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Get Paid to Exercise, Yes Really!

February 27th, 2012

XTC Fitness launched a 12 week weight loss challenge that is probably about half way through by now and the winner gets a lot of cash.

Now for those who missed out on this opportunity and for those that are not members at XTC Fitness you can still get paid to workout.

Here is how this works. There is a gym mobile application called Gympact that pays you money for working out. Unfortunately it is only available for the iPhone at this time.

It may sound too good to be true but it is for real. What happens is that you setup an account with them and a part of that includes giving them your credit card information.

You set a number of days you plan on working out at your gym per week. Gympact asks you to check-in through their app when you go to your gym so they know you went.

This application basically helps to keep you accountable to your gym workout goals. If you fail to go to the gym the allotted number of days you set than you end up paying money instead of getting money.

If you workout everyday you promised Gympact will pay you for it.

So what you have is a pool of money from all those people that failed to workout. If you are good at sticking with your fitness goals you have one more reason to show up to the gym now.

If you have yet to find the best Tyler TX gym I would like to direct you to go by Tony Cruz XTC Fitness & Sports. This is a very large mega-gym in Tyler I visit 4 – 5 days a week.

XTC has over 80 group exercise classes a week and is sure to give you plenty of planned out reasons why you should come to the gym at almost any hour of the day.

Other fitness applications that reward you although not in cash like Gympact are: Earndit, Fitocracy, Switch2Health, and Nexercise.

Earndit is the closest to Gympact because you can win gift cards to retail stores. You can connect your RunKeeper or FitBit account to this app. To connect up you can simply login to the app using Twitter, Facebook, Google, OpenID, and others and start earning.

If you just like that motivation that comes from the praises of others than Fitocracy may be the app you need. This app is heavy on the gamified aspect of design. You get a combination of a game and social network that allows users to join groups and motivate one another in a contest of sorts where you earn many different coveted badges.

Switch2Health is like Earndit because it allows you to win gift cards. This app is also compatible with many different devices such as the iphone, Nike, Foursquare, and Android.

The last app I am aware of is called Nexercise. This app is an iphone fitness app with a lot of promises such as coupons but at this time only offers a gamified competitive fitness experience with other gym goers like the popular Foursquare check-in service. You can expect things like badges for reaching different fitness achievements.

Holiday Reading

December 17th, 2009

Well, Christmas is upon us again and we’re all busy rushing around looking for those perfect gifts for the people in our lives. As someone who grew up in a family of teachers, books have always been a huge part of our holiday giving. For our family a welcome part of the holiday experience has always been taking the time to sit down crack open some new reading. I’ve written fairly extensively about Tyler’s area bookstores, but given the season I thought it might be advantageous to our readers to quickly revisit some of our better establishments for those looking for some seasonal literature.

Barnes and Noble

B & N in Tyler always has some great deals for Christmas. If you’re looking for the latest best sellers you can’t do much better the retail giant. They usually offer about a twenty or thirty percent discount on whatever happens to be hot at the time. They also have a huge selection of calendars, cards and other gifty items. Another advantage of shopping there is the café. The Starbucks franchise sells everything any coffee addict might want, from travel mugs to bags of coffee beans. The one disadvantage (if it bothers you), are the crowds. As with most retail stores; the Barnes and Noble does a large percentage of its business at this time of year. If you don’t mind the rush however, this is always a great place to check out.

Fireside Books

For those looking for literature on the more unique side I would suggest Checking out Fireside Books at 110 East Houston. This is a locally owned bookseller specializing in used and rare books. The store is not as trendy or seasonal as B & N, but for those on our Christmas lists who value those more obscure or hard to find titles this is good place to check out.

Pea Picker Books

I my opinion Pea Picker is not a store for those bigger gifts. The business carries largely paperback books of varying quality and is probably not the place for nicer purchases. If you’re looking for stocking stuffers or more last minute items you may have some success, but don’t expect to find too many gems.

Lifeway Christian Stores

Lifeway is another good seasonal store (not unlike B & N actually) with a Christian theme. The store carries the latest Christian literature, music and gifts. They also sell mugs and coffee. The new location is a beautiful store, and will undoubtedly be a busy place in Tyler this Christmas.

The Scroll

I must confess that the Scroll is one of my area Favs. It is a Christian bookstore with a wide variety of literature. They carry all kinds of music, gifts, mugs and other items with a religious theme. The staff is there to offer any assistance the customer may require. This area business has been a staple in Tyler for a lot of years so expect a busy store.

There are a few other Booksellers in town but these are probably the best ones to visit for the holiday shopping. For those who require a more detailed description of the stores listed above, visit the Tyler Blog section of this site and look for the following titles: A large bookseller with local appeal, Still think there are no are no old bookstores in Tyler, The Scroll Christian Bookstore in Tyler, Pea Picker Books in Tyler, and The New Lifeway in Tyler.

