I've been working lately on Coursera's Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certificate. I just completed the current course, Harnessing the Power of Data with Power BI. I find this valuable as I don't know Power BI (BI = Business Intelligence) that well yet. I have extensive experience with Excel and Google Sheets. I studied database theory and design, SQL/MySQL, and created gobs of databases for my Web Development Degree.

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I launched this blog twenty years ago today. It's rather mind blowing to consider how much has transpired over that time. George W. Bush was President. I still worked at Starbucks, and have had 6 other jobs since. I've moved once. I've gone through multiple stints of unemployment. A lot of my life has gone into this site. This site started as a…

My friend Bill forwarded me a great piece from siliconvalley.com discussing the ways that layoffs have been impacting people’s family lives. My layoff has affected me far more deeply than I would’ve e...

I’ve been streaming via Spotify pretty exclusively for some time. Haven’t ponied up for the premium plan yet, but look to do so. I really love having the whole world of recorded music at the tip of my...

I’ve thought a fair amount about the ethics surrounding wealth and the acquisition of wealth. My friend Roy’s look at this book on this subject gives me a lot to think about. "Leaving a Legacy: An important new book by Johann Kurtz". When I think about the wealthy (and other community leaders) I admire, there's a grace and decorum attached.

I've been following XKCD for, well, decades. Over the years, I've seen many friends not get the privilege of growing old. For me, this is a powerful gift and one that I don't ever intend to take for granted. Perhaps the most powerful Thanksgiving sentiment I've ever felt. For those of you in the US, may you have a blessed and rejuvenating Thanksgiving. And for the rest of you, may the reminder of this week set you up for continued growth and progress.

As I'm listening to a 70s Road Trip playlist on Spotify, up popped Iggy Pop's "The Passenger". Me being me, I Google him to see what he's up to nowadays. This is the first picture that came up for me: Now, for some deeper insight into how I see the world, I couldn't help but see how much he looks like this…

Well, it’s been an interesting few days in the land of spam and phishing. Yesterday I wrote about a spam email I received, along with dozens of others that’s gotten a bit silly. Today I noticed an inv...

One thing a lot of folks my note know: I also run and manage sound systems. I started doing this in high school and have been doing sound tech work ever since. Currently, I am the main focus for sound at the event center I work for systems. Yesterday I was called from my them while at my othee job because our Bluetooth transceiver wasn't working.

Thinking deeper about all the AI hype right now.