Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Smithfield Alumni Announces 2012 Sandhills Founder's Day Celebration In Clayton, NC


It is official, the Smithfield Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has recently announced the 2012 Sandhills Founder's Day Celebration in Clayton, NC will happen on January 14.

The event, which includes a celebration program, dinner, and an All Blakk Affair after-party, will bring Kappas from Fayetteville-Fort Bragg-Pope AFB, Goldsboro, Lumberton, Wilmington, and Smithfield alumni chapters for an evening filled with delicious food, a memorable message, and that good ol' Kappa spirit.

Not a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc? No worries because once the BROTHERS ONLY event has concluded, Smithfield Alumni's community of family, friends, and supporters will celebrate 100 years of achievement with a fun-filled night at the All Blakk Affair.

The cost of attendance is $25.00 for one event or $40.00 for both. Tickets can be purchased on online using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

For more information, visit the Smithfield Alumni website for details.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Paranormal Activity 3: First Impression & Other Thoughts


My 12 year old son and I just got back from an afternoon showing of Paranormal Activity 3. The decision to watch the third installment came after friends reported how good it was. One friend on Facebook wrote, "D- it was awesome. better than the first two."

Bloomberg Businessweek reported that Paranormal Activity 3 opened the weekend in first place and broke a record with the best debut in the horror film genre, generating $54 million. That was enough to get me into a theater seat.

After about an hour and a half, we walked out of the theater momentarily shaken.

First Impression
As the final credits walked across the screen, I sat there in my seat feeling disappointed in how the movie ended. It was abrupt. I suppose if you've seen the other movies, you know what I mean.

At the conclusion, we are supposed to have a better understanding of how it all began, but the writers leave a lot of the details unexplained. For example, why are the kids being targeted?

The longer I thought about the movie, the more I am convinced that we got exactly what we paid for in screams.

Sitting next to my son, I left the theater with bruises from all of his violent reactions to the unexpected phenomenon. Yes, even I jumped a few times. Although, I can't be sure it wasn't first prompted by the screams and shrills of the audience around me.

Was it worth the money? you ask. My response is, "Yes." When you compare Paranormal Activity 3 to a Halloween inspired haunted house or haunted forest, the outcome was the same and at a cheaper price. For $13, I was able to offer two people with a 1.5 hour experience versus 30 minutes at $30.

Other Observations
Camera Work
Similar to the work done in the earlier films, this movie is shot entirely from the first person camera. Everything we saw and heard came through the numerous cameras set up by the main character.

What amazes me about these kinds of movies lies in its simplicity. With a single camera, the director can create suspense. There are no scary strings, organs, or violins playing in a minor key. There is just an eerie silence that accompanies the occasional creaking or knocking sound. Then, at just the right moment, some loud bang fills the room and the hair on our arms stand on end.

I even heard grown men scream like little girls. That's one way to know that this medium still works.

Vlogging
Another observation that I had after watching this movie is the appeal of first person video. What does it feel like to live in the world of someone else? With the popularity of reality television, many of us experience life through the eyes of others. Take iJustine (Justine Ezarik) for example. Through her handheld camera, we get to follow her to the set of our favorite television shows or watch her dance wildly in an Apple Store.

If a director can create an entire series of movies using a handheld device, how much more can you or I create a lifelong story using the very same tools?

Final Thought
Overall, I think the movie was a good one. Not so much for the story line as it was for the thrill it creates. Out of 5 stars, I would give it a 3.5.

C3 Church Live Blogging: Love (Week 6)


This weekend, C3 Church continues a new series entitled, "LOVE." Stay tuned during the 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. service (EST) for a live blog of Chris Pipe's sermon.

Refresh this page during those hours for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

If you would like more information about C3, please visit the web site.

