Capital Area Food Bank of Texas: THANK YOU for all you've done!

What a great CAI Austin CARES! Day at Capital Area Food Bank of Texas!

Posted 11/10/11 Special thank you to the three dozen chapter members and guest who helped process over 10,000 lbs of food that will provide for more that 8,400 meals for our neighbors in need, all in just 3 hours - what a terrific response!! And thanks to Jay Jayasuriya for photographing us inspecting and sorting hundreds of boxes of donated food and clothing items. You can see Jay's pics here >>.

THANK YOU for all you've done!

Peavey Builds An Auto-Tuning Guitar

via techcrunch.com

Guitar-maker Peavey has teamed up with audio electronics experts Anteres to create an auto-tuning guitar. While these things aren’t new – Gibson has had robotic tuners for a while – this system is unique in that it senses and corrects the pitch of the strings regardless of tuning, which means you can do all sorts of interesting tricks with vibrato even in what would amount to be an untuned guitar.
Peavy describes it thus:
The Peavey AT-200 guitar with the Antares Solid-Tune™ intonation system constantly monitors the precise pitch of each individual string and electronically makes any corrections necessary to ensure that every note of every chord and riff is always in tune, regardless of variables like finger position or pressure.
The guitar is physically no different from any other electric except for an upgradable module to handle tuning. While you probably still have to tune this guitar a little, once it is set up you can change quite a bit about it programmatically, reducing the need to fiddle with machine heads during your

PRL

Android Central: What is a PRL? [Android A to Z] http://goo.gl/mag/RkVJe

What's your preferred Social Media Networking Site? How do you use it for Marketing?

Social networking is one of today’s biggest arena when it comes to online marketing. It’s been an effective gauge for Internet businesses, not only for e-commerce sites but also for bloggers. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and even Google+ are making a big impact on the Internet.
Everyone knows about Facebook and Twitter, but there are other networks that just exist for particular niches. It’s important to find out who your target audience is and what networks they are using.

You’ve probably read lots of posts talking about how to properly optimize your social media profiles for search, and they’ve probably all sounded a little like this.

Be active – Yes, this is true. Just like Google loves regularly updated blogs and websites, they equally love regularly updated social profiles.
Optimize photo filenames – This only works on some networks, which I will mention below. It doesn’t hurt to upload photos with your name or keywords in the filename, but networks like Facebook rename the photo filenames anyway, so for some networks, it’s useless.
Engage with your followers, fans, and connections – This is a good thing to do regardless of the SEO value of it. Engaging with others will keep your profile updated often, and being helpful will also lead to other’s recommending you to their audience. Search #FollowFriday to see what I mean.
Vanity URL – From what I can tell, the URL does not count for anything but branding except on specific networks. For example, my Facebook fan page name is Kikolani, and the username for the URL is artofblogging. The fan page does not rank for art of blogging, but does rank for Kikolani. But again, it all depends on the network.

While these are great tips for your overall social media strategy, they are not the end all of SEO for your social network profiles. Certain networks use specific elements of information that you supply in your profile to optimize each profile on their network. The following will guide you to the right fields to optimize for the best possible search optimization of your social networks. The best part is that all customizations noted are using each site’s free accounts – no need to upgrade to Pro if all you’re looking for is optimization!

Here are some articles on the web that can guide you in deciding what's best for you.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE 7 POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES FOR SEO

Advice to Help You Meet Your social Media Marketing Goals

Social Networking vs SEO – Which is Better For Internet Marketing?

Marketing to the Millennial Generation

Market To The Younger Generation Using Social Media

Facebook: Is it Your Preferred Social Network?

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

via youtube.com

A video poem posted on YouTube by Seattle 22-year-old Jefferson Bethke about religion and Jesus has been viewed over 17 million times.

Christian poet and YouTube sensation Jefferson Bethke has created and performed poems that pierce the heart and mind with their intensity, their fervor, and their resonance, thus compelling audiences to respond, whether positively or negatively, to his impact on their souls and their beliefs.

What do you think of it?

This is Discipleship - YouTube

via youtube.com

This is Church for me. Jesus said "Go make Disciples"

6 Painful Things Nobody Tells You About Fighting

via cracked.com

Everybody says they know that action movies are fake, but they're lying. For proof, just get a couple of drunk males in a confrontation and you'll quickly realize they did in fact think Hollywood fight scenes were grim depictions of reality. They'll throw haymakers and roundhouse kicks with images of Jean-Claude Van Damme spin-punching a guy through a plate glass window dancing in their heads.
Thirty seconds later, they're laying on the floor, gasping and hissing in pain while rubbing some body part, perhaps while crying. This is when they realize the difference between choreographed movie fighting and real fighting. Because in the real world, it turns out ...
Read more: 6 Painful Things Nobody Tells You About Fighting | Cracked.com http://www.cracked.com/article_19654_6-painful-things-nobody-tells-you-about-...

CAI Austin January 26th, 2012 Luncheon Lecture & Educational Event

via plus.google.com

"Texas POA Legislative Update"
A New Era for Texas Associations.

Norris Conference Center

Presented by William Heyer, Esq.

White Wine - The One Thing You Thought You Knew About Wine may be wrong

via askmen.com

People often misjudge white wine by assuming its flavors are less complex than those of red wine. While white wine can be refreshing on a hot, sunny afternoon by the beach, these luscious blonds can also be the highlight of an evening by showing off their multiple personalities, tastes and styles. From crisp to creamy, light to full, white wine is sexy and very food-friendly. Here are a few white options that will help spearhead your journey into the multifaceted land of bianco.
So if the one thing you thought you knew about white wine was that it was somehow less manly or complex than red, well, we're here to unburden you of that misconception.
Read more: http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/wine_dine_archive_500/505_white-wine.html#i...

"Thala", Channa - Upuli Dance Troupe in Concert

SLAAH - Sri Lankan American Association of Houston Presents: Thala - World-Renowned Sri Lankan Dance Troupe In Concert

- When
  
  Saturday, February 11, 2012
- Time
  
  6:30pm until 9:30pm
Where

Houston TX
RSVP@

https://www.facebook.com/events/340724632623930

Solar storm expected to fire up northern lights

via news.yahoo.com

STOCKHOLM — Stargazers were out in force in northern Europe on Tuesday, hoping to be awed by a spectacular showing of northern lights after the most powerful solar storm in six years.
Even before particles from that storm reached the Earth on Tuesday, the aurora borealis was dancing across the sky as far south as Ireland and England, where people rarely get a chance to catch the stunning light show.

Science Confirms: Don't Go to Sleep Angry

via lifehacker.com

The old anecdotal saying that you should never go to sleep angry just got backed up by science, thanks to UMass Amherst neuroscientists. Their study concludes that if you have a negative emotional response—their examples were for viewing an unsettling picture or experiencing a traumatic event—the response is reduced if you stay awake afterwards. If you go to sleep immediately, the response is "protected," meaning that when you are exposed to the effect again, your negative response will be just as negative as the first time.

Why Do People Yawn? — PsyBlog

via spring.org.uk

Err, don't people yawn because they're bored and/or tired?
Yes, it's true people do yawn more at bedtime or after they've woken up and they do yawn when they're bored (people even yawn in their sleep).
But yawning isn't that simple. If it was, how could you explain that some paratroopers yawn before their first jump, as do some violinists before they go on stage and Olympic athletes before their event (Provine, 2005). These are hardly situations in which people are likely to be bored.
Many people believe that yawning gets more oxygen into the body or expels more carbon dioxide. But this is not true. The theory is now thought to be seriously flawed, if not plain wrong.
The truth is no one really knows the real root cause of a yawn. Some good guesses have been made, though, and it's likely that some combination of them is true. First let's look at the physiological, before we get onto the psychological.

The best way to interrupt a violin concert

via youtube.com

This video goes to show that cellular interruptions during a concert don't have to ruin the evening. The violinist in this video hears a Nokia ring tone, and instead of freaking out, integrates it into his performance. Take a look:

sleepWRITER.com: 10 Ways to Get a Good Sleep When You Have a Cold

via sleepwriter.com

When you suffer from a cold often you find it difficult to get a decent rest. A blocked nose or airway can impair your breathing, cutting off oxygen. It's like having an obstructive sleep apnoea. Here are ten things you can try to get a good sleep while you recover from your cold.

Jazz for Cows - Yes really!

via youtube.com

R.I.P Etta James! In honor of Etta James- @JoshKrajcik singing "At Last"

via youtube.com

"Etta James" passed away today. She died at 73 of leukemia in January 2012
Josh Krajcik - Finale Night 1 - $5 Million Song - THE X FACTOR USA 2011
A song is separated from its soul: Etta James, whose voice is inseparable from everyone's all-time favourite song--#At Last--breathes her last.

Origins of Stonehenge's Stones Found, and Holy Crap Did They Travel Far

via gizmodo.com

Remember that time you carried that box home and it was like sooo heavy? Yeah, shut up. The quarry where some of Stonehenge's original rocks came from has been discovered, and the people of 5,000 years ago dragged them 160 miles.

