Category Archives: Life

Work

Go the F**k Home #1aDay

05/06/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

Ok, so I’ve posted this one before, but I still love it every time I listen to it. Especially appreciate the part about leaders setting the example.

Sorry for the string of videos with “strong language”. I promise the next post will be “clean” 🙂

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Disclaimer: Thoughts and opinions are my own, and do not reflect the views of any employer, family member, friend, or anyone else. Some links may be affiliate links, but I don't link to anything I don't use myself.

Customer Service, Financial

The Internet Is About to Become Worse Than Television #1aDay

05/05/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

Last week, an obscure but potentially internet-transforming document was leaked from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. It revealed that government regulators are considering rules that would give big companies a chance to make their online services run faster than smaller ones.

Personally, the thing I like least about it is that it’s easy to see how small/new companies could get screwed and stifle innovation. The other thing that I had not though of until I read this is I trust the cable companies so little that I wouldn’t be surprised if they started “bundling” sites like they do with TV. I don’t need 100 channels! Of course, this is why I don’t have cable TV. Finally, the other thing you should be upset about is the cable companies “double dipping”. They’re already charging insane prices (because usually they have a monopoly in most areas other then major metros), and now they’re also going to start extorting the companies too – what, you didn’t think they’d actually lower your rates when they started charging the companies did you?… Comcrap-Warner wants it’s cake and to eat it too (see the video below – warning: language).

Read the full article here

Comcast Doesn't Give a F*CK from Tarik Ellinger

Life, Productivity

Concurrently process for maximum productivity #1aDay

05/02/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

Christopher Penn makes a good argument for the separate concept of concurrent (or parallel processing) over the traditional single vs multi-tasking debate. Of course the key to success in concurrent processing is knowing how to split up the work without getting stuck in analysis paralysis. In that case, I would strongly recommend dropping down to single tasking instead of what most people seem to do.

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Financial

The Hidden Health Costs of the College Arms Race #1aDay

05/01/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

Every time I hear stories like this it makes me worry for my kids. While I can be a competitive person there’s always been a release valve buried somewhere deep inside that has been able to say “the work will be there tomorrow” or (when I was in school) “Being first in class doesn’t matter. Just learn the material well enough. There’s always time to dig deeper.”

The question is, how to pass that on while still instilling the discipline and joy of hard work and sacrifice?

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Financial

If You’re Not Saving, You’re Losing Out #1aDay

04/30/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

We’re supposedly in a new era of financial sobriety. Yet the evidence suggests otherwise.

Personally, I find this article very scary because at some point someone (unfortunately, it will probably be the responsible) will have to help save the irresponsible.

Need to save money? Here’s a few quick ways anyone can do so…

Get rid of your insanely expensive wireless plan and switch to something reasonable
Get rid of cable TV – there are way better things to do than watch the idiot box
Get rid of all the extra toys (kid and grown-up ones)
Get rid of the gas guzzler

Read the full article here

Parenting, Programming

The Male Dominated Field of Programming #1aDay

04/28/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

Apparently only around 20% to 30% of currently working programmers are female, and in my experience it seems to be closer to 20% than 30%. Still, the post raises some important points especially about behavior.

I want my girls to be able to do anything they are capable of and interested in just like I wish the same for any boy.

Still, regarding the cartoon, I half wonder if the person has ever watched a girl play with a doll. There is more going on in a 5 minute session than I can keep track of when I watch my girls with their dolls… And yes, they also love the “ipad” (aka Kindle Fire).

Read the full article here

Financial

Why a Big Tax Refund Isn’t as Awesome as You Think #1aDay

04/21/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

With tax season behind us, here’s a little PSA to remind you why a big refund isn’t actually all that great even if it may feel that way. I just need to remind myself of this every time I have to write checks to Uncle Sam 🙂

Read the full article here

Financial

Make Your Fridge Last (Almost) Forever With These 8 Tips #1aDay

04/18/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

After the furnace, the most important appliance in your home is probably the refrigerator. It’s also one of the most expensive ones. When you spend $1,000 or more on an item, you want it to last for many years.

How many of these tips have you heard?

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Financial

Stop Fooling Yourself With These 7 Money Traps #1aDay

04/17/2014 Mark Jacobsen Leave a comment

What are the 7 traps?

Mental Accounting – Treating some money as more special than other money based on subjective criteria, such as how it will be spent or where it came from.
The “Anchoring” Effect – Estimating the value of something based on irrelevant information (e.g., the “anchor”), such as the price you paid for it, the cost of something else you own, or what someone told you it was worth.
Present Bias – Difficulty postponing immediate returns, or delaying gratification.
Status Quo Bias – Preferring things you know over the things you don’t know, even if other options are superior.
Restraint Bias – Overestimating our ability to resist temptation.
Ownership Effect – Placing a higher value on the things you own, because you own them.
Familiarity Bias – Gravitating toward products and investments that you know over unknown options, which may be better.

While some of them may be pretty similar I’m sure we all have a tendency to fall into one of the traps from time to time. For me, it’s probably “Restraint Bias” – especially once I’ve gotten an idea in my head that I want something. How about you? What’s your biggest trap?

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