Apple, the ultimate source of all things innovative, recently came out with a new product: The Magic Trackpad. Have you seen this? Basically... they have taken the finger-touch-pad technology that comes on many laptops and have made an accessory that you can use with a desktop to replace your mouse.
This cracks me up. Who are the people that want this device? If you have ever used a laptop with a trackpad, you know that trackpads are incredibly annoying! Most people that do a lot of work on a laptop buy a portable mouse so they don't have to use their trackpad!
But I do trust Apple.... and they always know what I should have and what I should be doing with my computer. So I guess I am going to buy a portable mouse to use with my laptop so I don't have to use the laptop's trackpad and a Magic Trackpad for my desktop so that I don't have to use the desktop's mouse. What do you think?
Everyone has that special something to help them navigate the cubicle maze and survive office life. There’s a guy down the hall from me that religiously gets a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee every morning. And one of the women in our office decorates every inch of her cubicle as if it was a historical family album. I even have one friend that is in love with a pen.
Now, me… I’m addicted to gloves.
When I got out of grad school, it was the height of the internet boom and I was running my own web development company. The demand for web services was insane and pulling long days and nights coding was standard. My body held up a little while… but the pain in my wrists and back soon notified me that ergonomics was key. I started trying wrist creams and special chairs and ergonomic keyboards… anything that promised relief.
That’s when I discovered the SmartGlove. And you have to be desperate to try these things, because when you see them in a picture… it looks like a terribly awkward thing to wear. But not so. They actually are incredibly comfortable and instantly relieve any wrist stress from typing. There is a semi-hard foam brace that helps keep your wrist contoured properly and a palm pad that keeps your hands curved naturally for the keyboard. Typing was never this enjoyable.
I honestly won’t work without these. I could, but I don’t. Which is great for my wrists and productivity. The only downside is I look like a complete idiot everywhere I go. Cause I wear them at home, in coffee shops, in our office, anywhere I get on a computer. The gloves only come in black, so it always appears like I’m about to enter an intense boxing match.
Our little Skylark media team is in the corner of this big office floor and we have a lot of gadgets (cameras, editing workstations, etc.). So when someone new comes to the company next to us, the conversation usually goes like this:
“Wow… who are those people in the corner with all the cool toys? And why does their leader always look like he’s getting gloved up to give me the smack down?”
Yes, I boldly endure laughs and giggles in order to advance SignUpGenius.com and complete our various video projects. But we never have to worry about the safety of all our equipment. Cause everybody knows that if someone ever tries something, I’m gonna unleash a big ol’ can of kick-butt typing on their head. And it won't even hurt my wrists.
COMMENTS:
Posted by Jack Lugar on Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:23 AM EST
That guy who loves his pens sounds really amazing.
I would travel to NC to see you in the octagon doing a little MMA. In fact, I think the gloves actually make you look a little cooler.
Remember The Jetsons? In the closing credits, George would always take his dog Astro for a walk on a space treadmill. Astro would start running after a cat and the treadmill would cycle out of control… leading George to yell “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!”
These days, I feel that way about life.
It seems like the treadmill of busyness has been cranked up to a breakneck pace… and none of us can get off. The intensity has seeped into every aspect of society, especially our families:
SPORTS: Remember when playing a sport meant you participated during one season at school? These days, playing sports means a year-round regimen of training, travel teams, camps, and tournaments.
CHURCH: It’s no longer enough to have a nice elderly woman teach our kids with a flannel graph. They now need to have a rock band, drama team, laser light shows, and be involved in at least 4 different small groups.
SCHOOL: It’s never a good sign when your elementary school has to send home a thick newsletter each week just so parents can keep up with all the fundraisers, science fairs, homework assignments, and field trips.
FAMILY: Today’s kids don’t have a chance to engage their imagination as we book them up solid with play dates, birthday parties, and mommy-and-me classes.
Technology plays a funny part in all this… because it can make life easier… but also accelerates the craziness. While it’s a heck of a lot easier to write a report for your boss using a word processor than a typewriter… now that we all have computers, your boss raises the expectations for how many reports you can write. With digital cameras and smart phones and color laser printers and home DVD burners… the expectations are now off the charts.
So I helped found SignUpGenius.com because I was pulling my hair out with the busyness of organizing. And as thousands around the country have found… it makes coordinating events a LOT simpler.
But…
The danger is that I now think I can plan and organize more things! Personally, I’ve struggled taking on too much now… and I’ve also seen activities grow in some organizations that use our site. Yikes! Is SignUpGenius.com just another tool that will completely destroy our society?
Man, I hope not. So, please… go out and organize your event with SignUpGenius.com and then promise me you’ll take the time you save and go take a bike ride with your kids.
If you really have to… you can take along your smart phone.
COMMENTS:
Posted by Jack Lugar on Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:33 PM EST
I'll admit I've placed a few phone calls while biking. I haven't mastered texting and biking yet.
Posted by Dan Rutledge on Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:57 PM EST
Yeah... if only it weren't so hard for FourSquare to figure out where you are on your bike!
Happy Fourth of July! I hope you have a great time with friends and family this weekend and that your dog makes it through all the fireworks without too much emotional damage! In honor of the holiday, here's 30 more reasons to celebrate! Check out these new looks you can give your sign ups!
So you’ve probably heard of the iPad… unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last month. And even then, the rock probably had an Apple advertisement painted on it.
Yes, the iPad is here. Three million people have already shelled out $500 to say that they desperately need this electronic device, even though a few months ago the product category of tablet computers didn’t really exist.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Apple is an innovative company and this thing looks incredibly slick. It plays music and games, runs apps, shows movies, and is perfect for browsing the web and checking Facebook. Look, if someone wants to gift me one, I’m not going to complain or anything. And I’m not saying no one should get one. But I personally won’t be spending any money for one. And here’s why:
First, this thing is the definition of “toy.” Tons of fun, but basically doesn’t do anything I already can’t do with a more practical device… my laptop. I need a laptop for work as it has a better processor, larger storage, solid keyboard, and more advanced applications for getting work done. Yes, the iPad would be nicer for chillin’ on the couch, but I can’t see dropping $500 for that kind of difference.
Secondly, for me, the iPad would be an unhealthy addiction machine. The last thing I need is some new ultra-portable device that enables me to spend MORE time on a computer. Seriously… if I had to make a list of all the things the iPad does best and all the things that I really need to be doing less of in my life… it would be the same list!
THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING LESS:
Reading about sports
Watching movies & TV
Checking Facebook
Playing video games
Browsing the web
Honestly, what we all need much more than an iPad is a little unplugging! Is it just me or has our society gone a little overboard with “always on” tech devices? I have all these cool communication/entertainment devices, but am I really more connected to people? Am I more happy? Here’s the kind of stuff I really need:
THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING MORE:
Going to dinner with my wife
Playing basketball with my kids
Visiting my parents
Going to coffee with a good friend
Playing board games with my family
Ok, you get my point. Maybe it’s a little stretch to call the iPad a symbol of all that is wrong with our materialistic, web-connected, tech-worshiping, entertainment-focused society. But it's close. And besides -- if you disagree, you can always buy me an iPad to change my mind. Preferably the 64GB version, ok?
COMMENTS:
Posted by Jack Lugar on Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:57 PM EST
I'm not getting one because I don't have a pocket big enough. Oh, and I'm assuming you're getting OJ with a good friend.
Posted by Dan Rutledge on Fri Jul 2, 2010 7:43 AM EST
Jack - I always miss those orange juice mornings in Burbank! I've gotten into coffee lately, which is probably not a good switch... but I can now sometimes stay up later than 9pm.
Hello everyone! Our panel of judges has finished laughing through the entries and has now picked the winners in last month's "Funniest Kids Quote" contest! Thanks to everyone that submitted - we hope that it provided a fun break to the end-of-school scheduling chaos!
FIRST PRIZE: $100 Target Gift Card
At my son's 5th birthday party, he asked "Where are the Popsicles?” I told him… ”In the house, be a good boy and go get them.” 5 minutes later I noticed he gave everyone a tampon while I was grilling burgers. He said, " Daddy, what flavor are these?”
- Tim Blesser
SECOND PRIZE: $50 Target Gift Card
Once I had to take my little brother to my work to pick up my check. My brother was only 3 at the time and so everyone stopped to talk to us. Well when we ran into my boss who started talking to my little brother about everything and my little brother looked up at him and said "it's okay, sometimes hair sticks out of my nose too!" I felt my face turn bright RED!
- Emilee Vuksta
THIRD PRIZE: $25 Target Gift Card
After my son's fish died, we buried it in a box in the backyard. One day, while washing dishes, I see through the window my son digging at the grave site. I called him in and asked what he was doing, he said, "I wanted to see if he left for heaven yet."
- Becky Bibeault Van Volkinburg
Honorable Mention:
I taught a 4yr. old preschool class and was greeting children and talking to parents as they arrived one morning. As I was talking to a parent a child asked me, "Are you going to have a baby?” Being overweight, I understood the question and said no, I wasn't. The child insisted and said, "You are having a baby!" to which I replied, “No, honey, I'm not, now go play.” I continued my conversation with the parent when I felt something on my leg. The child had laid down on the ground and was looking up my skirt! I quickly asked what she was doing when she replied, "I'M LOOKING FOR THE BABY!"
- Stephanie Kiser
When my daughter was 2 years old she frequently misprounced words. We were shopping in the grocery store on a Saturday, when it was nice and crowded. Suddenly she yelled out "MOMMY WE NEED MORE PORN!!!" as we passed cans of corn...... and all heads turned....
- Erin Brooks Haag
My 6 year old proclaimed that he had solved the question of where babies come from. The second I heard those words, my mind started racing with how to answer his in-depth questions he always shoots my way. I interrupted him & started saying “Baby doll, when me & Daddy fell in love, we got married, & decided we loved each other sooooo much that we wanted to make a baby. He started yelling, “EW yuck, Mommy, what are you talking about?! No one ever told you where babies come from, Mommy?!! I can't believe Mawmaw never told you where babies come from, Mom!” So, at the risk of having no clue what he was about to say, I asked him where he thought they came from. He said- (rolling his eyes) “One of my friend's at school told me all about it today… he said he heard his Mommy talking about it with one of her friends... It comes from getting a back rub or a massage. His Mommy said- That dang back rub is what started it all... nine months later baby brother arrived.”
- Lacey Moore-Lewis
I was looking through my 4 year old son's scrapbook and he says, "Mom, is that my Facebook?"
- Tara Sansom-Hayden
My 5 year old daughter, Bailey, came running downstairs with no clothes on....it was her birthday. I told her to go back upstairs and put on clothes....she said " But Mom it is my birthday and I want to wear my birthday suit!"
Have you seen all the commercials and advertisements lately reminding you to remember your “Dads & Grads”? This marketing catch phrase really irks me. Since when did Father’s Day get lumped in with another holiday? So dads aren’t even important enough to get our own day now and we have to share?
Seriously, can you imagine this happening with Mother’s Day? If Mother’s day took place during music appreciation month would we tell people to celebrate Moms and Brahms? Or if it was near Veterans Day… Moms and Bombs? Not a chance.
When it comes to holidays, we really appreciate mothers. Mother’s Day is traditionally the day of the year when the most phone calls are made. The commercials for Mother’s Day are sappy, heart-warming flashbacks to a mom cooking a child a meal and bandaging up a knee. We are usually told we should get mom a nice big diamond necklace, or a spa treatment, or something to give them a break from all their hard toil and sacrifice they do for us.
With dads… it’s more like you can pick him up a gift on the way to graduation and save yourself an extra trip. Or if stores do advertise specifically for dads… they focus on the things dads do apart from the family. According to the marketing gurus… dads do only two things: they golf or sit around on their duff with other dads and watch sports on TV. The rare, exceptional dad… can both golf and watch TV.
Ok, so maybe it isn’t quite that bad. But I find that in general, society just doesn't respect fatherhood much or even expect much from fathers. And sadly, it’s often with good reason. Far too many fathers have been absent, unfaithful, irresponsible, and focused primarily on themselves. I have to admit that many more moms have been carrying the load of parenting and being the better spiritual leader in their families.
I think it’s time for us dads to step up… and finally be worthy of those incredibly fashionable “#1 Dad” t-shirts we seem to get.
As you might guess from a guy that runs a website that lets you organize your entire life for free... I'm somewhat of a cheapskate. And one thing that has been really bugging me lately is the telecommunications industry. Over the last couple years, they've been expanding the fees that are required to keep you "connected" to the modern world. Pull out your calculators for a quick breakdown of what you could easily lay out per month:
$25 landline phone
$80 family shared wireless plan for two people
$10 additional "texting" feature for two people
$60 data fee for internet on two phones
$50 high speed cable internet for your home
$50 basic cable TV package
--------------------------------------------
$275 per month
It's out of control. And I'm not even taking into account the fact that I run a small business and therefore pay for a whole second set of internet and phone services for my office. I am only one person - there is no reason why there should be so much redundancy in what I'm paying!!
So... this is where I want to see things go:
I want to buy 2 mobile-broadband USB sticks... that give me and my wife internet access everywhere for a single charge of about $50-60 bucks a month. Something like a wimax 4G network. These do exist.
But then I want routers setup at my home and office with a plug on the top of them for the stick. I walk into work and plug in my stick to the router and presto... I have work internet. I drive home, plug it in at home and have home internet.
Next... the television networks would make sure all their shows are on the internet and I would then just start watching all TV through the web... eliminating any cable TV bill whatsoever.
Finally, the icing on the cake would be the invention of a mobile-phone-sized device that you can plug this internet USB stick into... and then you could make VOIP calls through Skype (for free or very low long distance cost) just like a cell phone. Of course, you could also use the same device with the USB stick in the back of it... to browse the web or text through the internet. And since Skype is so reasonable in cost, you could then drop your landline.
Final cost would be:
$60 two wireless everywhere USB sticks
$15-25 Skype fee for all phonecalls made through the internet
--------------------------------------
About $80 per month
It's getting closer... Clear.com has recently released a program that is the beginnings of this kind of system. I'd like to see them go all the way. After all, I'm not picky. I just want internet, phone, text, and television everywhere I go for one single low cost monthly fee. Is that so wrong?
COMMENTS:
Posted by Chris Spencer on Tue May 11, 2010 9:08 AM EST
The cradlepoint router lets you plug in the usb modem and go wireless to all computers in the house or business. Then you can skype through that connection. Thats how we ran our house this last year.
Also, we have not had cable tv or an antenae for over a year. All tv comes through the computer via Hulu, Fancast, or Netflix. There are no shows that we miss and thousands more we get than cable subscribers do.
Posted by Dan Rutledge on Tue May 11, 2010 3:51 PM EST
Hey Chris - thanks for that. Love getting tech hints! I wasn't aware of Cradlepoint and I like the wi-fi portal that they have, which is different than Clear.com. You could theoretically use something like an iPod touch as a mobile phone using Skype through wi-fi. Very cool! I really hope companies like this win out over the big cable and wireless companies. I want to make a jump sometime to a scenario like yours, so appreciate the tips. Right now I do keep the very basic home cable ($12 a month) - mostly because of NFL games. But I could easily grab an antennae for that and be good to go. Thanks again for the comment.
We keep pretty busy at Skylark, the company that runs SignUpGenius. In addition to the support and development of this website... we are also involved in film and video production. To some people that may seem like a rather broad focus for a company. But really -- since the internet and video media are getting closer to merging every day, it's actually pretty natural. If it involves creativity, visual or technical expertise, and ends up getting published in some type of media... that's in our wheelhouse.
This month we've been working on a great project for Upward Unlimited, a national Christian sports league for kids. We're writing and directing a set of videos for use on their website (I told you things were merging) that will be viewed by about 500,000 kids in their leagues. It's a very fun project and I thought I'd show some images from our recent shoot. We're using a green screen and some fun special effects in post.
So if you child plays in an Upward League, be sure to look for some of our videos on the Upward website this next year. And of course... be sure to organize your team snacks, parties, and league volunteers using SignUpGenius! I keep trying to figure out how I can include our logo somewhere in the video... but so far no luck!
Oh... and if you don't know me... I'm the handsome guy in the black shirt.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2010 – Charlotte, NC.
A media frenzy descended on Charlotte, NC today when site co-founder Dan Rutledge revealed during a sweeping press conference that SignUpGenius.com has been chosen as the “official free online sign up thing” for the professional sport of full-contact women’s croquet.
