Merlins Tower

Spotted this at Staples - Rolla Notebook

Posted on June 22nd, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, DIY, Gadgets, Hack, Notetaking, Office.

I have been thinking about storing my Notes and Indexcards slightly differently while still using my Levengers Internation Shirt Pocket Briefcase. I have seen some people use the rollabind / circa (by Levengers) System to make them a little easier to store / sort and use. Well the Rolla Notebooks with leather cover are back at Staples. Below is a photo I snapped as they were updating the plan-o-gram for the store shelfs. The product is still not on the shelfs at the store closest to me but will be I am guessing by the weekend? This is much larger then what I would use - It is for 8.5 x 11 sheets but it looks really nice and wanted to share what I find out in the wild. This was a faux leather cover with places to hold slips of paper in the front cover and you can completly flip the cover to the back making it fairly easy to take notes. They also had many forms to fit into this binder as well.

I really hope Staples.com will also supply the rollabind punchers and binding disks. That really would be nice. But the Staples Person stocking the shelfs didn’t know and was not sure how to look them up on their computer. Staples.com if you by chance see this - get them instock. Please…. I really hate having to purchase them from Levengers or other places online with the inflated shipping and handling charges.

The Rolla Notebook - At Staples Store Near You.

Technorati Tags: rolla, rola, rolabind, staples.com, staples, indexcards, notecards, notetaking, analog, pda, hpda

3 comments.

The Hippier Hipster PDA - The Hipster Shuffle

Posted on June 22nd, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, GTD, Gadgets, HPDA, Hack, Indexcards, Life, Notetaking, Video.

I really use quite a bit of index cards and carry them around with me in my Levengers International Pocket Briefcase. (Hey, I even spotted another one at work during lunch - Which was cool seeing someone else using the same technology - Way to go Bart)But this is just too cool not to post about - The Hipster Shuffle - Making a cool idea even cooler. Below you will see a video of the Hipster Shuffle in Action.

In case you are not in the know - “The Hipster PDA is a paper-based personal organizerSan Francisco writer Merlin Mann. popularized, if not invented, by ”

Varients of the Hipster PDA which I use is the DIYPlanner complete with templates and directions. The version I use is the DIYPlanner made for HipsterPDA. This was designed especially for the D*I*Y Planner project by Douglas Johnston, the package includes a wide array of cards covering life management, project planning, calendars, notetaking, business development, and creative uses like writing, storyboards, mind mapping, and photography.

Now on to the video:

Technorati Tags: hipster+pda, HPDA, Notecards, Indexcards, Index+cards, 3×5, Organization, Levenger, Wallet, Internation, SPBC, Shirt+Pocket+Briefcase

0 comments.

I hate Automated Customer Service Systems and A Solution

Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Hack, Human, Tutorial, Web Service.

I had a horrible time this morning - I had to call and get some paperwork straightened out about my vehicle. I had to call the bank the used to have my auto loan and try and get them to send out some paperwork that dealt with a lean on my vehicle that doesn't exist anymore and had not since 2003. Well, this morning I went through Customer Support H E Double Hockey Sticks. I really despise those automated voice prompt systems. (And I used to work with one at my previous job) But they seem to be getting harder to use.

I used to know the trick of pressing 0 to get a customer support specialist - well now they switched up and when you don't press anything or keep pressing the wrong buttons it switches over to the computer telling you to please speak your answer instead of connecting to a human.

Is it me or do those computer voice recgnotion systems really make things worse. After I tried pressing 0 - I was put into the voice prompt maze - Say 1 for this - Say 2 for that - say 3 for anything but the human I desired to talk to (Heck I would have been happy to even talk to a script reading operator located in some foreign land).

Since my issue is not that common (At Least I hope is it not that common) to have it's own voice prompt menu item. I kept switching from menu to menu and back over a few again - trying to find the correct combination to get to a person or by chance to a menu system that may have what I was calling about.

Now - the really furious thing happened  - The computer said it was not sure what I wanted to do and was told to call back when I had had all the proper information and proceeded to promptly hang up on me. Ouch 17 mins wasted in a phone menu maze and then the system hung up on. Yes, HUNG UP ON ME - How rude and very poor customer service.

Well I proceeded to check the internet to find alternative ways to get ahold of someone at this bank - Which honestly I should have checked in the first place and was able to find this God Send of a website — Get Human .COM — Using the database I was able to find the 800 number (The Same One I previously called) and it had all the keystrokes I needed to get to a human being right away.

This time around I was talking to a live human that was able to help me in a matter of only a few minutes and was able to send me out all the paperwork I needed. Complete phone call 7 minutes. I am so happy that I found this website and I just had to share this experience with you.

