Wednesday, August 17, 2011

PowerPoint Fatigue

For those organizations and individuals who swear by PowerPoint and who can't make a presentation without it, listen carefully!!! PowerPoint presentations are the next 8-track! Those who come to your presentations are PowerPoint overloaded to say the least, and PowerPoint fatigued at worst. When the wonderful presentation software made its debut, it was great, even cool. Flip charts could finally be left in the closet. We now had a high-tech method to get our information across. And get it across we did. We chose every weird transition between slides as possible--fade from left to right, right to left, dissolve, swirl--if it was available we used it. And of course, each slide transition had a sound to accompany it. Cool at first. Outdated today.

Today people really do want to be involved in the presentation. PowerPoint today creates mindless involvement and passive participation at best. It is a medium that's had its day. It is overused to a fault and to the detriment of good presentations. Never use it again, you ask? Well that would not be practical. PowerPoint for getting information across can be a helpful tool. But it cannot be the centerpiece of your presentation.

So, next time you're asked if you need a screen and LCD for your presentation, say, "No way!" Work hard to create an interesting, captivating, and informative presentation. Bring out the flip chart, and leave PowerPoint at home!

See ya around!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

All Thumbs!!!

Well before I actually begin the content for this blog, you should know that I am writing this and posting it online all in real time from 32,000 feet. Flying on Delta to San Diego with onboard Wifi. Amazing!!!

So we get to the gate today, and it was a strange sight. One that I had not ever really seen or perhaps noticed before. Perhaps because I have been one of the culprits. Looking down the aisles of seats, of course all I could see was waiting passengers. But what I saw was perplexing. I only saw tops of heads . . . and thumbs flying. That's right!!!! All thumbs. At least 15 of the 25 people seated there were whizzing on their Blackberry's or iPhones. Tops of heads and thumbs a blazing!

I believe that evolution is already kicking in, because I looked at my own thumbs and I actually believe they are getting longer but thinner. Longer to be able to handle the full size of the keyboard. Thinner to be able to hit just the letters I want.

No one was talking . . . just thumbs a banging. No one noticed anyone else around them . . . just thumbs a whirring. No one paid attention to anything else . . . just thumbs a blurring.

I'm not really sure what all this means. I'm not going to editorialzie today. Just observing.

Maybe you'd like to comment and we'll get the conversation started!

BTW--we land in 2.5 hours!

See ya around!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Resurrection Connection

We've been reminded! He is risen! He is alive! He lives!

See you around!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Good Friday

It's Friday . . . But Sunday's coming!

Nuff said!

See ya around.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

"Fat Tuesday"

A little background: Most of our stranger celebrations, like Mardi Gras, have religious roots. Fat Tuesday is one such day. It is the day before Lent and the period of preparation for Easter among Christians. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting and repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection Jesus—his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers.

Not all Christian churches observe Ash Wednesday or Lent and the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent. These practices developed by the church to help Christians adequately prepare for and worship Christ.

Having given you this background, Aunchalee and I went to a Cajun Restaurant to celebrate a little Fat Tuesday. Holy moly!!! The people in the restaurant must be getting ready for a big Lent, cause they were living up Fat Tuesday like it was their last Tuesday.

A few observations. People were very friendly. People enjoyed their time together. Sure they had a beer or a glass of wine--but they weren't rowdy. They were authentically enjoying the company of the others there. And nobody judged what the others were wearing, or saying, or laughing about. It was a nice experience. I enjoyed the beer. Aunchalee enjoyed the wine. The food was fair. We're still not used to being among civilians. It's Tuesday . . . but Lent is coming. And so is Jesus. As a matter of fact . . .

See ya around!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Hidden Treasure

About three years ago, I started playing the five-string banjo, the instrument of Bluegrass music. On February 22, 2008, we were visiting our daughter in Washington, D.C. One of her friends was selling a very nice banjo. I had played one in 1977 for a little while. Then children came along. And very long story short, I sold that banjo. Well, Aunchalee decided it was time for me to have a banjo again, so in 2008 we bought a nice used Deering "Sierra" banjo and I began taking lessons.

Well after three years of playing, the frets were wearing, so I called Deering to see what it would cost to have the frets replaced. An arm, leg, and first-born were not what I had envisioned, but that's what they quoted me. So I began to look around locally for a luthier--the guy who fixes stringed instruments. I came across a fellow in Russell Springs, Kentucky--Frank Neat--who said he would replace the frets at a very reasonable cost. So, on this past Tuesday, Aunchalee and I headed down the road to have my "Sierra" re-fretted.

When we get to his shop, we come to find out that not only does he repair instruments, but he and his son build them from scratch (so to speak). As a matter of fact, he builds banjo's for Dr. Ralph Stanley ("O Death" from O Brother Where Art Thou), Sonny Osborne (he and his brother Bobby made the song "Rocky Top" famous) and local legend J. D. Crowe.

