2017-01-08 Sunday - Some things I'm reading...

An excellent article by Seth Godin, Oh so worth reading...a counter-argument against the intellectual infantile-ism that permeates modern media and discourse today...
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2017/01/the-candy-diet.html

William Perry is Terrified, Why Aren't You?
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/william-perry-nuclear-weapons-proliferation-214604

Reading: A Spy's Guide to Thinking
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XZCYHRW

A tip of the hat to Daniel Lemire for his recent mention of this book that I've added to my list to read this year: The Economic Singularity: Artificial intelligence and the death of capitalism

2016-10-06 A few thoughts on promoting a book (or a product/service) - for a friend

Lots of self-publishing resources available out there
- https://leanpub.com/about
- https://kdp.amazon.com/

You could also do a kick-starter program, and solicit donations - with a few bonus items for a given donation level (their name posted on a web sites as a Bronze, Silver, Gold Supporter, a signed copy of the book, invitation to the book release party, etc.)
- https://www.kickstarter.com/

You should have a twitter account unique to the book, to promote it

For a book blog - I would suggest using Instagram, or Facebook
https://www.instagram.com/
https://www.facebook.com

or, you could setup a free wordpress blog (just avoid Google's blogspot)
https://wordpress.com/

Link the content with an Etsy account to sell/promote products that you might source related to the book topics
https://www.etsy.com/

On your blog and twitter accounts, you could also post affiliate sales links for an additional revenue stream
https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/welcome

2016-06-03 Friday - Remembering Systematics, Inc.

The road has been long - and I have lost touch with many, but the memories are still fresh - of my first day as a Systematics, Inc. employee in the fall of 1989 in Little Rock, as newest member of the Savings/Time Deposit development group. 

Through the years, since leaving the company, I have had the good fortune to have worked with many good people, and perhaps a few that aspired to be great...but never, in all the days since, have I ever been so blessed, to work under one {virtual} roof, with such an incredible team - as the people I met during my time with the company (1989-1996). 

In my consulting practice (that I started in 2001, after the dot con bust) - I am often engaged to mentor large engineering teams - and I tell the stories of the heroes of Systematics, the company's culture and values - and the pride in workmanship and customer service.

Those values live on - with we that remain - although we are a scattered tribe - the years have not diminished the passion that still burns in my heart & mind - for the company that Walter Smiley created - and that we joyfully served.

2016-05-25 Wednesday - Dear Clueless Recruiter

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

An Open Letter to Clueless Recruiters, Everywhere:

 

I suppose I should thank you for contacting me regarding the opportunity you mention in your latest {phone call | email | SMS text}

One presumes that you might at least have glanced at the most recent position I have held (hint: Since 2001).

Now, does it seem likely that this opportunity/role that you are contacting me about is a good fit with the arc of my career path to date? 

Your first clue might be if it is for a more junior role that I last held more than 20 years ago....or your offered pay rate is more than 50% below the average rates available for someone with my experience level.

Note, if your offered rate is below what I've been making for the last 20 years - then you might begin to get an inkling of how well your pitch is going... 

One could presuppose that you are just a cog in a very large, very inefficient, soul-less machine - but that would be a slap in the face to your humanity (not to mention, an insult to the machine), wouldn't it?

Photo by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash

Surely you are a professional, who cares about the quality - and not just the quantity - of work that you do?

I choose to believe that about you my friend. I truly do. Or, at least, I choose to believe that you have the ability to achieve that level of success. You do want to try, don't you? But then again, my mom always thought I was an optimist.

 Are you proud of the work you do? Does it give you pleasure? Do you delight in actually helping people? Or just in filling my inbox with useless spam? It is hard to tell, you know.

Photo by Antoine GIRET on Unsplash

I imagine that you must be quite embarrassed by the work that you do. Aren't you?

Do you hide in the corner at cocktail parties, ashamed to tell people what you do? Worse than telling someone you are an Amway distributor, am I right?

I cannot imagine the indignity you must feel of being a contributor to the useless spam that fills my inbox each day...you do feel it, don't you?

Weep for my inbox, my friend.

Photo by Tom Pumford on Unsplash

I wonder about the health of your soul my friend - when you must drudge through every day - sending out hundreds or thousands of useless, soul-sucking, emails like what you just sent me.