Make sure you share this website with your friends and family. Print out a list and keep it in your daytimer if you use one. This can be a big timesaver for everyone.

Technorati Tags: Customer+Support, Voice+Prompt, Phone+maze, Customer+Service+Hacks, Hack, Hacks, DIY, Operator, Information, Banking, Amazon, Auto+loan, Banks, Automated, Customer+Service, Customer, Service

0 comments.

Exercise for the Mind: Free Daily Crossword Puzzles

Posted on March 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Freeware, Game, Hack, Health.

I enjoy trying to exercise my mind and one of my favorite past times is working on crossword puzzles.

Recently I was shown the puzzles at Puzzlers Cave there are hundreds of puzzles available to play and solve - and the best part is there is nothing to join or pay for. Being free is even better then learning a new word or concept from a well devised puzzle. The Cruciverbalist (Someone that makes a crossword puzzle) come up with some of the most interesting puzzles.

The only problem is that you can not take them with you. So, if you need a puzzle or two to take with you on the bus or to pretend to look smart the next time you head out for a cup of joe at the local coffee shop feel free to visit the puzzle archive at the CapCod Times Website.

And if you need to some help on crossword puzzles check out my previous article on crossword puzzles and solvers.

Technorati Tags: crossword, puzzle, crossword+puzzle, cruciverbalist, printable, freeware, free, mind+exercise, exercise, exercise+for+the+mind

0 comments.

The Art of Shaving: Part 1 With Video

Posted on March 1st, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Gadgets, Hack, Health, Life, Shaving, Tutorial.

A friend of mine was telling me about the Martha Stewart Show last week where she did a special mens day all about Mens Grooming. (No, he doesnt' watch it normally - His Wife Tivo's the show and called him in to share it with him) He told me they demonstrated how to do a wet shave. You know the kind I have talked about before using a nice lather with brush and then shaving with a good razor. Well I didn't have access to the Martha Stewart show but instead I came across this video that I am about to share with you. Today is the Introductory: Part 1 on how to wet shave. But first back to Martha Stewart show. He told me they recommend this book The Art of Shaving and their shaving products. I have personally used some of the products and they are great to use (just love the scent and feel afterwards) and the feeling that you get from shaving the correct way is a pleasure and not a chore as mentioned in the following video. 

Enjoy and part 2 will be coming soon.

Past Articles on Shaving that might be of interest are:

Free Shaving Samples
Searching4Arcadia Shaving Articles 

Merlin

Technorati Tags: Art+of+Shaving, Shaving, Wet+Shave, Shave, Martha+Stewart, Razor, Razors, YouTube, DIY, Grandfather, lather, foam, gel, gillette, blade, safety, beard, grooming, mens, beauty

1 comment.

New Product Found: Index card Holder

Posted on February 27th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: GTD, Gadgets, Hack, Notetaking.

I just happened to be browsing for a gift I need to purchase on Amazon and I happened to see this item and thought I would share this with everyone. It is called the Deluxe Hard Wood card Holder - The Current Price is $9.32 - Below is a Photo of the item.

I can see this being used as an inexpensive alternative to the Levenger Index card holder. This seems to have a nice angle and has 4 row that can hold quite a few cards. This can be a nice 3×5 Index card Tickler Device. Simple and Effective to use. And it doesn't look that bad either.

Technorati Tags: Index+cards, GTD, Notecards, Note+cards, 3×5, Cards, Card+holder, Levenger, Levenger+Products, Wooden

4 comments.

Hack your Brain - Various Ways to Overclock it

Posted on February 26th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Food, Hack, Health, Life.

I love reading about ways to try and make you smarter and the various tricks that can be used to help you look at life a little differently. Today I found an interesting article on 22 ways to overclock your brain. I have to admit some of the ways are common sense that we have heard for years. Such as Item #11: Be a Thinker - Not a Drinker. Remember that drinking helps kill off some of your brain cells when you get drunk but moderate drinking can help the brain latter in life.

Rule #12 is Fun - PLAY - Thats right play a game, do a puzzle, have fun but make sure you are doing an activity that challenges your brain.  

But I have to say Rule #16 Passion - Do what you are passionate about - I do that everyday and work and play and read about the things in life that make me tick and want to live. I love learning new and creative things, I love learning more about blogs and blogging, I love Photography, and that is all the things that keep me going. I firmly believe in this rule.

Now go out and have some fish - it is lent… 

Ideas from Ririan Project: 22 Ways to Overclock your brain.

Technorati Tags: , brain, hack, overclocking, overclock, hacking, passion

0 comments.

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