Grand Rapids, MI Managed IT Services & Consulting

Since 1989, Micro Visions has worked alongside small and mid-sized business owners in Grand Rapids, throughout West Michigan, and around the globe to provide reliable managed IT services. Our experienced and knowledgeable team provides network monitoring...

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An excellent approach! Many of us personally as individuals and corporately as businesses could regain focus and purpose benefiting greatly by asking ourselves this very question.

jasonjohnsontv:

Simon Sinek shares a simple yet profound & powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with the question “Why?” 

I picked up Simon’s book ”Start with Why” from amazon last night (http://t.co/E9mZndc) after seeing this TEDx Talk.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

We came upon this video explaining what a nanosecond is and then realized this incredible woman was none other than the Grace Murray Hopper as in, the person who found the first bug in a computer which literally was a bug; a moth stuck in a relay. Checkout this video where she talks about where she explains what a nano second is, it'll give you a new appreciation for 1. time and 2. the ability for clearly explaining things. As expressed on liquidmatrix.org quoting their post "Nanoseconds with Grace Hopper" she's the reason why we need more women in IT.

*the video is SUPPOSED to begin at 3m42s but doesn't seem to work. That's the segment we were trying to spotlight.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Just a short behind the scenes video clip of a few of our onsite back office servers here at Micro Visions.

We’ve been having lots of fun re-organizing the server systems in our new rack. What do you think, looks awesome doesn’t it?!? I guess rack organization, cable management and cooling is kind of a geek thing but anyway, we've been busy in the back room at the office and wanted to share a quick view of some of the servers we use. We have an awesome colo (colocation center in non-nerd speak) too but we can't show you because it's a top secret secure location and we'd have to kill you, and we love all of our clients so we won't tell you ;)

[microvisionsinc-blog]

We've been having fun re-organizing the servers in our new rack. What do you think, looks great doesn't it?!? Ah well, it's kind of a geek thing anyway.

[jasoninprogress]

[microvisionsinc-blog]

jasonjohnsontv:

QR Codes are popping up every where! I saw this GR Tag Tour flyer while picking up a cup of joe this morning at West Coast Coffee. What a clever use of tech, an interactive tour of downtown Grand Rapids that you access via your smartphone and a QR code app.

*By the way Scan is the best QR Code scanner for iPhone

[microvisionsinc-blog]

[ cloud overview | get your own cloud ] This is a Tumblr Cloud I generated from my blog posts between Jul 2008 and Jun 2011 containing my top 20 used words. Top 2 blogs I reblogged the most:

simpleit

Tumblr

[microvisionsinc-blog]

What "Futureproofing" really means (and how it can save you money); sure NCIX Tech Tips can lean toward building a gaming PC, but this applies equally as well when considering which business systems to purchase.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Social Media: Return On Investment

"What's the ROI of Social Media?" a question often looked at as the bane of social media advocates the world over. Steve Volkers of the Steve Volkers Group shares with Jason Johnson from Micro Visions, Inc., another way of looking at the value of engagement and helps put "the ROI of social media" into a new light which more businesses can agree with. Find out why it's NOT as much about the clicks and the typical metrics as many business owners think it is.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Adopting Greener Technology in your Business

Did you know, that a desktop computer uses five times more energy than a laptop? How many desktop computers surround you daily? At home? Work? Would the transition from desktop to laptop be worth the saved resources?

By making small technology changes in our lives, we will not only save money, but conserve our natural resources and help sustain our environment. We are in the age of technology, why not adopt green technology?

Green technology is the idea of creating “environment friendly” technology, which does not damage or deplete the Earth's natural resources. Also referred to as “clean” or “environmental” technology, these products are made with the intention of being reused and recycled. This idea will reduce the amount of waste and pollution that is created during production and consumption. It will serve as an alternative source of technology that reduces fossil fuels, and demonstrate less damage to the environment, including human, animal, and plant health.

Common green technology includes recycling, water purification, renewable energy and solid waste management. Most cities in the United States have adopted one of these greener technologies. As renewable energy is becoming more popular in homes (such as solar panels and energy efficient appliances), businesses are playing a larger role in the adoption of these tools as well.

