Writing - Blog Milestone

I did not write and publish as many posts this month as I did last month. Last month I published 216 posts and this month I will publish about 170. My total number of posts since I started stands at over 620 though, and that's awesome. Though I published fewer posts this month, I have had a few more views though. Which means that I am getting more views per post than last month. So things are growing and progressing. I still love writing and publishing all the posts I do. I find that I still have plenty to write about.

Just a personal note. I did manage to write over 62,000 words this month which puts me just over 2000 words per day. this is not as good as last month or the month before, but it was the last month of school, which kept me quite busy.

Thanks to all of you who come by and check things out. May you be blessed.

What do you think?

Self Improvement - Focus

I have found that what you focus on grows. If you focus on what is bad and wrong, then it grows bigger and your life will suck. If you focus on what is good and right, then it grows and your life will be pretty good. So much of what we think is good or bad in our lives is just a matter of perception. Maybe you hate your job, but I bet someone out there would like it (especially if they are unemployed). Maybe you have financial problems, but I bet there is someone who is worse off and you should be thankful for what you do have. Maybe you are in a relationship you don't like, but I bet there is someone in a worse relationship. If all you focus on is what is wrong or bad, then that is all you will see. Change what you focus on and you change what you see. Now things will not improve overnight, but they will improve. Maybe you need to move on? If things are truly bad, maybe you need to focus on a new job, or a new relationship? Maybe you just need the courage to make some changes?

What do you think?

The Future - The Digital Age

In the digital age people and ideas will be more important than things, services, or brands. Why? Because it is people who create things, services, or brands, and ideas drive production and growth. Maybe this explains why Google has invested in the companies it has recently purchased? Google is (in my opinion) the preeminent digital age corporation. Out of all the organizations on this planet, it is probably the best at functioning in the digital age. It has baffled most of us because the companies it buys and sells don't seem to be related to it's core business (advertising and search). If you look at the people and ideas behind the purchases, then they start to make more sense. I think Google has no real idea what the future will be like, but it knows that if it has the people on board who can thrive in it, it will not matter that much what the future will. Not only that, but it might get lucky and actually employ the people who will create the future. What about Apple? It just bought "Beats". Was it for the products, or the services, or the brands? Maybe it was for the people and the ideas in the company? I am not sure on this one, but as time moves on we will see what the intent was.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Desktop

The desktop computer market is slowly dying, but there are still plenty of desktops being sold (100 million worldwide). A couple of manufacturers have jumped into this market with desktop versions of chromebooks. LG has an all in one version (like an iMac) that is selling for about $150. Asus has a box version (like a Mac Mini) that is selling for $179. I don't think the market will be huge for these models, but they will be good for one thing, making the competition lower their prices. I like that there are options in all catagories now. You can buy a high end Chromebook (Pixel), a mid range Chromebook (anything with an i3 chip), a low end laptop (all the other laptops), and now desktops as well. This shows that Chrome OS is growing and expanding which is good new for al of us who use it. The Chromebook market is growing and expanding and that is good news.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.thestreet.com/story/12727636/1/is-google-crazy-for-selling-a-desktop-pc-at-350-definitely-not.html?puc=ScribdTech&cm_ven=SCRIBDTECH

News - Daily Summary

World: It was a quiet day in Ukraine with no new major developments. The new president elect vows to avenge the helicopter that was shot down yesterday. In Syria a U.S. citizen is confirmed to have carried out a deadly suicide bombing attack. No major developments across the Middle East or Latin America today. There were also no new major developments across Asia today.

U.S.: Stocks close out the month at new highs for the DOW and S&P 500. The NASDAQ was a bit lower today. It looks like the lower than expected consumer sentiment and spending was not enough to lead the markets lower. Gold was lower as was oil. There is a bit of a shake up at the White House. The press secretary is stepping down as is the currently embattled Veterans Administration chief. Besides the usual litany of crimes and tragedies, there were no other major developments in the U.S. today.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Creativity - Make Time

One of the biggest excuses for not being creative is: " I don't have the time". I think that this excuse is just not true. I have found that I have time to do everything I want to do. So I just need to make being creative (or doing something creative) be something I truly want to do. How do you do that? Just decide! Make a decision to be creative and then go and do it. Also, make being creative one of the first things you do everyday. Wake up a few minutes early and get busy being creative. Or, make being creative the first thing you do when you get home from work. Another thing to do is schedule time being creative into your day. One last option is to make being creative the last thing you do before you turn in at night 9this is not the best option since you will be tired and not at your best). Hey, how about doing all of them! Now that is creative!

What do you think?

Personal Improvement - Little Things Matter

Here is a great quote I read today:

"If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right." - Naval Adm. William H. McRaven

We sometimes just ignore the little things or we don't care about them.This is a huge mistake. If we pay attention to the little things and focus on doing them well, then it will be much easier to get the big things done right. I have also noticed that most big things are just a bunch of little things strung together. Get the little things done right and the rest will take care of itself. 

What do you think? 

For more:

http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2014/05/10-life-lessons-william-mcraven/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+68131+%28Farnam+Street%29

The Economy - Consumer Confidence and Spending

Consumer confidence fell more than expected for May. Consumer spending is also down a bit for May. Add this to the revision of the GDP and we have a negative trend beginning to appear. Will this be just a temporary anomaly, or is it the start of a longer trend? Hopefully it's just an anomaly because we are in no position for a longer negative trend. Lets see what the numbers will be like next month.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-30/consumer-sentiment-in-u-s-fell-more-than-forecast-in-may-1-.html

And:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101717727

Original Music By Walter Ruggieri

Observations - Drought

California and parts of the South and West of the United states are experiencing a severe drought. While a good rain is one of the solutions to the problem another might be to invest in desalination plants. This is not something new. Israel invested in desalination plants years ago and is now reaping the benefits. Currently 35% of the water Israel uses in coming from 4 desalination plants. A fifth plant is scheduled to come online later this year. By 2050 Israel expects to get as much as 70% of it's water from desalination plants. As a result Israel is claiming to be "water independent". As the population in arid areas grows desalination plants would be great investment to help make those areas "water independent". What if we were to invest in desalination plants? There would be an increase in good paying jobs and there would be an increase in available water. This seems like an ideal solution, so why has it not been done yet? Oh yeah, the politicians need to make happen. 

What do you think?

For more:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/israel-solves-water-woes-desalination-23923342

Chromebook - Google Drive

More and more I am using Google Drive. I use it to keep my journal. I use it to create and store my blog posts. I use it to keep my work files. I use it for just about everything. I like that I can access my files from any device and from anyplace I can get online. I like the fact that Google Drive saves automatically. I never have to worry that I might lose what I write. How long has it been since I used a different "office" program? Well, it's been six months. Ever since I started using my Chromebook. Google Drive and Chromebooks have proven to me that the cloud is safe, usable, and fantastically cost effective (free).

What do you think?

News - Daily Summary

World:
In Ukraine separatists shot down a government helicopter killing 14 (including a General). Government forces also continued their actions against separatists across Eastern Ukraine. It also looks as if Russia has pulled many of it's troops away from the border. In Thailand the military is still in control, but the curfew has been relaxed to midnight to 4 A.M.. Across the South China Sea tensions are still high between China and Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, and possibly Indonesia. The U.S. dispatched a detachment of Marines on an amphibious assault ship to Libya just in case they are needed in the ongoing unrest. Besides the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies, there were no new major developments in Venezuela, Syria, or the Middle East.

U.S.:
After the GDP for the first quarter was revised to a negative 1%, stocks rallied higher. Gold was a bit lower and oil was higher. It was another calm day across the U.S. with no new major developments besides the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, tragedies, and silly trivialities.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Observations - Summer Vacation

My favorite day of the school year is the last day of school before summer. That was the case when I was in school and it is still the case now that I am a teacher. Having the Summer off is what makes teaching still worth it. If I did not get the Summer off I have no idea how I would take being with my students year round. I love them, but I need the space Summer provides. I just finished my 19th year as a teacher and I was truly blessed this year with some good students, some good teachers to work with, and a good administrative staff to support me. Here's to the last day of school and Summer!

What do you think?

Chromebook - 10 Core Benefits

I read a very good article by Joe Wilcox who has used a Chromebook for 2 years now. Here are the 10 core benefits to using a Chromebook.

10 core benefits:

*  Easy setup
*  Guest-user account
*  Fast crash recovery
*  Instant-on capability
*  Security architecture
*  High-value for low-cost
*  Simplicity and usability
*  Hands-free IT management
*  Frequent updates delivered easily
*  Seamless sync with devices running Chrome

It is a very good article. I would add that Chromebooks are very inexpensive, which for me is the key benefit to using a Chromebook.

What do you think?

