As an IT professional I had heard about Facebook from the time it was pretty much limited to college students. I watched it grow from a campus social network to it's acceptance as a true social network. I ignored the temptation to join in not only because of the privacy issues but, also because I figured I probably didn't know anybody on the network. Then along came a Friend "Toni".
Toni sent me a message through e-mail asking me to befriend her through Facebook. I joined and friended Toni. Because of that I found long lost friends and family. Other friends like Steve, Harold and Darell whom I had known since childhood. Family like Chris, Bill and Jane who I haven't seen since we were very small. I found myself in a place where I could be me and find out what's been happening to friends and family.
In-laws, sisters, cousins and friends who know. My thought is this: sometimes things you are afraid of can become a literal lifeline to your past. Thank you Facebook, family, friend and especially Toni for letting me be social again.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Obviously I don't have thoughts every day.
Before I started this blog I thought it would be no big deal to post each and every day. After starting the blog it became evident to me that I don't have access to my lap top every time I have and can maintain a thought. I never thought that what I think would change the world. I figured that my thoughts should be posted for my own benefit, just in case I get dementia and want to know what I was thinking.
I found that my best and deepest thoughts come to me when I am all alone and nothing to distract me. Usually when I am in front of the lap top there is plenty to distract me. I am going to try and figure out a way to preserve my thoughts until I can get to my computer. The problem is that I can't read my own hand writing and a lot of my thoughts come to me when I'm driving.
My thought is this: My uninterrupted thoughts are way more profound than my distracted thoughts. I will try to post more of my uninterrupted thoughts in the future. No promises though.
I found that my best and deepest thoughts come to me when I am all alone and nothing to distract me. Usually when I am in front of the lap top there is plenty to distract me. I am going to try and figure out a way to preserve my thoughts until I can get to my computer. The problem is that I can't read my own hand writing and a lot of my thoughts come to me when I'm driving.
My thought is this: My uninterrupted thoughts are way more profound than my distracted thoughts. I will try to post more of my uninterrupted thoughts in the future. No promises though.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Upside of Snow Days
Snow days are very disrupting for parents, teachers and businesses. Parents must scramble to find someplace for the kids to go or stay home from work with them. Teachers lose a day in the rigorous schedules of keeping our kids on track for mandatory testing. Last but not least businesses lose a lot of productivity from parents having to take the day off to stay home with their kids.
Some parents who have kids in day care are not as affected by snow days they can still go to work. Other parents must find other arrangements and often times have to decide which parent will stay home with the kids on the snow day. Even if that parent has a way to work from home there will be a disruption of his/her concentration and productivity.
Modern teachers have a very rigorous and tight schedule of lesson planning in order to prepare our children for mandatory state and federal testing. Snow days create problems for them. They must intensify the amount of homework our children bring home and cut out some of the fun activities that break up the days. Snow days for teachers are stressed.
Most businesses have ways for workers to work from home on snow days, but none the less know that the productivity for those workers is going to suffer. The amount of money lost to a business during these weather related emergencies is pretty significant especially small businesses. Any day to day disruption in productivity is a loss to any business.
My thought is this: Let's go back to our childhood when snow days meant an unexpected play day. When I was young we took out our sleds and found a hill to sled down. We dragged our parent or parents with us and usually they had as much fun as us. Our teachers could spend a day relaxing while reconfiguring our lesson plans. Businesses thought far enough ahead that snow days were expected and planned for. Let's all think of snow days like we were children and the stress is lifted. Have fun, live a little.
Some parents who have kids in day care are not as affected by snow days they can still go to work. Other parents must find other arrangements and often times have to decide which parent will stay home with the kids on the snow day. Even if that parent has a way to work from home there will be a disruption of his/her concentration and productivity.
Modern teachers have a very rigorous and tight schedule of lesson planning in order to prepare our children for mandatory state and federal testing. Snow days create problems for them. They must intensify the amount of homework our children bring home and cut out some of the fun activities that break up the days. Snow days for teachers are stressed.
