So now I find myself in 2007. I have a better sense of what I am capable of. I have a sense of accomplishment from my previous years walking. I have had some big months and some big days to make up those big months. I know I can go on the big walks but can I do enough of them to make up a 2,000,000 step year? There is only one way to find out. Go for it.
To do 2,000,000 steps a year you have to average 5,480 steps a day. That is each and every day, not just the days you feel like walking. If you miss a day you have to walk 10,960 steps the next day just to make up for it. You can of course add 548 steps to the next ten days to make up for one missed day or 55 extra steps for the next 100 days. The point here is that you don’t want to miss any days. As I said before, averages are funny things. The longer you generate an average the harder it is to raise or lower it. Towards the end it took some really big days to make a slight increase in the overall average.
This time I was going to attack the goal from the beginning. No slow starts this time. I needed to average 166,667 steps a month. I could do that; remember I even had a 200,000+ step month. It would be tough but it could be done. The desire was there, the motivation was there and the commitment was there. I was going to do this one way or another; I would walk 2,000,000 steps in one year.
When you have a goal like this, your mindset changes. You look for excuses to add steps to your daily routine. You don’t mind that the parking spots closest to the building are taken. You walk to meetings sometimes even taking the longer route to get there. You carry an umbrella with you so that weather does not slow you down. You study your text book while walking on a favorite path. You find yourself doing figure eight laps in the kitchen while you are waiting for the microwave to finish warming up your dinner. You become one of the mall walkers. You find a way to attach the pedometer to every piece of clothing you own from suits to bike shorts. You do whatever it takes to accumulate those steps so that you can accomplish your goal.
This year, by the end of 6 months I had reached 811,014 steps, the best start so far. Again a bout of illness slowed me down but it was not going to take me out this time. This time I knew what my goal was, and I was firm on my goal. I would make it whatever it took. That determination and drive helped keep me motivated. If I had a spare moment I was walking. If I had a layover in the airport, I was pacing the terminals. If I was in a foreign city, rather than take the rental car or taxi, I was going for a walk.
At the end of 6 months I was behind and chasing my average. I was trying to make up the lost ground and that meant putting in days that had steps well over my goal average in an effort to make up for the days I had gone short. I was beginning to understand how these averages worked, and believe me they are work, and it taught me what was needed to accomplish this goal and it all boiled down to steps.
I pushed myself and set new personal records for most steps in a day and then I would set another. I set a new high month and then another. I finally topped out at 291,066 steps in August. This really helped bring me in line with where I wanted to be but I had to keep up the effort. This made it possible. This was no longer a dream or another empty promise to myself; this was mine to take or mine to give away. It was all up to me. And it was within my reach.
As winter approached and I entered my numbers into my spreadsheet, I knew it was going to be close. My averages had fallen behind again. Not by much, I was still within 100 steps of where I needed to be but making up 100 steps a day this late in the year would mean every day had to come in above average and the higher the better.
At the end of the day I would like at the pedometer and if I was short I clipped it back on and headed out for more. Sometimes I was pacing up and down in the street in front of the house, and sometimes I was just wondering around the house looking for a few extra steps. If anyone saw me, I’m sure they would think me completely insane, but I had my goal and I was going to get it.
As the end of the year came I went shopping, not so much for the presents but for the steps. I went to the local track and made laps. I drank extra water so that I could make more trips. I would walk down the hall to talk shop rather than pick up the phone. All was directed to the goal.
And then it happened. With two days left in the year I hit my target. I had done it. I had accomplished what I had set out to do. I made my goal. The final count showed I had taken 2,011,725 steps. I had traveled 1,074 miles on foot.
This is a wondrous feeling, one that I haven’t experienced for quite some time. It was just what I was looking for. This silly little goal started out as a way to see if I could still set and meet a personal goal. It became much more than that. It became an important message to me. It taught me that I could still direct my life. I could still choose to prioritize my efforts. I could still accomplish what I put my mind to, whatever that may be. I may have forgotten for a time but once again I know that I have it within me.
So what’s next? I am not sure yet. Maybe it is time to finish my pilot’s license. Maybe it is time to learn a new language. Maybe it is time to take up the piano. Maybe it is time to go after that 1,000 mile year on the bike. During the last three years I still managed 311, 457, and 155 miles. As you can see my focus was on the steps. Maybe this year my focus will be on the bike.
Whatever it is, I know that I can; and if I want to, I will.
PS. It is two months now into the new year. My daily step totals have dropped off to about 1/3 of what they were last year. That is about what they were before I started this whole experiment. One thing that may be making a difference is that the battery went dead last November just before the completion of my goal. Bad timing, right? I have replaced it a couple of times and just went to the watch department and asked for a new one. I think it might have been a little big because even though it works it has reset on me in the middle of the day and once at the end of the day as I was taking it off. Frustrating, especially when you are counting steps. Anyway, I suspect that it is not counting every step anymore.
I have kept most of my new good habits like parking farther out and walking in, or walking to make visits whenever possible. Those kinds of things have stayed with me and I hope they always will. I am not however, as obsessed with making steps so I don’t have the pedometer on me every minute of the day. I also don’t bother to go out of my way to add steps at the end of the day anymore.
I guess the real difference is that for the last three years I had a very specific goal with a time frame that was stated, written down and committed to. I do not have that this year. That is another lesson to be taken away from all this. And I am still glad I did it.
return to part 1 or part 2.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
28 February 2008
The Two Million (2,000,000) Step Goal. Part 2
Once I was committed, I was determined to go through with it what ever the results. I kept a daily log in my day planner recording both the distance and the number of steps taken each and every day. I wore that pedometer everywhere.
