What's The Diff?

The things Quicken Loans team members care about and want to share with the world

New hopeful for World’s Biggest Jigsaw Puzzle

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Big congrats to Ravensburg, Germany from Quicken Loans DIFF blog for world's largest puzzle! by whatsthediffblog, on Flickr

I’m confronted with complicated puzzles everyday at Quicken Loans. I mean, really….I work with Clayton. I might be a nominated for sainthood someday.

But compared to my laborious days with the DIFFmaster, the town of Ravensburg, Germany has taken the cake. Or the puzzle. Whatever, they win.

Last Sunday, 15,000 puzzle enthusiasts took 5 hours to assemble a 1,141,800 piece puzzle in the town square of Ravensburg. Their work spans a staggering 6,500 square feet.

They’ve submitted the hopeful new record to the Guinness Book of World Records, but the entry has not yet been approved. However, the current puzzle record size holder is only 212,323 pieces compared to their 1+ million piece. Sounds like they’ve got in in the bag! Congrats, Ravensburg – what a feat of teamwork!

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Paul Newman was one cool guy

Monday, September 29, 2008

Paul Newman was one of the great onesBelieve it or not, I just found out Paul Newman died this past weekend from complications of cancer.  Sad.

He was one of my favorite actors of all time.

He was a stud. Super cool.

I remember, as a little kid, seeing The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and not being sure who was cooler – Paul Newman or Robert Redford.

His performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof inspired me to want to be an actor. Unfortunately I was neither as good looking, big, or talented as Paul Newman – so I act for free now.

Continue reading “Paul Newman was one cool guy” »

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Kiss My Astra update

Monday, September 29, 2008

Last month we posted about Kiss My Astra – a pretty cool contest Saturn was having. All you had to do was kiss a nice Astra and you could win a free Astra.

The contest is closed now, voting is done and the winner will be announced soon. You can view all entries here : https://saturnkissmyastra.com/entries/list

Cool contest. The DIFF blog likes cool stuff.


Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Make a difference – amateurs needed to help track earthquakes

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Like to help the world’s top scientist predicate the next big earthquake and possibly help save thousands of lives?

According to CNN.com, "almost anyone can participate by equipping laptop computers with special software or installing quake sensors at home."

Sounds pretty simple. If you live in an area with lots of quakes and would like to help, go to CNN’s site and get more info on how you can get involved and help the cause.

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Quicken’s Spare Change Challenge

Friday, September 26, 2008

Quicken's Spare Change Challenge is the DIFF!If you’re like me, you know you’re wasting money; you’re just not sure how much. For people like us, our friends over at Intuit have introduced the Quicken Spare Change Challenge.

Basically you answer 40ish questions to find out how much money you’re wasting in a given month.

It’s pretty eye-opening.

Although I try to keep pretty good spending habits, the questions asked definitely made me think twice about my consumption.

Maybe you’ll reconsider yours too.

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Google has 10 million bucks for you if you can change the world

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Google's Project 10 to the 10th is the DIFF - says the Quicken Loans blog According to CNN.com today, Google wants to reward those with ideas that can change the world – and reward them well. To the tune of $10 million.

It’s part of Google’s 10 years anniversary celebration (has it really been that long since I used Altavista and Infoseek??? Lordy, times flies).

So if you have a world-changing idea, Google has some money to back you up. One ideas that Google is reported to like: the Hippo Water Roller – a device that allows villagers in rural areas to roll water back to their villages from the water source. Simple, but life changing.

Here’s a little info on the project from CNN:

   People are encouraged to submit their ideas, in any of 25 languages, at www.project10tothe100.com
through October 20. Entrants must briefly describe their idea and
answer six questions, including, "If your idea were to become a
reality, who would benefit the most and how?"

Google employees,
with the help of an advisory board, will narrow the submissions to 100
semifinalists by January 27. Between January 27 and February 2, the
public will vote online for their favorite ideas. A panel of
as-yet-unnamed judges will then review the top 20 ideas and announce up
to five winners in mid-February.

Check out the full article on CNN and if you got an idea, send it in. You never know…

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

One Island uses wind farms, solar panels and sheep to power it all!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Samso-Danish-island-living-off-grid

Hey Clayton, remember about two weeks ago and we rode into work…and we talked about wind turbines along the highway?  Well it can be done.

There is all this talk about oil and gas prices and the cost of energy and yet this small island off the coast of Denmark that stopped just talking about it and actually did it.   

Holy moses.  Wow.  That’s all that came to mind as I read about the island that runs 100% on renewable energy sources.  The best part about this entire story is the fact that in 1998 they set out with a 10 year goal and in only 5 years they reached it.  Now they not only generate enough energy for their own island, but they also share the energy with the rest of Denmark.

Stories like this really make you think:

* What if we put wind turbines along the entire great lakes?
* What if we all installed solar panels on top of our homes?
* What if we never had to use oil to power anything again?

But how would we do this? The article does offer a piece of advice, "The crucial point is that we have shown that if you want to change how we generate energy, you have to start at the community level and not impose technology on people…What has happened here is a social not a technological revolution."

So friends, who wants to go in on a wind turbine with me?

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

The Today Show is in Detroit today!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Today Show is in DetroitIt’ s not often that something as big as the Today Show comes to Detroit. Wow, Ann Curry and Al Roker broadcasting from the D.

So I figured it’s worth a mention. If you are one of our Detroit area readers, you probably think this is cool. If you’re not, well, just be happy you have better things to be excited about than we do.

Anyhow, the Today Show came to Detroit as part of NBC’s “Battlegrounds” – a four-state road tour in places that will be key to the presidential election. The program was broadcast each day live from
a different city: Philadelphia, Tampa, Norfolk, and finally
Detroit – one day before the first Presidential debate.

Detroit’s segment featured Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, as well as  a story about hockey moms and how important they’ll be as voters in the upcoming election.

It’s nice for Detroit to be in the national eye for some reason other than our former mayor.

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Undecided? Finding Truthful Sources in Campaign Season

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Quicken Loans - Where can you find unbiased facts this election season?Stakes are high, and emotions are close to the surface. Pretty much EVERYONE has an opinion about who you should vote for. So what if you are one of the estimated 18% of undecided voters this election season? Where can you turn for unbiased information? We’ve all heard, "You can’t trust the media." So what sources CAN you trust to find facts?

As people eagerly await the debates this week to help them decide how to vote, there are Internet sites that can help you sift through the misinformation.  Try these two Web applications – both unaffiliated with any political party. They could help you determine how your concerns line up with the candidate’s platforms.

Continue reading “Undecided? Finding Truthful Sources in Campaign Season” »

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Quicken Loans shows you how to remove permanent marker from a whiteboard

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Have you ever accidentally used a permanent marker on a whiteboard, say a Sharpie for example, and feel like you just ruined the whiteboard?

Well, think again.

Quicken Loans Web Marketing Team members Matt Cardwell and Rebecca Carter show how to remove that permanent marker in just seconds in this very useful and educational video.

Yours truly is the video man, by the way. Sorry if it’s jerky, but you know, I’m a content guy, not a video guy.

Post Metadata

Social Bookmarking

AddThis Button

Secondary Navigation:

Promotional Information:

Partner Links:
Site Feeds:
Copyright:
Today's Date:
Thursday, May 17, 2012