While the future of technology lies in energy conservation and recycling, most businesses have not committed to the transition. In honor of Earth Day and supporting the future of technology, Micro Visions, Inc. has simple tips to create a greener workplace.

Enforce Recycling Recycling is a simple way to effectively sustain the environment. By reusing items such as paper, and recycling others such as plastic or cans, less waste will be put into a landfill. There are several ways to implement recycling in an office.

Reduce Paper Consumption

Use both sides of paper or set aside used paper for the fax machine or scrap paper.

Keep a recycle bin near all printers.

Avoid printing pages you do not need. Either email documents, or if you must print, decrease your font and increase your margins to conserve paper.

Download ink-conserving fonts such as Eco Fonts. These types of fonts have tiny holes in the letters, which conserves toner usage up to 30 percent.

Next time you purchase paper – look for recycled paper choices.

Reduce Waste

Avoid paper products. Purchase a set of plates, cups and silverware for reuse

Create seperate bins for recyclables. In addition to your trash bin, have one for pop cans, plastics and paper.

Instead of purchasing bottled water, encourage refillable water bottles or keep a water filter (such as a Brita) in the office refridgerator.

Conserve Energy Conserving energy not only lowers company costs, but does wonders on the environment as well. As simple as changing your light bulbs, follow these tips to save some cash and resources.

Unplug and turn off electronics when you leave the office. This includes computers, lights and other equipment such as printers, external hard drives, scanners, etc.

Replace office lights with energy efficient light bulbs, it may decrease energy by 2/3.

If you need to leave your computer on in order to backup data or install updates, turn off monitors and speakers.

Change your computer settings to enter sleep mode instead of using a screen saver while you’re away.

Practice with Smarter Technology The demand for green technology is increasing. Practice going green by implementing these simple tips towards your current technology.

Instead of storing or trashing your unused technology, find a recycling company or donation center. You can recycle your entire system including computers, monitors, printers, hard drives, toner cartridges, cabels, keyboards and mice, etc.

Purchase rechargeable batteries for random devices such as wireless keyboards/mouse. Remember to keep battery chargers unplugged when not in use. If you still have disposable batteries, recycle them at a local center.

Upgrade your current technology. New technology requires less power and will reduce energy costs. There’s also energy efficient hardware available.

Purchase an all-in-one printer. With a printer/fax/copier/scanner together, it’ll save space and conserve energy.

Connect all computer stations to network printers and copiers. It will decrease idle time and conserve energy.

With natural resources decreasing with the current state of our environment, it is beneficial that all businesses begin adapting to “greener” means of operation. Implement recycling and other green methods into your current business environment and encourage your employees to reduce waste and energy. By adapting to these methods, businesses around the globe can make a difference and help sustain our environment.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

How to Recycle or Donate your Unused Technology

Finally, after having gone missing for many long winter months the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and rain has replaced the snow. April is here, welcoming a new season, imprinting green on the minds of all Michiganders. April showers not only bring May flowers, but other things as well.

Lately, when one thinks of “green,” foliage, fruit, and frogs aren’t the only things that come to mind. Green means sustainability. April 22 marks Earth Day, a day to celebrate our natural environment.

In honor of Earth Day and "going green" sustainability initiatives, Micro Visions, Inc. has several important tips for recycling your old technology. Curious about how to properly dispose of unused technology or how to donate your old computer? Here's how....

Individuals and businesses are finding new reasons to upgrade their technology every day. As thousands of people replace their computers daily, where does this old technology go? Recycling is one of the simplest ways to sustain the environment. It gives one the opportunity to reuse materials, but more importantly, it keeps excessive waste out of landfills. Owning a computer is a necessity in 2011 for education, and connecting others around the world. As this demand continues to increase, recycling or donating old equipment will help benefit communities in need of computer technology for education and communication.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Plug in to eCycling program, “Recycling one million desktop computers prevents the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of 16,000 passenger cars."

Instead of throwing away your old technology equipment, find ways to recycle or donate them. Micro Visions, Inc. has tips for donating old equipment, and locations where you can do so. Join this critical act of recycling, and help bridge the gap between communities and the digital divide.

Recycling your Old Computers and Technology

Can your old computer be recycled?

