Tadd Mencer

A while ago I did a post where I mentioned a few blogging tools (link). It’s been a while since I really did any evaluation on the blogging tools I’ve seen or used, so let’s do that now!

Windows Live Writer

For a long while this was the cream of the crop. This is what I used. I loved it. Easy to use. Hey, I still love it. You can do everything for general maintaining of the content on your WordPress blog. Make and edit page content, posts, categories. You can drag and drop images into the content area, give them effects, scale, etc. They’ll upload when published which was awesome. It’s a one stop shop.
The biggest issue is: Cross compatability. There is no way that I can use this on my Ubuntu (Linux) laptop. Since it’s a Microsoft based software, obviously it wouldn’t play with Linux. Which is a bummer.

OS: Windows 

ScribeFire (Chrome | FireFox)

I’ve just started using this tool and I have to admit, I’m impressed. It’s not even a standalone software – but an extension available for Google Chrome or FireFox. So far it looks like it does many things that 

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux with FireFox and/or Google Chrome

Blogilo

Being a Linux user, I went to look for something I could use on my laptop. Blogilo was in the ‘ubuntu software center’ for blogging and I immediately snagged it. It’s a nice app for people who need to blog. You can add images, post to categories, etc. It’s a blogging application. There are too many limitations to make this a really fully functional Live Writer alternative, but it does work wonders. It’s a good app and I have to admit I’m a fan. 

OS: Linux

OpenOffice with Sun Weblog Publisher

If you’ve been around for any length of time you’ve probably have heard of, if not tried, OpenOffice. It’s arguable the best office suite available, even possibly better than Microsoft Office. 

Ok, maybe not THAT awesome, but it’s definately a great, FREE alternative.

There is an extension for this awesome suite called Sun Weblog Publisher that will allow you to write and author your article or post and then publish it to you weblog. I’ve only used it once and, sadly, it was lacking in a lot o features. However, it is a nice alternative for those who need a quick, simple and effortless way to post an article. It’s great for content rich blogging.

OS: Windows, Mac or Linux

Just plain WordPress

Ok, so there is nothing wrong with going into your WordPress admin and making your post there. The reason I like most of these tools are they are all offline editors. Meaning, I don’t need to be online to write my post. I could be in the middle of the forest, open Blogilo and write out my post – save it to post later. Then, the second I walk into McDonald’s I can jump on their wifi and post it. Easy, done. 

However, WordPress does have all the tools you need if you have a consistent internet connection. Which, hey … most people do it seems.

Conclusion:
Are there any other tools I may have missed? Anything for Mac only that I obviously can’t test out that may be awesome? 

You know how it feels when it’s been one of those days, weeks or months. Your brain feels like it’s melting out of your eats. Your eyes won’t open, and when they do your eyeballs feels like they’re going to fall out of their sockets. You’re tired, achy, grouchy and ready to throw in whatever towel you can find.

It’s the stress of life. Everyone deals with it. In a discussion with my wife, we realized that troubles come in two different sizes. 

Boulder Sized Troubles:

These are the kind of troubles that either make or break people. Cancer, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, unknown illnesses, etc. These are large problems. Hard to deal with, and hard to handle. I know many people who have or have had these problems and successfully navigate through. It’s not easy, but they do it.

Pebble Sized Troubles:

These are the type that are not huge. They’re small, sting when get hit by them but ultimately don’t do any real harm. Kids don’t sleep well, you don’t sleep well, bass thumper cars parked outside your house at all hours of the night, you drop a dish .. you get the idea. Nothing life threatening. Individually they’re easy to deal with. Together, the small stings leave you raw and heart broken.

Both kinds of  troubles are .. well,  troubling. Both kind can leave you feeling hopeless and helpless.

I’m not going to say I know how to deal with either types of troubles. I end a day feeling defeated and utterly hopeless. Then I have to step back and remember: This isn’t my life. I’m suppose to be living for a Higher purpose. When I start gripping about my problems I’m really saying that I don’t trust God. And I should. We all should! He says “I will never leave you nor forsake you …” and I should believe that He’ll keep that promise.

Knowing that doesn’t make it easier to live life. But it gives me a little more hope. 

Stress. Everyone deals with it at some point. Some people can ignore it. Others thrive in stressful environments. Personally, I hate being stressed out. You feel so many emotions when you’re stressed.

How do you deal with stress?

Here are a few easy ways to deal and work through stress.

1) Bounce a ball: If permitted, get a tennis ball (or other small bounce able ball) and bounce it a bit. The impact of the ball hitting the ground and the steady rhythm often can help you feel relief.

2) Drink more water: I’ve been told that dehydration can cause unnecessary stress. If you start feeling bent out of shape and stressed for no reason, guzzle some water and see if that helps.

3) Go for a walk: At my current job, we take a walk around the building every day (weather permitted). The fresh air and exercise helps clear away frustrations you have from your day.

4) Listen to enjoyable music: Pop in a CD, load up your iPod .. play something that makes you feel good.

5) Sit in quiet: Often times all you need is to sit in the dark, close your eyes and ignore the world around you. Let your mind go. Play happy scenarios in your thoughts. Removing yourself a few minutes in a day can really make a difference.

What other ways can you relieve yourself of stress?

Being on a Linux installation on the laptop does sadly limit what I can do. I can’t really have my Adobe products on my laptop (well, not without crazy amounts of ‘fixing’).

The alternatives really didn’t seem to give me enough power. Gimp, while nice for simple photo editing, really isn’t a creation software that is feasible for professional use.

Enter Aviary.

These people have developed tools that are more powerful than you can imagine. Photo editing, illustrations, web design, and now even music creation and audio editing – Aviary has become a tool to reckon with.

You can check out their Photoshop killing, Gimp slaughting FREE applications here: www.aviary.com

Happy creating!

I was listening to the radio yesterday (which I rarely do) and there was a song that sang about people hurting themselves and others. It spoke of how a simple kind word could have made all the difference in their lives.

I wonder how many times I’ve passed up an opportunity to speak kindly, or even give a friendly smile and hello to someone who could have really used that bit of friendship at that moment. How many people I could have helped overcome something with just a touch of encouragement.

Once upon a time I worked retail. I interacted with people galore. I was friendly which ended up meaning people would release their pent up worries and angers and concerns as if I was a street psychologist. Honestly, I didn’t mind. I could tell this was what these people needed.

Today, I work in a gray, drab cubical. My interaction is with co-workers (who I’m friendly with) and people in the building as I walk to get coffee. I don’t often pass them by without saying hello. But do I give that same friendly smile that welcomes them? Or is it a superficial phrase now.

I know someone who says my kindness has saved their life. Whether that’s literal or figuratively, I don’t now – but I know that being kind and friendly to people can help more than you think.

And really .. is it so hard to give a happy, "Good morning! How are you today?" to people you see? Or a friendly smile and nod? Not really.