the Soul of Geek

Forcing the issue on GTD

2010-12-07T11:42:00.000-06:00

OK, so I bit the bullet on this one.

Surmising that nothing would improve my understanding of David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (known among my fellow geeks as GTD) AND improve my public speaking skills faster, I volunteered to give a lunchtime talk on GTD.

So far, my theory has been validated. I’ve gone deeper into the GTD material than ever before, taking time to really think through the aspects that still seem to elude me. As to whether the experience will help me improve as a public speaker, well, the proof will be in the pudding. Certainly it hasn’t cured me of my tendency to still be preparing late in the game, though I was really glad when Scott Berkum’s hysterical and practical book, Confessions of a Public Speaker validated and solidified my vague belief that it was more important for me to understand what I thought about a topic than to know exactly what I was going to say.

Below I’ve posted the announcement that went out, written with valuable input from speech pathologist, verbal communications coach, and speaker Deborah Boswell. I didn’t know what kind of response we’d get, and was shocked to find out that 61 people signed up that afternoon. I think we were close to 80 at last count.

But what really floored me was the survey results. One of Deborah’s great speaking tips and practices is to get some information about the audience whenever possible. Well, I have easy access through the organizer’s email list, so I created a survey at SurveyMonkey, and got almost 70 responses. What shocked me was that over 60% had never heard of David Allen and less than 17% had read or bought the book. I had assumed that Allen’s name and fame had drawn in lots of folks, but it turns out that productivity is a genuinely hot topic.

So score one for signing up for things that make you nervous as a good way to learn and get over it. Announcement below.

Lunch & Learn

Thursday, December 9, 2010

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

LifeSize conferencing will be available for Mountainview, Phoenix, and Ottawa employees

Topic: Cult, Gadget, or Game-changer: Is David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” Worth the Trouble?

Speaker: Josh Russo, ADTRAN Project Manager

After a decade managing projects across multiple industries, you’d think that Josh Russo, Project Manager at ADTRAN, would have productivity (personal and professional) down to a science. No such luck. After 5 years of studying and imperfectly implementing Allen’s ideas, Josh believes in the effectiveness of the tips and techniques promoted in Getting Things Done.

Join us at our Lunch and Learn when Josh Russo will present an overview of Allen’s productivity system. Most importantly, Josh will share some of his own implementation struggles and successes. If you want to learn more about being productive on a daily basis, join us for this informative Lunch and Learn. You will walk away with productivity tips you can use right away and possibly inspiration to give David Allen's book, Getting Things Done, a closer look.

Lunch will be provided. Please enroll no later than Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

Instapaper

2010-02-20T09:46:00.000-06:00

Instapaper is a super-simple way to set aside a web-page to read later. To get started you sign up with your email address (and a password, if you want), then drag their bookmarklet to your browser toolbar.

Then, any time you see an article of interest but don't have time to read it, simply click on the bookmarklet and forget it.

The service employs a text parser that lets you view only the article text and select images from the page, and you can print it out this way, too. Work well. This is the digital version of my habit of tearing articles out of magazines and putting them in a folder to read when I'm flying somewhere, and I love that. The only thing missing is a link that'd automatically print to a PDF.

You could say, "just bookmark it, lazybones." But you'd be right. I'm lazy. Bookmarking takes multiple clicks, even in Chrome - not worth the trouble for a lot of articles that I'm interested in, but don't need to remember long-term or read at all if I'm short on time. Besides which, I think I'm more likely to go to this page than to go to my bookmarks to find these links.

What pushes it over is the iPhone app (and I hope an eventual Android app) that'll let you access your "Read Later" list on the go. There's a free, ad-supported version and a $5 pro version that adds higher capacity and a bunch of other features, best being remembering where you left off and integrating with your email program for sending the link to a friend.

Cabbage is my friend. And yours. Part 1

2010-02-07T23:04:00.018-06:00

Two new cabbage dishes this month.

I've loved sauerkraut since a high school exchange trip to Goettingen, Germany and replaced shredded lettuce with shredded cabbage in my tacos a decade ago after trying the Rico's Tacos at El Cid in the Missus' hometown of Oakhurst, CA. I cook with cabbage because I love the crunch and the slight bitterness. I've even garnished soups and the odd bowl of rice & beans with fine shreds of our humble leafy friend. But there's plenty of more substantial reasons to love cabbage. Alton Brown's Head Games episode of Good Eats clued me in to some of the health benefits of cabbage, and this article is the best-cited list I found of clinical findings that scream out "eat cabbage, die less!"

Then this month a sale on bone-in pork chops combined with the gift of a big butt (Boston Butt, that is) left me with lots of pork-centric meals to plan. Cabbage to the rescue!

First off, the chops. Out of propane for the grill, so planning to pan fry the suckers. The Missus LOVED these chicken sausage patties from Rachel Ray that led me to cook Granny Smith apples for the first time. Since apples and pork are a natural fit, it seemed like the Granny Smiths would cross over quite nicely. Here's what transpired...