Most businesses have ways for workers to work from home on snow days, but none the less know that the productivity for those workers is going to suffer. The amount of money lost to a business during these weather related emergencies is pretty significant especially small businesses. Any day to day disruption in productivity is a loss to any business.
My thought is this: Let's go back to our childhood when snow days meant an unexpected play day. When I was young we took out our sleds and found a hill to sled down. We dragged our parent or parents with us and usually they had as much fun as us. Our teachers could spend a day relaxing while reconfiguring our lesson plans. Businesses thought far enough ahead that snow days were expected and planned for. Let's all think of snow days like we were children and the stress is lifted. Have fun, live a little.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Rudeness and Entitlement
Why is it that some people who have more than you, feel that they can be rude and entitled to more than you? In my opinion people like me who grew up with the Golden Rule ingrained it them live by it. People who grew up with the belief that people who have more deserve more live by that rule. In those cases entitlement begets rudeness.
I'm sure that all of us have encountered the person that has achieved enough material wealth to look down on those of that don't have the same things. People who cut you off in traffic or the parking lot because they have a more expensive car. The person who yells at the cashier to get what they want. You know them as the rude person who cut you off or takes way too much time yelling at the cashier.
To counter this I have taken to pointing and laughing. Why you may ask? Well it's rather simple if you subscribe to the whole golden rule philosophy. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Well obviously rude people want people to be rude to them, what is more rude than pointing and laughing? Just a thought.
I'm sure that all of us have encountered the person that has achieved enough material wealth to look down on those of that don't have the same things. People who cut you off in traffic or the parking lot because they have a more expensive car. The person who yells at the cashier to get what they want. You know them as the rude person who cut you off or takes way too much time yelling at the cashier.
To counter this I have taken to pointing and laughing. Why you may ask? Well it's rather simple if you subscribe to the whole golden rule philosophy. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Well obviously rude people want people to be rude to them, what is more rude than pointing and laughing? Just a thought.
Friday, January 14, 2011
BBQ old school v modern
Twenty years ago when I first started to compete in BBQ contests for all intent and purposes all the contestants competed on a level playing field. The smokers were charcoal and wood burning pits. You bought your meat from purveyors that supported you in your endeavor to win. Electricity was a luxury that you had to pay extra for and was just enough juice to power a couple of shop lights. The judges were local dignitaries and visitors to the contests.
A few years ago Treager introduces pellet smokers and the game changed. With pellet smokers you load your smoker with pellets plug it in turn the thermostat to whatever temp you want to cook, put the meat in and check it ever six to eight hours. My wood smoker on the other hand requires that you add enough charcoal to get the wood started then you have to adjust the smoker to get the right temperature. You put the meat in and check the smoker every hour or so to be sure that the temperature is being maintained. My smoker however does not require electricity.
Meat purveyors decided to sponsor teams and "cherry pick" the best meat for the teams they decided to sponsor. Leaving the rest of us to scramble for the left overs. By now the rest of the teams have become shoppers to get the best possible meat from grocery stores and butchers that don't sponsor teams. Not to worry we became experts at what we wanted and would be best for our style of BBQ.
Now to judging. Way back when judges were instructed to grade the contestants from the top down. The highest score was nine. Judges were instructed to start at nine and work down depending on taste, tenderness and presentation. Then the powers that be decided to certify judges and change the criteria for a start point. Instead of starting high and working down now they are instructed to start in the middle and work up or down. They have a team cook for them and based on what they cook the judges are instructed on how to judge the meat. This is okay, but the judges have only what the team that cooks for them presents. With that as a basis it is unfair to the rest of us that cook with more traditional tastes and smoke. Judges are told to ignore the smoke ring and smoke flavor in favor of less smoke flavor and a visual presentation based on what can be achieved on a pellet smoker rather than a traditional smoker.
My thought is this: When dealing with tradition leave the tradition alone. If all you want is new then start a competition that allows for that. In other words money talks tradition suffers.
A few years ago Treager introduces pellet smokers and the game changed. With pellet smokers you load your smoker with pellets plug it in turn the thermostat to whatever temp you want to cook, put the meat in and check it ever six to eight hours. My wood smoker on the other hand requires that you add enough charcoal to get the wood started then you have to adjust the smoker to get the right temperature. You put the meat in and check the smoker every hour or so to be sure that the temperature is being maintained. My smoker however does not require electricity.
