Posts By: DR2
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 9, 2018
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 9, 2018
September 9, 2018
Otic – adj. – relating to the ear
September 10, 2018
Astylar – adj. – lacking columns or pilasters
September 11, 2018
Dree – v. – to endure something burdensome or painful
September 12, 2018
Gumption – n. – shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness
September 13, 2018
Ostracize – v. – exclude from a society or group
September 14, 2018
Couth – adj. – cultured, refined and well manners
September 15, 2018
Noisome – adj. – having an extremely offensive smell
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
So, Let's consider: Being Average vs Being Great!
So, Let’s consider: Being Average vs Being Great!
OK, so, let’s take a few minutes to look at and consider our lives and where we want to take them.
Nobody wants an average life or to be an average person. Frankly, there’s just too many of them and they generally don’t go anywhere. We all want to be GREAT! We want to be ABOVE AVERAGE. We want to succeed and make good things for ourselves and our families. So, let’s consider a few things we can adopt in our lives that maybe can help us move in that direction.
Turn OFF the TV
Fewer things waste more of our time that just passively watching TV. There is NO such thing as “must see TV” regardless of how much we’re bombarded by that slogan from the networks, etc. Frankly, just watching the tube for the sake of watching the tube, watching “your show”, etc., is a huge waster of your time that could be spend helping to develop and better you. Instead, read something daily. It can be a book, newspaper, periodicals that help to build you. And, I’m intentionally excluding things like: romance novels, trash and gossip magazines, porn, etc. You need to be reading things that will BUILD you up…not keep you at the same level or worse yet, take you down.
Make some goals
Set some goals for your life. What do you want to do with your life? Where do you want to be? Where do you want to go? Think about these things and set some goals to work towards achieving. This doesn’t mean you may change them later, you can, and you will, but you have a direction for your life, and that’s incredibly important.
Compliment people vs criticize
Think more on the positive side of things than the negative. This doesn’t mean that you give up your standards. Nor does it mean that you allow yourself or your beliefs to be walked on. But a more positive person goes places further and faster than a negative one.
Respect Change
There are those would admonish us to “embrace” change. Frankly, change for the sake of change is totally counterproductive. Evaluate what is changing and what needs to be changed. If something needs to be changed or if change is inevitable or good for you, then go for it! Make sure that the changes are in your favor, not just being done for someone else’s benefit or for being politically correct. If you don’t see a benefit for you, then that change may not be for the good.
Be forgiving
It’s important to accept that we’re all human. We all make mistakes to one degree or another, and in one kind or another. Be willing to forgive the honest mistakes of other people. I’m not saying here that you should accept malicious attacks, but when someone makes an honest mistake or mistakes out of sincere best mutual interests, accept it and move on.
Develop ideas and people
Instead of talking about people, develop them. Instead of saying everything is wrong, develop ideas. Show that you not only care about making things better but that you have positive input into the processes involved.
Be a continuous learner
Always be learning and bettering yourself. None of us know it all, and nobody likes a “know it all”. Learning is easy. There are many web based classes, youtube lectures and presentations, community colleges, even joining a local trade or hobby association can be incredibly good resources to continue your learning as well as personal and professional development. There is no such thing as standing still. You either move ahead or you fall behind. This is very true in the use and development of knowledge. Don’t stop growing.
Take responsibility
Some people like to limit this concept to just take responsibility for your failures. To me it’s more than just that. If you make a mistake, OK, own up to it and hopefully move on. Don’t blame someone else for your failures. But also take responsibility for helping other to NOT fail. Be a coach, a mentor, as well as a teacher. Also, don’t be afraid to be the student. It’s very important to know what you don’t know. Accept that. Build on it. Don’t blame others for it, but use it to identify where you need to be looking to expand.
OK, we’ve hit on a few topics. I’m sure you could probably think of a few more. If so, add them to your own personal list and build on them as you move forward to being someone great!
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 9, 2018
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 9, 2018
September 9, 2018
“You can’t change others, but you can change what you do or say.”
September 10, 2018
“Don’t delay or let someone talk you out of what you feel is important to do.”
September 11, 2018
“Let experience be your guide.”
September 12, 2018
“Present what you have to offer without giving away secrets or personal information.”
September 13, 2018
“Celebrate victories with someone important to you.”
September 14, 2018
“Protect what you’ve worked hard to build.”
September 15, 2018
“Handling matters with confidence and intelligence will lead to success.”
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
Quote(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 9, 2018
Quote(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 9, 2018
September 9, 2018
“Even more exasperating than the guy who thinks he knows it all is the one that really does.” – Bernstein
September 10, 2018
“On how to become a good speaker: Practice all the time. One of the best ways it to put a bunch
of marbles in your mouth while you talk. Slowly but surely you take away a mable. And then, when you’ve
lost all your marbles, you’re a public speaker!” – Jessel
September 11, 2018
“I through I’d begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, Why should I? He never reads any of mine!” – Milligan
September 12, 2018
“I was told to be accurate, be brief, and then be seated. So, I promise I shall be as brief as possible,
no matter how long it takes me!” – Pearson
September 13, 2018
“He couldn’t get into Harvard even if he had the dean’s wife at gunpoint!” – Barry
September 14, 2018
“It’s strange how few of the world’s great problems are solved by people who remember their algebra.” – Prochnow
September 15, 2018
“I won’t say I went to a tough school, but we did have our own coroner.” – Bruce
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
So, Let's consider: Giving your OnStar information to your auto insurance company
So, Let’s consider: Giving your OnStar information to your auto insurance company
OnStar, for those of you not familiar with it, is a really nice, albeit expensive, service you can add to your vehicle to help you with things like: navigation, auto problem diagnostics, travel tips, emergency assistance, etc. They use GPS technology to know where you are, where you’re going and what’s around you that you may need in an assistance call.
So, I was rather intrigued when I got a letter from my auto insurance carrier suggesting that I let them have access to my OnStar data to help them with my insurance. Frankly, my mind had flashbacks to the Lost In Space robot running around yelling “WARNING!”.
So, I thought about this a bit. Just how could giving my insurance company OnStar data help ME with my insurance?
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I do have over 30 years in IT and related lines of work including data analytics. I realized that with the OnStar data my insurer would potentially know not only where I go, when I go there, how I get there, how long the distance it is to get there, but also how fast I traveled getting there! With this information, they would, over time, know how many miles I travel, if I traveled in higher risk areas, if I traveled faster than the speed limit and any one of several other variables that could be used in calculating how much they want to charge me for coverage!
Keep in mind that ALL policies are “rated”. They all go through a piece of software called a “rater” which uses info like how many miles you’re expected to drive, where you live and work, your driving record, etc. So, if you drive more miles than they are allowing for what they’re initially charging you – guess what could happen? Or, if they determine that you got there a bit faster than you should have – guess what could happen? Or maybe you have to drive through a “risky” neighborhood or where you work is a “higher risk” area – guess what could happen? Yup, in ALL those cases, your premium rates could INCREASE.
Frankly, I can’t control what they do with any data they get, BUT I sure can prevent them from getting anything I don’t want them to have that could potentially be used against me. Further with OnStar and cell phone tracking type technology, this kind of threat is going to become nothing but something we need to be watching for more closely and frequently. I’m not George Orwell, but “Big Brother” is clearly here – and the less we tell him the better off we will be.
It’s also interesting that an email to my agent on this subject was never returned.
So, if and when you get hit with these kinds of requests, get IN WRITING a statement from your insurance carrier exactly what information they will be gathering, how frequently and exactly how they intend to use it.
It’s not 1982, but it definately IS caveat emptor!
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
Vihara – n. – a Buddhist temple or monastery
September 3, 2018
Hippogriff – n. – a winged mythical creature resembling a horse and eagle
September 4, 2018
Tapster – n. – a person who serves alcohol at a bar
September 5, 2018
Sociolect – n. – the dialect of a particular social class
September 6, 2018
Feuilleton – n. – a part of a newspaper devoted to fiction
September 7, 2018
Ressentiment – n. – a psychological state resulting from suppressed envy
September 8, 2018
Passeggiata – n. – a leisurely walk or stroll
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
“Take your mind off of the negative and the things that can’t be done. Stay focused on what is doable.”
September 3, 2018
“Plan to play hard and win!”
September 4, 2018
“Live and learn. The more you know, the better you will do.”
September 5, 2018
“Don’t let anyone deplete you of your confidence or stand in your way to success.”
September 6, 2018
“Expect others to be competitive and to challenge you. But, your strengths, courage and belief in your abilities will
help you succeed to accomplish what you desire.”
September 7, 2018
“Reducing your expenses will reduce stress and give you more working capital to play with.”
September 8, 2018
“Don’t let yourself get distracted. Stay poised and keep your mind set on what’s important to you.”
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
Quote Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
Quote Of The Day – For The Week Of September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
“In any world menu, Canada must be considered the vichyssoise of nations – it’s cold, half French and difficult to stir.” – Keate
September 3, 2018
“I envy people who drink – at least they know who to blame everything on.” – Levant
September 4, 2018
“He who laughs, lasts.” – Poole
September 5, 2018
“I’m an idealist: I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way!” – Sandburg
September 6, 2018
“Buffet: A French word that means ‘get up and get it for yourself!’ ” – Dentinger
September 7, 2018
“Good breeding consists in conealing how much we think of oruselves and how little we think of the other person.” – Twain
September 8, 2018
“Once you get people laughing, they’re listening and you can tell them almost anything.” – Gardner
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
Smidgen – n. – a small amount of something
August 27, 2018
Dox – v. – publish identifying information about someone on the internet
August 28, 2018
Mischeievous – adj. – showing a fondness for playfully causing trouble
August 29, 2018
Objurgate – v. – to rebuke severly or scold
August 30, 2018
Resplendent – adj. – attractive and impressive through being colorful or sumptuous
August 31, 2018
Esse – n. – essential nature or essence
September 1, 2018
Frug – n. – a vigorous dance to pop music
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
Thought(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
“Bury your ego. Don’t be the star. Be the star maker.”
August 27, 2018
“The ability to control impulse is the basis of will and character.”
August 28, 2018
“Talent is formed in quiet, Character in the stream of life.”
August 29, 2018
Assisting others can bring you happiness.
August 30, 2018
Avoid trouble by controlling your emotions.
August 31, 2018
Keep your personal matters private. They’re personal.
September 1, 2018
Choose your battles wisely.
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
About Me
Don Rima
Don Rima is an Information Systems consultant with over 30 years experience in Information Systems. His roles of responsibility have included programming, systems management and IT department management. He's also a technical editor and writer, does regular product reviews, is a very good cook, gardener and avid reader and writer. His sports interest include: the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Orioles, Clemson Tigers and Chelsea Football teams. The articles on this site are written to be correct, informative, laconic, provoke progressive thought, informative and sometimes make you laugh. They're not designed to be the writing of just another politically correct drone.