I am moving to all Mac computers. I find that iCal is great.
I still need to sync with various other calendars. I can export an ics file to update my other Macs and Google and my legacy Outlook machines. I can use outlook to sync my phone. [bother! Macs have a sync application, but it does not recognize my phone model.]
Yahoo! however requires a csv file. They are the only ones in creation. Would you believe there is no way to translate an ics to a csv!!! Proprietary systems are a real pain.
I guess I will try to export Outlook to csv.
About Me
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The power of powerful questions
From a Jeff Meyers Newsletter:
Jeff Myers, Ph.D., President
Passing the Baton International, Inc.
A few weeks ago I spoke at the Texas State Homeschool Conference on "Winning the hearts of your children without losing your mind." I looked at my watch and realized I had 15 minutes of material but only five minutes left to present (imagine that!).
I told the audience, "We're just about out of time, but if you'll look at your notes I'd like to briefly look at some powerful questions you can ask to coach your children into being thinking leaders rather than passive followers."
I went through the questions so quickly I wasn't at all sure they would be helpful. Yet an hour and a half later one of the attendees told me, "I just coached my six-year old son."
"Really?" I said, stunned.
"Yes. I'm thinking about homeschooling him, and I brought him to the children's program. But he cried and didn't want to go. Instead of forcing him, I just sat next to him and calmly asked the questions from your notes."
"What happened?" I asked.
"It was amazing," she said. "After just a few of the questions he stopped crying, analyzed the source of his fears and came up with a resourceful solution."
In talking with this mother, I realized that she had used a simple set of powerful questions to approach a difficult situation in an attitude of compassion and curiosity. The actual conversation was quite simple:
"What is going on?"
"Why do you think you're afraid?"
"What would you like to see happen?"
"What are some things you think you could do?"
"What if they are not able to do that?"
"Then I guess I will try to be brave and have a good time."
This mother just asked questions, listened and helped her little boy solve his own problem. No manipulation. No bribing. Just successful coaching.
Coaches succeed in helping people get breakthroughs by cultivating three skills:
1. Coaches learn to listen. Ninety percent of communication is listening, yet most people admit that they're not good at it (and studies show that their colleagues and friends think they're actually worse than they know).
Failing to listen means that you miss 90% of the information you need to relate to others. Imagine cashing your paycheck and throwing 90% of the money away. That is essentially what poor listeners do everyday.
2. Coaches ask powerful questions. Bad questions cause irritation and defensiveness. Good questions stimulate thought and lead to breakthroughs. Studying the art of question-asking leads to clarity and trust.
Coaches practice asking powerful, open-ended questions that enable them to walk alongside people as those people take responsibility for their own leadership development.
3. Coaches help people set worthy goals. Most people have some idea of WHAT they are doing but almost no idea WHY. Goal-setting is a life-transforming skill that can be learned in just a few hours.
If you're a leader, helping others set goals reinforces your credibility and encourages them toward more God-centered, purposeful lives.
Jeff Myers, Ph.D., President
Passing the Baton International, Inc.
A few weeks ago I spoke at the Texas State Homeschool Conference on "Winning the hearts of your children without losing your mind." I looked at my watch and realized I had 15 minutes of material but only five minutes left to present (imagine that!).
I told the audience, "We're just about out of time, but if you'll look at your notes I'd like to briefly look at some powerful questions you can ask to coach your children into being thinking leaders rather than passive followers."
I went through the questions so quickly I wasn't at all sure they would be helpful. Yet an hour and a half later one of the attendees told me, "I just coached my six-year old son."
"Really?" I said, stunned.
"Yes. I'm thinking about homeschooling him, and I brought him to the children's program. But he cried and didn't want to go. Instead of forcing him, I just sat next to him and calmly asked the questions from your notes."
"What happened?" I asked.
"It was amazing," she said. "After just a few of the questions he stopped crying, analyzed the source of his fears and came up with a resourceful solution."
What did this mother do differently?
In talking with this mother, I realized that she had used a simple set of powerful questions to approach a difficult situation in an attitude of compassion and curiosity. The actual conversation was quite simple:
"What is going on?"
"I'm afraid to go to the children's program."
"Why do you think you're afraid?"
"Because I don't know anyone there."
"What would you like to see happen?"
"Well, I do have a friend in there but he was assigned to a different class than me."
"What are some things you think you could do?"
"I could ask the people if they would let me be in my friend's class. Then I wouldn't be alone."
"What if they are not able to do that?"
"Then I guess I will try to be brave and have a good time."
This mother just asked questions, listened and helped her little boy solve his own problem. No manipulation. No bribing. Just successful coaching.
How successful coaches do what they do
Coaches succeed in helping people get breakthroughs by cultivating three skills:
1. Coaches learn to listen. Ninety percent of communication is listening, yet most people admit that they're not good at it (and studies show that their colleagues and friends think they're actually worse than they know).
Failing to listen means that you miss 90% of the information you need to relate to others. Imagine cashing your paycheck and throwing 90% of the money away. That is essentially what poor listeners do everyday.
2. Coaches ask powerful questions. Bad questions cause irritation and defensiveness. Good questions stimulate thought and lead to breakthroughs. Studying the art of question-asking leads to clarity and trust.
Coaches practice asking powerful, open-ended questions that enable them to walk alongside people as those people take responsibility for their own leadership development.
3. Coaches help people set worthy goals. Most people have some idea of WHAT they are doing but almost no idea WHY. Goal-setting is a life-transforming skill that can be learned in just a few hours.
If you're a leader, helping others set goals reinforces your credibility and encourages them toward more God-centered, purposeful lives.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
My Logo
Sisyphus had too much hubris. He thought that he was better than the gods. They sent him to Hades and made him push a rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down again...and again...forever.
The rest of the story:
Sisyphus got to like it and made a game of it. The gods gave up and set him free.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Updated Photo
I just updated my profile picture.
I recently had a passport photo taken, so I:
I recently had a passport photo taken, so I:
- Scanned it in
using GIMP I: - Added a color background
- Blurred out the throat wrinkles
- De-shined the forehead
- Added a background rainbow
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Hydrograph
The break in the previous graph is when the water topped the automatic equipment. It had to be reset.
Treading Water Letter
If you have seen the news lately, you have probably seen that Cedar Rapids is having major flooding. Since we are about one hundred feet above the normal river level, we are high and dry. Here are some interesting facts:
- see pictures at http://www.gazetteonline.com/
- 483 square blocks under water
- 24,000 people have been evacuated, out of a population of 201,000.
- the record flood level has been at 20 feet, recorded in 1929 and 1859. That is before the Civil War. We hit a crest of 32 feet yesterday. 1993 had a stage of 19 feet. The normal flood level is 12 feet.
- we are not forecast to return to 20 feet (the old record) until next Wednesday. It could take a couple of weeks to return to normal level of <12 feet.
- see http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dvn&gage=cidi4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1
- when we were at 24 feet, the amount of water flowing down the Cedar River was equal to the water flowing down the Mississippi at moderate flood stage at the Quad Cities. We are now 8 feet higher.
- Cedar Rapids is down to ONE water well, located at one of the lowest spots in town. Last night 1,200 people helped sandbag it. They said we will probably go to a "boil" order by Sunday.
- We have lost two power stations. We get random power outages. All power in the central business district has been off for two days. Most will be without power for at least a week. Even though the entire city of Palo has been evacuated, the Palo nuclear plant is still on-line, and looked to remain that way.
- Thursday, we helped some friends move everything out of their basement to the second floor. Indian Creek came up about four feet while we were there. We all had to leave when it reached the street (the creek is in a park across the street from them.) Alex said they ended up with some water in the basement.
- Only one of 7 auto bridges across the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids is open. One of the 3 railroad bridges has collapsed, taking 20 railcars with it. They had been parked there to keep the bridge from floating away.
- Thursday night Alex helped with sandbags at Mercy Hospital. They were keeping the Ambulance Entrance open long enough to evacuate the hospital, which they finished this morning as water entered the basement equipment areas. Mercy is a large hospital that is 4-5 blocks outside the 500 year flood plain.
- I went to a Red Cross / FEMA briefing last night. I may go for more training today. More on this later.
- Alyssa is at YMCA Camp Wapsi. The Wapsi River is also at full flood, but the camp is on very high ground. We will pick her up this morning, but may have to be creative in picking a route to get there. We will probably bring several stranded kids home.
- Interstates 80 and 380 are closing for a few days.
We live in interesting times.
- see pictures at http://www.gazetteonline.com/
- 483 square blocks under water
- 24,000 people have been evacuated, out of a population of 201,000.
- the record flood level has been at 20 feet, recorded in 1929 and 1859. That is before the Civil War. We hit a crest of 32 feet yesterday. 1993 had a stage of 19 feet. The normal flood level is 12 feet.
- we are not forecast to return to 20 feet (the old record) until next Wednesday. It could take a couple of weeks to return to normal level of <12 feet.
- see http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dvn&gage=cidi4&view=1,1,1,1,1,1
- when we were at 24 feet, the amount of water flowing down the Cedar River was equal to the water flowing down the Mississippi at moderate flood stage at the Quad Cities. We are now 8 feet higher.
- Cedar Rapids is down to ONE water well, located at one of the lowest spots in town. Last night 1,200 people helped sandbag it. They said we will probably go to a "boil" order by Sunday.
- We have lost two power stations. We get random power outages. All power in the central business district has been off for two days. Most will be without power for at least a week. Even though the entire city of Palo has been evacuated, the Palo nuclear plant is still on-line, and looked to remain that way.
- Thursday, we helped some friends move everything out of their basement to the second floor. Indian Creek came up about four feet while we were there. We all had to leave when it reached the street (the creek is in a park across the street from them.) Alex said they ended up with some water in the basement.
- Only one of 7 auto bridges across the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids is open. One of the 3 railroad bridges has collapsed, taking 20 railcars with it. They had been parked there to keep the bridge from floating away.
- Thursday night Alex helped with sandbags at Mercy Hospital. They were keeping the Ambulance Entrance open long enough to evacuate the hospital, which they finished this morning as water entered the basement equipment areas. Mercy is a large hospital that is 4-5 blocks outside the 500 year flood plain.
- I went to a Red Cross / FEMA briefing last night. I may go for more training today. More on this later.
- Alyssa is at YMCA Camp Wapsi. The Wapsi River is also at full flood, but the camp is on very high ground. We will pick her up this morning, but may have to be creative in picking a route to get there. We will probably bring several stranded kids home.
- Interstates 80 and 380 are closing for a few days.
We live in interesting times.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Monday, June 02, 2008
How Countries Get Rich
Foreign Policy: Seven Questions: How Countries Get Rich:
Michael Spence: I was surprised by two things. One, how important the global economy is for developing countries both in terms of demand, meaning the size of the market and your ability to expand it once you get a cost position, and also from the point of view of importing technology or knowledge. But the biggest surprise was how important political leadership is in looking at cases of sustained high growth in developing countries. There’s a whole lot of consensus building and picking the right model, getting everybody on board, making deals with stakeholders like labor and business, and a persistent kind of pragmatic approach with imperfect knowledge about how the economy is going to respond to policy. I started out thinking this was a subject that was mainly about economics, and I ended up thinking that was about half of it, but the other half is really political.
"MS: I don’t think there’s any kind of secret. There are certainly common characteristics of the sustained high-growth cases, and they’re described in some detail in the report. I don’t view them as secrets. But we haven’t been able to find a case where, if you avoid the general approach that’s described there—
Michael Spence: I was surprised by two things. One, how important the global economy is for developing countries both in terms of demand, meaning the size of the market and your ability to expand it once you get a cost position, and also from the point of view of importing technology or knowledge. But the biggest surprise was how important political leadership is in looking at cases of sustained high growth in developing countries. There’s a whole lot of consensus building and picking the right model, getting everybody on board, making deals with stakeholders like labor and business, and a persistent kind of pragmatic approach with imperfect knowledge about how the economy is going to respond to policy. I started out thinking this was a subject that was mainly about economics, and I ended up thinking that was about half of it, but the other half is really political.
"MS: I don’t think there’s any kind of secret. There are certainly common characteristics of the sustained high-growth cases, and they’re described in some detail in the report. I don’t view them as secrets. But we haven’t been able to find a case where, if you avoid the general approach that’s described there—
- engagement with the global economy;
- being careful to bring everybody on board;
- very high savings and investment levels;
- a stable macro environment and
- a pretty heavy reliance on the basic characteristics of market allocation, price signals, and stuff; and
- being willing to put up with rather chaotic microeconomic dynamics
A. Michael Spence is Philip H. Knight professor, emeritus, and former dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. A senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, he is the 2001 winner of the Nobel Prize in economics.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Schofiled's Quote
Major General John M. Schofield's graduation address to the graduating Class of 1879 at West Point is as follows:
The discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle is not to be gained by harsh or tyrannical treatment. On the contrary, such treatment is far more likely to destroy than to make an army. It is possible to impart instruction and give commands in such a manner and such a tone of voice as to inspire in the soldier no feeling but an intense desire to obey, while the opposite manner and tone of voice cannot fail to excite strong resentment and a desire to disobey. The one mode or other of dealing with subordinates springs from a corresponding spirit in the breast of the commander. He who feels the respect which is due to others cannot fail to inspire in them respect for himself. While he who feels, and hence manifests, disrespect towards others, especially his subordinates, cannot fail to inspire hatred against himself.
The discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle is not to be gained by harsh or tyrannical treatment. On the contrary, such treatment is far more likely to destroy than to make an army. It is possible to impart instruction and give commands in such a manner and such a tone of voice as to inspire in the soldier no feeling but an intense desire to obey, while the opposite manner and tone of voice cannot fail to excite strong resentment and a desire to disobey. The one mode or other of dealing with subordinates springs from a corresponding spirit in the breast of the commander. He who feels the respect which is due to others cannot fail to inspire in them respect for himself. While he who feels, and hence manifests, disrespect towards others, especially his subordinates, cannot fail to inspire hatred against himself.
Jews defend Hagee's words
My point from yesterday is reinforced:
See the full Washington Times article here,
By Julia Duin - Jewish allies of the Rev. John Hagee rushed to his defense yesterday to say the Texas evangelist is not anti-Semitic despite Sen. John McCain campaign's repudiation Thursday of the evangelist's endorsement.
"John Hagee is one of the Jewish people's best friends," Los Angeles talk show host Dennis Prager said on the air yesterday morning. "Identifying John Hagee with anti-Semitism would be like identifying Raoul Wallenberg, the great Swede who saved thousands of Jews in the Holocaust, with anti-Semitism."
Orthodox Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, of Congregation Rodfei Sholom in San Antonio, appeared at an afternoon press conference yesterday to say Mr. Hagee's "words were twisted and used to attack him for being anti-Semitic."
In actuality, Mr. Hagee "interpreted a biblical verse in a way not very different from several legitimate Jewish authorities," the rabbi said.
"Viewing Hitler as acting completely outside of God's plan is to suggest that God was powerless to stop the Holocaust, a position quite unacceptable to any religious Jew or Christian," the rabbi said.
more...
See the full Washington Times article here,
By Julia Duin - Jewish allies of the Rev. John Hagee rushed to his defense yesterday to say the Texas evangelist is not anti-Semitic despite Sen. John McCain campaign's repudiation Thursday of the evangelist's endorsement.
"John Hagee is one of the Jewish people's best friends," Los Angeles talk show host Dennis Prager said on the air yesterday morning. "Identifying John Hagee with anti-Semitism would be like identifying Raoul Wallenberg, the great Swede who saved thousands of Jews in the Holocaust, with anti-Semitism."
Orthodox Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, of Congregation Rodfei Sholom in San Antonio, appeared at an afternoon press conference yesterday to say Mr. Hagee's "words were twisted and used to attack him for being anti-Semitic."
In actuality, Mr. Hagee "interpreted a biblical verse in a way not very different from several legitimate Jewish authorities," the rabbi said.
"Viewing Hitler as acting completely outside of God's plan is to suggest that God was powerless to stop the Holocaust, a position quite unacceptable to any religious Jew or Christian," the rabbi said.
more...
Classic Movie Sound Bites
There are four classic movie sound bites:
- The Wilhelm Yell
- The Goofy Holler
- The Tarzan Yell
- The Castle Thunder
Friday, May 23, 2008
McCain Shows His True Colors
John McCain showed his true colors today when he repudiated John Hagee's sermon expounding how good can come from evil.
Either McCain doesn't believe what scripture tells us in Habakkuk, Amos, Daniel, Romans and hundreds of other scriptures...or he does believe but does not have the moral backbone to stand up for his beliefs.
Either way disqualifies him for public office.
You can link to the Wall Street Journal article here.
In case the link is gone:
![[John Hagee]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ul1VGP9LzIPonJcJlwntPfqV2JgxPsx5QFgE-Sxs1fLjh8wJ-1VNfEQgp8t15UDI3BwWhYVTRjFyq5CtAWCD3wQXOlStOibaFY6GLDQE7K_iCOr5JWYcTuh1S_Z4DTpsvdvko2jcosQygH46_u=s0-d)
McCain is just part of the Anti-God Group.
Either McCain doesn't believe what scripture tells us in Habakkuk, Amos, Daniel, Romans and hundreds of other scriptures...or he does believe but does not have the moral backbone to stand up for his beliefs.
Either way disqualifies him for public office.
You can link to the Wall Street Journal article here.
In case the link is gone:
"Mr. Hagee, who endorsed the Republican candidate in February, delivered a sermon in the late 1990s in which he appeared to explain how something good could come from a tragic event.
"A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says...'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,'" Mr. Hagee preached. "God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel."
"Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them," Sen. McCain said Thursday. "I feel I must reject his endorsement." "McCain is just part of the Anti-God Group.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
America OnLine
I am really getting frustrated with AOL. I need to start the process of shifting to mchsi.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
My Favorite Books
The Bible (NIV or NASB),
Getting to Yes, Getting Past No,
Winning Teams,
Managing Transitions,
Atlas Shrugged,
any Heinlein except Job,
My Utmost for His Highest,
Herding Cats,
Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart,
Shogun, Whirlwind, Noble House,
Dune,
The Foundation Trilogy,
The Five Points of Calvinism,
Practicing the Presence of God,
The Mote in the God's I,
Godel Escher Bach,
The theory of Games and Economic Behavior,
The Light and the Glory, From Sea to Shining Sea,
The Civil War:A Narrative (triology)
Getting to Yes, Getting Past No,
Winning Teams,
Managing Transitions,
Atlas Shrugged,
any Heinlein except Job,
My Utmost for His Highest,
Herding Cats,
Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart,
Shogun, Whirlwind, Noble House,
Dune,
The Foundation Trilogy,
The Five Points of Calvinism,
Practicing the Presence of God,
The Mote in the God's I,
Godel Escher Bach,
The theory of Games and Economic Behavior,
The Light and the Glory, From Sea to Shining Sea,
The Civil War:A Narrative (triology)
My Favorite Movies
Casablanca,
Gandhi,
Animal House,
Patton,
Honeysuckle Rose,
Star Wars I-III,
Apocalypse Now,
Sin City,
The Searchers,
African Queen,
In Harm's Way,
Streets of Fire,
Gladiator, Hero (in Chinese with English subtitles),
Godfather I+II+III,
Lord of the Rings,
All Monty Python,
both Blues Brothers,
