Things I am thankful for-The top 5
It has been a long, long time since I last posted here and I hope to be back sooner to post again.
This time of year is a good one for reflection and I have taken some time over the past week to think about what I am most thankful for as I move past the halfway point of my 53rd year in this world. This list may not hit them all, but I think it will get the top 5 to 10 items that bring me the most joy and peace.
I would encourage you to take the time to reflect and think about what you are most thankful for. I know I take so much for granted and it is high time I gave thanks:
- I am thankful to live in a country where I can worship freely and be an active member of the Christian community.
- I have the most wonderful wife and two awesome sons. They are the joy of my life and I cannot fathom them being any better or more rewarding to me than they are.
- My life has been immeasurably blessed by my in-laws. My parents died right after I married my wife and my father in law and mother in law have been so supportive and loving to me for as long as I can remember.
- I am blessed beyond measure to be able to earn a good living in a business that I have started. So much of my success comes from relationships and friendships I have acquired over the years and that is a blessing also.
- I have relatively good health and am able to come and go as I please in most situations.
I could add many others to this list, but these are the top 5 that I give thanks for everyday.
What is your list of the top 5 things you are thankful for? Are you giving thanks for the many blessings you have?
Take time to reflect and say thank you to those who are making a difference. You will be glad you did.
Solar Knowledge: TVA Unveils Electric Vehicle Charging Station Prototype
With nary a sunbeam in sight, TVA and the Electric Power Research Institute on Tuesday unveiled a concept for charging the electric vehicles that are just beginning to hit the local highways.
Equipped with about 12 kilowatts’ worth of solar panels and a battery array with about five kilowatt-hours of storage, the six-parking-spot station will be used to analyze the potential impact of electric vehicles on the electric grid as well as ways to supplement that power. It is the first of two such stations to be built in East Tennessee and will serve as a research prototype to model how electric cars can be juiced up when they’re away from home.
via Solar Knowledge: TVA Unveils Electric Vehicle Charging Station Prototype.
Pretty fascinating technology that will support the upcoming launch of many electrical vehicle models.
Marriott decides adult movies have no place in its hotels | tennessean.com | The Tennessean
Marriott International, one of the nation’s leading hotel groups, says it’s pulling access to adult movies from new hotel rooms it will open in the next several years.
Marriott says its decision coincides with a pending shift to new in-room entertainment technology for its new hotels. Traditional video systems, which included access to adult content displayed in the menu selection, will be replaced by Internet-based video-on-demand systems.
But the decision also comes after years of discussing whether the availability of lucrative adult films in guest rooms is appropriate and whether safeguards exist to prevent children from seeing it.
via Marriott decides adult movies have no place in its hotels | tennessean.com | The Tennessean.
I have to commend Marriott for having the guts to make this decision. The pornography industry is a huge industry and having a major chain like Marriott pull the plug sends a loud signal to many others.
Google Android Surpasses Apple iPhone Market Share — InformationWeek
After several months of strong growth, the number of smartphones powered by Google’s Android platform surpassed the Apple iPhone in the U.S. for the three-month period ending in November 2010, a market research firm says.
61.5 million Americans ages 13 and older owned a smartphone in the period, and 26% had an Android-based phone, ComScore reported Friday. Third-place Apple followed with a 25% share and Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, led the pack with a 33.5% share.
via Google Android Surpasses Apple iPhone Market Share — InformationWeek.
Considering the number of “glitches” we have read in the newer iPhones this is not a surprise to me. I suspect Verizon’s addition of the iPhone will help Apple climb back to #2, but the RIM devices are clearly a favorite of the business crowd.
2010 in review for Dan Ryan’s View
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 9,400 times in 2010. That’s about 23 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 173 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 496 posts. There were 172 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 7mb. That’s about 3 pictures per week.
The busiest day of the year was January 5th with 325 views. The most popular post that day was What is Symmetrical Leadership?.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were linkedin.com, facebook.com, humancapitalgroupinc.com, friendfeed.com, and mail.yahoo.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for vanderbilt, dan ryan, balance, facebook of 18, and tim tebow.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
What is Symmetrical Leadership? January 2010
1 comment
Are you frustrated with online application systems? March 2010
8 comments
Online Application Systems-People are fed up! March 2010
5 comments
Traits of Entrepreneurial Leadership: Confidence-Independence-Perseverance-Focus January 2010
6 comments
Gibson Guitar-Auto Zone make Worst Companies To Work For List December 2009
12 comments
Leaf vs. Volt: A comparison | Nashville Business Journal
The Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt will be competing for eco-conscious car buyers who don’t mind paying extra to cut back on gasoline usage. In the case of the Leaf, gasoline is eliminated entirely. The tradeoff is that the car must be plugged in and recharged. Charging stations are popping up throughout Tennessee, but the Volt enjoys the flexibility of taking its juice from both a charger and a gas pump.
Federal and state incentives knock $10,000 off the price, for now. Here’s a look at three key comparisons:
via Leaf vs. Volt: A comparison | Nashville Business Journal.
I’ll be curious to see the response to the electrical car market.
I think the market exists, but the price of petrol will rule the day and the timing.
YouTube – THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY
via YouTube – THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY.
http://www.youtube.com/v/GkHNNPM7pJA
I don’t like to typically pass this kind of thing along, but I find it culturally relevant and the message is timeless.
I hope you enjoy. Keep the spirit all year long!











