Hi!
It feels like I've blogged about this before, but I don't think I have... The closest I've come is this post, titled WWJD. I think about this a lot and have written about it in emails and on Facebook; that's probably why.
Anyway, I'm in favor of universal healthcare and I don't care if it's called socialist. My WWJD post makes the distinction between socialism and communism, so I won't repeat it. The reason I'm in favor of universal healthcare is primarily economic. I don't doubt that it'll be expensive. What most people, politicos and pundits alike, are failing to consider is that healtcare isn't just an expense, it's an investment.
How many people are under-productive because they don't have insurance to cover basic prevention and spend more time being sick? How many people are under-utilized because they can't afford to leave a dead-end job because they need their insurance? How our economy would benefit if this under-productivity and under-utilization were eliminated is never part of the equation. The benefits are usually only defined in term of morality and human dignity, which (I'm sorry to say) doesn't often factor into the return-on-investment ratio.
In the short-run, yes, it'll be expensive and long-run benefits will only be truly realized if choice is reduced. So what? STOP BEING SO SELFISH!!! The government doesn't have a duty to all of us as individuals, the government has a duty to all of us as a society. Being a part of a society means occasionally having to make a personal sacrifice for the good of that society. Our soldiers sometimes have to make the ultimate sacrifice. The least the rest of us can do is sacrifice a few choices.
Thanks,
Matt
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Management by the Numbers
Hi!
It's generally believed among manager-types that one can't improve what one doesn't measure. As a manager-type, I believe this to be true. However, it's also true that one tends to only improve what what measures... In other words, we more closely look at on that which we can see well. This reminds me of a joke:
The idea that managers might only look where it's easiest isn't far off. It's often really hard to measure what matters, so the result is that we turn what we can measure into what matters. This is because we want to reward employees based on "measurable" results. Unfortunately, what one can measure is not always what actually leads to (positive) results.
One of the guys on my team has been known to question proposed indicators thusly: "If you don't like the number that comes out of this, do you know what knob to turn to make it better?" I've take that a step further and will also ask, "And do you know for sure that you're not making something more important worse?" These questions have saved us from having to create many a useless indicator.
Providing meaningful indicators of positive performance is a challenge. I've been trying for years to collect the right data and am struggling against a system that seems to be setup to make it hard. I'm confident that it'll work in the end because I'm starting to get some traction. The more people who see what can be done, the more support we get. The poor economy is also making managers think harder about strategies that can make their teams more efficient. We're being asked to do more with the same, or less.
I know it's a cliche, but it's true that we have to work smarter...because most of us are already working as hard as we can.
Thanks,
Matt
It's generally believed among manager-types that one can't improve what one doesn't measure. As a manager-type, I believe this to be true. However, it's also true that one tends to only improve what what measures... In other words, we more closely look at on that which we can see well. This reminds me of a joke:
A man is walking down the street at night and he happens on another man who is studying the ground under a street light. The first man asks the second what he's doing. "I'm looking for my ring. I had it in my pocket and when I took it out to put it on, I dropped it." "Did you drop it right here?" the first man asked. The second replied, "No, I dropped it across the street, but the light is better over here..."
The idea that managers might only look where it's easiest isn't far off. It's often really hard to measure what matters, so the result is that we turn what we can measure into what matters. This is because we want to reward employees based on "measurable" results. Unfortunately, what one can measure is not always what actually leads to (positive) results.
One of the guys on my team has been known to question proposed indicators thusly: "If you don't like the number that comes out of this, do you know what knob to turn to make it better?" I've take that a step further and will also ask, "And do you know for sure that you're not making something more important worse?" These questions have saved us from having to create many a useless indicator.
Providing meaningful indicators of positive performance is a challenge. I've been trying for years to collect the right data and am struggling against a system that seems to be setup to make it hard. I'm confident that it'll work in the end because I'm starting to get some traction. The more people who see what can be done, the more support we get. The poor economy is also making managers think harder about strategies that can make their teams more efficient. We're being asked to do more with the same, or less.
I know it's a cliche, but it's true that we have to work smarter...because most of us are already working as hard as we can.
