How to Land an Internship at a Startup 06/30/2011
These are the steps I followed to get an internship at Gowalla last summer.
I wrote this on Quora a few months ago, here are more posts on this topic. iPhone 4 Fix 06/21/2011
I dropped my iPhone 4 for the first time since I purchased it last September and the back finally shattered. Fortunately, the camera wasn’t broken and it didn’t look as bad as some shattered iPhones I’ve seen. I decided to browse the web for some replacement parts and I came upon http://sw-box.com. I was skeptical at first since I’ve never purchased wholesale parts, but since the prices were reasonable (~$16 OEM for the back plate) I bought two, black and white. I also purchased a new battery since my battery life has been very poor. iPhone 4 back / white / $16 - item link iPhone 4 back / black / $15 - item link iPhone 4 battery / $7 - item link Full list of iPhone 4 parts How to remove back of iPhone 4 (fairly simple) Photos Final Thoughts I spent a total of $48 on everything. The package came from Hong Kong in less than two weeks and was packaged securely. The back plates for the iPhone 4 were brand new and the battery was definitely new (after testing). I would buy again. SXSW Recap 03/18/2011
I recently returned from Austin for SXSW. If you aren’t familiar with SXSWi (Interactive), it’s also known as the “Geek’s Spring Break”. Developers, designers, founders, & all types of creators cram into downtown Austin to launch startups, promote, learn, meet, tweet, and eat (BBQ and tacos). That said, this year’s SXSW Interactive has been incredibly inspiring. Lessons Learned
SSD Upgrade - Vertex 2 02/04/2011
I finally upgraded my 15" Macbook Pro with an SSD. I removed the SuperDrive (since I rarely use it/it was broken/I have an external) and replaced it with a 120 GB OCZ Vertex 2 solid-state hard drive. I'm booting off the SSD and running all applications on it. However, I'm storing files such as movies, and large photo sets on my HDD. The drive is noticeably fast. I doubt I could go back to a standard HDD again. UPDATE: After using the SSD for a few months, I had issues of the drive not booting. It seems like this happened when I was using 80% of the drive's capacity. I reformatted the drive and reinstalled Snow Leopard. Unfortunately, I came across the same issue. I am in the process of getting the drive replaced. Apps 07/02/2010
I discover new apps/sites everyday, but only a few are worth mentioning. Below is a list I've recently compiled consisting of web apps, iPhone apps, and desktop apps that I find useful. I will continue to add apps as I discover them. Notepad.cc I discovered Notepad.cc on Hacker News a few days ago. This is a notepad app finally done right. It also allows you to password protect your notepad and gives you the option of using a vanity url (mine is http://notepad.cc/p). It's definitely a useful tool. Pixlr If you find yourself at a computer without Photoshop or just want to quickly edit a photo without having to open Photoshop check out Pixlr. Users Like Me I'm usually not one to push things I've developed onto users, but if you use Gowalla you should check out Users Like Me. It will display users who check-in at similar spots you do. Sleep Cycle Sleep Cycle studies your sleep using the accelerometer built into your iPhone. Open the app, set the alarm, it will wake you up at your lightest sleep cycle. Local Concerts Local Concerts shows you the bands that have shows near your location. It has saved me from missing many shows this summer. Gowalla As location is growing on the web, Gowalla still continues to impress me. Their app design is beautiful and the service gives you reason to get out of your house and discover places you normally wouldn't. Dropbox I'm tired of reading blogs posting about how useful Dropbox is, but if you aren't using it yet, please slap yourself. Isolator (Mac OS X only) Isolator is an app that helps you concentrate on the window you are currently using. PhoneView Phone view is way more powerful than the current iTunes sync. It allow you to view and save your call log, text messages, and use your iPhone as a USB drive. Why the iPad Will Be Useful 01/29/2010
It's easy to judge the iPad without actually understanding the idea and purpose of the device. My initial thoughts were negative, but when I started to look deeper into why Apple built such a product, it became apparent. The potential of the iPad is huge and most people just don't get it. Books E-books are nothing new but the iPad will create huge opportunities for authors to engage with their readers (giving readers insight on why chapters were written with a video at the end of that chapter). Also, I see books becoming social (sharing paragraphs of text you enjoyed with friends, recommending pages to read via Facebook Connect). Yes, Amazon has the online book market, but the Kindle DX ($489) simply does not have the features of the $499 iPad. Music I can imagine musicians using the iPad for live shows using virtual synths, beat makers, keyboards. Transportation Think of using it in your vehicle as a central touchscreen (similar to the Tesla S). You could use it to navigate via GPS, listen to Pandora Radio, etc. Also, to watch streaming videos on long trips with a 3G connection. Games The iPad will be huge for gaming. iPhone games are great but almost all would benefit from having a faster processor and larger screen. Photos The device is perfect for sharing/viewing photos with friends and family. The iPhone screen is too small for people like my dad who needs to pull his glasses out usually to view anything smaller than a normal size piece of paper. Education It would be ideal to have in any class where you need to draw figures/equations along with typing notes. Video Sharing and viewing videos with friends will be great on this device. Although I do wish it had a camera since Skype would be incredible on the screen. Art It will give artists a new digital medium. How to Train for a Half-Marathon in 8 Weeks 09/30/2009
In January 2009, I signed up for my first half-marathon at the age of 23. I wasn't a runner and really didn't exercise very often. The last time I actually finished more than a few miles, was back in high school (age 18). At 23, I was slightly overweight at 200 pounds after a few years of college. This is my experience after training and running a half-marathon in 2 months and losing nearly 25 pounds. Please Read: I'm not a personal trainer, but the following tips worked for me during my half marathon training. I recommend seeing a doctor before any kind of extensive activity. 5 Tips for Success:
Start Slow I know you want to jump right into running but it's very important to start slow, especially if you don't run often. I made the mistake of running everyday and too often in the first week of training (18 miles). I ended up with painful shin splints which didn't allow me to run for at least a few days, so I biked instead. My advice is to start slow. If you are a beginner, start with a mile and increase your weekly mileage. Eat Clean What you eat during your training is vital to how you feel during your runs and how your body performs. My diet included 60% complex carbs, 40% protein, and 20% fat. If you are looking to save money and eat cheap, see my other blog post "Eating Healthy on The Cheap". DO CONSUME:
Breakfast: On the Go
On the Go
Run at least 3 times a week During my training I ran at least 3 days out of the week (usually a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Use Wednesday as a circuit training day.
Week 1 (5 miles) / M, *W, F - (1, 2, 2) Week 2 (7 miles) / M, *W, F - (2, 2, 3) Week 3 (10 miles) / M, *W, F - (3, 3, 4) Week 4 (13 miles) / M, *W, F - (4, 4, 5) Week 5 - (14 miles) / M, *W, F - (4, 4, 6) Week 6 - (15 miles) / M, *W, F - (4, 4, 7) Week 7 - (18 miles) / M, *W, F - (4, 5, 8) Week 8 - (12 miles) / M, OFF, This day should be exactly 1 week before - (2, OFF, 10) LIFT WEIGHTS Resistance training is great for your body. It helps build muscle and keeps your body burning calories many hours after you finish your workout. What I recommend
Upper body (4 sets of 10 reps)
Lower body (4 sets of 10 reps)
INVEST IN RUNNING GEAR I can't emphasize this enough. Running shoes are a huge factor when you are running 10+ miles at a time. I began my training using some normal New Balance shoes that I figured would be ok. Unfortunately, I was getting blisters almost everytime I would run a long run. I HIGHLY recommend the following:
PRE-RACE DAY You Should:
RACE DAY The day you have been waiting for is here. Before Race Breakfast:
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