How I painfully realized who my 'real family' was ??????
Howdy,
Back in November of 2022 I shared two short stories about growing up with an over-the-top alcoholic mother.? I didn’t share one of the defining moments of my life in fully grasping that your “family” is more about actions that words.
I was 19 years old and, earlier that day, had “walked my sister down the aisle” on her wedding day.? While the wedding went fine, at the reception, my mother got drunk and screamed at hundreds of guests until everyone, except our few close friends & family, had left.
I was speaking with my childhood friend Paul when my mother came up to me, got about 6 inches from my face, and kept screaming at what a horrible human being I was.? In the background I could see my two sisters huddled together crying their eyes out.? It was that very minute I made the decision to never speak to my mother again (and held to it but that’s not what this story is about.)
I was filled with such rage it is hard to describe.? Not being a violent person by nature I was ready to snap.? I’m quite certain, when I did, I would literally kill my mother.? Then, out of no-where, I see my best friend, Joe Varney, pull up in a car behind her.?
Joe never said a word.? He just ran up to the three of us picking up my mother and, without missing a beat, ran back to the car throwing her in the car and driving away.
It took an all of 7 seconds but those 7 seconds changed my life forever?
Joe and I never talked much about it but I always knew: he had my back and I had his.
Sometimes you need to lean on someone and sometimes that someone needs to lean on you.
While not as extreme, it is one of the reasons we highly recommend having a “coding buddy”.? Talking with other people about your coding problems helps you in many ways.?
The obvious benefit is that they may directly “solve” your problem.? However frequently just explaining the problem to someone else is enough to let you realize the solution.??
One thing most people don’t take into account though is how much of a psychological support it is to have other people “in the same boat” as you and realize we all have our Strengths and Weaknesses.
It’s one of the core strengths of the AHK Hero club.? Our community knows we’re all at different stages of learning and there is no talking-down or judgement.? We all help each other.
Now on with the show…
Simple File Renamer
Our Simple File Renamer script is a great tool to have handy!? It’s so easy, anyone can use it! ?You can check out how easy it is to use in this video.? This is a v1 script but it still works fine.? We didn’t update it to v2 because it is a pretty complicated GUI.? The tool is actually a stripped down version of our Multi-Rename script which, if you’re a power-user, you might want to check out.
?? Quick & Easy File Renaming in Windows - AutoHotkey Secrets?
Not a Power User BUT want to be (and that’s a big but)?
If you’re not a power user, but want to be one, you really should check out our new course on how to become a power user.? We teach out how to use a PC beyond the basics.? Nothing fancy, just all the productive things you should have been taught (but sadly weren’t).? Here’s a great extract video showing amazing hacks to selecting text using your mouse.? You can learn more about the course here.? Our course was created to help you Rise above PC Incompetence.? Don’t miss out on this amazing course!? You have nothing to risk because our courses come with a 200% money-back guarantee!
??Amazing Secrets for Selecting Text with a Mouse???
Learn how to use ACC / Peak into Private Consultation
Connie is an AHK hero member and wanted a more-robust way to automate his program: The Master Genealogist.? While we are often able to help people during hero calls, this was a bit too much so we had a private consultation call to create a more reliable solution.? After the call Connie mentioned all the data shared on the screen is public information so I asked if he’d mind if we shared the call with you as there were some great lessons learned during the call that are applicable to anyone using the ACC library.? Thankfully Connie agreed so here is the video which I think you’ll find very helpful!? (Thanks again for letting us share it Connie?)
Private Consultation Working with the ACC library
Get your Secret Decoder Ring here??
Our Amazing script (Ultimate Spy) just got more Amazinger!? LOL?? Seriously though, our Ultimate Spy tool recently had some really great updates which make it even more of a “must have” tool.? You can check out the updates in this video.? Don’t forget to grab a copy of it here.
Get your ??Secret Decoder ring?? in Ultimate Spy?
Inside the-Automator:
For Northern Texas we had a pretty cold spell but that finally broke and I got outside for a few minutes today.? The dogs enjoyed playing fetch in the pond.
Some pond fun with the Automators dogs (Luna and Zeus)
BTW- I was able got to read a bit while I was outside. I’m reading a fascinating book: Using Behavioral Science in Marketing: Drive Customer Action and Loyalty by Prompting Instinctive Responses by Nancy Harhut.? I’m not impressed easily but this is, by far, one of the best books I’ve read in years!? Amazing ideas backed with facts and a TON of examples!? I exchanged a few messages with Nancy on LinkedIn and I’m very proud to say this book is a “must read” for marketers & data-science people!? I learned of Nancy while I was between her and a friend of mine AJ Wilcox (of B2Linked).
?? What we're reading
?? AI / Chat GPT-3 News / Usage
??Productivity tips: ?M to Mute on YouTube
You can easily mute a YouTube video by pressing M
?? A spot of Humor : Here is a guaranteed laugh!
Didnt quite think this one through
What we ??utomated this week with AutoHotkey #29
In this week’s episode of what we automated this week I discuss some of the cool projects we’ve been working on.? You can check them out here.
What we automated this week 29
AHK Hero ??
Consider joining the ??AHK Hero club! Members receive 25% off courses, consultations, tutoring, done for you project work, etc.?
They also have access to exclusive & pre-released content and a 3 hours a week where we help people with their AHK issues (the Saturday calls are geared towards people new to AutoHotkey.)
??? ?? Quotable quotes
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Joe, Isaias, Irfan, Rizwan and staff
P.S. The intro was just one of many stories I could share about me and Joe Varney.? Sadly I’ll never be able to repay the debt as, after ~15 years struggling with drug addiction and making really bad decisions he took his own life ??.? ?