Thanks,
Matt
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The New Space Race
Hi!
This being the week of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission there have been quite a few news stories about it. The one that meant the most to me was the segment on NPR's Science Friday titled Marking 40 Years Since Apollo 11. This point was only a small one in the overall discussion, but it is significant: There is a new space race.
In the 60's, the race was the first to the moon. Obviously, the United States won that race on July 20, 1969. The new space race will be to see who is the first to make space a strategic location for military operations. It's going to happen, it's just a matter of who does it first...and most successfully. The U.S. is basically out of the space race for at least five years. The space shuttle program will end next year and it'll be at least five before we'll be able to launch our own vehicles again. Until then, our astronauts will be hitching rides with the Russians.
President Bush laid down the challenge to put a man on Mars. Unfortunately, he never asked Congress for any money, so it was an empty challenge. Will Obama, in this time of economic crisis, ask the American People to increase funding for NASA? I doubt it. It'd be a hard sell even though the amount that could put a man back on the moon is less than it'll cost to save GM. The difference, of course, is that GM employs more regular folks than NASA. Fundamental scientific exploration will take a back seat to more direct forms of government stimulus, but it might have a chance if it's framed as a national defense argument.
I'm not advocating either way, mind you, but wouldn't be surprised if NASA eventually fell under the auspices of the Department of Defense. Even though part of the mission of the starship Enterprise is "to explore strange, new worlds," it's still part of a military organization... While warp drive may still be a long way off, that aspect of Star Trek, I fear, is just around the corner...
Take care!
Matt
This being the week of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission there have been quite a few news stories about it. The one that meant the most to me was the segment on NPR's Science Friday titled Marking 40 Years Since Apollo 11. This point was only a small one in the overall discussion, but it is significant: There is a new space race.
In the 60's, the race was the first to the moon. Obviously, the United States won that race on July 20, 1969. The new space race will be to see who is the first to make space a strategic location for military operations. It's going to happen, it's just a matter of who does it first...and most successfully. The U.S. is basically out of the space race for at least five years. The space shuttle program will end next year and it'll be at least five before we'll be able to launch our own vehicles again. Until then, our astronauts will be hitching rides with the Russians.
President Bush laid down the challenge to put a man on Mars. Unfortunately, he never asked Congress for any money, so it was an empty challenge. Will Obama, in this time of economic crisis, ask the American People to increase funding for NASA? I doubt it. It'd be a hard sell even though the amount that could put a man back on the moon is less than it'll cost to save GM. The difference, of course, is that GM employs more regular folks than NASA. Fundamental scientific exploration will take a back seat to more direct forms of government stimulus, but it might have a chance if it's framed as a national defense argument.
I'm not advocating either way, mind you, but wouldn't be surprised if NASA eventually fell under the auspices of the Department of Defense. Even though part of the mission of the starship Enterprise is "to explore strange, new worlds," it's still part of a military organization... While warp drive may still be a long way off, that aspect of Star Trek, I fear, is just around the corner...
Take care!
Matt
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Some Quick Tips
Hi!
I'm instructing the second pilot of the advanced presentation skills course I'm developing for Intel University next week in Oregon. One of the requests that came out of last month's pilot in Chandler was for me to put together a list of some quick presenting tips. I'm sure it'll grow as time goes by, but here it is:
• Have a water bottle handy. Taking a quick drink will not only help your voice, but will give you a moment to collect your thoughts. You audience might not be patient while you stand there and think, but no one will begrudge you a drink of water.
• Give ARs (Action Required for you non-Intel folks) to hecklers. If someone is giving you a hard time by asking off-topic questions, give them the AR to follow-up with you. Acknowledge that the topic is important (even if it’s not), but not a subject you’re prepared to cover in this presentation. This will put the burden of follow-up on them, and should keep them from bugging you for the rest of your presentation.
• Hold pre-presentation sync 1:1s (a two-person meeting). This may seem like a waste of time, but if you can get the folks most likely to object to your ideas on board before the meeting, then you’ll have a much easier time convincing everyone else. This is especially helpful if the main decision-maker is going to be looking to these folks for input.
