Portable USB Hub

What is is: 4-Port Swivel USB 2.0 Hub
Made by: Belkin
Price: $32.95
Priority: High (always)

Why:
Many devices connect to your computer via USB. Phones, handheld camcorders, ipods, digital cameras, even portable printers. Rarely do laptops come with enough USB ports to charge both your phone and your ipod while your video is transferring over and your document is printing. Even if you don’t need to use all of them at once – setting up the cords all at once instead of juggling plugs can save time and frustration. This Belkin model is small, lightweight, and can turn two onboard USB plugs into five.

Whether you’re just working from the local coffee shop for a few hours or going across the country for two weeks, this is a critical component in enabling mobile efficiency.

Popularity: 20%

Mourning the Munsters.

If you can’t do it justice, leave it alone.

I can’t help but feeling like so many things would be better if this piece of advice were applied. One such example is The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas. Sure, it’s over ten years old – but I’ve only just seen it for the first time, so it’s news to me. And though typically I am loathe to be heavy-handed criticizing anyone’s creative efforts, I’m comfortable labeling this as utter crap.

Sure, there are more important things in the world – but I grew up on the likes of the Munsters and the Addams Family. So this is my childhood you’re besmirching, Mister Liebmann. This is my history you’re turning into a joke, Mister Emes. This is my ‘happier time’ that you’re making into a big steaming pile, Mister Haas.

And it is not appreciated.

Popularity: 93%

I took it and so should you.

I love ALA, and I take it every year. And you should too. Right now.

Popularity: 91%

Large Weather We’re Having.

This is how it happens, really. I build the new blog, make a few posts over a few days… then get busy, fall off the wagon… and finally stare at the most recent entry starting to gather dust and think… sooooo. What to write about.

The truth is, I talk all day along.
Seriously, all day.
Instant messages.
Basecamp entries.
Emails.
Skype chats.
Skype voice.
Phone calls.
iChat conferences.
Authoring documents.
Twittering (some).

And that’s just work related. Sure, I design too – and I build. But the halcyon days that I can just slip purely into a creation role and ignore most communication are few and far between. More often, my creative work is dotted with various forms of communication all throughout it. And that’s not to say that I’m antisocial; it isn’t that I dislike talking to people. Rather, it’s this: at the end of the work day, I have made so much chatter that I’m often compelled to just be quiet. Even I get tired of listening to me some days.

You might have noticed – that being compelled to be quiet… and being compelled to blog… are in direct opposition to one another. The crosswinds are enough to create bizarre doldrums filled with ‘draft’ posts in various stages of completion, from a single sentence that didn’t go anywhere to three paragraphs that you just can’t seem to end properly.

No, it’s not really a tragedy that I have trouble staying committed to blogging – but it does annoy me enough to ponder it.

And who knows. One day when I am wildly successful at happily publishing daily, I may delete this post. For now… my commitment to publishing will have to be satisfied by me saying… I’m going to have to get better at this publishing thing.

Popularity: 94%