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Personal News Archives

May 30, 2003

Awards, compliments, testimonials, nice things, and wonderful visitors to my web site

It occurred to me recently that I should put up a page for compliments and awards from visitors to my web site, since I've started getting a lot more of them recently. So here they are. Thank-you, all of you, for visiting my site and spending some of your day in my world on the Internet, and thank-you to those of you who have taken the time to write me about your experiences!

So, here they are.

(If you want to add one, you can do so using the comments below, or by contacting me. Thanks!)

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Continue reading "Awards, compliments, testimonials, nice things, and wonderful visitors to my web site" »

July 13, 2005

Lots going on

Well, lots is going on. I started three new web sites... www.buyacomforter.com, www.identitytheftsecrets.com, and www.yourdogzone.com. They're all very much under construction, but very exciting projects!

Continue reading "Lots going on" »

August 21, 2005

So this is my gloved

So this is my gloved hand, and a little bird... a little hummingbird.Every year, my parents hang up hummingbird feeders, and we get a multitude of them showing up.I was at my parents mowing the lawn to help them get ready for Brian and Jamie's going away party, and left the garage door open.

My parents had just cleaned the windows in the garage, and this poor little guy (girl? - how can you tell with hummingbirds? I assume it was the guy, because it was more colorful, and male birds are supposed to be the more colorful ones... anyway, (s)he) had gotten totally exhausted after flying into the garage, and becoming totally confused about how to get out. (HINT: Head towards the gaping bright hole (A.K.A. OPen garage door) on the end opposite of you.)

Continue reading "So this is my gloved" »

January 23, 2006

Life, as a series of gifts

This morning, right before I woke up with the alarm for a Monday morning mastermind meeting, I was having a dream.

In my dream, my alarm went off. So I shut off the alarm, got up, and went into the office, which is across the hall from my bedroom (which was pretty accurate in my dream). As I walked into the office, I noticed that there were presents all around me. It was so amazing!

There were presents of of all shapes and sizes, most of them being in gift bags of all colors and sizes. I realized that my office was larger (than it actually is), and the entire room was actually filled with presents.

As I turned to go back into the bedroom to tell Carrie, I realized that there were presents all around me. Everywhere I looked, there were presents.

Continue reading "Life, as a series of gifts" »

March 19, 2006

Accident 3/18/06

North Castlewood Canyon Road @ Park Entrance
 
Court Date: May 3 10:00 AM CRS 42-4-902 “Made Unsafe UTurn��? $35 fine $6.20 Surcharge CODE 270

How did I get the ticket? I really don't know.

Continue reading "Accident 3/18/06" »

July 25, 2006

Done with Wells Fargo

I've made a decision today, and I'm typing it here so that I will see it, and so that others can remind me of it.

I'm done with Wells Fargo.

Understand, I've enjoyed the convenience of Wells Fargo, and at times, have even liked Wells Fargo's level of customer service.

However, in the past three years, over $XXX,XXX.00 has gone through my Wells Fargo accounts.

In the past month and a half, Wells Fargo has charged me $183 in overdraft fees, and $4 just for picking up the phone to talk with a banker. One of those fees was a legitimate overdraft. Another was Wells Fargo's error (which the banker reported in his notes he had refunded to me as a one-time courtesy). The other $120 in fees was over weekend timing issues, and Wells Fargo, because they already refunded one overdraft as a "one-time courtesy" is unable to do any more. But they're glad to have been of service.

Wells Fargo also charges me 23% interest on a credit card that I have never once missed a payment on.

I called in, and then wrote in, to request a lower interest rate. Their response was simply that they were unable to help me at this time, but that they appreciated having me as a customer.

Yah.

So, even though it will be less convenient, I'm going to begin the process today of migrating away from Wells Fargo entirely.

And Wells Fargo, if you're reading, and want to try to gain me back as a banking customer, please feel free to call me. Your ATM's are convenient, your staff is polite, but your policies and fees are ridiculous. You know how to reach me, and I'd appreciate the opportunity to hear from you... that is, if you're not going to charge me for the phone call.

Continue reading "Done with Wells Fargo" »

September 11, 2006

Observations from DIA Denver International Airport

Observations from Denver International Airport, September 11, 2006

"Sign up today and get a free trip!"