10:22 am
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer: 
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. 
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.
10:20 am
Chris offers a challenge. If you have a deep hate for someone, forgive them today. 
10:15 am
Chris talks about an Amish community and a guy that planned to murder a bunch of people in a school. The man was heavily armed. He pushed all teachers and boys out, but kept the girls. He was so upset at God that he ended up killing a bunch of kids.
A mother that lost her daughter wrote a letter some 12 years later to the killer (who was now dead because he committed suicide). Once she emailed the letter telling him that she forgave him. Immediately, upon her releasing the letter, she felt the weight of bitterness and anger leave her. 
The Amish families forgave the killer. They forgave the man and actually supported the widow through financial support. 
10:12 am
Forgive and forget is not Biblical. Pains and scars do not go away. God does not forget, but he DOES forgive.
10:09 am
We show love by choosing to give up our right to be offended. We sometimes think that we have a right to be offended. We show love by making four promises: 1) I will not dwell on this incident. 2) I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you. 3) I will not talk to others about this incident (no gossip). 4) I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.
10:07 am
If you can talk to someone in person, do it. If you can't do it in person, call them. If you cannot reach them, write a letter. You have to get it out of you.
10:06 am
Ok, so I know that I need to forgive but the question is HOW? God gives you the ability and courage. We show love by keeping short relational accounts. Don't wait until tomorrow to forgive, do it NOW.
10:02 am
Are you willing to apply your forgiveness policy to be the standard for how God forgives you? If you don't forgive others then God won't forgive you.
10:00 am
An apostle asked Jesus how many times one should forgive others. Jesus said that we should forgive each other 70 x 7. Forgiveness is always, it has no limits. There is no guarantee that it won't happen again because it probably will. 
9:58 am
Chris tells a story of a young girl sitting in the back seat of the car. She says, sin is like the rain on a car and the windshield wiper is like God wiping our sins away. Did you notice that the rain keeps coming? The girl said that will we keep sinning, God keeps forgiving.
9:54 am
Unforgiveness tortures us physically and emotionally. Our bodies are not created to hold on to hate, bitterness, and unforgiveness. When you do not forgive others, you open your life to the enemy. God doesn't want us to live life like that. If we do not forgive, we actually build a wall between us and God.
9:52 am
Chris tells a story of a king and his slave. When the slave could not repay a debt to the king, he pleaded for mercy. The king forgave his debt. Moments later, the same slave found someone else who owed him money. When the fellow slave could not repay a debt, he did everything he could to have him locked up. When the king found out that this happened, he threw the book at the slave for not forgiving a debt when his own debt was forgiven.
9:50 am
The wages of sin is death. We don't want to end up in Hell and we can never reach perfection. Also, we will never do enough to make up for the bad we do. However, through Jesus our ledger gets wiped clean. We become as clean as snow. With that written, how can we not forgive others when God eagerly forgives us.
9:48 am
What does the Bible say about unforgiveness. Here is a fact, we all sin every day. God knows all and sees all. He has a ledger of everything we have done and thought. 
9:46 am
The Romans did a good job of keeping track accounting. In business, this is a great skill to have. However, in relationships, we shouldn't keep track of how others do us wrong. 
9:43 am
Chris talks about his days as a child where he played soccer. As a child, we get hurt and then bounce back. As we get older, we don't bounce back as quickly when hurt. Three or four days later, he's still hurt. 
Many of us can understand physical pain and many more of us understand the emotional pain. We have a natural tendency to store up our hurt in order to "get back" at others when they do us harm. 
Today, we'll talk about how real love does not keep any record of wrongs. 
9:42 am
Foundational Bible verse for this sermon is 1 Corinthian 13:1-8 (NIV)
9:40 am
Chris Pipes comes on stage singing "I can't fight this feeling anymore..." 

Saturday, October 22, 2011

SCALE: A Roundtable Discussion On Growing Businesses


This past Thursday, Akira Morita and his wife Dipika Kohli, owners of Design Kompany, hosted a roundtable discussion on growing businesses. The event, which took place in downtown Durham, sought to explore the growing business. When should a business grow? When is it best to remain as is? What is the difference between "growth" and "scale"?

In this article, I will introduce the seven panelists and share my thoughts on the event.

Panelists
Jay Mebane, Co-owner/CFO of Thundershirt
Emily Bloom, Regional Director at the Durham office of Viget Labs
Ann May Woodward, Director of Scrap Exchange
Sean Lilly Wilson, Founder of Fullsteam Brewery
Aaron Averill, Owner of Zone Five
Vandana Dake, Alliance Architecture
Neil Lancia, A Small Orange

My Thoughts On The Event
As we left the roundtable discussion, Akira asked us to share our thoughts on the event. Let this entry serve as my response.

What is the single most important thing you heard tonight?
The most memorable thing I heard tonight came from Jay Mebane when he said, "Giving up control means hiring the right people. Hire slowly and fire quickly."

Having owned a couple of businesses in my life, I realized quickly that I cannot do it alone. At some point, I am going to run out of time, skills, and other valuable resources. When this happens, I need assistance from others. This is when one has to let go of controlling everything.

At North Carolina Central University, where I lead a team of talented web developers, I am learning how to let go and trust in other people's abilities. Prior to this opportunity, I had a hard time delegating work to others. I think it was difficult because I had to ask others for help. It also meant following up on requests and  insuring that the final product met my expectations within the time given.

I'm getting better.

