My Tour de Cure…. CONTINUES!

April 29, 2013 | Author: Doug
What I have come to realize and learned this weekend’s Tour de Cure.
I have been training for this weekend for 2 and a half months. I thought that this was the ending to, a stopping point. I found out, It is a beginning. Everyone has a pas…sion for something, everyone has a cause that is near and dear to them. For me it’s diabetes. It hit me about 3 years ago. There are still times I am in denial that I have diabetes, but deep down I know it’s there. I know if I don’t take care of how I eat, and if I don’t exercise, Metformin will once again be a part of my daily life, along with pricking my finger to test my blood sugar 1-6 times a day. Now, I can control my diabetes with diet and exercise. Will I always be that fortunate?
People know the devastating effects that cancer can have. We have seen the result of chemotherapy. We have all heard the stories.
But have you heard of the person that has to draw their blood every morning first thing, even before their morning coffee. We usually never know why that person has only one leg or know of the pain of neuropathy.
I am blessed, I was diagnosed before it really got out of control. I am blessed that I had resources through my health insurance to learn how to manage diabetes. Then there are others that are not so fortunate. There are people that diet and exercise alone will not control their diabetes. These are the people I am riding for again.
I learned this weekend, that this is a start. That people can live life to the fullest no matter what. I met some incredible people this past weekend. I will ride more Tour de Cures, not for me, but for my fellow Red Riders. My Fundraising Continues athttp://main.diabetes.org/goto/Dkranz

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15 days to the Tour de Cure for the American Diabetes Association

April 12, 2013 | Author: Doug

Only 15 days to go, and I have raised $667 to my goal of $2600. Awesome! But, I need help raising the rest of the goal. In fact, I accept the challenge of riding 65 miles and not the 30 I signed up for if I exceed my goal! Watch this video! 

This is something different for me. I have never taken part of anything that requires me to purposely exersize. I have enjoyed training, and riding the recumbent bikes I have.

If you can’t donate, please pray for fundraising goals, and for Tour Day. Thanks!

 

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AfterShokz Music Gear when you need personal music and hear whats around you.

April 11, 2013 | Author: Doug
Change the way you Listen!

Aftershokz

*****UPDATE*****

I have had the opportunity to work with the Bluez Aftershokz. AWESOME! Now all the greatness with out the wires! I am in NY helping family run a family campground, and I use these constantly to listen for text/email/phone calls/and music while operating equipment. Of course, I also wear hearing protection. In a week or so, I will give a full, separate review on the Bluez!

Face it. We can’t live with out our music. It’s either the radio, or MPS or streaming (for the older folks, CD’s or GASP Cassettes!) There are times when you want your music, but also need to hear around you, though cant use a speaker. So, what do you do?

I pull out AfterShokz, the bone conducting headset. I have used these at a NASCAR race while shooting, with proper hearing protection, these were great to walk around the garage and pit area while it was Hot. I could hear the scanner clearly and still hear around me. When in a hot garage like NASCAR, you need to hear around you, but at times you also have to listen to other communication. All this while protecting your hearing. Aftershocks worked great for this!

I am also a biker. And, a bicyclist. The aftershocks works great on the bicycle, allowing me to hear around me, and still have my personal music. It really becomes a mater of safety. I feel safe being able to hear what’s around me. I feel comforted by my music. I have a video with me wearing Aftershokz, but they are so small you would never notice! But you can try: Video Here

For the Motorcycle: This is a personal preference thing. The  good/bad using Aftershokz with a helmet is either it will work or it wont.  Depends on how tight your padding is. Some might fine it a little uncomfortable. But again, you can hear what’s around you.

The Aftershokz sits just under the ear on the jaw bone. It has a loop over the ear, and comfortable to wear. They have corded models with and with out a mic, and also a blue tooth headset which I have not had the privilege of trying yet.

If your into sports and music, you need a set of these. If you like racing but hate the big ol ear phones, you need these. If you work in situations where you want your personal music, or communications, but need to hear around you, you need a set.

One last cool thing about Aftershokz, is they are from my home town of Syracuse, NY. Its great to see something great come out of Syracuse besides hot dogs and the Orangemen!

 

Posted in CES, Fitness, Geeky Gadget Guy, Motorcycle!, Other cool electronic gadgets, Tools for photographers, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

One wall adapter, so many uses

March 26, 2013 | Author: Doug

How many times have you gone to a hotel, only to find your a plug short to charge your iPad, Phone, Blue Tooth Head set and….. Accell’s Home or Away Power Station might be your solution. It was mine! This wall adapter plugs in to any normal wall outlet, but has three outlets to plug into and, two usb outlets to. I have a double usb charger that I plug in, which gives me 4 usb charging ports on the Home and Away Power Station. When my wife and I travel, this gives us just enough plugs to charge all our devices by usb. My wife and I enjoy a older hotel when we visit Disneyland, and it’s nice to have the extra surge protection along just in case that is provided by the Power Station.

