LivSimpl

Finally! Sync notes off your iPhone or iPod Touch

I realize this is a very niche-y thing to write about, but I’m really excited about this (yes, I’m a geek) and I’m guessing there are lots of other iPhone users out there who have been frustrated with the lack of notes synchronization. For crying out loud, the phone can find my geographic location using a combination of cell phone tower triangulation, nearby wifi hotspots and global positioning sattelite, but it can’t get notes from my phone to my computer??

Can you tell I was a bit bugged about it?

Last week Note*spark was released. For two bucks, notes will sync from your phone to a web app and vice-versa. You can tag notes (work, personal, to do, etc.), email them to people and even share notes for collaboration. For example, you could have share your grocery list with your spouse so it can be updated from the web or your phone and it’s always up-to-date. Perhaps best of all, you can add and edit notes even if you don’t have a data connection and it will sync when you get back in range.

There’s only one thing I’d realistically expect from the app that isn’t included, and that’s typing in landscape mode. I emailed the creators and they said they’re already working on that feature for a future, free update.

Note*spark is selling for an intoductory price of $1.99 (soon to be $4.99) and is well worth it. Heck, my wife would have probably given me fifty dollars to spend on it just to keep me from complaining about the lack of this feature.

While this may sound like a paid ad for Note*spark, it’s not. It’s just a good app that has been tremendously useful and, dare I say it? has actually gone a long way in simplifying my previous notes experience which entailed composing an email, addressing it, sending it, retrieving it on my computer and then copying and pasting the contents to another file.

You can check out more about Note*spark by clicking here (iTunes link).

Do you have any other must-have apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch or even Blackberry/other smartphone? Please leave word in the comments!

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Where have I been?

Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Please know that I haven’t forgotten about the site!

The good news is that the reason I’ve been somewhat negligent with regard to LivSimpl is that my wife and I are expecting our second child! We’re very excited for the new addition (due in late May).

However, having a pregnant (consistently nauseous and exhausted) wife along with a very active toddler who is running around, drawing on my iPod, throwing my computer mouse against the wall and generally acting like a normal 18 month-old means reprioritizing a few things.

An exercise in simplicity, right?

So LivSimpl got knocked down a few notches. It’s by no means dead or off my radar…just not as important as other things going on in life right now. I’ll work on finding some time and inspiration to get back into the swing of things.

In the meantime, check out the LivSimpl archives/categories. And please visit my other site, Write In My Journal where I ask people I meet who look like they may have a good story to tell, to write it in my journal.

Thanks for your patience!

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Free goodies on Election Day - the other perks to voting

…The poll worker may not even ask you for an ID [seriously disturbing...seriously], the amendments may sound like they were written by a 5th grader with a thesaurus but no dictionary, and you may not even be entirely 100% certain which is the lesser of two evils…but the democratic process–and the promise it holds– is still worth celebrating, worth defending, worth participating in. - Sarah Joy

While I whole-heartedly share those sentiments (get out and vote!), I’m also a fan of free goodies. Lifehacker is reporting there are a number of places that are having giving aways for showing off your “I Voted” sticker. Krispy Kreme, Chick-Fil-A, and Ben & Jerry’s to name a few. Jump on over for the full list.

Have you heard of anyone else celebrating Election Day in a similar fashion? Please leave word in the comments.

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A year ago: 5 simple, last-minute Halloween costume ideas

Have a brain cramp when it comes to picking a costume? Just don’t care about Halloween enough to put a lot of effort into it? Here are five simple, last-minute costume ideas:

Sick and Tired
Put on some PJs, slippers and a robe. Mess up your hair. Have a box of cold medicine and tissues sticking out of your pockets. This can also be a couple’s costume: one can be sick, the other tired. (Thanks to the Hawks for the idea.)

Dirty Laundry
Cut out the bottom of a cheap plastic laundry basket. Step into it and pull it up around your waist. Partially fill it with clothes (preferably dirty) and safety pin some random items (socks, whitey-tighties) to your shirt. Good for trick-or-treating as you can carry your candy in the basket instead of a separate bag.

“Pi-rate”
A punny couples costume, but probably the simplest of all. Print out a pi symbol on one piece of paper and “4.61%” on another. Tape to your shirts, respectively. Now you’re “pi-rates.”