• Empty your pockets. If you’re the type to put your hands in your pockets, then you should find nothing there that can be a distraction. Even if you’re not, it’s a good idea as too much stuff in your pockets could make you look strange. Anything that distracts your audience from your message is a bad thing.
• Connect your eye contact to your words. Rather than look around constantly, make eye contact with your audience in accordance with your words. Establish eye contact for the duration of a single (~3 second) phrase or sentence; then break the contact right after you complete the thought.
• Keep your hands by your sides. If you keep your hands by your sides when you’re not gesturing, then the gestures you do will have more impact. Gestures should be deliberate and complimentary to the message.
Thanks,
Matt
I'm instructing the second pilot of the advanced presentation skills course I'm developing for Intel University next week in Oregon. One of the requests that came out of last month's pilot in Chandler was for me to put together a list of some quick presenting tips. I'm sure it'll grow as time goes by, but here it is:
• Have a water bottle handy. Taking a quick drink will not only help your voice, but will give you a moment to collect your thoughts. You audience might not be patient while you stand there and think, but no one will begrudge you a drink of water.
• Give ARs (Action Required for you non-Intel folks) to hecklers. If someone is giving you a hard time by asking off-topic questions, give them the AR to follow-up with you. Acknowledge that the topic is important (even if it’s not), but not a subject you’re prepared to cover in this presentation. This will put the burden of follow-up on them, and should keep them from bugging you for the rest of your presentation.
• Hold pre-presentation sync 1:1s (a two-person meeting). This may seem like a waste of time, but if you can get the folks most likely to object to your ideas on board before the meeting, then you’ll have a much easier time convincing everyone else. This is especially helpful if the main decision-maker is going to be looking to these folks for input.
• Empty your pockets. If you’re the type to put your hands in your pockets, then you should find nothing there that can be a distraction. Even if you’re not, it’s a good idea as too much stuff in your pockets could make you look strange. Anything that distracts your audience from your message is a bad thing.
• Connect your eye contact to your words. Rather than look around constantly, make eye contact with your audience in accordance with your words. Establish eye contact for the duration of a single (~3 second) phrase or sentence; then break the contact right after you complete the thought.
• Keep your hands by your sides. If you keep your hands by your sides when you’re not gesturing, then the gestures you do will have more impact. Gestures should be deliberate and complimentary to the message.
Thanks,
Matt
Sunday, July 19, 2009
My New Diet
Hi!
I'm referring to "diet" in true sense of the noun: what I eat. Like I'd say that my dog has a diet of dog food, I have a diet that includes what I eat. It's not about a temporary restriction to lose weight, but a lifestyle change to be healthy...and stay that way.
Brandi and I bought some "cookies" from a kiosk in the mall associated with Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet. This is part of our restriction, though I could easily see us continuing to buy them as occasional meal replacement and between meal snacks. That is, of course, unless we find a really great recipe for protein bars...
Anyway, the cookies we bought came with his most-recent book, which doesn't appear to be available on Amazon.com. The first part of the book (which is what I've read so far) covers the history of weight loss, a relatively new endeavor. It only seems to go back a century or so, presumably because before that people were primarily concerned with not enough food rather than too much. Decades ago, weight loss was simple: eat fewer calories than you burn and get those calories from protein. In other words, eat meat.
I have never been a fan of Atkins. I never doubted that it works, I doubted that it is a healthy lifestyle. Now, I'm not so sure. I don't believe one can be healthy with zero carbs, but it definitely makes sense to cut back...significantly. It also makes a lot of sense to have smaller meals, which is what the cookie diet expects one to do. There are six cookies in a bag and the idea is to eat one at a time, spread out during the day. It's not "three cookies at breakfast time" and "three cookies at lunch time."
It's also counterproductive to think of eating as something that's done according to the clock. Just as it doesn't make sense to continue eating just because your plate isn't clean, it doesn't make sense to start eating just because the hands on the clock are in a certain position. To be social, of course, it's sometimes necessary to make adjustments. Just be sure and know that's what you're doing and you still listen to your body rather than watch the clock.
I've also toyed with the idea of becoming a vegetarian. I don't think I could completely cut out meat, because I enjoy it too much, but I've had it in my head that it's a healthier lifestyle. Again, now I'm not so sure. I'm not going to get into details, but the whole "man is meant to eat meat" argument now make a whole lot more sense to me. Animals that are true vegetarians are built differently. Cows, for example, have several stomachs and can fully digest cellulose. We don't and we can't. Millions of years of evolution have made us more effective at acquiring and eating meat, not digesting grass and other plants.
Of course, these days there are other reasons to avoid certain foods. Many are over-processed and contain stuff not ideal for human consumption. This "stuff" is just as likely, however, to be in plants as it is to be in animals. Being conscientious about this sort of thing is not the same thing as being vegetarian, vegan, or what have you. The bottom line is that my new diet is going to be high on variety, lower on volume, and more evenly distributed throughout the day...
Thanks,
Matt
I'm referring to "diet" in true sense of the noun: what I eat. Like I'd say that my dog has a diet of dog food, I have a diet that includes what I eat. It's not about a temporary restriction to lose weight, but a lifestyle change to be healthy...and stay that way.
Brandi and I bought some "cookies" from a kiosk in the mall associated with Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet. This is part of our restriction, though I could easily see us continuing to buy them as occasional meal replacement and between meal snacks. That is, of course, unless we find a really great recipe for protein bars...
Anyway, the cookies we bought came with his most-recent book, which doesn't appear to be available on Amazon.com. The first part of the book (which is what I've read so far) covers the history of weight loss, a relatively new endeavor. It only seems to go back a century or so, presumably because before that people were primarily concerned with not enough food rather than too much. Decades ago, weight loss was simple: eat fewer calories than you burn and get those calories from protein. In other words, eat meat.
I have never been a fan of Atkins. I never doubted that it works, I doubted that it is a healthy lifestyle. Now, I'm not so sure. I don't believe one can be healthy with zero carbs, but it definitely makes sense to cut back...significantly. It also makes a lot of sense to have smaller meals, which is what the cookie diet expects one to do. There are six cookies in a bag and the idea is to eat one at a time, spread out during the day. It's not "three cookies at breakfast time" and "three cookies at lunch time."
It's also counterproductive to think of eating as something that's done according to the clock. Just as it doesn't make sense to continue eating just because your plate isn't clean, it doesn't make sense to start eating just because the hands on the clock are in a certain position. To be social, of course, it's sometimes necessary to make adjustments. Just be sure and know that's what you're doing and you still listen to your body rather than watch the clock.
I've also toyed with the idea of becoming a vegetarian. I don't think I could completely cut out meat, because I enjoy it too much, but I've had it in my head that it's a healthier lifestyle. Again, now I'm not so sure. I'm not going to get into details, but the whole "man is meant to eat meat" argument now make a whole lot more sense to me. Animals that are true vegetarians are built differently. Cows, for example, have several stomachs and can fully digest cellulose. We don't and we can't. Millions of years of evolution have made us more effective at acquiring and eating meat, not digesting grass and other plants.
Of course, these days there are other reasons to avoid certain foods. Many are over-processed and contain stuff not ideal for human consumption. This "stuff" is just as likely, however, to be in plants as it is to be in animals. Being conscientious about this sort of thing is not the same thing as being vegetarian, vegan, or what have you. The bottom line is that my new diet is going to be high on variety, lower on volume, and more evenly distributed throughout the day...
Thanks,
Matt
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
First Nine TKD Forms
Hi!
I published a post on my TKD blog that includes a video of me doing the first nine forms. It is here.
Enjoy!
Matt
I published a post on my TKD blog that includes a video of me doing the first nine forms. It is here.
Enjoy!
Matt
First Nine Forms
Hi!
I had been meaning to do this for a while, so here it is...a video of me doing the first nine Taekwondo forms straight through, without stopping.
This isn't to say that this is THE right way of doing them, it's MY way of doing them. I'm better now than when I was a third-degree black belt, and, assuming I'm one day promoted to fifth-degree, I'll be better then than I am now...
