Hang the depression, full speed ahead: Strategies

"If I'm writing something while depressed, I am absolutely sure it is going to suck. Really really bad. But here's a funny thing: Often when I look at the work later, I can't tell much difference ... it will take me longer to get motivated and focused enough to write the thing, but other than that I really can't tell."

As posted in Hubpages. Check it out.

In first-ever race, running like a fish out of water

Ok. I don't run. My ankles are bad. Gravity is bad. Running is worse.

So there I was at the starting line of the Floppin' Flounder 5k run. What was I thinking?

Here's the story, as reported in Hubpages:

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.txt file makes a simple, elegant to-do solution

Daily agenda (as todo.txt) is shown on this Linux desktop; it works just as well in Windows too. The file is easily accessible from the Fluxbox menu to the left, but you can also create an icon and store that on your desktop.

Quick and dirty productivity is made possible by using a simple text file that anything can read ... check it out.

As seen in Hubpages.

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Hipster PDA: Getting mileage from index cards

What's that in my pocket?

It's only a stack of index cards, but man, does it get a following from the geeky and GTD crowd.

An excerpt:

It's simple enough to assemble: 1) Grab some index cards and 2) Clip them together with the binder clip. That's it. As Mann puts it in his website, there is no Step 3 ... it's a whole lot fancier than the old Redneck PDA, and it's easier to share information with someone (i.e. give him an index card, which is easier than chopping off your hand). And unlike the old PDA (or smartphones, which picked up where the PDA technology left off) you don't have to worry about batteries, system crashes, or the usual electonics catastrophes.

From Hubpages: Check it out -- if for no other reason than to find out what a Redneck PDA is.

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What's in your writer's toolbox?

I'll show you mine.

Check out Hubpages for the whole story.

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Writing in the old and new world

From Hubpages, 'cause some things just have to be said ...

"One of the results is that there is this gigantic push-pull between the need for quality writing and the writing that sells. OK, that's not a new story; people are more likely to read People Magazine than Atlantic Monthly. But the buyers at least had flesh and blood, and sometimes even a brain. But now much of the stuff on the Internet is pure crap with no discernible value, even though it's well-keyworded pure crap with no discernible value."

OK. Call it a screed. Anyway, check it out.

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Holding the secret to life?

I wrote this about a co-worker of mine, because it is suspected he really does hold some valuable life secrets without knowing it. Or caring. As reported in Hubpages:

"These days velocity trumps size and quality, and the whole objective to living seems to be just hanging on instead of winning -- or even finishing -- the race. You merely try to cope. But someone with Alan's mindset seems to cope better than most. As I once said with tongue firmly implanted in cheek, Alan holds the secret to life. We even have a key phrase around the shop: 'What Would Alan Do?' "

Check it out. Y'all might learn something.

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Get your jazz ears on: Newport this weekend

... and I'm gonna miss it.

But if you can't be at Newport for the jazz festival this year, here's how to catch it live on the Internet. Check it out.

(From The Jam Session, Reloaded)

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Hubpages: Making your 'dumb' cell phone smarter

From Hubpages:

Why are you messing with that ridiculously expensive smart phone? You know, the one that came with that draconian contract you got suckered into?

(OK, this does sound like a sales pitch, but bear with me.)

In Hubpages: Making your 'dumb' cell phone smarter.

This article outlines a bunch of uses for text messaging; things like controlling your email box and Google calendar, keeping up with your bank balances, and getting weather forecasts. All of this battle-tested. By me.

Anyway, check it out. Ya might learn something.

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Hubpages: Six grocery items, 139 uses -- who'd guess?

As published in Hubpages -- check it out!

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Jam Session: Some bass commentary, Stanley Clarke style

On The Jam Session, Reloaded:

Stanley Clarke, now 59 years old, rips it up on upright and electric bass. His music served as a bridge between jazz and funk, and he hangs in with the young guys quite well.

Check out the sounds!

