My dear follower(s)

Who knows, there might be two of you.  ;-)

I'm in the process of defining my online life.  I want to repurpose this domain.  I have something in mind, but I'm not telling just yet.  I do plan to continue to publish updates here: http://www.mayson.us/news.  Please update your RSS reader.

Redistribution of Spectrum

I don't think a week goes by when I don't read something about the lack of wireless bandwidth to accommodate the ever growing number of wireless devices out there.  The truth is we have plenty of bandwidth it just isn't being used efficiently.  I am proposing redistributing the spectrum to benefit the citizens and consumers of this country.

1. Eliminate television channels 2 through 6.

These five channels use 30 MHz of bandwidth between 54 and 88 MHz (72 to 76 MHz isn't used for television).  Turn these frequencies over to expand the FM radio broadcast band and radio streaming services such as Pandora and Rhapsody.  And while we're at it abandon the proprietary HD radio format and use the global standard digital radio mondiale (DRM).  Note, this is not the same DRM known as digital rights management.

2. Reduce the UHF aviation radio band.

The military is the sole user of this band and it takes up a whopping 175 MHz of spectrum starting at 225 MHz and going all the way to 400 MHz.  By comparison the civil VHF aviation band, that the military also uses, is a mere 19 MHz of spectrum ranging from 118 MHz to 137 MHz.  Given that the volume of civil air traffic is several magnitudes greater than the military certainly they can part with 75 to 100 MHz of spectrum to make way for wireless Internet.  I've never heard a valid argument why they have so much spectrum.  I'm an aviation enthusiast and radio hobbyist and I can say much of the band is unused.

3. Use the holes in the UHF television band.

At present in the United States 470 MHz to 698 MHz is allocated to television.  In some markets the frequencies for channels 14 through 20 (470 MHz to 512 MHz) are shared with land-mobile.  But in any case we're talking about 200 MHz of spectrum.  Tune around the UHF TV band you'll see there are many holes, each empty channel representing 6 MHz of spectrum that is not used.  A non-telco company like Google needs to be granted access to these frequencies to blanket the nation with what amounts to wifi.  Telephones are dead.  Voice communication is merely another application on a handheld Internet device.  A Google handheld operating on these frequencies would function like a cell phone but wouldn't be at the mercy of a cellular carrier.  What's more, most nations on earth use similar UHF frequencies for television and what works here would work there.  We could finally have a truly global handheld that uses standard Internet protocols.  The problems of incompatible frequencies and technologies would be eliminated.

Making Your Passwords Unique and Memorable

Once upon a time when the web was young I used the same password everywhere.  As time went on I realized this wasn't a great idea because if my credentials on one site were compromised then everything was.  I started using one off passwords that had a single character unique and tied to the site.  A little better, but not great.  Then I created unique passwords for each site, but had to store them in a database so I could remember them all.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a talent branding seminar hosted by Gary O'Neal.  During a break he suggested using a formula that incorporates the domain name.  An example could be as follows.

1. Convert all vowels to uppercase (amazon becomes AmAzOn)
2. Change each letter to the next one in the alphabet (AmAzOn becomes BnBaPo, z becomes a)
3. Tack on a number, say the length of the name (BnBaPo becomes 6BnBaPo)

The casual observer isn't going to figure that out right off the bat.  Obviously this isn't my formula.  But now I know I can derive my passwords anytime, anywhere without the need for a database.

However, when I'm at my laptop I don't necessarily want to go figure out passwords all the time.  So I wrote two scripts.  One is a Unix shell script that decrypts a Perl script, passes the domain name, and copies the result into my mouse buffer.

#!/bin/sh

if [ $# -eq 1 ]; then

        gpg --output $HOME/Applications/pwdgen.pl --decrypt $HOME/Applications/pwdgen.pl.gpg

        if [ -f $HOME/Applications/pwdgen.pl ]; then

                perl $HOME/Applications/pwdgen.pl $1 | pbcopy

                if [ -f $HOME/Applications/pwdgen.pl.gpg ]; then

                        rm $HOME/Applications/pwdgen.pl

                fi

        fi

else

        echo "Usage: $0 domain\n";

fi

I use GnuPG to encrypt the Perl script because anyone could read it or execute it otherwise.  Some of the if... then statements are overkill.  I don't want to risk blowing away the Perl script if something were to happen to the gpg file.