Meat purveyors decided to sponsor teams and "cherry pick" the best meat for the teams they decided to sponsor. Leaving the rest of us to scramble for the left overs. By now the rest of the teams have become shoppers to get the best possible meat from grocery stores and butchers that don't sponsor teams. Not to worry we became experts at what we wanted and would be best for our style of BBQ.
Now to judging. Way back when judges were instructed to grade the contestants from the top down. The highest score was nine. Judges were instructed to start at nine and work down depending on taste, tenderness and presentation. Then the powers that be decided to certify judges and change the criteria for a start point. Instead of starting high and working down now they are instructed to start in the middle and work up or down. They have a team cook for them and based on what they cook the judges are instructed on how to judge the meat. This is okay, but the judges have only what the team that cooks for them presents. With that as a basis it is unfair to the rest of us that cook with more traditional tastes and smoke. Judges are told to ignore the smoke ring and smoke flavor in favor of less smoke flavor and a visual presentation based on what can be achieved on a pellet smoker rather than a traditional smoker.
My thought is this: When dealing with tradition leave the tradition alone. If all you want is new then start a competition that allows for that. In other words money talks tradition suffers.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Pet's
My dog is my constant companion, my immediate family are my part time companions. We adopted our dog when she was young and my daughters were younger. Both daughters and my wife promised to help take care of her. I promised to train and help in her upkeep. After a seemingly prolonged period of time we picked her up. Being responsible adopters we had her spayed and built a fence around our back yard. She came home to a happy family and a home especially prepare for her.
After two weeks my oldest daughter was no longer interested in picking up her mess in the back yard. My youngest daughter kept trying to get the puppy to love her. My wife miracuously forgot that she insisted on and promised to help with the upkeep and training of the puppy. I however, had to keep up with my end of the deal. I trained her, fed her, and cleaned up after her. She turned out to be the best dog we have ever had.
The dog is well behaved and socially at ease. She is always there for you when you need her. She is loving and caring. She has even become my youngests best friend and walking companion. She takes the dog for a walk and all the neighborhood kids accompany her. She lays around the house with me during the day and gives me hugs. My oldest lovesw to spoil her when she is home from college and my wife loves the attention she gets from her when whe comes home from a trying day.
My thought is this. A happy pet will make for a happy home. Although she is not perfect (but then again who is) she is ours and makes us all happy.
After two weeks my oldest daughter was no longer interested in picking up her mess in the back yard. My youngest daughter kept trying to get the puppy to love her. My wife miracuously forgot that she insisted on and promised to help with the upkeep and training of the puppy. I however, had to keep up with my end of the deal. I trained her, fed her, and cleaned up after her. She turned out to be the best dog we have ever had.
The dog is well behaved and socially at ease. She is always there for you when you need her. She is loving and caring. She has even become my youngests best friend and walking companion. She takes the dog for a walk and all the neighborhood kids accompany her. She lays around the house with me during the day and gives me hugs. My oldest lovesw to spoil her when she is home from college and my wife loves the attention she gets from her when whe comes home from a trying day.
My thought is this. A happy pet will make for a happy home. Although she is not perfect (but then again who is) she is ours and makes us all happy.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Friends
During your life you get to meet a lot of people, out of all the people you meet only a few can you call true friends. I have been blessed with having quite a few true friends. Some of them I haven't seen for quite some time, yet they are still my friends. As importantly I have discovered that some of my best friends are family and in-laws.
Growing up there was family and then there were friends. Now that I matured I have discovered my family and in-laws are the greatest. I have also discovered all the people I called friend while growing up are truly friends as well. Case in point: while I was on vacation this last week I got the opportunity to visit with a friend from my youth. During this visit we caught up with what has happened to us since last we saw each other. It was comforting to know that we trusted each other with secrets, sorrows and joy. At the end of the visit we gave each other a hug and knew that we are still good friends.
