HomeFieldAdvantage

Should have taken photo

2011-11-25T09:45:00.001-05:00

Of Thanksgiving turkey gravy that was perfect color (for a brown). And it taste good too.

Nissan GTR Sighting

2011-11-03T08:07:00.002-05:00

Another sweet ride just under $100K.

Sighted in the Bronx.

Dad and son making pizzas

2011-10-30T21:27:00.002-05:00

At wolf den outing for cub scouts. Had cooking lesson from instructors from Mercer County Community College. Learned about five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and unami.

Papa Johns better watch out.

A night at the museum

2011-10-18T22:46:00.002-05:00

Linda and I attended a dinner hosted by SunGard at the U of Penn museum of archeology and anthropology where we enjoyed the Egypt artifacts. Almost too cool not to touch.

Golfer

2011-10-17T06:26:00.002-05:00

A pretty good swing but I have to admit that the form is more a baseball swing like his brothers and his father. Whatever gets the ball down the fairway (or over the fence) .

Golf today

2011-10-14T20:37:00.002-05:00

Played golf today at Mercer Oaks East course. Very nice course and I had a good outing. Scored pretty well even with my hybrid baseball/golf swing.

New Phone

2011-09-25T21:30:00.002-05:00

Just got the Droid Bionic to replace my old cell phone and iPhone. Still getting used to it but it seems more powerful even if not as easy to use as the iPhone. What's next? An android tablet to replace my iPad? We'll see.

eReaders

2011-04-19T07:30:00.006-05:00

Having switched from the Kindle reader to the Kindle App for iPhone several years ago, I now find it hard to read on a normal sized page. Even the Kindle App for iPad (shown) presents such a large format I seem to get lost from row to row.

I think the smaller, more focused presentation of sentences and paragraphs on the iPhone screen allows me to read faster and with greater comprehension. I find myself turning pages faster and faster.

I also like the features of the Kindle App including one-touch dictionary, passage highlighting and note digest, and popular highlights from other readers. Text search is also very good. And for ease on the eyes, the use of brightness adjust works well for varying light levels including darkness.

I'm staying with my iPhone as my primary reading device at least for now. Having ny library at my belt at all times is just too good a thing.

New Business Opportunity or New Toy

2011-04-11T14:13:00.001-05:00

Actually, it was justified as a time-saver and indeed, it really moves across the ground.

Vincent was able to learn the operation in about 15 minutes so I may be able to sit on the porch with a glass of lemonade while he does the lawn. Now if I can get him to carry the weedwacker I will have it good.

King of Snow Mountain

2011-02-05T20:30:00.003-05:00

One bright spot for all the snow we've received this year is the fun we've had climbing snow mountains created in shopping center parking lots. If the mountain climbers rate the best by how many peaks over 20,000 feet they have climbed, Vincent and I measure similar stature by how many snow mountains over 20 feet we have climbed. I think the current count may be 5 or 6 but that is no small feat for a little guy.

I know we are in for a climbing expedition when he wants to wear his boots for a trip to Lowes or Wegman's. Keep climbing toward your dreams.

Big winner for speed and Best in Show for design

2011-01-29T20:30:00.002-05:00

Here is the result for the Pack 87 Pine Wood Derby. Vincent came away with two trophies, a modest one for 1st place in speed for his Tiger Cub den, and the one shown for being voted Best in Show for design. I admit I helped him with the speed aspect by polishing the axles and lubricating the wheels with graphite.
But the design was all his as was most of the construction, sanding, and painting. All those aesthetic things that is involved with design. I think he gets that from his mother while I provide the engineering side.
In all a great event for the kiddos executed in a great way by a caring Pack. Hat's off to Pack 87 and congratulations to Vincent!

Before the big race

2011-01-29T12:56:00.002-05:00

Before the big race

Sunrise behind New York

2011-01-04T08:09:00.002-05:00

Sunrise behind New York

2010-10-24T12:54:00.001-05:00

Flight from Newark to Philly

Steve Birthday

2010-10-24T11:12:00.000-05:00

2010-10-14T15:31:00.001-05:00

Manhattanville opening up

Wish I could figure out how to orient this the right way. But too cute.

2010-09-24T16:53:00.003-05:00

Hey, macarena!

Condo next to ours at OC, Md

2010-08-15T07:26:00.002-05:00

Interesting condo in OC. This one is just north of ours and is a v-shaped footprint. The rachet shape allows most condos to have beach view and balconies. Very creative architecture.

2010-06-25T15:06:00.001-05:00

Gift for team parent Linda

Daughtry Concent in Trenton

2010-06-20T21:34:00.003-05:00

Daughtry Concert

Breakfast at IHOP

2010-06-18T08:38:00.002-05:00

Dont you wish you were me?

2010-06-17T07:08:00.001-05:00

Empty subway car. Feel like Will Smith in I am Legend.

Saturday at Yankee Stadium

2010-06-12T20:17:00.003-05:00

Guess which one is the bobble head?

Friday night at Trenton Thunder

2010-06-04T19:21:00.001-05:00

Trenton Thunder vs Richmond Flying Squirrels on Friday night.

Speech for PHS Baseball Seniors - June 2, 2010

2010-06-03T12:11:00.001-05:00

PHS Baseball Picnic Speech, June 2, 2010

(to the seniors) I asked to speak today to commemorate 10 years of your lives as baseball players and to provide perspective for your journey ahead.

10 years ago, many of you seniors showed up at Community Park to tryout for 8 year-old all-stars. We placed 2nd at Amwell, 1st at Montgomery, and 4th at Sunnybrae. I knew then it was a special group of players. Through those 10 years I discovered you were even greater young men.

3 years later we formed the Giants and won everything from Frogbridge to Amwell to HTRBA. What a great run! We even faced a team at Amwell that included Nicky Miranda. There might be a concern about peaking too early...

Through Babe Ruth and Middle School and JAL and PHS and Legion you kept going with high points and low points. But for 10 years you have been baseball players and that is an accomplishment all on its own. No one knows how hard who has not stood in the batter's box, who never stood on the mound to pitch, and who never made a play with the game on the line.

Now you are moving on to write new chapters in the story of your lives. My advice: put all that you learned in baseball to use to make the most of your future. The hard lessons are the best. And know this -- the sun will get in your eyes, the umpire will make a bad call, and the lousy outfielder will drop the easy fly ball. Make no excuses, deal with it and press on!

For Steve, my role as Dad means much more to me than Coach or Fan. Your talents amaze me and you truly are my pride and joy on the field or off. From the 5 inning shut-out that you pitched as an 8 year-old in the Sunnybrae tournament, to pitching against the strong Knottingham American Legion team last summer, you truly display poetry in motion and have a huge heart.

I want to conclude with a Tweet which as you know has to be 140 characters or fewer: "Before you were Tigers you were Giants. Go live life as large as you can dream. Take on the next phase of your life swinging for the fences."

Thank you,

Coach, Fan, and Dad, David Etherton

2010-06-01T08:41:00.001-05:00

Backpack

Irises at Longwood Gardens

2010-05-08T14:26:00.002-05:00

Irises

2010-05-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

Now here is an example of subtle. Splash of Columbia baby blue.

2010-05-07T06:56:00.001-05:00

Arguement against too much freedom to personalize.

2010-05-04T06:49:00.001-05:00

Boats on the Charles

2010-05-03T20:26:00.001-05:00

Harvard landmark

2010-05-03T15:25:00.001-05:00

Landmark at MIT

2010-04-08T13:52:00.001-05:00

Lunchtime artist

2010-04-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

2010-04-07T11:31:00.001-05:00

Guess what?

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

2010-04-05T20:02:00.001-05:00

After day one in Washington.

Big Winner

2010-03-29T07:31:00.002-05:00

Big winner at the Easter coloring contest.

Vincent's Egg

2010-03-28T11:14:00.002-05:00

Winning entry in Easter coloring contest. Notice the detail.

2010-03-26T20:15:00.001-05:00

More Carrie

2010-03-26T19:16:00.001-05:00

Carrie Underwood Concert

Dan long fly ball

2010-03-20T14:26:00.000-05:00

From game vs Bloomfield College

2010-03-18T12:17:00.001-05:00

Harlem from the escarpment

2010-01-21T08:20:00.000-05:00

[Blog Post] Morning commute activities: listened to two-part ManagerTools podcast on visualizing for organization change. and continue to read "Managing in the Next Society" by Peter Drucker. What an amazing mind!

What We Did on Our Christmas Holiday

2009-12-31T15:44:00.002-05:00

Mt. Everest conquered!

Too many books, too few train rides

2009-12-30T11:02:00.001-05:00

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

2009-12-26T21:11:00.001-05:00

This was created from an Avatar app for the iPhone.

2009-12-21T06:37:00.001-05:00

Largest albino bagel

2009-12-21T06:35:00.001-05:00

Glacier on roof. Cant be global warming.

Morning Train Activities

2009-12-18T07:54:00.001-05:00

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

2009-12-14T11:29:00.002-05:00

Columbia shining in the morning sun.

Survivormen out on Sunday Adventure

2009-12-07T08:31:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-30T07:33:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-29T09:29:00.001-05:00

"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

2009-11-16T07:34:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-03T10:08:00.001-05:00

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

2009-10-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

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

From Accerando, by Charles Stross

Always Thinking

2009-10-19T07:13:00.003-05:00

I'm thinking

Winner of the Pizza Making Contest

2009-10-18T13:27:00.002-05:00

Chef Vincent at Magma Pizza birthday party.

HP Mini has arrived

2009-08-18T06:37:00.002-05:00

[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

2009-08-10T16:37:00.001-05:00

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

2009-08-06T17:09:00.002-05:00

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

2009-08-06T06:47:00.000-05:00

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

2009-08-02T15:42:00.002-05:00

Heart-shaped tomato from our garden weighing 25.4 ounces.

Garden's Bounty

2009-08-02T15:35:00.003-05:00

and we were only away for one week...

Another Sunset

2009-08-01T18:58:00.002-05:00

Last evening on Chincoteague...

Two Grizzlies Sighted on Chincoteague Isle

2009-07-31T10:48:00.002-05:00

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

Damage to Dock Piling

2009-07-29T07:56:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-28T10:02:00.002-05:00

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

Sunset after Storm

2009-07-27T19:26:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-27T07:02:00.001-05:00

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

2009-07-23T06:16:00.001-05:00

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

2009-07-20T07:11:00.002-05:00

Where did all the people go?

El Cid doing trick

2009-07-17T07:36:00.001-05:00

El Cid standing

Vacation Approaching

2009-07-14T13:04:00.002-05:00

Vacation dream doodle by my sweetie.

Notes from CareerTools podcast about 2009 Resume Update

2009-07-14T06:40:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-14T06:14:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-24T16:12:00.001-05:00

Steve at waterfront

Hello World

2009-06-18T06:32:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-02T05:57:00.000-05:00

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.

2009-05-31T16:31:00.000-05:00

Birthday Sean

Waterway in Providence

2009-04-14T07:09:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-09T06:44:00.001-05:00

Art of love from two special people.

Name that auto

2009-04-07T09:26:00.002-05:00

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

Unusual Eats

2009-02-27T13:32:00.001-05:00

Chicken pot pie in a taco shell.

Quote

2009-02-11T06:49:00.002-05:00

"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

2009-02-09T13:28:00.002-05:00

Highlander

Ice Flow on the Hudson River

2009-01-20T13:34:00.001-05:00

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

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

2009-01-09T07:29:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-08T07:57:00.003-05:00

(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

2009-01-07T07:21:00.002-05:00

(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

2009-01-06T07:28:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-02T07:35:00.004-05:00

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.

Office After

2008-12-30T14:29:00.002-05:00

After

Office Before

2008-12-30T08:24:00.002-05:00

Before

Sunrise from slow train

2008-12-30T07:03:00.001-05:00

Cynicism or Realism?

2008-12-30T06:50:00.002-05:00

"Anyone who planned to enjoy the world
is now faced
with a hopeless task."

- Wislawa Szymborska

Poetical Thoughts

2008-12-23T06:28:00.001-05:00

"Despair is turning away from human commerce, it is silence." Edward Hirsch from "How To Read a Poem."

Superman

2008-12-22T07:57:00.001-05:00

Complete with cowlick (sp?) and stern countenance. No Kryptonite in
sight. Disregard the belt askew, Superman just came from a battle with Lex Luthor.

Poetry in my daily life - through 12/19

2008-12-19T06:57:00.002-05:00

12/16 - "in America, you must say it twice, and then once again..."

12/18 - "We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric, but of the
quarrel with ourselves, poetry." W. B. Yeats

12/19 - Keats untitled poem "This living hand, now warm and capable Of
earnest grasping, would, if it were cold And in the icy silence of the
tomb, So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights That thou would
wish thine own heart dry of blood So in my veins red life might stream
again, And thou be conscience-calmed--see here it is--I hold it
towards you."

Training to Boston

2008-12-15T04:52:00.002-05:00

I'm heading to Boston for meetings with folks at MIT and Harvard to discuss financial aid systems. I have an Amtrak train out of NYC at 6:20 and so am to taking the 4:38 out of Hamilton to get there.

The train was a little late and came in on the wrong track so the lemming herd had to rush to the grade level platform at the far end of the normal platform. Same situation for Princeton Junction where we are as I write this.

It will be a short trip coming back tomorrow but I will describe if anything noteworthy happens. So long for now.