Spamming the world must be very demoralizing, isn't it? I can't imagine the pay is good. Have you ever thought of doing something else? You certainly seem to have a sense of humor, given the pay rate you mentioned in your email. Perhaps being a  clown in a circus would suit your talents more appropriately?  Then again, there is always that Amway option for your next career move, right?

Or, you could be a clown that sells Amway - but that would be an oxymoron, wouldn't it.

Photo by Steve Harrris on Unsplash

Rise up my friend - and quit your job. Rise up and be a leader among the ranks of your next profession (that hopefully doesn't involve spam and recruiting).  Renounce the corporation that chains and binds you to your dull meaningless task.

You are a force of creativity - go out and find a job that will allow you to demonstrate that, yes, you are a person of Character and Integrity.

Perhaps you should consider a career as a Barista with Starbucks? 

Or, at the very least, any job that won't involve you shoveling useless spam into my inbox.

I will certainly cheer you on. 

Oh, by the way, surely you looked at my resume - or LinkedIn profile, before contacting me, right?

via GIPHY

2016-05-21 Saturday - Latest Library Acquisitions

I picked-up to the following books today, to add to my personal library, while at the Bothell, WA Friends of the Library Sale

A History of Mexico, Revised Edition
by Henry Bamford Parkes

Canoecraft, A Harrowsmith Illustrated Guide to Fine Woodstrip Construction
by Ted Moores and Merilyn Mohr

Fungi
by Christian Epinat and Paul Starosta

The Design of Everyday Things
by Donald A. Norman

How & Where to Prospect for Gold
by Verne H. Ballantyne

Fateful Triangle, The United States, Israel & The Palestinians, Updated Edition
by Noam Chomsky

Basho's Ghost
by Sam Hamill

The Tale of the Genji
by Murasaki Shikibu
Translated by Edward G. Deidensticker

How To Repair Small Appliances, Volumes 1 & 2
by Jack Darr

How To Repair Major Appliances
by Ernest Tricomi

How to Build and Furnish a Log Cabin
The easy-natural way using only hand tools and the woods around you
by W. Ben Hunt

Getting Started In Consulting
by Alan Weiss, PhD

2016-05-15 Sunday - Latest Books Acquired

I dropped by the Bellevue Library yesterday and browsed their Friends of The Library book store...picking up the following...

The Art of the Infinite, The Pleasures of Mathematics
by Robert Kaplan and Ellen Kaplan

The Kitchen Companion
by Polly Clingerman

French Cuisine For All
by Louisette Bertholle

The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking, Fourth Edition
by Derek C. Hutchinson

The Everything Cartooning Book, Creating Unique and Inspired Cartoons for Fun and Profit
by Brad J. Guigar

Tales of the Samurai
by James S De Benneville

SAS Survival Handbook, For Any Climate, In Any Situation
by John 'Lofty' Wiseman

Medicine for Mountaineering & Other Wilderness Activities
Edited by James A. Wilkerson, M.D.


Last weekend I visited the Mercer Island Thrift Store and picked up the following...

The Sword of Shannara Trilogy
by Terry Brooks

Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, Third Edition
by John C. Hull

Between Heaven and Earth, A History of Chinese Writing
by Shi Bo

Magellan, And the First Circumnavigation of the World
by Ian Cameron

John Paul Jones, A Sailor's Biography
by Samuel Eliot Morison

Book of the Seven Seas
by Peter Freuchen

Some other recent acquisitions from trips made earlier this month...

Built To Last, Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras

Land of The Seven Rivers, A Brief History of India's Geography
by Sanjeev Sanyal

The San Juan Islands, Afoot & Afloat
by Marge & Ted Muller

Middle Puget Sound & Hood Canal, Afoot & Afloat
by Marge & Ted Muller

Mr. China, A Memoir
by Tim Clissold

Poker Nation, A High-Stakes Low-Life Adventure Into the Heart of a Gambling Country
by Andy Bellin

Yacht Designer's Sketch Book
by Ian Nicolson

Surveying Small Craft, Second Edition
by Ian Nicolson

The Odyssey
by Homer, Translated by Robert Fagles

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Einstein
by Gary F. Morning

A History of Japan, 1615-1867
by George Sansom

As Told at the Explorer's Club, More Than Fifty Gripping Tales of Adventure
Edited by George Plimpton