I spent the week with my wife's sister. mother and brother-in-law. They made us feel at home and put no pressure on us to do anything what-so-ever. If we wanted to just hang out that was okay and if we needed to do something they made sure it happened. The whole week they were gracious and accommodating they made us feel at home and welcomed how great is that. Along those same lines when we go to visit my family they always make sure that we are taken care of. They are also gracious, accommodating and loving.
My thought is this, your good friends are not the only friends you have sometimes you have to look at your family as well.
Growing up there was family and then there were friends. Now that I matured I have discovered my family and in-laws are the greatest. I have also discovered all the people I called friend while growing up are truly friends as well. Case in point: while I was on vacation this last week I got the opportunity to visit with a friend from my youth. During this visit we caught up with what has happened to us since last we saw each other. It was comforting to know that we trusted each other with secrets, sorrows and joy. At the end of the visit we gave each other a hug and knew that we are still good friends.
I spent the week with my wife's sister. mother and brother-in-law. They made us feel at home and put no pressure on us to do anything what-so-ever. If we wanted to just hang out that was okay and if we needed to do something they made sure it happened. The whole week they were gracious and accommodating they made us feel at home and welcomed how great is that. Along those same lines when we go to visit my family they always make sure that we are taken care of. They are also gracious, accommodating and loving.
My thought is this, your good friends are not the only friends you have sometimes you have to look at your family as well.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hosts for Family
We went on vacation this last week in El Paso, Texas. My wife's sister, brother-in-law and mother allowed us to stay with them. We had a great time. It was relaxing, warm and comforting. All the best things in life.
We didn't do anything we didn't want to do and our hosts were gracious enough to do what we wanted to do. My stomach pretty much rules my memories of places that I've lived. Our hosts visited all the place I wanted to go plus took us to places we've never been. It was great.
I know at the begining of this blog I identified our hosts specific to thier relationship to us, but it goes much further than that. They are our family and as importantly our friends.
My thought is this: When your family are your friends there is no such thing as a bad visit to family and vacations with family is vacation with friends.
We didn't do anything we didn't want to do and our hosts were gracious enough to do what we wanted to do. My stomach pretty much rules my memories of places that I've lived. Our hosts visited all the place I wanted to go plus took us to places we've never been. It was great.
I know at the begining of this blog I identified our hosts specific to thier relationship to us, but it goes much further than that. They are our family and as importantly our friends.
My thought is this: When your family are your friends there is no such thing as a bad visit to family and vacations with family is vacation with friends.
Monday, January 3, 2011
What did we do before Computers
How did the world operate before computers?
I remember the first computer job I had was in a facility that was transitioning between a manual cardex and typewriter system to an online inventory system. Even with the addition of the accounting system nobody had to be laid off. I took the same amount of people to keep up with the efficiency as it took to do the manual system.
I remember the first computer job I had was in a facility that was transitioning between a manual cardex and typewriter system to an online inventory system. Even with the addition of the accounting system nobody had to be laid off. I took the same amount of people to keep up with the efficiency as it took to do the manual system.
Being Layed Off
Let me start with I have no animosity toward the company that laid me off. I understand that they had to lay people off and I also understand why I was one of those people. A public company has to protect it's investors and bottom line. The economy being what it was and is worked against me. There are other factors that played into the decision as well and of those punitive action was not one of them.
I have come to find that there are perceptions of a company that play a bigger role in their personnel decisions than just how many people they have working for them. There is an element of intelligence perception based on how many people work for a company that have a college degree and even to further that advanced degrees. Business is gained by perception. If customers perceive that you can do a better job than the competition because you have smarter people (on paper at least) they are more willing to do business with you. There is also the economics of personnel. Who is more valuable the person with a degree and two years experience making $32,000 a year or the person without a degree with 20 years experience making $ 76,000 a year? To a public company with a bottom line to protect it's easily the person with a degree. Especially if that person has been working with the 20 year veteran to learn all about the concepts and inter workings of the job.
The current economic situation requires that companies hire degreed people with far less experience and knowledge. However, this puts a huge strain on unemployment benefits. people like me who were making a good deal of money doing what we did for as long as we did now make more on unemployment than we can at jobs that don't require degrees. By the way I can remember when you risked burnt fingers soldering connections and the satisfaction of enabling a port and seeing a login prompt on a terminal. Just a thought.
