Carol’s Vault
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365 Ways To Change the World
Dec 23rd
Simple presents are most of the time the most precious ones. Just pay attention to the messages they sent.
On 21st December, we ( me and my colleagues) received a Christmas present from our bosses.
One of the items is a book called "365 Ways To Change the World" by Michael Norton.
Now, this is not a ordinary book.
You can consider it a guide, or a To Do list, because after going through its pages, you’ll soon realize that you can in fact do most of the things listed in there and that you, as an individual, can do a lot to change things around you, to make a difference.
Your actions, your deeds, can change one’s destiny, your voice can help the one who can’t speak for himself; your money can feed another person.
This isn’t only about giving; is also about enjoying everything around you, noticing everything around you, learning about others, their religions and traditions, learning an instrument, learning how to save your money in a smarter way, how to throw a party in a public place….and seriously, i could go on about what this book is about, but then i will give you too many spoilers. 
This book teaches you how to be a part of this world, for real, because we are often diving so deep into our own lives, that we only notice every other thing when is being shown in the news or we when are hit directly by tragic situations.
Let’s try being selfless and part of this world for a year, if not with 365 things, then at least with 10.
Pick them, try them and see how it feels like to be involved, to be a part of something different than your family and your job.
To close this entry – The book costs around 16$ – £5.49 – 11,82€. Buy it and read it. Is worth it.
Thank you Gio and Erwin for picking up this book.
E-mail utilities – Freeware
Dec 23rd
Is been a while since i blogged about something, and i have an excuse for that, the same one we all use now and then: i have been busy.
There was a paper on my desk, up until now, with some goodies waiting some attention, and i will keep it brief and to the point with their descriptions.
The first one is Microsoft Office Outlook Connector (freeware).
Office Connector makes it possible to access your Live Hotmail and Live Office accounts through Office 2003 and 2007, and even lets you see your Live calendar.
The installation is easy and all you have to do after is configure your e-mail accounts.
Easy, huh?
Works with XP and Vista.
While talking about e-mails, here’s another goodie that needs attention: MailStore (freeware).
If your job depends on e-mails then sometimes you have backup your most important ones, or all of them. You never know when something is crashing and all your data is gone.
MailStore will back all your e-mails up into a safe place from the following clients:
You can also back up your e-mails to a CD.
For more information, visit the web site.
Today’s tips, tricks, goodies and freeware
Nov 11th
Education – My fellow blogger and friend David has posted a very useful entry about OpenLearn-Online Courses.
The beauty of Open Learn is that all the courses are free, ranging from arts to technology and open to all people around the world. Nice one, David!
Tweaks – Here’s a quick tweak from TheVistaDaily: Block Irritating Live Hotmail Mail Ads !
Comment: I tried it myself and the adds are gone. Gotta love tweaks like that…
Goodies – Web based word processor BuzzWord is now open to the public and let me tell you this: it’s so cute!
Ok, that was very girly, but i can’t help it.
Freeware- Don’t know what to pick as a anti-virus or anti-spam software? Go to Mashable and see the Antivirus Toolbox: 90+ Tools.
Freeware – If you’re looking for an alternative to iTunes, then DownloadSquad might have just made your search easier – iTunes Alternatives – for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Web 2.0 – If you’ve decided to move all your stuff online and take the best out of 2.0 but you’re still looking for the perfect services, then you might want to have a look at SimpleSpark.com.
With over 6605 web services listed and still tracking, Simple Spark is one of the most interesting place to start your hunt….and you’ve got plenty to look at.
Well, that’s it for today. I will be back with more goodies, as soon as i will find them.
We7 – music with ads is in fact great
Nov 4th
Bloggers have been writing about it since the first time the service came online and some musicians have been a part of it since about the same time….and I just discovered it through a post from my company’s blog.
We7 – the service that offers music with ads is actually pretty impressive.
Yesterday evening I just couldn’t get enough of listening to some of the nicest tunes in there, and downloaded them with no fear.
You can also share them at will with your friends. All you need is to create a user account, which is free, and you’re set.
It isn’t bothering at all having a couple of seconds advertising in the song, considering that the voices they’re using are soft….and having them removed after 4 weeks.
The artists, the Americans at least, are getting tired of all the DRM fight between agencies such as RIAA and the customers, and so services such as We7 are born.
I can only say thank you for having some bright marketers/advertisers pacifying things this way – the We7 way:
Using the latest ‘pat.pending’ MediaGraft Web 2.0 technologies, We7 will:
- Deliver free, legal and safe music, video and other digital entertainment to everyone who wants to download it
- Provide a direct route for bands and fans to form even closer relationships
- Be ‘artist friendly’ at all times, make sure rights owners get paid and artists are respected for their work and maintain control over their Intellectual Property
- Deliver targeted, localized and intimate advertising opportunities for brands and companies of all sizes, whilst letting our users choose which messages are relevant to them
- Help abolish piracy by making it no longer worthwhile to visit illegal and unsafe music and video websites
Although I am late blogging about this service, I would still recommend you to go and have a look and support the artists this way instead of pirating their music.
To close this post, i would like to make one last recommendation for the Ambient/Chill/Lounge music lovers – Tunnel Chill Zone 1 and Tunnel Chill Zone 2.
Sign up, download, lay back and relax!
Technorati Tags: free mp3 downloads , advertising , marketing , music , entertainement , lounge , chill , ambient
1O ways to kill your moods
Oct 21st
I just finished reading an article on Dumb Little Man’s blog and was wondering how many of us are actually putting an effort in killing the bad moods.
To be honest, I am not a moody person, but I did get through some hard situations and I have done nothing but kill them and it works. Is a fight with yourself and it can take time to see some good results in your behavior and your feelings.
Changes are good; good changes are very good and welcome.
Some of us are born happy, patient, indulgent, very understanding to situations and people, but some others are not.
Moods and negative emotions can ruin your entire day, even little ones and you don’t even realize when you’ve just allowed yourself to become one cranky person.
Once you’ve taken that path, is really easy to lose control.
Everything you feel will reflect into your behavior and affect people around you. Next thing you know, people start “crossing eyes” to you and even avoid you.
The Dumb Little man points out three things that i really enjoy doing day and night: smile, laugh and make people happy.
2. Smile. Smile at everyone you meet today. It’s OK to fake it at first if you need to, but pretty soon it will be real and it will make you feel good. As you feel yourself becoming happy, remember not to fight it!
3. Laugh. Tell some jokes. Seek out jokes, funny people, and funny videos. Be silly. Crack yourself up. Just start laughing. That alone can make you laugh. And when you laugh you release your body’s own natural opiates: endorphins which make you feel good. Here is a link to more info on Laughing Yoga where all you do is laugh!
6. Make Someone Else Happy. Who could you cheer up today? Who could you thank or compliment? Who could you send a quick handwritten note to? You can really have fun with this, so go ahead and do it!
I can laugh of my own pains, my own embarrassing situations…you name it, i will poke fun on it and even have instant headaches from so much laughing.
How many of us are throwing away with intention a genuine smile or a joke to brighten someone’s day?
I do!
His number 5 – “Count your blessings” – is really something that we should all do.
And no, is not cheesy to be grateful about the good things in your life, or even the bad ones that if they didn’t happen you wouldn’t be where you are today…supposing you’re on a good path at the moment.
Can you count your blessings without having to think about them too long?
Anyway…The article is pretty simple and to the point ( kudos for the little man) and you should go and have a read – 10 Surefire ways to kill your crabby mood.
Image by kakashisgirl101.