August 2007
Top Ways To Avoid Income Tax - Part 2
This is part 2 of my series on the top ways to avoid income tax. In case you missed part 1, you can read it here. The Principal Residence Flipper I have a friend who likes to buy the cheapest house in the best neighborhood. While living in it, he would fix it up and renovate it. After the renovations are complete, he would sell the house and walk off with a gain of $35,000 to as much as $100,000....
July 2007
Digger, by TextDigger, looks good
I just got a test account for Digger - will be looking at it over the next day or so.
Top Ways To Avoid Income Tax - Part 1
It is the right, and IMO, duty of every citizen to structure their financial affairs to pay as little tax as possible and to avoid paying taxes whenever possible. Tax avoidance is not illegal, tax evasion is. The two are completely different from each other. Avoiding income tax is not the same as evading it. If you have ever contributed to an IRA, 401K or RRSP, you are in fact avoiding income tax....
Is Google Analytics killing off the rest of the...
In Google’s Killer App published in today’s IMedia Connection, Brandt Dainow says that Google Analytics killed the Web Analytics Software Industry. I think the answer is Yes and No. Certainly, on the low end, the answer is YES, the low end is, effectively won by Google - ClickTracks, for example, is dead (for better or worse - and I would not be surprised if that’s why John...
FLOTspotting : Dan Bishop
From the Coroflot portfolio of : Dan Bishop Featured Project : Vitals Monitoring System Dan Bishop’s senior year project at Arizona State University was an exploration into the future of inpatient medical care. The wrist-worn device uses sensors to measure temperature and blood pressure, and sends the data wirelessly to a paperless charting system. The automated vital...
Hideaway doorknob
The Doorknob Condition, designed by Arnaud Lapierre, features an outside knob that retracts when the inside knob is pulled. We’re not sure if it’s for security, or to replace the “sock on the doorknob” situation we all remember from living in high-hormone college dorms. via dumptrumpet …
Your Guide To Google Adwords
The pay per click advertising arena is a complex place. As a Google adwords advertiser you compete in an auction every time a keyword prompts your ad to be shown. Unfortunately, many advertisers do not realise how complex that auction is. Find out more about how Google Adwords ranks your ads and how you can establish a profitable strategy for your online business.
(skip to “Your Guide To...
Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0...
Filed under: Software, Developer Microsoft promised us some goodies this week, and they just delivered on that promise. The long awaited (at least by me) Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0 (Beta) is now available for download. This is a beta, but in my limited testing it is much, much faster (as one might expect). New in this Beta, which expires on March 31, 2008 are: Universal Binary...
Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0...
Filed under: Software, Developer Microsoft promised us some goodies this week, and they just delivered on that promise. The long awaited (at least by me) Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0 (Beta) is now available for download. This is a beta, but in my limited testing it is much, much faster (as one might expect). New in this Beta, which expires on March 31, 2008 are: Universal Binary...
Much love for Mike Bombich -- Bootpicker 1.3 makes...
Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Open Source Let us count the ways that the Mac sysadmin community hearts Mike B: we relish his reliable and full-featured Carbon Copy Cloner, we depend absolutely upon his fast and simple NetRestore, we puzzle through his instructions for deploying dual-boot machines and for working with Active Directory. Most of all, we love that all this snazzy management...
Much love for Mike Bombich -- Bootpicker 1.3 makes...
Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Open Source Let us count the ways that the Mac sysadmin community hearts Mike B: we relish his reliable and full-featured Carbon Copy Cloner, we depend absolutely upon his fast and simple NetRestore, we puzzle through his instructions for deploying dual-boot machines and for working with Active Directory. Most of all, we love that all this snazzy management...
Affiliate Marketing Blog from Kieron Donoghue
How appropriate that Kieron Donoghue ordered this ReviewMe review for his blog about affiliate and Internet marketing. As you may have noticed, I’ve been getting more and more into affiliate marketing and it has been accounting for a ever increasing share of my monthly blog revenue. When done correctly, affiliate marketing can be one of your biggest moneymakers. Any new resource that can help...
