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Google Tracks The Swine Flu Spread0
Joe M posted in homelife, well-being on April 28th, 2009

With the scare of the Swine Flu (H1N1) all over the news…

I came across a Google Mashup of infections across the U.S. and the world.

It helps to put a geographical perspective on how the strain is spreading.

I heard on NBC Nightly News that wearing a surgical mask does not really do any good… because the virus can still be transmited through the mask.

Does not mean that I won’t be using my hand sanitizer and my can of disinfectant whenever I come into contact with the public.

The number of cases doubled, from yesterday in the U.S. to 45 cases.

Beware The New Swine Flu Strain0
Joe M posted in homelife, well-being on April 27th, 2009

The Center for Disease Control has launched an investigation of a new strain of the flu virus.

H1N1, Swine Influenza A, is a nasty strain.

Definitely one to beware.

From the CDC website (9:00 am today):

There have been 60 deaths reported in Mexico.

There are no reported deaths in the U.S., and several recoveries have been reported so far.

South of the border, they have cancelled school and public events for concern of spreading the virus.

Straight from the CDC Website:

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

The scary part for the business world is to observe the dynamic of attendance created by the economy.

Who wants to miss work these days?

That’s not to mention the ‘die-hard’ attendees that show up for work or school, no matter what sort of funk for which they are scourged.

Whether you go to work or school, make sure you take your hand sanitizer, a can of disinfectant spray and rubber gloves.

And…

For Pete’s sake, if you are sick… avoid contact with others, and stay home.

If you are a teacher or supervisor, don’t hesitate to send someone home to avoid further infection or spread.

Prepping For Evaluation Time In The Workplace0
Joe M posted in opinion, well-being on November 24th, 2008

With evaluation time and the year approaching fast, the workplace is pretty hectic.

Most evaluation processes involve some sort of feedback from the employee.

I get questions from people, from time to time.

How do you communicate your value to your supervisor, in written form while using the most effective manner?

My recommendations, things to remember:

1.  Don’t wait to the last minute. If you have a deadline, waiting to the last possible opportunity will limit you.  How many times have you written something, only to realize that you left out an important point?  Don’t be in a rush.  Carefully plan your writing activities, just as you would any meeting.

2.  Ask your co-workers for feedback. Take notes.  You may not agree with the feedback, but you can use it to formulate developmental goals for yourself.  In your writing, you can refer to your developmental goals without aggregating (what others may perceive as) your faults.  That will help convey your interest in your own professional growth, at the least amount of professional limitation.  You can imply a full assessment of yourself in your writing, using your goals, without placing too much emphasis on your shortcomings.

3.  Take pride in your accomplishments. Remember, this is your time to point out your achievements.  Look through your calendar, your email and your project list for ideas.  Write complete thoughts and make sure you answer the basic questions:  Who, What, Where, Why, How and When?

4.  Avoid embellishment and euphemisms. Nothing will give your supervisor or another member of the management team a fast reason to discount your accomplishments like an overly-colorful and dramatic account of your activities for the past year.  Keep your writing conversational, just as you would talking to someone face-to-face.

5.  Do your writing prep in 3’s. Schedule yourself three time frames to brainstorm on what you want to express, at least a week apart.  That will give you and your subconscious a chance to work through whatever points you happen to conceive during your brainstorming.  Put notes from each session aside, in a safe place.  Start new in the next brainstorming session fresh, without referring to the notes from the previous session.

Once your brainstorming sessions are complete, use the notes from each to create your compilation in three more sessions.  Space these sessions out again.  In the first session, create your rough draft.  In the second, refine your draft.  In the last session, proofread and correct any errors in spelling and grammar.

If you give yourself enough creative space and time, you can effectively convey your efforts during the past year.

Once you are finished, keep a copy of your writing.  Put it aside with your resumé.

You will find that all the self-introspection has given you thoughts that are fertile and perfect for updating it.

