All the good ideas are taken. Lost item locator.

(My Original Blog Post: http://jheslop.com/2008/11/06/all-the-good-ideas-are-taken-lost-item-locator/)
Had a thought last night as I was searching for my daughters pacifier for more than 15min as she was upstairs crying her little eyes out. "Pink passy" she crys from atop the stairs as I rummage around the kitchen, living room and across every corner, nook and cranny. My thought was, "If there was an RFID tag on that stupid passy I could have already found this thing!" After I finally found said passy behind the pantry door I wondered if such as product existed that allowed you to place a small RFID tag onto any item and then locate it with a transceiver by walking around the house. Seems it was such as good idea that someone already patented it. Not that I should be suprised because all the good ideas are taken! Well not really, but any of the obvious ones I come up with seem to be. So maybe one day I'll come up with something that no one has patented, copyrighted or otherwise thought up and do something really great.

My Wife Thinks I'm Stealing My Blog Posts!!

(My Original Blog Post: http://jheslop.com/2008/10/31/my-wife-thinks-im-stealing-my-blog-posts/)

I wrote a blog post yesterday about daylight savings. Check it out if you haven't read it yet. So my wife reads the posts laughs at a few of the items in the list (especially the spending time with the special someone since she knows I'm referring to her) and then proceeds to ask me (for the second time mind you) if I came up with this list myself! Preposterous I tell you!!! Well I guess I should be flattered since she meant well and it was supposed to be a compliment. So I'll take it as such, but it was funny that she did it almost twice in a row (She didn't think I wrote this one either). I love you wife!

When is Daylight Savings? and 10 Things To Do With that Extra Hour

(My Original Blog Post: http://jheslop.com/2008/10/30/when-is-daylight-savings-and-10-things-to-do-with-that-extra-hour/)

Chris Harrison twittered about a site called When is Daylight Savings? I thought I would pass along the info since we all forget at some time about when the new daylight savings time is. (In case you don't want to go the site it is this Sun Nov. 2nd, 2008 at 3am in the morning you set your clock back to 2am). Fall back spring forward is an easy way to remember how to set the clock.

Just for fun here a few things to do with your extra hour this year or just because:

1. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors or replace them
   
2. Read about daylight savings Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time or Daylight saving time - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3. Replace a regular light bulb with a new CFL light bulb
4. Make special time with that special someone
5. Maybe backup your computer data with mozy or jungle disk
6. Suggest something for me to write about (in the sidebar or here)
7. Catch up on google reader, unread blog list or a good book (reading is good for the brain!)
8. Put the summer clothes away and pull out that winter jacket. It's cold out there! (currently 39 degrees here)
9. Learn about GTD and get the book
10. Prepare a Christmas wishlist so your family will have something to get you

And finally have a good nights sleep!

Leveraging Online Social Networks to Increase Business

(My Original Blog Post: http://jheslop.com/2008/10/27/leveraging-online-social-networks-to-increase-business/)
I follow the LinkedIn blog in google reader and watched a video about how a small Investment Banking company managed to make over $300k+ by leveraging their contacts on linked in. Ron Lissak, a managing partner of the company, talked about how he was able to search for the right people and find many opportunities through LinkedIn. I'm trying to learn more on how to leverage online resources for my business so I thought I would pass the information along. The LinkedIn blog has been a great read and has presented many ideas for me to expand on. You can read the original article or watch the video below.

LinkedIn Users - Investment Banking

Other resources for using LinkedIn:

• How to Use LinkedIn Effectively
• 10 Ways to Use LinkedIn - Guy Kawasaki
• LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover - Guy Kawasaki

Suggest topics for me to write about: Skribit

(My Original Blog Post: http://jheslop.com/2008/10/10/suggest-topics-for-me-to-write-about/)
I would love for those who read this blog (all 3 of you lol) to suggest topics for me to blog about. I was alerted to a very kewl service called Skribit that allows people to suggest items. Please post your suggestions there or use the skribit box on the right. Thanks alot!

High gas prices and the financial crisis? Get cash back!

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an easy way to get a few extra dollars in your pocket each month to help with high gas prices for your car, truck or suv? Well if you haven't yet gotten a Discover Card now is the time to do so.

Just this month I have gotten over $60 cash back from just using it for our everyday family purchases (diapers and formula are expensive!)



Now the most important part when getting a cash back credit card is not to spend the cash back! They try and get you to purchase more things which means you spend more money instead of just getting the cash back. Now if those items you purchase are necessary items then by all means go for it, but most of the retailers that they list you could do without.

So if I can't spend it what do I do with it? Redeem the cash back into your discover account and now you have those extra few dollars for those high gas prices!

You can also get a Discover card called the Open Road card that gives you more cash back for gas and auto purchases than the other Discover cards.

So if you spend money (and who doesn't) or your a small business owner and want to get a few dollars back for doing what you would do anyway click on one of the links above to get your very own card today. (continue reading &aquo;)

An Afternoon of Photography: Janell and Caleb

This afternoon was an extended photo session! I was able to take photos of Janell and Caleb all within two hours time. You can see the photos of Caleb on my photography site and pictures of Janell will be coming soon. But I couldn't help but put together a quick collage of an idea that Janell and I had about shoes.



(continue reading &aquo;)

Blog Post: Trying out Seesmic and Josiah says HI! http://s3nt.com/shu

Blog Post: Trying out Seesmic and Josiah says HI! http://s3nt.com/shu

Trying out Seesmic and Josiah says HI!

Josiah and meJust a quick post to try out seesmic and say hi ti the world (continue reading &aquo;)

Blog Post: Small Business Owner Tax Tip (ie how to avoid paying back taxes) http://s3nt.com/r3u

Blog Post: Small Business Owner Tax Tip (ie how to avoid paying back taxes) http://s3nt.com/r3u

Small Business Owner Tax Tip (ie how to avoid paying back taxes)

Getting a letter from the IRS is never fun, getting a letter from the IRS saying you owe money is even less fun. Over a week ago I received a letter stating that I owed thousands of dollars in back taxes, fees and interest from over a year ago. I must say that I was in shock since this was the first year we had used an accountant for our taxes and I had not done my own. I guess I was so happy I didn't have to do them that I didn't even bother looking over them at all.