As the Polemarch (president) for Smithfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., I get the opportunity to lead in a different capacity. With 23 active members, I am tasked with providing a service to members and the community. I am also responsible for creating memorable experiences where brotherhood is encouraged and developed. All of this and more comes to life through the hands, hearts, and minds of chapter members, not through my own efforts.

With the recent growth of our chapter, I am learning the importance of having the right people on board. Author James Collins once wrote that leaders have to get the right people on the bus and the wrong ones off. I couldn't agree more.

What's the most interesting thing you heard tonight?
The most interesting thing I heard came from Sean Lilly Wilson. When asked about scaling his brewery, he said, "Scaling means maintaining the culture." One fear that Sean deals with is growing too quickly and losing the culture that made his business a success. What if Sean were to move to Charlotte, would Fullsteam still be the same company? 

Emily Bloom, in a one-on-one conversation, defined scale similarly. She explained how the owners of Vignet Labs, based out of Falls Church, VA, have expanded the company into various locations. With each location, the culture has an opportunity to change because the people there are different. While Falls Church may be lively and fun, Durham's location is a little more relaxed. "Is this bad? No, it's just different." Bloom explains.

In thinking about scale, my mind races to the Room 3026 Live community. Having been on-air since early 2010, we have an awesome group of listeners that engage every single day. It's amazing!

However, I recall a conversation I had with them on the subject of growing the community. Some were afraid that increasing the listeners would ultimately change the community's culture.

On days where we have well known guests on the show, our chat room is practically unrecognizable. There are new names and plenty of opinions that differ from the norm. For me, it's exciting. Although, I recognize how disruptive it can be for the loyal listeners. 

The challenge with scale, as I see it, is maintaining that culture so the spirit of its founders remains.

What do you wish we'd asked that we didn't?
The event was scheduled for 1.5 hours. In hindsight, not many questions were asked. I recall hearing two official questions: 1) How big do you consider your company to be (small, medium, or big)? How big would you like your company to be? 2) How long can you operate at a loss?

For me, I would have liked more rapid questioning and involvement from the audience. With 25 attendees, it would have been advantageous to pull from people with various levels of experience. Too many were quiet.

How did you enjoy this discussion?
Overall, I enjoyed the experience. As I sat there and listened to the discussion, I realized how much I missed these live events. In college, and even in certain high school classes, I enjoyed panel, town hall, brown bag, and roundtable talks.

With online chat rooms, Facebook walls, and Twitter feeds, I forgot the value of basic face-to-face interactions. This event inspired me to consider taking my online radio show into the real world. For that, I am grateful. 

In closing, I would like to thank the panelists, Akira, and Dipika for their contributions. To view my interview with Akira and Dipika, check out the video below.

If you cannot see the video, click here.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Feeling Overwhelmed With Email? Simplify.


This may sound like common sense, but when life gets complicated and you feel overwhelmed, look for ways to simply your life.

For weeks, or maybe even longer, I have been struggling to stay abreast of the many demands on my time. Let me see, there is my main gig as the IT Manager for North Carolina Central University, but then there is my role as a father.

When neither of those things are in effect, I try to stay abreast of the latest news in technology so that I can write blogs and host various podcasts.

Then, as if that wasn't enough, I serve as the Polemarch (President) of my fraternity's local chapter.

I'm sure that I can go on listing the number of responsibilities that I have, but this morning it hit me. I HAVE to simply my life.

For starters, I noticed that my e-mail account has far too many notifications. Within days, I can accumulate over 1,000 email messages. Just seeing 1,000+ messages causes a knee jerk reaction to avoid looking. That behavior just makes it worse. Avoiding the problem earned me another 1,700 messages.

This morning, I recognized that a large part of my messages come from notifications. I get Facebook, Twitter, BlogTalkRadio, Google Voice, Newsletters, Foursquare check-ins, YouTube updates, and much more. Unfortunately, I hardly ever read these notifications.

The issue is that what I fail to look in my email box, I risk overlooking something more important. This has happened far too many times lately.

Starting today, I am going to turn off those notifications. If I want to know what my friends on Facebook are writing, I'll check-in.

In turn, I hope to be more responsive to those messages that are actually important.

In closing, let me review. Step one is to turn off all notifications sent to my email account. Step two...I'll figure out step two when I'm done with step one.

So, if you're like me then let's begin by removing those notifications. However, let me ask, what should we simplify next?

Monday, October 17, 2011

Room 3026 Live (Ep. 379): iPhone 4s Sales Report, Google Kills Buzz, and RIM Offers Gifts


On today's episode of Room 3026 Live, we discussed topics ranging from the iPhone 4s Sales Report to Google killing Buzz.

Listen to Audio Stream
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Click here if you don't see the player.

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Sunday, October 16, 2011

C3 Church Live Blogging: Love (Week 5)


This weekend, C3 Church continues a new series entitled, "LOVE." Stay tuned during the 11:15 a.m. service (EST) for a live blog of Matt Fry's sermon.

Refresh this page during those hours for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

If you would like more information about C3, please visit the web site.

12:23 am 
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. 
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.
12:20 am 
Real love is not irritable. This means to be easily irritated or annoyed. Pastor Matt shares this verse...Proverbs 21:14 (MSG).
12:18 am 
What does it mean to kill the flesh? We simply let go.
12:11 am 
Love others as you love yourself. Pastor Matt shares a number of examples of how church members are loving others. Awesome!
12:08 am 
Pastor Matt tells a story of a recent fishing trip. He talks about how he uses fake bate to attract fish. This is similar to what the Devil does for many of us. He uses fake bate to attract us. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly. God says that you need to simply let go.
12:07 am
You don't have to memorize the entire Bible to experience freedom. All you have to do is let go of you and let God take over in your life.
12:03 am 
Pastor Matt reads Galatians 5:13-26 (NIV) and Psalm 119:32. If you want to experience freedom then follow his commands. As long as we stay in his path, it will lead to freedom. If you know the truth then the truth will set you free. God's commands are truth.
12:01 am 
The greatest commandment is to love God and others. We either live out the acts of the flesh or the fruits of the spirit. You cannot live both at the same time.
12:00 am 
Only through the Holy Spirit can we live out the fruits of the spirit.
11:59 am
The root of demanding your own way is selfishness.
11:55 am 
God gives us commands and promises. As we seek God first then that provides order and protection.
11:52 am 
Pastor describes an experience with his dad where he had his own parking lot and chair at home. Mom brought him the newspaper and coffee. As an adult, Matt thought this is what marriage would be like. Unfortunately, he later learned that marriage with Martha was not like the marriage of his parents. Martha says that all furniture belongs to everyone, not just Matt.
11:51 am
Real love doesn't demand it's own way. A marriage and relationship is built on a give and take.  To the single ladies, if a man demands you to do something that goes against what you believe then it's not love.
11:48 am
Real love is not irritable. Paul writes the letter to the Church of Corinth because of what was going on there. There was plenty of bad things happening. While he describes what love is, Paul goes to the extreme to describe what love is not.
11:47 am
Foundational scripture 1 Corinthians 13:1-5 (NLT)
11:45 am
Don't forget that MVP Weekend starts in two weeks. This is an opportunity to invite your friends to church.
11:43 am  
Pastor Matt comes on stage.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Vampire Diaries And 7 Other Shows Stream To Netflix


Netflix just secured additional streaming content for its customers. Last week, it was AMC's The Walking Dead and today we learn that CBS and Warner Brothers also joined the club by licensing 8 shows to Netflix. The deal will allow Netflix customers to watch Ringer, Hart of Dixie, The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, 90210, Supernatural, Nikita and One Tree Hill for a period of 4 years after broadcast.

Starting October 15, customers can watch previous seasons of The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and Nikita. Previous seasons of Supernatural and 90210 will be available January 2012.

Once again, I applaud Netflix for securing more streaming entertainment to its customers. Additionally, I give credit to the forward thinking content providers for allowing these shows to meet new consumers.

Looking over the list of shows, I am most excited about The Vampire Diaries. However, I could be persuaded to watch some of the other shows like The Secret Circle or Supernatural, which I failed to watch when it ran live. Who knows, maybe if I get caught up with the stories, I may catch a few episodes when the newer seasons start.

What do you think? Is Netflix turning things around in your eyes? Has it done enough to win you back? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Dear Obama, Please Don't Give Up So Quickly


Why, President Obama? Why would you say that? That's the first thing that came to mind when I read that you are willing to cut up the jobs bill into smaller pieces, assuming the bill fails to get a majority vote in the Senate.

Isn't the point of a vote to make Congress show their cards? At the end of the night, everyone should know exactly where everyone stands on the issue. It has already been said that the Republicans would not support the jobs bill, but you've just made it easier for them to vote "No" because they realize that you're willing to budge. Where is the pressure?

As of late, you've traveled across the nation challenging the GOP to act. Instead, you are now showing signs of weakness. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for working together, especially since you need the conservatives to pass anything. However, if you're trying to get the people to side with you and blatantly disagree with Republicans  then you need to allow them to do what you know they are going to do and kill the bill. 

Once they vote the jobs bill down then you can run around talking about how Congress failed to do what is best for the country. Once this fact has been established, and the people rally against the GOP, then you come back with other ideas to pass the bill. Hopefully, with public opinion on your side, you can open the door to enough Republicans to compromise with your plan.

Forgive my ignorance with all the details, but I do know that giving away your position before a vote is wrong and you shouldn't have done it.

If you intend to solve the economic problems we now face then you need to get tough. Don't just talk like a cowboy, but live it. Be strong and make the other side show their true colors. Be strong and fight for what you want. Being too flexible means that everyone will walk over you.

As I bring this letter to a close, I just want you to know that I appreciate what you've done, but you must do better. If you want the people to stand behind you, then you have to be willing stand up for yourself.

Hulk Joins The Avengers In New Movie Trailer


The official trailer for The Avengers movie, which is scheduled for May 4, 2012, was released online today. The most pleasant surprise is when I learned that the Hulk will play a part in the film.

As a fan of the Incredible Hulk, I am extremely excited about how he will be portrayed. Based on what I've seen so far, his arrival just made the movie incredibly appealing.
   
To see the Hulk, check out the closing seconds of the trailer below. After the break, let me know what you think in the comment section.

If you cannot view the trailer, click here.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Netflix Changes Its Mind Again And Says No Qwikster


Moments ago, I received an email from Netflix stating that "DVDs will be staying at Netflix.com." Below is the entire message:
Dear Damond, 
It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs. 
This means no change: one website, one account, one password…in other words, no Qwikster.
While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes. 
We're constantly improving our streaming selection. We've recently added hundreds of movies from Paramount, Sony, Universal, Fox, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, MGM and Miramax. Plus, in the last couple of weeks alone, we've added over 3,500 TV episodes from ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, USA, E!, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Discovery Channel, TLC, SyFy, A&E, History, and PBS.
We value you as a member, and we are committed to making Netflix the best place to get your movies & TV shows. 
Respectfully, 
The Netflix Team
For those complaining about the split between DVDs and streaming content, this ought to make them happy. However, this recent switch has me thinking about Reed Hastings judgment.

To hear some tell it, Reed's moves were genius. Looking at many of his earlier decisions, while unpopular at the time, they turned out to be just what the people needed. Investors agreed.

With the latest price increase and separation of services, this again was announced as unpopular but necessary for future growth. Why then would the company go back on its game plan? They were aware that some customers would leave and complain, but they should have stuck with their guns and rode it out.

Today, my confidence in Netflix is shaken. Does Reed really have a game plan or is he just doing what's popular? With similar deals like the one recently announced with AMC, many people would have soon forgotten the DVD business and gone all streaming. At least, that's what I planned to do.

What Netflix just did was show its cards to all of its competitors, investors, and customers. The company blinked first and showed us that its scared. Until this email, I believed that Reed and the other executives at Netflix knew what they were doing. While somewhat random, I relied on their intelligence to make decisions based on the facts. If we don't watch that many DVDs and its hurting the company, separate yourself.

Right now, I'm second guessing everything I've been told about Reed and the future of Netflix. Are they scared of the Dish Network, Amazon, Blockbuster, YouTube, and Apple? If not, then why give in to what you know isn't right. The company made a decision and they should have stuck with it. Period.

Maybe I'm totally off base here, but that's my view. What do you think? How does this latest news affect you? Are you happy or is it just too late for Netflix? Let me know in the comment section below.

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Sunday, October 9, 2011

Live Blogging C3 Church: Love (Week 4)


This weekend, C3 Church continues a new series entitled, "LOVE." Stay tuned during the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. services (EST) for a live blog of Martha Fry's sermon.

Refresh this page during those hours for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

If you would like more information about C3, please visit the web site.

