What's in a Cloud?

Apple has launched http://www.icould.com just minutes ago. It looks like they were able to include the mirroring feature Google was unable to include in Google Music Beta. Still, GMB is currently free (although it's not expected to stay that way). Apple's cloud is only $25/year - but I don't imagine it'll work well for me considering iTunes is the only apple product I use. My Android phone now has access to over 10k songs via GMB. Steve Jobs poked fun at Google a couple of times mentioning that it would take weeks to upload all of your music (which is true, it's taken me about 2 weeks), still it's well worth it. It works in the background, so I don't notice it at all. What do you think? Who will win the battle for the cloud?

Update on my health 5/5/11

Just a quick update. I went to Shands hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville on Monday. The doctors there were a bit more skeptical than my surgeon here. They are going to need some better imaging, and possibly even a surgical inspection. No final decisions have been made, but if they don't love what they see, major surgery will follow. Please keep praying, and always trusting in the goodness and mercy of God. Thanks everyone.

Update on my health 4/12/11

Hey Guys,

Sorry it's been so long, but I just went to see my surgeon today and got an updated X-ray of my jaw. It's been about a year since he removed the ameloblastoma that was eating away at my bone/tissue in that area. The results could not have been better. There are no signs of recurrence whatsoever. After a year, my surgeon is MUCH more optimistic than he was after the initial surgery. The next step is to see a specialist in Miami to get his opinion on my care going forward. My doctor is still leaning towards more aggressive surgeries, and he said the first 3 years are the most dangerous, but good news is still good news and his tone is noticeably more upbeat. Please keep praying - the likelihood that I'll have to undergo aggressive treatment is still high, but I know that our God is still Jehovah-Rapha (the God who heals) and he has not, nor ever will forsake me. I can't even begin to express my gratitude to all of you who've stood by me, loved me, supported me, and prayed for me. My heart overflows with joy thinking about the outpouring of love I've received. My burden has been easily bearable because of your kindness. I will update you as soon as I hear back from the specialist. Please continue to pray for healing, insurance issues, and financial provision as I take the next step towards wrapping this part of my life up and moving on to something better.

May the Lord, our God, bless you all with his sweet presence and may your heart be filled with love.


~Brendan

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.'" - Lamentations 3:22-24

This is EXACTLY how I feel about math

This is a great article, I especially like the bit about storing cottage cheese upside-down and fresh herbs in the freezer.

14 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Save money and trips to the market with these tips and tricks from Rebecca DiLiberto’s Penny Saving Household Helper. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to keep food at its best.

1. Line the bottom of your refrigerator’s crisper drawer with paper towels. They’ll absorb the excess moisture that causes vegetables to rot.

2. To keep herbs tasting fresh for up to a month, store whole bunches, washed and sealed in plastic bags, in the freezer. When you need them, they’ll be easier to chop, and they’ll defrost the minute they hit a hot pan.

3. A bay leaf slipped into a container of flour, pasta, or rice will help repel bugs.

4. Stop cheese from drying out by spreading butter or margarine on the cut sides to seal in moisture. This is most effective with hard cheeses sealed in wax.

Plus: Browse our favorite cheese recipes and learn how cheese is made!

5. When radishes, celery, or carrots have lost their crunch, simply pop them in a bowl of iced water along with a slice of raw potato and watch the limp vegetables freshen up right before your eyes.

6. Avoid separating bananas until you plan to eat them – they spoil less quickly in a bunch.

7. Put rice in your saltshaker to stop the salt from hardening. The rice absorbs condensation that can cause clumps.

8. Stock up on butter when it’s on sale – you can store it in the freezer for up to six months. Pack the butter in an airtight container, so it doesn’t take on the flavor of whatever else you’re freezing.

9. In order to make cottage cheese or sour cream last longer, place the container upside down in the fridge. Inverting the tub creates a vacuum that inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes food to spoil.

10. Believe it or not, honey is the only nonperishable food substance, so don’t get rid of the stuff if it crystallizes or becomes cloudy. Microwave on medium heat, in 30-second increments, to make honey clear again.

Bonus: We narrow down America's best local honey.

11. Prevent extra cooked pasta from hardening by stashing it in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerating. When you’re ready to serve, throw the pasta in boiling water for a few seconds to heat and restore moisture.

12. Keeping brown sugar in the freezer will stop it from hardening. But if you already have hardened sugar on your shelf, soften it by sealing in a bag with a slice of bread – or by microwaving on high for 30 seconds. 

13. If you only need a few drops of lemon juice, avoid cutting the lemon in half – it will dry out quickly. Instead, puncture the fruit with a metal skewer and squeeze out exactly what you require.

14. If you’re unsure of an egg’s freshness, see how it behaves in a cup of water: Fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.