A Second Look At 2016

It's the time I look back at my 2016 blogs to give myself feedback. The goal is the same as past second looks: relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, correcting errant blogs, and sharing changes. These blogs are also the 2016 best blogs.

There are 11 blogs for A Second Look At 2016. There were 18 blogs in 2015, 17 blogs in 2014, and 11 blogs in 2013. I reduced the number of monthly blog postings from 9 to 7 starting in May 2016. Eight of the 11 blogs were posted in the months between Jan to Jun. The three remaining blogs were posted in Aug and Nov. I continue my second looks in Dec because I want a minimum one year to think about my past year.

I provide the title and link to the original blog, date, summary, and my feedback. Enjoy!

Blog Title: 1. Take The Time Cleaning And Organizing
Date: Friday January 22, 2016
Summary: There are positive benefits living in a clean residence.
Feedback: A person's or a family's clean residence is a sign the person or the family takes care of their surroundings. Moreover, a single person's clean residence is a sign of being a professional. Another sign of a clean residence is life free of clutter, waste, and anything toxic. Sincere effort is made for a clean life. Finally, a person who is bored or has free time should consider cleaning up something. Reorganize something. It's not boring. It's doing something better than doing nothing.

Blog Title: 2. Instant Bullets Blog Jan 25, 2016
Date: Monday January 25, 2016
Summary: Short paragraph blogs separated by bullet points.
Feedback: I want to emphasize some bullets points. They're "The Fairly Intelligent Fly" by James Thurber fable telling the reader there is no safety in numbers or in anything else, we should find time to refresh and relearn our skills since first responders are required to review consistently, don't be an old fuck, being physical now has long-term benefits, complementary relationships are long-term, true life experience is making mistakes and experiencing frustrations, and never skip meals.

Blog Title: 3. My Thoughts On Boring
Date: Friday February 19, 2016
Summary: I thought about what if I live a boring life.
Feedback: First, I removed the comparing myself with other in my daily life rules. We compare ourselves with other people. We should compare intelligently. We may realize our life is not as bad as we think.

Second, there are more people living boring lives than we believe. We see few boring people outdoors because most boring people stay indoors. Boring is a relative term. We compare ourselves who is boring and who is not boring. For example, a person with the latest and greatest goods may be living an exciting life. On the other hand, who needs the latest and greatest goods to live a good life? I drive a 12 year old car. My laptop is 10 years old. I have a small DVD collection and a tiny BD collection. The world has too many items to consume. Less is more. Live a happy life with sincere friends and a loving family is not a boring life.

Third, boring people choose to live a life minimizing harm. They live a life with safeguards and backup plans. A quiet life is a good life.

Fourth, Bill Gates' 11 Rules For Real Life Rule #7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Fifth, the process to success may be boring, may be routine, or may be dull; however, the end result is not boring. Most successful people say the process was not boring.

Sixth, I wrote a past blog on boring people titled Do Boring People Exist in Feb 2014.

Blog Title: 4. Throwback Blog: My All De Anza Review Blog
Date: Sunday February 28, 2016
Summary: I self-interviewed myself my years going back to school at De Anza College in 2009-2011.
Feedback: Even throwback blogs can be looked a third time. One question I asked myself was why I enrolled in Spring 2011 when I graduated in Winter 2011. I initially avoided answering the question by saying I learned something in my Auditing class.

The brutal truth was I didn't want to work. I still wanted to be a student. I wanted the freedom as a student. The job market was tough when I started searching for a job in Jul 2011. The job market 2011 was not the job market during my father's time.

Blog Title: 5. Work On Good Moments Happen To Good People
Date: Wednesday March 9, 2016
Summary: I shared all of the good moments in the present hoping for good moments in the future.
Feedback: I wrote eight blogs I personally called "self-pity" blogs using my daily job searching routines. I stop writing these self-pity blogs. I didn't need to defend myself what I do daily while unemployed. These blogs were a waste of time. These blogs reiterated learning new skills, hoping for the best, and working hard to achieve freedom. There was no need to remind myself. I bored the world with these self-pity blogs. The world waits to blog the end result which is freedom.

Blog Title: 6. My Miracle Is In Progress
Date: Monday March 21, 2016
Summary: My miracle achieving freedom considering my past life is in process.
Feedback: I consider myself lucky. I consider myself fortunate. I spent all my good luck points on who I am today. Also, I earn good luck points for how much I worked hard to be me today for tomorrow. I was weak. I was immature. Some may say I blogged another self-pity. My different perspectives are count my blessings, my naive life disappeared, and take personal responsibility. I forgive anyone and anything that hurt my past.

Blog Title: 7. Many Unemployed Jobs Searchers Like Me Are Frustrated
Date: Friday April 8, 2016
Summary: Unemployed people must blame the job search system.
Feedback: People who are neither laidoff nor fired don't know the job market today. Read between the lines on economic news. The economy is good; however, the job market is tough. I have been seeing full time direct company positions for which I applied. Time passes. These same positions are converted to contract position. Those who are working avoid entering the unemployment abyss.

Companies forgot how to hire the best candidates. Managers focus on recent experience and relevant knowledge. A candidate's character and small skills such as good communication and team player are all secondary. In the past, a candidate's character and small skills such as good communication and team player were primary because good job candidates learned on the job and learned outside the job if they needed extra skills.

Timing is everything. I have seen an increase in job openings days after President Donald Trump signed the new tax bill. Is the increase short-term or long-term? Time will tell.

Blog Title: 8. The Size Of The Pie Is Still The Same
Date: Thursday June 23, 2016
Summary: More people want a piece of the pie for which the size is the same. More people aren't going to get a piece.
Feedback: I said greed prevents more people getting a piece. Greed may not be correct. There is a finite amount of opportunities. Opportunities are key for people to be successful. Life has winners. Life has losers. There are good people who never achieve their goals because there are factors beyond their control.

The world population grows. The number of people increases faster than the number of increasing opportunities. It's like a factory producing robots. There are plenty of robots available. There is a limited about of demand for the robots.

Further, the rich people get richer. Money grows exponentially. Basic Finance 101. Investments earn interest over interest. The tax laws and business laws favor the rich.

Blog Title: 9. Top Ten Steve Jobs Quotes
Date: Wednesday August 3, 2016
Summary: I share more than ten Steve Jobs quotes. I learn from his wisdom; for example, "The journey is the reward" which is number one.
Feedback: I have a bias when it comes to Steve Jobs. I repost my favorite Steve Jobs quotes.

Blog Title: 10. Top Ten Life Lessons I Learned Watching Sports
Date: Saturday November 5, 2016
Summary: I posted life lessons I learned being a sports fan. They're curses are meant to be broken, rest, strong core, redemption, streaks and slumps, be professional, consistency, be calm, good coaching, and support.
Feedback: I want to add two more life lessons. The first is patience. Championship teams plan ahead. Championship teams don't win overnight. It takes time. Be patient. Mistakes are made. Lessons are learned. Successes are improved. Planning is writing down steps today for the successful tomorrow.

The second is winning includes forgiveness; on the other hand, winning can hide problems which may haunt the person or team in the future. All is well that ends well. Winning is powerful. Winning helps people heal from any hurtful past.

Consistency includes play your game. Play to your strengths. Play your comfort level. Play your style. Follow the game plan.

Blog Title: 11. Luck Is Part Of Life
Date: Tuesday November 15, 2016
Summary: The most successful people under appreciate luck and the least successful people over-rely on luck.
Feedback: Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book "Outliers". He wrote luck and opportunity are the reasons why some people succeed and some people don't succeed.

Another viewpoint. There are some people--good people--down on their luck. They're struggling financially trying to keep a roof under their heads, food on the tables, and gas in their cars. People should be lucky and should be fortunate if they have all three. Count your blessings. Take none of them for granted.

I play Mahjong. An experienced player knows the best ways to win; however, if he or she doesn't get the tiles, then the knowledge means nothing. Mahjong is like all games played. Some luck is involved. Players rarely discuss luck openly.

Finally, it's better to be lucky than smart. Agree or disagree?

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Highlight And Favorite 2016 Tweets

Here are my 32 highlight Tweets and 11 favorite Favorites Tweets in 2016. Follow me @inin61 Enjoy!

Highlights

Jan 09: RT @photospice: Traffic Camera in #Montreal, #Canada accidentally snaps beautiful #Photo of a #SnowyOwl. #nature #photography https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYNly_nUsAAj1fN.jpg

Jan 14: RT @awkwardgoogle: 21st century parenting https://t.co/b8RivvV2sp

Jan 20: Watch the movie Shaun The Sheep. 99% Rotten Tomatoes. A family movie for all ages full of laughs. #lifesatreat

Mar 22: SJ Mercury News published article on recycling confusion 3/13/16. Ignore the triangle. Recycle rigid plastics only. https://t.co/RyeuVABtGp

Mar 22: Crayons belong to compost. Food soiled paper to compost, too. https://t.co/0IrrIjGOuC

Mar 22: Don't bag recyclables in trash bags. These bags are trashed. In doubt, trash it to not contaminate recycling system. https://t.co/199AD5iKST

Mar 30: RT @awkwardgoogle: This mom knows some serious hacks ・・・・ https://t.co/YeEdJo4oIs

Apr 02: A human arrow directed police copter and ground police to arrest two burglars in England https://t.co/fGXaiAUoc6

Apr 21: There are low income families living a mile from my house. I'm sad when I see families walking with a $5 Little Caesars pizza for dinner.

Apr 21: I hope the $5 pizza is a rare meal. The children shouldn't eat pizza regularly. Their brains are developing needing to eat healthy meals.

May 04: Use EOMONTH() to find the last day of a month. Cell A1 is 5/3/14. EOMONTH(A1,0) returns 5/31/14. EOMONTH(A1,0)+1 returns 6/1/14 #exceltip

May 04: EOMONTH(A1,1) returns 6/30/14. EOMONTH(A1,-1) returns 4/30/14. EOMONTH(A1,-1)+1 returns 5/1/14. #exceltip

May 06: CA raises the legal age to smoke from 18 to 21. Law takes effect June 9. https://t.co/xEQPz51ou7

Jul 01: Pic shows difference between heat exhaustion & heat stroke. One difference exhaustion faint, dizzy. Stroke headache. https://t.co/KG3vwXUYaK

Jul 10: https://t.co/WpcTVevGpF [bodybuilding.com] published an article on testosterone for men. Strong bones, eliminates fat are one benefit https://t.co/EkmdjkPMAs

Jul 19: RT @awkwardgoogle: How to cook 2 pizzas at the same time! https://t.co/eMwy8ARlZC

Jul 24: Added to my bucket list. Camping on the field for a night at AT&T Park.

Aug 01: I'm craving intelligence.

Aug 14: Is *fill in the blank* still open? Google search the following: Is *fill in the blank* closed? Works for almost all companies.

Aug 15: The spleen is an organ which filters the blood. Removes old blood cells, holds reserve blood, and recycles iron. #mytriviaoftheday

Aug 29: Quietness within a group of people? If yes, then try these silent breakers conversation topics: mattresses, caffeine, and Abe Lincoln.

Sep 04: The best patient people are special ed teachers, assistances, and aids. They do their best teaching special ed children and young adults

Sep 04: to function normally in society. The children and young adults need additional attention and repetitive teaching. Bless these professionals.

Sep 04: I wish there is a miracle brain treatment to help these children and young adults speak clearer, focus stronger, behave more normal.

Sep 22: Lyft co-founder John Zimmer wrote a long article titled "The Third Transportation Revolution." https://t.co/ttLWCRDtHi

Sep 22: Zimmer predicts car ownership in cities ends by 2025. Also, the average vehicle is used only 4% of the time and parked the other 96%.

Oct 04: RT @Dodgers: Dear friends... https://t.co/akgzIU1UdW
Oct 30: If you don't remember the last time you wash your bed blankets and mattress protectors, maybe its time to wash them. I am.

Nov 03: A 2016 World Series for the history books. Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians battled to the end. I watched or listened the entire series.

Nov 03: How sweet it is! The wait is over. I'm a Giants fan. Congratulations to the Chicago #cubs. You earned it. #WorldSeries #gocubsgo

Nov 22: maintain: To keep in existence or continuance; preserve; retain. To keep in an appropriate condition, operation, or force #mynewwordoftheday

Nov 22: increment: Something added or gained; addition; increase. The act or process of increasing; growth. #mynewwordoftheday

Favorite Favorites

Jan 17: @tone765, pretty sad when I see ppl talking about their trips overseas and the thing they decide to cheap out on is food

Jan 27: @SexWithEmily, Did you know that sperm is considered an anti-aging treatment b/c of it’s tightening effect on the skin? How’s that for a facial.. #SexFacts

Mar 29: @SexWithEmily, Now that's what I call true love... https://t.co/AO8w1j3Bjd

Apr 1: @HistoricalPics, Apple Inc was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on this day 40 years ago https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ce9tieuWsAA23sg.jpg

Apr 11: @awkwardgoogle, 21st century parenting https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfxUYihWIAADrYb.jpg

Jun 13: @SFGiants, We are proud of you, #SJSharks #BayAreaUnite https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck3BaTiUoAAZU2u.jpg

Jun 19: @SFGiants, We are proud of you. @warriors. #BayAreaUnite https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClXKe0rUkAAxxFK.jpg

Sep 29: @HistoricalPics, Arnold's favorite bicep. 1974 - 2015. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtgbKZtWEAEydYR.jpg:large

Oct 3: @HistoricalPics, These two books contain the sum total of all human knowledge https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ct21WF8XYAA_INU.jpg

Oct 21: @sleepingkyoto, There's a guy who brought in a fucking typewriter https://twitter.com/sleepingkyoto/status/789530848064176128

Dec 23: @HistoricalPics, Use your words - Dead Poets Society. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C0YL2TGXEAEFHjI.jpg

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Top 2016 Pics

Here are the top pictures I took in 2016. They’re sorted from the start of the year to the end of the year. Enjoy!

























Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

You're Not Perfect, You Have Flaws

The title is obvious. Nobody is perfect. Every human being has weaknesses. Every human being has flaws. Think critically. Think honestly. There are weaknesses physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Some of us are prone to sickness. Some of us have learning problems. Some of us have multiple personalities. Some of us live without inner peace. Some of us have buy goods too much.

I share some of my weaknesses. I have a weak short-term memory; I must write information on paper. I can't tread water. My body tolerance is weak on hot environments. I'm partially tone-deaf. I have weak gums. I read slowly. My home improvement craftsmanship is bad I make problems worse.

On the other hand, every human being has strengths. I have an above average long-term memory for which I recall moments to the month and year. My body tolerance is strong on cold environments. I'm in my best health which includes working out at the gym four days a week. I have strong teeth. I'm a clean person who keeps my residence organized; in other words, I minimize junk. My public speaking is courageous. My stress tolerance is solid. I got loss driving twice.

Long Term Relationships

Finding a loving human being is hard. It must be hard because the person you choose to spend the rest of your life must be the person with chemistry, compatibility, communication, and common interests. I can't write how to find a lasting relationship anymore clearer.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Go Outside

Health research states the sun gives a person vitamin D. There is another important reason to go outside. The weather is unimportant. The weather can be hot, cold, sunny, rainy, or snowy. Obviously if the weather is unsafe such as hurricanes, then stay indoors. Going outside is a breath of fresh air. The body breathes air outdoors. The body moves beyond the walls. The eyes take a break from seeing the usual indoors. The eyes see the outside. There is a feeling of freedom. The simple outdoors activities such as running errands, walking around the neighborhood, eating out, and visiting friends are valid. Day trips, hiking, concerts, and festivals are also valid. Weekend vacations, week off vacations, and long trips are great. Find time to just go outside regularly. Going to work to go outside only is excluded. Go outside for leisure. Go outside to take a break.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Black Friday 2017

My Black Friday 2017 shopping was practical. Most of the items I purchased were bare necessities. One item was a wanted item. The shopping day was good timing and was bad luck.

I shopped at Rite-Aid buying four 2-liters of Coke for $.98 at 7:12am. The As Seen On TV flashlights were a no-go. The next store was Pep Boys buying two sets of Castrol motor oil and Purolator oil filter with mail-in rebate at 7:36am.

The next two stores were department stores. I purchased Isotoner slippers, Earth Therapeutics bath sponges, and an Earth Therapeutics foot care gift set which included cream, pumice stone, and massager at Kohl's at 8:25am. I waited 15 minutes in line. I purchased two packs of Nike socks at Macy's at 9:21am. The parking lot at the shopping mall was like a normal weekend shopping day. There were plenty of parking spaces. Crowds were normal, too. Unfortunately, Macy's point of sale systems were partially down. I couldn't use my gift card. I tried to cash out my gift card at Customer Service. The systems continued to be down. I was frustrated.

I shopped online at Walgreens.com. I found out drugstore.com merged with Walgreens. There was a buy two, get one free Vanicream soap sale. I purchased 18 bars of soap at 12:07pm. I saved 33%. Next, I shopped online for new desktop speakers which were my wanted item. My old desktop speakers broke. I choose the Logitech Z313 2.1 speakers. Amazon sold the speakers for $25. I shopped at Fry's for which Fry's price matched Amazon's price from $50 to $25 at the cash register. Shopping at Fry's was the first time I shopped a Black Friday in the afternoon. I lined up at 2pm. I checked out at 3:30pm. The Fry's experience convinced me the best time to shop at stores with short lines is between 7am-10am.

Finally, the Macy's point of sale system gave me worries about my Target gift card becoming invalid. I purchased New Skin and Orajel mouth sore gel for the family first-aid kit at 3:54pm.

Black Fridays achieved the status quo years ago in my opinion. I shop on Black Fridays to purchase bare necessities which includes stocking up on bare necessities, to buy new durable goods, to upgrade existing durable goods, and to buy DVDs on my wish list. Black Fridays are good shopping days for appliances, clothes, new TVs, desktop parts, and towels. If I can wait for the Black Friday, then I wait.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

The World Is Too Many And Too Few

#pessimistic
I question some common wisdom today pessimistically speaking. Never give up. Achieve your dreams. Nothing is impossible. Continue moving forward. Accept failure because you learn from failure; the end is success. There are opportunities to find. Work hard to achieve your goals. You can do anything by putting your mind to it. Be patient. There is hope. Believe in yourself. Keep the dream alive. The harder you work, the luckier you get. You are going to be successful staying focus.

Good advice from the common wisdom above. What if I say all the common wisdom above are losing strength today? Am I pessimistic? Yes. Am I being ridiculous? Maybe. Does my opinion have merit? Yes. Explain. There are too many people in the world. There are too few opportunities. Competition is fierce. Fierce may be an understatement. Competition is barbaric. Barbaric may be an overstatement today. Barbaric may be the truth tomorrow. There are too few chances for people working to be successful. There are too few breaks in life.

We can work hard intelligently to be the best people. Unfortunately, timing and luck are nothing with little opportunities. The rewards pay nothing with too many people competing for too few openings. There are too few winners for many deserving people. There are too many losers for many good people. Life is unfair. It's reality. How can Mother Earth sustain geometric population growth historically speaking decades later? Are humans going to be barbaric to survive?

Side note: I wrote a similar blog titled The Size Of The Pie Is Still The Same. I wrote too many people are greedy. There's not enough pie for everyone. The not enough pie applies to greedy people or not greedy people referencing my blog above.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Throwback Blog: How Do They Do It? How Do They Do It?

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled How Do They Do It? How Do They Do It? in Jun 2009. I asked the question how some people attract other people to be with them. These people immediately blend in with strangers and become the main attraction instantly. Actor George Clooney is a good example of a person. These people have charisma, intelligence, good smile, dress well, strength, courage, and confidence. These people are beautiful on the inside and beautiful on the outside. I answered my question.

One observation I see daily is how some people blend easily in a crowd. The crowd is a bunch of friends, a bunch of strangers meeting for the first time, or a bunch of people in a party . . . any group of people. How do they do it? How do they blend in and bring energy and enthusiasm in a group of people? Charisma? Good vibes? Good looks? Positive energy? Tone of voice? Correct attitude? Funny? Luck?

I had a friend. High school educated, worked in retail, little overweight, 6ft tall, talked slowly, slow learner, and ten times more geek than me. In Anime Expo'99, he successfully got a press badge and watched the main events show from the side of the stage. Everytime we were together and with people, he attracted a crowd and he was an instant star. How did he do it? I have no idea.

I must be doing something wrong. Is it my voice? My voice is my voice. My looks? My braces are removed in June. My accutane treatment is half way completed. Wear makeup? Um, I think about makeup. Am I sending negative vibes? Do I act nervous? Insecure? Angry? I don't know. I'm wearing new clothing. I donated my at least 10 year old clothing. Obviously I buy new pants when I need to. I'm doing something to change and to improve my appearance. Do I need to improve my conversation skills? I say yes, I always improve my conversation skills, do anything to be more charming.

Am I portraying myself as too good a person? I'm too good? I'm too perfect? I'm not good. I'm not perfect. I have flaws. Maybe I do a good job hiding them and I don't realize it. Do I act and behave as a quiet person? Bad luck and bad timing I'm with a group of people and there is no connection between me and them? Do I scare people? I admit I laugh too much. I'm working on that bad habit. Do some people look at me as a nerd, a geek, and all of a sudden, they ignore me? I have bad luck I haven't met people like me to expand my long term circle of friends, my long-term friendships.

I want to be a person who attracts people. I don't want to be a person who chases people. I have many ways to communicate including texting, AIM, Yahoo IM, and Facebook to keep in touch. I want to meet new people. I want to portray myself as a fun and good person, and create long term friendships. Age, race, creed, education. Doesn't matter. I have a desire to meet new people. I want to be a "there he is person." I avoid the jerks, bitches, and people full of drama.

In Fanime 2009, I hung out with a few friends who introduced me to more friends. Some of them do it. They attract people. They're funny. They're the source of energy, source of fun, and source of enthusiasm. How do they do it? I'm still trying to figure it out. Confidence? Opening up? I had a few highlights being with them. What I did was followed how they were having fun. They were my models, my examples how to behave and to act. Oh, I did wear makeup when I wore my costumes. OMG, what a difference!!! People were coming up to me. I don't recall a past anime convention where so many people came up to me to talk, to joke, and to take a picture of me.

The lessons I learned regarding how people attract, retain, and earn friendships and being a friendly good guy are having the attitude of being cheerful, not being a stuck up. Have courage to speak up and everyone makes mistakes and say stupid jokes. Make sure what you say is appropriate; in other words, be tactful when meeting new people. Yes, I have lots more to learn.

Side note: I review my top five rules for daily living:

1. Don't criticize, condemn, and complain, and don't compare with others.
2. Don't act like a jerk or bitch.
3. Always speak calmly and be calm.
4. Don't daydream when driving.
5. Keep your head up high . . . look at the cute face when talking.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Research Reading Sunday Ads

The Sunday newspaper is one activity I look forward. I like to read the Sunday advertisements. I pay attention to the sale prices for retail items such as body wash, bottle water, clothes, and spices. I believe in shopping around waiting for sale prices on goods. Add up the small savings equals big savings in a calendar year. I'm fortunate with good timing most of my items I buy at stores are on sale. Also, I gage the cost of living in my county.

Another reason I read Sunday advertisements is new products available. My eyes experienced dryness recently. I knew Visine eye drops wasn't my solution. I found Refresh Tear eye drops researching online which relieved my dry eyes. It was the first time I discovered eye drops other than curing redness. I notice Refresh Tear eye drops in Sunday advertisements.

Sometimes new products have been in the market for years I notice for the first time; for example, first aid supplies, new foods, and over-the-counter drugs available without a prescription. I discover technology consumers can purchase such as new TVs, new phones, and new computer hardware. Sunday advertisements are an old-school consumer information source; likewise for Wednesday advertisements.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

My Personal Circle Of Trust

If you can trust yourself, then good moments are coming soon. Everything I'm doing today results in a happy future. The late Steve Jobs said it best, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

I'm trusting myself. I'm not believing in myself. Trust and believe are two separate thoughts. I'm my own personal mentor; although, I'm open to making new mentors. There are setbacks, frustrations, and depressing moments. I trust myself I overcome these three moments. I trust myself life goes my way. I share what I'm doing below for an independent life. I may be right. I may be wrong. I don't know my future. Time is the ultimate judge.

*Intuition. Trust my gut feeling. I must trust my intuition to save me from problems. I don't think when I make jokes. Jobs said, "Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Jobs also said, "I began to realize that an intuitive understanding and consciousness was more significant than abstract thinking and intellectual logical analysis . . . intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That's had a big impact on my work."

*New Circle Of Friends. I attract new people. I attract new friends. New people are coming to my life as long as I'm a good guy getting stronger, smarter, kinder, and wiser. One of the people I meet is a woman I'm going to marry.

*Learning New Job Skills. Finding A Job. I have been learning new skills such as Python, dashboards, and JavaScript. I have been reviewing existing skills such as SQL, Excel, and SalesForce. Repetition, review, repeat, relearn. I'm not quitting finding a new job. I'm doing the best I can. I have nothing to lose.

*Control, Consistency, Choices, and Proactive. I trust myself today and tomorrow I control more of my life, live a good life consistently, make good choices, and be proactive every day.

*Stay Active. I trust my hobbies and activities keep me moving. I'm physically active working out at the gym four or five days a week. I hike at trails. I'm intellectually active reading books, playing board games, learning new concepts, and learning new job skills mentioned above. I'm emotionally stable controlling stress. I act calmly. I speak calmly. I practice my spiritually sleeping eight hours a night. And I'm financially worry-free. I'm looking forward to a new career to strengthen my finances. My life is not hording. I do almost nothing because I don't have the money in the meantime.

*My wisdom grows learning from my mistakes. I avoid repeating my mistakes. I seek new adventures exposing myself to new opportunities to grow. I experience new experiences to expand my life.

*Finally, stay hungry, stay foolish.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Eleven Pics To Catch Up

I posted a blog with nine pics in May 2017. Today’s blog is 11 pics to average 10 pics per pic blogs. The 11 pics are a variety: paying the same price for less, online grocery shopping, life’s good moments getting married, life’s bad luck playing poker, telling people the obvious cold and hot, lifestyles for the rich, new insects, a first time or second time cat pic, consumer’s attention to cheap goods, cute anime, and consumer’s attention to closing stores.























Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Instant Bullets Blog Nov 11, 2017

*In-N-Out Secret Menu. I ordered the Double Meat from In-N-Out's secret menu. It was the first time I ordered from their secret menu. The Double Meat is different than the Double Double. The Double Meat includes two hamburger patties without cheese. No more ordering two individual hamburgers. Here are the websites listing the secret menu: In-N-Out Official Not-So-Secret-Menu and Spoon University 31 Genus Ways To Hack The In-N-Out Menu.

*Super breakfast. There are days I anticipate eating a late lunch. My super breakfast is two pieces of bread, a bigger serving of fruit, almonds or walnuts, Craisins, granola bars or Belivita breakfast bars, and a bigger bowl of cereal or a bowl of oatmeal.

*Agree or disagree? It's better to be lucky than be smart.

*Three parts of a job interview. Two of the three parts of a job interview is obvious. They're the interviewer or interviewers and the interviewee. The third part is the circumstances. The parties may not get along. The interviewee may be the best qualified; however, if the interviewee is a jerk, then no job offer. Conversely, the job system has rewarded job candidates with recent experience and relevant knowledge. Good personality is secondary. The bottom line is if any circumstance says no hire or no job offer, then the position remains open.

Moreover, younger aged interviewers prioritize a plethora of skills, relevant knowledge, and recent experiences. Older aged interviewers prioritize good character, positive attitude, strong work ethics, and an easy personality.

*Life is a full circle. Good moments happen to good people. Bad moments happen to bad people. Life can be cruel. Life can be weird. Life can be unfair. There are exceptions.

Sometimes we thought we do good when we actually doing bad. We realize the good or the bad in time. Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever."

Time will tell what you do today is good tomorrow. I believe time is the ultimate judge.

*$6.60 lesson. I failed to look at the expiration date for a 20% off coupon at an online store. I redeemed the coupon two days after the expiration date. Lesson learned. The first sentence I read is the percent off savings. The second sentence I read is the expiration date for all coupons. The third sentence I read is the restrictions.

*Relationships are hard. Most relationships are hard. Most relationships should be hard because the best relationships require hard work intelligently. Dynamic relationships and intelligent relationships require all parties to participate. The types of relationships I refer include professional, friendship, and marriage. All long-term relationships are hard to find and hard to maintain.

*Top Ten New York Times Books Best Seller list in 2008. The following books made the top ten in any given week in Fall 2008. I wonder if I read these books earlier than Sat Oct 4, 2008 I might have realized I needed to grow up earlier. I grew up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. The list below is in no particular order with the release date in parenthesis.

--The Choice by Nicholas Sparks (09/24/07)
--The Road by Cormac McCarthy (09/26/06)
--Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (11/18/08)
--Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (02/16/06)
--Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos (11/28/06)
--I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max (January 2006)
--Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner (04/12/05)
--The Shack by WM. Paul Young (May 2007)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Dewey by Bret Witter (09/24/08) books are on my wish list.

*I close my mouth when I brush my teeth. I reach the back of my teeth easier. My mouth is big.

*I swish with warm salt water to help heal my tongue from hot food burn.

*Friday night Nov 10, 2017. I turned back the clock when I played video games all night ending in early morning. I played Japanese Mahjong online at Tenhou. It was like I played Team Fortress 2 ten years ago. I heard soccer families playing at the school across the street. No more all night video games.

*Desperate times. Desperate measures. There is an increase telemarketers calling on weeknights and weekends. Also, job recruiters are calling my cell phone on Saturdays.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Never Say Never Or Always Be Open Minded

I have been playing Japanese Mahjong or Riichi since Oct 2009. Mon Nov 6, 2017 was the first day I played Riichi online with players around the world. The free Japanese site is Tenhou. There is no English site. Reading Japanese is unnecessary. There are websites with English screenshots and English documentation to learn the commands. Here are some websites: Reach Mahjong Of New York translation, Saki Wiki Tenhou instructions, and Arcturus Tenhou.net complete translation wiki. Here is a Youtube video from DdRMaSTeRDan.

I know Tenhou months after I started playing Riichi. I stayed away from playing online because I wanted to play with people and I minimize playing video games especially since I retired from anime in Sep 2014. It has been difficult finding people locally to play with me. Also, I have higher priorities. Tenhou is a low priority leisure activity. I play Tenhou on weekends when I have free time; however, there is no substitution playing with people to socialize. Playing Tenhou on the weekday Mon Nov 6 was an introduction day.

Always be open to anything. I associate playing Riichi at Tenhou a personal instance of never say never.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

I Blog, You Comment Nov 4, 2017

A message to everyone feeling tired. Get extra sleep immediately. The best comments are below.

My parent's former neighbors The Shermans past away. The husband past away in Apr 2017. The wife past away in Jul 2017. The husband reminded me never stop learning in a person's senior years. Never Stop Learning Lesson Emphasized Because One Of The Shermans Past Away blog reminds everyone use your brain every day.

My parents continued learning in their retirement years. On the other hand my in-laws stopped learning. I can tell who are sharp and who aren't sharp as time continued. -- Heather Sparks, Lynn, MA

My children called out on me losing my memory. Forgot my keys. Forgot the time to pick up my grandchildren from school. Then I started spending more time reading books, taking walks. I started watching less television. I could think again. -- Eugene West, Greenfield, IN

I questioned What Is Believe. Anything we do must be done. Common examples include earning a degree, winning a contract, and becoming a champion. Do we really need to believe we succeed?

I emphasize believe everyday coaching my high school women sports. They must believe in themselves. Some of my players have no parents. I must tell them to believe so they can believe in themselves. --Joyce French, Buffalo, NY

You know I think back to raising my kids. I believe I never mentioned believe when I taught them life lessons. --Connie Bates, Jacksonville Beach, FL

Anyone that tells someone to believe in yourself doesn't know how to teach. --Melissa via email

Believe is important. People who believe in themselves have confidence. --Andrea Alvarez, Mexico

A couple comments expressed fear their small cities are losing the small city feeling. I experienced a small city feeling in A Praise For Small Cities.

I blame the tech companies for small cities becoming big cities. My city used to have lots of open fields. Now these open fields are commercial buildings and high-density housing. The city is crowded. I never wanted to live in a crowded city. More people in public areas. --Devin Kim, Pleasanton, CA

I'm in my 70s. I have to concentrate harder on the road because there [are] more cars. Also, I'm sad these ma and pa stores I used to shop are closing not because of the big box stores. It's because of the internet. --Eva Floyd, WA

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Throwback Blog: Top Ten Life Lessons From The Beatles

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled Top Ten Life Lessons From The Beatles in Jul 2015. My top ten lessons are valid today. Life gets better. Treat your lover well. The sun always rises. Men who knows the something in their women love is strong. A strong support is important to be successful. Communication is important in any relationship. The roads and the life are long and winding. Trust your feelings. Sometimes you must go back to your past to correct present mistakes. And let it be.

One of my friend's classmates was born in Russia when he attended San Jose State University. He learned English listening to The Beatles. I replied, "He also learned life lessons." The conversation inspired me to blog the top ten Beatles songs I learned life lessons:

10. Getting Better. Be optimistic. Paul McCartney was quoted, "It's getting better all the time." John Lennon replied, "Can't get no worse!" Lennon also admitted in reference to the song he was physically and verbally abusive to his women. He learned to be peaceful. He stopped being violent.

9. You're Going To Lose That Girl. Treat your girl with respect, appreciation, and kindness. Otherwise, she finds another man. Maybe the other man is a friend. Likewise for women. Women must also treat their man with respect, appreciation, and kindness.

8. Here Comes The Sun. My take on the song is the world didn't come to an end. The sun rises the next day. George Harrison wrote the song with Eric Clapton in April 1969. The month experienced the most hours of sunlight in London after an unseasonably cold February and March. The record was broken in April 1984.

7. Something. George Harrison was quoted in a Rolling Stone magazine on writing love songs, "All love is part of a universal love. When you love a woman, it's the God in her that you see." What is the something you see in a women you want to spend the rest of your life with here.

6. Carry That Weight. I believe Carry That Weight was the only song all four Beatles sang together. Don't carry your entire life on your shoulders. Successful people must have people to assist them.

5. We Can Work It Out. One of the lyrics states, "Life is very short. There's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend." I feel sad hearing relationships break off. I refer to any relationships: friendships, romantic, companionship, professional partnerships, neighbors, etc. Sometimes the break off is natural. Sometimes the break off is not natural—it can be saved. If there are conflicts, then people must find ways to keep it going. Wise up. Get stronger.

4. The Long And Winding Road. The song was The Beatles' 20th and last number one song in the USA on June 1970. McCartney was quoted, "It's rather a sad song." Sad songs can acknowledge a person's sad feelings. My take on the song is life is not a simple short road and straight shot to happiness.

3. I've Got A Feeling. I believe there are some human feelings which can't be explained in words. I also believe humans should trust their feelings. I'm going to follow the feeling. McCartney wrote the song for his late wife Linda Eastman.

2. Get Back The song was performed three times as part of the rooftop performance on top of Apple Studios in Savile Row, London. Police interrupted their performance because of noise complaints from office workers.

My take on the song is if I'm experiencing life problems, go back to my past. Remember my past successes and past failures to help me solve my current problems.

1. Let It Be. McCartney dreamed about his mother. His mother told him, "It will be all right, just let it be." McCartney was blessed to have the dream to inspire him writing "Let It Be."

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

SOMT: McDonald's Big Mac Combo $2.99 And Donut Shop Donuts $0.50

Blogger’s Note: SOMT stands for Sign Of My Times, an occasional blog sharing my thoughts how time changes life from when I was young to today.

The inspiration for today's blog was buying two donuts at a donut shop on May 2017. The last time I purchased donuts at the same donut shop was Oct 2014. The cost for two glazed donuts was $1.90. I paid $2.20 last month for two smaller sized glazed donuts.

I remember when retail prices, grocery prices, and restaurant prices were cheaper. Almost everyone agrees the past times were easier. Almost everyone agrees the past times were cheaper. People paid $2.99 for a Big Mac number one combo. Gas prices were in the $1.00-$2.00 per gallon, and people complained when prices broke $2.00 per gallon. Many homes owners never thought their homes reached a million dollars. Some of those homes are breaking the million dollar mark in hot real estate markets. Many landlords never thought their apartments reached a thousand dollars per month. Some of those apartments are breaking the thousand dollar mark in high demand markets. Movie matinee was $4.25. College education, medical insurance, and utilities are common knowledge prices are going up.

Prices are going up. Welcome to Economics 101. Supply and demand. Inflation. Cost of living increase. One can say prices are going down. One can say prices for medical care are cheaper. Better technology to run tests faster and more accurate decreases wait time for patients. New surgery techniques patients recover faster resulting in less time as a hospital inpatient. There are more over-the-counter drugs more powerful requiring fewer dosages.

One can say prices for operating all ground transportation are cheaper. Gas mileage is better. There are hybrid cars. Ground transportation innovates their durability lasts longer compared to 40 years ago. Desktop computers are cheaper such as bigger disk drive memory. Computer hardware lasts longer in durability and in more performance; for example, motherboards don't need a video card for basic desktop use. LED light bulbs are energy efficient costing pennies. The cost of backpacking equipment is going down because the durability lasts longer and equipment serves more functions. Flat panel television, clothing, and appliances are common knowledge prices have been going down.

Perspective determines whether we are living prices going up or prices doing down. Perspective is correct on both viewpoints. Costco's food court prices are the same since Costco opened their food courts.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Top Ten Daily Changes After O'Connor Hospital

I was an impatient in a hospital on Apr 2017 for the first time in my life. I was diagnosed with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. I needed two surgeries. The first surgery removed gallstones or Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography (ERCP). The second surgery removed my gallbladder or Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. I stayed in O'Connor Hospital for five days and four nights.

Taking time away from daily routines can be good. Examples of taking time away are a vacation, a sabbatical, a temporary assignment or task, and being an inpatient in a hospital. Sometimes taking time away changes daily routines. There are new routines. There are routines no longer needed. There are existing routines improved. There is a new outlook on routines big and small. New wisdom, stronger, smarter, and growth can happen.

Here are the top ten daily changes after O'Connor Hospital. The daily changes also happened during my recovery period at home.

10. Drink Less Water. Common knowledge says humans should drink eight glasses of water a day. It doesn't apply to my body.

9. Browse Less Online. No more checking Amazon's Deal Of The Day. No more checking Kickstarter.

8. Read Personal Email Daily. I read all email once a day instead of reading all my lower priority emails once a week.

7. New Jobs Search Schedule. I continue job searching two times every weekday. I switch job searching some websites from the afternoon to the evening and vice versa. I started applying for Business Systems Analyst as long as I qualify for 50% of the job requirements. I brought back the Sun morning job search.

6. New Dental Care. Good hygiene prevents health problems. I change my cup once a week instead of once every two weeks when I brush my teeth. I use a Waterpix. I brought back proxabrushes.

I have a heighten importance to practice good dental care when my welcome inpatient basket included mouthwash, toothbrush, and toothpaste. O'Connor Hospital knows dental care is important to prevent spreading bacteria. I brushed my teeth two times a day. I rinsed my mouth with mouthwash when my mouth felt dirty.

5. Spend Extra Money Eating Out. There are times I must eat out. There is no spending limit when I eat at restaurants. Health, energy, and focus are priority when I'm out of the house. I avoid getting sick due to fatigue.

4. I have a new respect for medical personnel which includes doctors, nurses, and technicians. I already have a respect for first responders and engineers.

3. New Podcast Schedule. Podcasts are off when I job search. I listen to podcasts driving, cooking, and cleaning the house.

2. R-E-L-A-X. Take it easy on weekends. Everyone needs a break. I stopped my sense of urgency getting a job. Take it slow. Take small steps. Increment. Add all the little things something big happens.

No more personal projects on weekends. Weekend gym workouts are allowed if I missed a weekday gym day. The Sun job search is brief.

1. Understand Personal Responsibility. The inpatient or outpatient has a responsibility to help medical personnel do their jobs. In other words, help the medical personnel to help me. Make it easier for them to take care of me. Keep them informed any changes. I take care of myself when I can take care of myself. Patient responsibility is an example of personal responsibility.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Change Says No To Raymond Mar

I drove by two elementary schools I attended in my childhood earlier today because I was in the neighborhood completing errands. The first school is Serra Elementary School in Sunnyvale, CA. I attended Serra in kindergarten and first grade. Serra closed at the end of the 1988-1989 school year according to the California Department Of Education. Serra is a Montessori school today. The second school is R.I. Meyerholz Elementary School or Meyerholz in San Jose, CA. I attended Meyerholz in second grade and third grade. Seeing the two schools inspired me to write today's blog. There are two parts. Part I is my thoughts on change. Part II is my life on change.

Part I: There Is A Change Every Second

Nobody lives the same life. Life finds a way to change you. Life finds a way to change your surroundings. Every day you go outside there is a change. Every day indoors something changes even beyond your control; for example, a new refrigerator to replace a broken refrigerator or upgrading windows. Life finds a way to change anything. Life changes everything. You can control some changes. You can't control some changes.

One example of change is a married couple. Life changes the partners in time. I'm single for which I guarantee life changes the partners in time. The couple hopes with good luck and good fortune the change flows favorably the couple changes together they are married their entire lives. I hear stories couples divorce after being married for at least 20 years.

I saw Serra and Meyerholz schools changed. There are more classroom buildings. There are more parking spaces. The playgrounds shrank. The grass fields shrank because more fields are paved with asphalt. The height of the perimeter fences is lowered. However, the original buildings remain with new paint color. I'm guessing the schools were built in the 1950s.

Part II: When's My Next Change?

My first change was on Sat Oct 4, 2008. It was the day I realized I must grow up. I stopped taking life for granted. I became responsible. I must earn my successes. My life changed forever living life as a mature adult.

There is no change number two yet. My second change is freedom. My freedom includes working full time, living at my own residence, and in love with a woman. I work hard daily to earn my freedom. Life is telling me no change today. It's like I submit a request to life I want a change to live in freedom. Life rejects my request. Reapply tomorrow. The rejections are piling up. The losing streak continues.

There have been small changes. These small changes are too small for the big change. Some of the small changes are retiring from anime, reading more fiction books than nonfiction books, new gym workouts, and saying goodbye to people who held me back. Change number two is a big change.

The bottom line is I can't quit. If I stop applying for change number two life, then I guarantee no change. I have no freedom. I earn my second change life approves my request eventually.

Side note: I heard the song "Changes" by the late David Bowie in front of Meyerholz.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Staying Busy Hoping For The Best

I make gains every day. It's a small gain or a big gain. I learn something new such as Python, JavaScript, and CSS. I review something existing such as SQL and Excel. I drill myself such as repeat learning Python and working out at the gym. There are the everyday tasks such as job searching, reading books, eating healthy, and sleeping eight hours a night. The gains can be generalized getting better, getting stronger, being braver, getting smarter, and acquiring wisdom.

I continue either moving forward or moving upwards; each practically means the same. I describe with any adjective or adverb. I work hard intelligently I earn my good outcomes. I live life continuing--no quitting. If I quit, then there's no hope for the best. The people, the friends, the good luck, the opportunities, the money, and the fortunes are coming soon. They come to me. Life flows with me.

I never complain about my current life. I focus on my life joys. I have no time being dreadful wasting my life. I'm happy. There is more happiness in my future.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Some Of My Favorite Movie Scenes

One YouTube positive everyone agrees is watching favorite scenes from movies. Here are some of my favorite movie scenes.

Good Will Hunting. Chuckie is brutally honest with Will he owes Chuckie to not waste his genius talents or else Chuckie kills Will.

Lean On Me. Dr. Frank Napier tells Principal Joe Clark he is the H.N.I.C.

The Patriot. Benjamin Martin and two of his sons ambush the British to rescue the eldest son. Violent movie scene.

Predator Part I and Predator Part II. Guerrilla base attack scene one and scene two. Violent movie scenes.

Rocky IV. Rocky Balboa trains in U.S.S.R. to fight Drago.

Moneyball. Billy Beane meets with the scouts to discuss replacing Oakland A's ballplayers lost via free agency.

Dead Poet's Society. Various scenes John Keating interacting with his students. The scene where Keating tells his students to stand on the teacher's desk is included.

Stand By Me. Chris Chambers teaches Gordie Lachance grown-up wisdom don't let anyone "drag you down."

Traffic. Seth Abrahms teaches Robert Wakefield drug economics.

A Few Good Men. "You can't handle the truth" courtroom scene.

Here are two good opening scenes.

Deadpool. The opening song is Angel Of The Morning by Juice Newton.

Hell Or High Water. Brothers Toby and Tanner Howard rob two banks in the morning.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Turn Back The Clock On Anime

I saw a tweet showing a smartphone with No Face as its wallpaper from the anime movie Spirited Away. The tweet inspired me to turn back the clock to one of my longest hobbies Japanese Anime. I retired from anime in Sep 2014.

My turn back the clock was watching episodes from selected anime series. These classic anime series have good plot, good character, originality, rely less on graphics, and rely more on good story. Some of these anime series are classics from my generation. Here is the timeline below:

Thur Sep 14: No Face was my temporary smartphone’s wallpaper. I included the original No Face and my smartphone wallpaper No Face above. I watched Ranma 1/2 volume 1 episode 15 and volume 2 episodes 1 and 2 Viz Video USA release.

Fri Sep 15: I watched Cowboy Bebop episodes 1 and 5. I watched Card Captor Sakura episode 21.

Sat Sep 16. I watched Sailor Moon episodes 37 and 39.

Sun Sep 17: I watched Spirited Away and Card Captor Sakura episode 3.

Mon Sep 18: I listened to Card Captor Sakura Character Songbook CD. I watched Tenchi Muyo TV series episodes 1 and 2.

Tue Sep 19: I watched Sailor Moon Stars episodes 187 and 188.

Sat Sep 23: I watched Maho Tsukai Tai OVA episode 3. I watched Hime-Chan No Ribbon episodes 22 and 39.

The turn back the clock was supposed to be seven days. I added bonus episodes after watching Maho Tsukai Tai OVA episode 3 because I needed to watch the last two episodes. Also, I didn’t watch any Sailor Moon Super episodes.

Mon Sep 25: I watched Sailor Moon Super episode 114.

Wed Sep 27: I watched Sailor Moon Super episode 115.

Sat Sep 30: I watched Maho Tsukai Tai OVA episodes 5 and 6.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Throwback Blog: SOMT: Kodak Declares Bankruptcy

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled SOMT: Kodak Declares Bankruptcy in Jan 2012. Toys R Us declared bankruptcy on Sep 19, 2017. There is truth the better companies Amazon and Wal-Mart ruined Toys R Us. The deeper truth is mismanagement. I know somebody who knew a manager who worked at Borders. The manger told her the top reason Borders went bankrupt was mismanagement. The economy changes. Business practices change. Time changes anything. Companies stay in business as long as they can. Companies don't last forever. Good management keeps companies in business as long as they can.

Blogger’s Note: SOMT stands for Sign Of My Times, an occasional blog sharing my thoughts how time changes life from when I was young to today.

CNBC reported the 131 year old company Eastman Kodak declared bankruptcy. The company has no cash to continue operations, and bankruptcy provides the company with protection to survive. Kodak is shifting their business plan to printers for home and commercial use.

My dad was a good amateur photographer. He took family pictures when my siblings and I were young. He developed and printed black & white pictures from college to his young parenting years. I remember shopping at LZ Premiums, a local ma & pa discount photo store that sells photography equipment, film, development services, and photo developing equipment. LZ Premiums expanded their store selling televisions and renting VHS movies in the mid 1980s. I’m guessing the store expanded because of competition from bigger stores selling photography equipment and services such as Circuit City and a small chain of camera and video stores known today as Wolf Camera. LZ Premiums went out of business.

I took black & white photography in 1991 while I in 11th grade. I used one of my dad’s Nikon cameras to take pictures for my assignments. I purchased my first film camera in Dec 2002. Digital cameras were too expensive for me. The first time I held a digital camera was on July 2000. A friend owned a Casio digital camera that used 3.5 inch floppy disks.

I purchased my first digital camera in July 2003. The first pics I took with my Olympus were our family vacation in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. I purchased my second digital camera in May 2004. It was the Canon Powershot A75. The A75 was a rock I dropped it so many times. I took many pictures at anime conventions and my vacations in 2004-2005.

Digital cameras and photography are everywhere. Cell phones can take pictures. People can take as many pictures as they want—even an ant on the sidewalk. There is no need to be picky taking pictures with film. I started my digital photography with point & shoot cameras. I use a SLR today. I consider myself an amateur below my dad’s skills. Regardless, anyone can take good pictures with today’s digital cameras.

Stubborn Is Another Bad S Word

Going back to Kodak, the company was stubborn to enter the digital market. It stayed in the film business years after digital photography started becoming mainstream. Kodak lost money staying in the film photography. They were too late entering the digital market.

George Eastman founded Kodak from his photography hobby. He found ways to make photography easy for common people including the photography paper and easily transporting camera film. Eastman debuted Kodachrome film in 1935.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Life Goes On

My dad and I got last minute tickets for Thursday Night Football San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams on Thur Sep 21, 2017. We rode public transportation to avoid parking at Levi's Stadium. Today's blog is inspired on our way to the football game.

All variants of today's blog title are true. Life moves forward. The sun rises the next day. There is a future. Tomorrow is another day. Anything that happens today good and bad anything happens tomorrow good and bad.

The 49ers are one of worse teams entering the 2017 NFL season. The 49ers must play football even though football analysts project a losing record. 49ers fans watched the football game in the less than half occupied stadium. There were stadium workers, football players, coaches, security, TV personnel, and sponsors. Incomes were earned. Revenues were generated. The football game is in the schedule. The game must be played regardless of how many people attended the stadium, how many people watched the game on TV, and how many people listened to the game on radio. The 49ers are 0-3 as of today's blog.

Good moments, good events, bad moments, and bad events happen every day, every hour, and every minute. The recent natural disasters Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Irma in Florida, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and the earthquake in Mexico. There is trash talk between President Donald Trump and North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. There are newsworthy successes such as a business going public, a sports team winning a championship, and a hero rescue. Everyone has personal problems. Every common human being has problems. Medical problems. Relationship problems. Professional problems. Unemployment. Car accidents. Everyone has personal happy moments. Marriages. Buying a car. Buying a home. Job promotion. Graduation. Learning new skills. Vacations. Freedom.

I thought about life goes on while the light rail train transports my dad and I to Levi's Stadium. I see the tech buildings, manufacturing factories, and apartments along the way. Life is unfair. Life goes on. We continue living. Perhaps living life is a strength itself. Never give up. We do our best to live. We hope to get the big break. We hope to discover the one moment to change our lives. We have grit. Life goes on whether life is good and life is bad.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

You And I Are Weird

Agree with me 100% being weird. You're weird. I'm weird. Everyone is weird. Every human being is weird. Think carefully. There is something weird. Weirdness is subjective. Some people tolerate some weirdness. Some people reject some weirdness. Friends and family accept weirdness from their inner circles of friends and family. Weirdness makes each human unique.

I take pictures of police cars. It's weird. I believe 95% of the human population agrees. Another weirdness is I wear pajamas inside the house. I want to be comfortable. I believe 50% of the human population agrees. I sleep half naked every time I sleep. I believe 85% of the human population agrees. There are medical research sleeping partially or fully naked improves a human's immune system.

A Little Craziness

Weird and craziness can be together. I spend $200 on a pair of sunglasses for which I could have purchased a $15 pair of sunglasses both providing adequate protection for my eyes. I buy gas at Chevron. No Costco, Arco, Rotten Robbie, and no name brand gas goes inside my Toyota Camry. Many people including experts say gas is gas.

There are people who regularly sleep six hours a night. There are people who regularly sleep four hours a night. How can these people function during their waking hours? Maybe these people are too excited for everything. Maybe these people are too focused on something. They're too alert. Overwhelmed. I believe everyone has experienced the excitement and focus some nights we sleep a low amount of hours. Personally speaking, if I'm in a first time new adventure or first time new experience, then I'm excited, focused, and overwhelmed. My brain is too stimulated learning and thinking. I break down everything I observe as fast as the speed of light silently.