The Perl script is left as an exercise to the student as they say.  It should incorporate your recipe.

My Reflections on 2009

I am not a superstitious person.  Paraskevidekatriaphobia isn't in my vocabulary.  The reason I don't walk under ladders is only because of my height.  I don't panic if a black cat crosses my path.  But yet I have long considered years that end in 8 to be somewhat unlucky for me while years that end in 9 to be very good.  I was born during a year that ends in 9.  But given my summer birthdate I was conceived the previous year.  I wonder what that signifies?

On the 85th day of 2009 I was informed the position I had long held at my last place of employment had been eliminated.  Up until that day I would have thought that one event would've made 2009 my worst year ever.  But as we're preparing to welcome in 2010 I can't help but think 2009 was in fact my best year ever.  How is that?  I'll tell you.  My list isn't in any particular order.

1. I have enjoyed the downtime.  I have worked in some form or fashion since I was about 12 years-old.  I mowed lawns, did yard work, slung hamburgers, and even babysat.  The longest stretch I had gone without working was my first quarter at Georgia Tech in 1987.  I might have only worked part-time, but I have worked consistently since shortly after President Reagan first took office.  
2. I have met a lot of great people.  Previously my life was a giant do while loop.  Wake up, ride my bike to work, develop in-circuit tests, ride my bike home, go to bed.  Repeat.  According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment I am the most introverted a person can be on their scale.  I 100% believe that.  I had absolutely no reason to meet anyone new.  Being forced to network has shown me that it is actually pretty easy and a lot of fun.
3. I have learned new tools.  To the non-geek out there this might sound strange.  But by teaching others about social media I have learned how to put blogs and Twitter to work.  I finally understand Facebook and LinkedIn.  I learned how to setup my own wiki and forum.  I am currently learning the JobCannon.com tool.  This is fun for me and I would never have done it had I still had a job.
4. It's not all about me.  I thought I understood this.  I really did.  Now I cringe when I hear someone say "I need a job to put my XYZ skills to work".  I never realized just what a turn-off that is for not only a hiring manager, but for everyone.  I have to give before I get.  I must learn what an employer needs and then sell myself as a solution to their problems.  My needing a job simply doesn't compute, it's irrelevant.  And this holds true in my personal life as well.  People who help are remembered.  Needy people are quickly forgotten.
5. I've learned the value of networking.  I have never had trouble finding a job.  I was still in high school when I contacted a company in Atlanta about participating in their co-op program through Georgia Tech.  I graduated from college during a recession but still managed to have a job waiting for me once I earned my degree.  The one career move I made was during the dot-com era.  I could have sent in my resume postage due on the back of a cocktail napkin and gotten hired.  So this whole networking scene was completely unfamiliar to me.  I now see the value in it.  It's not going to stop even once I'm working again.
6. I've learned to be open to new ideas and to learn more.  My job title defined my life.  Or rather I allowed my job title to define my life.  I was a test engineer and had drawn a line in the sand over it.  I am now very open to completely different lines of work, work that I think will be more personally satisfying.
7. I better understand my personal value.  Don't get me wrong.  I enjoyed my career as an engineer.  I worked with some of the brightest people in the industry.  I have no complaints about it at all.  But I managed to get lost, to become a cog in the machine.  Think how lonely your car's brake pads must feel.  No one sees them.  They perform a thankless job.  Your friends don't drool over your sweet brake pads.  But can you think of anything in your car more important than the part that makes it stop?  I'm not saying I was as important as a brake pad, but I lost the big picture and the value I brought to the table.  Through my volunteer efforts with Launch Pad Job Club and various bicycling advocacy groups in Austin I have a much greater sense or personal value.

