Thou Shalt Read It

A. J. Jacobs' new book is outstanding. You should read it.

The Esquire writer, and author of The Know It All, spent one year trying to live as Biblically as possible.

His memoir records his genuine efforts to better understand religion, God and the Bible. Boasting numerous laugh-out-loud moments, I found Jacobs' new book also personal, insightful and sincere.

Give it a read.

Outstanding ESPN Magazine Article On Brady/Patriots

I'm not a New England Patriots fan. Never have been, probably never will be. But I respect quarterback Tom Brady's talent and appreciate how well head coach Bill Belichick has managed this team for several years.

Like many, I was kind of hoping to see the Patriots lose this year. I was exasperated when the Baltimore Ravens had them all but beaten in a November game, then let the victory slip away. My Christian sensibilities are improving (I believe) my attitude, so I try to no longer take joy in others' defeats, but still, I found myself pulling for the Ravens more than I should. Fair enough?

Well, we all know how that turned out.

Over at ESPN, Chuck Klosterman has written an excellent article on the Patriots (and Brady's) performance. I must say I think he's right.

But don't read the article because of that. Check it out, instead, to see what he has to say about this Tom Brady/Gisele Bundchen photo snapped by Jackson Lee. Do so and you'll see some sports writers still practice a great craft.

LA Times Editors Reject Budget Cuts

A second Los Angeles Times editor has lost his job because he refused budget cuts.

Reportedly James O'Shea was terminated after rejecting an order from publisher David D. Hiller to reduce the newsroom budget by $4 million.

Having been in similar positions on several occasions, albeit on a much reduced scale at a much-lesser known media outlet, I believe I understand the sacrifices editors must make when faced with personnel and investment reductions.

I never found the courage O'Shea (or his predecessor Dean Baquet) demonstrated, nor am I convinced rejecting the budget cuts I was presented would have been appropriate (strong arguments can be made that adjustments were required). But I certainly respect their efforts to stand up for their convictions.

Web 2.0 Changes My Life

For 10 years I've organized my life using Microsoft Outlook. I remember those first few fateful days when I summoned the courage to abandon my tried-and-proven DayRunner paper-based planner for the speed and convenience of PC-based personal information management. Surrendering use of that portable black notebook, which proved critical in maintaining my schedule, contacts, appointments and important tasks, required great faith.

The decision proved fruitful. Soon I added a Philips Nino to the mix. The little handheld computer synched with my desktop PC and enabled me to not only take, but adjust, my schedule on the go. Could organization get any better, I wondered?

Soon Microsoft introduced new features, functionality and performance to its flagship PIM product. Quickly I became dependent upon Outlook. In concert, the Nino was soon eclipsed and replaced by faster models boasting better resolution, color screens and, ultimately, cell phone-based PDAs.

Then I began using multiple PCs on a daily basis. I have a Windows Vista system in my office, but I carry a Macintosh PowerBook in the field. Occasionally I'd find myself in a client's office needing to update an account's electronic records or add a new appointment to my calendar. But my Treo PDA's telephone quality was poor and, worse, actually dialing numbers on a teeny-tiny dial pad was next to impossible on the go.

What do to? I'd already chosen to purchase mobile broadband service. But how could I keep my schedule current but available to multiple systems simultaneously without the expense of a 24x7x365 Windows Small Business Server and SSL Web certificate to boot?

Dedicated and determined, I found the solution.

First I purchased AT&T's Laptop Connect service. The mobile broadband subscription enables my Macintosh to reach the Web independently of WiFi networks whether I'm sitting in a client's office or parking lot, re-energizing at a local coffee shop or catching up at a road side rest area.

Second, I abandoned Microsoft Outlook. I'm no longer bound and tied by the constraints of PST files and archive responsibilities. The feeling is liberating. I'm free. Instead of expensive licenses, software bloat and synchronization issues galore, I simply created a few Web 2.0 accounts.

That's step three. Todoist is charged with the responsibility of managing my extensive To Do (or Tasks) list. The free Web 2.0 site provides an outstanding interface for quickly and easily maintaining project lists complete with deadlines and multiple sort features. Plus, synchronization is a dream; that's the strength of Web 2.0. It doesn't matter whether I arrive using Safari on my Mac or Internet Explorer on an XP or Vista system; it just works.

Next, I migrated my schedule from Outlook to Google Calendar. Exporting my existing Outlook calendar to Google's free online tool was simple and required but a few clicks. Boasting reminders, multiple views and multiplatform and multiple browser compatibility, the Google Calendar enables me to maintain my schedule and track appointments whether I'm on the road, sitting in my office or completing tasks in the field.

For email I still use Outlook on Windows clients, but I've found Mac Mail much simpler (and it requires vastly fewer resources to run). I was never much of a Notes user, but the Mac's Stickies feature all but eliminates the need to navigate multiple menus within Outlook to jot down telephone numbers or create a quick note. With Stickies (or the Post-It Note feature in Vista's new Sidebar), Outlook's Notes feature is no longer needed.

