Being the good Catholic boy I am, every Lent I give up something for the season through Easter. Without getting into a religious conversation, whatever I give up should be a sacrifice. In the past I have given up desserts, various forms of adult beverages and using choice adult words. However this year I thought long about what I could sacrifice that would surely make me a better individual.

I am giving up non-essential spending. For both myself and my business, I will not spend money on anything that is not required. A non-essential business expense is one not directly related to revenue generation, and one for personal is one not vital to my very survival.

To ensure I am keeping my word, I am keeping track of any purchase I don’t make, and its dollar value. The accompanying picture to this post lists the first 2 items I did not buy. Amazon had the Nokia E71 for almost US$150.00 off this past weekend, but I declined. I recently bought some adapter tips for my iGo portable charger, only to realize once I got them I need another cable, which I decided not to buy as I had no essential travel planned through Easter. I have a couple of personal items as well, but nothing stellar to mention. The list is more to track my decisions rather than to be a shopping list after Lent is over, though some items I still may buy.

Some people think my Lenten sacrifice is a sound decision, especially those who know me and my continuous quest for electronics. Others think my decision is lame, and instead I should be supporting the economy or I probably shouldn’t be spending these days anyway. In any case, I feel good I have gone week only buying essentials.

What do you think, and if you celebrate Easter as well, what did you give up for Lent?

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Business • Diversions • (6) Comments • Permalink

What H.G. Wells wrote about in 1895 has become a reality for me today. The notion of a time machine, which someone could use to travel to a specific time and location, is now possible. Thanks for this goes to Facebook.

Within the last month I have seen a huge number of my high school graduating class on Facebook. They may have been there all the long, and with the ability to search by when and where from you graduated, it has magnified their presence. That is, assuming, you tag yourself for when you graduated from high school. Many people are new to Facebook, some joining at the encouragements of friends… and for some by their own children.

As it’s been a few years since I graduated from high school, people have obviously changed. For example, I had a mop of hair on my head in high school! Others go by married or other names and some still have to upload photos or use a photo where you can actually make out a face. For those whom I have connected with, it’s been interesting catching up on what has transpired over the years. There’s also the occasional memory of each other that the other had no idea about or had repressed that sometimes comes to light.

The concept of a time machine has been omnipresent for me. For whatever reason, I never made it back to a high school reunion, and with the exception of a small handful of people, I haven’t seen or heard from most all of my graduating class. It wasn’t anything I did intentionally, it just happened.

But here we all are, and we’re catching up. I helped the cause by creating a Facebook group for my class as a signpost in the vastness of Facebook to connect people. This will surely make the next class reunion, slated for next year, different. Different, I believe, in a positive way.

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Diversions • Technology • (1) Comments • Permalink

Where all of the attention yesterday was on Punxsutawney Phil and the fact he saw his shadow, I looked a little further north from the Pennsylvania town for my prognostication. On the shore of Lake Erie lies Dunkirk, New York, where a groundhog by the name of Dunkirk Dave resides.

Where Phil saw his shadow, implying a longer winter, Dave did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring. With all of the snow I have faced personally in Chicago as well as what friends, family and clients have endured from the left to right coasts of America, I think we can all go for a little less winter and some warmer, bearable temperatures.

So once again my hat goes off to Dunkirk Dave. Well, for now my hat will stay on and cover my head until it is warm enough to expose my bald pate to the elements. And as you may have guessed, Dave’s hometown is also my hometown, and thus the name of my little Internet consulting firm!

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Diversions • (1) Comments • Permalink

So I arrive at the venue after trudging through the snow. I ring the bell and someone greets me who has no idea who I am. As I enter, I see the opening act setting up. I grab a beer and get a place to sit as the lights dim and the first act starts. Oh, I forgot to mention that I rang the bell and was warmly greeted by the owner of what was a house in a nice neighborhood who was also the lead singer of the opening band. The beer I brought myself, and I sat on a nice rug just feet from the other side of the living room where the bands were setup. This is what is called a house concert.

The concept of a house concert was something completely new to me, as well as for the other attendees that night. It was held by The Locals a Chicago alternative rock band. They performed followed by Steve Lawson and his lovely wife Lobelia Lawson. It was from Steve I heard about the house concert – he and I met at Nokia OpenLab this fall in Helsinki and he talked about his house concert “tour” in several US cities over Twitter. Most all of the others in attendance were friends and fans of The Locals.

House concerts are apparently something big in the UK, from where Steve and Lobelia hail. Which is not surprising, because a lot of cool things come from Europe and Asia and find their way to the US, but I digress. The advantage of a house concert is that it is a small, intimate audience in a comfortable setting that is not filled with smoke or overpriced beverages, not to mention the up-close and personal relationship the audience has with the artists themselves and vice-versa, which for me was they key for this.

Two sets comprised the evening, one by The Locals and the other by Steve and Lobelia, the latter alternating between solos by each as well as duets. As someone who spent most of his college days in the late 80’s in the radio station studios, I loved The Locals. They are a 3-piece band, with Yvonne as vocals and guitar, Christy as bass and Kirk on percussion. Yvonne’s voice reminded me a lot of Kristen Hersh. They played mostly their own, awesome original songs as well as a cover of the Heat Mizer song. They didn’t do Snow Miser because they like the hotter sibling of Mother Nature better! For a better idea of their music check out The Locals Web site.

Though I met Steve at OpenLab, I hadn’t heard his music until after I got back from the event. Even after hearing his, it wasn’t until I saw him perform that I truly appreciated his art. He plays the bass unlike I have seen before, and it’s hard for me to describe it. On his Web site’s home page is the words “New-Age Post-Rock Ambient-Jazz Solo-Bass” and if that’s not enough of a hook I don't know what is. He uses equipment and looping techniques to make it sound like there’s more than one musician playing.

Lobelia is an amazing singer and guitar player. She has a very soulful sound and her own original songs reflected this. Her cover of “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive had everyone who was a fan of the 80’s in disbelief! She has also learned looping techniques from her husband and integrated them well into one of her own songs. Check out her Web site and listen!

Needless to say, it was a unique event and wished it didn't end. It was great to see Steve again and meet Lobelia. I also appreciated the hospitality of The Locals and got to know of a great local band. As I was leaving, I made a comment how there should be more house concerts, but being in Chicago I bet the pols would find a way to try to regulate and of course tax it! I got a few hisses from people, but Steve acknowledged that this is also happening in the UK. But in these times where thinking outside of the box is required, I hope more will be able to experience a house concert soon!

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Business • Diversions • (8) Comments • Permalink

Just taking a few moments out of our family gathering to wish everybody out there reading this a very Merry Christmas! For myself and my lovely wife, it is very special as it is our baby’s first Christmas, as can be seen in the accompanying photo of little Margo looking in amazement at the tree and presents.

I am grateful for the things I have. We always want more or want certain scenarios to be different, and those take work. I just don’t want to be forgetful of what I have as I quest for what I don’t have yet.

Now back to my outhouse wall calendar and big box of Almond Joys I got from Santa.

Did you enjoy reading this? You are welcome to subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS feed or by email.

Diversions • (4) Comments • Permalink