Disclaimer: This video, like all videos I post, isn't mean for instructional purposes. If you're a TKD student, you should learn from a qualified instructor.
Thanks,
Matt
I had been meaning to do this for a while, so here it is...a video of me doing the first nine Taekwondo forms straight through, without stopping.
This isn't to say that this is THE right way of doing them, it's MY way of doing them. I'm better now than when I was a third-degree black belt, and, assuming I'm one day promoted to fifth-degree, I'll be better then than I am now...
Disclaimer: This video, like all videos I post, isn't mean for instructional purposes. If you're a TKD student, you should learn from a qualified instructor.
Thanks,
Matt
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Skype
Hi!
I'm planning ahead for travel this summer and fall! I installed Skype on my laptop and our family room computer. Skype-to-Skype calls are free and I'm planning on using it to call home while in Prague in October. I'd also like Brandi and the kids to be able to call from Colorado and South Dakota during their trip next month. Here's a short demo video:
It's not required to use video, just cool... If you've got Skype installed and want to give me a call, I'm at mattdtm. Just send me an email first to set the time...
Take care!
Matt
I'm planning ahead for travel this summer and fall! I installed Skype on my laptop and our family room computer. Skype-to-Skype calls are free and I'm planning on using it to call home while in Prague in October. I'd also like Brandi and the kids to be able to call from Colorado and South Dakota during their trip next month. Here's a short demo video:
It's not required to use video, just cool... If you've got Skype installed and want to give me a call, I'm at mattdtm. Just send me an email first to set the time...
Take care!
Matt
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Freestyle Bo
Hi!
I recorded Sensei Scott performing the two freestyle bo forms that Renshi Rush teaches as part of the Okinawan Kenpo Kobudo system. The blog post on AZ Kenpo is here.
Thanks,
Matt
I recorded Sensei Scott performing the two freestyle bo forms that Renshi Rush teaches as part of the Okinawan Kenpo Kobudo system. The blog post on AZ Kenpo is here.
Thanks,
Matt
Freestyle Bo Forms
Hi!
Here are videos of the freestyle bo forms that are part of the Ms. Rush's weapons curriculum:
Thanks,
Matt
Here are videos of the freestyle bo forms that are part of the Ms. Rush's weapons curriculum:
Thanks,
Matt
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Why I'd Pay for Facebook
Hi!
Six months ago, I couldn't have cared less. These days, though, I use Facebook every day. It's a great took for keeping in touch and makes face-to-face interaction richer. I've commented on this in previous posts, but I think it's worth repeating: If you're visiting someone you haven't seen in a while, having kept in touch via Facebook allows you to skip directly to more meaningful conversation. They've seen the latest pictures of the kids and your yard, the know all about your vacation, and they've seen the video you posted of your new puppy... It's just a great tool for facilitating casual exchanges of information. Facebook, as a company, doesn't make money. The benefits I get from Facebook are worth paying to have. No, I wouldn't pay $20 per month, but I would pay $20 per year. It'd be a no-brainer, and I'd bet that a million people would agree with me.
Now, I've seen the plethora of Facebook groups denouncing paying and threatening to leave if Facebook starts charging for its services. Let them! If Facebook doesn't do something to generate revenue, then it'll go under. I'd much rather pay than be inundated with more and more ads. Besides, a small fee (after a free six-month introductory offer) would separate those who really use Facebook from those who just signed-up on a whim and never really got into it. These accounts are like litter through which one must sift in order to find people. I recently got connected with a friend named "Jim Smith." I searched for him when I first joined, but gave up because there are so many Jim Smiths out there. (He found me through a mutual friend with a less common name than either of ours.) Without all the litter, I might have been able to find him on my own.
Facebook has plenty of other opportunities to generate revenue, too. They already offer photo/video sharing, why not create a "premium" service for a fee? Brandi and I use SmugMug to share our digital photos on-line. If Facebook offered a similarly robust photo-sharing site for a fee comparable to SmugMug, I'd be tempted to switch (especially if they had a utility to make it easy). I'd also be tempted to move my blog if Facebook offered a blogging service tied to my FB account. How cool would it be if every time I posted, my FB account was automatically updated with a link to my latest post? It's be simple and I'd be willing to pay an extra couple of bucks for that.
