May 11 2013

Amazon Gift Card – Great Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift (Tips)

Here’s a DaddyTip — an Amazon Gift Card is a great last minute Mother’s Day gift. Like, really last minute. Like if it’s actually Mother’s Day and you find yourself saying “oops. What do I do?”

Answer: Amazon Gift Card. Instant and easy.

See below.

Shop Amazon -There’s Still Time to Make Mom’s Day with an Amazon.com Gift Card

And remember — NO SPANX.


Mar 08 2013

Another Macbook Pro No Sound Problem Tip

Macbook Pro sound problem solvedBack in July of 2012, I had a computer problem — no sound on my Macbook Pro. After I fixed the issue, I posted a tip titled Fixing Sound on Macbook Pro.

Guess what? The no sound problem just happened to me again. (I hope you were sitting down when you read that. If not, we apologize but accept no responsibility.)

Because I’m getting older (again, hope you were sitting down) I didn’t remember what I did to fix the sound problem on my Macbook the last time. However, I still came up with almost the exact same solution.

Googling “mac no sound” got me to a page at Apple.com that essentially treats you like a moron. It doesn’t say “are you sure you turned your computer on?” But it comes pretty darn close.

A couple of links down I found another page on Apple.com filled with suggestions such as “resetting the PRAM”, which I’ve done before and is not physically painful despite the phrasing. Further down in the same discussion thread was a much simpler solution:

Hi.  I had the same problem this morning, and guessed that it might have something to do with the mechanical switch that’s built into the headphone socket.  I just gently plugged and unplugged a pair of headphones into the socket a couple of time and voila, it worked again.

I did this. It worked immediately.

I refer to Internet/World Wide Web comments as “The Hive”. In this case, The Hive was very helpful. Thank you. Live long and prosper.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

via No sound from MacBook Pro: Apple Support Communities.


Feb 22 2013

Mom Advice That’s Also Good For Dad

From Mom365 comes some good advice about how to be a “Calm and Happy Mom.” Dads can use these tips as well.

DaddyTips—Thoughts on Dadding

(Full disclosure — I write for Mom365 periodically; here’s an example.)

The third item on the list, “Be Grateful,” is something that I personally want to spend more time on. The author, Valerie Reiss, suggests that a good way to practice gratitude is to “Every day, name three things you’re thankful for; it’s an instant joy boost.” Sounds good to me.

This particular piece of advice is perfect for parents of all genders, dads as well as moms. Most people know that parenting can be frustrating at times. What is less often discussed is how dealing with kids on a daily basis can distract you from other parts of your life. Children, especially young ones, require a lot of attention. It is very easy to get caught up in the details of dirty diapers and daily dinners. That can lead to forgetting how good life is and how lucky you are.

Lest you think gratitude isn’t cool, a certain band called The Beastie Boys would disagree with you.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

So would Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. Also me.

Other items on the list include “Dance” (this may not be for everyone but I’ll give it a shot), “Create” (defined here as making something, “even a doodle”), and drinking lots of water, which is healthy and forces you to take a trip to the bathroom more often. Sometimes that counts as a parenting break.

Click the link below for the full list.

10 Ways to Be a Calm & Happy Mom – Mom365.com

 


Dec 06 2012

How To Stop Online Gaming From Being a Hellish Pit of Vicious Verbiage

This article about a video game called League of Legends (which I’ve never played or even heard of) intrigued me because the game maker, Riot Games, is attempting to address what is apparently a serious problem within the Legends community.

Apparently many of the players are dickheads.

Ork

And as lead game producer Travis George puts it in his interview with Gamasutra, “Nobody wants to play a game with somebody who’s mean.”

Amen to that.

Of course, mean people playing games online is not limited to League of Legends. Which is a problem once your kids want to get involved.

As a parent who grew up playing video games, I’m highly conflicted about the current “social” state of gaming. What used to be a niche element of the gaming world — online play with strangers — has become as ubiquitous as broadband Internet connections. Read more »


Nov 22 2012

Calvin Johnson’s Dad Told Him It Would Be OK

Watching some Thanksgiving football now. Phil Simms just told a little story about the Detroits Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Apparently Johnson had been getting frustrated by his stats so far this season. Calvin’s dad said it would be OK. (I’m paraphrasing from memory, so that’s not a quote.)

Anyway, it would appear dad was correct. Calvin Johnson just made an amazing touchdown catch and is already over 100 yards receiving in the first half of the game against the Houston Texans. UPDATE: Here’s video of the catch.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

The lesson? Listen to your father.

Happy turkey day!


Nov 05 2012

Using Zombies To Teach Grammar

From someone on Facebook, a way to use zombies to teach grammar.

The final, brilliant word on passive voice.

“She was killed [by zombies.]” <—- passive

“Zombies killed [by zombies] her.” <—- active

Here’s the tweet that goes with this important tip.

 

Grammar & Writing Blog | Grammarly • writeworld: mightymur: The final, brilliant….


Tags: , , ,
Posted under Blog | 1 Comment »
Oct 10 2012

New York Comic Con Tip (NYCC 2012)

Planning to attend New York Comic Con this year? Here are some tips to help you navigate the fun/chaos/mostly fun that is NYCC 2012.Exit Sign NY ComicCon 2010

The good folks who organize the annual event have posted a Survival Guide, which they have even made into a PDF for easy downloading. DaddyTips (that’s us) has been to NYCC every year since it began, so we have some tips of our own to share.

NYCC’s guide has some good suggestions, such as: Read more »