Bill Brenner

What Arline Corthell Left Behind

by Bill Brenner May 15, 2013 Love

Erin’s paternal grandmother passed away yesterday. Although she’s gone, she leaves behind memories to treasure and influences to carry on. Memories Grammie had a gift for focusing on one person at a time and engaging them in deep conversation. She did most of the talking, of course. She could, as my sister-in-law Amanda put it, talk the ears off of a brick wall. She had beautiful, penetrating eyes that focused on you and grabbed you like…  [Read More]

I Was Interviewed Again

by Bill Brenner May 14, 2013 Mental disorders

This time, I was interviewed for a story about how mental illness can actually make people stronger in their jobs. Check it out on Forbes.com.  

Together We Fill Gaps

by Bill Brenner May 14, 2013 Love

I did some more thinking after writing yesterday’s “Burden of Being Upright” post, and I think I have a better perspective. I was frustrated all day knowing that I need frequent wake-up calls. I want to be so good all the time that I’ll never need them. Truth is, I’m always going to need it. But what’s important is what a person does when the alarm sounds. Several years ago, before I was released from…  [Read More]

The Burden of Being Upright

by Bill Brenner May 13, 2013 Compulsive behaviors

A couple facts about the last few months: I made it through the winter more mentally intact than I have in a long time. I also went through a lot of uncertainty over the future of my career, which exhausted me enough to behave in spring as I normally do in winter: scattered, aloof and depressed. Things have actually turned out well. I got the job I coveted the most after fielding a couple other…  [Read More]

Yeah, This Is EXACTLY What Depression Is Like

by Bill Brenner May 10, 2013 Depression

I’ve long been a fan of the blog Hyperbole and a Half, in which the author expresses herself through a combination of words and art. After a long hiatus, she returned this week with a post called “Depression Part 2.” Having experienced more than my fair share of depression along the way, I can tell you that she nails what it’s like. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen it explained so clearly. Enough from…  [Read More]

Interview About My Job Change

by Bill Brenner May 10, 2013 Work-life balance

My good friend Anthony M. Freed did a write-up about my job change. He has some fun at my expense along the way, which I will surely get him back for. Read it on Tripwire.

Meet the New Food Plan

by Bill Brenner May 9, 2013 Food

Curse of the OCD Guitarist

by Bill Brenner May 8, 2013 Lighthearted

For all it’s power as a tool for staying in the moment, there’s one thing about my guitar playing that’s set off a big OCD trigger. Mood music: [spotify:track:4vhTm7eeqJAW4Iq3grUutI] Is it the need to play constantly, every day? Nope. Is it the nagging obsession to acquire a Gibson Les Paul? Nah. I have that obsession, but it’s not OCD. It’s the desire of many guitarists, except for those who already own one. Here’s my problem,…  [Read More]

Godspeed, Neil Roiter

by Bill Brenner May 7, 2013 Gratitude

Yesterday I learned that a former colleague, Neil Roiter, passed away on Sunday from an inoperable brain tumor. We worked together at TechTarget for several years, and I’m a richer man for it. Neil was a journalist’s journalist, a stickler for details and truth. As a tech reporter, he didn’t just quote security vendors about what their products did and why they were worth the customer’s money; he made them prove it. He’d put the…  [Read More]

Leaving CSO, Heading to Akamai

by Bill Brenner May 6, 2013 Work-life balance

After five excellent years as senior editor and managing editor of CSOonline.com and CSO Magazine, I’m moving on. Starting June 3, I’ll be a senior program manager at Akamai Technologies in Cambridge, Mass. I’m stoked about this new challenge. Mood music: [spotify:track:4xaEeuXlXyc3lzYoLYEsAV] I’m announcing my new adventure here because it’s the best way to reach the most people, since this blog is read by friends, family and many in the information security community. Let’s address…  [Read More]

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