What do I think?

If you have a problem or question that you would like my two cents on, email me and I will give you my opinion. Relationships, emotions, Bible, spirituality, family matters, computers, decisions, life management, etc. You know, the kind of topics you find in this blog. Email me at dougdoan@yahoo.com.

Conditions:

• You must be a registered subscriber to this blog.
• I will post your question, and my answer, on this blog.
• Let me know how you want to be identified, if at all.
• Limit of 3 questions total, 1 each time.
• You understand and agree that my response posted here will be construed as "advice from a friend" based on the information you gave me. It is not to be construed as professional counseling.
• If you are interested in professional counseling with me through New Life Ministries, it's $75/hr, with the first session at half price. Call me at 800-545-1819 x 3. To see my availability click the Google Calendar button below.

hanging moss

i took this picture today at the park, partly because it had hanging moss. I love hanging moss and it was one of the things i was looking forward to seeing when i moved south.

After i moved here i found out that it isn't just "some pretty thing." It's actually a parasite that kills the tree! Dang. Now i like it but i hate it! Who woulda thought?

What do we have in our branches that is like hanging moss? Something that's pretty to look at, but is actually sucking the life out of us?

• a relationship?
• a possession?
• a job?
• a habit?
• a belief?
• an attitude?
• a vice?
• a habit?

Sometimes we have to sacrifice something that looks good in order to stay healthy, strong, and alive.

tech tips, tricks, tools, and recommendations

OK, you're a nerd. Maybe you haven't come out of the closet yet. But you can't wait to experiment with the latest gadgets, and your friends are always asking you for help with their computers. It's ok. We nerd you. (I mean NEED you! Whoops.)

In either case, here's some stuff you'll probably be interested in.

• http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/freesoftware.html
• http://www.auditmypc.com/web-security-resources.asp
• http://directory.fsf.org/
• http://downloads.zdnet.com/download.aspx?&compid=45929&docid=293538&tag=nl.e530
• http://www.fixya.com/
• http://www.auditmypc.com/broadband-speed-test.asp
• Recover Files Ever accidentally delete something you wish you could get back? This simple program makes it a snap!
• tiny url Ever want to shorten an impossibly long URL? Do it quickly and simply here.
• Test your internet connection upload and download speed, and how it varies depending on what city the server you are intacting with is located.
  
• velocimetro Internet connection speedometer. Tests upload and download speed. Make sure you pick your country from the drop-down list before you run the test. Also, enable pop-ups on the site in order to get graphs of your historical results.
• free mcafee stuff Free online tools from mcafee. Includes virus scan, a site advisor, and internet connection speedometer, etc.
• Team Viewer The best program I've found so far to view someone else's computer and take control of it from a distance (with their permission, of course).
• PDF creator Ever wish you could turn one of your Word (or other) documents into a slick pdf file? This program makes it easy to do that. Free.
• Kiss Youtube Like a video on Youtube? This site lets you download it to your computer.
• whatismyipaddress.com An easy way to discover
• your ip address.
• trendmicro Scan your PC for viruses for free.
• Kim Komando America's Digital Goddess. Enough said.
• ZDNet Where technology meets business.
• c/net tips and tricks
• yousendit.com Send large files over the internet for free. (File size imit is 100 MB. Larger sizes permissible with pay service.)
• esnips Upload and share anything -files, music, videos, documents, etc. Anything.
• zamzar convert files online without downloading anything
• audiograbber convert audio files to mp3. Also, capture music from tapes and LP's to computer. (Cool!)
  


• any video converter convert video files to mpeg format
  


• imageconvert Resize photos and images, and convert from any format to any other format.
• Windows Startup Ever get sick of all the programs that start automatically when you turn your computer on? Or maybe wonder about all the ones that are running in the background hogging up your computer resources? Download this free software and take control of what starts and what doesn't.
• best of the web: home electronics Good web sites dealing with home electronics
• best of the web: computers and internet Good web sites dealing with computer and internet
  
  
  
  
  Please let me know if any of these links don't work, or go to the wrong place. Also, please add your recommendations by posting a comment. I need your help to make this a great site. Thanks!

