Screensaver productivity

I'm at a stage of a certain project where there's quite a bit of massive bulk uploading going on. Even though the uploads are broken down into discreet (and easier to manage) chunks the uploads take approximately 11 minutes. That's a long time to stare at a computer and wait for the task to finish so I generally move onto another project. The problem is when getting wrapped up in another project I often forget all about the upload going on and lose precious upload time.

This morning, determined to streamline this process, I timed one batch upload (each batch takes approximately the same amount of time) and then set the screensaver on that computer to turn on after the required amount of upload time. Now as soon as the upload is complete the screensaver turns on and reminds me to start the next batch.

This obviously won't work if you're using the computer that's performing the time consuming task, since the screensaver only turns on after an allotted amount of time inactive. I'm sure I could've set an alarm or timer or something, but this way I don't have to remember to do anything since once the computer begins the task I'm no longer clicking buttons.

Infinite Online File Storage?!

I just came across MyBloop, which boasts of free infinite online file storage.
From their FAQ:

The current maximum size per file is 1GB. There are no limited to the number of files you can upload. There are also no limits on bandwidth.

um, wow. So I naturally wonder how long they will be in business, and how long I can anticipate using the service for free. Here's more from their FAQ:

Your files will never be deleted or lost. You can definitely store your vital files on MyBloop. We strive for excellence in file storage and we have built very powerful technology to ensure our user's files are always available. However, if you decide to store important files on MyBloop you should also keep backups elsewhere. If it's really something important, you don't want just one copy -- make duplicates and keep a personal copy of it!

hmm, OK now that's a tall order to fulfill. It's interesting that they assure you that you files will "never" be deleted or lost, but also recommend that you backup important files elsewhere.

Still, "infinite storage" is pretty attractive & I'll be testing this service soon. They even mention the possibility of uploading your entire hard drive! They do have certain file restrictions for security reasons, but they're understandable, and you can't download other user's music for piracy reasons which I think is pretty good, unless the other user is the creator of the music and wants to freely distribute it. I suppose in that case there are other services available.

If anyone has experience with MyBloop please send some comments.

Taking on another job

Since I got a taste for working from home over the summer I've been interested in finding more. Earlier today I may have found another part time lucrative work-from-home job. When I write about working from home I really mean digital work on my laptop, which could take place anywhere. I have a desk set up but certainly no "home office" and I'm not sure I'd want one (well, OK maybe I would). I live in a little one bedroom house by myself and so the living room contains the computer desk, which serves for all aspects of computing. The other day on Lifehacker they featured an awesome backyard shed turned home office. I wouldn't mind something like that!
In the mean time I've found that taking the laptop out to a cafe seems to make me more productive.

Electronic Bill Paying

In working towards "paperlessness" (and becoming more fiscally responsible) I decided to switch from paying my bills via snail mail with checks to online bill pay. Yesterday I added a couple of my newest bills to the system, just in time to realize I needed to pay my gas bill.

I used to open the bills and throw them onto the kitchen table. I'd see them there and realize I had bills to pay, eventually (when I had funds in the bank) I'd gather them up and write out checks and mail them all. Now that I've set up online bill-pay I don't have the bills cluttering up the kitchen table as a reminder to pay them.

I initially set up the electronic fund transfers as "manual" since I'm not yet comfortable having funds transfered without my knowledge. I still receive bills in the mail, which is the next step I'm looking forward to changing. I set up reminders to pay certain bills a couple days before their due dates as events in my Google calendar, and had them sent to my cell phone - bad idea. I'd get a text message reminding me to pay the gas bill while I was out having lunch or somewhere similarly inconvenient. Later I'd forget that I was reminded.

My bank allows me the option of eBills, described as the following:

Electronic bills (eBills) are online versions of your paper bills that you receive, view, and pay through Bill Pay. The only difference between an electronic bill and a paper bill is that you receive an electronic bill online, not through the mail. Although it may be displayed differently, all of the information you receive in your paper bill is presented online, and the frequency of the bill remains the same. You can print the eBills for your records, and set reminders for yourself to pay the eBill when payment is due.

So little by little I think I'm getting the hang of paying bills online. I now have about seven bills to pay every month and since I'm not sending them via snail mail and don't require the stamps I figure I'll be saving (7 x 42¢) $2.94 per month, which doesn't sound like much but over the course of a year ($2.94 x 12) it would come to over $35!

If anyone has experience with electronically managing their finances please chime in. What advice would you give to a newbie such as myself? Are there any downfalls you're aware of? Do you still use any paper accounting methods? Any comments and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

shredding

There goes a lot of personal and financial data from years past.
It's actually quite liberating.
I'd highly recommend it.
This is part of my planned paper-purge.