UPDATE: I no longer use Evernote. My account was compromised multiple times from overseas IPs, with no notifications from Evernote. It wasn’t until someone tried to sync a phone to my account that I was notified. I checked the logs, and discovered it had been accessed several times without my knowing. I cannot recommend using it any more. If you are interested in similar tools, check out NixNote instead. Plus, it runs in Linux or Windows. I’ve left this article up for reference only. Continue reading “Evernote with Autofill in Ubuntu”
I’ve spent a lot of time over the last year thinking about what I’m going to do about cycling. For those who don’t know, I was hit by a car and had a full femur rod and hip pin put in last July. I’m as normal as I’m going to get, but I can no longer ride my bike 100+ miles a week like I was, for several reasons.
So this leaves me with a predicament. How do I stay in shape if I can’t ride every day? I hit the indoor bike trainer. Now, for someone who loves to ride, the indoor trainer is the equivalent to being punished in the corner. On your knees.
To keep from being bored to death riding in your living room, you need something to watch or make it interesting. Up until now, I’ve been watching cycling videos on Vimeo, or maybe catch a cycling documentary on Netflix.
Then I discovered TheSufferfest. Would you think of something called “Sufferfest” to be fun? Well, it kind of is, and kind of isn’t. It’s fun, in that I get something interesting to watch while I ride, along with training intervals and some pretty good music. It’s not fun, in that if you do it right, you will end up with your lungs on the floor, next to your lunch.
I downloaded the video called Local Hero, which puts you in the role of the Sufferlandrian cyclist trying to win the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Geelong, Australia. You start off with a relatively easy Cyclocross race to warm up. Then you go into interval training, which is basically 6-minute bursts of intense effort broken up with shorter rest periods.
The video is an hour and twenty-five minutes. You get a 5-minute warm up, 3 minutes of gradually increasing effort (then a rest), 25 minutes of pyramid intervals, 25 minutes of gradually increasing steady intervals, 4 minutes of all-out sprint practices, and a 5-minute cool down. The rest of the time is credits and funny/snide commentary.
The Lowdown:
Part of my reason for getting this video was because I can no longer ride to work. I have been forced to maximize my time on the trainer, as I can’t get in the miles I used to. So, the question is, is it worth it?
Well, I’m here to say that it does indeed work. Granted, you can only get out of a workout what you put into it. But it is interesting enough to watch many times, and the actual workout is hard enough that you will definitely benefit from it.
Music: Mostly alt rock, with some really catchy tunes. I didn’t like how the sound effects interrupt, but it’s not too bad.
Video: Really good quality footage. It works well, and is well edited. Some of the taunts are a little cheesy, but hey, it’s all the Sufferlandrian Embassy could afford.
Production: Well, I have to be honest. It could be better- it lacks a little polish- but it’s not bad, either. Probably better than I could have done.
Complaints: It’s kind of hard to judge the difference between “7” effort and “7.5” effort. Since it’s all relative, it makes it tough to really be consistent. However, it depends on your trainer stand, the gearing on your bike, and so on.
Likes: If you do the workout, it’s hard… really hard. Doing intervals and sprints for close to 90 minutes is brutal, any way you look at it. The scenery and footage is excellent, and the workout is fun (in a sadistic kind of way).
Overall, it’s a fun video, and I’m looking forward to more from The Sufferfest!
I’ve been a church music minister/worship leader for going on 20 years now, most of my adult life. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to make my job better and easier over the years. I’ve done it professionally for a good part of those years, but always in smaller churches. I like the dynamics and flexibility of smaller churches, and I wouldn’t want my music to come down to “do this, it’s what we pay you for.”
The downside to this is that small churches don’t have the budget to do all the cool new slick presentation stuff like you see on TV. I’m not going to debate whether or not those things are useful- in the right hands, they can be- but most churches can’t do them anyway because of the cost involved.
That’s where I come in. I’ve also been a computer tech for close to 20 years, and I know a lot about getting the most out of old computer hardware and software. Businesses are usually locked into using expensive software suites, but churches don’t have to spend big money to get useful tools. Still interested? Read on!
It adds up. For instance, upgrading old office computers to Windows 7 costs from $150 to $300. Replacing them is even more expensive, especially if you go with Macs. Microsoft Office can set you back $150 per computer or more, and if you use projectors in your service, the price of presentation software is astounding.
Granted, if you can afford to buy the best tools, so much the better. Most of us can’t, though, so we’re forced to either do without, or get creative! For geeks like me, the second option was always better.
I’ll deal with some of these problems in upcoming posts, but the first one I want to share with you is the foundation for reducing costs in computers. I highly recommend Ubuntu Linux, and more specifically, Ubuntu Studio for worship leaders. They are great operating systems for upgrading older computers that won’t run Windows 7. Why spend $500 on a new computer when you can get a modern, useful upgrade for the old one- and it’s 100% free!
Here’s a quick video explaining how to install Ubuntu on a computer!
Here’s a shot of the Rat Klunker, my entry for the 7th annual Rat Rod Bikes Build-Off. Still waiting on a seatpost, chain, cables, and a few other bits and pieces. Can’t wait to ride this thing!
You know, when I got into web design back in the early 90’s, it was nothing like it is now. You had to learn HTML because there wasn’t anything else. Now, we have downloadable customizable themes, and instead of being easier, I have to now modify something I didn’t design to make it look like I want.
Yeah, I know, whine, whine, whine. I’ll live. Meanwhile, here’s a cool live looping performer.
So, you’ve decided to try your hand at writing something. More than a research paper that you have actually been managing through cheap research papers service anyway, – but something like fiction maybe. So, where do you start? Good question!
Writing, just like any other craft, goes easier and faster with proper tools. With that being said, there are as many ways to write as there are writers, and I can only give you information based on what I know and have used. If I’m writing a novel, or short story (i.e. something that requires plot) then I do my writing in two stages: Outlining, and the actual writing.
Outlining- Every good story needs organization. How can you organize? Characters, places, details, bits and clippings of inspiration, research notes, and the list goes on. Thankfully, there are some talented programmers who are also writers, and they’ve come up with some excellent solutions! Some of my favorites are:
