Monthly Archives: July 2010
Earning Online with Swagbucks
Not long after the holidays, a friend of mine referred me to a site known as Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a site on which you earn points for conducting web searches, participating in polls, and (sometimes) for finding codes worth a few extra bucks. You can later trade in your Swagbucks
At first I struggled with the concept. I thought Swagbucks would turn out to be just another time waster. Then I had a small epiphany.
As a writer, I spend a ton of time on Google every day. The folks at Swagbucks were asking me to do something very simple by installing another toolbar to my browser. This didn’t prohibit me from using Google. Instead, it gave me a second option for searching.
In the end, I was able to occasionally earn Swagbucks for doing the natural searches I would be doing each and every day, in the course of my work, anyway. It only takes a few seconds to enter a phrase into the toolbar, and if I don’t get the results I think I need, I just switch back to Google. Essentially, I’m earning Swagbucks, and eventually rewards, for doing what I already do – nothing more.
What are the rewards? It depends. You can browse the SwagStore for any variety of prizes. I usually cash in my SwagBucks everytime I have enough for a new $5 Amazon Gift card. When I get my gift card code (they’re issued twice per month), I add the amount to my balance on Amazon.com and let it sit until I’m ready to make a purchase. I just traded my Swagbucks in today for another card.
There are, of course, other prizes to choose from. These include portable electronics, books, magazines, gift cards to a wide variety of stores, sports collectibles, and more. You’ll have to check out the store for yourself to see.
If you are a writer, or someone who already spends a lot of time browsing the internet each day, I highly recommend you check out the Swagbucks program. Stay away from the “special offers” – as those are where you’ll end up wasting time. Otherwise, in the end, you really have nothing to lose.
*The links above, as well as the box in my blog sidebar, are referral links. If you click on one of those links and sign up, I will receive additional Swagbucks. I appreciate you reading my honest review and hope that if you do decide to join, you’ll utilize one of these links.
Internal vs. External Striking
I’ll pretty much leave the explanation of this one to the video itself. Master Blair is again discussing board breaking, but this time he talks about the differences between internal and external striking. He talks about leveraging your own body to create energy and, in his example, uses the internal shockwave method to break a stack of boards through a series of hand pads.
This one is really cool. Check it out!
Boards Break because Boards Bend
I’ve been studying with Grandmaster Forrest G. Blair, 8th Dan, Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan for about 6 1/2 years. During that time, our school has never gone to a tournament, nor do we spend an inordinate amount of time breaking boards. As a matter of fact, I think we’ve broken boards twice.
The truth? Board breaking was designed at some point to prove that you had power. What kind of power? The power to break ribs, perhaps. The truth, however, is that you don’t need to constantly break boards to prove you have power. And, as with most other processes, there is a great reason why boards break. They break because they bend – and they’ll always break at the weakest point.
There’s really no reason for anyone, especially the children, to run around risking their little bones and underdeveloped growth plates by doing special stunts to break boards. This proves nothing. I don’t understand why so many schools and styles make this such a pivotal part of their training.
Regardless, below is the first video Master Blair made about board breaking from an external perspective. He explains why boards break and then demonstrates and unsupported break (which is pretty cool). Check it out!
UNF–K The Gulf. Really?
Watching the news really tends to irritate me. I find the negative reporting and obvious bias somewhat unnerving and a bit depressing. Still, it’s usually on in the background each morning as I prepare to start my day.
This morning I heard a teaser about a new video called “UNF–K the Gulf.” They were reporting on it not because it is a really well-done video with a great concept and unique (albiet vulgar) take on the situation down along the gulf coast. They were reporting on it simply because the video features not only adults, but children.
I have to admit, I found it rather amusing.
Alright, alright – kids shouldn’t be learning how to use the “F” word. But I have a feeling these kids were coached and I sincerely doubt they’re going to be running around tomorrow flipping the bird and cursing out every person they come across.
Anyway, here’s the video. Check it out, enjoy it, and maybe even go visit the UNF–K the Gulf website and buy a t-shirt. I know I might.
I Am Not a Crap Magnet
Seriously. I’m not.
It was just yesterday that I received an email from GratitudeLog that actually made me stop and think. GratitudeLog is an application similar to Twitter, on which you are supposed to write something you are grateful for each day.
Anyway, here’s the majority of the email:
I came across this really powerful quote today.
It goes like this:“When you complain, you become a living, breathing
crap magnet.”What an awesome quote! If you take a close look
at your life… can you see periods when you fell
into this pattern and things just kept getting
worse and worse?I sure have. Most often, I have noticed this in
my relationships. As soon as you start focusing
on the stuff that bothers you the relationships
take a turn for the worse.It is the best and fastest way to see that
“what you focus on expands.”That is why I wanted to share this quote with you.
It left a sting in my belly because I had to admit
that sometimes I am a crap magnet. At least now
that I am aware of it, I can also choose to snap
out of it as quickly as I see it.What is even better is that the opposite is also true:
“When you express gratitude, you become a living,
breathing money magnet.”So, if you have not expressed gratitude yet, I
encourage you to do so now.
I sat here and thought about it for a little bit. I realized that the quote isn’t really far from correct. I mean, everyone complains every once in a while, but there are a few people who just can’t stop – ever. Even the best of us go through down-periods where we just can’t stop focusing on a negative issue. And we become crap magnets – attracting all of the other crap in the world because – there we are – vibrating on a crappy level.
The things you focus on the most are the things you get. If you focus on how unhappy you are, you’ll be unhappy. If you focus on something positive, no matter how small, that positive influence will begin to have a great and greater impact on your life.
So think about it for a while. You certainly deserve a bad day here and there, but are you in a permanently crappy mood? If so, you may be bringing it on yourself without even realizing it.
Think of something positive in your life – or think of a positive outcome that may come from a crappy situation – or think of something other than what you’re doing (whatever is making you unhappy) that you’d like to do instead.
Got it? Focus on it. Do just what Mike from GratitudeLog says and “snap out of it.” You can influence your own thought process, even in the roughest of times.
Adopt an attitude of gratitude – for even the littlest things – even on the worst of days.
Let me know how it goes.