Tyler and Whitehouse Texas Police

November 16th, 2009

The Tyler Police Are Known For Keeping Tyler Safe

Non-emergency Tyler Police Phone Number: 1-903-531-1000

I have for a long time been a great fan of the police in Texas. The police department is one of the primary local government responsibilities and is one of the main reasons we can walk around the city of Tyler without having to be on our guard all the time. Comparing the United States of America to a country like the Phillipines or another less governed country you will find that you have to watch your back and where your going or you may end up in a knife fight or have to hand over your wallet or something. Now think of the city of Tyler and how many places you can go without having to worry about a mugging or potential knife fight. We have a lot of freedom because of the police in our town. Some people I know feel comfortable even leaving their houses unlocked night and day. I still lock my house and keep it armed but for some to feel comfortable enough to leave their house unlocked in Tyler it really helps make the point about just how much we rely upon the police department.

The Threat Of Police Force Keeps Criminals Civil

The color of law is a good example of why people act civil in a city like Tyler TX. Teenagers and people in general know that the police are only a few minutes away. Just the thought that if the police were to be called they would show up quick keeps gangs and punk kids from stealing from retail stores, homes and vandalizing buildings and parks. Of course crime still happens in Tyler but it is nothing remotely similar to what can happen in a 3rd world city. In many cities in the world if a thief is caught stealing something from a friend, neighbors, or relatives house that person will likely be killed. If the thief isn’t killed on the spot they may be killed later on once the thief is discovered. In those countries the law is in a mans own hands especially out in the country. In Texas we still have the right to kill someone caught in the act of stealing from our property or breaking and entering. Where the right to protect ourselves ends is when the thief leaves someones property with the stuff and you find out later that they have stolen something. At that time the police should be called and a judge or jury will pronounce innocence or guilt.

In General Your Can Count On The Police To Help You

Thank goodness in Tyler TX and most areas in the USA if you find a thief or robber breaking in to your home you can call the cops and they will arrive soon to help and protect. Things like the police, court systems, and the fire department or some of the most fundamental basic protections we have that make the American society so great. A very small amount of corruption is evident in the police departments throughout Texas and keep our town and residents safe. Racial profiling, douche bag cops, and your stereotypical bald headed mustached police officers do exist but in large part you get a law abiding officer there to assist. If you have a problem with authority you will easily find a way to attack and profane an officer of the law during a traffic stop although 9 times out of 10 if you step back and think about it they are just doing their job.

When Police Act Unlawfully

So when does a police officer step over the line of what is lawful. Police men are just everyday Joes with the extra courage and ability to put themselves at great bodily harm every day. They are not schooled in Constitutional law and they do not know every single code by memory. Even state prosecutors that represent the state in Tyler city courts have to look in the police code book every once in awhile and sometimes even are corrected by the accused. Because the police and even trial state prosecutors often get things wrong we recommend never pleading guilty. If you really are guilty and there isn’t even a hint that you could be innocent I would atleast talk to an attorney first before declaring yourself guilty. There is no way out of a plea agreement once you have signed away your life to whatever the terms of that plea agreement were. There is simply no way to reverse course once your plea has been entered.

The Color Of Law, Don’t Fall For It

Police officers operate under what is known as the “color of law” and this is simply the illusion that everything they ask and tell you to do is lawful for them to ask and tell you. This is an illusion that helps the police do their job quickly and with as little friction from the citizens they enforce the laws on. The “color of law” is not always lawful to do or the law but many times you will feel compelled to comply because they have the gun and you may be facing jail time. I once had a police officer pull me over because of an expired inspection sticker. I began to explain to the officer that I had just gotten a warning 10 minutes prior and I was on my way to the inspection station. This may sound like a pathetic lie but it was the truth. I showed the police officer my warning ticket and instead of letting me go he proceeded to write me another ticket. I argued at this point as I believed although this was the letter of the law he does have the flexibility to offer a warning whenever he wants. I asked him, “Wouldn’t this be an appropriate time to give a warning if there ever was a time?” He proceeded to tell me that he has the right to take me to jail for my expired inspection sticker and that he is being lenient in just giving me a ticket. He was actually telling the truth and everything he said was lawful. In my opinion this police officer was being a douche bag cop and was just meeting some type of unstated quota. He denied he was making a quota on tickets because that would be illegal but many would agree the reason he didn’t offer a warning at one of the most appropriate situations was due to some quota requirement he felt he was under.

Examples of Color Of Law Practices

A good example of “color of law” police enforcement was during a situation where a police man came after someone I know who preaches on college and university sidewalks. In Jesse’s situation they not only threatened him with unlawful things they would do with him they actually arrested him. This however came back to bite them. On Berkeley University campus in California you can burn flags, espouse communist propaganda, walk around in the nude and it is all allowed. No police officials will be taking you to jail over any of those things. Battles and lawsuits were settled long ago in Berkeley where police, officials, and school administrators are scared to ever attempt to limit someones free speech which is how it should be. In the USA we fight for these peoples freedoms to say whatever they want. That is their right and we will fight to protect it. However on quite a few university campuses and city sidewalks a man by the name of Jesse Morrell has been forcibly removed off campus by police sometimes in hand cuffs. In almost all cases he has sued these campuses and police departments for unlawful things they did and he has won. In fact he has been allowed back on campus after the lawsuit was finished by the same police and universities that had initially removed him. In rare examples like this involving constitutional law where some police officials have no understanding you will see the “color of law” used. Another example involves recording a police officer during a routine traffic stop. In Texas especially, you have the right regardless if the other party knows that you are recording them to record your conversation.

