Do You Fully Understand?

I wrote a blog on you're smarter than you think. I also wrote the converse some people are not as smart as you think. Here is a deeper blog. Do you fully understand yourself? Do you comprehend what you're doing? I believe there are more people than you think who don't know what's going on? I share three examples from the late Steve Jobs. Jobs said on 60 Minutes Overtime, "I say Microsoft and Google have a lot in common. Microsoft never had the humanities and the liberal arts in their DNA. It was a pure technology company. And they just didn't get it. Even when they saw the map, they couldn't even copy it well. How dumb do you have to be to not see it--once you see it, you know. But Google is the same way. They just don't get it."

Jobs hated PowerPoint slides. Programmer Tony Fadell presented iPod proposals in Apr 2001. Fadell learned a lesson saying, "Steve prefers to be in the moment, talking things through. He once told me, 'If you need [PowerPoint] slides, it shows you don't know what you're talking about.'"

There was a meeting discussing music copyright protection digital music with Apple and three music company executives in Jan 2002. Jobs interrupted the meeting after the fourth slide saying, "You have your heads up your asses." The presenter responded, "You're right. We don't know what to do. You need to help us figure it out."

Management is a good example such as the pointy haired boss from the Dilbert comic strip. Executives are another good example. Can a CEO describe the company's products and/or services? The managers saying they don't know from the movie Margin Call is a good portrayal many managers don't understand. There are professional sports players who underperform. Don't be surprised if these people bullshit their responsibilities. Few succeed. Sometimes their luck compensates for their stupidity.

Update On A Past Blog

Here are the blogs I mentioned above for further reading. The You're Smarter Than You Think blog was written on Nov 7, 2018. I wrote the some people are not as smart as you think blog Where Is The Intelligence? on Aug 24, 2019.

Half Ass Doesn't Work Anymore

I was a high school senior when a classmate told the entire classroom any high school student graduates with a 2.0 grade point average. Students could earn C grades applying 10% of their brain. I don't know if the 10% applies today because high school graduation requirements changed. Expectations are higher. There is more to know. Requirements for college are tougher for college bound students.

Moreover, I'm confident applying up to 50% of the brain doesn't work to be an average success outside school and college. More jobs require more responsibilities. More jobs require more skills. Tell me what jobs Excel are not required. More jobs requiring technical skills require Python programming. Hardware engineers know software engineering, and vice versa. A rising tide raises all boats. Competition is fierce. Retail, janitors, and waiting tables jobs are exempt from the higher expectations and requirements. There is no evolution in cleaning toilets and serving plates with meals.

On The Other Hand, Better Than Nothing

A common sense statement is better to do something compared to do nothing. I agree. Doing something better than nothing is a judgement call depending on the situation, seriousness, timing, and stakes. Half ass doesn't apply to changing a motor vehicle's breaks.

Prove Me Wrong

There were plenty of opportunities decades ago. There were plenty of success pie slices generations ago. Fewer requirements and fewer knowledge required to complete responsibilities. Expectations were easier.

There are fewer opportunities today. The size of the success pie is the same. More people are not going to get a slice. There is more to know. More jobs require getting more done with less time. There is still 24 hours a day. There is still seven days a week. I guarantee them. There is no evolution in time. Humans must sleep.

Update On A Past Blog

I uploaded a better picture for the article My Lunch With 2 Fraudsters: Food For Thought For Investors written by Herb Greenberg for MarketWatch. The article can be viewed at the blog Meet Fraudster Barry Minkow posted on May 5, 2011. "Do not trust--verify," said Minkow.

Thanks No Thanks Processed Foods

Some people have extra free time. Extra free time. Extra free time is rare for many people in today's Information Age. The extra free time is used to watch TV, to work, to raise the family, to read books, to check email, to play video games, to screentime on the smart phone, or do something brainless. These people eat more processed foods. These people may be eating too much processed foods including restaurants, frozen foods, and prepackaged meals. There is more time doing something else. There is less time cooking in the kitchen.

The extra free time cooking less is great in the short-run. The extra free time cooking less is terrible in the long-run. Is eating more fast food worth it to watch more TV series? Is eating more restaurant take-out worth it to finish the reports? Is eating more frozen pizza worth it to sit around doing nothing? Is skipping a meal worth more shopping?

Cooking is a life skill. Cooking is a stress relief. Cook the correct way.

Homeless Encampment Eviction Day Real Story

KTVU Fox 2 News reported on a homeless encampment eviction in Oakland, CA on Apr 10, 2023. YouTube link Eviction day for Oakland's Wood Street homeless encampment. The homeless were being cleared for a city affordable housing project. The news report was superficial. The YouTube comments and opinions told the real story. I select 24 posted below.

@kxngdavid 11 months ago: "They can't get rid of us. We're dug in like ticks." Spoken like a person who doesn't have any intentions of getting off the streets.

@juanitaannporras3775 7 months ago (edited): The woman who said, "Glorified prisons they're inadequate to feed the basic human needs and rights of a person" might not understand what being homeless means! The transition homes are a step up from sleeping on the sidewalk or living in a tent.

@gls3894 8 months ago: That woman is a prime example of a homeless person whom no matter how much money or [opportunity] you give her, she has no intention of leaving the street. Stop giving them free food and d.ope(sic) and they will leave.