For more:
http://betanews.com/2014/05/27/my-two-years-with-chromebook/

The Economy - GDP

GDP was revised for the first quarter of 2014 to a negative 1%. This in itself is not that bad. Yes it's not great, but things could be much worse. The issue is though, what will the GDP number be next quarter? A negative 1st quarter number is not bad because we always experience a slowdown in the 1st quarter. It happens naturally as a response to the increase in demand in the 4th quarter. We always have an increase in demand going into Christmas and then a slowdown in January, February, and March. So what is the 2nd quarter going to be like? Many are saying that there will be pent up demand and things will grow again in the 2nd quarter. I don't think that will happen. I think we are headed for another recession. I can see it when I go shopping. There have been fewer shoppers in the stores these last few weeks. Maybe that's just for my area, but my area is fairly typical. I think we are heading into a recession and we are not prepared for one. There is no surplus. There is no reserve. There is nothing in the savings account. There is not "fat" to draw from. If we are headed into a recession, things could get ugly because of the poor shape we are in. This might be the start of the storm I keep warning about.

What do you think?

Observations - Jury Duty

One of the blessings of being a teacher is how often you get called to participate in jury duty. I get blessed regularly and I am actually doing my civic duty as I write. I could at this point rant about how bad it is to have to do this, but truth be told, I don't mind. I know that this is part of being a full fledged citizen of the United States of America. If we all do our part, then the burden is lighter on all of us. Plus, I firmly believe that if you are not part of the processes then you can't complain and find fault when it does not work the way you would like it to work. As a citizen this is my civic duty. Plus, I am getting a lot of time to write, and that's not bad at all!

What do you think?

The Future - The Music Business

Reading an article about the band Mötley Crüe I came across an interesting comment on what the music business is becoming. Allen Kovac, the band's manager said "Records don’t sell--people just cherry-pick their favorite songs. If you put a whole record out and people only go for one song, you never get a return on your investment." The whole business model has changed in the music business. In the past you would put an album together and then tour to not only make some money, but promote the album. Today, that model does not work. So what works today? Here is what Kovac said: "Record less music and put it into bigger-picture things, using one new song as a driver for a tour or an advertising partner." The music today is all about the single. It is about crafting great songs, not albums. It is also about making public performances special because that's where the money is. But, there is also an opportunity to get sponsors for the live performances. This takes a page out from Google in that advertising (sponsorship) is the way to keep your overhead low and your profits higher.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.fastcompany.com/3031014/5-brilliant-business-lessons-from-moetley-cruee-seriously?partner=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fastcompany%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Company%29

Observations - Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou passed away today at 86. She was an amazing woman. Here is one of my favorite quotes:

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you." - Maya Angelou

What do you think?

Creativity - Downtime

The best ideas will come to us not when we are focused and stressed. The best ideas will come to us when we are relaxed, playful, and even distracted. I have noticed in my own life and work that my best ideas happen when I am washing the dishes. For some reason, while I wash the dishes my mind comes up with all my best ideas. I think it has to do with letting my mind wonder when my body is occupied with something else. If this is true (and I think it is) would it be a good idea to actually schedule time in our days to relax, play, and be distracted? I think it is and I am going to see if I can include time in my day to let my mind wonder. Maybe I can go for a walk or even wash dishes on a regular basis?

What do you think?

Chromebook - iPad Educational Discount

Apple is now offering a discount on iPads for educational purchases. Could this be because of Chromebooks? Maybe, but I don't think Apple has to worry. iPads are still cool to use and will continue to sell well. But, Chromebooks are making a dent in the market. More and more districts are buying Chromebooks for either the classroom or as a 1-1 device for each student. Why is this happening? Cost! My best guess is that it costs $5-600 per device for an iPad for each student. My best guess is that is costs $2-300 per device for a Chromebook for each student. This does not include on going costs which for iPad can be substantial (LA Unified SD is looking at paying $1 Billion in the future to continue using iPads). For Chromebooks they are low and in some cases non-existent because of free apps. Now the iPad is a better device (I own an iPad 2) but Chromebooks get the job done (I own an Acer C720) for a lot less. I think Apple will continue to do well in education, but Chromebooks will take a chunk of the market just because of the cost.

What do you think?

For more:
http://gigaom.com/2014/05/28/apple-now-offers-education-discounts-on-ipads-is-that-because-of-chromebooks/

Observations - Google

Looking at what Google is doing can be confusing. What is this preeminent digital age company doing? First they bought Motorola and then sold it. They bought a robot maker, a digital thermostat maker, and a drone manufacturer. So what is up? After doing some thinking, here is what I think they are doing. First, I think they are buying innovative companies. All the companies are or were at the forefront of their field. Second, I think they are buying companies for the people who work in them and the patents they own, not necessarily for the products. Motorola is a good example. When Google sold the company, they kept some of the R&D staff and many of the patents. So what does that tell us? It tells us that even Google is not quite sure what the future will look like, but it is making sure that it has the people in place to create it when it comes! No matter what your opinion of Google is, you have to admire the fact that they embrace uncertainty and know that having the right people will help them thrive no matter what the future will be like.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/28/5757116/google-is-building-a-hardware-empire-and-this-is-what-it-looks-like

News - Daily Summary

World: In Ukraine government forces and separatists fight over an airport in Donetsk. Dozens are killed or wounded in the fighting. Government forces claim victory. The U.S. has ordered all citizens out of Libya immediately as things deteriorate and violence increases. tensions are still high between China and Vietnam, China and Japan, and China and the Philippines. There were no other major developments across the world except for the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

U.S.: Stocks rallied and gold and silver sold off today. Oil was down a bit. It was basically a calm day after Memorial day. There were no other major developments across the U.S. except for the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Personal Improvement - Advice To Graduates

The advice I give my students as they get ready to graduate is this:

*  Figure out what you like to do.
*  Figure out how to get paid to do it.
*  Become as good as you possibly can at it.

If you do this you will have an awesome life getting paid to do what you like.

What do you think?

Creativity - Write It Down

Once you start getting ideas what do you do? You write it down. What happens when you have an incite? You write it down. If you get a solution to a problem, what do you do? You write it down. Writing things down is a good way to help remember what you come up with. It is also a good way to record what you come up with. One good way to write things down is to use index cards. Put one idea on each card. Put a title at the top. File the card by subject. You can do this with blank business cards as well. On a digital device you can create a new document for each idea or keep documents based on subjects. Maybe use a database program or even a spreadsheet document. Experiment and find a way to write down your creative thoughts. Then go back and read them. Find one you like, expand it, and act on it.

What do you think?

Observations - Economic Storm

How to be prepared for the coming economic storm. If we are going to have an economic storm (and I think we will) what would be a good way to prepare for it? I think you should have some food and water set aside. How much? At least 30 days worth if not more. What else? Basic emergency supplies like a first aid kit, extra medications, and basic toiletries. I think you also should have a propane grill in order to be able to cook if power and gas are cut off. Make sure you have extra propane. You should also have a weapon. I think a shotgun and possibly a revolver with plenty of ammunition for both. I would even have a small caliber rifle in order to hunt for small game if things get to that point. What about financial preparations? If you can become debt free, that would be a good idea. You should also have some silver and gold just incase the monetary system fails. You should not have a large hoard of anything because then you will become a target for thieves. What if you have substantial assets? Talk to a financial advisor, but if things get ugly, you will want to have you assets in physical precious metals. You will also have to figure out how to store it all securely. Anything else? An emergency radio would be a good investment. What about a generator? I don't think that would be a good idea because you would make yourself a target and you will need to keep fuel on hand, which is problematic. Maybe a solar powered battery charger so that you can power a computing device if that is possible. That should be enough to make it through a critical period if it becomes necessary. What if things get really ugly? Then you will need to conserve what you have and learn to adapt and survive. What do you think?

Writing - Sound Advice

I found some good advice on writing. Author Vivian Vande Velde gives this advice:

*  Read (because that's how you learn to write).
*  Write the stuff you like to read (because then you will be authentic).
*  Write everyday (Because that's how you improve your writing).
*  Finish what you start (because that's how stuff gets done).

There is no secret to being a writer. Read, write, daily, finish. Follow it and you will be successful. You might not get rich or be famous, but you will get the words on the page and that makes you a writer.

What do you think?

For more: http://vivianvandevelde.com/writingAdvice.cfm

Chromebook - Microsoft Doesn't Get It

In announcing a new, bigger, and more expensive Surface, Microsoft is proving that it does not get the technology market. People do not want a tablet that does everything a PC does. Especially if you can buy a regular laptop for the same price (or less). People want a tablet that is inexpensive and does most things they want to do. The same goes with Chromebook. People buy Chromebooks not because they want a full feature laptop, but because they are inexpensive, safe, and cheap. Hopefully Chromebook makers will realise this as well and not seek to make a Chromebook that is as expensive as a Windows laptop. People want a device that is cheap and works. That's why Chromebooks are succeeding. That's why Surface will fail.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.vox.com/2014/5/21/5738560/what-microsoft-doesnt-get-about-the-tablet-revolution

News - Daily Summary

With a newly elected president, separatists in the east wasted no time and took over an airport in the city of Donetsk. In response, government forces are attempting to retake the airport. So the election has not quelled the desire of separatists to be free of the government in Kiev. Will the violence spread and increase? A Chinese vessel sung a Vietnamese fishing boat today increasing tensions between the two countries further. Tensions between China and Japan and China and the Philippines are still high. In Thailand the military cracked down on protesters and continues to impose a curfew. There were no other major developments other than the usual daily murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

The U.S. enjoyed a calm memorial day. There was a massive mudslide in Colorado and wildfires burn in Alaska and Arizona. There were no other major developments other than the usual daily murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Economy - The Health Of Retail

There is an outstanding article on "The Burning Platform" about how retail businesses are doing. Here are the numbers the dug up:

*  Wal-Mart profit down by $220 Million and US store traffic declines by 1.4%
*  Target profit down by $80 Million, 16% lower than 2013 and store traffic declines by 2.3%
*  Sears loses $358 million and comparable store sales down by 7.8%
*  Kmart sales by 5.1%
*  JC Penney has a loss of $358 million
*  Kohl’s operating income down 17% and comparable sales decline by 3.4%
*  Costco profit down by $84 million
*  Staples profit down by 44%
*  Gap income down 22%
*  American Eagle profits down 86%, closing 150 stores
*  Aeropostale has a loss of $77 million and sales down by 12%
*  Best Buy sales down by $300 Million and comparable sales decline by 1.3%
*  Macy’s Profit Flat and comparable sales decline by 1.4%
*  Dollar General profit down by 40% and comparable sales decline by 3.8%
*  Urban Outfitters earnings down by 20%
*  McDonalds Earnings down by $66 Million and comparable sales down by 1.7%
*  Darden profit down by 30%, same restaurant sales off by 5.6% and is selling Red Lobster
*  TJX misses earnings expectations and sales and earnings flat
*  Dick’s misses earnings expectations
*  Home Depot misses earnings expectations
*  Lowes misses earnings expectations

Wal-Mart profits are down? Just about everyone shops at Walmart, so how can their profits be down? I think the economy is not recovering and that we are headed for a huge hit here. It might not happen as soon as I think it will, but it's coming. The consumer is tapped out. They have little money left to spend. When they stop spending, things are going to get ugly because so much of our economic health is predicated on consumer spending. There is an economic storm coming. It's just on the horizon and coming our way.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.theburningplatform.com/2014/05/25/retail-death-rattle-grows-louder/

The Economy - Who's Hiring?

According to Fox News here are the top industries that are hiring:

*  Business Services
*  Information Technology
*  Health Care
*  Finance
*  Accounting

What do they have in common? You need post secondary training to be able to find work in all these areas. If you are looking for work it might be time to go back to school and get some new skills. Please consider your local community college. They are the best bargain in post secondary education.

What do you think?

Observations - Memorial Day

No matter what your opinion is about war and the military, the truth is that those who have served have done so for the rest of us. Thank you to all who have served. Thank you for providing our liberty and freedom. Thank you for your sacrifice.

Happy Memorial day!

News - Daily Summary

The vote in Ukraine is in and Petro Poroshenko, a billionaire and seasoned politician, is now president. The President is promising to side with Europe and end corruption. Lets see if his landslide victory will bring peace to Ukraine. Elections were also held in Venezuela today. Not sure what the outcomes were there. Things were calm between North and South Korea. Tensions are still high between China and everyone else in the South China Sea. The Pope also continues his tour of the Middle East. There were no other new developments across the world besides the usual murder, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

In the U.S. more details are forthcoming about the shooting near the campus of UC Santa Barbara (where my niece attends). The killer stabbed three room mates to death and then went on a rampage through a neighborhood next to the campus. 6 were killed (2 were friends with my niece) and several were injured. The killer took his life after confronting law enforcement personnel. The rest of the country is honoring our veterans this weekend. the President made a surprise visit to Afghanistan to say thank you to our troops (not quite as dramatic as when our last president visited Iraq while combat occurred in the vicinity). There were no other developments across the U.S. other than the normal murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Future - The Digital Age

California has just authorized licenses for driverless cars (which doesn't make sense why does a driverless car need a license). In September, a "co-pilot" can get a license to ride in a driverless car. This is the first step to having driverless cars become a reality. Now we will not see driverless cars be the norm for many years, but this paves the way for making them something the average person will be able to purchase and use. What does this mean for all the people who make a living as drivers? How long before we have driverless trucks and delivery vehicles? What will the millions who work as drivers do once they are replaced? I think this all will progress like the introduction of robots on the assembly line in manufacturing and the self checkout kiosks in markets. Driverless cars will be introduced gradually and eventually be so common we will not realize it. If something can be done by technology, it will be done by technology. That is what the digital age is all about.

What do you think?

For more:
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/05/driverless-cars-legally-hit-roads-as.html

Observations - Reflective Learning

One of the best ways to help retain what you learn is to reflect (think about what you have learned). One of the best ways to reflect on what you learn is to write about it. One of the best ways to write about what you are learning is to keep a journal. When you write about what you learn you automatically review what you have learned which helps with retention. In order to write about what you learn you have to understand it, which increases learning effectiveness. Also, once you have a written record of what you have learned going back and reviewing it is much easier, which further helps with retention. Keeping a journal is a great way to help yourself learn faster and deeper. So start journaling and writing about what you learn and see what happens.

What do you think?

Observations - Can't Prevent Crazy

Here is California we had a shooting at one of our Universities. A gunman opened fire and killed 7 people in a neighborhood just outside of U.C. Santa Barbara. I have  niece who is attending that university. She is fine, but two of her sorority sisters were shot and killed. Another was injured and will recover. Needles to say, we are all shocked and angered over the senseless violence. Now begins the mourning and the questioning. Why did this happen? How could this have been prevented? Who is at fault? I think that the shooter is at fault and no one else is responsible. He clearly was insane. He also stabbed the first three victims so stricter gun control would not have helped them. The reality we live in is that you can't prevent crazy. There will always be crazy killers who use guns, knives, swords, bombs, and poison. Unfortunately it is the reality we live in. Can we do something about keeping guns out of the hands of crazy people? Maybe, but in a society that does not want to label or identify anyone, how do you do it? You can't prevent crazy and it is something we are all going to have to live with.

What do you think?

News - Daily Summary

In Ukraine things are calm as the scheduled vote begins. Lets see what the outcome will be. In Thailand the military continues to be in control as it takes over the government. China and Japan have fighters fly by each other in the area in dispute in the East Sea. Japan's defense forces simulate taking military action against invaders of the disputed islands in the east sea. Tensions between China and Vietnam and the Philippines are still high. Meanwhile the Pope lands in Jordan on his visit to the region.

In the U.S. murder and mayhem hit near the campus of U.C. Santa Barbara as 7 people were killed and several injured when a student from the local community college went on a killing rampage. Unfortunately this is what modern America is becoming. Crazy people killing in a rage. Other than that, there were no other major developments other than the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Writing - Why?

In every writer's life there comes a time when they ask "Why bother?". I have asked it several times. It's actually just part of being an artist. Every artist will ask at some point "Why bother?". So, why bother writing? Because it is who you were meant to be. I find that I write because I have to write. I just can't keep from doing it. I have tried and I always come back to it. I write because I enjoy it. I have been writing for many years (so many that I can't remember a time when I did not write). I also write for me. If you write for others, then you will at some point lose your motivation to write when people stop reading what you write (and they will). Writ for yourself and write because that's who you are. Then you will just keep writing and the rest does not matter!

What do you think?

Creativity - Listening To Music

I have found that when I want to be more creative, listening to music helps immensely. When I am writing I usually listen to film music as it often inspires me. As I read I like to listen to Jazz, it helps keep me focused and alert. When I need a nap or some time to unwind I like listening to instrumental new age music. When I need to study I like listening to classical music (especially Mozart or Haydn). The only time I don't listen to music is when I am writing music. Give it a try. Listen to music that you think will match the activity you are doing. See if it will help you be more focused, productive, and creative.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Cheap Windows Machine

I was just browsing around the Dell store. They have an inexpensive Windows 8.1 machine on sale for less than $250. It has the same Celeron processor as their Chromebooks, but with 4 gigs of ram. They are selling their Chromebook models starting at $279 (and I had to go looking for it since it did not appear on their landing page) with only 2 gigs of ram. So will this put an end to the challenge from Chromebooks? At Dell it will, but not on Amazon. The Acer C720 is still $200 and thus cheaper than the Dell Windows machine. If you buy a Windows machine, you have to invest in security software and be prepared to have your machine infected at any time. You have no such worry with a Chromebook. Now you can use all the Google apps with a Windows machine so you do not need to invest in software for the Windows machine if you don't want to, but why buy the Windows machine then? If you do want to use specific software, be prepared to pay! Also, most of the software will not function all that well on a cheap Windows machine. It's just not fast enough. So a cheap Windows machine will not truly run anything of note well enough to justify buying it.

If you want an inexpensive laptop buy the least expensive Chromebook you can find (Acer C720 on Amazon) and save yourself all the money and hassle any other system would cause you. I think Microsoft is trying to do to Chromebooks what they did to netbooks. Microsoft wants to kill the low end market with crappy Windows machines. Unfortunately, I think they will just push more and more people over to Chromebooks, which is just fine by me.

What do you think?

The Future - The Digital Age

The movie business is also being transformed by the digital age. More and more, movies are being filmed digitally. In fact, there are fewer and fewer labs that process film still in business. Many "old school" directors do not like the new medium, unfortunately, they will have no choice but to embrace it. This is going to be the case in many industries. Once the digital takes hold, the old processes will disappear because no one will be around to do them. For example, in the music industry fewer and fewer recording studios use physical tape anymore and fewer and fewer manufactures make the tape in the first place. In the book business there are still physical book publishers, but those will soon begin to disappear as ebooks keep growing. Is all this good or bad? I don't think that matters because it is going to happen whether we like it or not. The digital age is going to happen. Fighting it is like fighting the assembly line when it started to take over manufacturing.

What do you think?

For more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/cannes-film-festival/10853978/Quentin-Tarantino-Cinema-as-I-knew-it-is-dead.html

Chromebook - Touch Screen

I don't get all the hype about having a touch screen. I have an iPad and I wish it had a mouse or trackpad. It is very hard to edit and navigate without one. So is it a good idea to have a touch screen on a laptop? I don't think so. This is especially true with Chromebooks. Why? Because there are few apps that use a touch screen to it's full potential. Since you also have a built in trackpad and a keyboard, having a touch screen is just redundant. I also don't think it is worth the extra money. I stick to my original premise when it comes to Chromebooks. Paying more money does not get you extra functionality, so buy the least expensive model and spend your money elsewhere.

What do you think?

The Future - The Digital Age

If technology can eventually do a job, it will do that job. Amazon has announced that it will be using 10,000 robots in their warehouses. They are buying robots to do work that used to be done by humans. The new robots will work 24/7, 365 days a year. They will never call in sick. They will never be late. They will never complain. They will never go on strike. The will never need health care. They will never sue for sexual harassment or discrimination or workers comp. No wonder Amazon bought 10,000 of them. There is one expert who is claiming that up to 47% of all jobs in the U.S. will be replaced by technology (robots, self serve kiosks, software, etc…) over the next 20 years. The implications are staggering. What will those who are replaced by technology do? How will we deal with the millions who will be unemployed? What will happen to the crime rate? Why are we looking to reform immigration when technology will replace many of the jobs immigrants are doing? We are in a major transformation. We are moving from the industrial age to the digital age. The "digital" (technology, robots, software, the cloud) will increase. The "industrial" (manual work, low skill work, repetitive work, low creative work) will decrease and be replaced. The last time we made a major transformation (from the agricultural age to the industrial age 1925-1950) we had a world war and massive upheaval. Will we experience the same again? I would not be surprised if we did. Humans do not take well to change and the change we are going through will make the last one seem like a party. What do you think? For more: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-robots-are-coming-and-they-are-replacing-warehouse-workers-and-fast-food-employees

News - Daily Summary

Things were fairly calm across the world today. Besides the regular murder, mayhem, corruption and tragedies, there were no new major developments. In the U.S stocks were higher with the S&P 500 reaching a record high close. Gold was basically flat, but oil was higher. It looks as if we will not get any relief in the price if gas anytime soon. There were no new major developments in the U.S. as well today (besides the usual murder, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies).

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Great for Education

I ran across a great article on why Chromebooks are great for education. Here are some of the highlights:

*  Chromebooks are the only device that offers a way to have zero downtime for students.
*  Chromebooks keep everything in the cloud, meaning the device can be swapped out for a spare.
*  Chromebooks are always up-to-date and never require “imaging”.
*  The devices all but manage themselves.
*  A Chromebook does most of what most students need, from a very fast and reliable platform.
*  Windows-based laptop cannot provide a school with the same basis for success.

I couldn't agree more.

What do you think?

For more:
https://medium.com/@BlakeSeufert/2aaee1c563f2

The Future - The Digital Age

The traditional newspaper is in a death spiral. The troubles at the New York Times are just evidence that traditional newspapers will probably not make it into the digital age. This should not be a surprise. We saw this happen with the music business. When music transitioned into the digital age, the music labels began their death spirals. What we have today is a jumble of freelancers, smaller labels, digital retailers, streaming providers, and online retailers of physical CD's. The music industry has fragmented into a million pieces. That's what will happen to the "news" business. It is going to fragment into a million pieces and the newspapers will not be at the top of the heap anymore (if they even exist at all).

The digital age is about fragmentation and individualization. It will be about digital products and less about physical products. The Music industry went first and it will be followed by the book industry, the movie industry, and the news industry. In fact, any industry that can be affected digitally will be (I personally think that no industry will be spared the effects of the digital age). We are living through a major transition that will affect us all.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Chrome Browser

I was not aware that Chrome is the most used browser in the world. That's great news for Chromebooks, which are laptops using an operating system built around the Chrome browser. People who buy Chromebooks and have used Chrome on another system will feel right at home. This is especially true if the have use any of Google's other apps (especially Drive). I found using my Chromebook to be easy and familiar since I was using the Chrome browser first on a Windows laptop and then on my Mac Mini. I had also already started to use Google Drive, so all my files were immediately accessible. What is fascinating as well is that when I am on my Mac Mini (which is less and less every day) I spend all my time in Chrome using all the same apps and web pages I use on my Chromebook. The only thing I truly use my Mac Mini for any more is to write music. Hey, maybe Finale will make a web app that I can use from my Chromebook? Then I would not need my Mac Mini at all. Now that would be interesting.

What do you think?

The Economy - Retail Profits

Retail sales have had the worst miss in expectations in 13 years. Retailers missed profit estimates by 3.2% last quarter. Some are blaming the poor weather last quarter, but I think it's because the American consumer is finally reaching the end of their paychecks. I for one have less and less money at the end of the month thanks to higher taxes, fees, food prices, and gas prices that don't seem to come down. Expectations for this next quarter are for an increase of 8.6% because of pent up demand and improving economic conditions. I think that is way too high and would not be surprised if we have a huge miss next quarter.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-23/retailers-profits-miss-most-13-years-consumer-not-back

Creativity - Ideas

The composer John Williams (Star Wars, Jaws, ET, etc…) has said that the best composers are thieves. I think what he meant was that there is no need to be totally original. All you truly need to do is take an existing idea or concept and adapt it, refine it, tweak it, or use pieces of it to create something new and different. Obviously you should not take something and plagiarize it. But, you do not need to invent a whole new thing. John Williams himself is a good example. He used the work of Erich Korngold to create the theme for Star Wars (Listen to the main theme from the movie "Kings Row"). This concept applies across the arts and in any endeavor where ideas are paramount (which is everything). Next time you need an idea, take an existing one and mess with it till you come up with something new or different, Hey it worked out pretty well for John Williams.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.creativitypost.com/technology/the_best_creative_ideas_arent_that_creative

News - Daily Summary

There was a new round of violence in Ukraine. Separatists attacked a checkpoint killing 13 soldiers and three others. Tensions seem to be increasing once again as the election nears on the 25th. In Thailand the military imposed martial law has become a coup as the military takes over running the country. So much for all the denials over the last couple of days. No one seems to be telling the truth these days. No major developments out of Venezuela. Russia and China block a U.N security council vote to refer Syria to the International Court. The rest of the Middle East seems calm as Pope Frances visits the area. North and South Korean naval vessels trade warning shots. Tensions are still high between China and Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines.

In the U.S. stocks were higher, oil and gold were flat, and there were no major developments today other than the usual corruption, tragedies, mayhem, trivialities, and murders.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Observations - GPA

Is your high school grade point average (GPA) a good indicator of how much money you will make later in life? There is research that claims that the higher your GPA in high school, the more money you make later in life. While I don't think GPA is an indicator of how successful you might be (how many C students have made it big?), and I don't think your grades are that big of a deal in life, I think there is some merit to this research. Your GPA is a reflection of your work habits. So clearly a person with a better GPA is going to make more money just because they have better work habits. Though GPA is not the end all be all, I do think it is a good indicator of a persons ability to do the work. If you were looking to hire someone, would you hire a C-D student or and A-B student?