Persuasion and N00bs0
Joe M posted in Howto, homelife, well-being on September 30th, 2008

I love reading Lifehacker.com, and the entries by Gina Tripani and the other writers.

Lifehacker has a well-rounded blog of everything from technology to everyday shortcuts.

A couple days ago, Gina wrote an entry, Persuade People With Subconscious Techniques.

While I dare not engage too much in the seemingly mystical or potential metaphysical aspect of this post, I think it drives home the importance of a person’s disposition.

If you are confident in your tasks and projects, and you execute them with discipline and resolve, you will ultimately gain the confidence of other people in your environment.  It is possible to do this, without perpetuating doubt in your abilities.

It’s a good read, and food for thought.

The other post that I came across is on Lifehack.org.

Every day, throughout the day, I am approached by someone that wants some sort of recommendation.

Usually, it’s for software, or a question of how to repair or set up something technical in their home environment.

Sometimes, it is a question of something that I have not yet experienced.

What do I do?

Reading Lifehack.org, I came across a post that details many of the steps that take in performing research in ‘unknown waters.’

You may find some techniques in Climbing the Learning Curve, What To Do When You Are a Noob with which you are familiar. (A noob or n00b is short / slang for newbie, meaning, “someone inexperienced,” or, “someone learning a new topic.”)

The steps are articulated pretty well.  It’s all about being given a topic or a task to perform, and not knowing where to start.

Posts such as these give me concise steps, some of which I know, but have not taken time to put down on paper.

They tend to reduce some of the abstractions in dealing with everyday interactions and challenges.

Airline Travel – Avoiding Discomfort0
Joe M posted in opinion, well-being on May 18th, 2008

At one time or another, most of us are going to have to fly.

How do you maximize the experience of flying and minimize the discomforts? Sometimes it’s not easy.

• Planning and Timing – If I can, I plan and time my flight. I avoid the heavy travel times, if possible. Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the heaviest travel days.
  Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon are usually heavier travel times. I will travel out on Saturday, if I can. Depending on your destination, the flights may still be full, but the airport is usually less crowded on Saturday afternoon, and car rentals and hotel check-ins go a little better without the long lines or crowds.

• Watch what you eat and drink – Before you fly, avoid carbonated drinks and foods that will make you uncomfortable. Drink bottled water to help keep you hydrated, but don’t overdo it. Drink when you are thirsty, sip, and do not force it. You won’t be able to carry it through the security checkpoint, but you can buy bottled water at a reasonable price at the airport.

• Pack a carry-on bag – You want your bare necessities with you. In the carry-on, pack your undergarments, change of clothes, medications, toiletries, reading items, notebook and a pen. Choose a bag with a handle and wheels (wide wheel base) or a back-pack. I have a bag with a handle and wheels, and I pack my laptop in a lightweight case. When it comes time to board, I put the laptop bag inside of the larger bag with wheels.

• Arrive to the airport 2.5 to 3 hours before your flight – Two hours is the rule you see everyone following. It’s posted all over the airport. Chances are, the other people on your flight are going to be checking in two hours, or less, before the actual flight. Remember, boarding is going to take place about 30 minutes ahead of flight time.

• Use self-check-in kiosks, if available – This saves a great deal of time. You can save yourself 20-30 minutes using the self-check-in. Remember to specify how many bags your have to check in and have your ID ready. Remember to use the selector to get a window or aisle seat. Emergency exit rows are great for larger people that need a little more leg room. You may be able to select your seating online, before you fly, using the airline website. If so, take that opportunity.
• Be ready for the security checkpoint – Remove your watch, your phone, your belt and any other items and place them in your bag. Pull your laptop and any console games out of the bags and place them in the trays. If you have everything in order, going through the checkpoint is much easier for you and for the security team at the airport.
• Be on your toes for boarding call – When the boarding calls start, put your laptop away, hang up the phone, stand up and get your boarding pass ready. The sooner you get on the plane, the easier it is to get your baggage placed and get settled for the flight.
• Chewing gum helps – If you can chew gum, carry a pack and chew it while ascending and descending. The chewing motion helps your ears pop. Sometimes, I clear my ears, like a diver. Yawning helps. Some people prefer to wear ear plugs to avoid the excessive noise.
• Take Kleenex with you – Pressurized cabins can sometimes wreak havoc on my sinuses, and it’s better to have it in case you need it.
• Open Conversations – Don’t be afraid to talk to other people. Sometimes a good conversation will divert your attention away from the long hours of the flight and may make the people sitting next to you a little more comfortable as well.
• Avoid alcohol – Alcohol has a tendency to dehydrate you. For a couple of years, it seems that about every other week you heard about someone getting drunk and disorderly on a flight. You need your discernment and your inhibitions, so for the most part it’s better to avoid it. Nothing will make you more miserable than a hangover or groggy feeling when you arrive at your destination.
• Keep your cool – Traveling can be enjoyable, but it can also be stressful. Be courteous and respectful to all the airline staff and to those around you.

For me, the last thing I make sure I take? My iPod. The in-flight audio system is ok, but I prefer to have my iPod to catch up on all my technology shows.

Map Your Mind1
Joe M posted in free stuff, products, well-being on April 12th, 2008

A few days ago, I wrote a post on brainstorming.

I am constantly looking for ways to stimulate my mind and my creativity. I have come across a couple of techniques that I really like.

There is something about putting your ideas into pictures that seems to stimulate both sides of your brain.

I came across vym for Linux, FreeBSD and Mac OS X.

VYM – View Your Mind, by Uwe Drechsel.

You can find it here.

I have been playing around with it, and I like the results.

Seems as if the exercise in creating the pictures has an almost magical effect.

It has a number of buttons on the interface. Each button has a ‘flyover’ explanation.

I still doodle these using pen and paper… but using more tools and switching it up, I feel has to be helping.

Sometimes I use pen and paper, sometimes I use software.

vym is an application that you should check out, especially if you are constantly being challenged to create ideas or plans.

It adds a different perspective to the planning process.

I am still getting acclimated to it, though.

Dealing With Anger0
Joe M posted in well-being on March 25th, 2008

We all have different ways of venting and dealing with anger.

Somewhere, somehow, someone is going to make you mad.

I got to thinking about it.

How do I deal with anger?

Step back from the situation. Walk away, get a coke, chew some gum, open a different conversation with someone.

Hold your breath and count to ten. If you say something, it may be the wrong thing. If you type something, it may be the wrong thing. There is a physiological change that takes place when you hold your breath. Add to it the count, and you help physiologically put your body and emotions into a pace.

Pray for the situation or person. This one comes from my Mom and Dad, and being raised in a Christian home. Pray for the welfare, pray for an open heart, pray for understanding. This one has always worked very well for me. I need to do it more.

Come back and assess the situation later. This works for anger, puzzles or anything that involves heavy duty thought. This will give your subconscious the opportunity to work on the issue. If it involves another person, many times their views or demands will change after having a chance to think a little more.

Lifehack.org has a simple article on squelching your anger.

We all know someone who is manipulative or loves to ‘push our buttons.’ They love to shock or disappoint people, for the thrill of the reaction.

Don’t give them one.

Patience and ignorance can pay off in this situation, giving way to their frustrations and subsequent resolve.

If it appears that the ‘buttons won’t push,’ they usually cease to do whatever it is they are doing.

I know people that love to boast of being antagonistic and argumentative.

I watched one person I know let her boss trick her into walking out on her job, because she thought she was ‘being strong,’ and giving her boss a ‘piece of her mind.’ To this day, I don’t think she understands that is exactly what her boss wanted her to do.

Think about how anger can affect your physical well-being. I don’t do it often, but I blew my top one day at someone. After it was over, and I calmed down, I was fatigued, nervous and felt horrible the rest of the day.

How do you deal with anger? What is the best way to deal with a difficult person?