eMarviews

so I did this 21k in my huaraches, right... :P (warning: lengthy...)

what a day!

The race was supposed to start at 6am. I got up at 5am and it was pouring (rain :). I called the race director and he said it was going to probably be delayed half an hour.

I should have listened.

I went back to bed and assumed that it was going to be a typical Panama start time (meaning even with the delay, it would start late). I can't say I overslept. I was just slow getting up again.

Ana and I got up again around 6:15 and woke everyone else up (my son and 2 of 3 daughters).

We left our place at about 6:45 and got to the race at about 7. Oops. We were at the traffic light and heard the last minute race instructions. Oops again.

We made it to the parking area and the race had already begun. Oops x3.

We all rushed out of the car. I asked about the half and the 5k. The 5k was the one that had just started. The half started about half an hour before (around 6:30). Oops to the third power!

We said our see you laters and were off!

I caught up to the 5Kers and cheered some folks on. I then passed the 5k halfway point and was alone running on the streets of Panama. Not a problem. I've done it before. My feet were fine. Everything was fine.

At around 3.5 miles I saw my first racers. The fast guys were already coming back. I gave thumbs up to folks and kept going! (Man, they're fast!)

Around the 5th mile is when I caught up to the back of the half pack. I gave a word of encouragement as I passed folks.

So far, so good. My legs were fine and I was doing ok. At the halfway mark, I had passed about 10 people. I still hadn't drank water either. (I wasn't thirsty at all.)

At about the 8 mile mark, I started to feel a little thirsty. Unfortunately, the next hydration point (~8.5 miles) was out of water. Great!

Well, I knew there was another water point in about a mile so I kept at it. Got there and no one was there. (Maybe I was mistaken and it was only a family member giving out water to one of their own. :)

Luckily, at the 10-mile mark, there was water! Whoopee! Got a baggie of water and was set! By this point, I had probably passed about 20 folks and we were entering a few rolling hills.

Now the thing about hills with huaraches, uphills are not a problem. The problem (as when barefooting) is the downhills. There is extra friction since you are often braking. You either have to run them fast or super slow. I generally tried to run faster on the downhills. It probably wasn't fast enough though since I really felt some of those downhills. =D

So after the hills, there was only about a mile and a half left! YAY! So I turned on what was left of the nitro and burned rubber. (Yeah right!) There was one last downhill heading in to the finish so I took it as fast as I could after having run 20K. (My feet were a bit sore. :)

I passed my 30th or so person with about 200 meters to go to the finish and saw the time on my watch: 1:49! Let's push it out some more and finish strong! I tried to catch up to a lady that was about 30 meters away, but didn't make it.

That's ok. I finished strong. Ana actually said that I didn't look as tired as I normally do when I finishing a half. =D

So I finished (according to my watch) at 1:50. 7 minutes less than my last half in March! Whoopee!

After finishing, several people asked about the huaraches. Do they hurt? How do they feel? Many were surprised. So I happily shared some knowledge. Talking about how shoes make you more dependent on them and how you have to relearn how to run when running with huaraches or barefoot.

I hope some of it stuck. :)

Have a great day everyone!

Posted by eMarv at 02:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

Just got this via email from the New Yorker Hotel. I wish I was close to NYC so I could take advantage of this deal.

This is a great way for a hotel to break-in to the social media game, especially using twitter.

Much Success to the one who had the idea at the New Yorker!

****

This summer, NYC travelers can get great savings at the New Yorker Hotel, all by simply following us on Twitter!

Twitter Followers Special

For a limited time, get 20% off the Best Available Rate, just by following us on Twitter. To receive details about the Twitter Followers Special, just visit http://twitter.com/newyorkhotel and follow us there. After following, send a request to @newyorkhotel mentioning "Twitter-only", and we will send you details on how to book this special.