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/22/how-your-high-school-gpa-could-impact-your-adult-salary/

Observations - Community College

I spent the day getting registered at my local community college. After 20 years of teaching I can tell what kind of students I am around by the way they dress and the way the speak. The reality of community college is that many of the students are not of the highest caliber. This is not a bad thing. What it means this that anyone can go to college. All you have to do is show up and do the work. I have a BA, a MS, and most of a PhD. If I can earn a degree and more, anyone can! It's not being smart that earns a degree. It is being persistent. Go to class, do the work, pass the test, write the paper. That's how you earn a degree. Hopefully the students that I attend class with get it.

What do you think?

The Economy - HP

HP had plans to layoff 34,000 employees. That was revised today upward by 16,000! So HP is planning on laying off 50,000 employees in the future! Ouch! So what is going on? Part of the problem is that HP is being forced by some major stockholders to buy back some of it's stock. It has spent over $1 billion in the last 2 quarters doing so. It has also had lower sales and lower profits. Combine all that and they have to layoff 50,000 employees! The other problem I see that HP has it's that it no longer is just competing with other makers of Windows machines. It is now competing directly with Microsoft, since they introduced the Surface tablets/laptops. HP is in a tough spot and has very few options. I feel bad for the 50,000 employees who are going to suffer as a result of inane decisions made above their pay grade.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-22/why-hewlett-packard-just-announced-another-16000-job-cuts

Observations - Going Back To School

Is it ever too late to go back to school? I don't think so. In fact, I know so. I just enrolled back into college. I am going back to get an associates degree from my local community college. Why? First, to defer my student loans from when I earned my Masters degree and did my Ph.D. work. Second, to prove a point. The only thing that will keep you from earning a college degree is you! Tuition at my local college is $46 a unit. Most classes are three units so it only costs about $150 to take a class. That is so inexpensive! I just paid the tuition for my son to go to Cal State San Marcos. It was $3500 for the semester, which is the least expensive 4 year university in California. Now that is not cheap, but my local community college is a bargain. The other reason I am going back to school is because I have had a running joke with my students over the last 20 years. I always joke that I am being punished as a teacher because I did not get a computer science degree. Guess what, I am getting a computer science degree!

What do you think?

Chromebook - Sales Figures

According to a story in the New York Times Chromebooks account for up to 25% of all low-cost laptops sold in the United States. They have also are #2 in overall laptop sales overtaking Apple's Macbook in the process. Google is also reporting that nearly 10,000 schools are using Chromebooks. These are great numbers considering many people think Chromebooks are just toys! I think Google is on to something. People want a low cost system that lets them do basic computing safely and inexpensively. Chromebooks fit the bill perfectly. Are they the best system on the market? No (there is no best system), but they get the job done.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/technology/personaltech/chromebooks-win-users-and-some-respect.html?_r=0

News - Daily Summary

It looks like there are some Russian troops heading home from the border. That's good news. Lets see how the election on the 25th goes. No major developments with Venezuela, Syria, or North Korea. Tensions are still high between China, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines. There is still martial law in Thailand. Libya has a general who is causing problems.

In the U.S. stocks were higher (they can't seem to decide what direction to go). Oil was higher and gold was down. There were no new major developments once again today except for the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, tragedies, and perversity.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Economy - Sears

Ever since Sears and Kmart merged in 2005, things have not gone well. Sales have declined every year since 2006 and Sears in now losing money at an alarming rate. Over the past year, Sears has quietly closed over 100 stores. Rumors are that 500 more stores will be closed over the next few years. Sears has just not been able to compete with Walmart and Amazon. Lot's of people work at Sears and so we will see plenty of people out of work in the near future. What else is interesting is that Sears are mostly at Malls and large retail locations. They are not usually located in strip malls, so this is not part of the death of the strip mall that has been occurring lately. I wonder how things are going at the local mall? I have not been there in a while and I wonder how sales are going and how many people are visiting. This might make a good project for this weekend.

What do you think?

For more:
http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/15/news/companies/sears-store-closings/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Observations - Microsoft Surface

Microsoft just introduced a new version of it's Surface tablet/laptop system. Microsoft claims that it can do everything a laptop can plus also be a tablet. Starting price - $799 plus $129 for the keyboard. I don't get it. If it can do everything a laptop can, why buy it? If it can also be a tablet, why buy it? You can get a Windows laptop and an android tablet for less that it costs to buy a Surface with a keyboard. So why buy it? I understand it is convenient to have both in one device, but it costs more than having 2 different devices, so why buy it?

The other thing I don't get is that Microsoft is in partnership with all the manufacturers of windows machines. By making the Surface a fully functioning laptop, it now is in direct competition with all the other Windows manufacturers. How will this affect the relationship they already have? If I was a Windows manufacturer I would not be please that the maker of my OS is now also my competitor. Further more, when someone buys a Surface, they will not be buying a laptop (or a desktop for that matter). Microsoft is going to kill off any further sales they might have had with the Surface. What are they thinking? They are going to make things worse in the long run, not better.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25807872/review-microsofts-new-surface-does-it-all-8212

News - Daily Summary

No major developments in Ukraine except that Russian troops have not left the border area as reported by the Kremlin. No major developments in Vietnam as China finishes evacuating Chinese nationals. Sanctions on Venezuela were approved by a Senate panel. In Syria the death toll from the civil war looks to be about 160,000. Many thousands are refugees in Lebanon, which can't afford them. There were no other major developments in the middle east. No major development with North Korea. Tensions are still high between China and Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines.

In the U.S. stocks were down on disappointing earnings from a few retailers. Gold was flat but oil was higher. There were no other major developments in the U.S. except for the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies. Things have been quite calm in the U.S. over the past several days.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Getting It

More and more people are getting the point of Chromebook. It is not designed to do everything. It is designed to just do basic things online for very inexpensively, safely, and quickly. Here is a quote from a review in Forbes today:

"For me, the charm of the Chromebook is that it doesn’t need a lot of powerful hardware to run smoothly, I like the fact that a light, cheapish machine can replace your more expensive laptop. So, those are the reasons I love Chromebooks now. It took me a while to get here, but if your next laptop isn’t running Chrome OS, I fear you might have made a mistake."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ianmorris/2014/05/20/a-google-chromebook-should-be-your-next-laptop-and-heres-why/

More and more people are getting it. Chromebooks are cheap, light, safe machines that get the job done mostly online.

What do you think?

The Economy - Strip Mall Death

Staples came out with their earnings today. They reported lower earnings than expected and as a result, their stock is down nearly 13% at this time! Ouch! This is only the latest indication that the strip mall is in a death spiral. Staples already announced that it was closing 200 stores. Office Depot announced earlier that it was closing 400 stores. Add to that the stores being closed by Barnes and Noble, and the stores that are still vacant after Borders and Circuit City went under, and the picture for strip malls is not pretty. Home Depot also reported disappointing numbers today. The ubiquitous strip mall is slowly becoming a ghost town. How many jobs have been lost as a result?

What do you think?

For more:
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/staples-slides-as-strip-malls-march-toward-extinction-141234474.html

Chromebook - USB Port

One of the benefits of a Chromebook over an iPad is having a USB port. iPads do not have USB ports so you can't use a flash drive with them. I have a Choir concert coming up and I did not want to haul my Mac Mini out for it. So I put the music I needed on a flash drive and used my Chromebook to play the pieces I needed. It worked perfectly for me. Not bad for $200!

What do you think?

News - Daily Summary

In Russia, the Kremlin announced that troops at the Ukraine border will be pulling back. I thought that was already done? Maybe this time they mean it.  This could be a way to help ease tensions before the election on the 25th. That way Russia will not get blamed for any problems. Besides a massive flood in the Balkans, there are no other major developments in Europe or the Middle East today.

China has moved troops to the border of Vietnam and is in the processes of evacuating its citizens. It's never a good thing to have Chinese troops moving to your border. Tensions are still high between China and Japan as well as China and the Philippines. I bet Japan and the Philippines are keeping an eye on what happens in Vietnam in order to see how China might act with them.  In Thailand the military has announced martial law. That's also not a good thing to have happen. So things have cooled off a bit in Europe and the Middle East, but have grow hotter in Asia.

