Author: Carl Setzer

The All Powerful Snooze Button

Carl Setzer

Laying here listening to my wife’s alarm go off, I’m struck by a significant societal shift which took place during my lifetime: the snooze bar. 

I remember a world where these things didn’t exist. That your alarm clock rang once a day. Heck, you needed to remember to arm the thing before you went to sleep. I suppose some folks rewound the clock and moved the alarm hand forward a few minutes. But most didn’t. Ring, then up; no other methodology existed. 
Now, we tend to gradually awaken. With smartphones and such, you can choose pleasant tones to gently rouse you from slumber. Speaking for myself, my alarm starts earlier, with a more gradual waking process. 

I’m not sure what, if any, deeper effects have been brought about by this. Something to explore. It’s hard to imagine that a significant shift in a culture’s circadian rhythm won’t have some larger impact.  

A Story of Epilepsy and the Power Of Love

Carl Setzer

The Story Collider podcast has become a deeply integrated into my psyche, and my life. I stumbled  upon the series via Radiolab. On my commute today, I listened to Sara Peters and Peter Aguero’s story about Sara’s epilepsy.  This was very well done: by the end I felt connected to them.

So, I highly recommend you spend a few minutes of your life watching the video below (the podcast was recorded at TedMed 2013, so, thus, you get video). Your life will be the better for it.

(It wouldn’t be a bad idea to subscribe to Story Collider, too. Just sayin’.) 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRqqRFr5ceQ&w=560&h=315]

Real Estate and the Web

Carl Setzer

Been spending a fair amount of time today looking at different website options for my company. At this point, I’m not terribly impressed with any of them. Makes me think I should go and build my own. 

My dream system has all the components of your standard transaction well integrated. CRM, transaction steps, offer tracking, listings, key dates…all that sort of thing, That and tightly integrating our blogs, YouTube channels, Twitter feed, etc. Want to maximize SEO for our work. 

Chatting with some colleagues, I have some other options to explore. The most interesting, to me at least, is the notion of building a whole site on my own via WordPress. Then I would add the functionality I want with plugins. Seems very doable, and would feed my inner (and outer) geek. 

Perfection’s Obsessive Pursuit Destroys Effectiveness

Carl Setzer

The obsessive pursuit of perfection can destroy effectiveness. How easy would it be, continuously review, rewrite, redo a project. Keep revolving within this loop until its perfect, or we die. I would expect that giving into this loop, perfection would only be achieved well after the project’s usefulness was long past. 


Now, we need to keep mind for quality. Try to make whatever we’re creating as effective as possible. Yet, something is better than nothing. 

Deliver the best you can. Fix, with diligence and haste any material mistakes, smile about the non-material. Be proud of your work, and the problems it solves. 

Fireworks and Living in the Neighborhood

Carl Setzer

Sitting up last night, appx 1:30 am, listening to the booms and watching the flashes of my neighbor’s festivities got me thinking. This area has several interesting conundrums regarding fireworks.

I live in unincorporated Snohomish County. Whatever ordinances might be in place are pathetically enforced. Lives would need to be at risk in order for the Sheriff to respond. (Not to disparage my local officers…community police work is pretty challenging as the Sheriff’s staff is run quite thin. One reason to vote for incorporation into Lynnwood…whenever that finally comes). Lynnwood isn’t much better. Technically, exploding and airborne fireworks are verbotten. However, I saw several exceptions to that which were purchased (apparently) at local stands. Anyway, locals know that little will be done to enforce those controls…at least on the Fourth.

Edmonds has had a ban for years. I loved the Fourth when I lived down there since it was quite calm. The war-zone ambiance was completely lacking (unlike my current neighborhood).

Marysville has the tough issue of immediate proximity to Boom City. Enforcement would be an exercise in futility, I’m sure.

Anyway, just some random thoughts. Don’t know if I’m fully for, or against, fireworks bans. I enjoy the things fine, but also like being able to sleep at night.

What do you think?

Red, White, & Blue

Carl Setzer

I’m wondering why our culture had a specific sequence to “Red, White, & Blue”. In the States, the sequence is always R, W, B. Curious, no? Think it’s related to a song? In sure there’s some cultural touch-stone.

Local Fireworks Displays

Carl Setzer

If you’re not inclined to zip over to the local fireworks stand (or Boom City), or just like professional fireworks, I’ve zipped together a little list for you. Not meant to be all-encompassing, by any stretch. Nor, for that matter, worrying about Seattle. That’s all over the tv and such. So, here’s the quick & dirty:

I orbit Edmonds and enjoy all the Fourth Events pulled together by the local Chamber. Stuff from 10am until 10 pm (when the fireworks begin). Details here: http://www.edmondswa.com/events/fourth-of-july.html

Other local communities:

Mountlake Terrace (activities start at 8:00 pm)

Everett will have a host of events culminating with a evening fireworks show starting at 10:20 pm: http://www.ci.everett.wa.us/default.aspx?ID=1163

Plus, it looks like there will be Fireworks after the Aquasox game: http://myeverettnews.com/2013/04/12/everett-4th-of-july-fireworks-parade-and-freedom-festival-are-a-go-this-year/

Lovely Kenmore has a show starting at 10:00 pm: http://www.americantowns.com/wa/kenmore/events/fireworks-show-2013-07-04

And one of my favorite towns, Bellingham, hosts a really nice production: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/06/23/3061605/port-of-bellingham-to-open-g-p.html

 

So, there’s a quick snapshot of the local fireworks show scene. Let me know if I’ve missed anything critical in the comments.