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This grilled beef flank steak salad is one of my all time favorite meals. It’s also easy to make and only takes a few ingredients. Yes, I’m a dude and I love salad. Ingredients: 1lb beef flank steak (you could … Continue reading
I have 2 updates today. One is about past performance and the other is a new opportunity.
Last update, I mentioned that I marched past my goal of $500 of Ebay sales within a rolling 60 day period. Well, as of right now, I’m $5 away from doubling that goal. How cool is that!? Next goal? $1500. We’ll see if I can make that happen. I’m working on expanding my product line and working on getting better pricing to enable me to improve my margins on sold goods.
I also have a health related update. Since I started working out, I’ve lost about 8 pounds and I’ve improved my diet. I’ve also eaten several vegetarian meals recently that were quite satisfying, so I’d like to explore that a bit more.
Now, the new opportunity. At work, we are having a bit of a competition to get people moving. Here’s how it works:
If, from April 1st through May 12th, I work out for at least 10 hours, I get a new gym bag. No big deal, but I wouldn’t turn it down.
Next, if I work out for 30 hours during those 6 weeks, I get an 8gb Ipod Nano. Not bad. I’d take it.
Finally, the 3 people that get the most exercise during that time time frame get a gift card to their favorite sporting goods store. First place is worth $500, second is $250, and third is $100.
Every Monday, all the participants have to submit their time sheets indicating how much they exercised and those results will be shared with each other.
I’m not sure I’ll make it into the top 3, but we’ll see. Softball season is right around the corner, so there is a bunch of time between games and practice. I’ll also continue working out. I don’t think I’ll have too much trouble hitting the 30 hour mark.
Maybe my goal should be 60 hours in 6 weeks. Maybe I’d drop some more weight!
I’m often asked what camera equipment I use to shoot my photos and video so I thought I’d sprinkle in some posts about what I use. Today’s edition features my 1/2 inch version of Paco Warabi’s MultiPod.
What is the MultiPod? It is a multipurpose versatile camera mounting system. Paco Warabi created it and put his video on YouTube. His version is made from 3/4 inch Schedule 40 PVC and some basic hardware. His camera mount is a bit more complex than mine, but his swivels. Mine is stationary.
It can be used as a camera stabilizer, a panning stabilizer, a neck pod for point of view shooting, a car pod for car shots, a mini tripod (shown above), and many other things!
My version of the MultiPod is made from 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC and cost under $10 to build. Paco’s version weighs in at 20 ounces. My version is just under 15 ounces. That difference could be significant if you are hauling a bunch of gear or on a long hike.
4x T fittings
2x 90 degree elbows
3x Caps (more if you want extra camera mounts)
3x 1.5 inch sections of 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC
1x 5.5 inch section of 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC
1x 6.5 inch section of 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC
1x 7 inch section of 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC
1x 9 inch section of 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC
Cut each piece of PVC pipe to the specified lengths. Add the fittings and push together. It is held together completely by friction and it quite sturdy. That’s it! Piece of cake!
1x 1/2″ PVC Cap with 1/4″ hole drilled in the end
1x 1/4″-20 x 3/4″ Long Panhead Machine Screw
1x 1/4″ Lock Washer
1x 1/4″-20 Lock Nut
Screwdriver
Pliers
St. Patrick’s Day in Saint Paul is a big deal. Every year, there’s a parade along with plenty of drunken commotion in the streets until the wee hours of the morning. Usually St. Patrick’s Day is either cold, wet, or both.This year, we hit a new record for high temperature at 80 degrees.
This is the earliest in the year that we’ve every hit 80. The previous record was March 22nd. No, it’s not lost on me that Yesterday, the 20th, was the first day of spring. That means that we had an 80 degree day in Winter in… MINNESOTA!
Rather than joining the brawl, we decided to spend the day in the sun at Harriet Island Regional Park across the river from downtown. We took a bunch of pictures and shot some video using a new camera mount that I’ll detail in the near future.
Here’s what we saw during our day at the park:
In our culture, there is a lot of emphasis on going the extra mile. Some people do it solely to stoke their ego. Some people do it to be kind. Either way, helping people is a good thing.
I contend that it would be better to focus on the last mile. The “Last Mile” is a telecommunications term meaning to run the last stretch of cable to the customer’s building. If the cable is just an inch too short, the phone company might as well not exist.
Many people call themselves “self-starters.” I’m not sure I’m one of them, but I am a starter. The problem is I’m not a very good finisher. I don’t go the last mile. Sure, I’ll go the extra mile. But not the last mile. Way too often.
The Hard Work Network has helped me become a better finisher. I still have a long way to go. I haven’t completed everything I’ve set out to accomplish. Does that make me a failure? Maybe. Still, I’m a lot farther along than I would have been if not for defining my goals and working toward them. There are things that are done.
What last mile have you been avoiding? What last miles are actually last inches? What can you COMPLETE today?