10:24 am
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer: 
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. 
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.
10:20 am
Examples of being rude:
1) Be late for everything, which is not honoring other peoples time.
2) Allowing kids to do whatever they want.
3) Interrupting other people when talking. 
10:19 am
Love is not rude. We have to honor one another. When you live a life of honor, you are not prideful.
9:51 - 10:18 am
Martha gives 10 signs of a prideful or humble person:
Pride - Voicing preferences or opinions when not asked.
Humble - Speaks the truth in love
Pride - Defensive or blame-shifting. There is a lack of asking for forgiveness. "It's not my fault but everyone else's fault."
Humble - Quick in admitting when you are wrong and quick to ask for forgiveness.
Pride - Seeking independence or control. This person has to control everything. They don't submit to other's authority.
Humble - Gladly submissive and obedient to those in authority. 
Pride -  Talks too much. This when someone talks about themselves. Too much talk leads to sin.
Humble - Seek ways to build others up. This person listens and is genuinely interested in what the other person has to say.
Pride - Perfectionism. Prideful people are perfectionist. They are never happy about anything. Your spouse will never be perfect. Perfect people can't even laugh at themselves.
Humble - Stay teachable. "God I am. Here are my gifts. Do with it what you can." 
Pride - Having an inflated view of your importance, gifts, and abilities. A legend in their own mind. "Look at me and look at all I've done for you."
Humble - Genuinely glad for others. They can rejoice when good things happen to other people. If God wants to promote you, he will. Faithful in little means faithful in lot. Here is a great way to remind yourself about this, "Everyone is replaceable." Martha talks about Hillsong Church and how this very thing happened there. "Our destiny is directly tied to our leader."
Pride - Seeing yourself better than others or impatient or easily irritated with others. This person looks down on others. "I'm so glad that I'm not person."
Humble - Sees yourself no better than others. We are all equal. One way Martha reminds herself about humility, if it weren't for the grace of God she could be in someone else's shoes.
Pride - Anger. This person is angry, pouts, frustrated, and depressed. Depression is anger towards oneself. This could be an addiction for some.
Humble - Seeks to live at peace with all people.    
Pride - Lack of gratitude in general. These people are never satisfied.
Humble - Thank God and people often. These people don't feel like they deserve anything. We are to give thanks in all circumstances. Don't worry about what you don't have but be thankful for what you do have.
Pride - Complains against or passing judgement on God. We blame God for the way our kids turned out.
Humble - Acknowledges who God is and trusts him. A humble person can even praise God during troubled times.
9:50 am
The Bible says that we need to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus. In order to do so, we have to get on our knees to lift that cross (Martha demonstrates). Once we pick up our cross, the Holy Spirit takes it from there.
9:47 am
The opposite of pride is humility (Philippians 2:3-4). It's not about "Me" but about "You." It's easy to be prideful because it's natural. A humble person is strong. Jesus gave us the model to be humble (Philippians 5:2-3). Jesus gave up his place on the throne to become a servant and died a criminals death. The position of a servant is humbled (Martha gets on her knees). 
9:45 am
Love is not prideful. Right in the middle of PrIde is the letter "I." Pride is all about "I." "It's all about me, I, I, I." When we stand relaxed, our body shape is "I." As kids, we often worry about ourselves and what is "ours" and "mine." Our sinful self says, "If I have to sin to get what I want, I will." "If I want to look at pornography, talk about people, or steal, I will."
9:43 am
Martha Fry comes on stage and begins the message on love. The foundational scripture is 1 Corinthians 13. Love is an "Action." She encourages all to continue with the Love Revolution. You have to be intentional when loving people.
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Friday, October 7, 2011

Google's Real-Time Analytics Is Broken


Not long ago, while watching the real-time ebb and flow of my web site, a Google Analytics error message appeared. It reads,
"Resource is not available. Please try again later. One or more of the services on which we depend is unavailable. Please try again later after the service has had a chance to recover."
Subsequent browser refreshes reveal that the Real-Time tool has been removed from my dashboard.

I will update this article once I hear more details.

2:30 p.m. (EST) Update: Google resolved the issue and we're back up.

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The Walking Dead Comes To Netflix Streaming


The Wrap just reported that Netflix and AMC Network have a multi-year licensing agreement that makes The Walking Dead exclusively available to Netflix's streaming customers. Additionally, the deal also gives non-exclusive rights to other AMC Network shows.

This is wonderful news. For starters, this is a show I have been meaning to watch for some time. It is just that the DVD has been in my Netflix queue for months and I never return the previous DVD's. Come to think of it, CSI: Season 10 and Battlestar Galactica are still sitting on my desk at home.

Thanks to my friend Tim Arthur, I have been enjoying another AMC original, Breaking Bad, which I didn't think I'd like.

If you're interested in catching the miniseries the way I am, know that season 1 will be available today and all other shows will roll out prior to the premiere of subsequent seasons.

What do you think? Good move? Let me know in the comment section below.

Facebook Rolls Out New Insights For Pages


Facebook announced on its blog today the release of a new Insights reporting tool for pages.

Based upon my observation, there are now two Insight reports on the page. The one on the left, located under Wall, Info, and Friend Activity is the new tool (see below).


The Insight located on the right is now appropriately named "Old Insights." 


Clicking on the new Insights now lets me see valuable information about my posts. Most notably, the report allows owners to see which posts were most viewed, engaging, talked about, and viral.

My Thoughts
I like the recent change Facebook made to its Insights reporting tool. As I write this article, I am wrestling with the idea of closing down my current discussion board and moving it back to the Facebook page.