So there's this guy wandering around the airport on concourse A saying "Sign up today and get a free round trip on Frontier." Just when you thought you were safe from being marketed something, here's someone wandering around the airport, looking for people to sign up for credit cards. It is not that I mind being marketed to, or even that I mind being marketed to in the airport. But as much as I do like sitting for an hour and waiting while someone repeats the exact same message over and over (like they already do over the sound system about aerosols and toothpaste), now I'm listening to a guy selling a credit card over and over. This is not even to mention the tacit acceptance we all have that it's okay for a large company to encourage and even reward us for contributing to the huge problem of Americans drowning in debt. But I digress...


Wireless Internet

Denver International Airport = something fishy. DIA is the only airport I have ever been in where wireless Internet is offered and fully accessible, but where it costs you something. You can log in through any of the major providers on their main page, but there's a cost associated with getting on their wireless network (provided by AT&T). If you don't already have an account with one of these major providers, you can pay $7.95/day for unlimited access. Admittedly, that is not super expensive, but didn't I pay for DIA with tax money already? How about the landing fees that are tacked on to my ticket prices just because I happen to fly from here? Couldn't a small portion of that go to pay AT&T or someone else so that while wireless Internet access is available while I'm sitting here listening to how aerosols and toothpaste are prohibited (and how I can get a free round trip ticket if I'm willing to dig myself into a hole of debt)?

Hey DIA, how about this suggestion? A little innovation: The equipment for wireless Internet is already here, so all that has to be purchased is the access. DIA pays for the Internet connection, but when a traveler connects through the DIA travel network, it's accompanied by a small sidebar. This sidebar runs ads for the people and companies who rent space in the airport. They get a 15-30 second rotating banner impression, and it's just $10/month added on to their rent cost. There are potentially 100 or more vendors here in the airport, each paying $10/month. This could serve to let people know what shops are available (did you know you can get a massage at DIA while waiting for your flight?) while at the same time paying for the Internet connection of all travelers through the airport. 100 vendors*$10/month = some pretty nice bandwidth being carried into the airport for wireless connections.

The Internet situation here is kind of like Starbuck's versus the local neighborhood coffee shop. At both places, you've already bought overpriced coffee, but at the neighborhood coffee shop, you generally can sign in after agreeing to their terms and conditions, while at Starbuck's, you have to pay T-Mobile or another major provider in order to log on to the Internet. Could it be that DIA is getting some sort of kick-back from these companies?

Nah, it couldn't be that (catch the sarcasm). (Actually, if it isn't that, DIA should be making some money for allowing these guys to own the wireless space at the airport.)

It's just interesting that this is the only airport I've seen (and I've traveled to plenty), that charges for its wireless internet access. Denver International Airport's new slogan: *DIA: Starbuck's of airports*.

Parents with kids on leashes

Everyone has probably seen this more recent phenomenon of parents putting their kids on leashes. Aside from the huge moral fallacy presented in such a big way by the people who think that this is okay, what I notice most about parents who put their kids on leashes is that both hands of the parent are usually full. In addition to hanging on to the strap for their child(ren), they are carrying something in both hands: generally it's 3 or more of the following: coffee, candy bar, book, ice cream, hot dog, super-sized cola, backpack, doughnuts, etc. Generally, if you notice the parents who have their children on a leash, they are overweight. Could there be some sort of relationship here?

Don't get me wrong, because it must be difficult to be a parent, something which I will have the joy of experiencing someday. But parents, understand this: the only time that it's okay to put your child on a rope that is attached to them and you is when you are mountain climbing. If you're putting a leash on your kid to prevent them from running away, then you need to help your child learn boundaries, and you really should lose some weight, so that if absolutely necessary, and only as a last resort, you can chase after your child. Get rid of some of the stuff you're carrying, because even though you want it, you likely don't need it. This is especially true if what you're carrying is excess weight.

If you're putting a leash on your kid to prevent someone else walking away with your child, then you need to watch less TV. This is not to downplay the significance of child abductions, but if the best response you can come up with to keep your child safe from an abduction is to keep them tethered to you at all times, then you clearly have been brainwashed into paranoia by watching too much news. Instead of a leash, here's an idea: teach your child some lessons about people who are okay to be with and people who are not okay to be with, and then give your child some freedom to explore, while at the same time establishing some boundaries (GASP!) for them.

Get your poor child off of the leash.