Envy
Green clothes. Green face paint (readily accessible at your local grocery store). Test the face paint before you apply it everywhere. I could tell you a really funny story about our IT guy at work…

Zombie
A Halloween classic. Buy a cheap make-up kit at your local grocery store, or use your wife’s/mom’s makeup. Give yourself dark rings around your eyes, dark lips and maybe some of that fake blood oozing out of the corners of your mouth. Spike/mess up your hair. Tear up an old dress shirt and get some dirt on it. If you feel so inclined, you can buy some rubber zombie hands too, but at the very least you should make your nails look dirty with some of the make-up.

BONUS: Baby Pirate
My wife pulled this one off an hour before a Halloween party using things she found lying around the house.

Cut a white onesie down the front in the shape of a “V” and shear/tatter the sleeves. Tear a red cloth for a bandanna (we used an old t-shirt) and fasten with a rubber band or hair tie. You can use the same fabric for the cummerbund as well.

This next part takes a little time, but sew the end of one of the pant legs inside a toilet paper tube to make a peg-leg.

We got a lot of compliments about this costume!

I hope this helps. Have a great Halloween, be safe, and if you’re allergic to peanutbutter you can send me any Reese’s Peanutbutter Cups that would otherwise go to waste.

Any other ideas for simple Halloween costumes? Leave word in the comments and/or send in a picture.

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How to simplify your voting experience

With political discussion and debate at a feverish pitch, we’re just days away from a number of important elections, both locally and nationally. While I’m not going to get political here (except to ask, “Uh…is there a door #3?”), I will say that I think it’s important to look at voting as a duty and a right (in that order) instead of a burden or chore. That being said, I know life is busy and carving out time to vote on a workday can be difficult. Here are some steps to help make your voting experience a little simpler and smoother.

Find your polling location in less than 30 seconds

Google has provided an easy solution to find your voting location. Using a special version of Google Maps, you can type in your residential address and, voila, not only the address of your polling location, but the fastest route to get there, information on obtaining an absentee ballot, how long you have to mail your ballot in and links to find out whether or not you’re registered.

Save time by voting early

Many states have the option of voting early at select polling locations. (Here in Utah early voting runs from October 21-31.) The idea behind this is to spread out the crowds a bit and allow people to schedule voting around their lives instead of the other way around. The unprecedented turnouts expected for this election may slow things down a bit, even for early voters. If you find yourself standing in line on an early vote day, just keep reminding yourself of how much crazier it’s going to be on November 4th.

Know who to contact

While responsibility may vary by state, in Utah the lieutenant governor is the one who oversees elections so all questions about voting can be directed to his office. If that’s not the case for your state, contact your governor’s office and they can point you in the right direction.

I’ve called the governor’s office here before and got right through to a helpful lady who pointed me in the right direction. Don’t be afraid or intimidated to make the call. Remember, they’re called public servants for a reason - they’re there to serve you as a concerned citizen.

Pre-vote

It’s a good idea to know who you’re going to vote for before you get in the booth. Part of this is not having any surprises on the ballot. States mail out voter information pamphlets with information on all the candidates and issues. Study that ahead of time and circle who you want to vote for. Then bring it to the polls and voting will be as easy as checking names off a list.

Utah has a site called LeaveYourPrint.com. After entering your name, address and birthdate, the site will tell you whether or not you’re registered, which party you’re registered under, provide a mock ballot with links to each candidate and issue, and has the address of your designated polling location. It’s a one-stop-shop for pretty much everything you need to know before you hit the polls. Check with your respective states (governor’s offices or county clerks offices are a good place to start) to see if they have something similar.

Schedule it - now

Perhaps one of the easiest things you can do to ensure you make it to the polls is schedule a specific time to go do it. Put it on your calendar: Vote, 3:30-4:30, and the address. Set an alarm or reminder. Treat it like any other meeting that you wouldn’t blow off. Besides, don’t you want one of those “I voted stickers”?

What did I forget?

I’m sure there are many other ways to simplify the voting experience. What are some of your tips? Also, what are some of the reasons you haven’t voted in the past? Please share in the comments.

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Image courtesy of here.