Getting to know ChatGPT

February 15, 2024

Good morning all, happy Thursday. It’s the day before an extra long weekend in our house. PA Day tomorrow and Family Day on Monday. So that gives today a bit of a Friday feel.

For today’s post I wanted to share with you my learnings of using ChatGPT, the AI tool that is taking over the world.

In the early days I used to mostly for playing around and testing what it could do. Writing silly emails to friends and seeing what it would say when you asked it subjective questions.

It’s been a huge help in resume creation and cover letter writing as well as kick starting some idea generation.

I still think it’s pretty obvious when you read it that a computer created it, but it’s getting better.

Why I now prefer one monitor over two for maximum productivity

February 6, 2024

I want to share with you something that feels like a very hot take in 2024. Something I didn’t think I would ever go back to.

I think I have returned to being a one monitor kind of guy.

For so long I gave my wife grief because she would never set up multiple screens and now I am seeing the light.

Last year we had a home office space shuffle at home which meant I was using my laptop in a few different places around the house. Our son’s bedroom, the dining room table, or out in the world at the library. Previously I was always all about a multi-monitor setup where the laptop connected to a second monitor for what I had always thought was the most productive way.

Parents and Discord – What You Need to Know

March 23, 2021
parents and discord

As a parent, I knew the day would come that my kids would start talking about music, movies, celebs etc. that I would not know about.

It’s impossible to keep up. But one area I thought I would hold my own and be able to talk the talk, was with technology and online apps.

But that quickly vanished over the past few years and especially since our oldest son added a phone and Chromebook to his life. Now my brain checks out when the boys talk about Minecraft, Among Us and Roblox.

I tried to understand each by creating profiles and playing, but it just never caught on. For the record I am horrible at Among Us.

The latest and maybe the most unknown app to me is Discord. Have you heard of it? If you have young kids or teens, I know you have.

Do you know what it is? What it does? If it’s safe?

You really should because at least in our house it’s becoming the number one way our oldest son communicates with the online world (and us).

I know I am late to the party, but for those who don’t know about Discord, here is my explanation including what parents need to know.

Looking Into The Mirrors That Are My Devices

April 4, 2016

Do you ever look into the mirror and not like what is looking back at you? I think whether we like to admit it or not, it’s true sometimes. But do you ignore it, or try and figure out what is bothering you? It’s always much deeper than the actual face you see.

devices-2

Lately, the metaphorical mirror has been either my phone or tablet and I have been taking stock on how I use each. Why I use each as much as I do and who it is affecting around me.

It was only seven years ago that I did not even have a device of any kind. Yes, I was a very late adopter to the smartphone world and I only got my first BlackBerry because Katie was pregnant.

Now, I seem to have a device in my hand or around me most of the day and God damn I just can’t leave them alone.