Tuesday, July 30, 2002

Yes, but is it a good lesson?. Sometimes you just read the right thing at the right time. From Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler's book Life Lessons: There are no mistakes in relationships, everything unfolds the way it's supposed to. From our first encounter with one another to our last good-bye, we are in relationships with each other. We learn thorough them to see our souls, with their rich topography, and to deliver ourselves to healing. When we let go of our preconceived agendas in loving relationships we set aside questions of whom we will love and for how long. We transcend these limits to find a love that is magical and created by a force greater than us, just for us. [via Halley's Comment] [both2and: beyond binary] Something about this sentiment gets under my skin really badly. So much so that I feel compelled to post commentary about it even though it's invoked as a source of comfort, not something I do lightly, so feel invited to tell me to go shove. That being said... When someone talks of relationships and love as though they were invoked from beyond the stars, they deprive themselves of one of the greatest points of joy in life: That the magic of a loving relationship is something that flows from us, the people involved. That's what makes it magical. We are it's source. The idea that we, as "just people" could possibly be that powerful is terribly frightening, because of the implicit responsibility that brings. So people try to absolve themselves of both. It's not all roses, otherwise it wouldn't be roses as much as it is (ok, poorly said but you get the point.) If we couldn't make mistakes then getting it right would be valueless. Clearly it's not. Take responsibility for your actions and your emotions. Otherwise you give yourself to the fatalism trap ("why does(n't) this happen to me?") Take credit for them as well. [The Universal Church Of Cosmic Uncertainty] 6:58:03 PM    trackback []     Articulate []

Radio Free Blogistan, a new Salon weblog devoted to comparisons between weblogging tools, contains a bunch of interesting stuff -- including an extensive comparison of Radio Userland and Blogger. [Rogers Cadenhead: Workbench: Salon Blog Tips] 6:54:36 PM    trackback []     Articulate []

Sam's Looking. Today is Sam's last day at Groove, and he's looking for new contract opportunities. Sam's colleagues have lots of great things to say about him, this sounds like an excellent opportunity for someone to snap up an experienced .NET developer & author who has shipped real products on the managed platform - good luck, Sam! [Peter Drayton's Radio Weblog] 6:54:01 PM    trackback []     Articulate []

Tuesday, July 30, 2002 Contentment isn't a feeling or a mood; it's a decision. Only by choosing to be content with what you already have can you accomplish your goals. Without choosing contentment, a subtle but ever-expanding appetite’ll ensnare you for money and all the things it can purchase -- and worst of all, it's an appetite that's never fulfilled. It’s your choice; will you make the right one?  # [John Henry on Business] 5:57:24 PM    trackback []     Articulate []

On Credit Where Credit is Due. It's a simple enough concept really: When you read/see/hear something that someone has created that really hits you, let them know. When you spread the word through any "word of mouth" attract more people to whomever or whatever it was, that's great (assuming the author is looking for that of course.) But it's not the same as telling someone directly that you appreciate their work. This is something I've found out far more directly over the past few months of weblogging. It started with a review of a Carlton J. Smith show I posted a couple months back. I went to another one and he'd found the entry online and read it at that show, where I got to thank him personally (albeit by shouting up to stage in front of a few hundred people) instead of just through a broadbanded review. But since then it's become a bit of a habit. I read a great weblog entry or other piece of internet prose and crosspost the entry with or without a bit of editorializing, AND send a note off to the original author. In every case I've gotten a "wow thanks" back, which feels pretty good I have to say. Hell, occasionally it even happens to me (Carlton Smith being the most notable example.) So tell people you appreciate their work. Don't just look out to the crowd and say "go here", because it's not the same thing. And if you hit a site that inspires you to do so, let them know also where you heard it from. It's important. [The Universal Church Of Cosmic Uncertainty] 8:29:50 AM    trackback []     Articulate []

NY Times: Digital Cockpits Track a Corporation's Performance. Thanks to continuing efforts at digitization, a growing number of companies are now able to use the Internet to monitor many or all of their key performance indicators daily, or even minute-by-minute. This is done through what have come to be called digital dashboards, or digital cockpits. [Tomalak's Realm] 8:17:02 AM    trackback []     Articulate []