Bernie May - Practical Managers
@practicalmanagers.bsky.social
I write mostly about technology, leadership, project management, culture and communication.
Former Cold War signals officer, C4ISR project manager, strategic planner. Now writing, editing, and coaching for select clients.
Former Cold War signals officer, C4ISR project manager, strategic planner. Now writing, editing, and coaching for select clients.
It’s Not That Bad?
In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I…
In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I…
It’s Not That Bad?
In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I would use the console as my 'flight controls' while reclined in the 'launch position' in his good chair, which I'd dragged over for that purpose…
practicalmanagers.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
It’s Not That Bad?
In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I…
In Which I Try to Explain AI to my 90-Year-Old Dad, Temper His Enthusiasm, and Defend It To My 30-Year-Old Daughter. 1983 Compaq portable computer My father's always been enthusiastic about technology. I remember him have a rather nice stereo that I would play astronaut with - I…
4 Days, but Worth It
I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually…
I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually…
4 Days, but Worth It
I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually takes 9 hours took four days, and it was worth it to be back in the mountains and on the land.
practicalmanagers.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:18 PM
4 Days, but Worth It
I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually…
I am grateful to be reminded that we are merely temporary, insignificant guests on this beautiful and dangerous planet. That no matter how much we try to bend the earth to our will, there are limits to our hubris. Between weather and man-made obstacles, a drive that usually…
To Rule an Empire
"Would you have a great empire? Rule yourself first." - Publilius Syrus
"Would you have a great empire? Rule yourself first." - Publilius Syrus
To Rule an Empire
"Would you have a great empire? Rule yourself first." - Publilius Syrus
practicalmanagers.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
To Rule an Empire
"Would you have a great empire? Rule yourself first." - Publilius Syrus
"Would you have a great empire? Rule yourself first." - Publilius Syrus
My friend has been working very hard on her non-profit's launch. If you have five minutes Sunday night, you could help her out just by logging into the zoom call:
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
November 22, 2025 at 10:47 PM
My friend has been working very hard on her non-profit's launch. If you have five minutes Sunday night, you could help her out just by logging into the zoom call:
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
I took a break from the online. Now I'm back. Here's what you can expect.
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
November 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I took a break from the online. Now I'm back. Here's what you can expect.
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
practicalmanagers.com/2025/11/22/m...
So proud of my partner and sweetie, and the work she does with communities who are striving to make the world a better place. Working beside those who do the hard work of figuring out how.
Does Geography Impact Access to Justice - Research Findings
Findings from the She Matters research, 'Does Geography Impact Access to Justice? Access to Evidence Collection in Rural and Remote Communities' project.
www.shematters.ca
November 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
So proud of my partner and sweetie, and the work she does with communities who are striving to make the world a better place. Working beside those who do the hard work of figuring out how.
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill
- Winston Churchill
November 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill
- Winston Churchill
"You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people around you." -- Joshua Fields Millburn
October 29, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people around you." -- Joshua Fields Millburn
"Consistentcy beats intensity"
-- Anon
-- Anon
October 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
"Consistentcy beats intensity"
-- Anon
-- Anon
When you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. But other strategies with dead horses [include] the following: buying a stronger whip; changing riders; saying things like "This is the way we've always ridden this horse."; and finally,....
October 20, 2025 at 4:20 AM
When you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. But other strategies with dead horses [include] the following: buying a stronger whip; changing riders; saying things like "This is the way we've always ridden this horse."; and finally,....
There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
October 20, 2025 at 4:12 AM
There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"There is nothing quite as useless as doing with great efficiency
something that should not be done at all."
-- Peter Drucker
something that should not be done at all."
-- Peter Drucker
October 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
"There is nothing quite as useless as doing with great efficiency
something that should not be done at all."
-- Peter Drucker
something that should not be done at all."
-- Peter Drucker
Assume good intent. Observe actual intent.
October 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Assume good intent. Observe actual intent.
"Bad days make good stories."
October 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
"Bad days make good stories."
"...the horrors of the past have not stayed in the past. The right-wing authoritarian comeback is here, it is accelerating, and it is ruthless. Across the U.S. and Europe, the far right have seized power, stacked courts, rigged elections, and gutted democratic institutions with surgical precision."
The right is burning books, erasing trans people, and criminalizing dissent, and the pundits who spent years laundering their ideology want to pretend they had no role in it.
But their reckoning is due.
www.theindex.media/the-pundit-c...
But their reckoning is due.
www.theindex.media/the-pundit-c...
The Pundit Class Played Devil’s Advocate. Now the Devil’s at the Door.
Pop intellectuals flirted with reaction, thinking history was on their side—now the backlash they fueled is here, and there's no escape.
www.theindex.media
May 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
"...the horrors of the past have not stayed in the past. The right-wing authoritarian comeback is here, it is accelerating, and it is ruthless. Across the U.S. and Europe, the far right have seized power, stacked courts, rigged elections, and gutted democratic institutions with surgical precision."
Reposted by Bernie May - Practical Managers
Wearing a MAGA hat is the universal symbol of being permanently triggered / fragile.
May 4, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Wearing a MAGA hat is the universal symbol of being permanently triggered / fragile.
"Gratitude will make you rich; alignment will cure your illness; your mindset creates your reality; and if it’s not working, think and believe harder.
None of this threatens power - it protects it. "
None of this threatens power - it protects it. "
Every Gilded Age sells a fantasy.
In the 1900s, it was “infinite thought.”
Now it’s “high vibe hustle.”
The tycoons build empires.
The workers buy grindset courses.
In the 1900s, it was “infinite thought.”
Now it’s “high vibe hustle.”
The tycoons build empires.
The workers buy grindset courses.
The Gilded Age Is Back. So Are the Grifters.
In 1897, Ralph Waldo Trine published In Tune with the Infinite, laying the groundwork for what would become the modern self-help industry. The book promised that thought could shape reality, that prosperity was a state of mind. It sold over two million copies by the early 20th century. Trine wasn’
www.joanwestenberg.com
May 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
"Gratitude will make you rich; alignment will cure your illness; your mindset creates your reality; and if it’s not working, think and believe harder.
None of this threatens power - it protects it. "
None of this threatens power - it protects it. "
May 3, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I'm not doing so well on my texting this week. Earlier, in a conversation about exchanging money for the use of a private boat slip, refered to myself as a "dick renter"
May 2, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I'm not doing so well on my texting this week. Earlier, in a conversation about exchanging money for the use of a private boat slip, refered to myself as a "dick renter"
Lisa goes on to say that there is usually a drop in donations over the summertime, so the need is even greater. Please give blood if you can, or find another way to volunteer if that's what you're able to do.
I just gave in Victoria this afternoon -- they said there's been a surge of donors there this week too.
The blood's heading across the Salish Sea to Vancouver anyway (usual procedure) so the hospitals there can divert as needed.
Staff asked me to mention that there's an ongoing need
The blood's heading across the Salish Sea to Vancouver anyway (usual procedure) so the hospitals there can divert as needed.
Staff asked me to mention that there's an ongoing need
May 2, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Lisa goes on to say that there is usually a drop in donations over the summertime, so the need is even greater. Please give blood if you can, or find another way to volunteer if that's what you're able to do.
"You are attempting to manufacture a national unity crisis - by enabling a referendum on separatism and a fanatical cell of individuals - at the exact moment when Canadians need to unite against Donald Trump's America...."
-- as seen on www.facebook.com/slcnadminpage
-- as seen on www.facebook.com/slcnadminpage
May 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
"You are attempting to manufacture a national unity crisis - by enabling a referendum on separatism and a fanatical cell of individuals - at the exact moment when Canadians need to unite against Donald Trump's America...."
-- as seen on www.facebook.com/slcnadminpage
-- as seen on www.facebook.com/slcnadminpage
Had to retire my The Monks - Bad Habits cassette today. Too many freeze/thaw cycles and mold finally got to it. Thank you for your service.
#themonks
#badhabits
#1979music
#nicelegs
#shameabouttheface
#themonks
#badhabits
#1979music
#nicelegs
#shameabouttheface
April 29, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Had to retire my The Monks - Bad Habits cassette today. Too many freeze/thaw cycles and mold finally got to it. Thank you for your service.
#themonks
#badhabits
#1979music
#nicelegs
#shameabouttheface
#themonks
#badhabits
#1979music
#nicelegs
#shameabouttheface
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interested in you."
— Pericles
"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you."
— Leon Trotsky
— Pericles
"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you."
— Leon Trotsky
April 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interested in you."
— Pericles
"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you."
— Leon Trotsky
— Pericles
"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you."
— Leon Trotsky
Hanging with Kue Varo and the Only Hopes at The Pearl Granville. My partner and sweetie raised and awesome human (they're the bassist)
#kuevaro #thepearlgranville
#cowboywitchcraft
#granville
#vancouver
#kuevaro #thepearlgranville
#cowboywitchcraft
#granville
#vancouver
April 28, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Hanging with Kue Varo and the Only Hopes at The Pearl Granville. My partner and sweetie raised and awesome human (they're the bassist)
#kuevaro #thepearlgranville
#cowboywitchcraft
#granville
#vancouver
#kuevaro #thepearlgranville
#cowboywitchcraft
#granville
#vancouver