@dylanberg1188 7 months ago: There are more than enough resources available for the homeless. Many of them simply don't want to take advantage of them. They would rather be homeless and live however they want than be exposed to any amount of accountability.

@02SCDC5 11 months ago: it has nothing to do with affordable housing AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH DRUGS

@roroneto 8 months ago: The problem is that shelters don't allow the crime and filth they want to live in. It is not about housing or basic human needs; it comes down to antisocial behavior.

@leeboriack8054 11 months ago: As a person in recovery, you can't help someone, who doesn't want to participate in their own recovery or improving their life.

@m.scottreeder 11 months ago: I served 19 consecutive years in the Alabama Department of Corrections (2002-2021). Around ten days after release, I took a Greyhound from Montgomery, Alabama to Spokane, Washington, where I have been living here since release. When I first arrived in Spokane on 09/01/21, I sought shelter at House of Charity. They took me straight in, not once was I forced to sleep in the streets. There were (and always will be) places across Spokane to get a free meal, not just a bag of snacks. The VA, Goodwill, plus other agencies got me stable shelter, and I have not been homeless since. The point is, to get blessed with what I got, the person wanting to escape the streets MUST go all out to make the f***ing difference. No more excuse-making, smoking that fentapoison, casinos, and other BS. Keep all of your appointments with the VA, Goodwill, the Salvation Army--whomever!! You can't give up on yourself!! Your victory off the streets encourages others to go for it.

@dandorris8531 11 months ago: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

@julieslatton8714 11 months ago: Looks at the mess you made if you can keep it clean maybe you wouldn't get evicted.

@exoressdelivers70 11 months ago: I volunteer at a shelter. We always have open beds available but most of the homeless don't come here because we have an 11:00pm curfew, no drugs or alcohol, and no cohabitating with someone who they're not married to. They say they'd rather live on the streets where they can be 'free'.

@MarcusTheJR 11 months ago: I was homeless myself, from South Carolina to North Dakota. And the overwhelming majority of homeless people don't wanna change. They aren't gonna work hard to not be homeless.

@kingofcorridosfilm2154 11 months ago: Interesting how them paying for their own housing was not even mentioned as an option.

@geigertec5921 11 months ago: It doesn't matter if they have homes or not, they create the same environment for themselves regardless. A neighbor of mine owned a nice house but lived like she was homeless - never cleaned up after herself, abused drugs and alcohol, didn't work, then she died of a drug OD and her body turned into a skeleton by the time anyone realized she was dead.

@catalinaWineMixerfan 11 months ago: I have been homeless with my son bc of bad decisions I made..but if you have a positive mind frame you can turn it around. I worked, we lived in a studio apartment, got government help like welfare and foodstamps, now my son is 16 and we have a good clean simple life. You can turn it around if you want to but you have to try and want it!

@sygnusadun4832 11 months ago: Currently homeless and living out of my pickup while I wait on my new apartment to open up. I've been homeless a few times from living in a storm drain to staying in a shelter and I can 100% vouch that these people 9/10 times don't want help or a way out, they want a handout and get mad when you wont give them one. I have risen out of the hole each time through hard work and frugal spending until I can reach a place of stability. You gotta want it, you gotta earn it

@lickourballs1atatimeok 11 months ago (edited): The HOMELESS don't want any responsibility

@uscustomzauto 11 months ago: These governors and the regular public need to realize that some of these people just want to live like this. It will never stop.

@janinecarson8380 11 months ago: There are different kinds of homeless people. There are the addicts, the mentally ill, and some for whom it's a lifestyle choice. And then there are those folks who just can't find an affordable place to live. The latter category should get the highest priority in my opinion.

@alangrant5684 8 months ago: You can build 1000 million dollar homes with total gov support and funding and it will STILL end up being the same crappy dump because of drug addictions and unwillingness to change.

@pangchang3332 11 months ago: I use to intern at a homeless shelter. Homeless people are some of the most ungrateful people I know. Literally 80% [didn't] want to help themselves. They were given every kind of help to help them get back on their feet or help them learn basic things to sustain their lives but they wouldn't take it they wanted everything to be given to them.

@allisonoconnor8055 7 months ago: Most of the homeless bums on the west coast aren't even from those cities originally

@DavidWilliams-so2dy 11 months ago: Transitional housing and shelter facilities must have rules and guidelines to function without total chaos. These guys aren't willing to abide by anyones(sic) rules. They want to be drunk and high all the time. They want to come and go as they please at all hours.

@saturnstar718 11 months ago: I've worked in social work, here's my estimate (*some people can fit in 2 or more categories):

5% of the people became homeless because of terrible life events (e.g. loss of job, medical issues, never got a high school diploma).

15% of the people became homeless because of mental health issues.

80% of the people became homeless because of DRUGS! They don't want shelters because there are curfews---they won't be allowed to use drugs. Lots of times when they get section 8, their homes become drug dens, affect neighbors and they get evicted.

For those serious about sobriety, let's get them help. Those who need mental health, let's help them (if they are so sick they can't make decisions, commit them indefinitely).

For those playing games and wanting to be "ticks" in their area---PRISON!

Underachieve And Did Nothing About It

I dreamed last night I was an options trader about to be laid off. The company founder and CEO was Roseanne Barr.

I worked at a four story freestanding building. I rarely traded options because I'm conservative. I rarely cold called. My commissions earned was petty. One particular option was a call option for the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) stock. A call option is a bet the stock price for DIA increases. The call option owner has the right and not the obligation to buy 100 shares of DIA for every one option of DIA at the call option price before a particular date. The DIA stock price must be at the call option price or above for the call option owner to buy the 100 shares. The call option price is called the strike price.

I was responsible for one DIA call option at a particular strike price. The DIA stock price traded above the strike price. I exercised my right for one DIA option to buy 100 shares. I kept the remaining options as options. My computer screen showed I was responsible for three call options. Three is too little for a professional options trader. The reader should deduce I was unqualified. The reader should also deduce I was lazy.

Enter Roseanne Barr

Barr walked to my station. She wanted to talk to me. I followed her from the third floor to her office on the first floor. The center of the building was an atrium with indoor trees and plants. We entered through a thick glass door. There was a waiting room consisting of ten chairs like a waiting room in a doctor's office. Barr told me to wait. I was the only person. Time passed. More people entered the waiting room. One person was a co-worker. He told me I was getting laid off. Barr entered the waiting room immediately. She became angry at my co-worker because I was informed of my laid off before she told me.

Barr told me she's ready for our conversation. We entered her office. Barr explained the reasons for being laid off. The reasons were standard: poor performance, lack of motivation to become a better worker, and the recession. I said, "The company is going to be bankrupt because fewer option traders and fewer clients buying and selling options." She acknowledged money spending is tightening.

Barr ran another business on the first floor. She was the owner of a spa. She offered me a one hour massage as part of my severance. I thought about the message. I woke up.

A Second Look At 2022

It's the time I look back at my 2022 blogs to give myself feedback. The goals delaying one year are relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, correcting errant blogs, and sharing changes. The ten blogs are also the 2022 best blogs.

1. Can I Be Overqualified?
Date: Mon Jan 10
Summary: My college educations, past experiences, and current job training disqualifies me for job openings.
Feedback: All jobs except my second company on the job training was required. The training included the commercial real estate market, SAP, Salesforce, and a proprietary online sales transaction system.

Some hiring managers and recruiters ignore me because they anticipate I master the job in six months. I become bored afterwards. I think back to my past jobs. I mastered the basics in six months. I fully mastered the job in one year. I became Wally from the Dilbert comics.

Almost all career counselors, professional career consultants, and college job placement centers their information is outdated. The best source for job information is job searching. Read the job descriptions. Read the job requirements.

My job training is currently in the endgame; in other words, there's nothing more to learn. New skills to learn are planned.

2. Boring Can Save Your Ass
Date: Wed Jan 12
Summary: Complete the boring responsibilities.
Feedback: Patience is required to complete the long assignments. The work can be tedious. The job is completed. Goals accomplished.

The person or people connects the dots backwards. Reverse engineer the process. They're not boring thinking back. The boring process wasn't boring. The formula is pressure and time.

3. Life Is Good Because It's Predictable And Certain
Date: Thur Jan 20
Summary: People are relaxed and secured because the knowns are clear and present.
Feedback: Bombshells were fired. It has been a long time since the bombs were launched. Most bombshells were planned. 2023 was good bombshells fired and bad bombshells fired for family members and friends. Personally, the safeties on my bombshell devices are removed. I don't know when the bombshells explode.

4. Accuse Slackers Accurately Because You Also Waste Time
Date: Sat Jan 29
Summary: Everyone is slacking off. Everyone.
Feedback: It takes another distraction to disengage the present distraction to go back to work. For instance, I'm on my phone watching a random YouTube video. Somebody walks in the room. I disengage watching a random YouTube video. I go back to my responsibility. Negate a distraction with another distraction.

The Information Age is also the Distraction Age.

5. Stop And Smell The Roses And Read Your Receipt
Date: Thur Feb 3
Summary: Slow down.
Feedback: I remember the moment when I shop at a grocery store from time to time. I also remember the moment when I feel rushed. I say to myself, "Hold on. One at a time." I realize the older I age, the more I say the sentence to myself.

6. I've Been Doing Everything Correct Mostly
Date: Thur Apr 12
Summary: I realized decades later I was mostly correct.
Feedback: I reiterate the sentences, "Nobody told me I have been walking the correct paths. I have stronger confidence I'm earning my successes correctly. I tell myself everything has been well. I tell myself I'm correct."

Nobody told me my path to success is correct. Nobody taught me a system. I self-discovered my system. The system is common knowledge and common wisdom: eat healthy, exercise, read books, sleep well, never stop learning, learn from mistakes, always meet new people, minimize watching TV, and ignore anything toxic. I hope timing, luck, chance, and opportunity favors me. Don't be a nice person. Be a good person.

7. Dear Abby Advice On Blind Love, Guilt Trip, And Truce On Wedding Day
Date: Fri Apr 22
Summary: Dear Abby hits the home run on three advice for an abusive girlfriend, a physically dependent boyfriend, and an alcoholic soon-to-be daughter in-law.
Feedback: I add one comment for both abusive girlfriend and daughter in-law. Give it time. Be patient. The chances the couples stay together are slim. Life returns to normal in time. Life returns to a relaxing state soon. Furthermore, there is a tolerance limit for his fiancee's drinking problem.

8. I Got Stuff Done Because I Didn't Play Video Games
Date: Wed Jun 29
Summary: A rare day I become bored because I caught up.
Feedback: The blog title and the blog content don't make sense. The first paragraph is being bored because I completed all responsibilities. The second paragraph is playing video games. I was confusing the first paragraph and the second paragraph. I take the blog back.

The full disclosure is I played another classic video game Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo all night on Jun 28, 2022 and Jun 29, 2022. I slept in the early morning. It was a miracle I finished all priorities and responsibilities. I stopped playing Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo on Jul 2, 2022. The priorities and responsibilities continue to motivate me minimizing playing video games.

9. Grading My Past Years On A Curve
Date: Sun Jul 17
Summary: I raised the letter grades from 1998 to 2021.
Feedback: I forgot about the blog. Good. There should be no curve grading in real life. I take the blog back.

10. No Mulligan, No Do-Over, No Second Chance Going Back To San Jose State University
Date: Sat Nov 19
Summary: I didn't want a mulligan when I attended San Jose State University.
Feedback: I take the title back. Yes Mulligan, Yes Do-Over, Yes Second Chance Going Back To San Jose State University. There is one simple reason. The semesters, the classes, the majors, the student services, and the extracurricular activities are irrelevant. The do-over is grow up; in other words, earn it. I take the blog back.

The following blogs are honorable mentions: We Make The Same Mistakes Twice and Too Much Distractions.

Continue The Lie

I dreamed last night I was a data analyst for an unknown business located in San Jose, CA. I completed a pricing analysis. I didn't analyze. I didn't research. I faked the report. I made up the numbers.

Two co-workers brought to my attention an email from our manager. Our manager was embarrassed. A local university said her presentation was incorrect. The students spent hours past midnight proving the incorrectness. She defended her presentation.

I woke up. I realized I should have continued the dream because I could have lied my way out of my fake analysis. The dream represented today's life. Some people get away with bullshit. I could have escaped my bullshit with more bullshit.

Update On A Past Blog

My dream last night reminded me of the blog Did The Dumb Ass Co-Worker Wanted To Change? on Jul 15, 2009. My dumb ass co-worker faked the statistics for years. He was eventually caught. I was told he found another job in the same industry before he got fired. He was too lucky.

I could follow lesson six by keeping my mouth shut in the Five Minute Management Course written on Jan 12, 2010. Lesson six is three parts. The third part is to be silent when I'm in trouble. Although, lesson five is nobody stays on top lying 100% of the time.

Do We Fail When We Do?

Here's a scenario. There are 200 students learning computer programming in a classroom. Some students learn fast. Some students learn slow. On the one hand, many students pass the class at the end of the academic term.

On the other hand, some students quit because they don't understand programming. Some students quit because programming is not a match for a career. Some students quit because they're lazy learning sincerely. A common wisdom is success is relative and failure is absolute. Do the students who quit fail? The failure students try. The failure students do their best. Is quitting a failure? What are the criteria for a failure? When is the time to declare a failure? How come we fail when we try? We do it. We attempt it. We try, we work, no reward, fail. Maybe the failure is a successful failure. Quit programming. Pursue another major. Turn the failure to a success. Graduate with another major. Change the failure narrative.

The scenario continues. All of the students who pass the class graduated with a computer science degree. Most found programming jobs. Some programming jobs are good. Some programming jobs are bad. Which of the following computer science graduates succeed? How many of the programming jobs match the graduates' education? The graduates didn't fail. Moreover, are the graduates who can't find jobs a failure? Success is relative.

Update On A Past Blog

I remember three pics of Stephen Curry for the 2019 NBA Finals and the 2022 NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors lost to the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. The first two pics are the 2019 NBA Finals Curry with head coach Steve Kerr admitted defeat on Game 6. The third pic is the 2022 NBA Finals Curry on the bench smiling on Game 6. The Warriors scored 21 consecutive points. The game over feeling was present. The series was over.

The two blogs are My Thoughts On The Golden State Warriors Won The 2022 NBA Finals written on Jun 24, 2022 and 2019 Golden State Warriors Basketball Postseason written on Jul 14, 2019.

New And Old Uncontrolled Chaos

Blogger's Note: May is pic month. I'm catching up posting pics from my smart phone. Enjoy!

Efficient maintenance is important for all objects. Be professional to earn happiness. Nobody controls problems caused by nature. On the other hand, opening a business at a location with a small amount of foot traffic creates future problems.

Update On A Past Blog

I repeat the last life lesson I wrote in Life Lessons Learned Playing Mahjong Riichi written on Mar 18, 2016. The last life lesson is luck. Accept luck as part of the game. Accept bad draws with stride. Accept giving up riichies with stride. There are no reasons to lose temper. An international student from Japan told me professional players who finished last place multiple times consecutively stopped playing for the rest of the day.

New Is New And Old Is Old Both As Usual

Blogger's Note: May is pic month. I'm catching up posting pics from my smart phone. Enjoy!

I drink soda catching up on all Pokemon after recycling my old shoes. The world was flat; however, the wisdom and Christmas are global. Celebrate the next birthday party eating rainbow cakes and listening to music on CDs or on a portable media.

Some People Don't Change

Today I said the title for the first time in my life. I said, "Some people don't change" for the first time in my life. I can't explain why. I don't have a reason. Perhaps, I'm too optimistic people can change for the better. Perhaps, I'm too naive there is good in people they can change for the better. I'm not talking about people changing due to unfortunate circumstances such as a car accident, death in a family, a natural disaster, or a lawsuit. I'm not talking about people changing outside their control such as a heart attack, an end of a relationship, a job loss, or a rejection. I'm talking a person with personal problems affecting daily life.

The person himself or herself makes the choice to change. Nobody can convince the other person to change. Why do some alcoholics remain alcoholics? Why do some drug addicts remain drug addicts? Why do some unemployed remain unemployed for which they don't job search? Why do lazy people remain lazy? Why do some abusers remain abusers? Why does a person refuse to change? My guesses are weakness, cowardice, denial, poor self-esteem, lack of motivation, no support, not follow the rules, despair, and/or money problems. Another guess is some people are changing for which they go nowhere. Life somehow moves these people backwards beyond their control resulting in quitting. Change is impossible. Life is over.

Update On A Past Blog

There was a day I felt no change in my life after I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, 2008. I wrote Change Says No To Raymond Mar on Oct 18, 2017. I was still unemployed and living with my parents like the loser George Costanza from Seinfeld. No freedom was the reason change said no.

On the other hand, I wrote blogs I changed. These blogs were not the life changing freedom I desire. Some of the blogs are the following: Top Ten Daily Changes After O'Connor Hospital on Oct 21, 2017 after my two surgeries in Apr 2017, Top Ten Little Changes Since Oct 2013 on Jun 27, 2019 small changes making a big impact, The Correction To The Correct Growing Up Part 2 on Oct 7, 2020 reminding and updating I grew up on Sat Oct 4, 2008 and taking back the second time I grew up on Dec 2012, and Top Ten I Get It Now on Nov 21, 2020 past wisdom and knowledge I fully understand such as the late Steve Jobs "stay hungry, stay foolish", The Shawshank Redemption "geology is the study of pressure and time", Good Will Hunting "it's not your fault", and desire is more important than knowledge.

Top Ten Plus Three Equals Top Thirteen Dumbest Blogs I Wrote

There are dumb criminals. There are dumb laws. There are dumb politicians, athletes, educators, managers, and executives. There are dumb *fill in the blank*. There are dumb blogs I wrote. I spent three hours selecting my dumbest blogs with 98% confidence. I selected intuitively. I scanned fast. I forgive myself for the dumb blogs.

The following blogs are excluded in no particular order: throwback, shelter in-place COVID-19, a second look, pictures, Tweets, Black Friday, many anime, year in review, Accutane treatment, De Anza College, gas analysis, past comic strips, instant bullets, and green steno notebook. I also exclude blogs written in 2022 because I read them again for A Second Look 2022 written in Dec 2023. Here are the top ten plus three equals top thirteen dumbest blogs I wrote.

13. Why Finding Nemo Is The Best Disney Movie (Sep 19, 2006). An example I can change my opinion. Waking up at the end of the movie because I was falling asleep is not a good reason to be an all-time favorite. Also, learning "just keep swimming" life lesson is not a good reason to be an all-time favorite. Inside Out is better than Finding Nemo. UP! is my all-time favorite Disney Pixar movie.

12. Philosophy 98: Innovating Life (Mar 12, 2006). The blog was a dream teaching the philosophy class at De Anza College. My required textbooks were Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Students earned a minimum C grade by attending all classes. Minimal homework assignments. I dreamed for the second time teaching Philosophy 98 replacing the Carnegie book with Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

11. An Inspiring CEO (Dec 3, 2007). I wrote 14 tips to become a successful CEO or executive. Some of the tips include learn how to cook, throw away junk, patience is a virtue, and earn it. They're all correct for a person lost in life. They're all wrong for a CEO.

10. Meet People On Craigslist (May 16, 2008). It was correct you can meet people giving away free items. You were unlikely going to make new friends.

9. A Zero Cost Date (Mar 30, 2009). Disregard the zero cost date suggestion watching airplanes arrive and depart from an airport. Walk around anywhere is better.

8. Myself and Many Others' Crystal Reports Catch 22 (Apr 18, 2012). The dumbest part of the blog is I reviewed and relearned Crystal Reports in 2012.

7. No Resume Sig, Smile Investment, and Visiting Lisa (Oct 6, 2006). The dumbest part of the blog is my blog signature said I didn't need a resume because I innovate infinitely. The signature was removed on Oct 6, 2006.

6. Hate Your Job? Prepare By Writing The Resignation Letter (Mar 7, 2006). I cheered myself up by writing a resignation letter. The happiness was temporarily short. I should have searched for a job. I should have learned new job skills. The searching and the learning are actions to earn happiness.

5. Board and Can’t Quit Your Job? Try A New Work Schedule (Dec 2, 2005). Another happiness was temporarily short. I worked flexible hours months later without management complaining. Personal lesson learned. A sign my job was boring I made up my own flexible hours. I can't quit my job is 100% wrong. Anyone can quit a job anytime.

4. Caught Up For Real (Apr 7, 2013). I wrote blogs detailing what I accomplished daily and weekly or wrote bullshit blogs in 2013. The Caught Up For Real blog is an example. The primary reason I wrote bullshit blogs was to increase my blog count.

3. My 30s Is Like Developing A Baseball Player (Oct 1, 2012). I wrote a life timeline from 2004 to 2012 like a professional baseball player starting at single-A ball. Silly.

2. I'm Doing The Best I Can, Really III (May 3, 2017). I wrote three I'm Doing The Best I Can blogs. The previous two were I'm Doing The Best I Can, Really on Oct 8, 2012 and I'm Doing The Best I Can, Really II on Apr 6, 2016. The three blogs were pity blogs trying to cheer myself up. Stop wasting time. Get to work on myself.

1. The Three C's And A P And Two More P's: Choices, Consistency, Control, Proactive, Professional, Personal Responsibility (Jan 3, 2018). The number one dumbest blogs makes the remaining twelve blogs half intelligent. Thank goodness I didn't say the three c's and three p's in a job interview. The interviewers thought I'm selling a fad. Silly. Stupid. Unprofessional.

Some Parents Can't Teach Their Children

Parents are people. Parents are human beings. Some people can't teach to save their lives. If teaching is a requirement to become a parent, then there are fewer families.

There are multiple reasons why. The reasons are valid or invalid. I let the reader make the choice. I put my parents on the spotlight. Sometimes they fake knowing the questions asked. My parents don't want to be embarrassed they don't know enough. They're ashamed of their ignorance. They're lazy to learn what they don't know. They're lazy to research for a deeper understanding. My parents don't take responsibility teaching me and my siblings the basics. The school system is responsible.

My parents are poor teachers. They can't teach and do both at the same time. Sometimes they avoid our questions because they're afraid they teach us wrong. Unfortunately, most of what they actually taught is wrong. I unlearned and released their incorrect teachings myself. My parents are slow teachers when they taught us. Their teaching is boring.

Update On A Past Blog

One of my philosophies is the chances of a good week starts with a good Monday. I wrote Monday is an important day at The Philosophies Of Raymond Mar 3 on May 25, 2014. I reinforced a good Monday at The Philosophies Of Raymond Mar Which Changed on Oct 21, 2016. Sometimes the Sunday day is the start of a good week. The chances of a good calendar week starts with a good calendar Sunday. For example, devote more time to rest, complete outstanding errands, prepare the upcoming week responsibilities, and relax.

These Young People Are False Losers

The second part of the dream I was outside the biggest restaurant. I walked around the food court. I walked towards a section with big square tables. A past friend recognized my presence. He was with his group of friends playing poker with UNO cards. I walked to him. We conversed updating our current lifestyle. I ended the conversation quickly because I didn't want to tell him I was long-term unemployed. He asked for a request before I turned around. The request was he wanted me to call him the next time I'm free. I was surprised with the request because my past friend was the smarter person between the two of us. Something must have happened in a negative way.

Maybe I'm making up the following post-dream. The small food court dream happened between 11am and 1pm on a weekday. All of the people were young men in their 20s. All of them graduated from high school. All of them were either college students or college graduates. All of them were either underemployed or unemployed. The underemployed were significantly underemployed; for example, retail jobs, data entry, customer service, and mind-numbing positions an employee with a high school education can complete. None of the young men were lazy. None of the young men were criminals. All of the young men were passing time. There were no opportunities to match their capabilities. There were no breaks. They were down on their luck. What could the good young men do?

Update On A Past Blog

67 year Brooklyn Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully past away on Tue Aug 2, 2022 at the age of 94. I posted a Mercury News newspaper pic of Scully with the San Francisco Giants broadcasters Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow, Jon Miller, and Dave Flemming from Wrap Up 2016 Pics on Feb 15, 2017. Scully's final broadcast was the Dodgers at Giants on the last game of the 2016 season.

Boring Is Inexcusable To Complete Responsibilities

Sun Feb 6 was not a fun day. Sun Feb 6 was a catch up, productive, and boring day. Crossed out the to-do list. Checked off the checkboxes. Eliminated the delays. It was a free day the grown-up version. It was a free day not the playtime version. It was the free day the mature adult version. It was a free day not the irresponsible adult version. I use the free day as an advantage to fulfill obligations:

*Updated my new medical insurance information.
*Washed dishes.
*Researched kitchen knives.
*Reorganized and deleted files and folders in my laptop.
*Ate cooked leftovers for lunch and dinner. They were better than eating processed foods.
*Checked emails.
*Job searched. I search for jobs on weekends.
*Reviewed life skills. I maintain knowledge by repetition.
*Learned how to use a new headlamp I received from Christmas 2021.

I needed additional time to complete one more responsibility earlier today. I organized my recent finances. I traded the organizing for watching a movie last night before I went to sleep. The movie I watched was The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, and the late Betty White.

Update On A Past Blog

The Sun Feb 6 got them done day was another day to practice complete priorities, no more delays, behave maturely, and act professionally. The sentence summarized The Correction To The Correct Growing Up Part 2 written on Wed Oct 7, 2020. I wrote, "'[be] loose, joking around, having fun, smiling, socializing, yet there were professional and mature. Nobody complained. Nobody was a jerk, a bitch, and an asshole. . . . The lesson I learned is personality.' Unfortunately, the lesson was false. I lived a life being too loose, joking around too much, having too much fun, uncontrol smiling, immature socializing, and not being a professional and not being mature."

There is common knowledge make tedious tasks or boring tasks fun. Sometimes the fun can't be done. There is no choice. Stop being lazy. Do the work. Complete the assignment. Reward with fun later.

No More Spring 2008 Behavior

I was mad. I was frustrated. I was full of rage. My dad wanted me to help a family friend replace his roof on Saturdays. They were behind schedule. I wanted to play video games. I thought of video games while I worked.

Times have changed for the best. I was immature. I was naive. I failed to understand helping a family friend was more important than playing video games. I failed to understand priorities. Video games are the lowest priority. I'm happy today. I'm not the Spring 2008 Raymond Mar. I'm mature. I'm professional. I get the job done earnestly and sincerely. I reward myself afterwards maturely.

Top Ten Make Me Cry

A friend told me a person who doesn't cry doesn't have a soul. Some cries no tears are necessary. The crying feeling is inside. The sad feeling is inside. The body language communicates sadness. There is happy sadness. There is sad sadness. There is despair sadness. There is frustrating sadness. The person is angry no more; the person is sad.

One day I cry success after years of earning freedom. The hard work learning new job skills, reviewing existing job skills, minimizing eating processed foods, working out four days a week, and reading books. Also, I learn life skills, experience new experiences, seek new adventures, and never stop innovating. One day I cry freedom happiness is achieved. Here are the top ten make me cry.

10. Waste Food. Hunger had been a problem yesterday. Hunger is a problem today. Hunger is a problem tomorrow. There are too many people. Every day more people can't afford food. Don't waste food.

9. Movies. There are movies I cried including Snoopy Come Home, UP!, Argo, the second time I watched Titanic, Inside Out, and The Hunger Games even though I read the books beforehand. I also cried in the anime series Fushigi Yuugi.

8. Hoarding. It's sad when I see junk inside a residence. I twist my body. I hop or jump. I bump at stuff. There are multiple counts of the same item. There's no need for ten of the same table cloth.

7. Bankruptcy Courts. One of my cousins works for the United States Bankruptcy Courts. She says work in the bankruptcy courts for anyone who wants a job to cry. There are too many sad stories people declare bankruptcy through no fault of their own.

6. Ignoring Problems Hoping They Go Away. Problems don't solve themselves. Sometimes ignoring problems work. Sometimes ignoring problems don't work. Both worked for the late Steve Jobs. One ignored problem which was cancer cost his life.

5. Too Many Or Not Enough. I continue from number ten Waste Food. There is too many people or overcrowding. There is not enough opportunities. There is not enough X to satisfy the too many Y. There is too many A and not enough B.

4. *Fill in the blank* the improbable happened and the impossible happened.

3. No Motivation. No desire. Willpower is more important than intelligence. Sometimes 50% effort makes a difference. Sometimes 20% effort makes a difference. The percentage number is a case-by-case situation. The percentage number is a judgement call. Regardless, doing anything at 0% effort is sad.

2. People Don't Admit Their Mistakes. Self-explanatory. Also, people are irresponsible. Self-explanatory.

1. First Responders. I smile. I cry. I have faith. The first responders police, fire, and ambulance save another life.

Update On A Past Blog

My Cyber Monday 2020 I purchased bare necessities at Walgreens using their online 30% off coupon. I purchased bare necessities at Walgreens' website for which I selected pick-up at a nearby store. I purchased soap, updated medications for the home first-aid kit, shampoo, and condoms.

The following week I purchased more bare necessities using a Target gift card I purchased during Target's 5% off gift cards. I purchased more updated medications for the home first-aid kit, Band-aids, bleach, lip balm, after shave lotion, and bath sponges.

Some people say my purchases at Walgreens and Target are boring. I recognize their opinion. I refer to my blog Money And Life on Sep 12, 2019. Cost of living is going up. Inflation is present. There are costs to maintain a healthy life. There are costs to maintain a clean life. Smart consumers find ways to save money on bare necessities. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not boring. A person who feels good is an attractive person.

Throwback Blog: The Blues

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 The Blues written on Nov 10, 2005. I reflect 15 years later what I blogged. The what ifs. The economic prediction. The mistakes. I was feeling blue. Regardless, 2005 was one of the best years of my life. I take everything one at a time.

I mentioned I have been in the blues. I reflect I was feeling blue for the wrong reasons. Work was unusually busy. I failed to make adjustments outside work to recover. If I took better care of myself outside work, then the chances of feeling blue decreased.

I mentioned . . . there is concern for the year 2006. The economy remains uncertain. There is going to be a new Federal Reserve chairman because Alan Greespan retires on January 2006. Is inflation going to remain in check? The economy strengthen. There was no inflation. On the other hand, there were a few outsiders who started researching the mortgage bond markets earlier in 2005.

I mentioned I'm being slammed at work. Some of those [broker] requests are time consuming requests. It's not difficult, just takes a ton of time--something that should not happened which is another subject. Another reason I felt blue. Work which took too much time to complete should have been a red flag. I completed broker requests inefficiently. I completed broker requests unintelligently. I should have found time to learn advanced Excel, basic VBA, and advanced Access during my free time instead of goofing off.

I mentioned [the] fun, the excitement, and the joy of doing stuff outside work such as updating my webpage, going to the gym, reading books, and more don't exist currently. I blogged the possible reasons thereafter. All of the reasons were wrong. The correct reasons were lack of sleep, unhealthy meals, poor planning, and taking life for granted.

Finally, Novembers have been one of the best months in my entire life. November 2020 is an exception November month. There have been days I felt blue; fortunately, I adjust successfully to minimize the affects of being blue including good sleep, eat healthy meals, physical fitness, going with the flow, and doing everything one at a time. The Thanksgiving holiday was relaxing, taking a break, and doing different activities.

Since November 1 . . . no, since Daylight Standard Time began, I have been in the blues. Fortunately, I'm not near being depressed. I find some fun here and there, even if it's short. It's just me and my surroundings have been in the blues.

This week, there are some brokers who are using the Research Department in ways they never used before. In the beginning of 2005, many brokers were using Research in unordinary ways because they were worried about not fulfilling their 2005 targets. Moreover, January 2005 was kinda in the blues for me--heck, I remember the radio station DJ lacked enthusiasm. The brokers inside work and me outside work were concerned how the year 2005 was going to be.

As of today's blog entry, many of those brokers achieved at least their minimum targets. And currently, there is concern for the year 2006. The economy remains uncertain. There is going to be a new Federal Reserve chairman because Alan Greespan retires on January 2006. Is inflation going to remain in check?

Furthermore, I'm being slammed at work. Some of those requests are time consuming requests. It's not difficult, just takes a ton of time--something that should not happened which is another subject ;-) I took a late lunch today and yesterday and I'm sooo behind in my primary responsibilities!

The fun, the excitement, and the joy of doing stuff outside work such as updating my webpage, going to the gym, reading books, and more don't exist currently. Maybe it's an adjustment period to get used to the dark at 5:00 P.M.? Maybe it's because I'm tired? Maybe it's something else? All this week when I come home from work, I'm tired. I don't have the energy to do all my activities. Yesterday, I was reading a book and I became really sleepy. I didn't even brush my teeth. Just too tired to get out of bed which I hate to do. On the other hand, I was able to do my 100 sit-ups. I probably going to have one blog entry for the week :-<

And today, I was supposed to go to the gym. No gym today. I went home early from work because I could not concentrate. Today everything is haywired . . . no, the week is haywired . . . no, again, the last two weeks has been haywired.

Tomorrow is another day. Maybe something good happens tomorrow. The world didn't come to an end today :-))

Three Years Later Scanners For Bar Codes

I worked at a retail start-up from Nov 2013 to Sep 2014. The start-up opened for business in 2011. My primary responsibilities were researching products, creating purchase orders, updating the webpage, and maintaining the inventory. My secondary responsibilities were providing customer service and ringing up customer purchases. The first day of training I noticed there were no barcode scanners. I asked, "How do I enter new inventory in the database? I don't scan barcodes?" My manager said no barcodes. I said inside the back of my head, "Are you kidding." I play the to-be-fair card. 99% of all inventory received there are no barcodes. The producers and importers don't provide barcodes on their products.

I connected the dots starting from Nov 2013. The back-end of the store was disorganized. Finding products took too much time. The front-end of the store was inefficient finding products for customers. Ownership never did monthly inventory audits. Computers were outdated. Ownership played the cheap card. Ownership solved problems the easy way. Life goes full circle. One day ignoring problems comes back.

Today's blog reminds me and reminds my readers make changes now when problems are clear and present. Not tomorrow. Not after breakfast. Now. Solve problems today. Ignore problems hoping they go away can happen. On the other hand, ignoring problems can become bigger problems requiring bigger solutions. Fix problems now when they're small.

Ownership made the business decision to invest in a barcode system in Jun 2014. I wasn't around to see if the store went 100% bar codes to ring up customers and to maintain inventory.

Can't Always Go With The Flow

I remember a localized power outage on Sep 2019 which inspires today's blog. The power outage started at 3:19pm and ended at 6:04pm. I was learning Python when the power went out. I did small tasks such as read the newspaper, clean up my desk, and learn new rope knots afterwards. I didn't workout at the gym after dinner because the household ate a late lunch. I purchased take-out pizza from a local restaurant at 6:05pm for the late lunch. If I knew the power went back online, then I go home and cook the late lunch. I went with the flow. The power was out. I couldn't learn Python. All activities involving electricity were out during the late afternoon.

On the other hand, I went against the flow. I continued learning Python albeit I spent less time practicing code. I finished watching a movie I normally watch on weekends. I fell asleep at 3am because I was still full eating a late dinner.

A common life wisdom is go with the flow. Sometimes the easy way out going with the flow is the incorrect choice. I could declare the day a one-off day being lazy without a care in the world. I didn't. I went with the flow. I went against the flow. Strength, courage, and motivation are required to go against the flow. Get gritty. The assignment must be finished regardless of delays. Complete another checkbox in the project--at least make some checks. Doing something is better than doing nothing. Meet halfway. Do something one step closer to accomplish the goal. It doesn't have to be many steps given the previous flow is diverted.

Never use the go with the flow life wisdom as an excuse to neglect responsibilities.

Update On A Past Blog

I made a mistake in the honorable mention list for the Top Ten All-Time Bay Area Professional Athletes on Sun Jul 5, 2020. Marcus Allen played for the Los Angeles Raiders. The Raiders moved to Los Angeles during Allen's rookie season in 1982. An example of poor research and an example my memory is not perfect. Rick Barry from the Golden State Warriors replaces Allen.

Also, KGMZ 95.7 FM The Game neither mentioned the Bay Area athletes must be professional nor mentioned can play in any Bay Area schools or colleges. Some of The Game journalists include amateur athletes or athletes played in Bay Area colleges in their top ten list.