How To ICE

There is already a lot out there about ICE.  Snopes has an article.  Even Benjamin's school talks about it.  If you're not aware of what it is, in a nut shell, ICE stands for "In Case of Emergency."  It is supposed to manifest as an address book entry in your mobile phone.  I think there are many ways to do it, but this is how I do it on my iPhone:

1. Create a new address book entry with the Company Name of: ICE
2. Add spouse's phone number followed by a hash (#).
3. Add home phone number followed by a hash (#).
4. Add work phone number followed by a hash (#).
5. Add own mobile number followed by a hash (#).
6. Add mother's mobile number followed by a hash (#).

I use the custom label feature of iPhone rather than leave each entry labeled as "other" or whatever the default is.  I am emphasizing the hash (#) for a reason.  If you do not have a hash at the end, likely your phone will match incoming calls to the ICE entry, which is a pain.  I would rather see my wife's name and photo show on the screen when she calls, not just "ICE."  In the unlikely even a first responder has to look over your address book, he or she will likely not be confused by the hash.  So it's the best of both worlds.  Anyway, that's my only alteration to the instructions other than the reason I have my own mobile number listed in my ICE entry is just in case my phone is involved by I am not.  If that happens, I can check my messages and find out what's going on.  Anyway, I hope that helps.  Enjoy.

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog

Who would you rather have as a first responder in a natural disaster?

USA Today has a great iPhone/iPod touch app. They even collect their campy polls with it and show local results. I just thought it was funny how FEMA and Wal-Mart are tied. I voted for Wal-Mart.

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog

The Dollar is Doomed

I really can't add anything witty or insightful to what I'm about to show you (as if I ever).  But I think the video below shows exactly where we are.  Where we're going is another matter.  Please turn on the sound, it helps set the mood.

Source: The Dollar is Doomed

Download now or watch on posterous

Fed Reserve Fails to Reflate the US Banking System.mp4 (9369 KB)

Source: Fed Reserve Fails to Reflate the US Banking System

Additional context: Ben Bernanke's Wild Ride (and Ours)

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog

Tikitag Discount

It looks like Tikitag will change their name so they're dumping their current inventory.  If you order through their European store (not Amazon), you can get 75% off if you enter the promo code.

URL: http://store.tikitag.com/acatalog/tikitag.html
Promo Code: TLOYCODE (expires February 13th, 2009)

Pretty good deal.  Too bad I don't get a cut.

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog

"Pre-heat oven" is defined as the amount of time it takes to observe "pre-heat oven" and the amount of time it takes to read the rest of the instructions.

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog

Tikitagging Toys

I mentioned TikiTag before and how I'm using them to organize boxes.  There's another use I've developed.  It's actually similar to one of the uses listed on the TikiTag web page.  I have tags on certain toys the kids play with.

My innovation is to link a tag with a dedicated YouTube playlist.  So far, I have the following toys rigged up with tags:

• Elmo
• Mr. Potato Head
• Mrs. Potato Head
  
• Spongebob
• Tigger

The great thing about using a playlist is that I can add, remove, reorder any number of videos anytime, anywhere.  One thing all of these toys have in common is a hidden plastic surface.  For example, Elmo's tag is on his voice box hidden behind a velcro seam.  The goal is to hide the tags completely.

So far Hannah has figured out the cause-and-effect.  And it's a great supplement to changing the batteries!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog

Oath Issue

When the oath was flubbed, I wasn't concerned. Now Obama has taken the oath again. There's nothing magical about the prescribed wording. But there's something to be said for taking the Constitution seriously.
 
So if Obama had not taken the oath a second time, it would not have been a big thing to me. The gesture is not a big deal by itself.
 
But if this leads to a trend of ongoing respect for the Rule of Law, then that's something. I guess I have very low expectations and I'm willing to start small. Very very small.
 
Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog