• Reading

    Book Review: No-Drama Discipline šŸ“š

    I really enjoyed reading The Whole Brain Child last year by these authors. In many ways, I treat parenting books as a la carte. I take the bits that I think are useful, and leave the rest. The same is true for this book.

    Honestly, I got some really good insights. But overall, I think The Whole Brain Child was a more useful book. It may be simply be the ages of my kids, but I felt like I was eating my vegetables reading this book.

    I’m going to keep reading parenting books, I’m just ready for something else. The psychoanalysis has its place, but should always be considering in context.

    Would I recommend: NO

    ISBN: 978-0345548061

    November 13, 2019
  • The Ordinary People Who Brought Down the Berlin Wall - WSJ

    He gathered his men and said, in effect, that either they were going to start shooting or they were going to open up. In a moment that changed history, JƤger decided to open up

    November 13, 2019
  • Haiku

    Blood Draw

    Son had some blood drawn.

    Quiet, pale, flush, then sick. Yikes!

    He got over it.

    November 12, 2019
  • Reading

    Finished reading: No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD šŸ“š

    November 12, 2019
  • Biggest U.S. Milk Company Dean Foods Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - WSJ

    consumers’ decadeslong move away from traditional cow’s milk, as beverage sales shift toward bottled water, fruit juices and milk alternatives made from soy and oats.

    Not me!

    November 12, 2019
  • Reading

    Nice to be in the library. šŸ“š

    The Transition book on a library shelf
    November 12, 2019
  • It’s the middle of November and I’m still waiting on HomeKit Secure Video and HomeKit routers.

    November 12, 2019
  • Bug in Facebook App Accesses the Camera in the Background - MacRumors

    Facebook vice president of integrity Guy Rosen this morning said that it “sounds like a bug” and that Facebook is looking into it, but Facebook has not officially commented on the issue.

    Bug or feature?

    November 12, 2019
  • It took FedEx SmartPost six days to move a package 200 miles. It passed within five miles of my house on its first night in transit.

    What a joke.

    November 12, 2019
  • I spent quite a bit of time on my retreat this weekend thinking about the best way to use my devices. I’m currently going through and reorganizing my iPhone and iPad.

    November 12, 2019
  • Lazy Journalism

    I can’t stand lazy journalism, especially when it fails to provide consumers even the least bit of context. As a pilot, I notice this laziness frequently in aviation reporting.

    CBS News ran a segment about ā€œdozensā€ of 737NGs being pulled from service ā€œworldwideā€ due to cracks in their pickle forks. This critical component was designed to never need to be replaced, so these cracks are of concern.

    Later in the segment, the banner said that ā€œup to 50ā€ 737NGs were pulled from service. CBSN cited Southwest Airlines and Qantas as each pulling three airplanes from service. They failed to mention that the SWA fleet is over 800 and Qantas operates 71 737NGs.

    It takes almost a full a minute into the two-minute segment before the reporter briefly notes that there are over 6,800 737NGs in service worldwide.

    .0076% of Boeing 737NGs in service were found to have cracked pickle forks as of the publication of the piece.

    CBSN’s sensationalism is a disservice to us all.

    November 12, 2019
  • How to Have a Recovery Day With the Apple Watch – Shawn Blanc

    Play, Mind & Body, Flexibility, Climbing, Indoor Cycle, Core Training, and Strength Training

    Wow! I need to investigate these ā€œotherā€ workouts.

    November 12, 2019
  • Indoor climate control is a wonderful thing.

    November 12, 2019
  • Haiku

    Veterans Day

    Scourge of global war,

    A day to thank those who fought,

    For a noble peace.

    November 11, 2019
  • Google’s Secret ā€˜Project Nightingale’ Gathers Personal Health Data on Millions of Americans - WSJ

    Neither patients nor doctors have been notified. At least 150 Google employees already have access to much of the data on tens of millions of patients

    I can’t believe this news.

    November 11, 2019
  • Service

    It’s troubling that many merchants and employers no longer follow the Federal Government in closing on Veterans Day. It’s true that many Americans fail to observe the day in any meaningful way, but the significance of the memorial cannot be understated.

    Our global community has suffered through two World Wars in the past century. While our approach to those wars may be academic, war is anything but. The gruesome nature of the fighting, particularly the First World War, whose ending we commemorate today, exacts a huge toll on all involved.

    Today, I pause to remember the countless men and women who gave of themselves for the cause of freedom. Everything that I have today, the peace and security that my family enjoys, is thanks to their selfless sacrifice.

    November 11, 2019
  • Apple Arcade is not for me.

    November 11, 2019
  • Catholic Husband

    On Retreat - Catholic Husband

    It was a wonderful weekend, and I got out of it exactly what I had hoped. I feel rested, relaxed, and ready to take on the daily challenges I have as a stay-at-home dad. I’ll just be sure to not wait another twelve years before making my next retreat.

    āž•

    November 11, 2019
  • Haiku

    Return to Home

    A nice, restful break.

    Recharged, now ready to serve.

    Hello, family!

    November 10, 2019
  • Retreat Experience

    This past weekend, I went on a retreat at a local retreat center. It was my first private retreat in twelve years.

    I left all of my devices at home. I didn’t read a book, I just existed. I dove into my thoughts, walked the retreat center’s grounds, and relaxed. It was a deeply peaceful experience.

    Taking time away from commitments, responsibilities, and even communication was cathartic. I can’t wait to make my next one.

    November 10, 2019
  • Haiku

    A Time Apart

    No screens to distract,

    No responsibilities.

    The peace of retreat.

    November 9, 2019
  • 2019: A Banner Year

    By almost every measure, this has been a fantastic year for me and my family. It seems that so many of my multi-year goals/projects all came to completion this year. It’s a new feeling to me, but one that’s deeply satisfying.

    • I hit my weight goal (Eight years of work)
    • My dad got his dream job! (Six years of work)
    • Alison and I paid off nine of her student loans (Five years of work)
    • I read 38 books (Ten months of work)
    • I finished writing my third book (Six months of work)

    The successes of this year feel every bit as good as I hoped that they would. Even better, I know that my improved physical, mental, and financial health will pay dividends into 2020 and beyond.

    November 9, 2019
  • Haiku

    Start of Journey

    Set off into dark,

    A quiet time for myself.

    The retreat begins.

    November 8, 2019
  • On Retreat

    It’s been eight years since I made my last silent retreat. At a retreat house on the banks of the Potomac River, I took a few days to do nothing but focus on myself. Last Christas, Alison gave me the gift of a private retreat, which I’ll be making this weekend.

    46 hours of a clear schedule and no responsibilities. I’m leaving behind my phone, watch, iPad, and computer. I’m particularly excited about this fact. I can’t wait to experience the clarity of mind that this lack of technology will bring, and I plan to make its effects lasting.

    I’m going to take this time to focus on my interior life. See you on Sunday evening.

    November 8, 2019
  • YouTube video title by Business Insider: Why Coca-Cola Invented Fanta in Nazi Germany.

    Desperate.

    November 8, 2019