Problem was that everywhere didn’t take me very far that first month. I only recorded 27,122 steps in January of 2005. The next month was better but not by much with 53,857 steps taken, and by March I had dropped back down to 50,231. Of course I could blame this all the lousy winter weather that limited the amount of walking space available not to mention how early it gets dark. I would surely do better when spring and summer came around.
By the end of June I totaled all my steps for the year so far and had a whopping total of 312,811 steps. This was half way through the year so I should have been up to 600,000 by now. I had been sick in June and only managed 9,537 steps but this was no excuse. If I really meant to accomplish this goal, and it was for no one else but me, then I was going to have to change my ways and dedicate more of an effort to doing what I set out to do.
In July I reversed my trend and scored a 155,677 step month. This was followed up with a 170,242 month in August. This was one of those ah-ha moments. I could do this if I wanted it enough, and after all wasn’t this what it was all about.
I pressed on with a renewed sense of the possible and at the end of the year the tally stood at 1,215,583. I had managed my first accomplished goal. It felt good but it also seemed to be less than what was possible. After all hadn’t I just covered over 900,000 steps in the last 6 months alone? Why if I could do that pace for 6 months, why not the whole year. 2006 would be the year to go for 1,800,000 steps.
That was an ambitious goal I know. Those last 6 months did take some effort and this would extend that effort for a full 12 months right on the back of the 6 months I had just completed. Could it be done? There was only one way to find out. Go for it.
And I did initially but this was a struggle. Some months were well below the goal. For a 1.8 million step year you need to average 150,000 steps a month. At the end of 6 months I had yet to have a 150,000 step month. It was not looking good. I decided to revise my plan to 1.5 million steps for the year. It was my plan and my goal and I could do what I wanted. This was not a complete submission. At the end of 6 months I only had 585,388 steps meaning I still had a long way to go for 1,500,000.
Again I had to step up to the plate. I had to recommit myself to attaining my goal. I had to decide if this was something that I still wanted. I decided that it was and with renewed energy I went for it.
The next 6 months saw me increase my average and even hit a new personal record of 201,772 steps in one month. The funny thing about averages is that the longer you are working on one the higher the number has to be to change the overall average. Even though I had some big numbers, they didn’t change the overall average as much as I had hoped, but they did contribute to the bottom line. And that is what I was after.
By the end of the year I had made 1,545,278. It wasn’t what I had started out for but it was what I was going after at the end. I had accomplished my goal but the questions lingered. What was I capable of? Did I have one more year of this in me? And if so, what would be the new goal? Could I pull off a truly big goal?
go to part 3. or go back to part 1.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
Problem was that everywhere didn’t take me very far that first month. I only recorded 27,122 steps in January of 2005. The next month was better but not by much with 53,857 steps taken, and by March I had dropped back down to 50,231. Of course I could blame this all the lousy winter weather that limited the amount of walking space available not to mention how early it gets dark. I would surely do better when spring and summer came around.
By the end of June I totaled all my steps for the year so far and had a whopping total of 312,811 steps. This was half way through the year so I should have been up to 600,000 by now. I had been sick in June and only managed 9,537 steps but this was no excuse. If I really meant to accomplish this goal, and it was for no one else but me, then I was going to have to change my ways and dedicate more of an effort to doing what I set out to do.
In July I reversed my trend and scored a 155,677 step month. This was followed up with a 170,242 month in August. This was one of those ah-ha moments. I could do this if I wanted it enough, and after all wasn’t this what it was all about.
I pressed on with a renewed sense of the possible and at the end of the year the tally stood at 1,215,583. I had managed my first accomplished goal. It felt good but it also seemed to be less than what was possible. After all hadn’t I just covered over 900,000 steps in the last 6 months alone? Why if I could do that pace for 6 months, why not the whole year. 2006 would be the year to go for 1,800,000 steps.
That was an ambitious goal I know. Those last 6 months did take some effort and this would extend that effort for a full 12 months right on the back of the 6 months I had just completed. Could it be done? There was only one way to find out. Go for it.
And I did initially but this was a struggle. Some months were well below the goal. For a 1.8 million step year you need to average 150,000 steps a month. At the end of 6 months I had yet to have a 150,000 step month. It was not looking good. I decided to revise my plan to 1.5 million steps for the year. It was my plan and my goal and I could do what I wanted. This was not a complete submission. At the end of 6 months I only had 585,388 steps meaning I still had a long way to go for 1,500,000.
Again I had to step up to the plate. I had to recommit myself to attaining my goal. I had to decide if this was something that I still wanted. I decided that it was and with renewed energy I went for it.
The next 6 months saw me increase my average and even hit a new personal record of 201,772 steps in one month. The funny thing about averages is that the longer you are working on one the higher the number has to be to change the overall average. Even though I had some big numbers, they didn’t change the overall average as much as I had hoped, but they did contribute to the bottom line. And that is what I was after.
By the end of the year I had made 1,545,278. It wasn’t what I had started out for but it was what I was going after at the end. I had accomplished my goal but the questions lingered. What was I capable of? Did I have one more year of this in me? And if so, what would be the new goal? Could I pull off a truly big goal?
go to part 3. or go back to part 1.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
The Two Million (2,000,000) Step Goal. Part 1
It started out with me feeling like I was in a rut. I didn’t seem to be getting very far in life, my job stunk, and many of my aspirations and dreams were stuck on the side of the road. I had all the makings for the perfect pity party lined up and ready to go. I didn’t need another one of those again. I knew that I needed to do something, anything really to shake myself up even if it was just a little and put myself in motion. I needed a goal.