Initially, I wanted to keep visitors on my site and thought hosting a message board would be a nice touch. Looking at my analytics, many visitors stop through the discussion board but don't comment. Could it be because one has to register? Could it be that I'm not asking the right questions?

Whatever the reason, Facebook just made the argument for Facebook Pages as my community much more appealing. Not only will I have access to 800 million people, but I also get additional data on individual posts. That's pretty neat!

The other thing this update has me thinking about is my current efforts to engage readers. Looking at the most recent Insights report, I must do better. Instead of posting news links and waiting for comments, I should ask questions, poll my readers, and encourage them to share news stuff as well, which is exactly what Facebook has in mind.

Congratulations to the Facebook development team for making this recent tool available. Let's see if it helps me do a better job of engaging.

Feedback
What do you think? How will the new Insights tool help you? What ideas do you have that will help me engage others into fun conversations. Let me know in the comment section below.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

R.I.P. Steve Jobs


Apple just announced that Steve Jobs, at age 56, has passed away today.

From the Apple web site it reads:
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple. 
If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email remberingsteve@apple.com 
 Thank you for what you've done to push the world of technology forward. You were such a genius that proved to be well ahead of your time.

Rest in Peace.

PlayStation 3 Commerical Shows Favorite Characters In Real Life


In their latest push for positive attention, Sony shows us what our favorite characters would look like in real life. For me, I was most excited to see Kratos and Snake appear on the screen. 

All this hype around promoting the system has gotten me excited about the possibility of a live-action film. Think about it, a God of War movie using real characters. That would be SWEET! Do you think?

Anyway, take a break and check the following video. Once you're done, let me know what you think in the comment section below.

If you cannot see the video, click here.

XBox 360 TV Teams Up With 50 Entertainment Partners


Earlier today, Microsoft announced that it has partnered with over 50 entertainment companies to deliver a diverse set of content to the XBox 360 through its online service XBox Live.
Nearly 40 world-leading TV and entertainment providers, including Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S.; BBC in the U.K., Telefónica in Spain; Rogers On Demand in Canada; Televisa in Mexico; ZDF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy, will begin rolling out entertainment services to the console this holiday, in more than 20 countries.
My Thoughts
While I don't have a lot of details on the project, I am excited to see that HBO Go, for one, is listed. However, I have little expectation that this announcement will change my life all that much.

In looking at the list of partners, I am aware of Netflix, Zune, and ESPN because they're already partners. Unfortunately, nothing is free. As a Netflix customer, I pay a monthly subscription for products and services. When I attempt to watch Netflix on the XBox 360, I have to use my existing account in order to watch anything. I imagine this will be the case for most content provided through the recent deal.

With that written, I don't want to down play the significance of this deal, as I'm sure Microsoft is happy. However, I'm curious. Why should I be excited?

Maybe if Microsoft told me that my $60/year subscription would allow me to access all this content at no additional cost, but that doesn't seem to be Microsoft's style.

No, I imagine this is Microsoft's way of competing with Apple TV and Google TV before anyone really hits the ground running. It's smart, but I don't see why this matters much to me. Especially if I'm unwilling to shell out additional funds. Yeah, I'm thrifty like that.

What's left? Well, one can use Bing to search entertainment options and Kinect for accessing that same content using voice commands. It's nice on paper, but not quite enough to do back flips for. How do I know? Well, even with Kinect I still have to use a controller to navigate Netflix. At best, I can stop, start, and fast forward/reward at will. What about finding movies and shows? What about perusing my queue? Nope, one has to own a controller for that.

All in all, I'm happy for Microsoft. Unfortunately, the recent announcement doesn't move me yet. Now, if you wanna offer all that goodness for a low, low, price, then maybe I'll put on my dancing shoes. Until then, I'll just leave them in the closet gathering dust.

To see more details on XBox 360 TV, check out the video below.

Click here if you cannot see the video.

Feedback
What do you think about this recent announcement? Let me know in the comment section below.

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Google Analytics Let's Me See The World In Real-Time


Last week, I first wrote about Google's real-time analytics. After requesting beta access, I patiently waited for the feature to show up on my dashboard.

Earlier this morning, Google finally let me see the goodness that is real-time analytics. Thank you, Google!

As you can see from the image above, I can view the number of people currently viewing my site. In addition, I can see top referrals, top active pages, top key words, and top locations.

When I click on a link, as in top active pages, I am provided specific information about that page. For an example, I clicked on a blog article and it tells me that I was referred by draft.blogger.com and how many others are also visiting this page.

First Impression
My first impression of the real-time feature is a good one. I like that it updates automatically. For the first day, I simply left the dashboard open on my second monitor. As visitors came and went, I was able to follow the traffic.

