Author: Kevin Micalizzi

  • cut it out! (junk mail and telemarketing calls, US)

    A little while back we were receiving at least 10 pieces of junk mail (unsolicited US postal mail) and 1-2 telemarketing calls per day. I found three things you can do to significantly change this. I’ve shared these instructions to family and friends, but figured it was time to share on the blog. I know…

  • video on RSS in plain English via Blue Flavor

    I came across this video on the Blue Flavor blog. It’s a great, high level, introduction to what RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is. [Update 9/4/2010: Unfortunately they made this video private on YouTube.] httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU “There are two types of Internet users, those that use RSS and those that don’t. This video is for the people…

  • mobile web access, I can stop at any time

    Quick update. I’m using my Treo 650 to access the web pretty much every day. Still in a “pull-only” model, and I think that’s working out. I do find myself checking work email more often than I probably should, but it is always when I have the time to do it. Emails don’t come to…

  • taking the plunge, mobile web access

    In my post about the BBC story on ‘The rise of technology addiction’, I mentioned I didn’t have access to the web from my phone. Well, now I do. My wireless carrier was offering a plan that included more minutes and unlimited web access–so I figured I’d try it out. I still don’t have any…

  • open source to multiple versions

    If you aren’t familiar, activeCollab has been an open source alternative to Basecamp. I just saw the post “Status update followup” on the activeCollab blog and it sounds like this project is going the same way many others have — to commercial product with a reduced-functionality open source version. In June, 2006 when the activeCollab…

  • BBC story on ‘The rise of technology addiction’

    When I read this BBC News article, my first thought was “I can stop at any time.” “One major consequence of this phenomenon is that the line between work and private life is much more blurred, now that e-mail and phones provide a 24-hour link between employers and staff.” [see BBC News full article] All…

  • wishful thinking is no substitute for common sense

    July 3rd I wrote the post “Sometimes recharging just isn’t enough“. When I first had car problems, friends and family suggested maybe the alternator on my car was failing and that I should have it looked at. Ignoring their advice, I chose to replace the battery because it is cheaper With the new battery I…

  • Google reader, improving

    Have to say I agree with Michael Arrington on the Google Reader. I tried it once a while back and wasn’t feeling it. Though it is probably worth mentioning, I have a hard time staying with any particular reader for any length of time. Since then, I’ve come back to it and have noticed Google…

  • Do you stretch regularly?

    At 3:00 am yesterday morning, I woke up with a pain in my left leg. I think my hamstrings were so tight they cramped. It took a few minutes of trying to walk around and stretch before I could get it to relax enough to let me go back to sleep. Six hours later it…

  • Trust the founding fathers, plan for change

    Today was a great day. After scrambling to clean the house, we had a BBQ to celebrate the 4th of July (US Independence Day). Now that things are winding down, I’ve been reflecting on the founding of this nation, and most importantly the legacy of the founding fathers, the US Constitution. I find a lesson…