What We Did on Our Christmas Holiday

Mt. Everest conquered!

Too many books, too few train rides

How is it possible that while commuting 4 hours per day (weekday that is), I could possibly say that there are too few train rides? Well, looking at my to read list there are easily five books that are either in process or awaiting to be read.

From Drucker and Schumpeter in business and economics to Daniel Pink's new book about motivation called Drive to completing Superfreakonomics in the business vein. Then there is the Sherlock Holmes collection and Pat Conroy's latest and a few sci fi titles always in the wings.

Yes, so little reading time for my ever growing interests. But I am loving my Kindle app for iPhone as my e-reader of choice. The selection from Amazon with the discounted Kindle book prices combined with the reading ease and portability works for me.

My Avatar

This was created from an Avatar app for the iPhone.

Largest albino bagel

Glacier on roof. Cant be global warming.

Morning Train Activities

Riding on 6:56 train to work.

Organizing my HFA blog to add "blogs I follow" to add blog about Enterprise 2.0.

Trying to tie together blogs and twitters to control my information input stream which is always a challenge.

Testing the export to blog from The Journal and see that there is an upgrade to The Journal 5.0. WIll have to do that to add new features to a really good journaling system. Go here to check it out - http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/

Entering the tunnel in a few minutes so better shut down the netbook and prepare for the subway portion of my commute.

Peace and Joy to you.

Columbia shining in the morning sun

Columbia shining in the morning sun.

Survivormen out on Sunday Adventure

Adventure, you ask? You should have seen the wild geese and other waterfowl we had to chase off the pier. Luckily I have taught Survivorboy how to chase away geese by imitating an even bigger, noisier, and angrier goose. Works every time.

Busy Monday

It was a very nice and relaxing holiday weekend but I am afraid the week will make up for it. A full day teleconference today plus tasks sprinkled throughout means I will be multi-tasking (or lane changing) throughout the day.

It was a nice Thanksgiving, though, so I will keep that in mind as the week plays out.

Quote about auto companies

"If they survive, it is only because their respective governments will not let them to go under." - Peter Drucker from Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

I found this in Drucker's book written in 1985 about failure by auto companies to innovate along fairly obvious developments in the industry.

Seems very prophetic related to what happened with the big three auto companies in USA.

VS bag spotted in Penn Station

Now have seen everything. A 60-something man carrying VS bag. Yes, the pink on pink kind. New York, New York.

Day Two of 2HL

Day off from work for election day. Went to vote before 7AM at VR's school. Took all of five minutes.

The day is beautiful autumn day with sunshine and fall colours. Going to get outside for a bit.

Enjoy this and every day.

Line from Accelerando

"But first, the operating software on the human side of the network link will require an upgrade."

From Accerando, by Charles Stross

Always Thinking

I'm thinking

Winner of the Pizza Making Contest

Chef Vincent at Magma Pizza birthday party.

HP Mini has arrived

[Blog Post] HP Mini up and running

Finally I have my new HP Mini fully up and running. It took a few days to configure for running in the work environment and with wireless broadband (internal no less) and VPN but I used it for the commute home last evening and am now returning to work with it. It may cut down my reading time as it does appear easier to whip out and start using than my previous laptop. It also does not take up valuable leg room when other people are seated in front of me.

I guess I should divert for a moment and describe one of my idiosyncrasies for commuting. I always try to get a seat at the front or back of the train car where there are seats that face one another. Most of the times two people sit caddy-corner and only when the train is very full do people sit facing one another. I choose this as I feel a little claustrophobic sitting in the seats that are front to back. Since I have to commute every day I try to do things that make it a little easier to endure.

Anyhow, so far I like the new netbook. The size is great, the weight pretty light at just over 2 pounds and the screen doesn't appear too tiny. It is a high resolution screen so the images and letters are quite crisp so you don't seem to miss a larger screen. Seeing as how I wanted to minimize size and weight and maximize battery life, having the smallest screen possible was a key consideration. This one is just over 10 inches so seems to be the right choice.

Another thing I like about the Mini is the internal wireless broadband card. I have enjoyed wireless broadband service from Verizon as I can get a strong connection all the way up the Northeast Corridor from Trenton to NYC. I can even get strong connection through the tunnel where AT&T on my iPhone always fails. One thing I didn't like about wireless broadband was the card off the side. I had stayed with a PCMCIA card as it was less obtrusive than the newer USB mounted devices. Having delicate electronic devices hanging off the side of a mobile computer seemed to be asking for trouble. The internal broadband on the Mini seems to fit the bill.

I am going to close this journal entry for this morning an turn to more mundane activities like reading the new Wired magazine. I still hope for a Kindle version of that magazine soon as I would like to continue my departure from paper in most of its forms. I have broken away from Book 1.0 for the most part and have stopped reading Newspaper 1.0 favoring iPhone news services. I hope that 2010 can be the year I depart from paper in most of its forms and uses.

Thanks for listening and have a great day.

My e-Life - a Chronicle of Evolution

I have written in the past about a project that I called "My e-Life" which is an effort to get together all the technologies, tools, machines, and information sources representing work and life of a modern executive.

Today, with the acquisition and set-up of a cornerstone component of My e-Life, I will chronicle the journey forward to become more effective and efficient. I suppose also a goal to live a richer, fuller life should also be stared up-front. Enhancement of capabilities and increase in quality of life, two lofty goals I say.

To chronicle this transition I will provide some before and after bench-marking and comparison as well as where alternatives exist and pros and cons. Ultimately I will have a road map for transition from a life s it is now to an evolved e-Life but that won't be free, I'm telling you that now.

The first installment will be about one of the cornerstone devices, a HP Mini, or net-book computer. That chronicle episode will be written and posted within the next several days as I take delivery and start using it. Future episodes will present other necessary devices and software and tools that I am weaving together for My e-Life. Feel free to join in.

Good Book

In my opinion, ''Beach Music' by Pat Conroy is what literature is all about. In fact, my assessment is that is both good fiction and good lterature. Well, maybe simply good writing since I am not that qualified to tell what is good literature.

I find myself living the story in the mind and experiences of the main character, Jack McCall. While it is easy for me through the author's talent to slip into the experience, it also provides a new perspective and new thoughts that enhance my own being.

That's my testimony for now as I am about half-way through my re-read. Time very well spent, even if it is only in Book 1.0 version and not Kindle. I just received notice that Conroy's newest book, "South of Broad" is ready for me to download to Kindle from pre-order. I can't wait but will complete Beach Music first.

My advice, read this book with care.

Quote of the Day

From Beach Music by Pat Conroy.

"All sports reduced to their simplest physics become easy."

This reminds me of a softball game attended by my young sons (at the time), Dan and Steve, advised me before my at bat, "Dad just hit the ball hard and run fast."

I truly don't remember the outcome but the wisdom is there for all to benefit.

So look for the simplest physics in sports and in life.

A Heart-Shaped Tomato

Heart-shaped tomato from our garden weighing 25.4 ounces.

Garden's Bounty

and we were only away for one week...

Another Sunset

Last evening on Chincoteague...

Two Grizzlies Sighted on Chincoteague Isle

Not only wild ponies, there are wild grizzlies on the island as well.

Damage to Dock Piling

Vincent and I spotted this piling on a collapsed dock. It looks like it has been chewed on for many years by sea creatures.

Ponies in a Pen

Ponies on Assateague being readied for the swim across to Chincoteague.

Sunset after Storm

They didn't call it Sunset Villas for nothing. Wish I could have captured the photo about 15 minutes before as the entire sky was red and orange.

On the Ilse

We arrived on Chincoteague VA yesterday around 2:30. Was delayed in getting into villa but it is fabulous. Great view of sunset and very spacious. Awoke after all night rain to seagulls calls and family crabbing from dock.



Walking out on dock to take photo of villa complex. Ours is first level on lower left.




Plan to spend the day at the beach on Assateague. Wonderfully water temps and nice waves. More to follow.

Freezing on the Train

This is a new one. Riding in a meat locker of a train this morning. A large number of people evacuated this car for a warmer location but us stalwart few remained to a shivering commute. Now the train is crawling between Secuacus and Penn Station and another person abandoned the car. Well, almost there so I cam hold out for a while longer.

Ghost Subway

Where did all the people go?

El Cid doing trick

El Cid standing

Vacation Approaching

Vacation dream doodle by my sweetie.

Notes from CareerTools podcast about 2009 Resume Update

Resume Update 2009 - CareerTools

Career management document.

- Every job we've done in detail.

- Not on resume but provides useful information.

- Update quarterly.

- Start with most current resume and build from there

- Update with new responsibilities, new accomplishments, new skills and learning

Resume Update for 2009:

1.) show you cut costs

2.) managed budget professionally

3.) show productivity increases

Car under consideration for next L-D-V vehicle. Mazda 6.

Steve at waterfront

Hello World

It's me, David. Long time no blog. Not enough to say or too much. Probably both. I hope everyone who may read this is doing good.

June 18 and rainy and cold (for June). Like it for sleeping but not for baseball. This supports Thomas Friedman's 'global weirding' theory.

Heading into a tunnel soon and then to pop up at 125th and Broadway. Bye for now.

Pitcher of Record

While Steve was the pitcher of record in yesterday's loss to Nottingham American Legion by the Princeton group, he and the team experienced the classic moral victory. Part of the story was the Princeton team going against a longtime rival whom they have never bested. Not since the 8 year old all stars nor any year since then as Steve played his way up through the years and into high school. Those names of Memo, Patterson, Chotkowski, and others ring in familiarity.

Not a small by-line of the game was Steve's first start of the 2009 year after pitching only 2 innings in relief for the Princeton High team who put their hopes (and losing record) on the arms of three "flame throwers" rather than to recognize and develop one of the most talented "pitchers" to come through the Princeton program.

Steve, a 17 year old with no real work at pitching this year was matched against a hard throwing 19 year old with one year of college pitching experience. How did it turn out? Well, carrying the lead, 4-3 into the 6th inning before giving up a lead-off double followed by a throwing error by the catcher on a bunt play resulted in runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs at which point Steve was replaced and subsequently 4 runs scored.

Wait, let's stop there. Steve held a high-power offense of older players to 3 runs for 5 complete innings? With two innings of work during the entire spring season Steve threw 90+ pitches against the team touted to win the league this summer? I can also mention that he went 2-4 batting 3rd in the young Princeton teams line-up with the opposing team's pitcher receiving a designated hitter.

Yes, the team made solid plays, even a couple brilliant ones behind him. They played as well defensively and offensively as any Princeton team I have seen. But the Pitcher of Record for this game was Steve Etherton and I can't wait to see where he will go from here.

Birthday Sean

Waterway in Providence

This is a waterway in Providence, Rhode Island, that runs between the downtown area and the Brown University campus. The photo was taken at about 8:00 AM with the sun coming up over the hillside upon which the campus is located.

Image of Love

Art of love from two special people.

Name that auto

One sweet ride at parking garage. Can anyone tell the make and model?

Unusual Eats

Chicken pot pie in a taco shell.

Quote

"You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind."

Quote from "Ender in Exile" by Orson Scott Card

Nice vehicle and is available as hybrid

Highlander

Ice Flow on the Hudson River

No, this is not Greenland or Antartica. This is the Hudson in January at about 131st Street in NYC.

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

I just finished the latest Malcolm Gladwell book, "Outliers" and as with other MG books I very much enjoyed reading it. Gladwell has such a refreshing writing style and he certainly brings forward unusual thoughts and information. His theory about why southeast asian's are better at math than others is a very thought-provoking theory, basically having to do with the structure of numbers in the languages as well as attributing to the work ethic from the agricultural history of rice paddy farming.

That and other topics in the book were uncomfortable reading at times since it seemed bordering on racial/ethnic stereotyping but as usual Gladwell is well resourced and well thought-through. He also provides a detail of his ethnic background including Jamaican heritage and racial blending and this certainly lends credibility and sensitivity to the treatment of this subject.
As with other Gladwell books, Outliers doesn't offer easy and quick take-away's for everyday life. His stuff needs a little soak or percolation time to understand and incorporate into one's world view. As with Tipping Point and Blink, though, his theories and explanations are very capable of changing the way we think about things that are we think are very solid within that world view.

I recommend "Outliers" as required reading if you are seeking to expand your mind. See the side-panel Amazon link if you are wanting to run out (well, not run out but click through) to purchase the book. I get such a trivial amount from any transaction generated that way it is more a public service than a profiteering venture).

Enjoy that it is Friday and enjoy the weekend.

My eLife

(While Training to Work on Thursday Morning)

I am working on a new project called My eLife which is creating a comprehensive MindMap dashboard for the various aspects of my online tools and life. It is a work-in-progress as I have not decided how I would use this, whether it is for reference, personal organization, presentation to others, or could be a launching pad for a complex virtual life.

More and more I see the need to organize, coordinate, and synchronize various aspects of the technologies that are becoming more and more of my everyday life. Part of what I consider my leadership edge or my competitive advantage is the acquisition and learning of new tools to streamline my work, make me more effective, or extend myself into the world wide web of information and interaction.

In future posts I will provide a glimpse into the MindMap for My eLife as others might benefit from this approach. I don't want to give too much away since there may be market opportunities here.

If you are interested or have ideas and want to share or collaborate about this, contact me directly.

Contribute, Collaborate, and Share, but most of all, be creative.

Journalistic

(While Training to Work on a Rainy Wednesday Morning)

You have to journal a little every day. Yeah, right. How is that possible? I do wish there was an i-Phone app that would allow me to journal directly from that device as then I might do it every day. Of course I am trying to Twitter every day which in turn updates my Facebook status, which is like a journal entry in some respects. In 150 character bytes, however. Come to think of it, maybe that is a good thing.

The first work week of the new year has commenced and I have accomplished a number of things I needed to do starting out of the gates. It was a pleasure to do project planning for Financial Aid system replacement using Mind-Manager and JVC Gantt prior to sending to MS Project. I will have to work out the proper sequence for getting the right value out of each of the tools. I think doing the initial phase, task, and rough sequencing in MindManager then sending to JVC Gantt to add durations, predecessors, resources and date constraints, then sending to MS Project for final refinement and for reporting and tracking. I do need to check out if it is possible to send back to JVC Gantt and sync back up to MindManager for re-planning later on.

Of course if I could simply use the MM/JVC Gantt duo for all my project planning and tracking needs I could keep MS Project out of the equation but for now the products don't seem mature enough to do all I need it to do particularly from a reporting stand-point.

One thing that hasn't gone so well is my desire to empty my email inbox every day. Getting more than 80 emails daily just overwhelms my ability to process them. I am going to keep trying, though. I hate the thought of using automatic filters and rules but it may be necessary. If anyone has creative ideas about this, let me know. I am already trying to get myself off emailing lists but those seem insidious and viral.

I am going to close this journal session now and send to the blog. I want to offer my readership (yeah, right) a little more than personal snapshots and snippets of poetic thoughts (as enjoyable and meaningful as I know those have been) so I'll try to include more posts of value (PoV?).

The thought for the day comes from Malcolm Gladwell's recent book, "Outliers", as he quotes and old saying, "No one who gets up before dawn 360 days a year fails to make his family rich." Sure there are lots of questions and comments possible about this, but for a hard-working dude who leaves his family before dawn every workday, it is something to hold onto.

Enjoy the rainy day wherever you are.

Poetic thought for the day

I ran across this excerpt during my train ride to work this morning:

"In this way diametrically opposed but equally extreme psychic states such as pain and ecstacy, despair and bliss, are comparable experiences because they both usurp and annihilate time. They create their own sense of eternity."

On page 231 in "How to Read a Poem" by Edward Hirsch.

Testing Journal Transfer to Blogger

Testing the ability to post from my journal written in The Journal which is a Windows-based journaling application.

I am training to work on Friday, January 2nd, hoping to get a good day's work done as a catch-up for last year and try to get a toe-hold on the challenging new year.

I am also hoping that Linda and Vincent will join me in the city this afternoon for a last look at the holidays for this year. From here out it is on with the grind including taking down the lights on the house this weekend. At least they will come down faster than they went up. Coiling the light strings is always a challenge, though.

My best wishes for a healthy and happy new year for anyone who reads this entry.