I haven’t been very good at keeping up with this blog, probably because I’ve restricted the topics too much.  So, I’ve decided to go against everything I know about blogging and write about whatever the heck I want.  There’ll probably be a lot of tech and a lot of whatever TV Show/author/music I happen to be watching/reading/listening to at the moment.

Lately I’ve been watching a lot of Doctor Who and reading a lot of Neil Gaiman, so I may talk about them a lot.  You don’t care really, so I won’t bore you anymore with it, but I thought I’d warn you in advance.

BTW: The look of the blog may change while I pick something I like, but if you read this in a feed reader (as you should be) then what do you care?

Only a few days left to get your entries in for this book giveaway.  We’re giving away 5 sets of 11 books for dad.

I’ve discovered a fun new site called Plurk. It’s along the lines of Twitter, but much more fun (although I can’t put my finger on why.)

Long Days and Pleasant Nights may be down for a while, while we upgrade to a new version of Wordpress.  Wish us luck.

UPDATE: Woot!  It worked.  We’re now back up better than ever with Wordpress v.2.5.1

Dad loves to read, right?  Well, with father’s day coming up, we here at Long Days and Pleasant Nights thought we’d offer you a chance for a freebie.  If you are a dad, have a dad, know a dad or ever aspire to be a dad then you are eligible to win one copy of each of the books listed below.  Yes, the prize package is 11 books.

Hachette Book Group USA has graciously offered to supply the books.  Books that it specifically selected for dad’s everywhere.

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Here’s podcast #4 on visualization where I talk about preparing to organize using your mind.

• TechCast, my tech news podcast
• Make Use Of, my cool websites and software podcast
• Music (Springtime) graciously provided by: Grammy award winner Doug Smith

If you like what you hear, then please subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

I’d love to hear what you have to say, so please leave me a comment.  I’ve started using a new commenting system called Intense Debate.  Please let me know what you think.

I like being organized.  I enjoy the feeling of knowing that everything is in its place and when I go looking for the scissors it will be where I left it: to the left of the knives in the cutlery drawer.  I like being organized, but I must have got the recessive laziness gene that didn’t manifest itself in my parents. Perhaps it skipped a generation.  The key to overriding this gene, I’ve found is communication, but the only person you need to communicate with is you.

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I’ve been listening to The Secret audiobook and thinking that this can so apply to keeping an organized, uncluttered home and life. If you’re not familiar with the secret, it’s a kind of self-help movie dealing in the idea of positive thinking, but with a seriously thought out strategic way to think and feel positive. I think I’m feeling a podcast brewing on applying the secret to our homes.

If you want to try it now, my best advice — short of watching the movie — is this. Ask for what you want. Ask the universe for a clean, uncluttered home. Ask only once and be specific about what you want. Use positive wording like “I want an organized basement” instead of negative wording like “I don’t want a messy basement.” Now, believe and feel that you already have a clean basement. Act as if it’s already come true, that you have a clean basement already, even if it’s still a mess.

The idea is that the universe acts as your genie, the “your wish is my command” guy, but the universe mirrors your thoughts and feelings exactly, giving you what you think and feel, but in the real physical world. It’s not up to you to figure out how your basement will get cleane, that’s the universe’s problem. Your job is just to think, feel and believe.

Yes, this process involves a leap of faith, but if you take that leap and believe it will work, then it will work.

Please check out my new podcast.  It’s a short, fun, daily roundup of the tech news of the day.

Subscribe in iTunes or go to the site

I told you a little while ago that I was writing for one of my favourite tech blogs: makeuseof.com.  Well, part II of the great news about that, is that I’m doing a Make Use Of podcast as well.  The first episode went live today and so far it appears to be getting a positive response, although there are only two comments so far.  I’m ready for the negative ones, though.

You can listen to it by going over here or by clicking the little audio icon below.  It’s not on iTunes yet, but as soon as it is, I’ll let you know.