Hope Is Not A Strategy, The 6 Keys to Winning The Complex Sale
by Rick Page

Leisure, The Basis of Culture
by Josef Pieper

The Passion of Ayn Rand, A Biography
by Barbara Branden

Young Statesman, Winston S. Churchill, 1901-1914
by Randolph S. Churchill

Architecture, FOrm, Space, and Order, 2nd Edition
by Francis D.K. Ching

2016-04-30 Saturday - Author Joe Henderson, on running

Will start reading this book next week:

"Run Right Now, What A Half-Century On The Run Has Taught",
by Joe Henderson - former Editor, Runner's World.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6373214-run-right-now

 Other interesting titles by Joe Henderson: 

"Learning to Walk: How walking added miles to my runs and years to my running"
http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Walk.../dp/B009STQG7U/

"Long Slow Distance: The humane way to train"
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Slow-Distance.../dp/B003ZK5QB0/

I close out the month of April having logged 84.50 miles - and a total of 127.75 miles since beginning my training program in March. 

My goal for May is 180 miles. Ambitious, yes. But, I am on a mission to ignite the fire within. Based on my progress thus far, and my expected continued rate of progress - I should easily be able to complete 1,000 miles by the end of the year. 

...and by then, there should be a very different fellow looking back at me in the mirror.

2016-04-23 Learning From The Game of Poker

As a speculator and an investor, I value the lessons that can be learned from the game of Poker.

I recently came across the blog of Haseeb Qureshi, and noted that he has a series of articles that are particular interest (and quite well written):

• http://haseebq.com/how-to-live-as-a-poker-player-part-1
• http://haseebq.com/how-to-live-as-a-poker-player-part-2/
• http://haseebq.com/how-to-live-as-a-poker-player-part-3/

http://haseebq.com/seven-things-poker-taught-me/

I may also pick-up a copy of his book, How to Be a Poker Player: The Philosophy of Poker

The interesting value in all of this - is how some of this thinking can be applied to making oneself a better investor, speculator, trader in the markets...

2016-04-15 Friday - Recent Library Pick-ups

Recently picked-up quite a few books at the Bellevue Public Library

The Development of Mathematics, by E. T. Bell
http://www.amazon.com/Development-Mathematics-Dover-Books/dp/0486272397

A Guide to Mathematics for the Intelligent Nonmathematician, by Edmund C. Berkeley
http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Intelligent-Non-Mathematician-Edmund-Berkeley/dp/0671200275/

Math Proofs DeMystified, A Self-Teaching Guilde, by Stan Gibilisco
http://www.amazon.com/Math-Proofs-Demystified-Stan-Gibilisco/dp/0071445765/

An Introduction to The Theory of Numbers, Fifth Edition, by Ivan Niven, et al
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Theory-Numbers-5Th-Ed/dp/8126518111/

Elementary Number Theory & Its Applications, Third Edition, by Kenneth H. Rosen
(for the 6th Edition...)
http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Number-Theory-Application-Edition/dp/0321500318/

The Higher Arithmetic, An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers, by H. Davenport
http://www.amazon.com/Higher-Arithmetic-Introduction-Theory-Numbers/dp/0521722365/

R Graphics Cookbook, Practical Recipes for Visualizing Data, by Winston Chang
http://www.amazon.com/R-Graphics-Cookbook-Winston-Chang/dp/1449316956/

How to Solve It, a new aspect of mathematical method, by G. Polya
http://www.amazon.com/How-Solve-Mathematical-Princeton-Science/dp/069116407X

Think Stats, Probability and Statistics for Programmers, by Allen B. Downey
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Stats-Allen-B-Downey/dp/1491907339/

Hackers & Painters, Big Ideas From The Computer Age, by Paul Graham
http://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Painters-Big-Ideas-Computer/dp/1449389554/

More Joel on Software, by Joel Spolsky
http://www.amazon.com/More-Joel-Software-Occasionally-Developers/dp/1430209879

Head First JavaScript Programming, A Brain Friendly Guide, by Eric Freeman & Elisabeth Robson
http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-JavaScript-Programming-Freeman/dp/144934013X/

Understanding Computation, From Simple Machines to Impossible Programs, by Tom Smart
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Computation-Machines-Impossible-Programs/dp/1449329276/

2016-03-12 Saturday - Is The Water Warm Yet?

Listening to Jimmy Buffett tunes..to find my island state-of-mind...

I am working on returning to a level of fitness that I have not experienced since 2003, when I regularly ran 5 miles a day along the beaches of Southern California.

That was the year that I exercised in earnest, for months before departing, to prepare myself for a 5 month sabbatical voyage aboard my 32 ft. 1971 Islander sloop sailboat (S/V Renaissance).