How to Say No (Without Being an A**hole)

via lifehacker.com

We aim to please, and so saying "no" to a request can be a hard thing to do. We don't like to introduce negativity into the conversation, cause a possible confrontation, or have someone think less of us because we don't agree. That said, it's often important to turn things down. We can't do it all. Here's how you can say no to just about anything without being an a**hole.

The 10 Best Videos of CES 2012

via blog.laptopmag.com

Last week’s 2012 Consumer Electronics Show was filled with lots of exciting technology that will hopefully come our way in the near future. We shot a lot of video last week with a lot of cool products. You can view all of our videos at http://www.youtube.com/laptopmag, but below are our 10 favorite videos from CES 2012.

How to Pay Down Your Debt and Invest at the Same Time

via lifehacker.com

Ramit Sethi is a New York Times best-selling author and creator of one of our favorite personal finance sites, I Will Teach You to Be Rich. In his weekly video Q&A, Ramit answers common questions about personal finance, careers, and more. This week: What's the best approach for paying down debt while also investing your money?

OFF THE VINE WINE TASTING & SILENT AUCTION

via plus.google.com

Off the Vine presented by Texas Oil and Gas Associaiton is an exclusive wine tasting and silent auction event benefitting Rodeo Austin's mission of Promoting Youth Education – Preserving Western Heritage. Wine enthusiasts enjoyed a variety of quality wines from the nation's top wineries. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to sample the cuisine from local acclaimed establishments such as Ranch 616, III Forks, Jack Allen's Kitchen, VIVO and many more. It was held Thursday, January 12th at West Austin Youth Association in the heart of Central Austin. Everyone including myself, enjoyed fine wine, delicious food, specialty auction items, and more. These are the pictures that I captured at the event. Feel free to tag and share with your friends. Enjoy!

Galaxy Hosts 100 Billion Planets, in New Estimate

via online.wsj.com

Astronomers said Wednesday that each of the 100 billion stars in the Milky Way probably has at least one companion planet, on average, adding credence to the notion that planets are as common in the cosmos as grains of sand on the beach.

Pflugerville car maker unveils "The Kenguru" | kvue.com Austin

via kvue.com

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas -- From the outside it's easy to miss -- a business so new there's not even a sign on the door. But on the inside, a flurry of hands help shape the future of transportation.

"It's the most important thing in my life," said 31-year-old Stacy Zoern. "Failure is not an option at this point."

How to Stop Eating at Night: 7 steps (with pictures) - wikiHow

via wikihow.com

Eating at night is a bad habit to get into because it doesn't leave enough time before going to bed to digest your food well. Nighttime eating can lead to snacking excessively on junk food and it can also be at the root of poor sleep. If you're looking for ways to stop eating at night, consider the following steps in your efforts.

What's the difference?

Find out more@ http://goo.gl/zbf89

Instant Art

via youtube.com

Just amazing!

5 Tips for Getting Natural Smiles - (Don't) Say Cheese! | I Heart Faces

via iheartfaces.com

Enjoy these photography tips for capturing great smiles of children!
As a mother of a 3.5 year old, ‘spirited’ little girl, I sure get my fair share of cheese when taking photos. And I am not talking about the edible kind.
My daughter merely needs to see my camera and she produces this ‘smile’ (I use the term loosely) that looks like a toothy underbite that rivals Bruce Springsteen. Her eyes literally disappear into her head and take the form of slits. Not what I really want to remember years from now.
As a children’s photographer, I deal with this ‘smile’ on a nearly daily basis. It’s a pressure cooker when that cheesy smile arises at a session, especially for Mom who is witnessing it because, let’s face it, she is paying for this cheese and is not too happy about it.
It’s not their fault… what would you do if someone told you to smile? Try it. SMILE. Feel fake? Sure it does! The only way to combat a phony smile is to actually make the child smile naturally.
(Don’t) Say Cheese!

T-Mobile Angry Birds Live

via youtube.com

For the first time ever, watch how people use a simple smartphone to play a life-size version of the cult Angry Birds game. Complete with real shooting birds and exploding pigs. I can live this dream!!!

Does hypnosis really work? - Austin Hypnosis

via examiner.com

The most frequently asked question of Hypnotists and Hypnotherapists is, “Does hypnosis really work?” Hypnosis has been around for centuries. It has gained more attention lately for a number of reasons, including the fact that more people are seeking alternative remedies to help reduce health care costs or reduce their prescription medication intake. Let’s put some facts on the table.

Hidden Alien Planets Revealed in Old Hubble Telescope Data

via space.com

AUSTIN, Texas — When a team of researchers sifted through old data from the Hubble Space Telescope and discovered two hidden alien planets that had gone unnoticed for 13 years, they inadvertently found a new way to seek out alien worlds.
Now, astronomers are expanding their search by applying the data-mining technique to 350 other stars that were observed in 1998 by a Hubble telescope instrument called the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS).

Unlock Root Roots Nearly 250 Android Devices in One Click [UPDATED]

via lifehacker.com

Windows/Android: If you're looking to root your phone but don't want to pore over complicated instructions, a new program called Unlock Root claims to root a ton of different phones with ease.

Dropbox-for-Google Insync leaves beta, goes free and opens doors for business | TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

via tuaw.com

Always have your stuff when you need it with @Dropbox. 2GB account is free! http://db.tt/PwN3VjX (Click here to get your free account)

Top 10 Ways to Break Into and Out of Almost Anything

via lifehacker.com

Whether you're stuck inside and need to break out or you've found locked outside and need to get in, having the key or password is rarely your only option. Here are our top 10 favorite tricks for breaking into and out of nearly any locked down environment.

Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes

via jagandelight.hubpages.com

Looking at yourself
A person lives with them self daily but do not truly know they really are, and therefore they operate under a false delusion of themselves.

Scientists unveil biggest ever map of universe's dark matter

via csmonitor.com

This giant map of invisible dark matter recorded in four directions by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope during each season of the year was released on Jan. 9, 2012. The color inset shpws the previous largest COSMOS dark matter map and the size of the full moon (as it woudl appear to the telescope) to scale.
CREDIT: Van Waerbeke, Heymans, and CFHTLens collaboration.

Daily dose

Taken with picplz at Lifeline Aquatics Inc.- www.lifelineaquatics.com in Georgetown, TX.

The first cell phone powered by an AA battery

via knowyourcell.com

It was bound to happen sooner or later. A cell phone that runs on one AA battery.
Introduced here at the Consumer Electronics Show, the new SpareOne handset promises up to ten hours of emergency talk time from a single AA battery.
The idea here is a GSM phone that's always ready to allow you to make calls – once you add a SIM card and a fresh battery.
In emergencies, SpareOne has a built in flashlight and the ability to automatically transmit its location via the cell ID.
During situations when AC power is suspect, a device like this could help the user make a voice call.
Or, when traveling, an inexpensive phone to buy, quickly set-up and use in foreign countries.
Different versions – for the Unites States, Europe and Asia – will be available with WCDMA frequency options for selected regions.
SpareOne phones will be sold packaged with an Energizer Lithium (very long life and up to 15 years of standby power) AA battery and one of those tiny, micro-SIM cards for less than $50.

[Best Of 2011] 35 Incredibly Useful Apps From 2011

via androidpolice.com

Searching through thousands of applications can be frustrating, so we've compiled the best 35 from 2011 just for you. It's called a Smartphone for a reason, so make sure you get the best out of your device by checking out the list below. Your phone or tablet can probably do much more than you ever imagined, you just have to find the right app for the job.

Making 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

via fooddoodles.com

100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
by HEIDI @ FOOD DOODLES on JANUARY 5, 2012

2012

via dailymovement.tumblr.com

How Can I Make Sure My Resume Gets Past Resume Robots and into a Human's Hand?

via lifehacker.com

Automated Resume Screeners Score Resumes on Relevancy to Keywords and Experience
1.Your resume is run through a parser, which removes the styling from the resume and breaks the text down into recognized words or phrases.
2.The parser then sorts that content into different categories: Education, contact info, skills, and work experience.
3.The employer's desired skills or keywords are matched against the results from above.
4.Your resume is scored on relevancy—using semantic matching against the employer's search terms and your years of experience.

50 best photos from The Natural World - The Big Picture

via boston.com

We share our world with many other species and live in an ever-changing environment. Fortunately, photographers around the world have captured the moments and beauty that allow us to see amazing views of this awe-inspiring planet. This is a collection of favorite photos from The Natural World gallery in 2011, a showcase of images of animals and environment that runs on Boston.com throughout the year. Next week's posts will take a look at the year in photos, so stay tuned. -Leanne Burden Seidel (50 photos total)

5 Unusual Ways to Raise Successful Children

via getrichslowly.org

Looking at the businesses I’ve built, managed, and sold (worth $2 million) by the age of 30, I’ve been reflecting lately on what set the foundation for my achievements so that I can help others experience financial security and abundance. I believe my success is the result of an unusual childhood, and a few unique things my parents did to set me up for success.
1. Give incentive to learn from the masters
2. Encourage questions
3. Provide unconditional love
4. Show the importance of a strong work ethic
5. Teach kids to be powerful
Click on the image to read in more details

While angels sing with tender mirth,

A glad new year to all the earth.

-Martin Luther

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