Tips & Tools (Information Explosion)

I was asked by a co worker this week to provide some type of Information Explosion 101... so here's my attempt...

With so much out there ... how can you keep up? Well, although I can't control the content of the information you will subscribe too... here are some tips and tools to help all you bloggers,iPoders and web surfers get your daily dose of information .... (I'll throw in my suggestions and subscriptions along the way)

Blogs...

Google has always been Simple, Consistent & Powerful - as a result, their Google Blog reader offers all three in one. You can create your free account here. This tool will allow you to subscribe to all your favorite blogs and get their feeds all in one site - blog reading will become like checking your email. They also offer an "off line" feature which allows you to download up to 2000 posts and be able to read them while disconnected from the internet. Very cool for those "No Wi Fi" moments...

(I currently subscribe to 147 blogs ... some of which are updated daily, some weekly, and some NEVER!! ::cough cough:: They all vary from creative & leadership stuff to music and personal friends) Remember, you can subscribe to the news, comedy, reviews, whatever .... Email me for some blog suggestions...

Podcasts...

Podcasts are basically Audio Magazines (at least for me). I've gotten in a weekly routine of updating my iPod and taking my podcasts to the gym. There's nothing like multi tasking ... burning them calories while listening to Steve jobs or John Maxwell. Even though podcast's are not exclusive to iTunes or iPods - I highly recommend them!! On iTunes you can subscribe to a variety of Podcasts that update automatically to your computer and then to your iPod once connected. Here's a list of some of the podcasts I listen too (or watch) regularly:

-Catalyst Leadership Podcast
-LifeChurch.tv - Switch Film Podcast
-Maximum Impact - Leadership Podcast
-Creative Pastors Podcast w/ Ed Young
-The RELEVANT Podcast
-Flamingo Road Church PodCast
-Larry King Video Podcast
-VH1 Best week Ever
-MTV news podcast

Magazines...

Nothing like good old fashion magazines for those silent moments in the can :)
Here's what I subscribe too: Relevant Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, TIME Magazine & Men's Health - ( TIME & Men's Health are coming to an end, I might not renew it since the online version is just as good) Ohh... and just for the record - marcy subscribes to "Cooking Light". There's just something about holding a magazine and rolling it up afterwards that makes it irreplaceable... and plus - I just love smelling all the free fold out cologne samples ;)

TV...

I wouldn't be watching TV if it weren't for DISH DVR. It's what I want when I want it... selfish, I know ... but "it is what it is"! You may have TiVo, Apple TV, or IpTv - it's all very similar. It's the modern day VCR minus the dusty VHS tapes.
For us (Marcy & I), TV has become simply for entertainment and laughter... we normally watch TV while working out at home or with guests. Here's a current list of what we're recording... no news! :[

-SNL (For sure!!) reruns, new ones - all of them !
-Late night w/ Conan
-Letterman & Leno (I just watch the music acts) ;)
-Ed Young TV
-Cirque du Soleil stuff
-Influence w/ T.G.
-Planet Earth (the footage is amazing)
-Selected Socer Games (Brazil)
-Church Stuff... (yup.. I actually watch church stuff - the good kind)


Phone...

Aside from my Blackberry's basic functions.. which keeps me connected to my email, texting, twitter & more... I recently signed up with SPINvox which emails me my voice mail messages! So when I'm in meeting and can't take a call - someone will leave a message and it will be converted to text and emailed to me in under 5 minutes. I could then see it on my blackberry or my laptop. It's free... check it out.


Bible...

Sometimes we can get get caught up in the information explosion and allow these things to compete with the true source of information, one that has been around long before blogs, podcasts or any other weird gadget. God's word is by far more powerful than all these tools combined. Before you check your blogs or listen to your Podcasts... let me encourage you to purposefully stop and read His word. These tech tools only exist to help us be smart with our time and more efficient... let them help you make even more time for Him.

You see... news becomes old, podcasts come and go, blogs disappear, songs become overplayed, magazines become outdated but God's word never changes and His love never fails !! He is the same yesterday,today and forever - Hebrews 13:8


I'd love to hear your tips & suggestions ... post them here


The Best is yet to Come...