HARDWARE: LIVESCRIBE (not recommended)

Friday, September 27, 2013

http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/

Bought one on a lark.

Some minor issues, but worked through them. 

Even liked it. 

Can think of some stuff that could be better.

BUT now I have come up with the KILLER negative.

I lost the darn thing.

OK. It’s a $200 gadget. But it was “useful”.

So I ask the question, “if I buy a new one, can I link it to my old stuff.”

Answer, <cue Jeopardy theme>, …

… NO!

Are u kidding me?

There’s an obvious “use” case!

Oh well, let me slap a big NOTRECOMMENDED on this one.

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RANT: Raging at the dying!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

http://zenhabits.net/changes/

The Pain & Beauty of Life Changes
By Leo Babauta

*** begin quote ***

The reason for our suffering is our resistance to the changes in life.

And life is all changes.

*** and ***

A loved one dies. One of the ultimate changes is death, of course, but what has changed? Well, the person is obviously no longer in our life (at least, not in the same way), but just as painfully, we are not the same person when a loved one dies. We have to change who we are — we’re now a widower instead of a husband, a father without his daughter, or a friend who is left alone (for example). We want life to be the way it was, but it isn’t, so we grief, we rage.

*** end quote ***

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Be like Dylan Thomas, and rage at the “dying of the light”.

Why do I always think of Rodney Dangerfield recitation of this poem?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090685/quotes

==

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

===

To which is the movie, there’s a line: “I mad as hell! And, I don’t take no crap from anybody.”

That’s how I feel.

Raging at the dying of the light!!!

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INTERESTING: Entropy, old age, and effort

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/universal-law-causing-struggle/?utm_source=feedly

This Universal Law is Causing You to Struggle!
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 BY DR. TOM PRESTON

*** begin quote ***

The purpose of this article is to help you understand these laws and how they play a role in your life. It is to help you understand that there is a very large force at work in the Universe that has assisted you in falling into the rut you are/were in and hopefully as a result of this understanding you can stop beating yourself up, accept things as they are and choose to change it!

You are the master of your own destiny, the pilot of your life and the artist behind the creation of each day. This means that you and you alone have the power to change/effect/enhance your life through your thoughts and actions!

Do not forget that the fundamental essence of our manifest Universe is energy and that you get to exchange as much or as little energy with the Universe as YOU choose! Please do not think that this means just taking action all the time for if you have studied any physiology or psychology at all you know that “thoughts are things” and that you can exchange at least as much, if not arguably more energy with the Universe through your thoughts then you ever could with your actions!

*** end quote ***

Sigh, but it’s so much effort to just do anything.

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RANT: Opposition to Obamacare

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Ted Cruz Is Talking Until He Can’t Stand Anymore
“I rise in opposition to Obamacare,” the Texas Republican began. This speech may go on for a while.

By Matt Berman, Matt Vasilogambros and Dustin Volz
Updated: September 24, 2013 | 7:50 p.m.
September 24, 2013 | 2:58 p.m.

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Has to stop somewhere?

# – # – # – # – #  2013-Sep-24 @ 19:57  


INSPIRATIONAL: Who knows what the tide could bring?

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/09/18/lessons-in-manliness-the-hobbit/

Lessons in Manliness: The Hobbit
by JEREMY ANDERBERG on SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

*** begin quote ***

4. To simply continue on is one of the bravest things that can be done. Near the end of the story, Bilbo is in the mountain and ready to gaze upon the dragon that is guarding the lost treasure. He’s alone, and in the dark (seems to be a common setting, doesn’t it?). He could see the glow of the dragon’s fire, but not the dragon himself. “It was at this point Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait.”

*** end quote **

I can empathize with that.

One foot in front of another.

“You can’t be afraid. It’s not right to be afraid. It’s as if you don’t trust the Lord with our lives. I’m not a big Bible Banger, but it seems rude to joggle God’s elbow. Like a little kid, who has no concept of what is happening.” — character “John” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 206

“I’ve lost her all over again. I’m so sad that I don’t have her. But I’m so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?” Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) in “Cast Away” (2000)

One foot in front of the other.

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FUN: All I get is …

Monday, September 23, 2013

“Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause you gain weight and get hot flashes. Male menopause – you get to date youngᅠgirls and drive motorcycles.” – Rita Rudner

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All I get is strange dreams, night terrors, and drenching sweats!

Argh!