If nothing else, Google Analytics in real-time helped me feel more connected. It also helps me better understand what my visitors do on the site and ultimately provides me with the information to make the site better.

What Would I Change?
At this point, the new feature is wonderful. However, I do have one request. It would be great if I could follow a single visitor through out the site. From the moment they enter the site, I'd like to see where they go in real-time. How does this one visitor navigate the site? How long does he stay on a particular page? Where does he leave the site?

I understand that all of this is possible with the current Google Analytics, but it does not allow me to follow a single user.

Overall, I am pleased with the product and applaud the Google Team for making this a reality.

Want Access?
If you would like to receive beta access to Google Analytics in real-time, follow this link.

Feedback
If you are using the new feature, let me know what you think in the comment section below.

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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Live Blogging C3 Church: Love (Week 3)


This weekend, C3 Church continues a new series entitled, "LOVE." Stay tuned during the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. services (EST) for a live blog of Pastor Matt Fry's sermon.

Refresh this page during those hours for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.


10:29 a.m. If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:
Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.
10:24 a.m. Paul says that when he boasts, he boasts about God and all the great things that he has done.

10:22 a.m. As parents, we should teach our kids everyday about the reality of life. Everything will NOT go your way. We will not ALWAYS win. We should teach them to celebrate in other people's success. It's not always about US. Rather than worrying about what others think, let's worry about what God thinks.

10:20 a.m. Many of boast and brag because we want to be noticed and accepted. Know that God looks at you with acceptance. Jesus loves you unconditionally. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. Don't look to your spouse to meet your needs. Let God do that.

10:19 a.m. Real love is not boastful. It's ok to give God credit for what he has done, but it's not good to talk about yourself. Where would we be without Jesus?

10:15 a.m. Pastor Matt puts a gift under people's chairs in the amount of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 increments. He wants you to be creative and give that money away. Use this money to bless someone else's life and tell them that Jesus loves them. Make sure that Jesus gets all the glory. For those didn't receive an envelope, take your own money and do the same thing. Take some resources (money for example) and make a difference together. Make sure that God gets the glory.

10:12 a.m. After last week, many people are sharing their acts of kindness. He wants you to continue to share what you're doing.

10:11 a.m. Pastor Matt is talking about a revolution of the heart. It's not about me, but it's about making a difference with my life. I want to be a part of what God's doing not what I'm doing.

10:10 a.m. Put treasures in heaven where thieves cannot steal, moths cannot destroy, and dust won't diminish the shine. Think about the impact we can have if we all just started to act kind to others. We could change the WORLD.

10:08 a.m. If we start to look beyond today. If we look at people who lived for their lives for themselves versus those who live to benefit others. Saul is a good example of selfishness. David had a heart after God and wanted to help others. His acts became a part of a movement versus a monument to self. Serve, love, and think of someone else first. People will remember you for being generous.

10:06 a.m. In review of last week's sermon, before we try to stuff Jesus down someone's throat, we should care for them and help fulfill their needs. Let's act kind to others, first. This isn't to say that we shouldn't speak about Jesus and help people find him, but people look at how we act first. Generosity breaks the grip of materialism, greed, and selfishness.

10:04 a.m. Wherever you find disorder in a business, family, or church, there's probably jealousy involved. Selfishness leads to a spirit of jealous. Let's love others the way Jesus loves them.

10:01 a.m. Why do we become jealous? Because of selfishness. Real love is doing without selfish ambition. Value others above yourself. Whenever you do an act of kindness, do with no requirement for payback. God will bless you because you are more inline with him.

9:59 a.m. Pastor Matt gives another example of jealousy out of the Old Testament where Saul was jealous of David because people were giving David credit for killing tens of thousands while Saul only killed thousands. The more jealous Saul became, the more he wanted to kill David. God protected David and blessed him.

9:56 a.m. Paul has to talk to Christians in Corinth like babies because they were acting like children. Sometimes we want to go deep into God, but if we live out what we already know then we can go deeper. However, many of us are not ready to go deep because we keep acting like infants. Take what God has revealed to you and live it now.

9:53 a.m. Real love is NOT jealous. Jealousy is negative and if you have jealousy in your heart, then it did not come from God. In the book of Corinthians, Paul writes to Christians who are jealous of one another. Somehow, we can package this jealousy into something "spiritual" to look down on others. There is nothing attractive about jealousy.

9:51 a.m. The foundational scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:1-4

9:50 a.m. Pastor Matt comes on stage. Today's message is about LOVE.

If you would like more information about C3, please visit the web site.

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Damond L. Nollan, M.B.A.

Toll-free: (919) 912-9121
E-mail: Contact Me

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