How old is it?

What is the overall condition?

Do you have a complete system? (Mouse, keyboard, monitors, etc.)

What software and programs are currently on the hard drive?

What did you primarily use your system for?

Take a look at your system. There are several questions to address:

These questions will help determine if your old technology is suitable for donation or for recycling. Before making a decision, it is best to contact a local recycling center or an organization that specializes in refurbishing unused computers.

Contact a local recycling or refurbishing organization

Typically, if a computer that is less than 5 years old, it still has enough value to be recycled or passed along to another individual or organization. Instead of donating directly to a charity or nonprofit, consult a local recycler or a refurbish firm to take the correct next step. If you’re unsure about the condition of your system, or weary about your personal files still on the hard drive, the recycler/refurbisher will know how to property assess the situation. They can correctly wipe the hard drive and assess the usability of the system. Any materials inoperative or unusable can be properly disposed of.

Once you contact your local recycler/refurbisher, get the proper instructions for delivery and if they have any guidelines. Always address the question of equipment acceptance – will they accept your technology? Are they any fees? Does it need to have all of its parts? Once your bases are covered and equipment is dropped off, these organizations will properly recycle the parts, or donate the “ready-to-use” equipment to charities and nonprofits.

There are several places you can contact for assessment of your equipment. Follow the links at the bottom of this article.

Before you Donate

Include All of Your Accessories

When donating your system, some organizations will only accept a “complete” system. If you have monitors, keyboards, mice, hard drives, cables, modems, circuit boards, printers, software, etc., the next person to receive your old system can put it to good use.

Keep the Operating System Intact

If you have the original disks or software that came with your system, include them with your donation. Nonprofits and other organizations do not have the budget to purchase licenses; a legal transfer can be done with a complete donated system. To help expedite the legal transfer, any original media, disks, certificates, manuals, etc. will help.

Clear your Personal Files and Information

Reset your internet browser. This will delete cache, cookies, history and other traces of activity

Perform disc clean ups and run anti-virus to remove any spywre, malware, or other traces on your system

Uninstall downloaded programs

Always use disk-cleaning or “shredding” software. This erases or writes over data on your computer

Reformat your hard drive

Your personal information ranges from banking information, internet files such as cache, email contacts or messages, bookmarks, or personal documents, etc. Simply deleting your files or emptying your recycle bin will not permanently delete all personal information on your computer. It’s important to take precautionary steps to avoid possible identity theft of your information.

Plan for Future Donatations

Plan for the next time you donate a computer. Keep a special box with all original software, rescue discs, manuals, cables and more. This way, the future donation process will be quick and familiar. Don’t forget to record your donations as well, you may be eligible for a tax write-off.

If you have access to any unused technology, consider donating or recycling. Not only will you gain an opportunity to benefit individuals without access to digital means, but you’ll produce less waste to fill landfills.

For more information, such as local recyclers in your area, visit these sites:

Drop Off Recycling Lcations: Dell Computers & Goodwill Industries Partnership for Recycling Computers

Comprenew Environmental - Local Electronic Waste Disposal

Best Buy’s Drop Off Recycling Program

Current Cash Value of your Old Technology

More Tips to "Go Green" and Location of Reuse Programs

Locations and Resources for Recycling

If you have anymore questions about recycling, or would like to learn more ways to "go green" in the office, check out April's addition of our monthly newsletter, The Vision.

To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, click here.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Micro Visions is part of the “My Chamber App” for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce! Download the free app for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry to discover businesses, events and local deals. 

Has your company created any app's for business? What are your favorites?

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Why We Chose Tumblr for our Small Business Blog

In a recent post on Mashable, writer Brenna Ehrlich dove into “The Pros and Cons Of Tumblr For Small Business” which once again got us thinking about why we chose Tumblr ourselves. The mashable post brings up some great points and the article is definitely worth the read, but before you go we’d like to share why we, and you, should choose Tumblr as your blogging platform by responding to typical criticisms Tumblr faces.

