About

I'm Mike Pope. I live in the Seattle area. I've been a technical writer and editor for over 35 years. I'm interested in software, language, music, movies, books, motorcycles, travel, and ... well, lots of stuff.

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Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all.

— Thomas Szasz



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Blog Statistics

Dates
First entry - 6/27/2003
Most recent entry - 9/4/2024

Totals
Posts - 2655
Comments - 2677
Hits - 2,716,124

Averages
Entries/day - 0.34
Comments/entry - 1.01
Hits/day - 347

Updated every 30 minutes. Last: 7:12 PM Pacific


  12:13 AM

Another off-topic blog entry. Here is some advice that I can dispense to you based on personal experience.
  1. Shut off the goddam computer and go talk to your significant other. Right now. (Come read the rest of this another time.) Contrary to what you probably think, the computer will be there tomorrow; the S.O., who knows?
  2. When you go to talk to your S.O., the first and last things out of your mouth should say how much you appreciate them. And I mean loud and clear on this one.
  3. Just listen, for chrissake. That's all that's being asked for. Solve the actual problem some other time.
  4. If you're pissed off at your S.O., first, calm down. Then tell them, calmly, why. It's ok to be pissed off. It's not ok to be all pouty about it.
  5. If you're pleased with your S.O., then don't calm down. Tell them right away. Out loud again.
  6. S.O. mopey and uncommunicative? Don't let it slide.
  7. Why hoard compliments? Give them away! Unlike investments, they don't increase in value if you hang onto them.
  8. Some genius came up with a ratio of nice comments to negative comments that you should make. 3? 5? 10? Whatever. Keep it in mind. And remember that you can't go too far in the nice direction.
  9. Has there ever been someone who doesn't like getting a little gift, just "because I was thinking about you"?
  10. If your S.O. wants to do something that you aren't thrilled about, do it anyway. Smile the whole time. It builds character. PS You don't have to love it, you just have to do it. This isn't just about you.
  11. Ask nicely, each and every time, even if you're sure it won't be a problem.
  12. S.O. annoy you sometimes? Hey, you're no bargain yourself, bub. Try to keep that in mind.
I'll probably think of some more later ...

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