Since my fear of missing out on so many dreams was staring me in the face, I did not want a goal that was so big it would not get done. I needed something small enough that I could tackle yet big enough to give a real sense of accomplishment. It had to be something I could accomplish. That was the whole point at this stage. I needed a mark in the win column.
I had already tried to reach a 1,000 mile biking year and I enjoyed biking but again the rut thing raised its head. I could only seem to average about 600 miles a year and lately my average had been dropping. A lot of variables can come into play with biking such as weather, daylight, time available, not to mention desire that ebbs and tides. It takes an effort to get suited up to ride and it takes time to make a ride big enough to feel like you went somewhere. So even if I still had my yearly goal of getting in a 1,000 mile year I needed something to go along with it, just in case.
This goal needed to be something that could be done more often and was slightly more in my control. It had to be something that would be self motivating and yet small efforts would still pay dividends.
About this time there was talk of the 10,000 step exercise program. The idea is simple enough. Walk 10,000 steps a day and you would lose weight and become healthy or at least healthier. Since I am a numbers guy and a slight tech geek I have had an interest in pedometers. I had never gotten one though. So one day while in the local Wal-Mart I happened to notice a simple pedometer for under $4. My price point was met. My interest was piqued; I mean how do those things work anyway? I went ahead and bought myself a new play toy.
So now I had my toy. The first thing to do with it is learn how to use it. Set up is usually the toughest step. Figure out the average length of your stride and not only will the pedometer count your steps it will calculate how far you have traveled. This takes some effort. Finding out your average stride is a little like thinking about which step you take when you go bowling. If you are thinking about it, your whole rhythm is thrown off and you look like a total spaz. I tried to measure the sidewalk and see how many steps I took for a given distance. I got a different count almost every time. It all depended on my mood, speed, arm swing, phase of the moon, temperature, altitude, wind velocity and how well I was avoiding breaking my mothers back by not stepping on the cracks.
I finally decide to take a walk around the block twice and compare the steps with the distance as measured by my bikes trip computer. I ended up walking around that block several times and coming up with an average of 34 inches. Being a numbers guy I knew that some steps would be longer and some steps would be shorter but I was happy with this distance and thought that it would serve me well as a representation of my average stride.
At 6’2” I have a fairly long stride and when I get walking I can really move out. For those thinking that 34 inches doesn’t seem very big or that it seems incredibly huge let me give you some other numbers with which to compare. At 34 inches it takes 1872 steps to make a mile. That means that a 10,000 step day will cover about 5 1/3 miles. I have another friend that used to do the 10,000 step program by counting all her steps during the day and then getting on a treadmill at the end of the day to make up the difference. Being somewhat smaller than me her 10,000 steps worked out to about 4 miles.
I found a web site referenced from work talking about the 10,000 step plan and one of the better pieces of advice was to wear your pedometer for a few normal days to establish a base line. This gives you a place to start from. It was not a great place. I realized that being stuck in a cubicle does not afford one many opportunities to acquire large numbers of steps. That combined with snow on the ground in winter time limited me to about 1200 steps a day. That only worked out to 36,000 steps a month. That was about 3 ½ days worth on a 10,000 step plan. I had to think about this.
I went with the idea that 100,000 steps a month was doable. That was about 3 times what I was averaging on a normal day, so this would still require some effort. 100,000 steps a month would work out to 1.2 million steps in a year, so not only would there be effort there would have to be a commitment. Since this commitment was to no one else but me, it would require self motivation and determination if I was to succeed. This was just what I was looking for. I decided to go for it.
go to part 2
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
Since my fear of missing out on so many dreams was staring me in the face, I did not want a goal that was so big it would not get done. I needed something small enough that I could tackle yet big enough to give a real sense of accomplishment. It had to be something I could accomplish. That was the whole point at this stage. I needed a mark in the win column.
I had already tried to reach a 1,000 mile biking year and I enjoyed biking but again the rut thing raised its head. I could only seem to average about 600 miles a year and lately my average had been dropping. A lot of variables can come into play with biking such as weather, daylight, time available, not to mention desire that ebbs and tides. It takes an effort to get suited up to ride and it takes time to make a ride big enough to feel like you went somewhere. So even if I still had my yearly goal of getting in a 1,000 mile year I needed something to go along with it, just in case.
This goal needed to be something that could be done more often and was slightly more in my control. It had to be something that would be self motivating and yet small efforts would still pay dividends.
About this time there was talk of the 10,000 step exercise program. The idea is simple enough. Walk 10,000 steps a day and you would lose weight and become healthy or at least healthier. Since I am a numbers guy and a slight tech geek I have had an interest in pedometers. I had never gotten one though. So one day while in the local Wal-Mart I happened to notice a simple pedometer for under $4. My price point was met. My interest was piqued; I mean how do those things work anyway? I went ahead and bought myself a new play toy.
So now I had my toy. The first thing to do with it is learn how to use it. Set up is usually the toughest step. Figure out the average length of your stride and not only will the pedometer count your steps it will calculate how far you have traveled. This takes some effort. Finding out your average stride is a little like thinking about which step you take when you go bowling. If you are thinking about it, your whole rhythm is thrown off and you look like a total spaz. I tried to measure the sidewalk and see how many steps I took for a given distance. I got a different count almost every time. It all depended on my mood, speed, arm swing, phase of the moon, temperature, altitude, wind velocity and how well I was avoiding breaking my mothers back by not stepping on the cracks.
I finally decide to take a walk around the block twice and compare the steps with the distance as measured by my bikes trip computer. I ended up walking around that block several times and coming up with an average of 34 inches. Being a numbers guy I knew that some steps would be longer and some steps would be shorter but I was happy with this distance and thought that it would serve me well as a representation of my average stride.