I would like to say I have a generous offer sitting here on my desk.  I don't.  Nor do I have any near-term prospects that could even come close to matching the salary I earned at the start of 2009.  Right now I feel very optimistic about 2010.  I am finally going to be able to do work I enjoy and under the right circumstances make some money doing it.

Now that I think about it, we took in a black cat just before my last position was eliminated.  Maybe I should list my 13-rung ladders on Craigslist.

Why Develop a Personal Brand?

I've been mulling this question over for some time now and I have my answer.  Some of you might be asking what a personal brand even is.  I think by answering why you'll better understand what.

Our fathers and grandfathers, and yes of course, our mothers and grandmothers, lived in a time when workers proudly displayed their employer's brand, often for life.  Securing a job with AT&T, General Motors, IBM, or General Electric virtually guaranteed a steady paycheck and a comfortable retirement after 40 or so years of dedicated service and loyalty.

That was then.  This is now.

For the past 17 years I have worked for two employers.  People who have looked at my resume lately are astonished.  A track record of that length is rare these days.  Not unheard of, but fast becoming not the norm.  Our economy is changing.  Companies have to be nimble if they're to stay competitive.  We can discuss all day whether or not it's "right", but it is what it is.  Those who can adapt to the rapidly changing economic picture will be tomorrow's success stories.  This is where personal branding comes in.

Think about your house.  Do you keep a roofer, a tile installer, a plumber, an electrician, and a carpenter on your household payroll all year long?  Of course you don't.  No one does.  But sometimes you need the services of these professionals.  How would you pick them?  At random?  No, you consider their brands.  How are brands established?  Businesses that do good work, show integrity, are honest, and successfully market themselves have strong brands.  If you need a job done you want it done right and will choose the best provider with the most reasonable price.

Large corporations are shedding jobs.  Just like the homeowner cannot justify a full-time roofer, companies can no longer justify full-time engineers, support specialists, and IT departments.  Going forward companies will not carry these jobs, but will bring people in temporarily to complete specific tasks.  How can you make sure these companies pick you?  Personal branding.

Individuals can use the web.  Successful individuals will use the web wisely to earn a living.  Companies should be able to search for the skills they need and have you show up at the time of the list.  And when they click on that link it should be very obvious why you're the ideal candidate.  If they can't find you then your phone will never ring.  If they find you and aren't impressed with your web presence then your phone will never ring.  Your name should carry the same weight that Nike, Coca-Cola, and Southwest Airlines carry.

You now know why to develop your personal brand.  Next we will explore ways to develop that brand and market yourself.

Clip like a pro with Evernote

The desktop software for Evernote makes it easy to get data into your account, particularly information from the web. It's quite easy to save an entire web page, a web page snippet, or a PDF version of a web page into Evernote.

Here are a few tips I've discovered along the way.

I am listening to past episodes of the Evernote blogcast (what they like to call their podcast). I can't tell you which episode it was, but a user question asked what was the best format to store information in Evernote. The consensus was PDF because it preserves formatting. This is a Coke/Pepsi type question where there really isn't a correct answer. I prefer to save information in the format closest to the original. If the document was originally in PDF or I absolutely must preserve the formatting then I will save as PDF. However, whenever possible I like to store my data as text.

"Simple" you say. It all depends. Many web pages are full of pictures and ads that simply don't format well. If you want or need to capture all of this, then yes, save to Evernote as a PDF. Otherwise here are some tips to save lightweight, (mostly) text-only, (mostly) ad-free information.

1. Highlight the text you wish to save and use the Evernote web clipper. This is by far the simplest method, but some web pages don't play nice making this rather difficult.
2. Look for links, usually at the top or bottom, that say "print", "view as single page", or "text-only view". Not all websites have this but those that do will usually present you with a lightweight version of the web page. Depending on the site it may or may not contain images or ads. But almost always the images and ads will be less obtrusive and/or can be clipped around.

