Before the Buzzer

Welcoming Lincoln Beckett Zubert

Mark Zubert — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:15:23 +0000

We are proud to announce the arrival of our new son: Lincoln Beckett Zubert. 8 lbs 6 oz, 20 inches long, born September 17th at 5:43pm — the day before my birthday! What a gift he is to us all!

Take a look as the action as it went down at http://twitter.com/zoobey

Be part of the conversation at http://facebook.com/markzubert

See the mobile pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11202813@N00/tags/lincoln/

Lake Michigan Family Photos

Mark Zubert — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:08:20 +0000

We are fortunate enough to have world-class photographer Ben Pancoast for a friend, and just before Westin turned 2 last month he took some time to help us out with a family photo shoot.

We are so grateful for the people in our lives, the family he is growing us to be, and the journey God is taking us on.

Oh, and please kindly overlook the ones where I am uncomfortably hanging my mouth open like a deranged muppet.

Vision: Single Mobile Pic upload to Twitter, Facebook, Twitpic, Flickr, Blog Feed, and Home Page Gallery.

Mark Zubert — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:43:25 +0000

Mission accomplished!

I tried shozu, twittergram, and a host of other ideas, but everything fell short. What I found to work actually does not require a special app, so it would work from an iphone, blackberry, palm, windows mobile, or any device with internet access.

Here’s how it works:

I send the picture as one email to my xxxx@twitpic.com and my xxxx@photos.flickr.com addresses simultaneously. The subject line of the email becomes the line of the tweet and the title of the picture in Flickr. You can find your custom addresses at http://twitpic.com/settings.do and http://www.flickr.com/account?tab=email.
I have Facebook set up to import my tweets, so the status updates automatically.
I also have Facebook configured to import my Flickr photos so the picture will show up in my FB Newsfeed.
In my wordpress blog, I use the widget “Quick Flickr” to show the latest mobile pics.
In feedburner I used Photo Splicer to add the most recent mobile pics to my blog feed from my Flickr “latest” Photostream feed found at the bottom of my photostream page.

Voila! On my TouchPro, sending the photo in an email is very efficient and even though I have to add the two addresses, I found it faster than using a downloaded app that has to be opened and the prompts followed. I can uninstall my apps to save room and have all the features I am looking for with a simple email!

Cheers!

5 Reasons: Oobgolf.com

Mark Zubert — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:01:08 +0000

5 reasons why Oobgolf rocks compared with other golf trackers:

Updates Twitter when you post a new score.
Login with Facebook and show stats on your profile.
LIVE round tracking with free mobile scoring (including compatibility with several iPhone apps)
Track stats no one else has and publish with widgets
Anyone with a Facebook account can post comments.

Check it out for more…
… and add me as a friend!

http://www.oobgolf.com/golfers/Zoobey

Notable alternatives are http://stracka.com and http://loopr.com

OneHundredPushups

Mark Zubert — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:13:30 +0000

Today I began a new goal: to be able to perform 100 pushups. Do I think I can do it? Not really. But I am willing to trust the plan at hundredpushups.com and give it a go!

I took the initial test a few minutes ago and I creaked out a shaky 24 pushups. 100 seems an impossibly long way away. Hopefully no one at the office was disturbed by my grunting and labored breathing.

I am doing this for 2 main reasons: to get in better shape, and to reduce pain in my neck. Sitting at a desk all day has certainly not helped my fitness level. For the sake of my own accountability I will make my progress public. And maybe it will help improve my golf swing!

Anyone want to join the fun?

Free Birthday Golf in Minnesota!

Mark Zubert — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:56:00 +0000

I enjoy golfing almost as much as I enjoy scoring a steal of a deal. Well, there isn’t a better deal in golf than free. While scouting out golf specials for this year, I came across a number of courses in Minnesota offering FREE BIRTHDAY GOLF. I’ve assembled the list of the ones that I know of for my fellow frugal fairway finders. Some of them are good for the whole birthday month or longer! If your birthday is in the winter, they either honor a half-birthday, or require you to use your round within a certain time frame.

So, here’s the list with links to the free birthday golf sign-up pages:

Oak Marsh Golf Course - Oakdale
- Good during month of your birthday – http://bit.ly/wQOLf
- Winter birthdays may use free round in April or October.
Sundance Golf Course - Maple Grove
- The coupon I received last year was good for over a month after my birthday. After registering, you may have to email in to get the certificate. – http://bit.ly/3wC7Tz
River Oaks Municipal Golf Course - Cottage Grove
- Good one week before or after birthday - http://bit.ly/2s87PK
- Winter birthdays must golf before May 1
The Links at Northfork - Ramsey
- Must be used on actual birthday. http://bit.ly/1agFwy
Black Bear Golf Course - Carlton
- This one is a drive to get there, but the free round can be used anytime during your birthday month. Winter birthdays can choose a summer month to play, so it may be easy to coordinate with other golfers for a shared trip. http://bit.ly/2e5I8j
Rush Creek Golf Club - Maple Grove
- This one is not entirely free as they require a cart rental of up to $19, but it is a great way to play a pricey course (up to $105) for as low as $9 (renting a cart after 5pm). Good on actual birthday or 1/2 birthday. http://bit.ly/BTRds

Are there any other free birthday rounds you know of?

Big Family News!

Mark Zubert — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:28:00 +0000

“Fancy Drapes” Sale gets Home-tex Fashions noticed

Mark Zubert — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Draperies and Window Coverings magazine’s Editor, Howard Shingle, wrote about the business I work at today on his blog, and the post is currently featured on the magazine’s home page . His commentary is in response to a press release I sent out about regarding our “Fancy Drapes” sale.

“Hometex sent out materials to its customers that say, “Even ‘Average Joe’ can afford our ‘fancy drapes!’” Home-tex Fashions Washable Window Treatments are a lasting value, not an unnecessary extravagance. Save money and add beautiful functionality to your home or office. All our products are custom-made by skilled hands here in the United States. Buy ‘fancy drapes’ for your country! We’re all in this together.

“The sale is in response to President Obama’s remark on February 25th in his speech to a joint session of Congress, ‘This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.’ He was apparently referring to the CEO who spent over $45,000 of company money on window treatments for his office suite in 2008 while his financial company was suffering huge losses.”

Howard Shingle’s Blog Post

IBM Buckling Spring Keyboard Find! $1!

Mark Zubert — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Some people know enough about antiques to be able to identify items of worth at a thrift store: well, I just scored a geek-tique. This is a mid-90s IBM Model M. Lifehacker has it at the top of the list of best keyboards as submitted by users. Each key has a spring that buckles and makes a tactile and audibile “click” with each stroke that just feels right. This model sells for $55 online, but I found it in perfect working condition for $1. Once I get it the keys popped off with my divot tool and thoroughly cleaned out it will 100% nerdtastic.

Westin’s One Year Photo Shoot

Mark Zubert — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:41:00 +0000

Westin’s One Year Photo Shoot