Twitter "Media Pros" Discount

For a limited time, get 25% off the Best Available Rate. You must be a journalist, editor, reporter or other qualified member of the press to be eligible for this discount. To receive details about the Twitter Media Pros Discount, just follow the hotel on Twitter. After following, send a message to @newyorkhotel and mention "Media Pros". Be sure to tell us what publication you work for, and we will send details to you via Twitter.

Click the Twitter icon above to follow us on Twitter and request your Twitter discount today!

Posted by eMarv at 08:36 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

And ask yourself the questions below to see if you can use some of the strategies that Panama is employing to grow innovation in your own business.

1. What is the biggest time-waster of my business or process?
2. What is the number one complaint from my customers and clients?
3. How could I work with another company to streamline inefficient processes?
4. Who can I coordinate to provide a better service or product?

Posted by eMarv at 08:18 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

Prez checking out sandals... Uploaded with the Flock Browser - http://www.flock.com

Tags: barackobama, president, woman'ssandals

Posted by eMarv at 09:23 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

NOTE: Parental guidance suggested for some tweets :) Some will have you laughing...

Tags: turnon, twitter, laugh, turnons

Posted by eMarv at 02:02 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

Tags: twitter, timemagazine

Posted by eMarv at 07:41 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

It's always interesting to find out what you find as you connect with old colleagues.

For example, I reconnected with Chris D'Agostino, CEO of near infinity, on Facebook and revisited his company website and was happy to see that his company is doing well. I also found Scott Leberknight's blog and came across the Thinking Matters post where he talks about programmers, programming and thinking. Below is an extract:

Aside from the fact that Oracle's Java Problem contains all kinds of factual and other errors (see the comments on the post) this sentence caught my eye in particular when referring to Java being "quite hard to work with" - "Then, as now, you needed to be a highly trained programmer to make heads or tails of the language."

Scott also refers to Intentional Software (which is essentially language software to design DomainSpecificLanguages). While at Martin Fowler's site, I also learned LayProgrammers (if you do any work with on spreadsheets, especially with formulas, then yes, you are a LayProgrammer) and the UnforgivenContract (which is essentially a NDA with strong penalties).

So what's my point? My point is that it is sometimes it is beneficial to delve deeper when you are social networking.  You'll never know what you discover.

BTW, I also learned about programming monkeys that cost 69 cents an hour. If you hire one, let me know so that I can get a referral fee. :)

Tags: monkeyprogramming, unforgivencontract, intentional software, layprogrammers, near infinity, scott leberknight

Posted by eMarv at 12:37 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

So what are the lessons learned?

• First & foremost, don't cheat on your girlfriend and
• secondly, make sure you don't leave your social networking (or any other) passwords saved on your partners computer.
• Add any others?

Tags: linkedin, socialex flaming, damaging, ex-girlfriend, lesson learned

Posted by eMarv at 04:27 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

Admit it. It's happened to you before. (Otherwise why would you be reading this post! :)

First of all (you may be asking yourself), how do I know I have rancid breath?

• You just ate a tuna and onion sandwich
• People are running away from you or making funny faces when you speak with them (like what happened to SpongeBob)
• Someone just told you that your breath is kickin (and not in a good way)
• You lick the back of your hand, let the saliva dry, smell it and almost pass out

