A Special Towel Tip for Geek Pride Day

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Ammon

May 25^th is here again and you know what that means … you don’t, do you? Well, for the uninitiated, today is recognized by dozens of people all over the world as both Geek Pride Day and Towel Day.

Image courtesy of ThinkGeek.

So, in honor of the festivities that doubtless are going on in at least one geek’s parents’ basement, here is my favorite towel tip.

Sorry if this is too much info, but when I work out I sweat buckets. I keep a towel handy to mop my face, my arms, and to wipe off my gym equipment. It doesn’t take long for the towel to become so icky that I prefer letting the sweat drip off my brow rather than using it to dry my mug.

Midway through a grueling workout you may feel a little hesitant using your nasty gym towel to wipe your sweaty brow.

Don’t Panic!

The best way I’ve found to keep my towel drier and/or more hygienic is to designate one side to be used only with my face. For simplicity’s sake I always look for the tag and then turn over the towel—that side is designated for my face only. The opposite side is for my arms and the flip side is for gym equipment.

This is a simple towel hack, but I’ve found that it keeps things from getting yucky.

Gym rats, Steelers fans, and interstellar hitchhikers the galaxy over can all agree on one thing—the towel is about the most massively useful thing ever invented.

Do you have any geeky tips for today? Sound off in the comments below.

All images are from my flickr, unless otherwise noted.

Free Geek Pride Day Pins! (thinkgeek.com)
Geek Pride Day is Friday, May 25th! (thinkgeek.com)
Geek Chic: Ways to Celebrate Geek Pride Day 2012! (krisrael.com)
It’s getting even better to be a geek, new survey finds (geekwire.com)
We’re all geeks now: survey – msnbc.com (technolog.msnbc.msn.com)
Geek Chic: Geeky Holidays You Need Marked on the Calendar (krisrael.com)

Hot Links: Hands-Only CPR

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Ammon

I attended First Aid and CPR/AED training this week to renew my certification. Expecting only a refresher, I was surprised at how much had changed in the two years since I last certified.

The new focus of CPR is almost exclusively on performing chest compressions. Don’t worry about giving breaths, or anything else. The most important things you can do for someone experiencing cardiac arrest are the following.

Go to Hands-Only CPR today to learn more about this lifesaving technique.

All images are from the the American Heart Association, unless otherwise noted.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Ammon

While driving home from a date with my wife the other day we came across the following scene.

Yes, this is a car—and yes, it is literally wrapped around a tree.

I had to pull over and check it out. I noticed a plaque that read:

“Two young lives were lost in this accident as a result of alcohol and high speed. The driver was not yet 21 yrs. old.”

“THINK—Don’t let this happen to you.”

All life is sacred. Don’t make this Spring Break your last.

Don’t drink and drive. Period.

Don’t ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ever.

All images are from my flickr, unless otherwise noted.

Seven Songs for the Ultimate Road Warrior’s Playlist

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Ammon

Some travelers jet set to glamorous locations—London, Paris, Madrid, Sydney, Shanghai, etc.—then there are those of us who fly into smaller, regional airports and then drive along rural roads of small-town America. We are the true Road Warriors.

In my current role I spend at least one week a month in Arkansas. The only thing that’s kept me sane on the long drives from LRNA to our field office has been a steady stream of great music.

Here are seven of my go-to tracks for the Ultimate Road Warrior’s playlist.

On the Road Again – Willie Nelson

This track signifies the beginning of another trip away from home. I’m never as anxious as Willie to be back on the road though.

Available on iTunes and Amazon
I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

Sometimes it feels like I’ve been everywhere, seen everything, and done everything. The Man in Black gets that like few others do.

Available on iTunes and Amazon
Working Man Blues – Merle Haggard

Yeah, it’s a big job getting’ by with three kids and a wife. This song reminds of why I take these trips. So, I can provide the best life I can for the ones I love.

Available on iTunes and Amazon
Truckin’ – Grateful Dead

“What a long, strange trip it’s been” ‘Nuff said.

Available on iTunes and Amazon

Midnight Rider – The Allman Brothers Band

When my flight has been delayed (and delayed again and again and again …) this song provides the perfect soundtrack for those long, late night drives from the airport to the hotel.

Available on iTunes and Amazon
Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

By the end of a long week, I’m just ready to hit the road. This song not echoes that sentiment, but gets serious geek fred for its Lord of the Rings references (both Mordor and Gollum).

Available on iTunes and Amazon
Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver

This is the perfect song for driving back to the airport. My trip is over and all I want to do is go home and see the wife and kids.

Available on iTunes and Amazon

For someone who claims not to be a Country Music fan This playlist is fairly fluid, but right now these are the songs I want to hear in my rental on my way to and from the the airport.

What do you want to hear when traveling along the open road? Sound off in the comments below.

All album art courtesy of Amazon

Hot Links: Project Implicit

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Ammon

So, just how prejudiced are you? Head on over to Harvard’s Project Implicit and find out.

Image courtesy of Project Implicit.

Their site will present you with a series of tests (take only the ones you want) which are designed to gauge the associations you have with with race, gender, weight, etc.

Whether or not you agree with Project Implicit’s methodology, taking these tests will certainly open your eyes and perhaps uncover biases you had no idea you were harboring.

Two Keys Chained Together

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Ammon

I think it’s great that every time I rent a car they give me a set of two keys!

So many, many circumstances could arise (I came up with three) where this would be handy.

Someone else might need to take the car out
I might (heaven forbid) lock myself out of the car and need to get in
I might (perish the thought) lose a key

Yes, having two keys to the rental car would be great … if they weren’t bound together on the same indestructible keychain without any possible way of ever separating them.

Why do you think they do this? Sound off in the comments below.

All images are from my flickr.

Renting a car? Take a picture first (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Hints from Heloise: Prevent car rentals from becoming a problem (goerie.com)

When Pigs Fly in Texas

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Ammon

Everything really is bigger in Texas. The cowboy hats, the belt buckles, the hairdos and even the hood ornaments. I used to think that owning a Cadillac was a sign of maturity, stability, and class.