Letter from Jesus about Christmas

Got this email to me the other day and thought it was a terrific response to the keep Christ in Christmas protest I am seeing again this year.  I also saw another great post on this topic at: It’s Ohio, Wait Five Minutes

Dear Christ Follower,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape-vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow-up… It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit-picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

Smog Testing | Is Your Website Copy too Hard to Read?

I was recently reading through numerous white papers and a few ebooks about copy writing for the web and came across a few interesting thoughts about what we write and the need for SMOG testing (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook).  In my own experience as a web site builder, I get to read and learn about many businesses and industries.  Often times I am sent material from a client to post or use to construct a web page. 

Writing is certainly a gift and some people can do it and some cannot.  I don’t do a bad job of writing and have a few folks I rely on when I get stuck.  Beyond making thing readable, how about understandable?  When you are writing it is rather important to think about a few factors.

1. Who is your audience? 
2. Is your information filled with jargon and industry buzzwords? 
3. Is your copy written above what your intended audience can comprehend?
4. Have you written too much to get your visitor to take action or move beyond your home page?

If you are wanting to know the reading level and clarity to the copy you are writing I suggest you do some SMOG testing by visiting the following sites:

1.  WordsCount

2.  SMOG

I hope you get good results and your SMOG testing will help you “clear the air” and your content so it can be best understood and enjoyed by your target audience.

 

Michael Mock

HTC Hero Disassembly with Video

Well this is a  hot topic and I feel like I am being a big help by continuing to help you, my readers finds ways to crack open your HTC Hero.  Here is an even more complete set of instructions with video over at PocketHacks.com these are in plain English.

Here is a link to the video directly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PdhXx3g9nU

It includes the link to a service manual as well.

Once again I hope this helps you fix or hack you HTC Hero.

Michael Mock

Some Disassembly is Required.

HTC Hero Disassembly

Thanks to the folks over at Babelfish here is a link to the Chinese website that show disassembly of the HTC Hero:

HTC G3 (Hero) Disassembly Be patient as it takes a few seconds for the translator to do it’s magic.

I have had lots of people hitting my blog for this term so I did a little looking and hopefully this will help you get your  device apart to fix or tweak whatever it is you need to do.

Michael Mock

Some Disassembly is Required

HTC Hero Cell Phone Review

WSJ’s Walt Mossberg reviews Sprint’s HTC Hero, the latest super smart phone based on Google’s Android mobile operating system. He says the HTC Hero is a good product and a good alternative to rivals — the BlackBerry, iPhone and Palm.

I have included a link to the video from the Wall Street Journal you can click here to see it on their page:

Review of the HTC Hero

I have  the HTC Ozone for Verizon and must say that is has been a great “smart phone” for me.  We here at Tusco Display are moving over to it for all mobile users with upgrades this year.  Over all a great replacement to the Motorola Q, which was also a great cell phone, but just at the end of it’s life cycle.

Got a favorite cell phone?  Feel free to tell me about it.  I handle the technology here at work and am always on the look out for real world field test advice for our technology.  Shout out below and tell me about your new cell phones.

Michael Mock

Some Disassembly Is Required

I am Very Sorry for This

Today I discovered the fine print in the Terms of Service for WordPress.Com does not allow affiliate links in blog posts. I have included affiliate links to tools, books, and software that I not only use, but promote for sale.

I am sorry if you came here looking for the links I suggested so you could use or purchase them for yourself. I am in the process of moving all affiliate post to a new hosting spot but will continue to use WordPress for the time being.

Much to my chagrin, as I now must eat what I signed in front of the town idiot as the old saying goes. I will catch up with all of you soon.

Michael Mock
Some Disassembly is Required

PC Tune Up and System Repairs With XP Repair PRO

XP Repair Pro is a popular system utility that is designed to allow any computer user to quickly and easily repair common errors that occur in Windows and thousands of other software titles.  Whether you are experiencing system errors, system lockups or if your computer just seems to be running slowly, XP Repair Pro’s useful tools will help revive your PC without having to spend hundreds of dollars to a computer tech to do what you can do yourself.

With all this hype I figured I had better have a look and see if this program could live up to all the claims they stake.  So I headed over to XP Repair PRO to download a free trial.  I would recommend you have a look and make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements before installing.

The package for download was less than 6 MB so it was pretty quick.  The Installation Package will check your system for the Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0. If it is not detected, the installer will download these files directly from certified Microsoft servers. You can stop or cancel the procedure at anytime, but the installation will not continue. Most computers already have the .Net Framework installed.

Once the downloaded package was in place I started the installation of XP Repair PRO and was pleased at the quick and simple process of getting started.  The interface is clean and easy to understand.  I’m not one to be wowed by a “pretty face” and couldn’t wait to see just how well this software would perform.

The free trial is not some watered down or crippled version of software, it is a full featured and option rich piece.  No tricks or scans that reveal the problem, but demands payment before it delivers a fix.  After install I was greeted by big shiny buttons that promise to fix the registry, defrag the registry, or manage the startup programs to maximize boot time.

I have a lot of programs loaded and also am installing and removing various pieces for testing and trials like this.  I was curious to see just how much XP Repair PRO would fix on my machine.  I know that a clean XP registry is a happy one.  A lot of old entries in the registry can cause all kinds of maladies and lock-ups.  So at the end of the scan I discovered big issues, so I let the software work it’s magic.  As a side note all changes are reversible, but recommended fixes are said to be perfectly safe.  I am willing to take one for the team, but let me tell you how important it is to backup your PC including the system state as you may need to restore it in the event of ANY disaster.

No surprise over 4100 errors found in the registry, so up to the Repair Error button and away we go.  I was a little disappointed that there was no progress bar of any kind or a pop up to let me know that my repairs were actually taking place.  The registry defrag was very graphical and quick.  I am a very visual guy and seeing the map as the registry defraged was a big help to me.  I opted out of the startup tune up as I have a pretty good handle on what I have starting and why, but you may be suprised to see just what is going on under the covers.

I would highly recommend you get your copy of XP Repair PRO today, see just how much better things can be.  With just the click of a button, you can quickly restore your computer back to its like new condition.  XP Repair Pro has had over 2.71 million downloads in less than three years, and has quickly become one of the most popular system utilities on the market today.  XP Repair Pro 4.0 is fully Vista ready and works with all prior versions of Windows.  CNET and Softpedia also gives them high marks!

Michael Mock

Some Disassembly is Required

Trans Fat That Makes You Leaner?

I wanted to share a pretty unique article with you today from my trusted colleague and Nutrition Specialist Mike Geary. You probably thought you already knew everything you needed to know about trans fats, but this article may surprise you…

A type of Trans Fat that makes you leaner?

by Mike Geary

Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Specialist co-Author – The Fat Burning Kitchen

We all know that trans fats are horrible for your health right? But what if I told you that there is a specific type of trans fat that’s natural (not man-made) and actually helps you to lose fat faster and build lean muscle? Well, check out the excerpt from my new program that I co-authored called “The Fat Burning Kitchen” below:

“…Not many people know this fact, but CLA is actually a natural form of trans fat, but it is FAR different than the artificial trans fats from hydrogenated oils that are so deadly and that you hear all of the negative information about. CLA is actually one of the only healthy trans fats in existence.

CLA is a natural form of healthy trans fat that occurs in the fat on the meat, and in the dairy from ruminant animals such as cattle, bison, deer, goats, sheep, kangaroo, etc. CLA in natural form has been shown to help in burning off abdominal fat and also maintaining or even building lean muscle.

Warning: do NOT use CLA supplements as they contain an artificially created form of CLA that is a different CLA isomer compared to the natural CLA isomer that’s found in meats and dairy from ruminant animals. The CLA isomer found in CLA supplements can have negative effects in the body and is more similar to an artificial trans fat. The only form of CLA is that going to benefit your health and help you to reduce body fat is the natural CLA isomers from grass-fed beef, bison, venison, etc or from grass-fed raw milk or cheeses. Also, grass-fed meats and dairy contain 3-5x the CLA of grain fed meats, so avoid your typical grain-fed grocery store meats.