When I departed King Harbor, Redondo Beach, California - on that cold January 3rd morning - I was already at an optimal weight...but in the first month of sailing South to Mexico, I lost another ~20+ lbs.

I was a lean, mean, fighting machine.

In 2007, during another sabbatical aboard my sailboat in Mexico, a similar weight loss was experienced in the first month...

Since 2008, after a medical emergency, I have tried several times to return to regular workout habit - but have been defeated in each attempt by minor recurring injuries (pulled muscles mostly) - due to perhaps too much exuberance expended too early.

Last Sunday, I decided to begin anew - and did 1.0 mile in 19:31 minutes

By Thursday I was down to 15:47 for 1.0 mile, and added a 2.0 mile bike ride.

Tonight, I've doubled the length to 2.0 miles, with a time of 34.43 minutes, and added an additional 5 lbs to my weight routine.

The mind remembers the fitness levels of the past, when I trained daily (1978-1996)...but the body must be constrained to go slowly now. The eyes can see farther than the hands can reach.

I have the benefit of having been well trained, and having been a Shotokan Karate coach and an active competitor (1979-1995). I have the training and knowledge of how to rebuild my body and my fitness level. What has been missing has been my Spirit.

In terms of fitness, I am probably at the bottom of the scale today. Weaker than I have ever been.

The climb back is daunting.

There will be setbacks.

There will be injuries.

Visible signs of progress will be long in coming.

But, I can feel small things re-awakening. Muscles remembering skills that have long lain dormant. Breathing patterns that are gaining strength, again.

Speed is not my priority now.

Neither is endurance.

Now is the time to reacquaint my mind and body with a pattern of habit. To reconnect them.

With habit will come ease.

With ease will come confidence to stretch a little bit further.

With small increases in repeated effort, strength will take root and grow.

With Breath & Movement, Body & Mind will become One...again

Step-by-step.

As Funakoshi-Sensei wrote in The 20 Precepts:  
"Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state."

So now I will endeavor to bring my heart, mind, and body to a boil again...and wake the sleeping tiger.

2016-01-24 Sunday - New Personal Library Additions

A trip to the Mercer Island Thrift Store today...and obtained these treasures...

Boat Maintenance, The Essential Guide to Cleaning, Painting, and Cosmetics
William M. Burr Jr.

Woodworking for the Serious Beginner
Pamela Philpott-Jones and Paul L. McClure

Drawing: Space, Form, & Expression, Second Edition
Wayne Costice and Melody Peters

The Not So Big House, A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live
Sarah Susanka, with Kira Obolensky

Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Malcolm Gladwell

How To Read Bridges, A Crash Course in Engineering and Architecture
Edward Denison and Ian Stewart

Voyaging Under Sail
Eric C. Hiscock

Cruising Under Sail
Eric C. Hiscock

2016-01-09 Saturday - New Personal Library Additions

Today I visited the Bainbridge Island Public Library - as they were having a monthly Friends of the Library Sale.

Here are the treasures I picked up...

Confucianism and Chinese Civilization
Edited by Arthur F. Wright

Chinatown, A Portrait of a Closed Society
Gwen Kinkead

After 50,000 Miles
Hal Roth

Blue Latitudes, Boldly Going Where Captain Cook has Gone Before
Tony Horowitz

The Dolphin's Gift
Elizabeth Gawain

Gunkholing in the Gulf Islands
Al Cummings and Jo Bailey-Cummings

California's Channel Islands, 1001 Questions Answered
Marla Daily

The Fyddeye Guide to America Maritime History
Edited by Joe Follansbee

Sea and Sardinia
D.H. Lawrence

Surveying, Principles and Applications, Fourth Edition
Barry F. Kavanagh, S. J. Glenn Bird

Liberty Defined, 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom
Ron Paul

Live From New York, An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live
Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller

Japan, The Story of a Nation, Third Edition
Edwin O. Reischauer

Game Over, How You Can Prosper in a Shattered Economy
Stephen Leeb, PhD

Inventing America, Jefferson's Declaration of Independence
Gary Wills

With Malice Toward None, A Biography of Abraham Lincoln (7 CDs)
Stephen B. Oates

Framers of the Constitution

Editors James H. Charleton, et. al.

