The Ultimate Holiday Gift: Just Listen

Of late, books seems to find me when a void surfaces. This year has been chock full of voids.

In a weird way, this is something to be thankful for in this season of thanks: the possibility of filling those voids.

While wandering through a library in Huntsville, Alabama where I live, I chanced across "Just Listen" by Dr. Mark Goulston on a display.  

The book screamed at me, and I listened!

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d3: A Humble Name for Powerful Visualization Technology

D3 - A Discovery in Visualization

D3, the humble and lackluster name for "Data Driven Documents", has dominated data visualizations in the past three years.  Like most, I was totally oblivious of the technology until I began investigating visualizations for a SharePoint Environment.

 To be honest, I was just looking at charting and graphing software. My sights had not yet expanded to encompass the technology of a Data Visualization Engine. In particular, I was looking at HighCharts when a colleague introduced me to some d3 examples. I was smitten with the variations in d3 that I began to discover.

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Worst Printer

Did I mention the worst printer I've ever purchased: HP Color LazerJet Pro MFP M277dw?

I was hopeful that when I switched to Windows 10 my computer would cease going into repair mode when I turn the printer on.

Good News: it does not go into repair mode--but it halts Windows 10 in its tracks and then causes it to reboot.

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Is Alabama #1 for most Financial Predatory Chains?

According to AARP in "Seeking Limits for Payday Lenders":

"The median income in Alabama is among the lowest in the nation, and that attracts predatory lenders. Such lenders take advantage of low-income people’s desperate needs for quick cash to buy food or pay rent by offering loans at sky-high interest rates."

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A Small Tweak to Social Security would Improve Senior Life Quality

It's funny how you start seriously thinking about things like Medicare and Social Security when 65 looms in the next month.  It gets even more crucial when you're not sure of the renewal of your employment contract in September.

The good news is that I will be working when I'm sixty-five --but October will have to fend for itself.

It seems that Common Sense and Social Security only have a passing relationship: both belong to the planet.  They are definitely not on first name basis.


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Lizzy B's - Delightful Addition to South Huntsville

This week my wife and I ate dinner at Lizzy B's. This day was her grand opening with the Chamber of Commerce earlier that morning--but we came later for dinner. 

Lizzie B's is such a bright and perky addition to the South Huntsville eating scene. It replaces the old CoffeeTree. I still have vivid nightmares of walking into the Coffee Tree.  

I found the following review of the thankfully permanently closed Coffee Tree while writing this article, it fully encapsulates my experiences: "The staff is so snotty I wonder how they haven't gone out of business yet."  Good News: they have!  


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Five Secrets: A Review

LinkedIn: Five Secrets: A Review

Thanks Staples--Your Recycling Helps!

Last week, as I was about to install a new printer, I needed to get rid of the old one.  I specifically didn't want the printer ink to contaminate local water supplies. Also, after looking around my room, it was evident that I'd gotten into the used and forgotten computer parts business.  Knowing that landfills are not  "green" places for computer parts and printer ink, I had to make an effort to find a more environmentally friendly place for disposal.

I began to call around to see where recyclers might be in the Huntsville area. Not wanting an all-day excursion, I checked with some local stores.  The only active store that I found taking old computer parts was Staples.  I was happy to offload my old computer, laptop and printer.  

As a precaution against identity theft, I  removed all hard drives--even though they will do a low-level format--all this for free!

I view this as a needed service. If they can make money on the deal--more power them.  

Thanks Staples.

 Stephan

Pure Hope

We all have fears.  

It is so easy to watch your life spiraling down and entering the realm of never return.

The "Good News" is that God has better plans for us than we have for ourselves.

Brother David Steindl-Rast continues to inspire me.

Brother David is so deep that I had to put down another book of his because I can't wade the additional depth of his thoughts without finishing these. 

That was about a year ago and I'm still learning from the same book.

So Cuteous!

 This week of February 13th was particularly rough for me.

"Some days are diamonds. (Some days are stone.)" was a song written by Dick Feller and made popular by John Denver in the 80’s. I have been crunching on rocks since then.

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God's Blessing Sends Us Forth

Granted there are times where it seems like "Fourth" and I really wanna be third, second, or first. 

But in the clenches I'll stick with the Creator.

My Nose is too Big!

Not my actual nose--but the nose on a t-shirt I designed.

We all face failures every day--it's what we can learn from them that counts in becoming who we are. 