467 + Ajax/Javascript/Dhtml examples and demos to... →
A great and useful collection.
It’s a Trap!
This is the first truly creative TV ad I’ve seen in a long time: (if you can’t see the video, click here) Too bad they never showed this European commercial in the U.S., I think Americans would get a kick out of it. Whenever I’ve seen someone in distress, I’ve always come to the “It’s a trap!” conclusion as well. I guess there’s good reason though - instead of some innocent young lady locked...
TubeTV: YouTube and Google Video for your iTunes...
You’re going to waste a lot of time with this one. TubeTV, a newly-released piece of freeware from Chimoosoft, allows you to search for, download and convert video from Google Video and YouTube for permanent enjoyment in iTunes and, from there, your iPhone, iPod or tv. Yes, you can already search and enjoy some video content from YouTube on two of these devices, but TubeTV lets you get all of it,...
100 Tips to Improve Your Life; and LifeRemix.net...
I’m pleased to announce that Zen Habits has joined LifeRemix, a network of a handful of excellent personal enrichment blogs. LifeRemix blogs explore the topics of productivity, happiness, work and family balance, personal development, organization, and the environment. To help with the network’s launch, I wrote a post called 100 Great Tips to Improve Your Life, which compiles some of the best tips...
Aperture: Add Color To Gray With The Levels...
Aperture’s levels control can be used to easily add color to otherwise gray images. This original photo of stacked chairs has a range of grays that exist only on the chair backs and seats: By selecting the Blue channel on the levels control, I can alter the amount of blue in the gray part of the chairs. In this case I’ll boost the darker tones significantly to give a blue tint: With...
Interview: Flow FTP Developer Brian Amerige
Brian Amerige is the developer of FTP application Flow, which is currently in its private Beta stages. Flow doesn’t yet have a set release date, although excellent progress is been made on a daily basis. I had time to catch up with Brian and ask him a few questions about the upcoming public release of Flow.Why did you decide to develop an alternative to the highly acclaimed Transmit? Most claim...
Pro Application Support 4.0.1
Filed under: Software Update, Apple Nothing quickens the blood like a thrilling software update. Am I right, folks? Ok, perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, but it is a good feeling to have some bugs that have been bothering you squashed with a nice update. Apple has just released Pro Application Support 4.0.1 which, ‘improves general user interface reliability for Apple’s...
Pro Application Support 4.0.1
Filed under: Software Update, Apple Nothing quickens the blood like a thrilling software update. Am I right, folks? Ok, perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, but it is a good feeling to have some bugs that have been bothering you squashed with a nice update. Apple has just released Pro Application Support 4.0.1 which, ‘improves general user interface reliability for Apple’s...
Hidden Doorknob Ensures Privacy
Screw the “Do Not Disturb” sign with the disappearing doorknob. “Doorknob Condition” designed by designer Arnaud Lapierre hopes to eliminate the possibility that room service will accidentally “surprise” you when you are on a trip. You simply pull the doorknob on the inside of the room, recessing it so it can’t be grabbed or turned. Read More —- Related Articles at UNEASYsilence:...
We’ve Just Launched LifeRemix
There’s a good reason why there hasn’t been a lot of activity on this blog as of late. I’ve been co-launching a blog network with Brett Kelly of Cranking Widgets. We’ve just put the finishing touches on, so I feel confident in sharing with you guys the latest venture, LifeRemix. LifeRemix is a collection of hand-picked blogs that have incredible writing. These are blogs that I read every day,...
Wake Up and Smell the Optimization
Just because you think you know a thing or two about search engine optimization and online marketing doesn’t mean there isn’t a little bit of room to learn. That’s what Shari Thurow explains today in her ClickZ article: SEO Epiphanies. Shari talks about the real life experiences that cause a light bulb to go off over your head and how they can change your perspective on how you...