Aunchalee asked if he had any there that he had built. He said he did, and he brought out one of his "Kentucky" models. Salavating, I stared! Mahogony neck and resonator. Rosewood fingerboard. The "flying eagle" inlay pattern, mother-of-pearl hand inlayed by son Rick.

When I turned 60, I had my eye on a new banjo. Timing wasn't good and it didn't happen. I always said to Aunchalee, maybe I'll get a new one for retirement.

Well this "Kentucky" was so sweet. Aunchalee said, "You just have to have it." That's what I heard anyway.

So I got it. Yesterday, I had my bi-weekly lesson, and I mentioned Frank Neat to my banjo teacher. He about fell out of his chair. He said, "Frank is THE world-sought-out banjo maker, hands down. His workmanship is legend. The sound of his banjos are second to none!" As I did research, I found out that Frank, in 30 years, has never advertised. He doesn't need to. His product speaks--plays--for itself!

I had no idea. Go figure! Found his name with a Google search looking for "banjo repairman."

I tripped across a treasure. And even after I wrote the check and drove it home, I still didn't realize what I had gotten.

Once in awhile, we discover hidden treasure. And sometimes we don't even realize what we have!

Here's a couple pix.

See ya around!


That's Frank Neat with me.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Learning those Texting Abbreviations

The young people have a code to make texting easier by using abbreviations: LOL= laugh out loud. BFF= best friend forever.

Since Seniors are texting and tweeting, there appears to be a need for a STC (Senior Texting Code).

ATD: At The Doctor's
BFF: Best Friend Farted
BTW: Bring The Wheelchair
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered By Medicare
CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center
DWI: Driving While Incontinent
FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers
FWIW: Forgot Where I Was
FYI: Found Your Insulin
GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!
GHA: Got Heartburn Again
HGBM: Had Good Bowel Movement
IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL: Living On Lipitor
LWO: Lawrence Welk's On
OMMR: On My Massage Recliner
OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas.
ROFL... CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing... And Can't Get Up
SGGP: Sorry, Gotta Go Poop
TTYL: Talk To You Louder
WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?
WTFA: Wet The Furniture Again
WTP: Where's The Prunes?
WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil

SYA!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

When is it time to speak on behalf of someone wronged?

First They came...

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.--Pastor Martin Niemoller

Poignant words to remember next time you see someone who needs a hand.

See ya around!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Extreme Hits Egypt

Two weeks ago today, we were touring Cairo and spent time in the largest open air market in the world. Today, crisis has hit the entire country.

When we were there, everyone we met was so kind, friendly, and happy for us to be there. Seeing what we have seen on television in recent days has saddened our hearts.

We made dear friends in the short time we were there. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, especially our Egyptian guide, Soha!

See ya around!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The King's Speech

Based on the biography, "The King's Speech" was an excellently portrayed film about the true partnership and unlikely friendship between the Duke of York (Colin Firth), to become King George VI of England, and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The King, plagued by a terrible stammer and considered to be unfit to become king, engages the help of unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue. Because of the relationship that develops, Logue is able to help King George VI find his voice, and become the voice of a nation teetering on the brink of war with Germany.

The film portrayed how the tenacity of someone who believes in something strong enough can lead someone else to overcome any difficulties in life they may face, even if they happen to be king. I would like to have a friend like Lionel Logue. More than that, I would like to be a friend like Lionel Logue. Though today is almost over, there's always tomorrow to begin. See the film. It's worth it.

See ya around!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Zen and the Art of Jet Lag Maintenance

All I can say is, Holy Moly! We arrived back Friday night after two great weeks of touring in Israel and Egypt. And the jet lag has hammered us big time. The last day we were in Egypt, we had a six o'clock wake up call, not to head to the airport, but to do another day of touring. We had the best guides in Israel and Egypt. Neither of them had any interest in sleeping in, so they worked us like it was our last day on earth! We toured Cairo throughout the day, with promises of returning in time to rest. We knew they were empty promises. We had already been with Soha for four days and knew she had no interest in allowing our ragged bodies anytime to recuperate.

By 7 p.m. we were heading to the airport for our 11 p.m. and twelve hour flight home to New York. After arrival, we still had a full day of travel ahead of us. We finally arrived in Lexington at 4:30 p.m., after literally being awake for what was at least 48 hours.

Hence the jet lag. Now I know what your thinking. No one made you take the trip. It was self-imposed for sure. It was a magnificent trip. Israel was so cool. Egypt was simply amazing. The travelers we went with could not have been better had we picked them each by name.

But the jet lag, well, . . . sucks. Just sayin'. I've tried every advice of cure I've been given. Even a little meditation. Nada works. Oh well. It will pass with time. But it was worth it. I think. I guess. Yep.

See ya around!