I am trying my hand at being more graphical this year (No! I'm not going to swear more.) by designing t-shirts with online software. 

To be specific, this site is http://socuteous.logosoftwear.com/ and the software is by logosoftware.com. 

Here's the culprit:

On the t-shirt, my friend's nose (adorable--isn't she!) is actually too large. Also the picture has no shape, attractive bordering, outline, or drop shadow. Additionally, I missed on creating transparent edges.

Doing a design is not unlike writing a program: you don't know what it really looks like until you see the finished product.

Then,  just like in programming, once you view the result you inevitably realize how it could be better or what else could be added to make it more complete. 

Anyway, it looked decent on the screen--but alas, reality kicked in when I got the t-shirt home.

I've decided to wear my mistake--not have it wear me. 

I needed some additional workout t-shirts. If anyone criticizes the shirt while I'm gloriously sweating, I'll just ask them to show me their latest t-shirt designs. 

It's so much easier to criticize than to do!

Today is the First Day ... Really this time!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

I know it's always true, but it's one of those facts that often seems trite.

Yet sometimes life's experience confirms it's really true.

For me, recent experiences have made me aware that life is fleeting and should be savored when possible and that tomorrow holds new possibilities.

Tick-Tock

Stephan

Another Thing to add to New Years Resolutions: Celebrate the Songs that Move My Spirit

Another New Year's Resolution: Celebrate the Songs that Move My Spirit.

I've just begun to compile my list in YouTube. Last night, I was comforted by the tune "As a Child Rests". It gave me the idea to begin to catalogue some of the music that moves me.

This is just a start. The year is young and I've only thought about this an hour.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist…

"Leashy Rider" - a Dog-eared Sequel

Y'all I know this dates us "Hippy" types--but what a straight line. What a topic: Man's chosen form of locomotion with his best friend.

As one of the interviewees said if you can't relate to dogs--this is not for you. I CAN in spades!

Bear with me for the following questions. The answers are multiple choice: A) Wife B)Pooch.

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Be More Graphical this Year

(Note: the title image was done in about 15 seconds in Photoshop using the brush tool. Even someone as graphically-challenged as me can do this with the great videos on Safari-Online and a mouse. )

Every couple of ten years I get challenged to get graphical (No profanity involved!). My wife says if I lay down the feeling will pass. I, of course, don't!

Being a programmer, by trade, for more than 30 years, I'm used to hauling data. You know the stuff: databases, grids, conversions, business forms, dashboards, analytics, and reports.

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Stephan's New Years Resolutions Continued -- S.M.A.R.T.S Goals for 2015

I’ll take it as a good sign I’m still working on my 2015 Goals.  It means they are still important to me.  If I make it to February still contemplating goals, all is not lost.  This may put me ahead of the January gym goers that seem to fade at month’s end.

I first want to expand on my “S.M.A.R.T.S” Goals.

OK,“S.M.A.R.T.” goals have existed a long time. Isn't the way to build something new to start with something old and enhance? Where would Windows be without MS-DOS? Isn't copying the highest form of flattery—at least, when money is not involved?

Maybe Goals should "smart" a little--as in, "that smarts". They should cause us a little pain or at least some effort or consternation.

Since there are reams of information on the internet and business management courses on "S.M.A.R.T goals", I'll leave my expounding to just the the last "S."--which I have deemed to label “Stretch Worthy”.   The word "Stretch Worthy" seems to dovetail with my literal German heritage much like "Weltsmertz" ("World Pain") or "Treppenwitz" ("Staircase Joke") ( http://goo.gl/9t2ujR ).

By "Stretch Worthy", I mean, will the goal cause us to stretch and is the goal worth the effort of the stretch. Does the goal align with our core? Will the stretch to meet it make me better for the effort. Granted that it is hard to appraise all outcomes beforehand but, we can have some intuitive feel or "heart response" for the outcome.

“Stretch” in this context means to extend ourselves beyond our comfort zone.  Being human, this can quickly become a compulsion and, Lord knows, we have enough of those--so we need to be deliberate in our choices of what to stretch. The ending part “Worthy” asks a couple of things of us: Are we worthy and does the goal fit our life’s work?

We all have feelings of self-doubt, so "Worthy" can be frightening--but to achieve anything we need to "belly up to the bar!" and go "in for a penny, in for a pound!".

