Category: Voice/Tone/Trust Building

Not So Risky Business

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15 COMMENTS

As you are no doubt unaware, my older brother – my much older brother – turned 70 this past week. And so, in celebration of this truly once in a lifetime event, assorted family members are gathering tonight in celebration at a restaurant in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Harvard Square can be a busy spot. Finding a place to park (we live too far to have any other option) is difficult. How difficult? Well, let’s just say that on a Friday night, you’d have an easier time getting admitted to Harvard […] Click to read more…

I *NOT* Robot

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28 COMMENTS

Maybe you’ve heard about the new artificial intelligence thingy called ChatGPT? According to Wikipedia – my go to source for quick explanations, music trivia, and unreliable medical facts – ChatGPT is, “a prototype artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI which specializes in dialogue.” You create an account (it’s free), log-in, and type in a question or request. However, unlike a traditional search engine (Google, Bing, etc.), it doesn’t point you to things out on the Internet. Instead, it responds, in dialogue form, based on the vast trove of “knowledge” it has at its robotic fingertips. […] Click to read more…

Off-Peak Performance

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13 COMMENTS

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my immediate family decided to gather in Atlanta last weekend for an off-peak version of this annual event. Was it because we were hoping to save money on the cost of a bird? No, but you raise a good point. Rather, it was because with my three grown children spread out across the country like election night journalists – Atlanta, Denver, Portland Oregon – and my wife and me living in Massachusetts, the logistics of getting everyone together for a Zoom call, let alone a […] Click to read more…

Add Meat to Your Bones

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9 COMMENTS

(Listen to this post, here.) I live in a fairly new neighborhood. Four years ago, when we moved in, there were just 10 houses. Today, all the construction is over and there are 60. If you’ve never “built” a house before (this was our first time), it definitely has its ups and downs. The good news? You get to choose everything: the countertops, the light fixtures, the tiles, the faucets, the flooring, etc. The bad news? You have to choose everything: the countertops, the light fixtures, the tiles, the faucets, the flooring, […] Click to read more…

Crystal Blue Persuasion

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34 COMMENTS

(Listen to this post, here.) I ordered the Vegetarian Stir Fry: “Linguine tossed with sauteed broccoli, mushrooms, onions, finished with sesame ginger sauce and homemade sriracha aioli.” It seemed like a safe choice. Only it wasn’t. One bite and I knew that it was WAY too spicy for me. My bald head began sweating immediately (TMI?). Was the description of the dish on the menu accurate? Absolutely.  After all, as anyone can tell you after they return home, dip their tongue in a bowl of ice water, and google the word “sriracha,” this is […] Click to read more…