utechblog

Yes I am dreaming. But it would be really nice.

yeah so I haven’t really posted anything of value lately.
I have been busy though… being fulfilling my duties as “Pastor of All Things Plugged-In” for the community
Created the Journey – Media page. Got all of our sermons from 2005 published. And got the Journey PodCast fired up.
Also been working on mastering MediaShout V3.
Next on the list for Journey is working on the Sermon Database/Search/Library what ever you want to call it. I got some great ideas on how I want it to work now if I could only figure out a way to do it.
As if that isn’t enough to keep me going I am working on getting a presentation together for work for my boss to present a virtual meeting solution for the corporation. But first things first, taking Monday and Tuesday off! Our 10 year anniversary is tomorrow. The plan is to spend most of the day with the kids and then on Tuesday we are going to Kings Island, got a killer deal on a pair of tickets.
Oh and I officially start back to school tomorrow as well. Time to finally get that Bachelors degree, if for nothing else than the fact that I will have a BS in IT.

Source: Hamilton Journal News – Police sort evidence in arson at dead soldier’s in-laws
I would prefer that this is just a case of coincidence but unfortunately I don’t think that is the case. I hope they find the slime balls and lock em up for a long time. You know, I don’t care if you want to protest the war, but to attack a grieving family is just sick.

Fairfield police have sent evidence to a crime lab in an attempt to gain leads in an arson involving the car of a dead soldier’s in-law a day after the Army private was buried.
Meanwhile, community members have expressed outrage about the incident, Fairfield Police Chief Michael Dickey said Sunday.
Some have offered to provide reward money for Saturday’s acts against the in-laws of Pfc. Tim Hines Jr., Dickey said.
There have been reports of minor vandalism in the area around the Wessel home, 898 Sando Drive, said Dickey.
A number of criminal damaging objects were recovered from those locations, which indicates there may be a pattern to the crimes. One object, an orange cone, was pressed up against the side of Sara Wessel’s car.
She is the sister-in-law of Hines, who was buried Friday.
On Saturday American flags were stolen from the Wessel home and then used to set fire to Sara Wessel’s car.
“We’ve had neighbors who replaced the flags, and a man called me (Sunday) afternoon and he wants to provide guard service,” said Dickey.
Others have called police offering to provide reward money, he said.
At 5:35 a.m. Saturday, Fairfield firefighters and police were dispatched to the home. The fire was quickly controlled, but the insured car was burned beyond repair.
Arson investigators determined flags that had lined the property of the family and neighbors were taken, stuffed under the vehicle and set on fire, police said. Police took the car and other items for evidence, family members said.
Neighbors decided to replace the flags that were burned. By Saturday afternoon, the corner of Sando Drive and Fairfield Avenue was lined in red, white and blue.
Prior to Saturday’s incident, Hines’ father-in-law Jim Wessel said, he and his family have received nothing but support from neighbors and the community since Hines was injured.
Wessel said he has no idea why his family would be targeted at this time, but he would like to know the motives behind the act.
Hines was laid to rest Friday in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
He died of heart failure July 14 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. leaving behind his pregnant wife, Katy Wessel Hines, and a 2-year-old daughter, Lily.
He received fatal wounds from a bomb detonation that struck his three-vehicle convoy along a Baghdad highway on Father’s Day.

Remember all those red & blue maps from the election? Well here is something more useful…
Generic Names for Soft Drinks by County
Thanks to Josh for bringing it to my attention.

The London Underground station was evacuated at 1:25 p.m. Thursday afternoon in London after smoke was seen coming from the train, Sky News has reported.
“The entire area has been closed off,” Simon Marks.
Emergency officials were said to be attending incidents at three stations, the Associated Press has reported.
Police say incidents were reported at Oval, Warren Street and Shepherds Bush Underground stations.
No casualties have been reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Fox News

McCracken said he smelled smoke at the Warren Street station, and people were panicking and coming into his carriage. He said he spoke to an Italian man who was comforting a woman after the evacuation.
“He said that a man was carrying a rucksack and the rucksack suddenly exploded. It was a minor explosion but enough to blow open the rucksack,” McCracken said.
“The man then made an exclamation as if something had gone wrong. At that point everyone rushed from the carriage.”

Source: Yahoo News
Hey, I beat Drudge

Source: Lifehacker – Focus on results versus time

Mega-corporation Best Buy is transitioning its work force to focus less on how much time people spend in the office and more on whether or not they get their job done, Time magazine reports. The result is more flexible worker schedules, a huge shift in attitudes, higher productivity and less worker turnover:

[Best Buy manager] Blesener had to learn how to stop treating his employees as if they were “unruly children,” he says. The 44-year-old supervises 27 people who handle the company’s extended-warranty services. His 20 hourly employees told him they were sick of punch- ing time clocks. “They felt it was almost inhumane,” he says. Now these data-entry clerks and claims processors focus on how many forms they get through in a week, rather than when they do it. They still count their hours (Best Buy has to follow overtime rules), but they have more freedom to schedule their work around their families’ needs.
Source: Time – Reworking Work

Do your reportees have to sneak out of the office early for fear others will look down on them, or eat lunch at their desks to try to prove they’re working more? If anything, the bits about reprogramming people’s perceptions of more time = more productivity are a must-read for anyone who works on a clock.

Isn’t this how it is already suppose to be for salaried workers?
“No one whispers that she’s leaving. In fact, no one notices.”
Hmm, you think. People minding there own business? What a concept.
I would love to make further comment, but this would probably cross that line that can get you fired.

So are you listening to podcasts? Got some good ones? Here is a list of the feeds that I am currently listening to on a regular basis…

Ravi Zacharias – Just Thinking
Ravi Zacharias – Let My People Think
Ravi is a great communicator. I used to catch his broadcast a few years ago when I was always working late and I would listen to him on the way home.

Mars Hill
Mars Hill is a mega church out in Washington State. Got exposed to them through some friends at church.
And speaking of church, I am working on getting Journey’s podcast setup, stay tuned.

Sermons from the Edge
Been enjoying these Sermons for the past few weeks.

Wired Jesus Podcast
If I had my own podcast it would sound at lot like this guy from NorthWest Ohio.

Barry McCarty – The Christians’ Hour
I have listened to The Christians’ Hour for years on 55KRC on Sunday mornings.

Dr. James Dobson – Focus on the Family
Just added.

The Edge of Faith
Just added, from the site that brings “Sermons from the Edge”

Warehouse 242
Just added.

Feel free to suggest some that you are listening to…

[Listening to: The Glenn Beck Program - Jul 18 2005 - Hour 1 by Glenn Beck]

Janet, were you at the White House?
Article: Flip-Flops At White House Cause Stir

Before visiting the White House, Kate Darmody carefully planned her outfit. She bought a sundress from Ann Taylor. She put on a strand of white pearls.
And then she slipped on flip-flops to meet the president…
…
Twenty- and thirtysomethings will pair flip-flops with everything from shorts to cocktail dresses, wearing them at work and at clubs, for a stroll down Main Street or even down the wedding aisle. For their moms, the shoes – best known for the flapping noise they make – are meant for places like the beach.
One of the hottest trends this summer, flip-flops are no longer a dime-store purchase, with some costing several hundred dollars. They come flat and with wedge heels. They have rhinestones and sequins and flowers.

Hottest trends this summer? HA! my wife has been hip with the flip-flops for years, bout time you posers catch up.

I would appreciate if anyone who reads this would hold up the Bohlender family.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Dear friends…
Many of you may know that Kelsey is expecting a baby. This is great news – we have hoped for more children. Unfortunately, a visit to the emergency room has us in need of prayer. We were at George Washington University Hospital ER until 6:00 AM. Around 5 AM the doctor told us that the indicators point to an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. The ultrasound is not absolutely clear, however, and Kelsey is not in any pain. In 48 hours, they will test her again and check hormone levels in order to establish if levels are rising or falling. This will give us a definitive answer.
I am asking for you to pray – and if possible, fast – these next 48 hours. We are asking God to touch this baby and re-engineer reality to fulfill His purposes. If you can join me in this, please drop me an email. Faith grows when we join together.

Source: Stuff I Think