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What do you plan on accomplishing this year.

via Joshua Blankenship

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I get this comment all the time. People act like I just committed a terrible crime against a defenseless child. I had broken an unspoken rule. iPhones aren’t cheap and apparently they needs to be protected.

I haven’t always been this way, I used to be paranoid about scratches on my iPods.  I would leave a new iPod in the box until I got a case to protect it. I would search the Internet for weeks looking for the best case available. No price was too high to protect my “investment.”

I would rationalize that the shiny back looked better without any scratches on it.  What ridiculous and backwards thinking since I will never see the back if it is always covered.  People say the iPod looks great then slap on a bulky and ugly case.

Those clear plastic cases always make me chuckle. You can still see the iPod so you can still bask in it’s beauty, sort of. The clear hard plastic cases are even worse than the rubber cases. They are tacky and destroy the sleek image of the iPod/Phone.

The sleeve type cases aren’t as bad as the others.  These will protect the device and still allow you to see it’s original beauty on a regular basis.  However, they add bulk to the device and make it take up more pocket space.

The sticker type screen protectors avoid the bulk problem, but still aren’t a good solution. Most of them just add a foggy layer. They have a textured surface and dull down the image. I haven’t used Invisible Shield so it may be the exception.

A case doesn’t offer much protection if the device is dropped or subjected to other physical harm. It mostly protects against scratches, which I have stopped obsessing over. I would rather use my iPhone than handle it like a delicate luxury good. It sits in it’s own pocket so there is less of a chance of scratches, but that is about it. The screen is made out of optical glass that is pretty scratch resistant and I am not too concerned about the back. So far it still looks great.

Stop babying your device and start using it. The first minor scratch will be the hardest, but afterwards you will be able to take a deep breath and suck it up. There is no point of using a case to protect the exterior if you never see it.

From Hammacher Schlemmer for $29.95:

This toy blaster makes and launches softball-sized snowballs up to 50′, allowing rapid, long-range assaults during neighborhood snowball confrontations. Simply place snow in the forming chamber and close the lid; it packs three perfectly spherical snowballs. To blast your mark, place one snowball in the muzzle, aim the launcher, and pull back the slingshot mechanism. Because the blaster is powered by elastomers instead of batteries, it provides uninterrupted, fast-action play. Made of durable, cold-resistant plastic.

I see snow on the ground. Who wants to battle?

Ask.com has been struggling, and these commercials aren’t helping. In my opinion they are still sub-par and I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t just use Google.

Just be thankful you don’t have someone attached to your neck.

Passion

Passion is a corner stone for a prosperous life. Passion for anything and everything you do. Seek out projects and get involved with them. Feel a personal connection to them. Build value in your life by surrounding yourself with things you care about. The world will look bland if you never look up.

Take on things you care about. It means nothing to fill your life with stepping stones. Don’t seek out a job only because it will lead to a “better one.” That can be a factor but not the factor. That better job may never come and you will settle with what you have.

We have a limited amount of time and there is no need to waste it. Seek out what you are passionate for and don’t be ashamed of it. If you like taking pictures, then take pictures. Don’t spend time thinking about how goofy you look or how bad your photos might be. If your friends and family are important to you, then spend more time with them.

Boredom

Every so often someone will tell me they are constantly bored. They sit around and complain about it and refuse to take a step in a different direction. This is shocking. There are so many opportunities and they can’t even find one that interests them. The problem may be linked to respect.

Respect

Respect your passion and the passion of others. One reason people don’t follow their passion is because they are too worried about what others think. This shouldn’t be an issue. Your passion is for you and no one else. Respect it and pursue it. Passion is solely for the one pursuing it. Don’t judge another’s passion. Let them seek it out and enjoy it.

I have a passion for technology, photography, numbers, writing, movies, and books. What are yours?

via Blake

via kung fu grippe, photo by Bekathwia