Last, Google Documents enables me to keep client notes secure on the Web. Instead of having to re-enter paper-based notes from a legal pad into Word docs at day's end, I simply create a new documentt within Google Documents, record my notes there instead of writing them on a legal pad, and I'm done.

The result? I'm saving an hour-and-a-half to two hours a day. A day. That's a lot. When the old work day completed, my notes still required entry. I usually recorded notes and tasks and updated my schedule every evening, thereby consuming precious quality time. But now I need not review a long list of paper-based notes and re-enter them into a desktop system. Instead, everything's already updated and complete on the Web.

I feel like shouting my joy from rooftops. I want everyone to know and experience this freedom and efficiency.

The improvement is amazing. While it took faith to abandon Outlook after 10 years, I'm glad I found the courage to do so. I'm more organized. Clients say I'm more responsive. I feel less stressed.

Despite having only been using the new method for two weeks, I already find myself wondering how I ever kept up before.

Bengals' Loyalty Tenuous To Critical

I'll keep this short.

I'm a lifelong Cincinnati Bengals fan. I suffered through one of the worst strings of losing seasons (the Mike Brown age) of any professional franchise. Ever. We're talking 14 consecutive non-winning seasons.

Still I stuck by the franchise.

Now there's talk the Bengals may trade Chad Johnson.

Mark my words. If the Bengals trade Johnson, or Carson Palmer for that matter, any time in the next 12 months, I'm done with this franchise.

That's not a threat. No one in Cincinnati could care less whether I'm a Bengals, Colts, Titans or even Steelers' fan. Well, maybe some of the other lifelong Bengals fans I've met there would be disappointed, but no one else would care. And, it'd end 40 years of professional football desperation in my household. So, I think even those few remaining loyal to the Bengals would understand.

The problem's not the offense. We need defensive playmakers. But if we exchange Johnson for some second-string middle D-back, it's over. Any such trade would prove reminiscent of the Reds trading up and coming, daily playing Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez for some middle relievers no longer even on the team!

Maybe I could understand if we were able to draft someone like Howie Long's son. He's a single defensive player that changes a game's complexion, no doubt. In the past, however, the Bengals front office hasn't demonstrated equivalent vision.

That wasn't so short. Sorry.

Computer Troubleshooters Not Only Survives, But Grows

A few years ago I made the decision to leave my comfy corporate job (boasting visionary leaders, wonderful coworkers, challenging business models, an excellent health care plan, five-weeks paid vacation a year and a comfortable, informal office just six miles from my house) of seven years to enter the computer sales, repair and support business. I also chose to buy a franchise. I figured having someone else develop back office systems, implement vendor relationships, manage marketing initiatives, etc. would pay dividends.

That was the right call. No doubt.

What's interesting, at least to me, is how easy it became for me to select Computer Troubleshooters. After reviewing Entrepreneur magazine's annual Franchise 500 rankings, sifting through countless UFOCs and attending prospective franchisee workshops, I chose CT. Their numbers looked great, the franchisor was (and remains) debt-free, all the CT folks I met (and meet) were (and are) genuine, sincere individuals and the fit felt (and continues feeling) right.

Instead of insisting I purchase three territories (three!) to start, as did Geeks-on-Call, CT's management requested I purchase a single territory, become comfortable with day-to-day operations, and only then visit thoughts of expansion.

That philosophy proved telling, as Entrepreneur's 19th Annual Franchise 500 guide just hit newsstands. Computer Troubleshooters is again ranked the number one technology support franchise.

What's happened to the likes of Geeks-on-Call (now 905-GEEK), Concerto Networks and others that courted my dollars, not too mention blood, sweat and tears? They placed behind Computer Troubleshooters in Entrepreneur's 2008 Franchise 500 (and other lists for that matter) or have fallen off the Franchise 500 entirely!

Lists, of course, don't mean everything. But I think it's telling that Computer Troubleshooters not only maintains its consistently high Entrepreneur ranking year-after-year, but continues growing, even when the technology sector experiences inevitable shake outs.

Mayan Cafe's Egg, Avocado, Plantains Sandwich Best Sandwich Ever

It's official.

Mayan Cafe's Egg, Avocado, Fried Plantains & Cheese sandwich ($8) with pasilla pepper sauce is the best sandwich. Ever.

I've had a lot of great sandwiches, too. So that's saying something.

From wonderful delicacies at Toledo's world-famous Tony Packo's Cafe to Avalon's outstanding Veggie Burger on a Ciabatta Roll with cheddar cheese, whole grain mustard and mayonnaise (which you should try even if you're not a vegetarian), the Mayan Cafe's outdone itself with this sandwich.

Havana Rumba's Vegetariano Press deserves credit, too. The sandwich's mix of tomatoes, lettuce, onions, roasted pimenton, pickles, Swiss cheese, Dijon mustard and aioli sauce on Cuban bread is a tasteful, worldly blend. But Mayan's egg/avocado sandwich creates a flavor profile previously unmatched.

If you're ever in the neighborhood (813 East Market Street in Louisville), I highly recommend you give it a try. Chef Bruce Ucan certainly earns all his accolades.

But if you find yourself on Bardstown, never fear. Avalon isn't far (at 1314 Bardstown Road).