Tumblr Isn't Flexible Enough

For starters let’s get the biggest “issue” out of the way regarding limitations. If I had a dollar for every time somebody began deriding Tumblr for being so locked down and inflicting it’s “debilitating lack of freedom” that other platforms afford (usually people are lavishing praises upon Wordpress) I’d have at least 40 bucks right now. Yes, Wordpress is more flexible and is more open. You can do a lot, I mean A LOT, of cool things with it. I love Wordpress for being Wordpress just as I love Tumblr for being Tumblr. Tumblr affords plenty of options; chances are it’s 95% of everything that 95% of anyone could wish for 95% of the time. Where Tumblr really shines is its dead simple blogging; I see it helping users focus on what they truly need to focus on: posting great content. Tumblr users aren’t going to get tangled up installing and maintaining a myriad of widgets and plug-ins. Tumblr really shines where it helps users focus on what matters, blogging. So while Wordpress gives you more control over formatting and “HTML wizardry”, Tumblr still lets you tweak and alter themes - what’s more, there are many gorgeous themes with very impressive designs and features. In summation, Tumblr is just flexible enough and for that, we love it! Embrace constraints!

You Can’t Self-host Tumblr

What? It’s 2011, people - what happened to the cloud and all that talk about everything going there? Isn’t a major part of the attraction of the cloud is being fully managed and fully hosted? With Tumblr, you just show up and start blogging; that’s it. Again, this hangup is a control thing for control freaks. Sure, sometimes ultra fine control is nice, sometimes you NEED to have it, but most of the time most us just won't. So swap “control” out for “another thing to manage and administer” and 99 times out of 100, most use just won’t care. Don’t be silly folks, do you really want to manage database installations, users, directories and files or do you want to blog? Sure, you don’t do that kind of management all the time but who wants to bother with it EVER? Do you want to? We didn’t think so. That’s what you get with “self-hosting”. It has its place, but it’s not all that and a bag of chips - don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Tumblr has Stability Issues

It’s true, it totally does and sometimes it really blows. I’ve seen Tumblr go completely down, and I’ve used Tumblr when it’s slow. Tumblr currently has some stability issues. I’m completely on-board with this gripe. When it happens, it gets a lion’s share of attention because well, millions of bloggers are temporarily without access to their blogs. It sounds bad, it certainly can be, it’s definitely annoying, but even “self-hosted” platforms go down. It drives me crazy when Tumblr down and if this is a deal-breaker for you today, I’d still encourage you check them out in the coming months.

Blogging on Tumblr is a smooth, straightforward, downright pleasurable experience and it’s free. Tumblr focuses on what seems to have taken second seat to what really matters over the years and has helped bring it back to the core of blogging, sharing content.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Browser Wars: Firefox 4 vs IE9

If you are one of the few who knew what the Internet was back in 1991, you're probably part of the elite veteran surfers which used the grand daddy of all modern web browsers Nexus (written by Tim Berners-Lee on a NeXT Computer); the first web browser ever. Ten years later, the list of browsers to choose from has grown considerably. Of the mainstream browsers we have:

Mozilla Firefox

Internet Explorer

Google Chrome

Safari (Apple)

Opera

And several other choices which only continue to grow. 

In recent years, one of the emerging debates has been between two of the biggest rivals: Mozilla Firefox versus Internet Explorer. On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) as Mozilla revealed the latest version of Firefox (Firefox 4). Depending on what source you trust, IE holds between 55 and 65 percent of user browser market, giving them a vast advantage on their opponent, Firefox. Although this market share boosts IE a few notches above Firefox, Firefox downloads reached 4.7 million within the first 24 hours of the new upgrade’s release (that is more than double the numbers for Microsoft’s new software!) Numbers don’t lie, but what one is truly better? With the latest versions just released, now’s the time to check out the new features and let the arguments fly!  

Firefox 4

Firefox 4 is packed with new features to complement its slick look. The features enable easier navigation and advanced, yet intuitive tabs. 

Cosmetic Upgrade: The initial reaction is that the browser has a new look. The obvious changes include a new bookmark bar, tabs are now on top, the home and refresh buttons are in a new location (which can be customized). The clean interface and simplicity aims to keep your focus on the content, with no distractions.

