President Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-2008

I woke up this morning and stumbled downstairs just in time to watch President Hinckley’s funeral on the BYU channel. I’m glad my dad reminded me that the funeral was today or I would have missed it.

We turned on the TV to catch the beginning of the funeral service. My dad and I watched together as the speakers and Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave moving tributes to this great man. I especially enjoyed President Monson’s tribute when he explained how President Hinckley would use his cane for about anything other than walking.

It’s hard to express in writing how I felt today. My heart was saddened, encouraged, and strengthened at the same time. I was inspired by the over 50 years of service he gave to the world. When I think back on his life I’ll remember his interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes and The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

He become the 15th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about 4 months after I moved to Seattle from Salt Lake City. He shocked most members of the church (and the church’s PR dept.) by holding an impromptu Q&A session with the press after he’d been sworn in as president. He deftly handled every question the press tossed at him which set the stage for his interview with Mike Wallace. From this interview came this great exchange which shows how he used humor to disarm one of the toughest, most skilled interviewers:

Mike Wallace: There are those who say, this is a gerontocracy, this is a church run by old men.

Gordon B. Hinckley: Isn’t it wonderful? To have a man of maturity at the head, a man of judgment, who isn’t blown about by every wind of doctrine?

Mike Wallace: Absolutely, as long as he’s not dotty.

Gordon B. Hinckley: Thank you for the compliment.

Near the end of the service, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang one of President Hinckley’s favorite songs called “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” which was accompanied by an woman playing the Oboe. It was so soothing and so neat I sat there on the couch just stunned in amazement.

[audio:shepherd.mp3]

I enjoyed getting to spend the day with my dad whom I don’t get to see very often. It was a neat experience to watch the funeral with my dad and with Kim. It was an emotional day. One I won’t forget.

Technorati Tags: President Gordon B. Hinckley, funeral, 60 Minutes interview. LDS Church, Mormons

Making exercise a habit in 2008

Why is it so difficult to exercise? I have no problem playing basketball a night or two a week, but I find it really tough to jog on my treadmill that’s less than 50 feet from my computer.

When I’ve paid for a gym membership I’ve been more motivated to work out. Maybe it’s knowing that I’m paying for something and I feel like I just get my money’s worth.

I’ve radically changed my diet over the past 18 months to the point where my body feels much better than it did before. I no longer stuff my stomach full of starchy and sugary foods. Kim steams a lot more vegetables and we are eating a lot more varieties of fish than we ever have.

I’ve noticed that our kids learn to like or dislike the same foods we do. When we eat healthy, they tend to do the same.

It’s a new year and I’m going to get in the habit on jogging on my treadmill at least three times a week, or on those days I don’t play basketball. I’m going to keep track of my workouts in Google Docs. I need to get the point where it feels weird when I don’t exercise. The opposite of that is true today and I will change that.

Although my treadmill provides a good workout, it’s not the most stimulating. I’d like to find a trail here in Auburn, WA where I can walk or job occasionally. I will start looking around, but until then, it’s off to the treadmill!

Technorati Tags: Exercise, jogging, treadmill, diet

Henry Bloget: Microsoft in Denial

Bloget writes one of the best articles I’ve come across that explains why Google is such a big threat to the Microsoft monopoly.

His description of disruptive technologies is exactly what I was attempting to describe at the end of my last post.

Disruptive technologies take advantage of a new manufacturing/business process or technology to provide a cheaper, more convenient, simpler solution that meets the needs of the low end of the market. Low-end users don’t need all the features in the Incumbent’s product, so they rapidly adopt the simpler solution.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Google, Office, Disruption, Denial

The 20 things I know at 40 that I didn’t at 20

Classic Rock isn’t the only genre of music.
Few things in life are absolute. e.g. “I’ll never drive a minivan!!”
Jobs titles don’t mean jack squat.
How much someone earns is a poor indicator of their happiness.
Staying home on a Friday night isn’t the end of the world
Raising kids is harder than it looks and more enjoyable than I would have ever thought.
I now believe what a German friend told me: “One has as many true friends as fingers on a single hand”
It feels better to let someone merge than it does to cut them off.
I’m more like my dad than I thought. That’s a good thing.
Nobody cares about my college major. They only care that I stuck it out long enough to earn a degree.
Finding a good mentor is more important then the company, position or pay.
Burning bridges is one of the dumbest things a person can do.
A diet of Cap’N Crunch, M&M’s and Cherry Coke doesn’t have staying power.
Most valuable course I took in HS was typing.
Passing on my Sony Walkman to my kids won’t be as cool as I thought it would be.
Watching someone play an instrument is as enjoyable as watching someone play a sport.
Those “required” college courses that I despised make watching Jeopardy almost enjoyable.
Sometimes the news is more opinion than news.
Being the first one to say, “I’m sorry, I made a mistake” doesn’t make one weak.
Giving people the benefit of the doubt is better than assuming they intentionally tried to offend.

