Foreword

This section, the Table(s) of Contents, will evolve through several anticipated attempts in an effort to develop a more effective graphical presentation of the contents of this file and the other technical 'envelopes' in which related material exists. Extensive use will be made of hyperlinks to move among the various environments to take advantage of the features of each that are best suited to the tasks of communicating and collaborating.

This area of this file will be used to try to build a 'map' of a document such as this, using this document as its own subject.

Summary

Lately, I've intensified my experiments with Tables that can be built using RawHtml. Since (in spite of many opinions to the contrary), I do not pursue technology as a goal in its own right, I decided that I should try applying my efforts to the ongoing attempts to organize our communciations. The preceding table is far too simplistic to be very useful yet, but it is a start.

Based on what I've learned so far, this file should be capable of evolving to become an effective 'index' to the many different Topics on which Angela and Hans exchange ideas. At least I think its promising enough to warrant using a bit of my time to experiment.

Some of my current asumptions underlying this line of thought include:

• Navigation should be based on a 'spiral' approach, always providing a simple way of returning to a recognized, consistent starting point, while gradually supporting greater radius circles outwards, at a comfortable rate of exploration.
• RawHtml provides technicians with the ability to take virtually complete control of the way information is presented.
• It is unlikely that a single technical tool will adequately satisfy all of the needs of a group of users. Hence, other technologies should be considered, such as: WikiWeakness , ...
• . . .

Note the gap from 2003-12-28 to 2004-02-17 could be filled in with materail that this vailable on the wiki.

Welcome!

Meeting @ Dfx, followed by dinner with Ada.

The rest of this page is blank since the preceding hyperlinks provide convenient access and this space can be used to create a more attractive layout for users that peruse this file via a browser.

Angela:

Your recent statements have the strong common theme that you are busy with other priorities. I find that I would like to respect your views in this matter. Hence, I will try to structure my Posts so that:

• I respond to yours, as opposed to introducing new digressions.
  
• I focus on those Topics that you think are most important, either because they are important to you (for whatever reasons) or because they are digressions you find sufficiently entertaining to warrant pursuing, if only to take a break from more pressing matters.

To make this context as effective as possible, I may need to occassionaly ask you to rank items in your order of importance. An initial, single example of my need for such direction is your recent statement:

• "I do wish that we hadn't digressed so much from your collaboration work since it is the thing where your voiceover to what I see is so inportant. we just weren't done."

Is your interest in this topic sufficient that you would like me to continue Posting at whatever rate I can, or would you prefer to give this one a rest too?

Whatever works for you, is fine with me.

Regards, Hans

I created this day's entry since I was 'working ahead' and did not want to post it on the wiki, believing that Anglea may be otherwise preoccupied and that I should not post too far ahead of her.

In doing so, it became apparent that this makes it harder for her to respond to this specific material since it may be quite a bit more difficult than simply editing the wiki page and inserting text.

It will be interesting to see Angela's preference in dealing with this aspect of 'collaboration tools'. At the very least, I could place a link from this file to a Topic page in the wiki, as I tried on 2004-02-20.

This file's structure was expanded to better accomodate material related to the 2010 Games.

The redesign of the 'this week' section was started.

This file was tweaked in response to Angela's recent Email comment expressing reservations about public postings. Ideally, I will now be able to design a hybrid environment that really does allow us to make the best use of each technical component. For example:

• Comments that one wishes to share with a relatively wide, unrestricted audience, perhaps to attract comment, can be housed in either a Wiki or a Forum such as: HwoAmt WikiPage.
• ...

Angela:

Since it's been a relatively long time since we have corresponded more than sporadically, I thought it might help me to try to incorporate some of my more recent ideas into our communications. Since I also found it necessary to remind myself what it was I was I wanted to respond to, I added a bit of extra effort and incorporated my efforts into this environment (in part), because I thought you might also find it useful. Besides, I always appreciate your responses, perhaps the more because they are generally surprising to me, and this might actually provoke some, assuming you have found a bit of time.

Wiki software:

Hwo:

Resuming the wiki thread, I have proven that this technology provides me with sufficient benefit to more than justify my early struggles with it. I am even intrigued to see its relatively rapid spread and I monitor the WikiPedia in particular to see how a large community collaborates using this tool. It's obviously not a panacea for everyone though. I'll leave it at that lest I try to incorporate far more material on this subject than anyone cares to tolerate, into this Email. :)

Perhaps I mis-read, but I suspect your sister is making what I consider to be a valid point about the potential impact of these technolgies on Communications, as opposed to a point specific to the use of a particular wiki technology. But I'm unsure, since I frequently appear confused about the tools versus their uses.

Amt:

I didnt agree with her/them, but thought youd like to see another adoption of wiki by others. I dont really, in my heart, feel sufficiently democratic to wish to allow anyone and everyone equal access to my stuff as this fellow has. Yes, maybe it gets somewhere in the long run, but I havent got the patience for a long run when a short run will do.

I clearly recall struggling with the same reservations about having anything I Post be completely publically available. In fact, I still have mixed feelings about this; especially given that Google and other Spiders have been proven to make complete, perfect copies raising some very interesting questions about Privacy and Intellectual Property rights that are currently obviously extremely news-worthy.

Fortunately, in my perspective, there are more than sufficient technological solutions. Its simply a matter of understanding which technology should be used; (which, of course, depends on the circumstances) something I actually enjoy doing and have managed to earn a significant proption of my Income from. For example, in my case, I seem to be settling on using the following:

• Email - the "franca linqua" of the internet for occassional communications.
• Forum Posts - 'industrial strength' bulletin boards featuring:
  • Private Posts by members of groups as small as two people.
  • Shared Posts open to a group of known members via passwords.
  • Public Posts open to anyone.
• Wiki Posts - "Social" software for public environments anyone can view and alter. For example: HwoAmt wiki.
• WWW Posts - Public pages that only Publishers can alter.

Of course, each of the preceding technologies has many additional general and specific characteristics that affect its use and value. Otherwise, I would just choose one and stick with it. Especially since I have had to spend a lot of time trying to understand the relative merits of each. Interestingly, though, I have not done this as a 'techie', but rather as a author, in an attempt to find a solution to the short-commings I have encountered in using them. Currently, I seem enough value in each of them that I am starting to find ways of weaving each of their peculiar capabilities into a seamless mesh (or 'mess', if you prefer).

But enough of this digression, and onwards to others.

Ada:

I am glad to hear that. Its a nasty surprise to have to deal with and one for which I dont believe pure medical technology is effective. Medical practice is one weapon in an arsenal against the enemy but I have come to believe that beyond technical weapons, spiritual ones are equally if not more important they are:

• a positive outlook (cheerfulness, hopefulness, a list of objectives things to want to do, or accomplish) prayer (by the individual - not specifically as religious practice but as a cultivation of inner peace and connection with universal energies by others as a direction of the energies of love)
• love, expressed as caring, care giving, laughter and prayer (friends, family, anyone who cares but in this case, you especially - the special relationship you have with Ada is in my opinion the single most important thing for her health you have a special bond and therefore are capable of sharing energy and strength. youre her guardian angel.

I quite agree about the effectiveness of alternatives to western medical tecnologies, although the Engineer I was train to be is compelled to suggest that 'biofeedback' explanations at least make it sound like 'psychsomatic healing' is a more acceptable treatment than 'wishing' oneself well. That being said, I have always enjoyed the benefits of a 'healthy attitude' and I have come to believe that my attitude in the single most important determinant in my life. Heck, I've even been reading a bit of Nicholas Boothman's opinions supporting this view.

Work:

Amt:

to struggle with re-defining my work..... Isnt that what all three of the above paragraphs are about? Seems like you are struggling with redefining your relationship to your life and work is part of that. Datafix is an uncomfortable fit all your words suggest a growing disassociation. So, if you dont do this what will you do? What is it about Datafix that is broken? Product and service offering, lack of clients, quality of work, people relationships, profit margin?

All of my life has been a struggle to change. Its great! After all, I've always been able to see the next refinement and I've always believed myself to be most fortunate in that I can honestly say:

• Yesterday was a good day.
• Today is even better.
• I know I can make tomorrow better yet.

Setbacks and adversities are facts of life. I've always believed them to be developmental opportunities. This is also one of the reasons that I try to help others. It lets me develop my talents into skills.