In the U.S. stocks closed higher today. Gold and oil were basically flat. The drought continues in California and other parts of the Southwest. There were no other major developments in the U.S. today other than the regular occurrence of murder, mayhem, corruption, tragedies, and trivialities.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Economy - California

California just can't catch a break (unless your Disneyland). Because of the ongoing drought, up 14,500 farm related workers might lose their jobs. The economic costs could be as high as $1.7 billion. It is interesting to note that the last drought was in 2009 and cost 7,500 jobs. Was that not during the height of the last recession? How interesting it is that there is another drought now? Could there be a relationship between recessions and droughts? Or is it just a coincidence? Didn't the dust bowl happen during the depression? I just Googled "dust bowl" and another article came up talking about how in some states things are worse than it was back in the "dust bowl" of the 1930's. I think California is just at the forefront of what is going to happen across this country as things start to unravel because of all the debts that have been incurred. There is an economic storm coming our way and I think it will hit my home state of California first.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/20/usa-california-drought-idUSL1N0O601520140520
and
http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2014/05/18/drought-worse-than-dust-bowl-in-some-states/

Chromebook - Great For Schools

In Orange County, New York every district has moved away from Microsoft products to using Google Apps and specifically Google Drive. As a result of this, one school has bought Chromebooks for all their students. In doing so they are reaping several benefits. One is that students can't claim they do not know what the homework is because it is posted online. They all have access to the internet and can't claim ignorance. Another benefit is the savings in using textbooks. The school has moved to using mostly digital copies that cost far less than physical textbooks. Even better, the students do not have to have a copy at home and one at school. Also, the school has gone paperless (as much as possible). Teachers issue flyers, assignments, and anything else that used to be on paper via email. Parents also have greater access to their students work, grades, and assignments via the internet. Finally, the school is saving money using Chromebooks because they do not need to have a huge tech department to maintain all the systems. I think this Microsoft needs to be concerned!

What do you think?

For more:
http://chroniclenewspaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140519/NEWS01/140519943/The-Chromebooks-revolution

World News - Vietnam And China

Just when it looks like things are calming down in Europe, things heat up in Asia. China evacuated it's nationals from Vietnam over the weekend. The reason given was to protect them from the protests that were happening. Today we learn that China is massing troops on the border with Vietnam. So maybe the evacuation was not because of the protests but because China is going to invade! See what happens when the world perceives that the West (and especially the U.S.) is weak? China feels it can flex some muscle because it knows that the only thing the west will do is issue sanctions. In doing so the west will not only hurt China economically, but it will also hurt itself. China is the wests largest trading partner. It is also the largest debt holder of U.S. bonds. What would happen if China decides to sell some of the bonds (or all of them)? Oh, this could get interesting quickly!

What do you think?

For more: http://chinadailymail.com/2014/05/18/large-number-of-chinese-troops-seen-heading-for-china-vietnam-border/

News - Daily Summary

In Ukraine preparations are being made for a national election on May 25 and so far things are calmer. There are talks of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, which just signed a deal to provide diesel fuel to the Palestinians. North Korea apologized for the collapse of a 23 story apartment building in which there are many people missing. South Korea is talking about disbanding their Coast Guard as a consequence of the ferry disaster. China evacuated thousands of Chinese nationals from Vietnam as a result of protests over the oil rig China moved into Vietnamese waters. Japan is considering moving troops to a disputed island with China. The Philippines is disputing a set of atolls with China as well.

In the U.S. there were no new developments other than the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, trivialities, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Economy - Disneyland

Things can't be all that bad in California. Disneyland has announced that they are increasing ticket prices. Why? To many people are going to Disneyland. Raising prices will hopefully lower the level of crowds especially on the weekends and holidays. Prices will be raised not only on ticket prices for entry to one park (Disneyland or California Adventure), but also on tickets that allow you to go to both parks. Prices are also going to be raised on annual passes for Southern California residents. Sales for annual passes will also be restricted to only those renewing the passes they already own. I remember when you could buy a pass for Southern California residents for $99 and it only cost $45 to get into Disneyland (California Adventure did not exist back then). So, it will cost a family of four about $400 just to get into one of the parks. Also, I don't think buying the ticket to get you into both parks will be worth it. It will cost $150 and you do not have enough time in one day to see everything in one park. Buying access to both will not be worth it. Hey, I am glad my son got a job there. He will be able to occasionally get our family in for free. Hey that will save me $500!

What do you think?

For more:
https://movies.yahoo.com/news/disneyland-raises-ticket-prices-again-suspends-socal-pass-210217137.html

Personal Improvement - Practicing

As a musician, composer, and music teacher I know a few things about practicing. I can tell you that I have practiced so many hours I have lost count over the last 38 years. But why practice at all? You practice because it is the only way to become good at something. Do you want to play an instrument well? Practice. Do you want to play a sport well? Practice. Do you want to be able to draw, paint, sculpt, write, or do any other artistic endeavor well? Practice. Do you want to be a better programer, lawyer, negotiator, sales person, presenter, surgeon, or any other professional? Practice. Practice is the key to being good at anything.

So how do you practice? Here are so suggestions:

*  Figure out what skill you want to improve.
*  Break it down into small chunks or steps.
*  Do each step over and over for 15-30 minutes.
*  Do each step slowly at first and make sure you do it right (don't practice mistakes).
*  Once you can do one step move on to the next, then start combining steps.
*  Work harder on the steps that you can't do (don't just practice the things you can do).
*  Practice every day without fail.
*  To be good at something practice at least 15-30 minutes a day.
*  To be a professional at something practice 4-6 hours a day for 10 years.
*  Get feed back (get a coach, a teacher, a mentor, or an audience).

There are no short cuts. There are no magic formulas. There is no other way. Practice, practice, and practice. That's how you not only learn a new skill, that's how you master one.

What do you think?

Creativity - Inspiration

I like surfing the internet to find things that motivate and inspire me. I have several topics that I keep up on everyday (news, the economy, the future, creativity, writing, etc…). So, I spend time every day checking on what might be new. On some days I don't find much to inspire me, but on others there is plenty of things to inspire me. Being inspired usually leads to writing a blog post about what I find. I have found the internet to be an invaluable tool. I think back to when the internet did not exist. The access to information was so limited. Now the only limit is how much time I spend surfing and how easily I am distracted.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Education Market

In the past Apple has been the major player in the education market. That is starting to change. It is estimated that Google is taking more and more share of the education market with Chromebooks. In the 4th quarter of 2013 Google's share of the education market was estimated at 25%. Apple still has the largest portion of the education market, but it has started to fall. The biggest loser in the education market has been Microsoft. What I find interesting about this market is that Apple is the only one who makes money directly from this market. Google and Microsoft make money indirectly. Microsoft makes money from selling Windows to hardware manufacturers who then sell their systems to schools. Google doesn't make any money from schools. They make all their money from advertisers who now have access to a new audience courtesy of students spending more and more time using Google products. Though Google provides the operating system for Chromebooks, it does not charge hardware makers for it.

Which company is going to win in this market? Apple is still the clear winner, but Google is making inroads. The loser is Microsoft who can't seem to make the transition to mobile, tablets, and low cost laptops. This is going to be an interesting market to keep an eye on.

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/05/16/google-vs-apple-which-will-own-the-education-marke.aspx

News - Daily Summary

It was a calm day across the world and the U.S. There were no new major developments besides the usual murder, mayhem, corruption, and tragedies. The fires in San Diego county are also being brought under control. It was a beautiful clear day here in Southern California today. Some days a truly a blessing. Now if we could just string a bunch of these together. That would be awesome.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

P.S. If you stop by and read my blog, thank you and may you be blessed as well.

The Future - Manufacturing

The current method of manufacturing is called "additive" manufacturing. Why? Because as products move through the manufacturing process pieces are added to it to create the final product. The automobile assembly line is a perfect example. As cars move through the assembly line, pieces are added till the product rolls off the end completed. A new method of manufacturing is evolving where 3D printers create the whole product in one location. In other words, each printer creates a finished product and not just one piece of the final product. This type of manufacturing is still in its infancy, but work is progressing. Google is working on producing smartphones using 3D printers. The implications are amazing. First, mass manufacturing can become fully custom. Next, you can make things anywhere. You can conceivably make products where they are sold. In other words, you can merge retail sales with manufacturing all in one location. Finally, there will be fewer and fewer people working in manufacturing. it will all be done with machines. The future of manufacturing will be mass customization, retail manufacturing, and all done by machine. I wonder if there will be manufacturing vending machines? That is a possibility.

What do you think?

For more:
http://3dprint.com/3396/3d-systems-revolutionary-mass-manufacturing-3d-printing-system-is-on-its-way/

Observations - Grades

Do grades indicate intelligence or ability? I don't think so because I have had a lot of smart and talented students who got bad grades. I think grades are more an indicator or work habits and self discipline. It takes work and self discipline to get a B or an A. It takes a minimal amount of work to get a C or D. It takes no work to get an F. In fact, I would have to say that most of the students I have known over the last 20 years or so, got F's not because they could not do the work or handle the subject matter. They got F's because of not doing the minimum required work. If they had done the work, they would not have gotten an F. So grades are indicative of work habits and self discipline. Grades are not necessarily an indication of ability or intelligence.

What do you think?

Chromebook - Acer C720

When you buy the least expensive model on the market, you are not expecting it to do very much. That was my expectation when I bought my Acer C720. I originally bought it on a whim just to mess around with it. I used some money I had earned writing music and thus did not expect very much. What I got was way more than I expected. The Acer C720 feels as fast as my Mac mini when I am online. It feels as fast as my iPad 2. It is way faster than my iPhone 4. I also like hooking my C720 up to my Samsung HD monitor, keyboard, and mouse. When I do so I feel like I am using a desktop system. I used to have an old XP desktop and this is way faster. Plus the graphics and better as well. The battery life is amazing. I go all day without ever having to charge my C720. Now I don't use the system all day long, but I do use it substantially. I also don't charge it till I go to bed, so it is available for my use from 5:30 AM (when I leave for work) to 11PM (when I plug it in at bedtime). All this for $200! That is what is amazing. Oh, I am able to do all my computing (except write music) on it.