The Long Tail, Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
Chris Anderson

First King of Shannara
Terry Brooks

2016-01-02 Saturday - New Additions to My Personal Library

Some recent additions to my library, include the following, sourced from the Bellevue Public Library's used book shop - and the Mercer Island Thrift Store:

Built to Last, Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
James C. Collings and Jerry I. Porras

Mr China, A Memoir
Tim Clissold

Tulipomania, The Story of the Worl's Most Coveted Flower & The Extraordinary Passions It Aroused
Mike Dash

America's Handyman Book
The Staff of The Family Handyman Magazine

The New Drawing On The Right Side of the Brain
Betty Edwards

Do-It-Yourself House-Building Step-by-Step
Charles D. Neal

An Introduction to Art Techniques
The DK Art School

Drawing The Head & Figure
Jack Hamm

De Cristoforo's Complete Book of Power Tools, Both Stationary and Portable
R. J. Dde Cristoforo

Sunset Ideas for Hot Tubs, Pas & Home Saunas
Editors of the Sunset Books and Sunset Magaine

Tales of the South Pacific
James A. Michener

The Great Divorce
C.S. Lewis

Pour Your Heart Into It, How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup At A Time
Howard Schultz and Dorl James Yang

The Asian Mystique, Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient
Sheridan Prasso

Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia
Vin T. Sparano

Teach Yourself: 101 Key Ideas - Buddhism
Mel Thompson

A Brief History of The Knights Templar
Helen Nicholson

An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth
M. K. Gandhi

The Life of Mahatma Gandhi
Louis Fischer

Physics for Future Presidents, The Sciencce Behind the Headlines
Richard A. Muller

A Short History of Islam
S.F. Mahmud

The Everything Store, Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
Brad Stone

21 dog years, a cube dweller's tale
Mike Daisey

How Do They Do That, Wonders of the Monder World Explained
Caroline Sutton

Good Boss, Bad Boss - How to be the Best...Learn From the Worst
Robbert I. Sutton, PhD

Riding the Iron Rooster, By Train Through China
Paul Theroux

Takin' Care of Business, The Big Idea for Small Business
Brian Buffini & Joe Niego

Fooling Some of the People All of the Time,, A Long Short Story
David Einhorn

The Financial Numbers Game, Detecting Creative Account
Charles W. Mulford and Eugene E. Comiskey

Financial Shenanigans, Third Edition
Howard M. Schilit and Jeremy Perler

Understanding DNA and Gene Cloning, A Guide for the Curious, Third Edition
Karl Drlica

Land of the Seven Rivers, A Brief History of India's Geography
Sanjeev Snyal

200% of Nothing, An Eye-Opening Tour Through The Twists and Turns of Math Abuse and Innumeracy
A. K. Dewney

Principle-Centered Leadership
Stephen R. Covey

The San Juan Islands, Third Edition
Marge & Ted Mueller

Middle Puget Sound & Hood Canal
Marge & Ted Mueller

Gunkholing in South Puget Sound, A comprehensive Cruising Guide from Kingston/Edmonds South to Olympia
Jo Bailey and Carl Nyberg

Habors and High Seas, An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian
Dean King with John B. Hattendorf
Maps by William Clipson and Adam Merton Cooper

What Ship is That, A Field Guilde to Boats and Ships
Bob Basnight

Middle Easter Mythology, From the Assyrians to the Hebrews
S.H. Hooke

So, Anyway
John Cleese

The Design of Design, Essays From A Computer Scientist
Frederick P. Brooks, Jr.

I Remember Nothing, and Other Reflections
Nora Ephron

Sailing Around The World, A Family Retraces Joshua Slocum's Voyage
Guy Bernardin

The Modern Stylists
Donald Hall, Editor

The Future of War, Vol: Thor's Hammer
Reginald Bretnor, Editor

Woe is I Jr., The Younger Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English
Patricia T. O'Conner

Fluent in 3 Months, How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak any Language Anywhere in the World
Benny Lewis

On Language
Noam Chomsky

2015-12-09 Wednesday - RIP Randall G. Hassell

This week I learned that Randall G. Hassell, co-founder and President of American JKA Karate Association (AJKA) and Chief Instructor of the American Shotokan Karate Alliance (ASKA), died earlier this year (on August 4, 2015).

Mr. Hassell was a noted instructor within the discipline of Shotokan Karate. He was a Sensei...and from time-to-time, I trained under his tutelage.

