Be Lazier » Communication

Get Your Lost Cell Phone Back Without Having To Call It

Mr. Lazy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:00:59 +0000

Save the effort of finding a lost cell phone and make it find you by adding a “!CALL IF LOST” entry on your contacts list. That way the next time you’re plastered in a bar your entire family, friends, and that old booty call won’t get woken up by a good samaratin bartender.

Make sure to include the exclamation point in front of the name !CALL IF LOST so that it’s the first entry and easy to see. Also, if you couldn’t tell already, the contact should be in all caps.

The best way to make sure you get your phone back with the least amount of effort (besides not losing it in the first place) is to setup a Google Grand Central account so you can keep tabs on your phone from your computer. To further ensure you’ll get your phone back you can try adding the word ‘REWARD’ to the contact name.

As far as what you define as reward, well, that’s all up to you.

[photo by: davidsilver]

Lazy Bloggers Post Generator

Mr. Lazy — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:00:18 +0000

Don’t waste your time “thinking” and “trying to be creative” on your blog, when modern technology can write your posts for you. Using the Lazy Bloggers Post Generator you can come up with a blog post about what you are doing and how you feel about it in seconds of effortless clicking.

In fact, I’ve decided to use the Lazy Bloggers Post Generator to finish up this post:

OMG! I just totally realized I have not updated this since Paris Hilton was in jail… You would not believe that I’d been abducted by aliens. Dudes!.

I am swilling chardonnay with only your readership as life preserver, soaking in the tub, just generally being a biatch to the bodyguards of the blogger I am stalking, my day drifts aimlessly from midday to I run out of alcohol. I am not complaining though. I need a nap.

I will try to remember I promised you to update at least once a week. No, really! Assuming I don’t get distracted by counting my chest hairs..

[via: Learn-Learn-Learn]

Recycle Old Phone Books

Mr. Lazy — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:00:22 +0000

Phone books are a complete waste of space, energy, and outdated. Not to mention that but they are really not suited for the lazy at heart. Who can be bothered to search for a listing, when there is the Internet?

Most states offer some (usually free) way to recycle those big ugly yellow paperweights.

It’s a great way to be green the lazy way and even get your kids involved. Recycling is great and all, but if you really want to stop the paper war, write to your Congressperson and tell them ~~how much they suck~~ much waste phone books create. Oh, and they are a pain in the ass to get rid off, tell them that too.

Make All Of Your Phones Ring To One Number With Google’s GrandCentral

Mr. Lazy — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:00:43 +0000

Merge all of your various cell phones, home phone, and office to a single number using Google’s free GrandCentral. GrandCentral’s interface gives you the ability to screen calls, setup different ring tones for different phone numbers, and block callers.

GrandCentral can also be setup up to have all of your voicemails arrive at a single inbox that sends an SMS or email each time a message is received. Also you can setup up an account so Web users can call through the Internet. Similar to Skype, you can route international and long distance calls to a single number for free.

The Best Ways To Learn A New Language

Mr. Lazy — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:20:44 +0000

The best way to learn a new language in your adult years is to study like a child, immerse yourself, and repeat, repeat, repeat.

Here is a list of the best ways to get yourself speaking Urdu, Swahili, or Swedish as fast as you can.

Start by buying yourself Rosetta Stone – This collection of interactive CDs teaches you with immersion and visual cues that help you retain information. It is not a traditional course and not based on pure memorization or mindless grammar rules. Though Rosetta Stones don’t come with instructions, I’ve found the best way to learn is one lesson per day (as many times as you want) in 30 minute intervals. Don’t do more than 30 minutes at a time and not more than one lesson.
Find a copy of Pimsleur - The great thing about this set of audio CDs is that you can listen to them in the car. Listen and follow the directions twice a day back and from work, you’ll have basic conversational skills within 2 weeks.
Read online newspapers in the language you are trying to learn -The Washington Post is written at a 6th grade reading level. Newspapers have to get information across simply and effectively. Search around for a reputable publication and look over it at twice, at least 5 minutes per day. The key is to be exposed to the language in both spoken and written form, even if you don’t understand more than a couple words.

Think like a child - You will get frustrated whether you learn using a traditional method or not. Try to train your brain and learn a new language like you did you mother tongue. By piecing it together slowly, listening to how others speak, and not worrying about the rules (just yet).
Don’t ask ‘why’ - this and that grammar rule exist. Children don’t do that when it comes to language and it will only slow down your progress. Most people fluent in the language you are learning don’t know why the structure of past tense is the way it is – they just accept it.
Make friends -Both who speak the language fluently and who are proficient non-natives. You can usually find people to talk to in language courses, online forums, and via the embassy.
Take immersion classes -There are several language schools for any given language. Make sure you find a class that is immersion, which means almost no English is spoken in class. Email the school and find out before you sign up. Classes should be at least 3 hours per week and range from 300-500$ per every 6 weeks. Also, remember, don’t be intimidated, all of the other students are learning too!
Use online translation services and dictionaries – if you can. Anytime the translation of a work is nagging you, look it up – those are the words you are most likely to retain. Keep in mind that these are not perfect and can’t replace human translations. Dictionary.com has a good one for blocks of text, and here is another for less common languages.
Know how long it will take you to become a proficient speaker – Anthropologists agree that the length of time it takes to learn another language is generally based on how different it is from your first language. Natural Virtual Translation has the number of hours per language to give you an idea.
Get the curse words and slang down fast – They are usually the first few words you learn from a 2nd, 3rd, etc. language first. You want to speak like a native, not like a book…and tell dirty jokes at the same time!
Notice the ‘fill-in’ words -These are the words people use to fill in gaps when speaking. In English, it’s “um”, “like”, “yeah”. Making use of these words (for when you’re stuck or slowing down) help you to sound more native then using English “fillers”.
Think in the language -whether you know 2 words or 2,000. It’s silent practice and great for repetition. Remember, repetition = retention.

The basic rules you want to follow are:

Expose yourself to the language as much as possible, everyday of the week.
Speak whenever you have the opportunity.

And finally, have fun! Don’t worry about rules and messing up, you’ll get it right eventually with enough practice

Don’t Let Snail Mail Slow Down Your Life

Mr. Lazy — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:00:44 +0000

Old style mail is still around and is a major distraction from picking the lint out of your bellybutton. You have to check it (or the mailman yells at you), then bring it inside and eventually read it. As if that weren’t enough you should be shredding your credit card offers, bank statements, and other sensitive information.

Queercents [via Lifehacker] has compiled a list of easy ways to stop getting paper mail you don’t want. There are several online tools, call an opt out number (1-888-567-8688), or be proactive.

If the former residents of your house neglected to fill out a �Change of Address Form� or it expired, you can fill one out for them. You must fill out a card for each unique last name.

The full list has other good advice (though not for the un-lazy) – though it could get you back an average of 8 months back in the couch. That’s how long the average person will spend tearing, burning, and dealing with junk mail during their lifetime.

No related posts.