than the list of things you'd like to get done. Why not go for a big win first? I guess if you need encouragement, you might want to start with the easy stuff, but that can sometimes kill your drive. So start big. Do the thing with the most impact first. After that, everything else will be easy.

4) Avoid Low Value Distractions.

The Internet has made getting distracted easier than ever. I could be writing my book, writing things that matter, or reading all of the cool stuff flowing past my screen in Twitter. My phone beeps, and I am off looking at Facebook. The real book, the work that matters can easily get lost among the distractions. The only real way to make this problem go away is to turn it off. EMail, Facebook, Twitter, that's my list not yours, I put them in a box. I don't allow alerts, I set my phone to DO NOT DISTURB to get the focus I need to get the big things done. When working on an extended project, I only read emails at specified times during the day. If you are going to get the big thing done, you can't let the little stuff sap your attention. Turn it off.

5) Reward Yourself.

The race is long and if I don't break it up into pieces I find it hard to keep up my best effort all the way to the end. So, I set up rewards for getting hard things done. Incentives work for the economy, they work for my kids and I figure they must work for me as well. There are certain things I really like to do during the day that I set up as rewards for getting things done. It might be a trip out for a special cup of coffee, a ten minute conversation with a friend, a walk around the block or smoking a cigar. I consider those activities, as well as the sheer internalized joy of getting good work done in front of me, as rewards. This can help me move forward when the going gets tough.

These are just a few of the techniques I use to try to create things that matter every day. If you've got some tools to add to this list, then drop me a line or post a comment below. I'd love to hear your ideas for staying focused.

Bang a Drum. Build A Tribe. Start A Movement.

2013-04-11T06:46:00.000-04:00

On March 22, 2013, I spoke to a sold out crowd at TEDxGreenville 2013 on the simple and accessible techniques of building a tribe. The presentation was an overview and a challenge to entrepreneurs, cause marketers, and individuals who just need a hand to find the people who can help them, draw them in, and give them a common purpose.

Thanks to TEDxGreenville for giving me the opportunity to inspire a few more people to call their tribes.

Five cool rules for a better 2013

2013-01-01T08:52:00.003-05:00

Looking for a few useful techniques for making 2013 your best year yet? You might try some of these ideas I've witnessed in action. Picking even one or two of these might put you on the path to a year with more achievement and less stress.

Begin every day with a word of thanks. This isn't just something your mother taught you, it's a proven technique for enjoying life. You can brighten your outlook on life simply by being grateful for the things that work or support you in your life. How can you be grateful? You might write it in a journal. Or you could choose to begin each day by writing down a few things you are thankful for on an index card and put that card in a box. I did this one year and kept the box on my desk. It had the added benefit of being a place to go when things got tough. When I was having a particularly hard day, I would open the box and read some of the cards. It reminded me about how lucky I am to have so many good things in my life. It gave me the energy boost I needed. Then I went back to doing the hard work of what lay before me.
Know your why. A sense of purpose and hope is the most powerful motivator a person can have. If you know why you do what you do, then you are ahead of everyone who cant articulate it. More importantly you will have the personal juice to continue when times are tough. If you don't have a Why, then find it. You may find it in your family, your community, or in whatever spiritual connections you may have. Find it. Embrace it. Live it. It is the ally that lives inside your head.
Be responsible for you. I can't inspire you. I can't delight you. I can't make you mad. You do all of that for yourself inside of your own head. This is a hard concept to make work, and it is certainly a master technique. If someone says a thing that makes you mad, then remember one thing is certain. You decided how to react. It might even be reasonable. But you decided. Now, knowing that you are in complete control of you and your reactions, how might that outcome be different?
Have a goal. Don't know where you are going? You are not alone. Is that what you want? Where do you end up if you aren't aiming for a goal? Who knows. You might be lost. You are probably working someone else's plan. How does that feel? If you opened the book of your life to a spot covering ten years ago would it be much different? Pick a mountain that's meaningful to you. Start walking... then head that way every day.
Begin each day with a planned outcome. Having goals for the future is great, but what about today? Before you get out of bed, could you come up with one, two, or three cool things you are going to get done today? It might be something important or urgent. It might be work that needs to be done. It might be some way you can make your life better. It might be a measurable and decisive step towards your goals. Whatever it is, why not live the moment of your success in your head before you even get up. Then get up and make it happen.
Deliver more than expected. What little thing can you do that will bring a smile to someone's face? Sure you can put 13 doughnuts in a box, but is there something completely unexpected you can do that will leave others with a positive story about you? I have a friend that puts cartoons on his invoices. He delivers the bill, but it makes me smile. Why not leave the people you meet with an unexpected smile?