Specifically with respect to DataFix:

• Its been twelve years. Previous tenures were: 4, 3, 5, 2 and 6 years, so this has been a bit of a marathon for me. And in four of those five cases, I was 'fired'! Given that pattern, I'm probably just trying to get myself fired and am arguing with my boss in order to provoke myself into doing it.

• One reason I got myself fired, is because I know it is hard for me to chnage, especially enclosed within an environment where the people have come to expect you to act in certain ways. I've always found it better to try to start anew, somewhere else. That being said, I am quite pleased with DataFix and enjoy being a part of it. I Think of it as being a part of a family. At this time, I am merely thinking that it is time for me to at least plan how to move on. After all, the next 10 years are likely to be the last I can spend at DataFix or any other place of employment. This makes it important for me to be in a situation where I can maximize my productivity, since I feel I still have a lot to do. However, I really do believe its the Journey and not the Destination that is important, so I don't mind not finishing.

  Having just re-read the preceding paragraph and found it a confusing mix of thoughts, I know I have not clarified my own thinking, so I'd best stop since I certainly can't explain it properly yet.

• As for what I might do if I were not at DataFix, I have such a long list of things that it is refered to as the Shroud of Turing.

• As for "what is broken at DataFix", by and large, everything is working well. Operating a company is always a matter of balance. At this moment, short term cash flow is a bit of a concern, but long-term prospects have never looked better. This I find most frustrating, because I want to get on with getting things done, but know better than to over-commit. Its a situation that I find very similar to serious Climbing challenges I faced.

• ...

Angela plans:

...But then I am possessed of the huge impatience that comes of too many things on the to-do list. The past 3 months have been immensely challenging attempting to run from a flood while loaded with sandbags. Have the final billing and one more day to deliver the turbine control operator material and then I can place that behind me. Then scads of paperwork, selling house and re-orientation is the agenda for April. May I have allowed for fun / and ticking a couple of small items off a very old list going to Whitehorse to visit sister and riding the train to Skagway, exploring mountains and hopefully doing so early enough to escape the hoards of pests I hate bugs. Have done almost nothing on my new challenges but they havent been hunting me down either. I have essentially come as far as I can in clearing the decks of my life and creating enough vacuum into which new opportunity can flow. Now I am going to sit back and wait to see what happens ---- the aforegoing makes me smile. I can only think such buddhistic thoughts in short bursts and then the control freak in me rushes in to fuss and worry but this, at least, is the posture I am trying to assume.

I'm surprised to hear you are selling your house. I have gotten the impression that you are quite fond of your current home.

Your vacation plans sound delighful. I'm a bit envious since my next break is not until November.

I really can't see you sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to fill the vaccuum you have created. I suspect you will do that yourself, instead. As for the posture, I've never foud the full lotus all that comfortable a position, myself.

Conspicuously absent is any reference to the JM book. Deliberate?

I said in a conversation yesterday that I had always known the and then what from my actions and projects in other words where the dominoes stretched out from each thing I was working on, what they led to. Which did not mean that I was concerned about whether they happened or not, but I knew where they could lead to if they should. In other words I had sequential ordering of objectives. Now I have 3-4 projects which I have adopted and they are completely unrelated to one another and I have no real sense of what they lead to so, based on my previous criteria, I shouldnt be doing them they dont inter-relate and they dont lead to anything, so why am I doing them. Beats me. They feel right and they seem like a good thing to do while Im waiting for what is just around the corner. Oddest feeling I have ever experienced Ive always operated with the 1 yr, 5 yr, 10 year plan in mind adjusting constantly but knowing where I was going. Now I am trusting without knowing, except that I like myself and where I am. Dont know what that really says. Food for thought. For me, that is.

If you wish it, I would be pleased to interact. After all, I've always found you to be a good goad in this respect and would be remiss if I did not offer to return the favors.

This has gotten much longer than I anticipated, but, as always, that's only because it was a pleasure.

Regards for now,

Hans

Dear Hans, I would say that my responses to you are generally surprising to me as well. I look upon things I have written in the course of our conversations and often confront ideas I had not acknowledged having before, and more so, am surprised at some of the things I say to you. There is a forcefulness in our written communication which I would not express in person when pushed, I push back this can and has provided for a considerable depth of exchange. I had the thought that I would somehow enable you in your efforts and gave myself license to spew rather than tidily and carefully emit thoughts, and I have wavered between looking for structure and just heaving stuff over there. The results continue to surprise me, perplex me, at times infuriate me, although a sense of understanding remains elusive. I feel like a blindfolded passenger willing but that sense of confusion and vague usefulness remains on my part. Where are we going? Beats me. We come and we go from this conversation, but at times, we build an urgency that suggests purpose. Compelling.