• you have an hour to spare before speaking with someone:
1. move to the nearest store or your house (whichever is closest)
2. if at the store, buy a toothbrush and toothpaste and the strongest Listerine (or the store brand which is normally cheaper) you can find
3. if you have time, floss (really, you should be doing this every time you brush, but you know how that goes...)
4. brush your teeth thoroughly for at least 60 seconds. (make sure you brush your tongue, too.) check to make sure you have brushed your teeth well by touching your teeth with your tongue. if you don't feel your teeth completely smooth, brush again.
5. rinse and gargle at least 3 times with fresh water each time
6. get a mouthful of Listerine and rinse and gargle for at least 60 seconds. you'll probably be in tears because of the listerine after 60 secs, but it will be worth it.
7. finally, ask a trusted family member or friend, if available, if your breath still stinks. if no one is available, do the quick lick-the-back-of-the-hand check
8. if you still smell, start over with step 3. repeat, as necessary.
• you have less than 15 minutes to spare and can't break to go anywhere. you can do any or all of these steps, but please do at least one:
• ideally, delay the meeting until you can brush your teeth
• you know there's always a gum or mint person in the office, ask for piece (nicely, of course. beg if you have to). HINT: make sure to check the boss' secretary
• depending on how picky you are, you can do this: there's normally a (smart) person that brings their toothbrush and toothpaste, ask the person to borrow the toothbrush...just joking...  see if they can give you some toothpaste and brush your teeth with your finger
• ask a trusted colleague how bad your breath smells. try to get a rough idea of how far your stank breath is traveling as you talk. ask your colleague to take small steps away from you until s/he no longer smells you. try to stay at least that much away from the person you need to speak with.
• the person is on her way to speak with you and you only have 30 seconds to react
• tell him the truth and say that you ate a foul smelling sandwich for lunch and ask if he has any mints. he will appreciate your honesty.
• try to stay as far away from her as possible so that your dragon breath doesn't reach her.
• talk away from him (not towards him). this may seem rude, but may be necessary.
• if you must speak face to face, speak as little as possible. (now would be a good time to practice your listening skills.)
• don't use too many words that begin with the letter H.
• cover your mouth a little. (though this may give them the impression that their breath stinks...)
• practice your hiding skills.
• run!

I hope you find this helpful! (Feel free to add any tips of your own.)

Tags: rancidbreath, bad breath, stinky breath, listerine, mouth wash, tips, lifehacks, brushing, teeth, tongue, gargle, wash, floss

Posted by eMarv at 03:14 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()

Just got this in a commission junction email and thought it would be of interest.

ATTENTION AFFILIATES:

Commission Junction recently received word that Maryland's version of the "Affiliate Tax" bill was introduced without warning only days ago, and it may be enacted later today or early Tuesday. Unfortunately, Maryland affiliates have had almost no time to react, so your voice needs to be heard within hours, if possible.

Here is a link to information on the bill: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb1071.htm

Although Commission Junction is not in a position to provide you with legal and tax advice regarding the bill and the action to take, if you oppose this bill, you may wish to contact Speaker Busch at michael.busch@house.state.md.us AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Click here to access a template with suggested language you may choose to complete and modify accordingly and send to Assembly Member Busch stating your opposition to the proposed bill.

Together we can speak up and hopefully make a difference!

Thanks in advance for your help,

Kerri Pollard
General Manager
Commission Junction

Here's the text of the document:

The Honorable MICHAEL ERIN BUSCH
Speaker of House of Delegates
State House, H-101
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
Subject: OPPOSITION to S.B. 1071, as introduced in the Maryland Senate on March 28, 2009

Dear Assembly Member Busch:
I am a small business owner with a website, and I am in strong opposition to S.B. 1071, which could require retailers that advertise and receive direct or indirect referrals from banner ads and click-throughs on websites, such as mine, to collect sales tax in Maryland.

I am opposed to this bill because it would substantially harm my small business by reducing a large source of revenue that I rely on to survive. This revenue results from providing advertising on my website as part of an “affiliate” or “associate” program with out-of-state retailers. [Describe how your business model is set-up and what you contribute to the local economy.]

If retailers believe that doing business with me will result in their having to collect sales tax on all Maryland sales, they likely will sever ties with my business, putting the viability of my business at risk. Such was the case in New York State where Overstock dismantled its affiliates program and I am told by my colleagues that hundreds of other business followed Overstock’s example. This left thousands of affiliates – most of which are small- and medium-sized businesses with a major loss of income.

For these reasons, I respectfully oppose this legislation.

Sincerely,

Posted by eMarv at 05:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks ()