It looks like a few people are having trouble figuring out how to use the newly added ping.fm support on the latest version of Twhirl (twhirl.org).  It would make sense to find a place to add your ping.fm account in the Account Manager, but that’s not how it’s set up.

To set your Twitter entries to automatically “ping” to your other social networking sites (Brightkite, Plurk, Facebook, etc.) follow these quick and easy steps.

1. Login to your Twitter account on Twhirl.

2. Open the Configuration for your account.

3. Click the Key to find out what your Ping.fm Desktop / Web Key is.

4. Login to Ping.fm if you aren’t already logged in and copy your Desktop / Web Key.

5. Paste the key into the field in Twhirl.

6. Save and you’re all set.

My favorite part is that the code is smart enough to tell Ping.fm not to post your tweet back to Twitter again, so there’s only one copy of your Twhirl post across the board.

Paralyzing Intimidation

I recently received an e-mail that stated

I guess the bigger problem is that I’m paralyzingly intimidated when I feel like I’m talking to/working with someone who knows more than I do, because I’m afraid of being made to feel stupid when I don’t know everything they know, or have an idea that they already KNOW is the dumbest idea ever.

There are only a few people who I don’t have this problem with, namely you and [redacted], because you are both so patient and especially not condescending.

I think the key is to treat life like one big brainstorming opportunity.

My Free Trade Agreement

Most of life is spent trading thoughts and ideas. At some point you have thoughts and ideas that should be given to others.  At some point others have thoughts and ideas that you will find useful.

Each time you know something that someone else doesn’t or vice versa, it is an opportunity to trade.  An opportunity to trade is an opportunity to improve on each other’s ideas.  Trade freely.

Some Thoughts About Thoughts

• Don’t form opinions until you have enough facts. In addition, when you receive facts, “trust, but verify“.
  
• Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions about what you don’t know.  At some point everyone didn’t know what they now know.  The only way they found out was through asking questions.
• When others don’t know something, “be patient and especially not condescending”. How will they find out if they don’t ask?  Just because I came across the facts first doesn’t mean you won’t understand the facts or even have a better application of those facts.
• When you come across information that you think someone might find useful, pass it on. Even if they haven’t asked for it, they will probably find it interesting at least.  At most, it will help them form a better understanding of the subject.
• Anyone can learn.  Wise people are willing to un-learn and re-learn. Keeping an open mind and re-evaluating facts, ideas and opinions on a regular basis are critical to being wise.

Those are my thoughts on thoughts.  Leave yours in the comments section near the title of this post.

I was recently told that there was some surprise that I wasn’t at the Fusion retreat at WISP this past weekend.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend as my $140 was earmarked to go elsewhere.

After much consideration, I decided that my $140 should really be spent on the less fortunate, so instead of attending the retreat I sent it to assist in the bailout of AIG.

Additionally, I will be holding a charity auction this weekend to benefit AIG.  The auction will be done through the Mutli-Billion Dollar Corporation Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 I set up to help the corporations.

If you have anything that you’d like to donate to be auctioned off or if you’d like to attend the auction, please let me know.

My friends, I want to thank you for taking the time to vote yesterday.

Yesterday is the first time in the 10 years I’ve been of legal voting age that not one person I voted for won their election.

This includes myself.

My friends, although I did not win any of the public offices that you voted for me to be a part of, I am still proud today; proud of a campaign run without mudslinging and a grass roots support system that never said quit.

My campaign consisted entirely of two things.

• My campaign slogan: “My humility is only surpassed by my ability.”
• A promise of pizza and soda machines at all PTA meetings.

Enough people believed in these two things that I was trusted with literally ones of votes for Board of Education in Howard County.  My friends, I thank each of you.  Mom, time heals all wounds and I will eventually forgive that you forgot to write me in.

In two different districts I was voted for circuit court judge.  My friends, this was the very definition of the audacity of hope.  To vote for a man with no law degree or formal legal training and believe that he could make a difference by being a judge instead of legislator while serving on the bench shows that you have a true “Yes, we can!” attitude.

As we move forward from this election, I’d like to say that I am a proud American who will fully embrace our new circuit judges and Board of Education.

Janet Siddiqui, remember the pizza and soda machines.  Parents get hungry, too.

Tim McCrone, remember that in its simplest form, justice is really “just ice”.  Keep that in mind, and I know you’ll make Howard County proud.

New circuit court judge in District 8, I couldn’t bother to look up your name.  But good luck with that.

God bless you, my friends.  God bless Howard County.  God bless Maryland, and God bless America.

UPDATE: I also just found out I was a write-in for Senator of South Dakota, but narrowly lost to Tim Johnson by 237,813 votes.  Thank you, jenimc!

My grandma has Alzheimer’s.

This is something we’ve been aware of for the last several years, but this weekend my grandpa decided it was time to have her live in the Alzheimer’s ward of their retirement home. Earlier this week he had an unscheduled procedure to put a pacemaker in and she kept getting angry that he didn’t tell her he had surgery scheduled.

My grandmother is a strong-willed woman.  She has been for as long as I can remember.

Although she has always had an attitude that’s reminded me of the “We Can Do It!” woman from WWII propaganda pictures, she’s also always had grace.

Even the last few times I’ve seen her when she’s obviously forgotten who one of the people she’s talking with is she has always managed to keep a polite composure that would help her continue the conversation as if the person were her lifelong friend.

The idea of my Gram coming to a point in her life where life will never again be fulfilling, but confusing and awkward breaks my heart.

She’s a good woman who has led a good life.

She’s instilled a sense of right, wrong, and decency in my mother and her siblings.

As she was being taken from her former home in the retirement home where Gramp still resides, she told the nurse during her walk “I know he still loves me because he married me instead of that other girl his mother wanted him to marry.”

My grandparents have been married 60-some years.  They’ve fought like cats and loved without reserve.

I hope some day my grandchildren will also say that they appreciate that my wife and I have made life better for each other like I know my grandparents have for each other.