Good Thing I Only Need One Nanny
When a business hires employees, they can write off the full cost of the workers because the money paid to employees for work is taxable income. This helps maintain the “income should only be taxed once” rule. If the business can’t deduct the cost of employees then it would be paying them with after tax dollars. Then the employees gets taxed on the money again. Good for the government, bad for...
D-mension shelf by Icon Design Studio
Flero, Italy-based multidisciplinary design firm Icon Design Studio has just announced the D-mension shelf, a streamlined, modular shelving system made in aluminum and stainless steel, produced by PZ. The units, shaped like lower-case d’s, can be arranged in a staggered, abstract, or symmetrical formation based on the user’s personal taste. …
How to Control GMail and Get POP Messages to...
My biggest problem with GMail, besides it being owned by Google, is the fact that the service lacks IMAP support. If you want to check your GMail messages on several computers, using normal settings your SOL because of the POP3 protocol. Little did we know that Google has a obscure “recent” feature that actually fetches the last 30 days of mail, regardless of whether it’s been checked...
PackRat 1.3 supports new Backpack, adds more...
Filed under: Software, Productivity, Internet Tools
Backpack, the fantastic online PIM from 37signals, was recently updated with some solid new features like drag-and-dropping items from one page to another and the ability to reorder items any way you chose on a page (i.e. - lists and notes no longer have to be lumped together in their own sections). As with any web app update, desktop apps that...
PackRat 1.3 supports new Backpack, adds more...
Filed under: Software, Productivity, Internet Tools
Backpack, the fantastic online PIM from 37signals, was recently updated with some solid new features like drag-and-dropping items from one page to another and the ability to reorder items any way you chose on a page (i.e. - lists and notes no longer have to be lumped together in their own sections). As with any web app update, desktop apps that...
A workaround for constant Finder crashes after...
I have had this same problem occur quite a bit in the last couple of months at my work, where I support many Mac labs and Mac laptops. I have seen this on several machines where you log in and the Finder just crashes and you get the spinning beach ball of death. If you log into a new user account (we have hidden accounts for diagnosis and administrative use), the OS runs absolutely fine. So you...
The Blogger’s Guide to Meta Tags
Although off-site optimization is generally considered to be more important, ignoring on-site search engine ranking factors can be costly. Things like solid internal linking and keyword-rich titles can have a very significant impact (as I’ve said before). Meta tags, while they’ve fallen out of vogue as the on-site optimization method of choice, can also play an important role in your site’s...
NetworkLocation 2.0 goes official
Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Productivity, Internet Tools We first mentioned NetworkLocation back in November ‘06, and since then this automated location manager and setting switcher has been upgraded to v2.0 with some killer new features. In addition to automatically changing settings like system volume, opening a webpage, playing an iTunes playlist or switching Mail servers all...
How to Simplify Your Filing System; or, Why...
Every Monday is Productivity & Organization Day at Zen Habits. Does your filing system include stacks of paper, or is your “To Be Filed” folder overflowing? If you have trouble with filing your documents, you may need to find a way to simplify your filing system to keep yourself organized. Filing is something many people have a problem with — you’re not alone. But organization can not only...
KisMAC dev calls it quits
Filed under: Software, Freeware, Internet Tools, Open Source, MacBook Reader Andrew dropped a note that Michael Rossberg, developer of KisMAC, the wireless network sniffer based on Kismet, has declared the project discontinued. I can’t get the project’s website to load (most likely because it’s been Slashdotted), but apparently the reason Rossberg gave was that a change in...
AdIcons For Wordpress » REBITRAN →
AdIcons for Wordpress, is a plugin that lets you easily add and manage AdIcons (the little guys you see at the top of my sidebar) to your blog.
AdIcons is customizable: You can adjust the row/column counts and decide on sellable/rentable rows.
It can be used for various purposes: You can use it as a blogroll by adding all your friends’ favicons and shaping it the way you want. You can...
Want our Sitemap ?