1 med Granny Smith Apple (Diced)
1/2 Head Green Cabbage (Finely Shredded)
1 Med Sweet Onion (Julienned)
3 Cloves Garlic (Crushed)
Butter
Lots of Salt & Pepper to Taste

In the pork chop pan (with grease and burnt bits still intact) melt a tablespoon of salted butter and then added the diced apple and onion. Cook that until the onions are soft and almost translucent then throw in the garlic. Give the garlic 30 seconds or so (just till you can smell it cooking) then add another tablespoon of butter and your cabbage. Add some salt and pepper, toss things to get the cabbage coated, and cook it long enough for the cabbage to barely wilt. You want it warm and pliable, but with a good crunch left to it. Salt and pepper to taste and serve warm with the chops.

The Missus raved about this one on the first try, so that's a good sign. Alton Brown made his cabbage with some coriander, and I would have done the same if I'd had any handy. My favorite sandwich place in town adds coriander the Reuben sauerkraut, so I know I like what it does.

For part two, my twist on a classic to save the side dish that saved my Boston Butt. (Hint: The Missus can't eat mayo)

Build a Pizza Oven Out of a Weber Grill - Pizza - Lifehacker

2010-01-30T14:04:00.000-06:00

Oh yeah, this is happening.

Build a Pizza Oven Out of a Weber Grill - Pizza - Lifehacker

Not my tweets

2009-12-13T23:53:00.000-06:00

I feel dumb, but I've got someone else's Twitter feed on my blog. Trying to fix it, for now, just know that's not me.

Pintos round II

2009-10-21T19:39:00.000-05:00

OK, two key discoveries in round two with this recipe.

1.) Turkey Bacon does not fry up nice like pork bacon for the exact reason that most people eat turkey bacon in the first place - not enough fat! But I don't care about reducing fat, I care about nice, crispy, smokey-tasting goodness (minus pork and nitrates). Obvious solution? Add fat! When you first start cooking turkey bacon, it releases some water (instead of the fat released by pork bacon). Thankfully that water quickly evaporates, but unfortunately, you're then left watching dry strips of turkey quietly turning to jerky despite your hope that they'll somehow end up crispy and tempting. In the midst of this travesty I got the bright idea to spray a little canola oil on there and, wouldn't you know it, I was fryin' again! I had nice dark, crispy strips in minutes.

2.) I overcooked them last time - they were yummy, but a little too squishy. What went wrong? Cooked them just the way I wanted them, turned off the burner, and walked away. Duh, they kept cooking! This time I stopped at about the same point (maybe a bit earlier, even), but then took the pot off the hot burner for about five minutes then iced the pot in a sink full of ice water. There may be a more elegant way to stop the cooking process, but that's what I learned back in the Bertucci's days. I'm especially prone to "ice" food I intend to reheat later.

Hope this helps!

Just don't lose it with the ringer off!

2009-10-02T17:22:00.000-05:00

OK, this is awesome, especially for those that don't have a land line. Either way, you can tell I'm a fan of simple service websites, and WheresMyCellPhone is one I'll definitely need someday.

(Via Download Squad)

Return My Pants

2009-09-29T20:02:00.006-05:00

OK, now this is a nice simple way to solve a very real problem for many people. Lenders of things who lose track, and borrowers of things who's intentions are better than their memories.

But mostly, I just love the name of the site, so check out Return My Pants (via Lifehacker).

Magic Beans!

2009-09-22T15:46:00.009-05:00

OK, so you know I've been trying to make beans and rice, but you might not know why it was a challenge. For this geek, the issue is not with getting a tasty meal, it's with creating a beans and rice "process" that results in several tasty meals for minimal time, money, and effort. So far, my experiments with beans and rice have all been tasty (some a bit too spicy, I admit), but they yielded 2-4 big servings at most.

As a side note, if you're at all uncertain about why you should definitely be eating beans, this article is a good start.

So I looked for the right recipe, and did not find it. After studying a few different recipe styles, I made three decisions:

1.) Cook the beans seperately and just spoon them onto rice (simple, versatile, stores better)

2.) Start with pinto beans (versatile, available, cheap)

3.) Make sure everyone in the house can eat it (no pork, no nitrates, not too spicy)

So with a couple of reference recipes to get an idea of ratios and cook-times plus the flavors I've liked the best in previous experiments, this is what I came up with. It saves time by creating a HUGE batch that still fits in our biggest 5qt pot (barely), uses mostly fresh incredients, it's tasty (spicy enough for me, not too spicy for the Missus), very diet-friendly (especially since we serve it w/ brown rice), and it contains no pork or nitrates. Admittedly, uncured turkey bacon is a luxury (compared with other meats I could have picked), but pork was a no-go and the flavor it imparts is key. And if we bring this to an event any time soon, I'll just use regular bacon. Pork virtually gets its own food group down here, so I'm pretty sure no one will mind.

