Disqus - Latest Comments for dickcarl

Re: Exploring with Sarah Jane - Vegas Cannabis Magazine

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:50:00 -0000

Many years ago, we were driving through South Dakota in August. One huge grasshopper hit the windshield, then another. Soon our windshield was covered with grasshopper guts. We got off the highway and drove up to a gas station, listening to the terrifying crunch of little bodies beneath our tires.

Re: Ellen DeGeneres returns, addresses controversy on her show | EW.com

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 19:27:08 -0000

So what are you doing to make things right with the people who lost jobs, lost income, and were hurt?

Re: How to Find Remote Work (in 10 steps)

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:20:47 -0000

I was right with you up to "work hard and be dependable."

Re: Charleston Post And Courier Forum: More Liberal Bias?

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 13:26:57 -0000

When you're hiding who and what you are, it tells volumes about what you're saying.

Re: SC Business Update from John "Swampfox" Warner

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 08:47:12 -0000

I wish I could read this.

Re: Our least professional moment in business (And why you shouldn’t bank with Chase!)

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 13:56:27 -0000

To this day, even as a "semi-retired consultant", I keep multiple accounts with multiple banks. Too many times (in my business career) stuff like this would happen. And being able to look the banker in the eye and say "That's fine, I'm sure my account with <other bank=""> is still good, and we'll transfer all our business there." Banks, as a group, are close to used car dealers and MLM guys in just plain evil.

Re: Our Tow Car Fiasco That I Can Finally Talk About With Minimal Anxiety

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 12:55:27 -0000

When we owned trailers, I got in the habit of never unhooking the chains until I'd gotten the hitch unhooked. Saved my ass a couple of times.

Re: Our Life Plans in 2019

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 11:30:46 -0000

...and a huge kitchen, and a chest freezer, and a double garage, and even temperatures everywhere, and we DON'T DEAL WITH OUR OWN POOP!

Re: Our Life Plans in 2019

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 20:03:09 -0000

Amazing -- you'll find the next years wonderful and challenging. But I'm sure you're up to it. Coincidence -- we just leased a house last month, to take some time off from RV living. Focusing on some health challenges, and enjoying lots of hot water and massive internet connectivity.

Re: Crossing the Canadian Border In Your RV

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 18:39:08 -0000

So WHO got stuck in your motorhome?

Re: What’s Happening in Our Lives at the Moment

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 10:38:41 -0000

I'd love to see you do partnerships with existing, well-run campgrounds where you help them add on what they need to capture the new market. I really like working with someone who already has the skills and experience, and adding my abilities to make something completely new.

Re: RVE 119: How to Validate Your Idea and Find Your Product Market Fit

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 15:58:32 -0000

It would be fascinating to do some customer research on the #1 concern. I'd bet money that a ten-year warranty would burn down every other RV manufacturer. AND they'd have to build a better product, to support it.

Re: Going From 0 to 1: The Hard Part of Starting Anything New (Campground Booking Update)

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:34:10 -0000

In my years at Microsoft, I saw this happen again and again. Despite all the testing you do (and they did millions of dollars of it) any piece of software is sure to fail when exposed to actual customers. They make hilarious UI mistakes, enter stuff three times, keep clicking buttons randomly while waiting -- a whole raft of strange behaviors you never anticipated. And servers with HUGE capacity numbers choke on startup for completely unanticipated reasons.

Re: RVE 87: Test Drive – How to Launch an Online Course

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 21:14:40 -0000

These are some pretty good ones. I like that they are including guides, polls, and info-graphics. Often times "sneaky" training is much better than something you call a "course". https://blog.elucidat.com/e...

Re: RVE 87: Test Drive – How to Launch an Online Course

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 17:21:05 -0000

Good overview. In my experience, people have the most trouble limiting themselves to a manageable amount on information. If you're a blacksmith, you tend to think students MUST know how metal is mined, all the names of the exotic tools, and 25 different sources to purchase different kinds of coal. Once you start BUILDING the course, you find out it's going to have 300 episodes, eight hours each. A key rule of courseware development: NOBODY PAYS YOU MONEY FOR STUFF YOU WRITE AND THEN CUT OUT AT THE END.

Start with a simple outline or "needs assessment". What does a beginning blacksmith really need to know? Can you offer links and appendices that they can look to for more information? What are the key topics you will teach -- and how will you assess learning? (Can range from "Did you like it?" to "100 multiple-choice questions show your work.")

Re: RVE 85: Test Drive – Three Books That Changed My Life

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 16:00:14 -0000

Pleased that you found a book by "Richard Carlson". If you enjoyed it, you can slip a few bucks my way.

Re: This freaking sucks: fighting for in-network insurance coverage!

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 22:13:34 -0000

Yup. My wife has Medicare, but I'm still an "Individual". This is a dirty word to most all healthcare providers. I don't blame them, as it means hours on the phone with BCBS arguing about the silliest things. It means home in Texas there was ONE PROVIDER who would take new patients and be my PCP within 50 miles. It means that nearly every medical procedure happens after weeks or months of talking, writing, phoning and arguing.

We elected a bunch of people who said they'd rid us of ACA, and they are not. I'm seriously worried that this country I love is going to blow up -- civil war, riots, terrorism -- because of so many basic problems.

Re: Last week, someone asked what I’m struggling with… (3700 words later)

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:53:12 -0000

Things here have been blissfully quiet for two weeks, as wife is back in Portland welcoming the new great-grandbaby. (I have decreed that I am to be addressed as "GreatGrandDude". Temps are finally back in the low 80's, the dogs are sleeping quietly, and some woman on the east coast is getting all problems that were to have been routed my direction.

Re: That Time We Drove to Forest City, Iowa for RV Service

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:04:48 -0000

I sure hope that your Winnebago taskmasters realize the value of this single post and video. I would have NEVER considered a Winnie -- even though I'm an old codger. The real-ness and warmth of you two and the other folks is better than $500K of silly brochures and ads.

Re: RV Park Review – Pecan Park Riverside RV Park, San Marcos, TX

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 14:20:40 -0000

Over the last several years, I see them frequently looking for workcampers -- no matter the month or season. I now know why.

Re: We Rented Out Our RV on Outdoorsy…Are we crazy?

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 12:43:02 -0000

I managed rental apartments for several years. If you've got a good deposit, do some background checking, and have solid insurance -- it's not a big deal if they do damage. And often, once you're made whole, the unit is in better condition. New carpet, brand new appliance, replaced fixtures.

Re: We Rented Out Our RV on Outdoorsy…Are we crazy?

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 09:42:41 -0000

We used to live in Austin. I figured I could make a killing just buying some small, used RV's and renting them out during all the events. SXSW, Formula 1, ACL, etc. We full-time in a 32' motorhome, and have "agreed upon" value on our insurance. If we ever left, I'd do this in a hot minute.

Re: Joe Soucheray: Spending is over estimate? Remember 2 words: Good faith

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 11:20:36 -0000

As a former professional project manager, any project of this size and scope is given a category called "contingency". It would be around 10-20% of the total, depending on your research of what past similar projects have shown. (Which, in projects managed by the government, would be about 100-200%.) A manager who didn't include this would never get another project.

"Padding" is a whole 'nother question. That's what you use when the client doesn't want to have a contingency fund.

Re: Hey Air New Zealand, what happened to my Skycouch?

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 11:23:01 -0000

It would be so nice if these cockroaches would do the right thing BEFORE they get splashed all over social media. Oh, well.

Re: Welcome to the United States. Did you remember to pack your magnifying glass?

@TechHerding (Dick Carlson) — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 11:44:51 -0000

This is why I won't rent from Dollar, Alamo, et.al. You demand the cheapest rental you can get, don't complain when you get a cheap-ass company. If you pay a fair price to one of the majors I doubt this would happen.