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DAY 64

UPDATE: Monday, 25-Apr-2005 2:54 PM

It's a Monday... Once again, I started out with a problem with the RAID Array on my pc. One of the hard drives had an error and the array had to "rebuild" itself to protect the data. It's a Monday!

If you are wondering what I am doing with an array on my pc, I will explore this topic in the HARDWARE area when I update my data backup and disaster recovery setup. It's more of a setup IF there is a HD crash, virus intrusion or theft. Anyway, I'll cover that subject when I complete my setup, which should be sometime in May.

So, that out of the way, I started reading my daily paper, and then I could not focus.

I am here typing on the blog to regain my focus and get back to reading.

Some thoughts to share. I spent part of Sunday working on a pc while my wife spent the time watching tv. While one ear was on the tv, my effort was to setup a back up pc to hold all the data backup from a network --a stand alone workstation that is what I use all the time and a laptop. In addition there is a MAC with lots of video, pictures and lots of other stuff that needs to be backed up. All in all, there are 8 hard drives with an estimated TERRABIT of DATA (that's 1000 gigabits) that I need to back up. To do this I have the back up pc with two 200 gig. hard drives.

This is stuff that IF lost would make a person like me cry. There are a few things that would make me cry out loud and go mad, and the loss of a hard drive *without* back up is one of them.

Trust me, I have done it once. And that experience is not to be repeated.

I setup the back up pc using an old pc 'box' that I had, and that was up and working in no time.

Then I considered for a moment to make the back up pc a "dual boot" pc for Windows XP and Linux. I have used Linux for a while and use it all the time on the server, however, not in my office environment.

Then the thought process took over and here is the decision that I made: Use Windows exclusively.

The reason is that my work, my ideas and my goals are matured and what is needed most is my absolute focus of the items that I need to progress on.

This is *not* the time to take on a new idea or an old one like exploring Linux.

Then I resolved to double up my efforts and focus on the tasks at hand. And that led to another of my resolutions: Most of the work I am doing is deadly serious, even though I approach them with a certain 'lais a fair" type of attitude.

Several years ago I ran into a situation in the Philippines, where I lived for almost a year, in which a head of a household said this: "Sir, IF I cannot get the medications for my illness, I will just die." The medications the person was discussing were some meds that most westerners would take for granted -some antibiotics that cost about $18/month. However, for this person, because he could not afford it, meant a life or death issue. The sad thing is that for about two thirds of the worlds population this is the scenario.

That led me to thinking about the things that I am doing. The purpose of it is to help people better themselves and if I can do that with products such as the Discount Card and even this blog. Then I should take it very seriously and explore all the issues that I could and resolve all the issues that could "lead to a defeat" while building the 31-STEPS.

Even if the entire process would just help one person lift themselves out of a jam, it's worth it.

Certainly, for me it is already paying dividends as my attitude has changed several degrees since I started the blog. Not only am I having a good time doing the updates, but I have also noticed a generally better attitude at doing all the things that I do. In short, the very advice that I am "feeding you daily" I am using personally to UP ONE NOTCH 'my own life'. And that is a good thing for me, and I hope a VERY good thing for you.

As I have said, much of the defeat and lack of success endured by much of the world is not because of a lack of "things" but a lack of information and knowledge. Having said that there are some other "minor" but very important issues such as "will", "want", "desire" and a whole host of other 'mind set' issues that have to be worked on to succeed, but on the whole the world would be a better place with more access for everything.

Now, back to the seriousness of my work. IF or I should say WHEN my work helps a person in the Philippines earn enough income to do more, then I have resolved a major problem for that person. Perhaps that person had to forgo a lot of other tangibles or needs but now he/she will have access to something that will better that person.

I am not promising eternal happiness and a whole host of other things here. What I am proclaiming is that anyone who explores what I do here *will* help build more opportunities in their own life. Much as I am doing now. AND opportunity (or better said more choices) are a good thing in life. Sorry to sound like "out of jail Martha" here, but I think she too may have thought of some of these issues while in prison for six months...

I am drifting. Not a good thing. OK.

Anyway, that is what I hope to do and I better make sure that I keep my focus on making that possible.

After writing the above, I have warmed up to get back to work and I'll do just that. Out for now. Sam.

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