My coaching CD is now finished! :)

Steve Arterburn and I recorded a CD together about "Coaching" last Fall. It is now produced and available on the New Life web site. It is also being given out to all workshop participants. It will also be distributed to the 5,000 "Club New Life" members.

Here's what the write-up on the web says...

"Have you ever wondered what coaching is all about? Steve Arterburn chats with Doug Doan, one of New Life’s most effective Coaches. Steve and Doug explain what coaching is and share how it differs from counseling and therapy. You will learn how coaching focuses on the future and helps translate good intentions into action. They discuss what a coach does and how a person can benefit from having a personal coach. Common reasons for resisting coaching are explored and group coaching is also explained. They address the question of whether coaching is Christian by pointing to the many ways Jesus modeled coaching methods. To give a final flavor to what coaching is all about, Steve and Doug role play what part of a coaching session would look like using a real life situation from Steve."

To listen to the CD, click the play button.

coaching cd.mp3

To order the CD click here.

"Let's roll!"

DAVID BEAMER, FATHER OF 9/11 HERO TO SPEAK AT CHRIST’S CHURCH

The events of September 11, 2001 will forever be engraved in the history books of the United States as a day that changed the nation and altered American’s personal sense of security. One of the heroes of 9/11 was Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Flight 93. Todd and the other passengers on that flight realized the terrorists who had commandeered their plane were heading the craft toward a strategic target to do greater damage than simply to harm the passengers on board. After conferring with the other passengers, it was Todd’s rallying words, “Are you ready? Let’s roll!” that set in motion a counterattack from the passengers and crew. This successful counterattack ended when Flight 93 crashed in a quiet field in Pennsylvania, far short of its suspected target in Washington D.C. Many believe the terrorists had plotted to crash the plane into the White House or even into the United States capitol building. All of the passengers and crew died in the battle, including Todd Beamer.

Beamer was a devoted Christian. His faith in God influenced not only his value of human life, but also his hope for eternal life. Todd’s father David Beamer, will be in the area speaking at Christ’s Church located at 6045 Greenland Rd. – Jacksonville, FL 32258 on Saturday March 24th and Sunday, March 25th at all services.

You are invited to be present and meet David Beamer and to hear his story of hope, peace, and how his son’s life and sacrifice is a prime example of how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Mr. Beamer is speaking at Christ’s Church as part of 4-week series inspired by the hit television show, HEROES. Heroes is the fictitious story of ordinary people who discover their extraordinary abilities and who come to realize that they have to work together to save the world. Our story—and the opportunity we have to save the world—is real and God wants us to seize this opportunity to be someone’s hero. God wants us to work together—with Him—to save the world.

In this 4-week Heroes series, we are examining the lives of heroes from the Bible and in our community who did extraordinary things, so that we can learn how to do extraordinary things for God, too. This series will also include several special events designed to take the love of Christ to the people in our community and around the world.

political video satire

hillary clinton





john edwards



Barack-n-Roll High School



Bush State-of-Union



Bush impersonation

do u see what i see?

This is supposedly a picture of melting snow. Some people see something much more important in it. Do you?

Star at the 3 dots in the center of this picture for 30 seconds, then quickly switch to the white square on the right. What do you see?

Sometimes he is there even when you can't see him. It's all in the perspective.


Take 10 minutes to enjoy this video production. Be patient. The main part doesn't start until about 3 1/2 minutes into it...

Who is he to you?

more than a feeling...

In 1978 I went away to college and during that Freshman year this album was played many times and could be heard throughout the halls of the dorm. Thus began my love and appreciation for the band "Boston." That first self-titled album will always be their best in my book. So many classic songs.

Last week the lead singer of the group, Brad Delp, killed himself stating he no longer "had a desire to live," and that he was a "lonely soul."

He was known for being one of the most humble and friendly rock stars ever. His vocals were legenedary, and fit perfectly with the high-energy synthesized guitars that Boston was famous for.

For the last few years he was the lead singer in the band Beatlejuice, playing songs from the band he loved, The Beatles.

When I lived in Massachussetts I attended a small United Church of Christ for awhile just over the line in a little rural town called Atkinson, New Hampshire. Unbeknowns to me until now, that is where Brad lived (and died). Also, Atkinson was a stone's throw from the psychiatric hospital where New Life had a unit in the early 90's and where I worked as an Admissions Counselor, Hampstead, NH.

