Given that I am in technology sales, I spend a lot of time giving presentations. Conventional wisdom would say that Microsoft Powerpoint is a big part of my job. The problem is that I loathe Powerpoint. Of all the Microsoft office applications, Powerpoint has seemingly stood still amidst the other office applications with respect to innovation and features. My other pet peeve with Powerpoint tends to be on the receiving end of presentations which is not only bad slide-ware, but bad delivery from people who know very little about their presentation tool (content for a different post).

Having serious dissatisfaction with Powerpoint, I set out to find an alternative. Of course, being a Mac guy, using Keynote was a refreshing change but given that I have to use a PC for work and that converting presentations back and forth between Powerpoint and Keynote is problematic at best, I needed a cross-platform alternative that would play nicely in the business world. Enter SlideRocket. SlideRocket is an online alternative to Powerpoint for giving presentations. Here are my top five reasons I prefer SlideRocket over Powerpoint:

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Tags: SlideRocket, SaaS

I’ve been meaning to compile a list of places that my wife and l like to frequent here in Phoenix. Having lived in some great cities in the world and most recently San Francisco, we have been fortunate to have so much good, unique dining options right outside our front door. Of course, the fact that Phoenix is now geographically larger than L.A., proximity is not a requisite for this list. As well, Phoenix, like other cities that are spread out rather than built-up seems to have a love affair with chains and rather dull, run-of-the-mill type dining options. We’re not total snobs such that we don’t like to go to chains at all (okay, maybe just a tad), but we do try to avoid them here and support local, independent shops that offer something unique not only in the quality of service and food, but have a good sense of community around them.

Also, this list serves as a directory for those coming to town or those in town looking for our latest recommendation. So here it goes...

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Tags: food, dining

Yesterday, I attended a lecture on Prayer given by Bing Hunter as a part of the Timothy program at Scottsdale Bible Church. This is the same program through which I am going to Morocco on a service project. Below, is the recorded audio and notes from the session.
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Tags: timothy, prayer

My blogging history thus far has always been more about the experimentation with the technology than trying to garner an audience or following. Since 2002, I have tried my hand at blogging in some form or another. In the last couple of years, I have used my personal blog to focus on the topic of technology and design and how these two intersect. My blog interface has actually seen some traffic (68,000 hits thus far) over the last year with my focus on the Kindle and the iPhone. However, the frequency of my posts have been sporadic at best as I have only blogged when I have made the effort with my personal time outside of work. Lately though, I have felt compelled to make a more concerted effort towards a semi-professional blog in a more meaningful genre. I use the word “semi-professional” because it remains to be a part-time, unpaid endeavor that I hope can grow into a multi-author blog that can draw in a consistent following. So, I am using my personal blog to announce this new blog endeavor that I have launched as of late last night:

http://controversialchristian.net

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Tags: blog

This weekend, I upgraded my exhaust can on my CBR600. It sounds and feels like a completely different bike now. I’ve been riding sport bikes for about eleven years now. My current bike (Honda CBR600RR) is the sixth bike I’ve owned. However, this is only the third bike that I have upgraded from the stock exhaust. Before/After pictures after the break.

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Tags: motorsport

Pictures and video from tonight’s Latte Art Throw-Down at Press Coffee:

http://www.puhala.com/latte/

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Tags: latte art