The Day The Winds Changed

This is a very short retrospective article over at Accuweather.com, looking back at the lessons learned during the tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011.

It’s worth a read on its own merits, but I’m sharing because of the personal connection I have to both of the key players.
[Read more...]

Things I Learned From SkyMall

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I don’t travel as much as I used to, so maybe my allergy to bad marketing wasn’t as attuned. It started on the way down to the plane:
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Really? Even with her legs crossed, she had seven inches of space. Why did she pay extra for the other four?

Maybe that was the appetizer that got me excited about making a meal of SkyMall. I turned to a random page, and the thoughts just came at me… [Read more...]

Flattery

A Spammers First

I suppose it is a badge of honor somewhat, that out of the universe of Twitter users from which to choose, some spammer somewhere picked me first.

A Spammers First

She obviously chose me for my intelligence, my incredible personal network, and my ability to move virtual mountains of needles. Or virtual needles. She chose me, because as a Twitter evangelist with what could be all of 119 seconds of experience on the platform, she was drawn to my deft use of the service. (Don’t mock her skills, she obviously knew Twitter well enough to update her profile picture before getting started.)

Hello to you too, Dollie. I will never forget this bond we shared.

I its of have when in they all in one one your it just rt” right back at you, babe.

Never Looked Back

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I saw a wonderful post today from a 20-something reporter who has gotten out of the business. She essentially burned through the same phases Journalism I once did, just in much less time:

  • Love
  • Wonder
  • Questioning
  • Disgust
  • Horror
  • Escape

Her name is Allyson Bird, and here’s her story on why she left News. What struck me is how different it is back on “The Island” today. [Read more...]

What’cha Want?

knowing-is-half-the-battle

You know what is good for you.

  • Exercise more
  • Eat less
  • Read more
  • Watch less
  • Smell roses
  • Don’t stress

The disconnect comes when our behavior does not reflect our goals. As it happens, G.I. Joe had it right. Knowing really is half the battle.

This is the real source of discomfort, because it is so hard to run away from. Competing priorities seem to be informed by facts and reason, and in the end get trumped by baser desires. We’re stuck, rationalizing our failures. For some, it’s the little hobgoblin among the facets of our personality that really wanted that candy bar. For others, it’s the equally painful and soul-less realization that we are just a bag of protein-water, and a persistent imbalance of insulin triggered a primal craving.

knowing-is-half-the-battleMaddeningly enough, sometimes it is both, and we can’t resolve that either.

“The fundamental challenge in personal discipline it to align what you Want with what you Want to Want.” – Ike Pigott

So, in the end, you know what is good for you. Or, rather, if you know what is good for you, you’ll know what’s good for you. But that is no guarantee you’ll act on it.

Life Untethered

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I left my phone for a little while today.

It was really difficult.

It’s a nice phone, and I enjoy using it.

I like how it keeps me connected to so many people in so many places doing so many different and wonderful things. [Read more...]

Applied Problem Solving

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A recent conversation with my wife:

“Do you remember those shape puzzles, like Tangrams?”

Which ones?

“You know, those puzzles where you have shapes, and you have to fit them into a confined area?”

My daughter interrupted: “OH, I LOVE THOSE! I LOVE PUZZLES LIKE THAT!

“Good,” I said. “Then you can load the dishwasher from now on.”