Peeing in the Shower

I constantly combat athletes foot. Something I’ve dealt with since my teenage years. Yuck. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life for me. I take medications and I try to keep it under control.

Just recently though, I heard that “peeing in the shower” can help cure the fungus. Really? Doing some research, I’ve found that since urine is sterile and nontoxic, it can help get rid of it. It’s a debatable topic. Some say that the only reason it works is because you really clean your feet afterwards, and the cleaning is the real cure. Hmmmm….

Sure enough, it’s part of “urine therapy”! I didn’t even realize such a thing existed. But I’m not really surprised.

I’m not sure if I’m up to peeing on my feet every time I take a shower. But after reading that toilet flushing accounts for almost 27 percent of indoor water use in a home… It might help with the monthly water bill!

~Matt

INTERNET: Who's Watching You?

The other day, I did a search for USB hubs on Google. I was looking to see what is available for charging several devices at once. I came across some neat products, and even "pinned" them. (yes, I use Pinterest)

To my surprise, while reading my "news feed" on Facebook, I noticed an ad for one of the hubs I had shown interest in. Wow... talk about feeling a bit creepy. How did Facebook know? I didn't do the search through Facebook, I did it through Google. Oh, and isn't that info private?

Doing some research (of course), it appears that Facebook has the tools to be able to read the cookies on your browser, allowing them to see the products that you check out online. A tool that also allows companies to see who visits their sites as well. Pretty neat on some aspects, but also something that I'm not to happy about. Especially knowing that they could harvest info and link it to your profile.

You can read more in this article: http://mashable.com/2014/06/04/google-facebook-ads-search/

~Matt

Hey Siri...

I’ve updated my iPhone to the new iOS 8 and have been enjoying some to the new features. One of them is being able to ask Siri questions when the phone is charging. I’ll be sitting at my office desk and I get the urge to have her do simple tasks. Something to keep me entertained during the work day I guess. Hey, it's the little things! :)

For example, the conversation with my phone the other day....

Me: "Hey Siri... what time is it?"

Siri: "At the tone, the time will be 3:41 PM."

Siri: (still in her voice): "Beep"

Yes, I like a phone with my sense of humor!!! LOL

 

Share A COKE with Paasch

If you hadn't seen, COKE started with a campaign to have personal names on their bottles. They even put together a website that allows you to try your name. http://ShareaCoke.com

Unfortunately, if you have an odd name, like my daughter, it's not in their database. Neither is our last name. Well, that's not fun.

Say "Yay" to my insane graphic design skills! I can do this... so I downloaded the image, erased the name, and found the illusive font that COKE uses for it's logo (you2013.ttf). It works! 

I'm a hero!

~Matt

Logo Design: Dove Brothers Band

Recently I was commissioned to redesign the logo for the Dove Brothers Band. They had created several years ago, but did not have access to the high quality file. They needed something that they could use for print.

I offered my services, and they accepted. I then spent several nights finding similar fonts and recreating the elements. The logo is now entirely vector, allowing them to be able to take it to any printer for whatever their need is. Plus, I think it looks a lot sharper… but that’s my personal opinion.

~Matt

KWFC Fan Day at the Southern Gospel Picnic

Last Friday the staff of KWFC had the privilege to be at Silver Dollar City to hand out our popular fan for those attending the first day of the Southern Gospel Picnic festival. Although it was hot, there was a pretty good turn-out. We stood at the entrance, greeting visitors as they walked in toward the square. They went pretty fast.

I met friends and listeners of the station. We also had the chance to take in one of the performances of the Mark Trammell Quartet!

The fan was one of the projects I had been working on over the past month. I have a template I’ve worked with over the past several years, but it is necessary to make sure that the schedule is correct and free from any mistakes. Yes, another thing to add to my portfolio!

~Matt

I took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

A friend of mine, Patrick, nominated me to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. (Click to view) So, in my backyard, I filled up a bucket with cold water and added shaved ice... brrrr! Just like all who has done this already, I plan to make a donation this weekend. 

There has been a few on social media that have started questioning the idea of supporting ALS. They claim that it would be morally wrong as a Christian to donate to a foundation that has financed Embryonic Stem Cell Research. They make note that the research is done with aborted babies. Hmm... would I want to take part in this?

As many of my friends and family know, I don't just want to go with what I read on facebook. And with that in mind, I decided to do my own research as well.

Based on reporting from the American Life League, a spokeswoman from ALSA wrote the following:

The ALS Association primarily funds adult stem cell research.  Currently, The Association is funding one study using embryonic stem cells (ESC), and the stem cell line was established many years ago under ethical guidelines set by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); this research is funded by one specific donor, who is committed to this area of research.  In fact, donors may stipulate that their funds not be invested in this study or any stem cell project. Under very strict guidelines, The Association may fund embryonic stem cell research in the future.

After do more reading, I found this: "Embryonic stem cell lines do not come from aborted fetuses."

Cells with the potential to form embryonic stem cells in a lab dish only exist in these four to five day old blastocysts. They are a fleeting cell type that disappears after that point in time. A common misconception is that the cells can come from aborted fetuses, which is in fact not possible.

All the human embryonic stem cell lines currently in use come from four to five day old embryos left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF). In in vitro fertilization, researchers mix a man's sperm and a woman's eggs together in a lab dish. Some of those eggs become fertilized and begin developing. At about five days the egg has divided to become a hollow ball of roughly 100 cells called a blastocyst which is smaller than the size of the dot over an “i”. It is these very early embryos that are implanted into the woman in the hopes that she becomes pregnant.

By the way, when I make make my donation, I'll include instructions not to use it for Embryonic Stem Cell Research, and designate it to something specific. Now that's not too hard!

~Matt