Disqus - Latest Comments for MajorDad1984

Re: Can you help me find this old 90s PC game?

MajorDad1984 — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:32:25 -0000

I'll vote for Gauntlet.

Re: 5 Ways To Kick Your Moleskine Notebook Up A Notch

MajorDad1984 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:33:19 -0000

I guess I'm still trying to figure out what the big deal is about the "brand." Yes, they've had some pretty famous users...but is the Moleskine (5"x8") journal that much better than the Barnes and Noble "house" brand for less than half the cost and even a few more pages?

Don't get me wrong, I like the hacks above...and will implement some of them. The issue I have is the all the hooplah about Moleskine. I don't write as well as Hemingway...don't think my choice of notebook or pen has much to do with it.

Re: The 12 Days of Giveaways: Day 7 – The David Allen Company

MajorDad1984 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:26:39 -0000

“How will the addition of a ubiquitous capture tool enhance your productivity this coming year?”
As a knowledge manager for the government, my mind is constantly running at a pretty high pace. I come up with new (won't necessarily beat my chest and say good) ideas all the time. I've been using my iPhone as my capture tool...BUT recently I've been working in secure areas where electronic devices like the phone just can't go.

One of these wallets would be ideal to allow me keep the good ideas flowing AND wind up in my capture system. 43 Folders here we come!

Re: The 12 Days of Giveaways: Day 2 – Toodledo for iOS

MajorDad1984 — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:17:06 -0000

AND...my wife and I might also find a use for it to help prepare a task list for our daughter who lives with Asperger's Syndrome. She needs a little more structure than the average bear so this might be something to keep her on track with those activities we do and take for granted.

Toodle-oo.

Jim

Re: The 12 Days of Giveaways: Day 2 – Toodledo for iOS

MajorDad1984 — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:15:08 -0000

“How will you use Toodledo for iOS in the coming year to be more productive?”

As a current Pocket Informant user...who isn't "Getting Things Done" I'd like to give another application a chance in the coming year.

A free one would certainly be a great early Christmas gift!

Re: http://majordad1984.com/post/377023120

MajorDad1984 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:52:58 -0000

It got better.

At least I'm "entered" now. And you can "win" or try every day.

Losers get a 15% coupon.

Re: http://majordad1984.com/post/371571194

MajorDad1984 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:57:02 -0000

Looks like we've got this fixed!

Strange work around...but what do you want for nothing?

Rubber Biscuits!

Re: Review (and a Contest!): “10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget” by the Writers at Wisebread

MajorDad1984 — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:36:09 -0000

With today's latest and greatest web-delivered video...I'm toying with the idea of cutting my cable television service to the bone...and watching "re-runs" of first run shows via network websites or other delivery means like hulu.com.

Why pay for stuff you're not watching?

Re: “It’s a Sprinsteen Song, it’s a Ride in a Chevrolet….”

MajorDad1984 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:10:29 -0000

No state income taxes...

Castle laws....home defense is a serious hobby here.

And IF it comes to secession...I'm sure you've seen the stats about Texas. We'd make the CSA look like a joke!

Re: “It’s a Sprinsteen Song, it’s a Ride in a Chevrolet….”

MajorDad1984 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:42:34 -0000

I kept tellin' ya there's plenty of room for you and the missus here in Texas!

Re: “It’s a Sprinsteen Song, it’s a Ride in a Chevrolet….”

MajorDad1984 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:42:25 -0000

Registering....

Re: The Story that Will Not Die

MajorDad1984 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:52:22 -0000

TC....greetings....I'm MajorDad. (Yeah, I know I've been AWOL for FAR too long)!

While I would find it sweet to know that "Barry" ain't electable...let's take it on faith that the American people won't fall for the Third Coming of Bill.

If we want to get "legal" with things...I suppose there's enough about John's birth that could spin the courts into "Tiger Butter" too. Seems as if "we" would have a better deal with the son of US Navy officer (Go Army, Beat Navy!) standing up in court...but let the good times roll.

This should be fun to watch...but even if the unthinkable happens, we survived the Great White Hope from Hope....

See you on the high ground my friend...all is well in Texas.

MajorDad1984

Re: Remember Any Number with the Sound Number System

MajorDad1984 — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:27:15 -0000

I first read about this system in "The Memory Book" by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas (yes, the basketball player) back in the 1970s.

Nothing new...and I'm a little disappointed that the author didn't give credit where credit was due.

MajorDad1984

Re: Drink ice water, lose weight

MajorDad1984 — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:53:41 -0000

As a faithful Bowflex user (not very good at adhering to the diet you receive with the system) I can tell you that this is a key component to the "6 Week Challenge" program.

I do believe that this is a VERY sound start to shedding some of those holiday pounds (or in my case, those that have arrived in the past three weeks since I put down my smokes.) Coupled with a low-carb plan...and some decent exercise program, you'll drop the weight. (As always...ask your doctor first!)

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Re: Mouse Traps

MajorDad1984 — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:57:54 -0000

Try a piece of celery stuck to the trap with a dab of peanut butter. Years ago when faced with the same problem, the exterminator told me that was the magic "bait."

Save the cheese for a "Tom and Jerry" marathon!

MajorDad1984

Re: N. Korea May Be Preparing For Underground Nuke Test

MajorDad1984 — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 07:52:56 -0000

Well, that being the case, I suppose we ought to be blowing the dust off of our "open air" test program and maybe drop a few small "ones" just to see if they're still packing the punch we expect.

Never hurts to rotate your stock whether you're talking about luncheon meats or thermonuclear weapons.

Kim, it's up to you big fella.

See you on the high ground.

MajorDad1984

Re: Is the American Meritocracy Dead?

MajorDad1984 — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 10:00:43 -0000

Class envy here, pure and simple.

I'm a career government employee having served 12 years on active duty in the Army and then the past 14 as an Army analyst on the civilian side of the equation. Yes, you can say that bureacracies are indeed bloated and inefficient, but that hardly addresses the effect that's in question here.

I too believe that a CEO pulling in 1000 times what the average Joe makes is on the obscene side, but it's not been changed by the company stockholders who put up the bucks to finance the company.

As to the "sweetheart deals" from government, only the big companies out there have the capability to perform to standard. Take into consideration "set aside" contracts for small, minority, and female owned businesses. It's not as bad as you might think.

If you want to be beaten down by this "news" by all means, go right ahead and sing, "Nobody pays me, everybody hates, I think I'll go eat worms." It might make you feel better, but it won't change a bloody thing!

MajorDad1984

Re: Altec Lansing Wireless Headphones Giveaway

MajorDad1984 — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 16:00:07 -0000

Dang, this is almost as good as FreeCycle...speaking of which, anyone need a bunkbed set?

See you on the high ground.

MajorDad1984

Re: A key technique for staying calm during an argument

MajorDad1984 — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 23:23:44 -0000

I'll jump in supporting JC. I think that there are times that you just have to say "This too shall pass." (Tom Cruise said something a little more appropriate in "Risky Business" but this appears to be too nice a place to use the "F-word.")

Right now, I'm in a very stressful situation, where I'd bet my life that I'm just a little bit smarter and capable than those that are supposed to be my managers/supervisors. I've been screwed over in a re-dis-organization and I'm trying to figure out what to do. I have to confront someone about it. My biggest problem is that I know my boss will be getting all red in the face and upset when I question what he's been part of. Well, I guess I'll have to let you all know how it turns out tomorrow when I call him on a pretty crappy deal.

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Re: Why Your Employees Are Losing Motivation

MajorDad1984 — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 22:58:34 -0000

* Instill an inspiring purpose

At this point in my life, the inspiration for getting up each morning is the fact that my checking account will be plussed up every other Wednesday.

* Provide recognition

I'll have to provide some caution here, sometimes recognition isn't enough in and of itself. I've got more recognition in the form of ribbons/medals (yes, the Army gives them to civilians too), pictures with generals, and other doodads to last me a lifetime. Sometimes recognition involves promotion, increased responsibility, and giving the employee what makes them tick.

* Be an expediter for your employees

I couldn't agree more. Supervisors and managers are supposed to provide the grease that allows the people that get the job done at the lower levels done...from grinding against the upper echelons of the organizations. When middle management becomes a conduit for information from the "doers" to the "bosses" then all is lost.

* Coach your employees for improvement

Again, I couldn't agree more. However you have to take the time to define the current state vs. where you think the organization could possibly go in the future. This takes vision and creative thinking. There appears to be a vacuum for this where I am working with our government.

* Communicate fully

Hell, I'd be happy if my "higher ups" would even communicate partially. In the past three weeks I've been promoted and demoted back again finding things out mostly by accident. Keeping people informed will take away so much of the uncertainty that seems to be so prevalent among today's workforce.

* Face up to poor performance

Add to that...you can always do better. When you start settling for "good enough" solutions, it's probably time for you and your employees to update their resumes.

* Promote teamwork

What's that? We have an organization...that's not anything like a baseball team's roster.

* Listen and involve

So true. I've never learned a damn thing when I was doing the talking. Involving people will give you a very good chance to learn what the members of the workforce are thinking. In my organization, we seem to have a very loose grasp of reality and what the employees are thinking/feeling.

See you on the high ground, folks!

MajorDad1984

Re: xbxrx

MajorDad1984 — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 14:52:50 -0000

I've heard this story a number of times too...and I tend to believe that McAuliffe might have said "fuck you" but the message handed to the Germans may have said "Nuts."