Principal Technical Writer | Editor
Laguna Niguel - California
Technical Writer by Day, Career Coach and Counselor by Night, Maker and Builder I have a passion for ham radio, electronics and automotive/mechanical technology. Working at the NASA Mission Control public information office during Space Shuttle missions is one of my most memorable experiences.
42 articles
Extreme wintertime weather may impact natural gas vehicle engine starting and performance. Low or decreased fuel pressure to the engine and cold intake air to the engine are the most common troubles w...
Rocks come in all shapes and sizes and are everywhere. But some stand out from the rest. Although I don't consider the people in my network rocks, I do have many outstanding people that stand out from...
I've been working out at the company gym for about eight months and noticed some things. First, I'm inspired and encouraged by my new hero Jocko Willink . I am applying discipline to “get after it” ev...
I got stuck in an elevator yesterday. Although I don’t have claustrophobia, this is one of my recurring nightmares, probably triggered by some of the movies I’ve seen. Like everything in life, random...
Feed a Crowd with Something Special As the office "grill guy" I am always called upon to cook on the company barbecue. It's a gas grill, but I prefer charcoal and use ceramic cookers ( Big Green Egg )...
The Importance of Hobbies and Extra-Curricular Activities I often meet people who talk about their dissatisfaction with work. I find this curious because I have always worked in industries, companies...
A few years ago, I made this zero-budget Christmas light controller. It was inspired by an old model railroad signal, a small electronic sequencer with three channels and a speed control. As Tim Allen...
Lately, my social media feeds have been filled with so much negativity. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holidays - and to contribute to a small bump to change this negative stuff to something mo...
I recently completed another version of my Lightning Detector for next year’s Maker Faire season. It is the same circuit but packaged in a small desktop cabinet. The new configuration is more compact...
Fancy red, orange and yellow bell peppers were on sale last weekend, so I decided to make a batch of giardiniera. This is a spicy-hot and very tasty condiment for just about anything. I discovered thi...
A Search for a Missing Tool Turns Into a Life Lesson While working on my car project , I noticed my 9 mm, 3/8-inch drive socket was missing from my tool drawer. I looked everywhere for it, even though...
As an introverted person, I am always intimidated by networking and other social events, which is one of the reasons why I practice public speaking and meeting new people as a volunteer LinkedIn instr...
Our office moved a few weeks ago. Like any re-location, this disrupts the commute from home to office and creates an adventure for discovering new places to go during the day. I especially like going...
Maker Faire events are a natural habitat for ham radio operators and builders, artists, engineers, mechanics, electronics experts, hobbyists, cooks, bakers, teachers, kids and grown-ups. It is a place...
I was looking for something different to make on my Big Green Egg this past weekend since we had a break in the rain. I randomly found this recipe by Judy Cowan for Simple Stromboli. Stromboli trigger...
I decided to move away from making a ham for Christmas and made these two tapenade stuffed pork loin roasts on my Big Green Egg instead. One has a green olive tapenade and the other uses a black olive...
Have you ever measured something – like a piece of pipe or lumber, and then cut it to length, but it came out just a skosh or smidgen too short? “Measure twice, cut once” the old proverb Norm Abram al...
Insecta: Diptera: Stratiomyidae (soldier fly) larva Recently, Susan Rooks - the Grammar Goddess -- mentioned something about the fear of not remaining relevant. So, I decided this post would have some...
Blow your own horns because no one will do it for you. One of the most important items in your career management arsenal is a bank of quantified success stories that describe your skills and accomplis...
Over the past several years, I have been finding ways to streamline the time it takes to decorate my house at Christmas. Previously, I had to drag out the ladder and string out the lights onto little...
This is from a co-worker and it is so good, I decided to share it with a wider audience. With some slight edits and some additional hints of my own, here are some things that should help enhance commu...
I recently finished a tedious telephone conversation while making a simple hotel reservation. The reservations clerk at the hotel had a very difficult time understanding my e-mail address. I could not...
These especially helpful friends earned a You Rock award Every Thanksgiving, I think about the especially helpful people in my network and thank them for their generosity. I respect and value their kn...
Photo above: I have several still photos and other items from the movies and shows my products appeared in, but unfortunately I am not able to share them, like this copy of the movie script. Sometimes...
I thought I’d share my turkey technique before the holidays so people would have a chance to give it a try this year. My secret for a juicy and tasty turkey: Brining. I use the orange brine recipe fro...
This is Santa Maria (Calif.) Style tri-tip. The crust is salty and smoky and peppery and garlicky. The technique is shared by Rich Miller, aka "Morrow Bay Rich," here is the original posting. The rub...
Photo: Sweet mustard glazed chicken thighs. Maple syrup and smoke make an interesting combination. There’s something amazing when you include maple syrup in a marinade. I make Thanksgiving turkey with...
My Most Memorable Experience Here's something career-related I will never forget. I was a kid fresh out of college, in my first “real job.” My title was assistant public information officer at a place...
Photo: The last-minute added display item gave kids and grown-ups something to play with. Switches and lights always attract attention. I need to add sound effects for the next version of this light p...
Photo above: The old gasket is charred and no longer provides a good seal. If you look closely at the lid, you can see where the gasket looks like it pulled away from the rim and got sucked into the d...
Beer can chicken with grilled squash and garlic bread. Each chicken is covered with a sweet-spicy dry rub, sitting on top of a half can of beer . . . In the first step, the cook gets to consume a half...
I am often inspired by what’s on sale or what’s in the “manager’s special” bin at the local supermarket. This morning, I saw two packages of filet mignon, a total of almost two pounds. Although I love...
Mind Share, Customer Awareness, Top of Mind Whatever You Call It – Who Knows You? Like a lot of folks, I work in a cubicle office space . One of my cubicle neighbors has an irritating habit of humming...
Try this trick to increase efficiency and effectiveness in your life While running some errands at the mall recently, I stopped at a local seafood restaurant for lunch. I have been aware of this place...
Follow and Be Followed Suggestion One of the most critical un-written rules on LinkedIn is the advice to never use the default request to connect with someone. A quick Google search reveals over five...
Did you get an invitation to this event in California? Last weekend (6 August), I participated in Toyota’s Turning Point event, promoting the new hydrogen fuel cell car, the Mirai. (Mirai means “futur...
Sometimes, words are not needed. Here's an example - Corn on the BBQ! """"""""
Bifteki is a fancy hamburger. Tzaziki is a yogurt-based sauce with dill and garlic, a refreshing change from any other burger condiment. I had this dish at a nearby Greek restaurant, and it was so goo...
“Ono” means “good” in Hawaiian. For emphasis, “ono ono” means “very good.” This is one of my family’s favorite recipes for teriyaki chicken. Once you make chicken like this at home, you may not be abl...
Compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems include a high pressure (3600 psi) system for fuel storage and a low pressure system (approx. 125 psi) for consumption by the vehicle engine. Understanding th...
Compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems include a high pressure (3600 psi) system for fuel storage and a low pressure system (approx. 125 psi) for consumption by the vehicle engine. Understanding th...
When in conversation, the skill of listening is very important. But equally important is having patience to wait your turn to talk. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who always interru...