The bottom line is that I value the service Facebook provides and would be willing to pay for it. If you value something, wouldn't you?
Thanks,
Matt
Six months ago, I couldn't have cared less. These days, though, I use Facebook every day. It's a great took for keeping in touch and makes face-to-face interaction richer. I've commented on this in previous posts, but I think it's worth repeating: If you're visiting someone you haven't seen in a while, having kept in touch via Facebook allows you to skip directly to more meaningful conversation. They've seen the latest pictures of the kids and your yard, the know all about your vacation, and they've seen the video you posted of your new puppy... It's just a great tool for facilitating casual exchanges of information. Facebook, as a company, doesn't make money. The benefits I get from Facebook are worth paying to have. No, I wouldn't pay $20 per month, but I would pay $20 per year. It'd be a no-brainer, and I'd bet that a million people would agree with me.
Now, I've seen the plethora of Facebook groups denouncing paying and threatening to leave if Facebook starts charging for its services. Let them! If Facebook doesn't do something to generate revenue, then it'll go under. I'd much rather pay than be inundated with more and more ads. Besides, a small fee (after a free six-month introductory offer) would separate those who really use Facebook from those who just signed-up on a whim and never really got into it. These accounts are like litter through which one must sift in order to find people. I recently got connected with a friend named "Jim Smith." I searched for him when I first joined, but gave up because there are so many Jim Smiths out there. (He found me through a mutual friend with a less common name than either of ours.) Without all the litter, I might have been able to find him on my own.
Facebook has plenty of other opportunities to generate revenue, too. They already offer photo/video sharing, why not create a "premium" service for a fee? Brandi and I use SmugMug to share our digital photos on-line. If Facebook offered a similarly robust photo-sharing site for a fee comparable to SmugMug, I'd be tempted to switch (especially if they had a utility to make it easy). I'd also be tempted to move my blog if Facebook offered a blogging service tied to my FB account. How cool would it be if every time I posted, my FB account was automatically updated with a link to my latest post? It's be simple and I'd be willing to pay an extra couple of bucks for that.
The bottom line is that I value the service Facebook provides and would be willing to pay for it. If you value something, wouldn't you?
Thanks,
Matt
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Family Dinner
Hi!
We had a family dinner tonight. My parents (Papa and Gigi) and my brother's family (Uncle Tad, Aunt Mirela, and Alex) came over to swim and eat. It was nice. I cooked hamburgers (beef and turkey) and hot dogs on the grill. We had two kinds of salad (veggie and fruit) and cupcakes! Pictures are on SmugMug.
Thanks,
Matt
We had a family dinner tonight. My parents (Papa and Gigi) and my brother's family (Uncle Tad, Aunt Mirela, and Alex) came over to swim and eat. It was nice. I cooked hamburgers (beef and turkey) and hot dogs on the grill. We had two kinds of salad (veggie and fruit) and cupcakes! Pictures are on SmugMug.
Thanks,
Matt
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Resolution Update
Hi!
It's been over a month since my last resolution update, so here it is: Not much has changed on the first three.
1) Get back into martial arts as a family activity.
2) Successfully complete my courses at Thunderbird.
3) Establish better communication with friends and family.
I think our martial arts training will improve once Brandi's foot/ankle heals and she's ready to train again. My next Thunderbird course starts on Monday, so the August update should at least have something new. I haven't kept up my blog posting as faithfully as I'd intended, but do believe that Facebook has helped fulfill the spirit of the resolution. The fourth resolution is where there has been the biggest difference.
4) Establish and maintain good exercise and financial habits.
Ever since I started getting serious about getting in shape I've been feeling a lot better. I'm down to around 180 pounds and feel a lot better. I'd still like to lose 10-15 more, but it's a great start. The key has been to limit eating that isn't caused by hunger. I wrote about wasting food last month, so I won't repeat myself. Suffice it to say that eating better and eating less has been great!