Got some cool rules of your own? Share them!

A Wearable Reminder of My Strengths. What Works for You?

2012-09-28T11:51:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about playing to my strengths. The thing that makes the idea powerful is actually finding ways to complement your weaker points making sure those things still get done. I got to thinking about this because I've got a Mastermind group that is using the Strengths Finder 2.0 book to make sure we've got everyone on track. I have found it too easy to spend too much time on stuff I am not good at. That has kept me from making the progress I would like to make at the stuff I can do well and easily. It was the right message at the right time for me. I think it's helping others in our group as well. Since I can sometimes get sidetracked, I got my strengths stamped onto something I can wear round my neck.

I'd love to hear what little things you do to keep your thoughts focused on the ideas that are important to you.

Your Day Tech Radio - 2012-08-23 - Phil for Rent

2012-08-28T08:10:00.000-04:00

I think we are making some pretty good radio. It looks like there are people enjoying the show. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty unlikely that Eric and I are helping anybody with their tech problems, but we are having a pretty good time. Some of the listeners seems to want more of this. I promise, twice a month is probably all you can stand. Take a listen here.

We have some big news at Tech After Five

2012-07-22T23:53:00.001-04:00

In the last couple of hours I have posted in our tech after 5 linked in group that we are about to expand to the state of texas. This is a very exciting for us. We are absolutely looking forward to this expansion. We have got a great partner with feet on the ground in dallas. We will announce the details shortly, there will certainly be a more formal press release. We will be announcing expansion into dallas, fort worth, san antonio, houston, and beyond. This expansion will at least double our current size and might even triple it if we reach its full potential.

Your Day Technology Show 2012-07-12 (Video)

2012-07-13T10:45:00.000-04:00

We've moved to Thursdays! We are now live the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month with various pre-recorded segments in between. That is to say we are live on the radio and streaming. This is another of our Google hangout experiments. This is the whole show including the off-air calls from July 12, 2012.

Why do people go to Tech After Five?

2012-06-06T10:55:00.004-04:00

Have you wondered why people go to Tech After Five? We're asking the people who attend why they attend. We're getting some great stories and are going to be sharing them on the Tech After Five website. I mention it on the blog for another reason entirely. I shot this with a Flip Video camera.

Yep, it's shaky and handheld, but with a little effort I got a story worth sharing. It's not perfect, but it is working. I know you'd never do this, but a lot of the time I keep myself from doing a thing because I want it to be perfect. Doing something is better than nothing any day. You probably didn't need to hear that, but I sometimes need to remind myself. Do something. You'll have something to show and you'll be better at it next time.

ps: The people who don't go to Tech After Five don't get anything out of it. The people who do come can make things happen. Just like Jason Powell.

It’s time I let you in on a secret weapon for professional networking

2012-06-01T14:07:00.000-04:00

You may not know that I write a monthly personal technology column that appears in the Greenville Business Magazine and the Columbia Business Monthly. The best place to keep up with this is on their websites, but I thought I'd give you a taste of the column here. If you like this sort of thing, then you can check out the archives.

Not all iPhone cases are made alike. While there are myriads of inexpensive ones to choose from, many either fail to provide any sort of meaningful protection, or through a failure of design diminish the elegant beauty of the iPhone itself. The cases I received this month from Musubo are something different altogether. They are beautiful, artful, and offer varying levels of protection for my expensive smartphone.

