Every now and then I seem to stuble upon various online tools that make my life a little easier.  This is the first of many tips that will be shared in the 365 project.

Did you ever need a way to share files, share items with a committee from different businesses, or just keep your document accessible on multiple computers?  Working on committees with different computer savvy people, or different email types, this is a great way to share the most current document.

Dropbox is essentially an online thumb drive (flash drive) that you can store documents, pictures, and music.  The great part is there is a free option.

Most likely I have not utilized all the options that drop box can do.   Here’s the link, try it and let me know what you think.

• Try Drop Box

If you need more explore their site and check out the tour.

When the sun goes down,
And the clouds all frown,
Night has begun for the sunset.

See it with your eyes;
Earth re-energized
By the sun’s rays every day.
Take a look out there,
Planets everywhere.

When the sun goes down,
And the clouds all frown,
Night has begun for the sunset.

Shadows on the ground;
Never make a sound,
Fading away in the sunset.
Night has now become
Day for everyone.

I can see it all
From this great height.
I can feel the sun

Slipping out of sight;
And the world still goes on
Through the night.

Moody Blues, The Evening Sunset

This year is going to be the year!  At least a common phrase in January as friends and family set resolutions for the new year.   Its simple, make a commitment towards achieving a goal, changing a bad habit or a project.

Resolutions are affiliated with the change of the new year.  This now secular tradition has roots to various religious holidays.  This includes the end of yom kippur,  where there is reflection on the previous year while Christians during Lent look towards sacrifice.

Beyond the religious roots, resolutions are about self improvement.   Take a look at the top ten resolutions from About.com.

• Spend more time with family
• Fit in fitness
• Tame the bulge
• Quit Smoking
• Enjoy Life More
• Quit Drinking
• Get out of Debt
• Learn Something New
• Help Others
• Get Organized

Resolutions are made to fail!  Even though our intentions are great, the resolution is intended to change a behavior or habit.  Some studies say that it takes 21 days to brake a habit (thats 21 days in a row).  The other factor for the failure of resolutions is that  its too borad.  Take a common resolution of loose weight.  Change the resolution to be more manageable, loose a pound a week, workout 4 times a week, or join weight watchers.

The success rate of resolutions can be difficult to measure, although there have been several studies which look at the success of those surveyed.  According to a December 26, 2009 Wall Street Journal Article:

Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. A separate study in 2007 by Richard Wisemen from the University of Bristol showed that 78% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, and those who succeed have 5 traits in common

How are you on your resolution?  Do you Agree with the success rate?

Its simple, you’ve looked everywhere.  You have shopped on-line, you have 400 facebook friends, you know twitter, and how to find news stories.

Can you find the end of the internet?

What is the beginning?

There was a chain email from 10 years ago that was sent out.  It had  a simple black background, white text, and told the user that they have found the end of the internet, now turn your computer off and go outside.

Just like a set of car keys, when you want to find them you can’t.  When you can’t find something on theinternet, head over to google or bing.  Both have over 1 million search results.

So with simple research it was comical to see the different pages (I’ll let you do your own search).  This makes me wonder is there an end to the internet?   Most likely with the shear size of the internet, there is no way to tell.

So why does it the curiosity of the end produce so many phrases?  Why can you “like” the end of the internet on facebook.

Simple its marketing.

This simple phrase of the end of the internet has now turned into an internet marketing tool.  Enter your email address and we will show you the first page of the internet.  Like them on facebook or give your email and now an email marketer has a chance to communicate one more time.

So where is the beginning?

Twitter and facebook can provide links to fascinating topics.  Today I ran across an interesting article titled “20 Things You Didn’t Know About Kissing.”  I learned that during a french kiss you trade over 250 types of bacteria and viruses or that the average person will have nearly 25,000 kisses.

Kisses are important.  They are the first thing that many do when the year changes, they seal marriages, they start relationships, and can even share passion.  Although there are different kisses, one from family versus a first kiss.

When you google Kissing there are over 40 Million results, YouTube produces over 1 million hits on the same term.

Why are there so many results on kissing?  Why so many videos?

Take a look at the 20 things you don’t know about kissing and let us know what you think….

Post picture taken by photographer Alfred Eisenstadt Life magazine.  August 14, 1945 the picture of the young sailor  kissing the pretty nurse in the middle of Times Square.

What is the first thing you notice in this picture?  The pay-phone, the signs, the architecture in the back-ground?

Lets focus on the simple fact that No Parking applies to all vehicles.  Although the definition of a vehicle could very,  the intent of the sign is still the same.   Actually I found this post picture quite funny as the occupant of the vehicle backed into the sign and plugged his electronic vehicle in (it made me laugh).

Can you recall the first time you encountered a no-parking sign?

How about when driving to school and parking on a city street, while attending a sporting event, or possibly shopping at a mall.

It seems that a sign can lead to many responses from individuals.  I would guess that some of you don’t pay any attention to the sign, while others will follow each sign’s instructions.

After a simple google search I found quite the list of famous no-parking signs and this one was the highest rated in google.  Arguable a very expensive sign and one that I would most likely not challenge unless you like visiting the municipal tow lot.

You can even argue that signs are the subjects of laws, songs, and public debate.  In this case some signs and circumstances make you smile and laugh (how about these church signs).

Well I truly don’t agree with the titile, although I have been told this many times.  Some people use social media to interact while others use it for marketing and branding.

Social media has changed how we communicate.  It has changed the speed at which we consume media and gives us a source to find informaiton quickly.  In fact yesterday I found out within five minutes of the firing of RichRod  (University of Michigan Head Football Coach) on twitter before it was posted on most major news sites (or that he was fired, but then again is he).

This video highlights the changes that are occurring with the use of social media and its speed that it has grown.

Which statement in the video is most impressive?  The size of facebook compared to other companies?  The number of couples in America who have met via social media or the number of videos upload to youtube while you read this?

Take a look at the book (Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business), the video and let me know how social media has it affected your life?

Is the video right?

It seems that Las Vegas is jammed full of restaurants with great food.  In fact if you go hungry in Vegas it better be because your out of money.  From Steak to Buffets or Sushi to McDonalds there is food all around you, I think the trick is finding it.

I’ve always wondered what time you should eat dinner, so I googled it and “YumSugar” gave me a scientific study.  On the other hand, the history channel gave me a dissertation on how we have gotten to what time we are supposed to eat, or more our eating habits.  On a trip to Europe, the wait staff could always tell who the American’s were because ate before 7.

Regardless of the time we eat, think of a great meal you recently had.  It could be Prime Rib for Christmas, a great steak at a famous steak house, or just a picnic.  Was it the food you remember, or is the food a trigger for a great time had while eating?

Some of the best meals I remember were some of the most flavorful meals I ever had.  When my wife and I were in Paris we had these great sandwiches made from Croissant bread.  We ate our sandwiches and watched the river, the sandwich was great, but the day was outstanding!

So is food truly a mechanism that brings together relationships, is it a vehicle to engage conversations, or is it just nourishment?

Its funny that a creek can bring back memories or a story that will make you laugh.

In order to not incriminate myself I am going to plead the fifth and provide a note about winter.  Living in Michigan allows us to experience the four seasons.  I do enjoy the snow and the beauty that comes with a fresh snowfall.

This creek is a gem and allows for great times in the summer and picturesque scenes in the winter time.  I have gone fly fishing in areas of the creek,  tubing, and even just cooling off after playing in the adjacent sand dune.  So why is it that a picture can bring back memories, make you smile, or even just take you back?

It seems every-time I walk into a shop with glass or other breakable items I put my hands in my pockets.

Why?

I know there is a web-page and twitter hash tag that is “Shit my Dad Says” but in this case, I think its from subliminal messages from my Mom.  As kids if we went shopping this was a common phrase around items that could brake.

So why has it stuck in my head, comments from over 20 years ago?  Is this truly the impact that our Parents have on us.  Is this why I have to be at the airport 2 hours early, or must show up early to an appointment (because on-time is late)?

It brings an interesting twist on why our values are shaped at an early age.  Do you have something that has been engrained since you were little?