Here are the lyrics of one of their well-known songs. They seem somehow appropriate now.

"Peace of Mind"

Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying
Future's coming much too slow
And you wanna run but somehow you just keep on stayin'
Can't decide on which way to go

I understand about indecision
But i don't care if i get behind
People livin' in competition
All i want is to have my peace of mind.

Now you're climbin' to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can'tcha see there'll come a day when it won't matter
Come a day when you'll be gone

I understand about indecision
But i don't care if i get behind
People livin' in competition
All i want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Now everybody's got advice they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lot's of people out to make believe they're livin'
Can't decide who they should be.

I understand about indecision
But i don't care if i get behind
People li vin' in competition
All i want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead. look ahead.

Watch "Peace of Mind" live...




"More than a feeling" If this doesn't get your blood pumping by the end, you're dead.




"Don't look back" Good time, high-energy rock with plenty of harmony.




"foreplay/long time" An 8 minute romp including theater organ, synthesized guitars, throbbing drums, and screeching, soaring vocals.

Starbucks Contest

When I go to starbucks i get a coffee. Black.

On Saturday morning i was sitting outside starbucks by the drive thru. 27 people went through. Here are the things they ordered...

Latte
Hot Chocolate
Mocha
Coffee
Frappachino
Maracioto

Here's the contest...

Post a comment listing those products in order based on the frequency they were ordered, starting with the most-ordered and working down to the least-ordered.

The first person to get the correct order will win a certificate created especially for you by me, recognizing your coffee prowess. Plus your winning will be announced right here on the doanzone. (That's worth millions in itself.)

RULES

1. You can only enter once
2. You have to put at least your first name on the post.
3. If you win you can email me privately with your email address to which i can send your winning certificate.
4. Come back here to see if you are the winner.

Have fun!

you're joking, right?

We had a comedy night at our church last night. These blokes were there.

Henry Cho







"What's that clickin' noise?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaeAny6zgaU

One last one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PPw5SODqCQ


Jeff Allen

jacksonville stuff

Links

• City of Jacksonville official site
• Wikipedia entry
• 10best.com
• Duval County Schools
• Mandarin High School
• Christ's Church
• Mandarin Newsline
• Museum of Science
• Zoo
• Jaguars
• Stadium
• Veteran's Memorial Arena
• Suns
• Supervisor of Elections
• Department of Parks and Recreation
• JEA
• Public Library
• Airport
• Clerk of Court
• Freebird Live
• Florida Theater
• Tourism
• Chamber of Commerce
• State of Florida official site
• http://www.christianhealingmin.org/
• http://www.folioweekly.com/
• https://express.hsmv.state.fl.us/Express_Lane/
• http://www.wjxx.com/
• http://www.news4jax.com/
• http://www.jacksonville.com/
• http://www.wjct.org/
• http://wokv.com/
• http://www.fm88.org/
  

Ranking

• 15th highest foreclosure rate Q1 2007
• 51st best "Walking City" as ranked by Prevention magazine
• 24th "Fittest City" according to Men's health magazine (2006)
• 40th most populated city with 1,300,823 residents in July 2007 (up 1.7% from previous year.)
  #1 largest city in land area (almost a million square miles)
• #1 largest urban park system in the U.S.
• 3rd best city for business relocation or expansion (Expansion Managment magazine, 2006)
• 41st best city for business and carreers (Forbes, april 2007)
• 39th city to host the Super Bowl (2005)
• 34th best city for singles (Forbes, 2007)
• 22nd best city for young adult job seekers (BizJournals, 2007)
• 29th best road conditions (Logistics Today magazine, 2007)
• 295th best city for traffic/congestion (Logistics Today magazine, 2007)
  
  

Weather Forecast Weather Maps Weather Radar Hurricane Center

why a duck?

Watching the ducks in my pond every day... I finally realized i was jealous!

Not only would it be cool to effortlessly float along on top of the water, but they can go under the water, walk on land, and fly too! They can pretty much go anywhere. That's cool.

And they never get bothered by anything because it's like "water off a duck's back." (Sorry. Couldn't help myself.)

And now for some classic duck humor from the marx brothers...

