Step 1 – get Google Voice

Chances are you already have this. If you don’t, you’re missing out on a neat service (nevermind the incredible amount of power you’re giving to Google). You can sign up for an account here.

Step 2 – forward you Google Voice text messages to your email

Now you need to go into Google Voice and forward your text messages to an email address. This is under Settings -> Voice Settings -> Voicemail and Text. Check the box next to “Forward text messages to my email: xxxxxxx@gmail.com “. Now any texts you get to your Google Voice number will get sent to your email address. Handy!

Step 3 – Download Boxcar for your iPad

Boxcar is an app that lets you create custom push notifications for various services like email, Twitter and Facebook. The app is free for your first type of push notification, which works great for us, since we’re going to select email and that’s pretty powerful. Download Boxcar and add a new service. Select the “Email Account” service and give it a name. Once this is set up, it’ll show your “Forwarding Address”. When you forward any email to this address, Boxcar on the iPad will pop up a notification.

Step 4 – Setup an email forward filter in Gmail.

In your gmail account (the one that Google Voice is forwarding texts to), go to Settings -> Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Click the “Add a forwarding address” button and put in the Boxcar email address you got in step 3. You’ll need to verify the address. At this point Boxcar should pop up a push notification with your confirmation code. Type this into the verification box in Gmail and hit ok.
Now, go to Settings -> Filters in Gmail and hit “Create new Filter”. In the filter Subject line, put “SMS from”. Hit “Next step”. Check the box next to “Forward it to:” and select the Boxcar email address. Now hit “Create filter”.

Step 5 – Profit!

You should be all set up. Go to Google Voice and send yourself a text message. It should 1) show up in your gmail and 2) pop up a push notification on your iPad. Awesome!

PS. With a service like pu.ly or similar, you can now get push notifications for Twitter @replys and DMs too! Just forward the emails you want push notifications for to your Boxcar email address.

To win, the [defenders of economic freedom] must come together around core principles: that the purpose of free enterprise is human flourishing, not materialism; that we stand for equality of opportunity, not equality of income; that we seek to stimulate true prosperity rather than simply treat poverty; and that we believe in principle over power.

The author gives a clear explanation why individual liberty and economic freedom are the foundation of “the pursuit of happiness”.

The goal of our system should be to give all Americans the greatest opportunities possible to succeed based on their work and merit. And that’s exactly what the free enterprise system does: It makes earned success possible for the most people. This is the liberty that enables the true pursuit of happiness.

He also makes an interesting point that the Statists are the materialistic crowd.

The irony is that it is the 30 percent coalition, not the 70 percent majority, that is fundamentally materialistic. What do they consider the greatest problem of poor people in America? Insufficient income. What would be evidence of a fairer society? Greater income equality. For the leaders of the 30 percent coalition, money does buy happiness — as long as it is spread evenly. That is why redistribution of income is a fundamental goal and why free enterprise, which rewards some people and penalizes others, cannot be trusted.

Again, a very good read to refresh and renew your understanding of what makes America great.

Check out some of the new robots added to RobotBox. You can add your robot here.

Work hard, work passionately, but apply your most precious asset – time – to what is most meaningful to you. What are you willing to do for the rest of your life? does not mean, literally, what will you do for the rest of your life? That question would be absurd, given the inevitability of change. No, what the question really asks is, if your life were to end suddenly and unexpectedly tomorrow, would you be able to say you’ve been doing what you truly care about today? What would you be willing to do for the rest of your life? What would it take to do it right now?

The Monk and the Riddle, pg. 156

Here’s a link to the professional pictures from the wedding. It’s under the albums entitled “Wedding”. They were taken by Kristin Byrum Photography. Highly recommended.

You can also see lots of photos taken by our good friends Jim and Rhea.

More info here.

I think they miss dad.

He loved his grapevines.