Lessons I have learned by watching Cartoons

When I was young, I’d wake up at 6 am to watch back to back episodes of Hong Kong Phooey. You’ve got to love a cartoon that includes a dog who is skilled in marital arts driving around in a Phooeymobile that could transform into whatever was needed by using the “bong of the gong”.

I still love cartoons today and I’ll watch them for hours with my kids. Sometimes I’ll be watching an older episode of Scooby Doo when Kim will come into the room and I have to act like I can’t find the Tivo remote in order to change the channel.

I’d like to think I’ve learned a thing of two from the many hours of cartoon watching I’ve done over the years. I figured this was a good time to jot down the few lessons I’ve learned by watching cartoons:

Cartoon: Scooby Doo
Lesson Learned: You can get you kids to do about anything by offering them a “Scooby Snack”

Near the end of nearly every episode, Fred will devise a plan that requires Shaggy and Scooby to bait a monster into falling into a convoluted trap of sorts. Both Shaggy and Scooby shake their heads and say, “NO WAY!” until Fred, Daphne or Velma offers up some Scooby Snacks. And the same thing works for kids. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I’ve successfully bribed my kids to clean every room in the house for 2 Tic Tacs.

Cartoon: Harold and the Purple Crayon
Lesson Learned: The crayon is mightier than the sword

I didn’t grow up with this HBO produced cartoon, but it’s my favorite of those our kids watch. The animation and the music are fantastic. But what I enjoy most is how Harold uses his crayon and wild imagination to get himself out of every possible sticky situation. I especially like it when he draws a parachute or a hill to slide down avoiding injury at the last possible second. The ability to think fast matched with a young boy’s amazing imagination make for one excellent cartoon full of lessons. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a purple crayon of your own?

Cartoon: Caillou
Lesson Learned: Sometimes the theme song is better than the cartoon

Based on the adventures of a bald four-year old, Caillou the story falls short of Caillou, the theme song. I’ve memorized every word and will sing along if Kim isn’t around. I love the theme song! But this is probably the most annoying cartoon my kids have watched. Here’s the plot to nearly every episode: Caillou wakes up and starts whining about everything until it’s time to go to bed which he whines about too. Caillou is in day-care much of the time yet his parents (dad looks just like mom?) magically appear throughout the day to placate his constant tantrums. Caillou has a number of friends which is hard to believe as I can’t imagine a less pleasant kid to have around. “You are getting to be a big boy” NOT!

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Cartoon: The Smurfs
Lesson Learned: It’s ok to fall for younger women

There are so many lessons to be learned by watching the Smurfs, but the one that fits my situation best is how it’s ok for Papa Smurf to be smitten by Smurfette although he appears to be much older.

Cartoon: Porky Pig, Donald Duck
Lesson Learned: Pants are optional

This is true as long as you’re wearing a shirt or jacket. You’d assume it would be the other way around but it’s not. My kids have proven this lesson time and time again as they jump out of the bathtub and run around the house, sporting only a pajama top. Maybe it’s the freedom or lack of confinement that leads to this behavior but if Porky and Donald say it’s OK, who’s to argue?

Cartoon: Max and Ruby
Lesson Learned: Parents are optional

In Max and Ruby, we watch a 4 year old bunny named Max and his 6 year old sister named Ruby go about their day without any parental supervision. Ruby has the wherewithal to perform typical six year old tasks like baking cakes and shopping for Max. Max gets himself into trouble, but this caring sister always helps resolve any conflicts that arise. It appears Max and his chatty sister move in slow motion. It seemingly takes forever for them to walk from the kitchen to the living room. I want to yell, “Show a little HUSTLE!!” each time I watch this show.

Cartoon: Dora the Explorer
Lesson Learned: When in doubt, pull out the Map

If there’s a place you gotta get, he can get you there, you bet! He’s the map and he’s just chilling out in the backpack until called upon. And when he is finally called upon he sings one of the most repetitive songs of alltime. But he’s so helpful and excited to help, you’re willing to overlook his zealotry. The map provides good advice for all us guys who refuse to ask for directions and haven’t upgraded to a GPS system.

Technorati Tags: Scobby Doo, Harold and Purple Crayon, Caillou, Smurfs, Donald Duck, Porky Pigg, Max and Ruby, Dora the Explorer, The Map

My experience at the Movies

I decided to take our three kids to see the movie, Bee Movie, at the theater in Auburn today. Here’s a list of what I remember most:

I used the automated ticket machine to punch in 1 adult. But the machine didn’t give me the age limits for the children’s tickets. I took a guess and assumed my six year old qualifies as a child and added 3 kids tickets. Total cost = $29 for a matinee.
The theater is one of the newer models with stadium seating. One big problem is the seats are made for adults and not kids. My three and four year old had a very difficult time keeping the seat from making a sandwich out of them.
The concession prices have always been absurd. A large Diet Coke and medium popcorn came to $12. Tossing salt into the wound, the kids came home and told their mom that I let them drink Diet Coke!

The kids enjoyed the movie and it’s always fun to take them out of the house to do something with dad. But I can’t help but think for the cost of going to a movie, I could have purchased two DVDs and all the popcorn and drink they could ever want. Not to mention the fact that they could watch the movie over and over.

I’d probably have enough left over for a box of Milk Duds.

Technorati Tags: Movie theater, Bee Movie

I’ll take 4 packs of AcuVue lenses and a metal detector

Should I be concerned that the optical center where I have my eyes examined also sells metal detectors and telescopes?

I guess I can sort of understand an optical center deciding to sell a telescope since it requires optics and at least one working eyeball.

But I’m trying to understand what it took for them to offer several models of metal detectors to help me UNCOVER HIDDEN TREASURES IN MY OWN BACKYARD! I like how the box shows some guy in the process of finding a diamond ring or extremely rare coin. I’m sure if I bought one it would only serve to rid the earth of 4000 beer tabs.

I can only think of three possible reasons a business like an optical center would carry metal detectors:

The person doing the detector selling is one WORLD CLASS salesperson. The “selling ice to Eskimos” type of character.
The markup on detectors is just too good to pass up, even if they have nothing to do with your line of business.
It makes for one unpredictable “upsell”

It’s very possible that I’m just overlooking the link between glasses/contacts and metal detectors. Maybe customers who purchases glasses suddenly discover a whole new visually exciting world to explore and what better way to do that than with your head to the ground waiting for audible *beeps* telling you where to dig?

I guess I shouldn’t be too concerned since this summer, when I went in for my annual checkup, they were selling electric guitars.

Technorati Tags: metal detectors, contact lenses, optics

The Small Details that Make a Difference

Most products I use work. They do the job for the most part, but they fail to delight. Every once and while a product comes along that includes a detail or feature that’s so impressive, that it elevates the experience to a higher level. Such small details can make the difference between merely doing the job vs. delighting the user.

Below are a few products that include a small detail or feature that’s delighted me lately:

The Tivo Remote – How come most remotes are such a pain in the butt to use? Tivo comes along and create a remote that makes others feel 20 year old. Tivo understands the remote is something that users actually “feel” each time they use their product. They created a remote that just feels right in your hand. It’s balanced and elegant. Most remotes include buttons that are all the same size. But the Tivo’s buttons are big and colored. Even my three year old can use it without trouble. These small details set the product apart from anything else on the market.

Which remote do you think more time and research went into? Link to Tivo.

The Moleskin Notebook – Lots of small details set this notebook apart but my favorite is the ribbon placemarkers. Such a tiny detail can save a lot of time each day. No more thumbing through pages looking for where I left off. I can immediately turn to an open page and start taking notes. I keep a couple on hand at work and a small Moleskin on me at all times to jot to down ideas and short reminders.

The ribbon placemarker makes for quick entry while the elastic band keeps it closed when not in use. Link to Moleskin store.

Tweetr

I love unexpected but smart animation like the one John Ballinger added to my favorite Twitter application for Windows. The one I’m talking about is the quick “cube spin” that happens when I click on a persons icon. It’s just enough to let me know what I’ve clicked while adding something unexpected. I love it!

You can see the first icon just as it starts to rotate. Link to Tweetr site.

Nikon D40 Camera

How can a DSLR be easier to use than a point and shoot? That’s what I asked myself after using the D40 for a few weeks. Being new to photography, I was concerned that a DSLR would be difficult to use and I’d spend too much time futzing with settings and hunting down menus instead of taking pictures.

Then Nikon comes along and sets a new standard on DSLR ease of use with the D40. Here’s a camera that knows its user base is made of first time DSLR owners. The menus are a pleasure to use! I can’t overstate that. During my few training classes I was mixed in with Canon DSL owners, many of which had less experience than I did which wasn’t very much to begin with. The instructor would ask us to change certain setting on our camera and it was funny to watch many of the Canon owners struggle to do so. Many had purchased too much camera for sure. After comparing the D40 to similar Canon models I decided on the Nikon mostly due to the camera’s ease of use and super clear menu system. Not only are the menus easy to navigate but they help you understand different settings by giving you a dynamic thumbnail image that shows setting changes in real time. Why can’t all cameras be this intuitive? DPreview has a full of screen of D40 menus here.

A smart and concise menu system makes the D40 a pleasure to use. Link to D40.

BMW Steering Wheel

BMW does so many things right which helps explain their obsessive fans and years of automotive accolades. I love how the instrumentation is clear and simple. I love how they angle the controls towards the driver. Every knob, switch and button has just the right about of tension and feedback. In just minutes behind the wheel and you can tell this is a car that was created and assembled by fanatics. But my favorite interior detail is the steering wheel. Only the most useful buttons have been included, and they fall right where your hand expects them to be. Each button has a little bit different shape so you can use each without looking down. BMW also figured out the best angle to mount the steering wheel. This isn’t easy to describe but the wheel just feels like it’s always in the right place. Other cars I’ve owned required frequent adjustment to the wheel or seat or both and sometimes the arrangement never felt right. It’s as if BMW measured my limbs and figured out the ideal position of each instrument. It’s uncanny how this works but it does work!

A driver-centric cockpit can be found on all BMW models

Fred Meyer, Nordstrom and Applebees

I like how Fred Meyer places a bottle of hand sanitizer near the grocery carts as you walk into the store. There are also hand clothes there to wipe off your cart if you do desire.

Nordstrom probably deserves a post of its own but one thing I’ve noticed is how clean they maintain their restrooms. I’ve never been in one where a toilet was taped off or a stall divider broken. There’s never water puddled up on the counter or paper towels strewn on the floor. Nope, someone at Nordstrom understands that even their bathrooms are a reflection of their brand and service.

A small detail I’ve noticed when we’ve been to Applebees for lunch or dinner is that, when they see our family walk towards the door, someone always heads to the door to open it for us. A small detail, no doubt, but a very helpful one when you’re trying to heard three wild kids in the right direction. They do the same on the way out, and it leaves a good impression each time we enter and exit. Very nice touch.

Technorati Tags: Tivo, Moleskin, BMW, Fred Meyer, Nordstrom, Applebees, Nikon D40, Tweetr

The rhythm is gonna getcha

I tried to login to my online banking account and received a curious message along the lines of this:

We can not provide access to your account at this time. We cannot verify your credentials at this time due to your typing rhythm

I’ve never this message before. I’ll occasionally forget my password, but I’ve never been told that my typing rhythm is off tempo.

I went to the security section of my credit union’s website to see what I could find on improving my rhythm and gain access to my account. Here’s what I came across:

By definition, biometrics is the measurement of physical characteristics to verify your identity. Essentially, this new feature measures the rhythm at which you type your password to verify your identity. It does not keep track of your actual password, it simply recognizes the rhythm in which you type it. Since each person has a unique typing rhythm, this feature provides you an additional layer of security.

Upon login, if we are unable to verify your identity using your username, password, and typing rhythm, you may still proceed to Online Banking, assuming of course your username and password are correct. However, if you attempt to complete actual transactions, you will encounter a series of challenge questions to further verify your identity. You must answer at least one of the challenge questions correctly to continue.

Sure enough, I tried logging in again and this time I could see my account but when I tried to schedule an online payment, I was presented with a screen full of challenge question. I had to answer three questions successfully before I was given full access to my account.

Is this what it’s now come to? Not only do I have to remember all my passwords but my rhythm can’t be out of whack!

Technorati Tags: Security, Credit Union, Biometrics

These leaves won’t leave me alone

I don’t know how many leaves have fallen off our tree in the backyard, but it seems like 20 million. I’m sure it’s at least that many because every time I look outside I catch another hundred or so falling ever so gently towards my newly raked grass.

Last year I decided to wait until all the leaves were off the tree before I started raking. There are a couple of problems with that strategy:

Lots of leaves = dead grass
It rains in Seattle. A lot

It was well into November of last year before I started raking. I was stunned when I realized we’d filled 18 bags full of soppy wet leaves.

So this year I figured I’d take the same approach I do with email: handle things as they come in in order to avoid an overwhelming amount all at once. Three weeks ago I was happy to get two large garbage cans full of leaves off the ground. The next week it took two more garbage cans. Ditto for this past week. I coaxed my kids into helping me by turning them into”leaf smashers”. When the leaves would fill the can, I’d hold one over it while their little legs pushed the leaves downward, making room for more.

I feel like the leaf Gods are teasing me as they drop just enough to keep me busy but not enough that I feel like I’m making any progress.

Today I looked outside and, for the first time, I wasn’t stressed out as I watched the many leaves fall from our tree. I just sat there and enjoyed it. I opened the screen door and listened as they landed on top of each other. Sometimes a small gust of wind would blow a handful into our neighbors yard (YES!) but most settled not far from the tree.

If it doesn’t rain over the next couple of days, I’m going to rake the leaves into a huge pile. Then I’ll call the kids over so they can jump in them. If I can’t beat them, I might as well join them.