On another note... I proposed to Brandi twelve years ago tonight, under the fireworks...at McDonald's. Okay, it wasn't the most romantic location, but everything else was perfect. Every decision affects our lives in some way, but some more profoundly than others. I'm so glad she decided to say "Yes!"
Happy Independence Day! Let us not forget that our "Founding Fathers" were just a bunch of insurgent terrorists to King George III.
Take care!
Matt
It's been over a month since my last resolution update, so here it is: Not much has changed on the first three.
1) Get back into martial arts as a family activity.
2) Successfully complete my courses at Thunderbird.
3) Establish better communication with friends and family.
I think our martial arts training will improve once Brandi's foot/ankle heals and she's ready to train again. My next Thunderbird course starts on Monday, so the August update should at least have something new. I haven't kept up my blog posting as faithfully as I'd intended, but do believe that Facebook has helped fulfill the spirit of the resolution. The fourth resolution is where there has been the biggest difference.
4) Establish and maintain good exercise and financial habits.
Ever since I started getting serious about getting in shape I've been feeling a lot better. I'm down to around 180 pounds and feel a lot better. I'd still like to lose 10-15 more, but it's a great start. The key has been to limit eating that isn't caused by hunger. I wrote about wasting food last month, so I won't repeat myself. Suffice it to say that eating better and eating less has been great!
On another note... I proposed to Brandi twelve years ago tonight, under the fireworks...at McDonald's. Okay, it wasn't the most romantic location, but everything else was perfect. Every decision affects our lives in some way, but some more profoundly than others. I'm so glad she decided to say "Yes!"
Happy Independence Day! Let us not forget that our "Founding Fathers" were just a bunch of insurgent terrorists to King George III.
Take care!
Matt
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Estoy Apprendiendo Espanol
Hola!
It's been a year since I started studying Spanish on my own. Last July 1st, I started listening to the OnLingo Spanish program on my iPod. Brandi was able to get me the first five levels on eBay. Buying them directly from the company would have cost 10x what she paid for used versions...
I listened to each lesson as often as necessary to get it. My typical listening time was while walking Oscar in the morning and I was good about doing *something* every day. This gave me about 20 minutes of Spanish each morning.
By the end of the year, I had completed all five OnLingo levels and was looking for another option. This is when I found Coffee Break Spanish. I downloaded all of the free podcasts and took the same approach with CBS as I did with OnLingo. The difference is that each CBS lesson is longer, but it has a lot more marketing filler (advertising their "premium" membership).
Since the beginning of the year, I've been less religious about taking in a lesson every day. I'm only through lesson 48 of CBS, though I listen to each lesson at least twice. I didn't do any additional Spanish while in Chile, though I did have Spanish language cartoons on every day in my hotel room...
My Spanish is not great. In fact, I'd be surprised if the title of this post is spelled correctly. (I refused to look it up.) My goal is to learn enough so that if I ever spend a significant amount of time in a Spanish-speaking country I'll have a good baseline.
Gracias!
Matt
It's been a year since I started studying Spanish on my own. Last July 1st, I started listening to the OnLingo Spanish program on my iPod. Brandi was able to get me the first five levels on eBay. Buying them directly from the company would have cost 10x what she paid for used versions...
I listened to each lesson as often as necessary to get it. My typical listening time was while walking Oscar in the morning and I was good about doing *something* every day. This gave me about 20 minutes of Spanish each morning.
By the end of the year, I had completed all five OnLingo levels and was looking for another option. This is when I found Coffee Break Spanish. I downloaded all of the free podcasts and took the same approach with CBS as I did with OnLingo. The difference is that each CBS lesson is longer, but it has a lot more marketing filler (advertising their "premium" membership).
Since the beginning of the year, I've been less religious about taking in a lesson every day. I'm only through lesson 48 of CBS, though I listen to each lesson at least twice. I didn't do any additional Spanish while in Chile, though I did have Spanish language cartoons on every day in my hotel room...
My Spanish is not great. In fact, I'd be surprised if the title of this post is spelled correctly. (I refused to look it up.) My goal is to learn enough so that if I ever spend a significant amount of time in a Spanish-speaking country I'll have a good baseline.
Gracias!
Matt
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