Finally, there is a difference between being weird and being immature. There is also a difference between being weird and behaving childish as an adult. It's okay being weird. It's okay being a little crazy. There are people who live a life dominated by their own weirdness. These people are immature. These people must grow up. Mature people control their weirdness. Mature people make the correct choices to turn on being a mature adult and turn off being a weird adult at the moment. Similarly, behaving childish as an adult is not weird. Daily childish behavior is unacceptable to live an independent life. I fail to understand some independent people behaving childish. They must have few friends and family in their lives. I anticipate many problems as these childish people continue living their present lives in their 50s and older. I hope through self-discovery the immature people and childish people grow up. The self-discovery hopefully happens sooner because these people have more time to correct their mistakes.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

When Is An Adult An Adult?

Today's question is when is an adult an adult? When the person is no longer a teenager? Age 18? Age 21? Age 16 in some areas of the world? Age is just a number. Some people are adults when they're 30 years old. Some people are adults when they're at least 40 years old. Some people are late bloomers who realize childhood life is over.

Is an adult an adult when the person is independent? The person moves out living on his or her own. There are some people who are at least 21 years old living with their parents. The reasons are valid such as financial, helping raise children, and can't find residence close to their employment. More people in their 20s and 30s are living with their parents in the Northern California Bay Area. The Bay Area becomes New York in time. Moreover, there are people living on their own behaving like a jerk. Are jerks adults? On the other hand, there are people living with their parents who are kind. There are good people who are down on their luck with no job they must live with their parents.

Are adults responsible? Are adults strong? Are adults courageous? Are adults intelligent? Do adults earn their successes? Some of these attributes are subjective. What is the scale of intelligence for an adult to be intelligent? What about physical fitness? Some people eat too much. Some people lack physical fitness. What about emotions? Some people have a closed personality they keep their emotions to themselves. What about financial? Some people are in debt. Does debt mean poor spending habits? What about spirituality? Some people practice religion. Some people have no religion.

Do adults take care of themselves? Who is a person who fails to take care of their needs? Is he or she an adult? Who do you call people abusing their bodies such as drugs and alcohol? Who do you call people irresponsible for themselves? Are these people adults who watch too much TV or spend little time making their lives better? You reap what you sow.

There are some people who take life for granted. Do adults put in the effort to live a good life? Or do adults rely too much on good luck, good fortunes, and good timing for their life highlights? Life itself determines what happens soon. Fate, destiny, and karma guide these people their futures.

Is an adult an adult who feels sorry for himself or herself? Is an adult an adult who stops caring about his or her world and the world outside? Forget life. Life is too hard. The adult takes the easy route. On the other hand, is an adult an adult who cares too much for others neglecting his or her own needs? It may be a sign of weak self-esteem. It may be a sign of loneliness needing to please other people to meet new people.

It's a judgment call. It's everyone's own opinion when is an adult an adult. Personally speaking, I know smart, kind, and strong adults living with their parents who can't afford living independently. I know adults living independently who are jerks, rude, and mean. I became an adult on Sat Oct 4, 2008. I realized I must grow up. Time will tell everything I'm doing today to live independently tomorrow is successful. I'm learning new job skills, reviewing existing job skills, staying physically fit, minimizing eating processed foods, and sleeping eight hours a day. I pace myself with leisure reading books, listening to music, and watching movies. I'm getting stronger. I'm getting smarter. My self-esteem is getting better. A little luck and good timing follow me. I hope for the best.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Higher Priority Job Hiring And Higher Weight Job Hiring

The old days a job candidate's desire, motivation, learning attitude, good communication skills, and friendliness were top qualities. They were the highest priorities. They weigh more. A job candidate's recent experience and relevant knowledge are top qualities today. The job hiring system today values the old days' qualities at the lower priority. The old days' qualities weigh less. Discrimination? My answer is yes. Discrimination has been happening for decades.

Moreover, managers and senior workers who "don't have time to train" prefer new hires with recent experience and relevant knowledge. What about your children when they're job searching after completing their education? Most of they can't find jobs because they don't have recent experience and relevant knowledge. Their potential managers and senior workers "don't have time to train." Managers and senior workers better train your children to avoid being discriminated like you're doing to job candidates who need a break.

I understand a common life quote "what goes around comes around." I also understand better some long-term unemployed quit job searching. Artificial Intelligence eliminates more jobs as time moves forward, anyways.

The job search system must be blamed. The job hiring process must be blamed. Some recruiters calling prospective candidates either don't read their resumes or don't understand their resumes content. They see key words on their resumes. They call the candidates or they email spam the candidates. Sometimes the calls or emails spam job openings are out of their metropolitan area. These recruiters are outside the United States almost all of the time.

It's very rare to find the 100% perfect job candidate. Most hiring managers believe their dreams come true. I see job openings. Time passes. I see the same job openings again as if the hiring manger rejected all of the potential job candidates. It happens to me when I reach the interview stage. Blame the system. Blame the process.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Instant Bullets Blog Sep 9, 2017

*Too much criticizing? Too much condemning? Too much complaining? If the answer is yes to any of the three questions, then you're stressed out. Also, you have low self-esteem. Get stronger. Get braver. Get more sleep. Eat healthy. Minimize eating processed foods. They're true.

*"Winning is only important in war and surgery." --Al McGuire, hall of fame division-1 basketball coach and analyst (1928-2001)

*First Class postage at the United States Post Office (USPS). First Class postage is purchased at the post office only. First Class postage is unavailable at usps.com. The USPS needs post office jobs.

*Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding. Click link for official video. Click link for a live version BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend 2016 Live at Powderham Castle, Exeter, UK. No Fifty Shades Of Grey sex scenes in the live version. Fifty Shades of Grey movie is crap. However, couples can learn intimacy knowledge.

*Child sex education. There are some parents who prepare their children in advance for reading, writing, and mathematics. Parents who want to prepare their children in advance for sex education may consider these books from Amazon: How Babies Are Made by Steven Schepp, It's Not the Stork! by Robie H. Harris, How a Baby is Made by Per Holm Kundsen, and What Makes A Baby by Cory Silverberg.

*Alice Sherman past away on July 2017. She was the wife of Bob Sherman who past away around May 2017. I wrote a blog on The Shermans.pess

*Today's problems we hear on the media are nothing new. These problems have been going on for decades. Some of the problems include racism, economic inequality, cancer, and divorce. They are the same old. Global warming is the newest problem which has been going on for decades, too. Donald Trump? He has been in the news for decades, too. We want new problems. We want fresh problems. Let's have aliens invade Earth. What's the worst problem? Your present personal problem or being lost in the woods?

*Humans Sustain Daily Life Commuting. The bullet was inspired when I helped a family friend completed home improvements on a weekday. There is no reverse commute on Interstate 880 which is one of the San Francisco Bay Area freeways. I observe freeway exits full of cars stretching out to the freeway exit only lane.

The worse is coming. Commutes are longer. Many cars on the freeways are from cities outside Silicon Valley. Homes are relatively cheaper at cities outside Silicon Valley. How long can people commuting long distances sustain the weekday work lifestyle? In particular, health-wise physically, mentally, and emotionally?

*Don't be a bad ass. An example I'm not being a bad ass is one of my personal projects. I'm reviewing database design. I'm not taking my top job skill for granted. I review to stay sharp.

*What was my best high school choice? The answer is taking geometry in summer school after my sophomore year.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com