My favorite is the retro. It’s a combination of a hard polycarbonate case around cushioned silicone lining. The silicone cushion protects your phone that could be caused by the case itself. The hard shell is the bit that gets sacrificed should your phone take a tough tumble. The retro is clearly more than simple protection. It lends your phone the classic look of a 1950’s microphone and is available in red, blue, black, or silver. The case is slick enough to make your phone easy to slide into a jeans pocket while the ridges provide a great place to keep a grip on the phone, hopefully helping you (and me) to avoid any accidental drops. The case also comes with a handy little stand for your phone, perfect for a desk display. I mean, if you’re going to have good looking phone, you might as well have it out on your desk where people can see it.

It’s time I let you in on a secret weapon for professional networking. I am always out looking for tools to give my networking an edge and the one that’s getting the most of my attention and doing me the most good is called CardMunch. While the name may be a bit whimsical, the app is amazing. With Cardmunch you take any business card you’ve received at a networking event, lay it down on a well lit table and then take a picture of it. In a few minutes to a few hours you will have all of the information on the business card typed in and then you can press a button and either add them to your address book or send them a LinkedIn connection request.

If that’s all it did, this app would be magic, but it actually holds on to the picture of the card and the contact information so that you can then forward it to someone else should the occasion arise. I use Cardmunch not only to increase the touch points with new contacts that I’d like to talk to, but to hold business card and contact information of friends I recommend all of the time. If I need to give someone contact info, I like to send them the info from Cardmunch because they not only get a .vcf file which is easily imported into their address book, they also get a photograph of the business card, which may provide them with additional useful information. It’s a little bit of magic that gives you an edge in the networking game. Run, don’t walk to cardmunch.com and get yourself a copy.

This article originally appeared in the June 2012 issue of Greenville Business Magazine and the Columbia Business Monthly magazine.

Video: Watch the Your Day Tech Guys Answer Your Calls

2012-05-31T11:03:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what Phil Yanov and Eric Rodgers look like? Here is your chance. During our live radio show on May 30, 2012 we simultaneously broadcast and recorded the show via Google Hangout. Take a look as a few of our friends jump in and watch along as we do live radio. I'd especially like to thank the people who offered suggestions in the chat area during the show. You were a big help! Thanks!

In this episode we discuss the following with callers:

How to make sure you are not going to get stung with data overage fees from your ISP
How to get a difficult Adobe Flash app working on your Mac (or PC)
How to deal with an intermittently skipping CD player
How to use the cloud to sync files between your PCs (Dropbox?)
How to get a printer working on a very old laptop
How to watch Netflix and Hulu on the TV in your living room
How to recover your WiFi password on your Mac
How to fix bad spots on your hard drive
How to pick a new Android phone
Why you should be careful when attempting to program your car
and more...
plus a special announcement!

We're live today - and just maybe you can watch

2012-05-30T06:22:00.000-04:00

We've got a bonus round of Your Day today. That's cool. It means we'll be doing live radio at noon on the NPR Stations in South Carolina. If you like that sort of thing, then you may want to listen today for a special and exciting announcement. If you don't like the sort of tech radio we do, then you definitely will want to be doing something else.

We're also going to try to do a Google Hangout while we do the show. That means you can listen and watch us at the same time. (We think.) We think we've got the sound thing figured out so you can watch the stream and hear the audio from the Google Hangout. If somehow we don't get that right, you can always listen to us on a radio or via the live stream.

Look for the Google Hangout on my Google+ page.

You may be able to watch this live stream on YouTube as well.

A Google Hangout Experiment involving Live Radio

2012-05-16T20:11:00.000-04:00

Today we ran a google hangout (on air) during the live radio show. Some of the stuff at the beginning may be worth watching in the archive, the rest is probably not. You get to hear our answers, but not the questions. Next time we are going to feed the air check audio into the Google hangout.

When Networking Professionally -- Keep Moving. Here's how.

2012-03-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

I was teaching a class on networking recently and someone asked how they should deal with people who were just a bit too sticky at a networking event. It seemed the woman asking the question attracted a lot of attention at events. While it wasn't all unwanted, she was asking me for a professional way to detach herself from someone with whom she wasn't going to make a meaningful connection. Given my looks, you might correctly assume that I've never had that problem. Still, I think I can offer a solution.