Wallphone

While we are talking on Accell be sure to check out their ultra thin HDMI cables. When I first got a HDMI TV  I got some really thick and wide cables. Little did I know I could of gone thin! Check out the line of HDMI Cables by Accell

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Back to Wed. Night Bible Study: Colossians 3:23-25, 4:1

March 20, 2013 | Author: Doug

Colossians: What ever you do, work heartily, as for The Lord and not for men, knowing tht from The Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving The Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Col. 3:23-25, 4:1 ESV

I “What ever you do” the redemption of
A. “work Heartily”- Attitude and effort. = Christian living
B. “As for The Lord and not for Men” – Work is worship
Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of god, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the nme of The Lord jesus, giving thanks to god the Father through Him
C “knowing that from The Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward”- the
“retirement” plan is out of this world
D. You are serving The Lord Christ “attitude adjustment
II. Remember, God is a God of Justice
A. “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done”- Justice will be done –
eventually.
B. “there is no Partiality” – Good work will be rewarded and bad leader will be punished.
III Remember – Masters have a ____
A. “Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly” – Applying the golden rule (Luke 6:31)
Luke 6:31ESV
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
B. Knowing that you also have a master in heaven” – Don’t Forget!
C. Sidebar- Christianity and slavery

Anything you do, do as if your doing it for Christ. Because, you are.

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It just feels great..

March 17, 2013 | Author: Doug

I have had the pleasure of trying the Other World Computing’s leather iFolio. The best I can compare it to is the feeling you get when you hold a leather bound Bible. There is just something that is comforting about that leather bound bible that is just so familiar. The iFolio gives me that same comforting feeling when I have my iPad. Plus there is room for a small pad and pen, business or credit cards, so this can be your man purse or “murse”.   You have 8 colors to choose from too! One other nice feature is the camera hole in the back.

The only downfall I see is that this will not act as a stand like many others. Though, If your using a program like  You Version bible program and take this to church, (or on a sales call and need to take notes, or taking inventory, doing an email) this is the right dress up for your iPad.

NewerTech iFolio for iPad

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A message about ThinkTankPhoto, the company..

March 11, 2013 | Author: Doug

I had the privilege of taking a member of ThinkTankPhoto to photo deadline room during a recent NASCAR race in Las Vegas. It was fun to watch his amazement of all the photographers using ThinkTank. But what surprised me the most was all the praise photographers have for ThinkTank. There was not one negative comment that I heard. (We are talking 200 + pieces of ThinkTank Gear and 150 + photographers using it)  and the few stories of how great customer service was. Few photographers that had an issue with a ThinkTank Product claimed how great Customer Service was, and how they were surprised (in a positive way) how the issue was handled. The entire experience was great.

ThinkTankPhoto has a piece of gear for you, no matter what you shoot.  Go and check them out!

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Wow, when did it just get super busy??

February 25, 2013 | Author: Doug

Wow. Let a week slip by and it gets really busy. I have several products I will be telling you about, though sadly delayed just a few more weeks. The biggest news for me is my decision to join the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure, a bicycle ride consisting of an 8, 30, 65 or 100 mile tour. I have always walked the other way when it came to tests of endurance. Unless it involved a buffet, I was not going to do any of that crazy exercise stuff. I have photographed many events like this, including marathons and Tri-Athlons. I always wondered why people would put them self through such agony. Suddenly, I find my self wanting to do the 100 mile tour. Reality is I have signed up for the 30 miles because I know I don’t have enough time to train for the century ride this year.

If you get a chance, please click on the Tour de Cure link at the top of the page, and you will find links to my Tour de Cure Facebook page, and a link to my donation page.

Thanks Ya’ll

 

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I am sadly out of shape.

February 13, 2013 | Author: Doug

I am sadly out of shape, years of neglect leaves me gasping for air at times. I have a fitbug Air, a device that measures your steps. I am no where close to 10,000 steps that you should do a day. I just got a recumbent bike, the Bike E CT. (might be getting a different recumbent bike style this weekend) I just did my first mile. My knees are screaming. My stomach feels a little knot. 113 days ago, I had my last cigarette. I am at best, a borderline type II diabetic (If not diabetic) I am at least 30 lbs or more over weight. And, I have run out of excuses why. I have more tools at my disposal to track progress, and I intend to use every one of them. The change starts today…

OK, was that dramatic for you? I do need to make a change. And I am slowly working to that. Quitting smoking was the first step. Trying to eat healthier is step two. (that’s always the hardest) and step three is to purposely get more exercise. I don’t like the gym/health club much. I do love to bike. And, I am finally getting the style bike I have always wanted. I am blessed!

I will keep you informed of my progress!

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Always on the hunt for a good God analogy:

February 9, 2013 | Author: Doug

This is from a friend, Seth Bowman. Thanks for letting me post your thoughts!

Always on the hunt for a good God analogy:
I saw a guy sit through the entire green light the other day, front of the line, not paying attention. It was an old man and what looked like his grandson, and I didn’t want to honk. He finally looks up when the light turns yellow, and is the only one who makes it through the intersection.

I realize that salvation is both a moment and a process, loosely Justification-Sanctification-Glorification in church-speak (and I like to talk most about the oft-overlooked sanctification part), but this was a pretty good illustration of what a deathbed conversion is like. That’s what most of us are banking on, right: “Get this whole God-thing worked out eventually”? Well that’s not what the God of the Bible had in mind.

We were created to do good works, and those good works are the evidence of our faith, the witness of God in us. Think of everyone impacted by the witness of your life as the car behind you, and they theirs, on and on and on. If each of us “gets to it one day”, it’s the ones behind us who suffer. Your kid won’t grow up in church, hear the Gospel and follow. Instead they’ll hear it later, after being a pissed-off teenager cause their dad’s a bastard. The people they would have impacted from ages 14-30 will have to wait too. Everyone in the line will have to wait.

I know that God is sovereign in salvation, but I think this is a good illustration of what our part (or the lack thereof) looks like. It’s a fact that the light will turn red one day.

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