So that is the reason why I focused more on red meats such as grass-fed beef and bison during this 23-day cutting cycle instead of chicken, turkey, or fish — because the extra CLA can really help in accelerating fat loss and preserving lean muscle…” There you have it… there actually IS such a thing as a healthy trans fat… bet you didn’t know that! This was an excerpt from my brand new program I just co-authored with an extremely knowledgeable nutrition expert named Catherine Ebeling. The program is called “The Fat Burning Kitchen“.

Because this is our launch week… you can grab the program for half price this week only. The price will double in a few days at the end of the week. Also, I wanted to really knock your socks off with this program, so if you grab a copy this week, I even decided to throw in a special bonus section that gives you every single nitty gritty detail of how I just went from 10.2% bodyfat down to 6.9% bodyfat in only 23 days while I prepped for a photo shoot recently. This is advanced stuff for when you might have an event such as a wedding or a beach vacation coming up and you need to knock off some significant bodyfat in only 3-4 weeks time frame.

There’s nothing unhealthy here… but these techniques are definitely “amped up” from the norm. When I say nitty gritty details… I’m talking everything, including specific spices, teas, nutrients, exactly what I ate, carb/protein/fat ratios and how I manipulated timing of nutrients to accelerate fat loss. Seriously, we did the body comp tests and I went from 10.2% BF to 6.9% BF in only 23 days. I’ll be sharing the pics on my blog in a week or 2, when I get the finals back from the photographer. You’ll find out all of those details of how I did this in the bonus chapter if you grab a copy this week. check it out: Fat burning Kitchen.

Get your copy today so you don’t miss out on the half price special.

Enjoy! Mike Geary Certified Nutrition Specialist Certified Personal Trainer

-Michael Mock

Some Disassembly is Required

Organized Living Space

I have been away for a while and am happy to be back.  Things have certainly gotten hectic and I am way behind on a ton of projects.  My office looks like a computer waste collection site, my garage is in a sad state of affairs, and my personal living space is in need of some serious attention.

I recently came across a book that I bought that seem like it may work for getting me in a position to organize the garage, the house, my office, and even organize my living space.  It has always been a goal of mine to maintain an organized living space for my family and me.  We live in a modest three bedroom home of 1600 square feet, and a

Organized Living Space

24 x 32 square foot garage.  There are four of us and three dogs that share this space.  It isn’t cramped, but does on occasion get overrun with clutter.

We moved into our home three years ago from a rental home of about the same size.  We were determined to not fill this place up with too much furniture and too many things.  Our thought was to minimize the chaos and maximize the functionality of our rooms.  We needed a plan to help organize house and grounds so we do more living and less maintaining order. My wife is a big fan of order and I have a penchant for straight lines and smooth edges.

With this book I have discovered you don’t have to be born organized to be organized!  Here’s the story: Anyone who thoroughly enjoys their home knows there are just three basic ideas behind being organized and living a more simplified life at home…

• Take control of “stuff” before it becomes clutter.

• Having specific steps in place to maintain order on a daily basis.

• Knowing how to get the most out of existing space to create proper storage and always have a designated place for everything.

Check out this book and see if maybe it will help you get a more organized living space too.

Michael Mock

Some Disassembly Required

Socialnomics: Shiny New Toys or Power Tools?

Over the weekend I received a TON of email about social media and social media marketing.  I have become a student of promotion of ones brand, idea, or cause on the Internet.  I also talked to a few folks about this craze or fad as some people are labeling the new Web 2.0 applications and have been asking, “Do you think this whole social media thing is going to last?”

Surprisingly enough when people find out I am a social media evangelist and enthusiast they immediately act as if I am the ice cream man.  Like small children they almost gleefully jump up and down and begin to barrage me with all kinds of questions.  I share some of my thoughts and advise freely with them as I do see this as a new and exciting age of technology.

But let me ask you to watch the video below and then answer for yourself is the entire social media “thing” just shiny new toys or power tools?  Maybe these applications are like Christmas presents that we so eagerly desired, but soon abandon for other more interesting things in a few weeks.

Let me know how you feel about this and what do you think.

Dee and I over at Technology Workgroup are preparing a large scale course on Social Media and Business.  Look for more information in upcoming post about how to get this training for your own business.  You can also sign up for our monthly news letter and get a free eBook on Twitter for beginners entitled “Twtitter for Twwetless Tweeple” as out thanks for becoming subscribers.