App Tabs: This feature allows you to turn a tab into an “App Tab” by right-clicking. The App Tabs act as shortcuts to favorite sites – tiny tabs which sit in the upper left corner. This not only frees up clutter, but prevents popular sites from getting lost within a browser. 

Awesome Bar: Firefox’s new URL bar doubles as a search field. This tool allows you to type in terms redirecting you to a Web destination, in cases of a lost URL or web site. Within this bar, once you begin typing an address of an app tab, it will suggest the option to “switch to tab,” even if it’s in a different open window. For the tab crazy – this will help reduce duplicates. 

Sync: Firefox sync enables your bookmarks, history, passwords, tabs and other data to sync across multiple media platforms such as smartphones and other computers. 

Panorama: This feature creates a visual overview of open tabs, with the ability to group these tabs according to content. As a great method for organizing workflow, this is accessed by an icon in the upper right-hand corner. With this icon, a blank workspace will open, enabling a “drag and drop” interface. You can create new groups, move and resize, and close tabs, all with one click or drag. Although somewhat confusing at first – it’s a neat feature for those who love organization. 

Speed and Performance: Besides the improvement on look and layout, the actual function of Firefox 4 is something to consider. The new speed is claimed to be 6 times faster than its previous versions. As far as performance, Mozilla has improved Firefox’s pervious issues of being a memory hog. The new version alters the way it uses memory, reclaiming memory more quickly and cutting down the recovery time. 

There are more features to be discovered with Firefox 4. In addition to its easy usability, control over tabs, speed and recovery, the add-on selection is impressive, it embraces new web standards such as HTML5, it is compatible with everything and it rarely crashes. Although critics aren’t impressed, but confused by the Panorama feature, and Firefox primarily appeals to consumers, (not businesses) Firefox’s market share will continue to give Internet Explorer some fierce competition. 

Internet Explorer 9

With Firefox 4 delivering more and more popular features and undeniable performance increases over the years, Internet explorer has made tremendous improvements to compete with Firefox and the other mainstream browser competitors. Although there are not many features to highlight in the upgrade, there are still honorable mentions left for IE9. 

Cosmetic Upgrade: IE9 showcases a new look for the browser. It has adopted a sleek, clean look with sharp lines, which feels more like a modern browser. The simple, uncluttered appearance allows easy navigation and boosts browser usability. It has also implemented a new tab page which helps organize recently closed tabs and history. The “discover other sites you might like” option could help novice users who don’t know where to start on the vast, endless expanse which the web is and could help with their overall web experience. 

“Pin” Tabs: With a tab open in IE9, you can “pin” icons on the Windows 7 task bar at the bottom of your desktop. This option lets you click on the pinned icon, acting similar to launching a program, and launches the web page without separating opening the browser. Another feature of this is to right-click, and a short-cut menu will appear for certain sites called “jump lists.”

Tab Tearing: Overall, tab management has improved with this browser. IE9’s new “tab tearing” feature is arranged so you can separate an open tab into a new window, without affecting the content (like playing a YouTube video). There’s also the Aero Snap feature, which an open tab can be dragged to one side, instantly snapping it into a window. 

Manage Downloads:  IE9 has now adopted a downloads window, so you can manage and track recent downloads. 

Notifications: A small panel at the bottom of the browser displays notifications until you act on it. This means no more intrusive pop-up windows or interruption during browsing. Notifications are more organized and structured, and still easy to notice while surfing. 

No Track Option: Several browsers have been adopting is the opt-in “no track” option. This is a tracking protection feature which limits what sites track you online. This is handy to blacklist site that target you for specific advertising. 

Speed and Performance: IE9 has made gigantic leaps in this feature. Accelerating page content and performance within the browser by using additional hardware resources additionally there’s HTML5 support; they say “it’s all around fast.”

Although IE9 lacks new features and buzz compared to Firefox, the big difference is the reviews around these battling browsers. While Firefox has little negativity towards its usability, the exact opposite is true for IE9. The big picture: IE lacks several major features that competing browsers have executed flawlessly. IE9 lacks tab organization and grouping options, it is not compatible with Windows XP, but optimized for Windows Vista and Windows 7, it lacks strong ad/JavaScript blocking. Finally, and the biggest drawback to this browser is its speed and performance. Although IE9 has made significant strides to improve speed, it’s still not fast enough to argue against several of the other opposing browsers when at the races.