"Stretch Worthy" adds some forward motion or impetus to what we plan to achieve.  A goal is NOT a "Stretch Worthy" if it fragments and departs from our core values.

"Stretch Worthy" also challenges and compels me. I still need to achieve. Even at 64, I clearly have this need to achieve more..

I’m still evaluating my goals and especially, what to share and what to keep personal.  

Being an educator in a literal sense, I want to share not only what I perceive meaningful but also enough to be accountable and credible.

This is the scary part. My goals are still “a Work in Progress”. But, relax you'll never get out alive.

Stephan

"Act, and Build the Life you want"--A Book Review of Eddie de Jong's Upcoming Work

A disclaimer of sorts: Last month Eddie de Jong--who I didn't know from Adam--contacted me about reviewing his upcoming book to be released on Jan 19, 2015. He said "he found my name on Amazon and see that you have reviewed books in the past."

I was intrigued and complimented--but wanted to know more.

I also felt it might be a good opportunity to have a short story I'd been working on reviewed by a professional writer. Eddie agreed to the swap. I was only half expecting that he would actually read my work—you can only ask.

At 64, you've been around the block once or twice.

To sum this up so that I can get on to the review: Eddie not only gave me a thoughtful critique but a word document with--alas--grammatical corrections.

I missed the grammar classes in high school to deliberately get to advanced literature. I have some groundwork to do before my writing can stand on its own.

Eddie kept his word and that's important to me.

As I told Eddie on my first reading, it took me until Chapter 6 to find some thought provoking content.

I've read a lot of self-help books since I am extremely needy. The concepts he presented weren't new. On the other hand, these concepts are vital and require reflection and re-application for continued meaningful change.

Take for example, Eddie's concept of journaling--this is something that has come to mean more to me every year.  I even have a notebook for recording thoughts when I'm awaken at night.

Or take the concept of the "state" triangle which captures the relationship of belief to body posture and language--anyone who has dealt with intense depression knows the language (self-talk) and body posture (alignment/exercise) can help substantially in altering moods.  

For me Pet Therapy -- just hanging out with my dog -- helps my self-talk and calms my blood pressure--even when my Shih-Tzu boss is manipulating me to her own gain.

Or “Power Questions”—to me the quality of my life depends on the questions I ask and more and more gratitude has to enter the picture to be happy. To be grateful requires reflection. One of my bibles for reflection is: “Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer” by Brother David Steindl-Rast.

What we dwell on effects who we are.

I also like Eddie’s emphasis on “Laughter Yoga” and catching yourself doing something right.

On my second reading of the book, I found I like and endorse the content. 

Since I am currently working on my own Goals for 2015, his request provided a synchronicity to my current actions.

I give the book four out of five stars with the caveat that it’s not just a book to read but requires working through the questions.  

Was I prejudiced by his kind actions—SURE I’m only human.

Family--it's Complicated!

Family--it's Complicated!

What an understatement.

In a sense what your forebears did was not about you--at least in part--it was about them. In another sense--it's all about you.

The unraveling of relationships is life's work.

Some of you may know I've recorded part of a short story called "Lou's Homecoming" for WLRH. It involves the death of my father and half-brother Lou some 20 years ago. I did not even know of the existence of my half-brother until I was 38.

I had the mistaken impression since my dad didn't talk often about his family his dad died while he was very young.

My brother--very much the historian--related the following yesterday in an email:

Dad was born in Shenandoah, PA. His father Peter, an immigrant from Uzhgorod, Western Ukraine was born about 1872 and immigrated to the United States in the late 19th/early 20th century. 

Peter settled in Shenandoah where he married Anna who was an immigrant, interestingly enough, from a little town in Slovakia, just over the border from Western Ukraine. They had not met until Pennsylvania. Peter worked his entire life in the coal mines and died in 1935 during the year of Lou’s birth and my dad Steve was 23 years old.

Oops--We walk in the light afforded us.

About Stephan's 2015 Resolutions

We've been given a New Year.

Adventures await each of us. I've never felt more creative in my life.

How best can we celebrate and create the person we need to be?

Last Month I work up at two a.m. with a basic formulation of a principal. I've found if I’m awakened at strange hours, I need to take note of the dialogue. It took me about two weeks to mold and phrase it into the image for the article.

I've actually ordered a sweatshirt so that I can be conscious of these principles and keep them close to my chest.

About Stephan's 2015 Resolutions