Disconnect with tone and vigor

What does that mean? People get tone in your voice. If you let them know that you are drawing a conversation to a close, they can sense it. If they can't, you are going to move on anyway. You can always end a conversation by telling someone that you have enjoyed talking to them and wish them good hunting as they cast about for connections at the event. Say, "Thank you for the conversation. My Boss / Spouse / Coach asked me to make at least five connections tonight, so I'd better get to work." Everyone gets this, and for the few that don't, you simply turn away and move on. It's OK. This gets easier over time and there is nothing wrong with putting both of you on the path of making meaningful connections. That is what networking is all about.

A Connectorati Technique - The Reconnect

Yes, there is an even more powerful way to disconnect with someone and it actually leaves them on a positive note. This technique is sometimes only available to the Connectorati, that is people who have already built an extensive network of professional contacts. Still, even if you are not yet a Connectorati, you may find a lucky happenstance where you can make the technique work. If so, give it a try.

How does the reconnect work? As your conversation with someone comes to a close you look for someone close by, preferably a potentially meaningful contact, and you offer to make the introduction. It goes like this: "Mike, it's been good talking to you. Thank you for helping me understand your business better. By the way, you said you were interested in some training. Do you know Russ Davis? Well you should. Let me facilitate that introduction." You then either bring the third person into the conversation or you walk the person next to you to the new introduction. If you pick the two well then you might be doing them both an awful lot of good.

It's ok to keep moving at a networking event. If you’re a good networker you came in with both a plan and an openness to new things. While you are always keeping your eyes open for new and interesting opportunities, you also need to work your plan and meet the people you intended to meet. Use one of the techniques above to make sure your networking keeps moving.

Are you inspiring anyone? Who inspires you?

2012-02-03T16:03:00.000-05:00

I opened up the latest edition of the Greenville Business Magazine yesterday and saw that the publisher, my pal, Lori Coon, in her Publisher's Letter, had mentioned that I had inspired her in some small way this past month. I love that. First off, I love Lori Coon for being an inspiration to me as both a fine human being and as a publisher that never loses sight of the goals of her business. She makes things happen even when the times and economy make it difficult. I am absolutely inspired by her and if I can return the favor by inspiring her in some small way, then that is just my way of saying thanks.

Who inspires you? How do they do it? What is it about them that gives you that extra boost? I think those moments and people are worth paying attention to and learning from. I think they are even worth writing down and then reviewing from time to time.

If you wrote down a list of people who inspire you and why, how long would it be? How do you think it would make you feel? What would you do next?

No matter how successful you are at what you do, it can sometimes get hard. You have setbacks minor and not so minor. It is at those times it is nice to have a ready list of inspiring people that will both make you grateful for having them in your life. If you write down why these people are an inspiration for you, you also end up with a set of guideposts of what is important to you. As a source of inspiration it mig even be that these people are reminding you of things you would like to work on in your own life, business, or career. Get them listed. Write down who and why. Then maybe, just maybe, you should send off a thank you card or two.

Surefire techniques to turn ANY NETWORKING EVENT to YOUR ADVANTAGE.

2012-02-01T10:16:00.000-05:00

I am in the event business. At some level, I am actually just a matchmaker. I create events that technology professionals and business owners use to meet the people they need to know. Want to know what I don't get?

People frequently go to networking events unprepared to make a connection!

I get that the natural state of technology people is that they are really, really good with ideas and sometimes stuff, but not always people. I love the people who come to our event. What sometimes bothers me is that they don’t take advantage of all of the great people standing around them!

If you are a programmer, then hanging around other programmers may give you great ideas for your next project. Hanging around other business owners may give you the opportunity to understand where the best opportunities may be for your future. Hanging around (the occasional) accountant may lead you to understand your financial opportunities better or more. (I married an accountant, so you never know what may come of it.)

Here’s the bit most people miss. Unless you teach yourself to be inquisitive and learn about others, many opportunities simply pass you by. Sure you are going to talk to some people you may not be able to relate to, but there are plenty you can help or even be helped by. To figure out if someone is a potential connection for you, you need to be able to ask questions and listen. Don’t know how to get that conversation started? Try some of these...