That's it, just two tips today. But they're good ones if you'd rather store lightweight text instead of heavyweight images or obnoxious ads in your Evernote notebook.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Evernote

Evernote is a web service and software application that allows users to collect notes and information. Client software is currently available for Windows and Mac OS X and also a variety of mobile platforms including iPhone, Blackberry, WebOS, and Windows Mobile. The client software syncs with the web service allowing users to have access to the same data regardless of platform. The service and software are free, but they offer a premium plan ($5/month or $45/year) which provide more storage, better security, and more features.

For years I have searched for the killer app for my note taking, life logging, and ubiquitous data capture. My standards were fairly high.

1. Platform independent (or available on all the platforms I use).
2. Available anywhere.
3. Store data in a non-propritary format.
4. Let me own my data (related to the point above, namely let me get my data back out in its original, unadulterated format).
5. Provide encryption.
6. Google-like search capabilities with tags.
7. Geotag my notes.

My initial solution to this was my GMail account. Virtually every operating system on earth has a web browser and email client. I can access my GMail account anywhere except perhaps North Korea, and I had postponed my vacation plans to Pyongyang until they had wifi. While some email clients may use a proprietary format, I knew I could always use fetchmail, Thunderbird, or Alpine to retrieve my mail back to my hard drive into a non-propietary format. Since GMail offers POP and IMAP access, I knew I always had access. GMail doesn't natively support encryption, but no mail service does. Instead I was free to use an email client that supported encryption. And, of course, GMail being Google, I had excellent search capabilities complete with tagging. Geotagging, no, but I was busy figuring out how to create an X-GPS field in the mail header with my coordinates.

I liked my system so much that when I first tried Evernote in the summer of 2008 I tossed it aside like so many other similar apps I had evaluated. Obviously I had a change of heart. More on that later.

So what soured me on using my GMail account you ask?

1. While storing files (pdf, doc, xls, etc.) seemed like a good idea at the time, it was rather cumbersome to pull them down, edit them, and push them back up.
2. When GMail started offering IMAP I imported my email archive. This coupled with my massive data collection nearly filled my account.
3. Email is static. I had no simple way to edit something I had already emailed myself.

My stopgap solution was a kludge of paper notebooks, thumb drives, a Nokia Internet tablet, GMail, Google Documents, and Box.net. In short I had no idea where anything was. I had to perform repeated searches to find what I needed. My data quickly got out of sync and I had to go figure out which document had my latest changes.

Fast forward to July 2009 when I got an iPod Touch. Naturally one of the first things I did was visit the App Store and look for note taking applications. I saw the Evernote app, so I grabbed it. I still had the desktop client on my Mac. I tested it out a little and loved it. It synced well. It had geotagging, a feature I simply missed before, probably because my laptop doesn't know where it is.

I loved Evernote so much I paid $5 for a monthly premium subscription. I liked the extra storage and added features so much I canceled that and opted for the $45 annual plan.

The one factor more than anything that persuaded me to go with Evernote is this. It's their philosophy that users should be able to get their own data back out of Evernote. This is huge. They don't play tricks with my PDF files or Word documents. Storing in Evernote is no different from storing on my hard drive, except Evernote is available everywhere.

I read a lot of real-life uses for Evernote, everything from "where did I park?" to someone's favorite recipe for tofu tartar. Here's what I'm doing with Evernote:

1. I love PDF files and have hundreds. I'm putting them all into Evernote with the "archive" tag. This way I have them, I know where they are, I can search them, but I can also use "-tag:archive" to exclude them when I'm searching my notes as my PDF files are reference material.
2. While I know about the @myEN tag in Twitter, I instead use rss2email to capture my Tweets and email them to my Evernote account. I find this easier and cleaner.
3. I use Blogger.com and have it set up to send my blog entires into my Evernote account so I have my own archive.
4. I save several newsletters into Evernote so I can read them at my leisure or go back and read older editions.
5. I am locating PDF versions of my owner's manuals and storing them into Evernote so I can throw away the paper copies.

If you have any other unique uses for Evernote, please share in the comments.