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Technology takes a holiday: A trip up the mountain

As published in HubPages:

... I checked my own cell phone. It's a plain-vanilla model with no camera and no mp3 player, but I can still control much of my online life through text messages. Like the others, I'm showing no signal-strength bars. And for the first time since I've had that phone, the "no service" message was on the screen ... the hike up the mountain is rigorous enough that you need to pack light, so forget about bringing the laptop. Besides, that won't matter; there's no wireless connection available and no electricity in the cabins. You're roughing it. Tech takes a holiday on this trip ...

Now that we've sufficiently whetted your appetite, go on over and read the rest, OK?

Or just check out my entire HubPages site. That's where I hide my best writing.

Spreading some Rahsaan, 'cause I can

Quick: Who's this guy? Besides a totally insane genius, that is ... 

There's more in The Jam Session Reloaded, which I hadn't maintained in some time. Good subject matter to restart it on.

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Sort of a bear encounter: Hiking trip

As published in HubPages:

That's when the manager of the lodge announced that there was some recent bear activity on the property, and we should move all our baggage from our porches. Some folks moved right away to take care of their gear, but none of my group bothered. Recent bear activity usually means it could happen. So could being struck by lightning or winning the state lottery ... what the manager didn't say was that there was some bear activity going on right this very moment. Now, that's a whole 'nother thing ... we finished dinner and went back to our cabin, and all of our stuff was moved inside. And this ranger was still running around, with a dart gun in his hand ...

So? Don't just sit there. Read the story!

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At 82, groundbreaking Konitz still holds his own

Jazz legend Lee Konitz is still around, still blowin' and still playing with kids.

As posted in The Jam Session, Reloaded:

... what's amazing is that Konitz is 82 years old now, playing with guys in their 20s and -- well, if he's pacing himself more, he's showing no real shortage of ideas. But Konitz's entree in the jazz world was always in his ability to think on his feet ...

Check it out, and download the concert while you're about it. It's free, by the way, and it's good.

Jam Session: 'Physical' chosen as sexiest song

Discussion of the sexiest song ever, per Billboard. Olivia Newton-John?

"For Newton-John, this was something of a reach. She'd had something of a squeaky-clean image, and the song broke the mold for her. But the video had her working out on all sorts of exercise equipment, just so folks wouldn't read "Get Physical" as a dirty song. It was a nice use of double entendre, I thought. Exercise? Yeah, right."

As posted in The Jam Session, Reloaded. Check it out ...

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Birthdays in the house ...

Absolutely must mention this ...

Dad turns 82 ...

and Stan Getz would have been 83. (Video on The Jam Session, Reloaded.)

Happy Birthday, Dad! Sorry, no videos of you today.

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On The Workbench: Browser war gets tighter

From The Workbench, Reloaded:

Firefox has improved its browser. Opera has a new upgrade in the can. And Chrome is, well, Chrome.

... Firefox, with its new 3.6 version, has seen enough improvements to almost make it a fair fight. Some of the benchmark tests comparing the two intrigued me. When you figure in that impossible stability+speed combination, reviewers are calling them almost neck and neck ...

Check it out.

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Jam Session: Music's great double threats

As posted in The Jam Session, Reloaded:

Kris Kristofferson won acclaim as an actor and songwriter, while jazz bassist Milt Hinton shot some great pictures ...

So who are some of the great double threats from the music world? Here are some that come to mind at a moment's notice:

Check it out.

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Jam Session: Kristofferson's show was refreshingly honest

From The Jam Session, Reloaded:

... it was this minimalist, for-real aspect that helped Kris connect with the audience. He was up there on the empty stage of the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, standing in the circle of light with two monitors at his feet, a microphone stand, and a music stand next to him. Just him, with a nothing-special acoustic guitar, occasional harmonica on the neck rack, and his songs. Take away the usual venue trappings and it could have been him playing in a coffee shop, some smoky tavern someplace, or your living room ...

Read the whole story here: