Thursday, May 31, 2018

Q&A: Green

May 31 - How much cash do you have in your wallet? In your bank account?

2014 - Wallet: Zero. Bank Accounts: Probably a few thousand.

2015 - Wallet: $50 or $70. Bank Accounts: Enough. - entered June 2.

2016 - Wallet: Probably $120. I forgot it in Burbank. Bank: Lotsfrom home sale, but it will go quickly. - entered June 3

2017 - Wallet: None. Old Wallet: $50. Bank: Enough. - entered June 3

2018 - Wallet: None. Bank: Enough to pay the bills. - entered June 4

If I had a million dollars (if I had a million dollars)
I'd buy you a fur coat (but not a real fur coat that's cruel)
If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you this book. 
But you can buy your own copy, it's not too much.
Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Q&A: Goodread

May 30 - What's the best thing you read today?

2014 - The certificate that said "Ben Lamb, Citizen of the Month" Also cool: A team member praising another team member. And: a job description that sounds cool.

2015 - Not sure. It was a trying day without much reading.

2016 - Not sure. - entered June 3

2017 - "The Fix" by Felix Steinmetz - entered June 3

2018 - This headline:
- entered June 3

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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Q&A: Cheaterday

May 29 - If you didn't have any responsibilities for the day, what would you do?

2014 - Drink coffee and read a book.  Preferably on a comfy chair overlooking the ocean.

2015 - Today I didn't *have* to do anything.  I worked on lawn (aerate, thatch, fertilize, rake, reseed, water)

2016 - Check my pulse and be worried. Difficult today to imagine such a wonderous scenario.

2017 - Sit on back patio and... read? play on phone? - entered June 3

2018 - Sit on back patio and read, drink coffee, watch Ben play (if he's still up), listen to the birds (if they're still out, otherwise crickets).  - entered June 3
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Monday, May 28, 2018

Q&A: 🌎

May 28 - East Coast or West Coast? In between?

2014 - West Coast, yo.

2015 - West Coast. Of course. - entered May 29

2016 - Dub to the C

2017 - West Coast is the Best Coast. - entered June 3

2018 - Silly question. Next. - entered June 3
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Sunday, May 27, 2018

Q&A: Calm

May 27 - What gives you comfort right now?

2014 - Coffee. Duh.

2015 - My family.

2016 - The phrase "worry is a misuse of imagination." - entered May 28

2017 - Being at home.

2018 - The palm tree swaying slightly in the wind. - entered May 29
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Saturday, May 26, 2018

Q&A: Naaaag

May 26 - List the things that nagged you today.

2014 - The grass. But now it's mowed. That's good for like four days.

2015 - Email report for (work).

2016 - Complaint against us about garage conversion (not that I can do anything about it right now)

2017 - Nothing! - entered May 27

2018 - Can't really think of anything. - entered May 29
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Friday, May 25, 2018

Q&A: ✈️🚕🏨

May 25 - If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

2014 - Miami - entered May 26

2015 - Ireland

2016 - Burbank - entered May 28

2017 - Maybe Starbucks? Otherwise I'm fine right here in Burbank. - entered May 27

2018 - Australia came to mind first. Ireland came to mind second. - entered May 28
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Feed Sift (05/25/2017)


-1-

FIELDGUIDE.GIZMODO.COM -- 11 Tell-Tale Signs Your Accounts and Devices Have Been Hacked

-2-

ENGADGET.COM -- AI creates 'Flintstones' cartoons from text descriptions

-3-

VENTUREBEAT.COM -- Another Cambridge Analytica is out there, and we aren’t ready to fight it

-4-

SETHGODIN.TYPEPAD.COM -- The words that work

-5-

ENGADGET.COM -- Phantom Auto will drive your autonomous car if it gets confused

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Q&A: Motivator

May 24 - What motivated you today?

2014 - Remember the Milk. It's the only way to be motivated.

2015 - Remember the Milk motivates me to get stuff done.

2016 - After a break, I got to Remember the Milk today. I'd be lost without it. - entered May 28

2017 - Remember the Milk. - entered May 27

2018 - Yep, Remember the Milk. I ignored it yesterday and got nothing done. - entered May 28
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Q&A: You're a barber, Hairy Potter.

May 23 - What's your hairstyle?

2014 - #6 on top, #2 on the sides, no sideburns, rounded in the back. Messy with gel and spike in the front. 

2015 - See above. Why mess with a classic? I still get mistaken for someone much younger.

2016 - Yep, that's still working for me. (Lori says #5 on top is too short.) - entered May 28

2017 - Pretty much the same. A little longer in front. - entered May 27

2018 - Yep, that's still working for me. One bathroom and a busy schedule means I haven't been as clean-shaven as I used to be, usually sporting several days of beard growth. My female coworkers tell me this is called "shipwrecked" and that they like it. - entered May 26
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Q&A: Inspired

May 22 - What was the last time you had an inspiring conversation?

2014 - Not sure. Have some good ones with Lori. Usually after church.

2015 - Maybe a recent date night? Unsure.

2016 - Whenever I/we face a challenge and I talk with Lori. - entered May 20

2017 - A lot of my conversations with Lori are inspiring.

2018 - Last weekend, talking to people on LinkedIn. Got a couple of blog posts out of it. - entered May 26
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Monday, May 21, 2018

Q&A: 💰

May 21 - What's your salary?

2014 - Pathetic. About the same as in 2001 when Warner Bros. paid me not to work for 9 months. 

2015 - At the moment, just (my side gig working on a company's monthly e-newsletter)*. Activision in a few weeks, though.

2016 - The only time I've made more was as an Activision contractor, but now (as an Activision employee)* I have heath insurance, 401(k) match and annual bonus.

2017 - About 3% more than last year, I think.

2018 - I'm quite grateful for my current situation.


Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal
* Represent small edits made in 2018 for clarity

Why We Don't Fix Potholes or Bugs (A Work-Related Post)

Nov. 2014 - I've been running this around in my head for almost a year now trying to figure out what to do with it.  I had just read this post from the Seattle DOT and then the next day participated in a conversation with a colleague frustrated that no one was paying attention to the maintenance needs of the software and tools we were supporting.

So here's the post: It’s your money, where is it going? (Seattle Department of Transportation, 02/25/2014)

May 2018 - Apparently I wrote this in email and then emailed it to Evernote back in November 2014.  I just re-discovered it again and I think it still holds true.

~~~

A weird interest of mine is transit and development. Not sure why, but I guess it's because I like to see change, I like to see how something that most of us just think of as pavement is much more. And I definitely love to see the thought that went into the process, the alternatives that were considered, stuff like that.  There are definitely parallels to the work I did in my last job - you saw specific outcomes, but you didn't see the thought process that went behind the scenes.  But a few observations about roadwork and the software development lifecycle at companies where the software is a tool/enabler and not the end product itself:

NEW STUFF IS ALMOST ALWAYS OUTSOURCED

There was always a frustration that other companies were getting to have fun, to build the new things, to walk away when it was complete.  That's just the nature of the beast. If you want to build new stuff, you need to work for the builder, not the one needing the work done.  If you're working for the customer (who wants the building done) then your role will always be more about support, maintenance and modest enhancement, not about creating brand new.

NEW STUFF IS MORE FUN

You can sell the stakeholders/voters on new stuff. Getting them excited about maintenance is probably a non-starter. The best you can do is be ready to address their negative excitement (frustration, rage, anger) when things break, when they encounter potholes, etc.

UNTIL THE POTHOLE AFFECTS THEM PERSONALLY, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE AREN'T ON THEIR MINDS

Wait until they're receptive, until they want the pain addressed and are ready to experience a different pain (budgetary) to get it fixed.  For the good of the order, there is some work you must do, especially if failure to do it (say, bridge maintenance) offers a risk of pain too great.

THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY FOR ALL OF THE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

It would be nice if everyone who bought a car started putting money away every month for eventual replacement of tires, or everyone who bought a house immediately started socking away money for eventual exterior painting, new roof and new carpets. But we don't work that way. It requires a level of discipline that's not really in our human nature (at least Americans - I can't speak for other countries). So the best we can do is assess and prioritize.  We keep a good list of what's outstanding and then we work on the most urgent at that time.  The government and organizational divisions of large companies often have the ability to raise additional funds whether it's by passing an ordinance, raising a bond, or asking for more from the voters. Families rarely have that luxury.  And that's why we don't all have our houses painted every few years and instead wait until there's pain (embarrassment, threatening letters from HOA or Code Compliance, etc.)

GREAT STATUS UPDATES ARE IMPORTANT

If you are involved in support and maintenance, especially with someone else's money (or at the expense of something else), great status updates are a must. Your stakeholders (and funders) must be confident that they made the right decision - that their pain is being addressed by an expert - that they've made a wise investment. Especially since it's always at the expense of something else.

(Cross-posted to LinkedIn)

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Q&A: 🤪❤️

May 20 - What's the craziest thing you've done for love?

 2014 - Lori says "I dunno, flew me to L.A. for a John Williams concert" - I hope I have a better answer next year.

2015 - Not sure. And that's sad considering what I wrote last year.

2016 - Maybe when we danced above Hollywood and almost ended up with a sobriety check and a ticket (was just outside a park closed for the night) - entered May 28

2017 - I'm not sure I have a good answer. This question shouldn't come right after the creative question.

2018 - I'm not sure. I guess I'm bad at this love stuff. We've just been perpetually exhausted for years. - entered May 25
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

The Robots are Coming! (A Work-Related Post)

The robots are coming. In a lot of cases, they are already here.

No, not a T-800 Model 101 Terminator here to kill us all, but I do mean job-eliminating technology.

I use the terms interchangeably within this exploration, but I mean anything that has made something easier, faster, cheaper, etc., etc., etc.

The printing press gave monks more free time, the Model-T gave meant far fewer horses were needed for transportation and the mobile app means I don't need to stand in line to place my order at Starbucks and can more quickly get to the line I need to stand in to pick up my beverage.

Whenever I hear someone say "a computer can't do my job," I'm a little sad - very rarely is this really true, and more often than not, it means that person will be surprised when their job is replaced by automation (either a computer program or a robot).

If you say this around technically minded people, their response will be "challenge accepted!"

The printing press did not eliminate all books created by hand, the automobile did not replace all horse-drawn modes of transportation and the Starbucks app didn't replace the cashier.  But it has changed their jobs, it has reduced some work, reduced the number needed, and for the bookmakers, baristas and horse-owners (because the horses didn't really get a say), the end result has changed:

  • hand-crafted books are a luxurious gift - but we don't buy them in large numbers, so the field will only employ a small number of people
  • baristas have more time to give individual service to those who want it - but Starbucks needs fewer baristas
  • horse-drawn carriages offer you a magical memory, even if now most trips go from point A to point A - but we need far fewer horses and horse-driver-guys (Google says "coachmen")
  • computers can examine X-Rays and MRIs in greater detail with amazing speed
  • forklifts allow large amounts of things to be moved safely and quickly
  • robotic assembly lines build and paint cars
  • computers can digest news articles and make financial trades on the stock market in less than a second
  • email has dramatically increased the communication opportunities for the hearing impaired
  • self-driving cars reduce the number of injuries and deaths AND provide more mobility options to those who can't (or don't want) to drive

So... what does this mean?
Your job may be at risk. But it's not time to panic.
You have several options before you:

1. Be really great at what you do.

Be so good that when your industry shrinks, your role survives because your customers demand it.

This means you're the barista they keep when they lay off several others that are no longer needed.

That means you create magical vacation plans that someone can't (or doesn't want to) do with a visit to Expedia.com.

That means you are creating the trends that didn't exist before, whether it's fashion or design or architecture.  (Be forewarned, you'll face some competition here still. Computers are getting better at prediction, but their work so far in journalism, screenwriting and fashion design is still in its infancy.)

2. Figure out how to eliminate your own job.

If you truly understand your role and how it fits into the organization you work for, then you know where things are suboptimal.  You know where improvements would make your life easier, allow you to do more, allow the work to fall to a lower-paid employee because the complexity has been eliminated.

If you can find the repeatable elements in your job, the critical decisions that can be codified into an algorithm or framework, the needless complexity that needs to be streamlined - then you are in the perfect position to start the process of eliminating your own job.

And in doing so, you may become "the guy that runs the robots." And maybe not just at your company, but maybe for as many companies as you have time to support.

Rarely is it your job to "stay in your little box and do your job" (and if it is, it's time to find a new job!) - no, your job is to "leave things better than you found them." Better, faster, stronger, smarter, safer, cheaper, more profitable, less polluting, more efficient, more resilient, empowering, accessible to more of the world... to name a few. Take your pick. Or invent your own.

Grow - because if you're not growing, you're dying.  And if you're just staying in your box, then maybe a robot should do your job. (Or at least that's what I said back in 2011.)

Now if the Starbucks at the grocery store near me would just get connected to the app.

(Cross-posted to LinkedIn.)

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Q&A: Sparkle and Pizzazz

May 19 - What's the most creative thing you've done recently?

2014 - I thin a recent blog post on "Regret" - I thought it was quite good.

2015 - Not sure... life's been busy, good. But busy, so creative? Maybe some writing. Also in the midst of a small landscaping project. Creative? Maybe.

2016 - I composed a symphony in the shower that I really liked. - entered May 28

2017 - Not quite sure - entered May 20

2018 - I feel like my work, at work, has been creative in a good way. It's all automations and tables and SQL queries, but I'm coming up with some amazing new stuff I wish I had thought of years ago.
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Friday, May 18, 2018

Q&A: DMC-12

May 18 - If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?

2014 - That's tricky. Wouldn't want to alter the space/time continuum. I was harsh with Ben tonight because he was being extremely difficult. I regret that.

2015 - I'd tell Pete to be careful in Japan. His death seems pointless and too soon - so much lost potential.

2016 - I'd like to not have a complaint against us for the garage conversion, but not sure how to stop (proactively call city?)

2017 - Stop Trump - entered May 20

2018 - I'd do everything in my power to prevent Bill's murder. - entered May 19
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Feed Sift (05/18/2017)


-1-

VITALS.LIFEHACKER.COM -- Donuts Are Better For You Than Muffins

-2-

VENTUREBEAT.COM -- Apple proposes 13 new emojis representing users with disabilities

-3-

OFFSPRING.LIFEHACKER.COM -- How to Get Through Airport Security More Easily If Your Kids Have Special Needs

-4-

MOBILE.NYTIMES.COM -- Retailers Race Against Amazon to Automate Stores

-5-

ENGADGET.COM -- NASA may use swarms of robotic bees to study Mars

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Q&A: ♻

May 17 - Today you got rid of ___________

2014 - Not sure I got rid of anything. Lunch with Sam & his family, otherwise a quiet day at home with the family.

2015 - Baggage? Anxiety?

2016 - Today? Not much. But lately? A lot! - entered May 19

2017 - Not sure. Some recycling? More palm fronds in the greens can?

2018 - Umm... a lot of hair. We all got haircuts today. - entered May 19
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Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Q&A: Day-o

May 16 - What was your favorite day this week?

2014 - Today! I had a screening with a headhunter for Zulily and now they want a phone interview. (Lori said Ben's birthday on Monday.)

2015 - Today. Petpalooza with Ben & Rachel (plus McDonalds) tonight. Date Night (avec Lori)

2016 - It's only Monday. Both days have been pretty cool this week.

2017 - Today. The commute can be wearying and I worked from home today.

2018 - Today. This was a week of unusual and not all positive events. But today was a very lazy quiet morning hanging out at home. - entered May 19
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Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Q&A: Level Up

May 15 - What do you consider to be your biggest achievement?

2014 - (Revised in 2018 for clarity) Not sure. I once got paid $5,000 for putting two words together. I had come up with the name for our company and sometime after I left, Microsoft decided they wanted the name for a product. (A product they would abandon less than 6 months after launching it.) Not sure how much Microsoft paid my former company, but it was a nice surprise when they handed me a check for $5,000.

2015 - My family. I didn't "achieve" them, per se, but they're definitely worth bragging about.

2016 - Any time my children are complimented or commended.

2017 - My family. - entered May 17

2018 - My family. - entered May 19
Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Monday, May 14, 2018

Q&A: nemesises... uh, nemesee... wh-what's the plural on that?

May 14 - What makes a good enemy?

2014 - Liars and those without a grip on reality - entered May 15

2015 - People for whom the truth is optional.

2016 - A mustache and a members-only jacket.

2017 - Hearthless Republicans (is that redundant?) - entered May 17

2018 - Yeah, Republicans. And people who want to bus the homeless out to the desert (though those are probably mostly Republicans).

Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Q&A: ❤️

May 13 - Who loves you?

2014 - Lori - entered May 15

2015 - my family!

2016 - my family and Cash the cat but probably not Milo the Hissy Cat.

2017 - my family. I also think my co-workers are pleased with me. - entered May 17

2018 - my family. - entered May 14

Here's a book you might love: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Q&A: Exploration

May 12 - What are you exploring?

2014 - A change in employment. - entered May 15

2015 - A change in employment. - entered May 13

2016 - Burbank (via Google Maps)

2017 - Not sure. entered May 17

2018 - Nothing. I'm too tired.

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Friday, May 11, 2018

Q&A: Memories

May 11 - How do you want to be remembered?

2014 - Awesome dad.

2015 - Happy.

2016 - Got stuff done. - entered May 12

2017 - Left the world better than he founded. - entered May 17

2018 - I don't know. Maybe I'm happy to just fade away quietly. - entered May 12

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Feed Sift (05/11/2017)


-1-

VENTUREBEAT.COM -- Sonic the Hedgehog’s logo has a secret, weird backstory

-2-

ENGADGET.COM -- AI stuntpeople could lead to more realistic video games

-3-

LIFEHACKER.COM -- The Person Reclining Their Airplane Seat Is Not Your Enemy

-4-

WEBURBANIST.COM -- Construction Brew: Rugged Coffee Maker Runs on Power Tool Batteries

-5-

URBANIZE.LA -- L.A. is ready for micro-units

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Q&A: 💤☀️

May 10 - How did you start your day?

2014 - Coffee and Pandora - entered May 11

2015 - Snoozing the alarm and then a shower.

2016 - Snoozing. Way too early. - entered May 12

2017 - Coffee with the kids (worked from home) - entered May 17

2018 - About 10 minutes before my alarm. Getting tired of (and because I keep) waking up before my alarm.

Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal