Summer 2013–1st Playlist

Well, it is about summer time.  That means warm weather, parties, vacations, days at the beach and summer jams that get played over and over, but supply the soundtrack of memories.  I think the songs that will be on repeat rotation are just coming out and here is the first batch that I’m playing.  Enjoy and feel free to add your own in the comments section.

* Photo note: my portable sounds this summer will be powered by the Nokia Purity earbuds(by Monster) , Sony X Headphones and the Sony NFC/Bluetooth enabled mobile speaker.

My Red Lumia just got an Indigo Upgrade

Apple should take note…Siri-ously.

Tomorrow users of Windows Phone and Android will get a chance to try out a new app that I’ve been playing with for a few days.  The company, Artificial Solutions, has been innovating NLI (Natural Language Interaction) for other companies’ sites and gadgets, but now is releasing their own Indigo app.  My red Nokia Lumia 920 has been officially upgraded with the presence of this app.

From my testing over the weekend, I’m impressed.  Besides the generally accurate voice recognition and picking up cues from natural speech, which are no slouch, they have already implemented a few tricks that make the app stand out.  Here are two that I find fascinating:

Rapping Parent Video Throw-down

My friend posted a rapping parent video today.  It’s the 3rd one that I’ve seen so I thought I’d have a throw down here on the ‘ole blog. I’m going to post all 3 and provide no commentary.  Seriously, I’m going to say nothing.

After you watched all three videos, you get to make your voice heard by VOTING in the snazzy poll at the end.  You can even drop some wisdom on us all in the comments section.

Now enough with this intro – let’s drop the beat on this throw-down!!

Finding Creativity/Beauty/Opportunity EVERYWHERE

Since I started my phone-tography blog… What?  You don’t know about that?  OK, stop what you’re doing and bookmark http://phonetographs.wordpress.com.

As I was saying, when I started my phone-tography blog, I knew that I was going to need to keep the content fresh.  That means that I would need to find things to shoot wherever I find myself.  This scene here seems pretty uneventful and not a likely subject of a photoshoot, right?  Well, check after the break for what I was able to find in this spot.

Cali-strated

Cali-strations: pictures taken during a day that, upon reflection, illustrate something about my California experience.

Having an amazing camera in your phone, like I do with my Nokia Lumia 920, there are days when I take pictures of things without even thinking about why.  Our devices are so convenient and I constantly use mine to discover and create shareable content, while also forcing myself to view, examine and appreciate my surroundings.

Today was one of those days that I took some pictures and had no idea why or what I would do with them.  When I looked at them later, I made two collages. (FYI – I use two collage apps: PhotoGrid and Phototastic)

Today’s Cali-strated theme is “Pretty on the outside – Weird on the inside”

Why I Hate Instagram

As I sit to write this blog entry, the thought strikes me that it is odd to have such an emotional response to a service, especially one that I don’t even use.  Needless to say, since I’m still typing, that those thoughts were quickly squashed in my brain.  To the many that rely on InstaGrime to display your meals in what you think is a quirky, artsy way, I might have to spend a bit more time explaining.  Let’s see if I can filter through the nonsense and get this issue squared away.  See what I did there?

What The Juice

I am a Midwest-raised, meat eating, beer drinking man, who is about to embark on a 10 Day Juicing “Reboot”.  As my friends’ son says, “What the juice?”.

It all started when my neighbor was getting rid of stuff in her apartment.  She called me and asked if I wanted her juicer.  I expected that she’d have a half-working cheapo model, but I still said “yes”, as I had thoughts of trying such a challenge.  I must have made a #NoExcuses manifestation, because this was a really nice Breville, in great condition.

What’s next? Read on, my friends.

Jessica Chastain & #NoExcuses

I saw Zero Dark Thirty the other day at a SAG Awards screening.  The big bonus was a Q&A with Jessica Chastain hosted by Janelle Riley.  I was always a fan of Jessica’s work, but now I am a fan of her general process of approaching life.  Before she was famous, she didn’t JUST take class (although, she is Juliard trained) and she didn’t wait around for people to give her work.  She created work for herself.  She didn’t get discouraged. She embodies what we’re talking about when we say #NoExcuses and #NoRegrets.

I shot this quick clip at the the start of the session and she gave us some great inspiration.  Obviously, this was taken with my Nokia Lumia 920 – a Windows Phone 8 device.

Sharing Amazing

Today I posted on my Facebook status that “Today is Friday! Do something amazing and earn the weekend!”  My friend Steffanie turned it around and asked me what I was going to do.  Hmmm…people don’t usually turn my orders around on me.

I had to do the building paperwork this morning, so the amazing had to wait for the afternoon.  Of course, as the day goes on more and more things get in the way, but I will not let that get in my way.  This is 2013, which I’ve declared the Year Of The Hash Tag.  That means it’s a paradigmatic shift in my existence to a #NoExcuses, #NoRegrets life.  Amazing HAD to happen!

Hello 2013

There seems to be a anti-resolution making sentiment going around this year.  This probably stems from people setting themselves up for failure with lofty dreams without taking into consideration what it takes to make them come through.  It might also have to do with people focusing on giving things up or doing something they don’t find enjoyable.  For example, losing 20 pounds doesn’t sound like fun, but if a wants to go to the beach in her bikini for the first time in 10 years, that just seems more fun…more positive…something that you WANT to do, right?  It’s time to get the mindset in a positive place and primed for success.

I started on that vein a couple of years ago when I wrote of my Top 10 Resolutions for the Single Man.  It was filled with actionable items that I could put into practice and have control over.  It’s also quite funny, if I can pat myself on the back.  I’ll go ahead and do that now.  OK, I’m done.  What’s the plan for 2013??