So here it is - subject to refinement, though I could eat it just like this and be very happy.

Into a big pot (5qt minimum) goes...

2lbs Pinto Beans (pre-soaked overnight)

10C water

2tbs olive oil (extra virgin if you have it)

1 Jalepeno (seeded and diced)

2 small yellow onions (diced)

3 cloves garlic (minced or crushed)

7 cooked strips of uncured (nitrate-free) turkey bacon (chopped after cooking - 3/4"?)

Bring all this to a boil then lower heat and cook on medium for 45 minutes stirring occasionally

Add:

3 med (or 2 large) tomatoes (pureed)

1/2 tsp cumin

2tsp salt

Lower heat and simmer for another hour stirring occasionally

Add:

Handful cilantro (minced)

Simmer until it looks/feels the way you like.

Serve:
... In a bowl over a scoop of your favorite type of rice (cooked, of course).

I could see increasing the Jalepenos to 2 (or 1, but keep the seeds) if your household is OK with a higher spice level. The thing I'm really interested in is to find out if it's possible to modify this recipe to work with dry beans/longer slower cooking and avoid the soaking step. Probably not possible in a 5qt pot, but that's ok for now.

Blackberry Dialing Tip

2009-09-20T17:42:00.002-05:00

Quick tip for Blackberry users.

Trying to dial, say, 1-800-FLOWERS on your Blackberry? Think you need to have a real phone handy to figure out which numbers go with those letters? Nope.

Simply hold down the ALT key while dialing the letters. Blackberries apparently have the phone keypad memorized, and will insert the corresponding number when you hit the dial key.

The surprise geek

2009-08-30T21:05:00.003-05:00

I am a geek.

But though it comes as no surprise to many, I can't just drop that and walk away because my brother reads this, and he's the only person in my life who confronts my word abuse. So, I tried Google and a smattering of online dictionaries for a definition, but most of what I found was too specific - centered around either computers or biting heads off of chickens.

My friend Heather was surprised, and shocked me by wondering out loud when I'd "become such a geek" after I gushed on Facebook about Google Voice and syncing my cell contacts with Google. I know Heather from my second career (I'm on number five) as the Director of Operations (DOO) at a non-profit camp and conference center. And I was surely a geek back then. I once drove hours to attend a seminar on floor cleaning and proper use of entryway floor mats. More importantly, to this day, I'm excited about that seminar and how I applied what I learned. I still have the handouts, and I haven't been responsible for the condition of an entryway mat in ten years. Here's my point: Even though this joy in knowledge was not computer-y, it was deeply, deeply geeky.

That's why this definition from Wikipedia grabbed me - "A person who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who passionately pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance."

There are all kinds of geeks. Any skill can be learned, but there is a best way to do everything. CARING to look up, discover, or even claim the best way, defines geek. Wait till Heather finds out she's a cooking geek.

So wherefore the blog? My mission is to make your life simpler, cheaper, and funner so that you can focus on making the world a better place. To that end, I'll post all manner of "hacks" or tricks or systems that I discover or run across (both computer-y and noncomputer-y). On the flip side, the geeky systems that I create for myself can be handy, but they can also become an end in themselves - a distraction from the relationships that make life worthwhile - so, there will be posts about relationships and personal growth. Cheaper than a therapist, so thanks in advance. I'll post a couple of times a month - more if I get around to it or start writing faster.

Out of curiosity, I found and took this test on line and rated around 30% or "Total Geek" which was only the third of eight levels of geekiness. I think I'm geekier than that, but I also think the test was skewed toward computer geekiness. And if you're wondering if that critique is fair, you're a candidate - so just go take the test. Full disclosure: I did answer "Yes" on "I exaggerated on this test to score better", because I also said "Yes" on the question about owning a lightsaber, when, in fact, I own a Stormtrooper blaster. Which is mounted on the wall. In my office.

On perfectionism: An incomplete list

2009-07-27T21:52:00.014-05:00

You know how long it's taken me to start this blog? Years. Half a decade. Course, if you have one, you probably already know that starting a blog is simplicity itself. If you've already got a Google account, setting up a Blogger account takes five minutes, if that. Start writing, bang out a post, hit "publish", done. You're there. You've blogged.

But wait. Settle down just a second. Aren't there things bloggers should know about? Isn't there a right way to blog? Turns out there is...

You need a plan
You need a vision
You need a topic
You need material
You need to be relevant
You need a blogging platform
You need a layout
You need readers/audience/market

And for this perfectionist geek, each line in this incomplete list represents a minefield of wrong decisions. That means research. Not the cool kind of research that broadens your perspective and makes better posts. But the kind of research that pulls together enough conflicting opinions about proper blogging that half a decade goes by with no posts.

Perfectionism is an oil spill on the wings of creativity.

Have I waxed overly philosohpical for an opening post?
Shouldn't I have told you what I was planning to write about on this blog?
Is my theme too whimsical?

Stop. Hit "Publish". Done.