Merlins Tower

Happy Easter 2009

Posted on April 12th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Art, DIY, Travel.

Just wanted to wish Everyone A Happy Easter and Share this Great Easter Rendering of Jesus Done completely in Donated Legos - Made of 30,000 Legos - It took 40 volunteers 18 months to complete - It is a replica of Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen’s “Christus” statue. I just find this amazing. Having visited one of the Lego Stores and seeing some of their work which was amazing this done by volunteers working with the donated legos of Jesus looks stunning. This replica stands about 6 Foot Tall and can be found at the Onsta Gryta church in Vasteras Sweden.

Full Article can be found at: AP News on Google.

Technorati Tags: Lego, Jesus, Sweeden, Christus, Statue, Easter, 2009, He, Has, Risen, Onsta, Gryta, Church

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MT

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Using Cornell Note System in Business

Posted on April 11th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, DIY, Freeware, GTD, HPDA, Hack, Human, Indexcards, Life, Notetaking, Office, Pen.

Yes, I use the Cornell Note System in my daily life. I find it a great way to organize my notes and ideas from Meetings, Conference Calls, and What I did or need to do each day. I also use it when reading a new book that I want to take some notes on. I even draw the dividing lines in my notebooks now to help me organize my thoughts there as well. 

I made a modified version of Note Paper from Cornell-Notes.com to include a time clock to help me track my time and what I need to do and what I have completed and what I have coming up. 

I posted it on Scribd.com for all to use.

To use the clock in the upper left  to shade in the time (Begining to end) and mark a Letter or symbol near it and Use the Letter / symbol to Highlite the notes from that time slice.  I also use this with the Cue Column to track my upcoming meetings and schedule for the day.

How many times have you wondered what you did and have not clue where your day went - Keeping this with me allows me to make notes and annotate what I complete and see why I had to push other things off of my plate for the day. In the notes area I am able to write the tips and note things that I didn’t know and this allows me to update documentation and let others know the little fixes I used. I keeps these daily and use the summaries to help me find info I need from past notes / days.

And I have scheduled time weekly  later in the day Friday (while the week is still fresh in my mind) and look over the past week and see what info was good - I sometimes will highlight portions or copy off data and store it in other notebooks for future reference material. But I also scan the more important pages and put it into my evernote  system as well as that come with me on my iphone and it is easily accessable via their web page.

I also want to note every day I  look over the previous day and get my new notepage prepared for the day. Writing down what I need to do - checking my online calendar and seeing what I have scheduled for myself.  This way I have that info at hand even if I am not at my desk. This is also when I summarize my previous days notes making the weekly summary on Friday’s even easier. This only take me about 10 to 20 mins each morning but it saves alot more time through out the day then what I put into it.

Technorati Tags: Cornell, Notes, Note, paper, Organization, Sytem, business, calendar, schedule, free, organizer

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Virtual Sound - Auditory Illusions and Phase 4 Stereo

Posted on April 11th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Communication, Human, Life, MP3, Music, USB.

I really love my music - I carry it pretty much everywhere I go - I have a Archos 605 Media Player (It is one of the best around) Besides having an iPhone as well.

Recently I added the SRS Audio Sandbox on to my PC to add depth to all the sound and music I play on the computer - I will be writing a more detailed review in the future about this. But in the mean time - If you don’t have it and want your music to really pop - I fully recommend purchasing it for your PC.

This gets me to todays information - Virtual Sounds or Auditory Illusions - I recently came across this Page @ One Mans Blog - about getting a Virtual Haircut - This is amazing recording - They are recorded using what is called Holophonics - I recommend using headphones or the SRS Labs Audio Sandbox - Or even better the SRS Labs Audio Sandbox with Headphones with its headphone 360 mode  - All I can say is WOW - These are really cool and fun to listen to.  

This got me to thinking about some recording my dad used to have and play on the record player - They are the Phase 4 Stereo Recordings from London. I found out you can purchase some of  them at Amazonand I am currently listening to Mantovani by Mantovoni as I write this entry. Amazon list quite a few - and many are only available on LP - To listen and record these you will need a Record player - I recommend using the either of the following two units from Amazon - ( Audio Technica AT-LP2DUSB LP-to-Digital Recording System with USB ) or ( Ion TTUSB Turntable with USB Record ) I  use the Audio Technica one - I don’t own it but I get to borrow it from my brother. Plus don’t forget to check out your local library for some of these records - some are able to be loaned out for your listening pleasure.

Technorati Tags: auditory, illusions, auditory+illusions, Phase+4, Phase+IV, Holophonic, Sound, 3d, SRS, Stereo, Music, LP, Records, Record+Player, 45, 33

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10 of the Best Free Printable Tools

Posted on April 8th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else.

Here is it the Official Merlin’s Tower - List of The Best Free Printable Tools -

I found it time to round up the best of the best online tools that you can use to help you in your daily quest to be more organized. From some Great looking Planning Graph Paper to some Basic Handwriting Charts to help make your note easier to read and understand not only by you buy anyone you may have read them to even a very cool 3d Desk Calendar. Let me know what you think by using the comments section and if you have a tool that you think should have been mentioned let me know and I might make a new list and include it as well.

Graph Paper - Made for designers (Web, Print, Video and More) - This 8.5 x 11 inch graph paper is made for visual designers, interaction designers, and information architects. You’ll find styles for wireframing user interfaces, story boarding interaction, and plotting values on a two by two grid. Plus you’ll get a basic grid for drafting sitemaps or anything else that might come up.

Handwriting Printable Practice Paper - I have mentioned this before - This is nice to practice your handwriting on - Good to see what Good Handwriting looks like and practice it on - Make yourself more legible.

Printable Topographical Maps - These are nice to have have on hand when you are out of range of cell service and your iPhone stops working - You might need to get around without a GPS - Print off a few of the areas you are visiting - Can print overview and Street Views - Very Nice Resource.

Free 3d Desk Calendar - This allows you to print out a very cool Origami-ish Desk Calendar - You will be the talk of the cubes by having your very own free printable calendar cube / 12 Sided calendar (A dodecahedron).

Turn a PDF into a Booklet - This really is a nice utility that will take most PDF’s and convert it into a printable booklet format that you can take with you when you need the information.

DIY Paper Wallet - This is a really nice DIY wallet plan - This is quite easy to make and fold to have your very own Paper Based Wallet - OK so this is not printable - But I had to include it on this list as this really is interesting to make.

The Printable CEO - I have seen this link passed around on many different sites and for good reason - this little printable sheet can help you to keep moving into the direction that you need to be heading. This can help you get into the correct mindset to make your business move into the right direction.

The DIY Planner - I have mentioned this many time before on the site and it has made my list of Free Printable Tools to use - I use the 3×5 Card Version from time to time - Even with my iPhone I love taking notes on paper and planning out the day with what I did and what needs to be completed. I can prioritize and be the most efficient.

The Pocket Mod Mini Organizer - This rounds out my list of the best of the best Free Printable tools for the Analog minded Person - This is nice and small ease to take with you in your wallet - carry it where you can’t take your 3×5 Organizer or iPhone - A great list of things and info that is important to you at the moment and it only takes one sheet of paper.

and The Best Free Printable Tool - Or is it just last on my list - Hmm

The Cornell Notetaking Free Printable Page - I believe I even mentioned this before on Merlin’s Tower - it is the Cornell Notetaking Paper - This is based on the Cornell Style of Notetaking. This allows you to take note in an organized and better flowing fashion. I keep a few of these sheet in my planner and use them almost daily.

Well that rounds out the list of the Best Free Printable Tools to be found online. Keep an eye out and I will be adding more of these lists as time permits -

MT

Technorati Tags: Free, Printable, Tools, Calendar, Cornell, Notes, DIY, Wallet, List, of, Free, Tools

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A Smile for Today -

Posted on April 5th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Health, Human, Life, Video, YouTube.

Just saw this video and had to share this - It brought a smile to me and wanted to share a smile with everyone here on Merlin’s Tower today - I would love to see one of these flash mobs in person but this really works as well.

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The Six-Burgh Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champions

Posted on February 2nd, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Football, Pittsburgh, Super Bowl.

Congratulations goes out to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Make Sure to check out the PGHZone for your Steelers Merchandise.

1 comment.

Fountain Pen Update

Posted on January 8th, 2009 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else.

Just wanted to give everyone a quick note about some Fountain Pens. I think I started something between some friends as my friend John sent me an email telling me he asked for one for Christmas and received from his girlfriend a True-Writer Fountain Pen. He was telling me how much he loves writing with this new fountain pen. He told me that he only has been using the blue ink from Levengers but wants to try more. He was given the sample ink pack and said he can’t wait to go thru all the various ink colors.

So, Did anyone else get a Fountain Pen for Christmas - or Gave themselves their own give ;-)
Leave me a comment below as I would love to hear about the pen you received and how much you like using it.

To Learn more about the Levenger True-Writer Fountain Pens Check out their website.

Merlin @ Merlin’s Tower

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