VIDEO CHATTIN

Guest post by Gerard Mcdaniel

When I was home for the holidays, I taught my parents how to use the computer to do GChat Video Chat with me. I had tried to talk my mom through it several times, but every time I try to explain how to do it, it takes forever and then the next time she can’t remember what she did the first time. Even though it is annoying, I try to be patient. We moved to California from the East Coast last year, so I use by clear Pasadena to get on the web and stay in touch. We have been good about e-mailing, but I really like to video chat with them much better. They have an idea of what my house looks like ( because I gave them a virtual tour) and they are able to keep tabs on their grandpup ( my beagle, Henry). It is actually pretty amazing how good the chat system works. It is hard for me to believe that when I was a kid you were paying outrageous amounts of money to call people long distance on a house phone. We have come a really long way!

iOS Development

I must say, I am a huge fan of Xcode (the development tools from Apple for developing iOS and Mac apps!) About a year ago I released two iOS apps to the App Store, HTML5 Reference Guide and Linux Reference Guide. I have been meaning to update them and provide my users with more content, but I just didn’t get around to it and they got ignored.

I recently found my passion for iOS Development again and updated both of these apps. They are so much better now, both with new content and a complete overhaul of the interface. I added an iAd banner to each, with the option to remove the banner via an In-App purchase for $0.99. Since my initial release of the new version of Linux Reference Guide a week ago, I have already sold a few of the In-App purchase!

I currently have a pending update for both of these apps in the App Store. Check them out soon!

Here are the links to these two apps:

Linux Reference Guide
HTML5 Reference Guide

Webcam

Thanks to Lemuel Craft

I was what’s called a “latchkey kid.” Both my parents worked, so I let myself in the house when I got off the school bus and was left unsupervised until my parents got home. Luckily for my parents, I was a complete rule follower, so I did everything they told me to and never got into any trouble. Not everyone can be as perfect as I was, though (ha!) so the idea that you could watch your children while they’re home alone is refreshing. With the adt jax alarm system, you have 24/7 access to live streaming video of your house. Perhaps you don’t want to check on what your kids are doing as much as you want to ensure they made it home safely. If most teenagers are anything like my teenaged sister, getting them to answer a phone call requires an act of God. They’re probably too busy texting. Luckily, you can log into your account and view your video stream at any point to make sure they are safe and sound at home. Trust me, the peace of mind is going to be completely worth the minimal investment it requires.

Become

I came across a great online shopping website the other day, www.become.com. They have tons of products, in every category you can think of, from a wide range of retailers and sources.

Whether you want to search for penneys bedspreads, coral pillow, or walmart coleman fuel, you will find exactly what you are looking for at great prices. Check them out and see for yourself why their website is a great way to find the products you want.

The Middle is at the Top in My Book

Thanks for the guest post by Laura Mitchell

What a simply normal dysfunctional family we have here on Satellite911.Com‘s ABC, Wednesday nights. Basic living in the mid west gone wrong is how I describe The Middle.

Dad is a typical dad, loves sports and beer, and has no idea what’s going on around him. At least that’s how he wishes it could be. Mom lives a harried life working at a used car lot of oddballs and trying to keep her family in one piece. The oldest son Axl has his own life and wants nothing to do with his parents or siblings, unless of course he needs them for something. Sue is the middle child who tries her heart out at everything she fails at. Brick is the youngest and loves nothing more than reading, and his special little quirk of putting his head down and repeating the last word he just spoke aloud in a whisper.

The situations they find themselves in could be encountered by any average American family. It’s the way they react and handle these situations that creates a high level of comedy. Except for dad and brick the others have a tendency to extremely overreact to what most would be able to shrug off. Then mom usually has to try and either get dad to help or save the day herself.

Funny, mostly wholesome, witty, everyday life comedy is what The Middle is all about.

Back to WordPress

Well, I tried using Mac OS X Server’s WikiServer 2 for my personal blog, but I didn’t like having to use the server’s address for my url with /users/jason. Also, it was very limited as a blog program. I will check WikiServer 3 out more when I eventually upgrade my server to Mac OS X Lion Server, but in the meantime, I am switching my personal blog back to using WordPress. I do love WordPress!

I recently designed and created a theme for my company, Evolonix, to use as its website located at http://www.evolonix.com. I had a lot of fun doing it, and I now plan to create a custom theme for this personal blog of mine. I have done WordPress theme development in the past, but not to the extent that I am doing now. You can check out my daughter’s site for example at http://www.mireyaruesch.com.

I’m Engaged!!!

I’ve been dating this great girl for the past few months. Her name is Lane. Our first date was on April 4, 2008. We instantly fell madly in love with each other. I’ve never felt for anyone like the way I feel about her. She’s amazing! I can’t stand to be away from her for even a moment. We started talking about marriage, which I’ve never talked about with anyone in my life. I just knew I wanted to spend forever with her. We did tons of ring shopping and we finally found and purchased one that she loves. It’s a 3/4 ct. Princess Cut solitaire for the engagement ring, with a 1/4 ct. Diamond guard for the wedding that goes over the ring and surrounds the main diamond. It’s beautiful!

After purchasing the ring I wanted to propose to her on our 3 month anniversary, which happened to fall on the 4th of July. The only problem was that the ring was getting sized and wasn’t going to be ready by then. Well, I didn’t want to wait to get it. So on the 4th of July, as we were watching some fireworks together laying on some grass at a park in West Jordan, I took off her Celtic Love Knot promise ring I had bought her and held it during the fireworks show. She asked where her ring was a couple of times, but I just brushed her off, saying “It’s safe with me.” I was hoping she would just forget about it. Once the fireworks finale started, while holding her, I whispered in her ear “Lane, will you marry me?”, then slipped her promise ring on her finger. She was speechless for a moment, then blurted out “YES!” After the fireworks were over, she couldn’t stop laughing hysterically! It was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen! She was so happy, as was I.

I finally got her real engagement ring back from the jeweler the next week. I wanted to surprise her with it, so that day I brought her some white lilies, her favorite flowers. I wanted her to think that the ring still wasn’t ready, and the flowers were to say “too bad.” She had been wanting to take me to a place called Gardner Village. So that evening we went there. I brought the ring along in my pocket. We strolled around the place, going in and out of different shops. After a few hours, just as we were ready to leave, I mentioned to her that I would like to go find a place to just sit for a little while. We found a bench near a stream with geese. We sat down and talked for a moment, then I brought the ring out of my pocket, got down on one knee and asked her again to marry me. She was completely surprised and, once again, speechless. This time I actually had to ask her if her answer was still yes, since she wasn’t responding. She finally said “Yes, yes!”

We are planning the wedding now and are thinking of having it next Spring. I will post more details as we decide them.

Anyway, I love Lane so very much and know that she makes me the happiest man alive!