Casino Royale,
Saving Private Ryan,
Big Trouble in Little China,
anything with Diane Lane,
anything with Kathleen Turner,
Once Upon a Time in America,
Mash,
Blazing Saddles,
Flashdance,
Death Hunt,
Swimming to Cambodia,
Real Genius,
Top Gun,
The Man Who Would Be King,
Driving School,
Urban Cowboy,
The Name of the Rose
Gandhi,
Animal House,
Patton,
Honeysuckle Rose,
Star Wars I-III,
Apocalypse Now,
Sin City,
The Searchers,
African Queen,
In Harm's Way,
Streets of Fire,
Gladiator, Hero (in Chinese with English subtitles),
Godfather I+II+III,
Lord of the Rings,
All Monty Python,
both Blues Brothers,
Casino Royale,
Saving Private Ryan,
Big Trouble in Little China,
anything with Diane Lane,
anything with Kathleen Turner,
Once Upon a Time in America,
Mash,
Blazing Saddles,
Flashdance,
Death Hunt,
Swimming to Cambodia,
Real Genius,
Top Gun,
The Man Who Would Be King,
Driving School,
Urban Cowboy,
The Name of the Rose
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Noodles Through a Goose
I just found out that neither Google nor Yahoo! has a single hit on the phrase "noodles through a goose". Unbelievable! I have used that phrase for years.
"That beer went through me faster than noodles through a goose."
The phrase comes from the practice of Chinese goose farmers. When they want to take their geese to market, they feed a noodle to the first goose, with a string attached. The noodle passes through the goose non-stop. Then they feed the noodle the the next goose...and the next....and the next. After it passes through the final goose, they tie the string to a stick. Then they can lead all of the geese down the road to town without the geese running away.
I think I will add this to the Urban Dictionary.
"That beer went through me faster than noodles through a goose."
The phrase comes from the practice of Chinese goose farmers. When they want to take their geese to market, they feed a noodle to the first goose, with a string attached. The noodle passes through the goose non-stop. Then they feed the noodle the the next goose...and the next....and the next. After it passes through the final goose, they tie the string to a stick. Then they can lead all of the geese down the road to town without the geese running away.
I think I will add this to the Urban Dictionary.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Neat Manuals
A really good Risk Communication Manual can be found here.
An excellent manual on Crisis Defusion can be found here.
Likewise, a really good manual on Aggression Management Communication can be found here. This manual is written for parole officers and prison guards, but also applies to situations where one party is in authority and the other party is resentful of authority.
The basic steps are:
Set clear goals.
An excellent manual on Crisis Defusion can be found here.
Likewise, a really good manual on Aggression Management Communication can be found here. This manual is written for parole officers and prison guards, but also applies to situations where one party is in authority and the other party is resentful of authority.
The basic steps are:
Set clear goals.
- Limits and conditions
- Cooperation
- Clear Channel of Communication
- "It's nothing personal"
- Depersonalize your authority
- Depersonalize constraints
- Depersonalize conflict
- An internal attitude
- A message
- Does not compromise limits and controls
- Offer choices. The more aggressive they are, the more choices they need
- Force conscious and deliberate choices
- Effect of Choices
- soften coercion and controls
- implies respect
- communicates confidence
- diverts automatic reactions
- places responsibiliy - Presenting Choices:
-Communicate: “It’s up to you.”
-Take the threat out of consequences.
-Convey your readiness to deal with any choice.
- Effects of a Thinking Report
-“objectify” emotional experiences.
-defuse emotional conflict.
-present a neutral focus of attention for officer and client.
-display targets for change: cognitive interventions. - Thinking Report Steps
-A brief description of the situation.
-A detailed report of thoughts.
-A brief report of feelings.
-(the extra step) Identification of any significant patterns
displayed in the thinking report.
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