http://webensemble.org/mike Life, love, learning, libraries, technology, money, music, travel & the world around us. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:37:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This weekend I talked at length with a delightful young lady who finds her life rather unfocused and lacking meaning in several areas.  And from such conversations I always learn a lot about myself. My friend already demonstrates enormous talent, and accomplishes a great deal at school.  Realistically, I had to ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20091122/living-intentionally.html Stressed out? Waking with anxiety in the pit of your stomach? I recommend "The Relaxation Response," by Herbert Benson, M.D. These are the words I center on while stretching my body and finding my inner voice: Peace (harmony) Clarity (mindfulness) Enthusiasm (quiet energy) Gratitude (blessings) Justice (speak up) Family (belonging) Joy (in you) Perhaps ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20090711/meditation-words.html Updated: 2009.11.22 Most of my friends understand Facebook, and we have a great community going there. Here in the summer of '09 lots of folks are starting to ask what Twitter is good for -- is it just where you encourage your too-chatty Facebook friends to redirect their energy? ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20090630/making-sense-of-twitter.html Excellent intro tone - straight to the economy Surplus in the past became an opportunity to transfer wealth to the wealthy.. aye Take charge of our future, by bold action for long-term improvements on energy, healthcare and education -- that's the economic agenda Credit greases the wheels of the economy -- it is ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20090225/what-i-heard-in-president-obamas-agenda.html Hard to believe Bill Gates has moved on from Microsoft. As Gates sheds the role of monopolist for that of philanthropist, it could be that he will ultimately go down in history as one of the greatest charitable figures of the 21st century. He leaves Microsoft at the relatively fresh age ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20080705/a-firm-foundation.html Sympathize, with the different burdens we each face Understand, even as we hope to be fully understood Recognize and respect differences Forgive, even as God forgives us These are cornerstones of relationships - between family members, friends and even countries. http://webensemble.org/mike/20070628/surf-through-life.html Wondering what the newly announced WebSphere Content Discovery Server is and where it came from? Line56.com writes that it evolved from the acquisition of iPhrase. Tony Frasier of IBM says that 40 percent of the legacy iPhrase base was in financial services, definitely an information overload vertical. "Search is ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20070105/smart-about-search-limiting-is-goodness.html O Great Spirit, God: Mother, Father, Guide, Comforter - we hallow your name and seek your presence; May your Spirit define us today and everyday; May we find our daily bread and be filled, yet be mindful to love everyone else as we love ourselves; May we find forgiveness, and be forgiving in all things, may ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20061208/my-daily-prayer.html Joe McKendrick's piece on commoditization of software, based on a conversation with Gluecode founder Winston Damarillo, seemed hopelessly optimistic to me at first read. "Thanks too open-source and Web services/SOA, Damarillo says, 'software is going to commoditized, much like hardware has commoditized a decade ago.' Over time, Damarillo added, traditional applications ... http://webensemble.org/mike/20060303/commodity-software.html Gregg Wolper at Morningstar comments that "index funds are in effect momentum players," since they must buy into rallying stocks or countries, to continue to mirror an index. http://webensemble.org/mike/20060223/index-funds.html