Fur balls

I grew up with a dog that did not shed since I was mildly allergic.
That was in 1970.

Since 1983, I've had both cats and dogs and these days prefer cats as pets because you don't have to walk them. Cleaning out a litter box is better than walking around with a plastic bag, well you know the routine.

We have two with very different personalities. I stumbled across this video this week:

Show me the Money, honey

I double checked to see when my check would arrive. Not until time for the Three Rivers Fest.

When yours arrives, here's how you can help our local economy.

This is from the Chamber of Commerce Blog:

Invest in the Community in a Big Way

Posted: 02 May 2008 01:04 PM CDT

Invest that federal rebate check into Fort Wayne and you'll give back in a big way.

According to estimates made by the Community Research Institute at IPFW the federal economic stimulus checks (which started going out this week) will put $110 million dollars of new money into the hands of Allen County residents.

Assuming that money is spent here through local businesses then an additional $33 million would be generated in economic impact to create a total of $143 million dollars according to the Indiana Business Research Center.

While the assumption that 100% of the rebate dollars will be spent locally is a stretch, it just goes to show that local spending will certainly have a meaningful impact on the economy of Northeast Indiana.

Next Thursday

Hey, it's May already. It's wet outside, there is thunder and lightening outside as I type.

(Remember when we used to unplug all the computers during a thunderstorm and just sit in a circle and stare at each other? Okay, maybe that was just where I worked.)

Anyway, I want to call your attention to a couple things occurring in town next Thursday.

Click here for details.

When: Thurs., May 8, 7:30 9 a.m. Where: Chamber of Commerce Who: Business owners, executives, managers and anyone interested in learning about some of today’s hottest business topics How: To register Rita Chalfant 260.424.1435 rchalfant@fwchamber.org	Join The Chamber, Taylor University and LaBov & Beyond Marketing Communications for SalesForce. In one hour and twelve minutes you'll learn how to build a team, how to fight fair and how to be true to yourself in business and in your personal life. For the price of one admission you can bring two colleagues. Performance begins at 7:30 a.m. By 9 a.m., you'll return to the office with a fresh outlook and a few breakthrough ideas you can apply that day. The recent Umbrella Series performance at the Chamber yielded record attendance. Please confirm your reservation now.

Local Bloggers move and disappear!?

I spent some time late last night checking the local blogs links on the right side of this page.

1. The Crazy Lutheran has a new name and site.
2. Indiana Pundit has been dormant since January, so I dropped them.
3. The Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball Blog has expanded and moved (I just call it Downtown.)
4. And did Mitch Harper disappear? Nothing new in over a week at Ft. Wayne Observed.

And finally no new word on Mr. Edwards, whose blog has vanished.

May Day, 2008

4 months are History, 8 more left in the year 2008. What are you going to do differently with your life? Here's some suggestions from the blog Dumb Little Man, that are not dumb at all:

Open your Eyes to Blind Giving

Posted: 01 May 2008 05:20 AM CDT

Written on 4/29/2008 by Jodie Clements, of Yadaspeak.com.

Ever pondered the question of Karma?

Ever wondered what your greater purpose on this earth is?

Ever questioned what can YOU do to make a difference, in order to affect someone else's life positively?

We all have. At one time or another in our lives, we have all contemplated these questions. Most of us however, just move past them, or get distracted by the dramas of our own lives until the next time we think about them - and then forget them all over again.

The thing is, you don't need to give big to have a huge effect.

Here's a list of 5 small things that you can do to positively affect the lives of the people that surround you daily, but whom you may not ordinarily notice.

• Take time to say good morning to elderly people. People in their golden years are often alone and craving human contact. The two seconds it takes to say good morning and smile can change their entire day.
  


• Talk to your cleaning lady. Your cleaning lady is a person. Take a moment to ask her how she is and listen when she answers. Tell her you think she's doing a wonderful job and that you really appreciate her. She'll be the most loyal cleaning lady you have ever had.
  


• Buy a homeless person a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Nothing more to add here. Even if they are sleeping, just leave it next to them. It will warm their heart, if not their belly.
  