Hammer: (pause) Well, we'll Passover that...You're a peach, boy. Now, here is a little peninsula, and, eh, here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.

Chico: Why a duck? (vi a duct)

Hammer: I'm alright. How are you? I say, here is a little peninsula, and here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.

Chico: Alright, why a duck?

Hammer: (pause) I'm not playing "Ask Me Another," I say that's a viaduct.

Chico: Alright! Why a duck? Why that...why a duck? Why a no chicken?

Hammer: Well, I don't know why a no chicken; I'm a stranger here myself. All I know is that it's a viaduct. You try to cross over there a chicken and you'll find out why a duck.

Chico: When I go someplace I just...

Hammer: (interrupts) It's...It's deep water, that's why a duck. It's deep water.

Chico: That's why a duck...

Hammer: Look...look, suppose you were out horseback riding and you came to that stream and you wanted to ford over...You couldn't make it, it's too deep!

Chico: Well, why do you want with a Ford if you gotta horse?

Hammer: Well, I'm sorry the matter ever came up. All I know is that it's a viaduct.

Chico: Now look, alright, I catch ona why a horse, why a chicken, why a this, why a that...I no catch ona why a duck.

Hammer: I was only fooling...I was only fooling. They're gonna build a tunnel there in the morning. Now is that clear to you?

Chico: Yes, everything excepta why a duck.

i don't know which is sadder...

john edwards and jesus

John edwards recently did an interview with beliefnet.com about his faith and religious views. Among other things he said...

Q: What parts of American life do you think would most outrage Jesus?

A: Our selfishness. Our resort to war when it's not necessary. I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs. I think he would be appalled, actually.

Go to this site to watcvh several video clips of the interview. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/213/story_21312_1.html

After you watch them, let me know what you think about his beliefs. I'd be interested to know. Thanks!

What I like about my employer

• We have a very long and consistent history of helping hurting Christians.
• We are balanced!!! We avoid the extremes which exist all too often in Christian ministries that try to help people… either so “method” and “formula” oriented that they are virtually indistinguishable from secular help… or so “spiritual” that they are completely irrelevant to the day-to-day life that people actually lead. New Life brings the “spiritual” and the “practical” together in a real, living, authentic, powerful, seamless, and seemingly effortless way… although it is anything but. A true art. A gem.
• We don’t pretend to have all the answers or to have it all together.
• We are not afraid to take risks… either in the issues we address, or the methods we use.
  We don’t get married to anything. If it isn’t working anymore we let it go and embrace change. We are unflinchingly contemporary.
• A radio program that excels far beyond any other Christian call-in show.
• A steady stream of timely, accessible, and life-changing books and resources.
• Our employees are awesome. Professional, love God, love people, sophisticated (in a good way!), and good team players and co-workers. Many of my best friends over the years have come from this company.
• We have a great HR director!
• As a coach, I appreciate being able to work out of my house, having the people I coach give me a lot of up-front trust because of who my employer is, having the privilege of focusing my time on coaching vs marketing, and the openness that has been shown to my ideas regarding the variety of coaching styles and topics I engage in.
• I am blessed!