I have come to find that there are perceptions of a company that play a bigger role in their personnel decisions than just how many people they have working for them. There is an element of intelligence perception based on how many people work for a company that have a college degree and even to further that advanced degrees. Business is gained by perception. If customers perceive that you can do a better job than the competition because you have smarter people (on paper at least) they are more willing to do business with you. There is also the economics of personnel. Who is more valuable the person with a degree and two years experience making $32,000 a year or the person without a degree with 20 years experience making $ 76,000 a year? To a public company with a bottom line to protect it's easily the person with a degree. Especially if that person has been working with the 20 year veteran to learn all about the concepts and inter workings of the job.
The current economic situation requires that companies hire degreed people with far less experience and knowledge. However, this puts a huge strain on unemployment benefits. people like me who were making a good deal of money doing what we did for as long as we did now make more on unemployment than we can at jobs that don't require degrees. By the way I can remember when you risked burnt fingers soldering connections and the satisfaction of enabling a port and seeing a login prompt on a terminal. Just a thought.
My former Life on the road
In a previous life I used to travel quite a bit. In the 90's I traveled quite a bit by air. In those days you showed up to the airport a half hour before your flight and had a pretty good chance of making your flight. If you were going on a short trip for say two or three days you could pack everything you needed in a carry on bag and skip having to check any baggage. When you did check baggage you had a 99.9% chance of it showing up with you at your destination. Security was a lot friendlier and easier to get through.
Of course after 9/11 all that changed. The threat and attempted acts of terrorism subsequent to that horrible day has made traveling by air far more tense and strenuous. Now on busy travel days it pays to get to the airport at least 2 hours early to check your bags and ensure that you have enough time to get through the security checkpoints. Your luggage on some airlines has only an 89.7% chance of getting to your destination with you. Security is a lot less humorous and a lot tougher to get through.
I understand perfectly why all these changes have happened. The threat of terrorism is very real and a constant in our lives now. The inconvience of travel by air now is substanial. What you can pack is limited now. Even what you wear to the airport has to be well thought out before you leave. If I were traveling today as I did in my former life I'm sure I would have adjusted and become used to the inconvenience. The problem is I don't travel that often any more and now traveling by air especially with my family is very stressful, inconvenient and time consuming. I still have to worry about my baggage getting to my destination with me.
My thought is that all of us as patrons, clients or customers of the airlines and airports are paying for less service and more inconvenience. This cost of security is being passed on directly to the consumer with the airlines and airports paying little or none of the costs. Although we are only paying about $500.00 dollars for this trip normally the cost for us to travel to our hometown would cost $1,500 at a minimum and then I wouldn't be guaranteed that my baggage would be there at the same time I arrived.
Of course after 9/11 all that changed. The threat and attempted acts of terrorism subsequent to that horrible day has made traveling by air far more tense and strenuous. Now on busy travel days it pays to get to the airport at least 2 hours early to check your bags and ensure that you have enough time to get through the security checkpoints. Your luggage on some airlines has only an 89.7% chance of getting to your destination with you. Security is a lot less humorous and a lot tougher to get through.
I understand perfectly why all these changes have happened. The threat of terrorism is very real and a constant in our lives now. The inconvience of travel by air now is substanial. What you can pack is limited now. Even what you wear to the airport has to be well thought out before you leave. If I were traveling today as I did in my former life I'm sure I would have adjusted and become used to the inconvenience. The problem is I don't travel that often any more and now traveling by air especially with my family is very stressful, inconvenient and time consuming. I still have to worry about my baggage getting to my destination with me.
My thought is that all of us as patrons, clients or customers of the airlines and airports are paying for less service and more inconvenience. This cost of security is being passed on directly to the consumer with the airlines and airports paying little or none of the costs. Although we are only paying about $500.00 dollars for this trip normally the cost for us to travel to our hometown would cost $1,500 at a minimum and then I wouldn't be guaranteed that my baggage would be there at the same time I arrived.
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