In defense of IE9, Microsoft is still holding close to 60% of the browsing market. Microsoft still has the strong business reputation and the fact that Internet Explorer is the general population’s default installed browser. With this business reputation, Firefox cannot compete; it can be managed, but requires more IT effort than Internet Explorer which comes neatly wrapped into the Microsoft Windows operating system. What’s more, many businesses have built their portal’s web code to run on and take advantage of IE only features. With this somewhat unfair advantage, those who are stuck with IE, will be impressed with 9’s vast improvements. With IE9’s refresh, it’s clear Microsoft plans to continue being a heavy contender to and catching up with Firefox on many levels.

Bottom line, there are several browser options out there for users. In the grand battle of Internet Explorer versus Firefox – it depends on your web experience. If you’re looking for a great consumer browser, Firefox will satisfy all of your needs and then some. From a business perspective, IE9 and Microsoft is the king of business and will remain the defacto option for businesses and home users alike.

[jasoninprogress]

[microvisionsinc-blog]

jasonjohnsontv:

“Do you know what the #1 selling phone was 5 years ago? The Motorola RAZR. Do you know what that phone did? Nothing.”  - Lance Crosby, CEO at Parallels Summit

[microvisionsinc-blog]

SafeCall, Inc. Partners with West Michigan IT Consultants, Micro Visions, Inc. for Web site Redesign.

March 21, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAFECALL PARTNERS WITH WEST MICHIGAN IT CONSULTANTS, MICRO VISIONS, INC., FOR WEB SITE REDESIGN- Local medical product supplier, SafeCall, approves Micro Visions for Web site redesign Grand Rapids, MI – SafeCall has selected West Michigan IT consulting and services company, Micro Visions, Inc., to redesign their current Web site. SafeCall offers family caregivers a variety of home medical products to better assist in the care of their elderly loved ones.

“Micro Visions' design team will enable SafeCall to reach more people who are searching for tools to help their loved ones to stay independent,” states SafeCall president, Sanford Freed. As a 16-year-old West Michigan business, SafeCall offers a variety of products such as alarms, monitoring systems, help buttons, automatic pill dispensers, and other safety devices. All monitored devices may be purchased with monthly service contracts.

The new Web site will provide visitors greater opportunity to explore the benefits of each high-tech product. Alysse Chichester, marketing specialist and consultant on the new design, states, “One of our goals is to provide SafeCall visitors with a site that will guide them through the purchase of SafeCall’s products. SafeCall has helped many families gain peace of mind and I believe those numbers will increase with a more streamlined interface.”

Using other resources such as videos, blogs, and white papers, SafeCall will also provide visitors with additional tools to maintain their loved ones’ independence.

Welcome to our team, SafeCall!

# # #

If you’d like more information on this topic or regarding Micro Visions, Inc. and our services, please email Alysse Chichester at [email protected] or visit www.MicroVisionsInc.com.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Have you seen today's Google Doodle?

  Why Women (and Micro Visions, Inc.) LOVE Fat Tuesday. 

Today may be popularized as Fat Tuesday (AKA Paczki Day!) but there's another significant reason to celebrate. Women across the globe - grab a Paczki and have no guilt - eat it and celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's day.

As you know, Micro Visions, Inc. is a woman owned business (22 years going strong!) President, Julie Lough, was recently recognized as a Top Woman Owned Business by the Grand Rapids Business Journal on March 2, 2011. If you didn't catch our recent post, check it out! 

As a woman owned business, we are proud to see today's Google Doodle, honoring the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day. Google has partnered with Women for Women International, inviting supporters around the world to "join women on the bridge." This initiative unites supporters on local bridges to march in honor of the lives of women and the issues which affect them the most, including health, equality, education, safety, security, etc.  

To learn more about this special day check out Women for Women International. Or, to "virtually" show your support and find a bridge near you, visit today's Google Doodle.

[microvisionsinc-blog]

Tips for keeping your computer safe, secure, and running quickly.

Our newest video is up! Curious how to keep your network 100% reliable, 100% of the time?

Look no further, check out our newest video!