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Mac Tip #3 – Use VirtualBox

I have been using VirtualBox for a while to run Windows on my Mac. It works great. 

virtualbox.png

It is not the "cleanest" user interface.  You have to setup, basically a new computer, and you have to buy a copy of Windows, but it works great.  Just load up the Virtual Machine and it is like you have another computer.  I know so other software packages like VMWare etc allow you to launch application from within OS X, but I don't use that many applications on the Windows side.  

If you find yourself consistently, but not not overwhelmingly needing to run Windows only apps, give VirtualBox a try.  It is free (aside from the cost of Windows) and it works quite well.  Just make sure you have enough ram. 

-updated- Sometimes you can get some random errors, but as this forum post explains, just reinstall VirtualBox, your virtual machines are untouched. 

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Mac Tip #3 – Use VirtualBox

I have been using VirtualBox for a while to run Windows on my Mac. It works great. 

virtualbox.png

It is not the "cleanest" user interface.  You have to setup, basically a new computer, and you have to buy a copy of Windows, but it works great.  Just load up the Virtual Machine and it is like you have another computer.  I know so other software packages like VMWare etc allow you to launch application from within OS X, but I don't use that many applications on the Windows side.  

If you find yourself consistently, but not not overwhelmingly needing to run Windows only apps, give VirtualBox a try.  It is free (aside from the cost of Windows) and it works quite well.  Just make sure you have enough ram. 

-updated- Sometimes you can get some random errors, but as this forum post explains, just reinstall VirtualBox, your virtual machines are untouched. 

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School Supplies Drive Tonight – HCVA

John-with-packages-206x275

If you are a new reader to my blog, you might not known that I help run a nonprofit called Help Cap Verde Africa. I lived in Cape Verde Africa for 2 years as an LDS missionary. I fell in love with the people. When I returned, myself and two of the guys I served with started a nonprofit.  First of all, I would tell anyone that is thinking about getting involved with nonprofits to NOT start your own. It is a lot of work, paperwork, and money.  Find one that is working in the area you are interested in and work with them.  Much more effective. However, that was not an option for us as there were no others that we could find. 

But the purpose of this post is to say that tonight at 7 we are doing our annual school supplies drive.  We go door to door asking for extra school supplies from students and families.  We then ship these supplies to a list of disadvantaged students we receive from one of our in-country partners.

Before you start shouting "trade not aid" let me say I agree with you.  Completely. However, we do what we can.  We also have calculated out the costs and it is more cost effective to get supplies here (even buying them) and ship them to Cape Verde than it is to buy supplies in country.  We also strive to only provide school kits to kids who wouldn't be going to school without them.  This preserves the local shops that do carry a few school supplies.  

If you are not in the Utah area but still want to help, visit our website. (HCVA) You can donate your time or money. We are grateful for all of our friends and supporters. 

Here is the Daily Universe Article about Help Cape Verde.

And here is our press release about the HCVA School Supplies Drive
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School Supplies Drive Tonight – HCVA

John-with-packages-206x275

If you are a new reader to my blog, you might not known that I help run a nonprofit called Help Cap Verde Africa. I lived in Cape Verde Africa for 2 years as an LDS missionary. I fell in love with the people. When I returned, myself and two of the guys I served with started a nonprofit.  First of all, I would tell anyone that is thinking about getting involved with nonprofits to NOT start your own. It is a lot of work, paperwork, and money.  Find one that is working in the area you are interested in and work with them.  Much more effective. However, that was not an option for us as there were no others that we could find. 

But the purpose of this post is to say that tonight at 7 we are doing our annual school supplies drive.  We go door to door asking for extra school supplies from students and families.  We then ship these supplies to a list of disadvantaged students we receive from one of our in-country partners.

Before you start shouting "trade not aid" let me say I agree with you.  Completely. However, we do what we can.  We also have calculated out the costs and it is more cost effective to get supplies here (even buying them) and ship them to Cape Verde than it is to buy supplies in country.  We also strive to only provide school kits to kids who wouldn't be going to school without them.  This preserves the local shops that do carry a few school supplies.  

If you are not in the Utah area but still want to help, visit our website. (HCVA) You can donate your time or money. We are grateful for all of our friends and supporters. 

Here is the Daily Universe Article about Help Cape Verde.

And here is our press release about the HCVA School Supplies Drive
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Mac Tip #2 – How to disable Front Row shortcut (Command – esc)

Disable "Front Row" keyboard shortcut

Turn_off_frontrow_shortcut

I often accidentally start Front Row on my MacBook without wanting to, because I use keyboard shortcuts a lot. The shortcut I probably use the most is Command-` (that would be a backtick), which lets you cycle through the windows of the current application. The ` character is right below the "Escape" key, and Command-Esc turns on Front Row which blacks the screen and pulls up the media menu and takes at least 10 seconds to get out of.  Really throws off my groove. 

The Solution is to turn off the shortcut. It is easy. 

1. Open the Keyboard & Mouse panel in System Preferences,

2. Go to Keyboard Shortcuts

3. Uncheck Front Row.  

Done.  No more screen going dark and you wondering what is going on.  The remote still works great to launch Front Row should you need it. 

Any other Mac problem or tip you want to know about? Tell me in the comments. 

Posted on by admin

Mac Tip #2 – How to disable Front Row shortcut (Command – esc)

Disable "Front Row" keyboard shortcut

Turn_off_frontrow_shortcut

I often accidentally start Front Row on my MacBook without wanting to, because I use keyboard shortcuts a lot. The shortcut I probably use the most is Command-` (that would be a backtick), which lets you cycle through the windows of the current application. The ` character is right below the "Escape" key, and Command-Esc turns on Front Row which blacks the screen and pulls up the media menu and takes at least 10 seconds to get out of.  Really throws off my groove. 

The Solution is to turn off the shortcut. It is easy. 

1. Open the Keyboard & Mouse panel in System Preferences,

2. Go to Keyboard Shortcuts

3. Uncheck Front Row.  

Done.  No more screen going dark and you wondering what is going on.  The remote still works great to launch Front Row should you need it. 

Any other Mac problem or tip you want to know about? Tell me in the comments. 

Posted on by admin

Mac Tip #1 – How to boot from a CD or DVD in Mac OSX

Mac tips and tricks are so hot right now.  So here is a great one. 

If your regular boot disk is damaged or if you can't set the CD or DVD as a startup device from the system preference, try one of the following options:

  • Restart your computer and immediately press the Option key. Icons for all available startup volumes will appear. Click the one you want to boot from, and then click the right arrow button to complete the startup process. 

  • Restart your computer and immediately press Command-Option-Shift-Delete. You must press all the keys at once. The computer will start to boot from the CD or DVD drive. If there isn't a bootable disc inside the drive when you begin the reboot, the computer will attempt to boot from another partition or drive. 

  • Restart your computer and immediately press the  c  key. The computer will look for a bootable CD or DVD and, if it finds one, will use it as its startup device.
There you have it.  Hope it helps. 
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Social Ventures at BYU

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I wrote a post for the BYU blog Academy Hill. It is all about Social Ventures and Social Entrepreneurs. A topic that I love.  Check it out here. 

Social entrepreneurship is a different path.  I just got out of a lunch talking with KPMG recruiters about different offices, and career tracks etc. Since it is so new, social entrepreneurs often have to chart their own course.  Which can be slightly disconcerting as all your friends are accepting solid, stable "normal" jobs. However, I believe that you don't have to chose between making money and doing good.

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