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RANT: How sad to kill anyone

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Wartime Disposability

At http://www.avoiceformen.com is an excellent article by Jon Gunnarsson called, “The Pinnacle Of Male Disposability” that highlights how men throughout history have always been considered expendable by politicians, and even the people they protect. An example is the White Feathers, a group of upper-class British women during WWI who would hand out white feathers to any man not in uniform as a sign of cowardice to shame them into enlisting. This included boys as young as 15 who lied about their age so they could enlist and die.

Wes Carr wesjcarr@yahoo.com

*********

I guess if we had drafted women then there would have been a different reaction.

(I’m very much against using women i this fashion. Or, men for that matter.)

If we were Israel where there is no safe “rear”, or the enemy was landing on the coast. (Unless they had quarters to play the games.)

I have moved completely from my youth when I believe everything our Gooferment said.

Gulf of Tolkin changed that. Then I started to really study my history.

Somewhere along the way, for anyone who cares, I became a miniarchist almost an anarchist.

Wish I could say I was finished in my political maturaton.

I’m going to be more of a loon as I get I get older.

I could cry over the youngsters and their stupidity.

–30–


JOBSEARCH: It’s about what you put into it … …

Sunday, September 22, 2013

FROM AN EMAIL

… 

I wanted advice from you on what the best paying business careers are. Im currently a Finance and Global Business major. I’ tried to speak to the dean as well as the handler for internships but they all told me to enjoy my classes and wait out to see how it goes and maybe i’ll find out what I like. I don’t have that luxury and I don’t want to end up in a typical dead end business job.

I wanted an established and successful business man like yourself to assist me since no one at this time is able too. Do you know of anyone who can help me achieve that goal. Im willing to give up everything and work like a dog for success.

I have a feeling you may say your own business in the only way since thats what you had said at the club meeting. If you can teach how to “play the game” I’d greatly appreciate it.

Much Respect,

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It’s not about the “best paying business careers”; it’s about what is “best” for you.

So, find your own internship. You didn’t say what year you’re in. If you’re a freshman, then why would a business spend time on you? There are many part-time sales jobs that you could try that would tell you if you like sales.

There are no “dead end business jobs”. Just people who accept that as an “end point”.

“I want …” Well, I want to be “thin, young, and handsome”. No one care what YOU want; they are interested in what you can do for them.

I think YOU can achieve YOUR goal. When you have one. Goals have to be “SMART”. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Most of the self-help books can help you set your goals. Sounds like what the Dean and the Internship Handler are telling you is that: “You don’t know enough to be good pick for any internship.” I’ll be more blunt — I’m a fat old white guy injineer — you have no clue as to what you can do, want to do, or would love to do.

No, I wouldn’t say “own biz” to you because you don’t have the spark. One of your peers in meeting HAS his own biz, a product, a marketing / manufacturing plan. He’s ready.

What I will say is that you should talk to the folks over in “placement” about taking some of the aptitude tests to figure out where your skills and interests are. I’d urge you visit Ms. Duchone over at the library and have her aim you at some of the clasic “self-help” books — Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill should be and early one. Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. And anything by Wayne Dyer and / or Covey.

Then, you’ll be able to focus on how to craft a great career.

Hope this helps

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RANT: Flashback to 1992

Saturday, September 21, 2013

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2013/09/passing-buck.html

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

Passing the Buck

*** begin quote ***

Perhaps Mr. Hagel and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will expand the official inquiry to determine who “passed the buck” on an individual who should have been booted from the reserves for his conduct and denied both a security clearance and employment as a defense contractor. As more is learned about the former Petty Officer, we seem ample opportunities for intervention–opportunities that were continually ignored, for whatever reasons.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time that commanders and supervisors have taken a pass on dealing with a troubled individual, with deadly consequences. And we’re not referring to Fort Hood, either.

Flashback to 1992. A young man from Michigan with a long history of mental illness appeared at an Air Force recruiting office. Apparently, his problems never surfaced during the enlistment process; the individual either lied to the recruiters, or the service ignored potential warning signs. With a solid score on his ASVAB, the individual was allowed to enlist and shipped out for basic training.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but everyone in the chain of command should take a serious hit for this, these, blunders.

But, politicians and bureaucrats don’t care!

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MEMORIES: Life is not a VCR

Saturday, September 21, 2013

“In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” – Oscar Wilde

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And sometimes the joy of getting what you want is balanced by the pain of losing it 40 years later.

So would it have been better to forego the first to avoid the second?

“Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.”

Maybe, but maybe not.

I’ll never know.

Not sure that it would make a difference.

The “Road Less Traveled”?

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