At 6’2” I have a fairly long stride and when I get walking I can really move out. For those thinking that 34 inches doesn’t seem very big or that it seems incredibly huge let me give you some other numbers with which to compare. At 34 inches it takes 1872 steps to make a mile. That means that a 10,000 step day will cover about 5 1/3 miles. I have another friend that used to do the 10,000 step program by counting all her steps during the day and then getting on a treadmill at the end of the day to make up the difference. Being somewhat smaller than me her 10,000 steps worked out to about 4 miles.
I found a web site referenced from work talking about the 10,000 step plan and one of the better pieces of advice was to wear your pedometer for a few normal days to establish a base line. This gives you a place to start from. It was not a great place. I realized that being stuck in a cubicle does not afford one many opportunities to acquire large numbers of steps. That combined with snow on the ground in winter time limited me to about 1200 steps a day. That only worked out to 36,000 steps a month. That was about 3 ½ days worth on a 10,000 step plan. I had to think about this.
I went with the idea that 100,000 steps a month was doable. That was about 3 times what I was averaging on a normal day, so this would still require some effort. 100,000 steps a month would work out to 1.2 million steps in a year, so not only would there be effort there would have to be a commitment. Since this commitment was to no one else but me, it would require self motivation and determination if I was to succeed. This was just what I was looking for. I decided to go for it.
go to part 2
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
20 February 2008
Verizon starts the challenge
Was somebody listening or had the time finally come for there to be a fixed price unlimited calling plan? Verizon was the first to break the ice and announce a fixed price deal although it is at a rather steep $100 a month. (I know it is only $99.99 but who are we kidding?) AT&T ever the follower and never the inovator, (though some may claim otherwise thanks to the iPhone even if it was Apple's creation and not AT&T's) followed suit with the exact same offer. T-Mobile then did likewise but thows in texting where the others are charging an extra $20. Sprint/Nextel is the last hold out but there are many that think they will come in with a fixed price plan also but at a lower rate to be competitive seeing that they are losing market share. The guesses for them range anywhere from $60 - $85.
This raises the possibilities of a price war. Frankly I would gladly welcome one. The cell phone industry has had excessivily high margins on essentially a commodity item for far to long. It is the perfect time to introduce competition back into the business instead of the price fixing nature that has prevailed since the early days of the brick.
Granted this latest pricing effort only affects the top 13% of users who have phone bills that top $100 a month and Wall Street is beside itself trying to figure out what the impact will be to the bottom line, but it is a start and I am hopeful that the trend will expand throughout the market and even reach a simple lad like me. I do not own a cell phone as of yet, (see http://farrwestview.blogspot.com/2008/01/there-is-need-for-real-cell-phone.html) but I know it is just a matter of time. It is inevitable. Yes I am a gadget junkie, and yes I like tech, and yes there is a safety factor for a guy that likes to travel, but no I do not like hauling around the electronic leash, that is why I like to travel, and no I haven't needed one for safety reasons in my mumble years yet, and no I don't have to get on the phone the second I get behind the wheel, and no I don't need to talk with my mouth full in a resaurant, and no I don't need to have someone with me when I go to the bathroom, and no I don't need my hand upside my head to make it look like I am sane when I am talking to myself. My wife wants me to have one so it is just a matter of time, nuff said.
With this 'new' pricing scheme, that Cricket started sometime ago and land lines long before that, there is the possiblity for a whole new business model for the cell phone industry. As rates drop the way people communicate will finally be able to break free from the land line forever, and I know many of you have already. Other areas around the world are already there. We just need the economic incentive to make it feasible and then we too can take advantage of the fruits of our technology. This change may be coming at this time because of the talk of a new business model that would revolutionize communication cost by introducing advertising to pay for expenses and thereby reducing the direct charges to the consumers. I have heard that Google was interested in this approach. Maybe talk was enough to spur the big boys into action to stem the possibility. Whatever the reason, bring it on. If the consumer can win back even just a little, we will all be better off for it.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
This raises the possibilities of a price war. Frankly I would gladly welcome one. The cell phone industry has had excessivily high margins on essentially a commodity item for far to long. It is the perfect time to introduce competition back into the business instead of the price fixing nature that has prevailed since the early days of the brick.
Granted this latest pricing effort only affects the top 13% of users who have phone bills that top $100 a month and Wall Street is beside itself trying to figure out what the impact will be to the bottom line, but it is a start and I am hopeful that the trend will expand throughout the market and even reach a simple lad like me. I do not own a cell phone as of yet, (see http://farrwestview.blogspot.com/2008/01/there-is-need-for-real-cell-phone.html) but I know it is just a matter of time. It is inevitable. Yes I am a gadget junkie, and yes I like tech, and yes there is a safety factor for a guy that likes to travel, but no I do not like hauling around the electronic leash, that is why I like to travel, and no I haven't needed one for safety reasons in my mumble years yet, and no I don't have to get on the phone the second I get behind the wheel, and no I don't need to talk with my mouth full in a resaurant, and no I don't need to have someone with me when I go to the bathroom, and no I don't need my hand upside my head to make it look like I am sane when I am talking to myself. My wife wants me to have one so it is just a matter of time, nuff said.
