Bill Brenner

Sandy Is Bad, But She Ain’t The End Of The World

by Bill Brenner October 29, 2012 Fear and anxiety

It’s a bit before 6 a.m. as I write this, and the winds are picking up outside. An historic storm is coming up the coast, and the weather reports are pretty grim. If you’re prone to anxiety attacks, this is going to be a hard one to say the least. But watch for the good to be found within the storm, because it will be there. Mood music: [spotify:track:6hiyS8fDC1whoyydVhfoBg] I’ve written much about the basket…  [Read More]

Fear, Anxiety And Storms: From the Blizzard of ’78 to Sandy

by Bill Brenner October 26, 2012 Fear and anxiety

Written in the hours before Superstorm Sandy hit. For those who get scared about the weather… A lot of people are anxious over this “Frankenstorm” weather forecasters say could hit us early next week. They use words like “historic” and “unprecedented.” They draw comparisons to the “Perfect Storm” of 1991, saying this one could be worse. It’s the type of verbiage that alarms people. I feel for those who are freaked out right about now….  [Read More]

Political Rants on Facebook Are Annoying, But…

by Bill Brenner October 25, 2012 Political discourse

A lot of people have complained about all the ugly political comments and memes coming from their Facebook friends from the left and right. Some days it gets to me, too. But I’m going to take a moment to defend the practice. Mood music: [spotify:track:08yfTLT6ei3j15382V1foN] There are some comments I have no patience for, like when people resort to outright name calling. I unfriended one guy recently for telling another of my friends to “get…  [Read More]

Your Excuse Is Invalid

by Bill Brenner October 24, 2012 Inspiration

Like everyone else, I find it hard to motivate myself some days. Then I read tales and see photos of people doing big things despite big disadvantages. My own problems then seem microscopic, and I can move on. Mood music: [spotify:track:3G6Pmvb6lsEu7dFkW0bpQc] Today I’d like to thank three people for giving me a much-needed kick in the ass.  Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed and sorry for myself, I can look to them and see my excuses for…  [Read More]

A Little Souvenir From My Trip To Amityville

by Bill Brenner October 24, 2012 Crime and punishment

Last month, on the way to a security conference in NYC, I made a side trip to Amityville, Long Island, to take pictures of the so-called Amityville Horror house for a work-related slideshow. Today we launched it, and I wanted to share it with you here. Happy Halloween: The Amityville Horror house, then and now The real haunting of Amityville is by unwanted tourists. Here’s how the famous site has added security and privacy features…  [Read More]

I’m a Hot OCD Mess Today

by Bill Brenner October 23, 2012 OCD

I’m admittedly failing to control my worst OCD impulses this morning. I’m trying to assemble a slideshow for my work website and a vital application keeps crashing. It’s a busy day ahead, with blog posts to write and meetings to sit through, so this isn’t the best time for an app to fail me. Mood music: [spotify:track:7qSPdNGrKbaqLg6HqflCoZ] I’ve heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again,…  [Read More]

I Wish Hard Rock Stations Had More Class

by Bill Brenner October 22, 2012 Music therapy

It’s not easy being a rock ’n’ roll fanatic some days, especially when it comes to the choices I have on the radio dial. Oh, don’t get me wrong: The Boston area has plenty of great stations, especially RadioBDC and Rock 101 in Southern New Hampshire. But some radio stations, in the Boston market and beyond, that play my kind of music have to ruin it by appealing to the lowest common denominator. Mood music:…  [Read More]

I Was Tricked Into Yoga

by Bill Brenner October 18, 2012 Lighthearted

I’ve long balked at the idea of doing yoga. Frankly, it always looked boring to me. It didn’t fit the tough-guy image I have of myself, either. Tough guys don’t do a bunch of poses. They lift heavy things. Yet here I am, doing yoga. Thing is, I’m starting to appreciate and respect it. Mood music: [spotify:track:3b04Qs9AoBRBIFu9aDQfqI] How did I reach this strange place? My therapist tricked me. For years, he’s been trying to push…  [Read More]

Lance Armstrong Was Robbed

by Bill Brenner October 17, 2012 Communication Skills

I just saw a report that Lance Armstrong is stepping down as chairman of the Livestrong charity he built to inspire and empower cancer sufferers. It comes after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency reported “overwhelming evidence” that Armstrong engaged in doping while he was a professional cyclist. Armstrong was robbed. Mood music: [spotify:track:7Htb2GqRgWZjIkDmWpRrbD] Much has been made of doping in professional sports. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if athletes use steroids. So what? The media acts like…  [Read More]

Christian Brochure: “Being Gay Is Bad, Like Overeating”

by Bill Brenner October 16, 2012 Communication Skills

Some days it’s not easy being a Christian soldier. When my comrades talk in a way that makes sense, it’s all well and good. But when they say stupid things, such as being gay is bad — like bullying and overeating — my faith is tested. Mood music: [spotify:track:55jSlIKD8CoP3uTIXlJdGa] Fortunately for me, I learned a long time ago not to base my faith on the social politics of mere mortals, including those with leadership positions…  [Read More]

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