The 10 Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make, and How to Avoid Them. Great list, I've had to learn most of these the hard way though 
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Monthly Archives: August 2007
The Latest Switcher
So, I’ve procured a Mac. Don’t bother asking what kind of Mac, I won’t tell you until it arrives in a few weeks 
. When it arrives I’ll have a full unboxing post and you can ease your curiosity at that point. My original goal was to wait until the Mac arrived before I wrote a post like this but the excitement has gotten the better of me 
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Up until this point I’ve been a full time Ubuntu user, so some of you may be wondering “why has Ben given up on Linux?” Well, I think that the term “given up on” is very loaded in meaning depending on who’s reading/writing it. But yes, I’m a switcher now. One thing you’ll have to realize is that I love FOSS and everything it stands for. However, as I’m moving more and more in the direction of professional web design, the tools I’ve been using have become an issue; most notably the fact I can’t use Photoshop or any other professional web development tools. Too many times have I been working on a site mock for hours just to have The Gimp freeze on me or spontaneously shut down. Too many times have I looked at a Photoshop tutorial and tried applying it to The Gimp only to fail because of the difference between the programs (and yes, I tried GimpShop). When you’re doing something for a living you can’t waste time wrestling with your tools.
For me, as one who is desiring to establish a foundation as a professional web designer, I need the best tools, and at this point it’s obvious to me that the best web development tools all exist in Mac. So, for me this is more of a “retooling” rather than “giving up on.” I think Linux is fabulous and I plan on continuing being involved in that community. However, I’m looking forward with extreme eagerness to joining the Mac community 
. Again, an unboxing is forthcoming.
100 Great Websites
100 great websites. Dang, I’ve known about most of these for years. Why didn’t I think to put them together in a list?
Thought
So, I’ve got a PC. And I love Ubuntu. But I really would like a Mac. I want to keep my monitor though (it’s a super Dell flatscreen). Anyone interested in buying a tower? On second thought, I’ve got something else I’ll use it for. 250G hard disk, 2G RAM, CD/DVD Burner, 2.8Ghz Dual core Pentium. Leave a comment below or contact me.
clearskys.net : MyDashboard Plugin
MyDashboard plugin. This is by far the coolest plugin I've found in a long time. A must-have for WordPressers.
Two and a Half Hours Later the…
Two and a half hours later the meeting is about to close.
This Is the First Meeting I’ve…
This is the first meeting I’ve ever been to that has strictly followed Roberts Rules. I’m taking EXTENSIVE mental notes.
After Hearing Both Sides of Th…
After hearing both sides of the story I think we should sell the camp.
Interesting. Now a 12 Year Old…
Interesting. Now a 12 year old has the floor.
First Up Is a Good Friend of M…
First up is a good friend of mine who doesn’t want to sell the camp.
The Interesting Thing About Th…
The interesting thing about this meeting is I have good friends on both sides of the issue.
Multimedia Message
moblog // Starting the meeting of whether or not we’ll sell the association’s camp. This is going to be a hot meeting.
I’m About to Go Into a Meeting…
I’m about to go into a meeting that will decide the fate of a camp. What am I walking into?
Smile Like You Mean It; Smile …
Smile like you mean it; smile like you need it.
By the Numbers
Granted, statistics can be viewed many different ways based on whoever is interpreting them. But I think you’ll agree that these are some interesting numbers.
The statistics
70% of 12-15 year olds said there are correlations between the messages of the Bible and the way they apply those messages to their lives. —americanbible.org
While 38% of all teens say they do feel close to God, 56% of Protestant teens admit that they do not feel close to God. —youthandreligion.org
49% of all teens and 40% of Protestant teens do not see faith playing an important role in their daily lives. —youthandreligion.org
32% of Protestant teens have personal time reading the Bible at least once a week. —youthandreligion.org
53% of Protestant teens say they’ve talked about religious beliefs at school. —youthandreligion.org
41% of Protestant teens agree that there are no moral absolutes for everybody. —youthandreligion.org
53% of teens have nonfamily adults who they like to talk with and who encourage them; this number jumps to 79% when teens regularly attend religious services. —youthandreligion.org
At 62%, both terrorism and war top the list of personal safety concerns for teens. —chiefmarketer.com
81% of teens say it’s morally wrong to cheat. —gallup.com
The average 8-12 year old spends 13 hours per week playing video games; increasing to 14 hours per week for 13-18 year olds. —harrisinteractive.com
48% of surveyed teens said that parents significantly influence their decisions. —prnewswire.com
Most teens use social networking sites to contact friends they already see a lot or keep in touch with friends they don’t see that often. —pewinternet.org
43% of teens say they have experienced cyberbullying; in girls this number jumps to 54% of 15 year olds and 52% of 16 year olds. —harrisinteractive.com
61% of Americans, ages 15-27, believe they have a personal responsibility in affecting global change. —businesswire.com
77% of 13-19 year olds agree it’s their duty to protect the environment. —prnewswire.com
The implications for ministry
Churches need to understand something that school teachers have long known to be true. If you can’t get the class interested in what you’re saying, they’re simply not going to listen to you. It’s important that church ministries take information like this and apply it to the way they minister to their congregations. Preach the Gospel, but do it in a way that also addresses the felt needs of the population.
Shopping for Clothes
Unbareably trampy back to school clothes. When did tween fashin become a competition for who can be the most slutty?
Lunar Eclipse: When to Watch in U.S.
Lunar Eclipse: When To Watch In U.S. Hey, I can view a total lunar eclipse where I live at 6:37am! Like that's gonna happen.