What do you think?

Observations - Free

I like free stuff and most people do. But, is free the best way to run run something? Is free education, free healthcare, free school lunches, or free services a good idea? I don't think so. Why? Here is what I think:

*  Nothing is free. Someone is paying for it though it might not be the "user".
*  People do not value what is free for them.
*  Nor valuing something encourages laziness, abuse, and indifference.
*  Thus free leads to stagnation or decay, not growth or improvement.

What is wrong with our education system? It's free which then produces many of the other problems we have. What is wrong with our healthcare system? It's usually not paid for by the user, but a third party giving the illusion of it being free, which then produces many of the problems we have.

So how can we fix it? Make the user pay in some fashion. What if parents had to pay for the education of their children? We would have one of the best education systems in the world (like our college system). What about those who could not afford the tuition? Then vouchers would be the way to go because the user is still "paying" for what they want, not settling for what is free.  What if patients had to pay for all their healthcare costs? Our healthcare system would be transformed overnight. What about insurance and those who could not afford the care? What if insured patients were only covered for major medical and had high deductibles? Then unnecessary procedures would not be performed and doctors and hospitals would have to work hard to earn a patients business rather than knowing that the insurance company would just pay anyway. For those who could not afford insurance, a medical voucher system would be a good way to have the user in control.

The bottom line is to have users paying in anyway possible for what they use. Free (and any form of free) just leads to stagnation, decay, and a host of problems. Free doesn't work.

What do you think?

Observations - Jobs

Good jobs are the most important thing. If more and more people have jobs, all the other problems our society have are diminished. We don't need more taxes. We don't need more government programs or spending. We don't need to spend more on education. We don't need "shovel ready" projects. What we need are more and more good paying private sector jobs. What about public sector jobs? Yes we need them, but it is only private sector jobs that will pay for the public sector jobs. We need growing businesses of all kinds. We need new businesses of all kinds. We need jobs!

What do you think?

News - Daily Summary

It was calm across the world today. Yes Ukraine is still a mess and so is Venezuela, Syria, and North Korea. China is still flexing it's muscles, but nothing new developed today with Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines. There are still protests happening in Turkey over the mining accident. There was also a big upset in the Indian elections. Then, of course, there were the usual murders, accidents, mayhem and corruption.

In the U.S. the wildfires still raged in San Diego County. The smoke was extremely thick in Southwest Riverside county where I live. Arson is suspected in several of the fires.

Stocks were higher today. It seems to me that stocks can't decide what direction to go in. Up one day, down another. Soon the markets will figure it out. My thinking is that stocks are overpriced and will eventually head much lower. Gold was flat but oil was higher. Other than the usual mayhem, murder, and corruption, there were no other major developments in the U.S.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Economy - Texas

Texas added the most jobs in the U.S. last month. Texas employment rose by over 64,000 jobs in April which lowered its unemployment rate to 5.2%. So what is Texas doing right?

*  First, it keeps taxes as low as possible.
*  Second, it keeps regulation as little as possible.
*  Third, it develops its natural resources as much as possible.
*  Fourth, it actively competes for new business.
*  Fifth, Texas is a right to work state which limits the power of unions.
*  Sixth, Texas supports the private sector as much as possible.

The formula for economic prosperity is not a secret. Provide a fair and just business environment and encourage private businesses as much as possible and you create economic success. Keep government as small as possible and encourage entrepreneurs. Texas is not perfect (no place is), but it sure is doing a good job of providing for it's citizens.

What do you think?

Self Improvement - Quitting

I have a personal friend who is dealing with a dilemma. He is a drama teacher and quite artistic. He wants to produce certain types of shows, but his school administration is blocking what he wants to do. As a result, he is going to give the administration an ultimatum. Either let him do the shows he feels the drama department needs to do, or he will step down from teaching drama. Is he doing the right thing? Absolutely yes!

When you have a vision for what you want to do and it is a passion, you stick to it. If that means moving on, then have the courage to move on. I have done this personally myself. I was in a position that I felt I could not continue in for many different reasons. I chose to move on because the situation was not going to change. That was the best thing I ever did. Being "stuck" with something less is not a good place to be. If you can't do your best work, move on. Does that mean quit on the spot? No! Be wise and plan your way out. Find another position first before you quit. Build something else before you move on. But, don't be afraid to go. It might be the best thing you ever did.

What do you think?

Creativity - The Internet

Does the internet help or hinder creativity. There are many who think that the internet is one big time suck and you need to avoid it at all cost if you want to be creative and productive. I disagree - sort of. Can you waste hours on the internet doing unproductive things? Your sure can (and who hasn't). But, I find that using the internet provides me with a constant stream of ideas. It is an amazing collection of "thoughts" that I can tap to get new "thoughts". If you use the internet as a tool, it works great. If you use the internet as a distraction, well, it works great for that as well. Maybe the issue is not the internet, but a bit of self discipline?

What do you think?

Chromebook - Great For Education

Another school district has come to the conclusion that Chromebooks are great for education. The Merced school district in California is purchasing 4500 Chromebooks to use in all their 3rd-8th grade classes. Ultimately the district will purchase a total of 7700 Chromebooks in order to have one for each student. Chromebooks were used in a pilot program first, and then adopted this past month for the whole district. The district noted that since the state of California is now doing all it's testing online, having computers will prepare students to be more successful. I think they made a great choice and expect many more districts to follow suit.

What do you think?

For more: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/05/15/3650916/school-board-spends-13-million.html

News - Daily Summary

In Eastern Ukraine thousands of unarmed steel workers took to the streets of Mariupol and took control away from separatists. This deals a major blow to separatists and Russia and undermines the move for self rule. Also, government troops in other areas are gaining the upper hand. Could the tide be turning? In the Turkey coal mine disaster, the death toll nears 300. There were more violent protests as well. Experts say that the accident could have been prevented. This is what happens when life is considered cheap and expendable. Shortcuts will always be taken to make some money. Venezuela is still in turmoil. The Syrian government looks to have used chemical weapons again. There were no new developments with North and South Korea, or China and Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines.

In the U.S., San Diego County is still on fire. Over 10,000 acres have burned and most of the fires are believed to have been started by arson. The smoke is still heavy here in Southwest Riverside County.

Stocks were down today. Gold was down and oil was flat. Earnings news from retailers spooked the market. Especially disappointing earning news from Walmart. There were no other new developments other than the usual murder, mayhem, corruption, trivialities, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

The Economy - Walmart

Walmart reported today that earnings were down missing expectations. As a result, Walmart stock was down over 2%. Walmart claims that the fall in earnings was due to poor weather across most of the country. Is that true? Or is it that the economy is starting to slow? If earnings recover in the next quarter, then it was the weather. If earning don't recover, then the economy is starting to slow (which is what I think is happening). If that's the case, hold on because it could get ugly. There is an economic storm coming. Could this be a warning? Time will tell.

What do you think?

The Future - Good Jobs

Is there a way to secure a better future for yourself? Yes there is. You can secure a better future by getting a good paying job. If you have a good paying job, everything else in your life will work itself out. It is amazing what a good income and a good, secure job can do for your future. So what jobs will be well paying and secure in the future? Here are some suggestions:

*  Technology jobs. Obviously in the digital age, technology jobs will be key. They will be in great demand in the future.
*  Engineering jobs. Engineers are the ones who take whatever is designed and make it a reality. Thus, engineers will always be in demand, especially in the future.
*  Healthcare jobs. As our populations age, they will need more and more healthcare. Jobs in this area will be in great demand in the future.
*  Science jobs. Science is creating the future and will thus be in great demand.
*  Math jobs. In the digital age, data will be king. The way to deal with data is math, thus math jobs will be in great demand.
*  Trade jobs. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, and any other trade will be in great demand in the future because we always need things fixed.

If you are thinking about what to do with your life, think about getting trained in these areas. If you are thinking about a career change, these are the areas that will be in demand in the future. Having a job in one of these areas will clearly secure a better future for yourself.

What do you think?

The Economy - California

As San Diego county in Southern California burns, there is more news about the move by Toyota to Plano, Texas. It is being estimated that the Texas economy will see a $7.2 billion dollar increase as a result of the move. The politicians in California don't get it. You can't fleece businesses and not have consequences. If it is possible for businesses to move, they will move and take all the related income with them. You can't tax your way to prosperity. Just like you can't borrow and spend your way to prosperity. California has extra income now, but it will not last. If stocks drop and more businesses move out of the state, tax income will drop and California will be back in the mess it just got out of.  Ouch, as a teacher I just got my furlough days back. How long before I have to take furlough days again? A year?