With this 'new' pricing scheme, that Cricket started sometime ago and land lines long before that, there is the possiblity for a whole new business model for the cell phone industry. As rates drop the way people communicate will finally be able to break free from the land line forever, and I know many of you have already. Other areas around the world are already there. We just need the economic incentive to make it feasible and then we too can take advantage of the fruits of our technology. This change may be coming at this time because of the talk of a new business model that would revolutionize communication cost by introducing advertising to pay for expenses and thereby reducing the direct charges to the consumers. I have heard that Google was interested in this approach. Maybe talk was enough to spur the big boys into action to stem the possibility. Whatever the reason, bring it on. If the consumer can win back even just a little, we will all be better off for it.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
12 February 2008
An open letter to Microsoft
Dear Microsoft,
I would like to let you know that you are not nearly as helpful as you think you are or claim to be. Most of the times you think you are anticipating my needs by providing inputs on that I have not requested but you assume that I will want. Please let me assure you that in most cases you have gotten it wrong. Also the big brother aspect is really annoying. Please respect me enough to allow me to be me.
Case in point. I was trying to do a lesson the other day and I wanted to listen to my audio file recording of the lesson plan. I clicked on the file fully expecting it to open in Windows Media Player version 9 and play. I like version 9 for XP because I can speed up the spoken audio books to double speed and listen at a more comfortable pace. This is a great feature and as enabled me to get through many a book on tape. I can even opt for the unabridged version knowing that it can be completed in a fair amount of time. I really like this feature and hope that someday I can find an MP3 player that has the same capability.
Anyway, back to the story. A few days before this I was surfing the net and the Media Player said that there was an upgrade available and ask if I wanted it. At least it asked. I like many thought that an upgrade would be a good thing hence the term up grade. After a long laborious download (did I mention that I am still using dial up on an old computer) it was on my computer as well as a version 11 that I don’t recall asking for. Oh well, I got a two for one and since it is all ready here what the heck.
Turns out I did not get two versions, I only got version 11, and when I went to play my lesson, the thing I am expecting to hear did not come out of my speakers. Instead, I see a message saying welcome to the new version and in order for it to work it has to check that it is an authentic copy. What? You downloaded it, from your site, on your recommendation, from and existing version, how could it be anything but authentic? I then recalled reading something about Microsoft installing a big brother something or rather that wants to check all the software on your machine for validity. Not that anything on this machine is illegal but it is none of their business what I run on my machine, not to mention I don’t have time for this right now, I only have so many minutes with which to listen to my lesson.
So now what? I start searching to see if I can find the old program. Fortunately, I know my way around a little bit and was able to find a copy of version 9 sitting in the background. There was also a copy of version 8 which was originally on the machine until the last upgrade that got me the variable playback speed capabilities I wanted. I still had to run the remove program program and let the OS revert back to its previous state. I then had to do the always typical reboot to make things work again. Five minutes later (did I mention this was an old machine) the sign on was completed and I could finally get to my lesson. All tolled this exercise took me an extra 45 minutes in my efforts to be extra productive with the high speed playback of Windows Media Player.
Later, I may write about the irritating way you pick my formatting for me in Word and Excel or the totally useless waste that help has become since being strictly an on-line venture. I actually get answers for what I am looking for about 2 times in 10. Did I mention anything about not supporting software that is still selling in stores such as Flight Sim 2002? I went for the older software (did I mention my older computer) because I wasn’t going to get sucked into buying the latest and greatest only to find that it only works properly on a new $4,000 machine.
I may offer suggestions on how to make things work better, at least from my point of view, but for now I think it is time for bed. This has taken much to long to write as it is. Where are the productivity gains? At least that stupid paper clip only popped up once this time.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
I would like to let you know that you are not nearly as helpful as you think you are or claim to be. Most of the times you think you are anticipating my needs by providing inputs on that I have not requested but you assume that I will want. Please let me assure you that in most cases you have gotten it wrong. Also the big brother aspect is really annoying. Please respect me enough to allow me to be me.
Case in point. I was trying to do a lesson the other day and I wanted to listen to my audio file recording of the lesson plan. I clicked on the file fully expecting it to open in Windows Media Player version 9 and play. I like version 9 for XP because I can speed up the spoken audio books to double speed and listen at a more comfortable pace. This is a great feature and as enabled me to get through many a book on tape. I can even opt for the unabridged version knowing that it can be completed in a fair amount of time. I really like this feature and hope that someday I can find an MP3 player that has the same capability.
Anyway, back to the story. A few days before this I was surfing the net and the Media Player said that there was an upgrade available and ask if I wanted it. At least it asked. I like many thought that an upgrade would be a good thing hence the term up grade. After a long laborious download (did I mention that I am still using dial up on an old computer) it was on my computer as well as a version 11 that I don’t recall asking for. Oh well, I got a two for one and since it is all ready here what the heck.
Turns out I did not get two versions, I only got version 11, and when I went to play my lesson, the thing I am expecting to hear did not come out of my speakers. Instead, I see a message saying welcome to the new version and in order for it to work it has to check that it is an authentic copy. What? You downloaded it, from your site, on your recommendation, from and existing version, how could it be anything but authentic? I then recalled reading something about Microsoft installing a big brother something or rather that wants to check all the software on your machine for validity. Not that anything on this machine is illegal but it is none of their business what I run on my machine, not to mention I don’t have time for this right now, I only have so many minutes with which to listen to my lesson.
So now what? I start searching to see if I can find the old program. Fortunately, I know my way around a little bit and was able to find a copy of version 9 sitting in the background. There was also a copy of version 8 which was originally on the machine until the last upgrade that got me the variable playback speed capabilities I wanted. I still had to run the remove program program and let the OS revert back to its previous state. I then had to do the always typical reboot to make things work again. Five minutes later (did I mention this was an old machine) the sign on was completed and I could finally get to my lesson. All tolled this exercise took me an extra 45 minutes in my efforts to be extra productive with the high speed playback of Windows Media Player.