“This is a huge moment for us,” Rutledge said. “We’ve been longtime supporters of the NWFCCL (National Women’s Full-Contact Croquet League), and we appreciate the leadership and commitment to excellence that the league brings to the world of competitive sports. We feel like this is a marriage of two iconic brands. Full-contact women’s croquet is insanely popular with youth and adults alike – and just the kind of organization we want to partner with.”
Croquet Commissioner Megan Vespa was on hand in Charlotte to reveal the new league jerseys that sport the SignUpGenius logo and quickly waved off the suggestion that the league was “selling out.” Said Vespa: “There are certain companies that bring a whole new level to corporate sponsorship. We looked at all the biggies: Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and that company that makes the Chia-pet. But NO ONE offered the kind of exposure and the free customizable sign up forms that this company brings. It just made sense.”
The deal was seen as a great publicity move for the NWFCCL, which has struggled recently with criticism that the popular sport is “too rough” and “barbaric.” As recently as March, former National League All-Star Pam French was flagged for a flagrant foul that nearly cost her team a spot in the playoffs when she forcefully used her mallet to send opposing player Tammy Medders sprawling face-first into a wicket.
“Yeah, it’s rough. But this is how the games is played,” said French afterwards. “If she can’t take the heat, then turn off the crock-pot.”
Croquet Superstar Myrtle Harlacher waves to fans at the SignUpGenius press conference.
Sue Flannery, head of the sports watchdog group Play Fair, thinks that incidents like this send the wrong message to children. “A lot of our girls look up to these women. Let’s face it… these players have the perfect hair, the rippling muscles, the mallets… they are role models whether they think so or not.”
Commissioner Megan Vespa stressed that the partnership with SignUpGenius demonstrates that the women playing full-contact croquet are more than just “supermodels whacking a ball through hoops.” “The partnership with SignUpGenius shows that our athletes are intelligent too,” said Vespa. “Our women can do more than score a double-bank while holding off an opposing player with a stiff-arm… they can also plan and organize their school, home, and church activities for free using the latest technological tools.”
Angela Sluder, manager of the league-leading Arizona DeathSmackers, agrees. “The truth is, I already use SignUpGenius all the time for our team. By creating a free online sign up sheet, I can easily organize which of the girls will volunteer to bring the after-game steroid-enhanced protein shakes. The automatic email reminders mean that I no longer have to throw anyone into a locker to remind them to do their duty.”
By sponsoring the NWFCCL, SignUpGenius hopes to ride the wave of public excitement that has swelled since the “Big Hoop” playoff tournament was broadcast by CW affiliate WDUD in Beaver Creek, Montana. According to inside sources, super-agent Jack Lugar brokered the sponsorship deal which involves a web campaign, uniform sponsorship, and a 4H parade in Clyde Park, Minnesota. The sponsorship deal is believed to be an exclusive annual contract in the “low three figures.”
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Like you need another blog to read, right? Well this one is completely different than anything you've ever read before!! Um... not really. But you can read it if you want to keep up on the latest SignUpGenius news and the off-beat thoughts of our co-founder Dan Rutledge.
That’s when I discovered the SmartGlove. And you have to be desperate to try these things, because when you see them in a picture… it looks like a terribly awkward thing to wear. But not so. They actually are incredibly comfortable and instantly relieve any wrist stress from typing. There is a semi-hard foam brace that helps keep your wrist contoured properly and a palm pad that keeps your hands curved naturally for the keyboard. Typing was never this enjoyable.
Our little Skylark media team is in the corner of this big office floor and we have a lot of gadgets (cameras, editing workstations, etc.). So when someone new comes to the company next to us, the conversation usually goes like this:
Seriously, can you imagine this happening with Mother’s Day? If Mother’s day took place during music appreciation month would we tell people to celebrate Moms and Brahms? Or if it was near Veterans Day… Moms and Bombs? Not a chance.
“This is a huge moment for us,” Rutledge said. “We’ve been longtime supporters of the NWFCCL (National Women’s Full-Contact Croquet League), and we appreciate the leadership and commitment to excellence that the league brings to the world of competitive sports. We feel like this is a marriage of two iconic brands. Full-contact women’s croquet is insanely popular with youth and adults alike – and just the kind of organization we want to partner with.”