Recording Your Police Encounters Is a Good Matter of Practice

I always turn on my audio recorder on my iphone anytime I am stopped by the police so that if I need to go to court I will have the evidence necessary to defend myself. Don’t let the police officer convince you that you must turn it off. If the police officer sees the recording device and tells you to turn it off ask them what law you are breaking. If they are vague and cannot give you a law than ask to speak to their supervisor. Instead of there just being one side to the story from the Tyler police documentation there will also be my side of the story. I will usually ask the police officer about when the last time they were trained to use their radar gun, when was its last calibration, what type of technology is the radar. Depending on how the officer answers these questions I will follow up with more detailed questions. I will also ask them where they were parked when recording my speed and where I was located. Depending on where I was pulled over and where I was clocked it could be that he pulled over the wrong guy. The police man could have also had an incorrect reading on their radar gun. I make a point to drive according to the speed limit and in rare occasions I may not see a speed trap. Sometimes I am the one in the wrong but it is always good to be prepared in case you need to fight in court.

Tyler Texas Speeding Ticket Court Cases Can Take Up To 6 Months

Right now in Tyler Texas it generally takes up to 6 months before your traffic ticket goes to trial. I recommend hiring a lawyer to handle your traffic tickets but be prepared for a long wait until your case goes to court. If you are thinking about using the right to a speedy trial argument prepare for this to not work. In general local city judges will usually never agree with you on “the right to a speedy trial argument” and you will have to actually go to court.

The Whitehouse Non-Emergency Police Phone Number

Non-Emergency Whitehouse Texas Police Phone Number: 1-903-839-2828

Comparing Whitehouse and Tyler Police Forces

When comparing police offices in Tyler and Whitehouse I have noticed a stark difference. Whitehouse Texas Police is almost guaranteed to have an officer at every tricky speed trap in the entire city. If you miss one of these speed limit signs you are almost guaranteed to get a speeding ticket. I avoid going to Whitehouse TX at all costs because of the sensitivity the police have of stopping you for any and every speeding violation however minor it may be. In Tyler TX there are just the right amount of police on the road to handle speeding, and traffic stop violations. The police in Tyler are not overly zealous in my mind in pulling you over if you are 5 – 10 miles over the speed limit. I would still be careful to pay attention and go the speed limit but you will have less trouble in Tyler than you will in Whitehouse. It is ashame that I have such a mental road block from driving into Whitehouse because I love Ribmasters so much. Ribmasters has got to be the best ribs restaurant in East Texas that I know of. If you do have to go to Whitehouse be sure to pay attention to the speed signs and go just as far as RibMasters. Once your done turn right back around to go back in Tyler. Don’t be tempted to drive so far as to Brookshires or beyond because it could be too late for you.

A Bad Story Involving Tyler Police Response Times To A Potential Deadly Encounter

A pet peeve I have with the Tyler Texas police department was their handling of an incident involving my wife. One night a few years ago she was leaving from Tyler Hastings and there were not many people or cars in the parking lot. The store had just closed and she was walking out to her car. A man began running after her as fast as he could run. She barely made it into her car and the man continued to grab at the door handle and car door. She drove off as quickly as she could and ran over his leg. She frantically pulled into TGI Fridays and called 911. The police answered and told her to fill out a proper police report she would need to go back to the Hastings parking lot (the store was now closed) and wait for them there even after she told them of the situation. This makes me wonder if the 911 call center in Tyler Texas has been filled up with your typical bureaucratic drones. Please don’t say it is so as I think Tyler is better than that. Anyway, she ended up going back there to the parking lot with her dad and waiting. The police showed up a couple hours later!! after she was almost mugged and possibly raped. A week later she was pulled over for a recently expired inspection sticker and given a ticket. The inspection sticker ticket seemed very efficient for the police department and the penalties and things in place for not paying insured my wife quickly paid and handled this city violation. When it comes to being potentially mobbed or raped there is not even a follow up call. A two hour wait for the police at the same parking lot after a possible deadly encounter took place is not right. And imagine no follow up call even though the police have the guy on the Hastings security video tape footage.

Texas Police Are Still Some Of The Best In The World

I do thank God for our police force in this country as I believe it is the best police and court system in the world. We could very easily lose what good we still have if we do not complain over situations like this. A reasonable response time for deadly encounters is appropriate as well as less priority to things like inspection stickers if that is what is needed to make this happen. Having a skewed opinion of the 911 police call center and the system in place is one reason why I voted NO for a new jail. As a comparison, we spend a lot of money on schools and education but still our kids receive better education from several local private Christian schools. You think giving the Tyler Texas police more money for a new jail is the right thing to do? Well you have to convince people like me and I think that is a hard thing to do.

Non-emergency Tyler Police Phone Number: 1-903-531-1000