I got a bit tired of having notifications for unread messages coming to my Android phone from Google Buzz. So I took some time to figure out a way to avoid getting hammered with notifications. The solution: create a gmail filter!

1. Login to Gmail
2. Click the “Settings” link on the top-right.
3. Click the “Filters” tab.
4. Click “Create a new filter” link at the bottom
5. In the “Has the words:” box, enter “label:buzz” (without quotes, see attached image)
6. Click “Next step” and click “OK” on the warning box.
7. Check “Mark as read” and “Also apply filter to X conversations below” boxes, Click “Create Filter”

Done!

What this does is mark incoming buzzes to your inbox as “read” so you don’t get notified of unread mail all the time. Some variations are to have it apply a label and/or auto-archive it. Either way, you can enjoy peace again. *An important note: Even with the filter, the Buzz feed link in GMail on the left will still show unreads.

Hello everyone, if you own an android handset I highly recommend you check out the CyanogenMod firmware at http://www.cyanogenmod.com!

Check out #CyanogenMod on IRC: irc.freenode.net!

Download my Charlie the Unicorn app in the Android Market!  If you have a G1 or a MyTouch 3g, you can get this app for free!   Check out: http://www.cyrket.com/package/com.mattcarver.charliesoundboard

I hate Junk Mail, just more crap to shred.  I also hate Telemarketers, they call at the most inconvenient times and are too desperate.  I wonder what would happen if someone stole my identity…  I think we’ve all said or thought the same things.  After doing a little research, I found a very cost effective method to freeze your credit report from the 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) for $10.  In addition, you can reduce email spam, telemarketer calls, and Junk Mail for free!  Some people would rather put a fraud alert on their credit reports rather than a freeze.  Fraud alerts are free but offer no real protection, just a notification when credit is opened in your name.  Check some of these links for information on the differences: Google: Fraud vs Alert

Here is the list of things you can do to lock down your credit, reduce spam, reduce telemarketer calls, and reduce junk mail:

1. https://www.optoutprescreen.com :: Opt-Out of Junkmail offers from Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.  This is a legitimate website from the FTC.
2. http://www.donotcall.gov :: Opt-Out of Telemarketer Calls
3. http://www.dmachoice.org/consumerassistance.php :: Opt-Out of direct mail marketers lists for free.
4. http://www.dmachoice.org/EMPS :: Opt-Out of Email marketers lists for free.
5. https://www.experian.com/consumer/cac/InvalidateSession.do?code=FREEZECENTER :: Freeze your Experian Credit Report for $5.
6. https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp :: Freeze your Equifax Credit Report for $5.
7. https://annualcreditreport.transunion.com/fa/securityFreeze/landing :: Freeze your TransUnion Credit Report for FREE!

*Most of this information was freely obtained from the FTC website at or from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre17.pdf

I added a photo gallery page to the website. I had several issues getting Lightbox to play nice with the caching engine on the website, but I was able to get everything squared away. Most of the pictures you have probably already viewed if you have been following my blog. I will be adding more pictures in the future so stay tuned.

Today I was able to build the MySQL database, tables, and users to store and retrieve the crime data.  I wrote the PHP database connectivity scripts and the main page with a full liquid CSS layout (grows with browser resize).  Currently the map will retrieve markers from the database and plot them on the Google map with my customized data.  I also completed a simplistic theme for the web page, which may end up the final theme until I begin working on SVcrime 2.0.  Some things to come in the near future: custom map markers depending on type of crime, the remainder of the web pages, and ad-hoc crime query modifications.  Here is the alpha screenshot!  ENJOY!

Life as you know it couldn’t get any worse…  Somebody backed into the back bumper on my car parked out front.  I haven’t taken pictures of the damage.  Its time to either sell the car or get full coverage because this is ridiculous.  At this rate, the car will be scrap metal by the end of the year   Wish me luck on this one…

I watched the fireworks on the 4th of July at the Stone Sports Complex in Sierra Vista.  Supposedly, the fireworks display this year was the largest in the state although the finale was ranked 3rd.  Overall I thought the fireworks were great.  Here is a picture I took with my cheapo Canon, I was toying with the shutter speed.  Hope you all enjoyed your 4th!

I just moved MattCarver.com to a new web host.  I never thought cheaper, better, faster was possible… until today.  The old web host was far overloaded and made my site crawl along slowly.  I even worked some magic into a static html cache backend to minimize php interpretation loads but with little success.  After being fed up, I finally made the plunge and found another web host.  I shaved 40% off my monthly bill and got a lot more features including SSH access.  I hope you all enjoy the speed increases as much as I do

I almost stepped on a snake earlier tonight!  I was walking out the door, when I stepped down the little guy was about 5 inches from my right foot.  Thank god I was wearing flip flops, haha.  Anyways, here’s the picture of the snake.  Maybe you can help me identify it.