Greg Moore

Author: Greg

  • Security needs a plan B

    Passwords are a pain. Even when armed with a great password manager like LastPass, you still have to manage sometimes hundreds of passwords at a time. While infrequent, there are occasions where you need a Plan B to get into your account in case something goes wrong. LastPass has an Emergency Access feature that, after a…

  • Removing the Performance Bottleneck in Desktop and Laptop Computers

    Removing the Performance Bottleneck in Desktop and Laptop Computers

    A performance bottleneck slows down even the most capable computer. If you are experiencing a slow computer, going through some or all of these exercises will speed things back up. Don’t run out and buy a new computer. You’ll run into the same slow computer blues you are experiencing now in a matter of months. Speeding up…

  • In my dreams, I was never impatient

    I have dreams on occasion, and often they feature a recurring theme: my first car. It was nothing sexy or memorable – a little station wagon with no radio, airbags, AC or anything at all, frankly. A stripped down little import wagon that my Grandfather had picked up new in the early 80’s. It had…

  • Prince: A Suburban Kid’s Perspective

    Learning of the passing of Prince this week brought up memories of my childhood growing up in a decidedly blue-collar suburban area just outside of Portland back in the 90’s. In those days that I was surrounded still by bigots and racists that were growing angrier by the day as they watched their ideals challenged…

  • 2015

    Every year at this time, I dig up, replay and over-analyze the many things that have transpired over the past year. My foray into the caverns of memories brings forth a dizzying array of pleasant memories. Top of the list are: Time spent with my daughter and my wife. Many a successful event where friends…

  • Clutter and Order

    Look around your workspace. What do you see? Clutter? Order? “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” Einstein said that. In today’s world where the vast majority of human knowledge is available to us a few keystrokes and a click away, what…

  • Choices

    We are faced with choices daily. There are often pressures that are put on us to make certain decisions a certain way. It’s not until we have learned the art of assessing the best course of action that we can make really good decisions more often than not. The trouble is, with any artform, is…

  • Disruptive

    We hear ‘disruptive’ in the tech world all the time – companies that bring to market drastic innovations and creations that make obsolete a competitor. Humans hate disruption. Disruption is inherently chaotic and unsettling, particularly for those benefiting from competing efforts – customers and vendors alike. Successful disrupters can create social and financial stress for…

  • Confidence

    When you order a coffee, you have confidence that the barista is going to deliver what you are asking for. You pay for it before it’s made, trusting you will get your beverage as ordered. There’s a social contract you enter into. You trust the barista to deliver your request. They in turn deliver to…

  • Teamwork

    You can do most things on your own. Humans are like that. We learn and adapt to our environment constantly, picking up skills as we go along. But what happens when something needs to be accomplished is simply too much for you to take on alone? Perhaps you don’t have a skill or the project…

  • Favors

      Favors are perhaps one of the most raw and human of our traits. We help friends and strangers all the time, giving some of our time and resources to better them. In modern times, we’ve come to expect reciprocation of favors – you do something for me, I’ll do something for you. We’re disappointed when…

  • Routines

      New routines are difficult to make happen. If they were easy, I suspect fewer folks would be stressed out and searching for purpose. The fact is, people who sleep, get exercise and stay active are simply happier people. It’s no wonder then that finding a balance between these things is one of the most popular…

  • Get it Done: Project Management Tools for Everyday Use

    There are a plethora of tools to manage the different types of projects, each having its own unique set of niche features and approaches. Choosing the right solution plays a significant part in project success: using a poorly matched tool can create more burden than benefit.

  • Uber Fail: Two days in the driver seat below minimum wage

    We’ve all heard of Uber. Perhaps you’ve even used the ride sharing company, recently declared to be worth $50 billion (that’s billion with a ‘b’). But what is it really like to be a driver using the Uber system? In my experience, it’s a risky job in terms of financial risk and wage earning. I’ll…

  • Leaving the Dream

    One of the most prolific remnants of American culture from post World War 2 is the idea of the American Dream. According to Wikipedia, it describes “a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard…

  • Selective Appreciation

      Occasionally, I find myself listening to Christian Music. It’s not because I’m a devout follower or agree with American Christianity. I have my issues with the religion. What I love about Christian music is that it universally has a positive message and upbeat candor. I find few other music sources have as much good energy…

  • Debt from Expectations

    I used to buy a new car every year or two. When I couldn’t afford something new, it was something newer than what I had or to fit a short term need. About 7 years ago, I bought the luxury car of my dreams, mostly on a loan. Not realizing that my job was about…

  • Noise

    Look up for a moment. Have you found yourself in the middle of the woods with only your thoughts and the sounds of nature and thought, ‘wow – this is wonderful’? No mobile devices, laptops, televisions, tablets or billboards – just you and nature. A calm sets in. A calm that perhaps you haven’t felt…

  • The Next Dot-Com Boom

    After reading today’s NYT article on the divide between “young” and “old” in the tech sector, a singular future of the current incantation of Technology Start-ups proves more perplexing than the social friction NYT has spotlighted: The Next Bubble to Pop. Unfettered optimism and narcissistic selfishness drowns the industrial complex of start-up culture today, all…

  • Inside the Shed Office

    I often get asked “what is it like to work in such a small space?” It’s a great question with more than one answer. As you can imagine, working from a small space that’s detached and secluded from any other structures has it’s own set of nuances, pros and cons. This is what is looks…

  • A New Look

    In with the new, out with the old. Sometimes an old site needs a little face lift now and then. In this case, GregMoorePDX.com needed a simplification. Take a look at the older articles, the newer articles. I’ve even setup a Favorites page with a listing of my personal favorite posts on this site.  

  • Disney World: Walt would be pissed

    I had the opportunity to spend the day at Disney World today at the Magic Kingdom. My experience at Disney World today undoubtedly would have Walt himself rolling in his grave. Overall, we were disappointed in the details of our experience. That’s not to say it was a completely bad experience. It wasn’t, not really.…

  • Innovations to watch: Rapid Packing Container

    One of the things I love about the Internet is the way that it has revolutionized our ability to innovate. Case in point:   Wow. Just wow. I would like to see this product mature into a game changer. I like the overall concept here for a few reasons – first, these two are college…

  • The Cat Trap

    I love animals of all varieties. I’ve played host to many animals over the years – mostly cats, but also guinea pigs, fish and even a dog. That’s why writing this is article has proven difficult at best. What follows is my attempt to convince you to never adopt or take in another pet –…

  • How many emails to you write per year?

    There’s a few depressing numbers each of us will encounter in our lives. The amount of taxes we pay in our lives comes to mind. What about the number of emails you write in a year? Mine for the last 12 months: 7500 You read that right. 7500. That’s right – an average of 30…