September 18, 2006

TSA September 18 at Las Vegas Airport

Five years and some after September 11, and our airports are no more safe than they were prior to September 11, 2001.

After over an hour of standing in security lines at Las Vegas airport, I have realized something in a crystal clear way. Our security is only as strong as the people in it: some of the people in it are not very smart.

There are many within the TSA workers who are highly intelligent, and there is no doubt that they are working hard, and dealing with a lot of crazy travelers. But this morning, I will walk on to a plane with two foil-wrapped granola bars. The contents of an aluminum wrapped package walking through a stand-up x-ray scanner may or may not be detected by the machine, but when screened, and showing a security screener that it was just granola bars, I found myself able to walk away and get on the plane. The screeners are dealing with so many people every day, that it’s easy to let some little things slip through the cracks. Little things can result in big problems.

One other thought… Who is getting wealthy re-selling all the items that are confiscated at airports around the country?

October 7, 2006

Samuel's First Birthday

I went to Samuel's 1st birthday today. Samuel is the cutest little kid! Here's 13 minutes of video from the party!

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October 30, 2006

Pictures from the Pumpkin Carving Party 2006

We again had the annual pumpkin carving party!  Since we were gone for Jason's wedding the weekend before Halloween, we had our pumpkin carving party on October 20th.

 

     

Carrie makes awesome and delicious pumpkin party treats.
We had witches' broomsticks (peanut butter cookies attached to pretzels and decorated with chocolate)
We had a Spider nest (7 layer dip decorated in sour cream)
We also had broomsticks dipped in melted chocolate.  Guess who got to lick the bowl?

   
We carved 12 pumpkins in total at the party.

    
Carrie's "Lovers" pumpkin design


The Glowing Pumpkin (she did this by scraping down the inside of the pumpkin so that the pumpkin was VERY thin.

   

 
Deanna and I are the last two to finish carving...


Deanna's Goblins Pumpkin

   
The Coyote/Wolf pumpkin and

  
dad's castle pumpkin

     
Me, still carving my pumpkin, at 12:45 AM.  (It took until almost 2:00 AM before I finished.)


But I did finish my pumpkin.
Here's what it looked like.

   

   
Warning:  IF you try carving this pumpkin design, it's not quite as easy as it may look.

     
All of our pumpkins together.  

You can also look at pictures of our pumpkin carvings from years past:
View Pumpkin carvings from 10/28/2001
View Pumpkin carvings from 10/30/2001
View Pumpkins from 10/26/2002
View pumpkin carvings and pumpkin designs from 10/26/2003
View Pumpkins and designs from 10/30/2003
View Pumpkins and Designs from 10/29/2005

 

(Of these, which is your favorite? Please feel free to leave comments below!)

April 4, 2007

Specialization is for Insects

I saw this on OneMan'sBlog today, and thought I would re-post it, as it gave me a lot of confidence and encouragement for all the various things I do...

In short, this quote let me know that it's okay that I do so many things.

That's comforting in a funny sort of way, and definitely good to have reinforced.

Continue reading "Specialization is for Insects" »

September 15, 2008

Brian, Jamie, The Dogs, and Ike

Brian took a video camera and surveyed the damage caused at their home, in Montgomery, TX, caused by Hurrican Ike.

But the video was rather large. So I re-rendered it, added some music, and some quick thoughts.

If you are having trouble with the above video, you might try downloading it, by using your right mouse button. Right Click here, and then choose "Save Target As" or "Save File As". Save it on your computer, and then watch it from there.

September 12, 2010

The Shortsidedness of Working for Someone Else

My friend of 15 years (N) lives here in New Zealand.

Her son (C) is 20 months old.

Because of the cost and time involved in getting to/from New Zealand, N's parents have only seen their grandson (C) when he was first born (in the US).

They have never actually met her significant other (M).

So they have been pretty excited to come and visit their grandson N, meet her partner M (for the first time), and see their daughter C. They planned to come for 10 days around Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is in about a month and a half. They have had their tickets purchased for months.

However, about 2 months ago, N's dad was made redundant/ outsourced/downsized, etc.

Continue reading "The Shortsidedness of Working for Someone Else" »

About Personal News

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Strive4impact Main Page in the Personal News category. They are listed from oldest to newest.

My Philosophies is the previous category.

Pictures is the next category.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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