What do you think?

Internet Business - My Experiment

Last November I bought a Chromebook basically on a whim. One of the reasons I bought a Chromebook was to see if I could start an online business with just a $200 Chromebook. I am coming up on six months of having my Chromebook and about 4 months of having a small online business. So far I think I am off to a good start. I have built a small but consistent "community" with my blog. I have also started to make a little bit of money. But, most importantly, I think I am proving that you can start and run a business online with just a Chromebook. Also, you can make a bit of money without having to spend very much. All I have invested in my online business is the $200 it cost me for my Chromebook and about $50 in Adwords advertising over the last 2-3 months. Am I making a profit? Yes I am. Can I quit my day job? I wish, but hey, it might happen if I keep at it.

What do you think?

News - Daily Summary

No major developments in Ukraine besides the occasional skirmish and bloodshed between government troops and separatists. Everyone is watching and waiting to see what happens next. In Turkey the mine explosion death toll mounts. There are also protests against the government for it's role in what happen (whatever that might or might not be is unclear). There were more arrests in Venezuela as protests increased today. There were no other major developments across the world today.

In the U.S. wildfires blaze across San Diego County in California. I live just north of San Diego County and the smoke is quite thick outside tonight. My son's university (CSU San Marcos) was evacuated because of a nearby fire. Fortunately he finished all his finals yesterday. With winds forecast for tomorrow and the brush being extremely dry because of the drought, it is going to be a long night tonight and a long day tomorrow.

Stocks were down today. Gold and oil were up. There were no other major developments in the U.S. today except for the usual murder, mayhem, corruption, trivialities, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm and here in Southern California a hot and smoky one.

What do you think?

World News - Ukraine

Things seem to have quieted down in Ukraine, but there are a couple of interesting developments. First, the government of Ukraine issued $1 billion in bonds today at low interest rates and they are guaranteed by… the U.S.! What? How did that happen and why did that happen? Second, a Russian built helicopter with U.N. markings was used against the separatists in Eastern Ukraine. As a result Russia is crying (justifiably) foul. Wow, things are a bit strange in Ukraine and I am starting to think that this all might not end well. What if all the "superpowers" kept their distance and minded their own business? Maybe Ukraine would figure this all out? But if people start to meddle then all bets are off and things will get ugly. This is how major wars get started.

What do you think?

Creativity - Accidental Or Purposeful?

What works best when it comes to creating? Are accidental creations like the "Post it" the best way to create? Or is creating something on purpose better? First, I don't think it matters how you create something. If it was an accident, cool. If it was on purpose, cool. But, most things are created on purpose. Would you buy a car or a computer that was accidentally created? No matter how you go about creating, being deliberate about what you want will help you immensely to be more productive and more creative. Figure out what you want to create, and then get busy creating it.

What do you think?

Writing - Tips For Blogging

I read a good article on writing for your blog. It had 16 recommendations. Here are the ones I like the most:

*  Write for yourself first. If you don't find it interesting, no one else will.
*  Be consistent. You can't build a community if you don't show up on a regular basis.
*  Be yourself. People can spot someone who is not authentic. Be yourself and you will be authentic.
*  Keep it short. Actually there is conflicting information on what does best online. I like to keep things short because I like to write short posts rather than long ones. I also think that on the internet, people would rather read something short and quick.

What do you think?

For more:
http://blog.bufferapp.com/blogging-advice-for-beginners-from-16-experts?utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffere8567&utm_medium=twitter

Chromebook - Android Laptop

Archos has announced that it will be selling a laptop based on the Android OS. The price? $169! Could this put a dent in the Chromebook market? I think it could. Or, it might force the price of Chromebooks lower. I wonder how well an android laptop is going to work? At least it will have more offline capabilities than Chromebook because of all the Android apps. I wonder if we'll see more Android based laptops? I am also surprised someone did not do this earlier. This will be interesting to keep an eye on.

What do you think?

For more: http://www.maximumpc.com/archos_undercuts_chromebook_market_unveils_android-based_arcbook_170

News - Daily Summary

In Eastern Ukraine six government soldiers were killed in an ambush. Other than that, not much has happened since parts of Eastern Ukraine voted for self rule. In Venezuela the protests continue amid shortages of food and basic necessities. In Syria the Assad government has essentially won the civil war with the taking of Homs. It did not help that the U.S. did not support the rebels early on and that Iran backed Assad with weapons and troops. In Turkey over 200 miners were killed in a coal mine explosion. There were no major developments across the rest of the Middle East. No new developments with North or South Korea. Tensions are still high with China and Japan and with China and Vietnam. China is also putting pressure on the Philippines of disputed waters.

In the U.S. stocks were mixed today.  Gold was flat while oil was higher. I have noticed that the price of gasoline is starting to fall in Southern California, which is good news. 90 people were arrested today and charged with fraud for filling fake claims with medicare. Authorities claim that this group defrauded the government of $290 million dollars. I wonder how much fraud there is in all the government programs? I bet it runs into the billions. There were no other major developments in the U.S. besides the usual murders, mayhem, corruption, trivialities, and tragedies.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?

Personal Improvement - Saying No

Seth Godin made a good point in his blog today. In order for us to do our best work, we have to learn to say no. I find this hard to do some times. I don't like to disappoint people, so I don't say no. I don't like confrontation, so I don't say no. I think if I say no, I will not get the sale, the commission, the income, or people will be mad. When I don't say no though, I over commit myself and then I can't deliver on what I promised. In the end, not saying no makes things worse for me. I want to do my best work. So I will look at saying no more often and commit to doing my best work.

What do you think?

For more: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/05/no-is-essential.html

Chromebook - $200 Windows Machine

Microsoft had an Asus laptop for sale at $199 on it's online store and in it's retail stores for one day, which quickly sold out . Is this an attempt to crush the demand for Chromebooks? It could very well be. Will it work? It might, but can Microsoft provide cheap laptops for the long run? Rumors are that Microsoft has cut the licensing fee for Windows from $50 to $15 for laptops under $250. Will manufactures still make money with that price cut? Will Microsoft? The best part of using Chrome OS manufacturers is that it is free from Google. It also comes with no strings attached. Will a cheap Windows laptop be any good? Will it run anything? Will it update for free and have a ton of web based apps for free? Will Microsoft cannibalize sales from higher end laptops? I think Microsoft is concerned, as it should be. This will be interesting to see how it plays out. What will happen if the price for Chromebooks drops?

What do you think?

For more:
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/05/13/can-a-cheap-windows-8-laptop-kill-googles-chromebo.aspx

Observations - Donors Choose

Donors Choose is a website dedicated to helping teachers raise the money they need for equipment and supplies for the classroom. Even though states are spending more and more money on Education, most of the money goes to salaries and benefits. So there is a growing need for donations to fund what is lacking in the classroom. I think this would be a great way for teachers to buy Chromebooks for their classrooms. Even just a few Chromebooks would open the opportunity for classrooms to access the greatest learning tool in the world, the internet. If you are interested please check it out. 

http://www.donorschoose.org/

What do you think? 

The Economy - California

If you want a healthy state, do the opposite of California. The politicians in Sacramento are gloating because the financial situation in California is better. They "fixed" the financial situation by raising taxes. What they don't realize is that by making California the highest taxed state in the nation, they are chasing businesses out of the state. They are also chasing productive earners as well. Now the population in California is still growing, but that is only because of immigration from foreign countries. California's "native population has fallen and is now at the same level it was in the 60's! As a result, California is losing more and more of it's productive workforce and the poverty level is rising. The national average for poverty is 16%. In California, 24% are living under the poverty level. This is what happens when you fleece the productive workers and reward the non-productive. California is going to implode just like Greece and Detroit. It is just a matter of time because the math makes it so.

What do you think?

For more:

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-brain-trust/050814-700188-california-golden-years-are-over-as-high-taxes-overregulation-push-jobs-out.htm?ntt=california

News - Daily Summary

The results of the referendum in Ukraine are supposedly in. Separatists claim that there was close to a 75% turnout and nearly 90% voted for self rule. The U.S. has stated that it does not recognize the election (I think the same was said of Crimea). Russia has basically been neutral making general statements that people should have the right to self determination and that Kiev and the two regions should have talks. So the vote happened, the regions voted for self rule, and nothing else has occurred. I don't think anyone knows what to do. Time will tell us what will happen. There were no other major developments across the globe.

In the U.S. stocks rallied. The DOW and S&P 500 reached record highs. It's easy to reach new highs when you are the only game in town, but can you keep growing? Oil was flat and gold was down a it. Colorado had three feet of a Spring snow today. Other than the usual murder, mayhem, corruption, trivialities, and tragedies, there were no other major developments in the U.S. today.

It was another day in the calm before the storm.

What do you think?