Four guaranteed conversation starters that are not the usual blah, blah:

What brings you here? This is so much better than the crappy pickup line “Come here often?” You may get a bland answer but if you do, then dig deeper. If you get, “I come for the networking.” Then reply “Interesting, what would be a great discovery for you in your networking?” They may not have thought about why they come, you will have them percolating on it. Better yet, they will be both engaged with their purpose and with you.

What do people pay you to do? I love this question because it sidesteps so much of the junk answers people deliver when you ask them what they do for a living. No one replies “They pay me to be the President of TurtleMax software.” They say “I put IT people to work.” This question, gets at the heart of what a person does to earn their keep. By asking the question differently than everyone else, you once again have piqued the interest in the listener and caused them to get emotionally engaged with their work and with you. Ask interesting questions at a networking event and people will remember you. Doesn’t that sound like a good thing?

What does a win look like for you tonight? This question can shake people up a bit. That’s a good thing. While some personality types are highly focused on goals, that really is only a small percentage of the population. Most people only vaguely know what a win would be in their day to day efforts. Some haven’t a clue. If you ask the question and get a momentary blank look, don’t rush to fill the void. Let them think. It may take several seconds for them to formulate an answer. You may be digging down to the nature of their life or work goals. Wait to see what they come up with. If they don’t answer with something either you or they could actually act on, then probe further. You are eventually going to come around to my favorite question...

How can I help you? This one is direct. It is also the question that seems to surprise people most. Most people at networking events understand that they go to help themselves they are startled when someone offer them some help. This is one more chance for you to come up with a clear actionable step with which you can help another human being. When you ask this question, you are looking for some way to make a helpful, memorable connection with them which will involve you taking some action on their behalf on your own time. This is how you spread good in the world. This is how you create lasting connections. Help others. I’ve spent my whole adult life trying help others. Sometimes they even try to help me back. This has led me, and I expect it to lead you to a remarkable life.

About that help you are offering. I haven’t forgotten that you have goals of your own in the world. I will get to that, I promise. Start helping yourself by being in the right place at the right time. If you are attending the right networking events, then some percentage of the people you ask to help actually need you. Hopefully you have a good answer for them on who you help and why.

While finding a person who needs you AND is ready to commit the resources required to engaging you is an absolute win, chances are you will first encounter a request that’s something short of that. Often it’s an introduction to a certain type of person. Do it. Make an introduction. Try to find some way you can help the person you are talking to at the very event you are both attending.

I have helped people get job leads, find new customers, and begin collaborations on game changing new businesses. In most cases neither person knew the other. If someone is looking for contact information, pull up your smartphone and send it to them right then. If you don’t have that capability or it isn’t quick and easy for you, then write yourself a note and do it as soon as you get to your computer. Nobody does this at 9 pm at night, so why don’t you?

Remember the idea is to help people and they will naturally remember and start talking about you. Better yet, they will be talking about how you are a problem solver that gets things done and helps them make connections. That is exactly what I’d like to be remembered for. What would you like people to remember about you?

New Google Reader for Tablets: Google Currents

2011-12-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

Google has released a customizable news reader for Android and Apple tablet computers. They call it Google Currents. Much like Flipboard before it, it makes reading news items from the web a lot more pleasant experience than trying to figure out RSS feeds as in Google Reader. It takes web news and puts it in a format anyone can use. If Google Currents had come first and Flipboard second, people might have been calling Flipboard the Google Currents killer. With the timing reversed, I'm not exactly sure how nervous Flipboard should be. Currents has the advantage over Flipboard in that it's available for both Android and iOS. Flipboard has no Android version. Flipboard beats Currents slightly on visual appeal and pretty substantially on social network integration. Currents has basic Facebook and Twitter integration and surprisingly disapointing integration with Google+. You can +1 an article, but not share it to your Google+ feed. Still it's a great option for Android, and it's Google Reader feed integration may make it a winning play even for those using an iPad or iPhone to read their news.

What happens at an Intensive Journal Workshop? (audio)

2011-10-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

Intensive Journal workshops involve a series of writing exercises aimed at self development. Over a series of days participants write about themselves, their thoughts, friends, family, and conversations in a way that creates breakthrough experiences. Over 175,000 participants, from all walks of life attend these workshops since 1966, looking to gain insights about their relationships, career, health and goals. I had the opportunity to talk Jon Progoff, head of the Dialogue House and son of founder Ira Progoff, Ph. D. about the workshops, the Intensive Journal method, and what people get out of attending.