In his lifetime, he was fortunate to have been able to train under some of the greatest living  Shotokan Karate masters: Teruyuki Okazaki, Shojiro Sugiyama, Hidetaka Nishiyama (with whom I also had the opportunity to train during his visits to he Mid-South, from time-to-time) - among many others.

I first became aware of Sensei Hassell in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I often bought the most recent editions of Black Belt magazine - and frequently, I would notice Randall Hassell's name appearing as the by-line for articles that I quite enjoyed. As it turned out, at the time, we were also both members of the Japan Karate Association. I also happened to notice that he lived in Saint Lous, Missouri - about 347 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas - by car.

In 1982, while home on an extended leave, prior to being transfered for a new duty assignment in Bamberg, Germany - with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army -  I had a desire to visit Sensei Hassell's Dojo and train with him before leaving for my new duty assignment. And so I called his Dojo to ask if I might visit - and was welcomed to visit.

At the time of my visit, I seem to recall Sensei's Dojo was located in the basement of a church.

When I arrived - I just had time to quickly change into my Gi - and join the class.

Visiting a new Dojo is always a thrill - and I was made to feel quite welcome by my fellow black belt brethren. I suppose I was somewhat of a novelty - being just 20 - and having traveled so far to train.

After the class, Sensei invited me to join him and a few of the other black belts at a local restaurant/pub. He also very graciously gave me a first edition copy of a magazine he had previously published (American Samurai).

After completing my military service in 1984, I returned to the U.S. to enter the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

In the ensuing years, I continue to stay in touch with Sensei Hassell - and continued to visit his Dojo from time-to-time.  Through the frequent workshops organized by Sensei Hassell, I had the pleasure of meeting and training with Ray Dalke, Robert Myles,Leslie Safar, and Edmond Otis.

I also became the Director for the Arkansas State chapter of the then recently established American JKA Karate Association (later renamed to AJKA Karate Association) for the Dojo I had established in Little Rock.

In 1986, I returned to Saint Louis to test under Sensei Hassell for my Nidan.

In that year, I also competed in the Mid-West AJKA Karate Tournament held in St. Louis, hosted by Sensei Hassell - placing 6th in a field of national level competitors.

I deeply appreciated - and will always cherish - the gracious hospitality shown to me by Sensei Hassell - and the members of both his family and Dojo.

ATR2500-USB Cadioid Condenseer USB Microphone

I'm experimenting with some ideas for a couple of different types of podcasts that I'm considering developing...and picked-up an ATR2500-USB condenser microphone tonight at a local Frys Electronics 

• Side-address condenser microphone with USB output for easy connection to your computer
• Ideal for podcasting, home studio recording, field recording, and voiceover use
• Built-in headphone jack allows you to directly monitor from your microphone
• Adjust headphone volume with easy-to-use controls on the front of the microphone
• High-quality AD convertor with 16 bit, 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate
• Compatible with Windows and Mac
• Low-mass diaphragm provides excellent frequency response
• Cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of unwanted sounds from the sides and rear, improving isolation of desired sound source
• Low self-noise ? ideally suited for digital recording equipment
• Pivoting, threaded stand mount attaches securely to the supplied tripod or to a conventional microphone stand
• Tripod desk stand with folding legs for secure and easily portable tabletop use
• Durable metal construction for long-lasting performance USB cable include

• ELEMENT: Condenser
• POLAR PATTERN: Cardioid
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 30 - 15,000 Hz
• POWER REQUIREMENTS: USB Power (5V DC)
• BIT DEPTH: 16 bit
• SAMPLE RATE: 44.1 kHz/48 kHz
• VOLUME CONTROL: Headphone volume controlled by up/down buttons
• WEIGHT: 366 g (12.9 oz)
• DIMENSIONS: 155.0 mm (6.10") long,
• 50.0 mm (1.97") maximum body diameter
• OUTPUT CONNECTOR: USB-type
• HEADPHONE OUTPUT POWER: 10 mW @ 16 ohms
• HEADPHONE JACK: 3.5 mm TRS (stereo)
• ACCESSORIES FURNISHED: Pivoting stand mount for 5/8"-27 threaded stands; tripod desk stand; 1.8 m (5.9') mini USB cable

So far, I am very pleased with the quality of the sound I'm getting.

It is also available at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2500-USB-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B004QJREXM

Or, these may be better options to consider:

• http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/
• http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020USB-PLUS-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00B5ZX9FM/

For studio recording software, at least Initially, I'm experimenting with Audacity 2.1.1
http://audacityteam.org/about/features

Some additional resources to possibly leverage:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/how-to-make-a-podcast
http://www.digitaltrends.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-podcast/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/learn/audacity-tutorial
http://www.technorms.com/37746/best-sites-to-host-your-podcasts
https://soundcloud.com/

http://www.freesound.org/
http://search.creativecommons.org/
http://audiojungle.net/

http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html

2016-06-04 Update
Pat Flynn has some great Postcasting Tutorials on Youtube...

•  Podcasting Tutorial - Video 1: Equipment and Software
• DIY Video Guy
• http://www.calebwojcik.com/podcasting/ 
• http://www.calebwojcik.com/audio/
• Podcasting Tutorial - Video 2:Top 10 Recording Tips
• Podcasting Tutorial - Video 3: Exporting and Tagging
• Podcasting Tutorial - Video 4: Web and Media Hosting
• Podcasting Tutorial - Video 5:  Setting Up Your Podcast Feed and Publishing Your 1st Episode
• Podcasting Tutorial - Video 6: Submitting Your Feed to iTunes and Other Directories

2015-11-07 Saturday - Writing Ambitions

Prepared a preliminary draft of a 17 chapter outline for a book idea - my 'writing ideas' folder now has 41 book concepts (some in various stages of work-in-progress) that I continue to revisit - just waiting for that long lull between client engagements...or when I retire to the sailboat.

2015-11-07 Saturday - New Library Additions

Spent the afternoon at the Mercer Island Thrift Store...found these gems to add to my library...

Down and Out in Paris and London
by George Orwell

Burmese Days
by George Orwell

Keep the Aspidistra Flying
by George Orwell

Richard Branson, The Inside Story
by Mick Brown

Pour Your Heart Into It, How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time
by Howard Schultz and Dori Jones Yang

Onward
by Howard Schultz

Don't Panic, Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
by Neil Gaiman

James A. Michener, A Biography
by John P. Hayes

Patrick O'Brian, A Life Revealed
by Dean King

Asimov's New Guide to Science
by Isaac Asimov

Wooden Boats, In Pursuit of the Perfect Craft at an American Boatyard
by Michael Ruhlman

The Analects
by Confucius

The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History
by Colin McEvedy

September 11, Where to Now?
by Noam Chomsky

Success by Ten, George Russell's Top Ten Elements to Building a Billion-Dollar Business
by George F. Russell Jr., with Michael Sheldon

Aftershock, Protect Yourself and Profit in the Next Global Financial Meltdown
by David Wiedemer, PhD; Robert A. Wiedemer; Cindy Spitzer

Day Trading the Currency Market, Technical and Fundamental Strategies to Profit from Makret Swings
by Kathy Lien

Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
by Harvey Mackay

2015-10-06 Tuesday - Books ordered

Today I ordered used copies of the following books:

The Design of Design: Essays from a Computer Scientist
by Frederick P. Brooks, Jr.

Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, 3rd Ed.
by Howard Schilt

Fooling Some of the People All of the Time, A Long Short (and Now Complete) Story, Updated with New Epilogue
by David Einhorn

The Financial Numbers Game: Detecting Creative Accounting Practices
by Charles W. Mulford

2015-09-15 Tuesday - How Bad Do You Want It (Success)?

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.”

It Was The Best of Times...

I have so many fond memories from my life...

Going fishing upon the lakes of Arkansas with my grandfather Jim...

Trying to catch catfish late after midnight with my father on the banks of Lake Greers Ferry

As a small boy, walking in the 10 acres of woods behind our home, with my Great Dane...

The first time I drove my Honda 100 motorcycle to junior high school

My first car...bought used in 1978...a white 1957 Chevy Bel Air

The sense of adventure and freedom as I left home at 18 to join the Army in 1980

The first time I saw the truly majestic expanse of the Milky Way from a dark plain in Oklahoma

The thrill that filled my body as I walked onto the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on that first Fall day in 1984

My year of frequent traveling to Sydney Australia..

The times I have lived in Germany and England...

The night train to Prague, from Warsaw...in deepest winter

Seeing Jimmy Buffett live in concert in Las Vegas...

Sailing to Mexico in 2004...

The friendships that have spanned decades...

The joy that has filled my life from my love affair with books...

The deep satisfaction I have found in the work that I do...and the treasures that are the exceptional  colleagues who have befriended me along the way...

I have made more than my fair share of mistakes in life...but what a wonderful life it has been thus far...