www.newlife.com

time wasters

• http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/yankee_dixie_quiz.html
• http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/
• http://www.parodyville.com/
• http://www.lavasurfer.com/cereal-guide.html
• http://www.wittenburgblog.com/
• http://www.weirdal.com/home.htm
• http://video.stumbleupon.com/#
• http://www.longawkwardpose.com/
• http://soundboard.com/category_results.aspx?cnt=MTM%3d-tniwqYHjvW0%3d
• http://soundboard.com/index.aspx
• http://www.funnyordie.com/
• http://www.regrettheerror.com/
• http://overheardlines.blogspot.com/
• http://www.dailycognition.com/
• http://www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1bd.html
• http://www.thedigitalbeat.com/10about.html
• improv everywhere Groups of people doing funny or odd things in public on cue.
• funny or die Watch and rate videos to help decide whether they will stay on the site, or get kicked off.
• Zingfu Make your photos dumber
• Television Tunes Listen to hundreds of your favorite TV theme songs
• Bad fads The ones you will swear you never got caught up in. "Everyone else did."
• Splish Splash Kinda gross, but I laugh every time! lol
• Sketch swap Draw something. Submit it. Get someone else's drawing sent to you.
• Optical illusions
• Pop? Soda? Coke? What do you call it? Depends on where you live.
• Cyber cones Make your own virtual cone
• Cool Quiz Test yourself with quizzes and trivia
• Vote for the Worst! A site that encourages you to vote for the worst american idol contestant, to keep them in the running.
• do you speak "engrish?"
• hampster dance you wish i hadn't reminded you!!
• Bubble Wrap You know you want to pop some!
• wacky uses ohhhh the things you can do (with common household products)
• rumsfeld's wit and wisom
• 10,000 reasons why civilization is dooomed Feel free to add to the list
• Oddly enough Strange news
• Offbeat news More strange news
• Caught on tape Interesting videos
• Youtube See videos thousands of people have posted.
• The dancing baby You haven't forgotten already, have you??
• Guinness world records Includes photos and videos
• 3-D chalk art this guy draws stuff on sidewalks in such a way that they seem 3-D. freaky.
• Optical Illusions Lots of cool optical illusions
• Dirty car art Think you can't make beauty out of dust? Check out this guy's gallery.
• net disaster make it look like you are destroying a web site in many inventive ways. cool.
• despair.com beautful motivational posters. sort of.
• micro-image blog random everyday objects magnified
• Mr. Picasso Head Create your own Picasso masterpiece!
• Jackson Pollock Create your own Jackson Pollock masterpiece!
• carve your own jack-o-lantern
• Pianographique Create your own audio/visual collage
• Date Setters A chronology of over 200 predictions of the end of the world.
• Who said it? Take a quiz and try to guess who said each quote: Osama Bin Laden, Jerry Falwell, or Pat Robertson.
• Found lists Peek into the world of people's lists that have been found
• Found Magazine Pictures of all kinds of personal memorabilia people have found laying around
• Overheard in New York Things people have been overheard saying in New York City
• Overheard at the beach Things people have been overheard saying at the beach.
• Overheard in the office Things people have been overheard saying in the office.
• Earthcam Click anywhere on the map to find a live cam in that area.
• Last words Read what the last words were of criminals executed in Texas.
• the mango falls project What do you get when you develop film found in old cameras at flea markets and antique sales? Lots of surprises.
• make your own sign (May take a bit for the page to load.) When it is done you will see a list of various types of signs you can create.
• indie shorts If you like "independent" films, here are a few "shorts" you can watch online.
• the smoking gun The Smoking Gun: An interesting mixture of "gotchas." For example mug shots of famous people. Legal documents or police reports of popular court cases or of famous people. What do singers and bands require to be ready for them when they come to town. Even listen to fbi wiretaps of thugs.
• The Rapture Index It's like a speedometer showing how much current world events mirror what the Bible says about the last days. This guy gives a score of 1-5 for each of 45 categories (like natural disasters, economy, false christs) and comes up with a score. Kinda hokey, but interesting. PS Lots of other interesting things on the home page and the FAQ page. Check them out.
• The Wittenburg Door The world's only religious humor and satire magazine. The link will take you to the current issue. I remember reading this in Bible College in order to stay sane amidst the culture of ultra-conformity. PS Don't forget to check out the archives!
• midi-hymns Listen to a bunch of hymns and other Christian songs from the mid 1900's.
• infomercial heaven ya gotta love those informercials...
• ivillage quizzes how much do you know?
• fark how do i describe this site? hmmm... just tons of the weirdest stuff on the internet
• trivia quizzes from queendom
• mind strethers from queendom
• 
  

books

• Book Mooch Click here to see a list of books I'm giving away. If you see something you want, simply register with BookMooch (free) and request it from me. It's a great site for trading books with others all across the country! Do it!
• The Gutenberg Project 20,000 free online books!
• Christian classics Such as Pilgrim's Progress and The Imitation of Christ
• Early church fathers The writing of great Christian thinkers during the firt few hundred years after Christ
• Non-canonical literature A huge collection of literature resembling scripture, but not included in the 66 books of our present canon.
• The Online Books Page Over 25,000 free books online covering all categories
• Sacred texts A huge collection of books and texts considered sacred by one religion or another
• Amazon has great deals, particularly on used books...