This interview first appeared on Your Day, which is heard on the ETVRadio network of stations.

Press the big green button to start playing the audio.

An Intensive Journal Introductory Workshop will be held in Clemson, SC on October 28-29, 2011. (This is a new date.)

Your Day airs at noon Monday through Thursday on the NPR stations across South Carolina.

Some basic talk about 4G LTE (video)

2011-10-21T05:18:00.002-04:00

It turns out some people are still a bit confused about 4G. They don't even know if they have it or not. In an attempt to dispel a couple of myths and get the listeners of the Your Day radio show a basic introduction, I sat down and talked to the folks at Verizon Wireless.

A visit to the Immedion data center (Video)

2011-10-20T10:46:00.000-04:00

Our October Your Day radio program included a technology road show where I went out and visited a couple of tech companies and did some interviews. The segments appeared on ETVRadio (South Carolina's NPR stations) and also on the Your Day website as video. This piece was from my visit to South Carolina based data center service provider Immedion.

Audio: Interview with John Warner - What is Innomobility 2011?

2011-10-11T05:30:00.019-04:00

press to play

John Warner, the creator of Innoventure, has something new up his sleeve. In a few days he will unveil Innomobility, the mobility brother of Innoventure. It's a conference with a global reach that's going to pull in automotive and mobility executives from across the country to present and connect with opportunities and business models in automotive, materials, and information technology. I interviewed John for Your Day and he talked about the presenters and opportunities he hopes will come out of this new conference.

Press the big green button to start playing the audio.

October 18-19, 2011
more info: Innomobility.com

Your Day airs at noon Monday through Thursday on the NPR stations across South Carolina.

Audio: Adding Windows features to your Mac, your calls.

2011-10-10T10:12:00.005-04:00

On the third Wednesday of every month we do a live call in show taking your technology questions. This episode, first aired on August 17, 2011. We start our talking about Lion, the new Mac OS, but the bulk of this show, as always is the improv we do when we take your calls. You never know what we're going to be asked, or what we might say.

In this show:

How to be your own computer detective.
I'd rather be lucky than stupid.
Should you leave your computer on at night?
Do computers dream during hibernation?
We solve domestic disputes.
What can keep you from making a recovery disk?
How do you keep your Macbook from overheating?
Should you use anti-virus software on your Mac?
What you might think abut before giving up your PC for a Mac.
How to pair a bluetooth headset with a new cell phone.
How solid state hard drives make your computer boot faster.
Can solid state drives be compromised?
My laptop is turning itself off! Help!
Why do laptops overheat?
Why do cats hate computers?
Why do I run out of Virtual Memory?
Voodoo may be our answer to your computer problem.
Are the "affordable options" for smartphone service worth trying?
and some bonus calls that were never heard on the air!

Press the big green button to start playing the audio.

Your Day airs at noon Monday through Thursday on the NPR stations across South Carolina.

Back to the old Blogger...

2011-09-02T13:30:00.000-04:00

A month ago I got pushed to the new Blogger editor, assured by the pop up windows that it was newer, cleaner, better. It has taken me a full month to realize that the new interface is still half-baked. I had to go back to the old blogger interface because you can not publish podcasts in the version of Blogger in Draft available today.

The New Blogger -- What a difference!

2011-08-03T10:28:00.003-04:00

I'm still looking for a reason to fall in love with the new Blogger editing interface. I guess I need to spend more time with it. Anyone love it yet?

Read about all the changes on the Blogger in Draft blog.

Audio: Netflix rebate, Your Calls, Avoid having your phone hacked

2011-07-21T05:37:00.002-04:00

On the third Wednesday of every month we do a live call in show taking your technology questions. This episode, first aired on July 20, 2011. We start out with a riff on the Netflix troubles and eventually give some advice on how to secure yourself against phone hacking.

Press that big green button to start playing the audio.

Your Day airs at noon Monday through Thursday on the NPR stations across South Carolina.