• Tell an older woman she is beautiful. For many women, getting older means feeling that you are 'losing your looks'. This can be extremely distressing. Telling an older woman she looks stunningly beautiful can make her whole year. Do it and watch her smile.
  


• Make friends with someone less fortunate than you. This can be via volunteering or just simply spending time with someone you already know. The dividends on this kind of giving are infinite and you truly will make a difference.
  

Remember, the smallest things can have the biggest impact on the lives of others.

Be kind. Don't be blind. Give.

- Jodie

Why I love/hate meetings

Don't call numbers written on the wall

In my email, I get lots of stuff for my other blog. Sometimes, It's just too weird. Like this commercial for something phone related from Norway:


Find more videos like this on AdGabber

Disappearing Blogs

One of the Blogs I would check at least every couple of weeks, was that of former 21Alive News Anchor Keith Edwards. But it's gone. Vanished. Poof....

Anyone know what happened?

Political Hi-Jinks

Remember this ad that never ran?

Clean up Computer Reminder

On my "to do list": Clean up the family computer. My wife mentioned it to me the other day and while I did a bunch of outside clean ups, the old family desktop needs me.

Fortunately, Kim Komando's tip of the day today talks about that subject. Here are some pointers from Kim, along with where you can go to get her to send you tips in your email too!

...I would also clean out the computer. Start with Disk Cleanup. This is a Windows utility. Click Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>System Tools>>Disk Cleanup. Let the program check your hard drive. You can probably discard whatever Disk Cleanup finds.

Next, defragment the hard drive. Disk Defragmenter is also in the System Tools folder. Click Defragment Now. When Defragmenter finishes, set up a regular schedule. That is done in the same window.

Also, check the integrity of the hard drive. To do that, click Start>>Computer. Right-click the C: drive. Click Properties. Select the Tools tab. Click Check Now. Select both boxes and click Start>>OK. Restart the computer.

If your problems continue, you could add memory. Be sure that your computer will accept a third gigabyte of RAM. The manual should say. Windows should be able to read the third gigabyte. But I wouldn't add more than that. You'll run short of addressable space. I explain that in a tip.

I have other memory tips, too:

• Running low on virtual memory
• Adding more memory
• Discover memory type and details
• Test your PC's RAM

Copyright © 2008, The Kim Komando Show. All rights reserved. The Kim Komando Show is not responsible for the availability of, or the content located on or through, any such third-party site. Information in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and freedom from infringement. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. We will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this information, including, but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.

Me again. Set a restore point before doing anything, as a precaution.

Go here http://www.komando.com/ to get more tips from Kim and sign up for her newsletters.

Appreciating Your Hometown

8 years ago, I met a lady that changed my perspective and we've been married now for 7 years. She changed my perspective in many ways, and one of those was she re-introduced me to my hometown.

I actually came to Fort Wayne when I was 6 years old from Wisconsin, and was born in New Jersey. Kathy adopted Fort Wayne as her home when she came here in the 1970's. Both of us have spent considerable time elsewhere. I've lived in Marion, Kokomo, Warsaw, Indiana and Metro Detroit. Kathy spent time in Texas. But this is where we have decided to live and stay.

When Kathy and I were dating, she reintroduced me to my hometown. She introduced me to the River Greenway, Coffee Shops and Triangle Park. Marrying Kathy was also a decision to stay in Fort Wayne, as her youngest, Abby was in 6th grade and we were not going to uproot her.

During the past several years, we have traveled and discovered more and more within driving distance, along with stuff in our own neighborhood. At the Firefly this morning we were discussing all the events that were going on yesterday that it was impossible to attend. Today, there is a film festival, and a motorcross event that I'm invited to, yet the yard is begging for attention.

I have also gotten involved in the community, helping the Fort Wayne Central Lions Club, of which I was a Vice-President and Board Member. There are other organizations that I serve and I have an occupation that forces me to get out and meet people.

If you want to find something to do and see, I recommend visiting some of the local blogs listed on the right side of this page.