Were you just wondering how we created our sitemap…. Well, this is not a Wordpress plugin. Its just a set of PHP snippets put together to generate the whole stuff. We first saw this on one Clazh ( by Arpit Jacob ) who recommended this to us. This sitemap is called as the “XHTML Sitemap” by Pearsonified. One of the main advantages of this would be the SEO which every Web Developer is hunting for…....
Introducing The Pixel Project and Donations
UNEASYsilence was founded on the idea that we would reach out and speak to people worldwide about items that we felt needed more attention, observing the unobserved if you will. Growing from a daily visitor count of three unique viewers a month in early 2004, we now reach over a million people worldwide a month, not counting RSS subscribers, and growing everyday.
We have long...
How To: Bulletproof Server Backups with Amazon S3
I normally try to avoid server/unix jargon on this blog but as you can tell I have become infatuated with Amazon’s affordable storage solution, S3, as of late. We all know that it is important to keep recent backups of anything you value at all, so why not automate the process? Until I started tinkering with S3, my server backup process involved manually downloading and compressing the contents of...
WordPress Sandbox Theme: Upstart Blogger Takimata
The Sandbox Designs Competition has now closed, so it’s safe for me to post my entry to the competition, Upstart Blogger Takimata.
This is just an excerpt. To read the full post, visit upstartblogger.com.
iSale updates bring Safari 3 compatibility and...
Filed under: Software, Internet Tools Whether you make a living from buying and selling on eBay or you merely sell off your basement junk when it gets too crowded down there, iSale is a fantastic eBay client that merges the wonders of Mac OS X with the world’s leading online marketplace. Offering beautiful tempaltes, WYSIWYG auction composing, integration with iCal, Address Book and iSight,...
Aperture Seminars: Both Online and In Person
Last week while hunting for some info on Apple.com, I stumbled upon Apple’s online seminars website. This is a great resource of high-quality overviews, seminars, and demos, available as streaming Quicktime videos that can be watched anytime. And the best part? They’re free. The seminars cover topics ranging from remixing with Logic Pro to compositing with Shake. And of course, there are some...
TUN3R: Virtual, well, radio tuner
The reception can be a little spotty, and we’re not sure about the two-axis naviation (purists, we), but TUN3R is a nice transposition from the analog to the digital to the digital to the analog. (You know what I mean.) Fittingly, from b3ta! …
Coverage/photos of little-known Eames house
Sadly, the Charles and Ray Eames piece most likely to be recognized by the general American public is that chair from the set of Frasier. But the Philadelphia Inquirer has coverage of one of their lesser-known design triumphs, their 1949 house in L.A.’s Pacific Palisades:The glass-and-steel structure, evoking a Mondrian painting, was meant to inspire affordable housing after World War II....
Photographers and their hard work (37 pics)
SEO Jargon
If you are just getting started with search engine optimization there are probably many terms that make you scratch your head. Thinking about this problem the guys over SEOMoz decided to publish the “Complete Glossary of Essential SEO Jargon.” Some of the mentions are straight forward, others are not. Below you will find my favorite ones:
Cloak: The practice of delivering different content to...
Zen To Slim: A Simple, 5-Step Weight Loss Plan
Every Friday is Health Tip Day at Zen Habits.
I think this one will be a bit controversial — weight loss theories seem to be a bit divisive, judging from past posts on this topics, as people have very strong opinions about the right way to lose weight.
However, this post isn’t going to explore any of those theories. It’s meant to be a simple plan for people who have trouble losing weight.
These...
My Biggest Online Income Killer
There are many things that threaten my online income. However, none of them are as big a threat as this killer. No, I’m not talking about Google bitch slapping me - that’s nothing compared to this. I’m not talking about getting banned from any ad networks either - I don’t allow any ad networks to account for more than 30% of online income.
In the past five years, this killer has cost me hundred...
CSS Specificity: Things You Should Know
Views: 158 by 133 users Apart from Floats, the CSS Specificity is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp in Cascading Stylesheets. The different weight of selectors is usually the reason why your CSS-rules don’t apply to some elements, although you think they should have. In order to minimize the time for bug hunting you need to understand, how browsers interpret your code. And to...