Engagement pics

Engagement pics

You may have noticed a decrease in the amount of blog posts recently, and in a large part it is because I've been planning a wedding!  A few months ago, I asked Christina to marry me.  I told her she'd never know when it was coming, and I think I shocked her good when it finally came. We were at her parent's house, and it is a very long story, but I eventually found the right time to propose.  We're getting married in late October of this year,…

Lucky number 13

Lucky number 13

Exploring our curious fear of a simple number and what it reveals about human psychology Left: A hotel elevator with the "missing" 13th floor. Right: Jason from Friday the 13th, the horror franchise that capitalized on our fear of the number. Take a careful look at the elevator panel in the image above. Notice anything unusual? Despite giving away the answer in the title of this post, it's worth pointing out explicitly: there is no 13th floor button. The numbers jump straight from 12 to 14, as if…

The illusion of productivity

The illusion of productivity

Peter Drucker's timeless wisdom on the difference between efficiency and effectiveness in an age of hustle culture Peter Drucker (1909-2005), often called the father of modern management "Do not believe that it is very much of an advance to do the unnecessary three times as fast." — Peter Drucker In a world that celebrates speed and productivity, it's easy to think that faster always means better. We're taught to optimize, streamline, and hustle — but Drucker's quote is a reminder that efficiency without purpose is just wasted energy.…

Philip Zimbardo – the secret powers of time

Philip Zimbardo – the secret powers of time

How our perception of time shapes our decisions, relationships, and success in life Philip Zimbardo explores how our relationship with time influences every aspect of our lives Time isn't just what the clock measures—it's a psychological framework that profoundly shapes how we make decisions, form relationships, and define success. According to psychologist Philip Zimbardo, we don't all experience time the same way. Instead, we live in six distinct psychological "time zones" that determine our values, behaviors, and life outcomes. These time perspectives aren't just personal quirks. They're powerful…

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeir Hansson

Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeir Hansson

My notes and takeaways from the refreshingly contrarian business wisdom of Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson of Basecamp I had a very productive day today and am happy to say I got through reading Rework which I really enjoyed. Below are my notes from the book. If you're tired of the same old business advice that feels disconnected from reality, Rework offers a refreshing alternative. Written by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of Basecamp (formerly 37signals),…

Deacon Dave’s Chrstimas lights

Deacon Dave’s Chrstimas lights

We went to Deacon Dave's Christmas Lights last night in Livermore which was amazing!  In total this year he has 325,530 lights and I have never seen a residence decorate for Christmas to this extent. What is Casa del Pomba? Portuguese for "House of the Dove", this is the private residence of Deacon Dave Rezendes. On December 4th, 1982, Deacon Dave was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon. When he was ordained, he dedicated his home to the Holy Spirit. The symbol of the Holy Spirit is the dove.…