Later, I may write about the irritating way you pick my formatting for me in Word and Excel or the totally useless waste that help has become since being strictly an on-line venture. I actually get answers for what I am looking for about 2 times in 10. Did I mention anything about not supporting software that is still selling in stores such as Flight Sim 2002? I went for the older software (did I mention my older computer) because I wasn’t going to get sucked into buying the latest and greatest only to find that it only works properly on a new $4,000 machine.
I may offer suggestions on how to make things work better, at least from my point of view, but for now I think it is time for bed. This has taken much to long to write as it is. Where are the productivity gains? At least that stupid paper clip only popped up once this time.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
Is Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness still possible?
As I have been pondering the latest developments in the upcoming Presidential election, it has me quite worried as well as quite a few other people I have spoken with. Although they don’t quite understand the dynamics involved they seem to have a sense of impending peril. I tend to agree. The list of candidates has been sufficiently narrowed that if any of them are selected, we lose. The flood waters of Socialism are at our door step, and we are without a lesser of two evils option this time.
So where can we look for hope. The one possibility that I see for holding back the tide is the checks and balances that were incorporated into our government from its foundation. The founding fathers knew the potential for tyranny that came with governmental power and in order to keep it in check they put in place three separate and distinct branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial. So although the executive branch is a lost cause this election (and don’t get me wrong that is not a good thing), and the judicial branch is selected by insiders, there is still a vote for who we will send to Congress.
If there is to be any hope of protecting the sanctity of this nation it will have to be done at the congressional level. This is no small feat as the people that we are relying on to put things right are the same people that got us in this position to begin with. Therefore the importance of this election is not where the media attention is going to be focused at the national level but rather at the congressional, state and local levels. If we are to have a hope of keeping things in check it will have to come from the people for the people and by the people at a level that will make a difference.
This unfortunately will take a ground swell effort, a movement if you will and at this point, I have yet to see anything that even remotely resembles a movement out there, at least not the kind of movement we are looking for. Some of the candidates are claiming to be experiencing just such a movement but it seems to be an overzealous opinion of their own campaigns. (The next closest thing is from the Ron Paul camp but his chances at this stage are less than a Ross Perot).
I am talking about a return to the values for which this nation was founded. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are not just slogans for a bumper sticker. They are ideals and standards that were defined long before there were bumpers. And when you hear the word ‘Freedom’, what does it really make you think of?
If your education was thorough enough that these words mean something to you then be grateful and be aware of what is happening today, then act. If you are unsure what these words mean to you or what they should mean to you, then act, study, read and learn. The future is too important too just sit by in a dream state thinking that all is as rosy as they say, or that things are as bad as they say.
We are still allowed to think for ourselves and it is high time we did, because that simple act will help ensure that we continue not only to think for ourselves but to act for ourselves. When we can choose to think for ourselves and when we can choose to act for ourselves and when we can choose on our own to do for others, then we will know that those choices have not been taken from us. Then will we know that the possibilities of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness still belongs to us. Then will we know that our country is still ours.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
So where can we look for hope. The one possibility that I see for holding back the tide is the checks and balances that were incorporated into our government from its foundation. The founding fathers knew the potential for tyranny that came with governmental power and in order to keep it in check they put in place three separate and distinct branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial. So although the executive branch is a lost cause this election (and don’t get me wrong that is not a good thing), and the judicial branch is selected by insiders, there is still a vote for who we will send to Congress.
If there is to be any hope of protecting the sanctity of this nation it will have to be done at the congressional level. This is no small feat as the people that we are relying on to put things right are the same people that got us in this position to begin with. Therefore the importance of this election is not where the media attention is going to be focused at the national level but rather at the congressional, state and local levels. If we are to have a hope of keeping things in check it will have to come from the people for the people and by the people at a level that will make a difference.
This unfortunately will take a ground swell effort, a movement if you will and at this point, I have yet to see anything that even remotely resembles a movement out there, at least not the kind of movement we are looking for. Some of the candidates are claiming to be experiencing just such a movement but it seems to be an overzealous opinion of their own campaigns. (The next closest thing is from the Ron Paul camp but his chances at this stage are less than a Ross Perot).
I am talking about a return to the values for which this nation was founded. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are not just slogans for a bumper sticker. They are ideals and standards that were defined long before there were bumpers. And when you hear the word ‘Freedom’, what does it really make you think of?
If your education was thorough enough that these words mean something to you then be grateful and be aware of what is happening today, then act. If you are unsure what these words mean to you or what they should mean to you, then act, study, read and learn. The future is too important too just sit by in a dream state thinking that all is as rosy as they say, or that things are as bad as they say.
We are still allowed to think for ourselves and it is high time we did, because that simple act will help ensure that we continue not only to think for ourselves but to act for ourselves. When we can choose to think for ourselves and when we can choose to act for ourselves and when we can choose on our own to do for others, then we will know that those choices have not been taken from us. Then will we know that the possibilities of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness still belongs to us. Then will we know that our country is still ours.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
09 February 2008
Do we get what we deserve with our elections?
You know I was just wondering if anyone else felt the way I did about this whole election fiasco when suddenly I have heard three times now on the national media, both radio and television reference to the Democratic Party as Socialist. This is something I wrote about recently http://farrwestview.blogspot.com/2008/01/limbaugh-taught-me-wrong.html but have been thinking for several decades now. While this is comforting on some levels (knowing I am not the only one thinking this way) it is disturbing on other levels (what if it is true and intentional). Sometimes even when you are right you don’t really want to be. I want to be positive, optimistic and hopeful about the future but some of the possible scenarios are scary.
What if the Presidential election is really down to the final four media selected entrants of Obama, McCain, Huckabee and Clinton? What if no other candidates step up to the plate? What if Republicans and Democrats are really just two sides of the same coin? What if there is no viable third party competition? What if all this talk of change is just more of the same old line we have bought into time and time again?
If this really is the sum total for choices we have been granted this November, what difference will it make who gets in? They will once again promise us pie in the sky high living and the solutions to all life’s ills, then get into office, take care of their closest friends, play high and mighty while they live the good life off the back of taxpayers, and try to pass some more useless legislation to make them feel like they are earning their keep all the time looking for a reason to be patted on the back.
And there is such a large selection of problems from which to choose. International relations or lack there of, failing economy that is selective in its rewardings, universal health care from an overly regulated yet out of control medical industry, and designing and running neighborhoods that just don’t quite look the way they should on their own, and the only way to cure it is to do more of the same only with more meaning.
Whoever wins (?) the next election will truly inherit a collection of challenges that will require some extreme talent to convince the American public that they made the right choice in picking them. But then again, if they were good enough to convince a majority to vote for them why shouldn’t we expect them to keep the magic alive. After all, Bill Clinton still has admiration and popularity. Is that really all it takes is a little charm and favorable media to remain in good standings?
Funny thing about reality and time, they eventually show the true handy work of everyone’s own making.
Sounds pretty cynical doesn’t it? Sorry. It’s just that it seems like I have seen this all too often and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. As long as a majority of the people remain in their ignorance, they will be susceptible to manipulation, and through that manipulation, they will slowly give away their liberties. We have already handed away so much of what our forebears fought so hard to pass on to us. The promises of a better life by giving away your responsibilities is just too enticing for some. Greed and selfishness are winning out over integrity and self determination in this age. If this pattern doesn’t change soon we really will be able to notice what George Orwell warned us about, some animals are more equal than others.
There is a lot of talk even from die hard Republicans that they will not vote this round, that they are left without a viable candidate that can represent their values. This is especially hard for the conservative groups as Mitt Romney seemed to be the only candidate beside Ron Paul talking about the conservative viewpoint. Romney wasn't as hard core as Paul so at least he had a shot. If they sit this one out, it will in essence hand over the election to the Socialist. Then depending on the type of Congress that is elected (and why should we expect anything different there) we will either see a continuing slide or an actively pursued slide away from the ideals that defined the American dream of the last century and those of its founding.
(By the way, did you know that the approval rating for Congress is only about two thirds that of the President. Everyone hears about the Presidents poor approval ratings but does the media ever give us the full picture. It really is time for a change but we’ll not see it from the bunch that has been selected for us.)
How bad do things have to get before the voice of the people crying ‘enough is enough’ can be heard? I actually take optimistic hope in all of this. As I have said before, I want to vote for something instead of always voting against something. From some of what I am hearing there are others out there feeling the same way. We deserve much better than what we are getting this election. We have been deserving of it for a long, long time. If ever there was a time for “None of the Above” this is it http://farrwestview.blogspot.com/2008/01/they-endorsed-who.html . But even then, is there enough of the voting public willing to stand for something, or do we really get what we deserve?
If the percentage numbers of actual voters that vote in an election to the total population at large is any indication, there maybe a whole lot more of us out there waiting for something to vote for than not. Perhaps that is were the real majority can be found. Perhaps they are just waiting for someone with true principles and values to stand up and really be a representative for America. Perhaps we should have given Ross Perot more credit. Perhaps we should be more demanding of exellence in our political parties and process. Perhaps we should be active in defining the platforms of our parties to insure they represent our true values and beliefs.
Perhaps we really do get what we deserve.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
What if the Presidential election is really down to the final four media selected entrants of Obama, McCain, Huckabee and Clinton? What if no other candidates step up to the plate? What if Republicans and Democrats are really just two sides of the same coin? What if there is no viable third party competition? What if all this talk of change is just more of the same old line we have bought into time and time again?
If this really is the sum total for choices we have been granted this November, what difference will it make who gets in? They will once again promise us pie in the sky high living and the solutions to all life’s ills, then get into office, take care of their closest friends, play high and mighty while they live the good life off the back of taxpayers, and try to pass some more useless legislation to make them feel like they are earning their keep all the time looking for a reason to be patted on the back.
And there is such a large selection of problems from which to choose. International relations or lack there of, failing economy that is selective in its rewardings, universal health care from an overly regulated yet out of control medical industry, and designing and running neighborhoods that just don’t quite look the way they should on their own, and the only way to cure it is to do more of the same only with more meaning.
Whoever wins (?) the next election will truly inherit a collection of challenges that will require some extreme talent to convince the American public that they made the right choice in picking them. But then again, if they were good enough to convince a majority to vote for them why shouldn’t we expect them to keep the magic alive. After all, Bill Clinton still has admiration and popularity. Is that really all it takes is a little charm and favorable media to remain in good standings?
Funny thing about reality and time, they eventually show the true handy work of everyone’s own making.
Sounds pretty cynical doesn’t it? Sorry. It’s just that it seems like I have seen this all too often and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. As long as a majority of the people remain in their ignorance, they will be susceptible to manipulation, and through that manipulation, they will slowly give away their liberties. We have already handed away so much of what our forebears fought so hard to pass on to us. The promises of a better life by giving away your responsibilities is just too enticing for some. Greed and selfishness are winning out over integrity and self determination in this age. If this pattern doesn’t change soon we really will be able to notice what George Orwell warned us about, some animals are more equal than others.
There is a lot of talk even from die hard Republicans that they will not vote this round, that they are left without a viable candidate that can represent their values. This is especially hard for the conservative groups as Mitt Romney seemed to be the only candidate beside Ron Paul talking about the conservative viewpoint. Romney wasn't as hard core as Paul so at least he had a shot. If they sit this one out, it will in essence hand over the election to the Socialist. Then depending on the type of Congress that is elected (and why should we expect anything different there) we will either see a continuing slide or an actively pursued slide away from the ideals that defined the American dream of the last century and those of its founding.
(By the way, did you know that the approval rating for Congress is only about two thirds that of the President. Everyone hears about the Presidents poor approval ratings but does the media ever give us the full picture. It really is time for a change but we’ll not see it from the bunch that has been selected for us.)
How bad do things have to get before the voice of the people crying ‘enough is enough’ can be heard? I actually take optimistic hope in all of this. As I have said before, I want to vote for something instead of always voting against something. From some of what I am hearing there are others out there feeling the same way. We deserve much better than what we are getting this election. We have been deserving of it for a long, long time. If ever there was a time for “None of the Above” this is it http://farrwestview.blogspot.com/2008/01/they-endorsed-who.html . But even then, is there enough of the voting public willing to stand for something, or do we really get what we deserve?
If the percentage numbers of actual voters that vote in an election to the total population at large is any indication, there maybe a whole lot more of us out there waiting for something to vote for than not. Perhaps that is were the real majority can be found. Perhaps they are just waiting for someone with true principles and values to stand up and really be a representative for America. Perhaps we should have given Ross Perot more credit. Perhaps we should be more demanding of exellence in our political parties and process. Perhaps we should be active in defining the platforms of our parties to insure they represent our true values and beliefs.
Perhaps we really do get what we deserve.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
08 February 2008
Winter Driving Tips, Tip #1
The very first thing to do when driving on a winter day is to clear off all your car, and I mean all of it. It seems that after every snow storm for several days I will see many cars driving around that think all they need to clear is a tiny spot in front of their face. How more stupid could you get? If you have no more visibility than a two foot square on your front windshield, not only should you not be on the road but you should sell your car immediately buy a bus pass and never drive again, it is that wrong.
And when I say clear off your entire car, I mean that literally. All the windshields should be clear of obstruction because the best thing you can do for your safety and that of those around you is to know what is around you. While you are clearing off the windshields, keep going and clear off the hood, roof, and trunk. I know there are a lot of lazy butts out there that figure it will just blow off while you drive down the road. Well guess what, it does and that is the problem. It blows off the hood and back onto your windshield blocking your view, or off the roof and covers the back windshield blocking your view, or if it doesn’t block your view it is blowing off you and onto someone else blocking their view. This is rude, obnoxious and stupid. This rule also applies to all semi trucks, pickup trucks, trucks with shells, Suburbans, mini vans, and anything else that appears too big for the person driving it. If you can’t reach the top, get a step ladder (or better yet trade it in on a bus pass). Again this is not just for you but for those you share the road with as well. Driving behind one of these yoyos you can find yourself in a mini white out condition even on the clearest day. And when the ice chucks start to come off they can cause damage.
Lastly, clear off the headlights, tail lights, turn signals, and mirrors. Not only is it important to see it is important to be seen. Most winter driving occurs in the winter, (duh). That is also when our days are shortest and that means darker times during many of our driving hours. Having properly working lights that can be seen is one advantage you want to have, (especially if that other driver hasn’t cleared off his vehicle). Turn signals were put on cars for a reason, use them. They signal your intentions to other drivers and let them prepare for the action you are about to take. The greater the reaction time you provide to other drivers the better when conditions get slick. And use your mirrors. This goes along with being aware of your surroundings to be better prepared for the actions taken by your fellow drivers.
Winter driving is challenging enough. By doing a few simple things, we can make it less difficult for ourselves and for others. Look for more tips to follow.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
And when I say clear off your entire car, I mean that literally. All the windshields should be clear of obstruction because the best thing you can do for your safety and that of those around you is to know what is around you. While you are clearing off the windshields, keep going and clear off the hood, roof, and trunk. I know there are a lot of lazy butts out there that figure it will just blow off while you drive down the road. Well guess what, it does and that is the problem. It blows off the hood and back onto your windshield blocking your view, or off the roof and covers the back windshield blocking your view, or if it doesn’t block your view it is blowing off you and onto someone else blocking their view. This is rude, obnoxious and stupid. This rule also applies to all semi trucks, pickup trucks, trucks with shells, Suburbans, mini vans, and anything else that appears too big for the person driving it. If you can’t reach the top, get a step ladder (or better yet trade it in on a bus pass). Again this is not just for you but for those you share the road with as well. Driving behind one of these yoyos you can find yourself in a mini white out condition even on the clearest day. And when the ice chucks start to come off they can cause damage.
Lastly, clear off the headlights, tail lights, turn signals, and mirrors. Not only is it important to see it is important to be seen. Most winter driving occurs in the winter, (duh). That is also when our days are shortest and that means darker times during many of our driving hours. Having properly working lights that can be seen is one advantage you want to have, (especially if that other driver hasn’t cleared off his vehicle). Turn signals were put on cars for a reason, use them. They signal your intentions to other drivers and let them prepare for the action you are about to take. The greater the reaction time you provide to other drivers the better when conditions get slick. And use your mirrors. This goes along with being aware of your surroundings to be better prepared for the actions taken by your fellow drivers.
Winter driving is challenging enough. By doing a few simple things, we can make it less difficult for ourselves and for others. Look for more tips to follow.
This is Ed Nef with a view from the Farr West.
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