With Fall finally kicking in with cooler temperatures and leaves piling up in the yard, this week’s journal of the interesting things I have learned is compiled with the constant hum of leaf blowers in the background.

Once you remember what a passport is for ... – My friends at Swift Passport Services shared what the next generation of US passports will look like. Security and a little more style are a couple of the elements of the new passport design. Even if you renew your passport today, you may still get the old format as the printers for the new passports are still being rolled out.

Literally a game of numbers – Cormac Sampson is an Offensive Lineman for the University of Wisconsin football team. As his family is friends with ours, I have known him long before he could bench press me, but I digress. The Junior has been Mr. Versatility for the Badgers and has played several positions on the O-line. As a result, he has to change his uniform number for each position, as number ranges are assigned to positions, several times. In this interview of Cormac, he talks about the multitude of jerseys he has worn over the years and how his Mom cheers on her little boy.

Appfirmations – My fellow co-working space co-worker Mike writes for The Sweet Setup and this week he wrote about the mobile app Affirmations, a simple but elegant app which can remind you how great you are, as well as when and how to breathe. The random affirmations that pop-up on my screen have been welcome since I added the app this week.

Classic Fright – I came across this list of classic Halloween movies and am sharing namely because the newer ones that are appearing more on the big screen at home just don’t give goosebumps like the good ol’ ones.

Like they need more traffic anyway – In my latest book takeaway on The Tao of Bill Murray the real intense readers of this little blog noticed that I didn’t include links to buy the book on Amazon. Going forward, I won’t be adding these. Why? I got an update from the Amazon Associates affiliate program, where these links come from, that I need to add even more disclaimers that these links would earn me money if someone clicked and bought the book.

This messaging is related to US Federal Trade Commission (or FTC) requirements for disclosure of any earning relationship with any product or service mentioned in a blog, or elsewhere. When it came out years ago I analyzed the FTC requirements and had many questions and honestly think it’s too much and plays consumers as being completely oblivious. Couple that with the fact I have only earned US$4.00 (yes, four dollars) over the years, it’s not worth it. I will eventually pull down other links, but in the future you won’t see them.

Perhaps the FTC should focus on persistent tracking? – This article about how Web sites track you is nothing new, but frames it that non-profits’ Web sites are tracking you, possibly in conflict with the work they do. Referenced in the story is a tracking too that The Markup offers so you can search for potential sites that track you. Of course Google comes up for many sites as their Analytics tool tracks hits. It makes one think what is really important about Web sites and to who.

Walking around the law – I heard the term “walking quorum” for the first time this week, thanks to my friend Josh Dukelow and his local radio talk show Fresh Take. In general, a walking quorum is not a good thing and can be a violation of governmental open meeting laws. This definition of a walking quorum from my state is a good place to start understanding it.

Tick-Tok – Just when you thought there was enough harm being done as a result of the social media platform TikTok, now we have an idea where its name may have come from – TikTok may be causing young girls to develop ticks and more.

Collect Friend Contacts Info Without a Bag – I couldn’t help but laugh when I read this story about a woman who lost contact with all of her friends after someone hacked her Facebook page. Just as a business doesn’t have a true relationship with customers over Facebook, the same goes with people. The article does say to get the email addresses of your “friends” to keep in contact outside of the platform. For some reason it left out to delete your account once you have that list.

Credit where credit is due – Where I’m not sure who originally said this quote pictured above, it is one that I will not forget as it reminds you who to think of first. It reads, “anger is the punishment you give yourself for someone else’s mistake – have a bless day.” Not bad for something on the chalkboard in a restaurant bathroom.

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This is from The Hot Iron, a journal on business and technology by Mike Maddaloni.

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