This weekend was the quintessential best of what spring can be in Vancouver or anywhere. Blossoms, birds, breezes, scent of growing things, slowly buzzing bees, and blessed sunshine. Record breaking for those who keep track. I basked in it all, did small chores, thought small bits of thoughts, and recovered a bit from what has been an absolutely brutal Q1. The pace appears to be settling out a bit. (my fervent hope is that this is not the eye of whirlwind) The list remains ever long but I feel a stride rather than a sprint emerging in the pace.

Lots to layer within the email below, however Ill start with this question to the bolded phrase above: So, just what was it you wished to provoke some responses to?

Angela

----
Hwo responded by Email.

This text will serve both as a reminder that I need to produce some documentation regarding my current musing about Pages, as well as a partial answer to the precding question of "... just what was it you wished to provoke some responses to?".

My continuing struggles to improve my documentation capabilities have left me on a technical plateau with a current appreciation of some of the fundamental differences between Pages that are designed for paper media and those that exist in electronic media, within various different modern computer environments. Since this plateau is unlikely to change significantly during the next 6 months, I can focus instead on some of the related issues that are more in the domain of written communications than technology.

It may be best to take some extra time to organize both my thoughts and how I should present them for the consideration of others. I should try strating with very specific questions that may be incorporated into an Email. Then, I could link to this file (for richer formatting and navigation capabilities) or to the Wiki once a proper page has been set up that shows the benefits of a longer flow on information.

...

Points that should be considered include:

• Traditionally, a (paper) Page might be 'bound' into a Book. Both of these Objects have a physical presence that restricts their size and their scope. Electronic, or Web pages, are not constrained in the same manner. Instead, a current View is constrained by the 'lens' that is used, in so far as the User's selection of display Resolution and control of the Client-side window is concerned.

  The fact that the Author can use hyperlinks to extend the scope of the presentation to access material in a number of different computer environments, then raises various questions about how the material should be presented most effectively to a particular intended Audience. Obviously, it will not be possible to devise a single solution, however the development of an effective Style for a particular Topic and Audience combination should be worth while.

  These issues become even more significant when the relationship between Author and audience starts to become interactive,

• ...

Added the 2004-05 calendar and the new 'NBar'.

Topics

This segment of this page was created as part of an Agenda for the meeting of this date.

Opportunities(?):

Go: Back, ...

• 2010 Winter Olympics

  International investment hopes are pipe dreams. BC really does not appear "investor friendly"'' from my perspective.

  • Peter Myall and Economic Develeopment ??
  • Could a Directories component be symbiotic?
  • ...
  
  
  . . .
  
  
• DataFix should focused on NixisByNammu and opportunities in Mail Matters.
  
  . . .
  
  
• DataFix should stay in the 'Directory Wars' game.
  
  Directory Assistance is a 'massive' opportunity...
  
  Telus may be an Entry Point.
  
  . . .
  
  
• DataFix has vast Real Estate experience.
  
  A Movers portal can be developed and in the long term, will be the chink in the monoploy FinsCa armour.
  
  . . .

• PriorityInterrupts
  • SrEd 2003 report
  • Fiscal Year Ends
• CurrentStatus
  • Nixis is stalled by decision making delays on the part of Buyers.
  • ...
• Objectives / Goals / Visions / ...
  • 2004 Objectives
    • NixisByNAMMU launch
      • Mail Matters proposal
    • Increased collaboration (See ...wiki\...HwoAmt\2003-12-26).
      • Optimize Opportunity evaluation to maximize efficiency.
    • ....
  • Long term Goal(s)
    • FinsCa
    • ...
  • Vision(s)
    • CyBorg
    • TerraForm
    • ...

AmtGoals:

Is this a statement that I can use to infer Goals?

Document Style:

• Glossary
• Index
• ...

Other files include:

• C:\HwYe
• ...

• ...

The following material is obsolete. It is being held temporarily while this file is being modernized.